Several of the bandits laughed heartily. The leader's face turned red, and he turned and glared at the riders behind him. The laughs immediately died in their throats. The leader snarled as he drew his sword and held it high over his head.
"Foolish old man," sneered the leader. "If I lower my arm, your entire party will be dead in an instant. Do as you are told. Dismount now."
Master Khatama sighed loudly with resignation as he bowed his head slightly and stared at the beach. "I tried my best," he said loudly. "I truly did."
Master Khatama's eyes rose and met the eyes of the bandit leader. The Mage's eyes twinkled, and the corner of his mouth turned upward in a slight smile.
"What are you doing?" the bandit leader said in alarm as he lost feeling in his arm. He tried to bring his sword downward, but his muscles refused to obey him.
"Saving your life," Boris said softly, "and the lives of your men. Order them to retreat and make way for my party."
The bandit leader glared at Boris for a long moment before shouting, "Kill them all. Kill them and make it especially painful for them."
All the time that Boris had been negotiating with the bandit leader, Balamor had been chanting a spell upon the three rocks protruding from the sea. As the bandit leader shouted his command, Balamor flicked his wrist towards the rocks.
Suddenly the three rocks moved with a fury of splashing water and a roar that bellowed through the air. Bandits and mages alike looked seaward as the three protrusions moved with amazing speed. The water foamed with turbulence as a huge serpent-like creature raised its head above the surface of the sea. The sea serpent's body continued to rise skyward, revealing another two heads connected to the same body. The three-headed monster turned its attention to the shoreline. One head moved closer to the dozen bandits behind the mages, one moved towards the six bandits in front of the mages, and the middle head hovered over the bandits in the forest. All three heads roared with a furious wind the strength of a cyclone.
"I have shields up," announced Podil.
"Do not kill them," warned Boris.
"Bah," grumbled Mustar. "At least he did not say not to have fun with them."
The ground shook in front of Master Khatama, tumbling the six bandits to the ground. As their terrified horses turned and fled, the sand around the six bandits swirled furiously. In seconds, the sand had piled atop the six bandits until only their heads were exposed.
Kroto turned around in his saddle and fixed his gaze on the dozen bandits behind him. The dwarf grinned as the beach quickly altered its appearance. The sand between the bandits and the mages turned to water. The beach behind the bandits also submerged, leaving the bandits with no beach to ride on. The small strip of sand under the hooves of their horses suddenly stretched seaward for a hundred paces, creating a long peninsula into the sea.
"Let me help," chuckled Doryelgar as he sent a spell to prick the rear ends of the horses.
The dozen horses bolted away in the only direction they could. They charged out along the narrow strip of sand a hundred paces from shore.
Kroto laughed heartily as he waved his hand, and the thin strip of the original beach disappeared, as well as the close part of the new penisual, leaving the twelve riders on a small sandy island a hundred paces offshore.
Galdan held both of his arms high and spread far apart as he faced the forest. His fingers undulated rhythmically as he slowly brought his hands together. As his hands moved, so too did a swiftly growing wall of foliage in the forest. Vines actually shrieked as they wound around trees and shot skyward. The bandits' horses spooked and became confused as they tried to escape the ever-encroaching jungle. The two score of bandits eventually were bound in a small knot, and the jungle ceased advancing. In mere seconds it was all over.
"Should the sea serpent eat them?" Balamor asked innocently from the rear of the column. "She could feed for several days on such a large number of bandits."
Boris turned and smiled at the gaunt human mage. He shook his head jovially and signaled Balamor with a sign of dismissal. The sea serpent reared its three ugly heads. It sighed heavily and slipped beneath the waves leaving only three protruding rocks where the creature had been. Boris turned back to face the bandit leader who was buried up to his neck in sand.
"Your leader serves you poorly," Boris said loudly enough to be heard by all. "With the rise of Alcea, the lifespan of bandits is pitifully poor. Abandon those who try to convince you that taking from others is a truly glorious pastime. Seek out Alcea and put your skills to work under a wondrous and noble king. Then you can walk in the sunshine and hold your heads high."
With a flick of his wrist the sand covering five of the bandits disappeared. The five bandits looked around in confusion for several seconds before Boris waved at them dismissively. They turned and ran along the beach and disappeared around the bend.
Boris nodded to Galdan, and the elf magician nodded in return as he raised his arms and spread them wide. The dense jungle flew away from the two score bandits in the forest. They needed no prompting to turn and flee as fast as their horses would carry them.
"Should I create a bridge for those at sea?" Kroto asked softly.
Boris turned and shook his head. "Learning to swim is a necessary skill these days," the Mage smiled. "When they get hungry, their fear of the sea serpent will be overcome by the need for food. Let them dwell upon their fortunes today."
Kroto nodded and grinned even as Doryelgar chuckled about the Mage's reference to swimming, which appeared to have been lost on the dwarf from Cazra.
Master Khatama turned around to face the still captive leader of the bandits. He spoke softly, but sternly to the bandit leader. "You," lectured Boris, "are somewhat of a special case. I fear I cannot just let you go."
"Please," begged the bandit leader. "I see now the truth of what you said. I will mend my ways and give up the lure of easy wealth."
"Easy wealth?" echoed the Mage as he gazed into the man's mind and saw a lifetime of depravity and torture of others. He saw a man of exceptional evil who had preyed continually upon the weak. Seldom had the Mage encountered a soul so evil. "You have led men to feast upon the misfortunes of others like carrion upon the dead. I fear that you have caused so much misery in this world that there is no chance of your true repentance."
"Not so," the bandit leader shivered in fear. "I am young yet. I have many years before me. I will make it up to all that I have wronged. Please, just give me a chance to prove myself."
"You cannot make up for the losses to those you have killed," Boris shook his head. "Or to those who loved the ones that you killed or had killed," he added. "I am always hesitant to take life needlessly, but your case is severe. If only I thought that you could reform."
"I can, I can," pleaded the bandit leader. "I swear that I shall devote my life to making people happy. Do not leave me here defenseless as a meal for the monster. I will do anything that you wish"
"But I cannot trust your word," Boris shook his head. "I see your past as one long string of deceits. I do not think you even understand what truth is. Turning you loose without restrictions is definitely impossible."
"Place whatever restrictions you wish upon me," offered the bandit leader. "Take my leg, but let me hobble away, or an arm so that I may never raise a sword again, but do not turn your back to me in my hour of need. I swear I will devote my life to doing good. I am begging you for another chance."
Boris sat and stared at the bandit leader for several moments as if he were trying to make an important decision. Finally, he sighed and nodded to himself.
"I can think of only one way to allow you to go free," Boris said. "It will require immediate pain and disability for you."
"I accept," the bandit leader agreed eagerly. "Do what you must, and I will be forever grateful. I know my ways have been evil, and I truly will repent."
"There is more," warned the Mage. "In addition to your immediate pain and disfigurement, your service will be required f
or the rest of your life. Only under these terms will I consider a reprieve for your crimes."
The bandit leader swallowed hard, but he nodded his agreement. "I have been truly evil," he admitted. "I accept your terms without conditions. I beg you to spare me."
Boris closed his eyes for a moment, and the bandit leader screamed in pain. He held up his left hand and watched as his smallest finger lost its rigidity and shriveled to fall limp against the palm of his hand. The bandit leader fought to remain conscious as the extreme pain ripped through his body. Boris waited patiently for the bandit leader to compose himself.
"What happened to me?" cried the bandit leader. "What have you done?"
"You have offered your life to benefit the needy," Boris said sternly. "I have decided to accept your offer and give you a chance to make amends for your evilness. The bones of your smallest finger have disintegrated. This has created an unsightly deformity, but one that will not greatly affect your well-being. The disintegration of your bones was quick and merciful. The next time will be slow and excruciating."
"The next time?" gasped the bandit leader as he could not imagine something more painful than what he had just felt. "What next time?"
"You agreed to devote your life as I saw fit," Boris continued. "I will now give you instructions as to how you may keep your end of this bargain. You will travel to Southland. In that city you will search the alleys for the temple of Leda. Inside that temple, an old priest will ask you what you desire. You will offer your life in service to this priest. You shall become his student and learn the ways in which you may serve mankind. That is your future."
"I am to be a priest?" the bandit leader asked incredulously as he started thinking of ways to avoid his service. Surely he could kill the priest and escape without anyone taking notice. "You can't be serious."
"Oh, I am serious," Boris smiled tautly as he cast a spell upon the bandit leader. "I know that you plan to cancel our contract as soon as you can, but I believe that you will make an excellent priest. To ensure that your mind does not wander from your devotion to Leda, I have endowed you with special properties. Hear me now before your mind wanders again. Each time you think to alter the terms of our contract, another bone in your body will disintegrate. Over time your wayward thoughts will turn your flesh to spineless jelly, if you persist in defying our agreement. You have made a compact with me, and I fully expect you to honor it. You have been given another chance in life. Use it wisely."
Boris waved his hand and the sand swirled away from the bandit leader, freeing him. Sweat poured from the bandits face as he held up his hand and stared at his finger. Boris turned and nodded to the mages in his party. He waved them forward and rode past the future priest and around the bend. Before they had gone far along the beach, the Mage heard a ghastly scream from behind him. He shook his head sadly and continued onward.
* * *
"That is it," announced Zalaharic as he exhaled deeply and staggered away from the table. "We have done what can be done for him. All that is left is for him to rest now."
Jenneva smiled at the elf healer and gently touched his arm. "You must rest, Zalaharic," she said softly. "You have already done so much for this family. Tend to your own needs now. Tanya and I will give aid to the other wounded."
Zalaharic smiled and nodded appreciatively. He waved the other elf healers out of the room and instructed them to care for the unicorns before resting themselves. He then climbed the steps to the second floor of the Gateway Inn and found a room to rest in. After the elves and unicorns had left the inn, King Arik entered with a small group of followers. He gazed at Alex's body expectantly.
"He will be fine," Jenneva answered the unspoken question.
"Do you know what happened to him?" asked the king.
"Yes," nodded Jenneva. "He was directly in the path of the escaping Black Devils. His magical sword was capable of deflecting their spells, and they were being chased from behind. In desperation, they cast lightning bolts into the backs of the ogres charging the Red Swords. The ogres were tossed onto Alex and their weight nearly crushed the life out of him. Had it not been for Kaz searching all night, Alex would have died."
"Will there be any lasting ailments?" questioned the king.
"No," smiled Jenneva. "Zalaharic is a wizard of healing. Together with the magic of the unicorns, Alex has been repaired completely. He needs rest badly as do most of the healers and unicorns, but he will be as good as new."
"Excellent," smiled King Arik. "I have had time to think about what happened here during the battle. I think I see an opportunity to put our enemy at ease for a while."
"How do you mean?" inquired Tanya as she stared at Fredrik and his shock white hair.
"The attack of Sarac's forces was more than an attempt to destroy Tagaret," explained the king. "The Dark One sought to end the Ancient Prophecy. He nearly succeeded."
Jenneva looked around the room and slowly nodded. "He very nearly wiped out my family," she said, "not to mention the near death of Fredrik. How do you see this as an opportunity?"
"The attack on you and Tanya was planned," explained the king. "We found evidence of sappers who chiseled away the mortar from your towers. They must have decided that you would be shielded against magical attack and decided instead to destroy the towers once you were inside."
"It was a brilliant idea," Tanya nodded glumly. "Were it not for Zalaharic, they would have succeeded. Does that mean that they know of my skills?"
"I don't think so," answered Sheri. "When Klarg and the Black Devil came in here, they were only interested in Jenneva. I think they discounted you as just another mage."
"They probably attacked both towers because they could not be sure which one Jenneva would occupy," added King Arik. "I have no doubt that the Black Devils that escaped are also sure that Alex and Fredrik are dead. By all rights, they both should be."
"So Sarac will assume that the Ancient Prophecy has been thwarted," nodded Jenneva.
"Plus his old nemesis and her warrior husband are no longer a threat," interjected Zackary Nolan. "While they might have wanted King Arik dead as well, there is no great urgency for them to attack us any longer."
"So Sarac will begin to heal his forces and plan to regroup," mused Jenneva. "I can see where you are thinking that this is an opportunity, but Sarac has many spies. It will not take him long to learn the truth."
"That is why the four of you must be dead," grinned the king. "As soon as Alex is rested, I plan to hold four very public funerals. The citizens of Tagaret will turn out to mourn the loss of four heroes. No spy will be able to miss it."
"To what end?" inquired Tanya. "Do you still plan to quest for the Amethyst of the Gods?"
"I have no choice," shrugged King Arik. "This is not a position that I desired, but I have accepted the challenge and vowed to fulfill the Ancient Prophecy. I must restore the Sword of Heavens and that requires the Amethyst of the Gods."
"What of the Mage's desires for you to cease?" asked Fredrik. "Surely you must take that into account?"
"What is Boris up to?" asked Jenneva. "Surely you must know more than you have told us, Fredrik?"
"I do not know his goal," Fredrik admitted. "I do know that he is gathering six powerful mages to his side to accomplish whatever it is he sees as his goal. Even the chosen mages do not know what their task is to be."
"Who have been chosen?" asked Jenneva.
"Mustar from the desert," replied Fredrik. "Podil, an elf from Sorelderal, and Balamor, a human from Lanoir. We left before the other three were chosen."
"I have not heard of Balamor before," sighed Jenneva, "but Podil and Mustar are powerful indeed."
"I have heard from the dwarves of Talman that Doryelgar has mysteriously disappeared," offered Prince Darok.
"As has Galdan of the elves of Glendor," added Prince Garong. "He just vanished."
"Those two make sense," nodded Jenneva. "They are both powerful and friendly to the Mage."
"Two h
umans, two elves, and one dwarf," puzzled Zackary. "I would suspect another dwarf would be added."
"From where?" questioned Jenneva. "I doubt Boris would backtrack to Lanto."
"Cazra," suggested Prince Darok. "It is located it the Western Mountains, and there is a well known dwarf of exceptional capabilities there. His name is Kroto."
"Send a fairy to Cazra," sighed Jenneva. "Let us verify our suspicions while we try to figure out what the Mage is planning."
"Why do we care what Boris is doing?" asked Niki. "If King Arik is forbidden to restore the Sword of Heavens, then he should obey. Master Khatama would never do anything to hurt us."
"Master Khatama sent this to me," King Arik said as he held the small box that Fredrik had delivered to him and placed it on the table. "I do not think he would have done so if he expected me to sit idly in the Royal Palace. I am continuing my quest to restore the Sword of Heavens. It is what I vowed to do, and I am sure that Master Khatama knows that I will not shirk my duty."
"But he said that all you needed to do was to defeat Sarac's forces," insisted Niki. "We have done that. Now you must stop, and let Boris do whatever it is that he needs to do."
"I will not stop," King Arik shook his head. "I intend to complete the Ancient Prophecy. I will leave after the funerals."
"Well, you can't kill Sarac," Niki pouted. "Only Fredrik can do that, and he will not. You may get the Amethyst of the Gods, but it will do you no good, so why bother?"
"I cannot demand that Fredrik perform his role in the Ancient Prophecy," King Arik admitted unhappily, "but I will fulfill my obligation to it. If Fredrik refuses to wield the Sword of Heavens, that is a decision that he must make. The four dead knights of Alcea should remain in this room until we make the funeral arrangements. After the burials, I will toss the bead into the fire to see where the Sword of Heavens will take us. All of you have until then to decide how you wish to honor your pledge to the Ancient Prophecy."
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