The Third Sign

by Scott D. Muller

  The small magical ball floated slowly toward the wolven and gathered speed as it approached. The beast swatted at the annoying light and upon contact, hundreds of bolts of lightning erupted from the beast, popping its eyes, swelling its tongue and making it lose control of its bodily functions. Zedd’aki face showed his pleasure at his spell’s effectiveness.

  “Still got it,” he shouted over his shoulder; his voice full of bravado, just before he was blindsided.

  The last of the four had circled around and had charged out of the wood, pouncing on Zedd’aki, beating him to the ground. He hit hard and grunted, the frozen ground knocking the wind out of him. He tried to roll away, but the creature kept pouncing on him, and scraping with its claws. The powerful beast snapped its powerful jaws at Zedd’aki’s neck and narrowly missed. Zedd’aki could feel its drool and smell its foul breath. It was everything he could do to present a moving target.

  He rolled over to his back, grabbed the beast by the scruff of its neck, and used his legs as a powerful lever to heft the beast over his head. Before he could scramble to regain his feet, the beast was charging again and had hit him full in his midsection, causing him to once more slam hard into the ground.

  Ja’tar had heard the growl and turned in time to see his friend hit the dirt hard. He took two quick strides before he reached his location and plunged his sword deep into the beast’s side while it tried to clamp its jaws down on Zedd’aki’s neck.

  Ja’tar screamed a guttural rant. He put all his weight behind his sword hand and drove the blade even deeper, casting a spell of liquid fire on the blade.

  The damned creature howled as the hot steel slid into its innards. Zedd’aki was flailing his arms, casting bolts of pure blue energy up at the beast, but couldn’t get one to connect as the beast batted him around on his stomach.

  Ja’tar was forced to jump to the side to avoid one of the errant blasts as the bolt cracked and jerked its way up into the sky. Zedd’aki groaned with each blow that landed. He was fatigued and even with a sword in its side, the beast was relentlessly clawing and biting him. It had a single-minded frenzy as it whipsawed and tore at his arms.

  Thankfully, he had on a very thick woolen coat, so the claws looked like they were doing far more damage than they were.

  Ja’tar jumped back in, grabbed the blade with both hands and twisted with all his might, causing the wolven to rear up on its hind legs and twist away from the pain in its side.

  Ja’tar set his feet wide apart before he yanked the blade free and in a continuous motion turned the blade around and over. Using his momentum, he pivoted on the ball of his front foot and cast a spell of sharpness on the old blade just as he hacked down upon the beast’s neck, half-cleaving off its head. The head hung awkwardly, blood gushing from its jugular. The beast staggered sideways, eyes glazed, unable to keep its balance, not quite realizing that it had lost the battle.

  Zedd’aki saw another wolven and a catomen jump out of the portal and was already preparing his spell. The spell missed the catomen, its quick cat-like reflexes allowing it to change directions, but it hit the trailing wolven dead center, causing the beast’s body to crackle, distort and convulse as the Bone-Breaker spell took hold.

  The beast howled in anger and pain while its limbs cracked, grew, mutated and shards of bone poked their way through its tough hide. It clawed at the ground, its legs becoming useless. It gasped its last raspy breath when its skull collapsed in on itself.

  Ja’tar had cleared his blade from the last fiend and rushed to Zedd’aki’s side. The two stood back to back and watched as the catomen stalked them. Ja’tar raised his blade in Dancer Twirls and tried to hit the beast with another spell, but the cat was just too quick, or he was too old and slow. He smiled wryly at the thought.

  Zedd’aki scooped up a bunch of gravel and sand into his hand and cast his spell. The mixture of tiny rocks and pebbles glowed yellow-blue when he threw them at the beast as hard as he could, shouting out the last of his chant, “Stagmanni nanos, volantii.”

  The small stones fled his open palm and ripped into the beast’s hide, each leaving a hole. The beast’s left eye was dripping yellow custard and its face was bleeding profusely.

  It howled in anguish and was frustrated, not being able to clearly see because its own blood obscured its vision. It pawed at its face and shook its giant head trying to clear the gore. Zedd’aki pulled a long dagger from his cloak and cast a spell over it before letting it fly in an overhand toss. The dagger raced true and plunged itself to the hilt in the beast’s chest, puncturing the heart, twisting as if controlled by some unseen hand, mimicking the motions that Zedd’aki was making.

  Zedd’aki danced and worked the enchanted blade back and forth, as he repeatedly plunged the foot-long blade into the struggling fiend. The cat rolled in the dirt, trying to rid itself of the cursed blade. Zedd’aki pulled the blade free and with a final effort, motioned it forward, plunging it deep into the catomen’s eye.

  The catomen gurgled once before toppling over. Ja’tar turned quickly to face the portal and saw a dark shadowy creature step back into the blue light. Ja’tar whirled his hands and sent a flurry of wizard fire and bale fire into the portal. The spells disappeared into the hole. The portal pulsed thrice before it turned jet black, dissolving like ink dropped into a bucket.

  Ja’tar’s arm ached; he set the heavy sword down, gasped for air, and watched Zedd’aki wipe his brow with his sleeve. Ja’tar chuckled uneasily.

  “I didn’t expect that,” he said, panting. “Did you see the portal open?”

  Zedd’aki shook his head side-to-side, “You?”

  Ja’tar groaned weakly, “I thought I was going to soil my drawers when the first four jumped out of the glow.”

  “Me too,” Zedd’aki murmured timidly. “I was so scared I fell over backwards, almost knocked myself out ...”

  “I don’t even remember casting that first wizard’s fire ...”

  “Instinct?” Zedd’aki asked, walking over to the last beast killed to retrieve his dagger.

  “Appears so. Even after all these years,” Ja’tar said, breaking into a huge grin.

  Zedd’aki wiped the blade clean on the cat’s coat. “Did you ward yourself?”

  “No, you?” Ja’tar asked.

  Zedd’aki grumbled. “No time.”

  “Ha! Never even crossed my mind. So much for instinct,” Ja’tar laughed awkwardly.

  “It seems that they knew we were going to be here,” Zedd’aki said casually.

  Ja’tar was furious, “How could they? Only you and I knew. We didn’t decide until last night ...”

  “I can see the weaves, so I’m guessing they can too ...”

  “But if you aren’t looking for them,” Ja’tar said, wondering out loud.

  Zedd’aki shrugged as he kicked the catomen, making sure it was dead. “Maybe they were?”

  Ja’tar threw his hand to his forehead in frustration, “Aargh! B-but why? It makes no sense, why search for those using the old magic after over twelve-hundred years of nothing?”

  “Maybe they never stopped looking?”

  Ja’tar threw his hand out, motioning to the side. “Bah!”

  “You think its coincidence that they opened the portal here and now?” Zedd’aki asked in dismay, with a wrinkled brow. He stood up straight and set his hands firmly on his hips. “Really?”

  Ja’tar hung his head, “Guess not, but I’d still like to know why, and who!”

  Zedd’aki forced a laugh. “Me too, my friend, me too. Maybe they felt your magic from last night?”

  Ja’tar’s mouth closed sharply and he blushed.

  Zedd’aki thought his behavior odd. “What?”

  “I did kind of lose my temper last night,” he confessed.

  Zedd’aki’s eyes narrowed.

  “I made the sky open ...”

  Zedd’aki lowered his chin and shook his head in dismay. “And?”

  “I made a maelstrom,” Ja’tar confess
ed.

  “Maelstrom? And you didn’t think that was worth mentioning?”

  Ja’tar shrugged sheepishly. “I hadn’t thought about it until now.”

  Zedd’aki snorted. “Anything else you need to add? Now would be a good time.” Zedd’aki yanked on his beard. “Maybe you moved the moon to, to suite your mood?”

  Ja’tar fidgeted and flicked his fingers, which caused small pops and flames to form at his fingertips. “No, that was pretty much it. Oh, one other thing ...”

  Zedd’aki leaned forward and squeezed his eyes closed; not wanting to hear what was coming next ....

  “I talked to Voltaire.”

  Zedd’aki cracked an eye open, “Your dragon familiar?”

  Ja’tar looked up. “I had forgotten all about him.”

  “Well, any magical being for a thousand leagues probably felt your power.”

  Ja’tar lowered his head. “Sorry. I was consumed with guilt and mourning yesterday.”

  “I guess what’s done is done. They know we’re here; we won’t be able to surprise them. This also clears up the question about us having an enemy doesn’t it?”

  “It does at that,” Ja’tar spat. “Did you get a look at the thing that stepped into the light?”

  “No, did you?” Zedd’aki asked, as his eyes narrowed.

  “Just a glance, couldn’t tell though, the robe hid all the features. It was carrying a couple leashes.”

  “You sure?”

  “Well, I can’t say for certain, but they looked like leashes.”

  Zedd’aki got a bewildered look on his face. “For the wolven?”

  “Or the catomen ...”

  Zedd’aki frowned. “Bah! I never heard of such a thing! Why would you leash a demon? Nothing in the tomes ever mentioned wolven being leashed. Now skree, sure. But wolven?”

  Ja’tar shrugged. “Who knows. Maybe demons keep them as pets. Who knows with demons!”

  Zedd’aki’s mouth dropped as he prepared to say something and then just stopped. He put his hands on his hips and stared at where the portal had been, as if it would provide clarity to his thoughts.

  “You think it was watching long?”

  Ja’tar shrugged. “If it was, why not join the fray?”

  Zedd’aki sat down on the log. “Afraid maybe?”

  “But if you have enough magic to open a portal, then why would you be afraid?” Ja’tar asked.

  “True!” Zedd’aki replied quietly.

  Ja’tar sat down next to his friend. “Makes no sense to me.”

  “Depends on what it was,” Zedd’aki stated flatly. “Any thoughts?”

  Ja’tar grumbled out loud, but knew nothing. “It didn’t act like a demon.”

  Zedd’aki scowled, grunted, stood up and walked over to the gutted wolven and pushed at it using the toe of his boot. “So, this is what the boys are up against in Three Rivers?”

  Ja’tar set his hands on his knees and took a deep gulp of air. “The same. And from the sounds of it, Five Peaks is dealing with them too.”

  “I think we did alright,” Zedd’aki said, being a little cocky.

  “We did, although I’m not sure how much longer I was going to be able to keep up the pace ....”

  Ja’tar’s eyes went wide and he rushed over to the log. He was patting around on his hands and knees when a look of relief filled his face, “Found them,” he said, waving the medallions.

  Zedd’aki’s eyes got wide. He had totally forgotten that they had taken them off and he eagerly put his back on top of the log when Ja’tar handed it to him. They would need them for their trip home.

  “You need to see anymore?” Ja’tar asked, the medallion dangling from his hand.

  “No. Why?”

  “I’m going to clean up the carnage ...” Ja’tar said, casting a spell using the new magic and stacking the dead beasts off in the wood behind the rock patch they had been sitting next to. He finished up with a blast of fire and watched as the fire flashed and did ... nothing. His eyes went wide.

  Then he recalled what Dra’kor had said and he called out to Zedd’aki and tossed his medallion to his friend’s waiting hand. He turned and walked back into the wood, casting the bale-fire spell using the old magic and watched while the fire consumed the evil, making sure it could not return.

  “I forgot that you have to burn the damn things,” Zedd’aki said, scratching his head while watching the charred corpses smolder.

  “Better to be safe.” Ja’tar agreed, as he returned. “But Dra’kor was right. The new magic doesn’t seem to affect the beasts.”

  “Safe? What’s that,” Zedd’aki asked the heavens, tossing the medallion back to his friend.

  “Let’s see your coat,” Ja’tar asked, finishing his work and placing the medallion over his neck.

  Zedd’aki turned around and Ja’tar ran his fingers over the shredded jacket. “You’ll need to fix that, can’t have you walking around the Keep in a coat that looks like you’ve been doing battle with the Dark Lord. You’re lucky you weren’t scratched.”

  “I have a few puncture wounds that sting like Darkhalla,” Zedd’aki said, stretching his back.

  Ja’tar got a concerned look in his eyes. “Well, get that jacket and that shirt off. I need to heal them.”

  Zedd’aki grunted and pulled off his coat, wincing as he yanked his right arm free. Just as Ja’tar had suspected, the wounds were already infected and the red blotches of the beast’s poison were spreading fast.”

  “This isn’t going to be pleasant ...” Ja’tar said, placing his hands on his friend’s back and began chanting.

  Nothing happened. Ja’tar growled and threw his medallion to the ground, waited a couple of minutes and tried again.

  Zedd’aki’s back arched and he ground his teeth. The pain seared like a hot knife as the wounds pushed out the poison and then began to mend. It took a while, over five minutes of excruciating pain, but the wounds began to heal over and the pain began to subside. Ja’tar finished and stood back admiring his handiwork.

  “Thanks,” Zedd’aki said, trying out his mended shoulder and bending over to pick up his shirt. He looked it over and waved his hand over the fabric, which untied and retied itself, mending out the holes. He slipped it on and went to work on his jacket.

  “Well, what do you think?” he asked, holding it up to the light of the fire.

  Ja’tar was sitting on the log taking a long drink out of the wine skin. “I think we’re getting too old for this.”

  “You’re too old for this, I am not.”

  Ja’tar grunted and rolled his eyes.

  Zedd’aki grinned. “It’s true! Now, we should prepare better wards.”

  Ja’tar cracked his knuckles and the two took a few minutes to ward themselves using the old magic. After they were satisfied with their level of protection, Ja’tar tied his spells off.

  Ja’tar saw that Zedd’aki was still casting, so he pulled the cork free and took a good long drink from the wine skin. He replaced the cork and tossed the wine skin to his friend, extended his hand and summoned the medallion. It lifted off the ground and quickly sped to his hand. Ja’tar stared at it, holding it by the chain, trying to decide whether to put it on or not.

  Zedd’aki took a big swallow and felt the cool liquid burn as it slid down his throat. “Any of that bread and cheese left?”

  Ja’tar cleared his throat and threw him the pack.

  Zedd’aki sat down next to his friend and for a while, they both sat in silence, chewing on the remaining sausage and cheese. Zedd’aki ripped the last roll in half and handed it to Ja’tar. Ja’tar dipped his head and took a big bite. They chewed in silence, taking turns at the wine skin until it was almost dry.

  “I have to say, that was the most fun I’ve had in years,” Ja’tar said flatly.

  Zedd’aki turned and looked him in the eye. Ja’tar was trying to keep a straight face, but his lip quivered uncontrollably. Finally, he broke out in laughter. Soon, the two were roaring out
loud.

  “Whew! I tell you, nothin’ like some demon slaying to make you feel alive ...” Zedd’aki chortled.

  “Remember those old days?” Ja’tar asked, closing his eyes and picturing back when. “We had the times of our lives.”

  Zedd’aki’s jaw dropped. “That’s not how I recall it.”

  Ja’tar shoved him. “You know what I mean.”

  “World was a different place back then. It was ... more wild and untamed,” Zedd’aki said, as he tried to recall.

  “No Guild!” Ja’tar said, spitting on the ground.

  Zedd’aki growled, “No Guild!”

  The conversation turned serious.

  “What was that thing in the portal that you threw the Wizard’s Fire at?” Zedd’aki asked.

  Ja’tar’s brow narrowed and his eyes darkened, “I still don’t know.”

  “Didn’t you get a look? I didn’t see anything,” Zedd’aki stated. “It was right in front of you. Surely, you saw —.

  “I already said I only got a glance, but the hood and the robe hid any discernable features. All I saw was a dark shadow stepping back into the portal.”

  “Either way, it’s not good.”

  “No, not good.”

  “How long do you think that shadow creature held open the portal?” Zedd’aki asked.

  Ja’tar shook his head. “I’m not sure, but it was at least a couple of minutes, a damn long time if you ask me!”

  “Do you think that he opened it?”

  “Again, I don’t know, but whatever opened it has a lot of power at their command,” Ja’tar commented, with a whistle.

  “How long do you think you could hold one open?” Zedd’aki asked.

  “Maybe a minute or two, back in the day. Now?”

  “Exactly, so, I’m thinking that he had help.”

  Ja’tar agreed. “Maybe he had an artifact...”

  “Can you open a portal to a different plane?” Zedd’aki wondered.

  “Don’t think so, at least not to a higher plane,” Ja’tar said, as he thought about it. “But a Dark Mage could. That much we know from the days of Ror.”

  “For the time being, let’s assume we aren’t dealing with a Dark Mage. That would be too depressing. So, then by reason they must be somewhere here in the realms.”