Possessing the Grimstone - By John Grover Page 0,76
“And the North will be ours.”
With the morning sun casting shimmering curtains of sunlight in the courtyard, Tolan went to Gyrn and extended his hand before he boarded the wagon with his people.
“I know that things were, at times, tense with all us, but you were a champion in the end, and a true ally. Travel well, Drith.”
“Thank you, Warrior,” Gyrn shook his hand. “I only hope this day can live on in all Kingdoms.”
Tolan watched the painted people of the South pass through the city gates that were in the midst of repair.
Pim walked with Sooth-Malesh. They stopped at the fountain where the original group had first gathered. The mage bid Pim to remove the stone from his pack.
Sooth-Malesh placed his hand on it and cast his other out across the city. A green shadow fell over everyone in the city: the people of Cardoon, the King, Olani and the Northerners, the D’Elkyire, the departing people of the South, and the Gywthroth ministers.
“Now go,” he said to Pim. “It cannot be destroyed, but it can be hidden. Take it and hide it where no one would go. Never tell me where it is. Keep it your secret!”
“I will,” Pim said. “You can count on me.” He placed the stone in his pack. The energy threatened to burn a hole through it as he dashed out of the city.
Chapter Eighteen
The threshold of Mort A’ghas came up fast again. Pim came to a stop in the mud on the Church’s shore. He looked back at the swamp and the dead walking through it.
He stepped inside; the shadows gathered around him instantly.
“Returned to the dark, have you, Wivering?” the voice came from behind him.
“For the moment.”
“For the moment?” The voice was in front of him now. “What makes you think the dead will let you leave?”
“I think they will be more than happy to let me leave.” Pim reached not for his sword, but for the contents of his pack.
He pulled the Grimstone from its hiding place, and clasped it in both hands. Green light illuminated the inner sanctum of the Church. Three dozen or more undead stood around him, hollow eyes and gaunt faces leering at him. He hadn’t realized, in the dark, how many were actually there, and so close to him, too.
He swallowed once and lifted the stone with both hands. He whispered, “Ascension for all.”
Red light enveloped all of the dead, and their bodies dissolved. Balls of light, spirits now freed, rose through the roof, and were gone.
The Lich Lord wailed in rage. He formed in the shadows, and rushed Pim, looming over him at nearly ten feet tall. Glowing embers for eyes flared, tattered robes now lined with skulls and spines flapped in a haunting wind.
It dove down on Pim with all of its rage, and Pim closed his eyes. An energy shield encased the Wivering and repelled the Lich.
“You will pay for this, Wivering!” The Lich screamed. “You will suffer the darkness! It will find you no matter where you go. Hear me… this deed will not be forgotten!”
Pim turned and bolted from the Church as fast as his fleet would carry him. All around the forest swamp, balls of light lifted gently into the skies and floated to their salvation. A moment later, a ghastly shriek echoed through the entire forest.
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He headed in the opposite direction of the forest, and made his way to the lush lands of the North. He raced past the remains of Bhrungach, and headed deeper and deeper still, until he could see his breath in the air, and the white of snow as far as the eye could see.
His teeth chattered as he carefully moved across a frozen lake. He knelt and dug a hole through the icy shell with his sword.
The Grimstone sat in his hand. He stared at it. The energy hummed, rippling over the edge of the stone. The three pieces joined as one left a crack where the First People had divided it. He ran his fingers over the scars. The power tickled them. He felt his eyes tingle.
Pim’s heart was heavy. He was relunctant to complete his task. So many people needed help; so many places needed to be rebuilt. So much of the world was in ruin, from the Lake Lands, to Cardoon, to Gonnish. The forests, the fields, the farms were all ravaged.
“Time will heal. Do not break your promise.” He looked at it one last time, studied it, and dropped it into