Dawn of Darkness: Book 1 - Full (Where The Shadows Stalk)

by Adam Watson

  It was said that under the light of the Black Moon the land would become cursed - a place where the shadows stalk, and all manner of darkened creatures spawned.

  Magmus didn’t believe those tales. He had never met anyone who had actually witnessed such a thing, and he had met travellers from all around the world, but even though he may have thought it was all superstitious nonsense, there were many who still believed.

  He made camp for the night, it was getting too dark to travel. He had no way to make a fire, so he rested up against a tree, luckily the night was not too cold. He stared at the moon above, eating the bread that had mysteriously appeared in his backpack.

  It was still reasonably fresh, which meant that he could not have been sitting in that spot for any longer than a couple of days. Also, he was only a little hungry, not ravenous, surely that meant he had eaten something within the last few hours. That knowledge answered none of his questions though, all he could do now was ponder the situation, even the smallest detail might provide some clue – he was still pondering two hours later when sleep finally took him.

  That night he bathed under the light of the Black Moon; there was no escape, no shelter from its rays. Out in the wilderness, he was completely exposed.

  He tossed and turned in the darkness; bad dreams wreaking havoc with his sleep. They filled his mind with visions that would never let him rest, but when he awakened, he remembered none of them.

  When the morning came, he walked on. He was tired from the broken sleep but thankful that no wolves had found him in the night. He had hoped that he would awaken with memories of what had happened, but he hadn’t – the mystery was as great as ever.

  Five hours later, when the sun was at its peak, he had found a stream running through the countryside. He filled up his waterskin, and whilst doing so he pondered the creek. The water was fresh and wherever there was fresh water, there was usually a settlement nearby.

  Using that logic he decided to follow the stream downwards, there would either be a settlement along the way or he would reach the coast; if that happened he could follow it around, sooner or later he was bound to find a fishing village or the like.

  It was another day and another sleepless night of following the stream before Magmus reached some form of humanity. His logic had paid off, there was indeed a settlement along the creek. In fact, as he found out from the villagers, it was one of several. Had he gone upstream it would have been three days before he would have reached a village – he thanked the gods for helping him choose the shorter path.

  He spent the next day in the settlement, a small town called Leifton. During his time there he learned that he was only two days from Tiet K’rea City itself, which meant three days from the academy. The fact that most of the inhabitants of the township were poor led to his advantage.

  For a small price, he bartered for some dried meat and a guide to take him on horseback as far as the academy itself. When Magmus had checked his coin purse to pay, he half expected it to be empty, but to his surprise, there were actually two more gold pieces in there than he had remembered. Paying the coin to a trapper named Varner, the man sent his teenage son out to be Magmus’s guide.

  Magmus was a little unsure at first with the boy being so young, but seeing as how he was the only one willing to take him that far, Magmus accepted. The next day they set off, and two days later they arrived in Tiet K’rea City.

  ***

  When they arrived, Magmus had never been so glad to see a city in his life. Tiet K’rea City - the grand old city of the south. It was a large, expansive city, well known throughout the world, and after the ordeal Magmus had endured in getting there from the top of the continent in North Ravona, it felt like he had come home.

  They travelled through the city streets, taking in the sights, the tall buildings and the extensive, highly-detailed architecture. There were intricate carvings, magnificent sculptures and monuments - even the fountains looked like they had come out of the god’s own country.

  On the way there Magmus had learnt that the boy’s name was Ernst and that he was eighteen years old. Ernst’s father was Varner the local trapper and hunter who provided much of the meat for Leif. Ernst had revealed that Varner had wanted to come himself, but had too many obligations to the town, so he had decided to send his son knowing that Ernst had always wanted to visit Tiet K’rea City.

  “So is it everything you imagined, Ernst?” Ernst was looking around in awe. He had never seen such large buildings before, they towered above him, forcing him to look up.

  “It's better … so much better.” The boy laughed out loud, his excitement could not be contained. “It’s fantastic!” he shouted, causing some of the townsfolk to eye him strangely. Magmus smiled, the first time he had entered a big city he had done the exact same thing.

  That night Magmus decided he would pay for a room at one of the inns. The extra coin in his purse had put him in a generous mood, and he really wanted Ernst to experience the city for real, not to just pass through it.

  So he rented a room that had two beds. Yes, separate rooms would have been nice, but he wasn’t feeling that generous. The money saved would be used to buy food and drink, like caramelised pork belly with apple sauce and honey mead ... lots of honey mead. That night they got very drunk.

  It was nearing midnight when Magmus decided to retire for the night. Ernst decided he was going to stay in the tavern a while longer and try his luck with one of the young barmaids. Magmus knew it was a lost cause but left him to it anyway. He should have some fun whilst he can. He might not ever get the chance to come to Tiet K’rea City again.

  ***

  That night Magmus tossed and turned in his bed, as he had every night since mysteriously awakening in the forest. He was sure that his dreams were what churned his mind and assailed his psyche, but when he awoke in the mornings he never remembered any of them.

  The next morning was no different. He awoke covered in sweat, his heart racing, but again there was no memory of a dream. He looked over to the other bed. There was Ernst, passed out in a drunken stupor and snoring his head off. He was also quite alone, just as Magmus had suspected he would be. Magmus smiled though - at least Ernst seemed to have enjoyed himself. It would be a while before he awakened, which meant it would be a while before they headed off to the Spleentar Mountains where the academy was located.

  Magmus decided to go down to the tavern to get some breakfast whilst he waited. After ordering his meal he chose one of the booths and sat by himself, which was his preferred way of eating meals, and contemplated his dreams … or lack thereof.

  Soon there was a plate of eggs, bread, sausages and bacon sitting on the table in front of him, along with a goblet that contained the best apple cider in the city – according to the innkeeper anyway. Also on the table, to the left of his plate, sat a black book.

  At first glance, the book appeared to be a simple journal; anyone who picked it up and glanced through it would think that they were reading the diary of a traveller as the book contained many stories and adventures from around the world. It was interesting and a good read, but it was also just a cover - this book was magical. Black and leather bound, the book was created by Magmus's grandfather, and it was Magmus’s most prized possession.

  The first two-thirds of the volume were a series of notes and drawings that contained lessons, lessons that Magmus's grandfather had considered to be critical knowledge. The last third contained Magmus’s own notes of all things arcane that he had learnt after his grandfather had died; knowledge that he considered to be critical – only he could read it’s true contents.

  Magmus chewed. When the plate first arrived on the table, his strategy was to keep the bacon rashers, which he considered to be the tastiest part of the dish, for last. When the plate had arrived on his table, however, the smell was irresistible, and he had devoured them like a starving dog.

  The bread and eggs would be next, but then again, was it wise to leave the sausages until
the end … there was nothing worse than finishing breakfast with a cold sausage.

  Putting the sausage onto the bread and then mixing it with the egg he decided he could move on and began to contemplate more important things. Magmus stared at the cover of his journal, on it was the Kalmora – a great tentacled beast with many eyes. It was said to be all-seeing and all-knowing. Magmus doubted that such a creature ever existed, but it’s image was often used to represent vast knowledge.

  If it were real, the Kalmora would have had the answers he sought. The Kalmora would be able to tell him why his mind was fogged, and what it was that plagued his dreams. Magmus opened the front cover and what he saw shocked him. The letters were thick and bold and caught his attention like a slap to the face.

  DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR DRAGON GEM MAGMUS?

  His heart raced because he knew the answer was no, and what's more, he had never heard of a Dragon Gem. He turned the page and was immediately assailed by a barrage of questions.

  HAVE YOU LOST ANY MEMORIES?

  HAVE YOU WOKEN IN A STRANGE PLACE?

  ARE YOU HAVING TROUBLE SLEEPING?

  CAN YOU REMEMBER YOUR DREAMS?

  ‘YES! YES! YES! NO!’ He knew it was his handwriting, but it was as if the book was speaking to him. He continued reading and the more he read, the more the events of the past few days began to make sense.

  He flicked through the pages, following the strange words that seemed to know exactly what he was experiencing. They weren’t written as chapters nor as a coherent series of pages, but as a series of clues, each leading to the next - they seemed to be spread throughout the pages of the book and interspersed with the other diagrams and notes.

  Each clue led to another, and each one filled in a piece of the puzzle that had plagued his mind. It seemed that there was some kind of mysterious gem called the Dragon Gem. It was like a giant ruby but brighter and sometimes it would glow. Whoever possessed one had the power to control other people's minds.

  According to his own notes, it was Magmus’s grandfather who had given him the Dragon Stone; it was his final gift before his death. It was one of the most powerful artefacts ever crafted, and it had been in the Ashel’mar family for generations, but only a fraction of its power had ever been unlocked. The implications of what it could be used for disturbed him deeply, but the fact that he couldn't remember any of it disturbed him even more.

  He read on, uncovering more facts and more clues as to what had happened. The more he read, the more he felt like he was following a set of instructions. It was written in a rather strange way, but it was clear that it was written like that for a reason. It was as if he knew that this might happen and had written the instructions in such a way that his mind could regain the knowledge it had lost.

  It began to make sense, now he was sure that someone had stolen the gem from him and then used it to somehow wipe his memories. According to the notes, he had known that this was a possibility, as did his grandfather before him. Knowing that it could happen and knowing that they would never realise if it did, Magmus’s grandfather imbued Magmus’s mind with a permanent ward.

  His mind would be wiped as a safeguard. If someone stole the Dragon Gem and then realised they couldn't wipe Magmus's memory, they would probably kill him, but a protection had been put in place so that his mind could be wiped, but his memories could still be recalled at a later date.

  Magmus paused for a moment. This was it, this is what he had been searching for … it all made sense now. The reason he couldn't sleep, the reason his mind felt blanketed, was because it was. The protection his grandfather had placed on him had formed a layer. It stopped the magic of the gem from destroying his memories, but it also clouded his mind and stopped him from thinking clearly.

  It had to go, the fog or protection or ward or whatever it was … had to go. He knew what he had to do, he now knew how to clear his mind and retrieve his memories – his own writings told him that. Now he had to perform a ritual.

  He rushed back to his room, even leaving one sausage and half a slice of bread on his plate. From around his neck he took hold of his talisman and from his belt his silver dagger – both would be needed. The two items had been in the Ashel’mar family for generations, as had the Dragon Gem, and just like the Dragon Gem both were powerful artefacts whose true potential had yet to be unlocked.

  He sat down in the middle of the bedroom floor, Ernst still snoring loudly. Yes, that was a distraction, but he couldn’t allow anything to distract him now, what kind of mage would he be if he couldn’t cast a spell or perform a ritual because someone was snoring – a feeble one indeed.

  He closed his eyes and began the chanting that would help bring his mind into a state of consciousness that would allow him to remove the fog that covered his mind - as he did, the air in the room began to stir.

  Already his mind seemed to be clearing, the very act of beginning the ritual allowed him to focus with greater intensity. Oh yes, he thought. I will get the answers. Whoever stole his gem was going to pay dearly for it.

  The chanting became louder, and now the air whirled around the room. Vulkan was the god of air, and it was from him that Magmus drew the power he needed. He felt like the wind was in his mind, blowing the fog from it.

  Memories were returning, images flitted across his vision. The Dragon Gem, that crimson jewel, that beguiler, that deceiver. It may have been the artefact that clouded his mind, but someone was behind it ... who?

  A red-haired beauty flashed before his eyes. He didn’t know who she was, but there was something vaguely familiar about her. Now he was joking with her, making her laugh, and riding around in the back of a coach telling her stories of things fantastical.

  He had impressed her at the coach stop, and he remembered that he had used the Dragon Gem to impress her; his head shook as he tried to deny the image – using a powerful artefact to impress a woman? Even a flame-haired beauty like her? What was he thinking?

  What was worse was that he had shown her some of its secrets and its basic use. Madness. His heart beat fast, sweat beaded on his forehead, every image that came into his mind seemed to show him the mistakes he had made. He wanted to deny the facts, to deny that he could have been so weak and so gullible, but the truth was that he had been played like a fiddle.

  Magmus sighed and braced himself, what other weakness of his character would he be forced to endure?

  Now they were making love, him and the redhead whose name he still didn’t know. She was on top of him, riding. The pleasure had left his mind weak and vulnerable. He had let his guard down because he had thought that she cared for him, he thought he could trust her. Instead, she had betrayed him. She had held the red gem before him, she had wiped his memories - with that revelation the trance that held him broke.

  Magmus looked ahead as he internalised in his mind. He had unlocked some of his memories, but something was wrong. The red-haired lady, he could remember almost everything about her. He could remember the conversations that he had with her, he could remember the melee by the lake, and how she had saved them, he could even remember her climbing into bed with him, but he could not, for the life of him, remember her name.

  Somewhere outside of Magmus's mind, snoring reigned. He could hear Ernst snorting and shuffling about as he rolled over on the bed. Magmus slowly nodded to himself as he contemplated that. Yes, you had a good time last night didn’t you Ernst?

  Magmus thought back to the flamed-haired beauty. Who was she? Yes, she had told him her name, though he couldn’t think of it now … but who was she really?

  He needed to hunt her down, to find her, to find out her name and take back what she had stolen from him. He needed to find out who she really was. A student of magic? I DON’T THINK SO! Yes, he would find out who she really was and what kind of game she was playing, and when he did … he would destroy her.

  “TO THE ACADEMY!”

  ***

  The horses thundered through the Spleentar Mountains at a rapid
pace. The wind blew wildly and rain pelted down, but Magmus could not be stopped.

  “Faster Ernst! Faster!” he yelled, above the Maelstrom. Ernst, still hungover from the previous night's drinkfest, clung to his horse. What god had he offended to bring this upon himself? His mind swirled, and his stomach churned. So much ale, so much ale. He could feel his gut slapping against the back of the horse, tossing its contents this way and that. It made him want to spew, to vomit, to hurl his breakfast over the back of the horses head but he held on tight and prayed to the gods that it wouldn’t come to that. Kara, Wotan, Vulkan, Tempus, Ilis, anyone … if you just get me through this, I promise I’ll never drink again.

  Magmus didn’t care that his companion was severely hungover and in a state of malcontent. Nor did he care that they were riding through a heavy storm. They were riding through the Spleentar Mountains, the weather was never going to be pleasant. The mountains were an area well-known throughout the region for its harsh and chaotic weather patterns.

  He rode on determined and resolute. There was a hunger inside of him, an urgency. He had to get to the Academy, find that red-haired harlot, and get his gem back. In his mind he could see what was coming, there was going to be confrontation ... great confrontation.

  Suddenly he reeled himself in. No … there cannot be confrontation. If he confronted her, he could lose the gem forever. She was clever, she was intelligent, she had wiped his mind instead of killing him for it. She had done that for a reason. She knew that he was going to the Academy, and she must surely have known that he would catch up to her eventually, but she wouldn’t expect him to remember her, would she? No, she would think that he had forgotten all about her and the gem.

  He needed a new strategy. He would have to go to the Academy and act as if nothing had happened. If she even suspected that he was searching for her, that could be enough to put the Dragon Gem into hiding.