by David Wells
“Is there a way for us to get the Stone?” Alexander asked. “I’d feel better if we could lock it in the Bloodvault rather than risk Phane finding a way to retrieve it from the aether.”
Kelvin frowned. “I know of no way to accomplish such a thing. I doubt any wizard in my guild could cast a spiritwalk spell, even with the benefit of a usable and highly charged powersink.”
“Perhaps there is another way,” said a wizard in simple brown robes. “I am Mage Landi. I know of fairies that live in the Pinnacles who can use their magic to shift into the aether. In the ancient stories, it was said that some few wizards were able to attract a fairy as a familiar. What I’m suggesting is unlikely to work, but I believe, with the proper preparation, it is possible.”
Kelvin looked intrigued by the idea. “A bold suggestion, Mage Landi. My understanding is that the fairies are wary of outsiders. Attracting a fairy as a familiar would be a most difficult task. What do you propose?”
“In truth, I would need to make a more thorough study of the matter before I could make an informed recommendation. However, I believe I could summon a fairy, and we could simply ask if what we desire is possible.”
“What do you mean when you say you can summon a fairy?” Alexander asked.
“Simply that, Lord Alexander. I can magically bring a fairy here to speak with us on the matter. I am a conjurer. My magical calling is the art of attracting and bargaining with creatures of all kinds.”
“What would you need to summon a fairy?” Kelvin asked.
“I have everything I need to prepare the spell, except a pinch of fairy dust and we have an ample supply at the guild house.”
Lucky spoke up. “I have a small quantity of fairy dust with me now. You’re welcome to it.”
Mage Landi smiled his thanks, then turned to Kelvin. “I can cast the summoning spell tonight after dark.”
Kelvin nodded. “Very good. Is there any danger involved?”
“None, except the possibility that the fairy will reject our request,” Mage Landi said.
“That leaves the matter of the scourgling at the gate. Any suggestions how we might kill it?” Alexander asked.
The table fell silent. Wizard Ely broke the silence after a long moment. “To my knowledge, such a creature cannot be destroyed by force. It will return to the netherworld once it has completed its task or if the one who summoned it sends it back or if it is banished. I do not believe that any here have the capability to banish the beast and so the only option that remains is to contain it.”
Kelvin nodded. “I agree. A scourgling is probably not even vulnerable to the Thinblade, and I would not risk your life to discover the truth of that. Our only real option is to contain it within a magical circle.”
“How do we do that?” Isabel asked.
“First we must decide where we want to trap the beast,” Kelvin said. “If we contain it within a circle constructed out of doors, then we risk the circle being tampered with or being naturally damaged by the elements. The alternative is to find a more permanent prison within the walls of Blackstone Keep. Such a place would likely hold it much better but presents far more challenges and greater risks.”
Isabel looked at Alexander, then back to Kelvin. “I don’t want that thing to get in here, not even to imprison it,” she said. “If it somehow escaped its cage, it would be able to get to Alexander. If we find a way to trap it outside, then at least we can defend against it if it gets loose.”
“I agree,” Abigail and Anatoly both said at once.
“What if we built an enclosed structure down on the plain and lured it inside?” Alexander suggested. “We could post a guard detail to ensure that nothing tampers with the magic circle, and the enclosure would protect the circle from the weather.”
“That sounds like a good plan,” Kelvin said.
He turned to Wizard Sark. “Add that to your list. Instruct Commander Perry to begin construction of a suitable structure and assign Wizard Jahoda to oversee the project. When you get to the guild house, send a fast cart with a supply of silver and gold adequate for a permanent circle. The construction should be complete by the time the metals arrive. Select three wizards to accompany the wagons containing the contents of the guild and ask Regent Cery to provide a force of a thousand to ride guard. You remain in New Ruatha to take command of the remaining wizards and put them to work assisting in preparations for war.”
“I always feel better when I have a plan,” Alexander said. “Now for the part that I’m sure you are all eager for. I’d like to begin exploring some of the more sensitive areas of the Keep today.” Alexander pulled a handful of gold rings set with small black stones from his pocket and spilled them onto the table. “I found these in the Bloodvault, along with a very large book written in a language that I can’t read. Each of these rings will allow you to see the Keep in your mind’s eye and activate some of the shields and other capabilities, such as the bridge. I’ve given one to Lucky and I’d like each of you to wear one while you explore, so you can get through the shields you encounter and also so you don’t get lost.”
Alexander passed the rings out to all of the newly arrived wizards, except Sark, who sighed, “It is with regret that I cannot stay and help you explore, but time is our enemy. I must leave as soon as possible.”
Jack gave him a tube full of papers for Owen, and Alexander walked him over to the bridge arch with Kelvin.
“Any further instructions before I depart?” Sark asked.
“I don’t think so,” Alexander said. “Thank you. And be careful; Headwater has powerful allies. Take what precautions you can to ensure that your journey is safe.”
“I will, Lord Alexander. Expect preparations for imprisoning the scourgling to take a week or so. Wagons from the guild should arrive within two weeks.”
Wizard Sark shook hands with Alexander and Kelvin, then unceremoniously stepped off the edge of the bridge abutment and fell into the open sky. Alexander watched in amazement as the wizard sailed away from the wall of the mountain, turning in a gentle arc toward the army encampment far below. He fell fast at first, but once he neared the ground, he slowed and landed on his feet in a fast walk, never breaking stride until he was standing in front of Commander Perry.
Chapter 5
The rest of the day was spent exploring the Keep. They broke into groups of three with a wizard in each group. Alexander wanted a preliminary assessment of the contents of the mile-long hallway that formed the backbone of the protected areas once used for the study and practice of magic. They dubbed this long corridor the Hall of Magic.
The only wizard who stayed behind was Ely. He asked Alexander if he could study the book that had been found in the Bloodvault. When Kelvin suggested that Ely was the best scholar in the guild and would have a better chance of deciphering the contents than any other, Alexander quickly agreed.
Kelvin and Isabel went with Alexander to explore the central tower. Alexander’s other companions and a number of Rangers formed several groups, each guided by a wizard and each tasked to explore the various rooms and halls that radiated away from the Hall of Magic.
When Alexander’s group approached the sentinel at the end of the long hallway leading to the central tower, Alexander noted that its eyes were still glowing with the color of sunlight on new-fallen snow.
Kelvin stopped several feet away from the stone statue and appraised the ancient guardian for several moments.
“What can you tell me of this?” he asked.
“When we first came to this part of the Keep, there was a line on the floor just about where you’re standing, and the archway beyond was sealed over with stone. When I stepped over the line, a magical shield formed behind me and the sentinel challenged me with three tests.
“First, it demanded proof that I had the Keep Master’s ring,” Alexander said. “Second, it demanded that I forfeit the life of one of my companions.”
Kelvin frowned with slight alarm. “How did you overcome such a
challenge?”
“I was terrified at first and it took me a while to reason through it, but I finally understood that Mage Cedric was testing my loyalty to the Old Law. As such, I had no right to forfeit any life but my own, so that’s what I offered,” Alexander said. “The sentinel was satisfied with my answer so it moved on to the third test . . . and attacked.”
Kelvin tensed a bit and looked at the stone statue with renewed suspicion. “I don’t see any battle damage, so how is it that you managed to survive?”
“It didn’t take long to realize that it was using the sword forms I learned from the skillbook. Once I understood, I was able to recognize each attack and employ the counterattack best suited to meet the sentinel’s advance. After I’d met each and every attack series and combination in the skillbook with a successful counterstrike, the sentinel stopped its attack and pronounced that I had passed the test. A moment later the wall under the arch at the end of the hall vanished, allowing access to the central tower.”
“Clearly, Mage Cedric was intent on protecting the contents of the central tower from any but you,” Kelvin said. “Have you tried to command the sentinel since you passed the tests?”
Alexander frowned. “The thought hadn’t crossed my mind. Do you think it would obey?”
“There is every possibility that Mage Cedric left it here to serve you once his tests had been met. I suggest you command it and find out.”
Alexander thought for a moment, then faced the sentinel. “Sentinel, raise your sword.”
The black stone blade spun up to the on-guard position. The statue once again froze in place. Alexander looked at Isabel and then at Kelvin.
“Sentinel, what are your capabilities?” Alexander asked.
“I can be commanded by you alone. I will guard any portal you command me to guard and prevent all others from gaining access.” The voice sounded hollow and far away, but the eyes glowed slightly brighter when it spoke.
“Very good,” Alexander said. “Lower your sword and stand here until I return. Challenge anyone else who attempts to pass.” The sentinel lowered its sword and its eyes went slightly dimmer.
They proceeded into the large circular room that formed the entry chamber of the central tower, and Alexander led the way down to the Bloodvault. Kelvin spent several minutes inspecting the magical structure and cast a number of spells to gain more insight into the nature of its construction.
“This is truly an amazing piece of work,” Kelvin said. “I’ve never seen such complex magical energies at work in any other construction. I could study this for weeks and still not have sufficient understanding to recreate the effect.”
“Do you think Phane could get inside it?” Alexander asked.
Kelvin looked at it for a long moment before slowly shaking his head. “No, I don’t believe such a construction can be breached without the cooperative effort of many very powerful wizards. It isn’t so much a function of the power that one wizard can bring to bear but more that the energies involved are bound together in such a way that attempting to undo one line of binding force only strengthens and magnifies several others. Only the combined efforts of several wizards could simultaneously unravel all of the strands of this very intricate web of magical force. Even then, it would probably take many months of trial and error before they could hope to succeed.”
“Good. I was hoping you’d say that,” Alexander said. “Now we just have to convince the fairies to help us and hope that Phane can’t use the powersink and we have a chance.”
Alexander didn’t mean to sound so discouraged but he felt helpless at the prospect of Phane heading toward the Reishi Isle. Everything depended on the powersink being tainted. He desperately wanted to know if it was, but he just couldn’t justify the risk to Wizard Ely. He consoled himself with the knowledge that knowing wouldn’t change anything. Either way, Alexander was powerless to stop Phane from making the attempt. He could only wait and see and plan for the best.
Alexander sealed the Bloodvault again, and they returned to the entry hall of the central tower to begin the long climb to the top. The tower was a series of slightly smaller rooms stacked one on top of another. The room immediately above the entry hall was a comfortable-looking sitting room and audience chamber.
Plush carpets that didn’t appear to have aged at all in the intervening millennia covered the floor; a long, well-made, simple black oak table with cushioned high-back chairs lining both sides occupied the center of the room; a large hearth surrounded by oversized plush chairs took up one section of the rounded wall; and a set of three couches facing a three-sided table occupied the remaining space.
The stairway leading up to the next level was sealed with a wall of black stone very similar to the wall that protected the Bloodvault chamber.
“Kelvin, can you see this wall in your mind’s eye through your Keep ring?” Alexander asked.
Kelvin closed his eyes and found the place where they stood in his mental map of the Keep. “I can see it but I cannot unseal it.”
Alexander nodded. “I figured there would be some areas that would only be accessible with the Keep Master’s ring.” With a thought, he sent the wall away, probably to the same place where the bridge resided when it was not in this world.
Level after level, they climbed through all manner of chambers. There were countless rooms filled with bookshelves, others looked like laboratories, and still others were studies. There were simple rooms with nothing but a magical circle inlaid in gold in the floor and others that were nothing more than well-appointed sleeping chambers.
After many dozens of floors, they came to a level with transparent stone windows and three balconies that were only accessible once Alexander sent away the stone walls filling the archways.
One of the balconies faced west and offered a stunning view. The Keep spread out below to the paddock. Alexander had to squint, but he could just make out the stone-still form of the scourgling standing on the abutment of the bridge. The plains spread out farther still and the blue of the ocean many leagues away was just visible on the horizon.
Bridges extended from the other two balconies, each stretching hundreds of feet in a gentle arch across open expanses of empty sky. The balconies were already higher than most of the other towers and buildings that covered the surface of the mountaintop, but there were a few spires that reached higher still.
One of the sky bridges reached out to join another tower just a few levels below its conical top. The second led to a giant, flat platform that was several thousand feet long and at least a thousand feet wide. Aside from the towers, it was the highest point on the entire Keep and looked big enough to assemble an army in formation. Alexander made a mental note to return to the platform and investigate further.
They continued to climb. Level after level, the central tower rose into the sky. Each level was filled with all manner of instruments, apparatus, libraries, writing rooms, sitting rooms, and empty chambers that looked like they were designed to contain the magical energies of spells, should a new or experimental magic go wrong.
Finally, they reached a room just short of the top chamber of the tower. Alexander had to dismiss another stone wall to gain entrance. It was a small study, no more than thirty feet in diameter. Comfortable chairs, a hearth, a writing desk, a small shelf of books, and a bed filled the room. A bound oak door opened to a circular balcony that wrapped around the outside of the tower. The view was breathtaking.
They walked around the entire balcony and took in the spectacle of the Keep and the plains below. From their vantage point, they could appreciate the sheer size of the Keep. It stretched away from the central spire for miles in every direction. The surface was covered with buildings, roads, towers, small fields, and assembly areas. But Alexander knew the vast outer surface area of the Keep was only a small part of its true capacity; dozens of levels of rooms and halls riddled the interior.
There was only one more level of the tower, the very highest level of the entire
Keep, and they soon discovered that the staircase leading up to it was barred by a magical shield that would not let anyone pass, except Alexander. He could not deactivate it. He could not even assist Kelvin to pass. Clearly, the highest chamber in the tower was meant for the Keep Master alone.
Alexander ascended to the simple little room with caution as well as a sense of excitement. He was somewhat disappointed to find that it was nothing more than a bare room with a magical circle surrounding its center point inlaid in heavy gold. In the middle of the circle was a large meditation cushion with the bleached bones of a crumpled skeleton unceremoniously piled on top.
All around the walls hung heavy tapestries depicting scenes of beauty. It was a peaceful, quiet place. Alexander spent a few moments walking around looking at the tapestries, until he noticed the faint aura of magic coming from one. It took him a minute to realize that it was actually coming from behind the tapestry. He pulled it aside and found a portal to another room.
He was puzzled because he knew the wall was nothing more than a foot of stone separating him from the sky beyond, yet the room was clearly there. Upon further inspection, he found that the portal was more of an opening in the fabric of the world than an actual door. He looked into the twenty-foot square room and marveled at the capacity of magic to leave him speechless and breathless at the same time.
Cautiously, he ventured into the little room that existed outside of the world. As he crossed the threshold, the light came up a bit and the detail of the room became visible. It was a simple place with a table, chair, bed, and bookshelf. There was a small fireplace and a comfortable chair with a table beside it. Otherwise the room was bare and slightly cold.
On the table was a letter written on fine parchment and sealed with wax. The seal was marked with the glyph of the House of Reishi. His hand went to the mark on his neck and then to the hilt of the Thinblade. He drew his sword and compared the glyph on its pommel with the mark in the wax—it was a perfect match. A thrill ran up his spine. Mage Cedric had left him a letter, probably the last thing he ever did in this world. Alexander could only guess that the bones in the circle were the remains of the Old Rebel Mage.