Balestone (16 page)

Chapter 23

The temple was massive. It sat like a gemstone nestled in the heart of the city, surrounded by mountains. The structures all around the temple were crumbling ruins that looked much older than the buildings that were closer to the vast plains. The temple was a stepped pyramid with a massive stairway built right into the center of the structure. The steps led to a small shrine at the top of the pyramid, and two massive openings on either side of the steps revealed the gloomy interior. There were objects inside the pyramid, and Tiberius could make out some of them. There were fountains that sat empty and dry, statues, and altars. Tiberius ignored the cavernous pyramid and started up the wide stone steps.

He was soon breathing hard and had to stop. A painful stitch had developed in his side, and he was light headed. Still, he knew he couldn’t stop. There would be time for rest later, he thought to himself, as he continued climbing higher and higher.

He stopped just below the wide balcony that led to the temple’s central shrine. He waited until he was breathing normally again. Looking back he could just make out Rafe and Lexi winding through the ruins as they left the city. Tiberius couldn’t help but wonder if it was the last time he would ever see his friends again. He had never battled another wizard the way he intended to fight Gunderlyn. When he had fought in the Tuscogee, Rafe had fought Moswanee’s champion while Tiberius and the tribal chief cast spells to aid their fighters. Now, there would be nothing between himself and Gunderlyn — just magic and wits.

He climbed the final few steps and looked around, using the upturned spear like a staff. The balcony was bare, and the shrine was empty except for an ancient stone altar and a magnificent statue that Tiberius guessed represented the deity the temple was built for. The altar looked creepy; it was stained with the blood of countless sacrifices, and the word
Balestone
was carved into the front of it. Above the altar was the statue of a massive rearing horse. Tiberius had learned from his studies in the temple of Addoni that other cultures had worshiped other gods, but this was the first time Tiberius had ever seen an actual idol. Gunderlyn was slumped against the altar, not moving.

Tiberius advanced slowly, unsure of what to expect. Above the shrine was nothing more than a pyramid-shaped roof supported by columns around the edges, leaving the interior empty except for the altar. Tiberius had almost reached the closest column when Gunderlyn waved his arm and shouted a spell that Tiberius had never heard before.

The young wizard felt the magic swirl in the temple and dropped instinctively to his knees to avoid the attack he knew was coming. But instead of a direct attack against Tiberius, the spell was aimed upward, into the pyramid-shaped roof. For a moment nothing happened, then hundreds of bats came screeching from the shadowy interior of the shrine.

“
Scuti Incantatio
!” Tiberius shouted as he fell to the ground, covering his head.

The bats dove at Tiberius over and over, most knocking themselves senseless against the magical barrier around him. Tiberius felt every collision as if his mind were being battered by a thousand angry thoughts.

“
Fulsi
!” he muttered, not bothering to cover the portal that opened.

Light so bright it was almost blinding shone from the top of the pyramid. The statue of the horse was made of gold and silver. The silver was black from tarnishing, but the gold shone brightly in the brilliant light. The bats scattered, and Gunderlyn covered his eyes with one filthy arm, while the other held tight to the altar to keep him from falling.

Tiberius rose to his feet and started forward. He was squinting, but he was able to see in the magical brightness. He had half a mind to set the old wizard’s foul robe on fire, but he waited.

“Don’t come any closer!” the old man demanded. “I will never yield.”

Tiberius felt sorry for the old wizard. It was obvious the old man was confused.

“You have nothing to yield,” Tiberius said. “It’s over, you’re defeated. Your warriors are gone, there are no more battles to fight.”

“The arrogance of youth,” Gunderlyn spat. “You and your whore princess can go to Rastimus’ pit for all I care.”

“Have it your way,” Tiberius said, advancing into the covered portion of the high temple shrine.

Gunderlyn fell to one knee, but he muttered another spell, and suddenly the golden horse jumped from behind the altar. Tiberius wasn’t sure what to do next; the horse was so beautiful and yet terrifying at the same time. Tiberius was slowly backing away from the horse, which reared on muscular hind legs that were fashioned out of solid gold. Then its silver hooves clattered on the marble floor of the shrine.

Tiberius knew he needed to do something, but the horse turned and charged him before he had time to think. There was nothing for Tiberius to do but leap out of the way. He still had a spear, but it was useless against a beast made of metal. Tiberius dashed sideways at the last possible second, and the horse, its silver hooves crashing against the marble floor of the shrine like deafening cracks of thunder, charged past him.

Keeping the spell of magical light open was difficult, and it winked out as Tiberius glanced over his shoulder, just as the horse was attempting to turn back toward him. But the huge statue’s momentum carried it too close to the edge of the pyramid, and before Gunderlyn could save it, the horse toppled over. The crash of the heavy statue as it fell down the pyramid was so loud that Tiberius covered his ears.

Tiberius stood to his feet and leveled his spear toward the old man who had tried so many times to kill him. Gunderlyn was edging toward the wide stone stairway that led down the pyramid.

“You are tampering with powers you do not understand,” he warned. “Princess Ariel will be swallowed by the Dark One. You shall never prevail.”

“The princess didn’t send me,” Tiberius said. “Your own fears have driven you mad, old man.”

“No, no, I see what is coming. The cataclysm was just a tremor before the great fall that draws near.”

“You’re insane.”

“Don’t kill me,” Gunderlyn begged. “I’ll do anything.”

Tiberius had raised his hand and had the simple spell to conjure fire on his lips, but instead he stayed silent. The air seemed charged with electricity, almost as if the slightest move would trigger a great disaster. Tiberius was trying to decide what to do with the old man when he heard the soft brush of a paw against the rough stone of the temple steps behind him. Tiberius whirled around to see a large, wolfish creature. It had a long head and muzzle, almost like a horse, but with sharp canine teeth all around the thin lips that were drawn back in a snarl. The creature’s body was long, and it stood on four legs, but it was almost feline, with a tail that swayed back and forth. Its forelegs and chest were a tawny color, but there were black stripes across its back and rump.

“You see!” Gunderlyn cried. “You may control the elements, wizard! But I control the creatures of Devonyr.”

The strange wolf cat jumped at Tiberius, crossing the balcony at the top of the stairs in a single bound. Tiberius thrust his spear at the animal, causing it to twist in midair and smash into one of the stone pillars. The column cracked, and plaster fell from the ceiling. Tiberius knew he couldn’t hesitate, or the creature would rip him to shreds, so he slashed with the spear, cutting a gash along the wolf cat’s side. The beast roared and darted to the far side of the column.

Tiberius was backing up, trying to buy himself a little time to decide on his next move before the creature came around the column to attack him. But to his surprise the creature didn’t circle around the obstacle but instead, with one powerful leap, smashed through the column and lunged straight for Tiberius. His only defense was to keep the spear leveled between himself and the creature.

Bits of stone rained into his face as the creature roared. But the spear kept the beast at bay. It pretended to leap up again but then tried to dart in close to the ground. Tiberius had almost fallen for the ploy, but at the last second he brought the spear down on the creature’s head. The metal spear smacked hard on the wolf cat’s skull, and the tip of the spear burrowed into the skin on the back of the beast’s neck. It hissed angrily, swiping one paw at Tiberius, who saw the creature’s massive claws as he jumped back.

The wolf cat was hurt and bleeding, but it was still stronger and faster than Tiberius. He knew he needed to strike hard and fast and tried to think of what Rafe would do. He was waving the spear in the creature’s face when it suddenly lunged forward and caught the spear in its massive jaws. The wolf cat’s mouth was about twice as wide as a horse’s mouth, and its sharp teeth bit down hard on the wooden spear just behind the metal head.

Tiberius felt a stab of fear as he heard the spear crack. Instinctively he dropped the weapon, which fell to the ground in two pieces. The shaft was now about as long as a full-grown man, but the spear head lay on the ground, and the wolf cat spit the bits of wood that were still in its mouth. The creature looked almost smug as it snarled at Tiberius. The young wizard reacted without a moment’s thought. His hand tugged his whip free, and years of muscle memory went suddenly into action.

The whip lashed across the wolf cat’s snout before it even knew the danger was there. The whip popped, the crack of the leather reverberated through the shrine, and the creature leaped back as a line of red blood welled up across its broad muzzle. Tiberius didn’t hesitate but rushed forward, cracking the whip over and over, driving the stunned creature back across the portico and out onto the balcony.

“
Fulguralis
!” Tiberius shouted.

There was a split second where Tiberius felt the strain of the magic, but it passed quickly as a bolt of sizzling blue lightning came crashing down. Tiberius felt the hair on his arms standing up, and the wolf cat must have sensed the danger because it dashed madly toward the edge of the pyramid. The lightning bolt flashed against the stone and then disappeared with a clap of thunder so loud that Tiberius was sent reeling backwards. Still, even as he slid back across the marble floor, he could see the wolf cat scratching and clawing to stay on the pyramid’s balcony.

Tiberius’s boot thumped against the spearhead, and he bent low to snatch it up. When he stood back up, the wolf cat was bounding toward him again. Tiberius knew he didn’t have the skill or even a weapon suited for slaying the creature. So he cast another spell while whirling the whip above his head.

“
Accendo
,” he shouted.

As the whip flicked forward, a streak of fire followed it. The wolf cat’s eyes went wide at the sight of the fire, and its paws thrust out against the marble floor of the shrine to stop itself. The whip cracked in the creature’s snarling face, and the streak of fire shot past it. Then Tiberius flipped the whip back, and the streak of fire stretched, curving around behind the creature. Tiberius brought the whip around low, popping the leather cracker across the wolf cat’s paw. The beast roared and reared back on its hind legs, but the fire shot around the creature, fully surrounding it.

The wolf cat roared, and Tiberius raised both his hands, sending the flames higher. The beast roared in terror, and Tiberius ran around the blazing ring of fire. Then the wolf cat sprang out, and the acrid stench of burning fur filled the air. Tiberius saw the creature bound out of the fire trap he’d laid and took the spear head in his right hand. As the wolf cat came to the ground, Tiberius was right beside it. He stabbed the metal spear head deep into the creature’s flank, just past the ribcage. The sharpened metal met only soft flesh, and the blade sank deep into the creature’s gut.

The beast roared and swatted at Tiberius, who was too close to escape. The paw hit him hard in the back, and then the claws scratched bloody furrows across his back and side. Tiberius flew forward, toward the flames, but his mind sent the wall of fire up into the shadows of the pyramid-shaped roof. Tiberius was on his stomach and quickly got to his knees, turning to see the beast behind him. He had expected another attack, but the wolf cat’s hind legs were dragging across the marble floor, and the beast looked bewildered as blood and offal poured out of the wound in its side.

Gunderlyn meanwhile had snatched up the spear shaft and ran forward with the weapon held high over his head. For a moment time seemed to stand still for Tiberius. He could see the shrine illuminated by the fire above in a reddish-yellow light. He could see the marble was a slate gray color and the wolf cat’s blood was a dark red smear across the smooth surface. The pedestal where the golden horse had stood was a squat pillar of white stone, and the blood-stained altar was shimmering as if Tiberius were gazing at it across a field of fire. He realized then that there was something there, something hidden in the shrine that Gunderlyn was trying to protect.

Tiberius found his dagger and flung it at the old wizard. Gunderlyn was barefoot; his arms held the spear shaft raised above his head, his wretched robe fluttering around him. If he saw the dagger spinning toward him, he made no sign of recognition and did nothing to dodge away from the weapon. As the wolf cat howled in agony, Tiberius’ dagger stabbed into Gunderlyn’s side. It wasn’t a good throw, and the dagger was really made for throwing. Tiberius had never been good at throwing knives, but his own survival instincts had kicked in and given him the strength to make the throw.

The knife has struck the old wizard on the left side of his stomach. It sank in about three inches as Gunderlyn’s momentum carried him forward several steps. The movement caused the dagger with its heavy handle to slide out of the wizard’s body and drop onto the marble floor with a clatter. The old man brought the spear down, but not to strike Tiberius. Instead he leaned on the shaft like a crutch as blood poured down his leg. He lost his balance and staggered sideways, the spear shaft splashing in his blood.