Chapter 29

It was only Pherein's reflexes, or the intervention of his god Latrell, which saved him. When the annis hag raised her hands, the experienced fighter instinctively knew what was coming so as the lightning bolt sizzled at him, he nimbly dropped down and put his shield in front of him. He was close enough the magical attack was not full force, but it still knocked him back six feet flat on his back and turned his shield into splinters. Constance stalked forward, eager to finish the Delorgan off with Ann, the green hag, not far behind. Despite the shield taking the brunt of blow his sword arm was burned and he felt the energy shock to the rest of his body. Theme Winchell and Cony Farr were still fully engaged with the sea hag, Sandy Pigcarver, trading blows so he was on his own.

Winchell and Farr had both landed significant blows on the third hag of the coven, but she had hit both of them with vicious rakes of her claws and both were bleeding profusely but still they pressed the attack. Each could see Pherein get hit by the lightning bolt and their hearts sank but there was nothing they could do. The sea hag had maneuvered herself between them and her sisters not just to block but to maintain the contact necessary for them to use their magic. Still, with renewed fury they pressed their attack since each knew the battle was precarious.

If the two hags thought the Delorgan was done after the lightning bolt they were mistaken. With a roar Pherein came to his feet. He swung his sword at the midsection of Constance who did not see it coming. The enchanted blade bit into the annis hag who screamed in pain and staggered back. That allowed the fighter to nimbly step to his side and strike the green hag, Ann. Point first he thrust into her belly and was rewarded with a solid strike, the blade driving in deep. Ann howled in agony and instinctively threw out a claw that caught Pherein on the neck and shoulder. Despite the force and pain of the wound he pressed on knowing he had little time. But between the numbness still in his shield arm and distraction of the deep wounds from the knife-like claws of the hag his next strike on Constance was misplaced and he just missed a swing intended to sever her head. The annis hag smiled viciously, knowing she had the man where she wanted him. Instead of raking him again with her claws she grabbed him in a crushing bear hug. Pherein was like a rag doll in the vise-like grip. The islander felt his ribs pop, then several broke one puncturing a lung as she literally started to squeeze the life out of him.

"Bring the girl," Ann snarled, holding her hand over the wound in her belly as she bled severely. "Don't finish him yet. I want to kill her before this whelp's eyes."

The big annis hag dropped Pherein like a bag of garbage and moved to the rear where the prisoners were being kept while the green hag came over and put her foot firmly on the prone Delorgan. The other two fighters were still fighting on the defensive. Worse still is they had been maneuvered out towards the entrance to the cave. The sound of more redcaps eagerly gathering outside could be heard despite the din of battle.

Pherein knew it was over. He had been in many desperate situations before and had always found a way out. But this time it was different. The odds were too great, the foe too strong. He was ready to die. He had left the island nearly five years before to find himself and make his mark. He had finally done each it seemed, but it was too little too late. Despite all his accomplishments the word 'disappointment' came to mind. The proud Delorgan was not ready to die, indeed he felt he had much to experience and learn. The last couple of months had shown him this but the cost, it seemed also, was too high. No, he would die here and likely be forgotten. Despite the intense physical pain, he felt he sighed forlorn with a deeper pain in his spirit. The flame of passion that had brought him to this land was snuffed out.

Molly was dragged out kicking and yelling but the little girl was no match for the sturdy hag. "Mister Pherein! Mister Pherein, help me!" she screamed in terror.

A spark of passion remained in the broken man, or perhaps a new one was lit.

Ribs broken, one lung collapsed, bleeding profusely from many claw rakes and cuts, the Delorgan fighter seemed done. Certainly, the two hags thought so for none other before had been able to stand such attacks before. But neither had experience with the men of the islands. Molly was being shaken like a rag doll in front of the man and she wailed in fright as the hag taunted her. Despite every breath feeling like a knife was being dug into his lungs a fire exploded within the Delorgan. A battle rage grew that had been born into the men of the islands through generations of fighting and was deep in the recesses of all who called that place home.

"Delorgan!"

The war cry of the islands, unspoken by Pherein MacDiarmidson since he had left his homeland and feared for generations by those on the receiving end, rang out in the cave checking all through the almost magical intensity it possessed.

Grabbing Ann's ankle, with a mighty twist, Pherein turned until it broke and then pushed her aside. Nimbly he gathered his sword while still on the ground and viciously swung at Constance. Unprepared for the vicious attack, the blade sang through the air and cut her leg clean off below the knee. He got to his feet and grabbed Molly out of the grasp of the annis hag as she teetered and began to fall now unbalanced.

"Molly, to the back, free the others," Pherein instructed gently setting the girl down facing the rear cave entrance. He then pressed the attack on Constance as she was unable to keep her balance and fell.

Despite the terror of the situation the little girl ran into the next cave and out of harm's way allowing the fighter to focus entirely on his counterattack. Before the annis hag hit the ground he began to savagely hack away at her. Unleashing all his pent-up rage and fury, the screaming Delorgan battered the vile creature with his razor-sharp enchanted sword. Constance was unable to counter the savage attack, screaming then crying the annis hag then went silent as life left her.

Theme Winchell and Cony Farr drew energy from the change of fortunes and renewed their attack on Sandy Pigcarver taking the initiative again. The sea hag's moment of distraction proved fatal. She tried to use her gaze to freeze the two fighters, but they were close enough to Pherein and the Amulet of Hanali Celanil continued to protect them. It was an error in judgment that proved to be fatal. The Latrellans swung their swords hard and began to cut deep gashes into the evil creature. Initially she tried to fight back with her dagger-like fingernails. While she landed a couple of light blows on each the scales had tipped against her with their blood lust up and victory in sight. Bleeding profusely, life began ebbing from her as well.

"Ann, help me," she wailed, hand outstretched to her coven sister.

But the pragmatic green hag could see the writing on the wall. This fight was lost, and she knew it. Despite frustration at the destruction of their operations and the implications for the broader plan unfolding in the land, the preservation of life was a stronger draw than gain or cause. Ann saw Pherein turn from the lifeless form of the annis hag towards her, rage and hatred in his eyes. Before he had taken two steps the green hag opened a dimension door stepping through it and appeared leagues away with no thought of who or what she had left behind. Stepping out of a copse of trees near a road, Ann Toadtooth took the form of an attractive blond-haired woman just as a merchant convoy came around the bend. The two mounted guards rode to her aid.

"Are you all right, miss?"" the stocky mustached lead guard asked, hand on his sword.

"Oh please gentlemen, can you help me?" She smiled disarmingly and knew they would comply, and she would be taken away. Already the pragmatic hag was planning her next scheme, the cave and all that was in int already forgotten.

Back at the cave, Sandy bled out just as three redcaps came charging in, expecting to come to the aid of their hag mistresses. Too late did they realize they were alone. Before they could escape the three were cut down by Theme Winchell and Cony Farr. The other evil fey creatures behind them turned and ran. Suddenly, the only thing that could be heard were the cries of the prisoners.

Pherein looked around. Lightheaded from a loss of blood and the cumulation of the wounds he had taken not just in this fight but the previous one too. He saw no threat since none was left. He looked over to Theme Winchell and Cony Farr who gave him nods that they were okay. The two were bleeding in several places but each chugged a healing potion and seemed to steady. Pherein turned, and staggered towards the back, only one thing on his mind. And then he saw her.

"Mister Pherein! You came for me. I knew you would!" Molly exclaimed, running and grabbing him in a fierce hug.

She was safe.

Struggling to keep on his feet, Pherein ordered to the other two fighters, "See Molly gets home safe and free the others." Then he fell flat with a heavy thud, a smile on his face.