Arc 3: Chapter 7: Swarm and Revelation
Having loud, buzzing, biting things fly at your face is terrifying already. Having them be the size of people and capable of wielding swords just felt unfair.
“Cat, into the shadows.” I spoke urgently, and swept into action without hesitation. I felt the dhampir’s presence slip away behind me, along with a surge of gratitude she’d understood.
Once again, the haft of uncarved wood in my hand crackled as it changed. The weapon hadn’t been the same ever since I’d used its Art to bind Jon Orley months before. It had become more awake since, more alive, and I could alter its length in subtle or dramatic ways at an unspoken command.
Not for free, though. Small barbs of wood punctured my palm, eagerly drinking my blood. I clenched my jaw against the pain and took the weapon in both hands. In moments it became closer to a the length of a polaxe. I swung it in a wide arc, bringing my arms up and around my head. The crescent-moon blade whistled through the air, an eerily musical note, trailing aureflame in its wake.
I killed three irks on that first swing, just before their serrated mandibles and wicked-sharp blades would have cut me to ribbons. Their bodies collapsed in heaps to the ground, smoldering with angry amber fire. The rest darted back, emitting an angry chorus of chittering cries.
I twirled the halberd, letting the irks see my speed before they got any brave ideas. “You approach,” I said, a flicker of aureflame escaping my lips, “you die.”
They responded by producing short, evil looking little bows.
Shit.
Moving on instinct, I dashed forward. If I stood still and held my ground they’d pepper me with arrows until I was a twitching heap on the ground. I went on the attack instead, lunging forward.
My magic can be very powerful if I manage to bring it to bear, but nearly all of my abilities require an amount of gravitas. It’s part of the role the Table had been meant to fill. I can crack castle gates with a smite, sweep through enemies like wheat, imbue my attacks with golden flame or send a charging behemoth flying back with a mighty slap of will. However, all of these require at least a few seconds of preparation as I reshape my aura and display my intent. There is no deception in Alder magic.
Rarely will an enemy not see what I’m doing before I do it, granting them a chance to stop it.