Chapter 15-3

It took them days of research to make headway. The first tantalizing hints were just that—hints. Oblique mentions of some past horror involving the Javni'Tolkhrah, but never anything clear. It was as if there was some agreement between the authors not to speak of the subject more.

It was Garkhen who at last stumbled upon a hint. Theorizing that, if there were indeed some agreement to banish all memory of something, it was more likely to have happened later rather than sooner, he had gone to some of the oldest-looking books on the shelf and started reading them carefully.

He frowned as he ran across one passage in particular. The Warder re-read it a couple of times, then looked up at his friends. “Look here. I believe I have found something.”

Almonihah, who had been focusing more on teaching Zakhin'Dakh to read than actually reading himself, looked up. “What?”

“This passage mentions a “Chainer” in connection with the Javni'Tolkhrah. It sounds possible, does it not?”

Almonihah grunted. “Were chains all over th' Amulet,” he admitted, cautiously. “What's it say?”

“Simply that 'Since the Chainer's death, the Chaos Mages have never again so threatened our world.' From there it goes on to discuss the hunting of Chaos Mages,” Garkhen stated, a hint of disapproval in his tone.

“Hm. 'Least it's something,” Almonihah replied, not sounding very impressed. He looked over at the Mage-Archivist. “Chainer mean anything to you?”

Mage-Archivist Delanoche frowned. “Chainer... Chainer... Let me see...” He went over to another set of shelves in the room and started looking over the books there. After a long moment he pulls one off and opens it, flipping through.

“Ah, here it is,” He declared after several minutes of searching. “This passage discusses the summoning of Chaos Beasts, as practiced by 'The Chainer'.”

Garkhen looked up at the Mage-Archivist, an unasked question in his gaze. After a moment, he asked, instead of the question on his mind, “What does it say of him?”

Mage-Archivist Delanoche scanned a couple of pages. “That the author's opinion is that The Chainer bound existing Chaos Beasts to his will rather than summoning them. This is a book on summoning, you see.”

“Does it say anything about the Amulet?” Garkhen asked, gazing intently at the book.

After several minutes he shook his head. “No. He says nothing of relevance to our problem. Simply his reasons for why he believes what he does, none of which mention any artifacts.”

The group was silent for a moment, until Garkhen stated, “That does, at least, seem to confirm this Chainer is related to this subject, for the Amulet seems to have power over the Javni'Tolkhrah...”

“So we have a name t' look for,” Almonihah finished, when Garkhen trailed off. “Something, I suppose.” After a moment he narrowed his eyes. “Something in here on ancient wars?”

There were, indeed, books on ancient wars, which led to books on war magic, and so on through many subjects. Slowly they were able to piece together a picture of the Chainer.

“To summarize what we have found,” Garkhen said a few days later, as they stood again before the remaining Archmagi, “This Chainer found some way to bind Javni'Tolkhrah to his will. If anyone knew it was this Amulet, there are no records here we can find of it. It seems that he used this power to wage a terrible war on one of the early human kingdoms, nearly overcoming it before they were saved by the intervention of the dwarves.”

“After which everybody decided t' hush up about th' whole thing,” Almonihah interjected. “Probably didn't want anyone else getting ideas.”

“Unfortunately, as none of them mention the Amulet, we are left without definite word on how it might be destroyed,” Garkhen continued. “However...” He hesitated. “The records do mention that they had discovered the Javni'Tolkhrah chafed against their master's power, for Chaos is ever ill-suited to servitude...”

“So our best guess's that enough Chaos'd break it,” Almonihah finished. He growled a bit at the thought, but after a moment of displeasure, he added, “'nd if there's enough Chaos anywhere, it's probably th' in th' Maelstrom.” 

*********************

Apologies for the unplanned hiatus. Holiday time can be like that. It didn't help that I was debating on just how to do a library scene.

Chapter 15-2

The Mage's Guild Library was as massive as anticipated, with seemingly endless shelves filled with books from floor to ceiling, arranged in fanciful curves within a massive tower. Garkhen was clearly delighted to be in a library, as opposed to the dour Ranger, who looked at all of the books rather doubtfully. Zakhin'Dakh, again shrunken to a more indoor size, looked all about him with awe. He had no idea what these funny human things were, but there were a lot of them!

Garkhen immediately went to a desk, behind which a robed man was murmuring and waving a hand over a stack of books. He held up his other hand, palm out, at the approaching half-dragon, and Garkhen obediently waited for him to finish. With a final flourish of his hand, the books flew into the air, splitting up and floating across the library until they settled into empty places on shelves.

“Ah, our guests,” he said, looking the two half-dragons and griffon over. “I was informed you would be coming. I am Mage-Archivist Delanoche. What topic is it you wish to research?”

“We are looking for information about methods used to control the Madness-Touched,” Garkhen began.

“Indeed?” The Mage-Archivist interjected, looking surprised. “And why is this?”

“The artifact we are seeking to destroy seems to have been used for such,” the Warder explained. “We hope that by discovering something of its past, we might uncover clues as to how it might be destroyed.”

“Indeed,” Mage-Archivist Delanoche said again, though this time it was more an expression of understanding. “Information on chaos mages is usually restricted... however, you have permission to access whatever portion of our collection you require, and it seems you shall require what we have on the followers of Jivenesh. This way.”

He led the way through the shelves, weaving between them with the ease of long familiarity until he reached an unassuming door. He reached into a pocket on his robe and pulled out an elaborate key, which he inserted into the door's lock. The Mage-Archivist turned the key first one way, then another, then back, before at last twisting it all the way around. Then he murmured something, tapped a spot on the door, and removed the key.

A section of the wall next to the door slid open, revealing a small, unlit room, with a table at the center and more bookshelves on each wall. “This is the relevant portion of the restricted section,” Mage-Archivist Delanoche stated. “All of you enter so I may close the door.”

He watched as the three friends walked in, then joined them. With a quiet word the wall slid shut behind them, while a crystal globe hanging from the ceiling suddenly lit up, illuminating the room.

“Now, then... chaos mages, chaos mages...” he murmured, going down the shelves. “Ah, here. This shelf has all the books we have on the subject.” He waved a hand at them. “I must observe all use of the restricted section, so do please begin quickly.”

Almonihah looked down at Garkhen with a hint of a frown, but the Warder was already making his way over to the shelves. He looked over the titles and shuddered slightly. “This will certainly not be the most pleasant of reading... let us hope it is worthwhile.” 

*************************

Now, who remembers that name, hm? And yes, of course the Mage's Guild has a magical library.

Chapter 15-1

Chapter 15: Seeking Chaos's End

“It is true that evil itself is never truly defeated. At the least, it will not be so long as selfishness and hatred dwell in the hearts of men. But individual evils can be stopped, destructive beings turned from their course or, if needs be, slain.”

“It is... rather like a garden, I would suppose. Weeds will ever spring up, but so long as effort is put into exterminating them, one can still grow a good crop. So, too, must constant effort be put into curbing and reversing the growth of evil, lest it destroy everything of beauty and goodness.” --Garkhen

It took days for Zakhin'Dakh and Garkhen to be recovered enough to consider their next moves—days which Almonihah spent anxiously pacing around the Mage's Guild, watching for any signs of further attempts to steal the Amulet. He saw none, and each day it was returned safely to his keeping, but this hardly soothed the Ranger's nerves.

Nor did the wizards' discoveries do anything to calm him or his friends. In their studies, they found it was not simply a potent artifact of Chaos... but rather a potent artifact of controlling Chaos. How it worked they could not say, nor how the chaos mages had known of it, but they were able to divine that it was capable of bending the wills of Madness-Touched creatures to the bearer's commands... and that it had a dangerous will of its own.

It was clear to all that it had to be destroyed... but equally clear that such a task would be far from easy. By the time Garkhen had recovered from once again overextending himself, they still knew nothing of how it might be destroyed.

“Perhaps if we knew something of its history, we might guess at a method of destruction?” He suggested as he and Almonihah met once again with the guild's remaining archmages. “Surely such a thing must appear in records, even if it was not recognized for what it is?”

There was a moment of silence around the table as the others considered this proposal. Archmage Ganver was the first to respond.

“It's true that we haven't thought to check,” he admitted. “Perhaps you could go confer with the Mage-Archivists in the library? Then,” he eyed Almonihah, “You'd have something to occupy you other than pacing the halls.”

Almonihah grunted, acknowledging the point unhappily. “'nd the rest of you?”

“Will continue our current lines of research,” Ganver replied, promptly.

“That seems a fair idea,” Garkhen responded, before his friend could say anything further. “Shall we begin?”

*************************************

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Chapter 14-8

Garkhen, now thinking his friends safe enough, immediately fell asleep, too exhausted to stay conscious.

It did not take long to mop up the remaining Javni'Tolkhrah after that, but Zakhin'Dakh was hardly the only wounded, and there were many dead among the griffon-riders. It was a weary and wounded lot that flew back into Midport after the battle, many splitting off to visit various healers and priests in the city. Captain Theris found them and waved them over.

“We've not enough healers for everyone, but that wound takes priority over some,” he shouted as the three friends neared. They could see that he and his griffon both bore a few cuts and scratches of their own, but nothing too serious. “This way.”

He led them over the city to what was obviously the religious district of the city. A number of different temples—most of them to Mashano, but also a few to some other deities—seemed to compete with one another for beauty and size. A number of griffons had already landed in the various plazas and squares scattered about the area, with priests and acolytes rushing out to tend to them.

The Rider Captain landed in one of the less-crowded plazas and waved over one of the priests, pointing to the larger griffon descending behind him.

“Look to that leg—check it for poison, and stop the bleeding, at the least,” Theris ordered.

“And I suppose you're confident that your own wounds aren't poisoned?” The priest asked, already moving over to Zakhin'Dakh as he landed, keeping his weight off his injured leg. “Don't answer that, I have something that will handle it.”

He pulled out a large amulet, which seemed built around a straight white horn.

“Unicorn,” he stated, briefly touching it to some of the blood trickling from Zakhin'Dakh's injured leg. He examined it as he continued, “Given willingly, at the noble creature's death, to one of my predecessors, or so the story goes.”

He seemed satisfied by what he saw. “You're lucky. Whatever it was just had big teeth, not big poisonous teeth.” The priest murmured some words and waved a hand over Zakhin'Dakh's wounds, and the bleeding stopped.

He quickly examined his work. “It will heal naturally, now, if it's dressed. I doubt we've the power to spare for more right now.”

Almonihah, who had been trailing behind, landed behind Zakhin'Dakh while the priest went over to Captain Theris. The big griffon looked back at his friend.

Hurts, but not lots, he screeched.

Almonihah nodded. “Let's see about getting 't cleaned up 'nd bandaged, now.”

*******************************

Just a bit of time to calm down and clean up after the big battle. Next week, it'll be a new chapter! This is getting fairly close to the end now--chapter 19 or 20 will probably be the last one, by my current plan. 

Chapter 14-7

For the most part his arrows simply bounced off the monster's thick scales, though the blessing on them left little scorched spots on it as they did so. Zakhin'Dakh, meanwhile, charged at it.

“Be careful,” Garkhen cautioned him. “I cannot ward us much longer.”

The big griffon showed no signs of stopping, and so it was that, when the beast breathed fire upon them from its lower mouth, Garkhen's ward had to hold off the flames. The Warder gritted his teeth, fighting his growing exhaustion as Zakhin'Dakh plowed through the fire to attack his foe. But when his talons met scales, they merely scrabbled at them, unable to penetrate. The Javni'Tolkhrah dragon gaped its double jaws at the griffon...

...which meant they were open wide enough for Almonihah to shoot an arrow into the upper one. It roared in pain as it flinched backward, bleeding from the wound in its cheek, but more in surprise than from pain. Then one of the griffon-riders blasted it with a jet of magical acid, and it roared again as its scales hissed and steamed, dissolving away until the supernatural liquid dissipated. Another rider passed over its back, his griffon's talons finding no more purchase than Zakhin'Dakh's had as he attacked in passing.

Almonihah, however, noted the area on its shoulder hit by the acid, and fires an arrow at it. Unlike his previous shots, this one sunk in deep... and while it was only a small injury on a creature of such size, it was still far more effective than his other shots had been.

“More acid!” The Ranger shouted up at the griffon-riders above, having no clue which one had thrown the spell or if they could hear him.

Zakhin'Dakh noted the difference, as well, but soon found a giant maw descending towards him. The big griffon leaped backward just in time, the dragon-monster's lower jaw snapping shut just where he had been. Zakhin'Dakh slashed at its eyes, managing to pierce one with a talon... but with so many, it seemed like it wouldn't miss one.

“Look out!” A voice called from above.

Zakhin'Dakh jumped backward again, and the griffon-rider who had shouted hurled a ball of acid at the monster's head. It shrieked in pain as it struck home, splashing sizzling liquid all about its snout. Without even waiting for the acid to fade away, Almonihah fired an arrow at the spot, sinking one into its flesh just above the nostril.

The Madness-Touched dragon screamed in pain, thrashing about with its claws and teeth wildly, even though Almonihah was out of reach. Zakhin'Dakh, however, was not, and it clipped him with one claw, leaving a deep gash on his shoulder, and crashing into Garkhen with the hardened sole of its foot. The Warder was almost knocked off of Zakhin'Dakh's back, kept on only because he was strapped into the saddle. Unconsciousness threatened to overwhelm him, but Garkhen growled and gritted his teeth, maintaining his awareness by sheer force of will.

The big griffon backed up more to stay out of the reach of the beast's huge claws, while other griffon-riders began adding their own arrows to Almonihah's. The Javni'Tolkhrah, however, did not flinch away now, instead whipping its head around and exhaling a huge blast of flames, catching those riders who had drawn too close in the fire.

Zakhin'Dakh saw an opportunity while it was doing this, and leaped on it, sinking his talons into its shoulder where its scales had been softened and tearing bleeding gashes into it. It whipped its head back around, too fast for the griffon to evade, and seized one of his back legs in its maw. Zakhin'Dakh shrieked in pain, but Garkhen forced himself into action, bringing Silverflame down on the injured spot on its snout.

Holy fire burned corrupted flesh as Garkhen's mace impacted it, but it did not release its grip. As it dragged Zakhin'Dakh backwards, the Warder again lifted his mace, and again swung it down. Two more times he pounded upon the beast's snout, until with his last blow something cracked, and the Javni'Tolkhrah at last let go of the griffon's mangled leg.

This distraction gave the griffon-riders time to regroup, and now another volley of arrows struck it, some in the places its scales were weakened, while the spell-slinging rider again hurled an orb of acid, this time hitting its neck. Again it turned its attention skyward, but this time the riders were ready, and they scattered as its flames roared towards them.

Almonihah, still keeping his distance, shifted his angle to get a shot at its neck, sinking more arrows into its flesh. As he did, Garkhen considered Zakhin'Dakh's injury. It was clear the griffon could no longer use the leg.

“I am sorry, my friend,” he murmured, “But I haven't the strength to heal it now.”

The big griffon nodded his head jerkily, then awkwardly took to the air, retreating for now from the Javni'Tolkhrah dragon. It seemed to be slowing at last, blood flowing freely from the deep wounds in its shoulder, and trickling from around the many arrows now protruding from its flesh. Yet it fought on, spraying flames at any riders that drew too close. When they kept their distance, it started to lurch forward, down the slope.

Then another spray of acid struck it in the chin as it breathed fire at those above it. The monstrosity whipped its head over towards the spellcaster who had thrown the acid, but he had already flown back out of reach of its flames. Another griffon-rider zoomed by it, and it turned its head to follow.

Almonihah, seeing at last a chance to cause a mortal wound, fired an arrow at the now-unarmored place on its chin, but his arrow went wide, skipping off its uninjured shoulder again. Carefully, he watched it, nocking another arrow.

Another rider fired on it from the other direction, and it turned its head to follow. Almonihah fired, and this time his arrow flew true. It pierced through the weakened place on the Madness-Touched dragon's chin, through the roof of both mouths, and into its brain.

With a suddenness that no one had expected, it collapsed. It convulsed for a few moments, then at last lay still.

*************************************

Yeah, don't let dragons hang out in the Madlands. It's bad.

Chapter 14-6

Without being told, Zakhin'Dakh dove for the ground, shriek-roaring his battle challenge. There were, indeed, a large number of assorted Javni'Tolkhrah that had slipped through one of the mountain passes while the aerial battle raged and were now making their way down towards the steep slopes and cliffs that dropped down to Midport.

“Don't know how they plan t' get down,” Almonihah commented, again nocking an arrow to his bow, “But I don't plan t' find out.”

He fired just as Zakhin'Dakh plowed into the first one, tearing into it with talon and beak. Almonihah's arrow struck home in the shoulder of another monstrosity as the big griffon put down the first. Garkhen, weariness wearing at him, still spat out a bolt of lightning through the hoard, then braced his wards for the retaliation.

But there was none. The Javni'Tolkhrah simply charged past, towards the city, as more of the griffon-riders dove down around them to join the fray. Even with all this, the Madness-Touched simply charged forward, many dying as they left themselves open to griffons and riders, but some still getting through. Almonihah refocused his attention on those already past, while some of the griffon-riders moved to take off again.

“No! Stand your ground!” Captain Theris suddenly shouted from above, flying back towards the cliffs the Javni'Tolkhrah were headed for. “You'll let more through if you take off again! Leave these to us!”

The handful of riders with him dove down into the remaining Madness-Touched, tearing into them with talon and blade. Somehow, they managed to finish them before any of them reached the cliffs, though a couple died just as they reached it. And still, the Javni'Tolkhrah poured in... and now that so many griffon-riders were grounded, the aerial battle was growing desperate.

Then there was a tremendous blast of flames. Almonihah glanced back.

“Looks like th' wizards arrived,” he commented.

Standing on a half-dozen assorted wooden platforms which were now hovering in midair were some of the remaining mages of the Mages' Guild. All were staring into the melee, and here and there, one threw a bolt of lightning or a ball of fire, whereever there was a gap in the griffon-riders sufficient to do so relatively safely.

With their addition, the tide of battle again began to turn back against the monstrosities still pouring in over the mountains. At last, their stream of reinforcements began to slacken.

Garkhen frowned as he struggled to remain aware of his surroundings. “There is something... do you hear that?”

Almonihah grunted while continuing to fire his arrows, not sparing the time for a more understandable response in the midst of battle.

Before Garkhen could say more, however, the source of his worry appeared. Trundling over the top of the mountain into view, a horrific creature came. It was enormous, large as the greatest of dragons... nor was that the end of its draconic features. At the end of a long neck it had two great, toothy maws, stacked upon one another, with eyes scattered about its head nonsensically. From snout to tail it was covered in slate-gray scales, and it moved on a dozen clawed feet.

Almonihah turned his bow on it. “Least it doesn't have wings,” he growled as he began firing.

***********************************

Yeah, that might be bad. Apologies for not posting last week. I blame it entirely on Civ VI.

This Javni'Tolkhrah may or may not be inspired by this picture...

Chapter 14-5

One of the healers serving the griffon-riders cast a spell-prayer upon Zakhin'Dakh, easing the worst of his fatigue. Still, he felt slow flying after the other griffons, struggling to keep up with them. By the time he reached the mountains around Midport they were well ahead of him... and already engaged in combat. Dozens of twisted monstrosities had risen into the air to meet the griffon-riders, and now arrows and blasts of magical fire and ice sailed through the air between them.

Almonihah added his own arrows to the fray as soon as he felt he wasn't likely to hit an ally, the blessed projectiles gleaming as they arced towards their targets. Garkhen chanted a spell-prayer as they drew close, holding up his symbol of Bahamut and then breathing a bolt of lightning through it, his prayer turning it to a lance of holy energy that blasted one of the Javni'Tolkhrah from the sky. Then Zakhin'Dakh was there, his talons and beak slicing through muscle and bone as he crashed into the largest Madness-Touched he could see.

The midair battle raged fiercely, though to the exhausted friends it seemed almost a blur. Here, a griffon fell, rider screaming in fear as they plummeted. There one of the chaos-twisted monstrosities tumbled from the sky, head and chest pierced by more arrows than any creature should take to put down. Garkhen had to focus mostly on warding Zakhin'Dakh, for the big griffon was determined to stay in the thick of the fighting, but was too tired to evade properly. Almonihah simply continued firing arrows, aiming at whatever Javni'Tolkhrah he had a clear shot at.

The battle seemed to last forever, though it couldn't really have been more than a few minutes. But then the rider captain looked down.

“The ones on the ground! They've almost reached the city!”

*****************************

Even short posts must end on semi-cliffhangers.

Chapter 14-4

The lead griffon-rider's eyes widened. “What? Where are they?”

“We lost sight of them some time back,” Garkhen replied, as Zakhin'Dakh began to descend towards the city. “But given what we carry, I rather doubt they have lost track of us.”

“Well why did you bring it here, then?” The leader cried, expression hardening.

“Better 'an in th' hands of Chaos Mages,” Almonihah growled in reply. “What, Mages' Guild didn't tell you?”

“The Mages' Guild has had a... civil war of sorts,” the griffon-rider replied, grimly. “And I rather suspect what you carry was the catalyst for it. But if Chaos Mages seek what you bear, we are, at least, agreed that they cannot have it. Come.” He turned his griffon about and began flying towards the spires of the Mages' Guild.

Zakhin'Dakh screeched tiredly and tried to follow, but his wings didn't seem to want to work. Almonihah shouted, “We have t' land. Zakhin'Dakh here's been flying flat-out for hours, no way he can make 't across th' city now.”

“Then walk,” the lead griffon-rider called back. “I will bring word ahead, that we may begin to prepare our defenses.”

Zakhin'Dakh's wings were exhausted, but his legs were not, nor were Almonihah's. Garkhen rode on the big griffon's back as they made their way through Midport, his shorter legs too much of a liability when haste was needed. They saw others up and about, starting their day, though they often spared a curious glance for the odd group as they passed by. Almonihah kept glancing back, hoping he wouldn't see smoke rising at the edge of the city.

Thus far, the morning was quiet.

When they reached the Mages' Guild, however, it was clear that things had not been quiet overnight. Two of the guild's spires lay toppled, and several others were scorched or otherwise damaged. The griffon-rider from earlier was near the entrance, speaking with a robed man—the head Archmage at the table when they had first arrived in town. His expression was grave as the three friends approached.

“You survive,” he noted, rather unnecessarily. “Good. Though I wish you did not come trailing quite so many foes, given the obvious capabilities of that Amulet, I prefer knowing it is in your hands rather than that of the Chaos Mages. Unfortunately, I do not think we will have sufficient time to discover the secret of its destruction before those Madness-Touched reach us. And given our recent civil war, we are ill-prepared to face them.”

“Civil war?” Garkhen repeated. “What has happened here?”

“It would appear that there were a number of Chaos Mages in our guild,” the Archmage replied, the very calmness of his voice somehow speaking of his anger. “Apparently they thought the time to reveal themselves was upon them. Why Illusin helped you when he was one of them, I do not know...”

“Because he thought he was sending us t' our deaths,” Almonihah growled, eyes narrowed. “Underestimated us. Was close, though. Still is close.”

“Indeed,” the Archmage responded. “I fear you shall have little time to rest. Already our wards in the mountains are alerting us to the approaching horde. Given your involvement in this matter, I assume you shall go to the front lines of our defense...?”

Garkhen nodded. “Of course.”

The Archmage looked over at the griffon-rider. “Good. Captain Theris here will instruct you as to our preparations.”

The griffon-rider nodded. “They're coming from all across the southeastern mountains. How they're getting down the cliffs into the city, I don't know, but I'd rather not find out. We're marshaling in the square in front of Castle Midport. We've got some priests there who can do something for your wounds and fatigue. Come!”

He mounted his griffon and took off again, flying south. Zakhin'Dakh, still exhausted, followed on the ground, Garkhen on his back, while Almonihah jogged alongside.

The sun was fully up by the time they arrived. The square was huge, but full of activity. Zakhin'Dakh had never seen so many griffons in one place at once! Even when he'd visited the griffon-riders' aerie, they'd been scattered around too much for him to see many of them. But there was no time for him to socialize, for Captain Theris, seeing the three friends arrived, called for attention.

“Riders of Midport! We face now perhaps our greatest threat—hordes of Madness-Touched stream towards our city, and our mighty wizards are too broken by their own battle to give us much aid. But we cannot afford to let the monsters into Midport. And that is why they,” he gestured at the two half-dragons and griffon, “Will be coming with us. See that glowing pack? That's what all of the Madness-Touched are after. They'll come to it, and we'll kill them as they come, or die. I know which one of those I'd prefer, so you'd better not let me down. Now, we ride!”

*******************************

I had to come up with another name. In other news, Captain Theris is perhaps not the best at rousing speeches.

Chapter 14-3

Where go? Zakhin'Dakh asked.

“That way,” Almonihah responded, pointing to what he thinks is the northwest. “If we hit th' coast, we can follow it to Midport. Just have t' hope we're not too far.”

With that, the half-bronze dragon turned to look back at the Javni'Tolkhrah following them. He was right—none of them were fast enough to keep up with Zakhin'Dakh. He briefly considered firing some arrows at them, but didn't think he could while the big griffon was flying away at full speed, especially not backwards. Besides, they weren't really a threat right now... and they were so interesting, such a varied lot...

“...monihah, you are still holding the Amulet!” Garkhen's insistent voice broke into Almonihah's reverie.

“Hm?” Almonihah lazily turned back and looked at his hands. Sure enough, there it was, in one of his hands gripping the saddle. Funny, that. He remembered planning to do something else with it, but it worked there...

“Quickly! Put it in my pack!” The Warder, strapped in the saddle could afford using both hands to open and offer his pack to the other half-dragon.

Slowly, the realization that something was wrong percolated through Almonihah's thoughts. Slowly he released his grip on the saddle with the hand holding the Amulet, and brought it up over Garkhen's pack. But then...

“I can't let go,” Almonihah commented, dreamily. “Hand won't open.” It seemed kind of funny to him, somehow.

“You cannot?” Garkhen repeated, dismayed. Thinking quickly, he dug through his memory and called up a spell-prayer for reinforcing will. Lifting one hand from his pack to his symbol of Bahamut, he prayed for his god's aid for his friend.

Slowly, the haze over Almonihah's mind lifted, and his expression went from one of vacant bemusement to one of angry focus. Gradually his fingers began to open, until at last, the Amulet dropped into Garkhen's pack. It continued to glow brightly, colors shifting in sickening patterns, shining even through the leather of the pack.

Almonihah growled, shaking his head. “Hate that thing. Messing with my head. Can't destroy 't fast enough.”

Garkhen nodded, but said nothing, instead putting his pack back on. For some reason he suspected the Amulet would try to fall out if he let it, and so he made triple-sure his pack was buckled closed before replacing it.

They gradually left their pursuers behind... until all of a sudden, as a group, the Javni'Tolkhrah turned and dove, soon disappearing out of sight even to draconic eyes in the darkness.

“Don't like that...” Almonihah commented. “Still, you can probably slow down a bit, Zakhin'Dakh.”

The big griffon screeched a tired acknowledgment. Flying that hard had worn him out, and they still hadn't seen any familiar terrain, though it could well be that the night's darkness cloaked their goal from sight. Zakhin'Dakh stretched out his wings and stopped flapping nearly so often, soaring and gliding instead of flapping hard. He was still tired, but they dared not stop, not knowing what the Javni'Tolkhrah were doing.

At last, the first light of dawn started to gleam in the sky, just in time to reveal the spires of Midport on the horizon, visible between the dramatic peaks they were flying around. Soon enough Zakhin'Dakh was descending towards the city, aching wings just barely functional after so long a flight.

A half-dozen griffon-riders rose to meet them. Their leader recognized the odd little group. “You've returned! Though I was not informed you had left...” he began.

“No time t' talk,” Almonihah shouted back. “We've got a horde of Javni'Tolkhrah on our tails, and no idea when or where they'll show up!”

*************************************

Not quite a cliffhanger here, I guess... 

Oh, and if you haven't seen it, here's a rare picture of Almonihah smiling.

Chapter 14-2

The three were silent for a long moment. At last, Almonihah slowly said, “I still think Zakhin'Dakh's faster 'an them.”

Garkhen frowned. “Yes... but surely you are not suggesting...”

“Probably the only way,” Almonihah growled. “If he can draw enough of them away, I could probably dive in there and grab it.”

“No! It is too dangerous!”

“Got a better idea?”

“I hardly think suicide is a valid option!”

Suddenly Zakhin'Dakh shrieked a challenge and turned, diving down close to the swirling mass of Javni'Tolkhrah. Spiting a curse in Draconic, Almonihah dove off the griffon's back, trying to put some distance between himself and his friends so that they could put their desperate plan into action. Garkhen swiftly summoned up a ward around the valiant griffon.

He had to draw surprisingly close before the monstrosities responded, but when they did, it was as one. Zakhin'Dakh only just barely managed to pull aside before the teeth of those in the lead caught him. Pumping his wings as hard as he could, the huge griffon sped off, trailing a massive swarm of Javni'Tolkhrah. Even most of those on the ground were following him.

Most, however, was not all, and Almonihah didn't like the look of the few that were still milling around the man holding the Amulet. He'd grabbed a rag earlier—he didn't trust touching the Amulet with his bare skin, especially not how it was now—and he wrapped it around one hand, watching the Javni'Tolkhrah around his target... and then dove. Swiftly he soared over them until he neared the Amulet, then dipped down and siezed the Amulet's chain with his wrapped hand.

In spite of seemingly being dead, the man's grip was firm, and while Almonihah's fly-by snatch succeeded in pulling it out of his hands, the force required upset his inexpert flight, sending him tumbling to the ground just beyond the remaining monsters. Cursing again as he rolled to his feet, Almonihah immediately had to dodge a charging boar-tiger beast. Thinking quickly he leaped on its back as it passed, then jumped off and took to the air again as it rolled to try to throw him off.

As he flew away, one of the other beasts spit spines from a hideous tongue at him. Most missed, but one pierced his boot and stabbed into the foot within. He gritted his teeth against the pain as he fought to gain altitude, then turned to follow after Zakhin'Dakh. He hadn't thought this next part out too carefully.

Zakhin'Dakh, however, was loyal to his friend. In spite of the Javni'Tolkhrah on his heels, the big griffon turned in a big loop, staying just out of their reach as he came around to pick up his friend. Seeing the situation Almonihah turned himself, so as to be flying in the same direction when Zakhin'Dakh caught up to him again. Garkhen reached out a hand as they neared, and Almonihah managed to grab it and pull himself onto the griffon's back.

“Get to Midport!” He shouted as he changed his grip to the back of Zakhin'Dakh's saddle. “Only hope now's that they can help us fight these things off!”

“Indeed!” Garkhen agreed.

Now that he wasn't flying on his own, Almonihah had time to lift his foot. The wound looked bad, but he pulled the spine out, grunting with pain as he did so. Garkhen saw what the other half-dragon was doing, and murmured a quiet spell-prayer of healing, stopping the bleeding and mostly healing the wound.

“Thanks,” Almonihah said, a bit grudgingly. “Now save your strength. Going t' need it all soon, I think.” 

*******************************

Yeah, there's going to be a big battle soon. A very big battle. 

I have no idea how I'm going to write it. XD

Chapter 14-1

Chapter 14: Desperation

“Things don't always work out like stories. Sometimes none 'f the choices are good, 'nd just living's the best you can do.”

None of the Javni'Tolkhrah seemed to react as Zakhin'Dakh flew closer. Which wasn't to say any of the group were happy about what they saw. More monstrosities than they had ever seen flew and prowled around the source of the light. Almonihah could just barely make out a man standing at the center... holding something above him.

“Think that's th' Amulet,” he said, unnecessarily.

Garkhen nodded. “But what are we to do about it? I fear we cannot face so many in open combat...”

Almonihah growled. “Well we can't just turn around. Only going t' get worse.”

“Indeed,” Garkhen agreed, “But that leaves us with the question of what to do.”

They were all silent for a few moments, save for Zakhin'Dakh's wingflaps. Almonihah stared at the gathering of Javni'Tolkhrah.

“Not a one 'f them look like they can fly well,” he commented. “Bet you could outfly 'em all, Zakhin'Dakh.”

The big griffon screeched proudly in response to this praise. But Almonihah was still considering the sight below them.

“Think 'f I shot that guy it'd break whatever spell's going on?”

“It seems our best chance,” Garkhen replied doubtfully, “Though it seems it will be a difficult task.”

Almonihah grunted as he nocked an arrow. “Just try t' hold steady, Zakhin'Dakh.”

For a few agonizing moments, the half-bronze dragon held his bowstring taut, looking for an opening. At last he loosed... but his arrow struck one of the many monstrosities circling the man and the Amulet. It roared in pain and swerved, leaving the swarm to chase after the three friends.

The Ranger growled back and fired another arrow, this time aiming at it deliberately. It dipped slightly as his arrow struck it in the shoulder, but it kept coming. His next arrow only skimmed its head. His third arrow, however, pierced its skull, and it tumbled from the sky.

“Least we could pick 'em off,” Almonihah commented. “'less they changed their minds and all came after us.”

“As they likely would,” Garkhen agreed. “And so...”

“Keep shooting,” Almonihah stated, nocking another arrow.

He waited a long time to take his shot, watching for the perfect opening as Zakhin'Dakh slowly circled around the swirling mass of monsters. Finally he fired, his arrow sailing straight through a gap between two Javni'Tolkhrah and shearing through the man's arm and into his chest.

None of the Javni'Tolkhrah so much as looked in their direction. Nor did the man lower the amulet he held. Almonihah growled.

“Not sure that guy's even alive any more,” Almonihah stated after peering for a little while longer at his target. “Doesn't seem like he matters, at least.”

 Garkhen nodded solemnly. “And so, now what are we to do?”

***************************************

Wheee, cliffhanger!

Chapter 13-6

 “Are we already that close?” Garkhen asked.

Almonihah growled. “Too close. Can't you feel 't?”

Garkhen was silent a moment, focusing. At first he didn't know what the Ranger was talking about, but then a wind blew from the south for a moment, and the Warder shivered at the touch of wrongness it brought with it.

I don't! Zakhin'Dakh interjected.

Almonihah patted the big griffon's leg. “Just trust me. We're close.”

Then we should go fast!

Almonihah nodded. “Ready t' go?” He asked Garkhen.

The Warder nodded, and after a moment, they were both on Zakhin'Dakh's back, Garkhen in the saddle with Almonihah holding on behind, as usual. They flew along the path, watching for any signs of places someone could have left the trail... but soon enough they didn't need to.

What that? Zakhin'Dakh asked, suddenly pointing a talon into the distance ahead of them.

The two half-dragons on his back strained their eyes in the indicated direction. After a few moments, Almonihah grunted. “There, see 't too. Don't like that I can, though...”

After another moment, Garkhen caught sight of what his friend had seen. Off in the distance, a small light on a low mountaintop... one that was rapidly shifting in color and brightness.

“I cannot think that good,” Garkhen agreed, as Zakhin'Dakh flew on in the growing darkness.

Almonihah grunted his agreement. “All right, Zakhin'Dakh, fast 's you can fly!”

The big griffon shrieked agreement and started flapping heavily, building speed towards the distant lights. They hardly looked better as they closed, especially as the three started to make out shapes moving around the lights.

Many shapes. Very, very many.

“Javni'Tolkhrah,” Almonihah growled.

******************************

Yeah, I had to leave it at the cliffhanger here. 

Chapter 13-5

Zakhin'Dakh brought back part of a mountain goat, so Almonihah had something to eat, and left some for Garkhen. The big griffon settled down afterward and soon was napping, but Almonihah couldn't stay still. He was too tense, too conscious of just how much was at stake... not to mention it was still mid-afternoon. While they'd fought hard, Almonihah wasn't really tired, at least not in the way that would lead to sleep anytime soon.

So he scouted ahead a bit. He'd been nervous about stopping looking at tracks, but as far as he could tell, more people had walked this way recently. Sure, he couldn't guarantee they were the same people, but who else would they be? He did wonder a bit about why they were walking, though. They clearly had powerful wizards among them—why not use magic? Almonihah couldn't shake the uncomfortable feeling that there was more going on here than they knew, and that it was going to bite them just when they could least afford it...

He returned when the sun was reaching the horizon, having seen no more enemies, but plenty of tracks. Zakhin'Dakh met him in midair.

There you! He shrieked happily when he saw his half-bronze dragon friend.

I was just looking around, Almonihah called back as he flew nearer. Didn't see the bad guys, though.

Not see when hunt either, Zakhin'Dakh agreed.

Is Garkhen awake yet?

Yeah! He wake up! Me too, but not see you, so come look.

Sorry, I couldn't sleep, Almonihah replied as they neared their campsite.

Garkhen waved at them as they approached. “I am glad to see you well,” he said to Almonihah as the other half-dragon came in for a landing.

“Thanks,” Almonihah grunted.

“I apologize that I slept so long. If I but had more endurance...”

“Stop.” Almonihah snapped. “'f it weren't for your wards we'd all be dead twice by now. So don't be sorry that you can't carry a mountain, too.”

Garkhen blinked, taken aback by his friend's gruff admonishment.

Almonihah didn't give him time to come up with an argument. “Moon's mostly full tonight, 'nd it'll be up soon enough. 'f we fly for part of the night we might catch them camping.” He paused. “Though I think we might find 'em already in th' Madlands.”

*********************************

Yeah, Garkhen doesn't accept his own limits well. 

Chapter 13-4

Garkhen gritted his teeth against the fatigue, forcing his ward to stay up through sheer force of will as Zakhin'Dakh flew towards the two men. One was clearly the wizard throwing lightning, while the other fired an arrow. The big griffon flapped a bit harder, rising enough for the arrow to pass underneath just as yet another lightning bolt struck Garkhen's ward. The Warder closed his eyes as he fought back another wave of fatigue.

Then Zakhin'Dakh was upon his foes. They split, running in opposite directions as he neared, but he was far faster on the wing than they were on foot, and so easily caught the caster. The big griffon reached out and grabbed him with his talons, piercing through the wizard, killing him swiftly. Swiftly he turned, dropping the dying man down the side of the mountain as he did so.

The archer desperately fired another arrow, but Garkhen's ward held, though Garkhen himself almost fainted. Then Zakhin'Dakh was there, his beak shearing through flesh and bone, and the archer was dead. Garkhen shut his eyes, simultaneously glad it was over and not wanting to see the carnage, while Zakhin'Dakh looked back over his shoulder and saw Almonihah approaching.

Almonihah! He shrieked, proudly, I kill bad people!

The half-bronze dragon grinned just a bit in relief. “Good job, Zakhin'Dakh!” He shouted back.

The three met in midair, Zakhin'Dakh and Almonihah circling around while Garkhen slumped on the griffon's back. Almonihah noticed this, and shouted, “You hurt, Garkhen?”

The Warder blearily opened one eye. “Not physically,” he replied.

Almonihah growled. “We're making camp. You're not fit t' travel, 'nd I don't think we dare go without you. We're faster 'n them, anyway. Catch up tomorrow.”

Garkhen tried to form an objection, but was simply too tired. Almonihah looked around, and spotted a fairly flat space a little ways up the mountain for them to land. They landed there, and Almonihah looked up at Garkhen to tell him to get off, only to notice he was already asleep. With a snort, the half-bronze dragon jumped up to Zakhin'Dakh's back and undid the straps to his saddle.

“Going t' need some help, here, Zakhin'Dakh. Get over... there.” He pointed at a steeper spot on the mountainside. “Not as much of a drop 'f you go over there and crouch down.”

With some difficulty, they managed to get Garkhen off of Zakhin'Dakh's back, after which Almonihah took Zakhin'Dakh's saddle off. He wanted to get the Warder's armor, off, too, but after seeing the kind of magic it did, he didn't think he could. So he did what he could to make his fellow half-dragon comfortable while Zakhin'Dakh took off again to look for something to eat. 

****************************

No, I'm not going to string this out much longer. Just in case you were wondering.