1210 lines
74 KiB
Plaintext
1210 lines
74 KiB
Plaintext
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PERVORIN
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by Jim Tomasello
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Copyright 1987 - All Rights Reserved
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Awareness. Slowly his vision cleared enough to make him aware of his
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surroundings. He way lying on his back in the middle of an open field
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covered with sagegrass. Moving to a standing position, he expanded his
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vision further, viewing fields filled with endless grasslands teeming with
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life.
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After an unmeasurable time a brilliant shaft of green luminance stabbed
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down from the heavens, impaling him. An aura of golden light encircled him
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completely. He felt an awareness entering his mind, and then blackness
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claimed him.
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Chapter One - Pervorin
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For a second time, awareness returned. He was on a crude, makeshift bed
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which seemed to be stuffed with rocks. At least, that is what his back
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seemed to be telling him.
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Slowly he rose until he was sitting on the edge of the bed. Looking
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around, he found that he was in a small tent. There was another small cot
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opposite him, with a travelling pack on top.
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As he took in his surroundings, he heard voices from outside the tent.
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Every so often one of the voices would raise above the others, as if in
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anger. Then the voices would die again to a murmur. I do not know if they
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are talking about me or not, he thought, but I am not sure I want to find
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out. He turned and started looking for something he could use as a
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weapon. Finding nothing, he headed toward the other cot to examine the
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pack. As he reached out for it, he heard a small noise behind him.
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A solitary shaft of sunlight penetrated the interior of the tent as the
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flap was lifted. A lone figure entered. As the flap dropped back into
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place, the gloom returned with more force than before. Noticing his
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startled looks, the figure laughed and made a gesture with his hand. A
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soft whit glow sprang into being near the ceiling, illuminating the
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figure. It showed a man of slight build, clothed in a simple blue smock,
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with a long flowing cape around his shoulders. His eyes were what drew
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attention to himself. They seemed to possess an inner fire of their own.
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"Well, you seem to be in much better condition than last evening. You
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were in pretty bad shape when we found you." the figure said.
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"Found me?"
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"Why, yes. You were in the middle of the Plains of Jeah, just laying
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there staring into the sky. We tried to rouse you, but you seemed to be in
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some sort of trance. But enough of that for now. Let me intorduce
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myself. I am called Gwindor by my friends. By what name do you go by?"
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As the silence lengthened, Gwindor looked slightly puzzled.
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"You do have a name, do you not?"
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"I am not sure," he replied, slightly startled by the sound of his own
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voice. It was as if he had never heard it before. That gave him pause for
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thought. The more he thought about it, the worse it got. He could not
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remember anything before his waking inside the tent. As the strain of
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thinking started to get to him, he relaxed his mind. As he did, a name
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came to him -- Pervorin. Nothing else, just Pervorin. Sighing, he sat
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back on the cot and told Gwindor this.
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"So you have no memory of happenings before this evening. That is
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interesting, if you are telling the truth." Gwindor said the last with a
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note of hardness in his voice.
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As he looked at Pervorin, his eyes seemed to grow larger, until Pervorin
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could see nothing else. He seemed to be drawn into them, and he felt as if
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he was being absorbed. Then, as suddenly as the feeling started, it
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stopped. The surroundings flooded back to him so quickly he felt dizzy.
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"What did you do to me?" he asked, shaking his head to clear it.
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Gwindor looked relieved. "That was a weak type of mind probe. It
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allowed me to discover whether you were telling the truth or not. Tell me,
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are you a sorcerer?"
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The change in subject threw Pervorin off balance. "I do not know," he
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replied. He suddenly discovered that he knew the names of everyday
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objects, but, try as hard as he could, he could remember nothing about his
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background.
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"I understand," Gwindor replied. Then, slapping his hand to his head,
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he said "What a terrible host I have become! Here you have been asleep for
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a full day, and I haven't even offered you any food or drink. Come, let us
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retire to the fire, where there is food and drink in plenty."
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As soon as Gwindor had mentioned food, Pervorin had discovered that he
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was ravenously hungry. He turned and followed Gwindor out of the tent.
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Blinking, he emerged into the fading sunlight. It came streaming over
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the treetops to strike the ground scant inches from the front of the tent.
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Standing still for a moment to allow his eyes to adjust, his ears detected
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something odd. The normal sounds of the plains were missing. There were
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none of the sounds of the insects buzzing through the air, or the calls
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from the birds. Something was gnawing at the inner portions of his mind,
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but he could not put it into words he could understand.
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With his shoulders slumped, he neared the campfire. The blaze was
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cheerful enough, adding needed warmth to the chill air. It must be near
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Mid-Feast time, he thought to himself as he sat down beside the fire.
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Then, jerking his head upright in surprise, he wondered, what is
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Mid-Feast? But no answer came to him.
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Just then Gwindor emerged from the second tent, bearing two trays
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heaping with food, and a stoppered flask. Sitting down beside Pervorin, he
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grasped the stopper with his teeth, pulling it out as he handed Pervorin
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one of the trays. Lifting the flask to his mouth, he took a long draught.
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Emitting a relaxed sigh, he handed the flask over to Pervorin.
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"Carefully, my friend." Gwindor said. "That is Dragonmead you are
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drinking, the best brewed in the land. Take care, as too much could cause
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drastic side-effects."
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Pervorin soon discovered what Gwindor meant. As he had taken his first
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swallow, his sight had become almost blindingly clear, as if long-forgotten
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blinders had been removed from his eyes. He saw Gwindor radiating a glow
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of health, and although he could not see into the second tent, he detected
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two more auras there. As he took a second swallow of the Dragonmead, a
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tingling developed in his feet, and then advanced slowly until his entire
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body was affected.
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Suddenly he felt weightless. A feeling of incredible power slowly
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emerged from deep within him, bringing fragments of scenes to him. A city,
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set aglow by towers of crystal, sunlight seemingly drawn to them, then
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flung back to the skies. A deep underground cavern, with endless water
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dripping. Fragments of memory, familiar, yet unknown. But from where?
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His vision clouded, then cleared. He now seemed to be floating some
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distance above the campfire. He saw Gwindor sitting next to his own body,
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eating.
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Floating higher, at first all he could see was the plains. Then, as his
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vision expanded, he saw several small villages surrounding the plains.
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Slowly turning his vision, he saw nothing that called to his attention
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until he faced south. There too, he saw nothing unusual, but a disturbing
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feeling eminated from that direction. He felt as if something was calling
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to him, beckoning him southward. He had unconsciously started moving
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towards the south when he felt something tug at him. A force seemed to be
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trying to return him to the campsite. For a few moments the forces
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counteracted one another, and then the force from the campsite won out, and
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he found himself being drawn towards it. Slowly he floated back, to
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finally hover over his body, and just when it seemed that he was about to
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merge back into his body the force from the south returned, stronger this
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time. He became aware of Gwindor franticly gesturing with his hands, all
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the while sinking to his knees, as if from some great effort.
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Suddenly one of Gwindor's companions saw what was happening, and with
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one swift stride reached Gwindor's side, placing his hands on Gwindor's
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shoulders.
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The force from the campsite grew stronger, and Pervorin again found
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himself over his body. Then, with one final pull from the unseen force he
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was back in his own body, sitting before the campfire.
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Gwindor groaned. Pervorin now noticed that Gwindor looked as if he had
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been strained to his limits. His face was ashen; his limbs hanging useless
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by his side. Even as Pervorin watched, Gwindor collapsed onto the ground.
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Pervorin rose, moving to Gwindor's side. As he did so, he discovered
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that he was very weak, as if he had been running hard over a great
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distance.
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He hardly seems alive, he thought. Looking around, he saw the man who
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had helped Gwindor lying on the ground several feet away, with another man
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bending over him.
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Turning his attention back to Gwindor, he found that Gwindor's body was
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cold to the touch. He started rubbing him, trying to rub the warmth back
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in.
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The other man had left his companion's side, and now knelt down beside
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Pervorin.
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"How is he?" he asked.
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"I do not know," Pervorin replied. "He is awfully cold, and nothing
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seems to be helping."
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The other man nodded. "I have seen this before, though I am no wizard.
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It is said the ones who possess the powers are subject to this if they
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overextend their powers."
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"Is there nothing we can do for him?" Pervorin asked.
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"Another one of power could help, but Darin," indicating the other man
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on the ground, "seems to be in the same state." He paused for a moment.
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"I am afraid for them," he whispered.
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Pervorin was frustrated. Here, on the ground before him, was a man he
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hardly knew, and who knew even less about Pervorin. Yet he had found
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Pervorin in the plains in need, and had helped him. Now the situation was
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reversed, and there was nothing he seemed to be able to do.
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"If there was only something I could do to help them live!" he shouted
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to the skies. "Anything!"
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Then his mind seemed to explode. A surge of power erupted from the
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center of his being, springing into a golden aura that surrounded him. The
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aura built in his hands until he could no longer see them. He felt
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helpless before this power he had unleashed. He seemed not to be able to
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control it. The pressure on his mind was overwhelming, and he seemed to
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slowly be losing consciousness.
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A pure beam of golden light sprang from his hands to play over Gwindor's
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body. As it continued to pour out of him, Pervorin felt himself growing
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weaker. Then the beam moved to play over the prone figure lying near
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Gwindor. Struggling to think through the force in his mind, he realised he
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must stop soon or destroy himself. Mustering all of his remaining
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strength, he threw it all into a single command: STOP!
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The golden aura vanished. The initial shock of finding himself free of
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the power left him gasping. Then, motioning to the man who had been
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watching with amazement and not a little fear, to come and help him. They
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carried Gwindor and Darin into a tent, laying them on the cots inside.
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Leaving the tent, Pervorin hardly noticed the questions that were flying
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from the man who had helped him. Shrugging him off, he stumbled into the
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other tent, collapsing onto a cot. In a second he had fallen into a deep
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sleep.
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PERVORIN
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Chapter Two
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The next morning found the group still asleep in their tents. The
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fire had burned down through the night until only dying embers
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remained. There were several fresh animal tracks on the ground, and
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the forgotten platters of food had been scattered over the campsite.
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Darin woke to the sounds of birds calling to one another gaily.
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Rising from the cot, he got dressed and ventured out of the tent,
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trying to be quiet so as not to wake the others. Gathering some wood,
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he stoked the fire back to life, bringing with it a cheerfulness which
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did little to lighten his mood. He had found himself more frightened
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last evening when he had helped Gwindor pull the stranger from the
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void then he had ever been before. After, when he had expended all
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his power, he had found himself crossing the Great Hills of
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Nothingness. If another with the power had not given up of some of it
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to draw him back, he would never have seen the land of the living
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again.
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As he finished preparing a hearty breakfast for himself out of the
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antelope they had downed yesterday, along with some wild onions,
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Himmen emerged from the tent.
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"Ah, I see you still haven't lost your knack for awakening at the
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right time," Darin said, handing over a plate. Turning to the fire,
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he ladled the food onto Himmen's plate, and then onto his own.
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Himmen looked over at his friend, a vague look of worry on his
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face. Darin seemed to have fully recovered from last evening's events,
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but he had never seen anyone recover so fast from being so near death.
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"How are you feeling this morning, Darin? You and Gwindor had a
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pretty bad time of it." he asked.
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"Still a little weak," admitted Darin. Glancing over at the second
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tent, he sighed a bit. "Actually, I'm a little surprised that I'm here
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this morning. When I was over the Hills, I had pretty much resigned
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myself that I was leaving this world." He stopped here for a minute
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in thought. Then, taking a spoonful of the stew, he looked up at
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Himmen.
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"I shall have to thank Gwindor greatly for bringing be back."
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Himmen laughed softly. "My friend," he said, "it's not Gwindor
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that you need to thank."
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Darin looked over at Himmen, surprise on his face. "If not Gwindor
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then who? There was no one here except me, you, Gwindor, and..."
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"That's right." Himmen said. "The stranger."
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"He brought me back? But how?"
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"Well, after you and Gwindor collapsed, he shuddered, and then
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looked up to see both of you lying there. He was pretty upset about
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it, talking about how nice Gwindor had been to him, and wanting to
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help you two. Then he seemed to go into a waking trance, and started
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casting a spell. A healing one, I would imagine from the results.
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Afterwards he was weak, and after we got you two onto the cots, he
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went and fell asleep himself."
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Just then a tent flap opened, and Gwindor emerged. Rubbing his
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eyes, he made his way over to the fire, and sat down with a sigh.
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Rubbing his hands close to the fire, he looked over at Darin and
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Himmen.
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"I feel like I haven't slept in a week," he said wearily. Taking a
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plate, he filled it from the pot of stew bubbling quietly over the
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fire, attacking it with enthusiasm. After finishing off about half of
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it, he stopped and looked up at Himmen.
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"I've been going over what happened last night, and I keep drawing
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a blank after Darin merged his power with mine. What happened?"
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Again Himmen recounted the happenings of last evening, as Gwindor
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quietly listened to him and finished his meal.
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Instructing Himmen and Darin to begin breaking camp, Gwindor went
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in to check on Pervorin. He found him still sleeping deeply, a look
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of utter exhaustion on his face.
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He sure is an interesting fellow, he thought to himself. First the
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mind probe, which had been reflected by one of the strongest thought
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shields he had ever encountered. Then, after he had drunk of the
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Dragonmead, he had gone easily into the far-vision state. Too easily
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for one not acquainted with the arts. And the astral travel!
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There are many things that I want to know about you, my friend.
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Many things.
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The sun had travelled halfway across the sky before Pervorin awoke.
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Attempted to sit up, he found that it was several minutes before he
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could accomplish this. Finally he was able to get off the cot and
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make his way outside.
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As he emerged from the tent, he saw Himmen and Darin packing a tent
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into one of the packs lying on the ground. He walked over to them,
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wanting to be of some help.
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"Good morning. Is there anything I can do to be of help?" he
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asked.
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Daring looked up from the pack. "Good afternoon!" he said with a
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laugh in his voice. "No, I don't think there is anything that you can
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do right now. Thanks anyway."
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"Don't worry about helping now," a voice said from behind him.
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Turning, he saw Gwindor standing there.
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"Come. There is food by the fire for you. There is just time for
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you to eat before we must continue our journey."
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"Your journey? Where are you travelling to?" Pervorin asked as he
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sat by the fire.
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"My friends and I are heading to my brother's home. It is a good
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many days journey from here, and we really must be getting back on the
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trail again." Gwindor took a drought from a wineskin, then offered it
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to Pervorin. Noticing Pervorin's startled looks, he laughed.
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"Don't worry! It's just water!"
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Pervorin grinned sheepishly as he took the proffered skin. Lifting
|
|||
|
|
it to his mouth, he found that it was indeed water, and took several
|
|||
|
|
deep swallows from it.
|
|||
|
|
"You know, Pervorin," Gwindor said. "My brother is an expert in
|
|||
|
|
certain, how shall I say it?... fields. I would like him to meet
|
|||
|
|
you."
|
|||
|
|
"Do you think he can help me with my not remembering who I am?"
|
|||
|
|
Pervorin asked.
|
|||
|
|
"It could be. He is very knowledgeable. If anyone can help you,
|
|||
|
|
he can."
|
|||
|
|
Pervorin thought about that. He would definitely like to find out
|
|||
|
|
who he was. Having no identity to grab onto was disconcerting.
|
|||
|
|
"Yes, I believe that I would like to go with you."
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Two days later found Pervorin wishing he had stayed behind. It had
|
|||
|
|
been raining for a full day, and nothing had avoided the relentless
|
|||
|
|
creepings of the rainwater. It was in the food, the clothing, and
|
|||
|
|
worst of all, in his face. He quickened his pace until he was beside
|
|||
|
|
Gwindor.
|
|||
|
|
"Does it always rain like this?" he asked.
|
|||
|
|
Gwindor turned to look at Pervorin. The wet, sullen look on
|
|||
|
|
Pervorin's face caused him to burst out with laughter.
|
|||
|
|
"I'm afraid that it always rains at least once a week here. That
|
|||
|
|
is one reason that our fields produce as well as they do."
|
|||
|
|
At this Pervorin just nodded, and plodded through the soggy ground.
|
|||
|
|
They were walking over a plain, and, from the little he could see
|
|||
|
|
through the rain, there wasn't much in the way of cover, anyway.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Shortly before dark, Gwindor called a halt. The rain had slowed to
|
|||
|
|
a drizzle, and the air was still damp with moisture. Pervorin saw
|
|||
|
|
Gwindor looking off to his right, and he looked over to see what
|
|||
|
|
Gwindor was looking at. At first he could see nothing, but after
|
|||
|
|
looking for a minute he could make out the vague shape of a building
|
|||
|
|
of some sort.
|
|||
|
|
"Is that a building I see over there?" he said aloud.
|
|||
|
|
"Shhhh!" whispered Gwindor. Pervorin, startled, looked over at
|
|||
|
|
Himmen, only to find that neither he nor Darin were there. He turned
|
|||
|
|
back towards Gwindor, opening his mouth to ask another question. But
|
|||
|
|
at Gwindor's stern expression, he closed it quickly.
|
|||
|
|
A short time later a figure loomed out of the gloom, only to become
|
|||
|
|
Himmen as it got nearer.
|
|||
|
|
"The place looks abandoned, Gwindor." He said. "The roof's partly
|
|||
|
|
caved in, but it looks like we can shelter there and wait out the
|
|||
|
|
storm. I checked around a bit, but couldn't tell whether anyone, or
|
|||
|
|
anything for that matter, has been around lately. Sorry."
|
|||
|
|
"Don't worry about it, Himmen." Gwindor said. "This rain could
|
|||
|
|
hide an army's trail. Come on, let's get out of this rain." With that
|
|||
|
|
he started towards the building.
|
|||
|
|
I couldn't agree with him more, thought Pervorin as he followed
|
|||
|
|
Gwindor towards the building. As they drew nearer, the could tell
|
|||
|
|
that the building at one time appeared to have been a small barn of
|
|||
|
|
sorts. There was no signs of a farmhouse, though.
|
|||
|
|
When Pervorin stepped through the broken door, the smell of wet and
|
|||
|
|
moldy hay hit him with the forcefulness of a physical b, let's get out
|
|||
|
|
of this rain."
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
With that he started towards the building.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
I couldn't agree with him more, thought Pervorin as he followed
|
|||
|
|
Gwindor towards the building. As they drew nearer, the could tell
|
|||
|
|
that the building at one time appeared to have been a small barn of
|
|||
|
|
sorts. There was no signs of a farmhouse, though.
|
|||
|
|
When Pervorin stepped through the broken door, the smell of wet and
|
|||
|
|
moldy hay hit him with the forcefulness of a physical be sky clear and
|
|||
|
|
blue. "Pervorin!" He heard a distant call, and turned to locate its
|
|||
|
|
source. Looking down a small incline that he hadn't noticed the night
|
|||
|
|
before, he saw Himmen just coming out of a grove of trees. "I was just
|
|||
|
|
coming to wake you," Himmen said as he drew near. "We have discovered
|
|||
|
|
a village just on the other side of the trees, and Gwindor wants us all
|
|||
|
|
there before we venture in." "Sounds good to me, Himmen." Pervorin
|
|||
|
|
said as he joined Himmen in the walk back towards the woods. "I could
|
|||
|
|
use a good strong draft of ale right now!" "I wouldn't count too much
|
|||
|
|
on that! From what I saw of the village before Gwindor sent me back
|
|||
|
|
for you, there doesn't appear to be anyone there." No one there?
|
|||
|
|
thought Pervorin as he entered the woods behind Himmen. Maybe it's
|
|||
|
|
abandoned just like the barn we slept in last night. They walked for a
|
|||
|
|
short time, then the trees thinned again, and Pervorin could see
|
|||
|
|
Gwindor and Darin standing at the top of a low rise. When they saw
|
|||
|
|
Himmen and Pervorin approaching, Gwindor spoke up. "We've been watching
|
|||
|
|
the village since you left, Himmen, and haven't seen any signs of life.
|
|||
|
|
I think that this is worth investigating. You can see by the condition
|
|||
|
|
of the buildings that if the village is abandoned, then it hasn't been
|
|||
|
|
this way for long. Everything has been too well maintained." As
|
|||
|
|
Pervorin climbed up beside Gwindor and caught his first look at the
|
|||
|
|
village, he could see what Gwindor meant. Although not a big village,
|
|||
|
|
perhaps a dozen buildings, none of them was in the state of disrepair
|
|||
|
|
that one expects to find in abandoned buildings. "So what are we going
|
|||
|
|
to do?" he asked. Gwindor turned to him with a grin on his face. "We,
|
|||
|
|
my friend," he said, indicating himself, Himman, and Darin, "are going
|
|||
|
|
to go into the village and have a look about. You, on the other hand,
|
|||
|
|
are going to stay right here!" Pervorin opened his mouth to protest,
|
|||
|
|
then realized that Gwindor was right. With his memory loss, he didn't
|
|||
|
|
even know if he could use a sword or bow, and if things weren't right
|
|||
|
|
down there then he might even be in the way. "You're right, of course.
|
|||
|
|
I will wait here for you."
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Gwindor glanced back to where Pervorin stood. They had covered
|
|||
|
|
half the distance between there and the village, and still they heard
|
|||
|
|
no sounds of anything that might be taken as unusual, except the lack
|
|||
|
|
of the normal village noises themselves. Giving Pervorin a nod of
|
|||
|
|
encouragement, he turned his attention back to the village.
|
|||
|
|
They entered the village quietly. Mud was everywhere, and water
|
|||
|
|
dripped from the roofs of the buildings. Nodding to Darin and Himmen,
|
|||
|
|
they split up, each searching a section of the village. Darin moved
|
|||
|
|
towards the end, while Himmen went to the center. He himself entered
|
|||
|
|
the nearest building, which turned out to be someone's home. He found
|
|||
|
|
nothing disturbed. It was as if the owner had just left, and never
|
|||
|
|
returned. There was even the remains of a meal, long overdue, which
|
|||
|
|
was sitting on a table.
|
|||
|
|
There was only one other door in the place besides the one Gwindor
|
|||
|
|
entered through, and he headed over to it. As he neared it, he
|
|||
|
|
noticed an odor, similar to that of rotting meat. Opening the door, he
|
|||
|
|
nearly gagged from the overpowering stench that came rolling out.
|
|||
|
|
Fighting the urge to become ill, he stuck his head in the door.
|
|||
|
|
What he found inside caused him to lose his control, and rush
|
|||
|
|
outside to become sick. When he finished gagging, he took several
|
|||
|
|
deep breaths to clear his head. He didn't want to return there, but
|
|||
|
|
he had seen something that he needed to look at again. Steeling
|
|||
|
|
himself, he re-entered the cottage.
|
|||
|
|
The bedroom hadn't changed in the short time he had been gone.
|
|||
|
|
There, laying on the bed, almost looking peaceful, were two children.
|
|||
|
|
They couldn't have been over eight years old. They looked like they
|
|||
|
|
were sleeping. It was only when one looked closer that one could tell
|
|||
|
|
that the sheets weren't red... they were covered with blood. The
|
|||
|
|
bodies had been hacked to pieces, then laid on the bed, with all the
|
|||
|
|
parts touching where they should have normally been connected. But it
|
|||
|
|
wasn't the bodies that interested him so much. His attention was
|
|||
|
|
caught on what was leaning against the bottom of the bed. A double-
|
|||
|
|
bladed hand axe rested there, the edges of the blades coated with
|
|||
|
|
blood.
|
|||
|
|
He went over and bent down to take the weapon in hand, but, as his
|
|||
|
|
hand closed over the shaft, a cold chill seemed to emanate from it,
|
|||
|
|
immediately causing his had to become numb. Pulling his hand away
|
|||
|
|
quickly, he rubbed it until the feeling came back to it. Then,
|
|||
|
|
reaching into his pocket and pulling out the strip of cloth he
|
|||
|
|
sometimes used to keep his hair out of his eyes, he wrapped his hand
|
|||
|
|
in it first, then again attempted to pick up the weapon.
|
|||
|
|
This time there was no cold, and he lifted it easily. Examining
|
|||
|
|
the blade, he shuddered as he recognized the runes inscribed into the
|
|||
|
|
metal. Runes of power, death, and great evil. The oaken haft also
|
|||
|
|
bristled with runes.
|
|||
|
|
Turning, he left the room and headed outside, both to see if Himmen
|
|||
|
|
or Darin had found anything, and to get a better look at the axe. As
|
|||
|
|
he went outside into the sunlight, he saw Darin approaching him. Just
|
|||
|
|
as he was about to hail him, he felt the axe in his hand give a little
|
|||
|
|
shake.
|
|||
|
|
Looking down at the weapon, he stared in astonishment as it twisted
|
|||
|
|
and turned in his hand, seemingly attempting to free itself. Then,
|
|||
|
|
with a shriek that built in intensity in his head, he saw through
|
|||
|
|
watering eyes the blade melting off the handle to puddle on the
|
|||
|
|
ground, where it turned into a black powder.
|
|||
|
|
"Never have I seen anything like that!" exclaimed Darin, who had
|
|||
|
|
also been watching in astonishment. "What manor of weapon was that?"
|
|||
|
|
"I've never seen anything like it either," replied Gwindor. "But I
|
|||
|
|
have heard my brother speak of such things, although the stories he
|
|||
|
|
told me are of the distant past. Do you have an empty flask? Good.
|
|||
|
|
Collect some of the powder into it. But don't touch any of it with
|
|||
|
|
your hands."
|
|||
|
|
Gwindor stood to one side, looking at the handle he still held as
|
|||
|
|
Darin collected some of the powder. I must get back to my brother as
|
|||
|
|
soon as I can, he thought to himself. He must be told of this.
|
|||
|
|
"Come, friend." he said to Darin. "Let us collect Himmen and
|
|||
|
|
Pervorin and depart this place. I feel evil here, and will not
|
|||
|
|
willing stay."
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
PERVORIN
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Chapter Three - The Crevice
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The party walked slowly along in the afternoon sunlight. Everyone had
|
|||
|
|
grown quite weary of travel. Day after day they had plodded through
|
|||
|
|
grassland that was at times up to their waists, until finally, after four
|
|||
|
|
days of this, a line of trees appeared on the horizon. Here Gwindor called
|
|||
|
|
a halt.
|
|||
|
|
After setting camp, and a filling meal, Gwindor motioned that he wanted
|
|||
|
|
to speak with the rest of the party.
|
|||
|
|
"I am sure you are all familiar with the wooded lands we must now pass
|
|||
|
|
through, with the possible exception of Pervorin. For his benefit, and to
|
|||
|
|
remind the two of you," he said, motioning towards Darin and Himmen, "these
|
|||
|
|
wood that we face on the morrow are no ordinary wood. It is said that long
|
|||
|
|
ago a small but powerful group of people lived where the forest now
|
|||
|
|
stands. They were a just people, a people totally against violence. One
|
|||
|
|
day a messenger approached their leader and demanded a tribute be paid to a
|
|||
|
|
new king who reigned to the south. The messenger demanded one-half of
|
|||
|
|
their crops as tribute, or the wrath of this new king would fall upon their
|
|||
|
|
heads. Of course, these people refused, being a very independent people.
|
|||
|
|
They disarmed the messenger and sent him on his way."
|
|||
|
|
"A season passed, and the people soon forgot about the warning they had
|
|||
|
|
received. The harvest arrived, and the people celebrated, as the harvest
|
|||
|
|
was a good one."
|
|||
|
|
"Then, just as the sun reached the center of the sky, a black boiling
|
|||
|
|
cloud appeared on the southern horizon. The people at first thought it was
|
|||
|
|
a storm cloud, and so it was. But not the type of storm they expected. As
|
|||
|
|
the storm's center passed over the cultivated fields, a fiery rain fell
|
|||
|
|
from the cloud. Everywhere it fell fires broke out, and soon every field
|
|||
|
|
was burning. They tried to put the fires out, but there were too many of
|
|||
|
|
them. The people then fled to an underground cavern they had discovered
|
|||
|
|
nearby."
|
|||
|
|
"The fires burned for five days. Some say the sun was not seen during
|
|||
|
|
those days due to the smoke. Finally the fires burned themselves out, and
|
|||
|
|
the ground cooled. The people emerged from their hiding, and stared in
|
|||
|
|
dismay at the destruction the fires had caused. There wasn't one building
|
|||
|
|
in their small town that remained standing."
|
|||
|
|
"Well, the people rebuilt the best they could. The winter was a hard
|
|||
|
|
one, and only about half the original survivors survived the hardships of
|
|||
|
|
trying to survive the winter. When planting season arrived, they planted
|
|||
|
|
in the wasted soil the best they could, but the crops grew poorly. As the
|
|||
|
|
time for harvest grew closer, the people left looked southward in anxiety."
|
|||
|
|
"Finally harvest day arrived. The day was clear and the sky was as
|
|||
|
|
crystal blue as a rare sapphire. No dark cloud appeared, and as the sun
|
|||
|
|
rose to full the people breathed a sigh of relief. The harvest was
|
|||
|
|
gathered, and a feast was prepared."
|
|||
|
|
"As the people celebrated into the evening, the moon rose. It wasn't
|
|||
|
|
the normal harvest moon. It was a brilliant green which dazzled the eyes.
|
|||
|
|
As the people started at it, they were transformed into the dark trees
|
|||
|
|
which you see off in the distance."
|
|||
|
|
Here Gwindor paused, staring at the line of trees off in the distance.
|
|||
|
|
After a few silent moments, he continued.
|
|||
|
|
"To travel through those woods now is very dangerous. The trees have
|
|||
|
|
memories, and they do not like to be reminded of what they once were. So
|
|||
|
|
they destroy any who travel their paths without their leave."
|
|||
|
|
With this, Gwindor stood up and adjusted the pack on his back, which
|
|||
|
|
currently contained all of the remaining food supplies, meager though they
|
|||
|
|
were.
|
|||
|
|
"Now listen to me," he said. "We will be lucky to make it to the center
|
|||
|
|
of the forest by midnight, and that's just when I don't want to be there.
|
|||
|
|
So the quicker we get started, the quicker we'll be through the woods. So
|
|||
|
|
on your feet, people, and let's get a move on!"
|
|||
|
|
The party rose to their feet, shouldering their own equipment, and
|
|||
|
|
followed Gwindor toward the faint line of trees.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Pervorin, much by happenchance than anything else, found himself
|
|||
|
|
bringing up the read of the small party. He was not happy about it, but
|
|||
|
|
finally decided that it was better to follow those who knew the way than to
|
|||
|
|
be in the front and not know where he was going.
|
|||
|
|
After an hour's walk, they approached the faint trail leading into the
|
|||
|
|
wood. Here Gwindor called another halt. Pervorin looked up and down the
|
|||
|
|
line of trees, and found that as far as he could see, both to the north and
|
|||
|
|
south, he could see a distinct line where the wood met the plains.
|
|||
|
|
"I see what you mean about having no choice but to travel through the
|
|||
|
|
woods, Gwindor." Pervorin said.
|
|||
|
|
Gwindor, who was staring intently into the woods, nodded. "It is many
|
|||
|
|
days journey to circle this. We have no course except to travel through.
|
|||
|
|
Now, everyone try to be as quiet as possible, and under NO account do any
|
|||
|
|
damage, whether intentional or otherwise, to any living thing once we
|
|||
|
|
enter."
|
|||
|
|
With that Gwindor turned and faced the wood again.
|
|||
|
|
"Here me, people of the Wood. We seek to pass through your forest in
|
|||
|
|
safety. We will cause no damage to leaf, twig, or tree. In this I,
|
|||
|
|
Gwindor Ka-rakis, do pledge my word."
|
|||
|
|
As Gwindor finished speaking, the normal noises of the land around them
|
|||
|
|
ceased. It didn't trail off to a silence, it just ceased. A chill
|
|||
|
|
surrounded the party, a deathly chill. Still Gwindor looked into the
|
|||
|
|
forest. Pervorin, after watching Gwindor for a few minutes, was wondering
|
|||
|
|
what he was looking for. Just as his mind was starting to wander, he found
|
|||
|
|
out.
|
|||
|
|
* We have heard of you, Gwindor, * a voice boomed in his head.
|
|||
|
|
Startled, Pervorin looked around, but saw no one there but the party.
|
|||
|
|
* Long ago we parted with our flesh, and do not wish to be reminded of
|
|||
|
|
what were once were. For that reason, we do not allow the living to pass
|
|||
|
|
through our boundaries. Many have tried, and many have died. However, you
|
|||
|
|
are known to us. For what you have done for us, we will allow you and your
|
|||
|
|
party to pass in safety. Be warned. Destroy nothing. *
|
|||
|
|
With that the voice trailed off into silence, the chill lifted, and the
|
|||
|
|
normal sounds returned. Gwindor looked visibly shaken.
|
|||
|
|
"Well, I had no idea I was so well known." he said with a wry grin on
|
|||
|
|
his face. "But we have their consent to travel through their domain, so I
|
|||
|
|
suggest we get on with it."
|
|||
|
|
Pervorin sighed, adjusted his pack, and followed Gwindor as he headed
|
|||
|
|
down the path into the woods. As he entered the forest, the change in
|
|||
|
|
atmosphere did nothing to set him at ease. The trees towered many feet
|
|||
|
|
over his head, cutting off all but a trickle of sunlight. It brought a
|
|||
|
|
shiver of trepidation to him. At least the lack of sunlight has kept the
|
|||
|
|
undergrowth to a minimum. Then again, he thought, glancing up at the
|
|||
|
|
trees, maybe it isn't the lack of sunlight that's achieving it. Glancing
|
|||
|
|
around again with a shiver, he hurried to catch up with the rest of the
|
|||
|
|
party.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Several hours later they stopped for a rest. The way had become
|
|||
|
|
increasingly difficult the deeper they had travelled into the forest, and
|
|||
|
|
now they found the trail, growing fainter all the while, had now vanished
|
|||
|
|
completely. In it's place loomed a chasm. And what a chasm it was; it
|
|||
|
|
appeared to be about forty feet across, with sheer walls that disappeared
|
|||
|
|
down into murky depths.
|
|||
|
|
Gwindor looked long at the chasm. It would delay them to have to try
|
|||
|
|
and walk around it, as looking he could see no ending to it. He could also
|
|||
|
|
tell that it was recent, as the land was still raw and unweathered.
|
|||
|
|
Himmen appeared at his elbow. "It appears to be newly made."
|
|||
|
|
"Yes, it does. And that's what is worrying me. I've been keeping a
|
|||
|
|
good eye on the landscape as we've been travelling, and everything else
|
|||
|
|
appears normal. Look over there," he said, pointing across the chasm, and
|
|||
|
|
a bit to the left. A towering structure of rock jutted from the ground. A
|
|||
|
|
large boulder sat on a promenade of rock, seemingly balanced on a narrow
|
|||
|
|
point.
|
|||
|
|
"There's Balancing Rock. I've never seen it, nor other human eyes for
|
|||
|
|
centuries if the spirits of the wood are to be believed. And I've no
|
|||
|
|
reason to doubt them. Whatever created this chasm did not disturb it. I
|
|||
|
|
would have to believe that a natural earthquake would have unbalanced it
|
|||
|
|
into falling."
|
|||
|
|
Darin, having walked up to them shortly after they had stopped, spoke
|
|||
|
|
up. "Whatever caused this must have been incredibly powerful."
|
|||
|
|
"I agree." said Gwindor. "I believe the easiest way across will be
|
|||
|
|
found over there," he said, pointing northward to a point where the
|
|||
|
|
crumbling side of the crevice wall had partially collapsed. "We had better
|
|||
|
|
move if we want to see the other side before dark."
|
|||
|
|
The way was slow. As they neared the edge, the ground turned loose and
|
|||
|
|
rocky beneath their feet. More than once one of them slipped and slid
|
|||
|
|
towards the edge, only to be stopped by the ropes that Gwindor had insisted
|
|||
|
|
they tie around themselves.
|
|||
|
|
After picking their way through what seemed like miles of stone and
|
|||
|
|
shale, the group found themselves standing at the brink of the chasm.
|
|||
|
|
Looking down, Pervorin paused. There seemed to be no bottom to it. He
|
|||
|
|
picked up a stone and tossed it out over the edge. It quickly vanished
|
|||
|
|
from sight. Pervorin, after waiting a moment or two, realized that he
|
|||
|
|
wasn't going to hear it hit bottom.
|
|||
|
|
"Now how are we going to cross over onto those boulders and make it to
|
|||
|
|
the other side?" Pervorin asked himself.
|
|||
|
|
"Don't worry. We'll find a way," Darin said at his elbow. "Gwindor's
|
|||
|
|
pretty good at figuring out ways to do things."
|
|||
|
|
They moved to Gwindor's side, where he and Himmen were examining the
|
|||
|
|
boulders.
|
|||
|
|
"There's not enough room for one of us to try and jump across, barring
|
|||
|
|
the fact that I doubt if we could jump that far in the first place," Himmen
|
|||
|
|
was saying as they walked up.
|
|||
|
|
"Look on top, Himmen," Gwindor said. "About fifty feet in."
|
|||
|
|
On top of the vast pile of rubble sat a large, pointed rock. It was
|
|||
|
|
laying with the point angling skyward.
|
|||
|
|
"Darin, you are the best aim among us. Do you think you could loop a
|
|||
|
|
rope around that point?"
|
|||
|
|
Darin looked up at the rock. "I don't know, but I'll sure give it a
|
|||
|
|
try." With that, he took off his pack and removed a coil of rope.
|
|||
|
|
"Why don't you just use your powers to get us across, Gwindor?" Pervorin
|
|||
|
|
asked.
|
|||
|
|
"I could do that, yes." admitted Gwindor. "But whatever created this
|
|||
|
|
has great power. I can feel its traces lingering even now. If I use my
|
|||
|
|
own, I fear this will alert it to our presence. I don't think I'm up to
|
|||
|
|
matching that kind of power. No, we will try to cross without resorting to
|
|||
|
|
magical means."
|
|||
|
|
Darin had taken a small grappling hook from his pack and attached it to
|
|||
|
|
the rope. Now, swinging the grapple in a circle over his head, he stared
|
|||
|
|
at the point of rock. Then, with a grunt, he let it fly.
|
|||
|
|
The grapple flew out over the abyss, trailing the rope behind. It flew
|
|||
|
|
in a perfect arc towards the point. Then, just as it was about to drop
|
|||
|
|
over it, the rope jerked tight, snapping the grappling hook back towards
|
|||
|
|
Darin. With a clang of metal against stone it hit the side of the crevice.
|
|||
|
|
"Didn't realize it was that far," Darin said, removing another coil of
|
|||
|
|
rope from his pack. Within a moment he had attached the ropes together and
|
|||
|
|
was again rising to swing the hook. Staring steadily at his target, Darin
|
|||
|
|
swung the grapple around and around, until he appeared mesmerized by his
|
|||
|
|
actions. Then, with a yell, he released it. Out it flew, to finally wrap
|
|||
|
|
itself around the point, wedging itself firmly into a crack.
|
|||
|
|
Turning, Darin attached his end of the rope to a large boulder near
|
|||
|
|
him. Now a rope stretched across to the other side.
|
|||
|
|
"Now to cross," muttered Darin as he tested the strength of the rope.
|
|||
|
|
Slowly, so as not to add too great a strain, he eased himself out until he
|
|||
|
|
was hanging by his hands. Swinging his legs, he caught his feet around the
|
|||
|
|
rope, and proceeded to pull himself across to the other side.
|
|||
|
|
The others, watching anxiously, let out a sigh of relief when he was
|
|||
|
|
across.
|
|||
|
|
"Pervorin, you're next." Gwindor motioned him over to the rope.
|
|||
|
|
Pervorin walked slowly towards the rope, sweat suddenly coating his
|
|||
|
|
hands. As he neared the edge, Gwindor smiled at him reassuringly and
|
|||
|
|
helped him over to the rope.
|
|||
|
|
"New to this?" he asked lightly.
|
|||
|
|
Pervorin let out a small laugh. "A bit." he replied.
|
|||
|
|
"Well, remember, whatever you do, do not look down. Just loop your feet
|
|||
|
|
around the rope, and let your arms pull you across. Darin's there to stop
|
|||
|
|
you from running into the rock, so don't even worry about that."
|
|||
|
|
Nodding, he decided that he would never be more ready than he was now,
|
|||
|
|
and grabbed the rope with both hands. Slowly, hand over hand he pulled
|
|||
|
|
himself across. All the while, his eyes were locked on the rope hanging
|
|||
|
|
inches from his eyes. The distance seemed endless, and he was beginning to
|
|||
|
|
think he'd never get there when he felt a hand clap him on his shoulders.
|
|||
|
|
Looking over, he saw Darin standing next to him, grinning widely.
|
|||
|
|
Letting his feet down slowly, afraid he was still over the chasm, he let
|
|||
|
|
out an audible sigh of relief when they touched ground.
|
|||
|
|
"You know, I think I could tell you how many strands make up that rope,
|
|||
|
|
Darin!" he admitted as he rubbed his sore hands.
|
|||
|
|
"That's the spirit, Perv!" Darin said, smiling. "Here comes Gwindor."
|
|||
|
|
Pervorin looked up to see Gwindor almost halfway across. He glanced
|
|||
|
|
over to the other side, where Himmen was waiting by the rope for his turn.
|
|||
|
|
He glanced again to Gwindor, who was now just reaching this side. As he
|
|||
|
|
reached out to help him gain his footing, Pervorin caught a flicker of
|
|||
|
|
movement out of the corner of his eye. He stood, peering across to see
|
|||
|
|
what might have caught his attention.
|
|||
|
|
A gasp of astonishment escaped him. There, not more than fifty yards
|
|||
|
|
from Himmen, a group of creatures were making their way along the edge,
|
|||
|
|
towards Himmen!
|
|||
|
|
"Himmen! Look out!" he screamed, pointing.
|
|||
|
|
Himmen turned, caught sight of the advancing creatures, and leaped onto
|
|||
|
|
the rope, crossing as quick as he could. He had made it halfway across
|
|||
|
|
before the creatures reached that end of the rope.
|
|||
|
|
And creatures they were, too. Some walked on two legs, some on four,
|
|||
|
|
and others ran on five or six. Great fangs protruded at all angles from
|
|||
|
|
their mouths, and oversized arms hung down to their feet. The sounds they
|
|||
|
|
emitted sounded like something in terrible agony, sending chills up and
|
|||
|
|
down Pervorin's back.
|
|||
|
|
One of the creatures grabbed the rope, swung easily down, and began to
|
|||
|
|
make its way across. The rope sagged alarmingly with its added weight, and
|
|||
|
|
sagged even further when a second creature joined the first on the rope.
|
|||
|
|
"Come on Himmen, you have to move!" shouted Gwindor, who was standing by
|
|||
|
|
the rope with his sword out. Pervorin could see the muscles in Himmen's
|
|||
|
|
arms and neck straining as he sped to cover the last few feet.
|
|||
|
|
Suddenly the air was full of arrows! They were being fired upon by the
|
|||
|
|
creatures standing on the opposite side! Gwindor let out a yell just as
|
|||
|
|
Himmen scrambled onto the rock, and sank from sight. Himmen lay where he
|
|||
|
|
had pulled away from the rope, pinned down by arrows. Darin was no where
|
|||
|
|
to be seen.
|
|||
|
|
Pervorin had taken shelter behind a rock. Looking around it, he saw the
|
|||
|
|
creatures had almost made it across. I've got to cut that rope, he
|
|||
|
|
thought, and started to rise to run towards it. But as he did, another
|
|||
|
|
hail of arrows fell, pinning him back behind the rock again.
|
|||
|
|
They don't want us to cut it! Almost in despair he watched the
|
|||
|
|
creatures on the rope continue to get closer. There was only a few feet
|
|||
|
|
remaining before they would gain this side. Then, as he watched, he saw
|
|||
|
|
something fly from the second creature on the rope to strike a rock close
|
|||
|
|
to his head. He ducked, only to discover a small crude axe beside his
|
|||
|
|
head. Without even thinking, he reached down, picked up the axe, and
|
|||
|
|
hurled it at the rope wrapped around the rock. It struck squarely, but the
|
|||
|
|
rope failed to part.
|
|||
|
|
Himmen rose to his feet as the first of the creatures crawled over the
|
|||
|
|
edge, hitting it squarely in its face with his huge fist. It fell
|
|||
|
|
backwards towards the edge, hitting another creature that had just gotten
|
|||
|
|
off the rope, knocking them both over the edge. One grabbed for the rope
|
|||
|
|
as it fell. It was too much. The rope parted with a loud snap, sending
|
|||
|
|
the creatures plummeting down into the darkness.
|
|||
|
|
Pervorin crawled over to where he thought he had seen Gwindor
|
|||
|
|
disappear. He feared his friend was hurt. An arrow fell here and there
|
|||
|
|
around him as the creatures on the other side tried to get at them, but
|
|||
|
|
they were too far away to do anything but hope for a lucky hit.
|
|||
|
|
Rounding a boulder, Pervorin was relieved to see Gwindor sitting with
|
|||
|
|
his back against the other side.
|
|||
|
|
"Are you alright?" he asked.
|
|||
|
|
A low moan was all the answer that he got, so he crawled around until he
|
|||
|
|
was beside Gwindor. He noticed a cut on Gwindor's forehead, and an arrow
|
|||
|
|
laying beside him. It had caught him a glancing blow, and had stunned
|
|||
|
|
him. Even as Pervorin reached out towards him, he opened his eyes.
|
|||
|
|
"Thought I had seen my last sun," he said shakily, rising to a
|
|||
|
|
straighter position. "Let's find Himmen and Darin and get out of here. I
|
|||
|
|
don't think our friends over there will sit still for long."
|
|||
|
|
Pervorin glanced across the chasm. The creatures, seeing that they were
|
|||
|
|
now out of their reach, had vanished. Helping Gwindor, they located their
|
|||
|
|
friends and their gear and turned east, back into the trees.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
PERVORIN
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Chapter Four
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Several days later found the group considerably east of the
|
|||
|
|
crevice. They had continued on their way, soon finding themselves back
|
|||
|
|
into dense forestland, though not with the malignant spirits that
|
|||
|
|
resided in the Wood. Now, late at the end of the second day of travel,
|
|||
|
|
Pervorin found himself bone tired of tripping over roots and ground
|
|||
|
|
brush. Sighing, he pushed away another branch that threatened to slap
|
|||
|
|
him in his face and plodded on, following Himmen. He had found that if
|
|||
|
|
he concentrated on Himmen's back, he could partially ignore the ache in
|
|||
|
|
his legs and back.
|
|||
|
|
Finally they broke through the forest into a small clearing.
|
|||
|
|
Pervorin's heart lightened as he looked around, his eyes widening with
|
|||
|
|
the beauty of the glen. It seemed to have a life of its own. The late
|
|||
|
|
afternoon sunlight reflected off the lush greenery of the plant life,
|
|||
|
|
and bounced cheerfully off the bubbling brook that flowed happily
|
|||
|
|
through the center of the glen, nourishing the small wildlife of the
|
|||
|
|
area.
|
|||
|
|
"I know this place!" Gwindor exclaimed, his face lighting with
|
|||
|
|
joy. "My brother and I used to treat this place as our special place.
|
|||
|
|
I have spent many an hour sitting here upon the ground, watching him
|
|||
|
|
try and perfect his calling."
|
|||
|
|
Gwindor stopped, his vision transgressing the years as he lost
|
|||
|
|
himself in his memories. The rest of the party lost no time in finding
|
|||
|
|
themselves a place to sit or lay down in the grass, and for a time they
|
|||
|
|
all lost themselves in the peace and tranquility.
|
|||
|
|
Gwindor came to himself with a start, and grinned sheepishly at
|
|||
|
|
his friends. Sitting down himself, he stretched until his joints
|
|||
|
|
popped.
|
|||
|
|
"Feels good, doesn't it, my friends. Here we can rest and take
|
|||
|
|
comfort, as nothing of evil has ever entered this glade. Enjoy the
|
|||
|
|
night, as tomorrow we continue on to the Citadel."
|
|||
|
|
Pervorin, almost dozing, opened his eyes at the mention of a
|
|||
|
|
Citadel. "A citadel? What citadel?"
|
|||
|
|
"Well, that's what everyone calls it. Actually it is called
|
|||
|
|
Rasvan Castle, supposedly after a wizard of earlier times. Gwindor's
|
|||
|
|
brother now calls it home. From there it is said that he is delving
|
|||
|
|
into the mysteries of his power. If anyone can help you regain your
|
|||
|
|
past, it is he. Now rest, for we shall not stop again until we reach
|
|||
|
|
Rasvan."
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Pervorin could still feel the awe that his first sight of the
|
|||
|
|
castle had aspired in him. From out of a grassy plain it rose to a
|
|||
|
|
great height against the deepening blue of the evening sky. The towers
|
|||
|
|
rose above the rest of the castle, seemingly swaying gracefully in the
|
|||
|
|
wind. In contrast, the outside wall was squat and formidable. He
|
|||
|
|
supposed an army might break its back on that wall and still not force
|
|||
|
|
an entry.
|
|||
|
|
As they had walked towards the bridge spanning the moat, the
|
|||
|
|
people working outside the walls had taken notice of them. Several had
|
|||
|
|
stopped what they were doing and called out to Gwindor.
|
|||
|
|
"Hail and well met!" one of them cried. "Kantar told us to keep
|
|||
|
|
an eye out for you today."
|
|||
|
|
Smiling, Gwindor advanced over the moat. "Morgan, it's good to
|
|||
|
|
see you again!" He clasped his friend's arm heartily. "It has been
|
|||
|
|
too long! But what are you doing here? I thought you were garrisoned
|
|||
|
|
in Tralug."
|
|||
|
|
As Gwindor and Morgan continued to talk, they moved through the
|
|||
|
|
gates into the castle, and Himmen, Darin, and Pervorin followed. Their
|
|||
|
|
path followed the main street for a distance, and Pervorin marvelled at
|
|||
|
|
what he saw. Buildings stretched in every direction, lining both sides
|
|||
|
|
of the street. At the end of the street, just within eyesight, he
|
|||
|
|
could see the entrance to the castle proper. He noticed now that the
|
|||
|
|
castle walls, besides protecting the castle, surrounded the city, thus
|
|||
|
|
providing protection for it as well.
|
|||
|
|
Following the small group, Pervorin now noticed the aromas that
|
|||
|
|
were assailing him from every side; the smell of freshly cooked meat;
|
|||
|
|
the sweet smell of fresh flowers; the strong aroma of wine.
|
|||
|
|
And the people! Never had he seen so many in one place! It
|
|||
|
|
seemed that for every one that disappeared into a doorway or down a
|
|||
|
|
side street, three more took their place.
|
|||
|
|
"Pervorin! Come along!"
|
|||
|
|
Startled, he looked up. The rest of the group was standing a good
|
|||
|
|
distance away, looking at him. He hurried to catch up, a sheepish grin
|
|||
|
|
on his face.
|
|||
|
|
"All these people getting to you?" Himmen asked as he caught up
|
|||
|
|
with them.
|
|||
|
|
"It all is a bit overwhelming," he admitted. "Do they always run
|
|||
|
|
about like that?"
|
|||
|
|
"No," laughed Himmen. "We're in luck. We have arrived in time to
|
|||
|
|
celebrate the Festival of Mid-Feast. Everyone is preparing for it."
|
|||
|
|
Pervorin looked at Himmen in surprise. "You mean there really is
|
|||
|
|
a Mid-Feast time?"
|
|||
|
|
"Of course there is," replied Himmen. "It's the time when the
|
|||
|
|
people celebrate the successful harvest, and eat, drink, and make
|
|||
|
|
merry. For the planting and harvest seasons are hard ones here, as are
|
|||
|
|
the winter months. In another month, they will begin preparations for
|
|||
|
|
winter, so now they are living it up while they can."
|
|||
|
|
They had continued to walk while they had been talking, and now
|
|||
|
|
Pervorin saw that they were entering a quieter section of the city.
|
|||
|
|
The number of shops they passed lessened, while the number of homes
|
|||
|
|
increased. After passing numerous side streets, Gwindor and Morgan
|
|||
|
|
finally turned toward a house situated at the far end of the street.
|
|||
|
|
Walking up onto the porch, Pervorin caught the pleasant smell of
|
|||
|
|
cooking food wafting from an open window. Gwindor turned and looked
|
|||
|
|
questionly at Morgan.
|
|||
|
|
"I told you we knew you were coming," he laughed. "Sabrina has
|
|||
|
|
been inside all day readying your home for your return."
|
|||
|
|
"Sabrina!" Gwindor exclaimed, the joy in his voice unmistakable.
|
|||
|
|
"Long have I waited to hear her sweet voice again!"
|
|||
|
|
Opening the door, they entered into a large room. The curtains on
|
|||
|
|
the windows had been tied back, allowing the sunlight to stream in. At
|
|||
|
|
one end was a hearth, in which a fire blazed cheerfully. Over the fire
|
|||
|
|
hung a cooking pot, from which the smell of food originated. Several
|
|||
|
|
feet away a table occupied a corner, on which five settings had been
|
|||
|
|
placed. A couch and several stuffed chairs completed the room.
|
|||
|
|
"I have been waiting for you, my love." a soft voice said.
|
|||
|
|
Turning, Pervorin saw a woman standing in a doorway he had not
|
|||
|
|
noticed before. She was dressed in a in a simple white dress, with her
|
|||
|
|
long flowing brown hair cascading around her shoulders. Her features
|
|||
|
|
appeared plain, not especially attractive to him. Then her eyes met
|
|||
|
|
Gwindor's, and her face lit up in a smile that seemed, to Pervorin, to
|
|||
|
|
light up the whole room. At once she had gone from a plain woman to
|
|||
|
|
someone that armies would fight over.
|
|||
|
|
As Pervorin watched, Gwindor went over to her and enveloped her in
|
|||
|
|
his arms. For a time they were lost in their own world, oblivious to
|
|||
|
|
their surroundings.
|
|||
|
|
Grinning, Himmen motioned for Pervorin to place his pack over in a
|
|||
|
|
corner, where he was just leaving his own. Darin followed suit, and
|
|||
|
|
then joined them at the table. Morgan had found a pitcher of dark ale
|
|||
|
|
and was pouring large mugs for all of them. This completed, Morgan sat
|
|||
|
|
back in his own chair and proceeded to drain his cup in one long
|
|||
|
|
drought. Smiling with satisfaction, he poured himself another, and
|
|||
|
|
sipped contented at it.
|
|||
|
|
A few moments later Gwindor and Sabrina separated. Gwindor turned
|
|||
|
|
towards the table and sat down.
|
|||
|
|
"Well, it has been a long time," he said sheepishly to the smiling
|
|||
|
|
faces around him.
|
|||
|
|
Laughing goodheartedly, they all sat down to one of Sabrina's
|
|||
|
|
homecooked meals, which they all agree was the best thing they'd done
|
|||
|
|
in months. Pervorin, who had not realized how hungry he was until he
|
|||
|
|
had taken his first bite, was polishing off his plate with passion.
|
|||
|
|
"This is very good!" he exclaimed to no one in particular. "It
|
|||
|
|
brings to mind some of the food I've had in..." Here is voice trailed
|
|||
|
|
off. In where? he thought. At the first taste of the food he had
|
|||
|
|
remembered a similar meal. There had been food as good as this, with
|
|||
|
|
wine and ale. There were other people there too, but as he strived to
|
|||
|
|
remember it slipped away, until the thought vanished as if smoke. He
|
|||
|
|
looked up to find them all looking at him.
|
|||
|
|
"In where, Pervorin?" Gwindor asked quietly.
|
|||
|
|
"In... In... I can't remember!" Pervorin cried out with anguish.
|
|||
|
|
Gwindor settled back into his chair. "I think that we shall go
|
|||
|
|
see my brother today. Perhaps he can help shed some light on your loss
|
|||
|
|
of memory. As for now, finish your meal. I feel that you will need
|
|||
|
|
your strength later."
|
|||
|
|
Later, after the meal, Gwindor came over to the couch were
|
|||
|
|
Pervorin was sitting off in thought.
|
|||
|
|
"I go now to see Zanath, Pervorin. If he agrees, I will send
|
|||
|
|
someone for you. Agreed?"
|
|||
|
|
Nodding in agreement, Pervorin noticed the concern in Gwindor's
|
|||
|
|
face, and he realized how much he had come to depend on this man for
|
|||
|
|
guidance and friendship.
|
|||
|
|
"Thank you my friend," he said quietly as Gwindor clasped his arm.
|
|||
|
|
"Don't worry," Gwindor replied. "If anyone can help you, Zanath
|
|||
|
|
can."
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
PERVORIN
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Chapter Five - Castle Rasvan
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Gwindor walked slowly along the street, stopping now and then to greet
|
|||
|
|
a friend. Finally he made his way up to his brother's home, the Castle
|
|||
|
|
Rasvan. Drawing up to the door, he took the huge knocker on the center of
|
|||
|
|
the door in both hands and lifted it, then let it fall. Thrice he did
|
|||
|
|
this. As the last echoes of the knocks faded away, the lion's head in the
|
|||
|
|
in the center of the door spoke.
|
|||
|
|
"Who comes knocking at the door of Rasvan's Castle?" it boomed hollowly.
|
|||
|
|
"It is I, Gwindor!" he replied.
|
|||
|
|
"Oh, it is you, brother! Come on in, you know the way." The voice
|
|||
|
|
had lost much of its timbre, and Gwindor smiled as the door swung
|
|||
|
|
open. His brother had always had a taste for theatrics.
|
|||
|
|
The passageway behind the door led twisting and turning past many
|
|||
|
|
hallways and doors. Gwindor's stride did not hesitate as he followed a path
|
|||
|
|
that he had travelled many times. He headed up a flight of stairs, and
|
|||
|
|
then continued down the corridor. At last he came to a small entranceway,
|
|||
|
|
similar to the many others he had passed. It was a plain wooden door with
|
|||
|
|
iron hinges. Turning the knob, he pushed the door open and entered the
|
|||
|
|
small room behind it.
|
|||
|
|
The room was nothing spectacular. It was a small bedroom, with a single
|
|||
|
|
bed, small night table, and a dressing table. It was dim inside, as the
|
|||
|
|
candles set along the wall were not lit, and there were no windows. Reaching
|
|||
|
|
over to one of the candlabras set in the wall, he gave it a twist. Silently
|
|||
|
|
a portion of the wall slid aside, to reveal a spiral staircase leading up.
|
|||
|
|
As Gwindor started up the staircase, he heard the secret panel close behind
|
|||
|
|
him. The way was not dark, however, as there were lit candles along the
|
|||
|
|
walls. Reaching the top, he stopped before another door and knocked.
|
|||
|
|
"Enter, brother!" a voice boomed out.
|
|||
|
|
Opening the door, Gwindor entered into what was obviously an elabrate
|
|||
|
|
workshop. Various sizes of flasks sat in holders suspended over candles,
|
|||
|
|
bubbling furiously. Running the entire length of one wall was a bookcase,
|
|||
|
|
crammed to overflowing with books, scrolls, and tomes. A desk occupied the
|
|||
|
|
center of another wall, and there Gwindor saw his brother peering intently
|
|||
|
|
over a yellowed scroll. He was older than Gwindor, with white streaks
|
|||
|
|
running through his coal black hair. As he looked up, Gwindor noticed that
|
|||
|
|
his face had aged since he had last seen him. His eyes still had that same
|
|||
|
|
sparkle in them, though.
|
|||
|
|
"Gwindor, it's good to see you again!" he exclaimed heartily as he
|
|||
|
|
rounded the desk.
|
|||
|
|
He embraced his brother, and then motioned Gwindor to one of the stuffed
|
|||
|
|
chairs that were near the desk. Gwindor sank gratefully into it, just now
|
|||
|
|
realising how tired he was.
|
|||
|
|
"Did you get my message?" Zanath asked.
|
|||
|
|
"Yes, I did," Gwindor replied. "That is why I am here. You were right
|
|||
|
|
in believing that something is brewing in the south. I visited most of the
|
|||
|
|
villages that lay on the edge of the Great Waste, and found that most of them
|
|||
|
|
are deserted. It appears that they have been attacked by unknown forces. I
|
|||
|
|
found many tracks leading from the villages to the Waste, but I could not
|
|||
|
|
track them any further. The winds that sweep the Waste obliterated any
|
|||
|
|
tracks long before I got there."
|
|||
|
|
He looked up at his brother. "That's a lot of people that are missing."
|
|||
|
|
Zanath, whose expression had been getting grimmer and grimmer while
|
|||
|
|
Gwindor was speaking, rose and went over to the bookcase. Rummaging through
|
|||
|
|
a large pile of scrolls, he finally withdrew two. Bringing them over to the
|
|||
|
|
desk, he carefully unrolled them, motioning for Gwindor to come over and
|
|||
|
|
look. Gwindor rose and walked to stand beside his brother. Looking down at
|
|||
|
|
the scrolls, he saw a map of Kultauren. The language on the scroll was in
|
|||
|
|
the tongue of the Ancients, and now he blessed his brother for all the times
|
|||
|
|
he had made him study what he had thought was a useless tongue.
|
|||
|
|
"How old is this map?" he asked.
|
|||
|
|
"Well, as near as I can make it, it is between two and three thousand
|
|||
|
|
years old. Whoever drew this probably signed it, but as you can see, there
|
|||
|
|
is a section that has been torn away."
|
|||
|
|
Gwindor had noticed that the bottom right corner was missing, but had
|
|||
|
|
paid it no mind. Now he took a closer look. There appeared to be some
|
|||
|
|
writing, now partially missing.
|
|||
|
|
"Were you able to make anything out of this?" he asked.
|
|||
|
|
Zanath shook his head. "There just isn't enough for me to go on."
|
|||
|
|
Gwindor looked back at the main portion of the map. He could see the
|
|||
|
|
River Jarah, winding it's way down the mountains to feed the Great Swamps.
|
|||
|
|
The Great Waste was missing, though. Instead, where the Waste is today,
|
|||
|
|
there was a large inland sea. Scattered around the sea were several large
|
|||
|
|
towns, and from some of the descriptions given on the map a great deal of
|
|||
|
|
trade went on between them.
|
|||
|
|
"This is interesting," he said, "but I do not see what this has to do
|
|||
|
|
with what is going on today."
|
|||
|
|
"Look closer. Down there," Zanath said, pointing down to the
|
|||
|
|
southernmost point of land.
|
|||
|
|
Looking, Gwindor saw a small notation. It was written so small that he
|
|||
|
|
had trouble reading it.
|
|||
|
|
"I cannot make it out. Have you been able to translate it?"
|
|||
|
|
"Yes. Roughly, it says: Beware the Oblisk of Dread."
|
|||
|
|
"The Oblisk of Dread? Nothing else?"
|
|||
|
|
"Nothing else. Just that." With that Zanath turned and wandered over to
|
|||
|
|
his desk. "After I translated it, I realised that I have recollections of
|
|||
|
|
that name somewhere before. So I did some digging in the old books and
|
|||
|
|
scrolls that I keep lying around, and I came up with something. In one of
|
|||
|
|
the scrolls of the ancient city of Charrew there is mention of the Oblisk of
|
|||
|
|
Dread. It says that during the Age of Madness, a powerful user of the arts
|
|||
|
|
way trying to forceably proclaim his rulership over Kultauren. After many
|
|||
|
|
battles the wizard was defeated, and his body was placed in the Oblisk. It
|
|||
|
|
also said that a curse was placed upon the Oblisk, though of what manner of
|
|||
|
|
curse it does not say."
|
|||
|
|
"Do you think that this oblisk has something to dow with whatever is
|
|||
|
|
happening now?" asked Gwindor.
|
|||
|
|
"I don't know. But it is a possibility that we dare not overlook. The
|
|||
|
|
scroll also mentions that the wizard's possessions were sealed up with him,
|
|||
|
|
lest they fall into the hands of others. Supposedly he had some powerful
|
|||
|
|
items in his possession. If someone has entered the oblisk, then they may
|
|||
|
|
have taken what was inside. That could bode ill for us all."
|
|||
|
|
"But to what purposes? I mean, between the deserted villages, there must
|
|||
|
|
be close to a thousand people missing."
|
|||
|
|
Zanath said nothing at this, just stood shaking his head. "We must find
|
|||
|
|
out what is happening down there. We must also find out if the oblisk has
|
|||
|
|
been defiled. If someone has gained access to the secrets there, and has the
|
|||
|
|
ability to use them..." he stopped and shuddered at the thought.
|
|||
|
|
After a moment, Gwindor remembered the other reason he was here.
|
|||
|
|
"Brother, I believe that something else I ran into while on the Plains of
|
|||
|
|
Jeah you might be interested in."
|
|||
|
|
With that he explained finding Pervorin, and the events after. After
|
|||
|
|
finishing, Gwindor sat back and sipped on the wine his brother had given him
|
|||
|
|
while he had been speaking. As he had thought, Zanath was very interested in
|
|||
|
|
Pervorin.
|
|||
|
|
"Where is he now?" he asked.
|
|||
|
|
"He is at my home," replied Gwindor. "I have told him that you may be
|
|||
|
|
able to help him regain his memory, which he is understandably anxious to
|
|||
|
|
recover. He is waiting for me to summon him to meet you."
|
|||
|
|
"Well," said Zanath, rising, "let us not keep him waiting any further.
|
|||
|
|
We shall retire to the library, where we shall await his arrival."
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
PERVORIN
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Chapter Six
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Pervorin lay on the couch in Gwindor's living room, enjoying the
|
|||
|
|
feeling of having absolutely nothing to do. He had helped Sabrina
|
|||
|
|
clean up after the meal, and then had wandered into the living room,
|
|||
|
|
starting a fire against the chill in the night air. Now he relaxed
|
|||
|
|
and stared into the flickering flames, thinking of nothing, letting
|
|||
|
|
the dance of the firelight devour his thoughts.
|
|||
|
|
A knock at the door broke through his reverie, startling him.
|
|||
|
|
Rising to his feet, he strode to the door.
|
|||
|
|
"Who is it?" he asked through the closed door.
|
|||
|
|
"The city guard," was the reply.
|
|||
|
|
Opening the door, Pervorin saw a group of four men standing in
|
|||
|
|
the street. Each was in chain armor, with light from the torches that
|
|||
|
|
two of the men carried reflecting brightly off the polished metal.
|
|||
|
|
Pervorin also noticed that they were armed with swords at their sides
|
|||
|
|
and bows across their backs.
|
|||
|
|
"What can I do for you?" he asked politely.
|
|||
|
|
"We have come to escort you to Rasvan Castle, where Zanath awaits
|
|||
|
|
you."
|
|||
|
|
"Ah, yes. Well, would you wait a moment while I get myself
|
|||
|
|
together?"
|
|||
|
|
"Of course. But please hurry. We were told to be prompt."
|
|||
|
|
"I'll be as quick as I can," replied Pervorin as he shut the
|
|||
|
|
door. Turning, he gathered up his cloak, tossing it around his
|
|||
|
|
shoulders as he stepped into the kitchen to let Sabrina know that he
|
|||
|
|
was leaving. That finished, he stepped outside to join the guards
|
|||
|
|
waiting for him and vanished with them into the dark streets.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Several minutes later he found himself standing in front of the
|
|||
|
|
great doors of the castle. The guard who had spoken to him earlier
|
|||
|
|
went up to the door and knocked.
|
|||
|
|
"Who knocks on the door of the Castle of Rasvan?" a booming voice
|
|||
|
|
asked, seemingly emanating from the lion's head that was centered on
|
|||
|
|
the door.
|
|||
|
|
"The City Guard. We bring the one called Pervorin."
|
|||
|
|
"Good!" the voice replied. "Escort him to the library."
|
|||
|
|
"As you command." the guard replied. Turning, he dismissed the
|
|||
|
|
other men, and then motioned for Pervorin to follow him as the
|
|||
|
|
ponderous doors swung open.
|
|||
|
|
The guard led Pervorin through many passages and hallways,
|
|||
|
|
getting him thoroughly lost. Pervorin contented himself with looking
|
|||
|
|
at the contents of the hallways they were travelling. Along the walls
|
|||
|
|
were numerous types of weapons. Polearms, longswords, axes, there
|
|||
|
|
seemed to be no end to the different styles. The floor itself was as
|
|||
|
|
quite to walk on as a grave, due mostly to the rug, which was so thick
|
|||
|
|
that his boots made no sound at all as he walked.
|
|||
|
|
"In here," the guard said, motioning towards a door that he was
|
|||
|
|
opening. Stepping through, Pervorin saw Gwindor sitting in a chair
|
|||
|
|
near a fireplace. Sitting next to him was a man he had not seen
|
|||
|
|
before. They looked up as Pervorin entered.
|
|||
|
|
"Pervorin," Gwindor said after the guard had left, closing the
|
|||
|
|
door, "come over here and meet Zanath, my brother."
|
|||
|
|
Pervorin walked over to Gwindor. Turning, Gwindor looked at his
|
|||
|
|
brother as he stood up. Pervorin saw indeed that this must be
|
|||
|
|
Gwindor's brother, as the resemblance was unmistakable. He was older,
|
|||
|
|
and looked more wise in the ways of the world than Gwindor.
|
|||
|
|
"Pleased to meet you, Pervorin." Zanath said, rising from his
|
|||
|
|
chair and extending his hand.
|
|||
|
|
Pervorin shook hands, surprised at the strength of the other
|
|||
|
|
man's grip. His strength was more than his looks implied.
|
|||
|
|
"My brother has told me all about your little, hmmm, shall we
|
|||
|
|
say, adventures? since he met you. As I understand it, you have no
|
|||
|
|
recollection of the events that happened to you before you met
|
|||
|
|
Gwindor?"
|
|||
|
|
"Yes, that's true," replied Pervorin. "I cannot remember
|
|||
|
|
anything that happened before the plains."
|
|||
|
|
"Perhaps I can help. Gwindor has told me that he has spoken to
|
|||
|
|
you about me, to the effect that I may be able to help you. Perhaps I
|
|||
|
|
can. However, it will require your willingness to let me do things
|
|||
|
|
that may appear strange to you. Whatever I do, you must not do
|
|||
|
|
anything that would interfere with the process. You must trust me.
|
|||
|
|
Nothing I do will bring harm to you. Do you understand?"
|
|||
|
|
Pervorin thought a moment. From what Gwindor had told him,
|
|||
|
|
Zanath was a powerful user of the arts. He wasn't sure if he wanted
|
|||
|
|
to go through with this, but he would like to get his memory back, and
|
|||
|
|
there doesn't seem to be any other option at the moment. Finally he
|
|||
|
|
nodded.
|
|||
|
|
"I will cooperate with you," he replied.
|
|||
|
|
"Good. Very good." Zanath said. "Now, you do understand that
|
|||
|
|
what we find out may not be to your liking?"
|
|||
|
|
"Not to my liking?" Pervorin asked. "What do you mean?"
|
|||
|
|
"Well, you could be a thief, or a cutthroat, or any number of
|
|||
|
|
other things. There's just no telling until your memory is restored."
|
|||
|
|
Pervorin thought about this for a few moments. At last he
|
|||
|
|
answered.
|
|||
|
|
"Yes, I am willing to take that risk. At least, even if I find
|
|||
|
|
out I am one of those types, I will know what I am. That's better
|
|||
|
|
than what I know now."
|
|||
|
|
"Very well," replied Zanath. "We will begin immediately.
|
|||
|
|
Gwindor, if you would, please take Pervorin up to my lab and make him
|
|||
|
|
ready. I will join you shortly." With that Zanath turned and left
|
|||
|
|
the library.
|
|||
|
|
"Well, come along Pervorin," Gwindor said with a sigh as he
|
|||
|
|
rose from the chair and walked towards the door.
|
|||
|
|
Pervorin followed Gwindor as he left the library and headed down
|
|||
|
|
the corridor. He was wondering what Zanath had meant when he had
|
|||
|
|
asked Gwindor to 'make him ready'. Finally his curiosity got the
|
|||
|
|
best of him, and he asked Gwindor.
|
|||
|
|
Gwindor laughed. "That's Zanath's way of telling me to make sure
|
|||
|
|
that you don't get into anything in his lab while he isn't there. He
|
|||
|
|
has things in there that, handled improperly, could do a lot more to
|
|||
|
|
you than restore your memory, if you get my meaning."
|
|||
|
|
Pervorin got his meaning. He resolved to keep his hands off of
|
|||
|
|
anything in the lab.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
A few minutes later they entered Zanath's lab. Pervorin stared
|
|||
|
|
at all the strange items that seemed to fill the room from floor to
|
|||
|
|
ceiling. What caught his eye and held his attention after a moment
|
|||
|
|
was a long table. On top of the table were beakers and jars sitting
|
|||
|
|
in a strange apparatus, over top of candles. Inside liquids bubbled
|
|||
|
|
and seethed. He stared in fascination at them. They seemed quite
|
|||
|
|
familiar to him, but somehow strange.
|
|||
|
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While Pervorin was looking around the room, Gwindor had taken a
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chair and placed it in the center of the room, which was clear. He
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then took a lead-stoppered flask from one of the many shelves, opened
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it, then proceeded to pour the contents in a circle around the chair,
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at a distance of perhaps ten feet. He did not close the circle,
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leaving an opening a foot wide in front of the chair.
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"What are you doing that for?" Pervorin asked, Gwindor's
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movements having caught his eye.
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"I am preparing a circle for you," was the reply. "The forces
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that Zanath will use need to be contained, or they could conceivably
|
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destroy this castle and most of the area around it."
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"Do you mean to tell me that I am going to be sitting in that
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chair while all these... forces will be in there, too?" Pervorin asked
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nervously.
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"That about sums it up, yes." Gwindor said. Seeing the look on
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Pervorin's face, Gwindor smiled. "You have no need to worry, my
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friend. Zanath will do nothing that will cause any harm to you. You
|
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have his word, and his word is good."
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Pervorin was relieved to hear that. After the strange experience
|
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he had had back at Gwindor's camp, he wasn't real sure about the
|
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arcane.
|
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Just then the door opened, and Zanath entered. He had changed,
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and was now wearing a long dark blue robe. The robe had silver runes
|
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running the length of the hem and around the collar. The necklace he
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was wearing caught Pervorin's attention. It was in the shape of two
|
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moons, one smaller than the other. He could see a faint glow
|
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emanating from the smaller moon, and it seemed to be pulsating.
|
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Zanath walked over to them. "I see you have made the
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preparations, Gwindor. Excellent. Well Pervorin, are you ready to
|
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begin?"
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"I guess so," Pervorin replied nervously.
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|
"Then please be seated," Zanath said, gesturing to the chair in
|
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the center of the circle.
|
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Pervorin walked over and sat down in the chair. Zanath went over
|
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|
to a table, selected several beakers from what seemed an endless
|
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|
supply, and mixed them together into a goblet. Walking back over to
|
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|
Pervorin, he handed him the cup.
|
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|
"Please drink this as fast as you can," he said. Noticing
|
|||
|
|
Pervorin's worried glance at the goblet, he smiled. "It's nothing to
|
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|
worry about. It is just a sedative to make your mind more relaxed and
|
|||
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|
calm. Now please, drink."
|
|||
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|
Pervorin raised the goblet to his nose and sniffed at the bouquet
|
|||
|
|
rising from it. It was a pleasant smell, and seems to relax him a
|
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|
bit. Raising the glass again, he looked at Gwindor and Zanath.
|
|||
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|
"To what we may find," he said, toasting them, and then he
|
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|
|
drained it. A warm feeling flowed through him as the liquid coursed
|
|||
|
|
down his throat into his stomach. He handed the empty goblet back to
|
|||
|
|
Zanath.
|
|||
|
|
"That is some pretty good stuff you mixed up there, Zanath." he
|
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|
|
said with a lazy smile on his face.
|
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|
Zanath returned the smile, then picked up the flask that Gwindor
|
|||
|
|
had been using earlier. Stooping, he used the remaining powder to
|
|||
|
|
close the circle. Then he turned and began to walk the circle,
|
|||
|
|
careful not to step inside. As he did so, he was gesturing and
|
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|
|
muttering in a language that Pervorin did not understand. Suddenly
|
|||
|
|
the powder started to sputter and smoke, igniting by Zanath's feet as
|
|||
|
|
he strode around the circle. The smoke wafted towards Pervorin, who
|
|||
|
|
could not help but inhale it. It made him feel light-headed and dizzy.
|
|||
|
|
"Now we will see who you are!"
|
|||
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|
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|
(c) 1987, 1988, 1989 Jim Tomasello. Reprinted by permission.
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