The Ingaran Adventures
Episode 65
“The Mother of All Monsters.”
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Lord Issic: Half Human, Half Gold Dragon Warrior
Lady India: A gypsy Bard/Shadow Dancer
Lord Phaidon: A Tamer of the Beasts
Lord Alexander Maximus: The Gauntlet of Athena
Cthaat Angartha: The first Blood Owl
Zografos, Lord Domnhall: A yuan-ti slayer of mind flayers
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Lady Dera of Numalia asked Phaidon, “Are you two married, or family?”
“We are just friends. I met Leila on my journey I told you of.”
A panther walked into the room. A gold collar ringed its neck.
Phaidon was surprised to say the least, “What a magnificent panther. Is he yours?”
“Yes, he is. I race panthers.”
“Race panthers? Fascinating. I have a rapport with Panthers where I am from. I do not feel, however, that it extends to this realm.”
Phaidon tried to communicate with the panther telepathically, but could not. The panther however, just walked over and rubbed against Phaidon’s leg.
Dera’s eyebrow arched, “Interesting.”
Phaidon stroked the panther’s fur and began to make friends with him, “I like panthers and they like me. It is just a gift I have.”
“Perhaps you would be interested in seeing a panther race?”
Phaidon smiled, “I would be very interested in that. Would you like to see that as well, Leila?”
Leila nodded.
Phaidon continued, “Very well. When is the race?”
“In a week.”
“Ah. Well, what shall we do until then? I would like to see more of your land.”
“We could go for a horseback ride.”
“As you wish. I am more of a woodsman, but I have ridden my fair share of horses. It will be a quick way to see the countryside.”
Lady Dera clapped her hands and servants assembled and readied the horses. Lady Dera led them out to the stables. Phaidon was mounted on a fair steed.
Leila said, “I do not know how to ride a horse.”
Lady Dera responded, “She can remain here if she wishes. I have a library she may wish to peruse.”
Phaidon was not about to let Leila out of his sight. It was his duty to see to her safety, for all he knew, this could be another of Larbius’ schemes, “You can ride with me, Leila.”
Phaidon held out his arm and helped Leila onto the horse in front of him. The noblewoman seemed a bit annoyed, but only for the glimmering of a second.
Zografos and Faith entered the room where everyone was.
Alexander said, “Let us move on. The sooner we finish here, the sooner we can see Phaidon again.”
Alexander walked down the hall to the next door. The door breathed as it waited for him to approach.
Zografos and the others followed Alexander.
Alexander asked, “Zografos, would you search the door”
Zografos examined the door thoroughly. As he was looking it over, he said, “I found a library, back there. One of the papers in it warned that someone must pay the price for others to go on.”
“Did you bring the paper back with you?” Alexander queried.
The door spoke, “That is correct, Lord of Shadows and Master of the Darkness.”
Issic spoke solemnly, “It looks to me as if Phaidon has already, however unwittingly, paid that price.”
The door said, “Nay, Dragon-spawn. A price is a choice, a payment. He merely made a mistake.”
Zografos nodded, “Yes, the information I found confirmed that. Phaidon's death will not pay the cost.”
Alexander wanted more information, “What else did the paper tell you?”
Issic queried, “So what is that price?”
“That is all I found out about what is ahead except that it is an evil older than man and the price is extracted by the Old Ones. The price is someone's death.”
Alexander questioned the door, “And does the door care to let us know the particulars?”
“Nay, Gauntlet of Athena. I do not care to do so.”
“Are you door alive?”
“Yes, Gauntlet of
Athena, Son of
“Then I give the Old Ones your life!”
With that, Alexander summoned forth the horrible black hole he now commanded, the very same black hole that Phaidon was devoured by. He mercilessly pushed the vile creation into the living door. The door scarcely had time to scream out in pain. The doors hinges popped from the frame that held the door and the boards the door was comprised of cracked and splintered. Even the flying splinters were sucked into the depths of the endless void. In merely an instant, the once living door was gone and the hallway was open to Alexander and his companions. Alexander tucked the sphere back into the wall and moved on down the hallway. Zografos and the others followed him.
The hallway continued on for some time and then bent downward, sloping steeply.
Alexander stopped, “Zografos, can you move ahead and check for traps?”
Phaidon and Lady Dera rode out across the countryside. The views were beautiful, with hills and streams, shrubs and orchards. The smells were fabulous. Phaidon very much preferred the outdoors to the bustling cityscapes of Alisander.
Phaidon said, “This is beautiful, it reminds me of where I am from.”
As they rode down a trail, a man was standing on the trail. He was dressed in a strange wrap and had a turban on his head. Phaidon did not know how he missed the man, but he was just suddenly there to all appearances. Phaidon looked about for other men, thinking it some sort of ambush.
The mysterious figure reached up and touched Lady Dera. She fell unconscious and tumbled from her horse to the ground with a limp thud.
“Hold on real tight, Leila.” Phaidon drove his horse forward to keep the man away from Lady Dera, “Back off, brigand!”
The man reached out and touched Phaidon’s horse and it collapsed to the ground. Phaidon grabbed Leila and leapt from the saddle. As they rolled across the ground, the man picked up Lady Dera and started to walk off, ignoring Phaidon and Leila.
Phaidon looked about for anything he could use to stop the man. Nothing was about but Lady Dera’s horse.
“Wait here, Leila. Do not touch the horse.” Phaidon bounded onto the standing horse and charged at the man. When he closed in on the villain, he leapt from the saddle intending to tackle the man. As Phaidon leaped, a monstrous form intercepted his hurtling body and flung him mercilessly to the ground. The turbaned man continued to walk away. The gigantic form was both visible and invisible at the same time. It stood there in front of Phaidon, waiting. Phaidon stopped and still did not see anyone else about, no one to help the man, and no one who could help him.
The turbaned man said some words, and a smoky giant-bat creature lifted up from beneath him, lifting him and the noblewoman into the air.
Phaidon moved towards the man again and the monstrous creature slapped him backwards. It waited. Phaidon quickly deduced that it was only there to stop him, and it was doing a fine job of that!
Phaidon was at a loss, he was no match for this thing, this demon. Phaidon screamed out in frustration, “Go on, follow your master. I can do nothing to stop you.”
Phaidon gathered the reins of Lady Dera’s horse and went back to get Leila. He needed to go get some help.
The demon nodded, “No, you cannot. The Picts will have their revenge.” It melted away.
“Come, Leila. Let us go back. I do not know why we are here.”
Before Zografos moved, everyone could plainly see little sprinkles of light floating in the hallway at the bottom of the slope, multicolored lights and sparkles.
“Not on a slope like that. Although if I were going to set a trap here I would place it at the top so that it activated while we were about half way down.” Zografos looked up at the ceiling for any hidden doors that could conceal something.
Alexander studied
the lights, but had never seen such a phenomenon before. He pointed to the lights, “
Alexander moved on slowly, examining the lights with his gift of true sight. Several of the lights zipped up and started circling Alexander. Alexander kept on moving, sure to not make any hostile actions towards the lights. Zografos waited to see what the lights would do to Alexander. The lights simply floated about Alexander in a circular pattern.
Zografos pondered aloud, “The circling lights make you an easier target.” He counted six lights in total.
Alexander turned to Faith, “Do you know what these lights are?”
“They are divine sparks, the remnant of the Old One that lived.”
“Are they safe to have around?”
Issic interrupted, “Old One that lived? I thought they were all dead or banished?”
Faith said, “If you catch one, it will bring you power.” Then, she shrugged, “I am no expert, sir Dragon.”
Alexander opened his mind to the divine sparks and tried to collect them.
Zografos started down the slope, using the side wall for support.
Suddenly, one of the sparks slammed right into Alexander’s head and was absorbed into him!
Zografos could not resist the promise of power; he tried to grab the lights as they floated by. He was careful not to lose his balance on the slope and managed to snag one of the lights in his hand.
Faith said, “You must store it, release it, or absorb it, my love.”
Alexander stumbled back with shock and then calm came over his face as he gained greater insight into Athena’s plans.
Issic grabbed up one of the sparks and slapped it onto his arm. His body tingled with electricity as the spark was absorbed by his scaly flesh.
Zografos used his mind as he had seen Alexander do, not knowing what else to do.
Zografos almost
fell down the slope as the entire place shook tremendously. He rushed back up the slope and into the
other hallway to check on
Cthaat grabbed one
of the sparks and said, “Good riddance,” about
Alexander rushed to Zografos and looked about, “I don't think she is gone when I absorbed my spark, it occurred to me that we could use the spark to get Phaidon back”
Alexander couldn’t help but notice that Zografos seemed more dynamic than ever before, more magnetic with his personality.
As the power was rushing through Cthaat, Issic picked her up off the ground and crushed her to him with a passionate kiss. Cthaat seemed prettier and even more attractive to him.
Alexander continued, “I think that was what she was trying to do but I am not sure... if it worked the way she wanted.”
Phaidon checked on the other horse and after a few moments, it got back up. Phaidon and Leila got onto Phaidon’s horse and led Lady Dera’s horse back to the mansion. When they arrived, Phaidon began looking for someone important. A servant asked him, “Where is her highness?”
Phaidon told them of their encounter with the man and how he tried to stop him from taking Lady Dera. He told them what the demon told him, that ‘The Picts will have their revenge.’
The servants talked and muttered fearfully, and then a voice rang out from on high. “That is a bunch of lies! Guards! Go out and fetch milady, and arrest these two assassins! Preposterous!”
Phaidon challenged back, “It is not preposterous, it is the truth!”
Phaidon could see guards heading down stairwells and out of the mansion. He fully intended to bolt into the woods if need be.
Phaidon asked, “Who are you?”
“I am the manor-holder.”
Phaidon was unsure what that meant, “Just what is a manor-holder.”
As the guards approached, Phaidon planned to slowly back away and continue talking. If necessary, he would ride away so that he would protect Leila from any arrows they might shoot at them.
“I own this fief!”
Phaidon now knew what a manor-holder was, “Why would I concoct such a far-fetched story, Sir?”
Suddenly, Phaidon had severe chest pains.
Phaidon clutched
his chest, “Ungh.” He toppled helplessly
from the horse. Phaidon tried to stand
as the guards rushed toward him, but could not breathe because of the
pains. The world around him faltered and
blurred as if someone had thrown water on a fresh painting. Even Leila shimmered and wavered as she sat,
frightened on the horse. Then, Phaidon
heard a voice that sounded as if it were many miles away; he looked up and saw
With a loud crack
of thunder,
Zografos was shocked, “Amazing!”
Alexander was jumping with joy, “Blessed are the Ingaran Gods! And blessed are we who are their chosen!”
Phaidon hugged
Suddenly, a cry…a human cry pierced through the corridors. It sounded like one of the priests of Athena. The cry came from beyond the sloped hall.
“Beggars cannot be choosers, I suppose.” Phaidon quickly donned the garments to cover his nakedness.
Alexander tossed Phaidon the pilum of Thelebius Gul, “It is not a bow but it will have to do for now. Just be careful.”
Phaidon smiled and they all headed down the hallway.
They came to an extremely large chamber. A giant stone dominated the chamber. A hideous throbbing resounded throughout the room. The two priests were in a far corner of the massive chamber, held there by a gigantic chimera. But, something else was in that horrible chamber…lurking above…
They saw a thing of inhuman terror and beauty, an awesome presence in which there was neither human weakness, pity nor mercy. They saw the soul-freezing glitter of one and many eyes, which stared wide open in a fearful semblance of life. All up and down the great chamber, cloaking the stone, misting over the chimera and the priests, the thing shimmered and shuddered. Horrible lights played terribly about it, and it changed and altered in horrific transmutations, a fiendish spirit of darkness and shadow, with a gleaming red center that stood nakedly and terribly stark, like a beating blot of blood amid shuddering gleams of shadow. Its towering anthropomorphic form was dark as shadow and gleaming as ice, rearing colossally against the vaulting arch of the sky. And it was the sky they saw above, somehow. They were seeing the sky above the world, despite the intervening depths of stone above them. In the indescribable features of the Thing there was no tinge of mercy toward man, only a demoniac gloating and a demoniac hate for all the sons of man. The shadowy arms flailed about...
Zografos asked quickly and quietly, “Is this the mother of all monsters or just one of her brood?”
Faith trembled and said, “The Mother of All Monsters. This is Evil Incarnate.”
Alexander swallowed hard, “This is truly the mother of monsters…Echidna.”
A great voice cried out, a million voices all full of hate and feelings darker and worse than hate, saying, “Why have you come?”
The voice was everywhere and nowhere at the same time, just as Echidna seemed to be. Close, yet far away, all at the same time. Alexander could feel the Dark Athena struggling against him, trying to get out of his pack. They had no idea what dark limbo gave birth to this thing who knows how many grisly eons ago.
Alexander spoke, “We have come because we are sent by Grey Bearded Zeus, by all the gods of Ingara and because grey eye Athena has business with you Echidna.”
“I am Echidna, Son
of
Alexander used his mind to free the Dark Athena and held it up in the air above him. He held up his arms as the statuette floated between him and Echidna.
Echidna screamed, “They locked me in here from fear! I do not fear your grim gods, O man!”
Suddenly, they all felt the play of gigantic unseen forces in the air about them. They realized they were but pawns in a huge game, merely the hands that held the relics of holiness, and that the Dark Athena was a symbol of the powers opposed forever against the fiends of darkness. As Alexander held the Dark Athena high, from it shot a single shaft of Light, unbearably pure, unbearably white, as if all the awesome forces of Light were combined in the symbol and loosed in once concentrated arrow of wrath against the monster of darkness. And with a hideous shriek the demon reeled back, shriveling before their eyes, and with a great rush of vulture like wings, the thing pushed back.
Alexander challenged Echidna, “Son of Man I may have been but we are the hands that carry the divine into battle and do not fear your beauty or your terror!”
The force of the
blow from Echidna caused Alexander to crumple to the floor, but he still
managed to hold the Dark Athena aloft.
However, he was failing. Cthaat
rushed to take his arm and hold it aloft as the light started to falter as
well.
Zografos yelled out, “Issic help him!”
Alexander was struggling with the mighty forces, and even with the help, he was faltering, the evil was growing, consuming the Light, winning...
Phaidon yelled back at Zografos, “Everyone help! You too, Zografos.”
Phaidon began to pray as Zografos pulled out the screaming tome and held it aloft. He pointed the Finger of Vulthois at the vile creature while touching it to the book and began to chant in shadow speak.
Lighting played around the darksome head of the Mother of All Monsters and it laughed, laughed at the puny men who dared.
Alexander was undaunted, “We are the hands that hold the divine!” Alexander summoned the strength of the gods to him.
Echidna laughed, “Mortals cannot overcome me!”
Issic walked over and crouched in front of Alexander. He grabbed Alexander’s hands to steady him and the Dark Athena.
The Thing cried out in horror and pain as Alexander stood up with his companions, pushing the lance of Light into the heart of the Mother of all Monsters.
“No!” it cried in the voice of a million.
Alexander continued to berate the foul creature, “We are the hands that carry the Sword of the Gods!”
A beam of pure shadow shot from the Finger of Vulthois and impacted Echidna. Renewed with the negative energy, she pushed back against the puny men and nearly sent them all sprawling across the floor of the cavern.
Alexander continued to bolster his friends, “We are the Hands that pull back the bow of the Gods!”
Phaidon knew they needed more help. He knew that everyone had to help, “Angel, please help us!” Faith stepped forward to support Alexander and the mortals.
Phaidon called out, “Zografos! We can beat this thing if you help!”
Alexander continued, “We are those that go forward holding the Candle of the Ingaran gods against the abyss of Darkness!”
Zografos stopped his chanting and as the beam of shadow evaporated, Echidna weakened. Zografos rushed over to help his friends, and the lance of Light gained strength. Alexander could feel the power growing within the Light. He stood up straight and strong, his friends there to support him in this time of great need.
Echidna cried out, “No! You don't have the heritage to do this!”
Alexander and the others were strained and pained from the force of Echidna’s onslaught. Yet, Alexander stood strong. A crack resounded in the room and they could all see the Dark Athena splintering under the stress.
Cthaat said, “Come on! Give it all we got!”
Phaidon challenged Echidna, “We have our own heritage and we are not going to let you take it from us!”
“You are mortals!”
Phaidon pushed with all his might, “You are nothing!”
A lightning bolt from on high struck Echidna with an intense blast that weakened her. Above them all, they saw a mighty figure of a man, with a great grey beard and angry eyes, a man who flexed mighty limbs as he flung back his arm to throw another lightning bolt at the Mother of All Monsters. Alexander stood straight up, held and supported by his friends and companions, and the arrow of Light pierced through the heart of Echidna. Echidna screamed as the figure of the man faded with a final, rumble from his great bearded throat, “Die at the hands of the Son of Thunder, Echidna.” With laughter the gray figure vanished. Echidna lashed out with blackened arms, striving to darken the arrow of Light. She struck at Alexander, but the combined strength of the group kept him from keeling over. The chimera cried out in its triple voice and bound over to kill them all as they stood, bunched up in a group.
Echidna and the Champions of Athena all knew that if the group faltered, Echidna would not be defeated. Everyone knew that if they stopped supporting Alexander, Echidna would triumph. But, the Chimera was bearing down on them. Confident in himself this time, Zografos pointed the ring and finger at the Chimera while still trying to support the group. He ordered the grisly artifact to turn the Chimera into a shadow and banish it to the plane of shadow.
The Chimera screamed its triple scream and vanished as it was turned into shadow and is sucked into the void. Echidna cried out in pain. Issic and the others pondered what to do as the Dark Athena cracked more under the pressure. The Light blinked, and Echidna slithered forward, laughing, cackling...
Issic grabbed his Illithid slaying arrow from Hades and threw it like a dart towards Echidna. The arrow passed through her horrid body and landed next to the priests in the corner of the cavern. Alexander summoned forth his mental power and the tiny gem owl from Alexander’s holy symbol fell away. It dropped and hits the floor with a seemingly unheard hopeless sound...but then in an explosion of power expanded into a giant crystal owl under Alexander.
Faith cried out to
Aphrodite for aid, saying, “Great Aphrodite, the daughter of
Echidna cowered,
screaming wordlessly as the shaft of Light severed taloned, malformed
hands. Echidna shriveled and blackened
and died. And with the death of Echidna,
the Dark Athena crumbled into glittering bits of sand and dust and also
died. In
But they all stood, intense and triumphant as gods died and passed on. Great sparkles of light leapt around the air and pools of shimmering blood dropped onto the floor about them.
Alexander screamed out in exhalation, “For the gods of Ingara!”
Phaidon held
Alexander went over to check on the priests.
Bits of clay seemed to be falling out of the sky as he ran toward the priests, who were trembling in fear. They prostrated themselves before Alexander. In the center of the room, the large stone yet stood. The Heart of an Old One... in their souls they could hear it beating still, echoing through dark eons of strange time.
Alexander ordered, “Get together into a group!” He ran over and gathered up the dust that once comprised the Dark Athena.
“Gather up as much of the clay and liquid as you can,” Alexander tossed his herbalist kit on the ground and opened it up to reveal many vials for storing the blood.
He continued, “But we are leaving very shortly!”
Everyone gathered up as much as they could. The priests stared at Alexander in awe.
“Acetes and Podaleirus do as you are told.” They began helping to collect the items.
After they had
gathered all they could, Alexander had everyone hold hands in a circle. Alexander chanted a few words and they were
instantly back at the
Everyone was ecstatic. They danced, they sang, they praised the Ingaran Gods.
Phaidon seemed lost in thought for a moment, “Zografos, can you contact Aendryal?”
“Yes, I will track her down and meet you outside of this place in half an hour.”
“Ask her if”, Phaidon paused, “if she has fed since bringing the panthers up. If she has not, stop her from doing so!”
Zografos raised an eyebrow, but nodded and left to find Aendryal.
Alexander spoke, “Everyone, leave any various substances we gathered and I will divide them up fairly.”
Everyone piled all of the clay and blood together. Alexander also managed to catch a few more divine sparks.
Acetes and Podaleirus asked, “May we touch you and be blessed, Alexander?”
Zografos found Aendryal just outside the temple, waiting in the rain with the panthers.
Alexander motioned Acetes and Podaleirus forwards and as they came forward, he shook their hand.
“We can feel your divinity, O Teacher,” said Acetes. “If you but raise your hand to command us, we will slaughter nations or heal multitudes at your word.”
“We are all Champions of the Ingaran Gods, I am no more important than the others who came to your aid, be sure to thank them and the gods for letting us know you needed aid.”
They bowed and said, “Thank you for knowing we needed aid, Gauntlet of Athena and Son of Thunder, as Zeus so proclaimed you.”
“Then go forth and protect those who are under siege by evil and madness.”
“As you command, so shall we ever do, O Son of Thunder, the Gauntlet of Athena.”
Zografos motioned for Aendryal to wait and trotted back inside to get Phaidon, “She is outside.”
Phaidon was surprised at how quickly Zografos came back. Phaidon described Leila to Zografos, “Ask her is she has slain such a person this night? If she has, I want to know where the body is.”
“I am not your messenger boy. Ask her yourself.”
“Fine. I will be right back.” Phaidon went to talk to Aendryal. Phaidon still was not sure about Aendryal, but his fears were allayed when he saw Antaeus and Axylus as he exited the temple. Aendryal waited in the rain for him.
Phaidon nodded to Aendryal, “Thank you for helping me out. I am sure it was not easy for you to protect my friends after what we did to yours in the past. I would ask a question of you.” Phaidon then described Leila to Aendryal.
Aendryal had a shocked look on her undead face, “Aye, I have killed such a girl this night.” She worried as to how Phaidon knew this.
Phaidon almost thought Aendryal seemed ashamed of what she had done, “Can you bring…” Phaidon stopped in mid sentence as a most unusual sight and sound affronted him and Aendryal.
Thousands upon thousands of owls were descending upon the temple and the buildings around it. Aendryal looks around in alarm.
Alexander continued talking to the priests, “Go forth not as conquerors nor slaughter unnecessarily, but rather go forth as liberators and heal those that evil would slaughter.”
“By your command,” they intoned.
Phaidon was still on the steps of the temple as he cried out, “Alexander! You need to see this! Everyone needs to see this!”
Zografos and Faith slipped outside. They were closely followed by Alexander and the others.
Owls by the thousands were lighting on the buildings, coming out of the darkness, in the rain to land and watch. In the excitement, Aendryal slipped away into the darkness.
Phaidon said, “I think our work is unfinished.”
Alexander replied, “There is always work for the hands of the gods to do Phaidon'
Phaidon smiled, “Aye.”
Acetes and Podaleirus cried out in consternation and fear from within the temple. Alexander looked into the temple as they rushed out, “The statue!”
Phaidon was puzzled, “The statue?”
“THE STATUE!”
Alexander and Phaidon went inside to see what they were talking about. Zografos glanced at Faith and then moved so that he could see “the statue” through the doorway.
Inside, they saw the statue of Athena. But it was not cold marble as usual. The helmet was gleaming metal, and the shield in her hand was real, with a writhing head upon its face. At her feet coiled a weapon of pure Shadow and in her weapon hand was a golden sword emblazoned with dragon motifs. To one side of her were a pair of soft boots, and a flute of some sort leaned against them.
Alexander fell to his knees at the sight.
Zografos moved closer to the statue to examine the items. Especially, the weapon of pure shadow.
The statue said simply, “Clean up the city, Alexander. Use these until the task is done or your death is met, whichever the fates allow to happen first.”
“Thank you for you gifts, oh Grand Athena! Your Champions as always are thankful to do your work.”
With a cry, all the owls simultaneously begin flapping their wings outside and screeching loudly and, in the darkness, the city awakened to that ominous portent.
The smattering of pure shadow slithered toward Zografos.
Alexander proclaimed, “Go forth, Champions and take that which you have been given by the Gods!”
Zografos claimed
the weapon of pure shadow as it drew close to him. Issic flew up and gripped the sword in his
hands. Phaidon waited for the others as
he was not sure which item Athena had intended for him.
Alexander proclaimed, “We are thankful to do the work of the Gods, oh Great Athena!”
Alexander knew the
items that they had been given. He
presented his friends with a bit of history.
He held up the shield, “This is the Aegis,
the shield of Zeus himself. However, he
allowed Athena to use the shield on numerous occasions. It bears the likeness of the head of the
first medusa.” He pointed to
Phaidon said a silent “Thank you,” to Athena. “I will be right back.” Phaidon went back outside in the rain to talk to Aendryal some more.
Aendryal was no where in sight, but Phaidon knew she was close by. On the dirty and wet street lied a young girl’s body. There was no doubt that it was Leila whom Phaidon had met on his journey. He wondered momentarily just where he had gone. He felt sure it was not the afterlife, but at the same time, what else could it have been? He thought it best not to dwell on it too much. Phaidon picked up Leila’s body. He looked around for Aendryal once more, but did not see her. Phaidon smiled slightly. Aendryal had done two good things this night. She may have slain Leila, but she returned her body and Phaidon would never be able to fully express his gratitude for her taking care of his panthers. Phaidon felt pity for Aendryal. He hoped that the goodness she showed could surface and that somehow she might be saved from her curse. Aendryal was at one time, Phaidon’s most hated enemy. Now, the mighty ranger had respect for her. He figured that if Nadam could be converted to good, perhaps so could Aendryal. Deep inside his heart, Phaidon hoped that could happen. Phaidon turned and entered the temple. He laid Leila on the altar, “Alexander, see if you can help her.”
“It is not I but Athena that will help her!”
Phaidon nodded, “She is important. Her lineage is important.”
Phaidon headed back into the rain, “Issic, will you help me carry the boys inside?” The mighty half-dragon, Lord of Castle Anhartz flew out and helped his friend carry the panther statues into the temple.
Alexander began
making preparations to perform yet another miracle. He planned to bring Leila back to life using
the power of Athena. He had Acetes and
Podaleirus help him prepare the altar and Leila’s body. Alexander began the ritual that would restore
Leila’s soul to her body.