Jeff Inlo - Nightmare's Shad

"Just because you wish to avoid conflict within Connel does not preclude it from occurring. If what you have said of Baannat is true, then he will certainly target those areas that are of significant importance to you. That's exactly why Baannat may choose to bypass Pinesway."

"No, I don't believe he will. Not when I have so many spell casters collected here. He will sense that. I am certain of it, and when he does, he will choose Pinesway as a battlefield. He will view it as an opportunity to expand his power and remove potential threats to his rule. Connel will always be there for him, but how can he resist a target of such opportunity?"

"Because it's what you want him to do," Holli offered.

"And that will make it that much more inviting for him. He would like nothing more than to beat me at my own game."

Holli remained less confident.

"Perhaps, but we may need to impose safeguards as well. With so much power here, there are other ways we can bring them to us as well," she offered. "We know the location of the portal where his army will enter. A few well-placed spells could force their path to us."

"That is an excellent idea," Enin agreed, "just don't extend too much energy in bringing them to you. You'll need enough to fight them when they get here. That reminds me, will you please ask Sy and Heteera to join us."

Holli moved quickly out of the abandoned house on the outskirts of what was left of Pinesway. Enin took the opportunity to look out several windows and survey the surroundings. He could sense very few people remaining in what was left of the forsaken town. The thieves and most squatters had retreated. Save several dozen magic casters spread about the area, the streets were silent and rotting buildings stood empty. If a battle had to be fought, this was the place for it.

Not much was left in the town, certainly not hope. That had left long ago. Meager refuge for those with something to hide or nothing to lose, and sanctuary for bandits looking for temporary shelter, that was all that remained.

Holli, however, was correct about Baannat possibly bypassing the decaying town. There was nothing that would call for Baannat's interest or for the hunger of brutes and fiends, nothing beyond what Enin had placed there-the grouping of powerful spell casters and their collective magic.

Enin, however, was growing more confident that would be enough. He himself could not ignore the pulsating flux of energy that seethed over the dilapidated town. The spell casters he enlisted into this fight brought their power to the abandoned streets. Even as he looked upon the shell of a lifeless town, he could sense a resurgence of optimism. It almost felt as if life, and hope, had returned to Pinesway.

Sy and Heteera followed Holli back into the warehouse. Enin addressed Heteera first. He did not wish to place blame on the spell caster, as he believed her intentions were noble if not misguided, but he would also brook no argument over her role.

"You are to stay with Holli, but you are not to cast any spells. I am not insulting you. In fact, if you actually understand anything about the magic, I am about to pay you a great compliment. You are to open yourself and your energy to Holli. Let her use your power. You will be the force and she will be the control. You have the strength to defeat any army, if you use it properly. Do you understand?"

Heteera nodded.

"I'm sorry about all this. I'll do whatever I can," she added.

"Leave apologies for another day. I deserve as much blame as anyone. For now, we do what we can to correct our mistakes."

Sy entered the conversation with his own concerns.

"How sure are you that the attacks will only take place here and in the desert?"

"I am not sure at all, but I am fairly confident of certain facts. I know he wishes to take the desert, to eliminate the algors. I am also confident he cannot ignore such a collection of energy. Since he wishes to move both east and west, this will be his most likely target."

"What about Burbon?"

"It is a concern, one that is shared by Ryson… and also apparently you."

"Absolutely, so what do you suggest?"

"I want you to return to Burbon and prepare your own forces. Unfortunately, I can offer no other aid. The magic casters must focus their energy here, and I don't want to have any links to Burbon. Our foes might follow the path right to your door. I have even removed the spells I once placed around the town for its protection. I don't want anything to attract them."

"They may not need anything else than its location to be attracted to it," Sy proposed. "If I were attacking, I'd hit Burbon first and with everything I had. From there, I could flank Pinesway, as well as have a clear path to the farms around Connel."

"I know, but I believe the main force will come after the magic casters first."

"What about the elves? Can they offer any help?"

"Too busy protecting their camps in Dark Spruce from the dark creatures that are already in the forest," Holli answered. "Shags, goblins and river rogues are making constant raids throughout the woods."

"So we're on our own. We'll do what we can, but with no spell casters, no elves, and no Ryson, we're the weak link."

"You may also be the safest," Enin allowed. "If Pinesway falls, the path to Connel and the eastern plains is already clear. You might not even be worth their attention."

"I can't count on that. Anything else you need to tell me? If not, I should get back to Burbon."

Enin shook his head and the guard captain left Pinesway with more worries than when he entered.

Enin offered Holli one more word of advice before he himself set out on his own personal mission.

"You control a powerful force here, but you must use them wisely. Many that are here are selfish and arrogant, but as spell casters they are attuned both to the magic and its history. I will alert them that you represent me and that they must follow your orders. Give them a chance to redeem the stigma of the past, and they might surprise you."

The wizard then looked to Heteera.

"I know the power inside you. Don't try to use it yourself, but don't keep it bottled up when it's needed."

Without another word, the wizard left Pinesway in hopes that no such need would ever arise.

#

Out in the desert, a single apparition stood at the very spot a powerful spell took his mortal life. The spell came from a sorceress hoping to expand her power and enhance her skills, a magic caster much like those now gathered in Pinesway.

Enin was correct about one thing; the collection of magical power created a beacon to all those attuned to the energy that flowed freely across Uton. Baannat's forces-an army of dark creatures-would not shy away from such power. Instead, they would gravitate to it like moths to a flame.

As a spirit walking a physical plane, Lief Woodson could sense far more than even a great wizard linked to vast sources of magic. The elf ghost's awareness could sail beyond the limitations of mortal senses. He could perceive the intentions of many, including one in particular that would view Pinesway as a great opportunity. Most certainly, the abandon town would become a battlefield to determine the fate of the eastern plains. In that, Enin was correct.

But Lief wondered about Enin's foundation for such a conflict. The wizard had brought magic casters to Pinesway out of a sense of duty, a need to erase sins committed during legendary times. Could the actions of spell casters during one age remove the stain of guilt upon those from another? That is what Enin believed, but Lief regarded the issue with a growing understanding to his own circumstances. He sensed a hollow aspiration in Enin's logic, and though he could not guess as to whether or not this would doom Holli's forces in Pinesway, Lief believed he might find his own salvation in the events that would follow.