Stardeep_ The Dungeons - Bruce R. Cordell [118]
A silvery, sleek shape the size of a man pulled itself from the Well. Raidon stepped forward and connected with thiee solid cross-kicks, each as punishing a strike as he had ever delivered. With each hit, he heard the sound of breaking bones and bursting organs within the creature. It flinched, yet did not fall.
Behind him, Delphe chanted. Bolts of electricity singed the cteatute's flesh, releasing a burning, putrid odor that nearly stopped Raidon's breath.
Her bolts carved fist-sized pockets from the amorphous creature, yet it did not fall. Indeed, it seemed to swell after each burst. Raidon attempted to backhand it with the fist clutching the Sign, but an armlike appendage blocked. He slapped the appendage down with his free hand, and surfed his striking hand straight into the creature's torso. Gangrenous fluid burst forth, splashing the monk and burning his skin like acid.
"Recall when we found the bush in the snow, laden with spring berries?" asked Kiril. Another of her treasured moments shared with Nangulis. If she could reconnect with him, perhaps the sundered halves of his spirit would permanently merge…
"Yes. But other memories are beginning to resolve, of… being confined, unmoving sometimes, but other times unleashed to wreak retribution?"
"Let's not talk of that-"
"No, Kiril, we must talk of it, and you must help me. A great gulf of darkness stretches back from just prior to this moment. A gulf from which images I do not understand assail me."
"Nangulis…"
He squeezed her hand. "Please, Kiril. If you spare me whatever truth you're withholding, how can I ever be whole?"
The swordswoman wavered. She looked into Nangulis's eyes. How could she deny him anything? Perhaps, once the truth was revealed, they could leave this place and begin anew together.
"Listen, then. I have not the strength to repeat myself. The darkness that clouds your recollection is a ten-year gap during which a portion of your essence resided in the Blade Cerulean. The blade I wielded to beat back the Traitor whose escape was imminent." New tears seeped from her eyes. With her free hand, she scrubbed at them.
He cocked his head, his eyes narrowing. "Yes… yes!
The soul-forged blade! We had no choice. A purified soul to act as a lens that would focus the Cerulean Sign's duty like nothing else. I volunteered. And…" His eyes found hers. "Did we succeed?" "Yes."
"Then why do you cry?"
"Because you were taken from me, and my life disintegrated!"
"Then how is this conversation possible?" wondered Nangulis. His eyes strayed from Kiril, but failed to focus on anything external. He said, "I see nothing but darkness-only you are lit. Where are we?"
"We are in the Throat, and the Blade Cerulean has joined with the unused portion of your soul! From that union, your spirit emerged, or its memory…" Kiril trailed off, confused. The image of Nangulis before her couldn't sense his surroundings, but she could, if she chose. Even with just her peripheral awareness, she knew the mad Keeper Telarian yet wielded the conjoined blade Angul-Nis. Which meant Nangulis's soul wasn't actually free of its soulblade confinement.
"You said we succeeded in stopping the Traitor."
"Ten years ago, but now-"
"And now…?" Nangulis prodded.
"Now we are called again to defend Stardeep. The Traitor stirs, and his agent this time is nothing less than a deluded Keeper!"
"Then I must go back into that gulf of unknowing darkness?"
"I… perhaps if we…"
Nangulis said nothing, merely looked into her eyes, trusting her. It was her decision. She knew he'd accept whatever course of action she suggested. A hollow bloomed in her heart so vacuous she thought her chest would collapse. Her body knew; if she didn't relinquish Nangulis, ask his higher spirit to tetreat to the blade physically housing it, Telarian's scheme would succeed.
"Nangulis, you know I love you, and I always-"