“Can you tunnel closer?” Kegohr asked. “Like Tahlis does?”
“I don’t have that technique yet. And even if I did, I don’t think I could take you with me.”
“Nothing with your mud techniques?”
“No, but…”
I closed my eyes and reached into the power of earth. I let just a little flow along the channels that led it to form a Sandstorm, and then let that out into the world.
Sure enough, a swirl of dust appeared between my hands. I summoned another and directed it in at an angle so that they created something like the twisting of a dust devil.
I let that Sandstorm go, and it drifted out ahead of us. I created another like it, and it did the same. Soon, a trail of miniature Sandstorms lay at key points on our route ahead, obstructing the view where the dunes didn’t do the job.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Kegohr said. “That’s great shit. But it’ll only do so much to help me blend in.”
He gestured up and down his tall, muscular frame, with the distinct gray skin and fur across the shoulders.
“You’ll be fine,” I said. “We’re here to cause a distraction, anyway, to draw off some of the bastards. If they think they see something in among the dust swirls, that might not be a bad thing.”
Using the scenery and my magic for cover, we continued toward the sand-sunken village. Soon, the first buildings were in sight. I unleashed more Sandstorm, and we crept forward behind them until we were less than 50 yards from the nearest buildings.
We crouched behind a low dune and watched. A fire was burning outside one of the nearby huts, so someone was clearly using it. If they wandered outside, maybe we could draw them off.
There was movement in the doorway, half-buried in the sand. Mahrai crouched through the gap and stepped outside.
“Shit,” Kegohr hissed. “What were the odds?” He grinned. “Gotta take this opportunity.”
Before I could warn him about the golem, Kegohr was already on his feet and running across the dunes, his mace swung back ready to strike.
The sound of footsteps made Mahrai look up. Her eyes went wide before she grinned and clicked her fingers. I felt the Vigor flow through the air around us, sucked in to power her impressive magics.
There was a series of swift thuds so heavy that they shook the ground. The stone golem appeared around the side of the house and ran straight for where Kegohr was heading. The half-ogre was less than six feet from Mahrai when a great stone foot slammed into him and sent him flying through the air. He crashed into one of the nearby buildings, went straight through a wall, and lay sprawled in a heap of sand and broken mud bricks.
Soldiers came running around the corner, drawn by the sounds of destruction. I leaped from my hiding place, ready to rush in and help my friend. Mahrai turned and spotted me for the first time.
Despite the circumstances, I was struck by just how beautiful Mahrai was. Though petite, she had a presence that filled the air around her. Her eyes sparkled with mischief above an arrogant grin.
“The leader of the brave travelers!” she called out. “Did you really think it was going to be this easy?”
“If I’d known you needed wooing, I would have brought flowers,” I replied.
“Charming as well as handsome. I hate to do this, but. . .” She clicked her fingers. The golem turned toward me.
“I don’t suppose you’d consider changing sides? Maybe upholding the rightful lord of Gonki?”
“So, you’re hellbent on being a moralist.” Mahrai shook her head. “Such a waste. We could have had a lot of fun.”
The golem charged at me. As it was about to trample me in the dirt, I dashed aside and let it run past. It turned and almost kicked me in the chest, but I dived clear and avoided having my ribs caved in.
I produced Smothering Mist to envelop the creature, but unlike before, the water vapor did nothing to weaken its massive form. So, Ganyir had been right. Mahrai’s golems had many forms, and this one seemed impervious to my water techniques.
I needed something to distract the creature while I worked out how to fight back. I started by launching a pair of Planks Pillars. The Vigor didn’t have far to go, and the pillars burst out of the sand almost immediately, one blocking the golem’s path to me, the other hitting it from below. The golem’s weight caused the second pillar to mostly splinter against its feet, but the wooden wall at least shook the beast and forced it to take a moment to ensure its balance.
Though I’d seen Trohai launch a Ground Strike with his foot, I was used to using my fist. Under pressure, I stuck to the most comfortable method of Augmenting. Crouching on the ground, I raised my fist, then slammed it down. The earth in front of me rippled, and a wave of earth surged toward the golem. I put a lot of Vigor into it, leaving my reserves further drained than they already were, in hopes of knocking the golem’s feet out from under it. But when the wave hit, it only burst against the creature’s stone feet in a spray of dirt.
A flaming figure charged out of the ruined building and into the golem’s side. Imbued with the Spirit of the Wildfire, Kegohr’s whole body shone with fire as the element flowed through him. He swung his mace with all of his magically enhanced strength, and flames rushed down to the head of his weapon. But all the blow did
