by Jeff Inlo
"If the sword always reflected my feelings, it might not have any magic in it at all. I'm no angel."
"No, you're not, but despite your imperfections, you have always been an individual with honor."
"And what of you?" Holli asked. "Are you now saying you are of equal honor?"
"I don't make any such distinction, but I am a disciple of transformation. My magic is a testament to that fact. Jure has already confirmed the existence of my ebony core. You asked how I could utilize the blade as an anchor even as it's endowed with powerful enchantments. All I can do is point to its transformation. It is a beacon to me."
"And this allowed you to anchor sight spells to the sword?"
"Not so much a direct incantation. Such a spell would have been noticed by Enin when he retained his magical core, or even Jure. I couldn't allow my eagerness to study moments of transformation to create a possible distraction, especially when you all faced so many challenges."
"If not some form of sight spell, then how did you monitor us?"
"By bending the aura of enchantment. As Jure will tell you, magic flows across the land in various patterns and waves. He can follow them. He is very much in tune with the energy. I can follow them as well because the magical flows have the potential to transform the land and all its inhabitants."
Holli looked to Jure for confirmation.
"Is this a feasible explanation?"
"It is, but she wouldn't be viewing things as they happened. She could place her focus on the sword's enchantment, capture images from within the flow of energy, but she would see it only when the energy reached her."
"No matter how far I stood in the distance, it would not take more than a few moments," Vraya clarified.
"She's right."
"Very well," Holli allowed, deciding to move on to another topic considering the sorceress. "How long have you been studying the delver?"
"I have seen much of what he has done. I did not see him enter Sanctum Mountain—my magic was not strong enough at that time—but I did see him battle the slink ghoul Baannat and the sorcerer Ansas. I watched him battle the goblin Okyiq and the serp Sazar. I also saw him fight against the serp council."
Almost immediately, Holli sensed another issue within the sorceress' explanation. It wasn't so much an inconsistency as it was a deficiency in reasoning.
"You witnessed all of that, and only now did you choose to come to our aid. Why?"
"You believe I should have left you buried in the sand?"
"I believe we have faced far more serious predicaments in the past. You admitted you have watched many of those confrontations, yet you stayed away. Suddenly you appear. Why now?"
"Because as grim as many of your previous encounters may have seemed, this particular situation called to me."
"Why? What is different about this situation that you felt it was necessary to intervene?"
"Unless you haven't noticed, the changes and challenges you've faced have been growing far more severe of late."
"And you believe this current dilemma surpasses what we have already faced in the past?"
Vraya hesitated. She did not wish to build on their fears or frustrations, did not want to create a sense of hopelessness, but she knew Holli would not allow her to evade the question.
"There's something very serious stirring within the magic," Vraya revealed. "I'm not even sure what it is, but I can feel it. It hasn't happened yet, but it's coming."
"That is hardly specific."
"That's because I can't be specific. I'm not a prophet. I don't see into the future, but I can feel change. It doesn't always happen all at once. Most of the time, events build toward it, and that's what I feel right now. I sense something in the winds of ebony magic which, in all honesty, I've never sensed before. There is something about to occur, something bound by fate. The magic reveals at least that much to me. It's almost like the energy of alteration is about to boil over. That's what I feel inside of me. There's a great transformation culminating in this sequence of events, and I don't believe it can be stopped."
"You know nothing more of this potential transformation?"
"No, nothing else."
Holli pondered every word of the petite sorceress. Vraya's responses seemed both logical and unrehearsed. The elf was not ready to place complete trust in the spell caster, but she could not discard the importance of intuition. Her own instincts matched the sorceress' concerns. The elf did not wish to appear as if she was challenging Vraya, but with so much already at stake, it was necessary for her to consider the sorceress' connection to other important matters.
"Have you ever met Neltus?" Holli questioned.
"I saw him when I studied Ryson's activities, but I've never actually met him."
"Have you ever had any contact with Enin?"
"You are Enin's guard, you should know that I haven't."
"I was not always his guard. You could have been in contact with him before I arrived in Connel."
"True, but no, I never met him either. I often wanted to speak with him, thought he might offer advice. He was known to help spell casters looking to enhance their control, but I decided against it."
"Why?"
"He was too powerful."
"Why would that prevent you from seeking his assistance?"
"I cast ebony magic in a perfect circle. Consider what I would face if I ever reached Enin's level of strength and skill."
"You did not wish to increase your ability?" Holli questioned.
The sorceress knew her responses were somewhat inconsistent. She studied the magic, but she understood the potential dangers if she grew too powerful. She looked to Jure to see if he would comprehend. She knew he did, but she would still have to explain it to the elf guard.
"I don't deny I studied Enin from a distance," Vraya confessed. "I could see him when he was with Ryson, and I could watch him just as any other spell caster could follow his immense energy. I saw the strain of his power. He knew he could alter the outcome of any battle, force his will on any situation. He was able to curb his own desires, deny the temptation to interfere. As you already know, I cast in a black hue. It would not be so easy for me."
"Enin could cast in ebony magic as efficiently as any other color," the elf reminded the sorceress.
"True, but that's the point. He was equal in all the hues. He could temper the traits of ebony magic with that of red, blue, or yellow. I cannot. My core exists for transformation. If I reached Enin's level of proficiency, I could not contain myself from altering every situation to one I believed would be more suitable for all."
The explanation rang with honesty, but Holli returned to the basis of her questions.
"So you have no idea why Neltus would want to bring Enin to the Lacobian Desert?"
"None," Vraya admitted.
Holli then turned to Jure and Ryson.
"That is the crux of our dilemma. We must determine why Neltus brought us to the desert."
"I assume it was to get his core back," Jure offered.
"In which he was successful," Holli responded. "But it was clear Neltus was not working alone. He might have restored his magical core, but the plan did not go as he originally expected."
"That's probably true," the elder wizard agreed. "I think Neltus definitely wanted us in the desert; at least it's obvious he wanted Enin out there, and probably also Ryson."
"About Enin," Vraya interrupted. "There was another reason I came here... beyond taking care of the dogs. I believed you would eventually return here and I wanted to tell you what happened to him."
"What is it?" Holli demanded.
"I followed the pit demon. It wasn't difficult. It left obvious tracks in the desert, but eventually they stopped. A portal had been constructed to the dark realm. The pit demon used it."
"The dathit left Uton?" Jure questioned.
"What about Enin?" Ryson asked.
"Every sign I could find indicates the pit demon took Enin through the portal as well."
"If this is true," Holli posed, "then it represents a drastic turn. Are you certain of the portal's construction?"
"I'm certain," Vraya stated with conviction. "I can take Jure there to confirm what I saw."
"That will be required, but not simply for confirmation. We will need to know where the pit demon went, where it took Enin, and most importantly... why."
"Let's go," Ryson urged. "We can't just stand around."
"No, we can not," the elf agreed, "but we also must understand what we are up against. This unsettling news raises additional questions. The innkeeper in Portsans was correct. I was too focused on correcting my errors. I will not fall into that trap again. While I remain certain we must do what we can to free Enin—and capturing Neltus remains a priority—we must look at what led to the problems we now face."
"She's right," Jure added with a grimace. "This is getting more and more confusing. The pit demon can't be ignored."
"I don't want to ignore it," Ryson responded with frustration.
"I know," Holli acknowledged. "You wish to chase it, as do I, but we must understand what we are pursuing. Demons require an anchor, much like spells. For a demon to move from one realm to another would require a displacement of its anchor. There are consequences for such actions."
"And this demon has moved twice," Jure added. "Pit demons don't just show up in Uton. They can't crossover like goblins or shags. It's like Holli said; there are obstacles to such movement."
"My attention returns to Neltus," Holli admitted. "He brought us to the desert, but first he contacted Ryson. He could have come to see Enin on his own, but he brought the delver. Why?"
The answer suddenly came clear to Ryson. The pieces fell together in one massive wave.
"Linda," he whispered. "He wanted Linda! After the pit demon captured Enin, it just stood there. The doppelganger came up with the idea to distract the pit demon, but it was Neltus who suggested we bring Linda into the Lacobian. That's who Neltus wanted all along."
"But Neltus appeared displeased with the doppelganger," Holli noted. "He revealed the presence of the demon to us."
"That was after he got his core back."
"He also made it sound as if he was double-crossed by someone," Jure offered.
"That is true," Holli agreed. "Neltus was working with someone else, there was a plan to trap Enin and Linda, but Sy interfered."
"And that's exactly what I'm talking about," Ryson stated. "The plan was to get Linda in the desert. When Sy kept her from leaving Burbon, everything fell apart. Neltus managed to get his core back, and then he took off, but I still think the main purpose was to get Linda and Enin into the desert. If you want to know who's behind all of this, we need to figure out who would want to trap Enin and Linda."
Jure believed he had the answer, though it was one he wished he did not have to reveal.
"It's Reiculf," the elder wizard offered.
"No, it can't be," Ryson responded far too quickly, as if he was sure it was impossible.
"I don't think there's any other answer," Jure persisted, actually wishing he was wrong, but believing it was the obvious answer. "Reiculf knows Linda is a threat to him, and he wanted to capture Enin before."
"Enin no longer has his core," Ryson argued. "He would be useless to Reiculf."
"How can we be sure? More importantly, who else could control a pit demon? That's the key right there. This is a dathit we're talking about. It took hold of Enin and then just stood there like a bale of hay. I agree the plan was to get Linda out into the desert, but tell me who else could keep a pit demon in line?"
"It's not Reiculf," Ryson stated firmly.
"The facts seem to say otherwise," Holli replied. "Jure is right. Maintaining control over a pit demon is nearly impossible. Only the daokiln would have that kind of power."
"But Reiculf can't go after Linda... he can't. That's not sentiment in me talking. It's not even fear... or wishful thinking. It's the absolute truth. I stopped Reiculf. I put part of my magic into him. It's still there, I can tell. I can feel it. It's still acting as the barrier I meant it to be. When I beat Reiculf, I vowed to protect my wife from him. He can't hide from that. He just can't. It would change who he is."
"Then explain the pit demon."
"I can't," Ryson admitted, but he remained convinced about the daokiln. "There must be something else, something we're missing. We all agree Neltus was being used. The wizard wanted his magic back, maybe bad enough to even make a deal with Reiculf, but how could he have managed that? How could he have made it to Demonspawn without his magic? Reiculf couldn't have just reached out and grabbed him. The daokiln is caught behind barriers, barriers I know still exist. And let's be honest, there's no way Neltus could have initiated all of this. How does he get from Uton through the dark realm and into Demonspawn? He wouldn't have made it through the Lacobian on his own, let alone the dark realm."
"He has a point," Jure allowed as he eyed the elf guard. "There are still holes in all of this."
"But you still believe Reiculf is involved, do you not?" Holli pressed the elder wizard.
"I do. If this was some trap, and I don't see how it's anything else, there's no one else who could control a pit demon."
"I also remain concerned about Reiculf's possible involvement," the elf acknowledged. "Consider Neltus. He has become more cunning and more devious. Perhaps it was born from the desperation from losing his magic, or perhaps it is something darker... the taint of Reiculf's control. The demon lord once possessed Neltus' essence. It is likely such evil left behind a stain of contamination."
"Do you think Reiculf is actually controlling Neltus again?" Jure asked.
"No, I do not. Neltus actions may reveal a more sinister outlook, but they have not reached a level associated with the daokiln. Still, we should not dismiss the possible connection."
"I'm telling you, Reiculf can't be the one going after Linda," Ryson insisted.
Vraya had remained surprisingly quiet until that very moment.
"If you're looking for enlightenment, you might just have it within reach," the sorceress advised.
Ryson reacted almost immediately. He understood exactly what the petite sorceress meant, and his hand reached over his shoulder to grasp the handle of the Sword of Decree. With one swift tug, he released the blade from its sheath and held the weapon in front of him. He stared at the glowing metal with sheer determination.
The shining sword reflected the flames of the nearby fireplace as well as from the surrounding lamps. With one sudden burst, it bathed Enin's study in miraculous radiance. As it continued to glow, it offered direction, though not quite revealing every detail of the danger they faced.
"We have to go see Baannat," Ryson claimed as he looked to his companions with a growing anger at having to face the slink ghoul one more time.
Chapter 17
"Neltus was here," Ryson revealed, as he examined the trails on the top of the spire and reported his findings to his companions.
Jure had transported them from Enin's study directly to the plateau of the tall rock tower. If they were going to confront Baannat, they needed to enter the dark realm and stand upon the bridge where they could reach into the slink ghoul's realm of nonexistence. Jure was able to cast the necessary spells to bring them there, but upon arriving, they found several surprises.
Though the spire peak was unoccupied, there were signs of recent activity. Both the delver and the elf guard immediately noticed the fresh tracks across the dusty, flat rock, and they all spotted the hazy rift floating in midair. As Ryson and Holli examined the markings on the ground, the elder wizard focused his attention on the gray shadow of a portal which hovered over the center of the plateau.
"Neltus created this," Jure advised. "I'm sure of it, but it's odd. It's his spell. I can see his design all over it, but I don't think it was his magic. It was crimson energy which opened the rift, but it wasn't his. It's also no longer being held together by the initial spell. Energy fr
om the other side of the gateway is holding it open."
Holli considered everything she saw and heard. Ryson's enchanted sword might have directed them to Baannat, but the weapon did not offer any further details involving the slink ghoul, Neltus, or even the pit demon. Their initial discoveries added information, but she still needed to place everything in the proper context.
The elf guard had allowed Vraya to accompany them, but she insisted the sorceress follow every request, every order. Holli believed having a sorceress powerful in the ways of alteration would prove advantageous, and she was about to put that belief to the test.
"Vraya, examine the portal," the elf guard demanded. "Tell me exactly what you sense."
The petite sorceress moved carefully toward the shadowed hole. She dared not touch it, for she could sense the vast differences between the realms connected by the gateway.
"Jure is correct. The makeup of the portal hasn't really changed, but the source of its power has. The magic which originally constructed the portal has been replaced. It's been washed away by energy from the other side of the rift. The magic seems to be of ebony essence, but for some reason, I don't think that's right. There's something lacking in the energy itself."
"That's not a surprise," Jure offered. "I think the magic in there is as empty as the realm itself."
"Empty magic?" Vraya questioned.
"Maybe that's not the best way to describe it," Jure explained. "It still has a certain level of power, but it's not like the energy in Uton, or even here in the dark lands. The extent of its influence is shaped by the hollowness of Baannat's realm."
"So it might have the essence of shadow?" Vraya wondered. "That would give it a similar pulse as ebony magic."
"I can't really be sure. I've never touched it myself. But I do know that Ansas thought it was black energy. He embraced it without knowing it was from Baannat's realm. When Ansas was trying to gain strength, he reached for magic he believed was untouched. At that time, he believed the magic in there was the purest of ebony energy."
