“On the way.” Untying himself from the saddle, he dismounts quickly and works his way through the defenders to where the Hand and Miko are battling the mages. One of the brothers lies unmoving on the ground, Brother Willim and the other three face the mages with green glows surrounding them.
As fast as green shoots begin to leave the earth, a mage burns them with fire. Bugs appear and are quickly destroyed. Another brother cries out as his chest cracks open. Falling to the ground he soon lies still.
James runs forward, his shield shimmering around him. Summoning the magic, he lashes out…
Crumph! Crumph! Crumph!
…but has little effect other than throwing dirt in the air to create a smokescreen to obscure their vision. The mages themselves remain untouched.
He comes to a stop between Brother Willim and Miko. With Star raised high and shining brilliantly, Miko turns to him. “Knew you would come,” he says.
“We can’t hold them much longer,” says Brother Willim as he throws another seed in the air. Moving forward rapidly, it grows into a ball of tangled vines and lands near the leading edge of mages. The vines move rapidly upon the ground and entangle the feet of two of them. Yanking them to the ground, the vines begin to squeeze and tighten, constricting like a giant snake.
Then another mage comes to their rescue and the vines literally explode off of the two trapped men.
“I’ve already lost two brothers,” Brother Willim states. “You’re the Gardener, do something.”
Gardener?
Turning back to the mages, he lets the magic surge forth and the ground begins to rumble. Suddenly, the earth cracks open but then slams shut again as opposing magic works against him.
A cloud of birds swoops down from the sky toward the mages. Bolts of energy fly from the assembled mages and begin taking them out before they can close. Explosions of fire light up the sky as whole groups of birds are incinerated in massive fireballs.
James reaches to the clouds to pull them in but magic again works against him and his effort goes to naught. The dust from when the ground exploded is beginning to settle and he looks across to see one of the mages, an older one, staring at him. It almost seems as if time pauses as the two stare at each other. Then the mage raises his hand and the onslaught begins.
When the ground erupted, Kerith-Ayxt felt it was slightly different than the magic of those he faced when the attack first began. Then when he stared across the battlefield and saw the mage he couldn’t believe his eyes. Never has anyone succeeded in escaping Baerustin.
It must have been he who had attempted to crack open the earth beneath them and to summon a storm. The High Lord Magus had easily countered such basic magics. He is amazed at the lack of finesse this mage has in what he tries to accomplish.
Now to finish it. Raising his hands above his head, he summons the magic. And with the knowledge of centuries of mages behind it, lets it loose.
The tingling sensation flares worse than ever as the mage raises his hands. Pouring more of his reserve power into the barrier, he extends it to encompass Miko and the rest of the Hand. When the full force of the mage’s magic strikes the barrier, James is literally knocked backward a step and the shield collapses. Reinstating the shield again, his mind boggles at the amount of magic that was just used against him.
Miko and the Hand continue to counter what the rest of the mages are throwing at them; fireballs, lightning, and many other types of destructive magic. All they’re able to do is simply keep them at bay without any opportunity of using offensive magic of their own.
Again the mage sends a wave of magic toward the barrier. A blinding light flares when it connects and James is momentarily blinded as the barrier again falls. His nerve endings tingle and he staggers back again. Miko catches him with the hand not holding the Star.
It’s a struggle to replace the barrier once more. Another attack like the last one and he may not have anything left in him, it’s taken the rest of his reserves to bring it back up this third time, he doubts if he’ll be able to do it for a fourth.
Miko glances to his friend and sees the strain showing on his face. “You okay?” he asks though he already knows the answer.
“I’m about wiped out,” he admits.
“We can’t win this can we?” Miko asks.
Shaking his head James says, “After the mage’s next attack, I’ll be used up if not dead.” He nods to the Star blazing in his Miko’s hand and adds, “Then it will all rest on you.”
Miko glances to the Star. An incredible source of power, but in his inexperienced hands it isn’t being used to its fullest potential. If only James could use it, his experience augmented by the power of the Star would be formidable. Only problem is, if James touches it, he dies for only those born upon this world can touch it and live. James’ friend Dave learned that at the cost of his life.
Then suddenly, the mage lets loose the most massive attack of magic yet…
Around them, the cries of battle rage as the Empire’s soldiers batter at the defenders. The crossbows from the former slaves continue sending wave after wave of bolts into the attackers. But for every enemy they take down, two take his place.
Illan has joined the fighting now that the defenders have suffered losses. Rallying his men to greater valor, he uses his sword with devastating effect.
Scar and Potbelly are suddenly surrounded by enemy soldiers and all seems lost until Jorry and Uther come to their aid. The two pairs, so at odds when telling their tales, stand shoulder to shoulder as each saves the lives of the others. Bodies begin piling up as they kill all who come.
Atop one of the wagons, Shorty stands next to a case of knives liberated from one of the towns they passed through. One after another, his knives fly over the heads of the defenders to take out soldier after soldier.
Aaaah!!
James staggers back as the full force of the magic strikes the barrier, shattering it. Momentarily disoriented, he soon returns to his senses.
Miko could feel the effect of the magic as it struck the barrier. It almost seemed as if a shockwave went through James to him from where he had his arm around his friend, helping to keep him standing. Then suddenly, a memory surfaces of an earlier battle after they just met.
They had gone with Rylin to rescue Sheila and her mother from the bandits after they destroyed their caravan. During the battle, he had lent James his strength so he could vanquish the bandit leader. Glancing at the Star, he wonders if they could do the same thing here.
“James!” he hollers. “Use the Star!”
“I can’t!” he yells back. “It’ll kill me.”
“No,” Miko counters. “Use it,” he looks James in the eyes, “through me.”
Could it work?
Miko stretches out his hand but James shakes his head. “Call forth the magic of the Star.” As Miko connects with the magic within the Star, James creates a leech line between himself and Miko. Immediately, the power of the Star flows into him. Such power. Such raw, primal power suffuses him.
This magic is different than that which he had always used. Perhaps it’s the difference between priest magic which comes from the gods and regular magic found in the world around you.
Gathering new strength from the flow of magic coming from Miko, he disengages from him and moves forward. A spike in the tingling foretells the release of the magic as the mage again sends a devastating attack. Using the magic from the Star, he erects a barrier stronger than any he’s been able to accomplish before. When the magic strikes it, an enormous, blinding flash of light explodes. Unlike the previous times, James hardly feels any effect. He looks across the battlefield at the surprised look on the mage’s face.
Sure to have destroyed him, Kerith-Ayxt stares in shocked wonder at James standing there unfazed then quickly comes to a decision. “Aezyl!” he shouts over the roar of battle.
“Yes milord,” his aide replies coming to his side.
“Form the Lattice of Power,” he says.
Aezyl’s eyes widen. “Yes my lord,” he finally replies then turns to the other mages and makes ready.
The Lattice of Power is a means through which many mages link in order to supply a single mage with their collective magical reserves. The First Circle mages are linked to the Second who are in turn linked to the Third and
