The Ultimate Helm

Chapter Nineteen

The secret passageway the beholders had discovered in Coh's quarters led to a concealed exit across from the hulk tower. As the humans took the neogi tower and the fighting on the Spelljammer escalated between the races, the surviving ' beholders plunged into the tunnel and made their escape. The hidden exit opened near the beholder ruins, directly across from the neogi tower.

Once the beholders were inside, the monarch, Gray Eye, called for a war conference and quickly assessed the casualties. Two beholders had fallen: one to the four neogi, captured during the escape from the attacking humans, and the other, snapped in two by the powerful jaws of the neogi great old master as it thrashed mindlessly in hatred at its attackers. One beholder had lost an eyestalk to an umber hulk, and then, in anger, had ordered the ogre allies to dismember the hulk instandy.

Gray Eye's eyestalks twitched visibly in rage. The leader's ioun stones circled him crazily, reflecting his volcanic temper. "Our primary enemies are defeated," Gray Eye told the survivors. "We were victorious, and our alliance has served its urpose: to do our warring for us, with a minimum of casualties to the beholders.

"If they have not yet been defeated by the humans, they soon will be-or the survivors will live to return to their towers and lick their wounds."

Gray Eye floated quickly from side to side across his dais, as though he were pacing in thought. His teeth gnashed in anger. Then he faced his brethren and called to his second in command. "Blehal, go to our allies. Convince them that the war must continue, and to bring out their reserves. We will all meet here within the hour."

"But, Lord," Blehal said, "who shall I tell them we are attacking?"

Gray Eye smiled cruelly. His smaller eyestalks undulated like snakes above his milky great eye. "This war is far from over. The beholders must reign supreme, or we will be left for dead when the Dark Times arrive. The victors of this war will own the Spelljammer, and I. intend for us to become the victors. As one mighty force, our alliance will prove deadly to our most despised enemies, the elves."

The beholders glared balefully at their leader, drinking in his murderous threats. "Soon we will toast our victory by drinking the blood of all our enemies." Gray Eye spun to face Blehal. "Go! Tell them to arm themselves for war!"

Blehal bobbed once in servitude and floated out of the room, two fellow beholders following closely behind him as protection. Gray Eye dismissed the others and floated silently above his dais, his mind filled with glorious dreams of victory and conquest.

It was not simply the Dark Times, though that was an unmatched impetus for his brethren to do his bidding. His purpose was more profound, for he knew the true nature of Teldin's cloak, and he wanted it for himself. Let the Dark Times come. What will it matter? I will have all the power I will ever need to survive-to rule over the universe! The Spelljammer will be my ultimate weapon.

In the beholder ruins, Gray Eye laughed softly to himself. His enemies would soon fall, and the cloak would be his.

He could already taste the sweetness of elf flesh on his tongue.