Obsidian Ridge - Jess Lebow [94]
Strapping his sword to his hip and his gauntlet to his hand, Quinn pushed the creature over sideways. It simply allowed itself to fall, lying on the ground, its eyes blinking, and its chest moving as it breathed.
Mariko's spell came to an end, and the chamber fell silent except for the persistent hum that rattled the floor.
"They're all stunned," said Quinn. "Quick, up here."
He took two steps then leaped toward the nearest alcove. Grabbing hold of Xeries's statue inside, he pulled himself up. Reaching back down, he offered his hand.
"Come quickly before they-"
The beasts started to move.
"Get-get them-them!" shouted Xeries. His words no longer echoed, but two distinct voices-one male one female-filled the room.
In an instant, a sea of blackened flesh swallowed Evelyne and Mariko.
Quinn pulled back. The beasts threw themselves at the alcove with absolutely no regard for their own safety. Three and four at a time leaped into the air, colliding with the carved statue of Xeries, bashing their own heads in and falling back to the ground.
A few managed to get their limbs past the statue. But they were cut away by quick swipes of Quinn's four blades. The area was small, but it worked to his advantage as the creatures' numbers counted for nothing in such a confined space. Quinn slashed his gauntlet back and forth, back and forth, severing obsidian flesh from the stark white bone beneath.
Down on the chamber floor, Xeries regained his feet, and he pushed aside his beasts to get at Mariko and Evelyne. Taking their wrists in his hands, he turned around and matched off, dragging the two women behind him as if they were no more than rag dolls.
"Open!" shouted the arch magus. And the wall before him transformed into a shimmering portal.
Stepping through, he disappeared from sight, Mariko and Evelyne with him.
Quietly, a shroud of magical darkness crept away from the closed bridge that had led into the Obsidian Ridge. It had evaded notice likely because the attentions of the creatures inside the citadel were focused on other guests. Blending into the black walls, Jallal Tasca stood at rapt attention as the beastly denizens of this place tore after the man he had come to kill.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
"How do you feel?" Senator Divian took the king's arm, touching him softly on the chest.
"How should I feel?" asked the king.
"I'm sure it was difficult. But you did the right thing."
The king nodded. The sun had still not come up, but the riders had returned from delivering Princess Mariko to the Obsidian Ridge. His daughter was once again out of his reach.
"The kingdom will be saved," said the senator. "You've done right by your subjects and countrymen."
"I did-he only thing I could allow myself to do." Korox took Divian's hand.
"You are a good king. You put the needs of your people ahead of your own. You will be remembered for that."
"Will I?"
"Of course, you will. You sacrificed your daughter for the good of the kingdom. Your selfless act will go down in history." She ran her finger up his forearm. "You might even be remembered as Erlkazar's greatest king."
The king squeezed her hand. "Or its worst."
The senator gave him a funny look. "Why would you say that?"
"Because I didn't turn my daughter over to Arch Magus Xeries," said the king. "I complied with his demands only as a means to fighting him."
"What?" The senator stepped back, dropping his hand. "What have you done?"
"My daughter and Quinn are inside the Obsidian Ridge. If anyone can find a way to bring down that citadel, it's them."
"Are you mad?" shouted Divian. "You've risked the fate of the entire country."
"I have done what I thought best for Erlkazar and-" "For your own personal gain."
"I did not take this decision lightly," said Korox. "This isn't just about the safety and well-being of the people. It's also about us-all of us-being able to live the lives we choose, not pressed into service or lorded over by an arch mage in a floating citadel.