Mark of the Fool

Chapter 136: A Cold Delivery

The air rushed past Alexs ears as he fired himself toward Malcolms fallen body. He kept the modified Potion of Flight in his Wizards Hand, which was poised to squeeze at his will.

Spells fired at the xyrthak from behind him, drawing its attention, but the creature now seemed intent on singling out targets that were alone.

And Alex had broken away from the group.

He stifled a scream as it shot toward him, and he activated The Mark, focusing it on the act of flight. It improved his skill by the moment, teaching him every correct movement to maximize maneuverability. The others fired at it again and again, but it was still too quick and its armour too thick.

Alex! Theresa screamed, and she fired repeatedly, taking care not to hit him. One arrow bit home, but the xyrthak still fired its force beam.

Alex dived, shooting toward the earth, making the beam pass above his back. At the same time, he shot the Wizards Hand into its flight path, preparing it to clench and crush the potion bottle when it got close enough.

There was another hum.

The xyrthak fired at his spell.

Whoosh!

The potion bottle exploded into the gaseous trap-potion, but the xyrthak screeched and pulled out of its dive before it could fly through the cloud.

Damn! Alex cursed.

It was being cautious. Too cautious.

He pulled out of his own dive, shooting forward and flying only a few feet above the earth. His other Wizards Hand removed another gas potion from his bag just as he reached Shianis group.

Hogarth and Svenia were helping the two young wizards to their feet and supporting them to stand. Each looked pale, sick and drenched in sweat.

Malcolm! Alex cried. Malcolm, are you okay? I need you here with me!

Malcolm was dazed, but didnt look like he was suffering anything serious like a mana reversal. He and Shiani didnt look like theyd be participating in the fight much more, though.

Someonebeat that bloody knight, Malcolm muttered, half-delirious. Break his knee. Take that war mace of his hand and shove it down his-

Malcolm! Listen, Im sure whatever youre seeing has to be better than all this, but if it werent for Baelins spell, Rhea wouldve being bitten in half and I need you with me, man! Come on! Alex used his voice not to scream at Malcolm, but to be loud and authoritative enough to get his attention.

The ice wizard shook his head.

Alex? I-

A scream erupted and Alex whirled around.

He saw the xyrthak shooting past the flyers. Two more arrows protruded from it and it looked like one of Rayne's crossbow bolts had punctured a wing. The wizard was preparing another bolt for firing.

Caramiyus, however, was plummeting in a twitching, helpless wreck: it looked like hed gotten caught in the scream. Thundar raced over and dove, catching the doberman-beastman before he hit the hard ground of The Barrens.

Arrows were flying from the tower. It looked like Eyvinder had recoveredspeaking to his fortitudebut he was having no luck hitting the xyrthak from his range. He was gliding through the stone down the side, half-sticking out, with his eyes fixed firmly on Malcolm.

Alex turned back to the ice wizard.

Listen, I think we can ground this thing, but I need you to cast a spell, do you think you can do that? he asked.

Malcolm groaned.

Alex grabbed him by the shoulder.

Focus, man! Adapt! Can you do it?

Malcolm shook his head, and anger began to seep into his eyes. I feel like my heads about to explodebut I think Ive got one or two more in me. Youd better have a good plan, though: Im done if it catches me like that again.

If my plan works, it wont be catching shit-all, Alex said, glaring at the creature. I just need one spell.

Malcolm groaned. Which one?

That teleportation spell you got, Call Through Ice, he said. Teleport this potion bottle- He jerked his thumb at the potion. -right in from of its stupid, piece of shit face.

Malcolm looked at it. And thatll bring it down?

Absolutely, Alex said. Very likely, absolutely. Its probably completely certain. Theres a really good chance that itll probably work like I want it to. Most likely.

Malcolm stared at him. That doesnt inspire confidence.

Well, trust me, it cant hurt. You in?

I got nothing better to do.

Alex looked back at the other group and shouted. I need you to slow it down! Just for a split second! Anything you can do!

We are trying-Khalik started saying.

Leave it to me! Rayne suddenly shouted, drawing gazes. Ill do it!

Isolde looked alarmed; the potion of sensory enhancement let Alex see her expression even from this distance. Are you sure? she asked. I dont think-

Let me do this! Rayne shouted again. Theres no time, its coming for us!

He unslung one of his crossbows and started to shoot higher into the air even as the xyrthak banked to the left and came in for another dive.

Over here! Rayne shot upward, breaking away from the group, presenting himself as a target. The xyrthak took the bait and dove for him with all of its speed.

Rayne fired his crossbow at it, and the others shot more spells, but it swerved left and right, avoiding most of their attacks.

Rayne shouldered his second crossbow and fired again.

The xyrthak responded by pointing its lance at him. The humming rose in volume.

Alex swore under his breath. Malcolm, get ready! he said.

Malcolm clenched his teeth and began to cast the spell.

Then Rayne turned and dove away from the xyrthak.It was clear that he had a lot more flying experience than the rest of them: he shot down toward the ground, barrel rolling as he went, keeping its attention.

It chased him, changing its angle. Rather than diving at the last instant like Alex, Rayne had given it plenty of time to correct its course and chase him. The flying wizard descended far quicker and more steeply than Alex had.

The ground swept up to meet him and thenat the last instanthe turned so that he was flying parallel with the ground. He was so close that he was kicking up dust as he flew.

The xyrthak followed him and tried to correct its dive, but Rayne had gonetoo low. If it did not slow, it would crash.

Snap!

Its wings snapped out, slowing it for an instant. And it unleashed its cry.

Rayne screamedgetting caught in itand crashed into the dust.

And for a few instantsthe xyrthak just hovered as it prepared to climb.

Now, Malcolm! Alex barked.

Malcolm finished his spell.

Whoosh.

There was a flash of icy wind as what looked to be a tiny door of ice opened beside the potion bottle. It and the Wizards Hand spell were sucked through.

Alex felt the magic circuit disintegrate as his spell and potion disappeared from this plane and an instant later, popped out of the frozen portal right above the xyrthak.

Alex bit his lip, hoping that the brief time of going through the para-elemental plane of cold hadnt ruined it.

Out of reflex, the xyrthak swept at the potion bottle with her lance.

Crack!

There was a crunch of glass.

Boom!

The bottle exploded, sending a cloud of aerosolized flight potion directly into the xyrthaks face. The beast froze for an instant as the gas enveloped its head, then a sound like a gasp, then a violent sneeze erupted.

Ka-thunk!

Another of Grimlochs crossbow bolts slammed into its side, along with two of Theresas arrows.

Nua-Oges icy water spell splashed onto a wing, freezing parts of the membrane.

Then Najyah was swooping by and a glob of Khaliks clay spell splashed onto the xyrthaks wing, hardening in an instant. Several blasts hammered into its scales, but not enough to stop it, and it quickly began climbing again.

Alex watched, his heart sinking.

The potion hadnt-

Wait, he thought. Is it wobbling?

The flying reptile sneezed, shaking its head, its flight a bit unsteady. Then it suddenly shot into the air.

The beast screeched as its flight went completely crazy: bouncing around in the air as if unseen hands were tugging it in different directions.

It zig-zagged, looped and rolled randomly: the potions corrupted flight magic sending it off course as the group stared on in shock. Screeches echoed through the air, and its wings flailed wildly as it desperately tried to right itself.

And then it shot toward the ground with all four limbs scrabbling at the air.

Bang!

It hit the earth, kicking up a massive dust cloud. She screeched, clawed and scratched at the dirt as she tried to pull herself up.

And up she went, shooting back into the air.

The xyrthak flailed like a puppet as it went.

Uh, Hogarth said. We should probably regroup.

Yeah, Alex said dully. He couldnt believe how well the potion had worked.

He heard a tired snicker come from just behind him.

Yeah, you flail, you dirty, scaled vulture, Malcolm laughed weakly.

They dragged their way to the other group as the flyers landed. Angelar was hovering protectively over Caramiyus, while Thundar gently picked up the fallen form of Rayne and returned to the group.

Rayne? Rayne? Thundar called to him, tapping at his face.

How are they? Khalik asked Angelar and Thundar.

Raynes not dead. No mana reversal or anything, but hes out like a burnt out candle, Thundar grunted, and there was a note of respect in his voice. Brave bastard. Cant believe this is the same guy that flew away in the beginning.

Caramiyus is tough, too. Angelar said. Hell be back on his feet, but I dont know about any spell casting anytime soon.

Caramiyus groaned in his grip.

Khalik glanced over toward Eyvinder who was still making his way back to the group. Then he looked up toward the scrambling xyrthak.

Alex, you madman. Khalik grinned ferociously. Look at it! It is like a puppet whose master is being stung by scorpions! His grin faded. This is good. This will tire it immensely, but it will not finish it-HOH!

All of them winced as the xyrhtak began firing random force beams in all directions in a panic as it tried to regain control of its flight and senses. Another twitch and it crashed back to the earth.

Vooom!

Its force lance tore a trench through the earth, kicking up a massive cloud of dust as its body draggedclambering and screamingalong the ground. When it shot back into the air, Alex could see clumps of scales had been scraped off.

By the elements, that is utterly horrifying, Isolde gaped.

If we were in an enclosed space, I think it would be smashed to pulpby now, Theresa said.

Indeed, but for our sakes, it is not unfortunately: how much longer will it be in this state, Alex? Khalik asked.

Alex frowned. Well, I brewed the potion to burn through its mana a lot faster than a regular Potion of Flight, and it's already been smashing around for about a few minutes. Id say maybe another couple of minutes or so before the magic wears off.

Good, then we shall need to hurry and finish it off, Khalik said as Najyah swooped down and landed on his arm.

Alex looked at him, as did the rest. You got something in mind?

I do, he said. When your magic fades, it will be wounded, confused and dazed. This will likely bring it to the earth even if the potion wears off while it is airborne. And tired and wounded as it is, I doubt it will be able to fly well quickly.

True, Theresa said. But itll be a wounded animal: itll fight with everything its got left.

Mhm, Khalik said. Which is why I think we should close in, surround it, and bury it in our magic. Shiani, do you think you have a fireball in you?

The young woman shook her head queasily. Its taking everything I have just to stand.

Hmmm, then it will be the hard way. We surround it from all sides and bury it with magic and arrows until it stops moving.

Theresa grunted. I dont think thatll work. Against a bear? Sure. But that thing is a hunter with a ranged weapon more powerful than any of ours: it can blast you wizards or use its cry to put all of you down, especially since its desperate and wounded.

Hmmm, a fair point, what would you suggest, then? Khalik asked.

Theresa squinted, then glanced toward Grimloch. How strong are you feeling?

Strong, Grimloch said. And hungry.

Good, she said, her death-stalker face on full display. I say you and me get in there, flank the thing and hit it with our spears. Give it something to focus on instead of letting it just blast everyone with that lance. Hogarth and Svenia can harry it with longbows too. Our task is to keep it pinned so it cant get time to use its cry on the wizards.

Nua-Oge paused, looking up at Grimloch. Well, thats a plan I know youd like. She looked at Khalik. What about if you and I go next? Blast it with clay and ice to keep slowing it so it cant get away?

I shall be there as well, Isolde said. My strongest lightning spells will require that I be closer than some of you others. You and I, Khalik, can resume flight and strike it from above with impunity.

Right, right, this is a good plan, Khalik said. Then Thundar, Alex, Angelar, Hogarth, Svenia and the wounded can be on the back-line.

Ill run interference from above too, Alex volunteered.

Malcolm snarled. If Eyvinders recovered enough, hell spike it when he gets back.

Good, we got a plan, Thundar said. And right on time!

They looked up as the xyrthaks wild movements in the air suddenly ended, and it plummeted like a falling catapult stone.

It tried to fly, but still dazed, it couldnt right itself before-

Boom!

The ground shook as it crashed.

Thundar quickly cast body enhancement spells on both Grimloch and Theresa. The shark man handed Thundar his massive crossbow and bolts.

Nows our chance! Alex roared, shooting into the air. Lets finish this thing!