The Legacy (The Darkness Within Saga Book 1)

by JD Franx

  “I don’t know, Kalmar. We should take it for study. These charms could become a serious problem for us.”

  “We’ll be defenceless if we take it. It’s better left.”

  “All right,” the younger wizard grumbled. “You ready to travel?”

  Leaning against the wall, still pale, Kalmar sighed. “Give me a half hour, all right?” The others nodded and sat down to rest. Kael did his best to bind his wounds. Kyah stitched the wound on his hamstring and he did his best to clean the gore from... everywhere.

  A half hour later, Kael dropped down the bolthole for a second time. Once it was safe, he called up the ladder and the others followed. The hidden passageway was similar to the one that led them to the ancient smith’s room, except for the fact it was only wide enough to walk single file. The seven-foot-high ceiling, carved from raw bedrock, was riddled with veins of red and white crystal, similar to quartz. While he led the way with Kalmar and Kyah behind him, Galen came last, watching for dangers at the rear. A second lever at the bottom of the tunnel activated the gears that slid the forge back into place above them, so the threat from behind remained minimal should the Mahala dig through the collapse. What lay ahead was clearly another matter.

  The group walked for several hours. The only passages branching off the tunnel were above their heads and impossible to reach. Kael’s neck hair twitched at the prospect of countless Mahala warriors dropping down from overhead, but it seemed like their luck was holding and no attack came. Even so, with only one magical light globe to see with, the earth and rock overhead seemed to press down on them all, adding more unease. The relatively low ceiling prevented putting the light higher up, so more than one globe caused a dangerous glare; one left shadows dancing in the overhead passages, adding more stress to the confining space. Wiping sweat from his brow, Kael looked back to see the others were just as nervous, but pushed on towards what could only be a way out.

  The light they had first seen shining through the floor of the forge came from a Dwarven device built into the wall at the very bottom of the shaft. It was the only one they found and it had been almost depleted, giving off a dull glow just strong enough to shine through the cracks in the floor. Even with it at full power, removing it from the bedrock wall would have proven impossible as it was powered by the Dwarven oil. It allowed Kael to see the cracks for the bolthole escape, but was of no other use to them. With no other option, they carried on through the Dwarven-built tunnels miles below Talohna’s surface with only the single magical light doing their best to keep their fears at bay.

  Galen told everyone another hour had passed. Finally, a change in the light was visible at the end of the miles straight tunnel. Another thirty minutes and a muted daylight shone into the opening of their passage. Having the others wait, Kael approached the exit quietly with exaggerated care. Crouched in the tunnel’s mouth, he surveyed the large cavern beyond. A swift-moving, but shallow river rushed by in the middle of the hundred-foot-wide cavern floor.

  The river came from his left, exiting a subterranean drainage system probably hollowed out by several underground rivers cutting their way through the mountain range over hundreds or thousands of years. The cavern ceiling was fifty feet high. While the river running over the bedrock floor was close to the same width, a sandy riverbed of twenty-five feet stretched out on each side of the fast-flowing water. Looking to his right, Kael could see rays of sun as they shone through the cave’s entrance. It was their way out. The mouth of the large cave opened onto a rocky, golden sand-covered beach. The river poured into what Kael guessed was an ocean or a large lake. The cerulean blue water was only a half mile from their current position.

  With no sign of any threats, Kael jumped the four feet down onto the riverbed and walked to the river, taking every precaution he could. Both his magic sense and his own eyes told him there was nothing in the cave but him and the others. Bending over to taste the river water, he sighed with relief. It was fresh and cold, the purest he’d ever tasted, with no trace of salt or heavy minerals like back home on Earth. After months of stale water from a mouldy bucket, his sigh of pleasure said it all.

  With the last of their own water gone hours ago, he turned back, calling to the others. “It looks clear, and the water’s fresh.” He smiled, splashing his face. A second handful went over his head, clearing away the last remnants of the oppressive tunnels. Standing, Kael kept a close watch with his new weapons at hand while everyone else took the opportunity to refresh with the cold water.

  The Mahalan war party still caught him completely by surprise. His esoteric sight failed to alert him of their presence yet again, and his earlier boost of energy had long evaporated. Even refreshed a little from the cold water, his tired mind and body never saw them until it was almost too late. If the first Mahalan scout, high above the riverbed, hadn’t disturbed the small stones at its feet, causing them to bounce off Kael’s shoulder, the ambush would have been a success.

  As the stones and dirt pattered off his cloak, Kael recognized the attack was coming from the honey-combed passages overhead, he cursed to warn the others and whirled to the side, bringing the Vai’Karth in his left hand up at an angle. The Mahala scout jumped from a ledge about fifteen feet up, but couldn’t use its superior speed because of the descent. The surprised creature met the first of Kael’s new blades at its midsection, but with little resistance, the sharp scythe sliced clean through the small body and both pieces splashed into the river.

  Kael turned in time to see three more Mahala warriors drop to the riverbed from tunnels high above their heads and more from farther upriver. Galen reacted the fastest, casting his personal shield and letting loose a series of three fireballs at the new enemies. The first two flaming balls of molten magic missed their targets altogether, but the third splashed against the last Mahalan warrior just as the creature landed on the riverbed sand. Instead of scorching it to ash like the one back in the city, his fireball reflected off the Mahalan without harming it and rocketed straight for Kael. With no time to think, instinct took over and his left weapon leapt out. The ball of dripping fire careened off the flat blade and ricocheted down the tunnel they used to escape.

  Screams of agony bounced off the passage walls and echoed out into the cavern as a dozen more of the Mahalan war party who’d been hunting the Feared One, poured from the tunnel drenched in sticky, liquid-based wizard’s fire. They dashed for the cold river trailing flames and smoke as Kael remembered passing by the numerous overhead passages. A shiver crawled up his spine at the thought of his group still being inside when they arrived. He shrugged it off, looking toward Galen’s original target, who seemed just as surprised at the defective spell as the rest of them. As it jumped up and down, Kael swore it was laughing at both Galen and its fellow tribe-mates. No longer an immediate threat, the creatures rolled in the river trying to douse the persistent flames of Galen’s spell. Kael winced as the water quickly spread the magical fire, in turn consuming more cloth and flesh, enhancing the suffering screams of the Mahalan victims. All twelve died in agony, either from the flames or else drowned, submerged in the icy water attempting to counter the sadistic effects of the wizard’s spell.

  “Damned spells aren’t working again,” Galen cursed. Refusing to quit, he barked more words, activating a second spell. A bolt of bright yellow lightning jumped from his right hand, sizzling towards a different warrior with the same results. The diverted electrical bolt doubled in speed, returning instead to its caster this time. Even as his shield flared with added strength to protect him, the returning lightening slammed into it, ricocheting into the wet sand at his feet. The concussive reaction knocked him into the river with twitching snakes of current writhing across his body.

  With little else he could do and with magic so unpredictable, Kalmar rushed to help his friend while Kyah engaged another of the Mahala fighters. Though he’d never caught a glimpse of her removing her bladed kinrai chain, Kael could hear the steady whistle as it spun through the air a
nd the ptink sound it made when it contacted somewhere on the Mahala trying to kill her. With the failure of Galen’s magic and his own being so much more deadlier, Kael took no chances using magic.

  The last two predators of the Deep, including the scout who was no longer laughing, headed after Kael as he readied both of his new double scythe-like blades. As he expected, the two killers separated in order to attack from opposite sides. With incredible speed, they both lunged, leading with their rusted metal swords. Two quick steps forward assured their blades passed behind him without finding his flesh. Twisting his body, Kael extended his arms with the reaper blades held firmly in place. The momentum of his half spin severed the necks of both creatures before either realized they missed their attack. Blood spurted from the wounds, but soon slowed as the bodies jerked and convulsed their way into the afterlife.

  Staring at the twitching bodies, Kael realized the Mahala’s speed should have saved them from his blades. He wondered about it for a brief second, but the sharp whistle of Kyah’s bladed chain clipping through the air brought him back to the danger still threatening the group. She was fighting a losing battle, and Kael knew it.

  The unnatural speed of the Mahala had already passed the twirling guard of her chain several times, forcing her to retreat into the cold river and slowing her further. Numerous cuts on her arms bled heavily, and a long jagged tear in her belly revealed the damage the predator had already done. Without even realizing he had moved, the creature pressuring Kyah was right in front of Kael. He plunged both blades into its back, twisting hard as he withdrew them, tearing the Mahala warrior apart. The Deep Earth hunter fell dead as the river flowed over his body, carrying away trails of dark red blood on the current. Kyah let her chain fall into the river and grasped her stomach, collapsing before he could cover the short distance to catch her. He rushed to her side and pulled her face from the water.

  Pulling up the torn and holed remains of her threadbare shirt, Kael forced her hands aside and knew immediately that she was far beyond his help. He pressed his hands to the wound in an attempt to staunch the steady blood flow.

  “Jesus, Kyah. Galen! Help her, she’s hurt bad. Hurry!” Afraid to move her and with no where else to go, Kael sat down in the cold water and pulled her listless body up onto his legs with her head cradled on his chest and his hands held firm on her stomach. Kalmar lent Galen his shoulder and helped him limp to their side.

  Adrenaline cleared the younger wizard’s head as he caught site of the wound. “It’ll be all right, Kael,” he said, trying to shake the buzzing cobwebs from his head. “I can help her, with the increased healing… Perhaps,” he paused, so he didn’t give Kael false hope. “I’ll close the wound, but it’s deep and I don’t have her gifts for healing.”

  “Yeah, I got it. Do your best and I’ll carry her till we find somewhere for her to rest,” Kael said, but Galen had already started the spells to help her. Kael listened closely, knowing any words in the language of magic he could learn would benefit them all. It was obvious that until they were far from their current situation, learning anything had to be done in the heat of the moment.

  Galen placed a hand on either side of the open wound and chanted. Two distinct phrases rang in Kael’s ears.

  “Kaer Saera’Huggan Mein, Kaer Saera’Huggan Mein.” Galen repeated the words again and again and Kael found himself matching the cadence as he watched the deep slash to her belly slowly begin to close. The flesh knit together with the power of magic, and like Kael’s wound earlier, it healed with an ugly scar. She stirred the smallest bit in his lap as Galen finished, but she didn’t wake. The wizard looked up at Kael as he washed his blood covered hands in the river.

  “The cut’s deep, Kael. I never should’ve been able to heal that. She’s lost a lot of blood, too. She needs a dry place to rest soon so I can watch for signs of infection. Blood loss and infection are not fixable with magic. This damp cavern will kill her if we don’t find somewhere else to rest,” he explained, with a worried expression on his face.

  “You did good, Galen,” Kalmar praised.

  Looking at them with a puzzled expression, he said, “Yes, I did. Too well in fact. I’m not a trained healer, Kalmar, you know that. That spell shouldn’t have worked so well. Whatever is happening to magic might just save her life.”

  “Maybe Kalmar’s gods decided to look our way today. I won’t complain about it. Come on. Let’s get out of here,” Kael said, lifting Kyah in his arms, careful not to jostle her. Having been a slave her entire life, she weighed very little, less than a hundred pounds. Her five-foot-tall frame was a perfect fit nestled in his arms. It made her easy to carry, even in his weakened state, as they began the quarter mile walk to the beach.

  “Kael, wait for a moment?” Kalmar asked, from behind. Kael turned to see the old man bent over one of the dead Mahala warriors, rifling through its clothing and possessions. It never occurred to him to raid the bodies because they were all shorter than Kyah, as well as the fact that the ones he’d fought up close carried a cloying stench of death around them. Their clothing seemed to be made of rotten leather so there was no benefit to the search.

  “What are you doing? God almighty, there could be more of these things you know. Let’s go,” Kael ordered, his anger flaring to the surface.

  Kalmar smiled a stupid grin, irritating him further. “I thought maybe you’d like to know why Galen’s magic nearly gave your face a permanent sunburn. Magic doesn’t turn on its caster, Kael. Such a thing is a perversion of magic and means something is very wrong. I’m quite curious myself.”

  “Of course you are, Kalmar,” Kael replied testily. He should have known better. “But we don’t have time for this, we…”

  “Ah ha. I suspected as much,” he shouted with glee, interrupting Kael while tugging at something around the dweller’s neck. It snapped. “These boys… And ah, girl? Have the same amulet as those in the smithy only this one isn’t smashed. Sythrnax’s people use them. The Orotaq had them as well. With their absurd resistance, these foul creations make them completely resistant to magic. I imagine these Mahala must have killed our pursuers and then taken the amulets, not realizing… Very interesting indeed,” he said, deep in concentration.

  “So that’s why I didn’t sense their approach either time? Those pendants negate the use of magic? Or a least redirect it? Great, as if my own magic backfiring without such help wasn’t bad enough.”

  “That’s a story you must tell me...” Kalmar began.

  “No. Are you satisfied now, Kalmar?” Kael snapped, not allowing time for the wizard to answer, he added, “Come on, we need to go. I don’t want to fight more of these bloody things,” Kael said, in a calmer voice, turning towards the beach still carrying Kyah in his arms. Kalmar nodded and followed after them.

  It was several hours before dark when they reached the beach at the mouth of the cavern, Galen’s uncanny ability to keep track of time a big asset, like always. Outside the cave entrance, the group turned to the right, where the sand had built up high to the side, likely from the crashing waves and seasonal storms. It was the only remotely dry place they could find to lay Kyah down. Kael placed her on the sand in one of the few areas where the sun shone directly through the eroded rock above them.

  Turning to Galen, he said, “Keep her safe. I’ll go look around a bit and see if there’s a way off this beach, or somewhere else we can take her.” Galen nodded. Kael double-checked that Kyah was comfortable and left.

  With no other direction to go, he headed across the beach to the east, admiring the small inlet outside the cave as he walked. The immediate area out from the cavern was undercut into the mountain. Over thousands of years, the ocean had eroded the mountainside so that the area surrounding the cavern was an oddly shaped, over-hanging archway. The ocean waves had crashed into the bowl during high tide for so long that it looked like a giant had scooped out the mountainside with a large spoon. The mountain ceiling hung over the beach and was missing several pieces o
f large rock, allowing the afternoon sun to shine through in places. There was no way to tell what was beyond the bowl-shaped haven they’d found without leaving the bay to investigate.

  It took little time for Kael to walk the inside length of the bay beyond the cave. Arriving at the eastern tip, he climbed to the top of the eroded mountain slope and knelt on one knee to look around. The far side was a large grass-filled valley that stretched far back into the mountains where a small grove of large palm trees surrounded the foot of the mountain. Several well-travelled trails led up into the mountainside, but the trees and overgrowth quickly swallowed their destination until his eyes moved farther up where the trees and underbrush thinned. At the mountain’s very top, he could make out the prominent details of an impressive old fortress backed against the skyline. The lost Dwarven fortress of Arkum Zul.

  Column-like towers climbed into the sky. Some of the tops were obscured by low-hanging clouds and the walled, granite perimeter stretched as far to the left as he could see. The curtain walls were built with massive watch towers every hundred feet. With no reason for a drawbridge or barbican, the massive bronze door stood out from the entrance, though it appeared to be no bigger than his thumb because of the distance. Large, engraved symbols marked the gates to the ancient Dwarven fortress and stood out with a blaze of magical power that almost hurt his mind when he tried to get a closer look with his esoteric sight. He guessed the wards were incredibly strong magic placed by Sythrnax. Kael starred in admiration at the overpowering size of the complex for several minutes before he could tear his eyes away and refocus on the task at hand.

  Shaking his head, he glanced across the valley, spotting a second rise, much shorter than where he knelt. Beyond the far hill, he could just make out another, smaller bay with buildings and wooden docks. A dozen boats were anchored in the harbour. Sythrnax had clearly been launching his attacks on the smaller villages of the Blood Kingdoms from the bay. It was also their way to permanent freedom.