Shaking her head, Krystelle pulled the package containing Nynniaw's journal from beneath her cloak and untied the wrappings. "I am not going to try to convince you of anything Sebastian, although I do believe the Heartstone must be recovered. Valeria sent me for another reason." Finished unwrapping the book, she set it on the table and pushed it toward Sebastian. "She sent me to give you this."
Glaring at the book as if it were a serpent preparing to strike, Sebastian stuck out a finger and nudged it back to Krystelle. "Whatever it is, I don't want it."
Krystelle cocked an eyebrow. "Don't you even want to know what it is?"
"It's the private thoughts of an elf named Nynniaw from the time of the Ban," said Witek, leaning forward.
Sebastian spun toward the dwarf, "What name did you say?"
"Nynniaw!" said Cenric. "Wasn't that the same elf you saw in Ha'vehl'on?"
"It was. He was also at the Battle of Cinaeth. This is his journal you say?" Krystelle nodded. "What am I supposed to do with it?"
"Read it I suppose," said Krystelle.
#
The first rays of sunlight told Sebastian that morning had come at last. He found lately he didn't need as much sleep as he once had. This night was no exception, in some ways even more so. He spent the night scouring through the journal Krystelle brought.
At first, he struggled with the old Elvish writings. As the night wore on, the text became increasingly clear. What he was reading disturbed him greatly.
He became aware of another presence in the room. Looking up, he found the young boy standing next to his writing table. "Fergus, I did not hear you come in." Eyes wide, the boy bounced on his heels and gestured for Sebastian to follow him.
"Has something happened?" Sebastian asked. Wide-eyed, the boy nodded fiercely. Gesturing for Sebastian to come quickly. Shrugging into his robe, Sebastian, followed Fergus into the quiet corridor outside his room.
Watching the boy's sinuous movements Sebastian shook his head at how far things had progressed since he arrived at the monastery. In many ways Fergus reminded him of Cenric when they first met. Before Sterling Lex had gotten his grips onto the boy. The Cenric he met in Aldmoor had been enthusiastic and curious to a fault. Today's Cenric still put on a brave face on things, but Sebastian knew him well enough to see something was not right. Even his relationship with the little dwarf, Witek, was wrong somehow. Sebastian would have to get to the bottom of it once this was done.
Coming into the common room, Sebastian found Krystelle and the others waiting with Caddo. Krystelle turned to him, a fierce look in her eyes, "I hope you found something in that journal," she said.
"What has happened?" he asked.
Caddo responded, "We received word in the night. There is fighting in the streets in Naevean."
Krystelle blinked at him, "It is more than just fighting in the streets!" she said. "My mother has staged some kind of attempt to retake the throne. The palace is in flames."
Sebastian took a step back at the heat in her voice, surprised at what he was hearing. He knew what he needed to do, "Well then," he said. "You should know. I've learned what I needed to learn from that journal. It's time to retrieve the Heartstone.
Caddo smiled, "Indeed it is. If you would all follow me."
Ignoring the others, Sebastian followed the dwarven creature into the hallways of the fortress. In his time at Daguranso, he had deliberately steered clear of the center courtyard. He knew it was there, but did not know understand all it might mean for him to claim the Heartstone. Accepting his magic and heritage was one thing. This would set his life in a new direction and change the fabric of their society. Reading Nynniaw’s journal helped him accept that responsibility and see it was not his alone to bear. He set his doubts to the wayside, there was no more time to waste.
Caddo led them into the courtyard. It was an open expanse with no vegetation, crushed granite covered the ground from wall-to-wall. In the center of the open space stood a wooden pergola. A red tile roof covered an altar centered on the platform. Caddo gestured toward the altar, "You know what you need to do."
Sebastian nodded, preparing himself. Looking at Krystelle and Cenric, he took a moment to warn them, "No matter what happens do not step into that courtyard. Do not attempt to come after me. No matter what you see or hear you must let me complete this on my own."
He watched Cenric carefully as he gave his instructions. The boy’s gaze fixed on the altar at the center of the of the courtyard and a longing shone in his eyes that disturbed Sebastian. "Remember what I said. Do not come into the courtyard." With that last instruction he had done all he could. He had to trust that Krystelle could keep Cenric in line.
#
Blinking in the bright morning sun, Sebastian took one last look at the temple in the center of the courtyard. Bracing himself, he stepped onto the gravel floor. Everything went black. He sensed he was in a different place but the absence of light made it difficult to discern where he was or anything at all about his surroundings. Even the ground beneath his feet felt different from the gravel stone of the courtyard. Gradually his eyes adjusted to the darkness and he realized it was not the total blackness he assumed.
He took his first step forward into the blackness. Cool, humid air blanketed him as he walked forward, so different from the dryness at Daguranso. He suspected mere moments were passing in the outside world. Ahead, a pinpoint of red light appeared in the darkness. Could this be the first test?
Time and distance held no meaning. He walked for hours, but the light grew no closer. Then, he was upon it. He sensed a high tower in the darkness. He knew this place. It was the tower from his dreams and his nightmares. The place that he knew he must someday come. The last place that he wanted to be.
Standing before the dark stone looming above, he considered whether this was a mistake. Was he the one to retrieve the stone? Could he overcome his own weaknesses? Putting his fears aside, he resolved himself again to the task. As if in response, the stone doors creaked open, beckoning him inside. Drawing a breath, he stepped over the threshold.
It was different than he expected. Flickering torches illuminated the large entrance chamber and colorful tapestries lined the walls. It had the look of someone's home, not the abode of some dark creature of the night. It felt almost like home. He could stay here he thought. He could live in this place. Let all the cares of the past and the obligations placed upon him fall to the wayside. He could be comfortable. No problems. No worries. He sensed his every need would be cared for in this place.
A warning grew within him. Although those promises might be true, they were a deception. He fcould stay in this place, he knew that for a fact. Yet in doing so he would abandon all those he cared about and those who cared about him and become a shadow of his true self. A wraith, doomed to wander these halls for eternity until consumed with the weight of his own regret. With that realization, the illusion evaporated. All illusions held an element of truth in them. That was their power. Caddo taught him that.
His surroundings transformed themselves. This was more as he had expected the tower to be. A dark, gloomy place with only a few smoky torches providing a feeble light. Dank moss grew on the stone walls and the air stank of smoke, decay and disease. He was in a dark corridor lined with the same black stone making up the outer walls. He sensed there were other pathways through this tower, but the way ahead felt right. Walking down the corridor, he quickly came to a spiral staircase.
Nothing for it but to go up. Trudging up the dark staircase, he passed landing after landing and door after door. With each step an oppressive heaviness mounted upon his shoulders, urging him to turn back, to give up. A malaise of hopelessness settled into his bones. Nothing he did would matter. He would sacrifice himself for people that did not care one whit whether he lived or died. He was a tool. A marionette dancing on invisible strings.
Another of Caddo’s lesson’s floated through his mind. Hopelessness comes only when you fail to take responsibility for yo
ur own choices. There is always hope. There is always a choice. You are responsible for yourself.
Shaking off this second attempt to bar him from his purpose, he moved forward with a newfound sense of optimism. The malaise lifted and the faces of his friends shone bright in his memory, propelling him forward.
At last, he came to the top of the tower. A wooden door rose before him on the small landing. Grasping the handle, he pulled the door open and stepped inside. A game board rested on the wooden table in the center of the room. Two chairs on either side of the table. One for him one for his opponent. It seemed he was alone here. Stepping inside he looked around the room. There was the window he remembered. Strange that the game-board itself was empty.
He took a quick circuit of the room, bypassing the two cups of wine resting on a side table. Turning back to the game-board, he found he was no longer alone. A dark figure sat in the opposing chair.
Wraith-like, his opponent seemed as much part of the next world as of this one. "I'm glad you finally decided to come," he rasped.
Settling into his chair, pieces of the game appeared in place, already in progress, and Sebastian saw his side was in danger of losing key pieces. It was his move. "I don't know the rules," he said.
"Dangerous to start a game when you don't understand how it's played. You should've thought of that a long time ago."
Considering the board, Sebastian examined the placement of his pieces. He reached out to make the first move, his hand trembling. Grasping his Green Dragon, he moved it forward three places.
His opponent cocked an eyebrow, "A bold move that. Are you sure you don't know the rules?" Not waiting for an answer, the opponent countered Sebastian's move. The battle went on from there. Move. Counter. Attack. Defend. As it progressed, it felt to Sebastian almost as elegant as a sword fight. The moves strangely similar. Tapping into what he knew of swordplay, he began to make progress against his opponent.
"You're learning," the Opponent said after Sebastian seized his Red Wizard.
At last Sebastian found himself staring at the game board and the positioning of the remaining pieces. He had no more moves. His opponent saw the same thing. "You've lost. What will you do now?"
Then Sebastian saw it. He had one move left. He could win the game, but only at the sacrifice of one of his most valuable players. His opponent leaned forward and Sebastian could feel the anticipation dripping from him, waiting for Sebastian to make his move. Would he make the required sacrifice? So much came down to this choice. There were consequences resulting from this choice that Sebastian sensed on the edge of his awareness. There was more to this game than he knew.
Losing the game brought consequences also. Unknown as well. In his heart he knew he could not lose this game and accomplish his purpose both. The choice made, Sebastian reached out his hand and took hold of his own Red Wizard and moved it forward into position. "Advantage," he said. His Opponent would have to seize the Wizard, and in doing so would position Sebastian to gain the victory.
Smiling, the Opponent made his counter-move, "I was not sure if you had it in you." There's a ruthlessness to you, just like there was to your father."
Sebastian scowled, "I'm nothing like my father. That's it. I've won."
"Of course you have. Now the real games can begin." Drawing back his hood to reveal a desiccated, skeletal face, his Opponent smiled, "Oh, Sebastian. The trials have not even begun." Sterling Lex cackled as the world shifted.
#
Sebastian's eyes recoiled as bright mid-afternoon sun eclipsed the dim red light of the tower. Blinking, he squinted at his new surroundings. A large open area, paved with coarse sand and rimmed by a high stone wall. Rows of seats filled with shouting fans rose above the wall. This was some kind of arena. He could hear many in the crowd shouting his name along with another he could not make out. A booming voice echoed over the roaring of the crowd, "Let the games begin!"
Confused at what just happened, Sebastian knew he had to prepare himself. He could still hear the echo of Sterling Lex's laugh in his head, although that could not be. The dark wizard was dead. This all must be part of the trials.
On the far side of the arena a door creaked open. An armored warrior stalked out from the dark pit beyond. Lifting his sword, he knew what kind of battle this was to be, even if he did not know the stakes.
Inhaling deeply, Sebastian allowed the lessons he had learned at the Dazhberg and under Quiren Adelwolf's tutelage to seep into his awareness. Assuming a neutral stance he waited for the black armored figure to approach. Bold and aggressive, the other assumed a fighting stance.
Then the dance began with a few swings of the sword, to test Sebastian's mettle. Blocking them, he evaluated his own chances. Whomever this was, he was good. As good as Quiren Adelwolf or any of the sword-masters. He knew his only hope would be to catch the swordsman off his guard or distract him somehow.
With that realization, the battle began in earnest. His opponent recognized his own superiority and began to press his advantage. The blows came swift and sure and it was all Sebastian could do to defend himself, much less mount any sort of offensive. He tired swiftly from the effort and knew he needed to bring this to a quick conclusion if he were to have any hope.
Sweat rolled down his brown and into his eyes as he disengaged briefly, shaking his head to clear his eyes. His opponent circled, considering his next move. It would be lethal. Sebastian reached out for his magic, preparing a different tack. It slipped through his fingers like a man trying to grasp water. It seemed the magic had deserted him.
He had no time to wonder at the cause as the swordsman renewed his attack. It came with a ferocity that drove Sebastian back toward the perimeter of the arena. He had one more trick up his sleeve. It was risky, but he had run out of options. When confronted by an enemy superior in size and strength and skill, and no other option presented itself, all you could do was give yourself over to the attack or perish. Either way, you were likely to lose, but at least you could go down fighting.
Laying everything he was on the line, he poured every trick he knew about sword-fighting into his final attack. Letting any thought of defense fall to the wayside, he became a whirlwind of death in the arena.
As one, the crowd roared to life, cheering him on. The shouts fueled his efforts as he put the fatigue and weariness aside. On the defensive for the first time, his enemy stumbled back, but Sebastian allowed him no respite. Tapping into deep reserves of anger, Sebastian beat on the enemy until he had him on his knees, disarmed.
Prepared to deliver the final blow, something stopped Sebastian at the last moment, giving the swordsman a chance to remove his helmet. Stepping back, Sebastian allowed his sword arm to drop to his side. The figure kneeling in the dirt before him was his old mentor, Quiren Adelwolf.
The old knight smiled at his former protege, "Do not stop now, Sebastian. You must finish what you've started here."
Around them, the crowd began to boo and catcall. They were thirsty for blood to be spilled. Shaking his head in denial, Sebastian took another step back, "I can't. I won't."
"You must," insisted Adelwolf. "It is part of the price you've already agreed to pay just by being here."
"There must be some other way!"
"There is not."
"Why?"
"I am forbidden to tell you that. Now, the time grows short. Decide. End this and claim your victory!"
In his heart, Sebastian knew the old warrior was right. Caddo revealed only a little about the tests he would face in retrieving the Heartstone, and the burden they would place on his soul. He recognized the burden here. He had killed a father he never knew, avenging the death of the man kneeling here before him. A man who, although he'd only known him a short time, had become like a father to him.
Raising his sword, he prepared one final blow. The words Sebastian most wanted to hear tore into him, shredding apart his facade of strength and leaving him undone. Five simple words from the man he considered be his true fath
er, "I'm proud of you Sebastian," said Adelwolf. Tears poured down Sebastian's face as his sword landed and the world shifted.
#
Watching Sebastian step off into the courtyard at the center of the monastery, Krystelle shuddered. In her heart, she sensed that Sebastian would be forever altered through this experience. Something had stopped him from laying claim to the Heartstone in all the months he had been here. Both he and the little dwarf, Caddo, knew more than they were saying about the trials facing Sebastian.
Sebastian's foot hit the gravel and a flash of light filled the space. Shielding her eyes instinctively, Krystelle turned her head away from the light. It was gone in a moment and she looked back. Sebastian was gone.
She rounded on Caddo, "Where is he?"
Lifting open hands, he bowed his head briefly, "He has gone to another place. The place of testing. I cannot say where it resides, only that he will not return until he has completed the trials."
She scowled, "Cannot say, or will not?" The old dwarf only smiled in response. "I do not care what he said, I am going after him."
Caddo grabbed her arm, his grip much stronger than she expected from one so frail, "I would not do that if I were you."
"Indeed," said Witek. "I know something of these matters and the consequences could be catastrophic were two people to enter the trials at the same time. The young man should be quite safe."
She scowled at Witek, "You always seem to know so much. Why is that exactly?"
"He's a scholar, that's why," said Cenric, moving to stand next to Witek.
Out of the corner of her eye, Krystelle noticed Caddo backing away from the boy and the other dwarf. Putting that aside, she resolved to get to the bottom of this strange relationship between Witek and Cenric. "What is it between you two? If I did not know better, I would say you have met before this journey. Always off in corners whispering together. Cenric, you continually speaking on behalf of Witek and following his suggestions. I will have no more secrets."
Eligium- The Complete Series Page 57
