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

Again he paused before shaking his head. “Then again, they may yet succeed. A cliff behemoth is a surprising creature. He might overcome what can not be revealed, and there is something of the delver that still concerns me. If he is with them, they will always have a chance.”

Trying not to struggle against chains which tightened with every reflex, Shayed made one last attempt to gain the wizard’s attention. “Ingar, listen to me. You don’t know what you’re doing. If you will not release me, at least listen to what I have to say. I know what is happening here.”

Ingar did finally turn from his lofty perch and moved back to the flattened ground where Shayed remained imprisoned. He studied her carefully. “You do know what is going on, don’t you? Perhaps that information can be useful to me.”

Shayed discounted the expression of animosity that ruled the wizard’s face. Instead, she focused her will, directed it through the barrier of her prison and directly at Ingar. “It will be useful for you to let those that come complete their mission unimpeded.”

“And why is that?” the wizard demanded with a sly reproach.

“Because the sphere threatens the land with obliteration.”

“I am aware of that, that is why I am here,” Ingar said simply. He did not need to hear the idle ravings of this sorceress. She did not see the sphere as he did. However, she might have different insights on the party of would-be invaders. She might know more of their intentions, more of their weaknesses which he might exploit. “What is it you believe will happen here and how will your followers strive to carry out your bidding?”

Shayed fought not against the chains that held her, but against the insanity, the cold uncaring which gripped Ingar. “They’re not carrying out my bidding, they’re doing what is necessary to save themselves and the land. I do not know how it came to pass that you were able to come here, but you must release me. If you stop those that come, you will cause the end of everything in the land. The struggle will end and you will crumble as well.”

“That is not completely the case,” Ingar stated plainly. “Indeed the land will be altered. That which was, will no longer be. That is the price for a glorious new beginning. The power of the sphere will bring a new order. True, those that lived will die, but they will be replaced. An end will come to the misdirected way of the land. Obliteration will not be a curse, but a blessing, as the new power will remove this futile struggle between external forces.”

The idea was beyond evil, perhaps beyond insanity. What could anyone gain by the obliteration of all things? Shayed replied with an attempt to reveal his folly. “And what of you? Will you not be removed as well? Will you allow yourself to be destroyed to carry out this absurd idea?”

“I will not be destroyed,” Ingar replied callously. “The power of the sphere will protect me. The rest will not be so fortunate, even you. I will remain to become lord and master of this new order.”

“You don’t honestly believe that? There won’t be any new order. You’re being controlled, manipulated by the sphere, just as you were upon your last mortal days. Can you not see this?”

The wizard spoke dryly, void of emotion. Any anger or hostility dried in his words of arrogance. “Your tricks are useless against me, sorceress. I am enlightened by the sphere. I will not fall to such chicanery. Give up your delusions and tell me of those that are to arrive here.”

Shayed responded in frustration. She growled with intensity, a stark contrast to Ingar’s carefully measured words. “I will only tell you of what you already know. They come to stop the sphere, to destroy it. And I don’t believe you can stop them.”

“Quite sure of yourself aren’t you?” he said mockingly.

She glared at him behind her red prison, but said nothing.

Making no reply of his own, he turned back toward the east. His red form floated deftly in the growing winds. As the sun fled behind dark clouds for the first time that morning, the scarlet hue of his being glowed hotter in the wake of a darker sky. He peered down the side of the mountain and his eyes passed over the fissure in its side. He sensed the barrier which protected the gap, but allowed the magic to flow freely from within.

“That way is closed to them; perhaps I might close the other entrance.” With a twist, he floated passed Shayed and towards a patch of ground seemingly no different than that which surrounded it. “This is the opening which will lead to the first tier. If I seal this with my own power they will not find a way inside. They will have to dig. Even with an army of dwarves, it will take too much time. I will grow in strength as they weaken, and I will obliterate them before they reach their goal.”

He began to raise an arm, but it stopped as if it hit an unseen barrier. His head snapped up in attention as yet again he looked to the east, towards Connel. Anger and frustration filled his blood colored eyes. “A sorceress walks with them. It is not you I sense, elf. It is a human. She is weak, but unpredictable. She might find the words to break my barrier. Much would be lost if such a thing occurred. Creating this barrier would weaken me and alert them to my presence. That will not do at all. The rock slide would be a better choice.”

“Allowing them free passage is the only choice!” Shayed screamed.

Ingar seemed to ignore her. “If I could just get closer to the sphere, I could drink in the power, but I am as locked to this place as you. Wait a minute, what was it you said?”

Shayed went silent, unnerved by his curious expression.

“You said to let them pass,” he answered his own question. “That may just be the answer. I will let them pass. I will let them enter Sanctum and overcome the tiers. I will let them bring the sphere out of Sanctum and right to me.”

“They will never do such a thing!” Shayed gasped. “They will destroy it on the spot.”

“Not if they are convinced such a thing will bring them harm.”

He gave no further explanation. In a moment, Shayed would understand all too well his intentions. Terror rose within her as he circled her again. This time, however, he inspected her closely and not the chains.

He raised his hands, and within the passing of a strong gust of wind, Ingar appeared just as Shayed. His face was as hers, his body was as hers. His red tint was gone, replaced by a white which closely resembled her untouched shade. His hue was not as pure, the white ever so slightly dingy, but in the growing darkness of the storm, it would not be noticed.

Shayed gasped with both fear and anger. “You can not do this!”

“Oh, but I can. The fools believe in you. They will do whatever you say, or in this case, whatever I say. They will either die in Sanctum or they will bring the sphere to me. Either way, they shall fail. I will grow in strength and protect the sphere as well as any barrier placed within this mountain. I will see to it that the will of the sphere is carried out.”

“I will not let you! Do you think I will remain silent? They’ll see me here and I will warn them. I will tell them to destroy the sphere.”

“You will say nothing, they will neither see nor hear you.”

With one last wave of Ingar’s hand, Shayed vanished. Chains, force field, and all, she faded from sight.

“It is taking the last of my powers to bend the light and sound around you, but they will be renewed in time.”

From a vacuum in space, where light and sound could not escape, Shayed could see out into the land but she could not be seen or heard. She had not moved from her place on Sanctum’s peak, yet to any who arrived, she would not be visible. She watched helplessly as her imposter waited patiently for the arrival of Ryson and all those with him.