Tyson sat at a table in the House study. He snacked on an exotic fruit that he had seen earlier that morning and had requested the kitchen to furnish for him. His report to Miguel had gone well. The young priest of Ragnera was ecstatic to learn that in Tyson's opinion, the prophesies stored at Tycho were not connected with the arrival of himself and the others.
Miguel also had good news. Another slave girl had announced her pregnancy. In Miguel's eyes, it was another chance to produce a male heir. Tyson simply saw it as a foolish gamble on the part of the girl. Miguel was thirty years old. In the fifteen years or so since he had impregnated his first slave, he had sent over a hundred maidens to the sacrificial altar. At least that is what the cook had said during idle conversation one day. Not once had an heir been produced. He wondered that no one had made any magical attempts to control the gender of the offspring. Surely Morteous had the ability, he thought.
Tyson finished his snack and called a slave to take the food away. The young woman responding smiled suggestively. Tyson understood her meaning, but pretended that he did not. There were times when he would have been more than happy to let her seduce him, but he had other thoughts on his mind at the moment.
Tyson left the study with a destination of the throne chamber in mind. He wanted to report on his mission to Keron, but the morning schedule of audiences had made an earlier report unlikely. Now he thought to catch Morteous during the lunch hour.
When he approached the audience chamber, the guard snapped to attention and immediately opened the door without question. Ever since Serpent had rewarded his act of saving their lives in the wasteland, Tyson had found very few places in Aspberg that he did not have access to. "One of those places was the vault where the Tome of Creation was stored, and another was the private laboratory of Morteous Blackheart. Tyson understood both situations. The Tome was far too valuable to allow anyone at all unsupervised access to it. And no mage in the world left his workshop door unlocked. Each mage had secrets that he kept to himself. Tyson had his, Ultrecht and Armegon had theirs, and Morteous had his.
As the doors parted, Tyson entered the room. There were several courtiers lingering about. Tyson's experience with the nobles of Aspberg were rarely favorable. They viewed him as one of low birth who had lied cheated and squirmed his way into the good graces of their lord. Tyson viewed them as nothing more than back stabbing and gossip mongering imbeciles. It was a view that Morteous privately shared with him. He had said so himself during a more clandestine meeting.
"Tyson, faithful servant of House Blackheart, and Left Hand of the Lord of Aspberg," announced the master of ceremonies. Tyson approached the throne with his head held high. His title as the Left Hand, of the Lord of Aspberg had been his reward from Serpent after the battle in Gly-ou-vogue.
The left hand of a head of state was usually his magician or truthsayer. The right hand was normally either an administrator of military leader. In Morteous' case, it was the administrator. Morteous hated the details of state, and only one bearing the title of right hand could govern in the absence of the city's lord.
Tyson approached the throne and bowed. Morteous looked totally bored and uncomfortable. Tyson pitied him. "My liege," Tyson began. "I have returned from Keron with word that my mission was successful." That is all he really needed to say. There were spies everywhere, so why give them the advantage of knowing what the mission was. He had to protect the alchemist's identity. An agent was not worth very much if it was general knowledge that he was an agent.
"We are pleased to hear this," Morteous said. "We ask that you join us later this evening for wine."
Tyson nodded. That meant Morteous wanted to know more, and that later they would get together and discuss what happened. "I would be honored my lord."
Tyson bowed again and backed away from the throne. As another suitor came forward. Tyson filtered through the scattered bodies until he was inconspicuously out of sight. He went to a heavy tapestry and slipped behind it. He was immediately met by a guard. The guard detained Tyson long enough to identify him then allowed the mage to depart.
It was considered bad form to depart the Lord of Aspberg's presence before the lord himself retired. Sometimes, however, it was necessary for certain agents to do so, and those agents were privy to hidden entrances and exits from the chamber. Tyson was glad to be privy to that information. He had no desire to stand around all day listening to the chattering of minor nobles.
Tyson walked back to his own chamber. He thought about taking a nap before the evening meal. After that, he would go to see Morteous privately.
Morteous was fairly distraught. He gave the unmistakable impression to those about him that he was not going to be patient with anyone who came to him with trivial problems.
His minister of administration, Tonia, was a woman of excellent capabilities and control. The fact that she was in her mid thirties and had successfully avoided Miguel's bed spoke a great deal of her discipline, dedication, and wisdom. The fact that she had done so without insulting the youngest son of the Blackheart bloodline told volumes of her diplomatic capabilities as well. That was one of the reasons why she was the House administrator, as well as one of the reason why she was one of very few female executives in service of the House.
Tonia's abilities had done wonders at reducing the load that Morteous had to deal with. That was primarily why she was at such a high station. In fact, anything that she felt serious enough to require Morteous' attention, was something that either involved two nobles in conflict, a matter of secrecy, or something that jeopardized the interests of the dynasty. It was for that reason alone that Morteous, though appearing bored, listened carefully to the suitors who had been granted audience.
Morteous was presently listening to the complaints of a pair of noblemen, both of whom claimed ownership of a river barge that was loaded with valuable cotton. It seemed that a sale of the barge and its contents had been conducted to raise capital on the part of the selling party. Unfortunately the instigator of the sale, the salesman, had not the authority to sell cargo.
One merchant, the buyer, claimed that the barge and the cargo were both his according to the bill of sale. The other merchant, claimed that the barge was sold, and remains so, but the merchandise was not for sale as the agent was not authorized to deal with cargo, nor was he licensed to do so by the city.
The buyer claimed that the cargo was included in the deal and that the cargo was the main reason for his buying the barge in the first place. He asked for the entire package, or his money back.
The other merchant said that the barge was sold to raise capital to make another business deal, and that not only have the funds already been returned into circulation, but the sale of the barge was made. He added that the value of the barge was easily comparable to the price paid, and to include the cargo would be a sale for a loss.
Morteous listened for a few more moments. He had made up his mind how to handle the situation within the first few minutes. He understood why Tonia had referred this case to him. The judgment he was about to render would undoubtedly step on someone's toes.
Morteous allowed the two to argue for a few more moments before he raised his hand. "I have found a solution," he announced. "You," he pointed to the buyer, "Squire Devag. You made the mistake of not checking the credentials of the person with whom you have done business."
He addressed the other merchant. "And you, Sir Porten, are responsible for the unlawful sale of cotton by an agent of yours. In addition, my administrator has informed me that in fact you did not invest the payment until after the complaint was made."
"For your foolishness," he said to the squire, "I am confiscating the cargo. The barge's value is good. You got your money's worth." He turned to the knight. "For your lie and for your irresponsibility, I am seizing your assets in an amount equal to the value of the cargo. All of this will be liquidated and turned over to the House funds."
Morteous saw the anger in their eyes. Good. They would know that House Blackheart's policy would be to settle disputes by taking the disputed item for itself. They would either learn to get along, or they would make House Blackheart rich. Morteous didn't really care which.
Those who had witnessed the display mumbled and many of the more intelligent disputers settled their quarrels with amazing rapidity. The list of visitations diminished with considerable speed, still, it was several hours later when Morteous finally escaped from the hustle and bustle of state matters. He took the private corridor connecting the audience chamber to his private quarters. He was quite anxious to hear what Tyson had to say. The agent's letter of apology had insinuated that Tyson had been very convincing and effective.
The private chambers had been drastically redecorated since Serpent's departure. Instead of maps of the political influences of the world, The tapestries were now depicting scenes of mages in action. There was a collection of scrolls on one wall and several rows of iron bound books on a shelf. the window was closed and bolted shut. A brazier in the center of the room sat next to a desk. On the desk was a tripod with a small crystal gently cradled in its arms.
The crystal was the first thing Tyson looked at when he entered the chamber. As he approached the desk, he paused long enough to lift the crystal and peer inside. The scene within had not changed. Sam still clung blissfully to Marlena.
"I am told your adventures have gone well," Morteous said as Tyson replaced the crystal.
"Your agent in Keron has repledged his service," Tyson told him. He went on to describe the encounter. When he was finished, Morteous laughed.
"I approve," the warlock said.
"Was there something else you wanted to discuss?" Tyson asked.
"In fact, there is," Morteous said. He seated himself at the desk and gestured for Tyson to do likewise. "What would you say if I told you we had the boy?"
Tyson involuntarily glanced at the crystal. "I don't understand." He knew Morteous was aware of how fond he was of Sam. There was no use in denying it.
"We have the boy's body in custody. It was captured by the Doyr," Morteous told him. "I was thinking of giving the body to you as a gift."
Tyson wanted to beg for Sam's body, but that would only show his weakness. "Did we take any damages?"
"Oh yes," Morteous said. "It seems that the compound was heavily defended by a druid."
"Are you sure that’s all there was?"
"It seems so." Morteous replied. "The druid was taken alive, but there was no sign of your compatriots."
Tyson rubbed his chin. "Where can they have gotten to?" Tyson wondered aloud.
"Exactly the question I want you to answer," Morteous said. "I want you to travel back to the Doyr temple and get our two prizes. You did such a wonderful job with that idiot in Keron, I want you to interview the druid and find out where they are, and what they are doing."
Tyson nodded. "I’ll leave at first light."
"That will be fine," Morteous said. "Have a good trip."
Tyson bowed and vacated the room. He wondered about this new twist as he headed back to his quarters. How does one get a druid to talk?
Showing posts with label The Lord of the Wood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Lord of the Wood. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Chapter 7 Part 6
The silvery stairway gave off enough light for the five curious occupants to see that there were stone walls on both sides and behind them. The staircase was wide enough for them to walk, two abreast, but it would not allow much room otherwise. They instead descended single file. They descended about two hundred meters by Ruk's estimate, when they came to another gate that swung open as they approached.
Suspiciously they passed through and found themselves in a small stone room. The room was bare except for a design engraved in the floor. As they took in the rest of the room, the gate through which they had entered was not to be found. There was, however a door on one wall. Ruk confidently walked up to it and pulled on the handle. The door opened to reveal a large chamber beyond.
"You should be a little more careful," Ultrecht said to the minotaan as he passed through the doorway. "There could have been a trap on that door."
Ruk winked back and Ultrecht lifted a single eyebrow in surprise. Ruk was notifying him of skills not publicly known. Ultrecht nodded slightly. As a sailor, Ruk had probably done many things he would rather not talk about. Ultrecht respected the minotaan's privacy. No one would hear of it from his lips.
The chamber in which they stood was very large. For all practical purposes it appeared to be a hollowed out mountain. The ceiling was so far above their heads, that clouds could be seen drifting about in the room. And yet as high as the ceiling was, the room was not very wide. It took only a little over a minute and a half to walk to the other side.
Near the center of the room, was a monstrous diamond. The thing was as large as a man's head. Ultrecht was practically drooling with greed. The value of the stone was beyond imagination.
Ultrecht put his arms around the jewel. "It's mine! Do you hear?!" he screamed at the others, "mine, mine all mine!!"
Had it not been for Armegon and Avery breaking into a fit of laughter, Calista would have thought Ultrecht had gone insane.
"I wish we could take this back," Armegon sighed. "It’d put an end to any financial problems."
"I don't think we want to," Avery said as he backed away. "The gem seems to be a part of the design on the floor."
Armegon joined the ranger. "It does," he agreed. "Let's try to get a better vantage point on this." Armegon spied a ramp that formed a helix up the side of the chamber. He walked up a few dozen meters and looked back down. The stone was the center point of a large four armed spiral that radiated outward. The arms moved about and around the chamber and disappeared into four small alcoves set in each wall.
"That’s really a shame," Ultrecht said as he caressed the faceted gem. "I can think of many things to do with this."
Avery followed one of the spirals to an alcove in the wall.. Sticking his head inside, he looked upwards. "There’s a shaft," he reported, "that goes straight up. I’m not sure how far, but there’s a shiny object at the far end. Also there’s a small tripod in the alcove. It may be a brazier of some kind. This could be a ceremonial chamber."
"I can see that," Armegon said from his perch above them. "The alcoves hold a burning light source and the shafts are chimneys. The shiny thing is probably a damper."
"We could climb further up and find out," Ruk suggested.
"Anything’s better than just waiting around," Calista remarked impatiently.
"Now, now," Ultrecht nagged playfully, "we can't afford to overlook something useful. We can't go on until we’ve checked everything here out."
Calista accepted his advice. From what she knew of her companions, Ultrecht, Avery, and Armegon had been doing this kind of stuff for decades. "I just want to help Sam," she apologized.
"We all do, dear," Ultrecht replied.
"Avery," Armegon yelled down. "We need a point of reference."
The ranger waved and then slowly turned around. He paused several times and frowned. "I can't get a direction," he complained. "Cal," he approached the girl. "Let me borrow a shallow cup of water."
"A compass?" Ruk asked. Sailors and rangers were both professions that depended on navigation and orientation.
"Right," Avery replied as he took the cup Calista offered him. Again he pulled the needle from the hem of his sleeve, and unstopped a wine flask. He passed the flask to Ultrecht who lightened its weight somewhat. Avery shoved the needle gently through the cork and then carefully placed the cork in the center of the filled cup. The cork spun slowly for several long moments. When it finally stopped, Avery nudged it with his finger. It spun again for a few more moments until once again it stopped.
"I was afraid of that," he announced.
"What is it?" Armegon said as he walked up.
"There is no magnetic field here to get a directional fix." Avery replied.
Ruk had an alternative. "There’re still stars and the suns. We can get directions from that."
"I agree," Avery said, "but, that doesn’t help us inside a structure like this."
"Then we’ll have to do without," Armegon said. "We've marked passages before. I'm not too proud to do it again."
"Mark passages?" Calista asked Ultrecht.
In answer, Ultrecht took a piece of chalk from a pouch. "We mark numbers on the walls as we go. It allows us to keep track of when and where we have been."
"There’s obviously only one exit from this chamber," Ruk said looking up at the helical ramp. "Since we know where that door leads," he gestured at the door to the small room they had arrived in, "I suggest we start climbing."
There were no objections. Avery led the way to the base of the ramp. Ultrecht reached out with his chalk and wrote the number one on the wall. He nodded to Avery and the ranger led them upwards away from the floor.
The ramp seemed to be cut into the sides of the chamber walls. With each complete circle, the chamber would get a little wider. Soon they were high enough to see the entire pattern of lines on the floor surrounding the diamond. Calista remarked how the walkway seemed to be a part of the pattern itself as they got higher and higher. Armegon commended her on this observation by saying that she was absolutely right and that her discovery could be an important part in solving the puzzle of the chamber's purpose.
They had climbed quite a distance when they came to a side passage. An alcove with a set of closed double doors was framed by two pillars and an arch. Avery halted their passage. "Do we check this out or continue on?"
"Can’t afford to not check it out," Armegon asked rhetorically.
Ruk handed Avery his ax. The minotaan inspected the door critically.
Avery eyed the action suspiciously and Ultrecht whispered in his ear. "Ruk used to work for a locksmith." This seemed to satisfy the ranger who was notoriously against the thieving profession. There had been many occasion when a partner's moonlight activities had been explained away somehow.
Ultrecht was not sure Avery believed him all the time, but the ranger never called him out on the matter. It was Ultrecht and Armegon's belief that Avery would tolerate the presence of a thief so long as the practice of theft was avoided. After all, he had associated with Keeneye who was an admitted ex-thief.
Ruk momentarily announced that the door was neither trapped nor was it locked. He then opened the latch and pulled the door open. It swung outwards with a squeak of disuse. Its mate drifted open slightly, and Ruk reached out and gave it a shove as well.
Revealed behind the doors was a small stone room similar to the one they had arrived in. The exception was that this room was not bare. In the center of the room was a round raised dais. Markings on the floor were of concentric circles radiating outward from the dais. There were also many small neatly cut holes in the floor. The holes were about two feet deep, and three to four inches in diameter. There were four holes in all in the circles, and a fifth in the center of the dais.
Against one wall was a pair of large chests. Ruk immediately announced that the chests were locked. He added that they might also be trapped but he could not be sure.
Ultrecht inspected the chests and confirmed that there was indeed a trap on them, but that it was a mechanical alarm triggered from inside. He and Armegon conferred for a few moments while Avery and Calista inspected the dais.
Armegon announced that they could learn what was inside the chest without disturbing the lock or the alarm, but that he would need a few moments to prepare.
In the meantime, Avery and Calista had discovered that the dais was made of silver, but that it had been painted to hide that fact. Avery pointed out some chips in the paint that revealed the valuable substance beneath. With a long dirk, he scraped along the inside of the hole in the center to see how deep the silver ran. The whole disk seemed to be solid. They estimated at least two tons of silver. "This place is loaded with value," Calista commented admirably.
There was a noise at her back. Alarmed she turned around. Armegon was siting on the floor with his legs folded. He held a small thin dagger and was boreing a hole in the side of the chest.
He slowly put two holes in the side of the chest carefully making sure not to penetrate too deeply inside. Then he carefully peeped inside and began to describe what he saw. "This," he said as they all gathered around, "is what’s inside. There are four shiny cones. Silver by the look of them," he said. "They’re about a foot or so high at the apex."
He then repeated the process for the second chest. This time a glass rod about five feet in length lay nestled in a velvet interior. The rod was topped with a black orb of some unknown material. "I’d guess," Avery suggested, "that that’s one of the rods that fits into one of these holes in the floor. Probably the one in the dais."
Their curiosity sated, they filed out of the room. Ruk closed the door behind him. They had decided not to disturb the room. Not only did they not know what it was used for, but they likewise had no place to carry any of the valuables they had discovered had they wanted to. Ultrecht simply stated that silver was too cumbersome for its value, and to get at the rod, would require breaking the seal on the chest. If they did so, even if they could bypass the alarm, it would be proof positive of their presence, and it could very well make them some bitter enemies as well.
The ramp continued upwards for several more hours. Ultrecht had began by writing a number each complete time around the perimeter of the chamber, but as his chalk was getting used up, as were a good deal of numbers, he had recently ceased his markings. Armegon had suggested only making marks at passages or doors, but since the room with the dais, they had found none. The only thing of any interest that could be seen as they approached the cloud layers was a series of windows.
The humid air was drifting in from outside through the open windows. They paused at the first set, a row of seven openings, to get their first view of the outside. The haze made visibility poor, but they could see enough to tell that they were fairly high up and that they were not far from the top. A grill iron bars prevented an external view, but it appeared as if there was a similar walkway on the exterior as well.
The cloud bank drifting through the window prevented them from seeing anything farther than twenty paces or so. That being the case, they did not waste any time, but continued on their upward voyage.
It was rather abruptly when they climbed above the clouds to find that they were less than a hundred feet from the top of the chasm. They hurried the rest of the way and found themselves on a large platform that made a left turn into the rock. The trail led into a recess and within the tunnel was a large gate. Again the writing was incomprehensible, but the decorative sculpting was that of a unicorn in chains.
"This must be the place," Armegon said morbidly as Ruk inspected the gate for safety's sake. After a moment, the minotaan reached out and pushed the gate open. The heavy door swung slowly open to reveal the outside world as seen from above the clouds. The sky was not very bright, and instead of the expected blue, it was a milky unblemished white.
"Overcast?" Avery asked to himself.
"I don't think so," Armegon said gazing up into the sky. "I think that’s the natural color of the sky."
They stood on a ledge that was about five meters wide, and seemed to circle the entire peak. The rock was very smooth, and Ultrecht commented that it was almost as if the whole mountain had been carved from a larger one. Avery wandered off on one direction while the others took in the sight. The peak of the mountain was about another hundred meters or so above them, but the ledge could be easily traveled upon.
Leaving Calista with Ultrecht and Armegon, Ruk followed the ranger as they explored the ledge. Calista watched the two go as Armegon and Ultrecht were discussing the color of the sky. Once again they were talking about things she herself did not understand. She was getting a little peeved about that. She was going to have to ask them to start explaining those things to her so that she could take part in the discussions.
She listened to them as they stood near the edge. The mages were going on about something called nitrogen and oxygen and the colors of those things. She was completely startled when Avery tapped her on the shoulder. She jumped inwardly and spun about. Calista proceeded to educate the ranger on the lack of manners sneaking up on someone displayed. She did so at the top of her lungs.
Avery simply stood there and let her vent her anger. Of course, she was anxious. Sam meant more to her than just about anyone else. When she calmed down, she grew aware of the looks she was getting from the others and apologized sheepishly.
Avery just patted her on the cheek. "That's okay," he said. "No one would’ve expected Ruk and I to come from that direction. You had every right to be startled."
He was right. They had snuck up from behind. Apparently they had completely circumnavigated the mountain face, and in just a matter of moments.
Avery reported his findings. Just as Calista had expected, the ledge did go completely around the mountain. He also noted that there was no sign of a sun in the sky nor could he find a trace of shadows anywhere. It is almost as if the sky is like a luminous source. The light is uniform from all directions. "The only shadows’re those beneath our feet," he said.
Avery, with Ruk's aid, also reported that they had noticed four openings in the side of the mountains all on opposite sides. He told them that he had climbed up to one of the openings and found that it was the top of the air shaft that they had seen earlier at the bottom of the chamber. When Armegon mentioned the shiny object, Avery told him that it was a large round mirror set at an angle in at the top of the shaft. He told them that the mirror was aimed at a volcano off in the distance. He also said that the other openings seemed to be pointed at other structures off in the distance.
"We do seem to be presented with a puzzle," Armegon said. "I don't think those shafts are chimneys anymore. No matter what we thought at first, no one would be likely to put a mirror in a chimney flue."
"You're probably right," Ultrecht said. "So what do you think they are?"
"Skylights?" Armegon asked. "I really don't want to speculate."
"You can discuss the uses of the mirrors and air shafts at a later date," Ruk said. "There will be plenty of time as we travel."
"Ruk's right," Avery said. "We need to decide what to do."
"Well we know we need to find the unicorn," Calista said. "I suggest we start on that since it’s a definite goal."
They all looked at one another. "She’s absolutely right," Avery said. "Let's get to the bottom of this mountain and see what the world looks like beneath those clouds. There’s a descending ramp around the edge of the mountain over there." He and Ruk headed off in the direction he had mentioned and the other followed.
They descended the mountain via the helical ramp on the outside just as they had ascended via the ramp on the inside. When they emerged beneath the clouds, they were greeted to a vision of stunning beauty.
"Amazing," Armegon said flabbergasted.
"Incredible," Ultrecht agreed.
"Am I going crazy, or is that frozen tundra?" Avery asked.
"That," Ruk said, "is tundra, and over there is a jungle." Ruk pointed off to the left.
"And over there," Calista said pointing to the right, "looks like sand dunes."
"Look how radical the changes are," Avery exclaimed. "I looks like someone cut two different paintings in half and stuck opposite parts together."
"That’s without a doubt the weirdest thing I’ve seen in a long long time," Armegon said.
"As old as you are," Ultrecht said with a chuckle, "that’s saying a lot."
Armegon smirked. "Don't fall off the cliff, Ultrecht."
"Would you believe," Ruk said as he came walking back towards them from the bend ahead, "that there’s an ocean on the other side?"
"Well let's not just stand about gaping at the scenery," Calista said. "Let's get going."
They all resumed their downward trek.
"Y'know," Armegon muttered as he walked at Ultrecht's side, "she's getting kind of bossy."
When they reached the bottom, they found that they were on a plain. Armegon commented that it was very odd for there to be a mountain jutting up in the middle of prairie lands like this. Avery responded by reminding him that so far, nothing about this world seemed normal.
"So where do we go from here," Armegon said.
"Well, with no directional references, we’ll have to use line of sight landmarks to map our way around," Avery said. "We’ll have to keep a map and record distances between landmarks."
"Are you going to use this mountain as a central point?" Armegon asked as he rummaged through Ultrecht's pack for paper and pencil.
"I think that would be best," Avery said. "Unless all mountains we come across are solitary and made like this one, we shouldn’t have any trouble distinguishing it."
"I don't think we’re going to run across too many more like this one," Ultrecht said, "even in this crazy place."
"Fine," Armegon said. "Okay, where to first?"
Avery pointed off in the direction of the ocean. "There seems to be several leagues of land between here and the water. I think I saw a smoke plume up the shore a little bit. Let's make for that. If we can find a dwelling, we can get information."
"That sounds good to me," Ruk said as he hefted his ax. "Let's go."
Suspiciously they passed through and found themselves in a small stone room. The room was bare except for a design engraved in the floor. As they took in the rest of the room, the gate through which they had entered was not to be found. There was, however a door on one wall. Ruk confidently walked up to it and pulled on the handle. The door opened to reveal a large chamber beyond.
"You should be a little more careful," Ultrecht said to the minotaan as he passed through the doorway. "There could have been a trap on that door."
Ruk winked back and Ultrecht lifted a single eyebrow in surprise. Ruk was notifying him of skills not publicly known. Ultrecht nodded slightly. As a sailor, Ruk had probably done many things he would rather not talk about. Ultrecht respected the minotaan's privacy. No one would hear of it from his lips.
The chamber in which they stood was very large. For all practical purposes it appeared to be a hollowed out mountain. The ceiling was so far above their heads, that clouds could be seen drifting about in the room. And yet as high as the ceiling was, the room was not very wide. It took only a little over a minute and a half to walk to the other side.
Near the center of the room, was a monstrous diamond. The thing was as large as a man's head. Ultrecht was practically drooling with greed. The value of the stone was beyond imagination.
Ultrecht put his arms around the jewel. "It's mine! Do you hear?!" he screamed at the others, "mine, mine all mine!!"
Had it not been for Armegon and Avery breaking into a fit of laughter, Calista would have thought Ultrecht had gone insane.
"I wish we could take this back," Armegon sighed. "It’d put an end to any financial problems."
"I don't think we want to," Avery said as he backed away. "The gem seems to be a part of the design on the floor."
Armegon joined the ranger. "It does," he agreed. "Let's try to get a better vantage point on this." Armegon spied a ramp that formed a helix up the side of the chamber. He walked up a few dozen meters and looked back down. The stone was the center point of a large four armed spiral that radiated outward. The arms moved about and around the chamber and disappeared into four small alcoves set in each wall.
"That’s really a shame," Ultrecht said as he caressed the faceted gem. "I can think of many things to do with this."
Avery followed one of the spirals to an alcove in the wall.. Sticking his head inside, he looked upwards. "There’s a shaft," he reported, "that goes straight up. I’m not sure how far, but there’s a shiny object at the far end. Also there’s a small tripod in the alcove. It may be a brazier of some kind. This could be a ceremonial chamber."
"I can see that," Armegon said from his perch above them. "The alcoves hold a burning light source and the shafts are chimneys. The shiny thing is probably a damper."
"We could climb further up and find out," Ruk suggested.
"Anything’s better than just waiting around," Calista remarked impatiently.
"Now, now," Ultrecht nagged playfully, "we can't afford to overlook something useful. We can't go on until we’ve checked everything here out."
Calista accepted his advice. From what she knew of her companions, Ultrecht, Avery, and Armegon had been doing this kind of stuff for decades. "I just want to help Sam," she apologized.
"We all do, dear," Ultrecht replied.
"Avery," Armegon yelled down. "We need a point of reference."
The ranger waved and then slowly turned around. He paused several times and frowned. "I can't get a direction," he complained. "Cal," he approached the girl. "Let me borrow a shallow cup of water."
"A compass?" Ruk asked. Sailors and rangers were both professions that depended on navigation and orientation.
"Right," Avery replied as he took the cup Calista offered him. Again he pulled the needle from the hem of his sleeve, and unstopped a wine flask. He passed the flask to Ultrecht who lightened its weight somewhat. Avery shoved the needle gently through the cork and then carefully placed the cork in the center of the filled cup. The cork spun slowly for several long moments. When it finally stopped, Avery nudged it with his finger. It spun again for a few more moments until once again it stopped.
"I was afraid of that," he announced.
"What is it?" Armegon said as he walked up.
"There is no magnetic field here to get a directional fix." Avery replied.
Ruk had an alternative. "There’re still stars and the suns. We can get directions from that."
"I agree," Avery said, "but, that doesn’t help us inside a structure like this."
"Then we’ll have to do without," Armegon said. "We've marked passages before. I'm not too proud to do it again."
"Mark passages?" Calista asked Ultrecht.
In answer, Ultrecht took a piece of chalk from a pouch. "We mark numbers on the walls as we go. It allows us to keep track of when and where we have been."
"There’s obviously only one exit from this chamber," Ruk said looking up at the helical ramp. "Since we know where that door leads," he gestured at the door to the small room they had arrived in, "I suggest we start climbing."
There were no objections. Avery led the way to the base of the ramp. Ultrecht reached out with his chalk and wrote the number one on the wall. He nodded to Avery and the ranger led them upwards away from the floor.
The ramp seemed to be cut into the sides of the chamber walls. With each complete circle, the chamber would get a little wider. Soon they were high enough to see the entire pattern of lines on the floor surrounding the diamond. Calista remarked how the walkway seemed to be a part of the pattern itself as they got higher and higher. Armegon commended her on this observation by saying that she was absolutely right and that her discovery could be an important part in solving the puzzle of the chamber's purpose.
They had climbed quite a distance when they came to a side passage. An alcove with a set of closed double doors was framed by two pillars and an arch. Avery halted their passage. "Do we check this out or continue on?"
"Can’t afford to not check it out," Armegon asked rhetorically.
Ruk handed Avery his ax. The minotaan inspected the door critically.
Avery eyed the action suspiciously and Ultrecht whispered in his ear. "Ruk used to work for a locksmith." This seemed to satisfy the ranger who was notoriously against the thieving profession. There had been many occasion when a partner's moonlight activities had been explained away somehow.
Ultrecht was not sure Avery believed him all the time, but the ranger never called him out on the matter. It was Ultrecht and Armegon's belief that Avery would tolerate the presence of a thief so long as the practice of theft was avoided. After all, he had associated with Keeneye who was an admitted ex-thief.
Ruk momentarily announced that the door was neither trapped nor was it locked. He then opened the latch and pulled the door open. It swung outwards with a squeak of disuse. Its mate drifted open slightly, and Ruk reached out and gave it a shove as well.
Revealed behind the doors was a small stone room similar to the one they had arrived in. The exception was that this room was not bare. In the center of the room was a round raised dais. Markings on the floor were of concentric circles radiating outward from the dais. There were also many small neatly cut holes in the floor. The holes were about two feet deep, and three to four inches in diameter. There were four holes in all in the circles, and a fifth in the center of the dais.
Against one wall was a pair of large chests. Ruk immediately announced that the chests were locked. He added that they might also be trapped but he could not be sure.
Ultrecht inspected the chests and confirmed that there was indeed a trap on them, but that it was a mechanical alarm triggered from inside. He and Armegon conferred for a few moments while Avery and Calista inspected the dais.
Armegon announced that they could learn what was inside the chest without disturbing the lock or the alarm, but that he would need a few moments to prepare.
In the meantime, Avery and Calista had discovered that the dais was made of silver, but that it had been painted to hide that fact. Avery pointed out some chips in the paint that revealed the valuable substance beneath. With a long dirk, he scraped along the inside of the hole in the center to see how deep the silver ran. The whole disk seemed to be solid. They estimated at least two tons of silver. "This place is loaded with value," Calista commented admirably.
There was a noise at her back. Alarmed she turned around. Armegon was siting on the floor with his legs folded. He held a small thin dagger and was boreing a hole in the side of the chest.
He slowly put two holes in the side of the chest carefully making sure not to penetrate too deeply inside. Then he carefully peeped inside and began to describe what he saw. "This," he said as they all gathered around, "is what’s inside. There are four shiny cones. Silver by the look of them," he said. "They’re about a foot or so high at the apex."
He then repeated the process for the second chest. This time a glass rod about five feet in length lay nestled in a velvet interior. The rod was topped with a black orb of some unknown material. "I’d guess," Avery suggested, "that that’s one of the rods that fits into one of these holes in the floor. Probably the one in the dais."
Their curiosity sated, they filed out of the room. Ruk closed the door behind him. They had decided not to disturb the room. Not only did they not know what it was used for, but they likewise had no place to carry any of the valuables they had discovered had they wanted to. Ultrecht simply stated that silver was too cumbersome for its value, and to get at the rod, would require breaking the seal on the chest. If they did so, even if they could bypass the alarm, it would be proof positive of their presence, and it could very well make them some bitter enemies as well.
The ramp continued upwards for several more hours. Ultrecht had began by writing a number each complete time around the perimeter of the chamber, but as his chalk was getting used up, as were a good deal of numbers, he had recently ceased his markings. Armegon had suggested only making marks at passages or doors, but since the room with the dais, they had found none. The only thing of any interest that could be seen as they approached the cloud layers was a series of windows.
The humid air was drifting in from outside through the open windows. They paused at the first set, a row of seven openings, to get their first view of the outside. The haze made visibility poor, but they could see enough to tell that they were fairly high up and that they were not far from the top. A grill iron bars prevented an external view, but it appeared as if there was a similar walkway on the exterior as well.
The cloud bank drifting through the window prevented them from seeing anything farther than twenty paces or so. That being the case, they did not waste any time, but continued on their upward voyage.
It was rather abruptly when they climbed above the clouds to find that they were less than a hundred feet from the top of the chasm. They hurried the rest of the way and found themselves on a large platform that made a left turn into the rock. The trail led into a recess and within the tunnel was a large gate. Again the writing was incomprehensible, but the decorative sculpting was that of a unicorn in chains.
"This must be the place," Armegon said morbidly as Ruk inspected the gate for safety's sake. After a moment, the minotaan reached out and pushed the gate open. The heavy door swung slowly open to reveal the outside world as seen from above the clouds. The sky was not very bright, and instead of the expected blue, it was a milky unblemished white.
"Overcast?" Avery asked to himself.
"I don't think so," Armegon said gazing up into the sky. "I think that’s the natural color of the sky."
They stood on a ledge that was about five meters wide, and seemed to circle the entire peak. The rock was very smooth, and Ultrecht commented that it was almost as if the whole mountain had been carved from a larger one. Avery wandered off on one direction while the others took in the sight. The peak of the mountain was about another hundred meters or so above them, but the ledge could be easily traveled upon.
Leaving Calista with Ultrecht and Armegon, Ruk followed the ranger as they explored the ledge. Calista watched the two go as Armegon and Ultrecht were discussing the color of the sky. Once again they were talking about things she herself did not understand. She was getting a little peeved about that. She was going to have to ask them to start explaining those things to her so that she could take part in the discussions.
She listened to them as they stood near the edge. The mages were going on about something called nitrogen and oxygen and the colors of those things. She was completely startled when Avery tapped her on the shoulder. She jumped inwardly and spun about. Calista proceeded to educate the ranger on the lack of manners sneaking up on someone displayed. She did so at the top of her lungs.
Avery simply stood there and let her vent her anger. Of course, she was anxious. Sam meant more to her than just about anyone else. When she calmed down, she grew aware of the looks she was getting from the others and apologized sheepishly.
Avery just patted her on the cheek. "That's okay," he said. "No one would’ve expected Ruk and I to come from that direction. You had every right to be startled."
He was right. They had snuck up from behind. Apparently they had completely circumnavigated the mountain face, and in just a matter of moments.
Avery reported his findings. Just as Calista had expected, the ledge did go completely around the mountain. He also noted that there was no sign of a sun in the sky nor could he find a trace of shadows anywhere. It is almost as if the sky is like a luminous source. The light is uniform from all directions. "The only shadows’re those beneath our feet," he said.
Avery, with Ruk's aid, also reported that they had noticed four openings in the side of the mountains all on opposite sides. He told them that he had climbed up to one of the openings and found that it was the top of the air shaft that they had seen earlier at the bottom of the chamber. When Armegon mentioned the shiny object, Avery told him that it was a large round mirror set at an angle in at the top of the shaft. He told them that the mirror was aimed at a volcano off in the distance. He also said that the other openings seemed to be pointed at other structures off in the distance.
"We do seem to be presented with a puzzle," Armegon said. "I don't think those shafts are chimneys anymore. No matter what we thought at first, no one would be likely to put a mirror in a chimney flue."
"You're probably right," Ultrecht said. "So what do you think they are?"
"Skylights?" Armegon asked. "I really don't want to speculate."
"You can discuss the uses of the mirrors and air shafts at a later date," Ruk said. "There will be plenty of time as we travel."
"Ruk's right," Avery said. "We need to decide what to do."
"Well we know we need to find the unicorn," Calista said. "I suggest we start on that since it’s a definite goal."
They all looked at one another. "She’s absolutely right," Avery said. "Let's get to the bottom of this mountain and see what the world looks like beneath those clouds. There’s a descending ramp around the edge of the mountain over there." He and Ruk headed off in the direction he had mentioned and the other followed.
They descended the mountain via the helical ramp on the outside just as they had ascended via the ramp on the inside. When they emerged beneath the clouds, they were greeted to a vision of stunning beauty.
"Amazing," Armegon said flabbergasted.
"Incredible," Ultrecht agreed.
"Am I going crazy, or is that frozen tundra?" Avery asked.
"That," Ruk said, "is tundra, and over there is a jungle." Ruk pointed off to the left.
"And over there," Calista said pointing to the right, "looks like sand dunes."
"Look how radical the changes are," Avery exclaimed. "I looks like someone cut two different paintings in half and stuck opposite parts together."
"That’s without a doubt the weirdest thing I’ve seen in a long long time," Armegon said.
"As old as you are," Ultrecht said with a chuckle, "that’s saying a lot."
Armegon smirked. "Don't fall off the cliff, Ultrecht."
"Would you believe," Ruk said as he came walking back towards them from the bend ahead, "that there’s an ocean on the other side?"
"Well let's not just stand about gaping at the scenery," Calista said. "Let's get going."
They all resumed their downward trek.
"Y'know," Armegon muttered as he walked at Ultrecht's side, "she's getting kind of bossy."
When they reached the bottom, they found that they were on a plain. Armegon commented that it was very odd for there to be a mountain jutting up in the middle of prairie lands like this. Avery responded by reminding him that so far, nothing about this world seemed normal.
"So where do we go from here," Armegon said.
"Well, with no directional references, we’ll have to use line of sight landmarks to map our way around," Avery said. "We’ll have to keep a map and record distances between landmarks."
"Are you going to use this mountain as a central point?" Armegon asked as he rummaged through Ultrecht's pack for paper and pencil.
"I think that would be best," Avery said. "Unless all mountains we come across are solitary and made like this one, we shouldn’t have any trouble distinguishing it."
"I don't think we’re going to run across too many more like this one," Ultrecht said, "even in this crazy place."
"Fine," Armegon said. "Okay, where to first?"
Avery pointed off in the direction of the ocean. "There seems to be several leagues of land between here and the water. I think I saw a smoke plume up the shore a little bit. Let's make for that. If we can find a dwelling, we can get information."
"That sounds good to me," Ruk said as he hefted his ax. "Let's go."
Chapter 7 Part 5
It was not a void where the voices dwelt. There was light present. Blinding light that comforted many of their kind but repelled others. If one took in the scenery one might see a rainbow hued shaft of light standing stationary among the flowers growing reverently in the glow. The entities gathered numbered four. Their forms had once been mortal, but they had long since passed beyond anything even remotely like that which dwelt upon the surface of Asille.
"They have passed from my sight," one voice said. It was the voice of a tired worker. One who had given a hard days work for nothing more than a mouthful of bread for his children.
"Then all we can do is wait to see if the seed we have planted will bear fruit," a second, feminine voice replied. "A great deal rides on this."
"Indeed," a third, masculine and musical voice agreed. "Ragnera has begun his plans. He deals in politics, which is part of his bailiwick. We are forbidden by the master from interfering there."
The second voice spoke again. "Woeden, can you see the future? Will the male unicorn be freed?"
The old tired voice responded. "I cannot see that from this point. Too many factors are in play and where they go, my sight cannot follow."
"I feel that trusting you in this was a grave mistake," the fourth entity finally spoke. It was a voice that could be either male of female. "Joanna, you may have destroyed us all in backing the seer's plan. The dark ones have gained great support and Ragnera is preparing to reap great power. I fear we will be his first victims when the time comes."
The second voice answered. "No, Ra. We have no choice. The web of fate was spun long ago when we seized our destinies by rejecting the Other. The only flaw in the web was the summoning of the new ones. Each action they make changes the future by leaps and bounds. They are our key to avoiding Woeden's vision of the future."
"It matters not if the unicorn is freed," the third voice rumbled. "I was not for his imprisonment to begin with. My father has foreseen our doom, and the blood of the Godking is the cause of that doom. We must oppose him, even if it is with the aid of agents."
"The freeing of the male unicorn would distract the others some, and any help we get is welcome. The agents we have selected are exempt from the pattern of the future. They are not in it so they are free to change it," Joanna added.
"Do not forget that our opponents also have an agent who is free to change the future," Ra reminded.
"We have done all we can for now," the third voice rumbled.
"My son speaks the truth, my friends," the old voice agreed. "We have played our trump by releasing the Dawn of Law. It will have to be enough. We are forbidden to interfere unless our opponents do so first and they have not at this time."
"They have passed from my sight," one voice said. It was the voice of a tired worker. One who had given a hard days work for nothing more than a mouthful of bread for his children.
"Then all we can do is wait to see if the seed we have planted will bear fruit," a second, feminine voice replied. "A great deal rides on this."
"Indeed," a third, masculine and musical voice agreed. "Ragnera has begun his plans. He deals in politics, which is part of his bailiwick. We are forbidden by the master from interfering there."
The second voice spoke again. "Woeden, can you see the future? Will the male unicorn be freed?"
The old tired voice responded. "I cannot see that from this point. Too many factors are in play and where they go, my sight cannot follow."
"I feel that trusting you in this was a grave mistake," the fourth entity finally spoke. It was a voice that could be either male of female. "Joanna, you may have destroyed us all in backing the seer's plan. The dark ones have gained great support and Ragnera is preparing to reap great power. I fear we will be his first victims when the time comes."
The second voice answered. "No, Ra. We have no choice. The web of fate was spun long ago when we seized our destinies by rejecting the Other. The only flaw in the web was the summoning of the new ones. Each action they make changes the future by leaps and bounds. They are our key to avoiding Woeden's vision of the future."
"It matters not if the unicorn is freed," the third voice rumbled. "I was not for his imprisonment to begin with. My father has foreseen our doom, and the blood of the Godking is the cause of that doom. We must oppose him, even if it is with the aid of agents."
"The freeing of the male unicorn would distract the others some, and any help we get is welcome. The agents we have selected are exempt from the pattern of the future. They are not in it so they are free to change it," Joanna added.
"Do not forget that our opponents also have an agent who is free to change the future," Ra reminded.
"We have done all we can for now," the third voice rumbled.
"My son speaks the truth, my friends," the old voice agreed. "We have played our trump by releasing the Dawn of Law. It will have to be enough. We are forbidden to interfere unless our opponents do so first and they have not at this time."
Chapter 7 Part 4
Morteous Blackheart looked up from his desk. The young woman sitting opposite him was fairly comely. Her robes clung suggestively to her body hinting at a desirable figure beneath. She was probably well aware of his interest and had made herself up for just that reason.
She was a mage of the middle ranks. A journeyman, she had come in from Allentown two days ago to seek funding for research and development. Normally those seeking grants were dealt with by the House staff, but whenever magic was involved, Morteous took a personal interest.
This mage, her name was Deenah of Borgan, a small village south of Allentown, was researching a method of enchanting combustible materials such as wood or coal so that they will burn slowly and leave no ash. She claimed that controlled flame had a wide variety of uses.
Morteous tended to agree that there were commercial possibilities, but he personally gave the project a low priority. "My dear," he told her. "I think you may have stumbled across a very useful idea. I can see many crafts that would be willing to pay well to get such control over their fire and fuel." He rose from the table. "Perhaps if you would accompany me to my lab, you can tell me more about it while I check to see what funds I have available."
Deenah of Borgan was not a stupid woman. She was in her late twenties and still very beautiful by human standards. She was certain the halfelf found her so as well. She knew fully well why he had asked her to accompany him to his lab. He wanted sex. She had known from the start that she may well have to trade the temporary use of her body to him to get what she wanted in return. She also had the foresight to know that she wanted no part of the Blackheart line to mingle with her blood. She had used her magic to take care of that before coming to the Citadel.
Morteous smiled at the woman. Her attempt to use sex as an incentive was flattering, but truly ineffective. Unlike Miguel, he was very resistant to a woman's charms.
Morteous led the woman into the hallway and down to a stair well. Several guards snapped to attention as he passed, and he nodded to each in turn. They descended the stairs for many minutes until they reached a landing with a dark corridor going to one side. Morteous hissed a magical syllable and torches along the walls flared and burned.
Cobwebs told of the infrequent use of the corridor. Morteous apologized for his lack of cleanliness. He told Deenah that he was usually in a hurry when he came down here and would simply teleport.
Eventually they reached a large oaken door. Morteous spoke a word and the door ground open. The room within was fairly large. A small but strong stream of water flowed into the room and onto a water wheel. The water then flowed out through an open well on the far side of the room. The wheel was connected to a series of gears and mechanisms that defied any attempt to fathom their purpose.
"My laboratory," Morteous proudly announced.
Deenah was very impressed. With such resources at her command, she could realize her dream in a matter of a couple of years. She decided to play her trump card. With a sweep of her hand, she unfastened the clasp of her robe at her neck and untied the sash. She let the robe drop to the cold stone floor. She was not totally nude, she wore a loin cloth and halter. But, enough flesh was showing for her message to get across.
Morteous had his back to her when she had disrobed. He was talking as he drew a scroll from a shelf. "This is my latest project," he told her. "It is a daring and revolutionary experiment in necromancy." Morteous turned. He took in the sight of the woman before him.
Deenah could see in his eyes that he wanted her. She leaned back against a table and thrust her hips and chest outward. Morteous took a hesitant step forward. Deenah smiled inwardly. He needed a little encouragement, she decided.
She approached him and slipped her left hand inside his own robe. She massaged the hairless chest and tickled his flat belly. She took her his hand in her other hand, and placed it on her own chest. "Please take me, my lord," she whispered. "Take me now, warlock."
The warlock's hand moved upward slightly as he caressed upwards to the nape of her neck. When his hand encountered the knot that held her halter up, he quickly almost frantically untied the covering and let it fall.
Deenah worked both her hands to removing the sash that held his robe closed. When it was undone, she opened Morteous' robe, gripped his torso and drew herself close so that her body lay against his chest. She reached around her back and unfastened her loincloth and let it fall to the floor.
Totally nude, Deenah planted her mouth to the neck of the warlock and raised her left leg up and wrapped it around his leg. "Take me now," she moaned as she gave herself over to him.
Morteous smiled. He lifted the woman in his arms and carried her submissive body to the work table. She sighed as he caressed her body from head to toe. Yearning, she pleaded with her eyes for him to join her.
Morteous laughed as he opened the scroll and began reading.
Deenah screamed in rage. She tried to rise, but found she could not. Then she tried to erect a magical shield as the warlock bent his will to his task. Her shield came up and Deenah began another spell that would free her.
Suddenly the room was very dark though the torches had not diminished. Deenah stared in horror, her spell forgotten in mid cast as she beheld the transformation taking place before her.
Morteous Blackheart no longer stood before her. The thing before her most closely resembled a nightmare from a demented demon's dream. The humanoid figure still bore the face of Morteous Blackheart, but the arms were gone. In their place was a multitude of midnight black tentacles. They writhed fervently.
To Deenah's dismay, one of the tentacles snaked out and hovered above her naked body momentarily. Slowly it lowered until just inches above her forehead, the tip ever so lightly reached down and kissed her brow.
Pain and agony erupted as the contact was made. She felt a vitality of her inner being get sucked away at that touch. Then the touch was gone. She opened her eyes again and saw the tentacle, pulsing a deep blue hue, retreat to the body.
At the same time a second tentacle reached out. This one hovered over her face only for a moment, then proceeded to twist and descend over her heaving breasts. She tried to think of a spell she could cast, but she could recall no knowledge at all. She felt a chill that froze her heart as the tentacle touched her flesh. Again there was the draining feeling, and all attempts to fight fled from her mind. She was tired and whatever the warlock wanted to do to her, she just wished he would get on with it.
The tentacle that had touched her heart, pulsed a deep crimson color, and retreated beck to the body. Then a third tentacle drifted out. Deenah saw the warlock's hideously disfigured face grin, and the tentacle hovering above her began to change shape. It grew rounded and stiff with a bulbous tip until it took on a phallic shape. She already knew where the next contact would be, and even though she tried to steel herself from the shock, when the penetration came, she screamed the last scream her body would ever make.
Deenah's consciousness floated in a void. It was unfamiliar and frightening. Then she saw the thing coming after her. The mass of tentacles and unshaped body reached out and entwined her. She heard the screaming voices of the others trapped within it's flesh. She knew that very soon her voice would be added to theirs. She knew even at the moment that the toothless maw opened to swallow her the name of the unholy thing that had killed her. It was a name as old as time. It was a name that no mortal creature could even conceive of, and no god dared whisper. It was a name that haunted the dreams of the Godking himself. The name was unpronounceable, but its meaning was clear. The name meant, abomination.
Morteous laughed as he pulled the last tentacle in. The knowledge and magic of the woman was his. It was no real boost of what he already had, but she had asked for it in thinking she could seduce him into doing her will.
As the spell's power faded, Morteous collected the woman's possessions, her notes, her books and everything else, and placed them in a box. This he put on a shelf with the date and owner's name. One day he would go through all these boxes and sift through their contents for useful information.
The shelf was almost full. Soon he would need more space. He leaned against the work bench. Some victims had been easier than others, he remembered, but none had been as much fun as Deenah. After draining her knowledge and her energy he had taken pleasure in the draining of her youth and life. He had thought it an artistic gesture of great style.
Morteous picked up an empty box from a desk in the corner and inspected it. "Soon," he said as he read the name. "First Ultrecht, then Armegon. I don't think I will get to the healer, my brother will probably beat me to him, but very soon I will tend to you as well."
Morteous set the box back on the desk. He patted the box and gently ran his finger across the name on its label. The name was "Tyson."
She was a mage of the middle ranks. A journeyman, she had come in from Allentown two days ago to seek funding for research and development. Normally those seeking grants were dealt with by the House staff, but whenever magic was involved, Morteous took a personal interest.
This mage, her name was Deenah of Borgan, a small village south of Allentown, was researching a method of enchanting combustible materials such as wood or coal so that they will burn slowly and leave no ash. She claimed that controlled flame had a wide variety of uses.
Morteous tended to agree that there were commercial possibilities, but he personally gave the project a low priority. "My dear," he told her. "I think you may have stumbled across a very useful idea. I can see many crafts that would be willing to pay well to get such control over their fire and fuel." He rose from the table. "Perhaps if you would accompany me to my lab, you can tell me more about it while I check to see what funds I have available."
Deenah of Borgan was not a stupid woman. She was in her late twenties and still very beautiful by human standards. She was certain the halfelf found her so as well. She knew fully well why he had asked her to accompany him to his lab. He wanted sex. She had known from the start that she may well have to trade the temporary use of her body to him to get what she wanted in return. She also had the foresight to know that she wanted no part of the Blackheart line to mingle with her blood. She had used her magic to take care of that before coming to the Citadel.
Morteous smiled at the woman. Her attempt to use sex as an incentive was flattering, but truly ineffective. Unlike Miguel, he was very resistant to a woman's charms.
Morteous led the woman into the hallway and down to a stair well. Several guards snapped to attention as he passed, and he nodded to each in turn. They descended the stairs for many minutes until they reached a landing with a dark corridor going to one side. Morteous hissed a magical syllable and torches along the walls flared and burned.
Cobwebs told of the infrequent use of the corridor. Morteous apologized for his lack of cleanliness. He told Deenah that he was usually in a hurry when he came down here and would simply teleport.
Eventually they reached a large oaken door. Morteous spoke a word and the door ground open. The room within was fairly large. A small but strong stream of water flowed into the room and onto a water wheel. The water then flowed out through an open well on the far side of the room. The wheel was connected to a series of gears and mechanisms that defied any attempt to fathom their purpose.
"My laboratory," Morteous proudly announced.
Deenah was very impressed. With such resources at her command, she could realize her dream in a matter of a couple of years. She decided to play her trump card. With a sweep of her hand, she unfastened the clasp of her robe at her neck and untied the sash. She let the robe drop to the cold stone floor. She was not totally nude, she wore a loin cloth and halter. But, enough flesh was showing for her message to get across.
Morteous had his back to her when she had disrobed. He was talking as he drew a scroll from a shelf. "This is my latest project," he told her. "It is a daring and revolutionary experiment in necromancy." Morteous turned. He took in the sight of the woman before him.
Deenah could see in his eyes that he wanted her. She leaned back against a table and thrust her hips and chest outward. Morteous took a hesitant step forward. Deenah smiled inwardly. He needed a little encouragement, she decided.
She approached him and slipped her left hand inside his own robe. She massaged the hairless chest and tickled his flat belly. She took her his hand in her other hand, and placed it on her own chest. "Please take me, my lord," she whispered. "Take me now, warlock."
The warlock's hand moved upward slightly as he caressed upwards to the nape of her neck. When his hand encountered the knot that held her halter up, he quickly almost frantically untied the covering and let it fall.
Deenah worked both her hands to removing the sash that held his robe closed. When it was undone, she opened Morteous' robe, gripped his torso and drew herself close so that her body lay against his chest. She reached around her back and unfastened her loincloth and let it fall to the floor.
Totally nude, Deenah planted her mouth to the neck of the warlock and raised her left leg up and wrapped it around his leg. "Take me now," she moaned as she gave herself over to him.
Morteous smiled. He lifted the woman in his arms and carried her submissive body to the work table. She sighed as he caressed her body from head to toe. Yearning, she pleaded with her eyes for him to join her.
Morteous laughed as he opened the scroll and began reading.
Deenah screamed in rage. She tried to rise, but found she could not. Then she tried to erect a magical shield as the warlock bent his will to his task. Her shield came up and Deenah began another spell that would free her.
Suddenly the room was very dark though the torches had not diminished. Deenah stared in horror, her spell forgotten in mid cast as she beheld the transformation taking place before her.
Morteous Blackheart no longer stood before her. The thing before her most closely resembled a nightmare from a demented demon's dream. The humanoid figure still bore the face of Morteous Blackheart, but the arms were gone. In their place was a multitude of midnight black tentacles. They writhed fervently.
To Deenah's dismay, one of the tentacles snaked out and hovered above her naked body momentarily. Slowly it lowered until just inches above her forehead, the tip ever so lightly reached down and kissed her brow.
Pain and agony erupted as the contact was made. She felt a vitality of her inner being get sucked away at that touch. Then the touch was gone. She opened her eyes again and saw the tentacle, pulsing a deep blue hue, retreat to the body.
At the same time a second tentacle reached out. This one hovered over her face only for a moment, then proceeded to twist and descend over her heaving breasts. She tried to think of a spell she could cast, but she could recall no knowledge at all. She felt a chill that froze her heart as the tentacle touched her flesh. Again there was the draining feeling, and all attempts to fight fled from her mind. She was tired and whatever the warlock wanted to do to her, she just wished he would get on with it.
The tentacle that had touched her heart, pulsed a deep crimson color, and retreated beck to the body. Then a third tentacle drifted out. Deenah saw the warlock's hideously disfigured face grin, and the tentacle hovering above her began to change shape. It grew rounded and stiff with a bulbous tip until it took on a phallic shape. She already knew where the next contact would be, and even though she tried to steel herself from the shock, when the penetration came, she screamed the last scream her body would ever make.
Deenah's consciousness floated in a void. It was unfamiliar and frightening. Then she saw the thing coming after her. The mass of tentacles and unshaped body reached out and entwined her. She heard the screaming voices of the others trapped within it's flesh. She knew that very soon her voice would be added to theirs. She knew even at the moment that the toothless maw opened to swallow her the name of the unholy thing that had killed her. It was a name as old as time. It was a name that no mortal creature could even conceive of, and no god dared whisper. It was a name that haunted the dreams of the Godking himself. The name was unpronounceable, but its meaning was clear. The name meant, abomination.
Morteous laughed as he pulled the last tentacle in. The knowledge and magic of the woman was his. It was no real boost of what he already had, but she had asked for it in thinking she could seduce him into doing her will.
As the spell's power faded, Morteous collected the woman's possessions, her notes, her books and everything else, and placed them in a box. This he put on a shelf with the date and owner's name. One day he would go through all these boxes and sift through their contents for useful information.
The shelf was almost full. Soon he would need more space. He leaned against the work bench. Some victims had been easier than others, he remembered, but none had been as much fun as Deenah. After draining her knowledge and her energy he had taken pleasure in the draining of her youth and life. He had thought it an artistic gesture of great style.
Morteous picked up an empty box from a desk in the corner and inspected it. "Soon," he said as he read the name. "First Ultrecht, then Armegon. I don't think I will get to the healer, my brother will probably beat me to him, but very soon I will tend to you as well."
Morteous set the box back on the desk. He patted the box and gently ran his finger across the name on its label. The name was "Tyson."
Chapter 7 Part 3
The caverns were actually quite serene. The silence was peaceful and the air was cool and still. The company had stopped for a breather about twenty minutes after entering the cave. With the aid of a pair of Armegon's light crystals. They were seated around a color streaked collection of stalagmites, stalactites and columns. Yoan had assured them that before long there would be light aplenty as the sunlight was strangely transmitted via veins of translucent quartz from the outside to the interior.
During the break, they took the time to snack on some sweet cakes that Yoan's people had given them. They were very tasty and refreshing. Yoan told them that the cakes were made from honey and acorn meal. Calista asked Yoan if he knew more details about its making. He didn't, but he assured her that she would get the recipe when they returned. He would see to it personally.
After about ten minutes, they resumed their movement through the catacombs deeper into the mountain. The trail was winding downward. About four hours later they emerged into a lighted gallery where, just a Yoan had told them, the veins of quartz piped the sunlight in from outside.
It was a magnificent sight, and Ultrecht insisted on taking a short break to examine the phenomenon more closely. Yoan agreed since the caverns were generally uninhabited. He claimed that some force tended to discourage creatures from remaining in the cavern for very long.
Ultrecht asked Armegon to extinguish the lights for a moment. Armegon and Yoan complied and the cave grew dark. Then as their eyes adjusted the faint light from the quartz veins emitted enough illumination to make out distinct shapes and motions, but it was obviously not enough to see details.
Ultrecht chipped some quartz samples and was muttering some nonsense about igneous rock when Calista sat next to Armegon. She was irritated at the delay. Armegon could sense it. But he quietly reminded her that after the magical healing, Yoan could not maintain a forced march. It was more than just curiosity that had halted their walk.
They only rested for about ten minutes when Yoan suggested they continue. The last leg of their journey was fairly strenuous since the path was steeper than they would have liked and the temperature seemed a little warmer. Though navigable, it did require a reduction of pace for safety sake. But, since they were descending, the physical exertion was not as strenuous as it might have been and it was not long before the quartz veins began to converge into a single huge streak of dim light that seemed to be a guide for them to follow. Yoan kept true to the vein's direction.
They had been underground for a total of about seven hours when rather abruptly, they stepped out of the tunnel into a monstrous chamber. Avery assured them that they had descended to a depth below sea level and were far, far beneath the mountain.
The cavern strangely reminded Armegon of the crater that housed the Well of time, except instead of a hole in the mountain top, this chamber's ceiling was an intricate pattern of glowing quartz veins. The one they had been following joined the luminous lattice. The pattern was much brighter than the individual vein, fascinatingly complex, and looking at it for more than a few moments gave him a slight headache.
On the floor in the very center of the chamber was a huge crystal globe. The gem was about a meter in diameter. The distance to the gem was not really all that far, but the trail wound in and around many rock formations on the chamber floor so that it was a maze-like structure.
Yoan confided that he himself had never made this trip and that everything he knew had been passed down to him by his father and the other elders. They paused long enough for Ultrecht to unpack a sheet of parchment and a charcoal pencil. Under Avery's skillful hand, they constructed a map of the maze and then proceeded down into the chamber.
They followed the map religiously until, about ten minutes later they came to a dead end. Avery was puzzled and Ultrecht chided him greatly for his incompetence. They rechecked the map and confirmed that the path they had taken, according to the map, was the only route through the rocks.
Finally they retraced their steps and returned to the tunnel exit where they had entered the chamber. Avery compared his map to the rock outcropping and let out an angry growl. The map bore no resemblance to the maze at all. Armegon asked Avery if he needed some glasses. Calista though that it was a bad time to be wanting a drink.
Avery passed the paper and pencil to Armegon, who wiped the markings clear and proceeded to make the map himself.
When Armegon finished, they again hefted their packs and with Armegon in the lead headed down into the chamber.
This time they traveled almost fifteen minutes before a right turn on the map turned to the left instead. Armegon frowned and threw the map down in disgust. This time it was Ultrecht who mentioned the glasses and Calista decided that it was one of their private jokes, not thirst, that was being discussed.
Again they retraced their steps until once more they stood at the tunnel opening. Another comparison of the map showed that it held no resemblance whatsoever with the labyrinth below.
"I get the feeling that someone doesn’t want us to get to the center," Ultrecht said. "Yoan do you know anything about this?"
"No," the centaur replied. "The elders spoke of a Task of Faith," he admitted. "This might be what they talked about. They never explained it."
"The Task of Faith?" Armegon rubbed his head. The headache was getting worse. "What else did they talk about?"
"Mostly old folk tales and songs. They always sang a song about the cave," Yoan told them.
"Can you sing it for us," Calista asked. "I could use some nice music right now. I’m feeling a little down."
Yoan smiled. "I reckon so." He cleared his throat and sang with deep voiced marching tune.
Travel in the dark my boy.
Travel after noon.
Travel ‘til the trav’lin light
Guides y’through the gloom.
Rest upon the door my boy.
Wade into the void.
Walk the path the an’mals take
Or else y’be destroyed.
The millipede has many feet.
Use each print but twice.
Don’t turn the wrong way here
Or else y’pay the price.
The centipede takes many steps.
Follow his trail with care.
Turn about then half again.
Now follow this next pair.
Beetles dance the dance this time.
A two step jig they make.
They turn about about and a half
Makin’ no mistake.
A quartet of ponies prance now.
Galloping three strides each.
Put out y’hand and open y’eyes,
and behold the prize you reached.
Calista clapped happily. "That is a cute tune," she praised. "Don't you think so Armegon?"
Armegon rubbed his eyes. "Yes, yes, its very nice."
"What's wrong?" Calista asked.
"I have a headache," he snapped back. He was immediately sorry he had done so. Calista had done no wrong.
"You too?" Ultrecht asked. "My head's been throbbing for the last hour," he said.
"Me too," Avery added.
"I have had a very annoying ringing in my ears for some time as well," Ruk said.
"Now that you mention it," Calista added. "My stomach has been hurting for a while. I thought it was just hunger pains."
Armegon turned serious. "How about you, Yoan?"
"I feel fine. Like Ruk, I got a ringing in my ears, but that’s all."
"Didn't you mention a force that keeps people from staying too long?" Avery asked. When Yoan nodded, he suggested, "I think we’ve discovered what that 'force' is."
"You know," Ruk spoke up, "when we’re sailing, we memorize coastal landmarks and how to steer from each one to get to a particular destination. Those landmarks and the course to steer are sometimes memorized in the form of songs."
"You think that Yoan's tune is a verbal map of how to navigate the maze?" Armegon asked.
"Yoan did say that there was a test of fate," Avery reminded.
"That’s 'Task of Faith'," Calista corrected.
"Right," Avery admitted rubbing his head.
"Okay," Armegon said. "Before we decode that song, I need to deal with this headache."
"Can't you just magic it away like you healed me?" Yoan asked.
"No," Avery replied. "We knew what was wrong with you and repaired the damage. The effects we’re experiencing right now are the result of a continuous action against us. We need to shield ourselves."
"Maybe the answer’s in the song," Calista suggested. "The song says to travel after noon. We entered the cave during the morning. Maybe that’s why we’re being affected."
"The song also says to wait on the door," Yoan said. "I think that’s where we are now. How long do we wait?"
"We’re supposed to wade into the void." Ruk said. "Or at least that’s what the song said. Most people call total darkness a void."
"So we must wait until dark?" Calista asked. She looked worriedly at Avery, Armegon and Ultrecht. They were in a lot of pain. She stood and took the light crystal from Armegon and the other from Ultrecht and stuffed them into her pocket. The surroundings went dark.
They could see nothing for several moments until their eyes readjusted. Then with the abstruse design on the high domed ceiling shedding its eerie light, they saw the maze far below. It was a seething mass of motion. The rocks were moving about randomly.
"Well that explains the problems with the map," Ruk observed.
"D’we try to follow the song?" Yoan asked.
"Not yet," Ruk said. The song said to wade into the void, and it’s not dark." He gestured
to the soft, but steady light raining down from above.
"Well we can't turn that off," Calista said.
"No," Ruk agreed, "But if we wait until dusk, the night will."
"What then?" Yoan asked.
"Then we’ll trust your song."
So they waited. Armegon, Ultrecht and Avery spoke quietly to them and they explained their reasoning. The more experienced trio agreed with their logic. It was very hard for them to concentrate or think, such was the pain they were experiencing.
Calista doubled over and vomited about an hour later. With tears in her eyes, she complained that her stomach was burning.
Ruk and Yoan had both raised their voices due to the ringing in their ears and they could not hear very well. They too soon complained of headaches.
Ultrecht leaned on his staff heavily at one point and informed the others that if the situation demanded it they could teleport out of the cave, but it would be back to Nikki's cabin on the other side of the world. He had not thought to realign the emergency teleport spell to any place closer.
Armegon and the others agreed to use that as a last resort only. They did not want to travel across the world again.
They were trying so hard to deal with the problems, that it was almost a complete surprise when the pain disappeared completely. They were suddenly more aware of their surroundings and the fact that they were in total darkness.
"Is everyone okay?" Ultrecht's voice sounded out from the darkness.
"Calista," Armegon whispered, "bring out the light."
Calista reached into her pocket and drew the crystal forth. Immediately the light radiated outward and just as immediately the pain returned. Yells went out to extinguish the light, but they were unnecessary. The light crystal went back into the pocket much faster than it had come out.
When the pain subsided, Avery put to words what they were all thinking. "I don't think we want to have the light out anymore."
"Well," Ruk said, "we are now in the dark. I guess we can try to follow the song's instructions."
"Right," Ultrecht said. "Yoan, what’s the first stanza of that song?"
"Travel in the dark my boy.
Travel after noon.
Travel ‘til the trav’lin light
Guides y’through the gloom."
"Well that’s certainly clear enough," Ruk said. "We reached the place and the quartz vein did kind of guide us once we found it."
"Right," Armegon agreed. "What is next, Yoan?"
"Rest upon the door my boy.
Wade into the void.
Walk the path the an’mals take
Or else y’be destroyed."
"Okay," Calista said. She palmed the light crystal in her pocket. "We’re in the dark. If we move on, we’ll certainly be wading into the void. But if we walk in the dark how do we follow an animal's path."
"It isn't the path of an animal," Avery's voice cut in. "It’s a set of directions. Yoan, what’s the next line."
"The millipede has many feet.
Use each print but twice.
Don’t turn the wrong way here
Or else y’pay the price."
"A millipede is a small creature with many many legs," Avery said. "Each individual creature may vary from specimen to specimen. The average number of feet may be the key, but it’s not common knowledge. However the name itself means a thousand feet. I suggest the verse means to take two thousand paces since it tells us to use each print twice."
"Ah," Armegon interrupted. "But, those are the instructions for a Janusian. They have four feet. Does that make a difference?"
"No," Yoan answered from the darkness. "We measure our strides in pairs of steps. The front pair and the back pair each are considered independent."
"Okay then, two thousand paces," Avery said. "After that we turn to the right."
"How do you know that?" Calista asked.
"That bit about not turning in the wrong direction is a fairly old play on words," Ultrecht told her. He was closer to her than she had thought. "If you go right, you can't go wrong. The right way is not the wrong way. I'm sure you have heard things like it before."
"So what next," Armegon asked. "Yoan?"
"The centipede takes many steps.
Follow his trail with care.
Turn about then half again.
Now follow this next pair."
"The centipede doesn't really have a hundred legs, but that is what the name means," Avery said. "Okay then, a hundred paces."
"Turn about," Yoan repeated, "then half again."
"There is no reference for direction this time," Armegon observed.
"Then let us assume it is the same then," Ultrecht suggested.
"Agreed." Armegon concurred. "Turn about then half again. That’s the equivalent of a left turn."
"So now we turn left," Ultrecht said. "Next stanza."
"Beetles dance the dance this time.
A two step jig they make.
They turn about about and a half
Makin’ no mistake."
"Beetles are insects and have six legs," Ruk said.
"But, the song said, 'follow this next pair,'" Calista reminded them. "So that’s twelve legs."
"They are dancing a dance that has two steps in it so that is twenty four paces in all?" Ruk guessed.
"It would seem so," Avery replied. "’About and about and a half,' would seem to indicate another right turn as well."
"And the last line?" Calista asked.
"Probably just a warning," Armegon said. "A mistake could be disastrous."
Yoan continued.
"A quartet of ponies prance now.
Galloping three strides each.
Put out y’hand and open y’eyes,
and behold the prize you reached."
"Okay," Calista said. She had gotten the hang of this. "Four sets of four feet taking three strides each. That's forty eight?"
"Did you forget how Janusians count steps?" Armegon asked.
"Twenty four?" Calista asked. She was angry at herself for forgetting that.
"Twenty four," Armegon confirmed.
"Well then let's go," Ruk said.
They groped about in the darkness and immediately concluded that they were in trouble. Though Armegon and Avery's elven vision enabled them to locate everyone as heat sources in the darkness, they still had problems directing movements in and about the rocks which the halfelves could not see.
The problem was solved by stringing a rope between the two halfelves and having everyone attached to the rope. That way the leader, Armegon, could concentrate on the song's instructions, and Avery could monitor the group's integrity.
When all were ready, Armegon led them out on the floor. Meticulously he followed the directions as Yoan sang them out. Calista followed Armegon and held his hand. At his request, she counted the steps softly. When she reached two thousand. They stopped. Armegon turned to the right but did not proceed.
"We do not know how big our margin of error is," he said. "So this is what I want to do." He outlined his plan carefully. They drew in the rope until Yoan had joined the two in front. Armegon continued on slowly with Yoan to count the steps.
Calista stood stationary and Avery gave Ruk and Ultrecht instructions as they approached her. Calista's hand's were forming a turn buckle. As the rope passed through her hands, she reeled it on from one direction and let it out in the direction Armegon was pulling from. When Ultrecht's and Ruk's hands contacted hers, she redirected their movements. This was necessary because with no visible points of reference, they could not be certain of the direction of their turns.
When finally Avery made contact, he clasped her hand and headed her in the right direction as well. She followed the rope until she was several paces ahead of Avery and a couple behind Ultrecht.
They performed the same maneuver twice more until finally the train stopped. Armegon announced that they had reached the end of the instructions.
"Is anything there?" Calista asked.
"One moment," he said. Armegon pulled the rope and drew in all the others. When Avery was standing with them, Avery answered the question. "Yes, something is here, nearby."
"How do you know?" Yoan asked.
"Listen," the ranger replied. "Hear the voices about you. Do you hear how hollow they are all around you except for where someone’s standing?"
"That’s how some animals find their way in the dark," Ultrecht remarked. "Bats and other animals use echo ranging."
"Right," Avery said. "They’re much better at it than we are. A good listening person can tell the direction of a close object. Very few people can even tell about what distance an object is, by the time delay, but some animals can practically see using sound echoes."
"Well we certainly can't see," Ruk stated.
"I’m afraid we’re going to have to risk a moment of pain and get Cal to pull out that light crystal again," Armegon said.
"First let's get ready," Ultrecht advised. "I don't want to have to wait on someone to get his pack on straight while I’m trying to keep my head from exploding."
The feeling was universal and after the rope had been stowed and everyone was prepared, Calista pulled the crystal from her pocket. This time there was no blinding pain or deafening ringing. It was almost as if the whole thing had been a bad memory.
They took in their surroundings. They were standing on a flat expanse that ran to the cliff sides. None of the rock outcroppings could be seen. There before them, was a large crystal. The material was a light blue in color, and the exterior was devoid of any nicks or scratches at all. Almost hypnotically, Calista reached out and touched the perfect surface.
As if in response, the network of lines on the domed ceiling flared brilliantly and a shaft of light fell upon the sphere. Calista jerked her hand back, and rubbed it. There was no harm done to her, she had just been surprised.
Drawn by the spectacle, she peered into the crystal. Just as the old Centaur had said, it seemed as if she could see a tiny village inside. Even a mountain was visible. Then the scene changed and she saw a set of gates. They swung open to reveal a stairway of silvery light. Again she reached out to touch the sphere, but this time her hand made no contact. Suddenly Calista stood on the silvery step. Behind her was darkness.
Panic gripped her heart momentarily as she realized she was all alone. There was a flash to her left and Ruk stood on the step below her. Within minutes the whole compliment of their group were present save Yoan.
"Where’s Yoan?" she asked.
"I realize you didn't mean to do that on purpose," Armegon chided her gently, "but I do wish you’d think a little bit more before doing something like that again."
"I don't think Yoan made it through," Ultrecht observed. "He was standing the furthest away when the door started to close."
"His body’s so long I think you may be right." Ruk agreed. "He probably couldn’t get through."
"What happened?" Calista asked.
"The light opened the doorway, Calista," Avery said. "When you passed through, you took the light with you, and the door started to close. We don't think Yoan made it through the door in time."
"Will he be okay?" Ruk asked worriedly.
"Probably," Ultrecht answered. "These kinds of doorways will either close before you go through, or after you;ve gone through. They don't really close while you’re inside the doorway."
"He’s probably more worried about us than we are about him," Armegon commented.
"So what now?" Ruk asked. "Do we wait for him? It’ll be daylight soon."
"Well for one thing," Ultrecht said, "we don’t know how fast time travels in this world. A hundred years could pass for us while we wait for a single hour to pass for him."
"Nor do we know if he’ll come through at all," Armegon pointed out. "If I were in his shoes, I wouldn't. I’d go home and report what happened or I might stay around a day or so in case we came back, but I’d not follow us through the gate. I think Yoan is fairly smart. He won't come through."
"So where do we go?" Calista asked.
"I suggest we find out where these stairs lead," Avery said as he began descending the stairs. "You know," he added nervously, "I once had a very bad experience on a long flight of stairs."
During the break, they took the time to snack on some sweet cakes that Yoan's people had given them. They were very tasty and refreshing. Yoan told them that the cakes were made from honey and acorn meal. Calista asked Yoan if he knew more details about its making. He didn't, but he assured her that she would get the recipe when they returned. He would see to it personally.
After about ten minutes, they resumed their movement through the catacombs deeper into the mountain. The trail was winding downward. About four hours later they emerged into a lighted gallery where, just a Yoan had told them, the veins of quartz piped the sunlight in from outside.
It was a magnificent sight, and Ultrecht insisted on taking a short break to examine the phenomenon more closely. Yoan agreed since the caverns were generally uninhabited. He claimed that some force tended to discourage creatures from remaining in the cavern for very long.
Ultrecht asked Armegon to extinguish the lights for a moment. Armegon and Yoan complied and the cave grew dark. Then as their eyes adjusted the faint light from the quartz veins emitted enough illumination to make out distinct shapes and motions, but it was obviously not enough to see details.
Ultrecht chipped some quartz samples and was muttering some nonsense about igneous rock when Calista sat next to Armegon. She was irritated at the delay. Armegon could sense it. But he quietly reminded her that after the magical healing, Yoan could not maintain a forced march. It was more than just curiosity that had halted their walk.
They only rested for about ten minutes when Yoan suggested they continue. The last leg of their journey was fairly strenuous since the path was steeper than they would have liked and the temperature seemed a little warmer. Though navigable, it did require a reduction of pace for safety sake. But, since they were descending, the physical exertion was not as strenuous as it might have been and it was not long before the quartz veins began to converge into a single huge streak of dim light that seemed to be a guide for them to follow. Yoan kept true to the vein's direction.
They had been underground for a total of about seven hours when rather abruptly, they stepped out of the tunnel into a monstrous chamber. Avery assured them that they had descended to a depth below sea level and were far, far beneath the mountain.
The cavern strangely reminded Armegon of the crater that housed the Well of time, except instead of a hole in the mountain top, this chamber's ceiling was an intricate pattern of glowing quartz veins. The one they had been following joined the luminous lattice. The pattern was much brighter than the individual vein, fascinatingly complex, and looking at it for more than a few moments gave him a slight headache.
On the floor in the very center of the chamber was a huge crystal globe. The gem was about a meter in diameter. The distance to the gem was not really all that far, but the trail wound in and around many rock formations on the chamber floor so that it was a maze-like structure.
Yoan confided that he himself had never made this trip and that everything he knew had been passed down to him by his father and the other elders. They paused long enough for Ultrecht to unpack a sheet of parchment and a charcoal pencil. Under Avery's skillful hand, they constructed a map of the maze and then proceeded down into the chamber.
They followed the map religiously until, about ten minutes later they came to a dead end. Avery was puzzled and Ultrecht chided him greatly for his incompetence. They rechecked the map and confirmed that the path they had taken, according to the map, was the only route through the rocks.
Finally they retraced their steps and returned to the tunnel exit where they had entered the chamber. Avery compared his map to the rock outcropping and let out an angry growl. The map bore no resemblance to the maze at all. Armegon asked Avery if he needed some glasses. Calista though that it was a bad time to be wanting a drink.
Avery passed the paper and pencil to Armegon, who wiped the markings clear and proceeded to make the map himself.
When Armegon finished, they again hefted their packs and with Armegon in the lead headed down into the chamber.
This time they traveled almost fifteen minutes before a right turn on the map turned to the left instead. Armegon frowned and threw the map down in disgust. This time it was Ultrecht who mentioned the glasses and Calista decided that it was one of their private jokes, not thirst, that was being discussed.
Again they retraced their steps until once more they stood at the tunnel opening. Another comparison of the map showed that it held no resemblance whatsoever with the labyrinth below.
"I get the feeling that someone doesn’t want us to get to the center," Ultrecht said. "Yoan do you know anything about this?"
"No," the centaur replied. "The elders spoke of a Task of Faith," he admitted. "This might be what they talked about. They never explained it."
"The Task of Faith?" Armegon rubbed his head. The headache was getting worse. "What else did they talk about?"
"Mostly old folk tales and songs. They always sang a song about the cave," Yoan told them.
"Can you sing it for us," Calista asked. "I could use some nice music right now. I’m feeling a little down."
Yoan smiled. "I reckon so." He cleared his throat and sang with deep voiced marching tune.
Travel in the dark my boy.
Travel after noon.
Travel ‘til the trav’lin light
Guides y’through the gloom.
Rest upon the door my boy.
Wade into the void.
Walk the path the an’mals take
Or else y’be destroyed.
The millipede has many feet.
Use each print but twice.
Don’t turn the wrong way here
Or else y’pay the price.
The centipede takes many steps.
Follow his trail with care.
Turn about then half again.
Now follow this next pair.
Beetles dance the dance this time.
A two step jig they make.
They turn about about and a half
Makin’ no mistake.
A quartet of ponies prance now.
Galloping three strides each.
Put out y’hand and open y’eyes,
and behold the prize you reached.
Calista clapped happily. "That is a cute tune," she praised. "Don't you think so Armegon?"
Armegon rubbed his eyes. "Yes, yes, its very nice."
"What's wrong?" Calista asked.
"I have a headache," he snapped back. He was immediately sorry he had done so. Calista had done no wrong.
"You too?" Ultrecht asked. "My head's been throbbing for the last hour," he said.
"Me too," Avery added.
"I have had a very annoying ringing in my ears for some time as well," Ruk said.
"Now that you mention it," Calista added. "My stomach has been hurting for a while. I thought it was just hunger pains."
Armegon turned serious. "How about you, Yoan?"
"I feel fine. Like Ruk, I got a ringing in my ears, but that’s all."
"Didn't you mention a force that keeps people from staying too long?" Avery asked. When Yoan nodded, he suggested, "I think we’ve discovered what that 'force' is."
"You know," Ruk spoke up, "when we’re sailing, we memorize coastal landmarks and how to steer from each one to get to a particular destination. Those landmarks and the course to steer are sometimes memorized in the form of songs."
"You think that Yoan's tune is a verbal map of how to navigate the maze?" Armegon asked.
"Yoan did say that there was a test of fate," Avery reminded.
"That’s 'Task of Faith'," Calista corrected.
"Right," Avery admitted rubbing his head.
"Okay," Armegon said. "Before we decode that song, I need to deal with this headache."
"Can't you just magic it away like you healed me?" Yoan asked.
"No," Avery replied. "We knew what was wrong with you and repaired the damage. The effects we’re experiencing right now are the result of a continuous action against us. We need to shield ourselves."
"Maybe the answer’s in the song," Calista suggested. "The song says to travel after noon. We entered the cave during the morning. Maybe that’s why we’re being affected."
"The song also says to wait on the door," Yoan said. "I think that’s where we are now. How long do we wait?"
"We’re supposed to wade into the void." Ruk said. "Or at least that’s what the song said. Most people call total darkness a void."
"So we must wait until dark?" Calista asked. She looked worriedly at Avery, Armegon and Ultrecht. They were in a lot of pain. She stood and took the light crystal from Armegon and the other from Ultrecht and stuffed them into her pocket. The surroundings went dark.
They could see nothing for several moments until their eyes readjusted. Then with the abstruse design on the high domed ceiling shedding its eerie light, they saw the maze far below. It was a seething mass of motion. The rocks were moving about randomly.
"Well that explains the problems with the map," Ruk observed.
"D’we try to follow the song?" Yoan asked.
"Not yet," Ruk said. The song said to wade into the void, and it’s not dark." He gestured
to the soft, but steady light raining down from above.
"Well we can't turn that off," Calista said.
"No," Ruk agreed, "But if we wait until dusk, the night will."
"What then?" Yoan asked.
"Then we’ll trust your song."
So they waited. Armegon, Ultrecht and Avery spoke quietly to them and they explained their reasoning. The more experienced trio agreed with their logic. It was very hard for them to concentrate or think, such was the pain they were experiencing.
Calista doubled over and vomited about an hour later. With tears in her eyes, she complained that her stomach was burning.
Ruk and Yoan had both raised their voices due to the ringing in their ears and they could not hear very well. They too soon complained of headaches.
Ultrecht leaned on his staff heavily at one point and informed the others that if the situation demanded it they could teleport out of the cave, but it would be back to Nikki's cabin on the other side of the world. He had not thought to realign the emergency teleport spell to any place closer.
Armegon and the others agreed to use that as a last resort only. They did not want to travel across the world again.
They were trying so hard to deal with the problems, that it was almost a complete surprise when the pain disappeared completely. They were suddenly more aware of their surroundings and the fact that they were in total darkness.
"Is everyone okay?" Ultrecht's voice sounded out from the darkness.
"Calista," Armegon whispered, "bring out the light."
Calista reached into her pocket and drew the crystal forth. Immediately the light radiated outward and just as immediately the pain returned. Yells went out to extinguish the light, but they were unnecessary. The light crystal went back into the pocket much faster than it had come out.
When the pain subsided, Avery put to words what they were all thinking. "I don't think we want to have the light out anymore."
"Well," Ruk said, "we are now in the dark. I guess we can try to follow the song's instructions."
"Right," Ultrecht said. "Yoan, what’s the first stanza of that song?"
"Travel in the dark my boy.
Travel after noon.
Travel ‘til the trav’lin light
Guides y’through the gloom."
"Well that’s certainly clear enough," Ruk said. "We reached the place and the quartz vein did kind of guide us once we found it."
"Right," Armegon agreed. "What is next, Yoan?"
"Rest upon the door my boy.
Wade into the void.
Walk the path the an’mals take
Or else y’be destroyed."
"Okay," Calista said. She palmed the light crystal in her pocket. "We’re in the dark. If we move on, we’ll certainly be wading into the void. But if we walk in the dark how do we follow an animal's path."
"It isn't the path of an animal," Avery's voice cut in. "It’s a set of directions. Yoan, what’s the next line."
"The millipede has many feet.
Use each print but twice.
Don’t turn the wrong way here
Or else y’pay the price."
"A millipede is a small creature with many many legs," Avery said. "Each individual creature may vary from specimen to specimen. The average number of feet may be the key, but it’s not common knowledge. However the name itself means a thousand feet. I suggest the verse means to take two thousand paces since it tells us to use each print twice."
"Ah," Armegon interrupted. "But, those are the instructions for a Janusian. They have four feet. Does that make a difference?"
"No," Yoan answered from the darkness. "We measure our strides in pairs of steps. The front pair and the back pair each are considered independent."
"Okay then, two thousand paces," Avery said. "After that we turn to the right."
"How do you know that?" Calista asked.
"That bit about not turning in the wrong direction is a fairly old play on words," Ultrecht told her. He was closer to her than she had thought. "If you go right, you can't go wrong. The right way is not the wrong way. I'm sure you have heard things like it before."
"So what next," Armegon asked. "Yoan?"
"The centipede takes many steps.
Follow his trail with care.
Turn about then half again.
Now follow this next pair."
"The centipede doesn't really have a hundred legs, but that is what the name means," Avery said. "Okay then, a hundred paces."
"Turn about," Yoan repeated, "then half again."
"There is no reference for direction this time," Armegon observed.
"Then let us assume it is the same then," Ultrecht suggested.
"Agreed." Armegon concurred. "Turn about then half again. That’s the equivalent of a left turn."
"So now we turn left," Ultrecht said. "Next stanza."
"Beetles dance the dance this time.
A two step jig they make.
They turn about about and a half
Makin’ no mistake."
"Beetles are insects and have six legs," Ruk said.
"But, the song said, 'follow this next pair,'" Calista reminded them. "So that’s twelve legs."
"They are dancing a dance that has two steps in it so that is twenty four paces in all?" Ruk guessed.
"It would seem so," Avery replied. "’About and about and a half,' would seem to indicate another right turn as well."
"And the last line?" Calista asked.
"Probably just a warning," Armegon said. "A mistake could be disastrous."
Yoan continued.
"A quartet of ponies prance now.
Galloping three strides each.
Put out y’hand and open y’eyes,
and behold the prize you reached."
"Okay," Calista said. She had gotten the hang of this. "Four sets of four feet taking three strides each. That's forty eight?"
"Did you forget how Janusians count steps?" Armegon asked.
"Twenty four?" Calista asked. She was angry at herself for forgetting that.
"Twenty four," Armegon confirmed.
"Well then let's go," Ruk said.
They groped about in the darkness and immediately concluded that they were in trouble. Though Armegon and Avery's elven vision enabled them to locate everyone as heat sources in the darkness, they still had problems directing movements in and about the rocks which the halfelves could not see.
The problem was solved by stringing a rope between the two halfelves and having everyone attached to the rope. That way the leader, Armegon, could concentrate on the song's instructions, and Avery could monitor the group's integrity.
When all were ready, Armegon led them out on the floor. Meticulously he followed the directions as Yoan sang them out. Calista followed Armegon and held his hand. At his request, she counted the steps softly. When she reached two thousand. They stopped. Armegon turned to the right but did not proceed.
"We do not know how big our margin of error is," he said. "So this is what I want to do." He outlined his plan carefully. They drew in the rope until Yoan had joined the two in front. Armegon continued on slowly with Yoan to count the steps.
Calista stood stationary and Avery gave Ruk and Ultrecht instructions as they approached her. Calista's hand's were forming a turn buckle. As the rope passed through her hands, she reeled it on from one direction and let it out in the direction Armegon was pulling from. When Ultrecht's and Ruk's hands contacted hers, she redirected their movements. This was necessary because with no visible points of reference, they could not be certain of the direction of their turns.
When finally Avery made contact, he clasped her hand and headed her in the right direction as well. She followed the rope until she was several paces ahead of Avery and a couple behind Ultrecht.
They performed the same maneuver twice more until finally the train stopped. Armegon announced that they had reached the end of the instructions.
"Is anything there?" Calista asked.
"One moment," he said. Armegon pulled the rope and drew in all the others. When Avery was standing with them, Avery answered the question. "Yes, something is here, nearby."
"How do you know?" Yoan asked.
"Listen," the ranger replied. "Hear the voices about you. Do you hear how hollow they are all around you except for where someone’s standing?"
"That’s how some animals find their way in the dark," Ultrecht remarked. "Bats and other animals use echo ranging."
"Right," Avery said. "They’re much better at it than we are. A good listening person can tell the direction of a close object. Very few people can even tell about what distance an object is, by the time delay, but some animals can practically see using sound echoes."
"Well we certainly can't see," Ruk stated.
"I’m afraid we’re going to have to risk a moment of pain and get Cal to pull out that light crystal again," Armegon said.
"First let's get ready," Ultrecht advised. "I don't want to have to wait on someone to get his pack on straight while I’m trying to keep my head from exploding."
The feeling was universal and after the rope had been stowed and everyone was prepared, Calista pulled the crystal from her pocket. This time there was no blinding pain or deafening ringing. It was almost as if the whole thing had been a bad memory.
They took in their surroundings. They were standing on a flat expanse that ran to the cliff sides. None of the rock outcroppings could be seen. There before them, was a large crystal. The material was a light blue in color, and the exterior was devoid of any nicks or scratches at all. Almost hypnotically, Calista reached out and touched the perfect surface.
As if in response, the network of lines on the domed ceiling flared brilliantly and a shaft of light fell upon the sphere. Calista jerked her hand back, and rubbed it. There was no harm done to her, she had just been surprised.
Drawn by the spectacle, she peered into the crystal. Just as the old Centaur had said, it seemed as if she could see a tiny village inside. Even a mountain was visible. Then the scene changed and she saw a set of gates. They swung open to reveal a stairway of silvery light. Again she reached out to touch the sphere, but this time her hand made no contact. Suddenly Calista stood on the silvery step. Behind her was darkness.
Panic gripped her heart momentarily as she realized she was all alone. There was a flash to her left and Ruk stood on the step below her. Within minutes the whole compliment of their group were present save Yoan.
"Where’s Yoan?" she asked.
"I realize you didn't mean to do that on purpose," Armegon chided her gently, "but I do wish you’d think a little bit more before doing something like that again."
"I don't think Yoan made it through," Ultrecht observed. "He was standing the furthest away when the door started to close."
"His body’s so long I think you may be right." Ruk agreed. "He probably couldn’t get through."
"What happened?" Calista asked.
"The light opened the doorway, Calista," Avery said. "When you passed through, you took the light with you, and the door started to close. We don't think Yoan made it through the door in time."
"Will he be okay?" Ruk asked worriedly.
"Probably," Ultrecht answered. "These kinds of doorways will either close before you go through, or after you;ve gone through. They don't really close while you’re inside the doorway."
"He’s probably more worried about us than we are about him," Armegon commented.
"So what now?" Ruk asked. "Do we wait for him? It’ll be daylight soon."
"Well for one thing," Ultrecht said, "we don’t know how fast time travels in this world. A hundred years could pass for us while we wait for a single hour to pass for him."
"Nor do we know if he’ll come through at all," Armegon pointed out. "If I were in his shoes, I wouldn't. I’d go home and report what happened or I might stay around a day or so in case we came back, but I’d not follow us through the gate. I think Yoan is fairly smart. He won't come through."
"So where do we go?" Calista asked.
"I suggest we find out where these stairs lead," Avery said as he began descending the stairs. "You know," he added nervously, "I once had a very bad experience on a long flight of stairs."
Chapter 7 Part 2
Tyson was enjoying himself thoroughly. He was presently conducting an interview with a store keeper in Keron. The store keeper was actually an agent of House Blackheart. But with the recent changes within that dynastic structure, the agent had concluded that he had been relieved of all obligations to the House successor. Tyson had come to remind him of his duty.
At that moment, Tyson was speaking to the gentleman. The shop keeper, for his part, was tied and bound and sitting in a chair in the back room of his apothecary shop. The stockroom was in excellent condition inventory-wise. Several tomes containing hundreds of alchemical formulations lined a shelf over a desk in one corner. The other three walls were crowded by shelf upon shelf of beakers, flasks, and bags of various solutions, substances, and powders.
"Our lord Morteous is very upset with your failure to carry out your assignments," Tyson told him. "He’s asked me to swing by and inquire if you’re in need of aid." Tyson picked up a beaker from a table. He inspected it critically. He rubbed a finger along the bottom where a very light trace of dust had collected. He frowned and tisked with disappoint. "Messy messy," he accused.
"I was not appointed by Morteous Blackheart," the prisoner retorted.
"You were appointed by Serpent Blackheart?"
"That’s right," the store keeper claimed.
"But you were appointed as an agent of whom?"
The store keeper swallowed. "House Blackheart," Tyson answered for him. "Morteous is now the head of House Blackheart." Tyson scanned the shelves and intrigued fetched a flask. "Zombie eye pulp?" he asked.
The agent fidgeted. "Hey, now, that stuff is expensive."
"Really?" Tyson said, his eyes going wide. He poured a measure of the thick chunky mixture into the dirty beaker. He held the beaker up to the lantern and swirled the stuff. Then he placed the beaker on the desk. He took the flask and tossed it to the floor before the shop keeper's feet. The glass shattered and the valuable contents splattered against his legs. The prisoner whimpered at the loss.
"Where did you get the money to buy such stuff?" Tyson asked him. "Apothecary shops are a dime a dozen. You expect me to believe that you make that kind of money selling love potions?"
"What's a 'dime'?" the prisoner asked puzzled.
Tyson shook his head. "Never mind," he said. He picked up a bag from a shelf next to the door. Walking over to the desk, he took a large crucible and dumped a small portion of the bag into the dish. "Ground skeleton bones," he said aloud as he read the bag's contents. He proceeded to grind the granules into a powder as he spoke. "This is quite a treasure house you have here. I could read the labels all night long. Of course I’m no alchemist, and have no idea what this stuff is or what it does. What do you say we just mix a bunch of it together and see what happens, eh?"
The prisoner was getting very uncomfortable. Of course Tyson had tied the bonds very tight and the prisoner was probably losing the feeling in his hands. His feet would follow soon after.
Tyson tossed the bag of granulated bone to the floor and kicked it across the room scattering its contents everywhere. He had probably cost this store several thousand in gold coins already. "Yes, I think that since you were hired by House Blackheart, you’re still bound to follow orders regardless of who sits on the throne."
Tyson walked across the room and surveyed a row of jars with air sealed lids. He gleamed and took one from the very top shelf. "Now here’s a rare novelty," he announced. "Blood from the stomach of a gorged vampire," he read the label. "I’d like to have met the man who obtained this little treasure." He broke the seal, and the store keeper groaned. That jar alone was worth a small fortune.
Tyson poured a generous amount into the beaker and mixed the contents by swirling the container. He placed the jar on the desk, perilously close to the edge. "I’d certainly like to return to Aspberg with assurances that you were back in service," Tyson informed him.
"Please be careful with that jar," the man pleaded. "I can't afford to lose it. My income’s based on this shop."
Tyson turned and "accidentally" knocked the jar to the floor. It shattered with a puff of smoke. "Oops," he said. "It looks as if you’ll be needing another source of income; just until you can get back on your feet."
Suddenly Tyson's face lighted up. "I know," he exclaimed triumphantly. "You can work for House Blackheart as an agent!"
The prisoner squinted defiantly. "Not on your life," he said.
Tyson chuckled to himself and poured the beaker's contents into the crucible. He took a stirring rod and mixed the concoction well. Then he took a large spoon and dipped a sizable portion of the pasty substance. "How about your life?" he asked as he approached with the spoon held out suggestively.
The defiance drained from the prisoner's face as did the blood. Pale and shocked the man's mouth hung open until he realized that fact. Then his mouth snapped shut with astonishing speed. Who knew what that mixture would do?
Tyson smiled broadly. "My, my. This does look tasty." He drew a dagger and put it at the man's throat. "I know you haven’t eaten since I got here, so you must be hungry. So, now you are going to answer my next question," he instructed. "If I like the answer, you’ll remain hungry. If I don’t like your answer, you’re going to sample my cooking. And if you think you can get by without giving an answer at all,” he displayed the dagger quite closely, “well, if you make no answer, I’m going to slit the underside of your mouth open and force feed you."
Tyson moved the point of the dagger until it was resting just below the man's chin. "Now," he asked, "are you going to serve Morteous Blackheart?"
There was really no question as to the outcome, and Tyson felt better than he had felt in a long time as he left the shop. The store keeper had reluctantly agreed to stay in the service of House Blackheart. Tyson had simply patted him on the head and walked out.
Tyson had enjoyed his visit to Keron. The capital city was actually quite beautiful. The royal palace of King Rigel was an exceptional example of architecture built in marble and obsidian. The morning suns rising over the great eastern ocean illuminated the structure making a breathtaking scene.
Tyson was not that fond of Aspberg's urban design, but the citadel of House Blackheart was itself an admirable work of engineering. Allentown, on the other hand, was a city that was very well designed. The city's governing body had planned its development well.
Tycho was the city Tyson had most recently visited. He had been searching the histories and prophesies stored in the Hall or Records there. He had admired its structure as well, but it had displayed more of a cultural flavor than any logical design. The high elven and dwarven populous had constructed the city in the trees and on the ground beneath those trees. Even so, Tyson was uncomfortable there and he was glad to conclude his search and leave. The whole trip had been a waste of time. Tyson had found no evidence that the prophesies made any reference to his former companions.
Upon arriving in Keron, he had snooped about a bit; just enough to figure out that Ragnera's plan for Keron was moving right along. He was not privy to what the situation was, but it was pretty evident from the local gossip that relations were not good between the king and his army at High Branch. It seemed that Ragnera was using Keron to antagonize High Branch. Well, that answered that.
He walked along the wall that overlooked the seashore. It was late night. One of the moons was dipping in the western sky and hovered just above the city's buildings. Tyson considered catching a bite to eat then he would watch the suns rise before heading back to Aspberg. If he ever retired and settled down, he decided, Keron would be a very nice place to live.
At that moment, Tyson was speaking to the gentleman. The shop keeper, for his part, was tied and bound and sitting in a chair in the back room of his apothecary shop. The stockroom was in excellent condition inventory-wise. Several tomes containing hundreds of alchemical formulations lined a shelf over a desk in one corner. The other three walls were crowded by shelf upon shelf of beakers, flasks, and bags of various solutions, substances, and powders.
"Our lord Morteous is very upset with your failure to carry out your assignments," Tyson told him. "He’s asked me to swing by and inquire if you’re in need of aid." Tyson picked up a beaker from a table. He inspected it critically. He rubbed a finger along the bottom where a very light trace of dust had collected. He frowned and tisked with disappoint. "Messy messy," he accused.
"I was not appointed by Morteous Blackheart," the prisoner retorted.
"You were appointed by Serpent Blackheart?"
"That’s right," the store keeper claimed.
"But you were appointed as an agent of whom?"
The store keeper swallowed. "House Blackheart," Tyson answered for him. "Morteous is now the head of House Blackheart." Tyson scanned the shelves and intrigued fetched a flask. "Zombie eye pulp?" he asked.
The agent fidgeted. "Hey, now, that stuff is expensive."
"Really?" Tyson said, his eyes going wide. He poured a measure of the thick chunky mixture into the dirty beaker. He held the beaker up to the lantern and swirled the stuff. Then he placed the beaker on the desk. He took the flask and tossed it to the floor before the shop keeper's feet. The glass shattered and the valuable contents splattered against his legs. The prisoner whimpered at the loss.
"Where did you get the money to buy such stuff?" Tyson asked him. "Apothecary shops are a dime a dozen. You expect me to believe that you make that kind of money selling love potions?"
"What's a 'dime'?" the prisoner asked puzzled.
Tyson shook his head. "Never mind," he said. He picked up a bag from a shelf next to the door. Walking over to the desk, he took a large crucible and dumped a small portion of the bag into the dish. "Ground skeleton bones," he said aloud as he read the bag's contents. He proceeded to grind the granules into a powder as he spoke. "This is quite a treasure house you have here. I could read the labels all night long. Of course I’m no alchemist, and have no idea what this stuff is or what it does. What do you say we just mix a bunch of it together and see what happens, eh?"
The prisoner was getting very uncomfortable. Of course Tyson had tied the bonds very tight and the prisoner was probably losing the feeling in his hands. His feet would follow soon after.
Tyson tossed the bag of granulated bone to the floor and kicked it across the room scattering its contents everywhere. He had probably cost this store several thousand in gold coins already. "Yes, I think that since you were hired by House Blackheart, you’re still bound to follow orders regardless of who sits on the throne."
Tyson walked across the room and surveyed a row of jars with air sealed lids. He gleamed and took one from the very top shelf. "Now here’s a rare novelty," he announced. "Blood from the stomach of a gorged vampire," he read the label. "I’d like to have met the man who obtained this little treasure." He broke the seal, and the store keeper groaned. That jar alone was worth a small fortune.
Tyson poured a generous amount into the beaker and mixed the contents by swirling the container. He placed the jar on the desk, perilously close to the edge. "I’d certainly like to return to Aspberg with assurances that you were back in service," Tyson informed him.
"Please be careful with that jar," the man pleaded. "I can't afford to lose it. My income’s based on this shop."
Tyson turned and "accidentally" knocked the jar to the floor. It shattered with a puff of smoke. "Oops," he said. "It looks as if you’ll be needing another source of income; just until you can get back on your feet."
Suddenly Tyson's face lighted up. "I know," he exclaimed triumphantly. "You can work for House Blackheart as an agent!"
The prisoner squinted defiantly. "Not on your life," he said.
Tyson chuckled to himself and poured the beaker's contents into the crucible. He took a stirring rod and mixed the concoction well. Then he took a large spoon and dipped a sizable portion of the pasty substance. "How about your life?" he asked as he approached with the spoon held out suggestively.
The defiance drained from the prisoner's face as did the blood. Pale and shocked the man's mouth hung open until he realized that fact. Then his mouth snapped shut with astonishing speed. Who knew what that mixture would do?
Tyson smiled broadly. "My, my. This does look tasty." He drew a dagger and put it at the man's throat. "I know you haven’t eaten since I got here, so you must be hungry. So, now you are going to answer my next question," he instructed. "If I like the answer, you’ll remain hungry. If I don’t like your answer, you’re going to sample my cooking. And if you think you can get by without giving an answer at all,” he displayed the dagger quite closely, “well, if you make no answer, I’m going to slit the underside of your mouth open and force feed you."
Tyson moved the point of the dagger until it was resting just below the man's chin. "Now," he asked, "are you going to serve Morteous Blackheart?"
There was really no question as to the outcome, and Tyson felt better than he had felt in a long time as he left the shop. The store keeper had reluctantly agreed to stay in the service of House Blackheart. Tyson had simply patted him on the head and walked out.
Tyson had enjoyed his visit to Keron. The capital city was actually quite beautiful. The royal palace of King Rigel was an exceptional example of architecture built in marble and obsidian. The morning suns rising over the great eastern ocean illuminated the structure making a breathtaking scene.
Tyson was not that fond of Aspberg's urban design, but the citadel of House Blackheart was itself an admirable work of engineering. Allentown, on the other hand, was a city that was very well designed. The city's governing body had planned its development well.
Tycho was the city Tyson had most recently visited. He had been searching the histories and prophesies stored in the Hall or Records there. He had admired its structure as well, but it had displayed more of a cultural flavor than any logical design. The high elven and dwarven populous had constructed the city in the trees and on the ground beneath those trees. Even so, Tyson was uncomfortable there and he was glad to conclude his search and leave. The whole trip had been a waste of time. Tyson had found no evidence that the prophesies made any reference to his former companions.
Upon arriving in Keron, he had snooped about a bit; just enough to figure out that Ragnera's plan for Keron was moving right along. He was not privy to what the situation was, but it was pretty evident from the local gossip that relations were not good between the king and his army at High Branch. It seemed that Ragnera was using Keron to antagonize High Branch. Well, that answered that.
He walked along the wall that overlooked the seashore. It was late night. One of the moons was dipping in the western sky and hovered just above the city's buildings. Tyson considered catching a bite to eat then he would watch the suns rise before heading back to Aspberg. If he ever retired and settled down, he decided, Keron would be a very nice place to live.
Chapter 7 Part 1
THE GATE
It was an intrepid sextet of adventurers that departed the Glade of Gale that morning. With Yoan in the lead, they climbed rapidly to the border of the Janus Valley. It was a short trip, maybe half an hour, before they were high enough into the foothills to see the valley stretching out like a painting behind them.
They didn't have time to enjoy the scenery. Almost as if they had tripped some invisible alarm, they were attacked. A huge rock the size of a bucket shattered against a tree trunk near Yoan. The shock sent a cascade of leaves fluttering to the ground. Fragments of the rock embedded themselves in the centaur's left arm. He let out a cry that was both warning and an expression of pain.
Almost as suddenly, another rock slammed into the ground at Calista's feet. It kicked up a spray of dirt but otherwise did no damage. Calista jumped back reflexively, and after a moment's startle, drew her bow and bent the limbs. She slipped the string loop into the groove at the end then tested the setting with a pluck. The string hummed a baritone note. Satisfied that it the bow was braced, she lifted the leather flap on her hip quiver and pulled an arrow forth and notched it. Then she looked around for something to shoot.
At first it appeared as if the mountain itself was attacking them, but after a few other rocks pounded into the ground--they were easily enough to dodge if you knew they were coming--the trees ahead of them parted to reveal at least four creatures about twice the size of Ruk charging forth.
Upon seeing them, Yoan swore and warned that they were being attacked by ogres. The ogres were as tall as a small tree, and as broad as small shack. They had very long arms and were sparsely covered with matted hair. Muscles like miniature boulders bulged under their skin as they shoved the more limber trees apart like tall weeds.
At the sight of the brutes, Calista almost dropped her bow and turned to run, but with a bellow of battle, Ruk stepped between her and one of the onrushing ogres. The huge ax swished once and an ogre staggered back clutching a gash oozing yellow blood on its left thigh. Ruk did not let up. He took three strides forward and brought the ax back in another slash. This time the ax bit higher and the ogre groaned as its entrails boiled out of its midsection and spilled on the ground.
Calista watched numbed as the act took place before her. It was, in fact, the first fight in which she was taking an active part. She felt detached. It was as if she were a spectator watching a play. It was not until blood, red blood, splattered on her arm that she came to her senses.
To her left, Armegon and Ultrecht stood back to back. Before Ultrecht was a huge glowing sword hovering in the air. As he gestured with a small glass dagger and the huge sword would follow suit. The ogre was covered in burn marks from where the swords magic glow inflicted damage.
Armegon was gesturing at fallen stones and they in turn would levitate and slam into a third ogre. This ogre was retreating and swatting at the half dozen or so of hovering debris as if they were annoying insects.
Avery jabbed an ogre in the midsection with the stout walking stick he was carrying then reached to the ground to retrieve Yoan's fallen spear. He set his feet and then planted the spear point and several feet of the haft into the ogre's midsection. The young centaur lay on the ground. One of his legs was badly mangled in a compound fracture. Bloody bone protruded from the side of the injured limb.
Calista then faced her first combat decision. She instantly made her decision. Avery had just thrown his spear. He was defending the fallen Yoan, but now he was weaponless, or was he? She wondered as she drew the bow and released the first arrow why he didn't draw the magic sword.
Calista's arrow embedded itself deep in the ogre's chest. The creature, already badly wounded by the spear stumbled back and retreated into the forest. Calista drew another arrow and notched it. This time she buried the arrow into the neck of the ogre Armegon had been pummeling with rocks. The ogre growled and swiped at Armegon but looked menacingly in her direction. She drew another arrow and let it fly as well. This one missed as the ogre lunged to one side.
The creature then changed direction and came straight at her. Two mule sized fists came soaring over her head and came crashing down on top of her. She stared, paralyzed with fear as the blow fell. Just before the impact came, she felt something grip her body like being wrapped in a thick quilt. She suddenly zipped up and to the right to hover about twelve feet in the air. The ogre's fists slammed into the ground, and Ruk's ax removed the fist's from the arms.
Howling in pain, the ogre clutched its stumps tightly to its chest and ran blindly into the woods. Calista saw only one more ogre. Ultrecht casually struck another blow at the creature with the huge glowing sword. The ogre was not the most intelligent creature in the world, but it was far from stupid. It saw itself greatly outnumbered. That coupled with the defeat of its comrades gave it reason to doubt its chances of successfully winning this battle. With a growl of defiance, it turned and ran back the way it had come.
Armegon made a gesture with his hand, and Calista floated to the ground. She started bouncing and clutching her side as if in pain. Armegon rushed over to her. "Are you okay?" he asked. She shook her head and whispered in his ear. Armegon frowned. "Why didn't you go before we left?" he asked irritated. "Try that clump of bushes over there." He pointed to a thicket back down the path they had come from. "That should be safe. Don't take too long. As you can see we are vulnerable right now."
Avery was kneeling next to Yoan when Armegon approached. "How is he?"
"He has a broken leg," the healer gestured at the fracture, "and some fragmented rock in his arm. He’s in mild shock, but with a little work, I can bring him to and splint the leg." Avery wiped his blood stained hands on the bark of a tree. "It would be easier if we used magic," he complained.
"I don't know if my healing ability is strong enough to mend a fracture this severe," Armegon said. "I’m pretty sure it won't be traceable, but there’s always the possibility that Quickdraw might pick up on it. I haven't done any healing since I reorganized my spell casting."
Avery took some thread from a pouch under his tunic. He then pulled a needle from the hem of his sleeve. "Well we either take a chance on your magic, or we turn around and take him back into the valley. I can sew up the wounds, but he’s not going to be able to travel for a while."
Ultrecht came forward. "If we go back, they’ll be ready for us next time. I don't like to pay toll twice on the same road."
Armegon conceded. "Okay," he said to Ultrecht. "I'll do the magic, but the priority of realigning his power," he jerked a thumb at Avery, "has just increased severely."
"Agreed" Ultrecht said. "Get on with it."
Armegon and Avery worked on Yoan for almost an hour. Armegon applied the magic slowly to avoid a surge that might alert the warlocks of their location. Ruk, Calista and Ultrecht kept a vigilant watch for a second attack by the ogres or something else.
Fortunately no attack came. The ogres had apparently been trashed severely enough to keep them at a distance. Ultrecht passed the hour by inspecting the ogre carcasses. Calista expressed her disgust when he took a tiny thimble and filled it with the yellow ogre's blood. He explained that it could be used to create potions that could increase her strength for a short duration. She assured him she wanted no part of it. Ultrecht laughed.
"For Sam's sake," he reminded her, "we can't ignore anything that might help him."
"That isn't fair," she complained. "For Sam I would do anything."
"I know," he assured her.
Finally Armegon announced that the healing was complete. With the exception that Yoan was asleep, he looked perfectly normal. Where the leg had been broken, was the pink line of a new scar. The shrapnel wounds were completely gone and the centaur appeared to be sleeping peacefully.
"He’ll be very tired and probably weak for the rest of the day, so I recommend we walk slowly and take breaks frequently," Avery told them. "The amount of travel time left was supposed to be an hour and a half, but I recommend we stretch it out to two or two and a half hours. We don’t want him to over exert himself. If he gets pushed too hard, he could pass out and be in a coma for several days. That would be worse."
Armegon gently woke Yoan. The centaur complained that his leg itched and he was tired, but he was otherwise ready to move onward. Armegon and Avery helped him to his feet. They also helped out by lightening their guide's pack and dividing the weight amongst themselves. Armegon suggested that they keep their weapons at the ready.
"Avery," Calista asked as she walked at the ranger's side. "I was wondering. Why didn't you use your magic sword?"
"That’s a good question," Avery told her. "First let me tell you that every time I use the sword's magic, I have to fight with it to keep control of it. That takes a lot of concentration. The sword didn’t want to fight. In its opinion we were trespassing on the ogres' territory, and should’ve run instead of fight." Avery shifted the weight of his pack to make it more comfortable. "I didn't have time to argue with it."
"Didn't the sword think that for them to attack up was wrong?" Calista asked.
"Maybe it is from our point of view, but it’s possible that the ogres felt justified in the attack. I agree that we might’ve been able to avoid the bloodshed if they’d approached us on more friendly terms, but they didn't."
Avery tried to explain the swords methods. "Try to think of the sword as a third party who is watching two people argue. It tries to see both sides of the issue then judges who’s right and who’s wrong. This time it felt that we were in the wrong."
Calista frowned. "Then if we have to travel to Aspberg to get Sam's mind, will the sword help us or not?"
Before she could do anything, Avery whipped the blade free of its scabbard, took her hand, and placed it upon the handle with his own. "Ask it yourself," he said.
Calista felt a whispering in her mind.
You have a question, the whisper sounded in her mind. It was a statement of fact, not a question itself. Calista did not know how, but she could sense that the sword knew her innermost thoughts.
"Yes," she answered aloud.
You do not need to speak aloud.
Will you help us free Sam, Calista thought.
The question is subjective. I will not oppose your effort so long as your actions are righteous.
"Well what of Sam!" she exclaimed aloud.
Sam was kidnapped. the sword answered. I will destroy anyone who took part in that kidnapping who gets in our way. The handle tingled in her hand and she felt a surge of power run through her. She had a vision of standing on a hill overlooking a vast army of enemies, she held the sword out and it became a bolt of lightning slaying every soldier before her.
For a moment Calista was prepared and fully convinced that she could walk into the Dark Citadel of Aspberg and destroy the warlock and all the evil gods that supported House Blackheart. But at the last moment, something, she did not know what, brought her attention back to where she was and their quest.
What of the ogres? she asked silently. Why did you not help?
The ogres were innocent of the wrong done to you. You were on their property without permission carrying weapons. They acted reasonably.
I guess I can understand, Calista thought.
You are a wise for your years, but impulsive. I am content to obey he who carries me. He is wise and just. I do not think he will allow your companion to remain captive.
Calista gave a sigh of relief. Thank you, Calista said, but the sword did not respond and a firm but gentle shock knocked her hand from the hilt.
"Did you learn what you needed?" Avery asked as he sheathed the mysterious weapon.
"I think so," Calista said. "Thanks." She glanced once more at the hilt of the sword. Somehow she knew that the sword had held back its tremendous power to spare her mental and physical harm. She quietly wondered if carrying such a weapon was not more of a curse than a privileged. She almost hoped never to experience something like that ever again.
"Don't mention it," Avery said. "By the way, those were some very good shots you made back there. I think you’re going to make a fine archer." Calista smiled. For the first time she felt as if she were a real part of the team and not just a lovesick girl trying to save her mate.
They traveled for another hour and a half before the second attack came. This time there were no ogres involved. This attack seemed to come from out of thin air. They were traveling along in pairs when suddenly two behemoths appeared on either side of their column. The things resembled very wide and fat gray stumps, like a boulder at least two meters in diameter. They had a set of three thick legs and several long stout tentacles. The constant motion of the tentacles made an accurate count difficult.
So sudden was their appearance, that they took Ruk by surprise. One huge arm snaked out and wrapped itself about him several times. A gasp of breath was proof that he would soon be strangled to death by the constrictor tentacle. A second tentacle reached out and cuffed Yoan in the back of the head with sufficient force to drive him to his knees...all four of them. Still a third tentacle barely missed Armegon who dodged the attack via some fancy footwork. He made a diving roll to his left and avoided a fourth tentacle as well.
Ultrecht, Avery, and Calista had managed to evade their monster's attacks since it was a little slower and they had been forewarned. Calista had sprinted out of the tentacles reach. She whirled and in a motion so smooth Avery would later say that Keeneye himself would have been proud, she drew and arrow, nocked it and loosed it with deadly accuracy deep into one of the gray things.
Ultrecht too made a break for a safe distance, but was caught by the foot as he fled. He fell to the ground, the precious staff with its stored emergency spells was jarred from his hand and lay agonizing inches out of his grasp. He rolled over and reached for his spell pouch even as he felt himself being dragged closer to the creature.
Avery, quarterstaff swinging wildly, made a running leap and attacked the tentacle holding Ruk. He smacked the limb several times with no effect. The first creature coiled its fourth and third tentacles again and flung them whip-like at the ranger. Avery flung the staff out to meet them and the tentacles yanked the staff from his hands. As if to show its victim how helpless he was, the creature then proceeded to break the staff in half. But, Avery was far from helpless. With blinding quickness, his left hand reached over his shoulder and the Sword of Justice slid free of its scabbard.
Calista saw the motion and half expected a glow or flash of light or buzzing or a ringing to accompany the sword. From all the stories she ever heard, all magic swords announced their presence boastfully. Avery's sword remained silent.
A flash did occur to her left and the smell of brimstone assaulted her nostrils as a ball of flame erupted about the creature she had first shot. It was the one that had attacked Ultrecht, Avery , and herself. Armegon had dealt with that creature by engulfing it in flame.
Calista loosed another arrow. This time she shot the monster that had Ruk, and was fighting Avery. Again, her aim was true. The arrow embedded itself in the monster's body fully so that only the fletching showed. That had to smart, she thought. But, it seemed to not faze the creature at all.
Avery turned and the magic blade flicked out and neatly severed the tentacle holding Ruk. The constriction ceased and the amputated limb fell to the ground. The minotaan fell to his knees panting and clutching his chest. Avery spun and the sword made a wide arc to his left. Another tentacle dropped bodiless to the ground. Avery now had the monster's undivided attention. That was its mistake. As Calista watched, a sizzle was heard, and the hairs on her neck and arms stood up. A flash of blue off to her right flicked and before her very eyes, a bolt of brilliant blue lightning flashed out and tore into the monster.
Calista felt certain that the fight was over, until she saw the flame scorched monster Armegon had toasted moving again. The tentacles were coiling up and preparing to launch at the still battered Ruk.
Shouting a warning, Calista loosed an end of three arrows into the body of the thing before the tentacles lashed out. This time, however, they met a pair of swift swords. Avery and Armegon, standing side by side weaved a deadly wall of metal between the tentacles and their victim. To Calista's satisfaction, Armegon's sword emitted a soft blue spark every time it hit a tentacle, and a chiming, like the sound of a soft gong sounded.
Ruk slowly got to his feet and staggered out of range of the monster. Ultrecht helped a dazed Yoan get some distance as well. Calista watched for a moment then decided to put another end of arrows into the monster. Even if it was immune to them, she at least could distract it.
She just released her third arrow when she saw Ultrecht urgently gesture for her to come to him. She complied and was totally surprised when a tentacle of a third monster just barely missed tagging her foot as she trotted forward.
Stunned by the close call, she barely noticed when Avery lifted her off her feet in his strong arms and carried her up the trail. "That was close," Armegon said as he brought up the rear.
"What were those?" Ultrecht asked. "I noticed that they were not vulnerable to Armegon's fire attack."
"I think they were what we’d call, Earth Demons," Avery said. "They’re not native to this area. That’s why I used the sword."
"How many did we get?" Ruk asked, though it obviously pained him to do so.
"Two," Armegon told him. "Ultrecht's lightning killed one, and the magic swords killed the other."
"And the third?" Yoan asked rubbing his head.
"We decided that if we could avoid the fight altogether, why risk it?" Armegon glanced back as he spoke. "If everyone can travel. I’d like to get a move on. Those demons were gating in from another plane. If we stay in one spot, and they’re very persistent, we could get in deep trouble very, very fast."
They took Armegon's advice and resumed their hike. Before another hour passed, they were climbing the rocks of Mount Gale. Not long afterward they stood just inside the cavern entrance.
The entrance consisted of a pair of very old pillars with some ancient writings engraved into the stone. No one recognized the language and, neither did anyone care to hazard a guess to its message. Yoan told them that the Janusians made a pilgrimage to the cave every ten years, right after the summer year, to celebrate the valley's bounty. He told them that no ill ever befell them once they entered the cave.
Unanimously it was agreed to proceed into the cave.
It was an intrepid sextet of adventurers that departed the Glade of Gale that morning. With Yoan in the lead, they climbed rapidly to the border of the Janus Valley. It was a short trip, maybe half an hour, before they were high enough into the foothills to see the valley stretching out like a painting behind them.
They didn't have time to enjoy the scenery. Almost as if they had tripped some invisible alarm, they were attacked. A huge rock the size of a bucket shattered against a tree trunk near Yoan. The shock sent a cascade of leaves fluttering to the ground. Fragments of the rock embedded themselves in the centaur's left arm. He let out a cry that was both warning and an expression of pain.
Almost as suddenly, another rock slammed into the ground at Calista's feet. It kicked up a spray of dirt but otherwise did no damage. Calista jumped back reflexively, and after a moment's startle, drew her bow and bent the limbs. She slipped the string loop into the groove at the end then tested the setting with a pluck. The string hummed a baritone note. Satisfied that it the bow was braced, she lifted the leather flap on her hip quiver and pulled an arrow forth and notched it. Then she looked around for something to shoot.
At first it appeared as if the mountain itself was attacking them, but after a few other rocks pounded into the ground--they were easily enough to dodge if you knew they were coming--the trees ahead of them parted to reveal at least four creatures about twice the size of Ruk charging forth.
Upon seeing them, Yoan swore and warned that they were being attacked by ogres. The ogres were as tall as a small tree, and as broad as small shack. They had very long arms and were sparsely covered with matted hair. Muscles like miniature boulders bulged under their skin as they shoved the more limber trees apart like tall weeds.
At the sight of the brutes, Calista almost dropped her bow and turned to run, but with a bellow of battle, Ruk stepped between her and one of the onrushing ogres. The huge ax swished once and an ogre staggered back clutching a gash oozing yellow blood on its left thigh. Ruk did not let up. He took three strides forward and brought the ax back in another slash. This time the ax bit higher and the ogre groaned as its entrails boiled out of its midsection and spilled on the ground.
Calista watched numbed as the act took place before her. It was, in fact, the first fight in which she was taking an active part. She felt detached. It was as if she were a spectator watching a play. It was not until blood, red blood, splattered on her arm that she came to her senses.
To her left, Armegon and Ultrecht stood back to back. Before Ultrecht was a huge glowing sword hovering in the air. As he gestured with a small glass dagger and the huge sword would follow suit. The ogre was covered in burn marks from where the swords magic glow inflicted damage.
Armegon was gesturing at fallen stones and they in turn would levitate and slam into a third ogre. This ogre was retreating and swatting at the half dozen or so of hovering debris as if they were annoying insects.
Avery jabbed an ogre in the midsection with the stout walking stick he was carrying then reached to the ground to retrieve Yoan's fallen spear. He set his feet and then planted the spear point and several feet of the haft into the ogre's midsection. The young centaur lay on the ground. One of his legs was badly mangled in a compound fracture. Bloody bone protruded from the side of the injured limb.
Calista then faced her first combat decision. She instantly made her decision. Avery had just thrown his spear. He was defending the fallen Yoan, but now he was weaponless, or was he? She wondered as she drew the bow and released the first arrow why he didn't draw the magic sword.
Calista's arrow embedded itself deep in the ogre's chest. The creature, already badly wounded by the spear stumbled back and retreated into the forest. Calista drew another arrow and notched it. This time she buried the arrow into the neck of the ogre Armegon had been pummeling with rocks. The ogre growled and swiped at Armegon but looked menacingly in her direction. She drew another arrow and let it fly as well. This one missed as the ogre lunged to one side.
The creature then changed direction and came straight at her. Two mule sized fists came soaring over her head and came crashing down on top of her. She stared, paralyzed with fear as the blow fell. Just before the impact came, she felt something grip her body like being wrapped in a thick quilt. She suddenly zipped up and to the right to hover about twelve feet in the air. The ogre's fists slammed into the ground, and Ruk's ax removed the fist's from the arms.
Howling in pain, the ogre clutched its stumps tightly to its chest and ran blindly into the woods. Calista saw only one more ogre. Ultrecht casually struck another blow at the creature with the huge glowing sword. The ogre was not the most intelligent creature in the world, but it was far from stupid. It saw itself greatly outnumbered. That coupled with the defeat of its comrades gave it reason to doubt its chances of successfully winning this battle. With a growl of defiance, it turned and ran back the way it had come.
Armegon made a gesture with his hand, and Calista floated to the ground. She started bouncing and clutching her side as if in pain. Armegon rushed over to her. "Are you okay?" he asked. She shook her head and whispered in his ear. Armegon frowned. "Why didn't you go before we left?" he asked irritated. "Try that clump of bushes over there." He pointed to a thicket back down the path they had come from. "That should be safe. Don't take too long. As you can see we are vulnerable right now."
Avery was kneeling next to Yoan when Armegon approached. "How is he?"
"He has a broken leg," the healer gestured at the fracture, "and some fragmented rock in his arm. He’s in mild shock, but with a little work, I can bring him to and splint the leg." Avery wiped his blood stained hands on the bark of a tree. "It would be easier if we used magic," he complained.
"I don't know if my healing ability is strong enough to mend a fracture this severe," Armegon said. "I’m pretty sure it won't be traceable, but there’s always the possibility that Quickdraw might pick up on it. I haven't done any healing since I reorganized my spell casting."
Avery took some thread from a pouch under his tunic. He then pulled a needle from the hem of his sleeve. "Well we either take a chance on your magic, or we turn around and take him back into the valley. I can sew up the wounds, but he’s not going to be able to travel for a while."
Ultrecht came forward. "If we go back, they’ll be ready for us next time. I don't like to pay toll twice on the same road."
Armegon conceded. "Okay," he said to Ultrecht. "I'll do the magic, but the priority of realigning his power," he jerked a thumb at Avery, "has just increased severely."
"Agreed" Ultrecht said. "Get on with it."
Armegon and Avery worked on Yoan for almost an hour. Armegon applied the magic slowly to avoid a surge that might alert the warlocks of their location. Ruk, Calista and Ultrecht kept a vigilant watch for a second attack by the ogres or something else.
Fortunately no attack came. The ogres had apparently been trashed severely enough to keep them at a distance. Ultrecht passed the hour by inspecting the ogre carcasses. Calista expressed her disgust when he took a tiny thimble and filled it with the yellow ogre's blood. He explained that it could be used to create potions that could increase her strength for a short duration. She assured him she wanted no part of it. Ultrecht laughed.
"For Sam's sake," he reminded her, "we can't ignore anything that might help him."
"That isn't fair," she complained. "For Sam I would do anything."
"I know," he assured her.
Finally Armegon announced that the healing was complete. With the exception that Yoan was asleep, he looked perfectly normal. Where the leg had been broken, was the pink line of a new scar. The shrapnel wounds were completely gone and the centaur appeared to be sleeping peacefully.
"He’ll be very tired and probably weak for the rest of the day, so I recommend we walk slowly and take breaks frequently," Avery told them. "The amount of travel time left was supposed to be an hour and a half, but I recommend we stretch it out to two or two and a half hours. We don’t want him to over exert himself. If he gets pushed too hard, he could pass out and be in a coma for several days. That would be worse."
Armegon gently woke Yoan. The centaur complained that his leg itched and he was tired, but he was otherwise ready to move onward. Armegon and Avery helped him to his feet. They also helped out by lightening their guide's pack and dividing the weight amongst themselves. Armegon suggested that they keep their weapons at the ready.
"Avery," Calista asked as she walked at the ranger's side. "I was wondering. Why didn't you use your magic sword?"
"That’s a good question," Avery told her. "First let me tell you that every time I use the sword's magic, I have to fight with it to keep control of it. That takes a lot of concentration. The sword didn’t want to fight. In its opinion we were trespassing on the ogres' territory, and should’ve run instead of fight." Avery shifted the weight of his pack to make it more comfortable. "I didn't have time to argue with it."
"Didn't the sword think that for them to attack up was wrong?" Calista asked.
"Maybe it is from our point of view, but it’s possible that the ogres felt justified in the attack. I agree that we might’ve been able to avoid the bloodshed if they’d approached us on more friendly terms, but they didn't."
Avery tried to explain the swords methods. "Try to think of the sword as a third party who is watching two people argue. It tries to see both sides of the issue then judges who’s right and who’s wrong. This time it felt that we were in the wrong."
Calista frowned. "Then if we have to travel to Aspberg to get Sam's mind, will the sword help us or not?"
Before she could do anything, Avery whipped the blade free of its scabbard, took her hand, and placed it upon the handle with his own. "Ask it yourself," he said.
Calista felt a whispering in her mind.
You have a question, the whisper sounded in her mind. It was a statement of fact, not a question itself. Calista did not know how, but she could sense that the sword knew her innermost thoughts.
"Yes," she answered aloud.
You do not need to speak aloud.
Will you help us free Sam, Calista thought.
The question is subjective. I will not oppose your effort so long as your actions are righteous.
"Well what of Sam!" she exclaimed aloud.
Sam was kidnapped. the sword answered. I will destroy anyone who took part in that kidnapping who gets in our way. The handle tingled in her hand and she felt a surge of power run through her. She had a vision of standing on a hill overlooking a vast army of enemies, she held the sword out and it became a bolt of lightning slaying every soldier before her.
For a moment Calista was prepared and fully convinced that she could walk into the Dark Citadel of Aspberg and destroy the warlock and all the evil gods that supported House Blackheart. But at the last moment, something, she did not know what, brought her attention back to where she was and their quest.
What of the ogres? she asked silently. Why did you not help?
The ogres were innocent of the wrong done to you. You were on their property without permission carrying weapons. They acted reasonably.
I guess I can understand, Calista thought.
You are a wise for your years, but impulsive. I am content to obey he who carries me. He is wise and just. I do not think he will allow your companion to remain captive.
Calista gave a sigh of relief. Thank you, Calista said, but the sword did not respond and a firm but gentle shock knocked her hand from the hilt.
"Did you learn what you needed?" Avery asked as he sheathed the mysterious weapon.
"I think so," Calista said. "Thanks." She glanced once more at the hilt of the sword. Somehow she knew that the sword had held back its tremendous power to spare her mental and physical harm. She quietly wondered if carrying such a weapon was not more of a curse than a privileged. She almost hoped never to experience something like that ever again.
"Don't mention it," Avery said. "By the way, those were some very good shots you made back there. I think you’re going to make a fine archer." Calista smiled. For the first time she felt as if she were a real part of the team and not just a lovesick girl trying to save her mate.
They traveled for another hour and a half before the second attack came. This time there were no ogres involved. This attack seemed to come from out of thin air. They were traveling along in pairs when suddenly two behemoths appeared on either side of their column. The things resembled very wide and fat gray stumps, like a boulder at least two meters in diameter. They had a set of three thick legs and several long stout tentacles. The constant motion of the tentacles made an accurate count difficult.
So sudden was their appearance, that they took Ruk by surprise. One huge arm snaked out and wrapped itself about him several times. A gasp of breath was proof that he would soon be strangled to death by the constrictor tentacle. A second tentacle reached out and cuffed Yoan in the back of the head with sufficient force to drive him to his knees...all four of them. Still a third tentacle barely missed Armegon who dodged the attack via some fancy footwork. He made a diving roll to his left and avoided a fourth tentacle as well.
Ultrecht, Avery, and Calista had managed to evade their monster's attacks since it was a little slower and they had been forewarned. Calista had sprinted out of the tentacles reach. She whirled and in a motion so smooth Avery would later say that Keeneye himself would have been proud, she drew and arrow, nocked it and loosed it with deadly accuracy deep into one of the gray things.
Ultrecht too made a break for a safe distance, but was caught by the foot as he fled. He fell to the ground, the precious staff with its stored emergency spells was jarred from his hand and lay agonizing inches out of his grasp. He rolled over and reached for his spell pouch even as he felt himself being dragged closer to the creature.
Avery, quarterstaff swinging wildly, made a running leap and attacked the tentacle holding Ruk. He smacked the limb several times with no effect. The first creature coiled its fourth and third tentacles again and flung them whip-like at the ranger. Avery flung the staff out to meet them and the tentacles yanked the staff from his hands. As if to show its victim how helpless he was, the creature then proceeded to break the staff in half. But, Avery was far from helpless. With blinding quickness, his left hand reached over his shoulder and the Sword of Justice slid free of its scabbard.
Calista saw the motion and half expected a glow or flash of light or buzzing or a ringing to accompany the sword. From all the stories she ever heard, all magic swords announced their presence boastfully. Avery's sword remained silent.
A flash did occur to her left and the smell of brimstone assaulted her nostrils as a ball of flame erupted about the creature she had first shot. It was the one that had attacked Ultrecht, Avery , and herself. Armegon had dealt with that creature by engulfing it in flame.
Calista loosed another arrow. This time she shot the monster that had Ruk, and was fighting Avery. Again, her aim was true. The arrow embedded itself in the monster's body fully so that only the fletching showed. That had to smart, she thought. But, it seemed to not faze the creature at all.
Avery turned and the magic blade flicked out and neatly severed the tentacle holding Ruk. The constriction ceased and the amputated limb fell to the ground. The minotaan fell to his knees panting and clutching his chest. Avery spun and the sword made a wide arc to his left. Another tentacle dropped bodiless to the ground. Avery now had the monster's undivided attention. That was its mistake. As Calista watched, a sizzle was heard, and the hairs on her neck and arms stood up. A flash of blue off to her right flicked and before her very eyes, a bolt of brilliant blue lightning flashed out and tore into the monster.
Calista felt certain that the fight was over, until she saw the flame scorched monster Armegon had toasted moving again. The tentacles were coiling up and preparing to launch at the still battered Ruk.
Shouting a warning, Calista loosed an end of three arrows into the body of the thing before the tentacles lashed out. This time, however, they met a pair of swift swords. Avery and Armegon, standing side by side weaved a deadly wall of metal between the tentacles and their victim. To Calista's satisfaction, Armegon's sword emitted a soft blue spark every time it hit a tentacle, and a chiming, like the sound of a soft gong sounded.
Ruk slowly got to his feet and staggered out of range of the monster. Ultrecht helped a dazed Yoan get some distance as well. Calista watched for a moment then decided to put another end of arrows into the monster. Even if it was immune to them, she at least could distract it.
She just released her third arrow when she saw Ultrecht urgently gesture for her to come to him. She complied and was totally surprised when a tentacle of a third monster just barely missed tagging her foot as she trotted forward.
Stunned by the close call, she barely noticed when Avery lifted her off her feet in his strong arms and carried her up the trail. "That was close," Armegon said as he brought up the rear.
"What were those?" Ultrecht asked. "I noticed that they were not vulnerable to Armegon's fire attack."
"I think they were what we’d call, Earth Demons," Avery said. "They’re not native to this area. That’s why I used the sword."
"How many did we get?" Ruk asked, though it obviously pained him to do so.
"Two," Armegon told him. "Ultrecht's lightning killed one, and the magic swords killed the other."
"And the third?" Yoan asked rubbing his head.
"We decided that if we could avoid the fight altogether, why risk it?" Armegon glanced back as he spoke. "If everyone can travel. I’d like to get a move on. Those demons were gating in from another plane. If we stay in one spot, and they’re very persistent, we could get in deep trouble very, very fast."
They took Armegon's advice and resumed their hike. Before another hour passed, they were climbing the rocks of Mount Gale. Not long afterward they stood just inside the cavern entrance.
The entrance consisted of a pair of very old pillars with some ancient writings engraved into the stone. No one recognized the language and, neither did anyone care to hazard a guess to its message. Yoan told them that the Janusians made a pilgrimage to the cave every ten years, right after the summer year, to celebrate the valley's bounty. He told them that no ill ever befell them once they entered the cave.
Unanimously it was agreed to proceed into the cave.
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