Chapter 56

It was still before dawn when Darras and the team slipped from what Darras now knew was called a yurt. They were met by Brelli, who guided them to the edge of the dense pine forest and within sight of the tower. From there, they waited, hoping that Challis would keep to his regular schedule that day and take his flying disk to wherever he intended. Fortunately, they didn’t have to wait long as the temperature was well below freezing. Despite the garb Erren had supplied, remaining still for any period was still very uncomfortable.

‘He’s leaving, ’ Erren informed Darras, who passed the message on.

Firios tapped Darras’s shoulder and pointed to a dark shape, lifting off from the tower’s top and hurtling away into the distance.

“Let’s go,” Darras said as the group rose as one and jogged towards the tower’s base.

Once there, Tarmeet took a grappling hook from his pack and expertly threw it up to the observed window. The hook caught the first time, and Tarmeet could climb swiftly up to the window and use a thin knife to force it open.

Darras was the second to climb, grateful for the knots in the rope, which helped his ascent. Once through the window, he helped the others by using his strength to pull them up. Traskis was the last to be hauled in, and the window was closed. It was a reasonable temperature inside the tower. The central pillar radiated warmth, so Darras and the group removed their outer insulating garb, and Amina worked on the door lock.

“Got it,” Amina finally said. “Never known a lock like it.”

“The tower is ancient,” Demala replied. “Preservation spells are woven into the stonework. So, I’d guess the builders had a different idea of making locks.”

“Probably,” Amina nodded.

Chillik, Nemmos, and Tarmeet carefully exited the room, followed by Balat and Demala. The magic users probed with their senses for magical traps or hidden rooms while the thieves looked for physical traps.

“Just storage,” Nemmos confirmed when he returned. “Balat is dealing with a magical trap on the stairwell, so we’re waiting for him.”

Soon, word came back that Balat had disabled the trap, and the group moved up the stairwell to the next level. This was also storage, though it contained several devices Erren informed Darras were of First One manufacture.

“Don’t touch them,” Darras warned Demala and Balat. “They’re too powerful for you.”

“Figures,” Balat chuckled, whilst Demala just nodded.

“Whilst I’d hesitate to call it junk, it does have the feeling of a place where items are stored that you have little or no use for,” Firios opined, getting a nod from Amina.

“Doriel agrees,” Balat replied.

The next floor appeared to be a barrack of some kind, though unused. The Elves, in particular, were fascinated at the bows in storage, particularly the curious design that used a pulley system to enable the bows to be drawn with little effort.

“You can grab some when we leave,” Darras chuckled. “Assuming we do get out of here alive.”

“Ever the optimist, Darras,” Amina chuckled.

“My way keeps me alive,” Darras smiled as Balat disabled another trap on the stairway up.

The room the group now entered was a magical treasure trove, and Balat and Demala looked avidly at the magical equipment stored there. Both Erren and Doriel detached from their agents, expanded their spiritual bodies to include the whole room and confirmed nothing dangerous.

“I hope we can get this to the university,” Demala enthused. “Whilst there’s nothing really new, the details in the tomes will aid research in myriad ways.”

“If we can’t, I’m sure Erren will help as she now knows all the details here,” Darras chuckled at Demala’s very un-Elven enthusiasm.

“Oh, that would be good too, but this would be better.”

‘She’s right, but we have to deal with this tower first, and I’m detecting movement above you,’ Erren informed Darras, who passed the message on, though it was clear Doriel had informed Balat.

“Company,” Tarmeet, who was observing the upper stairway, warned.

The group moved into cover positions as footsteps were heard on the stairs. Darras could not feel the presence of a shadow, so he wondered just who or what was coming down. There was a short chant, which Darras assumed disabled the guard spell, and then a Dark Kin entered the room, only to pause as his senses told him of something amiss.

The Dark Kin spun suddenly, placing a hand on their neck as Tinara caught him with a blow dart. This allowed Darras to step in and prevent the Dark Kin from shouting until the drug took effect. Demala, however, drew her knife and stepped forward to give a killing blow, though fortunately, Firios intervened to prevent this, leaving her looking confused.

“There is no need, Demala,” Firios spoke quietly. “They are not the enemy you think they are ... well, mostly.”

“But they slew the golden one,” Demala protested.

“Because Harranis demanded something they viewed as a sacred object from them,” Tinara replied. “He had no right to do so, and the Dark Kin had him assassinated.”

“Starting a civil war amongst Elvendom, the ramifications of, carries on, even today,” Darras added. “Yet I have a Dark Kin friend, as does Mirion, the healer.”

“Would that be Klea?” Tinara asked.

“Yes, the wielder of the Jomanti blade and a possible companion should this dragon awake, as she’s the only one with the ability to command it to sleep,” Darras replied.

“Companion?” Traskis asked, looking very dubious.

“Tinara and I have met Klea,” Firios added. “Whilst it won’t be easy, it will be possible to work with her without resorting to wholesale murder.”

“But, he’s a Dark Kin, they are evil!” Demala insisted.

“They call you the kinslayers because you massacred their innocent,” Darras replied. “It cuts both ways; both sides carried out much evil.”

“Nor is this the time for explanations,” Firios added. “Leave him alone, and let’s see what’s up there.”

Balat moved silently up the stairs, followed by Tinara, who carried her blowpipe. Once at the top, Tinara signalled for the others to ascend. Balat opened the door, and Tinara immediately used the blowpipe to take out another adversary. Darras moved past Balat to grab the Dark Kin woman and ensure she remained silent. There were two other Dark Kin in the room, but they were infants and other than checking to ensure there were no others, the rest of the group was signalled to enter the room.

“What do we do with them?” Amina asked, indicating the terrified infants.

“Take them and their parents with them and take them to the isle of the Dark Kin,” Darras replied.

“And if they do not wish to go?”

“They’re going, like it or not,” Darras smiled grimly.

“Very well,” Amina nodded.

“I’ll expect Chillik, Nemmos and Tarmeet to carry them ... assuming this mission goes to plan,” Darras added.

“Understood.”

“Tinara, could you keep an eye on the infants, please?” Darras requested.

“Of course,” Tinara replied.

“Let’s go,” Darras said to the others as he led the way to the stairs.

Darras assumed that the level above was Challis’s living quarters. He and the others swiftly reviewed some paperwork and gained some insight into what Challis and Casal were currently doing.

“An army of the Dark Lord?” Firios mused.

“More like an army of monsters,” Darras replied. “It doesn’t say where, though, but probably Ventris.”

“Seems likely,” Firios nodded.

“The steps lead to the roof,” Amina confirmed.

“I’ve disabled the scrying stone,” Balat informed them.

“Good,” Darras nodded. “Continue to explore, but now we wait for Challis.”

They did not have to wait long; Balat signalled that he was picking up a presence, and the group moved into hiding. There was a slight creak as the door leading to the roof, and Challis descended the stairs. Darras then placed himself between Challis and the only exit to the roof and drew his sword. The slight hiss as the sword left its scabbard alerted Challis, and he spun to face Darras, his form wreathed in shadows.

“You, how?” Challis snarled, drawing his blade.

“You got careless,” Darras shrugged, fending off an attack. Then reached to the side to grab a shadow that had thought itself unobserved.

“Fool,” Challis hissed, thrusting at Darras, thinking he was distracted, then cursing him as Darras easily deflected the thrust.

The shadow dissipated under Darras’s grip as he defended against Challis, and Darras was glad of the practice sessions he’d had under Erren’s tutelage. He did realise that Challis had an advantage in reach, though Darras had an advantage in speed. However, Darras was more concerned about the shadows that had accompanied Challis, though they appeared to want to avoid Darras, realising his touch was poison to them. Nor could they breach the barrier Balat and Demala maintained on the door to get to the lower levels. This meant Darras focused his attacks and defences towards manoeuvring Challis into positions where he could grab a shadow and take it down.

By now, Challis had realised that Darras was by far the more skilled swordsman than he was, and he needed to be allowed the time to gather his magical resources in the form of a spell. This was further exacerbated by the weak scales refusing to fight and trying to evade Darras rather than distract him and allow Challis to strike.

Darras dealt with the final shadow, and now he concentrated on Challis driving the Ubaid back and making Challis roar with pain when he landed a blow, cutting open the Ubaid’s natural armour.

‘Careful, Ubaid’s and First Ones have a berserker mode they can unleash, ’ Erren warned. ‘It will temporarily increase his strength and speed.’

Darras did not reply. He suspected Challis’ berserker role would not be as deadly as Erren’s avatar in practice mode. Also, he trusted his armour to protect him, as it had already done for the minor blows and stabs Challis had landed. It was apparent that Challis was becoming more desperate as fatigue began to take its toll, and he could not land a telling blow on Darras. Challis then bellowed, and his already dark scales turned black as his blows and speed increased. This was to no avail. Darras either avoided the blows or parried brilliantly until he saw his opening, and he used his full strength to drive a blow home and pierce Challis’ heart.

“Curse you,” Challis hissed before collapsing.

“Drop the shields,” Darras called.

“He’s dead?” Balat asked as he ascended.

“Yes, unless there’s something unusual about their bodies I’m unaware of,” Darras replied.

“Doriel says no,” Balat chuckled, and Erren also confirmed it.

Darras searched through Challis’s pouches, removing various items to put in his own pack for Erren to examine. “Now we leave?” Firios asked.

“Yes, bring the Dark Elves; I’ll ensure they get home,” Darras replied.

“I’m going to see if I can get the disk thing to work,” Demala said.

“Oh yes,” Darras nodded. “Go for it.”

‘I’ll inspire her, ’ Erren chuckled, making Darras smile.