Spellscribed: Conviction (46 page)

“Yeah. I thought I was too.” He replied. “When Valeria came for me, I had only seconds to enact an escape.”

“What did you do?”

“Well, I had to let her believe that I was dead, but in a way that she couldn’t find my corpse.” Kaelob replied. “I’d thought about it since the day she turned. So I made a Doppelganger of myself, who tried to fight her off and then died trying to escape. He managed to get killed while casting one of my more powerful teleport spells, which made a great power sink and could have teleported my body anywhere in the known world or beyond.”

“Yeah.” Endrance said dryly. “I know. I fell in it. So did Talos.”

“Oh.” Kaelob looked him over. “You came out all right, if a bit taller. Are you sure you didn’t get a little of you mixed with Talos during the event?”

Endrance scowled. “No. I have all my hair. Try to keep on topic.”

“Fine, fine.” Kaelob replied, waving the scolding off. “Whatever you want.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were alive?” Endrance demanded.

Kaelob shook his head. “I knew that Valeria was after you from the day I saw you in court. I knew that if I tried to reach you, she’d find out I’d fooled her.”

Endrance rubbed at his temples. “Then, why did you reveal yourself now?” he asked.

Kaelob turned to him in the dark, his own eyes flickering with magic power. “Because.” He said grimly. “Valeria’s moved on to the next phase of her plan. My being alive won’t matter much if she succeeds.”

“What?” Endrance asked.

“She’s in Ironsoul as we speak.” Kaelob explained. “I don’t have time to explain, but we need to move if we are going to stop her.”

Endrance shook his head. “What? When did she get here?”

Kaelob looked him in the eyes. “I have been keeping an eye on her movements since you left Ironsoul. She’d been hiding out deep below the Sunken Tower. You managed to escape her attempt to reclaim you, and she’d been waiting for you to return ever since.”

“I think I understand.” Endrance replied. “I managed to catch one of the servants she sent across the desert after me.”

“Oh?” Kaelob intoned. “What happened?”

Endrance grunted. “Handled it.” He grumbled. “You still haven’t told me why Valeria’s on the move.”

“She knew you were coming back, and came here to ensure she captures you.” Kaelob replied. “For all that is holy, can we get moving, or do you want to wait for her to just catch you and your friends with their pants down?”

“So what can we do?” Endrance asked. “Shouldn’t we tell Talos?”

Kaelob nodded. “Good idea.” He exclaimed. “I know a way underground to the tower. Let’s go. Your friends should be safe if you stay on the move.”

Endrance followed his old master as he led them through a series of passages through the Ironsoul underground. Several miles of tunnel passed, as Kaelob led the way; most of the time still talking, but mostly to himself. Endrance was following, but he was overall still unbalanced from the sudden discovery of his master’s reappearance and the added revelation of his mother’s return to Ironsoul.

The tunnel ended, and Kaelob pointed to a ladder leading up. “I’ll go first.” Kaelob stated. “Then you.”

Endrance waited until Kaelob opened the panel in the ceiling to climb the ladder. They found themselves, not at the foot of Talos’ tower, but instead at the front entrance to the High King’s palace.

“Wait.” Endrance protested. “Why are we here?”

“Endrance!” a voice called out. Endrance looked towards the palace stairs to find Talos standing on the steps right next to High King Mastadon and eight of the magically equipped High Guard standing semicircle around them.

“Step away from him.” High King Mastadon stated. “And lay face down on the ground.”

“Just do as we say, Endrance.” Talos commanded. “And we will see that you are punished lightly.”

“Punished?” Endrance said, taking a step back. “Why would I be punished?”

“You’re both working for the old Archmagus.” Talos stated. “I don’t expect you to understand, but if you just give up now, it can be explained.”

“No!” Endrance responded. “I have been preparing to stop her! I would never work for her.”

“You’re lying.” Mastadon growled.

“Endrance!” Kaelob cried. He produced a glass orb from his pocket and shattered it on the ground between them. The area erupted into a thick cloud of fog, and Endrance saw several copies of himself dash off into the mist. “We need to go!”

Endrance felt power swelling up in front of him, and charged up his wards. The carved meridians on his skin filled with burning golden fire, generating a weak light around him as his wards came up the instant he touched his power to them. He ran to the right, towards four of the armored men, and tried to think his way through the situation. Why did they come at him like a criminal? He had just turned in his peace agreement. Didn’t they get it?

Fire burned across the courtyard, and Endrance’s connection to Gullin absorbed the heat. His familiar had been idly floating along, oblivious to his mental state until the stress of combat was felt through his link.

Gullin! Trouble!
Endrance called.

I am getting everyone else.
Gullin replied.
I will bring them as quickly as possible.

A roar reverberated, clearing the remaining mist away. Mastadon had, for some reason, taken his dragon form and now was taking up a third of the space around the palace. What the hells was going on?

Endrance saw several duplicates of himself and Kaelob running around, trying to escape, attack the guards or Talos, or doing nothing but flailing around uselessly. Endrance saw Talos start casting a counter spell. Endrance grimaced as he held out his Grandstaff defensively. He threw up a shield of power, just as Talos unleashed his counter spell. Surprisingly, the spell didn’t even touch his energy shield, but it did blast apart almost all of the duplicates.

“I’m sorry Endrance.” He said. “You should have surrendered.”

“I don’t know what’s-” Endrance started to shout back, when Kaelob threw a hand out towards Talos.

“
Gelare!
” the mad mage shouted, firing a ray of freezing cold water magic at the Archmagus. The spell splattered against his opponent’s wards, but it kept him distracted.

“I’ll handle the Archmagus!” Kaelob shouted, his voice high pitched. “Just watch out for the dragon!”

Endrance stared up at Mastadon, as the dragon advanced and shook his head.

“You know, he seems hard to miss.” Endrance exclaimed. “What the hells is going on?”

Endrance leapt back as Mastadon lunged in to bite him, whirling his Grandstaff as he landed nimbly on the stones behind him. He brought the staff down, the head barely hitting the dragon on the tip of his massive nose. The greatly empowered earth magic through his staff lent it a certain gravity not normally able to be wielded, and Endrance hit the dragon’s snout down so hard it cracked the flagstones beneath them.

“Dragon bone!” Mastadon roared, flames pouring out of his nose and mouth, bathing across Endrance. “You have dragon’s bone!”

Endrance, untouched by the dragon’s fire, swung the staff again. His understanding of dragons was that the older they were, the more resistant to spells they became. So, until a better plan came along, he stuck to physical combat. The second swing batted the dragon’s head to the side, and he took the opportunity to run past the head down the body next to his legs.

Mastadon turned quickly, but even for his speed, he was still too massive to execute tight maneuvers in an enclosed space.

Endrance slid across the stones under the dragon’s tail, turned and took a moment to cast a quick spell. His physical might spell flowed through the staff and into his body, increasing his strength and toughness. The dragon swung a claw, catching Endrance just as he finished the spell. He managed to step into the hit so that the claws didn’t skewer him, but the dragon’s claw slapped him through the air and bounced him against a wall.             

Dazed, Endrance looked up at the scene just as the dragon was lunging towards him. Above, a strange shadow crossed the sky. Power thrummed through the air. For the moment, he felt like somehow everything had suddenly gone out of control. It was just as well he had left Valzoa and Jalyin in Salthimere; he was afraid he had failed before he had even been in Ironsoul for a day.

Come to me…
A thought whimpered. Endrance’s mind received a flash, a momentary image of the prison underneath.
Valeria seeks to destroy me.

What?
Endrance responded mentally. His head started to ring, but he pushed up to his feet and ran towards the stairs leading into the palace.

Valeria has turned, she seeks to destroy me.
The Mercanian’s thoughts reached him.
She has learned how to steal my power, and she will use it to destroy everything.

Why?
Endrance threw himself to the ground as Mastadon’s tail swept the air where he had been running. The dragon rounded on him before he could climb to his feet.

Come to me. I need you.
The Mercanian simply replied.

The dragon was right over Endrance when Joven fell from the sky, landing on Mastadon’s head with an overhand chop of his axe. The milky white steel blade bit into the dragon, cracking the scales on his head and cutting clean through one of the smaller spines.

Joven was dressed in his armor, but had only the Inheritance. “Run!” Joven shouted. “We’ve got this!”

Gullin swooped down, carrying Bridget in his talons. She landed, rolled and charged the dragon’s side. On the familiar’s back, rode Tanya, who drew an arrow as the bird ascended again into the sky. Selene whirled into the battlefield on black leather wings, her hands shaped into talons. She oriented on Talos and charged. The Archmagus, leapt back from Selene’s swipe, countering Kaelob’s spell at the same time.

The Archmagus had some impressive wards. It was evident when Tanya’s arrow didn’t pierce his skin, but shattered against it. She grit her teeth and drew another arrow, her legs holding tightly onto the bird as it banked to avoid the Archmagus’ spell in response. Even attacked by a half-demon, a High Magus, and an elf-trained barbarian great bow archer, Talos was only moderately inconvenienced by the action. Bridget’s strike from her short blade glanced off the dragon’s hide, but her stronger living wooden arm was able to draw a slice out of the scaled skin. Now attacked by two barbarians, Mastadon roared and thrashed.

Come to me.
The voice repeated, resounding over Gullin’s voice.

Support them how you can.
Endrance called to Gullin.
I have to stop Valeria.

Valeria?
Gullin asked.
Where?

In the prison beneath Ironsoul.
Endrance replied.
I think… she’s trying to steal the power kept there.

Go.
Gullin replied.
We will be able to hold them for a while.

Retreat if you have to.
Endrance commanded.
I only need a head start. Maybe if I can lead them to her, they will realize what she’s trying to do.

Remember what you trained for.
Gullin replied.
Good luck.

Endrance dashed up the stairs, through the doorway, and into the palace. Two armored High Guards started to give chase, but Tanya’s arrows proved to be more effective against their armor than the Archmagus’ skin.

As the mage disappeared, Joven kept swinging away at the dragon’s head. He managed to get three good hits in before the thing’s tail slapped him across the back, his armor taking most of the blow as he was knocked clear. However, he rolled to his feet when he struck the ground, swinging into the dragon’s coming maw. The Inheritance shattered three teeth, and Joven rolled out of the way as it unleashed a torrent of flame across the space where he had been. Bridget slipped under the dragon, sheathed her small sword and used both hands to chop at one of Mastadon’s legs. The blade bit in deep, and the dragon shrieked as the knee buckled.

Joven came to the side of the thing’s head, and swung at the neck. He drew blood again, but was not able to move fast enough as the dragon whipped his head into the barbarian, knocking him back.

“Dragon… Had to be a dragon.” He grunted, rolling to the side, and diving out of an oncoming gout of flames.

Selene and Kaelob kept fighting, and though Talos was able to resist Tanya’s arrows, she was not going to give up fighting altogether. She concentrated, muttering a few words in Hdi. The arcane script in the bow glowed with silver light. She released an arrow at Talos, and for a moment, the arrow seemed to turn into a beam of silver light. Talos flipped backwards from the impact, landing on his feet, but disoriented and bleeding from the shot. Selene slashed at him, driving him back further.

Kaelob took that opening to gesture with one hand and speak a word of power. He vanished, leaving them in the fight.

“Damnit!” Talos shouted at Selene. “Do you know what you’re doing?”

“I don’t care!” Selene shrieked. “I have to protect him!”

Talos thrust a palm out and spoke a word, blasting an orb of purplish light that caught Selene in the gut and threw her straight through a pillar. She tumbled through the air, checking her fall with her wings.

“Then you’ve just doomed him!” Talos growled in frustration.

Nearby, Joven and Bridget had managed to bloody the dragon, but were nowhere close to finishing him. Joven had managed to nick at both sides of Mastadon’s neck, bloody his teeth and nose, and the dragon seemed to be running out of fire, but it was still just as dangerous as it was before.

He chopped at the dragon’s snout again, and Bridget tried to stab the dragon in the belly where the scales seemed lighter. Her blade finally pierced, and the dragon shrieked instead of biting Joven in half. He clipped the dragon in the chin, but hardly did any damage to the massive beast.

Then Mastadon dropped onto his stomach. For a second, flattening Bridget to the stones. The
whump
of the impact jarred Joven’s teeth and he ran to the side to try to lead the dragon away. Bridget had tried to roll out of the way, but had been smashed into the stones. She looked intact, but he couldn’t tell if she was alive or dead.

“Bridget!” he shouted, rounding on the dragon as it oriented on him. The barbarian charged. The dragon shrieked and breathed flame one more time. Joven held the head of his axe in front of him, the blade being the first to take the flames as he charged through it. The dragon had used a lot of fire during the fight; its breath was weaker than it had been in the beginning. Seared and burned, but not badly so, Joven erupted through the smoke, his axe head glowing red-hot with the heat of dragon fire, and swung.

Mastadon had not expected the barbarian to continue attacking through the fire, and had not pulled his head back until it was too late. The Inheritance hit cleaved through the dragon’s right eye ridge, through the eye, and through the bone of his cheek before embedding into the stone. Burning dragon’s blood sprayed across Joven and his weapon, temporarily blinding him.

The dragon shrieked louder than ever before, and flailed one claw at Joven in rage.

Unable to see it coming, Joven was hit by it. Two of the dragon’s talons punctured through his armor; one in his gut, and the other high up the right side of his chest, both of them piercing straight through his body and out the back. The blow picked him up off the stone, his axe wrenched from his grip.

Joven coughed up blood, his weapon still stuck in the ground where he had been before the dragon struck him. The dragon’s flailing flung him off the claw, and he had the brief sensation of flying through the air before he hit something hard and broke through it. He continued, breaking through another wall, and finally coming to a stop half-embedded into a third wall. Mastadon had knocked him through the palace wall, and into a nearby building across the main street.

He lay in the rubble, unable to move, unfeeling of pain. Dust drifted down around him, and he could faintly hear the dragon’s roar over the ringing in his head. His vision was fading, but he could see the dragon staggering around the courtyard before collapsing against the palace wall, crushing through part of it before becoming still.

Joven knew the wounds he had taken were beyond his ability to survive, and even if Endrance had been near, there would have been no guarantee he could fix it. The two punctures were large enough that someone could see through them, and it was a marvel he was even conscious. His back was probably shattered from being flung through multiple stone walls, too. There was no coming back from such a solid hit from a powerful dragon.

He allowed himself one moment to feel regret that he would not be able to see Endrance complete his duty, but he knew that he had seen him through the hardest times. He wouldn’t need a bodyguard anymore.

He smiled, hoping that his death would inspire his children to achieve even greater things. As everything faded to black, his only regret was that he hadn’t had time to see them grow up.

* * *

Endrance found his way through the palace on autopilot. He could hear the sounds of the battle outside, but they rapidly faded once he went below ground. A different set of passages than the one that Kaelob had led him through ran in this area, and he was able to find his way. It was almost as if he had been here before.

Kaelob caught up to him once he reached the junction of the passage. “This way.” He declared as Endrance approached. “We better hurry, your friends won’t be able to hold them off for long.”

“How did you…?” Endrance started to ask.

“Teleported.” Kaelob blurted. “We need to go.”

Endrance kept a firm grip on his Grandstaff. It was a key part of his plan to handle Valeria. He knew she was a litch, an undead creature. Life magic, it was antithetical to undead, and he had devised several spells that would allow him to disable or destroy her.

They entered an area Endrance found familiar. It was the reception area that Talos had teleported him to, before walking him the rest of the way through to the prison. Endrance started to wonder when Kaelob had learned of the Mercanian. The mad mage led the way through the dark, keeping silent. In the silence, Endrance’s thoughts finally pulled out of the tailspin induced by the sudden change of pace from slow and peaceful, to instantly hostile.

He realized that it was possible for Kaelob to have faked his death. It was possible to fulfill the conditions to leave a tear like the one at his ‘death’ site. However… it would have to be perfectly timed. Endrance knew that Kaelob was crafty, but he wasn’t skilled enough to defeat Talos; so how did he manage to plan around Valeria’s…?

Endrance stopped. “Wait.” Endrance said, taking a gamble. “I need to catch my breath.”

Kaelob stopped. They had made it to the large underground chamber, the entry to the prison was open and golden light gleamed from within. “We can’t stop.” He said. “Valeria’s just inside.”

“I know. I just need to be ready.” Endrance said. Mentally, he prepared himself to fight not one, but two mages. A trickle of dread slipped down his spine, chasing the grief he felt.

“How do I know you’re not enslaved by her?” Endrance asked. “I could walk into there and you both could ambush me.”

Kaelob blinked at him. “Enslaved?” he asked. “You mean those Mercanian designed spikes?”

Endrance nodded. Kaelob looked at him for a moment, perhaps calculating. He suddenly turned from him and pulled the collar of his robe down to show a long stretch of his back. From the back of his head, down to his shoulder blades, his spine was clear of anything but age spots.

“See?” Kaelob exclaimed. “Now let’s go!”

Endrance nodded, letting the mage adjust his robe before they ran towards the prison. “What is this place?” Endrance asked.