Robert Newcomb: Savage Messiah

"Have the acolytes blow holes in the hulls of the slaver ships until each of them is sunk," Tyranny answered. "And make doubly sure that each and every demonslaver has drowned. Then and only then are you to order the fleet back to the coast. Many of our vessels are in a bad way, but the voyage is short. I will leave Scars here to help you. Anchor off the Cavalon Delta, then report to the palace."

Tyranny gave the acolyte a wry look. "You have acquitted yourself well out here, Sister Adrian," she added. "This shall be your first command, but I have the feeling that it won't be your last."

"I will do my best," Adrian said.

Tyranny looked over at her giant first mate. "Scars!" she shouted.

"Have my litter made ready! And tell K'jarr that all of the warriors are to accompany me back to Tammerland!"

Scars nodded back. Tyranny turned to Adrian again.

"Good luck," she said. "And don't lose any of my ships!"

"And good luck to you," Adrian answered.

Tyranny walked to her litter and climbed in. Adrian watched her give some final orders to Scars; the first mate nodded. In a matter of moments the litter and the entire host of warriors had taken to the nighttime sky.

As her litter climbed higher, Tyranny heard the muffled echoes of explosions. She turned to watch the Acolytes' azure bolts shooting across the dark sea to smash into the hulls of the slaver frigates. One by one the ships went down. She let out a long, tired sigh. Perhaps the time of the demonslavers is finally over, she thought.

Tired and bloody, Tyranny closed her eyes and leaned back in her seat. The nighttime air felt fresh and clean against her face.

As her litter turned toward Tammerland, the privateer dreaded what she might find there. But she was sure of one thing: The Jin'Sai would need her sword, and she would give it.

As Tristan and Wigg's litter was carried over Tammerland, they could hardly believe their eyes.

The western half of Tammerland was destroyed. The superheated mass in the Sippora still moved slowly along with the river, setting fire to everything nearby. The streets were filled with a writhing, crushing flow of humanity. Demonslavers and K'tons systematically slaughtered the refugees as they fled. Blood slicked the streets. The fires roared high into the night, sending choking smoke up to greet them, and even from their altitude, Tristan, Wigg, and Traax could easily hear the cries of the dying.

Behind the demonslavers lumbered giant beasts the likes of which Tristan had never before seen. With sweeps of their incredible tails, they were destroying building after building, sending walls and roofs high into the air. Behind and above them sailed the six remaining Black Ships, their skeletal captains raining azure bolts down upon anything that still moved.

Horrified, Tristan turned to look at Wigg. The First Wizard's face had gone ashen. Tristan quickly guessed that this was not Wigg's first encounter with these monsters.

"You know what those things are, don't you?" he asked.

Wigg nodded. "Earthshakers," he said. "They are abominations originally conjured by the Sorceresses of the Coven. Unless they are stopped, they will smash through Tammerland until nothing is left. If they reach the palace they will surely destroy it. And with the upper levels gone, the fires might easily find their way down into the Redoubt. If they do, three hundred years of records and research in the craft could be destroyed forever."

Tristan shuddered at the prospect of the craft's written history gone in a single night. He took the wizard by the shoulders.

"Can your plan defeat them?" he asked anxiously.

Wigg shook his head. "I don't know," he answered. "Perhaps. But only if Faegan and Jessamay have been successful in their research. Right now, our priority is to reach the palace without being seen. Only then can the three of us do what we must, while you go on to follow the dictates of the Scroll Master."

"Agreed," Tristan said.

Ox was flying nearby. Tristan shouted out a series of orders to him. Because they had flown in from the northwest, they had not yet been spotted by the enemy. But if they didn't change course, they soon would be. It nearly drove the prince mad that they would have to take such a circuitous route, but there was no other choice.

Their litter banked hard to the left, and the two of them held on tight.

Tristan breathed a huge sigh of relief when he saw that the palace was still intact. Its lights shone brightly, providing a beacon visible through the rising smoke. Faegan and the others milled about on the roof. They looked up eagerly when the shadows of the arriving warriors fell over them.

As the litter descended, Tristan could see that the grounds were still littered with the wounded. At least the Orb of the Vigors would cause no more harm, he thought. He leapt from the litter, Wigg quickly following him.

Shailiha was the first to greet him. She took him into her arms, a question in her tear-filled eyes.

"Celeste?" she asked.

Tristan shook his head.

Shailiha hugged him tighter. "I'm so sorry," she said.

"I know," he answered.

She looked back into his face and studied him. "What has happened to you?" she asked. "Are you all right?"

Tristan caressed his sister's cheek. "Yes," he answered. "My blood is finally healed."

He was about to speak again when they all heard a massive explosion. As a group, they ran to the edge of the rooftop and looked over.

To their horror, part of one of the walls surrounding the palace had been smashed to bits by an Earthshaker. Raising its head in triumph, the monster gave an earsplitting scream. Demonslavers followed, eagerly waving their swords.

His hands balled up into fists, Tristan burned with rage. His worst fears had been realized.

With a swipe of its tail, the Earthshaker destroyed another section of the wall. The drawbridge tumbled down to crash headlong into the moat. Demonslavers quickly lifted it to span the water, and in a moment they were pouring through the entrance, while hungry K'tons descended into the palace grounds.

Soon the entire place was alive with the sounds of battle. The wounded victims of the orb tried to run for their lives, but there was no place for them to hide. The K'tons pounced on them, tearing them limb from limb and devouring them greedily.

Tristan look over at Faegan. The wizard nodded; they were ready. Tristan then hurried to Traax.

"This is the most desperate battle of our lives, but I cannot lead you," he said. "My place is here this time. You know that."

Traax bowed his head slightly. "I understand, my lord," he answered. "No matter what happens, it has been an honor to serve by your side."

Another explosion rocked the palace. Tristan looked over at Duvessa, Dax, and Ox and waved them to him. They were by his side in an instant, dreggans drawn. He looked at each of them for what he feared would be the last time. With the same thought in his heart, Traax gently wrapped his wings around Duvessa.

"Follow Traax's orders to the letter!" Tristan said. "There are too many of the enemy to defeat by yourselves. Most, if not all, of you may die this night. But you have to buy us time, time for the wizards to work the craft. Above all, you must somehow keep the enemy from taking this roof. Go now!"

The four of them came to attention and raised their dreggans high. Their blades flashed briefly in the firelight.

"We live to serve!" they shouted, then ran to the edge of the roof and launched themselves.

Another explosion shook the building. Fire began to lick at the inner ward of the palace. Tristan looked over the edge.

Most of the surrounding walls were gone. The Black Ships were fast approaching, their dark hulls looming in the nighttime sky. Unaware that their leader was dead, the captains rained azure bolts down upon the beleaguered city with abandon, killing anything in their path. Soon the Black Ships would sail over what was left of the walls and the battle would be over.