Wizard Pair (Book 3) (28 page)

It was right under his nose all along.

The amulet could store magic, but it took a lot to power the binding spell on a dragon. Binding a dragon took power almost equal to the magic of the dragon one wished to enchant. He would take the life of a dragon and use its power to drive the binding spell on a second dragon. Only then would he have enough magic to bind a dragon to his will.

Sulrad knew of several binding incantations that might work. He carefully transcribed them into his journal, and spelled it to erase itself should anyone open the book but him. He pocketed the book and prepared to leave.

It was four days before a ship came into port that could take Sulrad to Ryden. He packed his belongings, taking care not to leave anything behind that he might need. Before he boarded the ship, he rushed to the Wizard's study deep within the tunnels. He retrieved a few scrolls he wanted to take with him and tidied up the place. He stopped in the doorway of the study. He was not sure if he would be returning. If not, the scrolls posed a risk. If someone else gained access to the study, they too, would have access to the knowledge he had so carefully acquired.

He looked back on the scrolls; what if he had missed something? He might need them, but if he left them behind, they could be found by another. "Too much risk... No helping it," he muttered to himself. Sulrad raised his hand and created a fireball of bright blue energy. He flung it at the scroll room behind him. Fire washed over the ancient parchment, licking away the knowledge of the ancient Wizard. Sulrad laughed as he closed and sealed the door one last time.

At the port, the captain haggled over the cost of passage, finally settling on one Gold and five Silvers for a hammock in the crew quarters.

Veran was there to see Sulrad off.

"You're the head of the Temple in Frostan now," Sulrad said. "You've learned what it takes to find and sacrifice those with magic to strengthen yourself and the Temple. Take care while I am gone. It may be a while before I return."

Veran bowed his head. "I am honored. I will keep watch against your return. You will not be disappointed."

"Know this. I am traveling by water. Water is a danger to any Wizard. We lose contact with the earth and our powers are significantly impaired. I don't anticipate any trouble, but one never knows."

"Then why are you traveling by water?"

"Because the trip to Ryden is half a moon by water but two full moons of walking. This will get me where I need to be much faster. Even though I like it not."

"I'll be watching for your contact, should you need my assistance. Simply call for me and I will come, even if I have to travel by ship myself."

"Watch over my Temple." Sulrad turned and stepped on the gang plank that would take him to the next stage of his quest to command the dragons.

The journey by sea was horrible, and Sulrad suffered greatly. He was subject to sea sickness and because his magic was diminished, he was powerless to do anything about it. The days without food added to his already gaunt look until he resembled one of the skeleton statues in the Temple. By the time they arrived in Ryden, he looked like walking death.

He found an inn and hired a room for a moon. That should give him enough time. He spent several days resting from his journey, recovering his strength, and searching for news of a Wizard or Sorceress who knew the old legends.

He heard of an old woman named Theria. She lived on the edge of the city and was said to have the sight. He found her house nestled among the shops and homes on the outer edge of the city. It was well maintained and in good repair in contrast to the surrounding homes.

The woman who opened the door was slight and bent over. She was aged and wrinkled, with a large bulbous nose and crooked teeth. She peered up at Sulrad as she opened the door.

"I have heard you have the sight," Sulrad said.

"That is true. I can see you're a Wizard."

"Priest. I am the high Priest of Ran."

"Don't know him, but Wizard you are." She held the door ready to close it on him.

"I am a Wizard. I have come to seek your advice."

"The only advice I have for you is to leave an old woman alone." She started to close the door in his face.

"I have Golds," Sulrad said.

"Gold? You'd pay gold for my simple knowledge? Then you are not only a Wizard but also a fool. I have no knowledge worth gold, or I'd not be living here."

"You may have knowledge worth every bit of my Golds." Sulrad hated to beg, but she might be the key. "Please." He reached into his purse, pulled out two Golds and held them out to her.

She carefully took one from his hand and examined it. "Long way from home."

"Yes, I have traveled far. Please. You may have the information I'm seeking."

She took the second coin from him and pocketed them both. She opened the door and stepped back to allow him to enter.

"I'm Theria. What is it that you seek?" she asked.

Sulrad didn't want to come right out and ask, but he had to find out what the woman knew. He described the amulet giving as little information as he could. He was vague about its history and failed to mention anything about its magical properties.

"Why are you looking for such a thing?" Theria asked.

"My Lord Baron is desirous of purchasing such a piece. It is his gold you now hold in your pocket."

The woman laughed as she reached into her pocket and drew the coins out. She rubbed them together in front of his face. "There isn't enough gold in any treasury to purchase something like that. The only way to get the crown jewels is to conquer the King."

"Then you know of it?"

"It is on every painting of every royal in the land. It's part of the crown jewels. Everyone knows what this is." She pushed the drawing back across the table and secreted the coins back into her pocket. She stood up, reaching for her empty cup.

Sulrad held out his hand to stop her. "One more question."

She continued clearing the table. "No more questions."

"Do you know how I might be allowed to catch a glimpse of it? My Lord Baron might be satisfied if I were able to gaze upon it and relate its beauty to him."

"It's kept in the treasury in the castle, I'd wager. I'm not a regular guest there," she said with a cackle.

"Thank you for your advice." Sulrad left the woman's home with more questions than when he'd arrived, but at least he had confirmed that the amulet was in Ryden.

Now all he had to do was to get into the castle treasury.

Amedon

The palace in Rohir shook violently. Pots flew from the tables, plants fell from the walls. A loud crack ripped through the palace, extending along the entire surface of the outer wall.

The water in the pools sloshed violently from side to side. Steaming liquid splashed over the rocks and knocked many of the delicate hanging fingers from the edges of the pools. Fragile white spears shattered on the rock below.

Screaming came from within the palace as decorations crashed to the floor. After what felt like an eternity, the earth settled down. Zhimosom felt the flavor of the magic change around him. It had been altered, ever so subtly. The pools now flowed with water fed directly from the source below. The magic was at the surface and in the water, no longer buried deep beneath the earth.

Rotiaqua stood by with a look on her face that said she'd done something wrong and she was proud of it. Zhimosom turned her. "What did you do? Did you cause this?"

"I channeled some of the power of the pools into the city so that the women don't need to fear the men any longer. They should not have to walk behind them on a leash, or covered in those silly white scarves. I fixed that."

Garlath came running out of the palace proper. "What happened?"

"A spell," Zhimosom said. "Rotiaqua cast a tiny spell." He held his fingers in the air about half a digit apart, and then threw Rotiaqua a glaring look.

"Tiny?" Garlath looked at the crack in the wall.

"Well not that tiny," Rotiaqua said.

"What does it do?" Garlath demanded.

"Balances the power ..."

Before she could explain, there was a screech high above, the likes of which Zhimosom had never heard. He ran outside and looked to the sky.

A dragon circled high overhead. It made wide flowing arcs around the palace tower, descending with each turn. It spread its wings and touched down between Zhimosom and the pools with a gust of air.

The dragon waddled over to Zhimosom and lowered its head, tilting its neck to get a better look at him. Zhimosom stood in silent expectation as the mighty beast examined him.

The dragon turned to Rotiaqua and eyed her just as carefully as it had Zhimosom. Rotiaqua stood still before it, but unlike Zhimosom, she had a look of defiance to her.

Finally, the dragon snorted. "You are ready."

"Ready?" Zhimosom asked.

"I guided you here to show you the magic that will aid you in your quest ... and to test you. I felt your heart and believed that it was good, but I needed to be certain."

The dragon lifted its head, and looked down on them. "If you had left here without being touched by the injustice of this society, you would have proved yourself no better than the Wizard who summons my kind."

It lifted one massive claw and pointed at Zhimosom. "You could not leave without helping. You have a heart that can save us from certain destruction."

"It was not me," Zhimosom said.

The dragon gently touched Zhimosom on the chest with its sharp talon, and then did the same to Rotiaqua. "You share one heart."

"One heart?" Zhimosom asked.

"One heart, and now it is ready." The dragon spat fire into the air. "To Amedon with you. There you may find what you need."

The dragon snorted, took one quick step, and with a single beat of its wings, launched itself into the sky.

Garlath looked at them in shock. "You two certainly lead an interesting life, don't you?"

Zhimosom didn't know how to answer him, but he was eager to get to Amedon. "I think I can access the power of the pools to help us travel to Amedon. Can you guide us there?"

Garlath held out his hand to Zhimosom. "I can show you the way, but I will need to draw power from you. I cannot access the pools as you do, and I do not have enough power of my own to make it to Amedon."

"I'm ready." Zhimosom held out his hand. Rotiaqua took it. Zhimosom followed the slight trail of magic that Garlath laid out for him and pulled them through the void to Amedon.

The threesome arrived just outside of the Wizards' Keep. The gates stood open and no Guards were present.

People streamed in and out while oxen towing wagons and carts vied for space on the road. People carrying bundles of goods on their backs attempted to stay out of the way of the carts.

Garlath ushered them through the gates. Inside, the road continued a short way, and then split into three separate paths. The one on the left wound around and behind the building and emerged again to snake up into the mountainside, ending at the doors to the tallest tower in the Keep.

"Come on." Garlath led them along that path. "This is the way to the library."

The library was located in the tower that stood tall against the mountainside. It could only be reached by means of a narrow rock bridge that spanned a deep chasm between the main Keep and the tower. The bridge was narrow, cut from the mountain by winds and weather. The treacherous span had no Guard rails, or walls to prevent someone from simply sliding off the walkway and plunging to the depths below. The wind whistled out of the mountains and made the crossing dangerous.

Garlath led them across, pointing out rough spots and dangerous breaks until they were once again on solid rock.

The tower was imposing, jutting into the sky. Zhimosom looked up to see clouds zipping by at a rate that made him dizzy and threatened his balance. The tower doors were made of sturdy and solid wood, banded with rusty iron. They were closed tightly.

Zhimosom pulled on the doors but they didn't budge.

"Magic," Garlath said.

"Magic?" Zhimosom asked.

"Magic. You have to prove you have magic or they won't open."

"Aperire et me transire," Zhimosom said waving his hand in front of the door.

Nothing.

"Why?" Garlath asked. He stood behind Zhimosom with a slight smile on his face.

"Why won't it open?" Zhimosom asked.

"Why do you want to enter the library?" Garlath gestured to the doors. "That has to be part of the spell and it must be a genuine reason or the doors won't open."

"Habere scientiam et potentiam trans fores," Zhimosom said, requesting the doors to open and permit him access to the knowledge that lay within.

The doors swung noiselessly open. The trio walked down a long hallway and took a turn to the library that extended far back into the mountain. The door to the library stood open and inviting.

Zhimosom stopped in awe, blocking the doorway. The entire library was covered from floor to ceiling with books of all size, shapes, and colors. The library shelves stretched as far back as he could see. There were side rooms that no doubt were equally packed. Surely, there was a wealth of knowledge here.

"It's magnificent," Rotiaqua said.

"Where do we start?" Zhimosom asked. He had never seen a library before. Surely, there was some arrangement to all this knowledge that would help them find what they were looking for.

"Let's ask the librarian." Garlath guided them to an alcove where several men sat at desks beside a wall filled with small drawers.

"Excuse me," Garlath announced their presence to one of the younger men.

The librarian held up his hand to stop him as he scribbled a notation. He looked up at the three of them, surveying them quickly. "I don't recognize you. Student, Apprentice or Master?"

"Free Wizards," Garlath said simply.

The librarian held up his hand extending it palm up to Garlath. Zhimosom saw a small tongue of fire lick into existence, and then quickly vanish. He extended his hand to Zhimosom and looked him in the eye. When Zhimosom didn't respond, he said "Fire?"