From All Sides Beset
“What, Tuuri? You need what? I’m not getting you; it’s too noisy!”
Of course, Lalli had to chime in right then from the other world with, “Have Tuuri drive around the back; some of them are trying to get out that way!”
Reynir relayed the message, but the noise and confusion pouring out of the magic-talk-thing left him unsure whether Tuuri had actually understood him. His forebears had been kind enough to let him wander across the pastures until he was isolated enough to speak and act freely, and they had, despite their obvious inquisitiveness, put off interrogating him for now. It was very good, because speaking with Lalli and Onni tended to make this world vanish, overlaid as it were by the other.
*
They weren’t doing that bad, all things considering, Sigrun thought as she made her way into the compound, the bodies of her enemies marking her passage. She’d been able to one-shot most of these amateurs, thanks in part to Emil’s nice distractions around front, and in a few more minutes, she would storm the ward where these nut-jobs were making their Infected and--
A burst of gunfire raked her path, making her duck back. So, they were going to make a stand here, huh? Probably to buy time to get their Rash victims out the back. Well, Tuuri and Emil would have to handle that, unless--
*
Tuuri was yelling something in Reynir’s ear about something else he couldn’t quite get, but that was probably because of the gun pointed at him. “Fool of a Godless One,” its wielder said. “We are everywhere. Our Faithful had your phones traced before your friends left the Installation. Now, you will tell me everything you know, and I will kill you with a minimum of pain. Of course, each lie you try to tell me will add to your pre-mortem suffering. So, who--”
A shovel to the face will tend to silence even the most loquacious speaker, especially when wielded by a man used to the hard life of farming and ranching, as the elder Reynir was. His descendent looked at him in awe as he efficiently bound the cultist.
“Your friends need you,” was all the elder Reynir said before grabbing the bound cultist and dragging him off towards the farmhouse.
And they did.
*
Sigrun looked at the little thing Emil had given her. He’d warned her of its power, but it was the only shot left for her to clear the way to where she needed to be. Gritting her teeth, she twisted and tossed, just as Emil had told her to.
A Ka-THUM even bigger than the one that had brought down their first target took out her assailant, and probably anyone else in her way, as well. Once she was back on her feet, Sigrun rushed toward her goal, her ears still ringing.
*
“I can’t hold it any longer!” Onni screamed, real panic in his voice. The giant, sensing its victory was near after almost an hour of assaults, drew its probing limb back for one final blow against Onni’s feebly flickering wall-field.
Lalli threw Reynir a pole that had been leaning against the well. “Throw it!” he hissed at the confused red-headed specter, then began to chant.
“Warder’s weapon,
Strong defender,
Once more serve to hold back evil,
Fly now true and smite the wicked,
Guided by the hand of Reynir,
As the runes you bear do foretell,
Long laid down as fated for you.”
Closing his eyes, the spectral Reynir threw the spear, its runes glowing a bright blue in the chamber’s dimness, just as the giant lunged forward. The spear-tip plunged through what had been the bridge of a man’s nose once, and as it hit, another burst of blue leapt from the wound it made, flashing across the limb’s surface and out of sight, leaving an oddly-shaped statue of soot where pseudo-living flesh had been.
*
“Release the Apotheosis.”
“Is the Master certain? The sedatives managing the Apotheosis need time to wear off, and--”
“Release the Apotheosis from the rear door. If they take it on, we are free to move the rest of the Chosen. If they try to take us down, the Apotheosis will still bring the Mark into the world.”
The lead cultist squared his shoulders. “Whether any of us in this shard of the Remnant lives or dies is immaterial, as long as the Mark is released. Loose the Apotheosis, and ready the other Chosen for transport. I shall join the battle outside.” He punctuated this statement by cocking the weapon he’d been loading.
“As the Master commands.”
“Tend the Flames.”
“The Flames burn bright.”
The lead cultist went to the door...
