by David Ekrut
Bain opened the glass case and felt a trickle of power surround his essence. He’d been wrong before. It would stretch the limits of his strength, but marginally. This was not quite what he would need to perform the ritual and bring the father back to life.
“No,” Bain said, at last. Still, he pushed the artifact into an inner pocket, satisfied when the enhancements remained without direct contact to the touched item.
Treadfor frowned, looking down as if shamed. Bain pulled the manifest from his cloak pocket and held it out to the man along with a writ of sales. Glancing it over, the Kalicodian’s eyes widened.
“There are so many.”
“Yes. Sell or trade them as you see fit. I need an artifact of power soon, or all will be lost.”
“I will, my king. I have few leads to follow up on, but only one that I feel might yield any fruit. It is a long journey to Iremine. I will go there first.”
“Who is your contact?”
“I would not call Lord Theron Argyle a contact, exactly. Recently, I learned Argyle owns an old book about Abadaria. It belonged to an order of magi and explains how to dismantle the traps hiding their treasures. I know how it sounds, but I have reason to believe the book is real. I wanted to verify its veracity myself before bringing it to your attention.”
“Why is this book of any consequence? The city of Abadaria is long dead.”
“I have heard evidence to the contrary. The structures and aeries were all crafted by the Elements, so they still stand. And according to my source, people have been living there all this time. I have acquired an old trade ledger, delivered to me by a trusted agent. It discusses dealings with the ancient city. The account lists several artifacts of great worth, including a weapon called the Incanter’s Blade, which is unparalleled in the power it can give, even to those not gifted with the ability to tame.”
Bain wanted to believe Treadfor’s words, but he could not afford to chase children’s tales. “Any treasures hidden in the ruins would have long-since been pilfered.”
“Not so, my liege. I have it on good authority that the magi have been living in Abadaria since the Shadow Wars. The trade dealings in this ledger are as recent as the past century. It appears the magi living there have been collecting artifacts for nearly three thousand years. And much more aggressively with the dragons’ return.”
“Who is your source?”
“A magus, named Ricaria Beratum. I was moving a shipment of gold for her, and I mentioned I was looking for an artifact of power. She claimed that an old order, called the Keepers of the Dragonkin watches over the sleeping dragons, there in Abadaria. She had several copies of a tome that gave the secrets of bypassing the various wards used by the magi. She sold her last one to Argyle. These magi horde and keep the artifacts in the aeries. I can only guess as to why.”
“Is it not obvious?” Bain asked. “They must be the ones to bring back the dragons. At the very least, they knew of the return in advance. The magi can make artifacts on their own, but without the Elements, their creations are barely more than paltry trinkets. With the dragons attacking elementalists, no more touched items can be crafted. These magi will have a monopoly on artifacts of all kinds.”
“Aye,” he said, nodding. “Even the ever-torches will become a rarity.”
“It will not come to that,” Bain assured him. “When the Father returns, we will wield the dragons like a sword. Who is this magus, this Ricaria? The one who reached out to you. Why would she turn against her own kind?”
“She didn’t say, but she hinted that the magi are far from united, and I saw the hatred in her eyes when she spoke of those Keepers. She traded me the dragon artifact. Claimed it came from Abadaria and there was more if I could get past the wards.”
“She wants vengeance then?”
He nodded. “Aye. I believe so. She was odd and overly paranoid when we spoke. She trusted me less than I trusted her and looked over her shoulder as if she was being followed. The gold she gave me was to trade for a smuggler’s ship. That’s been several tendays past, not too long after the dragons returned. I’ve not seen or heard from her since.”
“Seems very convenient for us.”
Treadfor nodded. “Yes, but I believe her.”
Bain nodded. “After hearing your tale, I do as well. Did this magus speak on these Keepers of Abadaria?”
“Aye. They are hostile to outsiders and the source of the many legends surrounding the lost city. According to the tales, the place is haunted. Few treasure hunters to have ventured into Abadaria have returned with their lives. This was due to the Keepers. They will not trade with you, and if you are found within their walls, they will try to kill you.”
“Yes, yes,” Bain said, waving his hands. “I have heard the stories. Likely spread by the magi to keep people away from their homes. At the heart of this place, there are people. Perhaps, the most dangerous beast to walk Arinth, yet I do not fear them.” He gave Treadfor a smile to show his facetiousness. “What of this book? Have you reached out to Argyle? Is he willing to part with it?”
“Naturally, I offered a hefty sum to Argyle, but he said the book is not and never will be for sale.”
“Was it a ploy to drive up his price?”
“I do not believe so. I have sent several missives. He ignored them all. I hired a few spies to watch him and discovered he has taken a journey. He has been gone for some time. Word is, he hired a small team of mercenaries to accompany him to Abadaria. At the very least, Argyle believes in the authenticity of the book. By his reputation, he is far too miserly to give up his coins without definitive proof.”
“Well done.” Bain placed a hand on Treadfor’s shoulder. “You were right to pursue this lead. I would have never considered the ruins as anything more than fanciful legends. People have been speaking of the ruins more and more in the taverns. This is Ricaria’s doing, no doubt. But Abadaria is not ruined at all, or so it would seem. To have kept such a secret for these number of years would have cost much. How many have died for their city to remain secret? They would not go to such extreme measures without a reason.”
“Aye. Ricaria told me the Keepers hate the elementalists. Any caught taming within the walls will find a fate worse than death. When pressed, Ricaria would speak no more on the matter.”
“I understand. Thank you, Treadfor.”
“You will travel to Iremine first, I presume. How soon will you depart?”
“Without delay.”
Treadfor nodded. “I thought you would say so. I have prepared a few packs with travel gear and have fresh skeins ready.”
“Always astute.”
Treadfor bowed. “I will see you out, so my men don’t become suspicious of who you really are.”
“After you.”
Treadfor led him back down the stairs to the reception hall. Seeing him, Lana set down her wine glass and came to greet him. She raised an eyebrow in question to which he shook his head. This would not be the end of their journey.
“Crandol,” Treadfor called. “Fetch the gear I had prepared and give it to these fine men.”
“He has already given us the gear,” Ferious said, placing his empty glass on a table. He picked up a pack and slung it over his shoulder. “You have our thanks.”
“Aye,” Bain said, moving to the door. “It has been a pleasure doing business with you.”
“And with you,” Treadfor replied.
With the facade complete, Bain left the home. The two mercenaries escorted them from the property, and Bain turned toward the gate.
“The artifact was worthless then?” Ferious asked.
“No,” Bain said, feeling its strength. “But it will not bring the father back to us either.”
Lana moved into step beside him. “Where to then?”
“Do not despair. I have a promising lead.”
He could
see from her furrowed brow she wanted more, but she nodded and fell silent. Ferious did as well. For several blocks, their boots on the pavement were the only sounds. Once they moved beyond the noble’s district, a crowd could be heard cheering.
Despite being the wrong direction, Bain found his feet marching toward the noise. The shops and taverns to the center of the market were all but abandoned. Those patrons who remained peeked from windows and porches, trying to witness the commotion in the square.
Gallows had been constructed on the platform with a single rope. A body occupied the noose. Long hair fell loosely about the figure’s shoulders. The woman wore white robes with the symbol of a hand holding a lightning bolt stitched just above her heart. Blue eyes, strained from strangulation, stared out at nothing. This was the woman who had called out to him before. In the cages to the side, the remaining elementalists cried for mercy. He could feel the desperation in their voices.
Mercy they would have.
“Free them at any cost,” Bain said to his men, while filling his essence with Fire and Water “Remember our contingency for the dragons.”
Without turning to see if they followed, he pushed through the crowd, ignoring their curses at being jostled. Once free of the onlookers, he focused on the blood inside the guardian in front of the gallows and tamed a schism. Red liquid ripped from the man’s eyes, mouth, and ears.
“Seeker-spawn!” Another man shouted.
Bain covered him in flames. To the man’s merit, he continued to alert his compatriots of Bain’s presence, albeit at a much higher pitch. A chorus of steel rang out as men emptied their scabbards. Pulling all five Elements into himself, Bain never slowed. For the first time in over a month, Air, Earth, Water, and Fire poured into him, and the power of Death filled his essence.
In the back of his thoughts, he heard a voice cry out in warning, but he ignored it. He would answer to the father for his sins later. For now, these guardians needed to learn what it meant to put his kind in cages.
Those wearing the guardian’s crescent moon died in the most painful deaths he could imagine. Before the bodies could hit the cobbles, he tamed Death into their bones and forced the constructs to fight their standing comrades.
Lana, Ferious, and the others were at the cages. The Elements swirled about them, and the bars crumbled around the prisoners. Those gifted in Air immediately flew off. Tamers of Earth dropped into the ground. Others fled without taming a trickle of power.
Then Bain felt it.
The movements in the air above him were far too great to be anything other than a dragon. Replacing the Elements he’d tamed, Bain burned his essence to hasten his movements.
Around him, men and women seemed to slow and become sluggish. Those running appeared frozen in mid-stride. He had originally discovered this talent by accident, but he had spent many years practicing. He would have precisely eleven seconds before his essence was empty and he fell unconscious.
Turning, he took a full two seconds to study his enemy.
This close, he could not see the entirety of the dragon. Its head was reared back. Each of its blue scales overlaid one another in an impenetrable wall. Serpentine eyes looked down at him. He considered testing its defenses, but by all accounts the Elements fizzled off dragons like snow thrown into a furnace.
Bain tamed flight and took to the skies.
He felt a rush of Elements behind him and glanced back long enough to see the dragon soar into the sky. It was moving very fast. That was fine. He could lead the beast away from the others. Then, he would find a way to escape.
It would all be fine.
Chapter 17
Healthy Fears
Dear Anetia,
Do you now devolve to using my own quips against me? I have come to expect better from you. I used the term “overseers” because the Keepers press me to produce, but unlike with the Makers, these magi see the merits of my efforts and respect my expertise. I suppose you are correct in your assessment. It is easier to do my work by referring to my subjects by numbers, rather than name. However, I should point out that such practices are standard procedure and not an attempt to dehumanize them. How many experimental logs did we study together in the Maker’s library that began this way? Then, I do remember you commenting on this before now. You are nothing if not consistent. I have always admired that in you.
But to answer your question, I can still see no physical distress to the subject after spending 62 Berats. I do not know how this is possible, but it merits looking into. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. I will certainly update you on any progress.
I hope you remember more of me than the work I have undertaken. I do this for a purpose. I will save us. When this happens, perhaps you will see the merits in my sacrifices. We need answers, and I will do what it takes to get them. No more and no less.
All my best,
R., 2995 A.S.
~
Air rushed around Elwin. The howling of wind in his ears sent a thrill through him. Life, he’d missed this feeling. So much power surrounded him. With no effort, he could let Air fill him and soar.
But no. He couldn’t. The Seeker take him, but he couldn’t. The dragons would come if he tamed.
The exhilaration turned to dread as he looked to Daki and Taego falling next to him. They’d drifted several paces to either side. Daki’s eyes were wide and pleading. The bear flailed, snout open and thrashing. He could just hear Taego’s roar over the rushing wind.
He tried to force his racing thoughts to quiet so he could gauge how much time until their bones shattered against the ground in a splattering of blood and gruesome death. Curse it all, that wasn’t helping.
He needed to visualize the place to take them. But he’d done that the first time. What in the abyss had gone wrong? Should he go back up to the platform? Try again? No, that was a bad idea. Down, he needed to get them down.
They were higher than most of the mountain peaks, maybe half the distance between the platform in the clouds and the valley below. The wide river snaked through a smattering of trees too sparse to be called a forest.
It was getting closer by the second. Glancing to his sides, he saw Taego was several paces below him, while Daki was twenty feet above. He needed to join hands with them. Curse it all, there was no time. His heart thrummed and he could taste bile.
He couldn’t save them both.
If he had to choose one, he would save Daki. The thought pained him. What would happen to Daki to lose his bonded companion? He would worry about that later. If he didn’t act now, they would all die.
Elwin spread his arms and legs wide to slow his fall. Now he plummeted at the same pace as his friend. He shouted for Daki to draw his arms and legs in, but it was no use. He could barely hear his own voice.
Glancing down, he could see the trees and river more clearly. Oh Life, this wasn’t happening. Why had Malekia allowed Daki to come? Just to let him die?
But wait. What if they didn’t need to join hands? The incantia had never mentioned it as a prerequisite for the dimensional folding. Joining together only aided in the incantation. Malekia had claimed not to have great skill in this. And Elwin’s affinity would be as a jaunter. He could do this.
Dragons take him, he needed to do something now.
He stared at the rushing river below. It couldn’t be more than a hundred paces now. Fixing the place in his mind, he closed his eyes. He imagined his feet on the ground between the misshapen boulder and the bend in the river. Daki and Taego stood next to him.
Fear of failure flooded through him. He shoved it down, focusing on his desire. His will became a palpable energy. Holding on to the image and the desire of safety, he spoke the words.
The pressure of falling vanished. Cold, weightlessness, and heat came and passed. All the while, he maintained his will. He and his friends standing by the river.
His weight returned. When he felt the sun on his face, he opened his eyes.
Daki stood next to him. His dark hair was wind torn and tangled. Emerald eyes stared at him in wonder. A smile made its way onto Daki’s face.
Elwin embraced his friend. And they laughed.
“We’re alive!” Elwin said, looking behind him for the bear.
Taego stood on his hind legs, shaking his massive head as if coming out of a daze. The bear swiped a chunk from the ground and roared in Elwin’s direction.
“Taego,” Daki chided. “He has saved us.”
The bear roared again and shook his large head. He snorted and panted while slapping the ground.
Daki crossed his arms in a defensive posture and said, “You know him. He did not do that on purpose.”
“Do what on purpose?” Elwin wanted to know.
“We are safe now,” Daki said. “That is what matters.”
Taego bared his teeth at Elwin. It was not his way of smiling.
“Right,” Elwin said, backing away. Arguing with the bear would get him nowhere. “Should we find a way out of this valley?”
Daki looked up. Elwin followed his gaze. From this vantage, the Stones of Seeking melded in with the sky. If he hadn’t known it was there, he wouldn’t be able to see the platform at all.
“There was a city that way,” Elwin said, walking west along the river.
“Wiltshire,” Daki said, joining him. “It is less than a day.”
“That close, eh? Have you been here?”
“No,” Daki said. “Before meeting you, I had never left my forest, but I have always enjoyed cartography and know all of the areas surrounding the Stones of every land. This valley is not far from the King’s River. The spring here feeds into it. We will reach the city before night falls.”
Elwin nodded. “Good. It was night when we left. I want an ale and a hot bath.”
“We should take cautions. Malekia told me little of our path, but the warders could already be aware of your coming.”
“What? How?”
