FINAL REWARD: PART VII
by: Taliaferro Erucolindo
Tal stepped close to his old mentor, not sure whether to salute him, or hug him. Glorelion seemed ill at ease, but that was understandable, thought Tal, given what he had been through. "Glor....Lor...it's so good to see you two again!", said Tal. "Indeed, old friends, 'tis a blessing to see you both alive and well," added Kiren. Thanoslug bowed to Lorfindur and saluted Glorelion. "Pleased ta make yuir aquaintences, tha family speaks well o' ye. 'Tis an honor," said Thanoslug. Glorelion nodded, "I knew I could count on you...my fellow Fier'Dal, and you, friend Dwarf, and that Giliath Lang would not let us down!" "Let's save the reunion for somewhere safe," said Darshan, as he began to make his preparations to cast the spell that would take them to the Druid Ring where Giliath Lang would re-group. Lorfindur held up a hand to stall him. "Wait, my friend! There is something we must do first!"
.......
Telree judged the strength of the growing number of Dark Ones. The diversion had worked precisely as planned, drawing the full attention of Neriak towards them, and away from the rescue team. The only problem was, the diversionary team was wearing down through sheer attrition. As the enemy mounted assault after assault upon their defensive position, the healers were running low on mana, and the defenders were running low on stamina. Blood soaked everthing, mixing the blood of light and dark races indiscriminately. Telree wasn't sure how much longer they could hold out, but until Kiren signalled that Glor and Lor were safely out of Nektulous, he would not....could not....sound the retreat. Telree pulled his last arrow from his quiver, nocked it, and waited for a clear shot at the enemy.
.......
"Did you bring the elements of the ritual? The elements for the Ritual of Light?" asked Glorelion. "Aye, my friend, we have them with us. Why do you require them?", responded Tal. "There is no time to explain, we need them now. Could you hand them to us? The ritual must be performed again!" responded Glorelion. Without hesitation, Tal reached back into his backpack, and produced a cloth covered morningstar, which glowed even through the cloth surrounding it. He reverently handed the still-covered Shining Star of Light to his long-time friend, kinsman, and mentor, then stepped back to look around for any signs of trouble. Likewise, Thanoslug drew forth the Soulfire and handed it to Lorfindur, hilt first. Lorfindur tentatively reached out and took the blade, but did not ignite it. "Good thinking," thought Kiren, "not to give away our position by igniting it," as he reached down to remove the Losse Onde from his finger. As he concentrated on removing the ring from his finger, his eyes strayed over to Glorelion's hand. "That's odd....", thought Kiren, "why does Glorelion have a ring on his....?" Kiren suddenly felt a surge of fear as he looked over at Lorfindur's hand as well. There, on Lorfindur's finger, sat an identical ring. At first Kiren thought it might have been their wedding bands, until he remembered that Glor had left it, along with all other identifying jewelry, behind in case he was captured. Kiren's mind raced....and with it, he realized certain things he had not noticed before. Not once had Glorelion or Lorfindur called Tal or himself by name, despite many, many seasons adventuring together. Kiren thought hard, trying to find an explanation, one that would calm the fear growing inside him. Why would Glor and Lor not call them by name, nor even act as though they recognized their old friends? Why had they not specifically asked about their family members back in Felwithe, or the guild itself, as the two founding members should have? "The guild....", Kiren thought, his heart sinking, "...the note we received....was addressed....to Giliath LANG! When Glorelion left...to seek out his captured wife...the guild was still named Giliath LONDE! The name change happened AFTER he broke contact!" Kiren hesitated, not wanting to believe what he had just reasoned, but as "Glorelion" reached out his hand to Kiren, Kiren saw no glint of recognition in his eyes whatsoever. "Tunare.....may what I am about to do be forgiven if I am wrong...", Kiren prayed, as he drew the Short Sword of Morin from his side, and swung with all his might at a shocked "Glorelion" before him!
"What are you...", was all Tal had time to exclaim as he saw his companion lash out and strike the very hand of his old mentor with his weapon. Shock gave way to momentary confusion, as "Glorelion" recoiled from the strike, his entire form shimmering....fading away....to reveal a fully armored Teir'Dal Warrior! Dar and Thanos were stunned into momentary inaction as well, as the sight of Kiren's attack, followed by the appearance of the imposter, left them completely surprised. The ring which gave the Teir'Dal the illusion of Glorelion's form fell to the ground in pieces, shattered by the magick within Kiren's blade. In a moment that lasted an eternity, the realization of their predicament dawned on the four members of the rescue party. Quicker than they could react, however, "Lorfindur" threw down a handful of bone chips, and summoned forth a skeletal servant. The look of pure evil twisted the normally beautiful face of "Lorfindur" into something truly terrifying. The skeleton went after the nearest threat, which happened to be Kiren. Moving with a speed and strength that the four had never seen, the malignant dead abomination plowed into Kiren, seperating him from the male Teir'Dal. Taliaferro emitted a sound that was a cross between a howl of pain, and a roar of anger, as he brandished his twin Ykesha's and charged at the Teir'Dal that had impersonated his mentor. The Teir'Dal whom had been "Glorelion" tucked the Shining Star of Light into his belt, and drew twin Ykesha's of his own, dropping into a defensive stance to meet Tal's charge. Darshan immediately began his spell that would take himself and his friends to East Karana, but before he was halfway through his incantation, a sizable boulder smashed into his back! Thanoslug glanced in the direction that it came from, and saw another Teir'Dal, an Ogre, and a Troll, come charging at them from directly to the south. Realizing that it was a trap from the beginning, with the Dark Ones' reinforcements coming in from the teleport platform to the south, Thanos concentrated into his guild talisman, "IT'S BLOODY A TRAP....TELREE....GET YUIR TEAM OOT O' HERE!" and swung his axe full force at "Lorfindur".
.......
Telree kept his wits about him, despite the shock at Thanos' words, which rang in the minds of all members of Giliath Lang, through their guild talismans. Amidst all the chatter that ensued, several members of the guild immediately insisted on charging southeast, towards the location of the rescue team. "We MUST go to them! They may be overwhelmed!", insisted Wulli, drawing warcries and support from many of his fellow Warriors. Dalthorn offered, "We can teleport in behind them, using their own teleporter platform!" "Darshan, can you evacuate them?" inquired Tatina through the amulet, drawing no response. "We stand ready here at the Druid Ring in Karana, we are full mana and ready to ressurrect if need be," reported Mummie, from the reserve team. Telree's mind raced. He didn't want to bring the entire army of Neriak with them if they charged over to the rescue team. That would add hundreds more enemies on top of whatever the rescue team was fighting, so charging over was not an option. The teleporter would undoubtably be guarded, as they seemed to have covered that aspect of the ambush well. "Damn!" thought Telree, there wasn't anything they could do except stay and keep the Army of Neriak occupied, lest the enemy charge south in their absence. Telree made up his mind, saying a quick prayer to Tunare for the rescue team, who would be on their own. "BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WE STAY AND PIN THIS ARMY HERE! KEEP THEM OFF OUR BROTHERS AND HAVE FAITH THAT THEY WILL PREVAIL! GILIATH LANG!!!!" cried Telree, brandishing his weapons and charging into the front line. "GILIATH LANG!!!!" cried out each and every member of the diversionary team, as they re-doubled their efforts to occupy the Dark Forces, and buy the rescue team time to get out of their predicament. Several hundred yards through the forest, to the southeast, a similar battle raged between betrayers and the betrayed....