Saraya suffered the rough hands of the gargoyles as they carried her to the dungeon, but the Ranger needed no aide in dispatching such as these. When they set her on the stone floor, they had barely turned when the princess leapt up and slit the throat of one. His partner turned and tried to bring his fist down upon the woman, but her nimble frame easily evaded the blow. Not above such savagery, the princess brought her knee up and crushed the gargoyle's groin. As he collapsed in pain, Saraya easily slashed his throat.
The ranger turned at the sound of clapping, ready to throw her weapon at the intruder. She saw a small pixie clad in a blue dress. "Another worthy show, good lady. Truly you are the princess of the forest."
"And who are you, little one," Saraya said, sheathing her blade.
The pixie bowed, "I am Karwn of the Order of Celeste, Guardian of the Stone of Genia."
"What are your plans, guardian? We must move quickly, before the Stone is put to use."
"I have taken steps to block that happening, but I must agree. If you could, good ranger, seek out the Lord Erich and strike him down."
"But he has protected himself and become nigh-invincible through the Calamites."
"The Calamites were a foolish people; any who put stock in their magic is moreso. You shall see the hole in your brother's defenses when you see him again. After dispatching him, call your allies in the forest. Tie down any and all defenders of this camp from interfering."
"Interfering? What are you planning, Guardian?"
"With luck, the Dark Queen's connection to this world has been weakened, or perhaps broken entirely. I shall go and see her off."
Jolania was uncomfortable, despite the reassurances of her sisters. She did not enjoy her small stature, nor her altered sex. She fleetingly wondered where the pixies came from, but suppressed the thought. Across the battlefield the armies of the Dark Queen awaited. At least three times the size of the amassed legion of pixies, barbarians, and elves, they hungered for battle.
But Jolania had a plan. One of the advantages of being within the Order of Celeste was that she knew the positions of all heavenly bodies. So, as the sun broke over the horizon, Jolania threw a handful of pink dust into the sky. The markings on her breast flared, and the light of the sun was directed and magnified a hundred fold toward the dark army, if only for a moment. But that was all that was needed.
"Warriors," the pixie called out, "they are blind. Let us put them out of their misery."
Saraya stalked the hallways, not giving guards a sliver of a shadow to see or hear. She stalked to find her brother, the Abyss-spawned traitor. By a turn of luck, he walked alone down a hall, and he carried in his hand the Stone of Genia.
The Ranger came closer, more silent than a mouse. She saw not the weakness the pixie had alluded to, but felt she could just as easily strike her brother unconscious instead of dead, at least for the time being. With a cat's speed and grace, the Ranger leapt and placed her dearest brother in a binding headlock. Barely fazed, the dark warrior fought back, but Saraya had too much strength and shattered his skull on the stone walls next to them. His limp body collapsed as a doll's.
The princess turned her brother over and examined his front and noticed an odd scar that ran down the length of his mail armor. With her knife, she cut along that line and revealed a scar in the leather armor beneath, exactly the same. Confident now, she cut through his armor and beheld a horrible black scar on his chest, running from collarbone to abdomen. It had been sewn shut with think metal bands.
Saraya cut open the wound. Erich's eyes and mouth opened wide in surprise, but closed quickly again as black smoke poured out of the wound. When it cleared, the ranger's brother was covered in a thousand wounds. Confident he was dead, Saraya turned to the stone.
She knew not of the hex upon it . . .
