Salina had moved to what looked like a trap door in the middle of the attic that was barely attached to its supporting frame. She was probing to see how to open it without them falling through. Cedric continued to watch from a new vantage point where a section had fallen away. His view was to the outside of the southern wall of the villa. Khan had stepped back to allow both Ulathan men room to enter.
“I believe we entered a top most floor of a guest quarters by the look of it.” Khan said.
“He was being rhetorical,” Cedric said, turning to face Khan.
“What?” both Targon and Will said in unison looking at Cedric.
Salina answered, “Cedric meant that the question Will asked was not one meant to be answered.”
“Duh,” Will said, shrugging his shoulders as if it should be obvious to all.
Salina shook her head while Khan said, “I see.”
“So what’s the plan?’ Salina asked, giving up her inspection on the trap door and returning to stand near the three men near the exposed entry place.
“I feel nothing.” Khan held up his staff.
“What do you mean, nothing?” Will asked.
Khan sighed, “I should feel the powerful pull of the Ulathan shield if what the druid said is correct. Its magic would be powerful and being this close to it then I should feel its presences and I do not.”
“What makes you think we’re close to the Ulathan estate?” Salina asked.
“The place fits the description the druid gave long ago.” Khan said.
Cedric walked over to join them as well, “He’s right, Mom. The old man described at least the location of the villa pretty well and this sure looks like it’s the same place.”
“That’s too convenient,” Will said.
“Not really,” Khan said. “The staff was also pulling me slightly towards this place so the fact that we encountered it the way we did is logical.”
“More like stumbled upon this place,” Will shot back.
“What does it matter?” Salina asked, also rhetorically. “Either this is the place, or it isn’t.”
Targon turned to Khan, “Is this the place?”
“The Vandersot Estate,” Cedric clarified, being more specific with the Kesh magic-user.
Khan took a moment before nodding. “I believe it is the correct location, but the artifact you are seeking is not here.”
“Could your magic be wrong?” Salina asked. “Could your staff not be pulling you because the shield is here but not detected?”
“Yes to both,” Khan said.
Will scoffed, “Well, that’s just great. Is it here or not?”
“We will have to search, but I do not think we will find it here,” Khan said.
“How are we going to leave this building much less search with a pack of hungry wolves surrounding us?” Cedric noted rather accurately.
“Can you burn em?” Will asked, falling back onto his Ulathan slang like the soldier that he was.
“Some,” Khan said. “I do fear however that the material in this building and nearby is quite flammable having had all summer to dry out.”
“The building has had years to dry out and rot,” Salina noted.’
“Centuries actually,” Khan said. “I was mainly referring to the dead trees limbs and brush along the entire complex. Even those vines are dead and dry. The stucco could conceal wooden support beams at places too, not only bricks, so any fire use could burn our only sanctuary to the ground.”
“Can ya fire them things with a little more accuracy?” Will asked, sounding almost as if he was pleading with the Kesh wizard.
“If the wolves burn, they will run, those that survive my initial blast. They could light everything within this villa on fire.” Khan said.
The group let that information settle a bit before Targon said, “Well, I’m too tired to run or fight now. I say we rest the night here and see what daylight brings.”
The sky had turned that deep purple and even inky black along the eastern horizon, while only a faint orange tinged the far western sky. There would be no campfire and no sound sleep for the group. Salina looked back at the trap door and asked Targon, “Do you think we should search below?”
Targon shook his head. “I’m surprised these timbers managed to survive as long as they did. The wood around the window sills below looked rotted and weak, at least to my eye. I wouldn’t trust the floor boards or lesser support beams below. If they gave way, we could find one of us, if not all of us, on the ground again.”
“Would that be a bad thing if there is no ground entrance?” Cedric asked.
Targon held up his hand and motioned for the young noble to look out their entrance point. “See for yourself.”
Cedric walked to the edge and looked out seeing several wolves digging at the rubble pile. Turning to Targon he asked, “How did you know?”
“I heard them,” Targon said, tilting his head slightly. “Are you deaf?”
“No need to be rude,” Cedric replied. “I hear it now that you mention it, but it was not obvious to me earlier.”
“Me either,” Will said.
“Nor I,” Khan added.
Salina shrugged, not wanting to pile on and simply said, “That’s why we have you to protect us city folk.”
Targon smiled, “Alright, but they sounded loud and clear to me, even from this distance up.”
“Like she said,” Will added. “City folk.”
That ended the conversation and the group decided to make the best of their situation. The spell that Khan had used on the Ulathans quickly wore off, all except Targon who didn’t receive it or its benefit. Each companion broke out their sleeping bags and provisions and found the best places to sleep despite the warning from Salina about the floor boards. The worst were near the open areas and they avoided them.
They decided to set one watch for each two hours till sunrise. They used the various stages of the twin sisters rising and setting along with the stars to estimate time. The wolves continued to dig but otherwise stayed at bay and the sleep they had was both fitful and less than fulfilling. With some yawning and complaining they found themselves awake as the sun lit up the eastern horizon with shades of orange and yellow.
“Did you sleep well?” Khan asked the group.
Most everyone shook their heads and Cedric asked Targon, “Are they still digging?”
“No,” Targon said.
“Really?” Will said, perking up at what they all thought was good news. “Gave up did they?”
“No,” Targon said again before taking a deep breath and adding, “They cleared enough to enter the ground floor. They are inside the building.”
“I heard nothing,” Will said, drawing his blade and looking around.
“Neither did I,” Salina said, pulling her slender sword and putting her back to a large wooden beam.
Targon walked over to the trap door and knelt. He listened for a moment then found the latch and hinges and lifted the door so that it opened slightly, something that befuddled Salina the night before. With a fluid motion of his free hand, he said to Cedric, “See for yourself.”
Cedric shook his head and said, “I hate it when you say that.”
“Alright,” Will said, seeing that Cedric would not go to the trap door. Walking over, Will peered down and caught sight of at least three pairs of glowing red eyes. “Damn, are they possessed?”
“I don’t think so,” Targon said. “They see well in dim light or no light and I think we are seeing part of that ability in the dark. You won’t see that during the day.”
“So there are wolves right below us?” Cedric asked, tentatively touching the floor boards with the tip of his right foot.
“Oh yeah,” Will said, walking away and shaking his head while sheathing his blade. “Damn bastards snuck in here during the night.”
“So had we gone downstairs we’d be dead now?” Cedric ventured.
“Most likely,” Khan said, his tact less than consi
derate which was normal for the Kesh man.
“If he says so,” Will said, looking at Khan.
“But we didn’t go below so no use getting all worked up about it,” Salina said. “We need to figure out what we’re going to do now. We can’t stay in this dilapidated attic all winter.”
The group went silent and most everyone had a pensive look on his or her face. The severity of their situation was no longer in just an immediate threat, but that they now faced a long-term threat and they had nothing to show for it. According to the only one of them familiar with the arcane, the chance of finding the Ulathan artifact was slim to none.
Will sat back down while Cedric went over to the far south side to look out past the wall of the villa. Salina remained standing near Khan while Targon stood stoically at the trap door. After a few moments, Cedric spoke. “Can we kill the wolves, even if it’s one by one and then continue with our search?”
“We can defeat the wolves, but it will take time. Time is something in short supply,” Khan said.
“How much time are we talking about here?” Will asked.
“Days most likely,” Khan said. I could pick off a large group from here, but as a pack they are spread out. I would have to try to eliminate them one by one from a distance and they are quick and agile.”
The group went back to thinking when Salina snapped her fingers. “What about a distraction?”
“What do you mean?” Khan asked.
“Don’t you remember when we came upon those trolls on the Ulathan side of the underground city?”
“Hey yeah,” Cedric said, following his mother’s idea.
“I do remember,” Khan stated.
“So…” Salina prompted him, hoping he would reach the same idea that she stumbled across. Partly because she didn’t want to explain it all, but also because she knew that coming from the Kesh wizard, it wouldn’t be tainted by bias and he would know what he could do and couldn’t do.
Khan looked at her then said, “You mean take a less direct approach.”
“Exactly,” Salina said. “I was hoping you’d be a bit more detailed when the idea came to you.”
“Understood,” Khan said, clearing his throat and beginning. “A dragon may not be the correct conjuration in this situation. If I understand your logic, then something easier that could cause the pack to give chase would distract the animals enough for us to do something.”
“Right again,” Salina said, a tinge of satisfaction in her voice.
“Not to rain on everyone’s parade,” Will began, “but you all realize that we haven’t seen a single building, town, or village anywhere near a day’s journey from us. How is it that buying a few minutes would serve any purpose? Those crazed wolves could easily find our scent and track us within a few hours if not minutes.”
Cedric walked closer to the group, “Maybe we only need a few minutes to leave this building and get to the main complex over there.”
The group had to look through the small ventilation hole that had been covered by a slatted shutter that was now broken in several places. Their objective was the main living quarters of the Vandersot Estate which was considerably larger than the outlying building in which they were using as shelter.
“What would we do there?” Will asked. “It seems more exposed than this place.”
“First,” Cedric began, “It would allow us to search for the artifact that Master Elister tasked us with securing. Second, it would give us a chance to see if there are any other weapons or resources that could aid us in fending off these wild wolves.”
Targon spoke after giving a nod to Will, “The wolves seem driven by more than hunger. Something isn’t right with them.”
“Explain yourself,” Khan said.
“The red glowing eyes and ragged appearance,” Targon began. “They seem guided or also tasked in a way that contradicts nature.”
“I see you’ve been practicing with young Cedric,” Will said with a chuckle.
Targon took it good naturedly, “I’m trying. Besides, Elister is always chiding me for spending too much time on hunting and not enough on reading.”
“Can we get back to the wolves?” Khan asked patiently.
Targon nodded, “Someone’s up to something.”
Khan nodded in return and then sat cross legged on the floor, careful to test the area around him for stability. Reaching into this pack he pulled out a sack that was carefully tied. Undoing it, he pulled out his critir eliciting a gasp from those around him, especially Salina who asked, “Is that wise?”
Khan barely looked up, “Not really, though I would not classify my action now as foolish.”
Will, who started to sound more and more like Horace these days, said, “How close to foolish is it compared to wise?”
“About fifty-fifty,” Khan replied, following his words with a shrug of his shoulders after seeing the blank looks he received.
“Great,” Will said, shaking his head and sighing.
“What are you going to do?” Cedric asked.
“Well,” Khan began, “when we left, the druid told me to contact him if our situation became dire.”
“I’d hardly call this dire,” Targon said. “Maybe perplexing a bit and we’ve yet to try to solve the problem on our own.”
Salina added, “I’m forced to agree with Targon. We could make things worse if you use your magic orb and your old master finds us.”
Khan tilted his head slightly at Salina and asked, “Why forced?”
“It’s a figure of speech,” Salina said. “Never mind, are you insistent on using your orb?”
Khan nodded, “Contrary to what Targon said, we have not tried anything because we have nothing worthy to attempt at the moment. In addition, the discussion of time was apparent to all that if we were going to succeed before the coming of Akun.”
“What does that mean?” Will asked.
“It means we are short on time and have no ideas.” Khan looked at the Ulathan officer.
“Fine,” Targon said. “Make it happen then and get it over quickly.”
Salina looked at Targon and added, “Maybe the druid’s council will be helpful now.”
No one spoke further and Khan set the orb on a small wooden stand that only stood a few inches high. Muttering arcane words the critir started to glow and soon a ghastly face peered at them. It was skull like and wore a crown of sorts and the outline of a metallic staff was seen on the edge of the vision. An ebony hue emanated from the apparition and a voice spoke through the magical device. “There you are.”
Khan was struggling to maintain control of his magical orb and it was obvious that he wasn’t expecting to see the lich. “Release my critir.”
Instead the disembodied voice replied, “Such a display of weakness in one who calls himself a Kesh. You are a disgrace to our kind. We shall remedy that situation soon enough.”
Khan held a hand over the ball and furrowed his brow attempting to wrest control of his own orb away from the intruder. “You are the disgrace and your attempts to ascend to the throne of the Onyx Tower are both vain and foundationless.”
The response in the voice seemed to indicate a tinge of anger, if not hate, “You deign to state such accusations? What know you of my lineage? I was a member of our order long before it became a shadow of itself, a shadow of which you are no part.”
“Your hubris gives you no credit,” Khan began but was cut off.
“Enough, apprentice,” Azor the Lich commanded, and the ball swirled a brighter blue. “Is the heir to the Moross line with you?”
“With your powers that should not be a question that needs asking,” Khan replied, his veins starting to bulge and pound visibly in his neck as the strain of mental battle continued.
“Tell her, if she is with you, that her husband is coming for her. Captain Bran Moross will find her for me.”
What!” Salina asked, stepping forward and almost revealing herself visually to the lich by coming into its field of v
ision. A hand by Khan and an arm grabbed by Targon kept her at bay. Unfortunately, her words were too clear for the undead king.
“Good,” he said contently. “Keep her well for me until her service and sacrifice are complete. The Arnen was wise to try and keep her from me.”
A white mist rose from the wooden stand and surrounded the critir. Another voice, this one most familiar interrupted their conversation. “Did you call, Arch Mage Azor?”
“Your presence no longer matters, and you can no longer interfere with my plans,” Azor the Lich said. “I did not call and your time upon this world is almost over.”
Elister responded as the white mist injected itself into the magical orb and blotted out the ebony hued radiance of the lich. “You are correct in your latter statement but not in the former. Be gone, undead creature of Akun and appear no more.”
A distant yell of defeat came from the orb while the skull like vision disappeared leaving a familiar sight of the dead druid’s petrified face peering back at Khan who spoke, “Thank you, I was nearly spent trying to keep his attention in a frontal arc.”
Elister responded, “You did well, despite the circumstances. I was unable to respond as quickly due to the nature of our nemesis. He is very adept at using his own critir.”
Khan nodded and breathed heavily, “Will he be able to intercept my call?”
“No,” Elister responded. “At least not while I’m around. Now this leads me to a more pressing question, why did you feel the need to summon me?”
“The creature is controlling wild life, very unusual for his kind, and we are surrounded by a pack of wolves and trapped in an outbuilding at the Vandersot Estate. Can you assist us?”
Elister stood motionless for a while before finally responding, “I sense his power even from here. Fortunately for us, he is not in tune with the Mother, and his control is only superficial at best. Better to describe it as influence.”
“Regardless, he now knows that the Lady Salina is with us and his words, while cryptic, indicated that he was expecting her, or her services, sometime soon.”
“Yes,” Elister said, nodding, “He has sent her husband to bring her to him. This must not happen.”
Cursed Cleric Page 9