The Serpent's Ring (Relics of Mysticus)

by H. B. Bolton

  “Lazonia, I breathed in this minty air!” yelled Evan, as Lazonia climbed down to the platform.

  “You need to get out of there,” said Lazonia. “Hurry over to that center door and pull down the lever. There will be a hallway on the other side. The effervescence will not be as strong in there.”

  Evan stood and pulled down the eel-shaped lever, and the door shot up. It was dark on the other side, and Evan hesitated before rushing through. Light began to sizzle above his head. Eels! They lined the ceiling, lighting his way. Evan was certain he saw one of them move, but surely they couldn’t have still been alive. He scanned the length of the hall; its entire length was plated in steel. He studied the metal bolts that lined the seams. Each one was in the shape of a different shell.

  After the entire group was close enough, he asked, “Now what?”

  “Now, we travel to the Undersea Hall. It won’t be very far,” said Lazonia. “I will go first.”

  “I shall go first,” said Sigurd, easing his way forward. “If we are attacked, I will be able to fight whatever it is. At least that might give you some time to reach Aegir.”

  “Sigurd, nobody’s here,” said Evan. “I’m sure we’ll slip in unnoticed.”

  “One can never be certain about anything,” said Sigurd, now leading the group.

  Claire sighed and followed her hero. Evan was stuck back near the imps, who reeked of fear. Worse yet, the space was cramped, making it difficult to endure the odor of frightened imp.

  At last, they reached the Undersea Hall’s entrance. Evan sighed in relief. Just as he had hoped, it was deserted—eerie, but deserted.

  The walls next to Evan were rocky at first, but as he continued to walk, its surface changed. Crushed shells, with a pearlescent sheen, decorated the walls, continuing all the way up to the ridiculously high ceiling.

  “See, I told you, we’ll be able to sneak in. No one will know we’re here,” said Evan.

  “I do not think we will be so lucky,” said Sigurd, pointing toward a wall. “Look over there.”

  Forms, in the shape of men, protruded out from the wall. Each of their faces resembled crumbling stone busts in a graveyard.

  “What’s the big deal?” Evan asked, still staring at the figures’ vacant expressions.

  “I am not entirely certain; however, I have an ominous feeling,” said Sigurd.

  Wisps of smoke came from the ground, spiraling and spinning. The vapor separated, streaming toward each individualized form. Life sparked inside the human shapes, and they began to move. Each of their bodies stretched out from the wall. Slowly, their vague features defined. Crushed shells pressed deeper into their bodies and deepened in color. Some were death black and others were corpse pale. Now, fully formed, they dragged their heavy bodies to the center of the floor.

  The twelve guards remained motionless, strategically positioned like pawns on a chessboard. Each was equal in size and shape but held a different piece of battle armor in their colossal hands: swords, axes, clubs with spikes, clubs without spikes, and spears. Even more intimidating were the few without weapons.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  FEISTY DRAUGAR

  “WHAT ARE THEY?” CLAIRE ASKED, hiding behind Sigurd. “Are they guards?”

  “They are something like that. They are the draugar,” said Sigurd. He stared ahead, his body tensing.

  “Sigurd, even you are not strong enough to battle twelve draugar,” said Lazonia. “We must go back.”

  “Sigurd, where did they come from?” Evan asked.

  “They were once sailors on the great seas,” answered Sigurd. “That was before Ran captured them in her golden net, one by one.”

  “She does not mean to kill them!” interjected Lazonia. “Once a sailor promises to worship her … well, let’s just say she quickly realizes how fragile humans are.”

  “Yes, time and time again,” scoffed Sigurd. “In the end, she always wins. They forever serve her, guarding both her Undersea Hall and all of her treasures.”

  “There are only twelve of them,” said Evan. “I watched Sigurd and Claire battle against more giants than that.”

  “Evan,” said Lazonia, shaking her head. “Not only does a draugr possess superhuman strength, they can change into other creatures. Plus, they are already dead. Only a hero can defeat them, and it is extremely difficult.”

  “But, Sigurd is a hero,” said Evan.

  “But, there are twelve of them,” said Claire.

  Finally, Sigurd addressed the guards. “Allow us to pass. We seek council with Aegir and Ran.”

  The draugar did not budge or react at all to Sigurd’s request.

  “They’re not moving. Maybe we should try to go around them,” said Evan. “I’ll go first.”

  Evan had already begun to skirt around the draugar, when Sigurd shouted, “Evan, no!!”

  Just then, Evan heard something shuffle. He peered over at the draugar. They hadn’t budged, but strangely their bodies were contorting; their chests heaved and their shoulders widened. The guard closest to Evan cricked his neck—creech!—and stared right at Evan.

  “Ah!” cried out Evan.

  “Evan, get out of there!” shouted Claire.

  Evan ran and screamed and did not look back until something smashed down to the ground. The sound ricocheted, and Evan turned around.

  Lazonia hollered after him, “Keep going Evan! We will be okay! They are leaving us alone and only following you!”

  Evan had almost reached a short flight of steps, when a catlike creature pounced on top of him. It was small, the size of an alley cat, but extremely heavy. It too was ghoulish. Its yellow eyes closed in on Evan. Soon, they were nose to nose.

  “Get off me!” yelled Evan, swatting at the creepy cat.

  Evan struggled, but could not get the cat off his chest. Although it didn’t move, Evan could feel its weight begin to increase. It wasn’t getting bigger, just heavier. The pressure on Evan’s ribcage was unbearable. Pretty soon, his bones were going to snap. When, suddenly, the blade from Sigurd’s sword flashed above, and the cat’s head was dislodged from its body.

  “Sigurd, look behind you!” yelled Claire. She, Lazonia, and the imps had remained behind. It seemed the draugar didn’t show any interest in those who did not try to cross their path. But now, Evan and Sigurd were in serious trouble.

  “Evan, you must go into the Undersea Hall and find Aegir,” instructed Sigurd.

  “What about you?”

  “Do not worry about me. Go—NOW!” said Sigurd as he spun around and slashed his sword into the chest of another draugr.

  Evan darted up a flight of steps. Just a few feet more and he would reach the entrance to the Undersea Hall. A warm and inviting glow came from the other side of the gigantic entryway. The entire wall was made up of wooden archways and beams. The beams created a honeycomb pattern, stretching up four stories high.

  Clank! Crash! Evan turned to see what had happened. Sigurd continued to battle against one of the draugr. The other nine guards held tight to their positions and hadn’t moved, staring straight ahead at Evan’s friends. Sigurd was the only one in immediate danger. He whipped his blade through the air, chopping off pieces of the draugr, bit by bit—a hand here, a toe there. It was a disgusting sight to behold, but at last, the draugr lay in a broken pile of stones and shells.

  Sigurd’s hand rested on his knee while he caught his breath. He lifted his head and sweat streamed down his face. He looked over at Evan and hollered, “You need to hurry!”

  One of the remaining nine draugar turned around and rushed Sigurd, but Sigurd was too fast and leapt out of the way. Evan couldn’t stop watching and had to force himself to back up toward the columns. On both sides of him were large, golden statues. To his right, Aegir and to his left, Ran. Their bodies were angled toward Evan, as if welcoming him.

  A sultry voice came from Evan’s left, “You are either very foolish or very brave.” It was Ran.

  “I think I might be a mixtur
e of the two,” Evan said without thinking.

  Ran laughed, and as she did, the sound reverberated around Evan’s head. He winced and covered his ears.

  From behind her golden statue she emerged. Her long, wavy hair was held back with seashells. Her eyes were large and blue, and her complexion fair. When she moved, her pale-blue dress shimmered like sunlight dancing over water. And although Evan had been prepared to despise this goddess, in person, he felt a strange fondness for her.

  “Your Goddessness, we are here to seek your help,” Evan said diplomatically.

  “Oh really, Evan Jones, what could you possibly ask of me? You are here to steal away the Serpent’s Ring, are you not?” said Ran. “Quite honestly, I am surprised you are bold enough to approach me.”

  “Please, I need to speak with you and Aegir,” said Evan.

  “I am afraid Aegir is preoccupied at the moment. As you well know, he is unleashing Jormundgand. I, however, am here. So, speak,” said Ran.

  Evan looked over at Sigurd, who was fighting off yet another draugr. This one swung at Sigurd with an enormous club, knocking the blond hero clear across the floor.

  “Your Goddessness, would you be so kind as to call off your guards, at least while we talk?” Evan asked, wincing as Sigurd was being dragged around by his boots.

  “I shall, but only if you cease in calling me ‘Your Goddessness.’ You sound ridiculous,” said Ran. “I am Ran, and would like to be referred to by my name.”

  “Of course,” said Evan.

  “My Darling Draugar, you have done well. For now, you may rest,” said Ran, and the guards became immobilized.

  It was good timing too, since Sigurd’s head was about to be squished under a draugr’s foot.

  “Do you mind if my friends join us?” Evan asked, and Ran nodded.

  Claire hurried over to help Sigurd, but Lazonia charged up the steps and stood right in front of Ran.

  “It was not always like this,” said Lazonia. “There was a time, not long ago, when you shared this hall with merpeople. We were friends and allies for many centuries. It does not have to be like this.”

  “You are right, my dear little mermaid. Join with us and all will be forgiven,” offered Ran.

  Lazonia smiled and studied the goddess before speaking, “I have a better plan in mind. You should help us stop Aegir. You must realize his plan is complete nonsense.”

  “Yeah, and there is still good on land,” interjected Evan. “In fact, I still don’t understand how oil spilled into the Great Reef. I mean, coral reefs are protected. Ships aren’t even allowed to sail near them.”

  “Are you suggesting my husband and I made up the story of the oil polluting one of our reefs?” fumed Ran.

  “No, of course not,” said Evan. “It’s just that, it doesn’t make sense to me how oil spilled there. Sure, oil spills into the oceans all the time, just not on a coral reef.”

  “I know for a fact, a large ship capsized right in the center of the reef,” raged Ran.

  Lazonia interrupted, “You must miss having guests fill the Undersea Hall. If Aegir is successful, who will be here to celebrate with you? Help us, and the merpeople will return; land creatures will return; other great gods will return.”

  “I have heard enough,” Ran said and waved her hand.

  Water rushed into the open space, pouring in from tunnels and striking the stairs. More and more water filled the room. Waves grew and white crests formed at their peaks.

  “Ran, please help us! If Aegir unlocks Jormundgand the entire planet will be flooded!” pleaded Evan.

  “You will see; the world will be a better place once it is finished.” Ran hung her head and turned to leave. Spearmint-green water gushed up the steps. Sigurd, Claire, and the imps scurried to the top. Evan noticed something strange stir in the water, when faces emerged out of the foaming crests. There were nine of them—all girls.

  “It is the daughters of Aegir and Ran,” said Lazonia. “We need to run. Not even I can breathe under effervescent water.” The group raced through the entrance into the Undersea Hall.

  The entire space was prepared for a banquet. Red banners floated in midair. Golden sea creatures swam up and down each piece of rippling fabric. A chill cut through Evan as he looked upon the banner depicting a bull shark. This particular banner just so happened to hang predominantly over the center table. And while all the other wooden tables were rectangular in shape, the one in the center was round and quite a bit larger. From up above, the arrangement would most likely have looked like a starfish or an octopus.

  Platters of food covered every table, but nobody feasted. Bubble-shaped aquariums sat upon every table, and inside, deep-sea fish glowed with fluorescent light, but nobody was there to see. Music drifted from a pipe organ made from conch shells. Brown and beige keys moved up and down, but nobody was there to hear its mysterious melody. There were no dancers, but the tentaclelike legs of the tables swayed with the rhythm.

  “Ran, remember when Himinglaeva and I danced for you? You have been like a mother to me. Is this what you want? Once you wash away the world, there will be no one to share in your festivities!” Lazonia lashed out, but Ran was nowhere in sight.

  Water rushed through, crashing at Evan’s feet. Sigurd tried to hurry the group away from the fizzing water, but Lazonia stayed behind. She continued to yell and shout. Oddly, the largest wave halted. A young girl’s face came out of the sea foam.

  “Himinglaeva, we were friends!” cried Lazonia.

  A hush came from the wave, sounding much like a breeze. Water collapsed toward the ground, and a girl appeared.

  “Lazonia, we can no longer be friends. It is forbidden,” said the girl with long white hair and pearlescent-blue skin.

  “Says who? Your father? As far as I am concerned, our fathers’ war is not our war,” said Lazonia.

  “Lazonia—” started Himinglaeva, but she didn’t finish, instead, she stood motionless with her eyes looking down.

  “Please help us. We need to convince Aegir to change his mind. It is not too late,” said Lazonia softly, reaching for her friend’s hand.

  Ran entered the room. She looked at her daughter and back toward Lazonia. “Lazonia, you must leave this place. No harm will come to you.” An expression of wistfulness crossed Ran’s face.

  “Please, you must listen—” Lazonia started, but was interrupted by Ran.

  “I might not completely agree with Aegir, but I will not turn against my husband,” she said and rested both hands on Himinglaeva’s milky-white shoulders. “Now, leave. Use that door. It will lead you to Aegir. You may try to stop him, but I am afraid you will fail.”

  Lazonia nodded, but before walking away she tried to plead with her friend. And for the first time, Evan realized Himinglaeva’s skin had changed color, rolling from white to various shades of blue. Now, her skin looked a lot like the ocean in a storm. Himinglaeva didn’t listen to her friend; instead, she turned her head, burying it in her mother’s billowing hair.

  “I see,” Lazonia said and rejoined the group.

  “That was the bravest thing I have ever seen,” complimented Claire.

  “Brave, maybe, but nothing I said made a difference,” said Lazonia, tears streaming down her cheeks.

  “We are still alive,” said Sigurd. “Obviously, they listened.”

  The group went quiet for a moment before walking through the Undersea Hall.

  “Do you suppose anyone would notice if I took one small piece of food?” said Evan, feeling slightly awkward with his request.

  “I am surprised I did not think of that,” said Sigurd.

  “I am not hungry, but I am certain the food will be delicious. It always was,” said Lazonia, wandering past the group and then slouching against a wall.

  Evan felt a little awkward picking food off one of Ran’s golden plates, but that didn’t stop him. There was chicken with a golden crust, mashed potatoes with gravy, a puffed pastry with mushrooms inside, and Norwegian kelp souff
lé. Evan reached for a chicken leg and kept walking.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  SNAPPING DOORKNOB

  LAZONIA LED THEM TO A small, wooden door. She barely touched its handle when it swung open and slammed into the wall. Evan jumped back upon hearing the loud noise, but still managed to go through the door first. It was dark, very dark. Lazonia screeched and clicked, and a torch on the wall caught fire.

  “That was handy,” said Evan to Lazonia. He looked in front of him and then up. “Great, we get to climb an old rickety staircase. And look, it goes up into complete darkness.”

  “I will go first,” said Sigurd.

  “No, I can do this,” said Evan. He had barely placed his bare foot on the first step when the wood cracked.

  “I’m not so sure about this,” said Evan. “It doesn’t look very safe. I really don’t want to plummet to my death.”

  “Maybe this is a trap,” said Claire. “I think it’s awfully fishy that Ran would help us.”

  “I know her well, and I know she would not send us into a trap,” explained Lazonia. “If she wanted to kill us, she would have done it herself.”

  “What a nice goddess,” Claire said sarcastically and pushed her way to the front of the group. “I’ll go first and repair the wood.”

  She waved her hand over each step before ascending. She continued like this for a while, until finally the staircase ended and led into a tunnel. Ahead, torches sparked to life, and as the group passed, the same vibrant torches simply blinked out.

  Occasionally, the tunnel would open into a large cavern and the group would have to cross over wobbly bridges made from old wood and frayed rope. Far below, enormous rock formations protruded up, and although it was difficult to see, Evan could hear water rushing.

  The group continued traveling along more stairs and through more tunnels, until finally they reached a carved door. Evan nudged his sister aside and stared at its decoration. There was the image of Jormundgand wrapped around the entire planet.