“I think its beautiful, tranquil.” I thought she was going to go off explaining again but she gazed at the sky in silence.

  The horizon glowed dimly behind the mountains. The silhouette was an impressive jagged line meeting the night sky. The moon was not yet visible that night to light the valley. The meager starlight cast weak shadows on the balcony floor. Occasionally a cloud would obscure the starlight. A dim red or blue halo would hang like an ornament in the sky as it passed.

  We spent about two or three hours just gazing above. Then Cohiri suddenly whirled around to face me. “We must go inside now. He is waiting.” I instantly became tense, what did he want. Was it time? We hurried inside and virtually ran down the stairs. Cohiri conjured Arcane light to illuminate the dark passage. The magic glow followed her to the bottom then extinguished itself in the lamplight. Previously unlit, the lamps cast wavy shadows as we rushed past.

  “Where are we going?” I asked between breaths.

  “We'll meet him outside the lab.” She was as anxious as I was. It seemed too soon for such a major task. Perhaps he just wanted more information.

  We made our way through the foyer, to the series of seemingly useless rooms. To the three arches and through the left to another hall. At the end was a solid steel door, polished to a high sheen. “We wait here, this is the door to the lab.” There was no handle and the door fit tight in its frame. There was no gap over the marble floor. We waited, there was no sound other than our rapid breathing. My feet itched inside the loose knee boots.

  As soon as we caught our breath a sound issued from behind the steel door. Slowly it opened away from us. Standing beyond was Morbannon, he was garbed in a simple one piece coverall buttoned across the collar, shoulder to shoulder. The coverall was gray and stained all over with various blotches. On his hands were thick leather gloves that covered his wrists and forearms. The gloves were also stained, almost black. He wore his usual boots, hidden beneath the coverall legs.

  He regarded us momentarily before bidding us to enter.

  “Please come in.” He gestured with a gloved hand past himself as he stood aside to allow our entry.

  The laboratory was crowded with chemistry equipment; vials of great variety filled the shelves that lined every wall. Large and small, labeled and blank, empty and full, rows and rows of vials. The air was rich with chemical fumes. Various burners heated mysterious liquids. Complex evaporate tubes captured the escaping gasses, enjoining them with similarly complex reservoir vials. There seemed to be several such setups. Each one served an unknown purpose.

  We stood near a particularly precarious looking array of equipment; vials and tubes vibrated constantly on their stands. Morbannon led us past the experiment, further into the lab.

  Beyond the benches full of delicate equipment lay an open area. Contained there was a rostrum on a dais. Cluttered around it were a multitude of scrolls, some lay open, others were stacked randomly in piles. Before the rostrum, on the floor was a circle, about four feet across. Inside the circle was evidence of many diagrams, wiped away and redrawn many times. Nothing but a simple square filled the circle at that time. The previous diagrams were all wiped away.

  Morbannon moved to the far side of the circle, in front of the rostrum and dais. I was distracted by all of the seemingly mundane objects scattered about. Various vials, apparently selected special lay on a bench nearby. I assumed their purpose was for the Ritual. I sensed the Arcane presence, it seemed to penetrate my consciousness, bringing me back to the matter at hand. When he spoke again I was immediately attentive.

  “Eric, if you would, enter the circle and stand in the center of the square, facing me.” Obediently I entered the circle. There was a sudden break in my Arcane sense as I stepped in. I looked to Morbannon who seemed to expect such an occurrence. Calmly he encouraged me through the moment. “Just relax, the circle is a haven from the Arcane. You are totally safe inside. Only I can reach you through its influence. It serves as a filter for sensitive operations of the Arcane.”

  He ordered Cohiri to his side. She responded quickly, deliberately avoiding the circle's boundary. Once in place she waited for more instructions, as did I. He began to concentrate visibly, I couldn't detect his influence but the circle began to glow. Its radiance bleached out all of the color in the room. Aside from the glow, nothing appeared to be happening.

  Cohiri remained in her place as Morbannon broke his stance and alighted the dais. Stiffly he placed his hands on the rostrum and pulled his hands free of the gloves.

  Without breaking his concentration he commanded Cohiri once more. “Take the gloves away.”

  Hastily she did as she was told. She grabbed the gloves, one in each hand and held them at her sides.

  Impatiently Morbannon unrolled a scroll. From it he read aloud in ancient Peradran. As he uttered the mystic phrases I began to sense Arcane influences. At first it was gentle, almost delicate. Then the sensation grew intensely as Morbannon directly regarded me through fiery eyes. I felt isolated, like the focusing energy was mine alone to experience. I strained to understand the words but their meaning remained unknown to me.

  Without looking away, Morbannon concluded his exercise. His gaze remained fixed upon me for several moments as the sensation faded. At the same time the glow from the circle subsided, the colors returned to normal. Cohiri seemed impressed, she regarded Morbannon in awe. He ignored her attention and stepped off the dais and entered the circle. Energy radiated from his entire being. Momentarily he seemed drained, then his countenance returned to normal.

  From inside the circle he reached for my arm to lead me out. “That's it for now Eric.”

  Suddenly I realized I was fatigued. His steady hand kept me balanced.

  “Take it easy for the rest of the night.” His concern surprised me. His manner usually suggested an apathetic attitude, typical of one without emotion. Nonetheless he led me to the door. Just as I began to feel poised he released my arm. Cohiri was behind him still holding the gloves. He took them from her and practically shoved her through the door, which closed behind us without a sound.

  “What was that all about?” I asked Cohiri, bewildered.

  “To tell the truth, I don't know.” Her tone was slightly agitated. Then secondhandedly she added what she did know. “That circle was designed for isolating someone or something from the insecure position before the Arcane. Why he put you there could have been for many reasons. Possibly to expose any Arcane connection or bond between you and the armor, if any. You did mention some sort of awareness on behalf of the armor to your presence. Such an awareness might complicate the Ritual, confuse the lost soul somehow.” As she reflected her admiration to me, she continued her summary as she walked. “His control of the circle magic was very direct. He let nothing interrupt his efforts, even though he was pushing for time.”

  “Why is he so rushed? He has the armor, me, you and enough power to succeed at any time. He knows it.”

  “He only appears to, on the surface. In reality his magic is strongest during a full moon. Conversely a full eclipse weakens his Arcane control. During the approaching light cycle of our moon his influence will be adequate. Coincidentally there is to be an eclipse before the next phase. That will limit his power until the next cycle. He must perform the Ritual before then or the repossession of his soul will become even more difficult.”

  “I understood Morbannon's past. I also understood what was the present. He has searched for ten years. How could mere weeks effect the Ritual after all that time?”

  “As I said, the eclipse interferes with his abilities. The effects last like ripples in the water, even after the stone has sunk to the bottom, the ripples continue to expand. As a result his control over the summoned soul will weaken. The chance exists that it could break free, possibly into the Void. He doesn't know. So as a precaution he wants to perform the Ritual as soon as possible. Then there is the matter of returning you home. You must be present for the Ritual but time is also a matter for your return. The longer you stay, the weaker the tie to your dimension grows. Eventually it will break completely.”

  “How do I know that after he repossesses his soul he won't become evil again and just kill me. And you for that matter.” I looked for her expression to change, it didn't.

  “I've thought about that a little, the possibility is there but even if he reverts to his old ways he is still bound to his word. There is no mercy for Steel Wizards but there is honor. Remember the portrait?”

  She had a point, there was that. He performed an act of chivalry even if it endangered his very soul, during a time when his motives were self-seeking. I would have to rely on the positive.

  “Anyway, what now?” We were halfway through the series of seemingly useless rooms, this one was furnished with a plain couch and two padded armchairs opposite. Nothing filled the blank white walls which were plastered smooth over large stone blocks. No doubt similar to the blocks visible in the summoning chamber and the foyer and other rooms; plain gray and coarse to the touch.

  “I'm not tired yet but you should rest like Morbannon said. He might call on either of us again. You were pretty shaky there for a moment.” We came into the foyer, the air was dry.

  “ok, lets eat again. Then I'll get some rest. You should try, he might put you in that circle next time.”

  “You're right. Food then rest.” She rounded the great stairs and pushed the kitchen door open. Everything was in its place, as if we never messed things up.

  We went through the motions of preparation, this time it was sandwiches on soft rolls and fruit-essence; chilled of course. We ate quickly and left the mess for itself. I brought a goblet of the fruit-essence to sip before my nap. Before she left me at my chamber door I asked for simpler shoes. She said she would look for some in the other rooms. She turned and walked into the shadows further down the hall. I entered my room before I saw which room she stayed in.

  The fire still burned dimly, I kindled it with fresh logs. The fire grew quickly into the dry wood, warming the room nicely. As I pulled off the boots and hung the blue vest on a chair a knock came on the door.

  “Cohiri?” I called out plainly from the bed side.

  “Yes, its me. I found some shoes that might fit. You want to try them now?” Her quick return meant that she knew just where to look.

  I opened the door. She stood there with a heaping armful of various shoes. At least six pair of simple leather shoes and two pair of ankle high boots. They all seemed to be slip-ons. I pulled several from her arms and led her in.

  “I guess just drop them here.” I marked the spot by dropping them on the floor next to the bed.

  She added to the pile and clasped her hands together. “I hope these work. I chose all black ones, black goes with everything.”

  “Only one way to find out.” I sat on the floor beside the pile of shoes and began trying them on. I tried to remember which foot was usually larger; left or right. I tried the left, that seemed like the foot shoe salesman always asked for.

  “I like these.”

  “Good, just throw the rest into a cabinet.”

  “Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight.” I had no idea what time it was in Peradra. On Earth either. Just the same, the minute I laid down I fell asleep. Again to dream. This time I dreamt of Lena.

  I saw her driving, alone. She was in my car. As if I could read her thoughts, I knew she was thinking of me. I was gone again, this time with no explanation. Through the empathic dream I gained that she herself assumed I was pulled into the Void. Unlike Alan and the others who remained mystified. She was scared and lonely.

  My perspective was as if I were the passenger. Selfishly she was grateful that I did not suffer the same fate as Kevin. Momentarily his image floated between us. Grimly she banished the memory and the image faded. Her expression was tight and a deep frown was pulled over her lips. Tenderly I followed her train of thought, sharing the images that she conceptualized.

  Our connection seemed real and current. I sensed she was unaware of my perception. Her thoughts passed between me, Kevin and her lover...

  “Lover.” I woke with a start. Her image hovered before my half sleeping eyes and faded in the firelight.

  If my dreams were in any way connected to reality on Earth, things were getting quite complex. Between Kevin's misery and Lena's infidelity, my own fate in Peradra became focal to both.

  I sat up and dressed. Without hesitation I left my room and headed for Morbannon's lab, alone. The way was simple, soon I was outside the polished steel door. I rapped three or four times persistently.

  No answer came, after a minute I knocked again, louder and called out, “Morbannon, Its Eric. I need to talk immediately, please!”

  Momentarily the door opened. Morbannon stood before me, an expression of impatience was on his face. “Eric, what is it?” He feigned politeness.

  “Questions. I must have answers.” I decided to make it as short as possible.

  “Continue.” He shifted his weight from foot to foot once as if to hear me out right there.

  “First, can you help Kevin. Second, when will the Ritual take place. Third, how important am I in the Ritual. And last, do you know when I'm to return home.” I looked into his eyes, he was distracted at best but he answered.

  “As for your friend, there is hope, once the Ritual is complete. Only then can I reach him at all. The Ritual is almost ready and I'll need you before then once more, in the morning. Again, once we complete the Ritual I'll be able to send you home, a couple of days thereafter. I will need rest to do so, then I will bring Kevin here via the circle of candles in the summoning chamber.” He regarded me then and added shortly, “You need not fear my evil soul, I am its master. Repossessed, I will absorb it instantly, gaining immediate command. I have studied the armor and have determined that once the soul is fully separated it will regress to its original state. I will explain more in the morning, now I must return to my preparations.” He closed the door in my face.

  He answered my questions enough to relax a bit. I've been in Peradra just over a day. A few more wouldn't hurt.

  I wished I had a camera, catching Morbannon's Keep and the surrounding landscape on film would make my recount more believable. Explaining my journey to Alan was going to be difficult enough. Perhaps a souvenir would help convince him.

  I wandered the Keep proper, encountering a few locked doors. Other than the few rooms I'd seen there wasn't much more on the first floor. I passed the library, it was dark. I climbed the great stairs and explored the second floor.

  Most of the rooms were bed chambers similar to mine. Accidentally I opened the door to Cohiri's room. She slept in the glowed of the firelight. She stirred and rolled onto her back. I watched her chest rise and fall slowly. Momentarily she stirred again, the open door caused a draft; she awoke, sleepily she regarded me.

  “Eric, what are you doing?” A playful smile played across her lips. She turned onto her side facing me.

  “Exploring... I mean I got bored. I mean, that is, I was just wandering. Should I leave?” My face must have been very red. Cohiri laughed at my embarrassment carelessly.

  “If you must. Or you could stay and tell me about your Earth, You said the sky there is full of stars, 'more than you could see all at once'. What else besides that is different?”

  I wasn't sure if I should stay or exit promptly. Even hidden, Cohiri's attractive form distracted my attention gingerly. Without answering, I closed the door behind me.

  “Sorry about the draft.”

  “That's ok, I wasn't really asleep anyway. Just dosing… have a seat.” She patted the space at her side as she sat up in the blankets.

  Almost too cautiously I moved toward the bedside. “ok, Earth is seventy-five percent water. The poles are both frozen ice caps. The continents are spread over the globe and broken up geographically into seven parts.” Cohiri listened, focused on my description of Earth. Her casual demeanor began to rub off on me, I sat and proceeded with my narration.

  “We are the third planet in a solar system of nine planets.”

  “Your universe is quite crowded… stars, planets. Ours is nice and simple, in a celestial way.”

  “Add to that all the moons around the outer seven planets together. The inner two planets have none. Earth has only one moon, like Peradra.”

  I wondered about the Peradra moon, it was out of sight that night. “Your moon, is it big or small. What color is it?”

  She answered in a academic fashion. “Our lunar body is large compared to other moons in our system, it has a thin atmosphere mere kilometres above its surface. Seers conclude that it will not support life.” She rounded her shoulders as if winding up her descriptive vocabulary. “The surface reflects blue-white and through the thin atmosphere many features can be seen unaided. It spins once every phase, about one month. Each hemisphere is shone fully every other month for about four days. It remains dark in the same intervals for four days also. Because of its size, the ocean tide can recede and swell up to ten feet. The water level changes so much during the winter that boats must remain anchored far out to avoid grounding.” Proud of her explanation she sighed satisfactorily.

  “Will I get a chance to see it before I go?”

  “You might just catch it if we go out to look now. It is nearly dawn.” As if she might forget, she added, “Sometimes it can be seen in the day, it barely shows unless the sky is clear and deep blue, then it can be seen easily. Lets go.” With that she rolled out of bed, completely composed in the nude.

  Her under clothes were draped over the foot board and her armor was laid out in pieces on the various chairs, probably collected for that purpose because the other rooms including mine had only one chair each.

  She pulled on the simple under clothes and retrieved a robe from a closet. “It can get chilly here in the mountains at night and the armor takes too long.” The robe hung shorter in front than in the back.

  I made a subtle point to admire her while she was looking my way. Casually she padded to the door, her bare feet slapped a little on the cold stone. She led me to an isolated door that opened upon a stone flight of steps. Cohiri refrained from conjuring any Arcane light while we climbed the tower stairs. How I noticed her effort to resist using the Arcane for such a reason, I could not be sure.

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22