Thomas Reid - The Crystal Mountain

The fleeing angel heard Garin's shout and changed his course. They met in midair, well back from the surging power of the wild magic. "It's too much," the other angel said, panting. "That's the fourth one just since I sent word to you. We can't do any good here."

Garin gave the other angel a stern look. "We have our responsibilities," he said, chastising the deva. "You will hold your position and work to cure the damage done until you receive new orders. Is that clear?"

The other angel glared back. "You would sacrifice us all to this madness just because that was the instruction handed down to us? You're as foolish as Tyr himself."

Garin, dumbfounded at his counterpart's insurrection, could only gape.

"Perhaps Torm has a more level head on his shoulders and can think of better ways to use those loyal to him. If you wish to die needlessly, then you and your rigid commands are more than welcome to do so. I leave you to it." With that, the deva turned and flew away.

Garin watched the traitorous angel depart, sadness filling his heart. Please act soon, Tyr. Your followers begin to abandon you. Hope is dwindling.

Below him, another eruption of magic roared. He looked down to see the very land turn inside out, blossoming like some bizarre, nightmarish flower. When the upheaval abated, a strange seedlike object twenty paces across bobbed in the ground as though it sat upon the surface of water.

Several archons approached the peculiar object cautiously. As they drew near, it shimmered and shook, then began to crack along the top.

"Get back!" Garin screamed. "Stay away!"

He soared closer, yelling at the remaining celestials to stand clear. He had no idea what it might be, but he would not sacrifice more of his followers until it was necessary.

The seed-thing split in two, each half flopping to the side. A horde of vile creatures from some nether plane spilled out, accompanied by a gagging stench. Their pasty bodies oozed pus and drool dripped from their slavering fangs. They gibbered in delight, chattering to one another in some fell tongue Garin did not understand. They raised wicked weapons-dark, serrated blades and barbed, blood-soaked hooked polearms-and screamed a challenge.

Demons, Garin realized, stunned and sickened. Demons in paradise. It cannot be.

With cries of glee the wretched things swarmed outward from their broken cocoon and raced toward the celestial denizens.

Eirwyn stared at the game board before her, frowning. She could see several possible moves that might create an advantage for her position, but none of them felt right. She could gain no insight into her path.

No, that's not quite right, she admitted. I can't focus.

"You seem restless," Oshiga commented, sitting across from Eirwyn. "Have I backed you into a corner?"

Eirwyn smirked. "Not yet, but I can't seem to concentrate. I'm not certain this is working."

Oshiga nodded. "Perhaps we should rest."

Eirwyn shook her head. "That's not it. I know Erathaol wants me to relax and get back in the habit of divining in small ways, but this doesn't feel right."

"How so?"

Eirwyn frowned and shrugged. "I shouldn't be here," she said finally. "All this"-she gestured around herself at the sumptuous chambers that had been prepared for her stay- "is too…"

Oshiga gave her a puzzled look. "I do not understand. The rooms are not to your liking? How can we make you more comfortable?"

Eirwyn sighed. "No, the accommodations are wonderful. That's the problem. They are too nice."

Oshiga looked more confused.

"Something terrible is coming," Eirwyn said. "Something I need to be a part of. I shouldn't be here, enjoying such luxuries, when trouble is brewing."

"Erathaol believes that you cannot find yourself until you release this anxiety. You will not know your role until you stop fighting it."

"I know," she said. "It's quite a conundrum. The more I remove myself from the threat-the more I escape my troubles and cares in order to make peace with my unconscious and unearth this mystery-the more confused I become."

"I will speak to Erathaol about this at once," Oshiga said, rising. "Perhaps he can offer you some sense of how better to proceed."

"No, do not trouble the Seer with this," Eirwyn said. "I will muddle through it somehow." She stretched and rose. "But let us leave off from playing board games for a while. I must seek some other ways to relax."

Oshiga bowed. "As you wish." He turned to go. "If you have any need, I am at your disposal."

"I know," Eirwyn answered, and she smiled in appreciation. "You are most kind, generous, and patient with me."

Oshiga bowed again and departed, leaving the angel to her thoughts.

Eirwyn peered around the chambers once more, trying to decide what she wanted to do. Fly away, she thought. Return to the surface. Find something meaningful to do. Help.

She threw her arms up in frustration and decided to swim. She moved to the pool. As she entered the water, Eirwyn thought of Tauran. She remembered how he rarely chose to swim in the Lifespring merely for pleasure. She could see him, in her mind's eye, diving from high above the enchanted waters, honing his skills, practicing.

He never let up, the angel recalled. He was always preparing for the next development. That's what I should be doing.

Much later, Eirwyn awoke in darkness, panicked. She fumbled to rise, could not, and finally realized she had become entangled in the covers. She was drenched in sweat, and her heart pounded.

Another nightmare, she thought. About what?

She sat in the darkness of her chambers and concentrated, trying to remember anything at all.

Images flashed through her mind. Pictures of danger, of dark creatures. Of prisoners. There!

Eirwyn focused on one particular image, a place that seemed somehow familiar, yet not a place she recognized. I must go there, she understood. But what-and more importantly, where-is it?

She rose from her bed and dressed. I must do some research, she thought. Somewhere in this massive library is the answer I seek. I need Oshiga.

Eirwyn left her chambers and went in search of the trumpet archon.

Aliisza watched Kaanyr pace from one side of the rotunda to the other. She could see the cambion's mood grow fouler with each lap. Beyond him, barely visible in the dim light, her arcane cage still stood, holding the creature that had once been Micus and Myshik. The aberration had finally ceased his attempts to batter his way out. He sat near the back of his enclosure, watching Kaanyr.

Aliisza rested against one of the columns between Tauran and Kael, with the planetar nearby. Zasian stood over all three of the wounded companions, watching over them.

Aliisza and Kaanyr had decided to move the three unconscious forms into the center of the chamber, where the priest could tend to them more easily. Kael bucked and groaned when they removed Aliisza's sword protruding from his gut, but he did not otherwise awaken, and Zasian managed to close the wound with his unusual healing power. The half-drow seemed stable, but Aliisza refused to leave his side until she was certain he wasn't going to succumb to his injuries.

From time to time, the priest would place a hand upon one or another chest, close his eyes, and murmur something Aliisza couldn't quite make out. He had been at his vigil for quite some time, and Aliisza marveled at how he kept it up. Her own body ached with fatigue.

"Is he ever going to waken?" Kaanyr asked, standing in the middle of the chamber and staring at Zasian.

The man cringed and shook his head. "I don't know," he answered. "I'm trying. This one"-he pointed at the planetar-"is badly hurt and I can't seem to heal him. But those other two are much better. They should be awake by now, but for some reason, they just aren't. I don't understand."