Chapter 54
Julian tentatively peered from behind a wooden building and ducked just as a series of icicles imbedded themselves into the wall where his head had been.
"She's still there," he said, turning to Octavia.
"I'll try to get behind her somehow," she replied.
"Be careful," he said as she led a small cadre of Eboshi troops around the far side of the building. Julian frowned as he saw a white haired young woman dressed in furs emerge from the building behind Shiva.
"Hey!" she yelled out.
Shiva spun around and shot ice shards at the woman, who was knocked through a window into the house, shattering glass and splintering wood.
"Get lost bitch!" she muttered.
"I'll show you who's a bitch!" growled a canine voice.
A giant gray wolf jumped through the window and tackled Shiva, driving her into a snowbank.
"What the hell was that?" asked a soldier.
"Who cares?" replied Julian, "Let's go!"
"Fenrir, Shiva, stop!" said Terrato.
"Moon Song!"
Fenrir leapt into the sky, the clouds parted behind her revealing the moon. She raised her head and howled skyward, then landed neatly on all fours. Shiva sat up and saw a dazzling array of overlapping images of wolves.
Shiva swung her ice staff at Fenrir, but the end passed through the image of her head.
"Who are you?" demanded Shiva.
"Too late!" snarled Fenrir tackling her to the ground.
A bolt of lightning, struck Fenrir, blasting her backwards, where she landed with a yelp. Ramuh landed next to Shiva.
"Granddaughter?" asked Ramuh.
"I'm alright," she replied standing up.
"You found an Esper I see," he noted.
A small boy ran across the snowbank and jumped on top of Fenrir's prone body. He met their gaze furiously, tears streaming down his face. Shiva knelt next to him.
"Little boy it's not safe," she said, "Please get away from the wolf."
The boy regarded her in hot fury. "Wolf…Mommy!"
"He spoke!" said Terrato.
Ramuh gaped at her. "Terrato?"
"What's going on?" asked Shiva, taking Ramuh's arm.
At that instant a hail of fireballs plowed into Ramuh's chest, sending him sprawling.
"Surrender or die Espers!" yelled Octavia.
"Grandpa!" called out Shiva.
Terrato reappeared in her serpent form. She twisted her tail in complicated knots as she cast. "Gale that destroys, lay everything waste…West wind!"
A huge hurricane force wind blew in and began to whip through the mining camp, leveling buildings in the way. Eboshi soldiers tried to hold onto the ground or to buildings, but many got carried off. Octavia gritted her teeth as the wind seared past her. As it subsided she fumbled for her staff and pointed it into the main square. She frowned as no one was in sight. She took a tentative step into the clearing.
"Julian?" she asked.
She saw Ramuh half buried in a snowbank. She leveled her staff at his head.
"Where's Julian?" she demanded.
Ramuh weakly opened his eyes. "You mean your friend the white mage?"
"You have two seconds to tell me!" she yelled.
Ramuh tried to sit up but the wind had drained his strength.
"Time's up!" said Octavia as a huge bird swooped in behind her.
"Octavia…," began Ramuh.
"No groveling for your life!" she shrieked, "Marcus was right about Espers!"
Ramuh slumped back into the snow as Tritoch carried her off in his clutches. He circled over the mountain and dropped her into the snow at the peak and circled back. Terrato slithered to Ramuh. Gold blood flowed from a gash on her neck.
"You look awful you old fool," she hissed.
"Speak for yourself," he replied with a faint twinkle.
Julian sat up in the snow nearby. "What happened?" he asked.
Terrato loomed over him. "Call down your troops wizard," she said.
Julian sighed and threw down his staff. "I knew this was a bad idea."
"Looks like you picked on too many Espers," said Ramuh.
"Is Octavia still alive?" asked Julian sadly.
"Ask Tritoch," replied Terrato.
"Who's…," began Julian and Tritoch swooped down and picked him up. They watched Tritoch circle up and deposit Julian on the same mountain peak.
"Guess that answered his question," said Terrato.
She turned and hissed as she noticed light appear on the horizon far to the south.
"Oh no!" she said.
Ramuh craned his neck to follow her gaze.
"Damn me!" he said, "The Magi!"
"Magi?" asked Tritoch imperiously as he gracefully landed in front of them.
"No time to explain!" said Ramuh, struggling to his feet, "If we don't hurry the Magi will all die!"
"So what?" retorted Tritoch.
At that instant a column of golden light appeared to the southwest. They all stared at it.
"The Temple of Goddess," said Terrato, "We're too late."
"Melchior…I'm sorry," said Ramuh bowing his head.
"There's still one Magi left!" admonished Tritoch, "We can still make it!"
Terrato nodded. "I'm not giving up just yet!"
Ramuh regarded them evenly.
"Let's go!"