Depths of Madness - Erik Scott De Bie [44]
"Burn me," was all she said.
Gargan tossed Liet his axe and sprang forward to catch the priestess's acid-spattered body. Taslin, miraculously alive, coughed and sputtered in the goliath s arms. She had somehow kept hold of her sword-the half that still remained. The other half-a full two hands of steel-was lodged in the dying purple worm's head.
Again, silence settled over the cavern, and the exhausted adventurers stood rapt. Then a chorus of vengeful shrieks came from the exit tunnel. A score of grimlocks, all wielding stone axes, flooded in to avenge their fallen god.
Davoren cursed in single infernal syllables as the creatures swarmed toward him. He waved his hands, spreading dark power like slime. It struck the ground in the grimlocks' path and spread into a pool of impenetrable blackness, its gleaming surface teflecting the charging monsters. Then he fled.
As the first grimlocks stepped into the pool, a thousand tentacles of dark energy sprang from the black matter, wrapping the limbs and bodies of the eyeless creatures. Many were caught, and they screamed against the sucking blackness. Half the grimlocks charged through the tentacles, however, and they ran toward the intruders with slavering mouths and single-minded purpose.
Twilight saw Davoren running ahead of them, but only just.
"Run!" Twilight shouted to the others. "We can't fight them all!"
"We aren't to save Davoren?" asked Liet, drawing a startled look from the elf. "We need him-you said it yourself!"
"Sand," hissed Twilight. She had never hated being right this much. "Gargan! Slip! Take Taslin! Run!" She looked to the exit but shadows of grimlocks moved within. She cursed. "Another exit! Go!"
The goliath and halfling nodded. "Another tunnel," said Slip. "That way!" She pointed to a small opening halfway around the cavern from the exit. They ran for the tunnel, Gargan cradling the limp priestess like a child swathed in a wet blanket. Taslin moaned in the goliath's arms.
With a brutal nod, Twilight turned to Liet. "Lad, you're with me."
"Uh," said Liet, looking at the oncoming horde, "I didn't mean-"
"Now!"shouted Twilight, darting toward the grimlocks like an arrow.
Liet cursed and sprinted after her, huffing and puffing as he went.
Ahead of them, the warlock panted and fought to keep running. The grimlocks were still gaining. They would soon overtake him, or drop him with a spear throw. Unless Twilight had a chance to argue the point.
"Here!" she said, wrenching Liet to a halt.
"What is it?" Liet stopped and leaned over, hands on his knees, his bloody sword dangling. His shield was split and would hardly withstand more punishment.
Twilight closed her eyes. With a hiss of her will, she brought the shadows flickering about her body, ready to to cover their retreat. Then she paused, cursing. She had no energy left for a shadowdance, and little enough for manipulating the darkness. And the creatures had no eyes anyway-shadows could not save them.
Liet misunderstood. "It only now occurs to you that we're going to die?"
Twilight ignored that. "I guess we'll have to do this the energetic way," she said. She fell back into a fighting stance, awaiting the rushing grimlocks. Davoren came roaring past, running full out, and didn't even slow to help them.
"Typical," murmured Twilight.
At that moment, an ear-splitting roar came from the entrance tunnel, drawing all eyes and ears. There stood a distorted troll with limbs of various sizes and patchwork, greenish and reddish skin.
"Blind-dims!" roared Tlork, hefting his hammer. "They's mine!"
Only half a dozen paces from Liet and Twilight, the grimlocks skidded to a halt. They turned and charged Tlork, hissing with rage.
"Run!" Twilight snapped, snatching Liet's arm. "Come on!"
Together, they followed Davoren back to the side tunnel, fighting the exhaustion seeping into their limbs and the fire tearing at their lungs. Gargan waited there, the last grimlock's black sword in hand, ready to fend off any that pursued.
He needn't have bothered. Drawn to the troll by some unknown