Chapter 7 Part 8

Morteous swept his workbench clear of apparatus in a fury filled fit of anger. The fragile glass shattered against the walls and floor. It was not his secret lab down in the bowels of the citadel, but the lab where he once worked on non personal projects for his brother and now for his nephew.

Tyson was there as well, watching the scene with a mask of reservation. The human mage too was angry for earlier that morning a fire had broken out in the library and the flames had consumed invaluable texts of irreplaceable information. The worst realization came when the fire had been extinguished and no sign of the revered Tome of Creation had been discovered. Morteous had insisted that the book was impervious to fire. That left only one explanation to its absence.

"It was one of them was it not?" Morteous asked. He was leaning against the work bench, his head hung down in thought.

"I wouldn’t put it past them," Tyson replied. "I urged you not to underestimate them." He could not resist adding the last statement. It was an I-told-you-so, and might anger the warlock even further, but Tyson felt that for their own sakes, he had to stress the power of his former comrades.

"You did, and that is not a mistake that will be repeated. Which one was it?"

Tyson thought for a moment. "Both the druid and the boy are gone. They disappeared during the fire, and you stated that you blocked a druidic summoning from the druid. I’d guess that it was Avery. Only he could infiltrate us that efficiently and only he would need the druid's help to escape. Armegon or Ultrecht would probably have been more bold in their attempt, and with all due respect I don't think your blocking spell would’ve been able to stop them had they wanted to escape. I’m certain that they wouldn’t have used a druidic summoning to do so."

"I accept your analysis," Morteous said as he straightened up and absently brushed shards of glass from his robe. "We must assume that they have the Tome." He sighed. "The question now is what will they do with it?"

"If we give them time to study it," Tyson warned seriously, "there’s no limit to what they might do with such a thing."

"You are saying that we should attack immediately?"

"It’s going to have to be done," Tyson answered. "The longer you give them, the more they’re going to be ready when it comes."

"Where are they?"

"We don’t know as yet." Tyson admitted. "Before they were at a small cabin near Tycho. They may’ve returned there or they might’ve relocated. I know that Armegon had a spread of land near Allentown. If I were in their shoes, that’s where I’d operate from. They know by now that we’re aware of the cabin near Tycho."

"They may be near Allentown, but we do not know where," Morteous repeated. "I think we may need assistance from our woodland allies, the Doyr. Their scouts may be able to locate them."

There was a knock at the door. "Come," Morteous answered, and the door opened. A page entered and bowed. "My lord warlock," the boy began, "Lord Blackheart asks that you attend." He nodded to Tyson. "You also, favored servant."

Morteous thanked the boy and ordered him to return to Miguel and announce their arrival. The warlock beckoned Tyson to follow him and left the room as the boy ran on ahead. "Miguel may need a private reminding that I am his elder," Morteous mentioned with a touch of humor. "There is no reason why he could not have come and spoken to us in the lab."

"He may be busy," Tyson suggested.

"More than likely that is the case, the warlock agreed.

They followed the corridor and approached the private audience chamber. Morteous nodded to the sentinel guarding the door and the soldier responded by opening it. They entered the room and discovered Miguel sitting behind the large desk. There was a Doyr, poorly dressed, seated near a corner. He looked very unkept and worn.

"Uncle," the young head of House Blackheart greeted them. "We have news from our allies." Miguel indicated the stranger who stood and bowed.

"Lord Blackheart has bidden me to tell you my story," he began. Returning to his seat, he took a sip from a plain cup and leaned his head back then he licked his lips and through half closed eyes, he began.

"We did our part," he said reluctantly. "We attacked the camp and took the woman and the demon-boy. We delivered them to you in exchange for the seed of House Blackheart. The bargain was fulfilled and yet you asked us to destroy those who came back to the cabin. We sent two score of elite guardsmen to the task. As for our best estimates, not a single one survived."

Morteous took the new with no surprise. He had experienced battle with both Armegon and Ultrecht. Forty men were not nearly enough for the task.

"They defeated our entire task force, and reanimated the bodies. They entered our very temple surrounded by our own dead. No one was the wiser until they entered the forbidden sanctum and faced the our queen. She saw them for what they were, and attacked. The strange one with the white hair..."

"Armegon," Tyson supplied the name.

"That one faced off against my queen and when the ground ceased to shake, only he remained."

"Definitely Armegon," Tyson added.

"It does fit my expectations," Morteous agreed. "That one controls awesome powers."
"Actually Ultrecht is the more powerful," Tyson informed him. "Only his power requires more time and effort to summon."

"We know that after defeating our queen," the Doyr went on, "they took one of our priestesses and disappeared."

"Do you know which way they went?" Morteous asked.

"Our scouts believe that they went east. There is evidence of passage to the west, but we believe that to be the path they used to approach."

"How long ago are we talking about?" Tyson asked.

"Almost a week," the man answered.

"That sounds about right," Tyson offered. "They attacked the Doyr because Avery could determine who’d taken the druid and boy. They apparently convinced a prisoner to enlighten them as to who’d taken over their custody. Then Avery came south. Undoubtedly it was he that rescued them. He probably set fire to the library as a diversion, but that doesn’t explain the disappearance of the Tome. It’s not like him to steal what isn’t his."

"He may not see it as being ours either," Miguel suggested. "All we need do is learn where he went with it."

"We believe that they may have retreated to a small spread of land just north of Allentown," Tyson added for Miguel's benefit. "We know that Armegon settled there after the others left."

"We were about to suggest getting some of the Doyr scouts to go into that area to locate them," Morteous said. "Then we could attack en masse with all the power we can bring to bear. The Tome of Creation must be recovered and secrecy must take a lower priority. We can count on the demons to extract revenge for the loss of one of their own, and the gods will surely rally to defeat Liberator, and finally the Dukes of Hell still stand at our side. We can certainly count on them as they are aligned to House Blackheart by more than treaty now. Miguel's only surviving daughter is the consort of Hell now and that tie is very strong."

"If it’s all the same to you," Tyson interrupted. "I don't think they went back to the druid's place, but I’d like to have it checked out."

Miguel turned back to his Doyr visitor. "Braft here is the chief warrior of the Doyr. He reports directly to the high priestess." The Doyr warrior nodded. "Braft, do you think that you can get some of your people to check it out?"

Braft affirmed. "I will send word immediately. We still have about three hundred warriors. I will also order some scouts here and put them at your disposal. These people must pay for their actions at all costs."

"Rest assured that they will," Morteous answered. "We intend to take care of them with top priority. Our other projects will be placed on hold until they have been located and dealt with.”

"It is so decreed," Miguel announced. "I shall inform my aide immediately that he is to handle all affairs of state personally with the exception of matters on this subject. That will allow me to concentrate fully on this."

"I also suggest, that we call in a High Priest of Ragnera," Morteous added. "You are forbidden to practice the priesthood while you are head of our house, and we need my brother's help."

They later adjourned to the family chapel when the priest of Ragnera arrived. He entered the sanctuary and knelt before the altar and lighted a pair of long red candles. These he set at opposite ends of the shrine and began a prayer of invocation. The prayer was different than that used to offer sacrifices or ask blessings. This prayer mentioned Morteous and Miguel by name. It was quite understandable that the god of war showed favoritism to his own flesh and blood.

A stillness fell upon those gathered. Like a shadow, the spirit of Ragnera fell over the occupants. Within moments, it coalesced and for a moment there stood the form of Serpent Blackheart just as before. The form was that of a man, but the aura about it was anything but mortal. Ragnera's body radiated raw power and an electrifying charge covered the room. There was no doubt that a god stood among them. Ragnera had truly become what he had striven for.

"My own minions have hastened unto me with the news of the Doyr downfall. The demons are angered and their rage may be turned to our cause. Our enemies must die," the god said.

"We had hoped that you would be able to advise us and help us, father," Miguel groveled at the god's feet.

Ragnera drew the young man to his own feet. "Stand and face me," the god said. "You, my son, I grant this right."

Miguel raised his head and faced his father. "I am singularly blessed and honored," he said.

"I can not intervene," the god replied. "A game is in play and even we gods have rules. Your enemies are advised by the god of the prophets, Woeden. His vision gives them a great advantage. I may speak with those who may render aid, and add my voice to you, but my hand must remain clean."

"How was it that the druid and ranger escaped?" Morteous asked. He knelt, but was not prostrate. Ragnera did not consider the position disrespectful. His sibling certainly deserved that much. "Her magic was aptly blocked."

"The god of vision bade creatures of the wild to be at the place and time," Ragnera told them. "Such vision is his to use. He did not directly interfere as I may not. You will soon realize the advantage your enemies hold."

"May I speak?" Tyson asked. He was unsure of his position. He did not want to presume a place that might earn him the god's wrath. Tyson made no fantasies about being able to hold his own against a god.

"Speak," servant," Ragnera bade. "I have come to know the wisdom of your words."

"Great one, is there any way that we may gain insight as to what is to come, a prophesy or sage with true vision perhaps?"

"A well considered question," Ragnera replied. "Even I do not know what is to come, but I do know that the prophesies will hold the key to where your enemies travels are destined."

"What of the Tome of Creation?" Miguel asked.

"The Tome of Creation, like some other artifacts are beyond the vision and control of all gods. I can not advise you except to say that it is better if you are in control of it."

"Would it be better off in the hands of the gods?" Miguel asked.

"It would not. It is the Creator's and resists us violently. We can not even stand in its presence. It undoubtedly has taken a subtle hand in the working of events that have been to our disfavor. In fact I suspect that the Tome of Creation was responsible for the beings selected by the summoning spell we originally cast. Even then it was working against us."

The god's form began to dissipate. "Seek your enemies in the prophesies. Their movements have already been recorded there. I must go I can aid you no more this day." In moments, the candles had burned out and the room was again silent.

"It sounded as if he had a particular prophesy in mind," Tyson noted.

"He did," Miguel answered, "and I think I know which one it is."

Chapter 7 Part 7

"Hi?" Calista tried to be angry with him, but her efforts were in vain. "You sleep for half a year and all you can say is 'hi'?"

Sam swallowed and tried to sit up he failed miserably "You’re suffering from hibernation dysfunction," Avery told him as he helped the youth upright. "Your muscles are weak from lack of use. It may take some time before you’re back to normal."

"I am hungry," Sam said. "Real hungry," he added for emphasis.

"We will get you something to eat directly," Nikki said and she began to prepare a bowl of stew.

Calista wrapped her arms about Sam and helped him to the table. With her help, Nikki proceeded to feed him.

Avery joined Armegon and Ultrecht where they were cleaning up after the spell casting. Ruk stood patiently to one side in the shadows. Armegon had suggested that he not be visible when Sam came to as the boy had never seen him before.

"Okay," Armegon said. "Now that we have that problem solved, we still have to deal with the possibility that we may soon be attacked by Blackpuss and his brood."

"I think we should send the others to Tycho with Ruk," Avery agreed. "They’ll be safe there. I don't think Blackheart would attack a major city."

"Wait," Ruk interrupted. "I’m bound to your service," he said to Armegon. "I should go with you."

"You’re bound to your life-quest," Armegon reminded him. "And, in case you haven't noticed, that quest has been fulfilled."

Ruk nodded as he glanced at the youth being fed by the fireplace. The realization that his life-quest really was complete was dawning on him. "According to tradition, I must now return to my wives and settle down to enjoy the fruits of my labors."

"You’ve done very well," Armegon commented. "You have every right to depart and reap the fruits of your labors. We won’t think ill of you if you go nor will we ask you to stay. In the end, it’s your choice. You have no further obligation to any of us."

"As wise as you are, Armegon," Ruk replied. "You’ve failed to see that I do have one more obligation."

"Oh?" Armegon was intrigued. "And what’s that?"

"My friends need me," Ruk answered. "That obliges me to help them if I can."

"Ruk," Avery interrupted. "You’ve seen a little of the kind of power Ultrecht and Armegon are capable of. When they go into battle, a warrior who can’t defend himself with magic could easily be vaporized regardless of how tough or strong he is. You can’t wield magic. Or at least if you can, you’ve kept it a very good secret, and I can't believe that you can on the level of these two hot heads."

"Watch your mouth, yellow eyes," Armegon snapped, but Avery ignored him.

"We’d be honored to have you with us when we make our stand against the Blackhearts and their gods, but we’d feel better if you were somewhere safe."

"I am a minotaan warrior," Ruk objected. It was clear that he too did not want to be in the attack by the gods, but his pride and friendship had forced his decision. "I’ll stand by my comrades."

It was Nikki who finally resolved the problem in true womanly fashion. "If it is all the same to you," she told the quartet of males, "I would feel much better if one of you four would go with me and Calista. I fear that in order to gain an advantage on you, Lord Blackheart's minions may attack us as we flee."

"She's right," Ultrecht admitted. "Tyson knows that the key to stopping us is to hold hostage those we hold dear."

Avery nodded and gazed up at the towering figure. Ruk was almost twice his height. "Ruk, I can't think of anyone on this world I would trust with Nikki's safety more than I trust you. You have proven yourself to be a loyal comrade and an excellent warrior. Will you do us this favor? Will you protect our families?"

Armegon also had a request. "Ruk, would you watch over Sam and Calista for me? I’ve raised Sam since his birth and he’s very dear to me. And I’ve gotten quite fond of Calista as well. I don't think there is anyone on this planet I would trust more to care for them than you."

Ultrecht cleared his throat quietly. "I don't have any family but you will be protecting my close friends. And I would also be obliged if you would look in on my business dealings while I am away. I would like the opinion of a professional sailor when we get back....if we get back."

Ruk stared at the many faces that were awaiting his answer. He knew that it was a ploy to keep him from joining in on the fight, but he also knew that to be present when the gods attacked the trio, could very well mean certain death. And yet the task they asked of him was one given only to the most trusted of friends.

"I accept your charge," he told them.

"Done," Avery clapped his hands. "If you’ll come with me, I’ll help you pack some stores. It’s not far to Tycho, and we have friends there. Nikki will know them. We want you to leave today, and we’ll head south tonight."

"Will the boy be well enough to travel?" Ruk asked as he followed Avery back outside.

"Certainly," Avery assured him. "He may be half starved, but he’s strong."

"He won't catch an illness, will he?" Ruk asked as Avery led them across the clearing to the storage shed next to the small shack.

"No problem," Avery assured him. "The only person he’s likely to get very close to in the near future is Calista, and I just checked her out thoroughly this morning. They are both healthy. In fact, I even fixed a problem for Sam that he didn’t even know he had."

"What was that?" Ruk asked, but the question was cut off as Avery grunted loudly as he lifted four huge full packs. He passed them to Ruk.

Avery lifted the flap of one pack and displayed its contents. A massive quantity of ground leaflets filled the pack. "This is pipeweed," Avery told him. "It has a medicinal value and should raise a fair amount of capital when you get to town. That should put you up at an inn for several months."

Ruk nodded and effortlessly slung the packs across his back. "There’s a dwarf in Tycho named Regalus," Avery continued, "or at least he owns a tavern there. He’s something of a business associate with Armegon. Do business with him and he may even find you some temporary employment."

Avery shouldered a pair of lighter packs. "These are pre-packed for a long emergency voyage," Avery told him. "Nikki and I kept the provisions well preserved for just such an occasion." He left the supply shed with Ruk on his heels.

"Calista knows the way to Tycho," Avery said as he stacked the packs by the cabin door. "Try to get there as fast as possible."

Ruk nodded. "Don’t worry about your mate," he said. "I’ll protect them all."

Avery nodded. "Sorry," he apologized. "I didn't mean to over do it with the instructions. It’s just that, well Nikki is acting strange, or maybe it’s that she has changed."

"Don’t worry about it," Ruk advised. "Women go through many moods. Imagine how I feel with four wives."

Avery laughed. "Point taken."

Calista sat by Nikki as the druid woman mixed an herbal tea that would help Sam recover. Ultrecht and Armegon were engrossed with the Tome of Creation, Sam was asleep in the back room, and Ruk and Avery had run off somewhere.

"I saw your rose this morning," Calista told Nikki. "It’s getting fairly large as are you." Nikki smiled and lifted the loose robe slightly to show Calista the unmistakable signs.

"Does Avery know?" Calista asked excitedly.

"No," Nikki replied. "Men can be so dense." She tasted her brew critically. She added a pinch of ground pepper. "The imbecile even asked me if I was putting on weight, but he could not see the forest for the trees."

"If they’re gone long enough," Calista smiled, "he’s going to be in for a big surprise." She and Nikki shared a quick laugh and Calista headed towards the back room. "I’m going to check on Sam," she told the elf woman. "I think I might take a little nap while I’m at it."

Nikki smiled back. "Do not wear him out," she advised. "He is still very weak, but I am sure that he has enough strength for a little sweetness."

Calista entered the back room and Nikki turned back to her cooking. Armegon and Ultrecht were oblivious to the world around them. Well, she thought to herself, with so much going on, it was no wonder that Avery had not noticed her pregnancy. It was not as if she had gone out of the way to expose it. Quite the contrary; she had taken measures to make it undetectable. In her deepest heart, she really did want to surprise her mate.

Ruk and Avery had finished preparing the cabin for abandonment. Everything was put away and the doors to the storage areas were locked.

"What about her," Ruk asked as he gestured to the imprisoned Doyr priestess. She stood in her small glowing nimbus of light talking to what appeared to be empty air. Avery knew that it was not, though, because the spell was providing her with an illusionary surrounding to preserve her sanity.

"No problem," Avery said. "That’s one of Ultrecht's spells. I’ve seen it before. There should be a glove or something."

"There is a glove," Ruk admitted.

"Take it with you. That is what the prison is anchored to," Avery explained. "She will follow without even realizing it. Just keep putting food in there for her every day and she’ll be fine."

"How long are we going to keep her?" Ruk asked.

"Until this business with the gods is over," Avery answered. "Her people worshiped demons. Fighting gods is bad enough without having to mess with a horde of demons to boot. So we can't let her go just so that she can go and rat on us."

"I don't quite understand all of that," Ruk admitted, "but I get the point."

"Ruk," Avery said as he gripped the minotaan's shoulder firmly. "When all this is over, I think I’d like to see this land of yours."

"Then I shall be happy to take you there," Ruk agreed.

Chapter 7 Part 6

Ruk was the first to spy their appearance. Without a word, he rushed over to relieve Avery of the young body that he had been carrying. Nikki leaned against her mate heavily. The spell had drained her strength. Avery took her in his arms and carried her back to the cabin with Ruk on his heels.

"So this is the young man I was sent to help free. This is Calista's mate?" he asked.

"That’s Sam," Avery answered.

"And that is the holder of your own heart's key?" Ruk asked as he examined Nikki.

"It is, my friend."

Just as they reached the door the minotaan leaned closely. "You chose wisely." Avery grinned in response. As he remembered it, it had been as if he had had no choice at all.

Avery opened the door and carried Nikki inside. Ducking, Ruk followed close behind. Instantly Armegon, Ultrecht and Calista met them. Calista practically dragged Sam from Ruk's arms as he quickly lay the body on the floor before the fireplace. Calista placed the unconscious head in her lap and quietly stroked its face murmuring in soft whispers all the while.

Avery carried Nikki to her room after assuring Armegon that her condition was nothing more than exhaustion. "She’s been locked in a prison for a long time and suddenly had to spin a powerful spell off the top of her pretty head," he said when he returned. "It was a little too much for her. I put her to bed."

"So fill us in," Armegon said. "What have you been up to?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Calista asked, her eyes filled with gratitude when she looked at the ranger. "He went to Aspberg."

"I get the feeling that they did not just let you walk in and release Nikki from the dungeon," Ultrecht interrupted.

On the contrary," Avery replied. "They did allow me to just walk in."

"You mean they didn’t know you were there," Armegon added.

"Enough!" Calista screamed hysterically. "We have what we went for, and now we have Sam back. Who cares how it was done? Do your magic and free him this very minute!"

Ultrecht put a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Well said," he admitted. "We shall begin to put the spell together, but be patient, my girl. This may take all night."

"Right," Armegon agreed. "Let Ultrecht work on his spell. You can help us finish packing."

"Packing?" Avery asked. "Where’re we going?"

Armegon told the story of how Woeden had appeared to him and offered his help in Avery and Nikki's escape in exchange for mercy should they ever be in a position to destroy the present gods.

"Apparently this Woeden, according to Calista, is a god of sages and visionaries and prophets. He claims that the future holds one of two possibilities. We’ll be in direct conflict with the majority of the gods and we’ll either lose or win. If we lose, then the gods of good lose as well. If we win then all of the gods who refuse to denounce their godhood will lose. As Woeden sees it, he and his partners are in a no win situation. Their only hope is our mercy."

Avery sat in stunned silence. "That’s exactly how Ultrecht received the news," Armegon observed the ranger.

The ranger shook his head slowly. "I knew that sooner or later we would cross paths with these self proclaimed gods, but I had no idea that it would be of such magnitude."

"I certainly understand your wonder, friend Avery," Ruk offered. "I still find it hard to believe that I’m so closely involved with people who will fight not one god, but all of them."

"I just want Sam back," Calista muttered as she gave Ultrecht a stern glare. It was obvious that the mage was being ordered to prepare his magic. The man stood and retrieved his supplies and began sorting through the bag's contents.

"Woeden offered us his help in return for our mercy should we gain such a position," Armegon repeated.

"So that’s where the griffins came from," Avery stated and he described how the griffins had stated that a friend had sent them.

"We seem to have anonymous allies," Armegon observed. "In any event, he also warned that we were going to be attacked. He suggested that we move to a place where we could easily defend ourselves."

"Where did you have in mind?" Avery asked.

"Gly-ou-vogue," Armegon answered. "At least there we’ll have a psychological advantage. I whipped Blackpuss and Quickdraw there once before."

"So that’s why you’re packing?"

Ruk tossed Avery an empty pack. "We knew you’d return, my friend. But I had only vague ideas as to what you might want to take with you."

Avery took the pack and sat next to the fire, near Calista. She reached out and held his hand for a moment before turning her attention back to Sam.

"So tell us about your adventure," Armegon asked.

Avery spent about two hours explaining how he had set the false trail leading away from the Doyr stronghold and then turned south. He described the spell he had used to travel to Aspberg, and his entrance to the city and finally into the citadel itself.

He wearily recounted how he had wondered about the citadel and had finally discovered Nikki and Sam. Then he told about his diversion in the library. "That reminds me," Avery said as he took the bundle he had carried slung from his belt. "I have a present for you two," he nodded to Armegon and Ultrecht. Avery unwrapped the Tome of Creation. "It seems that this is the book that was responsible for our arrival here in the first place. This is the Tome of Creation."

Ultrecht drooled and Armegon grabbed the book greedily from the ranger's hand. "We can start deciphering it tonight," Ultrecht said excitedly as he wrung his hands furiously.

"Oh, no you don't," Calista proclaimed and she snatched the book from Armegon. "You two have some magic to do first. Then you can play with this book."

Avery laughed as did Ruk at the sight. Then Avery yawned and proclaimed that he was very tired. He announced that he was going to catch some sleep, and he got up and went into the back room.

Ultrecht pouted as he stared at Calista, who stood defiantly holding the book. Armegon licked his lips and Ruk laughed at the whole scene again.

"The faster you get this woman's mate back to life," the minotaan reminded the mages, "the faster you’ll be free to do what you want."

That night, Calista slept curled up next to the fire place. She held Sam in her arms throughout the long hours. Occasionally noise and conversation between Ultrecht and Armegon would disturb her sleep. When she woke the next morning, she had been covered by a blanket and Sam was missing.

Shock and fear welled up inside her as the horror of losing him again tugged at the corners of her mind, but when she sat up she spied the young male body laying on a nearby cot. Ultrecht was there hovering over the body and making some intricate marks on the boy's forehead with a charcoal marker.

"We’re almost ready," Armegon said as he entered the cabin. He was carrying a flask. "I have the wine here and as soon as Calista is ready we can begin."

"I’m ready now," Calista assured them. She jumped to her feet and padded over to her mate's side.

"No you aren't," Nikki interrupted. The elf woman was on the far side of the central fireplace. "You need to be prepared for you are going to have to do."

Calista was confused. "What am I going to have to do?"

Armegon explained. "The spell we are going to cast really only does one thing," he said. "It allows us to open the way for Sam to return. In order for him to come back, he has to want to come back. You’re going to have to lure him back into his body."

"How?" she asked.

"Well, um, you can try to... , um, well." Armegon fumbled with the words for a few seconds before Nikki bailed him out.

"Dear, you are going to have to create a strong desire in him. It will have to be strong enough to tear him away from what he thinks is his mother. There are few things that strong. You are going to have to love him, tease him, arouse him, and play all those dirty little tricks that all girls learn about."

"Aha!" Armegon proclaimed. "A confession. I knew that you women had a conspiracy going on."

"Oh, dry up Armegon," Nikki waved the mage off. She turned back to Calista. "Go out to the shack. Avery is there packing some herbs. We want you to be ready physically and mentally for what you must do. For a short time, you and Sam will be as one person and if you are ill, you could kill him. And your mind must be prepared so that you too don't get trapped. Let Avery look you over and then come back here and we can get started."

Calista did not completely understand, but she immediately slipped on her boots and left. As she made her way around the cabin, she paused to note the small flower that Nikki had planted just before their journey had begun. It was well grown and a pod had begun to form. It would not be long before it would bloom. She smiled to herself. Nikki's choice of apparel well hid her condition. She wondered if Avery knew. Calista walked across the compound and knocked on the shack door. Without waiting for an answer, she entered.

Avery was sitting near a hole in the floor where a collection of leaves, roots, berries and bark were kept fresh. When she entered, he looked up and smiled.

"I’m supposed to get checked out," she told him.

Avery stood and brushed his hands on his trousers. They appeared to be the same ones he had worn since the first time they had met, but she knew that it was not so. He had many such pairs.

Avery placed his hands upon her head gently and his eyes, which never seemed in focus to begin with, grew even more vacant.

Slowly his hands crept down to her face. The touch was very soft and pleasing. Then he caressed her neck.

"For pity's sake," he told her. "Calm down. Your heart’s racing."

She tried to calm down by focusing on pleasant memories. She thought of her father, and how he would spend hours every day working a loom. She remembered when she was a child how she would sit in the shop playing with bits of brightly colored yarn. She remembered the night when she and Sam first met and how they had...

"Cal," Avery said suddenly. "How many times must I tell you not to think private thoughts at times like this?"

"Sorry," she apologized sheepishly. Then she asked a question to get her mind off the subject. "Why can't I read your mind during this?"

"Because I keep my thoughts to myself and concentrate on magic," Avery told her. "Would you like to know one of my memories?"

Calista thought about that. "Not now," she said. "But can I take a rain-check on that?"

Avery laughed and stepped back. "What’s a rain-check?" he asked.

"Well it is a ..." Calista was at a loss of words. She knew what the phrase meant, but she did not know how she knew nor could she find words or analogy to describe it.

"You see?" Avery said. "You absorbed a little bit already. And you also found out why we try to hold that kind of sharing of thoughts to a minimum. Scary isn't it?"

"Yes, it is."

"There’s a time when it can be very wonderful," Avery confided. "When Nikki and I are together at night, sometimes I join our minds and we share our memories as well as our feelings. It can be very beautiful."

"I wish Sam and I could do that," Calista murmured as Avery inspected the long healed injury to her leg she had received from the trap a while back.

"Okay, you are as good as new," Avery announced. "We had to make sure that you were not infected or anything, because Sam’s very weak from malnutrition. An infection in his state could kill him. And I won't always be there to help him while he recovers. We also had to make sure that you weren’t susceptible to being caught up in the trap along with him."

"Where are you going?" She had heard them mention making a trip.

"Armegon, Ultrecht and myself are going south while Ruk and Nikki and you are taking Sam to Tycho until he recovers."

"Oh." she did not repeat the warning the god had given them. The three from another world were in for rough times while she and Sam would be safe. Though she loved her new family, she dearly looked forward to a few weeks with Sam.

Avery tossed Calista's clothes back to her. "Wash up and help them bring your man back," he urged her. "You need him as much as he needs you"

Calista did as she was told and after the ranger left, with the aid of soap leaves and the spring that flowed from a rock crevice that formed one side of the shack wall, she was soon bathed and back at the cabin.

When she entered, Ultrecht sat with his legs folded in his lap holding his arms out to either side of him. Above his head Sam's body floated in mid air. Armegon was preparing a mixture of some liquids, and Avery was performing a physical inspection just as he had done for her.

Nikki took Calista by the arm and led her over to where she and Ruk sat next to the fire. "Soon," she said, "Ultrecht will create a mind link between you and Sam from the blood of the unicorn. When he does, It will be your task to lure Sam back to you and away from his mother's image. Just give him your love, and if he loves you too, he will come back." She leaned closely and whispered. "They always do."

Avery joined them. "Don't be bashful," he urged. "Use whatever you have to. Speak of memories, sex, arguments, anything you think might break his attention on the simulacrum."

"It’s time," Armegon announced. "Cal, come here." Calista obeyed and Armegon stood her at Sam's head. He placed her small hands on the young man's temples. "Ultrecht has opened the doorway," Armegon said. "He can hold it open for a short while, but it’s very strenuous."

Armegon took a small quill and dipped it in a potion with a reddish tint. He drew some runes on Sam's forehead and then applied another set of runes on Calista's hands. Then he spread a generous dram of the liquid on the young man's lips. Automatically, the mindless body sensed food and the lips parted slightly to allow the liquid inside.

"Take a sip of this," Armegon pressed the cup to the girl's own lips. Calista hesitated for less than a second as the sour smelling concoction curdled her stomach. Then she steeled herself and sipped at the foul elixir. Instantly her mind began to spin and her vision fogged out. She could hear Armegon's voice distantly telling her to seek a passage, a corridor or a staircase.

Calista floated along deserted street between buildings with no doors or windows. The ground was featureless and even when she examined it, it showed no variance. Ahead of her were two people standing in the middle of the street.

She noted a rope at her feet and reached down to pick it up. The rope, she discovered ran down the street towards the people. She began, though she knew not why, to draw the rope in. As she did so, the people drew nearer. The rope was tied around the waste of one of the two, and when she tugged on it, the one turned to face her. It was Sam.

"Calista, my sweet. Come and meet my mother."

Calista examined the other person. It was nothing more than a bundle of rags made into a statue of a woman. Calista pulled on the rope and jerked Sam a step towards her.

"Hey!" he cried indignantly. "What are you trying to do?" Belligerently he jerked back.

"Come and meet my mother," he urged.

"Sam," Calista called to him. "It’s a trap. She’s not really there. Come back to me."

Sam stared at Calista hard. "There is no reason to be jealous," he said. "I still love you, but I want to spend a little time with my mother."

Calista walked closer to Sam. She reached out and took his arm and spun him about.

"That’s not your mother. Its a lie that Tyson spelled upon you to trap you here. Whole months have passed since you have been here. I have traveled far with Armegon and Ultrecht to reach you. I can't go on any further. Please come home with me."

Sam stared at her long and hard. He had only been there moments and there was so much he wanted to ask of his mother. Could Calista not understand that? "You had a mother," he said, "even if only a little while. The least you can do is give me the chance to have one."

The words stung at Calista. The grief of her own mother's death washed over her anew, but the need in her heart purged it from her quickly. "Sam," she reached out and held his hand. There were tears in her eyes. It was the moment of truth. "You have to make a choice. It’s either your mother or me."

Sam shook her hand from his. How could she be so cruel. "Do not force a decision like that on me," he begged.

Calista buried her face in her hands. "I don't have a choice," she cried. "I’m so sorry." She stepped backwards a few steps. She was afraid to look, afraid that he was not with her. "I love you, Sam. I want your children and I want your love."

Sam turned back to his mother. Marlena's image smiled lovingly down at him. The gray eyes sparkled. "Mother," he said. "I love her, but I want to spend some time with you too."
The image made no reply. Sam stepped back. Would his real mother be insensitive to his feelings? Looking over his shoulder he saw Calista drifting off into a fog. Faintly he heard her final words: "I’ll never forget you, my love."

Without realizing it, Sam took a pair of steps towards the fog bank that was swallowing Calista. "Calista, please stay," he pleaded. He ran after her another two steps then glanced over his shoulder at his mother. The figure had not changed. In a flash, Sam realized that Calista had been right. Desperately, he dashed madly into the fog.

There was no sense of direction, and Sam was turned around and around until he could no longer tell which way to go nor which way he had come. The fog was all around him and Sam's sense of self was fading as well, when suddenly he was jolted as if a pair of giant hands had seized him roughly.

Calista broke out of the spell. She staggered back into Armegon's outstretched arms. Slumping, she sobbed soundly. "I couldn't do it," she cried. "He wouldn't come back."

"At least you tried," Nikki said as she took the young woman in hand. She sat the girl at the fireplace and wiped her face with a warm moist cloth. "No one will ever fault you for not trying."

"Don't you understand?" Calista was crushed. "He’s gone. He may as well be dead."
Nikki let the young woman weep upon her shoulder. Ultrecht still held Sam's body suspended while Avery stood by with a hand on the young man's chest. The ranger was in a healing trance, attempting to help Calista as much as possible. When she had entered Sam's prison, It was Avery who had kept her from being trapped as well.

Without warning, Avery suddenly stiffened and his free hand flew to Sam's forehead. The ranger bent in deep concentration. Nikki did not understand her mate's healing power, but she did know enough to recognize that he was deeply involved.

She nudged Calista and pointed to the scene. "He has a hold of your mate," she told the girl. "Run back and help him."

Calista rushed back to Sam and Armegon helped her reenter the trance. Within moments, Avery disengaged and Calista began smiling as tears of joy fell across her face. Sam's eyes opened and he smiled back.

"Hi," Sam said to the young woman.

Chapter 7 Part 5

Nikki was feeling much better than she had in a long time. She had managed to give Miguel something to think about and in the process cool the passionate stud off. Oh, he was indeed handsome, she admitted that readily, but her heart belonged to another.

She also reveled in the thought that she had a friend in the Citadel. Someone had slipped her that oak leaf the day before and it had been like the first daffodil after a long dreary winter.

She had been listening with minor satisfaction as Miguel gave her jailer a good tongue lashing. She was not very fond of her jailer either. He had made repeated attempts to gain her favors by suggesting that he could arrange a more comfortable stay if only she would do a few things for him as well.

When she heard the key in the door, she fully expected that she was in for a beating of worse. But the figure that stepped through the door was not her jailer. It was one of the household guard. For some reason she did not feel the usual fear or repulsion. As for the guard, he simply stood there for a moment. Then set a bundle on the floor and removed his helm.

"Avery!" Nikki ran into her mate's arms as he met her halfway across the floor. She planted her lips against his and prayed for time to stop. Fortunately it didn't and Avery pushed her away, reluctantly and gently.

"One moment, beloved," he said as he stripped the guard's clothing from his back. Beneath he wore his normal camouflaged trousers, but no shirt. His boots were looped around his waist and he quickly removed the issue clogs and donned his deerskin boots. Liberator was slung across his bare back. The smooth, muscular chest was covered in sweat from the upstairs sprint.

Avery handed the bundle containing the Tome of Creation to Nikki and drew Liberator. He quickly carved a hole in the side of the wall and watched as the stones fell to the ground.

Sheathing the sword, he lifted Sam's body and drew Nikki close to him. "I need your help," he whispered. With his free hand he reached into his belt pouch and took forth a small sprig of mistletoe. "My magic is detectable here," he told her. We need your power to get us out of here." He placed the sprig into her small hands.

"I knew you would come," she replied. Then without another word, she kissed the small, but potent plant and entered a trance perilously close to the edge of the cell. A sudden gust of wind would send her to hear death, Avery feared, but he dared not interfere with her magic.

Noise erupted from the palace below. A gong sounded and rang again and again as some one beat continuously at it. Voices full of panic filled the air and far below people ran in every direction. At one side, of the structure, smoke poured steadily from a portal. Apparently the fire was spreading. That was good. It would give them more time.

"Bastard!" Nikki screamed. She whirled and fell into Avery's free arm. "The warlock has erected a barrier." Her eyes were full of defeat. "Twice now you have put your faith in me and twice I have failed you."

Avery kissed her cheek and brushed the tear away. "Nonsense," he said. "If it weren’t for you I wouldn’t be alive today. And even if my life ends here, I’ll be happy for I’ll have had my share of years of total happiness."

A sound from beyond the broken wall interrupted them. "Griffin's!" Nikki cried as two of the great forms floated into view Two huge creatures each with the body of a giant lion with the wings and head of a massive bird filled the sky. "I got through after all." The creatures hovered in the air near the opening.

There was a small ledge a few feet below their cell wall, and Avery stepped out onto it. It led around to a parapet. The griffins both landed and await their passengers. Avery placed Sam's limp form across one griffin. "You ride with Sam," he suggested. "I weigh more than you two do so let's not overburden our friends here." He took his mate by the waist and gave her a boost up. Was she putting on weight?

Under Nikki's direction, the creatures took flight and winged northward. It appeared that they had made their escape good. "Dear," Nikki called to him as they flew across the rooftops of Aspberg.

"Yes?" Avery answered.

"These griffins were not summoned by me. They claim that they never heard my call. They were sent by a friend."

"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth," Avery called back.

"What?"

"Anyone who sends such a gift, I’d be more than happy to call friend," Avery clarified.

The griffins flew steadily north for several hours until the edge of the Great Deep, the massive forest lands of the east, came into view. The griffins landed at the tree line. They had not given any further communication after having stated that a friend had sent them.
When they landed. Avery dismounted and helped Nikki to the ground. He was certain she had put on weight, but he attributed it to too little activity. It was not surprising considering that she had been locked up for several months.

"I'll be glad when we can get you home and into some decent clothes," he told her as he retrieved Sam's body. "Those Blackheart robes don't do you justice."

"They are comfortable enough right now," Nikki assured him.

When they were dismounted and away from the griffins, the majestic creatures took to the air again. "What now?" Avery asked.

"I can use magic to get us home," Nikki suggested. "Now that we are in the woods, that warlock can not block my power."

Avery shifted Sam's body into an over-the-shoulder carry. "Well by all means, make with the hocus-pocus."

Nikki glanced sidelong at him. "'Hocus-pocus'?"

Avery waved the question off. "Sorry, love. I’ve been hanging out with a pair of comedians for the last month or so."

Nikki nodded and embraced the ranger. On tiptoes, she reached up and gave him a kiss. For the moment they were in no danger and were at luxury to share their feelings. Nikki held her mate close. "I missed you so much," she whispered against his chest.

Avery held the embrace long and tenderly, but conscious of the fact that they were still on the run, he gently pushed the young woman away. "Get us home, beloved," he said. "Then before a warm fireplace, we can give of ourselves to each other." Nikki smiled a sly and knowing smile that was both arousing and unsettling to the ranger. She was definitely up to something.

She took more of Avery's magic plants. The mistletoe and holly and oak leafs were ground between two rocks into a pulp and mixed with rainwater collected from a calm pool nestled deeply within a thicket of underbrush.

When she was done making her concoction, she took a handful of the goo and spread it generously upon the nearby trunk of a broad oak. She then took a second scoop and applied it to Avery's free hand.

"Be sure that this hand is the last thing to enter the portal," she told him. "This hand is what will close the doorway behind us."

"Where’re we going?"

"Just like a mage," she explained, "a druid can also move magically over great distances, and just like mages, we too must know the place where we are going. Unless your playmates have cut my trees down, we should have no trouble getting home."

Avery understood. He had a fair working knowledge of lower powered druidic magic, but he was not well versed in the magic of higher levels of power. "I’m right behind you, dear," he said, confident in Nikki's power.

Nikki reached out and took him by the arm that was balancing Sam over his shoulder. "Here we go." She reached out with the hand that was covered with the potion. As her hand touched the surface of the wood, her flesh seemed to become translucent and passed deeply into the wood. Avery followed as she pulled him into the wood behind her. He held out his free hand as she had asked and the door closed behind him.

Nikki led him for what seemed like many long minutes. There was no sensation except for that of walking through a body of water. Then abruptly, they were standing at the edge of the clearing around Nikki's cabin.

Chapter 7 Part 4

Avery entered the kitchens of the palace. He had wondered about aimlessly listening and snooping most of the day. When his stomach began to growl somewhat, another member of the house guard suggested that he drop by the kitchens and get a snack. It occurred to Avery that even prisoners had to be fed, and he could use that lead to locate Nikki and Sam.

The head cook looked up from a desk where he was inventorying the cooking supplies when Avery entered. The cook leaned back and frowned. "I suppose you want to be fed," he asked with a grump.

"If it’s not too much trouble," Avery replied. "I’ll even help deliver food to the prisoners in exchange."

The cook leaned forward, his eyebrows rose in surprise. Most guards simply demanded immediate service. To receive respect and courtesy from one was rare and to get genuine gratitude was unheard of.

The cook motioned to a table and Avery took a seat. One of the assistant cooks set a bowl of stew before him and a wedge of bread. A second cook fetched a cup of water and passed it across the table before returning to his own task.

Avery thanked the kitchen staff and quietly ate his meal. The stew, though salty was welcome and the water was cool. The bread was a little stale, but the water softened it up well enough.

A quarter of an hour later Avery finished eating. He cleaned his plate in a shallow basin of running water and stacked the cleaned bowl and cup on a rack among others to dry. The action gained amused looks of astonishment from the kitchen staff.

"If you would like me to deliver any foods," Avery told the head cook, "I’m off duty and would repay your kindness."

The cook smiled and shook his head in wonder. "Hendif, over there," he pointed to an assistant who was loading a dolly with a large vat of slop and several trays of food, "could use some help."

Avery lent a hand to the cook's assistant, Hendif and together they towed the food laden dolly out into the back corridors used by servants of the palace. They pulled the dolly down a gentle spiraling ramp into the depths of the dungeons. It was exactly where Avery had wanted to go.

One by one, they, assisted by the jail keeper, opened each cell and filled each prisoner's food dish from the vat. The gruel was far from appetizing, and Avery found his nose wrinkling in spite of the fact that he had recently eaten well.

As they fed each cell. Avery held his breath, hoping to discover his lost love, and yet praying that he would not when he saw the conditions in which the prisoners were being held. He was not certain whether it was disappointment or relief he felt when they had fed all the prisoners in the dungeon and Nikki had not been seen.

The jail keeper locked the last cell and took one of the trays from the dolly. Then Avery and the steward hauled the laden vehicle back up the ramp.

"Where to now?" Avery asked. The vat was almost empty.

"There are a few political prisoners in the tower," Hendif told him. "They get better food than the criminals. That’s who where we’re going next."

Avery and the steward pulled the cart up the spiraling ramp for what seemed like hours until they entered another detention area. The jailer there opened the door to let them in. "It looks like you managed to conscript some help today. Eh, Hendif?" the guard greeted them.

Hendif passed the jailer his tray. "At least when we get through you can be sure that he’ll eat well tonight. You could get better grub too, if you would lend a hand now and then."

The jailer laughed and opened the first cell. A young man dressed in fine linen stood gazing out a window. "Any word from my father?" the occupant asked.

"No," the jailer replied. "No word yet. We’ve brought your supper."

The prisoner did not even turn about and the steward simply placed the tray on a rugged table. The tower cells were sparsely furnished apartments.

The door was closed and they proceeded to the next cell. Avery was wondering why the young man had been imprisoned when the next door opened to reveal Nikki sitting next to the barred window looking longingly out and into the sky. On a pallet lay Sam's body. It was thin and malnourished. The woman glanced briefly at her visitors then returned to gaze out the window.

Avery wanted to run to her, but that would give him away. He had to reassure her though, so he acted on an impulse. He grabbed the first tray from the dolly and carried it over to the table there he set the platter and when the jailer and steward's view was blocked, he reached into his pocket and drew forth a fresh oak leaf. He lay it across the top of the cup and turned to leave. As the door was closed behind him, he could not resist one last glance back.

Avery finished helping Hendif with his work and accepted his reward of a slice of freshly grilled mutton when he returned to the kitchen. Then he excused himself.

The first step was complete. He knew where Nikki and Sam were and that they were both alive. His next task was to devise a way to get them out. He needed a diversion, he decided.

It provided itself just before noon the next morning. Avery, now proficient at avoiding Tyson, marched boldly down a corridor as if on sentry duty. He passed an archway when a voice called out startling him.

"Hey you." Avery stopped and backed up a few steps. Had he been discovered? What clue had given him away?

Through the arch stood another guard at the entrance to a large room. The guard beckoned him over. That was a good sign, because if he had been discovered, the guard more than likely would have raised an alarm.

Avery approached with forced nonchalance. He decided the best cover was to pretend he was just going off duty.

"Hey, pal, where’re you going?" the soldier asked as Avery joined him.

"I was on my way to the kitchens. I’ve been walking these halls all morning." It was the truth. Avery decided that he would remember that cover. He had spent long hours trying to convince Armegon that if told correctly, the truth can be just as effective cover as a lie. Armegon would never admit it though.

"Well I’ve been at this post for four hours and I could really use a break," the guard complained. "Look, if you’ll watch this room long enough for me to go to the sludge pit and relieve myself and grab a quarter loaf of meal-bread on the way back, I promise I’ll get you an extra ration as well. Then you’ll get more than the normal grunt's ration of grub for the day."

Avery frowned, he would rather work on his problem of locating a sufficient diversion, but he saw no reason why he could not give the guard a break, so he agreed. "What am I supposed to do?"

The guard gestured inside the room. It was a library of some kind. "Just make certain that no one enters here without the presence of the master or his uncle the warlock or at least their permission."

"That’s all?"

"Oh, yea, and the librarian, he can go in the library, but he can not go into the vault," the guard pointed to a heavy door bound by lock and key. "Only one of the Blackheart blood can enter there unattended."

"What’s in there?"

"Look nosy," the guard said politely as not to insult Avery into refusing to cover for him, "it really isn’t any of our business. I think there’s some special book or tome or something like that in there as well as some other things, but nothing that concerns simple soldiers like us."

Avery nodded. "Go ahead and do your business. I'll cover for you."

The guard waved and headed down the hall. Avery watched him go then reached to his side. He pushed the standard issue short sword aside and reached beneath the tabard and cape. Placing his hand on Liberator's hilt he awakened the sword's mind.

"Will you fight for me?" he whispered.

I will help you free those unjustly detained, but I warn you not to indulge in excessive killing.

"I want to get into that vault. I may be able to use its contents to create a diversion."

Our minds are linked. Do not lie to me. You believe the Tome of Creation may be in there. You want to take it.

"Who does it belong to?"

The Creator.

"Then I can reclaim it in the Creator's name."

That is acceptable, for these people certainly do not have the Creator's best interests in mind.

"Is that door magically protected?"

That is a silly question, the sword, Avery swore, was sneering. Would you not protect it with magic?

Can you break the enchantment?

Is that an insult?

The sword was getting too much like Armegon, Avery noted.

The sword did not miss the thought. When one is powerful, there is no need to hide it.

"There is such a thing as humility and modesty," Avery objected.

Those qualities apply only to the living.

The game could go on longer, but they were wasting time and Avery knew it. "Can you break the enchantment without anyone knowing?"

No

"Some power," Avery teased.

You are missing the obvious solution, the sword answered.

"Please enlighten me."

There was a momentary pause. Were you not pressed for time and innocent lives not in danger, I would refuse for that 'some power' crack, it said. If you can not go through the door, go through the wall. I can cut through any substance.

Avery wasted no time. He checked to ensure that the hall was empty then drew the sword clear of its scabbard. He ran over to the wall next to the heavy door. The sword blade slid through the granite rock with no resistance. Avery quickly carved out a triangular door with beveled edges so that it would fall outward with ease. He had to act quickly to avoid the falling block of stone. It fell to the floor with a loud crash, and Avery was certain that the sound would attract attention. But after several long moments, and no one came to investigate, he had lucked out.

Grabbing a torch from the wall, he entered the vault of House Blackheart. The Tome Of Creation was impossible to miss. It lay on a reading pedestal closed, but there could be no mistake. The binding was made of stone and the cover was polished marble. It was a cubit square in area, and a hand thick.

"How do we get it out of here?" Avery asked. He was reluctant to touch it for fear of magical defenses.

The book itself is not protected, the sword replied. The pedestal is, but that spell can be easily broken and no one will be the wiser.

"Well do it," Avery grumbled. He waved the sword over the pedestal and it's image wavered momentarily. Avery reached out and took the book. It was surprisingly light considering what it was made of.

Remember this moment, the sword advised. You now hold the most powerful item to ever exist. It is the spell book of God.

Avery held the book closely then vacated the vault. He sheathed the sword and the voice of Liberator went silent. With a tremendous effort, he lifted the stone slab back into the hole and used some loose rubble to wedge it into place. Then he pushed a shelf over to cover the hole in the wall.

Avery cleared a second shelf of books onto the outer library floor. As much as it bothered him to do the deed, he set fire to the pile of manuscripts. Knowledge should never be wasted, he knew, but he needed the diversion, and a fire in the library that had housed the Tome of Creation would get everyone's attention.

As soon as the flame began to grow, Avery wrapped the Tome in an old dusty cloth and sprinted down the corridor towards the tower. His plan was simple. Once the fire was discovered, there would be confusion. In that time, he could get Nikki and he would use Liberator to cut the wall from her cell. She could use her own magic to get them out of the city, then.

Avery hurried up the stairs as fast as his powerful legs would carry him. Soon he was approaching the tower where the prisoners were kept. He turned the corner and came face to face with what could only be Miguel Blackheart. The description was too clear as was the mantle that he wore. He had been speaking to the jailer rather harshly when Avery had stumbled upon the scene. He had gotten careless.

Miguel turned on the new arrival. Again Avery's helm had saved him from being recognized as an infiltrator. "Well what do you want," the head of House Blackheart snapped angrily.

Avery stuttered for only half a second then told the truth. "My lord, there is a fire in the library and possibly even in the vault."

Miguel's eyes went wide. "The Tome!" he cried and pushed his way past Avery and disappeared down the stairs.

Avery looked at the jailer who sighed. "Thanks, I was getting a royal chewing out. Somehow one of the prisoners managed to get an oak leaf in her cell. She used it to conjure a flood of water in the master's chambers when he tried to seduce her."

Avery laughed and reached out as if to pat the jailer on the back. Instead he belted the man on the chin as hard as he could knocking him out cold. The healer then knelt by his victim and checked him over. The jawbone was cracked, but the man would live. Avery really did not want to kill him.

Avery took the cell's keys and made his way to Nikki's cell. It seemed like it took an eternity to get there. Almost in slow motion the key turned in the lock and the door swung open.

Chapter 7 Part 3

Armegon and Ultrecht were received with unusual coolness by Calista. Ruk assured them that she would warm up eventually. "She treated me rather rudely at first," the minotaan had said after her initial cold shoulder display. "But after the first few days, she became confident that you were bringing Sam back to her. I don’t know how long she’ll begrudge this, but a glimmer of hope will better her mood."

Armegon immediately made his way to where the young woman was clearing some space to plant a garden. She and Ruk had passed the last few days cleaning up and restoring order.

"I’m sorry that we didn’t bring Sam back," he told her, "but I can’t bring back what was not there."

"I noticed that Avery isn’t with you," she replied.

Armegon took a breath. "We have reason to believe that they were taken to Aspberg," he told her. “Avery went to lead a false trail away from the Doyr stronghold to protect this camp. We pretty much trashed their place. That’s liable to make some people very angry. And I suspect that after he’s done with that, Avery will probably go south and scout Aspberg out to find out if they’re still there."

"And if they are?"

"Then he’d better give us a call," Armegon replied.

"How will he do that?" Calista asked.

"With magic, of course."

"Can he use magic without giving himself away?"

That stumped Armegon. He had forgotten that Avery's magic was still traceable. They had not had time to work with him on that. Armegon swallowed and faked a smile. "He can handle himself," he said.

"How do you know that they are in Aspberg?"

"We have a prisoner," Armegon said. "She was one of the priestesses. Avery was about to kill her in the fight, but she was pregnant and his sword refused to kill her for the innocent child's sake."

Calista's jaw firmed. "I want to see her."

Armegon led the girl back around to the front of the cabin where Ultrecht was preparing to imprison their guest. The priestess was wearing a deep maroon smock that they had created from her original gown and some berries for color. She was also making it quite plain that she was not happy.

Calista, much to everyone's surprise, walked right up to her and belted her across the jaw. "That," she bellowed in total rage, "is what you get when you kidnap innocent people from their families."

Ruk quickly hauled the young woman in with a gentle sweep of his long black arm. He hugged her closely even though there was a hint of a grin on his face. The priestess held her silence, but glared mercilessly at the young woman.

"Ultrecht," Armegon suggested, "I think we’d better get this gal in jail before Cal starts exercising capital punishment." Ultrecht nodded and continued with his arrangements while Ruk escorted the angry Calista into the cabin.

Ultrecht made the last of his preparations, and then began his magic. It was not elemental magic, Armegon noted. The spell did not require that much power. It was simply a custom spell that Ultrecht had researched and developed some time ago.

As the magic formed, the priestess was enveloped by a shimmer of light. Ultrecht reached out and touched her shoulder, she retreated slightly, but then stopped. Ultrecht then withdrew his hand and peeled the light from his hand as if doffing a glove.

The spell was complete. "She can not move any farther away from the cabin as she is right now. In fact as far as the world is concerned, she does not exist. She cannot interact with anything unless it is wearing this glove. That is how she will have to be fed. Only what is in this glove can enter her world. In fact she can't even see us. All she sees is the Blue falls of Garten and pink clouds."

"How do you know what she sees?" Armegon asked. "Have you been in there?"

"Don't get cheeky," Ultrecht replied. "I outlined the parameters of that prison when I created it. I chose that scenery from back home to keep the prisoner from going insane."

"Okay, so she’s secure. Now what?"

Ultrecht shrugged. "We wait for Avery."

Armegon sighed. "He went to Aspberg didn't he?"

"You know him better than anyone else. What do you think?"

Armegon nodded. "Aspberg. What the devil is he thinking?"

"I hope he doesn't run into trouble," Ultrecht said. "His magic is still traceable."

"I hope that sword of his can do the things it acts like it can do, because I think he may need it this time."

Ultrecht gathered his pack and the magical glove. "Let's go inside and see what is for supper."

Armegon stared off into the trees while Ultrecht returned to the cabin and went inside.

"You foolish half-breed," Armegon cursed softly.

"Perhaps so, but he is also very brave," a voice replied from his right.

Armegon whirled and found himself facing an elderly man with a stout build, and heavy white beard. A patch covered one eye and a raven sat upon his shoulder. "Who are you?" Armegon demanded.

"You must decide what you will call me," the man laughed. "But to answer your question, the people of this world call me Woeden. I am a god."

"Not likely," Armegon retorted with a touch of discord. "There are no gods, only the Creator."

"That is true," Woeden replied. "And yet my kin and I are hardly mortal. As I said before, you must decide what to call me. The people of the world call me a god so that is what I call myself."

"I wouldn’t call you such," Armegon replied with a hint of regret for his initial reaction, "but I do see your point. Let’s say that you’re Woeden, an immortal."

"That sounds very much like your own status," Woeden pointed out.

"No longer," Armegon replied. "My comrades and I have resumed our aging."

"Only for the moment," Woeden assured him. "Part of my bailiwick is the ability to see probable futures. I see many paths which you may take that will return you to immortality."

"I don't suppose you’re here to offer guidance in that respect," Armegon smiled.

"And you have wit to boot," the god laughed. Then on a serious note, he stepped closer and spoke. "I am afraid that my business is more pressing than offering guidance. I am here to strike a bargain with you and your two comrades."

"Well Ultrecht is inside the house," Armegon gestured to the cabin, "And Avery is away, but you already knew that, so why approach me alone?"

"Because the less who know our plan the better," Woeden replied. "Your friend who wields the Dawn of Law is about to set a chain of events in motion that will forever change this realm. When the conclusion comes, the gods will all be done away with, or the spawn of the Godking will reign supreme. Either way, the gods of good will have no place.

"So what’s your proposal?" Armegon asked.

"Within a day, your friend will launch a one man assault on House Blackheart. He has already penetrated the city and is sneaking about looking for his mate. When he finds her, he will try to break them out. He will partially succeed, but will need my assistance to escape. He will bring you an object that you will find useful. I will tell you that the key to it's understanding was something you brought back from your journey into the prison world."

"The Blackheart Clan will follow you and attack you. So you need to choose a place to make your stand. That location is blocked from my view so I cannot advise you on that."
Woeden shrugged his shoulder and the raven took flight. "In return for this assistance, I and my fellows wish to be spared from the destruction of the gods should that end come about. We will publicly denounce our godhood and swear fealty to the Creator."

Armegon stared blankly at the god. Woeden had made some powerful statements.

"Ultrecht is going to flip when he hears this," he declared.

"I will leave it to you to tell him," Woeden stated and lifted his staff. His image began to waver.

"Wait," Armegon cried. What if we don't agree?"

The image of Woeden disappeared, but his voice echoed back. "We have no alternative. We bargain in faith. Otherwise we lose either way."

Armegon nodded. If what he had heard was true, then Woeden was correct. The gods of good were in a no win situation. The bargain was their only hope.

Armegon turned and walked back into the cabin. Ultrecht was going to love this.

Chapter 7 Part 2

Avery maintained a steady hiking pace until he was well past the Doyr stronghold. After putting about half a league of distance between himself and the last hint of humanoid inhabitants, he stopped and stripped his pack free of camping gear. He had a private mission to perform and as a ranger he had no need of skillets, blankets or ropes.

Avery, armed only with sword, a long staff and his clothes, broke into a strange, secret type of run known only to druids and rangers. Like a deer, he sped through the woodlands as if he himself were a citizen of nature until, finally he came across a small stream winding through the trees.

Avery knelt and pulled a holly leaf from his belt pouch. Placing the leaf in the gently eddying current, he gazed deeply into the waters. The reflection grew clouded as the stream revealed to him the many places it touched. For half an hour the scenes flashed by before the one he was seeking appeared. There on the edge of the great Caliko River, was the walled city of Aspberg. That was were Nikki and Sam were being held.

The ranger's plan was simple. In order for Ultrecht to imprison the priestess, he would have to command the element of time. When he did, he would draw the attention of the Blackheart clan. That would provide the perfect diversion he needed to pass within Aspberg's walls and steal back his heart and Sam.

Avery waited. As the suns set, and the moons came out, he prepared to call upon the power of the druids. Avery undressed and rolled his belongings into a tight bundle and stuffed it into his emptied water skin.. Then with some vine, he tied the bundle to his back.
Taking a sprig of mistletoe, he stepped into the stream and began the magic. The druid's route spell, would instantly transport him to any downstream location that the waters he was standing in might touch.

Within moments, he felt the currents sweep him under the waters. Avery did not fight the natural urge to swim, for that would simply make the voyage longer. It was best to simply hold his breath and wait.

Dozens of seconds passed and Avery felt his lungs ache to exhale, but he kept his mind calm and fought the instinctive panic that was creeping up on him. The task was not difficult and soon his head was again above the waters.

Swimming to the edge of the vast river he found himself in, he stepped up on the shore and lay in the clean grass. Far off in the distance, there was the unmistakable glow of a city. The stars overhead indicated that he had traveled a fair distance to the south in the seemingly few seconds he had been submerged. That, he noted, was deceptive, because in reality he had traveled at least a day. The magic did not speed up his travel, but it simply suspended him in time and carried him to his destination. Marlena had called the spell a "boat ride", and with the exception that there was no boat involved and the passenger had no sense of the passage of time, it was just that.

Avery waited until he had dried in the chilly night, then he removed his clothing from the water tight container and redressed. When clothed again, he stood and climbed a gentle hill and faced the city on the side of the river ahead of him. It was Aspberg. "So this is the seat of all the trouble we’ve had," he said to himself. The ranger checked his clothing then started off towards the city.

When day came, Avery was already inside the city walls. It had taken little effort to steal past the guards, and having scrounged a beggar's cloak from a dead body that had lain in the gutter, the ranger bound his eyes with a flimsy rag and tapped his way along with a staff in a manner that indicated blindness. He could almost hear Armegon accuse him of being dishonest by faking blindness. He reasoned with himself that he had to cover his eyes for anonymity, and with his eyes covered, his vision was sufficiently degraded to justify the disguise.

As the night chill lifted from the city, Avery sat at the corner of a building next to a banged up and dirty pan that he had discovered in a garbage pile. Through the thin rag, he watched the street come to life as the vendors lined the streets with their carts and opened their booths for business. Aspberg, it appeared was a powerful capitalistic society.

The city watch made its way down the street and Avery noted that all of the merchants were passing bribes to be overlooked. Avery continued his beggar act when a solider approached.

"It’s time to pay your taxes, blind man," the soldier dressed in a long tabard and deep set helm gruffed as he toed Avery with a boot. "If you want to beg, then you had better let us in on your action.."

"Officer," Avery said, even though he knew that it was a common foot soldier, "take what you deem necessary from my dish."

The soldier kicked the empty plate and swore. "You beggars had better watch your step. I don't care how strong your union is, we guards expect to be properly paid off each morning. That’s the way things are."

Avery felt along the ground for his dish and accidentally bumped it down a back alley. The guard jumped forward and snatched the item up. With an underhanded twirl, he hurled the thing farther down the alley and behind a dung heap. "There you go old man," the guard laughed. "If you go and feel around for that dish now, you’re likely to get more than you bargained for."

Avery staggered after the dish, while the guard laughed. Just as he was stepping out of sight, Avery muttered an insult just loud enough for the single guard to hear. Just as he expected, within seconds, the guard came charging around the dung heap with death in his eyes, but Avery was waiting.

Avery reached out and gripped the soldier about the throat and quickly crushed the windpipe. As the gurgling body fell to the ground, Avery began removing his disguise. He then swapped garments with the soldier. Within moments, Avery walked back out on the street and joined the city watch as they made their way back to the palace.

Avery fell in to the rear and hummed a lethargic marching tune that he had heard once long ago. It had been in his younger days wandering with Armegon when he had sat near a castle and watched a bipedal lion and what appeared to have been a pair of golems, one of tin and one of straw do the same trick. He smiled within the helm at the memory. The reason he had been in the area was to investigate some unusual weather. A tornado, he recalled, caused by magic.

A quarter of an hour later and Avery marched boldly through the front door of the dark pyramid. No one challenged him and soon he and his comrades were walking down a passage that contained an abundance of turns. It was easy for him to fall out and quickly disappear down a side passage without being missed.

Avery made his way down a few more passages, taking every opportunity to go downwards as well. He reasoned that any prison would most likely be in a dungeon of sorts.

Once, he came around a corner too fast and almost ran into Tyson. He immediately came to attention and stood aside. Tyson glanced at him only cursory in passing and Avery gave silent thanks to the Creator that the helm he wore concealed his ears, hair and eyes, otherwise Tyson may have noticed him.

Avery wanted to extract some revenge immediately, but he knew that should he be unsuccessful, Tyson would have the edge on magic and was in a far better position numerically to do battle. That knowledge and the fact that the mage's decapitated body might raise an alarm stayed his hand.

When Tyson had passed, Avery let out a long exhale. That had been close. He would have to be much more careful.

Avery closed his eyes and leaned back against the cool stone. Nikki was there. He could feel her presence. He could feel her soul crying out in fear to him. The very thought of her in that place caused him to grit his teeth angrily. She was such a gentle and lovely woman. She did not deserve to be treated so. He would get her out. He would get them both out, he corrected himself remembering Sam. He would get them out if he had to send the whole city up in smoke.

"Okay," he said to himself, "now that we’re inside where do we look?"