Chapter Twelve

The Final Battle

Once everyone in the party was ready to move on, Rada told them, "We are going to enter a new place. Everyone need only remain where they are."

The fighters seemed to accept this but Trevor looked doubtful and spoke, "What do you mean by moving on and standing still?"

Rada paid no attention to him. Instead she took up her necklace and approached the golden disk on the wall. When she stood in front of the disk she then bent down on her knees in front of it. Grasping the chain of her necklace she kissed the emblem and then touched it to the disk.

There was no flash, no disorientation, no sense of movement, one moment the party was in the tapestry covered room and the next they were is a room of identical dimensions and very different styling. The floor, walls and roof were not stone. They did not appear to be made of anything except snow white light. Although the room was cubed they could not discern any seams or corners.

In the center of the room two small chests made of dark gleaming wood rested on either side of an ornate golden spear. The spear was not resting on the floor, but standing straight up and floating about an inch off the floor.

Faeloswien was the first to speak, "We are no longer on Quenfex."

I reacted with a nervous chuckle and said, "Ah, where are we then?"

Rada calmly said, "We have entered into a small portion of the Etherworld. It is here the greatest treasure of Ramat is kept."

Trevor said, "So what is in the chests?"

Lyndon actually knocked Trevor in the head and said, "The chests are unimportant. That is the spear from the wall mural. It must be what we have come here for."

Rolo took this in and said, "You are saying we just need to go back into the chapel and put the spear in the pedestal and all our problems will go away in a beam of light."

Rada actually smiled, "Yes that is all we need to do to cleanse this place and return it to its true purpose."

My disbelief showed not only on my face but in my entire stature as I said, "And those demons are just going to stand aside and let us send them back to the Netherworld?"

Rada looked over to me, "No they will do everything they can to stop us. Some of us may not live through this encounter."

Rolo took up the speech in the silence that followed and said, "That is what all of us risked when we took up arms. We thought we would be fighting the Orcs and Goblins instead we have found a den of great evil. It may have remained hidden for centuries but we know it is here now. Just like some great malignant cancer slowly rotting a person from the inside, we must excise this evil to protect those we swore to."

Rada looked at each of them and then said, "Of course if you do not feel you are up to the challenge of this and would be a hindrance than do not follow us. Nothing will be said if you do. I can make you no promises other than the afterlife will be very sweet for those who fall in Ramat's service."

Faeloswien looked hard at Rada and said, "Even me cleric?"

Rada turned to her with a warm smile, "Yes, even you will be guaranteed more in the afterlife then you have received in this life."

Lyndon did not know what to make of this exchange but knew his duty. "I will go where my Captain goes."

Rada slowly turned to him and said, "You will have a higher calling. You are the one who must place the spear in the pillar."

Lyndon turned pale and said, "How can I accept that honor? Surely you are the one chosen for this."

Rada said, "I cannot explain everything now. Just know there are two parts to Ramat. Faith and Fight. You must be the Fight."

Trevor felt he was next and said, "Well magic must be a part of this somehow. Consider me ready for that part."

I did not wait for everyone to look at him and said, "Well no one will ever say a Dwarf was afraid to go where Humans, Elves and Hobbits will. I am in."

Rolo nodded to me and said, "Then we shall go in like this, Wizard Goodfellow and Trooper Faeloswien you will stay back and use your magic and missiles to engage the demons. Trooper Graic and I will hold them off with our sword and axe. Cleric Cimitato you call upon your god to stop the skeletons and demons as best as you can. Sergeant Vale since you have been given this honor than take the spear and get it to the pedestal. And everyone thank you for accepting this great challenge."

Lyndon stepped forward and grasped the spear. He found it very light and quite warm to the touch. Everyone else checked their equipment and at Rada's instruction extinguished their torches. They then formed into a wedge with Trevor, Rada and Faeloswien at its base close to the golden disk. Rolo and Graic formed a second line and Lyndon with his spear at the point.

Rada raised her disk in one hand, holding the heavy, metal book in the other and said, "May Ramat guide our thoughts and deeds." She touched her emblem to the golden disk.

One moment the party was in the room of light, the next they were back in the dark chapel. The party found themselves against the north wall where another golden disk they had failed to notice before was located. Although they no longer had torches the party found enough light being given off by the golden spear to see their goal. They were less than 20 feet from the pedestal. One of the great round demons stood directly between the party and the pedestal.

Their sudden appearance took the undead and demons by surprise but they recovered quickly. The skeletons that were back by the columns began to march toward the party. The far demon let out a bellow and seemed to roll forward. The closer demon did not have time to react before three voices called out from the magic users.

Trevor's wand and Faeloswien's spell let out three magic missiles which hit the demon closest to them. The mouth on top let out what could only be a scream of agony but still the fell thing launched two of its tentacles at the party. One each tried to grasp Lyndon and Graic but both of them blocked the attacks. Meanwhile one of the skeletons on the party's right collapsed into a pile of bones from Rada's turning.

As the front group of fighters closed on the wounded demon, Faeloswien drew her bow and Rada her golden mace.

Trevor announced, "The wand is drained." He pulled out his dagger and tried to see how he could use it against their opponents.

The Captain and his troopers closed on the wounded demon each striking it. The plain weapons of Rada and Graic did not seem to hurt the demon but Lyndon's spear went straight in and left a burning hole in its side finishing it off.

Faeloswien let a arrow fly into the second demon hitting it squarely in the middle. Rada bellowed, "For Ramat!" and charged the two skeletons. Trevor was the only one to noticed one skeleton on the right and he moved to try and block it.

The battle continued on, the three fighters engaged the last demon with Faeloswien firing arrows into it also. Rada swung at one of the skeletons and crushed its skull. Trevor held off engaging the last skeleton knowing he was outmatched.

As he tried to figure out an attack the image of the mural came to his mind and he shouted over his shoulder, "Lyndon stop playing with that thing and get the spear in the pedestal."

About to start a stab, Lyndon heard Trevor and realized what he should be doing. He stopped and turned to the pedestal. Graic moved to cover him and left himself open to the flailing tentacle. Before he could scream out Graic found himself in the demon's mouth being ground to death by its round teeth.

Another bellow sounded behind the party. Rolo glanced back and saw another of the demons rising up out of the floor of the chapel and about to take Rada and Trevor both from behind. He called to his Sergeant, "Hurry Lyndon more of them are coming!"

Without looking at anything other then the pedestal, Lyndon threw himself at it. The new demon sent a tentacle to intercept him. Just before reaching him an arrow from Faeloswien hit the limb and deflected it from touching the leaping man.

Rolled as soon as he hit the ground, Lyndon came up and slammed the butt of the spear into the pedestal. Although the pedestal appeared solid the spear sank in to half its length. Immediately radiant beams of light flared out in all directions. Each beam struck one of the undead or demons. Then the creature began to glow until the creature became solid light and vanished a moment later.

The party suddenly found themselves without targets to attack, except for Graic who just landed on his head on the floor. Rolo rushed over to check on his soldier and found him barely conscious. He called, "Cleric Cimitato you are needed over here."

"Please allow me to take care of all of you." A voice of authority spoke.

All of the party's eyes turned toward a new source of light in the room. Standing by the golden disk on the wall was a man. He appeared of average height and build and was dressed in a long white robe. He carried nothing and would have seemed average in every way except he was glowing with a soft radiant light.

Rada fell to her knees and exclaimed, "Lord Ramat." Then bowed her head.

Since none of the others had ever been in the presence of a god before they followed her lead and fell to their knees also. Ramat raised his arms and part of his glowing light spread out to touch all of the party members. Each of them felt their bodies and spirits lift and heal.

Ramat spoke again in his commanding voice, "I wish to thank all of you for cleansing my sanctuary and allowing me to return to this dimension and Quenfax. There is much work to be done to bring peace and order back to this world. I must ask all of you to continue this work with me."

Looking at each of them as he called their name, Ramat continued, "Rada Cimitato you were the first to accept my return. I ask you to continue as my cleric and gather others to spread my word." He then reached out his hand and beam of light spread out and touched the heavy book Rada still carried. Looking at it she realized the words were now in her own language.

"Lyndon Vale you have fought for me and trained others to fight before coming here. I ask you to now become the trainer of my warriors. Teach them all they will need to destroy evil and send it back to where it can do no harm." Ramat waved his hand and when the light touched Lyndon's hand a spear identical to the one the party had found appeared in it. Glancing over his shoulder he saw the one he had placed in the pedestal was still there.

"Trevor Goodfellow to combat the evils which have overrun this world more than steel will be needed. The skills of the mage will be in much demand. You have the talent. You only lack the experience to use your knowledge. I will give you the chance to acquire this." This time Ramat's light touched both the exhausted wand and his spell book.

"Rolo Hilshire, seekers into the darkness can only do so with the help many who never see the darkness. The peoples you protect will have new purpose once my fellowships begin again. They will also need strong leadership in the dangerous times which are coming. I need you to be that leader." Ramat's next beam of light went up through the ceiling of the chapel.

Turning to the elf he said, "Kynriel Abolsechave of the Dark Glade, you have been Faeloswien to long. In my service you will find the redemption you seek." He did not cast a beam of light at her. For her part Faeloswien did not move or speak. A single tear running down her face was her only response.

"Graic of the Sharptongue Clan, your people are known for their tales of honor and glory. I charge you with spreading the tale of the reclaiming of this place. Also of telling the many more tales that are to come." The light from Ramat touched the ground in front of Graic. There appeared a book very similar to the one Rada held. Next to it was a stylus and a bottle of ruby ink.

"We shall meet again my fellowship. I thank you for all you have done and will do." With that Ramat vanished. The party members looked at what they had been given and each other and around the chapel. They saw that now the room was clear and clean with no trace of its age showing. Also that not only was light coming from the spear in the pedestal but also from the ceiling.

Rolo broke the silence and said, "We best be getting back to the Keep. The others will need to hear of all that has occurred."

Lyndon asked, "Should some of us stay here and protect this place."

Rada answered, "No this sanctuary will not need protection. Only those of the faithful to fill it."

Rolo said, "Very good then let's move out. Standard formation please."

As the party climbed up the stairs they were greeted by a new wonderful sight. Instead of climbing up to an open hill they found themselves in the ground floor of a three story tower. Opening the door to the outside they saw the hill was now surrounded by a wooden palisade with a gate and watchtowers. Inside the walls were buildings similar to their own keep.

Rada spoke, "This is your gift Captain. A place for you to lead and care for the ones who care for those who will be trained here. Your father will be quite proud you have added to the defense of his realm."

While the rest of the party marveled over the newly risen keep, I moved closer to the walls to inspect the stonework. It appeared to be the same as that in the sanctuary below. It was while I was bent over I was attacked. As I tried to fend off the foul creature the rest of my comrades just laughed. Finally Lyndon came running up and removed the creature.

Lyndon said, "Down girl, down. Yes we're very glad to see you too."

Sitting up I looked over to see Lyndon kneeling down petting Truffle the dog's head.

Faeloswien held her giggles for moment and said, "It seems our new god has helped us again."

Once they were done laughing Rolo looked around with pride once more and said, "Then what was your reward Faeloswien or is it Kynriel?"

Before Faeloswien could respond Rada said, "That will be the subject of the next book Graic will write for Ramat. For now we need to go back to Thunderfist Keep and tell everyone of Lord Ramat's return."

Now I will say being know as Graic the Watcher is not as bad as I thought. I get to watch from the front line of the battle for the planet of Quenfax.