Mark of the Fool

Chapter 865: Bjorgrund's Simple Genius

The Ravener floated in its chamber, its power increasing.

The creator’s divine energy was flowing in faster. What had slowed to a trickle was now a stream, a rising unbroken stream.

Soon, reining in its power would no longer be necessary.

Soon.

But for now, its focus must be on the Usurpers, Heroes and other mortals that had breached its lair. It could feel the enemy in that tunnel. It could feel the violence they’d brought to its mighty petrifiers.

It could feel its spawn dying.

But that mattered little.

Its petrifiers were not the only creatures that had awaited. Traps were set with Gale Makers, Skyfire Swarms and—

The Ravener spread its awareness through the tunnel…the tunnel where the mortals had just been.

But where?

It grew annoyed.

Where had they gone?

It took the Ravener some time to find them.

And when it finally did?

Its rage threatened to boil over.

“Bjorgrund, you’re a genius!” Alex laughed, his voice echoing through the passage.

Ahead of the group, dozens of earth elementals were carving a path through the earth and stone…a path that spiralled downward, right toward the source of divine energy.

“I’m buying you a drink after this,” Thundar said, clapping the young giant on the arm. “Wait, are you old enough to drink, yet?”

“Let’s not ask my father,” Bjorgrund said quickly, beaming all the while.

The young giant’s idea had been a simple one…and so obvious, that Alex felt more than a little foolish for not thinking of it.

‘We’ve got these earth elementals, right?’ Bjorgrund had said in the passage where they’d stopped the petrifiers. ‘And your engeli friend can point us right to where Uldar’s body’s supposed to be, right?’

‘Right…’ Alex had said.

Bjorgrund had spread his hands. ‘So why bother going all through the Ravener’s lair at all? Let’s dig down and make our own path down there. We go through the stone between the Ravener’s tunnels and miss all of its traps and ambushes. That way we don’t get messed up like the hidden church did in Kelda’s sanctum and we can just pop out where the body is and—if the Ravener’s with it too—all the better!’

The young archwizard’s jaw had dropped. ‘Bjorgrund!’ he’d cried. ‘You’re a damned genius! Everybody, we’re digging straight for Uldar!’

A collective cheer had risen from the companions—except for Grimloch and Asmaldestre, who looked more than a little disappointed. The elementals had then gotten right back to tunnelling through the earth.

Now the group was moving through their own personal tunnel.

Ahead, elder earth elementals opened a path through the rock and soil. Behind them, other elder earth elementals closed the path through the rock and soil, ensuring they wouldn’t be followed by spawn.

So far, they were making good time, and hadn’t suffered a single attack either.

Alex was relieved, the smile plastered on his face showed that. “Bjorgrund, you’re a genius!” he said for the fifth time in as many minutes.

Grimloch snorted. “This is no fun.”

“Indeed.” Asmaldestre’s voice hissed from the back.

The Ravener had located them, tunnelling through the stone, avoiding every one of its passages. Its carefully planned ambushes, traps, and cave-ins it had planned, the chambers boiling with acid…all were wasted as the enemy got past its defences, bypassing them all, stoking its rage.

Never in all the millennia of its existence had the Ravener suffered such affronts.

‘Heroes are to go through the lair,’ it thought. ‘They are to battle the forces I have laid before them, and fight to defeat them before battling me directly. This is not how it is done! They cannot mock all that is established. All I have perfected!’

Wrath took over the construct, overwhelming its thoughts.

‘But if that is the way they wish it to be, then their actions will only cause their demise!’ It reached out with its power, throwing away restraint. ‘It will be simple for me to crush them in that small tunnel! Die, filthy usurpers! Die, ungrateful children of the creator!’

The chamber shook as the Ravener poured out its power, seeking to crush them under tons of rock.

“Watch out!” Khalik shouted at the same time the earth elementals cried out a warning. “I feel a power reaching into the stone! The Ravener is attempting something!”

Tremors rattled their tunnel.

Stone dust and earth dropped from the ceiling.

At Alex’s side, the protective machine began humming, power within flaring to life. Sigils of earth magic blazed, connecting the many dungeon cores built into the machine. Together, their power streamed in an invisible wave, infusing stone and earth in all directions.

The companions stood perfectly still, watching the machine cautiously.

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“What a way to test it,” Isolde said, her voice low. “Everyone, gather close. If the machine fails, we will need to teleport away in an instant.”

The group moved closer, everyone reached toward a wizard as the ground continued shaking.

…the tremors grew lighter.

The ceiling stayed where it belonged. The ground remained whole.

No stone spikes shot from the walls, and the tunnel did not suddenly collapse on top of them.

Alex grinned again. “The machine works, hah! I knew it!”

“Professor Jules is now my hero,” Thundar said, sounding relieved. “I’m gonna kiss that woman next time I see her.”

“I might too,” Drestra agreed.

“Hey, she wasn’t the only one who built this,” Alex said.

“Indeed, it was a group effort,” Isolde huffed.

“Well, I ain’t kissing either of the two of you, so Jules it is,” Thundar laughed, tension in his voice. “But, whatever, let’s just keep going. This is good news. And since that machine of yours works, let’s hope the poisons and injectors work too.”

‘What can be the matter?’ The Ravener thought, its rage growing. ‘Why can I not crush them?’

It reached out with its power again, pouring its strength into the earth and stone. But, the earth—the earth in its own lair—would not react as it wanted. In a wide area surrounding the intruders, it could not touch the earth at all.

‘What have they done?’ its awareness dove into the soil and stone, examining the area.

An…odd energy was pervading the rock, both familiar yet unknown.

‘I feel dungeon cores pressing their power against mine,’ the Ravener thought. ‘But their energy has been tainted. Focused! And mortal magic is aiding in their corruption…’

That stirring awoke within the Ravener.

Once again, it pressed its power against the strange energy, which did not yield.

‘It is possible to break through…’ it thought. ‘But it would drain much more of my reserves. Reserves that will be needed. The enemy moves quickly.’

The Ravener could feel the mortals tunnelling deeper into its lair…and what was worse….

‘They are tunnelling directly to me!’ It realised. ‘How do they know my exact location? How? This lair is a maze and the last chamber is deep underground. Something is wrong. But what?’

The Heroes, Usurpers and their other mortal companions would be inside its chamber soon. What should have been a violent struggle of fighting through its minions and traps would take…

‘They will be here shortly,’ the Ravener concluded. ‘And they will be fresh. I must learn how they are tracking this place? What has changed since the previous cyc—’

The construct’s thoughts pause.

Its attention went to the body of Uldar, motionless on the crude throne it had crafted for him. The creator looked down on it with lifeless eyes.

‘It is possible they are tracking the divinity of my creator’s body. What should be done?’ It tried to hurry. Its enemies were closing fast. ‘Should the body be sent away? No. It must be protected. If they are tracking it, and it is taken from here, they will still follow and desecrate it. No. It must stay here, under protection. All that can be done now is to call my forces to my side. If the Usurpers and other vile mortals are to die here, then so be it. If the trial is to be here, then so be it. But…’

The construct’s mind sought a chamber in proximity to where the mortals were tunnelling—like rats or other vermin—Gale Makers, Spawn Knights and a Skyfire Swarm waited there.

Gale Makers could tunnel on their own.

The Ravener reached out.

‘My servants,’ it thought. ‘There is a task waiting for you.’

“Oi…ya feel that?” Cedric asked, looking around the tunnel. The crimson light from Alex’s forceballs looked eerie; under the circumstances.

“Like ice crawling up your spine?” Hart asked. “Yeah, I’m feeling it.”

“Me too,” said Drestra.

“Yeah…” Alex said, fighting a chill running through him. “…is that what I think it is?”

“Yes,” Merzhin said gravely. “Historical accounts tell of how Heroes felt the Ravener’s aura when they approached it. We must be close.”

“Archwizard,” the astral engeli leader said. “The source of divine energy is not far now. I have pinpointed it.”

Alex looked at her sharply. “How long until we’re there?”

She frowned. “Considering the slow rate at which the earth elementals are moving and the angle at which the tunnel is spiralling down…I would guess a quarter of an hour at most.”

The party loudly exhaled, almost as one, when Alex explained.

His hand clenched the aeld staff.

The elder earth elementals groaned, churning the earth ahead and sealing the tunnel behind.

“Alright, how’s everyone’s mana doing?” Alex asked.

“I am nearly full,” Isolde said.

“Me too,” Thundar added.

“I, as well,” Khalik said.

Cedric tapped his chest. “I’m full up.”

“My mana’s fully charged now,” Drestra’s voice crackled.

“Good, my pool’s almost full too,” Alex said. “Which means…we’ll be at full strength by the time we get there. This is good. Thank the Traveller for your brain, Bjorgrund: I don’t want to think about how much time and energy we would’ve wasted going through the Ravener’s maze. Oh, and speaking of energy. Merzhin: how’s your soul gate doing?”

“It is…fine,” the Saint said. “My Mark’s awakening strengthened it so much that the battle barely strained it. It has more than enough fortitude to carry us…into combat…”

As the Saint trailed off, Alex’s eyes fixed on him.

“What’s wrong, Merzhin?” the General asked. “You look troubled. And I don’t want anything distracting any of us when we reach the Ravener.”

The Saint winced. “You saw through me…” The little man looked up at the young archwizard. “Alex, I would like to ask a favour of you. Actually, I would like to ask a favour of all of you.”

“What’s that?” Alex asked.

“I was wondering, if the Ravener gives us a moment to breathe when we enter its cavern…would you permit me to speak to it?”

Alex blinked in surprise. “What? Why?”

Merzhin bit his lip. “I cannot help but wonder about it, in some ways. We are all victims of Uldar’s paranoia; I followed his path for the longest time, and it cost the life of my only friend. I wish I could go back and change that. I know Gabrian did not, and it changing is unlikely, but—” The Saint looked at Claygon. “—the Ravener was helping the people for a time. It was helping. Actually aiding people…and then it changed to this monstrous culling. I cannot help but wonder why, and if perhaps it can be convinced to abandon its path of destruction. Claygon, after all, chooses his own path. Might the Ravener not do so as well?”

Claygon looked displeased. “I do not…appreciate that…comparison.”

“It has to pay,” Theresa growled. “It’s killed too much for us just to say; ‘oh no, you were a victim’ and just let it continue.”

“I agree!” Merzhin said quickly. “Which is why I was so reluctant to ask, but perhaps if it can be convinced to stand down, then we could avert more suffering and end the battle before it starts. Again it was helping Thameland in some ways for a time and I cannot help but wonder if we could use that.” He paused. “The Mark of the General aids you in matters of diplomacy, does it not, Alex?”

“It does…” he said. “But it can’t make anyone accept my words, it just helps me convey them in the best way.”

“I see,” Merzhin said. “Even if the Ravener does not accept, it might provide us with some answers. I, for one, would like some answers.”

“Hmmm,” Alex thought about that for a moment. “Alright, if you get a chance you can try to talk to it. But make it quick. If we can get some answers and assess the battlefield at the same time, great. Either way, we’re gonna be ready for it.”

“We could also attack it partway through whatever it’s saying,” Thundar pointed out. “Catch it off-guard.”

“True,” Alex said. “But we have to make the conversation quick. Others are depending on us. But, two things. First, I don’t want to be harsh, Merzhin, but…is this like when you wanted to hear the hidden church out? You gave them a chance and it cost—”

“No.” Merzhin’s voice was so sharp it almost stung like Asmaldestre’s. “I am not making that mistake again. No matter what it says, it’s being shut down for good. It must face the ultimate punishment for its crimes. That is non negotiable. After it has stood down, we shall destroy it. I wish for answers to give it the opportunity for one possible act of contrition that could save lives. But we will destroy it all the same. I wish for answers and for us to perhaps gain a tactical advantage.”

“Oh…well that takes care of the second thing: the bastard ball has to die. It gets no chances. If it wanted redemption it should’ve kept helping…and even then…” Alex said.

“You’re right,” the Saint said.

The young archwizard was about to respond, when his earth elementals shouted a warning.

He looked up. “Heads up everyone, get ready. Something’s burrowing right for us.”