The Jewel of Equilibrant w-1

by Steven Frankos

  Logan took the bulb of stone and inspected it. "It detects magic? How?"

  His massive shoulders heaved as Thromar shrugged. "Fraviar says it tingles or something like that. He never used it-his sister did. She's a wizardess."

  Logan slipped the talisman over his neck and tucked it into his shirt, turning to the window where Moknay continued his vigil. Beyond the glass, the sky was black, and stars twinkled far off in the darkness.

  Wood groaned and creaked as Thromar threw himself onto a bed, yawning.

  Moknay turned away from the window and scanned the three before him. "Early in the morning, remember that," he repeated for Thromar's sake. "Cyrene, you have a horse?"

  The attractive girl nodded, her eyes narrowing as she studied the Murderer.

  Moknay ignored her suspicious stare. "Fine." He faced Thromar. "And if you refuse to get up tomorrow morning, Thromar, I'll personally stick you in the rump with a dagger."

  The fighter grinned with yellowing teeth. "What, and break one of your daggers, Murderer?"

  Thin, serpentine wisps of color rose into the air, twisting and spiraling like corkscrews. Infinite starlike points of light glittered in the red-and-silver sky, winking playfully as Matthew Logan surveyed the immediate area. A tiny comet sailed overhead, its tail snaking along behind it. Like a mischievous butterfly, the comet swerved, forcing Logan to duck as it crackled over him and sped off into the red-and-silver universe.

  It is beautiful, Logan thought. He was standing in midair within the very center of Being. Pleasant tingles coursed through him as the writhing tongues of color touched him and seeped through him as if he himself were a smokelike strand of hues. And the winking of the stars became seductive, like a million gorgeous females all flirting with the young man at once.

  A vile sensation of disharmony disrupted the pleasantness, and Logan cast a fearful glance behind him.

  A titanic gyroscope was looming down upon him, its wheel flashing with the hundreds of galaxies revolving within it. Planets and stars began to spin free of the whirling disk, exploding as they tore away from their natural order. A hideous revelation blazed into Logan's mind, and he could tell the tilting gyroscope was going to falter-tip-and everything in it would be destroyed.

  Everything.

  The young man suddenly saw Moknay, Thromar, Mara, Cyrene, Barthol, and Launce all orbiting inside the Wheel. They, in turn, were peering out at him, hands extended as if pleading. Helpless, Logan wished there was some way he could help his friends, but his mind told him there was none.

  A million million screams speared through Logan's brain as the Wheel tilted and everything was torn asunder.

  Everything.

  That was when Logan realized he held the Jewel in his hands. His stomach twisted in disgust as a horrible gash split across the gem, and blood gushed forth, drenching Logan in a crimson fountain of life fluid. As the Jewel's heartbeat weakened, the blood flow slowed.

  The pulsing heart of the Jewel skipped, and the red-and-silver sky dimmed… and went out.

  Sleepily, Logan tore free of his dream and realized his bed was shuddering to the rhythmic beat of a heart. At first the young man thought it was his own heart, but then he noticed the entire cot was shaking fitfully, and knew the beating was not his own. Another thought struck him and he grasped the stone talisman. No, that wasn't it either, so what…?

  A golden flare filled the room.

  "Shit!" Logan gasped, watching as the Jewel's bag pulsed with energy.

  The leather pouch swelled with an aurora of colors, and light stabbed free and knifed into Logan's face. Blinking, Logan tried to rid his eyes of the afterimage as a high-pitched shriek shattered the night. Thunder roared instantly after. The earth trembled in terror as a blue-white line of electricity forked down from the sky and blazed into the soil. The wailing scream of electrified air devoured the stillness, and a powerful blue-white flash illuminated the room. The rumble of thunder gripped the sides of the hostel and shook.

  "Everybody!" cried Logan, jumping out of bed. "Get up! We've got problems!"

  The shrill screech of another bolt resonated throughout the night, bringing with it clamorous thunder. The building quaked again as Logan's companions opened their eyes and immediately reacted.

  The Jewel's golden glow flooded the room.

  "Matthew!" Cyrene cried out. "What's happening?"

  "Damned if I know!" Logan admitted as another bolt slashed the sky.

  Moknay leapt from his bed, quickly clipping on his cape and strap of daggers. "The Wheel!" he exclaimed. "This is the first disaster Barthol warned us about! Come on! Let's get out of here!"

  Screaming, a blue-white saber of radiance struck the hostel. Logan let out a startled shout as he crashed against the wall, striking the almost healed lump on the back of his skull. Lights more brilliant than the Jewel itself played behind his eyelids, and he could barely hear his friends yelling at him to get up.

  A pitiful groan resounded in the quartet's ears, and Moknay's grey eyes flickered upward. The wooden support beams of the hostel were creaking and moaning, and the Murderer traced an almost invisible crack across one hovering above Logan.

  "Logan!" he shouted, hurrying toward the young man. "Grab the Jewel and let's go!"

  Dazed, the young man got to his knees, staring dumbly at the pulsating bag. Splinters of wood sprinkled down upon him as the support beam cracked, a portion of timber breaking free and screaming downward.

  Cyrene, attempting to lace up her bodice, glimpsed the falling timber and leaped, catching Logan as she jumped. The young man felt himself suddenly jerked to one side, and there was a tremendous crash as something heavy fell to the hostel floor.

  "Bring Logan!" Moknay commanded Cyrene from the darkness. "And don't forget the damn Jewel!"

  Logan's vision began to clear as he and Cyrene staggered from the room, the Jewel glaring under his arm. Shouts and curses sprouted from the many rooms they passed, and lightning screeched outside. The fierce glare of the Jewel lit the stairs as the four stumbled down the steps and hurried into the street. A chilling, unnatural gale howled about them, and the quartet made their way to the stables.

  "West!" Thromar bellowed over the lightning's din. "We have to go west!"

  Grabbing Druid Launce's staff that leaned nearby, Logan mounted his yellow-and-green horse. Cyrene straddled a silver horse beside him, its blue mane and tail whipping in the stormy winds.

  The four horses bolted free of the stables, the tempest shrieking around them. A flaring quarrel of blue light split the ground close by, showering the group with clods of dirt.

  The Jewel continued to pulse with sorcerous brilliance.

  "The hostel owner won't be too happy about us skipping out like that," Logan said, yelling to be heard over the noise.

  Moknay frowned. "First you killed four Reakthi in his building, then you tried to fry it with the Jewel. I think he'd rather have us leave than do anything worse!"

  "It's not my fault!" Logan roared in retaliation, the anger returning all at once.

  Thromar jabbed a massive finger ahead. "By Brolark!" he boomed. "The river's swelling!"

  Logan, Cyrene, and Moknay peered through the blackness to see a large, dark object rise and quiver. When a blast of lightning severed the darkness, they could see the water heaving, rising skyward like some behemoth from a long sleep.

  Moknay pulled tight on his horse's reins. "We're cut off! We'll have to go back! That blob's engulfed the bridge!"

  Logan halted his stallion and glared through the gloom at the throbbing wall of water. A faint feeling of misplacement ran through him as something tickled his left side. Questioningly, he glanced at the Jewel in his right hand, but that had not caused the tingle. His left hand hung at his side, grasping tightly to Druid Launce's staff.

  "Moknay!" the young man shouted. "Take the Jewel!"

  The Murderer turned in time to catch the Jewel as it spiraled through the crackling lightning. Logan, meanwhile, was glancing
down, awaiting the odd tingle. It came again as Thromar decided to turn the horses around and head eastward.

  The feathery touch started at Logan's left hand and crept up his arm to his shoulder. As it tickled his chest, Logan clutched at it. It had felt like a big, hairy spider had clambered up his arm, but whatever he had pinned beneath his right hand was not a spider. It was a stone talisman.

  Thromar glanced over his shoulder as his horse began back. "Come on, friend-Logan! That blob won't let us get across the river!"

  Silent, Logan looked at the fighter, the talisman, the staff, and suddenly a determined expression clouded his features. Teeth clenched, Logan spurred his horse forward, thundering directly toward the quivering mass of water.

  Moknay jerked about. "Logan!"

  Cyrene and Thromar swung their mounts about as well, staring dumbfounded as Logan rushed the unnatural flood. The young man cast a swift glance behind him and smiled when he saw his companions racing after him. When he turned back, the rising river was closer, towering over him. With a dark grin, Logan noted the river reminded him of Jell-O.

  "He's as mad as Pembroke and Zackaron combined," growled Moknay.

  A whining lightning bolt splintered a tree, showering Logan with blue sparks. He ignored the rainfall of light, sitting tall in his saddle as he held out Launce's staff. He kept his horse on the path, rushing directly for the bridge that was obscured by the growing tumor of water. As if intent on jousting, Logan charged, leveling the oaken staff in his hand.

  "Friend-Logan!" Thromar bellowed. "Stop! For the love of Lelah, stop!"

  The sensation of disunity strengthened as magical energy flickered at the tip of Druid Launce's staff. Lightning shrieked about the horse and rider, bathing Logan in a blue-white glare. Moknay, Cyrene, and Thromar trailed behind him, the Jewel flaring in the Murderer's grasp.

  "Part," Logan commanded under his breath. "Part, damn you!"

  The towering mass of liquid shuddered as the staff brightened. Convulsions ripped through the Jell-O, and the unnatural bulge caved inward. The trio following Logan watched in stupefaction as the depression within the swelling river grew, leaving a gaping wound in the liquid. The wooden bridge reappeared, the waters boiling down around it. Logan's green-and-yellow mount thundered across, the druid's staff still ablaze with magical powers.

  "By the bubbling brew of Fraviar!" exclaimed Thromar. "Did you see that?"

  "Of course I saw it, you bearded buffoon!" Moknay retorted. "I'm right beside you, aren't I?"

  The three horses galloped over the river, their hooves echoing upon the wood. Gradually, the agitated waters subsided.

  The feeling of wrongness faded and was replaced by weakness. Sweat dotted Logan's brow, and he took in great gulps of night air to refill his lungs. Unexpectedly, Moknay's voice called out for Logan to take the Jewel, and the young man slowly turned to inquire why.

  The pouch, however, was already flying toward him, and Logan's eyes popped open. Frantically he caught the Jewel, embracing it to his chest with his right arm. All at once, the Jewel's glare ceased, blinking out like a candle's flame. The bubbling river reverted to normal, and a lightning bolt vanished as it traced across the sky. A low grumble of displeasure sounded as the winds died with a reluctant moan.

  Logan reined in his horse. "Jesus," he sighed, "I don't believe this." He peered at Moknay. "And that was only the first movement of the Wheel?"

  The Murderer nodded grimly. "I wonder if Barthol figured out how much time we actually have left."

  Logan nodded back and saw the fear in Moknay's eyes. He suddenly realized how much the Murderer dreaded the Jewel and understood he should not have tossed it to him while it was glowing. Next time he'll give it to Thromar.

  The young man gulped. Next time?

  Slower than before, the four horses trotted onward, leaving the path and allowing the quartet to make camp in a small clearing. Politely, Logan gave his jacket to Cyrene, who was still too frightened to speak. Thromar munched on some food as Logan lay down on the soft carpet of green. The mismatchment suddenly rose up from the very blades of grass, and Logan grumbled as he tossed onto his back. All he needed was to have that stupid feeling keep him awake for the rest of the night!

  Fortunately, sleep subdued Logan from behind.

  Stars twinkled happily as Logan replaced Moknay as guard. The Murderer had since fallen asleep, his grey form cloaked by the night. Thromar snored beside him, his bearded face not so fierce in sleep, and Cyrene lay nearby. Her skirt had ridden a bit up her leg, and Logan pulled his eyes away from the girl's thigh, mumbling. Since he had come to this land he had been forced to relieve himself in the forest; what about sexually, though? Would he have to see to his own desires? In the forest?

  Keeping his eyes away from Cyrene, Logan stared up into the night sky. Maybe he could spot a familiar constellation-Orion was an easy one. The sky, however, would not comply, and Logan recognized no pattern in the stars above him. He truly was on another world in another universe or dimension.

  Something thudded in the foliage.

  Logan's hand pulled free Moknay's dagger, while he glared into the surrounding shrubbery. There was silence all about him, and a chilling unease began to settle in Logan's stomach.

  A bush crashed and rustled as if destroyed.

  "Fooooooood!" a friendly voice bellowed.

  Letting out a sigh of relief, Logan sank back to the ground. The large, light blue ogre smashed through the brush, a huge grin drawn across its squarish face.

  "How in the world did you find us?" Logan questioned the ogre.

  Its grin widened. "Find yoooooooou!"

  "No, how did you find us? It's obvious you found us. Are we that easy to trail?"

  The huge creature cocked its head to one side in confusion. "Fooooooood?" it queried hopefully.

  Logan reached into a pouch and withdrew some of the fruit Launce had given them. He extended a hand toward the ogre, but, as it started forward, the beast halted, eyes wide.

  "What's the matter?" Logan asked it. "Don't you like fruit?"

  "Maaaaaagic," the blue-skinned creature whispered in awe.

  The young man pivoted, expecting to see Groathit emerge from the bushes behind him. "Magic? Where?" he cried.

  The ogre pointed an enourmous finger at Logan's neck. "There."

  Logan bowed his head to inspect himself and felt the talisman bump his chin. He slipped off the magical stone and held it up. "You don't like this?"

  The ogre shied away.

  "Hmminm, I guess not." Logan set the talisman aside. "Here, here's some food."

  The light blue beast lumbered forward and snatched the food from Logan's hand. Greedily, it gulped the fruit down.

  "Now," Logan said, trying again, "how did you find us?"

  The ogre grinned foolishly. "Give fooooood! Meeeee find!"

  Obviously, the creature felt its answer satisfactory and went silent, leaving Logan in an awkward position. Scratching the tip of his nose, Logan attempted another question:

  "Is anyone else following us?"

  The creature scratched its stringy black hair. "Skinny huuuuumaaaan!" it remembered. "Maaaaaaad!"

  Logan nodded understandingly. "Pembroke," he muttered. Then, he queried, "How far is he?"

  The ogre did not hesitate. "Faaaaaar!"

  As a reward, Logan gave the beast another handful of food. The ogre happily grabbed the provisions and wolfed them down. It then released a belch Logan was sure could topple a tree.

  "Quiet," he hushed it. "Did you see anyone else?"

  The ogre was silent for quite some time until booming out: "Whiiite huuuumaaaan!"

  "White human?" Logan mused. "As to my knowledge, you're the only person I've seen who isn't white."

  The ogre grinned. "Maaaaaagic."

  "No, no magic," corrected Logan, pointing at the taliman. "I took it off."

  The light blue ogre screwed up its face but its grin soon returned. "Foooooooood?" it hoped.

  L
ogan gave the ogre another handful and it nodded its thanks, clumsily lumbering off into the forest.

  Logan was left to his thoughts.

  •8• Warnings

  "If we left the road about midday, I'd say Prifrane would be directly west." Thromar's voice shattered the silence.

  Logan lifted his head, blinking the sleep from his eyes.

  "Groathit knows for certain we're not going to Semeth," Moknay said. "If we stay on the road that long, we're bound to be attacked."

  "By what?" Thromar boomed back. "The farther west we go, the harder it is for the Reakthi to trail us! Their stronghold's in the east!"

  "Spellcasters have no need for strongholds," Cyrene remarked.

  Logan sat up, eyeing his three companions as the early morning mist dispersed. Thromar threw him a pitiful glance.

  "Help me, friend-Logan," he pleaded. "They're ganging up on me!"

  "That's because you want to take a dangerous route," Moknay retorted.

  "But the longer we stay on the road, the faster we get there," the huge fighter said. He looked over at Logan. "Isn't that right?"

  The young man shrugged, opening his mouth to say something about not knowing the area.

  "We also have Pembroke after us," the Murderer interrupted. "Don't forget about him."

  "There's no need to worry about him," Logan stated. "He's far behind us."

  Moknay and Thromar both eyed the young man wondering-ly. "How do you know that, friend?" queried Moknay.

  "Friend-Logan is a spellcaster, Murderer," Thromar roared happily. "I do wish he'd take his eye out for you! It's the most amazing thing I've ever seen!"

  "I'm no spellcaster," Logan answered, grinning to himself. "I just happen to have my own sources of information."

  A frown caused Moknay's mustache to droop. "That's another thing," he muttered to everyone but directed it at Thromar. "Groathit is still out one pawn. Whatever he has trailing us now might catch up with us on the road."

  "Not if I'm on Smeea!" Thromar declared. "Nothing can catch Smeea and me if we're on the path! We'll ride like the very winds themselves! If we're in the bloody forest, even Smeea can't maneuver through all those damn branches and brambles!"