Alrion heard the doors locking behind him.
"They mean business," Lara said.
"They sure do, I just hope it's good for us," Alrion said, his doubt growing. The hall was empty save for the men collected on the stage. Alrion walked through the echoing empty hall with as much courage as he could gather, but he felt like each step was a giant space mocking his approach. Such a huge and old structure seemed to impose itself unfairly upon him.
The Speaker was standing at the lectern. As Alrion approached he spoke up.
"Alrion, the student of Falric, stop right there and await your judgement!" the Speaker said. Alrion stopped, confusion and fear foremost in his thoughts. He waited for the Speaker to continue.
"We have deliberated over your case, your history, and your actions before us. We must say that we are concerned by your brash behaviour and the ignorance you have shown in your plea," he said before pausing. Alrion didn't like where this was heading.
"We have balanced that against the great need you have explained to us, and the passing of the great wizard Falric. Would that he was here today, we would feel a lot more comfortable," the Speaker said, again pausing.
"They're not comfortable, do you think this means they're considering it?" Alrion whispered to Lara.
"Sounds like it to me, but you never know with these types," she said.
"As we are just the initial gatekeepers, we have decided to allow your request. Your merit will be judged by others more worthy. Approach, so that you may be admitted," the Speaker said. Alrion took a moment to process what was said.
"Go, don't let them second-guess themselves," Lara hissed at him. Alrion stepped forward and continued walking towards the stage. It sounded like they had grudgingly agreed to his request, but there was another barrier to get past. Whatever the circumstances it didn't matter, it was progress. Alrion ascended the stairs onto the stage and approached the Speaker.
"These are strange times Alrion, and we must act in kind. At the rear of the stage is a doorway, which will lead you to a secret passage. That passage will take you to the Ancient Gates. There you will be tested, by the wisest and strongest among us. If they consider you worthy, they will grant you access."
"Thank you, for your help. Is this the only way to access the Pool?"
"Yes, there is no other way. Therefore, this other wizard you mentioned has not come, or we would know about it. We will prevent him if he is as you have described."
"Be careful, he is incredibly powerful. What test awaits me further in?"
"We cannot comment on that. It is for you to discover."
"Can I have my spellbook back?"
"Yes, but not until you return. You may take nothing with you, save the clothes on your back. And she must wait here," the Speaker said, pointing at Lara.
"No problem, I can't help you in there anyway. Take care Alrion," Lara said. She gave him a reassuring smile, and he couldn't help smiling back.
"I guess I should go then. Who knows how much time I have," Alrion said. He nodded at the Speaker, then turned to walk across the stage. The group of scholars stood and stepped to the side, the path between their chairs leading to a darkened area behind the stage. Alrion walked through as confidently as possible, trying not to think of all the eyes watching and scrutinising his every step. As he passed them, he could see more detail in the distance. It was a simple wooden door, reinforced with steel bars and a steel handle. He reached out and grabbed the handle, pulling the door open.
A cold breeze reached him, and he could feel moisture in the air. Ahead was a dark tunnel, hewn out of the rock. There were lit torches at intervals along the tunnel.
"Here I go," Alrion said. He stepped inside and let the door close behind him. The sound of the door closing had finality to it. As if the way back was now sealed. He could only go forward. Alrion walked down the hallway, wondering what test awaited him. It sounded like there were some special elders that he needed to confront next.
"As if the scholars I just dealt with weren't enough of a pain," he thought. However, if any of the stories Caleb had told him was true, then it made sense. All the knowledge in the world would be a huge gift for any person, as well as an incredible responsibility. One that needs guarding and using sparingly. Alrion didn't feel worthy, but he knew that he had to continue anyway. The secret behind his grandfather's spell would be here, and the knowledge needed to make it work for good. Maybe even Alrion could teach others instead, maybe he would just be a conduit for that knowledge but he wouldn't know what lay ahead until he completed this task.
He progressed down the path and started to see what was at the end. It widened out into a larger room, cut out of the rock. Torches circled the room and highlighted a giant circular stone door. On either side of the door were two stone thrones, roughly cut with sharp angles on a raised platform. But the thrones were empty. A set of stone steps led up to the platform.
"There's nobody here," Alrion thought as he stepped into the room. He had expected somebody to confront him, and the presence of the two thrones suggested it would be two people but there was no sign of a living soul. He noticed carvings on the door, so Alrion decided to go closer and investigate.
"One way or another, I need to get this door open," he thought but he had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. Something was not right. The door was not supposed to be abandoned. Especially since they knew he was coming.
"Just focus on the task," Alrion whispered. He ascended the stone steps carefully, focusing on reaching the top. As he climbed the last stair, he walked over to the thrones and looked at them. One had three wavy lines carved into the right armrest. The other had a star carved into the left armrest.
"I wonder what they are for?" he thought. The thrones were otherwise unmarked. He stepped forward and looked at the big circular door. There were pictures carved into it that depicted people, and books and a pool.
"It must be related to the story of this place. Or part of a riddle," Alrion thought. He noticed some writing carved into the base of the door and bent down to examine it.
The provider of all things gives access to those who are worthy.
"This is a riddle," Alrion said quietly. He examined the pictures up close, trying to discern their meaning. He pressed carefully over different shapes and symbols on the door, to see if anything happened. The stone door remained silent and unresponsive.
"I don't think there's a secret handle, it must be something else," Alrion thought. At the very centre of the door, he saw that the stone looked slightly different. He ran his hand over it and noticed something. The surface and colour of the stone changed slightly when he touched it. However, within a second, it had reverted back.
"This section responds to touch, that has to be significant," Alrion said as he stepped back and regarded the whole door. No other areas looked the same.
"This area responds to touch, it must be the place for my answer. But what is the answer and how do I represent it?" Alrion wondered. He decided to tackle the riddle first.
It referenced a test of worth, and the prize at the other end was access to the Pool of Knowledge. By Alrion's reckoning, it had to be a test of knowledge or application of knowledge. A student who was worthy would be granted access to more knowledge. He decided to look again at the pictures on the door.
The first depicted a man lying in a house with the sunlight streaming in. The second showed him working and planting crops. The third depicted him returning home with the sun setting and stars visible. The stars made him think of the carving in the throne, so he went back and had another look at it.
"Stars provide light at night and so does the sun during the day," Alrion said aloud. He looked at the other throne.
"I don't know what these wavy lines mean, they could be the sun's rays but maybe that is already covered? What else could it be?" Alrion said as he walked back to the stone door and examined the pictures once more.
"The man is growing crops under the sun, the heat from th
e sun helping them to grow. Maybe that's it?" Alrion said. He tried drawing the wavy lines with his hand on the stone centre. Nothing happened.
He thought the riddle over some more. It had to be something else. The constant in all the images were the man and the sun.
"Well if you think about it, the sun seems to be giving him something in every picture. In the first, it wakes him up. In the second, it helps him to grow food. And in the last one it helps him return home to rest, the stars taking over," Alrion thought, pointing at the sun in each picture. That was the common element and tied in with the riddle.
"Worth a try," Alrion said and reached out. He placed his hand onto the centre of the door and traced a circle shape. He heard a clank and stepped back. The massive circular door moved forward, then started to roll to the right exposing another corridor behind but before Alrion could see what lay beyond, he was assaulted by a strange smell.
"What is that?" he wondered. He stepped forward and looked around. Something was there on the ground, but he couldn't quite make it out. He focused and drew forth his Spark, igniting a small flame above his upturned palm. With the additional light, he could see what it was. Two bodies.
"These must be the guardians," Alrion thought. They were wearing dark blue robes and looked quite old. After examining them, he could see what the cause of death was. Thick stone rods pierced them. Alrion stumbled back as the realisation dawned upon him.
"The black wizard must have done this. He used a lot of earth magic against Falric. That means he's already here and has been for a while," Alrion said. He wasn't prepared for this, even though he thought he was. The Pool of Knowledge was there beyond the darkness, but lurking there was probably also the black wizard. The one who had killed Falric. Alrion turned back, considering a retreat. It was tantalising and seductive but it didn't solve his problem, and he ran the risk that the Pool would be destroyed. He didn't take that wizard for the sharing type.
"You can do this," Alrion told himself as he carefully stepped around the dead bodies. However, as much as he tried, he didn't really believe it. Not yet.
27
The Spark Ignites
Alrion walked steadily down the pitch-black tunnel, his tiny flame only lighting the area in front of him. His mind played tricks on him, projecting dread shapes from the blackness. However, he forged on, determined to reach his goal. The sound of his steps was small and insignificant as they echoed around the tunnel. He could smell something else as he got further and further from the slain gatekeepers. He couldn't quite place it, but it was like damp.
"I'm looking for a pool, that would make sense," he thought, happy to have something other than the menacing dark to focus on. He started to see something in the distance and tried to make it out as he walked.
It was a light blue glow coming from up ahead. An unnatural glow that suggested it was magical. Feeling bolder, Alrion upped the pace. Perhaps there was a chance he could access the Pool safely. The tunnel narrowed, then started widening rapidly. He was about to reach his destination.
The tunnel ended in another cavernous room. In the centre of the room, he saw what looked like a naturally created stone formation. The blue glow was from the liquid within. It seemed to swirl around slowly, without any reason for it but another detail grabbed Alrion's complete attention.
A man stood in front of the Pool, with his head bowed and his back to Alrion.
"So, you're here at last," the man said. Alrion stopped. He knew it was the black wizard, and that things would finally come to a head. There was no avoiding it. So many thoughts ran through his head. What should he say?
"You were waiting for me?" Alrion said.
"Yes. I knew that you would show yourself eventually. And I wanted to thank you."
"Thank me? For what?"
"If it wasn't for you, I would never have known that this place existed," the wizard said. Alrion was confused. How had he aided this man?
"Reveal yourself then," Alrion said. He could see the wizard thinking it over.
"I suppose it is only fair, for you to see who killed your mentor and will be killing you next," the wizard said. He pushed back the black hood and showed his face.
"Branthor!" Alrion called out in disbelief. It didn't make sense. Falric's right-hand man, and most trusted wizard. It did explain how the black wizard had been tracking them and knew their destination.
"Why? How could you do this?"
"There are many reasons, but it comes down to the fact that I am sick of being treated like a second-class citizen. Just because I am not of your bloodline."
"What do you mean?"
"This here, this Pool is a revelation. The knowledge of the world, and in particular the knowledge of Granthion. All of it is available to me now. I can set things right, do what must be done."
"I don't understand. Why is this so important to you?"
"Your grandfather performed the cleansing ritual twenty years ago. Nobody knew it was even possible; he kept that nugget to himself. He didn't share any of his knowledge. But his process was imperfect," Branthor said. He stepped forward and showed his forearm.
"See this mark?"
"What of it?" Alrion said, noticing the curved black line.
"Those who are tainted by the Blight are all marked."
"You're tainted?"
"Yes, and no. I was in fact. But your grandfather's spell cleansed me or so it would seem. I can use my Spark without fear of corruption and my mind is my own. But, it's not that simple," Branthor said. He started walking towards Alrion, very slowly.
"My connection to the Blight remains. I can feel the others and if I concentrate, I can communicate with them. I am straddling worlds, the light, and the dark. I cannot lose myself to the darkness, but I cannot escape it. I am cursed because of the spell used by your grandfather!" Branthor said. His voice was rising in anger and intensity.
"What do you intend to do? Aside from killing everyone in your way?"
"I'm going to take the knowledge from here, and I'm going to create a new breed of man. Tied to but free from the Blight. And we will rule this world like no other has before."
"That's crazy. You want to make others like yourself?"
"Of course. The Blight has strength to it. The kinship and shared communication creates a powerful force. United in purpose. Foot soldiers, commanders, and specialists all working in perfect unity. We can take this curse and turn it to our advantage. Until now, I had no hope. I could not unlock the secrets of the Blight, of how to alter or reverse the process. But now, I have all I need."
"Why kill me then?"
"Because I won't let the knowledge leave this place. Once you are dealt with, I will destroy the Pool and kill all who have access. The secrets that were once denied to me will be denied to all but those I choose. It's time for me to be in the inner circle, not left to suffer in ignorance."
"This isn't the only way, we can work together to cure you."
"It is far too late for that. I will not waste the knowledge here on such a petty plan. No, I will do far more. I will place my stamp on the world!" Branthor said. He waved his hand and a wall of stone rose behind Alrion, blocking the tunnel behind him. Blocking his only way out.
"As my way of saying thanks, I will let you die in honour. Fight me, and perish in battle," Branthor said.
"You killed Falric. You killed or injured countless others. You would kill me and start up your crazy quest for revenge on my family and the world. I will not let that happen!" Alrion said. His anger, and hurt and loss fanned the flames of his Spark. He could feel the heat rising through him. Building and gathering. He poured more of himself into it, feeding the flames, adding fuel to the fire. Then something happened. His Spark blew up, surging, and building with a life of its own. As if it were feeding and sustaining itself.
"Impressive, you have managed to ignite your Spark. But it won't be enough little wizard," Branthor said. He raised a spear of earth from the ground and flung it at Alrion.
Alrion acted on instinct, throwing up a force spell to deflect the spear. Even with all his strength behind it, he only just managed to move it far enough so that it thudded right next to him.
"Nice start, but you can't keep this up," Branthor said. He started raising chunks of earth from the ground, moulding them into giant stones. Alrion realised there was no escape, he had to fight back.
He combined the fire and push spells, sending out a rolling wave of fire at Branthor. It twirled and writhed as it flew, as if it had a life of its own. Branthor countered by dropping some of the stones down and forming them into a quick wall to shield himself.
"At least he can be hurt, he's defending himself," Alrion thought. He had no idea how to fight a wizard, so that was reassuring that Branthor deemed his attacks dangerous enough to defend against but it's all he had. While Branthor was distracted, Alrion picked up the stone spear next to him and readied it. He ran a few steps to the side and aimed it around Branthor's wall. As he threw it, he put all his power into a force spell behind it. The column of stone flew through the air, spiralling as it went. Branthor noticed it, closed his eyes, and held out a hand. The stone spear slowed, then disintegrated.
"Earth is my strong suit. You can't hurt me with it," Branthor said chuckling.
"If you're so good with it, why did you attack us with fire back in the Whispering Forest?" Alrion said. He hoped to keep Branthor busy and buy himself some time.
"Hah that was just fun and games. The fire did its job of confusing Falric, and I didn't intend to kill you then. I just wanted to keep you running. Worked perfectly," Branthor said. He changed his stance and put his hand on the ground. A wave of rock rose up from the ground, undulating towards Alrion. He ran to the side as fast as he could, trying to get away. The rock wave was so fast and wide that he wasn't going to make it so Alrion closed his eyes and tried to push himself aside with magic. It didn't work well, but he got enough of a result to narrowly escape.
Pool of Knowledge (The Hidden Wizard Book 1) Page 19
