In the shaman’s hands materialized a long, pointed staff, made of what appeared to be shining ivory. He raised the point toward Xiryn.
The gargoyle king reacted instinctively, his hands pulling back in a spellcasting gesture. In doing so, he released both of his captives.
Golgren and Safrag both turned on the ancient High Ogre. As they did, however, Xiryn struck out at what he evidently considered the greater threat: Sarth.
The shaman made no move to avoid certain death. Indeed, he did not even cast the spell that he had appeared ready to hurl at his rival. Instead, Sarth did nothing but smile with satisfaction as Xiryn’s attack overtook him.
There was no subtlety to the shrouded sorcerer’s spell. It struck Sarth hard. Pure energy of a gray hue spread over him. Sarth dropped his burning staff as his skin blackened. The shaman made no cry as he died, his burned body collapsing where he had stood.
Yet the distraction aided Golgren. Through the fragment, he used the Fire Rose against the gargoyle king. Xiryn could make no audible sound, but his sudden pain echoed in the heads of all.
However, Safrag also still held the full artifact and, in his own obsession, refused to yield his link to it. Against all reason, the Titan fought Golgren’s will. The half-breed’s attack faltered as he found himself battling on two mental fronts.
The unexpected opposition bought Xiryn the chance that he needed. Recovering enough to speak, he warned, Recall your elf, my child! Recall what will happen to her! Accept your fate, and she will live! Do not, and my servants will ensure her death will be one that will give nightmares to you, or the Titan-
But from the direction where Idaria was being held captive, there came a powerful battle cry. One of the ghouls went plummeting as an armored figure shoved him from the rooftop. A keen blade cut through the torso of another. An armored hand seized a startled Idaria and dragged her from the macabre throng.
Stefan Rennert had come to the rescue.
XIV
We have lost, Idaria had thought as she had watched the spectacle unfold. Golgren was strong of will and wily, but he could not hope to defeat such odds. The evil that wielded the Fire Rose would eventually sweep all the lands, taking with it even her rescued people. No one would be able to escape it, no one.
That was before the strange figure had materialized near Golgren and the others. Idaria had not recognized him, but she, like the rest, had heard in her head the gargoyle king’s recognition of him, recognition and uncertainty. The elf’s hopes had been revived only to come crashing down a moment later when the would-be rescuer had perished so easily and without even actually doing anything. It almost seemed as if he had known all along that he would die.
“But why?” Idaria had blurted. “Why?”
The answer had come a moment later in the form of Stefan Rennert. The knight was suddenly among the ancient ghouls, slashing through them with stunning swiftness and expertise. Three of Xiryn’s followers had already perished before the rest instinctively pulled back from the danger in their midst.
That gave the Solamnic the chance to act. Seizing Idaria, he pulled her toward the gap made by his charge.
“Hurry, my lady!”
“How can this be?” she shouted as they ran.
His tone was grim. “You may credit my patron in part, but for the most, thank the sacrifice of the one called Sarth!”
“Sarth!” The elf knew that name.
Stefan slashed at one figure trying to waylay them. The creature’s bony hand went flying to the side. The ghoul clutched the ruined limb and retreated, but others kept reaching for them. “He was a High Ogre like them, only more … whole! His powers were limited from his long watch for their master, and he knew he had no chance against him!”
Idaria ducked grasping fingers. “Then why sacrifice himself?”
“Because he knows what you mean to Golgren … if you’ll pardon me for saying so!”
His words left her speechless, even though they confirmed her innermost secrets.
Stefan fended off another of Xiryn’s followers. He used a combination of his sword and the medallion hanging from his neck. On a hunch, the elf clutched the griffon pendant and held it up. As she hoped, those attackers nearest to her cringed at it.
Yet still their odds of escape dwindled, for the gargoyles were descending toward them from above. In another moment or two, they would be upon the pair.
The Solamnic refused to accept the inevitable, though. “If we can just make it to the other ledge, Sarth left one spell set there for us! It was all he could do! A brief portal! It’ll take us back to the refugees!”
If he thought his explanation would urge her on, the Solamnic was sorely mistaken. Instead, Idaria felt conflicted, and her eyes widened as she quickly peered over her shoulder in the direction of Golgren’s continuing struggle.
“It will only bring danger to them!” she suddenly cried, referring to the elves. “Xiryn will hunt them down once he is done here! There will be no escape anywhere!”
She pulled free of Stefan’s hold.
The knight faltered. “My lady … Idaria … what’re you doing?”
“Freeing all of us,” the elf solemnly responded. “Freeing Golgren.”
Idaria ran back the way they had come.
Despite Golgren’s nearly successful attack, Xiryn laughed out loud as he saw the elf turn back in his direction. Golgren, frowning, also spotted Idaria and wondered why she wasn’t escaping when she had the chance. The gargoyle king gestured at the scene, his servants swarming toward the elf and Solamnic.
You see? Even fate and chance are my servants! Remember my warning and my offer, child of my ambition! Her life for your surrender! I expect no more defiance from you, merely acceptance of what I intend to make of you… and me.
The half-breed sneered, his gaze darting from the macabre figure to where Idaria stood, trapped at the edge by the ancient High Ogres. Farther back, the gargoyles harassed Stefan.
I was much weakened by the act of your creation, ensuring that you would be viable, the shrouded figure mocked Golgren. It added to my… physical deterioration, and I was forced not only to mostly observe, but to take on fools as my servants, ever dispensable fools like the Titaness Morgada, who did her part and then died for her greed, as to be expected.
By then Xiryn had recovered from Golgren’s attack. He reached again to grab the half-breed and Safrag. Golgren grunted as the ancient sorcerer’s power flowed through him and his pain surged.
We will become one, Xiryn proclaimed once more. The power of the Fire Rose will bloom for me.
The awful visage of the gargoyle king filled Golgren’s view. Golgren managed to tear his gaze from the withered, decaying face, though not out of any fear of Xiryn. Instead, his attention was drawn to a particular rooftop.
And his eyes widened at what was taking place there.
“Idaria!” Stefan called back. “You can do nothing for him! Make your way back to me!”
The elf ignored the Solamnic. She could see Golgren far below-the conqueror of both ogre realms, the Grand Khan, the master planner in part to be faulted for her people’s situation and yet, through fate, their only hope. He was bent in certain defeat.
“May the gods forgive me if I am wrong,” Idaria whispered as she reached the edge with the grotesque figures trying to grab her despite the pendant. “And may Golgren forgive me if I am right.”
One of the ghouls snagged her shoulder, but a deft twist by the lithe elf enabled her to pull free. Eyes moist, Idaria smiled.
She dived headfirst off the building.
Behind her, Idaria heard Stefan shout out her name. She had a brief glimpse of Golgren’s shocked, staring face before the angle of her swift descent turned him from her sight.