The Star of Morcyth_ Book Five of the Morcyth Saga - Brian S. Pratt [81]
“Jiron!” James says, as he shakes him by the shoulders.
Jiron turns his head and looks at him but his eyes don’t appear to really focus on him.
James summons a burst of power and erects shields around the others’ minds as well. Snapping out of their lethargy, they look around confused for just a moment before realizing what had almost happened.
“Thanks,” Jiron says.
James nods and takes the fore as he moves further toward the platform. Looking to Serenna, he sees her eyes locked on him. She’s aware of his presence.
Pointing to him, she cries out, “The demon has come!”
As one, the followers turn their attention to him. A growl can be heard coming from them as the throng closest to the stage closes off the aisle, preventing him from continuing further.
“Thou hast come to thy doom!” Serenna cries out. Magic crackles in the air and the prickling sensation suddenly spikes. “Kill him!” she screams to her followers.
“Ready!” cries out Illan as he draws his sword. The others follow a split second behind.
James looks at the people coming toward him, townsfolk and farmers, simple folk. When they reach the men protecting him, they begin to fall as swords strike out. Limbs fall to the ground, heads are separated from shoulders and still they come. Trusting to Illan and the rest, he turns his attention to the platform.
Serenna stands there, eyes blazing hate as she watches her followers being cut down like stalks of grain to the scythe.
From the corner of his eye, James sees the innkeeper fall to Jiron’s knife as he reached out for him. Anger suddenly flares up within his breast, taking a slug from his belt he launches it toward her. Before it comes close, he feels a surge of power erupt from the globe and his slug explodes before it even reaches her.
The pile of bodies surrounding the men protecting him is beginning to rise. The remaining followers who are trying to get to him have to step over the dead which allows the defenders to take them out more easily. From the tent opening, more of her followers enter as they join with those already attacking.
“James,” Jiron hollers as his knife takes a woman through the chest. Kicking her back into the ones behind her he continues, “Do something!”
The globe is the source of the power here. It’s going to defend itself and Serenna against whatever I try to do. Just then, the darkness within the globe begins to pulsate. A dark light seems to emerge from it and then suddenly, a shadow is standing next to Serenna on the platform. She appears to take no notice of it.
A shiver courses through him as the shadow turns its head in his direction. Dread fills him when he recognizes the shadow as being similar to the ones in that other world where Igor found him. He can’t even begin to imagine the ramifications of that.
Steeling himself, he summons the magic and unleashes a wave of energy. When the wave hits the shadow it appears to have little effect. Taking a step forward, it begins making its way directly toward him.
Crumph!
The ground under the front edge of the platform where the shadow stands explodes outward, causing the platform to buckle and break. Serenna cries out as she stumbles away from the pedestal and breaks contact with the sphere. As soon as her hand is no longer in contact with the sphere, the pressure on the shields around their minds disappears.
James stops maintaining the shields around their minds which frees up a lot of power and concentration.
The shadow remains unaffected by the explosion and continues toward him.
Crumph!
As the shadow steps off the bottom step, the ground once again erupts. Still not being affected by the blast, it continues on. Serenna is nowhere to be seen and the globe begins to pulsate again as another shadow disengages itself from the globe.