The Ahlissan Chronicles
~ Novella 2 ~
A Perilous Journey
~ 12 ~
Sword Against Sorcery
Deloraa watched from the darkness of her perch high on a pillar just outside the central circle of light. She had watched as Lyzandred's thrall Meredith ran across the room and attempted to lock the doors to the ceremonial chamber. The demonic witch-priestess has also seen her daughter's betrothed, the black knight Lord Brion, kick in those same doors and who was even now making his way toward the center of the chamber.
Although she had no intention of betraying Lyzandred, Deloraa had no intention of dying in his service either. She needed the knowledge that the ancient lich possessed about the artifact. If need be Deloraa was sure that she would be able to extract the knowledge from him against his will or even after his death. However, she was not foolish enough to attempt to face the mad lich alone not when she could have made an ally of him first. So for now she decided to watch how this scene would unfold and wait to make her move at the opportune time.
* * *
Lord Brion made his way cautiously through the helical stone forest; he continuously checked his flanks using his peripheral vision to watch for anymore mind-slaves of the lich. Looking up he could not see the high ceiling of the chamber as it was obscured in shadows and he could see no source for the light that illuminated the core of the chamber, the light emanating from there simply was. About two rows away from the center Brion stopped and allowed his eyes to adjust before stepping into the light.
As he stepped into the light he was aghast by what he found there. The dread sight that greeted him was of his beloved Lady Eryca Tandris pulled spread eagle by manacles and chains on a waist high rectangular stone altar. Her body was painted with strange symbols and she was all but naked except for a piece of sheer white silk that was draped around her. As he stepped closer he could see the results of the lich's spell upon her. Eryca looked as if she had aged forty years; her skin looked dry, ashen and pulled tight across her bones. Gone were the youthful glow of her skin and the lush curves of her young body. Brion could feel the fear rising in his heart, fear that he was too late.
"Eryca, my Lady, can you hear me?"
At the sound of Brion's voice Eryca turned her head and seemed to stare at him with empty eyes. She opened her mouth but no sound escaped it just a dry rasp of escaping air. Then from out of the darkness came a cold and hollow voice.
"She can hear you but the spell has taken her ability to speak."
From the far side of the altar the undead Archmage stepped from the shadows and into the circle of light, Lord Brion dropped to his fighting stance and readied his sword.
"So you are her valiant knight," Lyzandred said coldly "the one on which she had pinned all her hopes of salvation." The lich laughed a cruel, cold laugh.
"I am Lord Brion Grenwall, lich, your destroyer and I will die before I allow anymore harm to come to my beloved."
As Lord Brion stared down the lich he felt something or rather a thought worming its way into his brain. The stray thought was trying to convince him that maybe this creature was not so evil after all, that if he would just listen to reason perhaps he would understand the situation better. Lord Brion shook his head to clear away the ridiculous idea, anger over took him as he realized what was being done to him. A charm spell! The accursed lich was trying to bring him under his spell and make him a thrall like the women he had encountered! The black armored warrior bowed his head and then roared as he threw the thoughts from his mind and used his anger to give him the strength to fight off the mental barrage.
The undead mage reared back as if he had been struck with a physical blow and tore the golden feathered half-mask from his face. Dropping the mask to the floor, Lyzandred grasped at his head which he felt would tear apart if he did not hold it together!
"Damnable warrior!" he hollered as he willed the pain away.
Lord Brion saw his chance while the lich was distracted by the pain in his head. Running forward Brion leaped over the altar and charged at the evil being. Lyzandred saw this and with a wave of his outspread fingers and a word of magik, he fired a volley of glowing blue arrows at the charging knight. Brion raised his shield and felt the concussion as the steel of his shield absorbed the magik missiles. He knew from experience that the best way to battle a wizard was at close range, to assault him continuously making him unable to concentrate on the words, gestures and components needed for his spells to work properly.
As Brion closed with Lyzandred he swung his blade which sliced the undead mage across the chest. They fought hand to hand with neither gaining the advantage. Lyzandred struck the knight with his staff landing a solid blow and knocking Brion back. Quickly the lich reached into a pouch and drew forth a pinch of colored sand.
As Lord Brion recovered the lich waved his hand as he spread his fingers and seemed to throw forth a bright spray of rainbow colors. His eyes being adjusted to the low light of the chamber, Brion found himself blinded unable to see anything but large bursts of red, blue, green and yellow.
