Delver Magic I: Sanctum's Breach by Jeff Inlo (read novels website .TXT) 📕

“That is correct.”

“But I’ve never heard of any barriers placed in Sanctum. Even when my parents told me of the legend of the sphere, they never said anything about the races putting in their own secret protections.”

“Perhaps they do not know. Perhaps only the elder delvers are aware?”

“I don’t know,” Ryson shook his head. “To tell you the truth, I really don’t think so. Delvers are not a closely knit group. We mix with the humans freely. I don’t know of any delvers that hold so closely to their heritage that they might remember such a thing.”

“Perhaps, you simply don’t know of all the delvers. Perhaps those that may hold the secret of Sanctum keep themselves hidden under veils of secrecy. Remember, before this day you did not know of goblins or elves.”

“That’s very true,” Ryson acknowledged. “And I never heard portions of this story about the sphere until now. So what finally happened?”

Lief’s tone grew colder still. “The obvious. The sphere was entombed and each race placed their defenses within Sanctum. The dwarves sealed the entrance to the tiers with observers of every race present. With no further word, each race went its own way. The dwarves returned to their caves, the algors returned to the desert, and we returned to the thick woods. The humans and delvers, for some reason, remained together. As time went on, interaction between the other races dwindled to near nonexistence.”

Upon the elf’s conclusion, Ryson stood up on the thick branch he rested upon. He walked further out to the edge of the tree and caught a glimpse of Sanctum. Its shadow was present even in the faint starlight. He stood silent for long moments considering that day long ago when the five races separated.

“How long ago was that?” he asked somberly.

“Long before any event you might be able to place in the current of time, that is, other than the legends themselves.”

“But you said your father saw goblins.”

“And he did, but those were remnants of the final battle. Goblins escaped Connel and held to this land long after that fateful day. Keep in mind my father was not yet born when the sphere was entombed. Elves live a very long time. He is no longer with me now and he lived for a very long time.”

Ryson continued to stare at Sanctum. “So long ago,” he whispered. “All this time, all of us living apart. Yet, at one time, they all stood together at the top of that mountain. Standing together and watching the end of life as they knew it. I can’t imagine what they must have been feeling.”

“Elflore speaks of it as a time of joyful sadness,” Lief noted.

“That doesn’t make much sense,” the delver stated with his thoughts still focused upon the image of the final congregation at the summit.

“It does if you consider everything they faced,” Lief responded quickly, as if feeling it necessary to defend elflore. “They just won a major victory based on their cooperation, yet now they mistrusted each other. Magic was removed from the land. It meant no more evil sorcerers and corrupt wizards hoping to seize power, but it also meant the end of healers and benevolent magic casters. The dark creatures would be sealed off from the land, but they all sensed the inevitable separation. The land was changing both for better and worse. It was hard to feel joy without sadness, or sadness without joy.”

Ryson remained on his perch within view of the mountain. “Such a moment!” he exclaimed. “I can’t imagine what it would have been like.” He turned his head back to the elf. “Was anything said? Did Shayed make any final remarks?”

“Shayed was not there,” the elf stated sadly. “Remember that the sphere continued to emit energy which was deadly to the elves. During the battle, she remained among the leaders and in close proximity to the sphere. In the end, the energy destroyed her. She did not live to see the dwarves close the entrance.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Do not be sorry. She died as proud as any elf could hope. She served as the ultimate salvation to the elves. In answer to your question, nothing was said. The collapsing of the rock signaled the end. Before the dust completely settled, the representatives of each race departed.”

Ryson turned his attention back to the mountain. “And so there it’s stayed all this time. The sphere’s been trapped in that mountain containing all this power.”

“That is, until now,” Lief said firmly. “There can be little doubt now that something is wrong. The energy is again being released. I don’t know how or why, but the proof is conclusive. The return of magic, the undead, and now the goblins. We can only hope that the sphere is not in the hands of one of those foul creatures.”

“But the goblins said they were not responsible?”

“You can not believe a goblin. They lie with the same ease they breath. Even if it is telling the truth, there are other creatures such as river rogues, mountain shags, and vampires. Any of these creatures may have found a way to break back into the land. Perhaps, one of them has taken the sphere.”

“Let’s not go making assumptions, especially a bad one,” Ryson advised. “What is it that you hoped to do now that we’ve reached Sanctum?”

“I wish to climb to the summit and examine the opening. I need to see if there are any clues as to what has happened.”

“I see,” Ryson noted thoughtful. “Do you think it’s a good idea that you go?”

The elf raised an eyebrow and frowned.

“Hear me out before you get all annoyed,” Ryson responded quickly. “What if the sphere is still around up there. If it is, won’t it still be emitting the energy that is poisonous to elves?”

“The sphere has the power to discharge energy which is poisonous to all races. There is nothing to say that the energy is still directed at the elves.”

“But there is,” Ryson disagreed. “When you told me about how Shayed probed the magic, she believed that the magic would only be altered to focus on another race after all the elves were destroyed. That hasn’t happened yet. Also, you said that the more sensitive elves already felt something. I think that means the energy is still focused upon the elves.”

“You miss little that I say, don’t you?” the elf said.

“I’m a delver. I pay attention and remember.”

“So what is it you suggest?”

“Let me go alone. I can climb the mountain faster by myself. I can examine the summit and report back to you. It may be safer if you stay within the trees. Maybe they’ll help to shield you.”

“I do not know,” the elf said reluctantly. “If the sphere has been taken, I need to know who is in possession. There may be trails left by the invader, trails you might not recognize. You have no idea of the markings of a river rogue or mountain shag.”

“But I am a scout,” Ryson stated firmly. “I may not know exactly how to interpret their trails, but I won’t miss them. It’s what I do. If there is anything of significance up there, I’ll find it, and I’ll report back to you.”

Lief soured. “I don’t like it. I may need to see things for myself in order to understand them.”

“We can worry about that after I make my initial scout. There may be no reason for you to go, no reason for you to take the risk. Let me go first, let me find what I can. If there’s something you need to look at, we can deal with that when we know for sure.”

“It is a delay.”

Ryson shook his head. “You have no idea how quickly I can move up that mountain.”

Lief remained still upon his branch with his back to the trunk of the tree. His elfish eyes held the delver firmly. “You are sure you would do this?”

“I would do this even if you weren’t here,” Ryson admitted. “There is something up there I wish to see, something that’s calling to me. I also wish to witness the ground where the races stood together for the last time.”

“You don’t know what you might find up there. You may be putting yourself in great danger.”

“Haven’t I done that already?” the delver asked.

“You have, but you have yet to see a mountain shag.”

“I’m willing to take that risk.”

“Are you, delver?” the elf questioned harshly. “Tell me how wise it is to take a risk of which you know nothing about. You have never dealt with a mountain shag. They are large and fierce. They would bite you in half if given a chance. You speak of willingness, yet you understand little.”

“Can they hide their scent?” Ryson asked patiently.

“What?”

“I asked if mountain shags can hide their scent.”

“Not that I am aware, but what does that …”

The delver did not let him finish. “I will be careful to note the scent of anything strange. I won’t move into an ambush. I’ll do this and there’s not much you can do to stop me. Even if you attempt to follow me, I will outdistance you in no time. I don’t think you can move through the rocks as you move through these trees. I’ll leave you behind, and short of placing an arrow in my back, there’s nothing you can do about it.”

The elf regarded the delver with an even greater frown. “I see. You have then made up your mind?”

“I have.”

The elf shook his head. “There will be time for greater discussion in the morning. I suggest you get some rest. Tomorrow will be an interesting day. I will take the first watch.”

He said nothing more.