The Demon's Chamber

by Brian Spielbauer

  Kyrie paused, gathering his breath, and taking a moment to look at Tegan again, who listened intently and even felt pity for Kyrie. “That time is soon to come and I am forever in his debt that saved me. You ask about trusting me? I have nothing to prove to you, dwarf. I am not bound laying on your floor. I seek to throw down Sain, the one who murdered my family and ruined my life. He tries to exact the same fate on you now. I am the one that needs to know from you, Tegan of the dwarves, can I trust you?”

  Tegan saw Kyrie in a new light. As the gargoyle bent low and looked deep into Tegan’s eyes, Tegan knew he spoke the truth and that he could trust Kyrie.

  “Yes, you can trust me,” Tegan committed to Kyrie. “We will be there when you need us, and together we will take down Sain and all that do his bidding!”

  Kyrie studied Telon for a moment, “I believe we come from the same place now, I am ready to free you.” He closed his eyes, and in a moment Tegan’s bindings fell to the ground as though they had never even been tied.

  Tegan’s thoughts went directly back to his companions, “Where are my friends?” He could not leave them or succeed without their help.

  “I care not for your friends, the mean nothing to me. They were fighting strong though when we left them, but I need only you,” Kyrie explained.

  “Well I need them, so if you need me, you need my friends too. Where are they?” Tegan tried to stand, but felt too weak and dizzy. “I need to go, I have to find them,” Tegan said as the dizziness was the victor and he knelt back down.

  “You are not ready. I will have to get them, if they yet live. I will be back soon, do not attempt to leave. If I wanted you dead, you would already be so. We need each other to get what we want. Are you sure we need your friends, they seemed a motley crew?”

  “I will go nowhere without them, and only to find them if they are not here. I have lost too much already to leave anymore behind!” Tegan said as he lay back down on his mat, which helped his dizziness subside.

  Kyrie could tell by the look in Tegan’s eyes it would be no use to argue with the dwarf, as they were stubborn creatures in the best of times. “The ogre at least would be useful in the fight, I don’t think much of the others.”

  Kyrie then stood and set out to find Jaric, Erol, and Timo. He quickly flew back through the early morning darkness to where the fight began with the other gargoyles. That is where he found Tegan’s friends, with Jaric nursing a nasty gash of his own. The others were no worse for the wear.

  “I will not leave Tegan, we must stay and look for him!” Erol said defiantly.

  “He is gone, we should…” Timo began, but was interrupted.

  Kyrie, who had quietly landed just outside the light of their fire, surprised the three as he walked in, asking, “You should what, leave him and go home?”

  Erol and Jaric readied themselves to battle the giant. Timo decided it best to stand behind Erol. He was more than ready to be done with all this fighting.

  “Who are you?” Jaric demanded.

  “I saved Tegan and have him kept safely. He would not go on without you, though I do not know why as it seems you were quite ready to leave him! Regardless, follow me, and I will lead you to him,” Kyrie said, very unimpressed with Tegan’s friends.

  “We will not follow you, we should slay you now!” Jaric challenged. He took two strong steps at the far larger gargoyle, brandishing his axe at his foe.

  Kyrie stood slightly taller that Erol and was unconcerned with the little dwarf’s advance. He calmly said, “You can try, but you will not succeed. I saved Tegan when the other gargoyles attacked, I worried not for you. For some reason, he cares for you and has requested I get you. He was hurt during the fight, and is resting. If you want to see him and continue your quest, I suggest you come with me now.”

  Erol, whose anger had been growing since the gargoyle showed up, had had enough. He lunged toward Kyrie, with Jaric right behind him.

  Kyrie raised his hand, and all three began to rise in the air. They could not get free.

  “Do not test me, for as of yet, I have not attempted to harm you,” Kyrie said, still in a soft voice, even though he was growing more aggravated.

  “We shall comply with your kind offer,” Timo said weakly, hoping his companions would follow his lead.

  “Yes,” Jaric and Erol agreed, hoping the gargoyle would set them down. Erol liked firm footing, and felt like he was on the slide again.

  Kyrie set them softly down, and then directed, “Follow me, with no more foolishness.”

  Erol, Jaric, and Timo followed Kyrie, hoping they would at least get to Tegan. Then, if needed, they could find a way to get past the gargoyle. The morning light was showing the way, although the sun had yet to rise. The travelers were exhausted, and keeping up with Kyrie was difficult, especially for the much smaller dwarves. Timo just wanted this journey to be over with.

  The four trekked through the forest to the base of a rock outcropping, the morning sun threatening to reveal itself over the mountain top. There, shaded in darkness, stood a slight crack in the wall. Without the one who called it home, the entrance would have been completely unnoticeable. They tentatively followed Kyrie through the crack, which led down a darkened hall with walls of crooked stone that opened into a dim room. There, at the end of the chamber, sitting by the fire as if he was back in Tunder Bin, was King Tegan. He was having a bowl of stew as if he was a common man eating at the local pub. Despite the bandage across his head, he looked rather comfortable.

  “So, my friend has found you,” laughed Tegan, as he bounded from the floor to his friends. His health had improved greatly since Kyrie left.

  “Your friend indeed,” said Jaric under his breath, as he slid in next to Tegan, shooting Kyrie a look as he took Tegan’s bowl.

  “Are you hungry?” Kyrie asked as he sat back in the corner, fascinated by the dwarves. Years of holding someone in contempt as an enemy were not easily washed away, but from watching them, he thought them more like his people than different.

  Tegan’s three friends looked at him, not sure whether to have any, “Well, if you are hungry, have some. Don’t be so damn scared, it tastes great!” The other two quickly grabbed a bowl each and devoured the stew, and then they went back for seconds (Timo and Erol thirds, and finally Timo fourths). It had been days since they ate to their full, and if the found a way to escape Kyrie it would probably be even longer before they could do it again.

  After finishing Tegan became inquisitive, and standing, went over to Kyrie, “Our thanks for your gracious hospitality, but why do you give it to me and my friends? Is it only so we will help you?”

  “Yes, and because you have good hearts, as do I. It is also because you have no idea what you are up against. Sain, the Lord of the Gargoyles, is very powerful. He has made you his enemy and he is out to destroy you, and you seem very little aware of it, which surprises me. I am not sure whether you are blessed because of your ignorance, or if you are doomed by it.”

  “Ignorance!” Jaric challenged as he reached for his axe, thinking far worse of the word than its definition suggests.

  “Stay calm, Jaric!” Tegan commanded. “Kyrie, I assure you we are not ignorant. We know who has attacked us, and we are prepared to take it down. But my question is why? We have not known of the gargoyles for many years. Why now?”

  “I know not, but it is not due to lack of food or anything like that. In the old times, the wars were over land. Suitable areas to live were far less available,” Kyrie answered. “I would suggest that it is something far more devious than survival, and probably more likely revenge.”

  The dwarves contemplated Kyrie’s words, except for Timo who finished his fourths.

  Kyrie continued, “Sain needed no grand reason to turn on me. He rejected me, and I was attacked and named an outlaw. They thought they had killed me, and they don’t know I am still alive. If Sain knew I lived, he would stop at nothing to end me. Now revenge is high on my mind.”

  “But w
ith all your powers, could you not destroy him?” asked Timo.

  “I may seem strong to you little dwarf man, but compared to Sain, I have little strength. It will take all of our strength, and then some, to challenge Sain,” Kyrie replied.

  “They have my wife and child. I care not for myself, but I have to save them from this fate,” Tegan said, in hearing the words he realized he had already been delayed too long.

  Kyrie looked at Tegan awkwardly, “They have your wife, I saw her, but I saw no child.”

  It was quiet for a moment. Tegan stared into the fire, trying to stay strong. He then took out his axe and began sharpening its blade as the diamond continued to glow. No one spoke or moved. He then looked up and said in an ever-strengthening voice, “I know my wife and child live, and I will find them. Kyrie, will you help me?”

  “I cannot, not yet. I wish you the best in finding your family, but in that matter, I cannot aid you. The time for me to show myself is coming and then I will seek to end Sain. Until then, I must hide and prepare.”

  “We must go then,” Tegan said, full of disappointment as he rose to his feet. He felt good to have another ally in Kyrie, at least when he was ready. He also was hopeful that Jedrek was somewhere safe.

  “You should go soon, while the sunlight lasts. It is a far journey. I will show you the path to their stronghold in the Mammut Berg. It is called the Demon’s Chamber,” Kyrie said, “There is lots of danger before you get there, but nothing compares with what you will be up against should you actually make it into the Chamber.”

  “I have never traveled so far east, I don’t know this land,” Tegan replied.

  “I will show you to the edge of my region, and give you a map for the rest of your passage.” The party of five left the mountain after being given provisions by Kyrie. The sun was bright at first, but before long their eyes adjusted and they made quick time as they worked their way through the forest.

  Kyrie asked Timo to walk with him up front. “Timo, you have spent time with Quelna, has he taught you well.”

  “I believe so, but little turns out how I would like it. He tells me what I can be, but I think he may be mistaken.” Timo’s confidence was low, and his lack of usefulness on the trip so far was not helping.

  “Quelna is a powerful and wise wizard, he is not mistaken. More lies within you than you know, you must believe in yourself. Tegan asked you specifically on this mission, you need to find your way to aid them.”

  Timo still doubted, “What if I am not ready? I am afraid I will let my friends down.”

  “A little secret, young dwarf,” Kyrie began, “Fear is not avoidable. My only question is what are you most afraid of? Are you more afraid of getting a spell wrong, or losing your friends?”

  Timo stared deep into Kyrie’s eyes, and answered, “Much more afraid of losing my friends.”

  Kyrie smiled, “Good, keep that fear, it will guide you and give you focus. The other fear is useless. Concentrate on your friends, and you magic will grow strong. You will learn to control it, and be able to call on your great power at need.”

  Timo replied, “Thank you, I will not let them down.”

  Kyrie smiled back, “I believe in you. Now go please, and send Tegan up.”

  Timo fell back with the others and said to Tegan, “Master Kyrie asks to talk with you.”

  “Are you all right?” Tegan asked as they all were wondering why Kyrie wanted to speak with Timo.

  “Yes. Kyrie has a lot of wisdom and insight, you will learn a lot from him too.”

  Tegan caught up with Kyrie as they began climbing another hill, coming to the edge of his land as dusk began to take hold of the land, commanding the fog to ooze from the low areas. The forest was changing again to hardwood trees, and less conifers. While the walking was easier, they had far less cover.

  After Tegan joined him, Kyrie began, “I have seen a lot walking through the woods. Do you know you have a traitor amongst you? I have seen one of your people meeting with Sain himself,” Kyrie said.

  “One of mine? Do you know who?”

  “No, they wore a hooded robe, I have never seen a face. But if Sain is going to meet with someone, it must be someone mighty. Who is leading your city while you are gone? My guess is it is probably him.”

  “My brother Telon is king in my absence. He would never meet with anyone that is an enemy,” Tegan argued with his anger overcoming his better senses.

  “Nothing corrupts like power. Nothing. Now that you are gone on an errand you are likely to not return from, he is king. Nothing corrupts like power.”

  “It is not Telon,” Tegan said, defending his brother again. Tegan’s mind went back to his conversation with Quelna and he was getting just as mad. His anger now came not at who was being accused, but of the fact he could not trust anyone. He questioned every move he made, and it made him uneasy.

  “Perhaps not, but it was someone. Prepare for it to be someone you won’t expect. Things are not what they seem, it may even be one of your current companions, perhaps Jaric. It was not Erol, and it was certainly not Timo. I have spoken with him, he will be a great magician in time and he is as loyal as can be. He has serious magic, keep him safe long enough to develop it. You will need it.”

  “You are the second person to tell me that, and I will take both your words for it. I don’t know who this traitor is, but I will find out. I need to get word to my brother, so that he might be able to discover who it is.”

  “Be careful what you say and too whom you speak. Tipping off the wrong person may cause more harm than good,” Kyrie warned.

  Kyrie then reached into his bag, and pulled out a map and handed it to Tegan. The group stopped at the top of the ridge as Tegan opened the map across a rock. Kyrie pointed to a spot and said, “Here we are, you will need to travel through the Mammut Berg in order to get to the Demon’s Chamber undetected. Every journey, however, has its own difficulties, and this one is no different.”

  “Of course, nothing has been easy so far, why should this?” Jaric said sarcastically.

  Kyrie ignored him and continued, “You will need to travel through the land of the harpies. They are females and can very difficult to deal with, and they are always on the lookout for mates. Stay away from them, they will only delay your progress!”

  He paused to look at each one of them, and went on, “On the backside of the gargoyle’s mountain you will enter the area known as the Tangled Forest. It is nearly impossible to travel through. The trees, their branches, and vines are intertwined. You will need strong swords to cut through the thickets. There is a race of large human-like animals there. The gargoyles bred them long ago with the intention of guarding the mountain’s back entrance. You will do well if they don’t know you are there. The Tolltier are vicious and strong, and they will bring you a battle you do not want. That, as far as I can see, is your only hope of sneaking her out. That is if she still lives, which I feel she does. It certainly would have been a high risk to take her if they just planned on killing her once they got back to their Chamber.”

  “She lives. I am sure of it! Thank you for your help, and your warnings,” Tegan said.

  “I have been watching you since you left your city and will continue to check on you. Good luck, Tegan, King of Tunder Bin!” Kyrie said. “I must go back now. I can’t risk being seen, not yet.”

  “I understand, and I look forward to when you are ready to challenge Sain. I will be there ready to help.”

  “That is why I saved you. You are strong, as is the force and determination of your race. Your kind has long kept order throughout all Lemuria, and soon my kind will also aid you in this endeavor. We need each other to succeed, we must find a way.” Kyrie then bid the others farewell and made his way back to his lair.

  “He would have been good to have on this journey,” Jaric began to Tegan, as they turned to start the next leg of their trip. “But, I cannot see the day when we will work with them in any fashion. I do not trust them, none of them
!”

  Erol added, “I would rather fight with him, than against him.”

  “Soon, ready or not, we will all stand shoulder-to-shoulder in battle,” Tegan answered.

  They had to travel deep into the mountains, taking the paths that seemed the quickest, which were few. They felt they traveled undetected, for no one would try to get where they were going by this route. The attack by the gargoyles proved costly as they lost the trail of the kidnappers. Any hope of getting Milan or Jedrek to safety before they reached the Demon’s Chamber was gone. Tegan didn’t know where his son was, but while he saw the glow of the diamond on his axe, he felt better. All he had was hope. For now, at least, that was enough.

  Before going further, Tegan whistled loudly. Very soon a falcon arrived and landed next to Tegan. He tied a note to the falcon, warning Telon of what he had learned. Tegan rushed the bird off, and the four companions continued their journey.

  Chapter 15: Into the Fire

  Having rested while walking, the gargoyles tried again to carry Milan. They hid their escape from the pursuing dwarves by flying just above the trees. Flying so low, they were easily able to see below as they came up on a group of harpies, caught sunning themselves in the early morning light. Very few harpies were male. Those few lived by themselves in hidden homes, wanting nothing to do with the females that dominated all portions of their lives.

  The harpy women were always on the lookout for mates, as the men came around so seldom. When they were able to secure a man’s services, the male was quickly discarded following intercourse, which was another reason the males hid. Harpies had wings and were skillful flyers, were very pale, almost white, in color, and were extraordinarily beautiful.