A lone tree stood in the Squalid Waters River near the shore and almost underneath the long bridge which spanned the waterway. Flower blossoms sprang to life on its branches as a giant Mognin walked away from the beautiful tree and back toward the shoreline. Grewen carried Brimmelle and Bryus back to base of the bluffs from this tree after snapping the Alchemist’s arm off nearly a yard from his shoulder, giving him the same ugly wooden arm he had had prior to the incident.
With the day nearing its end, the travelers decided to utilize the guard tower as their shelter for the night. After removing the stench left from the Krupes’ beddings, Thorik lit a fire in the fireplace in order to cook dinner while Bryus cut off new leaves and flowers that had started to grow on his wooden arm.
Thorik stoked the fire. “So what you’re telling me is that while we were fighting off Darkmere, you were casting a spell on your arm instead of utilizing those great powers of yours to help us.”
Bryus sat on a bench across the room from Thorik. “Yes, that’s correct.” He appeared to have no issue with his actions.
Thorik was baffled by the candor of his responses. “Did you not see the life or death situation we were in?”
“Oh, without question. I wasn’t sure if you were going to survive or not on several occasions.”
Thorik was awe-struck by the lack of caring for his fellow man. Tossing another log into the fireplace, he continued his discussion with the Alchemist. “If you saw that I was in trouble, then why didn’t you at least try to help?”
“Oh, no, I couldn’t do that.”
“And why is that?”
“Because you specifically told me not to, on the far side of the bridge.”
“That was a different situation.” Thorik stepped back from the fire and began to pace in the room in frustration. “You obviously don’t have any interest in helping us. So, why are you traveling with us?”
“To take you to the Govi Glade.”
Thorik was shocked. “Govi Glade?”
“Yes, you know, where the book of magic is. Vesik awaits.” Bryus smile beamed with intrigue.
“We’re not heading to Govi Glade.”
“What? Why not?”
“Because we don’t have need for Vesik if we don’t have Gluic’s dagger.”
“Well, no one ever notified me that the plans had changed.”
“How could they not change?”
“I don’t see what one has to do with the other. Vesik is by far a better relic than the dagger, Varacon.”
“But I don’t need the book without the dagger.”
“That’s because you don’t know of its powers. It can help us in ways you’ve never dreamed.”
“Can it help us find Gluic?”
“Oh, I have no idea.”
Thorik grimaced at the nonchalant attitude. It was driving him crazy. He simply couldn’t continue the conversation and found himself sitting back next to the fireplace. Looking down near the burning logs, he noticed a few dozen small rocks placed in a swirling pattern near the fire.
Thorik looked around the room. It was only Bryus and himself. “Has anyone else been in here?”
“More than a few Krupes, from the smell of it.”
“No, I mean while we were talking?”
Bryus looked at Thorik as though the Num was losing his mind. “If we aren’t heading to Govi Glade then I will depart tomorrow morning and go my own way.”
Thorik leaned down and placed his hand near the small rocks. The air that hung over them was cold, in spite of being near the fire. “We will be going to Govi Glade.”
Bryus now knew the Num was losing his mind. “Collect your senses, Num! You just told me we weren’t.”
“No, I said we weren’t heading there. We will search for Gluic first. Once we find her, then we will head there.”
“But what if you don’t find her?”
“That’s not an option. We will find her.” He was firm on this stance. “I’ll start by calling out to her like I did once before. I think she is still following us.”
Bryus was amused at the idea. “How do you plan to do that?”
Thorik grabbed his Runestones out of his backpack and pulled out the Runestone of Courage. Closing his eyes and opening his mind, he waited for the flow of energy to stream out of the stone through his body and then back into the stone.
Amazed by the sight before him, Bryus leaned forward with interest at the new arrival to the room.
By the time Thorik opened his eyes, a semi-translucent figure was forming next to him on the bench. Gluic had returned.
“Granna?” Thorik spoke softly. “Can you hear me?”
“Well, of course, dear. I listen to you every day.”
“You do?”
“Yes. I’ve also had a chance to catch up with so many others that I’ve lost. It’s been a delight.”
Thorik smiled. Nothing ever bothered her. “Do you know what happened to you?”
“Surely. Well, I was born in Longfield, but was moved to Farbank when-”
“No, I mean do you know that your essence has been captured by the dagger, Varacon?”
“Yes.” She showed little interest. “I told you I would be changing. I certainly couldn’t do what I needed to do with my old worn out body.”
“What is it that you need to do?”
“Free those who are forever captive.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I know, dear. Sometimes I don’t either.” A shallow laugh followed her own comment.
“Granna, I need your help.”
“No, you really don’t. You’ve just become dependent upon it. An unfortunate fate we give to those we wish to protect.”
“I’m not the leader you think I am. I’m constantly second guessing myself and I don’t have all the answers.”
“All the answers? Leaders discover the answers. They don’t presume to know it all. Leaders show up for the adventure instead of shying away from it or ignoring it all together,” she said. “You’ll do just fine as a leader. You don’t need my help.”
Thorik shook his head. “No, this is different. I need to find Varacon so I can free you from it.”
“Oh, won’t that be pleasant.”
“What? No. I don’t know where the dagger is, and without it I can’t free you.”
“But I feel free already. What’s so wrong with this? We can still chat when you need to.”
“It’s not the same, Granna. I need to bring you back.”
“Why is that, dear?”
Thorik was surprised by the question. “Because…you’re my grandmother, and I love you. I miss you terribly.”
“Well, I miss you too, but we must let go at some time. Wasn’t it nice while it lasted? I did so enjoy our outings.”
“But it’s not your time yet. Santorray stabbed you by mistake, you shouldn’t have been killed.”
“Mistakes will happen. Did you know your mother is here? She is so proud of you.”
“My mother? Where? Here, now?” Thorik whipped his head around to spot her.
“Not in this tower. She has better taste than to be hanging around in these types of places.”
Disappointed, he turned back to her. “But how do I find her? How do I talk to her?”
“You don’t have to find her, but she hears you each time you speak. She waits for you back in Farbank with your father.”
“They’re both there?”
“I would assume so. They tend to stay in the village.”
“So, how is it that you are not attached to the dagger?”
“Oh, I am, dear. I can only stray so far from it.”
“But we are a long way from where I lost it in the desert.”
“Dear child, I’ve been lost all my life. You on the other hand are but a few feet from the dagger I reside in.”
“What? How can that be?” Thorik asked, searching the room with his eyes.
“Go to Govi Glade and obtain the book of spells. You will need it before yo
ur work here is done.”
“Therefore we were correct. There is a spell to release you.”
Gluic smiled kindly at her grandson. “You, my dear, will release me and we shall free those imprisoned.” She then stood up from the bench, walked across the room, and stopped near the Alchemist. “Bryus is protecting Varacon for you.”
Thorik’s eyes grew large and his jaw drifted down. “What?”
“Enjoy the journey, dear. That’s what it’s all about.” Turning, she walked through the far wall. Gluic was gone.
The moment of silence afterward was filled with emotions from Thorik as he stared at Bryus.
The Alchemist had little emotion in his glance at Thorik, as though there was no issue at hand.
“Bryus, is this true? Have you had the dagger the entire time?”
“No. You and Brimmelle have both had it from time to time. In fact, Santorray actually had it prior to us, seeing that he activated the spell by stabbing her in the first place.”
Thorik stood up and came closer to the sitting man. He struggled with being in shock and becoming outraged at the possibility of this treachery being done by people he had trusted. “Do you have the dagger, Varacon, in your belongings or on your person right now?”
“Now that is a completely different question. If you had asked me that the first time we wouldn’t have had to go through this series of unrelated comments.”
“Yes or no!” Thorik shouted.
“Yes.”
Thorik bit his lip in anger. “How could you steal her from me and make me think she was lost?”
“Again, that is a completely separate question. I did neither of those.”
“You’ve already informed me you had the dagger.”
“True, the rest you assumed.”
“Assumed?” Thorik’s cheeks flushed with emotion as his anger grew. “If it wasn’t you that performed the other actions, then who did?”
Just then, Brimmelle walked into the tower, rubbing his hands together. “Do you have our meals ready?”
“YOU!” Thorik announced.
Brimmelle didn’t know what he had walked into. “Me?”
“You stole the dagger from me and told me that I had lost it!” Thorik had fury in his voice that he himself didn’t expect.
Brimmelle gazed a nasty stare at Bryus. “You had to tell him, didn’t you? Did you also happen to tell him that you then threatened to toss me over a cliff if I didn’t give it to you?”
Thorik’s view changed back to Bryus.
Bryus grinned. He obviously liked this game. “And by doing so, I saved the dagger from being lost forever. You were about to throw it over the Lagona Falls ridge.”
Brimmelle didn’t care any more about the secrecy. In fact, it felt good to get it all out in the open. “Which is why I stole it back from you at the Trewek pyramids. She deserved better than to have her fate in your hands.”
“Is that why you tossed her down into the farms while entering Trewek? You’d rather have her lost in mounds of mud and manure?”
“Better there than to be with you,” Brimmelle protested. “At least now she is at rest.”
Bryus reached into his pack and pulled out Varacon. “Apparently not!”
With the horror of the thought, Brimmelle was momentarily speechless. “You found it?”
“What was your first clue?” Bryus asked with an overly theatrically curious expression.
“You lied to me. You told me you couldn’t find it.”
“You don’t know how bad I feel about that.” Sarcastic tones filled Bryus’ speech.
“Stop it!” Thorik shouted as he reached over and snatched the dagger from Bryus. “I’m furious at both of you!”
Bryus nodded. “Good, it’s about time you give us your honest opinion. Let it out, Num.”
Thorik’s hands shook as he spoke. “And especially you, uncle. I shouldn’t have to worry about trusting my own family.”
He pointed at the older Num. “He’s right, you know. Damn shame he couldn’t trust you.”
Thorik whipped back around to Bryus, catching the Alchemist off guard. “And you! You have been nothing but a thorn in our side ever since we met you.”
“Glad I could keep things lively,” he retorted.
“If I didn’t need you so much…” Thorik had reached the end of his anger limit.
“Ah, but you do,” Bryus’ smile just added to the issue at hand..
“And you’re lucky I do!” Thorik’s clinched fist raised toward the man.
“Odd. I don’t feel lucky.”
Throwing his hands in the air, Thorik knew he couldn’t get through to Bryus.
Turning back to Brimmelle, Thorik struggled to know how to convey his anger and distrust. “Why would you do this to your own family?” Thorik asked as his voice trembled with emotion. “Brimmelle, why have you done this horrible and terrible act?”
“Because my mother is dead, Thorik. I don’t want her memory tarnished any further. Let her rest! She has done her part in this world.”
“No, she has one last thing to accomplish and she can’t do it without my help. We must proceed to the Govi Glade and find the spell to release her. And neither of you two can be trusted around this dagger again.” Thorik stormed out of the room, furious at his uncle’s betrayal.
Bryus raised a single eyebrow and looked at Brimmelle. “I didn’t realize we were trusted around it in the first place.”
Essence of Gluic Page 37