Lady of Poison_ The Priests - Bruce R. Cordell [58]
A knot of activity to his right and closer to the first arch drew his eye-he could see the gleam of Dymondheart as it rose above the branch tops of their attackers. Elowen was there, but where was Gunggari?
Deciding his friend could take care of himself, he rushed toward Ususi. Her magic was impressive, but his experience taught him that impressive magic often came at the price of a fragile body. Apparently, one of the large monsters had the same thought. Just as Marrec was about to reach Ususi's side, a branch crashed down on the mage's head. The woman fell like a puppet with severed strings.
"Ususi!" he screamed.
Justlance finally in hand, he drove its spear point into the dark heartwood of the creature, using all the strength granted him by his gloves-it felt as if he could draw more or less strength as he needed. He realized at the same time that the reservoir of might offered by the Nentyarch's gift was not without limit. He used up a great quantity of that strength with that thrust. The twigblight, as Ususi had called it, groaned like a live thing, its branches flailing randomly as it was felled. When it struck the ground, it shattered into hundreds of smaller unmoving pieces. Where its heart would have been were it a living creature, a double-handful of stinking mud burst and oozed. Marrec was reminded of the ooze creatures they'd faced within the Nadir. He realized that his strike for the "heart" of the monster had been a lucky strike indeed. He doubted his spear would have the same lethal effect on these creatures if he didn't pierce the 'heartwood.'
The still-burning splinters of the creatures Ususi had blasted seemed a deterrent to the other, smaller stick monstrosities. He stood, and Ususi lay, at the center of that safe zone. The dark portal to the Nadir remained open, only a step away, held open by the solidified mass of mud and ooze that made up the island on the opposite side. He considered pulling Ususi back through to get her out of harm's way. That would mean leaving Gunggari and Elowen to their fate, something Marrec could not bring himself to do.
The creatures were retreating from him and his fallen comrade. They were concentrating their numbers where he guessed Elowen, and he hoped Gunggari, were standing.
The sound of Gunggari's dizheri blared forth. Marrec grinned. The tattooed warrior was still up and around.
The twigblights surged forward, redoubling their efforts to win into the center of the knot of activity where Dymondheart flailed and the dizheri played. Without the press of monsters battering him, Marrec was better able to see the focus of their attention. Finally, he caught glimpses of Elowen and Gunggari together, fighting back-to-back. They were fighting furiously and would need a respite soon, but he couldn't leave Ususi alone.
When chance gave him another glimpse of Gunggari through the thrashing limbs, Marrec cupped his hands and yelled at the top of his lungs, "Flee into the arches- you're too vulnerable out here."
Gunggari darted his gaze toward Marrec. He nodded. Seconds later Marrec's line of sight was again obscured, but the concentration of creatures surged forward under the first stone arch of Xenosi. The arches were too narrow for the whole mass of attackers. The twigblights were unable to maintain the ferocity of their assault, and those on the sides were forced to peel away. A great creaking crackled and popped through the air. Marrec wondered if the creatures were concerned that their quarry would escape or frustrated that their plan to ambush and overwhelm had failed.
Not all the creatures followed after Elowen and Gunggari. A handful turned back toward him, one almost