by Jeff Inlo
"What does one thing have to do with the other?"
"Perhaps nothing, perhaps everything. I don't know if these events are all linked together, but I do know that significant changes create ripples which extend to the far corners of existence. We have no idea where those ripples might lead us."
"They've led us here and to Holli's sacrifice!"
"The night is not over and neither are our travels. There is still much for you to do, and I'm only asking that you don't lose focus on what you can accomplish. You look for answers all the time. You understand consequences. But you've also managed to take a greater hold of what you have lost than what you have gained. At some point, you may need to move the scales in the other direction. All I ask is that you consider that when we return to Burbon."
Chapter 26
Vraya and Jure worked with painstaking precision. They used their magic to carefully loosen the roots which bound Neltus. They cared little for the crimson casting wizard, but out of respect for Holli, they made certain they did not cause any damage while attempting to free the spell caster's arms and legs.
As the black and white energy gently brushed back both thick and thin strands, the tree seemed to acknowledge the will of the tender magic nudging it away. The roots began to unwind of their own accord and pulled back under the surface of the ground.
When the last stem released Neltus' arm near the shoulder, the spell caster flopped to the hard, dry ground with a resounding thud. He showed no sign of consciousness, but his very presence invoked strong emotions from those who looked upon his pathetic existence.
As Ryson looked back upon the silent and stoic form which Holli had become—the only tree rising majestically from the badlands—he felt the intense urge to kick the prone wizard over and over. He swallowed his rage and resisted the temptation, but he revealed his disgust for Neltus as he pointed out the need for certain precautions.
"We shouldn't let him regain consciousness," the delver announced. "If he even starts to resist, I'm going to want to rip his legs off."
"I'd be more than willing to help in that regard, but I don't think we have to let it come to that," Jure offered.
The elder wizard cast a quick spell meant to deprive Neltus from reaching any state of awareness. Once the white circle of magic hit the crimson wizard's forehead, the pulsating energy spread through Neltus' entire body. The mind of the rotund spell caster would remain in a magically induced state of oblivion.
As Jure prepared a new spell of teleportation, Ryson and Enin lifted Neltus rather roughly from the ground, and both struggled to hold the heavy wizard upright. Vraya moved in close. Before Jure cast his incantation, they all gave the single tree one last respectful acknowledgment. Ryson silently vowed to return before the magnificent tree succumbed to its harsh surroundings. After that painful moment of silent regard, the elder wizard whisked them out of the badlands and brought them outside the northern gate of Burbon.
Once they appeared at the outskirts of Ryson's hometown, the delver felt a small swell of solace. The walls of Burbon represented more than just safety from predators and monsters; they symbolized a sense of security generated by the idea of home and family. The sight of the only anchor able to quell the urges of his delver heart brought him a degree of reassurance even as his thoughts remained consumed with Holli's fate.
The anguish in his soul left him caring little for what happened to Neltus, but his growing desire to find additional comfort spurred him onward. He was happy to be home and wished to see both Linda and Stomps, so he wanted the wizard's core removed as soon as possible.
"This should be close enough," the delver finally said. "I don't think it's necessary to bring him into the center of town. Sy can't seem to leave the boundaries of Burbon, but I've seen him patrol the clearing outside the wall."
"Should we just wait for him?" Vraya asked. "I assume he'll sense our arrival."
"I imagine he would, but I'll call for Captain Klusac," Ryson advised.
Soldiers from the gate were already approaching. The delver made his request, and signals were sent across Burbon by the tower guards. Within a few moments, Klusac arrived on horseback. He dismounted and approached the new arrivals. He was not entirely pleased to see Neltus in their ranks, but happy at least that the troublesome wizard was in no condition to create havoc.
"We brought him back to have his core removed," Ryson stated without explaining what occurred in the badlands. "We need Sy."
"So it seems," Klusac acknowledged, "but I don't just call him and he appears. You know that. He shows up when he feels it's necessary."
To offer credibility to the captain's remark, the spirit materialized right at the gate. The ghost captain looked at each individual and then offered a puzzled expression toward Ryson.
Despite not being able to hear the apparition's unspoken question, the delver knew what the spirit wished to know, but he couldn't answer. Seeing Sy as a spirit reminded him of so many other losses he was forced to face. He found it unbearable to speak of another.
Breaking the uneasy silence, Captain Klusac voiced the question for all to hear.
"Where is Holli Brances?"
"Still in the badlands," Jure offered, unwilling to say more.
"She won't be returning, will she?" the captain pressed, as he could sense there had been more than simple misfortune or a minor delay on their journey.
"Not at the moment," Ryson answered quickly, acknowledging Holli's absence, but unwilling to give up hope on Holli's ultimate condition.
"But unable to return for now," Enin remarked sadly. "We can't wait for her. We have brought Neltus back to have his core removed, and that needs to be our priority for the moment."
Even as the words came from his mouth, Enin sounded far from convincing. He held no compassion for Neltus—would have pulled the core from the crimson wizard himself if he had the ability—but he looked beyond Neltus' deserved fate and toward a much larger understanding of all that had happened. He could not deny the history which linked so many circumstances together, could not ignore the ripples which erupted from one event and led to another and then another.
He recalled when he first met the crimson casting wizard. It seemed like a lifetime ago that Enin had plucked Neltus from the Lacobian Desert to help fight against forces which threatened all of Uton. That single decision led to so many other consequences. Magic was shared, and spell casters became linked through echoes of mutual energy. Those connections became chains tied to anchors of despair. They were forced to deal with dark creatures and demons—even Reiculf, the lord of demons himself—and many had suffered.
Enin appeared momentarily lost as he considered the series of events which brought them back to Burbon, back to the apparition with the power to remove, and restore, magical cores. As he looked upon the ghost captain, he grasped the connection, understood how his own hardship was tied to Neltus.
He wanted to speak to the spirit, to ask a most difficult question, but it was a question which held consequences of its own. Despite all his wisdom in the ways of magic, he wasn't sure how to approach the subject. Thus, he remained silent.
The ghost of Sy Fenden broke Enin's uneasy silence with an acknowledgment of his own.
"Sy is happy to see you safe," Klusac relayed to Enin.
Enin was pleased to be recognized by the warrior spirit.
"Thank you," the coreless wizard offered to the apparition.
As he nodded to the glowing specter, the need to question certain outcomes became stronger. He had managed to suppress his concerns due to the magnitude of their circumstances. He had suffered as much as Ryson, if not more, from Holli's decision. And while his grief was no less devastating, he could not help but think of his own condition.
He did not wish to be so self-absorbed, but a growing seed of hope was taking root in his mind. Though the most recent tragedy seemed to challenge the worth of his wishes, he knew he could no longer ignore them. He needed to address the issue with the spirit b
efore him, and the question he hoped to avoid became a means to that end.
He did not ask it outright, but instead, began with a different inquiry which would hopefully offer guidance regarding whether or not he should continue.
"Are you aware of what has happened to Reiculf?" Enin questioned the ghost captain.
The spirit looked toward Klusac for long moments. The captain of the guard found the news surprising, but he listened intently in order to fully grasp the spirit's answer. When the apparition's response was complete, Klusac replied.
"He is. It was a transformation of great consequence. Even though it occurred outside of Burbon, he knows what happened. Reiculf has joined with Ansas and Baannat. The three have become a new entity, one that rules a new realm of demons."
With Sy's acknowledgement of changes to both the demon master and the daokiln's sanctuary, the coreless wizard knew he had to continue.
"Which leads me to a delicate question," Enin admitted.
He paused, looked to the ground and almost relented, almost gave up on his own seemingly selfish desire, especially when he allowed himself one quick glance toward Ryson. He could not, however, surrender completely.
He recalled the recent opportunity when the magic flowed through him—directed by Jure—and he remembered what it was like to shape the energy. He longed for that feeling again. He needed to know if it was possible, even if his question would grind salt into deep and recent wounds.
"If Reiculf has altered himself," Enin began, "is it still necessary to remove Neltus' core?"
"What?!" Ryson reacted immediately, shocked that Enin could even entertain the idea after all that had occurred.
"It's a question that should be considered," Enin replied sheepishly, "not necessarily for Neltus' sake, but for what has happened in the larger scheme of things."
"You want to consider it now? After all we've been through? After what happened to Holli?"
"I know," Enin mumbled, as he couldn't even raise his eyes again to meet the delver's unforgiving stare. "I shouldn't even ask, but I have to. I have to... because I need to know."
Jure was as surprised as Ryson at the question, but he saw Enin's distress. The elder wizard understood the complicated relationship between the coreless wizard and the elf guard. He knew Enin would not disregard Holli's sacrifice callously.
"What is it you need to know?" Jure pressed. "Are you wondering if this was all a mistake?"
"No, I understand why we did it. Holli viewed it as a mission of honor. She promised to bring Neltus back, and I couldn't disregard that. It was important to her."
"And you think that's all there was to it?" Ryson asked, unwilling to accept Enin could be so unfeeling. "This wasn't just about capturing Neltus and bringing him back here, and you know it."
"I'm willing to look at things differently," Enin admitted.
"There's no other way to look at it," Ryson argued. "I told you Rul wanted to find Neltus. That makes him dangerous... to everyone. We all agreed he had to be brought back here. That's why Holli did what she did."
"And I agreed because I didn't want to dismiss Holli's wishes. As for Rul, we don't know why he wants Neltus. Certain things have changed, and in some regard, these changes are of great magnitude. Maybe we should reconsider."
"Reconsider? What's there to reconsider? Reiculf can take control of Neltus."
"But Reiculf no longer exists," Enin said, finally reaching for the very foundation of his own desires. "And it's not only Reiculf. Demonspawn is gone as well, as are the barriers which kept Reiculf constrained to his own domain. I mean, it appears as if Rul Saattan can gain access to this realm on his own now. He wouldn't really need to use Neltus—or me for that matter—as a bridge to leave Demonsheol."
"So what?" Ryson fired back. "I don't care if Rul can come and go as he pleases. This is about Neltus and his core."
"And that's why I have to ask. Sy removed Neltus' core as a way to protect our land against an incursion from Reiculf, but Reiculf is gone and Rul is another matter entirely. I'm not certain I see Neltus as the danger he once was."
"So you're saying Holli's sacrifice was for nothing?"
"No. It was something she needed to do, and I supported her in that."
"But now that you think she's gone, it's no longer important?"
It was a cruel accusation, one not completely grounded in fact. Ryson was responding on almost pure emotion, focused entirely on Holli's sacrifice to keep them all alive. And though the delver might have ignored the larger implications of the situation, he felt justified in his anger.
Enin understood the delver's fury. He could not deny the seeming callousness of his questions. He knew what he hoped to obtain, knew that his concern rested upon his own interests. He hung his head, too ashamed to respond.
"Ryson, this isn't really about Neltus," Jure offered, already seeing what Enin hoped to accomplish.
"You're right," the delver argued, as he remained focused on the loss of yet another friend. "This is about Holli. I'm not going to forget what happened to her, or why she did it. We're going to finish this."
"And I want to see it finished too," the elder wizard agreed, "but there's another question which needs to be asked, one that has to do more with Enin than Neltus."
"Jure's right," Enin admitted with a hollow voice. "Sy took my core for the same reason... to protect Uton. It seems to me that such a defense is now somewhat unnecessary."
"You want your magic back?" Ryson asked, unsure of how he should feel about such a request... made at such a time.
Enin recoiled at the harsh tone. He couldn't blame the delver. His shame was turning into disgust, disgust for considering his own welfare when he should have remained focused on more sympathetic matters. He offered an explanation coupled with an apology.
"I couldn't help wonder if it was possible, but now I believe it was a mistake to ask. I shouldn't have tied it together with Neltus, but I did. It's all connected, always has been, but that doesn't excuse my selfishness. I'm sorry. You're right to be angry. I shouldn't have said anything."
"But it has been said," Jure noted, "and I understand why. I think we can all agree that Neltus is not at the heart of this particular issue. We'll deal with him no matter what the answer, but it's a question which still needs to be asked. Is it possible for Enin's core to be restored without endangering the land?"
Jure looked to Sy, as did Ryson. Enin could not manage to raise his gaze from the ground. He waited for an answer like a condemned man awaiting sentence.
Klusac had his own feelings on the matter, but it was not for him to decide. He looked to Sy for the answer, and once he obtained it, the captain of Burbon's guard explained the response to Enin with only mild regret.
"Rul Saattan is a combination of Reiculf and Ansas. Sy knows you're aware of that, but he wants to remind you of certain decisions you have made. You, Neltus and Ansas were all linked through the echoes of magic. Because of those links, you are vulnerable to Rul, even more so now. Rul may not need you in order to enter Uton, but he can still take you against your will. If your core is restored, he could use your power in unimaginable ways. With the vast energy within you, you would be a great threat to all the land."
Enin never looked up. He expected as much, but it was hard to hear.
"I understand," he stated with obvious sadness.
Ryson recognized the pain in Enin's voice. He didn't disagree with the decision, but he did feel growing sympathy for his friend. The delver believed he might have been too harsh, and he offered sincere regret for Enin's fate.
"I'm sorry," Ryson stated. "I know you weren't ignoring what happened to Holli... you couldn't. It's just that..."
"No reason to apologize," Enin replied through a heavy breath as he finally looked back at the delver and smiled. "We were just looking at things from two different perspectives. You were focused on what was important. I was only thinking of myself. It's not important now. You were right. Rul Saattan wants Neltus, and
we have to make sure he doesn't get him."
Enin looked toward the ghost captain, even lifted Neltus' slumped body a bit higher to indicate it was time for the spirit to remove the core.
"Please take it now."
The apparition floated forward. Sy eyed the crimson wizard carefully, appeared to peer deep within Neltus' face. After but a momentary hesitation, the ghost quickly plunged both hands into the center of the rotund wizard's chest.
As Sy attempted to pull his hands free and remove the magical core, his ethereal hands remained locked within the center of Neltus' body. It was as if Neltus' essence closed upon Sy's wrists like some spiritual snare, took hold with an ever tightening grasp and refused to let go.
Those around the spirit watched in growing dismay as the ghost of Sy Fenden began to struggle. There was no sound, but they could not dismiss the violent tremors rippling through Sy's ghostly form.
The ghost captain attempted to release his hold of Neltus' core in order to break free, but even as his ethereal fingers loosened their grip, the clutching force pulled tighter against his ghostly arms. Sy displayed no signs of panic, but the expression of the ghost captain revealed a growing sense of uncertainty.
That same confusion rose precipitously among those who watched the mounting struggle.
"What's happening?" Ryson demanded.
Klusac focused intently upon the spirit, but he received no communications from the ghost warrior and revealed as much.
"I don't know. He's not responding to me. He's not saying anything."
"It looks like he's stuck, but how can that be? He's a ghost."
No one could answer. They simply stared as the spirit remained locked in place by some unseen hold.
Ryson turned to Enin, as both of them stood on opposite sides of Neltus and continued to hold the wizard upright.