Aidan

The Realms

Fourthday, 1st week of the 8th month, Godless Age 597

Pre-dawn

Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands

Despite being confident that there would be no more ambushes, Aidan still augmented his vision and hearing with two casts of Minor Shift. He also used his Summer Sword to emanate daylight; the blade glowed a brilliant yellowish-white and lit up the entire tunnel. Llwyd took off at a quick walk. It was a jog for Aidan, but Aidan let him set the pace. Don't give an order you aren't sure will be obeyed, he thought to himself.

Just as before, the tunnel narrowed as it extended into the hill. Four times the main path split off into even more confined passageways, but Aidan already knew where he was going. Shortly after the final side passage, however, he began to see vines extending along the ground, ceiling, and walls. Those weren't there last time, I'm sure of it. He remembered how smooth the stone walls were before. Even Llwyd slowed down when he spotted the brown, dried plants. He didn't stop, though, and Aidan didn't ask him to.

"I do not like this. Those vines have to be coming from the heart of this place, but they were not here a week ago. The Taig can control them, so now we can expect to be attacked on all sides. We can't risk backtracking, though; we do not have the time. There's too much at stake. Brighid, I'm tasking you with fighting off anything that attacks us from behind. Go ahead and start burning them with that heat aura, even. The Taig already knows we're coming." She nodded and activated her aura again. The tendrils nearest her started to smolder. Aidan added his Flame Jet to the task as he continued to give orders.

"We're almost there. There will only be room for one of us to go through the door at a time. Ceirios, I want you to send the golem in first and tell it to occupy the dakhol. I won't risk any of us when it could be waiting just inside the entrance to smash whoever walks in first. Llwyd, I won't try to stop you from going in second, but please be careful and don't lose your head regardless of what you see. Ysbail, you're after him. Concentrate on disabling the dakhol. I'll be the last one in. Anwn, Ceirios, stay outside unless you have no other choice. Concentrate your attacks on the Taig if it's there. The wolves won't do any good inside, so keep them back and have them help Brighid. My salamander and I will deal with the vines and the brambles around the altar, then help with the Taig." He paused, then added, "Be careful, everyone; this is the literal heart of the Taig's power, and attacks will come from every side. As you may have already figured out, I already died once trying to cleanse this place. I would prefer if none of you paid the same price."

Even as he finished his quiet orders, the light from his sword shined on the ornate archway leading into the altar room. Aidan could make out something reflecting a glint of light in the middle of the chamber. As a group, the strike team stepped forward, weapons and spells at the ready, until daylight illuminated the center of the chamber.

The circular chamber was choked with thick, dead vines. They covered every surface of the room, leaving no safe footing. The altar at the center was no longer visible at all; a giant mass of brambles eight feet across pulsed and beat there instead. And, pinned to the heart like an insect, was Cai's half-naked body. Blood oozed from the myriad holes driven through her humanoid torso by the thorns, though her lower body was still encased in armor.

Llwyd let out a strangled sob and surged forward into the room. Aidan and Ceirios both cursed; Ysbail followed him in. Thankfully, neither of them were leveled by a lurking dakhol's club. As soon as Llwyd stepped inside, the vines on the floor twisted with incredible speed and wrapped around him, jerking him into the air. Aidan unleashed his Burning Barrage, controlling them to spin around Ysbail and detonate at the base of the mass of plants holding Llwyd. To his relief, the detonations disintegrated a chunk of the vines holding Llwyd, and he crashed back to the ground.

Ysbail hewed into the plants near her, slicing through several with each swing, but Llwyd's mace was far less effective. He was soon wrapped up from behind once again. Aidan followed Ceirios's golem into the chamber and did his best to clear the area with Flame Jets. Almost as soon as he started, however, Brighid cried out from behind them, "There are too many! I cannot fight them all off! Shit! Aidan!" Brighid's voice rose in pitch at the last, and Aidan spun around to see his love lifted into the air by her wrists and ankles. More vines wrapped around Ceirios and Anwn; the wolves were small and agile enough that they were still free, but they could do nothing against the sheer number of creepers arrayed against them. Aidan raised his hand to burn the vines around Brighid, but before he could free her, the spell's duration ended.

Aidan cursed and started casting again. Something grabbed his foot and yanked, sending him sprawling and dragging him into the room. He maintained his concentration through sheer willpower, completing the spell and burning the vine around his ankle, but another whipped up and around his hand, forcing it down to the ground. He dropped the Summer Sword and, now desperate, started to cast with his other hand, but it was hopeless. Within a heartbeat, he was ensnared, desiccated ropes twining around every limb. His mind writhed in terror and despair.

One by one, the rest of the strike team were caught and dragged into the altar chamber; only the wolves managed to escape, fleeing back up the tunnel. Once they were all caught or fled, the Tannath Taig stepped out into the room. The twisted, androgynous, beautiful humanoid clapped its hands in childlike glee and threw its arms wide. "Greetings, my little rat! I am overjoyed that you have returned! I would like to sit and chat, and let you know of the grand reward you have earned!" Its hands glowed with a sickly green-black swirl, and Aidan heard creaking as the plants in the room shifted. They lifted him and pressed him back against the wall, wrapping around him until he was bound like a mummy with only his head free. Brighid, Anwn, Ceirios, Ysbail, and Llwyd were brought around in front of him, each struggling against the looser bindings around them. Smoke rose from the plants handling Brighid, but the Taig waved its hand and repaired the damage. The golem and salamander suffered a swift end, the creepers around them constricting and twisting until both summoned creatures vanished. Of Riama, there was no sign.

[content censored by Royal Road's advertising overlords]

Hope fled from Aidan. Tears spilled down his cheeks. Please, Patron, I beg of you: give me the power to save her. Give me the power to save my team. Please! I will be your instrument in the world, just please, help me!

Time stopped.

Aidan's vision darkened until he could see nothing but a humanoid-shaped flame dancing before him. A familiar voice spoke to him. "[Thy plea is heard, O Champion. Let not despair claim thy heart, for all is not lost. This boon is within my/our power to grant thee, dear one. Know that the cost is high. I/We must work through thee, and thou must supply the power, for to take direct action is Forbidden. Art thou willing to pay the price? I/We will think no less of thee shouldst thou refuse.]"

"Anything!" Aidan cried. "I will pay any price to save her!"

His Patron nodded. "[I/We thought it so. Prepare thyself, for should thy will falter, this chance will be lost.]"

Aidan's vision returned to normal, and time resumed flowing, though at a fraction of its normal pace. He felt Power coursing through him, guiding his mind to gather manna from his surroundings, shaping it into intricate flows that wove through his very soul. Words came to him, and he Spoke.

"[Scarlet plumes stir the ashes; golden flames bloom in their wake. Kindle the soul, consume the mind, ignite the flesh. I give mine life to light the Phoenix's Pyre!]"