Mighty Hammer Down

by David J Guyton

  Chapter 9

  Uritus ran his finger around the flowing curves carved into his throne. It was made entirely of black marble except for the soft red cloth seat. Two of his men stood at the wall behind him, protecting their leader in the throne room connected to the secret chamber under the Temple of Inshae. All was quiet except for the occasional hissing of torches.

  Suddenly, he heard the sound he was waiting for. The grinding of stone against stone shook the room slightly as the secret stairway lowered. Excitement rushed through his body as he waited for his messengers, eager to hear of their success. His eyes narrowed when only one came though the doorway. Instantly he knew something had gone wrong.

  "Why are you alone, Brother? And why have you arrived so late? It is an hour past sunset," he said with restrained anger.

  ""I am sorry, Red Master, I was in hiding. Please forgive me. I feared that I was seen by the people in the street after the incident in the alley."

  "Where are the others?"

  "They have fallen, Red Master. We encountered Rommus in an alley near the market. He was with a Vindyri woman. We were unable to take him. The woman fought us as well. It all went horribly wrong."

  "Where is the sword?" Uritus yelled, finally letting his anger show.

  The man shrank back some as he stumbled over his words. "I have it here, Red Master. I would die before losing it." He carefully pulled the sword from his robes and laid it gently at the purple carpet leading to the throne.

  "Seven men were unable to defeat two? And one of them a woman?"

  "I don't know what happened, it was all a blur. This Tirinius is no amateur. He is strong and quick. The girl fought with a passion I have never seen before."

  "You fool. He saw your hooded men on the road to the cliffs, and you attack him again under hood and cloak? Are you so stupid as to not know that the best tactic is to attack him without the conspicuous robes?"

  "I'm sorry Red Master. I did not think to do that. We needed to hide our swords."

  "And what reason have you for attacking him next to the busiest street in Brinn?"

  "He is hard to track, Master. He leaves the city and goes into hiding for hours, often in darkness. We have no way of knowing where he will be at any time, day or night."

  Uritus let his rage flow into the room. The torches began to burn hotter and brighter, as if the room felt him flexing his anger. The man in front of him and even his two silent guards began to quake with fear. This was the first time Uritus showed anyone that he had control of magic?real magic.

  A small smile came to his face beneath his hood as he realized how much he frightened this man. He was loyal, and did whatever he was told, but he had failed him on the most important task in the history of the Mages. He had to make an example of this man if he was ever to command the full respect of his followers.

  "Blue Master," he said quietly, "you have failed me. You have not completed the simple task of cutting the flesh of one man. The sword only required you to graze his skin with the blade, and you could not do even that. You did not think to remove your robes, thereby alerting Tirinius to your intentions. You were given a great honor, and you have disgraced yourself and this Order. I hereby sentence you to death beyond pain. I shall send you directly to Inshae. Perhaps he will be able to find a better use for you." He stretched out both of his arms toward the man.

  "Please Red Master," he pleaded, "please do not do this. I will not fail you again."

  "No you will not," Uritus answered coldly and his outstretched arms tightened and flexed. The man arched and contorted standing there before him. A scream left his throat as his body lifted slightly from the floor. The shriek grew quieter as if it was coming from a great distance and a purple glow began to burn around him. Suddenly a thunderous boom shook the very foundations of Brinn. The torches had gone out, and one of the guards collapsed to the floor from the violent rumble.

  From the darkness came a small purple flame. It came from the upturned palm of Uritus, and both men bowed before it. He closed his hand over the fire and the torches sprang to life with the same purple glow. The eerie light lit the room, showing the guards that the screaming man had vanished without a trace.

  "Rise," Uritus commanded the man on the right. "The honor is upon you now. Take the sword of Arius and slay Rommus Tirinius. Do not fail me."

  The man stood and then bowed deeply, taking the sword from the floor and leaving the room.

  Uritus turned to the remaining guard. "Assemble the Purple Mages for the morning. I must go now. I have somewhere I need to be."

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~