Delver Magic Book I: Sanctum's Breach

by Jeff Ianniello

  The question hung in the air even as Consprite waited with triumphant glee. He drank in their surprise, especially that of the elder elf.

  "What do you know of Sanctum?" Mappel asked, no longer hiding his contempt for the man.

  "I know a great many things you probably wish I didn't." He paused to pull an item from his pocket. He held it aloft for all to see the weather beaten cover of a book in which dust had actually become imbedded. To Matthew and Stephen, the book was immediately recognizable. "It was hard to obtain a copy of a Book of Godson. Not many people have one. Luckily the library archived a copy. I doubt it has been looked at in years."

  At first Consprite smiled at the reactions of Matthew and Stephen. He reveled in his victory until he placed an icy stare upon the elder elf. "This book has revealed a great many things to me. I believe I know what you are after. It's this Sphere of Ingar, isn't it? It would explain a great many things to me. I imagine you're going to Sanctum Mountain to try and stop the magic which you believe is now free. Let me ask you this, does it still contain poison for the elves?"

  "It will contain poison for all," Mappel snarled.

  "I don't know about that, but it does contain great power. I want to know what you intend to do with it. What are your plans when you reach Sanctum?"

  "That does not concern you."

  "It does, if I don't let you leave."

  "Again I demand to know by what right you hold us." Matthew growled, his cheeks turning red with anger.

  Consprite nearly laughed at the reaction. "Do you think with all that is going on I have to answer such a question? You talk as if there's someone I have to answer to. That simply isn't the case. No one would fault me for throwing all of you in prison, especially if they found out who and what you are. The people of this town will be very upset to know that monsters were hiding in that church of yours. What do you think they will do when their courage grows? I bet they'll consider burning that church right down to the ground. If I'm not around to keep order, it will surely happen. Now, I can be persuaded to keep a guard over your church, and allow you to pass, but it will take much more of your cooperation."

  "More likely you mean that if we don't do as you say, you'll see that it's done," Matthew roared with anger. "I am not so blinded by my faith that I can't see a threat. If there is any burning to be done, I'm sure you'll be at the heart of it."

  Consprite snickered, then acted to appear hurt, as if wounded by the barb. "You do me injustice. I have been on your side all along. It is the townspeople that will take the action. Mobs are an angry and unmanageable lot."

  "What of the spies?"

  The mayor looked about to find the source of the question. His eyes narrowed upon Lauren, her face a mixture of uncertainty as well as challenge.

  "Do I know you?" the mayor wondered aloud.

  Lauren hesitated only for a moment before her voice boomed with new found confidence. "I doubt it, but I know you, more now than ever, probably more than you would ever believe. I live in this town. I know that the people would not simply burn anything without prodding from the likes of you."

  She stepped toward him. Her eyes locked upon him, bore through his outward shell. Any hint of her trepidation evaporated as she saw into the caverns of his conniving, greedy soul. "I also know of the spies you placed around the church to watch us. I read you as easily as a tavern sign." Indeed, Lauren's eyes glowed with new found power and they uncovered the mayor's deepest thoughts and intentions. "The escorts, the spies, even your intentions now. I see them all. Tell them what you really want, mayor. End this charade. You want the sphere for yourself. You want to unravel its secrets and learn to tap into its power. You have a twisted soul, Consprite. You would kill us all, even these guards that now serve you if it meant truly grasping this power."

  "Nonsense,”

  Lauren cut him off before he could continue. Her words fiery hot, the power which was now hers to command coursing through her spirit. "Save your lie. I hear it ringing in your head before you say the words. You were going to say you only want to help, that you would accompany us to Sanctum with some of your men at our side. You would leave men here and at the church to keep peace."

  The mayor's eyes widened with surprise. "Who are you?" he asked again. "How did you know what I was going to say?"

  "Does it matter, because I also know you lie. You will use the guards to take the sphere when the time is right."

  At first, Consprite did not reply. He merely sat uncomfortably upon his horse, considering his options. Finally, he spoke with cold expression and bitter words. "Be that as it may, you have little choice. If you wish to proceed to Sanctum Mountain, you must allow me to accompany you. Otherwise I will not let you leave."

  Neither Mappel nor Matthew reacted first, nor did Lauren. Before they could say a single word in response, a reply came from an unexpected source within their very midst. It came in the form of the smallest action, without a word of bravado.

  Very placidly, very deliberately, the cliff behemoth took a step. His calm blue eyes gazed off down the road to the west. He spoke not a word. With a gentle hand, he placed a hand upon an algor's shoulder and made it clear he wished to pass. He took another step and his direction was now clear, he would leave Connel whether Consprite allowed it or not. In truth, he moved as if the guards and Consprite were no longer there. Every eye was now on him. Even Holli allowed a glance over her shoulder to catch a glimpse of the giant's movements. None followed as all remained in place, yet Dzeb moved forward as if nothing mattered.

  "What's that thing doing?" Consprite demanded, but a hint of fear broke through his words.

  Mappel did not answer. No one did. They simply watched as Dzeb strode up to the horse backed riders that blocked the western pass of the road. The horses reared back and the surprised, cautious guards allowed them to do so. With silent, peaceful grace, as if walking through an empty park at sunrise, Dzeb stepped past the circle of riders. Nothing now stood between him and the ramp which passed over the ancient wall.

  Consprite shook the confusion from his thoughts. Anger swelled in him as he watched the cliff behemoth walk past his guards as if they did not exist.

  "Stop him!" he ordered.

  Nearly every guard waited motionless for another to take up the task. Finally, one bowman at the edge of the road decided to act. He fired a single arrow at the back right shoulder of the giant. It sliced through the air with perfect precision and met its mark with pinpoint accuracy, though the result was most unanticipated by the bowman.

  The steel tip of the arrow, razor sharp, failed to penetrate Dzeb's body. A small fleck of his hide skipped away from his back, but that was the extent of his injury. The arrow fared much worse. The steel-tipped arrowhead flattened as the shaft shattered. Small splinters of wood rained everywhere as Dzeb stopped moving.

  He turned with patience, back towards the circle of men. His eyes betrayed the sorrow in his heart as he stood gazing at the guard with the empty bow still in his hand. For that man, all eternity passed in a single heartbeat.

  With his eyes growing sadder by the moment, Dzeb reversed his direction and stepped more forcibly towards the bowman. The other men clustered about this marked guard guided their horses back and away. The bowman stood alone and too frightened to direct his horse toward an escape.

  Dzeb mouthed a word loud and clear. Its meaning was lost on all that watched, except for the horses. At once they calmed, and not one animal let loose even a single whinny. Even the horse upon which the bowman sat, waited patiently for Dzeb as he stepped ever closer. If the bowman kicked the horse with all his might, it would not move the mare an inch.

  Dzeb reached out. His mammoth hand extended slowly outward. First, it found the snout of the horse. He patted it gently. The mare closed its eyes as if calmed to sleep. The gray hand of the behemoth, with powerful fingers extended, moved onward and reached out toward the guard. Dzeb closed his palm around the bow and lifted it deliberately from the guard's grip. H
e held the weapon over empty ground as he tightened his fist. The center of the bow crumbled, the taught sting went limp, the remnants dropped to the ground as harmless as dust.

  Consprite watched first the giant, but then the faces of all those around him. He saw the panic rise in his men and smiles of satisfaction appear upon Mappel and his followers. Anger swelled within him, and he growled though gritted teeth. "Use your swords you fools! Stop him!"

  Those men that found the strength to overcome their fear drew their weapons, but their horses would not move as they directed. They shouted and kicked, but the animals remained in place, as if the horses were nothing more than stone statues.

  In that moment of utter chaos, it was the algors that acted, and as was customary, they moved in unison. Ten slings appeared with ten rounded stones in place. The swinging bands cut the air and the stones fired simultaneously. Ten separate targets were selected, and ten guards fell to the ground.

  Ryson, Holli, and Lief moved with almost the same precision. With delver agility, Ryson leapt upon the closest rider. He knocked the guard from his perch on the saddle and sent him sprawling to the ground. He leapt off that horse and on to a second, again sending the rider flying. He dismounted four riders with ease, two remained unconscious upon the ground, and the other two ran swiftly to safety. The horses remained in place as if nothing had happened.

  Lief drew his sword. As guards tried to move their horses, he slapped them hard on the wrists with the blunt edge. Their swords or bows dropped harmlessly to the ground as he disarmed three before a fourth was prepared to duel with him from an unmoving horse. While the guard had the advantage of height from the saddle, he could not maneuver. Lief quickly moved in from behind and with a sword point at the man's neck, forced submission.

  Holli took her bow from her shoulder but at first left the arrows in their quiver. She grasped one end of the bow with both hands as she heaved it back. With great force she swung at the nearest rider. The thick wooden bow struck the guard's chest. He flew backwards out of the saddle and landed upon the ground dazed, if not seriously hurt. Again, the horse remained unmoving. It showed no sign of distress as Holli jumped on its back.

  Firmly in the saddle, Holli finally drew an arrow. She readied it in the bow string and pulled back with steady force. She kept her grip on the string as she called for Consprite's attention.

  "Tell your men to disarm, now!" The arrow pointed unmistakably at the mayor's throat. "It will be a painful way to die," she urged.

  Consprite's face turned gray, then white. The female elf's resolve was not a matter of question. Had he hesitated, she would have let the arrow fly.

  "Do as she said!" he yelled, but the words blurted from his mouth in more of a yelp.

  "Now have them dismount!" Holli's hands remained steady upon her bow, the string remained taught.

  "Do it!" he instructed, and those that remained in their saddles dropped to the ground.

  "You too," she gave her last command.

  The mayor struggled to move as quickly as possible. He cursed, his face glowed red once more with both fear and embarrassment. At first, he could not decide how to remove himself from the perch of the saddle. He looked to his left, then his right. He pulled up his right leg, shook his head in alarm over falling, and changed to his left. Finally, he struggled and fumbled his way out of the saddle. His right foot would not clear the stirrup and he ended up on his backside. He cursed again, and went to lift himself out of the dirt covered road.

  "I think you should stay there," Holli advised. She lowered the tension on the bow string, but the arrow remained in place.

  Consprite bit back an angry retort, and remained on the seat of his pants. His horse stood placidly by him. It made no movements as Mappel stepped up to grab its reigns.

  Mappel considered the horse before him, just as he swerved his head about to consider the many other animals within his grasp. An idea of their service leaped into his mind.

  "Dare I say, that again providence has intervened," he spoke gently, but all could hear him. "Is it luck or a turn of fate that we now have the means to reach Sanctum before nightfall?"

  Holli joined in immediately. "The horses would give us a great advantage. We would not have to make a single camp. We could stay on the roads along the farms and bypass the human towns between Connel and the mountain." Her mind calculated the entire journey which lay before them. She posed a question to herself as well as the entire group. "But what of the thickening forest? The horses will slow us when we reach Dark Spruce."

  Mappel shook his head serenely. "They might slow us, if you simply refer to the elves and perhaps the delver. You must now, however, think with greater scope. The horses will help those that can not walk within the trees, such as Matthew here, and Stephen, and our good friends the algors and dwarves."

  "I considered that from the start," Holli corrected him quickly but politely. "I wonder more about when the trees thicken and block most passages. What about paths in the forest that prove too narrow for the horses?"

  "We could head northwest," Ryson called out the suggestion. "We could pass through the edges of Dark Spruce and then cut south to approach Sanctum. We would lose a little time in the beginning by not heading due west, but we would make it up and more as we close in. Besides, if the path is too narrow for a horse, then I doubt it would be wide enough for Dzeb."

  Holli seized upon the last statement, still unsure if taking the horses would give them a true advantage. "That is another point. What horse here can carry the cliff behemoth without collapsing after a minutes ride? Would it truly help us to leave a trail of exhausted animals?"

  "There's a cart at the front of that building," Lief asserted as he pointed to the warehouse. "If we hitch two of the horses to the cart, they could carry Dzeb with ease."

  Holli nodded in agreement. "That would solve most problems, though we would have to leave the cart at the base of Sanctum. Dzeb would have to climb on foot."

  "I expect all of us will at that point," Ryson acknowledged. "After a full day’s ride with little rest, none of these horses will be in any condition to take a slope as steep as Sanctum's. The important thing is that we will reach the mountain before night falls."

  Dzeb interrupted the discussion with a point seemingly overlooked by the elves. "If you are talking about taking these horses, I would have to decline for other reasons." His voice was melodic, but no less firm. "These horses do not belong to us. No matter what these men have done, it would not be right for us to take them. The cart also does not belong to us."

  "I'm sure this man won't object to giving us his horses, would you?" Holli's tone did not hide the edge of a threat. Her hand still held the bow as the tip of the arrow again bore down upon Consprite's throat.

  Dzeb maintained his serene yet unshakable tone. "I can not accept that, either. I can understand what we have done here to this point, for in truth we have done no harm. To threaten and steal is another matter. I can not, will not, be a part of that."

  Lief could not hold his tongue. "You would risk the land for the sake of these men that were willing to slaughter us all?! Fire upon you and your Book of Godson! There are times we must do what we have to in order to survive. Taking these horses would be no different than you crushing that guard’s bow."

  "I already regret that action," Dzeb replied with more than a twinge of sadness. "It was, however, necessary."

  "As taking the horses is necessary!"

  "We have other choices," the cliff behemoth reminded the elf with no hostility in his voice.

  "Fire upon you and your other choices."

  "Wait a minute, what if we pay for the horses?" Ryson quickly asked while walking up to the cliff behemoth. "What if we pay for the cart as well? We would simply be acquiring what we need for the trip by totally acceptable methods. Would that be alright with you?"

  Dzeb did not protest. "It is stealing I am against."

  "Very well, then." Ryson turned and trotted toward Consprite
. He first looked about him to ensure the count of the party. "I will need twenty-one of these horses."

  "They're not for sale," Consprite snarled.

  Ryson was not shaken for a moment. "Oh but they are. You see I had a bargain with the town council, of which you belong. I'm sure you remember. I was to scout out towns to check the damage of the quake. I was paid only half when I started out. I was to be paid the other half when I returned. Well, here I am, and I want my payment."

  "The town council no longer exists," Consprite replied with irritation flooding his voice.

  "But you are here and acting as mayor. That makes you responsible. Do you have my money?"

  The mayor said nothing.

  "I didn't think so. Therefore you have broken your end of the bargain, but I am willing to make a deal. I will take twenty-one of these horses now. In return, I will forget your debt as well as return to you the entire portion of the initial payment." Ryson flipped a bag of gold coins in to the lap of the mayor. "That bag contains more than I was given when I took on your job, I expect you to give the difference to the owner of that cart. More than fair."

  The delver turned and looked toward Dzeb. "The horses are rightfully ours, do you agree?"

  Dzeb nodded and gave a warm smile. "It is the will of Godson."

  Chapter 24

  Lief and Ryson hitched the warehouse cart to two of the stronger horses. Upon completion, Ryson guided the cliff behemoth to the cart's front where he could hold the reigns. The axles creaked and groaned under the giant's weight, but they would hold.