The Magician’s War (Chapter 11)
They stepped through the portal and fell to the ground.
At this point, there was no being around.
They had instantly became double their normal weight.
Gravity on this planet was almost too much to take.
They all got up and moved around slowly.
Even the powerful panthers were walking lowly.
The wand indicated they had a long way to go.
They could barely walk. They would go slow.
Before Anika entered the Levels Of Hell,
Her wand had a tale to tell.
Not only was she informed where portals were,
She was informed what would occur
If she used magic directly to destroy a critter.
The result would be very bitter.
She destroyed the kangaroo in Level 1.
But, the magic was on air surrounding that one.
Too close for comfort. It took a lot out of her.
They had to triumph by other means for sure.
She could use magic, just not directly on a beast.
The lance was different, So was its power, at least.
That magic didn’t come from Anika directly.
It had its own magic that acted effectively.
But, now, they could hardly move.
How could they combat anything that moved?
They headed out through a wooded area.
Almost anything they heard would scare ya.
After awhile, they heard a lot of noise.
Trees uprooted and breaking, like toys.
Then, they saw the colossal.
A giant with one eye, flaring his nostrils.
He was 30 feet tall.
Moving with no problem at all.
Then, he seemed to get their scent.
Off in their direction he went.
Anika willed her wand into a lance.
She used magic to give it a chance.
She made a magical sling.
Flung the lance at the advancing thing.
It took all her power to fling it away.
She didn’t know if she could do it that day.
The lance hit the colossal in the chest.
The explosion made a massive hole in its chest.
She said “Deflecto” just in time.
The lance returned to her by her mind.
The colossal fell with a thunderous jar.
It knocked them off their feet and afar.
They struggled up. The colossal was dead.
Pern could barely fly a short distance ahead.
On they went, exhausted and totally spent.
Only will power carried them as they went.
They came to a steep hill going down.
They didn’t think they could manage the ground.
Then Anika had an idea to try.
She magically cut down a large tree nearby.
She cut out a length long enough to use.
She carved out the middle, like a canoe.
They all got in and down they slid.
Magic was used as their skids.
A rough ride. Magic helped to stabilize.
They went a very long way. What a ride.
Praise the Lord, they were close to the portal.
All they could manage was a mental chortle.
They got out and had to crawl.
Too weak to stand, she wanted to bawl.
The portal was very close to them.
They couldn’t move. Even on a whim.
Then, they heard them coming through the woods.
They had to get up and move, if they could.
Much too tired to defend themselves.
They saw what was coming. A herd of elves?
They looked like psychotic killers.
Armed with bows and sounding shriller.
Anika and the panthers got up and staggered.
How? Who knows? They were beleaguered.
Anika opened the portal and they fell through.
The portal slammed closed. One arrow flew .
They were in the safe home of old.
Maintained by magic, there was no mold.
It looked as good as new.
They laid on the floor like glue.
Finally, they could move around fairly well.
They had made it through the 7 Levels Of Hell.
Now, the real battle would begin.
But, first, they rest as we look in.
——————————————–R.W. Johnson—–(2017)