Chapter 22- Dungeon Crawl
He had only seen the deeper part of the dungeon. Though Sebastian had likely been dragged through the upper portion during that first night, he had been unconscious. At least the benefit of this dungeon was that it was fairly straightforward. One hall led back the way he had come. Buried in the deepest cell, the hallway ended just past it; so Sebastian knew to go the other way.
There had been other barred rooms between his end of the dungeon and the chamber that they usually used to torture the mage. All had been empty save for his. He had never thought to ask Zeria why that was; but seeing that the warlocks had been helping to try and break his will, the owl surmised that anyone imprisoned here had probably been asked if they wanted to join Terris's army at some point. Some may have already been converted by diplomacy magic, but Sebastian doubted that number was high. He had heard from his little sister that most coercion magic could be remembered by the victims. Doing something to wrong them often returned on the caster in anger, which meant that it was a dangerous proposition to tamper with other men's minds.
Beyond the torture chamber Sebastian began to see cells that were occupied. Men with once fine clothes were among them. They were beaten down and barely noticed him as he passed, though Sebastian looked for familiar faces just in case.
There were other men and a few women wearing collars like the one binding his neck to stifle his magic as continued to search.
He moved close to the bars of one drawing the man's attention. "You're a wizard, right?" the mage questioned.
Gray eyes took a moment to focus and the man questioned in surprise, "What?"
"These collars, there must be a way to break them to restore our magic. Tell me what you know quickly and maybe I can get you free also," Sebastian practically begged the man.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts the wizard replied, "It can only be removed by the one who set it or the person with the key. A wizard can't even turn his own key, so if you find it you still can't remove the collar."
"Can they be broken then?"
The man appeared thoughtful before shaking his head. "I don't know for sure. It is a perfectly sealed band thanks to the magic used to bind it. I am not sure what would be needed to cut it free, but how would you break it without removing your head in the process?"
A question that he had been asking himself, the wizard was no help after all. Another possibility loomed in his thoughts, however, so Sebastian asked, "Is there a way to open the cages here? I haven't seen any keys so far and Civan seems to have disappeared with his set."
"Civan is the jailor. If you haven't seen his keys, since you haven't seen him, then it would take tools that you most likely haven't seen either," the man replied from his seat on the floor.
Knowing that his time was limited to escape, Sebastian asked, "Are you here because you wouldn't follow Count Terris?"
"Anyone who couldn't be transferred who didn't side with separating from the rest of Southwall is likely being rounded up to be placed here. Now we'll either die here or have one of those diplomacy wizards warp our minds until we think the way that they want us to," the wizard said with a nervous frown.
"Don't give up hope. I will return with help as soon as I can," Sebastian declared realizing that there was nothing more that he could do without equipment or magic. A simple ring of keys and the mage could set the others free.
The wizard didn't look hopeful, but offered, "Good luck. You will probably need it."
With that the man lay down on the floor as if their short conversation had drained him of the little energy he had.
Moving ahead, Sebastian noted the lack of hope in most of those faces. He offered an occasional, "Stay strong. I will bring back help."
It did little to change those looks and some showed no comprehension of his words with minds already crushed or weakened by those who had imprisoned them there.
The tunnel took a ninety degree turn before Sebastian found a locked door. It was the only way out of the dungeon, but it was wood reinforced with iron. Markings on the metal looked like faded runes, which he guessed were likely proof against most magic. He had no magic, however, so it wasn't an option to test.
There was a key hole and knob locked in place when the mage tested it. Apparently Civan had shut it fast to trap him inside, even if he managed to fight his way free. The jailor didn't have faith in a battle mage with his magic intact, even against a man that Civan had never seen using magic. Maybe he had seen the harpoon and feared that the collar wasn't enough to stop Sebastian. Whether the man believed a door could do more than slow him, the battle mage didn't know; but it was just as likely that Civan had merely hoped to slow him down until he could find help.
Looking around, there was nothing to help him get through the door, so the owl released the rune with the harpoon. Keeping the tip small like an arrow head, the line slipped through the keyhole. Sebastian fished with the magical rune. It wasn't absorbed or destroyed by any wards, but the lock wouldn't give no matter how he tried to turn the mechanism inside the hole.
Time was of an issue. His frustration and nervousness were beginning to build. He needed to get free! Knowing that he was no thief or locksmith, the owl gave in to the need to destroy the barrier before him and shoved more line inside the key hole. Feeling like more than a foot of line must be inside the lock; Sebastian spread his fingers wide sending his wish to explode through the wire.
He heard a crack before metal dropped in a deluge of broken parts. His hand tried the handle again finding the mechanism free of restraint. It still didn't open, but turned freely spinning in his hand. The connections had broken, but the post inside the door held.
He moved his hand to the right like he planned to slap the handle, while the wire remained inside responding to his will. It drew back until he swung at the air towards the doorframe. A ping like a small hammer striking metal could be heard, but the lock bar remained in place. Again and again the mage used the rune to connect with the rod from the inside until he thought that it had come free.
A hard pull with his foot against the stone wall as he tugged with both hands finally made the door pop free. Clanging to the floor, he saw the short lock bar had been knocked clear of the wood with four screws that still had splinters in the thread.
Sebastian hurried forward finding more cells with prisoners inside. He had to shake his head as he started forward to push back the darkness that was growing from weakness. The runes needed his strength to use and the owl had been worn down by his time in the dungeon and the torture. With all the energy spent, Sebastian felt a bit dizzy. His magic could have done the same thing to him, but this was a different kind of weariness from that.
If he continued on without rest, food or drink, the mage was pretty sure that he would collapse before he could find his way out if he had to keep using the runes. His black sword remained in hand, sometimes in the left for using the rune on his right. As long as he had any strength, it would help him fight. It was magically made and strong with an edge sharper than a normal sword. He thought to the girl who had made it and took hope. His friend had been in dire straits and survived, so could he.
Thinking of the lock, Sebastian felt for the key hole in his collar. If he could break the lock of a door, the owl theorized that he might be able to do something similar to break free. It was turned on his neck to face the right and the mage continued to walk as the wire became thread to infiltrate the magic lock.
He had less feel for the rune than while using his magic, but the owl thought that the line built in a spiral inside the little hole. When the miniature harpoon head and wire could no longer move, Sebastian acted on the lock in the same way as before. It tried to expand, but the collar wouldn't give. Pulling it tight, the line fought to break free once more. Over and over the mage sought to break the collar, but each push drew more strength. His footsteps slowed and Sebastian knew that it was coming down to a decision.
If he continued fighting the c
ollar, his strength would diminish until he would have trouble walking. Even if he gave up on the restraint, it didn't mean that more doors wouldn't be up ahead of him. Without the ability to get through the locked doors for much longer. Sebastian had to accept that his best chance was to get his magic back.
A final desperate release of the coiled wire yielded an unexpected result. Metal shattered. Some brushed his ear and the mage felt pain from small scratches on his cheek and shoulder from the shrapnel. Hissing at the pain, a new rush filled the man as his magic threatened to make him explode.
The rune wells in his chest burned with built up power. He had come up with them to store more magic for larger spells. Without his magic to govern them, they felt ready to explode. His mind ached as the flow of power moved throughout his whole body. The dam had burst, but if he couldn't control the return Sebastian feared that he would burn up from the inside.
Darkness crept into the edge of his vision as the mage staggered against the stone wall to his right. Leaning for a moment as he hoped to equalize the imbalance, Sebastian tried something in reverse. Channeling his magic back into the earth, he gave back instead of drawing in the inexorable power of his world.
Successfully shifting excess power from the power wells back into the earth, the mage released a breath of relief. His head already hurt less and the heat in his body was returning to normal.
Using the wall to help keep him upright, Sebastian debated on trying to use a portal to freedom. It made the most sense, though he deliberated escaping through the tunnels of the dungeon instead. The only problem was that if someone knew how to reuse his gate, the enemy might follow him wherever he went. Weakened as he was, that might mean being retaken. Outside the halls of the dungeon, maybe the owl could hide his new gate back to safety.
He also had to admit that he hoped to give Zeria another chance to leave. The woman didn't fit with the traitors and only followed what she was told to avoid finding a collar around her neck. Placed in a cell, they might track her parents and make them pay as well.
Count Terris and those who chose to follow him might let them go; but he had seen how they treated their prisoners and worried that would be the more likely way. Killing or using magic to turn their minds was the way of men who had too little resources to dare fight the king. New weapons and tools of war were needed. Wizards and mages capable of fighting what would come couldn't be an afforded loss.
A new door barred his way. Magic pushed into a rune blade on his fist. Heating into orange fire, the weapon cut the offending bolt restricting the door. It was more direct than the harpoon wire and he was moving ever forward until he heard noise coming towards him.
Turning a corner, Sebastian was ready to strike until he realized the footfalls were those of a woman or someone lightweight. Civan would be too heavy to make such a sound, even hurrying.
Zeria pulled up short in surprise seeing the battle mage with his black sword in one hand and the glowing rune blade extending from his left fist towards her.
"Sebastian, how did you get so far? Weren't the doors locked along the way by Civan?" the wizard questioned looking confused. "Wait, your aura, it's back! You unlocked it?"
Not wanting to get into it all in the dungeon with only one way out, he turned her questions aside and asked, "Can we get through by going this way?"
Glancing back, Zeria looked unsure, but said, "Civan has men coming. Can you fight your way through them?"
He knew his strength was almost gone. "No, but I guess I can use my magic now. I can take you with me, if you want. You didn't run back in here without reason, I would assume."
"How would we leave? I returned when Civan spotted me and pretended to go hunt you. There are more wizards and mages coming behind me, I am certain. This dungeon is built under the count's castle. He has dozens of men close by that can flood these tunnels."
Sebastian felt with his magic for a familiar mark nearby. There was his gate, but after capturing the warlocks, they had received no communication from anyone who could have used it since. It was likely compromised and, even if it wasn't, it was wiser to assume that it was and look for a different target.
More noise could be heard. Men's voices and heavy, hurried steps carried to his ears thanks to the runes. Zeria glanced behind her not long after proving that they were getting steadily closer. The enemy would be wary thanks to Civan, as long as he warned them, so it would be a fight if the owl couldn't find somewhere else to run.
Palose came to mind and the scent of the aura of the girl that had been with him. Without drawing power from the earth, Sebastian tapped the power of the rune wells in his chest forcing open a gateway. It had been harder than normal. Not only was he tired, but something resisted his spell. Resisted or not, the golden glow of a portal formed tantalizingly in front of him.
"You can come with me," he said again.
Her face looked trouble, but after a moment's pause, Zeria nodded. He took her hand and pulled the young woman after him through the doorway.
When Darius suddenly pulled up short calling the others to stop, Ashleen could only frown in confusion. There had been a strange chime just before he had stopped and the high wizard pulled the scanner from the folds of his sleeves with a curious look on his face.
"What is it, Darius?" the wilder asked impatiently. Repeatedly the others had told her that rushing would only be more dangerous for everyone. If Sebastian had been kept alive all that time, it was their spoken belief that he would be fine until they found him whether it took all day or an hour. She doubted that everyone believed it, but that was how they continued to try and console the Kardorian wizard.
"The tone is for a new gate. Since it is synchronized to Sebastian's magic right now, it has to be his spell that conjured it," Darius responded looking confused as well.
"Does that mean he broke free or someone let him leave?" Jeriah questioned. They all feared that magic might be used against the battle mage to turn him against his friends and allies. Diplomacy magic was particularly devious and they all knew how Palose had been turned against their country by the Dark One's warlocks. They still didn't know the how of that scenario, but it had happened because of magic.
It was Elzen who defended his friend. "Bas is smart and creative. I wouldn't be surprised if he found a way to escape. If we go to Hala now, we'll probably find him eating at the Black Smith waiting for us."
Shaking his head, Darius replied, "Not Hala, but he's moved."
"Where is he then?" Ashleen questioned raising her voice more than she meant bringing some looks from the passersby in the street.
The high wizard consulted the compass and said, "There was a gate in almost the same place where we were heading. A second one opened... to the west."
Pointing the way the second dot indicated, the group looked down a street crowded with people. They were closer to the docks now and the city's castle. The direction indicated turned away from the castle, but was aimed south as well as west, though just barely.
Many eyes moved to the high wizard, but he wasn't the official leader. Falcondi Yenest spoke up ordering, "Then we should hurry. It is likely safer by the docks than trying to infiltrate the castle if Count Terris has chosen to side with the Dark One."
Most agreed that the idea of rebellion had been planted by the Dark One's men, so choosing to rebel was the same as choosing the emperor. Still it was surprising to hear Yenest speak of it in that way.
They also nodded agreement and turned away from the scent that the trackers could only find intermittently. Without the scanner, they would have had to give up on finding Sebastian unless they chose to just go to the castle and hope to have luck. It would likely be bad in this case, but maybe there would be closure, she thought.
Hurrying down the next cross street, the tracking team used the scanner alone. If Sebastian was using gate magic, a tracker could do nothing to follow a scent that wasn't even there.
A few twists and turns brought the pursuit team in sight of
the ocean and the docks lining it, though they remained a couple blocks distance away still. When they entered a last street it was quiet and abandoned as it dead ended at a warehouse.
Ashleen spotted a woman in brown and knew instantly that she was a wizard. They had dodged them for the entire trip and now a research wizard was where the compass pointed. A second wizard had a strange aura as the wilder pushed her magic into her senses wondering if they were going to need to fight them to silence these two; it took a moment to realize that the second wizard wasn't a wizard at all.
"Sebastian?" the girl cried out and started to run towards the young man. She could tell that he was worn out physically, but his aura read unusually strong. It would be easy to mistake him for a wizard, though one on the weak side.
Jeriah reached out to stop her by grabbing the wilder's arm. At her indignant look, the man said, "Be careful, girl. We don't know what he has been through. A diplomacy wizard might be controlling him even now."
Standing up, Sebastian looked at the two and said, "That's a pretty harsh assessment of me, Jeriah; but I suppose that I should expect that from you by now."
They were far enough away that the younger mage had to speak loudly, almost in a shout yet he had heard Jeriah's warning in a quiet tone.
Darius smiled at the owl mage and started forward, though his left hand and fingers were already moving. Guessing that Sebastian was fine, didn't mean the immortal wasn't going to take precautions.
Ignoring the others, Elzen walked forward ignoring the wariness of the others and asked, "How did you get here? We were on our way to rescue you, but now I see you with this pretty lady and am wondering if we should have waited."
While Zeria's face showed confusion, Serrena's held a frown for the flirty insinuations. He had called her pretty and acted like the new wizard was ripe for the picking. While Sebastian didn't know why the fire wizard looked upset, he did know when his friend was joking.
Battle Mage Visions (A Tale of Alus Book 12) Page 32