Hidden Tendrils

--Donkor--

I watched the life drip out of the behemoth's eyes. The others were already in their planes of Xani, and this one would follow shortly afterward.

“Disgusting,” I mumbled, retracting the tendril with a flick of my wrist. The behemoth fell to the ground with a wheeze, never to move on its own volition again.

Salami had been right. No attackers emerged from the gigantic doors despite the noises of my attacks echoing throughout the throne room. The castle truly was operating on a skeleton staff. I guess it's to be expected when no force has ever managed to breach its walls. A magnificent feat, no skin-walker king could claim the same of their hallowed halls. Even the Wolani order had blemishes on its record.

And now the void-born castle fell into the same group. I felt honored to be the one to drag it there.

I turned my attention to the doors separating the throne room from the castle. Each was at least twice my length and four times as wide. They were clearly installed to showcase the power of their owners and intimidate all who dared enter.

I will attest to being impressed.

Still, my preparations demanded I won't be disturbed. I needed a distraction. “Kom na my.” Darkened tendrils formed over my hand as I swept it across the room, the black pillars forming one after another. Summoning the spirits always took its toll, but my magic reserves were big enough. I had been preparing for this moment for several years, and the preparations have been made.

I took a few steps towards the gigantic doors, satisfied with the legion of spirits surrounding me. Concentrating my magic with a deep breath, I snapped my hands forward. “Stormram.” Four thicker-than-normal tendrils burst through the ground, their tips raised high before slamming into the doors. The thunderous impact rained dust from the ceiling, but the doors remained upright.

“Weer…” The tendrils retreated before slamming into the doors a second time.

“Weer.” Another impact dented the metal, but the doors remained upright.

“Weer!” With proved to be enough. The right door survived its fourth shot, but the left twisted off its hinges before slamming into the opposite wall. The roar that followed did not originate from the metallic doors but from the final four behemoths who protested my presence.

“Rank spies!”

All four screams were instantly cut off.

“Spirits!” The heads of all the summoned minions turned to face me. “Leave none alive!” Screeches filled the air as the spirits charged into the hallway, leaving the throne room empty except for myself. Satisfied they would attract the attention of the Queen's forces, I pointed a finger at the entrance. “Bedek!” Dozens of tendrils burst through the ground, embedding themselves into the ceiling and walls until the entrance was little more than a conglomeration of tendrils.

With my privacy ensured, I turned my attention to the throne room. It was clearly built to showcase the power of the Queen. A large hall allowing several hundred followers to be gathered while a raised obsidian chair at the end would enable her to look over all of them.

An appropriate position to conclude the war.

I removed more volcanic stones from my robes, embedding them with magic before throwing them in a half circle. It took a moment for the pearls to rise, each pulsing as they awaited their master's answer. But one turned into a ring almost immediately.

As expected. The figure was already emerging when I arrived next to it. The Wolani order favored white robes, with the embroidery indicating your rank. The emerging figure was not part of the Order. Dark purple robes covered his body, with a dragon-shaped crest worn over the chest. Red gems occupied the eye sockets and an obsidian visor obscured his identity. Horns curled around the figure's shoulders and blackened gloves and shoes covered his hands and feet. Nobody knew who hid behind the mask, but the legacy of the Wraith was well-known in certain circles.

“Welcome, your eminence.” I bowed low before the figure.

“Rise, Donkor. You did well to get this far.”

“Thank you, your eminence.” Straightening myself brought the Wraith's visor into view.

“Are the others on their way?”

“I have activated their beacons. They should be here soon.”

“Good.” He turned his head, surveying the room just as I had done. “I'd never have imagined the void-born were capable of such a feat.”

“Yes, your eminence. Their style surprised me as well.”

“We are some of the first outsiders to look at these halls.” He took a step toward the throne. A rumble rose throughout the room when he pointed a finger before the throne cracked apart and exploded without warning.

“Let's make sure we're the last.”