by Sever Bronny
Bridget squinted. “What the …”
The silhouette expanded, revealing massive claw-tipped wings.
The trio took a step back.
“I think it’s a gargoyle,” Augum said, throat feeling dry.
The wings began to rattle violently as the creature hissed. The display made them take a few more steps back. The hissing died, as did the rattling, and the creature folded its wings. It stood there a moment, the only sound the incessant howl of the cold wind and the banging of that shutter, before ducking back inside the cabin.
“I’m not going in there,” Leera whispered.
Thunk went the shutter.
Augum wondered if the gargoyle was watching them from the dark window.
Thunk …
Thunk …
Bridget swallowed, kept shaking her head. “Not going in there either.”
Augum gritted his teeth. “I am.” It was some kind of test, it had to be. He took a step, but was grabbed by Leera.
“Aug, please, don’t be a fool—”
“It’s just a game,” he said.
“Who’re you trying to convince?”
“I’ll run if something happens. We can’t stay out here forever.”
Bridget was pale. “We should walk away.” She kept shaking her head. “I have a really bad feeling about this.”
Augum glanced at the empty horizon. “There’s nothing out there.” He took hold of Leera’s firm grip and gently squeezed. “It’s all right.” He embraced her. She gripped him tightly, her body shaking. “It’s all right,” he repeated. Then he gently pried her away, and turned to face the cabin.
“Aug …” but he did not look back. It was a test, it had to be …
Thunk …
Thunk …
“Come on, we have to help if we can,” Bridget said with a shaky voice. They slowly followed at a distance, each crouched and ready to fight … or bolt.
Augum took one step at a time, yet the creature did not step out of the dark cabin. He expected it to suddenly jump out and charge.
Thunk …
Thunk …
He came to the rickety door and reached out to the crude wooden handle. He slowly pulled on it, breath coming in rapid bursts. As it creaked open, the door steadily revealed the hulking monster. Augum’s hands shook. He let go of the door, but it continued to open, fully revealing the gargoyle in its muscled ferocity. It towered over him. Its wings began expanding in the cabin.
Thunk …
Thunk …
Augum stood frozen to the spot. Absurdly, he thought nothing would happen if he just stood there.
Thunk …
Thunk …
Its wings began rattling violently and the creature hissed. “Sssssssssssssssss.”
Augum’s breath was that of a frantic mouse—rapid and shallow. The girls were screaming, but he could barely pay attention, all he saw was that giant and powerful head and those clawed arms, able to destroy him with one swipe.
The voice that came from the creature was deep and grinding, like a giant stone door opening. “I do not fear you …”
Augum stood rooted to the spot. It was going to strike any moment, he was going to die, and there was nothing he could do.
“I do not fear you …”
Fear. Fear! Suddenly he understood! Augum summoned all his courage and concentration. He raised his arm and shouted, “DREADUS TERRABLUS!”
The gargoyle reared up, but instead of attacking, it suddenly began to crack and crumble. There was a gasping hiss as pieces fell from the creature, until there was nothing but a pile of dust, blown about by the wind.
Thunk …
Thunk …
Leera grabbed onto him. “What … what did you do?”
Augum could barely speak. “I made it fear me.”
The dust blew away, revealing a shiny gold coin. Augum picked it up and they examined it. On one side it had a gargoyle, and on the other, a book. Written under the book were the words Omnio incipus equa liberates corsisi mei.
There was a sudden crackling sound as a black portal ripped to life before them. They stepped through, soon finding themselves back in the round room of doors.
“Let’s choose something a little … less scary next time,” Leera said.
Bridget examined the rune on the door they had gone through, which was now closed. “I thought this was two interlocking puzzle pieces, but now I think they might be wings.”
Augum found the corresponding symbol on the map—it was in a room in the dungeon, which made no sense at all unless the whole thing had been an illusion.
“We need to get to the maze,” Leera said, peeking over Augum’s shoulder.
Augum absently played with the coin. “These must buy something …”
Bridget glanced between the coin and the map. “That’s brilliant.”
“What is?” Leera said.
“Access. You buy access with the coins. I mean, it only makes sense, doesn’t it? The founder said something about earning the knowledge. He must have meant it literally. That’s how we’ll get into the secret part of the library! But what I don’t understand is—”
“—how many coins it’ll take to get in there,” Augum said, standing.
“Exactly.”
“How do we find that out?” Leera asked.
Bridget studied the map in more detail. “Here, look.” She brushed away a fine layer of dust, revealing tiny etched lines before each room in the library portion of the map. She tapped at an identical series of rooms. “These rooms here are all ordered by degrees. And this symbol here is the amount of coins needed. You pay one coin to get into the 1st degree library room, two for the 2nd degree, and so on. But then—” She tapped at separate, larger rooms. “This one here has the symbol of a cup which, if I recall correctly, represents artifacts.”
Leera craned her neck. “How much to get into that room?”
Bridget sighed. “Looks like five coins.”
Leera groaned.
“In fact, all these other rooms are five coins. And again, recalling my studies from earlier, I think this tree represents ancestry, and this figure means that room is about historically distinguished individuals. The book symbol probably represents history—”
“It’d be kind of neat to study the 5th degree in there,” Augum said. “Imagine what insights we could find.”
Bridget smiled. “Glad you’re changing your tune. Studying is essential.”
“I’ve always loved studying! I just don’t have the ability to concentrate for as long as you.”
“And we needn’t say anything about my studying abilities,” Leera muttered. She tapped at a symbol inside the maze. “A bird doesn’t sound too threatening. Let’s get in there, see what happens.”
Bridget stood, dusting her hands. “As good as any, I suppose.”
They found the symbol on a corresponding door and were soon once again sucked in, this time tumbling out onto a flagstone floor in a curving corridor. The trio shone their palm lights, getting their bearing. The walls were ancient uneven masonry ascending at least fifty feet, with no ceiling, only inky blackness. A cold and clammy draft came from the walls, whistling now and then.
“The labyrinth,” Augum whispered.
“Which way?” Leera asked.
Augum extended his palm, urging the arcane ether to help him find something purposefully hidden. “Un vun deo,” and immediately felt a tug in several different directions. “Odd,” he said, dropping his arm. “Getting lots of pulls.”
They chose to go right and cautiously prowled forth. Suddenly one of the flagstones Augum stepped on lowered with a grinding noise, and part of the wall ahead opened, revealing three large birds with faces of haggard old women.
Bridget paled. “Harpies—”
The harpies’ crooked black beaks clicked as they waddled out of their stone prison.
Bridget’s face hardened. “I hate harpies!” She slammed her wrists together. “ANNIHILO!” A
thick vine slammed into the first one, smashing it into a pulp against the wall. The other two spread their wings and took off. One of the harpies immediately dove.
“ANNIHILO!” Augum shouted, but his lightning missed, hitting a distant spot up one wall, sending flaky debris down. The trio ducked as the harpy raked at them with its claws, barely missing Bridget’s back.
The other harpy was right behind the first. It was Leera’s turn. “ANNIHILO!” A jet of water blasted right through its chest, blowing it apart in a cloud of feathers. The remaining one swooped high into the corridor and dove again.
Augum slammed his wrists together once more. “ANNIHILO!” This time his aim was true, and the thing slapped into the ground, a smoking mess. Soon all three were piles of dust.
Leera collected the coins. “And now we have four.”
“I could use a nap,” Augum mumbled, rubbing at his temple, feeling the slight onset of an arcanely induced headache.
Leera made a graceful gesture. “I have a nice pile of harpy you can use as a pillow.”
Grinning, the trio quickly moved on. When they came upon a fork, Bridget said, “Wait.” She placed her hands over a loose stone on the ground. “Vestigio itemo discovaro.” She stood, dusting her hands. “There, now we can find our way back if we need to.”
“Good idea, Leera said. “And Aug—maybe one of those Unconceal pulls you felt earlier pointed at that harpie trap back there.” She raised her hand. “Un vun deo.” She kept her palm extended as she investigated the floor, pointing out a slightly raised stone along their path. “I think that’s another trap,” she said, dropping her hand.
Augum spotted a series of holes along the walls. He got the impression something might shoot out of them should they trigger the trap.
They moved on, trading off on casting Unconceal, choosing to take a right and then a left at two forks, before arriving at an ornate stone door. Above the door was a stone gargoyle, glaring at them.
“No handle,” Augum noted.
Bridget raised her palm at the door. “Un vun deo.” Words slowly began to appear.
Leera read the arcane inscription. “ ‘If I art belong to thou, thou wouldst long to share me. But if thou share me, I no long belong to thee. What, say you, am I?’ ”
“What belongs to you that you want to share it?” Augum reiterated, “but doesn’t belong to you when you finally do share it?”
“That’s easy,” Leera said. “A secret!”
The words instantly disappeared and the door rumbled open, revealing a wall, before which stood a stone dais. On top of the dais sat a single shiny gold gargoyle coin.
Leera snatched the coin. “That’s five.”
They retreated to the last fork and went in the other direction, eventually arriving at another stone door with another gargoyle. This one had four crude etchings on its face—a cup, a feather, sand, and a scroll.
“It’s another puzzle,” Bridget said. “Which one doesn’t belong?”
“The feather,” Leera replied. “It’s the only thing that comes from a living creature.”
Augum shrugged. “Sounds about right.”
Leera reached up with her lit palm and pressed the feather etching. The etching flashed a green color and she recoiled. “Ouch! Something bit me!” Suddenly there was a ripping noise behind them as a portal opened up, instantly sucking them in.
Choices, Choices
“I must have picked the wrong one,” Leera said groggily as she picked herself up off the floor, rubbing her hand. They were back in the round room of doors.
Augum was by her side. “You all right?”
“Just a pinprick. No big deal.”
“Let me see.” He took her squirming palm, spotted the pinprick—and saw the slightest shading of black under her skin. “Might be poison.”
“I’ll be dead within the hour then.”
“Don’t jest about things like that.”
“You better say your goodbyes, Augum Stone.”
Bridget strode over and snatched Leera’s hand. “I agree, it could be poison.”
Leera jerked her hand away with a laugh. “Don’t be silly. The library wouldn’t do that to us.”
Bridget raised an eyebrow. “You sure? We were just attacked by a bunch of harpies.”
“You two always overreact. I don’t feel noth—” Suddenly Leera staggered, swallowing and blinking rapidly. “Uh oh,” and just like that, she fainted into Augum’s arms.
“Lee?” He shook her, but she did not wake up. “You better not be jesting—” He felt his heart thrum when she remained still. What if it was lethal? No, he was just being paranoid. “I don’t think she’s jesting with us.”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine, Aug, no need to panic,” Bridget said as she ran to the doors.
“Who’s panicking? You’re the one running!”
“It was one of these, if I remember correctly …” Bridget stopped before one of the doors. “This one. It has a potion as the symbol—”
Augum hesitated. What if she was wrong and they had to go through some stupid challenge, only to start again? “How sure are you?”
Bridget glanced his way with a serious look.
“All right, but help me with her—” and the two of them carried Leera to the door. Bridget placed her lit palm on the gargoyle rune. “Entarro.” It opened and they were sucked inside, stumbling out on the other end.
Before them was a round room with countless shelves of colorful beakers. In the center stood a dais, on top of which rested a giant book and a wooden bowl.
Augum gently laid Leera down and joined Bridget at the book.
“Recipes,” Bridget said as she turned the pages. “But they’re in some language I don’t understand. I’m going to search the room arcanely. Let’s switch.” She extinguished her palm while he lit his, flooding the room with a blue glow. She crossed her brows and splayed her palm. “Un vun deo.” After a few moments of concentration, she whispered, “It’s subtle, but I feel something,” and followed the ethereal trail to a wall. Her hand kept rising. She pointed at the highest shelf, a good twenty feet above them. “Up there.”
Augum strode back until he could just make out something oddly-shaped resting near the paneled ceiling. He reached out, concentrating his Telekinesis. The object started moving slowly toward him, until it suddenly fell off the shelf. Bridget, who was standing just below, deftly caught it.
It was a pair of thin rose-colored spectacles. She strode to the book, putting them on.
Augum was right beside her, white-knuckling the dais. “Well?”
“Shh!” Her finger was streaming down page after page. “Here, this one might work—”
“Might?”
“It’s an antidote that neutralizes poison, and it lists the right symptoms—small black sting, dizziness, sudden loss of consciousness. It should work. One part essence of mint, two parts powdered licorice root, one part powdered stinkroot, two parts water.”
Augum was already searching the shelves. “Found one.” He brought her a beaker labeled Stinkroot. Inside were the notoriously gross brown lumpy roots with red welts all over.
“No, it has to be powdered—”
Augum raced back to fetch the one beside it, which had the same label, except the contents were powdered. He placed it on the dais. Bridget helped him find the rest, and soon they had them all ready.
Augum was staring at the ingredients. What if he got it wrong? What if the poison was deadly?
“Your hands are shaking,” Bridget said. “Bring her over, I’ll do this.”
“You sure?”
“Trust me.”
Augum gently picked Leera up and brought her over, laying her head on his lap. He watched Bridget work while he unconsciously kept smoothing Leera’s hair away from her face. His heart skipped a beat when he noticed her lips turning blue. But surely the library wouldn’t kill warlocks … would it?
“Almost … ready … there!” Bridget brought the bowl to Leera’
s lips. He gently opened her mouth and she carefully poured the contents in. Leera gasped almost immediately. “That stinkroot,” she gurgled. “Ugh … disgusting.”
Augum, sighing in immense relief, was barely conscious of the bowl floating back to the dais, the spectacles back to their place on the shelf, and the ingredients refilling as they floated back to their places.
Leera sprang to her feet, shaking off her limbs. “Told you I was fine.”
“Of course you were,” Augum muttered, but he was smiling along with her.
Suddenly she grew serious. “But you did say your goodbyes, right?”
“Shtop it, you are ze vorst troublemaker.”
Bridget exhaled. “I know that was a touch nerve-wracking, but if you two are up for it, there’s still time enough to give one or two more obstacles a try, hopefully earn a few more coins. Then we should go and get some sleep. Big day ahead tomorrow.”
“Fine,” Leera said after punching Augum’s shoulder. “But no more stinkroot. Next time, let me die.” She caught the looks on their faces. “Oh, loosen up, you two.”
They found the gargoyle emblem on an empty portion of wall, activated the portal, and returned to the round room of doors. From there they portaled to the maze again, slowly finding their way back to the door with four crude etchings—a cup, a feather, sand, and a scroll.
“That’s why I got it wrong,” Leera said, smacking her forehead. “That’s not a feather—it’s a quill! And that’s drying sand. All three of those are scribe implements.” She lit her palm and pressed the cup. The door immediately rumbled open, revealing another golden coin.
“Six,” Leera said, flicking it over to Bridget, the designated coin holder.
They moved on, successfully tackling a Spot the differences challenge involving nearly identical tapestries; a battle challenge requiring them to use their minor elementals to defeat a small stone statue; and a Telekinesis challenge that required them to skillfully navigate different-shaped objects through holes matching them.
“Just like the Training Room,” Leera said, flicking another gargoyle coin to Bridget.
Bridget counted the coins. “Puts us at nine. That’ll buy us entry into the artifacts room. Of course, we still have to actually get through the maze to the arcane library portion.”