Chapter 7 Part 1

THE GATE

It was an intrepid sextet of adventurers that departed the Glade of Gale that morning. With Yoan in the lead, they climbed rapidly to the border of the Janus Valley. It was a short trip, maybe half an hour, before they were high enough into the foothills to see the valley stretching out like a painting behind them.

They didn't have time to enjoy the scenery. Almost as if they had tripped some invisible alarm, they were attacked. A huge rock the size of a bucket shattered against a tree trunk near Yoan. The shock sent a cascade of leaves fluttering to the ground. Fragments of the rock embedded themselves in the centaur's left arm. He let out a cry that was both warning and an expression of pain.

Almost as suddenly, another rock slammed into the ground at Calista's feet. It kicked up a spray of dirt but otherwise did no damage. Calista jumped back reflexively, and after a moment's startle, drew her bow and bent the limbs. She slipped the string loop into the groove at the end then tested the setting with a pluck. The string hummed a baritone note. Satisfied that it the bow was braced, she lifted the leather flap on her hip quiver and pulled an arrow forth and notched it. Then she looked around for something to shoot.

At first it appeared as if the mountain itself was attacking them, but after a few other rocks pounded into the ground--they were easily enough to dodge if you knew they were coming--the trees ahead of them parted to reveal at least four creatures about twice the size of Ruk charging forth.

Upon seeing them, Yoan swore and warned that they were being attacked by ogres. The ogres were as tall as a small tree, and as broad as small shack. They had very long arms and were sparsely covered with matted hair. Muscles like miniature boulders bulged under their skin as they shoved the more limber trees apart like tall weeds.

At the sight of the brutes, Calista almost dropped her bow and turned to run, but with a bellow of battle, Ruk stepped between her and one of the onrushing ogres. The huge ax swished once and an ogre staggered back clutching a gash oozing yellow blood on its left thigh. Ruk did not let up. He took three strides forward and brought the ax back in another slash. This time the ax bit higher and the ogre groaned as its entrails boiled out of its midsection and spilled on the ground.

Calista watched numbed as the act took place before her. It was, in fact, the first fight in which she was taking an active part. She felt detached. It was as if she were a spectator watching a play. It was not until blood, red blood, splattered on her arm that she came to her senses.

To her left, Armegon and Ultrecht stood back to back. Before Ultrecht was a huge glowing sword hovering in the air. As he gestured with a small glass dagger and the huge sword would follow suit. The ogre was covered in burn marks from where the swords magic glow inflicted damage.

Armegon was gesturing at fallen stones and they in turn would levitate and slam into a third ogre. This ogre was retreating and swatting at the half dozen or so of hovering debris as if they were annoying insects.

Avery jabbed an ogre in the midsection with the stout walking stick he was carrying then reached to the ground to retrieve Yoan's fallen spear. He set his feet and then planted the spear point and several feet of the haft into the ogre's midsection. The young centaur lay on the ground. One of his legs was badly mangled in a compound fracture. Bloody bone protruded from the side of the injured limb.
Calista then faced her first combat decision. She instantly made her decision. Avery had just thrown his spear. He was defending the fallen Yoan, but now he was weaponless, or was he? She wondered as she drew the bow and released the first arrow why he didn't draw the magic sword.

Calista's arrow embedded itself deep in the ogre's chest. The creature, already badly wounded by the spear stumbled back and retreated into the forest. Calista drew another arrow and notched it. This time she buried the arrow into the neck of the ogre Armegon had been pummeling with rocks. The ogre growled and swiped at Armegon but looked menacingly in her direction. She drew another arrow and let it fly as well. This one missed as the ogre lunged to one side.

The creature then changed direction and came straight at her. Two mule sized fists came soaring over her head and came crashing down on top of her. She stared, paralyzed with fear as the blow fell. Just before the impact came, she felt something grip her body like being wrapped in a thick quilt. She suddenly zipped up and to the right to hover about twelve feet in the air. The ogre's fists slammed into the ground, and Ruk's ax removed the fist's from the arms.

Howling in pain, the ogre clutched its stumps tightly to its chest and ran blindly into the woods. Calista saw only one more ogre. Ultrecht casually struck another blow at the creature with the huge glowing sword. The ogre was not the most intelligent creature in the world, but it was far from stupid. It saw itself greatly outnumbered. That coupled with the defeat of its comrades gave it reason to doubt its chances of successfully winning this battle. With a growl of defiance, it turned and ran back the way it had come.

Armegon made a gesture with his hand, and Calista floated to the ground. She started bouncing and clutching her side as if in pain. Armegon rushed over to her. "Are you okay?" he asked. She shook her head and whispered in his ear. Armegon frowned. "Why didn't you go before we left?" he asked irritated. "Try that clump of bushes over there." He pointed to a thicket back down the path they had come from. "That should be safe. Don't take too long. As you can see we are vulnerable right now."

Avery was kneeling next to Yoan when Armegon approached. "How is he?"
"He has a broken leg," the healer gestured at the fracture, "and some fragmented rock in his arm. He’s in mild shock, but with a little work, I can bring him to and splint the leg." Avery wiped his blood stained hands on the bark of a tree. "It would be easier if we used magic," he complained.

"I don't know if my healing ability is strong enough to mend a fracture this severe," Armegon said. "I’m pretty sure it won't be traceable, but there’s always the possibility that Quickdraw might pick up on it. I haven't done any healing since I reorganized my spell casting."

Avery took some thread from a pouch under his tunic. He then pulled a needle from the hem of his sleeve. "Well we either take a chance on your magic, or we turn around and take him back into the valley. I can sew up the wounds, but he’s not going to be able to travel for a while."

Ultrecht came forward. "If we go back, they’ll be ready for us next time. I don't like to pay toll twice on the same road."

Armegon conceded. "Okay," he said to Ultrecht. "I'll do the magic, but the priority of realigning his power," he jerked a thumb at Avery, "has just increased severely."

"Agreed" Ultrecht said. "Get on with it."

Armegon and Avery worked on Yoan for almost an hour. Armegon applied the magic slowly to avoid a surge that might alert the warlocks of their location. Ruk, Calista and Ultrecht kept a vigilant watch for a second attack by the ogres or something else.

Fortunately no attack came. The ogres had apparently been trashed severely enough to keep them at a distance. Ultrecht passed the hour by inspecting the ogre carcasses. Calista expressed her disgust when he took a tiny thimble and filled it with the yellow ogre's blood. He explained that it could be used to create potions that could increase her strength for a short duration. She assured him she wanted no part of it. Ultrecht laughed.

"For Sam's sake," he reminded her, "we can't ignore anything that might help him."

"That isn't fair," she complained. "For Sam I would do anything."

"I know," he assured her.

Finally Armegon announced that the healing was complete. With the exception that Yoan was asleep, he looked perfectly normal. Where the leg had been broken, was the pink line of a new scar. The shrapnel wounds were completely gone and the centaur appeared to be sleeping peacefully.

"He’ll be very tired and probably weak for the rest of the day, so I recommend we walk slowly and take breaks frequently," Avery told them. "The amount of travel time left was supposed to be an hour and a half, but I recommend we stretch it out to two or two and a half hours. We don’t want him to over exert himself. If he gets pushed too hard, he could pass out and be in a coma for several days. That would be worse."

Armegon gently woke Yoan. The centaur complained that his leg itched and he was tired, but he was otherwise ready to move onward. Armegon and Avery helped him to his feet. They also helped out by lightening their guide's pack and dividing the weight amongst themselves. Armegon suggested that they keep their weapons at the ready.

"Avery," Calista asked as she walked at the ranger's side. "I was wondering. Why didn't you use your magic sword?"

"That’s a good question," Avery told her. "First let me tell you that every time I use the sword's magic, I have to fight with it to keep control of it. That takes a lot of concentration. The sword didn’t want to fight. In its opinion we were trespassing on the ogres' territory, and should’ve run instead of fight." Avery shifted the weight of his pack to make it more comfortable. "I didn't have time to argue with it."

"Didn't the sword think that for them to attack up was wrong?" Calista asked.

"Maybe it is from our point of view, but it’s possible that the ogres felt justified in the attack. I agree that we might’ve been able to avoid the bloodshed if they’d approached us on more friendly terms, but they didn't."

Avery tried to explain the swords methods. "Try to think of the sword as a third party who is watching two people argue. It tries to see both sides of the issue then judges who’s right and who’s wrong. This time it felt that we were in the wrong."

Calista frowned. "Then if we have to travel to Aspberg to get Sam's mind, will the sword help us or not?"

Before she could do anything, Avery whipped the blade free of its scabbard, took her hand, and placed it upon the handle with his own. "Ask it yourself," he said.

Calista felt a whispering in her mind.

You have a question, the whisper sounded in her mind. It was a statement of fact, not a question itself. Calista did not know how, but she could sense that the sword knew her innermost thoughts.

"Yes," she answered aloud.

You do not need to speak aloud.

Will you help us free Sam, Calista thought.

The question is subjective. I will not oppose your effort so long as your actions are righteous.

"Well what of Sam!" she exclaimed aloud.

Sam was kidnapped. the sword answered. I will destroy anyone who took part in that kidnapping who gets in our way. The handle tingled in her hand and she felt a surge of power run through her. She had a vision of standing on a hill overlooking a vast army of enemies, she held the sword out and it became a bolt of lightning slaying every soldier before her.

For a moment Calista was prepared and fully convinced that she could walk into the Dark Citadel of Aspberg and destroy the warlock and all the evil gods that supported House Blackheart. But at the last moment, something, she did not know what, brought her attention back to where she was and their quest.

What of the ogres? she asked silently. Why did you not help?

The ogres were innocent of the wrong done to you. You were on their property without permission carrying weapons. They acted reasonably.

I guess I can understand, Calista thought.

You are a wise for your years, but impulsive. I am content to obey he who carries me. He is wise and just. I do not think he will allow your companion to remain captive.

Calista gave a sigh of relief. Thank you, Calista said, but the sword did not respond and a firm but gentle shock knocked her hand from the hilt.

"Did you learn what you needed?" Avery asked as he sheathed the mysterious weapon.

"I think so," Calista said. "Thanks." She glanced once more at the hilt of the sword. Somehow she knew that the sword had held back its tremendous power to spare her mental and physical harm. She quietly wondered if carrying such a weapon was not more of a curse than a privileged. She almost hoped never to experience something like that ever again.

"Don't mention it," Avery said. "By the way, those were some very good shots you made back there. I think you’re going to make a fine archer." Calista smiled. For the first time she felt as if she were a real part of the team and not just a lovesick girl trying to save her mate.

They traveled for another hour and a half before the second attack came. This time there were no ogres involved. This attack seemed to come from out of thin air. They were traveling along in pairs when suddenly two behemoths appeared on either side of their column. The things resembled very wide and fat gray stumps, like a boulder at least two meters in diameter. They had a set of three thick legs and several long stout tentacles. The constant motion of the tentacles made an accurate count difficult.

So sudden was their appearance, that they took Ruk by surprise. One huge arm snaked out and wrapped itself about him several times. A gasp of breath was proof that he would soon be strangled to death by the constrictor tentacle. A second tentacle reached out and cuffed Yoan in the back of the head with sufficient force to drive him to his knees...all four of them. Still a third tentacle barely missed Armegon who dodged the attack via some fancy footwork. He made a diving roll to his left and avoided a fourth tentacle as well.

Ultrecht, Avery, and Calista had managed to evade their monster's attacks since it was a little slower and they had been forewarned. Calista had sprinted out of the tentacles reach. She whirled and in a motion so smooth Avery would later say that Keeneye himself would have been proud, she drew and arrow, nocked it and loosed it with deadly accuracy deep into one of the gray things.

Ultrecht too made a break for a safe distance, but was caught by the foot as he fled. He fell to the ground, the precious staff with its stored emergency spells was jarred from his hand and lay agonizing inches out of his grasp. He rolled over and reached for his spell pouch even as he felt himself being dragged closer to the creature.

Avery, quarterstaff swinging wildly, made a running leap and attacked the tentacle holding Ruk. He smacked the limb several times with no effect. The first creature coiled its fourth and third tentacles again and flung them whip-like at the ranger. Avery flung the staff out to meet them and the tentacles yanked the staff from his hands. As if to show its victim how helpless he was, the creature then proceeded to break the staff in half. But, Avery was far from helpless. With blinding quickness, his left hand reached over his shoulder and the Sword of Justice slid free of its scabbard.

Calista saw the motion and half expected a glow or flash of light or buzzing or a ringing to accompany the sword. From all the stories she ever heard, all magic swords announced their presence boastfully. Avery's sword remained silent.

A flash did occur to her left and the smell of brimstone assaulted her nostrils as a ball of flame erupted about the creature she had first shot. It was the one that had attacked Ultrecht, Avery , and herself. Armegon had dealt with that creature by engulfing it in flame.

Calista loosed another arrow. This time she shot the monster that had Ruk, and was fighting Avery. Again, her aim was true. The arrow embedded itself in the monster's body fully so that only the fletching showed. That had to smart, she thought. But, it seemed to not faze the creature at all.

Avery turned and the magic blade flicked out and neatly severed the tentacle holding Ruk. The constriction ceased and the amputated limb fell to the ground. The minotaan fell to his knees panting and clutching his chest. Avery spun and the sword made a wide arc to his left. Another tentacle dropped bodiless to the ground. Avery now had the monster's undivided attention. That was its mistake. As Calista watched, a sizzle was heard, and the hairs on her neck and arms stood up. A flash of blue off to her right flicked and before her very eyes, a bolt of brilliant blue lightning flashed out and tore into the monster.

Calista felt certain that the fight was over, until she saw the flame scorched monster Armegon had toasted moving again. The tentacles were coiling up and preparing to launch at the still battered Ruk.

Shouting a warning, Calista loosed an end of three arrows into the body of the thing before the tentacles lashed out. This time, however, they met a pair of swift swords. Avery and Armegon, standing side by side weaved a deadly wall of metal between the tentacles and their victim. To Calista's satisfaction, Armegon's sword emitted a soft blue spark every time it hit a tentacle, and a chiming, like the sound of a soft gong sounded.

Ruk slowly got to his feet and staggered out of range of the monster. Ultrecht helped a dazed Yoan get some distance as well. Calista watched for a moment then decided to put another end of arrows into the monster. Even if it was immune to them, she at least could distract it.

She just released her third arrow when she saw Ultrecht urgently gesture for her to come to him. She complied and was totally surprised when a tentacle of a third monster just barely missed tagging her foot as she trotted forward.

Stunned by the close call, she barely noticed when Avery lifted her off her feet in his strong arms and carried her up the trail. "That was close," Armegon said as he brought up the rear.

"What were those?" Ultrecht asked. "I noticed that they were not vulnerable to Armegon's fire attack."

"I think they were what we’d call, Earth Demons," Avery said. "They’re not native to this area. That’s why I used the sword."

"How many did we get?" Ruk asked, though it obviously pained him to do so.

"Two," Armegon told him. "Ultrecht's lightning killed one, and the magic swords killed the other."

"And the third?" Yoan asked rubbing his head.

"We decided that if we could avoid the fight altogether, why risk it?" Armegon glanced back as he spoke. "If everyone can travel. I’d like to get a move on. Those demons were gating in from another plane. If we stay in one spot, and they’re very persistent, we could get in deep trouble very, very fast."

They took Armegon's advice and resumed their hike. Before another hour passed, they were climbing the rocks of Mount Gale. Not long afterward they stood just inside the cavern entrance.

The entrance consisted of a pair of very old pillars with some ancient writings engraved into the stone. No one recognized the language and, neither did anyone care to hazard a guess to its message. Yoan told them that the Janusians made a pilgrimage to the cave every ten years, right after the summer year, to celebrate the valley's bounty. He told them that no ill ever befell them once they entered the cave.

Unanimously it was agreed to proceed into the cave.