Depths of Madness - Erik Scott De Bie [48]
The warlock only smiled. In his eyes was a bitter promise-he would see Taslin dead, for no other reason than because he could.
Twilight knew what she had to do-weakened thought she might be.
She handed Taslin over to the goliath. "Go," she said slowly and levelly to the others. "Follow Gargan. Skirt the labyrinth, find the sewers, set camp. Leave markings." She turned back and looked upon the warlock, who smiled. "Davoren and I shall join you presently."
"But 'Light, ah-" Liet started.
"No argument," she said. "Davoren and I have some words to share. Lead them, Gargan." She nodded to Liet without looking at him. "We shall join you."
Liet nodded slowly and began walking. Taslin kept her eyes on the warlock, but let Slip tug her along.
Gargan stared at Twilight hard, and she flicked a gaze to him. She was reminded once again of the keen intuition behind those emerald eyes. Without words, they conversed, and Gargan understood entirely what Twilight intended. He made her an offer, but she declined. She had to do this alone. He nodded and turned.
As the goliath joined the others, disappearing into the darkness, Twilight let a smile spread across her face. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then she relaxed, and flashed Davoren a winsome look.
"Is anyone watching?" asked Davoren, flexing his fingers, around which little sparks danced.
"I think not," replied Twilight, hand on her rapier hilt. The shadows came to her.
Davoren's lip curled. "Good."
Twilight's rapier scraped out of its scabbard and she lunged, just as the warlock thtew ruby flames at her.
CHAPTER Eleven
Twilight twisted in mid-dive and the blast scorched across her back. Only her ring's protective magic kept her skin intact. She landed lightly and kicked out. Davoren scowled and threw himself aside just in time to avoid the blow.
Feeling rather than seeing the miss, Twilight wasted no time reversing her momentum, spinning, and slamming an elbow into the warlock's chest. Davoren recoiled and fell back a step, but his eyes were already blazing with ruby light. The warlock snarled an infernal oath and jerked his hands apart.
"Damn and burn," Twilight snapped, throwing herself back, trusting instinct.
The elf maid somersaulted back as a fan of ruby fire cut over her chest. She flipped completely over, landing on her feet in a crouch. She rose halfway into a combat stance, keeping her eyes on Davoren. The man had backed away and was holding up burning, clawed hands, one forward, one at his ear.
"Come, fiend-spawn." Twilight hissed as she dipped and wove. "You can do better than that, eh?"
The warlock grinned as they both circled. "You think you can elude my power, do you?" he said. "You await a strike, thinking you will dodge and I will be open, eh?"
"How clever." Twilight never took her eyes off him. "And your solution?"
Davoren lifted his left arm. The diabolic race molded into his leather bracer chuckled for an instant. The air rippled and a chittering giggle floated forth that matched the gauntlets mirth. A tiny winged creature with night black flesh-an imp, Twilight realized-appeared a few paces at her back, laughing and hissing.
Summoned aid, Twilight thought. How original.
Davoren threw his blasts of flame past her, and she understood. With a curse, she sprinted toward the warlock.
The flames consumed the imp before it had the chance to move or even squeak in protest, then the heat arced from its ashen remains to strike Twilight in the back, blowing her out of her charge and slamming her body against the wall.
Davoren laughed uproariously. "Fool!" he said. "You think you can outwit Hellsheart?" He fell into the grip of fiendish power once again.
Fighting against the pain that ripped through her, Twilight struggled to her feet. Little trails of smoke rose from her back. The ring's magic had absorbed much of the blast, but not all. Limping, she extended the rapier toward Davoren and bent low.