Forbidden Places
By Richard LeBlanc
Chapter Twenty-One: unholy alliances
Two weeks had gone by since Markys had revealed her innermost secrets to the spider wizard Lord Arachnid. In that time - the two encountered no troubles to the scale that they had to deal with when they were traveling with the others. Arachnid accredited this to his alliance with their former guide.
"How close are we to the tombs?" Arachnid asked curiously.
"Shouldn't be far. A day away perhaps less. How should we deal with Enchanter and that artificer - or should I say whichever one is still standing?" she asked with a smile. Arachnid sighed and shook his head.
"They both still live," he replied seriously.
"You - you must be joking. They would have been together for as long as we've been together - they wouldn't be fool enough to split up," she asked hesitantly.
"They did - probably two weeks ago. They formed a truce of sorts," he stated. All color drained from her face. An alliance between Toy Maker and Enchanter was something she was definitely not expecting.
"What?" she asked - hoping that she had misinterpreted what he had stated.
"They parted company - both agreeing to not get involved in each others affairs. Pity actually, I was sort of hoping they would kill each other off," he clarified. The answer somewhat relieved her.
"Yes - pity that - so - any suggestion?" she asked.
"How about we stay focused to the task at hand. If we do not find the tombs and the Spiders of Crae - all the planning in the world will be for nothing," he answered.
"Fair enough. How - did you know of this?" she asked.
"I have a few friends watching both of them. They tell me everything. I'm surprised that you do not have informants doing the same for you," he answered. Markys sighed and looked away.  
"My - thoughts were occupied on other matters," she stated quietly.
"May I inquire?" he asked.
"You," she replied.
"Me?" he asked unbelievingly.
"Is that so hard to believe?" she asked.
"A bit," he admitted.
"I - I haven't felt this way about someone before. I haven't had someone really care about me," she replied in a distant voice. Arachnid looked over at Markys who was looking into the distance.
"For what it's worth - I feel the same," he replied sincerely. "So - is there anything about these tombs that I should know about?" he asked curiously.
"Some of the most destructive black magics I've encountered I learned from the Spider Lords. The magic that protects them - is pretty potent," she replied seriously.
"So I can expect a lot of traps," he commented.
"Of course," she answered.
"Can you get us by them?" he asked. Markys looked over at him and smiled.
"Who do you think put those traps in place?" she replied with an evil grin. Arachnid quietly laughed and shook his head.
"You - my dear are just full of surprises," he stated.
"I try to please," she replied with a wink.
"So what will become of us - after Toy Maker and Enchanter have been dealt with that is," he asked seriously. Markys mentally drifted away. She shook her head and looked over at the spider wizard.
"What would you desire to happen?" she asked curiously.
"Me? I don't know. As long as we are together - I'm sure the rest will fall into place," he replied.
"Would - you stay here with me - or leave?" she asked hesitantly.
"You are bound to this place. I am sure that we can work our web from here," he replied.
"You - you would protect me? against those that sought to do me harm?" she asked curiously.
"You mean the Mountain King?" he asked seriously. Markys didn't answer - but turned away. "If he tries anything - I will deal with him - personally," he replied coldly.
"You - say this - knowing what I've done. I don't - know what to say," she muttered as she discreetly wiped forming tears from her eyes.
"Say nothing," he suggested. She quietly laughed and looked over at the smiling wizard.
"Fair enough. May I show you something? It would delay our quest by a couple of minutes or so - but it would mean a lot to me," she requested passively. Arachnid nodded. With a wave of her hand - the two vanished and reappeared elsewhere in the swamp. Arachnid looked around and saw the remains of a large ruined temple.
"Quite the place. What is it?" he asked curiously. Markys playfully danced around and some moss and sludge from a statue - the statue was of her.
"A temple - one that honored me," she replied with a smile.
"The place looks old," he remarked as he walked over and looked at some carvings that were on the damaged stones.
"It is. This was the first temple that was made for me," she stated as she made the statue reform to its former glory. "I did make a pretty statue," she added as she mimicked the statue's pose.
"That you did and still do. What happened to the place?" he asked curiously. The happiness quickly faded.
"I was so focused on my former tormenter the Mountain King - that - I soon found myself under Lokaan's power. I broke free of his influence, but it took a lot of effort. Once I was free - I convinced him that I was not something he could possess or collect. But by then - my temple - and all of the others that had been made had been ravaged and looted. It may sound silly - but this place - it is still special to me," she said softly. She looked over and smiled at the wizard that was admiring the statue she had fixed.
"Nothing silly about it. I'm honored that you chose to share this with me," he replied politely.
"Come, the way to the caves is not far from here," she said happily as she held onto his hand.
"Tell me more about this place - your past - everything," he requested. Markys smiled and began to tell him stories of her past as they made their way from the temple
Almost half a day later, the two were at fissure between the mountains and the swamps. The two were sitting by a campfire looking over at the mountains that were lit up by the raging fires below.
"So - the tombs are on the other side of that - how unpleasant," he muttered as he turned his back to the mountains.
"Crossing that will be little problem. I am sure that your webs will be able to bridge the way," she reassured.
"A lot of things could - but who would want to enter a cave over a river of fire?" he asked.
"If something is hard to get to - it often poses a great allure," she pointed out.
"True. We will make our next move in the morning," he began.
"Should we not go now?" she asked.
"We have traveled pretty hard and fast - and for some reason - I'm tired. It would be best if I rest first," he replied. Markys sighed and nodded. She watched as the spider wizard curled up near the fire and almost instantly drifted off into a deep sleep.
Do not look away from him, a familiar voice whispered in her head. Markys sighed and clenched her fists.
What do you want? She thought back - trying not to let her anger show.
It is almost time to come home. Do not keep me waiting, the voice warned. Markys slowly looked away from the sleeping spider mage.
I am not your servant - do not talk down to me as though I am, she thought back. No answer was given. She took a deep breath and sighed. She crawled over and curled up next to the sleeping spider wizard. I am sorry - but I have no choice, she thought with a sniffle.
Early the next day, the two woke up and were making their way alongside the swamp side of the fissure.
"It feels as though we've been walking for hours. Where is this," he began. It was then that he saw a spider shaped opening in the side of the mountain. Arachnid looked down at the molten lava below and could feel the heat rising from burning river below.
"Never mind. This could be more difficult than I first thought," he stated.
"Can you bridge this chasm?" she asked curiously.
"I should be able to," he replied. he arched his arms back and then threw them forward. Markys watched as thick webs shot out from the spider wizard's fingers and secured to the other side of the fissure. She then watched as he spun more webs until the collection of webs seemed as solid as stone.
"Wow," she commented.
"I'll go first - to see if this will support my weight," he offered. Markys nodded and stepped back. She watched as the spider wizard hopped out onto the web he had made and carefully stalked his way across. Once his feet were on solid stone he looked over and motioned for her to follow.
"You - sure this is safe?" she asked hesitantly.
"Trust me - if it can support me - it can support you," he replied confidently. Markys carefully stepped onto the web - true to what he said - the web felt solid. She began to make her way across. About half way - her foot ripped through the web.
"Arachnid? What's happening?" she asked in a mild state of shock. Arachnid looked down and saw that the heat from the lava and flames below had weakened the lower parts of the web bridge.  
"The fire - heat - must have weakened it - hurry!" he stated seriously. Markys tried to pull herself out - but the more she struggled the more she seemed to get entangled. Just then - the part of the bridge that was supporting her gave in. Arachnid watched as she began to fall towards the river of burning lava below.
"Markys!" he exclaimed. He shot out webs at the falling woman. He felt greatly relieved when his webs caught her. He began to carefully pull her up.
"Hurry - it's hot - the webs," she began as the webs burst into flames - and snapped. He watched in horror as she dropped like a stone and vanished into an eruption of flames. The spider wizard forced back the emotion. In the lava - he could see an almost demonic smile.
"The Mountain King," he muttered lowly. He stepped away from the mouth of the cave and took a few seconds to regroup. Nibbles, his only true friend since as long as he could remember - murdered in cold blood at the hands of the artificer Toy Maker. Markys, the only woman he had ever loved - taken from him by the Mountain King.
"She still lives - they can't kill each other. After I deal with the artificer - I swear I will free you Markys - then I will deal with you Mountain King!" he said as black mana swirled around the angry wizard.
To be continued...
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