Chapter 197 - Inquisitor Abraxus

Ahead of schedule! There's a decent chance there will be a chapter tomorrow too, so patreon will be 9 ahead. Really loving how things are coming along with this chapter. 

Abraxus shouldn’t be here, and he certainly shouldn’t be so calm. Hump’s instincts told him not to trust the inquisitor. Hump looked at Eliana in his arms—blood stained the side of her face and had dried in her hair.

“You first,” Hump said. “This is a strange place to take a stroll.” He nodded toward Eliana. “What happened?”

Abraxus’ eyes bore into him. “We were in the Lower City when the warlocks struck.” His voice was calm. “We took the Pilgrims Steps up here and reckoned we might be able to do something about this tree. It didn’t go to plan.”

“Is she dead?” Bud asked.

Abraxus shook his head. “Unconscious.” He knelt, setting her down gently against the wall. “She’ll live. Now, are you going to tell me why you’re here?”

“We’re—” Bud started.

“—Don’t answer him,” Hump snapped. He didn’t take his eyes off the inquisitor as he tried to figure out what to do next. “I don’t trust you, Abraxus.”

“I don’t trust you either.” The man stood up and sighed, an impatient look to him. He leant against his staff, black robes settling around him. Hawkish eyes focused straight ahead at Hump, unblinking. Focused. Unphased by what was happening.

“What’s going on?” Corvin whispered to Hump, the knight of Ordana standing at his right side. “We could use the help.”

“Let me think.” Hump’s heart was really racing now, pumping adrenaline through him.

He didn’t feel fully in control of himself. The dungeon essence was so thick in the air, it was impossible not to breathe it in. It was everywhere, taunting him with its promise of power, distracting him. It made it hard to think logically as a wizard should. He let his mind go to the River and Waves, sensing his own flow of essence through the many channels of his body, reassuring himself that he hadn’t accidentally reached for any of that power. That he was still himself. He tried to let his anxiety fall away, but it wasn’t easy. Not here. Not with warlocks, monsters, and gods knew what else at their backs, while a bloody inquisitor now stood between them and their only escape if it came to that. It was all so messed up.

Lord Ferrand had already betrayed the city. He’d shown that loyalty to Alveron and the gods meant nothing. If they had Ferrand, and Hump was right about Prince Kassius being one of them, then the warlocks could have infiltrated every part of society. There was no telling who to trust. It would explain a lot about Abraxus. His fixation on Vivienne, why he’d framed her for the assassination of the imprisoned warlocks and tried to help General Bennet undermine Countess Daston’s authority. The discrepancies regarding the nature of Hump’s master’s death. If it was Hump’s spellbook Abraxus was after, having him arrested would making taking it a simple task. Someone had hunted down his master. Perhaps that someone stood before him now, intending to do the same thing to Hump.

Every instinct told Hump he was right, but… he couldn’t ignore the influence of the dungeon essence. Was this the gorger fragment feeding on his insecurities and making him question things he shouldn’t? This could be its plan to turn him. Trap him in an impossible position and disrupt their attempt to destroy the tree. Hump gritted his teeth.

“What are you thinking?” Celaine hissed.

“This can’t be coincidence,” Hump said. “Vivi said Abraxus could associate the residual essence of a spell with the person that casted it, following it like a scent. He couldn’t have just stumbled upon the same back entrance as we did.”

“You think he followed us?” Corvin asked, shock in his voice.

The question was whether he was after Hump for his spellbook, or if he was there to stop them destroying the tree. In the end, Hump decided to trust his guts. There was too much at stake.

“I think he tracked us down,” Hump said. “And I’m willing to bet his intentions aren’t good.”

“Don’t be foolish, boy,” Abraxus said, then he paused. “Or was I right about you?” He looked to Hump’s companions. “Are you aware that there is a bounty on Wizard Humphrey’s head for the murder of his master? That the Inquisition suspects him of being a warlock himself.”

Corvin glanced at Hump, doubt on his face. “Is that true?”

“It was brought before Countess Daston and she found him innocent,” Bud said quickly. “Don’t listen to him.”

Abraxus took a step forward.

Hump levelled his staff. “Hold it.”

Abraxus didn’t stop. “Look at him! If he attacks me now, he’ll bring every warlock in this building down on you. He’s a traitor! These are baseless accusations.”

“My master wasn’t stabbed,” Hump said.

“What?” Abraxus scowled.

“You told me there were knife wounds on his body, but you lied.” Hump placed a hand on his spellbook. “Is it this you’re after, or are you just another part of this warlock invasion?”

“What nonsense are you spouting?” Abraxus snarled.

“If you’re not against us, stand down and leave,” Hump said. “We’re here on the orders of Marcela Daston and you’re interfering. Take another step forward and I’ll consider you hostile.” Hump lowered his voice. “Dylan, Emilia, watch that door behind us.”

They stepped back discreetly, positioning themselves closer to the door at the end of the hallway.

“And what of you?” Abraxus looked at Corvin and his party. “Will you side with a wizard accused of murder?”

Corvin bit his lip, hesitating.

Hump swallowed, nervous at so many unpredictable elements surrounding him. “Corvin—”

“I’ll side with a friend,” Corvin said, drawing his sword. “A wizard I respect and have fought alongside for months. Inquisitor Abraxus, if you are true in your purpose here, take that woman and leave.”

Hump smiled slightly, despite the situation. He remembered the arrogant noble he’d taken Corvin for when they’d first met. The unprofessionalism when they’d first started their quest to Stonebark Forest, and how little he’d thought of Hump. But he’d changed. Hump was relieved the months of questing and training together had paid off.

“I—” Abraxus stopped. He took a breath and his demeanour changed. For a moment, he staggered, and then he refocused, vengeance in his eyes. A smile cracked on his lips. “I suppose the charade is over.”

Don’t be foolish, inquisitor,” Corvin said. “You cannot fight all of us.”

Abraxus answered with a spell.

“Arcane Eye.” His voice resonated. Essence shone in his left eye, turning it white and cloudy, a spell formation carving itself inside and glowing with purple light. “Armour of Essence. Herald of Stone.”

The magic layered over him, a shield of essence forming like a second skin, and then bronze light flared from his flesh. He shone like a bronze statue, his body hardened and strengthened by its power. Tendrils of light lashed at the floor, tearing it up and making stone rise around him. Rock scaled formed over his body, his skin became leathery, his presence radiated a strength that called out danger.

I guess that’s that then, Hump thought. Those guarding the House of Stone would sense their fight and come for them, along with whatever other force the warlocks could muster. Somehow, they’d need to find a way past them in time to destroy the tree.

That started with Abraxus.

The inquisitor stepped forward, and Hump took aim with his staff.

Before he could bark off his spell, Abraxus slammed the butt of his staff against the floor and extended his left hand forward. “Gravity Well.”

Pressure descended. Hump’s staff drooped to the floor under its own weight. His legs buckled, and he fell to his knees, only keeping himself up by using his hands. Hump felt pain inside him, like his insides were tearing apart. He struggled to breathe. Emery and Kesha suffered similarly, but the rest of their company managed to remain standing beneath the weight of Abraxus’ power.

Hump sensed power to his left and fought to turn his head in time to see Celaine launch herself from the zone of pressure using Spring Step. Emilia followed suit, her muscles pulsing with red lightning as she launched herself free. Patrick vanished in shadow, reappearing behind Abraxus. Above, Celaine drew an arrow in mid-air, fit it to her bow, and charged Powershot. The projective shot forward, piercing silver light filling the hallway as it soared straight at Abraxus. Emilia charged down the centre of the hallway behind it, almost as fast, rapier drawn, red essence trailing her. At his back, Patrick’s shadow extended toward Abraxus, trying to ensnare him and hold him in place.

Abraxus swatted the Power Shot away with a quick motion of his hand, deflecting it into the wall beside him where it exploded, shattering stone and sending a gust of wind through the hallway. His Armour of Essence shimmered blue from the impact, before restoring itself in a near instant.

Hump felt the pressure of his spell end then as Abraxus called upon another. He didn’t waste a moment, rising back to his feet. In a cramped space like this, there was too much risk he’d hit his allies with his offensive magic. Instead, he went for control. They had more than enough power to bring Abraxus down without his added to the mix.

The inquisitor raised his staff overhead as Emilia and Patrick closed in. “Arcane Pulse.”

A wave of purple essence swept out from his staff, sending Emilia and Patrick flying. Celaine tumbled through the air, landing deftly on her feet, while Patrick landed near Eliana toward the building’s entrance.

“Earthen Grasp.” Hump released his spell. Force hadn’t worked—they needed to slow him down. Buy time to coordinate their attacks and break his shield.

A fist rose from the stone floor, grabbing for Abraxus’ waist. The man roared, and charged through it like a speeding boulder, breaking the hand before it had fully formed.

“Noises on the other side of the door,” Dylan called.

“Keep it shut!” Hump shouted, looking over his shoulder.

Dylan dropped seeds along the bottom of the door, using Growth to turn them into thigh-thick vines that formed a web over the doorway.

It wasn’t enough. The doorway was shattered, though the vines kept the shrapnel from striking them in the rear. Four of the warlock guards they’d seen before were on the other side, weapons in hand. Dylan’s web of vines exploded toward them, two tendrils targeting each warlock and forcing them back. Then he barged through the doorway, Aspect of the Bear filling the air around him, radiating essence. His staff whirled in his hands as he engaged them, a wind rising around him, his vines an extension of his own strikes, the druid alone holding back all four at once.

“Emery, Krentin, help him,” Corvin said.

They nodded, the cleric taking position beside Dylan, a healing and rejuvenating aura expanding over all of them as he released his blessings. He smashed back one of the warlocks with his shield, then his mace narrowly missed the warlock beside him.

Hump felt Emery’s wind and fire magic at work behind him, but he returned his focus to Abraxus. The inquisitor was nearing them now.

Bud took front and centre, Corvin on one side, Emilia on the other.

“We coordinate our strikes,” Hump said. “Kesha, Celaine, target the same points and try to break through his ward spell.”

Bud and Corvin stood shoulder to shoulder in Abraxus’ path. Behind them, Celaine built another Power Shot, imbuing it with Predator’s Intent, and Kesha nocked five arrows on her string.

Abraxus spread his arms on either side, his essence exploding from him.

“Soul Manifestation,” Emilia said. “Stop him!”

“Aim for his groin,” Celaine said. “Now!”

Hump levelled his staff with them, drawing stone in front of him with his will, adding his own Rockshot to their arrows.

Abraxus’ essence burst around him in an array of chains around Abraxus. It swept out at their attacks, exploding them in the air. Abraxus walked through the attacks like it was nothing. His Armour of Essence flared brightly blue at the impact, the shield breaking in places, but it reformed quickly.

His manifested chains soared forward, faint conjurations of essence that sought each of them out, latching onto all of them. Hump didn’t feel it as a physical thing, he felt it on his soul, constricting him. It pressed down harder, and he resisted, forcing it back with his will. He called upon his essence, but it was slower than before.

Hump called upon all the essence he could, filling his staff. “Explode—”

“Counterspell,” Abraxus barked.

Essence bombarded Hump, sending a shockwave of pressure through him. His spell collapsed. The power in his staff exploded, and Hump barely had time to use his arms to shield his face. He was blasted back, landing heavily on the ground, his face searing with pain but his battle robes had taken the worst of the impact. They smelt of burning, but they held.

He groaned as he pushed himself up, staring at Abraxus in shock. He was even stronger than Vivienne. And then he felt the chains of his Soul Manifestation close tighter on his soul, taking advantage of his weakness. Hump pressed back with his will, feeling even more restricted than before.

Abraxus didn’t slow, his shoulders hunched forward, his eyes now set on Bud and Corvin. His Arcane Eye shone brighter, and Hump suddenly wondered if they’d even make it to the tree.