***
Kelden stared up at the three figures that stood over him. He was fully conscious, though dazed, and he knew who they were. He could hear their words, but he was utterly paralyzed. The blood potion of shielding had blocked most of the spear's poison. He knew this because he was alive. He wasn't sure how deeply the spear had pierced him (though one of his lungs felt sore), but enough poison had seeped into him to cause his paralysis. Unable to use his magic, he couldn't speed up his healing.
"He's still breathing!" Dameon said excitedly. "Look--his chest is moving. Amazing, to have survived that, even with his shielding potion."
Dameon lifted Kelden and they carried him into a cluster of boulders. They didn't know if the assassin had truly left or was planning another attack, but their immediate concern was Kelden's survival.
"We must help him!" Theodus hissed, his bat ears fluttering. "Thayan, what about your Ulden magic?"
Thayan shook his head. "It works on me, not him."
Theodus clutched Kelden's shoulder, then let go a moment later. He shook his head. "I cannot link to him when he's like this. And I cannot help him with healing anyway so there is really nothing I can do."
"We can save him," Dameon said. He stroked his beard. "It is risky, but it can be done. We can take him to the Gald healers."
"That's insane!" said Theodus. "The forest mutants? Those worshipers of Halstarion technology? They would tear us apart. To go to them would be a fate worse than death."
"You're mistaken," said Dameon. "I've had dealings with the Galds. I've traded old world relics with them and placed gifts before their god. They owe me."
"They owe no one," said Theodus. "They're liars and tricksters. They serve only their pagan gods. If they let you live, it was only because you were useful to them. At any time, they could decide to hang your empty skin from the village gate."
"Enough!" said Dameon. His huge shoulders hunched up and his hands clenched into fists. After a moment, he calmed down a bit, but his eyes still looked crazy. "Enough, Dar fiend. The Galds will help us. They have to. Otherwise…"
"I'm not going near them," said Thayan. "Sorry, Dameon. I'll kill any Gald I see. Those wretches made my sister their...their slave." He swallowed hard, turning away. "Anyway, we need to find somewhere to hide. That thing--whatever it was--might still be hunting us, ready to pick us off one by one."
Dameon's face softened. "I understand, but we must save Kelden. You can wait outside the village. I'll go in alone with Kelden."
"Is there no end to your mad plans?" said Theodus. "These are the Galds we speak of. They are warped beyond reason--mutated by some vile Halstarion alchemy. They have no trace of morality or pity."
"I disagree," said Dameon. "I don't believe the theory that the Galds were once human. I think they're a separate race, quite capable of feeling emotion. But we have no time for this debate!"
"But they're thoroughly evil," Theodus went on. "It shocks me that even you would have dealings with such monsters."
Dameon shrugged. "I'm not fond of their ways. But in a time of war, we must sometimes take drastic measures to achieve our goals."
"It is immoral!" said Theodus.
"While we stand and argue," said Dameon, "young Kelden bleeds his life away on the ground. And you know what that means. If he should die…"
Theodus lowered his gaze.
"Okay, do either of you remember there is an assassin nearby?" said Thayan, his eyes wild with fear. "And he seems pretty good at spear throwing. Can we get out of here now before we end up like Kelden?"
"Do you have a better idea?" said Dameon, his gaze never leaving Theodus. "The Galds can heal him. It is our only hope. As of now, the assassin--whoever he may be--undoubtedly believes Kelden is dead. And why shouldn't he? Who could have survived such powerful sorcery? Kelden should, by all standards of logic, be dead. Yet he lives. That has to mean something. We must take this chance!"
Theodus paced about in extreme agitation.
"Think of the consequences, Dar fiend," said Dameon. "Think of what could happen if Kelden dies. Are you willing to accept such a burden?"
"What would happen?" Thayan asked. "I'm tired of being kept in the dark. Why is Kelden so special? And does it have anything to do with that spear-throwing devil? Since we're standing here like fools, you might as well explain."
Dameon revealed Kelden's situation concerning Credesar to Dameon. When the former seer was done, Thayan's mouth hung partially open, and then he laughed nervously. "You expect me to believe this nonsense, Dameon?"
"I believe it's all true," said Dameon. "And I intend to act on that belief. If Kelden dies, Credesar could emerge and lay waste to the land. While I wouldn't mind the seers getting crushed, the terror that demon would inflict might never end. Therefore, we have no choice but to seek aid from the Galds."
"I won't bargain with those mutants," said Thayan. "Someday, I'm going to kill every Gald down to the last one."
Theodus knelt by Kelden, laying a trembling hand on his master's chest. Kelden fought uselessly to speak, seeking to warn Theodus not to listen to Dameon. Kelden's frustration grew with each passing moment.
"I understand your anger, Thayan," said Dameon. "But the seers of Valganleer and the other Legaran towers are our true enemies. The Galds are savage, but the seers decide the fate of this land. We must live to see them destroyed. Then, perhaps, it will be time to deal with the Galds as well."
Thayan's face lit up with gratitude. "You really would destroy the Galds?" he said. "All of them?"
"If it comes to that," said Dameon. "They took my mother, long ago--before I was even a student at Valganleer. And like all slave women, once she got too old for their liking, she was murdered. The Galds are very knowledgeable about killing slowly. The more pain they can cause a victim, the more their gods are pleased. It took her days to die. I've never forgotten that and I never will."
Thayan stared in disbelief. "And yet you still befriended them and traded with them. How could you?"
Dameon stood up tall. "I am a man of conviction, Thayan. Sometimes we have to bargain with evil before we can destroy it. I hated consorting with the Galds. Like you, I can hardly tolerate the thought of them. Every fiber of my being screams for their destruction. But I'm a patient man, Thayan. I'll swallow my hatred and wait like a poisonous viper until the time is right to strike."
Goosebumps stood out on Thayan's flesh. He seemed completely taken in by the former seer. His dark eyes searched Dameon's face.
Don't listen to him! Kelden screamed silently.
Theodus shuddered. "You're beyond redemption, Dameon."
"Call me what you will," said Dameon, refusing to take his eyes off Thayan and acknowledge the annoying, unyielding Dar fiend. "But justice and truth know nothing of such things. And those ideals are what I stand for."
Dameon finally focused on Theodus. "We waste precious moments. What's your answer? You know what must be done!"
Theodus sighed. "It seems I have no choice. We must try to save Kelden at all costs." His voice was heavy with reluctance. "We'll go to the Galds. There, our fate and the fate of this land will be decided."
The Galds! Kelden silently begged them to abandon their plan. It would take days, but his magic would return and he would heal. His paralysis would end at some point. The shielding potion had done its job, and he wasn't mortally wounded. He could feel it. But they couldn't know this, and he couldn't tell them.
They were intent on taking him into the mouth of hell, into a place so vile he dared not allow even a glimpse of it into his mind. He was stunned, suddenly drained of will and faith. He understood why Theodus had agreed to go to the Galds, but he still couldn't believe it was going to happen. That Dameon willingly had dealings with them spoke of the former seer's deep madness. No one but a fool or a desperately insane man would go anywhere near the Galds. Their evil was like no other.
Panicked, Kelden struggled fiercely to speak or even move his lips. But he had no con
trol over his muscles. Even his heartbeat was barely there. Helplessly he was lifted in Theodus' powerful arms, and then he was bouncing along to what would surely be a death so miserable he might better bite off his tongue and bleed his life away while he still had the chance.