Chapter 29 ( The Sword of Loo And A Trip Back Through Time )

Sherari growled and grasped Rhiannon's hand and nodded her thanks and checked her pulse and heart rate. The tips of her fingers were still numb. She looked at Rhiannon and said," I will need some of that globulin. That is amazing with the neurotoxin." Then turned to Karogen and said, "Grab the arrow head and put it in this leather. I will need to test that as soon as we have the time. I can make use of it for Kerari's daggers."  Val came over and rubbed Sherari's back and said, " Ok, have you got yourself together?" She nodded her head yes and flicked her fingers and bright green leaves swirled around her healing her with renewed vigor. She flicked her fingers to everyone else and did the same. Then she said," Ok let's get this guy, we only have a limited time here." Rhiannon nodded her head and they proceeded to ascend the steps slowly. Karogen sniffing and growling as he swiped the area the arrow came from. Apparently, it was triggered when she stepped on the rigged stone. She nodded and continued on her way as the large bear stopped and sat on his haunches peering into the hallway at the top of the stairs waiting for them to shift into their animals and fan out behind him. Rhiannon jumped up on Ambrosious's back once more and peered quietly. Then she smelled it. The sulfur smell of a demon. She could Hear Balor cackleing loudly and smashing what sounded like plates as they edged into the hall. She flipped her tail up and hopped over the wolf's shoulder and crouched low to the floor ahead of Karogen and shimmied down a few yards and flicked up her tail for the others to advance. The six of them moved this way for several minutes until they came to a large open room that looked to be where one would hold vibrant dances and celebrations. 

Suddenly, from out of nowhere, Mephistopheles appeared and said," Lucifer is watching you. It's not going to turn out well. He sent Azazel to scare the mare. I am only warning you because well, game on! You have fifteen minutes to kill that demon and get the spear and get your asses back to the portal."

He took a big toke off the skull bong. This time the skull was the skull of  a giant alien with a bulbous head. He pointed to the room off the side of the larger one and said," The spear is in there. I would suggest you split up. Time is literally not on your side right now." Rhiannon bolted off to the room where the spear was as the other five rounded the wall and saw the throne. There Balor sat tossing what appeared to be glass bongs on to the floor beside his chair. He heard Karogen growl low and turned and growled himself and stood up. He gave a heanous grin and rushed Karogen with his arms splayed wide. As soon as the large Bear made contact with the demon, Val ,Andronus and Sherari moved in flanking them as Ambrosious came up from behind. Mephistopheles looked at his wrist as if there was a watch there and yelled," Woot! You go. Look it's, ahh hell, I'm being called back to Gahenna. Good luck!" He said as he bamped away. 

Ambrosious's jaws were snapping loudly as Karogen's claws raked the demon's flesh then all of a sudden he thought about the arrow head and reached a paw back and grasped it tightly in his claws. 

Rhiannon found the spear in a glass case laying on a purple cusion and said,' All Hail Loo, God of Journies. Bless this endeavor!" and knocked the glass off the pedestal. It hit the floor and shattered into a million glittering shards and she grasped the spear. Turning quickly, she ran out the door and over to the wildly fighting druids just in time to catch the leather covered arrow head  that Karogen tossed with his paw. With all her might she screamed her banshee scream and leapt into the air with both the spear and the arrow head and slammed them both into the demon's chest. Val saw his moment and leaped up and latched on to the demon's throat in a vise like grip and crushed down. Balor gurgled his last breath as the venom on the dagger and Loo's spear did their work. Rhiannon pulled them free from his chest, blood from his throat spraying her body and face. She said,'

" All parise the wondrous Loo! Let's go, let's go,let's go not time to loot, let's go!" They all turned and went back exactly they way they came in running as fast as they could. They burst out of the castle and ran as hard as they could down hill and out of the village. They ran , and ran so fast they could see the rope as they neared the portal and Karogen leapt and grabbed it just as it began to move backwards. He had it. The mare was loosing her mind on the other end and struggled against the bear. Rhiannon and Sherari wound the rope around all of them in a bunch and barely got the knot tied around them when the mare could no longer stand the demon's taunting and yanked them through the rift.

There on the other side, Azazel was shocking the mare with small bolts of electricity causing her to jump and scream. As soon as she saw her mistress was back on this side of the protal she turned to the demon and reared up on her hind legs and pawed at him. He turned a looked at the druids shocked they had made it back and bamped into thin air. Rhiannon quickly untied herself and went to her mare and cooed softly in her ear and began to sing a haunting melody. Soon Zahuba calmed and nuzzled her muzzle against Rhiannons chest and bowed low for her to climb astride. Rhiannon slipped across her back and leaned low over Zahuba's neck and caressed her gently thanking her for her bravery and loyalty. She sat back and Zahuba began walking and they all fell into step behind the banshee and her mare.

Val, looked at them and broke out laughing. Saying loudly," That. Was Exhilirating. My dear sister give me the spear and go bathe in the river you are simple unsightly." They all laughed and Ambrosious  placed a hand upon her leg as they walked. " Yes my love you do look quite unsightly, your brother is right." His wife smiled softly and reached into her pack and slipped him the spear and pulled out the leather wrapped arrow head and held it down for Sherari to grasp. She turned Zahuba to the side and she made her way to the river inlet and lowered herself off of the mare and into the water. Tiny bubbles  started popping up as she submerged herself. When she rose, she was perfectly clean. Her clothes dried as she stepped onto dry land. Flowers emerged from her feet and she sat down and put on her sandals. She looked up and said," Val, we need to take the spear to mother so it will be guarded we have to go get the the sword and the cauldron both are in the normal time.

Val pulled out of his pocket a pouch that housed his portal stone to Avalon's grove. He tossed the powder in the air and said," Shemanch Rhie Rhom! Home to the Grove!" His hand twisted and flicked as the bright electric blue swirls of the wormhole began to open. He gestured for them all to walk through and turned to see Morrigan. He bowed low with a flourish. "My mother wishes you would come to the grove more often. You and your mother. She misses her sister dearly. We are watchers not the fallen, remember that."

Morrigan smiled and waved her Alabaster hand. I will remember to do so more often. I think I fancy Karogen. He seems to be quite fiesty and strong and quite handsome. Go now your wormhole weakens. You need the sword and the cauldron left. Rhiannon still needs the Arch Druids to surround her during these tasks though others may need to join you is you wish." He blew her a kiss and stepped sideways into the portal with a hop and spun wildly into the grove and landed with a slight wobble. Karogen said," Valudus! since when do you know how to open portals?" Val smirked, and responded," Karogen, who is my mother?" He nodded and said," Ahh, Yes of course. You never told me you were a mage first." Val touched his arm and said," Lady Death fancies her a large brown bear. I am sure she will be making you a visit in the near future." The arch druid raised an eyebrow and let out a slow breath and responded," Well, it could be worse. At least she is beautiful. Did you see that alabaster white skin?" 

Val just ignored the last statement and went to find his wife. Darkness had fallen and everyone sat around the fire once more and some people were singing and as he drew near, he saw his Mother, Ishellia and Rahnyah with their heads together over a large table made from a large tree. There were large pieces of parchment and bottles of ink and sigils and marks both ancient and new they were making for what seemed every soul about to converge upon the island of Gahenna.

He drew closer and placed his hand upon his mother's shoulder and leaned in to kiss her cheek and then moved to Rahnyah and hugged her and kissed her softly and then placed his hand upon her belly to tell his son hello. He then moved and hugged Ishellia and kissed her cheek softly and placed his forehead upon hers. There was nothing but love here and even though Ishellia had endured the most horrid of tortures she was accepted wholey and lovingly in her home. It felt natural as he watched the three women he loved most in his life poured over their work. He saw some sigils three inches big and they graduated in size and shape all over the table further down the table, other scribes were working tirelessly and furiously over their parchments. 

Over to the left, Marrukah and Pong were lighting the forges and keeping them hot as the black smiths forged armor. It seemed as if their hammer strikes were timed perfectly to the beat of an old song. Daz was swinging a hammer with his shirt down around his waist and Kerari was not far from him bringing water to the smiths as they worked. Three other women carried buckets of water to other smiths along the ridge. The dragons moved as if in a dance to keep the fires blazing hot. Closer to the Scribe's table were the alchemists working tirelessly on tinctures and potions that were bottled in beautiful bottles stoppered with differnt colors to signify which one was which.

Kerari was walking along the table helping where she could and giving advice to the mixers. The Blackwell forces and Allied forces were shoulder to shoulder singing jaunty tunes and laughing and joking. The Priests were making sure their tomes were perfect and adjusted them where needed as well as updating any paladin tomes for the new Templar knights. They moved back and forth between their table and the scribes table confering with Queen Madeline and Ishellia.

Rahnyah worked tirelssly on the mage sigils. Her head was down and she was etching an old Norse rune of protection twined with the roots of Ygdrassil when her knees buckled and she dropped to the ground. Ishellia was closest and went to her quickly saying," Rahnyah, dear are you ok?" Rahnyah looked up from the ground blinking her eyes and said," I don't think I have eaten anything all day. I have been so busy, I forgot to eat." Ishellia pulled her hand to her helping her sit up and said," Val, Rahnyah needs you to take her inside." Val came over quickly and picked his wife up and carried her into the grove and up the cobblestone path to their home. He opened the door and sat her down in the chair right near the door and said softly," My dear you are a human carrying an angelic child. You must keep your body strong so he can grow properly. It is early yet so your body is getting used to the extra need for blood and you are older than you were when you had Hadassah. Just relax and I will be right back with somehting for you." He moved into the kitchen and riffled in the cabinets and brought her some water and a bit of bread." Eat this while I cook you something."

She nodded mutely and began to eat the bread and drink the water. She was silent for a few moments as she listened to him moveing about the kitchen. Soon, amazing smells wafted forth and began to make her salivate and her stomach growled. He came into the room and took her by the hand and led her to the table and pulled out her chair. She sat down and he helped her scoot it back up. She waited patiently as he brought her plate to her. There was a huge steak with garlic butter melting over the top and sauteed onions and mushrooms and two fried eggs with some potatoes fried to perfection.

She smiled and he sat down next to her and they began to eat when the door opened and he said," Ishellia there is a plate for you on the counter." She smiled and grabbed it and brought it to the table and sat down. She looked at Rahnyah and said," Are you ok?" Rahnyah's mouth was full of steak cooked the perfect medium rare and she nodded silently. Ishellia cut into her steak and looked at it and smiled. It barely had a sear on it the rest was blood rare. She reached out and poured a glass of wine and handed it to Val and poured a half a glass for Rahnyah and reached for the orange juice and placed that in front of her as well. 

As soon as she had eaten enough to not be starving she asked," How was the trip back in Time?" Val rolled his eyes and said ," Lucifer sent Azazel to mess with Zahuba, we almost didn't make it back through." She looked at him and reached her hand out and caressed it as she took another bite. Then he laughed and said," Morrigan has taken a fancy to Karogen and intends to woo him subsequently when this war is over." Ishellia spit her wine through her nose and grabbed a napkin and wiped her face." Oh, Karogen is in for some trouble." She said.