The Last Refuge

by L. A. Blackburn

  However, since Mano had taken over Shechem, he made sure his soldiers were put in key positions, and that they were all well paid, well equipped and completely trained. Scratching his chin, he paused for a moment on a balcony overlooking the city. Dark clouds advanced from the northeast. Suddenly, someone grabbed him from behind and pulled him through a window into a house.

  “You are a hard one to catch,” Lopie said.

  “By the city, you almost got your head removed,” Elhan said brandishing his axe.

  “Now, now, don’t get in a twist. If I wanted you dead, you’d be dead already. Come with me, quickly, there isn’t much time,” Lopie said with a grin, “I’m with the Rogue’s Alliance now.” Elhan froze with indecision. As a warden, he knew of the Alliance, but he was confused as to why Lopie would be working with them and something in his gut told him to go. He quickly followed them outside and through winding streets when. Suddenly, Lopie turned and put a knife to Elhan’s throat.

  “I’m sorry my friend but this is the only way they would help you,” Lopie said.

  “What are you doing?” Elhan exclaimed as two men put a sack on his head, tied his hands and led him away.

  “Don’t be a fool. I knew you would not agree to a blindfold so I had to take a few measures of my own. No one sees the way to an Alliance safe house unless you’re a member. So, it was necessary,” insisted Lopie.

  Elhan grew more curious as to why he was allowed to live with a reward that high on his head. He felt himself being led through several alleys, but then the way took an unexpected downward climb slant as the smell of rotting refuse fill the air. The rank atmosphere and sound of dripping water told him they were in the sewers beneath the city. After several more turns, they stopped to the sound of a large door slowly creaking open and a smell of burning torches hung in the damp air. Immediately, his blindfold came off to reveal a spacious underground area that appeared to be a converted wine cellar with a large table in the center full of plates of food. Richly adorned walls held paintings and tapestry that Elhan accurately knew to be stolen.

  Lunging, Elhan grasped Lopie by the neck and pushed him against the nearest wall. The room came alive with the sound of blades clearing leather and all weapons pointed at Elhan.

  “Tell me why I shouldn’t snap your back-stabbing neck right here,” spat Elhan. Lopie waved the others in the room to put away their blades.

  “I knew you wouldn’t come of your own accord and there wasn’t time to explain,” said Lopie as he fumbled to break the warden’s grip. “Now please, let me go. You are in no danger here.”

  This was not the man that Elhan remembered from his childhood. Something desperate changed him, made him into something else. Elhan removed his hand from the man’s neck, slowly backed away and sat down at the table nearby leaving Lopie rubbing his bruised flesh.

  “What happened to you,” said Elhan with concern.

  “Mano,” he said bluntly. “His men murdered my sweet daughter and her husband, leaving me to raise my grandson on my own. Evil like that can change a man.”

  “Change him how,” asked Elhan.

  “The Alliance took me in and helped me care for Elo. They know a good blacksmith when they see one.”

  “So their stealing and such doesn’t bother you,” asked Elhan.

  “I sleep fine when they steal from Mano. He’s already taken enough from me,” said Lopie.

  Some ladies entered and put plates of food before Elhan, who eyed them with suspicion. Lopie smiled as he reached down, took some meat from Elhan’s plate and ate it. “It only tastes like poison because of our horrible cook. That is the price we’ve paid for kidnapping him from the Regent’s castle two years ago. The Regent refused to pay his ransom so we’re stuck with him.”

  “Why am I here,” Elhan insisted.

  “Right to the point, eh? Alright then,” Lopie motioned to a nearby servant who brought in Ecthra from an adjoining room wearing a beautiful red flowing dress with gold trim. “This is Ecthra a spy for us. For the past two years, she has worked as a special servant to Conner the leader of the Blood Fianna and you would do good to listen to her.”

  “How am I to trust anyone who works as a spy, let alone with the Blood Fianna,” Elhan insisted. “That murderous band of mercenaries usually keeps to themselves unless they are terrorizing people for money.”

  “Just hear us out. The fact that I trust her is the only assurance you get, but since you don’t trust me, then that puts you in an odd position doesn’t it?” said Lopie. Elhan frowned at this but kept his peace for the moment. No matter the situation, he knew eventually he would need help.

  Ecthra explained all the events that occurred and he became very quiet as she described Nathan’s imprisonment.

  “Nathan? How in Hakkor did he get there?” Elhan questioned. “The last I saw of him was on the edge of Morah Highland.”

  “I don’t know, but it happen against his will,” said Ecthra.

  “You say you poisoned him?” asked Elhan.

  “Yes and no, the mixture I gave him should have only given him the symptoms of poisoning. It was to deceive Conner, but somehow, he switched my mixture with a true poison,” Ecthra said.

  “Is there an antidote?” said Elhan.

  “It’s not that simple. With most poisons, the victim dies after contact with it. However, with the one he took, the person must keep taking it to stay alive. It’s when the victim quits taking it that the poison begins to kill,” said Ecthra.

  “Why would Conner put so much effort into Nathan?” asked Elhan.

  “He’s looking for something. I couldn’t get close enough to hear well when Nathan was being questioned,” she said.

  “You mean, tortured,” Elhan scowled.

  “It was all that I could do. Conner is looking for something small, possibly jewels or papers,” she continued. “The old man said it could be a book.”

  “What old man?” he asked.

  “I discovered the Eldar of Bero on my way to Pelan. He was almost dead and asked to be taken to this refuge,” she stated.

  Elhan couldn’t believe his ears and quickly asked to see him. Lopie and Ecthra led him to a room where Agabus lay on a bed in the corner. He shook with tremors from head to toe, his cloths and bedding were soaked with sweat. From time-to-time, he murmured a prayer under his panting breath in an unknown tongue. Elhan went to his side and placed his rough hand gently on the eldar’s shoulder.

  “He's weak, but made of tougher stuff than I would’ve imagined,” said Elhan.

  “He’s very sick,” Lopie said.

  “What about your healers,” Elhan said.

  “We’ve tried all manner of healing the Alliance has in supply but they only appear to make him worse,” said Lopie. “There’s more.”

  Lopie crossed to a chair at the edge of the room and sat down.

  “It is not like the Alliance to trust anyone but their own, but I don’t see where I have much choice. There have been reports to me that the giants are amassing on the borders of the Zumzummin lands.”

  “For what,” Elhan questioned.

  “I was born at night, but not last night, so don’t play stupid,” Lopie snapped. “I know that you had a rather heated encounter with emissaries of the giant lands on the Morah Highland. Don’t you wonder what they were doing there?”

  “Yes, but as warden I have encounters with many people,” Elhan said.

  “Don’t be a fool. You know it’s not the Zumzummin way to go sneaking about. They take what they want when they want it,” Lopie said. “They were looking for something, or, someone.”

  “What’s that to you,” Elhan said.

  “Well, that brings us back to our stricken eldar doesn’t it,” said Lopie. “Have you heard of the ‘Dim Skean’?’”

  Elhan skipped a breath as his eyes set on Lopie’s face.

  “Yes, I’ve heard of it,” said Elhan.

  “You know myth comes from legend, and legend comes from fact, however s
light,” Lopie insisted. “The Dim Skean is real and the horror that can spew from it is also real. What do you know of its history?”

  “The old tale in my village is that unknown tomewrights tried to destroy it,” said Elhan.

  “That is the official story from the Arch-Wright in Pelan, but far from the truth,” said Lopie.

  “What are you saying?” asked Elhan.

  “He’s trying to tell you if you will shut up long enough,” creaked Agabus from the doorway of his room. His face was white as a sheet, but there were signs his old vitality grew stronger.

  “Agabus, you must rest,” Lopie said as he raced to the old eldar’s side. The old tomewright held up his hand and took a chair against the nearby wall.

  “More accurately, history tells us there were two scrolls of darkcraft from beyond Akeldemah referred to as ‘Senary’ and ‘Septenary,’” said Agabus. “The Senary scroll held the curses while the Septenary scroll possessed the exact rituals required for protection during the process.”

  “Yes, yes, and there was some such nonsense about the second seer battling to gain control of them and only managing to get one,” said Elhan impatiently. “Why didn’t that seer just destroy the book he gained? Seems like that would have ended all this.”

  “He fought an Arch-Mancer named Trismegistus and gain possession of the Septenary Scroll. However, the collection of curses was still lost to him. Since the two tomes are connected, it’s possible he felt one tome could lead to the other. It’s said the second seer took it somewhere no one could find it,” said Agabus.

  “Our spies tell us that Conner may have possession of the Senary Scroll which would explain the horrible events that are unfolding all over,” said Lopie.

  “If he had the other tome, he’d have killed us all by now,” insisted Elhan.

  “True, but it’s hard to say. The darkcraft tomes are very dangerous, even for a mancer,” said Lopie.

  “I received a report that the Malakim demons are gathering for something,” said Elhan.

  “Where did you get this information,” asked Lopie.

  “Rashiel,” said Elhan.

  “I don’t trust Malakim whether angel or demon,” said Lopie.

  “I have no love for them either but Rashiel does not lie,” said Elhan.

  “How do you know he hasn’t changed sides and become a demon?” asked Lopie.

  “How do I know you aren’t possessed by a demon right now,” said Elhan.

  “Excellent point,” replied Lopie. “Yet, whether you trust me or not, something is brewing, something that will change the balance of power in the whole of Akeldemah and change the land forever. Our spies in the Zumzummin kingdoms say the giant kings are behaving wildly. They’ve isolated themselves from their court officials, began issuing orders for warriors to guard the borders, allowing no one to enter or leave.”

  “Agreed, that is odd behavior, even for a giant,” Elhan said.

  Suddenly, Agabus tried to get to his feet. His limbs were shaking as he attempted to stand. Ecthra held him down but the old eldar shook his head.

  “No, you don’t understand...I have to be there...I’ve seen it,” Agabus whispered.

  “He’s rambling with fever,” Ecthra said as she gave his some water.

  “I’m not so sure. I wish Dodie were with me,” Elhan whispered as he ran a worried hand down his beard.

  “You mean the stout tomewright with the good appetite,” Lopie said. “He’s in the dungeon in here in Shechem.”

  “Can you free him?” Elhan asked.

  “I never said that. It may be particularly difficult because your friend has not been a good guest. The way leads through several of the old city tunnels and many are not as stable as they were during the old days,” Lopie said.

  “Then I go alone,” he said.

  “I’ll go with you,” Agabus cut in with a weak voice.

  “I’d rather you stay and rest,” Elhan said, looking into Agabus’ dark-ringed eyes.

  Sweat was running down his pallid face but for a moment power flashed in it, and the old man’s bravery touched him.

  "Elhan, you’d be a fool to go alone, even with a skilled party it would be almost impossible," said Lopie.

  Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside the chamber. Shouting echoed from the upper rooms as a servant ran to Lopie, whispered a message in his ear then quickly ran from the room.

  "It appears the decision has been made for us," Lopie said. “One of our own was arrested and thrown in prison along with a Formorian.”

  “Was it a young woman,” asked Elhan.

  “Why, yes, I believe she is,” Lopie said with amazement.

  “If Isha is there then Nathan will not be far away,” Elhan said. “That trouble travels in pairs.”

  Elhan moved toward an outbound passage, but was stopped by Lopie’s hand on his shoulder.

  “This is some of the poison given to your friend. It's called hemah and is very hard to come by so don’t lose it. It will only be enough to keep him alive a few days if you use it carefully,” he said handing Elhan a wineskin of the elixir and a map. “One of my assistants will guide you through the passages to our exit, then use the map to navigate to the dungeon area. Be on your guard, the map is old but should still be reliable.”

  “Thank you for your help,” said Elhan.

  “There’s one more thing. Bena was appointed the new eldar by order of Mano. Since he knows you’ll come for your people, the guards have instructions to kill you on site,” said Lopie.

  The news stunned Elhan. Why Bena? His old teacher had never done something like this and certainly not for Mano. So many things didn’t make sense but he didn’t have time to think about that now.

  “Should I cover his head escorting him out?” asked nearby rogue.

  “No, if he doesn’t succeed, it won’t matter anyway,” Lopie replied.

  Twenty

  “Squaring the Book…”

  Elhan's thoughts swirled in his head like clouds before the storm. After a half hour of crossing the passages leading to Shechem, he at last found his destination with great difficulty. The dim flicker of torchlight and the smell of death and decay told his senses all he needed to know. Sliding along the jail corridors, he kept to the shadows and listened intently for any signs of life. At the end of the corridor, a guard sat with his back against the wall, snoring serenely with his hands crossed on the top of the helmet in his lap. Sleeping on duty was a capital offense for any guard, but he had other ideas. Slipping his knife from its sheath, he skulked to the guard and delivered a skull-cracking blow with the hilt that sent him sliding to the floor.

  “Serves you right for sleeping on duty,” said Elhan.

  “Is anyone there,” a whispered came through the bars of a nearby door. “Over here.” Taking a torch from the wall, he followed the sound till he came to the source.

  “Who are you,” asked Elhan.

  “A stupid rogue in need of your assistance,” said the prisoner. “I can make it worth your while.”

  “All I want is your help getting out of here. But whatever you decide, do it fast. Your guard will come around shortly and most likely in a foul mood. I could also use some information,” Elhan said.

  “Take me with you and I’ll give you both,” he said.

  “Agreed,” said Elhan as he quickly took the keys from the unconscious guard and clicked the lock on the door. The prisoner looked the worse for wear and sported several bruises on his face as well as a fat lip. “Are you with the Alliance?”

  “Maybe,” he said. “Who are you?”

  “If you're with the Alliance, I'm here to get you and your partner,” Elhan said.

  “I am with the Alliance, but my partner isn't in the jail,” said Jackabo.

  “What?”

  “It's hard to explain, but she was taken to the healers by order of the eldar,” said Jackabo. “There was also a young woman with a wild look about her.”

  “I know her,” Elhan said
. “Do you know where they might have her?”

  “Most likely nearby, this section is for death sentence prisoners,” said Jackabo.

  In the distance, Elhan heard the sound cowering prisoners and the frazzled voice of a guard drawing near to their location. Suddenly, a guard appeared down the corridor with a tray of meat and bread but before Elhan could act, Jackabo took a loose stone from the wall and hurled it down the corridor into the face of the approaching guard, knocking him to the floor senseless.

  “Good shot,” said Elhan.

  “It’s a gift,” chuckled Jackabo.

  Elhan pulled the unconscious guard out of sight as the rogue put on the guard’s armor. He then handed the tray to Elhan after putting a rock and some meat on it and said with a smile. “Wait for my signal.”

  The two traversed the passages of the jail looking for possible places that Isha may be held. After several minutes, they heard a commotion coming from an adjoining corridor so they went to investigate. On the way, Jackabo found some guards clothing that he used as a disguise. When they arrive at the source of commotion, it was just as Elhan thought. Isha had her guards in a state of panic. On the way, he noticed a guard being dragged from the area in an insensible state, bleeding from various wounds about his head and shoulders. There appeared to be a dispute among the three remaining guards as to who would be responsible for chaining her to the wall.

  “I’m not doing it unless the Sergeant orders me too,” one guard argued.

  “That was the Sergeant they just hauled out for stitches,” said another.

  “Shut your yap and let’s rush her, she can’t take us all,” ordered a third.

  “Food for the prisoner,” said Jackabo as he approached the bars with the tray.

  “Are you crazy? You’re not feeding that animal until she’s chained,” said a guard. “That witch can starve for all I care.”