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

natural light allows the carrier to fend off the advance of any shadow tree. Apparently, the Sword of Decree was created when the decision was made to place the seeds of shadow trees into Sanctum. Though not every elf is a magic caster, every elf has the ability to store magical energies. Even when the sphere sucked pure magic from the world, it could not take that which each elf stored in his body. This stored energy, the last vestige of magic for the elves that worked in Sanctum, was used to create the Sword of Decree.

“The sword was given the power to reflect the light no matter how meager, to magnify natural light in such a way as to keep the shadow trees at bay. In the process, it carried the power to be more than a sword, but a flaming weapon with the power to burn truly living creatures.

“That is how I have known it, a weapon with no equal in its power to defend. That is why Mappel wished you to take it with you in your search for the algors.”

“That’s also why he wanted me to safeguard it,” Ryson added. “He wanted to protect me in the hills and the desert, but he knew the sword would be needed for the final assault on Sanctum. No wonder he made me vow to take such care of it.”

“Indeed, its purpose was clear to him at the time,” Lief admitted. “I can only assume he balanced the need of you reaching the algors safely with the need of the sword for this moment.”

Ryson examined the length of his sword as he asked yet another question. “How was it that your camp came in possession of the sword?”

“That I cannot answer. Again, until this night, I lacked the knowledge of what was in Sanctum and the sword’s true origin. If I had to guess, I might reply that it has much to do with my camp’s proximity to Sanctum.”

“You know, a lot of this doesn’t make sense,” Ryson questioned as he attempted to place an order upon this sequence of events. “Why would the elves create something which could defeat the shadow trees if they were using them to protect the sphere? I mean, the sphere was a great threat to the elves. Why would they create an object which might one day be used to overcome their own obstacle?”

Lief revealed his own confusion over the matter. “It is difficult for me to understand. I knew of the sword’s power, but I did not know its true origin because I did not know the secret of Sanctum.”

Dzeb strangely announced a thought in the form of a parable. “If a man locks a jewel in a vault, does he do so without memorizing the combination?”

Lief seemed to struggle with the near whimsical assertion.

Ryson verbalized his own questions over the cliff behemoth’s statement. “You think the elves wanted to have a key to get back in, even back then?”

“We are in need of that key now,” Dzeb replied simply.

Lief responded with conviction. “I must disagree with that thought. I can’t believe any of the elves wanted to see the sphere removed.”

“You wish to see the sphere removed now, do you not?” Dzeb looked to Lief expectantly, knowingly.

“But now we have no choice.”

“You find it so impossible that the power of Godson could not foresee this eventual need.”

“I don’t know,” Lief conceded. “I no longer know what to make of any of this. There were no prophecies of the sphere’s return, not in the Book of Godson and not in elflore, yet here I stand in Sanctum near the end of our quest. I don’t even wish to try and consider what might be guiding us. I only know we have but one tier left.”

“Then let us be finished with that one as well,” Dzeb remarked evenly. “How is it you recommend we proceed?”

Lief exhaled as he swallowed the memories of the elf-dwarf war. He focused upon the rent in the floor. “We can descend from here into the tier. The trees will give way to the light as even now they struggle to move back into the darkness. As long as the light remains with us, they will not attack. Ryson can climb down first. I will follow. Then, Dzeb can jump down to join us.

“The true burden must be carried by the one who holds the sword,” Lief said as he placed his eyes squarely upon the delver. “Your weapon is the only thing that will keep us alive down there. It is the only thing which will force the trees to part from our path. I must ask you to keep your attention upon one most important task. You must always keep the point of the sword toward the opening where the light enters. You must never slip in your concentration of this single duty. The sword was forged so that the light reflected from the point would fashion a tightly concentrated beam. This beam is the life-line between the sword and the light source. If it is broken by a careless swing or a drop in concentration, the shadow trees will have the opportunity to block out the light. As you now know, the sword does not create light, it simply reflects it. If the trees are successful in completely surrounding us, sealing us off from the light, the illumination from the sword will end. We will have no defense against the trees. They will eventually overpower us all, even Dzeb.”

“That doesn’t make me feel too comfortable,” Ryson admitted. “Once we jump down into the tier, we have to move forward to reach the sphere. As we move, we’ll be walking away from the hole.”

“It will not cause a problem as long as you keep the point of the sword directed toward the opening. No matter how far we stray, the beam will remain intact. That in itself will guarantee a path, no matter how far, back to the opening.”

“One last question,” Ryson required. “How will we exit? I can probably make it back up here, especially if Dzeb gives me a lift. I can throw down the rope to get you up, but what about Dzeb? I’m not really sure my rope will hold his weight. And, if I go first, the sword will go with me. What will be left to protect you from the trees?”

Lief placed a hand to his chin in obvious discomfort with the thought. He gritted his teeth as he shook his head. The longer he stood silent, the more obvious his anger became. “Fire upon my own foolishness!” he exclaimed with disgust to his own shortsightedness. “I did not consider our exit.”

“What if we use the original entry?” Ryson proposed quickly, hoping to ease Lief’s irritation and give them an immediate alternative.

A spark of hope lit in Lief’s eyes. “That might hold the answer,” he allowed as he deeply considered the potential solution. He spoke as he mulled over the change in plans. “The sword would still have a light source once we break the seal and open the passageway. We would be able to use the stone steps, and would have an exit as well as an entry. It would, however, increase the distance of our travel within the tier. This opening leads very near to the center. We would have spent little time walking through the shadow trees. The original entrance is at the far end of this tier. We would have to cross a longer distance to reach the sphere.”

“But if it offers a way out, then it’s our only choice.” Ryson redirected his gaze back down the tier toward its far end. His eyes quickly grasped the outline of the last door. It waited near a hundred paces beyond the crumbled remains of the second sand giant, but it waited with no other obstacles before it.

Just as he was about to step away from the hole, the cliff behemoth called for him to stand his ground.

“We do not need to take such actions,” Dzeb stated calmly. “This opening is still the fastest path to the sphere. We will use it.”

Ryson stared dumbfounded at the gentle giant. He saw no madness in Dzeb’s eyes, but could not conclude why he would make such a statement. He found his voice to pose the question. “Didn’t you hear what we were talking about? If we just jump down there, we won’t be able to get back out, at least I can’t see how you would. You’re not talking about sacrificing yourself, are you?”

“Do you so easily forget my height, Ryson Acumen?” Dzeb questioned with a light hearted laugh. “Do you think my arms so short I might not reach the ledge of this opening with but a short leap? Do you think them so weak I would not be able to pull myself up? No, delver, I will not need your rope. It will be a small accomplishment to make this climb. I have made similar ascents. I live in the cliffs, remember? And if you are worried about this floor holding my weight as I pull myself back up, I suggest you do not. This floor is of solid dwarf construction. It has held under the duress of my leaps down, it will hold as I pull myself back up.”

The good-natured laugh brought a welcome break in the tension. Lief lost the anger in himself as both he and Ryson stared up into the giant’s beaming face. Even the dreary darkness of the shadow trees seemed somewhat less threatening.

If ever Ryson comprehended the true blessing of having the cliff behemoth with them, it was at this moment. He nearly laughed himself, but questioned the giant to make certain of his claim. “You’re sure you can get back up here without a rope?”

Dzeb laughed again. He took no insult in the question, but instead, saw it for what it was, genuine concern. “I am certain. If you wish, I will demonstrate for you by leaping back up to the delver tier now. It is probably of the same distance.”

“No, no. That’s alright.” Ryson held up his hands with a broad smile. “I know I should believe you. I just wanted to make sure.”

“I understand, Ryson. Your concern for me, for all of us, is appreciated.” The smile remained upon Dzeb’s innocuous lips for but a moment. It fled as he turned his own attention back to the broken gorge in the floor. “I suggest we take no further time in accomplishing our task.”

“He’s right,” Lief accented. “If the sphere is now aware of our presence as shown by our recent tragedy, we must not give it a chance to establish another means with which to deal with us.”

“Alright.”

It was all Ryson could get from his mouth. He swallowed hard. His next step was as obvious as the sun at noon day in a clear sky. The abstract shadows, the teeming jungle of black branches and dark trunks now waited for his descent. He needed but take hold of his rope, turn and glide downward, simplicity to a delver of his abilities.

Yet, descending into this abyss defied the elementary nature of the physical requirements. It was much more like willingly entering a nightmare of colossal horror, a nightmare that was reality and not dream. To look into this pit was to understand a child’s inexplicable fear of the dark, for this was the dark come to life. Here, shadows were more than tricks of light. The darkness had the ability to do more than instill fear, but actually attack, actually kill.

Ryson fought to suppress this comprehension of the shadow trees. His hand wrung the handle of his sword with all