Richard Tuttle - Island of Darkness

“Should I go meet the ship?” asked StarWind after she broke the connection.

“I think we will all go,” replied Lyra, “but first I want a definitive answer from Mayor Ferde. If all that I have said is true, will you join the Sakova, Mayor Ferde?”

“If the ship is indeed Khadoran,” nodded the mayor. “I will still want to speak with General Kapla when he arrives, but yes, I will accept your words as true. Campanil will become a Sakovan city. May the gods watch over us during this time. I do not want to lead my people astray.”

“There is only one god,” smiled Lyra, “and he is called Kaltara. I should know because he has blessed me with what I need to gather the people of Omunga and Sakova together. He will protect Campanil.”

“They are coming through the tunnel,” ThunderSword warned through an air tunnel.

“How can they?” replied MeadowTune. “Sakovan magic makes that impossible. They cannot find the tunnel entrance to StarCity.”

“Sakovan Magic only hides the entrance,” replied ThunderSword. “It does not prohibit anyone from entering the cave. One of them probably stumbled into the cave and discovered it. It does not matter now. Get troops up here fast to man the pyrons. We can hold them for some time if we can get the pyrons manned immediately.”

“I am passing the word now,” promised MeadowTune as the air tunnel winked out.

ThunderSword hid in his pyron, which was a carved-out niche in the wall of the cave. The long tunnel through the mountain was lined with the alcoves that only afforded protection in one direction. They were carved by the Sakovans ages ago as an added measure of protection when Star City was being built. Fighters could hide in the pyrons and safely shoot arrows or toss magical projectiles without fear of being overly exposed to the enemy. If the invaders did manage to push the Sakovans further back in the tunnel, the pyrons would be of no benefit to the attackers because they were wide open on the StarCity side.

ThunderSword wove another air tunnel and directed it towards the closer Sakovans who were also hiding in pyrons.

“Anyone here with magical projectile knowledge?” asked ThunderSword keeping his voice to a whisper.

“What do you need?” asked ValleyBreeze.

“The Omungans are moving cautiously,” replied ThunderSword, “but I wish to slow them down until more help arrives. Can you see them from your position?”

“Well enough,” answered ValleyBreeze as she stared at the distant torchlights. “How about some fire?”

“Perfect,” smiled ThunderSword. “Aim deep into them. I do not want this part of the tunnel to be illuminated.”

ValleyBreeze did not bother to reply. She aimed her fireball so it flew along the roof of the tunnel. It dropped well beyond the vanguard of the Omungans, and instant chaos enveloped the attackers. The tunnel flared into brilliance where the fireball struck among the attackers. Screams echoed through the tunnel as the Omungans sought to distance themselves from the burning flesh of their comrades.

Those behind the inferno retreated, but the vanguard surged forward into the darkness. A half dozen Sakovan arrows flew as one as the Omungans charged along the tunnel. The front row of the Omungans fell to the floor of the tunnel amid cries of agony and injury. A second volley of arrows immediately followed.

“They say that the dying can see a light at the end of a tunnel,” ValleyBreeze quipped out loud. “I wonder if it looks like this?”

ValleyBreeze’s hand released a ball of brilliant light. The ball sped towards the attackers, flattening into a disk as it traveled. The disk spread and sprouted blazing blades of light just before it sliced into the charging Omungans. The resulting screams were loud, but short.

“Warn us next time so we can close our eyes,” scowled ThunderSword. “I cannot see anything now.”

“Sorry,” ValleyBreeze replied sheepishly. “Cover your eyes. I plan to finish off the vanguard.”

The Sakovan mage waited a few seconds before unleashing her next spell. She was conditioned enough to avert her eyes as the brilliant light sped along the tunnel. She tossed one more spell and the tunnel grew quiet. Only the dim sounds of the wounded drifted in the air.

“I am done,” announced ValleyBreeze. “You archers can finish off the wounded.”

It was a few moments before the song of the first bowstring was heard. The Sakovan archers aimed by the sounds of the wounded and not by sight. Within moments the only sound was the distant shouting of the retreating Omungans.

“That will hold them for a while,” announced ThunderSword. “Where did you learn that spell?”

“The Chula shaman that Lyra brought with her when she was here last,” replied ValleyBreeze. “It is quite effective in an enclosed space such as this.”

“I can see that,” replied ThunderSword, “and it doesn’t waste arrows.”

“How long before they come again?” asked ValleyBreeze.

“Hard to tell,” admitted ThunderSword. “I suppose it will not be before the fires burn out. The problems as I see it is that there are far too many of them. We will need sleep eventually, but they can just send in fresh troops. We cannot hold this tunnel indefinitely.”

“We can, and we will,” asserted FalconEye from the safety of another pyron. “If we fail to hold this tunnel, all of StarCity will be destroyed. We can be relieved to get sleep just as well as the Omungans can. We just need to make sure that we keep our areas dark so that they cannot see what we are doing.”

* * *

“Come in,” smiled SunChaser as she saw who was at the door.

HawkShadow gazed in through the door as his eyes scanned the room before stepping through the doorway and leading SkyDancer with him.

“There is no one here,” SunChaser announced as she closed the door. “I told the servants to stay away until I recall them. Although they are loyal to me, I did not want them to see who was coming and going during these trying times.”

“Sounds like a safe approach to me,” nodded HawkShadow as his eyes continued to scan the interior of Cherri’s mansion. “You live quite well here.”

“Of course,” grinned SunChaser. “How else can I portray myself as the widow of a high ranking Omungan official? Would you like something to eat?”

“I sure would,” volunteered SkyDancer. “There is nothing to eat in Omunga. Do you have enough?”

“The rich are never affected by famine,” shrugged SunChaser. “Perhaps that is why they are so out of touch with the common citizen. Anyway, my kitchen is well stocked. I could not entertain the likes of the Minister of Defense if that were not so.”

“Have you kept in touch with StarCity?” asked HawkShadow as SunChaser led the new arrivals into the dining room.

“Of course,” nodded SunChaser. “I report in several times a day. I cannot afford to be lax in that regard. Okata is where the outcome of this war will be determined.”

“Perhaps,” shrugged the Sakovan assassin. “What happens at StarCity could also determine the outcome.”

“StarCity is under attack right now,” notified SunChaser. “There is fighting within the tunnel.”

“Then we must be swift with whatever we intend to do here,” SkyDancer interjected with a sense of urgency.

“Swift, but not hasty,” smiled SunChaser. “HawkShadow, go upstairs and enter the room at the top of the stairs. There are clothes in there for you. Put them on and come back down.”

HawkShadow looked at SunChaser questioningly, but she ignored him and went to the kitchen to get some food for her guests. When she returned, SunChaser placed bowls of salad on the table.