Sons of Ironstorm: Book 5 - Griffon's War

Faith

Shiana was already summoning the runes to open a stealth gate when Banik and his Redeemed arrived a few turns of the small glass later, Shawn and the Covenant standing nearby.

<<As long as I have the end point correct, this should open out to a few steps from the Virazi's southern entry,>> she indicated, looking first at Shawn then the newly arrived Banik. For his part, the Redeemed commander nodded in acknowledgement before turning to his companies to quickly marshal them for a portal jump.

As for Shawn, his attention was then turned to the Covenant.

<<Okay, my Covenant,>> he began, letting his eyes travel across the faces that had become increasingly familiar and dear to him since truly embracing what they meant to him. Starting with Dezi, of course, the first in his heart.

<<We'll go through in a phalanx, with Dezi and Faith in the lead in case something bigger than a standard demon is waiting for us on exit. Keep your battle spells close; while we're exiting short of the base itself, there's a good chance we'll run into heavy patrols trying to keep their perimeter intact. They need to die before raising the alarm.>>

<<And you, my husband?>> Draneen wanted to know, the stone elf woman looking intent.

Shawn favored her with a quick look.

<<I'll be in the vanguard, with Shiana and Banik.>> Abruptly a smile brightened his grim expression. <<So just a step ahead of the Covenant.>>

<<We're ready here,>> Shiana announced. Using that as an opportunity to give the Covenant one last reassuring look, Shawn nodded, smiled, then turned to the portal. He stepped to the shifting oval in space just as Banik, looking menacing in his spell armor, joined Shiana and him.

<<Ready to send some demons back to the Abyss?>> the big elf rumbled, standing his lance butt down into the loamy soil.

<<Always ready for that,>> Shawn replied, Shiana agreeing with a fierce nod. Then the powerful human was leaping through the portal.

It didn't take long for the dowsing spell to locate the Virazi Cut's southern entrance, a mere twenty paces from where Shiana had opened the portal's far end.

<<Well done, Lady Ironstorm,>> Banik muttered with a grin and a nod in Shiana's direction as they stepped free of the portal and watched the golden light find the elftrail's entrance. <<Your sense of location is far better than your brother's!>>

Shawn chuckled as Shiana grinned.

<<That might actually be true.>> Then he was sobering. <<Let's move into the elftrail. The less time we spend out here, the less time the demons have to discover our intentions!>>

Yet again the young human warrior put action to words and, after a look over his shoulder to make sure the Covenant was mustered behind him, he put his head down and ran towards the elftrail's entry point. A wash of light as he crossed the threshold then he was into the blurred tunnel that was an elftrail.

<<Is it just me, or does this trail feel ... stale?>> Banik said as, after crossing the threshold a heartbeat after his friend, he stepped to Shawn's side.

Looking around them, Shawn frowned. Now that the big elf had mentioned it, there was a sensation of disuse. Like the magic in the trail hadn't been triggered in a very, very long time.

<<Anybody know the spell to test the integrity of an elftrail?>> he asked, looking over at Banik, then passed him to Dezi and the other dark elf in the Covenant, Faith. All three, visors up so he could see their faces, shook their heads.