The Pilgrim Stone

by J D Bowens

  Leiwyn threw a bolt of light at Zamari and stepped forward, hurling another bolt of light. With each one Zamari caught it and deflected them. Her smile never faded, and she never moved.

  “Keep her distracted,” Karinne said. She charged forward with her sword pointed at Zamari.

  “Karinne, no!” Leiwyn called “Stay behind us.”

  Zamari lifted one hand, and after three quick motions and a whisper, she pointed two fingers at Karinne. Karinne froze in mid-step a few paces away from her. Zamari advanced, and with a flourish, her right hand ignited into black flames. “One false step,” she hissed, “and she will be ashes.”

  Consus held Leiwyn back and exchanged a glare with Zamari. Leiwyn shrugged his arm off but did not move further.

  Zamari tsked and clicked her teeth. “I am disappointed in you, Consus,” she chided. “You are so gifted. You could understand the deep secrets of divina magic, perhaps even see the seams of the universe. But you’re too stupid to serve the right master. You can’t even break a simple curse.”

  “I was never going to serve you or your filthy god of lies,” he spat.

  “You should reconsider,” she said. Zamari pointed at Leiwyn. “That elf has nothing to offer you. Arden has nothing to offer you. But Nemoth, we could give you everything.”

  Consus shook his head. Did she really think he’d change his mind? “I’ve seen your world,” he said. “I’d rather die.” He heard footsteps rushing up the steps behind him. Two more Children of Nemoth in black and red robes appeared behind him. They hurled an immense column of black fire.

  Leiwyn threw up her hands and created a shield around them. The blue light encompassed them just as the flames crashed into them. The flames hissed and crackled around them like a hurricane of darkness that threatened to consume them. Consus threw up his arms as well and lent his own magic to sustain the shield. The snakes tightened and coiled around his arms. Consus cried out in pain, but he did not break the spell. They would die if he did. Even through the pain of the curse, he could feel the flames pounding against the ward. We aren’t strong enough, he realized.

  The fire abated, and the two dark acolytes bowed to Zamari as she approached. “I tried to use the carrot,” she chided. “I tried to win you over with reward and promise. But I see the stick is needed. Truth be told, I could eat your heart and pull your blessing from you.” She paused in mock consideration and then shook her head. “But it would not be as strong after that. If only you had obeyed, I wouldn’t need to kill your siblings.”

  “What do you mean?” he asked.

  A hideous grin grew on Zamari’s beautiful face. She walked to the edge of the keep and peered over. She waved for him to join her. Consus looked at her, wary of leaving the shield he held with Leiwyn. “I won’t harm you,” Zamari said, rolling her eyes. “If I wanted to kill you would be dead.”

  “Don’t listen to her, Consus,” Leiwyn said.

  Consus could not resist it though. What did Zamari mean about killing his brothers? Had she captured them? The image of their beheading rushed into his mind as he remembered the terrifying future she’d promised him. He moved forward without realizing he was running to the edge.

  He could hear Leiwyn calling him back, but her voice sounded so distant, so far away. He could sense the Children had started attacking her shield with fire again. He knew he should help her, but he was distracted by what he saw in the courtyard.

  Chapter 53

  Altin peered beyond the bright light of the portal’s doorway. Jaltha and several more students and teachers observed with him. In only a couple days they had managed to create a portal to Maerstone Keep.

  “Remember,” Jaltha said, “there’s no way for us to be certain where you will land. But according to my calculations, it will be a room on the first floor, the courtyard, or the walls just outside.”

  Altin took a deep breath and shook off his fears. “Hopefully, I don’t end up in a wall...or a well,” he half-joked.

  Jaltha shrugged. “I know, but it’s hard to be so precise when we must hurry.”

  Altin waved away her concern. “I trust your work and judgment, all of you.” He walked to the portal’s edge. “For Margaret.”

  He leapt through the portal and landed on a cold stone floor. He looked over his shoulder to the portal. It twinkled and then burst out of existence. He would find another way home. Altin observed his surroundings once his eyes adjusted to the light. He was hoping that he would be somewhere near the Crimson Throne. From what he could see it was a dark hallway.

  At least it’s not a wall. He looked out a nearby window and saw that he was on the first floor of the keep.

  He snuck down the hallway to a door slightly ajar, torchlight emanating through it. He heard the voices of a few men speaking. Altin whispered to his staff and then tapped his foot against it. He watched his hands and feet fade from sight. This invisibility spell will not last long. He walked on the balls of his feet and stepped into the room.

  A bearded man in black armor stood near a window with several soldiers around him. Beside him was a thin older man with wispy brown hair. In the far corner of the room were two men and a boy, their hands bound together. The shadows made it difficult for him to discern who they were.

  And no sign of Dandrea. She must be elsewhere in the keep.

  "Tauric, how much longer?” the bearded man said. “When are they going to eat these poor bastards?”

  “We can take them out now,” Tauric, the thin man said. “Savor these last few moments Dromedus. It’ll be the last time you see these men.”

  “I’d prefer to kill them myself,” Dromedus replied. One of the soldiers started taking weapons from the bound men. “Leave their weapons be. It’ll be fun to watch them struggle.” The soldiers dragged the men out the nearby door and into the courtyard. The prisoners kicked and struggled against their captors.

  “I’ll kill you, you pig eyed heaps of bat dung,” a familiar voice said.

  Ewan! Altin recognized. A fire basin in the court revealed their faces: dark skin, wooly hair, and wide noses. Kyran and Ewan! That must be Milo with them. What are they doing here? Where is Consus?

  Altin cursed in silence. He could not abandon his brothers. He could save them and find the Crimson Throne later if he must. The soldiers shoved Kyran and Ewan along, and one soldier snatched up the kicking halfling. They led them to a large open well in the center of the courtyard. The soldiers forced the brothers on the ground prostrate and ran back to the keep.

  I can’t wait any longer. This spell will fade soon, and I’ll be spotted. I must act now. He backed out of the room as the soldiers returned. Dromedus and Tauric were still watching the well. Altin reached into his pocket and retrieved a fire-nut. He raised it in his fist and pointed it at the door and whispered. "Flumafiego."

  A ball of fire came into being in the palm of his hand. He bowled it into the room, and it exploded. The red and orange flames swirled around the room and consumed the occupants. Dark silhouettes screeched in terrific agony as they crumbled to the floor. In mere moments, the fire was gone. The stone of the walls and floor glowed with heat and piles of ash remained littered the ground. A mottled, burned corpse sat against the wall, its flesh melded with the armor.

  Altin cast a spell to cool the stones and then ran through the room and into the courtyard. The halfling was already cutting through Kyran’s bonds. Apparently, Milo had wriggled free of his own. “Imagine meeting you here,” Altin said.

  Kyran launched up from the ground, wide-eyed and beaming. “What in the hells are you doing here?” he asked. “Nevermind, we don’t have time. We need to find Consus and get out of here.”

  “What are you all doing here?” Altin asked.

  “The Pilgrim Stone is real,” Kyran said. “The gods, the stories; it’s all real. I’ll explain later.”

  A chorus of horrifying shrieks and squeals roared from the well. It increased in pitch and Altin had to cover his ears. What is happening?

/>   Ewan jumped up just as Milo finished cutting his bonds and pulled his hatchet from his belt. They took several steps away from the well but kept their wary eyes on it. Altin whispered a spell of protection when he saw Kyran draw his swords. The shrieks grew louder and deeper. They now sounded more like the roar of young lions. The sound of metal dragging against stone crept closer and closer up the well. It was followed by the sound of beating wings and bursts of wind.

  Run. Run! His legs would not cooperate. He stood paralyzed in terror.

  A multitude of shadows vaulted up from the well into the sky. Altin shielded his face from the dirt blown up by the sudden gusts of wind. The dark creatures screeched and howled as they ascended into the night and blotted out the stars. Milo bumped into him as he took off towards the keep.

  “Time to run,” the halfling shouted. Altin, regaining control of his legs, sprinted, his brothers just beside him.

  A large shadow creature crashed into the ground between them and the keep. They halted their steps as it stood up. It’s taller than a great horse, Altin realized. The large beast’s black and blue scales gleamed in the moonlight. Its sword-like talons scratched the stone it stood on. The long serpentine tail wagged with a hungry eagerness, like a cat hunting mice. It’s most frightening feature was its head. Vicious horns protruded out the back of its skull. The lizard-like snout was shaped in a pointed, scaly beak. It watched them with glowing yellow eyes and gave a malevolent grin, revealing a row of large, dreadful teeth.

  “Dra-dragon,” Ewan stuttered.

  Altin shook his head in shock. “They don’t exist,” he said. “They can’t exist.”

  The dragon snipped at the brothers and then lashed at them with its massive foreleg. Altin leaped backwards with Ewan and Kyran. Milo scurried after him and hid behind his robes. “Do something,” Milo said.

  Altin tapped his staff on the ground and thrust it forward. “Illumen ignatus,” he spoke.

  The head of the staff burst into white light. The startled dragon stumbled backwards and to the side. The brothers and the halfling ran forward without hesitation. Altin kept the staff pointed at the dragon as they ran to the keep.

  Several more dragons landed on the ground and cut off their escape. Altin could hear more touch down on the ground behind them. Their talons clicked as they hit the stone.

  “We’re surrounded,” Milo said.

  Ewan waved his hatchet at one of the dragons as they approached. “I know that!”

  One of the dragons pounced forward and snapped at Kyran. He stepped backwards just out of reach and sliced the sword across its snout. The dragon howled and rebounded, but Altin could see the cut was superficial.

  “Blazes,” Kyran said. “These swords are no good.”

  Altin repeated the spell. “Illumen ignatus.” The bright light appeared again, and the dragons withdrew for a moment. Smaller dragons, the size of dogs, continued to circle overhead. They adjusted their vision and hissed. I don’t know any magic that can stop these beasts.

  Chapter 54

  “How marvelous,” Zamari crowed. Her laughter rippled over Consus’ skin making him sick. “I could not have planned this any better. All three of your brothers are going to die.”

  Consus’ hands balled up into fists. His knuckles turned white as they gripped the staff. “You let them go,” he demanded. Sweat beaded down his forehead.

  He felt her cool gaze regard him. “Be nice, boy. My children will only eat them when I say so. I will give you one last chance,” she said. She stood just a pace away from him; the black flames extinguished from her hand. She pressed her face close to his ear. “Kill the elf priestess, and I will let two of your brothers live,” she whispered. “If you are quick enough I may even let you choose which ones.”

  Consus said nothing. It’s just another trick. She’ll just kill them all and lock me back in the cell. Or worse, she’ll keep them alive for torture. There was no way to save his brothers, not on her terms.

  “Do not test me,” she said. “My dragons may not yet be fully grown, but they would have no trouble consuming three men and a halfling. They would make a delightful snack.”

  Consus pivoted and swung his staff at Zamari. She stepped back, never losing her vicious smile. He missed her by a hair. The snakes on his arm hissed and coiled. Consus cried out in pain and fell to a knee. Useless. I’m so damn useless.

  The sounds around him overwhelmed him: Leiwyn's calls for help, the dragons roaring below, and the sound of Zamari’s laugh. If only he could remain calm and gain control of his magic, he might be able to break the curse.

  But what if I don’t? Consus wondered. He remembered Leiwyn's warning about using divina magic in anger. I might lose control, but I doubt that I can make things worse.

  Consus rose from the ground, leaning against his staff. He looked down at the dragons and let himself boil over with rage. He reached deep within and touched the divina magic. It consumed him like a fast spreading forest fire. He could feel the magic in his blood and bone. His skin felt charged and electric. The snakes on his arms glowed, sparked, and evaporated.

  He felt like a consuming inferno. No, a sun. A sun with immense power. He needed to release this magic before it consumed him. He was vaguely aware that Zamari wasn’t laughing anymore.

  Consus took the staff with both hands and pointed it at the dragons below. Bolts of lightning ran down from his shoulders along his arms and into the staff. The lightning sailed down to the dragons in a spectacular curtain of light. The flesh of the smaller dragons sizzled and popped as they screeched and fell to the ground. The larger ones were swift and retreated into the night sky, howling as they disappeared into the stars.

  “No! My children,” Zamari wailed. “You worthless shit.” She waved her hand and hurled a black ball of fire at Karinne.

  Karinne screeched as her body fizzled and popped. She fell to the ground, her body blackened save but half her face. Zamari turned and pointed at him. A column of flames billowed from her hand. Consus pointed the staff at the fire. The column crashed into the head of the staff and split into two paths around Consus. The ground beside him charred and glowed from the heat but he remained unscathed.

  The fire dwindled, and Consus lunged forward. He slammed the butt of the staff into Zamari’s chest. An explosion of light blew into her heart and the air rippled around her. Thunder reverberated through the keep and Consus could feel the stone vibrate beneath his feet. A satisfying look of shock appeared on her face as her body sailed backwards. She landed on the other side of the keep with a thud, a smoldering hole in her chest. Synara shrieked and ran to her mistress. The Pilgrim Stone rolled passed her from Zamari’s body.

  The Stone. The brilliant orb rolled towards him, the creatures trapped inside still flying around their little sun. He let go of his rage, his magic, and dove forward. He snatched the Pilgrim Stone from the ground and tucked it into the crook of his arm.

  “Mistress Zamari!” a voice called.

  Consus looked up to see that one of the acolytes attacking Leiwyn had turned his attention to him now. The dark servant hurled a ball of black flames at him. Consus dodged out of the way as the fire passed by.

  He regained his footing and pointed his staff at the priest, but nothing happened; no lighting or terrific show of power. “Blast,” he said.

  Consus charged the priest and threw the staff at him. The priest instinctively tried to catch it, and as he fumbled with the staff, Consus threw the weight of his body against him. The priest was knocked backwards into his comrade who was still raining fire on Leiwyn's shield of protection. The torrent of fire ceased as the two priests struggled to get up.

  Consus saw Leiwyn make a swift gesture with her hands. She stomped the ground in front of her. A web of cracks appeared in the stone beneath her feet and splintered underneath the priests. The floor crumbled beneath the two dark servants and they hollered as they fell into the keep. Several large stones fell in after them and muted their cries.


  Consus breathed a sigh of relief and collected his staff.

  “Karinne,” Leiwyn cried. She sprinted to her friend’s body and knelt beside it. The fire had ravaged Karinne’s body so that the blackened flesh was indistinguishable from her ruined armor. Only half her face remained unscathed, a lifeless green eye staring into the sky. Her charred hand still clutched her sword which was no more than a shard of steel.

  Consus didn’t know what to say. We can’t just leave her here, but we don’t have a choice. Karinne was dead, and if they tried to carry her body through the keep, it would slow them down. His eyes were drawn to Synara who wailed and howled over Zamari’s body. She cradled her mistress’ head in her hands and begged her to wake up. We need to leave before she decides to attack us.

  “Leiwyn, I’m so sorry,” he said. “We can’t stay here.” Leiwyn did not appear to hear him. She closed Karinne’s eye and brushed the singed hair from the corpse’s face. Leiwyn folded her own hands into a prayer and whispered something in elvish.

  Flickers of light from outside the keep walls caught his attention. A swarm of torches gathered in the night only a mile away. Like fireflies, the torches moved and began to run towards the keep. That must be Zamari’s army, he realized. We might be able to handle one more priestess but not a whole army.

  “Leiwyn, we have to go.” He pointed to the torches marching towards them. “That is Zamari’s army. They will be here soon. I’m sorry, but we must leave now.”

  Leiwyn nodded and wiped away her tears. She stood up and together they ran down the stairs into the keep. Several frightened servants ran away from them as they barreled through the halls. One brave butler, in nothing more than his night clothes, charged them with a rusty sword. Using his staff, Consus slapped the sword from the butler’s hand and struck his knee. The sword clattered to the floor, and the butler tumbled with it, striking his head against the stone.