by Guy Antibes
Jack was going to stay where he was, but he heard something heavy hit the top of the shed.
“Out or we will crush you,” a voice came from above.
Jack stepped out and looked up. Another orange-robed Zurian looked down from a window holding onto a large rock perched on the windowsill.
“Good morning,” Jack said, giving the Zurian a proper Masukaian bow.
He joined the woman and Grigar as they walked back into the courtyard and into the main building that jutted out from the mountain. He had seen something similar at Grishel’s Cavern in Passoran. The trio walked through the doors.
When Jack walked through, two Zurian priests, or whatever they were, joined him at each side. Each held a long thin wavy sword.
The woman turned her head but continued her walk. “You will get a quick tour, and then enlightenment will come to you both.”
One of the priests’ stomach rumbled.
“I’m hungry too,” Jack said.
The man just grunted.
Both of them were taken to a room built into the rock of the mountain. Two open grilled windows let sunlight spill into the corridor. Jack looked up before ducking his head to enter the cell. A barred hole in the ceiling showed blue sky. The door was shut and locked.
Jack had retained his weapons and his pack. They sat on the stone floor, and both sighed at the same time. Jack offered travel rations to Grigar, who looked reluctantly at what Jack offered.
“Nothing better?” Grigar asked.
“Nope,” Jack replied. “I can provide you with some water.” He took his metal cup and used his bracers to make some ice water for the Lajian wizard. “Is that better?”
Grigar smiled. “Much. I was getting thirsty.”
Jack sat back and figured he could teleport all the way to the front of the gate with Grigar if things became too dangerous. He didn’t say a word to Grigar because someone might be listening in.
“I guess we will learn together what enlightenment is all about. Is it another coercion spell?” Jack asked.
“I don’t know any more than you do,” Grigar said, munching on his travel rations. “They like the color orange. There is that?”
“At least you know they aren’t Red Herons, but that isn’t enough, is it?” Jack said.
“Probably not. We just have to be patient.”
Jack wasn’t that good with patience, but he had been learning during his errands. Grigar finished breakfast and let his eyes droop. Jack found himself reviewing Masukaian vocabulary when the door opened.
“Time for your cleansing,” a priest said. The one was bald, or he shaved his head.
Jack helped Grigar get to his feet as they exited the cell, again with an escort following behind. They were shown into an empty room with benches lining the walls.
An older priest showed up. “I am here to provide you with instructions for your enlightenment.”
“What is this enlightenment?” Jack asked.
“Enlightenment is when the privileged one meets Zukori, our god.”
“You are the priests of Zukori?” Grigar said.
“Not exactly,” the priest said. “We are a splinter of Zukori worship. A more intense splinter than many. You might not know this, but Zukori works through different sects. We are the only one who worships Zukori through enlightenment. You will find out. I have a few questions to ask. Are you healthy?”
“Healthy? What kind of a question is that?” Jack asked.
The priest frowned. “An important one. Are you healthy?”
“Not really,” Grigar said. “I have some kind of a bleeding disease. It comes, and it goes. It is a bit contagious. My friend might have even caught it from me.”
The priest pursed his lips. “You are jesting. Enlightenment is not a jesting matter.”
Grigar shrugged. “I hope you don’t have to find out.”
Jack was the one who had to suppress a smile. Grigar was pranking the priest. Jack decided to join in the fun. “I had an attack last night,” Jack said.
“Before or after you climbed the gate?”
Jack smiled. “I was so distracted, I can’t tell you. I felt like I was being eaten up by thousands of ants.”
Grigar pursed his lips and rubbed his chin. “A precursor, Jack.” He looked at the priest. “I’m afraid that is one of the initial symptoms.”
“I’ll have none of this prattle,” the priest said, the volume of his voice rising with his growing impatience. “Remove your weapons and come with me.” The man turned and walked down the corridor. Four armed priests, all carrying wavy swords surrounded Grigar and Jack as they exited their cell. Jack was reminded to remove his swords.
Can you produce water? Grigar asked telepathically.
A few different ways, Jack said, with a chortle.
I mean with your wrist guard.
Of course, I can.
When I tell you to squirt some water on my nose mouth and ears. Do the same to yourself. I have a little spell that might be necessary. I’m a little worried about the priest asking about our health. Grigar nodded when he had finished.
Jack didn’t know what the wizard was up to, but Grigar had the experience Jack lacked. He was almost certain it had to do with the earlier pranking of the priest.
“Here is the enlightenment chamber,” the priest said. “Your soul will meet Zukori through that hole in the ceiling.”
Jack peeked through the window. Four platforms looked like a healer’s examination beds in the chamber. Everything was tiled in a light orange color, the floors, the walls, and the domed ceiling. The hole that the priest talked about was less than a foot in diameter.
If his soul were to go through that, his body would remain behind. Jack realized he was looking at an execution chamber.
Now! Grigar commanded
Jack began to cough. He spelled a thin stream of liquid and doused Grigar and himself with water. Immediately, the water began to thicken and turn red. Jack looked at his hands. They looked like they were covered in blood.
“He told the truth!” the woman who had summoned them said. “They are unclean. We cannot enlighten them now.”
“Zukori will not be pleased these aren’t enlightened,” one of the guards said.
Jack looked at Grigar, who looked shocked.
“If they are unclean, throw them over the falls!” a priest said.
“Not that!” Jack cried out. “I can’t swim.”
“You won’t have time to learn,” The woman said as priests pushed Grigar and Jack toward a door.
Light leaked through the frame. Someone threw the door open, and the waterfall began at least a hundred paces below.
“Hold onto my hand,” Jack said.
“This is so sudden,” Grigar said with a grin, but he grasped Jack’s hand as if his life depended on it, and Jack was sure it did.
They were pushed.
Jack did nothing for precious seconds, but he finally teleported them to the tiny clearing where he first observed the falls.
Grigar fell to the ground.
“You cut that a little close, didn’t you?”
Jack helped Grigar to his feet. “They had to see us fall a respectable distance,” Jack said. “Those people practice human sacrifice!”
“Maybe it is a little hard to grow meat at the top of Zuri Mountain, if they eat what doesn’t get enlightened, I’m surprised there are miners left.”
“And villagers at the bottom?” Jack said.
“I’m not in the mood to find out, but I doubt it if there are still some about.”
Jack thought for a bit. “We can’t just run, can we?”
“I intended on holding your hand all the way back to Deep Mist,” Grigar said.
“You want to go back to Deep Mist?” Jack asked. “After they left you here to be executed?”
“Masukaians think differently than we do. It is succeed or fail, and failure can include death. Remember Helen and Tanner?” Grigar said. “My escorts seemed that
they didn’t know anything about enlightenment.”
“They are quick learners, then,” Jack said. “When I talked to them, they knew what enlightenment was.” He looked out over the arid lands of the steppe and leaned over to watch the water flow. “I don’t know why they need to put the water down that hole, but we should plug it up and send the water down to the village below.”
Grigar looked at the hole below. “I can plug it up, but I’ll need to tap into your power.” He held out his hand for Jack to grasp.
The Lajian took a deep breath and said a word that Jack didn’t understand and levitated a huge rock and let it down, more than covering the hole. The water began to splash over the rock and started running down the side of the mountain through a channel that the stream of water probably carved long ago.
“Can we go now?” Grigar asked.
“Answer one question for me. Where did you learn that grisly blood spell?”
Grigar laughed. “You didn’t taste it, did you? Try it.”
After licking his lips, Jack said. “Cherry. I like it, but I’m going to wash it off before we leave. It sure fooled me.”
“And them. I used to do some pranks in my time. I wasn’t always an old wizard, you know.” Grigar winked at Jack.
Chapter Twenty-One
~
G rigar and Jack walked down the ramp into Deep Mist late in the afternoon. Jack’s stomach was very queasy after all the teleportation jumps, but he could rest when he returned to the subterranean town.
After a few hours of washing up and a bit of rest, Jack and Grigar went to the administration building, but they couldn’t find anyone to report to.
“Let’s get something to eat, then,” Grigar said. “After my nap, I’m ready to eat anything, even those dreaded travel rations.”
Jack agreed, and the pair strolled to the dining building.
“You did really well,” Grigar said. “When we are debriefed, let them know that I helped get us out.” The older man laughed. “A little wizardry, well applied, can save the day.”
“I feel that I used more than a little,” Jack said. “Unfortunately, there was little warrior stuff going on, especially after they made us leave our weapons behind.”
“Enough. You found out where I went. I purposely didn’t tell you where I was headed, you know. That was one of the rules. We even did a good deed for the villagers, but I wouldn’t emphasize that,” Grigar said.
“Why not?” Jack asked.
“Deep Mist agents aren’t supposed to be interested in helping others along the way. They are above that. It is a cultural thing that you need to understand,” Grigar said.
Jack thought about Grigar’s words as they continued to walk. “That won’t keep me from helping others if the opportunity arises.”
“Good. Just don’t mention it. In my experience, good deeds are always better if done unobtrusively, if not in secret. It is better form.”
Jack mulled over the concept while they stood in the food line with the other Deep Mist candidates. When they reached their table, Jack said, “So it is acceptable not to get credit for what you do?”
“It is,” Grigar said, “to my way of thinking. Get credit when you need it. You completed your task. It is important for our errand that the Pearl Mist knows that you can perform. Helping the villagers only detracts and shows them that you weren’t single-minded. Masukaians love single-mindedness.”
“I don’t puff myself…” Jack sat down and amended his thought before continuing. “I do like to tell stories when drinking like anyone else,” he said.
Grigar laughed, but he concentrated on getting some food in him before replying. “It is a different situation, but you still need to control what you say. Do you boast or make up stories?”
Jack frowned. He had just returned from a triumphant mission, and he hadn’t expected to be challenged like this. “It makes it more fun to embellish. Everyone does it.”
“Do you intend to do the same thing when you report to Ruki Sinda, the Deep Mist leader?”
“Of course not!”
Grigar focused on spearing a sliver of meat with his eating sticks before speaking. “See that you don’t. If they find out we plugged the waterfall on our own, it will be to your credit.”
“Our credit. We did it together.”
Grigar chuckled. “We did, didn’t we? A good team, we are.”
Jack had too much to think about to really enjoy his food, and his appetite disappeared when Ruki Sinda and Miru, his mentor stood at their table.
“You have something to report?” Miru asked.
“We went to the administration building, but you weren’t in, so we cleaned ourselves up and got something to eat,” Grigar said.
Jack nodded.
“Why didn’t you complete your mission?” Ruki Sinda asked. “Grigar’s escorts haven’t even returned yet.”
“I used other means to return,” Jack said. “We thought it was important to get back quickly. Let us tell you our story so you can determine if we succeeded or not.”
It was Grigar’s turn to nod. Ruki Sinda frowned. “Very well. If you are done, we can go to my office.”
In the Deep Mist leader’s office, Zeki (Grigar’s mentor), Miru, Ruki, and a female Deep Mist leader Jack had never seen sat around Grigar and Jack as they knelt in the center of them to relate what happened.
Grigar told them about his “abduction,” and then Jack started when he reached the rim of Deep Mist.
“I am especially adept at teleportation,” Jack said. “Not having a horse was actually beneficial to me.” He described his trip to the village where the miners drank after getting a general direction after telepathically speaking with Grigar.
“You spoke to your quarry?”
Jack nodded. “I was told to retrieve Grigar, not execute him,” Jack said. “I asked about the rules, and all Miru said was that I couldn’t take a horse from Deep Mist.”
“What happened to you?” Ruki asked Grigar.
“My escort told me I could expect to be treated well enough, but that wasn’t exactly the case.” Grigar looked at all the Deep Mist men in turn. “Have you used the Zurians before?”
They looked at each other, but Miru said, “Yes we have. We thought it a worthy trial for the both of you. When we don’t have control over the mission, it is more authentic.”
“Authentic,” Grigar repeated. “Authentic and unique.” He continued to relate the story all the way to plugging the waterfall. “Then Jack teleported us back to Deep Mist.”
“Human sacrifice?” Zeki said. “We had no idea!” Jack didn’t believe a word.
“Abominations!” the unknown Deep Mist woman said. “We need to exterminate them.” Jack felt it was more posturing.
Jack looked at the faces of the Deep Mist leaders. Ruki’s face was impassive while Zeki and the woman expressed their astonishment. Jack wasn’t totally sure if it was an act or not, but it sure seemed like it. Was Zuri Mountain a place where candidates were disposed of? He didn’t know, but he wouldn’t be too surprised if that were the fact. Deep Mist played by pretty cruel rules.
Jack talked about the miners and his village experience. “I don’t know where the Zurians get their other victims, but everyone below that mountaintop is a victim one way or another.”
Ruki nodded. “Deep Mist will handle Zuri Mountain.” He leaned forward. “You successfully completed your mission.” He looked at Miru and Zeki. “Your approach was unconventional, but given your backgrounds and advanced knowledge, I had expected that. You will both be moved to advanced training. Knowing you are on a mission of your own, I would expect three more months at Deep Mist would prepare you to work with our Deep Mist operatives in the capital. You may go.”
Jack and Grigar rose and sat on a bench by the river. They looked at the flowing river for a while before Grigar spoke. “I’m not so sure they expected us to return.”
“I agree. We had no problem riding right up to the gate at the top o
f the mountain,” Grigar said. “My escorts didn’t spend any time convincing the Zurians to take me and wait for you to arrive.”
“They knew I would come?”
“Of course they knew,” Grigar said. “Did you just drop off the infamous onion cart, boy? I wanted to see the expression on Ruki’s face before I talked to you.”
“We were culled?”
Grigar shook his head. “Do you feel culled? I don’t. We will get a dose of advanced training and then sent out of here as Deep Mist graduates. That is hardly being culled. I can’t say I fully understand the Masukaian mind, but I believe they will treat us honorably, in their own way.”
“So I shouldn’t think we are being picked on because we are Corandian?”
Grigar pursed his lips. “I don’t think so. Not Corandian, but we are different. I don’t think they know what to do with us. No one can teleport like you can, and I haven’t found many Masukaians who have cultivated the telepathic spell. Those were the key to our success as well as our little prank with the blood.” Grigar smiled and shook his head with disbelief. “I can’t believe it worked so well.” He took a deep breath. “Oh, well. Let’s face the final months of schooling to get as much out of it as we can, and then we can work on retrieving the Battlebone.”
“I nearly forgot about that,” Jack said. “I don’t know about you, but I’ll return to Yomomai as a real wizard-warrior.”
Grigar chuckled. “I’ve always been a wizard, but even I have learned a few new tricks, and thanks to you, I’ve used two spells differently than I ever have. That is an accomplishment for an old wizard, like me. I’m not too happy about using up a year of my life in Masukai, but what else are we here for, but to experience life?” He clapped Jack on the shoulder. “We have done that, haven’t we?”
Jack nodded and smiled. “It’s time to check in with Fasher and Penny.”
~
You are quite a team, Fasher said after Jack had told him about their mission. I suspect Grigar and you succeeded on your test much better than Helen or Tanner; however, knowing those two, I’m sure they wouldn’t be at such a disadvantage for long. Are you ready to pursue the Battlebone?
Jack thought for a moment before replying. I know we are. Masukai isn’t a surprise to any of us, now. We would have failed without all this training. I know that now. How is Corina and Raker Falls?
