Conium spoke first, "So we will arrive tomorrow?"
Nodding, Stain spoke, "We should arrive tomorrow sometime in the afternoon. This last bit of the journey is the most interesting."
"Bread is done." Cracklecord handed the pot out of the fire. Removing the lid I saw that each piece had turned a nice golden brown. I set the pot aside and started to pass out bowls of stew, giving each person a piece of bread also. We ate in comfortable silence.
"That was a well cooked meal Ott." Conium was using the last of the bread to wipe her bowl. "You cooked, I will help you clean." She gathered up bowls and I grabbed the pots. We walked over to the cleaning area beside Tag and Evins. I gave both the bread I had saved for them.
"These are delicious and a nice addition to the rest of the food." Tag swallowed his down in one shot. Evins nibbled at his.
"I agree, very good and not a bit dry." Evins commented between bites.
Conium and I worked quickly through the dishes and packed away everything. She started a mash that would sit overnight for breakfast, having cooked all night. With the evening chores done we all sat around the fire.
"I few instructions before we settle for the night." Stain's words caught everyone's attention. "We are going to stay together for everything from now on. When we reach our destination there is a building set aside for my specific use. We will all stay there and nobody will explore on their own. This includes all of you." Stain pointed to our various smaller companions. "Pat, you need to stay with Tag and Evins. Help keep a watch out so that none may meddle with our belongings. Mophar you will be with Ott and Raven. Be their extra set of eyes. Fiosrach will stay with me most times. Cracklecord, I know you have a few things you must do. However, the rest of the time I would ask that you stay near to Conium. We have been caught off guard too many times. I will not have another person taken or harmed if I can prevent it." He leaned back and looked at the stars. "I think a great fight is heading our way. We must be prepared for not only that fight but for all the little skirmishes that lead up to such a battle. Ott, You will be tested and taught with fire magic. I think you will struggle some, yet your passion will aid you. Raven, Conium and I are going to continue to help you learn how to control your magic. I will arrange and control various meetings and activities. Where we are going is a dangerous place, without counting the people. Take the warnings you are told serious." He sat there a moment. "I once had an apprentice whose main magic was fire. He was passionate, yet sometimes headstrong. He ended up almost killing himself simply because he refused to listen to the warnings of those who knew better. He did end up losing one whole arm and was disfigured the rest of his life. I do not think he ever felt the same passion about magic again." Stain looked around at each of us. "Remember, we are preparing for a battle. Fire can be a great weapon, however it can also be uncontrollably destructive. Use caution and you should survive." He stood up, his eyes haunted by past events. "I am going to bed. Set watches. This area is very active." He turned and went into his tent. His light stayed on for many moments, then it winked out.
We all sat around the fire, thinking deeply about what Stain had said.
"Well, with those thoughts I think I too will find my rest." Fiosrach climbed down from his rock and went to my tent. Soon his gravelly snores could be heard.
Mophar climbed up to my shoulders and wrapped his tail around my chest. "Remember, take me everywhere. Otherwise you might get into trouble."
I laughed and nodded. "I will."
Raven stood up and stretched, reaching high towards the sky. "My feet hurt. I think Stain had a good idea. Goodnight everyone." Her hand trailed through my hair as she walked by. "Goodnight Ott." She softly said.
"Goodnight Raven." I called over my shoulder as she went into her tent.
Conium looked at me. "I can take first watch. Raven will have the next. Then you. That puts me getting up for the last watch. That way I can get breakfast finished up. You get to help me clean again." She smiled wolfishly.
I nodded and stood up, Mophar holding my hair tightly. "That sounds fine. Goodnight Conium, Cracklecord." I turned towards my tent. "Pat, are you coming?"
Pat called out, "I think I will keep Conium company during her watch. I rode all day so I am not that tired just yet." He was curled up on a rock close to the fire.
"That sounds good. Goodnight Pat." I walked into my tent. Fiosrach had already taken his normal spot just beside my cot. Mophar jumped from my shoulder to the ring at the center of the tent roof. He wrapped his tail through the ring in a complex manner and got comfortable. I laid down and stared at the ceiling. I could hear Conium, Cracklecord, and Pat talking quietly. Tomorrow we would enter a very dangerous area and I would learn how to use fire magic. The same magic that I had accidentally used to kill a man. As I drifted off to sleep my mind wrestled with this thought.
* * *
During the middle of the night I awoke to Raven shaking my arm.
"Time for your watch." She stated.
She was obviously tired.
I stood up and stretched, waking up fully. "Any problems?"
She shook her head and headed out of the tent. "Fiosrach kept me company. Did you know he eats bats?" I could hear her walk over to her tent and lie down.
I stepped out of my tent and looked around. The fire was down to coals with Cracklecord snuggled under them like a blanket. I put another piece of firewood on the fire to keep it alive. I looked around and could see that other camps were silent and peaceful.
"A quiet night is a good time to be awake." A familiar voice drifted on the night breeze.
I looked around and saw the outline of the hermit standing just outside of the light being cast from the fire.
"Good evening sir." I looked around to see if he was alone.
"I am called a hermit for good reason. I live and travel alone." He stepped into the light. The fire reflected in his eyes. Little flames seemed to spring from deep in his eyes. "May I sit by your fire?"
I hesitated, "Do you swear no harm will befall anyone here from you?"
"Oh, very well said." He seemed delighted in my manner. "Yes, I so swear." He sat down near the fire and pulled out a small item. "Shall we sit and talk a while? I do so miss talking at times."
I walked around the fire and sat opposite of him.
"Again, very well done. You do have a fine mind." The hermit put the item up to his mouth. As I looked closer I realized it was a small instrument, like a whistle. He blew gently into the instrument and a tone much like the wind blowing through reeds rose from his side of the fire. He played for a few moments, not a song, but the sound of the wind playing. The sound rose up and seemed to dance slowly around the flames, haunting the campsite with ancient memories. He started blowing harder and the sounds became more fierce, like a mighty storm on the horizon. I leaned forward, entranced. He blew one final note that rang out across the campsite. As it's echos rang out, like gentle cries, he put away the instrument. "Stain already told you I am no mage." His statement almost seemed like a question.
"Yes sir." I replied quickly.
He nodded, "That is true. I hold no power over magic. However, I know of many things. Times are changing. Things are building far and near. Evil will once more rear it's head and attempt to swallow us whole." He looked out into the darkness. "You will learn many things. However, the things you must remember. The things you must use to win free of this coming evil you already know. It is not any ability or skill that will save you in the most perilous times." His gaze dropped to me, staring deep into me, searing my very essence with his eyes. "You will have to be strong. Remember who you are. That is what will give you the strength to win through to the other side."
"What do you mean?" I was troubled by his wisdom.
"What I mean is plainly said. You will understand someday, more than likely someday soon. However, that is all that I can tell you." He leaned forward. "What can you tell me? How is the world beyond the bowl turning?"
We sat f
or a long time talking of how things progressed away from this beautiful site. He asked after cities and places that we had visited. As I described our travels he laughed and enjoyed each tale.
When I reached the end of my tale he stood. "Thank you for that Ott. You have allowed me to see your life, if only a small slice. It does an old hermit so much good to live a small moment of your life." He turned away from the fire and walked towards the darkness. Stopping just shy of the shadows he turned back. "A reward for having shared so much with an old crazy man." He tossed the whistle towards me. It arched over the fire and into my hand. It was much heavier than I would have thought. "Learn to play it well. There is no other like it in the world." I looked up and he stepped into the shadows, disappearing
I held up the whistle and realized that it was decorated with ornate symbols and images. It seemed to be some form of metal wrapped around wood or a similar substance. I raised it to my lips and blew gently. A soft sigh rang out, barely loud enough to be heard. Smiling I looked up at the stars. The moon had settled far behind the bow's edge, it was almost time to wake up Conium and for me to get a little more sleep.
"Anything out of the ordinary?" Conium asked when I woke her up for her watch.
I told her about the old hermit and she smiled. "That crazy old man. He does enjoy his theatrics." She sent me off to sleep while she put some more wood onto the fire.
Laying down I thought about what all the old hermit had said. In my dreams I once again heard the whistle crying across the campfire.
* * *
"Well, today we break from the well traveled path." Stain pointed off to the side of the main path. A second path, more overgrown and narrower, headed away from us. "Let's get going." He put his words to actions and headed down this smaller path. We all followed. The path entered the woods and arced upwards through the trees towards the side of the bowl. We walked a ways before the path dead ended in a clearing. In the center of the clearing a large boulder rose up out of the ground.
"Well, did we take a wrong turn?" Evins called out.
Stain shook his head, "Not at all. This is the entrance. Follow me." He walked around the backside of the boulder. A large opening was carved into the rear of the boulder. The path slanted down into the boulder's opening. Stain stopped and pointed. "This is a unique entrance. It is a slide. You can only enter here. The exit is at another location. Each individual must enter separately with enough room so that we can travel safely. Count to ten before following the person before you." Pointing at Tag and Evins he stated. "You two first. Tag lead since you know your way. I will bring up the rear." Tag walked up to the opening and through. He suddenly slid out of sight. Evins walked up and waited. "Now. Go ahead Evins." Evins slid into the opening and slid out of sight. Stain looked around. "Conium, next. Then Raven and finally Ott. I will follow." We all lined up and took our turn entering the boulder. As I stood counting I could see Raven sliding down into the earth. A large rock slide seemed to stretch far out of sight, deep into gloom. "Ott, time to go. Just relax and enjoy the ride." Stain pushed me gently forward when I hesitated.
I stepped across the opening and sat down on the edge of the slide. The surface was polished like a gem, smooth and cool to the touch. Pushing off I started to slide downwards. I picked up speed as I headed downwards. The slide was massive, Tag must have had plenty of space around him. My speed grew until the air whipped past my fast like a storm. I could feel the slide tilt slightly and realized that I was entering a set of turns. My speed slowed slightly as I made the turns. Coming out of the last turn I entered another long stretch. I could hear Raven far below me, yelling in excitement. At the end of this section of slide it once again turned, however it kept turning, like a spiral. The turns of the spiral grew larger and larger, slowing me down. I entered another long slide and then another spiral. By now I knew we were deep into the earth and the rock had warmed beneath me. As I exited this last spiral the roof of the slide rose high overhead and I slid into a large depression that was filled with soft cushions. Coming to a stop I looked around.
"Hop out of the way Ott." Raven's voice was cheerful. She must have enjoyed her ride down.
I looked around and saw a group of armed men off to the side. The rest of our group had climbed out of the depression and were waiting patiently. I climbed up just in time. Stain came zipping into the depression with a whoop.
"I love that entrance." He exclaimed as he hopped up out of the cushions. He looked around. "Everyone make it in one piece?"
We all laughed and nodded.
"Well good. Shall we continue?" Stain had straightened his robes and walked over to the group of men. "Well, take us to your leader."
One of the men stepped forward. "Who are you who dare's order the guardians of fire?" This man's armor was covered with little carvings of flames and had been painted in all sorts of reds, oranges, and yellows. A large X rested on his shoulder. The rest of the men had similar armor but with bars on the shoulder.
Stain rolled his eyes. "I am Stain. Now, let's get moving."
The soldier stared hard at Stain. "No. Not till I get different orders. We all stay right here."
Stain stood up straight and walked right up to the soldier. "I am ordering you to take us to Gias. Now."
"You are not my commander." The soldier stepped back and pulled his sword.
Stain looked furious, "Obviously you do not know who I am." He reached into his robes and pulled out a pendant that hung around his neck. He held it forward so that the guard could see it clearly. The guard sheathed his sword and casually grabbed the pendant. He looked closely at it and his face turned ashen. Releasing the pendant like it had suddenly burst into flames he jumped backwards.
"Take Lord Stain to Gias. Immediately" The soldier turned and ordered one of the men.
The men all looked very confused, yet the soldier singled out stepped forward. "This way sir. I know he happens to be enjoying the hot baths this time of day." He motioned to another guard. "Perhaps your companions can wait at some visitors quarters? This man will lead them."
"Feel free to take my pack animals. My companions accompany me." Stain's tone brooked no argument. "And they need to go to the King's quarters."
All the men's faces registered surprise. They looked to the commander who simply nodded.
The soldier regained his composure, "Very well sir. This way please." The young soldier led the way through an opening. Tag and Evins splitting off down another tunnel. "It is quite a walk, but I do know a few shortcuts. We should get there in just a few moments."
Stain had simmered down slightly. "Good. We have pressing matters to discuss."
We walked down corridors, taking turns seemingly at random. Strange markings at each intersection seemed to have some form of meaning. I could see a soft, fire like glow down some tunnels. We eventually entered a massive cavern. We all stopped and stared. The roof was high above us. So high in fact that I could not distinguish how far it was. Smoke rose from many areas and wafted up to the roof, giving the appearance of dark clouds. Looking around I realized that the light was not fires at all. There was a river of fire cutting through the center of the cavern. This river flowed slow and thick. A shimmer rose above the river. A great heat could be felt.
Stain looked back over his shoulder, "Welcome to Hearthstone Heart. The foremost community dedicated to fire magic." He was enjoying our shock and amazement.
"Sir, if we could continue?" The young soldier prompted
We all followed along as he led us to the side of the cavern. This side of the cavern had steam drifting up from many pools. I could see that the water flowed down from high up in the wall. It trickled slowly into the topmost pool and slowly bubbled down to the lowest pool. Many people sat in the pools. The soldier led us off to one side.
"Gias has his own pool so that he may relax in peace. If he soaked with everyone else they would pester him constantly." We stepped through a hole cut into the wall beside the lowermost pool. A stairway ha
d been carved out of the stone. At the top a room with a large pool resided. A single man sat deep in the pool. Only his face above water, seemingly asleep.
"Who dares to disturb me while I soak?" The man called out, annoyed.
"I dare, you old goat!" Stain cried out and dropped a ball of magic energy into the pool.
The man yelped and jumped upwards as the water suddenly cooled to almost freezing for just a moment. He looked at Stain in astonishment. "Old goat? I would think that is what I could call you." The water started to heat back up and he settled back down into the water. "I always hated when you chilled my water. Even when I was younger." He looked at the guard. "Guard the entrance to this room. I am sure that our guests will want some privacy." The guard walked back down the steps as Gias adjusted his garments. "What brings you to our depths Stain? I cannot imagine this is a social visit."
Stain sat on a stool and outlined all the events leading up to our arrival. Gias asked questions occasionally, but overall simply listened.
"Well, that is quite a story. It sounds as if we need to be preparing for war." Gias stood up and looked at me. "I guess you came here so that we can help your young apprentice learn how to control his fire magic?"
Stain grinned, "You guess correctly. I could train him, however I feel that he would be best served by going through your training school. If at an accelerated pace."
"How much accelerated?" Gias queried.
"What is the average time for a student now?" Stain countered.
Gias thought for a moment, "For complete mastery it is about four years. Just the basics is about half a year. After that it is all about specialization and honing."
Stain thought a moment. "I believe we can spare six weeks."
Gias looked at Stain and shook his head, "I do not think it can be done. Even with such an apprentice."
Stain smiled, "But you will have two that you will be teaching. Raven will learn all that Ott does. And you must do your best to do it in those six weeks. We have no other choice. They will have almost no other duties other than your course."
A Deepening Knowledge (A Life of Magic) Page 23