CHAPTER 3
We had finally arrived at the bottom of the hill and had stopped in the center of the castle's courtyard. I called out to Keon, “Grab the guards and do a quick sweep through the castle and let me know what you find,” I turned around and looked for Caylan finally spotting her helping a small family as they left the wagon and looked around at the ruined castle. Catching her eye, I beckoned her over and once she arrived I explained what I wanted her to do.
“Grab some of the ladies and take inventory of what we have to eat, soups or stews would be best, something filling and hot. Once you're ready to cook come and find me and I will get a fire going.” I glanced at her and saw that she looked determined, she would get the ladies organized, I was sure of it. Once she left I walked towards the castle and looked at it closely with my Dragon eyes. I could see the glimmer of buried treasure below the main structure. Probably a dungeon or wine cellar.
I then glanced upwards and noted a slight ripple on the wall below the battlements. I was instantly reminded of the hidden attic at the House of Pain. I walked into the main entrance and stood in the central hall. There was a huge fireplace at one end of the room tables and benches were strewn about, and a small dais stood at the other end of the room. It had more of a homey feel to it, the sort of place a country Baron would live at. I liked it, but it needed work, and judging by the cracks in the walls and the cold draft that was swirling around a lot of work.
I was still waiting for the men to come back and report, and having a little time I decided to see if I could seal up the room, once It was sealed a warm fire would warm it nicely. Stepping over to the wall I placed my hand on the stone and then let me senses expand until they encompassed the whole castle. Once I was felt the time was right I began to cast a ward of protection over the castle, I was winging it, using my Ascendant power to bring about a powerful protective spell.
After several seconds, I felt a surge of power leave my hand and transfer to the stone wall. Stepping back I observed that where my hand had been resting on the wall an orb was now visible in the wall radiating beams of light through the stone and crisscrossing the room. Hearing a sudden gasp I swung around to see Caylan standing at the entrance with several of the other ladies and children.
“What are you, Tor?” Caylan asked as she stared at the fading beams of light traveling through the castle. The other ladies also were looking around with wonder and then staring at me with awe. I just shrugged, how could I answer that question, I am who I am. Whatever that is, I thought.
Smiling at the ladies I asked Caylan to go outside and ask three of the men to come in as I wanted to speak to them. I then gestured to the hall and asked the other ladies if they could start cleaning as we would be sleeping here tonight. After several minutes three men came in and bowed their heads before me.
“Lord Tor, how might we be of service?” The middle one asked in a quiet tone. I pointed to the fireplace and told them to go cut down a tree or two and make sure it was the right size to burn in the fireplace. The men nodded and left, I knew that they would be back soon with two of three trees split and the right length. Hearing steps approaching from the back of the room I noted that Keon and the other guards were back. Walking over to them I asked what they had found.
“The castle has been abandoned for some time,” Keon began. “We have searched all the rooms finding only one which seems to be sealed. Aside from some old furnishings, we found nothing. It actually seems to be in fair shape, there is no danger of collapse, I do wonder who lived here.”
“As do I,” I spoke softly. “Keon, when the men start bringing in the wood, have it piled beside the fireplace and also stack some in, I will start a fire and get this place warmed up, but first I will fix these walls so that bloody cold wind is not swirling around my feet.” I then walked over to the nearest wall and cast Dig Deep and began to manipulate the living stone. I drew it up from deep withing the earth and then combined it with the stone of the castle, I had it seal up all cracks and the strengthen the walls, floors and foundations, I also took the time to clean all the dirt and filth from the walls and floors of the entire castle by absorbing it into the stone and then pushing it through.
Once I was done I looked around to discover that everyone was staring at me, once they saw that I was looking at them they all took the knee and bowed their head. I was startled for a moment and then realized that the whole chamber was glistening an off white color, all the stains of time were gone and from the floor up the place was immaculate. I gestured for everyone to get up and said, “Look if you do that every time you see me doing magic we won’t get much done right.”
I then turned and looked at the wood that had been brought in and placed neatly both in and beside the fireplace. Walking over I cast Dragon fire at the wood and ignited it after a few seconds it was burning brightly and beginning to throw out a lot of heat. Caylan approached with two other women and several large pots that they hung on the hooks over the flames. I could smell the stew beginning to cook and it smelled good. But no rest for the wicked so I called to Keon and asked him to show me the sealed room.
We walked up three flights of stairs and down a long corridor until we stood in front of the doorway. The castle was clean and almost smelled lemony, but I am sure that was my mind playing tricks on me. Too many cleaning sessions at the orphanage using a lemon scented cleaner, I thought. I stared at the door and noted the slow swirling patterns of energy that were visible to my dragon eyes. It was beautiful to watch the power ebb and flow.
Keon looked at the doorway and then asked, “So what the hell is this thing, how do we get through it and what do you think is behind it Lord Tor?”
I glanced over at the big smith and smiled he was nervous but determined to stand with me, I appreciated that. “It is a magical barrier blocking the entrance to the room, I think I can use magic to get through and I have no clue about what is behind the doorway. You never know it might be a sleeping princess waiting for her prince to wake her with a kiss.”
Keon looked stunned and whispered, “Really, can I try to kiss her first, I mean I will keep it clean but I have never kissed a princess.”
“Sorry to break your bubble Keon, the possibility of having a princess in here is pretty low. But if she is in here, what the hell I will let you kiss her.”
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Keon looked at me stunned not sure if I was joking or being serious, but once he saw that I was not smiling or laughing at him he bowed his head and thanked me. I halfway hoped that there would be a princess hidden in the room. Turning to Keon I said, “Go downstairs and find me a comfortable chair or bench and fetch it up here, I need to study this barrier and ask Caylan for a bowl of stew, I am getting hungry.”
I watched Keon hurry off and then stood and stared at the doorway. I had no really way of breaking into the room, my training as a Thief had not included breaching magical barriers. My saving grace was the fact that I was becoming more attuned to my Ascended power and having the inclusion of both Nyx and the Dark God merge with my soul had opened up several pathways of power within me.
Walking over to the door I placed my hand upon the flat stone and watched as the energy swirled around and sped up as it moved all across the doorway. I opened my senses and began to draw just a small strand of the energy towards me and watched it slowly lift from the door and wrap around my wrist, I held my hand still and let more of the energy of the spell leave the door and transfer to my wrist. After several minutes the transfer of energy was complete and I had an ethereal chain made of magical energy wrapped around my wrist. The doorway was now unsealed and could be opened. I looked at my wrist admiring the chain, only visible to my Dragon eyes, and thought, just like the Ghost rider. I wondered what I could do with the chain.
I heard Keon and Caylan both arrive on carrying stew the other a chair. I smiled at them both and then gestured to the door. “It’s now open and I am curious to see what is hidden within, do you two want to come with me or stay and wait here?” I could see that they were interested in what had been locked away by some powerful magic so I said, “Stay behind me, don’t touch anything, try not to speak, and close your eyes if I tell you to. We good?”
As they both nodded I pushed open the door and walked into the room, it was long and ran the length of the third floor. It was set up as a bedroom study with shelves all around the walls. It had several comfortable chairs and was quite cozy with tapestries on the walls and throw rugs on the floor. Sitting in one of the most comfortable chairs was an imposing figure of a man, he was wearing a green robe and was reading a book. Seeing me enter he grimaced and then asked, “How the hell did you get past the doorway, I made sure that it was sealed tight.”
I waved at him and then licked out the chain, he stared at it surprise on his face and then he said, “Shit, that is not supposed to be possible, who are you?”
Deciding I would be honest I answered, “I am Tor, an outlaw among humans, I have brought a small band of refugees to this hidden valley for safety as war seems to be encroaching. We discovered the castle in disrepair and I have taken it upon myself to make it a place of comfort and safety for these people. Now if you would not mind telling me why the hell is a ghostly mage sealed up in a long abandoned castle?”
The ghost stared at me and then smiled, “So you have seen through my glamor, yes I am a ghost. I was the lord of this land many years ago, and my chosen path was that of a mage. Unfortunately, we are all given a portion of time and when mine ran out I arrived at the end of my days. I was not happy to go into the great beyond, so with my dying breath, I bound myself to my castle. I sealed the door to my chamber so I would not be disturbed as I did my research, and now having completed my great work, I found myself bored, waiting here for something. Then you arrived and I am now once again becoming curious.”
I stared at the ghost and thought, why do I always have shit like this happen to me. Instead of voicing my thoughts I asked the ghost for his name.
“My name is Mage Lord Braith, and I am the ruler of the four valleys and the Lord of the River Castle.” The old boy stopped talking and stared at me, I stared back and as he saw the Dragon fire within my eyes he looked away.
“Nice to meet you,” I replied. “This castle being long abandoned is now claimed by me, I will respect your wish for privacy and seal up the door to your chambers, we will not disturb you any longer,” turning I motioned for Keon and Caylan to head out of the room. As we began to walk towards the door I felt my perception kick in and then I heard Braith clear his throat.
“You are not really disturbing me; in fact, I have spent the last hundred years rather bored. If you would not mind, may I meet your people and hear their stories?”
I turned back to face him and smiled, “That is fine Braith, but drop the Lord title and do not scare the children. In fact, if you could tell Keon here the history of the valley and why all the people have left that would be useful.” We began to walk out of the room once again this time with Braith walking beside me, he looked solid enough and I had no doubt that he would be enjoying the human interactions, he had been alone for a long time.
Once we entered the main hall I called everyone to attention and introduced Braith to the villagers. Once I told them he was a ghost they looked startled, but when I young boy ran up to him and said, “Boo,” the tension was broken, especially after Braith knelt down and said Boo back at the child. I headed over to grab another bowl of stew and then found a table in the far corner and sat down to eat.
I was surprised when Caylan joined me and brought us each a cup of kava. Sitting back we enjoyed the warmth of the hot drink and sat in companionable silence. I was aware of hey eyes on me and that she seemed to be restraining herself. Finishing my stew, I had a sip of my kava and then asked, “What do you want to know, I can tell that you have some questions, so ask away.”
Caylan looked startled and then smiled at me, “Who are you Tor, we villagers talked on the trip and we know that they say you killed the Gods, yet you have helped us. I don’t believe that you are some Demonic being sent to our world to destroy it, regardless of what the King may say.”
I nodded and looked at the fire burning brightly, warming the room. I could see that people were spreading their blankets around getting ready to retire for the night, it was getting late and in the winter the sky darkened early.
Glancing over at Caylan I said, “I am just a visitor to the realm, yet somehow circumstances have brought me into contact with many different beings, both Gods and Demons, I have traveled to many different places and learned much about myself and others.
Yet for all that I have gained, I have lost those that are the most important to me. I have become more than I was yet, to be honest, my losses have made me less.” I realized that my eyes had filled with tears as I thought of my close friends and family, My wife Ama who had been killed and my son whom I had never seen. Of the Earthmother dying at the hands of her son, the Eldest, called the firstborn and the Dragon.
Caylan watched Tor as he began to speak and was surprised to hear what he said, and when he was finished she watched as a few tears rolled down his cheeks. For all his power he still feels pain and loneliness, she thought. “I am sorry for your loss.” It was only saying a few words, but it felt right to share that she felt for his suffering.
I looked at Caylan and could see the concern on her face, remembering that she had lost her sister just three days back I grabbed her hand and squeezed it and then thanked her. It had the feeling of release as we sat there and I enjoyed it. When I went to let go her hand, she smiled at me and said, “Please don’t, I want to stay here and hold your hand.”
I nodded, people needed to be touched and reassured every now and then, it was part of what made us human. The night became still as most of the people went to sleep, and soon after Caylan was sleeping also, she had crept in and was resting her head on my shoulder, I reached out and pulled her head down to my lap and covered her with my cloak. Using the nanobots I adjusted my temperature just enough to keep her warm and then closed my eyes and let myself sleep.