The Summoned
Halo
The Light Plane: Nexus Forest
Jamie was leading the way through the tangled forest
once more, though for a much different reason than before, Asa supposed.
Before, Jamie had seemed more than eager to get this whole unprofitable
adventure over with. Now, she seemed less intent on the Nexus and
more intent on finding the treasure that Noen had described. Asa
didn't argue, though the collective mood of everyone else seemed to be
that they were on the wrong path. If Asa had told them to turn around,
they would probably have obeyed eagerly.
The march was a long one and, though Asa continued
not to hear any of the normal background noises of the forest, relatively
peaceful. At some point, Paul had turned toward Asa and congratulated
him at not having to summon Thalla to do his work for him. Asa had
managed some sort of "You're welcome". He was finding it difficult
to concentrate on much of anything - the call of the Nexus throbbed achily
in the back of his head. He wondered if it was time for Elayna to
renew the magic, but she had told him that it wouldn't wear off until later
that night.
And, if all went according to plan, Asa would no
longer be summoned by that night.
"Hey, look at this!" Jamie cried out from in front
of the group. Forward movment suddenly became easier, as the trail
broadened. The vegetation retreated back into the shadows of the
trees, and Asa could make out the shape of an old, decaying structure standing
in the middle of the clearing.
"That's not the nexus." Leo said, in case
anyone didn't know. In truth, they all knew - this building was nowhere
near big enough to be the nexus. It looked more like a small temple
than anything else.
Without telling the rest of the group what she was
doing, Jamie started walking toward it. Almost immediately, everyone
followed, with varying degrees of caution.
"Jamie, I don't like this place." Paul warned,
looking around himself. "There's powerful magic at work here."
"Good." Jamie said. "This must be where
that treasure the panther talked about is."
"Jamie!" Elayna cried out, running to catch
up to Jamie, who slowed a little. "I don't think we should go in
there. Let's just go to the nexus, okay?"
By this time Leo and Asa had arrived alongside Jamie.
Neither said anything - they didn't have to. Elayna and Paul were
doing a perfect job. Asa could sense the power of the place only
vaguely, as something of a subset below the siren call of the Nexus, which
was now very close.
Jamie sighed. "Elayna, it's okay! Remember,
Asa earned this little treat by defeating that big cat! So there's
no problem! Let's go!" Before Asa could repeat the warning
that the forest guardian had given them, Jamie had crossed the gap between
where they were and the temple entrance, and slipped inside. Paul
and Elayna were immediately behind her, with Asa and Leo bringing up the
rear.
The interior of the temple was much cooler and drier
than the outdoors, and appeared much more preserved than it had at first.
Light emanated from holes in the roofing and small spheres embedded in
the wall, which gave off a pale greenish light. Jamie was moving
forward, through this main corridor, until she reached an intersection,
where she stopped suddenly. The rest of the party caught up at this
point, and Asa could plainly see what it was that had grabbed her attention.
The room before Jamie was smoothly rounded, the
stones polished so brightly as to be almost reflective, in stark contrast
to the drab, forgotten appearance of the rest of the temple. In the
center of the room, floating with no visible means of support in the midst
of a shaft of light, was a sword. The hilt was engraved with countless
minute carvings, runes, and pictures. An opaque white gem had been
inset into the base of the pommel. The blade seemed sharper than
any that the party had witnessed before, and it sparkled brightly in the
light. The sword, blade up, was slowly spinning about its center,
sending cascading reflections onto the walls and into the eyes of the party.
Slowly, almost reverently, they stepped into the room.
Jamie, for once, didn't move forward as everyone
else did. She just stood where she was, staring at the sword as though
she didn't quite believe that such a thing could exist. Elayna was
standing nervously at her side - she didn't like this place at all.
The sword was radiating energy, seeming to call to her to take it.
"What you see before you is the sword of the halo"
Paul said, startling everyone. He was reading from an engraving on
the far side of the room. Asa took a glance at the runes that Paul
was looking through, and found that he couldn't even begin to interpret
them, which was exactly what Paul was doing.
The mage continued. "The holy blade of light
was forged alongside its brother during the second Summoner's War to drive
back the daemons let loose by Rokad's vain abuse of his magic, and banish
them to another plane of existance.
"Beware, that only the strong and noble of cause,
without envy or greed, without magic to pollute them, without darkness
in their hearts or minds, may wield this blade and are proof against its
magic." Paul finished, looking at the rest of them speculatively.
"We certainly have discovered something. Asa, this sword is powerful,
perhaps too much so. But it could be of great use against Norax."
"Could any of us wield it?" Leo spoke up, looking
at the glittering marvel of the sword. "Your inscriptions say that
it takes a rare person to use it, and so far nobody that's bested the guardian
back there has returned with it."
"That is the question that we must answer before
we move on. Does one of us dare use this sword? Or do we leave
it here and continue on our way?" Paul looked at Asa and then Leo.
Jamie started walking forward and, if she had heard
what Paul had said, she gave no sign. Elayna nervously followed.
"Jamie, what are you doing?" she asked softly,
trying to fight back an increasing feeling of dread.
Jamie continued walking, moving closer to the sword.
She could feel it calling to her, and besides, she deserved such a weapon.
So far, she hadn't got a great deal from this expedition. She would
have made a lot more collecting tolls at the bridge, like she used to!
This sword, however, would make up for all that. She had to have
it.
"Jamie! Stop!" Elayna said. This
shout got the attention of the other three people, who turned rapidly to
find out what was happening. They moved too late to prevent what
happened next, however.
Jamie's hand reached out and folded around the hilt
of the Halo sword. There was a low-pitched noise that suddenly resonated
through the temple, and the shaft of light surrounding the sword intensified.
The noise grew in pitch and intensity swiftly, as did the light, and Jamie
cried out - in surprise, or pain, nobody could tell. Suddenly, the
light level in the room was normal again, and the noise was gone.
There was no sign of Jamie.
The Dark Plane: Norax's tower
"You failed me." Norax said, glaring at the
form of Korenor who was standing, wisely, as far from the warlord as he
possibly could. "You were to bring Asa to me."
"I tried!" Korenor cried out. "I was
nearly successful! But somehow, the summoner has Thalla under control!"
"What?!" Norax roared, standing up out of
his chair in rage. Korenor fell flat on the floor, blubbering for
mercy. Norax ignored him. "So, my old enemy Thalla has discovered
another way to annoy me, has she? And I had thought that wizard had
done away with her. No matter, I suppose." Norax sat back down,
his rage spent. "Oh, get up!" he yelled at Korenor, who immediately
stood up. "Asa will come to the nexus, and when he is in my control,
so will Thalla be. I need to make certain that none of his friends
make if through with him. A diversion will be neccessary. Korenor,
send a detachment of the guard to the Dead Forest."
"What shall I instruct them to do there?"
Korenor asked, in as little a voice as he could manage.
"Tell them to find Rachel, and escort her here.
I will be requiring her services."
Korenor looked confused. "Rachel? You
mean your-"
"You know that!" Norax bellowed. "Yes,
that Rachel. I could summon her here, but I would prefer she had
a more formal escort. I have not, after all, forgotten her."
"Very well, master" Korenor replied, and left the
room.
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