The Nemedian Trilogy: Book 02 - The Dragon's Cup Read online

  Roban realised that his mouth was wide open and quickly closed it. Bruja searched the faces of the mages with an expression of pride, “Welcome to the home of my people,” her eyes flashed over to Roban, “does this man have the authority to speak on your behalf?”

  The group murmured their agreement. She studied the tired expressions of the mages for a moment longer as she satisfied herself that they were all in agreement then nodded, “Then he shall speak with the leader of my people about your-“, she paused while she searched for the most appropriate word, “predicament. In the meantime, I will take you to where you can receive some food and rest.”

  Without speaking further she motioned them to follow her. They were led towards a rather grand looking building that housed a broad, glowing door marked with strange symbols. Bruja quickly opened it and stepped inside and they were met with a sea of incredulous faces. Each patron of what now looked to be an inn possessed the same striking black hair, pale skin and silvery-grey eyes as Bruja.

  A man suited in armour similar to that worn by Bruja stood up, “Blasphemy!” he snarled, “Why have you brought this vermin to our doorstep?”

  “I do not have to explain myself to you”, Bruja replied calmly, “do not question me Sergeant,” her words were spoken softly but their menace was unmistakable.

  The man’s eyes grew wide and he sat down promptly but continued to glare at the mages with a clear expression of disgust.

  A muscular man dressed entirely in white approached Bruja and bowed deeply, “I am at your service as always Bruja,” his nose twitched at the bedraggled group of mages, “may I suggest that your guests visit the bath house first and I will find them some suitable vestments to wear for dinner?”

  Bruja smiled at him warmly, “An excellent idea,” she turned to Roban, “may I return in two hours once you are ready?”

  Roban simply nodded. He knew he had little choice in the matter but was grateful that she had phrased her words as a question. The dirty and exhausted group of mages were led to the bathhouse at the rear of the building. The path leading up it was deeply scarred with horse tracks and Roban surmised that it served a military purpose.

  As promised, Bruja returned after the allotted time had passed and Roban slowly followed her outside. He tugged at the ill-fitting plain grey woollen clothing that he had been given to wear by the inn keeper, “Well at least it’s clean,” he sighed.

  Roban glanced at the tall and elegant buildings that surrounded him. Each of them glowed brightly and were topped with elegant spires that were decorated with a plethora detailed carvings, “What is the name of your city?” he asked as he attempted to comb his tousled blonde hair with his fingers.

  “Cruoris,” she pointed towards the largest building located at is centre, “it is there that we strive towards the day of our liberation.”

  “What do you mean?” enquired Roban.

  She shook her head, “Perhaps one day I will tell you, but not today.”

  He frowned as he saw her withdraw into herself and they walked along the streets that remained curiously empty. Within the hour, they reached the heart of the city and Bruja quickly led him across a courtyard of glowing cobblestones towards a door that was engraved with an image of a raven.

  As soon as she knocked upon it the door opened and they were immediately greeted by a man dressed in an opulent looking red crushed velvet outfit that was embellished in silver embroidery. He bowed deeply, causing the silver buttons on his jacket to glint in the light, “Lord Acheron awaits you both in his private study,” the man stated politely as he gestured towards an Archimedean staircase that stood in the far North Eastern corner of the hallway.

  Roban arched his eyebrows at the man’s ability to wear silver and realised that there were many things about Bruja’s people that he had been told that were clearly false. She flashed him a quick smile as she headed towards the staircase and within moments they found themselves inside an enormous chamber that was filled with thousands of books. Roban breathed in the familiar scent of old paper and leather and was reminded of the many occasions that he had spent inside the library at the College of Mages.

  A man in dark blue robes stood with his back turned towards them but at the sound of their approach, he turned to face them. He was a slender, middle aged man that stood over six feet in height, with a clean shaven face that could be considered to be classically handsome, “At last we meet,” he said as his eyes glistened with intelligence.

  Roban licked his dry lips, “Lord Acheron,” he began, “I wish to thank you for rescuing myself and my fellow mages. We were imprisoned under false charges and the College of Mages has been destroyed, although as far as I am aware, the library remains intact.”

  He dared not look at Bruja but Lord Acheron was the first to respond, “Indeed,” the man attempted to hide a smile as he stroked his chin, “I did not doubt that they would spare the library,” he shrugged his shoulders, “but you have only Bruja to thank for your rescue”.

  Roban momentarily forgot his fear, “You seem to already know about what happened, may I ask how?”

  “I know many things,” Lord Acheron admitted, “I also know that your Grand Mage still lives. There is a warrant out for his arrest following a signed confession from him, admitting that his College practices necromancy.”

  “That’s a lie!” Roban yelled as he blinked back tears of anger.

  “I realise that”, Lord Acheron snapped, “it is barely a credible fabrication that has been created by those who seek to justify the destruction of the College,” he paused then offered the young mage a strained smile, “and now they have destroyed Ellington too.”

  “What are those creatures that attacked the city?”

  “Demons,” Lord Acheron moved in closer, “they are from another plane of existence and Master Bewyr knows how to get rid of them. He also will know where I can locate a rare piece of work inside your library that my people need to aid in our fight against these creatures.”

  “Where is he?” Roban asked nervously.

  Lord Archeron pursed his lips and moved towards a golden oak table that rested against Eastern wall of the study, “I have been reliably informed that he will arrive here in two days,” he lifted up a lead crystal decanter of red wine and poured some of its contents into a silver goblet, “relax my young friend, you are in safe hands.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  The firewood cracked and burned as tiny sparks spat into the air, glowing briefly before turning black and spirited away by the wind. The cold grasses swayed as the skies darkened across the flatlands to the West of the Kalapel. Small animals stirred, awakened by the encroaching darkness as they began to scurry about in their pursuit of food. The sounds of the night were all around them as the two companions sat staring wearily at the campfire.

  “This has to stop, else we will both fall ill,” Cara said as she uncrossed her legs and angrily rose to her feet. The Grand Mage nodded wordlessly as his eyes glistened in the firelight.

  Since leaving Findias almost a week ago, they had felt the presence of something following them. It had travelled with them as they moved Westwards on their journey to rescue the trainee mages from the dungeons of Ellington. They had tried to outrun it by pushing their horses hard until tiredness had forced them to stop, but it had always remained close. Once they had passed through the forests of the Fae they thought that they would catch sight of it out in the open grasslands, but several days had now passed and it had remained elusive. At night, they had taken turns to stand watch but as the days passed, their broken sleep was beginning to weaken their minds and bodies. It was close even now, watching them from just beyond the light of the campfire.

  Master Bedwyr remained seated as he gently leafed through the pages of the book of the Seer that he always carried with him. His face was still that of a stranger to her, no longer the silver haired old man that she had known since arriving as a child at the College of Mages, but transformed by magic to that of a middle a
ged man with shoulder length brown hair and dark brown eyes. He paused, then slowly mouthed something as if in conversation, then closed the book as he rose to his feet, “Stand beside me and prepare yourself,” he spoke his words with authority.

  Cara blinked at him in surprise and swiftly did as she was bid. She felt her spirit ring stir within her in readiness as her eyes began to search the darkness that surrounded them for signs of movement. Nothing could be seen, except the flickering flames of the campfire as they leapt and danced in response to a brisk breeze.

  Master Bedwyr’s brow furrowed as the spirit rings on both his hands began to glow with a blue-white light. He spread his fingers wide and thrust them towards the darkness as magic began to flow out from his open palms. Night was turned into day as it rapidly spread across the air, removing the shadows like they were a stain that was to be bleached clean. The grasses began to glow a curious turquoise colour as the small animals that lay hidden inside within a twenty metre radius were suddenly revealed.

  The wildlife momentarily froze in fear then responded in a flurry of activity as it desperately attempted to return to the safety of the darkness. All that is, except one.

  The Grand Mage lowered his arms, “Reveal yourself and no harm will befall you,” he said as he held the animal’s gaze.

  The creature remained silent as it tried to assess the sincerity of his words. After a few brief moments it seemed satisfied and the fur on its shrew-like body immediately began to recede into its flesh. It began to shine in a rainbow of colours as it grew in mass as its limbs and body shifted and reformed into discernible human form with slender features that marked it out as being female. Within seconds, a brief flash of white light completed the process and a beautiful young Elven woman with long blonde hair stood before them. She appeared to be wearing full set of armour that clinked realistically as she shifted her gait.

  The Grand Mage stared incredulously at her, “What are you?”

  “Whatever I wish to be,” the woman smiled and he felt his heartbeat quicken, “but you may call me Molgarth,” her gaze disconcerted him as he quickly realised that he had seen it in varying guises over the past few days.

  “Are you a wizard or a witch?” Cara asked in confusion.

  The creature shook its head and laughed, “I am not human, I am Molgarth”.

  “Not human?” repeated Cara who had momentarily forgotten her fear and taken a step towards it.

  “Why are you following us?” interjected Master Bedwyr who had placed a restraining hand upon Cara’s shoulder, “I want the truth”.

  The creature’s eyes had never left his, “I came because of you,” it flashed him a dazzlingly white smile that he now found alarming for a different reason, “I saw you change and I knew that you were like me.”

  “I am human, not of your kin,” the Grand Mage replied as he felt a pang of pity for the creature. He slowly moved towards the campfire and sat down, “please join us,” he gestured towards an area of grass that retained a safe distance between them.

  Molgarth’s face grew troubled, “I have never known of a human that could change its form that was not an illusion,” it moved several steps closer to him “but your transformation is real.”

  Master Bedwyr nodded, “Only the most powerful of mages can do it what I have done and I am one of them,” he paused then cocked his head to one side, “perhaps you are human but you don’t realize it?”

  Molgarth stared at him guardedly, “Perhaps,” it frowned in confusion then sat down, “I lost my memory when I was imprisoned on the other side of ‘the veil’”.

  Cara took a sharp intake of breath then glanced nervously at Master Bedwyr. The Grand Mage remained calm as he studied Molgarth’s face closely, “You were imprisoned there?”

  Molgarth simply nodded, unaware that it had alarmed Cara into thinking that it was a Demon, “They did something to me there that made me forget my past,” its mouth twisted, “I felt so terribly alone.”

  Master Bedwyr’s eyes glistened, “Perhaps you are not alone,” he smiled warmly and was struck at how pretty its eyes were, “until we learn otherwise, we shall think of you as human and I promise that I will do all in my power to help you find to find out about your past.”

  “Thank you,” responded Molgarth and there were now tears in her eyes, “I am your servant.”

  The Grand Mage leaned towards her, “I would prefer it if you became my friend.”

  Molgarth surprised him by moving swiftly towards him and grabbing hold of him in a huge bear hug, “I am not alone anymore!”

  He smiled awkwardly patted her back as he felt the warmth of her very female form pressing hard into his, “Right well,” he said as he laughed nervously and moved himself away with a bright red face, “tomorrow we shall speak more.”

  Molgarth nodded energetically, apparently unaware the affect that she had had upon him. Cara’s eyes twinkled with amusement.

  * * * *

  Ethan watched as the cold water from the tap inside his hotel bathroom fell upon the artefact. The earth had hardened around it like a coffin and he had been soaking the object for over an hour as his fingertips, already bruised from his earlier digging throbbed as he continued to scrape away at the dirt. In frustration, he opened the hot water tap, instantly warming the cascade of brown water as it departed down the plughole.

  Time seemed to pass by slowly as he turned the item over and over, each action focusing a stream of water upon the remaining dirt as it revealed more of the gold that lay underneath. Patterns became more distinct as he saw what looked to be an image of a square and compass upon the metal.

  “What are you doing in there?” enquired an impatient Talina as she rattled the handle of the door to find it locked.

  “I won’t be much longer,” Ethan replied although he had no intention of opening the door. He glanced down to find that the last of the dirt had fallen away and that a golden chain was attached to the artefact that glistened in the light.

  “Place it around your neck,” instructed Alexon.

  Ethan clasped hold of the chain and did as he was bid. It felt surprisingly warm against his skin, “What now?” he asked.

  He sensed Alexon shift uncomfortably inside him, “Now we talk.”

  Ethan nodded and sat down upon the bathroom floor. He felt momentarily guilty about excluding Talina but swiftly dismissed the thought. Besides, only he could hear Alexon talk and he might need to tailor his words carefully in order to not frighten her about the magical bond that had formed between them at the Throne of Vines.

  Alexon started by talking about how it all began. The Fae peoples were saved from destruction from the Firbolgs by the wizard Manannán who created a magical kingdom which he named Nemedia and he hid it behind a spell of invisibility known as ‘the veil’. The first invasion of the Demons happened when the world was still young, when the skies shone with the deep azure of magic that tinged through the darkness of night. The College of Mages had not yet been formed and magic was a wild energy that permeated the earth, air, fire and water. Alexon was a young man then, barely much older than Ethan was now and under the tutelage of one of the few existing Masters of Spellcraft who were safeguarding the fourth great treasures of the Tuatha Dé Danann. The Cauldron of Dagda, otherwise known as ‘The Dragon’s Cup’ due to its legendary size, fed the magic that sustained the magical kingdom and Alexon had been chosen to become one of its future guardians.

  But the spell that created the kingdom was imperfect. A tear began to form inside ‘the veil’ that opened a portal to another world. For a short time, glimpses of a dying planet could be seen that was broken into thirteen pieces. Each piece was ravaged and charred, all that is except for one. On the lowest tier, life still clung, but that too was slowly being consumed by the fires of a dying sun.

  For over two hundred years, the opening inside ‘the veil’ grew ever larger, enabling thousands of the creatures to escape into the lands of Nemedia. The wizard Manannán searched for a way t
o close the tearing inside ‘the veil’ and found within Lebor Gabála, the Book of Invasions of a way to ‘seal’ the breach. The placement of two magical seals, the first in Nemedia and the second on Earth from a person who originates from the opposite plane of existence would bind together the threads of magic and close the opening. Ethan’s ancestor, Brid Clodagh, had been chosen as she was the daughter of a local Chieftain in Eire who knew the location of the two remaining great treasures on Earth. She had been brought to Nemedia by the wizard Manannán and successfully enacted the ‘first seal’ at the Throne of Vines and then returned to Earth to guide one of the Knights of Ellington to one of the two remaining treasures so that he could enact the ‘second seal’. Shortly after their departure, the great war against the demons came to a head on the plains of Malakan. The demons were defeated in battle and shortly after, the tear inside ‘the veil’ began to close. It was assumed that Brid Clodagh and the Knight had been successful in their quest to enact the ‘second seal’.

  Years passed and in time the College of Mages was formed. A book written by a Seer, regarded as blasphemous by many, spoke of the failure by Brid Clodagh and the Knight to enact the ‘second seal’. It claimed that Ethan’s ancestor had in fact been murdered by the Knight, due to a curse that was placed upon them at the Throne of Vines. The Seer’s book stated that prior to her death, she had obtained a talisman that could protect against the curse but had found it too late and by then the power of the curse had become too strong. Upon her death, the curse was broken and the distraught Knight buried her with the talisman before disappearing forever. The quest was doomed as the ‘second seal’ could only be enacted while the bond between them remained.