Cathexis: Necromancer's Dagger

by Philip Blood

  Two soldiers tried to pull the large door open, but it was hard to move. Two more soldiers grabbed two of the metal bars and pried at the door. At their effort, the door began to grind open and the hinges screamed their displeasure at being disturbed. Just as the door started to open Sergeant Herms said, “If that door is so hard to open our prey couldn’t have…”

  But the door finally swung free at that moment, opening wide. Dust came down from the top frame and the two soldiers up front extended torches inside to reveal what was within the chamber.

  Sergeant Herms finished his sentence, “…gone this way. I think that we’ve been duped; there is no way that they could have opened that door.”

  The two men with the torches stepped forward to search the open chamber anyway. That’s when a horrible roar of insane hunger cleaved the musty air of the tomb. It was immediately followed by the screams of the two Tchulian soldiers within the chamber. Their screams were mixed with the sounds of snapping bones, rending tissues, and splattering blood.

  The soldiers who were still outside the tomb froze in horror at the sound of slaughter coming from within the chamber.

  Sergeant Herms glimpsed something huge and horrible beyond that open doorway.

  “Close that door, now!” he bellowed to his remaining men.

  His order galvanized three of the men into action, the rest stood in shock for a moment more before throwing their weight against the large stone door as well.

  “This is your chance!” Jatar exclaimed to G’Taklar, “Keep the pillars between you and the soldiers, and make a break for the entrance. If that thing gets out you do not want to be trapped in here with a monster.”

  G’Taklar didn’t need any further incentive and he began pulling Rachael along behind. Behind them, the drama at the chamber door continued.

  Just before the soldiers got the door completely closed, one of the men trapped on the other side tried to escape, sticking his hand in the crack of the slamming door. It was pinned in the jamb, stopping the door. The man screamed in pain, then something grabbed him and his hand was yanked back into the chamber, shearing off his thumb and part of the hand. The door slammed shut under the combined weight of the remaining soldiers, even Sergeant Herms was pushing at the back of his men.

  Two men grabbed a bar and tried to drop it into its slot, but something with massive weight hit the door from the other side, driving the mob of nine soldiers back a foot before their combined weight slammed it shut again.

  The soldiers with the bar dropped it into place, just as the creature’s weight hit the door again, the bar bent slightly.

  Quickly, they dropped the other two bars into position, and the door was safely locked.

  “In Vorg’s name, what was behind that door?” a terrified soldier exclaimed.

  “It must have been another of those souldead, like the one in the caverns under the keep. Thank yer mothers that we got that door closed before it got out o’ that room or we’d all be dead. If our prisoners went in there, then they’re dead, but suddenly I don’t think so. If that creature knew the door was unbarred it would have come out,” the sergeant reasoned.

  “G’lan help the men in there,” another of the soldiers prayed.

  “They’re already dead, forget them. Now let’s get on with it, those two escaped prisoners have a lot to answer for,” the sergeant ordered.

  Down the other hallway G’Taklar and Rachael had to stop their stealthy retreat when they ran into the five soldiers who had been left at the entrance to the tomb to make sure they did not get out.

  G'Taklar leaned close to Rachael's ear and whispered. “Come on, let’s go back. We don’t want to be trapped between whatever comes out of that room and these soldiers. If that creature gets loose I hope it will kill the soldiers on its way out of the tomb. On the other hand, if the soldiers manage to get the door closed then they might trap us between their forces. Our only chance is to hide down the hall where we first fell in and hope that they leave thinking we were killed by the monster.”

  Rachael nodded and the two fugitives crept back toward the ‘T’ intersection, keeping to the shadows. As they passed between two of the pillars torchlight flickered across them and a soldier’s voice called out, “There they are!”

  “Run for it!” Jatar advised, unnecessarily. G'Taklar did not need any encouragement and together he and Rachael leaped away like a pair of frightened deer. They raced down the hall until they reached the hole that led into the rooms of bones and quickly crawled through. The soldiers arrived just behind them.

  “Give me control, G’Taklar, I can hold them off,” Jatar pleaded.

  The first soldier started to crawl through.

  “Take it,” G’Taklar gasped.

  Jatar flowed into G’Taklar’s body again. He immediately pulled the old dagger from G'Taklar's belt and sprang to the hole. With a quick jab, he stabbed the soldier entering while he was too cramped to defend himself with his sword.

  Jatar grabbed the man’s sword and stepped to the side of the hole, ready for the next attack.

  The attackers cursed and pulled the body of their dead companion back.

  The Sergeant’s voice echoed in through the hole. “You’ll regret that as well, boy, I’m going te make ya pay fer each man ya cost me."

  “First, you’ll have to take me, you stinking kesera,” Jatar replied.

  “I’m just go’in te beat ya, not kill ya, so why don’t ya give up now? Otherwise, I might let that thing in the other room loose and lock ya in here with it,” the sergeant threatened.

  “Go ahead, I prefer its company to a lying piece of slime like you,” Jatar replied, and thought to G’Taklar, “He won’t let it out, he’s too terrified of that monster.”

  “We can starve ya out, we found yer horses outside. It seems that in yer haste te hide from us that ya fergot te take yer food and water with ya,” was Herms’ next sally.

  Jatar did not answer Herms, but in a moment he heard the sound he feared, they were prying the bars off the door into this chamber. Soon they could attack from two directions.

  “If they get that door open I fear we may have to surrender, otherwise they’re going to take us anyway,” Jatar informed his cousin.

  “We could move into the next chamber,” G’Taklar suggested.

  “And we will, but that also has a wide entry, two of the soldiers can attack at once. I might be able to hold them, but the odds are against it. If I do fight eventually they will kill you, counting the five at the entrance, there are still about fourteen of them. I might get a few, but eventually, I’ll tire and one of their thrusts will get through,” he explained.

  “I’d rather go down fighting than give up to these torturing monsters,” G’Taklar decided.

  “I understand, but we’d better explain to Rachael,” Jatar said.

  “Rachael, we’re going to retreat into the short hall between the chambers. That is where I am going to make a stand. Most likely I will die, though I promise I will take some of them with me. If you give up to them without a fight they may treat you roughly, but they probably won’t kill you,” Jatar explained.

  “Give me your dagger; if I see you go down I’ll use it. I’m not going to be captured,” she said looking into G’Taklar’s eyes. She stepped forward, lifting her hand to the back of his neck and pulled his face down toward her parting lips.

  “Take over, ‘Tak, I think this is for you,” Jatar said hastily.

  G’Taklar flowed back into control just as Rachael’s soft lips met his; she lingered for a moment, giving him a kiss that held the promise of what might have been. Then she pulled back and looked into his eyes as she said, “Send them to the Dark Plane, G’Taklar.”

  They climbed over the bones until they reached the short corridor between the rooms. G’Taklar gave control back to Jatar when they heard the door in the other chamber groan, the old hinges taking the weight of the heavy door for the first time in a thousand years.

  Then they watched a
s the Tchulian soldiers cautiously crept into the room. The last door they had opened in this place had them pretty scared.

  Jatar readied his sword and Rachael watched from behind him, fingering the sharp edge of the dagger she held in her hand. Neither of them saw the movement as something slipped into the dark corridor from the chamber at their backs.

  “G’Taklar?” a voice whispered.

  Jatar spun around and Rachael nearly jumped out of her clothes in fright.

  Three dark shapes could be seen in the corridor silhouetted by the dim light filtering through from two rooms away where the hole was broken through the ceiling.

  “Who’s there?” Jatar answered back.

  “We are knights of Lindankar come to rescue you,” was the welcome reply.

  “Becaris?” Jatar said in relief as he recognized the voice of the noble he had recently knighted.

  “Indeed, with Lasar and Rasal with me,” Becaris responded.

  “Quickly, the soldiers are nearly upon us!” Jatar said, stepping from between the knights and the approaching Tchulians.

  The ‘shing’ of three swords being drawn rang in the corridor.

  Becaris, Lasar, and Rasal leaped forward and met the charge of the Tchulians.

  “Back down the hall, we need the space of the chamber to better withstand them,” Becaris called to G’Taklar.

  “Come on Rachael, these are my friends,” Jatar said to the stunned girl who had been ready to die on the point of the dagger.

  “May I have control back?” G’Taklar asked.

  “Of course, ‘Tak,” Jatar responded and the young man slipped back into his physical body.

  A moment later three knights traded blows with the surprised soldiers, who had only expected to find one opponent, not three armored knights.

  The knights slowly backed into the second chamber and then stopped to bottle up the soldiers within the confined area of the corridor. Two of the soldiers were killed before the rest backed off for the moment to regroup.

  Becaris asked G’Taklar a question. “Quickly, before they charge us, how many do we face?”

  “I think I counted fourteen if the five guards at the entrance join them, nine if they don’t,” G’Taklar responded.

  “Too many, if they charge us they will overwhelm our position. If that happens we will retreat to the next chamber and make them try it again. Perhaps we can whittle them down that way. We can’t take any chances with you G’Taklar. Lady Ardellen sent us to retrieve the ring that you carry, it is of vast importance. You still have it, don’t you?” he asked suddenly.

  G’Taklar held up his fist, displaying the ring on his finger.

  “Good man, guard it carefully. Take the girl and get to the chamber behind us. There is a rope hanging down from the hole in the ceiling. Get her out of here and we’ll follow as soon as we can get away. You’ll find your horses with the soldier’s mounts. We took out the two guards they left there already. Scatter their mounts and ride away toward Myrnvale, that’s where you can meet us or find Lady Ardellen if we don’t survive. Go quickly, before they attack. May G’lan be with you,” Becaris said, clasping G’Taklar’s hand.

  “Ask him what’s happened to my son and kingdom,” Jatar prompted quickly.

  “What of the heir and Lindankar?” G’Taklar asked before turning to go.

  “Michael is safe, Lindankar is held by an evil necromancer in Jatar’s body. Do not go there with the signet ring. One more thing, we’ve come upon some information that Elizabeth will need to know. One of the conspirators that plotted against the royal family is one of Lord Jatar’s three foster brothers,” Becaris told him quickly.

  “It can’t be!” Jatar exclaimed in G’Taklar’s head in disbelief.

  “Are you sure?” G’Taklar asked Becaris.

  “Yes, but we don’t know which one. Now get going, quickly! Get that ring to Lady Ardellen!” Becaris said and gave him a slight push in the direction of safety. He then turned to face the inevitable attack from the Tchulian soldiers.

  G’Taklar and Rachael began working their way toward the next chamber.

  As they neared the opening they heard the sounds of fighting behind them, the next wave of attack had commenced.

  Jatar was silent as he contemplated the news that one of his beloved foster brothers had betrayed their bond. It left Jatar deep in thought.

  From the sounds of the Tchulian soldiers yelling and the harsh clangs of clashing swords, G’Taklar feared that the three knights were being overcome. If the knights did not hold the Tchulians long enough for Rachael and himself to climb up the rope, they would be captured. G’Taklar made a quick decision; he had to keep this ring from the Tchulians and if the soldiers got to them before they escaped they would find it on his hand.

  Without consulting Jatar, G’Taklar got the ancient dagger back from Rachael and unscrewed the trick pommel. To make room in the hollow interior of the hilt he quickly poured the gold out and stuffed it into his pocket. Then he pulled the Ardellen cathexis signet ring from his finger and dropped it inside the hilt. He tore off a piece of his shirt and stuffed it in after the ring to keep it from rattling inside the hilt, and then he sealed the signet ring within the dagger. He figured that even if he was captured, they would not know of the precious ring in the secret hilt.

  Since he was no longer in contact with the cathexis metal of the ring G’Taklar was now out of communication with Jatar.

  As soon as we’re safely out of here I’ll put it back on, G’Taklar thought. He tucked the dagger into his belt and helped Rachael begin the climb up the knotted rope.

  When she had reached the top G’Taklar looked over his shoulder toward the clashing sounds of weapons in the other chamber, but he still could not tell how well things were going for the knights. He quickly ascended the rope which swung wildly with his motion. As he climbed the ancient dagger began to creep up from where it was tucked under his belt.

  When he reached the top Rachael helped him over the lip of the hole. They climbed down from the rocks and found the Tchulian horse picket. Their mounts were with the soldiers’ mounts as Becaris had explained.

  Two soldiers lay dead a short way from the picket.

  G’Taklar helped Rachael mount and then swung up onto his saddle.

  As he made the quick swing of his leg over the horse’s back, he dislodged the loose dagger and it fell silently below his horse on the soft sand of the Erclesian desert.

  G’Taklar’s mount danced around, which moved him away from the fallen dagger containing the cathexis ring.

  He untied the soldier’s mounts and then yelled and the horses galloped away, scattering across the desert.

  G’Taklar and Rachael headed in the direction of Myrnvale, putting as much distance as they could between them and the soldiers and the horrible tomb of Vorg.

  In Myrnvale, Hetark and Poison were just finishing their breakfast at a restaurant. Hetark stood to go and spoke to Poison, “Thank you for the breakfast company. I need to swing by a blacksmith before checking to see if any of the other knights have come into town.”

  “Would you like some company during your walk?” Poison asked.

  “Yes, that would be nice,” he replied, thinking that Poison’s company no longer seemed as bad as a poke in the eye. They had gotten along quite well in the last two days.

  “Good, I’ll meet you at the Carriage Hotel in a quarter bell, ‘til then,” she finished nodding politely. There, she thought, that was perfect, and I didn’t make an ass out of myself once during breakfast. I must be getting this lady stuff down. She gained more confidence with Hetark each hour they spent together. She had also found that he wasn’t as stuffy as she had first thought when she met him in Roper; overall he wasn’t such a bad sort.

  She sipped her tea and watched out of the corner of her eye to see if anyone was watching, she wasn’t sure she was using the proper etiquette.

  A few moments after Hetark had left the waiter came to her table and spoke, “
Excuse me miss, but does your name happen to be Marinda?”

  “Yes, it is.” She started to add, ‘What of it?’ , but instead, she said, “How can I help you?”

  “I have a message from a lady, she didn’t want to disturb you until your breakfast was over, so she left this message with directions to deliver it after you were finished eating,” the waiter said, extending the message in his hand.

  Poison took the folded piece of paper and wondered who could know her real name. Apprehensively she opened and read the message. It confused her even more, it read:

  Dear Elizabeth,

  You don’t know me personally, but that doesn’t matter, I will

  soon introduce myself in person. I have come upon some

  information that is vitally important to you. A creature, named

  SCorcH, is headed your way this very moment. He is a necromancer

  bent on destroying you. I know you are a powerful sorceress and

  with prior warning, you can defeat the attack of this enemy. He

  will be waiting in ambush, so beware. Until I see you in person,

  take care,

  A friend.

  Poison read the message a second time. How had this woman known that her name was Marinda? It was a fact known to very few, but even more puzzling, once knowing her real name why would she mistake her for Elizabeth? It made no sense. She decided to worry about that later, for now, her main concern was the necromancer on his way to kill her, assuming he too mistook her for Elizabeth. She knew she had to get to Hetark; they needed to warn Elizabeth of this threat.

  She got up quickly and left the restaurant. As she stepped into the street she scanned the area, her sharp eyes looking for a trap. She saw a little street urchin headed purposely in her direction and knew that this could be the beginning of a setup, so she looked around carefully for the other players, but saw no one.

  Poison stepped back onto the landing of the restaurant ready to flee into the crowded room, and then she waited for things to unfold.

  The small girl looked fearfully around as she crossed the open street and Poison realized that something had this little girl terrified. “Is yer name Elizabeth?” the little girl inquired when she was close to Poison.