“You are worth no more than your looks you…” the rear dark elf cut off abruptly. He had a deadly dagger against his throat.
“Seriously, we are all on the same side here. There is no need to get bent out of shape” Tanison said sharply. All humor and teasing was gone. She signaled to the elf that was holding the blade to lower it.
“Let’s get one thing very clear…the mission comes first. This is a mission where we need to arrive in one piece and at full strength. It would not do to kill one or two of you just because you like the sound of your own voice” interjected Darken. He was the leader of this special force and he knew that these professionals needed some leeway to get pent up feelings or aggression out. He could not tolerate idiocy so he stepped in.
“Fine, you are right…I will play by the rules” Tanison said with a wink and a smile. She twirled about and continued forward as if nothing happened.
“You need to tighten the leash on that…” spat the offended dark elf from the rear. He did not finish his insult as he lost the ability to speak. In what were mere moments, the elf with the dagger had grabbed his tongue and cut it off in one single stroke. Dark blood gushed out of his mouth.
“Are you going to keep your mouth shut or are you content to bleed out?” Darken looked at the elf with no emotion whatsoever. He did not care one bit whether or not this soldier lived or died. He might be better without the insolent jerk.
The bleeding elf spat blood at his leader and moaned in laughter. There was a flash in the purple light and then contact. Darken had taken his long sword out and swung upward starting at the point between the elf’s legs. He then jerked hard upward until the blade hit the sternum. There was a crack as the elven expedition leader pulled up once more. It reached a point, about halfway up the rib cage, where he could no longer exert enough force to continue.
Darken swept the legs out from under the elf. The body hit the ground and blood and gore spilled out everywhere. With his right foot he pried his blade free. The sword caught fire for a few moments and then it extinguished itself. He then replaced it over his left shoulder. He did not look anyone in the eye and he returned to his place in line behind Tanison.
“Lead on…I believe we have a schedule to keep” offered Darken smoothly. No one was offended or surprised by the outcome. Apparently this is how dissension among the ranks was dealt with. Teasing and good natured ribbing was acceptable; however, blatant slander was not acceptable…at least in the field.
Vida Cavern
The cave walls were rough and full of minerals that reflected light at odd angles. The ceiling was no higher than the average giant. The entrance to the Vida Cavern was only big enough for an average sized man or elf to pass through. There were no other entrances or exits into this room. What remained unseen were the extremely tough magical barriers within the walls. It would be more difficult for a magic wielder to enter Cashlin Castle in the east than to attempt entry here.
As a tall figure paced outside the entrance, footsteps of the expected party broke the dense silence. Master Aiden had finally arrived with the aid of Lord Keb. The earthen lord had provided a way for the allied force to gain entry where none existed. The group had traveled several days above the ground while skirting the northern edge of the Mia Koda mountain range. They were able to move quicker than the dark elves that were fast approaching from the west.
“I am afraid that pleasantries will have to wait, they are here” spoke Xuzien quickly.
One elven mage went down with an arrow through his eye. The team quickly went into defense mode. The dark elves were using conventional means for the moment until they were able to ascertain what magic was being used outside the cavern to dissuade their forceful entry. They were well hidden by the shadows and their dark abilities. The ground in front of Xuzien opened and a hell hound burst forth. The beast was not quick enough to avoid the blades of Master Aiden who quickly cut down the demonic beast.
“You are going to have to do much better than that!” shot Xuzien at the hidden dark elves. He was eager to engage the enemy, however, he would be patient for the right opening.
“Bring it you ugly bastard” taunted Tanison from the shadows near the entrance to the cavern. She was inching her way slowly toward the goal, however, she could not pass up the chance to exchange pleasantries.
“As you wish” replied Xuzien with a deadly edge to his voice.
The walls came to life and encased the nine member team of Elilasnar. They were momentarily stunned by this attack; however, they did recover quickly. They started to burst forth from their earthen prison mere moments after being snared. Unfortunately they were not fast enough to avoid the magical attacks from the elven mages. Their numbers were quickly cut down to six. The atmosphere turned deadly as the two parties squared off.
“This is not going to end well for you at all…I have been watching your approach since Laikra. Do you honestly think I am not prepared for you?” Xuzien offered seriously. He was not a blood thirsty person by nature…as a matter of fact; he abhorred the loss of life. This was easily overcome with the knowledge of what these fiends had done to the giants and then to the people of Belva…the one place he was welcome and thought of as his home.
“You use a lot of words for someone who is a cruel joke of nature” retorted a dark elf heatedly. A moment later the tip of an elven sword emerged through the chest cavity of the one who had just spoke. Blood sprayed forth spectacularly and then the dead Elilasnar fell to the ground. There were elves behind them.
“Ilosiden vie galtroth!” shouted Darken as he swung his blade at the elves behind him. Tanison sprung from the shadows and severed the head off of the shoulders of one elf before being engaged.
The walls shook as the battle went to the next level. Magic was flying everywhere and the air was full chaotic shouts. There was no direction being given at this point. There was no room to maneuver and it made for a quick fight. Though there were small numbers, the action was intense. The blades of Master Aiden were a blur of death and destruction.
Blood splayed the walls, the ground, and the ceiling. After some more intense moments, each side took a moment to rest and regroup. The elves behind the dark elves had been decimated within minutes of the all-out fight. The dark elves only had three left…Darken, Tanison and the elf that had threatened his comrade with a dagger earlier in their journey. They were panting from the effort of the fight and the drain that their magic use had.
There were three elven mages, Xuzien, and Master Aiden left to protect the orb. They were not as tired, though that did not mean they were unaffected. As they waited for the fight to resume the air around them seemed to constrict. They sensed something different or some change. They did not have to wait long to know what their unease was about. Behind the dark elves appeared another ten of their brethren. They all took a deep breath and prepared to go out fighting.
“It’s time for you to leave” said one of the elves behind Aiden and Xuzien.
“What?” was all that Xuzien could utter. What was this elf talking about?
“The guardians need you still and you must leave now.” A portal of swirling mist appeared behind the group. Without delay, Aiden and Xuzien, a little more reluctantly, left. There was a faint popping noise and the mist dissipated.
“What a disappointment…I was hoping to cross blades with Aiden” spoke one of the newly arrived dark elves. A moment later he was struck with a deadly ice dart that protruded from his throat.
The battle recommenced and the three remaining elven mages summoned deadly creatures to aid them. An earthen Gollum and two wood sprites came into being. These magical creatures wreaked havoc while the elves moved in to put an end to anyone in their reach. Two of the elves went down after the fresh assault. The Gollum and one sprite vanished when their masters died. The remaining elf and sprite backed to the entrance of the cavern. The sprite then winked out of existence and the elf stood erect.