They skidded to a halt. The enormous hound filled the tunnel, blocking the way. Its short ears folded back, lips pulling back from its sharp fangs that could easily tear them in two. Elon cursed, and they slowly retreated.
Rawn’s mind raced to calculate how to take it down, but it would be difficult without a weapon. He drew what Essence he could from the dry air and Elon did the same.
The Bloodhound snapped its teeth, reflective eyes glowing in the dark as it stalked toward them. Their only choices were to run toward the clamor of voices or face the Bloodhound. One opponent was better than many.
Rawn clapped his hands together with a call.“Erb’mul.”A petal of flame flickered in his palm.“Eria.”He blew into his hands, and a cyclone of fire hit the hound. The blow launched it back, but it landed with an enraged snarl. A patch of scorched fur was the only damage in its hide. Rawn panted, catching his breath. He hadn’t regained enough strength yet, but he had enough Essence for one more spell.“Orum ed erb’mul!”
A wall of fire flared up between them and the Bloodhound, keeping it at bay.
But now the way to the waterways was blocked.
“We need to find another way out, Elon.”
“Rawn,” he alerted him.
He heard the charge of running boots as guards flooded the tunnel with Grod in the lead.
“I can hold off the Bloodhound,” Rawn said. “But not for long.”
“Then allow me.” Elon’s eyes and hands spiraled with blue light as he faced the elves. His low voice dropped into an eerie hum.“Arreit ratrep’sed. Ahcucseim adamall.”
Runes of the elements flared out within a hexagon beneath his left palm, tangling with symbols and circles. The glowing magic shone brightly within the tunnel. Rawn reared back, shielding his eyes.
Elon aimed at the guards, his words rising in a chant.“Ot’neiv. Az’reuf ed erb’mul, et’neirroc ed auga, ojulf ed otneiv, esab ed arreit.”The pentagram blazed. The pressure of his magic filled the air and pulled at his being. It was the same explosive spell Elon had tried to cast against Lucenna. “Ranib’moc yriuit’sed!”
The spell shot forward with a roaring blast. Grod dove out of the way. The explosion of light tore through the guards, and the tunnel violently shook. Coughing, Rawn stared at what remained of their charred bodies wafting with smoke.
He shuddered.God of Urn…
Scrambling to his feet, the warden punched a lever on the main cell door and bolts shot out of holes in the walls. Rawn tackled Elon, losing hold of his firewall. They crashed together on the hard ground. The freed Bloodhound snarled, prowling forward.
“Get up!” Rawn leaped back to his feet, but Elon staggered.
A bolt had pierced his thigh.
Grod bared his yellowed teeth in a grin as more guards and Bloodhounds filled the tunnels. “Hinderance bolts. Nullifies the magic.”
Elon cursed, ripping it out.
To his reinforcements, the warden shouted, “Seize them!”
The guards drew their weapons and charged.
“I cannot cast any more spells, Norrlen,” Elon said, watching them come.
The Bloodhound slashed at Rawn, claws tearing into his side. He cast another cyclone of fire, throwing it back, but the creature was too large for the spell to do any real damage. “This is the limit of my skill with magic.”
Enemies surrounded them on all fronts. There was no tunnel to escape into and no time to cast a spell strong enough to fight back.
They failed.
“Well, it appears our endeavor ends here,” Elon sighed as they stood back-to-back. “Couldn’t say I expected to die beside a green elf.”
“Perhaps not,” Rawn said, faintly smiling to himself. “But it’s an honor to diebeside a friend.”
He shut his eyes and exhaled slowly. May his family forgive him.
The guards and hounds fell on them.
