by D N Meinster
The watcher must have noticed something, for he deserted his post and headed in her direction. Rikki glanced down to see if her footprints would be visible, but the dirt below failed to be molded by her feet. He wouldn't know she'd been there after she'd gone.
Rikki shifted to the watcher’s previous location adjacent to the door and considered how she was to get inside. She couldn't melt the door or turn it to dust without all the watchers nearby being alerted. But she could potentially pass through it as if it wasn't there at all.
She took a breath, pushed her staff in front of her, and moved through the front doors. The insides of Valiant Keep were oddly reminiscent of Castle Tornis. There was a chill in the air that reminded her of home. And the stone construction must have been an intentional homage to the Kytheran castle. But despite the lighter walls, it was darker within.
There were watchers standing not far from the entrance, but neither could see her as she remained invisible. Now came the tricky part.
Rikki had no idea where the dungeons were or how to get there. She had no map or instructions for how to find what she sought. She'd have to rely on her intuition to lead her there. More specifically, it was up to the Goddess to guide her to where she needed to be.
The metal boots that had come with the Bellish armor weren't exactly made for stealth, so with a touch of her staff, they receded up her leg, the metal folding in on itself. Then she took her first step forward. Neither she nor the watchers had been able to hear it. Rikki nodded and urged herself onward. She made it past the first set of watchers and continued deeper into the keep.
She couldn't help but smile as she was reminded of all her times sneaking around Castle Tornis. Once she'd left, she never thought she'd be doing anything like that again. But the stakes were higher this time. This wasn't about escaping; it was about saving lives. And if she got caught, she had more than a scolding from a disappointed teacher awaiting her.
The insides of the keep were a labyrinth of torch-lit halls and dead ends. And unlike the guardians in Kytheras, these watchers stayed wide awake through the night. Rikki found herself backtracking more than once, with the eyes of the watchers growing more suspicious each time she passed. Did they notice her despite her precautions?
While she found open rooms and stashes of weapons, she'd been unable to locate a single staircase. Were they hidden by magic? Or were they simply well disguised?
An hour passed without any progress. Then two. Rikki felt like she'd been around the entire floor twice without any clue as to how to get to another one. What was she missing?
Rikki squatted against a wall and considered her options. She could attempt shifting up or down. But what if she got stuck in a rock or dismembered herself? That was not a safe option.
There was another possibility she had started to consider. It could lead her to exactly where she wanted to go. There was no inkling within telling her it was a mistake, so perhaps Magenine was with her on this one.
Nevertheless, she was reluctant to get up and put her plan in motion. What if it was the wrong decision? What if Doren was right and she should've been searching Valiant Keep for the Key, not imprisoned mages?
What if this got her killed?
She didn't like how she'd left things with Doren. He didn't understand why she had to come here, and she hadn't taken much time explaining why. They had a responsibility to obtain the Keys, but there was more going on in Ghumai that didn't always involve Neanthal. They'd gotten themselves caught up in a Faun war and a Bellish plague. Neither of those was supposed to be part of their quest. These Streamer mages weren't either, but they were still important. And she was Grand Mage, now. Hatswick wasn't about to rescue them. It was up to her.
Rikki needed to make it back to Doren. But shifting to him would only mean she was abandoning others that needed her. She had to fulfill her mission. It was up to the Goddess to make sure she didn't die doing it.
With another flick of her staff, Rikki removed her invisibility and stood back up. She kept her spine stiff as she moved back through the corridors until she came upon several watchers. They were dressed in rock-like armor that was striped with metal and crystal, and their weapons were little more than stone clubs.
"Excuse me," Rikki said as she approached.
The watchers turned their heads simultaneously toward her.
"I am Rikki Nasem, Grand Mage of Kytheras. I demand an audience with your king."
The watchers raised their clubs, but instead of bashing her, they used them to point.
"This way," one growled, and he escorted her down the hall.
She was flanked by a growing number of watchers as they marched closer to the King. By the time they made it to what she assumed was the outside of Kahar's location, there were at least fifteen of them.
"Your staff," one of the watchers demanded with an outstretched hand.
Rikki did not like the idea of turning Amelia's staff over to these men, but she knew it was likely to happen before she'd made this choice.
"Careful with it," Rikki said as she handed it to him.
"Take her in," was his only response, and the group of watchers moved along with her into the next room.
Somehow, Rikki had missed this locale when she'd traversed the floor on her own. And it was a hard room to miss. It was a space big enough for a thousand men, but only a single stone seat occupied it. The rest of the room was completely empty, except for the new arrivals.
She assumed the seat was Kahar's throne, but it was unoccupied. The King was probably sleeping. Would they wake him for her, or would they simply wait until morning?
The longer they stood in place, the more it seemed that nothing would happen until sunrise. Rikki assumed the men might even be afraid to wake Kahar. It made sense based on what she'd heard.
It certainly felt like it was dawn by the time there was any additional activity in the room. A pair of chained mages with fresh red scars across their skin entered from behind the chair. Watchers dressed in crystalline armor followed. And finally, the man she'd come to see showed up and took his place on the throne.
"Closer," the King beckoned, and the entire group of watchers moved with Rikki as they neared him.
No matter the awful stories she'd already heard, there was no warning that could have prepared her for King Kahar's appearance. He was less a man and more a quilt of human parts that had been stitched together. His limbs were of different shades, and his hands were different sizes. The top of his lip did not match the bottom, and his nose was paler than the rest of his face. The only hair he had was atop his head, though half of it was a deep shade of gold while the other half appeared to be made of finely woven crystal. One of his eyes was pink and the other blue, and they were both locked onto Rikki while she stepped closer.
The King's outfit was as jumbled as the rest of his appearance. It looked as if straps made of various metals and leathers had been wrapped around his torso over and over. She couldn't help staring even once she'd gotten as close as the watchers would allow.
King Kahar appeared to be just as curious about her, and their eyes eventually met. "You are a mage," he said.
"I am the Grand Mage of Kytheras," Rikki spoke.
"Grand Mage," Kahar repeated. "I've never heard of a Grand Mage. Sounds made up to me."
Rikki wasn't sure what to say in response. Should she explain what that meant? Or was it more likely that he was lying? "I'm – "
"Your hair," Kahar stated. "It's fabulous. It belongs on display. Would you like that? You can stay here in this room and bask."
"Bask in what?" Rikki asked with a deepening grimace.
"Me, of course. Why, this body is a work of art. Do you see this?" He raised his right hand. "This is the arm of King Aergo Tunsev himself."
Rikki stared at his limb. Was that even possible? "How?"
Kahar grinned at her, showing teeth that were too large for his mouth. "If you stay here long enough, you'll see."
Rikki had no int
ention of being a prop for this king. But perhaps there was a way to use the offer to her advantage. "I'd want more than that, if I were to stay."
"Oh?" Kahar's mischievous curiosity was plain to see. "What do you desire, Grand Mage?"
"I've heard you have prisoners in your dungeons. Free them and you can have me."
Kahar's laugh echoed through the chamber. "Silly girl. Though your hair is fetching, you are hardly worth a dungeon full of mages."
"But I am also the descendant of Amelia."
"Who?"
Rikki gazed at the King like he must've been joking. But the perplexity on his face was evident. He had no idea who Amelia was.
If he wouldn't trade the mages for her, perhaps he would trade something else.
"What about the Key?" she said.
"Key?" Kahar replied.
"The Key to the Door that sealed away Neanthal."
"Your words are boring me," Kahar responded. "Say something interesting or you can join your fellow mages in the dungeon."
"How about this?" Rikki started as a fire grew within. "I won't kill you and every fool in this room if you release those mages now."
"Threats?" Kahar yawned. "Enough. Take her to the dungeons." He waved her away.
They were about to take Rikki where she wanted to go, but she couldn't let go of what Kahar said. She could put an end to his reign right then and free the mages as well. She was not afraid of the chained-up mages he'd brought with him, nor were the watchers especially intimidating to a magic wielder.
As one of his loyalists wrapped his hand around her wrist, she decided she wasn't going to go with them willingly.
Rikki extended an arm and her staff flew into her open hand. With a swing, she shattered the rock armor of the watcher next to her and sent him flying into a cadre of his fellows.
Another swung his club at her, but Rikki turned it to mud and is splattered harmlessly against her silver armor. With a jab of her staff, she sent the attacker flying into the wall.
Rikki pointed her staff at Kahar. "Let the mages go."
"These mages?" Kahar asked.
The two chained mages slammed their hands into the floor, which subsequently began to melt all around Rikki. She and a handful of watchers started to sink into the ground.
Rikki recalled using this tactic multiple times before, but she'd never had it used against her. It took her a moment to figure out the best way to free herself. The channeling crystal on her staff lit up and the molten floor began to bubble around her. One giant bubble grew beneath her until it lifted her from the ground's depths and returned her to Kahar's level.
"I can to do that too," Rikki warned, and with a wave, Kahar's throne melted and sent him sliding off.
With another wave, the chains around his enslaved mages broke apart and dribbled to the ground.
The two mages were so shocked that the floor once again solidified, leaving only the watchers trapped within.
Kahar glared up at her with the fury of an aggrieved monarch. "Grand, indeed. Yim!"
The chains around the mages were instantly restored, as was the King's throne. Rikki gazed around but couldn't spot who was reversing her magic. Her hands tightened on her staff as she readied for a fierce battle. Whoever was doing it couldn't be worse than Hatswick.
Materializing from behind Kahar's throne was a man completely in the nude. He had a face full of neatly trimmed hair, but only a narrow patch of it ran down the middle of his head. There was a K branded into the middle of his chest, which served to remind of Neanthal's brand. And in each hand were clubs made entirely of channeling crystal.
Rikki gawked at the weaponry before loosing a retort. "You forgot to conjure up some clothes."
"It's intentional," Yim replied, and he targeted her with both clubs.
"Your efforts were sad," Kahar spoke up. "Surrender and you can go be with your fellow mages."
Rikki hadn't started the fight to give up now. She aimed her staff at her new opponent, but it was ripped out her hands by an invisible force.
"Listen to the King," Yim suggested.
She stared at her empty hands, but her eyes moved down to her armor. She wasn't completely defenseless yet. Rikki swiped on the silver arm until the illuminated lines appeared. And she subsequently tapped a couple fingers onto one of the lines.
A beam of light ejected from her arm right in Yim's direction.
With his two clubs, Yim summoned a barrier from the ether to block the incoming attack.
Rikki's mouth fell open. As far as she knew, only Amelia and Hatswick could form magical barriers out of nothing. How had this mage managed such a feat? Was he more skilled than her? Than Hatswick?
While she was stunned into inaction, chains came from nowhere and wrapped themselves around her like a hungry snake.
"I suppose the most impressive thing about you is your hair," Kahar said. "I guess I'll just take that."
Yim approached her and, with a single tug, ripped her magenta hair from her head like it was little more than a wig.
"Beautiful," Kahar said as Yim handed him her hair.
Rikki couldn't control the single tear that fell from her eye. She felt completely violated and helpless to do anything as Kahar wiggled his fingers through the strands of her hair.
She was not expecting to be outmatched by another mage. And she certainly hadn't thought that she'd lose an entire head of hair. This was the second time in a matter of days that she'd been bested.
Rikki held back more tears as she squirmed against the chains. It had been a mistake to come here alone. Doren had been right, after all.
"Get them out and take her away," Kahar said, still playing with her hair.
The watchers were freed from the ground before the entire group began marching her to the dungeons.
Yim didn't even bother accompanying them as they left. He must've known he didn't have to. They'd not only taken Rikki's staff and hair but her confidence as well. If she couldn't save herself, how was she supposed to rescue a dungeon full of mages?
Chapter Eleven
Redirection
Every couple minutes, Aros would glance back and check on Doren. His friend appeared to be in very poor condition. His face was puffy, his eyes were barely open, and his mouth was stuck in a permanent frown. It looked like he was infected with a plague again, even though he wasn't turning bronze.
That's what heartache can do, Aros reminded himself. He remembered what it was like when Leidess had gone missing. And she hadn't chosen to go missing. She'd been taken.
Rikki had decided to leave them. And Doren must've felt that meant she'd wanted to leave him.
But that wasn't it at all. Rikki had a mission of her own. She still loved Doren, at least as far as Aros could tell. She hadn't abandoned them for no reason, or because she wanted to break up with Doren. She had even made sure that they'd have the Roamers with them as they continued onward.
So far, they'd made it nearly half a day without a mage. They'd probably even make it the whole day. However, Doren's mood was not improving. In fact, it looked to be getting worse.
Aros hated to see his friend suffering in silence, but he hadn't quite had his back when Doren had decided to have it out with Rikki. He didn't want to side with one friend over another when he really didn't have an opinion either way. He understood how both of them were feeling. But seeing Doren now made him regret his neutrality.
"What's wrong?" Loraya asked as she studied Aros' face.
He didn't want to talk about Doren while he was in earshot, so he merely nodded his head toward him.
Loraya seemed to understand. "Oh." She held up her right arm and her brothers came to an immediate halt. The rest of the party followed. "We'll take a break. There's a stream not too far from here. Mind filling the canteen pouch, Kyer?"
"On it," Kyer said before taking off.
"Go cheer him up," Loraya whispered to Aros.
Aros scratched the back of his head. "How?"
"Is h
e not your friend?" she replied before nudging him toward Doren.
Aros took a deep breath before he ambled over to him. There were no words he could think of that might cure Doren of his sour demeanor. In fact, he thought bringing Rikki up might make his friend feel even worse. As he considered what other subjects he might mention, M'dalla blocked his way.
"I want him to tell you more," M'dalla stated.
"Huh?"
"About us," she added. "But Slythe..."
Aros glanced at the Roamer who was busy checking if they were being followed.
"Well, when you finally learn who he is, you might understand."
"Who is he?" Aros asked.
M'dalla opened her mouth and, for a second, it seemed like she might finally reveal one of her secrets. But instead of speaking, she merely spun and shifted to her fellow Roamer's side.
Aros was used to not getting answers from her. Though he was disappointed, he didn't try to follow up. But as he finally made it to Doren's side, he had a topic for him that was worth discussing.
"Why do you think the Roamers won't tell us more about themselves?" Aros asked his friend.
Doren did not seem in the mood to debate the nature of their new allies. He simply grunted and rolled his eyes.
Aros frowned when he didn't get a real response, but he kept on talking. "Maybe they're automatons, but, like, human-looking ones."
Doren turned his gaze on Aros like his friend might be insane, but then his mouth gradually fell open as he considered whether that was an actual possibility. "I want to say that's impossible, but I'm not sure that word applies to anything anymore."
They both stared at the Roamers, who had their backs turned to the rest of the group.
"Maybe they're resurrected," Doren suggested. "But they turned on Hatswick and formed their own group."
Aros' eyes bulged as he continued to stare. That explanation made even more sense than his theory. Automatons might not even be able to keep secrets, but formerly dead people revived by sin magic certainly could. "That'd even explain why they wanted to fight Sarin."
"To be fair, anyone that met that bastard would want to kill him," Doren replied. He was relieved that they didn't have to deal with that maniac anymore.