The High-Wizard's Hunt

Chapter 9

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Ruins

Thom woke with a start. He could feel a sharp rock pressing into his hip where he lay, and he attempted to roll over to find a more comfortable position. He sat straight up when he realized he couldn’t move his left foot. He watched in the dim, pre-dawn light, awed and terrified, as the thick, green vine that was wrapped around his ankle crept further up his leg. He jerked his leg back with all of his strength and was able to slip mostly from the tendril’s grasp. He reached down and tore the vine from his leg as he called out to Aron. As he jumped to his feet, Thom glanced across their camp and saw a tangled mass of vines where Asram had been sleeping. He thought about trying to free him, but vines were creeping across the ground toward him, and he wasn’t willing to risk becoming entangled himself to save his comrade.

“Aron!” Thom called out, looking around furiously for his commander. He caught sight of him leaning against a tree where he had elected to stand watch, sound asleep with vines coiling up his legs and torso. Thom reacted on instinct and initiated his Beckoning gift and instantly Aron was pulled from the vines and slammed onto the ground at Thom’s feet.

“Who is the curse in this forest now?” Thom asked sarcastically, watching as Aron stood slowly, cradling his ribs where he struck the ground and looking around in confusion. “You were supposed to be standing guard, and now Asram is dead too!” Thom grabbed Aron’s arm and pulled him away from the vines.

“How in Archana’s rage did I end up at your feet?” Aron demanded.

“I used my gift to summon you from the vines before they crawled down your throat,” Thom replied a bit guiltily. “Honestly, you are lucky all of you arrived. It doesn’t always do exactly what I intend.”

“You beckoned me? Like a dog summons a bone?” Aron asked degradingly.

“I just reacted, all right! I would have used my wand, but that rat, Osric, stole it from me, remember? If I hadn’t used my gift you would certainly be dead, so quit complaining. Besides, if you hadn’t fallen asleep, your ribs wouldn’t hurt,” he added. They both started when a raspy voice drifted out from the forest.

“Death is not always as it seems. Oft times, in this forest, it is a truer beginning.” They turned to see a crooked, old man in tattered rags step out from the trees. He leaned heavily on a staff and his gray beard nearly brushed his waist. His long whiskers hung in stark contrast to his hairless head and eyes. He spoke softly, but his voice resonated with hidden power. “You are a fool, Dragon Master, to lie down among the bones of the elven city.”

“You always have to materialize from nowhere and startle me. It would be nice if, just once, I could find you instead, old man.” Aron scowled at him, but his tone was more respectful as he continued. “What are those things, Aridis?”

“Hard to say. Perhaps they are fast growing vines that care not for what lies in their path. Some say they are the souls of the elven mages that once reigned here. Others say they are the curse which drove the elves away. What say you?”

“Me? I say they are a blight and should be destroyed.”

“Ah, but how might you be ensuring their destruction? You look to be lacking in weapons and wands, if I am not mistaken.” The old man grinned. “Some things in this forest are hard to destroy, and even harder to control, yes?”

“If you are referring to those blasted dragons, they were easy enough to control until recently. And I will have the head of the man who instigated their release, if it’s the last thing I do.”

“Be wary, Aron, as it may very well be.”

“What do you know of it, old mage?”

“I know it is good to have the skies alive once more. We should be going.”

“Going where?” Thom asked.

“Where you are headed, of course.” Aridis headed back into the forest from where he emerged. Aron and Thom followed, having nowhere else to go. As they walked away from the ruins, Thom thought he saw a dragon dip below the clouds high above them, but it was hard to tell from such a distance.

The forest was dense with undergrowth and Thom could see no path before them. However, Aridis walked with confidence and there always seemed to be a clear place for him to place his feet. Thom whispered to Aron as they walked, “It’s as though the forest moves aside for him. Are you sure we can trust him?”

“I am sure of nothing, but if anyone can help us get away from here, it is him,” Aron whispered back.

They had not traveled a great distance into the forest when Aridis suddenly stopped and rapped his staff against the trunk of a massive tree. After a moment, the vines hanging from the tree limbs parted off to their left. Aridis led them through the resulting archway. As they passed through, Thom was taken aback. Where he had expected to see more dense forest, instead he saw a sprawling lake.

“Welcome to Lost Lake,” Aridis said as he led them along the shore to a small cave and ducked inside. After a brief hesitation, Aron and Thom followed him in. They were greeted by a humble room with sparse furnishings. Only a large fireplace, a small table with three chairs, and a discreet door on the back wall were visible. He gestured for them to sit down, poured them each a mug of rulha, and then joined them.

“So, do you know where it is that we are headed?” Aron asked.

“Not yet. For you yourself do not know where you are headed,” Aridis replied. “I have no weapons, nor wands, to supply you with for your journey, but perhaps I can suggest your route. What is it you most desire?”

“Osric’s head!” Thom cut in.

Aridis rummaged through a cabinet and provided them with food and fresh water, a few spare tunics, and a pack to carry it in. Ignoring Thom’s outburst, Aridis addressed Aron.

“You traveled quickly. I did not expect you to arrive at the ruins last night.”

“What do you mean? You were expecting us?” Thom asked in surprise. Aridis laughed.

“Where else would you go? You have no weapons, no supplies, and no means of communication,” he responded to Thom sarcastically, then turned back to Aron. “Tell me your tale.” Thom looked resistant, but Aron rehashed the events that had occurred since their departure from the volcano. Aridis nodded his head as Aron finished.

“So how is it that this man, Osric, was able to best you and your men?”

“He was aided by the eagles and the dragons themselves,” Aron answered.

“The dragons had been caged in that mountain for many years, yet one man was able to break the spell that contained them?”

“I have no knowledge of the magic he used, but it was obviously powerful.” Aron sneered in disgust as he thought about it.

“The dragons respect him. Perhaps you should as well,” Aridis stated thoughtfully.

“Respect him?” Thom gasped. “He’s destroyed the only mode of rapid transportation on Archana. You think we should look up to him for that?”

“You have your feet. You have your tongue. You are no less capable of traveling than you were before he arrived. What you lack is knowledge.” Aridis stared Thom in the eyes as he spoke, commanding his attention. “But it would be foolish to hate him for knowing more than you. For then, you will have no way to gain the knowledge he possesses.”

“What say the dragons of our heads?” Aron changed the subject. “Can you convince them to stop hunting us while we continue our journey?”

“Your head, nor your hide, is a worthy target for a dragon,” Aridis chided. “You think too much of yourself.”

“They have been overhead as each of us died, one at a time, one way or another,” Thom sneered.

“What indication do you have that the dragons intended your demise?” the old man replied.

“They have hunted us every step of the way here,” Aron stated.

“You have lived so long by your sword, you have forgotten how to use your eyes,” Aridis scolded. “The dragons will not harm you. Sufficient time has passed. The ruins should be safe for the day, and perhaps we can scry your destination from amongst the stones.”

Aron packed the meager provisions and drained his mug of rulha. They headed back out the cave entrance to the lake shore. Suddenly, Thom stopped and addressed the old man.

“Aridis, I have flown over this forest on dragonback many times. Yet, I have never spied this lake. How is that possible?”

“Like I said, you have forgotten to use your eyes,” Aridis responded.

Where the lake came closest to the trees, Aridis again rapped his staff against the large tree trunk and the vines parted. The old man led them back into the forest and they retraced their steps to the ruins. When they reached the crumbling stones of the elven city, Thom was shocked to find them as he always had before. No vines to be seen, and no sign of Asram’s body.

“They grow like that every night?” Thom asked.

“No, not every night.” Aridis did not elaborate as he led them deep into the ruins to the center of the abandoned city. He stopped in the middle of a round structure which once had a domed roof, but little was left of the stone obstructing the sky. Small, round windows looked out from the crumbling walls at evenly spaced intervals.

“Elven mages erected this chamber during a solar eclipse. It was used for many purposes, but primarily for astrological divination. I find these stones offer me the clearest scene of one’s future I have witnessed. If I am going to learn where you are going, this place will be the one to show me.” Aridis directed Aron and Thom to sit in the center of the chamber. He sat down across from them, their bodies forming a triangle, and took Aron’s hand in his own. He pulled a shard of stone from a pocket and pierced Aron’s finger with the sharp tip, squeezing three drops of blood onto the stone floor. “Past, present, future.” Aridis’ voice was rich with power. He drew a vial of clear liquid out from another pocket, removed the stopper, and poured it out. He watched the liquid mingle with Aron’s blood as it ran outward along the cracks of the stone. He pointed a bony finger at the center of the puddle. “Your past is obvious.” Aridis swirled his finger through the liquid. “Your present is visible.” He indicated the many different paths of the liquid running along the cracks in the stone. “Your future is discernible.” He traced the air above one crack, in which the majority of Aron’s blood had flown, slowly with his finger as he spoke, “You will travel northwest. Your journey by sea will be uneventful, but you will not find what you seek at your destination. Set aside your hatred and seek out the man who placed you. Put your power in his hands and he will deliver that which you most desire.” The trickle of liquid came to a stop and Aridis glanced up. “That is as far as we can see.”

“Sounds like a bunch of gibberish to me,” Thom muttered as he stood and dusted off his clothes.

“There is a reason you are not in charge, Thom,” Aron scolded. “Aridis, thank you for your assistance. I believe I know where we should go from here.” Aridis nodded and turned to walk from the structure, a ponderous expression on his face, as Aron continued speaking. “Thom, there is only one port northwest of here. If we leave now, we can be there by nightfall. I expect we will arrive just in time to board a ship.” Aron ignored Thom’s further complaining, shouldered their pack, and walked briskly through the ruins.

*

Aridis followed the path that was obvious to his experienced eye as he made his way back through the forest. He tapped his staff against the trunk of the old, familiar tree and passed under the vines as they parted. He paused for a moment and looked out over the lake before proceeding on to the cave. As he entered, he turned and cast a protection ward on the opening to warn him if anyone came near. He crossed the small chamber and tapped on the wooden door, sighing to himself as it opened. He glanced around the large, well lit room as he entered, making sure all four men were accounted for. He approached the bed and checked the bandages on the arm of the man lying in it. His face was ashen, but his breathing was regular and the wound was clean and dry.

“Is Gad going to be all right?” A small man asked from one of the chairs at the table in the corner of the room.

“I believe so. The dragons found him in time, or he would certainly be dead by now. The spell I cast, and the herbs I administered, should stop the poison from spreading long enough for him to regain his strength and fight off the infection,” Aridis assured him. He turned and addressed the newest arrival. “My name is Aridis. I have a relationship of sorts with the dragons. Have the other men explained to you what has happened?”

“Did a dragon really save my life? All I can remember is waking up and realizing I couldn’t breathe, and I couldn’t see anything. I heard Thom yell for Aron, and then after what felt like an eternity I saw claws tear through the vines that were tangled above me and I was lifted into the air. I thought I would be its next meal, and then the next thing I knew, the dragon landed and just let me go. I turned around and there were Landin and Shrad, standing next to a concealed doorway in the middle of the forest.” Asram shook his head in disbelief as he spoke.

“The dragons were tempted to kill you as you have all done them a great wrong, but I convinced them that evil men are rare and you may better serve the world as enlightened men rather than ignorant soldiers. I have seen indications that you four will serve a valuable role in the events of the near future, but you will need to travel once Gad is able,” the old man replied.

“I never would have believed it if I had been told the dragons would save us, rather than eat us, but I am glad that beast caught me before I hit the base of the cliff,” Shrad added as he stood and began to pace the room. “Aridis, what do you mean, we will serve a valuable role?”

“Sit down, and I will explain to you what I have seen of your futures.”