Jeni shook her. aTell me, what is happening!a ***

Odif/Eric staggered towards the vlak by the rock pile. aNo more, please, stop,a she whined. Seeing something sprawled on the ground, he did stop. It was Tayan.

aTayanas on the ground, his legs, his guts, theyare crushed,a she gasped. aThat thing did this.a Her voice became harder and deeper. aThat thing did this!a Odif stopped shaking and crying. Her mouth curled back into a snarl, her eyes became hard, touched with madness. Deep in her chest, a whining growl started. Low at first, it increased in volume with every breath until she was screaming at the top of her lungs.

Jeni was afraid to touch her as she twitched and screamed. Seeing the look on her face, Chez had retreated a safe distance away. It looked like she was going to start ripping at anything within reach. For the next few moments, all she did was flex her muscles and scream.

Once Odif calmed down and sat heavily on the chair, Jeni sat gingerly beside her. aWhatas happening now?a Her gaze was loosely fixed on the orb as she said. aKilled the vlak, going back to Tayan. Got to save him...somehow.a She shut her eyes, face screwed up in thought. aGot to keep him from getting worse...preserve him...a Her eyes snapped open. aThe bag! He put him in the bag to save his life." Odif regained her feet. "Getting up...got Parson by the shirt.a Her face became hard again. aYou get my son to a priest, get him healed or I will find you!a aSir Parson?a Chez asked. He knew of the knight--he was considered very brave and was very highly respected. aWho is this weare seeing?a he asked Jeni.

aMy husband,a she said harshly. Calmer, she added, aHis name is Eric Redman.a aRedman?a he asked, blowing out an excited breath. aThe Red Man? I saw the Red Man?a aYes, now be quiet!a Odif was standing stock-still now, as if she were studying something in front of her. The vision totally consumed her. She faced a dark shape. Around it, everyone was lying on the ground. They didnat look dead but more like they were asleep. Odif struggled to get as close to her fatheras mind as she could--brawn alone was not going to defeat this thing. His thoughts became hers.

Standing a few paces away was the thing that had attacked him in Old Castle. It looked mostly like a black-haired human woman. That was its shape, but it also had a large pair of leathery wings on its back and long, sharp horns curving back on its forehead. The details of its features were hard to make out; its hands were resting on its hips as it regarded him.

Its voice was strangely pleasant as it said, "I thought I had killed you. The rumors I received I had thought just hoarc superstition. I watched you fight my pilgyns and kill my pets. It does seem you will not stay dead, so I suppose it is pointless to kill you again."

She waved finger at him. "As I watched you kill my vlak, I knew the only way to keep you from coming back is to chop you in little bits then seal each in a jar. I also realized you'd be of much more use to me alive."

This was the one behind the evil, this was the demon--he knew it in his bones. This thing trying to look like a woman had caused the lies he had believed. It had tried to kill Tayan.

"I want you dead," he grated.

Tipping her head slightly, she beamed a smile at him. "So sad, you cannot kill me. Although, unless you do as I ask, I will pull your son out of that bag and tear him apart before your eyes."

"No!" he choked.

Her eyebrows rose as if she were remembering something. "And how about your lovely Jeni? I delivered your letter, in the guise of a messenger boy, of course.a Batting her eyes sweetly, she giggled, "She even gave me a hug."

"Leave Jeni alone!" he wailed. He had to do something, but he couldn't move a muscle! He was powerless against it. Odif tried to think to him. She sensed it had used most of its power--if he fought it hard enough, he could break free.

The creatureas smile dimmed into a sneer. "You want to see what will happen to your Jeni if you do not do as I ask?a Extending her arm towards the group of elves, she spat, "Watch!"

Lucinthia drifted up out of the grass. Her body rotated upright as she floated towards them. "I can appear as anyone, anywhere," the demon told him. It stopped the elfmaid just out of reach and lowered her to stand on one leg. It said something in a low, strange tongue, and Lucinthia's eyes flew open. Suddenly, it was Tayan standing where the demon had been.

"Honey!" the demon cried happily, extending its arms out towards her.

Lucinthia's face broke into a wide grin.

"Tayan!" she cried as she ran to the demon. The leg that was amputated at the knee seemed to hold her up as well as her whole one.

Odif had a bad feeling about this. aDo something! Attack it!a she cried.

Eric tried to scream a warning, but his throat would not obey. The demon hugged her as it grinned evilly at him. One of its arms was around her shoulders. The other hand came up on her neck and wrapped its fingers tight. Melting back into its own shape, the demon griped her neck hard. Lucinthia's eyes widened as it twisted her head and pulled. Her arms shot out, fingers splayed wide as her head was torn from her body with a crack and a sickening wet ripping sound. Her face was frozen in shock as the demon showed it to him before tossing the head over its shoulder as if it was a common stone. It flung her lifeless body to one side.

Eric was in shock as he watched the body fall. It had just killed Lucinthia! This was not any sort of battle but cold-blooded murder. It had just murdered her for no reason at all. His son's caring wife was now lying dead by the hand of this thing. His own face turned into a sneer.

"I will kill you!" he growled. Odif echoed his feeling, adding, aBreak free, kill it!a "You will do as I say, or I will tear Jeni's lovely head from her cute little body just as I did with this one!" it growled back. "Both your son and your girl, the only ones you care for, will be dead because of you!"

Tears clouding his vision, Eric let out a wailing scream. He tried to think. This thing was powerful in magic; there was nothing he could do against magic.

"Fight me!" he blubbered. "Don't kill my Jeni!"

"You want Jeni and Tayan to live?"

"Yes!"

"You will do anything to let them live?"

"Yes!" he cried again.

"Then make a pact with me! Be my slave and I shall let them live!a Looking at him mischievously, it said in a softer tone, "You do not deserve to have such a fine lady as Jeni. You do not want to ruin her life. No matter what you do, it will always be in the back of her mind that you slaughtered her people. No matter what she says, she will be holding on to you to keep you from doing it again. It will be her sacrifice, to keep other elves safe. You are an agent of evil; it is only fitting that you become my slave."

aItas lying!a Odif snapped then screamed herself hoarse, aFight it, fight it!a Slave--the word sounded permanent. He knew it spoke true--he had done evil. He had wondered why such a beautiful girl would want him. The explanation left a foul taste in his mouth, but he felt the demon was right. His anger drained away, defeat filling in the void. This was the only way to save his son, to save Jeni from this thing and from him.

Calming himself, he looked the thing in the eye. "You promise you will make sure Tayan is healed and swear never to hurt either Tayan or Jeni, ever?"

Odif shook her head wildly. aNo! Donat do it! You canat give up!a Smiling triumphantly, the demon asked, "Is that your side of the pact?"

He swallowed hard. Something was terribly wrong with making a pact with this thing; but if it could just show up and rip peopleas heads off, there was nothing else he could do to save Jeni from it. "It is."

Walking up to him, it said, "Mine is this: you will come with me and not harm any of my minions, ever. Beware--if a pact is broken, the one breaking it suffers greatly."

This was the only way, he knew it. Still, something in him was screaming for him to deny this thing, to say no to it. To say no was to allow it to kill Jeni and Tayan. No matter how much he didn't want to become this thing's slave, he didn't want Tayan or Jeni hurt even more. He knew he had to do something to make up for what he had done to his son. The word tried to catch in his throat, but he forced it out.

"Agreed."

As the word left his mouth, he felt something very unpleasant wash over him. He had never felt anything like it. It felt dirty, as if the stench of the grave had just inundated him.

The demon smiled evilly. "The pact is sealed.a Grabbing him on the sides of his head, it pulled him to it and kissed him. Eric squeezed his eyes shut, his lips felt numb. The numbness started to spread down through him until he felt the shocks run through his body. The current ran up and out of his mouth and into the demon. He passed out, hoping he really would die.

Odif was thrown out of the vision. Looking down at the crystal, she gave a tortured cry. Using all her concentration, she focused on the last thing she had witnessed.

The crystal turned black. A pair of glowing red eyes staring out at her.

aWho are you!a it snapped.

Jeni recoiled in horror. The wizard Chez fled the tent.

Odifas face screwed up in rage. Tensing every muscle in her body, she picked up the crystal to throw it out of the open flap behind her. The crystal stayed in place--what was flung was the black thing. It bounced and came to a stop just outside the tent.

It had just started to register with Jeni that the thing had wings when Odif shot her arms out at it.

aCaz-gizat!a Lightning flashed from the sky, engulfing the thing. As Jeni snapped her head away from the brilliant light, the air split by the lightning came back together in a thunderclap that knocked her into the tent wall. Blinded and ears ringing, she barely heard Odif.

aCaz-gizat!a Heart in her throat, Jeni was sure she was struck by the second bolt. The light penetrated her shut eyelids; and the concussion of the thunder shook the tent, which was now burning by the entrance.

The afterimage of the lightning bolts dominating her vision, Jeni could barely make out Odifas shape as the flames started to consume the tent. She was dazed, but instinct told her to move. Clambering to her feet, she grabbed Odif and shoved her outside. They took a few stumbling steps over the pile of carbon that lay at the entrance then fell outside.

Jeni blinked, trying to clear her sight. The dual white bars in her vision faded but very slowly. Between them, she saw Odif lying on her side. She wasnat sure, but it looked like the druidas whole front had been burned. Her hair was singed, she could smell that; and Odifas shirt and shorts looked ripped into charred pieces.

Muffled voices got her attention; she looked up to see her coachman. She thought he was asking it she was all right. Nodding, she pointed to Odif.

aHelp her,a she said, stressing each word. Her voice sounded hollow.

The scene was chaos. Jeni heard the far-off yells through the ringing in her ears. Guardsmen rallied bystanders for a bucket brigade while the coachman helped her back to the coach. Two men tried to carry Odif there as well. When someone tried to put a blanket around her, she twisted and shook it off along with the remains of her clothes. Jeni caught a glimpse of her face, twisted in agony. It looked like she had no eyebrows.

They placed Odif on the back seat. Her skin was bright red and blistering from her head to her feet. A peasant woman climbed in and showed Odif a jar then started to gingerly apply honey to her burnt skin and pick off the pieces of gravel stuck to her. Eyes fluttering, she cried out and clenched her fists, but let the woman cover her with the sticky amber goop. When she was done, the woman put a white linen cloth over her.

Outside, the tent was a rumpled mass, burning. Most of the water being thrown went on the building behind it to keep the fire from spreading. Jeni caught sight of Wizard Chez being led away by the guardsmen. He was yelling and motioning to the remains of his tent as they prodded him down the street. Someone brought Odifas staff and the battered armor. When the coachman asked where she wanted to go, she could think of only one place.

aHome.a They were most of the way there when Odif became coherent enough to speak. Looking at Jeni through half-closed eyes, she said, aIam sorry.a Jeni gave her a weak smile. aAt least you killed whatever that was.a Odif shook her head. aNo, I destroyed its body, but its spirit fled. It killed Lucinthia. It ripped her head off and made Eric watch.a She then told Jeni everything she had seen. Jeni was crying in wracking sobs by the time she finished. She didnat even hear Odifas last words.

aI know its soul, and when I find it, it will pay.a Her lips curled back, splitting the blisters. aIt will pay.a The agony of the vision, however, and the more present pain of her burns were too much to bear. Hurting and exhausted, she let herself slip into unconsciousness.

Odif awoke to see a ceiling of polished wood. She was in bed, a thin linen covering her hot, aching body. She sniffed at a sweet smell. Honey. She remembered a woman had put honey over her. The woman had been smart--honey was the best treatment for bad burns. She thanked her Goddess for the intelligent peasant woman then looked to see whom it was she sensed nearby.

A young woman in a maidas dress was sitting by the bed reading a book. Odif didnat recognize her. aWhere am I?a The woman glanced at her. aLady Salinthiaas estate.a Creasing a page, she closed the book and folded her hands in her lap. aMrs. Redman brought you here.a aWhere is she?a aShe is in her own room, with her family. I was asked to relay a message to you. The family has decided to let you stay until you recover. I am to see to your needs. As soon as you are able then you are to leave and never return.a She stood up and straightened her dress. In a harsher tone, she suddenly added, aI saw Jeni come back with you. She was burnt and terrified so badly she could hardly walk! All she could do was cry, but none of us understood anything she was trying to say. How could you do that to such a nice lady?a It figured. Sally and Arthur were pissed at her, the demon she had fried was probably coming after her once it got its strength back; and now Salinthia had shunned her. She had been around here long enough to know that a message from athe familya meant it was from Salinthia. She gazed off into space, not sure if she should be angry or just heartbroken.

aTell them I'll be gone before morning.a aYou do not need to rush--a aTell them!a she barked.

The woman drew herself up. aVery well then.a she said coolly, and walked out.

She was not going to be upset over this; she had to concentrate. Closing her eyes, she felt her skin and began working to repair the damage. Usually, such a thing was easy, but this time she was distracted and had to keep shifting her focus back to what she was doing. Thoughts of Jeni, who had tried so hard, broke her concentration. Next, her mind drifted to cute little Erica. Then it was Arthur then Sally.

Every time she caught her mind wandering, she forced her concentration back on what she was doing. Was she so bad these people couldnat at least learn to put up with her? After all, she had tried to do everything she could for them. She remembered Tayanas telling her she was a pain to live with, and she had replied he wasnat so easy either. Living with anyone, you had to learn to deal with them.

Not being able to concentrate, she looked around the room. By some standards, it was a nice place. It had finely polished wood, and the stonework was smooth, each block perfectly cut. Designs were etched in the walls and ceiling, breaking up the monotony of the large surfaces. A pair of paintings on the wall depicted brightly colored flowers in a vain attempt to bring life to this hollow, dead room. No trees would creak as their branches swayed in the wind. No chirping crickets would lull her to sleep, nor singing birds herald the morning. She didnat belong here. Once she knew this, it was easy to concentrate on healing her burns.

Odif decided not to try and talk to any of them again. When the maid returned, she stressed once again that Tayan must be told he had to be at the city on the plains. When she was sure the woman had the message, she made her leave. Going to the window, she opened it wide and changed into an eagle.

The eagle gave the room one last look then flapped off into the night.

Chapter 13.

Two weeks after the attack by the interfering druid, Aliana finally regained enough strength to form another body. This one looked the same as the other but was pure black. To give it the semblance of life, she had to visit her food slave; but even after she drained his life force, she was still weak. She absorbed the lives of ten other slaves; then when her food slave regained consciousness, she drained him again. Only after this large injection of essence was she able to properly animate her body and began to feel like herself.

Normally, if she had been caught unawares, she would have flown into a rage of torturing and killing. The one who had pulled her through the crystal, however, was not some common being to be destroyed so easily. She had seen who it was, and she knew Odif the Druid as one of Zodiacas minion--the druid bitch had somehow found her. She had not thought anyone capable of tapping into her crystals. Odif not only called her, she had done the impossible and pulled her through. The druid whore would die, but she had to deal with this threat intelligently. A mistake next time might mean more than a charred body.

Fearing to use her crystals, she ordered her wizards to bring her spies together. Through various forms of magic, they assembled in the throne room of her city palace on the surface. Once they were gathered, she made her entrance. All dropped to one knee, bowing their heads. She was wearing her human form as she settled into her dark red throne.

The first thing she did was take reports. In Elrad, King Alderlan was convinced the real danger was to the south. The bulk of the elven army was gathering near Capetown and along the lower parts of Longforest. Hans was running through the north, meeting very little in the way of effective resistance. At the pace he was going, he would be at the capital city in a month.

News in the human lands was equally good. Zayton and Krundle were not becoming involved in any way. Tolinaas elves were organizing to help their homeland, but Spring Valley was poised to make sure they never got there. Even in Paladnia, another thorn in her side, the holy knights were readying themselves for war but werenat moving from around the city. From the news, all was going according to plan.

There was only one thing out of place.

Duke Toma was bracketed by two of her gray-cloaked scouts. Behind him, his escort was also shadowed by her own men. Raising an eyebrow at this, she called him to her. He knelt in front of the dais.

aTell me how Spring Valley fares,a she asked pleasantly.

He kept his head bowed, speaking as confidently as he could. aWe are doing well, Master. We have plenty of men and weapons, the food stores are at optimum and I have secured the confidence of the church. I am still allowing normal travel to the east and west, though the barricades and troops are poised to seal off the road at a momentas notice.a aWell done.a She nodded. aI do not see Lord Tayan here. Have you had him put in my dungeon already?a Toma stiffened. Swallowing hard, he said, aHe escaped. Iam sorry, Master.a She tipped her head. aHow did this happen?a she asked coldly.

Toma took a heavy breath. aA woman help him. We searched, but could not find either of them.a She got up smoothly then reached down and dragged him to his feet. Glaring at him, she growled, aYou let one woman effect his escape?a Faced with her anger, he whimpered, aShe was nothing like wead ever seen. She disguised herself as a priestess then as a dancer. We were taken by surprise. We chased them, but they vanished! Not even the bloodhounds could find a trail.a aAnd did you get a look at her?a she prompted.

He nodded vigorously. aLight hair, well built--one of my men heard what Tayan called her. I think her name is Odif.a Alianna's eyes shot fire. aOdif!a she screeched. aHer name was Odif!a She lost control of the illusion. Her large black wings spread out as she melted into demon form. Toma shook in terror and wet himself.

Wailing a terrible scream, she hoisted him up high then slammed him to the floor. aThat bitch!a she spat.

Huddled on the floor, Toma lifted his head but was careful not to look at her. In a weak voice, he offered, aIam sorry. Master. I will never fail you again.a Her face smoothed over into a dangerous calm. She helped him to his feet and held the quivering man by one shoulder. Wiping the blood off his brow, she cooed, aYou had him in your hands then let him get away. I canat have failure.a aIall never fail again,a he repeated, shaking badly.

She smiled gently at him. aThatas right.a Grabbing his chin, she twisted his head and broke his neck. Pushing the body away before it fell, she turned to the men who had come with him. Only one did not reek with fear; he stood impassively as the nerves in Tomaas leg twitched in final spasms.

She pointed to him. aYou, what is your name.a aJudd Kahn, Master.a the stocky man in studded leather said.

aWell, Judd Kahn, you are now Duke Kahn. Have you a clue how Spring Valley is prepared?a aYes, Master, six companies of one hundred each are within the castle. Four more are deployed, one in town, one to the south, one east and one west. They have proper weapons but no spears. All the power spears are in the castle, as well as all the crossbows that shoot them. At the moment, the population does not know we are gearing up for war.a aAnd you think this adequate?a she asked.

aNo, Master. We are undermanned and have no effective defense. The barricades will be easy outflanked, and if we lose the castle we will lose all the spears. There is no wall around the town, and the ancient roadways to the north are undefended.a aYou know about the ancient roads?a aYes, Master, they are straight and flat for miles. If the elves, or anyone else, gains access we could be overrun before we knew they were there.a Alianna grinned in satisfaction. aMake your city ready, Duke Kahn. Be careful not to arouse suspicion. You must act in secret until I order otherwise.a He bowed briskly. aYes, Master. Can I depend upon you for pilgyns or vlaks when the time comes?a aI will send you all the help you need. Until then, build your army. Under no circumstances must the elves in Tolina be allowed to get to Elrad.a aUnderstood, Master. How many can I expect?a aNot more than ten thousand,a she said, watching him closely.

He didnat flinch. aI will need help to hold back that many. I assure you they will not reach their destination, whatever happens in Spring Valley.a Kahn was emotionless, thoughtful and fairly intelligent. She left the meeting feeling good about her new Duke. It seemed she had only two obstacles left that could trip her up. Odif she would find and kill, once she worked out a plan. The other one, Tayan, was not so easy. She could not harm him, and all other attempts to stop him had failed. He was a hero to her enemy; and with him leading them, those damn elves would run headlong into certain death. There was only one way she could be rid of him.

She had to make her food slave break the pact.

Once again the tiny world of his underground cell was invaded by the thing. He had given up trying to raise himself from hanging by his arms. It seemed a lifetime ago when he used to stand on his feet and yank at the chains in a vain attempt to free himself. Locked as he was in an existence of twilight and pain, somehow standing didnat seem important anymore. The arms that held him just high enough so he couldnat sit had become no more than extensions of the chains.

He knew its feet; it never wore shoes. He looked up to see it had taken the form of a dark-haired woman. It didnat have horns. Instead, thick, curly locks adorned its forehead. It smiled at him, wearing an angelic face. He knew he couldnat fight it. It was going to force its lips over his then the pain would begin. More to himself than it, he groaned, aNo...not again.a aNot this time,a it said pleasantly.

He felt one arm drop then fell to sit as it released the other manacle. Curling his arms up to his chest, he vaguely remembered another time it had come to him acting nice. Everything it did was a trick and ended in pain.

aI ainat gonna cuddle,a he said hoarsely.

He flinched as the demon squatted down by him. Its smile was bright as it said, aI have made a terrible mistake holding you like this. You are not my enemy. I want to make it up to you.a He didnat know what trick this was, but he didnat want anything to do with it. aThen leave me alone.a Slowly, it held out a hand that looked as soft and smooth as a real womanas. aTake my hand; let me show you what I want to give you.a He didnat move, so it gently laid its hand on his shoulder. When he flinched again, the wall was no longer there. Brightness filled his eyes as he fell on his back. Shielding them with one arm, he squeezed them shut, bracing himself for the pain that was sure to come.

It didnat. Slowly, he opened one eye a crack. At first he thought the world had turned white. As his pupils adjusted, he saw a low wall with pillars rising from it. Beyond the pillars was a void. In time he remembered what the pale blueness was called. He was looking at sky. Lifting his arm, he saw figures standing a short distance away to his right.

The thing was beside three women. He was sure he wasnat seeing right--the women looked greenish to him. Their short shirts and skirts were light gray.