“We’re getting closer.” Revin reached out with his mind, gritting his teeth, memories of a dead wolf, a dead monk, and dead saurians in his mind.

Two raptors moved with them, wary and vengeful. Revin reached his mind out to the others, Beadoróf and the other soldiers were doing well, and they hadn’t encountered too much opposition yet. Beadoróf looked around and shouted, “This way!”

The baby giganotos were far from the battle, and the saurians below were fighting well. Though some had died against the human-form automatons, Scarback was tearing them to shreds.

The transition from the battle’s chaos and the present quiet was strange.

He looked at Shifra. She looked angry.

“What’s wrong?”

Shifra shook her head. “Jebuthar… He talks like he wants what’s best, but… I mean what he did to those baby giganotos…”

“I promise,” Revin said, putting a hand on her shoulder, “we’ll get our revenge. We’ll stop him.”

Revin felt another echo from Narazoth and turned to the source of the thoughts. With a sudden light, pain flashed across his head. He fell, but instead of hitting the ground he found himself in his thoughts. He was awake, alert even, but he saw nothing. He had never entered the mental world unless he was mastering a saurian. This was similar, but... this time… he was the mind.

A voice pounded in his head.

“Revin !” Narazoth’s voice shouted, “give up. No harm will come to you.”

“And my friends?” Revin said, “ what about them?”

There was a pause.

“It’s too late for them. Jebuthar can’t let them live after defying him like this.”

“And what about me?” Revin thought.

“He wants you to serve him.”

“Fat chance,” Revin thought, “ Where are my parents?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Without another thought, Revin began his mental assault, sending out powerful strikes towards the voice.

Revin’s strikes were deflected and diverted every time.

He tried to attack again, but pain burst through his mind. A saurian below died, automatons swarming it. “ Help him !” Revin commanded the saurians nearby.

Narazoth took a break from his attack. His tone was urgent, hopeful. “Revin ! Surrender!”

Revin’s attention was pulled away as he felt the saurian die. His other saurians fought with renewed rage.

Revin’s mental defenses were battered by Narazoth’s assault. He tried to push back but couldn’t. Narazoth could just do so much with his mind. Like he had a dozen mental arms to fight with.

And Revin only had one.

✦✦✦

Amid the fighting, the saurians uttered cries of distress and confusion. A few backed away from their enemies, and others stopped charging and stood still, confused.

What are they doing ? Omrai thought.

He reached out to Revin and felt an overwhelming rush of mental strain.

Omrai looked back at the saurians. They fought any who came too close, but they advanced no longer, cowering at nothing.

“Come on!” Omrai shouted, as his men formed defensive positions. Even the giganotos looked distracted.

“Revin!” Omrai thought out. No response but waves of pain and effort, as if Revin’s mind were holding a great weight.

A dozen automatons swarmed a single ceratops, overwhelming it. Men fought fiercely to save it, but they were too slow. With a honk and a wail, the shield-head went down, more than enough spears sticking into it to kill it.

Omrai gripped his spear. Another regiment of automatons was approaching.

“Fight!” he shouted, “Fight for your homes! Fight for your herds! Fight!”

He heard a growl to his right. Scarback looked right into his eyes. Omrai’s heart skipped a beat at that gaze. But after a moment, Scarback turned to the enemy and plowed through, knocking automatons into the air.

First the giganotos, and the other saurians shook themselves out of their stupors and charged, the battle renewing.

Moments later, they were winning again.

Omrai smiled.

“Omrai! I’m so sorry, I was battling Narazoth….”

✦✦✦

“Narazoth, at least, is definitely on this ship.” Revin mindspoke to Omrai, after the direct connection had faded.

Shifra frowned at him in concern and helped him stand. “What happened?”

“Narazoth attacked me…” Revin tapped his temple, “In my head. Neither of us won.” Revin smiled through the pain. “We’re close. Come on, follow me!”

He gritted his teeth and moved as fast as he could. His knee begged him to stop, to lay down and rest. But he couldn’t. He ran, with Shifra and two raptors following behind.

✦✦✦

“By the nether,” Beadoróf said, as he kicked down the last automaton in the room, the wretched things were still fighting, which meant Jebuthar and Narazoth were still alive. Which meant Revin had not yet succeeded.

Which meant they still had the other monks and the core to take care of.

Beadoróf opened the pair of double doors in front of him, the door in the direction of the big core. The doors opened all the way and he found himself in that terrible room.

He flinched. He saw several monks. They each lay back on chairs, heads covered by some strange devices which were connected to the main core. He had been there, his mind connected to a hive, serving Jebuthar. The core that could do terrible things to minds.

But Narazoth and Jebuthar had been mastering thousands of saurians before having the core and the other monks. It was just an added strength to an already impossible intellect.

Merely removing the monks wouldn’t be enough. The core alone expanded Jebuthar and Narazoth’s minds. He looked to his men and the raptors with him. He wished the beasts were his. But unless Jebuthar was killed today, he would never master a beast again.

Beadoróf turned to the core, swords ready. This was a priceless artifact, a construction of beautiful engineering. He took a deep breath, then brought his automaton blade down in a mighty first strike.

It made a sound like a gong, his blade scoring the metal. But the metal also scored his blade. He would need to try again.

He pounded again.

He heard metal footsteps down the hallway. The soldiers scrambled to close the doors. The yutaraptors growled viciously.

This was going to take a while.

✦✦✦

Revin turned down another corner. He would follow a hallway if the mind-impressions got stronger, and once they began to fade, he’d find a turn and repeat the process. He’d forgotten Shifra was right behind him more than once, and she’d run into him several times when he’d stopped suddenly at an intersection, feeling with his mind and picking a new direction.

But finally, after a while, the sense of Narazoth’s mind increased, and he felt he was getting closer.

He clenched his fists.

He turned a corner and the door in front of him swung open. A man burst through and plowed right into Revin and Shifra. Revin fell to the ground and Shifra tumbled several steps back. The man drew a sword. Revin’s eyes widened. He glared down at Revin, raising his blade.

The man looked up at the sound of clawed feet. Two raptors tackled him. The raptors screeched in delight and the man screamed in terror.

Revin looked at Shifra instead of the mess. She went pale and vomited to the side. He closed his eyes and saw blood. It took everything Revin had not to do the same as Shifra. But what surprisingly tempered his nausea, he felt the bloodlust of the raptors. There was something satisfying about turning your foe into your food.

He got up, pushing on his walking stick to stand, and placed an arm on Shifra’s shoulder.

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“I’m sorry,” Revin said.

“It’s ok,” Shifra said, taking a few steadying breaths.

Revin looked at the yutaraptors. They were about finished.

Revin looked through the door the soldier had come through. It was half shut, but Narazoth’s mind echoed from somewhere beyond it.

“There,” Revin said.

He looked at Shifra.

“Are you ready?”

She took a breath, checked her pistol, and nodded.

The raptors stood at the ready, blood staining their muzzles and feathers. Their bellies full.

Revin opened the door and limped inside. At the far end of the round room was a set of large double doors. Shifra and the raptors followed him. He approached the ominous doors, gripping his sword.

“I think he’s behind that door,” Revin said.

Shifra checked her pistol again.

Revin’s heart jumped at the sound of a loud slam behind them. The door they had just used had closed. Shifra stood next to him, and the raptors obviously hadn’t closed the door.

“REVIN?” a voice echoed in his head, full of concern and worry.

It was his mother’s.

“Mom?” Revin said, anxiety filling him. “Where are you?”

“Run!” his mother thought to him.

The heavy double-doors croaked open, echoing in the chamber. Jebuthar stepped through, hands behind his back. No hand touched the doors, yet they opened, and then closed.

Jebuthar smiled widely and raised his arms, still bearing those weight-increasing devices. Revin winced, remembering the sensation of being crushed by your own weight which far too many of his saurians had experienced.

Revin felt nothing, and neither did his raptors or Shifra. They were near enough to Revin that his blade still canceled out Jebuthar’s sorcery.

Jebuthar scowled and, without a word, put his hands to his scabbards and drew his two curved blades. Then, he approached, dragging his swords on the ground with an awful scraping.

With a grunt that was more fear than pain, Revin moved forward, half-limping. He pushed past the visions. He knew what those swords would do. He’d felt them before. Cutting his cheek. He could just feel them cutting through his gut. Scraping past his ribs.

He twitched. He tightened his grip on his blade until his arm shook. He breathed, harder. Harder. Breathed until it was a growl. His yutaraptors did the same, extending their claws and moving in as one. He would not die today. And he would not let the fear stop him now.

With a scream that exploded from his gut and out his throat he attacked, swinging at Jebuthar.

Jebuthar knocked Revin’s blade aside and ducked down, sliding on his knees past Revin. Revin followed him in confusion. Jebuthar stopped himself with one foot and twisted, swinging his blade for the legs of the yutaraptor on Revin’s right.

He tried to get the saurian to move out of the way, but there was no time. The blade severed a leg with a spray of blood. Pain echoed in Revin’s mind. He could only watch as Jebuthar jumped again, blade slashing the side of the yutaraptor’s stomach.

“No!” Revin’s head pounded. Flesh tore and blood spilt. The yutaraptor lost consciousness with a wave of shock and dismay.

Before Revin could do more, Jebuthar was up again. Revin thrust, but his attack was easily deflected. Jebuthar stepped past Revin, jumping from the dying yutaraptor and closed in on Revin. With one hand, he struck Revin’s stitched gash, causing a new explosion of pain; and with the other, he knocked Revin’s sword across the room.

Revin tumbled back, stunned. Jebuthar leaped to an unnatural height, his face plastered with a wicked grin. Revin’s other yutaraptor leaped to meet him, claws and teeth outstretched.

Revin felt the yutaraptor’s weight decrease.

Jebuthar’s feet slammed into the yutaraptor, sending it flying into the wall. The impact knocked the yutaraptor completely unconscious. Jebuthar himself sailed the opposite direction, swords twisting as he landed on the ground in a low squat…

“Ah, finally,” Jebuthar said, standing slowly, “Now I can-”

Shifra jumped behind Jebuthar and held her pistol to Jebuthar’s head.

“Don’t. You. Move.”

✦✦✦

Shifra shoved the barrel hard against Jebuthar’s neck, the soft spot right behind the ear. Her hands trembled. Revin’s idea had worked. With no automatons to warn him, Jebuthar had no extra eyes to watch his back.

But why hadn’t she killed him? She had him right here! She should just-

“Not much of a gunman, eh, Shifra Speartip?” Jebuthar said smugly.

“Don’t move!” she shouted, anxiety doubling.

“You’re making an unfortunate mistake,” Jebuthar said calmly, “Surrender. Now.”

Before Shifra could respond, something slammed into her, pushing her gun-arm up in the air. It went off with a boom and she fell to the ground, her gun skittering across the floor.

Whatever had grabbed her pushed her down, twisted her arms behind her, and crammed a knee into her ribs. Pain shot through her at the tension. She felt a tug on her hair until she was pulled back painfully and something cold and metallic touched her throat.

A knife.

Jebuthar let out a sigh, “Don’t make me repeat myself. Revin, tell Omrai to surrender, or Shifra is dead.”

Shifra looked at Revin.

Revin frowned guiltily.

Jebuthar stared for a moment, bewildered. Then, he laughed. Loud and heartily. “You already did! Didn’t you?”

“Omrai was conflicted about it,” Revin said.

Shifra cringed.

“Omrai charged,” Jebuthar said. “He was going to let his daughter die.”

“To save his country!” Revin said, “You didn’t put him in an easy situation.”

He was going to let me die… Shifra shifted uncomfortably.

“Shifra,” Revin said, turning to her, “He wanted to save you! He just… wasn’t going to surrender Ateya to Jebuthar.” Revin shook his head. “I don’t know what I would do.”

Shifra clenched her hands behind her. He would let me die, to save Ateya? Shifra thought, frowning. Despite the logic, it still hurt.

She looked at Jebuthar and felt something in her pocket. Something she still carried.

A dart.

“Well,” Jebuthar said, “It would be easier to kill you and be done with it all, but I am reasonable.”

Jebuthar looked at the person holding Shifra, “Get her out of here while I deal with the monk.”

“Yes, my Lord Jebuthar,” a feminine voice said above Shifra’s head.

Shifra was dragged to her feet, and the blade moved away from her neck for just a moment. Her body flooded with icy anticipation. She drew the dart and stuck it in the leg of the woman holding her.

Shifra heard a shout of pain as the woman dropped her knife. Shifra turned to look at her. The woman stared at Shifra, eyes wide in confusion, and collapsed to the ground, her eyes rolling back into unconsciousness.

Shifra grabbed the knife and turned to face the monster.

Jebuthar approached her with a scowl. “It’s just one thing after another with you Abaddons!” Jebuthar stepped forward.

With a yell, she swung the knife at his face. He sidestepped, dropped, then lashed out and grabbed her wrist. With a painful twisting jerk, the blade fell into Jebuthar’s other waiting hand. He twisted behind her. So fast she couldn’t react.

And despite all her training, that nethered knife was again at her throat.

Revin slowly stood, sword drawn.

“Give up, Revin,” Jebuthar said.

“No! Just kill him!” Shifra said, gritting her teeth.

Revin hesitated, leaning heavily on his good leg.

“You’re all out of saurians!” Jebuthar shouted. “You’re not skilled with the blade.” He motioned at the sword. “Drop it, or she dies.”

Revin looked in Jebuthar’s eyes.

“I know you’re not afraid to kill soldiers, but what about protecting the innocent?” Revin feigned nonchalance. “She’s not a soldier.”

“She fights like one,” Jebuthar said.

“You said you weren’t interested in killing innocents. You know you want a fair fight.”

Jebuthar cocked his head. “I don’t kill the innocent, but you’re wrong about one thing,” Jebuthar smiled, “I’m not remotely interested in a fair fight.” He tossed Shifra to the side. Shifra flew across the room with terrifying speed, then hit the wall with a loud smack, tumbling to the floor. Her eyes closed and she didn’t move.

Revin looked at Jebuthar, whose hand was outstretched toward her.

“What did you do?” Revin shouted.

“She’s just unconscious,” Jebuthar said. “Now I can kill you all by myself. No baggage.” Jebuthar circled the room and retrieved his other blade from the floor. “Time for your defeat, little monk.”

Jebuthar charged, and Revin felt a spike of terror. He put out his blade and blocked the first few strikes. Several others slid across his metal-weave suit. They twisted and turned, thrusting and pushing as their swords whistled through the air.

Just as Revin thought he might stand a remote chance, Jebuthar’s leg swung in a tight round kick to Revin’s wrist, which knocked Revin’s sword into the air. Jebuthar snatched it, pointing two blades at Revin’s chest. Revin hadn’t even noticed Jebuthar dropping his other sword to take Revin’s.

“You should have gone home when you could,” Jebuthar said with a smile.

Revin’s suit, his whole body, grew heavier.

Jebuthar laughed and kicked Revin in the injured knee with a painful crack. Revin yelled out and fell to the ground. He tried to stand, but his weight had doubled now. “No!” he shouted. He lay on his back and couldn’t even turn his head away from the ceiling.

No! Must… awake…

Jebuthar leaned over Revin’s field of vision and smiled all the wider.

“Now, you’re mine.”

Revin felt his strength fail. He reached out with his mind to Omrai. “Help!”

He blacked out.