Malediction (Scars of the Sundering Book 1)

by Hans Cummings

  The parlor was deserted when she emerged. She didn't need to check the nearest bedroom; she heard Pancras snoring as she approached the door. On the other side of the parlor, one bedroom was occupied by Kale. Seated on the bed, he examined his puzzle box. Her brother looked up when she entered.

  "Hello, Deli. I put your pack over there." He pointed to a chair next to the side table on the far side of the bed from where he sat. "I didn't know if you wanted to share a room or if you wanted one all to yourself. This place is huge, huh?"

  "We can share. I've heard enough strange sounds that I don't think I want one of these big beds all to myself." She pulled up her pack behind her as she climbed up on the bed.

  "I know what you mean." Kale nodded in agreement and then cried out in triumph. He jumped to his feet, unbalancing Delilah and knocking her over. "I unlocked another side, Deli! Look!" He held up his puzzle box for her inspection.

  Delilah saw gears turn and a plate slide away from an inner mechanism but didn't understand his excitement. "So what does it do now?"

  Kale scratched his head and sat down. "I'm still not sure. I have to get all six sides working in sequence before it'll open. I wonder what's inside."

  "It's probably a joke. You'll spend all this time working on it, and it'll be empty." She hoped, for Kale's sake there was a point to the puzzle box, but it wouldn't be the first time Kale obsessed over a mechanical item that had no practical purpose.

  Delilah removed her grimoire from her pack and opened it. While they traveled, she spent most of her free time studying her lexicon so she could communicate effectively with humans. Now that they planned to stay in one place for a couple of months, Delilah decided to study this arcane tome in depth. Already, glimpses of the ancient knowledge locked within tantalized the drak sorceress with its power and potential.

  The words on the page shifted and flowed as Delilah looked over them. The text rearranged itself as she read it, allowing her to read several pages of information before having to physically turn the page. Magical theory, essays on the nature of wizardry and the ways its effects could be manipulated, and rituals covering everything from mundane activities, like removing a stain from linen to infusing life into that which was lifeless, the book contained more knowledge than Delilah expected could fit between leather covers.

  She smiled to herself. I know where I'm going to be lost while it's snowing outside. This gilded cage is no prison for me.

  * * *

  Pancras tossed and turned. The fire in the hearth did nothing to remove the chill from the air, and the blankets upon his bed provided scant relief from the cold. Dark shapes crept toward him, shadowy figures with neither form nor substance. Yet, he felt them grasping at him, clawing, pulling him down into a shadowy pit.

  The minotaur knew he was about to fall. His breath caught in his chest, but he pushed through the discomfort and cried out. "Seeko osta sto choma kai na ipakousoun tis entoles mo!"

  With a gasp, Pancras rolled and fell out of bed. The coppery taste of blood flooded his mouth as the floor rammed his bottom teeth into his tongue. He groaned and pushed himself to his hands and knees and pulled himself up, using the bed frame to steady himself.

  He drank water directly from the pitcher, swished it around in his mouth and spit the bloody liquid into the basin. A thin line of light visible under the bedroom door beckoned Pancras to pull on his robes and follow it into the common area. Dawn's first light streamed through the windows and set fire to the sparkling white blanket of the season's first snowfall.

  Pancras stepped away from the windows and left the suite through the double doors which led to the walkway overlooking the courtyard. A cold wind blew through the arches, bringing with it the warming scent of burning wood from nearby hearths. The clouds that brought the snow moved away, disappearing over the horizon and leaving behind a clear, blue sky. The fresh snow cover made Almeria seem quieter, more peaceful than usual.

  The fresh air cleared his head. He thought about the dark, strange dream he had as well as the vision when discussing the tapestry with Lady Milena. Pancras was not one to have particularly vivid dreams, so this recent trend unnerved him. Between Kale's affliction and his dreams and visions, Pancras thought Delilah might be the only one among them who was even remotely normal. And then there's Edric. Has the dwarf abandoned us?

  The scuff of boots on the stone floor startled him. He turned to see a regal woman approaching him. Her sepia-brown skin seemed to glow with orange-red undertones in the morning sun. She was dressed in a fur-lined, beaded, white gown, and her ebony hair was woven into a complex braid that hung down her back to her waist. She held a steaming goblet in her hands, and as she regarded Pancras, he noticed she appeared to be evaluating whether or not she should be alarmed to see a minotaur standing on the veranda or ignore him as if he were part of the scenery.

  Pancras bowed. "Good morning."

  The woman titled her head. "I am Princess Valene. Identify yourself, Minotaur."

  "Pancras"—he considered whether or not to add his title and remembered Prince Gavril's instructions—"First Wizard of Drak-Anor."

  "Ah, yes. One of my husband's new pets." She turned and looked out over the city.

  Unsure whether he should stay or retreat to his chamber, Pancras remained still for a moment. The darkness of her skin as well as her accent, told him that Princess Valene was not a native of Etrunia. He thought she might be from the north, possibly Vlorey.

  "Did that term upset you?"

  "Your pardon, Highness?" Pancras bowed again. "I was unsure if it was proper to remain here. I was enjoying the fresh air for a moment."

  "You may remain. For now." Princess Valene sipped from her goblet and then turned to face him. "Why are you here? What business have you with Almeria that is so important my husband would allow you use of a suite here in the palace?"

  Pancras swallowed, fighting to keep his expression neutral. How can I face you, you who are the reason I am here? He found he could not meet her gaze, the jade eyes which regarded him with unspoken accusation. "We are ambassadors from Drak-Anor—"

  "Do not insult my intelligence. That odious little troll would not accept ambassadors from a place he has barely heard of, not like this. Maybe if you were from Celtangate or even Ironkrag, I could believe it, but you are not a dwarf."

  "Kind of you to notice—"

  Princess Valene clicked her tongue. She poked him in the chest, forcing him to meet her gaze. She was tall for a human; Pancras stood only a head taller than she. "Let us speak plainly, Minotaur."

  Pancras reached up to rub his right horn and nodded. "Very well."

  "My husband is a schemer. He is always plotting, always looking for an advantage. I do not know what his game is, why he thinks a minotaur and two draks will gain him anything, or over whom, but I will be watching."

  "Your Highness, whatever it is you think your husband is plotting, I assure you, we have no involvement in it. In fact, our plan is to leave as soon as the snows melt sufficiently for us to travel to Muncifer safely." Pancras liked this deal with Prince Gavril less and less the more he thought about it. He never wanted to encounter his intended victim. Nausea at the thought of cursing this woman welled in the pit of his stomach.

  "So you say." She stared at him for a moment, her eyes searching his face for the lie. "No matter. Tell me of Drak-Anor. It is relatively new, is it not? I don't remember hearing about it when I was growing up in Vlorey, and I heard many things whilst loitering around the docks."

  Pancras was happy for the change of subject. A breeze brought the aroma of Princess Valene's beverage past Pancras's nose. He caught the scent of wine and spices. "The city has always been there, at least, longer than I have lived there. It's only been recently that we've come together behind a reasonable leader and removed the more destructive elements sharing our mountain home, the goblins and oroqs that infest the tunnels and caverns of the Dragon Spine Mountains."

  "So you are not from there, originally?
I thought I recognized your accent. Muncifer, is it not?"

  "You are very wise, Highness."

  "It is experience, not wisdom. I listened to many sailors from the south, many minotaurs, as they told their tall tales on the docks of Vlorey." She smiled and looked up at him. "Pity you're here under false pretenses. I might have enjoyed hearing your stories as well."

  "Regardless of my true intentions," Pancras decided to gamble, "It doesn't make my unrelated stories less relevant to your enjoyment."

  "True." She reached out and touched his sleeve and examined his jewelry. "You have a keener fashion sense than most minotaurs I've seen. Yes… I will be watching you."

  Princess Valene drank from her goblet and nodded to Pancras. "I must assume my duties at court. We shall talk again, Am—no, I shall not call you Ambassador because we both know that is a false title. Pancras, First Wizard of Drak-Anor."

  Pancras watched as she glided down the corridor. He let out a breath and slumped. His burden just became much heavier.

  * * *

  After breaking their fast, Pancras and Delilah cleaned and re-heated the bath water so Pancras and Kale could have their turns. While the males bathed, Delilah studied her grimoire. It was mid-morning by the time they were all ready to leave the suite. Delilah's messenger returned to them as they prepared to leave.

  The electric-blue, conjured boggin jumped and yipped. "Mistress Delilah, Dwarf Edric reports that he has a good thing going at an unnamed gambling establishment and will be in contact later." It disappeared in a puff of blue smoke.

  Kale nodded. "I'm glad he's all right."

  Delilah harrumphed. "Yeah, he'll be in contact when he's run out of money and run up massive debts, I'll bet."

  "That'll be his problem, Delilah." Pancras led the way as they traversed the palace's corridors and down the spiral staircase to the main hall. "I need to speak to the prince about equipment for the research he wants me to do and see if I can get us permission to go out into the city. In the meantime, I want you two to explore the palace. Go everywhere they'll let you." He leaned in close and lowered his voice. "Who knows, maybe you can find secret ways in and out of the palace, huh?" Pancras smiled and shooed them away as he continued toward the throne room.

  Kale rubbed his hands together. "This will be great, Deli. It's like exploring the caverns around Deep Road, except there's nothing waiting in the shadows to eat us!"

  "Just guards who want to stick us." Delilah returned the glare of a palace guard who watched them.

  Kale wasn't worried about the guard. Lady Milena seemed nice enough from what Pancras told him. "So what if a few guards don't like us? We're ambassadors, right? They can't do anything to us as long as we don't do anything bad."

  "I wish we could go outside the palace. The snow in the mountains was always severe and harsh, but it looks like it might be fun to go out in it here." Delilah looked toward the palace doors and pulled her furred mantle tighter.

  Kale took his sister's arm and pulled her toward an undecorated corridor. "Pancras will convince them to let us leave the palace. There will be plenty of snow. Besides, it's just cold and sticks to you and then gets all wet."

  They wandered the palace for hours. It didn't take long for Kale to ascertain the less decorated a room or hallway was, the fewer guards and the more servants there would be. Decorated areas were intended for visitors and those the royal family wanted to impress; the more lavish the decorations, the more important the areas were to the family's image.

  Their explorations led to a heavy wooden door at the end of a dusty corridor. The pain in Kale’s back returned, and he wanted to have another hot bath; it seemed to alleviate the discomfort. However, the lure of the door was too much.

  "I think we've seen enough, Kale. You could draw a map of this place already!" Delilah leaned on her staff and tapped her foot. Her claws clicked an impatient rhythm on the stone floor.

  "Sure, except for this door." He opened it. Stairs led down. "Excellent! Are you coming? We could probably use some light down there."

  "Fos." The top of Delilah's staff emitted a pale light. "You know, if they don't have those magical lights down there, it probably means no one goes down there anymore. If you're looking for things to eat you, that's where they'll be."

  Kale grinned and patted the daggers on his bandoleer. "I have these, and I have you. Plus, I can breathe fire now."

  "Great. You'll burn down the palace all around us."

  Kale descended the stairs alongside his sister. "Stone walls won't burn."

  The stairs led to a vast room supported by arches which seemed to extend beyond the reach of Delilah's light. Stone walls divided the room into alcoves; others were filled with crates and chests. The air was damp, heavy, and smelled like mold. Dust hung in the air like a grey cloud, causing the light from Delilah's staff to appear as though it shone through a veil.

  "This is the place where all the junk goes to be forgotten." Delilah coughed turned around. "Let's go. There won't be anything good down here."

  Kale wasn't convinced. He shook his head and pulled on her hand. He looked back at her when she resisted. "Come on, are you scared? There's nothing bad down here. It's just… stuff."

  "I'm not scared, Kale." Delilah snatched her hand away from her brother. "I'm tired, it's dusty, and I want to get back to my grimoire."

  "Fine. Just make me a magical light, and I'll go on ahead." If she doesn't want to share in the fun, she can go be grumpy by herself.

  "I can't just make a magical light for you like that. It takes the right materials, time, and a whole ritual! I'll work on one for you this week, though. I promise."

  Kale shook his head. "Just a few more minutes, Deli."

  "Oh, fine!" Delilah huffed and pushed past him, holding her staff ahead of her to light the way. Kale rushed to keep up with her. They advanced faster than he wanted to explore, but at least they moved in farther and away from the stairs.

  "Fantastic. Another door." Delilah pointed with her staff. "Do you wonder what's behind that one? Maybe it's extra dust with double the mold."

  Kale laughed and approached the door. "It's probably just more storage. I wonder if they have any old crowns down here or anything like that. Ooh, maybe an old, forgotten ancient dagger from before The Sundering!" He opened the door.

  Beyond the door was a corridor lined with internment niches. Kale spotted ossuaries and urns, along with sarcophagi further down. Frescos depicting the departed decorated the walls and ceilings. "It's a catacomb!"

  "We shouldn't go in there, Kale."

  He furrowed his brow and glanced at his sister. "Pancras said we could go anywhere the guards didn't forbid us. I don't see any guards. Do you?"

  "Kale!" Delilah's expression told him all he needed to know. He spun around to see a ragged, half-rotten man charging at him. Kale ducked and dove forward as the undead creature lunged with outstretched blackened talons.

  Rolling into a kneeling position, Kale drew two daggers from his bandoleer. The creature turned its attention to Delilah. Kale threw one of his daggers, striking the undead thing between the shoulder blades. It ignored the wound, swiping a dirty claw at his sister.

  Delilah jumped backward and leveled her staff. "Dapane phlogone!" A stream of fire burst from her staff, engulfing the creature. "I told you things down here wanted to eat us!"

  The undead creature spun around, flailing its arms as the flames consumed it. Kale scurried under it as it fell backward. Delilah helped him to his feet. He turned and saw dozens of pairs of glowing red eyes in the darkness of the catacomb.

  "That's not good, Deli."

  Delilah pushed him out of the way and raised her staff high. Swirls of blue mist surrounded her, fusing into a sphere in her palm. "Ophayra!" She tossed the coruscating orb toward the advancing mob. Kale slammed the door after it, holding it shut until the explosive concussion hit the door and he felt the heat of the flames through the wood.

  "Let's go!" Kale grabbed Delilah's hand
and they ran out of the undercroft, back upstairs until they reached the main hall. Servants and guards gathered, all wondering what caused the explosion they heard.

  Kale pointed down the hall from whence they came. "Dead things! Under"—he fought to catch his breath—"under the palace… dead things!" He was not sure if he spoke drak or the common trade language. The guards got the gist and ran off in the direction he indicated.

  A few moments later, Pancras came running out of the throne room, followed by an auburn-haired woman wearing the gleaming armor of the Royal Guard. "What's going on?"

  "Delilah and I were just exploring the palace, like you said to. We were in this big underground vault thing when these undead things just attacked. They were zombies or ghouls or something, I don't know. They were nasty with long, black, claws, and their skin was rotting off."

  The woman next to Pancras nodded. "The catacombs, in the undercroft. We've never had trouble with undead there before."

  "I roasted them." Delilah put her hand on Kale's shoulder and straightened her back.

  Pancras looked at the woman as he nodded at Delilah. "That would be the explosion we heard, Lady Milena."

  "Wizardry?" Lady Milena raised an eyebrow and regarded Delilah with new appreciation. "I hope you have not damaged the palace. The undercroft is very old. It has served as the foundation of not only this palace, but the one that was here before, as well."

  Pancras knelt and took each drak by the shoulder. "Are you two all right?"

  Brushing off his hand, Delilah nodded. "We're fine. We may not see much action anymore, but we can handle a pack of ghouls. Or zombies, whatever they were. We didn't stick around to ask."

  "Hey, Pancras. Do you think this has anything to do with those ghouls we found under Ironkrag? They never had problems either until recently, remember?"

  Lady Milena turned her gaze toward Kale. "What's this?"

  Pancras stood. "Shortly before we left to travel here, Kale and I, along with our dwarf companion, found and defeated the source of a new ghoul infestation in the caverns near Deep Road under Ironkrag. Something created them, even out of dwarves, but I believed we destroyed the creature."