Vina cursed the gods for her misfortunes. Her mission to retrieve the renegade Friza had gone disastrously awry. The forces Friza had aligned herself with were far more powerful that Vina had originally estimated. They had defeated the giant ingwane she had summoned. The small school of ishaka was just as worthless as they turned on their own wounded, sparing the ship harboring Friza.
Then Vina herself was directly attacked. So complete was her confidence in the sea creatures she had summoned, that Vina didn't even bother to cast any protection enchantments upon herself. She froze in fright like some common igundane as the magical arrow came her way.
The fiery explosion that followed burnt much of Vina's flesh. Her flowing silvery-blue hair had been seared away. Her glossy-black flesh was now hideously burned. The poison that the arrow injected into Vina had nearly destroyed her. Only the changes she had undergone to be come an amzani inkonzo had kept Vina alive.
It would take very powerful magic and many weeks for Vina to fully heal herself. However, that would have to wait, as time was not an ally to Vina. The Empress had only given her one week to return with Friza. There were only a few days left for Vina to successfully complete her mission. Then she could heal, but not before taking her vengeance on those who had nearly slain her.
After recovering from the near fatal poisoning, Vina had used magic to temporarily regain her strength. Another tracking spell was cast and the sea sorceress after the Windsabre once more. Using another spell, Vina became one with the ocean. Her being could then rapidly travel across the ocean and would reach the Windsabre in a matter of minutes.
However, the vessel was no longer out to sea. The trail led Vina into a chain of small islands. There she discovered a natural concealed waterway in which a vessel could pass to reach the interior of a small island. Much to Vina's surprise, the Windsabre was now at port.
Because of the narrow channel, Vina would be unable to direct summoned sea creatures to attack the Windsabre once more. The waterway simply wasn't deep enough and there was insufficient room to maneuver. Those creatures that could make the journey down the channel would be too insignificant to cause the ocean going vessel serious damage.
Vina could simply wait for the Windsabre to sail out of this hidden port. Lay in wait and ambush the vessel once it was in deeper waters. However, the sorceress had no idea just how long it would be until the Windsabre sat sail once more. With the Empress's deadline looming, Vina would have to go on shore, find Friza, and teleport away with her prize. The destruction of the Windsabre and her crew would have to wait until later.
Vina was hesitant to place herself in such a weak position. Obviously, her sorcery was the greatest out on the sea where she could direct summoned creatures and cast spells from a safe distance. Close quarters combat was an area Vina was weak in. Should she get into a fight on land, Vina would be at a severe disadvantage. However, time was not on Vina's side and she would have to take the risk.
Casting invisibility upon herself, Vina sneaked on shore well away from the Windsabre and the humans working to repair the ship. Friza was nowhere to be seen. Once far enough away from the human scum, Vina cast a magical detection spell upon herself. The spell would direct Vina towards any sources of magic here in this lost city. Hopefully one of them would be Friza.
With her anger and frustration growing, Vina moved deeper into the city. Her quest to retrieve Friza was nearly over. This mission had been particularly trying, but the reward of earning the Empress's favor made it all worthwhile. Vina would take great delight in watching Friza's execution. She hoped that the inja would suffer greatly for what she had put Vina through.
Elsewhere, the object of Vina's frustrations moved through the ruins with purpose. Friza's purplish-red cloak swirled about behind the small woman. Her minimal attire included purple knee-high boots and a matching bikini top and bottom fabricated out of what appeared to be metal. Friza's purple eyes glowed with magical energy.
Trailing directly behind Friza was Sargon, the mage of the Avengers. He wore dark robes emblazoned with intricate designs. The pair continued to explore the ruins looking for lost magical treasure. The spell Friza cast upon herself would allow her to actually see arcane energy. Such a thing was characteristically invisible to the naked eye.
Friza came to a stop and took in her surroundings. The spellcasters stood before a large estate at the far edge of the city. The stonewall that surrounded the property had held up rather well over the passing years in comparison to the buildings around it. Portions of the wall had collapsed in a few spots, but otherwise it was mostly intact. A large iron front gate protected the estate. One side of the gate had fallen and laid on the ground, weeds growing wildly around it.
"We have reached our destination, weselisa," Friza announced haughtily. "I am detecting magical energy from this place."
"We should proceed with caution from this point on," Sargon advised. "There could still be active traps."
"I am no ncane," Friza retorted. "I am well aware of the dangers we may face. I've been an accomplished ikonzo longer than you've been alive, weselisa."
"I meant no disrespect, isithunzi philile. I know that you are no ncane. However, it would be a shame for some harm to befall either of us due to carelessness. I'll cast a divination to locate traps and snares."
"A sensible precaution," Friza reluctantly agreed. The Ectolian sorceress began her own spellcasting and upon completion of her enchantment was surrounded by a glowing sphere of energy. "My spell shield should be able to fend off any magicks this ancient spellcaster would command. Now let us claim my prize!"
Without another word, Friza stepped over the fallen iron gate and entered the estate. A wide walkway led across the property to the main house. The areas to either side of the path were chocked with weeds, creepers, and fallen pillars and statuary. The mages could only guess that it might have been a garden in the distant past.
The pair entered the old estate next. The interior of the house had fallen into a state of disrepair. Portions of the ceiling had collapsed over the years allowing sunlight to filter in. Dust and debris littered the ground. The tracks of small vermin were plainly visible across the floor. Sargon led the way, his spell actively seeking any functioning traps.
The magic Friza was detecting led the mismatched duo into the basement of the estate. Worked stone stairs led down into this dark lower level. Sargon summoned a sphere of light to illuminate the way. It was cooler down here in the cellar compared to the tropical heat outside. Even the stones felt cooler to the touch.
The mages explored the lower level of the estate. The corridor the pair was proceeding down split into two separate hallways. Both passageways appeared dark and ominous. Sargon studied both paths, attempting to locate any traps that might ensnare the careless traveler.
"We go this way, weselisa," Friza commanded and stepped into the right hand hallway.
Sargon turned to inspect the direction his companion was heading. It was at that moment his divination revealed something was amiss in that particular hallway. There was a trap just waiting to be activated!
"Friza! No!", Sargon cried out in alarm.
The warning came too late for Friza. The tiny Ectolian stepped forward and immediately knew she was in trouble. She could feel the stone beneath her boot sink deeper into the ground and a clicking sound reverberated in the passageway. A split-second later, the ground underneath Friza gave way and the sorceress was falling!
Friza screamed in surprise and alarm as she felt herself plummeting down into darkness. The sorceress hit the bottom of the pit a moment later. The entire incident had happened so rapidly that Friza was momentarily disorientated. As she gathered her wits about her, a rumbling sound could be plainly heard. The noise was soft at first but rapidly grew in intensity.
"Friza!", Sargon called out. The mage sent his light globe into the cavity after the Ectolian. Sargon followed the light globe to the edge of the pit and looked down. Sprawled at the bottom of the pit, some ten feet down, was Friza. She looked about in alarm as she realized that the walls were closing in on her! They would crush the woman in a matter of moments!
"Help me, weselisa!", Friza screamed in fear. The mystic shield she had erected would protect her against magical attacks, but was woefully inadequate to hold back the crushing walls. "Don't let me die!"
"Give me your hand!" Sargon dropped down and laid on the floor beside the pit. He reached down as far was he could towards the terrified Friza. "Reach for me!"
"I can't!" Friza was frozen in fright at the bottom of the pit. She had yet to even stand up. All she could do was stare wide-eyed at the approaching walls.
"Stand up and reach for my hand, you worthless inja!", Sargon shouted in anger. "Your just a pathetic little ncane when things aren't going your way! A frightened ingundane!"
Friza looked up from the bottom of the pit in shock. "You will pay for that, you umgodi! No one dares speak to me that way! I'll rip your still beating heart out of your chest!"
Intense anger coming over her dark features, Friza scrambled to her feet as the walls drew ever closer. They were just an arm's length away. Friza jumped as high as she could and latched on to Sargon's outstretched hand. While Sargon was not the most powerful of men, he was strong enough to haul Friza out of the pit mere moments before the walls would have closed in upon her. Sargon rolled across the floor, dragging Friza behind him.
The walls collided with a tremendous crash and the ground shook for a moment. Bits of dirt and rock fell from the ceiling, pelting the two prone figures on the floor. Sargon laid there catching his breath with Friza sprawled across him. The Ectolian was nearly hyperventilating from her near brush with death.
"Are you hurt?", Sargon finally asked after a time.
"You worthless, weselisa!", Friza declared angrily. "You deliberately provoked me!"
"I offended your pride and vanity in order to save your life. I meant no true insult."
Friza started to unleash yet another insult but stopped. Her face twisted as if in pain or frustration. She cried out in anguish to anyone who would listen. "By the Empress, why must I suffer such as this? Why couldn't you stupid abantu have let me complete my mission? Because of you I've lost everything! Everything! You should have let die, weselisa! At least I would have been in a better place than being an icala to you abantu! The depths that I've sunk to in order to survive disgust me. There is nothing left for me now. Once the agents of the Empress find me, my life is forfeit. I welcome the end. Death is all I can look forward to."
The frustration from the past few weeks finally came to a head in the small woman. Her body shook with sobs and much to Sargon's surprise tears began to flow from her eyes. The fact that a race as evil and depraved as the Ectolians could shed tears was a shock. No one had considered such a thing possible.
Tenderly, Sargon drew the sobbing woman into his arms and held her tight. "That's it, isithunzi philile. Let all the pain and anguish out." To his surprise, Friza didn't fight against Sargon's grasp. Instead she openly wept against his chest.
"You are no igundane," Sargon whispered to Friza. "Death is the igundane's way out. Life can be hard, life can be a struggle, but life can be so satisfying and rewarding. I won't lie to you, isithunzi philile. There are going to be tough times ahead, but somehow we will get through them. I will be there to help you."
Friza looked up at Sargon in near astonishment. "You would do that for me, weselisa? Your sworn enemy?"
"You're not my enemy anymore. We are both hunted by the forces of the Empress and are marked for death. Seems to me that we're both on the same side these days."
"I don't know what to say," Friza admitted after a pause. "Such a thing is unheard of among my kind. To need others, to show such weakness is unthinkable."
"There is no need to say anything, isithunzi philile. I would not force you to say that which I know you cannot." With that Sargon drew Friza closer to him and kissed her fully on the lips. Friza was momentarily surprised, but didn't resist. She passionately returned Sargon's affection.
"We should continue on with our explorations," Friza finally said after the two parted lips. "Before someone finds us in this humiliating situation." With that, Friza slipped free from Sargon's grasp, stood, and dusted herself off. She wiped the away the tears she had cried with her cloak.
"Agreed." Sargon rose to his feet as well and tried to clean the dirt from his robes.
"If you tell anyone what transpired here today, I will deny it and slit your throat," Friza coldly stated.
"Of course, isithunzi philile," Sargon agreed. He had no doubt that she would fully carry out her threat. This was a very difficult and awkward time for the sorceress. "I would not dare offend you by revealing such weakness."
"That is most considerate, umgani." Friza then cautiously began to move around the pit and further down the hallway.
Behind her, Sargon smiled widely and followed after the sorceress. Umgani. He liked the sound of that. Perhaps they had made progress after all.
Back by the docks, Captain Jess kept watch as her crew carried out their task of repairing the Windsabre. The crimson-clad pirate thanked Lady Luck for being able to locate this hidden port. The facilities and equipment here would be a tremendous help, making an already difficult task a bit easier.
Captain Jess sailed these waters and had visited these particular islands before. In the past the islands had never proven to be of any great interest, other than shelters during tropical storms or a layover for supplies. She had failed to spot the hidden channel during all of those past visits.
Now these islands had become something far more interesting. Captain Jess realized that these concealed ruins would make an ideal base for her operations. With the recent resurgence from the Empire of Darkness, Captain Jess and her ilk would have to move further away to safer waters. This hidden port would be a tremendous asset.
Let the Avengers foolishly take the enemy head on. Captain Jess would be content to prey on their shipping to make a living. Perhaps she could form alliances without pirate captains. Join forces for protection against such a powerful enemy. After fulfilling her obligations with the Avengers, the Windsabre would once more strike fear into the hearts of those who sailed the seas.
While Captain Jess considered her options, the crewmen worked on the Windsabre's hull. Damaged planks were removed and replaced. Holes were patched and the hull made watertight once more. The work was slow and tedious, but was necessary for the ship to complete its journey back to the mainland.
Captain Jess continued to walk along, lost in thought. She had been pacing back and forth across the expanse of the dock. Suddenly she came to a complete stop. On the worn planks before her were wet footprints. The trail led directly back to the edge of the dock and into the water.
The prints continued on down the overgrown road and led deeper into the city. Judging by how wet the tracks were, whoever made these prints made them just recently. Even more ominous, the wet tracks were made far away from the Windsabre crew. She couldn't recall seeing anyone over in this part of the dock before.
Captain Jess drew her saber and quickly surveyed the area looking for an intruder. Nothing escaped her notice, but nothing also seemed to be out of place. These mysterious footprints could be nothing. Captain Jess hadn't lasted this long on the high seas by taking anything for granted however. She quickened her pace back to the Windsabre. Additional guards would have to be posted to be on the safe side.
In another part of the hidden city, the gentle healer Kristine led Robert of the Forests through the ruins. During their explorations, Kristine thought she had heard someone calling out her name. It was as if someone was whispering to her on the wind. Kristine wasn't sure what to make the situation as she led the way down another deserted and dilapidated street.
Robert walked by her side. The archer had his bow at the ready. All he needed was a target to fire at. Robert had not heard the voice that was calling Kristine, but in spite of that fact he did not think that the healer was imagining things. Kristine's senses were able to perceive things seemingly beyond normal comprehension. Perhaps this voice that she was hearing was another example of this ability.
Unsure of herself, Kristine came to a stop. Robert continued to be on guard for any surprise attacks. The pair had reached the middle of a block. Kristine surveyed the surrounding area. Clearly, she was unsure which direction to continue travel in.
The wind whispered her name once more. Kristine spun and found herself facing a small courtyard. On the other side of the square was a small building. Two lines of pillars formed a walkway that led to the building. Many of the pillars had collapsed with the passage of time. Only three out of ten remained upright.
Kristine proceeded forward once more, Robert trailing a short distance behind her. A set of stone steps lead up into the small building. A short distance past the stairs was a large opening into the building itself. It somehow seemed familiar to Kristine.
"This is a temple," Kristine informed Robert. "We walk on holy ground."
"That depends on who this temple is dedicated to," Robert countered. "Not all gods are worthy of respect. Especially those who hear the dark prayers of our enemies."
There was no response from Kristine. Instead, she continued forward curious about whom this temple was dedicated to and why she had been hearing her name. She stepped into the temple and paused to take in her surroundings.
Immediately inside the opening was a spacious chamber. Several exits led off to other areas of the temple. The ceiling was vaulted overhead and quite spacious. What attracted Kristine's attention was a statue in the middle of the chamber standing on a low stone platform. The statue was a life-sized sculpture of a human female. She wore flowing robes and held a staff before her in both hands. Curiously, the woman was bald.
Kristine gasped in shock as she recognized the identity of the statue. She dropped down to one knee and reverently bowed her head. "Holy Azrella, I have answered your call. Direct thy humble servant. What is thy bidding?"
The whispering voice spoke once more to Kristine. It seemed to be coming from the woman's statue, but the statue itself remained inanimate. "I have summoned you to my temple, my child," the voice whispered. "Take the staff from my hands and use it in thy good works. It has been denied from my followers' hands for far too long. It will serve you well in the trials to come, my faithful child. Use my gift wisely."
Kristine remained kneeling for several moments after the voice had stopped speaking. Vaguely, she became aware that Robert was calling her name. As if coming out of a daydream, Kristine realized that her companion was stooped down beside her. His closeness startled her for a moment.
"Kristine?", Robert inquired. "Are you well?"
"Yes, my dear Robert, I am well," Kristine replied with a smile. "I have been given a blessing on this day. A gift from Holy Azrella herself. Words fail in describing how I feel right now."
"Then this is a temple dedicated to Azrella?" Robert had guessed as much. Apart from Azrella, he knew of no goddess that lacked hair. Indeed, all other goddesses were always portrayed with long and flowing tresses. Vanity on their part, Robert guessed, but kept his observations to himself.
"Yes, long ago."
With Robert's help, Kristine rose to her feet once more. Reverently she stepped up to the statue of her goddess. After a pause to recite a silent prayer, Kristine grasped the quarterstaff with both hands. She pulled and the staff easily came free from the statue's grasp.
As the staff changed hands, its form changed as well. The stone that appeared to cover it while held by the statue of Azrella was gone. In Kristine's hands, it was beautifully and intricately engraved wooden staff. Oak in fabrication, Kristine guessed. The staff felt warm in Kristine's hands. She could feel the power of her goddess flowing through the artifact.
"It is beautiful," Robert whispered in awe. "A masterpiece of craftsmanship."
"Indeed it is, my friend. Come. Let us explore the rest of this temple before rejoining the others. Perhaps there will be other gifts to aid us in our quest."
On the other side of the city, Katrina and Hunter had taken a break from their explorations. While passing down a narrow street, the two had found a small stone building still intact. The explorers had ducked inside to get out of the tropical sun. The quality of workmanship was poor. Judging by the number of collapsed buildings, Hunter declared this the poor part of town.
In spite of the rundown building they were in, the location seemed secure and private. It was a good setting for the husband and wife to renew their passions for each other. For the first time in many weeks, they made love to each other with great ardor and tenderness.
Katrina felt completely at ease while the couple relaxed. The long ordeal of bringing Hunter back to her was now over. A peaceful look on her face, Katrina rested her head on Hunter's arm and shoulder. Hunter himself seemed lost in deep thought.
"Are you troubled, my love?" Katrina wondered in concern.
"No, not at all. I have not a care in the world while am I by your side."
"Always the charmer," Katrina said with a light laugh. She leaned over and kissed Hunter on the cheek again. "Then what is it that demands such intense thought?"
"I was thinking of Helena."
Katrina tried to contain her surprise, but didn't completely succeed. "You mean Elena?"
"Elena?"
"Our daughter," Katrina explained. Hunter's memories had been coming back since his ordeal, but he still sometimes got things wrong. For instance, he had referred to Kristine as Chris at first. Helena was close enough to Elena that Katrina didn't give the error any further thought.
"Yes, Elena. I was just wondering how she was doing. I hope that she is all right."
"I think of her often as well," Katrina admitted sadly. "I try to tell myself that we did the right thing, but even after all this time I have my doubts. She is our child, after all."
"We did what we had to," Hunter said in a soothing voice. He gently stroked Katrina's hair, trying to ease her regrets. "We did what was best for Elena to spare her the danger that we face. Maybe we should try to find her once back on the mainland?"
"I would like that," Katrina said hopefully. "Do you think she would even remember us?"
"I don't know. I would like to think that she would know us."
The couple laid together in silence for a time holding and consoling each other. They had made many sacrifices over the years in their battles against the Empress of Darkness. The biggest of these regrets was letting their daughter Elena be raised by others for her protection, no matter how painful it was to let her go.
Those thoughts were forgotten when the couple heard footfalls coming from the street outside. Silently the two rose to their feet and moved to the nearby window. Cautiously, they looked out the window in the direction of the noise they had heard. The overgrown street was empty, but mysteriously what appeared to be wet footprints could be seen!
As the pair watched they could see more wet footprints being formed on the pavement. Someone being protected by invisibility was walking down the street. The tracks continued on past the stone dwelling and disappeared behind a pile of rubble. A few moments later the sound of footfalls faded away.
"Judging by the size of those tracks, we are dealing with someone small in stature," Hunter whispered to Katrina.
"Someone who is also invisible," Katrina added as she made for her discarded clothing and equipment. "Let's follow after our small invisible friend and find out what they are up to. Perhaps they will be able to answer all your questions about this hidden city."
Lyndah yawned and wearily opened her eyes. The swordswoman had been fast asleep and was now struggling to awaken. She was groggy at first, disorientated. What had happened? Where was she?
As she became more coherent, Lyndah began to recall what had transpired. She had been in a pool with Captain Valor enjoying each other's company. That was when the golem had caught them unaware and felled the Captain with a pair of mighty smashes. Lyndah attempted to reach her equipment and that's when her memories of the past ended. Obviously, she had failed to reach her gear and had been subdued like Captain Valor.
Lyndah tried to sit up but found herself unable to perform that simple task. Lifting her head up, Lyndah did her best to look around. The blonde warrior was laying on a stone platform in some chamber she had never seen before. She was still naked. Her captor had secured Lyndah to this platform. Manacles encircled her hands and feet. Chains attached to the manacles pulled her limbs in opposite directions. Lyndah's hands were stretched out above her head. The tension on the chains was noticeable, but did not cause Lyndah any great discomfort. Although the chains could be pulled tighter if desired. Whoever her captor was, he didn't wish to cause undo pain to Lyndah. At least not yet.
Lyndah struggled in the chains, but could not break free. Without her magical girdle, her strength was ordinary. The sound of the metallic chains rattling against each other filled the chamber. Frustrated at her lack of success, Lyndah relaxed once more.
She now took the time to further examine the chamber she found herself in. The room was underground she deduced. There were no windows or openings other than two archways. The ceiling overhead was nearly ten feet high. Two rows of pillars helped support the ceiling.
Lyndah inadvertently gasped when she noticed the golem that had assaulted Captain Valor. The magical construct was silently standing near one of the archways. Perhaps it was on guard duty. But why had it captured her? What purpose did it serve?
Captain Valor himself was lying unconscious on an adjacent stone platform. He was also held fast by chains and manacles. Much like Lyndah, he was unclothed.
"Captain Valor!", Lyndah called out to her comatose companion. "Wake up, Captain! We are prisoners! Wake up!"
"You are my prisoner only for a moment, my pretty one." Lyndah turned in the direction that unexpected voice had come from. A man in blue and gold robes entered the chamber by the entrance near the golem. The magical automaton followed the unknown man as he walked towards Lyndah. The stranger had the look of a mage to him in Lyndah's eyes. He had short black hair with a matching goatee. "I will free you as soon as my magicks are invoked."
"Release me, foul sorcerer!", Lyndah hissed in response. She struggled to free herself once more, but continued to be held fast. "I'll have no part to your black magicks! Free me and my friend I promise my companions will not harm you."
The evil mage approached the helpless Lyndah and stood beside the stone platform. He eyed her naked form hungrily. Lyndah couldn't help but feel uncomfortable from the weight of his gaze. The mage reached out and touched Lyndah's side. She struggled to move away from his touch, but could not. He ran his hand across Lyndah, admiring her curves. "I will have finished my task long before your friends will even realize what is happening. My beloved will be restored and I will depart these forsaken ruins."
The metal golem arrived at the platform and stood beside the mage. For the first time, Lyndah got a good look at the construct. It was the typical size for such a thing. Magically animated creatures such as this were often used by powerful mages for personal protection. However, this particular golem had been forged in the form of a female.
"This is all that remains of my beloved wife," the mystery mage explained to Lyndah. "She was wounded-- dying. Before the reaper could claim her, I transferred her essence into this golem, saving it until such time I could transfer her into a proper human body."
Lyndah gasped in shock. That was what this madman intended to do to her! He planned to use her body to house the spirit of his wife!
"I searched for many years to find the incantation that would release my beloved," the mage continued to explain. "We traveled the breadth of this world in my quest to find such a spell. Explored places of legend and myth during our search. But here, in this desolate and forsaken place I have found the magicks I need! At last I know how to free my beloved! And then Lady Luck did smile upon me twice in a short span of days! A perfect body to house my beloved's spirit comes right to me! Surely this is a sign from the gods that they do smile upon my quest! I have served my penance and will have my beloved back!"
"You're insane!", Lyndah spat back. Still she struggled, but the chains continued to tightly imprison her. "I will fight you to my last breath!"
"There is no battle to be fought here, woman. Victory is mine! Now I shall read the incantation and transfer the spirits! Know this, my pretty: I bear you no malice. I do what I must to restore my wife. Now, let the spell be cast!"
Fear rising inside her, Lyndah turned towards the still unconscious Captain Valor. Perhaps his strength would succeed where hers had failed. "Help me, Captain Valor! Help me before it is too late!" Lyndah cried out at the top of her lungs while the unknown mage prepared to cast his vile spell. The Captain continued to remain unconscious unaware of the fate awaiting his companion.
