Jeff Inlo - Nightmare's Shad

"Heteera, please answer me plainly. I understand why you summoned Lief, but tell me about this creation similar to Ingar's sphere. Why did you create this vessel if it was only your intention to block off the dark realm?"

"It wasn't my idea. It was Lief's. He told me it would be difficult to close off the dimension unless we starved the dark creatures from what they truly needed. We had to pull the magic from the creatures, just as Ingar's sphere had done. I didn't believe that was the answer, but he assured me it would work. He told me we just needed to use skins of the monsters as opposed to the skins of the different races. He found discarded corpses of goblins that had been attacked by a shag and we started there. He told me to cast a spell that would absorb magic and then to focus it on him. I did so, and he pulled the magic from me and redirected it at the goblin corpses. The partial remains of the goblins fused together into a distorted mass and became animated."

"And you're not sure what Lief did to the spell?"

"No, I just know he pulled a great deal more magic from me than I expected, but I thought it was necessary."

"What happened next?"

"He told me that the animated vessel could hunt down goblins, remove their magic, but we needed to do more. We needed access to every dark creature that might crossover. He insisted I open a portal. I did so, but I could not control the spell. The rift fluctuates in and out of existence. Lief didn't care, he said it was enough to allow him to get in and out. He guided the creation through the portal. I have witnessed it hunt creatures on both sides of the rift."

"And the vessel has grown?"

"It's made up of more hides than I can distinguish," Heteera admitted.

Enin turned to the delver.

"Ryson, I need you to tell me everything you heard and saw when you met with Lief."

The delver did so, and with sufficient detail that satisfied the wizard. The situation left the wizard concerned, but not desperate. In short time, he actually made their path clear.

"The vessel must be destroyed."

Most were surprised at Enin's decisiveness. Sy, in fact, even wondered if that was the best alternative. He considered the situation from Burbon's viewpoint, from a town that stood at the border of DarkSpruceForest-a forest with more monsters than a child's worst nightmare.

"Are you sure about this, Enin? I have to tell you, getting rid of some of these creatures isn't necessarily all that bad. If Lief is going to keep that thing on his side of the fence, so to speak, it's going to limit the number of monsters that come over, right?"

"Yes, it will." Enin admitted.

"And do we really want to stop that?"

Enin held to no doubt. "The vessel will grow in power. It is a mutation of monsters, a twisted creation of dark creatures that is absorbing magic. What happens when it grows to a point that Lief can no longer control it? What happens if it decides to return to Uton and march toward Burbon. Do you want that?"

"Not at all, but what are the chances of that happening?"

Enin paused to consider the question. He furrowed his brow and then waved his hand about in the air as if making an imaginary calculation. When he spoke, he talked toward the sky, as if arguing with a cloud.

"Assuming the dimensional portal will allow constant access to this realm, the vessel will eventually sense the greater level of magic in this land. Hunting grounds, however, will be substantially broader in its current realm. At some point the greater level of magic will exceed the advantage of excess prey. It will definitely happen… in three seasons."

"Can we wait?" Sy asked. "Three seasons of less monsters would be a welcome break."

"The longer you wait, the harder it will be for you to destroy it."

The meaning behind this statement was not lost on the guard captain.

"You mean you're not going to destroy it?"

Enin realized the implication and quickly explained. If the vessel were within his reach, he would have disposed of it in due haste, but such was no longer the case.

"Lief took that option away," Enin stated. "Do you not remember what the spirit warned Ryson? Lief has sought refuge for himself and his creation in the land of nightmare. You do not want me venturing into that dark realm. The moment I entered, thousands of beasts would sense my presence. It is true some would try to attack me-a senseless act that would not succeed-but others would view me as a threat. Without doubt, many would flee into this land. The results would be… catastrophic."

"So who goes?"

"You even have to ask? The delver, of course. It was with his sword and by his hand that the original sphere was destroyed. He is the one who defeated Ingar. It is his sword that can destroy this new incarnation. I have no doubt of that. An arrow might puncture it, a different sword might cut it, but the Sword of Decree will destroy it."

"You're going to send him into a realm filled with dark creatures?" Sy asked in disbelief, as if it was a death sentence.

"I would only send him if he agreed to go, and by the look of him, I don't think that's a problem. His chances of success are very high. I would not send him in there if I thought he would be in true danger. Have confidence in him. He may not wish to admit it, but he is very powerful."

Enin then looked to Holli. While he had great respect for what the delver could accomplish, he also understood Ryson's limitations.

"But he should also not go alone. He does not cast magic, and he will need that assistance. You need to go with him."

"If that is what you wish," Holli agreed.

"It is. You'll also have to close that rift. You have the power."

"I can take care of that," Heteera suggested. "This is all my fault."

"And you would make things much worse," Enin replied flatly. "You have no control. You will stay with me until this situation is resolved. Do not even bother to argue. It is not up for debate."

It was Ryson's turn to speak, but he turned to his wife.

"What about you? You're not going to argue?"

"Why should I argue?" Linda asked. "It isn't going to do any good. Besides, I'm going with you."

Ryson was about to protest, but he never got the opportunity.

"I'm afraid I can't let you do that," Enin insisted.

Linda shook her head, completely disregarding the wizard in a way that no other creature of Uton might ever consider. Enin was perhaps the most powerful man she knew, more powerful than most could even imagine, but she was immune to magic.

"There's nothing you can do to stop me."

Enin remained resolute. "I applaud your bravery, but no one here is going to let you go when they realize that you will die."

The words fell upon Linda with immeasurable weight when she saw the look in the wizard's eyes. She swallowed hard, remained resolute, and pointed out her own understanding.

"You can say I'm going to die, but you're sure Ryson will be fine? Am I supposed to believe that?"

"I'm fairly certain in Ryson's success. The realm he will enter is the true home of the nightmare beasts, but he goes to destroy a device that hunts them. The creatures will understand his purpose. They will be more than happy to let him pass, but you… you they will kill the moment they spot you. Of that, I am certain. They will sense what you are, sense the lack of magic within you. You are an aberration. They will view you as something to be destroyed, and they will not hesitate to do so. The magic can not touch you, but claws can still tear you apart."

As Enin's tone had not changed, this time Linda could not reply. The wizard offered consolation to a woman he respected far above most others.

"You saved me, perhaps the entire land, when you allowed me to use you as a shield in my battle with Baannat. It is now my turn to save you. Allow me to do what you did for me."