Richard Tuttle - Elvangar

Tamar pulled his sword out of the dead krul just in time to swing at the next giant. He sliced deep into the krul’s extended arm just as Mistake’s knife flew into one of its eyes. MistyTrail threw a Sakovan star at the next krul and hit it in the head, but it halted only long enough to rip the star from its flesh and throw it aside.

“I could use a weapon,” Avalar said.

MistyTrail handed him a knife as she threw another Sakovan star. This time she struck the krul in the eye and it turned to one side as it screamed. Tamar sliced high on the krul that Mistake had wounded. He sliced into the neck of the krul while Mistake dove under its legs and came up behind it. She turned and drove a knife into its back as high as she could reach. The krul wobbled from both assaults and tumbled to the ground. Tamar had to jump out of the way of the falling giant.

HawkShadow caught up to another krul and again went for its legs from behind. The massive creature screamed and fell forward. As HawkShadow jumped on its back and delivered a killing blow, Mistake shouted.

“Behind you, HawkShadow!” she screamed.

HawkShadow did not even look back. He hurled his body forward and dove for the floor, tossing his sword high to get rid of it. Avalar reached up and snatched the sword from the air. The elves moved to the sides of the corridor as HawkShadow rolled past them. Tamar and Avalar immediately strode forward and attacked the krul that was chasing HawkShadow.

“The arms,” shouted Avalar as he struck out with the sword.

Avalar sliced cleanly through the creature’s left arm while Tamar cut off the right arm. The creature halted and screamed horrendously. MistyTrail’s star and Mistake’s knife both impacted the creature’s face. It fell atop the body of another krul and Avalar ended its life with a strong slice of the throat.

“We will not make it out of here this way,” shouted HawkShadow as he gained his feet and saw dozens of kruls heading towards them from the far end of the corridor. “Try the lock on the door we came in, Mistake.”

The kruls that were approaching were not charging. They were approaching cautiously although they were growling loudly. They clumped into groups, totally blocking the corridor as they approached. Avalar handed the sword back to HawkShadow, while Mistake ran for the door to the rear of the temple.

“I would like one of those if we come across one,” smiled Avalar.

“You certainly know how to use one,” smiled HawkShadow. “We will find you something.”

“It’s no good,” shouted Mistake. “It is magically locked like the cell in Elvangar.”

“You are from Elvangar?” asked Avalar. “But I have seen you girls outside my cage before.”

“Only I am from Elvangar,” Tamar said. “It is a long story, and it can wait until we are free.”

“Freedom from my cell is not freedom on this island,” frowned Avalar as he watched the kruls move slowly towards them. “We had trouble with those last five kruls. I cannot imagine how we will survive the next dozen. Even if we get by them, we will be hunted down.“

“We have a ship,” offered HawkShadow as he stepped alongside the elven king. “We are not staying on this island.”

“We are in deep trouble,” Mistake interrupted nervously. “A mage is joining the battle. Look at the far end of the corridor.”

“Stop!” the mage shouted loudly. “Stop at once.”

The kruls turned to look behind them and saw the mage walking towards them. They growled and turned back towards the elves. The mage shouted again, but the kruls paid no attention to him.

“Get ready,” warned HawkShadow. “Try to keep the kruls between us and the mage. If we can keep the kruls crowded together, we have a chance of defeating them. Don’t let the back ones move around the ones we attack.”

“That is Aakuta,” snarled Mistake. “He will kill the kruls just to get at us.”

As if her words were prophetic, the mage hurled a fireball at the backs of the kruls. One of the creatures burst into flames. Its scream was horrifying as it threw its body to the floor and began rolling around trying to extinguish the flames.

“Mistake,” Avalar called urgently, “if you can get around locks, try the ones on my wrists.”

Mistake ran to Avalar’s side and studied the bracelet. Aakuta threw another fireball and another krul erupted in flames. The other kruls growled with rage. They turned to face the mage. Aakuta stopped approaching and threw another fireball. Another krul erupted in flames. The rest of the kruls shoved aside their flaming comrade and charged towards the mage.

“Got one,” Mistake said triumphantly as she move around to Avalar’s other wrist.

“Looks like the kruls have a different idea than the mage,” grinned MistyTrail. “Maybe we should charge after the kruls? Then we would be too close for the mage to get all of us.”

“Or we can stand our ground and hope that the kruls get the mage,” countered Mistake.

“And that there aren’t too many of them left when the mage dies,” added Tamar.

“No,” announced Avalar as the other wristband fell away, “we advance but slowly.

HawkShadow’s eyebrow rose as he looked at Avalar. “Are you a mage?”

“That is what the bracelets were for,” grinned the elven king.

“I think I’ll keep this sword for myself then,” grinned HawkShadow. “Let’s go.”

As the five escapees advanced steadily along the corridor, the kruls charged Aakuta. Fire flew from the fingertips of the human mage as the kruls got nearer. The front row of kruls erupted into flaming balls of fur. They turned and tried to flee away from the mage, but other kruls were right behind them. Some of the second tier kruls began to catch fire from the burning kruls.

Aakuta started stepping slowly backwards, tossing fireballs as he retreated. The flames from the burning kruls leaped upwards, and the prisoners fled to the back of their cells as the intense heat began to spread. The flames were so high that the mage could not see the escapees and they could not see him. Neither side could actually see that all of the kruls were already dead.

The escapees halted before the fires. Suddenly, a blue cast surrounded the corpses. The flames died out completely, and ice began to form on the bodies. Over the heap of charred bodies, the escapees were able to see Aakuta again. Avalar’s arms rose and pointed towards the human mage.

“He is all that stands against us now,” Avalar stated as he prepared to cast a spell.

“No,” shouted HawkShadow as he knocked Avalar’s hands down.

“What are you doing?” shouted Mistake. “Are you crazy? That is Aakuta. He can kill us with one spell.”

“That is not Aakuta,” announced HawkShadow. “That is Master Malafar, Lyra’s father. Do not harm him.”

MistyTrail stared at the mage’s face under his hood and gasped. “HawkShadow is right. That is Master Malafar.”

“Hurry,” shouted the human mage. “You do not have much time. Follow me.”

Aakuta retreated to the end of the corridor where he had left the door blocked open just a bit so he wouldn’t have to unlock it. He pushed it all the way open and placed his back against it while the escapees climbed over the bodies and raced for the door.

“Enter the first room on your right and be silent,” instructed Aakuta.

Mistake led the group and slid into a small storage room. A woman in a robe frowned as the group piled in. As soon as the last of the group had exited the cell area, Aakuta let the door close. He followed the group into the room, unaware of the furtive figure that was hiding in the stairwell just outside the door to the cells.

“You are Master Malafar!” gasped MistyTrail. “Why did Mistake think you were Aakuta? What are you doing here?”