Cloak & Dagger: Book II of The Dragon Mage Trilogy (50 page)

“That’s O.K. - creature?” exclaimed Kazin.

The cook opened the swinging door to the kitchen area, revealing a scene of utter devastation. Dishes, food, baking ingredients, overturned pots, and all sorts of other paraphernalia were strewn about the entire kitchen.

“What happened here?” asked Rebecca.

“That hideous creature did this!” exclaimed the cook. “All three of its heads ate everything they could clamp their jaws on! Mages cast all sorts of spells trying to make it stop, but to no avail. I had to swat the creature on the behind with my cast iron frying pan to get it to leave! It’s going to take days to clean up this mess!”

“Three heads?” asked Della.

“Yeah!” said the cook. “It was the most hideous creature I’ve ever seen!” He marched back into the kitchen, complaining and muttering to himself.

“What kind of creature do you think it was?” asked Rebecca.

Kazin looked grim. “By what he described, I’d say it was a hydra.”

“A hydra?” exclaimed Vera. “But - but, that’s terrifying!”

“What’s so special about a hydra?” asked Della, “other than it has three heads.”

“Hydras are magic resistant,” said Kazin. “They’re extremely difficult to kill.”

“Have you ever encountered one?” asked Cyril.

Kazin shook his head. “Not yet.”

Alric started forward. “What are we waiting for? Let’s go.”

On the way, the companions encountered a pair of clerics carrying a stretcher with a body. As they neared, Vera asked, “Plague victim?”

The cleric in front shook his head. “No. He’s injured from the fight with the elves.”

“Elves?!” exclaimed Della. “What do you mean?”

The clerics stopped. “The elves are attacking the mages. Didn’t you know?”

Everyone exchanged glances. “No,” said Kazin slowly. “We just got here.”

“Follow us,” said the cleric. “We’ve got proof if you don’t believe us.”

Kazin and the others followed the clerics to a lecture hall where injured mages were being treated for injuries. A few black mages standing guard snapped to attention upon seeing the arch mage.

“What’s going on here?” asked Kazin.

The youngest of the mages stepped forward. “We’re guarding the clerics and patients so they can do their jobs. Master Mage Linnal put us in charge.”

Kazin knew Master Mage Linnal. He was a younger mage who had taken the mage test a few years ago and was eligible to become an arch mage. If he was in charge, that meant there were no arch mages around to issue orders.

“Are there any elves present?” asked Della.

The young mage nodded. “Yes. We have a few prisoners.”

“Show us,” ordered Kazin.

The mage led them to a back room where a couple more mages stood on guard. When they saw Kazin, they immediately released the magic on the door so Kazin and his people could enter. Curious stares followed the cyclops as he walked past.

The room had a number of beds where clerics fussed over a handful of injured patients. Kazin walked up to one bed occupied by an elf. The elf glared at Kazin as he approached.

“What’s your name?” asked Kazin.

The elf scowled.

“Why are you here?” asked the arch mage. He had a firm edge to his voice.

“To rid the world of those who poisoned the water and land!” snapped the elf.

“You think it was us?” asked Kazin in surprise.

“You humans always experiment with things of this nature!” spat the elf, “especially the arch mages!”

“That isn’t true,” said Kazin flatly. “It was the lizardmen. Thankfully, we put a stop to it. With the help of the water elemental - who the lizardmen had originally used to create the poison - we were able to come up with a cure. The lizardmages’ plan to take over our land has failed.”

“I don’t believe you,” spat the elf.

“You have been misled,” said Kazin. “This fight must stop. Who is your leader?”

The elf didn’t answer. His eyes stared and he did not blink. At first, Kazin thought the patient had perished.

“Oops!” said Cyril quietly. “He looked into my eye. Sorry.”

“Don’t be,” said a nearby cleric. “This way he won’t be in pain for a while.”

A patient in another bed moaned and motioned for them to come closer. The companions neared the bed and saw a beautiful female elf with her right arm wrapped in bandages. Alric was instantly smitten by her clear hazel eyes and chestnut brown hair. The smell permeating from her bed was strangely familiar.

“Hi,” she said. She looked at Kazin. “Are you an arch mage?”

“Yes,” said Kazin.

The elf motioned him closer. When she spoke, she almost whispered as though afraid of being overheard. “I’m sorry this whole thing is happening. What started out as a misunderstanding has escalated out of control.”

“Continue,” said Kazin quietly. He could sense a strong perfume on the patient and only his expert training kept his mind on the subject.

The elf took a deep breath. “The elves attacking you are dark elves. Dark elves operate independently of the rest of the elves. They believe in the use of offensive magic for the benefit of all elves. Most of the other elves love peace and non-violent magic. The king enforces strict rules of conduct limiting the use of offensive magic. The Dark Magic Society believes otherwise, and operates in secret places unknown to the king. Anyhow, the dark elves have never liked human black mages and were planning some sort of attack to discourage humans from pursuing black magic. When news came of poisoned water and most of the first casualties of the plague had originated in the Tower of Sorcery, the dark elves determined that a more serious thing had to be done to punish the human black mages - particularly the arch mages. A direct assault on the Tower of Sorcery had been planned. All arch mages were to be killed. That leads us to the present.”

“Why are you telling me this?” asked Kazin.

“I - can’t go into details,” stammered the elf.

“What about the hydra?” demanded Della. Her dislike of dark elves was obvious in the tone of her voice.

The patient shook her head. “I’m not sure where it came from. I didn’t even know it was part of the plan until I heard about it from one of the clerics.” She gave Kazin a sad look. “I was injured not long after leaving the cells. Some mages took me to this place and I’ve been here ever since. I would have put a stop to this if it hadn’t been for the damage to my hand and arm.” The elf studied the faces of Kazin’s group, wisely avoiding the cyclops’ eye. “You see, I lost my -.” Her voice broke off and she sat up in alarm. “Where did you get that?” she demanded in a loud voice.

Kazin stepped back, prepared to use magic to defend himself. He didn’t complete the spell when he noticed the elf looking at Alric.

Alric came out of his trance. “Huh? What?”

“That ring!” pressed the patient. “Where did you get that ring?”

Alric looked at his hand which wore the green ring. Then he remembered where he had encountered the female elf before - in the dark magic meeting hall. “What, this ring?” he asked innocently. “I found it somewhere,” he lied.

The female elf knew Alric was lying. She desperately looked around at those assembled with pleading eyes. “I need that ring! Please! It can stop all of this!”

“I don’t think so,” said Kazin sternly.

The patient froze for a split second and then fell back against her pillow. “No!” she moaned. “No, no, no!” She shook her head and wept. “This can’t be happening!”

Kazin and the others exchanged curious glances.

“Let me talk to her for a moment in private,” said Alric quietly.

“Help yourself,” said Kazin. “But don’t let yourself get seduced by her perfume.”

“I won’t,” said Alric.

“And don’t let her get hold of that ring,” admonished Kazin.

“Don’t worry,” said Alric.

Everyone withdrew a short distance while Alric had a talk with the elf. He found her more than attractive enough without the perfume. With the perfume, she was virtually irresistible.

“Why do you want the ring so badly?” asked Alric gently.

“It will help put an end to this nonsense,” said the elf.

“You’re one of the intruders,” said Alric. “Why would you want to prevent this attack?”

“I can’t tell you!” wailed the elf. “Please! You’ve got to trust me! Give me the ring and I’ll prove it to you!” Tears welled in her eyes and Alric hated himself for causing pain to such a beautiful elf.

“You know I can’t do that.”

The female elf looked directly into Alric’s eyes. “You stole it from me. It’s not yours. You are a thief, and you will be banned from the Dark Magic Society, Windoor.”

Alric flinched at the mention of his secret name. “If you take me down, you’re coming with me, Sawtooth.” He waited while his mention of her name sunk in. “Once the society finds out you were trying to work against their plan, they’ll disown you and exonerate me. What do you say to that?”

He regretted his harsh words as soon as he had spoken them. He hated himself even more as Sawtooth began to weep again.

“I’m ruined anyway,” cried Sawtooth. She looked up at Alric with a tear streaked face. “Tell me you are not in favour of this attack.”

“I can quite truthfully answer that question,” said Alric. “Absolutely not.”

“Then hear this,” said Sawtooth. “That ring is designed to summon a dozen of the king’s elite forces to your side as soon as you rub the ring’s surface and speak the magic. The soldiers are trained in combat and magic, and even the most skilled dark elf won’t be able to stand against these elite fighters.”

“Are you telling me you’re a spy?” asked Alric incredulously.

Sawtooth covered her face with her hands. “I don’t know why I’m telling you all this. You’re only a thief. I can’t trust you.”

Hearing those words from such a beautiful elf made Alric suddenly feel guilty. He wanted the elf to like him, but there was no trust between them. They were on opposite sides, yet she claimed they were on the same side. He shook his head. This was too confusing. He backed away. “I’ve got to go.”

The female elf uncovered her face. “Just remember what I told you about the ring. The words to the spell are etched on the inside.”

“I’ll keep it in mind,” said Alric. He turned to go.

“And be careful,” said Sawtooth.

Alric looked back at her. She seemed to be genuinely concerned. He nodded.

“Be wary of the one called Inferno. He’s full of hatred. I don’t trust him.”

Alric nodded again and left to join the others.

When he got back to the group, Kazin was just learning about the existence of a chamber where the dead bodies were put until they could be given proper burials. The room was two doors down from their present location and was kept cold with a special artifact so the bodies would be prevented from decomposing. Kazin asked whether any arch mages had ended up there since the outset of the plague. According to the mage’s memory, there were four, the most recent being Arch Mage Krendal. At the mention of Krendal, both Kazin and Della were saddened.

Kazin told the mage to show him to the chamber. At the chamber’s entrance, Kazin steeled himself and entered the room with Della at his side. The room contained a number of mages lying on cots. Kazin half expected to see Arch Mage Fildamir present, but there was no sign of him. Good. That meant he was still alive. Then he shuddered as a thought struck him. The arch mage could already be long dead and buried.

But right now Kazin and Della wanted to pay their final respects to the man who had led the Tower of Sorcery since Kazin was a child. Arch Mage Krendal was a stern taskmaster, but he was always there for Kazin as he grew in magical power. He supported Kazin’s ascension into an arch mage, a rare opportunity for any up and coming mage.

Kazin and Della went up to the cot where Krendal’s body lay in a peaceful pose. His hands were folded together over his abdomen and his old wooden staff lay at his side. The arch mage’s weathered face and flowing white beard were the same in death as it was in life. How old this man was Kazin could only guess.

Della squeezed Kazin’s hand and remembered the gruff but kind arch mage as he accepted her and Kazin’s other companions with open arms. She sighed. “It’s a shame we came too late to cure him of the disease. He’d have been proud, Kazin.”

Kazin nodded silently.

“It’s too bad we can’t cure death,” went on Della. “I’d sure like to see Krendal the way I remembered him.”

It took a moment for Kazin’s mind to grasp what Della was saying. He let go of her hand and sprang for the door. He stuck his head out into the hallway and addressed the mage who had guided him to the chamber.

“How long has he been dead?”

“Uh, who?” asked the mage.

“Arch Mage Krendal,” said Kazin. “How long has he been dead?”

The mage scratched his head. “Uh - at least two days.”

“Not three?”

The mage shook his head. “No. It was two days ago. I’m sure of it.”

Kazin tucked his head back into the room and shut the door.

“What is it?” asked Della.

“Let’s just call it the moment of truth,” said Kazin. He raised his staff and pointed it at the arch mage.

“What are you doing?” demanded Della.

“Quiet!” ordered Kazin. He closed his eyes and concentrated, the words to the spell coming automatically to his mind as Tyris had promised. He began to chant. The orb atop his staff began to glow a brighter and brighter green. Soon the whole chamber was ablaze with green light. Della shielded her eyes, while Kazin’s own eyes began to radiate the same green light as his staff. A faint hum could be heard coming from the staff while Kazin chanted the spell.

Suddenly, a piercing blast of white light was emitted from the staff, snaking along its length and jolting into the old arch mage’s chest. The arch mage gave a great gasp of air and sat bolt upright on the cot. The ‘lifeforce’ spell was complete.

Kazin collapsed on the floor and Della opened her eyes. When she saw Arch Mage Krendal’s penetrating blue eyes staring back at her, she joined Kazin on the floor, unconscious.

Chapter 36

W
ell, well,” said the old arch mage. “What have we done to deserve this?”