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

The elf’s voice remained firm, but within his tone of both strength and impatience, a hint of fear became noticeable for the first time. “The magic. It is pouring out of this hole.”

“You can feel it?”

“Yes. Yes, I can. This does not bode well. I should not stay here for long. Quickly, show me this barrier.”

The two continued forward. Ryson walked with outstretched arms until he found the invisible wall.

Lief walked up to it and examined it quickly.

“It is a force field,” he stated. “It will block our path. We don’t have the power to break it. Long ago, magic casters surrounded themselves with these invisible fields of energy to protect themselves from arrows and stones. They could concentrate upon their spells and release them through the force field. It will keep us out, but it won’t prevent the energy from flowing to the outside. That’s why the magic is able to escape. Follow me now. We need to get back to the free air.”

Lief stepped quickly upward. As he broke out into daylight, he stepped to a safe distance away from the breach.

“Are you alright?” Ryson asked with obvious concern as he followed.

“Yes, the magic is more dispersed out here, but none of this bodes well. The power of the sphere is being funneled out of the mountain through that crevice. It is just as I feared. Unfortunately, I still don’t know why. I can only imagine that some horrid creature has found the power to dig through the mountain and break through the diamond walls. It must be down there now directing the power through the tunnel it made.”

“I don’t think so,” Ryson responded. “I checked the walls of the tunnel. It didn’t look like a dig. Also, the force which made it pushed out from within the mountain, not from here inward.”

The elf’s frown grew just as his eyes widened. “Are you sure?”

“Absolutely. I saw the way the rock was broken. All the angles indicate the force came from the inside and pushed out.”

“But that doesn’t make any sense. I know the sphere is still inside there. I can feel the magic pouring out. Why would this cavern exist if that is so? If it was used as an escape route to take the sphere to a safe place, I would understand. But the sphere is still there!”

“I can’t explain it. I just know what I saw.”

“Fire upon all of this!” the elf said in frustration. “This has become too much for me. I need counsel. I must return to my camp and explain what we have seen. Although I am already in debt to your service, I ask that you accompany me. You will help me in forcing the truth upon them.”

“I’ll go,” Ryson said quickly, “but I want you to come with me up the mountain first. There’s something up there I need to see. I think you might need to see it as well.”

Lief actually groaned. The weight of his problems became more visible with each second. He shook his hands out in front of him as he animated his consternation.

“We do not have time to go on a delver hunt! Don’t you understand what we’ve found?! Sanctum has been breached! We do not yet know why or by whom.”

“The answer may lie up there,” the delver replied, taking no offense at the elf’s outburst. While he had only known Lief for little more than a day, Ryson already accepted the fiery spirit of the elf’s personality.

Lief eyed the delver harshly. “Fire upon you! Now you leave me no choice. I could not leave now if I wanted to! I’m aware of your powers and your great senses. By telling me an answer is so close, I could not do anything but follow you to whatever you seek! I only hope what you say is true. To waste time now may be more than foolish, it may be fatal.” The elf paused. He sighed and groaned simultaneously. He brought one hand to his forehead as if trying to wipe away his problems. When he spoke again, his tone was forceful, yet sincere. “I will not hang that upon you, though. I will only ask you to probe deeply that which you feel. Is it merely curiosity to a story I spoke of which attracts you, or is it something more? Examine closely! Do you truly believe it is something related to what we now face or is it simply the hold of a legend?”

Ryson took the request with great seriousness. He shut his eyes and stood perfectly still. He cleared his mind of all other thoughts. He focused upon the far off sensation which beckoned him to climb further up the mountain. He seized it with every fiber of his being. This was something his father taught him long ago. It was the only way for a delver of his powers to choose a single path when many called to him. This deep and pure moment of pointed concentration allowed Ryson to truly judge that which held the greatest importance. He had done it before, but he had never experienced what happened at that moment.

A voice spoke out in his mind. It was not his. It spoke softly, yet with authority. It was most definitely the voice of a woman, but it was a voice he had never heard before.

“You must come now,” the voice said simply. Nothing further.

The delver’s eyes shot open. He swerved around and looked up to the peak of Sanctum.

“We have to get up there now,” he said with a great sense of urgency.

Lief showed no sign of disappointment at the decision. He noted the look of astonishment on the delver’s face, but did not ask for further explanation. He accepted the delver’s decision without hesitancy.

“Then let us go now,” the elf said simply.

Lief and Ryson scampered further up the mountain without another word. Ryson slowed his pace, refrained from breaking into a full gallop which would have surely left the elf behind. He wished the elf to accompany him, to remain at his shoulder. He did not know why, but he knew that they should reach the top together.

As they rounded a corner ledge and stepped up to a level platform at the top of the mountain, an answer presented itself. It offered explanation for the voice in Ryson’s mind just as it muddled his perception of reality to an even greater extent.

Standing upon the open ground, or perhaps floating would better describe it, the ghostly form of a woman greeted the two with silent appreciation. The spiritual outline was undeniable, as was the joyful rapture which accented her dream-like countenance. She cast no shadow even as she stood in direct sunlight. Her form was ethereal, intangible. The outline of rocks behind her was visible through every span of her silhouetted figure.

Not a shred of her person carried any hint of color. Whiteness of different shades cast the different parts of her body, gave her form greater identity. Her facial features were distinguishable, but they remained softened, almost blurred by the lack of any true substance. Her flowing gown simply glittered and shimmered in the sunlight. Not even her long hair displayed a trace of anything besides white; not brown, nor blonde. If Ryson held any images of a ghostly spirit, this would certainly fit.

Lief traveled only slightly behind Ryson. When he came into sight of the apparition, he froze. He could not find his voice to speak. His feet anchored him in place.

Ryson, while also jolted with overwhelming awe, was not quite as affected. He moved a careful step closer, for the figure appeared to welcome them. He was unaware of Lief’s frozen state. His attention, his every sensation, focused on the incomprehensible figure before him. It was a magnet for all his curiosities.

It was at that moment that the delver noticed the pointed tips of the spirit’s ears. Even with the ill-defined edges of the apparition’s silhouette, this trait was undeniable. If this truly was a ghost, it was the spirit of an elf.

Unsure of exactly what to say, Ryson’s first words rambled out somewhat randomly.

“I felt something calling me. Actually I heard a voice call me up here. I believe it was your voice. I hope it was your voice.” An honest statement, for somehow the delver knew it was an honor to be acknowledged by this benevolent apparition.

“Indeed, it was,” the spirit said with a continued beaming smile. “I am Shayed.”