| Knightshade ran back through the
gate, and it was closed and barred once more. The
scout was inside, but his rescuer was nowhere to
be seen. MaitreSteph came down from the wall and
cast a spell Knightshade had never heard before.
There was a flash of magic, and a young boy
appeared, wearing the robes of a master wizard.
He grinned impudently at Knightshade and bowed to
MaitreSteph. |
| |
| "Knightshade, may I present
my most gifted student...Backlash,",
MaitreSteph said, trying to look stern. But pride
was also evident. "Sometimes I think he is
too young to wear the robe, but his talents more
than warrant it. Perhaps he can explain what is
happening." MaitreSteph gave Backlash a
serious glance, and arched an eyebrow at him
inquiringly. |
| |
| "I’ve found the source
of this evil, master," Backlash said, his
face excited. "There is a network of tunnels
and hallways beneath the sarcophagus. In one of
the rooms, there is a dark altar. I saw several
of these creatures spawn from the altar. It felt
powerful. And evil." |
| |
| "Aye, it is as I
feared," MaitreSteph said. "This is no
random attack. I hate to guess at a thing like
this, but it must be Lord Daemon. I knew he had
power, but if he can conjure these creatures in
such vast numbers, then he is more powerful than
I imagined." MaitreSteph sighed. "Go
on, lad. What else can you tell us." |
| |
| "Not much. The altar was
guarded, but I couldn’t see the guard. It
kept to the shadows, and I dared not get any
closer. I was invisible, yet this thing could see
me. I was sure of it. That’s when I decided
to leave." |
| |
| "Very well, lad,"
MaitreSteph said. "Find a seat and rest. I
fear that much mana will be used by those of us
with the talent, before this is over."
Turning to the scout, MaitreSteph asked him a few
questions, before dismissing him. He knew little,
having been turned back after sighting the
strange coffin, by more of the undead. |
| |
| Knightshade left MaitreSteph and
went after Backlash. He found him seated at a
table in the Slippery Gullet tavern. The barkeep
was not there however, so the young wizard had
helped himself to a glass of water. He eyed
Knightshade speculatively as he entered and sat
opposite him. |
| |
| "I need your help,
boy," Knightshade said. "If what you
say is true, that altar is the key to our
survival. It must be destroyed, or at least
disabled. You must tell me how to find it. Can
you remember the way?" |
| |
| Backlash leant back in his chair
and smiled evilly at him. "I know the way,
but I cannot tell you how to get there." |
| |
| Knightshade’s face darkened
angrily. "This is no time for childish
games. The lives of everyone in this town are at
risk." |
| |
| "I cannot tell you, good
sir," Backlash said hastily, all signs of
mirth vanishing, "for it would be too long
and complicated for you to remember. Besides, I
might make a mistake in my recollection of the
way I travelled there. But if I were to go with
you, I could find my way back there
unerringly." |
| |
| "You are young,"
Knightshade said. "But you have already
shown that you are brave...or foolhardy."
The last was said under his breath. "I will
leave the decision up to your master. If he says
nay, then you will provide me with what you know.
And mistakes or no, I will find this altar you
speak of." |
| |
| Backlash nodded and rose to his
feet. "Very well. Let us seek him out now.
These monsters continue to appear while we sit
and talk." |
| |
| Knightshade followed him out of
the tavern, back to the south east gate, where
MaitreSteph was still busy, organising the towns
people. He motioned for them to join him atop the
wall once more. |
| |
| "They are a waiting
again," he said, nodding at the sea of
undead that stood as still as death outside the
walls. "I fear that another ogre or
something worse will arrive before long. We must
do something now, before all is lost." |
| |
| "I had the same
thought," Knightshade said grimly.
"That is why I must reach the stone coffin
and find the altar. My hope is that if it can be
destroyed, the dark lord will lose his control of
these foul creatures." |
| |
| MaitreSteph laughed softly.
"I was planning on doing the same thing
myself. I have chosen some leaders and given them
instructions on how to defend the walls while we
are gone. If we are quick enough there will be no
need, I hope. We must leave immediately." |
| |
| Backlash tugged on
Knightshade’s sleeve, and gave him a
meaningful look. Clearing his throat he asked if
the young wizard could join them. |
| |
| MaitreSteph gave Backlash a
serious look. "I had hoped to leave you
here, to help with the defence. When I leave, you
will be the most powerful wizard in Leinster. If
another ogre comes while we are gone, magic will
be needed to defeat it." |
| |
| "What good will my magic do,
if you lose your way and never find the
altar," Backlash said. "Even my magic
will fail eventually. Please, I can show you the
way." |
| |
| MaitreSteph was silent for a
moment. "Very well. You can accompany us.
But you must heed my words. And
Knightshade’s. Do not cast a single spell
without checking with us first." |
| |
| Backlash brightened immediately.
"I will, master. Thank you! I must return to
my home before we go. I have several belts there
that will help us get past the undead." |
| |
| The young wizard cast a spell and
disappeared. |
| |
| "Belts?" Knightshade
said, after Backlash had gone. |
| |
| "Belts of See
Invisibility," MaitreSteph said, smiling.
"He is a gifted wizard and has found a way
to invest the See Invisibility spell into items
of apparel. We can travel to Bloodwood while
invisible, but we will still be able to see each
other." |
| |
| They waited at the gate for
Backlash to return. MaitreSteph gave some last
minute instructions to those left in charge. When
he returned, Backlash carried two ordinary
looking belts with him. A third belt was already
strapped around his waist. |
| |
| Knightshade and MaitreSteph put
on a belt each, before MaitreSteph cast the spell
of invisibility on the three of them. Knightshade
saw each of them disappear, before reappearing as
ghostly outlines. Wasting no time he ordered the
gates opened and they slipped out in less than a
heartbeat, before they were closed again behind
them. Knightshade led them south, avoiding the
enemy nearby and soon they were out in the open.
Then they turned east, heading in a straight line
for Bloodwood forest. |
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