"We must hurry," Knightshade said. "Our task is not completed."
 
With that, Knightshade entered the ante-chamber and continued on into the room beyond. It was empty except for a large altar. It was jet black and covered with arcane symbols. When they entered, there was a flash of light, and a wraith appeared, lying face upwards on top of it. Climbing to its feet, it came at them. MaitreSteph sent a small tornado at it, which tore it to pieces. Ignoring this, Knightshade approached the altar and reached out to touch it. Before he made contact, a surge of raw energy travelled up his arm with such force that he was thrown to the ground. He rose gingerly to his feet.
 
"Ah, a force field. It looks like we will need to use magic to destroy it," MaitreSteph said. Not wasting any time he sent a light dart at it. The ball of energy hit the altar, causing a shimmering in the air, but little else. "There was a breach in the field, if only for a moment. If you two cast a spell together, the breach might remain long enough for me to strike the altar directly. Wait for my signal"
 
The three of them stood side by side. Preparing spells in their mind.
 
"Now!" MaitreSteph said.
 
Knightshade sent a light dart, Backlash a flame orb. Both struck the force field surrounding the altar causing it to shimmer for a few seconds. MaitreSteph waited for them to finish, before calling down lightning from above, which penetrated the breach and struck the dark altar. The altar splitting in two, its light winking out.
 
Sighing with relief, Knightshade noticed that all traces of the wraith had vanished. He checked the ante-room and found only the banshee’s body. The zombie was gone. Knightshade hoped that this meant that without the dark altar to sustain them, the others would be gone as well. Wearily they made their way back to the surface. Once there they closed the lid of the sarcophagus, and MaitreSteph used his magic to lock it. With nothing more to do, they cast a spell of relocation and returned home to Leinster.
 
Once again Lord Daemon had shown his power, and once again the good people of Leinster had won through. But the dark lord was still out there somewhere. No doubt plotting his next move against the forces of light. Knightshade wondered wearily what it would it be.
 
Page 5 of 5
 
Thank you for reading The Battle of Ratling Run. If you enjoyed this story, or even if you didn't, please feel free to send me your comments.
 
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