When they approached the Alter at the far
end of the dais they saw the Hag had already arrived, and she had a guest.
“Who is that?” Gwyddon whispered to
Anneleigh.
Anneleigh shrugged. “I have no idea. She must be in league with Regulos if she’s
here plotting with the Hag. That makes
her our enemy.”
“But we didn’t anticipate two.” Gwyddon said anxiety in his voice.
“There are two of us, and two of them. Though, neither of them has the power of the
Vigil on their side. Neither of them is
Ascended. Having two of them makes it a
more even fight.”
Gwyddon looked at Anneleigh. “What?
Do you have something against a nice easy take down?”
Anneleigh smiled at him and walked towards
the pair at the Altar. She was more
reckless around him, she knew – more impulsive.
She liked being the brave one,
the one who had it all under control. It
was the first time since her return that she has felt power in being an
Ascended. Even banishing Kongeegon did
not have the same feeling as marching up to the Hag in the face of her friends
fear.
The pair turned to her as she approached.
“Well well.” The Hag croaked. “Looks like you found a use for my curse,
little girl. No matter. You are too late. The might of Death flows within me!”
“Power has its price.” The stranger said
turning back to the Hag.
Anneleigh studied the woman. She looked oddly familiar. Anneleigh dismissed the feeling. Maybe the Vigil had given her this image
during her absence from Telara. In any
case, Anneleigh was sure she had never met anyone wed to the planes.
The woman spoke again. “Finish these interlopers!” The Hag moved on command, starting towards
Anneleigh. Unsure of what to do next,
Anneleigh held her ground, determined not to show fear.
“Fool!” She spat, “Laria has sent you to
your doom.”
“You’re wrong, Hag.” A soft voice spoke
behind her. She did not speak in anger
or hate. Instead, Laria’s voice was calm
and clear. “Your reign of terror has
come to an end.”
“You worms cannot destroy me! The power of the death plane is within my
grasp.” The Hag retreated to the Altar
to stand beside the stranger. She waved
her hand as if to dismiss the elves. “Now
my children shall feast on your bones.”
On cue, as if summoned, a rift appeared
right on the platform.
“We must close this rift before The Hag can
harness its power!” Laria called, voice
raised against the noise of the flooding death.
“I’ll aid you as long as I can, but the death energy will eventually
draw me in.”
Anneleigh and Gwyddon nodded as vampires
spilled from the rift. Both armed with
their bows, standing next to Laria for support, they took aim and fired at the
undead. Their arrows hit their mark, but
still the vampires came for them, the arrows sticking out from their bodies at
all angles.
“These arrows cannot kill them!” Anneleigh
shouted.
She took her dagger from her belt and began
to slash at one of the nearer vampires.
It was strong. Stronger than any
of the undead she had come across at the Mathosian Mill. Behind her, she could hear the Hag laughing
at her struggles. Anneleigh dodged the
charge of the vampire, but was so focused on the single enemy that she failed
to notice the other standing behind her.
As she dodged the first’s attack the second vampire struck her across
the head with his iron like arm and she was knocked towards the ramparts. Unable to move, she was aware of her consciousness
drifting in and out.
Anneleigh did not know why but they did not
pursue her to the edge of the platform. She
felt relief at being spared until her thoughts flickered for a brief moment to
the possibility they would return for her once the Hag had won.
“Gwyddon!” She thought with alarm, trying
to push herself off the wall. The
exertion immediately caused spots to flash in her eyes and she lay back against
the wall. Unable to move, she watched
with dread as Gwyddon was surrounded by the undead.
“Those vampires are weak to Holy light.” Laria directed. “Bring them close, and it
will burn them!”
It did not take much to move the vampires. Anneleigh
watched as Gwyddon moved towards Laria and the vampires followed. They did not seem as motivated to hurt
him. They had attacked her on the spot,
but they followed Gwyddon without malice.
Gwyddon entered the light beam and as the vampires followed they
crumpled to the ground.
Anneleigh became aware she was not
breathing and took a deep breath. The
vampires were dead. Anneleigh put her
hand on the ramparts to attempt to bring herself to her feet once again, but as
she did so the wolves began to pour out of the rift. Anneleigh slid to the floor once again as
Gwyddon looked to Laria in alarm.
“Your bow will defeat these creatures but
beware. Keep the werewolves from the
moonlight, or their savagery will grow.”
Laria called to Gwyddon.
He stood beside her in the Vigil’s light
and took aim. It was clear to Anneleigh
that he planned to shoot each wolf when it neared the light, a selection
technique she was quite impressed with.
This allowed him to take time to line up his shots. Soon all the wolves were dead and Anneleigh
was once again able to take deeper breaths.
“Enough!
I will finish you myself.” The Hag yelled from the Altar where she stood
to watch.
Gwyddon looked to Laria for assistance, for
some sort of guidance, but Laria shook her head sadly.
“I’m sorry.
I can no longer resist the call of the death plane. From here you are alone, but I have faith you
will save us all.”
Gwyddon looked around. Anneleigh had the sense that he only just now
realised that she was not with him in this fight. He looked at her, wide eyed for only a moment,
allowing his fear to show on his face for just a moment before turning towards
the hag and taking aim.
“You took my home from me.” He yelled at
her. “Gloamwood was never this dark and
terrifying place. You took my friends,
you took my family.” He paused for a
moment as she approached. “The Vigil
will help me cleanse this forest of your wickedness, once and for all.”
And now it was Anneleigh’s turn to watch
from the sidelines and be in awe of the Vigil’s protection, for although the
Hag was a powerful witch, Gwyddon seemed to match her blow for blow. With each of her spells Anneleigh watched as
Gwyddon became a little slower, a little less accurate. She watched him grow weaker, but Gwyddon
circled around the Hag, taking careful aim and delivering arrows until one
finally caught her in the throat.
The Hag fell to the ground and shouted for
assistance as blood poured from her artery.
Anneleigh looked to the altar to see if the stranger would come to her
aid, but she was gone. Anneleigh smiled
to herself as she wondered when during the battle the woman had decided the Hag’s
cause was lost. Gwyddon rushed forward and
Anneleigh struggled to get to her feet as the rift closed and Laria reappeared.
“Thank you.” She said. “I mourn for my sister, but can now start lifting
the dark curse that has stained this forest.
Every root in the Gloam is in your debt.” As she spoke a bright white light surrounded her
and a Messenger of the Vigil came to her side.
Gwyddon, who had never seen a messenger before, immediately took a knee
and stared in awe at the figure.
“That task will no longer be your burden,
gentle Laria.” The messenger said. “Your
descendent, Gwyddon Duskenleaf, has proven he is ready to take on that
mantle. The Vigil honors its debt to
you. Rest now.”
Anneleigh stared at Gwyddon just as
intently as he stared at the Messenger.
“You’re her descendent?” Anneleigh asked in surprise.
“I didn’t know.” Gwyddon said, shaking his
head. “I told you when we met that I was
looking for answers for my family. I
guess you’ve helped me find them after all.”
He smiled at her.
“The Vigil watches after both of you
now. Anneleigh, I would have you travel
onward. Though you have helped
Gloamwood, much of Telara is still in need of your help.” She turned to
Gwyddon. “We have much to discuss, Gwyddon.” Both
elves nodded and Anneleigh was struck by the overwhelming need to hug him.
“You did great. You will make a great Ascended some day. The Vigil has answered my prayer.”
“You prayed I’d become Ascended?” He asked
her.
“I prayed they would look after you if
anything were to happen while we cleansed the woods. They have upheld their end of the bargain.”
“What was your end?” Gwyddon asked her with a smile, but before
she could answer him she found herself transported by the Messenger to the
wardstone of Gloamwood Pines.
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