by Tracey Alley
think nothing of it… it is magic, it is familiar and acceptable. Why? Because you know that I have been trained, I possess the skills, but if, for example, a peasant woman does the same thing… it is a very different story is it not? She is untrained, she herself does not know how she has achieved the effect, and so, we all, mages included, brand her a witch. I ask myself the question, what if witchcraft, or what we have branded sorcery and witchcraft, is simply… another, different type of magic, real magic?”
“Is that even possible?” Michael asked quietly, “I'm not an expert in these matters but my understanding has been that magic comes either from the gods, in the form of divine answers to specific prayers, or from some kind of mental manipulation, or whatever it is exactly that mages do?”
“Mental manipulation is the very opposite to what mages do, our power stems from the gods as does yours. It is true that we use our intelligence but we use our minds to find the… hidden levers of the universe. I can, for example, create fire from the air, because years of study have shown me the elements of fire within the elements of the air, thus I find the right words, incantations, spell components, whatever the case may be which will allow me, the blessing of the god, to draw the fire from the air.”
“I'm not sure I follow you completely but the gist of what you’re saying is that arcane magic is essentially the same as divine magic but with added study.”
“That is crudely yet essentially correct, and it brings with it its own… safeguards. The years a mage must spend in study, the dedication to the craft… these bring in their wake, discipline, restraint, control. In Shallendara, it appears that she has also discovered a way to tap into whatever power allows those ‘witches’ to do what… things they do, including the very… wild, out of control nature of witchcraft. Witches do not possess the same disciplines and restraint as we of the arcane… among the things they are capable of, unfortunately, include the very ‘mental manipulation’ that you spoke of earlier. Although it is not manipulation or control of the spellcasters mind, it is manipulation of others. As you know, the most… common charges leveled against any so-called witch or sorcerer is that of predicting the future, of forecasting deaths, reading people’s minds. The witch is said to put ‘the evil eye’ on their victim, and the victim dies… because they believe they will,” Nexus leaned forward in order to emphasize his words, “It is not because the witch has done anything to them, physically, but in the mind of the victim they believe something has been done. The power, if it is real and can be harnessed, is phenomenal.”
Michael was silenced by the implications of Nexus’s explanation. Although he had known, almost from the beginning, the danger posed by this rogue mage, the idea of a new, out of control type of magic went beyond anything Michael had conceived. Michael had been around magic, of one kind or another, for most of his life and he had a great respect for its power. He also knew, all too well, just how dangerous that power could be when turned against those ill-equipped to fight against it. How were The Kingdoms supposed to fight against a new, powerful type of magic? One that invaded the mind, making them believe the unbelievable, feel pain without injury and who knew what else with no experience of this type of magic and no defense? The very idea made Michael's blood run cold.
“What do you mean ‘if it’s real’?” the knight asked abruptly, remembering Nexus’ cryptic comment.
“These are rumors Michael. We are dealing with gossip and innuendo. Stories that have been told and retold, there are a few credible eyewitness reports but they come from frightened people. I cannot count any of this as truly… accurate. Not yet. I need more information; however, I will never be able to obtain what I seek for myself.”
“What is it that you need? If I can get it for you Nexus I will certainly do so. You have my solemn word.”
“I thank you for that Michael. Your word is… valuable, however, I am uncertain whether or not you will be able to help. I seek access to the great library of The Black Lotus monastery. I believe that somewhere in the scrolls lies the answer. The answer of how to…. defeat the witch and her new type of magic. You have realized, have you not that Shallendara’s witchcraft is, by its very nature…. independent of the gods?”
“Yes but I’m unsure whether that will work for us or against us?” the knight answered.
The mage threw back his handsome head and laughed aloud.
“I’m not sure either, Michael, but perhaps we should all…. pray. Pray for the gods’ assistance and pray there is an answer and that I can find that answer in the library.”
“I can’t make any promises Nexus but I will do what I can to get you access. I still have many friends among the warrior monks.”
“I can ask for nothing more.”
Forced Loyalty
Slade and Wulfstan were barely able to finish their share of the meager meal before collapsing. Lara had prepared them some make-shift beds using the cleanest of the old blankets and the least infested of the moldy straw. As soon as they had finished eating they had retired to sleep, utterly exhausted.
Tares, although he understood their exhaustion, was nevertheless disappointed. The big minotaur wanted to sort through the papers and other items scavenged from the prison. Tares hoped the necromancer and his lies would be exposed and he believed there may be an answer among the items taken from the prison. However, Tares was prepared to wait.
Until then Tares was determined to keep a close watch on Nikolai. While they waited for Slade and Wulfstan to get some much needed rest Lara sat on the floor with Roulibard and Darzan and began teaching them how to play the complicated card game the halfling favored. Sitting nearby next to the giant half-ogre, half-troll called Trunk; Nikolai was leaning back against the wall, eyes closed. After a few minutes the necromancer stood and walked wordlessly towards the far end of the open space and into the deeper shadows of the tunnel.
Tares waited a decent interval of time; after all, it was possible the necromancer had simply left to relieve himself. When the mage still had not returned after a suitable period of time the big minotaur got up quietly and followed. He found Nikolai sitting on a rough stone boulder about thirty feet into the tunnel.
“You never disappoint me Tares. It’s nice to know that I can always rely on you and your perpetual distrust,” Nikolai said in a low, mocking whisper.
“And have you ever given me a reason not to distrust you, necromancer?”
“I do have a name you know,” Nikolai said with a hint of steel in his voice, “I use yours, surely simple good manners would dictate you use mine.”
“If you think to intimidate me…” Tares began only to be cut off by Nikolai’s cold, hollow laugh.
“I do not need to intimidate you, priest,” Nikolai whispered harshly, “you mean less than nothing to me. However, if we are forced to work together then you will do me the courtesy of addressing me by name.”
“I have no intention of working with you…”
“But you will,” Nikolai cut in, pulling a small object wrapped in cloth from his pocket and passing it to Tares.
“How, where did you, I don’t…” Tares was almost stuttering in his surprise, for the small object Nikolai had handed him was the seal ring belonging to Lord Michael Strong. It gave the holder absolute authority over any priest or Knight of Belenus.
“Lord Michael seemed to think that you, or whoever he sent, might require an incentive to take orders from me, a lowly necromancer, so he gave me the ring to ensure your,” Nikolai paused for a small, mocking laugh, “loyalty.”
Tares sat down heavily on a boulder facing Nikolai. Nikolai could only have come into possession of the Ring of Belenus legitimately. The ring was under the protection of Belenus and so could not be stolen. This meant Tares had no option other than to follow the necromancer’s orders. It also confirmed the mage’s earlier claim that he had been, and still was, working with and for the Grand Knight, Lord Michael Strong. Tares sighed deeply and wordle
ssly handed the ring back to Nikolai.
“It seems, Nikolai,” Tares growled reluctantly, “that my services and loyalty lies with you.”
“Yes it does, but you will find I am not too exacting a taskmaster. As absurd as it may seem to you, our aims, for the moment, coincide. As you have surmised there are certain details that I have chosen, at this time, to keep from the others, including Slade. Knowing your trusting nature you will doubtless be bursting with any number of ridiculous ideas as to why I have made this decision. As much as it would amuse me to watch you blunder around trying to determine what I’m ‘up to’ I will tell you instead. Before I came here I discovered that someone else was making an attempt to find our mutual missing friend, and to ingratiate themselves with Slade.”
“Who?” Tares asked, still suspicious.
“I don’t know, not specifically, but I had certain suspicions which your pet halfling has confirmed for me.”
Tares frowned, ignoring the insult to Lara for the moment, and tried to puzzle out Nikolai’s meaning.
“You mean,” the big minotaur said slowly, “that someone else from the Silent Hand has been looking for…”
“Shhh, now, now Tares… we must be very, very careful on that subject matter. I have a great deal of respect for our mutual friend