Chapter 4. Devilium. Part 1.

 

– I suspect that his successes has to do more with your missing man. Or similar men, – answered Lilith. She examined the bandits: – Do not see anything special among them.

– We should get back and bring back our men. Together we might stand a chance.

– We needed almost an hour to get here. We will need at least half a day to wait till search parties get back and bring them here, maybe longer. Bandits will be long gone by then.

– We will need to hope that they are not, – sighed Arturus.

– Too risky and foolish. Tell me what did your little traitor stole.

– Why? – Arturus got uncomfortable.

– Because I will use magic. I wish to know if my spells can destroy your precious goods, or not.

– Please do not, – Arturus voice got scared: – You will destroy it.

– Explain, – Lilith turned towards Arturus and looked inside his eyes. He shivered beneath her gaze, but nodded.

– See that lump of clothe, – he pointed at what looked like small mountain of ragged clothe: – It’s a magical creature. That is what we were transporting. Any wide range attack spell will kill it.

Lilith nodded and looked downstairs.

– That makes things more complicated. But let us see what we can do here. If my magic does not work, we will need to run. If we get lucky, they follow us back to our camp, where we can fight them alongside our men. Cian get ready to use your sword. Once the time is right use it and kill without hesitation.

Lilith closed her eyes and concentrated. Then she opened her eyes and imagined a spell circle. Filling it, with invisible to others, mana, was second nature to her. Then she released the spell and earth bubbles appeared beneath the bandits. As far as Lilith could see, only four of them were unaffected. That meant that only four of them had Magic resistance skills or some protection artifacts. Lilith’s spell was called Slow and made bandits move much slower.

Lilith concentrated on another spell circle and Lightning flashed from above one of the bandits. His burned corpse fell on the ground, smoke coming out of burned flesh.

The bandits’ panicked cries echoed through the mountain pass, as Lilith’s magic took hold, One by one, bolts of crackling lightning arced down from sky above, striking unsuspecting victims dead where they stood – their charred bodies collapsing in heaps of smoking ash, amidst growing piles of fallen comrades.

– There she is! – cried Hermonius, after noticing Lilith: – Crossbowman, kill that mage.

At his command, several of his men stepped forward from hiding spots amongst rocks. They moved with practiced efficiency – drawing bolts from quivers and loading them into waiting crossbows with deft hands.

The mechanisms clicked ominously as they were cocked back, taut strings straining against pressure, ready to unleash death upon unwary target above. Lilith watched all this unfold through narrowed eyes, calculating odds facing her. Then she smiled coldly, knowing full well that cards are stacked in her favor, even amidst overwhelming numbers arrayed against them now.

She placed her hand on Cian’s shoulder, and next moment they disappeared. Lilith used Teleport spell and appeared behind bandits. She drew her sword and attacked.

Lilith wasted no time – her sword flashed through the air with deadly precision, as she struck down one foe after another. The Slow spell still held firm over most of their enemies’ making them easy targets for her relentless assault. Cian shrugg of his surprise and joined the battle. He moved like a whirlwind beside her, his blade dancing gracefully between attacks, while keeping a wary eye out for any signs that the magic holding back their foes might be weakening. Together they cut through ranks of bandits leaving nothing but bloodied corpses in wake.

The crossbowmen, who had been readying to take aim at Lilith, found themselves suddenly exposed – unable even turn fast enough to face new threat materializing so close within circle of protective formation, once thought secure.

Bolt after bolt flew harmlessly past as Lilith danced nimbly between shots, striking down each crossbowman with ruthless efficiency, before moving onwards to next targets, caught unaware by sudden shift in tides of battle raging all around them now.

– Raaaa, – cried someone and moved towards Lilith.

Hermonius’ roar of rage cut through the chaos, as he charged at Lilith, his sword gleaming in dim light. The bandit leader moved with a speed and grace that belied his large frame – clearly unaffected by the Slow spell, still weighing down upon lesser foes.

Lilith met his charge head-on, her own blade flashing out to parry vicious strike aimed at her heart. Steel rang against steel in sharp discordant note, echoing off rock walls surrounding them now as two combatants clashed amidst swirling melee, raging fiercely between mercenaries and bandits alike.

Their dance continued thus for long moments, neither gaining clear advantage over other even though Hermonius wielded raw strength and ferocity born of desperation, facing foe who had already decimated his ranks.

Cian kept watchful eye on battle unfolding before him, ever ready to intercede should need arise – but knew full well, this was fight that Lilith must face alone, if she hoped to prove herself worthy of a challenge posed by leader, whose very life now hung in balance between them both. Cian faced remaining bandits. Three of them, who were unaffected by Lilith spell, attacked him at the same time.

They moved with a coordinated grace that spoke of long hours spent training together as they surrounded him, weapons at the ready.

Tuatha Dé Danan steeled himself for what was to come – his sword held low before him in guard position, as he waited for one to make the first move. His eyes flicked between each foe, trying to gauge their strengths and weaknesses even though he knew that odds were stacked heavily against him now.