Witches vs Wizards

by Adam Bennett

  "That’s true. What would you like?"

  "My wages for working with you are such: that once you kill Archmage Krozer, you will allow me first choice of his possessions."

  Gavin immediately grew serious. "Well, that is unfortunate. What if we both want the same thing?"

  "Then I shall kill you, and take it for myself."

  "Well, at least you’re honest about it." Gavin chuckled at Mange’s candid words. Then he steeled himself for the kobold’s answer as he pressed: "Surely you are not after a green crystal, the size and shape of a… ?"

  "No," Mange answered honestly. "I want his obsidian dagger."

  "Obsidian?" Gavin echoed, aware of the mineral’s dark powers. "And for what purpose?"

  "That is not something I am willing to discuss with you."

  "Very well, Master Kobold, you may have his obsidian dagger. Now hop on, we must hurry.”

  ***

  “You must treat Gemellus with kindness,” Gavin reminded Mange for the ninth or tenth time.

  “Of course. I will not abuse him," his kobold squire promised, gently tugging on the mule’s reins as they travelled. "Where are we heading?”

  “It’s not a far jaunt. If we’re to defeat the Archmage Krozer, we need to find the source of his power. If we can neutralize it, we can get the upper hand.”

  “Do you think it’s wise?” he asked, still unsure of the motives of the wizard knight beside him.

  “We have no choice. The longer Krozer remains in power, the more death he brings to Den.”

  “Krozer’s power…” Mange prodded, “would you use evil if it helped you overcome evil?”

  "Never," Gavin swore. "As a knight, I am forbidden to use evil for gain."

  "All that keeps you from immense power is your word—your paltry oath."

  The wizard shrugged. "Sometimes mere words are the most powerful thing."

  The kobold remained silent as they travelled, but Mange grew increasingly agitated the further Gavin rode from the forest path.

  "I really don’t think we should be doing this, Master."

  "Again, I insist you not call me ‘Master.’ Mange, my name is Gavin, and I’ve already heard your reservations about this quest. You may choose to leave me if you want, but you must do so on foot. Mercy and Gemellus cannot be separated." He gave the grey mare that he rode a comforting pat.

  Mange continued to bite his tongue in increased frustration as Gavin trod a careful path. After a handful of miles—it felt like longer, due to the roughness of the terrain—the wizard was forced to dismount and continue on foot.

  As they approached a clearing, Gavin sensed the presence of another elemental. "Show yourself," he declared, readying his dagger.

  An elder kobold stepped between the wizard and the barrow. With an angry scowl he used his form to block the wizard’s progress.

  "Master Kobold," Gavin said in deference, "I need to pass through and enter this barrow."

  The elemental shook his head in defiance, producing an antlered dagger of his own.

  "Do not hurt him, Gavin, I beg," his kobold companion whispered to the wizard. "Obey him—he is trying to keep your soul from being poisoned by this place."

  “We must proceed,” the wizard reiterated.

  "Let me try," Mange said, approaching the kobold with the unicorn horn.

  Gavin warily agreed, still suspicious of the kobolds’ intentions. He could sense deception in his companion’s words.

  "Master Kobold," Mange said, badly feigning to not know the one he addressed, "This wizard is our only hope. This unicorn horn is as pure as its master’s heart. Touch it and know that he is here to save us from Krozer’s oppression."

  As their assailant brushed his fingertips against the horn reverently, he gasped, overwhelmed by its purity.

  "You must allow us to pass. He wants to see what is within," Mange reiterated, pointing to the barrow.

  A wordless conversation occurred between the kobolds; Gavin suspected that they were speaking telepathically, as elementals were wont to do, but it unnerved him that the newcomer had not uttered a sound.

  "Is your companion mute?" Gavin asked.

  "Yes," Mange added. "His name is Pox."

  "Will he join us, or will he keep guard outside?"

  "He will do both. He will join us, and guard us from disturbing what lies within."

  "You make it sound as if we are mere grave robbers desecrating someone’s tomb," Gavin harrumphed.

  "We are. Come," Mange beckoned, as they entered the silent barrow.

  There was barely enough room in the barrow for the wizard and his two kobold companions to fit inside.

  "It’s too narrow for torches," Gavin suggested. "Let’s use elf lights.”

  All three pulled their elflights from the folds of their clothes. The glow from the translucent stones gently illuminated the room, revealing the horrors frozen in time.

  The body of an elf maiden lay bound upon a stone slab. Her mutilated form had been worked on so foully that the evil did not even permit moss or dust to grow over her corpse to hide the crime.

  Gavin gaped in horror at the scene. Mange and Pox watched him intensely, gauging his reaction.

  Finally the wizard wiped the tears from his eyes and cleared his throat, seeking composure. "I have never seen such evil before…” he paused, then tried again, "I suppose you were trying to spare me from this sight?"

  Mange nodded.

  "This is horrible. No one, not even Krozer himself, deserves this fate. We have to do something."

  "Will you help her?"

  "Of course. We will help her by destroying Krozer. If he is capable of doing this once, he can do this to all elementals of this duchy. No one, human or fey, is safe.” He sighed. “Is this his Vengeance? Of course, it must be. This must be the woman he corrupted into his Vengeance. He must have ripped the soul from this poor lass’ body and bound it to his will. Oh, Mange, I am so sorry. You knew her?"

  "Does it matter if I did? Even a stranger does not deserve what was done to her."

  "I agree," Gavin replied. “We must remove her from this place immediately."

  "No!" the mute kobold roared, his voice a harsh and violent breath.

  "Poor man, this woman is not at rest. And although her body is severed from her soul, its presence nevertheless gives power to Krozer. As long as it is undisturbed, Krozer owns and controls her. If we are to undo what was done to her, first we must take her somewhere I can examine the spells safely."

  He gazed sadly at the mutilated elf and continued, "I cannot touch her corpse, not yet; not until I know what the consequences will be, or he will know what we are plotting. Mange, I hate to ask you such a horrid thing, but can you carry this woman back to Mercy? And Pox, can you help guide his path?"

  "It’s alright," Mange assented, reassuring the elder Pox. "This man can be trusted."

  The elder kobold nodded. With sorrowful reverence Gavin lifted the elf maiden and placed her in his companion’s arms, working slowly lest he dislodge the pins and amulets affixed to her flesh.

  "Please, carefully now," Gavin begged.

  "I will not harm her," Mange whispered in a half sob. "She is my sister."

  ***

  "What a strange sight we must be: two kobolds riding, while the human walks on foot," Mange said as Gavin helped them dismount at their lodgings for the night. The dilapidated hovel had been one of Mange’s hideouts from his years of banditry. Although it was musty and squalid, it provided much needed shelter from the watchful eyes of Den.

  "You have precious treasure in your arms," the wizard countered. "Besides, I don’t mind travelling on foot. If Gemellus needs to walk from place to place, I should be willing to share the burden." He stroked the mule’s nose affectionately before he directed, "Mange, will you see Pox safely inside, and place the poor lass by the hearth? I must see to the horses."

  "I can help," the kobold offered.

  "I know. But I cannot touch her until I know how
best to undo the spell. Please," he whispered, "I need time to sort my thoughts."

  "Very well.”

  Gavin gave a long sigh, using his time with his mounts to put his thoughts in order. Gemellus gladly accepted a dinner of oats, but Mercy realised the wizard’s distress. She gently nuzzled the space between his shoulder blades in encouragement.

  "Thanks, Mercy," he whispered, giving her a weary kiss between her soft eyes before he rejoined his fey guests.

  When he returned, Mange placed a bowl of porridge within his hands. "Come sit by the fire. We must plan."

  "Will Pox join us on our quest?" Gavin asked as he ate.

  "Yes. In whatever way he can."

  "I’ll bet he will stay with the lass’s body here, as he had done in the forest."

  "Aye," Mange said, speaking on the elder’s behalf.

  "Thank you, Master Pox, for your aid. If I may ask another favour?"

  Pox gave a hand gesture, bidding him to continue.

  "I need your sensitivity to Cold Iron. Can you sense how many iron spikes we will need to dislodge from the flesh of this poor woman?”

  The mute kobold nodded, and slowly sweeping his hand in the air above the body, he counted each waft of pain that weakened his bones. Once he was finished, he crossed his forearms and held up three fingers.

  "Of course," Gavin spat, realizing that Pox used Roman numerals, "he used thirteen spikes."

  Pox nodded.

  "Will you remove them now?" Mange pressed him.

  "No, not tonight. I will need to know the order of spells he used in order to effectively undo them. But again, I cannot touch her flesh. Not yet."

  "Then tell me how to do it, and I shall!" Mange huffed, oddly impatient.

  “You will help me in another way. Mange, I need you to drink this,” he said, pulling a vial from his travel satchel and passing it to him.

  “What is it?” he asked, sniffing the potion suspiciously.

  “It temporarily blocks the effects of Cold Iron on fey creatures. You will need to overcome your aversion to Cold Iron—if only temporarily—if you wish for us to be successful. I need you to enter the mines tonight.”

  The kobold’s eyes widened. “For what purpose?”

  "I need a lodestone. A powerful one, the size of my hand."

  "How will that… ? Oh!" he gasped. "A lodestone will help you draw out the metal without disturbing her flesh!"

  "Aye. And I need your kobold blood to help me find one. As an earth elemental, you can easily sense its presence. How long do you think it will take for you to find one?"

  The kobold drank the potion in a quick gulp. “I will return by dawn. If you fail to survive the night, know that Pox and I will continue your quest.”

  Gavin winced. “You are correct in your assumption, Mange. Vengeance will come for me tonight. But I will be ready for her.”

  ***

  While Pox kept his vigil beside the elf maiden’s corpse, Gavin waited in bed for her revenant. He chewed on a wad of leaves as one would chew tobacco to keep his mind alert, moulding it with his tongue, shaping and reshaping it against the smoothness of his palate and teeth.

  The succubus materialised in his bed at midnight. Her perfect features were marred only by a thin, dark line between her breasts, the mark of where an obsidian dagger once ended her life. Her features were instantly recognizable to the wizard; it was her face that had haunted his dreams each night on his way to Den.

  "Beautiful Vengeance, welcome." He sat up and beckoned her with a hand.

  "Shall I be spurned again tonight?" she purred, trailing her hand down the length of his abdomen and pulling at his trousers.

  “I’m afraid so,” Gavin declared politely.

  “Are you sure?” she asked, bending low to tempt him with her mouth.

  "No,” he said, framing her face in his hands and lifting her back to eye level. “I’ve told you. Not tonight. Not like this.”

  “Oh? You’re not interested in a petit mort?” Vengeance teased, stroking his chest playfully.

  “Milady Succubus, death comes when I do, and we both know it. So stop it.” He took her hands in his and continued, “Tonight I have an offer. A pact that you will find most pleasing."

  "Oh?" she arched an eyebrow in curiosity.

  “Will you join me?” He rose, tactfully rearranging his pants and leading her to the hearth where Pox kept his vigil. The aged kobold fainted in shock as he saw her approaching, but Vengeance did not recognise him.

  "Do you know how this maiden died?" Gavin asked her blankly, hoping that she would recognise the corpse as her own.

  "No. I know nothing except what my master bids me to know."

  "She was slaughtered by your master," Gavin stated, disappointed.

  "What did she do to attract his wrath?" she replied coolly.

  "The same thing you did to deserve the scars you wear: nothing. Nothing at all."

  "If you are trying to bend my will against my master, you are wasting your efforts."

  "I know," he sighed.

  "You spoke of an offer?" she whispered alluringly as she suckled the inside of his wrist.

  "I will give you my death. I will give you—and only you—the power to take my life, and render my soul however you see fit. I will swear it."

  Her eyes lit hungrily, but then narrowed in suspicion. "For what price? I have bargained with enough paltry wizards to know there is deceit behind your words."

  "All I need is your death in return."

  She scoffed.

  "I need to see your death. I need to see your memory of how you gained this scar."

  "I am not dead," she growled.

  "No, you are simply transformed. I need to know how your flesh died, how you were," he found the word appropriate to her ears, "liberated from your first flesh. If you give me the vision of your death, I shall give you the power over mine."

  "I do not have that information. I do not know," Vengeance confessed.

  "Then this will be a good pact, indeed," the wizard boasted, trying to goad her forward. "Very advantageous to me."

  "Very well, wizard. I accept your terms. I will find what I need—and then you shall die." The succubus grabbed Gavin. "Shall we bind our pact in blood?"

  "Aye,” he vowed, baring his throat.

  Vengeance tore open Gavin’s jugular with her fangs, and pulled free once she had slaked her thirst. The wizard was helpless now, faint from blood loss, but she was bound to her word. She could not bring him to death until her end of the bargain was fulfilled.

  "Here, wizard," she said, biting the flesh of her wrist and placing the wound upon his lips. "Drink and be bound by the terms you have agreed to."

  Gavin barely wet his lips with the tortured creature’s blood before he fainted.

  Smiling at her success, Vengeance disappeared in a puff of smoke.

  ***

  Gavin woke to pain and confusion as he struggled to breathe. He fought against his attacker in sheer panic, trying to keep the elemental’s hands from closing around his throat…

  Finally Pox used his arthritic, bony finger to flick him smartly on the nose. Stop struggling until I finish bandaging the wound, he communicated telepathically, pressing a bloody cloth against his neck.

  “Thank you, Pox, but I am well,” Gavin said, spitting out the dark clot of her blood into the flask he kept at his breast.

  She will not stop until she kills you, Pox thought sadly.

  “No. We have a pact. She will give me the memory of her death…”

  The mute kobold growled in anger.

  “…and in reliving it, I hope to awaken her will. If we can steer her alliance away from Krozer, he will lose her power and she will gain her freedom.” He stumbled towards the hearth to fetch breakfast.

  "Where is Mange?" Gavin added, still disoriented from the events of the previous night.

  On his quest to find a lodestone.

  Gavin paled. "Did he take the horses?"

  Why do you ins
ist on calling them both horses? the kobold’s mouth turned wry with mirth.

  "A mule is half a horse. Together they are three halves horse," Gavin answered, his mind still fuzzy from blood loss. "And it is easier than saying ‘the horse and the mule.’ But tell me: did he take the horses?"

  Pox shook his head. He used earth magic to enter the mines.

  Gavin gave a quiet prayer for his companion. "I hope he is careful."

  And successful.

  "Aye, that too."

  Why do you care? the elder kobold asked suddenly.

  "I could ask you the same question."

  I seek justice.

  "Not Vengeance?" he spat, then instantly regretted the barb.

  Aye. Her freedom. But what are your motives? Are you seeking Vengeance, too? Or power? Why are you here?

  Gavin paused. "I seek many things. Superficially, I am a wizard, and I am seeking further objects for my trove. Idealistically, I am a knight, seeking to rid the world of evil magic."

  "But personally?" the kobold prompted.

  "Personally, Krozer has many enemies—and many victims. I must recover something he stole from one of them," he said awkwardly, still stumbling over his words. "But I am confident that Mange will be able to help me overpower the Archmage."

  Why do you trust him?

  "Because a sibyl once told me my greatest ally would be a plague."

  Like a Mange?

  "And a Pox," Gavin smiled. "I see the family resemblance. And I see that Krozer has destroyed the lives of everyone you care about. Did your son Mange turn to banditry to find a means to overthrow him?”

  Aye.

  "And you gave up your tongue to ransom your daughter?"

  A dark look passed over the kobold’s face. I tried to bargain with him.

  "Mages never bargain; they only take," Gavin sighed in sympathy. Then he asked, "Will you do something for me?"

  "I will not leave her," the kobold vowed.

  "I know. But when I have released the spell, I will need you to take her body somewhere safe. "

  Of course.

  "Good. Thank you, Pox."

  The kobold nodded, and fetched breakfast for them both.