As they silently stood, the last door crashed open and the crowd deepened, nearly filling the hall. The room grew brighter for the additional torches, which allowed her to see the mob parting as someone pushed forward from the rear. The individual finally stopped before them, taut black skin under the black chainmail with silver engravings on it, a long bow over one shoulder, a sleek narrow blade on one hip. Haughty, red, slanted eyes stared coldly at them in a face that was as sinister as it was beautiful, long white hair pulled back into a ponytail that let the sharply pointed ears be visible. He bore a long scar on one cheek. No one had to say it out loud, for they all recognized a dark elf from their last quest.
The dark elf’s eyes jolted Anna on meeting her gaze, as he appraised first one of them and then another. He nodded in apparent satisfaction while looking at the dead wizard behind them. Then his eyes alertly scanned the perimeter of Matt’s spell and Anna went cold. He was planning something, she knew, and it didn’t take long to learn what. With a gesture, he indicated they were to be surrounded. The goblins squeezed themselves around the Quest Ring, which stood only a few feet from the walls on three sides. The ogres were too big to fit and instead came up beside the dark elf. Anna looked at Matt. The wizard was the only way they would survive this.
“What now?” Anna whispered to Eric, who had proven himself a more efficient planner than the rest of them.
“Attack,” said the dark elf in elven, which they all understood thanks to a spell cast on them on their last quest. Those surrounding them began slamming their weapons into the shield, which showed no signs of failing. The elf silently watched, not taking part, a grim smile of anticipation growing. He withdrew the sword from its sheath.
“All those blows are weakening me,” observed Matt, his arm shuddered.
Eric nodded. “I think that’s what they’re counting on.”
“They’re not intending to capture us,” Ryan remarked, speaking loud over the dull thudding of weapons hitting the shield.
Anna knew he was right. Would they just kill her or do something worse than death first? She trembled again.
“Matt,” began Eric, fingering a throwing knife, “do we think things can get out through the shield but not in?”
“I’m not sure.”
Ryan met Eric’s gaze and said, “You know, you and I could easily stab every single the ones on these three sides, especially, because there’s no room for them to back up. That would make them stop.”
“Wait,” said Anna. She had noticed something. “The Quest Ring can send us back if Matt sticks the top of the staff into the hole in one pillar. I just saw it. There.” She pointed to a hole with a shape matching the prongs and crystal. The pillar was the one at the back, opposite where the dark elf stood. This didn’t surprise her. While the Quest Rings appeared similar, minor variations were apparent, but what they all had in common was a tallest pillar at the rear, opposite the opening they usually arrived facing. They had seen this hole before on the last Quest Ring but never tried it.
“Okay,” said Matt, wincing as the blows continued, “but I’m not sure what happens to this shield when I move the staff to do that. It kind of reminds me of an umbrella right now, and if I tilt the staff to do this, maybe one side lifts up? What if it doesn’t stop them anymore and they get to us before I can send us back?”
Eric spoke confidently. “It’s out only chance. But I have an idea. Matt, get ready to put the staff in the hole. Anna, help and stay in the middle. Both of you. Ryan and I will protect both of you. Ryan, time to test whether we can strike them, but they can’t strike us. If it works, we need to attack all the ones back near the hole first.”
“Got it,” the knight said.
“Hurry,” said Matt, voice strained.
“Hold on,” said Eric. “Need to demoralize.” Anna watched him flick the throwing knife with one hand. It passed through the shield and struck the dark elf in the chest. The elf took a step back, wobbled, and then fell back. Eric pulled out his short sword.
“Wait, start at the front corner,” said Ryan. He didn’t wait for agreement and thrust his sword between two pillars into the belly of a goblin, which squealed in pain and fell back. Eric began doing the same on the other side. Anna saw the wisdom of the knight’s suggestion. The dead bodies would keep those farther back from escaping over them. The two made quick work of it, twenty goblin bodies now surrounding them just outside the Quest Ring, some dead or about to be. Knight and rogue then moved to the front of the alcove and began stabbing at ogres that came within reach.
“Now!” yelled Eric.
Matt began tilting the staff and Anna grabbed hold of the end. She cast one frantic look back and then guided the staff head into the rearmost pillar’s hole with both hands, resulting in an audible click. The words of blue fire abruptly ignited, causing the ogres to step back.
“Stay on guard!” Eric yelled
