Chapter XLI: (Cont. VI)
Vigile stared forward, having brought all his men to a halt around the glowing circle of white magic. West stood just within the magic barrier, smirking and smoking a cigarette. “Come on! You afraid of what might just happen if you step past that fine line between light and shadow?” Thyrus held out his hand to stop West’s taunts. “What is it, Thyrus?”
“Look at Vigile, he’s not even looking at us.” The two stared out at Vigile, whose eyes were now focused past the gates towards Cion Sky. Slowly, the Xul’Nue’s eyes lowered to the ground, his eyes watching several small grains of sand swirling past and disappearing over the dunes. Finally, his eyes rose towards West’s and Thyrus’, glancing past them to Blackheart, where Laura and Eza were continuing to chant, magic beginning to settle on Blackheart’s wounds.
Finally, the Xul’Nue drew his sword and glanced at West, “Shall they cure him?”
West nodded slowly, not quite understanding what was going on.
Vigile nodded slowly, believing West at his word. Finally, the Xul’Nue’s voice materialized again. “How long will it take?”
“Not long,” Thyrus said, beginning to catch on.
Vigile brought is face down level with West’s, “Remember this, Preston. You fail at killing Baen, and I’ll be waiting to have my revenge on you. Do not fail. I will delay him.” Vigile rose on his horse and waved, the dark warriors passing by the small group of heroes and racing into the gates.
West watched them go with a stunned silence, “What just happened?”
“Good triumphed over an unsure soul,” Thyrus said at last, a large smile crossing his face, his eyes still fixed on the dust cloud rolling back from Vigile’s troop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Baen watched as the gates of Cion Sky slowly began to open, the great double doors buckling under the key’s power. He smiled as the door began to glow a pale blue, the carvings of the great battles of the beginning of the creation beginning to shake as the entire building began to give in. “You should never have tried to deceive me,” Baen smirked, “Your powers were wasted and now you cannot hold out long enough to survive against me!” Baen smiled as the doors began to finally peel open, the golden light of Cion Sky pouring out onto the ground and rolling over the sands. He grabbed Adelia’s rather limp hand, “We have done it my dear! Oh…if only you would give into the darkness rather than walk around like a zombie, fighting between the light and the shadow…..it is too late for all else but you….can’t you see?”
“Perhaps she is not as blind as she thinks.” The voice echoed from behind Baen, causing him to whirl around to see a large horde of dark warriors, Vigile in the front, staring at him. Behind Baen, the doors burst open, revealing the hallway leading to the main chamber of Cion Sky.
“What is this Vigile?” Baen glanced around at his warriors.
“Remember Baen, you gave me the power to control them with my mind. But I am mortal….and I see by your promises to her, that I will die with all the rest. Not that it matters, I suppose there are just some things that one cannot be bought to do. And this is one.” Vigile brought his sword up.
“You betray me with my own men?” Baen’s eyes began to flare. Already he had slain two servants and now he would have to fight a whole battalion of the greatest warriors on the face of the planes.
“Yes,” Vigile’s voice materialized. “Ironic, isn’t it?” And with a grand swing, Vigile brought his sword down and the horde surged around Baen.
Baen hurled Adelia aside, her body crashing down into the sands as he leapt high into the sky, rocketting out from the mass of shadowed figures and then slowly descending, his sword and staff now drawn. “Come now! Let us see if the maker or the creation is stronger!”
And with that, Baen crashed down amongst the bodies of the figures, his sword dealing justice left and right, bodies bursting on fire and lighting nearby buildings on fire as Baen continued to arc through the warriors, his scream echoing up as he revelled in the bloodshed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~