Zeek shivered as he followed Antone and Turgi through another skeleton-filled room. Not because of the temperature, although it was a bit colder than the weather above. It was the presence of bones haphazardly strewn from alcove to doorway to corner. Not once did he see a full skeleton, just bits and pieces of long, dried chalk-like material. The crunch under his feet just put him further on edge, as he couldn’t avoid stepping onto the remains of whoever was down here.
He tried to see some pattern to the debris, but it was impossible with the years of dust and cracked stones strewn on the path. Nor could he remember where they had come from. Antone knew the way and walked briskly from room to room, often waving a hand to move collapsed earth out of the way. At times he scrambled over piles of bones, or mounds of aged stone. Turgi’s head swiveled about, sending a tendril of fire down the corridors they skipped. The three would pause each time to check for…well, he wasn’t sure what they were worried about.
The only other sound was silence.
The book hovered beside his head, as if scanning the environment. Zeek glanced at it often, hoping the pages would open and an explanation to all this chaos would reveal itself. Only the empty whites of the symbol’s eyes on the front cover were visible.
Zeek kept his mana vision on from the moment they entered the sewer. Nothing ever appeared, except for the archmages and their spells. The soft glow of their mana cores let him follow more easily, but created an eerie illusion. As if he were descending into the crypt with ghosts. It didn’t help that none of them spoke, communicating only through moving hands and nodding heads.
Zeek looked around expectantly when, after an hour of walking, they arrived in another alcove and stopped. Antone pointed to a shelved area in the corner of the room before walking over and crawling beneath the bottom shelf on his knees. Turgi motioned for Zeek to go ahead of him.
He felt a flicker of fear as he crawled into the narrow space and the walls creeped closer. But he stayed behind Antone, rising to his feet after a minute and looking at an open area filled with collapsed stones. When Turgi arrived, he held up a vibrant blue flame to illuminate the room. They motioned for Zeek to stand back as Antone waved an arm over the rubble and it sank into the ground.
A cloud of dust whirled through the room as the debris cleared, and the three waited until it cleared. Turgi moved forward, holding his hand up to the door. When Zeek saw the symbol on it, he gasped.
It was the same as his book.
“This is where we found the device,“ Turgi whispered. “There used to be a desk here and documents. It’s all gone now.” Zeek approached the door and ran his hand over the symbol. It felt different when carved of stone. The teeth more jagged, the scowl more sinister, and the eyes more alive.
“Any mana?” Antone whispered. Zeek turned and shook his head, and the captain clicked his tongue. When Zeek turned back, the book was hovering in front of the symbol and vibrating. He pretended to stretch his arm out, attempting to swat it away. But the book was firmly fixed in the air. Suddenly the symbol on the door started to glow, and Zeek began to panic.
He grabbed the book with both hands, pulling it as hard as he could. “Zeek?” Turgi asked. He ignored the archmage as the book vibrated faster, enough to make his arms shake. With his mana vision, he could see mana being fed into the symbol and snaking through a once-hidden formation drawn into the door. He pulled harder, bracing his feet on the door and using all his strength. To the archmages’ eyes, he was hovering in the air pulling on nothing.
“Help!” Zeek whispered.
They reacted instantly, each grabbing an arm and trying to help him pull away from the door. “What’s happening?” Antone asked. Zeek barely managed a response through bulging veins and clenched teeth. “It’s filling the door with mana. I can see the doorway activating.” The archmages pulled hard enough that Zeek thought his arms would pop out of their sockets.
“What’s filling the door?” Turgi asked.
Zeek didn’t respond, just focused on swirling his mana and wrapping it around the book. He tried pulling away, but the mana just fell off the book like it was covered in oil. He noticed the door’s mana had reached the frame, and two lines of blue began moving around the edges. When the lines connected, the book stopped and the three men tumbled backwards into a heap.
“Explain!” Antone hissed.
But before Zeek could answer, the door shuddered and started slowly lifting. The archmages instantly filled spell models, as a whip of flame curled around Turgi’s arm and a spike of stone peeled off the ground and whirled into the air next to Antone. Zeek formed a ball of mana in front of him and let some into his muscles to limber up.
The once quiet chamber rumbled with the sound of stone grating on stone as the three watched in shock. But Zeek was the first to notice that right behind the door were a few runic markingscolored in yellow and green. When the door rose halfway, the marks peeled off the ground and morphed into a vibrant dragonfly. The book shot forward, its covers open, and tried to eat the thing. But it escaped into the darkness beyond.
“Oh no,” Turgi whispered.
Zeek looked at him confused. “What? Could you see that?”
“We need to run,” Antone started to say, when they heard more rumbling coming from the direction they’d entered the room. It was a distant echo, but there was no doubt in any of their minds. Retreat wasn’t possible. Antone, already on his feet, grabbed Zeek’s collar and hoisted him up. He pulled Zeek close and stared into his eyes.
“Enough games. This was a trap. What the fuck just happened?” he snapped.
“My source. It’s a book. It has the same symbol as the door. You can’t see it, no one but me can. I tried to stop it, but it opened the door somehow,” Zeek replied quickly.
“And you can’t control it?”
“No, I think…I think it has a mind of its own,” Zeek whispered.
Turgi laughed, his voice reverberating through the dark passages. Zeek and Antone, their faces nearly touching, turned to look at him in confusion. The earl drew his sword and willed the whip of flame to curl around the blade as his smile flickered into view. “It’s time for an adventure, old friend.” He marched into the open doorway, and the other two scrambled behind him.
“Fish-brained idiot,” Antone cursed. “No more secrets, kid, or I’ll leave you down here to fend for yourself.”
Turgi watched them enter. “Send a message to the other device. If they knew we were coming down here, they’ll be coming for all of us.”
Antone turned and waved his hand, collapsing the chamber behind them. Zeek and Turgi looked around the room, which was well preserved. They’d walked out of a solid wall, into a bedroom. Zeek could see runes glowing on different parts of the wood, the dresser, and the desk. But there were no papers, or clothes, or other things that would indicate someone had been living there recently.
“It’s preserved by magic. I can see it everywhere,” he whispered. Turgi nodded while opening drawers quickly. The book flew over to Zeek and the pages fluttered open, there was one word written in large print.
FOLLOW
“The book says to follow,” Zeek said as Antone peeked into the open doorway.
Zeek watched as he placed his hand on the ground and held his finger up for silence. “We aren’t alone in here,” Antone whispered.
He looked at Zeek. “I lead, you stay in the middle. Turgi, you’re on ranged duty. Don’t waste words, say numbers and direction.” Zeek nodded as he formed another mana ball above his shoulder. The captain led them into a hallway reminiscent of the earl’s manor. Plush rugs, carved benches, and portraits covered the walls, each filled with brown-haired, green-eyed figures of various ages. Their expressions were odd, as if each was trying to impersonate the symbol. Some of the figures were painted in the midst of laughing, as they tried to make faces but failed. If the hall wasn’t so cold and quiet, it would be a warm place to live. Zeek stared at the names underneath each painting; they were all Orthans. Turgi pushed his back to keep him moving when Zeek stopped.
“No time for investigation, kid,” Turgi whispered, “don’t lose focus. When we fight, be aggressive. The first blow’s the most important.” Zeek swirled his mana faster as they raced down the hall, passing various rooms as the book floated just feet in front of the captain. .
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Some rooms they passed were clearly laboratories; glass beakers and unlit flame pads covered the desks while the walls had hundreds of little cupboards for ingredients. Some were bedrooms, or sitting rooms, or what used to be libraries. The books were all gone, though, leaving dead fireplaces and chairs surrounded by empty shelves. None of them knew where they were going, except down. The book moved randomly, and Zeek whispered hurried directions to Antone.
One moment they would be in a hall, then the book would tap on a candle hooked to the wall and a stairway would appear. The next moment they’d be moving through a kitchen, where pots, pans, and cauldrons were cast on the floor filled only with dust and the skeletons of small game. Once they moved through a garden lit by a crystal hanging from the ceiling, emitting a light similar to the noon sun. The flower beds, trees, and shrubs were alive and healthy, in contrast to the otherwise abandoned home.
Most disturbing were the signs of conflict. In one room they passed a skeleton sitting in an armchair with a metal cup resting on the small table next to it. Some of the beds held remnants of people too; sometimes a skull was visible resting on a pillow. The walls were mostly intact, but parts of the home were decayed. One wooden panel looked like it had rotted through, while the rest of that wall was normal and healthy. Some of the walls had turned to dust, as if battered by something large and heavy. Yet many places were untouched. Whatever had happened here had happened fast. So fast that most of the people inside couldn’t react or defend themselves. The archmages’ faces became scowls as they delved deeper into the manor.
In minutes they were moving through another hallway, when the book led them towards two large wooden doors. The symbol of Orthan was carved into the center, and Antone hurried over to push it open. They found themselves in a massive entryway. Staircases on each side curved up to bannisters that overlooked a marbled floor, where the same symbol was carved into the stone. The only illumination was Turgi’s fire, Zeek’s mana ball—and several people holding torches across the room.
Antone held a hand up and a nasally voice spoke . “Antone Grem and Turginet Yenson, you are under arrest for treason.”
The voice started listing made-up crimes as the others fanned out to block any escape. Zeek could see them clearly through his mana vision. They were each covered in sickly yellow-green mana. He whispered to Antone, “Clergy. Two on each side and one in the center.”
“I got left. Kid, you kill the talker,” Antone muttered. Zeek began to put his sword away, but Turgi grabbed him.
“He said kill,” the Earl whispered. Zeek gripped the hilt harder, trying to muster his courage. Without warning, Antone waved his hand and spikes of stone ripped themselves from the marble columns and pelted the clergy on the left. Turgi sliced his sword, casting the whip of flame towards the others. Zeek swirled his mana and pressed off the floor, rushing the speaker.
Antone scored an early hit on the shoulder of his opponents. A yell resounded from the darkness as the man fell. But the victory was short, as beams of light zipped from the hands of the remaining two. Antone dodged towards the columns on the side of the room. He put his hand to the ground and activated a spell model, and a bed of spikes shot from the ground where the injured man fell. He didn’t cry out this time.
The other man rounded the corner with a rope curling around his arm, but it was covered in light and moved like a snake. Antone slashed at the rope with his sword while dodging a thrust from the now sword-bearing clergy. The rope took advantage and coiled around his ankle as he dodged. It jerked on him and he toppled onto his back. As the man jumped towards him, Antone activated another spell model and a stone coffin surrounded him.
A moment later he heard the man’s sword clink against stone, and he waved away the coffin and funneled mana into his arms. He swung his sword across the ground, much harder than before, and cut the man’s foot off. The rope faded as the man’s concentration was disturbed. Antone slapped his free hand on the ground and a pillar of stone pushed him up as he brought his sword down on the man’s head.
Meanwhile, Turgi let his whip crack against the floor, causing the two men charging him to dodge in opposite directions. He took advantage of the momentary confusion and waved his hand so the whip turned into a wall of flame separating the two. The men raised their arms and began rapidly firing beams of light at him. He heard someone shout in the distance, but he didn’t look.
He jumped forward in a tumble and rolled behind a pillar. Bits of rock and dust flew by his head as he took a breath, waiting for a pause. When the bolts stopped coming, he peeked around the column to see the two men forming wedges with walls of light. They were trying to puncture a hole in his flames but were being repelled as if they were trying to punch through metal.
Watching them struggle, he finally got a good look at them. They weren’t high enough level clergy to pose a threat, and he knew instantly what was happening.
“They’re trying to delay us!” he shouted. He waved his hand as a circle of vibrant blue fireballs, the size of large beads, started rotating above his palm. He stepped out and pelted the men, each falling as small holes appeared on their bodies.
As the archmages fought, Zeek swirled mana into himself and down his legs. He pushed as hard as he could and shot across the room with his sword held in a thrusting position. The man, who was reading, looked up to see Zeek rushing him. He only had a moment to react and raised his arm. Zeek was in midair, unable to move. He closed his eyes as a bolt of light shot towards him, and a moment later he opened them when he collided with the man.
Zeek was confused, but noticed his sword had pierced the man’s midsection and pinned him to a wooden panel behind. He didn’t feel injured, and the man’s shocked face revealed what occurred.
“Devil!” the man cursed, and he grabbed Zeek’s neck with both his hands. Zeek felt light-headed as the man’s grip tightened. He flooded his whole body with mana, frantically spinning his core in panic. The air began to heat again and the man’s skin started turning red as Zeek tried to scream but couldn’t. He began punching the man’s face, using all his strength. He felt the man’s skull crack and his hands go limp. Zeek fell backward, panting heavily, as the book floated above him. He didn’t notice the archmages approach. As the air cooled, he felt a hand on his shoulder.
It was Antone. “Good job, kid. There’ll be time to deal with the feelings later.” He pulled Zeek’s sword out of the corpse and handed it back to him. Zeek held it in a daze while Antone inspected the room. He put his head to the two massive doors that stood behind the clergy members they’d fought. The book, meanwhile, hovered in the center of the room, shooting tendrils of mana into the ground.
“More coming,” Antone said. He waved his hand, causing the marble to rise from the ground and reinforce the closed doors. The moment the stone stopped moving, Zeek could hear pounding outside. There were many more coming, and they were just as well armed. Metal clanged against wood and stone while the zipping sound of magical bolts cracked against Antone’s wall.
“What now?” Turgi asked Zeek, but he hadn’t recovered yet. Turgi shook him. “Snap out of it. We need you.” Zeek looked up and nodded, taking a breath before trying to focus on the room. He hurried over to the book while Antone and Turgi guarded the door. It was activating some magic formation in the ground, which was becoming visible as mana filled it. Just as the door had done.
“We need time!” he shouted. “The book’s activating something!” The archmages nodded as they worked to reinforce the door. Turgi shot spouts of flame through holes created by the clergy’s light spells, and Antone gathered more marble to fix them. Zeek watched as the symbol of Orthan on the floor lit up with mana coursing through it. The eyes and teeth changed from white to blue and the symbol began to vibrate.
The stone below Zeek’s feet twisted as if come to life, and a lectern rose from the ground. It solidified into a flat surface with an empty spot just large enough to fit something. The Book of Spite hovered in front of Zeek with its pages open.
Place your hand on the key, funnel mana, and will it to defend you. Gather the others. Then pick an escape location.
The book floated onto the lectern, and the symbol on the front lit up like the one in the floor. He shouted, “Come to me quickly!” The archmages ran to him and stood by, facing the door as the smashing got louder. Zeek could see bits of stone and dust falling from the high ceilings as the force outside increased. He funneled mana into the book, feeling a connection between it and his core. He tried to concentrate and command it with his thoughts, but nothing happened.
“Hurry up!” Antone shouted.
The wall of marble and wood shattered as clergy started pushing through the rubble and into the room. Zeek could see dozens of them, and in the back were bishops. At the rear stood Archbishop Fent, who was glowing in such a sickly hue of green that Zeek felt like he’d vomit. He saw the archbishop raise both his arms and countless chains, covered in his vile mana, appeared around him and shot at the speed of arrows towards Zeek. Turgi and Antone were pelting the door with projectile spells, and Zeek could see the fierce looks on their faces. Eyes focused, brows slanted, teeth clenched in concentration. They hadn’t given up yet.
But Zeek, he felt so afraid. It wasn’t a conscious thought, it was a reaction to seeing the forces they were fighting. A legion of magic users, willing to throw themselves in front of danger. High-level clergy with power he couldn’t imagine, and an unexplained hatred for mages. He felt his stomach constrict as he silently begged for someone to save him.
When the chains were an arm’s length away from the archmages, a half sphere of blue mana, large enough to cover the three of them, shimmered into view. It coursed in a circle and the chains bent around it, failing to puncture the shield. It felt like Zeek was in the eye of a storm, as chains and spells and swords clanged against the shield. He watched as mana moved through the floor and activated runes around the room.
Constructs of blue light, looking like armored knights, rose from the ground and charged the clergy. A cloud formed on the ceiling and lightning began shooting from its murky depths into the crowd of assailants. The previously unlit candlesticks that hung on the walls flared to life as balls of fire started shooting from each one, faster than even Turgi was able to cast. Even the massive columns lining the room toppled over as they turned into beasts of stone, like giants, that swung fists and charged the clergy.
As fantastic as it was, the battle wasn’t won. When the bishops joined in, there were equal spells being used on the opposing side. When Zeek saw the front wall of the building collapse, he desired nothing more than to escape. As the thought came, a circle of mana appeared in the air next to him.
It was the size of a coin at first, but it opened wider and wider as a black substance appeared in the center. In only a few seconds, the circle was large enough to fit them. Turgi glanced at it. “A portal!” he shouted. Zeek was surprised by the gleeful smile on the archmage’s face. Turgi jumped through, followed by Antone, and Zeek moved last.
They landed on top of each other, and Zeek turned just long enough to see the circle disappear. They were in a basement now; he could feel cold stone beneath him. Turgi held a hand up and a fireball illuminated the area. There was a table filled with candles and shelves of scrolls. Zeek recognized the room: they were in the basement of The Dancing Shadow.
“Well, that was fun,” Turgi quipped.