“It would be easier if we just showed you.” Jord stood and put his pack back on. “C’mon Alix, get a move on. This is all your fault anyway—you and your big mouth.” He began to walk, then stopped short and whirled around to face Ryris. “You promise you won’t tell anyone? Or take any of our bones?”
Ryris put his hand over his heart. “I swear. I won’t tell a soul, and your treasure is yours to keep.”
Jord narrowed his eyes as he inhaled deeply through his nose. “I guess we can trust you.”
Ryris silently followed the two boys as they continued up the mountain path. At seemingly no particular point, they veered off the trail and began to hike up the ragged, rocky slope. Soon, they reached a small clearing and just ahead, the mouth of a cave.
An old, rotten smell wafted out from the opening.
~~~
Ryris barely fit through the small hole the brothers had excavated in the brittle cavern wall.
His coat caught on a jagged rock edge, tearing a hole in the sleeve. He grumbled, knowing he wouldn’t be able to fix it until he got back to Keld. As he pulled himself through the opening, he found the air to be stale, yet clean. A far cry from the horrible odor produced by the carcass near the maw of the cave. A faint lavender glow illuminated the chamber, the light producing an instant calming effect on him. He felt completely content, like he could stay here forever.
Alix tugged on his arm and pointed to the side. “She’s over there.”
Setting his knapsack down next to a bookshelf, he removed his gloves and took a moment to inspect his surroundings before moving further into the room. Weapons hung on racks, bottles and books lined multiple shelves. Everything looked old, yet perfectly preserved. He couldn’t help but be extremely intrigued by the beautiful crystalline weapons displayed. Never in his life had he seen anything like it. Never had he…
...crystal.
Ryris suddenly found himself unable to breathe. He had to see the woman. To see if—it was true.
Slowly approaching the other side of the room, his eyes rested on the giant sarcophagus on the floor, made of opaque crystal. His feet crunched on the dried flower petals fallen to the floor. Licking his wind-chapped lips, he gingerly placed his hands on the object, the cool crystal smooth against his fingertips. It vibrated under his hands, and he knew he was standing in front of a machine. What the mechanism did, he had no idea. Ryris leaned forward and peered over the top.
And there she was.
His breath hitched in his chest. She was beautiful, laying there holding her bow, it was if she was suspended in time. Ryris had no idea how long she had been here, how long she had waited to be discovered. He ran his fingers over the smooth glass cover, tracing the outline of her face. The room closed in around him, and he could no longer hear the hum of the machinery or the movement of the boys.
Nothing else mattered but this woman.
His legs felt as if they were going to buckle beneath him at any moment. His childhood came flooding back, all the memories of Gran and her stories. But, they weren’t just stories anymore. He was looking at the real thing, right in front of him.
The Crystal Guard was real.
She was real.
His eyes closed, hoping that when he opened them again, he would still be there, in the presence of history. His mind pulled him in, and for a moment, he could hear his grandmother’s voice reverberating in his head. He saw his house, smelled the fireplace, and hung on her every word.
“…their armor glittered, crafted from unimaginably strong crystals harvested from ancient mines. Their weapons shone brightly, whether there was natural light or murky darkness, almost as if they gave off their own illumination. They fought valiantly against the evil armies of the damned, risking their lives to save the innocent. And risk their lives they did…”
Gran had been right all along, even when Maxx told her to stop telling him such silly stories. Here he was, looking history in the face. Ryris longed to reach out and touch her, to ensure that he wasn’t hallucinating.
“You okay, Ryris?” Alix’ voice was laced with concern. “You kind of went off into the clouds for a minute.”
“Y-yeah. I just…” He stared at the warrior encased in her protective cocoon. “…I can’t believe it’s actually true.”
“You can’t believe what’s true?” Alix peered over the top of the sarcophagus.
“Her. This.” Ryris gestured wide with his arms. “When I was small, my grandmother used to tell me tales about people like this. Fantastic stories. I…I always hoped they were real, even when I knew it wasn’t possible. And now…” He laid his hands reverently atop the glass lid. “…here she is. I wish Gran could be here to witness it.”
“Are you saying you know who this woman is?” Jord questioned him with a skeptical tone and a quirked eyebrow as he approached, standing at the head of the coffin.
“Have either of you ever heard of the Crystal Guard?” Both boys shook their heads. Ryris slowly began to move to the foot of the sarcophagus. He fought the urge to touch the glowing gems recessed into the crystal. “I think she’s one of them. They were elite soldiers. Sworn to protect the people of the world in times of distress, especially during the Old War.”
“Old War?”
Ryris wasn’t surprised that the boys had no clue. The tales were stuff of legend and had obviously been neglected through time.
“Centuries ago, there was a war fought between an evil force and the rest of the world. Magicians were hunted because of their powers, and the battle was deadly for both sides. To this day no one likes to admit they possess the power of magic. The old ways die hard.” He could hear his father’s voice intermingle with his own as he spoke. He resisted the urge to touch his amulet, tucked safely under several layers of clothing. “These warriors ended the conflict. Some of the stories were so terrible, so horrifying, it’s no wonder people choose not to speak of it. People don’t want to remember.”
“One woman against the whole world?” Alix stared at the entombed soldier.
“Yeah, well…” Ryris scratched the back of his neck.
“You think we should let her out?” Alix’ voice was hopeful and eager.
“Absolutely not. At least not until I research it more.” He scanned the room, fixing his eyes on the numerous tomes on the shelves. “There must be books here that explain this mechanism.”
“You really think she’s alive?”
“Yes. I mean…probably. Why would whoever put her here go to all the trouble of this fancy coffin? If they wanted to preserve her after death, this would be over the top.”
Jord stared at the crystal-clad woman. “Well, what do we do in the meantime?”
“We do nothing. She’s not going anywh—“
A low, angry growl echoed from the outer cave and in through the secret chamber’s entrance. Both boys simultaneously grabbed onto their alchemist friend, cowering behind him. Ryris immediately remembered the boys had left their knapsacks outside in the cavern, and hoped against hope their food hadn’t attracted an unwanted visitor. Another growl, closer this time, confirmed his suspicions.
They were not alone.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Concentration is key. Without concentration, magic fails. You may be able to bring flames to your fingertips or conjure ice beneath your enemy’s feet, but without concentration your attempts will be futile and short-lived. Do not get ahead of yourself; take the time to think before you act. It may just save your life.
--Excerpt from pre-Old War magician’s textbook, author unknown
“Stay back—and be quiet.”
Ryris whispered harshly and pointed to the corner of the room, behind the mystery warrior’s sarcophagus. The brothers immediately obeyed. The growling from outside their sanctuary continued, along with the telltale shuffling of large, clawed paws. Mustering all the courage he could find, he cautiously made his way toward the hole in the wall. He looked around for something—anything—he could use as a weapon. F
ortunately, the room was filled with just that. Even though he abhorred the idea of having to arm himself, in times of peril, one couldn’t be stubborn about his values. Quickly choosing a dagger from a shelf, he moved as silently as he could.
When he was a few feet from the hole, he knelt down to get a good look out into the cavern. His stomach churned as he got a whiff of an unpleasant aroma, one he knew meant trouble. Mixed with the scent of rotting oinox was the unmistakable musk of a saberstrike, a large feline with an extremely foul temperament. Ryris’ heart sunk. The dagger in his hand had instantly become useless, and there was no way he could wield the axes and great swords behind him with any sort of expertise. He looked back at the two terrified brothers hiding in the dim light of the corner and knew they needed a savior.
He just wished it didn’t have to be him.
Pressing his body closer to the stone floor, he tried to peer out into the cave to confirm his suspicions of the large predator—perhaps the same one that had killed the unfortunate oinox. He could hear the shuffling of giant feet, and smell the musty odor of wet, dirty fur. His body trembling, he poked his head through the hole just enough to see clearly.
The saberstrike must have caught wind of his scent, because in an instant it bounded over the oinox carcass and barreled toward him, mouth agape and fangs snarling. Ryris had a split second to react before a strong paw came crashing down on the entrance. Alix screamed from the corner, Jord trying desperately to shush him. The giant feline tore at the opening, its massive paws ripping apart the brittle stone. Chunks of rock fell away, the hole opening more and more with each passing second. The saberstrike roared with deafening ferocity as it tried to force its way into the chamber.
Looking back once more at the selection of weapons, Ryris darted to the rack and grabbed a longsword, only to have his wrist buckle under the massive weight. It fell to the floor as both terror and embarrassment consumed him. Within seconds, the creature would break through and kill them all.
Just as the thought crossed his mind, the saberstrike’s head—massive fangs and all—pushed through. Time seemed to stand still as Ryris focused on the beast’s yellow eyes. He was both awed and terrified at the cat’s determination. It would kill them, and have an incredible feast.
In that instant, Ryris knew what he had to do. Glancing back once more at the terrified boys, he steeled his will and tried not to throw up.
As the saberstrike surged against the hole, flailing wildly, Ryris concentrated on his hands, his breath coming in ragged, terrified spurts. The amulet concealed under his clothing heated up, and he thought for a moment it would burn a hole right through his chest. His palms glowed with an intensity he had never experienced before. Flames danced on all ten of his fingertips before coalescing into two flickering balls of fire. He merged them by pressing his hands together and held the orb steady, hovering between his palms in shaky stasis. The bauble hanging around his neck flared with an incredible heat, Ryris grimacing as his flesh began to singe.
The saberstrike broke through even more, now almost entirely within the room. It gnashed at the air, drool dripping from its fangs, front paws digging into the floor to pull itself through.
It was now or never.
The cat broke free of the hole, and leapt at Ryris. He screamed, flinging the burning projectile at the beast. The flames hit it square in the mouth, sending the cat tumbling back through the hole with such force that it hit the far wall of the cave and fell into an unconscious heap. Its greasy fur catching fire, it quickly became consumed. The heat of its burning skin brought it out of its stupor, and it writhed in agony as the flames spread across its body. The smell was almost too much to bear, and the alchemist covered his mouth and nose. The glow of the flailing saberstrike flickered beyond the opening. Ryris slunk back into the soldier’s chamber and watched the beast slam itself into the cavern wall in a frenzy. In a matter of moments, the creature was dead—burned to a crisp by forbidden magical flames. Smoke rose from the carcass, wafting up and out the skylight high above.
The alchemist’s chest stung, the skin under the amulet burning with a pain he had never experienced before. Frantically grabbing at his clothes, he tore his jacket and shirt apart, buttons flying in every direction. He was certain the fabric was on fire, or at least smoldering. When he finally got to the inner layers and grabbed a hold of the talisman, he was astonished to find it completely cool. Confused, he moved it aside and felt his flesh. He winced as his fingertips brushed against the battered skin, already blistering from the searing heat. Drawing in a sharp, pained breath, he tried to determine how large the wound was. No bigger than the amulet itself, Ryris was certain it would leave a scar.
“You’re…a wizard!” Alix’ voice cut through the room and Ryris spun around to meet his excited gaze. Jord just stood there, mouth agape. Alix pointed at him as he ran forward. “Wait until Pops hears about this!”
“No!” Ryris’ curt response boomed off of the smooth chamber walls, his voice more stern that he had intended it to be. He calmed himself before continuing. “Look, I’m not a wizard. But you can’t tell anyone. Promise me!”
The alchemist began to panic. He had just committed the one cardinal sin his parents had always warned him against. Using his magic in Maxx’ presence was stupid enough, but to send flames forth from his hands while being watched by strangers—he suddenly felt as if he would pass out. Scenarios raced through his head. Would the boys tell? Would the villagers be understanding—or malicious? He could very well be tried and jailed—or worse—for using his power. Steadying himself with a hand leaned against the cool stone walls, he rested his forehead on his forearm.
“Ryris…” Alix came up behind him, laying a comforting hand on his back.
“You saved our lives.” Jord’s voice was strong and honest. “I’ll take your secret to my grave.”
All doubt about the boys’ loyalty melted away. Still, Ryris felt he needed to diffuse the situation, make them believe that he wasn’t what they thought he was. Because, in all honesty—he didn’t believe it either. ‘Wizard’ was a term used for someone who possessed incredible power with the magic arts—and that definitely wasn’t him.
“Boys, I’m no wizard.” He sighed heavily and stood straight once again, regaining his composure. The nausea was starting to abate, and he no longer felt faint.
Jord pointed to his hands with a mischievous grin. “Then how do you explain the fire?”
Ryris looked down at his fingers, covered with a layer of fine black soot. He honestly didn’t have an answer that didn’t involve the truth. “I, uhhh…”
The older boy approached him, holding his hand out to shake. He waited for the alchemist to accept the gesture. “Pops and the other villagers might not trust magic-users…but we do. Right, Alix?”
The child nodded excitedly and reached out to shake Ryris’ other hand. “We thought wizards were fairytales, but you really are one! Even if they cut off my toes and shove a hot poker in my ears, I’ll never talk.”
“Well, let’s hope it never comes to that.” Ryris forced a hesitantly relieved smile. “I only did it because I felt that if I didn’t, we would be killed.”
“We were dead meat. What Pops doesn’t know won’t hurt him.” Jord let go of Ryris’ hand, and reached into one of his pants pockets. He pulled out several small, iridescent objects. Grabbing the alchemist’s hand once more, he forced Ryris’ fingers open and placed the oinox teeth on his palm. “We could never do enough to thank you, but I know these things are worth a fortune—and I don’t just mean gamm. You can make stuff with them, right? Like, alchemy?”
Ryris stared down at the glittering teeth. His voice was quiet, a reverent whisper. “They’re used to make life-restoring potions. Very rare.” He sighed and tried to give them back. “I can’t, these are too valuable. You don’t have to pay me—I did it out of instinct.”
Jord closed Ryris’ fingers around the specimens and pushed his hand back toward him. “Please take them
. I know you’ll use them for something honorable.”
Smiling thankfully, Ryris knew the boys wouldn’t accept the teeth back. He pocketed them and turned toward the hole in the wall. “We should probably get going. We don’t want to get caught up here when the sun goes down.”
The boys agreed, and headed for the chamber opening. Ryris tossed one last glance at the woman in the crystal coffin, mentally promising he’d be back as soon as he could. He exited the room first; making sure the path out of the cave was free of any more intruders. When they were all clear, the trio carefully piled the rocks left by both the saberstrike and their previous excavations back into the clearing. Satisfied it was concealed, they made their way to the cave entrance. The alchemist took a moment to inspect the incinerated carcass of the predator that had stalked them, kicking it stubbornly for good measure. He hoped he’d never see another saberstrike for as long as he lived.
“Ryris?” Alix tugged on his jacket sleeve. “What about the lady?”
“I’m going to do some research.” He peered out of the mouth of the cave, noting that large flakes of snow were beginning to fall from the sky. “This storm looks like it’ll be pretty robust. It’ll give me time to decide what to do. Just remember—don’t tell anyone about anything. Not about the Crystal Guard, not about the woman—and certainly not about, well, you know…”
“To our graves.” Jord hiked up his collar to protect his skin from the offending wind and led the way down the mountain. Alix gave a thumbs’ up before following his brother.
Ryris tossed his knapsack onto his shoulders, wincing as the moving fabric of his shirt glanced over the burn on his chest. He would have to mix up some salve when he returned to the inn. As he began to follow the boys on their treacherous descent down the mountain path, Alix’ voice chimed in from the front.
The Alchemist: Dawn of Destiny Page 15
