Ramanthus spent a few hours at the home he had inherited from his master. He wanted a few things from his master’s private collection of items. His current companions had found a dragon’s lair near where they were now working. Ramanthus feared he would have to deal with it in some way. Once he had everything he felt he would need, he packed it all up and set it out where he would not forget it when leaving town again. With that done he took a single coin pouch with him and headed off towards the home of Rosalie. While she didn't live in a slum, it wasn't the best area in the city. Ramanthus never went there with anything more than what he could afford to lose. While he was more than able to handle an attack. He couldn't afford to draw attention to himself. He didn't want anyone in the city to take too long of a look at him and his life. He had too much to lose at this point. Without someone going around and looking at all the ties that bind. The work he was doing was too important to stop now.
As he approached the shack where Rosalie lived he saw something odd. A large group of children were gathered outside. As he got closer memories of his own childhood came rushing back to him, they were all there watching a fight of some kind. The closer he got, he could tell it was a very one sided fight. Yes, this was something that Ramanthus remembered very well. Three bigger boys were taking turns with the smaller child. Smacking him, punching and pushing him around the circle. The smaller boy's face was black and blue with blood running at a steady pace from his nose. Ramanthus having seen enough dove into the ring of children, yelling at them to get away, to stop beating on that boy. Some of the children seeing an adult ran as fast as their legs could carry them. One of them, refused to move, instead he just stared at the wizard.
"I'm not done with him yet old man!" Ramanthus could not believe this boy standing up to him, he had blood splattered all over the front of his shirt and his fat little fist. The smaller boy was lying in the dirt, crying at the top of his lungs.
"I will not play with you child, run home to your mother before I lose my temper." the fat little boy looked up at the wizard with a hard look in his eye. Ramanthus spared one last look down at the little boy, bleeding into the dusty road before advancing on the bully. Calling to mind a simple spell he held his hand out to the boy but not touching him, wisp of flame danced around his fingertips. "Are you ready to die child, I will not tell you again to leave." The boy looked at the wizard’s fingers in awe, until it dawned on him that he was in very real danger. As the flame covered hand came closer and closer he turned and ran.
Ramanthus dispelled the illusion and turned to the boy in the street. At first he wasn’t sure what to do about the crying, bleeding child. While he had taken some beatings in his youth, never had anyone taken it to him this bad. “Come on boy, it isn’t that bad. Let me help you up.” As Ramanthus was pulling the boy off the ground he started to wonder where the child lived or where his parents were. As the small boy stood up and looked into the eyes of Ramanthus, that question was answered for him. He let out a soft sigh as he looked into his son’s eyes. This wasn’t how he wanted to get to know the boy.
“Go find your mother, I have to speak with her.” He said at long last. He watched as the still sobbing child ran into the house. Ramanthus stood looking at the still open door, swinging back and forth with the wind, he took a step forward. Wanting to hear anything that might be said between the mother and child. When he could hear the footsteps coming he stepped back and waited. Rosalie came to the door with a smile on her face, all the while trying to smooth out the wrinkles in her thread bare dress. When she saw who was standing outside her door the smile went away.
“What do you want?” She asked.
“I’ve brought you some money but I don’t know if I can give it to you now. Where were you when your son was being beaten to death right outside your door?” The more he spoke, the more his anger started to show.
“It is none of your business where I was or what I was doing. I never asked for anything from you.” Rosalie turned and walked away, trying to close the door in his face. As he put his hand out to stop the door from closing several spells came to mind, several deadly spells. In the end, he stopped himself. This was not the time and in his heart, he did still care about her.
“He is my son too Rosalie. I know you don’t care about me but do you care about him? You can’t even protect him from where you live. What kind of life is this?”
“You think I like the way we live or where we live. What else can I do?” The frustration in her voice was clear. Ramanthus started to open his mouth and snapped it shut again, an idea came to him. He looked at the woman whom he once loved. Her eyes were rimmed with moisture, at the same time Ramanthus was taking a moment to consider his life. He could give it all up. Move Rosalie and the boy into his old masters home. He could open the school back up. Give up his quest to rid the world of evil. He took another moment, looking at her big green eyes and decided that this might just be enough for him. A simple life but one he wouldn’t mind having. Let the others continue the fight without him.
“You could move from here, live in my home with me. I will take care of your every need. I will give you anything you want or need, our son as well. You wouldn’t have to worry about anything. It is a large home and has plenty of room. You could have your own bedroom if you wish or you could share one with me.” Rosalie stood there with her mouth hanging open until a single hand rose up to cover it. “We would be like a real family. I would even hire servants so you could just spend all your time with our son.”
“Live with you?” She asked from behind her hand. “By the gods, you are serious!” Rosalie took a step back from the wizard, just before she started to laugh. “I would move us into a garbage filled alley before I lived with you.” With each moment she laughed a little harder than before. “Do you really think I ever cared about you? All I ever cared about was how much you paid me to let you stick me with your ‘wand’. If I was going to bow down and live with someone it would be with a real man. Not you, you don’t know what a real man is.” The last words she ever said were pushed out with laughter.
Ramanthus stood and watched as she laughed at his suggestion. He was unable to believe the words that were coming out of her mouth. He started to feel something he had felt before in the past. The mirror like calm on his face had started to crack. He had been ready to give it all up for her and she had laughed. He had begun to speak the words of his spell before he even knew what it was. She never knew she was in danger, she felt nothing but a bitter cold before the world turned black. Frozen solid, in a block of ice was the one woman Ramanthus had truly loved.
While he did love her at one time, he had no time to mourn. In truth, no one would ever mourn for the old whore. Reaching into one of his pouches, he pulled out a bit of sand and headed towards the back of the house where his son was still crying and in pain. Later that day, as he was walking the streets with his son sleeping in his arms Ramanthus wondered just what it was that he was going to do with the child. Soon after he put the boy down in one of his many empty rooms it dawned on him that he didn’t even know his name. Not that it mattered, he had time to spare. This was the start of a new life, a new creation. He just hoped this one did not turn out as bad as the last. Pulling a chair over to sit next to the bed Ramanthus waited for the child to wake up, so he could ask the boy his name.
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“General Malkov, do you see any one?” Ramanthus asked while trying to keep hidden behind the tree. Every time they tried to move ahead elven archers hidden in the trees took fire at them.
“No my lord! I thought I saw one about a hundred feet away but it was hard to tell.” Malkov was trying to peak around the tree but every time he stuck his head out an arrow flew by.
“Just give me a direction, I grow tired of this distraction! Let them see you again.” Malkov stuck his body out again, waiting for the rain of arrows to come once again, trusting that his lord and master would keep him from harm.
Just as he had been doing for most of his life. Ramanthus watched as the archers once again took aim on the armored man. As the arrows once again cut through the air, he saw where they were hidden. It was enough for him and his magic. He felt a sick bit of satisfaction hearing the elves cry out when the fireball exploded. This was the third time they had run into elven troops this day. Each time it ended much the same as it ended now. The closer they got to the dragons lair, the more they had found. Ramanthus watched as Malkov ran forward, checking to see if the elves were still alive. When they heard the dragons roar, he ran past the bodies on the forest floor. The bond between man and dragon drove him on, ignoring the fact that the archers could have still been alive.
Not that Ramanthus ignored the bodies he found. He stopped at each body, checking for signs of life. He knew Malkov would stop and wait for him if the danger became too great. The first two he came to were dead as Toryth Vol. The third however was still drawing breath, even if most of his body had been burned by the magical fire. He stood over the body of the elf, thinking of how he wanted to kill him. Wondering what would be the fastest way. He watched as the elf reached out for his white robe, a twisted smile came across the face of the wizard.
“How can I help you noble archer?” The wizard asked the fallen man in the elven tongue.
“Heal me.” Were the only words to escape from his scorched lips. Ramanthus looked around the area and saw what it was that he wanted. A quiver of arrows was on the forest floor, not far from the body. Taking a single arrow from the quiver the wizard went back to the side of the elf, bending down he once again spoke to him in near perfect elven.
“Open your mouth.” He watched as the elf lifted his head just a touch all the while forcing his own mouth to open. Hoping that he was about to receive a healing potion. Ramanthus took one look at the arrow head just before he rammed it into the mouth of the elf. He let out a laugh of delight as the arrow passed through the soft flesh and into the neck of the elf. He listened for a moment to the elf and his cries of pain just before passing to the other side. He wondered how a person could make so much noise with a mouth full of blood. He thought about pulling it out again when a second roar from the dragon drew his attention away.
As he continued to walk towards the home of Sa’tilix he continued to find more bodies. Trees were cut down by the dragon breath, blood littered the entire area. When he came to the cave where Sa’tilix lived he saw the last thing in the world he wanted to see. General Malkov was on his knees next to the female blue, Sa’tilix stood over his mate in a rage. Ramanthus looked at the living dragon and then the dead one. He could feel the ball of twine starting to come undone. “What happened here?” He asked anyone who cared to listen. The dragon looked down at the wizard, his wounds were clear as day.
“Over two dozen of them attacked, they collapsed the cave using magic. She was the only one to get out. As soon as Taniea stuck her head out of the dirt and rocks they were on her. I was on my way to you when I felt her call out to me in pain. I came back but it was too late. First, I killed the wizard. Then I killed everything else I could find.” Ramanthus looked to his human general, he would be worthless for the rest of the day. His bond with Sa’tilix made him care about the dragons mate a little too much.
“Are you sure the others are dead, they could still be alive in there?” Ramanthus did not want to anger the dragon but he had to know. He could afford to lose one dragon but not the others.
“They collapsed both tunnels into the lair. The entire earth has shifted in this area. I am sure. They would have found a way out by now.” Ramanthus shook his head, this was not good enough, he had to know. No he would know before he had to return to the White Spire.
“Sa’tilix I am sorry for your loss. After we rid the world of King Xcavere we will take revenge for the loss of your mate on these elves. Are you well enough to fly; I want you to and Malkov to return to the White Spire. I have things I must do before I can return. I will be back soon though.”
“My lord!” Malkov tried to protest. “We cannot leave you alone, what if they come back? You are too important to leave behind. You are too important to me.”
“Go on General, you have your orders.” Ramanthus placed a hand on the shoulder of his general and quietly said to him. “I must be sure the other dragons are dead before I can return to our home. Go and prepare the men for the coming battle. Make me proud.” Malkov gave the wizard a slight smile before turning towards the dragon Sa’tilix. Ramanthus watched as the two flew away, soon as they were out of sight he turned to the collapsed cave. “No single wizard did all this.” He said to no one at all. He had been inside the dragon’s lair before. A deep and wide cavern that was deep under the forest floor, Sa’tilix had lived there for close to twenty years without incident. This was a massive undertaking to collapse it all.
As Ramanthus moved past the trees and other brush until he saw the sink hole that spread out over an area the size of a small town. He waited and listened for some sign of life from under the ground. It was then that he saw the eagle, sitting just above the head of the wizard, watching his every move. “Oh, now I see. Did you get sent to spy on me? I am sure your master is asking himself why and how. Why I would be allied with that dragon, how did I get him to agree to help me? Well if you must know, you will just have to come ask me yourself druid.” It was then that Ramanthus could hear footsteps behind him. Three elves in all, druids of the highest order. Three elves in all who would soon begin to battle with a wizard. The forest exploded with magic, for the rest of the day and then the entire night, yet they were just three elves who in the end would just be three more victims of Ramanthus the mad.
66. Reunion
After the fight with Malkov and the dragon, time seemed to drag. I sat and watched as the sun went down and the stars filled the night sky. There was so much tension in the air you could see it, it was like a thick fog that filled the room. It was that or smoke from the burnt buildings still hanging in the air around the White Spire. We took our turns resting but the night just seemed to drag on and on. No one would say it but there was an axe hanging over our collective heads. If we did not escape on time, the axe would fall. Not that Zackary seemed worried. We had to stop Lomark from attacking him twice. 'How can I work while he is there snoring?' I was worried about the wizard and what he might do. Everything he tried to remove the barrier around the Rod failed. Well, everything short of blowing the tower up which is what he wanted to try. 'The Rod will be safe, it will outlast any of us here. Dropping the tower might just free it.' It was only the fear of the wards Ramanthus had in place that kept us from letting him try.
When I did sleep, my dreams were strange and vivid. The first dream that I had that night was about my wife. I could see her in that yellow dress she had on the first time I saw her. It was as if she was behind some great glass wall. I could see her but not touch her. I could hear her words but she could not hear mine. No matter how hard I pounded on the wall, I could not make her see me. I stood helpless as she turned and walked away from me. When the glass wall started to crack under my pounding fist I woke up. I sat up from where I was sleeping and looked down at my hands. I expected to find them covered in blood and broken from pounding on that glass wall. Yet they were unharmed. I looked around the room, Zender was on his knees near one of the windows around the top of the tower, lost in prayer. Zackary was still out cold and snoring the night away. Lomark, lost in one of the many spell books in front of him did not even see me stir. I knew it was still several hours until morning so I laid back down to get some rest, no point in all of us going without. Before long I could feel myself slipping down into the black. Not that it stayed that way for long.
I found myself standing on a hill overlooking a town. It was tucked down in a valley, just out of the shadow of the towering peak behind me. I could see a wide river not far from the east side of the old city. The entire land was covered in green grass and other plants. In fact, the closer I got to the city, I coul
d see plant life had taken over everything. Walls had been pulled down by creeping vines. It was as if the people who built this city had left it behind for nature to take over again. Yet, this was the only life I could see. A city that should have been home to a few thousand people, was quiet as any untouched meadow. The only sound I could hear was the wind blowing between the long forgotten buildings. I traveled what should have been busy streets, having to watch my step or be tripped by the vegetation. I had no idea where I was going but for some reason my feet seemed to know we were heading. I just wish they would have taken the time to tell my head. As I continued to walk the streets I kept seeing a large building, I somehow knew this is where I had to go. Yet the reason for going there was lost on me.
I stood outside of the large building, one of the exterior walls had fallen away from the rest of the building. It was like a little girls doll house. I could see each of the floors and items that had been left behind. This had been someone's home, right in the center of the town. Perhaps they had been important at one time. While the furniture I could see was weathered from years of exposure to nature, I could see that most of it was very well made. Before I knew it I was standing in the building, looking to explore inside the abandoned walls. I reached down to pull out my sword and noticed that I didn't even have it with me. I was just in plain clothing, no armor, no weapons at all. I continued to search the old home and only found more of the same. Dust and dirt had claimed this home and the only life to be found was green and growing out of the ground. Just as I was about to give up on this home I saw something strange. A single set of tracks, leading up a wide stair case. I followed them up to the top floor of the house where they lead to a huge room. I assumed that at one time it was a bedroom. The roof was missing from this part of the house. It was then that I saw him there, sitting on a chair just waiting for me.
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