“So you’ve come,” Gareth said as he stood barefoot on the surface of the water. He dipped one end of his spear into the water at his feet and the pulsing blue tip erupted from the other end.
The massive half orc’s body was a blur as he dashed forward. Water swirled around the halfling. Moments later, a jet of water erupted, striking the half orc as he attempted to charge up the stairs. Steven was quick to block with his massive greatsword, but the force behind the jet sent him crashing into the stone wall.
A wall of water shot up from the water’s surface and rapidly solidified into ice as Voritor leapt forward with his rapier in his hand. A slash from his sword shattered the barrier. However, the thousands of icy shards that erupted from the wall hovered in mid-air before hurling themselves at Voritor. There was a brief flash and the shards passed harmlessly through the air where the Drow had just been. Moments later, Voritor fell from the air, landing gently at the doorway of the tower with his leathery wings spread out behind him.
“Good,” he chuckled, “Very good. You are certainly not one to be trifled with.”
“You forgot this,” Gareth said flatly. He snapped his fingers and the jet of water that had pinned Steven intensified until it sent him crashing through the stone wall. A black barrier shimmered as it stopped the half orc at Voritor’s feet.
Sarah looked around frantically for a way out, knowing that she could not interfere in the fight between the two Chosen.
“You are safer here,” Gareth remarked, keeping his eyes locked on the Drow, “I should commend you on your skill at teleporting.”
“Thank you,” Voritor said with a mocking bow, “I had to sacrifice many orcs to perfect it, but it was a sacrifice I was willing to make.”
A horn blew frantically from the gate. “It appears my forces have made a breakthrough,” Voritor said with a broad smile, “What will you do now?”
The halfling curled his hand into a fist. There was a rumble outside, and moments later, water came rushing in through the channels, flooding the floor with water up to a foot deep.
“Off you go,” Voritor said.
“Please don’t put me in a wall,” Steven replied evenly.
“Oh ye of little faith,” the Drow snapped his fingers and the half orc disappeared.
Sarah saw movement behind her and tackled Stanley just as a massive greatsword slashed through the air where their heads had just been. The half orc was obliged to block a jet of water that shot up from below while Voritor used his leathery wings to propel him through the air, up over the water before diving towards the halfling.
The jet of water disappeared, and a large wave appeared beneath Gareth’s feet, lifting him away from Voritor and up to the platform where Sarah and Steven were. Gareth rode the wave as it flowed swiftly around the half orc, allowing the halfling to stab at his exposed back with his spear. Steven’s agility caught Gareth off guard as he twisted to avoid the blow before aiming a savage two handed swing of his sword at the halfling’s neck. Gareth brought the tip of his spear down on the sword, intercepting it. As their weapons clashed, the tip of Gareth’s spear began to cut through the half orc’s weapon. Steven’s muscles bulged as he attempted to push the halfling back. The water beneath their halfling’s feet surged as it pushed back against the half orc’s monstrous strength.
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“Get them to safety!” Gareth ordered.
Together with a pair of the surviving elves, Sarah and Stanley dashed towards the door that led out to the wall as Voritor flew up to the upper level. Gareth waved his hand, sending the wave he was riding crashing against Steven before rapidly turning to ice, freezing him to the wall. All this took long enough for the Drow to enter striking range. The tip of Gareth’s spear disappeared from one end only to reappear at the other moments later, and the halfling stabbed that end at Voritor.
The Drow used his sword to strike the shaft, diverting the path of the spear’s tip and in the same motion, thrust the tip of his sword towards Gareth, who used the momentum to pivot with the spear, avoiding the Voritor’s thrust. His spear’s tip changed sides again as he swung it towards the Voritor’s head. The Drow swung back, but the tip elongated, nicking him across the cheek.
Now without water to command, the halfling was forced to run for the door. Steven’s eyes glowed purple and moments later, he broke free from the ice using brute strength. A flurry of arrows flew in through the door, obliging Voritor to summon a barrier to block them, which slowed him down for long enough for Gareth to dart out of the door. As he ran, he grabbed Sarah firmly by the arm and jumped off the wall with Stanley close behind.
Down on ground level, a Water Priest sent a spout of water up. Once it touched the halfling’s feet, he used it to form a wave that carried them to one of the city’s pools. Once they landed, Sarah saw that the colour had drained from the halfling’s face and that he was breathing heavily.
“The city is lost,” he gasped, “We need to flee.”
“Get on,” Stanley ordered.
“Excuse me?” the halfling asked as Stanley showed him his back.
“I’m going to carry you,” Stanley said, “You need to recover as much strength as you can in case we come across them again.”
Gareth gritted his teeth. “Fine.”
“You know this could go a lot quicker if all this water wasn’t here,” Stanley remarked as they ran through the knee deep water.
“We’ll be glad for it if we come under attack,” the halfling said, “Take the second left.”
Sarah looked up as a bell began pealing from somewhere in the city. “What’s that mean?”
“It’s the order to withdraw,” Gareth replied, “This has turned into a debacle. The losses will be catastrophic.”
“Will Effulian fall?” Sarah asked worriedly.
“It may,” Gareth conceded, causing Sarah and Stanley to exchange worried looks, “I fear that the forces of the Night Goddess have not yet shown their full power.”
Soon, they arrived at the city wall on the south end of the city. Waiting there were two dozen elves. However, there was no sign of a gate. Gareth hopped off Stanley’s back, and when his feet touched the water, he gasped.
“What is it, Water Speaker?” one of the elves asked.
“The main gate has fallen, Captain Avariel and the rest of the Eternal Watch have made their last stand,” Gareth replied, as he mopped the sweat from his brow, “The invaders have already reached the Shrine of Varuna.”
“Then the city is lost, and our friends are dead,” one of the elves wailed.
“How is it outside?” Gareth asked one of the elves who was standing on top of the wall.
“It looks clear, Water Speaker,” she replied numbly.
Gareth waved his hand, and a hidden door revealed itself as it swung open, leading to the waters of the lake. The Water Priests chanted a spell, enabling the others to stand on the surface of the water.
“What will you do now?” Gareth asked Sarah as they stood at the gate.
“Does he have a way to track me if I slipped away now?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” Gareth conceded, “Is there anyone out there who can protect you from him if he can?”
Sarah’s mind went to Hicham, but she had no idea where he was or how she could get to him. “No,” she conceded.
“Then it seems I have no choice but to stay with you,” she said thinly.
Gareth nodded and led the others out of the gate. The waters of the lake were choppy except for a narrow path they were walking across, and they managed to make it to the shore undetected. Sarah took a last look at the city of Findendor over her shoulder. She saw a speck flying amongst the spires and shuddered. He was looking for her.