The Uzan Crystal

by Lisa S. Buchholz

  Chapter 44

  Entering the Castle

  After everyone had crossed the small clearing and slid down the hill to where the sewer drained out, they stopped to rest for a few seconds. The wolf told them that he only smelled food and dirty water coming out of the sewer, nothing else. Angelina sighed with relief and everyone looked at her. "Well it's bad enough that we have to crawl through a sewer drain, I was hoping it wasn't chamber pot waste that we'd be crawling through," she whispered. That brought about a few smiles from the men and Elise agreed. Kimber held her hand over her face because the rotted food smell was making her sick.

  Yarral and Pendrake, with the help of Sir Taz and Sir Matthew, wrenched the grating off of the opening. The wolf took the lead with Sir Matthew following. The girls were ushered in next, Elise first then Angelina. Kimber climbed inside the pack Sir Asen had and pulled the top shut. Her familiar was no longer around. He must have decided he wasn't getting his fur dirty by climbing in a sewer. The last person in was Pendrake and he and Yarral pulled the grate back in place the best they could.

  Angelina was gagging. It was horrible. The stench was unbelievable and they had to crawl through the muck on their hands and knees. Angelina noticed that Elise was holding on to the stone sides of the sewer as best as she could to keep her hands out of the muck. Angelina did the same and when she looked back at the others before the light was obscured, she saw they weren't the only ones. The muck was oozing through her leggings and she could feel the dampness. After they went on like this for a while, the sewer opened up into a larger tunnel where there was a ledge that ran along it that they could step up onto. Bishoff was nice enough to brush off what muck he could from the girls' leggings. They were grateful.

  Now that they were in the castle they didn't speak to each other. They didn't want to risk anyone hearing them. The wolf was to lead and Elise would follow to show everyone which way to go and give directions. They were near the dungeons and it was still dark. They each had clasped hands so they were together and no one would be separated. Lord Farley stayed to the back since he was holding his side with his one arm and could only use the other to hold onto Sir Asen. Their footfalls were hushed as they crept along. The wolf stopped abruptly and Elise almost fell over him. The rest of the group came to a halt. The wolf informed Elise that he could smell two man scents coming from up ahead. He wasn't able to see anyone from their current position so he would check out the situation and return. He padded silently ahead and disappeared from view. It was only a matter of minutes when he returned. They would have to pass the dungeon cells and there were two prisoners there and by the smell of them they had been there for some time. The prisoners would surely see them. Elise turned and whispered this information to Sir Taz. He released her hand and joined it with Angelina's. He then walked back along the line and got Pendrake, Yarral and Sir Matthew. They crept along the wall and vanished from sight. Elise and Angelina could hear hissed whispering. Angelina wondered if they were making a deal with the men. Sir Matthew appeared around the corner and motioned them all to move forward. As the rounded the bend there were oily torches burning and Sir Taz, Pendrake and Yarral were working on opening the locks on the cell doors. Pendrake had an incredible grin on his face and they noticed that the other men also seemed happy.

  The first lock came off and Yarral quietly opened the door. Elise almost squealed with delight and Angelina clamped her hand over her friend's mouth and told her to be quiet. Angelina released her and let her run over to the man that had come out of the cell and was being bear hugged by Pendrake. Elise pried Pendrake away and grabbed Merk in her own hug and planted her lips on his. The others in the group stood stunned for a few minutes before it sank in and they all went over and clasp hands and hugged. Elise stood there with tears in her eyes. Angelina was holding back her own tears. She was so happy that Merk was alive, and if he were alive that meant that Dax was also. The second door opened and Dax came out to handshakes and hugs. Both men seemed to be in one piece. Both had lost weight and looked as if they could do with a long hot bath.

  They quickly got back into focus and explained in hushed whispers where they were and what was happening. Merk and Dax had guessed that they were in Madina's castle but didn't know for sure. Sir Matthew provided weapons for the men. They said that they were weak but would do their best in battle if it came to that. Angelina was always amazed at how well Sir Matthew hid his weapons. To look at him you would never guess how many or what kind were hidden, ready at a moments notice.

  The group headed down the damp hall until they came upon a large wooden door. Beyond that was a staircase. Lord Ackbar tried the door and it swung open. Angelina briefly glanced in Sir Taz's direction and he gave her the same look that she was giving him. Things were going too smoothly. Where were the guards?

  They cautiously began to climb the winding stairs. As they got closer to the first floor, the sunlight was steaming down into the stairwell. They squinted to get their eyes adjusted to the brighter light. The wolf stopped them and headed up further to take a look at where they were and if anyone was close. He came back to report that they were heading to the main floor or what looked like the main floor. He said he didn't smell anything cooking which seemed odd because it was close to brunch and most servants would be preparing meals right about now. And he didn't smell anyone. Things weren't right.

  The group was tense and all had weapons ready. As they came to the top of the stairs, they found a lovely furnished sitting room. Light was streaming through the large glass windows. To their left was a hall and another set of steps. To their right was a dining area and probably the kitchen and another set of steps going up.

  They had been told by Airic that the sorceress had two rooms where she kept her magical items. One room was upstairs on the second floor. He said, if things hadn't changed, to take the second staircase, the staircase past the sitting room. It would be the second door on the left. They headed down the hall and up the stairs, expecting an attack at any moment. They knew they would have to act fast if and when they came face to face with Madina. If they didn't, she would have them all at her mercy.

  They rounded the corner and looked down an empty hall. Not a sound was made except for the shuffle of their boots and an occasional chink of chain mail, nothing loud enough to attract attention. Elise had moved back into the front of the line so she could try to sense any type of spell that may have been placed on the room; however, when they got to the second door on the left it was wide open. Elise looked around and tried to sense anything but didn't, she took the first step into the room and nothing. She breathed a sigh of relief. She had been holding her breath until that moment. Elise, Angelina, Lord Ackbar and Thaddious searched the large room. It was filled with shelves containing books, ointments, oils, dried powders, etc. It wasn't nice and neat like Leyash had her things. The counters looked as if they hadn't been wiped off for some time and the floor had crumpled papers tossed about. They opened every drawer and looked through everything and still no crystal. This meant that it would be in Madina's main tower.

  Angelina could feel the pit in her stomach ache. She was not looking forward to this. Her hands were cold and clammy and she had to keep switching her dagger from hand to hand and wipe the sweat off on her tunic. She had imagined the perfect scenario - that they would find the crystal and get out before Madina had a chance to figure out what happened, but no such luck. Unless Madina had gone somewhere, which Angelina doubted, things were not going to be easy.

  Elise and the others came back out into the hall. They weren't worried about putting anything back the way they found it.

  Angelina looked at Sir Matthew and he gave her an encouraging smile as if to say, "Don't worry, things will be fine."

  The wolf was getting agitated and told Elise that he smelt something but wasn't sure what it was. It didn't smell human and it didn't smell like any animal he had run into before. So he couldn't say for sure what it was.

  Instead of backt
racking and heading outside to climb the stairs to the tower, they headed down the hall toward another set of stairs. They stopped and cautiously peered down the hall that intersected with the one they were on. Nothing was in sight. They headed across the hall through one more room to where the steps were.

  Just as Angelina was about to put her foot on the first step something flashed and she caught it out of the corner of her eye. As she turned, a huge animal was launching itself through the air at her, its large mouth open, anticipating the bite. Its teeth gleamed in the light and saliva dripped from its mouth. Angelina had only enough time to draw in a breath when the wolf came sideways at the beast, taking it down. It was so close that she had felt its hot breath on her face before it was pulled away. She had half raised her dagger in defense. Sir Taz had grabbed onto the back of her tunic and yanked her backwards as well. Her exhale of breath was a scream. It almost seemed stupid to scream since the danger wasn't lurking in her face any longer. A brief thought crossed her mind that if Madina hadn't noticed they were there she probably knew now.

  Sir Taz pulled her up from the floor where she had fallen when she lost her balance from being pulled backwards. She noticed that blood dripped from his blade. He had run the beast through. She glanced around to see five more of the beasts being fended off. Sir Taz yelled for them to try to push the beasts back through the doors so they could close them to help hold off the beasts. The door to the left was still open and one of the beasts howled. The wolf immediately raced over to the door and pushed it shut with his body. He flashed a thought message to Elise to tell her that more beasts were coming.

  Elise yelled to the men and they doubled their efforts to beat the beasts back through the door. Two more beasts had been killed. They got the other three back into the hall and were able to shut the doors as more sardwolves arrived. Lord Farley, Yarral and Thaddious took watch on the door that the wolf had closed. They began to stack furniture in front of it. Sir Matthew, Lord Ackbar, Corbin, Dax and Sir Asen took watch on the two main doors. The sardwolves were slamming their bodies up against the doors to try to break through.

  At that moment they heard a distant laugh of a woman. "Well, I'm sure she knows we're here now," commented Sir Taz. "There's no use in trying to hide. Let's go and pray for the best." He took the lead, sprinting up the steps. The women, Merk, Pendrake, Kimber, Bishoff and Koren followed.

  They came to the top of the steps and stopped on the landing. There was only one door in front of them.

  Angelina laid her hand on Sir Taz's arm to stop him from opening the door. "It's my responsibility. I'll be the one." She opened the door and stepped into the room. Her companions came in behind her.

  Chapter 45

  Confrontation

  There standing behind a green and while marbled altar on the opposite side of the room was the sorceress. Angelina somehow imagined that Madina would be old and evil looking. But the woman before her was young and beautiful with long, black hair and bright green eyes, looking the same as she did when Angelina had found out Airic's secret.

  "So did you enjoy your journey," she sneered at them, breaking into Angelina's thoughts. "It's been a long one and I'm sure you're tired. Wouldn't you like to have some tea and be on your way?" She was smirking at them. She placed her hands on the altar and leaned forward, "You really didn't think that I would allow you to take possession of the Uzan crystal did you?" she laughed, contorting her lovely face into one filled with contempt. "But if you'd like to try, I'm sure I can oblige you." She pointed her finger at Angelina, "However, I do warn you that there isn't one among you that can challenge me and win."

  "Well, if you're so sure then why don't you call off your sardwolves and let us be on our way," Angelina stated coldly as she slowly walked across the room. "We certainly wouldn't want to take up any more of your time. I'm sure you have so many other things to attend to." Angelina advanced toward Madina at a calm casual pace as if one was talking to her best friend and wanted to get a little closer. She was hoping that Madina would keep her attention on her so her friends would have time to regroup and hopefully come up with a plan.

  Madina, however, was aware of where the rest of Angelina's companions were. "My, my, you wouldn't be trying to trick me by keeping my attention so your little underlings could try something, now would you?" she cooed. "I certainly wouldn't want to have to hurt anyone," Madina was enjoying herself. It had been a long time since she chatted with anyone, let alone an enemy that she would have to crush. She smiled, she was absolutely delighted. "Oh and to make things fair," she raised her right arm and recited something. A blue flash streaked from her fingertips, past Angelina and out the door from where they had just entered. They heard a yelp. "You shouldn't have a wolf helping you fight," she slyly smiled.

  Angelina was worried about Raffial but couldn't dwell on him at the moment. She decided to change tactics, maybe set Madina on edge. "It's a shame what you did to my husband," she told Madina hoping to strike a nerve. After all, Madina had wanted Airic for herself.

  "Your husband?" questioned Madina. "I'm not sure what you mean. I've been so busy doing so many things that you'll have to remind me of what I've done." Madina was gloating, toying with Angelina.

  "Certainly you remember him," Angelina explained sarcastically, "but then again, you would have remembered him as part of your family, as Salene's husband." She stopped a few feet away.

  Angelina thought she saw a flash of anger wash over Madina's face but she couldn't be sure.

  "Ah yes, such a pity," replied Madina, her taunting voice returning. "I am surprised that someone of such youth would have married a man of such years. You certainly didn't do if for money, being the wealthy princess you are. And I know it wouldn't have been for looks."

  As Angelina was talking to Madina, Merk, Pendrake and Elise were closing in, staying close to the left wall and Bishoff and Koren were closing in on the right. Sir Taz had come up and was now standing behind Angelina. Madina took notice of their movements but did nothing.

  "I guess you don't seem to understand. Airic and I married because we were in love with each other. Certainly you remember, mother," continued Angelina as she emphasized the last word.

  "Oh, please," laughed Madina, "do you actually expect me to believe that you're Salene come back from the dead?"

  "What do you think mother," Angelina was getting angry with Madina's flippant behavior, "that I would let you get away with what you did?"

  "Oh, shut up you stupid girl," snapped Madina. "Do you really think that I would believe that you're my daughter reborn?" She huffed her contempt, "You are so pathetic."

  "Pathetic!" responded Angelina as her anger increased. "I wasn't the one who killed my husband, murdered my daughter and then tried to take her husband." She took another step closer and pointed to herself for emphasis. "Do you actually think that after all the magic you control, after all the spells that you've worked, that I didn't learn anything from you?"

  Madina was becoming agitated. She had been enjoying toying with them until now. "I could crush you where you stand girl. I never allowed my daughter to learn anything. She died lifetimes ago and you stand here before me and expect me to believe that you are her, reincarnated? Ha!" she laughed. "Can you prove it, can you turn yourself into the likeness of her? Can you tell me something only she would have known?" She clicked her tongue in distaste, "Oh course you can't."

  "Oh, but I can," whispered Angelina in a threatening tone. "Do you remember when I was a young girl you used to sing to me at night. Let me see, how did the lyrics go. Something like . . . Black Bird, Blue Bird, Red Bird three, they are here to watch over me. Whenever I fear I call their name, all three come, together the same."

  Angelina noticed a flicker of doubt in Madina's eyes.

  "No!" she yelled in anger and denial. "You are not my daughter!"

  "Oh, but I am mother," replied Angelina in a mocking voice as she took yet another step closer. She could feel Sir Taz's presence close behind he
r. "Even the night when you murdered father, I was there. I was playing with your jewels in your room and heard you and father coming. I knew that you would be angry with me if you found me there, so I hid. I saw what you did to him."

  "Shut up!" Madina screamed outraged. "I've heard enough!" She was clearly unnerved by what Angelina was telling her. "It's not possible!" she stated venomously.

  "Oh yes it is. I'm living proof." With that Angelina darted the last few steps toward Madina and lunged herself over the altar, grabbing Madina by the front of her dress.

  That gave Elise the opportunity she was waiting for. As Madina used her magic to send Angelina and Sir Taz flying backwards, slamming into the floor, Elise sprinted around the side of the altar and tackled Madina to the floor. Madina turned on Elise and tossed her aside like a rag doll.

  Madina saw Bishoff and Koren coming at her and she waved with her hand and flung them both back against the far wall. She then sent Pendrake and Merk slamming into the far left wall. All of the men slumped to the floor, their breath knocked out of them. Merk was weak as it was and had been knocked unconscious by the blow.

  Elise regained her footing as did Madina and they began to struggle. Madina pushed Elise against the altar sending her to the floor and tipping the altar on top of Elise's leg.