Chapter 16: The Home of My Enemy

Natarstreyk'iklarya glided gracefully across the stardust paths, focused on his goal. The Bretheren Arcanum - Vivi, Orko, Zentarou, and Dregan - quietly rode on his back, each one once more bearing a telepathic pendant. Despite the fact they could speak without sound using the pendants, they did not converse, their destination consuming all of their thoughts.

Tsar’kris’ home world, Orko thought to himself. Trolly-molly. She imprisoned us, was going to kill us. But then again, Natar did say she was exiled as a criminal. Maybe this won’t be so bad. Still, he couldn’t shake his nervousness. Tsar’kris had intended to drain all their magical energy, and though he didn’t know about the others, the Trollan mage knew it would’ve killed him. It had almost happened once before, and the thought still unnerved him

:We’re almost there: came the dragon’s voice. :I will bring us out near their capital. They are ruled by a mage, and most likely they will know we are there quickly, since you four carry the gate cubes.: His tone was deadly serious. :They may be hostile.: The Bretheren were silent, anxious, nervous. Natar veered down a path, towards a diamond world marker. :Ready: Dregan nodded. :Here we go.: He soared at it, and the gate opened.

They appeared high above a mountain chain that was several rows thick, and stretched side-to-side for miles. Deep within the mountain chain they could see a large city, partially built right into the stone. The most prominent structure was a large tower connected to a block-like building. It stood many stories higher than any other.

“Look at that!” Vivi gasped.

“Trolly-molly!”

“It’s huge,” echoed Zentarou. “Taller than the Watchtower Trees of N’Dallo.”

“Taller than the Mage Towers of Salladuim,” added Dregan, awed.

:It’s the King’s Tower: explained Natar. :He or one of his sages should know how to break the curse. But I don’t know their demeanor, or how cooperative they’ll be. And there is plenty of magic here for the cubes to draw upon, so your time is limited.:

“Six hours,” Orko murmured. It seemed like a long time to say it, but if the people in the city below were in any way hostile, it might not be long enough. And this could be the only chance they had.

:There’s a mountain plateau I can land on: Natar informed them. :I can land there, and a path nearby leads to the city.: The dragon landed, and by the shouts they faintly heard, the brightness of Natar’s body showed up clearly against the gray stone backdrop.

“I think we’re going to have company soon,” Zentarou commented as they dropped down from the dragon’s back.

:I can stay if you need me: Natar offered.

“Lets see first if they send a large force,” advised the cat, “and how hostile they act, then decide.”

“Well, they work fast,” commented Orko, pointing. “Here they come.” Indeed, a group of ten people were approaching... via the air; They had wings!

“Tsar’kris didn’t have wings,” gasped Vivi. He shuddered a bit, slipping to the back of the group.

“Are you okay?” Orko asked.

“The Black Waltzes,” he replied, shivering a bit, “evil Black Mages from Gaia... they had wings. One kept trying to kill me, and my friends.”

“Looks like an even split,” Dregan observed, seeming able to distinguish detail from further away then any of the others, “of mages and warriors. Five are wielding weapons, probably magical, five have staves or wands.” He loosened his sword in its sheath. “Get ready.”

Within ten minutes the ten were hovering over the Bretheren, observing them. Dregan, hand on his sword hilt, decided to make the first move.

“Greeting. We seek an audience with a sage or other knowledgeable caster concerning some cursed items we’re currently in possession of.” They looked at each other, then one hovered lower, a warrior with dust brown wings and a hauntingly familiar face, wielding a long sword.

“Greetings, travelers.” All four mages breathes a sigh of relief that they spoke the same language. “You must pardon out caution, but we sensed a magical signature keyed to one of our own who was exiled. Can you explain how this is so?”

“Yes, but we’d prefer to do so to someone who can tell us how to break the curse on the gate cubes.” One of the mages hovered lower, a young one with faun colored wings edged with darker brown.

“My master would know, but you should meet with out ruler first, to explain how you came to possess the gate cubes in the first place.”

“Agreed,” but as you surely know, out time is limited.”

“Follow me.” Orko dismissed Natar, and they followed the winged race down the mountain via the path Natar had pointed out. The five warriors landed, two in front, three in back, while the five mages remained airborne. None of the Bretheren Arcanum let their guard down for a second during the fifteen minute stroll.

The city was constructed of buildings on top of buildings, stacked like blocks. Although steps led to higher entrances, most people just flew to the level they wanted. An open-air market dominated the streets, and all of the citizens had the same beautiful type of faces and angular eyes that they had observed in Tsar’kris, but their clothes - all shades of earth tones, like brown, black, gray, white, and a few green hints here or there - lacked the Sorceress Queen’s decadent style and the women wore to face paint. In fact, the citizens seemed more wary of the four mages than they were of them.

At one point, the mage they’d spoken to before flew down to hover before them.

“I will get my master, and meet you at the King’s Tower.” He flew off, and they were led to the Tower.

The King’s Tower was forebodingly tall, over twice as wide as any other structure and appearing to fuse into the stone of the mountain itself. At the top of the spire came a glimmer of light, like sun off of crystal. With a bit of a unified shiver, they noted how like Tsar’kris’ tower is appeared in form, albeit not as dark colored stone. And although there were plenty of walkways, there was only one door... twenty feet up.

“Hmm...” The four mages paused to consider their options. The dust-winged soldier, who was behind him, apparently mistook their hesitation for an inability to get us there, gave an annoyed sigh, and grabbed Vivi by his arms. Startled, Vivi yelped and put up a small struggle as the avian creature lifted h him up off the ground.

“You want to get it, don’t you?” he growled. Vivi tried to relax, but his mind was filled with images of falling Black Mages, and black feathered wings glistening in the sun, and that horrible laughter. One to an arm, Dregan and Zentarou were lifted up to the entryway, as Orko floated himself up.

“You sure you’re okay?” Orko asked again, concerned. Vivi nodded, dusting himself off and adjusting his hat.

“I’m fine... J... just startled me a bit.” Dregan frowned slightly at the one who’d guided them.

“We can cast fly spells, you know.”

“Then you should have done so, and quit wasting my time. Now follow me.” He once again led them on, down numerous halls. The internal structure honeycombed with skylights and small holes that apparently led outside as sunlight flowed out of them, giving the halls a well-lit glow without using any sort of artificial lighting. The mages became a bit jumpy as they walked, for the hallways’ layout was nearly identical to Tsar’kris’.

Soon they came to a double door that appeared to be made of bent and interwoven tree limbs stripped of all leaves. For a moment, the four mages saw wrought iron curves and frosted glass panels, and hesitated when they doors were opened.

“If you want any answers, you much speak with out King,” their escort growled in a hostile tone. Dregan whirled about on him, sending him a very fierce glare that succeeded in backing him up a step.

“My brothers and I have been through hell in a tower very much like this not too long ago, past doors that were an iron variant of this. The memories of death are still very fresh for us, and it was all done at the hands of one of your own. So don’t try to tell me what we’ve got to do.” His tone was an angry as any of them had ever heard from the elf, but it fit their common feelings of unease and anger, both due to the tower and due to this one’s seeming anger towards them, for what reason they didn’t know.

“Have you now?” came an older male voice from inside, out of their field of vision as provided by the doors. “Come in then, and tell me of it. No one will harm you in my domain, that I promise.” Taking a deep breath, and with a glance at each other, they entered the room.