“Absolutely, just what I was thinking. Remember, our best lead right now is to return to the Pool of Knowledge. The chances that this gate goes there are practically zero!”
“That’s true. Maybe none of us should go through?” Alrion said. Lara shrugged.
“No, I don’t agree. We need to assess the viability of these gates. If they work as intended, they will be crucial to enable us to travel longer distances safely.” Alyx looked at Alrion, he looked conflicted.
If I can get to Valrytir sooner, I can prepare them for what is coming. It’s the best plan. These two don’t need me right now.
Alyx had made her decision. She looked at Lara, and the thief gave her a slight nod.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Alyx said. She pushed past Alrion and dove into the gate. As it swallowed her up, she turned just in time to see the look of surprise on Alrion’s face.
I hope this works. Oh well, better me than anyone else.
Alyx closed her eyes and let the gate transport her.
29
The Logical Message
In a flash, the gate closed and Alyx was gone. Alrion reached out too slow like he could just pull her back.
“She’s gone,” Lara said. Alrion ran his hands over the gate. It still glowed blue as it had before, but it seemed dormant.
“I don’t get it, I activated it before. What’s going on?” Alrion muttered. He located the symbol that Alyx had pressed and tried it again. Nothing happened.
“Maybe it needs time before it can work again?” Lara offered.
“It doesn’t seem like that’s how it should work.” Alrion hit the gate in frustration. It sat still, motionless.
Alyx is gone. How do I get her back?
Alrion let Lara pace around the room, looking for anything that might be useful. He knew there was nothing else, but he wasn’t always right. He had been wrong about this. Or had he?
I sensed something was off. Maybe it was rigged for only a single activation?
“Do you know where it went?” Alrion said. Lara hesitated before answering.
“Can’t say for sure. It felt like it was a long way away, from what I could gather.” Lara disappeared off to keep searching the space.
“It did feel like a different climate. I can’t believe it, she’s gone, and I have no idea where she is!”
“You know,” Lara said, approaching Alrion, “I know it just happened, but let’s think logically about it. Is this really the worst thing that could happen? Alyx is most likely alive and well, and she’s armed with her deadly survival skills and a sword that can cut through anything.” Lara looked directly into Alrion’s eyes. “I think she’s going to be just fine.”
“I know, of course, she is. I just feel responsible for transporting her to the middle of nowhere!”
“It might be a very nice place. And you didn’t transport her, she transported herself. You can’t take complete responsibility.”
“Perhaps.” Alrion pondered the thought and kept poking around the gate. He remembered the moment it had activated. The gate had just responded to his Spark, he hadn’t really needed to do anything special. That suggested that it would work independently of him having to power it. With that in mind, he activated his enhanced vision and examined the gate. As expected, the gate was infused with Spark.
This should just work. I don’t understand what’s going on. Maybe it’s been altered somehow.
“Any insights?” Lara said.
“No. It should be working. I can only guess that there’s some sort of limitation on it.”
“What do you want to do?”
“I can’t leave Alyx without at least trying everything. Let’s make sure there’s nothing else we can do here and figure out the next move.”
“Sounds good to me. Should we explore the grounds?”
“Yes. Let’s go for a walk.” Alrion led the way back to the ladder and they climbed up to the entry room. They left the building and Alrion turned back to look.
“It’s invisible again.”
“Good. We know where it is, and nobody else should notice it.” Lara looked out at the fortress and surrounding area.
“I don’t see anything obvious, should we just do a lap of the building?”
“Yes. I’m confident there’s nothing else in there that we need to be looking at.” Alrion started walking and Lara kept pace with him. As they walked, he let his mind wander, considering the Wizard Gate and what had happened. No matter what path he went down, he kept coming back to the fact that it had to have been altered somehow.
Their exploration of the fortress grounds revealed nothing. There was nothing of note in the nearby area, just grass and some basic stone fencing.
“Nothing here.” Lara took another look and returned her gaze to Alrion.
“Agreed. Do you want to take another look inside the fortress?”
“No, there’s no need. I’m not interested in Rindale’s ghastly experiments.”
“Good. Then I can make sure they’re never repeated.” Alrion picked out a spot a bit further away and started walking over. Once he reached the spot, he turned and sat down on the ground. He patted the grass next to him.
“Sit here, please.” Alrion waited for Lara to sit and closed his eyes.
“I’m going to set things right.”
“Sure.”
“Please stay here.” Alrion focused his attention on the building. He pictured the building in his mind, creating a visualisation. This would need to be a complex combination spell.
First, he prepared the ground. He prepared the fact that the ground would open up, swallowing up the entire fortress. Like when he had entombed Wraith in the desert. But the earth would need a kick. He added some Spark to the mix and let it go. Exactly as pictured the ground opened, inviting the fortress inside. The massive structure dropped suddenly. But Alrion wasn’t done yet.
He twisted the centre of gravity around, making the centre of the fortress attract all the area around it. The fortress began to compact itself into a much smaller space, the materials grinding away into dust as they did so. Finally, before that process was completed, he created a giant ball of intense fire and hurled it into the gap, sealing the ground over the top.
“I think that will do it.” Alrion relaxed and lay back.
“I think so.” Lara lay down next to him. “You don’t think you overdid it at all?”
“I didn’t want the place to be there anymore, but I didn’t want to destroy the whole area.”
“I was right. You are delusional. I’m getting flashbacks to when we took on an army of Blighters by ourselves.” Lara chuckled.
“Some things never change I guess.” Alrion cut the laughter. “You know, I was trying to do something Branthor would approve of.”
“You don’t owe him anything.”
“I know. He did some terrible things, but I understand. It could easily have been me in that situation.”
“Oh, that’s true. But he still had a choice. Don’t forget.” Lara jumped up. Alrion hesitated and Lara offered him a hand. He sighed and accepted, letting her pull him up.
“We can’t sit around here all day. Are we going to go back to the Pool of Knowledge?”
“I’m not sure. Let’s go try the gate one last time.”
“Fine by me.” Lara led the way back and waited patiently once they reached the spot. Alrion unlocked the building once more, and they slowly descended the ladder and approached the Wizard Gate. It looked exactly the same.
“Time to try your luck.” Lara stood aside and waited. Alrion stepped forward and pressed on the symbol that Alyx had used. Nothing happened.
“Still might work.” He activated his Spark and reached into the gate. Again nothing.
“Something is not quite right. It won’t work until we figure out what’s different.”
“Then we need some advice.” Lara looked thoughtful. “Hang on, we have someone to consult for advice.”
“W
ho?”
“That mysterious notebook you carry around. It hasn’t steered you wrong yet.”
“The messages haven’t exactly been controversial. But yes, I haven’t looked in there recently.” Alrion retrieved the notebook and flipped through the pages. Everything looked the same, all was familiar. Suddenly he noticed another entry.
You’re missing a vital piece of the puzzle. Return to Paperton and fill in the gaps. Then you will understand the true nature of your quest.
“Oh, now that’s interesting.” Alrion handed the notebook to Lara.
“That’s quite clear in intention. Wow, it does sound like we need to go back.” Lara started to hand back the notebook but stopped suddenly.
“You don’t think Branthor was that wizard? Do you?”
“No, why would you say that?” Alrion took the notebook back and studied the handwriting. It didn’t seem familiar. Not that he could recall Branthor’s handwriting.
“Didn’t Branthor just give you that exact same advice?”
“Yes, but that’s not conclusive by itself.” Alrion flipped back and looked at the other entries.
“When was the first one? Wasn’t it after the Pool of Knowledge?”
“Yes, I’m sure of it.”
“That was after your encounter with Branthor. And wasn’t he at the Academy when you joined?”
“Yes, he was.”
“So, couldn’t he have somehow interacted with that notebook before? Maybe that’s how he was tracking you!” Lara looked at Alrion with amazement.
“Hang on, don’t get carried away.” Alrion read the messages again. “It doesn’t sound like Branthor. And for most of this, he was Wraith, he wouldn’t have been able to write like this. Like a normal wizard.” Alrion shook his head. It couldn’t be Branthor.
“He would have said something. At least at the end.”
“Not necessarily. He admitted that he decided not to tell you the location of the source of the Blight, remember? He might have decided to withhold other information too, in your best interests.” Lara looked convinced.
“I’m not so sure. Let’s just see what happens. We’ll know soon enough at any rate.”
“How’s that?” Lara said.
“If there’s another message, then it’s not Branthor.”
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean it was never him.” Lara gave him a challenging look.
“You don’t have to win every conversation you know.” Alrion chuckled.
“I’m just saying, it’s a good theory don’t discount it.”
“Fine, I won’t discount it.” Alrion started walking back to the ladder. They ascended to the hidden building then emerged outside. Alrion headed towards the main path. Lara kept pace with him, occasionally looking behind.
“Alyx is not going to appear behind us,” Alrion said.
“Not checking for her.” Lara looked again. “Something about this place doesn’t feel right, even after you removed that fortress.”
“It’s fine, we’ll be gone soon enough.” Alrion stumbled but managed to regain his footing.
“Are you alright?” Lara rushed over, ready to help him up.
“Yes, just a bit tired. Perhaps I overdid it a tad.”
“Wow, that’s unusual. It’s never happened before.” Lara gave him an unimpressed look. “Go sit against that tree over there.” Alrion listened dutifully and rested against the tree. A gentle breeze blew past, making him feel relaxed.
“I don’t suppose you know the way back to Paperton?” he said. Lara settled down next to Alrion.
“Not exactly. But I’m pretty confident if we follow this path past the fortress, we’ll come to a relatively big town soon enough.”
“That suits me. We can resupply and plan our trip back.”
“Does it feel strange? Heading back there?”
“A little. It feels like I’m backtracking, almost retreating. But I can’t think of it like that. It’s important.”
“The wizards seem to think so. And Branthor had all that knowledge too. I wonder what he wasn’t sharing with you?”
“I wonder that too. He definitely knew a lot more than he was willing to share.”
“That other wizard seems to know too. If that last message was anything to go by.”
“Yes, you’re right. Maybe he’s visited the Pool of Knowledge too? Maybe we can find out something when we return.”
“I hope so, I love a good mystery.” Lara leaned over and rested her head on Alrion’s shoulder. It was a good weight to have.
30
On The Trail
The intense bright heat of the gate was replaced by the dry oppressive heat of the desert. Celes stepped out of the Wizard Gate and into some barely shaded ruins.
At least it worked. Can I use it to get back?
Celes looked back at the gate and it seemed like the one she had passed through.
Looks promising. Let’s see if I can find myself a clue.
Celes wandered around the location. It was reminiscent of an old temple of some kind, constructed from stone. But it was terribly worn down by the elements. She had no idea how the paltry structure shielding the Wizard Gate was still standing.
“Any clues here are long gone. What a bust,” Celes whispered. The wind picked up, as if in answer. Celes stepped into the minimal shade and gave herself a moment to think.
The wizard came this way, years ago. What was he looking for in the desert? It can’t be whatever was just here because it’s already gone. Maybe there’s something nearby.
Celes carefully sipped some water and evaluated her situation. She could afford to search the nearby area for anything of value. But she was not equipped for a proper trip across the desert.
That gate better work, that’s for sure.
Celes followed what looked like used to be a path. There was nothing immediately outside, or much of anything to look at. Just sand dunes and the remnants of a path. But something didn’t seem quite right.
I need to follow this a bit, I feel it in my gut.
She tried not to think about how foolish this was and set off. The walk was easier than she expected, even though the harsh desert wind and extreme heat made it uncomfortable. Somehow, though, her hunch had borne out. She could see what looked like an oasis up ahead.
I could really use a drink, here’s hoping I’m not hallucinating.
Celes pressed ahead with as much pace as she could manage. The sun’s rays seemed even more intense, and her throat was parched. But she didn’t dare drink the last of her water. She just needed to go a bit further and reach the oasis.
And, like that, she was there. It was a small stone-fenced area, with some shade and water in the middle. Even the sight of water made her feel better. She stumbled forward, eager to drink. Just as she was within reach the water disappeared. Instead, there was a dry hole that she tumbled into. As she picked herself up, she saw a dark shape leaning over her then blackness.
Celes awoke in a cooler place, amongst pillows. She darted to her feet and assessed her surroundings. She was in a small dwelling that was sparsely but comfortably furnished. A jug of water was set before her and a glass. She inspected the water and smelled it, checking for any known additives. It seemed clean. She poured a glass and drank it down fast.
“You’re a cautious one. Good instincts.” A man with a sand-coloured robe approached and sat on a cushion at the far end of the room. Close enough to enable easy conversation, but not too close. His hair was a mix of grey and black and his green eyes studied her closely.
“I have you to thank for my accommodation?”
“And the mirage. Perhaps the two cancel each other out.” The man chuckled, his thick beard drawing her attention. He pushed it down and waited for her response.
“You’re a wizard then?”
“Yes. The name’s Ashra, although some call me the desert wizard.” Ashra stood and bowed with a flourish.
“Celes. You lure a lot of travellers in with that mira
ge?”
“Not that many. You came from an interesting direction, and you aren’t really prepared for a desert journey.”
“Yes, it’s a bit of a long story. But suffice to say, I’m here and I likely need your assistance. Since you’re a wizard and all.”
“Intriguing. And what is it you’re after in this rather inhospitable place?”
“I’m following a wizard, well his trail. It brought me here. Perhaps you will know what he was after?” Celes studied Ashra’s features. He definitely knew something.
“This wizard has a name?”
“Not a real one, just an alias. Aydan.”
“I see. And who set you on this path, Celes?”
“A master wizard named Falric.” Celes noticed surprise in the man’s features.
“I know him, from a long time ago. I’m sorry to say, last I heard…”
“His death was feigned. He’s very much alive.” Celes tossed the medallion to Ashra and enjoyed the shocked expression on his face.
“He gave you this?” Ashra asked, turning over the medallion. He then handed it back.
“Yes, to get me into Wizard Stores. That’s how I’ve been tracking this wizard, Aydan. Although the trail is old, over twenty years.”
“Falric, that old scholar. I didn’t know he had it in him, giving us all such a great scare.” Ashra paused and pointed at Celes. “There’s something familiar about you, what’s your connection to Falric?”
“He took my son away to become a wizard.” Ashra burst out laughing.
“Now, this is something. Your son is named Alrion, correct?”
“Yes.”
“I know him well, we crossed paths when he came through here. His father too. A very difficult time for them. How is Alrion now?”
“Alrion is well, he cured himself of his affliction. Vincent is also well, we were travelling together until recently.”
Soul of Light (The Hidden Wizard Book 4) Page 21
