Lady of Poison_ The Priests - Bruce R. Cordell [113]
The greater shaft of sunlight surrounding Elowen changed its focus, sliding smoothly away from the elf and toward the target identified by her pointing blade. Elowen yelled, triumphant "Meet the day unbound!"
Damanda screeched, backpedaling. The Rotting Man raised an eyebrow in apparent interest, nothing more. The shaft of light slid across the intervening blighted creatures without harm, moving more swiftly as it approached Damanda.
The vampire began to run, but the shaft of light caught her, just as Ususi's second wand-aimed ray struck the elf hunter in the back. In a moment, Elowen was encased in a slab of amber-like crystal, unmoving.
The following beam of sunlight was undimmed and flashed full upon the fleeing blightlord. Damanda's scream was so horrible that even the Rotting Man's forces paused a moment to determine the vampire's fate.
When the shaft winked out a moment later it was established once again what happens when a vampire is subject to sunlight.
It dies.
Marrec, having recently witnessed another vampire's fiery death in similar fashion, recovered a moment quicker than the hollow-socketed satyr. His erstwhile foe sank to the earth, stupidly clutching a newly created third cavity in its skull, courtesy of the cleric's spear.
The blighted unicorn turned away from the crystal-encased Elowen and charged Gunggari from the side. The Oslander avoided being disemboweled by the horn but received a nasty wound across his side.
Marrec saw that Ususi was back in control of her faculties. He'd have to trust her to release Elowen from the confinement she'd created. He lunged sidewise, catching the blighted unicorn with the untainted unicorn tip of Justlance. The contact instigated an instant and dramatic response from the blighted creature-its eyes rolled wildly; it reared, neighing, then it collapsed.
The scabrous wolf leaped again at Gunggari, growling and slavering. Again the Oslander beat back the wolf.
Marrec didn't want to shift too far over to help the Oslander-he needed to plug up the middle, between the Oslander and the slab of crystal holding Elowen- otherwise nothing would protect little Ash who still sheltered at his back.
Ususi finally found her voice, cried out, "I can release the elf," then began casting anew.
Gunggari's dizheri finally found purchase-the wolf yelped, rolled, then ran off into the mist. Another creature immediately moved to take its place-a twigblight.
Worse, additional blighted creatures threatened to break around the other side of Gunggari, Marrec, and Elowen's line that protected Ash. Ususi remained in the midst of a spell. Marrec quickly counted all that still stood between himself and the Rotting Man. He estimated only about ten or so enemies. With his connection to Lurue back, he wondered if he couldn't catch them all-or at least most-in a burst of holy power tuned to banish evil.
Ususi finished her last spell. With a tinkling of shattering glass, Elowen shed her crystal containment. The elf shook her head, looking around to see what she had missed.
"Hold, my creatures," spoke the Rotting Man.
The blighted creatures paused in their onslaught, uncertain of their master's command. Marrec and Gunggari paused, too, wondering what deal the Talontyr might be willing to offer. The Talontyr was getting nervous, guessed Marrec
"I tire of this game. I begin to think you'll pierce my defenses, and what? You'll attack me directly, Talona's Chosen?" The Rotting Man laughed.
Marrec considered throwing Justlance right then, or perhaps moving just a bit closer in order to bring his gaze to bear, but the Rotting Man continued speaking. "While it might be edifying for you to begin such a contest, it is beneath me. It's more fitting, really, that you meet your end at the hands of that which you've come so far to meet."
The Rotting Man half turned on his seat, still choosing to sit even in the presence of his enemies. He waved his hand toward the great cyst bulging from the