159 Thanedd Coup (Part 4)

Alan ran to the top of the Thanedd island. To the most elevated building, constructed to accommodate an unstable portal. Many mages thought it was a natural disturbance, a rupture in space left after Convergence of Spheres.

A scar on the flesh of the world, the one that will serve as an eternal memorial for those ages of darkness and struggle.

But it was not.

It was a portal leading to Aen Elle, the world of elves, the world that gave birth to Wild Hunt.

To escape Thanedd for good, they needed Tor Lara and its portal. Alan even thought to fly away in his Tenebris form, but looking at the number of scoia'taels changed his mind. They were archers of unbelievable level and accuracy. The last thing he needed is to create a bigger target for their arrows. In the sky without protection magic he will become a porcupine under their onslaught.

"Ciri, we are going inside the tower."

"It is an awful place. Yet it is calling me. Almost like it wants me to go inside, to the top floor." - she didn't stop, but suddenly turned around. - "Screams, do you hear? What is happening there?"

Alan frowned, and then his face went from shock to paleness. He saw a brief image from a bird. A huge winged creature with a humanoid body and horns was wrecking havoc down below. It was fast for its size and used swords in both hands.

Like a hurricane winged creature went inside the ranks and killed people with deadly precision. Only Vilgefortz could stop attacks wreathed in emerald flames. His staff was very heavy to others, yet not for himself.

Alan saw how fast and deadly he can be while wielding it and knew – the man can kill the demon, but will suffer for that. And with that young witcher also judged the level of the maniacal mage. He won't stand a chance at all. His hits can destroy any magical defence. Whatever this staff was, it couldn't be considered a normal weapon, As it also gave a certain level of amplification to the overall body power.

The only thing Alan outperformed Vilgerfortz in was his bloodline power. Even his reaction speed was a notch lower. He will see everything and analyze the battle easily because of Eternal Mind and his battle state. But seeing it and having body strong enough to react to it are two different concepts. He had the former, but not the latter.

Roars of anger and battle ecstasy sounded from below. The two combatants decimated an entire battlefield, stone stairs trembled under collision of powers while most of the pursuers died under the attacks of the two maniacs who didn't bother to look around and killed anything that caused hindrance.

Cahir and several people behind him passed the battling duo, paying with their lives after every step.

"Let's go, we can't stop. Not now." - Alan took Ciri by the hand and they ran across the square in front of the tower.

"In the name of Nilfgaard Emperor, stop!" - screamed Cahir. Ciri looked back and saw the black armor, a helmet adorned with wings and a sword in hand. She trembled, her rage reaching a new level again.

"Alan, it is him. Him!" - she said while grinding her teeth and broke the hold.

"Ciri!" - Alan shouted, but the girl advanced at Cahir with bloodied sword at hand. She made a pirouette and steel sang in the air, aiming at the space between armor plating.

"Cirilla, stop! I mean you no harm!" - Cahir tried to reason with her, but will the girl who experienced tremendous shame under his hands even listen? She won't.

She was like a little enraged beast. Her sword parried the attacks and finally found its way to his shoulder. Cahir screamed shortly, stepped back, and his arm went limp. Ciri swirled in place, gaining momentum, and struck the helmet that flew into the air.

The gruesome and threatening knight with the winged helmet disappeared. What remained turned out to be a young man in his mid-twenties with a short haircut and bitter face. He looked at the girl as beautiful as a fairy with astonishment, dread and something else...

Alan ran over and seized her hand.

"Do you want to finish it?" - he asked with a rare softness in the voice.

"I finished it." - Ciri said, while turning around and locking her gaze with his.

"Let's go." - Alan diverted his attention from her burning eyes to the distant glow of emerald light. Fire was its source. Suddenly everything grew cold. He cursed. - "From frying pan into the fire. Every single shit is here to have a go. Run, Ciri, run."

They teleported again into the tower's lower floor and traversed the stairs.

What welcomed them at the top was not some astounding view. It was just an empty room without windows, with moss all over uneven walls made of raw stone.

And in the very center of it, a white oval of a portal glowed brightly.

It beaconed for them to enter. The tower shook under tremendous impact, portal became unstable. Alan felt how a force approached them. Ancient, deadly and corrosive.

Near it frost invaded, yet it was powerless to do anything.

"Ciri, don't let go." - Alan offered his hand, but the girl stepped forward and hugged him tightly.

"I have a feeling you will disappear with only a hand." - she said briefly. - "Jump."

And they jumped. It was a fresh experience. Portal was rough, unstable and space powers twisted them, at least they tried, but both Alan and Ciri were not regular people. Their bloodlines reacted on their own, flaring up like a pine tree during Yule and protecting from the severe onslaught of the spacial forces.

Yet it was not enough to negate everything.

Space ripples were so powerful, that their impact completely shattered the inner storage of the Eye of Eternium! Alan wailed at this loss internally, because he lost everything aside from battle gear and swords. Good thing before the fight he took out Dragon School medallion.

The moment they exited the transfer tunnel, Alan noticed a tall mountain covering most of his view and held Ciri closely. The rupture mended itself with a loud explosion and send a shivering shock wave around.

Alan heard a flock of birds flying away in panic, while they descended through numerous tree branches.

Ground was hard, uneven and full of stones, some of them proved to be very sharp.

'Slate. Good thing it is only one. When broken apart they can be very sharp.'

The slate stone accidentally pierced Alan's leg, yet by the look of it the injury is neglectable. The artery stayed intact, other things didn't really mattered.

'Forest... we landed in the forest, not in Korath desert! Okay, fine, seems like with me as an additional mass portal worked differently and we ended up in another place. I only hope it is not Aen Elle, or we are in deep trouble.'

Ciri made it out with better condition, but her first transfer across chaotic space shocked the mind. She fell into unconsciousness and Alan knew she needs to remain that way for some time. Her Elder Blood will awaken further after this.

'Eye of Eternium is broken. Damn, that is a huge loss.'

Many things from another world were gone for good and there was no telling it whether Eye of Eternium can mend the damage over time or not. But the most useful property, the one that helped to find knowledge through meditation, might still remain.

He will need to check it.

Alan carefully placed Ciri on the ground and stood up, looking around.

"Well, it is not northern forest for sure. Looks like we were thrown out somewhere between Korath desert and Thanedd, but that is more or less half of the continent in distance. Can be anywhere." - mumbled Alan under his breath.

He only hoped that his presence near Ciri didn't stabilize the portal further and forced it to transport them farther than necessary.

"There is a river nearby, we can find a way down just following it. Air humid and hot and trees are thick at the base with developed roots. Vines grew on their trunks, connecting the coronas. This is clearly a southern forest. Not yet a jungle, but neither a northern one." - he looked around. - "We won't die without food and water, but it will be good to find a settlement to find out more."

Alan looked at Ciri. It was better to wait for her.

She needs rest. He needs one too.

Later.