Escape through the Sacred Forest: Lich Lord Wars Book 2

Chapter 11

"What was that? So much death energy on the pinnacle of being released, then it was gone. Was that a god?"

"It must have been one of the elves, but I never dreamed they held so much power in them, just waiting for death to release it to us."

"Pay attention to your revenants! There is still a battle to be won."

Creetan fired arrow after arrow into the gaps between trees but to little effect. The same trees that were protecting them also gave the undead protection from his arrows. He had to keep telling himself to calm down and take care to aim, he hit far more targets when he wasn't shooting arrows off in a mad panic.

He paused to survey the battle. His father was in the forefront of the battle with a short sword in each hand. The smaller weapons allowed him to fight and move easier in the close quarters of the trees. His Uncle Jarad similarly was useing in a pair of hand axes right along side his father.

Glancing along the lines he spotted a revenant knock one of the guards down. In one fluid motion he sent an arrow into the creature before it could finish the man off. He hadn't even thought about what to do, his training had acted before he had had a chance to second guess or worry about it. He called out to a nearby guard to go assist the man and once he was back on his feet Creetan began scanning the front line for more targets. He was still terrified but maybe if he tried to clear his mind of worries and let his training take over, he might just survive this.

Yet  that chance seemed to be fading.The men were being overwhelmed. More and more he was seeing revenants about to overcome a man and it was a matter of time before he would be too late to save him with a well placed arrow. So it was to his utter astonishment when all the revenants simultaneously began withdrawing with the kadus knights following their lead.

"What's going on?" Creetan called to his father.

"Not sure," his father answered and addressing all the men, "Keep alert!"

After a few moments later someone called out, "Look! Smoke!"

Scanning high above the trees Creetan saw a plume of smoke rising out beyond the undead's lines.

"Could it be Lord Teanas?" Creetan called over.

Gidon studied the smoke for a moment before nodding and stating, "It's possible that Almas and Cady found him. You and your mother said they fled that way."

Addressing all his men he continued, "See to the wounded. Archers keep a lookout.

Gidon began moving up and down the line healing and repositioning men as needed. Creetan watched the forest, knowing their enemy would return.

Lord Teanas had hoped to find the portal or possibly some lich lords before he was spotted but it was not to be. The undead must have feared he would appear for there were many undead scouts watching the border of the forest. Once he was spotted he fell upon the army of undead with a fury as deep as his anguish.

Within moments he was the center of a growing firestorm. He plunged himself into first the scouts and then both the regular revenants and the kadus knights that came to face him. At first none could even approach him without being consumed in flames, but eventually the flames died down and he had to contend with his foes one on one.

Even as the enemy surrounded him he fought without thought of his own welfare. His son was dying and he intended the undead to pay dearly for all they had done. They would learn that while Lord Teanas was slow to anger, woe unto those that finally kindled the fires of his rage.

Almas watched Ulec as he rested. His shoulder was hurting more but he pushed the pain away. He studied the magic as it flowed around and from Ulec; he even saw the moment when his friend awakened.

He watched as his friend cast a spell over himself when he woke up and at first seemed to heal himself. It took him a moment to realize he didn't actually heal himself but changed himself. He changed his form from his injured self to his uninjured self like his mother and sister changed forms from there normal elvish selves to animals.

Ulec did this before he even showed any sign that he had awaken.

"How are you feeling?" Almas asked.

Ulec's eyes snapped open and he looked at Almas with a curious look, before answering, "Better; what...happened?"

Cady answered excitedly before Almas could say anything, "You stopped breathing but Almas removed the curse and I healed you.

Ulec got up on his elbows and asked confused, "Removed? How did you remove it?"

Almas answered honestly, "I'm not completely sure. I was watching Cady trying to heal you and suddenly I could feel all the magic around me; it was almost like I could see it.

"I could see the curse on your arm blocking Cady's healing power. Without thinking I tried grabbing the curse with magic and pull it away from you. It worked--I removed the curse and Cady healed you as much as she could."

Ulec stared a moment at his best friend. "You can see, or feel magic and curses? How well?"

I can feel any kind of magic I think. Along with the curse I seem to be able to sense magic abilities like Cady's paladin abilities and the one you are using now to hide how hurt you still are.

"I think I can see all the different types of magic, including the one you're using that you never told us about. You have Kaynarian blood in you don't you?"

Now Ulec stared open mouthed at Almas. He sat there several moments before saying, "That cannot be known."

"Why didn't you tell us? Why can't anyone know?" Almas asked feeling a little bit hurt.

"The Kaynarian blood came from my real father, and it was his blood that was used to make the blood seal that imprisoned Destruction. If anyone knew who my real father was then my blood could be used to release the seal."

"That would mean your real father was Mundial!" Cady exclaimed.

"I can't believe I didn't see this before. You talk to plants and animals...the creations of Mundial," Almas murmured.

"Lord Teanas is the only father I've ever known. Wait...where is my father," Ulec perked up suddenly concerned.

Almas felt Ulec's ability to communicate with animals come alive and he could feel Ulec spreading his awareness throughout the forest.

"We were attacked outside the forest. Cady and I were forced to come back here and Lord Teanas left to go help the rest of the refugees," Almas explained.

Ulec said nothing; he was focused on what he was doing with his magic. Suddenly Almas could feel Ulec's magic use seem to focus and Ulec's expression of staring at seemingly nothing narrow.

After a moment Ulec said, "They're in trouble. They found a defendable hilltop but the undead army is huge."

"So what do we do?" Cady asked tears coming to her eyes.

Ulec seemed to start scanning the area with magic again. Almas was amazed on what his newfound ability seemed to tell him. He was even more amazed he had never noticed any sign before that he even had it.

"We send some help," Ulec answered Cady with a smile.