by B. A. Scott
The Enchantress screamed against her futility, and dropped to her knees, tears streaming from her eyes.
Gabrel received one final punch from his mirror. The world spun around him as if it would never be still again. The Mirror Gabrel straddled him, unsheathed its belt knife, and ran the tip of the blade up to Gabrel’s neck. It brought both hands to the knife’s handle, and lifted it slowly above its head.
“Some fates cannot be changed,” it spoke to him.
Gabrel looked from his foe to the destroyed chamber around him. His eyes found Kaven, dying upon the chamber floor. Hopelessness consumed him. Gabrel spread his arms wide. There’s nothing I can do to stop this, he told himself. Nothing. I’m sorry, Adelyne.
Kaven knew that at that moment, he was drawing his final breaths. But then, he felt a very peculiar sensation. Relief, he thought. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw rays of red light bursting from his ever-shrinking wound. His strength returned, though he hadn’t the faintest idea how or why. Then, he saw Kade reaching toward him with eyes aglow. She’s healing me, Kaven realized. He felt rejuvenated, and soon, all his pain had left him.
Upon seeing his brother’s sudden recovery, Gabrel felt a rush of joy. Something shiny caught his eye on the floor of the junakothari. It was the blue sword he had once held.
Maybe there is a way, he thought. Gabrel filled himself with magic, and reached out for the sword, but it only budged in short, stilted skids toward him. “Come on!” he called to it, and it raced to his palm.
Before his foe could deliver its death strike, Gabrel thrust the full length of the blade between the mirrorspawn’s ribs. The blue figure fell to the floor beside him, coughing up dark blue blood.
Kaven stood ready, filled with vigor, desperately determined to dispose of his foe any way he could. His likeness sneered, then lunged at him, attempting to stab him through the heart. But Kaven spun, grabbed the blue man’s arm by the wrist and lifted the mirrorspawn, hurling it into the silver mirrorblood. He heaved a deep breath of relief, wiped his brow, and turned away from the mirror, facing Athiux and Kade.
“Good riddance,” he said. But suddenly, a gloved hand reached out from within the mirror behind him, grasped his hair, and yanked him backwards. In an instant, the upper half of Kaven’s body was pulled into the mirror. Athiux and Kade ran to him, and grabbed hold of his legs. They tugged with all their might to bring Kaven back to the chamber. With a mighty heave, they lugged Kaven from the mirror, and all fell back upon the floor.
Kaven coughed up mirrorblood, and looked to his saviors.
“I thought I was done for,” he said.
“No need for gratitude,” Athiux told him.
“Gratitude?” Kaven asked.
“Yes,” said the Sage. “We just saved your life.”
“You saved me because you need me alive,” Kaven said. “To get your answers. And after you’re done with me, you plan to kill me. As long as that’s the case—”
Kaven’s attention diverted as something caught his eye. Above where he and the Erygians lay, Gabrel’s likeness passed over them, hovering toward the giant mirror. Kaven looked behind him. There, walking across the inner area of the chamber, toward the mirror, was Gabrel—limping, battered and bruised. His eyes glowed, and his hand was outstretched, guiding the nearly-dead mirrorspawn through the air. Athiux, Kade and Kaven moved to clear a path for Gabrel, who passed between them, intent on one thing, and one thing only: vanquishing the mirrorspawn once and for all.
He stepped close to the grand mirror, and spread his outstretched fingers wide. The mirrorspawn gently floated into the silvery liquid like a child being laid to bed by a loving mother. Pure mirrorblood engulfed its body. And just as the liquid consumed the last remaining traces of its face, the blue figure closed its eyes, and sank completely beneath the surface of the mirror.
Table of Contents
Chapter 19: Furenti
Gabrel released his magic, and looked down to see the Sage, the Enchantress and his brother staring at him in disbelief. Suddenly, the giant mirror glowed with a blinding light, causing everyone to turn away. The ground below their feet shook gently as eight columns of light shot up from the pools of mirrorblood. The mirrorspawn corpses that had been slain in the fight disappeared in a flash of glorious light that blazed from their bodies. Then, the light from the grand mirror and the pools faded completely, and the outer walls of blue mirrorblood turned solid once more. The sound of grinding stone filled the chamber as the nine sunken pedestals rose again to their original heights.
“We did it,” Gabrel said softly.
From holes in the rocky ceiling, the furenti descended. Each of the magical items dropped to the pedestals, yet remained suspended in the air, just inches from their tops. The last of which was a dark medallion, linked to a chain.
“The Amulet of Oblivion,” Gabrel said, realizing what the artifact was. It descended to the top of the central pedestal. He walked toward it, instantly mesmerized by its beauty. It was as black as night—not shiny, not lustrous, but weathered as if charred by a blazing fire. It was circular, the size of a clenched fist. In its center was a diamond stone—or crystal—Gabrel could not be certain. And forming the corners of an upside-down triangle around the center jewel were three smaller crystals of yellow, orange and dark violet. Engraved Erygian writings covered its surface, and a thick chain as black and charred as the Amulet itself enabled the medallion to be worn around a person’s neck.
Athiux, Kade and Kaven walked around the pedestals, looking at all of the incredible objects.
“Amazing,” said the Enchantress.
“Quickly now,” said the Sage, “gather them all, save for the Amulet.”
Kaven’s interest had been piqued by a magnificent shield, whose metal was inscribed with Erygian symbols. “That’s a fine thing. What does it do?” he asked Kade, who came to his side. She translated the glowing Erygian writing upon the pedestal.
“It says,” she began, then paused, and looked to her grandfather, speechless.
“What?” Kaven asked.
“The Shield of Souls,” she answered, taking a step back and tugging Kaven with her. “It was believed to have been either lost or destroyed during the War of Ages.”
“Well, what does it do?” Kaven asked again.
“It is a prison,” answered Kade.
“I don’t understand,” Kaven said.
“Any who strike against it become bound within.”
“How is that possible?” Kaven asked.
“Only a master of union spells could have forged such a thing. Imagine, every foe that stood against you—every blocked sword, arrow or spear—this shield imprisons your attacker—absorbing them, like water to a dry sponge. Who would dare contest its wielder? And how many thousands are bound within its metal, I wonder? How many—denied life, denied death—unable to pass into the Afterworld?”
“If a warrior used this against Daro, we could trap him forever,” Kaven reasoned. “On the other hand, if I happened to accidentally knock it with a broom handle—?”
“Then your affairs had better’ve been in order,” Kade said.
“As useful as that might be in a fight,” said Kaven, “I don’t even want to touch it, much less carry it into battle.”
“I think it’s too unpredictable—too dangerous to use at Caleton,” Kade agreed. “It should remain here.”
Kaven thought on Kade’s logic.
“Or maybe it’s just the thing we need,” he said. “If you and your grandfather over there intend to kill us in the end, would you be so eager if we stood behind this?”
Kade froze in speechless torment. Kaven appreciated her fear, finally feeling like he might have gained the upper hand, and stepped toward the shield. He reached out—his fingertips inches from its metal.
“Kaven,” said Gabrel. “Remember why we’re here.”
“I’m here to protect you, Gabe, in case you forgot.”
“I don’t want to be anywhere ne
ar you if you’re holding that thing,” Gabrel said.
Kaven paused, then retracted his hand. “I don’t know what’s more dangerous—taking it. Or not.” He looked to Kade, then left her side.
“What are the other furenti?” Gabrel asked. Both Athiux and Kade went to each of the pedestals, and read the descriptions of the furenti aloud.
“The Skull Dagger,” Athiux said, eyeing a small, but deadly blade with a fanged skull upon its guard, and another as its pommel. “Even the smallest scratch deals instant death.”
Kade observed a bulky, brown leather bag that was so worn, it looked like it had only barely survived through the centuries. It stretched at its stitched seams, and patches had been sewn all over the exterior, covering suggested holes in the faded leather. Through the cracks in the seams, the contents of the bag glowed brightly. Kade brought the bag to the floor, reached into it, and pulled out a semi-translucent orb, roughly the size of an apple. It had a white-hot core that caused the furentus to emanate a soft glow.
“Earth Pearls,” she said. “Quaking orbs that break through rock and stone.” She placed it gently back into the bag. “And here,” she went to the pedestal with a large, black bag upon it, “Fire Pearls. Exploding orbs.”
“The Mask of Illusions,” said Athiux, standing before a mouthless mask. “Distorts a victim’s perceived reality to the will of its wearer.”
“Tremor Boots,” Kade read. “Send shockwaves through the land with every step. It says these formed the Salafar Canyon, long ago.”
The Sage marveled as he took hold of another furentus. “An Earth Sword—used for shifting and reshaping the land. One swift stroke to forge a chasm—or mountain.”
“Easy with that thing then,” Gabrel urged Athiux.
“Fear not, Gabrel,” the Sage calmed him. “This furentus performs only when its wielder desires it to.”
The Enchantress observed the last of the furenti. “The Trox Vambraces,” she said aloud as she eyed two vambraces of dark brown leather. “These give extraordinary strength to their wearer.”
Athiux noticed Gabrel staring intently at the Amulet of Oblivion. “Come along, Gabrel,” he urged him, watching with a suspicious eye. “The Amulet stays behind.”
Gabrel snapped out of his daze. “Right, right,” he said. “Do we have everything?”
“I believe so,” answered Athiux, who held the Earth Sword, and the Skull Dagger. Kade carried the Trox Vambraces. Gabrel took the Tremor Boots, and the Mask of Illusions, while Kaven attempted to lift the bags of Earth and Fire Pearls.
“Here,” said Kade, handing Kaven one of the Trox Vambraces. “This will help.”
Kaven removed the vambrace he already wore on his right arm, and donned the new furentus. Kade placed the second Trox Vambrace on her own arm, and grabbed the black bag of Fire Pearls.
“Thanks,” Kaven told her, lifting the worn bag of Earth Pearls. “Much better.” Indeed, it felt like the bag weighed hardly more than his belt knife. “Are we ready then?”
Athiux nodded, and took in the chamber one last time before his departure. It had been ruined to a great degree. The columns looked like they were about to collapse, and several had been completely demolished.
“We’ve certainly left our mark,” Gabrel said.
“Come,” Athiux told the others. “Let us pray these will be enough to sway the battle.” He turned, and led the group toward the hallway from which they came. But just before he reached its threshold, the Sage heard a strange snapping noise. It sounded like leather and twine, stretching, and breaking under great stress. The moment he heard it, he stopped dead in his tracks.
“What was that?” he asked. When he turned and faced the others, the mysterious noise filled the chamber once again, and the Sage thought he heard it come from Kaven.
“Oh god,” Kaven uttered, having a terrible hunch as to where the sound came from. Then, Gabrel noticed that the bag of Earth Pearls his brother had slung over his back was breaking at the seams.
“Kaven, the bag!” he yelled.
But it was too late.
The integrity of the leather and twine gave way, and the bag’s seams were ripped apart by the weight of the furenti inside. Hundreds upon hundreds of Earth Pearls spilled out of the bag. The first that fell struck the floor, though they did not bounce as their shape might have suggested. Instead, they stuck to the stone, sank slowly into it, and remained half embedded in the tile for a few moments before being fully absorbed by the ground. Tiny, hairline fractures cracked into existence, then branched out like lightning across the floor.
“Stop them!” Athiux yelled as the Earth Pearls scattered in every direction. Kaven tried as best as he could to pick up the furenti, but it seemed a useless endeavor. They slammed into the columns and the outer walls, and were absorbed by them only moments after.
The ground trembled softly.
“What was that?” Gabrel asked as the floor’s hairline fractures widened.
“One will break diamond to dust,” Athiux said softly, watching as the cracks spread across the chamber. “Hundreds will reshape the land.”
A shuddering tremor brought everyone to the ground, and Kaven dropped the armful of Earth Pearls he had salvaged. “Oh no no no no no!” he said, frantically scrambling to keep them from absorbing into the ground. But every one of them disappeared beneath his fingertips. “Oh, hell!” he yelled.
“We need to get out of here now!” Athiux shouted. All around them, rock fell from the ceiling. The grand mirror shattered, and two of the columns collapsed. Sections of the floor rose and fell as the quaking continued, causing the ground to become extremely uneven. The pedestal beneath the Shield of Souls cracked and crumbled, just as a chunk of earth smashed into the furentus from above—burying it in a tomb of rock.
The slab beneath Gabrel’s feet jolted downward, and he slid at a very steep angle toward an ever-widening gorge. He let go of the Tremor Boots and Mask of Illusions, and grabbed hold of Kade’s outstretched arm just before he would have fallen into the deep chasm. The furenti he dropped disappeared into the deep abyss.
“Blast!” Gabrel screamed.
“To the exit!” Athiux yelled, then leapt over the wide gaps in the constantly shifting floor. He raced down the hallway, and turned to see the others right behind him. Athiux wasted no time in stepping into the portal, and Kade entered quickly on his heels. Kaven then readied himself to enter, but looked back to make sure his brother was still behind him. To his surprise, Kaven noticed a strange look in Gabrel’s eyes.
“Gabe,” he said, “you first.” But instead of walking forward, Gabrel took a step back.
“I dropped two of the furenti we came for,” he said, then turned where he stood, and faced the shuddering chamber. One beam of light still shone from the ceiling above, illuminating the Amulet of Oblivion.
“They’re gone, Gabrel,” Kaven said. “Come on!”
“Do you remember what Torren said?” Gabrel asked. “What good are the Tears of Life if Caleton falls?” Then, he turned and dashed down the long corridor, into the chamber. Kaven ran after his brother, but stopped at the end of the hallway, not wanting to navigate through the falling rock before him.
“What are you doing?!” he yelled.
“Saving Caleton,” said Gabrel.
Athiux and Kade waited beyond the mirror, expecting Gabrel and Kaven to come through at any moment.
“Something’s happened,” said Kade. “I’m going back in.”
“No!” the Sage ordered. “There is no telling what’s happened on the other side. You could be walking into your death.” They felt a terrible shudder, and looked to the stairs that led to the surface. “The mountain’s coming down,” said Athiux. “Go. Ready the horses. I’ll wait for them a moment longer.”
“Grandfather—”
“Now, Kade!” the Sage yelled. Kade darted down the hallway, and up the steps to do as she was told. Athiux eyed the mirror, wondering just what was happening on the other side.
Gabrel heaved himself up to the pedestal that held the Amulet of Oblivion.
“Oh no,” Kaven said, realizing what his brother was about to do. “Gabrel, are you mad?!”
“If we can’t bring an army, Kaven,” Gabrel said, “we can at least bring this,” and he took the hovering Amulet in his hand.
“After you told me not to take the Shield of Souls?!” Kaven argued. “That thing’s even worse!”
“This isn’t about protecting you and me,” said Gabrel. Suddenly, the remaining columns around the chamber exploded. Gabrel quickly stuffed the Amulet into his belt pouch as chunks of rock as large as a man fell from the ceiling.
He made for the hallway, but as he climbed and jumped over the unleveled floor, a pouring of rock from the ceiling struck him in the back, and caused him to collapse to the ground. His world spun around him as he rolled from his stomach onto his back. Blurred vision accompanied severe disorientation. Gabrel tried to steady his senses as the ceiling above him cracked like a giant rocky eggshell. Kaven’s eyes widened, realizing that it was about to give way, and the mountain would soon come down upon his brother.
With a great, gut-shattering quake, a massive stalactite broke free, and fell straight for Gabrel. It seemed to fall so slowly, Kaven thought, as if time itself had decided to give Gabrel a few more seconds to live.
For a moment, all was still.
Gabrel’s vision stabled. He blinked his eyes, and saw the stalactite dangling above him in mid-air. Confused and amazed, Gabrel looked to his brother.
“Oh my god,” he said upon seeing Kaven standing with eyes aglow, and his arm outstretched. “OH MY GOD!”
Kaven was filled with magic. He didn’t know how he was doing it—or how it was even possible—but when Kaven saw his brother about to be crushed by the stalactite, stopping its descent had come to him by instinct.
“Gabrel, run!” Kaven yelled as the ground split beneath his brother. Still mildly disoriented, Gabrel managed to get to his feet, and stumble toward Kaven. The ground fell out from under him, and he leapt for his brother. They grasped each other’s arms, and Kaven pulled Gabrel into the hallway as the chamber collapsed.