Bringers of Doom Read online

  I can hear Tamara suck in a breath as she lays eyes on them, and Talon spits out a curse somewhere off to my left. This is the first time any of them have seen a demon - they must be wondering if this is some sort of nightmare.

  It grins at us with a toothy smile as we enter the cavern, a rictus too wide to be human, and it stands up from its chair, gesturing broadly as if welcoming us home.

  "You are the ones who have destroyed my vessel," the gorgon says, its deep voice rumbling throughout the cave. "Months of careful planning, cast aside in a matter of hours. Do you understand how infuriating that is?"

  A low growl emits from the throat of one of the darkhounds, and we stop at the base of the mound, looking up with awe at the demons before us.

  "This was to be my ultimate achievement," the monster continues, its lips turning down into a snarl. "I was going to single-handedly turn the rangers against the realm, to ignite a war that would consume the whole of Tarsynium. Then my Prince would be sure to reward me handsomely."

  "Your manipulation is at an end, demon," Tamara interjects, lifting her sword in front of her, voice menacing. "We are here to stop you."

  "No doubt," the gorgon replies smugly, reaching down a hand and scratching one of the darkhounds between the ears. "Unfortunately, I cannot allow you to do so. You see, I find myself in need of a new puppet to lead the rangers... my previous one has recently met an untimely end. You, my dear, appear to be a perfect specimen."

  Looking down at the hound-like shadowlings, the gorgon then utters something in a guttural language that I do not understand, which causes the beasts to perk up, their hackles rising.

  "Oh, Light," I mutter, readying my weapon. "Everyone, prepare yourselves!"

  The demons burst into action.

  Claws clicking loudly on the stone, the darkhounds rush down to meet us, fangs bared and eyes glowing with hate. As a group we wordlessly fan out, forcing the bestial demons to spread out and attack us two at a time. I stand with Tamara off to the left, while Talon and Gareth Carr take the right, each group engaging a demon while the gorgon laughs maniacally above us.

  I dodge as our darkhound lunges at us, leaping from the rock and sweeping out with a swipe of its claws. It seems to focus its attack on me, all but ignoring Tamara.

  It skids through a puddle as it lands, whipping its head around at me and letting out a bestial roar.

  Warily I begin to circle the monster, my weapon raised up in a defensive position. The darkhound snaps at me, but I manage to keep it back by waving my hatchet threateningly, searching for an opportunity to strike.

  Seeing the darkhound's back to her, Tamara stabs with her sword, nicking the monster in the flank and managing to draw a small bit of dark blood. It shrieks, spinning around with a claw and knocking the sword out of her hands. The blade clatters on the other side of the cavern.

  Realizing my chance, I rush up to the demon, hacking at its back with a powerful chop of my hatchet. The axe head bites deep into its flesh, causing it to scream again in pain.

  Using its tail like a club, it whips me across the chest and sends me flying backward, where I land hard on a pile of stones. The wind is knocked out of my lungs, and I am left gasping on the ground, dazed. Get up, you idiot! I think to myself, blinking away the black spots that are swimming around in my vision. The tail hit me so hard, it feels like several of my ribs are cracked, or at least badly bruised. Luckily, it had not struck me on my wounded side.

  Lifting my head up, I frantically try to locate my hatchet, which I had dropped when I landed. In the low light of the cave, I can't seem to find where it had fallen.

  A noise, like metal grinding on slate, forces me to look forward where the darkhound is prowling toward me, its mouth open and dripping saliva on the ground. I sit up and my elbows, trying to scamper back, but I cannot move fast enough.

  The beast is almost upon me.

  To the side, something glints and catches my eye. My father's hatchet juts out from a dark puddle of water, the handle just out of arm's reach. I grab for it anyway, extending my arm and fingers as far as they will go. It's too far, I realize in horror, looking up to see glistening fangs just a few inches from my face. I can feel hot, foul-smelling breath on my skin.

  Light, this is it!

  I am about to squeeze my eyes shut and accept my fate when Tamara appears behind the darkhound, sword once again in her hands. She raises the blade high and slams it down into the demon's back, driving it down into its spine. The monster howls in pain, twisting to turn and attack Tamara, but she is too quick. She abandons her sword and backs away, leaving it sticking out of the darkhound like a banner made from steel.

  Sucking in a breath, I roll away from the darkhound, finally managing to grab a hold of my hatchet and scampering to my feet.

  The darkhound appears a little unsteady, a stream of black blood now leaking onto the ground, but its claws can still do considerable damage, and now it looks like it is about to attack Tamara.

  Without thinking I run forward, whipping my hatchet down in a powerful overhand chop. I make contact with its shoulder, gouging the skin and fur in a deep gash. It turns, trying to snap at my arm, but the angle is wrong. Its teeth only bite air, and I manage to attack again, bringing my hatchet down atop its skull.

  Bone crunches and gives way to soft brain tissue, killing the demon and causing it collapse spasming to the ground.

  "Good work," Tamara breathes, rushing up and yanking her sword from its corpse.

  A scream from Talon forces us both to look over, where he is lying on the ground with his forearm in the second darkhound's mouth. "Help!" He yells, using his own arm as a shield to keep the demon at bay. Blood oozes from where razor-sharp teeth score his flesh. On the other side, a wounded Carr slashes at the demon's legs with his sword in his left hand, the right hanging limply at his side. The attacks are not very effective.

  Tamara and I spring into action, leaping upon the darkhound and attacking its side ferociously. Our intervention forces it to let go of Talon's arm, and it swings a claw at my chest, missing it by inches.

  Somehow, Tamara is able to slide her blade into the beast's neck, which allows me to bury my hatchet in between its ribs. It shutters, falling to the earth with a gurgle before finally dying, its red eyes growing dim.

  Reaching down, I help Talon to his feet, watching with concern as he cradles his bleeding arm. "I'm alright," he says with a forced smile. "I still have one good hand."

  The four of us look up abruptly at the sound of clapping, and see the gorgon grinning as it puts its hands together in a mockery of applause. "Well done," it says with a sneer. "I must say that I am impressed with your fighting prowess. Your abilities will be well-used fighting for the R'Laar."

  "Your minions are dead, monster," Tamara boldly proclaims, gesturing at the corpse of the darkhound with her bloody sword. "Now it is time for you to join them."

  "Such confidence," the gorgon replies, squatting down atop its stony perch. "Your pride is foolish, little human. You meddle with powers that you scarcely understand."

  Instead of attacking, the gorgon reaches down and touches the stones at its feet, resting its open palm on a bed on green-colored moss growing there. As I watch, however, the moss begins to change, transforming from a vibrant green into a dull grey, the color and life of the plant draining away at the demon's touch. As the moss turns to ash, the gorgon flushes with power, the same infernal green magic that I had seen used at Forest Hill. It races up its arm like green flames, making the monster glow, and it stands up to face us, its eyes like two white-hot coals that have just flared to life.

  "Run!" I yell, shoving Talon out of the way and diving down to the ground. Our group scatters like a family of mice as the gorgon raises its hand and points at us, raw energy culminating at its fingertip.

  Then, in a flash, a bolt of black smoke erupts from the light, like living shadows hurtling through the air. They smash into Warden Carr, enveloping him and forcing him to his knees
, the tendrils of smoke entering his ears, nose and mouth as he lets out a bloodcurdling scream. He writhes, pain twisting his face, but in a matter of seconds he grows perfectly still, almost statue-like in the way he stands there.

  "Gareth?" Tamara says tentatively, peeking out from behind a large rock. "Are you alright?"

  His eyes snap open, revealing a dead gaze that I have come to associate with mind slaves.

  "Stay away from him!" I warn from my place on the ground. "He's a mind slave now! There's no chance of saving him!"

  As I say the words, Carr turns his head towards me, expression blank. He hefts his sword in his good hand and begins moving in my direction at a deliberate pace, his footsteps heavy but sure.

  The gorgon begins cackling with laughter again and I scramble to my feet, backing up to stand with Tamara and Talon.

  "We have to take out the gorgon before he turns us all into mind slaves," I say in a low voice. "It's the only way we are going to get out of here alive."

  "You two go," Tamara says, turning to face her fellow Warden. "I'll take care of Gareth."

  "We'll get him together," Talon says.

  "No," replies Tamara sharply. "This is my fight. Only I can match Gareth's skill. I'll hold him off while you go after the demon. Go, now!"

  Talon and I glance at each other before backing away from the First Warden, turning to face the horned creature laughing at us from atop the mound. It fixes its blazing eyes on us, it's toothy grin widening as we begin tentatively making our way toward it. It's hands are still shimmering with power.

  "It doesn't have a weapon, but it can still use magic," I say to Talon as we climb up the mound. "If you see an opportunity to strike, take it. It can die just like anything else."

  He nods stoically at my words, holding his short sword in a white-knuckled grip with his good hand.

  We crest the mound and come face to face with the gorgon, it's powerful frame towering above us.

  I immediately strike out with my hatchet, forcing it to take a step back to avoid being sliced.

  Behind me, I can hear the clash of steel on steel, and I know that Tamara has engaged Warden Carr in combat.

  Talon strikes at the gorgon right after me, his blade getting close to the demon's torso, but he misses as well, blade going wide.

  The gorgon lifts up a hand at Talon, releasing more of that black smoke that had entranced Carr, but instead of going into his mouth and nose, it curls around his hands, swirling like chains made of vapor.

  "Wait, what's going on," Talon says as he begins to turn towards me. "What's happening?"

  The gorgon begins to laugh again as Talon raises his sword against me, blade slashing the air and forcing me to back up.

  "Owyn! This isn't me, I promise! He's controlling me somehow! You have to stop him!"

  "Hells," I curse under my breath, dodging as Talon releases a flurry of attacks at me, apparently being controlled by the gorgon who is standing atop the mound and watching us with glee. Talon's eyes look horrified, and I can see in his face that he trying to fight whatever magic has bewitched him.

  His fighting appears to be in vain.

  I have to get at the gorgon, I think to myself, jumping out of the way of another attack. It's the only way. If only I can get around Talon...

  Talon swings at me again, relentless, and I find myself on the edge of a rocky outcropping, the pool of water beneath a steep drop behind me. Letting my battle instincts take over, I dodge into the next attack, letting his short sword cut into the underside of my arm painfully. Gritting my teeth, I wrap my arms around him, wrenching him to the side and tossing him off the mound, where he falls with a splash to the water below.

  The way between me and the gorgon is clear.

  The demon's laughter is cut short as I take a step toward it, its eyes narrowing to glowing red slits and its hand raising up in front of it, pointing directly at me. I can see power start to coalesce there, forming into crackling green fire.

  It is going to burn to me to a crisp before I ever even get close to it.

  Changing my plan, I bring my hatchet up and take aim at the demon, winding my arm back to throw. I release just as the green flames leap out at me, hitting me square in the chest and knocking me backward with an intense heat.

  As I fall, I watch as the hatchet flies through the air end over end, burying itself directly into the monster's forehead with a resounding crack!

  The gorgon screams, its howls filling the vast cavern as I crash into the icy pool below, dark water washing over me and extinguishing the flames. For a moment everything goes black, all sight and sounds being swallowed up by the pool as I float beneath its surface, weightless. Then, once I orient myself, I swim up to the surface, breaking free from the water's freezing grasp as I gulp in a breath of air.

  The cave seems quiet now, the only sounds being the lapping of water as I look around, trying to understand what is going on.

  "You're one crazy bastard, you know that?"

  I look up to see a dripping Talon standing on the rocky shore, looking down at me with a wide grin splitting his face.

  "What?" I ask, confused and blinking water out of my eyes.

  "You did it, Owyn! You killed the demon!" He gestures up to the mound, where a dark green form is laying still on the rocks with a hatchet embedded in its head. Only now do I realize that Talon seems to be in charge of his body once again.

  The spell has apparently been broken.

  "Let's get you out of that water," he says, extending his good hand towards me. I swim over to the edge of the pool and take it, allowing him to help me out.

  Dripping wet, I do a quick check to make sure that I am not harmed. The water, apparently, had done a fine job extinguishing the magical flames. I bear no serious burns – only singe marks on my leather armor and cloak, and burnt hair on my arms.

  Letting out a sigh of relief, I walk with Talon to the front of the cave, where Tamara is standing solemnly over the body of Gareth Carr. He has a sword wound in his chest, and his eyes are closed shut, making look surprisingly peaceful despite the blood pooling beneath him.

  "It is finished, then?" Tamara asks, not looking away from the fallen ranger. I am astonished to see a single tear rolling down her cheek.

  "Yes," I reply tiredly. "The demon is dead."

  Tamara is quiet for a long moment, staring at Carr with her sword held limply in her hand. Talon and I stand beside her reverently, not wanting to disturb the silence that has fallen over the cave. Eventually she sighs, tearing her eyes away from the body and turning to look at me. There, I see an emotion that I have never seen on her face before.

  Regret.

  "You tried to tell us what we were up against and none of us would believe you," she says, her eyes red-rimmed and vulnerable. It seems like I am no longer looking at the stoic and powerful First Warden, but at a sorrowful young woman who looks to be on the verge of shedding more tears. "I'm sorry, Owyn Lund. I hope that you can forgive me."

  I soften my gaze and take a knee, which prompts Talon to do the same. "There is nothing to forgive, First Warden," I reply, bowing my head. "It is an honor to serve beside you."

  She nods, letting the cavern fall once again into silence. It seems that for a few heartbeats we are not standing wounded in a dank cave, but in a hallowed hall surrounded by the Light. Then, in an instant her vulnerability is gone, replaced with the cool air of command. "We have tarried too long," she says after clearing her throat. "We must go and aid the others outside."

  I push myself to my feet, helping Talon up as well, then wordlessly go to retrieve my hatchet from the gorgon's skull.

  As a group, the three of us exit the cave, walking up the tunnel and toward the glowing light of the sun outside. The wall of green flames is gone, and we step out into the fresh air only to find that the battle is already over, and that our fellow rangers have been victorious. They all look up, standing over the bodies of the fallen mind slaves, and let out a cheer as one, thrusting the
ir bloodied weapons into the air.

  There seems to be few casualties among our brothers and sisters, and the relief on their faces seems a testament to the worry they felt about whether or not we survived. As we stand there, at the mouth of the cave with the sun streaming from up above, shouts of exultation rising up around us, that the Order of the Rangers has won a great victory. Not against demons or some unknown, existential threat, but against ourselves.

  The dark cloud that has been hanging over us has finally been lifted, the true enemy has been revealed.

  It seems that, finally, the rangers have been brought into the fight.

  Epilogue

  One Week Later

  A chill autumn wind gusts through the City of Mages, rustling my black cloak and sending a slight shiver down my spine. The night sky is full of stars, cloudless, with the lights from the Conclave battling for supremacy with the winking lights of the heavens.

  I pull my cloak more tightly around myself as I walk, not breaking stride and keeping my eyes forward on my destination. The nights are getting colder, the winds more biting with every passing day. Soon, snow will cover the peaks and rainstorms will buffet the Heartlands.

  Still, I think to myself bitterly, the cold of the oncoming winter is nothing compared to the tempest I am sure to face when I confront the prophet.

  The Chosen have not convened since the debacle at the Conclave, causing many within the brotherhood to wonder what the prophet's next moves are going to be. The botched assassination and the escape of the mage girl have laid our plans bare, exposing our existence and our motives for all Tarsynium to see. Most damning of all, though, is that it has made us appear weak.

  It is as large a catastrophe as any the Harbingers have experienced in recent memory.

  Stay strong, I remind myself, turning to go through a shadowed alleyway in between two structures. Do not show any weakness. If the others smell blood in the water, they are going to devour you like a swarm of eels.