The Warrior and the Wandering Wizard (The Way of the Wandering Wizard Series Book 2)

by Michael Novak

  The Red Wizard smiles. “Behold, and be amazed.”

  He holds his staff waist high. The filthy horde is closing. He recites arcane words, then swings his short staff toward the ground, back and forth. Gouts of flame start to spread to his right then to his left as he continues to wield his fiery weapon. A wall of flame not higher than his knees grows longer with each arc. He stops, turns, and, with sweat dripping off his face, says, “We best be moving, unless you are fond of the smell of burning rats.”

  The group does not hesitate and, with Majam to guide her mage, they set a swift pace while the dwarf leads the mule.

  Catherine directs them away from the multitude of vermin. They eventually reach a pile of rocks that forms a rough arrow. The young girl looks around, then points across the valley toward a high cliff.

  “That’s the way. Let us go.”

  Again she runs off even more quickly. The group struggles but cannot keep up. Mikal trips and falls hard to the ground. He is helped by the dwarf. “I am sorry. Thankfully, I am unharmed. Continue.”

  They do, but at a reduced rate. Aden pauses. “I do not believe they are following us. I hope this girl knows where she's going. It just looked like a pile of rocks to me.”

  The cliff looms larger as they approach. Catherine is far ahead, but they can still see her to follow. She disappears at the base of a cliff and large boulders obscure their vision. They slow as the ground starts to slope upward. A man appears with a bow and takes aim at the group.

  The young girl yells, “No, no! They’re with me.”

  A middle-aged woman comes into view between two strangely shaped stones. “You must be the ones the Sister has foreseen. You bring both good and evil with you, but you may pass.”

  Catherine waits for them. “Stay close and follow me.”

  They traverse a hidden pass that moves up the cliff’s face until they encounter another huge rock in the vague shape of a bear. The cliff side of the rock casts a deep shadow. The young girl disappears inside it. The group hesitates. Mikal, holding Majam in his arms, steps into the unsettling darkness, like going through a curtain. A welcoming light reveals a large tunnel. The others, including the mule, pass through. The young Sister Aurum waits for them. She stares long and deep into Mikal’s white eyes.

  “Something is not right, but I am relieved that you are here. Please, all of you, follow me.”

  They travel down a natural tunnel and pass a number of intersecting, man-made paths. Sister Aurum turns and leads them into a well-furnished cavern filled with many tables and chairs. The main feature of the room is a large, natural table made of stone.

  “Please, be seated. We need to talk.”

  Mikal introduces the men. “And this is Margaret Carol, the Baroness’ daughter. She was said to have an appointment with you.”

  Sister Aurum nods. “I am sorry, little sister; you are not seeing us at our best. But you are most welcome here. You may decide how long you wish to stay.”

  Aden demands, “Witch, what has happened to your encampment?”

  She hesitates. “He came… the Dark Harold. I will not describe the horrors he wrought. But I do believe it was revenge for what we have revealed about his plans. Many of us died. The fear was the worst. It would have been easy for one to lose all hope. We did not believe that we could go on, but some of us persevered. We gathered what we could and ran. We hid among the rocks below us until dawn. Monica and Catherine searched the area and they found this hidden hideaway. We are still exploring it.

  “Fortuitously, we found a room, another natural cavern, nearby. The markings and the geological altar identified it as a coven. I remembered that Sister Fluorine said when we first entered the Valley, ‘We have returned home.’ I dismissed it at the time, but she must have known that some of our kind inhabited this cave and valley many years ago.”

  A middle-aged witch interrupts and approaches Mikal, holds out her arms, and rests her palms on his head. She closes her eyes. “Who has put this foul curse upon you?”

  Aden stands. “It was a Witchraven. That is why we are here. We were led to believe that you could cure him. He's been sprouting dark feathers in his hair. His sense of touch is sorely lacking.”

  Sister Aurum looks to Mikal. “I apologize. I knew something was wrong, but I did not see. This is Sister Kali-um. She is now our eldest and most gifted healer.”

  Sister Kali-um carefully moves her hands toward the White Wizard’s eyes. When her fingertips lightly touch the eyelids, her mouth opens wide and there is a pause. Shockingly, a loud scream escapes from her. She breaks contact and collapses to the ground. Other Sisters come and assist her.

  Sister Aurum asks, “What did you see, Sister?”

  The eldest witch turns and gapes at Mikal. Nothing is said. Again Sister Aurum pleads, “Are you harmed? What did you see?”

  “I am sorry,” Sister Kali-um responds. “Yes, there is a curse on him. A vile fluid has entered his body. Some of it remains inside…and it is festering.”

  The young head witch asks, “What must we do to remove this foul deed?”

  The master healer stands and starts to pace. “I know the procedure but the words do not fully come to me. And they must be recited perfectly. You know what we have to do, Sister. You must retrieve our books. It is the only way. I know it is dangerous, but I have faith that we shall succeed.”

  Aden questions, “What books? And where are they?”

  Sister Aurum explains, “When we ran, no one…I should have… but I failed to gather our artifacts. They are back at our camp surrounded by evil things.”

  Aden holds out his staff. “Tell me where they are and I will carve out a path to them.”

  Sister Aurum shakes her head. “You would not be able to find them even if I gave you explicit directions. There is an enchantment on our artifacts and if we give their location to anyone, when approached, the artifacts will not be there. Only one of our coven could find and retrieve them, but it is too dangerous.”

  Catherine and Monica step forward. “We could go at first light. Please allow us this honor.”

  The Sister frowns. “It is too dangerous, I say.”

  Aden strides forward. “Not for me, it isn’t. I will protect them.”

  “I do not know. First, let us see what we can do to help Master Mikal.”

  For the next hour the Witches of Endorr perform healing rights on the White Wizard. At the end of that time, they all agree that they accomplished little.

  “We need our books.”

  Sister Aurum nods. “Before anything, let us eat and then I will sleep on it and see what the morning brings.”

  Chapter 24

  The starlight is filtered by fast flowing clouds. The White Wizard leans on his staff of light with both hands. His cat’s ears are perked and her tail is held high with the tip of it twitching back and forth. He waits. He hears hooves clopping on uneven stones. He turns, and stares into the night.

  A large, deep shadow of a rider on a unearthly horse moves ever closer. The fearsome shade halts and Mikal can feel its penetrating gaze. It dismounts, and strides toward the White Wizard. Mikal feels a grip on his arm.

  “I am sorry I could not face him alone.” Without turning, Mikal knows it is Sister Aurum standing behind him speaking. Instinctively, he taps his staff to the ground. A solid white sphere appears and protects the two of them and Majam. All becomes silent. The dark, armor-clad knight stands just outside the glowing field.

  The silence is broken by the slow menacing sound of metal scraping metal until the threatening knight raises his barbed sword in his left hand. He brings it down on the bright light, sparks fly, and the White Mage holds his staff high and grips it tighter. Again and again the dark sword strikes until minute cracks start to appear in the globe.

  Out of frustration, the Shadow Knight starts to pound with his right fist that wears a heavy, metal gauntlet. The assault is relentless. Mikal is rocked with each thundering blow. Minute cracks start to widen and gr
ow longer.

  Majam raises her paws, claws extended, and hisses at her opponent. This strengthens Mikal's protection, but only temporarily. The shimmering white globe finally shatters, sending shards of light everywhere. The dark creature strides forward and the White Wizard stands before him.

  In a throaty rasp, the Shadow Knight commands, “Out of my way, mage, my business is with her.”

  “No. Am I to believe that you are a true knight?”

  The armored-clad one hesitates, but does not answer. Mikal presses, “Are you Knight or no?”

  The red eyes stare from behind their metallic helm. “I am.”

  “Then I challenge you to a duel to avenge the abhorrent deeds of which you are guilty.”

  Again silence engulfs the night. “Name your champion, wizard.”

  “Sir Rusel Ironwood.”

  “I believe I know that name. I will enjoy taking his soul, if he still has one. Name the arena.”

  Mikal responds, “On the plains of the Valley of Endorr, the place you have cursed.”

  The Dark Knight nods in agreement.

  “In five days then,” the White Mage states.

  “No, you have challenged me. I choose the day. I will not be done with my task in only five. It will be on the eighth day from this day, at dusk.”

  The White Wizard agrees. Again he feels the penetrating stare of his opponent. An obscene, soft laugh slowly escapes from the Shadow Knight’s throat. “Do you know why we can communicate like this, mage? It is because of the curse. You are becoming one of us.”

  “Never,” protests Mikal.

  The warrior laughs brazenly. “I said the same a thing long ago.”

  The audacious laugher penetrates deep into the White Wizard’s soul.

  ***

  How many times have I failed at this? But desperation drives me to try again. I must find the Dark Harold. I enter my seeking meditation. I almost found you last time. I will not fail now.

  Sister Aurum’s body is in a restful state but her mind soars. It comes to rest on the Plains of Endorr.

  I am alone. No, not so. I think he has found me.”

  Something dark comes her way. Suddenly, Mikal, along with his cat, materializes ahead, with his back toward her. The shaded knight reins in his stallion, and dismounts. The White Wizard raises a protective, silvery sphere. The opponent pounds on the protective shield with sword and fist. First it cracks, then it shatters and the shadowy assailant advances.

  The White Mage raises his staff high and it flares with a blinding white light. The warrior steps back for a moment then continues forward. He raises his menacing barbed sword and brings it down, crashing into the White Wizard’s staff of light. The staff shatters into many splinters, leaving Mikal holding a short wooden shard in his hand.

  The great cat leaps onto the attacking creature but its claws cannot penetrate the armor. A scraping, maddening sound is produced by the cat’s claws as they descend. The iron-clad knight seizes Majam and flings her far. Then, impossibly fast, he grasps the White Wizard’s neck.

  “Out of my way, mage, for you are for my master. My business is with the girl.” He squeezes then tosses Mikal aside. The girl stands tall, her hands in fists, her chin held high. She glares at this huge, shadowy thing and trembles.

  “I will say this only once, girl. Stay out of my mind, and do not seek me out again. My Master’s cloak prevents you from ever finding me but your constant searching is irritable. Something is protecting your soul or I would possess it by now. If you do not cease, I will find the rest of your coven and kill them all, save you. You will be left alone in sorrow and misery.”

  The audacious laughter penetrates deep into the young girl’s soul.

  Chapter 25

  Sometime after dawn, Sister Kali-um tells the young head witch that the White Wizard is getting worse and that the healing ritual must take place in the next twenty-four hours or the curse will be irreversible. Sister Aurum accepts the grave news. She gives the orders to waken Aden Ferrum and to bring him before her. Sometime later, the Red Wizard enters the chamber and sees Sister Aurum giving instructions to Catherine. He waits until the young head witch acknowledges his presence.

  “I trust you slept well. Food will be brought forth soon.” She casts her eyes to the floor and continues, “You are to escort and protect young Catherine here. I have foreseen a safe path that will get you into our encampment. But I apologize. Beyond that, all else is hidden in shade from my sight. Master Ferrum, you must understand. Catherine's life is extremely important to me. Mikal's life, as we know it, rests upon the return of our ancient texts. Are you prepared for this quest?” She does not wait for a reply. “I strongly suggest that you proceed with utmost caution and follow Catherine's recommendations. I realize this will be most difficult for you. She is familiar with the terrain, however, and has been there recently, even though she had been forbidden to do so. I hope you are in shape, for speed might be your best ally.”

  A young witch appears balancing a tray. “I see the food has arrived. Enjoy a light breakfast, and then we will see how a Red Wizard handles himself.”

  ***

  By midmorning the two seekers depart. Catherine points out that they are being followed by the dwarf but Aden does not respond. They cross the valley floor and arrive at the rocks that form an arrow. They wait, but the dwarf slows and then stops.

  Aden asks, “Why are you following us, dwarf? You don‘t belong on this quest…or any other quest, for that matter.”

  Kairn steps forward and sits on the pile of rocks. “Isle way tier.”

  Catherine starts to say something but is cut off by Aden who declares, “All dwarves are stubborn and stupid. Let him sit on his rocks and wait.”

  Catherine has a quizzical look on her face.

  “Never mind. You take point, and let’s move.”

  The young girl walks swiftly and soon they see the outline of the ragged tents on the horizon.

  Catherine whispers, “Most creatures are usually asleep this time of day. We must move quickly and quietly so as to not arouse anything unpleasant.”

  Aden scratches his stubbly chin and shakes his head.

  They approach the corner of the outermost tent. Catherine pauses, grabs hold of one of the support posts, and starts to climb. Aden softly grumbles and follows. The young girl moves across the major beam, carefully putting one foot in front of the other. They are many feet above the ground. She encourages the Red Wizard to proceed. Fortuitously, the beam is quite wide and they move across it with relative ease.

  Aden hears a low, rhythmic, bellowing sound. Catherine stops and points to the ground where Aden spies a sleeping giant, almost ten feet in length.

  The young girl whispers, “He showed up recently. He's been drinking our wine by the barrelful.”

  Suddenly, the hairy giant belches loudly and wetly. His eyes flick open. The two stand still as gargoyles. The blurry eyes close and the rhythmic snoring resumes. Both sigh with relief, and move further along the beam. They arrive at the opposite corner of the first tent. Without hesitation, Catherine leaps onto the outsized, one-time colorful pavilion. She turns and waits for Aden.

  “Oh, the follies of youth.”

  He gathers himself, leaps across the gap, and lands clumsily on Catherine’s wooden post. She grabs and steadies him and urges him on. This beam has an upward arc to it and they move higher. The Red Wizard looks down and sees rats scurrying about. He spies another unearthly warrior, slowly swaying, deep in the shadows. Aden looks up but cannot see Catherine. He continues to the end of the thick, wooden beam. He looks down and sees she is on the ground again, inviting him to join her. He inexpertly shimmies down the wooden post, gaining splinters in his hands for his effort.

  The young girl whispers, “So far, our luck holds. Now for the tricky part. We must enter the central cave. Remember, you're supposed to protect me.”

  Aden pulls splinters from his hands.

  She lowers her carrying pack and
removes four, long, ragged strips of bloodied cloth.

  “Here,” she whispers, “Wrap them around your feet and ankles. I took these from dead soldiers. I think they will help mask our smell.”

  She steps forward and cautiously turns the central cave’s entry handle. She moves from sunlight into darkness. Aden follows, holding up his short, iron staff. He is about to light a flame, but the young girl grabs his arm. “No, just wait.”

  Minutes pass and, bit by bit, shaded images start to focus. Aden eyes adjust to the dim light that filters through minuscule cracks in the rocks. Catherine gives a light tug on Aden sleeve and steps deeper into the encampment’s caves. Every step is slow and deliberate and she often stops to orientate herself. She passes doors and other pathways. The Red Mage can sense a dark, foreboding atmosphere growing. Catherine deviates from her straight path and turns left through a thick, torn curtain. Aden follows. He believes they are in a large cavern, but he cannot be sure for darkness surrounds him. Catherine quickly crosses the room and stops in front of a heavy, wooden door. She tries to open it but the handle does not budge.

  “It is locked,” she whispers.

  Aden shakes his head. “I have a bad feeling about this, missy.”

  The young girl smiles and pulls out a strange looking key. She places it in the lock and presses it into the door. A soft click is heard and the door swings open.

  “Wait here. I will be right back,” she says.

  Before Aden can protest, the girl is gone. The Red Mage feels the room getting darker. What little light there was is now gone. He allows his staff to glow softly. He can see his breath billowing before him.

  Catherine returns. “I have the… oh, no.” The young girl shivers. “This is the work of a Frigid Shade. It will freeze our very souls.”

  “No, I will not allow it.” declares the Red Wizard. His staff erupts, producing a wave of blistering fire that roars across the cavern. His assessment is correct. They stand in an enormous room, the light from his flame illuminating most of the chamber. There is a darkened area in the shape of a human. The frigid entity holds up tentacle-like arms, and again the room becomes bitter cold. Aden responds a second time and narrows his flame directly at the menacing shade. Catherine darts across the room and Aden follows. They run as fast as they possibly can. They careen into things hidden by the shadows. They know the frigid shade follows.