Quest's End: The Broken Key #3 (63 page)

Are you and Riyan safe?

For the moment,
replied Bart.
We’re at the Horde’s entrance and I’m stalling. Not sure how much longer their patience will hold.

Understood.
There was a slight pause then…
Take out the magic user first
.

What?
Bart was confused.

When all hell breaks loose, take out the magic user first. If he can somehow counter what I’m going to do, we’re dead.

Bart nodded to himself.
You got it.

Try to draw their attention away from the passage leading to the room. We’ll be there in five minutes.
Then the connection was gone.

Draw their attention… Bart glanced to the sigil inscribed wall and knew how to accomplish that. Standing up, he turned to the onlookers and said, “It’s clear.” Glancing to Riyan, he held up the hand bearing the ring and with his thumb, wiggled the ring.

Riyan noticed and nodded.

“Then open it!” demanded Lord Kueryn.

“As you wish my lord,” Bart said bowing. Turning back to the dais, he was fairly sure there were no traps between where he stood and the indented space in which the key must be placed. He had been a little further to the right of where he was now when he had been struck by the dart.

Moving forward slowly, making it appear he was being cautious when in reality he was just killing time until Kevik and the others arrived, he approached the wall. In his hand, he pulled the key out from where he had stashed it within his shirt while checking for traps.

One side had the map, the other bore lines that he was sure would align with the sigils overlapping the circular indented area. As he came to a stop, he saw that properly aligning the key when he inserted, would indeed make the sigil pattern whole. He moved the key toward the indented area and rotated the key to misalign the sigil pattern on the key with that which was on the wall. Sliding it in as far as it would go, he stood back.

Nothing happened.

“What is wrong?” demanded the River Man. “Why isn’t it opening?”

Bart turned back to him and said, “Maybe it needs magic to activate the sigils?” Looking past the head of the River Man, and into the passageway opening, he saw for a brief moment a light far in the distance before it winked out. It could only have come from Kevik’s staff.

Lord Kueryn turned to his magic user Geffen. “Is he correct?” he asked.

“Perhaps,” he said.

“Then do something about it!” ordered the River Man.

“Yes my lord,” he replied. Stepping forward, he ascended the two steps and came to stand next to Bart. It took him but a moment to see that the key was misaligned. “You fool!” he said to Bart. “You didn’t put it in properly. The sigils must be aligned!”

“Oh,” Bart said, acting as if he hadn’t realized that fact.

Geffen reached out to the key and rotated it until the sigils on the key completed the greater pattern on the wall. As soon as they aligned, the entire sigils surged to life.

“Ah!” exclaimed Lord Hurrin.

“About time,” Captain Lyrun stated.

Geffen and Bart scrambled from the dais as the sigils glowed brighter and brighter. Every eye in the room was fixed on the wall. One of Lord Kueryn’s men said, “It’s beautiful.”

Bart hurried to Riyan’s side. “They’re out in the passage,” he told him. “Get ready.”

A grinding noise seemed to come from all around them as the left side of the wall began moving back. Stale air exploded into the room as the wall slowly opened inward like a massive door.

“Now Kevik!” Chyfe said.

Still fifteen feet from the room, Kevik held the box of gray powder as he watched the wall begin swinging open. So much magic! It was a palpable presence to him, he could feel its effect radiating outward from the wall. The plan had been for him to use the powder in the box to nullify the power of the magic user. But being in the presence of this much magic, he didn’t know if he dared open the box. Fear of what might happen if it were opened while the sigils on the wall glowed caused him to hesitate.

“Do it!” urged Chad. Standing with sword in hand, he waited for Kevik to open the box.

“I don’t dare,” he told them. “There’s too much magic.” Slipping the box within one of the larger pockets in his robe, he then withdrew the wand. He knew it had a power that dealt with cold in some manner, and was sure he could activate it. But unlike staves that replenished their power over time, wands held a specified amount of magic. What Kevik didn’t know was how many times he could use it, though he was certain it would work at least once.

With staff in one hand and wand in the other, he said to the others, “Okay, let’s do this” Looking down the passage toward the room, he could see the magic user where he stood next to the River Man watching the wall open. Aiming the wand as best he could, he activated its latent magic.

Geffen was awed by what he was seeing. Never before had he seen such power being used at one time. It was awe-inspiring. Then something intruded on his mind. He wasn’t sure what it was but something made him glance back down the passage leading from the room.

Before he even realized what he was doing, words of magic issued forth. No sooner had the protective shield materialized, than a wave of ice shards broke over it.

Bart’s first impulse was to kill the magic user as Kevik had said. But since there were five Tribesmen including one of the Lords between him and the magic user, he altered the plan. As soon as he saw the attack on the magic user, he struck the nearest Tribesman in the stomach. Grasping the hilt of the man’s sword, he drew it forth as he kicked him backward into his fellows.

Grabbing Riyan by the front of the shirt, he launched him toward the dais.

“We’re under attack!” yelled Captain Lyrun. Pulling his sword, he moved to the mouth of the passage and was almost fried as a fireball leapt from Geffen’s hand in a counter attack.

“Get behind me!” Kevik yelled as the fireball raced toward them. Shouting arcane words, a shield appeared before him. When the fireball struck, an explosion flared as his shield was utterly destroyed and a wave of heat rolled over them, singing hair and turning their skin red.

Staring down the passage toward the magic user he saw him already casting another spell. Kevik knew a newly raised Practitioner could never hope to stand against a magic user of such skill and experience.

“Kevik!” cried out Chyfe as another fireball raced toward them.

“Here!” Kevik hollered. As he cast another shield spell, he handed Chyfe the box of gray powder.

Wham!

The fireball exploded on his shield, sending another wave of heat rolling over them.

Kevik saw Chyfe start to open the box. “Not yet!” he yelled. “Wait until the sigils on the wall stop glowing.”

“But we might die before that happens!” Chad hollered.

“Wait!” ordered Kevik as he readied another shield for the fireball that was already on its way.

“Move damn you!” Bart yelled.

“The thief!” he heard someone yell. Turning he saw Lord Geop moving his way, sword drawn. “Stop!” he ordered. Bart ignored him.

Riyan, with his hands tied as they were, tripped going up the steps to the dais and fell prone upon its surface.

Bart had sword ready to meet the lord’s attack when something flew by his ear and struck the approaching lord in the cheek.

Exclaiming in surprise, the lord pulled the dart from his skin. Bart could see where the skin was beginning to radiate red spidery tendrils as his wound had the year before. The lord threw the dart to the floor and continued toward Bart.

“Get through the wall!” Bart said to Riyan.

Riyan scooted his way across the floor as best he could with hands tied behind his back. He was almost there when a hand took hold of him. He turned and looked into the eyes of a Tribesman.

“Fear not,” the Tribesman said. Then he said one word, Shaelyn.

Understanding immediately came. Shaelyn, that was the name of the girl back in Marl Crest who had been in love with the captured Raider. Looking up, he recognized the Tribesman who had hold of him as being that Raider. It was Haran, nephew to Lord Kueryn.

“I owe you and your friends a debt,” he said as he dragged Riyan to his feet. Five other Tribesmen joined them and together, helped Riyan move toward the wall that was now halfway opened. Beyond was a short passage that ended at another room, within which, something glittered.

Bart glanced back and saw the Tribesmen with Riyan and feared the worst. Before him, Lord Geop was beginning to lose his balance as the spidery tendril spread across his face. Staggering, his sword fell from his hand as he dropped to his knees. A moment later, he toppled over.

At the mouth of the passage, he heard another fireball leaving the magic user on its way toward his friends. He hoped Kevik could hold his own for there was nothing he could do to help. Turning about, he charged the men standing with Riyan. Riyan saw him coming with the intent of rescuing him. He was about to speak when Haran put the edge of his sword to Riyan’s throat and shouted, “Come no closer or he dies!”

Bart slowed and then stopped.

“Drop you sword,” ordered Haran.

Hesitating only a moment, Bart let go of the sword.

“Now,” Haran told him, “come and stand next to your friend.”

When Bart came closer, Riyan said, “It’s Haran.”

“Who?” Bart asked, not making the connection.

“Marl Crest,” Riyan reminded him. Gazing at his friend’s eyes, he saw understanding dawn.

Bart turned to Haran and asked, “Is this how you repay someone for your life?”

“You’re still alive aren’t you?” he asked. Then he turned his attention to Lord Kueryn and the rest who were near the mouth of the passage. “If your friends can defeat Geffen,” he told them, “we may have a chance.”

“We?” asked Riyan.

Haran nodded but didn’t explain further. Beside them, the sigil inscribed wall had almost completely opened.

Kevik’s robe was smoking, the smell of burnt hair and flesh permeated the passageway as time and again Kevik’s shields prevented the worst of the fireballs from getting through. Unfortunately, it hadn’t been able to shield them from the heat.

Each time the fireball erupted on his shield, a wave of heat would roll over him singing hair and burning skin. Pain was a constant companion as he once again created a fire shield.

“Now?” yelled Chyfe. He and the rest had moved further back to escape the worst of the heat.

Kevik turned toward him and they could see his face was a mass of blisters. Hair all but singed off and his robe glowed red in two places where it burned, Kevik was in a bad way. “No!” he shouted.

“But you can’t survive much more!” argued Seth.

Wham!

Another fireball exploded on the shield. This time, Kevik stumbled to one knee. “Not yet,” he gasped. He turned his eyes toward the glowing wall behind the magic user. “Not yet,” he breathed. Leaning heavily upon his staff, he regained his feet. He saw a fireball racing toward him and cast his shield spell again.

Wham!

The explosion knocked Kevik back a step and his staff flew from his hand.

“Kevik!” cried Seth.

Kevik seemed to stand there motionless for a moment before toppling backwards.

Seth raced forward and caught him before he hit the ground. “Come on man,” he said as he laid Kevik down.

Kevik’s eyes were unfocused and he looked like a piece of meat that had spent too much time in the fire.

“Get up!” urged Chad. Looking back down the passage to the other magic user, he saw him beginning to cast another fireball.

Soth retrieved Kevik’s staff and placed it in his hand. He knew they were in trouble when Kevik’s fingers failed to tighten on its shaft.

“The gem!” cried Seth.

Chad was watching the magic user at the end of the passageway and said, “There isn’t time.”

Then, Kevik raised his head slightly and looked down toward the sigil inscribed wall. When he saw it come to a stop and the glow emanating from the sigils fade, he weakly said, “Chyfe…”

“What?” Chyfe asked leaning closer to hear what he was saying.

At the other end of the passageway, light flared as another fireball shot toward them.

“Oh my god,” exclaimed Chad as fiery hell hurtled toward them. This time, there would be no shield protecting them.

Barely above a whisper, Kevik said, “Now.”

“It’s over my lord,” Geffen said as he prepared to cast one final fireball. “Their magic user can no longer shield them.” His last fireball had knocked out, or perhaps even killed him. This time, there will be no shield and they will die.

“Then finish it,” Lord Kueryn commanded. Beside him, Lord Hurrin and Captain Lyrun stood watching the magical combat. Over near the entrance of the Horde, his nephew has the thief and his friend under control.

Geffen nodded and cast his spell, sending fiery death to their enemies. With a roar, it flew down the passageway. At about halfway to where their enemy stood, the fireball appeared to shrink in on itself. Then it fizzled out.

“What?” he exclaimed. Casting his spell again, he sent another fireball down the passage. And just like the previous one, it too shrank in on itself before disappearing altogether. “Impossible!” he cried.

“Something wrong?” asked Lord Kueryn.

“I thought you said it was over,” stated Captain Lyrun. Turning to Lord Kueryn, he said, “Seems your magic user isn’t that good my lord.”

Lord Kueryn turned toward Geffen. “Kill them!” he demanded.

From down the passageway, four sword wielding figures were moving rapidly toward them.

“I…I can’t!” he exclaimed.

Captain Lyrun turned a disgusted look to Geffen. “Never rely on a magic user!” Drawing his sword, he moved to meet the four attacking swordsmen.

Lord Hurrin turned to the four Tribesmen soldiers standing nearby. “Go with him,” he ordered. “Kill them all.” As one, the four men drew their swords and hurried to follow Captain Lyrun.

Geffen continued attempting spell after spell to no effect. Something was stealing the power as each spell formed. In an attempt to discover the source, he began casting minor spells all the while focusing on where the magic was being drawn.