'Pharaun, is that you?'
'Why can't I see?' the man responded. 'Why is it dark?'
Aliisza blinked in surprise. She realized the glow that had accompanied Zasian since she had awakened in the rotunda had vanished entirely. They were engulfed in blackness. But his eyes are now human eyes, she realized, and he cannot see as we can.
She conjured a tiny magical light and placed it upon the hilt of her sword, after replacing the cap covering the secret compartment.
'It's all right,' she said. 'Do you know me?'
'Aliisza?' He looked at her face. Of course, it was Zasian's voice she heard.
'Yes,' she answered. 'Who are you? Do you know?'
'My lovely little minx, you wound me deeply. Despite being subjected to the most cruel and terrible torments for… for quite a long time, I do still know my own name. Pharaun Mizzrym, at your service.'
Aliisza clenched her eyes shut in joy. She felt herself crying as she hugged her old companion and occasional lover tightly. 'It is you,' she said. 'Thank the Abyss.'
'I'd rather not,' Pharaun replied. 'It would be quite the good thing if I never heard mention of it again, in fact.'
Aliisza almost laughed. We did it, she thought. We managed to bring him back. For a moment, she just sat there and hugged the man. It's really him.
Then a quiet cough from Tauran reminded her of the dire circumstances surrounding them. She pulled back once more. 'Pharaun,' she said, 'we need your help.'
'My help?' Pharaun replied. 'How could I possibly help? I have no idea where we are'-he gazed down at the refuse at his feet-'though if I had to guess, I would say the sewer.'
'Just about,' Aliisza said. 'But you're not quite away from the Abyss yet.'
She spent the next few moments explaining the immediate situation. Pharaun tried to ask a few questions, but Aliisza rebuffed him. 'We have no time for that right now,' she said. 'We need your magical expertise. We need to get free of here as soon as you can conjure a way.'
The human face opposite her frowned. 'That's quite the tall order,' he said. 'My magic is more than a bit rusty, and I have nothing with which to work.'
'I know it's difficult, but you are our only chance. And not to put too fine a point on it, but if we are captured, you are too.'
'Not quite the welcome I was looking forward to,' Pharaun said. 'But this isn't even my own body. If I were to attempt something of such magnitude right here, right now, I might just as likely deposit us in the scorching conflagrations of the Elemental Plane of Fire as someplace safe. I don't think-'
'Please!' Aliisza said, feeling her tightly wound emotions slipping again. 'You've got to do something, or we're all dead. Be the Pharaun I remember.' Aliisza found herself flinching from her own outburst. 'I'm sorry. I am at my wit's end.'
'Listen to you, apologizing,' Pharaun said. Aliisza was still not used to hearing his words in Zasian's voice. She could only imagine how strange it must feel for him. 'That's not the cunning little half-fiend I remember so well.'
Aliisza grinned. 'A lot has happened since we last parted ways. But we can reminisce later. We really do need to get out of here. Right now.'
As if to punctuate her point, Kael called in a low whisper from the hallway, 'Something is coming!'
'Wizard,' Tauran said, scooting close so that Pharaun could hear him. 'There is much you do not understand, but I promise you that it is imperative that you spin some magic and conjure a way for us to flee. I cannot abide the thought of becoming the tortured plaything of a horde of demons.'
Pharaun turned his head in the direction of the angel's voice. When he saw Tauran's angelic nature, he gasped. 'It cannot be!' He let his eyes rove over the angel's wings, which were in sad shape at the moment. Tauran burst into another fit of coughing. Pharaun looked back at Aliisza. 'You consort with strange friends, Aliisza. Where is your other half? You know, the cambion? What was his name again?'
'That's a long story,' Aliisza said, trying not to wince. She took Pharaun's face and turned it back to her own again. 'But it's a story for later. We have more pressing needs.'
Pharaun glanced back at Tauran. 'You do not look or sound well, my new friend. And let me assure you, I would rather not revisit that particular unpleasantness known as demon toy, either. I will do my best.'
'What's happening?' Kael demanded from the hall.
'Shh,' Aliisza answered. 'He's thinking.'
'Well, tell him to think faster!' Kael snarled back. 'Whatever is coming is running now.'
'Impetuous, whoever he is,' Pharaun said, not looking up. 'Another surprise for me?'
If you only knew, Aliisza thought, smiling again. Aloud she said, 'What do you think? Any ideas?'
'It's strange…' Pharaun said, sounding distant. 'Magic feels very… odd. Out of sync, if you will.'
'It is,' Tauran said. 'Everything has suffered profound changes. Is it a hindrance?'
Pharaun shook his head. 'No. On the contrary, I think I just might be able to conjure up a little trick. Normally this particular form of magic requires a focus, a small but elongated-'
'Later,' Aliisza growled. 'Just work the magic.'
Pharaun snapped his mouth shut and pursed his lips in obvious aggravation. 'Of course,' he said in clipped tones. 'Later.' When he tried to rise he nearly fell over. 'Goodness, I don't seem to have the strength I expected. Help me up.'
Aliisza did as the wizard bid.
'Now the rest of you, link hands with me,' Pharaun said.
Aliisza bent down and assisted Tauran to his feet. 'Kael, it's time,' she called.
The half-drow backed into the chamber, still watching the corridor. 'They are at the far end of this passage,' he said. 'They can see the light.' He spun around and took hands with the other three. 'Do whatever you're going to do right now!'
Pharaun saw the knight for the first time, and his eyes grew wide. He stared first at Kael, then at Aliisza. His mouth gaped.
She knew he understood. 'Hurry!' she yelled, yanking on his hand with her own to snap him out of it.
Pharaun shook his head to refocus and uttered a long string of arcane syllables. Some of them Aliisza recognized. Others were as alien to her as the strange tongues of the plainsmen of the Shaar in far southeastern Faerыn. The wizard finished his incantation with a commanding word.
The world shimmered, shifted.
A snarling face entered the chamber.
Everything rippled and faded from view.
Eirwyn stepped back, evading the downward sword stroke of the undead knight before her. She batted his shield away with her mace and drew on her divine power. She gestured at the armored apparition and delivered the holy incantation in a clear, powerful voice. The blaze of light that infused the wraithlike warrior burst from the joints of his armor and radiated outward. It illuminated the deep gloom of the castle courtyard and revealed several other undead shuffling toward her and her two companions. The holy aura faded almost as quickly as it had appeared, and the knight crumpled to the ground with a metallic clank.
The angel shifted position in the snow and faced off against two more of the undead warriors. She brandished her mace, delivering a feint in the hopes of getting the two apparitions to become entangled, but they did not flinch. They seemed wholly unconcerned about their own well-being as they advanced toward Eirwyn.
'This is a fool's errand!' Garin said from nearby. He smashed the helm from atop another armored wraith and spun to attack a second. 'There's no need for us to battle long-dead soldiers.'
Eirwyn shattered a knight's shield before dispatching him with another blaze of holy might. 'You don't need to stay,' she said, leaping into the air to avoid three more coming at her. 'I never asked you to suffer these trials and tribulations.'
She landed next to the third member of her group, young Nilsa. The two devas positioned themselves back to
