Breaking Into The Light

PrologueCowering childfey scattered at the uproar, screeching in terror and running in all directions. Two Fey of the Light followed after them, attempting to guide them back into one group. As they rushed in chaotic directions, a single crimson arrow shot out of the fissure into the center of the cavern, skittering across the floor near the feet of a fair shefey who shook her head vehemently; then stooped to collect a glowing lamp before she ran towards one of the clusters of childfey. Several other arrows shot out of the dark corridor and the shriek of a youngling pierced the darkness when one of the blood-stained arrows found a victim. The heart-breaking cry was echoed by sadistic Dlalth laughter, but peering from the shadows, crimson gazes narrowed with anger and regret. “Shields!” One of the fighting Fey of the Light shouted in a commanding tone to his comrades who gathered on either side of the narrow aperture from which the crimson arrows flew and, holding their broad shields at the edges, these malefey managed to cover a large portion of the crevice, thwarting the rain of crimson death, but, while this ploy effectively blocked the Reviled's ability to kill from a distance, it also enraged them. Mutters of vulgar Dlalth filled the darkness; then viperous laughter, as one of the subordinates was hurled through the obstructed opening. This commotion caused the one named Gairynzvl to turn his head and he watched a the Fey of the Light drew his sword to severe the Legionnaire's head from his body after he tumbled through their barricade of shields. Curses in Dlalth rebuked this vengeful act and, with terrifying growls and hisses, the Legionnaires rushed one after the other into the cavern. They were greeted by the keen edges of Fey Guard blades and the skirl of metal upon metal rang throughout the shadows. Bright Celebrae turned fierce in anger and obscenities in Dlalth echoed round the chamber, muffling the whispers that discussed the unanticipated battle. The one named Gairynzvl turned back to stare at the Great Gate rearing up to a height of a dozen feet or more before him. It was fashioned in one immense piece of ironwork; its bars twisting, curling and forged with razor-sharp blades protruding from any accessible handhold. It did not have a lock upon it, which could be undone by magic. It was constructed to stand as an impenetrable barrier between the realm of the Reviled Fey of the Uunglarda and the free lands under the sovereignty of the Fey of the Light. Behind him, weaponry clashed and screams reverberated; arrows tainted by the blood of former victims shot through the darkness, and childfey shrieked in terror as Dark Ones harassed those who had broken from the huddled mass protected behind the expansive wings of one of the malefey. The glimmering light from the lamp the Fey of the Light carried with them blazed outward, illuminating all; including a peculiar ripple of reflected blue-white light that dropped fleetingly from the ceiling or snaked behind Legionnaires. Unobserved by any of the struggling Fey, this blurred reflection of light latched onto Dark Ones unexpectedly, leaving broken bones and slashed throats in its wake. Then one of the fey warriors shouted in Celebrae. “Cruciavaeryn!” The Demonfey at whom he directed this spell howled in agony and crumbled to the ground, scrabbling in excruciating pain. The spell-casting Fey Guard then snatched another by the collar of his coat, yanked him backward brutally and repeated the incantation another time, his cerulean eyes glowing fiercely in the strange light of the lamp. The dark gazes that watched locked in astonishment at this unpredicted development, but those waiting in the deep shadows did not intervene. The one called Gairynzvl glared viciously at the Demonfey causing calamity all around the chamber before raising his hands to take hold of the iron bars of the gate, in spite of the painful razor-sharp blades pressing into his flesh. Growling in rage, he shook the gate mightily. Dlalth whispers went unheard amidst the turmoil echoing round the Gallery of the Great Gate; but, although they debated the results of the battle, no endeavors were taken to assist either side, even as the heavy gate rattled loudly; even as cries pealed from every direction. Those watching awaited the outcome while Gairynzvl leaned backwards, beating his wings prodigiously and pulling harder than before; utilizing all his body weight in a fearsome hauling, reverse motion as he shook the gate with every measure of strength he possessed. Unifying the forceful thrashing of his wings with the powerful wrenching of his body, his actions intensified in an increasingly wrathful frenzy. Screaming against the pain of the blades burying themselves in his hands, he shook and hauled upon the Great Gate until a thunderous sound pierced the mayhem resounding through the cavern. Once again, the watchful gazes locked with astounded curiosity. The sound they heard was both hollow and heavy, and its echo caused Gairynzvl to stop and gaze upward, watching the top of the gate as it leaned perilously inward while the heavy wrought-iron groaned with a tremendous noise. Releasing the torturously inlaid ironwork, he scrabbled backward; beating his wings to speed his escape as the gate pitched forward under the force of its own inertia, unhinging the bolts connecting it to the walls on either side as it fell. The cacophonous din it created when iron met black stone rang through the cavern with a deafening intensity and the horrendous crash caused many of the Dlalth to howl in alarm and race away into the shadowy fissure from which they had issued while those that lingered were dispatched by the Fey of the Light with startling efficiency. The three Demonfey inflicted by the spell-caster's incantation screamed in unrelenting distress, but the fair Fey of the Light would not allow any of the others to mercifully execute them and his pitiless attitude caused several of the Watchers to gape in disbelief. Fey of the Light were purported to be patient and compassionate, filled with mercy that they were eager to extend, but the ruthless ferocity of these warrior Fey of the Light was entirely unforeseen. “Freedom awaits!” The one named Gairynzvl called ….