Rage of the Diamond's Eye (The Guildsmen Series Book 1)

by Becker, Shawn

  The Magi’s reaction was not one Myst expected.

  He laughed.

  Focused energy spouted from the Magi’s ring, sending Teeg’s sword flying end over end into the darkness beyond, clattering to a stop somewhere unknown. Another surge of arcane power wrapped around Myst like a band of purple steel. She struggled for a few seconds before Sajiix motioned with his hand, sending Myst backward and slamming against a wall of crates.

  Tair switched her aim, but halted her throw. Both Magi were now regarding her with curiosity, wondering what her next move would be. They looked at her not with fear, but with mild amusement, as though she were merely a bug they could squash at any time. Tair knew that she and Myst were in over their heads. She could throw a dozen daggers and not one would find the human Magi’s heart. With a fateful sigh, she lowered her blade.

  “Wise choice,” Sajiix told her.

  Myst let out a guttural scream of rage, twisting and jerking her body to free it from the magical trap. “This goes beyond your petty personal vendetta,” Sajiix said scornfully. “I have been waiting for this opportunity for twenty years.”

  “And you’ll be waiting even longer,” whispered a voice in the darkness.

  Sajiix and Lynth turned to see Baris Malagotta appear out of the shadows, pausing at the far corridor. In his hands he held a thin rod that he currently had pointed at both Magi. The tip of the object was glowing green with arcane energy.

  “Baris,” Sajiix acknowledged, “It has been a long time.”

  “Indeed it has, old friend,” said the mercenary with an almost contemplative tone.

  “You must realize that this plan of yours is madness,” Sajiix told him. “Is the profit worth the lives of all those destroyed by the Zynnashans?”

  “You have the gall to ask me that after what you did to find the Shadowstone? How many of those you called friend died in your endeavors?”

  “Too many,” the Magi said with a whisper that only Myst could hear. “But that was long ago. We must stop the Zynnashans before they kill anyone else.”

  Baris laughed. “Like you care about what happens to these river folk. You want to take the diamond back to your precious school. I’ll wager you even think there is a way the Eye could help you locate the amethyst, hm?”

  “Either way,” Lynth said with a snarl, “the diamond comes with us.”

  “Oh, I don’t think so,” Baris grinned, waving the emerald-tipped wand back and forth.

  “Stop it, Baris!” Sajiix commanded. “Even you cannot be foolish enough to use that element rod in here. They are too unpredictable. You could destroy everything in this warehouse.”

  “Only you and your friends, Sajiix,” Baris said. “I can easily handle the power of this…just as easily as I handled your apprentice. She was a pretty thing.”

  Sajiix’s face went crimson as his ring hand rose toward Malagotta. But Baris was faster as he waved the rod at Sajiix, Lynth, Tair, and Myst.

  The entire center of the warehouse erupted with emerald energy.

  ***

  Ayce continued tracking the scent of Tair and Myst through the growing throng of people gathering near the town’s south gate. Once he entered the cluster of warehouses and the narrow passages between them, he was better able to trace their path. He quickened his pace as the trail grew stronger the deeper he moved into the district. He came upon an intersection of four buildings and poked his head around the right corner and froze. Along the long wall of the adjacent warehouse were three Magi from different orders: Diamond, Ruby, and Amethyst. For a moment, Ayce thought the purple cloaked Magi was Sajiix, but soon noticed the man was too old and had a different scent. All three were gathered around a small door in the center of the wall discussing their options.

  “And you are certain this is the right one?” the Amethyst Magi asked with an air of authority.

  The Diamond Magi nodded, “Yes, Dhama Shek. The aura extends all through the town, but the epicenter of the energy is here.”

  “Then let us take the object and be done with it,” snapped the Fire Magi.

  The door quickly opened inward, revealing an old friend. Ayce stifled a gasp, wishing he didn’t see what was happening and who was responsible. Baris and Ayce were strong companions during the Guild’s golden years and both fought well together. Ayce wanted to be surprised, but he knew Baris too well. If anyone other than Sajiix could steal the Val’Cryys diamond and make a profit out of it – it was Baris Malagotta. In his hand he held a wand-like object that glowed with green eldritch energy and pointed it at the Magi.

  “There will be no taking of anything,” he warned with a tone not to be trifled with. “I suggest we relocate ourselves to our aforementioned meeting place until the other customers arrive. Someone has already attempted to take the diamond from me. Any further attempt and I will make certain no one sees the artifact ever again.”

  The three backed away, their hands in the air. “Easy friend,” spoke the Amethyst one.

  “I am not your friend,” Baris said indignantly. “I am the owner of something you seek. Now, move on.”

  He ushered the three Magi on down the opposite end of the pathway, allowing Ayce to silently pad to the eastern wall of the warehouse. Ignoring the scent of adrenaline, surprise, and fear that lingered nearby, Ayce could smell the presence of Myst and Tair within the building.

  Moving silently, Ayce rushed to the door and crouched next to it, examining the door lock, and keeping an eye on the four figures rapidly walking further away. A cursory test of the door latch proved that it was, indeed, locked. Ayce cursed silently and stood straight once Baris and his business partners disappeared from view. Ayce knew there had to be traps beyond the door, but he had little choice but to break in.

  Ayce placed his shoulder along the rim of the door, but before he could press any weight upon it, a purple-skinned hand grasped his shoulder, making him jump up with a startled shriek.

  “Don’t do that!” he snapped, slapping Tienn’s hand away.

  Stifling a chuckle, Tienn apologized and then said in a more somber voice, “Did you see Baris?”

  “I did,” Ayce replied sadly. “This will be harder than we thought.”

  “Can you unlock the door?”

  “Maybe,” Ayce said regrettably, “if I had remembered to bring my lock picks.”

  “Some thief you are.”

  “I’m not a thief,” said Ayce indignantly. “I’m a warrior.”

  “You are a mercenary thief with lycanthropic tendencies,” Tienn grinned, looking once more to make sure the Magi were gone. “Is there any way to get in without making it look like we have broken in?”

  Ayce shook his head, “No. I can sense the girls in there and I can smell magic in there, strong magic.”

  “Do it.”

  It was all the command Ayce needed. He had the door open within two shoulder heaves and both men were inside, adjusting their eyes to the dark. Ayce examined the crates that made the makeshift corridors of the warehouse and then tugged Tienn’s coat sleeve, motioning to the floor. Tienn’s naturally enhanced night vision easily found the oblong silver object Ayce had discovered a dozen feet away from them.

  “Why put a trap so far from the entrance?” Tienn wondered aloud.

  “It makes sense,” Ayce answered. “This way, you’re not advertising that what you have stored here is worth killing people over.”

  “Can we move forward without triggering the device?”

  “That’s the big question,” Ayce said, wiggling his fingers as he slowly approached the magi-trap. “It all depends on what type of magic is stored.” Upon the last word, Ayce brought his leg about and kicked the object down the stone floor. The trap skidded along the surface until it struck the crates along the first turn.

  Violet lighting shot from the device, making Ayce and Tienn dive for cover as the magic flared and struck everything above them. A crackling noise reverberated amongst the crates accompanied by a scorched smell of charred wood and b
urning energy. The purple light faded, covering all in darkness once more.

  “That was bracing,” Tienn said, offering Ayce a hand to help him up.

  “Just keep your night vision in front of us so we can spot more traps,” Ayce suggested.

  The pair crept carefully along the makeshift halls until Tienn noticed a greenish glow coming from somewhere up ahead. They moved carefully, both knowing that time was against them, but both understanding that they could do very little if they were injured or captured with a magic trap.

  Eventually the duo came to the center of the warehouse and the source of the shimmering green aura. At the far corner to their left was a grossly misshapen vine that erupted from the stone floor, its bulk was thrust against the wooden crates, making the entire wall creak alarmingly. The main body of the vine was as wide as a willow tree and its forked extensions were as thick as a man’s arm. The vine was greenish-brown and glowed with an emerald energy that seemed almost sick and putrid. Tangled within the vines were Myst, Tair, Sajiix, and a Zynnashan that Tienn recognized as Lynth.

  “Lynth,” Ayce shouted, leaping into the center area. “Is that you? By the gods! I haven’t seen you in ages!”

  The Zynnashan inclined his head, the cowl of his cloak sliding over half of his bestial face. “It is good to see you, as well, friend Ayce,” he said calmly. “It would be even better to see you without these vines crushing me to death.”

  “You must move quickly,” Sajiix ordered, hanging upside down near the top of the wall. “They will be back any moment.”

  Ayce pulled out his sword and stepped to the main branch of the vine. He lifted his blade, but paused for a moment, gazing up at Sajiix. Tienn had retrieved a dagger and was cutting Myst loose and saw Ayce pause in his work. “What are you doing?” Tienn asked.

  “Savoring the little moment’s life gives us,” Ayce replied, grinning at the fuming Magi above.

  ***

  Two warehouse lengths away, Baris Malagotta stopped and faced the three Magi following him. His face was tinged red from the effort of trapping Sajiix and his minions within the warehouse and the anger over the Magi trying to break into his property to steal what he was offering to sell.

  “If you want that diamond, then you will pay me for it. And the price has doubled since you felt it necessary to try to rob me of it!”

  The Ruby Magi – Erak – stepped toward him, his shoulders bunched and fists clenched as though he were ready to strike. “We’ll pay you nothing, worm! We’ll take what we want now that we know where it is!”

  Baris took a step back, his hand reaching for the hilt of his sword.

  “Rest easy, my friend,” came the calming voice of the Amethyst Magi. He laid a restraining hand on Erak and gestured for Baris to lower his sword arm. “We were not there to steal the Purestone, but only to make certain that it was the true artifact. Besides, I’m quite sure someone with your intelligence has other failsafe measures in case someone tries to steal your prize.”

  “Your words are as slippery as fish oil, Shadow Magi,” Baris hissed. “And yes, I have other measures. Just knowing what building the diamond is in will not allow you to get it.”

  “Then let us end this,” Margas said, reaching into his cloak and producing a leather pouch bursting at the seams with coins. The Magi tossed the heavy sack to Baris who nearly dropped it due to the unaccustomed weight. “There is half of your asking price. Show us the Purestone and you will receive the other half.”

  Baris peeked into the narrow slit at the top of the bag, squinting at the golden crowns winking sunlight back at him. He hefted the bag in his hand, feeling the coins within and mentally counting what he could touch – and it was indeed over half of what he was asking for.

  Tugging the drawstring tight, Baris hooked the bag onto his belt and looked down the sides of the intersection. There was no sign of the priests or paladins and it was past the time for their meeting. Baris was tired of this game and wanted to be rid of the diamond. A few more coins weren’t going to make much of a difference.

  “Very well,” he gestured them forward with a wave. “Let me lead you to your prize.”

  ***

  Ayce pulled the last withering vine away from Tair as she pushed herself free from the wall. She gave him an approving nod of thanks and then stepped close to Myst who was watching everyone very closely. Ayce, Tienn, Lynth, and Sajiix were talking a few steps away.

  “I must find Kaelyn,” Sajiix said with a note of urgency.

  “We must retrieve the Purestone so that I can return it to Havaas,” Lynth said with his customary growl. “It is the only way Fhaalvak will be spared.”

  With an impatient snarl, the Magi marched toward the center of the area and stomped his boot upon the floor, which lifted a small section of flooring. Squatting down, Sajiix pried the piece of wood out, exposing the churning waters of the lake below. Getting on his hands and knees, Sajiix stuck his arm through the opening, reaching all the way to his shoulder. Finding what he wanted, he leaned back on his knees with a thick, wet rope in his hands.

  He handed the rope to Lynth. “Pull this from the water and you will have the diamond.”

  “How did you know this?” Tienn wondered with his hands on his hips.

  Sajiix stood once Lynth accepted the rope. He brushed the front of his robes clean and regarded Tienn’s question with a sigh. “I know Baris. I’ve been watching him for days and this was the first opportunity I had to retrieve it.”

  Ayce shook his head with a mixture of sorrow and approbation, “Baris always did have lofty schemes.”

  “Lofty or not, I do not believe that neither the Magi nor the church will pay for that prize,” Tienn interjected. “They will pry it from his dead hands.”

  “Meanwhile the Zynnashans will destroy this town,” Sajiix added.

  “Which is why we must take the Purestone to Havaas,” Lynth said, taking a step toward the open hatch.

  “Lynth, I wish to be with you when you present the diamond to your leader.”

  All eyes turned to Myst, who had taken a few steps toward them, leaving behind a still protesting Tair’Lianne. “I want him to know what he has done to me and my family. I want satisfaction.”

  Lynth held the rope tightly in his clawed paw, his yellow eyes gazing at Myst like gleaming topaz. “I sense your sincerity, young human,” he said solemnly. “But I cannot be responsible for you. Havaas will strike you down and eat your heart without question and for nothing more than vengeance.”

  “Don’t place me in the position to try to take the diamond,” she warned.

  Tair stepped forward, placing a hand on her friend’s arm. “Myst, please stop this.”

  “As you’re so fond of telling me, Tair – ‘Don’t tell me what to do’!” Myst shrugged her arm away and reached for the sword she had retrieved.

  Beyond the sound of crashing waves below, came the whispering echo of a horn being blown from far away. Everyone froze, listening intently. The blast came again, louder, more urgent.

  Sajiix, stepping in the direction Tienn and Ayce had come, shifted his cloak and shook his head. “It matters very little whether she comes with you now, Lynth,” he said. “Havaas is here and he will have this town and its people.”

  The horn sounded again, this time closer, near the lake.

  “We’re out of time,” Tienn said gravely.

  “No, you are out of time,” Sajiix returned. “There is nothing we can do with that diamond now that the Zynnashans have arrived.”

  Sajiix suddenly felt as though the roof of the warehouse had caved in upon the back of his neck, throwing him once more to the center of the warehouse. Dazed and in pain, the Magi rolled over to see Protector D’ghelle adjusting the gauntlet he struck him with. Behind him were his retinue of paladins and clerics.

  “I’m quite sure there is something we can do, Magi,” he grinned. “One must only have faith – and the Eye of Diathanos.”

  30

  Captain Longva
ale stood atop the crenellated parapet that crested Fhaalvak’s main gate surveying the work his men had accomplished through the night and early dawn. Drop pits, spike traps, and barricades had been dug and erected before the gate – what Mikhail considered the weakest link in Fhaalvak’s defense and where he believed the Zynnashans would strike first. A dozen men in two rows stood alongside him, their bows prepared, their arrows ready. Thirty pikemen stood below behind the barred gate, ready to defend or attack as their commander saw fit. Behind them, ten knights stood at the ready, their armor gleaming in the clear day’s sunlight. The line of men stood near the town’s stables, their horses barded and waiting for battle with impatient snorts. Behind that were still ten to fifteen others armed and ready to defend the river town. These were citizens or adventurers who agreed to assist the knights for a small fee – mostly traded for compensation for their stay in Fhaalvak.

  Let the Zynnashans come. They did not face frightened fishermen here.

  Kreena marched quickly up to him, snapping a salute. “Lieutenant Nallim reports that his men are ready at the north gate should the enemy attack there, sir,” she announced.

  Mikhail smiled at her, taking in her appearance. The woman wasn’t allowed to don the uniform of a Knight of Kaalé, but she certainly came close to doing so – down to the gray shoulder cape she wore buttoned to the side. Her black boots were polished, her pants creased, and her sword hilt polished. The only item missing was the Knights’ standard on the shoulder – the silver shield with the black diagonal stripe.

  “Thank you, Kreena,” he said. “Now, do me a favor and put on some armor.”

  “I have a chain shirt down in the gatehouse, sir,” she replied, staring at his own silver armor with a look of envy that nearly burst his heart.

  Mikhail gave her a meaningful glance and then cast his eyes once more to the east. “One day, Kreena,” he said as he examined the tree line in the distance. “One day the King will see that women can fight just as fiercely as men.”

  The blast of one of their alarm horns sounded to his left. Confused, Mikhail looked to the north where the reverberating wail was winding down. It came from one of his men at the north gate. Retrieving a spyglass from his belt, Mikhail flicked it open and peered toward the garrison. Sure enough, one of his men was gesturing to the northeast, toward a thick line of pine, oak, and whitebark.