Jeff Inlo - Nightmare's Shad

The words rang true. It explained Baannat's inability to create a portal of his own. It also explained, to a degree, how Baannat could influence events outside the dimension of nonexistence, but it did not go any further in answering the original question.

"And how does that give you power to control the actions of so many monsters?"

"Because they understand the new realm that has been created by my rebirth.They actually long for it. Think about it. You call them creatures of nightmare. That's very appropriate. Such beings don't wish to escape into a land of light. They wish to escape their very existence. They see me as a bridge to their most fervent desire. They would love to join me here, and that is what I have offered those that do my bidding. I don't necessarily control their will. I don't have the power, but they will follow my orders because I offer them what they truly want, and for that, they will do almost anything."

"And now they fight for you in pointless rage," Enin responded in complete dismay. "You wanted a war, and you told me you didn't care who wins the battles. You're just creating havoc."

"These creatures enjoy havoc."

"But you're not doing it for them. You're doing it to get back at me. You want to torture me. That's all you want to do."

"Oh, no, no. That's not all. There are others. Remember? I also have a bone to pick with your friend the delver… and the woman immune to magic. The delver is in the desert. You knew that. He fights with the algors. Would you like to know how he's doing?"

Enin looked away. He did not wish to occupy his mind with the struggles of his friend. That was not the way to keep his sanity. He turned his consciousness back to the gray cloud that surrounded his soul. He tried to use it to blot out the words of the ghoul, but he couldn't. He could still hear the shrill laughs as well as an unexpected surprise.

"He died a few moments ago," the ghoul announced with almost child like innocence. "Ryson Acumen dead.Such wonderful words. Would you like to see? I think I can project the image here. Don't you want to see how he was killed?"

Enin turned his focus further inward and away from the ghoul. The news hurt more than he could believe. Though he had no body, it felt as he was suffering from physical pain, as if his stomach was torn free. Of course, it was not, but the pain seemed identical.

The wizard cursed himself for making so many mistakes, for putting so many in harm's way. Ryson Acumen was a force for good, he could see that much. The delver's death would be a great loss and it was all his fault. The pain within him grew.

"You don't wish to see?" Baannat asked. "You wish it to remain a mystery? That's not like you. I would have thought you wanted proof. You normally don't believe anything I have to say. Why would you believe me now, especially when I'm lying."

The emotion within Enin swung in the opposite direction. His sorrow switched to relief, but then bubbled over in anger.

"You lied?!"

"Of course I lied. The delver's not dead. I don't just want him to die in some pointless battle. What does that gain me? Nothing. You're a fool. I told you I wanted him here with you."

"You are a despicable creature," Enin projected with his thoughts.

"Yes, I am, but not one without a sense of humor. Here let me show you."

The gray envelope grew lighter and a hole opened before Enin. He immediately tried to press himself through the break, but he could not. It was only a mirror, a reflection of occurrences in the desert, not a true rift.

Baannat laughed.

"Did you really think I would let you escape? No, you're never getting out of here. Still, I want you to watch the battle in the desert. It's getting interesting. The shags are about to enter the fray. Watch and enjoy."

And Enin did watch. He gazed upon the endless number of shags storming across the desert. He saw them fall in numbers beyond reason when they reached the line of sand giants waiting in a gorge. He marveled at the speed of Ryson Acumen as the delver cut through every monster that broke free of the sand giants.

He almost felt pride, but he also felt loss, a great loss at the sight of so many dead. It was all such a pointless waste. So much death and destruction.And over what?

All because of Baannat-a miserable entity that served nothing but evil. It disgusted the wizard that such a creature could even exist, let alone have the power to cause such mayhem. Enin wished he could rid the land of the ghoul.

And then Enin thought of how he had already believed he accomplished that feat. He battled the slink ghoul and allowed Ryson to defeat the monster, but defeat was not permanent because of his own mistakes.

Enin focused on the images cast upon the shadows around him. He looked upon the growing pile of dead corpses in the desert. It could have all been avoided if Enin showed greater care.

Was he then also responsible?

Enin's emotions swung wildly. From despair to relief and from anger to guilt, emotions flooded the wizards consciousness. He fought against the tide, tried to keep his focus on what little purpose he had left. He watched the struggle and hoped for the best.

As if in reward for such determination, the tide of battle swung completely to the algors. He could see the shags completely decimated and the flying nightmare birds removed from the sky. The majority of algors appeared to survive the attack, as did Ryson Acumen. Another battle Baannat had lost, or so he thought.

"Now it gets interesting," Baannat quickly offered through a sinister giggle. "That was just the first round. The real fun starts now."

Enin caught one quick glimpse of the monster rising up from the desert floor and then the space around him went back to gray.

"I don't think you need to see any more of that right now," Baannat snickered. "I'll let you wonder how that turns out. I'm sure you realize it won't be good for the algors."

A dark thought-that was the last imprint on Enin's mind from the horrific image in the desert. Baannat was right. It would not be good for the algors and just as bad for Ryson. Enin's emotions swung back to fear and regret.

Baannat drew closer to the wizard's spirit. The ghoul took greater form in the shadow as his body was incomplete and it thrived in such an element. He could move his deficient figure about in the emptiness even as Enin could do nothing to flee.

"You know," the ghoul continued with a sickening hum, "there's something you've forgotten already. Where were the dwarves?"

At first, Enin didn't understand. The question seemed out of place… irrelevant.

"What?"

"The dwarves. You directed many of them into the desert to assist the algors. Seems like they didn't show. Doesn't that concern you?"

Enin realized the ghoul was correct. There was no sign of the dwarves in what he had seen. He grasped at the only explanation he could believe.

"The images I saw came from your magic. You could have distorted them." Enin accused.

"If I could do that, why would I show you what you saw? Wouldn't it have been more advantageous for me to show you the algors getting wiped out? No, whether you believe me or not is immaterial, you saw the truth, and deep down, you know it. So I ask you again, where were the dwarves?"

Confusion swirled Enin's thoughts in every direction. He had forgotten about the dwarves, but he could not deny they were not in the scene of battle. They could have been fighting underground, but shouldn't at least some have come to the aid of the algors on the desert floor or on the ledges of the cliffs?

Nothing was going as he hoped or planned.

"You really have been a bit numb lately, haven't you? Why is that?"

Another question that stung the wizard-a question that rang with Enin's own doubts. He had made so many mistakes. His mind had been in a cloud. He wanted to blame Baannat, but he couldn't. Baannat had played Enin for a fool, he could not deny it, but the wizard's confusion came from within and long before Baannat had the power to reach him.