Chosen (Majaos Book 1)

by Gary Stringer

  “Signature?” Phaer wondered.

  “Just as nobody has precisely the same handwritin’,” he explained, “every mage has a personal signature that they use tae cast spells.” Eilidh nodded. “Catalysts have used this technique since - well, forever I suppose - to catch criminal mages and prove their guilt. Nobody can forge a magical signature because nobody can precisely duplicate the thoughts and will of another. This proves that the dragon-binding spell was cast by the same mage as the illusionmagic.”

  “Aye, and examination of dead chaos creatures confirms the use of wizard-style control magic.”

  “Same signature?” Eilidh enquired, already knowing the answer.

  “Aye, lass, same signature.”

  “But that’s impossible!” Toli protested. “That’s three distinct magical Secrets: Fire, Shadow and Earth. Noone can cast all three!”

  “The evidence says, apparently somebody can,” Eilidh countered.

  “And if he can do that, then who knows what other abilities he might have?” Rochelle pondered.

  “That could explain how he penetrated Shakaran Castle’s defences,” Phaer suggested. “Aye, lad,” Granite agreed. “Difficult to defend against the unknown.”

  “The question doth remain, however, Eilidh: What is thy plan from here?” Hannah asked. Before she could give the Knight an answer, Toli let out an excited cry. “Wow! That's so great! Sorry. Inappropriate timing, I know, but I've just looked through Kismet's pack and found something for me, just like he said. There's a note from Prince Garald that basically says he understands that I've felt a bit useless, since my magic's not up to much. So he left it to Kismet's discretion to determine when he felt I was ready to learn my next grade of magician spells. The volume I need is in the pack also. Poor Kismet. I miss him.” The hobbit sniffed and blinked back tears, at the memory of the unique, irrepressible individual. “The Prince Regent sends his apologies,” she continued. “That he can't offer the rest of you - that he knows about of course - the same thing, but there is no way for him to train you from a distance. He promises to set that straight when we return his daughter to him.”

  “That's very kind of him,” Eilidh said, “but there was no reason for you to feel useless. I for one am glad to have you around.” The Catalyst pulled the hood of her robes over her head to cover her face as she flushed at that admission. “Can you learn your spells on the move? We really need to get going.”

  “Sure thing, Eilidh, but where exactly are we going?”

  “As far as I can see, there's only one place the kidnapper could have gone to ground - the mines over there to the east.”

  Everybody seemed to agree with her assessment, so she set her shoulders and led the way.

  * * * * *

  The party stood before the mouth of the Marina Fells mine, gaping wide and toothless like some great rock monster. “This is what we came for,” said Eilidh. “If anybody wants to back out, now's the time to say so. At this point nobody will think any less of you. But, let’s face it, none of us knows that much about each other. Any one of us could be a spy, ready to stab the others in the back. Therefore, from the moment we set foot inside the mine, up until the moment we come out with Mystaya, anyone who tries to leave will be considered a traitor and an enemy. As such they will be killed. Does everyone agree to these terms?”

  There were general murmurs of assent. Loric in particular was impressed, though he kept it to himself. You wouldn’t know it to look at her, he thought, but she has iron in her spine. She's not hungry for adventure or battle, but when it comes down to it, she is willing to do what needs to be done. Yes, very impressive.

  “Thy rules are both fair and honourable,” Lady Hannah affirmed. “Truly, I pledge my sword to thy task.”

  “Anyone who betrays you will find some of my arrows in their back,” Phaer offered in support.

  “Alright then, let's go.”

  * * * * * The entrance to the Marina Fells Mine had clearly been blasted out of the side of the mountain with magic, and the tunnels shaped by magicians. A magically activated oil lamp saved the need for direct magical lighting. Eilidh was satisfied it was sufficiently low level magic that it shouldn't be picked up by the detection magic that she could sense. The way the wind howled through the tunnels ahead, sounded not unlike the snoring of some kind of large beast in a deep cavern. At least, they hoped it was just the wind. Tools lay scattered, as their owners had dropped whatever they were doing at the time of the alarm.

  Perhaps they would have been better off staying here, Eilidh considered. The party had not gone very far when they saw that some apparently had stayed and fared no better - the evidence being yet more dead bodies. Granite was quick to spot various gem fragments lying around and it became something of a competition between the dwarf and Bunny as to who would claim the bigger collection when they came out again.

  About three or four hundred yards down that first dark, dank tunnel the way ahead split into two forks. They stopped to consult one another, over which path to take. The ranger Phaer, Granite the dwarf and Bunny who was used to sneaking around in dark places, each had expertise to add, but none could give any solid reason to choose one over the other.

  “In that case,” Eilidh decided, “we should follow a logical search pattern, turning left at every junction, unless we have a good reason to do otherwise.”

  Her followers all agreed with the practical Catalyst's judgement, so they continued their exploration of the mine, taking the left fork.

  * * * * *

  Lakeside, the old man in golden robes was still fuming. “Now see what you've done!” he demanded of the serpent. “I didn't even get to introduce myself thanks to you!”

  “Me, sir?” demanded the serpent. “You were the one making all the fuss.” “Fuss? Fuss! Why I've never heard such balderdash in all my life! Still, at least we got them away from the village,” the old man allowed. “Time's going on and we can't have them standing around there all day.”

  “True, sir, but you were supposed to tell them a few things about the mine. That's why we came here, remember?”

  “Oh they'll be alright,” said the old man, waving a hand dismissively. “Yes, sir, I'm sure they will. Just so long as they take the first right when they get down there.”

  “Ah yes, there is that isn't there?” the old man mused. “You don't really think they be so stupid as to turn left, do you?”

  “They might, sir. After all, we know it's stupid to turn left, but they don't know what's down there because younever told them.”

  The old man blanched. “Oh dear.” On the far side of the lake, a bronze dragon slid stealthily and silently from the lake, being careful not to be seen. She immediately shapeshifted into the form of a woman and headed for the mine, following the party she had seen. She readied weapons, just in case, being careful not spill any of the arrows she was carrying. They were in the way but shecouldn’t just leave them lying around, so she just checked they were secure and hurried onwards. She had no reason to believe that the strange old man knew what he was talking about, but on the off-chance that he was right, she could at least try to help this assorted group. Certainly, it didn't take much of a leap of logic to believe that they were doing something important. Then, of course, there was the question of the slaughter of this sleepy little village that the outside world had long since forgotten even existed. At the very least, this situation was worthy of investigation. Her father would be furious, she knew, but to some mischievous part of her mind, that was almost reason enough in of itself. Besides, in her experience, these things always worked out for the best in the end. With no further thought, then, she rushed headlong into the mine.

  Chapter 18

  The tunnel the group were following took off at a ninety-degree angle to the left another five hundred yards further on. It didn't take much of a sense of direction to work out that they were headed back towards the entry side, but there was no draft that might indicate another opening. Another sharp be
nd to the left took them by surprise, so they were now travelling parallel to the cliff face. There was plenty of rubble strewn all over the floor, along with still more bodies, just like near the entrance. At least, that was their first impression. Closer examination, however, made Granite point out the difference. These bodies were in varying states of decay. Not all of them were recent. In fact, some of the rubble, it turned out, was not rubble at all, but fragments of bone.

  They turned as one at the sound of footsteps running up behind them.

  “Stop!” cried a female voice. “Don't go down that way!”

  “Step into the light, miss.” It was Lady Hannah who issued the challenge. “And state thine intentions. Speak as a friend or die as an enemy.”

  “Most humans call me Taka. I appear to you as a woman, though I am in fact a bronze dragon.” “She's telling the truth about that,” Callie said. “There were bronze dragons near to my mother's nest. I learned to sense them and I can sense her in the same way. Tell us, Taka, why is it that should we not go down this way, exactly?”

  “Well, I’m not sure exactly—” Just then there was a deep groaning sound that seemed to come from the depths of Majaos and in the dim light they watched, as a large boulder up ahead slowly stood up, drawing itself up to its full height of over seven feet. It was an Ore Golem; creatures known to be created by a random reaction of magic on the minerals found in mines.

  “—But I think it might have something to do with that,” Taka finished, her eyes wide.

  “Everyone back up!” Eilidh called out, taking charge. “Don't get too close - it'll pound any of us into a pulp! Calandra said a prayer to Cause Light Wounds on the creature, but it barely noticed. Phaer shot an arrow into its belly, but it just rebounded off the rocky hide and did no noticeable damage. Bunny called on her sorcery to give the creature a mental jolt with her Mind Jab spell. It failed.

  She cursed in frustration. “That's the trouble with illusion magic: I'm trying to attack its mind, but it doesn't have enough of a mind to attack.”

  “Same problem with my druid magic,” Rochelle agreed. “The Sickness Spell is supposed to affect an enemy’s body fluids.”

  “It's made of rock,” Eilidh pointed out. “It doesn't have any body fluids.”

  “Exactly my problem.” Loric was all set to rush the creature - it was Lady Hannah who physically held h im back. “I doubt not thy courage, sir, but such an act wouldst surely be most reckless and foolhardy. I am rather more protected than thou art, but I am more concerned with the defence of our group.” That said, she kept her distance, but threw her spear with as much force as she could muster. It flew straight and true, scoring the first significant damage. The creature seemed incapable of feeling pain, however, and it did not even flinch as the head of the spear buried itself in its rocky hide.

  Granite took note of that result and issuing a great dwarven battle cry, threw his own spear at the Golem, but his efforts were not so greatly rewarded - it just bounced off harmlessly. The bolts from his crossbow proved equally ineffective. The dwarf swore, loudly.

  “My weapons art sanctified by powerful Clerics,” Hannah offered. “’Tis unlikely that ordinary weapons shalt be effective”. “Don't worry about it,” Eilidh advised, calmly, using her head. “The situation isn't all that serious. This thing obviously can't move very fast, so all we have to do is stay far enough ahead to lure it outside. Then we've got three dragons to help us.”

  “Oh, that's true, isn't it?” Toli sounded disappointed. “I guess I won't be testing out my new spells, then.”

  Eilidh placed a gentle, reassuring hand on her friend's shoulder and said, “I'm sure the time will come soon enough, when we rely on your new magic.”

  “Really?” Toli asked, brightening. “You think so?”

  “Yes, I'm certain we'll all be in mortal danger and Miss Tolbrietta Hobbnobb will save us with her magician's art.” “Fantastic! That is, I mean, it's not fantastic you being in mortal danger, but if you were in mortal danger it would be great if I could save you...well, it would be great no matter who saved you, so long as you got saved, but if my magic can help, well...”

  “It's OK, Toli. I know what you mean,” Eilidh assured her. Still the Ore Golem lumbered on toward the fleeing party. Suddenly, Bunny yelled, “Stop!” and threw a dagger at Taka, who was at the head of the party, having been the last to enter the chamber.

  She whirled around as the dagger just nicked her left ear.

  “What the hell-?” she began, but her voice was drowned out by a thick stone slab that shot out just behind her and blocked the tunnel. “Sorry,” Bunny said, “but I've been checking for traps. If you'd gone one step further it would have been you crushed by that thing instead of just my knife. I couldn't be sure if just my shout would make you stop quickly enough, but I figured if I attacked you,you'd almost have to react.”

  “Oh, I see,” said Taka. “Thank you.” “It’s OK, sweetie,” Bunny winked. “The first one’s on the house.”

  Their escape route blocked, Lady Hannah drew her sword and saluted the Ore Golem.

  “Now we fight?” Loric asked.

  “Indeed, Loric. Now we fight!”

  “Aye! Let's get the blasted thing!” Granite yelled, gripping his battle-axe. “You coming, Bunny?” he looked around, but the Sumorityl had disappeared. “Now I get to save us with my magic!” Toli said, excitedly. Sadly, she realised she still had nothing that was likely to harm an Ore Golem, so she had to content herself with casting Air Armour on Loric to aid in his protection. Not that it would help much in the event of a direct hit.

  “Keep moving!” Phaer advised. “That's your only advantage its slow movement.” He was just about to draw his own sword and engage in melee fighting himself, much as he hated it, when he was momentarily blinded by a flash of light as the lamplight reflected off something sticking out of Taka's pack.

  “Sorry,” Taka apologised, starting to remove her pack, “these things keep getting in the way.” .

  The offending reflection had come from an arrowhead, Phaer realised.“Wait!” he said, putting a staying hand on Taka's arm. “Let me have a look at them. May I?” he asked.

  “Sure,” Taka agreed.

  The half-elf ranger carefully took one of the arrows out of Taka's backpack and beheld it with wonder in his eyes. “Do you know what these are?” he breathed in awe. Taka shrugged, “Just a bunch of arrows - some sea elves gave them to me after I helped them out with a bit of trouble they were having. I'm not into bow and arrows, but I didn't want to offend the elves by refusing their gift. You can have them if you like, if we live through this.”

  “Oh we will now,” Phaer said. “I guarantee it.” To the dodging melee fighters, he called out. “Back off, all of you! I need a clear shot!” They hesitated, which came at a high cost for Granite Longbeard who was knocked face first into the cavern wall by the golem. Loric and Hannah resumed their attack on the other side, trying to draw it away from finishing off the unconscious and bloody dwarf.

  Phaer turned to Eilidh and locked his eyes onto hers. “Will you trust me?” he asked.

  Eilidh nodded. “Hannah, Loric - you heard the man. Back off!” They withdrew to a safe distance as Phaer nocked Taka's arrow and pulled back the drawstring. The Ore Golem roared and lumbered towards him, perhaps sensing the danger, but it was too late. The half-elf was committed and time was his. He let fly and with a satisfying sound through the air, it approached its target unerringly. It skimmed along the shaft of Lady Hannah's spear, where it was stuck in the creature, and finally pierced the rocky skin.

  At first, it looked like nothing would happen, but then cracks began to appear around the spear and arrowhead. They grew, lengthened, widened and spread throughout the Golem's body, and then with one final roar, the Ore Golem shattered into a thousand fragments. The spear and arrow clattered to the floor, and Phaer went to inspect them. Both were still usable. Meanwhile, his companions looked on, stunned by what they had just witnessed. A m
oment later, he was surrounded as they celebrated, shaking his hands, pounding him on the back and hugging him. The ranger flushed at all the attention and gently extracted himself from their adulation.

  * * * * * Loric had a nasty gash down one side, though he admitted it would have been much worse but for Lady Hannah's intervention. She had knocked him aside and taken the brunt of the powerful golem's blow. The Knight asked him to give her a helping hand removing her breastplate. It was not easy, but at last it came off and she set about pounding out the serious dent it now sported. She was limping slightly from another glancing glow to her left hip, but she would hear nothing of healing until Granite was alright. Calandra and Rochelle did what they could for the dwarf. Their abilities were limited, but they got him on his feet again and cleaned up the worst of the blood. Lady Hannah examined her bent and broken sword and sighed. “Cleric enhanced or no, I fear this fine weapon hath swung its last.” Granite's axe was dulled and chipped slightly, but still useable. Dwarven weapons were often designed to double as mining equipment. Loric's dragonscale sword was good as new once he cleaned his own blood off the blade.

  “How did you do that?” Eilidh asked Phaer, looking upon him with a new level of respect. He held up the fatal arrow, letting the metal tip catch the light. “These arrows that our new friend is so casual about...they're tipped with mithril ore. Forged by dwarves and enchanted by powerful elves.”

  “And you didn't want to come along!” Eilidh pointed out with a sidelong glance and a nudge.

  Phaer just smiled.

  “Mithril!” gasped Lady Hannah. “That metal is sacred to the Knights. It is one of very few items of magical nature that we are permitted to use.” “In that case, today's your lucky day,” came Bunny's voice as sh e wandered back into the lamplight, arms heavyladen. “I have something here that I think you're going to like.” She walked over and put her stuff on the ground. "Behold, Excalibur!" She declared, holding aloft a brightly shining broadsword. "Well OK, maybe not quite," she allowed. "It's a pretty fine weapon, though," Bunny concluded, handing it to Hannah.