Jenkins let out a terrible laugh from the hole he hid in.

"You can always hand me the jewel," he said from behind the vines. "I'll even let you in, they won't reach you if you do."

The tanner's words sounded as though he was speaking from a distant land. I was more focused on the woman who rode the horrible horse before me. She wore a crimson robe. Her long brown hair fell over her shoulders, almost touching her hips. She was smiling, regarding me with her yellow eyes.

"You!" I said. It was the only word I could utter, really. "You're supposed to be dead!"

"Don't tell me you're actually surprised to see me," she said. She jerked her head to the side and laughed, as her hair flew from one shoulder to the other.

"Do you know her?" Nag asked.

"She tried to kill me once," I said. "She's the reason I don't have parents too."

"I'll be the reason you don't have a granddaddy as well," she said. "The king gracefully decided to release me, granted me new powers as well. He was delighted to learn I knew an actual Stalwart, someone that could draw the mad wizard into a trap. Who would've thunk?! A human teaming up with the Demon King."

In the distance, I heard painful howls and triumphant cheers.

"It seems your allies are dying, one by one," she went on. "Things aren't looking good for you Stalwart, not one bit."

"S-S-S-Stalwart?!" Jenkins screamed from behind the vines. "You're a Stalwart?"

"Shut it!" the woman hissed at the tanner. "We'll be dealing with you soon enough. The king wants your head. He doesn't care if it came attached to your shoulders though." She let out a satisfied giggle.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" I asked her.

"Why shouldn't I?" she said. "You don't have your crazy witch friend to help you this time. And even if she were here, my companions would be delighted to kill her. She caused the death of their kin."

"Nag," I whispered. "Get out of here. There's nothing you can do to save me from this."

"I'm not going anywhere," he replied. He looked at the woman with determination. "You didn't run when my people needed you," he went on. "Even when they… Even when I shunned you… You stood your ground. You fought beside us. You saved us from annihilation. I'm not going anywhere."

He drew his staff and pointed it at the horse. A yellow flash of light departed the staff and hit the horse head on. The large animal stumbled a few steps backwards then growled. It turned its head toward Nag and snarled, revealing sharp teeth.

"What do you think you're doing, Sebyan?" a deep, thunderous voice invaded our minds. I winced and fell to my knees, breathless. My essence went out of control once more.

"I'll keep them busy," Nag whispered to me. "Let those monsters out. They may be our only hope."

He held his staff in both hands then shot multiple spells at them. The woman on the horse drew a rod from within her robes and parried the spells that rained on her. I fought to keep my essence in check, got to my feet, and retreated a few steps. I began chanting then, making sure I articulated every word carefully.

"You will not release them!" the woman yelled then directed her rod at me, the violet jewel at its end glistened before a dark ray shot its way out, heading my way. Nag grunted as he jumped beside me and parried the spell.

"Don't stop chanting," he whispered. "They don't want them out. I a.s.sume it's for a good reason."

"d.a.m.n right!" the goat headed demon shouted.

I struggled to brush the voices away. I had to remain focused, lest I f.u.c.k up the entire spell. I kept chanting, articulating every word, p.r.o.nouncing every demon's name as clearly as I could. Some had three syllable names. Others had five syllables or even more. It was a miracle I remembered them all, given the circ.u.mstances.

Nag kept exchanging spells and repelling the dark horse's deadly hooves. I could tell he was getting tired. Demons had ample energy reserves. Therefore, they could use stronger spells. I didn't doubt Nag could parry them, but I wasn't sure on how long.

I was on the sixth demon's name when Nag collapsed to one knee, struggling to breathe. He shot a quick look at me then turned to face the dark, monstrous horse. That look told me he was out of juice. I had to hurry. Nag was burning his last reserves to buy me time. I wouldn't let that go to waste.

I chanted the last name and held the jewel high as I screamed: "Emergo sunt! Daemonium de tenebris!"

Howls and eerie laughter ensued. A cloud encircled us as the woman shot another spell at Nag. The spell bounced off the cloud and shot up toward the sky. The sound of triumphant laughter filled the place as the cloud swirled around us. It got faster, more violent. Trees shook, the vines by the cave were blown upwards, revealing a pale Jenkins.

When the laughter stopped, seven otherworldly creatures stood behind us. The goat headed demon, whose name I cannot tell you yet, slowly advanced toward the horse and its rider. No words were exchanged after that, only punches and spells. The goat headed demon made the first move. It punched the larger-than-life-horse, sending it hurtling several feet away.

The rider jumped away before the punch landed. She didn't waste time either. She showered the demon with spells, which it deflected as though it was deflecting pebbles thrown at it. The woman cursed under her breath, shot the rod upwards and sent red sparks in the air.

Whatever back up she had brought with her answered the call for help with deafening screams. The forest shook, as trumpeting footsteps approached us. The dark horse made its way back toward its enemy and they both b.u.t.ted heads. A crunching noise made me wince. I didn't know who was on the losing side after that exchange, both demons remained in place, locking eyes and grunting.

Back-up arrived shortly after. There were more than a dozen demons. Two more dark horses were among the bunch, one of which stood on its hind legs and held a glowing sword. It looked like a horrifying statue one could find in heretic temples in one of the forgotten hamlets around the western continent.

Agatha, with her yellow eyes and threatening magic rod, pursed her lips into a triumphant smile. She raised her weapon in the air, looking intently at me and Nag. "The only one we need alive is Stalwart!" she yelled. "Kill the rest of them!"

Deafening roars ensued. Demons ran and met in the middle. Spells were exchanged. The dark forest lit up as multicolored spells collided and exploded into tiny sparks. I felt a hand on my shoulder. Nag, breathless and sweating profusely, jerked his head toward the opposite side of the forest.

"You've fulfilled your end of the bargain," he said. "It's time we left."

"Not yet!" Chitin appeared behind us, out of thin air. "I need you to do one more thing for us."

I looked up at the hideous demon. A dark green liquid was oozing out of its temples, smearing its fly-like, compound eyes. It didn't seem to bother it. I extended my senses toward the creature to find out that its energy readings had depleted dangerously.

"I'll lend you the last of my powers," Chitin said. "Smash those rocks for us, would you?" He was speaking about the cave entrance where Jenkins hid.

"Pour it into me," Nag suggested. "I can easily break through the barriers."

"No," Chitin replied. It sounded as though the demon was about to collapse any second. "Our agreement was with him. If he fulfills it, we may all live to see another day. The king's knights are too powerful. Our power is still limited, since that d.a.m.ned tanner controls the jewel."

"I'll do it," I said.

"Zedd…" Nag protested, but I stopped him before he went on any further.

"That woman will do anything to get me," I said. "Even if we run now. Even if we hide at the end of the world, she'll find me. She'll kill you too. I have to do this. I started it all. I have to end it."

He nodded. His forehead creased. His lids narrowed to slits. I had never seen him make such a worried expression.

"Don't worry," Chitin said. "We're not entering any form of covenant. We're desperate for help. Our brothers died back there. More will die if we don't do something about it."

"I'm ready when you are," I said.

"Circulate your energy around your conduits," Chitin said. "Block whatever Fragment you may hold. I'll invade your body, this will not be pleasant."

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With the corner of my eye, I saw Agatha run toward me, brus.h.i.+ng past struggling demons and flying sparks. I looked at Chitin intently. There was no escaping this. I should've killed the woman with my own hands, but this was not the time to dwell on my past mistakes.

"Bring it on!" I said.