by David Wells
The Keep Master’s book also spoke of the lower levels of the Keep. There were places deep below the more commonly used areas that were shielded against all but those of arch mage power. The book was evasive about the contents of those levels but stressed both the raw power and the profound danger of the things to be found in those dark places. Alexander was happy to find that the central tower was the only way to access the lower levels. He sealed it closed, posted the sentinel as guard, and declared it off-limits.
Isabel reported that she’d been watching the construction of the scourgling’s prison through Slyder’s eyes and it was nearly finished. They’d made preparations for their journey, and Alexander was anxious to be on their way.
He was worried about the Sovereign Stone, so he sought out Wizard Ely to ask if he had any way of telling if Phane had succeeded in retrieving it. Ely gave it some thought and study before he agreed to cast a divination spell designed to answer one question with a yes or no answer. He cast the spell twice.
First he asked, “Has Phane attempted to use the powersink in the Reishi Keep to retrieve the Sovereign Stone?” The answer was yes.
Alexander felt tingling dread push at the edges of his mind while he waited for the wizard to cast the spell a second time.
Second he asked, “Does Phane have the Sovereign Stone?” The answer was no.
Alexander felt a great weight lift at hearing the news. He still had a chance to retrieve the Sovereign Stone and put it permanently out of Phane’s reach.
***
Seven days after Wizard Sark had left, the Rangers standing sentry at the bridge summoned Alexander. When he arrived, he saw another wizard on the bridge platform watching the scourgling warily.
“That’s Wizard Jahoda,” Kelvin said as he came up alongside Alexander. “It appears that the trap is set. We need to coordinate our plan to ensure success. Can you have Isabel send her hawk with a message?”
“Of course. Let’s go find her,” Alexander said.
Kelvin waved acknowledgement to Jahoda, who waved back before disappearing down the mountain road.
Half an hour later, Slyder returned with a message from Jahoda. It said: “The trap is set. All that is required is the bait.”
Isabel looked stricken when she read the note. She handed it to Alexander with a hard look. “You knew you would be the bait all along, didn’t you?”
He nodded somberly. “I’m the one the demon was sent to kill. It won’t go anywhere except toward me.”
Her green eyes flashed with anger. “What if the trap doesn’t work?”
“It’ll work. It has to,” Alexander said, taking her in his arms.
“Alexander, it’s too big a risk,” she whispered.
“There is no other way. We can’t stay here and fight this war at the same time. As long as the scourgling is at our gates, we’re trapped. We already know we can’t kill it, and there’s no one here who knows how to send it back to the netherworld, so the only choice we have left is to contain it. And I’m the only one who can lure it into our trap.”
Kelvin interjected gently, “Lady Isabel, if there were another way, I would offer it, but I know of none.”
She looked up at Alexander with a touch of frantic fear in her beautiful green eyes. It made his heart hurt to see her like this, but he knew this was the only way. And deep down, he also knew that she understood.
“The pieces are in place. How do I get down there without going through the scourgling?” Alexander asked.
“I believe Lucky has what we need,” Kelvin said. “I requested that he prepare a featherlite potion. It will reproduce the spell that Wizard Sark used to get to the ground.”
They found Jack, Abigail, and Anatoly in Lucky’s new lab, helping him clean and organize the place to his liking.
Abigail took one look at Isabel and turned to her brother. “So you’re the bait then?”
He nodded without a word.
“I was afraid of that,” Anatoly said.
“Wizard Jahoda is well trained,” Lucky said. “He will have constructed a very sturdy trap for the scourgling. In any event, I have prepared a number of items for you, just in case things don’t go as well as planned.”
He went to a cupboard and got a set of four vials in a little wire rack and placed them on a table in front of Alexander. “The first is the featherlite potion that Kelvin asked for. The second is a potion of obscuring. A moment after you consume it, your appearance and the basic essence of your nature will be temporarily obscured. For about an hour, no one will recognize you for who you really are, not even the scourgling. If the trap fails to contain it, consume this potion and run for the Keep with all possible speed. The final two are familiar to you. One is a potion of healing and the other is a jar of healing salve.”
“Thank you, Lucky. You’re always thinking ahead,” Alexander said before he turned to Isabel. “Feel better about this now?”
“A little,” she said, giving Alexander a very direct look. “Promise you’ll come back to me.”
Alexander brushed her cheek with the back of his fingers and smiled. “I promise,” he whispered.
Then he turned to everyone else and said, “Once the scourgling is contained, I’ll lead half the army up here. It’s liable to be a long day getting all of those soldiers into the Keep and finding quarters for them. I’m going to station the rest on the plains below for now. I’m not sure at the moment where they’ll do the most good, but I suspect they’ll be of more use in battle with Headwater than exploring the Keep. Let’s go make the final preparations.”
He went to his quarters to get his potion pouch and then headed to the bridge abutment. The scourgling stood stone-still across the chasm, waiting for an opportunity to kill him. It would have its chance today—hopefully the last chance it would ever get. Alexander could see Wizard Jahoda’s magical platform on the plain below.
Pointing to a place off to the north of the bridge platform, he said, “I need a squad of men and a horse waiting for me at that position. Wizard Jahoda needs to be at the trap and ready to activate the spell when I arrive. Have him send the soldiers with my horse from there once he’s ready,” Alexander said.
Jack was writing quickly. “Anything else?” he asked. When Alexander shook his head, Jack tore the note from his tablet and handed it to Isabel. She fastened the note to Slyder’s leg and sent him off to find Jahoda.
Kelvin sent two of his wizards to man the weapon positions overlooking the bridge platform. They had all taken a turn familiarizing themselves with the magical weapons using the scourgling for target practice.
Time passed slowly, and then the squad of soldiers came into view far down on the plain below.
Isabel opened her eyes and looked at Alexander. “Your horse is in position and Jahoda is ready.”
“I guess it’s time,” Alexander said as he took the featherlite potion from his pouch.
Isabel stopped him. “I love you,” she said softly before she kissed him.
“I’ll be right back. I promise,” Alexander said before he quaffed the potion. “So how do I do this?”
Lucky smiled with a shrug. “Step off into the sky and think of where you wish to fall. The potion will guide you there and slow your descent when you get close to the ground. You’ll land just like you jumped off a table.”
“All right then, Kelvin, signal your wizards,” Alexander said.
Kelvin blew an old-looking battle horn one time. A moment later, argent-white bolts of energy arced from each of the weapon positions and found their mark on the chest of the scourgling. It tumbled backward and rolled twenty feet across the platform. The moment it gained its feet, two more blasts of searing-hot magical energy lanced out and knocked it back farther still.
Alexander gave Isabel one last look and stepped off the bridge abutment into the open sky. It was a terrifying feeling. He fell like a rock. For a second he was afraid he would hit the wall of the Keep, but then he remembered Lucky telling him to think o
f where he wanted to go. He looked at the small squad waiting for him below and focused on that place.
His fall began to gently arc away from the mountainside and his free fall transformed into more of a glide. He was still moving faster than he had ever moved before, with the exception of his time in the firmament—nothing was faster than that. He passed the level of the spur road as his controlled fall carried him away from the Keep. The ground rushed toward him with alarming speed and then he felt a sudden lightness overtake him and he slowed. He hit the ground in a headlong run, stumbling for a few steps to keep his footing. He was only a hundred feet from the dozen soldiers sent to escort him to the trap, and they were coming fast. They reined in and Alexander recognized the squad leader.
“Captain Sava, it’s good to see you again.”
The soldier puffed up a bit at being recognized by name. “It’s my honor, Lord Alexander,” he said. “I understand we have an enemy coming for you.”
Before Alexander could answer the question, one of the other soldiers called out and pointed. All eyes followed his finger and saw the scourgling in free fall. It hit the west side of the mountain and bounced out again into the open sky.
Alexander took his horse’s reins and mounted in a hurry. “Easy girl, I need your speed today,” he whispered to the healthy and strong-looking mare, then he turned to Captain Sava. “Lead the way with all possible speed.”
The captain gave a curt nod, wheeled his horse around and bolted in the direction of the trap. They ran with abandon driven by fear and need. The horses could sense something dark behind them even though the only noise the scourgling made was the thud thud thud of its long loping strides. Alexander glanced back and saw how close the beast was and spurred his horse to run faster still.
He heard the scream of a horse and the terrified cry of its rider when the scourgling swatted the animal on the rump with one great clawed hand. Alexander glanced back and saw the beast stumble over the fallen horse and fall headlong onto the ground. A moment later, it bounded to its feet and renewed its pursuit.
Alexander raced toward the platform. It was a stone square, thirty feet in diameter and bordered by walls on two opposite sides. The magic circle was inlaid in gold and it nearly touched each edge of the platform. From his direction of approach, Alexander could run between the two walls, forcing the scourgling to follow him across the circle. Wizard Jahoda was standing in the far corner, waiting to spring the trap.
Alexander heard another horse go down behind him and his own steed poured panic into her gallop and added another step of speed. He leaned into her neck and whispered reassurance and encouragement. She ran like the wind. Another horse squealed in shock and pain as it crumpled from a swat on the rump by the netherworld beast. His soldiers were placing themselves between him and the beast to slow its approach. Alexander felt a mixture of pride, horror, and sadness at their sacrifice.
He rode on, straining to hear the footfalls of the monster behind him. Another horse fell with a horrible, sickening cacophony of breaking bone, rending flesh, and shrieks of fear.
Alexander hit the platform and rode across it with every bit of speed his terrified steed could muster—but it wasn’t enough. Midway across the circle, the scourgling swatted Alexander’s horse on the right hindquarter. Its huge clawed hand tore through the animal’s flesh to the bone and the horse pitched sideways. Alexander flew out of the saddle and sailed through the air with the broken mass of horse tumbling after him. He hit the hard stone, tucked into a tight ball, and rolled. The momentum of the roll brought him to his feet—just the way Anatoly had taught him during his hand-to-hand training so many years ago.
He didn’t look back. He didn’t stop. He didn’t hesitate. The moment he came to his feet, he sprinted the last three steps toward the edge of the magical circle. A step from it, he felt a huge blow fall on his left shoulder blade that drove him tumbling to the ground. He tucked and rolled clear of the platform and onto the grass of the plain, but this time he didn’t come to his feet. He could feel the broken bones in his shoulder. If the trap didn’t work, he was going to die very soon.
The scourgling barreled forward. Jahoda pronounced a word of power, and the netherworld beast crashed into an invisible barrier like a bird into a window. It rebounded and tried again, but the magical circle held.
The trap had worked. The scourgling was contained and the siege of Blackstone Keep was lifted.
Alexander fished around in his pouch for his potion of healing. Captain Sava and Wizard Jahoda came to his side.
“Don’t move, Lord Alexander. I’ll send for a wagon to take you to our camp,” Captain Sava said.
“It appears that the magical circle is holding. Lie still while help is summoned,” Jahoda said.
Alexander drank the potion and smiled up at the wizard. “Pleasure to meet you, Wizard Jahoda. I’m going to take a nap for a while. Tell them not to move me until I wake.”
***
Alexander woke to a small army assembled around him. All of his friends, including Kelvin and Erik, were present. The scourgling stood at the edge of the circle and watched Alexander impassively as if it were waiting to be released so it could complete its task, but not really caring if it did or not.
Isabel was sitting next to him, looking at him with love and worry.
“Am I going to live?” he asked groggily.
She smiled down at him as a tear slipped from her eye. She hastily brushed it away.
“I believe you will,” Lucky said. “But I’m afraid you’ll have to wait a couple of days before you set out on your journey. Your shoulder was badly broken and will take some time and a bit more magical attention to mend properly. Be thankful for Kelvin’s armored shirt. Without it you would have lost your arm at the shoulder and probably your life from loss of blood.”
They helped him into the back of a wagon and Lucky gave him another potion of healing. He drifted into a dreamless sleep and woke after full dark. His shoulder was feeling a bit better but it was still stiff and sore. Isabel and Abigail both sat up when he woke. His sister handed him a cup of water and Isabel got him a bowl of stew from a pot on the small campfire just outside the tent.
“Lucky said you’d be hungry when you woke,” Isabel said. “How are you feeling?”
“Well enough, considering,” he answered. With a sudden jolt, he remembered the soldiers who had ridden with him. “How many died?” he asked.
“Three dead,” Abigail said. “And two badly hurt. Lucky tended to their wounds and says they’ll recover, but both were injured more seriously than you, so it might take some time.”
“I need to speak with Captain Sava,” Alexander said, trying to get up.
Abigail stopped him with a gentle hand on his good shoulder. “Alexander, you’re not going anywhere. Lucky said you’re supposed to rest and that’s what you’re going to do.”
“Your sister’s right, Alexander. Besides, it’s the middle of the night. Captain Sava is probably asleep. You can talk to him in the morning.”
Alexander relaxed back onto his cot. “I guess it can wait. Has the army started moving into the Keep?”
“Not yet,” Abigail said. “Kelvin said you would want to be there when they cross the bridge, so he’s ordered Mage Landi to secure the Keep until you return.”
“Good. I want to look at each and every person who goes into Blackstone Keep to make sure there aren’t any spies or infiltrators.”
“All of that can wait until tomorrow,” Isabel said. “Finish your stew and go back to sleep. Everything will still be here in the morning.”
Chapter 9
He woke just after dawn. His shoulder was stiff and it hurt, but the magic Lucky had given him had mostly mended the broken bones. He got up and found Abigail and Isabel sipping hot tea by the fire in front of the tent. Abigail poured him a cup when he emerged with is arm in a sling.
A cordon of solders stood guard around his tent, which was pitched in a wide open space in the center o
f the entire encampment with hundreds of other tents arranged in neat clusters. Alexander looked around and saw that Captain Sava was one of the guards standing in the circle around him. He waved the man over to the fire and motioned for him to sit.
“Captain Sava, please convey my condolences to the families of the three men who died yesterday. They died protecting me and I will never forget that.”
“I’ll see to it personally, Lord Alexander,” Captain Sava said. He looked a bit startled when Isabel handed him a steaming cup of tea.
“Can you tell me how the two injured men are doing?” Alexander asked.
Captain Sava nodded. “I looked in on them early this morning. Both were sleeping soundly and looked to be on the mend. Master Alabrand gave them powerful magic and said they would both be well enough to ride in a week or so.”
“That’s good to hear,” Alexander said. “I wanted to thank you and your men for your help yesterday. I underestimated the power of the scourgling. If it weren’t for you and your men, I probably would have died.”
Captain Sava sat up straight. “Thank you, Lord Alexander. We’re proud to play our part.”
“Tell me about the three men who died,” Alexander said quietly. “I’d like to know a little bit about them.”
Captain Sava looked surprised for just a moment. He nodded self-consciously before recounting his friendship and service with the men. Alexander listened quietly and let the knowledge burn into him.
Three men died on his order.
He made a quiet pledge to himself that he would never forget them even though he never even knew them. He and the captain talked for several minutes before Jack, Lucky, Kelvin, and Anatoly came up to the fire.
“How’s the shoulder feeling?” Lucky asked.
“Much better, but it’s still a little stiff.”
“It’ll take a few days to get your full range of motion back. The less you use it, the faster it will heal, so I recommend you keep it in that sling—at least for today,” Lucky advised.