The Howling Delve - Jaleigh Johnson [116]
Recovering, the demon followed and struck out, snagging Kail's leg with a massive claw. The demon dragged him back down to the ground. Kail felt the claws penetrate his boots, burning, adding to his other wounds.
Not enough, Kali thought as he felt himself tolled onto his stomach, his atms trapped beneath his body. He would run out of fight-they all would-long before the demon was finished.
"Keeper of knowledge-sever the link."
Garavin turned from the battle at the sound of the voice, compelled by a force impossible to resist.
The ghost of one of the long-dead Howlings stood before him, spilling silver light from the sockets of his vacant eyes. Garavin looked involuntarily at the light, and the symbol at his throat began to burn. He heard the voices of the others, screaming at Kail, screaming for Garavin to help him, but the dwarf stood frozen. Couldn't they see him? Even Borl wasn't reacting. How could they not see?
"Dumathoin," Garavin spoke, in a voice rigid with awe. He slid to his knees. "Lord Under Mountain, we cannot defeat the demon. Aid us, please."
The god's essence spoke through the ghost. "Secret keeper, call to him." The avatar reached out to touch his forehead. "Show him."
Tears spilled from Garavin's eyes, hissing as they touched Dumathoin's holy symbol. He felt the power grow inside him, and he knew what form it would have to take. "1 understand, Lord Under Mountain. I obey."
Kail felt Dantane's energy spells reverberate through the demon's claw, knocking the beast off balance. Whether it had any effect other than to incense the creature, Kail didn't know, but he used the distraction to crawl out from under the demon's bloody paw and free his sword. Gripping the blade, he realized the vibration wasn't coming from the demon.
The magic came from his sword.
No more than a tremor at first, the sensation grew, until Kail had to hold the weapon with both hands. The empty space whete the Motel emetald had been was filled with a silver light that outlined the blade. Accompanying the light, the vibrat-ing hum sounded like music. Then he heatd, within the song, Garavin's voice.
"Banish the demon, Kail."
The dwarf s voice pierced his temples. Kail shook his head to clear it and to deny him. "You have to get out of here, back through the portal. If we stay, he'll slaughter us all," he said.
"Listen to me, lad." Garavin's voice shook him, unrelenting. "Ye can wound the thing a thousand times, but his link to this world has to be severed. He's holding onto it desperately. As long as he's sure it's safe, he can kill us all at his leisure. By Dumathoin's will, Kali."
"Kali!" This time it was Meisha, shouting to him from the bridge. "The eye, Kail! The empty eye!" the Harper cried.
Kali swung his sword around. It seemed to have grown heavier with the weight of Gatavin's voice coursing through the blade. He flew into the demon's path, angling to its left. The jarilith didn't need eyes to find him, but the beast turned anyway, running alongside Kali, using the points of his spines as defensive weapons.
Kali pulled back, sucking in his gut. He didn't ttust his armor to hold, and wasn't surprised when he heard cloth and chain tip. His cloak, caught against his flank, tore into two ragged slits.
My hands are already ruined, Kali thought, so… Reaching out, Kail grabbed a handful of red and black mane and pulled, hoping to wrench the beast's head around.
He might as well have tried to turn a statue's head.
The demon jumped straighr up, pulling Kail with him. His gtip shaken, Kali fell onto his back on the walkway. He managed to hold onto his sword, but the weapon still vibrated painfully in his hands. Its guard wedged against the stone bridge, allowing him to see the silver light clearly. Movement reflected within it like a mirror, showing the demon as he turned and jumped again, intending to finish his prey while he was out of the air.
Bringing his arms and legs in close to his body, Kali swung the humming blade around until the demon