by Clark Bolton
As everyone shuffled into the library Autbek found himself with the unpleasant task of asking Appaloupe to leave which brought a sudden change of heart. “Appaloupe you may stay if you can hold your tongue.” Autbek said as he felt the world closing in on him.
Haspeth and Castor, with some help from the girls rearranged some lanterns and candles such that the center table was well illuminated and then Autbek helped Neustus to sit at the table. “I am ready if you are master.” He said with a timid voice. He glanced around at all the expectant faces and this helped to calm him a little as Neustus held out his hand.
“Your ring, Autbek.” Neustus said as he stared off into a corner of the library.
Autbek pulled the chain over his head and removed the ring from it and handed it to Neustus. In the light it seemed almost alive and strangely heavy now as he handed it over and then watched as Neustus touched it to his own causing both rings to shine brightly.
“I Neustus of the Ausic do so witness the oath of Autbek Lairestor Runeholden…”
When came the moment for Autbek to say the first line of the oath he suddenly became more conscious of the name it contained and so nearly stuttered as he spoke, “To the wisdom of Ustclostefey, lord of the Dzizereid, and to his Ausic benefactors I yield my freedoms…”
Chapter 26
Early morning found Autbek exhausted and exhilarated at the same time. Sitting in the hall he now had the ominous task of reassuring every one of his wellbeing, particularly Berdtom who at the moment looked very concerned.
“Have you taken on too much, O’t?”
“No, in fact I feel better than I have in some time. It is good to have a master, Tom. There is simply so much to learn and to do.” He stared at the maps that were laid out on the table and wondered who had been studying them this time.
“Hmm, now the gold we have has been given to Murac. Hope one hundred gold crowns is enough because there is no more.”
Everyone gasped at the amount, including Autbek who realized it was a small fortune to anyone from Astrum. “I’ve got something else too; Neustus suggested we find magical items to offer for passage. So I’ll give Murac this amulet we found … sorry to see it go though.”
It was one of the two amulets he and Haspeth had detected in the shop the Dieknotkow had marked. It was a protection amulet and had seemed to work that day he had been nearly burned by Haspeth’s burning water spell.
Haspeth and Castor went back to trading theories on the seal Autbek had given them only a short time ago. It was a complex set of interlocking shapes and looked to be made primarily of silver with a golden hued background. A great artist could not have done better, and all it took for Autbek to reproduce it now was a wave of his hand and a touch of his ring.
“This is amazing, O’t!” Haspeth proclaimed as he held up the parchment it was on to the light. “I’ll bet you could sell these!”
Castor took the parchment back and traced the patterns carefully with his finger. “I would say it’s an illusion but can find no trace of one and it feels quite real.”
“You better take that from him! He’s going to start making copies, I can see that now!”
This got a small grin from Castor who actually was just getting a piece of his enchanted chalk out. Next he began to trace out the design followed by the muttering of a spell. The whole thing fizzled suddenly.
“HA!” Haspeth barked. “Takes a better sneak-thief than you to fake that!”
Castor ignored him and proceeded to try again with the same result. Perplexed he then tried it on a blank piece of parchment, still no success. “This is weird, O’t!”
Autbek smiled and watched the boy try again and again. “Neustus tells me it cannot be copied, and that it was designed by a demigod to prevent just that.”
Haspeth gaped like a fool for a moment. “Let me guess, his name was Ustclostefey! Yes?”
“Yes, that’s the impression he gave me.”
Castor looked sideways at him, obviously annoyed now. “I’ll get it, just give me time!”
They all laughed at him as his next attempt resulted in a big splotch. Autbek then changed the subject. “Neustus says the Gitra will be coming soon with some plans that need to be incorporated into the designs of the cellar. Not sure when but likely after we are gone I guess.”
Berdtom scoffed at the news. “Don’t like the sound of that, O’t. Priests are a pain at the best of times, but when you invite them in they plant themselves like weeds.”
“Sorry, the master gets what he wants. I’ll let Xajac know to expect them.”
“Maybe dealing with a dwarf will kill those weeds.” Murac joked.
“Hmm, anyways I need to let the girls know to expect to be called up to the tower today. Our master is resting now but he wants to interview each of them alone; you and Castor also.” He said as he turned to Haspeth. Neither seemed pleased by the news.
The next day went quickly and Autbek spent much of the time pushing the girls on their cantrips. He did not want them going out into the world totally unprepared. Also he spent time at Neustus behest, in exploring each of the girls’ talents. Though Neustus had never heard of the viken he did seem to know of groups like them, and was most intrigued by Pemmesa’s divination abilities.
Resbeka it seemed was what Neustus referred to as a generalist, like Autbek and indeed like Neustus himself was. Neustus seemed to be pleased at this, since of all six only Autbek and Resbeka seemed to fall for sure into that category.
Haspeth was a conundrum of sorts, Neustus admitted. He was apt at most types of spells, but showed a flourish when the spell involved simply energies, like fire and electricity. Neustus seemed uncertain if this was due to a special talent for such or simply a stronger desire that was being tapped. Either way it was the first time Autbek had heard mention of the Energist specialty, and that Haspeth could potentially be one.
“Yeah! Woo hoo!” Haspeth had yelled when Autbek gave him the details of Neustus’s evaluation of him in front of the others. “Sounds like a battle-mage to me!”
“Nice!” Castor moaned, putting his face in his hands. “Now he is never going to shut up about it.”
“What’s wrong illusion boy, thought everyone else made fake shit too!” Haspeth barked at him.
Autbek jumped in quickly to stop the escalation that looked to be coming. “Yea, ok! Now our master seems optimistic for your chosen direction, Onaleen. Which I think is the best news of the day.”
Onaleen smiled and fluttered her eyelids. “Thank you, O’t.”
“Ooohhh.” Haspeth could not stop himself from commenting. “Little favoritism there.” He muttered.
“Shut Up, Haspeth.” Autbek found that phrase still worked best on Haspeth, and he never took it as an insult.
“Right.”
“Now I think it’s time to send off another letter to the great mage, Tel Sok!” He announced, and then he figured he could get back to investigating the strange properties of his new ring.
“Let us see it!” Haspeth demanded.
Tel Sok, greetings again and as always a pleasure.
Know it that I have conversed with my master, Neustus,
on the subject of Ausic-Trainers and I’m compelled to
thank you for a location of them. I feel that a debt is
owed to you should your knowledge come of truth,
otherwise we will know you here as the chanter
of Ingretti ...
… Please accept the seals below as proof that my
master and I resolve to complete the acquisitions of
Ausic artifacts, with your aid of course.
- Autbek, Ausic apprentice, 4th
- Neustus, Ausic Mage, 11th
Haspeth read the letter the then exclaimed, “Neustus, signed it!”
That got Castor’s attention. He grabbed the letter from Haspeth and began inspecting the two seals upon it. “They are different.
Yours has more silver and his has more gold in it!”
“Yes, expected I suppose, as my ring has the silver side out and his is worn in the opposite manner. A sign that he has achieved the minimum level for that right, which I believe is the eleventh level.
“Hmm, looks like I can’t copy this one either.” Castor announced after making an attempt.
“Now, I’ve got to go study the Grimoire Rassboatta!” He announced. “But first I’m going to study this ring a bit." The book’s name was actually Rassboatta’s Golem Grimoire, and it contained the secrets of constructing and controlling artificial life forms. Neustus was still being vague as to why he needed him to study the subject.
The first warning came shortly after nightfall on an otherwise seemingly normal night, the seventeenth since they had kept their vigil. Autbek was dozing on a blanket while the viken talked and worked their fire. He could hear the girls talking in the distance but paid no attention as he drifted in and out of sleep until Onaleen came over and shook him gently.
“Autbek, we see something in the sky, or at least Pemmesa thinks she does.”
He quickly sat up to ask. “Is it a ship?”
“No, just some strange colors. Look over there.” She pointed to the north.
He rubbed his eyes and stood to see what she was pointing at. All light from the sun was gone and there was no sign of the moon, but he had to admit he could see a glow to the north. “Northern lights maybe.” He suggested to Onaleen.
“I thought that to.”
Pemmesa called to them. “No, it’s more than that I think.”
They watched the sky for a while but nothing seemed to change. “Adlem, do you think it is time?” Autbek asked the viken.
The three viken women were still sitting near the fire watching the sky. “We will know shortly I think.” They then proceeded to pour hot water into a kettle full of strange herbs, something they did in preparation for seeing things to come.
Thinking they might be too slow to be of help he called up to the tower. “Castor! Haspeth! Who is up there?” Finally Resbeka replied.
“Yes, Autbek?”
He could just see her form in the window now. “Something may be up, go ahead and wake everyone and keep watch!” He then walked toward the courtyard gates after casting a night vision spell upon himself so as not to fall in a hole and perhaps to better see what might be coming. As he reached the gate he could hear men and dwarves calling to each other to awaken.
They had rehearsed this moment dozens of times but still his heart raced as he thought about all that could go wrong at this point. If the ship did come it might land in the fields far from the tower or perhaps across the road. That could mean it could drop its passengers and be off before they could reach it. He decided to get on horseback and ride out away from the tower in case he had to ride far and fast.
“Murac, I will be down upon the road!” He called to the man who was now directing guards and dwarves about.
“Got it, O’t. Any true sign of them yet or is this false hopes?”
“Nothing for sure but Pemmesa sees more than I.” He mounted a horse as soon as one of the guards finished saddling it and was off at a trot. Seeing better now than the horse he guided it carefully toward Kings-road.
All the way to the road and then down it a stretch he kept running through the list of things in his mind that would have to be done and quick as soon as they knew where the ship would land. He did not notice the bluish-purple colors of the clouds to the north until he thought to check in that direction. When he saw them he knew the time had come and cursed himself for thinking too much instead of watching.
Turning now to the tower he could see lights upon its very top. As he watched more lights seemed to be sprouting up, first from its top and then from the north side. He realized then that it was Castor’s work.
“Brilliant!” He yelled into the dark as he turned his horse to the tower and spurred it to move as fast he dared. Just as he left the road and entered the fields again lightning flashed off in the north followed shortly by muffled thunder. It was like a dream he realized for the fields and the tower were now bathed in eerie dark light and with his night vision it seemed as bright as full moonlight.
He pulled up his horse now unsure of what to do as he watched the lightning grow and heard the thunder increase in intensity. If the ship came to the tower they were fine he thought but if it ignored Castor’s signal lights then he may yet need to ride out to meet it swiftly.
The viken could be seen standing at their fire now and the girls looked to have run to the gates. Looking up at the tower again he saw that a large brazier had been lit upon the small roof and someone there was waving a large flag back and forth that was glowing of its own accord.
“Murac.” Autbek muttered as he recognized the man waving the flag. Then he saw the ship. It was black as night but its sails glowed just enough to make them out. As the lightning flashed around it he could see for a moment the sheer size of it. He realized then that people were yelling for him above the thunder.
Riding hard he reached the gates to the courtyard and then leaped from the saddle as one of the guards took the reins. Dwarves were mulling about and staring up at the tower as Haspeth called out to him from the doorway to the hall.
“O’t, come on! Murac want’s us all in the tower.” Haspeth had on his backpack and was dragging Autbek’s behind him.
The place was pandemonium now as he took one last look up at the tower just in time to see the ship come into the lights Castor had created. He paused in awe as the black wood of the vessel gleamed in the light. Then a line was cast toward the top of the tower.
“Go!” Autbek yelled as he ran toward the hall. Haspeth looked wide eyed and a bit terrified and he guessed he looked the same. Pushing the backpack into his arms Haspeth then led the way up the stairs. The climb seemed strangely long as they first passed the second floor laboratory and then on to Neustus’s chamber.
There were eight or nine people now all near the ladder that led to the roof. The three girls were there, and the two dwarves that were to accompany them and the gnome and a few of the guards.Berdtom yelled down from above. “Stay there! Wait until I call you up!”
Autbek rushed to the window to look up at the ship. What he saw startled him, for Murac was climbing the thick rope that hung some twenty or thirty paces down from the bow of the ship. Most alarming was that he was naked but for a loincloth.
“What’s he doing?” Autbek yelled up to Berdtom. He got no answer and so went back to the window to watch. Now he could see a separate line attached loosely to the first and upon it were three small figures wrapped themselves in nets made of rope like some type of cargo.
Berdtom yelled down to Appaloupe, “The gnomes are being let down! Come up now and find out what you can. The gnome looked scared but did as he was told and so climbed the ladder to the roof.
The others looked out the windows to see Murac literally crawl over the three gnomes on his way up the line. “He’s mad!” Haspeth yelled out.
“Why is he doing that?” Autbek asked again to no one in particular. Then turning to Haspeth, “Go up there now and get your levitate spell ready. I want Berdtom to go next as soon as Murac signals us. Then the girls!”
Haspeth nodded his understanding then the two of them leaned out the windows again to see the state of things. Instead of Berdtom going next, Castor had taken the initiative to do so. Looking literally like a half monkey-man complete with tail the kid was racing up the line followed shortly thereafter by a very monkey looking girl.
“That damn sneak-thief … he’s as mad as Murac!” Haspeth yelled at the ship. Then he raced over to the ladder and started climbing only to be interrupted by a bunch of gnomes very interested in coming down.
When the three new gnomes reached the floor followed by Appaloupe, Autbek hurriedly asked them if the captain of the ship would take them on as passengers.
Appaloupe was quick to answer. “They don’
t know, Autbek, but they don’t think so!”
Autbek’s heart skipped several beats at the thought of blowing this opportunity. “Gods, I hope they are wrong!” He yelled as he ran back to the window.
No one could be seen on the ropes now, nor was there any sign of the crew or Murac and Castor. They waited what seemed like a very long time for a signal, any signal that things were ok.
“Onaleen, I want you to go next after Berdtom.” The girl was shaking and he realized at least one of the girls was crying. “Take your pack off, and climb the ladder we will hand it up to Haspeth. Now go!”
“Please, O’t … I can’t please … what if I fall?” She begged.
He was having none of it he decided. He was scared too but this was nothing compared to having a troll, or a skeleton for that matter, coming at you hell bent on doing you in. Pushing her to the ladder he lifted her a little to force her up. Fortunately she started climbing while at the same time sobbing just a bit.
“Resbeka you’re next! Now don’t make me drag you girls up there!” He yelled above the sound of the thunder. The two remaining girls looked hesitantly at the ladder as Onaleen disappeared through the trapdoor. They too were obviously terrified.
The two dwarves pushed Onaleen’s pack up to Haspeth and then they waited again. Looking out the windows they still could see no one, but at least the lines had not been cut. Berdtom could be seen by them, through the trapdoor, holding on to the line that was securely anchored to the tower. Looking down the man managed a tentative smile.
Autbek thought then to look for Neustus, who he found sitting patiently in his chair on the far side of the chamber. “Master.” Autbek said nodding his head. There was not enough light to see Neustus’s face but he looked to have nodded his head in reply.
