Medice Ceres

Chapter 52

A short woman came into view about twenty-five paces away standing under the Spirit Rak's pulsing indigo light. Tangled strands of long silver hair that caught the moonlight framed her dark eyes and wrinkled face. She wore the traditional robe of a Shaman, pulled loosely over what looked like bedclothes. Her icy stare matched the capabilities of the Elemental Spirit she called.

Ceres whispered. "The Shaman... The Darkness has her as well."

Waithe whispered back. "And she appears none too happy that you--"

He grabbed Ceres and jumped to the side as the Shaman flung a bony hand forward, delivering an attack. A blue streak of coldness, only just visible in the night, flashed past them. It encased a small bush in a killing freeze and left a path of shimmering ice particles in its wake.

Another of the Free-Fighters assigned to Ceres leaped atop a berm wall and leveled a crossbow at the Shaman. The bolt only made it halfway to its target, having fallen to the rocky ground encased in ice. The Shaman smirked as she formed her own projectile made of ice, suspended in the air before her. With a flick of her fingers, she launched it. The fighter gasped as he fell back off the berm, a spear of hard ice protruding from his chest.

Standing, Ceres held out her arms. "Lyr! Come to me!"

The sparkling light blue light of the Elemental Water Spirit appeared immediately above her. She lifted an arm and a swirling column of water lifted from the river, bending toward her foe.

The Shaman smiled, almost laughing out loud and seemingly amused by it all. With a motion of her hand, a layer of ice spread over the water column. Frozen solid, the column splashed back down into the river. Another attempt by Ceres to form a kinetic water attack produced the same result.

Another ice spear appeared before the Shaman as her smile faded and eyes narrowed. The spear raced toward Ceres, but shattered against the rocks as Waithe pulled her behind an earthen berm.  

Clavis joined Ceres and Waithe, his brow raised and eyebrows pulled together. "How do we fight this Shaman?"

Ceres responded, peering over the berm. "She is truly powerful. An idea I have to use her powers against her. But I need a distraction."

Waithe pointed with his long knife as he turned toward Clavis. "You go left. I will take the right. But be wary of her attacks."

Ceres put her hands on the shoulder of each of the men. "I only need a moment. Be careful."

With a nod, Waithe and Clavis dashed out, running to flank the Shaman. They let out loud battle cries to get her attention. She looked left, then right, at first confused. Deciding on one, she launched an ice spear. Clavis dove out of the way, tumbling down the side of an ore pile, as it whizzed past. She turned her attention to the other attacker, launching multiple ice spears at Waithe. He ducked down behind a berm, ice pelted him as the spears shattered against the rocks. Changing her tactic, the Shaman brought forth a blue streak of the coldness and directed it toward Waithe's position. Layers of ice and frost formed near him as he huddled down, shivering from the encroaching cold.

Seeing Waithe's plight, Clavis jumped up on top of an ore pile. He put two fingers to his tightened lips and let out a loud whistle. "Witch! You be so ugly!"

Waithe shook his head and groaned, then peered back over the berm. The insult was weak but effective enough. The Shaman wrinkled her nose and turned her attention toward Clavis. She paused for a brief moment, seemingly unsure as to how to respond. Three ice spears took form before her. With a flick of a finger, they sped toward him. Clavis' eyes widened as he dove to the side. He cried out in pain as one of the spears impaled his thigh, then he tumbled down the ore pile.