A price was paid that day ...
The great expanse of Sunhame glittered below their vantage point - a shining city of gold spreading out to the four corners of the world. It was easy, in that moment, to forget what had brought them here. The Karsite capital was a beautiful sight to behold, for all the centuries of animosity it harbored for those who now stood ready to aid it. From the distant parts of Valdemar’s interior and the capital city of Haven itself, the Valdemaran Guard had mustered - and with them?
With them, the Heralds of Valdemar. Pinions flaring in the high mountain wind, the emblem of the Kingdom of Valdemar - Windrider Unchained - glowed moon-white against the deep blue of the flag. Windrider stood matched, silver embroidery given flesh in the shape of over a hundred snow-white companions and their white-clad heralds. Though the companions themselves lacked Windrider’s wings, their speed was as legendary as their beauty. Even here in Karse.
The call for aid from Valdemar’s ancient enemy - and now-tenuous ally - had come on the back of a prophetic nightmare. A scourge to the South, overrunning the great Dhorisha Plains and setting the magical Vales of the Tayledras afire, had sent envoys and intelligence specialists racing south to warn and assess the danger to the northern Kingdoms. What they found was far worse than any had imagined.
The scourge was hardly mindless - or faceless. Directed by a powerful mage, the great houses of Jkatha had coalesced around his charismatic promise of riches, granting him their armies and the loyalty of their subjects. What they had failed to foresee was the resulting coup and consolidation of power - followed by aggressive subjugation of dissenters. With Jkatha thoroughly his, the mage turned his sights to Ruvan, then Seejay. From there, westward to the great trade city of Kata’shin’a’in and the Dhorisha Plains themselves. The nomadic horsemen of the Plains, those ancient caretakers of the magical artifacts buried there, were powerless before the onslaught.
Seemingly unperturbed by the notion that he was thwarting a Goddess’ chosen people - or perhaps because of it - this mage, this King Zevras, paid particular attention to the people of the Star-Eyed. To the Tayledras, he sent his most malevolent creations - changebeasts and magically altered soldiers to lay siege to their precious Vales and drain their magical Heartstones. To the Shin’a’in of the Plains, he sent more of his beasts, surrounding their city and raiding the Plains themselves. Soon, the reports said, the Plains would be overrun. Evacuations were begun, refugees streaming north.
Amid that chaos, Herald Rycroft and his Companion Danja found themselves joining the main Valdemaran army heading south to Karse. The goal was simple enough; stop the Jkathan advance. The Karsites had a formidable army of their own, along with territorial advantage. The reinforcements from Valdemar, however, would prove to be desperately needed. Within a matter of weeks, the Jkathan forces had the upper hand and the Karsites were in full retreat back towards their capital, taking with them as many of their countrymen as they could before the Blood Magic of the Jkathan Mage King could turn them against each other.
Cresting that rise and seeing Sunhame, however. It was easy to forget their purpose. The morning light was shining just right, the wind was at their backs and the whole terraced countryside appeared as peaceful as similar settlements in Valdemar.
But it wasn’t, and it wouldn’t be.
A moment to catch their breath, then the trumpets sounded again. Assemble, march! The bell-like chime of the companions hooves led the steady drumming of the Guard Cavalry and the thousands of pikemen behind them. Below, to the south of Sunhame, smoke billowed up from the flat farmlands as the Jkathan’s continued to advance. Swords and shields glittered in the morning light as the battle came into view, though the sounds of it were still a ways off.
Rye, the Lord Marshall requests a cloaking spell. Danja’s voice was as calm as always, but she wasn’t fooling her herald. Rycroft could sense her anticipation - and her fear. Such a simple request, except this was an entire army and he was just one mage.
Well, one adept mage, anyway. And the Lord Marshall hadn’t asked for invisibility. He’d asked for cloaking.
Tell him to silence the horns until the final charge, I will bend the light to mask us for as long as the morning sun is in our favor. He replied, shielding his eyes against the sun then turning to assess the Jkathan position. And warn the Karsites.
Assent from his partner, then the steady increase of her ground-eating pace as she picked up on the plan. Around them, the other heralds made their own arrangements according to their respective Gifts. There were at least five other mages, all trained in combat and ready to fight. At least one, a master of weather, sent him a mental nod of agreement as she noticed the structure of the spell taking shape overhead as their army advanced. Lightning fast thoughts exchanged between Rye and the weather mage as clouds started to roll in, and she set about to send them back towards the southern mountain range.
But then… it was time.
The Valdemarans would soon be cresting the last hill shielding them from view of the Jkathans. Raising his arms, Rycroft drew upon the web of life energy around him, pulling it just so and commanding it thus to change the very nature of the air around them - down to the smallest bit of water lingering in the Karsite summer. And then - just as they topped the final rise - he released it; the command flaring to life as a incandescent flash that bathed the battlefield below in blinding white light.
HERALDS! The Lord Marshall’s commanding boom, from both a powerful mindspeaker and giant of a man, nearly broke Rye’s concentration. But the call was for all, and he maintained his hold on the power as the swell of it pooled around the vanguard and spilled forward and down, adding to the first flash and making it last. Light shall not perish from this world while WE defend it! Ride, my friends! RIDE!
Thunder answered - the chiming of companion bells unified in a mighty rush of sinew and lightning given flesh. As if unleashed from a great bow, the heralds charged the line of heavy Jkathan infantry, a powerful swipe of magic beheading a great swath of pikes in the moment before impact.
Holding the light as if he held the sun itself in his hands, Rycroft swung wide, bringing a blistering beam directly on an enemy mage as the black-robed demon summoner began a circle at the rear - igniting the man where he stood. Drawing his sword as the light faded, Rycroft laid into the Jkathan regulars surging forward to meet them, assisted by Danja’s flashing hooves and snapping teeth as she carried him clear of the melee. Spinning and hot-eyed, the pair surveyed the battle for a mere moment, then dove back into the fray. The Valdemaran regulars had caught up, and were systematically routing the Jkathan’s up against the heavy shields and deadly spears of the Karsite Sunguard.
Pulling from the light web of energy around them, Rycroft again drew his power around him like a shroud, looking for his next target. He could feel them; those blood-path traitors. Beneath him, Danja was just as predatory - their minds linked and body as one as they sought out the strongest of the enemy mages.
Snaking through the battlefield, Rye and Danja honed in on their target not long after they caught her scent. The woman was powerful - though it could be argued that she may no longer be truly human. Bathed in the light of her summoning circle, the mage spared only a feral smile for the herald and his companion as she was wrapped in the embrace of her smoky summon.
Rising above the battlefield, the summon revealed itself to be a blue demon of the highest order - it’s price paid in the blood of the summoner as it calmly cradled her in its arms … then devoured her. Eyes wide, Rycroft came back to himself with a snap the moment he felt the summoner’s life-force leave her, swirling and joining with the essence of her summon with all the power of a Final Strike.
Rye… what’re we going to do about that thing? Even Danja sounded apprehensive, though she gave a wild toss of her mane and pawed the ground, drawing the creature’s baleful eye. Slowly, the beast took a step, it’s man-sized clawed foot breaking the circle - and retaining it’s form. Just as slowly as the step, the beast smiled, showing rows of wickedly sharp teeth, stained with blood. It took another, confident step.
Kill it. Rye’s response was short and to the point, his concentration just as precise as he assessed their new enemy. It was as tall as a tree, with thick blue hide and bristling with horns and spikes. Nearby, an enterprising Valdemaran archer fired at the demon’s eyes, but the bolt simply bounced off.
Kill it … quickly. Rycroft amended, sending a furious levinbolt to draw the beast’s attention when it moved to attack the archer. The magical attack was as useless as the arrow, and the beast appeared to be moving slowly for dramatic effect - as if it fancied itself the inevitable winner of this war. Ry couldn’t quite put words to his feeling of deep unease, but in the end he didn’t have to. For all that the beast looked slow. It was on the archer in a flash, snapping the man in half with a guttural snarl of pleasure, before casting it’s eyes once more towards Rycroft.
Magician… it hissed, the heavy mental contact as unavoidable as the fall of night. Rye’s mental shields shuddered beneath the press of it, resisting even as his magical shields swelled to protect him from the sudden physical advance of the beast, it’s great claws impacting either side. You smell like Them, magician. Hatred laced the words, but Rycroft didn’t have time to wonder why; the claws were closing in. Putting out his hands to either side, Rye pushed back, expanding his shields even as the demon began to lash at them with his whiplike, barbed tail.
The demon didn’t waste time with any further words - it was smiling now, those baleful eyes focused on the prize. Shuddering beneath the onslaught, Rycroft reached blindly for more power - realizing with a stab of fear that there was nothing left. Danja was already pouring her heart and soul into helping him maintain the shields; if they didn’t break free … this thing was going to kill them.
Not today it won’t! Danja’s steely conviction buoyed him, even as the first cracks started to appear. Let it fall, we do this the old fashioned way. Together. Grim, perhaps, but the mare’s confidence was as infectious as her humor; and her herald found himself believing her. The cracks deepened, then widened. Malevolence cloaked in a sinister grin seeped in. With it ... a bloodsoaked claw; the summoner's blood dripping down on Rycroft’s face and staining Danja’s snowy mane. On three. The herald breathed, burning his own mage-gift channels to see this demon dead.
Beneath him, Danja breathed with him - the countdown ending in a flurry of hooves as she sprang forward the instant the shields shattered. Claws raced towards them as the wicked tail snaked around and lashed Danja’s hindquarters, causing her to stagger mid-charge. Whipping his sword around, Ry parried the claws and a second slash from the tail - the pain from Danja stinging his eyes. Still, the companion carried them both clear; the demon in hot pursuit. Dozens died in a heartbeat as the demon trampled after them.
Plan? She asked him, her mindvoice laced with pain and grief.
Still killing it. Rycroft answered, leaning to the side to block a Jkathan pike from impaling them both. Dancing on her hooves, Danja slid to avoid a second pike, then did a half rear as the demon raced around them both, trampling Jkathan regulars as it did. The tail whipped in again, but this time Rycroft was ready. A dense gravity spell sank the end of the tail into the ground, where it served to anchor the demon in place - for now. Galloping out of reach, Danja ignored the enraged howls, though she was quick to remind her herald that the beast would likely pull free of it’s own tail to get at them.
Good. Was Ry’s dark response as he built another spell. Mind the soldiers. He asked, closing his eyes to concentrate while Danja nimbly avoided more pikes and swords.
Alarm rose in the mare as she sensed that Rycroft wasn’t just using his own mage-energy now. He was bleeding from several wounds, and the pain of it was making him dizzy. Yet there it was; a spell construct drawn in his own blood. Holding steady beneath him, her bright blue eyes widened as the sigil glowed midair, then rose - expanding, then mirroring itself in two. One ruby red disc hovering above the blue demon while it’s opposite rotated at the beast’s feet. It looked as sinister as it felt, bathing the demon, the herald and Danja herself in crimson light.
Almost there…
The strain was palpable. The demon knew it was in danger, and had renewed it’s attempt to release itself. The sound of ripping flesh set Rycroft’s teeth on edge as the demon finally pulled free, only to impact the boundary of the spell. Pounding against the invisible wall, the blue demon howled it’s rage as blood trickled from Ry and Danja’s nostrils.
Slowly, Ry brought his hands together, the two discs condensing as he did. Bound between them, the demon’s rage intensified. Blue fire flared to life and pressed outward, though only heat from the flames escaped. Gritting his teeth, Ry ignored the scorching heat and incredible pain as the spell took hold of him. Beneath him, Danja stood as still as stone - the Jkathan’s couldn’t stand the heat and had stopped trying to attack them somewhere along the way. In a tiny corner of his mind, Rycroft reminded Danja to stay alert just in case - but he couldn’t be sure she heard him. Not when they were both focusing everything they had in containing the demon.
Danja--
Why he called her, he didn’t know. The demon was contorted in half, balled up between the discs as Ry brought his hands together. The mare couldn’t answer with words, just a pulse of love and a surge of power as she gave him her own essence as well.
Almost th----
The impact hit him the instant it hit her. A crossbow bolt through the heart - not even a moment to say goodbye.
Just … nothing. Nothing, where light had been. Nothing, where his best friend and the other half of his soul had occupied. Only the last, agonal breath of a body that no longer held a soul as the companion collapsed beneath Rycroft. Ahead, the demon howled in glee as the discs froze - then flickered.
The moments stretched out into infinity as Danja’s body fell, crushing Ry’s leg and pinning him to the ground. He didn’t even register the pain, only the gaping absence.
Dani …. Dani? Dani, answer me. “DANI!”
Somehow, he’d held onto the spell. Somehow, the demon hadn’t broken it yet - though not for lack of trying. But it didn’t matter… as time resumed it’s normal speed, the discs shattered into a million pieces as Rycroft screamed.
Nearby, a flash of white. Looking up with grief-maddened eyes, he only knew the woman pulling at him wasn’t an enemy. Barely. What was she doing? He had to stay with Danja. What was she DOING?!
“LEAVE ME ALONE!” Pulled free from Danja’s corpse, he fell back against his companion’s empty saddle, his leg too broken to bear him even if he had the spirit to try and stand. Sliding down, he sank to the ground and buried his face in the bloodstained mane, his hands seeking - and finding - the crossbow bolt buried in her heart. “Dani … Dani, I’ll get it out. Hang on.” No response. Not from the one that mattered. Vaguely he could feel hands on him again, and scorching heat. Looking up, he realized in a too-long moment that the herald helping him was also about to die. She was pulling at his arm and his collar, tears streaming down her face. She was yelling at him, and behind her …
Behind her, the blue demon with an upturned claw - death about to fall.
“NO!” Wrenching himself free, Rycroft pulled the herald behind him, rising as he did with a Gate built from the air itself. Hands outstretched, when the Void sought a terminus, he gave it nothing except the demon - let this be the end of them both.
Dani… I’m coming… wait for me.
Nothing was left for him here.
The portal yawned open behind the demon, magical tendrils of energy reaching forward to wrap the beast as if it were a long lost lover. The impact of the uncontrolled Gate spell drew energy from everywhere around them, draining life from the earth itself as it sought it’s creator. Ry did not resist … merely waited as the tendrils came for him with the touch of lightning. As they wrapped around him, he looked back once - his reddened eyes falling on Danja’s lifeless body one last time…
… and he surrendered himself to the emptiness.