The cleric and mage thawed out the others while Harran, Sherman, and Zylor secured the area, checking all the openings into the cavern. They found the cyclops’ den littered with refuse, bones, soldiers’ clothing, and human remains. The young soldier, who happened to tag along with them, ran off and retched in a dark alcove. Other than the den, there was little of interest in the area.
The soldiers who survived glared suspiciously at the minotaur and received a similar glance in return. Milena assured them repeatedly that the minotaur was a friend, but that did little to dissuade their suspicion. Zylor merely grunted. To him, ‘friend’ was an extremely strong word.
When the survivors were all released from the ice, the task of thawing out the less fortunate began. The two members of the group who had each lost an arm were dead, even though the rest of their bodies were still intact. The one who had lost one arm and a leg had also perished. The lone mage in the party was also a victim, his body broken into many small fragments. They dragged the remains into an alcove where Milena cast a spell of peace to protect the remains from evil creatures.
With that over with, they set out for the base camp, carrying the dead mage’s staff with them to be returned to the Tower of Sorcery.
“He was a good mage,” said Milena sadly. “We’ll miss him.”
Harran led them to their last overnight spot where they rested for a few hours before marching the rest of the way to the cave mouth.
During the trek, Kazin filled Milena in with the details of his adventure, including the theory that the lizardmen were using an unknown portal magic. Milena filled Kazin in with her part, confirming their bewilderment of the lizardmen’s path going through solid rock. They decided to see if they could go around somehow and find a continuation of the trail but instead intruded on the cyclops’ lair. The soldiers didn’t stand a chance against the magic-wielding cyclops. How the creature came to have such a weapon was unknown.
At the base camp they rested and ate. Then they loaded up to return to the tower. Kazin checked the energy in his staff and was surprised to see it was still fully charged. It should have been nearly drained of magical energy. He shrugged and slid it into his holster and mounted his horse.
Zylor looked restless. “Maybe I should return to the mountain. I’ll follow the cliffs and work my way back home.”
“Not while you’re still injured,” said Milena firmly. “Your injury doesn’t seem to be healing on its own. If it isn’t treated, you could die. The Tower of Hope owes you a debt. It is also the only place you can be properly healed. Do not worry. You won’t be harmed.”
“Where have I heard that before?” said Zylor sullenly, glaring at Harran.
“This time it’ll be O.K.,” said Harran. He had also noticed the festering wound and was concerned. “Clerics are neutral when it comes to healing. They’d heal an orc if it asked for help.”
Zylor looked doubtfully at his friend but finally agreed to go along. The wound was getting rather painful. Harran’s large horse was readied for him and, although Zylor detested riding horses (the horse wasn’t too thrilled either), he was not strong enough to run all the way to the tower.
The return trip was amazingly uneventful and, as they entered the tower’s courtyard, Malachi came out to greet them. He eyed the minotaur warily before asking what they had learned. Then, looking at a slightly reduced scouting party, he inquired as to the whereabouts of the missing members. He shook his sadly when told about their demise.
“At least I have some good news to tell you,” said Malachi on a lighter note. “Most of the injured from the recent battle have been healed. Only the more critical injuries are still being treated. There is still work to be done, however, so those of you under General Larsen’s command should report to him immediately.”
The soldiers departed quickly.
“Milena, you are to report to cleric Tungia for your next assignment. Good work on your expedition. We didn’t recover the stolen books but at least we learned something useful. It was unfortunate that we lost some good people on the way, but it couldn’t be helped.”
Milena nodded.
“Kazin, come with me to the orb room,” continued Malachi. “We have to inform Arch Mage Krendal about your latest discoveries.”
Milena cast Kazin a surprised glance at the mention of Krendal’s name. Apparently, he was well known among the white mages. It was rather unusual for an unknown mage such as Kazin to be associated with the arch mage himself.
“Bring your friends with you,” said Malachi. Then he stopped dead in his tracks and spun to face the minotaur. “On second thought, why don’t your friends wait out here? It won’t take long.”
Milena tapped the minotaur on his good arm. “Come with me, please.”
Zylor looked pleadingly at Harran as he was literally dragged to one of the healing domes.
Sherman chuckled. “Somehow I wish I were in his place right now.”
Harran smiled. “She’s not afraid of him, either. Are all clerics like that, do you think?”
“I don’t know,” said Sherman, still chuckling.
“I won’t be long,” said Kazin. “I’ll find out how much you’ll be paid, Harran.”
“I’ve already received payment,” said Harran, tapping the glittering ice axe.
“We’ll see about that,” said Kazin.
“Just don’t make me wait until it melts,” said the dwarf.
Kazin smiled. “You’ll melt before it does.”
Malachi led Kazin to the orb room and closed the door and sat down behind the orb. With a quiet chant he caused the orb to glow. “It might be a few moments before Krendal answers,” said Malachi. “Have a seat while we’re waiting.”
They didn’t wait long. Shortly after Kazin sat down Krendal appeared.
“Ah, Kazin!” said Krendal. “You’re back. Good. What’s the status on the missing books?”
Kazin filled Krendal in on the events relating to the scouting party and the mysterious portal magic the lizardmen used. He was only interrupted once to explain how a minotaur got involved in the situation. The remaining questions were covered in more detail after the story was ended.
Finally Krendal sat back and steepled his fingers. “Yes, we’re in a big fight this time, fellas. Sources in the Tower of Strength report some skirmishes are already underway. There are also reports that minotaur vessels are intercepting reinforcements heading north along the east coast. There are even rumours that spell casters are aboard their ships, but no one can claim to have seen one. The knights and soldiers in the Tower of Strength are going to have to make do for a while. With a new threat near the Tower of Hope, we need soldiers to defend our flanks.”
“I’m glad someone shares our concern,” said Malachi with relief. “Our forces nearly lost it the first time. We need time to regroup.”
Krendal nodded. “I’m sending some more master mages and two arch mages your way in case something happens again. Any mages not directly involved with arms production will be signed up to assist both your tower and the Tower of Strength. I also understand a major army recruitment procedure is underway. You will soon have more soldiers. They will be mostly untrained, but there is strength in numbers. Let’s just hope they won’t be needed.”
Malachi nodded. “What about the forces in the south? I thought some reinforcements would surely be drawn from there.”
“That was the general idea,” said Krendal. “Nevertheless, there is a slight problem. The orb in the Tower of the Sky needs recharging. With all the black and white master mages on missions in the north, there are no mages powerful enough to recharge the orb. The last message I received from the grey mages came via pigeon. In it they explained their orb’s failure.”
“What do you propose to do about it?” asked Malachi. “Shouldn’t we send one white and one black mage
to deal with the orb?”
“That’s precisely my plan,” said Krendal. “There is one other thing that must be done at the same time. Remember when I sent one mage to each tower with the secret code for communications?”
“Yes,” said Malachi.
“Well, the one destined for the Tower of Strength is stuck at the Tower of the Stars waiting for a sea captain willing to go north through the minotaur-infested waters of the ocean. Until he gets through, we’ll have to keep dialogue vague with the Tower of Strength. That’s not what we wanted but we’ll get around it somehow, I hope.
“Similarly,” continued Krendal, “the mage destined for the Tower of the Sky ran into some difficulties as well. He was ambushed by the ever increasing number of bandits. Fortunately he destroyed the scroll before they robbed him. He is presently recuperating in a small town called Windemeer, just north of the Silver River.”
“So you need someone to deliver the code to the Tower of the Sky,” said Malachi slowly. “I’d go myself, but—.”
“No,” said Krendal. “We need you there. I think Kazin would be the ideal choice. He’s one of the few mages who is magically cleared to use the secret code.”
“But he doesn’t know how to initialize the orb,” objected Malachi. “I can’t teach him because my magic is different. And remember, the orb books are some of the ones we just happen to be missing.”
“I know,” said Krendal. “But there is one book still available to you.”
“What do you mean?” asked Malachi.
Krendal smiled. “I presume my visiting chamber is still available?”
Malachi grinned. “I assume you just happen to have an orb book stashed away in there somewhere?”
“Precisely. It isn’t exactly an orb book, but there is enough information in there to activate an orb. I can give Kazin the spell to deactivate the warding on the trunk under the bed. Then he can practice the proper spell on your orb, with your permission, of course.”
Malachi nodded. “No problem.”
Krendal turned to Kazin. “With the roads increasingly dangerous, your idea of having a bodyguard is a sound one, Kazin. When you go south, bring your warrior friend along.”
Kazin nodded. “What about the dwarf? He said he already has payment for his services. He wants to keep the ice axe.”
Krendal laughed loudly. “Payment of a rare artifact such as that is a little extreme for the services he performed.” Then the smile vanished and the arch mage scratched his beard thoughtfully. “However, if he worked for it—yes! He really wants the ice axe, right?”
“I guess so,” said Kazin.
“Then let him have it—under one condition!”
“Which is?” prodded Malachi.
“He must use it in the service of the tower, in this case to defend Kazin!”
“For how long?” asked Malachi.
“As long as we need him,” answered Krendal.
“Will the dwarf agree to that?” queried Malachi doubtfully.
“What dwarf wouldn’t?” said Krendal. “To hold such a rare artifact and be permitted to use it with the tower’s permission is an honour, and dwarves like honour! Besides, mages aren’t much good with axes.”
“So Harran comes with me?” asked Kazin.
“If he wants the axe.”
“What about Kazin’s latest friend?” asked Malachi. “The minotaur.”
Krendal scratched his beard. “We’ll have to send him back to where he came from.”
“I can’t,” said Kazin. “He came through one of the lizardmen’s magical portals. We still can’t open them yet.”
“What do you suggest, Kazin?” asked Krendal.
“He should come with me too.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s what the Book of Prophesy implies.”
“Book of Prophesy? How do you know what’s in the Book of Prophesy?” asked Krendal.
“I have one page from Filbar’s cave. Didn’t I tell you about it?”
“No,” said Krendal sternly. “You didn’t.”
“I—I must have forgotten,” said Kazin. “I’m sorry. I found it in the cave when I was dragging Sandor out during the collapse.”
“You forgot something that important?”
“I’m sorry,” repeated Kazin. “I guess I wanted to mention it but it wouldn’t come out. It was on my mind but I couldn’t speak of it.”
“We’ll talk of this later,” said Krendal. “What does the page in your possession say?”
Kazin pulled it out and read it aloud.
“You figure this has something to do with Kazin?” asked Malachi after the young mage had finished.
“Possibly,” mused Krendal slowly. “It mentions an ice axe, and the only one I know of is in Kazin’s friend’s possession. And ‘the head of horns’ certainly brings a minotaur to mind. The thing that really nags at me, though, is the reference to the ‘Sword of Dead’.”
“Why?” asked Malachi.
“I was on the verge of sending Kazin south around the edges of the Plains of Grief to avoid the more popular ambush locations along any of the major routes. The stories I’ve read about the Plains of Grief suggest the existence of a sword being buried there. That sword is called ‘the Sword of Dead’. As far as I know, many have entered the plains to look for the magical sword, but none have returned.”
“Knowing that, are you still going to send him down that way?” asked Malachi. “There are many rumours of the dead walking at night in the area. Travellers are warned to avoid the plains at all costs.”
“I know,” said Krendal. “I’m hoping that what keeps travellers away also keeps bandits and brigands away.”
“Does that mean you want me to go there?” asked Kazin.
“I want you to go around the plains, as I originally planned,” said Krendal. “You should be safe with your protectors and the cleric Malachi sends with you, should there be any lost ghosts to bother you.”
“In that case, I know just the cleric to send along,” said Malachi. “From what I’ve seen, she isn’t afraid of the minotaur, and she can probably keep him in line.”
“Good,” said Krendal. “By the way, Kazin, while you’re visiting the grey mages, see if you can borrow their copy of the Book of Prophesy.”
“Yes, Sir,” responded Kazin. “So is Zylor joining us?”
“He may come in handy,” said Krendal after a moment. “Just use magic to disguise him when you get to any towns or villages. It wouldn’t do to have people think we were collaborating with the enemy!”
“Yes, Sir,” said Kazin solemnly.
Krendal turned to Malachi. “Malachi, have your troops keep an eye on the magical entrance on the outside of the mountain. Don’t give away your presence. Just monitor it to see how often it is used and have a mage and cleric present in case they can figure out the magical signature. It would be nice to learn how it opens.”
“O.K.,” said Malachi. “I’ll have to talk to the minotaur to find where it is, though.”
“That’s O.K.,” said Kazin, drawing out a piece of parchment from his cloak. “Zylor drew up this map. It shows the location of the magical portal in relation to the surrounding countryside.”
“I thought Harran was the map maker?” asked Krendal.
“He is,” said Kazin, “but Zylor drew this map.”
Krendal blinked.
“Part of the prophesy, perhaps?” suggested Malachi.
Krendal nodded slowly. “Perhaps.”
“Harran taught him to make maps,” said Kazin. “He’s not bad at reading them, either.” He passed the map to Malachi.
“By the way, Kazin,” said Krendal after a moment, “don’t forget to get your staff recharged before you go.”
“That’s not necessary,” said Kazin. “It’s still fully charged.”
“Didn’t you use it for light in the mountain?”
“Yes,” said Kazin. “But when I came out I checked it and it was fully charged.”
Krendal frowned. “It shouldn’t be. Let’s see it.”
Kazin pulled it out and held it in front of the orb. Krendal examined it for a moment and then harrumphed. “Just an ordinary staff. Strange. Very well, you may re sheath it.”
Kazin complied.
“Now it’s time for a new lesson,” continued Krendal. The arch mage sat forward so his face covered the entire surface of the orb. “Kazin, here is the anti-warding spell for the trunk. Listen carefully…”
Grakath smashed his fist on the table, knocking over the short stand containing his communication orb. The orb rolled to the end of the table and would have crashed to the floor if a skeletal hand had not stopped it.
“They’re using a magical code to prevent others from listening in!” growled the necromancer. “Very clever! I’ll have to decipher it later. What were you saying, Nimbar?”
“The sea forces are reporting success in their interception of enemy ships, and the land forces are gathering to make a thrust toward the Tower of Strength. The zombie forces are slower than expected, but are due to arrive on the scene within one month. We are still employing roving bands of orcs and goblins, with or without their permission. Graf reports success with the staves you supplied and says one staff is capable of handling as many as 100 fighters, regardless of race. Anything over that causes the staff to explode.”
“Very well,” said Grakath. “We can’t afford to damage any more staves. Leave the limit at 100. The only tests we will now perform are in battle.”
“Graf has been doing that already,” said Nimbar. “His battle against the Tower of Hope was designed not only to test the staves, but to get some literature on orbs in the hopes of improving the staves.”
“Is that so?” said Grakath unpleasantly. “He should have informed me of his plan first. Did his adventure go as planned? Did he get the books?”
Kazin's Quest: Book I of The Dragon Mage Trilogy Page 26