Valihorn resumed his story, “Yes, as I said, everyone in our village tried to go on with life as normal, until strange creatures began attacking our town. The first creature to attack was a flying lizard that did not have any eyes and seemed to fly about using its shrieking voice to guide its way. We thought maybe the first creature was a coincidence until a demon showed up at my Master’s tower asking about the ring. After my Master dealt with the demon, he told me that I had to leave our town while there was still a town to leave. He said he could not do anything about the ring, but that there was rumor of a great Sorcerers Academy in Kentar. He thought if anyone could remove the ring, it would be this Academy. My Master hired these two men” – he pointed at Xander and Nero – “to see me safely to the Sorcerers Academy. Evisar and his brother Mestel insisted on coming with me, refusing to leave my side.”
Rafa said, “And that is the entire story. That is why you came to the Academy, and that is how the ring came to be on your finger?”
“Yes, my lord.”
Murmurs rose up out of the silence as the wizards whispered among themselves. Valihorn looked around the room and heard bits and pieces of a few conversations. When he looked back at the center table he noticed Rafa staring at him with deep concentration. Time drew out and the acting High Wizard continued to stare. The scrutiny quickly became uncomfortable.
Rafa finally smacked his stone gavel on the table and brought the meeting back to order. “Valihorn, you come to us with a ring of immense power. You tell an interesting and believable tale, but some details about your story do not add up. I find it odd that you found a Krone tomb on the outskirts of Goldguard.”
Valihorn immediately went on the defensive. “Why is that in question? It is rumored that the Krone and the elves of old were mortal enemies. It is well known that the outer edge of the Old Elf Empire extended as far as Goldguard.”
Rafa smiled an all-knowing smile and continued. “All of that is true; however, no trace of the Krone has ever been found anywhere near Goldguard. Furthermore, it has come to my attention that the Kentarian city of Locus has come under attack by a skeleton army led by an undead lich. I am told that at the city gate the lich was heard to say, ‘Give me the ring and I will spare your city.’ The attack continues even now. With so much of our army engaged in the east, we may not have enough force to repel this agent of evil. Kentar’s third largest city may fall to the armies of the undead. But that is not the point.”
“Then what is the point?” Valihorn replied sharply.
“I find it more than a coincidence that the lich attack so closely matches your description of the other creatures that came out of the portal searching for the ring. Furthermore, the lich asked for the ring by name.”
Valihorn said, “What is your point, acting High Wizard?”
Rafa ignored the jab. “The point, my young wizard, is why would the lich be asking for the ring up north at Locus if you approached Jewlian from Goldguard in the south.”
Rafa had Valihorn on the defensive. “How should I know what the lich is thinking? Perhaps he could not track the exact location of the ring. Perhaps his army is stationed in the north, thus necessitating a southern march.”
Rafa continued, “Also, your accent is not from Sena, that much I know for certain. You speak the common tongue too formally, almost as though you were born several hundred years ago.”
This time it was Evisar who stepped forward. “How would you know what a Sena accent sounds like. Kentar and Sena have been bitter enemies for centuries.”
Rafa looked at Evisar with contempt. “Your opinion is worthless in this chamber, swordsmen. You are dead inside and will remain silent. Only wizards have the authority to speak here.”
“I don’t recognize your authority to tell me my worth.”
Rafa raised his voice. “You will remain silent! One more unsolicited outburst from you and I will have you thrown in prison! Do I make myself clear?”
Valihorn saw that Evisar was seething. He walked over to the large warrior before Evisar condemned himself. He stepped between Evisar and Rafa and gently turned Evisar away. Then he walked back to where he originally stood and looked at Rafa.
The acting High Wizard continued, “And finally. During my spell to determine the ring’s power, it was difficult to see anything beside the ring, but I did notice all of your companions have low-level magic surrounding them. At first, I assumed a seasoned group of adventurers like yourselves would carry magic items on your person, and that was what I was seeing. But that is not correct, is it?” Rafa spoke loudly for all to hear. “This group is not who they appear.”
Before Valihorn could say anything, Rafa spoke three arcane words. The words reverberated off the walls as the magic took hold of Valihorn. He looked to his left and saw that his friends were also affected. Valihorn fought the power of the spell, but it was no use. All of the companions were transformed back to their natural selves as elves with blond hair and pointy ears.”
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Nero looked down at his body and watched it transform back into his natural elven form. Loud gasps rose up from every Sorcerer in the room. Many of the wizards seated at the three tables rose to their feet and assumed a defensive stance. Nero heard statements like: “The enemy … They do still exist … Cannot be trusted.”
Rafa and Bristol calmly remained seated. Rafa waited patiently until the tension reached a cutting edge. “There you have it, my fellow Sorcerers. The enemy brought us this ring in the hopes that it would weaken and divide us. Locus is under attack by an undead army even as we speak. If we take this ring and keep it safe at the Academy, how long will it be until Jewlian comes under attack by something worse than the undead. I say our only option is to take the ring from Valihorn and kill them all, as is our right during times of war.”
Evisar stepped forward and yelled, “That is not true! We came in peace, seeking only your help.”
Rafa said, “Silence, elf.” The word came out like a curse. “I warned you to remain silent. You are dead inside and you are an enemy of the state. Step back and keep your place, or I will have my guards kill you here and now.”
Evisar drew Neverlost and took a defensive stance. “Let them come forward and try.”
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Mestel had finally had enough. With a speed that made him blur to mortal eyes, he pulled out his bow, nocked an arrow, and pulled it back to his ear. The arrow was aimed directly at Rafa’s heart.
“No one move! No one casts another spell, or this Rafa character will be dead before he hits the floor.” He looked directly at Rafa as he spoke. “You may think you have fooled everyone here, but you don’t fool me. I see you for what you really are, wizard.” He let the accusation hang in the air before he said, “You betray your own kind while accusing us of treachery! Let me ask, have you betrayed anyone today?”
Rafa chuckled and said, “What in the seven hells are you talking about, elf?”
Mestel didn’t move a muscle as he kept the arrow locked on Rafa. “I have a gift, wizard. I can see people for who they really are. On the outside you are the acting High Wizard for the Sorcerers, and you play the part well, but on the inside, you betray your people and your King on a daily basis. I ask you again, have you betrayed anyone today?”
Rafa rose to his feet despite the mortal danger he was in. He pointed a finger at Mestel. “How dare you insult my honor this way.”
Mestel said, “I can’t insult what someone does not have.”
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Nero had to put an end to this standoff before Rafa got himself and all of the companions killed. It wouldn’t do to have the Guildmaster learn that two members of the Inner Circle died because they were stupid and essentially killed each other. Now that Rafa had turned them back into elves, Nero only had one choice. He took two steps to his right and came out from behind Mestel.
Rafa was well-trained in the arts
of deception, but even he could not contain his surprise. The reaction was small, but noticeable to anyone who knew what to look for. Rafa locked eyes with Nero and nodded ever so slightly, letting Nero know he had been recognized.
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Rafa nodded his head ever so slightly; Mestel knew something had happened, but he didn’t know what. Rafa looked at Mestel and raised his hands in a non-threatening gesture. “We appear to be at an impasse, archer. You can kill me, but I guarantee you will never make it out of this room alive.”
Mestel nodded his head and said, “That would seem to be the case, wizard.”
“Then I suggest a compromise.”
“I’m listening.”
“Now that we all know who you really are, how about if Valihorn tells the real story of how he came by the ring, without the lies. I promise to strike the ring from his hand, keep it safe, and escort your group out of Kentar. Then you promise to never return.”
Mestel kept the arrow pointed at Rafa’s heart. “On the surface that sounds good, but I can’t agree to your terms.”
Rafa cocked his head to the side, perplexed. “You would prefer that we both die instead.”
“No, I would prefer not to trust a word that comes out of your mouth.” Mestel turned to Bristol, while keeping the arrow locked on Rafa, and said, “Bristol, you took advantage of our confidence, but you were acting under orders. I know you are an honorable man. As third in command of this Academy, do you swear that what Rafa just said will come to pass if I lower my weapon?”
Bristol nodded his head and said, “If Valihorn tells us where the ring really came from, then I swear we will strike it from his hand, keep it safe, and escort you out of Kentar.”
“Very well.” Mestel lowered his bow but kept the arrow nocked. He moved back a few steps and resumed his place, all the while keeping an eye on Rafa.
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Valihorn watched as Mestel receded into the background. He did not understand Mestel’s immediate distrust of the acting High Wizard, but Mestel was not exactly known for his rational thought these days. Perhaps there was something to what he was saying – perhaps not. There was no way to know. He was, however, very grateful to Mestel for saving their lives. Rafa had been very close to ordering their deaths, but Mestel managed to find a truce through force of arms. Now Valihorn just had to fulfill his part of the bargain.
He took a step forward, raised his head toward the table of honor, and continued his story. “Everything I told you before was essentially true. Except for the fact that all of us were there, and it was a tunnel beneath a fortress rather than a mine. Oh, and we were not in Sena.”
A wizard sitting at the table to the left sounded annoyed. “Perhaps you should start over at the beginning.”
Valihorn nodded his head curtly. “Very well. I am from the town of Wessex, where I live with Ellen and Faye. I am the wizard Austen’s apprentice. I was sent by Austen to the town of Dowden in search of his other apprentice, Jenolith. I was unable to find Jenolith, but I did run into these three elves. I came to find out later that Jenolith had been kidnapped by the Talon Thieves Guild and taken into the Underworld. These three elves were on their way to Wessex to look for the First Heir of Armena, and since I did not want to travel alone, I walked with them to Wessex.”
Bristol cut him off at that point. “Whoa, whoa. Slow down, son. Where is Wessex and who is the First Heir?”
Before Valihorn could answer, Rafa cut him off and asked, “You say you came from Wessex and that Austen is your Master?”
Valihorn replied honestly. “Yes, that is right.”
Rafa immediately raised his right hand and snapped his fingers. Two Knights of the Order standing guard over the chamber turned around curtly and exited through a side door.
Rafa said, “Please continue.”
Valihorn went on to describe how Austen hired the companions to fight off the hill giants that were attacking Wessex. He went on to explain how he and Tristan went to the dragon’s lair while the rest of the companions prepared the town for the final confrontation. He told the story of how he was taken captive by thugs hired by the Talon Guild and taken back to the Old Shetley Fortress. He went on, and on, and on. The Administrators asked him many questions, but mostly they left him alone to tell his story. At first, he felt nervous continually being the center of attention, but that feeling went away as the story progressed. Valihorn did not know how much detail was appropriate. He tried to stick to the parts of the story that were pertinent to the ring. Unfortunately, one part of the story led to another part, which led to another part, and before he knew it he had been in front of the Administrators for half the afternoon. The wizards were particularly interested in their race to Locus in search of the Krone who had kidnapped Faye and their fight against the vampires at the Basilica of Fortuna.
Rafa asked, “So you are telling us that this Krone was so interested in the girl’s magic potential that they dispatched one of their own to transport her all the way to Locus to be used as a pawn by the Talon Thieves Guild?”
Valihorn answered, “That is correct, my lord.”
Rafa looked at Bristol, and the decision was made. Rafa said, “Would the girl and her mother step forward please?”
Ellen looked uncertainly at Mestel and then at Valihorn, who both nodded, indicating it was alright. Ellen stepped forward holding Faye’s hand.
Rafa prodded gently. “What is your name, little one?”
Faye waited a long time before tentatively saying, “Faye.”
“Faye, would it be alright if I cast a spell on you to see how strong of a wizard you could become? It will not hurt in any way. You will not even feel it.”
“I guess so.”
Rafa cast the spell and was visibly taken aback by what he saw. “This girl has the strongest magic potential I have ever seen.” Rafa looked at Ellen and said, “Your daughter has received a great gift from the gods.”
“Thank you.”
Rafa looked around the room at the rest of the Administrators before continuing. “I think we may have a great opportunity to help one another.”
Ellen looked distrustful. She hesitated. “What opportunity are you speaking of?”
Knowing he was not trusted by the companions, but not wanting to lose the greatest magic potential on all of Tellus, Rafa turned to Bristol and nodded at him to conclude the discussion and make the offer.
Bristol turned to Ellen and said, “What Rafa is trying to say is that Faye could be the greatest wizard of her time, if she were properly trained. Regardless of whether she is trained or not, the potential for greatness is there, in her blood. Others may hunt for her, or try to kidnap her, just as the Krone did. We can offer Faye a safe home here. No one has dared attack the Sorcerers Academy for over two centuries. This is where she belongs. This is where she can reach her full potential.
Mestel said, “So what is it you are proposing?”
Bristol continued. “Ellen and Faye should stay at the Academy. The four of you are elves, and will have to be escorted out of Kentar, but Ellen and Faye could find a new home here. Ellen can find work in Jewlian or at the Academy, while Faye will learn how to become a wizard. More than that, she will receive the best all-around education on Tellus. We teach astronomy, mathematics, reading, writing, and many other exciting subjects. She will know contentment and have a life of significance.”
Bristol paused to let his words sink in before continuing. “That is what we propose, Ellen. Your daughter will be well cared for, and you will be here at her side. Isn’t this what every mother wants for her child? We do not need you to commit to anything right away. If you feel this is not the best environment for Faye, then you can depart for Wessex. What do you think of our offer?”
Ellen looked at Faye, and then at Mestel. She turned to Bristol and said, “It is a lot to take in. We just saved my daughter from the Krone and the Talon Thieves Guild. I didn’t even find ou
t about Faye’s gift until recently. Can we have some time to think about it?”
Bristol smiled genuinely. “Certainly. How about if we set you up in a guest room and you can stay for a few days? We will give you a tour of the Academy and answer all of your questions. We will show you the classrooms, the dining hall, introduce you to other students, and you can see how they live.”
Ellen looked at Mestel, who nodded his approval in return. Ellen smiled and said, “That sounds good. We accept your offer to stay for a few days.”
“Excellent.” Bristol snapped his fingers. “Two of our finest Knights, as well as Professor Wilbert will show you to some guest quarters while we conclude our business with your friends.”
Everyone watched in relative silence as Ellen said good night to Mestel and went with the three escorts. Once the five of them left the Grand Hall, the Administrators talked among themselves for some time before turned their attention to the companions once again.
Now that Ellen and Faye were safely out of earshot, Rafa brought the meeting back to order and continued the interrogation, not caring whether he came off as friendly or not. “I salute you for bringing us such a promising young pupil, but there is still the matter of the cursed ring on Valihorn’s finger. Valihorn, were there any other beings from the Plane of Chaos that you met on your way to Jewlian.”
“Yes, we had one more encounter that I have not told you about.” Valihorn went through the ordeal with the genie they met on the road and how he had transported them to Jewlian.
Bristol said, “So, it was the genie’s teleportation spell that allowed you to bypass the city walls and appear near the Academy.”
Valihorn said, “Yes, that is correct. Only, the spell was supposed to place us at the gate to the Academy, not some ally a few blocks away.”
Bristol said, “Actually, the spell worked perfectly. There are protective barriers preventing teleportation in or out of the Academy. The spell placed you as close to the Academy entrance as it could, which was a few blocks away.”
Do the Gods Give Us Hope? Page 32
