And not just these creatures.
Oh, no…
Make this stop, Roan!Elgar commanded as he seized Roan’s mind in a fierce grip.
His power rose up inside of him greater than it ever had. Roan’s nose was bleeding profusely. There was even blood coming out of his tear ducts. Elgar had been none too gentle in his search for the truth of the Necrolyte. He wouldmakeRoan do what he wanted! He would puppet this creature!
But Roan was smiling.
A bloody smile.
And Elgar realized why.
You can’t stop it, can you, Roan?Elgar said.You’re too weak to do it. You’re too weak…
And yet look what I’ve done! Not an Eyros! Not a or the Kaly! And yet, here I am having unleashed the destruction of this place,Roan laughed.Every single dead creature in Forsworn is going to rise. And no one can stop it. Not even the Kaly. Forsworn will be lost again, but this time forever.
PROTECT
“What have youdone?” Weryn hissed at Roan.
He knew it was the Kaly-Eyros Vampire behind it. Elgar controlled Roan’s ability to speak, but Weryn could see the cruel glee shining in those silver eyes even without any words spoken. It wasn’t Shaela as she was just along for the ride. Legion wasn’t a planner. Not like this. They were cunning, but not clever and this–this–was clever as all hell.
“The dead are rising! But how could he do this? He’s under your control, Elgar, isn’t he?” Demos asked.
“The artifact. The Necrolyte,” Elgar explained. “He placed it somewhere and now it is doing this.”
Weryn felt the ground roil beneath his feet. The bones of the dead–prey killed long ago in worthy hunts–were rising up out of the ground, shaking off their blankets of dirt and turning glowing eyes towards them. Dozens of creatures that had taken skill, planning and, in some cases, luck to kill were now awake and aware and, because they were already dead, they couldn’t be killed again. They would have to be destroyed utterly to stop them now. And there were only four of them against… How many?
For he realized in that moment, connected as he was to this city and these lands, that it wasn’t just these creatures on the Hunter’s Path that were being raised from the dead, but every dead creature that had ever walked, run, slunk or flown was coming back.
The ground beneath his feet began to part. He jumped back as skeletal arms emerged and dragged out a long vanquished Vampire. Weryn stomped on the Vampire’s skull as it emerged from the ground and crushed it to powder, but, of course, the headless Vampire kept coming. It needed no brain, no eyes, noheadto keep attacking. He knew this all too well. He had fought Kaly’s creations on countless battlefields. He had never heard of the Necrolyte, but terror reverberated inside of him at what it could do.
“We’ve got to rip it apart!” Demos yelled.
Weryn grunted his agreement. He reached down and wrenched the skeletal Vampire from the earth. Demos grabbed its flailing legs and Weryn kept hold of its bony arms. Then between the two of them, they pulled it apart. Weryn tossed the arms in opposite directions. Demos did the same with the legs. The empty rib cage landed on the ground with a dull thud, unable to act even if it was still animated. But yet another skeleton sought to emerge beneath it. More stomping ensued.
“Do you see that?” Sana cried, pointing down the path as monstrous creatures emerged one by one. “Do you see… How many are there?”
“Too many,” Demos growled. “Ryder, we have to get out of here. Now!”
Weryn could have argued his name wasnotRyder, but he knew what Demos meant. And the voice inside of him cried out to listen to his friend.
Listen to Demos! He’s right! We cannot stay here! We’ll be overwhelmed!Ryder insisted.
This is my city! My home! You would have us abandon it?Weryn scoffed.
If it is between saving a place or saving people, people always win out,Ryder retorted, not at all sorry or ashamed for his suggestion evidently.Demos is my best friend! Sana and Elgar need our help! I would not have them die here after surviving the War! For what? An empty city that I don’t even remember?
I remember!
And what’s it worth? Remember Demos! Remember all those who died because of my desire for revenge!Ryder insisted.They are what matter in the end!
“Can you not make him stop it, Elgar?” Weryn gestured to Roan even as he busted open another skull and wrenched off more limbs that he threw at any creature who started to come near.
“Roan does not have the power to control so many undead,” Elgar answered. “This is beyond him.”
“He did this and can’t stop it?” Sana looked as if Roan had sprouted another head. “He’s going to be killed too! He truly is insane!”
