took the head of another. Pali grinned and pushed forward.
Gewey was only just able to duck and roll, as the Vrykol at his back thrust their swords in unison. From his knee he took the leg of one, and it tumbled to the ground. Pali was still fighting two. The one Gewey had skewered had moved in to Pali's right and its blade found his shoulder. Pali cried out, but he managed to move away and open up a wound across the chest of the beast to his left. He struck again and sent its head flying. Before he could turn to face the last, a blade shot through his chest. Pali gasped and fell forward, the blade slipping out. Blood spewed forth as he dropped to his knees and Gewey could hear the soft hissing laugh of the Vrykol.
Gewey looked over just as Pali's body hit the ground. His heart filled with rage. He rolled, bringing his blade up between the legs of the last Vrykol, spitting it in two. Thick, black blood sprayed out like a fountain, as each half crumbled to earth. He knew he couldn't allow his anger to cloud his mind. Aaliyah still faced three Vrykol, though two had slowed considerably as they burned. He leaped to his feet and took the heads off both flaming beasts with two quick strokes. Aaliyah ducked under the other’s guard and in a flash its head rolled off its shoulders.
The final Vrykol paused. “This means nothing.” Its rasping voice grated at Gewey's ears, fueling his anger. “You will not leave the desert alive.” He charged.
Gewey snarled and his sword took the creature’s head. The moment the it fell, Gewey decapitated the legless Vrykol and rushed to Pali's lifeless body. He rolled him over only to see dead eyes staring into nothingness. Gewey bowed his head and close his eyelids shut.
“Are you hurt?” he asked, as Aaliyah knelt beside him.
“Thanks to your gift, no.” She placed her hand on the back of his head. “You did your best to save him.”
“He should have never been here,” Gewey whispered. “We should never have brought him with us.”
“He came of his own free will,” said Aaliyah. “And he came as a gesture of friendship and kindness. We would not have made it here without him.”
A crackling sound as if from a thousand camp fires filled their ears. They jumped up to see the bodies of the Vrykol turning hard and gray. Thousands of tiny cracks formed and they began splintering like glass, then turned to dust. The ground shook and rumbled. The earth around Pali's body exploded and hundreds of thin roots shot skyward then draped over him. Before Gewey could move, the roots pulled the body into the earth. Gewey fell to the ground, digging feverishly with his bare hands. Aaliyah stood back, staring in wonder at the spectacle. Soon, Gewey began pounding his fist in the dirt and screaming with rage.
“What is this?” Gewey's voice was met with silence. Slowly he rose to his feet.
Aaliyah gasped and grabbed his arm, pointing a few feet away. “Look.”
A soft ball of light hovered just above the ground, expanding until it took the form of a man. Its features were hazy and unrecognizable. Its feet didn't touch the earth, and its arms were held wide.
“Who are you?” Gewey demanded.
At first there was nothing. The specter was silent and still. Then nine more figures appeared just behind it.
“We are the first born.” The voice was distant and echoed as if within a great cavern. “We thank you for our freedom.”
“I don't understand,” said Gewey.
“The creatures which we were forced to become are now gone,” it said. “We are free. And here, we are safe.”
“You mean you are the Vrykol?” asked Aaliyah.
“Yes, we were,” it replied. “Our spirits were enslaved by the evil that holds the power of the Gods. The spirits of the first born turned into abomination and darkness.”
“I think I understand,” said Gewey. “You are the spirits of Felsafell's people. That's what he meant at the Chamber when he said he had to free his kin.”
At the mention of Felsafell, their light grew brighter. “Yes. He is the last of us that walks with the living. It is good to know he has not forgotten us.”
“What of Pali?” asked Aaliyah. “What of his spirit?”
“He is safe with us,” it replied. “This place is special. The Gods created it and gave it life. Now that you have driven out the sickness that poisoned it, it can begin to heal. Your friend will stay here with us until the path to heaven is no longer barred by the one who seeks to destroy you. Only when he falls, will the spirits of the dead be led to paradise. Only through his destruction can the world, once again, be set to rights.” Their lights began to fade.
“Wait, please!” Gewey implored. But they faded completely.
Aaliyah took Gewey's hand. “They are gone, and we should leave as well. If what the Vrykol said is true, fifty men await-” She cried out as a pain shot through her shoulder, where a tiny black dart had silently struck. She pulled it free and threw it to the ground.
On the other side of the clearing, a black cloak vanished down the trail, harsh laughter trailing behind. Gewey tore off after it, but just as he reached the path he heard Aaliyah moan. He turned just as she fell to her knees, her hand grasping at her wound. He rushed back to her side.
“Poison?” he asked.
She nodded, wincing.
Gewey pulled her hand away and touched the wound. It had already closed and was no larger than a pin prick. He reach into her body with the flow, seeking to expel the poison, but was forced back.
“I don't understand,” said Gewey.
Aaliyah closed her eyes and breathed deep. For a full minute she knelt motionless. “Mandrista,” she said weakly, opening her eyes. “I have been poisoned with sap from the mandrista tree. I cannot be cured using the powers of the earth and spirit alone.”
“What can we do?” asked Gewey, desperation seeping into his voice.
“I must return to the ship,” she replied. “I have the means to extract it there.”
“Do we have time?” asked Gewey, squeezing her hand tightly.
“The poison is slow.” She struggle to her feet. “Three days. We may make it if we hurry.”
Gewey's thoughts turned to the Soufis. He needed to deal with them quickly. “Wait here. I'll take care of the Soufis myself.”
“You cannot do this alone,” she protested. “I-”
“No,” he said, fiercely. “Pali has died, and I'll not watch you die, too.” Fury burned in his eyes. “We'll see how brave the Soufis are when I blast them apart, and then bury their bodies in their precious desert.” Before she could argue Gewey tore off across the clearing and down the path. He covered the distance in only a few minutes, his legs fueled by the flow of both air and earth. The brush that lay in front of the entrance had already been pushed aside, and he could make out the figures of men twenty yards away. He slid to a halt a foot beyond the path, his blade tight in his hand. But he had no intention of cutting his way through fifty men.
The Soufis were lined up in two loose rows. They were wrapped in thick tan robes and their heads were covered by white turbans. The men in the front row, held long, curved blades, while those in the rear carried lengthy black bows. The Vrykol stood front and center, his hood thrown back, revealing his elf features.
“Did your elf mistress enjoy my gift?” asked the Vrykol, laughing.
“Laugh if you want,” said Gewey. His eyes narrowed and his legs parted. “But if I were you, I'd be running.”
The Vrykol smiled. “Excellent advice. But, we'll meet again, Gewey Stedding. Or should I call you, Darshan?” With that he turned and disappeared behind the Soufis lines.
The moment he was out of sight, the Soufis bowmen notched their arrows and fired. Gewey raised his hand and a blast of wind sent the arrows falling harmlessly to the ground. The Soufis took a step back, looking confused, and murmuring with doubt and fear. Before they could decide on their actions, Gewey let loose a great ball of flame into the heart of the lines. Twenty men fell instantly, while several others rolled screaming in the sand trying to put themselves out. This was enough to send the rest scattering. But Gewey was in no mood to be merciful. He sent another flame streaking across the ground. The sand crackled and popped as the flames surrounded the remaining Soufis. He tightened the circle forcing them together. A few tried to run through the fire, but were roasted alive before they reached the other side.
“Die!” Gewey roared, and closed the circle.
Cries of pain and desperate pleas for mercy, went unheard, as the Soufis burned. The flames grew hotter and
