Into The Ruins (27 page)

Subprior Taent stared at the images a moment longer.  He considered ordering Brother Yori to wrap the object in heavy cloth to hide the images, and forbid him of speaking of it.  Then he realized that the scholar would more than likely raise the matter with the Prior, perhaps even the Archimandrite.  The scholar was not one who took instruction well.  It was his duty to inform his superiors of the find, and they would decide how to proceed.  Perhaps it would be unwise to ignore the object.  He realized he would not sleep well knowing one of the magical artifacts was active below his feet.

“Come,” he ordered suddenly.  “We must inform the Prior of this discovery.”

“You do not wish me to bring it with us?” Brother Yori asked.

“Leave it in place.  If anyone wishes to see for themselves, they can come down here.”  That gave him a certain satisfaction.  He couldn’t imagine the Archimandrite making his way down into these darkened rooms.

“Why can we not simply ignore this discovery?” the Archimandrite asked some time later after the details had been conveyed to him.  The four men sat in the office of the Archimandrite, deciding how to proceed.  “After all, had you not gone down there to store the items the Sacrist ordered, we wouldn’t even know about this.”

“There is a reason all things happen,” Brother Yori said boldly, quoting a line from one of their basic texts.  “We do know of it, and cannot be certain of its importance.”

“Why would this object be showing images of the wizard that visited us?  Why him?  Why not someone else?”

“We know nothing about the magic involved or the reasons it works as it does,” Brother Yori said.  “Perhaps his visit here and his use of powerful magic somehow linked him to the artifact.”

“Do you think it represents a danger?” the Archimandrite asked.

Brother Yori shrugged.  “We have witnessed the power of magic firsthand, but whether this object represents a threat is unknown.”

“I for one would like to see it gone,” Subprior Taent said unbidden.

“What risks do you think we take if I simply order Brother Yori to remove it and dispose of it in Lake Duir as you have suggested we do with everything stored below?”

Before Subprior Taent could respond, Brother Yori spoke up.  “And if the wizards learn what we have done?  They have a presence nearly everywhere these days.  Might they have some awareness that this object exists?”

The Archimandrite didn’t believe they were that all knowing, but he’d seen what they could do.  Perhaps it would be best to turn this cursed object over to them.  Like the Subprior, he didn’t think he would be comfortable knowing that magic was active a short distance away from him.

“How would we inform them?” he asked.

“One of those who traveled here with the wizard Rigo was the brother of Brother Nyll.  Perhaps we could send him to contact his brother.  He would likely be aware of the status of this wizard, and would be better able to direct us how to proceed.”

Brother Nyll.  Another misfit
.  The Archimandrite wondered why those who barely fit in were always in the middle of matters like this.

“Why don’t we simply inform the wizard in the nearby village of Rile as was suggested earlier?  That would be simpler.”

“I do not believe the wizard there is anyone of importance.  He is a former resident of the village, who has returned home to help out.  Perhaps he wouldn’t be the best choice, although he might be instrumental in helping us contact those we seek.”

The Archimandrite considered, then said, “I charge you with looking into this.  Take Brother Nyll and seek out his sibling who visited here.  You are both senior enough to freely travel outside the Monastery alone.  Inform him of our find.  If he wishes to inform the wizard community, then allow him to do so.  I will consider the risks of moving the object if they wish to view it.”

Nals

Capital of Sedfair

Suline had never been in the private meeting quarters of the Saltique and her chosen advisors.  She had always wondered how the chambers would appear, and had heard stories from several of her fellows what it was like, but had been denied the privilege of being there herself.  She had always known the day would come for her.  She also had unspoken hopes, hopes that hadn’t been shared even with her closest friends, that one day she would be the one that ruled over the Guild.  Today, however, was not that day.  Today she was here to report on the strange visitors in Slipi.  If all went well, she could see herself being returned to the capital, and integrated back into the most favored members of the Spellcasters Guild, her banishment effectively ended.  Suline wished for that.  It would make her path forward so much easier.  The politics within the Guild were subtle and tricky, as she had learned the hard way.

As she waited for the questions to begin, Suline examined the Guild’s most senior members.  Carif, the Saltique, was known to all.  A strong leader, and one not to be underestimated, she was still strong and straight despite her many years.  Suline wondered if there was any truth to the stories that she had unearthed a secret that extended one’s life span.  Despite hair that was mostly gray where it had been red when Suline had first seen the Guild’s leader, and skin that was visibly more wrinkled, she showed little other signs of her age.  Suline believed she was merely one of those who aged well.  The next few years would reveal the truth, she suspected.

The Eight Specialists were another matter.  Only one was as old as Carif.  That was Shym, and Suline had heard of the dangers of crossing her.  More than one mid-level Caster, and even a Senior Caster or two, if the stories were true, had found their positions drastically altered after attracting the ire of the black haired witch for one reason or another.  Some believed her to be a greater enemy than even the Saltique could be, but Suline believed Shym was Carif’s right hand.  The only others she knew by name were Ensay and Delril.  Ensay, blond and surprisingly young for her position, was responsible for the testing and advancement of all within the Guild, and Delril was the overseer of the Guild’s University.  The other five she had seen in the halls of the Guild, but didn’t know them by name.

“The message you submitted regarding the strangers along the border is one of serious concern,” Carif said without preamble, indicating the meeting was to begin.  Suline had come to the capital as soon as she was comfortable that matters were well in hand in Slipi.  There were established procedures for requesting a meeting with the Saltique, formalities that should be observed.  Suline had circumvented them, believing the strangers were important enough the Guild’s officers would want to know of them immediately.  If she was judged wrong, it could have negative implications for her. 

Carif’s penetrating stare fixed on Suline as she continued.  “You indicate that Sedfair’s border was penetrated yesterday, but imply it was not by a squad of Baldari.  Your wording suggests the invaders are potentially an even graver concern.  I hope you are prepared to substantiate your claims.  Tell us what occurred.”

“Yes, Saltique,” Suline replied respectfully.  She pushed aside a stray strand of yellow hair that had fallen in front of her eyes.  She began her story, beginning with the initial sighting by the two village youths and the encounter that resulted in an exchange of magic.

“You are not Slipi’s village Caster?” Shym asked, interrupting her tale.  “How is it that you became involved?”

“After the encounter which resulted in the Army Caster losing his staff and the escape of the four sorcerers, Caster Ferkle sought assistance of the village Caster Tanss.  She realized that additional help might be required and that the Guild here in Nals would need to be informed.  She and I have collaborated in the past to deal with unusually large Chull attacks, and she is aware that I am stronger than either her or Ferkle, and more importantly have been blessed with the ability to create
Doorways
.  She hoped that I would be able to bring news of events to the Guild here in Nals in a timely manner.  She dispatched one of the Army’s riders to make the four glass ride to my village.”

“Yet you did not come here immediately,” Carif pointed out.  “It is almost a full day later that we are hearing this news.”

“The tale I was told seemed somewhat unbelievable,” Suline replied respectfully.  “I deemed it wise to go to Slipi and see the scene of the supposed events myself. I did not wish to bring unsubstantiated stories to the Guild.”

“And what did you find upon your arrival there?” one of the Specialists that Suline didn’t know by name asked.

“A great deal of confusion and excitement.  The village was alive with rumors of powerful sorcerers appearing throughout the village.  Much of what was being whispered by the villagers was clearly the result of panic and uncertainty, but those who had been on the scene agreed in several key respects.  The four strangers had used magic to defend themselves from both normal weapons, crossbow bolts in this case, and magic.  They had destroyed the staff of the Army Caster Ferkle, and more importantly had performed all the magic without any obvious preparation or without a casting staff of their own.”

“Nonsense,” exclaimed Delril. 

“Such were the stories,” replied Suline.  “There was unanimous agreement on that point.”

“Yet you still did not come here and report what you had learned,” noted Carif once again.

“It was the middle of the night.  I doubted I would be granted admittance at that time, and there remained the matter of the strangers.  There was great fear that they might return, and the village was now protected by a single Caster, since Caster Ferkle was effectively rendered nearly impotent by the loss of his staff.  The village Caster Tanss was not any stronger than Ferkle.  I decided to make preparations in the event of a return rather than leave the village defenseless.”

“And from your brief missive, I understand that the strangers did return?” asked Ensay.

“Two of them,” corrected Suline.  “They made a
Doorway
directly into the inn where they had taken a meal the previous evening.  It was the only concealed location they had visited, and we prepared for such a possibility by placing blocking runes in the common room.  It worked as we hoped, and once they stepped into the room, their magic was blocked.”

“They were taken easily then?” asked Shym.

“They had swords, but the two men surrendered without a fight,” Suline agreed.

“So you never actually saw them use magic?” asked Carif.

“That is true,” Suline admitted.  “We subdued them with blocking bands, and took them to the Army stockade.”

“They had no staff to support them?” asked Carif.

“None,” Suline replied.

“Perhaps that is why they surrendered so easily,” Carif suggested.

“What of the remaining two?” asked Ensay.  “You said there was a woman, mostly likely their leader, and another, an older man.”

“We found them waiting at a small unblemished spot deep in the Wastelands,” Suline explained.  That caused several of the Specialists to draw sharp breaths.

“In the Wastelands?” Carif asked, uncertain she’d heard correctly.  What do you mean by unblemished, and how did you find them?”

“The strangers made no attempt to mask their
Doorway
,” Suline replied.  “I am one of those with the ability to detect the origin of a
Doorway
that hasn’t been appropriately masked.”  Suline revealed this news with a certain satisfaction.  Not many could say the same.  If they examined her scores at the University they would be able to verify this, but at the moment she caught them off guard.

“That is very unusual for one of your level,” Carif said.

That’s not the half of it! 
Suline knew they would be even more surprised if they knew of her other ability. 

“It was indeed fortunate,” Suline agreed modestly.  “Otherwise I would have had no idea from where they had come, nor where the others might have been hiding.”

“You went into the Wastelands after them?” Shym asked.  “That was somewhat risky.  You couldn’t know how many were there.  You might have been taken, or killed.  Even worse, you might have been trapped in the Wastelands.”

“It was a risk, and perhaps an ill advised one, but I was now convinced of the truth of Ferkle’s claims, and didn’t wish to leave Slipi unprotected while I came here.  There was also the matter that the
Doorway
trace was already fading, and unless followed up upon within a short time, the origin of the strangers would be lost.  I assumed if they could create a
Doorway
from wherever they had come from, the Wastelands would not block my own.  It seemed important enough to take the risk.”

Suline didn’t tell them the whole truth.  The idea of going into the Wastelands, especially that far where it would have been impossible to walk back out if something went wrong had been terrifying.  Had it not been for her ability to create the
Ghost
Doorway
, she probably wouldn’t have attempted it.  As far as she knew, no one else was even aware that a
Ghost Doorway
was even possible.  She had stumbled upon it by accident when she’d botched the complex glyphs required to initiate a
Doorway
some years before.  What she’d created instead was something unique, a
Doorway
with the return path already in place.  Unlike the normal
Doorway
that allowed travel in a single direction, her creation was two-way.  Further, one didn’t actually travel to the chosen location.  It was as if one’s senses made the transition.  She was able to see and observe what was on the far side, then will her senses back and close off the odd
Doorway
behind her.  Anyone on the far side would have no awareness of her observation.  It was a skill she hoped to use to her own advantage.  Now that she had been in this special chamber, she knew she could even spy on the Saltique if she wished.  In this case, however, she had been able to pinpoint the location of the small patch of green in the vast expanse of desert, and had observed that only the remaining two strangers were present.  Possibly others waited at similar anomalous areas within the Wastelands, but by the actions of the two she could observe, she’d didn’t believe it to be so.

“So, you went to this place and discovered the other two strangers,” the Saltique encouraged.  “How far into the Wastelands was this place?”

“I estimate it would have taken five or six days by horseback to reach it,” Suline replied. 

Her claim caused a sharp intake of breath by Delril.  “No one has ventured that far.  The corruption blocks magic.  How were you able to go and return?”

“I could sense the corruption all around me, but the small patch where they were waiting was free of such effects.  I do not know how they discovered it, whether they created it, or whether there are others like it.”

“Perhaps that is how the Baldari are able to cross the desert Wastelands,” suggested one of the Assistants.  “If there are many of these patches and one knows where they are located . . .”

The speculations by the Assistant were cut off by the Carif.  “What happened next?  How did you apprehend the two remaining Casters?”

“Knowing the location and the fact they were alone, the rest was straightforward.  I returned to Slipi, explained the situation to the Army, and told both Ferkle and Tanss what they were to do.  Once a team was assembled, we made a
Doorway
back out there, surprised them, and quickly subdued them.”

“You found nothing in their camp that would suggest their origins?” Ensay asked.

“They had very little in the way of a camp.  Some blankets and packs.  Almost no food, which suggests they can return to their home base easily.  The older man had several journals he was keeping, but the writing is nothing I recognize.  I have brought them back for study.  I also found this,” she said, and pulled the cracked and ruined remains of Rigo’s staff out of the wrapping she’d used to conceal it until now.

“They did have staffs!” Shym exclaimed.

“Not much of one,” Carif said as she peered closely at the broken object.  “Was this damaged in the capture?”

“No,” Suline explained.  “We found it laying discarded not too far from where they were taken.  All reports indicate they hadn’t had the object with them when they attacked Ferkle and the Army.  You will notice the wood is without any markings.  There are no runes or glyphs to support casting, nor a focusing crystal to direct and magnify the spell.”

“Perhaps they destroyed the staff themselves so we could not learn some spell of importance,” Delril suggested, but none believed that.  “If they needed the staff to function, why would they have destroyed it?  They couldn’t have known capture was imminent.”

“You are certain there are no staffs hidden in the area?” Carif asked pointedly.

“We did not see any, but it is not impossible that others exist somewhere in the surrounding area.  It would take time to search the area completely.”

The questioning of Suline continued for another glass.  Finally, Carif said.  “This is indeed disturbing.  You were right to make it known to us as you have.  We will have to discuss this among ourselves, but in the meantime there are several matters I would ask you to attend to.  See the quartermaster and obtain a replacement staff for Ferkle.  We will send someone to the village with you, but I want you to return to Slipi and from there to the place in the Wastelands where the strangers were captured.  Take the Army with you, and have the area searched carefully.  Return tomorrow evening with what has been learned.  I believe we will want your prisoners brought here to Nals.  We will decide that by the time you return.  Do you understand?”