At first they had simply used the wand against the demons, but a couple had recovered quickly, and that had taught the magic users to weaken them first, in order to extend the period they were stunned.
The brothers drew their large battle knives and began to cut the demon’s throats as fast as possible. Gulamendis reminded himself that even though this method was not as dramatic or immediate as using his magical abilities, it sufficed for these circumstances. The demon’s essences would return to their realm, but to the best of his knowledge, the portal to the demon realm had been sealed, and by the time these three were reborn, their problem of escape from this planet would long be decided.
It was over in a few moments. The two tall elves stood covered in dark demon blood, their eyes watering from the stench of carrion and sulphur. ‘That bought us a few minutes,’ said Laromendis.
His brother nodded. ‘I sense some more to the south, but they’re not coming closer yet. We should probably make our escape now.’
‘Which way?’ asked Laromendis.
Both were tall, nearly seven feet in height, but had similar proportions to the lesser elves. Their massive shoulders narrowed to trim waistlines above their powerful hips and legs. Neither was a warrior by trade or inclination, but both had been forced to learn to kill and had become adept at it. It helped that Gulamendis understood each demon’s vulnerabilities and always communicated what he could to his brother.
‘That way.’ Gulamendis pointed to the northeast. ‘There should be an alley leading to the broad street; the last portal should be there.’
‘I thought it was the other way,’ said Laromendis, pointing to the northwest.
His brother smiled. ‘So does everyone else.’
‘You have a plan?’
‘Always,’ said his brother jogging in the direction he’d indicated.
The small city that had been the home of those left to care for the portals was a simple place to navigate under normal circumstances; but an invasion by the Demon Legion was hardly normal.
They carefully made their way between buildings, stopping at every corner to make sure they were unobserved. There were a small number of demons that could hide well, becoming almost invisible, but Gulamendis’s sensitivity to any demonic presence usually alerted them to their proximity.
They reached to the last stretch of open ground before the building that contained the entrance to the hub portal and Laromendis swore. ‘Flyers!’ Circling above it like vultures were half a dozen flying demons.
‘Can you do anything?’ said Gulamendis.
‘I’m tired,’ replied his brother, ‘but I think I can manage a small diversion. Give me a moment to compose myself.’
The Conjurer closed his eyes, called upon his last reserves of power, and abruptly Gulamendis saw the illusion. It wasn’t much as conjurations went, a slight scampering presence between two of the houses near one of the hovering demons, but it was enough to make the creature shriek and dive towards the imagined prey. The others were only a moment behind it, and they all flew off up the side street. ‘Now!’ said Laromendis.
The two elven magic users dashed for the entrance of the building Gulamendis had indicated and made it safely inside. They waited for their eyes to adjust to the gloom of the unlit hall, before they looked for any ground forces waiting inside.
‘Now,’ said Laromendis softly, ‘where are we?’
His brother squatted with his back to the wall, and Laromendis followed suit. ‘While I don’t make it a habit to eavesdrop, I happened to be close enough to hear two Sentinels discussing the last recall. This building houses a single portal, one designed for the last of us to flee through. Assuming it was the recall we heard, every elf who was on this world went that way.’ He pointed to a door.
They were exhausted, tired to their cores, but necessity made them rise. Gulamendis closed his eyes for a moment then said, ‘No.’
His brother knew he meant no demon sign lay beyond the door and they moved towards it.
Gulamendis opened the door; they moved slowly for the illumination normally employed around a portal was missing. In the distance they saw a faint light, which became a line along the floor as they crossed a hall and reached another closed door. The Demon Master paused again, to see if he could sense any demons, but when he felt nothing, he gripped the latch and pushed aside the heavy wood.
The room was a mess. Bodies littered the floor and the single platform which supported the two magically imbued wooden arms which framed the portal, were so blood spattered they looked as if they had been painted red. The stench was nearly overwhelming, despite the brothers’ days of exposure to demon carcasses.
The portal was inactive.
Gulamendis said, ‘Well, isn’t this a surprise?’