Lances and Daggers

26. Belphegor's Rage

The leader of the city guards, Commander Medina, raised his hand to signal that Belphegor was where we wanted him to be. In response, three flares were shot up into the sky. The darkness of the night receded, and the hills shone as if at noon.

"The mages will make their move now," Rick said.

As Belphegor screeched and advanced, many magic circles appeared at the foot of the hills. The mages recited incantations in unison, and hundreds of fireballs flew across the sky. The flames hit their target, and Belphegor's ugly face was hidden behind a veil of smoke.

"It is futile, mortals," Belphegor's voice said. "I will not leave this world until I have claimed a hundred cities as my own."

He reappeared as if nothing had happened, and I was growing impatient.

"When will it be our turn to attack?" I looked at Rick.

"We have to wait."

Another round of fireballs battered Belphegor, but the Lord of Demons continued forward as if nothing had happened. Our efforts looked like pointless resistance, and I imagined Faust sneering at us.

"So, this is your plan," Demetrius suddenly said.

"What? What's the plan?" I turned to look at him.

"You have sharp eyes, Professor Zahr," Rick said.

"What are you two talking about?"

Demetrius pointed at the foot of the hills. I looked there again, but all I could see were the mages who launched the fireballs. Belphegor was immune to their attacks, but they were diligently firing one round after the other. What's so special about them? I took a closer look before I realized that some of the mages weren't attacking: some were standing still with magic circles under their feet.

"What are they doing?" I asked.

"You'll see soon," Demetrius smiled impishly.

Belphegor emerged from behind another cloud of smoke. He began to descend the hill, and his eyes searched for the mages. "I will crush every one of you. It is useless to struggle, mortals!" Another round of fireballs was shot at him, but he ignored this attack like the others. When the new smoke cleared, however, he found his arms and legs tied in chains.

"The fireballs were a distraction, Lance," Rick said. "It's all part of our plan."

Belphegor pulled and tried to free himself, but the mages were resolute, and their chains were sturdy and numerous. They couldn't tie Belphegor up forever, but they had the upper hand for now.

"Archers!" Commander Medina shouted.

Groups of archers stepped forward, raised their longbows, and released flaming arrows. Like a late-night drizzle, the arrows fell from the sky on Belphegor's body. They pierced his arms and torso and burned his skin.

"And here comes the finale," Rick said.

The chains started pulling Belphegor down. He roared and planted his feet firmly on the ground, but the mages pumped more of their magic into the metal. The chains shone with a green light and sent him flying against his will. He slid downhill, uprooting the plants and carving a path in the mud.

"Charge!" Commander Medina shouted.

The ground troops advanced: the city guards raised their spears and swords; Demetrius chanted incantations as he ran; Rick dragged his war hammer; and I dashed with my sword. As a cloud of dust dispersed, we arrived at Belphegor's fallen body.

"Cut it into pieces!" Commander Medina shouted.

But I had something different in mind. I climbed onto Belphegor's back. The ghosts aren't appearing, and things are so much better than I expected. I raced past Belphegor's wings. But that man won't stand idly and watch. I know what he'll do. I know how he'll think in this situation.