Anita stood and faced up to the elf bully. Max was on his feet, too, at Anita’s side. Jahrod slammed a second roasting bird down on the table, splattering grease and spilled ale over the elf’s fine white-and-gold cape, and stood. Chairs scraped over the flagstone floor. The fire crackled. The regulars went silent. Max moved his hand towards the handle of his Shortsword of Lightning.
Elderon stood, slowly, patiently. “When did the elves of Deepwood become so aggressive?” He spoke in a calm tone, yet had the attention of all in the tavern.
The elves relaxed their shoulders, muscles in their arms softened, but the hard stare remained.
Max saw these elves had green almond-shaped eyes just like Anita’s. And now he saw she shared other features with these elves too. But there was one feature that Anita clearly did not share with these elves: she was not an aggressive bully.
Max spotted a dark line like black lightning in the elves’s eyes. The skin at the corners of their eyes was dark too, possibly from lack of sleep, but Max knew instinctively this was the work of the darkness.
“Peace, Master Mage,” the third elf said as he stepped up and in between the bully pair. His long white coat hung over a pair of rapier swords in his belt. A polished white-wood longbow over his back. His shoulder-length blond hair was shorter than the others’. He offered his hand in friendship to Anita.
“I am Captain Darius Fineblade. I have no problem with half-breeds,” he said, “but our leader might. She’s not as broadminded as the rest of the company.”
“Who commands your company?” Elderon asked. “I know many elven generals of the Kingdom of Deepwood.”
Fineblade shook his head. “We are a special detachment of the Deepwood Company. Our leader is an elven witch.”
Jahrod grumbled, sat down, and stuffed the splattered roasting bird in his mouth. He looked at the elven captain as he crunched the bones. Max slowly took his seat. He was glad that peace now reigned in the tavern; he sensed Fineblade was a capable Warrior.
“Why does a witch lead a military detachment?” Elderon said.
“We are seeking out the dark shards in the Hinge.”
Max was back on his feet in a shot, a move that drew a look from the elves. Fineblade studied him for a moment before continuing.
“These shards are spreading darkness throughout Eveirea. The Mage council of Essillt is no doubt aware of their presence,” Fineblade said, turning back to Elderon. “Our informants on the continent of Scarfel tell us that all of Scarfel is under the influence of the darkness save for a small enclave on the edge of the Tharin Empire. The mountains of the southern Kranic Empire are providing a barrier to the many dark armies. We know that the elves can resist the darkness. So our witch is seeking the shards so we can dispose of them, rid Awen of their dark influence.”
Max saw the black lines flicker in the corners of the elven captain’s eyes. He could see that the elves were not as immune to the power of the dark shards as they thought.
“How many have you found?” Elderon said.
“Many,” the captain said.
“And how many have you disposed of?” Max said.
The captain hesitated. The dark lines flickered.
“It is dangerous to keep them,” Elderon said. “The Dark Mages have returned, and they are seeking them to conduct their dark experiments. You will no doubt attract attention from the Dark Mages if you hold on to them.”
Fineblade regarded Elderon with suspicion. “We have indeed encountered the Dark Mages just a few hours ago on the Kraken Sea Coast Road, not far from this town.”
Jahrod looked up at the elves and burped.
“How are you storing these dark shards, Captain?” Max said. “How do you prevent them from spreading their darkness?”
Captain Fineblade scowled and then softened. “The witch is keeping them.” Fineblade sat. “Only she has the Strength. I can feel their power. It is hard to resist.”
“It is impossible to resist,” Elderon said. “Even for elves.”
Fineblade nodded. “The sooner they are destroyed, the better for all.”
“Where is the elven witch now?” Max said.
“She has taken rooms in the mayor’s house at the center of town. She and her personal guard.”
Max looked up to Elderon. The old Mage knew what Max was thinking.
“We must aid you in your endeavor, Captain,” Elderon said. “We will make sure the shards are indeed destroyed.”
The look on Fineblade’s face was one of concern and relief in equal measure.
Max and Elderon stepped outside. The dirty streets were busier now than when they had arrived. A shift of miners was leaving the winch house, spreading out through the town. But most notable was the large number of elven soldiers on the streets. All were armed, some with spears and bows, others with swords and bows. They were milling about the town, taking shelter wherever they cared. Forcing their way into family homes to sleep in comfort out of the late afternoon drizzle that was sure to turn to a cold and heavy rain come nightfall.
The flaming torches on the towers of the mayor’s house flickered in the light rain.
“I never wanted to be a Thief,” Max said to Elderon.
“We are Mages. The safety of Eveirea is our responsibility. It is a hard class to take. Slow to advance. We face danger and hardship, but the rewards that eventually come are great, greater than for any other class. But the responsibility is great too. You are not stealing these shards; you are protecting Eveirea from the harm they will cause.”
“I can sneak in,” Max said. “No one will see me.”
“I’ll walk with you,” Elderon said.
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Max and Elderon walked through side streets towards the mayor’s house.
“I have never seen elves so corrupted,” Elderon said. “There are many evils in the world, but elves have a natural ability to resist evil. Did you see the darkness in their eyes?”
Max nodded. “They think they can resist, but if they have gathered a large number of the shards and have been in close contact with them, they are going to suffer the effects.”
“I fear the witch is already fully taken by darkness. I fear also for the elven King Daynor in the Kingdom of Deepwood. It is most unusual for him to sanction this sort of action by his elven company.”
The mayor’s house was more of a castle than a house. The entrance was by means of a drawbridge that was currently drawn up. The house stood on a pillar of rock surrounded by a deep and wide chasm. A pair of elven soldiers stood guard at the drawbridge on the town side of the chasm. Elderon led Max to the side of the house. Its walls were high.
Max looked down into the chasm as they walked around the house. It was deep and too wide for him to leap across. The walls of the house were built right to the edge of a pillar of rock that rose up from the depths. Deep down, there were fires burning. Max looked down. He wasn’t worried about falling into the fires; the fall would be enough to kill him.
“If I can get in, I’ll be able to find the shards and dispose of them,” Max said. “But how do I get in?”
Elderon stopped Max with a hand on his shoulder. He glanced around for any prying eyes and then began to cast. The rain falling into the chasm was stopped at the top by the spell forming before Elderon. The drops froze and created an ice bridge to the walls of the house.
“Be quick, young Mage. The ice will not hold long. Nor will our privacy. Go, now.”
Max stepped out onto the ice bridge. It was almost completely transparent, quite narrow, and very slippery. Max skidded over to the wall. He pulled up his Hood of Sneaking and started to climb the stone wall.
After a few feet, and feeling comfortable on the wall, he glanced back over his shoulder, expecting to see Elderon watching him anxiously, but the old Mage was already gone and so was the ice bridge, melted with no sign of it having ever been there, although the lengthy drop to the fiery depths of the chasm remained.
He focused on the stones before him and climbed. High up and inside the house, he could feel a dark shard pulling him. The closer he got, the more he knew this was not just one shard, but several. He reached a high window that was open a crack. He slipped inside the house. Alone in the dark.
The light at the end of the corridor drew Max forward. This was no ordinary light; it was the strange brilliant white of Janet. She called Max forward, her voice heard only by Max.
“They are in here,” she said.
Max turned the corner. A group of six elves stood guard at a heavy wooden door.
“Behind the door,” Janet said.
Max couldn’t speak, knowing any sound would give away his position. Currently hidden and sneaking, his Hood of Sneaking, Ring of Shadows, and his natural ability to hide all made him impossible to spot in this dark corridor, but the slightest sound, and his position would be given away. And any action he took, opening the door or even drawing his sword to attack a guard, would deactivate his Sneak ability. He backed off.
“No, in there,” Janet said.
Max turned a corner and went out of sight. He whispered. “I can’t fight my way past those elven guards. Look at them. They look fit and fierce. The dark jagged lines in their eyes show they are consumed by the darkness. I wouldn’t stand a chance.”
“Well, you have to do something.”
Max looked into his pouch.
>
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> Mage Book
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> Golden Roc Catapult
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> Blanket of Comfort
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> Polished Wooden Dagger
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> Bullets of Random Effect
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> Fine Rope
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> Collar of Control
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> Potion of Intelligence
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> Flint Tool
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> Scroll of Summon Storm Elemental
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> Short Sword of True Striking
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> Shortsword of Cold
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> Red Smoke Bomb
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> Stone Elemental
>
>
Max touched the Bullets of Random Effect. He was tempted to use one. Shooting one would give away his position, but if he could dazzle and disorient the guards, he could get past them. But he might end up simply hitting for bonus Fire damage. Maybe these bullets weren’t such a wise purchase, but then, he was low on Wisdom.
The Stone Elemental could save the day. If he summoned the elemental, it would no doubt defeat the guards or at least keep them busy while he entered the room. Maybe it was a bit of overkill.
He had one remaining red smoke bomb. He picked it out of his pouch. Max threw the bomb around the corner. It erupted with a soft thump and started spewing thick red smoke into the corridor. Max checked his Sneak ability and saw it was still active. He stepped around the corner and into the smoke-filled corridor.
The guards were flapping their arms, trying to clear the red smoke. One had drawn his sword, a long, white steel blade.
Max picked his way past them and opened the door. His Sneak ability deactivated as he opened the door, but the smoke swirled around him, keeping him hidden from sight. Once inside, he closed the door. He reactivated his Sneak ability and was hidden again.
Now he stood in a large room with a table and high chairs at one end. A large colored-glass window behind. An audience room. The red smoke was leaking under the door and spreading over the floor. The mayor sat in the tall-backed middle chair. He looked asleep. Max looked more closely and saw he was in fact dead, desiccated, sitting there like a shriveled prune. On the table in front of him lay three dark shards.
Max picked up one of the shards. As soon as he took hold, it began to fall apart, fine dust drifting on the slightest breeze and vanishing completely. Then the second.
Then the door to the audience room opened.
Max turned to see the elven witch.
>
>
> Name: Elven Witch
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> Status: Consumed by darkness
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> Attack: Claws
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> Threat level: Cruel
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>
She was tall, bald, her eyes black all around. Her mouth a gaping hole. She shrieked and flew at Max.
>
>
> Elven Witch attacks Max.
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>
Max fell backwards as the witch sat astride him. She slashed at him with long, thick yellow finger nails. She slashed at his chest and head. He held up his arms to protect his face.
>
>
> Max takes moderate damage.
>
>
In through the door came the guards, swords ready. Max wriggled out from under the witch and crawled under the table. He bashed the table, and the shard rolled away just as the witch tried to grab it. The elven guards rushed at him and started stabbing at him under the table. He avoided the stabbing blades with a frantic twisting and turning.
The witch dropped to all fours and snarled at Max. She scurried forward towards the shard. Max lashed out with his boot and missed the witch but sent the shard spinning across the floor between the boots of the guards. One kicked it back across the floor, and another kicked it sideways as he rushed to stab Max. The shard skidded into the remaining red smoke.
The witch was struggling to find the shard, feeling in the red smoke that covered the floor. Max knew the smoke was thinning.
>
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> Max casts Summon Fog.
>
>
The spell was mercifully easy to cast. Fog formed out of thin air, filling the room with thick white haze. Max crawled to the shard. He grabbed it just before the witch’s long fingers seized it.
In Max’s hand, the dark shard evaporated, the black dust disappearing in the white fog.
The witch cast a spell that brought wind roaring through the chamber, clearing the fog. Max ran to the door, but the witch was there before him, blocking his path. She shrieked a harsh hissing sound and pointed a hooked finger at Max.
The guards all turned to face Max. The dark lines around their eyes were fading. One stood bemused and confused, his sword hanging at his side. His fellows soon recovered.
>
>
> Witch attacks Max.
>
>
The witch flew at Max again. She knocked him to the ground. He shielded his face as the witch clawed at his eyes.
“Help,” Max called out to the elven guard, who looked lost and confused.
One came and grabbed the witch by the arm. She turned and slashed at him with her nails. He fell away, crying in pain. The others formed a line and brought their swords forward.
The witch shrieked in fury and then ran, jumping onto the table, knocking the dried remains of the mayor to the floor, and then she leapt out the window at the rear of the room.