Tides of Faith: Travail of The Dark Mage Book Two

by Brian S. Pratt

  “Give a little light for a moment so we can see where best to rest.”

  Morcyth’s glow flared to life revealing that the dead area was quite extensive with a hundred feet diameter at the narrowest. It would prove quite suitable to their needs.

  The illumination reached the four creatures at the patch’s edge. They stood stock still staring at them, yet they failed to enter the vines.

  “Okay,” James said and the light vanished. They moved deeper into the dead area so as to have as much of it around them as possible. He removed his helmet and took a deep, refreshing breath of the cool evening air. “Much better.”

  “Yes,” Miko agreed. “I shall take the first watch.”

  James nodded. “Okay. Keep alert. Just because they haven’t come in so far doesn’t mean they won’t if they get hungry enough.” He jerked his thumb back to where the dead one laid in the vines. “That one did.”

  “Rest assured, I will remain vigilant.”

  Shucking off the rest of the suit, James first poured the water out of his boots then laid them and the suit out so air could get in as best it could to dry it by morning.

  Miko wiped his blade clean with a cloth and tossed the gore covered rag aside.

  Food and water warmed by a day within the suit were the fare this evening. Gnawing on a bit of dried beef, the high priest of Morcyth felt the barest hint of a presence in his mind. Turning toward the southwest, he could feel it drawing him toward it. He knew what it was. It was the Star.

  Chapter Thirty

  Early the next morning, as the sun was just cresting the horizon, James woke his friend by shaking his shoulder. When Miko’s eyes opened, James said, “We got a problem.”

  “What is it?”

  Sitting up, he looked about and immediately answered his own question. Creatures ringed the vine area; primarily those having the stalks on their heads similar to what had taken Jira. But there were other ones too; small dog-like carnivores with mottled fur and red rimmed eyes as well as a pair of massive ground-hugging, armored reptiles. All paced the vine perimeter as if seeking a way past.

  “Can we overcome so many?”

  “If I didn’t have to worry about that shimmering field coming to alter my spells,” James replied, “I’d say no problem. But now?”

  “Take out as many as you can before it arrives.”

  “Don’t see what other course we can take.” James gave him a hand up. “Got something else to show you.”

  Not three feet away, well within the perimeter of the dead, safe area, grew a small patch of vines bearing three white blossoms.

  Miko walked around it. “I thought they didn’t grow in the middle.”

  “They don’t,” he said then took a stick and pushed the vines apart. “Unless they have something to grow on.”

  When the vines parted Miko saw the rag he had used last night to clean the creature’s gore off his sword.

  “And…”

  Miko looked up. “And?”

  James nodded. Moving to the edge of the dead vine area, he pointed out to where the vines were healthy. A thickly entwined patch had grown upward and formed in a mound amidst the regular vines trailing across the ground.

  “The creature that we killed last night.”

  “You mean in one night the vines had grown that thickly?”

  “It sure looks like it,” James replied.

  “How?”

  “Assuming that it is as Brother Willim stated that the vines feed on radioactivity, and also considering the fact that the creatures thrive in a radioactive wasteland, then it stands to reason that the creatures are themselves radioactive which makes them a food source for the vines.”

  “Yes,” Miko said. “That being so, their hesitation for entering the vines would be explained.”

  James chuckled. “They don’t want to be eaten so they stay out.” Then he sobered. “In any event, we can’t leave as long as that mass of creatures remains just outside the field. They would be on us in a heartbeat should we stray from the vines.”

  “What do you propose? Slugs?”

  He shook his head. “No. I’ve been toying with a new concept and this would be an ideal time to test it.”

  “Ideal? How?”

  “No apprentices to witness what I do.” With a somber expression, James turned to Miko. “In our travels and adventures, I altered my shield in many different ways. Even crafted a bridge across which we walked at Tapu.”

  “This is true. You are quite adept at adapting magic to fit the situation.”

  “Igor once said that it was how I think that makes me such a good mage. In any event, a thought occurred to me not so long ago.”

  Turning to face the largest concentration of creatures, he envisioned what he wanted to do and summoned a micro burst of magic.

  One of the stalk-bearing creatures stumbled, then fell without so much as a cry. Before it hit the ground, the one standing next to it began to topple.

  Miko watched in awe as one after another, creatures bearing no wounds fell dead. Two turned to five, five to ten and in no time half the creatures waiting outside the vines had fallen.

  “I could do this all day,” James explained. He looked up to the sky for signs the shimmering field was returning, but the sky remained normal. “And it would seem the amount of magic I use is so small and lasting such a short time that it fails to bring the shimmering to us.”

  “Incredible.”

  “Yes, I suppose it is.”

  Something in James’ tone drew Miko’s gaze. Rather than elated and proud at such a display, James’ expression bordered on the sad and depressed.

  “I could be the greatest assassin in the world. No one could stand against me. I could kill at will and no one would be the wiser. In a world where if you fall dead all they do is bury you, it is very unlikely that anyone would discover the terrible truth.”

  “And that would be?”

  Walking to the inner fringe of the vines, James picked up a blossom. “This.”

  Miko watched as James held the white blossom out before him. Then among the petals several nearly imperceptible flashes of transparencies sliced through the petals. In less than a second, the petals fell away in a multitude of smaller pieces.

  “I make my shield razor thin and solid,” he explained. “Do this within the brain of a man, or say in his chest though I believe that would produce more visible results, and he dies. Instantly.”

  More of the creatures fell.

  “Or I could merely slice through his spine, paralyzing him for life. Sever a bowman’s fingers, a swordsman’s arm and you have rendered them impotent, yet still alive.” He turned to Miko. “Don’t you see what a heavy burden this is?”

  “Yes,” he replied. “I think I do.”

  “The hardest thing to kill is an idea. If my apprentices ever see me do this, it would only be a short time before they would figure out how. Word would spread and before long, a terror would be unleashed upon this world the likes it has never seen. Mages would use threat of quick, silent death to control others. No one would be safe. Once that happened there could only be one recourse.”

  “What?”

  “Every mage must die.”

  “Surely there would be ones like yourself who would rise above the temptation to dominate and fight.”

  “How? By the time you have your enemy identified, your brain is mush or if they want to make an example of you, slice and dice you like I did that flower.” He shook his head. “No, this thought, this idea must never be brought to light. I take risk enough in showing you.”

  Miko looked slightly offended. “I would never share such horrible knowledge.”

  He laid a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “I know. But when only one knows, there is little chance of it spreading. Two doubles the chance and so forth.” He returned his attention to the creatures waiting hungrily on the outside of the vines. More fell.

  “But, truth be told, I think there is something even more d
angerous on this world than magic. Something that on my world laid waste to every part of it at one time or another.”

  The two massive lizards fell and then the last two of the stalk-bearing creatures met their end.

  “What is that?”

  Turning full circle, James sought those still alive. Not finding any, he returned his attention to Miko. “The secret of the Illuminator’s Guild.”

  “But that is just bright lights and loud noise,” Miko said, “something for celebrations.”

  “Yep,” James nodded. “That was how it began on my world too.” He grew reflective. “Might in some ways explain the lack of mages on my world.” Then he shrugged. “May never know.”

  Returning to where his suit had been laid out the night before, he picked it up and slid a leg in. “In any event we need to be underway. Still have a ways to go and no idea of the dangers along the way.”

  The sun was full above the horizon before they set out. Already, vines had encroached upon the carcasses of the fallen creatures. Green tendrils wended their way from one body to the next. As they walked past where one creature had fallen atop another, a white blossom unfurled from a lone green tendril that had threaded its way to the top.

  “I bet by tomorrow you wouldn’t even be able to tell creatures had died here.”

  “Probably not,” Miko agreed.

  Leaving the carcasses behind, they headed southeast. Yesterday they had to make their best guess as to where the Star lay, but today Miko could feel it in the distance. Though not entirely sure how far, where was no longer in doubt. Knowing that his quest to recover Morcyth’s most holy of artifacts drew near completion gave him a bounce in his step and vigor to his pace.

  Paralleling the road to Hyrryth proved impractical. If not for Eddra’s carriage such a route would have sufficed. But the uneven terrain bounced her old bones to such an extent that Father Keller deemed it critical for her survival that they return to the road.

  Scar argued that doing so opened them up to questions and possible trouble from the locals.

  “If we get into hot water,” Father Keller said, “we can always bring out the Dark Mage’s apprentices in their mage robes to handle it.” He glanced to the two young lads. “Right?”

  “Yes,” Azhan agreed. “We would only be too pleased to prove ourselves to our master’s friends.”

  Hikai agreed.

  The priest turned back to Scar. “See?”

  “I would not trust our fate to those two.”

  “The Reverend Father said they could be trusted,” Father Vickor chimed in. “So they can be trusted with our fate if the situation calls for it.”

  Scar eyed the two priests and realized he would get nowhere so conceded the need to return to the road and not keep so close to the Waste.

  “We may not get anything,” Potbelly whispered.

  “Shhh,” Scar said, glancing about hoping his friend had not been overheard. When it looked as if the comment had gone unnoticed, he continued. “We will. Minions of evil gods are drawn to James like moths to a flame. If we remain within his company, we will get our beast.”

  Louder so all could hear, he said, “The road is but an hour away. We should make it in no time.” Then to the priests, “How is our lady doing?”

  “Not good,” Father Vickor replied. “She needs bed rest not being hauled from one end of the Empire to the other.”

  “I would be more than happy to rid ourselves of this woman,” Scar stated. “But for some reason, James and Miko feel she is needful.”

  “She may shed light on the shimmering in the sky.”

  Scar turned to Azhan. “It would be best, Apprentice, if you spoke only when spoken to.”

  Bristling at the harsh words, the young mage bit his tongue and remained silent.

  “That’s better.”

  Turning his horse eastward, Scar made for the road all the while scanning the horizon in the hopes of spying something moving, dangerous, and would draw a crowd.

  The first hour over a dozen creatures fell prey to improvised slugs James gathered as they walked; nearly half again that, the next. The further they pushed into the Waste, the more numerous fell creatures became. Every few minutes one or the other would turn about to scan behind them for any creature sneaking up on them. When found, slugs would take them down.

  “What I can’t understand is what keeps them alive?”

  “Not sure what you mean.”

  James gestured to the countryside. Off to their right five distinct creatures moved, straight ahead were three others, and nearly a dozen looked to be moving in a herd way off to their left. One of those in their path fell to a stone. They were everywhere.

  “How can they survive? There is no food for them. Are they herbivores? If so, little remains of the sparse vegetation this land had before the war. The radiation burned it off so to speak.

  “And if they are carnivores, upon what animal do they feed? Since encountering the first of these creatures,” he paused and turned to Miko, “how many gnawed-upon carcasses have we seen?”

  “None,” replied Miko.

  “Precisely my point. So, if vegetation is sparse and they aren’t eating animals, what is keeping them going?”

  “Interesting question.”

  Launching a stone forward, James dropped another one.

  “Thought magic might be sustaining them, but realized I would have sensed that.”

  “Radiation?” Miko suggested.

  “Though I seriously doubt that, it remains my best guess.”

  “They could be feeding on the radiation in some way like the vines do.”

  James nodded. “Possibly.”

  Launching two more stones cleared their immediate path. Those to either side had yet to take notice of the two interlopers passing through their territory.

  “They sure are a nuisance though,” James said. “Wouldn’t really call them dangerous.”

  “Not to one who can kill them readily from afar,” Miko replied. “Should one get loose in a town, they might not be so easily dealt with.”

  “True enough.”

  Gathering more stones, they continue on toward the Star.

  Saying that travel upon the road was sparse was being generous. One lone rider had passed them shortly after they reached it, and that was two hours ago with nary another soul to be seen.

  Eddra remained unconscious in her carriage with Father Keller continuing to watch over her. The swollenness of her face had eased though her eye remained puffy and closed. Despite his best efforts, her overall condition continued to deteriorate.

  “We need to find an inn,” he announced. “I don’t think she can take much more of this.” He looked to Azhan. “Is there one close?”

  The young mage shrugged. “I don’t know. This is Warlord Cytok’s territory and it would have been death for us to be here.”

  Hikai nodded agreement.

  Kip rode close. “I can ride ahead and try to find someplace suitable.”

  “I’ll go with him,” offered Father Vickor.

  Father Keller nodded. “That would be best.”

  Seeing an opportunity to do something besides ride, Shorty offered to go as well.

  “How about a farmhouse?”

  Turning to Scar, Father Keller said, “That would do just fine.”

  Scar pointed to the southeast where just within visual range rose most of what used to be walls of a farmhouse.

  Father Keller didn’t look all that impressed. “Perhaps I should have specified a whole farmhouse; one which has the ability to keep the warmth in and the elements out.”

  “It might work,” Potbelly said. “Most of the walls look sound.”

  “All she needs is a single room of relative effectiveness where she can recuperate,” Scar added.

  Father Keller’s expression indicated he had his doubts.

  “I’ll take Father Vickor and young Kip here and we’ll check it out,” Jiron offered. “If it’s suitable, it would make
a good place to hole up for a day or so.” He glanced to the priests. “I anticipate reaching Zixtyn at least two days before James and Miko. Better to rest now where we will not have to worry about unwanted eyes and ears. Be better for her in any event.”

  “I can’t argue that,” Father Keller said.

  “Then wait here and we’ll check it out.”

  When Jira turned her horse to follow, Jiron shook his head. “You better stay here and watch over the priests.”

  She laid her hand on her knife hilt and nodded solemnly.

  “Just like her father,” came a whispered murmur.

  Jiron’s gaze roved over the others but the orator remained silent. Though there were a few grins and smiles, he couldn’t determine exactly who had said it.

  “Come on,” he said and kicked his horse into motion before his own grin broke out. Yes, he wanted a better life for his little Jira. But on the other hand, he was damn proud of her as she was. Woe be the boy who tried to kiss her before she was ready. She was a kick-ass little fire eater and there was nothing wrong with that.

  It quickly became apparent that the farmhouse was in serious disrepair and hadn’t been occupied for quite some time. Vegetation had grown up to the walls and in some cases sprouted through the cracks.

  The wall facing their approach was fairly intact. A small section to the right of the doorway had collapsed but otherwise looked decent. Riding around to the right, he found the adjoining wall to be completely intact. The back wall however was all but gone as was the entire fourth one. Two inner walls dividing off the bedroom showed some crumbling but retained most of their integrity. The roof was missing in places; a check in the bedroom revealed a small hole in the roof.

  Jiron turned to Father Vickor. “Will this do?”

  “For the moment, yes.” Then to Kip, “Hurry back and tell Father Keller that we shall camp here.”

  “Yes, Father.”

  “We’ll make a pallet for her over in the corner,” Father Vickor said, pointing to where complete walls joined beneath a sizeable stretch of intact roof.

  “At most we shall stay here two days,” Jiron said. “We dare not risk not being in Zixtyn for too long before they arrive.”