Mark of the Fool

Chapter 530: The Screen

Baelin tore the abyssal knights soul from its body.

The demon was youngunashamedly draped in arrogancewith too little power to back its pitiful ambitions. The archwizard glowered at the creature, holding its squirming essence in his grip.

G-give it back! the demon choked. Damn you, mortal, give it back!

The ancient wizard glared at the squirming, wretched thing in his hand.

No, he said.

With a squeeze, he crushed the demons soul.

The abyssal knight stiffened, his eyes going blank, flickering with loss for the briefest of moments. Then the light died in that gaze, and the demons body plummeted from the sky.

You are running out of meat shields, Ezaliel. Baelin was irritated, he glared at the chaos around him, hunting for his opponent.

His exasperatingly elusive opponent. Smoke drifted from the fiery ruin of Jarethas centre, now flattened by the catastrophic battle between Baelins cabal and Ezaliels allies.

Bodies of hordes of the demons allies littered the ground, but more took their place, crawling from portals ripping open in space. Baelins lip curled with displeasure; there was a reason he often cursed the Hells for being endless.

He watched as an abyssal knightall serpentine features and scorpion stingsflew at Magun-Obu in the distance. The four-armed wizard shook his head and spoke a word of power, shifting the air. He vanished, slipping into the space between seconds, then reappearing behind the serpent.

His armlayered in burning star-essencenow protruded through the creatures chest.

The archwizard looked at his cabal mate. They are persistent, old friend, I hope you scheduled properly; this might take days. Without turning, Magun-Obu spoke a word of power, raising his hand.

Down below, the ground rumbled as if in warning to Jarethas denizens.

Then, it erupted.

A fortress of black stone burst from the ground, rising from the earth, like a sprout. Spikes extended from its towers and runes scrolled along the stone.

Here is a temporary fortification should we need a breather. Magun-Obu rumbled. But prepare for the long haul, I suspect we shall be here for a time.

Baelin growled. I hope you are wrong, old friend.

The chancellors face was as dark as the smoke around him. Where have you skittered away to, Ezaliel? If you do not face us, you can be sure I will hunt you across the planes. You only delay the inevitable. But, have it your waycowardly rabbitif hiding is your game

The chancellor glanced in the direction of Kaz-Mowangs palace. Through the smoke, there was no question that it was in ruin. Flames belched from a wing that had been annihilated, fire spreading across the grounds.

And the energies he sensed from it?

The power of a chaos bomb.

Then Alex and his company have likely escaped, Baelin thought. And since the rat has proven remarkably elusive, perhaps its time for the next part of the plan. though I had hoped this business would be at an end by now.

With a wave of his hand, Baelin chanted an incantation toward Jarethas skies, channelling his ancient power. A ward manifested, crystalizing into a dome that shrouded the demon city.

You are sealed in with us, Ezaliel, the archwizard said quietly, but his voice rolled over the city as though the words he spoke were being bellowed by a titan. I feel your energies lurking somewhere, and I am certain you will not abandon your domain easily. But, I also know your list of allies grows thin. Eventually, it might occur to you that flight would be your better option: to escape and strike at me in the material world at a time of your own choosing.

He shook a finger in chastisement. That will not be the way of things. You, your allies, my cabal, myself and any other sorry soul still in this city are now sealed within it. There is no escape. You may call as many allies as you wish, but you can no longer creep, walk, fly, teleport or cross planes to escape this ward. Your allies may enter, if theyre foolish enough to do so, but they cannot leave. The ruins of your city will be your tombstone, whether you like it or not. So show yourself. Do not waste my time.

You are arrogant, mortal wizard. Ezaliels voice boiled from somewhere nearby. I am master of this entire realm. I have yet to bring its full power against you.

Then you are incredibly patient and masochistic, Baelin sniffed. Your city is in ruins and you will take untold years to recover from this blow, and lets not forget your dead allies. Your demon lord will not be pleased that you have caused so many of his servants to be killed.

He will avenge their losses.

Then why is he not here now? Baelin called. Why is he not avenging you?

He shall.

Really? I think not. Your incompetence has caused the ruination of your capital and great damage to the domain. Many of your lords servants have been brought into a fight that is personal to you. And trust me, if demon lords challenged me each time I slew one of their servants? There would be far more dead demon lords in the cosmos.

You will wear yourself down eventually, wizard. And then. Then we will see how easily your tongue flaps.

Oh, by this battles end I will indeed not be speaking to you. After all, it is only folly to speak with corpses.

As he uttered those words, more portals tore open around him, greater demons and abyssal knightsbringing armiesswarmed into Jaretha.

And so Baelin turned back to the fray.

In the back of his mind, he hoped that Alex and his company were long away.

Hows that feeling? Alex asked, pouring mana into Kyembes shrinking burns.

As though army ants chew my skin. The Spirit Killer said, still cradled in Claygons grip as the group moved through the labyrinth. But I am nearly strong enough to move on my own power.

Good, Alex said. Can you fight?

Kyembe clenched his teeth, pressing his handglowing in golden lightto his wound. In a few minutes time, I think. I used much of my eldritch energies, but I will be strong enough to swing my blade.

Good. Alex shook his wrists, flexing his fingers. Because my manas running low and the fibres are starting to scream.

The Spirit Killer gave him a puzzled look.

Myuheldritch energies are running low, Alex said.

Fair. Then preserve them. I shall be back on my feet soon.

Good, andseriously, I owe you for saving my life. The wizard patted the mans shoulder. You went above and beyond.

The Spirit Killer gave him a pained grin. Whether by pay or purpose, we are united in battle; I would be a foul worm, indeed, were I to leave you to pain and death.

Well not everyones like that, Alex said. Ill try and return the favour as best I can. He patted Kyembes shoulder again before looking up at Claygon.

How are you doing, buddy? he asked mentally.

I am fine, father. Thedemonscratched me, but he did no true damageImfine, Claygon thought. My body is much stronger now. AndI am happyI killed Zonon-In.

Yeah, thats one hell of an accomplishment, Alex thought. If you could drink, Id buy you an ale or ten He squinted at the iron encasing Claygons form. Does that stuff hurt at all?

NoI feel no painbut it slows me down a little The golem thought.

Ill get it off when we get home, Alex thought.

When will we be getting home? Everyonelooks tired.

Alex and his golem gazed over the group around them; Ezerak marched at the front of the line, flanked by two of his beasts. The former king wavered from time to time, most of his tattoos had faded to grey.

Guntil brought up the rear, chewing her lip as she marched: shed developed a noticeable limp and was favouring one leg as they moved along the passage.

Rippscouting aheadwas moving slowly, his skin was pale and his face grim. Thundar was panting, looking tenser the farther they went in the maze. His eyes darted every which way. Alex was tired too, and he came to a decision for the good of everyone: moving ahead without rest would only wear them down even more, making it easier for folks to make mistakes.

And they were definitely not out of the woodsor maze, as the case may be.

The sound of blood-curdling screams kept reaching them; if the cries were from wild demons that lived in the labyrinth, or demons escaping the city, it didn't matter, whatever was screaming like that was best avoided. There were also sounds of vicious conflicts between monsters. The encounters were often quick, fatal, and ended in silence for a time.

On occasion, they had passed demons fleeing from the devastation in the city. So far, none had harassed them, only glancing at them cautiously while keeping to their own business.

Ezerak warned that things would not always be that way.

Their kingdom just fell, he had said. Theyre going to get desperate. Angry. The mania-field will enter their minds and the mortals will get hungry. Ive seen kingdoms fall before: the aftermath is always bloody.

Alex frowned. Its going to take some time before my fibres recover. He thought. So no teleporting for a while. Not until we can rest and recover a bit: we really dont want to find ourselves teleporting blindly into a nest of wild demons. We need time to recuperate. And were still about a day away from the portal. I hope

He winced as stone ground on stone, setting everyones teeth on edge.

A massive rock slid across another.

Above, the sky suddenly darkened, the maze folded on itself, scooping up an unseen traveller who had tried to fly above its walls, carrying them away.

This was the third time that had happened andeach time the maze movedits passageways shifted, changing direction. It was clear; the winding roads were already altering from Baelins map. In time, the layout would be completely different.

But when they recovered, one of them could climb the walls, peer over the ramparts and see where they were in the maze from a higher position.

They needed their stamina back.

Alright, Alex said, his attention on a side passage in the western wall. It ran for about a hundred paces before terminating in a dead end. Well go another fifty paces or so then make camp just before that crossroads up ahead. He nodded to a junction down the path. Well rest up then head out in a few hours.

Aye, good thinking, Ripp groaned. But I dont think we should start any fires, though. Its warm enough here, and we dont want anyone seeing the smoke.

No shit, Guntile grunted. Things are scuffed enough as is. We dont need them tracking us by some line of damned smoke.

The group stopped before the crossroads and Alex searched Claygons satchel, fetching bedrolls and dried provisions. Kyembe had almost fully recovered, and was ready to join the others in a meal.

They were famished, eating in silence for the better part while the golem kept watch. Celsus body lay by his side, wrapped in a blanket. Most avoided looking at the dead warrior's shroud.

When theyd eaten their fill, the order of how theyd take watch was decided: Claygon would keep watch throughout their rest time, and someone else would join him, then alternate with whoever was next in line.

Kyembe volunteered to take first watch, but was quickly overruled.

In the end, Thundar took first watch beside Claygon, letting the others get some sleep.

And that suited Alex just fine.

He had something he needed to do.

Where are you going? Thundar hissed.

The minotaur was at his post, which meant he was leaning against Claygon with his mace in hand, eyes fixed on the crossroads. Youre heading back the way we came from, he frowned.

Alex shouldered his satchel, patting it. Im going to take a look at the Travellers stuff.

Claygons head swivelled toward his father.

Thundar stared at him. Wait, like right now?

Right now. Alex tiptoed past the sleeping mercenaries. I need to know, and I need to know now. Things could get bad if were down here for too long, and if something happens to me, I want to die knowing what it is we came down here for. Besides. He tapped his chest. Touching the artefact sharpened that power inside me. Maybe theres something else buried in there that can help us.

Yeah, maybe Thundar murmured, nodding to the dead end passage. You just going down there?

I dont want to be interrupted. Who knows what Ill find, so I dont want to take the risk that the others will see me. Alex started to move away from the group.

Areyou sure, father? Claygon whispered.

Im sure. Ill tell you both what I find.

Walking quietly, he reached into the satchel. When he turned the corner down the side passage, he took two objects out: the Travellers book and her rectangular artefact.

The symbols on each caught his eye, while the power resonated with his own. He sat on the ground at the dead end, placing the book beside him, scrutinising the rectangle. His fingertips traced the side of the object, running along symbols etched into it.

He felt no power in thembut did feel a strange protrusion on the side.

A button? he murmured, slowly pressing it and reaching out with his mana.

Yet, what touched him was not mana as he understood itit was that strange power that had taken hold within him.

It coursed through the artefact.

And then the side lit up.

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