World in Chains- The Complete Series

by Ryan W. Mueller

  "You really think it could be him?" Berig asked. "Why would he serve Warrick?"

  "I don't know," Nadia said, "but he really did remind me of you."

  Berig sagged against the wall, looking more defeated than ever.

  "What's wrong?" Markus asked.

  "None of this helps me. I'm gonna die before I can see him again."

  "You don't know that," Markus said. "The future isn't set in stone. Maybe going back in time won't kill you."

  Berig looked down at his feet. "No, it's gonna kill me. I saw it myself."

  "You saw yourself disappear," Markus said. "But maybe you didn't really die."

  Berig shook his head sadly. "Wish I could believe that."

  Nadia had never been good at consoling anybody. In truth, she'd spent more time needing consoling herself. But now she wished she could say something to Berig, something that would make him see the positive side of things. Of course, she'd had enough trouble with that herself.

  Markus still had an arm around Berig's shoulders. "Well, if all these adventures have taught me anything, it's that we should never give up. We never know what's gonna happen next. We've all survived so much. We'll find a way again. I swear it."

  "You're not just talking about Berig," Nadia said.

  "No, I'm talking about this insane idea that we can defeat Krinir. It seems insane right now. It seems like we'll die without accomplishing a thing. But didn't we feel the same way about killing Warrick? About so many other things we've done? Somehow, we've always found a way, and we'll do it again."

  Nadia almost joined Markus in thinking anything was possible, but her doubts clung to her, as always. Before, they'd always had help, even if it came from Warrick. Now she felt as if they were adrift on the ocean, fighting to stay afloat as waves crashed over them.

  "But we've lost so many," she said.

  "They may be dead," Markus said. "But they're still with us." He put a hand to his heart. "In here. In everything we do, every sacrifice we make. Rik wouldn't want us to fail. Garet and Lara wouldn't want us to give up. We're Weavers. We're meant to do great things."

  He stood up, looking suddenly strong and commanding. "Nadia, do you remember that conversation we had once, when we talked about whether we were heroes or not?"

  She forced a smile. "Yes, I remember it well."

  "Maybe we weren't really heroes then. But we can be now. We can change the world. I don't know how, but I don't intend to give up. For all the people who've died to get us to this point. It's time we took responsibility, time we stepped out of the shadows of all these sorcerers guiding our path. Time to show Krinir this world does not belong to him."

  Nadia hadn't given much thought to the idea of heroism. Ever since they'd failed to kill Warrick, she'd felt as if other people were directing their path.

  Even before then, Warrick had been controlling everything.

  But they could take control. They had to. Hearing Markus's impassioned speech, she realized that they'd been letting others take control of their lives. It was just another set of chains.

  It was time to shed those chains.

  Chapter 20: The Fire Temple

  Rik's feet ached as they marched westward across the Fire Wastes. A couple more Firestorms had threatened, but hadn't been as strong as the first. They'd also encountered a few monsters, which Rik and Lara handled easily with water magic.

  The air felt hotter than a blacksmith's forge. Rik wiped sweat from his forehead every few seconds, but the sweat kept dripping into his eyes. Step after step, he forced himself forward. He'd never felt so exhausted.

  The days of traveling faded into a steady rhythm. Without water magic, they would have died of thirst and heat exhaustion. But eventually they did reach their destination.

  The Fire Temple stood ahead of them, a vast stone structure that looked out of place on the flat wasteland. A river of lava surrounded the temple like a moat. It felt as if the air had grown hotter than ever. Rik's entire body was drenched in sweat.

  But he hadn't complained. They were all miserable, and he remembered how much he'd annoyed Markus, Nadia, and the others with his complaints on their first quest.

  Lara wiped sweat from her dark hair. "I was wondering if this place actually existed."

  "Yeah, I know the feeling," Rik said.

  "Well, let's go," Garet said. He didn't sound eager, and Rik couldn't blame him. This temple held no significance for him since he couldn't learn magic. That made Rik appreciate Garet's actions even more. He'd taken leadership of this quest even though it held little significance for him.

  Nor did he share Rik's feelings for Eliza. It was a sobering thought. They were doing all this for Rik, and for Eliza, whom they barely knew. Rik didn't know what he'd done to deserve such loyalty. He prayed he could make their sacrifices matter.

  They made their way toward the bridge leading across the lava moat. It was a narrow stone bridge that hung perhaps fifty feet above the river of lava. Beyond it, the Fire Temple looked like a fortress built of light-colored stone. It stood perhaps thirty feet tall and had no windows. The stone had cracked in places, but the temple still looked sturdy.

  The heat grew more intense than ever as Rik's party crossed the bridge. Rik felt a little dizzy when he looked at the lava churning below. He'd seen enough of this place.

  "Are we gonna have to return the way we came?" he asked.

  "Probably," Lara said. "But maybe we'll find a teleportation stone."

  Rik doubted that would happen, but he didn't let those dark thoughts linger. They would only discourage him, and Eliza deserved better. He couldn't let anything stop him.

  And he would cure her. It didn't matter what obstacles stood between him and the Stone of Restoration. But still he thought back to what Cyrus had told them in the Oasis Outpost. Was retrieving the stone the exact wrong thing to do?

  No. He couldn't think like that. It was impossible to determine all the consequences of his actions. He had to act on the knowledge he had and hope for the best.

  "Something feels wrong," Lara said. They stood at the end of the bridge, upon the cracked stone landscape. The temple was maybe another fifty feet away. Up close, it looked more imposing than ever, reminding Rik of the castle back in Crayden.

  Thoughts of the fire drifted back to him, and they didn't feel out of place here in the Fire Wastes.

  Garet scanned their surroundings. "What exactly feels wrong?"

  "I don't know," Lara said. "I think it's something in my magic. A warning. There are other sorcerers here, I think."

  "Have you felt anything like this before?" Garet asked.

  "I think it's a premonition. I've had them from time to time."

  "But what can we do if there are other sorcerers here?" Rik asked. Already, dark thoughts swirled in his mind, however much he tried to dispel them.

  "Well, we have to go inside," Garet said. "What choice do we have?"

  That was a phrase Rik had grown to hate. He'd felt so often as if they had no choices in life. The last time he'd felt in control was the period immediately after leaving Crayden. Since then, somebody had always been manipulating them. He hated the damned Webs of Fate.

  They continued toward the temple, alert for signs of danger. The barren landscape seemed deserted, but Rik's stomach still churned.

  Soon they stood before the temple's open entrance.

  "The feeling is stronger than ever," Lara said. "We need to think of something."

  "No, you don't." The deep male voice had come from within the temple. Rik's entire body tensed as half a dozen people emerged. Their ageless appearances marked them as sorcerers, and they carried themselves with confidence and authority.

  "Who are you?" Garet demanded, sounding braver than Rik felt.

  The man stepped forward. "We are sorcerers who support Krinir. We are more powerful than you by far. Krinir has ordered us to detain you. Cooperate and there will be no need for violence."

  Rik had seen enough of Krinir's mani
pulations. Even as he pointed his staff at the sorcerers, he knew he was being foolish, but he didn't care.

  He sent a burst of fire at the sorcerers. Caught by surprise, they didn't conjure their shields quickly enough. A few of them hit the ground, rolling to extinguish the flames.

  The man in the lead shook his head gravely. "That was the wrong decision, my friend."

  He pointed a finger at Garet, eyes cold with murderous intent. Rik pointed his staff toward Garet, praying he could create a shield in time. A great field of yellow surrounded Garet, and the lightning gathered high above.

  "Step aside, channeler," said the lead sorcerer. "Your shield will not protect him."

  Rik sensed he had an advantage here. These sorcerers didn't want to kill him or Lara.

  He stepped into the field of yellow. "You're gonna let that spell die."

  The lead sorcerer turned to a woman beside him. "Do as he says."

  The field of yellow disappeared, and the lead sorcerer took a step toward Rik. "Now that we've demonstrated our powers, and our willingness to use them, can we speak civilly?"

  "We'll speak," Rik said. "But I don't know how civil I'll be." He should have been more careful, but anger had taken hold of him, like nothing he'd ever felt before. Didn't these people understand the god they were serving? Krinir would destroy the world. How could anyone want that?

  "You should be more careful when speaking to me," said the lead sorcerer. "I could kill all of you with little more than a thought."

  Rik glared at him defiantly. "But that isn't what Krinir wants, is it?"

  "Krinir has found a use for you. But you aren't the only people who can do what he needs. If you refuse to cooperate, I will be forced to kill you. You are too dangerous."

  Rik's heart pounded. "All right, tell us what you want then."

  "We want you to continue on your current path."

  "Then why'd you interfere?" Rik asked, trying to keep his voice calm.

  The man stepped forward. "Why do sorcerers always interfere? I'm sure you've seen it often enough by now. We read the Webs of Fate, and we see the best courses of action. As it is, Krinir needs someone to bring him the Stone of Restoration. You are best for that role."

  "I'm tired of playing sorcerers' games," Rik said.

  The lead sorcerer smiled. "Well, you don't have much of a choice, now do you?"

  Rik exchanged anxious glances with Garet and Lara. It was clear that neither of them had thought of a way out of this situation. Still, this didn't make sense at all.

  "If Krinir wants us to do this, why'd he try to kill us back in Luminia?"

  The man smiled again. "Oh, did you think he was actually trying to kill you? He had to put on a convincing act. But, no, if he wanted you dead, you'd be dead. That's the thing that none of you people seem to understand. You've only survived this long because we have let you survive, because you are useful."

  "And once we're no longer useful?" Rik asked.

  "Then you'll be dead."

  "That's not how you're supposed to bargain," Rik said. "It doesn't give us much incentive to do what you ask if we're gonna die anyway."

  "At least you know how to play this game. Doesn't mean I can promise you anything. If Krinir wants us to kill you, we'll do it. If he wants to kill you himself, believe me, we won't stand in his way." He shrugged. "Unfortunate for you, but you might live. Disobey us now and we'll find someone else to carry out the task. We'll kill you right here and now."

  Rik felt as if a heavy weight sat upon him. "So it's a choice between dying now and dying later? Doesn't sound like the greatest choice to me."

  "No, it's a choice between definitely dying now and possibly dying later."

  Rik barked a laugh. "No, it's certain death either way."

  Garet grasped Rik's shoulder. "Rik, you're not helping. It's not an ideal situation, but if we want to survive, we have to play along."

  "You sure about that?" Rik asked. "Maybe we should accept our deaths now. After all, if Krinir wants the Stone of Restoration, we shouldn't deliver it to him."

  "You heard the sorcerer. If we don't do it, somebody else will."

  "I think he's bluffing," Rik said.

  "I've played a lot of poker games in my time," Garet said. "He isn't bluffing."

  Rik had played his fair share of poker as well, but he would defer to Garet's judgment. Garet had made few mistakes in the time he'd spent with Rik.

  "Besides," Garet whispered, "I'd rather have a little control. You never know. We might be able to outsmart them somehow and keep the stone away from them."

  "All right, I'll trust your judgment."

  "Are we done whispering?" asked the lead sorcerer. "Whatever you're planning behind our backs, it isn't going to work."

  "We'll do what you want," Rik said.

  "I don't trust you, but that answer will suffice for now." He beckoned for them to follow. "You'll need more magic on your side to help you get through the jungles of Malavia. But rest assured: the magic you gain here won't be enough to fight us."

  Rik remembered the sudden surge of power Markus had gained back in the Earth Temple, when he'd first gained the power of true sorcery. Perhaps Lara could do something similar and help them escape.

  They followed the sorcerers into the temple, then along wide stone corridors, arriving eventually in a large room filled with a bright orange glow. An orb sat upon a pedestal in the center of the room, producing that glow.

  The lead sorcerer motioned for Lara to step forward. She did so, placing her hands on the stone. The glow became suddenly brighter, and a circle of fire surrounded her.

  Rik recoiled, but then the fire disappeared.

  "Good," said the lead sorcerer. "Now it's time to travel." From his pocket, he produced a blue teleportation stone. Though Rik dreaded what lay ahead, he was glad to see they wouldn't have to make the return trip across the Fire Wastes.

  Everyone touched the stone, and the temple faded around them. Rik's feet lifted from the floor as his surroundings swirled, making him nauseous. A few moments later, he stood on the soft ground in the most humid air he'd ever felt. It felt just as oppressive as the heat in the Fire Wastes, but in a different way.

  Trees and vines crowded the world around them. All kinds of strange animal calls sounded, both close and in the distance. Everything was draped in moisture. Thunder rumbled far away.

  They stood in what could be called a clearing amidst all the vegetation. Ahead of them stood a stone building, cracked and worn with age. Vines had grown all over the building, reminding Rik of his time in Woodsville.

  The lead sorcerer pointed at the building. "That's the Lighting Temple."

  Three of the sorcerers remained outside with Rik and Garet while three others entered the temple with Lara. A few minutes later, they emerged from the temple. Lara was almost glowing with the power of the magic she'd gained.

  "Now it's time for you to set out on your own," said the lead sorcerer. He had never given them his name. Was that a desire for secrecy, or perhaps him indicating how little he cared about them? How much he considered himself above them?

  Rik stared into the trees and vines, feeling queasy.

  "We can't go much south of here," said the lead sorcerer. "The protections that Cyrus and others placed around Malavia prevent it. But you won't be without help. This is the home of the Spirit of Malavia. You may find some help there."

  Rik wasn't sure he wanted the spirit's help.

  "We'll know if you don't do what you're supposed to," said the lead sorcerer. "We can still see you in the Webs of Fate."

  That was no bluff, Rik decided. If nobody ever mentioned the Webs of Fate again, that would make him very happy. For all this time, those who could read the Webs had been manipulating them. Rik wanted to take back control.

  But how could they do that?

  With no answers, they began their southward march through the jungles of Malavia.

  Chapter 21: An Unexpected Quest

  In
the last few days, Kara had made astonishing progress unlocking her magical gifts. Warrick's impatience from before had vanished, and now he appeared almost excited.

  The more Kara worked with her magic, the more she came to understand it. She could feel colors within her, and she could work with them, but not all her colors worked. She'd already discovered what she could do with Red and Orange, as well as how she could weave them together to create fire.

  When she cast Yellow alone, she produced light. Green could negate heat while Purple could negate light. However, she could not do anything with Blue. It didn't matter how much she tried. She simply could not find the color within her.

  After attempting it for a while, Warrick decided that there might have been some kind of magic there, but perhaps she didn't possess it. Sometimes, she thought she could sense purple deeper within her, especially after she'd stood in the sun for a while, but the color proved elusive.

  She could also weave together Red and Yellow, producing a field of lightning similar to what Warrick could do. Like her fire, it could penetrate even the most powerful shields conjured by ordinary sorcerers.

  In some ways, Warrick told her, she was more powerful than any other sorcerer. As far as he could tell, there was no way they could defend themselves against her magic. Even he could not stop her magic, though he cautioned her that he could still kill her if she tried anything.

  At those times, Kara recognized the man Warrick had been before the Shadowed Land. No matter how kind and patient he was with her, he was still the man who'd burned Crayden.

  He wasn't an evil man, but he was capable of evil deeds.

  In her training, Kara discovered only one other ability. She could weave Yellow and Green together, which allowed her to manipulate nearby stone. Whenever she tried to weave any other colors together, she simply could not make it happen. She left her training sessions feeling exhausted, and eventually Warrick decided she had no other abilities.

  Still, she was amazed at what she could do. Whenever she stood in the sun, she felt as if power were flooding into her. It was a wondrous feeling, making her feel more alive than she ever had. Every day, she practiced the most impressive of her abilities, producing massive waves of fire and enormous fields of lightning.