The Dark Path (40 page)

“Without a problem. Would you like anything special done with his corpse?” The dragons eyes burned hungrily.

“No. Do with it what you will.” The dragon turned his fiery eyes to Beth.

“The scales suit you well, young mageling.”

“Thank you.” Beth bowed slightly at the compliment.

“Come and visit me at the Citadel later. We will have some tea.” The beast let out a bellow of a laugh as it launched itself into the air. Gen turned to Beth.

“Is he serious, Master?”

“He makes good tea.” Gen turned his horse around to face the direction of the cave. “Try to keep up.” He kicked his heels into the horse and galloped up over the hill toward the nearby mountain line. Beth took flight and glided easily behind him. They arrived at the cave to find the black dragon's corpse laying shredded to large chunks. Blood covered the ground all around the entrance. Gen didn't see his friend so he slowed his horse and dismounted. He patted the horse on the nose. “Eat if you are hungry.” He said to the horse. He walked calmly toward the mouth of the cave. He had to restrain himself from running. He had other obstacles yet to face.

“Master, shall I come with you?” Beth asked quietly.

“It may mean your life,” Gen replied coldly.

“You might need my help, Master.” She hoped he wouldn't be mad at her for that.

“True. Be on guard,” Gen said simply. They walked on in silence till they arrived at the cave entrance. Gen could see no spells cast over the entrance. He stepped to the entrance when he heard Beth scream. He turned to see a dark rapier tip protruding from her chest, a figure in black robes trimmed in blue flames standing behind her. The figure withdrew the blade and Beth fell limp to the ground. The figure reached up and pulled back his hood. He was an elf, Gen could see the pointed ears. His skin was ebony black and his white hair was held back in a long braid. His eyes glowed a deep red.

“At last we meet.” The voice was heavily D'Nhian accented.

“Who are you?”

“You wound me! I am your rival.” The dark elf smiled in a sneer. His eyes glowed a deep red.

“I wasn't aware that I had a rival.” Gen's mind was racing. He could feel no spells being cast though. He would keep up the banter a little longer. “Just what is it that we are in competition for?”

“Our Dark Lord's favor of course. It seems that for me to become his General I have to kill you.” He licked his lips. “Oh how I've longed to kill you.”

“Why would you want to kill me? If you want to become Necros Rex' General, then do so. I do not desire the job.” Gen was confused. What was all this about?

“Oh, but you are his favorite. He chose you specially. His plans for your training were ingenious. Though of course, I'm much better without having gone through it.” He laughed. “To think a mage would think himself stronger than a follower of the Dark Lord.” He laughed again.

“I really don't care what you think. Right now all I care about is that you are in my way and you seem to have killed my apprentice.” He looked down at Beth but could see that she was still breathing faintly. He hoped that her demon blood would keep her alive.

“Oh, she's not dead. She may be fun to play with after I deal with you.” He grinned revealing sharp white teeth. “So, what shall be the method of our duel? I'm your match at everything so I will allow you to choose.” Gen could feel the presence of the lord of the dead over them both. So the Master was watching his puppets play. He hoped he enjoyed the show.

“How about physical combat? I don't feel like wasting magic on you,” Gen goaded his opponent a bit.

“Oh lovely! Shall we fight here?” The dark elf's eyes burned with his blood lust.

“In just a moment.” Gen bent and picked up Beth. He carried her well out of the way. As he lay her down, she grabbed his wrist with her left claw. “He is more than he appears,” She whispered before she lost consciousness once more. Gen turned from her and walked back to face the dark elf.

“Are you finally ready? I'm afraid I can't wait any longer.” His red, glowing eyes pulsed slightly.

“Then let's begin.” Gen drew his katana just in time to block the elf's lunge. He was fast. Gen had to give him that. Gen pushed the rapier point away and finished his draw. The elf licked his lips and smiled. He winked and flew at Gen. Gen saw a blur of blade points all seemingly coming at once toward his face. He brought his shield up just in time. The force of the blows knocked him back slightly. Gen looked at his shield to find it riddled with a dozen holes. So his blade cut through his defensive spells. Gen began to sweat a bit under his helm.

“Will you hold a second?” Gen asked.

“Most certainly. Don't take long though.” The elf giggled and stepped away. Gen removed his shield and helm. He took off all his armor wearing only the black cotton pants that he wore underneath. He went through a short series of stretches. When he was finished, he nodded to the elf.

“I'm ready.” As soon as the words were said the attacks came again. This time Gen responded with the same speed. Steel rang against steel throughout the valley. The combat went on without break for a long time till the elf stepped away. He was breathing heavily and his face was twisted into a snarl. Gen stood calmly, his breathing was light and untroubled. His expression was blank.

“How are you able to block my attacks with that stupid weapon?” The elf panted out.

“I'm merely better than you are,” Gen said quietly. The elf screamed as he came at Gen again. The blades rang their song of violence once more. This time Gen started attacking as well. Soon the elf was backing slowly away from Gen's constant counterattacks. The elf suddenly slipped on a pool of dragon's blood that covered the ground. Gen took the opportunity and sliced the elf upon the arm before he caught his balance. The dark elf's eyes burned in anger and he pushed his left hand outward toward Gen. Lightning arced from his fingers and covered Gen. Gen fell to the ground under the attack as the lightning burned through his shields. He hurriedly cast another shield but felt the rapier tip rip through his left shoulder. Gen didn't cry out in pain. He brought up his blade to impale his opponent but the elf ripped Gen's blade out of his hand with another spell. Gen knelt upon the ground and looked up at the hatred in the dark elf's eyes.

“We agreed no magic,” Gen said through clenched teeth.

“Your rules. Not mine. Now you die.” The blade ripped out of Gen's shoulder and Gen braced himself for the killing blow. It didn't come. Gen opened his eyes to see the dark elf held off the ground a few feet. A massive hand was clenched around the elf's throat and was squeezing. The elf's eyes were starting to bulge out of his head. His arms and legs twitched uselessly. Gen's opponent suddenly covered his body with green fire. The fire didn't burn the hand that held him though. The flames quickly died out as if they were drained into the one holding him. Gen stood slowly and looked up to his savior. He nodded as he recognized Duncan.

“What shall I do with him?” Duncan's deep voice said calmly.

“Lower him so I can reach his head,” Gen replied. Duncan lowered the elf and Gen reached up and placed his right palm upon the elf's forehead. The dark elf's eyes glowed with bright white light. The body turned to ash a second later.

“Thank you, Duncan,” Gen said calmly.

“What I did in the past can never be forgiven. My life is yours if you want it,” Duncan said flatly.

“We'll discuss that later. For now, help me by gathering Beth over there.” Gen motioned toward his apprentice's unconscious form. “It's time I brought her back. I will return shortly.” Gen walked into the cave, blood flowed down the wound in his shoulder. He didn't seem to notice.

XXXIII

Awakening

The cave was lit with a dim green light that flowed from around a stone dais. Atop the dais, lay Meeka's still form, dressed in white robes, her body eerily lit by a sphere of green energy that covered the area. Gen's eyes shimmered briefly as he looked at the weave of magic cast upon it.

The weave was tight and complex. Its patterns shifted slightly every few seconds. He walked forward and placed the symbol on his palm against it. His eyes lit with green light as well and the weave stripped itself apart. He approached slowly and gently picked Meeka up. She didn't looked to have aged a day since he had last seen her. Her body was slightly warm but she wasn't breathing and had no pulse. Gen looked back up and chanted a few words softly.

Instantaneously, he was standing before the gates of the Schola. He looked up and the gates flew open and smashed against the walls. He walked slowly to the main ritual circle and laid Meeka down gently in the center. He chanted a simple spell and his robes and possessions came to him. He got dressed quickly then chanted a few more words and a sphere of silver energy formed around the circle. Lightning arced off the surface of the sphere to the ground nearby. He walked to the side two steps and reached up into the air. Making a ripping motion with his hands, he tore through reality and opened a gate. He walked through the rift.

On the other side of the rift, Gen stepped out onto the bottom of the hematite stairs of a throne room. Skulls of Hematite lined the edges of the stairs, their eyes glowing with green flame. Gen looked up and saw that the God of death was sitting upon his throne. The God stood and slowly clapped his hands.

"You've done well." The voice was a whisper but echoed throughout the hall.

"You know what I have come for." Gen's voice was shaking with barely contained anger.

"Oh yes. The question is. Why should I give it to you?" The whisper was mocking and faint laughter rang out from the walls.

Gen sighed and slowly walked up the steps.

"Do you plan to take it from me?" The laughter was louder now.

"You have left me with no other choice." Gen's tone was flat. The anger was gone. He slowly drew his blade.

"You expect to wound me with that?" The skull of death frowned. "You forget your place."

Gen ignored the God and jabbed the handle of the katana into his wounded shoulder. Blood began to flow easily from the wound once more. He stopped his ascent and let the blood flow over the blade. The sigils he had placed upon the blade long ago began to glow a dull red. He turned and looked back up and once more began the climb.

"You are a stubborn one." Death sighed and shrugged his shoulders underneath his black robes. "I spent all those years molding you to this point. You have power because I led you to it. You have knowledge because I gave you a cause to gain it. You are my puppet and you will obey me!" Death raised his right hand and Gen felt the God start to pull at his soul. Gen smiled slightly.

"That won't work on me." Gen's tone was quiet.

"You cannot defy me!" Death clenched his fist and Gen felt the icy touch of death around him. His smile grew a bit more.

"I have told you. That will not work on me." Gen's tone was a bit louder. His eyes started to shimmer.

"Fool!" Death ripped his hand downward. Gen gritted his teeth and his vision shifted into the weave view. Everything here was the magic of a God. The patterns threatened to drive him mad. He focused upon the God. He saw the weave of the spell death was casting upon him. He saw it wrapped around his soul. Gen closed his eyes, and let go of the power he had been holding back since he had gotten the symbol on his hand. Blinding light of every color and void shot through his being like a thunderbolt. Fire covered his body. His ears heard nothing but roaring static. He opened his mouth to scream at the pain.

"What have you..." Death drew back a step. "You'll undo us all!"

The sound in Gen's ears stopped and the stabbing blindness lifted. He opened new eyes and looked at the God of death before him. He understood his pattern now. It was simple. He took the last three steps and stood face to face with Death.

"Give me her soul or die here." Gen's voice sounded alien to his ears. It echoed off the walls.

Death responded by drawing his scythe.

"So be it."

The two forces began combat. With every checked blow, sections of the various realms around them were destroyed.

The embodiment of nature stood silent in her realm. Winter had taken it and she stood as white and frozen as the rest of her surroundings. A human stood beside her. She spoke soft words to him but he shook his head in refusal and ran to the edge of the wounded realm. He looked up at the two dark forms at war. One was black the other silver-black. He screamed up in defiance at them. The black form turned and grabbed him. The human soul, forged instantly into a blade and he swung viciously at the silver-black form with it. The other dodged to the side and struck with its blade of black and red. The human-sword flew back toward nature herself. The blade cut through her right arm severing it cleanly, at the elbow. Blood flowed out of her wound and her realm returned to spring with the touch of her life blood. The human soul forged into a blade wept.

The endless battlefield of the Gods of Norsehiem found both sides frozen as the two forms flew through. The Black form resolved itself back into the God of Death, his scythe held at the ready. The silver-black form resolved itself back into Gen, his katana in a defensive stance. Necros Rex dashed at the combatants but Gen interceded. Stopping him from destroying or using those around him. A one handed God stood and walked to the clearing. He saluted Gen, solemnly, then brandished his sword to the God of Death. Necros Rex melted back into the black form and jumped away to another realm, his opponent following close behind.