Lady of Poison_ The Priests - Bruce R. Cordell [32]
Residual power snapped and discharged from Ususi's pointing hand. In her other hand she held an unrolled page of vellum, penned sigils still fading from its surface. She had unleashed a spell penned by the hand of a mighty wizard. Marrec wondered if that hand was Ususi's?
The wizard winced, shaking her hand free of residual power, and said, "You shouldn't have disturbed the Mucklestones, blightlord," then fell back against a stone.
Her effort must have been extreme-the spell on the parchment may have been beyond her normal ability to cast. Smoke rose from her garments. The scroll, its potency spent, fluttered to the ground, now completely blank vellum. Ususi managed to retain her feet with the help of the supporting obelisk.
"Lurue's blessing…" Marrec's claim of victory was cut off by the troll's vicious attack. Whatever power Gameliel had used to call the monster, it survived its master's death.
He deflected one of the creature's claw-tipped swings with Justlance, running a deep score along the troll's arm with his spear tip. Even as Marrec watched, the rubbery flesh closed up where he'd torn it. Recollection trickled into his mind: The best way to put a troll down for good was with fire.
Marrec yelled, "Burn it!" and swung the shaft of his spear low along the ground, surprising the troll; it has been expecting another stab. It stumbled over the shaft and fell on its face, a victim of Marrec's trip.
The unicorn warrior turned tail and retreated, even as the troll pushed itself upright with its preternaturally long arms. Still, he put a little space between himself and the beast, just enough, he hoped.
Seizing her opportunity despite her exhaustion, Ususi skipped another bead of flame down the bowl. The troll attempted to evade, but the pellet bounced once, twice, and at the summit of its third skip, exploded into a sphere of raging flame. The troll was enveloped. When the fire faded into sizzling wisps a heartbeat later, the monster survived only as a flaming remnant that sent up a pillar of black smoke.
The stench wrinkled Marrec's nose. He grinned nonetheless, but the sound of the dizheri, as it bashed and battered against the flesh of blighted volodnis, was yet audible. Apparently the corrupted forest folk, like the troll, were unconcerned that their master was no more, but only a few remained standing. Gunggari and Elowen then appeared on perimeter of the Mucklestones, fighting their way into the bowl. A final few thrusts with Elowen's sword, a wild swing with Gunggari's warclub, and finally some unlooked for assistance by Marrec from behind ended the threat for good.
Nothing stirred in the bowl. Marrec's blood cooled. He stowed Justlance.
CHAPTER 10
pulled Briartan down from his cruel shackles. Marrec thought life had fled, but after feeling for a pulse, he detected a faint beat. He wondered if the time had come to use the last few healing spells he'd been saving up for a dire circumstance. Briartan was the only one around who could answer his questions. He glanced at Ash-the girl studied the supine form, but she made no move to use her healing gift. It was up to him then.
He mouthed the words of healing and touched the wounded druid's forehead. The glowing blue threads of healing power rippled from Marrec's arm and wound into Briartan's body. Marrec could feel torn tissues knitting and depleted stores of energy rebounding, but he also immediately realized the truth. Briartan's spirit was wounded to the core. The druid sought only release.
Marrec fought with Briartan's desire. They battled to a temporary compromise. It was the best Marrec could accomplish. He had but one spell of healing remaining. He knew he must choose wisely when and how he would use it.
Briartan's eyes fluttered open.
Elowen grabbed the fallen man's hand. "You're going to be all right, Briartan."
Marrec quietly shook his hood, but Elowen didn't see.
The wounded druid responded, "Elowen. I'm afraid I can't stay much longer. I've glimpsed higher realms and the promise of infinite plains of