Blink walked a little behind Innais as she guided them through the city. He tried hard to forget what she was and what that meant. He thought about his friends and what they must be facing, the thought of his life in Bonny, he thought of anything to distract himself from the reality of their situation. Nothing worked, all thoughts brought him back to painful truths about his past, to the screams of help from the people of Dayargain, to the realisation he was being guided by a Numinian, a god as best he understood, toward his death.

‘You must steel you resolve my friend,’ spoke Nessus from nearby. ‘Your connection to Hennaka… it tells me much,’ they added. Blink had forgotten that Nessus could see The Torrent, whatever that meant, it was hard to understand anything of it when he himself could not use magic or see the flows.

‘You can see it? The Torrent?’ said Blink. ‘What’s it like?’ he asked, hoping to distract from the thoughts.

‘It is like knowing you are both the ocean and but a drop of water within it. To see it is like seeing how the ocean, the stars, the depth of universe is made… reflected upon the surface of an expansive mirror like void,’ they said. Blink looked confused trying to understand how that could be, it was a typical explanation from Nessus that asked more questions than it answered. Seeing his vexed confusion Nessus kindly added, ‘it is not a thing easily described. But if you find a quiet place within yourself you may feel it.’ Blink wanted to ask something more at that moment. He wanted to know what Nessus saw in the flows of The Torrent within him. Was there darkness? Was there something growing there, an anger, an evil he may not be able to control when the time came? Even if he did ask was, he likely to understand? These thoughts nagged at him. So much of himself and his life had changed in such a brief time. It was hard to know who he was anymore.

‘Nessus… do you… see… do you see something bad in my flows of The Torrent?’ he blurted out wanting the question over and done with.

‘Bad? The Torrent is not bad,’ they said considering the question. ‘As for what I see in you there is nothing bad about you… a sadness, yes… fear certainly… but a badness, no,’ Nessus said their words considered and examining.

‘You said that I was cursed, and that the sword would consume me Nessus,’ said Blink with painful memories of their time in the dark tunnels.

‘For this I am very sorry. I spoke in haste and fear,’ they said guiltily their eyes downcast. ‘It is true that the sword is bound to you, though it being a curse depends on you. If you let all that hatred and rage rule you then you fulfil it as a curse rather than a tool. A blessing to some would surely be a curse to their enemies… the world is a matter of choice and perspective,’ they added explaining.

‘I don’t know any other way to use it Nessus,’ said Blink thinking on how hard he had tried to make it appear. The sword had only ever come when he was in danger, or when he was engulfed in those flames of anger.

‘Perhaps there is another way. Though I do not know it. If we had more time…,’ they said trailing off. Time was the one thing they didn’t have. Blink would have to use the sword whether it destroyed him or not.

‘I don’t know that I have a choice Nessus. For good or ill I must use this thing and my rage,’ he said.

‘There ain’t never been a thing wrong with ya Blink,’ spoke Ra’Handa overhearing. ‘An if ya ever forget who you are I’ll be here to remind you. I’ll always be here mate,’ she said. Blink hoped it were true and hoped that Ra’Handa was wrong at the same time. If she would just leave, then she would not and could not come to harm; at least not by his hands. As they moved quickly through the streets the sounds of screams broke out as hideous clawed creatures attacked any they came across. Blink knew it could only be the golgeists that they had seen in Nessus’s memory. He held the bone sword, Brandúlf’s Hackle, ready should he need to use it.

‘We have to help these people,’ said Blink through gritted teeth.

‘We help them by stopping Arawn’Vyr beneath the city,’ said Innais coldly dismissing the distressed calls.

‘How can you say that hearing them scream?’ he said with a bite of incredulity.

‘Their lives will return to The Torrent to be cleansed and returned anew. It is our role to ensure there is a world for them to return to,’ she said never looking at Blink or stopping her march. It galled him that the lives of others could be discounted so easily. But then what had he really expected? Innais was not human or even mortal as he had once thought, how could she understand what a life meant, the culmination of experiences that touched one another? A cleansing rebirth would not change that loss.

‘Their lives still matter Innais!’ he said.

‘Blink she is right. We must get to Arawn’Vyr before he is set free,’ said Nessus speaking up. Blink stopped as another call for help could be heard. Fire broke out in other parts of the city sending menacing flickering shadows across their faces amid hues of red. They stopped and turned back to Blink.

‘Can’t you hear their screams? I don’t care if they come back in another life. In this one they are in pain and dying!’ his voice grew with intensity as he spoke.

‘I don’t like it either mate but the only thing we can do is our part ey?’ said Ra’Handa looking back at him. She was conflicted in her words and the shifting shadows cast deeper lines on her face.

‘There has to be something we can do!’ said Blink feeling his own flames of anger licking at the side of his mind. How could they not understand or feel as he did? It was wrong to leave them to fend for themselves.

‘What’s the point of surviving and winning if how we get there means we don’t deserve to? She’s a god, or Numinian, whatever that means and does nothing to stop this, she can’t understand what it means to value life,’ he added speaking directly to Nessus and Ra’Handa.

‘Blink! You cannot speak so,’ said Nessus shocked by his accusation.

‘Boy I have seen lives come and go as quickly as leaves upon the flow of raging river, here but a moment and carried away. I who remember every touch, wound, thought, hope and fear in this world. I remember a time when mortals fought for their right to live another day as they starved. I have seen the first memory ever created, as the first being of the universe used it senses for the first time and recorded the majesty of existence. Do not presume I know nothing of life and its value,’ she said growing taller and more imposing as she spoke. So this was a god Blink thought. He should have been afraid as she spoke and though she may have been able to wipe him existence where he stood, he felt only rage and distain at her arrogance.

‘Then help them if you are so powerful,’ he said at last never taking his eyes from hers.

‘We do not have the time for this boy. We help them by stopping the greater evil. All things have their place and role; ours is beneath the city,’ she said firmly. An explosion of fire burst not far from where they stood. Blink glared at Innais. He knew that she was right, though that didn’t make it easier to ignore the chaos. Every moment he argued with her was another moment lost. Blink cursed at himself, the Numinian, Innais, the golgiests, Jadissa, all of it. I’m always too weak to do anything. Too small. Too useless. Why? Why does it have to be this way? He thought with a tearing pain in his heart.

‘If it isn’t the pup and the magpie,’ called the rumbling rolling tones of a voice Blink had heard before. Running up the streets ahead of them was Rollo, dressed in his finest coat and bejewelled all over his person. He had a rapier in hand that looked out of place with his round belly. With him were the crew of the ship that had first brought Blink and Ra’handa to Dayargain.

‘Rollo what in the name of the bloody seas are you doing here!’ Blink said astounded.

‘You don’t really think we would leave the city to waste and set sail, do you? I’m no pirate out to save his own hide now,’ he said with false disapproval. No pirate indeed thought Blink looking at the swarthy fellow for which he was certain knew more of the underbellies of the seas than he let on.

‘We do not have time for these reunions,’ said Innais impatiently. Blink glowered at her.

‘You are most certainly correct dear lovely Guild Master. May I say it is a ravishing treat beyond measure to see you once again,’ said Rollo bowing deeply.

‘I’ve no time for you philandering and perfumed words Captain Rollo,’ said Innais giving no quarter.

‘Rollo you need to get as many people out of here as you can. Get them to the ships and out to sea,’ said Blink.

‘And when did you become captain of my ship pup?’ said Rollo with a wry smile and a raised eyebrow.

‘The golgeists will not follow you out to the seas. Please Captain Rollo. We cannot do this without you,’ said Nessus purposefully using Rollo’s honorific and a tone most polite.

‘With manners such as this how could I refuse,’ he said and gave Blink a sly wink.

‘That’s enough playin’ around already. People are dyin’ and we’ve got things to do,’ said Ra’Handa. She was eager to be done with the night of chaos and most certainly would have preferred she and Blink were on Rollo’s ship heading out to the safety of the ocean.

‘So fair as always, my dear magpie, I would have you no other way. Crew! Round up any folk you can and direct them to the docks and ships. Arm them if possible. Go now!’ he said his playfulness replaced with an air of command. His crew saluted by clacking their feet together and bowing their heads. Immediately, after they were gone into the streets. Rollo turned back to Blink and with a sweeping gesture he bowed and flourished his rapier. ‘Be careful young pup. I expect a drink with you when all is done, and you’ll need that head square on your shoulders for that,’ he said and too ran into the flickering red streets of the city. ‘You be careful too Rollo,’ said Blink as he and the others made off in the other direction.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

With the help of Innais and Nessus they were able to navigate the depths of the sewers with some ease. It was not long before they found themselves in the same tunnel by which Nessus had made their escape from the golgeists. The vines were thickly laden across the ceiling of the tunnels and encroached downwards into the driest sections. In some places they were forced to go around because the vines had broken through the hard stone and spilled into the city streets. They knew that above ground, those same vines were choking out the Isles and all protective light in the city. As they grew closer to the place where Nessus has seen the pillars and the hoard of golgeists, Innais warned them to be silent. She stepped into the tunnel leading the way. As they entered the enormous chamber she stopped suddenly. It looked exactly like the place Arawn’Vyr had kept her mind when they played at the board. Blink thought he saw the feathers adorning her robes shudder. Sitting before them on a gilded chair at the centre of the pillars was a shadowed figure. Their robes were a blackness so deep they seemed to move as if a void was held within them. They stared down and looked directly at Innais and the others as they entered. The face of the person sitting shifted constantly from one being to another. It was an elegant male elf, then a gruff weathered old man, then becoming an elegant woman with pale skin and red hair, and more besides. It was difficult to take them all in. There was also a woman standing outside of the pillars in dark robes and silver hair hanging loosely about her. She tuned and Blink’s stomach knotted as the face of Jadissa smiled sardonically at him. Her eyes were aglow with arcane power as she held in her hands two numinian pieces. One was the obsidian woman holding a raven, the other was a golden figure holding a halberd and coated in heavy plated armour. Standing beside Jadissa was the Neverset King and Bornwald, neither of them alive, yet puppeted by the power of Jadissa.

‘So you have come to face us Ay’Vennara after what you have done,’ said Jadissa.

‘What I have done? It is you that has forsaken your duty of ushering souls to The Torrent for cleaning,’ said Innais.

‘A duty I never wished for! A duty that would see me lose the one I loved until the end of existence,’ said Jadissa dangerously. ‘You are the loathsome creature that tried to take him from me,’ she added pointing the golden numinian figure at Innais.

‘I took away your memories of one another so that you may have a chance at freedom from your sorrow Morgwenn,’ said Innais sternly, though there was a twist of pity in her voice.

‘I remembered. I aways remembered in the end. We always found one another only to have our love shattered by the frailty of his mortality,’ said Jadissa stricken.

‘Morgwenn collect yourself. You are one of the great Numinia. You are bound by your duty to the world, a duty fundamental to the fabric of all things. I beseech you to stop this madness,’ said Innais pleadingly and with a sense of reproach. Jadissa’s beautiful features twisted across her face.

‘Duty is but chains of servitude dressed up as divine providence. Arawn’Vyr and I will end all life and death together. None shall ever suffer as we have again Ay’Vennara,’ said Jadissa and she made to turn back toward the figure sitting amongst the pillars.

‘Morgwenn, sister, please listen to reason,’ said Innais with tenderness. Jadissa turned on her viciously, her face scored in fury.

‘I am Jadissa now and no sister of yours or Donnawae,’ she said scornfully. She then raised the numinian figurines pointed at Innais. A stream of black and golden light burst from Jadissa at Innais, the force of which cascaded her through the air causing her to land harshly against the stonework. ‘Kill the others,’ she said to the reanimated corpse of Bornwald and the Neverset King. She turned back to the figure of shifting faces, she held the numinian pieces forward and poured the same black and gold energy into an invisible barrier that kept the being contained within the pillars.

‘Jadissa stop this!’ called Blink. If Jadissa had heard she made no indication. Blink readied himself as the undead creatures moved toward him. Nessus stood just behind, and Blink could see the light of flames in the corner of his eye. As the figure of Bornwald ran at Blink with his longsword drawn a ball of fire broke itself upon his blood tarnished tabard Blink used the moment to drive forward swinging with his sword. It cut easily through the heavy armour of Bornwald though he seemed not to notice. A gauntleted fist grabbed at Blink’s shirt and dug at his skin. He tried to push Bornwald away, but he would not budge. Blink stared into the dead eyes and stone white face of the Captain of the Daybreakers. Even he did not deserve this fate. Is this what they want to do? Turn all the world into tainted creatures like this? Blink thought. He wondered how he could have ever been tempted by Jadissa’s words. This was not what he wanted for his lost parents or his people. He struggled again, trying to free himself from Bornwald’s grasp. It was then that Bornwald’s legs buckled, and Blink saw a long dagger pierce through his neck. Blink released himself and saw Ra’Handa standing behind the crouched form of Bornwald.

‘They can’t get us if they can’t walk,’ she said, and Blink realised that she had cut away the tendons in his legs.

‘Ra’Handa behind you!’ he called seeing the rotting form of the Neverset King stalking forward. She turned in time to see the terrible being towering over her larger than he had seemed moments before. His sword slid to the hilt into the gut of Ra’Handa and as he withdrew it, time seemed to stand still.

‘Ra!’ cried Blink in horror as his oldest friend fell to the stone floor. Everything seemed to happen at once. For Blink there was no sound, he felt his mouth move and knew that he was screaming and calling out for his friend. Everything around him moved slowly as though through water. He felt as if it was drowning him, the deafening silence, the heavy slowness of movement, the pain in his heart, all these things suffocating him. Jadissa turned back to them as the barrier containing Arawn’Vyr fell. The shadowy cloaked form with the shifting faces moved through the air like smoke and filled the rotting corpse of the Neverset King. In moments his skin grew back healthy and in the vibrance of life. He was a stern man with a darkened beard flecked with grey. His hair hung in tight rivulets about his shoulders and the shifting shadow of the cloak reformed into black silk embellished with golden scrollwork. He moved quickly in a blur of shadow toward Jadissa before Blink’s sword could reach him. Blink found nothing but air and fell to the ground beside his friend. He cupped her in his hands and cried. He howled in cries of sorrow he never knew he could hold within. Nessus looked on; grief stricken at the scene. They forced their eyes away to look upon their enemies. Jadissa handed the Arawn’Vyr the golden numinian figurine.

‘It is time for us to take back this world my love,’ said the king stroking her face tenderly. She lowered her head into his chest and sighed as a lover kept far too long from the desire of their heart. ‘Come forth Kolkiaravis and bend this world to my will. To the will of the will of Arawn’Vyr, he that forsakes the pull of The Torrent and curse of rebirth,’ he said raising the figurine. It shone with a brilliance of light that was unimaginably beautiful. It filled the dank chamber with white light banishing all shadows. Gradually it receded and standing wrapped about the columns was a tremendous golden scaled dragon. It roared standing behind Arawn’Vyr and Jadissa, shaking the very chamber. Arawn’Vyr reached out and touched the dragon. Tendrils of thick darkness twisted forth engulfing it. Its skin rotted before their eyes and fell away in acidic piles upon the stones. Before long, it was tainted and resembled the decayed features of death. Arawn’Vyr climbed upon the dragon and with a burst of arcane force the ceiling of the chamber shattered outwards sending debris and dust everywhere. Nessus connected with Hennaka’s Will as quickly as they could and formed a barrier around themselves, Blink, Innais, and Ra’Handa. As the dust settled Nessus looked to the sky to see the pin prick light of stars above and the terrible cries of the city deafened by the vibrato roar of the dragon unleashed. As the dust settled Jadissa stepped forth through the veil of gloom and shifting light.

‘Blink now is not the time. We must fight now and mourn when this night is done,’ said Nessus never taking their eyes from the dangerous stalk of Jadissa.

‘She can be reborn once again when we have stilled the flow of The Torrent,’ said Jadissa with a cold madness to her eyes.

‘Be quiet Jadissa!’ cried Blink through sobs.

‘Oh poor broken creature. You have seen so much death and ending. Trust that I know your pain better than any other,’ she crooned consolingly.

‘Blink. Please. You must leave her. This fight is not yet finished,’ implored Nessus.

‘She is dead Nessus. Can’t you see that!’ he yelled in response. He was anguished beyond reasoning, beyond any words Nessus could impart. Nessus reached for Hennaka’s Will and allowed it to fill them entirely. Jadissa held aloft the numinian piece of the woman with the raven. This was her figurine, her stolen font of power in the world, Nessus braced for what was to come. A burst a dark energy was directed at them. Nessus held a barrier firm as it forced them backward. They then drew upon the flows that would create fire and they spun them about themselves. Wheels of flames twisted about them one extending beyond another, and then another, faster and faster.

‘Why do you fight so Ghel’Narran? Your own people have lost the grandeur of what they once were, I see in you a loss of love so deep you should not be even able to stand. What drives these feeble attempts?’ Said asked with voice like daggers wrapped in lace. She mimicked the flows and rings of fire created by Nessus, only hers were filled with a blue flame with a void of darkness at their centre.

‘My vidar is not lost and nor are the Ghel’Narran. Morgwenn of all people should know it is not possible to stop death,’ Nessus said as they directed the swirling rings of fire in her direction. She buffeted them away with her own, fighting flames with flames.

‘My name is Jadissa mortal!’ she snapped with venom.

‘If Innais spoke true then you are Morgwenn. You cannot hide from who you are. You cannot be another just because you name it so,’ Nessus said countering flames.

‘How could you who has lost love think that I would return to such a task. That I would take more lovers from the world. How?’ she said, a snarl forming on her face as she yelled.

‘My vidar waits for me where they belong. Where we must all return to. If we should meet again in other lives and forms, then what a joy that will be. What a gift to share a life together once again,’ said Nessus drawing more strength from Hennaka’s Will. They could hear the words of Wrennal in their mind begging them to draw no more. We will find one another Nessus in a new life… but do not throw this one away. This life has much to give… please my vidar. Let the power go. Nessus felt a knot twist within their chest willing themself to fight on with all of the power they possessed. Yet they found they could not, they could not make themself give over yet.

‘You are she that brings lovers together in new lives and a world in which to try once again, but never before their time. Your duty is no shackle to weigh upon you Morgwenn,’ said Nessus hoping that she would listen to their words.

‘Enough! Enough of your words! Have I not suffered?’ she screamed and released the power allowing the blue and black flames to extinguish.

‘He is free now and I won’t be parted from him. I wont!’ Tears rolled down her face and she beat her fist upon the broken stones of the chamber. Nessus too released Hennaka’s Will and breathed heavily from the strain.

‘No Nessus. No!’ said Blink though gritted teeth. ‘Kill her Nessus. All the people of this city are dying because of her! Ra’Handa is dead because of her!’ he cried.

‘Blink no. Hatred and rage are the not the only way here. Not anymore,’ said Nessus looking at their friend with wide eyes.

‘No! She has to die!’ said Blink as he placed Ra’Handa’s lifeless form down. Blink lifted Brandúlf’s Hackle. He heard the voice of the wolf wreathed in flames of wrath.

‘ARE YOU DONE WITH TEARS PUP? ARE YOU DONE WITH MERCY AND WEAKNESS?’ came its bellowing voice from within.

‘Blink do not do this. There are some things we cannot return from,’ said Nessus warningly.

‘I am done letting others suffer and die for me Nessus. I will not let anyone else die on my account,’ he said with an evenness that chilled Nessus.

‘MY CHILDREN, YOUR FAMILY, THIS WORLD, IT HAS TAKEN FROM US PUP. WILL YOU BE THE MY FANG OF JUSTICE? MY CLAW OF JUDGEMENT? MY EQUALISER?’ came the wolf’s voice again.

‘Yes Brandúlf. I will,’ he said clearly and softly to the sword. As he did, he was consumed by searing pain as his hands grew elongated with claws and his face twisted into the fanged muzzle of a wolf. His eyes burned with heat and rage. Blink ran toward Jadissa sword in hand and struck with a terrifying roar. Jadissa raised the numinian figurine above her in defence, it was cleanly sliced through, and she collapsed to the ground bleeding, eyes widening, mouth gasping for air.

‘Blink no!’ cried Nessus helplessly. Blink never gave them a second look. They only moved away from her past Nessus and stalked down the tunnel they had come through. Nessus did not move, they could feel every crack in Blink’s heart, every wound that had never healed, the weight of it threatened to crush them all.