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Wizard's Dark Heart By Zedd There is a keep, squatting like a misshapen giant in the middle of a shallow inlet, surrounded by a fog of evil. No one dares venture close; no fishermen will take their boats near the dark citadel for fear of losing all they hold dear, the least of which would be their lives. It is dark, almost black really, but for one uppermost window in the tallest tower. One, which glows with an orange light, like a far off beacon. The castle was cold today. The Lord of the keep thought that just fine, he was feeling the same way. He sat silently, brooding, thinking about his past, present and future. He had recently come upon the realization that something was missing from his life. Something that he could not fathom at the moment. It infuriated him, so he sat longer, as he did the night before, as he had done for the past several nights. Sitting and brooding. Looking out from above his chamber he could not see the castle below him, only the night sky and the black sea. His eyes noted the hanging clouds as they lazily floated from the deep sea towards the nearby forest, then the plains beyond. His mind traveled that path as if he himself had been flying upon those clouds, sure in the knowledge of where is destination was. He knew what lay beyond the plains. His enemy. He exhaled as his eyes shifted out to sea. In a day or so, he would have a war galley loaded with his finest warriors ready for a voyage to the far off city of Portinelli. A mere weeks sail away, not even enough time for a decent pirating. The only ships to be pirated that close to the port wasn't going to be some rich merchant anyway. No such ships ever went to the port of Portinelli. There wasn't anything there for trade, except slaves. *** The day had been used for drilling his remaining warriors in defense of the keep in his absence. Since the keep was surrounded by water, repelling invaders was made simpler since men could not walk on water. They approached in ships of wood, which burned nicely. Special ballistas, their points wrapped in stout cloth and soaked in pitch, would be ignited and shot across the waters to set ablaze any enemy ships. The ships would begin to burn, the men aboard frantically trying to extinguish the flames, only to be feathered by his archers. Prisoners became plentiful. These humble men were executed as soon as the fighting was over. Hangings were rare. The warriors of the keep wanted to see blood flow. The Lord carried out these executions with a ritual sense of doom and enjoyed dressing the part also. He would carry these out with a growling chuckle, satisfied that the one or two he left alive would no doubt carry his actions back with them. *** Standing well over six feet, his body strengthened by years of battle and hardship, and possessing a demeanor to halt seasoned veterans in their tracks, he knew few enemies. Few that were alive at any rate. For the last couple of months, it had become his passion to seek out those who would do him harm, often searching so earnestly and openly that his enemies enemy would point them out hoping to come into good graces. His face had few scars, only one that would call attention by the length of it. This one running from above his right eyebrow to be lost into the mass of black hair that flowed halfway down his back, tied by cords into five tails. Deep green eyes that seemed to pick up every detail about a man at a glance, and a strong, rectangular face that was not unhandsome in its darkened, scowling way. His muscular girth shifted some in the leather chair as he continued to stare seaward, his fingers lightly on the haft of the great axe that leaned against him. This was possibly the most dangerous weapon in the hands of someone that knew its potential, and had the strength to use it. It was an old weapon, possessing a huge crescent blade of heavy steel on one end, opposite an ugly, jutting hunk of metal designed merely for rending. The blade head was fastened onto a pole of iron wood about five feet in length and eight inches around. Almost the entire length had been wrapped with leather. On the end sat four emeralds of amazing beauty and worth. The weapon was his by rite of blood. It had belonged to his father, and now belonged to him. No one would separate it from him. He had come to think of it as a close, personal friend. Possibly his closest friend. Certainly his most dependable. *** Suddenly, he sensed something. There was a peculiar shifting of air in his chamber, enough of a warning. He abruptly stood, hefting the great axe, and faced the only empty spot in his chamber. He was not worried in the least that it might be an attack. That would be something he would enjoy. In his unblinking eyes the space began to distort, seemingly to draw in the light and wrap it onto itself. The center of this strange distortion became darker, then just as suddenly, flared into a scintillating display of colored beams that would turn any child's face to wonder. Where there was nothing but a second ago, now stood a beautiful woman clad in soft leather breeches and Elvish boots of brown. A soft, greenish shirt covered her torso and arms, while a cloak of rich, red velvet, trimmed in gold draped her shoulders, flowing almost regally to the dusty chamber floor. "Hello to you, Lord Kroofus." She spoke softly but with a degree of firmness in her voice. She took a more comfortable stance in front of her friend and ally. Her slender hand went about removing the soft cloak before sitting herself unasked into a chair opposite where he had been. There was the trace of a smile as she sat, positioning the axe where it had been. "Greetings to you, Luda. I do not know why, but I find your visit nothing of a surprise." A soft chuckle and a slight raising of her Elven brow was all he got in return. "Well Kroofus, you know as well as I why I ever visit such a one as yourself." Now it was his turn to chuckle. "You know of my penchant for magical treasures, just as I know of your lust for blood and battle. Both of us are very good, so it should not be a surprise why I came to you before any other of my mercenary friends." "Such a compliment as that has surely put up my guard." "Anyone else would not necessarily take that as a compliment." She momentarily studied the man seated at the towers' window. She couldn't help but admire the immense swelling of muscles beneath his evening attire, or his smoothness of movement, like a large predatory cat just making itself a spot to relax in. As much as she had seen what his might could do, she was more impressed with his keen intellect and shrewd mind. He had a way of always getting what he wanted, sooner or later. She noticed his staring and wondered if he was thinking the same. Their success together had always bore some fruit, if not the sweetest tasting. If anyone were capable of teaching something new to her, she was sure he would be the one, and take his time doing it. The prospect would sometimes make her shudder. Still, she mused, he was everything she found appealing in a man, and fellow warrior. Surely her tastes had taken a most dangerous turn the last few years. Her own recent dealings though have brought her here; seeking the aid of the one man whom she knew would, and could make a difference. Taking a breath and choosing her words, she was again aware of his staring. Idly, she wondered if he found her at all attractive, despite her Elven blood. "I've come to offer you a chance at revenge." Seeing no emotion in his eyes, she continued. "You are, I believe, familiar with the Sorcerer who overthrew the kingdom of Grumbaal." "You know full well, Luda, my confrontation with the Demon Mage. Tell me what it is you know." Kroofus spoke quietly but could not keep a slight growl from his throat. Reaching about, Kroofus pulled upon a golden cord. Faintly, there was a hollow tinkling somewhere below them. "Wine will be here momentarily." It wasn't that she feared Kroofus, no, nothing like that. It was something that was relatively new to her. Something that grew every time she dealt with the man. She really didn't fear any man, such was her powers, but she knew Kroofus had something she wanted, something she had been unconsciously searching now for years. What that something was, was no clearer to her now than it was the last time she saw him. She had to clear her throat before continuing. "I've learned through my own arts just what this Demon Mages' weakness is. If you care to join me, we both could rid the land of his stench." Kroofus really knew nothing of Ludas' powers, only that they seemed limitless. If she could not slay whatever confronted her by conventional means, she would bring magic against it, sometimes tearing a hole through everything else in the process. It seemed to him, anyway. If that didn't work, she could call down still more sorceress from some deity of hers, or perhaps some Demon that serves her! He could never fathom from where her magic came. Staring straight at her, Kroofus still could not fathom her motives. Other than attaining some magical trinket, her thoughts were sealed tighter than his vault. She was of a flaxen-haired beauty that surpassed any he had ever seen in his entire lifetime, of that he was sure. Her Elven blood did little to protect her from the taint of magic, being nearly six feet in height and possessing the robustness of physical beauty that only humans share, her pointed ears and gold-green eyes being the only telltale signs of her blood. He was sure it came from trafficking with demons. The eyes, thought Kroofus, are what captures a man's soul and keeps his feet in mud. Very large and round with that Elvish cant, and surrounded by such lashes surely were the reasons for her successes. That, and of course the shrewdness that he has come to expect of her in any of their dealings. Though not all of them have been entirely successful by anyone's measure, he has always been fond of them. For him, they have always been successful because of her, what word was he thinking, enthusiasm. He always had to be careful around her though, lest he fall into those eyes. "I already have a plan," she went on when she was sure he would not respond. "'Course, you knew I would. If you would be so kind as to listen, and perhaps give an opinion or two." She knew he was hooked already. The promise of blood and excitement never seemed to keep him back. There was no mistaking that glint he got when there was blood to be spilled. "Drink." No gestures, she noted, just the words. Almost like wine, she thought as a servant appeared at her elbow with silver decanters. The comparison of an ordinary man's pleasure of drink to Kroofus' pleasure of killing were so close, she mused, that he would probably not hesitate to drink his enemies life blood in a goblet just such as the one she'd been given. A toast was made between lady and warrior that very evening, as the rest of Kroofus Keep became more boisterous with the setting sun. An agreement between life and death would be a more apt metaphor, if such musings were to have been made. *** Brakt the Brave rode recklessly through the woods. There were scratches across his face, where low hanging branches had caught him, and a stain of blood on his sleeve when he had fallen, too preoccupied with his misery. His tabard, proclaiming him a hero was ripped and dust covered every inch of him but his face, where it had turned to tiny trails of mud from his tears. Oblivious to the dangers he was forcing his exhausted steed to take, he plunged headlong without care. In attempting to cross a dry, creek bed, his horse stumbled, tossing Bract against the farther bank. Shaken but unhurt, he twisted around in the dirt, untangling himself from the weeds to see about his mount. Its pitiful cries made him cringe. Knowing now what his foolishness had wrought upon the poor animal just made him sick. The damn beast had a broken leg. Brakt slid his longsword out of its scabbard, wishing just then he had followed his father's advice to work in the village smithy; So long ago it now seemed. It took him a full hour to summon the strength to kill his father's gift to him. Several hours of sun were still available to him, and he was going to use every minute of it. He had a vow to keep. A vow to kill Nadronis. As he pushed his tired body through the waist high grasses, he couldn't keep the death of his love out of his mind. He had seen it all so plainly, yet had been too far away to do any good. The day the Demon Mage came to the village and killed his bride. No matter how many times he went over it, he couldn't think of any way he could have acted any swifter, nor done anything different, to stave off that horrible tragedy. Nor could he fathom why the Demon Mage chose his village, nor his bride-to- be, to wreak such havoc! Such needless bloodshed! He remembered the wounded and dying. People dying without knowing why! There could be no reason for what Nadronis had done! No justification for the evil he had committed against his friends and family! Brakt had sworn before the elders he would kill the Mage for the suffering and murder he had wrought. He had appointed himself judge. Now, he thought to himself, he just had to bring himself to the Mage's keep and confront him, while still keeping himself in one piece. Clenching his teeth and raising his eyes level to the ground once again, he set his course to the dark finger of stone just seen a few miles away. He wouldn't reach it till dark, and dare not enter while the sun was down. But enter it he would. He would kill Nadronis. He would kill the Demon Mage! *** Kroofus glided along the sparse ground like a panther hunting, hardly making any noise at all. He was girded in blackened chain with front and back breastplate, a full helm, which made him appear all the more sinister, and heavy leather gauntlets, studded with silver knobs at the large cuffs. Luda likewise moved carefully, though not possessing the skills of a hunter, she made up for it by sending her magic ahead of them as a scout. If there were any surprises, she would know. Before they set out on their journey, she had tried to fathom if the Demon Mage knew of their plans. He was a powerful Sorcerer, and no doubt had many enemies and spies. It was expected they would run into some guardian or trap, some means to weaken them before they reached him. It was to some surprise then, when her mind came in contact with a lone warrior ahead of them. Such morose feelings that came out of that poor soul, surely he was not to block their way? Intrigued as to the why he was there, she gently probed deeper, realizing only then he was unconscious. *** Brakt came awake suddenly with the certainty he had heard something! He looked around, finding his sword where he left it and hoisted himself to his feet, his back to a tree. He had definitely heard some thing! *** Kroofus had continued to move silently, stopping only to sniff the air, or search the ground before him for tracks. He had heard of many strange things that prowled around the Mage's keep, things, which ate a man in two bites! He would be cautious only until he got his hands around the Mage's throat. He suddenly sensed something ahead. Some instinct warned him. Silently, he approached a stand of dwarfish trees. Unslinging his great axe, he made a sign to Luda to back him up. Luda looked at Kroofus and realized what he was doing almost too late. She had delved so deeply within the mind ahead, being so captivated by its pain and reasoning, she had not thought to warn him. "Kroofus. He is a friend here to help us." He looked at her with such suspicion; she took a step back before catching herself. "I was aiding our approach with my magic when I found him. Let him talk and you will hear an interesting tale. If he cares to tell it." She added thoughtfully. She also looked toward the trees, seeing the lone warrior finally step out into the morning sun. He looked terrible, she thought! More like a fugitive on the run than an avenger! Kroofus kept the blade of his axe level between himself and the fellow, though looking at him, he was unsure if he was much of a threat. To Kroofus, it seemed he had had no sleep for days, so haggard and spent he appeared. Brakt leaned against a tree, holding his longsword with both hands, and tried to appear the picture of confidence. Looking at the faces of the two told him he failed. "I am Brakt the Brave from the village of Rose. I am going to kill the Demon Mage, Nadronis." "I am Luda. This rough looking companion," she gestured at Kroofus who was scowling at him, "is Lord Kroofus." Brakt had to swallow before continuing. He knew of Lord Kroofus! By many names! "We share the same goal, Brakt." Luda went on. "Perhaps it would improve our odds to have another experienced swordsman with us." She eyed Kroofus meaningfully. "I vowed to kill him, but would not hesitate to join you, if you'd have me. I seemed to have reached the end of myself." So saying, Brakt lowered himself until he was sitting with his back against the tree. "Luda speaks the truth." Kroofus' deep voice echoed from his helm. He let the blade of his axe fall to the ground with a thunk and casually leaned upon it, as if it were a cane. "We are going to kill him. You, though, need rest. Perhaps the fair Luda could help?" Kroofus turned his head fractionally toward her. "Perhaps I can restore some vitality to you." She said, eyeing Kroofus cleverly. By not acknowledging her ability to help with a spell of health, he was allowing her to second-guess herself. He obviously didn't think Brakt much of an addition, more of a liability, and wanted her to admit it. He knew of her spell of health from countless other times and was going to let her make the decision of letting Brakt join them. He also figured Brakt for a decoy, to be used at a key moment by Luda's magic, a tactic she sometimes used. Luda bent down to examine Brakt for wounds, and to let Kroofus know she was sure of herself, always. As she finished making sure he was not severely wounded from his reckless flight, she called upon the appropriate spell for banishing fatigue and restoring loss energy of the body and mind. In minutes, Brakt felt infinitely better, ready to take on the Mage, by himself if necessary. He thanked Luda, truly believing her of saving his life when he surely would have wasted it! So now it was the three of them to kill the Demon Mage! Brakt rejoiced while Kroofus kept his eyes locked instead on the black tower in the distance. It took them the rest of that day before coming within the influence of the tower. It was obvious to all three of them that there was something foul surrounding it. They crossed a line where the grasses and trees simply did not exist anymore. Instead, there were dry, brittlebushes, deformed, leafless trees, and dead grass. They did not glimpse so much as a bird in the sky. They continued to advance cautiously. "I believe he's absorbing the land of life, killing off the animals, trees and plants." Luda stated to no one in particular. "Why do you suppose?" Brakt asked uneasily of Luda, hoping to find out all he could about the Mage. It seemed to him she knew much more about him than he did of her. She wasn't the one to answer him, though. "He saps the land of life to keep his own from fading." Kroofus growled. He was in a foul mood, partly because they had been walking for hours with nothing to show. It was apparent to all of them the Mage knew they were coming, and was waiting for the right moment. Kroofus fumed inside, aching for battle, and something was telling him that the confrontation was likely to be dipped in wizardry spells, possibly eliminating him from it. They could see the tower plainly now. A great octagon of black stone reaching almost two hundred feet high, yet only fifty wide at its base. The stone was roughly chiseled and crudely fitted, giving the tower's appearance an impression of great age and decay. Few windows dotted its rough face, those being small rectangles, too high and too small for consideration. As they approached, they could discern two great bronze doors on the wall facing them. It seemed there was a writhing upon the surfaces, as a nest of snakes might make; though in the fading light they couldn't be sure. Once close enough, Brakt shuddered, finding both halves of the heavy doors to be covered with carvings of snakes, and other slimy, unnerving things. Luda smirked, and then noted the heavy bronze rings attached to the doors. Kroofus studied the doors, then the rings for long moments, ignorant of the tense shifting of his fellow warrior. He looked for seams in the metal, strange scratches, or any other indications that the doors might not be doors. He suspected them of being trapped. "Are we going in?" Brakt asked quietly of no one in particular. He didn't really expect an answer, and was relieved to not have gotten one. "Yes. I think we'd better." Kroofus said. His voice was low and quiet. "After all," he continued. "he left the way open for us." He then gently pushed on the right door, causing it to swing silently inward. Brakt gaped openly. Even Luda was prepared to waste a small amount of magic here, so sure she was of resistance. "How did you know?" She asked him. He looked at her, and then unslung his axe again. He wasn't going to tell her. "Point." He told them, before entering the darkness inside. Brakt and Luda looked at one another for only an instant before following. Inside was a vast darkness, so thick and clinging, no light could stab it. Kroofus stood in it, listening, trying to find life, or death. Whatever he thought the Mage would send at them. So far it had been ridiculously easy. The thought of them approaching a specific doom made more sense with each passing moment. The Mage had plans; of that there was no doubt! Very little light came in through the door, but was enough to illuminate the room they had entered. The chamber was round and quite large, with only one other way to leave it by. An archway, filled with blackness, stood about forty paces in front of Kroofus. He could sense some... thing standing in that other chamber. Feel it watching them! "Luda. We need a light." Luda nodded. She anticipated a need such as this, and had prepared for it. From her belt she produced a glass rod. Waving it about her, she uttered a few words that sounded like nonsense to Brakt, and produced an unwavering source of light that easily illuminated the entire chamber they were in! As light poured throughout the chamber, Kroofus kept his eyes upon the archway, anticipating an attack. Instead nothing came, nor did he sense anything prowling around. Looking elsewhere, he noted no adornments on the walls or ceiling, no statues or paintings, nothing to alleviate the sparse boredom of the place. Perhaps the chamber wasn't used. Luda also made note of what Kroofus had already discovered. Though it didn't puzzle her, nor did it concern her. Making her way to the archway, she idly thought how mice were led through a maze by the scent of cheese. Brakt padded his way across the chamber, reaching there the same time as Luda, and peered through. Whatever he expected to see, he wasn't prepared to see that! "There's a very big creature in here." He whispered loudly. "And he doesn't appear to be moving!" Kroofus stepped in between his friends and faced the creature. True to Brakt's words the thing did not appear to react to their intrusion. It was a mammoth, pot-bellied Ogre of sorts, though he had never seen an Ogre of this magnitude! It stood roughly ten feet tall, with tree trunk arms hanging well below its distended belly, its knuckles almost touching the floor. Its face was a caricature of an Ogre's, somehow being even more ugly than a real one, with not a single hair upon its bullet shaped head! He saw another door across the chamber; opposite the one he had entered by, and proceeded to move to his right, keeping his eye upon the big creature in front of him. As he moved, he noticed several rough grooves gouged into the stone floor, as if something heavy were dragged across. They seemed to crisscross the entire area, not having a specific direction, from which they came or went. He had found the markings a mystery and had stopped briefly to examine them further. That's when the thing started to move. The first indication of life came from a deep screeching from within the monstrosity as it lifted it's heavy limbs outward, as if for a monstrous hug. The second was a yell of warning from Brakt as he dashed recklessly to the left trying to confuse it. Luda stood where she was, deciding to find out what was going to happen next. She was confident she was out of the things' reach. Kroofus suspected what the trick was here, even as he readied his heavy axe for a mighty blow. He had a feeling ordinary battle was going to be fruitless against this type of creature, even as he saw Brakt dart in for a nasty cross swing that would no doubt open the thing's belly, had it not been for the stinging clang his weapon made. "The cursed thing is made of METAL!!" Brakt yelled out, cradling his numb hand. Kroofus noted with a growing sense of respect how Brakt had retained his sword, though his fingers were no doubt feeling lifeless. "It is one of his Golems!" Luda yelled back. "How do you kill something like this?" Brakt asked as he back- pedaled from the creature. The thing evidently disliked his attack upon it as one great arm swung at him with a quicker response than a few seconds ago, barely missing him. Kroofus saw how the metal behemoth moved, lifting a massive leg, only to bring it crashing down upon the stone floor with a concessive booming! He wondered if the thing didn't have a duel purpose, that of guardian, and alarm! Moving quickly, so as to avoid the far-reaching arms, Kroofus swung his weapon at the lowest portion of a leg, hoping to knock it out, thus off-balancing the creature, sending it to the floor! There was a loud clang, sending a terrific numbing sensation up both his arms, but to no avail! The only thing he did that he could tell was create a shiny line in the metal where his axe bit into it. As fast as he thought it was, it seemed to have picked up speed as it swung around and caught him in the shoulder, sending him clear across the room where he piled up against the wall. Brakt circled the other way, away from his fallen friend, occupying the Golem's attention. He didn't feel he could defeat this creature by himself, but didn't really know what could be done about it, either. If weapons couldn't damage it, how then do you defeat it? Brakt kept asking himself that as he danced away from the Golem's swinging arms that were trying to catch the nimble fighter in a fatal hug! Luda moved around the wall, confident Brakt would occupy the thing's attention long enough for her to see if Kroofus was all right. The fact he might be dead from such a powerful blow did not enter her mind. She had seen him take much worse, only to come back with frightful vengeance. As she knelt over her longtime friend, she realized that he had gotten a bad roll of the dice. He was dazed, probably from hitting the wall rather than the Golem's blow. 'He would not be happy when he fully recovered his wits,' she chuckled. There wasn't anything for her to do with him except help Brakt keep the creature from finishing the job. "Luda, how do I kill this thing?" Brakt yelled, then ducked to avoid a swing that swooshed above him. "This thing's starting to get quicker!" "It's a creature of magic! There is no real way to kill it, other than to break it into pieces!" She ran across, behind Brakt, hoping to distract it for a short while. Brakt shuddered as the thing took another step! He could feel the vibrations every time it moved! The thing didn't seem to possess any intelligence that Brakt could see; it just went after something until it caught it. It was moving quicker though, of that Brakt was fairly certain. He knew he could not last this frantic dodging forever, and wracked his brains for an answer to their situation. He glanced at Luda, seeing her take her own blade out and was doing just what he had been. He jumped and rolled away from an unusually quick grabbing of the Golem, just in time to see Kroofus on hands and knees, shaking his head to clear it. He looked at Luda again, seeing her slip on something, when an idea came to him! "Luda! Distract the thing for a moment! I've got an idea!" He waited until the thing made an attack towards Luda, then went behind it, hurriedly dumping the few contents of his belt pouch onto the floor. Picking up a flask, he broke the top off, splattering a few droplets, and faced the creature. Luda, though quick, suffered from a body too long in the use of magic to prolong the kind of maneuvers Brakt had kept up. As a result, the thing had her cornered, and was bringing both arms in to pummel her. She didn't seem to be overly worried, he thought, as he quickly came behind the thing, pouring the contents of the flask onto the stone behind the thing. Some alarm within the created mind of the Golem sensed Brakt's presence behind it however, and immediately swung its torso and arm around, catching the warrior full in the chest, sending him flying toward the far wall. Brakt came crashing down, not far from where Kroofus had just regained his feet, and lay still, his broken body lying in a heap. Luda waited until the last moment, and then simply disappeared from in front of the creature. She reappeared next to Brakt, searching for life within. Kroofus didn't need anyone to tell him what he had to do as he moved into the center of the chamber. The thing revolved around, moving its massive legs to face Kroofus. It didn't notice, or couldn't, the pool in front of it, and stepped right into it, with disastrous results! Brakt had spilt oil, thinking correctly that if the thing fell, such a huge creature of metal would likely break apart! As the Golem moved into the oil, the one leg slid out a few feet, throwing the thing way off balance. Its arms flailed wildly about it as it slowly toppled forward, hitting the floor with an ear- splitting crash that no doubt reverberated throughout the whole castle! Both arms snapped off, each breaking into pieces and scattering throughout the chamber, the smaller pieces pinging off the walls! The head fell off, bounced on the floor once with a hollow crack, and rolled into two separate directions like a broken melon! Kroofus stood in the middle of the chamber, his axe still held level with his chest, thinking how smart Brakt had been, and wondered if he was still alive to know it. He turned toward Luda and Brakt, just in time to see her muttering one of her health spells. If she was wasting a spell, likely he would not have been all right. "How is he?" He asked her when she had finished her non-sensible mutterings. Shrugging, she said. "He'll live, and fight again." Kroofus stared and nodded without a flicker of emotion. Soon, Brakt moaned awake, and looked around quickly for the thing that was just in his dreams. "Easy, Brakt!" Luda told him, smiling. "You killed it! You did it!" Brakt looked from Luda, around to the various pieces that were scattered over the floor, then at Kroofus. "Come." Kroofus said, standing up, holding a hand for him. Brakt looked at Luda again, perhaps thinking he owed her a great deal for saving his life. Luda sensed gratitude, and merely shook her head. Brakt reached for Kroofus' hand. "We still have the dog to kill." Kroofus told him. Brakt smiled for the first time in what seemed like months. "Yes. We do." Luda's skill with healing was only exceeded by her beauty, thought Brakt. He found her to be a great asset on their quest. Of course, having the dangerous Lord Kroofus along only seemed to guarantee their success. It occurred to Brakt he had certainly garnered the God's blessings with these two! Although still aching in several places, he had never felt better, and held his chin higher. Kroofus proved to be unhurt, merely a knot on the head, and insisted on keeping the front. Grimly, he set out through the other door, finding a corridor and proceeded down it. Short handing the great axe, teeth clenched from anger, he knew that whatever would bar their way now would not stand against him. The corridor they traversed was of endless, black, smooth rock, broken only by the occasional lantern, which hung by an iron hook set into the wall. As they passed these, they would check their contents for oil, finding none. They continued with this procedure for an hour before giving up. Remembering the size of the keep they had entered, they found it impossible to be going down this corridor, unless there was the unlikely chance that they were now underground. "It seems we're wasting our energy here." Kroofus stated, stopping again when they came upon yet another lantern hanging by an iron hook. Brakt nodded, and looked to Luda, who was pale. "What ails you, Luda?" He asked. "I sense the Demon Mage upon us, looking at us, searching for a weakness." She whispered, as if too loud a voice would attract unwanted notice. She searched about her, expecting to see the Mage lurking just outside her range of light. Her eyes were wild, reflecting the light from her rod, giving her the aspect of insanity. Kroofus cursed. The Mage sought to sap their purpose by having them walk this endless corridor, and weaken their party by playing tricks with them! "Cast a spell to reveal him, then." He spoke with brutal passion, tightening his grip on his axe. He would have the battle now, if he had his way, but knew wizards liked to prolong such things until the end of the seasons themselves! "I dare not!" She cried, "I think that is what he waits for." She looked to Brakt who merely shrugged his shoulders, not understanding such things. "We cannot walk this dreadful corridor for the rest of our days!" Brakt supplied, looking at Kroofus, then back at Luda. "Perhaps if we mark this section, that would tell us something!" Kroofus thought about that, and then walked over to the hanging lantern, smashing it with the flat of the heavy axe head, sending it crinkled to the stone floor. "That's a good marking." Brakt said, chuckling. "We will walk a little further." Kroofus told them. He re-slung the axe across his back, then un-sheathing a wicked, long bladed knife before continuing down the corridor they had been walking for the last hour. The ivory pommel felt cool in his hand, creating an ache in him to stick the sliver of steel into a belly. The Mage was testing their patience; of that there was no doubt! They walked further; Luda holding her glass rod high, trying to shine light into every crack they came across. In moments, they came to the broken remains of a lantern. "What sort of beast do you suppose did this?" Brakt asked smiling, trying to sound as honest as possible. He looked to Kroofus, hoping a little humor would alleviate the stress they were feeling. His grim stare told him different. "Just as I suspected." Luda muttered to herself. She thought no one heard, but Brakt and Kroofus both looked at her, thinking she had discovered something new. She merely smiled a trace of the assuredness back for an instant. Kroofus almost smiled back. Brakt moved the broken lantern with the toe of his boot, wondering what kind of magic would force them to traverse the same corridor over and over. If they walked into it, could they not walk out again? "What would happen if we went the other way?" Brakt asked. He wanted to pose the question to Luda, her being a Sorcerer, but instead found himself throwing the question out. "Nothing, or we'd be back in the big chamber with his Golem waiting." Kroofus surmised. "Put back together?!" He asked, aghast! "In all likelihood, yes." Luda answered. She looked at the two warriors, a degree of finality about her. Shrugging, she continued. "We've walked, literally, into a trap. The only way out is for me to try and reveal it." Kroofus nodded once, his eyes briefly locking with hers in a silent agreement. Taking a deep breath, Luda began to concentrate. She needed to open herself to the enchantment they were caught in for her to determine its nature, and that was where the risk lay in. Several minutes followed before she opened her eyes again. She had the answer now and just needed to cast the spell that would open the true corridor before them! She began to weave her fingers through the air while muttering a senseless phrase. Soon, where her fingers flicked, there were points of light floating before her! Brakt watched wide-eyed, never had he seen magic so beautiful performed in front of him by such a beautiful woman as Luda! Kroofus preferred to watch the corridor, almost purposely keeping his head away, as if something was about to happen he didn't want to miss! Suddenly, bursting from the wall itself like a wraith shot the Demon Mage, Nadronis, laughing hysterically! His left hand, glowing with blue fire, he attached itself like a spider to Luda's face, causing her to scream in surprised pain! The other hand, flaming like a torch and belching smoke, grasped Brakt's throat! He had been caught off guard, he realized, just when the pain hit him! He dropped his sword and gripped the arm, trying to tear the flaming hand away from him, but was blinded by smoke, fire and pain! Both warrior and Elven Sorcerer fell to their knees! Kroofus whirled, a curse ripping from his throat, and threw himself at the Mage, his knife held low! What surely would have gutted an ordinary man merely got Nadronis' attention. His eyes, black as night, caught Kroofus', and held them! As much as Luda was a threat to his plans, Kroofus was a threat to his life! Neither would survive the day! Nadronis summoned the 'Worm of Norvill Kek' to consume Kroofus from the inside out. Nothing happened! Kroofus grinned and exploded into action. His knife was useless against the Mage for some reason, so he dropped it and concentrated on pummeling him senseless! Rock hard fists crashed repeatedly into enchanted flesh. Elbows and knees staggered Nadronis, forcing him against the stonewall again and again! When Nadronis looked up, snarling, attempting a spell, Kroofus slammed his helmeted head against the Mage's! Despite the injuries he was taking from impacting upon the stone-like skin of the Mage, he kept his furious assault up, determined to quench the frustration and battle lust within. Nadronis' sorceries protecting him were more than adequate against the blades of ten normal warriors, but he found himself being battled by a monster! He knew of Lord Kroofus, knew he faced him now, but had discounted the stories he'd heard as just that. Nadronis felt pain, realized Lord Kroofus had begun to overcome his spells, and began to worry! He had several quick magics that could save him, but would put him into as much peril as his assailant did, so preferred to hold them. He couldn't believe anyone could stand as much pain and damage, as Lord Kroofus seemed to be taking, just to get at him! Blood splattered wetly against the stonewall, running in rivulets to the floor where it began to pool. Nadronis was purpled and was becoming dazed, almost unable to stand; yet still resisting the strength of the mindless warrior Kroofus had become. Fist, elbow, knee, head, fist then kick! It seemed endless! All the blood came from Kroofus though, where wounds had opened up on hands, head, wherever he had repeatedly hit the Mage! He was blind of the pain, concentrating on killing the Mage, no matter what else! His attacks were slowing, but more precise. He was putting more strength into each hit, now that he was doing real damage! He savagely brought his right fist against the jaw of the Mage, causing a spray of blackish blood to erupt from the Mage's mouth! He followed by an elbow of the same arm, rammed into the nose, breaking it! Immediately his left fist punched the Mage in the throat, causing a sick gurgling to emit from him! The Demon Mage all but collapsed! Out of desperation he flung his hand out, shrieking! There was a flash, knocking Kroofus against the opposite wall of the corridor, followed by a bellow of pain, which seemed to fade, as if falling away from a precipice! The Demon Mage was gone! Blood, and a peculiar stench the only signs he had been there. Kroofus sagged against the wall, spent. Blearily, he saw the Mage disappear into the wall just before he blanked out. It seemed to him that he had melted into it! Luda had planned well, believing Nadronis would consider each of them separate and different risks. She had covered Kroofus with a spell, protecting him, wagering Nadronis would consider him only a physical threat. She, from past adventures, having first hand experience, knew differently! Luda was the first to regain her wits about her since she never blacked out entirely when the Mage attacked her. The plan had been to lure him out while she was preoccupied. Nevertheless, she was caught in the middle of a minor enchantment, the interruption of which was painful to her. She tried to straighten her thoughts, to shake the cobwebs out of her brain, and find out about Brakt and Kroofus. Both had been severely wounded. Even when she was blinded, she had heard Brakt's terrible bellow. She started to get up when she realized something else was wrong. Her magical sense detected a shifting within her physical body, which meant she was in the grip of a spell! Her eyes widened at the thought of the Mage actually being able to cast three spells at the same time! Such knowledge that was his! Her astonishment at her discovery was short lived as she felt her tunic suddenly become tighter. Looking down, she was surprised to see her breasts swell noticeably larger, the thin soft leather easily molding around her bosom as they began to attain a more human size! What had that filth done to her? Brakt's moan brought her back and she promptly began to attend to his wounds. Brakt lay against the wall very close to her. He had been badly burned around the throat, face and upper torso. Realizing that had Kroofus not attacked the Mage when he did, she would've no doubt been a dim-witted idiot, such was the Demon Mage's main purpose, and Brakt dead! She looked at Kroofus, a smirk playing across her features, silently thanking him for his sacrifice of blood. Without it, their plan would not have worked. He sat, his great axe across his thighs, knife in hand, smiling grimly at her. Blood oozed from underneath his helm, down his face. His arms and torso were splattered with it, and his hands looked like chewed, bloody pieces of meat. Yet, she sensed he was relatively happy with what had happened. They were still in the corridor, but now in front of her along the wall was a great, wooden door, braced with iron. Before they could hunt the wounded Mage down and kill him, they needed to tend to their own wounded. Luda set about covering Brakt's burns with salve she always carried with her, while Kroofus bandaged both his and Brakt's more serious wounds. The key was to suffer their own price of minor success long enough to kill the Mage before he could heal himself. Luda had long ago found how difficult it was for Nadronis to repair his decaying body. There was only so much you could put off before it started to fall into dust. Luda determined Brakt's wounds were serious, yet couldn't bring herself to say anything to him. She knew the cursed Mage would reap some havoc on her before Kroofus pounced on him, yet she found herself unprepared for the price she found she had to pay. He had erased all but a few spells from her mind! She no longer was the spell thrower, the one to counter whatever nasty magical traps they were sure to face now! In addition, he had apparently placed some sort of flesh changing spell on her, although to what end, she wasn't sure. Luda sat on her legs; gently massaging the ointments into the burned, tender flesh Brakt had left around his throat, and silently cursed herself for her mistake! She should have assumed the Demon Mage would have some spell to affect her own spell ability. The man had hundreds of years on her, thousands of hours in unknown books she would never see, to prepare for the Wizards that would come for the power and secrets he had garnered! As she finished up she mentally cursed herself again. She had been very good about details before, so in the future, she would cover all eventualities a little bit better. Kroofus inspected the door while Luda helped Brakt to his feet. He noticed he favored his left arm and was sore to move, but would continue. His keen eye saw the slight difference in her bosom, and was momentarily piqued as to what had happened, but now was not the time. She picked up his sword and handed it to Brakt, then drew her own. Kroofus nodded at them before opening the door, intent on finding the Demon Mage. The door led into a large square chamber containing many barrels and crates sitting about. The walls were of course made from the same stone as the rest of the castle, with a rather dark archway within the opposite wall, leading to dimly lit chambers beyond. Kroofus cautiously approached the archway, keeping his eyes on the wall above it, and the many barrels and crates around him. Likewise so did Brakt and Luda. Once across the chamber, Kroofus and Luda both looked at Brakt, wondering if they should leave him here. This chamber could possibly be a safe place for the wounded warrior. Brakt, thou consumed by pain near the point of collapsing, caught the exchange between dark warrior and lady magician and vehemently cursed them both. "You'll not be leaving me here! I want the blood of that hell's wizard more than both of you!" When neither of them answered immediately, he continued. "It's my right, and I'll see me dead before it's taken away." The last was spoken with such ferocious sincerity, Luda had to give way to his wishes, despite what she now lacked. Kroofus merely smiled. The chamber they entered was huge, too big to have fit inside the castle. All three looked upward to see the ceiling hundreds of feet above them, a slight mist hanging in the air, obscuring and blurring the ledges and stairways leading upward. They craned their necks upward, noting the hundreds of stairways hanging about, almost like a vertical maze. Luda and Brakt followed the stairways down with their eyes, until they realized it all started with two slightly curving stairs in front of them. One on the left, curving to the right where it stopped at a landing. The other on the right, curving to the left, where it went over the first stair and proceeded to a landing farther up. From each landing there were several stairways branching off, some going down, some going farther upward, where they met with other landings, with even more stairs branching off. Kroofus didn't bother looking for anything above him. Either the Mage was waiting for him, or he wasn't. He'd place a generous bet he was though, having had a warrior pummel him as though he were just a drunkard of the streets. Instead, Kroofus was looking for something else, and it didn't take him long to find it. He turned to his friends. "He's waiting for us up there." He gestured with a finger, pointing to nothing but the air above his head. Brakt groaned. "I'll take the stairs on the right, Luda will take the stairs on the left, and Brakt will make sure he doesn't leave through the door when we flush him out!" "He will not go beyond me." Brakt simply stated. Kroofus could almost believe him. Luda had questions of course, but the end of their plan had come and gone and both had realized it. She was in new territory now, and from now on plans were going to be improvised. Kroofus on the other hand was feeling empowered! The blood was rushing through him, calling him onward, despite the risks! He was the hound again; the Mage the rabbit, and he ached to grind his teeth in the decaying flesh of his throat! He bounded up the stairs on the right, following the blood droplets he had spotted, his grip on the great axe close to the blade! Luda, making sure Brakt could stand without her, started up the stairs to her left, her right hand a fist of white flesh as it gripped the sword too tightly! She felt her tunic grow tighter still as her breasts continued expanding. Glancing down, she was dismayed to find a large, quaking pair of breasts that were starting to strain the laces at the front of her tunic! Stopping briefly, she began to feel other differences become apparent, such as the tightness of her soft leather breeches around her hips and buttocks! Her free hand pulled the cloak open only to reveal the wider hips and fuller ass of a different woman! Evidently, the third spell he had placed on her in the attack was merely to enhance her body, probably to his specifications. She looked above, trying to see the Mage through the dizzying height, just to give him a gesture that she understood what he had done to her, and that he would pay for his evil perversion! She gripped her sword anew and started upward, remembering when she was young. Her master, tutoring her in the ways of magic, would always tell her that at times, she would need to fall upon her more primitive skills. Taking each step in front of her with solid finality, she told herself that the Mage was wounded and it wouldn't take much to send him further along the final path that awaited him. She was more than capable of it; of that there was no doubt! Brakt wasn't sure if he could stop the Mage if he chose to come by his way. He wasn't sure he could stay conscious! Looking at Luda climb the steps warily, moving along almost timidly, he realized she was unsure of herself. His gaze moved over to Kroofus as he almost flew up the stairs, stopping only for a few seconds to inspect the spot before continuing. Here was a man, he thought, who was feeling at the height of his power now. Though battered beyond belief, he continued to hunt the Mage! Brakt couldn't be sure if he admired that, or if it scared him. Kroofus gave him the feeling he would never give up, no matter what it would ultimately cost him! He studied his dark friend, the way he moved, like some great predator, and then shifted his gaze higher. He saw several ledges and landings, not believing they were in the Mage's keep any longer so high they were, when he suddenly saw something that made his blood flow coldly! He tried to look closer; his eyes squinted, until he was sure! Up at the top, on a landing much like those below stood the Mage! He appeared to have changed a little, though in what way Brakt couldn't tell. What the Mage had with him though is what stole Brakt's breath! It appeared to be his bride! She was still in the white wedding dress, though he could tell there were large red stains of what could only be blood! She also appeared to be alive, struggling frantically, as if to attract his attention. Could she be trying to tell him something?! Could she even see him, recognize him? He looked around him, almost in a panic! He had to rescue her! He knew he couldn't climb, or fight, even if he could manage to climb that distance. Yet staying where he was made him ache! He spotted a large barrel next to the wall on his left. Going over to it, he easily smashed in the lid, finding it empty. Leaning upon the barrel, defeat threatening to shroud his mind, he again looked up. Luda spotted what Brakt had seen only moments later when she reached a landing. Sympathy flooded through her but she could do nothing at the moment. She was taking any stairs that seemed to wind their way upward, trying as she went to fathom the mind that created such a unique maze upon a wall. It was larger than a person could comprehend, taking up a width greater than the castle seemed tall, easily surpassing that width in height! She looked up, finding the stairways to become jumbled if she gazed at them too long! Closing her eyes briefly, she felt the first lace pop open at the top of her tunic, revealing the beginnings of a fabulous cleavage! She steadied herself and again started climbing, every nerve inside her screaming loudly in warning with each step! Kroofus didn't bother trying to figure the maze; so single-minded was he in his tracking of his prey! He was getting closer with every step, the blood flowing quicker! He was leaving more blood in sweaty splatters behind him than he was finding, but was oblivious to it. Nadronis gazed down the depth of his castle, watching his enemies come ever closer. He knew of the Sorcerer woman, Luda, and the one called Brakt the Brave. Luda was of no consequence now that he had robbed her of her spell ability. In fact, she should already be feeling the second spell he had placed upon her! Brakt was nothing but a worm to be smashed under his sandaled feet, so useless he'd been rendered! He wagered he could kill the mendicant from this extreme height merely by throwing a rock! His gaze shifted, watching the one in black fly up a set of stairs, oblivious to any danger. Nadronis' hands clasped the stone rail, his fingers gouging into it, sprinkling the ledge with dust. How he hated Kroofus, hated him with a passion he'd not felt for a century or more! To lay hands on him and make him bleed, to deplete his magic's so he must sacrifice just to remain alive! Kroofus had cost him much, much more than Nadronis thought any mortal should have and so, Nadronis would make him pay for his transgressions. Nadronis planned on enchanting the warrior, changing him to something weaker, thus reducing him to a more suitable vessel of use. One more liking to him. After all, he needed wives. Many wives! Many wives to produce a limitless source of vitality for him! An ear-splitting shriek disturbed the Mage, causing him to look at the captive behind him. Though he appreciated her beauty, she was nothing more than a tool, another soul to help him stay alive. His plans to have her as his eternal wife had changed because of those three! He now needed her brightness to strengthen his diminished dark powers, without which he could not maintain his domination of beings in the other planes more powerful than he. He was the Demon Mage, and a title as that was not just given him for the evil he'd done. NO! He'd given much for the powers he'd craved! He sacrificed all he had, wealth, family, everything, to get all he desired! All he deserved! No mortal man with a butchering tool was going to take it away. Even the thought of trying was punishable with eternal servitude! Casually, Nadronis limped over to the bound woman, cursing his failing body as he went, and brutally slapped her across the face, throwing her back against the wall. Gasping in pain, she looked up once into the face of the Mage, and then collapsed, crying pitifully. What had she deserved to be captive of this dreadful creature? Nadronis' piercing eyes took in every detail of the woman's suffering, eliciting a perverse joy within him. His cracked face changed a shade as, despite his efforts, he smiled. His gnarled hands, gray like his face, shook and popped as her sobbing reached a crescendo. Several minutes went by with her body shaking now and then before the Mage realized that she had either fallen asleep, or fainted. Sighing, he began a low chant, intent on siphoning the woman's essence out of her to replenish his own. He must do it now if he were to deal with those three assassins! Blue and black swirls of deadly magic started to coalesce about the young woman's face. Smokey tendrils, moving snakelike, coiled about her body in an obscene act of possession before slithering for her nose and mouth where they passed inside her body. Nadronis observed this with a satisfied smile, eager to engulf the juice of life when it came. Her body, growing more ashen by the second, suddenly spasmed in agony, her mouth in a silent scream of pain! When her breath exhaled with a final bellow of lifelessness, Nadronis grasped her face, crushing his mouth to hers in an unholy kiss! Her eyes rolled back in their sockets as his spell worked at her soul. Blood started to flow from her mouth, eyes and ears when he finally let her body drop from his hands, lifeless. He smiled grimly, relishing the blood as it began to flow through him, strengthening his body and his magic. Blood was magic, and magic blood! Suddenly he cackled aloud, his back snapping. "Bring on the dark warrior and his Elven lover so that I may still have all that I desire!" He went back to the railing, already feeling the demonic vitality start to course through him, and watched the three. Kroofus had come far, he noticed. His racing and leaping, trying to find the correct stair was admirable. Of course, following the blood trail would not lead the fool to him! Nadronis smiled evilly knowing where it would lead the dark one. Though he hated the warrior intensely, he also admired his strength and vitality. He wouldn't admit it, but there was something unearthly about the Lord that uneased him. He could almost sense some destiny about him that was taking place, some grand scheme or plan that was just now coming together and had excluded him. He would make certain the dark warrior had achieved a decidedly different destiny, altogether! Luda now, he observed, was trying to solve the problem of the stairs, making her way carefully upward, rarely backtracking. She would doubtless make her way to him, being quite intelligent. Yes, he mused, that would be most acceptable. He would easily place a spell of obedience upon her, sealing her fate for eternity. Nadronis continued to grimly stare down, a sick and twisted smile upon his dead face. Kroofus leapt from a twisting set of stairs riding along the wall, onto a new broader set which promised to bring him closer to his prey. He paused momentarily to scan the ledge for signs of the Mage's passing. Seeing two drops of the red liquid upon the second and third steps, he chuckled evilly and raced upwards. He had been running for the better part of an hour now, pausing only long enough to make sure he was still on the trail. Though the blood was red, Kroofus was beginning to have his doubts whether it belonged to the Demon Mage or something else entirely. He had traced it successfully up and across countless stairs and landings, always coming closer to the Mage himself up above who seemed to be waiting for him. Pausing again, he searched out Brakt below, finding him against the chambers' wall, next to a barrel. Brakt waved then, pointing upwards above his head. He looked up, seeing the Mage watching him, but failed to see what Brakt might be trying to tell him. He ground his teeth and made an obscene gesture, hoping to taunt the Mage. The Mage merely copied it, infuriating him. He knew he was being played with, like a mouse. He didn't know where the blood trail was leading him, but had his doubts it was to the Demon Mage. He reached a landing where four stairs led off in different directions, a few drops of blood going straight to a blank wall. Kroofus approached the wall, inspecting it carefully for signs of a door, or anything that might suggest the Mage had gone this way. He was covered in sweat and blood but was cautious, expecting a trap now. He decided to follow his trail through the wall. Holding the great axe in his right, he ran his left flatly across the stonewall, thinking it might be false, or an illusion. If it were a false wall, or a cleverly disguised door, perhaps he could batter it down. He glanced up to the Mage, seeing he was watched, and decided he'd run out of ideas. Either he could fathom the maze of the stairs, which swam before his eyes if he looked too long, or he could go through this wall. He suspected the Mage wanted him to go through. Not being an individual who was susceptible to indecision, Kroofus rammed the head of his axe into the wall, causing a great hole to appear. Pausing only long enough to glance through to see an empty chamber within, he crumbled the rest of the wall into a cloud of dust. With both hands on the axe, he stepped through, at first seeing nothing but an empty square chamber. As the dust cleared however, he was able to determine a wooden door in the middle of the left wall. He warily approached, sensing something, but unable to see just what it might be. Suddenly he whirled, alerted by a presence behind him. Before him, in the center of the chamber, was a billowing cloud of gray smoke rising upward. It quickly began to clear however, revealing a large, dark, forbidding shape. Kroofus tensed, knowing he had stumbled onto the trap set for him, yet eager to get to it. A massive black form was visible, demonic in appearance, alternately growling and chuckling in a deep voice filled with evil laughter and promised death! He tightened his grip as he stepped closer, summoning all the berserk fury within him! The thing glared at him with hate-filled eyes, its muscled arms raising, flexing the abnormally long fingers with their black talons. It stood a head and a half taller than him and was twice as wide, its body rippling with demonic strength as it moved. Its entire body, he observed, was a leaking boil covered hide, which oozed and spurted with every movement. Its face that of a twisted humans', ugly and perverted, eyes a dull red glinting with evil intelligence. Starting at the top of its head and going backward were three horns, about a hand's length each, curving away. Unlike its black, pus-covered skin, these bony protrusions were blood red blending into a midnight blue at each tip. Moving closer to him, he noticed how the creature would form small vomitous puddles at each step! Kroofus braced himself with feet apart, axe held horizontally in front of him, his hands braced widely apart and blade out. His head was low, protected by his shoulders and helm, his face hidden in shadow, his eyes dangerous points. He growled his promise to the creature that it faced more than a mere human now! The thing ignored him and lunged, its arms thrust forward aiming for his throat! Kroofus took a step back and rolled sideways, bringing the blade of his axe over him in an arc. He felt it carve into the creature and heard its wail of pain, then was clear as it passed over him! He quickly stood, barely having time to bring his weapon up before finding the thing upon him! It grasped his shoulders, its talons digging in painfully, shredding the armor, and lifted him bodily, its opening mouth showing horrible black needle teeth. Writhing in pain, he gripped his axe and brought it vertically between him and the demon! As he was slowly brought closer to its teeth, its intent obvious, he summoned all his strength and pulled his legs up, planting his feet wetly against the creature's chest. He slowly pushed out with all his might, oblivious to the rending of his armor or