At Storm's Edge Read online

  He nodded dutifully through tears of pain. Malsivith let him go and continued dancing around the room with no partner at all. Kyra's voice whispered in Sawain's ear.

  "This spell is strong, but nothing I can't take apart with a few minutes of concentration. Just hold still."

  Sawain's eyes involuntarily darted to Jatharr, who noticed immediately. The halfling stared at the emptiness behind the stone to which his prisoner was chained.

  Gears began to turn as a series of large metallic rings aligned above the platform the stones sat upon. The metal coils around the base hummed louder as they began to glow red. Sawain felt his neck hairs stand on end as static electricity crackled through him. Malsivith directed his dance to the stones as he waltzed in front of his captive.

  "Soon your power shall be mine, Swerdbrekker. Then, with the Worldforge reawakened and the Sturmedge under my control, I can complete the Ritual of Reforging on the fabled Drougetath. The Ghost Eater! Aptly named, don't you think?"

  Malsivith's eyes shifted to something behind Sawain. In a panic, he quickly averted his attention by speaking.

  "And what about Naralei? What part does she play in your ritual?"

  Malsivith refocused on his audience as a sly grin crept across his face, "None, really, I just enjoy watching you righteous types suffer. She'll make a lovely conduit for the Sturmedge when it arrives to split open the vault and her chest. Oh, there's that spark of hatred I so admire in you. I find it funny that Hammerhold reveres you as a savior already, when you're nothing but an angry child with a magic sword. How pitiful this land's heroes truly are!"

  Jatharr's eyes flashed with recognition as the chains around Sawain slackened slightly. He ventured a glance at Aerabis. A small shadowy figure crept up from behind him. The troll caught Jatharr's gaze.

  "What are you lookin' at small fry?"

  Malsivith appeared before Jatharr, rage ablaze in his wicked eyes, "WHAT DID I TELL YOU? That's it, I'm strapping you to the stones as well. We're going to have a proper burning tonight! Aerabis, get some chains."

  The troll saluted and turned to do his master's bidding. As he did, the thief slipping behind him struck and drew Giltglim from the scabbard at his side. Jatharr saw the entire exchange, but feigned ignorance as the sword and the thief returned to the shadows. Malsivith followed Jatharr's glance and saw the shadowy figure vanish. He released his current victim and dashed to the thief.

  Sawain heard a gasp and the splash of something wet against the metal floor. The spectral chains that bound him dissipated and a small hand slipped a blade into his.

  Malsivith grinned as he lifted his hand that had driven itself into the old goblin's chest. He tutted disapprovingly as he stared into Firbalg's already fading eyes.

  "What a pity. For a goblin hero, you certainly died so fast. Oh well, you'll make a lovely addition."

  In response, Firbalg’s hand flashed and sunk his dagger into Malsivith’s forearm. “I’ll not be’s the only one what dies here Malsivith.”

  The Vampyr lord winced, and jerked the dagger out with his free hand. He watched the wound fester into stone that spread across his forearm for a moment before halting and turning back to flesh. He laughed as Firbalg’s hope snuffed from his eyes. Malsivith squeezed something in the goblin’s chest that made a bursting sound. Firbalg’s head hung limp immediately.

  "NOOOO!"

  Violet charged out of the shadows, tears streaming from her face and a dagger glittering in her clenched fist. Malsivith grinned sadistically as he flung Firbalg's corpse from his fist, still clenching a glowing ethereal wisp that slowly took the likeness of the dead goblin. He dropped it between himself and Violet.

  "Kill the girl, slave."

  "Not today, filth."

  Malsivith roared in pain as Jatharr's hatchet buried itself into his back. He turned on the halfling in a rage.

  "That's it, I release you of our contract. For breaking your oath, you shall serve me for eternity."

  Sawain placed himself between Malsivith and Jatharr. Giltglim moved in a flash and sank into Malsivith's sternum.

  "Sorry, but your reign is at an end, Vamypr Lord."

  Malsivith staggered backward, looking down at the bleeding wound in his chest. His shocked expression melted into a fit of manic laughter.

  "Come now, boy. Please tell me your plan was not to stab me with your enchanted butter knife and win the day?"

  Sawain shrugged, "More or less. You've been marked by Giltglim, Malsivith. That wound won't heal."

  The monster laughed.

  Malsivith's skin began to split apart as his bones snapped and reformed. A massive pair of bloody wings sprouted from his back. His neck elongated as his mass grew exponentially. Human features gave way to light purple scales and a maw full of razor sharp teeth. The space where Malsivith once stood now held a massive dragon. The same fiery eyes of hatred burned within his skull. A fin of crimson spines replaced the Vampyr Lord's Mohawk. The beast spread his wings, showering the room with blood.

  "Look now, mortals, upon my true majesty and despair! Wail and cry as I feast upon your flesh! Then know, in your moment of dying, that you shall awaken to an eternity of anguish as my thralls! I AM MALSIVITH AND I AM YOUR GOD!"

  "I already serve a god, Malsivith. And he is not pleased that you would profane his holy place!"

  Sawain leapt at the dragon, his totem radiating divine energy. Malsivith flicked his wing. The sheer force from the wind it stirred knocked Sawain back. As he rolled to the ground, his enemy chuckled.

  "Not impressed, Swerdbrekker. You're still just an angry child."

  "An angry child with friends!"

  A bolt of light shot from the far side of the dome and pierced Malsivith's left wing. He roared in pain as Sawain took to the assault again. He lunged at Malsivith's front right foot, but the dragon lifted it in time to avoid his blade. In the same movement, Malsivith stomped at Sawain. Someone pushed him from behind and gave him enough momentum to roll safely underneath the dragon. As he sprawled to the other side to see Malsivith lift his claw and reveal the crumpled form of Jatharr.

  Sorrow and rage intertwined with regret and determination as Sawain rose to his feet. Kyra and Mari had joined the fight, launching arrows and bolts of magic at the dragon. As his allies distracted Malsivith, Sawain grabbed Jatharr and hurried to a more secluded spot behind one of the metal boxes that hummed with electricity. The halfling squinted at Sawain as the young hero clenched his totem in prayer. Jatharr placed a hand on the totem and pushed it away.

  “Save yer breath for someone more deserving. It’s fitting I should die a traitor…”

  Sawain shook his head as tears rolled down his face, “You’re not the leader of this army. Don’t tell me who I can and cannot save.”

  Jatharr smiled, “I didn’t say ye couldn’t save me…” He coughed a mouthful of blood as his broken body shuddered, “Sawain… I’m sorry for betraying yer trust. I truly am… Don’t let him turn me into one of his thralls…”

  The Swerdbrekker nodded through repressed sobs. Jatharr sighed as his gaze wandered beyond anything Sawain could see.

  “Ye think I’ll see her there?”

  Jatharr did not wait for an answer as he exhaled his final breath. Sawain hugged him close a moment, letting out his emotions.

  Violet stood in front of her father's ghost, tears streaming down her face. Old Firbalg looked at her regretfully.

  "I's sorry, Vi. I gots too careless in me old age. Now looks at me. A lowly dead-thrall. Ye can't lets me stays this way, Vi. Malsivith will order me to hunts you down forever, and I must complys. His order is disrupted for now, so runs away. Gets yer friends out of here so's he can't finish that accursed ritual! The Swerdbrekker must not dies today."

  She sniffled and nodded, "He won't Daddy. Svainy- I means Sawain will beats Malsivith. I'll makes sure of it."

  Firbalg smiled fondly, "That's me girly. Be's brave, Vi. The Swerdbrekker needs all the friends he can gets right now."


  She held out a hand with her fingers outstretched, "I'll be's a friend to the Swerdbrekker, even if he is a big meanie."

  Firbalg stretched out his hand and placed his palm against hers. She shivered as an icy chill ran through her arm. She withdrew it, wiped her eyes and glared at Malsivith.

  "That dirty dragon will pays for what he did to you."

  Firbalg sighed, "But not this day. Right now, you must runs, Vi!"

  She grit her teeth as she dashed at the dragon. Firbalg shouted behind her.

  "Away, girly! Runs away! He'll kills you!"

  "Not if I kills him first!"

  She withdrew a small round ball of clay and threw it at Malsivith. It shattered against the side of his head and a yellow cloud of dust burst from it. He coughed and sneezed fire that spread through the room. Tears streamed from his squinting eyes as he searched for the culprit who attacked him.

  "I'LL KILL YOU ALL!"

  An inferno of white fire spouted from his maw and filled the room. Kyra managed to protect herself and Mari, and Violet ducked behind a metal structure that took the brunt of the attack, but melted quickly against the heat.

  The sound of grinding metal and clicking mechanisms halted the fight temporarily. Malsivith turned to watch through half blinded eyes the World Forge reawaken at last. The Stones of Turin crackled violently with white-hot electricity as their platform rose into the air, revealing another device beneath it. The machine that rose from the earth resembled a massive silver furnace. The inside glowed with brilliant orange heat. A flame the color of the sky and the size of a giant burned in the midst of it. Coils of super heated metal pumped magma into the machines around the dome as more lights began to flash. And amidst the crackling lightning that arced off the Stones stood Sawain.

  Malsivith's maw opened slowly as if he debated whether he should kill the boy now and risk destroying the forge or not. He noticed too late that Naralei's body had been removed from the altar as Sawain stood before it, clenching his totem, which channeled the electricity safely into him. His voice boomed as he spoke.

  "Malsivith, for your crimes against Hammerhold and the gods, I judge you in the name of Turin! Now you shall watch and despair as this war ends and you shall be cast into eternal punishment! I call upon the power of Turin! Sturmedge, strike with divine justice!"

  A flash of light blinded everyone as a massive bolt of lightning crashed through the dome and struck the altar. In his righteous determination, Sawain did not see Aerabis sneak from behind one of the Stones and place the metal box he held on the altar a moment before the strike. As the light faded, Sawain turned to see a blade of living lightning piercing the altar, a pile of shattered, molten mythril scattered about and pieces of a strange weapon mixed into the wreckage. A massive troll fist blindsided him as Aerabis punched him in the jaw.

  Sawain tumbled from the top of the World Forge and crashed to the ground below. Aerabis laughed as he flexed his arm.

  "Now THAT felt great! Looks like I finally got you, my shining stag!"

  The troll jumped down and landed inches from Sawain, who lay stunned on the ground. He stooped down to grab his prey when another clay ball smashed into the bridge of his nose. Black smoke enveloped him and Sawain. He coughed and sputtered until it cleared. Sawain had vanished along with the other enemies of the dragon. Malsivith roared angrily as he rampaged about, looking for the Swerdbrekker. Everyone had vanished. Mari, Kyra, Violet, even the corpses Malsivith had made. He roared fiercely, letting white flame melt half a dozen fragile machines.

  His temper cooled as he noticed Sturmedge still perched atop the World Forge, and the shattered remnants of Drougetath among it. His devilish grin spread across his toothy maw.

  "Well, if I cannot have the Swerdbrekker just yet, I shall claim the next best thing."

  Chapter Eighteen:

  Aerabis watched in awe as Malsivith reverted to his humanoid form, clothes magically reknitting themselves around his new body. The dragon-made-humanoid flittered over to his troll minion.

  "What are you doing standing around with your jaw slack? Find that Swerdbrekker and bring him to me!"

  Aerabis saluted smartly, "Aye, boss!"

  As he turned to do the dragon's bidding, Malsivith stopped him by placing a cold hand upon his shoulder, "To make sure you don't fail, I'm sending you with a partner that should give you an advantage against him. TORVAL!"

  The ghostly apparition of the legendary hero Torval of Jordborg formed before Malsivith.

  "You screamed, your scaliness?"

  Malsivith scowled at the ghost's quip, "Your son is causing me much undue stress. I want you to help Aerabis hunt him down and bring him to me."

  Torval sighed, "I'm sure it'll be a heartfelt reunion."

  Malsivith shooed him with a flick of his hand, "Off with you scamps! Fail me again and I'll make sure your torments are a hundredfold!"

  Torval and Aerabis bowed before they turned for the exit. Aerabis strode in awkward silence as Malsivith's manic cackles bounced off the metallic dome of the World Forge. Once outside, he let his breath out and scratched his head.

  "This is just great. It took me months to track that brat of yours this far. How am I supposed to find him again so soon?"

  Torval closed his eyes a moment then opened them again as his gaze fell to the floor, "They're below us."

  The ghost dove into the stone at Aerabis' feet. He stomped the ground in a tantrum.

  "Hey, gusts for guts! Some of us can't just move through solid stone! Are you listening to me? Ugh, now what?"

  He sighed as he dragged his feet along the earth, looking for a way down. His mind raced while his body took its time.

  I'm starting to wonder if fulfilling this contract is really worth it. I mean, sure, I hate Sawain as much as the next blood-crazed warmonger, but this Malsivith is bad for business. If he ends up killing everyone, who will be around to start more wars?

  His gaze wandered up through the city, past all the fighting above, to the hole in the roof of the dome that covered Caer Teallagh's volcanic outer rim. He stared at the stars that shone through the glass.

  I could just beat a hasty retreat. I mean, Sawain's a pest, sure, but if I don't do my job, maybe he can find a way to kill Malsivith. Then it won't matter if I'm an oath breaker.

  "I've seen that look before. You're thinking of running."

  Aerabis jumped as the ghostly form of Torval floated back up from the ground. He waved his hands in defense.

  "I never run from a good fight!"

  Torval stared at him for an uncomfortably long time before answering, "You remind me of my son, you know that?"

  Aerabis growled, "I'm nothing like that do-gooder hero type! I mean, sure I use that line on him time to time to stir him up, but I never mean it."

  Torval smiled grimly, "Oh, it's there alright. That look you had in your eyes before. The fire of defiance that's burning in them now. You know, Aerabis. There is another option."

  "Shut up, wind bag. Did you find the Swerdbrekker or not?"

  Torval nodded, "I can sense his mother's spirit guarding him. I'd know her energy from anywhere. I am compelled to her. Come, let me guide you."

  The ghost flew to the wall of the nearby tier and vanished into it. Aerabis sighed, shaking his head.

  "I hate this job."

  A secret door in the wall slid down into the ground, revealing a hidden stairwell. The ghost of Torval hovered just inside, his eyebrow tilted up. It reminded Aerabis of the smug look Sawain always gave him. He hated it, too.

  "Well, that's more like it. Alright, gramps, let's go catch us some heroes!"

  The troll followed the phantom down the twisting stairwell into the underbelly of the city. The heat made it hard to breath down here. Aerabis swiped at the sweat that dripped down his forehead and into his eyes. He hated heat almost as much as he hated Sawain. Torval broke the silence as the stairs ended and a snaking tunnel began.

  "They're not far now. This place is a maze, and a rat
her dangerous one at that. I am already dead, so let me lead the way."

  Aerabis held up a hand as his eyes adjusted to the utter darkness, "No objections here, old man."

  Torval floated along ahead of him, opening access doors from the other side and moving through the complex of hot tunnels like a hound tracking a fox. He spoke to Aerabis as he lead the hunt onward.

  "Tell me, what started you down this path?"

  Aerabis snorted, "That little trick you pulled opening the door in the wall."

  "Not the actual path. I mean this mad pursuit of Sawain."

  He shrugged, "Well, it wasn't personal at first. I've been working for Malsivith for years. He's always funded my army well and we never ask any questions. You know how it goes, he's a dragon, and devilish smart at that. I signed a contract with him. Being a mercenary, I didn't think much of it. Of course, I didn't know he was a dragon back then. Now I hunt for him. He started this war, you know. Gave Tharixos that accursed sword what gives him control over the dead. Put it in his head that he's a god. The dragon's playing us all."

  Torval sighed, "We've all listened to his ravings. He's quite arrogant for a centuries old being who fancies himself a true god, all because he was one of the Nine Betrayers. I wish I could say his hubris would be his downfall, but he has already won."

  Aerabis' heart rate sped up while his feet dragged, "Well, yeah, but that's good for us, isn't it? I mean, we're on the winning side. When he becomes a real god, we'll be his faithful."

  "You, perhaps. I was never given a choice. An oath breaker, he called me. I tried to run from him too, you know. It worked for a time. But the dragon has connections. He found me. When my wife fell ill, he manipulated the Segrammir of Jordborg into trapping me. The day I was brought before him, he called me an oath breaker. That's when I knew that Malsivith had won. I thought for certain he would kill us all, but he waited. He waited while I watched Skalda die. He watched from the shadows as I hardened my heart to the world and my own son. I heard him laughing on the day I died protecting the farm I built out of vanity and cruelty from gnoll raiders. He allowed my spirit to linger long enough to watch my son led away in those monsters' chains. Even now, in death he continues to torment me by forcing me to hunt the only family I have left in the realm of the living."