by Dan Zangari
In response to the Premier General’s address many of the soldiers remove their helmets while the masked commander turns around and walks to Dorith’s side.
“They’re ready my friend.”
“Are you sure you won’t join us?” Dorith asks.
“I have business to attend to here in the capital,” the Premier General says and puts his hand on Dorith’s shoulder. “But perhaps I will when you seek out the abalimyr. I still have a score to settle with him.”
“I will remember that,” Dorith smiles and walks toward the assembly of guardsmen, with the seven Sorothians behind him.
“Guardsmen, clear a path to the center!” Dorith shouts and every guard moves in unison, their armor loudly ringing through the courtyard.
Dorith steps through the narrow aisle and once at the center turns to face Brandir and Kilian.
“Put one hand on my shoulder and the other upon the guard closest you. Captains, grab hold of the guard nearest you.”
The men from Soroth do as the grandmaster of the Estate instructs and Dorith utters the words to a spell while clutching the rogulin sphere with both of his hands.
Golden light glows from the polished rogulin and in an instant the magic bursts in a blinding wave from the sphere in Dorith’s hands. It spreads across the courtyard, engulfing the brigade of Kingdom Guardsmen then quickly rushes back toward the grandmaster of the Estate, causing the massive gathering to vanish from sight.
* * * * *
An hour later, Dorith and the seven Sorothians walk through the large doors which lead into the southern foyer of the Estate’s Main Hall.
Dorith strides at their head and toward the center of the enormous welcoming chamber where the surviving members of the Estate’s council are waiting; Almar, Thranar, Mathal, Nemmerin, Fren, Callun, Grensil and Bradeth are dressed in the robes of the schools they represent. All are standing in a casual manner except the latter, who is leaning against a simple crutch under his left arm.
“Brethren,” Dorith addresses the eight other mages as he nears them, “This is Admiral Kilian, commander of the Sorothian Naval forces, Captains Neldara, Rildus, Ostier, Jurodeth, Cilgath and Discerner Brandir. They were detained in Los but after petitioning His Majesty I was able to release them. Admiral Kilian and his forces will be supporting us in our efforts to apprehend Cornar.”
“I wish to extend our apologies,” Nemmerin speaks up and bows toward the seven Sorothians, “For your wrongful imprisonment.”
“Iltar is to blame,” Discerner Brandir speaks up then looks toward Almar who is standing on the far right of the clusters of council mages, “And you must be the necromancer’s brother.”
“I am,” Almar answers in a solemn tone.
“The resemblance is uncanny,” Admiral Kilian remarks.
“Yes. But our features are the only commonality we share,” Almar’s features twist with a sense of sorrow mingled with disgust as he steps to the forefront of the mages. “How much of your forces are you able to commit to this search?”
“My entire fleet,” Kilian responds in a formal tone, “We are already in pursuit of the fugitives you are searching for. As Grandmaster Dorith has pointed out, it would be most beneficial to mingle our forces. We are also without mages and perhaps we can come to an agreement to receive some of your magic wielders on loan.”
“That is something we can discuss,” Almar nods his head.
“Shall we move this convention to the council chambers?” Thranar asks in a stern tone. “We can further discuss this while we wait for the leaders of our search parties to arrive.”
“Very well,” Dorith nods his head motions toward the northern side of the foyer but as he does he hears the calling out of his name from his right.
“Uncle Dorith!” Alnese shouts in a frazzled tone from near the corridor leading to the private offices of the council members, “I need to speak with you; it is an urgent matter.”
Dorith narrows his eyes at Alnese then turns back to the others, “Begin without me. Admiral Kilian, captains, Discerner Brandir, please follow Almar.”
The Sorothians silently nod their heads in response and follow the other council mages as they move across the foyer while Dorith walks toward Alnese. Faint chatter between the Sorothians and the council mages can briefly be heard as the grandmaster reaches Alnese’s side at the mouth of the corridor.
“In your office,” Alnese calmly whispers, her demeanor strikingly changed from her beckoning, “I doubt you want anyone else to here this.”
“Does it concern the Ma’lisha?” Dorith asks as they walk down the hallway to his office.
“No.”
Disturbed by his granddaughter’s answer, Dorith continues walking toward the door of his office. Both he and Alnese quietly step into the private chambers and the grandmaster shuts the door behind him as well as turning a knob on its handle to lock it.
“Two others besides Zanxsthy’ll, Balden and the Urima’sha were in the trans-tubes.”
“Who?!” Dorith alarmingly asks and paces within the room as Alnese continues.
“I heard the name of only one from the viewings, Hagen. However, after listening to their conversations I feel the other was Cornar. They were under illusions though, and did not look anything like their true forms.”
“I don’t understand,” Dorith shakes his head and he quickens his pacing, “How did they know how to access the trans-tubes? I sealed them with the draconic tongue almost a mil–”
“From the Urima’sha,” Alnese interrupts, “Their conversation throughout their exploration of the terminal eluded that somehow Cornar and Hagen saw them; not only that, they specifically recalled having heard them talking about someone they were pursuing.”
“Those fools!” Dorith growls and abruptly stops his pacing. He takes a deep breath and rubs his forehead.
“It seems that dwelling in caves within the northern wastes has dulled their senses and abilities,” Alnese says with a taint of sarcasm then continues in a more serious tone. “This happened the night before Iltar’s trial, and they slept there until the morning when they left, just before dawn. They didn’t return to the trans-tubes until several hours after the trial had ended. They exited out of the Farmlands access as we were having dinner; Zanxsthy’ll and Balden barely missed them.”
Appalled by the news from Alnese, Dorith shakes his head in disgust. He slowly walks toward the lounge chair in the corner opposite the doorway and plops down on it. After a moment he speaks up, “And what made you want to look at the viewings?”
“The Urima’sha approached Aunty and myself. She was goading them by referring to their sloppiness in searching the ancient world when they eluded they were clueless concerning the activation of the trans-tubes.”
“Cornar is more clever than I first supposed; he and Hagen must have been the ones searching the library.”
“What do you mean?” Alnese asks in a puzzled tone.
“The morning we left to deliver Iltar to the prison castle I received a letter of response from the head librarian in the historic district,” Dorith sighs briefly, “She described two men that were traveling back home to Kildath who had not heard of
“Then you were right,” Alnese mutters, “They will try to free Iltar. Although I don’t see how…”
“I need to get back to the others,” Dorith says as he regains his composure and rises to his feet. “Are you among the leaders of the search parties?”
“No,” Alnese shakes her head, “I wasn’t asked. I suppose Almar assumed I would be busy with Desnia’s baby. Why?”
“We need to search places that have been long forgotten and forbidden,” Dorith answers in a frank tone. “I wonder if they could have gone into the forest.”
“No one has ventured into Melar for
hundreds of years,” Alnese says and puts her hands on her hips, “Do you really think Cornar would attempt to brave it?”
“Their sense of adventure seems to have no bounds,” Dorith retorts.
“I take it that is your giving permission to enter Melar?”
“Yes,” Dorith grins and motions for Alnese to come closer and as she does he wraps an arm around her shoulders. “Go to the Aquinn Grove and start your search there. But first, come with me. I want you to hear what Almar has planned. Then you can organize the others.”
“As you wish grandfather,” Alnese smiles as she looks to Dorith.
7
Into the Forest
Seven days earlier on a cloudy evening, golden magical light gathers within a small clearing amid a dense temperate woodland in the form of a growing ovoid; within it are two figures, one tall and the other short. After a brief moment, the magic quickly collapses upon itself, completely revealing Cornar and Hagen.
“Uh,” Hagen mutters as he frantically looks around, “Why are we in the forest?”
“I don’t kno–”
Cornar is interrupted by a whistling sound which rises in pitch then drops to a low tone and back to its initial pitch.
A smile forms upon the aged warrior’s face as he looks to the short illusionist near him, then responds in a similar whistling pattern.
“Cor,” Kalder calls out from a tree behind the two returning companions. “I’m glad you’re safe.”
“Likewise Kalder,” Cornar turns around and watches as the middle-aged warrior steps out from behind the trees and into the small clearing. “What’s going on? And where are we?”
“Tilthan and Nemral returned,” Kalder states, “They arrived four days ago and told us what happened in Alath. We decided to make our way into the forest by a northeast heading, just in case anyone else was coming on horseback to Klath.”
“You did the right thing,” Cornar sighs, “There was an army of several thousand riding south upon the highway while we were traveling to Alath; it was comprised of mages and members of the Kingdom Guard.”
“Then Tilthan was right,” Kalder nods his head, “They must have captured Nath.”
“B-but why the forest?” Hagen sputters, “Didn’t Amendal say there were monsters in here? Gango-what’s-its?”
“Gangolins,” an aged voice cackles further behind the trees. After a moment the old conjurer steps into the clearing and looks to both Cornar and Hagen. “I brought us into the forest because it’s safe here.”
“Safe?!” Hagen blurts out and frantically puts his hands upon his head, “No…”
“What else did Tilthan have to say?” Cornar asks, “Did they find the activating scroll in Alath?”
“Yes they did,” Kalder answers, “Amendal has Iltar’s pack; it looks like it was severed. They said they saw him attempting to scale the walls of Alath’s inner city when that barsion magic went up. But that’s not all, they brought someone with them, Nemral’s cousin.”
“What?” Cornar asks with a worried expression across his face, “Can he be trusted?”
“Yes,” Kalder answers, “Amendal, Hex and myself spoke with her. We made it very clear that we would kill her if she attempted to double cross us; I’m sure that’s what you would have wanted.”
“And Iltar too,” Hagen pipes up and folds his arms.
Chuckling slightly and shaking his head, Cornar says, “I suppose we can use all the help we can get.”
“What do you mean?” Amendal retorts and dramatically leans backward while folding his arms.
“Iltar was sentenced to the Prison Castle of Los,” Cornar replies, “And it’s not going to be easy to get him out.
“Now,” the aged warrior changes the direction of the conversation, “What were you planning on doing by coming into the forest?”
“Initially, it was just to hide,” Kalder answers, “We pushed our way through the forest until earlier today and set up camp not far from here.
“Tilthan has been going on the last few days about going to Arbath to find some friend of his named Demitru. He’s determined to go back to the White Duchess, grab his treasure and make his way there on the southern highway.”
“That’s not going to work,” Cornar states then looks around the clearing, “Where is the camp? We need to figure out what we are going to do; I have a plan to free Iltar but it is going to require a lot of time.”
“That way,” Kalder motions over his left shoulder.
The four companions make their way through the lush trees and come to a camp set up amid the dense foliage: Tents are positioned in a circle between the trees, all facing each other. Several of the warriors and mages are quietly conversing around a small fire close to the tents nearest the direction from where Cornar and the others are approaching.
“Cor’s back!” Kalder calls out as he passes by one of the tents and into the center of the camp. “We need to hold a council, everyone out of your tents!”
A brief moment passes when all nineteen members of the expedition, as well as Nemral’s cousin, are out of their tents and gathered near the fire; many of them have intrigued expressions about their faces, anxiously awaiting to hear from their leader.
“Iltar was sentenced to live out the remainder of his days in Los’s prison castle,” Cornar states as he looks at each of the men and women. “We’re going to free him, but first we need to decide where we can go.”
Tilthan clears his throat, and the leading warrior looks directly at the thief.
“We should go to Arbath,” Tilthan states, “We’re not far from the southern highway. We can make it there in several weeks.”
“Nope,” Hagen sighs and shakes his head, “The mages know what we look like; there are wanted posters everywhere.”
“How?!” Nilia gasps while others in the party voice similar responses.
“I don’t know,” Cornar answers, “But perhaps Nath was captured and divulged information about us. But the mage we dealt with knew who I was, I assume he recognized me by my weapons. I suppose Iltar used me in part of his lie he gave the mages.”
“Why would he do that?” Hem innocently asks, “And why was he in Alath?”
Cornar takes in a deep breath as he looks at each of the men and women, many of whom are just as perplexed as Hagen’s apprentice. After a moment the warrior speaks up, “The mages had something we needed to further this adventure; Iltar was planning on going to Alath alone in order to furtively secure it. He has a half brother who lives there, and we learned at Iltar’s trial that Almar is a member of the ruling council of mages. A relation Iltar exploited but ultimately rebounded adversely and resulted in his capture.”
“I guess this adventure is at a close then,” Demsal speaks up, “Since we don’t have what Iltar was after.”
“No,” Cornar answers, “We have it. Tilthan and Nemral were able to get it out of the city.”
“So, why don’t we just finish the amulet?” Tilthan frankly asks, “We’ll use those crimson beasts to destroy the prison and free Iltar.”
“What amulet?” Menal asks from the far end of the camp while leaning against his elven fanisar.
“Crimson beasts?” Hem queries in perplexity.
“What are you talking about Tilthan?” Sharon asks, with her arms wrapped around her lover, Ordreth, who is quizzically gazing at the masterful thief.
As several others in the company voice similar queries to Tilthan, Cornar and the more senior mages look at each other with concerned expressions upon their faces. Each of them reflect what they are thinking: tell the others what their journey is truly about.
“Everyone, silence!” Cornar shouts and the questions abruptly cease, “Only a few of us have known the complete details about this adventure; we have been on a quest to re-forge an ancient power from the fabled ‘dragon wars’, one which can control red dragons.
“And we’re not going to complete the amulet, Iltar would not be pleased. Besides, we don’t need to destro
y the prison. All we need to do is infiltrate it and find a way to smuggle in a rogulin crystal.”
“Iltar is most likely in the Mage-Block,” Nordal speaks up, “I’ve heard stories that you can’t use magic in there.”
“And we confirmed that,” Hagen shakes his head and folds his arms.
“I found a tale which spoke about someone infiltrating the prison and killing one of its prisoners with magic,” Cornar speaks up, “Perhaps we can find a way to nullify whatever is preventing the casting of spells.
“I was going over a broad plan as Hagen and myself were leaving Alath’s inner city. It is quite simple: I need to join the Kingdom Guard, get stationed at the prison, then smuggle both the nullifier and a rogulin crystal inside. Once I can get to Iltar we will simply open a portal and leave.”
“I don’t see how that’s going to happen,” Tilthan retorts then looks at Nemral, “We might as well get our loot on the White Duchess and forget this entire thing.”
“Tilthan has a point,” a woman unknown to Cornar speaks up and steps across the camp. She is middle-aged, of a slender build and stands at average height with long black hair and fair freckled skin. Her deep set blue eyes study the leading warrior and as she gets closer she gracefully bows.
“My name is Dendra. I used to be a member of the Frontier Guard in Klath. Becoming a part of the Kingdom Guard won’t be easy, especially if what you say is true, and the Mages of Alath are hunting us.”
“Do you care to elaborate?” Cornar asks with a furrowed brow.
“You will have to prove your citizenship in the Kingdom,” Dendra answers and shakes her head, “Unless there is a way you can forge a document like that, you won’t be getting anywhere near the Castle. But that’s only the beginning; there are other challenges, especially if they’re hunting us.
“I would imagine that you would have to completely change your appearance, but I don’t know of any way to permanently do that.”