“Why do I have this honor, lady of the forest?” Luke asks with a low bow to the goddess.
“I find it unacceptable that Gabriel and Zaria have shown themselves to you when you are one of my followers,” Uli declares, eyes becoming an icy blue. “I know it sounds petty, but I wish to remind you who is truly watching out for you. To that end, I want to say that you have served me well through your diligent training and your recent adventures. I am elated and surprised by the victories that you have had at such a young age.”
“Your words are too kind,” Luke humbly says. “I only hope that I can continue serving you.”
“Please, stop being so restrained and noble,” Uli requests. She waves her hand at Luke, sending a warm gust of wind at the half-elf. “It isn’t like you.”
“I’d rather not since you are the god who I serve,” Luke nervously states. He is surprised when Uli places a callused hand on the top of his head and it doesn’t pass through him.
“So, I’m not worthy of your true personality?” Uli inquires with a cruel grin on her face.
Luke panics when her grip tightens. “What? No! That isn’t what I meant.”
“Relax, Luke Callindor. I am here to discuss some things with you,” Uli says, sliding her hand to his chin and moving his head to the side.
“Why are you inspecting me? Hey!” Luke shouts. Uli’s hand passes into his chest and feels around his heart. He shivers at the warm, tickling sensation that is growing in his spine.
“Please, calm down while I finish what I’m doing or I will be forced to restrain you,” the goddess warns the shuddering half-elf. She takes her time feeling inside Luke’s aura, her hands emanating pulses of magic.
Luke suddenly tenses up from the intrusive feeling. “Why are you doing this to me?”
“You are destined to face a great evil like your friend in the tree. She has been known since birth, which is why her magic is strong enough to give her a fighting chance,” Uli explains. She twists at Luke’s aura, causing him to grit his teeth and cough in pain. “On the other hand, it is only recently that you learned of your destiny because you met that girl. This means that your chance of success and survival is pitifully low as evidenced by your current state. So, it has been decided by the Wild Order that you be granted a gift for your hard work and the acceptance of your destiny. To that end, I will grant you the powers of an elite forest tracker. These powers will be within you upon your resurrection.”
“What will I be able to do?” Luke excitedly asks.
“I truly do not know,” Uli replies with a shrug. “The powers will depend upon your past experiences.”
“That could be just about anything,” Luke groans in disappointment. “If I don’t know what powers I have then I can’t use them. Maybe you could give me a clue.”
“My power allows me to awaken these abilities. I do not choose what you are capable of,” the goddess says. She removes her hands from his aura and wipes them on a cloth that is dangling from her belt. “That would be more than I am allowed by the law of influence. All I can tell you is that they are only the first step on your path.”
“Great. I receive gifts, but I get no hints as to what they are. This isn’t fair,” Luke complains under his breath.
Uli glares at him, which plunges the entire forest into silence. “Do you believe that it was easy for your friend to master her magic? She studied and worked hard for what she has. I suggest that you stop whining like a child and do the same.”
“Nyx had a teacher and casting spells is slightly easier to figure out than mysterious powers. I can already name about fifty things that I might be able to do, but I can’t think of a safe way to test for these powers,” Luke argues, pointing a finger in the irritated goddess’s face. “Do you expect me to fly by jumping off a cliff or seeing if I can withstand fire by jamming my hand into a forge? Trial and error is not how I want to learn this.” He suddenly realizes what he is doing and quickly puts his arm behind his back.
“Then, let me make a deal with you,” Uli kindly offers him, her eyes turning a vivid, energetic purple. “Kalam has a throne that once belonged to a god who was sealed for giving the artifact to a vampire. Our agents had disposed of the vampire, but the creature had hidden the throne from our sight. The throne remained in the shadows until Kalam unearthed it a century ago. It is now his most prized possession and a cornerstone to his power.”
“What can the throne do?” Luke asks, listening carefully.
“This throne provides a vampire with magical blood instead of forcing it to hunt and exposing itself to danger,” Uli answers, her pleasant voice becoming grave and strong. “It may sound like a beneficial magical item, but a vampire who doesn’t hunt is nothing more than an explosion ready to happen. The vampire’s bloodlust builds up causing the monster to become a berserker. Kalam has reached this point twice since he gained the throne. Each time, he has wiped a village off the map. To make matters worse, he has transformed the throne into his focus minion. This means that physical destruction of the throne is not enough. The aura of the throne must be destroyed and only a spirit, like you, can do that. If you destroy this throne then I will send a trainer to help you discover your powers.”
“Couldn’t my grandfather help me?” Luke suggests.
“No. Your grandfather would make assumptions,” Uli says, stopping Luke’s argument with a dreadful stare. “You need a teacher who does not already know you. This person will learn about you and use that information to test for your powers. Be thankful that I offer you this much help. I would rather use my stronger followers for important missions. I have shown far too much favor on your family as it is.”
“I thank you for your help, Lady Uli. I swear that I will destroy the throne and forever be at your service,” the half-elf claims with another bow.
Uli smiles briefly and holds Luke’s face between her hands. He stares into her enchanting eyes only to see his reflection staring back at him. Luke feels hot lips touch his before an eruption of severe pain rushes through his mind. His vision blurs and a piercing scream echoes in his ears. Instinctually, the half-elf closes his eyes and tries to pull away from the goddess. Uli holds him tightly by his face until she finishes the kiss and pushes him away. The goddess begins to walk toward the stag when Luke manages to open his eyes and his ears stop ringing.
“Your powers are waiting for you. I trust that you will do me proud,” Uli proudly declares, slowly fading from view.
The stag pounds its hoof against the ground as Uli grabs its antlers and flips onto the glowing beast’s back. The goddess and her stag vanish completely when a strong wind crashes through the trees and knocks Luke to the ground. By the time he gets to his feet there are no signs of the goddess or her servant. For the next few hours, Luke patiently imagines what powers he will have upon his resurrection.
“I hope I can turn invisible. I’m having fun with that so far,” Luke whispers with a grin.
*****
An ear-jolting chirp shocks Nyx out of her slumber and she clutches the tree, waiting for her pulse to return to normal. The half-elf watches her limbs return to their original, lightly tanned color before she drops herself onto a lower branch. A violent shake of her hair sends a handful of dead leaves and a terrified cricket to the ground. Nyx is in the middle of a cleansing yawn when she leans back. A surprised yelp bursts from her mouth as she tumbles off the branch and bounces from branch to branch. Nyx manages to stop her descent twelve feet from the ground.
“Can’t believe I lost my spell because of a stupid cricket,” Nyx growls, letting go of the branch and dropping to the ground.
“I told you that she’d be right down,” Luke says from the other side of the tree.
Nyx rubs her sore back and stomach. “You could have tried to help me!”
“I’m an intangible ghost,” Luke contends, waving his hand through the tree. “With our luck, you would pass through me and something bad would happen. I’d rather let you bruise your tail
bone than make this mess even worse.”
“I would be happy to agree with you if my tailbone didn’t feel like it just got kicked by a centaur,” the caster grumbles, walking around the tree.
“We have some healing items. They’re small, but they should make you feel better,” the forest tracker tells her.
“Tha . . . we?” Nyx asks suspiciously.
The half-elf stops in her tracks when a fluttering figure darts into her face and hovers a few inches from her nose. A shock of blue hair is on the top of the five inch creature’s head. The bow on its back looks to be nothing more than a flexible twig with a black hair tied to each end. Nyx notices that the sprite is sizing her up with its green eyes, but she tries not to laugh at it. Without warning, the sprite darts into Nyx’s robe through her neckline and flies around until leaving through her sleeve. The caster’s face is bright red and she glares murderously at the small creature.
“You were right,” the sprite says, his voice slightly louder than a whisper. “She is a half-elf and not an over-sized dryad. I owe you some mead when you finish your mission.”
“I need to conserve my magic. So, don’t piss me off!” Nyx screams. The sprite is sent flipping away by her outburst.
The sprite regains his balance and bows to Nyx. “I apologize, milady. The only way to tell the difference between a dryad and women is by the soft moss that runs along their spine. I swear that I did not go anywhere you would deem inappropriate.”
“I consider being in my clothes inappropriate no matter where you went,” Nyx angrily snaps. “Now, who are you and why are we wasting time with you?”
“Again, I am sorry,” the sprite apologizes with another bow. “My name is Suzu. I am one of the sprites who protect the Minem Forest. Queen Ionia has asked me to escort you to Kalam’s lair.”
“She sent us a pixie? Couldn’t we get a centaur or a satyr?” Nyx asks, pointing at the tiny creature. “You know . . . something big enough to help us fight.”
“I am not a pixie. I am a sprite,” Suzu calmly says.
“There’s a difference?” Nyx inquires.
Luke clears his throat to give a pride-filled explanation. “The general names that most people use for fairies are actually different species. Pixies have a very bright glow and are mischievous pranksters. Sprites do not have light around their body and they are warriors of the forest. Then, you have your elemental fairies like dryads and naiads. I could go on, but we don’t have time.”
“I get it. Now, I owe you an apology, Suzu,” Nyx says with a small curtsy.
“It is all right,” Suzu claims, fluttering around the caster. “We have six hours of traveling before we reach Kalam’s lair. I should tell you upfront that I am only a guide. It is too dangerous for my kind to enter the lair of a necrocaster such as Kalam. A magical creature, like me, would suffocate in such an evil place.”
“That means I’m on my own against Gabriel only knows,” Nyx groans. She can feel a headache starting to form behind her eyes.
“Don’t worry so much, Nyx. We have the element of surprise on our side. Kalam won’t expect us to break into his lair so soon after the attack,” Luke says, trying to rally Nyx’s morale. “Also, I’m getting the hang of this intangibility thing. I already learned how to possess things and touch solid objects. This will be a lot easier than you’re imagining it to be.”
“Even in death, you’re a headache for me,” Nyx states with a grin. “I would rather be cautious and prepared.”
“That is why I am here. I have talked with various insects and vermin who have called Kalam’s lair their home. They have told me some things about the interior. I will tell you once we are on the move,” Suzu promises. The sprite lands on a low branch and looks to the northeast. “Come. We have wasted enough time worrying about what cannot be changed.”
The sprite draws a tiny spear and flies into the dense forest. Nyx sighs to herself as she follows the small creature. She is mildly surprised when the point of Suzu’s weapon glows and pushes away the thick shadows. The half-elf glances over her shoulder to make sure that Luke is following. He is yawning out of boredom while he glides along the ground and passes through everything in his path. Ignoring the ghostly warrior, Nyx walks faster to catch up to Suzu.
“What kind of defenses are we facing?” Nyx asks with a voice that is louder than she intended. She cringes and mutters a curse under her breath.
“It is best that you get used to whispering now, milady,” Suzu hisses, turning around and flying backwards with ease. “Not far ahead is the region where Kalam’s air sentries patrol. They can sense a voice from a mile away, but that is only if the person speaks at a normal volume. Your specter is immune, so he can scout ahead and shout warnings if he wishes.”
“So, what can you tell us about his defenses?” Nyx whispers.
“Kalam’s lair is within a solitary mountain. The main entrance is heavily trapped, so we will be going through a back door,” Suzu answers, his eyeing darting to even the slightest movement in the forest. “Kalam’s guests and servants use this entrance to sneak into the lair and avoid setting off the powerful wards.”
“I thought wards could be made to let in specific people like servants and allies,” Luke says, passing through a thorn bush to catch up.
Nyx hops over a fallen log and stumbles a few steps. “That’s usually the case unless the caster puts up too many wards. A typical warding is used to defend against a specific creature or person. In order to defend against a second threat, you must make a new layer of warding. So, you might have a ward against vampires on top of a ward against chaos elves, which is on top of a ward against giltris.”
“I still don’t see the problem,” Luke admits, scratching his head.
“The problem is that if you put up too many wards around one structure, the wards merge and create an impenetrable barrier. Even the defending caster, could be trapped inside the barrier, which is why most people only use general barriers,” Nyx explains, making sure her voice stays low. “I doubt Kalam took the easier path of general wards. He fears Ionia and despises Isaiah, so it wouldn’t be surprising if he unintentionally made it impossible for anything to walk through his front door. This would require that he create a back door for servants and guests. I assume that this entrance leads to some unholy bowel of his lair.”
“The vermin tell me that it leads to the dungeon. None of them could tell me about the inner door, which connects the dungeon to the rest of the lair. They never dared to wander beyond the dungeon,” Suzu reports, ashamed of his lack of knowledge. “Also, there is a beast guarding the dungeon, but my contacts lack the intelligence to properly describe it. All I can tell you is that it is some kind of dog.”
“I’m going to hate to see this thing. An undead dog is going to be ugly and messy,” Luke groans, his face looking to the sky. “So, where will you go once we go inside, Suzu?”
“My orders are to return to Minem Forest. It is too dangerous for me to wait outside Kalam’s lair,” Suzu replies with a frown. “I wish that I could do more than guide you to this cursed place.”
“Its fi-” Nyx begins.
Suzu flits to her and covers her mouth with a leaf. He cautiously scans the treetops and sky. “Now, you must be quiet at all times. Kalam’s air sentries will be appearing soon and we still have over five hours of walking ahead of us. You can talk comfortably once you’re inside his lair. The vampire sees no need for indoor security measures.”
“Then, I’ll say thank you now,” Nyx says, giving him a small kiss on the head.
Suzu blushes and bows toward Nyx before darting a few yards ahead. She watches him put away his spear. She follows the sprite by watching for him in the narrow beams of light that manage to cut through the thick canopy. A knot begins to form in Nyx’s stomach as minutes grow into hours. Her anxiety is made even worse when Luke begins whistling an elven dancing song, which Nyx desperately tries to ignore.
*****
Isaiah’s eyes open to
the harsh light of the sun and quickly clamp shut. He blindly rolls out of the small cot, stretching his sore neck. The world around him is hazy with a slight echo of every noise that his sore earholes can pick up. Isaiah slowly makes his way to the door where he finds Talos and Ilan sitting on the porch with a kettle of hot tea. The elves barely notice the groggy fireskin as he sits on the edge of the porch.
“What happened?” Isaiah croaks with a dry throat.
“You have been out for a little over twenty-four hours. Kalam was sent home by Nyx after your spell and his spell killed my son,” Ilan says with an unmistakable edge to his voice. “Nyx and Luke’s disembodied spirit have left to retrieve a spellbook for Queen Ionia, which she can use to revive my son.”
“Behave yourself, Ilan. This isn’t his fault,” Talos whispers over the lip of his cup.
“How can you defend him?” Ilan asks, his anger now blatantly revealed. “He was the target of Kalam’s spell, but my son is the one walking around as a bodiless spirit. This caster is partially responsible for this entire disaster.” The elf quivers with frustration and grips the arm of his chair until it snaps off.
“I do not appreciate you destroying my furniture, son. Now, calm yourself and listen,” Talos requests with a soothing voice. “Ionia told us that it was the combination of spells that separated Luke’s aura from his body. If Kalam’s spell was alone then Luke would be beyond our reach. Thanks to Isaiah’s spell, we have a chance to bring Luke back to us.”
Isaiah coughs and wheezes hard enough to shake the porch. “I must agree with your son, Talos. I am partially to blame for Luke’s predicament.”
“Throwing blame around accomplishes nothing,” Talos contends, pouring a cup of tea for Isaiah. “Nyx will find the book and Luke will be back to causing trouble before we know it. Times like this require that we have patience and faith.”
Legends of Windemere: 03 - Allure of the Gypsies Page 26
