“Then you should be able to navigate the forest due east with ease. You know what I’m talking about…”
Of course Ryris knew what she was hinting at. The forests surrounding Blackthorne were filled with prized tandlewood trees, coveted for their beautiful dark and hardy wood. But wander further into the woods and one would quickly find himself surrounded by old stone temples, said to have been left behind long ago—even before the Old War. Ghostly lights flickered from inside their walls, even though they were long known to have been uninhabited. Sometimes, screams echoed out from the depths of the underbrush, the din of wars fought long ago. Whatever inhabited the lost settlement never strayed far from their ghostly home, and the residents of Blackthorne were eternally grateful for that. No one from the area was foolhardy enough to seek their fortune in the spectral fortresses, but every once and a while a foreign adventurer would gain the courage—never to be seen again. And, of course, it was exactly where they needed to go. Ryris suddenly felt sick to his stomach.
“The ruins,” Ryris weakly whispered, his mouth dry as cotton. He tried to appear brave, and was failing miserably. Phia nodded knowingly.
“I’ve only seen one fool in my lifetime make that trek. Said he was going to find treasure. No one ever saw him again. The villagers warned him not to go.” He leaned forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees and lacing his fingers together in front of his body. “If I were going to hide something, those creepy castles would be the perfect place.”
Phia nodded again.
Kaia chided him, a wicked smile crossing her lips. “And you didn’t want to take a better weapon…”
“We’re going to need a lot more than your bow and my sword that I can’t use properly. If what everyone says is true, those ghouls in the forest are out for blood.”
“Speaking of weapons…” Phia turned her attention to Kaia. “Do you still have them?”
Kaia grabbed her backpack. Undoing the buckle, she flipped the leather top over and removed the parcel she had retrieved from behind the bookcase in her chamber. She knelt in front of Phia, setting it in the giantess’ lap, before loosening the silken string holding the fabric together.
“Hey, that’s that thing you wouldn’t tell me about!” Ryris scrambled from his chair and also knelt beside the two women, eagerly anticipating the unveiling of whatever was concealed beneath the wrappings.
Phia laid her hands on the package with reverence. “Thank the Goddess they’re safe. If they were to fall into the wrong hands…”
“What are they?” Ryris leaned forward to get a better glimpse.
Kaia untied the string completely and let the fabric fall to the side, revealing a shining silver sword hilt and a shard of crystal, one edge razor sharp. The items glittered even in the low light of the hut. Ryris was mesmerized by the artifacts, watching Phia run her rough fingertips over the smooth material.
“I have been blind since birth. But when I touch these pieces, as I once touched the original weapon, I imagine it to be spectacular.” She smiled in the darkness, her solemn eyes betraying her feelings. She picked up the hilt, turning it over in her hands. “These items saved mankind—with the help of a brave warrior.”
“I did what I needed to do.”
Ryris stared at Kaia, watching her steely expression in the flickering light of the fireplace. Her voice was laced with hardened determination.
Phia handed the hilt to Ryris. It was lighter than he expected it to be, the metal cool on his skin. The opal adorning the butt of the pommel glittered, despite harboring a thick crack. Turning it over in his hands, he noted the ornate scrollwork on the guard, several tendrils converging into one line before disappearing under the leather-wrapped grip. The craftsmanship was exquisite and Ryris understood that he was in the presence of history. What exactly that history was, he had no idea. “Looks broken.”
“This is the weapon that finally defeated Lyrax.” Kaia took it back from him and held it reverently. “It had been enchanted by our Arch-battlemage—the other Ryris. Meant for one use—to cleanse the land of the undead and ensure that their master could never again acquire the power he once commanded.”
“How?”
“When activated, the sword unleashed a terrific shockwave, sweeping across the battlefield and incinerating everything with holy magic. It was our last resort. The power it discharged did not differentiate between friend and foe.” Kaia’s tone was solemn.
“How did you activate it? A magic word, or something? Like, ‘abracadabra’?”
Kaia stared at him, his attempt at humor lost in her seriousness. She rubbed her thumb over the opal on the pommel. “This stone was the ‘switch’, so to speak. Our Ryris enchanted it so that my thumb alone would start the reaction. All I had to do was take off my gauntlet and make skin contact with it—and it would release the holy fire. The attack could only be used once, and would destroy the sword in the process.” Kaia held out her right hand, Ryris finally getting an explanation for her burned skin. “A permanent reminder of that day.”
“What happened after the blast? To Lyrax?”
“He was near death, a charred shell of a man. His skin had been singed beyond recognition, his bones visible where flesh was burned off. We knew the only way to destroy him once and for all was to render him to ash.” Kaia furrowed her brows as she inhaled deeply. “He cursed us…all while pleading for his own life. The perfect testament to how truly insane he was. We threw him into Mount Vorik in Ashal. Cruel, perhaps, but deserved. After what he did to our people, to the innocent victims on all the continents—we hoped Oleana would forgive us.”
Ryris shuddered at the thought. He couldn’t even imagine being punished in such a manner, even if he had been the most evil man in the world. Again, it hit him just how horrible war could be. He looked to the shimmering crystal shard on Phia’s lap. “And that’s a piece of the blade?”
“One of ten,” Phia responded, handing the delicate package back to Kaia. “The sword shattered when it was activated. Many insignificant flecks were lost, but the main pieces were safely held by the royal quartermaster of Farnfoss until King Galroy could decide what should happen to them.”
“When the decision was made to seal us away, we were each given a piece to protect. Father felt it was my honor and responsibility to also carry the hilt.” Kaia took the parcel from Phia’s lap and re-tied the string while she spoke. “Alone, the shards and hilt are useless, nothing more than shimmering spoils of war. But put back together once again…”
“I thought you said it was a one-time use?”
“If a master sword smith working with a talented magician were able to cobble it back together and place another enchantment on it, in theory, it could work again. That’s why they all needed to be protected—and couldn’t possibly be housed together. If they fell into the wrong hands, the consequences, however unlikely, could be dire.”
“So where are the other pieces? You said there are only two other generals left, right?” Ryris, noticing the fire was beginning to die down, added another log to the hearth.
“Each of my comrades was entrusted with one shard. The other seven were given to faithful servants of my father and hidden in the far reaches of the realm. It was the ultimate goal that no one person knew where they all were…except for a certain giantess?” Kaia winked at Phia. “I’m assuming my father told you their locations?”
Phia sighed tiredly. “Unfortunately, no. But…” She slowly lifted her heavy frame from the chair with a grunt, and shuffled past her two visitors toward the other room in the cottage. “Come with me, young man.”
Ryris obeyed, following her into to her bedroom. A chest of drawers sat under the only window in the room, listing to one side, a leg having rotted away years prior. Her gargantuan bed rested along the far wall, a scraggly, thin blanket tossed on top. Using her walking stick as a pointer, Phia motioned under the bed.
“Be a dear and pull out that chest for me? My knees are old and stiff.”
Ryris busied himself with retrieval as Phia rummaged around in her drawers. Tugging with all his might, the cumbersome box refused to budge. His face turning red and his muscles bulging as he pulled, he could hear his heartbeat thundering in his ears as his blood pressure rose. After a long moment of struggle, he finally freed the chest from beneath the bed, pulling it into the center of the room with a loud grunt. A cloud of dust came along with it. Ryris sneezed, wiping his nose on his sleeve. Phia turned at the noise, an old, dull bronze key in her hand. She held it out to the young alchemist.
“The lock is old, and it sticks.”
Ryris inserted the key into the ancient lock, attempting to turn it. Phia was right, it definitely stuck. Jiggling it, the latch began to slip and within a few seconds had popped open. Setting the key on the floor, Ryris lifted the latch and opened the lid. His nostrils were tickled by the sweet scent of perfume, an aroma he didn’t expect to smell in a swamp. Peering inside, he saw colorful silk scarves, a gold goblet encrusted with jewels, sparkling brooches, and an entire pot of gold gamm. It seemed Phia had her very own treasure chest.
“There should be a box, about ye big,” the giantess added, holding her hands in front of her body to show a size comparison.
“Where did you get all this loot?” Ryris carefully moved objects aside to find what he was looking for.
“Gifts, mostly. From Kaia’s father and the nobles. Call it pre-payment for services rendered. I have no use for any of it, but it was a nice gesture. I would have aided them anyway.”
“Nice folks.” Ryris’ hand brushed against a hard object. Pushing a fur stole to the side, he brought out a wooden box, beautiful scrollwork intricately etched into the material. Silver covers had been tacked onto each corner, a latch and lock of the same metal adorning the front. “This what you’re looking for?”
Phia held her hands out as Ryris placed the box in her palms. She ran her fingers over the object. “Yes. Would you close the trunk and push it back under the bed? I don’t want to trip over it tonight.”
Ryris grumbled as he struggled to place the chest back where he found it. When he was finished, he followed Phia out of the room, returning just in time to see her sit back in her massive chair and present the box to Kaia.
“Open.”
Kaia obeyed, flicking the latch up with her thumb. The tiny hinges on the lid creaked with age. As the interior was revealed, a small smile crossed the warrior’s lips. “My tiara…”
“Your father gave it to me. It may be able to help you find the hidden shards.”
Kaia lifted the delicate accessory from the box and placed it on her head, resting atop her golden locks. Almost instantly, the blue stone embedded in the ornate metalwork began to glow.
“It remembers you, that’s good.” Phia leaned forward, reaching for the box. She blindly foraged under the layers of silk until she found what she was searching for. “And these will help me communicate with you.”
Kaia eyed each token with suspicion, accepting one of the pink jewels from her hostess. It flared in unison with the one nestled in Phia’s hand. “I’ve never seen these before.”
“Your father went to Fallswood after you went to sleep and personally picked them out. He hoped that if the time ever came where your skills were needed again, I could contact you. Mind you, they only work in our dreams, but they should be effective nonetheless.” Phia took the gem back. “They’re called Witching Stones, and despite the sinister sound to their name, I assure you they have nothing to do with evil. They were highly sought-after for their ability to assist in telepathy, especially on the new moon when the filaments inside glow. The mines they came from were very dangerous. Many workers died trying to excavate them. Their price was astronomical.”
“How does it work?” Kaia turned the gem over in her hand. It glittered.
Phia leaned forward, and beckoned for Kaia to meet her halfway. She wrapped her fingers tightly around the stone. “Hold it tight. Press your forehead against mine, dear.”
Kaia obeyed. Instantly, they were both enveloped in a misty, pink cloud. It shined from the inside-out. The gems hidden by their closed hands glowed brightly. After just a few seconds, it was over. The mist dissipated, the brightness from the stones subsided. Phia leaned back with a satisfied smile.
“Now we are connected.”
“This is crazy…” Ryris breathed, awestruck. “Tiaras that can divine the locations of sword shards? A magic gem that can send you messages in your dreams? Am I hallucinating?”
Without hesitation, Kaia drew her arm back and unleashed a mighty whack across Ryris’ shoulders. “There, you’re not hallucinating.”
“That was mean, you know that?” Ryris scowled at her with a humph and reached around to rub his aching shoulder.
She smirked and turned away from him. “Phia, do you think the shards are safe?”
“There’s no way to tell until you get to them.”
“Then we can’t waste any more time.” Kaia began to stand, but Phia grabbed her hand and pulled back down.
“First, you finish your dinner and spend the night. There are many miles between here and your next destination. I can’t in good conscience let you leave with an empty stomach and tired feet. One more day won’t matter after seven hundred years.”
Kaia sighed with a tired smile. That night, on the dirt floor of a swamp shack, she and Ryris slept sounder than they had in weeks.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The southern deserts pose serious threat to life and limb. Not only are they parched and without sufficient vegetation to sustain life, they are home to a motley band of nomads who do not take kindly to trespassers on their lands.
--Excerpt from ‘A Child’s Gazette of Geography’, Alerius Pram, noted author and scholar
“Maxx! Maaaaaaaxx!”
The old man grumbled, fumbling the decanter of base fluid in his hands as he was interrupted. He turned just in time to see Grildi burst through the door of the shop.
“Did you get a letter?” Grildi beamed hopefully, his smile crossing his entire face. He nearly knocked an entire dish of moon gems to the floor in his exuberant tizzy.
“Not today.” He set the bottle down and pointed accusingly at his visitor. “And watch where you’re swinging your arms! You nearly destroyed a thousand gamm worth of inventory!”
“Sorry, Boss. It’s just I saw the carrier bird come this morning. I hoped it had something for you. It’s…” Grildi cast his eyes downward, nervously fiddling with his belt buckle. “…been too long.”
Sighing, Maxx hated to admit he agreed with the town guard. Seven weeks was way too long to go without hearing from his son. He knew Grildi was worrying, and he knew that Ryris being so quiet couldn’t mean anything good. Maxx’ mind would race at times like this—or when he was eating alone in the quiet house, or laying in bed at night—and he’d come up with all sorts of horrible scenarios to justify why his son hadn’t written. Perhaps the shop had burned down, taking Ryris with it. “No,” Maxx thought, “someone in Keld surely would have contacted me. After all, my name is on the deed.” Maybe his son had gone missing on a harvest expedition, stranded in the mountains or stuck in a swamp. “What if he’s pinned under his wagon? He could be laying there dying.” He always had to stop himself, reminding his conscience that his son was a smart man, and wouldn’t put himself in harm’s way or do anything stupid on purpose. He motioned for Grildi to approach the counter, and fished a small hard candy from his apron pocket.
“I know. We have to remember that he’s busy in the big city. He’s got a new life now.”
Grildi accepted the treat. “You want to go check on him?”
“Can’t leave the shop for that long.” Maxx took back the paper wrapping from Grildi’s sweet and tossed it into the fireplace. “I’m sure he’s just fine.” He tried to hide his worry from his guest. Grildi was very emotionally sensitive, and if he caught wind that Maxx was more worried than he let on, he’d be a blubbering m
ess.
“Well, you just give the word and I’ll find him. I’ll keep him safe.” Grildi puffed out his chest with pride.
“I don’t doubt that one bit.”
Grildi smacked his lips around the candy like a child. “You think he has a wife?”
“He better not. I told him to meet new people, not get hitched.”
“Aye. No time for that, huh?” Grildi raised a hopeful eyebrow at Maxx. “Would you help me write to him? Like last time?”
“Why not? I can’t concentrate today anyway. Oleana only knows the potions would be garbage if I tried to force it. Let me grab some paper and a quill—you’re writing this time.”
“But…”
“No ‘buts’. You need the practice.”
Grildi pouted and began to nervously tap his fingers on the countertop. He wasn’t confident in his penmanship skills, but he knew Ryris wouldn’t mind—and would be proud of him for the effort. Maxx returned quickly, tan parchment and a short quill in tow. He grabbed a pot of ink from underneath the counter.
“Get crackin’. I’ll help you when you need it.”
Sticking his tongue out in concentration, Grildi dipped the end of the quill in the ink and applied it to the paper. A sloppy blob fell in the margin.
Deer Ryris,
I miss you something feerce. I hope you are alrite. Maxx says my writeing is getting better all the time…
~~~
“I’ve never felt heat like this. I think I’m going to pass out.” Ryris wiped the back of his hand across his forehead, noticing the ever growing absence of moisture. Feeling dehydration beginning to take hold, he reached for his waterskin, only to find it bone dry. “Kaia, if we don’t find some water soon, we’ll die.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” Her voice was raspy from lack of hydration. Ryris hadn’t heard her snap so harshly in quite some time. It was obvious they were both affected by thirst. “If we can just make it over this next dune, there’s bound to be an oasis.”
“You said that three dunes ago. I think we should turn back.”
The Alchemist: Dawn of Destiny Page 24