The Cavalier

by Jason McWhirter

  ***

  Alerion prepared for the summons with infinite care. The demon he was calling was a pit fiend named Ixtofin, and even though Alerion knew the beast’s real name, he must prepare the spell precisely or risk being torn to pieces by this powerful denizen from another plane.

  Alerion was a powerful wizard whose real skill was in conjuring. He was not a battle wizard, and although he did have some offensive spells, his skill was in finding and retrieving information. One of the best, though most dangerous, ways of doing that was to conjure beasts from other planes of existence, beasts that were made of magic that could get information in ways that Alerion could not.

  Alerion’s chamber was spacious and lined with book shelves filled with old leather bound tomes. Large thick tables of oak lay about randomly, all littered with various beakers, parchments, books, dried herbs, and other items for magical use. To an observer the room would have looked unkempt, but Alerion knew the exact whereabouts of every herb, parchment, and magical component.

  The center of the room was empty and that is where Alerion knelt, drawing a four-pointed star with a circle around it. Alerion was not a follower of any one god, but Ulren’s symbol was one of the strongest symbols to use for conjuring. Using a stick of lime to draw the symbol exactly, he made sure that there were no gaps in the lines.

  He got up and locked the large oak door, placing the heavy beam down in the locked position so no one would accidentally enter while he was summoning the pit fiend. It could be disastrous if that happened. They could spoil his concentration. Or worse, Ixtofin could use his powers to assault the mind of someone mentally weaker or unprepared, and possess their body temporarily, just long enough to destroy the symbol which acted as the demon’s prison on this plane. A demon cannot leave the interior of the symbol, which was why it was so important that the symbol be drawn perfectly with no gaps.

  When the door was locked, Alerion lit four candles made of red dragon fat, a substance so rare and expensive that very few wizards had the means to acquire it unless they were court wizards to a rich king, as was Alerion.

  Alerion was kneeling five paces from the symbol as he opened his most prized possession, his book of spells. He had used the spell before, but Alerion did not get to where he was by being careless and impatient. The words must be recited exactly or he would not be able to access the magic of the Ru’Ach and summon the demon. The ancient words he guarded with care and magical wards because if they got into the wrong hands the power of the book could be used for evil, which Alerion would not allow. The wards, spells used to protect the book, were designed to incinerate it if anyone but him opened it. It would be devastating to lose the book, but it would be far worse knowing that his life’s work was being used for dark deeds.

  Alerion took a deep breath and began to recite the words slowly and exactly. Words of magic were much more difficult to use than people suspected. Not only did they have to be read correctly, but the inflection and tone must also be perfect for the Ru’Ach to be tapped. His words rolled off his tongue smoothly and perfectly. His voice gained in tempo and power as he read the ancient words from the heavy book.

  Slowly a mist began to form at the center of the symbol. The swirling smoke-like mist drifted upwards, meandering back and forth in a cylintrical shape.

  Alerion did not look up or falter from recitation of the spell; it could mean certain death. The pit fiend would rip him to pieces and he would stand little chance in stopping the demon. He might also permanently transport the pit fiend to their own plane. Alerion could not let that happen. He continued reading from the book, his voice now booming with power in the large stone room.

  Suddenly all the braziers in the room flared and were suddently extinguished, leaving only the four candles in each corner of the symbol shedding any light. The air felt heavy and dark and Alerion knew that Ixtofin was entering their realm.

  After reciting the last word of power, Alerion looked up at the drifting smoke. He heard a deep rumbling, like the slow growl of a huge dragon, and the mist began to change and take on the shape of a figure. Alerion could just make out the form of two large bat-like wings slowly opening and expanding to reveal the upper body of a giant muscled torso. The mist slowly materialized into the upper body of the pit fiend, while its lower body was a tendril of smoke that was connected to the center of the symbol.

  Ixtofin’s body was colossal, with heavily muscled arms extended wide as if it were stretching. The demon’s clawed hands opened and closed, the massive muscles on its forearms rippling and flexing with each movement. The demon raised its head slowly, exposing two black horns curving upwards. Its mouth opened revealing black fangs as long as fingers. Red eyes, glowing with fury, were set deeply in the demon’s thick bald head. Tendrils of smoke drifted from the demon’s red scaly skin as if it were burning from an immense internal heat.

  Alerion felt his resolve flutter as Ixtofin’s eyes flared with malice, centering on him with obvious hatred. The demon’s voice was gravelly and deep, shaking the very floor. “What do you want, human?” spat the demon.

  Alerion knew that the demon would tear him to pieces if it could, but as long as his magical barrier held, and he was strong enough to manage the magic, the demon would have to answer his questions.

  “Ixtofin!” Alerion bellowed. “I need information.” Alerion purposely used the demon’s real name. Knowing the beast’s magical name gave Alerion some control over the demon and it reminded the pit fiend that he was in control.

  The demon growled at the use of his name, the noise causing Alerion’s eardrums to vibrate. “You have two questions.”

  “Three, you will answer three questions,” ordered Alerion with confidence.

  The demon roared, shooting its giant hands toward Alerion.

  Alerion did not move or flinch, concentrating on the task at hand. Sweat dripped from his forehead as he focused his mind on the magic around the barrier. Ixtofin hit the magical barrier and was repelled back toward the center of the symbol.

  “You know you cannot break through my defenses, Ixtofin.”

  “You will make a mistake, wizard, and when you do I will be there to rip your arms and legs from that pitiful shell you call a body. Now ask your three questions so I can leave this place,” rumbled the angry demon.

  Alerion had thought about his questions carefully. He had prepared for this extensively but there was no telling how the demon would react to his wording or how much the beast would answer. It was all a risk and nothing ever went as planned when you dealt with creatures and beasts from other planes of existence. “Has Malbeck the Dark One returned to Kraawn?”

  “Yes and no,” replied the demon.

  “Explain,” ordered Alerion.

  “I answered the question, now proceed to question two.” The pit fiend spoke slowly, its deep and powerful voice reverberating off the stone walls around them.

  “You did not answer the question,” replied Alerion. “And if you don’t finish the answer then I will give your true name to every powerful wizard in Kraawn and you will spend the next thousand years being summoned by wizards for their own petty desires. Now answer the question!” ordered the wizard, his powerful voice echoing in the chamber.

  The demon’s beady eyes narrowed in anger and it looked as if it were about to attack again, but the fiery demon just flapped its wings in frustration and spoke with a thunderous voice. “When Malbeck was destroyed a thousand years ago only his physical body died. Weapons of steel could not permanently destroy Malbeck’s evil essence, which drifted through the Ru’Ach in limbo, between planes of existence until a powerful follower of his found a way to bring him back. So yes, he is back, but he is not the same as he was. His time within the Ru’Ach changed him, making him more powerful.”

  Ixtofin stopped talking abruptly, staring at Alerion with open hatred. Suddenly Alerion’s mind flared with pain as the demon tried to assault him mentally. Alerion instantly brought up a barrier to ward off the attack and
the pain in his head abated. He should have been more prepared for the demon’s attack. The beast always tested Alerion, trying to find a hole in his defenses, but Alerion was busy trying to process the new information and his mind had wandered. It would not happen again he thought.

  “How did they bring him back?” Alerion asked, using up question two.

  Ixtofin eyed him menacingly for several seconds before answering. “They found the Shan Cemar.”

  The words hit Alerion like a hammer. “What!” Alerion yelled, momentarily losing control. “That cannot be,” he continued, quickly refocusing his attention on the demon. “The Shan Cemar has been hidden for thousands of years. Even the elves do not know its hiding place.”

  “Not anymore,” the pit fiend hissed, taking pleasure in Alerion’s distress. “The Shan Cemar was found. The followers of the Dark One have been looking for it for a thousand years and their resolve has paid off.”

  Alerion couldn’t believe what he was hearing. The Shan Cemar was a book that held words of power written in the ancient elven tongue, the true language of magic. The book had been hidden thousands of years ago by the ancient elves and most people just thought of it as a legend, a tale told in taverns by traveling bards.

  But Alerion knew that the Shan Cemar was real and that many adventurers and powerful wizards had been trying to find its location for many life times. He simply couldn’t believe it had been found. The power in the Shan Cemar was beyond Alerion’s imagination, and he knew that if Malbeck had the book in his possession then the good people of Kraawn were in serious danger.

  “How do we kill the Dark One?” asked Alerion whose head was spinning with fear and unanswered questions.

  The demon hissed as smoke and fire flared from his nose and mouth. “You must find the IshMian that has the blood of Finarth pulsing through his veins.”

  The response was brief and to the point, which startled Alerion. Alerion wanted to ask the demon more but he knew that if he broke the rules that his magic would weaken, giving Ixtofin the chance to break through his defenses.

  “You are released to return to your burning planes. Now be gone with you, Ixtofin.” Alerion read the last few lines of the spell and the Pit Fiend’s form began to dissolve slowly into mist again.

  The last thing that Alerion heard was the rumbling laughter as the swirling mist disappeared into the floor. Immediately the braziers lit and flared to life again, shedding the flames orange light throughout the room. Alerion stood, closing his book.

  “An IshMian,” he repeated out loud as he set his book down and strode out the door.

  Nine

  Annure

  Jonas had thought that Finarth was a wonderous city, but he was dumfounded when he looked up at the gates of Annure. The city walls were shining white and shot up towards the clouds like a god’s palace. There were no shacks or small homes speckling the land before the city. Spacious green grasslands, uncluttered by habitation, flowed right to the base of Lake Lar’nam where the city sat nestled into the water’s edge. At least ten round towers rose to the clouds, with the flag of Annure jutting from each one, all flapping in unison as the gentle breeze blew in off the expansive waters.

  Kiln explained to them that Annure was a major port city and because of that they were able to charge high tariffs on goods imported into their lands. Lake Lar’nam was immense, like a fresh water ocean. It took weeks to sail across it, and many large trading ships went down in the turbulent winter storms.

  Annure was a rich kingdom which brought many travelers throughout its lands every year. To live in Annure was costly, but the wages were higher than its neighboring towns. Good jobs were hard to find but if you managed to find work then you could live a good life in Annure. There was a high demand for dock workers, and since the pay was good, competition was steep.

  Taleen had left her horse several miles from the city where it could graze in the grasslands. She explained to Jonas that a cavalier’s steed did not need to be stabled, that her steed would be there when she returned, refreshed and eager to travel.

  “Will Kormac be okay out here by himself?” Jonas asked when Taleen left her animal standing in the middle of the field.

  “He will. He can take care of himself.”

  “But he’s not even tethered,” Jonas said, a little unsure about whether the horse would still be there when they returned.

  “A cavalier’s steed does not need to be tethered, Jonas. Kormac will be here when I return.” Taleen smiled, seeing his expression of doubt. “Come, Jonas, let us see this Annure.”

  As they neared the huge black gate Jonas stared up at the towering round buildings that seemed to poke holes in the clouds. The colossal gate was covered with sheets of black iron, in stark contrast to the white walls surrounding it. Jonas had never seen anything constructed in such size and strength.

  “It would take a dragon to break through that gate,” Jonas said, awestruck by the sight.

  “Indeed it would,” replied Kiln who was also staring in admiration at the seemingly indestructible wall.

  There was a small caravan of six carts entering the gate before them. The caravan was flanked by guards, several on horseback. They all easily managed to fit through the expansive entrance. It looked like a merchant’s caravan and that thought momentarily brought Jonas’s mind to Allindrian and Landon. What were they both doing? Would he see them again?

  Jonas was deep in thought as they entered the open gate. Two guards wearing the green of Annure stood on each side of the entrance. The Annurian royal crest, a ship sailing with the sun setting behind it, was embroidered in gold on the front of each tunic. Jonas was amazed at the intricate embroidery of the crest. They were works of art probably worth a small fortune.

  Kiln saw Jonas’s eyes and answered his un-asked question. “Annure is a very rich kingdom. Not only do they earn high tariffs, but the mountains surrounding the kingdom are filled with precious minerals. King Olegaurd has several rich and productive mines in the area bringing in gold, silver, and lots of iron ore.”

  “They must. If every guard is dressed like this, then the king must have a large treasury indeed.”

  Annure was an open city and Kiln told them that they would not have a problem getting inside. Some cities were strict on who came and went, especially during certain times of the night. Annure had a strong city watch and the rules within the city were strictly enforced. It was not a place that welcomed pick pockets and thieves. The strong security made the city a welcoming environment to traders and anyone who was interested in honest work; therefore the city gates were open to all, as long as they walked the line of the law.

  As they walked past one of the guards, Jonas noticed the man’s eyes sweep over them and widen slightly as he recognized the symbols on Jonas’s and Taleen’s breast plates. The middle aged man was outfitted with a long chain mail shirt under his green tunic. He also wore a long sword dangling from a black leather sword belt cinched tight at the waist and knee high leather boots plated with pieces of shiny steel. Each guard held a long sharp spear with a thick wooden shaft.

  The guard near them bowed slightly as they passed, and Jonas couldn’t help but notice that the guard was staring at Taleen and himself, focusing on their breast plates which bore the marks of their gods.

  “Welcome, cavaliers,” the man announced. Jonas and Taleen nodded as they walked by the soldier.

  “It seems I’m in the presence of royalty,” Kiln chuckled behind Jonas.

  “Kiln is nearly right, Jonas. As a cavalier you will be welcomed everywhere and people will treat you with deference, but it comes with a price. You will also be asked to do things that may or may not be within your power. When the world has high expectations of you, it can be easy to let people down. We are not gods, but some people don’t seem to understand that.”

  “True words, Taleen,” agreed Kiln.

  “I can’t believe they recognized me as a cavalier,” Jonas said as they entered the main entrance to Annu
re.

  “Look at yourself. If you were standing here three years younger, watching yourself walk through these gates, what would you think?” asked Kiln.

  Jonas looked down at his immaculate clothes and shining armor. The symbol on his sparkling breast plate glittered like fish scales in the sun. His legs and wrists were covered with mirror-like metal guards all decorated with intricate designs. His incredible horned helm was strapped to his pack. That unique piece alone would draw someone’s attention. He wore two beautifully crafted swords at his belt and on his back was a black leather quiver also decorated with intricate symbols. The black shafts that jutted from the quiver were perfectly crafted with silver and blue feathers, which obviously did not come from nature. The gloss black long bow he carried in his hands was obviously built by a master craftsman. They were truly magnificent weapons.

  “I see what you mean,” Jonas said, looking around him for the first time. Annure was bustling with activity. There were people everywhere, walking up and down the many streets lined with shops and markets of all kinds. Annure reminded Jonas of Finarth, except Annure was much cleaner and had more of an open feel.

  Jonas took a deep breath, smelling the fresh air blowing in from the lake waters. The streets were spacious and all the structures were built from the same white stone that was used to create the immense walls that protected the city. It gave the place a god-like look and Jonas immediately felt safe here.

  “We need to procure rooms and find out where the kulam is located,” Kiln announced as he, too, took in his surroundings.

  “What’s a kulam?” asked Jonas.

  “That is what the cavalier training facilities are called,” Taleen answered. “Let us ask a guard where good rooms and food may be found.”

  “I agree, but let’s look around a bit first. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in a city like this and I wouldn’t mind exploring some,” said Kiln.

  “I’d like that,” added Jonas, not able to hide his enthusiasm.