“The Council decided to entrust the three items with couriers that had proved themselves loyal and trustworthy in the past. They were given gold to fund their travels and sent off in three different directions with instructions to travel for thirty days, putting as much distance between the guild and themselves. They were instructed to then find a secure location and hide their artifact there. A place of desolation, one that no race would find. Then, they were to return by way of a different path and meet another courier at an agreed upon location to ensure their taskings were completed.”
“So the second set of couriers would know…”
“No.” Thomas interrupted, raising his hand, as if to stop Adam’s words in mid-air.
“The second set of couriers chosen were loyal to me. Their instructions where to travel to the rendezvous points and wait for the ones who’d hidden the artifacts. They were told not to discuss the locations, direction or distances traveled. Once they determined the task was complete, they were to wait for nightfall, and kill the couriers as they slept. Then they were to return.”
Thomas stopped, lowered his head and sighed deeply before continuing.
“The couriers whose task it was to hide the medallion never arrived at the meeting place, and now I understand why. They never managed to get beyond a day’s ride from Gnorepenne.”
Thomas looked across the table at Adam who scrutinized him with slitted eyes and lips fixed into a narrow line.
“So you murdered your own men?” Adam spit out sharply, his anger spilling out like venom.
Thomas pounded the tabletop with his bony fist, making the cups and various utensils jump. “Don’t you dare lecture me. How stoppable do you think an undead army, controlled by a madman bent on destruction would be? You stand here as a man, but speak as a child. Do you think it was easy to have those men killed? To order them to be murdered to keep a secret that you yourself had a part in creating?”
Silence smothered the room as the words sank in, and it was long moments before Adam tried to speak, but Thomas cut him off.
“Since you are passing judgment on me, let me give you a bit more to allow you to conclude I am the monster you believe me to be. A secret is a slippery thing. Who knows it and who doesn’t? My second group of couriers? The ones who killed in my name? The ones I knew as sons? Those I trusted with my life? When they returned, their faces ashen with their completed tasks, they knew. They knew a secret was only secure when no one knew its details. So when I offered them poisoned wine, they took it. Gods blast me, they took it, knowing it was the only way to be sure the final locations of those three cursed objects were secure.”
There was a long silence as Thomas sat, deep in his own torment, while Adam and Delas looked on, lost in their own thoughts.
* * * *
“But, what’s done is done. My sins weigh upon my soul every day, without fail. The wheels appear to be in motion again. With the medallion found, the other two artifacts must be recovered and kept from Kurilan.”
“How can the remaining pieces be found if the ones who hid them were silenced?” Adam asked
“This is something I never should have done. The reason for the killings…the murders…was to ensure the location of the artifacts would be protected. No one was left who would know where they had been taken and hidden from the world. In a moment of weakness before the artifacts were sent away, I began to question if it was the right decision. What if…”
“What if they were needed in the future?” Adam interrupted.
“Perhaps, or what if they needed additional safeguarding, or destroyed?”
Thomas looked past Adam at a map of the known world hanging on the wall. Adam saw Thomas’ focus change and turned to look at what caught his attention.
Gods, Legan would have loved to have been here. He would have been lost in the detail of that map. Adam thought.
Thomas voice became soft, “I always hoped the world would become a better place. Better than the ages of ignorance and superstition that it once was. Unfortunately, in a moment in that ignorance, a magic user named Kurilan created the tools to bring about either its destruction or at least the enslavement of its people. The discovery of the medallion has started the final march toward that time. I fear there are forces even greater than Kurilan that have awakened with the discovery of the medallion. That will make finding and destroying of the three even harder for your group.”
“For us?” Adam spun around and locked his eyes on Thomas.
“What are you saying?” Delas said, her voice unsteady.
“What I am saying, is when your friend Kyle touched the medallion, he became linked to it. That link cannot be broken until either the disc is destroyed, or he is. At some point in time, and that point may be upon us right now, Kurilan will be able to locate the medallion by the magical skills he possesses. When that happens, he will spare nothing to hunt your friend down. And when he finds him, he won’t hesitate to kill him.”
“What will happen if we abandon him? Go our own ways?” Delas asked.
Thomas cleared his throat and looked at Delas. “Are you telling me you didn’t feel it?”
Delas looked away from the elder mage, and then down at her feet, as if she had been scolded.
“The magic associated with this medallion, with all of the artifacts for that matter, is quite powerful. So powerful it has a tendency to leech to those around it, even if they don’t come in direct contact with it. Not enough to bond, like it did with your friend Kyle, but enough to mark you with a residual aura. The longer you are around the medallion, the stronger the aura.”
“So what does that mean?” Adam looked at Delas’ down turned head, and then turned to Thomas. “What does that mean?” Adam raised his voice, angry at not being answered.
“What it means is if Kurilan does have the ability to track the medallion, he will be able to track each of you. He will hunt each of you down until he finds the medallion and then, the location of the other artifacts.”
Sliding the clock and faceplate to one side, Thomas pulled a blank sheet of parchment from a drawer in his desk. He closed his eyes and his lips moved silently for several seconds. When they stopped, Thomas stabbed the sheet with his finger. At the intersection point, a faint shimmering circle extended from his fingertip. As the edge of the circle crossed over the page, it left behind scripted words, until it extended beyond the edges of the parchment the document was complete. Thomas opened his eyes, sighed and quickly rolled the document up and slipped it into one end of an ivory-colored cylinder.
He screwed a silver end cap onto the other end and placed it on his desktop. “The other two artifacts must be found, and the three must be destroyed. They cannot be allowed to fall into Kurilan’s hands or into the hands of his minions. If Kurilan is able to possess the three, he will be able to raise and control a vast army of undead soldiers. They would pour over the countryside like a black plague, killing or enslaving everything before them.”
“So how are we going to find the other two artifacts?” Delas asked.
* * * *
Thomas reached up and pulled the wooden clock from the wall. Placing it on his desk, he carefully removed the glass covering on the face and placed it on his cloth napkin.
Thomas unscrewed the brass knurled nut from the center shaft of the clock mechanism and placed it aside. He pulled three thin metallic clock hands off of the shaft and placed them on the table in a row, the second hand to his right, the hour hand in the center and the minute hand on his left.
“These are your guides to the artifacts. I created these and hid them so if there came a time when the artifacts were needed, they could be located.”
Adam reached across the table and picked up the long piece of metal near Thomas’ right hand. It felt almost weightless as Adam examined it and turned it over. On the backside was some script etched in the metal. The only readable part was a year and the word ‘clockwerks’.
“A bit of subterfuge on my part. I wanted
the pieces to look as authentic as possible.”
Adam put the silver metal on the table next to the other two pieces.
“How do they work?” Delas asked, leaning close to the table.
“Adam, get me that bowl and the pitcher of water from the table in the corner, please.”
Adam did as he was told and put the small bowl on the table in front of them. With Thomas motioning, he filled the bowl with water. Thomas picked up the metal hand Adam examined and carefully laid it on the water. The metal piece didn’t break the surface, rather it floated easily on top of it. The three watched the metal lie motionless for several seconds and then gradually begin to turn. It continued in a slow arc until it stopped and then began an even slower movement back several degrees until it was motionless.
“I have an idea. Do you have a map?” Adam asked.
Thomas pawed through several of the large scrolls on one of the shelves in the office, searching and finally settling on one near the bottom of the stack. He tugged and finally managed to pull it loose. Blowing the dust from the case, he unscrewed the end cap, carefully removing the parchment inside. Clearing off a section of the desk, he unfurled it and held down the corners with some heavy books. He scanned the document and pointed to a small clustered area in one corner.
“We’re located here.”
Adam placed the bowl on the spot Thomas indicated on the map. The jostling water upset the pointer and it sunk to the bottom of the bowl. Adam fished it out, waited for the water to calm and placed the pointer in the water once again. The pointer began its slow turn and it finally settled on one bearing and stopped.
“The gods,” Adam whispered.
“What?” Delas asked.
“Is that the guide that is bonded to the medallion?” Adam asked.
“Yes, it is. How did you guess that?”
“Here’s Griffin’s Point,” Adam said, pointing to a symbol on the map indicating a town with the name in small letters next to it. We traveled through this area with the mountains running alongside us. That’s where we met Omen and his pet. We left the group around here, and the guide is pointing a little way further. It looks like it’s pointing next to a body of water called...Crystal Bay. If the guide is pointing to the location of the medallion, then Kyle, Legan and Amber must have stopped there at the water’s edge. They’re probably trying to figure out how to get across it, and that looks like it’s one long swim.”
“Of that I wouldn’t be so certain,” Thomas said.
Chapter Twenty One
Delas examined a small wooden box lying on the top of a waist-high bookshelf.
Thomas appeared next to her. “Pretty interesting isn’t it?”
“It looks like a simple wooden box, but there is something about it…I don’t know,” Delas said, pursing her lips as she tried to explain what she felt near the box.
Thomas picked up the box and handed it to her. He smiled as she took it from him. It overflowed the palm of one of her hands, so she held it there with the fingers of her other hand, caressing the hardwood. The craftsmanship was outstanding. There was a simple golden rune of welcoming etched in the lid and she felt a small brass pushbutton along one side.
“The box itself is unremarkable, but it contains a number of magical items that were a gift to me from one of my students. I believe the magical energy contained in those gifts is the attraction you feel. Honestly, I…never mind,” Thomas said, waving his hand dismissively.
“Please go on.”
“The magical energy in these items is rather weak. For you to feel their attraction, at your stage of training, is...well, curious.”
Delas pressed the brass button and the lid released. She opened the box, revealing an interior lined in red cloth, segmented into five long rectangular compartments. Each compartment contained a sealed glass tube that glowed with a distinct gentle light. Delas reached for one of the tubes but stopped her hand short. She looked at Thomas.
“May I?” she asked.
“Why, of course. That is why I gave you the box in the first place.”
Delas pulled one of the tubes free from the case. The amber light emanating from the cool glass did not change when she held it in her hand. Inside the glass, an amber tinted liquid splashed from one end to the other as she tilted the capsule.
“What is it?”
Thomas looked at the capsule for a moment and then squinted his eyes and fixed his lips as he thought about her question. Just when Delas didn’t think he was going to answer, he exploded.
“Ah Yes. An illusion. A mountain cat of some kind, if I recall correctly. Quite realistic, but it only lasts a few seconds.” He smiled. “Unfortunately.”
Thomas looked into the box and fingered the compartments, “This one creates a large flash and quite a bit of smoke. Great at festivals.” He looked at Delas and winked, “As long as they’re outdoors.”
“Let’s see.” Thomas lifted and released the end of each vial as he spoke, causing the different colored liquids to swirl. “This one corrodes metals and eats through stone. You don’t want to get this on you. That one attracts animals. Usually small creatures such as rabbits and the like. Very good to have if you are lost in a forest and want your dinner to come to you rather than you chasing it down.”
Thomas’ finger stopped in the last compartment and he fell silent. Delas pulled the last ampule out and held the green glow up to the light, and turned to the quiet Thomas.
He reached up and took the ampule from her hand. “This one...”
* * * *
Thomas wrapped up the three metal guides in a soft cloth, tapped them with a free finger as he whispered several words under his breath and handed them to Adam, who placed them in his pack. Next, Thomas pulled a cylinder from a pocket in his robes and performed the same ritual before handing it to Adam.
“What’s this?” Adam asked.
“I have written out the instructions needed for when the time comes to destroy the three artifacts.”
Adam looked long and hard at the old man before him. He could imagine him in his younger years, when all of this madness had begun. He didn’t envy the sacrifices and the guilt that now must weigh heavily upon him, just as he imagined Thomas didn’t envy the task placed before himself. He put the cylinder into his pack next to the guides.
“I could give you a few baubles that probably wouldn’t help you. I sense you are seated much more firmly in the earth and casual magic wouldn’t do you much good,” Thomas said.
Adam smiled a crooked grin, “Yeah, you could say that.”
Thomas grasped him by the shoulder. “Then I will wish you good luck, a flat trail before you, and may all evil trail long behind.”
“Thank you,” Adam said, touching the back of Thomas’ hand.
Thomas picked up the wooden box containing the glass capsules and handed it to Delas.
“What’s this?” she asked.
“This is a gift. From me to you. It collects dust on my shelf, a memento of a former time. I would expect you will find the magic inside of better use than I.”
“I-I don’t know what to say,” Delas said, taking the small box. She ensured it was latched and placed it in her pack. She stepped forward, stretched up, and kissed the old wizard on his cheek. When she stepped back, she saw the old man blushing.
Thomas pointed a finger at Adam. “You had better take care of this one,” Thomas said, indicating Delas.
“I have every intention, sir,” Adam said, suppressing a smile with a blush of his own.
* * * *
Adam and Delas stepped out of Tangles Hall and into the fading light of the day. They walked along the crushed stone of the walkways and looked out at the small number of students still on the grounds. They didn’t speak as they walked along. Delas stole glances at Adam and each time he had a far off look, one that spoke volumes about the responsibility he felt, given the information he now possessed.
She thought about Adam and the group. All the things they
’d already gone through and now, Thomas had all but given them a new quest. One that they would have to be as cunning as Amber to survive.
“Oh damn. The gods,” Delas said, breaking the silence and stopping.
Adam stopped beside her. “What’s wrong? Did you forget something?”
“Amber’s note. The one she asked me to send to Oldenmill. I was supposed to send it the day we arrived, but I completely forgot. I need to head back and send it before we leave.”
“All right, let’s go,” Adam said.
“I’ll go. Here.” Delas removed her pack and dropped it to the ground. She knelt next to it and opened a small pocket sewn in the side. Reaching inside, she pulled a small metal tube free and put it into a small pouch at her waist. Standing, she lifted the pack and handed it to Adam. “Just keep an eye on this and I’ll be right back, okay?”
Adam took the pack, the stern expression on his face wavering a little as he released a long breath. He pulled his pack off his shoulder and dropped it on the ground at his feet. He sat Delas’ pack on top of his, and balanced it there with a free hand.
“All right. I’ll be waiting right here. Don’t be long. I’d like to get started while we have some daylight left.”
“I won’t be long.”
“Okay,” Adam said. Delas could read the concern on his face.
Delas smiled, stepped close and kissed Adam on his cheek. “I’ll be careful.”
* * * *
Delas walked up the slight rise toward the messaging building. She could hear the sound of the birds calling to one another in the late afternoon light. She turned and looked back to where she left Adam, but he was an indistinguishable dot among the dozens milling about on the grounds. When she turned back, she saw several large students leaning against one of the trees along the trail. Her glance moved on and the good feelings she had when she thought of Adam brought a smile to her face. She reached the building and quickly entered.
“Hello?” No answer. She called louder, “Hello?”
“Coming,” came a rough sounding voice from behind a heavy curtain hiding an opening behind the counter.
Medallion of the Undead Page 22
