CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO:A PLAN UNFOLDS

  After walking through the Mossy Rock Canyon for a ways, Garrick noticed the stone walls that surrounded them began to widen slightly the farther they went. Though the height of the canyon changed somewhat here and there, it for the most part stayed the same.

  “If nothing has changed, according to the high priest’s map we will be getting to one of the widest parts of the canyon soon, and the first well,” announced the mercenary to his friends. “There we can rest or, if it is farther than I think, sleep for the night.”

  “Well, if you do not mind, my boy, I think we should rest now, at least for a moment,” replied Maldrin, promptly sitting upon one of the many small boulder-like rocks covered with moss that littered their path. Then he looked at them all.

  “Quite a natural cushion, I say,” added the smiling wizard as he took off his hat and wiped his brow.

  Seeing his old friend spent, Garrick looked around at the others who nodded in agreement. Yes they all knew they would never leave the old wizard behind, but Garrick could tell that all his companions were tired. Even Elias looked to be spent, though he acted like he wasn’t.

  Seeing the group below them stop, Azure floated down and landed on Cerelene’s outstretched arm. As Ondibar walked over to a rock closer to the elf maiden, the dwarf picked up a feather off of the ground.

  “Do not lose anymore of these, pretty falcon,” replied Ondibar, first petting Azure and then handing the feather to Cerelene.

  Taking the feather from the dwarf, Cerelene inspected it for a second and then looked over at Maldrin.

  “Maldrin. Is this what I think it is?” asked the elf maiden.

  Not wanting the old wizard to get up from his much needed rest, she got up to give it to him, but before she could take a step, the wizard wiggled the fingers on his right hand and the feather floated over to him.

  “What is it, my old friend?” asked Garrick, as Anya and Deelah sat down, their eyes gazing across at Maldrin, intrigued.

  “What a find, Ondibar. What a fantastic find indeed!” announced Maldrin marveling at the item in his hand.

  Taken aback, Ondibar leaned forward and swallowed some water with a surprised look on his face.

  “Well, do not leave us in suspense, wizard,” replied Elias, placing his shield on the ground beside him.

  When Maldrin’s wide eyes returned to normal, he spoke though his grin remained. “It is a griffin feather.” Then he motioned to Garrick, but the mercenary was already on his feet.

  “Yes. I have seen only a few, and that was when I was near the outskirts of The Fabled Forest,” agreed Garrick.

  “Not many griffins get this far out from Queen Yalani’s kingdom,” said Maldrin in wonder, as he placed the feather into the spell book on his lap, which he promptly replaced with a map.

  “I thought as much as well,” spoke Cerelene in a concerned tone. “Something must be wrong if the griffins, even one griffin, is out this far.”

  Having seen the map on Maldrin’s lap, Garrick took a bite of jerked beef, and sat back down.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  “I have noticed that since arriving at The Mansion at the Mines, you have been studying the map of The Tower of Mystcs and Magic we found, that belonged to Master Zendres, almost as much as your spellbooks.” prodded the mercenary. “Tell us, my friend, what have you learned?”

  Being tired already, mixed with the fact that he was now on the spot for answers, Maldrin took a long breath and exhaled slowly.

  “After studying this map, along with the few books I found in Baron Michael’s library, combined with the things I have already learned from the books of my own, I think I now know where the wizards of the high council went wrong.” Then Maldrin began to stroke his beard without saying a word.

  “Well, wizard? What was it?” asked Deelah impatiently as her knife sliced up the moss on the rock she sat upon.

  Having been with the eccentric old wizard the longest aside from Garrick, Cerelene and Elias raised their hands for the thief to calm down. Then they all watched as Tal scurried out of Maldrin’s pocket, ran up Onyx’s back and sat on his large head.

  “Even if you are not sure, Maldrin, tell us. Where did the council go wrong?” prodded Garrick, reassuringly, as he stroked Tal’s red fur.

  Maldrin watched the squirrel and mystic wolf, the long time animal companions, for a moment then smiled and looked up.

  “The wizards of the high council were not clerics,” spoke Maldrin.

  Her eyes having been closed to relax, Anya immediately looked up at the wizard. Then along with Maldrin they all looked back at the cleric of Valtross.

  “Maybe I am oversimplifying it a little,” smiled Maldrin as he leaned back, twisting his long gray beard. “The Shadowmage is powerful. Tremendously powerful and magic, my magic, will undoubtedly be needed to help defeat him. However, he is in The Tower of Mystics and Magic. Not just the tower of magic.” Then he looked harder at Anya.

  “Go on, wizard,” pushed Ondibar as he began to stroke his own beard with interest.

  “The mystics. The most powerful clerics of old…” whispered Garrick to himself. Then after a pause he spoke up. “There is something in the tower the mystics created that could help us!”

  “The Consecrated Chains…” nodded Anya, understanding.

  Instantly everyone looked from Maldrin to Anya.

  “The jewel-covered chains blessed by the sect of Mystics who followed the demigoddess Kaminess. The chains that held the malevolent and mighty heretic Nadrol powerless after his attempt to take The Tower of Mystics and Magic after he had been cast out.”

  “And you believe they are still in the tower after all these years?” prodded Garrick, crossing his arms in thought.

  “They are certainly one of the holy artifacts believed by my people to still be in the tower,” added Cerelene.

  “Mine as well,” agreed Ondibar, looking at the elf maiden. “The Tower of Mystics and Magic was one of the last places all the good races of Danaria counseled as one. Then he looked back at Garrick. “Much as we are here and now.”

  “You no longer need to wonder,” spoke Maldrin, smiling. Then the old wizard pointed at the map. “Their location is here. In this holding room that only a cleric can open. A few floors from the top, just a little before the place where the Shadowmage and his apprentice reside.”

  After finally speaking out loud about all that was to come, and knowing all the travails of the tower, Maldrin let out a soft sigh and continued. “My books agree with Master Zendres’ map. It will be far from easy to get to them, of course.”

  Seeing Elias quiet for too long when it came to discussions on the divine, Garrick picked up a small rock and tossed it at the big man’s shield. When the rock bounced off, Elias looked over at the mercenary.

  “Well, Knight of Providence? What do you think on this holy matter?” inquired Garrick, uncrossing his arms and standing once again.

  “The Void,” said Elias in a quiet voice. “Let us say that together we defeat the Shadowmage. That we bind him with the Consecrated Chains of old. Then what? The wizards could only send his flesh and blood into the void.”

  “Ah, young man. You have been strong in both body and faith since I have known you,” spoke Maldrin with conviction. Then he smacked his knee with delight. “You surprised me with your intellect.”

  After Elias gave an uncomfortable smile, Maldrin continued. “You are right to wonder, Knight of Providence.” Then the old wizard pointed at Anya. “That is where our other pious friend comes in. She will reunite the rest of the Shadowmage with his flesh and bone in the void.”

  “Can you do this, sister?” asked Deelah, looking at her speechless sister with concern. “You are certainly not a weak cleric, but you are no mystic.”

  “I can. And I will,” replied Anya, quietly looking down. Then as Garrick and the others continued to look at her she found courage and lifted her voice louder, speaking with conviction as she grasped the medallion that hung around her neck.

  “I am a cleric of Elion. Though I am no mystic of old, I still serve the god of all creation.” Then she looked up at them all and finished.

  “My power combined with their masterwork will send the Shadowmage where he belongs. The void of damnation.”