"We saw Zhimosom. But we're not sure where he's being held."
Rotiaqua looked tired, even frailer than she had at their last contact. "I may be able to guide you there. I don't know where he is, but I have reestablished my connection to him. You can follow it, but I caution you. Be careful."
Rotiaqua held her hand out to Lorit. In it was a tiny star of silver. "Take it," she said. "It will guide you to Zhimosom."
Lorit reached out his hand and felt the star take on weight as it transformed from the ethereal vision into a solid piece of silver barely larger than a coin. He rubbed it between his fingers and pocketed it.
She took a shaky breath. "You are walking into the lair of a powerful Wizard and you'll need your strength and wits to survive the encounter. The Wizard may have his reasons not to kill Zhimosom, but make no mistake. He will kill you if you interfere."
"We will take care. I will contact you again before I leave," Lorit said. He dropped the contact and turned to Chihon. "Let's get some rest, and then head there in the morning."
He turned to leave and felt power rise up around him. It was like the web the Temple had used to capture him once before. He looked down at the floor. There was a hexagram drawn there in silver. On each vertex, a different symbol was inscribed.
The lines glowed with increasing intensity, shedding a crimson light that rushed around the figure. Lorit could feel the spell rising up, getting stronger and stronger. It contracted around him until he could barely move. He glanced at Chihon only to find her similarly encased in crimson threads of light.
Lorit searched for something to help them, but there was nothing handy.
Lorit heard a laugh. Standing in the doorway was the man he had beaten in the inn. The man pointed to him and stepped back. A priest appeared, head shaven, black robes trimmed in silver. He stood there, watching as the spell took hold.
Lorit tried to speak but found he could not. He tried to signal to Chihon. He could see her mouth move but heard nothing.
The Priest leaned against the doorway, watching Lorit try to escape. "Better Wizards than you have tried to escape this spell. Struggle all you want, you won't get loose."
The Priest turned to the man standing behind him. "Thank you for your help. This one is indeed a Wizard." The Priest reached into his robe and pulled out a silver which he tossed to the man.
"Thank you, Father." The man bit the coin, pocketed it, and backed away.
The Priest walked up to confront Lorit and Chihon, eying them as he circled the trap. "Those spells look pretty solid. I think they should hold you for a while."
He turned to leave and glanced back over his shoulder. "I have to make a quick trip to the Temple to inform my superiors about the little fish I've caught in my net. Don't go anywhere." He laughed as he turned and departed, closing the door behind him.
Lorit heard the door click shut. He turned his head to look at Chihon. She was no more able to speak than he was.
He probed the spell, getting a feel for the threads of magic that bound him. He could sense the cords that wrapped around his body, holding him firmly in their grip. He examined them carefully, looking for any weakness, any spot where he might separate them, fray the ends, untangle the net.
"Chihon," he tried to say, but the words caught in his throat.
He reached out to her with his magic, following that slender thread that connected them. He traced the route through the mess of binding magic until he had a path to her. He reached out to join his mind to hers. It was as if she were leagues away, muted and distant.
He struggled to make himself understood. "Chihon," he projected to her. He quieted himself and listened for her response.
"Lorit, I can't move. I can't speak," came her reply, distant and soft, yet understandable.
He tried to reason his way out. If only they could call up the spells of escape, but they could not speak. He wracked his brains trying to come up with a solution. He could remember the words of the spell of release, he just couldn't speak them.
"Tell me the words," Chihon's thoughts came. "I have an idea."
Lorit showed her the words, repeating them over and over again until she had them memorized. "What are you going to try?" Lorit asked.
"Just a moment, be ready to join in." Chihon took a deep breath and sang out the words of the spell. Her voice wavered at first, but grew stronger as she sang. Lorit could feel the spell weaken, but it did not release.
"Join me," Chihon thought to him. "Sing with me."
Lorit tried to sing as best he could. He had never been a good singer, but he started to catch the tune. She had woven the words of the spell into the tune of the bawdy song about loose women and their antics. It seemed to work at first. The spell became less restrictive, less substantial.
Lorit's heart leapt. They were going to get free. They sang the same refrain over and over again. Lorit poured all of his energy into it, but it was not enough. Soon, his voice grew tired and he started to falter. When he did, the spell tightened again, threatening to undo all his efforts.
As the spell started to close in on him, Lorit panicked. He felt just like he had when Zhimosom had trapped him in the web to teach him how to escape. The fear overcame him and threatened to drive out every thought from his head. He soon forgot what he was trying to do. Why was he trying to sing the spell?
A voice came to him in his head, but it was not Chihon. Something clearer, more powerful than Chihon. It said, "You have access to more power than you realize. Draw on it freely, do not fear."
"Kal'ryni?" Lorit though.
"Yes, it's me. You have access to my power, to the power of the mountains and so much more, should you but choose to call upon it."
Lorit felt the power surge in him as he reached out to draw on the magic of the mini dragon and the earth itself. His singing became clear. His voice improved. The spell began to weaken. Lorit felt the flood of power reflected back from Chihon as he channeled it to her. It swirled and surged around him, ripping apart the threads that bound them both.
The bonds were torn asunder. The sparkling dancing light that had held them faded until it was only a dim memory. Lorit took a breath and relaxed. He uttered a hearty "Thank you" to the mini dragon even as he felt the power he had drawn from it subside.
Lorit looked at the diagram on the floor. It was very similar to the one that held Zhimosom trapped in Javier Chase. Lorit knew he could free the Wizard. It was time he paid the old Wizard back for all the times he had saved Lorit in the past.
"I have to go to Javier Chase," Lorit said. "Now."
"Lorit, you're too tired. You don't know what you are getting yourself into."
"Zhimosom needs my help. Now that I know where he is, I have to go. He's in trouble. I can draw on the power of the mini dragon, I'm ready."
"I don't have energy to make the trip. I can't wait here for you, the Priest is sure to return. What do you want me to do? I don't want to lose you again."
The last thing Lorit wanted was to leave Chihon behind. They had just been reunited and he knew she couldn't come with him, but Zhimosom needed his help, and the sooner he could free the Wizard, the sooner they could get back to their normal lives, whatever normal meant. He was looking forward to getting to Amedon and settling down to study.
"I don't like it either, but I have to free Zhimosom. We're going to need his help, and I can't leave him trapped like that. He's fading. He may not have much more time.
"You take the spell books and meet me later. Get out of Moriver and head for Midian. That's the next place we can stop on our way to Amedon. Once I free Zhimosom, we will head straight there and see if they can help us free Prince Ghall from the Temple."
"I will wait for you outside the city. You can come to me when you're done," Chihon said.
"I'll find you no matter where you are." Lorit took her hands and looked Chihon in the eyes. "Get out of here quick, before the priest comes back."
"I know you'll find me." She squeezed his hands
and he could feel her strength. He shook her hands and then released them. He stepped back and prepared to depart.
"Be careful," Chihon said. "I don't want to lose you when I have just found you again."
"I'll be careful," Lorit said. He gathered the remaining strength into himself and reached out for the small silver star that Rotiaqua had provided, and then he spoke the words that would transport him to Javier Chase and the old Wizard.
Javier Chase
Lorit materialized in the forest outside of the Wizard's abode. It was in a small clearing in the woods. The house was formed of logs, and roofed with thatch that was aged and spotted with moss and lichen.
Lorit could feel the spell that held Zhimosom. He knew he was in the right place. He probed around, looking for another Wizard, but there was none. The Wizard who had set the trap must have departed, leaving Zhimosom alone. Lorit breathed a sigh of relief and crept to the window. The ground was soft and spongy beneath his feet as he lifted himself up to see inside.
He almost had it when he heard a noise behind him. It started as a deep grumble, and then escalated to a growl. Lorit turned to see a pair of wolves walk out of the woods to face him. They were large and menacing. Their eyes shone with the reflected light of the moon. Once of them paced back and forth while the other slowly advanced on him.
The lead wolf was larger than the other. It was dark gray and smelled like a bog; bits of green hung from its rich thick coat. It growled louder this time, taking one cautious step after another, slowly advancing until it stopped, crouched down and snarled.
Lorit was not fooled. The animal had not stopped its advance because of fear, nor did it decide Lorit wouldn't make a good meal. It stopped advancing because it was within striking distance. Lorit could see it rock back slightly on its rear legs in preparation for the leap that would land it right on top of him.
Lorit tried to gather his power, but he was weak and tired from the traveling spell that had brought him to this place. He reached for his dagger and grasped it in his hand. He shifted his weight onto his foot and planted his staff, getting ready to dodge the inevitable lunge.
He stared the wolf in the eye. "I'm ready if you are. Come and get me." He tried to project fear into the wolf, but it had no effect.
He watched out of the corner of his eye as the other wolf set itself up for the secondary attack. It was prepared to leap for him if for some reason the leader missed his chance. Lorit watched carefully, planning his moves, waiting patiently just as the wolf did.
He saw it come. Almost imperceptibly, the wolf scrunched up his haunches. It leapt at Lorit like lightning, but Lorit was ready. He pushed off with his staff, twisting to one side just before the wolf struck. He thrust his dagger at the snarling wolf as it hit the wall where Lorit had been. The weight of the wolf drove the dagger deep into its chest, twisting Lorit's arm as it impacted the wall.
Lorit wrenched the dagger free and stabbed at the wolf's throat, rolling away before it had a chance to slice him with its claws. Its growling turned to a whining whimper as the wolf expired.
Even before Lorit had a chance to breathe, the second wolf jumped into action. He barely had time to get his staff up and fend off the teeth and saliva that brushed his arm before he turned the momentum of the wolf into a twisting fall. He swung his staff and caught it on the head full force.
Startled, the wolf backed away, preparing for a second attack. It crouched down and shook its head as if that could erase the impact of Lorit's staff.
Lorit took the time to crawl backwards and reach behind him for his dagger. He could feel the life had run out of the lead wolf. He patted the blood matted fur until he grasped the handle of the dagger. He pulled it free of the wolf's throat just as the second wolf launched itself at him.
Lorit' arm came around in time to get the dagger in between himself and the wolf, but not fast enough to avoid the impact altogether. Like the first wolf, this one started to whimper and howl as the blade slid home. It collapsed on top of Lorit, trapping him between the two bodies.
Lorit struggled to free himself from beneath the wolf. He retrieved his dagger and cleaned it on the fur of the lead wolf. He looked down on his kill and wished he had the time and energy to gut and pelt them. The fur would make great winter clothes, but he had a Wizard to free.
Lorit left the wolves behind and crept around the house, searching for the front door. He crept silently around the bushes to find a well worn path that led out of the woods right up to the front door. He headed for it, dagger in one hand and staff in the other.
When nothing further threatened attack from the woods he relaxed a bit. He heard a hooting from overhead and looked up to see an owl sitting in the tree. Its large eyes tracked him, its head swiveling to follow his path.
As he approached the house, the owl screeched. Lorit turned to see what had upset it. It spread its wings and screeched again, its eyes never leaving Lorit.
From behind him, Lorit heard a hissing sound. He froze in place, not moving a muscle. He knew that sound and it meant that at the slightest provocation he would be struck by the snake. He turned his staff to catch the light of the moon in the jewel. Slowly, he moved the head of the staff between himself and the snake, turning his body to get a look at it.
A large cobra lay curled up on the front step. Its thick body was easily as large around as Lorit's arm, its head swayed from side to side as it watched him. Lorit looked the snake in the eye. He knew that as long as he held its attention, it would not strike, but if he looked away, he would not be fast enough to avoid it.
Out of the corner of his eye, Lorit saw the jewel glowing in his staff and knew it was almost ready. Just a little more, but would it be enough?
Lorit released the light he'd been holding in the jewel. A beam of bright gold light shot out, striking the snake in the eyes. Lorit knew it was blind, but it could still hear and sense his body heat. He stepped to one side and watched as the snake followed his movements, wondering how was he going to get past it?
The owl screeched overhead and launched itself from the branch. It swooped between Lorit and the snake, its wings touching his face as it passed. It struck the snake with a resounding thud as the sharp talons dug into the snake's thick body. The snake curled around but was unable to break the owl's grasp as it flew off into the night.
Lorit shook the tension out of his arms and legs as he watched the owl disappear into the night. He carefully opened the front door. It was pitch dark inside and he couldn't see anything as he stepped across the threshold.
Lorit felt a tingling of magic rise up from the floor twisting around his leg as he placed his foot inside. He quickly repeated the words of the spell he and Chihon had used, hoping that he could complete the utterance before the trap impeded his voice. The spell was effective in slowing down the progress of the trap, but it did not reverse it. He pulled his leg, but it was stuck fast.
He held out his hand and said, "Incendo ignio." A small flame appeared in it, illuminating the room. There was a candle on the table near the door and another one in a sconce. He threw the flames towards both of them.
Lorit tried to find a way to free his leg. He repeated the spell that they had used so successfully, but it had no effect.
He reached out to Chihon. "I'm stuck."
"Is it as bad as the Library?" Lorit could feel the alarm in her voice.
"No ... Well, maybe ... I was able to get the counter spell out before it completely ensnared me. Only my leg is caught." He tugged at it again, as if explaining his situation would somehow change it.
He waited to see if she had any ideas. When she did not respond, he continued. "I hate these hexagram spells. They just lay there until some fool like me steps on them and then, snap, you're caught. I can't believe I succumbed to a hexagram spell twice in the same day."
He sensed Chihon's laughter even without her words. "What's so funny?" Lorit was frustrated and getting angry. More at himself than her, but he wasn't in any mood for hu
mor.
"Your hands are free?"
"Yes, my hands are free," he snapped.
"You have your staff with you?" Lorit could feel her smirking through their shared link.
"Yes, I have my staff with me," he spat back at her. What was she thinking? He hefted his staff to emphasize the point, when it dawned on him. He looked down.
The diagram on the floor was outlined in silver. Crimson light intertwined with the sliver. The light chased around the diagram throwing off tiny sparks as it shot from vertex to vertex. The light reached up off the floor almost to his knee, wrapping him in a deep violet glow.
He took his staff and carefully slid the point next to the diagram. He infused the staff with as much magic as he could raise. When he was ready, he dragged the end of the staff across one of the lines in the diagram.
A shower of sparks flew up from it as the staff broke through the line. The violet and amber lights raced back and forth as if trying to find a new path through the diagram. Each time they hit the break, they bounced back around the perimeter only to try again and fail with no way to traverse the gap he had just made.
Lorit scratched again, obscuring more and more of the diagram. The lights sputtered and died, unable to find a path to complete their circuit. He felt the grip on his leg relax and in no time at all he was free.
Lorit could still hear Chihon giggling. "Your leg wasn't stuck in it," he complained.
"At least you figured it out. Is Zhimosom there?"
"I don't know yet. I still have to check the rest of the house."
"Watch where you put your feet." Chihon was still laughing when Lorit cut the connection and silenced her.
He searched the house, carefully extending his magical senses out before him. He located and defused several more traps before he finally found the study where Zhimosom was being held.
The old Wizard stood frozen in a pool of shimmering light that changed in color and intensity as Lorit watched it. The diagram on the floor was complex, much more complex than the one that had trapped him at the threshold.
Wizard's Education (Book 2) Page 22
