Call of Descent
Chapter Forty-Two

“Thereit is,” Malik cried over the fierce wind that was blowing. Sentralon Island laystretched out before them as dawn ascended.

“We’llhave to land and send in a scout party, replace out what we’re up against,”Dertrik said. Malik turned and nodded. Their campaign had grown sinceFharlasina. Four Teoko now flew through the air, each carrying the weight ofthree. Orric flew point with Malik, Rimca and Dertrik. Variss, Orric’s mate wasnot far behind him, she carried Ryne, Claire and Ima, who had fought her wayferociously to Mo’an Delar after replaceing out about Reniko’s capture. Shionacarried with her Penumbra – who had joined Ima on her flight to Mo’an Delar andwho was enjoying a most uncomfortable ride dragon back – Skylar, and Garrin,the oldest of Skylar’s sons. Ordenn took up the rear, carrying the rest ofSkylar’s sons with him, Tobias and Xanthus as well as Malik’s brother Callum.Trokar’s message had called them all together and now they went to Sentralon togain back their Wayann, their unifying force. Sixty days. It had takenthem sixty days, and every day Malik prayed that when they reached her, Renikocould be found somewhere inside that shell of ice, Shylaya.

Aslight left the day, they reached the outskirts of Sentralon city. Barred on allsides by mountains, the four Teoko and twelve companions had the perfect cover.Restless after they landed, despite their haggard journey, Rimca and Ryneoffered to do reconnaissance, and as they disappeared down the hillside, thoseremaining set up a cold camp. Malik was thankful that winter, which had touchedthe rest of Vespen, had not settled onto Sentralon as heavily. Though the airwas chill, it felt like home, where it rained more than it snowed. The subduedweather gave the small band a little cheer, since there would be no fire thisnight.

Rimcaand Ryne returned early the next morning. They both looked grave.

“It’sa fortress,” Rimca said. She had nothing else to add.

“Thereis no way we can get in there, not if we had a hundred more men,” Ryne replied.

“Theremust be a way,” Malik said. “I haven’t come all this way to give up now.”

Wewould be better off with an aerial attack, Penumbra said.

“Penumbrais correct,” Orric said. “If the four of us draw away most of the fire, we candrop a small group off in the confines of the castle. It’s our best chance ofgetting in.”

“Andhow do you purpose we get out?” Ima asked. “If all the Teoko are dead, it won’tbe long before we join them.”

“Thisis a suicide mission,” Rimca said.

“Noit’s not. If we replace Reniko, we can end everything. She knows how to end all ofthis without a war,” Malik said.

“Ifwe replace Reniko, I’m afraid that when we go in there, all we are going to replaceis Shylaya,” Dertrik said.

I’msure Malik and Rimca will be able to replace a way to override the programming, Penumbrasaid.

“Itmay not be that easy,” Dertrik said and looking directly at Malik he spokeagain. “Malik, you have to be prepared to do what is necessary. Shylaya hassworn to kill you. Defend yourself against her. If you can’t remind her of whoshe is, you have to kill her. Reniko may be the leader this planet needs, butShylaya will do all she can to destroy it.”

“Howcan you say that? I can’t kill Reniko,” Malik said.

“Ifyou can’t revive her than she is already dead. If she remains alive as Shylaya,Trokar will hold the key to all of Vespen. Not just the people, but theLevanith technology as well. A thousand years ago, the Levanith made sure thatthe Rük would never lay hands on their knowledge, and now Trokar has exactly that.She is his key to that knowledge. We can’t afford to let him keep that. If youcan’t replace Reniko, Shylaya must be killed. Do you understand?” Dertrik said.

Malikhung his head. “I don’t know if I have the strength to do that.”

“Malik,I know you think I’m cold, but it’s not like that. I raised Reniko. She is likea daughter to me. I hate what I have had to give her into and I’ll hate myselfforever if this mission ends in her death, but there are greater things atstake here. Besides, do you think Reniko would want to live as Shylaya for therest of her life? A human’s life would be too long to be trapped like she is,but she is Levanith, she will live for thousands of years trapped within thatshell. Free her, by whatever means necessary. Reniko is not afraid to die,Malik, you know that. There are worse things than death.”

“Iunderstand,” Malik said. He understood, but he still didn’t know if, when thetime came, he could take the life of the one person he loved.

Thatnight, they executed their plan. Malik, Rimca, Dertrik, Ryne, Skylar, andCallum took to the air with Orric and Variss while Penumbra, Ima, and theothers remained behind with Ordenn and Shiona to be the decoy.

Orricand Variss circled above the city hidden in the clouds that hung over the nightsky waiting for the battle to begin. When the bells began to ring, they watchedas half the infantry ran to the borders of the city.

“It’sbegun,” Orric said.

Renikowoke up the instant the first bell had been rung. Rushing from her room,clothed only in her robe, she ran to Trokar’s room and waited at the door. Shewasn’t surprised when it flung open moments after she arrived. Nor was Trokarsurprised to see her there.

“Itcan’t possibly be the resistance,” Reniko said.

“Thisisland is not known to the rest of Vespen,” Trokar said.

“True,in a sense, but when I was with that snake Malik, we found out that there was away of replaceing out the position of this island by visiting the capital of eachcontinent. We had found two of the three pieces we needed before you rescuedme.”

“Fharlasinawas the capital of Raet Serac, it was completely destroyed by those foolparents of yours,” Trokar said.

“Isaw Malik there, Milord, the day I pledged my life to you. In Fharlasina Imean,” Reniko said.

“So,they’ve come to destroy us have they?” Trokar said bemused. “Let them try.”

Orrichad barely touched down in the courtyard of the castle when Rimca, Dertrik andMalik leapt from his back and he was back in the air. Variss resorted to thesame tactic and the two dragons were back in the air before the guards wereeven aware that they had come and gone. The six humans took shelter in theshadows, trying to avoid the sentries that stood watch on the wall. All of themhad their attention riveted on the city below, not a single Rük was concernedabout what already lay inside the castle walls. This allowed the humans to slipunnoticed into the castle interior. Inside, the hallways were brilliant withlight, the shadowy exterior of the castle hiding the radiance of the massivehalls. Malik saw at once that not only had this at one time been the home ofthe Levanith, but that it had housed the Teoko as well. Most of the hallwaysand interior rooms in the castle were cavernous in size. Once inside, theyfound a quiet unused room and Malik pulled out the sphere from Reflaydun andactivated it.

“Weare inside the castle at Sentralon. Do you have a map that can help us outhere?” Malik asked.

“Wedo, but it’s old, before the Rük invasion, I cannot attest to its accuracynow,” the hologram replied.

“It’sbetter than nothing,” Dertrik said. The small holographic image was instantlyreplaced with a startlingly complex 3D image of the Sentralon Castle as it hadbeen a thousand years ago. Dertrik scanned through it, referencing where theyhad landed to where they were now.

“IfI’m correct, we should take this corridor up, I don’t think with all thecommotion that is going on in the city that Reniko will be sleeping, I thinkshe’ll be with Trokar in the audience room, or one of the antechambers aroundthere, somewhere they can monitor what is going on.”

“Youthink they know we are here?” Malik asked.

“Wellif they don’t know yet, they will soon enough,” Dertrik said. “Come on, weshouldn’t stay in one place for very long.”

“He’sright. Time is against us. The quicker we do this, the more chance we have ofactually making it out of here alive,” Rimca said.

“LikeDertrik said, there are worse things than death,” Skylar said.

“Yes,like knowing that you failed miserably before you died,” Callum replied.

“Sucha positive outlook we have acquired,” Ryne said shaking his head, “let’s gobefore we all lose the nerve.”

Outside,Orric was gaining altitude, trying to hit cloud level to use it as a cover tore-join the decoy. Variss was close behind. When Orric was nearly into theclouds he looked back to see how his mate was doing, she smiled at his concern.

“Ifwe die tonight, my love, none of it shall be in vain. We die restoring peaceback to this world,” Variss said. Orric looked back at her, concerned by hersudden comment, and Variss Engaged him. He had never felt Variss enter him sointimately before, she poured every ounce of love she felt for him into theirconnection and vanished like a flickering flame. He watched her wings suddenlystop beating and she began her descent to the ground, no longer defyinggravity. He turned back to her and gave a fierce cry, a cry louder than anyTeoko before him had uttered, a cry of pure raw pain and rage. Variss was dead.

“Bymy hand,” he heard a malicious voice utter from above him. Jekkah. “I’m afraidyour end will not be as swift as hers.”

Orriclooked at his brother, no love was left between them. “How could you? How couldyou betray all of us like this? How could you kill Variss, the only female Ihave ever loved? You have caused me more pain than I thought one being couldcause to me. You will not survive this night, my brother. I will avengeVariss’s death, I swear.”

“Suchsentiment,” Jekkah mocked. Orric was the first one to engage using his rage toenhance his strength. Jekkah was swift and fled before Orric could lay a clawon him.

“It’stime to see brother, who of us truly is the better half,” Jekkah said.

“TonightI will show you, brother, that madness never prevails,” Orric said as he methis brother in battle both in mind and in body.

Dertrikled the way through the maze of corridors. They were deep into the interior ofthe castle when Malik suddenly stopped him, uneasy.

“Thisplace is too deserted. I have a very bad feeling about this, like we’re beingbaited. They know we are here, Dertrik, what are they waiting for?” Malikasked.

“Wellwhat should we do? Isn’t it better to take advantage of their hesitation?”Rimca said.

“We’rebeing led into a trap, I can feel it,” Malik said.

“Trapor no, would you have us turn back?” Dertrik asked.

Maliklooked at his companions. “I’m going on, but I won’t ask any of you to comewith me. It’s a trap, and I won’t have you risk your lives uselessly.”

“Youreally think we are just going to abandon you?” Rimca said.

“Wearen’t just doing this for you, Malik, but for Reniko as well,” Dertrik said.

“You’llneed all the help you can get,” Ryne said.

“Ican’t abandon you now, brother, not when you finally have taken a stand againstfather’s passiveness,” Callum said clasping his brother’s arm.

“Mywhole life has been devoted to protecting Reniko, I’m Shidenen, I’m with you to the end,” Skylar added.

“Wehave better chances of succeeding if we split up,” Malik said, reassured bytheir words, “that way if one group is compromised the other still has a chanceto get to Reniko. Remember, we get Reniko back, or we kill Shylaya. Those areour only goals; don’t worry about the rest of us.” All five of them noddedtheir consent and the two groups spilt apart, Dertrik and Rimca with Malik,while Ryne and Callum went with Skylar.

“They’vesplit up,” Reniko said as she watched the monitor that was suspended on thewall before her.

“Perfect,they’ll be easier to handle this way. With their forces divided they will beweaker,” Orborok said. Reniko looked at him with a sneer. She wished that hewasn’t here. She was hoping to enjoy this moment alone with Trokar, but he andAgger had made their way to Trokar’s audience room where Trokar had welcomedtheir presence.

“Iwouldn’t be too sure,” Reniko said which caught Trokar’s attention, toOrborok’s immediate annoyance, “each one of those people down there can fightas well as any white Rük. That one there,” Reniko said pointing to Dertrik whowas running at Malik’s side, “was my old master. He may look old, but don’tunderestimate him, he is nearly as good as I am.” Reniko finished off with agrin that she directed to Orborok. He snarled in response.

“Don’tbe cocky, Shylaya, I would have killed you had you been anyone else,” Orboroksaid still sore about losing to the Levanith brat.

“Iwould have killed you had Trokar not stopped me. Lucky you are as important tohim as I am,” Reniko whispered in Orborok’s ear as she slid past him to lockarms with Trokar. Orborok seethed inside, trying to hide his anger from Trokar.Ever since he had known this Shylaya he had hated her, she was a witch, withpower, Orborok thought, power over me, and power over Trokar. Shewas dangerous, more so because she knew it. She held the keys to everythingTrokar had been after and she knew it. Orborok looked at Agger, who too lookedas annoyed with Shylaya as he was. They had both suffered by her position. Hisonly reassurance was that Agger had informed him that written in the falsememories that they had given Reniko was subservience to Trokar. She would notdefy him, would not try to undermine him. Agger had made sure of that.Shylaya’s will was strong, so it was their only fail-safe against her.

“Enoughof this,” Trokar said, which cowed Reniko slightly. “Should we end this game?”he asked her.

“Fine,but leave Malik to me. I have an old debt to pay,” Reniko said.

“Itwill be the final test of your loyalty to me, my pet. Kill him and you shalllack nothing,” Trokar said. “Deploy the troops. Leave none of them alive.”

Malikran down another corridor only to replace once again a dead end. “We’re running incircles, Dertrik.”

“Ican’t help it, the hologram did say this was an old map. But I’m sure we haveto be getting close. Come on, let’s try down this way,” Dertrik said pointingto a corridor off to their left. Malik sighed and followed Dertrik down thecorridor. They soon found themselves in front of a pair of very large doors.Grabbing hold of the handle Malik gestured for Rimca to get ready, and when shehad her bow pulled taught, he forced the doors open, only to be met by anothersilent room.

“Thisplace is a tomb,” Rimca said as she released the tension on her bow. Dertrikwas the first to step through the door followed closely by Rimca. Malikfollowed after them unsheathing Imako seconds too late as he felt a bladesuddenly as his throat.

“Yourtomb,” a cold voice said at his ear. Eight Rük surrounded the small band. Atrap indeed, they had fallen right into Trokar’s hands. It all ends here,Malik thought closing his eyes and preparing for the fatal thrust.

“Youcan have the other two,” he heard a familiar voice say, “but he is mine.” Malikopened his eyes and saw the Rük parting to let in Reniko. She had her wingsspread imposingly and was cloaked in a swath of blood red silk. She lookedready to kill.

“Reniko,”Malik whispered unable to get anything else out. Standing before her in theflesh he was terrified by the change in her. “What have they done to you?"

“Whathave they done? Trokar liberated me, from your hands. You, who were keeping mefrom him. You kidnapped me away from my Lord. Kept secrets from me, lied to me,deceived me. You tried to conceal what I was from me, to keep me from what isrightfully mine. Now you will be the last thing that stands between me andeverything that is mine by birth, by right. With your death, I shall stand atthe right hand of Trokar.”

“Reniko,what are you talking about? I didn’t kidnap you, I helped you. I rescued youfrom the Rük. Don’t you remember everything that we have seen? What aboutSavonly and Reflaydun? Don’t you remember what the Rük did to Crosshatch andMountain Side? They hunted us, they tortured me, and you rescued me. Don’t youremember? Don’t you remember anything?”

“Iremember using you to gain information. I remember you leading me to Reflaydun.I remember you kidnapping me from Orborok when I went to report to him,” Renikoreplied.

“Howcan you say that? After everything we have been through. What about Tresca,don’t you remember Tresca?”

“WhereI found you conspiring with Rimca, keeping secrets from me, the both of you,”Reniko said glaring at Rimca who had been silent to this point.

“Weweren’t keeping secrets from you Reniko, we were trying to protect you,” Rimcasaid.

Renikoturned away from Rimca with disgust and stood staring at Dertrik. He lookedcalm despite his situation.

“You,you are the worst traitor of them all. You were the start of the wholedeception. You kept my life from me. You, the Shidenen, the one personwho was sent to Earth to tell me my inheritance, you denied me that knowledge;sent me into this world blind.”

“Amistake,” Dertrik replied, “one that I probably would have repeated had I hadthe knowledge I have today. This was not the inheritance you were to haveReniko. Your parents sent you to Earth to save you, so that one day you couldcome back and rid Vespen of the Rük. You were never to join Trokar, but todefeat him.”

“Myparents sent me to Earth because they were trying to keep me from fulfilling mydestiny. They were keeping me from Trokar.”

“Yes,they were keeping you from Trokar, because Trokar wished to use you. You arenot a person to him, but a possession. Come back to us Reniko, come back to thepeople who love you,” Malik said.

“Youdon’t know love,” Reniko said and drew her sword, “you have something of mine,and I wish to have it back.” Reniko replied coolly pointing the tip of hersword at Imako.

“Ido Reniko, I do know love. I love you, I have since the moment I met you.Please try to remember. Remember our love for each other. I can’t lose you,”Malik said.

“Myname is not Reniko, it is Shylaya,” her words were icy. “Draw your sword.”

TheRük surrounding Malik and Reniko shifted to the sides of the open room pullingRimca and Dertrik with them. Reniko pointed her sword at Malik’s chest. “Drawyour sword.” Malik did not, could not lift Imako to his defense. He looked atReniko. He looked into her eyes. Reniko felt disturb by his unyielding stareand dropped her sword trying to turn her gaze from him but she couldn’t.

“I knowyou are in there somewhere, Reniko, they can’t cover you, not with all themagic in the world. Come back to me,” Malik said.

“Enough!”Reniko screamed. “I will kill you.” She let her sudden confusion pass into herblade and lunged at Malik who still stood before her, defenseless. Malik closedhis eyes, not believing what he saw before him. Reniko would not kill him, shecouldn’t.

“Malikyou must,” Dertrik yelled, and with that broke the spell that Malik had weavedover himself. He thrust Imako up to block just as Reniko came lunging at him.She let out a cry of rage at Malik’s sudden defense and they began their fight.

Orriclanded on the ground roughly. One of his wings was broken and his limbs feltheavy with fatigue, but Jekkah lay by his side, also panting with effort. Bothof them had lost the advantage of the air and now their battle would finish onthe ground. Orric stood facing Jekkah who looked frustrated now. The smallerTeoko was running out of energy, he didn’t have the stamina of his youngerbrother.

“Whywon’t you just die,” Jekkah yelled.

“BecauseI have much to live for,” Orric said and took up the fight once again. Ihave to end this, Orric thought, before Jekkah gets his second wind.

Malikbroke to one side barely avoiding Reniko’s blade as she advanced on him. Herstyle had not changed, regardless of how much she had. She still hated beingthe aggressor despite the anger she was feeling. It set the fight off balance,since Malik would not engage with her unless she did take the offensive, thisannoyed her, and unsettled her just enough that Malik felt that he was actuallymatching her instead of being overwhelmed by her. Their battle was a tightblur, as Malik backed away, Reniko advanced. Malik was trying to get Reniko offof him, trying to gain some room to breathe, so that he could try talking toher again, but she was all over him. She was fast and deft with her blade, andMalik had yet to gain the speed that she held. Finally Reniko and Malik lockedblades and with a shove he forced her off. Reniko spun her blade to her side and laughed. While Malik was watchingthe sabre that she held, Reniko feinted left and spun the other directionlashing out at Malik’s side. Malik parried the blow just in time, both swordscentimeters from his ribs.

“Well,well, looks like you’ve learned a thing or two. I guess it’s time to reallyfight with you. Let’s see how well you do against a Levanith,” Reniko said. Shewasn’t even winded, Malik was breathing heavily. I can’t win this, hethought as Reniko unfurled her wings and suddenly the battle went vertical.Reniko was a blur of motion; it took all of Malik’s concentration to figure outwhere she was going. Fighting her on even playing ground had been hard enough,but now that she had taken to the air around them she was impossible to fight.Malik held on to the thoughts that were battling in his head, his feelings werein conflict. Trying to stay alive, he parried blow after blow, barely survivinga blow only to replace that she was behind him. He wasn’t ready for this, wasn’tprepared to fight her like this. And with a sudden clarity, he knew what he hadto do to get Reniko back. Reniko dropped unexpectedly out of the air in frontof Malik and as Malik went to block, Reniko thrust her wings forward, causing atorrent of wind to wash over Malik. Closing his eyes to the sudden assault, hefelt Imako knocked from his hand. Opening his eyes he watched as the sword spungently in the air and landed deftly into Reniko’s hand, the sword only stoppedits motion when Reniko had thrust it forward into the soft flesh of Malik’sleft shoulder. He gasped as the cold steel bit into his flesh and fell to hisknees.

Renikowithdrew Imako from Malik’s flesh and set up for the finishing blow. Maliklooked up at her sadly, a smile on his face, which caused Reniko to hesitate.

“Youalways were better than me, Lyss,” Malik said and bowed his head to the groundholding his hand over his wound trying to stop the bleeding and waiting for theend. When it never came, he looked back up at Reniko. She was frozen in place. Lyss.That word. That word was so familiar. Where had she heard that word? And sheremembered, her mother talking with her father.

“Ilove you Sev,” Shyla said.

“Nowand always, Lyss. Now and always…”

Lyss.There was more, more to that word. Someone had called her that.

“Nowit’s my turn to thank you, Lyss.”

Willyou be all right, Lyss?

“Can’tsleep, Lyss?”

“Youmust live in a marvellous world, Lyss.”

“Don’tworry, Lyss.”

“Yournormal, Lyss, not mine.”

“Youare Levanith, Lyss.”

“Lyss,I’m sure you’ll be as infectious as ever.”

“Ofcourse not, Lyss.”

“Somethingtroubling you, Lyss?”

“Lyss,what happened?”

Lyss…

Lyss.

Thatname, that word, it was her. She was Lyss. Memories came flooding to thesurface of her mind. Memories of sparring with Malik, of him teasing her withthat name, Orric and Malik using it with such concern. That name spreading froma tease to an intimate thing. A sign of love. A sign of a strong bond. She wasLyss.

“I’mLyss,” Reniko suddenly said and the pain came. Her mind was suddenly engulfedin it. The conflict that suddenly occurred in her mind caused confusion andunending pain, such strong memories all conflicting, but all just as real asthe other. She screamed, the pain was unbearable, and she remembered Trokar,standing over her injecting mercurial fluid into her mind, the pain, thescreams, he had relished them all.

Shewas on the ground when her eyes finally came open. Malik was looking over herwith Rimca and Dertrik at his side. They looked so concerned. Reniko lifted herhead from the ground and looked around the room. The Rük that had been with herwere now dead dispatched by Dertrik and Rimca. Reniko looked back at Malik andfell into his arms hugging him tightly, sobbing.

“Yousaved me. Oh, Malik what have I done?” Reniko said as she felt the sticky bloodthat was covering Malik’s left shoulder.

“I’llbe alright Reniko. I’ll be all right now that you’re back. I thought I lostyou. But I couldn’t lose you. I couldn’t lose you, Lyss.”

“Yousaved me Malik. You saved me from the darkness. You saw inside my soul, youfound me there, sleeping so cold inside. You found me. You brought me back. Ilove you,” Reniko said. She kissed Malik, savouring the moment, trying toforget everything else. The last two months had been so dark. “I’m so sorry,for everything I’ve done. Forgive me.”

“Itwasn’t your fault, Reniko. Trokar programmed you.”

“Thememories they gave me, they were so real.” They appealed to the darknessinside of me that I didn’t even know I had, Reniko thought, but leftunsaid. How could she tell him that? She was terrified to admit it to herself.

“Itdoesn’t matter anymore, Lyss. It’s over. Let’s get out of here.”

Renikotore the silky fabric of her dress and bound Malik’s wound as best she could,then she rose to her feet helping Malik to his.

“Wecan’t leave, not yet. This isn’t finished,” Reniko said.

Dertrikwas talking on a communicator to Skylar. He looked up when Reniko spoke. “Yes,it is. Skylar, Callum and Ryne are already retreating from the castle. We haveto leave now, there are too many Rük to win this fight here and now.” Dertriksaid.

“No,it ends here, now. With Trokar’s death this whole war will end,” Reniko said.

“Whatdo you mean?” Rimca asked.

“Imean that without their leader, they will all be divided amongst themselves.Their whole culture thrives on a hive like structure. Kill the queen bee,destroy the colony. There is only one black Rük to a colony world. If wedestroy Trokar, it ends.”

“Idon’t understand. How will the Rük know that Trokar is gone?” Malik asked.

“Allthe Rük on this world are Trokar’s children or his siblings. They are linked.Trust me, when he falls they will know,” Reniko said.

“Well,I guess we have one last thing to do here,” Dertrik said.

“Ihave one last thing to do here,” Reniko said. “I’m doing this alone.”

“That’sridiculous Reniko. We didn’t come all this way to save you to let you fallright back into Trokar’s hands,” Malik said.

“Ican do this,” Reniko said.

“Notwithout help. We are stronger together, Renny,” Dertrik said. Reniko paused andnodded.

I’m here with you Reniko. I hope youremember the truth. Reniko suddenly heard the thought spokenin her mind. Penumbra. Pen was here.

I remember Pen. I wish I could tell youthat. Shethought sadly wishing her connection with Pen went both ways like it did withOrric.

“Comeon, we have to hurry, they probably already know what is going on,” Reniko saidtaking up Imako and weighing it in her hands. She handed it to Malik withhesitation and he shook his head in protest.

“Imakois yours, I was just holding onto it for you. That blade is best served in yourhands. I’m just clumsy.”

Renikosheathed Imako and handed Malik the blade she had used in the fight againsthim. “Not clumsy. You beat me, didn’t you?” Reniko said smiling warmly atMalik.

Maliksmiled back. “I guess I did.”

Orriclet out a loud cry as Jekkah dug his claws deep into his flesh. He was losingthe battle and they both knew it. Forgive me Variss.

Renikoheard the cry echo in her mind and she stopped in her tracks causing the restof her party to stop as well.

“Renikowhat’s wrong?” Malik asked.

“It’sOrric, he’s dying. Jekkah! Jekkah is killing him,” Reniko said and began toflee in the opposite direction that they had been going.

Dertrikstopped her. “You can’t help him Reniko. You can’t fight a dragon.”

Renikopaused and looked at Dertrik. “I can’t, but I can help. Wait for me,” she saidand she Engaged Orric.

Orriclet me lend you strength. If you can’t defeat him with physical strength alonelet us do it mentally together.

Orricheard the voice in his head, Reniko? You have returned to us. Orric letout another cry as he grappled with Jekkah and lost ground once again. He felta surge of energy course through him and using Reniko’s strength he pressedback the attack.

“How?”Jekkah asked as Orric flung him to the ground lashing out at him withfierceness.

“Iharbour the strength of two,” Orric said, “my friends help me, but who willhelp you Jekkah?”

Thepoison has warped your brain Jekkah. You may not have died physically that day,but who you were before died that day. Trokar took hold of you completely, andin the end all you were to him was a pawn, Reniko spokeinto Jekkah’s mind.

“Lies,all of them lies,” Jekkah said.

“Notlies brother, the truth. Why do you deny who you are?” Orric said.

“Thisis who I am,” Jekkah spat and resumed the fight.

Canhe be saved, Orric, like Malik saved me?

Idon’t think so, Lyss. His mind was damaged severely by the Rük toxin. Mybrother died a long time ago.

I’msorry, Orric, for what you have to do. Renikodisengaged from Orric and Engaged instead with Jekkah, overwhelming him withher power, holding his damaged mind in her own. I forgive you, for all youhave done, for all you have suffered, Reniko said. Jekkah, in the grip ofReniko’s mind, reeled with shock. And with one final attack Orric took hislife, ending the suffering that he had endured and caused.

Renikocame back to herself, tears in her eyes.

“IsOrric going to be alright?” Malik asked.

“He’llbe fine. Jekkah’s dead. He killed Variss,” Reniko said.

Malikhelped her to her feet. “Let’s end this. Trokar has caused enough suffering inthis world.”