Watcher shrugged, but Mapper moved to the young girl’s side and nodded.
“I’ve read many accounts about Tharus and his incredible powers,” Mapper said. “The books say he was powerful, wise, and kind.”
The ancient wizard laughed. “One of those three are true.”
“You must have done something incredible to be given the gift of eternal life,” Watcher said.
“Gift … ha!” Mirthrandos scowled. “It was a punishment.”
“A punishment?” Watcher didn’t understand.
The old woman nodded her head, her gray hair glowing a soft orange as the dusk sun spread its crimson light across the landscape. “Yes, I did something that was unthinkable to the great wizards.”
“What did you do?” Planter asked.
Mira sighed. “I showed mercy to a monster.” She glanced over her shoulder at the other NPCs. “All of you have learned to show mercy to a monster, even when you know what they are.” She pointed at Er-Lan with a crooked, wrinkled finger. “You know what he is, yet you allow him to be with your company, in peace.”
“I don’t know what you mean by what he is, but Er-Lan is part of our family,” Watcher said.
“Back in my day, that was an unforgivable thing to do.” Mirthrandos reached out and put an arm around Watcher’s glowing shoulders. “I showed mercy to a young wither who wanted no part in the violence spreading across the land. When Tharus learned what I had done, he punished me by making me the caretaker of Wizard City and the guardian of the Weapons Vault.”
“Punishment, I don’t understand.” Watcher stared into the old woman’s bright green eyes. “You can never die … how is that a punishment?”
“It is the cruelest and most severe of punishments. Tharus knew exactly what he was doing to me when he cast that spell.” An expression of rage spread across Mira’s wrinkled face. “He was cruelest of the wizards, though history paints him as a hero.”
“I don’t understand, Mirthrandos,” Watcher said. “Not being able to die seems like a good thing.”
“I’ve been alive for three hundred and seventy-eight years.”
“Three hundred and seventy-eight?!” Watcher and Planter said in unison, both shocked.
“Time ticks at a different rate in this world,” the ancient wizard said. “Do you know how many husbands and children and grandchildren I’ve had?”
“Well, I’d guess—”
“I’ve had to watch every one of them grow old as time ravaged their bodies. I’ve had to stand there, helpless as they died in my arms, and have grieved for them when their bodies finally disappeared from the surface of Minecraft.” Her eyes glowed bright with anger. “I’ve collected every bit of XP from each one when they passed so that I’d have something of theirs that would survive with me through eternity.”
“That’s terrible,” Watcher said.
“It’s so sad,” Planter sniffled as a tear leaked from an eye. “That’s why you know right where the Weapons Vault is located, right? You’re its caretaker.”
Mira nodded, her gray hair bobbing up and down.
“I’m sorry.” Planter placed a hand on the wizard’s shoulder, but she brushed her hand away.
“I don’t need your pity,” Mirthrandos snapped. “I’ve lived longer than all you kids put together. I don’t need anything from any of you. All I want to do is get you these portal keys so you can get out of my life and leave me in peace.”
“But what about the war?” Watcher asked. “Krael has been encouraging monsters to attack villagers all across this land. He has rekindled the Great War.”
She stared at him with a blank expression on her wrinkled face.
“And now that the withers have escaped the Cave of Slumber and are free, they’ll try to destroy everything,” Planter said. “We need your help to stop them.”
The wizard laughed. “My part in the Great War is over, Tharus saw to that. I see two wizards before me and others behind you who can help if you know where to look. This is your war now. My place is in my underwater home, staring at the squid and fish until time itself finally stops. That’s what I have to look forward to; everything else is just a distraction.”
An uneasy silence spread across the company as the woman’s words, with their vile contempt at just being alive, etched their way into their souls. Watcher knew everyone felt sorry for her, but that was no reason just to give up. He glanced at her; Mirthrandos’ eyes already focused on him, boring into his head as if she could read his mind.
Watcher was about to speak when the sounds of arrows zipping through the air filtered through the forest. Instantly, Watcher reached for the Flail of Regrets as Planter drew her red shield emblazoned with three wither heads across the red center, the rest of their companions grabbing their weapons.
“Well, look what we have here!” Mirthrandos knelt before Watcher and stared at the Flail, a huge smile on her face, then laughed. “It’s like seeing old friends again. Hello Balltheron, how are you doing in there?”
She smiled, then turned to Planter. The ancient wizard leaned forward as if speaking to her shield. “Good to see you again, Sotaria.” She laughed. “Is the tiny grain piece of you in there able to communicate, or did they divide you too many times?”
“What are you talking about?” Watcher asked.
“I knew your friends there before they sent their minds into those weapons,” Mirthrandos said. She stared down at the Flail. “You’ve never looked better, Baltheron.”
“You mean there really is a wizard in there?” Blaster asked.
The old woman nodded.
“Huh … I thought he was just crazy when he was talking to that thing.” Blaster smiled.
Watcher frowned. “I heard arrows. There must be skeletons nearby.”
“Come … follow me.” Mirthrandos moved around a clump of bushes, allowing them to see the terrain ahead.
Before them stood a huge valley, with steep mountains on either side, the range extending out to the left and right, impossible to pass. The setting sun cast a crimson hue across the landscape, causing long shadows to stretch out across the ground as if they were reaching toward the intrepid companions. Within the valley, tall columns of dispensers stood at least six high, standing all throughout the terrain, their faces pointing in every direction. Each dispenser spat out arrows, sending a constant storm of pointed shafts all across the landscape.
“Welcome to the Valley of Arrows,” Mirthrandos said. “This is the great secret of Tharos. Here lies the hidden Wizard City and within, the Weapons Vault.”
“You mean we have to go … through the valley to get to the Vault?” Mapper asked, his voice cracking with fear.
The ancient wizard laughed. “We don’t go through the Valley of Arrows to get to Wizard City.” She shook her head in disbelief. “The great Wizard City is in the Valley.”
“But I don’t see anything other than arrows,” Blaster said.
Watcher glanced around. There were a few hills of stone and gravel here and there leading to the Valley of Arrows, but no other features visible.
“Just follow me.” Mirthrandos walked toward the edge of the Valley of Arrows, then stepped into it, heedless of the pointed shafts flashing through the air. And in an instant, she was gone … disappearing from sight.
“What happened?” Watcher asked.
But before anyone could respond, a harsh laugh filled the air. Tiny square goosebumps formed on Watcher’s arms as the cackle filled the air.
“Krael,” Blaster hissed. Watcher nodded.
Slowly, the king of the withers, wearing three Crowns of Skulls, slowly rose up from behind a line of trees, his army of dark monsters at his back.
“So I see we meet again, boy,” the wither king screeched.
The other withers slowly spread out across the treetops, each positioning themselves for a clear line of fire. The villagers slowly backed up, terrified expressions on their square faces. Only Watcher and Planter held their ground.
Watcher and Planter took a step backward, then another, both getting ready to turn and run, but then Krael’s eyes grew bright with rage. The other withers, seeing this, also prepared their own flaming skulls, their eyes growing bright as well.
“Withers … FIRE!”
And hundreds of flaming skulls descended upon Watcher and Planter.
COMING SOON:
THE WITHERS AWAKEN: WITHER WAR BOOK TWO
The Wither King Page 21
