Jeff Inlo - Nightmare's Shad

Baannat's voice called out from the other side.

"Well done. I didn't expect that, but it doesn't alter my plans. While I can't create my own portal, I can still alter yours. I fully intended on making yours much larger anyway. I want to be able to send creatures of all sizes into your world. Now, I will simply have to make it larger. I will expand the edges beyond your shield. You won't be able to block it forever. I do give you credit, because you bought yourself some additional time. The question is, what will you do with that time?"

There was a momentary pause, as if Baannat was waiting for an answer, but Enin said nothing.

"Then again," Baannat finally continued, "maybe you don't have as much time as you think. I will come for those who defeated me. My creatures will come for all of you. From the deserts to the plains, I will attack. And don't forget, some of my minions are already over on your side."

At the center of the blocked portal, Enin believed he could see Baannat once more. Still, the slink ghoul remained beyond his touch. Another attack would be as pointless as the first. Enin simply could not make direct contact with his foe. It seemed as if Baannat was simply projecting himself at the human wizard, taunting him while remaining out of Enin's reach.

Though Enin could not attack the ghoul, he realized he could probe the essence of Baannat's energies. He seized upon them and he believed he understood his enemy's intentions. Three were in grave danger-himself included-but Baannat also had a hunger for both the east and the west. Many would attack, as war was exactly what Baannat craved.

It was Enin's intention to return to Connel immediately. He perceived the aim of the slink ghoul, knew the mayhem that was to come. He would not allow Baannat to move unopposed. Much needed to be done in preparation, but as he took to the skies, he soon understood Baannat's warning. It seemed he had much less time than he anticipated before the first strike was made.

Over the top of Dark Spruce, he saw the fires begin. He slowed his journey through dimensional space to view the coming catastrophe. The goblins in the forest were once again acting as one, moving in unison across the vast wooded lands. It seemed as if the slink ghoul could guide creatures that had already passed into Uton, and the goblins had a leader for their horde once more.

Acting with total disregard to their own safety, the goblins throughout the forest moved with a vicious intent to destroy the lands that offered them refuge. They hated the trees, even as the forest hid their movements and provided more food than they could ever imagine. It no longer mattered. Life on Uton-all life-was the enemy. The forest would burn, and that was their new desire.

The slink ghoul had placed the craving in their tiny minds. By offering them a place in his new world-a world without the pain of the dark realm and without the judgment of a land of light-Baannat convinced them all they had nothing to lose and so very much to gain.

Without hesitation, the cruel creatures put torches to dry kindling and fed the growing flames with anything that would ignite. They laughed and danced with glee as the fires spread. From north to south, these creatures of hate spanned out, members of one camp quickly reaching those of another. They did not squabble about territory or fight over food and treasure. Instead, they agreed to destroy it all.

Before Enin's eyes, a long line of fire took shape across the western edge of the Dark Spruce, and the wizard could not dismiss the wind. It would press it eastward and the entire forest would burn. Despite the wizard's spell to seal the rift, the war had begun.

"Holli," Enin whispered to the wind, "I have need of you. Prepare yourself."

In Connel, the elf felt the call, and without a word to those around her, quickly moved outside to an open space with a clear path to the skies.

"I am ready," she replied in a whisper of her own over the magical link between them.

Enin cast a spell to recall her to his side. White energy jolted across the heavens and surrounded Holli. It lifted her up just as it curved and twisted the space between them. The magic pulled her across a compressed tunnel and then held her aloft in front of the wizard.

The elf guard immediately gauged her surroundings. She felt no fear in being held so high above the ground. She had complete trust in her mentor, and she knew he would not let her fall. A she gazed across the forest, she could not miss the growing fires below, but as she scanned the breadth of destruction, she realized an unmistakable truth. These were not flames born of natural causes, not a simple wild fire from a lightning strike that would burn out the dead wood and allow the forest to reclaim unproductive land with new growth. No, these fires had been started deliberately with one objective.

Her own magical connection to nature was exceedingly strong and she could sense the true intention. The fire was born of hate, a hate she could almost taste. The forest represented life and that was the true target of the assault, and the flames were being fed by evil.

It was not fear that shook her. It was loss. Dark Spruce was her home. She might have been banished from her camp, exiled from the forest, but she had never relinquished her heritage. The trees were as much a part of her as any other elf that called Dark Spruce home, and to see it under attack brought her great pain.

She had not yet spoken to Enin, had not learned of his encounter with the spirit that claimed to be Lief Woodson, but she didn't need to. She drew a conclusion based on what she knew and based on the horror she witnessed below. She did not have all the pieces yet, but she knew enough to understand that great evil was in play.

"Baannat?" she asked of her mentor.

"Yes, it was him that assumed Lief's appearance. Ryson was correct. The slink ghoul intends to do much harm. As of this moment, he is controlling goblins in Dark Spruce."

Holli pressed the anger and the sense of loss back into the recesses of her soul. If Baannat was behind this aggression on her beloved forest, then she needed to focus on the implications of every action.

"They are setting fire to their own camps," Holli noted. "That is normally a desperate ploy, and used only when they need to flee. They are not considering their own safety or their immediate needs. His control over them must be strong."

"He controls much more in the darker realm," Enin advised.

He controls more? the elf thought.

Considering the amount of damage that was already being incurred, that did not bode well. Holli openly wondered as to the true magnitude of the threat.

"Will they come across?"

"They can't at the moment, but eventually they will. I will explain in time. For the moment, any additional threats are restricted to the other dimension."

"Then our focus should fall upon the fire. If it is left to burn, it will destroy the entire forest."

"That's why I brought you here," Enin admitted. "The intention goes far beyond the forest. Baannat seeks to destroy everything and so we must work quickly. I am going to place you upon the forest floor. Send messages to all the elves of Dark Spruce. Baannat is at war with us all. He controls the dark creatures and will send them against us in waves. Everyone is in danger and we must prepare to defend ourselves."

"What about the fire?"

"I will take care of that. Place the elves on alert. That is your first objective. When you are finished, call to me and I will summon you back to Connel."

"Very well," Holli stated. She would not doubt Enin's instructions and the wizard lowered her into the forest away from any hazards. After quickly surveying the forest floor, the elf guard took off to begin her mission.