Chapter 1

Lothanal's act of discretion

 

The imp struggled against the spell of binding while Lothanal went about his business, using the imp’s green glow to find his way. Long shadows, cast about the cluttered laboratory, made the place seem utterly alien. Bookcases and desks, so normal seeming in daylight, now took on a more sinister feel. However, Lothanal preferred the darkness, knowing he would get more from the imp this way.

Behind him, the imp started to mewl and the noise, accompanied by a noxious reek, was getting on his nerves. He wrinkled his nose in distaste. Why demons glowed and stank was an utter mystery.

“Be still!” he snapped, his patience finally wearing thin.

Ignoring his command, the imp continued to struggle, its eyes never leaving his as though in challenge. Lothanal snorted and then smiled when the imp hissed in frustration. That it chose not to speak was a blessing; it was a most unpleasant experience; their voices sounded like chalk on a dry blackboard. The imp cast him a baleful look. A promise of what might happen if it broke free.

Anyone else would have been terrified by the imp’s presence but Lothanal was unconcerned; his spell was well formed and it would not escape. The imp knew it also, but goading him was its child-like way of trying to distract him. If he made a mistake then it would confine him, and drag his soul to hell for his impudence.

“Ah, I have it!” Lothanal said, a rare smile betraying him. Partly concealed beneath a book was a kara-stone. Scooping it up he admired its perfection. To anyone else it was just a stone; beautiful formed, but a stone nonetheless. Lothanal waved a hand over its milky whiteness and immediately a soft white glow sprang forth.

The imp’s wailing increased, but he ignored it, walking instead to a stout oak table where he cleared a space before laying the stone down. Arranging his robes he sat on a high stool and then traced a rune, muttering words of power. Almost immediately an image appeared in the stone’s heart and the white glow was replaced by a darker shade, matching that from the imp which had fallen silent in fear. 

Green, the colour of demons.

Lothanal’s brow knitted in concentration. Further runes followed in quick succession and gradually the image scrolled across the orb as he searched a stark landscape. The world was completely barren. It was not night and no sunlight ever transgressed this forbidden realm. No fauna or vegetation covered the infertile soil. To all extents it was dead.

Then they were there.

Demons.

Not inconsequential demons like the imp, but full fledged creatures of immense power. Five of them had gathered to his summons. It was difficult to make them out in the vague light. He could feel their strength though even though he was simply viewing their world.

They, too, could sense him and there was an eagerness about them. His heart raced, realising they were keen to honour the agreement he had put to them previously.

“Tell them I wish to continue our discussion,” he commanded the imp. His voice was flat, lacking in emotion. He looked up at the imp when nothing happened, his scowl sufficient to cause the imp to recoil.

Before he could command it further a voice echoed about the room.

“Hold,” it said. “We have seen enough!”

Startled, Lothanal’s eyes went to the source of the voice but, as he expected, no one was there. He was being spied upon, by sorcery.

“You’ve betrayed me,” he shouted at the imp, standing and knocking over his stool which clattered to the floor. The sound was lost in a blast as the door to his laboratory burst asunder. Splinters of wood flew through the air, shattering glasses stacked high on shelves and spilling their contents to the already cluttered floor.

Lothanal ducked, raising his hands to protect his face. Splinters dug into his flesh and he cried out. His ears rang and his vision swam with bright motes. When he next looked up guards flooded into the room, accompanied by two figures wearing robes matching his. One was a man, the other a woman.

Sorcerers!

For a moment Lothanal considered fighting but being in the heart of Namthrall, his home city, made that choice seem very unwise.

The two sorcerers stopped, one raised his hand in warning. “Don’t even consider it,” he said, his voice a low growl.

“Tanal and his crony Ashona,” Lothanal smirked. “I should have known it would have been you two.” He cast the imp a look suggesting a reckoning was due, then with a wave of his hand he dismissed it. He pulled out a splinter from his palm, using his teeth and then spat it onto the floor, staring all the while at the assembled men.

White light from beyond the broken door flooded into the room. How he hated the two magic user standing before him. As though sensing his ire, Ashona took a step back. She was small, dark haired with round liquid eyes like those of a deer. By her side, Tanal took a pace forward. He was the stronger of the two and always so self-righteous. Piety was ever a fault of the Eldric.

“You have betrayed your people,” Tanal said. “Using elementals is accepted, but demons! You go too far.”

Lothanal couldn’t help but retort, “How dare you lecture me! You know nothing. You think playing with elementals is sufficient. They are nothing compared to the power in the demon world.”

Tanal’s face darkened and his eyes half closed. “You do not belong here. By your very actions you are an outcast. Even your shaol betrays you.”

Lothanal sneered. He had no idea what Tanal was referring to. He had never heard of a shaol. However, he refused to admit his ignorance. Let them think what they want. They could not hold him. This was not the end.

“Take him to the dungeons,” Tanal commanded. The guards stepped forward their swords poised in readiness. Lothanal glanced around just as Tanal scooped up his kara stone, a look of satisfaction on his smug face.

Lothanal closed his eyes in frustration. He would not see it again, and they were damned hard to find. Again the thought of fighting his way clear crossed his mind, but then he smiled. His people, the Eldric, were not malicious and he would be set free, although probably banished. He was thinking of leaving in any event and they were merely bringing forward his plans.

Walking from the room he cast Ashona a scowl for good measure, causing her to recoil in obvious fright. Together the armed procession took him to the dungeons and a fate that he was determined to control.

 

“Damn him,” Chanathan said. “What was he thinking?”

Ashona watched the other man pacing the room. She and Tanal were sitting in deep arm chairs. She felt exhausted by her recent experience and shocked that one of her own kind could sink so low.

“Unfortunately, he’s been either dealing with imps or watching the demon world for some time,” Tanal replied.

“But why?”

“Power,” Ashona piped in. The other two looked at her. “I could feel the power in the room before we entered. Of one thing Lothanal spoke truthfully, the imp was a powerful creature, far more so than an elemental.”

“We know that,” Tanal replied.

“We may know it,” Ashona said. “But that is the first time any of us has experienced it.”

“Why does he want power? That doesn’t make sense. Elementals give us enough for our use. To go seeking more from demons is … it’s just crazy! Does he not know the danger he puts us all in. If he summoned one beyond his control the entire city would be in peril.”

“That’s the problem. He doesn’t think. I’ve warned him often enough but he is drawn to that world like a lamb to its mother’s teat,” Tanal said.

“What, then, do we do?”

Ashona glanced at Tanal and he looked back. He was a good looking man and they had been friends for years. But this was the first time that she had ever seen him so uncertain. She knew that Chanathan wanted an answer before dawn, the king would have to be informed. But they simply didn’t have one.

“He will be banished,” Tanal answered.

Chanathan span on his heel to face him, “God’s teeth, is that it? With the power he could control and all we can do is to banish him. And what then? Wait for his return, at the head of a demon army?”

“There is another option …” Ashona looked about the assembly room, it was immense and would certainly do for the task she had in mind. “A rune,” she continued. “One of such complexity it will take a day at least to cast. Four times four, using each of the elementals, air, fire, land and water.”

“To what aim?” Chanathan demanded.

“To turn any spell Lothanal uses in on itself.”

Chanathan sucked in a breath. “Can that be done?”

“Yes,” Ashona said. “I think so.” She turned to Tanal who was staring back at her.

His eyes widened. “Of course, it’s brilliant.”

“You agree that it can be done?” Ashona asked. She felt it should be possible but hearing Tanal confirm it was encouraging.

“Yes, but you are right. But the spell will be complex.”

“See to it. We will hold a trial in two days time and then perform the spell,” Chanathan said.

“Come on Ash, we’d better get some sleep if we are to attempt this.” Together they left, leaving Chanathan pacing the room. Ashona was deeply troubled; that an Eldric Lord had fallen so far from grace was a bad omen.

 

“Wake up, Salar!”

Salar groaned, pulling his blanket over his head.

“Go away, it’s far too early.”

With a wrench, the blanket was pulled down and for a moment there was a tug-of-war. Finally, wide awake, Salar sat up, rubbing his eyes.

“What on earth is going on, Kallan? This had better be important.”

Kallan looked back, a look of dread in his eyes. He, too, was an apprentice and both youths were in their fourth year of study.

“It’s your master. He’s been arrested.”

That had Salar’s attention. “What. How can that be? What’s the charge?”

“Looking into the demon world.”

“Is that all,” the words were out before Salar realised what he had said. “I mean, we use elementals, how bad can it be just looking into their world?”

Kallan shook his head, “Be very careful what you say,” he warned. “Being his apprentice could implicate you. You don’t sound very innocent at the moment. Have you, too, looked upon the demon world?”

Salar shook his head, not able to trust his voice. “Why would I want to do that?” he countered.

“Why indeed? We Eldric have been in this land for two hundred years. We exiled ourselves from our own country for this very reason. Demons are evil and dealing with them can only lead to war. They want souls. There is no other bargaining tool. Would you damn someone to an eternity of agony in their world, and for what…?”

“Of course not!” Salar snapped.

“We are friends, you and I. Head my advice. Distance yourself from Lothanal, otherwise you will share in his fate.”

Kallan’s penetrating stare shamed Salar, but he was not about to betray his master so easily. “What will happen to him?” he asked.

“Today we will draw a rune so complex that it will turn any spell Lothanal might cast, against himself. He will be utterly powerless, less he destroys himself.”

Salar nodded. “I’ll dress and then join you.”

 

Lothanal sat on the hard bench peering into the gloom. Thoughts tumbled through his mind but as yet he had no clear solution to his dilemma. Tracing a rune he spoke softly, “Salar. Are you there?”

“Master, I can hear you,” came the faint reply.

“What’s happening? Will they banish me?”

“Certainly, but that is not the problem.”

“Go on.”

“They are drawing a rune today that will prevent you casting spells. Supposedly it will turn a spell in upon yourself…”

“What! Can such a thing be done?”

“Tanal says so. He is in charge. Stop talking, I’m being watched.”

Lothanal felt the blood drain from his face and his heart laboured, so great was the shock. He had been so certain he would be banished, nothing more. Now more than ever he thought of escape. Going to his cell door he listened. There was movement beyond and he did not doubt there was a sizable guard in case he attempted an escape.

He must think. He threw himself onto the bench and almost immediately a thought occurred. It was brilliant.

Tracing a rune he spoke again into the night, “Salar. Salar…”

Nothing

With deft motion he drew the rune again, “Salar.”

“Speak swiftly, master…”

“You must alter the rune in such a way as it in undetectable. Use a dead scanth, replace a dot anywhere in the rune.”

There was a moment’s pause.

“A scanth?” came a stunned reply.

“Just do it!” hissed Lothanal. The link was severed, he felt it go.

Lothanal sat back. Salar had to complete the task otherwise his spell casting days were over. The use of a scanth was masterly. A flaw in the rune was the main aim in defeating it but the body of a dead insect was so much more useful. He could control that, especially with his links to the demons. Keep it simple he always advised Salar. Never overcomplicate anything. That was the mistake his enemies were making; a complex rune was so much harder than putting him to death, and that’s what they should have done. It was what he would have done in their position.

 The scanth, small black and shiny, from a few paces away would easily be mistaken for part of a rune. Or was kidding himself? All that night doubt gnawed at Lothanal and sleep was a long while coming. Tanal’s comments that his shaol had betrayed him kept going through his mind and he was determined to find out what a shaol was. Damn them all! He would survive!

Reviews

[John A Common]

Wow really cool stuff. It flowed by nicely and the story was very inventive. I dug it.