The three of them sped as quickly through the trees as they dared. Kiyora was able to convince the trees to help them move quickly, mostly by promising to cause trouble for Arraxia. However, their aid was sluggish, so the journey was not as fast as she would have liked. Days passed, and Kiyora prayed that time would pass differently in her world than this one.

Certainly, all the signs were there.

Then, very suddenly, Snooky, who was walking at the front, halted. He sniffed at the air, then padded to Twilus with a whimper. Twilus looked worried. "Snooky says satyrs are approaching. I see them through the trees."

"Follow me," said Evensen.

Evensen found a place for them to hide very quickly. It was a hollow beneath the roots of a great tree, shielded by bushes. Kiyora hated the sensation of dirt on her legs as she lay down within it, but she was soon distracted.

Into view came Sadira. And with her were a large force of satyrs.

"Anything?" asked Sadira.

"No. We've seen no intruders worth eating," muttered a larger satyr. "The sooner this wretched peace is over, the better."

"It isn't all bad, Shrev," said Sadira. "At least we've got things we could never have before."

"Harlenor can keep its luxuries," snapped Shrev. Give me red dwarf meat, whole and raw. That is something worth killing for. But instead, we've been doing merchant business, putting out our backs, and making fortresses.

"Makes me pine for the days of Melchious."

"That is a very fine remark," mused Sadira, suddenly threatening in her voice. I think I should discuss it with Doltier."

"I was just talking," said Shrev. "Do words hurt you?"

"See to it that it doesn't come to anything besides words," said Sadira. "I'll not tolerate blasphemy or insubordination. Doltier commands it so."

"Doltier doesn't know what is good for anyone but his precious Arraxia," snapped Shrev. "If that is her right name."

"I heard it was a pet name given to her by a human," said another in amusement. "I wonder if he gave her a collar with the name on it."

"Collar?!" roared Sadira. "You'll wish you had a collar of iron when my blade cleaves through your neck!"

Scimitars were drawn. The satyrs glared at each other.

"You're welcome to try, you black-furred bitch," snarled Shrev. "Melchious never would have let this happen."

"But he would this!" snarled Sadira.

Sadira's scimitar lashed out. Shrev dodged the blow, but Sadira brought around her staff to hit him in the face. He reeled, and she drove her sword through his groin. It wasn't the end but the beginning because the other satyr went at her with a spear.

Other satyrs drew their swords. The entire group was hacking and slashing each other to pieces in a few moments. Hands were cut off, eyes gouged out, and necks bitten. Evensen tapped Kiyora, then Twilight. "They're fighting among themselves. This is our chance."

He led them out of the roots, and they slipped away as the shrieks and screams gradually died away. Kiyora sighed. "From the sounds of things, the satyrs are looking for a fight. I'd better find a common enemy to unite against soon, or we'll be in a mess."

"Do you mean us?" asked Twilight in shock.

"No. If I did, I wouldn't have said anything," said Kiyora. "I mean, find someone who deserves it and unleash the satyrs on them."

"What about the satyrs of Khasmir?" said Evensen. "They worship Fortenex while these worship Arraxia. Perhaps we could get the two to fight each other."

"William did tell me Arraxia has a grudge against the High Priest of Fortenex," said Kiyora.

"Maybe I could arrange a joint venture."

"Wait, so we're on a mission to steal the source of Arraxia's power. And you are already planning to make an alliance with her?" asked Twilight.

"I'm thinking about it," said Kiyora. "You've got to think about the long game when you're a god."

"Well, you've certainly never done that," muttered Evensen.

They pressed on through the darkness of the wood. Snooky proved very valuable here, always detecting enemies long before they arrived. Each time, they'd move and dodge a large group of satyrs, though none came as close as Sadira.

At last, they came out into the sight of Baltoth's Retribution. It was not as it had been. All semblance of glamour was gone. It stood tall and strong, crooked towers scraping the sky like claws. The ground around it was different as well. Before, it had appeared beautiful while being wicked beneath the surface. Now, it was drab and horrible upfront.

Ironically, it was much more pleasant to look at. You weren't afraid something was going to jump out at you, though something still might. Evensen and Twilight seemed intimidated, however. Snooky, disinterested, scratched his ears and panted.

"Baltoth's Retribution," said Twilight.

Then Kiyora flinched. She was suddenly standing on that same dark tower. Escalus was lying still on the ground beneath the feet of Arraxia. So were Laurus and Reya. The demoness stood triumphant, and the darkness was consuming Actovosh.

The screams of the damned could be heard far below.

And then there was a burst of brilliant orange light. Emperor Ictargo landed upon the tower, blade in hand. Arraxia sighed and turned to face him. "Hmm, Kiyora's memories tell me you are a spineless weakling named Emperor Ictargo. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"You know well," said Ictargo. "I will not allow you to seize this place."

"Oh, but I have already seized it," said Arraxia. "I am bound to the Dreaming Goddess, and through that, I am bound to this place. My essence pervades the fabric of reality you watch over, and soon it will be mine to command. And dear Kiyora is trapped in what she thinks is a dream world, weakening herself."

Ictargo raised his blade. "You will never succeed while I draw breath."

Arraxia yawned and looked at her claws. "You don't draw breath. You and every other elf exist in a perpetual dream, with the appearance of life but no real existence. That is why no one ever dies. Their souls reform when killed, and no one is the wiser.

"But they are all subject to the Dreaming Goddess, and she is not strong enough to resist me anymore. Indeed, she is now reliant on your dispensations of power. Once you are defeated, Ictargo, I need only bend her to my will.

"And all the Dreamer Empire will be at my feet." Then she surged forward, and her axe met Ictargo's blade. They fought back and forth, but Arraxia fought like a berserker, and Ictargo was forced back. Then Arraxia knocked his feet out from under him and kicked him backward.

Raising her axe skyward, Arraxia channeled the power into the Void Stone. Both artifacts glowed with an unholy light—the moans of the damned intensified. "Now fall! Fall with the rest of these insufferable sheep!"

Kiyora felt herself being drawn in, but she resisted. She refused to be consumed by this thing. It was oddly simple. She could feel that others were making the same choice, their wills acting like one. Arraxia looked at both artifacts. Both were amplifying her will. And yet Arraxia's will was still not enough.

"You're wrong," said Ictargo. "The spirits of the Dreamer Elves do live. Every one of them has their hopes, dreams, and goals. All of them seek to make their own way in an ever-changing world. Our reality may differ, but yours is no less valid."

"Your reality is the plaything of a spoiled child," said Arraxia in a hiss.

"How can you know that what you call history was not made moments ago with the illusion of age?" asked Ictargo. "How can any man trust that the world will not shift beyond recognition in moments? They cannot.

"But they persist and seek to change the world for the better in a thousand ways every day.

"You think that controlling them will be simple. However, I know my subjects. And I know they will never submit to one like you!"

That was actually pretty cool. For a moment, Kiyora thought Arraxia would fly into a rage, curse, and scream. Yet she didn't. Instead, she merely spun the axe and sighed. "...Well, there goes that plan. Oh well. I'll just absorb the souls of the Dreamer Elves into the Void Stone. Thereby increasing my own power and destroying your entire species,"

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Ictargo blinked. "...You don't think you're capable of that, do you."

"I am well capable of improvisation," said Arraxia before looking straight at her with a smile. "Wouldn't you agree, Kiyora?"

Then Kiyora was standing again before Baltoth's Retribution. There was a sudden roaring, and dark magic poured from Baltoth's Retribution. Kiyora felt as though something was trying to draw on her strength as well. Furiously she denied it.

"What is happening?" asked Twilight.

Kiyora knew what had to be done. "Twilight, use the harp of Alchara now!"

"What?" said Twilus.

"Use it!" said Kiyora. "Disrupt the spell!"

Twilus quickly slung the harp off and began to play it. As she did, Kiyora saw her focusing power on it. The harp began to glow, and a ray of light shot out from it to hit the castle. The spell being cast wavered and receded for a time. Yet soon, it came back stronger. Kiyora could feel a powerful will drawing on it, trying to force the issue.

"I... I can't hold this for long," said Twilus. "The Void Stone is too powerful."

"Just hold on," said Kiyora. "Keep it occupied. Evensen, let's go. We've got to get the Void Stone before Arraxia can finish her spell. If she succeeds, she'll become more powerful than ever. Snooky, stay here and guard Twilus."

Snooky yawned and began to scratch himself behind the ears. Then he lay down to sleep. Why had they brought him along again? Oh, right, to dodge satyrs.

"How do we get in," asked Evensen.

"Through the front gate," said Kiyora.

Kiyora knew she was not supposed to use her powers. But the gates were shut, and this was an emergency. Raising a hand, she drew on the part of her within Baltoth's Retribution. Taking hold of the shifting currents of the land, she moved herself and Evensen.

They appeared in the courtyard, surrounded by satyrs. All of those satyrs had very pointy swords pointed at them. Evensen drew his weapon. However, that was probably a moot point.

"Hold where you are, Dreaming Goddess," said a satyr. "Lady Arraxia commanded that we slay any who seek entry into Baltoth's Retribution. You will not pass this way save over our corpses."

"Yeah no," said Kiyora.

And she shifted them again. Doing it hurt. She felt a biting pain in her head and fell to one knee as they arrived. But she managed to stand.

They were in a deserted hallway, and the air was humming. Whispers could be heard wherever they walked. Kiyora did her best to focus. "Quickly, Evensen! We've got to go!"

"Which way?" said Evensen.

"Follow me," said Kiyora. "I know the way."

She quickly led him through the halls. As she ran, a group of satyrs came around the bend to bar their path. Evensen rushed forward, sword in hand. But Kiyora shifted the past. The pain had been bad before, but now it has become massively worse.

"What are you doing?" asked Evensen.

"I'm shifting the land within Baltoth's Retribution. It should misdirect them," said Kiyora, feeling a headache coming on. "I can't keep this up long, so come on."

"Where is the Void Stone?" asked Evensen.

"It is located on the throne of Arraxia. I saw it before," said Kiyora. "Come on. And don't kill any guards."

"Why not?" asked Evensen.

"When I fought your army, I didn't kill any elves, nor did the satyrs," said Kiyora. "You should return the favor."

They came to a set of double doors Kiyora pushed the doors open, and they rushed into the throne room. There was the Void Stone on Arraxia's throne. It was channeling unholy energies into a portal high above them.

And there before the throne stood Doltier. His scimitars were in his hands, and he smiled.

"Doltier," said Evensen.

"Tonight, I feast on elf meat," said Doltier.

Then he surged forward. Evensen ran to meet him, and the two met in a flurry of blows. Evensen attacked with a series of two-handed strokes. Then Doltier slipped around a pillar and came at him from the side. Evensen was forced on the defensive beneath a flurry of strikes.

Kiyora took the chance to slip past one of the bonfires, making her way toward the throne. Glancing back, she saw Doltier bash Evensen across the face with a pommel. The elf soldier fell, and Doltier slashed at him in the hopes of a killing blow. Evensen raised his blade, but it was too late.

There was a scream.

Kiyora felt cold, but she forced herself to focus. She turned and ran toward the Void Stone and gripped it. The pain was instant and horrible. She withdrew her hands reflexively. No, she had to get it. Reaching forward, she grasped the stone and tried to haul it off the throne. Every inch was a battle, but she drew it off. It came out so suddenly that she fell down the throne's steps and hit the ground.

Before she could get up, a hoof was forced down on her chest. Dottier stood over her. "You have failed, Dreaming Goddess. The Void Stone will devour your world, and Lady Arraxia will become a god like no other."

He raised his elven scimitar. Then he screamed as his hand was cut off. Doltier fell backward, and Evensen came forward. The elf's left eye had been slashed out, and he was missing the two lower fingers on his right hand.

With a look of fury, he drove his blade into Doltier's gut, drew out the sword, and stabbed him again. Doltier fell limp. Evensen sheathed his blade and picked up the sword Doltier had stolen.

"Let's go," said Evensen. "Quickly."

Kiyora clutched the Void Stone, and together they ran through the halls. It wasn't long before satyrs came after them. As they ran, Kiyora felt the Void Stone glowing. It was still sending out power and still trying to consume her world.

The sensation of it hurt; more than anything, she wanted to throw it away. But she knew she couldn't do it. Looking at Evensen, she saw he was bleeding badly. Every so often, he nearly stumbled, and the satyrs were drawing closer.

In desperation, Kiyora led them through a door. But it was a dead-end, something like a storage room. Evensen locked the door. Then he ripped cloth from his outfit and wrapped it around his fingers in a makeshift bandage. Moments later, there was a slamming sound on the door.

"Kiyora breaks the connection!" said Evensen, finishing his bandage. "I'll hold them off as long as I can!"

Kiyora focused on the Void Stone. She tried to sever the connection, but she was rebuffed. Her will was too weak. And she sensed Arraxia gloating.

"You've failed, Kiyora. The Void Stone has been connected to your world," said Arraxia. "The Dreamer Empire is mine. Soon, you and all your race will serve me. Though finding a use for such a race of insufferable dullards might be difficult."

What could Kiyora do? She couldn't stop the connection. The door was breaking. Already, Kiyora could feel the Void Stones beginning to sap the souls of Dreamer Elves, and she couldn't stop it.

Wait. Arraxia could send spirits through the Void Stone to other worlds. She'd done it before. If Kiyora couldn't stop the flow, maybe she could reverse it. She focused and tried to force them out, but they recoiled in terror.

They were the people of the Iron Kingdom. Long ago, Melchious, as the Iron King, had convinced them to sacrifice their souls. To send them into the Iron Stone rather than submit to the gods. These poor people had been trapped here for so long that they knew nothing but obedience to darkness.

Kiyora couldn't force them to do anything. She didn't have the power.

But maybe she could convince them to leave? "Listen to me, all of you; I can free you. But if you will escape, you must push toward the other world now.

"I can open the way," She sent forth the words.

And they listened. But Arraxia laughed. "Open the way? With what power, Kiyora? You've squandered your spells, helping others."

"You're right," said Kiyora. I don't have the power, but you do."

"What?" said Arraxia.

Kiyora ignored her reserves of power. She followed her connection to Arraxia to its source and dragged on the power within. They were connected, and Kiyora could sense her pride, narcissism, unhealthy obsessions, and affections. It was sickening and terrifying at once.

And she drew on it. Arraxia was stronger, but she was focused on many things. Her will was spread out. At the same time, Kiyora had only one thing on her mind.

"Get... get out of my head. I... won't allow this..." said Arraxia.

"Open!" screamed Kiyora, focusing her energy.

"NO!!" screamed Arraxia.

The doors burst open at that moment, and the satyrs surged in. Yet even as they did, the Void Stone cracked. It exploded as uncountable souls poured out, entering into the world. The satyrs were thrown back. All that remained was a shard of perfect red crystal.

Thinking quickly, Kiyora used Arraxia's power to transport them. In an instant, she and Evensen were transported outside the castle. Evensen fell to one knee.

"Is it done?" he asked.

"Yes," said Kiyora. "The Void Stone is destroyed."

"Then we have done what we set out to do," said Evensen. "Now we die well."

"Like hell," said Kiyora, helping him up. "Come on. Let's go. We'll get out of sight and see to those injuries."

The two of them moved as quickly as they could toward the woods. There, they found Twilus. She was still playing the harp, tears in her eyes as she did. Two satyrs lay dead by her, their throats ripped out. Snooky lay on the ground. A spear was in the wolf's heart, and he was lying still.

As they reached, her Evensen collapsed. Twilus looked up and dropped the harp. "Evensen! Evensen, stay with me! Give me a moment. I'll heal you!"

She raised the harp and played more. The wound on Evensen's eye healed, but the eye was not restored. Even elves couldn't heal eye wounds that quickly. His finger stumps ceased to bleed, at least.

"What happened here?" asked Kiyora.

"A patrol came by and attacked," said Twilus. "Snooky he, he fought them off. One of them wounded him. I couldn't heal him! It was all I could do to keep the spell from succeeding! I had to watch him bleed out!"

"I'm sorry," said Kiyora. "Come on; we need to leave."

"We can't leave Snooky like this," said Twilus. "Not for the satyrs to eat him."

"If we don't get out of here, we'll all end up getting eaten," said Kiyora. "Now come on! He wouldn't want you to die here!" So the wolf had been good for something. No, no, that was her contact with Arraxia speaking, she shouldn't feel any satisfaction at this.

Snooky had been annoying, but he hadn't deserved to die like that. Neither had Doltier. Or anyone.

So they staggered onward. They left behind the bodies and ran. Evensen had to be supported the whole time, and they moved slowly. So slowly. Yet the soldier would not release the sword in his hand.

And then Kiyora felt her. Arraxia had entered this world. And he was pissed.

The beat of her wings was like thunder. A feral roar echoed throughout the woods. All the trees cowered as a being of flame appeared in the sky. The Axe of Fortenex was flaring with her rage.

"Run!" said Kiyora. "Get back to Qur' danas! She's after me!"

"We can't leave you," said Twilus.

"Go!" said Kiyora. "I can't die, I'll be fine! I'll meet you there!"

Twilus nodded mutely and pressed on. Kiyora turned back to where the flames were drawing near. The trees separated around her, creating a clearing as they cowered in fear. Arraxia landed, writhed in violet flame.

"You bitch!" roared Arraxia. "You miserable blue-haired bitch you ruined everything!"

"Well, that is what I do," said Kiyora, smiling.

"I'll kill you!" screamed Arraxia. "I'll tear you limb from limb!"

"Good luck with that," said Kiyora.

She was out of power. She couldn't do anything.

The demoness charged at Kiyora and swung the axe. Kiyora had just time to hope she was right about not being able to die. Then everything went white.