"I scouted ahead, the only way up to the tower is this staircase winding up the side of the cliff," Laughlin said, shielding his eyes from the morning sun.

"It looks dangerous." Kamara's voice was barely more than a whisper.

"It is, so we have to step carefully, and we need to tether ourselves together," Juniper said as she placed her hands out in front of her, concentrating on the ground. A green glow radiated from her palms and from the earth below a green vine sprouted, then another, and a third. They coiled around each other as they grew and Juniper moved her hands, encircling each of our waists with the vine. "There, that should hold us. Dusk will have to stay down here, I'm not sure she can make this climb."

"You're right," Laughlin replied, bending down to talk to the wolf. "You stay here, girl. If we aren't back by nightfall, go get help." He gave her a scratch behind the ear and the animal whined a little but obeyed. Staying there with her eyes fixed on us as we started the long climb ahead. To say the climb was challenging would be the understatement of the year. By the time we reached the top, we were sore, and as thankful as we were lucky to be alive. Sophie's tether snapped and she almost fell. Had it not been for Kamara's quick thinking and quicker reaction time, I might have lost her.

"When we get back to Blackwater, I think I am done adventuring." I said.

"Me too," Kamara agreed.

The tower loomed in front of us almost menacing. It looked like a stone prison without windows and only a singular door at the base. "I guess we just knock on the door?" I asked as we approached.

Laughlin raised his hand to knock but before his knuckle could connect to the wood, the door swung open with a loud creak. We exchanged glances as we stepped inside.

"Hello?" I called. The bottom level of the tower was empty, except for a strange rune circle in the middle of the floor. A staircase to the right wound all the way up the tower. "I bet the Wizard is up there," I said, gesturing to the ceiling that seemed to swallow the top few stairs.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"Great, more climbing." Sophie grumbled, rubbing her sore thighs.

"Maybe not, let's see what this does." I walked over and stood in the middle of the rune circle. It illuminated a light blue and in the blink of an eye I was standing in front of the door at the top of the stairs. "Come on up, it worked!" I shouted.

I stepped out of the circle and waited for the others before knocking on the wizard's door. A tall man with long dark hair, pointed ears, and a smooth youthful glow opened it. "How can I help you?"

"We are here to see—

"The wizard, Ryul? Yes, I know. Lucky for you, that is just who I happen to be." He stepped aside to allow us to enter. A glimpse of a memory, something from my life before flashed into my mind. He looks different, I thought. The memory faded as soon as it had come and any sense that I had been there before faded with it. Juniper handed Sophie the orb.

"We have brought you an artifact that seems magical in nature. Until recently it was hidden away at the Temple Ophay, just south of Blackwater. Two days ago, men wearing red cloaks stormed the temple looking for it and killed everyone in their path. Kamara managed to escape with this while my father led the men away from the temple. We were told to bring it to you."

"By whom?"

"What?"

"Who told you to bring it to me?"

"Agatha, the sorceress of Blackwater."

"Aggie," Ryul whispered with a far-off gaze. His tone and the softening of his expression made it obvious he had fond memories of her and it made me wonder what she had been to him, a friend, teacher, or perhaps a lover? The wizard gazed into the orb. "It's whispering something, I can't make it out." Ryul held the orb to his ear. "This is a most interesting artifact, the dragons inside seem to be whispering something, the only problem is, I don't speak Draconic. I have to prepare a spell, it will take me a few hours, if you want, you can wait here, or go down to the courtyard and get some fresh air."

"Why do we have to wait at all? We delivered the artifact as instructed," Sophie argued.

"You did, but do not think for one second that I am going to keep it here, as you said, an entire religious order lost their lives over this trinket and I am only one man. I will find out what it is saying and then you must take it back."

"We don't want it back," I said.

"You don't have a choice." He turned from us and began pulling herbs from an old wooden cabinet. Laughlin was the first to leave and most of us followed after. Sophie was right behind me, but when I heard the door close and lock behind me, I realize that she didn't come out.

"Sophie!" I tried the handle, even though I knew it was locked. I had to trust that she knew what she was doing. Every moment she was in there felt like an hour.