Jack closed his eyes tightly for a moment. “Thank you, Alexander. That’s wonderful news. I’ll sleep much better tonight.”
“Lord Reishi,” Jataan asked. “Of whom do you speak?”
“My wife and sister were abducted by the wyvern riders that guard the Reishi Isle,” Alexander said. “We feared the worst, but I’ve just seen that they’re alive.”
“Forgive my inquisitiveness, Lord Reishi, but the more I know the better I can protect you,” Jataan said. “Is your wife the one in the light green dress who stood with you on the balcony in New Ruatha when you tried to kill me?”
“That’s her,” Alexander said with a smile. “Actually, it was her idea to take a shot at you. The Guild Mage tried to talk her out of it, but she wouldn’t hear it.”
“Then the blond woman who tried to kill me on the glass bridge with her very fast bow is your sister,” Jataan said.
Alexander chuckled. “That’s Abigail. The bow was a gift from Mage Gamaliel. She’s good with a normal bow but with that thing, she’s dangerous.”
Jataan’s face grew grave and serious. “If you say that you can see them at such distances, then I believe you. But if they are at the fortress island, then their safety is in question. The Reishi Coven controls that island and commands the Sky Knights. They were established by Malachi Reishi’s wife shortly after the Reishi War to prevent Prince Phane from retrieving the Sovereign Stone. They blame the Reishi for the devastation wrought by the war and seek to prevent it from ever happening again. I have had dealings with them in the past. They are formidable and very dedicated to their duty as they see it. I believe they will attempt to offer your wife and sister in exchange for the Sovereign Stone.”
Alexander felt the anxiety flood back into him. “What would they want with the Stone?” Alexander asked. “They can’t use it.”
“They don’t want to use it,” Jataan said. “They want to make sure that no one else, especially Prince Phane, ever uses it again. They fear the power it represents and believe that the world would be safer if that power was destroyed.”
Alexander shook his head as he remembered a lesson from his childhood. His father said that power is like a hammer. It can be used to beat someone’s brains out or it can be used to build a house. The hammer didn’t know or care. What really mattered was the intent of the person holding the hammer.
“Will they harm Isabel or Abigail if I refuse?” Alexander asked.
“That’s hard to say,” Jataan said. “They are ruled by three witches of great power who never make any decision of consequence without the consent of at least two. They may or may not be open to reason. I would recommend a contingency plan.”
“Did you have something in mind?” Alexander asked.
“Once we arrive at the capital city of Ithilian, I will call my agents together to swear allegiance to you. I can assess their capability at that time. If they have the necessary talents, I will put together an assault team and send them to retrieve the Lady and Princess Reishi.”
Alexander nodded. He wanted to do much the same thing but he had a few other concerns that were more pressing. He felt a pang of guilt at considering anything more important than Isabel and Abigail but quickly reminded himself to be driven by emotion but ruled by reason. As long as they were alive and safe, they were of less urgency than the death and destruction that was about to engulf both Ruatha and Fellenden. He needed to find a way to protect his people from the ambition of two different tyrants.
“Put together your strike force but don’t send them without my order,” Alexander said. “I would prefer to win the Reishi Coven over to our side than face yet another enemy. We have enough to worry about as it is.”
“As you wish, Lord Reishi,” Jataan said.
“I’m going to be unavailable for a while,” Alexander said. “We’ll be leaving early tomorrow, so I suggest everyone get some sleep.”
“Where are you going, My Love?” Chloe asked.
Alexander tapped the Stone resting against his chest. “In here. I have some questions and I’m hoping the Reishi Council can answer them. I won’t be long.”
He touched the Stone and concentrated. It took only a few moments and he was standing in the darkness surrounding the council table. The previous six Reishi sovereigns were all there as if they had never left.
Balthazar stood and smiled at Alexander. “I see that you are still alive and well. How can we help you?”
Alexander sat down and gave the sovereigns a report. “One day has passed. I’ve closed the Gates and traveled to Ithilian to seek an alliance. A large part of Phane’s army on Karth has moved through the Gate into Ruatha and an army from Zuhl has moved into Fellenden. There are a number of important issues that I wanted to discuss with you before I decide what to do next.
“First, my wife and sister were abducted by soldiers riding wyverns. These soldiers call themselves Sky Knights and are commanded by an organization called the Reishi Coven. They are holding Isabel and Abigail against their will on the southernmost fortress island that sits off the coast of the Reishi Isle.
“Second, Malachi created a device called the Nether Gate. As I understand it, this device opens a portal to the netherworld much like the Reishi Gates open a portal between two places in the Seven Isles. The shades are loose in the world and I believe they are trying to find and open this Nether Gate.”
Five of the six previous Sovereigns looked stunned. Malachi looked smug. Balthazar broke the long silence that followed.
“How could you be so irresponsible, Malachi?”
Malachi was defiant. “The Seven Isles rebelled against me,” he spat. “I had no choice. I needed an army to keep my power.”
Demetrius shook his head sadly. “I failed you, my son,” he whispered. “And through you I have failed the world.”
Darius, the Fourth Sovereign shook his head. “You’re wrong, Son. Malachi failed us all. You ruled with wisdom and fealty to the Old law. We can only bear the burden of responsibility for our own choices.”
“I’m sure the issue of your wife and sister are more worrisome to you, Alexander, but I believe the issue of this Nether Gate is more urgent,” Demetrius said. “I suggest you command Malachi to reveal all he knows about this device.”
Alexander turned to a defiant-looking Malachi with a glare. “Tell me all you know about the Nether Gate.”
Anger filled Malachi’s countenance. “I created it in a secret, underground fortress in the northwest mountains of the Reishi Isle. It has three keystones that must be used together to activate it. Once the portal is open, the one who activated it can call forth any creature from the netherworld. Everything that passes into this world is bound to serve the one who activated the Gate.”
“Where are the keystones and what do they look like?” Alexander asked.
“Each is a black stone pyramid three inches on a side,” Malachi said through clenched teeth. “Each stone must be physically placed into the Gate itself by the same person in order to open it. Once open, it will remain open until one of the stones is removed. As long as the one who activated the Gate is alive, the portal will only allow creatures that he calls forth to pass. But if the one who activated it dies, then any creature that finds the portal within the netherworld can pass through it without restraint or control. As for where the keystones are,” he shrugged indifferently, “how should I know? I’ve been trapped in the aether for two thousand years. They could be anywhere by now.”
Alexander looked at Malachi like he was trying to figure out how to kill someone who was already dead.
The other sovereigns sat staring at Malachi with looks of shock and horror.
“Where were the keystones when you died?” Alexander asked as calmly as he could.
“Two were hidden in the Reishi Keep, the third was secured in a secret chamber inside the fortress where the Gate itself was located,” Malachi said.
“So all three are probably still on the Reishi Isle,” Alexander said.
Mala
chi shrugged defiantly. “Could be.”
“How do I destroy the Gate?” Alexander asked.
“How should I know,” Malachi said. “I never tried to destroy it.”
Alexander turned to Balthazar. “Will the Thinblade be able to cut it?”
“Possibly, but I doubt it,” Balthazar said. “I designed the Reishi Gates so that the Island Kings would not be able to use the Thinblades to destroy them. If this Nether Gate is made with a similar process, then I suspect it will be impervious to the Thinblade.”
“I believe the better approach to this problem would be to find one of the keystones and place it beyond the reach of the shades,” Demetrius said.
“I agree,” Balthazar said. “When last we spoke, you mentioned a Bloodvault keyed to your line. Perhaps that would be the safest place for the keystones once you locate them.”
Alexander nodded in thought, then asked, “What can you tell me about the shades?”
“They have no physical form in this world but are capable of possessing those of weak moral character, people bearing a burden of guilt or those in despair,” Demetrius said. “They are cunning and intelligent, not to be underestimated. Once a shade is in possession of a person, it is very difficult to drive it out while the host remains alive. They delight in causing harm and will go to great lengths to remain in the world of time and substance.”
“How can I destroy them?” Alexander asked.
Malachi laughed with a tinge of insanity. “You can’t.”
“They can be confined within a magic circle like any other creature from the netherworld,” Demetrius said. “They can be banished back to the darkness by one of sufficient strength and talent, although attempting to do so can be very dangerous because it leaves the one casting the banishing spell open to possession. Another theoretical possibility would be to open a rift to the netherworld in close proximity to the shade. Since they do not belong here, their presence creates an imbalance. That imbalance would cause them to be drawn into the rift . . . theoretically. However, I know of no attempt to open a rift to the netherworld actually succeeding.”
“It may also be possible to create a vessel to trap and contain them,” Balthazar said. “An enchanter of sufficient power and imagination may be able to accomplish such a feat. I believe I would have been able to create such an item during my later years.”
Alexander thought for a long moment. He needed to talk to Mage Gamaliel. If anyone alive could create a vessel to imprison a shade, it was the Guild Mage. He also needed to find the keystones or at least one of them. He had no idea how he was going to go about doing that. Maybe his clairvoyance would help him, but for some reason he doubted it. He decided he had enough information about the Nether Gate for now.
“What can you tell me about the fortress islands?”
Dominic Reishi, the Second Sovereign sat forward. “I created them to provide an airborne defense against naval attack. Each is an artificial island called up out of the ocean floor by magic. They are shielded against scrying or clairvoyance and are designed to withstand a siege. Each has the capability to be completely self-sufficient for several years. They are also virtually immune to magical assault. They were designed to house a flight of five hundred wyverns along with their riders and handlers. They do have a weakness that you can exploit, however. Within a hidden and shielded chamber located deep under the Reishi Keep is a map room of the Seven Isles. From this map room, the one bound to the Stone may destroy any of the fortress islands on command. I built this feature in as a failsafe in the event of treachery.”
Alexander smiled. “That might become useful. Is there a secret way into the fortress islands?”
Dominic shook his head. “I’m afraid not. I considered the idea but for purposes of security, I decided against it. The only way in is by air or by sea.”
Alexander grinned a bit as he turned to Malachi. “I thought you might like to know that the Reishi Coven was founded by Aliyeh Reishi, your wife, for the purpose of preventing Phane from getting his hands on the Sovereign Stone.”
Malachi turned red with anger and started to speak, but Alexander stopped him with a raised hand. He sat fuming while several of the other sovereigns chuckled.
“I always like Aliyeh,” Demetrius said. “She had a good heart and took her duty seriously.”
Alexander turned back to Balthazar. “I just have one more question for the time being.” He paused for a moment as the magnitude of his question weighed on him. “What is the secret of Wizard’s Dust?”
Balthazar took a deep breath and let it out. “That is the question at the heart of it all, isn’t it? I will tell you if you wish, but I encourage you to wait until you are ready to make use of it. You do not have the necessary talent or power to create Wizard’s Dust, so knowing the secret may prove to be a liability without providing any benefit.”
“What talent is required?” Alexander asked.
“Alchemy,” Balthazar said. “An alchemist mage or an arch mage of any talent is required to create Wizard’s Dust. The process is tedious and somewhat time-consuming. Unfortunately, simply understanding the process is not enough, you must also have the right magic to power the process.”
“Very well,” Alexander said. “Phane must not learn the secret or the world will fall. I don’t fully understand the scope of his power and he may have ways of drawing the knowledge out of my mind without my awareness or consent, so I see the wisdom of your advice.
“Nevertheless, I’d like to make plans for the future. My childhood tutor and lifelong friend of the family is a master alchemist. How can I help him rise to the level of mage?”
Balthazar smiled and nodded his approval. “I can provide you with a series of experiments and formulas for him to work through. Each will push him to expand his understanding and develop his connection to the firmament. He will need a well-equipped workshop in order to proceed and the processes are complex, so I doubt it would do any good to teach you at the moment. Just know that the secret is here when you’re ready and that I commend your wisdom in allowing it to remain a secret for now.”
Four sovereigns nodded their agreement while Malachi shook his head in disbelief and contempt.
Alexander stood. “Thank you for your counsel.” He turned and strode into the darkness. When he opened his eyes, everyone else save Jataan and Chloe was asleep. The commander sat at the table watching him. Chloe flitted up to eye level when he opened his eyes.
She spoke in his mind. “You’re back, My Love. Did you find what you needed?”
He smiled at her and nodded. “I believe I did, at least for now,” he said to her without speaking.
“Jataan, you should get some rest,” Alexander said as he arranged his bedroll and lay down.
“Now that you are back and safe, I will,” Jataan said. “Lieutenant Wyatt reports that his quarters and meals are good. He will be ready to ride at dawn. I’ve taken the liberty of assigning a Ranger guard detail at the entrance of your tent for the night.”
“I doubt it’s necessary but I’ve come to value caution,” Alexander said as he closed his eyes.
Chloe curled up on his pillow a few inches from his face.
Chapter 7
When Alexander woke the next morning, Chloe was sitting cross-legged not six inches from his face watching him sleep. He smiled at her.
“Good morning, Little One,” he said to her without speaking.
“Good morning, My Love,” she replied. “There is much commotion in the camp.”
Alexander sat up and saw that Anatoly was asleep and breathing deeply, Lucky was just waking, Jack was already up and out of the tent, and both Jataan and Boaberous were outside as well.
Alexander rubbed the sleep from his eyes and pulled on his boots. Even though he’d slept well, he still felt tired. The past few days had offered little time for rest. When he strolled out of the tent into the early dawn, he saw his Rangers eating breakfast around a set of cook fires. Jack and Boaberous had joined
them, but Jataan was standing just outside the tent with his hands clasped lightly behind his back.
“Good morning, Lord Reishi. The Rangers tell me they have breakfast ready if you’re hungry.”
“Have you eaten?” Alexander asked.
“Not yet,” Jataan said.
Alexander nodded and started for the cook fires. Jataan followed him like a shadow. Breakfast was oatmeal with nuts and honey. Alexander ate quickly and had the Rangers make up two more bowls for Lucky and Anatoly. Jataan frowned slightly when he saw Alexander head back to the tent with breakfast for his friends, but he didn’t argue.
Lucky was checking Anatoly’s bandages and smiled appreciatively when he saw the steaming bowl of oatmeal.
“How’re you feeling?” Alexander asked Anatoly.
Anatoly glared at Jataan and then looked at Alexander. “My wound is mostly healed but I’m still a little stiff. Mostly, I’m confused. Why is he here?” Anatoly asked, looking hard at Jataan.
Alexander sat down on the side of his bed and handed him the other bowl of oatmeal. He held up the softly glowing Sovereign Stone and shrugged. “It turns out the Reishi line is descended from the Ruathan line. When I picked up the Stone, it bonded to me—and Jataan switched sides.”
“That’s a bit hard to swallow,” Anatoly said suspiciously. “Are you sure we can trust him?”
Alexander shrugged. “As sure as I can be. His colors tell me I can and he helped fight off the Andalians. He seems pretty intent on protecting me.”
Anatoly didn’t look convinced.
“I understand your reluctance to trust me, Master Grace, as well as your understandable animosity toward me,” Jataan said. “However, I assure you that I serve Lord Reishi and no other. I have offered him my life in recompense for the crimes I committed against his family and that offer stands. He may order my death at any time and I will end my own life on his command without protest.”
“Huh,” Anatoly said. “I suppose I’d rather have you on our side than trying to kill us. But it may take some time for me to warm up to the idea.”
Mindbender Page 6
