“I apologize for the trouble I have caused. I didn’t know we would be allies,” Snel stated.

Elora shrugged and replied, “you were doing your job.”

“What?” Demanded Karl.

There were more members of the Order of Shaymus that were among the rocks, and they slowly began to appear. An elf with purple hair came forward.

“Zaverick is getting nearer,” they said in a voice that was just above a whisper.

Snel nodded and added, “we have been unable to open the doors. They are magically warded.”

“Karl, can you take a look?” Asked Nameless.

Zel scoffed and crossed their thin pale arms.

Karl continued to glare at Snel before nodding his head. “Aye, I will see what I can do.”

“How much time do we have before Zaverick arrives?” Asked Nameless.

The purple hair elf shrugged. “He is still fighting with the Imperium, but he will leave to come here.”

“Then it won’t be his whole force,” Nameless observed.

Zel snorted, “is he going to fly here? If not, why are we concerned?”

Milandra closed her eyes and took a deep breath. They were glowing white when she reopened them.

“The God Ararax knows that we will come here. He will give his cleric a way to get here quickly,” she said in a voice that resonated with power.

“In that case, I think we best get ready for a fight. This door is not opening anytime soon,” Karl said. The enchanter wiped their hands on their work pants.

“Any idea how to open the doors?” Nameless asked Milandra.

The silver-haired lady shook her head. “The gods created this temple to control this area for themselves.”

“Ghouls!” Snel exclaimed and readied his crossbow.

“They are with us,” Siv replied.

From the trees, Ghoul One and Ghoul Two could be seen rapidly loping across the open field toward their master. They arrived tirelessly and whispered into Zel’s ear.

The necromancer nodded and said, “they have spotted flying demons.”

“Karl, can you rush on the door?” Nameless asked.

The enchanter shook their head. “It is a very specific requirement to open this. It would take me weeks to crack through the layers of magical protections.”

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“What is needed?” Asked Siv.

“An agent of the gods,” Milandra answered.

“Zaverick can open the doors,” Nameless concluded, and the silver-haired lady nodded.

Karl hefted his Dane Ax and said, “we use the time we have to prepare for battle.”

“How strong is the force coming toward us?” Elora asked.

Zel looked to the ghouls, and they screeched but did not answer. The necromancer rubbed their face and ordered the ghouls to go back and, this time, learn the enemy’s numbers. The ghouls howled and loped off.

“They will find out,” the necromancer said.

Nameless climbed one of the rocks to survey the open field and the forest line. The others looked up at him, and everyone was in agreement that the knight was the one to lead them in battle.

Nameless shook his great helm-covered head. “Zaverick will not have his full strength. The bulk of his army will be held up in Tameal, and he will attack us with a smaller force made up of his elite soldiers.”

The others nodded, and the knight scanned them over. They had a dozen members from the cult of Shaymus. All talented sword fighters and archers. Four were also skilled in shadow magic, and all of them were proficient in stealth. In addition to Karl, Elora, and Zel, Nameless believed he had a strong fighting force. Next, the knight scanned the environment, the soon-to-be field of combat.

“Zaverick will have the numbers,” Karl pointed out.

“And will control the air with his flying demons,” Elora added.

“But he will need to come to us,” Zel stated with a lisp.

Nameless nodded again and leaped down from the rock to stand among his colleagues. He was proud of their growth over the past weeks he had been traveling with them. He clasped Zel’s thin shoulder in a metal-encased hand. The necromancer flinched and was startled at the sudden show of affection.

“Zel is correct. We have the advantage that counts,” the knight rumbled.

Karl hefted his heavy pack that contained all of his enchanting tools. “I will begin making preparations for his arrival.”

“I will work with Siv and the other Shadow Mages to see how we can best coordinate our spells,” Elora added.

Zel did not say a word and instead sat on the ground cross-legged to meditate. They will be using a lot of fire spells and will need to strengthen their mind for the strain to come with using so much magic. The knight was left with the necromancer as the other two began to work. He had a thought in his mind that made him a little nervous, but it itched at him like an annoying mosquito. Nameless walked over to the heavy steel doors that led to the Dungeon of the Favored and placed a dark gauntleted hand on its cold, smooth surface. Nothing happened.

Milandra appeared by the knight’s side. “He will not help you unless it will benefit him.”

Nameless, hand still on the door, he lowered his head and slumped his broad shoulders. “I do not know if I like this emptiness in me,” he said.

The silver-haired woman rubbed his plated back and, with a delicate hand, turned his great helm to look at her.

“Your god was greedy, but your relationship with him was not all for naught. You have become a tremendous warrior!” She exclaimed.

Nameless straightened, and Milandra continued, “you will do great things. Not in the name of the Blue Flame, and not even for me, the Gifted One. You will do great things for yourself. For Nameless.”

The knight gently held Milandra’s small hand in his massive one, and he nodded. He felt an energy come from her, one that made him feel the warmth. It was a power that he would gladly serve. Then tiny movement from across the glade caught his attention.

“The ghouls are returning,” Snel shouted.

The two undead loped their way over to Zel, who rose to greet them. They hissed and howled and spoke quietly to the necromancer.

Zel nodded and searched for Nameless. When their pupilless dark eyes found the knight, they said, “Zaverick flies with two dozen Greater Caizene.”

A silence fell over the group, and an unspoken truth settled over everyone’s hearts. Those were not good odds, and this may not be a battle they could win.