In the depths of the sphere, a tiny cloud began to swirl. It grew rapidly inside the crystal, spinning, and changing colors. Pastel blue and purple churned, then crimson, and a bright golden yellow, until finally inside the sphere, there was nothing but a roiling mass of color. The sound of Pael’s voice was a constant now. The meager boundaries of the room had long since faded away. There was no roof overhead, no wooden floor below, and no walls around him. Even the slight reverberation of Pael’s voice off of the chamber’s surfaces had disappeared. He, the four flickering candle flames and his spectral orb were no longer in the world – at least not the same world as the tower.
A diminished harmony joined the wizard’s voice, letting him know that he was no longer alone. The cloud that had filled the crystal suddenly pulsed red and stayed that way. The roiling mist faded, and a strange phantasmal face took form inside the orb. The intensity and brightness of the crimson light radiating out from within the sphere made it impossible to make out any certain detail of the face’s features. Pael let his voice trail away. He brought his arms down in front of his chest and put his palms together as if he were about to pray.
“What is it you seek wizard?” the booming voice of the demon called Shokin asked. “Have you opened the Seal yet?”
“I seek the location of the sword you so greatly despise, oh Mighty One,” Pael said. “Ironspike has gone missing.”
A long silence ensued. So much time passed that Pael started to think that the demon had forgotten him. He started to sigh, but remembered himself. It wouldn’t do to anger an ally as powerful as this one. Even though the demon had long been banished from the physical world, Shokin went out of his way to aid Pael. To aggravate the spectral demon would be to invite ruin to all of his plans, for enslaving the demon was part of them.
“The sword will not reveal itself to me.”
Shokin’s voice seemed irritated. It sounded like a thousand ancient trees creaking in a storm.
“Only when the blade is drawn by one with the cursed blood of Pavreal flowing in his veins, will I be able to locate it.”
Pael almost swore aloud. King Balton had only had one son. Prince Glendar was the last who carried the blood of the ancient hero King Pavreal. Shokin wouldn’t be able to locate the blade unless Glendar drew it, and if Glendar was in a position to draw it, then Pael wouldn’t need to locate it anymore. Pael thought carefully for a moment, letting his frustrations subside.
“Is there no other way to seek it?” Pael asked. “What about locating the King’s Squire, or the Priest that disappeared? Can you learn where those two are? It is one of them, who surely has the sword.”
The demon growled, but concentrated on this for a moment. If Pael wasn’t such a loyal subject to his cause, then he would punish the arrogant wizard. How could he have let such an important object get away? He could sense Pael’s impatience and frustration. Losing Ironspike was no small thing. It was the one thing that had the potential to hinder their plans. Shokin was at least glad that Pael was aware of this, and understood the ramifications of the situation. Shokin held his temper in check and went about seeking the Squire and the Priest, even though Pael’s thoughts were bordering on contempt.
“The priest is in Portsmouth seeking passage to the Isle of Salazar.” Shokin’s voice grated. “The squire, I cannot find, but he will show himself to me sooner or later.”
“He may have the sword.”
“There is another matter more worthy of your concern, little wizard,” Shokin boomed coldly. “A boy has found Illdach’s old ring. If he is allowed to keep it for a while, then I think he might be able to help us with the Seal. I feel a deep and certain connection to him. The ring itself is unimportant, but the boy is one of the sacred climbing folk from the mountains. He will be at the festival.”
Pael started to ask another question, but the tone of the specter’s voice caused him to hesitate. By the time the wizard had mastered his thoughts, the demon was gone from the orb. Already the bright crimson glow was fading.
Pael cursed himself for sending Inkling off to Summer’s Day so hastily. There was no way he could go himself. Glendar needed supervision far too badly. The fool Prince could destroy a lifetime of work and planning with a single thoughtless command. He hated to heap more on Shaella’s plate at the moment, but she was the one that was going to dance with the dragon, so to speak. She was also on her way to Summer’s Day to handle another matter for Pael. He knew her loyalty was unquestionable and that she could handle the young hawker who had found the ring. Most all of Pael’s planning had been done for her anyway. If she wanted to be a Queen, then she was about to have to get her hands dirty.
He had to laugh, as he started to raise the orb back up so that he could go down to the Nest and write out a message for her. He found that he truly regretted not being able to be there for the festival this year. This Summer’s Day would be a day to be remembered.
Chapter 7