The Warlock Senator (Book 2) Read online

  “Why are we going there?” Erik asked.

  Al shrugged. “Seeing as how you are in a new body, your armor isn’t going to fit anymore. So we need to go back to my forge so I can make a new set for you. Besides, it might benefit us all if I send my apprentice here to help with preparations.”

  “Preparations?” Erik asked curiously.

  Al nodded. “The temple is well stocked, but we will need another smith here to make sure we have enough equipment. When you and Lepkin are switched back, you will go back to your training. Given the frequency with which the Blacktongues have followed you, I imagine we will need a smith around here to help us stay ready.”

  Erik nodded. “Will it delay us much?” Erik asked.

  “Nah,” Al gruffed. I have some basic pieces in stock. I will have to make some adjustments to them in order to ensure a proper fit, but that won’t take very long.”

  “You know, I never got a chance to use the armor you made for me anyway,” Erik said.

  Al sniggered to himself. “Yeah, ironic huh?” Al smiled and clambered up the step ladder that allowed him to mount his horse. “I spent the better part of six months making that set of armor for you. Seems a shame to leave it here.” Al bent down and fastened the straps around the top of his left foot.

  Erik shook his head. “I imagine if Lepkin wakes up in my body it may serve him well in case the temple is attacked again.”

  Al nodded.

  Erik watched Al tighten his right stirrup. He wondered how it could be comfortable for Al to straddle the full size horse with his diminutive legs, but he decided not to ask. He almost asked about it, but decided it might be better just to get on with the journey.

  Al caught Erik looking at him and smiled wide. “Not all dwarves ride ponies, boy,” Al said.

  Erik shrugged. “I guess I am not the only one who can see what others are thinking,” Erik said. He jumped atop his horse with incredible ease. Being in Lepkin’s body definitely had its advantages.

  “So, where is Goliath?” Al asked.

  Erik frowned. “He doesn’t recognize me,” Erik said.

  “Just as well,” Al commented. “It might raise question if people saw ‘Lepkin’ riding your horse.”

  “Who would know the difference?” Erik asked.

  Al shrugged. “Anyone who works for or with House Cedreau maybe. Come on, let’s get to it.”

  The two spurred their horses on at a gallop, riding away from the stable as quickly as their four legged steeds could go. Erik fell into a rhythm as his horse’s hooves gnawed at the stone path leading to the main road in front of Valtuu Temple. The stale, hot air wrapped around him as his speed increased and the valley started to pull away behind him. Lepkin’s sword flapped out to the side, slapping into the side of his leg and his horse.

  The grasses of the valley stopped just inside the tree line of the forest as bushes and shrubs took over the ground. Great pines and oaks whipped by as Erik and Al galloped along the winding road. Squirrels and birds ceased their chirping to gawk at the two intruders briefly before skittering away. The morning sunlight broke through the leaves, warming the forest and inviting the flowers to open and turn toward the golden rays.

  The two of them travelled silently, sacrificing discourse for the sake of speed. The quiet gave Erik plenty of time to ponder the recent events. He found his mind wandering back to the battle near his home and he again saw Janik’s face. His grip on the reins tightened and his heart skipped a beat. How could Janik have betrayed him so? Why would he have pretended to be his friend for so long, only to ambush him in the woods outside Lokton Manor? A dark thought entered into his mind and fear gnawed at Erik’s stomach. Erik pulled up short on the reins and brought his horse to a slow trot before halting it. Al caught Erik’s movement and pulled his horse back around a few seconds later.

  “What is it boy, is something wrong with the horse?” Al asked.

  “No,” Erik said with a shake of his head. I was just thinking…”

  “Think while you ride, Erik, we don’t have time to dawdle,” Al chided.

  “Why did Janik come to Lokton Manor?” Erik asked.

  Al shrugged. “I don’t know.” The dwarf let his horse trot up beside Erik’s and tug at a young fern on the ground. “Perhaps he expected you to return from the temple to defend your home.”

  “But why not just do away with me at Kuldiga Academy? There were plenty of times when I was washing windows with him and no one else was around.”

  Al sighed. “What’s bothering you, Erik?”

  “Don’t you find it odd that at the same time my father is defending our home the wizard attacked the temple looking for Nagar’s Secret?” Erik looked back down the road and then turned back to Al. “Then, after both attacks are foiled, Senator Bracken arrests my father before you have even had enough time to rest.”

  Al stroked his beard and cocked an eyebrow. “It does seem uncanny that all three events happened so quickly,” Al agreed.

  “And that Janik chose that precise time to attack me in the woods,” Erik said.

  “Well, we know that Janik was with the Order of the All Seeing Eye,” Al put in.

  “Was the wizard with the warlocks as well?” Erik asked.

  Al shook his head. “No, Marlin told me that Erthor was with the Wyrms of Khaltoun.”

  “So is it possible that Janik was orchestrating the whole thing?”

  “I don’t know, but we can talk about it more when we stop for lunch.”

  Erik nodded and looked past Al. “Will I be able to save him?” he asked. Al didn’t answer. “There is still Tukai’s prophecy.”

  Al turned his horse and started off down the road again. Erik begrudgingly followed after him.

  *****

  Marlin pulled himself upright and pushed down on the side of the granite tub as he climbed out of the crystal clear pool. He reached out and pulled a large towel from a golden bracket and dried himself off. He couldn’t see the steam in the room with his natural eyes, but he could feel it enveloping his skin. He took in a deep breath and wrapped the towel around himself. Then he left the bath chamber and walked through a short antechamber to his room. Once there he grabbed his white, hooded silk robes and dressed himself. He took a green bottle from the top of a desk and generously applied the scented liquid to his hands and neck. Lavender and spice filled his nose.

  Next he opened the desk drawer and removed a pair of golden, silk gloves and placed them upon his hands. He slipped his feet into a pair of soft, leather soled slippers and then exited his room. The cool air from the night permeated the halls of the temple. The halls were quiet and still. He wrung his hands and bit his lower lip. All around him seemed at peace, though he himself was a tempest of doubt, worry, and confusion.

  He sensed a presence nearby. He turned to see Dimwater emerging from a nearby hallway.

  “You look as though you are going somewhere important,” she said.

  Marlin nodded. “I have some things I need to tend to. I need to get clarification on these prophecies.”

  “So you are going to talk to Tatev about the immortal mystic?”

  Marlin shook his head. “No, while that would give us clarity, finding the immortal mystic would require a journey far to the east. We don’t have that kind of time.”

  “Assuming Tatev knows for certain where the mystic is and whether the legend is true in the first place, right?” Dimwater finished.

  “Precisely,” Marlin said.

  Dimwater nodded and rubbed the outside of her arms. “So, where are you headed then?”

  “I am going downstairs,” Marlin replied. He started to turn and walk away, but thought better of it. “I can’t offer a full explanation now,” he said. “Suffice it to say that there are other sources of knowledge beyond the libraries in this temple.”

  Lady Dimwater nodded and backed away, turning to return down the hallway from which she came. She took two steps and then paused, turning quickly to face Marlin again. He
r lips parted slightly and a hint of a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “I wish I could come,” she said.

  Marlin smiled. “Perhaps some other time,” he offered.

  Dimwater smiled and walked away, talking softly to herself.

  Marlin watched her for a moment, studying her aura. He could see the awe swirling through her. He knew she had guessed what he was about to do. After the light from her aura was long gone he turned away and walked to a simple, iron crossed door at the end of the hall. Marlin produced a long, slender claw from a pocket and slid it into the opening under the knob. Golden rays snaked out from the brass key plate, reaching and stretching across the iron bands over the door. The metal glowed and vibrated against the wood. Marlin looked back over his shoulder and then turned the knob. The latch clicked open and the door gently fell open.

  He removed the claw, stepped through the doorway and pushed the door closed behind him. The steps steeply descended down a tight spiral. Small, goat horn sconces adorned the wall every seven feet to illuminate the tunnel and caused the gold inlay between the red bricks to shimmer and dance.

  At the bottom of the stairs the brick opened up into a green marble tunnel. Torches hung silently halfway down the smooth, hard walls. Marlin’s slippers created soft echoes through the tunnel as he made his way to the end of the hall. As he got closer a golden glow appeared and grew brighter and brighter until he stood in a large antechamber made entirely of gold with glowing crystals hanging from the ceiling.

  A small golden dragon head protruded from the left wall, mouth closed and waiting silently for Marlin. The eyes were open, made of jade, and staring at him. Marlin reached over and slid his index finger over the dragon’s head. A small hole opened in the top of the head. Marlin pulled the dragon claw out again and slid it point first into the opening.

  The jade eyes began to glow. Marlin held his palm out in front of the dragon head. Green light exuded from the dragon’s eyes until they enveloped Marlin entirely. After a few moments, the light died down and then the golden mouth opened, revealing a key on the dragon’s tongue.

  A door materialized in the wall at the end of the hall. The bricks cracked and crumbled as golden light ripped through the green marble, revealing the golden door. A large golden eye opened on the door and Marlin slid the key into the pupil and turned it. The tumblers inside clicked and snapped. The door slid back three inches and then sank into the floor below.

  Marlin took a deep breath and held it for a moment. The stark darkness beyond the open doorway gave him reason to pause. There seemed to be nothing beyond the doorway. Finally a faint red glow appeared and Marlin heard the words he was waiting for.

  “Enter, prelate,” the deep, thunderous voice said wearily.

  Marlin stepped into the darkness and pushed forward, aiming to go to the red glowing light. A few yards into the next chamber the door behind him rose up from the floor and sealed the way back. Chills ran through Marlin’s spine and his feet halted in mid step for a moment. After a couple of seconds he continued going forward. It took him several minutes to reach the red glow in the center of the chamber. A fist-sized garnet sat upon a golden candlestick with smaller jasper stones placed into the base of the stick.

  He reached forward and placed his hand over the glowing garnet. The light flowed warmly into Marlin’s hand and pulsed through his arm momentarily before withdrawing back into the gemstone. Marlin removed his hand and stepped back from the candlestick. The light intensified from within the garnet and flooded the room. Dark tones of red rippled out through the chamber, bouncing off of nondescript dark forms and bumps. The garnet hummed and vibrated as it started to rise from the holder. It stopped about twenty feet above Marlin’s head and began to spin. The faster it spun the lighter the red tones became throughout the room until streaks of brilliant white light streaked through the air, rending the clouds of red and illuminating the room as though it were a small star.

  Marlin raised a hand above his eyes and shut them against the searing light.

  As his eyes adjusted he brought his arm down and opened his eyes. A great, golden leg rested before him. He stared at the shield-sized scales briefly before following the leg up to the shoulder. He shuddered at the sight of the long spikes protruding from the dragon’s spine. He then looked to the great, angular jaws filled with teeth the size of spears protruding through the thin, leathery lips.

  The eyes opened slowly, revealing great green orbs flecked with gold and red specks. The long, angled pupil shrank quickly and then widened slightly as the eye shifted to focus on Marlin.

  Marlin bowed his head. “I apologize for disturbing you, great one, but I have many troubles on my heart,” Marlin said.

  The dragon pulled its head back, sliding its leathery neck over its leg briefly until its head was poised to look at Marlin. “Normally, I am only awakened to perform the Exalted Test of Arophim,” the dragon said. “However, your predecessor woke me for counsel on occasion as well.”

  “Forgive me, Ancient One,” Marlin apologized, using the human title instead of the proper name, Hiasyntar’Kulai

  The dragon slowly closed his eyes and emitted a deep, throaty rumble. “My time must be short, lest the power of the book overpower my defenses. Even here, inside this blessed chamber and protected by spells, I can feel its power trying to claw its way in.”

  “I have a candidate for the Exalted Test of Arophim,” Marlin said. He frowned and knit his brow. “I am worried that this may be the wrong candidate. I have uncovered prophecies that point to a false champion. Before I continue with his training, I wanted to speak with you and seek your guidance.”

  The dragon opened his eyes. Hiasyntar’Kulai nodded slightly. “The books of prophecy are difficult to decipher, even for those who are well versed in the ways of the mystics.” A slim tendril of smoke slithered out from the dragon’s nostrils. “I presume you still have faith in the candidate, otherwise you would dismiss him yourself.”

  “That is correct, Ancient One,” Marlin replied.

  Hiasyntar’Kulai nodded. “Ultimately, the Exalted Test of Arophim will decide whether he is the true champion. My advice would be to continue with his training and present him before me as soon as you believe him ready.”

  Marlin bowed his head.

  “Trust your instincts,” Hiasyntar’Kulai added. “If you believe in the candidate, then follow your faith.” The great dragon slowly dropped his head to rest on his extended foreleg. “I must return to my slumber, to keep the power of Nagar’s Secret at bay. Allow me to sleep until you are ready to present him before me, so I may be strong enough to perform the test.”

  “As you wish,” Marlin answered.

  Hiasyntar’Kulai closed his eyes and emitted a throaty rumble as he sighed.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Lady Arkyn slithered out the window and delicately pressed the stained glass window, spinning it back into place. She inched along the four inch ledge, keeping her back flat against the exterior wall and using her hands to steady herself. Her green, half-elf eyes amplified the sparse starlight and allowed her to see everything easily.

  She paused. Thirty feet below her a guard stepped around the corner. She held her breath and remained perfectly still until he walked past and disappeared around the next corner. Arkyn exhaled and sped along the ledge to the large oak tree near the rear of the senate building, which was positioned adjacent to the king’s tower. She pivoted on the ball of her right foot and leapt to the nearest branch. As she gracefully descended she pulled her bow from her hiding place near an abandoned nest and dropped to the ground as silent as a cat in the night.

  By the time the guard made his next round she was already over the fence and stalking the shadows in an alley that would lead her to Senator Bracken’s house. Having found nothing in his writing chamber at the senate hall, she hoped there would be more clues at his home.

  A pair of men stumbled into the alley ahead of her. Her keen eyes quickly spotted the large, brown bottl
e the two of them were sharing. She slid up next to a protruding chimney. Rather than risk a confrontation, she decided to wait for the drunk men to pass her by. It took much longer than she would have liked. She rolled her eyes as one of the men tripped and nearly went headlong into the building opposite her. Luckily his friend caught him and the two zig-zagged on without spotting her.

  Arkyn peeled away from the wall and went to the end of the alley. She glanced down both sides of the street, gaging the chance of her being seen by the few people still outside. To her left was an old man sitting on the front steps of an upscale tavern. He wore a long, red jacket over a neatly tailored ruffle-shirt. To her right were two senators, still dressed in their white robes, conversing about something. The temptation was too great. Arkyn scrambled up the building to her right and leaned over the front of it just enough to eavesdrop on the senators.

  “You heard me,” one of them said. “Bracken is offering fifty gold for your vote.”

  “Preposterous,” the other said. “I lose more than that when I play cards. If Bracken wants my vote, he will have to pay me what it’s actually worth.”

  Arkyn peered over the edge of the building. She could only see the tops of their heads, so there was no way for her to identify them unless they used their names. She moved back and continued to listen.

  “He isn’t trying to buy your vote for the verdict,” the first senator said. “He just wants us to hold the tribunal a day earlier.”

  “Bah,” the second man scoffed. “I suppose it doesn’t make much difference anyway. From what I hear the case is very simple.”

  “That’s right,” the first agreed. “There is more than enough evidence to convict Lokton.”

  “Seems a shame for House Lokton to fall this way,” the second said.

  “So, what do you say, will fifty gold persuade you to vote for an earlier tribunal?”

  There was silence below. Arkyn restrained herself from leaning over to watch them again. Finally, she heard the second man speak.