Being in the presence of the two sarpand now, Madger could understand why they would be feared. She released her hold on her magic to look at their auras and she could feel DraKar doing the same cursory examination of her. DraKar’s dark aura seethed around him, and she could only guess at the full extent of his magic. He was the first person she’d encountered that outmatched her in raw power. Their first meeting in the cell hadn’t allowed for her to see the churning, inky aura surrounding him, and it left her with an unsettled feeling.
Armagon didn’t have the same aura, he wasn’t magically active, but there was power infused in his being, unlike anything she’d seen before. It twined around and through him like a multitude of snakes, as though shadows were constantly trying to swallow him.
They bore little resemblance to the battered two she’d released years ago. Their stances bespoke of power and authority and their eyes intelligent as they studied her in return. The welts and wounds had long since healed, and the gray robes the two wore covered any scarring that might have been left. They had armor on, but the robes covered it, as though they didn’t want to be too obvious with their defenses. Only their wings, folded tightly against their backs, held any sign of dark, raised scar tissue.
Loya stopped ten feet from the pair and curtsied to them. “My lords, the Lady Madger.”
“Thank you,” Armagon said. “You may go.”
For a moment, Madger wished her friends had come with her, but she straightened her spine as the elf left the room.
DraKar ended his examination of Madger’s aura when she recaptured her magic. There was something familiar about her, beyond when she’d released them. The power she could wield was of note. He pushed the thought aside, if she’d had any effect on his life before releasing them, he would have remembered her.
“Welcome to Meerwood,” DraKar rumbled.
“Has your stay been comfortable?” Armagon asked in a more conversational tone.
“Very much so.” She glanced around at the empty room. “Why weren’t my friends allowed in to make a request?”
DraKar raised an eye-ridge at her and Armagon’s head tilted quizzically.
“They didn’t free us. Only your hands touched our chains,” Armagon answered, his voice echoed faintly around the circular room.
The underlying hiss sent a chill shiver through Madger’s veins.
“You were lucky the half-demon guards had been outside during the storm,” Armagon added. “We found their corpses under one of the walls that had fallen. Seems they were too late to make it inside.”
Madger’s eyes widened, although she had been curious who was in charge of the brothers while they’d been held, she’d never considered what had become of those guards.
DraKar’s tail began tapping the floor. “And your request?”
Madger did her best to remain still, not wanting to tremble or shy away from the sound of DraKar’s growling voice. It was like a thunderstorm ready to break over her, and she knew if he chose to end her for any perceived slight, there was nothing she could do to stop him.
And yet, it was what she longed for. No. So simple a death would not earn her place with her family, she needed something more.
“There is a sword, the Alisande.” Madger paused as the two shifted, their eyes glancing to each other, but when they stilled, she continued. “I know it is kept within the Maze. A realm designed to test those who seek it.”
“A Maze?” Armagon asked.
DraKar sneered down at her. “You want to enslave yourself to Life?”
Madger rocked back. “What? No! I want to go through the Maze.”
“We’ve never heard of the Maze,” Armagon said.
“But you know of the Alisande,” Madger said, a faint hope still in her voice.
“You barely understand what the sword is. Why would you want to go through the test, as you call it, for the Alisande? You think to gain more power with it?” Armagon demanded. He took a single step forward. “That you’re worthy of taking up Life’s sword?”
His questions forced Madger to focus and answer him. “I don’t know what I am worthy of, but I want the chance to try.”
“You won’t reach the sword,” DraKar said. “All you’re asking for is to be sent to your death.”
Madger’s mask of sureness cracked, ready to break. The shock of him knowing what she was truly seeking hammered her chest.
“Few know of the Alisande,” DraKar’s voice echoed around the room. “How did you learn of it?”
“A book.”
Armagon shook his head. “We have no control over who is chosen for this ‘Maze’. Why don’t you ask for gold or a palace? We can rid you of your enemies, DraKar could craft you a magic trinket to protect you. Pick something else, something worthy of the service you gave us.”
“No. This is what I want. I learned enough about the two of you to know if anyone can make this request for me, it’s you.”
“It’s a foolish request,” DraKar snapped. “You don’t know what you’re passing up.”
Madger frowned at him, and took an answering step forward. “I know exactly what I am asking for.”
“Not Life’s sword,” Armagon said, placing a staying hand on DraKar’s arm. “You’re asking for a chance to be tested.”
Madger glared at the two defiantly. “So you won’t honor your promise?”
“We made no promise to see you killed,” Armagon answered. The muscles of his brother’s arm tightened under his hand.
DraKar’s hands balled into angry fists, his claws pressed against the flesh of his hand. “I will not repay your favor with death.”
“Let us tell you about other services we might offer,” Armagon coaxed. He released DraKar’s arm as he tried to bargain with the giantess. “Some other favor that might make the rest of your life a joy to live.”
Madger shook her head. She’d lived enough, seen enough death and suffering. The loneliness from losing her family had devoured her heart like a starved wolf, and she felt like her whole being would cave in where it had been. “Unless you can bring back the dead, this is what I want.”
Armagon bowed his head, the ache of defeat traced up the back of his neck. Her voice was empty, but he understood her yearning. Whoever had been taken from her had left her with an unquenchable pain. It reminded him of the ache he felt for Selien.
Armagon sighed and shared a look with DraKar. “I’ll do my best.”
DraKar looked sharply at Armagon. How was he going to gain Life’s attention to gain the giantess entry to the Maze? He turned back to Madger with a snarl. It was a rare gift they’d offered her, and she threw it back in their faces.
A growl built to a crescendo in DraKar’s chest, and he roared, “Get out!” He took an intimidating step forward, his wings flared. “You stupid child! There is no reward for you in the Maze!”
Madger had spun to leave when DraKar had ordered her out, his voice rocked over her as she forced herself not to run. His thunderous outburst was still echoing off the walls when she hurried out the door.
“And take the damned cleric with you!” DraKar’s voice chased her out the door.
She shut the door and pressed her back against it; taking a moment to catch her breath and calm her nerves, ashamed of her fear. She strained to quickly rebuild her mask of indifference.
Morkleb looked out of the waiting room as Madger took a step away from the door. “Was he talking about me? What did I do?”
“I don’t see any other cleric,” she answered bitterly.
“Did you get what you wanted, lass?”
Madger frowned and shook her head. “I’m not sure.”
The three fell into step behind Madger, questioning her as they exited the corridor. She remained resolutely silent though, refusing to answer them and reveal her true wish.
After the doors shut and DraKar was sure the mercenaries were well on their way out, he spun on Armagon. “What the Hells?”
Armagon held up placating h
ands. “I’m not going to do it. I wouldn’t even know where to start.” When DraKar’s wings eased back down, he lowered his hands. “Better to lie to her and have her continue to live. That is our payment.”
***
Madger woke as blood filled her mouth and she coughed up the fluid, with practiced ease she spit it away from her bedding. She could hear Morkleb hurrying to her already.
“Again?” Morkleb asked worriedly and knelt next to Madger. “I healed the ulcer only four months ago.”
Madger wiped the blood from her lips with the back of her gray hand. “Sorry.” She rolled to her back to look up at the cleric. The tall pines reached above his wide ears and the gray morning sky was slowly edging toward blue.
Morkleb sighed at her. “You apologize as if you do it on purpose.”
Madger kept herself from apologizing again and instead shrugged her shoulders. Morkleb had stayed with them since Meerwood. It didn’t hurt to have a cleric in their party, and he could visit the various towns as they moved further south for the winter. She didn’t want someone else with them who could be hurt, taken away, or killed, like the children from Pero had been. Like her clan. Despite Madger’s intention of not allowing someone else into their small group though, Morkleb was worming his way in. His gentle, slightly awkward, manner started to endear him to her, and she couldn’t manage to find the resolve to keep pushing him away. Not that Kharick would let her. Even Seal liked having him around.
Morkleb settled his smaller, dark hands on Madger’s stomach and began his whispered prayer. The glow from his hands slipped past her blankets, the warmth infusing her flesh. Before she could take two breaths, the burning in her stomach eased.
“There,” Morkleb murmured.
Madger offered a grateful smile and took Morkleb’s chilled hands into her own. It had become common practice between them. If Madger were the one healed or happened to be available, she would wrap Morkleb’s hands within her own large ones, offering her warmth to break the chill.
“If you two are done holding hands and gazing into each other’s eyes, the food is ready,” Seal said.
Morkleb rolled his eyes. “Jealous?” He stood and joined Seal and Kharick at the fire.
“Nah,” Seal muttered around her food. “I’ll take the dwarf.” She jabbed a grease covered finger in Kharick’s direction.
Kharick’s eyebrows raised, but didn’t take his attention from his food.
“The dwarf is mine,” Madger said firmly, as she joined them. “Morkleb has too much hair.”
“Fur,” Morkleb corrected with a feigned haughty air.
“Ah lassies, there is enough of me for all of ya!”
Madger chuckled and took the offered plate from Seal. “We need to find you a wench.”
“I have you two wenches!” Kharick answered
Madger shook her head and broke the joking conversation. “When we reach town, let’s resupply first. There should be plenty of daylight left after that to find an inn and maybe start looking for our next contract.”
They agreed, and after finishing their meal, packed their belongings, and started the trek on the well-used dirt road to the next town. It only took four hours for them to reach the small community, and Madger noted with a frown that it had no walls. It reminded her of Pero, and a few other small towns they’d crossed over the years that had been razed because of their lack of defenses.
There were no guards, no one on watch as they walked into the crowd of houses and businesses. A group of children paused in their play to watch with opened mouths as the four passed, but their eyes focused mostly on the mountain giant. People paused in their daily errands to stare, and some scurried to leave the street. Women ushered children behind doors and men shifted uncomfortably.
The poorer families were often pushed to the outskirts of towns, and this one was no different. As the group moved further into the town, the buildings showed better repair and the people didn’t wear patched, threadbare clothing. Shops started to dot the line of buildings along the street. A herbalist, butcher, and a bookstore, which Madger found curious, usually towns of this size couldn’t support a bookstore.
She’d sold most of her books after making her request to the sarpand brothers, thinking she wouldn’t need them much longer. But only after a month of being without them, she regretted the decision. She didn’t start collecting books again, but her search for the ancient titan text still had her occasionally perusing the shops. She’d never told her companions why she still looked through bookstores. If she told them about the book, then she would end up telling them about her brother, then her clan, and that would lead to the massacre.
Madger shook her head before the memories could haunt her in the daylight, and focused on finding vendors to resupply them for the road. As they reached the center of town the shops became more abundant, and soon, Seal had broken away to look at some leather goods, belts, satchels, and several oilskin cloaks, all hung out on display. Morkleb drifted to a merchant offering candied fruits, honey dipped apples and pears, and sugared balls of bread.
Madger glanced down at Kharick and shrugged, he chuckled as she slipped away to look in the bookstore.
***
“How long are you going to be traveling with us?”
Morkleb looked up at Seal, his ears swiveled out to the sides and backward, the chains in his right ear jingled softly. It was still early in the morning and he hadn’t even rolled up his bedding yet. “What? I… I don’t know. I thought…” He’d been with them for six months since leaving Meerwood. DraKar’s shouted command was the only prompting he had needed to leave with the small band of mercenaries.
“She means to ask, lad, will you be wanting to continue with us?” Kharick grinned.
Seal stuck out her tongue at him. “I asked what I meant.”
“I hadn’t thought about it,” Morkleb answered. He looked at Madger, but she didn’t look up from the breakfast she was cooking, remaining stubbornly out of the discussion. He’d started becoming comfortable with the three and wasn’t sure what he would do without them. The world was too big to be alone. “I’d like to continue with you if you’ll let me. I know I haven’t paid you since Meerwood—”
“Pay isn’t the issue,” Seal said firmly, and then muttered, “for once.” She shook her head and waved her hand at the comment as though to clear it from the air. “What I’m asking is, will you be continuing to travel with us?”
Morkleb’s ears swiveled, and he looked away as he considered the question. “I was tasked to travel, but I don’t know enough about the world to do it on my own. I’d feel more comfortable continuing with you three. I suppose I could find another—”
“You’re hired.”
Morkleb looked back up to Seal. “Hired?”
“Sure, we’ll watch your back as long as you come with us and heal if needed. We won’t stop you from your little jaunts of helping the people in the villages we pass. You’ll usually have a few days in the towns and cities to do the same.”
Morkleb grinned widely. “I’d like that.”
“Done!” Seal said and clapped her hands together. “Now this.” She let her bronze feathered wings sprout from her back.
Morkleb scrambled back from her and Madger grasped his shoulder. “Not into the fire,” she cautioned quietly.
“What are…? Am I… dreaming?” He looked frantically between the three.
“You aren’t dreaming.” Seal stretched one wing and then the other. “I’m a kadmon, and if you’re going to be traveling with us, I need you to understand that. Shifting out of my natural form,” she made a mild gesture to herself, “takes effort. So while we’re alone on the road, I like to relax a bit.”
“Kadmon?” Morkleb couldn’t recall ever seeing or hearing of the species.
“Native to Limbo.”
“Limbo?” Morkleb’s voice rose in pitch.
“Aye, lad. You believe in the Heavens. Well, Thesda’s heaven, and the Hells. What be so difficult
of Limbo?” Kharick asked with a bemused grin. He enjoyed watching Morkleb’s ears twitch and rotate when he was confused.
“Limbo is a realm of chaos.” Morkleb scrambled to remember everything he had read. “What could survive in chaos?”
“It was created by Chaos,” Seal corrected. “The Infinite didn’t touch the plane once it was made and populated.” She eyed the rest of her companions, she hadn’t told the rest of them this bit of information, but she did enjoy bursting the narrow bubble of belief Morkleb held. “The icren are children of Chaos.”
“What? No. We came from the sea, a man and a woman.”
“Two of your ancestors were granted a reprieve on this realm,” Seal answered with a little scoff.
“A reprieve?” Morkleb felt Madger give a reassuring squeeze to his shoulder and then her hand was taken away.
“From agelessness. The icren on Limbo and the kadmoni are both ageless. In coming here, the pair you think of as the progenitors of your race, were tempered. Now your kind ages much like humans.”
“Tempered? Are you tempered since you came here?” Madger asked.
Seal laughed, then said, “No.” She shook her head, it was enough. “Chew on that for a while.” She moved over to Morkleb and stuck a finger against his head, between his eyes. “Not everything is centered on Thesda.” When he began to open his mouth, she took away her finger and waved it in front of him. “No more questions.”
Madger turned away and focused on the pan again. It was the most Seal had spoken of Limbo and the people there since she’d first met her. Everything lined up with what she’d read in the Titan’s Tome. Perhaps there was more truth in it than some of the other religious texts she’d bought?
Chapter 23
317 Br. summer
“Little is known of alchemy, as most experiments end with chaotic results. Even the minor changes some scholars tried with base elements sometimes proved fatal. Although some changes can be made with mundane chemicals, to affect living things, magic must be employed.”
The Titan's Tome (The Mortal Balance Book 1) Page 24