by Jay Lynn
Edmund raised his knuckles to knock on the polished door of the king’s suite. An inch from the surface, he paused. Taking a deep breath, he rapped loudly.
“Enter,” called Titus’s deep solemn voice from within.
Edmund quietly entered the massive suite which equaled his own quarters on the other side of the castle. The spacious sitting area was cast in a warm glow, but Titus wasn’t in the ring of light. Arms linked behind his back, he stood in front of the tall windows as he gazed into the darkness beyond. A day had passed since Alec’s escape from Stafford Castle. Since then, the only word they received was from their contact informing them that he had escorted Alec to the Imperial Tower’s main gates. There was nothing else they could do but wait.
“Any word?” Titus questioned without turning.
The duke strode up beside him while trying to hide a worried frown. “Nothing, Your Majesty.”
The royal sighed. Damn it. His brows lowered to a point and his lips pressed into a thin line. Why had Alec disobeyed his orders? Couldn’t he see that he was just trying to protect him from a most dangerous and impossible mistake? The sinking feeling of losing his son for a second time would not subside. King David had not returned any of his messenger hawks. No matter the size of the force, unless Titus wanted to invade the southern kingdom without provocation there was nothing he could do. As a king, he could not put the whole of his realm above the life of one man. As a father, he was prepared to lead the invasion force personally to bring Alec back. If only he had been able to cease his flight in the first place.
Titus’s gaze darted to the noble standing beside him. Once Alec had leapt onto the dragon’s back there was little chance of safely returning him to the ground. The royal was however, aware that his son had made a brief stop at Malcolm’s. It was there he must have joined his companions. For not only was the Cunning Sage missing, but Garth, Isabelle and even Captain Andrews.
Titus was aware of another who had been visiting the wizard’s cottage. He returned some time after Alec’s departure, placing him in the same spot as Alec during the prince’s brief detour.
“Tell me,” the king began clenching his jaw. “Did you even try to sway him not to go?”
Edmund didn’t bother playing coy, or asking his friend of whom he was speaking. Gazing out the window, the duke’s mind flashed back to the last time he saw Alec. Determination filled the man’s unwavering eyes.
‘I will return with Lady Jade, or not at all,’ Alec had said.
Sighing Edmund closed his eyes for a moment. He believed the sage’s promise, and also knew in his heart that Alec had not yet failed.
“No, I did not,” Edmund answered at last. “Even should I have wanted to do so, we both know Alec could not have been stopped. His power is no match for us.”
He could hear a hiss escape from Titus as the man bowed his head.
Fingers traveling to his temples, the king rubbed at the pressure pushing outward within his skull. A part of him knew what the duke’s answer would be. True to himself, Edmund had not lied or tried to sugar coat his actions. It was a quality Titus valued and respected. Still, it did not help to ease the helplessness weighing him down.
“I will accept any punishment bestowed upon me, my King.”
Titus turned to peer at him with a glare. “You are a noble and frustrating man, Edmund.”
“I am aware.”
Unable to control it, a short humorless huff escaped Titus’s throat. Try as he might the initial anger he felt when it was first suggested that Alec should go to Zerrok would not rise. He was forced to admit that nothing would have kept Alec from seeking to rescue Jade.
If only I could give him aid. Titus could not understand why King David hadn’t replied. Though they ruled their realms differently, both men had a peaceful co-existence. Never before had such a lengthy silence fallen between them when an official message was dispatched.
“How deep into The Pure’s clutches do you believe Zerrok has fallen?”
Edmund’s brow furrowed. Twisting slightly, he looked at Titus before crossing his arms.
“That is difficult to say,” Edmund admitted thoughtfully. “Our sources indicate a firm holding throughout Zerrok as well as the recent presence within Rhordack. They must have some powerful allies or they would not have been able to sway sages to fight for them.”
“Yes, a disturbing notion considering their stand on sorcery. Which begs the question, what is it that they really seek?”
“You believe their hatred of magic is a rouse?”
“Not entirely. It may have been a way to gain favor and control the smaller anti-magic factions, but too much of their recent deeds speak of a different motive.”
“How do you mean?”
Titus exhaled deeply. “Few know of this, but it was not just the Master Sages who were targeted during the breaches at the magical academies. At the West Circle, someone tried to break into a secret vault below the school.”
Edmund’s brows rose to his hairline. “What? I was not aware of such a vault.”
The king nodded. “Not many are. Meaning the traitor is a higher ranking sage than we feared.”
“What is in the vault?”
“A library containing the entire history of magic as we know it, as well as their most powerful spells and incantations.” The duke swore under his breath as Titus continued. “There are three identical libraries: one under each of the academies and a final one beneath Ariston Castle. It is said the Grandmaster protects another, yet Malcolm would never confirm such a rumor.”
“The fact that our enemy knows of these vaults is dangerous enough, but does Malcolm know what they could be searching for within a den of spells?”
“He has a few ideas of what might draw their attention, but there is no way to be sure. Protecting them from the traitor is my top priority. Since the attack, I have ordered for strict magical and human defenses to be placed near each of the vaults and no one other than Malcolm, Layfon, and the Headmasters are allowed access.”
Turning back to the window, Edmund was quiet for a long time. This news did not bode well. If The Pure were able to corrupt someone of such high rank in a neighboring kingdom, then what had they been able to accomplish within their own? Gazing back at Titus, he asked the question he was sure he wouldn’t like the answer to.
“Are you certain King David would have replied to your message by now under normal circumstances?”
“Indeed.”
Edmund took a long deep breath and slowly let it out. “Then we must consider the possibility that His Majesty never received your correspondence. Either that or…”
“Or what?” Titus questioned cautiously. He did not care for the similarities in the way he and Edmund were thinking.
“Or that the King is no longer in a position to send a reply.”
Titus spun away to look out the window once again. “I have feared the same thing. It is time we closed our borders and prepared for the inevitable.”
Chapter 18
Racing up the seemingly endless staircase, Alec finally spotted a landing. Prior to reaching it, his aura stretched out, blasting the door from the hinges. Face set, he strode into the fairly well-lit chamber. It was a surprising change compared to the dark caverns he had encountered thus far.
The space was about half the size of the other levels with plain stone walls and fires at both the front and back. No door could be seen anywhere, yet a ladder hung from the ceiling at the rear of the room. The large stone slabs on the floor abruptly ended a few feet in front of him, giving way to a uniquely decorated pattern. Eight-inch squares surrounded a larger sixteen-inch decorative piece. Each were imprinted with a different creature. Alec could make out a griffin, a drakon, a dragon and a howler. Studying the floor, he pressed his lips together thoughtfully. Fighting his way through the tower, the sorcerer knew nothing was done for no reason. Such a complex design wouldn’t have been placed here without cause. There were no soldiers in sight. And n
o creatures lurking about that he could see.
What trickery are they hiding?
Most likely the spineless cowards would leap out when they thought he was least expecting it. Gazing around once more, Alec stepped forward, pressing some of his weight upon the plain tiles. Cursing, he moved back as the floor crumbled in the spot where his boot had been. If he hadn’t been wise enough to test it first, the sage would have fallen right through. Peering at the decorative stones, Alec tilted his head to the side. Summoning a wind spell he struck the closest one etched with a griffin. A large circular blade launched from the wall and flew across the room, striking where the design was located.
Leaping back at the disturbance, Alec held his sword before him as he scanned the space for other threats. Nothing else appeared. Cautiously lowering his blade, he inched back towards the edge of the minefield. As he thought, these designs weren’t mere decorations. It seemed each was a trigger for traps. Looking over the other creatures, he wondered which he should try next. Zerrokians hated dragons, so Alec doubted choosing that one would be a wise decision. This left the snake-like drakon, which he knew all too well, and the howler. Having had enough of howlers for the near future, he decided to try the snake. Targeting the tile with his power, Alec gave it a strong blast.
Firing from thin slots along the wall came a round of arrows. They passed over the tile, striking the opposite side of the chamber.
Tapping his fingers against his leg, Alec frowned. So much for that one. Eyes focusing on the howler, he hit the stone and waited. Gazing about the space, Alec looked for some sign of a trap being released, but nothing occurred. Glancing back at the tile, he struck it again. Still, there was nothing. Studying the pattern, Alec could see a clear path of howlers traveling out into the depths of the room. If he wanted to move forward, then he would have to follow the demon hounds.
Hopping onto the first tile, Alec paused. Once again he checked that the stone wasn’t in fact a trigger of some kind. When only silence followed, he moved forward to the next howler nearby. Jumping from one tile to the next, Alec made his way across the floor. Nearing the back wall his progress came to a stop. The ladder hung some twenty feet off; however, there were no other safe tiles that he could see. Peering around the space he searched for a howler, but couldn’t seem to find any.
Exhaling through his nose, Alec gazed back at the opening. Eyeing the distance, he used an enchantment to propel himself up into the air and forward towards the ladder. Grasping the bottom rungs, the sorcerer looked up and found himself beneath a solid stone ceiling. The opening was a fake. Denied time to even process the deception, Alec’s grip tightened as the ladder slipped a few inches and began to give way.
Quickly studying the ground, Alec jumped for the closest decorated tile just as the ladder completely dislodged from the ceiling. The object crashed onto the plain stones then fell through to the abyss beyond. Sword at the ready, Alec watched for either soaring arrows or flying blades, yet neither launched from their hiding places to attack him. A loud cracking noise followed by a rumbling reverberated through the chamber. Sucking in a breath, Alec slowly glanced down at the tile he was standing on. He exhaled with a groan. It was a dragon.
Suddenly, the two side walls began to move in upon him. Eyes darting around the space, Alec searched for some means of escape. The ground was quickly being swallowed up and he doubted there would be enough time to make it back to the stairwell. That left him only one other option. Sheathing his blade, Alec held a hand out towards the back wall. The sage’s eyes glowed faintly as he called up a spell.
“Rokon, blast!”
A large hole appeared in the wall as the rock erupted into the shadows beyond. Using the neighboring stones to create a bridge, Alec raced through the opening and into the next chamber as the two stone slabs crashed together behind him.
Alec only vaguely paid attention to the disturbance. The room he had entered was a small cell. The blast from his spell had blown the door off the chamber and soldiers were gathering at the opening. Eyes gleaming coldly, Alec lifted his blade and strode towards his newest foes.
The first two to charge into the bleak space were immediately ejected from the room by the force of Alec’s attack. Flying out of the opening, they landed in heaps on the hard ground. The gathering soldiers momentarily froze. They drew back unconsciously as Alec stepped out of the doorway.
“Get him!” a man growled, rushing towards the sorcerer.
Dodging the blow, Alec countered with a quick slash.
The half dozen soldiers surrounded him in hopes that the confined area would impede the intruder’s ability to defend himself. It did not. Instead, it made the soldiers unable to escape the range of Alec’s expert blade.
Making short work of the assailants, Alec gazed around prior to striding down the corridor. Peering at the handful of empty cells and bright torches lining the space, he surmised that this area was a part of the true main tower. Finally, he had broken out of its trap-infested prison.
Traveling up yet another staircase, Alec could see the soft glow of light above him as he reached the top level of the Imperial Tower. Stretching the fingers of his free hand, the warrior listened closely to every sound and watched every shadow as he stepped into the main floor. A few torches lined the outer walls, offering some light, but it wasn’t enough to penetrate the depths of the center of the wide open chamber. Alec could see the general shape of the space as well as a single door on the other side of the room, yet not much else.
“Infureono, fire ball,” the sorcerer said, holding out a hand.
The vastness of the high ceilings was soon apparent as the glow from his magical flames only served to illuminate the area directly around him. As Alec reached the center of the chamber, a silhouette appeared in the doorway. Cast in shadow he couldn’t make out his visitor so he stayed his hand. I can’t risk harming Jade.
Palms rising, the figure’s fingers began to glow.
Flames wrapping defensively around Alec’s arm, he realized too late that his opponent was another sage.
Finishing his enchantment in Elan, symbols on the ceiling and floor began to shine like the mysterious sage’s hands.
Pain surged through the warrior’s body. The magical seals were designed to drain mana and suppress one’s aura. Though Alec’s power came from his blood, he still had a powerful energy, and the effects of the spell were taking their toll.
The blaze surrounding the Dragon Sage’s arm vanished as he dropped to his knees. Grimacing, his sword slipped from his trembling fingers. Bending over, his hands pressed against the floor as the room seemed to spin before his eyes. The marks glowed brighter, forcing Alec flat on his stomach.
Head to the side, the sage was only able to watch as a soldier appeared holding a torch. Moving to the right, he pressed it lightly to a trough of oil by the wall. Fire burst to life and raced along the outskirts of the chamber. Shifting to the other side of the doorway, he repeated the action, lighting the second half of the space. The chamber was suddenly cast in a bright glow, revealing the seals for Alec to clearly see. And that wasn’t all he was able to observe.
A grin on his bird-like face, Colton sauntered inside. Once the sage cleared the entry, a procession seemed to follow. Six soldiers appeared leading three men in white with red tunics. Vincent trailed behind, sporting a twisted smile, after which another four soldiers entered surrounding a beautiful woman with long chestnut hair.
“Alec,” Jade shouted frantically as she spotted him lying on the ground among the faintly gleaming seals. “Unhand me!” Her efforts to struggle against the iron-like fingers encircling her upper arms were in vain.
Jade’s feisty voice almost made the sage smile, but seeing Vincent again robbed him of that pleasure. Eyes narrowing, everything else faded into the background as the warrior tracked his prey.
The group came to a stop by the altar where the leaders of The Pure sat upon three throne-like chairs. A self-satisfied smile spread across the nob
le’s face as Vincent addressed the men.
“My supreme lords,” he began, holding his hands out to the side. “As promised, I give you Alec, the Dragon Sage of Malyndor, sealed and delivered.”
“Well done,” Lord Desmond told him.
“An impressive feat,” Lord Belmore agreed.
Lord Sever didn’t show even the hint of a smile. “Our agreement isn’t complete yet.”
“Of course,” Vincent soothed pleasantly with a little bow prior to turning to face his foe.
“If you harm so much as one hair upon his head I shall never forgive you, Vincent,” Jade cried, pulling against her guards.
“Do not fret, sweetheart,” he told her while keeping his focus upon the sage. “You shall be free of his control shortly.”
Attempting to push himself off the ground, Alec clenched his jaw. “This is between you and me, Vincent. Let her be.”
The grin on the noble’s face grew darkly, matching a strangely evil glint in his eye. Drawing his blade, he gradually stalked towards the pinned sorcerer.
“And why would I do that?” Vincent questioned with a sneer. “Have you not heard? Jade is to be my wife. Once I dispatch you, we shall begin our life anew here in Zerrok, with my own fief as a reward for your head.” Vincent continued to grow closer. “So you see slave, I have no intention of ever letting her go. Jade is mine.”
“Never!” Alec roared, raising his body enough to slash at Vincent.
Eyes widening briefly, the noble leapt back just in time for the blade to sweep by. Glancing down he spotted a thin slit on the outer layer of his clothing. Gripping his sword, Vincent’s eyes flashed dangerously.
“How dare you?” the noble demanded.
