flames in every direction. Then he
muttered an ancient incantation
and all went black. Suddenly, they
found themselves battered nearly
to death, wounded and hiding
behind the crumbling pillars. An
unnatural, vicelike grip of fear had
found them.
Wounded and afraid, the group
had lost direction. Scattered and
unable to communicate, none were
willing to stand and fight. Then
Maggie began to get angry. How
dare this ancient dead king hold
Ascalon hostage. She began to draw
upon her anger. Looking over at
Terri, she was also able to draw on
the love she felt from Terri’s scared
smile. Finally able to face the fear,
she stood up.
“I’m here your majesty,” she
shouted with all the derision and
insult she could put into her tone
of voice, “Why don’t you come and
fight me like a man, instead of a
spoiled child?”
Bones peered around his pillar
to see what affect her impertinence
had. He was pleasantly surprised
the king had turned toward her and
had begun to glow with a newfound
rage. Not to be outdone by the
smaller human female, he stood
and added his own challenge. “No,
fight me, I’m stronger than that
little girl you’re so angry with.”
Not to be outdone, Harry the
Charr Ranger let loose an arrow
that struck the King in humiliating
fashion, right on the backside. The
king turned toward him just in time
to meet a fireball from Terri. He
directed his sword at Terri and as
the flames lashed out and struck her
face, she went down. Maggie became
enraged. Drawing her twin axes,
she jumped at the king and began
hacking and pounding him with
all her might. Bones desperately
shielded her from the King with
what magic he had left. Mellen sent
his minions to replenish her life
force. Harry kept firing arrows, all
the while wearing down the King’s
defenses. Garm joined in the fray,
as did Precious, putting their bodies
between the king and Maggie.
Terri lay motionless on the edge
of the platform. Eir and Rytlock
guarded her body while watching
the amazing fight before them.
Maggie, hair aflame, face red, eyes
glowing with the madness of love
kept up her attack. The dog and
kitten guarding her from the flaming
sword. The Guardian protecting her
from the King’s spells. The Ranger
firing arrow after arrow, setting
trap after trap. The Necromancer
sending poisons into the King.
Suddenly,
Maggie
sensed
weakness in her opponent. The fire
in his sword slowly shrank until
it became a cold, dark shadow of
itself. This drove her ever forward,
axes flashing, until suddenly, with a
piteous cry, the King fell. With a final
leap, Maggie severed his head from
his body. His po