The Sorceress of Aspenwood Trilogy Pack

by Sam Ferguson

  “You said that the girl had been attacked by a shade, so it makes sense that we should see monsters operating in the area,” Lady Arkyn said in a youthful voice.

  Herion nodded. “That may be true, but I believe it to be more than that,” he said. “I believe the shade acts on behalf of another.”

  “Who?” Master Fenn asked. “What could possibly control a shade?”

  “In this case,” Herion said with a frown, “I believe it is a vampire.”

  “A vampire?” Fenn asked skeptically. “But shades don’t work with vampires.”

  Herion patted the air. “That is all too true. Normally they are territorial rivals at best. However, in this case, I believe we are dealing with a powerful and ancient vampire who somehow has gained control over a shade, as well as many other beasts. I was able to find a lead, and that is where Master Baird and Lady Stirling are headed at the moment. I thought it best we observe their mission and see what we might learn.”

  A hush fell over the chamber. The sconces flickered and then their flames died. The purple ball of crystal grew five times its size, until it was large enough that it appeared capable of swallowing Feberik.

  Kyra watched in amazement as the innermost part of the orb became clear and a scene opened up inside.

  Kyra watched through the orb, which opened up the scene behind a shorter man with dark hair and a green cloak who was facing a taller, thin woman. They were both standing upon a large ship that bobbed gently in the water. Kyra could only assume that they were Master Baird and Lady Stirling. Lady Stirling wore a dust cloak, concealing all but the end of a slender leather case under her left arm, and a series of daggers tucked into a specially fashioned belt that hung across her chest. She drew her black hood over her golden-haired head and the two quickly turned to disembark from the ship. Wherever they were, the fog covered the docks thickly and hung in the air. Rain was pouring down too. It looked gray, cold, and miserable. They didn’t speak to anyone they saw on the docks. Instead, they went straight to the first tavern they saw.

  “Figures they would head for the tavern,” Master Fenn called out.

  Headmaster Herion shot the man a look that made Kyra gulp and clench her mouth tightly shut.

  She then turned back to the images in the orb and watched as Master Baird opened the door and the two walked into the tavern.

  “Sure is a wet one,” declared a short, plump barkeep as Master Baird and Lady Stirling approached the bar. Baird slapped a pair of coins on the table.

  “Indeed it is a wet day,” Master Baird replied as he removed his rain-soaked cloak and hung it on a stool next to him.

  “This rain is most unusual for this time of year. I’ve seen only four or five such days in all my years here.”

  “An ill omen,” Lady Stirling replied.

  Master Baird turned and scanned the room. From what Kyra could see through the orb, a few patrons were inside, occupying themselves with various card or dice games and a tavern maid was busily hopping from one table to another filling and refilling mugs of ale. Apparently satisfied, Baird turned and nodded to Lady Stirling. She laid a long, leather case on the bar in front of her.

  “What’ll it be?” the barkeep asked, hardly glancing at the leather case.

  “We have not come for drink,” Master Baird replied.

  “A room then, surely you will not want to be out and about in this weather,” he offered. “The Green Door Inn is proud to offer the finest rooms at the lowest prices, and they’re clean too,” he said with a wink.

  “We are looking for someone,” Master Baird and Lady Stirling replied in unison.

  The barkeep stopped and gaped at them both for a second. It seemed to Kyra that he wasn’t sure what to make of the pair.

  “What kind of business are you about?” the barkeep said with a grin and cleaned a smudge from his spectacles.

  Master Baird shook his head sourly. “We have come on official business.”

  Lady Stirling opened one end of the leather case to reveal the hilt of a sword. She pulled it out part way and Kathair nudged Kyra.

  “That sword is Stormfang, I would recognize it anywhere.”

  “Stormfang?” Kyra asked.

  Kathair nodded. “It’s an important weapon. It belongs to the school.”

  They both looked back to the orb eagerly.

  “Ah, now that is something quite different. I apologize; you see I didn’t recognize you. We don’t get many of your kind out here.”

  Lady Stirling slid the sword back into the case and closed it again. “Surely you understand now?” she asked.

  The barkeep nodded. “I know the sword. Master Heimdal with his mighty sword, Stormfang, crushed the shadowfiends and established Kuldiga Academy over the ruins of their fortress. I know the legend.”

  “It is more than a legend,” Master Baird replied. “It is fact.”

  “Of course, sir, as you say,” the barkeep said with a reverent nod. “Look, King Mathias doesn’t actually govern this island, but, I can help you out so long as you promise to take your business outside of my inn. The last time one of your lot showed up out here, the blacksmith’s shop was burned down along with three houses. I can’t afford that kind of loss.”

  Lady Stirling nodded. “We don’t believe the person we seek is in town, but we have heard he comes in to town from time to time.”

  “The man’s name is Vincent,” Master Baird began, “and we have it on good authority that he is here on this isle. Is that so?”

  “Vincent,” the barkeep repeated and scrunched up his eyebrows as if he was concentrating real hard. “That name doesn’t sound familiar.”

  “He isn’t the sort of man that’s likely to interact with others much. Probably hardly even noticed by most folk here, I imagine,” Master Baird said. “Try to think of a man who comes in maybe once a week or every other week, keeps to himself, and just buys supplies or perhaps mills about the docks for a bit before leaving town.”

  The barkeep snapped his fingers and set the mug down. “Aye, there is a man like that who comes into town, but it’s only once a month or so. A strange sort of man he is; always keeps to himself and never says much to anyone, except to buy supplies like you say. Spends most of his time at his little cabin in the forest he does. I’ve wondered what would make a man live all alone like that as if he was hiding from something. I guess with the two of you here, that might be exactly what he is doing.”

  “Out of curiosity, ever see him during the daytime?” Lady Stirling asked.

  The barkeep shook his head. “Not usually. He comes later in the evening, and usually heads out after dark. Why, you think he is a vampire or something?” The barkeep let out a belly laugh, but once he noticed that neither Baird nor Stirling joined in his laughter, he stopped and his face grew long. “By the gods, you don’t think he is, do you? I mean, we would know, wouldn’t we?”

  “Tell us where to find his cabin,” Baird said.

  “And here are a few extra coins for your silence.”

  “Just take the main road west until you come to the forest, and then head southward into the hills. You can’t miss it, but I wouldn’t go today if I were you. There isn’t enough light to get there and back today.”

  “That’s alright, we’ll find out way,” Baird said.

  “You could at least warm yourself by the fire before you go,” the barkeep offered.

  “No,” Master Baird said as he waved his hand. “It is not a cold rain outside. We’ll be fine.” He pushed the coins to the barkeep.

  The two left the tavern and traveled out from the town and southward along the main road for quite some time. Kyra had to shift her position as her feet were starting to tingle and go numb. None of the others in the special chamber said a word as they watched the purple orb intently. Even Master Fenn was quiet.

  After a while, the rain finally let up and the sun dared to peek out from behind the leaden clouds.

  Baird and Stirling stopped to shake the water fro
m their cloaks in an effort to dry off a bit. Then, Lady Stirling waved her hand and whispered a word Kyra didn’t understand. A strange, yellow fire washed over the two of them and their clothes were entirely dry, but unharmed by the magical flames. They then walked up a hill and then down around a small outcropping of trees. No sooner had they rounded the bend than a pair of highwaymen approached from the nearby copse of trees. Master Baird and Lady Stirling stopped in place and turned to face the men.

  “If you come to rob or slay me, you will find that I am more than equal to your challenge,” Baird warned.

  “Ah, blast them with a sleeping spell and be done with it,” Master Fenn called out.

  Headmaster Herion held his hand up, calling for silence.

  The two highwaymen looked to each other and laughed.

  “How about it, a bit of sport before supper?” one of them said to the other.

  “Don’t mind if I do,” said the other. The both of them drew swords.

  Master Baird turned to Lady Stirling who opened the leather case to retrieve Stormfang. He then turned to the two bandits. “Well, let’s get this over with, I have a meeting that I am late for.”

  The two bandits looked to each other and then laughed.

  The highwaymen rushed forward, swords at the ready. Master Baird spun under the first strike and brought Stormfang up into the man’s ribs. A second later, Lady Stirling sent a stream of fire from her hand that burned through the second bandit’s chest. Both of the dead cutpurses fell to the ground at the same time.

  “Brutish,” Master Fenn called out. “They could have spared them.”

  “Better to let the highwaymen seal their own fates and receive their just reward,” Feberik said loudly.

  Kyra, despite her displeasure upon hearing her fiancé speak, couldn’t help but agree with him.

  She turned back to the orb and watched as Baird and Stirling continued on their way. As the sun began to set in the west, a fierce, biting wind nipped at the two. They drew their cloaks in tightly and bent forward into the wind. They drew their hoods up over their heads and continued on.

  Soon, they found what they were looking for.

  “Just as the barkeep said,” Master Baird said to Lady Stirling.

  Lady Stirling turned and smiled at him.

  Kyra saw through the orb a cozy log cabin on the top of a nearby hill. In the gray light of dusk she noted a bit of smoke flowing from the chimney. It didn’t look like a vampire’s lair, and was certainly nothing at all similar to the place her mother had been held prisoner. It was the sort of home one would expect to see out in the middle of a field with a pair of kids playing around the house while parents worked in a family garden.

  “He looks to be home,” Master Baird said as he pointed to the chimney.

  “Be on your guard,” Lady Stirling warned.

  Master Baird motioned for her to come close. He held the sword between them, blade pointed to the ground and his head bowed reverently. “Icadion, All-father, watch over us now. Give us the ability to act quickly and the strength to overcome any obstacle.” Then Baird fastened Stormfang to his belt.

  “Not sure why you pray,” Lady Stirling said. “Icadion no longer hears the prayers of Terramyr. He left long ago; that’s why it’s up to us to chase away these kinds of demons.”

  Master Baird shook his head and then motioned to the house with his chin. “Do we knock, or just go in?”

  Lady Stirling shrugged. “If he is in there, then better we surprise him.”

  “But if it isn’t him, then what?” Baird asked. “We can’t just barge into every cabin out in the woods now can we?”

  Master Baird and Lady Stirling walked up to the door and tried it. The door didn’t budge.

  Lady Stirling waved her hand and whispered a spell, but again the door was sealed.

  “I can break it,” Master Baird offered.

  Lady Stirling shook her head. “Let’s knock and claim to be weary travelers caught after dark. The sun is almost gone. It might work.”

  Master Baird nodded and rapped on the wooden door with his gloved fist. “Hello, is anybody home? We are looking for shelter, and maybe some food for the night.”

  As Kyra watched them, she could hear something on the other side of a door that sounded like a plate being dropped on the floor. Footsteps thumped on the floor until they came to the door. A series of bolts and locks slid aside, grinding against metal slots and brackets. The door itself cracked just a bit and a short little woman with beady eyes peered out.

  “Who are you?” the woman demanded in a raspy voice.

  “My name is Baird, and we have been caught out in the rain and now it is dark. Could we impose upon you for the evening? We have money to pay for your hospitality” Master Baird pulled out a small coin purse and opened it toward the woman.

  “I suppose I can offer some soup. I only have one bed though, so you will have to sleep upon the floor.” The woman nodded as she opened the cabin door wide enough to reveal herself and a good view into the cabin. Master Baird and Lady Stirling eyed the woman carefully.

  From her vantage point behind the wall, Kyra watched too. The woman appeared to be well into her sixties, stooped over with age, and carried a sizeable hump on her back. Her face was lined with wrinkles and her hair had long ago turned gray. Her body was thin, frail looking, and barely occupied more than half the doorway’s width as she stood. Not an imposing foe by any measure, and certainly not the vampire Master Baird and Lady Stirling were searching for.

  “Come in,” the woman said. The two travelers followed her in through the doorway.

  “The soup is here,” the woman announced as she moved to a pot hanging over a fire. Just then, the door slammed shut behind them and the bolts slid back into the locked position.

  Master Baird and Lady Stirling turned, but no one was near the door. They wheeled back around to see the woman sneering at them. Instead of the hunched, old woman, she was now tall and beautiful, with a perfect spine and youthful looking skin. She smiled wickedly and a pair of fangs shone out from her mouth.

  Kyra gasped as the strange woman attacked, but Master Baird struck out with Stormfang and Lady Stirling sent a column of fire into the woman’s face. The woman shrieked and screamed, then fell to the ground. She writhed and twitched as the flames continued to consume her head. Master Baird stepped in and severed her head with Stormfang, then he plunged the weapon into the woman’s heart.

  Kathair leaned in close to Kyra and whispered, “Stormfang is an enchanted blade. It is able to kill vampires and their ilk.”

  Kyra looked at him with wide eyes. “Can it kill a shade?” she asked.

  Kathair shrugged. “Not sure. Maybe we can look into that possibility when Master Baird and Lady Stirling return.”

  Kyra turned her eyes back to the orb. Master Baird and Lady Stirling were now sprinkling some sort of powder on the body, and great, blue flames jumped up and turned the corpse to ash. Stirling collected a vial of the ash and then the two of them began searching the cabin.

  After several minutes, they moved to the hearth and pulled the pot out from the fireplace. Lady Stirling waved her hand and said the words of a spell Kyra didn’t know. Suddenly the back wall of the fireplace glowed green.

  “I’ll dispel the trap,” Stirling said.

  Baird nodded and stepped back.

  Lady Stirling bent down and wove her hands in the air for several moments. Line by line, the glowing design faded away until the chimney wall looked normal. Then she extinguished the fire and pressed the wall inward, opening it to a secret passage that led downward.

  Slowly they maneuvered themselves into the small tunnel and carefully descended the slope inside. There was an eerie glow in the tunnel, but there were no fires or torches. Soon they came to a cliff. They carefully lowered themselves over the side and searched for footholds. They ended up needing to go down a single ladder that was apparently cut into the stone with footholds carved from the rock. Kyra watched wi
th baited breath until the two reached the cave floor.

  In the eerie light, Kyra could see bats hanging from the cave ceiling. Large spiders crawled along the walls and water dripped from a few of the stalactites. Master Baird and Lady Stirling walked forward, mindful of the sheer drop to their right that descended into a crevice that appeared to go on forever until it was swallowed by darkness. To their left were a couple of smaller caves branching out into the belly of the mountain.

  “Let’s follow the main tunnel,” Lady Stirling said.

  “We should have sent more people with them,” Master Fenn commented from his chair as everyone watched the scene unfold in the orb.

  Suddenly, the tunnel opened to a large chamber filled with bones, as if a great beast had discarded its meals for hundreds of years. The two crept into the opening and searched the area. There was no sign of any movement.

  To the right, the floor inclined up to a small landing of stone, upon which stood a man with silver hair that hung down to the middle of his back. He wore a leather vest over a silk shirt tucked into wool trousers that were in turn tucked into mid-length leather boots. The man seemed to be standing in front of a desk or pedestal of some sort and reading something.

  Lady Stirling lifted her hand and looked to Master Baird. The man held Stormfang at the ready and nodded to her.

  The sorceress sent a blast of blue flame at the vampire’s back. The fire struck its target and then the man faded away.

  “It was an illusion, you fools!” Master Fenn shouted as he rose in his chair. “He’ll come from the side while you aren’t looking!”

  To Kyra’s horror, that is exactly what happened. A mass of darkness leapt at Master Baird. The man spun around with Stormfang, but was struck down before he could wield the weapon effectively.

  Lady Stirling shouted some sort of curse and sent a crimson shockwave out from her. The vampire was knocked backward through the air enough for her to get to Master Baird.

  She helped the man to his feet, but he was only barely conscious. His left arm had been severed just above the elbow, and he was losing a lot of blood.