Mark of the Fool

Chapter 527: Iron, Smoke and Flame

In the Crymlyn, Zonon-In had vowed that as long as she lived, Alex would never be free of her, and neither would his closest friends. She could have appeared anywhere, and at any time in their lives. If they ever grew comfortable, let their guard down, or forgot about her, she could have killed them on a whim. Her threat would have hung over them until they were dead.

But, in a wonderful twist, she was the one who was dead.

And Claygon celebrated.

Igot herfather! his speakerbox boomed, gems flared, already pointing at Yantrahpretaye.

The beams lanced through the hallway.

Zonon-In! the iron demon roared. You useless deadArgh!

Fire-beams struck home, but their flame dimmed as they washed over the demons metal shell.

He must be resistant to magic, like Zonon-In was, Alex thought.

But still, the attack had some impact; the demons control of their weapons was lessening. His utility knife floundered around with little direction, not stabbing as aggressively as before.

Realisation hit him. Everyone, pay attention to that iron bastard! Keep him off balance! He needs all of his concentration to affect our weapons!

Ezerak growled in acknowledgement, his sword pointed at the towering fiend. Lets give him something to keep him busy then!

A wave of painted monsters charged the smoke-spewing fiend, claws, hooves and paws thundering across stone. More shimmered into being, leaping from the former kings flesh. Lions, griffons, wolves and more swarmed the iron monster from all sidesbut they had little effect. Creatures that had earlier savaged the demonic monkeys at the portal crossroads couldnt even break this monsters iron hide.

They couldn't damage, or kill it, but at least they were distracting it.

Which meant that Alexs summoned creatures couldnt hurt it either.

The greater demon kept fighting, billowing scalding steam, sweeping dagger sharp claws through the painted creatures like they were mist.

Alexs jaw clenched.

Two greater demons were dead, but theyd been caught by surprise. Yantrahpretayehad been ready and was at his full power; he wouldnt make things easy for them.

He also had allies

Zenon-Ins horde had recovered from the shock of her death and were screaming how they would make the mortals pay; they came charging at the Troupe of the Gargoyle with a vengeance. But, in turn, Alex, Thundar, Claygon and the mercenaries werent about to make things easy for her minions, and met them with stiff and fatal resistance.

Bone cracked, and flesh pulped as Celsus stepped from beside Claygon, his mace swinging, he waded into the sea of demons, laying them out in broken heaps.

Alex assessed the battle, quickly making a plan.

Ezerak, keep your monsters on top of that iron demon, Alex said. Weve got to keep him off-balance. Guntile, keep firing on the horde, dont let up on them. Blow them to another hell if you can. Thundar, you and Ripp confuse that thing and keep up the pressure on the rest! Claygon. Kyembe. Youre with me. Were going to kill that metal bastard. Celsus!

He looked at the towering warrior. Justkeep doing what youre doing.

The armoured mercenary grunted in acknowledgement, whirling his mace like windmill blades. Demons fell like wheat.

Alex called out to his summons, nodding toward Celsus before flying at Yantrahpretaye. Help him fight the demons however you can! And, keep them away from us!

Guntile and Ripp faced the horde of fiends, hitting them with explosive stones, and flying blades.

Here we go! Good luck, Alex! Thundar cried, rapid-fire force bolts streaked for the demons ranks ahead of him. The tide of monsters slowed, but more were coming.

Zonon-In hadnt brought a mere handful of fiends, shed brought an army.

Alex and his companions would need to work fast.

Kyembe, can that burning sword of yours cut iron? Alex asked.

As a knife splits rotten fruit. The Spirit Killers blade blazed with hellfire.

Good. Claygon, use your war-spear and try skewering him. We need him pinned down. Alex raised his staff, drawing out more haste magic. Lets get this done!

He poured haste magic onto Kyembe and Claygon, then waved the staff at Ezeraks monsters, granting themenhanced speed.

The Spirit Killer and golem blurred at the greater demon, but the creature coughed out a cloud of steam, his voice mocking. That trick is a pale imitation used by mortal kind. You seek haste? I will show you true haste.

A whine of steam came from deep within the demon. Its joints glowed red, then its speed accelerated.

Blowsalready swift and precisefell unseen on Ezeraks minions as they seemed to die away unaided. Alex conjured more haste magic and greater force armour, pouring it on the painted monsters.

Hurry! the former king shouted, moving behind Kyembe. My armies are not endless!

Trying! Alex shouted, conjuring forceballs and force Hands, sending them at the demonic foe.

Kyembe and Claygon reached Yantrahpretaye at the same time the force constructs surrounded him, crawling over him in swarms of disorienting lights and barriers.

The golem thrust the war-spear at the greater demon; he batted it aside with a powerful iron arm. Claygon twisted the weapon, sliding the blade along the fiends body, digging a channel deep in its forearm.

Yantrahpretayes howl was like the scream of metal on metal andas sparks rained downKyembe ran in, his sword high.

The Spirit Killer thrust the blade at him, but seemed to misjudge the range of his push cut, it fell short of its target.

Your aim is poor! the demon called.

But the Spirit Killer wasnt finished.

He pulled on the swords grip in either direction andwith a surge of powerthe ivory hilt lengthened, becoming the white haft of a sword-staff, shooting the extended blade deep into the demons leg.

Hellfire blazed white hot, Yantrahpretayes iron began to glow orange around the wound, sending the monster into howls.

Did I miss you, demon? Kyembe asked. Then let me try again.

His fury plain, the Spirit Killer leapt at the giant, sweeping the burning weapon at its legs, while Claygon struck its arms. The war-spear slashed deep into iron arms, rupturing metal, spraying clouds of steam over his stone surface.

Yantrahpretaye screeched, steam hissed as he whirled on Claygon, slashing at the golem with his steel claws.

The pitched shriek of metal on stone cut the air.

Claygon floated backwards, three jagged lines marked him.

Iam alrightfather he said in Alexs mind. My stone is harder than my clay wasI will not fall.

He punctuated those words by blasting Yantrahpretayes face with all three fire-beams.

Alex glowered at the demon. Just be careful, Claygon, he said, pointing his staff at the fiend, and in rapid succession, shot Elder Blodeuwedds mana draining symbols at him. The glyphs covered the demons form, power drained away.

You! he whirled, burning eyes boring in Alexs direction. What have you done to me? You will regArgh!

Kyembe leapt, flaming sword blurred, slicing metal repeatedly. Smoke and steam billowed as molten iron streamed down the monsters legs.

The greater demon was shrieking, backing away, but the summoned creatures and constructs blocked its line of sight, holding it off balance. Alex had learned much from fighting Zonon-In in the Crymlyn swamp.

In truth, Yantrahpretayeeven with enhanced speedwasnt as fast as she was, and he was also severelyoutnumbered. Ezeraks army, and Alexs tide of monsters were far more distracting than the witches few trees were.

Claygon was faster, stronger, and tougher now, and Zonon-Ins own war-spear was his. Kyembe was fearsome, and his hellfire did its work with every stroke.

And Alex, armed with his aeld staff, had more options than in the Crymlyn. Draining their enemys power was one of them. They also had to keep the demon busy and stop him from having too much time to think.

Burning wounds were spreading across its body from Kyembes sword-staff, while Claygons war-spear was biting deeper and deeper into Yantrahpretayes metal. His mana was draining, and he was slowing.

Any time now, Alex thought. We finish him off and

Mana suddenly surged. The demons eyes flared, steam leaking from his joints.

His metallic gut yawned open, exposing a chamber of whirring gears, wires, and spinning mechanisms.

Behind those?

The light of flame grew.

Heat billowed as the air scorched. Alex gasped, his eyes tearing. Everyone back, hes gonna

Father! Claygon shot in front of Alex.

Kyembe leapt back

but too late.

Yantrahpretayes core exploded, his joints spraying the hallway in flame. Alex screamed, the hall ignited, his clothes caught as he hid behind Claygon.

Somewhere below, Kyembe screamed and the aeld staff screamed with him.

Thundar shouted in the distance.

Alexs eyes stung from light and heat.

And then the flame was gone.

Shuddering, Alex fought for air, the scent of burning cloth filling his nose.

Father! Claygon cried, his head turning. You are burning!

I know! Alex shouted, channelling mana from the smoking staff.

The young aeld staff emanated waves of pain and terror as he used it to call a water elemental. Bubbles appeared, gurgling in surprise.

Put out the fire! he cried.

The water elemental gurgled, spraying cold water, dousing his smouldering clothing and staff. Relief spiked from the aeld.

Thank the Traveller, youre alright, he murmured, trembling at how close hed come to death.

But what about the others? How were they?

He peered through a rising plume of smoke in a panic.

The summoned monsters were gone, some of Ezeraks beasts were now nothing but greasy stains on the stone.

There was no sign of Kyembe at aNo.

No, that wasnt true.

There, in the smoke, a body burned, gripping a sword-staff still covered in hellfire.

Down the hall, the blast had hit the others.

Ezerak was pulling himself to his feet, burns ranover his flesh, though his magical tattoos had protected him from the worst. Guntile was desperately slapping at herself, snuffing out burning clothing. Thundar looked like hed landed in a bonfire butstill chanting affirmationshe fought on. Ripp had ducked behind the demon horde and was spared the worst of the explosion, he now chopped through them, blades flying.

At his side, the inhumanly tough Celsus fought on as though nothing had happened. His armour steamed, but he had not slowed. Nor paused.

Groaning, Ezerak was raising his sword and striding toward the fiends, monsters leaping off his skin.

He was buying the team more time against the demonic horde; some of them had burned, but not all, many were protected by their natural resistance to flame.

demons?

Alexs eyes widened.

Where was Yantrahpretaye?

His eyes desperately searched the hall; the greater demon had vanished.

Where the hells was h

The whoosh of air saved him.

On instinct, he shot forward, shouting as pain burned across his back. Another impact struck him from behind, blasting the air from his lungs.

He flinched as something in his side broke, pain exploded through him from head to foot when he hit the ground floor full force: the aeld staff and Bubbles flew from his hands.

Father! Claygon shouted, flying toward Alex.

The young wizards vision swam: he was dazed and everything hurt.

Watchout! his mind screamed a warning.

Behind Claygon, the greater demon emerged from the smoke.

Yantrahpretayes claws were raised, poised to strike the golem. But, Claygons head abruptly swivelled one hundred and eighty degrees, unleashing a fire-beam directly into the demons face.

It howled, slashing at Claygon, leaving deep gouges before kicking him away. The demon floated through the air, ringed in flame. Its mana had weakened, but what was left still raged like a stormstruck sea.

And it looked right at Alex. I can smell your heat, mortal. Invisibility will not save you.

A rope of flame coiled around his hand.

Stones cracked in his damaged face, exploding where they struck.

Get away from him, you bastard! Guntile growled, her hands whipped stones like hail. Hes not dying until we get paid!

The demon glowered down at her. Youre next

There was a terrible clang of stone on metal.

Claygon rammed Yantrahpretaye from the sidedriving the war-spear deep shearing the demons metal body.

The two giants spun through the air, crashing to the ground, shattering stone.

Alex flew away, floating toward his staff, his movements unsteady as the titans grappled on the fractured floor.

The weakened wizard reached his staff, barely able to raise it. He blinked rapidly, clearing his vision, searching for Guntile.

Throw me a stone! he choked.

What? she cried. If it hits you itll explode!

Ill catch it

But

Trust me! Just throw it!

The half-orc drew her arm back and whipped a stone at Alex. He marked its arc, using the mark andthough his side screamed with painhe snatched it from the air, then raised the frightened staff, drawing out the power of Call Through Ice. He fixed his eyes on the metal demon.

That strange power rose inside him.

Something felt different now.

Deeper.

More urgent.

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