“Master Pilk would kill me if I brought you two boys along to rescue him. You’ve gotten into enough trouble lately,” said Cressida.
“But you’ve seen how much my powers have grown in such a short time,” pleaded Vik.
“That’s true, but you still only know the one spell,” replied Cressida.
“Plus I’m good with a sword — we both are.” Vik took a seat at the table. Trent sat opposite him.
“Either way I don’t think we can do anything tonight.” Cressida looked Cali in the eye as she spoke. “You look exhausted Cali, and I’ve been exhausting my energies on bringing Decker back to full health.”
“How is he?” asked Cali.
“He’s —”
“I’m fine.” Decker walked down the stairs a little less graceful than his usual self, but otherwise appeared in good health.
“You should be resting.” Cressida got up from her chair and went over to support him.
“You fuss too much. I’m quite capable of walking to the table.” Decker waved Cressida’s arms away from him and continued walking. “It sounds like we should all be resting. We won’t be much use to Master Pilk in our current state.”
“You can’t possibly be thinking about coming along?” screeched Cressida.
“How could I not? I owe it to him. All of Arthea owe it to him.”
Cressida pulled out a chair for him by the table and after a disapproving look he sat.
“Three days ago you were on death’s door. Now you wish to run straight back into danger the moment you can walk? Are you in that much of a hurry to have Arkadi take you?” Cressida stood tense behind her own chair as her tone increased.
“Speak any louder and you’ll announce our plans to Sylestra,” said Decker with a smirk. Cali held her breath, anticipating a screaming match.
None came.
Decker’s humorous comment relaxed Cressida and she once again sat down and reached for Decker’s hand. They looked silently into each other’s eyes.
“So we agree on two things,” said Cali breaking the silence. “We have to rescue Pilk and we all need rest. Knowing that I can count on help, I’ll rest a lot easier. I’ll return in the morning and we can make plans then.” Cali rose from her chair and bid them all a good night.
Sylestra woke and stretched out her stiff muscles. She had spent the night in the encampment on the Ki’arantha side of the Gate. Utterly exhausted she had fallen into a deep sleep almost instantly.
Catching sight of the fort for the first time in daylight showed the extent of the damage caused by the human and dwarf defenders — orc defenders too she reminded herself. Scarcely a building remained standing and besides a small stone section of wall, the rest had been reduced to charred remains. Coals still glowed red hot everywhere she looked.
The clean-up was already well underway and General Jak’ho’s voice echoed around the grove.
“Clear the trees around the magic dampening cage immediately and build a cabin to encase it for extra security,” ordered Sylestra when she had the General’s attention.
“The cage can’t be moved?” General Jak’ho raised an eyebrow.
“No it cannot,” she replied. “At least not on this world — for now. I would need my full powers to perform such a task.”
“And the prisoners?”
“I have a task for O’tukka. The little wizard was a bonus. He may prove useful and if not he will make a worthy sacrifice.”
“I’ll see to it at once, Supreme Mistress.” General Jak’ho bowed his head.
“See that you do.” Sylestra turned away from him and walked toward the cage housing her son. The General once again started barking his orders.
“I trust you slept well.” She approached the cage and stopped within arm’s reach of its confines.
“Perhaps if you supplied two cosy beds for us in here we might,” replied the little wizard as O’tukka gave her nothing but a hateful glare.
“I didn’t catch your name last night when first we met, little wizard.” She looked directly into his eyes and allowed her Gaze of Hopelessness to run free. Whether due to the effects of the cage or a strong will, the wizard didn’t flinch. She would have to find out which in due time.
“Nay, but I know yours along with many of the evil deeds you have done in your time,” he replied with confidence.
“Evil? By who’s reckoning? Have you even bothered to consider the viewpoint from where I stand?”
“What’s to consider? You sacrifice the lives of others for your own gain. You invade lands you have no right to invade.” The wizard counted off each point on his fingers as he spoke. “You wield a power that cripples and corrupts.”
“I sacrifice the lives of others after giving them a better life than they would have otherwise enjoyed and their sacrifice aids the furtherance of the living rather than their life essence going to waste as you would have it.” In mockery, Sylestra also counted off the points on her fingers. “Where you say I invade, I say I liberate and with regard to my power, do you not also wield a power capable of such things?”
“I wield my power to defend the defenceless. You wield yours to destroy such ones and instil fear into them.” The wizard stood poised with hands on hips; such fearlessness and determination by one so small.
She was impressed.
“Master Wizard, we could debate all day long about what is right and what is wrong and still gain very little ground. In my greatly extended lifetime I have learnt a simple truth — right and wrong can often come down to perspective. The ones governing that perspective are the ones with power. In your case it is your king. In mine, well that is me and since I am here and your king is not you would be much better off swaying to my side of thinking.”
“That will never happen,” spat the wizard.
“Time will tell. Anyway, as it happens I have come here to talk to my son, not to you and as always time is pressing.” She turned to O’tukka and put up a hand to silence the over-chatty wizard. “I will state this plain and simply. You know where it is I want to go and you have the best chance of giving me that access. Make it so and I will let you and your friend here go free.”
“Your promises are meaningless,” O’tukka replied.
“Nevertheless they are all you have. I’ll give you one full day to think it over. Should you refuse, you and the wizard will be sacrificed in the most painful of ways. What do you have to lose by helping me?” She realised by his icy stare that she would get no further response from him and so she turned and left. The time had come to hear an answer on another proposition.
Decker opened the door to find Mistress Cali accompanied by Master Tayer.
“Found more help I see,” he said as he beckoned them both inside.
“If you must attempt something so foolhardy you will need all the magical aid possible and a good amount of Shardae’s luck.” Master Tayer chuckled.
“Your help and any luck you bring us will sure be appreciated.” Decker closed the door as they entered and followed them over to the dining room table.
“At any rate, I can get you all to Bilwarks Grove and back in an instant.” Master Tayer took a seat with a sigh.
“That will be a great help in itself. I figure we need to scout the situation first so we know what we’re up against. Ordinarily I’d prefer to do this at night time but with this woman who knows how long we’ll have so haste is needed.” Decker pulled out a chair for Mistress Cali and then sat at the head of the table.
Vik and Trent came charging down the stairs. They were both wearing basic leather armour and a sword belt with a short sword hanging by their side.
“We’re ready to go,” said Vik excitedly. Master Tayer shot Decker a questioning look.
“We’ve decided to take the boys. We can keep an eye on them that way and keep them from the mischief they’d otherwise find.” Decker turned to the boys and smiled. “You are to do exactly as instructed like any good soldier would, understood?”
; “Understood,” they both said in unison.
“How long will Cressida be?” he asked the boys.
“She is mixing up herbs. She said she wouldn’t be long,” replied Trent.
They all spent the next fifteen minutes discussing plans and counterplans based upon what they may find. By the time Cressida came down they were all anxious to leave and so they all surrounded Master Tayer and placed a hand upon him and the next minute they found themselves on the fringes of Bilwark’s Grove.
“That was very draining,” said Master Tayer. “I fear I won’t be much further help except for getting you all home in a hurry.”
“That may yet be very critical to our survival so rest up.” Decker chuckled. “Whisper from now on and watch where you put your feet.”
Decker led the way into the grove, feeling better with each step for being back outside again and having something to do. Once he judged they were about half way to the destroyed fort he called a halt.
“Stay here,” he whispered to the group. “I’ll go on ahead and take a look” —he turned to Mistress Cali— “when you’re ready.”
“I still think I should come along. If the spell should wear off you’ll be seen in an instant. Not to mention if Pilk has any ideas I may be able to try them right away,” she whispered.
“No offence, but you are too heavy-footed. Even invisible the enemy will hear you a mile away.”
“I can levitate and you can pull me along. You’ve seen me do that before,” she pleaded.
“I’ll check out the best approach first and see what we’re up against. I won’t be long I assure you.” Decker looked between Cali and Cressida as he spoke and was comforted by a nod of approval from Cressida. She understood him more now. He wished he understood her more. They had been having more heart to heart talks of late but he still sensed she held a lot back from him.
“Okay. Remember this spell will hold for about fifteen minutes.” She cast her spell and pointed at him.
“I plan on being back here long before then.” The magic flowed within Decker and he knew by the looks of the others that he had vanished from sight. He somehow felt so much lighter when he became invisible but he figured that to be his imagination.
He set off at once and almost forgot about his injuries as years of training took over — treading softly from toe to heel instinctually finding the hard, clear ground each footfall.
Spotting the patrols with a practised eye, he crept around them and continued on his way until the crash of a felled tree stopped him dead. Noises of all description assaulted his ears but above them all he heard the unmistakeable sound of saws and axes working away on the trees. Perhaps he had been over-confident about being back within fifteen minutes.
Having full confidence in his invisible state and that his footsteps would not be heard above the tumultuous camp, he hurried on his way until the destroyed Fort Dega came into view.
It looked crowded with busy orcs clearing away the debris, piling up bodies and burning them and not far to his right they were constructing a wooden hut around a purple glowing cage. Inside the prison sat Master Pilk and Great Shaman O’tukka seemingly undaunted by the activity around them and their desperate plight.
Decker hurried over to the cage and tiptoed to the edge closest to Master Pilk.
“Pssst.” The noise he made had Pilk looking around nonchalantly. Decker repeated the noise a little louder and Master Pilk returned to his former casual position.
“You should not be here,” whispered Pilk. “It is far too risky.”
“Would that prevent you?” asked Decker.
Master Pilk snorted which attracted the attention of a nearby orc. Pilk started coughing uncontrollably. “A little water perhaps?” he shouted out to the guard.
The guard unhitched a small canteen hanging from his belt and threw it into the cage by Pilk’s feet. Pilk reached for it desperately and took a deep swallow coughing some up for effect.
“Thank you,” he said to the orc as he settled himself once again.
“Mistress Cali wants to know if there is a way to break the spell on this cage,” whispered Decker as the guard once again lost interest in the prisoners.
“All magic can be defeated or deflected,” replied Pilk.
“Yeah she said you may say something like that. Can you tell us something a little more specific?” Decker crouched to position himself a little closer to Pilk and didn’t have to whisper so loudly.
“From inside it appears quite impossible to defeat. The Great Shaman and I have been meditating hard for a way around it but have come up short thus far. It prevents all magic within, which reminds me — do not touch the bars or attempt to reach inside as it’ll defeat Mistress Cali’s spell of invisibility.”
“Noted,” replied Decker. “What about from outside?”
“From outside it should be able to be overwhelmed with spells of anti-magic similar to what we we’re doing with the Gate. How much power needed for such a feat I could only guess. I have never seen the like of this cage before.” Pilk leaned back and stretched out his legs on the ground.
“That seems simple enough.” Decker chuckled a little louder than he intended. Pilk covered it up with another short coughing fit.
“We have less than a day until we’ll be taken away and sacrificed to Nefari if Great Shaman O’tukka does not agree to open another gate.” Pilk’s serious tone caught Decker’s attention.
“He will not agree?” asked Decker.
“We are still discussing that very matter. Should he succeed in opening up a gate to Aleri it would spell doom for all of us here on Ka’ton,” replied Pilk.
“Aleri? That’s the mother world you were telling us about? Why would she want to go back there?” Decker was perplexed. The little that he had been told about Aleri had the world being in desolation and dominated by dragons. Sylestra had succeeded in fleeing the doomed world. What could she possibly hope to achieve by opening up a gate to such a perilous place?
“We have theories but not the time to discuss them with you. Your spell can’t have much time left.”
Decker had almost forgotten about that. He had already taken so much longer than he planned. He still had to navigate his way back without being detected and that would take time.
“Then we must break you out of here tonight.” Decker hoped he sounded more confident.
“A difficult undertaking I assure you but I know it’s pointless in attempting to dissuade you. Perhaps we should delay though so as to develop a more comprehensive plan.”
“But you said they plan on sacrificing you tomorrow.” Decker spoke fast now, all too aware of how little time he had left until becoming visible.
“If Great Shaman O’tukka agrees to the task, it will buy us time and give us greater opportunity. He can scarcely create a gate of that power within this cage so they’ll need to take him out. That may create the circumstances we need. Now you must leave. Return tonight and we can discuss it further.”
“Hang in there my friend. We will free you.” Decker stood up, examined his surrounds and padded off toward the tree line. Just before reaching the first tree the magic fluttered out and so he dived for a bush. The scratches he received for his effort were the least of his problems as the rustling of the bush had nearby orcs on high alert.
Knowing that he would be discovered if he stayed there, he jumped to his feet and took off with great haste. Shouts of alarm followed him as he nimbly dodged around the trees.
As he rounded one large tree an orc stepped out from behind it and swung his large axe head high. If not for Decker’s quick reflexes he would have been decapitated. He fell to his knees and slid over a patch of dried leaves, banging his right knee hard against a hidden rock. Even though he rose to his feet on the other side of the orc he could no longer outrun them on his injured knee.
Remembering his magical horse he called out to Ciara and gave a loud whistle as he drew his short sword and dagger. He had no chance of blocking th
e crazed swing from his orcish foe so he jumped back out of range, landing awkwardly on his wounded right leg. He did his best to ignore the shooting pain, swinging his finely made sword in an arc to stop the charge of the ferocious orc.
It worked but he still stood well in range of the longer reaching weapon and the orc swung faster than he expected — the downward chop missing him by a hair’s breadth. This clumsy attack gave Decker the opportunity he needed and he plunged his dagger hand forward and sunk it deep into the orc’s stomach.
In a fit of rage the orc swung out his left arm and sent Decker sprawling along the grove floor colliding hard against a small birch tree. His dagger remained deep in the orc’s flesh and he struggled to keep a hold of his sword. Fortunately he did, as the orc charged in thinking him prone, but with mighty effort Decker swung his sword and hamstrung his foe. The orc fell in a heap right on top of him, blasting the air from his lungs.
Before the orc could suitably respond, Decker reversed the grip on his sword and plunged it into his back, careful not to penetrate through and inadvertently stab himself. The orc spasmed and blood flowed freely from his mouth. Seconds later he lay still with his full weight still pinning Decker to the tree.
The shouts of the pursuing orcs were close. Too close. Decker started squirming erratically to free himself but he knew in his heart he wasn’t going to make it in time and even if he did he wouldn’t outrun them all with his fresh injuries.
His saviour came in the form of a horse — his magical horse Ciara had heeded his call. He grabbed hold of her mane expecting her to pull him out, but instead the dead orc fell through him and he became as light as air as he pulled himself up with the aid of Ciara and then mounted her.
Before Ciara turned, an orc levelled a crossbow at him and he ducked instinctually as it fired. It went right through his shoulder without harm and imbedded itself in a tree behind him. The orc’s shocked expression was the last thing he saw before Ciara sped off leaving the orcs in her wake.
Racing off through the trees — literally through them — Decker sensed another of Ciara’s surprising magical abilities. A comforting healing energy entered his body and gathered about his right knee. The pain faded and the joint loosened. Other muscles in his body that he hadn’t even realised were so tense also relaxed.
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