The Lord of Obsidian [Quest for Earthlight Trilogy Book 2]

by Laraine Anne Barker

  "You took your time in coming. I'd almost given up hope.” A sudden thought occurred to Peter. “Was it you who put the sleeping spell on everybody except me?"

  "Who else? I was also responsible for your decision to pretend to be still drugged. It surprises me that Morgause didn't tumble to that one. She ought to know how long the effects of her drugs should last."

  "It couldn't have been just drugs, though, because I was paralyzed as well as unconscious. They wouldn't have had drugs as powerful as that in the dark ages, would they?"

  Merlin shrugged. “Not that I know of. But then I wouldn't have much use for a drug that paralyzes. I've studied only herbs that heal. That's not to say Morgause hasn't discovered something that does paralyze, though. She's very knowledgeable in that direction."

  By this time they had reached the bottom of the hill and now stood in the slush left by the wolves.

  "Hadn't we better get out of here before the spell wears off at the inn?” Peter asked.

  "Don't tell me you're afraid of that hag with me around."

  Peter found it difficult to tell, even after looking at Merlin's face, whether or not the sorcerer was teasing him. He grinned as he conjured up Morgause's bedroom at the inn and remembered how easily he had destroyed her “sleeping beauty” image—and all through the power of Merlin. Yes, he thought, feeling all the tension of the past few days slip from him like a discarded cloak, it's great to have him around.

  "I wish you could have seen her when I shook her. She flopped around like a rag doll.” He was rewarded by the brief, schoolboyish grin that lit Merlin's face all too seldom.

  However, the grin disappeared, leaving Peter wondering if he'd imagined it, and the sorcerer's normal grim lines marched across his face. “We'd better get you and Dreyfus back to Bart's property. It's the best place for you, even though I opened the way for the Evil One and his servants by inadvertently taking Jadus Castirio from Morgause's side and bringing him here. With Dreyfus having come into full power you'll have more protection now. It's not ideal but it's the best I can do at the moment."

  "What about the farm in the South Island where we spent Christmas?” Peter asked wistfully.

  "Thaddeus Carter is with me when he's not tending to the business of his farm. In fact he's had to hire extra staff because both he and his chief farm hand, Simon Te Awa, are working with the Lady and myself."

  "Oh!” was all Peter said, but was only too aware that to Merlin's keen ears the word would contain a wealth of information.

  "There's no need to feel envious, Peter. Our work is tedious to say the least. Lying unmoving in those stone coffins was no picnic, and what we're doing at the moment is ... well, not much different. And you will see the Lady again, many times. In the meantime, all the Earthlight wants you to do while awaiting your cues is to enjoy your holiday."

  Peter sighed. “I'll try. Only I wish we could all be together. If we could work as a team we'd have more power against the Enemy."

  Merlin shook his head. “I'm afraid it doesn't work like that. If only it did things would be so much easier.” He was beginning to sound impatient. “Now let's go while we've still got the chance."

  He grabbed Peter's hand with one of his own and Dreyfus's collar with the other. Before Peter could draw breath the moonlit stretch of slushy snow began to spin and fade. The muddy white turned green, and the spinning sensation suddenly stopped. Peter found himself standing in the middle of the forest that covered most of Bart Brown's land. Merlin was nowhere in sight. Argent stood tethered a short distance away, contentedly munching an apple. Dreyfus stood by her head, tentatively sniffing the pieces of apple.

  Peter looked at his watch. “I guess it's time for lunch anyway, you two."

  He gathered some fallen needles into a pile under a tree and sat down on it to eat. Dreyfus settled down beside him. Peter had chosen a tree where shafts of sunlight found their way to the forest floor and the warmth of the sun, although not great, was enough to relax his suddenly tired muscles. Having finished his lunch, he sat staring at the forest, daydreaming. Daydreaming soon turned to sleep. Sleep in turn became dreams.

  Peter saw the serving woman left to guard his bedside wake suddenly the next morning. She muttered something about feeling strange and having dreamt most peculiar dreams that she couldn't remember.

  She was standing still half-asleep by the empty pillow, feeling all over the bed as though trying to deny the evidence of her own eyes, when the key turned in the lock and Morgause entered. The witch took one look at the empty bed and obviously noted the absence of Peter's clothing. “Where is he?"

  "I d-don't know, my lady."

  Morgause went up to the woman and shook her. “Search the room, you stupid slut! He can't have gone through a locked door!"

  The woman obediently searched everywhere. It took only a few moments as there were few places where Peter could have hidden. She even examined the window, but it was fastened on the inside. She stood at the window staring in apparent astonishment before opening the shutters wide. “Look, my lady."

  It was no longer snowing, but the sun hadn't risen sufficiently to melt the snow on the ground. Peter ignored the scene outside the window and watched Morgause instead. She stared hard. Her ivory features blanched.

  "It must have been the wolves. The wolves we heard yesterday evening must have followed us to the inn."

  She went from room to room, with the servant following. They searched everywhere for Peter and looked out every window, and from every window they saw the same view of churned-up snow. Peter followed them, ignored as though he was just a ghost.

  "You'll be punished for this!” Morgause shouted at the errant serving woman when they arrived back at Peter's room. “I made you responsible for his safety. I told you he was precious to me. You went to sleep and allowed Merlin the Enchanter to spirit him away."

  "If he were spirited away, my lady, it weren't Merlin what did it,” the servant sniveled. “It must have been them wolves. There was ´undreds of them. You couldn't possibly expect me to protect him from being taken by wolves."

  Morgause's eyes narrowed with hatred and suspicion.

  "Wolves?” she snarled. “That's not Merlin's style. Why would anyone send out a pack of wolves for such a reason? If I sent wolves after you it would be to kill you, you stupid fool!"

  The woman winced.

  "Maybe Merlin sent the wolves to kill you,” she suggested with sly flattery. “You know how jealous he is of your skills."

  Morgause remained unmollified. Her eyes continued to spit green fire. “I told you that's not Merlin's style.” Then: “Bring me my crystal ball, woman."

  The woman's mouth fell open and she stared at Morgause foolishly. Then, as the glint in Morgause's eyes turned to sparking fury, she turned and left the room, returning with something in a black, heavily padded velvet pouch. Holding it as though it contained a poisonous snake, she handed the bag to Morgause. Morgause snatched it.

  "Get out!"

  The woman scuttled from the room, clearly glad to escape. Morgause slammed and locked the door. She then made sure the shutters were fully closed before drawing the crystal ball from its pouch and carefully setting it on the bedside table. Peter saw that it was still covered by a black cloth. Morgause then pulled a chair up to the table and sat down, blocking the crystal ball from Peter's gaze.

  He moved quickly, just in time to see Morgause snatch the cloth from the ball. He saw the glint of greed in the green eyes before she lowered her lids to stare into the globe.

  "I wish it was the Obsidian Orb,” she muttered aloud. “This thing's useless compared to the Obsidian Orb."

  She leaned forward, her body tense with concentration, and spread her hands over the bright surface of the crystal ball.

  "I want to know who sent the wolves,” she commanded in a low voice. “Who owns the wolves?” She stared into the ball for about thirty seconds. Her next words came out in almost a shout, such was her astonishment. “The dog ow
ns the wolves!” She crouched forward and spoke through clenched teeth. “I command you to tell me the truth. Who sent the wolves?"

  There was another pause.

  "Ah! That makes more sense. The wolves were sent to destroy the Child of the Earthlight. They were led by Cerberus. The boy's dog challenged Cerberus and won, so the wolves now follow the Dog of the Earthlight.” She smashed her fist down on the table by the crystal ball, which jumped to one side. “That makes the dog very dangerous. We must destroy both dog and boy!” She leaned over the crystal ball. “How do I destroy dog and boy?"

  A self-satisfied smile spread itself over the lovely features. “Ah! That's more like it! That's more my style."

  She flung the black cloth back over the globe and bundled it back into the velvet pouch. Her next move surprised Peter. She went to the bed where he had slept and searched through the bedclothes, where she found a handkerchief that he had used. Finally she collected a few hairs from the pillow. “This should be enough."

  Purposefully she unbolted the door and strode from the room. The door closed with a slam. Peter went hot and cold all over. With the slam of the door still ringing in his ears, he saw what Morgause was about to do. As though looking through her eyes, he saw the little wax doll with brown hair and gray eyes. Its features were amazingly complete. And it looked exactly like him.

  Chapter 9

  Lost in the Forest

  PETER OPENED his eyes. The sunlight had gone and he was slumped against the tree-trunk. Dreyfus stood looking at him in puzzlement. Peter sat up, stretching and yawning to remove the last traces of sleep and the sensation of evil left by the dream. He rubbed away the pins and needles in his arm.

  "Was that just a bad dream, Dreyfus, or did I see something that really happened?” In his mind's eye he saw the evil wax image again and shuddered. “It seemed too real to be just a dream. How come Morgause couldn't see me, though? I might as well have been a ghost. I must have been little more than a ghost."

  He rose, brushed himself down and looked at Dreyfus, who gazed back, tongue lolling. Anything more to eat? the dog's eyes seemed to implore.

  "It's hard to believe you made all those wolves cower, Dreyfus. They would have killed any other dog.” He sighed. “I think we'll go back to the house now. I'd like to see Merlin about that wax image, but Bart will have to do. I've a feeling it's something I have to sort out myself. Maybe Bart can advise me."

  He untethered and mounted Argent. Remembering what Bart had told him, he said, “Home, girl.” Confident Argent would find the way without trouble, he let his thoughts wander freely.

  Lost in these thoughts, Peter failed to notice the ominous darkening of the sky. By this time they were trotting along the path at the forest edge. He saw no lightning. The thunder simply exploded overhead on his right, while rain came sheeting down. He had no time to decide what to do. Dreyfus made the decision for him, instantly veering left back into the forest. Panic-stricken, Argent followed, gathering speed as she ran. Even before they reached the forest cover, however, they were drenched. Peter tried turning the pony's head back.

  "Come on, Argent. What's the point in trying to shelter when we're already wet?"

  Argent wasn't normally either easily frightened or disobedient, yet all Peter's efforts to pull her up were in vain. Stubbornly she followed the dog. By the time they entered the forest Peter had become really worried, for there was no path. Argent simply trailed Dreyfus through the trees as best she could. Peter blessed the fact that, because the trees were grown for timber, there were few low-hanging branches. The lack of a path, however, slowed both dog and pony, enabling Peter to finally bring Argent to a halt. Sternly he called Dreyfus back and the dog reluctantly returned to his side. He could feel Argent trembling violently and he spent some time soothing her before taking stock of his surroundings.

  "Look what you two have done. You've got us lost. Fancy being afraid of thunder."

  Peter glanced back the way they had come. But by now he couldn't see the edge of the forest and knew it would be impossible to find the way back. There was also a strong possibility he would only go round in circles.

  Dreyfus, however, solved the problem of what to do next. Bursting into vociferous barking, he ran off again. Peter turned to command his return, only to find the dog had already stopped and was looking back at him. Dreyfus barked again and looked first in the direction he had been running and then back at Peter.

  "Well, I suppose following you is no worse than trying to find my own way out. You've got a better sense of smell than I have anyway, although I'm not too sure about your sense of direction.” Peter turned the pony's head towards Dreyfus. The dog looked at him questioningly. “Okay, old boy. Off you go. We'll follow."

  If Dreyfus had been a human being Peter would have said his face relaxed with relief before he turned and trotted off. After a short distance he stopped and looked back to make sure Peter and Argent were following. He repeated this performance until he was clearly confident Peter wasn't going to change his mind, and gave his full attention to nosing out the trail.

  Nosing wasn't the word Peter would have used to describe Dreyfus's actions however, because the dog used only his sense of hearing. He continually raised his head and pricked his ears rather than dropping his head and questing with his nose. He looked supremely confident in the quality of his leadership. Not once did he look unsure of which route to take, but simply took the straightest path possible in his chosen direction.

  Suddenly he stopped, whining. The pricked ears and alert expression disappeared. He flattened his ears and growled, his lips drawn back to show his teeth.

  "What is it, old boy?” Peter tried to sound soothing, but all the nerves in his body felt as though they jangled like broken harp strings.

  The rain had stopped as suddenly as it had begun. It was even dimmer in the forest than under the full force of the downpour. Now it was getting dark as well. Argent twitched nervously under Peter's hands, her ears flicking in all directions. Peter could see the whites of her eyes.

  Then he saw something else, something that set his heart racing: the black cloud of the Enemy. Annoyance mingled with the terror the sight always instilled in him.

  The black cloud advanced through the trees. It appeared to be empty, but Peter had learned by now. His hands firm on the pony's reins, he turned in the saddle to face the cloud. Argent responded to Peter's display of confidence by standing still when he knew she would have preferred flight.

  "Whoever you are, get out. This forest is sacred to the cause of the Earthlight."

  "Too bad your master invited us in, then, isn't it?” answered the sneering voice of Sujad the Great, Lord of Obsidian.

  Peter sighed with apparent exasperation, but all the time his heart was thumping. He could feel it pulsing in his throat and was sure the traitor could see it. “What do you want?"

  "You're getting as surly as your master,” Sujad replied, finally showing himself. The sneer on his face seemed by now to be permanent. “If you don't mind your manners, Pukling, you'll grow into a man nobody wants to know."

  You've already grown into one, Peter thought. But he merely repeated, with raised voice, “What do you want?"

  Sujad looked critically at the boy sitting astride the nervous-looking pony. He narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips to disguise the grudging respect he was beginning to feel for this very ordinary-looking boy. Peter sat quite well in the saddle for someone with few riding lessons to his credit, Sujad couldn't help thinking. There was almost a lordly bearing in the way the boy faced him.

  Sujad's face hardened visibly. “I want the Book of Obsidian; as Lord and Master of Obsidian it belongs to me."

  "You said you didn't want it—that you didn't need it."

  Sujad gave what Peter guessed was meant to be an ingratiating smile. “I changed my mind. I decided it wasn't fitting for the Lord of Obsidian to grant such a privilege to his enemies."

  His answer was almost too glib. Peter fe
lt something tighten in his chest. He was sure that somehow Sujad had divined a way to make use of the Book of Obsidian for his own purposes. “You can't have it."

  All the while his heart hammered. Thank goodness I don't know where Merlin placed it, so I can't give it to Sujad even if I wanted to. I can't bear to think of the Essence of Obsidian being tyrannized by this evil creature.

  "Unfortunately you have no say in the matter. Hand it over."

  "I haven't got it. I don't even know where it is."

  "You lie! You've got it on you!"

  "I have not. Merlin hid it and I don't know where."

  "That's what you think. He hid it on you."

  "In that case I can't help you. Even if I turned my pockets out I couldn't give it to you."

  "You can help. All you have to do is command the Essence of Obsidian to make the book visible. Then you hand it to me."

  "You're supposed to be the Lord of Obsidian. You command the Essence of Obsidian to give you the book."

  "The Essence of Obsidian won't recognize my rights because I failed to claim the book in the beginning.” Sujad ground the words out.

  "Well, it's not alone in that respect. I don't recognize your claim either."

  As soon as he had spoken Peter knew he had gone too far and goaded his enemy beyond endurance. Sujad's hand shot out of the black cloud. A bolt of blue lightning streaked from his fingertips. It hit Peter full in the chest. The world turned black. The forest spun around him in a confusion of evil moving shapes. The pony bolted one way and he fell backwards the other. He heard Argent's shrill whinny as he went down into the dark vortex.

  He felt himself hit the ground, but was sure that whatever he hit it wasn't the forest floor. He lay winded for a few moments and rolled to one side, feeling his right buttock. I'm going to have a lovely big bruise there by tomorrow morning. He lifted his head to see if Argent was still in sight.