In Pursuit Of Wisdom (Book 1) (11 page)

“Har!” yelled Tar-Tan. Dropping his sword, he grasped his halberd with both hands and lifted the beast into the air, muscles taut with the effort.  “Arrrrrgh!  You unintelligent animal!  Die, and I shall have my Mark!”  With a final strain he extended his arms, hoisting the Chimera well above his head, impaled on his weapon, blood slickening everything around him.

The Chimera slid further down, the top of the axe blade beginning to cut into its belly.  The beast finally died, and Tar-Tan flung his carcass onto the hard, wet ground.

“Tar-Tan!  Tar-Tan!  Tar-Tan!”
   The shouts rang out from his fellow fighters in the pits of Kekero.

Xaro watched Lord Kensington get up to congratulate the impressive half-ogre.  He turned his attention to Strongiron, where he saw one of the Steele brothers whispering something to him.

~Magi~

Magi and Kyle ducked into
A Port In the Storm
, a different alehouse several blocks away.
“Apt name.” Magi nodded to Kyle as they went straight to the barkeep.  A little silver was exchanged, and they were soon in their room away from ears and eyes, where they could talk freely.

Magi shut the door and sat on the straw bed in the corner.  “We need to get out of the city.  I think we should buy some horses and get back to Brigg as soon as we can.  It cannot be a coincidence that someone has killed both Lionel and Sindar.”  He picked his head up and looked directly at Kyle. 
He is holding up well. 
“If we are to ride out of here, you know what that means.”

Kyle looked at Magi.  “We left
most of the money back with Sindar.  We’d have to go back to the room.”  He didn’t look like he was real fond of that idea.  “I dunno, Magi.  Why do you think someone killed them?”

“I’m not sure.  I suspect to rob them
—Lionel did say that people get killed for horseshoes in a city the size of Gaust.  If we can get to the body, we can determine whether the money was the motivation.  Or, rather, we’ll know if our money sack was left untouched that money was
not
the main motivation.  I suppose it’s possible someone would kill Sindar for one reason and rob him as well.  But if our gold is still there, we’ll know this was something other than a robbery, but more importantly, we’ll be able to buy horses to get out of here quickly.  I don’t think walking back is a good idea.”

“I wish we knew how to Teleport,” Kyle whined.  “But yeah, I kind of doubt someone
just wanted to rob Sindar and Lionel, especially since whoever killed Lionel didn’t bother to take anything from him.  That Manny guy—the fish peddler—he knew we were going to the Great Library.  He could have done it.”

“Maybe. 
But Lionel’s death bothers me.  I can’t figure that out.  Who kills someone, leaves bystanders, and takes nothing?  What’s more, he was killed without a sound.  He did not want to be seen, and he did not want to be heard.  When I cast the spell of protection, I did pick up that he was running on soft feet—he was gone before I could get a good bead on him.  Leaving the library, for sure.  My guess is that the Keeper of Books and that annoying assistant of his didn’t know there was a murderer in their precious library.  It won’t be long for them to wake up and find the bodies.  I don’t know how frequent killings are in this town, but given the scene with Manny and the guards, I imagine Lord Corovant’s guards will soon be able to put Sindar and Lionel’s murders together.  They may even accuse us.  We need to get our gold, get some horses, and get out before someone places us in the group and hauls us off to Lord Corovant’s court.”

Kyle considered Magi’s thoughts.  “Yeah, I hadn’t noticed that, probably because I was caught off guard.  I mean, Lionel was right next to me, I turned my head, and I see a blur and his body falling.  I go to catch it and the killer was gone.  But you’re right, Lionel never made a sound.”

“Kyle,” Magi lowered his voice and fixed his best friend with a steely gaze.  “We have to consider that someone or some group is after all four of us, and that we’re next.” 
But why?

“Why would anyone want to kill us?  We’re just a couple of students!”  Kyle was starting to lose it again.

“Calm down…I don’t know.  I’d say it had something to do with the Scroll, but it was right there on the table.  When they killed Lionel, it wouldn’t have been hard to kill us right then and there and take the Scroll.  It just doesn’t make sense.”  He began twisting his ring around and around and around.

“Speaking of the Scroll, why’d you take it?  I thought you were dead-set against that,” asked Kyle pointedly.

“I—actually, I’m not sure.  I just knew that I hadn’t finished my copy and we needed to run, so I took it.  I’ll send it back once I’ve got Marik’s copy made.  Right now, ‘borrowing’ it is the least of our concerns.”  Magi remarked.  “We need to refresh our minds with the best spells we know, find our gold, and I also plan on finishing the copy of the scroll I started.”

Kyle just nodded.  Magi took out his quill and started copying.  He copied in silence for a couple hours as a sense of dread began to build inside him.  Magi couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right.  For the first time he began to consider that the land itself was broken. 
We talk about a Dark World; I always thought that meant tough or difficult.  But it’s more than that.  It’s a Dark World because it’s filled with Dark People; who else would do this to Lionel, and why?

~Trevor~

The sunlight sparkled on the brightly colored pebbles on the bottom of the riverbed that became shallower as they approached the hillside leading up to Thalanthalas.  The air was still heavy with the scent of Hawthorne, although some other woodsy smells permeated the senses. 
Cedar, and berries
, thought Trevor.  He was extremely hungry.

“These pebbles—what are they?  I’ve never seen anything like them,” Trevor said, walking alongside Cherokum.  “They look like gemstones.”

“So they do, to foreigners.  When you live and work in the forest and streams as we have for centuries uncounted, it is easy for us to discount the beauty of this place sometimes.”  Cherokum paused and reached down into the crystal clear water they were wading through, now less than a foot deep.  He picked up a large purple pebble.  “The illusion that guards our great castle is woven into these pebbles.  Many an intruder has become mesmerized by these gemstones as they look for the Elven capital.  Imagine their surprise when they leave the forest with a bag full of gemstones only to find that they have scooped up common pebbles when they seek to trade them in the outside world.  No one uninvited has ever discovered our fortress, and I daresay none ever will.”  He smiled and tossed the purple-looking gemstone into the clear water.  “Come.  Let us refresh ourselves.”

A path out of the riverbed led up to the massive Elven fortress, which Trevor now took in fully.  Set atop a hillside, two rows of massive trees framed a stone path that wound up the gently-sloping hill.  The trees were dense on either side, and looking carefully, Trevor noticed bushes with inch-long thorns in the underbrush.  He stopped and stared without thinking.

“They’re called
cicutorum
bushes.  Poisonous thorns that cause unquenchable thirst.  You will reach the stream and literally drown yourself trying to drink your fill.  An effective defense of our fortress, would you not agree?  This stone path is the only way in or out, and it is well guarded in the trees above.”  Cherokum gave Trevor a smile that was somewhere between proud and rueful as he patted him ungently on the back and encouraged their march upward.

At the top the stone path ended and the fortress was in full display.  Reaching the top of the hillside, Trevor could now see that it was not just a fortress; it was a small
city.
  Many buildings sprawled out for hundreds of acres.  He saw now that water flowed freely through the city and down a hillside.  Fields had been cleared in the distance for planting.

The main building, larger than all the others, was the one he saw from the
creek bed.  That must be the “fortress,” as it stood prominently in front of the main entrance.  You could not pass into the city proper save through the gate of this impressive structure.  Taller than the highest trees, it consisted of three towers that formed a triangle.  Two were on each side of the gate; the third was set back and guarded the exit which opened to the city beyond.  Unlike most of the other structures, this one was made of golden-colored stone.

Passing between the two towers at the entrance, Cherokum led him inside a door to the left.  Though he was technically inside the building, the Elves incorporated much of the outside forest.  Plants and trees adorned the hallways, and the fortress also smelled of pine and cedar and juniper.  Everything smelled fresh and clean and pure.

A large archway divided the hallway from a large dining area on the right.  “Trevor, come into our dining hall.  Let us not delay any longer.”  He said something in elvish and the others departed.  Cherokum led Trevor to some nearby chairs and he took a seat near the head of the table.

Staring around, he was amazed at the height of the ceilings.  Tapestries lined the room, as well as several animal skins and a few deer heads.  At the other end of the large table, which seated at least forty, if not more, was a mural on the far wall.  It depicted a type of hunt, with a beautiful, mythical creature that Trevor didn’t recognize being shot with a golden arrow from an Elf on horseback.  Once again, Trevor found himself staring without thinking.

“It is a tragic story, but one worth sharing while we eat.  I am Lady Elyn.  Would you like to hear it?”

Trevor turned around and saw
standing behind him one of the most beautiful women he could recall.  She smiled kindly and took a seat next to him, at the end of the table, seated between Trevor and Cherokum.  Serving Elves brought out steaming plates of meat, fresh vegetables, and piping hot bread crusted with fragrant cheese baked right into the top.  Their goblets were filled with wine, along with water that was accented with mint leaves.

Playing the part of a
beggar, Trevor reached for some food before catching himself.  “Beggin’ your pardon, m’Lady.  I just am so hungry, but please help yourself first, and thank you beyond words for your generosity.  The legendary hospitality of the Elves does not do justice to the reality of your kindness you’ve shown this stranger.  And yes, I would like to hear the story of this mural.”

He bowed his head but lifted his eyes sheepishly at the beautiful woman seated on his left.

She had thick, nearly-black hair that cascaded off her head to fall just below her shoulders.  Her eyes were light brown, the color of doe-fur, and shaped like perfect almonds.  Dark-complexioned, her flawless skin was wrinkle-free.  She smiled with large, full lips that were naturally red and almost irresistible, revealing pearl-white teeth that were almost shockingly bright against her tan skin.  She wore a simple emerald green dress, with a deep neckline that revealed the tops of her ample cleavage.

Trevor’s gaze, h
owever, didn’t linger on her breasts very long.  Sparkling from her neck was a violet jewel twice the size of the largest coin.  A round, flat amulet with half a dozen short tendrils protruding from the disc:  The Purple Sun.

Lady
Elyn laughed, obviously accustomed to the way men looked at her when they first saw her.  “Please, refresh yourself.  Trevor is it?”

He nodded and greedily began eating, the way a
beggar would.

“Well, the story of the mural on the far wall is long, but I will keep it short so that you may get some rest.  It is the story of our ancient Elvish King, Hem-see Rah, and his Queen, Kenoshee Rah.  This was long before our Treaty with Men.

“Kenoshee was a jealous woman, and a powerful Druid.  As you may know, we Elves thrive on woodland magic, and have often excelled in the Druidic art.  Over time, Kenoshee became obsessed with the notion that Hem-see had taken a secret lover, and that he was no longer faithful to his Queen.  Despite his denials, she would not believe him.

“One day the Queen had decided that she could not bear to live in mistrust any longer, so she wove a powerful spell from a dark branch of the Druidic art.  The spell was to summon the Kanaima—a spirit that feeds off revenge and shifts your shape to a deadly creature.

“The Kanaima, however, are never to be trusted.  They are difficult to control, and care not for the success of your vengeance, for they are fed by your lust for revenge.  So when the Kanaima possessed our Queen, she was transformed into the head of a serpent—poisonous venom and deadly fangs.  But her body remained that of a woman, and she would wear no armor, just as a serpent wears no clothing.

“The Queen came to Hem-see that very day, while he was in the fields playing with their young son.  Naked, she attacked his bodyguards before they could understand what was happening.  Unarmed as she was, she still had her spells, and it is said the field grass grew long and sharp while she watched, slicing into their bare ankles and opening a path to her husband.

“Hem-see recognized his wife’s body at once, and ordered no action be taken, for he still loved her, despite her mistrust.  So he begged for her to cast the demon aside and return to form.  But she was obsessed, and the Kanaima are not easily dispelled once summoned.  She came after him with teeth, scratching him with her poisonous fangs before he was able to run away.