“The rabbit had been put down by one of the attendants and brought to us. It lay on a silver tray on the workbench in the center of the room. The remaining elders in the council were grouped around it, Kurilan included, and he took command of the experiment. He pulled a small metallic disk from his pocket, held it in his hand and began his incantation. We looked at one another as it was almost completely foreign to us. I was about to voice a protest and stop Kurilan when a small glow appeared over the body of the unmoving rabbit. The words stuck in my throat as the glow grew large enough to envelope the rabbit.
“Solace Warren, one of the elders who was standing next to me, pulled at the sleeve of my robe and whispered, ‘Look...look at the rear leg.’ Sure enough, one of the rear legs began to move. Sluggish at first, and then it jerked, kicked out, as if it were going to hop away while still lying on its side. Little by little the animal became more animated, until it was finally standing on its own, hunched down, obviously frightened surrounded by humans, but something was wrong.”
“Wrong?”
“Yes. You’ve seen a piece of meat that looks fine on the outside, but has a peculiar odor about it? It looks harmless, but there is...something not quite...” The mage’s voice trailed off as he was again lost in his thoughts. With a deep breath, and a clap of his hands, he continued, “So the rabbit appeared normal and Solace stepped forward to capture it. He reached for the scruff of the animal’s neck to grab it and managed to just touch the fur before it turned and buried its teeth into the soft flesh between his thumb and first finger. Blood began to flow and while Solace was trying to shake it free, it not only continued to hold on, it started to gnaw on his flesh. Finally, he had the foresight to grasp the animal’s jaws with his other hand and pried the beast’s mouth open, and pulled his hand free. He flung the animal to the table where it rolled several times, finally recovering its footing and turned its head to face Solace and-Gods strike me if I’m mistaken-the thing hissed at him. I’d never heard of such a thing, but we were all witness to it. I grabbed a cloth from a workbench a short distance away and wrapped Solace’s hand to try to stem the bleeding. The cloth soaked through almost immediately, and after several more layers of cloth, we managed to get the bleeding under control. Meanwhile, the animal still crouched on the table, the hair on its back standing on end and it continued that unnatural hissing. As I moved along the edge of the table, it turned its head slowly from Solace to me and back to him again, as if regarding us. It was very unnerving.”
“So what happened?” Delas asked, her voice almost lost in the story being recounted.
“What happened? What happened was that while the beast was keeping its eyes on us, another elder smashed its skull with a silver candle holder.”
“And Solace? Was he okay?” Adam asked.
Thomas let out a short humorless laugh. “Solace was dead within a week.”
Chapter Eighteen
Adam opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Delas looked at him and then back to Thomas and asked, “Dead? What happened?”
“What happened young lady, is that a small group of elder mages were made fools of, that’s what happened.” Thomas twisted in his chair, causing it to creak dangerously and looked toward the closed wooden door. “Where in the world is that food?” He sighed deeply. “I’m sorry. I tend to get grumpy when I think about those times...even with the number of seasons that have passed. It’s funny, I know, but we were foolish to take Kurilan at his word when it was obvious he had ambitions beyond the Guild.”
“Well, what were his dreams back then may become reality unless he’s stopped. Now that your friend has unearthed one of the Artifacts, things are going to get a bit more interesting.”
“Interesting? How’s that?” Adam asked.
“Whoa. Stop.” Delas said, raising her hands. “Can we finish the story of the Guild first? What happened with the elder that was bitten by the rabbit?”
“Young lady, you must excuse an old man his meanderings.” Thomas said, looking at Delas’ face for her approval and found a smile there, and so he continued.
“After the rabbit was killed, we burned it as was our normal routine with animals that we experimented on. Oh, did I mention that we also performed experiments…drawings really, of the systems inside of living creatures? We collected drawings, weights, measurements and even colors using a standard coloring system we developed, to catalog animals and their internals. Wait-why are you looking at me like that?”
Thomas saw Delas staring at him. He raised his hand to stop her silent question.
“Because we burned the rabbit without examining him, we didn’t realize until much later that we hadn’t brought him back from the dead, as Kurilan had lead us to believe. Kurilan had used his teachings to us all to draw us into the dark magics of animating the undead, not raising the dead to life. Had we known that, we could have saved Solace. Maybe. He would have lost his arm of course, but that would have been a small price to pay in exchange for his life.”
The sudden knock on the door caused them all to jump in their chairs. Thomas called to the door and it opened revealing two young women. One slim dark-haired beauty was carrying a wooden tray covered with an oil-spotted cloth heaped over something that smelled delicious. The other young woman was covered with a once-white apron that now sported the scars of a lost battle with various sauces in the kitchen. She carried several bowls and a cloth bag at her waist containing two loaves of warm bread. They excused their entrance and quickly placed their deliveries on Thomas’ desktop. He thanked them and the two backed out of the door after taking a long look at the two guests.
When the door closed behind them, Thomas pulled the cloth off of the wooden tray and announced that it was time to eat.
“If you don’t mind, I’ll keep talking while we eat. I’m not sure how much longer we’ll have, but sooner or later, we’re going to have company,” Thomas said grabbing a piece of steaming chicken.
“Company? Who knows we’re here?” Adam asked.
“Those two young women that delivered the food? Their lips flap like pennants in the high winds before a thunderstorm. They will speak to their friends that they pass by on their way back to the kitchen, and once they get there, the entire place will be buzzing with the tale of the two strangers talking to the Ancient One. Did you notice the examination you two received before they exited? Nothing escapes their view, and I’m sure they both remarked on the lack of a magical talisman that neither of you two have dangling around your necks.”
“Well, no use being alarmed. It’s also possible that those two gossips were so involved in their whispered imaginary secrets, that they stepped out into the lane and were run over by a speeding cart laden with books and hopefully heavy equipment.”
Thomas looked up at their shocked faces and laughed.
“Let’s finish this up,” he said.
Chapter Nineteen
“There’s something else that you need to understand about what was also going on at the time. There had been several grisly killings in the village and the guild had been called upon to investigate and solve the crimes. The council appointed several mages in the guild to investigate and the information they brought back was chilling. In one of the attacks, a victim fought back and there was evidence that the crimes were the acts of undead creatures. We, as the elders, attempted to suppress the information to keep the citizens from panicking. This turned out to make the matter worse, when the evidence came to light.
Delas shook her head. “You know that magic users are not held in the highest regard.”
Thomas released a humorless chuckle. “At the time, this is two, almost three centuries ago, it was even worse. There was a mob that threatened to burn the guild, even then, but they were turned back, and clearer heads prevailed. For a time.”
“Several days after Solace’s mishap, I was on my way to his home to see how he was doing. The day of the incident with the rabbit, he had gone home and hadn’t been to the g
uild since. That was very odd for him, and I became concerned. I remember the day was overcast and halfway to his home the clouds darkened, the wind picked up and the rain began to fall heavily. I ran the rest of the way to his home and knocked at his door.
“I turned and looked out at the landscape through the teeming rainfall and felt a chill run through me. I felt that the weather was somehow a premonition that darker times were upon us. The sound of the bolt on his door being thrown pulled me from my daydream and I turned to face my friend.
“He had opened his door little more than a crack and bid me to leave. There was no light in his home and I could barely make out the outline of his face in the darkness. His raspy voice surprised and shocked me, as I had never heard his voice sound like that before.”
“‘Go. You must leave, Thomas. There is nothing to be done.’ Solace’s voice croaked from beyond the wooden door.”
“‘If you are sick, maybe I can help,’” I told him. The wind shifted, and I caught the odor of rotten flesh. It hung in the air as the wind, which had been blowing hard enough to cause my clothes to flap like flags, suddenly ceased. In the still air, I immediately knew that my friend was dying.
“‘The experiment with the rabbit. We did not bring the rabbit back from the dead. That rabbit was still dead, yet it was animated. It was aware. The rabbit was not dead. It was undead. Remember that Kurilan is evil. Pray you don’t turn a blind eye to what he is doing. What he is planning. Keep him close so that you can stop him when the time is right.’”
“Solace, let me in. Let me help,” I begged him and tried to push the door open, but he was obviously standing behind the door, ensuring that I couldn’t open it any further.
“From the darkness, a hand snaked forward. It was covered in a mottled gray skin that hung from the underlying muscles in patches. The remaining outer layers of the skin were a bright, infected looking red color, and oozed a clear fluid. Solace pointed toward the muddy road.
“‘The Solace you knew is dead. You need to leave,’ he said and pulled his hand back through the opening and closed the door. The sound of the bolt being jammed home punctuated the close of our conversation. I pounded on the door and called out Solace’s name, but to no avail. The door and my friend were now closed to me and that was the last that I saw Solace alive.”
“I don’t know how long I stood there at his door. The thunder boomed off in the distance and the dark gray clouds continued to roll in. I watched the rain fall, hoping I would hear the bolt being thrown back once again and the door creak open and my old friend welcome me into his home, but when it became obvious that that wasn’t going to happen, I lifted the hood on my cloak and headed back to the Guild bearing a heavy heart.”
“When I was within sight of the towering cylindrical guild, I saw the glow of torches lighting up one of the largest common areas. I planned on skirting the large group collected there when I was stopped by the angry mob and forced to retreat into a corner. They told me about a family with four small children that were slaughtered by several more of the undead. I explained the mages of the guild would conduct an investigation, but I was shouted down. There were several men in the crowd that had found a blood trail, footprints and the like, leading from the scene back to the guild.
“I tried to get them to understand, to calm them down, but it was no use. I remember the feeling that cut right through me, like it were a blade, when I heard villagers in the crowd calling for me to be killed, to be made an example. They were screaming for justice, for revenge.
“I ran when I saw my chance. I turned a corner in one of the mazes of streets and slipped into a small alley behind some empty crates. I watched from the shadows and the mob filed by, with flickering torches and angry faces. Several looked down the alley, but thank the gods, none entered. My hiding place wasn’t good enough for even one curious set of determined eyes. After they passed, I counted to thirty and then looking around the corner, I ran for my life. Foolishly, I was heading to the same place as the mob. I was coming by way of a side street. I could see the flickering light from the torches casting moving shadows on the buildings at the end of the street and the low rumble of angry voices. I made it through the heavy wooden doors of the guild with short minutes to spare.
“I barred the door and hoped it would hold.”
* * * *
Kyle dropped another armful of dried branches next to Legan, who was warming himself near the small fire. He looked up at Kyle and nodded his head in a show of gratitude. Kyle sat down across from him, the fire separating the two. They silently ate and once they were finished, Legan stretched out, looking up at the starry night sky.
“Kyle, you have turned into quite the leader. Your father should be very proud of you.”
When Kyle didn’t respond, Legan eased himself to one side to look around the fire and see if Kyle had fallen asleep. He saw Kyle sitting, looking into the fire, deep in thought.
“Kyle?”
“Huh? Oh sorry. Lost in my thoughts. My father…my father has passed from this world.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Legan said.
“Don’t be. I have a confession to make. When you joined the group in Griffin’s Point, you were never told about the reason that we were there in town and where we had come from. Now that you’ve risked your life twice, one to save my life and the other to try to save Amber, you should know the whole story.”
“That’s not necessary, Kyle,” Legan said.
“Not necessary? Why not?” Kyle asked. Now it was his turn to slide over from where he sat to a position where he could see Legan clearly next to the fire.
“My father, may he find favor with the Gods, taught me to help those out around me whenever a situation presented itself. For the first half of my life that meant the clan and my extended family. Eventually, when my skills as a cartographer drew me away from the group and I spent increasing amounts of time gone, we finally talked about my leaving and making a difference in the world. How there was a need for my studies and the documenting of the lands over the horizon. So I left, and haven’t been back.”
“Do you miss them? Your Clan?”
“Miss them? Every day, lad. Every day. My father impressed upon me that we should help one another, and if my maps and lore help to spread the knowledge of the world around, my time away from my Clan will be worth it.”
“Is that why you’re with us? To help?”
“Honestly, I expected after a few days traveling in the wilderness I would find you getting hopelessly lost and disoriented, and crying yourself to sleep at night, like a younger, but I was wrong. The way you stood up to Omen and the Spider, got everyone out of there alive, and then when you calmly endured her second attempt on your life, it showed true leadership.”
The words hung in the air for a few moments and then Legan continued, “Now, I had thought of leaving the group and heading off on my own. While I think you can handle it, my mind keeps going back to the silver dagger stuck in my door, piercing that note in Griffin’s Point. So, if it’s all right with you, I would like to continue to tag along.”
Tears were filling Kyle’s eyes and he blinked several times to clear them.
“Yes, I would like that very much.” Kyle said, and eased back on his pack and joined Legan in staring up at the stars.
“Tell me about your father.” Legan said.
Behind fresh tears, Kyle spoke of his father.
* * * *
After a while, Kyle grew quiet and the two of them sat in an easy peace as the fire burned and popped in the chilled night air. Kyle opened his pack and pulled out the medallion, turning it over in his hands and thinking about all that had happened since he first touched the enchanted disk.
“Can I take a look at that?”
Legan held his hand out and Kyle handed the golden medallion to him. He examined one side for a few moments, flipped it over, glanced at the reverse and then examined the edge, slowly turning it in his fingertips. When he rotated it a quarter
way around, he lowered it and pulled his dagger from his belt. He placed the blade against the edge and started scraping the metal.
“Hey.”
“Don’t worry, lad,” Legan said, moving the disk closer to his eye to examine the spot he contacted with his blade. With a short grunt, he replaced his dagger at his waist and handed the medallion back.
“No harm, I assure you. If you look closely, you’ll see that the blade of my dagger didn’t leave a mark, but I would be willing to bet my dagger now has a dull spot. See those marks along the edge? If you knew Dwarven fabrication symbols, you would recognize the year and the crafter of the piece. The fact I couldn’t harm the surface means although the medallion appears to be golden, it is, in fact, not fashioned in gold.”
Kyle turned the medallion over in his hands. “So, what is it then?”
“That is the color of the alloy Andelon. It is a Dwarven alloy, produced at the mines and forges at Southbend. Quite an operation if I remember correctly.”
“Have you been there?”
“No, but then clans of the Dwarven race are closely connected. Our clans tell oral histories, pass on news and information at great feasts. Our lives are of the earth. Mining and forming metals and stone are what we do. What our people are.”
“And yet, you are here, and not in the ground, extracting ore. Why is that?” Kyle asked, leaning forward, his curiosity rising.”
It was a long, awkward moment before Legan spoke.
“That…that’s a story for later. One that is…a bit…complicated.”
“I see.” Kyle fell silent, staring at the fire.
Legan looked into the fire and then his gaze dropped back to the object in Kyle’s hands and it broke the reflective moment. He sighed deeply, pointing at the medallion.
“The components of Andelon are taken from a single mine, from two different mineral seams,” Legan held his palms out one above the other, in parallel. From what I understand, the exact process required to forge the metal is a long and complicated process, unknown to all except those that operate the mine.”
Medallion of the Undead Page 20
