Sons of Ironstorm: Book 5 - Griffon's War

Chapter 10: Heart of Darkness

"We withstood the might of the Dark Tide,

Its foul waves lapped against our walls and failed.

But it was only a preface, a promise of malevolence

That the Return in its fullness will complete.

We fought against the Darkness on its edge.

Now we face its heart. Creator preserve us all."

- personal journal of Master Fehrn, High Druid of Galental, Second Shadow War

Lawrence frowned as the scrying globe he was using to watch Morgan's progress washed into a storm of silver and gray.

"Shards!" he growled, resummoning the runes that controlled the globe's capabilities in an attempt to restore the view. But to no avail. A quick wiping gesture with his hand dismissed the clouded globe and he looked over at his younger brother.

"We've lost contact with Tal Furan and Morgan!" he grimly reported.

Now standing with his head down as the Earth Sword, still awash with red runic light, descended from where it had hung in the room's center back to its place just off his back, Patrik nodded.

"The pulse of energy the seed used to reassemble the fortress may have temporarily shifted the energy flow through the ley lines nearby," he said, looking up just as the reddish glow from behind his eyes began to fade. "Since we're using the ley lines to communicate without the Abyss knowing ..."

"It would knock everything out," Lawrence finished for him with a grimace. A thought brought the Tree Staff from where it was hovering a few paces away, back into his hand. Once there, he took hold of it and let his eye travel down the precisely incised runes that marched its length from sphere to foot as he gathered his thoughts.

"Unfortunately the pulse may also bring any nearby dark soldiers rushing in to attempt to destroy a possible enemy," he said, finally looking up from the staff at Patrik, his younger brother nodding in agreement.

"They've shown that behavior before," the younger Ironstorm added.

"Indeed. Since we put them in that position, we need to leverage them out of it." And the energy in the room began to shift as Lawrence summoned the runes through his staff to make a portal.

Only to find Patrik's restraining hand on his arm.

"Remember the plan, my brother," the Wielder of the Earth Sword said as his older brother looked first at the hand then into his face with a questioning frown. "We need to stay in Storm Keep to convince our watchers that we're pinned down."

"But Morgan is one of my oldest allies ..." Lawrence began to retort. Only to stop at Patrik's head shake.

"That, he is. And I understand your concern for an ally. Jaeda's father is facing shadow forces in the desert and we're certainly concerned for him." Patrik paused to look more intently into his brothers face.

"But both men are where they are because they chose to support us," he pointed out. "And they chose to fight for the Light against the Return. We must honor that, and support their choice." His expression softened slightly. "Besides, from what I've seen, the monarch of Galental is more than a capable commander and warrior. He's already thrown back the Dark Tide at his borders. He'll know what to do against whatever shadow force comes against him at Tal Furan. Trust in that."

Lawrence held his brother's gaze for a moment longer before abruptly nodding and turning away, letting the summoned runes return to the staff.

Morgan was capable, the most gifted warrior he had ever known, to have held Galental virtually untouched while being completely surrounded by her enemies for decades. And, as Patrik rightly pointed out, he had already pushed back the Dark Tide during the Siege of Quillus before gathering a good force to come marching to their aid.