by Dragon Lance
“Yes.” Magius had gone pale. “Even the Queen’s dark clerics fear him. She needs him, though.”
The knight stiffened. “You know a lot.”
“I – I heard much of him as I traveled. I thought he might be the one to aid me, to give me protection. He has no fear of the Three Orders.”
There was motion in the next room. Magius stepped back into the shadows. “I do not think we can continue our discussion for now. Try to understand that everything I’ve done is for good reasons. We’ll talk later.”
Magius melted into the darkness. Leaping up, the knight put a hand into the shadowy corner. Only walls, as he suspected. Whatever portal Magius had opened had just been closed.
With a snarl, Kaz burst into the room. “I heard him! Where is he?”
Startled by the ferocity of the minotaur, Huma stepped back. “What is it, Kaz?”
“This is a trap, as I suspected! My ax is gone! My daggers are missing!”
“What are you talking about?” Huma reached for his own sword, which hung near the bed. Only —
The sheath hung as before, but it was empty now. Hurriedly, Huma went through his belongings. Like Kaz, he was missing all his weapons. They had disappeared even while the two old friends had talked.
Huma put a hand to his head. The room was becoming terribly hot. He felt flushed. Kaz was suddenly by his side, supporting him.
“What has he done to you? Are you ill?”
“I’m fine.” He waved his sympathetic companion away. “It’s nothing.”
Huma had been a fool. He had believed that the past still counted, when now it was all too obvious that the mage had been lying. The inconsistencies, the overlengthy explanations, left more questions than they answered.
Huma reached for his armor. “We’re leaving – somehow.”
Kaz helped him suit up.
The hallway was apparently unguarded, although the knight was sure that unseen servants watched their every move. He wondered how far Magius would allow them to go.
“I don’t like this,” Kaz muttered. He, far more than the human, distrusted the workings of any magic-user.
They reached the long, spiral staircase without incident – which only served to make them that much more cautious. Huma reached out and touched the bannister with one finger. When he felt nothing, he dared to grip it. He took a step downward. Another. A third. Kaz followed as closely behind as his huge bulk permitted. Their pace quickened unconsciously.
On the sixth step down, Huma blinked. He was no longer on the step, but back at the top of the staircase. Five steps below, Kaz whirled about, searching for him. Before Huma could warn him, the burly easterner set one foot down on the sixth step. Huma had only a quick glimpse of Kaz before the latter vanished, to reappear beside him a moment later.
“More tricks,” muttered Kaz.
They tried again, achieving the same result. Each time, the one who put a foot down on the step never noticed the shift. It was magic of the most complex and subtle nature.
They were trapped in some loop. Huma quit first, realizing the folly. Kaz continued for some time after, hoping there might be a way out. In the end, though, the minotaur joined Huma in the corridor.
“What now?”
Huma dropped the pack he had been carrying and undid the empty sheath. “Nothing. We won’t be going anywhere, it seems.”
“We cannot stay here!” The red glare was returning to the giant’s eyes.
“Have you any ideas? There are no windows, and the walls are solid. At least for us.”
“We could climb down to the corridor.”
Huma picked up the empty sheath and walked over to the stairway. He lifted the object over the rail and dropped it.
The sheath disappeared.
While Kaz looked on, Huma turned and pointed to the floor. The empty sheath lay behind them.
“We wait. We have no choice.”
The minotaur’s shoulders slumped in defeat.
There came a time when sleep forced itself upon them, despite their attempts to stay alert. Thus it was that Huma dreamed. Dreamed of Gwyneth and a mountain. Dreamed of a silver dragon in flight. Dreamed of evil spellcasters and gods battling. They all mixed together so randomly that he was never really sure what the dream was about or how it even began.
It ended abruptly, he knew, for it ended when the voice broke through his sleep.
“Wwaaaakkee.”
It took Huma several moments to realize that the sibilant whisper was not part of his dreams. Rather, it was a misty servant with a summons.
“Maaassteerr. Wiiissshhheess. Sssspeeaakk.”
Huma rose and Kaz, hearing the elemental, did likewise.
“Hhuuumaaaa. Ooonnnly.”
“I will go with him whether your master likes it or not! Now lead on, or I’ll inhale you!”
Whether or not the air elemental actually understood the minotaur’s words, it drifted toward the stairway. Huma followed, with Kaz close behind. The elemental led them downward. There was some hesitation on Huma’s part when they neared the level that had repulsed them earlier. He took a single step. This time, much to his surprise, he found his progress unimpeded. The aerial servant hovered near him, as if impatient to move on. Huma continued down, slowly at first, then more quickly as it became obvious that Magius had set no traps.
A loud shout of anger caused him to quickly look up at the level above. While Huma’s back had been turned, Kaz had attempted to follow the knight. Much to the minotaur’s annoyance, the spell still held him in thrall.
Wordlessly, Huma turned and followed the servant down the twisting stairway and through corridors unseen the day before. These halls were much more like the grove, darker than it seemed possible, in some places. Now and then, things flitted in the flickering light of the few torches. Only when they passed these torches could Huma be sure that he was still following the servant.
“Maaassteerr.”
Huma did not understand at first, for the room he entered was as dark and gloomy as all the corridors had been, and he could see no evidence that it was inhabited. Then he noted the sound of something moving.
A single word was uttered, and the room was lit by the staff of Magius. The sounds Huma had heard were those of the mage rising from a chair. As the other turned around, Huma’s mouth opened in complete shock. To his eyes, Magius seemed nearly twice as old as he had appeared earlier. One would have never believed that the two men were of the same age.
“Huma.” The magic-user’s tone almost begged for friendship. All the anger that Huma had contained within him began to melt away as he studied the sudden deprivation of vitality.
“Magius, what —?”
“I know. I leave you with more questions and fears each time we meet. I’m afraid I can’t change that even now, although I will attempt to clear up a few difficulties. First, I want you to see this.”
The mage led him into an adjoining room, where Huma found himself facing the earth elemental that had led them through the grove. Something lay before the living mound, something unnervingly familiar.
Huma recognized it. “A dreadwolf.”
It was bent at awkward angles, and Huma realized that one limb was torn away. Odder still, it was petrified. Reaching down, he verified the thought. It was like touching a rock.
The sightless eyes still seemed to watch him. Huma turned to Magius for explanation.
“There were three more, but they perished in the grove. Somehow, battered and torn as it was, this one made it to the field, where he,” Magius indicated the earth elemental, “finished it. The damage is done. Galan Dracos knows where I am and probably knows that you are here as well. I have no choice.”
Huma listened, unsure what Magius was leading to.
“Come with me.” They returned to the other room, and Magius walked over to a wall on which hung a high, gold-trimmed mirror. It was oval, decorated in elaborate scrollwork. Magius tapped the staff on the floor and said, “Show me.”
�
��There. The peak in the center.” A huge mountain loomed in the foreground. Recognition came swiftly. It was the same mountain so prominently displayed on one of the two great tapestries. “When I was tested in the tower, I saw that – the mountain. I remembered it well, for it was the final site conjured. I did not know it was real until I found this place, and the tapestry in the hall. When I saw it hanging on the wall, I knew there was more truth to the scenes in my Test than even my instructors knew. This mountain means something to the war. It conceals something. It is the one puzzle I cannot fathom. I don’t even know its exact location, but it is west of here – southwest possibly.”
He turned to Huma and held out the knight’s weapons, though his hand had been empty moments before. “The minotaur also has his weapons back. The elemental will lead you to the underground passages and to horses that I have kept for emergencies.”
The tower suddenly shook.
Magius whirled around and stared at the mirror. “Show me!”
The mountain scene vanished, to be replaced by a visual of the citadel, surrounded. A huge, black dragon with a rider. Other dragons, red, nearby.
“Moons of Krynn!” Magius smiled bitterly. “Am I worthy of the attention of Crynus himself?”
“Crynus!”
The mage looked at Huma and the bitter smile deepened. “Oh, yes, you two have met. Had I the time, I would tell you much of importance concerning him and the Black Guardsmen. As it is …” The tower shook again and the ceiling began to crumble.
“Arion!” In summons to the spellcaster’s urgent call, the misty servant formed before them. “Take them to the stables! Hurry!”
“Maaasssteerr.”
“Magius, let me help.”
“Help me?” The mage smiled. “I once stood at the side of Galan Dracos. I was second only to him among his gathering of mages. It will take more than dragons to stop me.”
A powerful gust of wind thrust Huma through the doorway even as he pondered how truthful Magius was being. Not just about his abilities, but his reasons. Would Huma ever know for sure?
“Huma!”
“Kaz!”
The minotaur came bursting down the dark corridor, heedless of any threats. True to his word, Magius had returned the minotaur’s weapons, including the huge battle ax.
The massive warrior’s first words were quite predictable. “What madness has he brought upon us now?”
“Only the warlord, six dragons, and Paladine knows what else.”
More masonry crashed down.
Kaz raised the ax high over his head. “By my ancestors for thirty generations, I will not die crushed under rock!”
“Fooollss! Fooolooowww!”
“That thing —”
“— is our guide out of here! No more words!”
They hurried after the air elemental, which now seemed to possess startling speed. It was glowing slightly silver now, so there was no chance of losing it in the dark corridors.
The stable proved to be more like a cave with ventilation. There were half a dozen horses, ranging in all sizes, but all well-muscled and sleek. While the two chose their mounts, the air elemental vanished.
“Where are we?” asked Kaz.
Huma leaped on his chosen horse, a tall, silver mare, and glanced toward the cave entrance. “West of the grove, I think. The hall tunneled underneath it.”
“Good. One small difficulty out of the way.” The minotaur climbed aboard his own animal, a beast at least as tall as himself.
Another jolt shook the cave. Huma freed the other animals; he would not leave the horses to die if the cave collapsed.
“Yaaah!” The horses were swift, and for ten minutes Huma and Kaz rode without looking back.
Behind them, the two could hear the cries of the dragons as they tore at the defenses of the citadel and its master.
What use was there in fighting a battle that could not be won? Still, Huma knew that the next battle would be his.
They broke through a clearing, and Huma dared to look back then. “Riders!”
There were at least eight of them, ebony-armored figures on coal-black steeds like creations of the Abyss. Black Guard. Huma’s hand strayed to his sword to assure himself that it was still there.
Something else broke through after the riders. Pale, canine things with sightless red eyes. Six or seven, perhaps. Dreadwolves.
Suddenly, the earth before the dark riders burst up with tremendous fury. One rider succeeded in keeping his balance and two managed to evade the explosion, but the rest vanished momentarily behind the huge mound, which Huma recognized as the earth elemental. A point in the favor of Magius, thought Huma. The mage had sent one of his most trusted servants to assist his old friend.
The dreadwolves had enough warning to dodge the milling confusion, though one fell victim to a horse that lost its balance. The others continued the chase.
A tree limb struck Huma in the arm, and he turned around just in time to avoid a low branch. Kaz rode a few yards to his right, his larger form causing him some grief. The horns on his head snagged branches with worrisome regularity. Kaz hung on grimly, though.
Huma glanced back whenever terrain permitted him, but the same sight always greeted him. The dreadwolves, at least, moved with a constant pace and did not seem to tire. Only six of the ebony riders had regrouped and managed to keep pace.
“We can’t …” A branch struck Kaz in the face as he tried to speak. “We can’t keep on like this. The horses will perish.”
Huma agreed. They were pushing the animals at a killing pace. Huma came to a difficult decision.
“Split up! Ride to the north!” He had to point to get his idea across. Kaz frowned but accepted. Huma indicated he would ride to the south. Lacking a plan of his own, the minotaur obeyed.
When Huma gave the signal, Kaz pulled his horse sharply to the right, nearly taking off his own right arm as the animal was forced to twist around a tree. Huma watched him vanish and then pulled tight on the reins of his own mount.
The animal was near to collapse. It slowed as quickly as possible, stumbling several times in the brush. Huma did not wait for it to come to a stop before leaping from the saddle. He landed feetfirst and scurried for the shelter of the trees.
The dreadwolves were fast closing, and Huma barely had time to ready himself. Among the items in the stable-cave, he had found a small, wooden shield, and this he had strapped to his free arm. The broadsword was out in one smooth, silent motion. He prayed that the dreadwolves would run after the horse first. It was the only way he would have a chance.
He was determined to stall them long enough for Kaz to flee. Huma knew it likely would cost him his life, but he could foresee no escape for either of them unless one remained behind. He could not ask that of even Kaz.
The first of the dreadwolves came running past. Single-minded to the point of obsession, the ghoulish creature followed after the abandoned horse, which had now realized its plight and was racing off again. It would not get far, and Huma was disgusted that he had to sacrifice any animal for this.
Two more dreadwolves raced by. Another followed. There were at least two more. Huma steadied himself and tried to maintain his patience.
Another. Another. When no more appeared, Huma risked a peek around the tree trunk. It proved to be a mistake, for the first of the riders appeared at that point and he spotted Huma all too easily.
Huma had chosen this particular tree because of the massive root system that partially extended above-ground. It was a fortunate choice, for the rider, intent on being the first to claim the prize, forced his horse just too close. The left forehoof of the dark steed caught on one of the roots. With a sharp cry, the animal fell forward and the rider was thrown far into the air, finally landing in a contorted heap. Huma assured himself that the rider was dead, and he turned to face the others.
The rest of the riders materialized in a group. The gaps between the trees were so small that the riders were forced to slow down and
navigate through the forest one at a time, breaking their loose formation. Huma gave a cry of challenge and charged.
He caught the first of the Black Guard as the rider attempted to bring up an ax for a strike, only to find it had snagged in the branches of the tree. Huma made his attack count, and the man toppled off his mount.
Inspiration came then, and the knight leaped onto the abandoned horse. The animal fought him. Struck by a skull-crushing hoof, one opponent went down as Huma mastered the steed. Fending off the other attacker, Huma urged the animal forward, this time heading south. As he had hoped, the four riders followed.
Something lunged at him. A white blur. Only luck enabled him to catch it on his sword, although the dreadwolf did succeed in tearing apart some of the chain mail on his leg. The knight found himself riding with a still-squirming dreadwolf impaled on his sword. The creature’s weight forced him to virtually drag it along in order to keep his sword. Huma’s arm felt as if it were about to be wrenched off.
The horrific jaws snapped at him, and the sightless eyes rolled in the skull until the dreadwolf finally slid off the sword and tumbled behind Huma. Huma glanced back and saw with horror that the creature was rising as if unharmed. The dreadwolf turned its head just in time to see the front hooves of the first horse of the pursuers come down on it. The ghoulish creature was trampled without notice and destroyed.
Both his own animal and those of his remaining pursuers were near their limits. Froth spewed from the horse’s mouth. The steed began to stumble as it ran. The knight heard a crash behind him and dared a quick glance. One of the other horses had collapsed, causing another to spill.
Huma brought his mount to a halt, then turned it. The two guardsmen still riding charged him from two sides, their intent to cross him up. The rider to Huma’s right swung a mean blow with his sword, and the rider to the left followed with another an eyeblink later. Huma’s timing was perfect. He blocked the first with his shield and deflected the second with such accuracy that he provided himself with an opening. The tip of his blade caught the rider on the left between the breastplate and helmet. The rider collapsed backward and was dragged on by his unknowing horse.