Title-- The Demon-God of Jubagh (part twenty-three)
Rating and Warnings-- PG-13; mild language and some violence.
Cast-- Rai Gerring, defected black magician (human man); Brandon "Exile" Styhan, exiled paladin-warrior (human man); Lhafa Softstep, possessed spirit warrior (baghan woman).
Previously-- Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven, Part Eight, Part Nine, Part Ten, Part Eleven, Part Twelve, Part Thirteen, Part Fourteen, Part Fifteen, Part Sixteen, Part Seventeen, Part Eighteen, Part Nineteen, Part Twenty, Part Twenty-One, Part Twenty-Two.



Lips pressed into a thin line, Rai watched as Lhafa silently tore a scrap of fabric from the bottom of her vest and tied it securely around her eyes. He paused as she cupped her talisman in her palms, lifting it to her lips and whispering what he presumed was a prayer. Once she laid the amulet against her chest again, he nodded to Brandon.

"If she goes blind because of this," the taller man growled in his own language, "I'm really going to make sure I kill every hellspawned one of those hexers." He raised his hands and let them hover a few inches from the barrier.

Rai mimicked his stance, placing his own hands at the same height. "If the eruption is too violent," he replied in the same tongue, "it might well kill her."

"Hells," Brandon grunted, eyes flashing yellow and light gathering to lick at his skin. "I don't know if I can ward her through this damn barrier."

"I already did as much as I could," the magician recalled. He smiled sadly, aware that the baghan woman was listening to incomprehensible words and probably feeling none too reassured. He reverted to her language. "Lhafa... there is a chance that--"

"That I will die. Yes, I know," she murmured. "The Rockhide is gloating. We do not have time to hesitate, however. I can hear fighting distantly - the tribesmen must have met your pursuers."

"...brave," Brandon muttered, jaw tightening. "Alright, Softstep. Brace yourself. This may not hurt at all, but... we don't seem to have that kinda luck."

The red and black tattoos that laced Rai's pale skin glowed, twisting fire and shadows along his outstretched fingertips. The black magic hissed and writhed where it touched the unseen barrier; the Light from the paladin's hands reacted similarly. "Keep it up," Rai grated. "We'll burn holes in it."

"Burn is right." Brandon grinned too widely, and the simple radiance from his palms transformed into white flames. The barrier reflected the light faintly, glimmering as it bowed and began to buckle.

After several long moments, the barrier snapped entirely and faded away, residual energy sizzling as it sank into the earth. Both men were breathing hard, hands trembling. "Lhafa...?" Rai wiped the sweat from his face with his sleeve, carefully moving forward along the branch. His entire body felt like he'd just run too long a marathon and desperately needed to collapse.

She had curled up while they worked, her face between her knees, her arms and tail wrapped around her legs. Her shoulders twitched and she lifted her head only enough to be heard. "I live."

Rai knelt next to her, resting a weak hand on her back. "Look up, Lhafa." He heard Brandon hop off the branch to join them on the ground.

Lhafa tilted her face upwards, half-uncurling. The strip of cloth around her eyes was scorched and dripping blood - her face was smeared with red. Brandon let out a string of quiet curses in his own language, turning away and taking a few vehement steps in the direction of the summoners before he held himself back. "I will survive," she said simply.

Rai nodded, then found his voice again. "Brandon, get over here. Heal her."

"I can't fix that, Rai--"

"I know, but you can stop the bleeding and the pain. Now." The magician awkwardly patted her shoulder, unsure of how to comfort a baghan. "Lhafa... I am sorry. Someone more skilled in healing than Brandon might be able to... help restore... some sight..."

Brandon kneed Rai out of the way and crouched, hovering his hands near her face. She recoiled slightly as heat radiated from his palms, then stilled as his magic began working to dull the pain. "Tough woman," he muttered, eyes golden. "Didn't make a sound." He paused as the glow from his hands faded, then straightened. "We'll kill them for you. All of them."

Wordlessly, Lhafa lifted a hand to settle on Rai's arm, then slid her fingers to his shoulder and used him as leverage to stand. He nearly collapsed under the pressure, tremors racing up and down his muscles; forcing himself to focus, he slowly stood. "You can't fight now, Lhafa," he said quietly. "We'll find you a place to hide, so that the paladins don't find you, and then Brandon and I have to go on alone."

"I had not yet gotten used to how the holy men saw," she murmured. "Too many colors, and too many lights." She turned her face towards Brandon when he cursed again and turned away. "But my other senses are intact, and ... the pain is gone." She forced a faint smile through the blood drying on her cheeks. "For that, I thank you."

"Don't mention it," the ex-paladin muttered, shoulders hunched. "Really."

"I am coming with you to finish this," she stated evenly, turning towards the distant summoners. "You are quicker, so you must continue to run. But I will join you." She swept the tuft of her tail a pace in front of her hooves, then took a step when she encountered no rocks or roots. Sweep, step. Her calm and perseverance were stunning; she navigated over a log, moving quietly but speeding up enough to be at a brisk walk. Sweep, step. She held one hand in front of her face, the other near her stomach, to ward off branches and vines. Sweep, step.

"Brandon?" Rai reverted to their language, voice slightly strangled. "I'm afraid I might lose it in this coming battle."

"That's fine by me," Brandon snarled back. His eyes shone, pupils drowned out with yellow light. "I've already lost it."