The Unfated Wanderers Canto 27
The Unfated Wanderers watched Darklings fly towards their position. They planted the Staff of Unseeing in the ground and spoke the word, “Omit.” The air around them rippled in a bubble shape and they were obscured. The dome protected the Scholars and the entrance to the Inverted Tower. None of the Terrors noticed them as they flew overhead.
Then a single Darkling Fomenter suddenly spiraled down to the ground and landed with a tremendous clatter as its armor plates were jostled by the impact. The towering Terror walked towards the staff’s sphere of influence. Fearing that the it would enter the bubble of illusion, Billet and Vilerend stepped forward and confronted the enemy.
The Darkling was startled by the unexpected prey appearing in its path. The beautiful face beamed with eagerness and intrigue. Its lengthy knife was unsheathed and the Terror advanced. Billet drew its attention.
It laughed at him and said, “You can see me? How strange this is. No matter. Even though you are such a tiny thing, I promise that your demise will bring me great pleasure. It will be fleeting, though, and then you will be forgotten.”
Billet struck its feet and shins mightily! But no harm was done. The Darkling kicked the man and hammered at him with the pommel of his knife. Billet dodged as nimbly as he could and landed many counter strikes to no avail. The Darkling continued to laugh as it toyed with Billet.
And then it shrieked! Such an unearthly sound had not been heard in many centuries. Not since the Darkling Fomenters had last invaded the Living World. For Vilerend had pierced the Terror’s heel with the Terror Spike. The scream transitioned from pain to horror as the thing shrunk to a size no greater than Vilerend himself.
The Darkling stared at each of the Unfated Wanderers and said, “How can this be? What are you?”
“We are Unfated,” they said, “and you are doomed to die by our hands.”