Dreams of Jupiter

Part 7 - Arch

Hearing Andiel's terse report, Volgan drew his sword from over his shoulder with a surge of strength.

"Come, adherents of shadow," he growled. "The table at hell's feast is set and I've saved you seats!"

Andiel shook her head.

"I'm disgusted, I'm repulsed, ... And I can't look away!" she muttered in disbelief. Then she was drawing two long-bladed daggers. As she stood ready to fight, she began to sing in a low, melodious voice:

"Break the line, we've got to go. Because there's no way back where we're coming from!"

"Now there's an elven battle mantra I can appreciate," Steve grimly said as Andiel quietly repeated the refrain. Then he was falling silent as a horde of dark figures slid out of the brush.

At first glance, they all looked the same, dressed alike in dark tunics and hose with their faces covered, wielding axes and swords. It was only as they cleared the underbrush that Myles could see that they were from a variety of different races. Then the acolytes were running at their small company with hoarse shouts and weapons upraised.

Volgan charged to meet them, angling to intercept the largest knot of acolytes coming towards them. Gone was the bizarre wit and strange asides; the big man was all business as he closed on their opponents with almost unnatural speed. Then he was in their midst, his sword moving in short, chopping arcs to knock aside defenses and bite deep into  armored bodies with audible crunches.

For a moment Nidria looked as if she would join the Tamdian. But a quick glance over her shoulder at an anxious, sweating Myles and she stayed put, renewing her grip on her weapons instead. Andiel, however, was under no such compulsion. 

As soon as Volgan hit the largest group of acolytes, she too was flowing forward, still singing under her breath.

"All I try is to break the thin line," she sang, before spinning away from a sharp stab and grabbing the acolyte beside the first by the collar, jerking them down and rolling over their back. Landing on her feet behind the second acolyte, she kicked them in the back to knock them off balance before she snapped her daggers into quick slashes to open up a pair of throats in an eye blink.

"Nothing's gonna stop the way of life!"

Myles pulled out a shock lance as the two whirled deep into the enemy ranks before them.

"I've got to help them," he said in a low voice.

"We will, Myles," Nidria said, again glancing over her shoulder. "By staying alive." Then her shield was coming up to block a hard cut at her head as the remaining acolytes reached them. Her axe flashed as she warded off the next attack, a stab at her belly.

Seeing that, Myles began to raise his lance to fire at the acolyte attacking Nidria. Only to have his entire arm go numb from a sharp blow to his shoulder.

"Uhhh," he grunted, dropping the lance. Half turning to see what struck him, he felt his heart climb into his throat as several figures faded into solidity from swirling shadows.

"Shadow Blades," he said in a fearful whisper. Then they were attacking as one, moving as smoothly and as quick as Andiel, swirling shadows around them hiding all but the fact they were humanoid.

Somehow Myles managed to elude the first two slashing attacks. But the third opened him up across the chest, the razor-sharp blade easily cutting through his shirt.. Stumbling to the side, he felt numbness radiating from the cut instead of fiery pain.

"Don't let them touch you," Steve shouted, energy swirling around him as he gathered his powers. "They wield poisoned blades. The slightest cut will kill you in minutes!" Then he was sending a surge outward in all directions from himself, knocking a number of the acolytes flying away from him.