say?”
“Was a spitting image of him ; what was left of him.”
One of the Inquisitors offered, “It could have been a changeling or someone under a transmogrification spell.”
Harrison nodded his agreement. “Tell me of the others who were with him. Did you see them?”
“I did. A young woman and a child. The girl looked too young to be the mother, but anything is possible. I can’t really say how old the child was or even if it was a boy or a girl. They had it wrapped head to foot and it kept behind the girl. Could have been a goblin for all I know,” Wilma replied grumpily.
“I see. And they left yesterday?”
“That’s right, first thing in the morning.”
“Thank you.” He turned to one of his men. “Round up the others. We will not be able to use the way stations , and I do not want them to get too much of a lead. Meet me on the road at the west end of town. I will try and find the sorcerer’s most recent gates.”
Ten minutes later, the contingent rode up behind Harrison. “He tore open a portal about two miles northwest of here. Given his previous rate of travel, I expect to catch him in a little over a day if we ride swiftly.”
It was a mixed set of emotions for the party as they rode across the rough land. It was already late in the day and few were eager to continue traveling. However, all of them desired a swift end to this hunt, so they rode dutifully onward well after the sun had set.
Inquisitor Harrison called them to a halt late the following night. They had pushed on, getting only the minimal amount of rest to ensure they were prepared to face two formidable foes. Just two miles from where he was able to scry out their target’s location, he ordered his people to dismount. They would walk from here, using their magic to hide their approach.
Tensions were high as they stalked toward their prey. Inquisitor Harrison and over a dozen others were present when the sorcerer came to the Hall. His power was unlike anything any of them had experienced before. No one knew the full potential of his power or his limits, so surprise with overwhelming force was vital.
The faint glow of small fire cast just enough light to pinpoint the sorcerer and the girl’s location. They camped in a deep gulley perhaps a hundred yards wide. The trio was easily visible from Harrison’s position, perhaps a hundred-fifty feet distant and fifty feet above them. The sorcerer appeared to be conversing with a child while the girl read from a large book near the fire. The Inquisitor had to assume it was the Codex Arcana.
He considered surrounding them but discarded the idea. More movement this close could result in detection and take too much time. He also needed his people near enough to assist each other should their opening strikes fail to kill the sorcerer. They would concentrate their attack on Lord Giles. The girl was little danger by herself, and they could not risk damaging the Codex. They would execute the girl after getting the book. The child would likely be collateral damage.
Harrison gave a silent signal with his hand and all forty wizards unleashed more concentrated arcane power in that moment than in any single engagement in their decades long war with Sumara. Brilliant beams of intense light and power lanced out and lit up the gulley more brightly than the noonday sun. Massive waves of thunder echoed across the land , as the eldritch power exploded the air with intense heat.
Twenty-five Inquisitors struck the sorcerer while the remaining wizards weaved chains of magic to pin the sorcerer in place. Azerick’s wards flared as brightly as the powerful rays striking them as he writhed beneath the onslaught. His body contorted as the intense struggle and pain forced him to shift into Klaraxis’ form. Seeing the terrifying image, the Inquisitors unleashed a second salvo.
“Raijaun, run!” Ellyssa shrieked.
Raijaun rolled away from the attack, the power of it blistering his skin despite his
“Was a spitting image of him ; what was left of him.”
One of the Inquisitors offered, “It could have been a changeling or someone under a transmogrification spell.”
Harrison nodded his agreement. “Tell me of the others who were with him. Did you see them?”
“I did. A young woman and a child. The girl looked too young to be the mother, but anything is possible. I can’t really say how old the child was or even if it was a boy or a girl. They had it wrapped head to foot and it kept behind the girl. Could have been a goblin for all I know,” Wilma replied grumpily.
“I see. And they left yesterday?”
“That’s right, first thing in the morning.”
“Thank you.” He turned to one of his men. “Round up the others. We will not be able to use the way stations , and I do not want them to get too much of a lead. Meet me on the road at the west end of town. I will try and find the sorcerer’s most recent gates.”
Ten minutes later, the contingent rode up behind Harrison. “He tore open a portal about two miles northwest of here. Given his previous rate of travel, I expect to catch him in a little over a day if we ride swiftly.”
It was a mixed set of emotions for the party as they rode across the rough land. It was already late in the day and few were eager to continue traveling. However, all of them desired a swift end to this hunt, so they rode dutifully onward well after the sun had set.
Inquisitor Harrison called them to a halt late the following night. They had pushed on, getting only the minimal amount of rest to ensure they were prepared to face two formidable foes. Just two miles from where he was able to scry out their target’s location, he ordered his people to dismount. They would walk from here, using their magic to hide their approach.
Tensions were high as they stalked toward their prey. Inquisitor Harrison and over a dozen others were present when the sorcerer came to the Hall. His power was unlike anything any of them had experienced before. No one knew the full potential of his power or his limits, so surprise with overwhelming force was vital.
The faint glow of small fire cast just enough light to pinpoint the sorcerer and the girl’s location. They camped in a deep gulley perhaps a hundred yards wide. The trio was easily visible from Harrison’s position, perhaps a hundred-fifty feet distant and fifty feet above them. The sorcerer appeared to be conversing with a child while the girl read from a large book near the fire. The Inquisitor had to assume it was the Codex Arcana.
He considered surrounding them but discarded the idea. More movement this close could result in detection and take too much time. He also needed his people near enough to assist each other should their opening strikes fail to kill the sorcerer. They would concentrate their attack on Lord Giles. The girl was little danger by herself, and they could not risk damaging the Codex. They would execute the girl after getting the book. The child would likely be collateral damage.
Harrison gave a silent signal with his hand and all forty wizards unleashed more concentrated arcane power in that moment than in any single engagement in their decades long war with Sumara. Brilliant beams of intense light and power lanced out and lit up the gulley more brightly than the noonday sun. Massive waves of thunder echoed across the land , as the eldritch power exploded the air with intense heat.
Twenty-five Inquisitors struck the sorcerer while the remaining wizards weaved chains of magic to pin the sorcerer in place. Azerick’s wards flared as brightly as the powerful rays striking them as he writhed beneath the onslaught. His body contorted as the intense struggle and pain forced him to shift into Klaraxis’ form. Seeing the terrifying image, the Inquisitors unleashed a second salvo.
“Raijaun, run!” Ellyssa shrieked.
Raijaun rolled away from the attack, the power of it blistering his skin despite his
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