Sons of Ironstorm - Book 4: Griffon's Stand

Chapter 20: The Shadow Approaches

"We had thought finding the last Weapon of Power spelled the end.

Victory was in sight, the Norak Utterance close to being fulfilled.

We were wrong.

Instead of being an end, it was a beginning.

The start of trials so difficult, it nearly broke us all.

- from Ciradaan, king of Aquila's personal journal

Shawn grimaced as a strange, new sensation rushed through him with tidal abruptness, forcing the young Wielder of the Star to drop his attention from the fortress shield overhead and prepare to raise his own protective shield against it, his mind already summoning the power of the universe to address what could possibly be a new threat hovering on the edge of his awareness. 'Just what the frosty hell was that??'

- Damn, did you feel that, Shawn? - Patrik's voice abruptly roared into the depths of his mind.

- Feel it? It was nearly enough to make me bring up my shield, - Shawn retorted, considering with half a mind to erect his shield anyway. - Any idea what it was? -

Shawn got the sense that Patrik was shaking his head to the negative where he was standing in one of the southern courtyards, well out of sight some lengths away. Then:

- None whatsoever. But it lit me up like a storm lantern in the middle of a nighttime typhoon. -

Shawn's grimace became a frown. An interesting analogy and quite apt, given the sensation and how it stormed through him like an explosion of light. Yet he was no closer to an answer as to what it was. Perhaps his weapon could shed further illumination on the subject.

- Star? - Shawn began before the Star's avatar interjected, her voice filled with excitement.

- My wielder! - she cried. - The final Weapon of Power has been found! -

Needing and wanting an answer still didn't prepare the powerful young man for that particular revelation. So astonished and amazed at the news was Shawn that he found himself husking out loud:

<<What??>>

<<Something amiss, my husband?>> Dezi quietly asked from where she had been kneeling beside him, her eyes wide at hearing the naked astonishment in the young Wielder's voice.

<<The Tree Staff has been found,>> Shawn managed to stammer, his own eyes wide as he looked down to return his dark elf wife's gaze. <<All three Weapons of Power are now in the hands of their wielders!>>

Frost him to the Abyss! The final piece was in place! Shawn frowned as he paused to consider that. The final weapon was now in the hands of the sons of Ironstorm yet, beyond that sensation of completion he had just felt, he didn't feel anything different. Frost him! What did it mean?

- It means that while my sibling has finally found her wielder, we cannot defeat the Shadow until we're brought into conjunction, - the Star quietly pointed out in answer to his silent question, her initial excitement dampened by the realization of how far they yet had to go to achieve their goal.

Conjunction: bringing the three weapons into physical proximity so that their united powers and abilities could be brought to bear against the great enemy. Tension rippled along Shawn's jaw as he considered his next thought. Conjunction would only be achieved if they defeat the Shadow here and now and survive to gather together somewhere to face the great enemy in the Final Battle. Resolution washed through him like a flood. 'And we will survive this battle!' he silently vowed. 'I so swear to the Light!'