sounded musical to Malil.
The first crusher clanged into the tree again as the other pulled back for another run. The vibrating note of the last attack had almost fallen to silence when a flood of green oozed from the tree.
At first Malil thought it might be some sort of organic fluid. He had seen Memnarch bleed before, had even seen the humans and elves bleed when they were caught between the scythe blades of a leveler. Maybe this tree was bleeding.
The green fluid began to strike the levelers and the crushers, and Malil knew this was no fluid after all.
“Trolls.”
Levelers were hurled away from the advancing green tide. The crushers stopped their attack, covered by a host of trolls.
“Kill them,” shouted Malil, and the rest of the leveler army moved in, tightening the noose around the tree and the trolls.
“What we do?” shouted Slobad. “Levelers have us trapped, huh?”
“We’re going to fight,” said Glissa. She gripped the hilt of the Sword of Kaldra and took a step forward, but Drooge’s crutch bared her way.
“Your path does not lead out this door,” said the troll chieftain, indicating the arched front entrance to the tree. “It leads to the center of Mirrodin.”
“Wherever I’m supposed to go, I can’t get there if I don’t get out of this damned tree. We have to fight. We have no choice. Besides, your trolls could use the help.”
The elf pointed out to the battle raging just a few yards from them. The forest beasts had torn many of the artifact creatures to bits. Piles of metal parts littered the ground, but among them were the fallen forms of several trolls.
“My trolls can take care of themselves,” replied Drooge. “Now you must take care that you do not too easily play into Memnarch’s hands.”
“You think this army is here to find me?”
“I do not think,” replied Drooge, “I know. Now, follow me.” Despite his missing leg, Drooge moved faster than she’d ever seen a troll go, and Glissa struggled to keep up.
Glissa looked down at her sword. “Wait! Where do I find the last piece of the Kaldra Guardian?”
The troll did not turn, continuing to lead Glissa, Slobad, and Bosh from the Tree. “You must find Geth. He has what you are looking for.”
Glissa looked to Slobad. “Geth again.”
“Crazy troll can’t find ’nother shield?”
Glissa shook her head. “You’re the one who was so excited about a new artifact to tinker with.” She shrugged. “Guess we head back to the Vault of Whispers. If we’d onlyknown last time, we could have saved ourselves a trip.”
Drooge, standing taller than any except Bosh, looked each of them in the eye then returned his stare to Glissa. “You must get to the Mephidross quickly. Do not stay here and fight, or the sacrifice of these many trolls will be in vain.”
* * * * *
Pontifex lowered his wide-headed halberd and lunged at Marek. “These are trying times, my friend.”
The vedalken elite guard commander parried the blow then countered, pushing Pontifex back a step.
“Well done,” complimented the vedalken lord. He steadied himself then began weaving his blade in a series of practiced patterns.
Marek watched the tip of the halberd as it moved through the air.
“I knew the probable outcome, but I hadn’t expected such a unanimous vote.” Pontifex continued moving his weapon, attempting to lull his opponent with its gentle motion.
“Does that really matter, my lord? If the representatives vote with one voice, there is no difference between approval from most and from all. The outcome is the same.” Marek kept his guard up.
“True, true,” replied Pontifex. He watched Marek follow the hypnotic pattern of the blade. “Still, this sort of thing could lead to very dangerous changes inside the empire.” The vedalken lord struck. His blade moved forward, but instead of moving back, following the pattern, he lunging farther, catching Marek off guard. The blade spanked off of the warrior’s
The first crusher clanged into the tree again as the other pulled back for another run. The vibrating note of the last attack had almost fallen to silence when a flood of green oozed from the tree.
At first Malil thought it might be some sort of organic fluid. He had seen Memnarch bleed before, had even seen the humans and elves bleed when they were caught between the scythe blades of a leveler. Maybe this tree was bleeding.
The green fluid began to strike the levelers and the crushers, and Malil knew this was no fluid after all.
“Trolls.”
Levelers were hurled away from the advancing green tide. The crushers stopped their attack, covered by a host of trolls.
“Kill them,” shouted Malil, and the rest of the leveler army moved in, tightening the noose around the tree and the trolls.
“What we do?” shouted Slobad. “Levelers have us trapped, huh?”
“We’re going to fight,” said Glissa. She gripped the hilt of the Sword of Kaldra and took a step forward, but Drooge’s crutch bared her way.
“Your path does not lead out this door,” said the troll chieftain, indicating the arched front entrance to the tree. “It leads to the center of Mirrodin.”
“Wherever I’m supposed to go, I can’t get there if I don’t get out of this damned tree. We have to fight. We have no choice. Besides, your trolls could use the help.”
The elf pointed out to the battle raging just a few yards from them. The forest beasts had torn many of the artifact creatures to bits. Piles of metal parts littered the ground, but among them were the fallen forms of several trolls.
“My trolls can take care of themselves,” replied Drooge. “Now you must take care that you do not too easily play into Memnarch’s hands.”
“You think this army is here to find me?”
“I do not think,” replied Drooge, “I know. Now, follow me.” Despite his missing leg, Drooge moved faster than she’d ever seen a troll go, and Glissa struggled to keep up.
Glissa looked down at her sword. “Wait! Where do I find the last piece of the Kaldra Guardian?”
The troll did not turn, continuing to lead Glissa, Slobad, and Bosh from the Tree. “You must find Geth. He has what you are looking for.”
Glissa looked to Slobad. “Geth again.”
“Crazy troll can’t find ’nother shield?”
Glissa shook her head. “You’re the one who was so excited about a new artifact to tinker with.” She shrugged. “Guess we head back to the Vault of Whispers. If we’d onlyknown last time, we could have saved ourselves a trip.”
Drooge, standing taller than any except Bosh, looked each of them in the eye then returned his stare to Glissa. “You must get to the Mephidross quickly. Do not stay here and fight, or the sacrifice of these many trolls will be in vain.”
* * * * *
Pontifex lowered his wide-headed halberd and lunged at Marek. “These are trying times, my friend.”
The vedalken elite guard commander parried the blow then countered, pushing Pontifex back a step.
“Well done,” complimented the vedalken lord. He steadied himself then began weaving his blade in a series of practiced patterns.
Marek watched the tip of the halberd as it moved through the air.
“I knew the probable outcome, but I hadn’t expected such a unanimous vote.” Pontifex continued moving his weapon, attempting to lull his opponent with its gentle motion.
“Does that really matter, my lord? If the representatives vote with one voice, there is no difference between approval from most and from all. The outcome is the same.” Marek kept his guard up.
“True, true,” replied Pontifex. He watched Marek follow the hypnotic pattern of the blade. “Still, this sort of thing could lead to very dangerous changes inside the empire.” The vedalken lord struck. His blade moved forward, but instead of moving back, following the pattern, he lunging farther, catching Marek off guard. The blade spanked off of the warrior’s
Similar Books
