Chapter 2: Fellow Mages

Neither Vivi nor his new ally knew how long they crept through the hallways, dodging reptilian guards and even taking then out when needed. The elf quickly picked up a fallen falchion, and proved decently able to use it to gut or slice the beasts with little or no sound. Every now and then they came across other captives, all mages by their garb, and set them free. Most fled instantly, terrified of their captors, and some that lingered didn't speak what the elf had called Common. Those who did speak a language the elf could understand - and he must have known a lot for it often took him a bit to respond to their questions - they could tell the two little. They spoke of a machine somewhere in the tower, and of being taken by the dragon as they themselves had, and of drained magic. And they told of how whenever a scream sounded in the still air, another mage died. Then they too fled.

But Vivi and the elf pressed on. The elf seemed determined to save as many as he could, regardless of the threat to himself. And for Vivi, this mage seemed his only chance of survival. The mage seemed to feel a kind of protectiveness towards his smaller partner, pushing or pulling him to safety and going first around corners.

If we get out of this alive, Vivi vowed to himself, I'm going to ask him about that.

"Let go of me!" The shout caused both mages to flatten against the closest wall, near a four-way intersection. Carefully, the elf peered around towards the noise.

"It's another mage!" he gasped in a whisper. "They're trying to-" He cut himself off with a wince as, somewhere, another mage died. "-drag him out of a cage on the wall." Vivi peeked around the spotted them.

He saw two more of those beasts. One held a cage similar to one Vivi himself had been imprisoned in, and, having removed it from a nearby peg on the wall, was shaking it, trying to dislodge the captive inside. Another had his hand inside the cage, gripping the mage's robes and trying to pull him out. For his part, the mage wasn't making it easy, clinging to the bard tightly.

"Trolly-molly! Leave me alone! Help!" Both mages leapt around the corner, Vivi casting Fira, and the elf charging in behind with falchion leading the way. One beast caught the more powerful fire spell full force in the chest, and was incinerated, while the other quickly became concerned with keeping its insides, inside... before it fell, dead.

"Thank you," the mage said as the elf wiped the gory blade on the dead beast's body, giving Vivi ample time to jog over, and both turned to get a good look at their new ally.

He was about Vivi's height, perhaps a bit taller, but his conical hat (again like Vivi's, only unbent) made it hard to tell for sure. His clothes, hat and robes, were a reddish color, the robes sporting a black "O" on the front. Again, much like Vivi, nothing of his face could be seen, hidden as it was by the wide-brimmed hat and a lighter red scarf into a black shadow. despite this, they could assume that his skin was a light green-blue color, as his hands, sticking out from the sleeves, and ears - pointed, like the elf's and sticking out through the brim of his hat - were that color. But it was as he drifted to the ground, they realized one detail - he didn't walk, he floated . Vivi stared, but the elf refrained for reacting.

"You're welcome," the elf replied. "A big dragon snatch you too?"

"Something like that. Trolly-molly, what's going on?"

"We're not sure. Something about a machine, and draining magic from mages - " Here their new ally shuddered, as if that thought held special terror for him.� - but no one we've spoken to knows more." The elf's eyes darted cautiously back and forth. "You should escape while you can. There are more guards about."

"What about you two?"

"They've taken some of our things that we'll not forsake." Vivi nodded in agreement. The mage hesitated, then spoke up.

"I'm coming with you, if you think I can help. My magic doesn't always work right, but..." The elf smiled.

"We might need as much magical power as we can get. I can't cast much - without my crystals, my magic is severely limited."

So that's why he hasn't been casting any, Vivi thought. The red-robed mage smiled.

"Thanks." He pointed down the hallway. "They came from that direction, and I've seen them drag others that way. I've been here a while."

"Okay. Then let�s go." Once again, the elf took the lead, the two smaller mages following behind.

They wove through the halls, fighting guard sets of two and three at increasing intervals. This, the elf whispered, probably meant they were getting closer to the core of the fortress. At one point, the elf took a deep breath.

"It's getting too crowded. We need to not be seen." He gently pulled the smaller mages closer, and began to chant softly, a small grimace coming to his face as the spell neared completion. Then, abruptly, the surrounding hallways took on a wavy, surreal quality. "We're ethereal right now," he whispered, "but not inaudible. So try to keep very quiet." They nodded again, and followed close behind him down the next set of hallways, these better lit and ornate. Vivi nearly yelped as a beast passed right through him, but the red-robed mage quickly slapped a hand over his mouth. A few guards turned to look at the sound, and the elf quickly focused his thoughts, and kicked a nearby rock, sending it skittering down the hall, clacking off of the walls and floor. The guards turned to follow this new noise, and they mages swiftly dodged round the corner.

"Sorry," Vivi whispered softly. The elf smiled kindly.

"It's okay. But being ethereal means that they can't touch us. We're like ghosts to them. But they still can hear any noise we make." They rounded the next corner, and saw a long, I long /I hallway. A wooden door was closed and guarded on the right side, near the end of the hall where a huge, double door. It was ornate, made of what appeared to be wrought iron twisted like tree branches interwoven and frosted glass, studded in gems.

"That's probably where our captor is," the elf whispered. "And most likely our things." He frowned slightly. "We may have to fight." The red-robe nodded, and Vivi gulped slightly before doing the same. Slowly, they crept down the final hall.

Just as they were passing the wooden door, they heard a shout from within. In a blink, the elf darted through, and the two smaller mages followed.

"Trolly-molly!"

Inside was a hideous machine, a mass of tubes and wires, with a huge metal contraption shaped like a metal pot with a closed lid. The bundles of wires and such spewed out of the top of the 'lid' and branched off into two directions; one bunch to a hat suspended above a wooden table with shackles, and one out a hold near the top of the wall. Near the table a cluster of guards were trying to wrestle a figure onto the table.

Fast as a blink, the elf darted over, drawing his sword and dismissing the spell, materializing behind one guard and stabbing it clean through.

In the instant it took the beast to realize it was dying, all hell broke loose. The two smaller mages materialized, Vivi casting and the red-robed mage throwing items scattered about the room, glass bottles and metal instruments, at the beasts. Their former captor struggled free and began throwing punches. The remaining beasts, four total, drew their weapons and retaliated, one going for each mage. Thus it was that Vivi found himself facing one of the lizard things one-on-one. It lunged in between of dodging Vivi's spells, and grabbed his arm, lifting right off of his feet.

"G'svar ix visaroth, givar wrynth," it snarled, right in his face.

"Let go of me, you scumbag!" Vivi shouted back, as a dear friend had told him to do so long ago. And it had the desired effect of stunning the beast for a moment, long enough for Vivi to jab the fingers of his free hand into its eyes. The beast let out a howl, and dropped the black mage, who ducked as the elf spun from his opponent, blade crimson, in a graceful, almost dance-like step and downed the one threatening Vivi. Then he executed a beautiful roundhouse kick to the one menacing the red-robe, dropping it to the ground, then slaying it. At about that moment, the former captive defeated his opponent, knocking it out before using its own blade on it. Then he turned to face the three.

"Thank you," he panted, and they say with surprise that this mage was very much unlike any of them.

He was about the same height as the elf, albeit broader, wearing full, deep purple robes with sleeves that flared slightly. His boots, what could be seen as the robes were ankle-length, were also dyed purple. But the most shocking of all was that the mage - was a cat! An upright, walking cat, with gray fur, and fur-covered hands, and a gray, furry tail. A mask of lighter gray fur encircled his eyes and muzzle, and his eyes were colored a striking cerulean blue.

"If you three hadn't appeared," the mage went on, "I don't want to think what would have happened."

"Glad to help," the elf replied as he recovered from his surprise. "You'd best get out of here while you can."

"Not without my spell book and crystal pouch I won't," as the reply. The elf smiled.

"Then let�s go find where these jackdaws hoarded our things." He took a deep breath, and casted again, once more with a little wince. The cat peered around for a moment as he was included.

"Ethereal," he whispered. The elf nodded, and pointed. One by one, the four mages slipped through the wall beneath the tubes' exit point, into the room next door.

The room was huge in comparison with the other chambers encountered thus far, with a high, vaulted ceiling and several, ornately carved pillars. The floor and walls were black marble, shiny and reflective. A petite-seated throne saw on a raised dais, the back far taller than needed, carved and embellished to the point of being tacky, crafted of cold, black iron. Silk pillows, the type people could lounge upon, were scattered nearby in dark blues, purples, and reds, stitched with gold threads and tassels. Behind the throne was a window of fogged glass, like the double doors, and the swirling iron seemed to depict a smoky scene, like that of an extra-planar space. Fortunately, the room was empty.

Vivi suddenly saw something unusual. He caught the elf's attention, and pointed to a simple, wooden door across the room. The elf nodded, and they carefully made their way to it, then through it.

The room beyond was a decently large one, filled with shelves, cases, and stands. Vivi involuntarily gave a cry of delight as he spotted his staff, but no one said anything as they swiftly saw their own confiscated belongings. The elf canceled the spell so they could handle the items, and within a few moments familiar possessions were back in hand.

Vivi pounced upon his stall, rings, and other gear, thankful they were unharmed. The cat belted on a strange sword, slender and long, appearing sharpened only on one edge. The hilt sported gold metalwork and a pearl that had a luster which made it look warm to the touch. Then he clutched a book close to his chest, one bound in leather and also adorned with gold. The elf also belted on a sword, this one a regular longsword. The cross guard was decorated with gold and silver, with rubies cut into the shape or roses capping the ends and on the pommel. The grip was wrapped in what appeared to be green silk, with a bit, about four inches long, trailing off just below the pommel rose. Then he selected a pouch stitched with a crossed rose and sword, and hung it opposite the sword. Lastly, he took into hand a staff. It was made of clear crystal, perfectly smooth, topped by a sphere held in place by three swirling vine-like bits of crystal. The bottom half of the sphere was filled with a silver liquid, perhaps mercury, that swished with the staff's movement. He held it for a moment, still, staring at it as if he'd regained a piece of his soul. Then he slowly sat down.

"Just let me rest for a bit," he whispered, "and we'll get the hell out of here." The red-robe, listening at the door, suddenly gasped.

"Trolly-molly! Someone's opening the doors!"

The four mages were trapped!