The cavern was a rounded shape and about thirty yards across, though it would be difficult to measure it that way thanks to the many stone pillars rising from the stone floor. On the opposite end of the cavern from the shimmering pool, Tarak found a passageway leading sharply upward.
After quickly checking the bonds of his prisoners and the condition of his brother, Tarak made his way up the steep, narrow staircase cut into the bedrock. The staircase rose higher and higher until finally it let out in a bricked alcove set along the wall of a high-ceilinged room any priest could identify as a hall of worship.
“But, to which god?” Tarak wondered aloud, momentarily forgetting he was alone in this part of the dusty temple. The sigils and markings that gave identity to the place were all foreign to him but the layout was very familiar.
The small alcove stood off to the side of a large stone altar that stood prominently at the head of the room. It was obvious the cavern with its shimmering pool held a great significance in this as there was a wide, plush but tattered carpet running along the flagstone floor from the altar to the entrance.
Tarak quickly but quietly searched the temple but found it to have been abandoned for at least a few years. Outside of the main chamber there was a wide antechamber with three tall archways, each with a set of heavy oak double doors. The antechamber vaguely smelled of a particular fragrant oil that sent Tarak reeling back to his youth and the marketplace in the city of North Port on Droll. He could not put his finger on the name of the oil or what use it had, which filled him with frustration. Perhaps the portal had somehow dulled his mind along with stripping him of his magical abilities.
Tarak pushed through the centermost set of doors to find the temple was on a mountaintop surrounded by lush forests for as far as his eyes could see, though that was increasingly hard to do as dusk was setting in quickly. A quick jog around the temple gave few clues to their location other than the obvious: on a remote mountain in the middle of somewhere.
“Frustration will lead to mistakes which will lead to death,” he said as he lowered himself down on the front steps of the temple. He sat for a few long moments taking in the magnificent view before it finally faded into darkness.
They had ample fresh water and a solid, comfortable shelter which were both important to their survival. He would have to hunt for fresh meat unless he could find another source of food close by. That was a job for daylight hours.
Tarak let his mind wander freely over the events of the last few weeks. Lost, stranded, and magically powerless were not outcomes he had considered when the Sacred Blood had planned the attack on the Tower of Kings. He was eager to test the magic of his companions but that would not be possible until they were conscious.
Tarak made his way back into the temple and down the steep rock staircase to find his brother in conversation with the black-haired warrior woman who had either untied herself or had his assistance. They both looked his way when he entered the stale-smelling chamber.
“Ah, Tarak,” Santaal said, a slender man with a grayish, receding hairline that he preferred to hide within the deep hood of his rich, dark robe. “I was wondering what happened to you.”
“I am glad to see you’ve recovered,” Tarak said, eyeing the she-warrior although she remained perfectly still. “Are you certain it is wise to unbind her?”
The older brother nodded. “Much safer than that one,” he said as he cast a glance toward Shayla, who was still bound and unconscious. “She was howling and trying to break the ties so I had to dose her with some blackseed oil. She’ll be out for a few hours.”
“Can you spellcast?” Tarak asked softly but forcefully.
“Aye,” Santaal said then eyed his brother suspiciously. “Why do you ask?”
Tarak leaned toward his brother’s ear then thought again, withdrawing a step backward. “We will talk later,” he said in a low tone, not wanting to give too much away, eyeing Raven suspiciously. “What were you speaking of?”
“She knows where we are,” Santaal said casually.
Awestruck by the news, the corners of Tarak’s mouth rose to a position they were not used to being in, although for only a fleeting moment. The hopeful look on his face asked the question that burst to the forefront of his mind but his brother’s sour expression tempered his excitement. The answer crushed his insides.
“Solotine.”
4
“You were a frog the last time I saw you,” Kai said, laughing as he grabbed a silver cup from the table. He raised his cup to Oshri in mock salute and took a long drink.
“Yes, he was. And what an adorable little creature he was too. Perhaps, I should change him back,” Frida said, laughing, the only member of the coven Kai had ever met, although she referred to the other witches, and spoke to them, like they were close by. It was very confusing to him but he figured they would tell him if he needed to know. Witches were secretive that way.
“You wouldn’t dare, woman.” The old man looked small in comparison to his wife although she was not tall by any means. “It took you three months to turn me back. I will not endure that again. Bugs are not as delicious as one might think.”
Everyone at the table laughed as Oshri crossed his arms and put on a scowl. Kai knew it was all for show, mostly anyway. Kai was certain living as a frog was not the most comfortable position to be in.
Frida smiled sweetly, politely dabbing her napkin over her mouth. She placed the cloth carefully on the table and pushed her chair back. Oshri shrunk back in his chair and a nervous look crossed his face. She stood and walked behind the old wizard’s chair, bent down, and spoke very close to his ear.
“Call me ‘woman’ again,” she said.
Kai and Jaime both understood that Oshri was in a lot of trouble right now. Kai’s mind raced with all the different ways he could interrupt or change the mood but there was something that made him hold his tongue. There was some part of him that wanted to see what was going to happen. He was certain the old wizard was not in any danger.
Oshri swallowed loudly then made eye contact with Kai. The old man took a deep breath and shrugged. Kai knew he had made the right choice not to intervene.
“Woman.”
It is truly amazing how such a simple term can choke the life from a room. Kai looked at Jaime who had the same expression he himself must be wearing as well. The look was a mixture of amazement, amusement, and fear.
Frida was a beautiful woman by any man’s standards. Her long, sandy-blond hair and pale-blue eyes matched with high cheek bones and a pretty face were just the tip of the woman’s allure. He suspected she may not be as young as she looked but Kai could not help feeling awe that she was married to the crazy, old wizard.
At the current moment, however, Kai was very happy he was not in Oshri’s boots. The beautiful witch had transformed into something more dangerous and evil looking. Her brow had thickened and her jaw line stretched widening her mouth which was now host to rows of sharp teeth. Kai suspected dark magic but he really did not care as long as it was not directed at him.
Oshri was on his feet instantly. He dove over the table, narrowly missing the barrage of magical darts that struck the place he was sitting. Amazingly, nothing on the table was disturbed, not from the mystical attack or the old man rolling over top.
Kai would have been more amazed had he not been preoccupied by the fact he was paralyzed. He could move his head and knew he could move his body but, strangely, he just could not. Jaime looked as if he were suffering from the same affliction.
“What in the hells?” he said.
Kai struggled against the invisible bonds when he suddenly realized there was a full on magic battle happening before them.
Oshri had managed to take cover in the entrance to a side room and was returning fire, literally. Small, fist-sized fireballs flew across the room as fast as he could throw them, which was surprisingly fast.
Kai was always amazed by the old man’s magical abilities. Oshri always seemed to be
very reserved when it came to his mystical talents but Kai suspected he was much more powerful than he ever let on.
He needs better aim though, Kai thought as he watched the fireballs strike wildly around the room. They did not ignite anything or cause any damage. He began to wonder if this was all for show.
Frida, or the Demon Witch as she appeared to be, had begun to levitate which made it easier for her to dodge the fireballs. She whizzed this way and that, counterattacking with alternating bursts of fire, ice, and mystical darts.
Kai was wide-eyed as he watched the magical exchange. He turned his head to make a comment to Jaime when he saw his friend was being hit in the face repeatedly with Oshri’s fireballs. The flaming orbs burst and disappeared barely an inch in front of him. He turned to look at Kai with a scowling look on his face. It was then Kai realized they were being protected from harm by magic of some sort, as was the entire contents of the room.
“That cheeky old bastard,” Jaime said as the fireballs repeatedly exploded in front of him.
Kai laughed. It seemed the old wizard was not as endangered as they had thought. Oshri was hopping back and forth to avoid Frida’s attacks, throwing fireballs indiscriminately except for the ones aimed at Jaime, and laughing hysterically all the while.
The exchange lasted for just a few moments longer. Frida conjured a cage made from ice and managed to trap Oshri inside. The old wizard slumped to the floor, defeated.
Kai and Jaime found they could once again move. Kai stood and stretched, looking around at the pristine room. Anyone who did not see it would never believe that the equivalent to a full magic war just took place.
Jaime walked immediately to the ice cage. He leaned over and peered inside at its occupant.
“You deserve this and so much more.” He then stood and kicked the cage before walking off and disappearing into the next room. This seemed to brighten the old man’s mood as Kai could see the corners of his mouth begin to turn up.
“My apologies,” Frida said, chuckling. She had floated back down to the floor and her normal features returned to her face. She smiled sweetly at Kai as she flattened out what wrinkles had formed on her robe.
Kai returned her smile. “Not to worry. It’s perfectly alright. Just happy it wasn’t directed at me,” he said with a laugh.
“Sometimes he just needs a reminder who is boss,” Frida said. She waved her hand over the icy prison and it melted away into nothingness. “Actually, more often than not,” she said with a laugh.
“Ahh, it’s good sport, regardless,” Oshri said as he drew himself up from the floor. He brushed himself off and leaned back with his hands on his sides to stretch his back.
“You’re pretty agile for an old man,” Kai said.
Oshri began to giggle like he was a young girl as he disappeared down a hallway.
“Don’t let that shell fool you,” Frida said, taking her place at the table. She took a sip of her tea before continuing. “For whatever reason, he chooses to appear as this feeble old creature. He and I are exactly the same age, born on the same day wouldn’t you know.”
“So, it is an illusion?” Kai asked, trying to keep the nervousness from his voice. It had been illusionary magic that led to the battle and downfall of the Tower of Kings. He had more than enough of that form of mysticism.
“Sort of. Not like you experienced. He is actually real to the touch, sight, and smell whereas the magic the High Priest was using just made it seem real, if that makes sense.”
Kai was very confused, in more ways than one.
“How did you know what happened at the Tower? We haven’t told you anything about it yet.”
Frida laughed. “Silly man. Someday you will understand there are powers in this world you simply cannot fathom. Let’s just say that we know and leave it at that.”
Kai was dumbfounded but quickly recovered his wits.
“Could you have stopped it?” he asked.
“That is not leaving it alone,” she said, taking a bite of hard cheese, “but, no, there was nothing we could have done at the time.”
It gave Kai a little comfort to know the magical explosion that caused his friends to disappear was not preventable.
“That is why you are here, isn’t it?”
Kai nodded.
“Sit and I will explain.”
Kai took a seat across the table from Frida. He filled a cup with water from a jug and settled back.
“They are still alive. All of them. That type of explosion is what happens when opposing magical forces come together. In this particular case, a curious reaction happened when the explosion came into contact with the vividus crystals that created a flash portal across the world.”
“A curious reaction? So, you have never heard of such a thing happening?” Kai asked, a little surprised.
“Not like this,” Frida said. “The properties of the vividus crystals have never really been explored. At least, the results were never recorded. All we really know is the crystals absorb magical energy and transform it into other elements such as light or heat. They act as sort of a mana sponge.”
“Like this?” Kai asked as he pulled a fist-sized metal box from his pouch and handed it to Frida. She looked the box over, opening it to see the glowing purple crystal inside. She changed the box to each of its different configurations. When she was satisfied that she understood how it worked she returned it back to its cubic shape.
“This looks like something Adina made,” she said finally, handing the device back.
“It is,” Kai said as he tucked the box away again. “For light or heat. What is mana?”
“It is an ancient term for magical energy. A large amount can act as a mana dampener as is the case with Seron,” she said. “That is why Oshri ran there to hide. He knew that tracking spells couldn’t pinpoint him. I knew he was there but it is a big island and there was no possible way for me to search the entire place without magic.”
“Why was he hiding?” Kai asked. When he realized he had completely forgotten his manners with the excitement he felt at the chance to discover more about the old wizard, he quickly apologized.
“Oh, it is perfectly all right but that is long story and definitely one for another day,” Frida said, as she chuckled. “We are talking about your friends, remember? Are you so quick to toss them aside in place of gossip?”
Kai knew she was just teasing him but he did feel ashamed for it.
“Anyway,” Frida said, her sweet smile never faltering. She readjusted herself in the chair and continued. “There is one person I know of who spent a great deal of time researching the vividus crystals. She is a witch of our order, very old and very wise. If there is anyone who would know what happened it would be her.”
“Great! Where can I find her?” Kai asked excitedly.
“Therein lies the problem. She is currently under self-imposed exile. Many years ago, she underwent a drastic change. The exact story is still very unclear however the outcome remains. She became what is known as a sprix. The easiest way to describe it is sort of like a wereowl.”
“A wereowl? Woman by day, owl by night?”
“Yes, something like that. However, in her case it is sage by day, vicious, flesh eating monster by night.”
“Ahh. Hence the exile.” Kai nodded with understanding.
“Exactly.”
“So, I will just have to be extra-careful.”
“Unfortunately, it is not that easy. She has exiled herself to the outlands of Evresh.” The mention of the infernal isle caused the smile to leave her face. A grim situation to be sure.
“Oh,” was the only word Kai could produce at the mention of the magical island. His mind flashed back to the threats his parents would use on him when he was behaving badly.
“We will ship you off to the trolls of Evresh,” his mother would say.
“Evresh is the only place in the world where such behavior is acceptable,” was one of his father’s favorite quips.
Kai actually knew very little real information about the place except for two things. The first was the mines produced the most valuable gemstones found anywhere in the world. The second was the majority of the island was inhabited by the most fearsome monsters anyone had ever seen anywhere in the world. The second was hearsay but he had never heard of anyone saying any different.
Frida could see mention of the island had made Kai uncomfortable. She rose from her chair and walked to a cabinet that stood in the corner of the room. She reached down and opened the lowest drawer and retrieved a small box. She took her seat again, placing the box on the table in front of Kai before she did.
“Open it,” she said, refilling her teacup from a pot that never seemed to empty or cool.
Kai looked at the small wooden box. It was intricately carved with forest leaves and flowers from top to bottom. He picked it up and turned it over, trying to find a way in.
“How?” he asked, defeated.
“Find the right flower,” Frida said with a laugh.
Kai ran his fingers over the rough surface of the box until he thought he felt a little give. He found the right spot and pushed in. He heard a feint click and lid opened. Inside he found variety of baubles and knickknacks. He looked at Frida with a confused look on his face.
“Those are all the things you will need for your journey to find Sova Zlo.”
“Sova Zlo?”
“The witch. That is her name,” Frida said, laughing at Kai’s confusion.
“Sova? Why are you talking about that unhinged, bloodthirsty lunatic?”
Kai turned to see Oshri entering the room wearing a different robe, which made Kai wonder what happened to his other robe that meant he had to change. Oshri kissed Frida lightly on the cheek then took the seat next to her and poured himself a cup of tea. The look of confusion remained on Kai’s face.
Frida laughed again. “Being in this place for extended periods of time can make a person go a little stir crazy. Sometimes a good fight, relieves the tension. We do that every so often but no harm, no foul,” she said.
Dragon Flight: Sisera's Gift 3 (Dragonblood Sagas Book 5) Page 3
