Gods of Shadow and Flame

by M. H. Johnson

  "And here before you stands the grandest of all collections outside the colleges and the royal library itself." The young woman glowed with pride, standing beside a king's ransom in scholarly tomes. Multiple bookcases of polished hardwood were lined against the walls, each filled with finely bound tomes of aged leather, the burnished sheen of gold highlighting titles and authors upon the various spines, an incredible collection for any man not affiliated with one of the great colleges to have access to.

  Flameless magelights had been placed at strategic locations, assuring both a steady light shining upon bookcases and tables alike, so no eyes would be strained while reading, as well as neatly circumventing the need for candles or lamps of any kind, so there was no great risk of fire catching hold of and destroying this vast and beautiful collection of tomes before them, residing as it did in a keep of stone.

  Malek nodded appreciatively. “A very fine collection indeed.”

  Morlekai nodded. “We are hoping, my dear, that you could aid us in our search for specific tomes that would aid our own research.”

  The young woman nodded gamely. “Of course, my lord. The library is organized categorically, and the master worked most diligently to assure that I knew at least the general sense of things, before leaving the library to my care.”

  Morlekai and Lucienda exchanged glances before he turned once more towards the librarian. “And he has left the library entire to your care. Your master must have a lot of faith in your abilities. Very well, then. We have a short list of tomes we would most appreciate your assistance in retrieving.” At that point Morlekai unfurled a small piece of waxed parchment, methodically reading off a handful obscure tomes written by scholars centuries ago.

  Malek smiled, knowing that the only one that actually interested them was hidden carefully in that list, the better to misdirect those who would otherwise be at risk of guessing what prize they truly sought.

  Though one or two titles seemed to throw the girl off, Malek felt his heart skip a beat when the girl seemed to recognize the tome they truly hunted for, along with several of the red herrings. "Pemince's Lost Kingdoms, Tagon's treatise on the meaning of poetry, Gallivan's Adventures. Yes. We have those three, at least. As for the other five, I shall have to do some searching and I will do my best to assist."

  Morlekai nodded curtly. “Very well. Give us what you have, and I do hope you can find the remainder before the day is out.”

  Malek allowed himself the faintest of smiles. It was amazing how many lost truths could be found in the supposed tales of a Delver's journeys. For all that most thought them fanciful larks, as much fantasy and recorded dream as actual happenings, it was Delvers, more often than not, who discovered the keys to forgotten secrets of magic, as well as artifacts lost to time.

  Soon enough Malek found himself seated, handed one of those requested tomes, as was Lucienda, and both shared a smile and began reading their brethren’s ancient adventures, taking casual notes for appearance's sake.

  Though Malek enjoyed reading the tale, always ready to take in added insights from Delvers who had so long ago walked the path he now trod in life, he could barely focus on Pemince’s tale. For the true tome holding the secret they had journeyed so far to acquire was at last within their reach, Morlekai reading the only tome that truly mattered to them.

  Their leader's eyes were alight with a fierce need as he gazed raptly upon the tome before him, devouring page after page, looking for the answer to the great puzzle that had been his obsession for so many years. The location of that warded and hidden portal astride the fulcrum between mundus and dream, a sealed gate opened only by a mysterious set of keys Morlekai had spent endless years hunting for. Three of those sacred keys having been found in surprisingly short order, once Malek had joined their band. Armed with the hints they had garnered through their journeys, they were at last ready to unravel the final clues in their search for the sacred horn.

  Sharing Morlekai’s exhilaration as they all did, Malek found it very hard to focus on the tome he was supposedly taking notes from, his eyes gazing all about the grand library, enjoying the wonderful sight of so many well cared for tomes, the gentle afternoon light playing upon the stained glass windows, the fierce winter storm but a memory, no howling to be heard rattling the windows. All was silent and still, save for Alacabar muttering quietly to himself as he struggled with a tome, and the soft flipping of pages. The only other soul about seemed to be their assistant librarian, still fruitlessly searching for tomes Malek doubted any library contained, just an additional red herring to distract eyes that otherwise might peer too closely at affairs not their own.

  And then Malek sensed as much as felt it. Morlekai had found what they were looking for.

  Carefully, he raised his eyes to catch Lucienda’s triumphant smile and wink. She knew. She felt it too. Heart hammering, suppressing a grin of his own, he bent his head down to study the work before him. He could sense Morlekai’s excitement, could feel the energy pouring from him. Triumph. At last!

  Upon the cusp of exhilaration, yet unable to give anything away, Malek spent the longest night of his life. For the sake of appearances, to throw any hounds off their scent, Morlekai continued to harry the poor librarian for volumes deliberately chosen for their utter obscurity. Actual works, Morlekai had assured, for all that they had been written during the reign of the Red Queen, some thousand years ago. And how Morlekai had to hold in his surprise when the increasingly flustered librarian approached their table with a glow of triumph, having found no less than two of the five titles Morlekai had been all but assured had been lost to recorded history.

  “I thank you, good librarian. You have been most gracious and accommodating of us, and for that you have our sincerest thanks, to you and your master both.”

  The girl, eyes dark with fatigue, gave a relieved smile and bow. “I live to serve, Lord Morlekai. I cannot tell you how happy I am to have found these tomes! Carefully contained they were, in glass mounted pedestals no less, but as our head librarian did specifically state that absolutely nothing was to be denied to you, here you are.”

  Lucienda blinked. “How very interesting. May I see where they were kept?”

  The librarian nodded and together the two sedately strolled toward various pedestals with protective glass domes upon them, seeming to Malek no more than elegant housing for prized knickknacks one did not want to have to worry about gathering dust or blemish.

  Malek had to suppress a yawn of his own, it being well past the midnight hour. Dawn, he was sure, was not too far ahead. Morlekai's gold green eyes seemed to capture the magelight and sparkle with their own inner fire. His grin was fierce. "Are you studying hard, pup? We have more tomes we must plow through, if we are to have any hope of finding the information we speak."

  Malek nodded solemnly, holding back his own exultant smile. “Doing my best.”

  Malek gasped and lurched, startled and blinking, to see a pool of shadow seemingly coalesce before his very eyes, brilliant stars in a sea of perfect blackness, ancient sapphire suns exploding in a coronal of impossible brilliance, the final death-knells of a galaxy long since consigned to the void. He blinked watery eyes and shook his head, even as the ebony furred cat now splayed atop his book grinned up at him. "Your queen misses you, Hound. And our enemies have struck once more." Twilight turned to gaze upon Morlekai who had all but frozen, hand gripping the table so tight the wood had cracked. He flashed a toothy smile. "It is a shame Morlekai insists on such a low profile. He would have been useful to have at our side as well."

  Malek was chilled to see his leader's gaze. He seemed to be peering straight at Twilight. Malek had wondered...but now he was sure.

  All too well he recalled what it was like for Jess with her invisible familiar back at Highrock, everyone choosing to think an unseen cat was but one of Jess's eccentricities, conveniently forgetting the numerous times freshly flapping fish popped into being upon their dining table, only to be devoured to bone by invisible
forces right in front of their very eyes, eliciting no shortage of screams and gasps from their fellow students before they blinked, shuddered, and promptly forgot what they had seen. Malek had forced himself to hold onto those odd memories, to have faith in his eccentric, beautiful friend, and after dipping his toes into realms of dream, he too could sense Twilight. Perhaps that was true of all adventurers. He just didn't know.

  “Twilight?” Malek whispered, Morlekai immediately coughing, glaring at Malek, subtly shaking his head.

  Malek froze.

  Twilight grinned. “Say nothing, Hound. You know better. We can talk later, once you and your fellows are off.” Jess's familiar looked about the room then, noting the librarian helping Lucienda so intently. “I did some reconnoitering. A skeleton staff, for such a prominent lord.” Suddenly serious eyes peered into Malek's own. “I wouldn't sleep here if I were you, Hound.” Twilight then proceeded to curl up into a resting ball, not saying another word.

  Malek exchanged glances with Morlekai. He felt his heart skip a beat when the man gave a slow shake of his head.

  There was no doubting it, somehow Morlekai knew.

  Alacabar flashed a quick glance at both of them then said, "Bloody tomes, boring as hell! These words twist my tongue oddly, and I can hardly hear my own voice, trying to whisper it all. Don't look at me like that, Morlekai. You know damn well it doesn't make any sense to me unless I say the words aloud. I'm only doing this for the gold at the end of the bloody rainbow."

  Morlekai smiled. “You are doing fine, old friend. If you find any clues to that hoard of wealth, I will be happy to take the tome over from there and let you rest your eyes, and dream of the gold to come.”

  But all was well, Malek realized. Perhaps Alacabar had sensed that something was off, and wanted to give distraction before any hostile party picked up on it as well. And as for making use of the no doubt luxurious quarters offered, Twilight didn't have to worry about any of them taking their ease here. It was one thing to come into an unknown lord’s den where all seemed just the slightest bit off, ready and prepared for anything. It was quite another to actually let down one’s guard and sleep within predesignated chambers, where any enemy, trap, or even enchantment might be sprung upon them when they were at their most vulnerable.

  There was a reason, after all, why Guild inns were fortresses beneath their highly opulent and sought after exterior, particularly the innermost wing where adventurer's slept, as strongly fortified as any castle, though anyone who didn’t have access to its innermost secrets would never know that fact, doors as strong and heavily warded as any outside a college of magic.

  Never once breaking their pretense, they continued to read whatever tomes had caught their eye through the wee hours of the night, cracking their backs and reporting mournfully to the librarian that they would research what leads they had found and call upon Lord Graves, if he would be so gracious, another day, should they need to make further use of his library.

  The young assistant librarian bowed, for all that she seemed so close to swooning with exhaustion that when her feet started to stumble it was Malek by her side quick as a blink, gently bracing her arm as she gasped in sudden surprise, even as at that moment his chair could be heard skipping back and slamming to the floor, so quick he had been.

  The librarian brushed aside a gold lock of hair from eyes wide with startlement and, perhaps, a bit of desire as well. She offered him a nervous smile. “I thank you, kind lord. Forgive my weariness. I lack the vigor of those who brave the depths of Shadow, I suppose.”

  Malek stepped back, feeling his cheeks suddenly flush. He could smell it. Fear, fatigue, and desire, all mixed together in a heady perfume. He felt his heart race and was suddenly alarmed to find his own body hungering for that which he had forbidden himself. This young thing reminded him far too much of Jess, he decided. That was all it was. “It’s quite all right. Forgive me for startling you. I was afraid you were about to stumble over.”

  “And right you were, my lord.” Her tired grin just made his heart hammer all the more. She looked far too much like his shieldsister for comfort.

  Malek cleared his suddenly parched throat. “My companions and I thank you for hospitality, hard work, and grace. Without you, I fear we would have absolutely no clues at all in regards to what tomes we now must hunt for.”

  “My pleasure.” She said softly, perhaps a bit wistfully, before bowing her head towards the obvious leader of their group. “Lord Morlekai, is there anything further I can do to serve you this day?”

  He gave a polite shake of his head. "Not at all, young librarian. You have served us nobly and well. And please, tell your seneschal not to worry about any parting repast. We appreciate his courtesy, and shall see to our own way out."

  “Of course, my lords and lady,” she said with a final parting smile aimed squarely at Malek. He smiled back, a bittersweet flavor in his heart, before turning to follow his companions heading towards the entrance, doing their best to affect an air of calm, as if they were but researchers immersed in a frustrating puzzle, not adventurers on the cusp of wondrous discovery.

  They retied their thick, sturdy laces upon their specially made boots once they made their way back to the main foyer, inhaling deep of the ice cold winter air as the seneschal opened the door for them with a parting bow.

  “A beautiful day!” Alacabar allowed with a hearty laugh, inhaling deeply of the frigid air. “Endless snow this winter almost reminds me of home. Come, Let us be off, my friends, and enjoy a run through a world as fresh and white as any painter's canvas!”

  Within moments they were off, jogging sedately towards the walled gate, waved through by a fresh pair of bored looking guards, and only then did they allow themselves the luxury of reveling in a truly vigorous run, racing across the snow covered road demarcated only by its level surface from the brilliant white fields around them, plowing through the snow at a speed to rival that of any charger, all four laughing as they each strove for the lead, so that his or her followers would be showered with an endless spray of shimmering snowflakes kicked up by their boots as they blazed a fresh trail through the miles of road back to the Guildhall of Barlton. All of them exhilarating in their run, minds fresh and clear with their exertion even as they reveled in their discovery, having at last found the final piece of the puzzle that would lead them to the artifact they sought so diligently.

  Yet their mad run through the snow served a second purpose. In regards to this most sacred of all prizes, they had decided to converse only at times such as these, running madly through the snow, so infused with the power of darkest Shadow that their legs did not tire any more than would a wolf pelting across the fields. Not even the best spies atop the hardiest steeds could hope to keep up, and they would be spotted instantly if they tried. So too, the million ice crystals spraying about them as they raced through endless snowbanks served to dazzle and confuse any arcane eye that might be gazing down upon them, as well as obscure their lips from view.

  Their precautions were paranoid in the extreme, and they all knew it, seeing it as a game as much as anything else. A game only they were skilled enough to truly appreciate and play.

  "I found the path to our prize!" Eyes blazing with fierce exultation, it was all Morlekai needed to say. Malek laughed aloud, reveling in the thrill of their hunt. They spoke no more on it, choosing simply to follow his lead, knowing all would be revealed in good time. For now, they were comforted with the knowledge that whatever the pretext given for their travels in the days ahead, it was strictly with their end goal in mind.

  A suddenly sober Morlekai slowed his pace down slightly, clapping Malek upon the back. “Say what you need to say.”

  Malek grimaced, even as he felt the shadowy weight of a certain grinning cat twisting his neck with odd grace from his armored shoulder, sapphire eyes locking with his own.

  “Your shieldsister's beau, Prince Joshua, found pretext to visit our mistress, in what should have been sweet enticement,
as the prince sought to woo our queen with whispers of the heart and pleasures of the flesh. Sadly, such was not to be. For one of Franken's rather vile fellows had wormed his way to Joshua's side, given orders to lead the prince's royal cavalry unit, only to spring pretext to arrest Jessica the moment he saw her. Arrest her, in the hopes of arranging her death, even as he dragged her off to the capital.”

  Malek stumbled to the snowy ground, trembling with sudden fury. "Bloody hells!"

  “Pretty much,” a coolly smiling Twilight allowed, having managed to stay securely upon Malek's shoulder despite his sudden stumble. “Enslaved to some demon or other is the fate of our dear little infernalist, don't you worry. Jess saw the gambit and turned the tables, ripping up his writ, and for all intents and purposes calling him a catamite, mocking him rather horrifically in the process. The inquisitor took the bait and drew steel first, and Jess was well within her rights to run him through.”

  The cat's eyes turned hard then, chilly as the Void. “And for all that, Jessica nearly perished. You should have been by her side, Hound. At all times. In all places. For you can act as I cannot.”

  Malek flushed and shook his head. “Damn it! Don't you think I know that? Don't you know how it burns me, you telling me how close she came to death yet again by those slimy bastards, and I wasn't there to protect her?”

  "I know," Twilight sighed. "So many cards played against us, the blind fears of the foolish sheep that dare to call themselves lords, panicked to find a true wolf among their number. Their cowardice only works in our enemies' favor. It matters not. We have determined that our foes have penetrated near every branch of government, and our dear Joshua is going to make himself useful and lead a purge. Fortunately, his present crew of royal armsmen appear to at least be competent, and should keep him safe till he is united with his family once more." Twilight frowned. "Unfortunately, he is far too much the prince to accept help from Jess's more unorthodox friends. Namely, you and Morlekai's mad little coterie here. Besides, for all his protestations of higher ideals, I believe he, like his family, sees the Guild as their trump card to play only in their final gambit in times to come.”