Convergence
"If I manage to put any more holes in my robe I might as well not be wearing it," Seraphina scowled when she finally heft herself up and over the mass of tangled brambles to the second tier. First the broken branch of the bush during the scrap with the warlock had put a ragged hole that showed her pale blue skin then the snagging and pulling of brambles had nearly shredded her garment. Niall and Hex didn't fare any better with the brambles either.
"You could have made yourselves useful and helped us up," Hex said pointedly to the dragons.
"You wanna try flying a giant?" Spyro replied with a surprised blink. He cringed when Cynder slapped him with her tail.
"Ginny-Li can fly. I'm sorry, I suppose I let my determination to not let Spyro leave me behind cloud my judgment," Cynder said sheepishly.
"You never asked," Ginny-Li shrugged at the group of Skylanders that had been forced to climb.
Niall laughed at the look Hex gave the giant, "It is a respect thing. If you do not ask for help a gargoyle will not offer it unless you would die without. To them help offered when it is not requested is an insult and off-hand way of telling someone they are incompetent."
"Bizarre creatures," Hex muttered under her breath. Still now that she knew Ginny-Li's reasoning she could respect her choice.
"We are close to the others," Seraphina said suddenly. "The effort Uriel is expending is either weakening or our proximity is allowing their auras to radiate stronger." She waved to the others to follow her, undaunted by obstacles she was determined to meet back up with her siblings and make their group whole again.
"You read auras?" Spyro asked.
"It can be done with magic or potions too, it is something we have used commonly to track individuals," Crevan replied. "Although, the potion or indicator spell must be first applied to the person or object before the locator can be used."
"The eirian elves learned it from us," Ginny-Li grinned. "It's new to them as well so don't look so impressed by it."
Spyro watched the Hexling drift by him, "I'm reminded more of the magic Eon possessed before Kaos sealed him away. Skylanders focus more on offensive skills; you have a wide range of defensive and seeking skills."
"Anicetus tells me you met with Archmage Mihangel in Meir Valan. He would be honored to work with your casters to increase their repertoire."
"This offer I will gladly accept, Priestess. Thank you," Hex responded.
Anicetus and Eloryn Reve walked ahead of the rest of their group. They didn't quite know yet how to react to the news of other Skylanders being involved. The two whispered softly to one another as they held their distance. Windy felt the heavy weight of regret on her shoulders. She couldn't do a thing about the drow in Uzern but she did feel guilty for her return against the request of her Tour friends.
Camo walked by the hybrid's side. His head was cocked to the side and his eyes ever roving the overgrown city. He was listening intently to the murmur of the trees and understood that they were surrounded by an enemy that outnumbered them several hundred to one. It wasn't the same as dealing with Kaos's scattered minions in remote locations. There his forces relied on enslaved locals; here it was more like wandering into the enemy rally and deployment point. "Another patrol is ahead of us," Camo said to break the silence. "Coming this way. There are others around us as well. They know we are here and are set to find us."
"Can your tree friends give us specific details?" Meilyr inquired.
Camo squinted his eyes for a moment then shook his head, "They do not measure things as we do. Sometimes how they speak to me is confusing. The drow could be on the level above or below us, height is relative to a tree and everything is below them."
"Then we move back into the side streets, it was risky to remain in the open as long as we have."
"Oh, I hate the side streets," Windy muttered at Wraith's command. "They're almost always overgrown with things that tangle and scratch."
The yellow and black Swarmling stood up straighter suddenly as if he had heard something. "Into a building, quickly," Nivaeus said as he turned to the right. His long, backward arching antenna stood up a little straighter and vibrated just barely. His senses were different as a Swarmling but they were still some of the most sensitive in the group. He had felt vibrations in the air that signaled they weren't alone. "The drow are on our level."
The group split up at that, it hadn't been planned but things happened in a way to cause it. Meilyr, Anicetus and Eloryn ducked into one building while Windy, Camo, Wraith and Nivaeus stuck to another.
"They'll be spotted for sure," Nivaeus scowled. Across the plaza he could clearly see the light from Anicetus' flames through the massive windows that lined the front of the building; the forest growth simply wasn't thick enough to conceal the glow.
"Then we turn it into an ambush when it happens," Wraith replied. He put a massive hand against Windy's chest to pull the Whirlwindling back when she insisted on sticking her head a little too far out the vine covering.
"They'll be even madder if they get found out!" the hybrid complained.
"Work with what ya got," Camo told her. "You have to plow a field before you can plant it." Carefully the forest dragon coaxed vines to grow and reinforce the web of cover over the other group.
Windy was confused as to what his allegory meant but decided not to question it. Instead she sat still with only her tail swaying behind her as she watched the building across the way.
Meilyr hardly blinked as he peered out into the street. He was nervous, very clearly he could see Anicetus' glow on the vines in front of him and even saw light splashed out onto the street beyond. He had told the prince of this but still his oldest friend didn't budge. So Meilyr had simply given up and hoped for the best. The Fizzling had been surprised when the vines began to swell and block the large holes in the leafy cover and said a silent thank you to Camo.
"I can hear them," Eloryn said with her head cocked to the side. "They are mounted. Several of them. I… cannot quite tell how many."
"Better than what I can tell," Anicetus muttered. He didn't hear a thing yet. Judging by how Meilyr's ears were swiveling either he heard them too or was trying to pick them up. "Oh wait, now I hear them."
The claws on both the orniteryx and trekkers of the group clacked and scratched across the avenue as the riders raced down it. Comprised of twenty three orniteryx and six trekkers the group was prepared for combat and running word of sightings. The riders on the trekkers were dressed lightly; they would be the sprinters and messengers. The orniteryx riders wore heavy armor that was viciously spiked and pointed everywhere possible.
Trekkers led the group and didn't even look behind them or sideways as they raced past the two groups hidden in the buildings. The orniteryx however did slow and stop in the area. The bird's chests heaved and the riders looked eagerly behind them with weapons from lances to swords and crossbows held at the ready.
"Are they still following us?" a drow sitting astride a dark green and brown war bird asked. The voice said she was female even if her armor did nothing to give that fact away. She turned her bird around, the large avian's feathers ruffled and wings fluttered as the bird tried to make herself look larger.
"You think they're going to let us warn others?" another rider laughed. He tightened his grip on his lance. "Spread out, hide between buildings. I'll stay here. Khern, Hilek you're with me. Xerene, you signal the others to move. You have a good eye for that."
The female drow on the green and brown orniteryx nodded before she divided up her group to surround the area evenly.
"Hold," Wraith hissed when Windy became antsy again. One of the drow was so very close to them, just around the corner from the window they could see out of. The giant had pushed everyone back further into the room. Wraith held one stubby finger up to his lips and said nothing else.
Camo bobbed his head a few times and took to pacing back and forth with his eyes darting from the leafy covering that hid them back to the solid wall that separated them from the drow sitting astride an orniteryx. He was sure the others were thinking the same thing; the party with the other Cores must be coming up behind the drow. The ambush wasn't going to go how the drow planned.
Finally Anicetus saw reason to move away from the windows. He turned full around and looked between his sister and Meilyr before he pointed back the way they had come. There were better positions to take, ones that would allow them to surprise the drow who were trying to do that very thing to someone else.
The trio moved silently, the going was agonizingly slow with Anicetus so his armor plate wouldn't scrape or click against itself or the floor he walked across. A shadow just outside the door gave them pause; one of the riders must have sheltered just on the other side. Meilyr shook his head as Anicetus crept forward undaunted. The Ignitorling raised an armored finger to what would have been his lips as he drew ever nearer. The prince wasn't worried in the least and was determined to make use of himself.
Spyro and Cynder led the group; their sleek draconic forms flowed fluidly like stalking cats as they warily approached the area where the scent of war bird and drow was strongest. The group was far from complete however; Ginny-Li had looped out wide and was going to creep up on the far side of the drow. Niall showed a knack for stealth most of the others hadn't expected when he too slipped away to join the Ninjiniling in a rear assault. That left the Fizzling Crevan flanked by two undead elves, Hex in black and Seraphina in her torn and tattered white priestess robes.
"How many of them are there?" Spyro asked when he saw only three standing like a blockade in the middle of the avenue.
"Twenty three," Seraphina replied. "The other twenty mean to ambush us. They will fail," she smirked. As of yet she didn't wish to reveal to the others that her siblings and their party were in the vicinity. "The group of trekkers that rode ahead will prove problematic for us. We must finish this group quickly and move on."
"Put the Spyroling in your sights, Hilek," the lance toting drow in the middle said.
"What about the Cynderling, Hawk?" the third drow asked. He felt Hilek had the advantage with his crossbow while Hawk and himself held close range weapons. "The dragons are the most threatening. Shouldn't you have kept one of the other crossbowmen?"
Hawk hissed and glared hard at the black armored swordsman. The Skylanders were probably suspicious of hidden attackers but he didn't need to confirm it for them. "Hold your tongue or charge the dame yourself."
The swordsman scowled and subconsciously tugged the reins on his orniteryx. The bird's spiked helm rose as he squawked in protest. "I'll take my chances that Hilek is fast enough with that thing to make up for it."
The dragons held their ground as did the drow. The two groups stared each other down with drow shifting nervously on the backs of their mounts.
"Are we gonna dance or what?" Spyro asked. The drow had to know he and the others were prepared for an ambush. Certainly they were aware of the fact the group was suddenly short the giant that was with them earlier. Even if they had missed Niall they would be blind or stupid to have missed Ginny-Li.
The orniteryx danced nervously suddenly and left their riders scowling as they reined them in. The birds wouldn't have it though and began to protest as they tried to turn away from the Skylanders. "Bloody birds, act like ye've never seen a dragon before!" Hilek scowled as he was forced to lower his crossbow in favor of controlling his mount.
"Well," Spyro grinned as he spread his wings, "They've never seen me!" With a powerful downbeat of his wings the dragon was airborne. Cynder was a heartbeat behind him and the two dragons flew screaming at the war birds and drow.
"Shoot it, shoot it!" the swordsman yelled as he slashed harmlessly at the air. The dragons hadn't even swooped in close enough to be hit, he had panicked. So distracted by the dragons were the three riders that they failed to take into account the undead elves and Fizzling. It wasn't until one of the orniteryx was hit with an enormous and heavy skull did they remember. Drow heads swiveled back to the trio in time to see a barrage of phantom orbs racing their way and the disappearance of the Fizzling.
Crevan showed himself almost immediately; the gremlin was now hulking and vicious as he charged the trio from the left. The nearest bird, Hilek's black and grey mount, turned to accept the challenge. The orniteryx balanced himself on one foot and slashed out with the other a lightning quick strike at the Fizzling. The bird's large sickle claw would have been devastating for the Fizzling if he hadn't managed to catch the orniteryx by the leg. Crevan looked up at the rider with a toothy grin and tugged hard on the angry bird's thick leg. With a squawk the bird fell to his side and crushed Hilek under thrashing wings and a neck straining to keep an eye on his attacker. Hilek was set free a moment later when his mount was forcefully pulled out from under him and then used to bludgeon him. Hilek saw a screaming hooked beak coming at him before blackness descended via that same beak hitting him in the temple.
One powerful beat of his wings propelled Spyro up higher and out of the way of the black and grey mass of feathers that had been tossed like a pebble by Crevan. Spyro arched his neck back and let loose a stream of fire to set the bird alight and further add to the chaos below him. The three drow had grown in number. Ginny-Li and Niall had each flushed out another rider with their surprise attacks as other drow began to charge in. Spyro was startled to see the familiar red scarf wearing Whirlwindling burst through a section of vines to bite one of the orniteryx on the tail.
"Spyro," Cynder called to him, "The crossbowmen!" She angled herself to target one and hit him with black bolts of crackling electricity before switching to gale winds to force the bird he rode to hunker down low in an effort to avoid being bowled over by the power of her elemental breath.
"On it!" the purple dragon replied. He decided to let loose a blizzard and iced over the street all around the second crossbowman. Niall had no trouble slinging tripwire spells around the area that kept the orniteryx dancing and struggling for balance. The drow never managed to find an opening for a shot amid the chaos and with Niall's help Spyro dropped him easily.
While the group lead by the giant Hot Headling hadn't officially met up with the party of predominantly Cores, they knew they were there. Flashes of armor, pearly scales, leafy ones and towering forms were all the proof needed to declare that the other two Reves had made it through the city safe with their allies.
The drow and orniteryx stood motionless in front of Anicetus. "Move quickly, get her restrained!" he called out to his sister Eloryn. The Ignitorling could hold the drow frozen in time for a long time but he was eager to enter the battle out on the streets.
The Flashwingling snorted and looked back to Meilyr, "How, we do not have anything to restrain her with."
Anicetus scowled and drew his sword before he hacked at a cluster of smaller vines. He pulled them away from the wall and untangled them before tossing one end to Meilyr. "Improvise."
"I could not tie her anyway," Eloryn snapped back, "no hands!" She flexed her claws and dragged them across the stone platform most of the tier sat upon. While her brother and Meilyr bound the drow's arms to her side and legs to her mount Eloryn took aim carefully and used two crystal shards to puncture each of the drow's hands. She wouldn't be able to grip a weapon if she did manage to wriggle out of the vines once Anicetus had restarted time for her.
"The orniteryx too," Meilyr said when Anicetus seemed content to just bind the rider. "You do not want her coming at you anymore than you want the rider." The Ignitorling grunted but complied.
Not every Skylander had their hands full with combat and defense against other attackers. Wraith simply walked out into the street holding the thrashing drow he had caught up by the back of his armor. The giant didn't seem worried in the least by the orniteryx that ran past him or the stray elemental attacks from dragon or undead sorceress. Behind him walked Nivaeus, the other giant was watching the scene around him and noted as the drow dropped one by one with the occasional orniteryx needing to be put down as well.
"Guess we missed all the fun," Nivaeus said wryly.
Wraith snorted as the remaining drow were subdued by the efforts of Anicetus and finished off by someone else's attack. In the end the Skylanders had three drow huddled together with Wraith's restrained individual bringing the total to four.
"We left one more tied up in the alley," Anicetus hooked a thumb behind him.
"It is good to see you again," Ginny-Li punched Wraith then Nivaeus in the shoulder. "Did you see the trekkers?"
"Long gone," Nivaeus shook his head. "We heard their approach and took cover to see what chased us."
Camo's head was cocked to the side as he seemingly listened to something the others couldn't hear. "The riders on trekkers have raised the alarm. More riders are coming our way and…" Camo's eyes went wide for a moment and he turned to Windy.
"What?" the hybrid asked as she walked up between Spyro and Cynder. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"The trees have described to me individuals that fit Lunar and Sprint's descriptions. They are not restrained and walk alongside the riders."
"What does that mean?" Anicetus asked Camo.
"The drow have a gargoyle psionic in their arsenal," Hex replied. She folded her arms across her chest. "You are going to have to fight your friends."
"I can't do that," Windy gasped as her ears dropped down. "That's not fair!"
"Not fair?" Eloryn barked. "You decided to bring them here without first asking if it was wise or if it was allowed!"
"Elo now is not the time," Seraphina said with a swift slice of her hand through the air to indicate she meant business.
Wraith tromped ahead of the group then turned back to face the whole of the assembly. "We move, now. Filter through the side streets, try to avoid this group. Destroy them," the giant pointed to the drow.
"Soothsayer," Nivaeus called to the eldest princess. He never used the honorary title to refer to Seraphina, she had always insisted the gargoyles call her by name and they did. None of them even used princess to refer to her when they spoke directly to her. The fact Nivaeus had opted for a title let Seraphina know he was going to suggest something she might not like. "Use them." He motioned to the drow that were restrained but alive.
Seraphina's nostrils flared and her eyes widened, "Absolutely not!"
"Use them, use them how?" Spyro moved forward and curled a lip into a snarl when one of the drow dared to glare at him. "You'll get only trouble from them. They reek of the taint."
"That is forbidden among even gargoyles. How can you ask me to violate the rules I too follow?" Seraphina had begun to pace. It left the Cores as well as Crevan confused as to what she and the giant were talking about.
The Hexling snorted and waved again. "Tell them, the drow have been cut off from the conversation. They will not hear."
Ginny-Li looked first to Wraith before she started, "In this case I am going to have to agree with Nivaeus. Use compulsion and control their minds; send them back to their allies as sleepers."
"You can't," Cynder's eyes were wide as she looked to Seraphina. "That's too much like what Malefor did to me!"
Hex narrowed her eyes, "You can do that?"
"Every gargoyle psionic can," Wraith replied. "As can Seraphina and her mate Kaelin." The giant folded his arms across his chest. "It is forbidden for good reason. To rob another of their freewill is an underhanded ploy that is dangerously close to letting the darkness into one's heart. The Shadows may use it freely but no other gargoyle in any of the other clans would even think of it. Our psionics know how to do it only because the skill is needed to reverse the effects."
"To use it, even against them," Seraphina pointed furiously at the drow, "would make me no better than them. I am offended that you would even ask such a thing of me."
"If you do it to them, could they help get Sprint and Lunar away from the drow?" Windy asked.
Seraphina's jaw was clenched so tightly her cheeks and neck quivered with the effort. She didn't want to answer, "I do not know. It takes time to alter a mind." Niall stepped up beside her wordlessly and the Hexling glanced to him only to catch the barest shake of his head.
"Some can learn to control the darkness that takes root within," Spyro said slowly. "If we can surprise the drow isn't it worth a chance?"
Again Seraphina looked appalled by the suggestion. "And if I am not able to control it?"
"No one ever said the darkness will take hold," Nivaeus pointed out. "You skirt close to it, flirting with it is one thing. Allowing it in is another."
"No! This is insane!" Meilyr yelled with his arms flailing wildly. "Ani, Elo, say something! Why are you so quiet?"
"The idea has merit," Anicetus sighed. He felt heartbroken to see the look of betrayal Seraphina gave him.
"Elo?" the eldest princess turned to the Flashwingling.
"I think you could do it and be fine," she said softly while refusing to look at her older sister.
"For the love of," Seraphina exclaimed as she threw her head back and covered her eyes with both hands. "Niall, Crevan? Do you care to weigh in on it?" Her shoulders slumped as she dreaded their responses.
"It goes against everything we were ever taught as priests," Niall replied. He gave a disapproving and sour look to the Ignitorling and Flashwingling, they should have known better.
"No," Crevan said simply. "It is not worth the risk." He moved up on Seraphina's other side to make a visual display of his dislike. He and Niall exchanged looks that seemed to hold an entire conversation before they looked back out on the others.
Hex drifted up towards Seraphina with a stoic look on her face that never wavered even when the princess gave her a wounded look that questioned her wordlessly. "The best intentions of good noble men can lead to tragedy. Kill the drow if you must do something with them. I won't let you break their minds if it may land you on the other side."
"Nor will I," Cynder stepped forward.
"Bad idea to do," Camo shook his head. "They agree," he nodded to the nearest tree. "You do not want to sow the seeds of darkness." Camo too moved in closer to Seraphina. With the group around her it looked like they were trying to protect her from the others.
"Then it's settled," Wraith nodded. There was no fight in him, just acceptance.
"But my friends!" Windy protested. "How will we get them back?" She turned wide eyes from Seraphina to the three giants.
"Blood, sweat and tears," Ginny-Li murmured before she drew her blades.
The Skylanders didn't stay put for long. They vacated the area and moved on to ready themselves for the approaching force that already knew of their presence. War birds snorted and clicked their beaks as they stood in rank and file with their riders watching the lone figure that had dismounted to investigate the bodies that didn't appear to have died in combat.
"Executed," a witch in a blood red robe said as she stood back up. She cleaned her bloodied fingers on the kerchief she carried with her then balled it up to slide back up her sleeve. "The blood still trickles, we have only just missed them." She took the reins of the orniteryx with feathers the same color as her robe before she swung back up onto the saddle. "They couldn't have gone far. Take the puppets back to the palace. They'll meet their former allies soon enough," the witch told two of the mounted drow. Both were grim faced and covered with scars where their light leather armor failed to cover them. With curt nods they peeled away and whistled. Lunar and Sprint turned fluidly like trained dogs to follow the drow and their mounts.
The witch grimaced at the corpses that were slouched against one another. "We split up from here. Groups of three. I want one this way and others in those directions," she said as she pointed forward, behind and to either side of their current position.
"We're two people extra for even groups," a crossbowman pointed out.
"You," the witch pointed to a lower ranking witch, "and you," she pointed to a swordsman, "Go with the others back to the palace." She looked right at the crossbowman that had pointed out her flawed logic, her jaw twitched as she clenched her teeth. "Are you satisfied now?"
"Yes ma'am," the crossbowman said while trying to shrink into his saddle.
"Good, you lead one of the groups. If we fail to find the Skylanders I will make leather from your hide," she promised.
When there was need for it Wraith could move surprisingly quick. Still the deep scowl he wore spoke volumes about his disdain for his slower, lumbering pace. It wasn't by choice that he brought up the rear after all. The rather colorful group flitted through the side streets and sometimes through buildings as they moved away from the spot the drow were going to converge on. There was no telling how many would answer the call for reinforcements and from what directions they would come.
"Where is the palace?" Windy asked at normal volume without any worry of being overheard. She received two hisses and a multitude of glares for the trouble. "If that's where this psionic is then I want to get there as quickly as possible!" she protested with a glare of her own.
"Up two more tiers," Seraphina answered. She halted the group on the edge of a plaza and pointed out to a vertical freestanding column of stone. "If we can summon that lift we are that much closer to our destination."
"What lies in the area, Seraphina," Wraith asked as the hulking giant came up beside the smaller Hexling. He stopped anyone from walking out of the side street they were in. Until they knew what to expect he didn't want anyone unprotected out in the open.
Her expression went flat, "I cannot detect anything in the area." She shook her head when her companions took it wrong, "The psionic has blocked me from detecting the drow. Every last one of them is masked from my probing. We have no edge other than he cannot find us without drow making visual contact."
"Then I'm going out there," Cynder tilted her head towards the lift. "We'll never know what awaits us unless we take a chance. Stay here and watch my back."
"I can mask your presence so tha-"
"No," Cynder cut off Seraphina. "I want to get their attention."
"I'm coming with you," Spyro said quickly.
"No, no you're not," Cynder looked at him in all seriousness. "One of us, particularly a 'weak and helpless girl' will draw attention and curiosity while giving them a false sense of security. We go from there."
"Should it not be Windy that goes out, then? You do not look helpless in the least. You hold yourself too proudly."
The Whirlwindling glared hard at Eloryn, she didn't want to use herself as bait unless she was certain it would help her friends. "Why don't you go? You look rich and arrogant. Bet they'll see you as a way to make ransom."
"No, just no," Meilyr grunted as he put a paw on the side of Eloryn's head and pushed her one way while doing the same to Windy. "We are on the same side. Drop it."
Cynder sniffed, "I can look scared and helpless if I want. You just be ready to take out whoever shows themselves."
"Then we have your back, Core Cynder," Niall bowed to her.
It was convincing to say the least when Cynder walked out with her head down. She had rolled her shoulders up so rather than a cautiously lowered head it looked like a submissive posture. She kept her tail low and tucked up partially under her while she held her wings so tightly against her body that they quivered from the effort. Her footsteps too were irregular and slow. She paused at every little noise she heard. So long as she kept her head down her eyes could remain sharp as they roved the area. Occasionally she would raise her head in mock surprise and widen her eyes as her chest heaved with quick breaths and she looked around as if she had heard something. Cynder had even taken to swallowing hard with a slight bob of her head to accent it.
Behind her the whole of the group had taken cover until they could be certain either no one was around or that they had taken the bait and revealed themselves. Cynder wanted to turn back around and squint to detect the cloaking shell the princess had employed to allow everyone to hide in plain sight. Still the dragon knew if she did she might give them away and that was counterproductive.
So far nothing had happened, Cynder didn't hear nor smell any new arrivals in the area. She had almost reached the platform. Well, the dragon had no purpose in using it to get to the next tier so unless she found something that would honestly interest her about it she was going to have to make a choice. The party wanted to go up because they had a destination in mind. If Cynder was supposed to be lost why would she go up if there were other avenues on her current level to explore? So far nothing had given Cynder any sort of indication that going up was where a lost Skylander would travel by chance.
The black dragon yawned, well the lack of action was boring but not enough to make her that bored. She stifled another yawn and decided to veer away from the platform. There had to be someone around. She couldn't possibly have the good luck of finding an area devoid of drow after the alarm had been raised.
"Okay, she's going to give it away that she's trying to prompt anyone in hiding to come out if she keeps yawning like that," Spyro snorted. "She knows better than that!"
"She does," Hex murmured with her eyes narrowed into slits. "I think she's found something but hasn't realized it yet."
"The yawns told you this?" Crevan blinked in confusion.
"A spell, yes," Niall mused as he too squinted in an effort to see something, anything, out of the ordinary.
Ginny-Li shifted and took to looking in directions opposite of the other two. "If it is a triggered effect we aren't going to get much excitement out of it."
"She should turn back then before she gets careless and alerts the drow that their trap has been sprung. Contact her, Seraphina," Wraith said as he turned to look at the elven psionic.
"Not true, Ginny," Anicetus brought others back to the Ninjiniling's statement. "We will not see excitement unless it also comes with an alarm."
Cynder collapsed suddenly and Spyro didn't even pause for a second before he dashed out of the protective shield Seraphina had set over them.
"Wait!" Crevan yelled. A moment later and Spyro collapsed; in places where his scales were soft his hide was riddled with darts bearing colorful tufts.
"No warning, I got no warning!" Camo cried in alarm. The trees hadn't warned him, how was that possible? The hybrid danced around in agitation as Windy and Hex both tried to calm him. It was too late, Seraphina and Nivaeus cried out as stray darts found them.
Seraphina groaned and sank to her knees, as she lost the ability to focus the barrier she held collapsed and the group was completely open.
"Run!" Wraith bellowed. He stooped to pick up the dazed Hexling while Ginny-Li did the same for Nivaeus. A flurry of darts rained down on the fleeing Skylanders. If they could find shelter they could fight back properly and return for their incapacitated friends. Buildings were all around, a residential district in which most doors had been sealed shut via growth from the forest. It was frustrating to have so many opportunities for cover and have the inability to utilize any of them.
"No!" Crevan gasped. The Fizzling held his arms up to protect himself from the darts that whizzed by, not that it would do him any good if they struck his arms. Luck was with the Fizzling however and every last one of them had missed, others weren't so lucky.
Windy dropped next followed by Eloryn when the Flashwingling tripped over the Whirlwindling and moved her wings in a way that allowed darts to get past the protecting crystals and into the most vulnerable parts of her hide.
Wraith tried his hardest to keep a jet of fire above the heads of the others to ruin the incoming darts but it wasn't enough. Niall, Hex and Camo went down at almost the same time. Darts clattered off Anicetus's armor, the Ignitorling had no flesh at all for them to find purchase in.
"Wraith, my Portal Master isn't responding," Ginny-Li said rapidly. Crevan shook his head as did Meilyr.
"Nor mine," Anicetus followed. Wraith never got to answer; the giant groaned and dropped Seraphina when the sheer amount of darts he had taken finally managed to overwhelm the fire golem's system. He faltered then dropped to his knees and finally onto his chest. A flurry of additional darts peppered his flank to ensure the giant would stay down.
"Move faster, must move faster!" Meilyr exclaimed with eyes wide enough they looked ready to fall out of his sockets. He took two more steps and dropped like a rock with red dart tufts sticking out of his back.
Crevan's head whipped from side to side as he ran. "Light, where are they?" The gremlin gasped when a dart hit him in the chest and spun him around before he too fell with multiple darts in his shoulders and one in the thigh.
"Don't stop now," Ginny-Li said through grit teeth. Reluctantly she let Nivaeus go; he was slowing her down and if she could at least get Anicetus to safety the two of them might stand a chance of getting the others out of the mess they had stepped into. The Ninjiniling reached out to pick up the smaller Ignitorling and took a dart to the neck and two in her fingers just below the armored gauntlet.
"Ginny-Li!" Anicetus barked with an outstretched hand when his last companion hit the street hard. The Ignitorling turned around, his heart pounded even though he was sure as a spirit he didn't have a traditional one. They had failed, just like that. Something as simple as poisoned darts had brought about their downfall.
At last the drow showed themselves. Lancers, swordsmen and casters all armed with blow dart tubes. They were tucked away in the surrounding buildings and even on the roofs. They had to have been aware of the Skylanders since they first stepped into the area. They had toyed with them all along and waited for the Skylanders to put themselves in the perfect position.
"So this is the force Haven sends to defend its borders?" The speaker was a warlock with deep green skin and a patch over his left eye covering a giant scar that stretched out from under it on the top and bottom. The scar went well up into his hairline and left an area of bald scalp around it. His remaining sandy colored hair was drawn back into a tight ponytail that sat atop his head and still reached all the way down to his waist. He wore a strange tunic that seemed to shift colors and had a life of its own. His garment swayed lightly in a breeze that touched no one else, not even the warlock's hair.
"Who are you?" the Ignitorling demanded. He wasn't too surprised when he received no answer. Alone now the Ignitorling drew himself up tall and proud with flames burning a fierce red.
"What do you want us to do with them?" A heavily armored goliath asked. He was huge, even for a goliath. The brute's commonplace tusks were larger as well and capped with golden crowns that matched the gold inlay on his ram horn helm. Armor covered the drow from head to toe; he wore a full suit that was wicked with its forearm and shin spikes.
"Bring them back to the palace and Asmodeus," the warlock said simply. "Either he will have his pet turn them into puppets as well or we might get to see them fight one another."
Anicetus snorted and drew his sword, he may have been surrounded but he would be damned before he just let the drow take his friends and family. A part of him wanted to simply go with them, they were going to take him exactly where he wanted to be. But no, Anicetus would at least put on a show of being defiant. If he went too easily he might miss his chance. "I will not let you take them."
The warlock laughed, his one eye crinkled in mirth, "You, all by yourself plan to stop us? Oh this is rich." He snapped his fingers and the goliath flexed his thick arms and grinned before he strode out to meet the Ignitorling.
"I don't know, I might laugh too hard and let him defeat me," the drow wisecracked.
"See that you don't," the warlock sniffed and glided back out of the area.
Anicetus's fingers tightened on the hilt of his sword, if he could occupy the drow long enough it was possible someone might come out of their stupor and assist him. The Ignitorling wouldn't know until he tried. "I am not just some whelp graced with swordsmanship granted to me by my status as an Ignitorling; I was trained in the art from a young age."
"You'll go down all the same," the armored goliath promised.