Chapter 819 (2/2)

Aylwind, interposing himself between the amethyst scorpion and the Spearman, had a blank look on his face. His spear was broken; the scorpions impossibly sharp tail had penetrated through it and into Aylwind’s chest cavity.

Ophelia stood frozen, shocked that both had moved so quickly. And that it was immediately clear that the razor sharp needle at the tip of the scorpion’s tail discharged some deadly poison into Aylwind’s body. Within a second, his eyes dimmed and Aylwind slumped to the side.

“Hmph, what a sacrifice. Would he have still acted so bravely if he knew how many sacrifices you have demanded from the spear-users of Tellus, Auto? If he had known what you had done to defeat me the first time?”

The Spearman ignored the scorpion and shattered the wall behind him. “Ophelia, move. We must retreat and regroup. Until we understand the situation…”

The Spearman vanished. Moving as quickly as she could, Ophelia followed. As she dashed out of the house, she spared a glance for Aylwind. Blood dripped down the tail puncturing through his chest and pooling in the center of the floor.

And the last sound she heard was laughing, as the amethyst scorpion watched them both flee.

*****

Randidly clenched his fists even as he tried to keep his voice even. “Please, you need to listen. Something will go wrong-”

“Something will go wrong if we allow you to go.” Versault interrupted with infuriating persistence. But now his dark eyes were fixed on Randidly, watching his every move. Even though Versault wouldn’t want to admit it, Randidly believed that the man could sense the problem as well. If not the shape of it, at least its presence. “Keeping you here is better.”

“If you do so, it will be too late,” Randidly said through gritted teeth. He turned and laid his case at the feet of the Oracle. Her eyes were watery and indecisive. “Please. I swear to you that I will only help Tellus ascend. I want Shal to survive this. But you know something? I was never the one aiming for Drak Wyrd-”

“Let is be, Mr. Ghosthound.” The Oracle said tiredly. Mist flowed in through the broken windows and pooled at her feet. She shrugged. “This path has been chosen; we will stay on it to the end.”

Randidly looked at the Oracle, then turned around and looked at Versault. Both wore grim, fatalistic expressions.

Closing his eyes, Randidly surveyed the crossroads ahead of him. Another choice. To force the issue, or to allow Azriel and her Master to…

To do what? Randidly didn’t even know. It was just a hunch.

But there was a thick river of Aether flowing through him that told him that he was right. Azriel planned on interfering there.

Why do you so desperately seek glory, Azriel? Is your debt to your master really that great…? Randidly asked vainly to the Aether. Of course, it did not answer. There was only the silent flow of energy and meaning between them.

But immediately, Randidly reflected that he had given up much to assist Shal. In some ways, he understood the sentiment, at least. And from what he understood, Azriel’s debt to her Master was much, much deeper than his to Shal.

In a Dungeon that neither of them could handle alone, Randidly and Shal had relied on each other to escape and thrive. They had ultimately become master and apprentice, but that relationship had been based on respect for each’s respective strengths. The memory of that trying time spent together stayed with them.

Azriel had been a young woman from a declining family that would have been sold as a bride to the highest bidder as the Blanche clan struggled to stabilize its collapse. Her Master had stopped that by giving Azriel that tools to seize her own destiny. A spear that could pierce anything became her lifeboat in her storm jostled seas of life. She was, of course, already prodigiously talented. But the family had never given her the opportunity to leverage that advantage.

Her master had given her everything she now had. Well, setting aside the Aether that Randidly himself gave her.

For a second he considered cutting the connection, but that wasn’t what he wanted. No, his choices were what to do here. Acquiesce or struggle…?

Honestly, it was an easy decision; he would fight.

Randidly’s mouth firmed into a line. He wouldn’t willingly pay the price for another’s foolishness. He stepped toward the Oracle with lantern-like emerald eyes, but even as he did so, Versault spoke behind him.

“Wha-..... what?! How could this be…?”

Randidly spun slowly around. From the mounting horror on Versault’s face, it was already too late. It had happened. Something had averted the Ascension.