outward enveloping him. The heat must have been intense but Casius felt nothing, a faint halo of argent light surrounding him.
The wound expanded, the fire growing in size. Within moments the entire body of the Ma’ul burned. The fire turned the night into day and a second conflagration engulfed the hillside.
Sur’kar watched the battle unfold, in his arrogance he had never thought it possible for his servant to fail. The blast of fire caught him by surprise, he was forced to step back and use his power to stave off the searing heat.
Casius took a step towards the last Tal’shear when he felt the spirit of the Ma’ul rush into his mind. He fell to his knees dropping Aethir; he grasped his head and screamed in agony. The Ma’ul was tearing at his psyche seeking to burn his consciousness away.
Casius could feel himself falling into the dark recesses of his mind. As he faded a faint argent spark reached out to him. His mind embraced it and power flooded into him.
Within that silvery glow lay the strength of Marcos, buttressed by the raw energy of his earlier possessor. Casius rushed upward his spirit a blazing fire that drove away the darkness.
He drove through the Ma’ul and tore its spirit apart as if it were nothing more than smoke. He cast it out in a corona of fire and light.
Sur’kar recovered quickly and brushed the soot from his striking armor. He was amazed that this puny human, barely a man at that, had killed his Ma’ul servant. He could feel the workings of his brother here, but he knew Marcos was gone, the trap at V’rag having destroyed him.
The loss of his tower did not bother him. After his conquest he will order a new one raised, an edifice far larger and more terrible to behold, a fitting abode for a God.
Casius became aware of his surroundings once more. He reached out and took Aethir in hand, the pommel was hot and the blade thrummed with power. He looked up and into the face of Sur’kar.
The evil being resembled Marcos so closely that for the briefest moment Casius thought that his friend had survived the fall of V’rag. Then he saw the eyes. Where Marcos’s had been filled with compassion and wisdom, the ones he stared into were full of hate and a malevolence that made the primal fury of the Ma’ul seem a petty thing in comparison. A sense of cold fear settled in his stomach.
Over the fire scorched earth he walked, stepping through pockets of lingering flame without hesitation. His face broke into a broad smile that did not reach his eyes.
“I sense my brother’s touch upon you.” He said in a voice dripping with evil. “Are you the best champion he could find?” He laughed, a soft chuckle filled with disdain. “You are strong, and I have need of new servants. I shall make you the first of my new Balhain.”
“Never,” Casius said rising to his feet.
Sur’kar shrugged off the comment as if it meant nothing. “Gre’Doth, and his twin refused me as well. In the end you will serve me, and dark will be the deeds you shall do in my name.” Sur’kar raised his hand. “But first,” The ring flared to life with a corona of green fire. “Let me free you of my brothers corruption.”
The argent glow about Casius disappeared with a loud popping sound. The extreme heat radiating from the ground struck him like a hammer. He staggered a few steps back and then suddenly he could no longer lift his feet. They were planted firmly on the ground and would not budge. It was as if they were boulders, a great weight attached to his legs.
Casius’s eyes watered and pain roiled through him, the agony was so intense he nearly lost consciousness.
Sur’kar smiled, this time it reached his eyes. “What you feel now is nothing.” He said coldly. “Soon I will teach you the true meaning of agony.” Sur’kar turned his back to him. “But I will allow you to watch the death of the last few men who dare to oppose me.” He raised his hand and again the ring flared to life. In a voice filled with might he shouted over the stunned combatants. “Destroy them!” He commanded.
The surviving Morne rushed up the slope once more. Outnumbering the men ten to one their victory was all but assured.
The men stood defiantly but the were close to exhaustion and their line was