by Jeff Inlo
"But what's that got to do with that thing?" Ryson demanded.
"That thing, as you call it, is tuned to the magical energies inherent in the dark creatures, the magic that allows them to cross over into this land and remain here."
"And that's all it was supposed to do!" Heteera interrupted. "It was only meant to serve as a deterrent, to keep them away, but now it hunts and kills, both here and in the dark realm. And it's storing the energy, becoming stronger!"
"As I said, you do not want to go far enough. It has to get stronger, much stronger. That's why it needed that swallit. It already lost one not long ago, and so today our little creation forced two creatures through to this side, the swallit and a shag. The shag would hunt the swallit and kill it, or injure it. Either way, the swallit would not be able to escape, and it didn't. With the swallit skin added to its shell, the vessel can now feed more efficiently on those dark creatures. It has to expand to match every dark creature that stalks the land."
"So what's going to happen?" Ryson interrupted. "Where's all this headed?"
"Headed? It's not headed anywhere. The mission has begun, and with great success. The number of beasts and monsters walking this part of the land has already diminished greatly. The creatures back in their native realm cringe in fear at my device. Eventually they will shrink back from this existence, never to return."
Ryson understood Lief's desire, but only to a degree. There was danger in this plan, that much was clearly evident.
"And what happens when all the dark creatures are destroyed? Where does that thing go next?"
"Dark creatures are like a plague. They never go away completely. They will continue to breed. The realm on the opposite side of that portal will spit them out continuously. It will never stop, and so, there will always be something for the vessel to hunt."
"That's not what I'm worried about. Have you completely forgotten about Ingar's sphere... what we went through? Godson, you were with me at Sanctum Mountain. You saw what the sphere had become. You've created another one."
"You now sound like the sorceress."
"If she's worried about your creation, then I'm glad I sound like her."
"And you would dismiss the benefit of removing dark creatures from the land so easily?"
"But you're not stopping there. You're destroying all the dark creatures and storing the magic."
"Not all the magic. That was Ingar's mistake, not mine."
And that seemed to be true. According to lore, the sphere focused on all the magic. It threatened to absorb it all and even led to an alliance between loathsome creatures and magic casters of every kind. Lief was speaking as if the magic could be divided, and Ryson lacked the knowledge to argue.
For a moment, the delver did not know what to do. Still, he did not come there alone. The sorceress had brought him. He turned to Heteera.
"Is he right?"
"No, he is not. The device is a threat, and I think he knows it, but will not admit it."
"She is foolish. She lacks the control to understand," the spirit fired back.
Ryson ignored the elf ghost. He focused on Heteera's concern.
"You know this thing is dangerous. That's why you brought us here. What are you really worried about?"
"The sphere will grow in power. It will feed on magic that was bent on evil intention, magic that is tainted by the stain of darkness. It will become a great reservoir of twisted power. I'm not sure what the end result will be, but I'm responsible for it and I can't let it just continue to expand. That's why I said the threat had no form."
"You don't think it can be controlled?"
"Do you? Would Enin?"
And so the sorceress' request became clear. She needed Enin to heed this dilemma and Ryson agreed. The magnitude of this problem was beyond a delver.
Lief eyed Ryson suspiciously.
"What are you thinking, Ryson Acumen?"
"We have to talk to Enin about this."
"I thought the wizard did not engage in such activities. He is passive and will allow others to make decisions of destiny."
"He'll want to hear about this."
"And if you tell him, what then?" Lief demanded, his tone becoming harsher. "Are you going to request that he interfere?"
"He'll know better what to do than me."
"Fire upon you, delver! Then go! Go to your wizard and tell him what you have seen here, but know this, I will not give him a chance to destroy my creation. Tell Enin I will keep the vessel in the dark lands. I will let it feed on the magic there. I understand Enin's power and if he tries to enter that dimension, the dark creatures will sense his great magic. Those that don't hunt him in great numbers out of hunger will flee from their realm. They will enter these lands in a wave beyond your reckoning. If you wish to destroy the vessel, it will not be by Enin's hand, of this I vow. This will be between you and me."
The apparition said no more. The ghostly form flew back down to the portal and disappeared into the dark lands.
Chapter 5
Taking the safest passage, Ryson led Linda and Heteera back to Burbon. The sorceress wished to go directly to Connel, but the delver refused. The return trip did not take them far out of their way, and it allowed for a bit of rest in familiar surroundings before continuing on to Connel.
Ryson did not wish to waste the additional time, but he also needed to add to their party. If Lief's creation was a threat, it was a threat to everyone in the area. Sy Fenden, Burbon's Captain of the Guard, needed to be included in the discussion with Enin.
After hearing a short explanation, Sy agreed to join them. He understood the value of remaining informed. Combating monsters and hideous creatures became more commonplace over the seasons, but what might come of this new menace was beyond his experience.
As for Heteera, she slept little during their brief stop in Burbon. When the time came to leave for Connel, she did not relish the idea of another ride on horseback, but she could not refuse. She took responsibility for what was happening, and she had to see it resolved. The mutated vessel hungering for dark magic was as much her creation as it was Lief's, and she could not absolve herself from any malice that followed.
If she took any solace, it was in the fact that she achieved her initial objective. After what Ryson and Linda saw, they could express the true threat of Lief and his vessel. The wizard would have to listen. Stopping Lief and his twisted device moved far beyond her ability, but she believed Enin held the necessary power to rectify her conceived mistakes.
Heteera could only hope that the presence of Ryson and Linda would be enough when they entered Connel, would allow them access to Enin, access she knew would be denied if she traveled alone. She knew the great magic within her, as well as the taint of her past spells, would serve as a beacon for those attuned to the energy. She never meant to use the magic for twisted designs, but she feared the results of her errors would overshadow her true intentions. The mark of malevolence would brand her as a threat, and the elf who guarded Enin against such threats terrified her beyond measure.
The foursome moved through the farmlands at a quick pace. Ryson led the way on foot, outracing the horses as he scouted out the roads and kept his senses alert. The farmlands were patrolled, but they still held their share of perils. Razor crows remained the biggest concern. Ryson could scatter a small group with ease, but he didn't want to run into a massive flock that might attack in a great wave.
As they finally reached the outskirts of Connel, they marveled at the activity. Construction crews were at work at nearly every visible portion of the city. Even more amazing, they noted people flocking toward the city from the east.
"I knew they were getting an influx of settlers, but I never expected this," Sy stated as the group broke through the outer boundaries of the city. "Looks like hundreds are coming in. I wonder if it's like this every day."
Ryson moved them forward through the crowd. Eventually, they passed the ancient wall constructed by dwarves that once surrounde
d the entire city. That wall was part of Connel's history. It survived the passing of the magic and remained nearly intact at the mystical energy's return.
It was at the wall that Ryson noticed movement on the rooftops to their right. They had already passed sentries in newly constructed towers that let them pass without question, but the delver could not release his gaze from the shadowed movements above. Someone was stalking them.
Ryson's sight could normally pierce the shadows and identify a target at great distances, but the silent follower remained careful to avoid detection, as if it knew how to avoid a delver's watch. The shadows also appeared unnatural, enhanced by something beyond the taller buildings that blocked the sun. Ryson's concern only grew as the shadowed form continued to follow them as they moved along the city streets.
They passed several crossroads, moved through crowds and around various areas of construction. Many buildings had been destroyed in two previous encounters. The dwarves had attacked Connel when Yave vowed revenge against all those responsible for her son's death. The serp Sazar then led a legion of goblins against the weakened city. Much had been lost, but it seemed as if the survivors and the new settlers were intent on restoring it all.
Maneuvering through the city required them to change direction several times. All the while, Ryson kept a steady watch on the mysterious figure that continued to stalk them from above.
A delver almost never becomes truly lost because a delver can always find a way through almost any obstacle. Delvers, however, are known to be distracted, and while Ryson lost track of their position in the city, the Captain of Burbon's Guard did not.
"Ryson, we're not making any progress," Sy Fenden called out.
"Yeah," Ryson responded with only a fraction of his attention. "A lot more detours than I expected."
"That's not what I mean. We're almost right back where we started from. The wall is only a few blocks behind us. We're no where near the center of the city."
"What?"
"Take a look," Sy requested as he pointed behind him.
For the moment, Ryson ignored the figure on the rooftops and turned back to gauge their position. The ancient wall was much nearer than it should have been.
"That's not right," Ryson admitted. "We shouldn't even be able to see it. Did we make a wrong turn?"
"No, something else is going on. You've been watching our friend up there..."
"You've seen him?"
"Only a few times. Whoever is up there is using more than natural ability to keep from view. Every now and then I've caught a glimpse of something, but I knew you were watching, so I left it to you. I've been keeping track of our movements. We've had to move around some construction, but we haven't moved in a circle. There's no way we should be where we're at. Something else is at work here."
The delver knew he could trust Sy's sense of direction. Ryson looked back once more at the wall, studied the buildings around them, and did his best to retrace their previous path in his mind. Sy was right, they should not have been where they were. Ryson put the pieces together and came up with only one conclusion.
"We're being tricked... misdirected." Ryson stated with a nod. "It's an illusion of some kind. It has to be."
"Not sure what it is," Sy admitted, "but something, or someone, doesn't want us to get to where we're going."
Sy urged his horse forward and moved to a soldier patrolling the street.
"Can you tell me how far it is to the town hall?" Sy requested.
The soldier paused for a moment, looked up at Sy, but said nothing. He tilted his head in a bewildered fashion, and then focused off into the distance, as if he heard an echo of some far off order. He then continued his patrol.
"How about the nearest guard station?" Sy called after him.
This time the guard didn't even stop. He turned a corner and marched out of sight.
Sy looked over at some of the construction workers. They ignored him completely. He then directed his horse back to Ryson.
"This isn't right."
"No, it isn't" Ryson agreed.
After hearing this, the sorceress concentrated deeply. She could not control the magic with any degree of certainty, but it ran strong within her. Her ability to cast pale magic gave her equal power over all facets of the energy. She sensed the presence of a powerful spell and it filled her with alarm.
"It's a trap!" Heteera implored through a whisper. "They know I'm here and they're not going to let me in. We're in danger."
"Danger from what?" Sy demanded.
"The elf. She knows I'm here."
Sy had fought beside Holli Brances, the elf who guarded Enin. He could not accept that Holli was a source of any danger. He looked to Ryson for further explanation.
"She thinks Holli might harm her," Ryson added.
"We have to get out of here," Heteera pleaded.
"And go where? We have to see Enin."
"She won't let us. I'm telling you this is a trap!"
Ryson could not deny the fear in Heteera's voice. He recalled the phantom form that had been following them and he directed his attention back to the rooftops. The figure had vanished and his own internal alarm rang out with danger.
In a blur of motion, Ryson pulled out a small dagger that was laced to his hip. He did not wish to unsheathe the Sword of Decree as the light of the blade might attract further attention. Normally, he would have bolted up to the rooftops, uncovered the follower, and removed any threat in the blink of an eye, but his first thought fell upon his wife.
"Sy! Get them to cover. I think it's just one on the rooftops, but I can't be sure."
To his credit, Sy didn't hesitate to follow the command of the delver, but he did stop at the sound of a familiar voice.
"Hold your position!" the voice called out.
A very nimble form leapt down from the building in a manner that was almost as graceful as a delver. The shadows that still appeared to cling to her body slowly diminished in the sunlight and they all recognized the elf guard Holli Brances. Her greeting, however, was not so pleasant.
"Stand aside, Ryson."
"Holli, what are you doing?"
The elf fixed her stare upon the sorceress. Holli remained alert, prepared to strike if the woman tried to cast any magic.
"Attempt no spell, sorceress. You are surrounded."
As if to confirm her words, their surroundings transformed. Stores and carts faded out of sight, Buildings in the distance blurred in and out of focus and then shifted in position, as if suddenly moved by an unseen hand. Construction workers, merchants, and ordinary citizens who seemed to previously line the street simply disappeared. In their place, fifty soldiers armed with spears and crossbows surrounded the stunned party.
Sy immediately considered their position. They had no cover whatsoever as they stood exposed at the center of a wide crossroad. The soldiers blocked all paths of escape. Only the delver with his blinding speed might be able to break for freedom, but Sy knew Ryson would not leave his wife. The sorceress was right. They were trapped.
Holli moved forward cautiously, her eyes still fixed on Heteera. The elf guard held a bow steady in her hands, but she had not drawn an arrow... yet.
Ryson remained between the sorceress and the elf.
"Holli, she's with us. We have to see Enin."
The elf guard found no reassurance in these words.
"I can not let you through. The sorceress is very powerful and she is tainted with evil." Holli paused and almost appeared to sniff the wind. She looked deeper into Heteera, as if probing the sorceress' spirit. The elf's eyes narrowed on Heteera with contempt as Holli could not ignore the faint traces of a spell, a spell that she considered profane. "And she has committed evil. She has defiled a legend and she has opened a gate."
"That's what we're here to talk about," Ryson declared.
The elf would not release her icy stare from Heteera, but she questioned the veracity of Ryson's claim.
"Do you really know why you're
here? Do you have any idea of just how powerful and dangerous she is? You think I can let someone like this just walk up to Enin? What spell does she have you under? I do not blame you, Ryson Acumen. Even with all my training, she's powerful enough to take control of my thoughts if I gave her the slightest opportunity."
It was Heteera who spoke up.
"I have them under no spell. Ask the woman, she comes here of her own will. She knows of the danger. You know she can't be touched by the magic. How could I take control of her?"
Holli remained reluctant to alter her focus or her determination, but she could not deny Linda's gift. No spell could harm Ryson's wife directly and no wizard or witch, no matter how powerful, could ever hope to take control of her mind.
The elf guard called first to the soldiers of Connel.
"Keep your aim on her. If she raises her hands, kill her."
Ryson was appalled by the order.
"Holli! You can't!"
"Do not worry about me," Heteera replied. "I won't try anything, but do you see now why I needed your help?"
Holli ignored them and moved carefully to Linda's side. She grabbed the bridle of Linda's horse. She guided them about so she could see directly into Linda's eyes.
"Tell me why you are here," Holli asked. There was true compassion in her voice, but there was also authority. She wanted a clear answer, without doubt or hesitation.
"We're all here to see Enin," Linda answered. "There's something out near the desert. It's Lief. He's back... not alive... but like a ghost." She stopped, as if she realized how absurd her story actually sounded and now she worried if the elf might disregard her completely.
Holli, however, urged her on. "I know. I can sense that upon her. She has cast a spell to summon the spirit of Lief Woodson. She could not hide that from me. Go on."
"There's a portal... an opening to the place where the dark creatures come from. Like the one Enin opened."