"Fragments - The Broken Bonds" - Chapter 11 - Kimorh's Castle

Nathaniel's heart was racing. He breathed in quick, short gaps. Running was definitely not one of his favorite activities. The yfreen scouts have spotted him some few hours earlier and from then, he spent most of his time dodging claws, hiding in boulders and crags, taking a dip or two in murky swamp water and the like. Smoke powder was almost out. He only had three small pouches left in his bag. Afterwards, he would be totally defenseless.

Suddenly, he felt a darkening. A terrible shriek like that of ripping skies could be heard from overhead. He swung about only to witness a huge pair of wings hover above, headed towards the dark castle which lay there before him. It was a dragon. He stood amazed. Not only was it a dragon. It was the Crystal Dragon, guardian of all dragon magic. "What is it doing here? Nathaniel asked himself, watching it consume the opposing yfreen defenders in dragonfire. The bat folk scattered, retreating into the castle of Kimohr.

"Now is my chance. Nathaniel said, forcing himself into another run. It wasn't too far off now, and the distraction gave him a renewed sense of hope. His path was left unchallenged, while all of Kimohr's lackeys focused their attention on bringing the creature down in vain.

Nathaniel felt a coalescing of power as he reached the base of the castle. The dragon was heaving for a mighty blow. He wasted no time, igniting all three pouches of smoke powder and detonating a weakened fraction of the wall. A small hole resulted, enough for him to squeeze through just before the whole castle trembled at the Crystal Dragon's barrage of dragonfire.

"Lord Kimohr! The Crystal Dragon comes to challenge you! An inofrii vampire reported within the shadowy halls where an ebon throne stood firm amidst the chaos.

"Oh, that old thing...? A chilling voice replied, and a shadow detached from the throne, revealing the ice demon. His cloak shifted about, his motions as deceitful as his mind. The two sharp horns that adorned his bald head gleamed fiercely as he walked forward, out into the open. "Challenge me in my own realm?...What made it so foolish as to do such a thing? Kimohr said calmly. "This battle would have been fairer within neutral grounds¦but here, I shall devour its soul and leave its flesh for my undead creations.

The castle shook once more, this time making the ice demon lose his footing. All of the undead defenders and bat-folk were on the run. Kimohr grit his teeth and bared sharp fangs. He marched out into the balcony to meet the challenger head on. A burst of darkness met the dragonfire, swallowing it into nothingness. "Ice and fire do not make a healthy pair. Kimohr called out. "I shall teach you a lesson you shall carry back to your fallen lord for him to remember in all eternity.

Meanwhile, Nathaniel was already racing through the deserted halls towards the throne room. The Skull Orb was near. He only hoped the Crystal Dragon held out long enough for him to make a clean getaway.

He stopped. Something was moving in coordination with him and it was not his shadow. He moved again, having the stinking feeling of being watched. Shadows shifted from all sides regularly, and he discounted the matter as his own imagination playing tricks again. The throne room was close.

He opened a side door, revealing a large chamber which would be magnificent to behold, if not for the terrible darkness which covered it. Dragonfire from the outside made for a little illumination, and Nathaniel could see a glint of something smooth and round on the right hand armrest of the throne itself. There it was, the Skull Orb. He never dreamt it would be this easy. The Crystal Dragon couldn't have picked a finer time to challenge the archjourdain of ice.

Nathaniel produced a small picking tool from his belt and began to chip around the orb's base. Now, he heard the flutter of familiar bat wings. It seemed that a small regiment of yfreen had the strength of heart to remain in the castle. Usually, they had one Inofrii leading them and it was what worried Nathaniel a lot. These created vampires were smart, fast, and could kill in an instant, not to mention devour his soul. It was hardly appealing. He worked faster to extract the orb. Another tremor shook the halls, and the Skull Orb rolled onto the floor. Nathaniel quickly took it in his hands before he lost it in the darkness.

"Amazing¦ He murmured, peering into its depths, lost in a trance of power. There it was, holding the secrets of spirit magic, its reflections dancing before his eyes in an enchanting lure.

"Yes, amazing indeed. A thrilling voice said in the darkness. Yfreen. About ten to fifteen of them surrounded him. "I am K-thiri, commander of lord Kimohr's yfreen army. The voice introduced, as a half-bat, half-human creature emerged from the shadows. "Who are you and what are you doing here?

Nathaniel snapped back out of the trance, holding the Skull Orb forward defensively. The yfreen cringed in fear. Nothing happened. The leader made a toothy grin, revealing sharp fangs that would soon tear Nathaniel's neck apart. "He does not know how to use it. Take him!

There was a noisy chatter. The bat folk closed in quickly, but warily. Suddenly, a shadow stood beside him in the image of a man. Nathaniel gasped as a figure cloaked in deep gray was revealed. It was an inofrii. The masked face and long, streaming hair marked it as an assassin.

"Lander! K-thiri exclaimed in surprise. "This is our kill. Back off.

The inofrii made no reply, but it stood there, menacing eyes planted on Nathaniel. "You are from the human kingdoms? It asked. The voice was not threatening. It was a plain question.

"Y-Yes. Nathaniel managed to grope out an answer, trying frantically to keep himself from fainting. He clutched the orb tighter, but felt no security in it. He was as good as dead.

"Enough of this! Kill the human! K-thiri ordered the bat folk and they rushed in.
The inofrii's gaze shifted, and in one smooth motion, severed the head of the nearest attacker. The rest of the bat folk paused and hesitated, including the leader. "You betray us, Lander? K-thiri asked in disbelief. Lander was Kimohr's top ranking assassin, trained by the ice demon himself in spiritual arts. None compared with him in skill.

"I have to return. Lander replied, again, without emotion. "Stand down, yfreen, and you will be spared. He said, pointing a blade towards the leader. It was hard to see where he had it concealed in the first place, but inofrii assassins are known for such skills.

"You shall not prevail against the one true master! Even you cannot prevail against all of us at once! K-thiri cursed. "Kill them both! The command rang through the halls, yet the leader himself turned to run as the rest of the bat folk blindly obeyed.
There was a spark of blue light and a ball of if it was hurled towards the attackers. Nathaniel recognized it as pure soul, perhaps a fraction of the inofrii's own. The inofrii could afford such luxuries, being able to possess multiple souls within their being.

The blue light erupted and the yfreen scattered, clearing a path for the two. "Come quickly. Lander said, taking Nathaniel's arm and leading him out of the throne room. "There is a quicker way out of the undead realm.

Of course. Who else knew it better. Nathaniel's mind screamed. An inofrii was helping him. Why? He judged it was best to take advantage of it. He would have been long dead if it were not for the vampire's help anyway.

The path led to a winding staircase going to the topmost tower of Kimohr's castle. Was it a trap? Was the inofrii leading him to a dead end? It was child's play to defend him down in the throne room earlier, since the inofrii held no love for yfreen anyway, not to mention anything else.

He was right. It was a dead end. Lander stopped at the topmost level after Nathaniel lost count of the floors. There was nowhere else to go. "Why have you brought me here? Nathaniel asked. Fear was beginning to sink into him.

"Use the orb. Lander said casually, pointing to the spire on the roof.

"What? Nathaniel replied blankly.

"Are you deaf? Lander hissed, rather irritated. "Use the Orb! Aren't you a mage?

The castle shook again. The battle still raged outside. "We haven't much time. Lander insisted. "Help me¦I have to return to Tiber.

"I¦I don't know what to do¦ Nathaniel held out the Orb. Somehow, he felt a little trust begin to build. The inofrii's eyes were somehow convincing this time, considering it was the only part of Lander's face he could see through the mask.
"All right¦I'll do it. Lander sighed, also letting his guard down. Placing his hand on the Skull Orb, it radiated a slight blue glow, covering them both. "This is a realm of souls, and one can will himself out of it¦with the help of the orb.

A loud shriek could be heard from outside. Nathaniel glanced at an open window just in time to see a dragon's form fall; then disappear in smoke and fire. Kimohr has won. He felt the warmth of the orb close in on his spirit, closing his eyes. He could hear angered shouts from below, and the sound of marching along the staircase headed their way¦and then there was nothing but the call of night birds.

"What¦the¦ Nathaniel opened his eyes to the night skies. "Where are we? He asked, seeing Lander standing right beside him.

"¦On top of Mount Gerion. The inofrii replied. "We are far from safe. Someone is bound to go after us after they have cleaned up the mess.

"I have to return to the gathering at once! He said, clasping the Skull Orb in hand, yet hesitant about getting Lander's permission. "¦do I get to keep the Orb?

"I fear you will see more truth in it than you ever cared to find out. I have no further use for it now. Lander said, turning away. "Fare thee well, I too must journey onwards.

"Thank you Inofrii. Nathaniel said, making a slight bow. "You have my gratitude, friendship and respect.

"I was Lander of Tiber, almost a decade ago. You owe me no gratitude, yet I accept the other two. We shall meet again. Lander replied, taking the form of mist and disappearing into the shadows of the night.

"Lander of¦Wait!... Nathaniel called out, the name finally striking recognition in his mind, but the inofrii assassin had already disappeared. It was time to return home, and Mount Gerion was a long trek down, not to mention a long way from his laboratory in Sparion forest.