Mark of the Fool

Chapter 382: Goading

Screams rang out over the Skull Pits.

Armies clashed in a storm of magic and death.

In the sky above, Alex battled demons.

He weaved past the sticky tongues of green-feathered demons and dodged the barbed claws of imps; the sky was filled with screeching monsters, snapping and clawing at him. They poured from the witches flanks, racing past their allies and taking to the air like flocks of malevolent birds. They aimed to rip Alex, Claygon and Cedric from the sky, but the trio had another plan.

Wizards Hands whirled with speed: tugging wings, pulling imps through the air, flaring with crimson light that blinded demonic eyes. Alex hurled sleeping potions through theflocks, the air filled with vapours; shrieks died as sleeping monsters dropped from the sky like hail.

Through the chaos came thunderous booms, flashes of light, and searing heat as Claygons blasts tore through the skies. Cedrics challenges roared above the demonscries along with lightning and flame. The Chosen of Uldar wielded spells and divinities like he was a vengeful god removing the wicked from his presence.

Below, blasts raced skyward, coming for him and his companions: but were met with beams of light spraying near and far, striking flying demons and those below. Alex and Cedric weaved between the dead.

Demons and their allies were dying like autumn leaves, and just like autumn leaves, there seemed to be no end to them. They were so thick in the skies, that Alex couldnt gauge how the battle was going below.

Die, you bastards, his mind screamed. I need to see past you! Just drop dead already

Looking like a streaking star approaching, flashes of light reflected off polished blades coming toward him.

Theresa spun through the sky, her swords flashing, thinning both hordes and flocks she flew by.

Poor Brutus followed behind her, looking like a newborn calf with flailing legs trying to stay upright. A flash of fangs met anything that came close; he would snatch them from the air with snarling fangs, shake them, then drop them into whatever waited below.

Finally, the demons flying force broke. Between the persistent attack from Cedric and Claygon, and Alexs potions combined with cerberus fangs and twin sword blades, the skies were at last free of cultists and demonkind.

You alright? Alex panted.

Yeah, Im great, Theresa reached for the whimpering, trembling Brutus; the cerberus nuzzled into her, making a point of not looking down. I thought Id come up and lend a hand since I ran out of arrows, she said. I didnt think youd mind if I took a potion and gave poor Brutus one since I couldnt just leave him in the boat with all those demons coming at us.

My potions are your potions, and thanks, he said emphatically. Thanks to you, we finished them off faster than I thought we would.

Well, the battles ending down there too. She watched the battlefield below. Ill go see if I can get some arrows from one of the witches, thats if they have any to spare. Ill need more for when the rest of the demons get here.

She and Brutus descended, the cerberus shaking with relief.

Aye, looks like we gets a few minutes' rest, Cedric said. Theyve got things wrapped up down there.

Steam and smoke rose from the Skull Pits below, and everywhere Alex looked, lay the ruins of demon and cultist bodies alike. Dozens floated face down in murky water or were trapped in quicksand. Witches moved through the trees with care, finishing off survivors.

No mercy was shown by the witches of Crymlyn Villageas no mercy had been shown to them. Among the corpses of demons and cultists, dead witches lay; the numbers of their dead were small, but even one was too many at the end of it all.

Too many witches were left in mourning.

His mind flashed back to the beach on Orecas Fall, and his anger at the cult of Ezaliel smouldered in his chest.

Focus, he told himself. It's time for action, take your rage out on the ones coming.

He looked across the swamp grimly.

Demons and the traitors theyd aligned with were approaching, closing in from three sides andeven with their flying demons destroyedthe oncoming demon force was at least triple the one theyd just defeated.

Alex clenched his jaw.

More losses could be catastrophic.

We need Hart and Dresta, he said, looking to the north.

Still no signal.

Aye, those demonsll grind a lot o these witches to dust if they get us surrounded, the Chosen said.

Yeahwe have to move. Theres a couple more positions here in the Skull Pits we can retreat to, Alex said. We should get to one, force the cultist scum to come at us from only one direction.

...aye, Cedric said grimly. Or we could strike the head off the snake.

The Chosen pointed to the south at the imposing figure leading the advancing demon army.

Yeah, that ones the leader, alright, Alex said. Even from his distance, he felt a chill from the immortals gaze. But I dont know about attacking her yet. Not before Hart and Drestra get here.

Ive cut down Ravener-spawn commanders dozens otime. The Chosens grip tightened on his weapon. An some o them were a hell o lot bigger than that she-beastie over there is.

I dont doubt that, Alex said. But any spirits or elementalsincluding demonscan get very powerful as they go up hierarchies. Not just physically powerfulbut with some real nasty magic and more years of combat experience than everyone here put together. Some are even resistant to magic.

How resistant?

Very resistant. Like, sure, shed probably be like a flea to Baelin, but to us? I doubt our magic could do very much to her.

Then thats even more reason to take er on: itd be best fer our forces if shes tied up, if shes even half as tough as yer thinkin, the Chosen said.

youre not wrong. Alex frowned. We can take cover in the trees and blast her from there.

Aye, but didn ysay she was resistant to magic?

I dont know for sure, but she very well could be since a lot of higher demons are.

Well then somethin needs to be in front o her: somethin so tough, she cant just ignore it.

I can summon some monsters. They can keep her busy.

Shell cut em down quick. Im the bloody Chosen: she wont be able to go through me so easy.

Yeah, youre the Chosen, and Thameland needs you. Alive.

Cedric gave him a look. Now youre startin to sound like the bloody priests.

Alex paused as a wave of anger washed over him. He held his tongue.

Cant just sit back an let this demon rampage an kill our allies, the Chosen said. Ill come out still breathin, Im sure.

Alex winced, remembering how theyd met: Cedric went off on his own to fight Silence-spiders in the Cave of the Traveller. He did it to stop them from going to massacre the townsfolk and the villagers around Alric.

Of course Cedric wouldrun into battle to save other people. Alex admired that and his bottomless well of courage. The Mark of the Chosen hadwell, chosen well.

Alright, the Fool sighed, opening his bag and counting the remaining potions. I dont know if my mana soothing and sleep potions will affect something that powerful, but Ill give you all the support I can. And Ill see if I can hit her with a booby-trapped flight potion. She probably wont put up much of a fight against you with her arms ripped offif my potions affect her, that is.

Well find out. The Chosen cracked his neck.

Alex's mind was working through different scenarios.

He could run Hsiekus technique through his mana pool a few more times then summon a ton of air elementals to hit the towering demon with them. His eyes focused on the giant, walking trees below.

Let's see if I can convince the witches to let them back Cedric up, he muttered, ready to start summoning.

Zonon-Ins mouth tentacles wriggled behind her teeth as she watched the battlefield.

A quarter of her forces lay dead, andmore alarminglythere was no sign of a dungeon anywhere, just witches and flying strangers.

She pointed toward the outsiders in the air with her war-spear.

What are those? she asked a nearby traitor witch.

I cant tell, the witch said, peering at the flyers. Were too far away.

The womans calmness stoked Zonon-Ins annoyance. Unlike Osrian, she didnt lose her temper at the slightest provocation. Howdull.

The demon leader instead turned her focus back to the flyers.

A black-haired woman and a three-headed hellhound had disappeared into the trees. That left the sky with only a magical clay soldier and a shirtless warrior floating in it.

Her eyes took in the warrior, noting his liquid weapon and the glowing symbol on his chest.

Hmmm, it seems some of you mortals have taken to branding each other. How delightful. Witch, that man there, She pointed to the sky. Have you seen that symbol before?

The witch and the other cultists around her, gasped.

Thats the Chosen of Uldar! the witch hissed, her tone hard, but her eyes filled with fear. Why is he here? Hes one of five who were named a Hero of the enemy. Theyve been tasked with destroying the Ravener in Uldars name. That ones their leader and the one they call the Chosen.

And yet hes here Zonon-Ins voice grew thoughtful. In this swamp.

A flutter of excitement went through the demon; a powerful mortalthis Chosen might be an interesting challenge. The symbol on his chest recalled runemarked warriors she had fought on this world in past times. Among their kind, the more symbols they bore, the more powerful they were, but this Chosen had only one.

She wondered if that would make any difference .

More importantly, she wondered what this all meant. Something was wrong.

Shed learned from these witches that this place was called the Skull Pitsa name she heartily approved of, it almost sounded like homebut what she didnt approve of was that several of her most loyal cultists had been lost to quicksand along the way.

Coming so far without finding a dungeon even the worthless Osrian would have known her forces had been led into a trap.

But there was something else concerning her.

There was no question that the sniffers had smelled dungeon core mana.

Did the mortals use some trick to imitate it and lure them? Or was there a dungeon core hidden in their ranks, ripe for plucking? If so, the dark orb had gone silent; the sniffers hadnt detected even a hint of its mana again.

What were they up to?

That question must be answered, and the only way to learn what treachery these mortals had brought to her territory was by capturing some and forcing answers from them.

Annoyance rose again.

If they were

Oi! a voice roared from the Chosen. Great, dirty demon!

She growled, her annoyance giving way to amusement.

Ooo! A heroic speech! She grinned, her face scornful. How fun!

The demon cleared her throat. What is it, oh mighty Hero of Uldar?

There was a pause, her smile widened.

Didnt expect me to know about your amusing title? she called back.

Aye, I'm the Chosen, thats true! he laughed. An this Chosen o Uldar challenges you, demon weaklin, to a test o arms! Come, leave the safety o your horde! Well fight it out, ifn ya got the nerve to face me!

Zonon-In put on her best evil overlord voice, which shed had millenia to practice. And why, puny mortal, should I bother with you? I could squash you like an earthworm!

Thats what they were called in the material world, right? Earthworms?

The Chosen barked a laugh at her. I dont think so! Im gonna cut cha inta a dozen pieces! An spear your heart

Oh, she loved when they said that.

Which one? she called back.

...what?

Which heart? I have a few! Which one will you pierce?

Another moment of silence, and a flustered expression.

All of em! he shouted. So come on, ya weak, dirty, cowardly wretch! Ill tear ya down!

Well that was fine goading, she said to herself. If a little obvious, but one turn deserves another.

Fine! she roared. But why should I come to you, when you could come to me! She gestured at her army with a claw. Were going to return to camp now and surprise your little friends who are, no doubt, raiding it as were having our little chat!

The Chosens expression shifted dramatically.

There. She had him.

So, if you really want to challenge me and not lure my army into any more of your traps, then youll have to come to me!

She faced her troops. Ar-heugeni! Go back to camp! Spellcasters, cover yourselves and our mantogugons in flight spells then return there with haste! The prisoners are waiting for a taste of your blades!

Zonon-In raised her war-spear.

Everyone else! Retreat! Were leaving this death trap!

With a great clamour of voices, her army didnt hesitate, circling the enemy to pull back to their base.

She suspected the mortals wouldnt simply let them leave, theyd do something to keep her entertained.

Ah shite! Cedric roared from above. Bloody clever bastard!

Shit! Alex swore from below, summoning one final air elemental.

I gotta bring er down! the Chosen flew down to Alex. Ifn any o them make it back ta that camp, the whole things busted! We gotta cut the head off!

Shit! Cedric, wait! We need a plan! Alex shouted.

But it was too late.

The Chosen flew off, arcing toward the demon horde, bellowing a prayer to Uldar.

I swear, that war-spears gonna find itself down that demons throat, Alex grumbled, getting his potions out.

Heads up! he shouted to the witches. Send as many walking trees with me as you can, well try to kill that thing!

Im coming with you! Theresa emerged from a copse of trees. Brutus was back in Baelins boat, watching as she flew off. Stay there, boy! Stay! Ill be back soon. she called.

Well, here goes nothing. Alex, Theresa and a horde of air elementals, launched toward Claygon hovering above.

They exchanged a nodthen tore after the Chosen.

Ahead, the demon grinned.