Delver Magic: Book 05 - Chain of Bargains

by Jeff Inlo

  Ryson looked past the explanation and focused on the results.

  "So you knew something was wrong and you didn't tell me? And then you put some kind of spell on me?!"

  "I only suspected something was wrong. No matter what I did to try to force everything together, it wouldn't fit. I could not be sure of anything."

  "Even so, why didn't you at least say something?!"

  Holli found the delver's rage beyond inexplicable, it was also interfering with clear thinking. She tried to point out what she saw as the obvious.

  "When? Should I have said something while we walked through Sterling? I already expected Ulet was hiding something from us. Do you think she would have allowed us a private conference? What would have happened?"

  "I'll tell you what wouldn't have happened. You wouldn't have had to cast that spell on me and then I wouldn't have been taken prisoner. You used me as bait!"

  "No, you were never bait. You were going where you thought you should."

  "Where I thought? It was you who wanted to go to Sterling, and then you abandoned me, and cast this... this spell to make a target out of me!"

  "I was just keeping our options open in case my suspicions proved correct."

  "And you let me walk right into Sterling Palace! How is that not bait?"

  "I was protecting you at all times."

  "What about when I was locked in the room with Strog?!"

  "I was very near. I used a shadow spell to conceal myself as I followed you into the palace. I was right behind the door."

  "The door was bolted!"

  His lack of faith felt almost like an insult to the elf guard, and she found the need to defend her abilities.

  "I can handle locks. You are well aware of that."

  "And can you handle a room full of dwarves?"

  "I could have saved you, if the need arose. I have sufficient magic."

  "I don't want you to use the magic on me!"

  At last, Holli began to see. Ryson's fury was not based purely on Holli's actions. Normally, he would have understood her strategy, but there was one common thread that tied together his uncharacteristic behavior.

  "Is that what this is all about... the magic?"

  Ryson raged with anger, and something more, but said nothing.

  Holli remained quiet for long moments as well, not only to allow Ryson a chance to gather his emotions, but for her to consider the magic as he saw it. Tracing back the recent events, she recalled Ryson's incident with the inferns. Ever since that moment, he had been concerned with magic and enchanted items.

  Yes, Ryson had managed to escape the demon flames, but it seemed as if they still haunted him. The elf did not think it was danger that alarmed the delver. Holli knew that Ryson had been very close to death before, but it was danger he had entered of his own will, by his own actions. He often disregarded his own safety—especially to save others—but he did so through his own talents. He used his speed and his agility. He used his abilities as a delver.

  Recently, he had come to grips with the fact that being a delver meant he was something more, something special, something magical. The magic, however, was beyond his senses, and for a delver, that was near torture. Combined with the experience he encountered with the inferns, it was no wonder he wished to distance himself from energy that was instilled in the sword or from a spell cast upon him without his knowledge.

  Then Holli thought of her own predicament. It wasn't exactly the same, but there were enough similarities. She was no sorceress, she was an elf guard. That was who she was, but wasn't allowed to be. The magic was becoming a part of her, a larger part than she desired. Could she blame the delver for reacting so angrily against something she herself found nearly intolerable?

  "You are right," Holli finally allowed. "I should not have cast the spell on you without telling you. I am sorry. Though it does not matter, I did it in order to protect you."

  The apology surprised the delver. Slowly, he began to place his anger under control.

  "I know you did. It's just that..." He looked away from the elf. He didn't want to make the next admission, but Holli made it for him.

  "You are afraid of the demon fire, aren't you?"

  He still wouldn't look at her, but he found no anger within him. He would also not deny the truth.

  "Yes," Ryson admitted in a whisper.

  "I don't blame you, but you have to believe me when I tell you that the anchor spell could not have been used in the same way against you as the beacon stones. The inferns held to one stone and you held to the other. That is how they managed to sense you from a distance. Without the direct connection of the two stones, they never would have been able to target you. Magic in itself will not open you to danger, neither will the magic within you. You have to understand that the magical essence is not bound by the same principles as the body. With all my heart, I don't know of anyone's spirit that would be less endangered by demon fire than yours. It was my fault you were in jeopardy."

  "I couldn't get away from the fire," the delver acknowledged as he recalled the incident with the inferns, his voice breaking at the end. "No matter how fast I ran, I couldn't get away."

  "As I said, it was my mistake not yours. You need to forgive me for that. You also have to forgive me for leaving you in Sterling, but I believed it was the best choice. One of us had to get away, if we both tried to run, they would have sealed off every entrance."

  Ryson broke his mind away from inferns, demon fire, and magic to recall the magnificent city of Sterling. Despite the industrious abilities of the dwarves as he understood them, the feat of closing off the entire city seemed an impossible task.

  "They can do that?"

  "Yes, they can. Think back to the time before the magic. How do you think they survived so long without humans, or delvers, ever finding them?"

  "I guess they can. Well, I forgive you. It's mostly my own fear that was the problem. You just... got in the way."

  "I have my own admission to make," Holli offered. "I have been unsettled in my position. It was always in my heart to be an elf guard, but how do I guard a wizard more powerful than any spell caster in all of elflore? I have no wish to be the sorceress he hopes I can be. It is not what I am. So it seems we both have been running from the magic."

  "But you're more than just a sorceress, and you use the magic to help you. That's why you're out here with me, not because you can cast spells, but because Enin trusts you to protect me."

  "That is why I was happy with this mission. That is why I wanted to succeed, probably why I looked for answers in places where I should have been asking more questions. This was a chance for me to do what I was trained to do—to do what I want to do—but no matter how I tried, I could not find the answers I wanted."

  "When you saw Strog kick me in the back, did you hear what he said?" Ryson asked.

  "I did."

  "Well, it seems we have a lot of answers now."

  That was true to a point, but Holli would not make the same mistake again. Some of the pieces fit together, but others did not. She wouldn't force it.

  "To some extent." Holli agreed. "We know why the goblins are here and what they plan to do. We know they have been buying their way into favor with humans of influence. The assistance of the dwarves has been critical to them, and it is dwarf planning that has kept the goblins in check across the valleys, not just inferns."

  "We also can guess how the soldiers in Huntston knew about us and about the sword's powers...," Ryson added, 'because Strog knew. Ulet found us before we even entered the valleys. She told Strog and he must have warned the goblins we were coming. He had an idea of the sword's enchantment from when I was in Dunop, but he probably told the goblins it was dangerous. He wanted it, so maybe he put a price on it. The goblins told the humans— probably told Prilgrat directly—and he sent out the notices to have us captured and the sword taken. It had nothing to do with my fame."

  The logic was not forced and Holli could not argue the po
ints. She did, however, hold to other concerns.

  "Unfortunately, there are still things which do not make sense."

  "Such as?"

  "The main force behind this for the humans remains a complete aberration. Why would Prilgrat risk his status as regional steward to allow goblins to invade his lands? Perhaps they are paying him a great deal, but wealth is nothing compared to power. He could not be that shortsighted. You saw him. He wants people to underestimate him. I will not make that mistake. He stands to lose much more than he would gain, and he would not make that kind of mistake... not when it is so obvious."

  "I agree that doesn't make much sense. Anything else?"

  Holli once again pointed to the bane of both her and Ryson.

  "The magic. It bends into Huntston and Ashlan, and I have no idea why. A human fire mage in Ashlan speculated that it was a reminder, but again, that seems a forced explanation. I have nothing to substantiate it."

  "Reminder? You mean like some kind of message?"

  "That is what he believes."

  "Maybe he's right," Ryson offered. "You felt it in Ashlan and Huntston, right?"

  Holli nodded.

  "That's where the most goblin activity was," Ryson noted. "Maybe the magic is keeping the goblins in line."

  "That would then beg the question of who is twisting the magic to serve as a subtle message to goblins. Certainly not the dwarves, and not Prilgrat. I am certain of that."

  "What about the inferns?"

  "It is possible, but the inferns were not in Huntston. In Ashlan, they maintained control over the goblins by their presence, not by magic. There is an inconsistency there."

  Ryson had to agree. The pieces just wouldn't fit together. Something was missing. He also realized something was missing on him. His war blades were gone, and the Sword of Decree was not on his back. He saw the handle of the blade over Holli's shoulder.

  "Let me have my sword," he requested. "Please."

  "Are you sure?"

  "Positive."

  Holli slipped the sheath from off her back, leaving the blade untouched. She held out the strap for Ryson and allowed him to take it without objection. She watched curiously as the delver did not immediately strap it over his shoulder and across his back. Instead, he held the sheath in one hand and took hold of the handle in the other.

  As Ryson pulled out the sword, the light magnified around them over a hundredfold. The delver knew they were giving away their position, but it was something he had to do. An image came to mind, a building he knew very well. While he wasn't sure why, there was no question in his mind of what they had to do.

  "Can you teleport us to Connel," he asked of the elf.

  "I have the ability, but not the energy. Not yet anyway. If given a few moments of concentration, I should be able to cast the spell, but is that the wisest direction? I admit I do not know where we should turn our attention, but we do not yet have all the answers. Are you seeking to return to Enin?"

  "No," Ryson announced. "We have to go somewhere else. The sword showed me. We have to go to the Church of Godson."

  Chapter 22

  After teleporting across the hills and central plains, Holli and Ryson arrived near the outskirts of Connel in order to avoid suddenly appearing in a crowded market or city square. They did not run through the streets, but moved at a brisk walking pace to Connel's lone Church of Godson. They entered the ancient building respectfully and waited to be acknowledged.

  The members welcomed the elf and delver warmly, as most knew Ryson Acumen and believed his presence was a blessing upon them all. The Book of Godson included references to all the races, and an elf's arrival was considered an honor as well as a reaffirmation of their faith. They directed their visitors to a back office where Holli and Ryson could wait for the church's reader. Not wanting to leave their guests waiting long, the church members rushed to inform their leader, and she hurried to meet them.

  "Hello Ryson, hello Holli," she said, as she entered her office with a beaming smile. She was not surprised to see them. She didn't know for sure who would come or exactly when, but she deeply believed someone would eventually call on her. It pleased her to find two important figures who were known to her.

  Reader Rachael had met both the delver and elf on previous occasions. Connel's Church of Godson had been the initial meeting place for representatives of all the races. It was in that very building that dwarves, algors, humans, elves, a delver, and even a cliff behemoth agreed to enter Sanctum Mountain and destroy Ingar's sphere. It served as the sanctuary that brought all the races together for the first time since the long separation.

  The current meeting, however, was bittersweet for them all. It was not Rachael who served as the church's reader during the reunification of the races. The office they occupied belonged to the previous reader, Reader Matthew, another of Ryson's close friends who sacrificed himself to save both Holli and Ryson. The elf and the delver could not help but feel a great stab of torment when they recalled the loss. Rachael served as Matthew's assistant, and she, too, felt the sorrow of not so distant memories.

  Though they would always honor the memory of Matthew, the three quickly moved past the sadness. Life was not always easy, nor was it kind. In order to survive, it was often necessary to move on from the lingering pains of the past. For her part, Rachael focused on what she believed brought the delver and elf to her church.

  "You're here about the refugees, aren't you?"

  Ryson was only mildly surprised by the reader's insight. He and Holli said nothing to the members upon their arrival. They did not wish to cause any alarm. In fact, Ryson wasn't sure exactly what he was supposed to do at the church. The message from the sword was simply to go there. The blade failed to pass any greater enlightenment.

  Still, Rachael perceived the point of their mission as if she had been previously informed. Holli might have found discomfort in that point, but Ryson understood these people of Godson far better than most. The followers based their outlook of life not on the accepted norms of every day events, but upon the structure of their unique faith. Such devotion always seemed to give them greater awareness of the happenings across Uton, and it allowed them to meet each calamity with calm acceptance.

  Despite his understanding, Ryson could not help being a delver, and his curiosity forced the obvious question.

  "How did you know?"

  "The crisis is reaching a critical point. The refugees continue to arrive from the valleys. It's not surprising that Godson would direct you here."

  Ryson suddenly felt hesitant about what he should ask. He didn't wish to request information from Rachael's faith just when it served him, treat the Book of Godson as some unfrequented repository of assistance to reference only when the need arose. It diminished the importance of everything that had happened in the past, his memory of Reader Matthew, as well as Rachael's beliefs. He didn't wish to treat her in that fashion.

  At the same time, the Book of Godson remained an enigma to him. He was a purebred delver, and though he did his best to honor the legends and respect the beliefs of others, he was always driven by what he could see, hear, smell and touch. Yes, he had seen, even spoken to the spirits of legends... and departed friends. He had traveled to realms beyond Uton and battled monsters and demons. He witnessed magic on an unimaginable scale, even stood on a mountaintop surrounded by angels. Still, the Book carried messages that went beyond his delver senses. Despite being sent to the church by an enchanted sword, he had no idea of what to ask, what information to seek, or even if he was entitled to hear it.

  Noticing Ryson's discomfort, Rachael offered the knowledge to him freely.

  "Would you like to know about the prophecies regarding the refugees?"

  The invitation relieved the delver, and though he would have liked to question the reader again regarding her keen perception, he simply accepted the offer. The sword had guided him to the church, and it was necessary to let things fall into place as they were designed. That was
all he could do.

  "Actually, yes."

  "I would be happy to help you," Rachael stated, as her smile grew bright once more. "They're here to assist us all. As you know, the prophecies can be very difficult to understand, especially by those that are not followers. Actually, even the most devout followers have difficulty applying them to current times, but they have been interpreted for us. We are not surprised by what is currently happening."

  "So there is something in the Book of Godson about what's happening in the Great Valleys?"

  "Yes. It's known as the Broken Chain of Bargains prophecy. In its original text in the Book, the prophecy talks about a time of split friendship, the left hand acting against the right. The people of the west found an ally, but the ally's brother, once from the west, becomes a foe to the east. One pact leads to another, then another, and then another until they fall back upon themselves. That's the chain."

  "From what we know, many deals have already been made in the valleys," Holli acknowledged, referring to what she learned about Strog Grandhammer's plans and the wealth taken by goblins and handed over to human leaders.

  "That's not surprising," Rachael noted. "The Book refers to bargained unities and disguised agreements."

  She took the Book of Godson from her desk and opened to a page that had already been marked. She looked over a passage quickly, then lifted her head to read the passage from memory.

  "'A chain of bargains will bring a great plague to the low lands. The links of the chain are an illusion. A bargained unity is nothing more than a disguised agreement to a false leader's end to no ends. One hand grasps another and then another, but the hold is not sincere. Only the last agreement is honored, and the twins hold sway. Before the hands break away, the fleeing masses will grow from a trickle to a great flood. East becomes west, even as the abandoned becomes a rebirth. Deceit runs its course and the plague turns to vermin, and then, fire.'"

  "And you're certain that this prophecy is what we're facing right now?" Ryson asked, unable to see the connection in anything but the vaguest of terms.