“Agreed,” said Ridmark.
“The only way to end the spell is to find the Maledictus who cast it and destroy him. Based on the flows of power, I believe the Maledictus is within the Tower of Nightmares. I will maintain this link for as long as I am physically able,” said Antenora. “Should I see any dangers through the Sight, I will notify you at once.”
“Thank you,” said Ridmark. “I think we will need all the help we can get.”
“I fear so,” said Antenora.
Ridmark nodded, wondered if Antenora could see that, and then turned back to Calliande. She had remained sitting on the bed, a serene smile on her face as she patted the back of a child who was not there.
“Calliande,” said Ridmark.
She smiled at him. “Ridmark. Will you stay for dinner? It would be nice if all five of us were together.”
All five…
“I’ll be back as soon as I can manage it,” said Ridmark. “Will you stay here while I am gone and…and look after the children?”
“Of course,” said Calliande.
“Stay in this room,” said Ridmark. “Don’t go outside unless you must.”
Calliande nodded. Ridmark leaned down, kissed her, and stepped back into the hall, the others following him. He closed the door and turned to look at Third, Tamara, and Kyralion.
“All right,” said Ridmark. “I’ve spoken with Antenora, and she knows why we’re immune to the spell. My soulblade is shielding me. Third, your mind is old enough that the oneiromantic spell can’t get a good grip on your thoughts.” She nodded, unsurprised. “Kyralion, you seem to be immune to the spell because of the same reason you cannot join the Unity.”
“When I was younger, I cursed that inability,” said Kyralion, “but it has saved my life many times since.”
“Truly,” said Ridmark.
“And me?” said Tamara.
“She doesn’t know why,” said Ridmark. “It has something to do with whatever split you into seven lives.”
Tamara snorted. “Maybe I’ve had too many lives for the spell to find me.”
“That is as good an explanation as any,” said Third. “Did Antenora have any counsel on how to fight the spell?”
“Yes,” said Ridmark. “She thinks one of the Maledicti seized control of the twisted aura around the Tower of Nightmares and directed it at Kalimnos. If we find and kill the Maledictus, that should end the spell.”
“Also,” said Antenora into his thoughts, “a warding spell of that power will need to be anchored on something. Most likely a large soulstone, or perhaps some sort of stele inscribed with sigils of power. If you can find and destroy that, the loss of the anchor will also collapse the spell.”
“Right,” said Ridmark. “She also says that something within the Tower of Nightmares is empowering the spell, so destroying that might also break the spell.”
Tamara frowned. “Anyone who goes into the Tower of Nightmares goes insane.”
“Antenora?” said Ridmark.
“You will not need to fear that, at least,” said Antenora. “If you are immune to the spell here, you will be immune to it within the Tower of Nightmares. Of course, there are likely other defenses within the Tower.”
“She says that won’t be a problem,” said Ridmark. “If the oneiromantic spell could have affected us, it would have done so already. We had better get moving.”
“What…what are we going to do?” said Tamara.
“Find the Maledictus and kill him,” said Ridmark. “And shatter the locus of the spell, if we can find it.” He looked up and down the corridor. Another long moan came from behind Kalussa’s door, and a mixture of embarrassment and alarm went through Ridmark. If the spell had removed Kalussa’s and Calem’s inhibitions…would it let them push past their physical limits? A drunkard could freeze to death without realizing it was happening. Calem and Kalussa might kill themselves through sheer physical exertion.
For that matter, if the spell removed different kinds of inhibitions, and Tamlin or Krastikon suddenly decided that Kalimnos was full of enemies…
“Yes,” said Third, reading his expression. “We had better hurry.”
“Come on,” said Ridmark.
They walked back down the hallway. Ridmark heard Tamlin laughing and talking as he had with Aegeus when the Arcanius Knight had still been alive. In the common room, Krastikon stood talking with people who were not there.
“Lord Ridmark!” said Krastikon, smiling behind his beard. “Will you not join us? My father is throwing a great feast to celebrate the reunification of Owyllain and the defeat of the New God.”
He looked so happy. So had Calliande and Tamlin and Telemachus. Ridmark’s anger grew. The dream might have made them happy, but it was a poisoned happiness based upon illusions and lies. Justin Cyros was dead. Sir Aegeus was dead.
Joanna was dead.
The spell fed its victims lies, and they would believe those lies until they died of thirst and hunger.
It would be a cruel death unless Ridmark stopped it.
“We’ll be right back,” said Ridmark. “We’re going to meet some of King Justin’s other guests and escort them in honor here.”
“Yes, of course,” said Krastikon. “That is good of you, my lord.”
“Be right back,” said Ridmark, and he left the Javelin Inn and stepped into the agora, looking to the north. In the hills beyond the town, outlined against the gray bulk of the mountains, he saw the pale shape of the ruined Tower of Nightmares.
“Yes,” said Antenora in his thoughts. “The spell is coming from there.”
Ridmark nodded and took a step forward, and a flicker of motion caught his eye.
A struthian loped into the agora, its scales a greenish-blue. Ridmark always thought the struthian lizards looked gangly, as if they would trip over their own feet, yet the creature ran with fluid grace. A Takai halfling sat in the struthian’s saddle, a short bow in hand, his hair oiled into a wild horned shape and spiraling black tattoos marking his muscled arms.
“Magatai!” said Tamara, relief in her voice.
Ridmark tensed. Magatai had boasted, more or less constantly, of his skill as a hunter. If the dream had made him believe that he was hunting game and the people of Kalimnos were his prey…
“I think the halfling is immune to the effect,” said Antenora.
Magatai turned Northwind around and rode towards them, his face grim.
“Tamara Earthcaller!” he said. “You are awake? And you are not dreaming?”
“Aye,” said Tamara. “The Shield Knight and the others are immune to the spell. Has it affected the Takai?”
“My entire tribe,” said Magatai. “A great wall of gray mist washed over us like the wave of a storm. When it cleared, most of the tribe had fallen asleep. Those who were awake acted like sleepwalkers, speaking to people who were not there. Even Tumak Valatai and the Windcallers fell victim to the spell of the mist. Magatai believed it was a thing of evil magic, so he came to Kalimnos to speak to Sir Rion and you.” His large green eyes turned to Ridmark. “And to the Shield Knight and the Keeper, who seem to have experience dealing with things of evil magic.”
There was an understatement.
“You’re immune to the spell, it seems,” said Ridmark.
“It has something to do with the tattoos on his arms,” said Antenora. “It looks like they are deflecting the spell.”
“Magatai has completed the Blood Quest of Cathair Avamyr,” said Magatai, thumping a fist against his chest. He looked at Kyralion. “In ancient days, your ancestors left guardian spirits in the ruins of Cathair Avamyr. A bold warrior of the Takai may enter the ruins and challenge them. If the warrior is victorious, he receives gifts.” He tapped his left arm with the side of his bow. “Magatai’s gifts were these tattoos, which protect him from evil magic. He cannot hear the ancestors whispering on the wind, true, but protection from spells of evil seems a fair trade.” His eyes flicked over the town. “Especially now.”
“What has happened here?” said Magatai. “Do you know?”
Ridmark drew breath to answer, but Tamara spoke first.
“One of the high Maledicti wants to kill the Shield Knight and the Keeper,” said Tamara. “He seized control of the power of the Tower of Nightmares and directed it against the town, and it also against your tribe.”
“This is egregious!” said Magatai. “We must find this vile sorcerer and crush him!”
“Yes,” said Ridmark. “We’re going to the Tower of Nightmares to destroy him and the source of the dream spell. Shall you accompany us?”
“No true warrior of the Takai people would quail from such a fight!” said Magatai. “We shall find this Maledictus and bring fury and wrath upon his cowardly head.”
“Let me see if I understand,” said Tamara, taking a deep breath. “The five of us are going to enter a spell-haunted ruin, find one of the high priests of the Maledicti, and defeat him?”
“That’s the plan,” said Ridmark.
She stared at him, and he suddenly wondered if she would quail, or start weeping.
Instead, a mad grin went over her face. There was a wildness to her nature that Tirdua hadn’t shared. It explained why she and Magatai were such good friends.
“It sounds like fun,” said Tamara.
Chapter 15: The Tower of Nightmares
Third followed Ridmark and the others as they left Kalimnos and headed north for the gray elven ruin.
They walked swiftly, but they did not run. Running would drain their strength and leave them unprepared to face the enemies who almost certainly awaited them at the Tower. Based on her previous encounters with the Maledicti and what Ridmark had told her of Khurazalin, Third expected that the Maledicti had not come alone. Khurazalin had preferred to use Sir Archaelon and Prince Rypheus as his tools. Urzhalar had surrounded himself with Justin Cyros’s army, and Qazaldhar and Khurazalin had used the Necromancer and his horde of the Bronze Dead as their weapons.
No doubt the Maledictus who had cast the oneiromantic spell would employ similar tactics.
“It occurs to me,” said Third, “that we may be walking into a trap.”
“Probably,” said Ridmark, his face grim as he looked at the Tower’s white bulk.
“What manner of trap?” said Tamara. She seemed uneasy, but there was a fierceness in her eyes that Third thought boded well for the battle ahead. Tamara would not forgive the attack on her family and neighbors.
“It is a cunning stratagem,” said Magatai. “The enemy knew that some of us would resist his power. Thus, he lies in wait for us in the Tower of Nightmares. Magatai would use a similar plan if he were an evil sorcerer and not one of the paramount warriors of the Takai.”
“The Maledicti have faced you several times before,” said Third to Ridmark. “By now they must have a clearer idea of the capabilities of a Swordbearer.” She listened to the song that burned in her blood and heart. Once the song of her father the Traveler had burned there, but now her own song blazed within her. “We are far enough from the Swords that I can use my power. I had better take a look ahead.”
“Go,” said Ridmark. “We’ll catch up to you.”
“Power?” said Magatai. “What power?”
Kyralion laughed. “You are in for a surprise.”
Third smiled at him, and he smiled back. Suddenly she wondered what his mouth would feel like against her own, and she pushed the thought from her mind. This was neither the time nor the place for such musing.
She drew her short swords from their scabbards, took a step forward, and called on the fire in her blood, the heritage of her dark elven father.
Blue fire swallowed her, and the world vanished.
She reappeared atop a hill to the north and looked around, using the higher vantage point to assess their surroundings. As far as Third could tell, no enemies moved through the nearby foothills. Of course, the Maledictus would have been foolish to send his minions into the hills. It would be wiser to wait in the ruins of the Tower where a proper ambush could be prepared.
Because the Maledictus would try to ambush them, Third was certain of it. The Maledictus had to know that Ridmark would come for him. Nothing would stop the Shield Knight from tracking down those who had used dark magic against his wife and friends.
Third used her power for three more jumps, drawing closer to the Tower of Nightmares. She stopped for a few moments with every jump, looking around, but nothing moved in the hills.
A final burst of power and concentration, and she reappeared before the gate of the Tower of Nightmares.
The ruin stretched over her, silent as the grave.
Once, Third suspected, the Tower of Nightmares had been a mighty fortress indeed. A curtain wall of white stone encircled the entire top of the hill, dotted every so often with towers and bastions. Within were the crumbled remains of several other buildings, and a massive central tower rose at least five hundred feet into the air. It must have been even taller in the days of its glory. The Tower of Nightmares would have been able to seal off the Pass of Ruins. Siege engines could have rained destruction upon an army marching through the pass, to say nothing of the powers the gray elven wizards would have been able to employ.
Now the Tower was a ruin, its outer wall crumbling, its inner buildings and towers nothing more than empty shells of white stone. For all that, the ruin still had a solemn grandeur. The ruins of the dark elves were disturbing, unsettling places, the angles and aesthetics beautiful but wrong to human eyes. The ruins of the gray elves had a tragic air to them, the reminders of a mighty civilization that the Sovereign had ground into the dust over the millennia.
And the place appeared utterly deserted.
Third glided forward in silence, swords ready in her hands, moving past the twin statues of robed gray elven wizards at the gate. Nothing moved in the ruined buildings beyond the curtain wall, and Third walked down a path paved with white flagstones, stepping around the stones overturned by weeds and small bushes.
She came to a wide courtyard of white stone at the base of the huge central tower. Nothing moved in the deserted courtyard. Third’s eyes roved over the tower, noting the high, narrow windows, the statues of gray elven warriors and wizards standing in niches along the sides. She crossed to the tower’s entrance, a wide archway, and looked inside. Most of the tower’s interior had collapsed in a pile of white rubble, but at the base of that heaped stone, Third saw a stairway spiraling down into the earth.
Likely the ruins extended far underground, tunneling into the bones of the mountains themselves.
Ridmark was going to love that.
Third turned, drew on the fiery song in her blood, and traveled away.
She spotted Ridmark and the others after her third jump and used a fourth to appear a few yards away. Magatai was talking, waving his bow for emphasis as he did so.
“Then she is not a sorceress?” said the halfling.
“No,” said Ridmark. “She is not.” He looked at Third as she approached. “Perhaps she can tell you all about it at a more convenient time. Anything?”
“I reached the central courtyard of the Tower of Nightmares,” said Third. “It appears to be deserted. That said, I observed a stairwell descending into the earth within the central tower. I expect the ruin extends a good distance underground.”
Ridmark sighed. “Of course it does.”
“My kindred, in the days of their power, built extensively underground,” said Kyralion. “Such places provided redoubts during times of siege and places to store food.”
Tamara frowned at Ridmark. “You’ve explored such underground ruins before?”
“Once or twice.”
A short time later they came to the Tower and paused at the gate, the statues of the elven wizards gazing out over the hills.
“Antenora?” said Ridmark. “Anything?”
He looked back and forth, frowning as he listened to Antenora’s voic
e in his head.
“What does she have to say?” said Third.
“You were right,” said Ridmark with a scowl. “The source of the spell is someplace underground. That’s where the Maledictus and any of its servants will be waiting for us.”
“Then we have the advantage,” said Magatai. “The voice in your head can guide us unerringly to the source of the dream spell.”
“She can,” said Ridmark, “but she doesn’t have a map of the ruins. We could blunder into a trap, and almost certainly the Maledictus will be on its guard. We’ll have to be careful.” He turned to Magatai. “I think you had better leave Northwind here. I doubt an underground tunnel is any place for a struthian.”
Magatai scowled. “Alas, Shield Knight, you speak wisdom.” He slid out of the saddle and spoke to the struthian in the Takai tongue. Third had no idea whether or not the spindly lizard understood him, but the creature let out a sad squawk and remained standing where it was. Magatai equipped himself with a bronze short sword and his bow. “I am ready.”
Ridmark nodded and drew Oathshield, the blue blade flickering with pale white light.
He led the way into the silent ruins of the Tower of Nightmares. Nothing moved among the heaps of white rubble, and they reached the central courtyard without incident. Ridmark stopped at the edge, looking back and forth.
“Antenora sees something?” said Third.
“Yes,” said Ridmark. “A spell, at the base of the tower. There are…”
The air at the entrance to the tower rippled, and two robed figures appeared.
###
Tamara sucked in an alarmed breath as the two robed shapes appeared at the foot of the tower.
She had been certain, absolutely certain, that no one had been there.
Both robed figures floated a few inches off the ground, their garments stirring around them. The one on the right wore a silver-colored robe, its surface ornate and a sash bound around the waist. The face within the voluminous cowl was a horror. It had once been an orcish face, but now it was undead, the skin leathery and faded, the eye sockets empty and glowing with ghostly blue fire.
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