by Ed Montalvo
“I see,” he nodded knowingly.
Dregous studied the door intensely. He ignored any who spoke to him. Tuke wondered, if he felt alone, why shut everyone out?
The princess offered him a body rub. She flushed when he absentmindedly agreed. Rem offered one in the nude, nothing.
“That was cruel,” Tatiana uttered.
Seeker chuckled, Tuke looked at her, “What?” she whispered shrugging her shoulders. “It was amusing.”
Dregous observed the door then reached for the dust on the floor and touched it. It was consistently smooth. The obvious suddenly jumped up at him. The door swing didn’t match the dust pattern. There was an indentation on the dust trail. He brushed it aside revealing a small section of track cable running under the tile. The door pushed the excess stone dust away, forming the door swing and made the track look like grout lines. The minor discovery strengthened his resolve. He got on four blowing the dust exposing a set of tracks with steel cables. The group looked at Dregous wondering what he was doing. Seeker realized and joined him.
She checked the other side and found the same. Both cables ran under the tiles. He reached into his robes and pulled out his wand. Seeker used her dagger.
“Woo, what are you doing?” Rem declared then saw Seeker doing the same.
“Dregous…,” Tatiana looked between him and the wand then glanced at Seeker.
His white hair hung over his shoulders, a few strayed locks dangled over his inky black cheeks and his wild white eyes silenced them. Rem stepped back. Seeker continued tapping tiles. Tatiana realized what they were doing and knelt beside him.
Dregous replaced his wand for his long dagger and mimicked Seeker to where the cable disappeared. It rang hollow. Then randomly tapped other tiles. Unsatisfied, he tapped the first again, revealing a clear hollow ring and returned to the second, it was solid.
“Dregous, what is it? Tatiana asked.
“This one goes this way,” Seeker informed as she stood.
“Tracing the cable,” he followed the hollow tiles to the opposite wall and looked back.
“Is it a way out?” Tatiana asked softly.
“It is time we leave,” Dregous glanced. “…by the way, how much is here?” he inquired.
Rem raised an eyebrow looking between them, “Two days… and now you ask?”
The prince glanced at them, “The times you did say something, is when we wondered how long it has been. You sign, and Seeker translated. You had…” Tatiana started.
Rem cut in, “She was worried… they all were. I…, I have to admit, you had me on edge,” Rem confessed. The princess gave Rem a side long look.
“Apologies, when I am deep in thought, I lose myself,” he treaded carefully before Seeker, masking his deception with truth.
“What if something happened while you… you are like that, then what,” Tatiana asked.
“I was not concerned.”
Rem waved his arms, “What do you mean not concerned…, are you some sort of super Drouwen?” he annoyed Seeker.
Tatiana gave Rem a corky look, “Explain.”
“Because, you are with me,” Dregous said confidently, looking between them. Tatiana smiled inwardly. Tuke grinned widely.
“Very well, let us get out of… this…” Rem looked around, “…wizards chamber… vault place, thing,” he trailed off, unsure what to call their sanctuary.
Dregous pulled away from Tatiana’s hypnotic gaze. Seeker briefly explained the cables function. One opens and closes the door; the other resets something. They didn’t know which was which.
They tallied a hefty list of thousands in gold, silver and copper coins. Some jeweled necklaces, bracelets, anklets, a few headdresses, rings, swords, three suits of armor, a few pairs of soft leather boots, over a dozen assorted gems, spools of silk, an ink well, a staff….
“Staff…?” Dregous interrupted.
“This one here,” Tatiana pointed.
Dregous approached the item, “Most excellent,” and studied the staff, then picked it up.
“Do you not want to know the total?”
“This first,” he smiled slightly as he raised it.
Seeker chimed, “There are other magical items.”
“But she could not identify them,” Rem threw in. “I thought you had competition…, I was wrong,” he teased.
“Rem, please,” Tuke pleaded. Seeker gave him a side long look with a sign.
Tuke addressed her, “What was that?” he whispered.
“Something unpleasant,” she muttered back. He mouthed O, slightly nodding.
Dregous addressed the group, “Before proceeding I need to know the staff’s function.”
“Why?” Rem inquired.
“I will answer the question with a question… Does anyone here know how to use it?”
“No, but we have not divvied anything,” Rem rebutted.
“Then you prefer gambling and pray it does not kill us… or worse?” Dregous stared.
“Um, No, not so much… let us go with your first option…, wait, worse?” he looked at the others.
“There are far worse things than death,” Dregous said solemnly, pushing away any negative thoughts.
Seeker addressed Rem, “Good choice,” she replied as Dregous inspected the staff.
“Of course, it is the logical thing to do,” Rem shrugged his shoulders as he gave Seeker a quirky look.
“That is my point,” he pulled from his pack the mortar and pestle. “…if I may, it is logical it would befall as my share.”
Seeker offered some gems from the treasury, “They are quite valuable.”
Dregous was impressed, “It is worth it…, magical staffs’ are rare.” He handed Tuke a gem wrapped in leather.
Tuke shattered the stone, “How rare.”
“If in the next three generations you have been actively searching, your grandchildren may find one near the end of their life time,” then Dregous ground it to dust while reciting the incantation.
“Woo, that is rare,” Tatiana whispered. The others had similar reaction.
He rubbed the gem dust on the staff while reciting. Moments later he saw energy swirl, forming a mist around him. It obscured his normal vision opening his third eye. The staff revealed images of the bloodline of spiders, fire, lighting, solids turning into liquids, a protection and an aggressive energy field. He stopped when he detected the power of matter.
The power the staff possessed was alluring and could make any mage feel omnipotent. A morally bankrupt wizard could play god. The staff draws energy from the wheeler to complete its designed function. Dregous slowly pulled away from the misty energy, centered and grounded himself by releasing the forces. His inner eye relinquished control to his physical eyes and drew a wolfish grin.
“He is smiling,” Seeker announced.
“That is a good thing, I take it?” Tuke said.
“May haps so, but it is making me feel creepy,” Rem commented.
Tatiana stepped beside Rem, “Big baby,” she whispered with a smile. Rem replied with a sidelong look.
Dregous raised a finger holding their silence then placed his hand on the stone door. He closed his eyes recalling the command word. He whispered the first, nothing, uttered the second activating the function. The staff hummed in his hand. The terrible power was a tantalizing seductive lure whispering to his subconscious, promises of greater power. Provocative flames danced and beckoned him to join its’ hypnotic corrupt embrace. The power of the staff was heavy but refused her temptation to indulge himself in the recklessness of omnipotent ecstasy.
Dregous had no love for power, only the desire to learn. Transient magical supremacy, has led many mages to their deaths. True power is knowledge, understanding, the willing of, and the wisdom to draw upon. That was the secret his father revealed at an early age. He could feel the strength of the staff bridging the physical and the raw energy of the cosmos into the pre–designed will of the device. A hole began forming on the stone ap
pearing as if an unseen corrosion devoured it.
“Woo, how the…” Rem’s jaw dropped.
Amazed, “How did you do that?” Tatiana asked.
“The staff lends me the power by drawing from me,” he answered with a glint in his eye.
“That is fantastic,” Tuke commented.
“Come, we have little time. Pack as much as we can carry,” he retrieved his pack.
“What of you?” Rem looked at him. “You should not carry.”
“What do you mean?” Tatiana stepped in.
“He does have a point,” Tuke added as the others looked at him.
“You heard what he said. The staff draws from him…” Rem started.
Seeker cut in, “What are you saying.”
“I am saying, he should not push himself. You know what happened by the barracks,” Rem looked at Tatiana. “You know that better than anyone.”
Tatiana felt ashamed, “He is right…. You cannot push yourself. You are far more important to me,” she quickly corrected, “Us!” blinked rapidly, “We will take only what we can carry,” and discretely sighed.
He glanced at her, “I am well rested… besides you will need help to carry the rest,” he pulled out a small disk from his pocket and calculated how much he could haul. The look in his eyes told her he wasn’t backing down.
“Do not push yourself,” she stated firmly.
“Dregous do not do this,” Rem said.
“My help is required.”
“If you say so…, though I doubt you can carry much,” he rebuked, hoping by insulting him, Dregous would back down.
No one gave Rem’s comment a second thought. Tatiana smiled, “He can,” she and Tuke stacked the chests.
“That is not possible…,” Tuke commented and looked at Seeker, “Is it?”
“Even with his magic, I doubt it. Besides, how is he getting past the opening?” Rem argued.
“Would you wager?” Dregous asked.
“That is a sure win for me.”
“Should I win, I would claim your share of the jewels and gems.”
Rem rubbed his chin, “Only the jewels and gems, no magical items or coins?” Tuke motioned, seeker shook her head. He glanced at her curiously as she gently shushed him.
“Only the gems and jewels… and of course items only for mages.”
Rem thought a moment, “Very well. If I win I get your share, including the items….”
“Do not do it,” Tatiana warned.
“Why not?” Rem asked.
“Done,” Dregous agreed.
“I warned you,” Tatiana flung her pack over her shoulder and walked through the opening.
“Well then demigod, dazzle me,” Rem said smoothly.
“Is this safe to cross?” Tatiana took a long step past the opening, she was half way through.
“It is.”
“Because you will lose.” Tatiana answered.
“Did it occur I may win?” Rem replied.
She shook her head slightly with puckered lips, “No.”
“I think this may prove interesting,” Tuke commented.
“Your reasoning is sound. However, you fail to see many of life’s situations have more than one solution,” Dregous stated. Rem groaned, wondering what he meant. He looked back at his Angel, and paused, “The corridor…, No,” Tatiana hopped back in. Her reaction made him chuckle. Her eyes narrowed as Dregous tried to explain. The others gently giggled.
“You will pay for that dearie,” she warned playfully as she stepped out again by the mouth of the opening.
“Forgive me Angel, I meant no jest…, though it was humorous,” Dregous said.
Tatiana felt a slight uneven depression underfoot, followed by a cool draft. Bewildered, she glanced stepping through again. Dregous and Seeker faces grew blank, as they sensed immediate danger. The princess felt the draft increase. It was a clear breeze growing stronger. The Drouwen’s felt a great pressure difference.
“Odd…, a breeze…” Tatiana started. Dregous and Seeker immediately grabbed the princess’s arms. Seeker used the wall for leverage as she pulled her in. Dregous used the narrow jam, pulled her then slipped.
“No!” Seeker shouted as she helped him back in. Dregous barely evaded the massive stone with her aid. A lock of his hair was cut as the block slid past. The pressure pushed the three back in the room followed by a violent boom.
Tuke and Rem managed to catch Dregous. The pressure knocked everyone to the floor. Tuke was the first to stand, “What in the heavens was that?” as he pulled Dregous to his feet.
Seeker and Rem aided the princess. The pressure disorientated her due to her sensitive ears. “Tati-ana?” She over pronounced. “Are you hurt?” she examined her, “Tuke, the princess.”
Tuke glanced, “Set her down.”
“How bad is she?” Dregous asked.
“I do not know…,” Tuke examined her and found one ear red, the other with a bit of blood. He prayed upon divine guidance to heal her. Her disorientation subsided, “How do you feel?”
Tatiana glanced at Tuke, nodding, “Better, my gratitude,” then saw the pain on Dregous’s eyes.
“Angel… I,” the prince shook his head slightly with guilt, “…did not mean,” he paused. Seeker masked her surprise. There was something about the Ducal prince that instilled her with fear, though drawn to him.
Rem steadied Dregous, “No one blames you.” Then stepped to the doorway. It was blocked by stone, “Well this is unpleasant.”
“That stone must have shaken the mountainside,” Seeker commented.
“That is certain,” Tuke added. They gathered their booty.
“Are we still able to leave?” Rem added.
Tatiana stood and addressed the mage, “Are we?” she asked gently.
Heavy hearted, Dregous nodded then reviewed his map and calculated the distance of corridors and the depth of the sub-maze. He then recited the disk spell, it grew shy of the opening. They piled the strong boxes on the disk. He stuffed more between the chests. They split the suits of armor among themselves.
The mage guided the disk to the opening and used his new staff to create another breach on the block. The tunnel was accommodating but confining.
“They could follow.” Rem stated.
“By the time the stone resets the tunnel will close,” Dregous answered.
“Is there any way of knowing what is ahead?” Rem asked.
“No,” Dregous replied.
“I fear you would say that,” Rem shook his head, “Might as well be ready,” he drew his sword.
Tatiana felt guilty Dregous blamed himself, then drew her sword. They traveled slightly up as the stone peeled away revealing a corner corridor they almost missed. Rem hopped out followed by Tatiana and Tuke. The hall was empty. Seeker assisted Dregous with the disk. The princess looked thrilled to exit the tunnel. He reviewed his map and pointed.
“This place looks empty,” Rem announced.
“Lax not,” Tatiana stated, scanning both ends, “Someone always remains.”
“I hope you are wrong,” Rem said.
“As am I,” she confessed, they took point.
“We should cross the main corridor shortly.” Dregous commented.
“Are you sure?” Tatiana glanced back.
“No…, but confident.”
“Let us keep moving,” Tatiana looked at the walls and ceiling. She couldn’t wait to see sky again. Hiding her fear of enclosed places began taking its toll. Apprehension took root. Every sound grabbed her attention. She struggled to stay in pace with the others. Dregous noted her behavior since leaving the mages chamber. It wounded him he assisted in enduring her fear longer than expected. Tuke stood in pace with the princess while he hummed a lovely tune to keep her mind off her fear. The princess would glance at him periodically and smile. She was grateful for the priest’s understanding.
They heard talking ahead as they reached the mages chamber. Tuke cast a divine silence to pass undetected.
A few meters led to a T intersection. To the left was the four–way intersection of the barracks. Dregous referred his map, then pointed right.
Their retreat ended abruptly. The clattering of armor from a large group announced their return. They hurried back to the mages chamber.
The clerical divine silence was still active. They surprised the goblins within. Seeker silenced one while Rem and Tatiana made quick work of the rest. “Seal the door,” Rem said.
“I do not wish to arouse suspicion.”
“Good point…, it is about time you started using your head,” Rem teased as he grabbed a body.
He ignored him as the others piled the corpse’s and used his staff to open the stone floor. “…Final rights?” Dregous addressed Tuke. The priest said a quick prayer. The prince’s growing disregard for life concerned Tatiana. He cast an opening spell to remove the seal he placed earlier.
Seeker pulled the cable opening the concealed door, Rem took point as they followed. Dregous realized they were fortunate no one saw the cable. He turned the tile to mud using his staff, sealed the hole then solidifying it before entering the sub-maze and resealed the door.
Rem heard marching down the sub-maze, “We have company,” he whispered.
“They come,” Tatiana whispered on.
“Hopefully it will be a small group,” Tuke prayed.
“It only takes one to alert the others,” Tatiana uttered.
“Then we disabled them all,” Dregous squeezed passed the group, and positioned himself on one knee to wait. He signed Seeker to make it dark.
Angelique whispered, “It is going to get darker,” she focused and summoned a darkness.
“Wow, this is creepy,” Rem commented. Someone shushed him, he figured it was Tatiana. Tuke didn’t think it could get darker.
Dregous ensured they all turned the corner. They were less than two meters from him when he uttered the command word that unleashed lightening. The crooked bolt extended from the staff’s crown down the passageway. The rogue mage closed his eyes hating himself. Their agonizing wails ached him. The party couldn’t see, but the horrible wailing was nerve racking. “Quickly, we have little time,” Dregous warned. Seeker led them through the darkness and passed the bodies.
Rem looked between them and Dregous as he squeezed through. The Half-Elf thought that night they met he looked menacing. The look on the Drouwen’s face was frightening. Did the witch have anything to do with it, Rem wondered. He couldn’t imagine what Tatiana was thinking.