The Legacy of Skur: Volume One

by L. F. Falconer

  “You are welcome in Avar, provided you mean no trouble.” Kael did not mistrust Blasties; indeed, they had proven themselves to be valuable allies. It was this wizard, Gar, he did not like. There was something about him that Kael did not trust, causing a spate of uneasiness in his heart. The wizard was staring at him. It dug in invasively and Kael inwardly quailed beneath the look, almost as if he’d just been violated. The blue crystal beneath his shirt grew warm against his skin, a warmth he’d not felt in it since he’d left Skur so many years ago.

  “Tell me, good sir,” Gar spoke. “Is there a wizard in this village?”

  “Yes,” Kael said, pointing the way. “The wizard Fith. His quarters are just south of the village square.”

  “Thank you.” Gar nodded his head beneath the black hood. “That will be all.”

  Kael was astounded. That arrogant little wizard had just dismissed him! But what could he do? They were breaking no laws, yet Kael was not about to be dismissed so easily in his own village by this rude fellow.

  “Is Fith expecting you?” he asked.

  “Not at all,” Gar said. “I do not even know the man. However, we wizards do like to catch up with one another, given the opportunity.”

  “Very well,” Kael said, easing his horse away. “Please enjoy your stay in Avar, though we have little to offer.” Satisfied that he’d gotten the last word in, Kael trotted his horse away and rounded the corner by the bakehouse. Though the wizard’s words had been harmless, Kael’s curiosity of the strangers had only been aroused, compounded by vague suspicion.

  “He is the one,” Gar said as Kael departed.

  “The chief warden?”

  Gar nodded. “And that,” he pointed toward Alyn and the children across the marketplace, “is his family. He possesses a great loyalty to them and he does not trust us.”

  “Smart man he is,” Blugort said.

  “Indeed. Smart and strong-willed. And extremely sly. Do you see him?”

  Blugort shook his head. “He is gone, master.”

  Gar shook his head. “No. No, he is not. He is watching us at this very moment. He hides well. That is how he got the crystal in the first place.” Gar laughed softly. “His brother managed to deceive me in the end, making me believe the troll had taken it. Oh Fane, you were clever after all.” Gar smiled at his companion. “Since he is watching us, Blugort, let us give him something worth watching.”

  Gar strode across the marketplace with Blugort at his heels, coming to a halt when he reached Alyn and the children.

  “Good day, my lady,” he said, picking a hard pear out of the nearest costermonger’s barrow.

  “Good day, sir,” Alyn politely replied. She had seen her husband speaking with these odd little men and could only guess as to what had transpired between them.

  “Your children are lovely,” the wizard spoke. “Especially this one.” He reached down and handed the pear to Elva.

  “Thank you, sir.” Alyn plucked the pear from Elva’s hand and placed it back into the barrow.

  Gar chuckled softly. “She looks just like her father.”

  Alyn shot the little man a scornful glance. “I’m sure she does,” she said, quickly ushering her brood away. “Come, children. We must go home now.”

  That man frightened her. She couldn’t say why, but he did. She didn’t like the way he’d looked at Elva, and she left the marketplace as quickly as she dared, not wishing to alarm the children.

  In the shadows of the bakehouse, Kael watched the wizard and the blastie as they stood conversing where he’d left them. The talisman had cooled some and he realized then that he had pulled it out from beneath his shirt and was rubbing it between his fingers. He tucked it back away. He would be grateful when these two men left his town.

  When they approached Alyn, Kael’s muscles clenched and he almost left his hideout to demand that the strangers depart and leave his family be, but held his position, relieved as Alyn gathered the children and went on her away.

  After his wife left, he continued his hidden vigilance. A chill snaked down his spine when the small wizard and his companion began to leave the marketplace, for the crafty Gar looked straight at him and smiled, giving a knowing nod. He had not been as cleverly hidden as he had thought, and he debated whether to follow them further. But they had done nothing to warrant any intervention, so he chose to let them go their way.

  Gar and Blugort strolled through the village square, south to what could only have been the wizard Fith’s home, for its exterior foundation was completely surrounded by a circle of large stones, the cottage door etched in ancient glyphs.

  Gar rapped upon the embellished door.

  “Greetings,” he said as Fith edged the door open. Without waiting for an invitation, Gar strode inside, followed by Blugort, and looked the room over, nodding in approval. “Yes,” he said. “This will do. It will serve my purpose.”

  “May I help you?” Fith asked, appalled at the rudeness of these two strangers in his house. It seemed the shorter a man was the cockier he became, and this stranger certainly owned his share of cockiness.

  “I am the wizard Gar.”

  “I’ve never heard of you before, I’m sorry to say,” Fith said, eyeing the diminutive wizard with cock-eyed contempt.

  “And I’m sorry to say that Fith is not high on the list of notable wizards,” Gar said, taking a seat at Fith’s table. Blugort remained standing, surveying the room in the dim light.

  Gar continued, “But we both know of the wizard Fane, don’t we?”

  Fith was suddenly interested and hurried away from the door to sit at the table beside the arrogant wizard. “What do you know of Fane?” His squinty gray eyes narrowed.

  Gar remained silent, peering intently at Fith. Blugort crossed the room and lowered the bar to lock the door. He then drew his short sword and stationed himself in front of it.

  Fith began to grow nervous. This did not look good. “You there,” he called to the blastie. “Unlock that door.”

  “I don’t thinks I can do that,” Blugort said. He was only followin’ orders. What his master intended to do with this wizard, he had no clue. He’d only been instructed t’secure the premises.

  “I know Fane was your apprentice,” Gar spoke quietly, regaining Fith’s attention. “I know you failed to teach him much of your magic before you gave him my crystal and sent him to me in order to get gold for you.”

  “Who are you?” Fith whispered, rising weakly to his feet, his gaze going from the table to the door and back again. “What do you want?”

  Gar remained disturbingly calm. “You also know of the wizard Makor.”

  Fith nodded, the strength flooding out of his legs.

  Gar arose, the eyes beneath his hood turning solid white. “I am the guardian of Makor’s treasure.”

  “Ragg!” Fith gasped, clutching at his chest.

  The wizard at the table became a huge, snarling, black lion and Fith fell to the floor, fortunately dying of fright before he even hit the dirt.

  The lion pounced and devoured him while Blugort stood guard at the door, watching the scene in petrified horror. He had known his master was capable of such things, he had just never witnessed it before now.

  When the deed was done, Ragg transformed once more into the wizard Gar. He sat back at the table, his hands steepled, gazing over at his terrified companion. “Bring me the chief warden,” he said. “Our negotiations must begin.”

  Blugort removed the bar from the door and dashed outside.

  Ragg leaned back in his chair, quite satisfied, licking his lips clean. The thoughts and memories of these creatures were so easily read. He had already gleaned enough information from the warden and his woman to help accomplish his mission. And he would see to it that he would have the last vengeance against Fane for having outwitted him in the end.

  Kael caught up with Alyn on the edge of the village. After helping her and the children onto the back of the gelding, he led the horse on foot down the
road for his home, and when they reached the house, he took Alyn aside, away from the children.

  “What did that wizard say to you?” he whispered.

  “He told me my children were lovely, especially Elva. He said she looked just like her father.”

  Kael did not know what to make of that. There was only a slight resemblance between him and the girl; her features were completely Fane’s. “Is that all he said?”

  Alyn nodded. “I didn’t give him a chance to say more. I didn’t like him at all, Kael. He gave me the shivers.”

  “He is surely up to something. I can feel it in my bones, and I intend to find out what it is.” Kael buffed Alyn’s cheek with a quick farewell kiss and mounted the horse.

  As Alyn watched him go, she had no doubt that her husband would dispel the problem. Feeling much more at ease, she took the children inside, stowing the wares from the market away.

  Blugort dashed about the village, searching for the chief warden, unperturbed by the curious looks given him by the townspeople. Was the blasted man hidin’ again, he wondered? His master would surely get angry if he failed t’find the man. He had searched for the stone for so long and his patience was a’growin’ thin. It had t’be a’growin’ thin, eatin’ that poor old wizard for lunch likes he did. And if he failed t’find the warden, the master’d likely have Blugort for dinner.

  When Blugort finally caught sight of the chief warden, he breathed a sigh of relief and ran toward him as fast as his short legs could carry him. “Sir,” he shouted. “Sir! M’master wishes t’speaks with ye at the wizard’s.”

  “Very well,” Kael said gruffly. “For I also wish to speak with your master.”

  Kael kept pace with the blastie as they hurried for Fith’s. Dismounting, and securely tying his horse when they reached their destination, he followed the breathless blastie inside the cottage.

  Fingers thrumming against the hilt of his sword, Kael’s eyes adjusted to the inner dimness. A small fire cackled in the ingle, and between the fire’s glow and the shaft of light coming through the door, he spied the wizard Gar reclining in a chair. His feet were propped upon the tabletop and he appeared quite relaxed. There was no sign of Fith.

  “Ah, good day again, Kael,” Gar said pleasantly.

  Kael could not recall having given the wizard his name, but the thought was fleeting as Gar sat upright and bade Kael to take a seat across from him. Kael refused, preferring to stand in readiness.

  “I do hope we can keep this business between us simple,” Gar spoke. “And I’ll be direct. It seems you have something that belongs to me and I’d like it back.”

  “And what might that be?” Kael asked.

  “You are in possession of a blue crystal,” Gar said, rising to his feet. “It is mine.”

  To be sure, it was a wizard stone, but Kael did not know this man. He did not like him and he certainly did not trust him. “By what right is it yours?”

  The tiny wizard paced about the room. “It was stolen from me ages ago. And I have journeyed long and far to find it.” He stopped and pointed at Kael. “You have it. I want it back.”

  “I would need more proof than your word, sir.”

  Gar slammed his hands upon the table, leaning forward, glaring at the warrior. “If I say it is mine, my word should be good enough, boy. It does not belong in the hands of a warrior. It belongs to a wizard. It belongs to me!”

  Kael took a step back, standing tall. Why did these blasted wizards continually have to demean warriors when it came to this stone? “It was entrusted to my care by a wizard, and I shall not give it up.”

  “Fane? A wizard? Hah!” Gar stood upright again, his voice dropping low and steady. “You do not know who you are dealing with here. Save yourself some trouble and just give it to me.”

  “How did you know Fane gave me the crystal?” A terror wedged its way into Kael’s soul. He had told no one it was Fane except for Alyn and his father.

  “I know it was Fane,” Gar’s eyes glittered white, “because I’m the one who killed him.”

  Kael’s legs lost their strength and he stumbled forward, grasping at the table for support, staring in mute horror. This was no wizard. This was the dragon!

  Fane had warned him against Ragg’s trickery. And Fane had sacrificed himself rather than surrender the crystal to this demon.

  “I will not give it to you,” Kael growled, scowling into Ragg’s glittering white eyes. “Never.”

  “I would hate to think of any harm coming to your wife or any of your lovely children,” Ragg said with an evil smirk.

  Kael’s gut wrenched. He stood back upright. “Your dealings are with me, dragon! Not my family.”

  Ragg settled back at the table, propping his feet up once more. He shook his head. “I will use whatever methods you make necessary to take back what is rightfully mine. I do not enjoy killing children. They are such innocents. But if I have to, I will.”

  Kael drew his sword.

  With a wave of Ragg’s hand, the sword was whipped out of Kael’s grip and lodged into a wooden support beam in the wall.

  Kael froze, staring in new horror at the demon before him.

  Defiantly, Ragg crossed his arms. “You cannot kill me, boy. Hand over the crystal. It’s that simple. No one else has to get hurt.”

  “No,” Kael said. There was a reason why this demon wanted it so badly, and there was a reason why it had to be kept from him. Kael only wished he knew what those reasons were. Why hadn’t Kirts or Fith or even Fane been more forthcoming? All he had ever been told was to keep it from Ragg’s possession. What was he supposed to do? He needed time to think.

  “Retrieve your toy and leave.” Ragg motioned to the sword. “I can see you are an obstinate one and will have to be convinced, just like your brother.”

  Kael strode across the room and yanked his sword from the wall. As he stormed past the blastie at the door, he turned, pointing the sword in Ragg’s direction. “You will not touch my family. Your dealings are with me and me alone!”

  10

  Elva

  Kael had broken into a cold sweat by the time he mounted his horse, and he fought to keep the reins within his trembling grip.

  Ragg was here. Right here in Avar! And he had whisked the sword right out of his hand with a mere wave. Where was Fith? Was he in cahoots with the dragon, or had the dragon done something with him? There was no telling what Ragg might have done with the poor old fellow, and Kael felt a twang of guilt, for it had been he who had sent them there.

  He grabbed for the stone about his neck. It was glowing hot, but not an unbearable heat. Truly this talisman had tried to warn him. It had tried. He’d only failed to heed it.

  Ragg had whisked his sword away as if it were merely a pesky mosquito. If it weren’t for the protection of the crystal, Kael was certain the demon would have whisked him aside as well.

  He spurred his horse to a gallop, racing for home. He had to be with Alyn. He had to keep his family safe while he figured out what to do.

  “Mama, Mama,” Elva cried, hopping up and down as she helped Alyn in the garden. “It’s Papa. Papa’s home!” She knew it was him before he’d ever turned off the roadway, such knowledge coming from deep within the Telling Place inside her. She called it that because that’s what it did—that warm spot just above her belly that told her things.

  She raced around the house and up the rock-lined pathway, watching her papa’s horse come galloping into the yard.

  Kael brought his steed to a halt and leapt off it. He said nothing, taking the horse directly into the barn. Elva ran after him.

  “Papa,” Elva came to stand beside him. “Can we ride now?”

  “Not right now,” Kael told her. “The horse is tired.”

  Her face fell. “Very well, Papa,” she said sullenly. “Can we go after supper?”

  Kael shook his head. “Not tonight.”

  “Why?”

  Kael gazed at her glum face as he pulled the saddle off the hors
e and forced a smile. “Because tonight, Papa wants to stay at home with his family.”

  He lifted her tiny body into his arms and she squealed, tugging on his beard before wrapping her arms around his neck, giving him a squeeze. “It’s all right, Papa. We’ll ride another day.”

  “Yes, we will,” he said, carrying her out of the barn around to the back of the house where Alyn knelt in the dirt, clearing weeds out of the garden. He watched her momentarily as she tenderly cared for her crops. It was a task she seemed to enjoy and he could only think how beautiful she seemed at this moment.

  “Where are Lundin and Sashi?” he finally asked.

  “They are sleeping.” Alyn peered up at him, shielding her eyes against the glare of the sun that hung low in the sky. “Is everything all right?”

  Kael shifted Elva’s weight from one arm to another as he gazed in silence at the concern evident within his wife’s eyes. How could he tell her what had happened? How could he tell her who that stranger really was and what he had threatened? How could he frighten her with such news?

  He would not tell her. He would protect her and the children and find a way to deal with Ragg. Somehow he would find a way without having to surrender the crystal. He would take his family to Fead and secure them safely in the palace and he would demand Kirts help him. He was no match for Ragg on his own. He needed help. He needed the aid of a powerful wizard.

  It was too late in the day to leave for Fead now, for it would be asking too much to expect a pregnant woman and three small children to ride throughout the night. So until tomorrow, he would have to keep his family safe within the sanctuary of his home.

  “Come inside, Alyn,” he told his wife. “Let the garden tend itself for now.”

  “I haven’t much more to do,” she protested, making no move to rise. “I’ll come in when I’m done.”

  “You will come inside with me now.” His voice left no room for argument.

  She glared at him as she got to her feet, brushing the dirt from her hands. He rarely used that tone with her and it irritated her when he did.