Jeff Inlo - Nightmare's Shad

"But what's that got to do with that thing?" Ryson demanded.

"That thing, as you call it, is tuned to the magical energies inherent in the dark creatures, the magic that allows them to cross over into this land and remain here."

"And that's all it was supposed to do!" Heteera interrupted. "It was only meant to serve as a deterrent, to keep them away, but now it hunts and kills, both here and in the dark realm. And it's storing the energy, becoming stronger!"

"As I said, you do not want to go far enough. It has to get stronger, much stronger. That's why it needed that swallit. It already lost one not long ago, and so today our little creation forced two creatures through to this side, the swallit and a shag. The shag would hunt the swallit and kill it, or injure it. Either way, the swallit would not be able to escape, and it didn't. With the swallit skin added to its shell, the vessel can now feed more efficiently on those dark creatures. It has to expand to match every dark creature that stalks the land."

"So what's going to happen?" Ryson interrupted. "Where's all this headed?"

"Headed? It's not headed anywhere. The mission has begun, and with great success. The number of beasts and monsters walking this part of the land has already diminished greatly. The creatures back in their native realm cringe in fear at my device. Eventually they will shrink back from this existence, never to return."

Ryson understood Lief's desire, but only to a degree. There was danger in this plan, that much was clearly evident.

"And what happens when all the dark creatures are destroyed? Where does that thing go next?"

"Dark creatures are like a plague. They never go away completely. They will continue to breed. The realm on the opposite side of that portal will spit them out continuously. It will never stop, and so, there will always be something for the vessel to hunt."

"That's not what I'm worried about. Have you completely forgotten about Ingar's sphere… what we went through? Godson, you were with me at SanctumMountain. You saw what the sphere had become. You've created another one."

"You now sound like the sorceress."

"If she's worried about your creation, then I'm glad I sound like her."

"And you would dismiss the benefit of removing dark creatures from the land so easily?"

"But you're not stopping there. You're destroying all the dark creatures and storing the magic."

"Not all the magic. That was Ingar's mistake, not mine."

And that seemed to be true. According to lore, the sphere focused on all the magic. It threatened to absorb it all and even led to an alliance between loathsome creatures and magic casters of every kind. Lief was speaking as if the magic could be divided, and Ryson lacked the knowledge to argue.

For a moment, the delver did not know what to do. Still, he did not come there alone. The sorceress had brought him. He turned to Heteera.

"Is he right?"

"No, he is not. The device is a threat, and I think he knows it, but will not admit it."

"She is foolish. She lacks the control to understand," the spirit fired back.

Ryson ignored the elf ghost. He focused on Heteera's concern.

"You know this thing is dangerous. That's why you brought us here. What are you really worried about?"

"The sphere will grow in power. It will feed on magic that was bent on evil intention, magic that is tainted by the stain of darkness. It will become a great reservoir of twisted power. I'm not sure what the end result will be, but I'm responsible for it and I can't let it just continue to expand. That's why I said the threat had no form."

"You don't think it can be controlled?"

"Do you? Would Enin?"

And so the sorceress' request became clear. She needed Enin to heed this dilemma and Ryson agreed. The magnitude of this problem was beyond a delver.

Lief eyed Ryson suspiciously.

"What are you thinking, Ryson Acumen?"

"We have to talk to Enin about this."

"I thought the wizard did not engage in such activities. He is passive and will allow others to make decisions of destiny."

"He'll want to hear about this."

"And if you tell him, what then?" Lief demanded, his tone becoming harsher. "Are you going to request that he interfere?"

"He'll know better what to do than me."

"Fire upon you, delver! Then go! Go to your wizard and tell him what you have seen here, but know this, I will not give him a chance to destroy my creation. Tell Enin I will keep the vessel in the dark lands. I will let it feed on the magic there. I understand Enin's power and if he tries to enter that dimension, the dark creatures will sense his great magic. Those that don't hunt him in great numbers out of hunger will flee from their realm. They will enter these lands in a wave beyond your reckoning. If you wish to destroy the vessel, it will not be by Enin's hand, of this I vow. This will be between you and me."

The apparition said no more. The ghostly form flew back down to the portal and disappeared into the dark lands.

Taking the safest passage, Ryson led Linda and Heteera back to Burbon. The sorceress wished to go directly to Connel, but the delver refused. The return trip did not take them far out of their way, and it allowed for a bit of rest in familiar surroundings before continuing on to Connel.

Ryson did not wish to waste the additional time, but he also needed to add to their party. If Lief's creation was a threat, it was a threat to everyone in the area. Sy Fenden, Burbon's Captain of the Guard, needed to be included in the discussion with Enin.

After hearing a short explanation, Sy agreed to join them. He understood the value of remaining informed. Combating monsters and hideous creatures became more commonplace over the seasons, but what might come of this new menace was beyond his experience.

As for Heteera, she slept little during their brief stop in Burbon. When the time came to leave for Connel, she did not relish the idea of another ride on horseback, but she could not refuse. She took responsibility for what was happening, and she had to see it resolved. The mutated vessel hungering for dark magic was as much her creation as it was Lief's, and she could not absolve herself from any malice that followed.

If she took any solace, it was in the fact that she achieved her initial objective. After what Ryson and Linda saw, they could express the true threat of Lief and his vessel. The wizard would have to listen. Stopping Lief and his twisted device moved far beyond her ability, but she believed Enin held the necessary power to rectify her conceived mistakes.

Heteera could only hope that the presence of Ryson and Linda would be enough when they entered Connel, would allow them access to Enin, access she knew would be denied if she traveled alone. She knew the great magic within her, as well as the taint of her past spells, would serve as a beacon for those attuned to the energy. She never meant to use the magic for twisted designs, but she feared the results of her errors would overshadow her true intentions. The mark of malevolence would brand her as a threat, and the elf who guarded Enin against such threats terrified her beyond measure.

The foursome moved through the farmlands at a quick pace. Ryson led the way on foot, outracing the horses as he scouted out the roads and kept his senses alert. The farmlands were patrolled, but they still held their share of perils. Razor crows remained the biggest concern. Ryson could scatter a small group with ease, but he didn't want to run into a massive flock that might attack in a great wave.

As they finally reached the outskirts of Connel, they marveled at the activity. Construction crews were at work at nearly every visible portion of the city. Even more amazing, they noted people flocking toward the city from the east.