Mystic Firestorm 2 Read online

  “I don't know where he is. I will not hand him over to you. I will not be your pawn,” she snapped abruptly taking a stance as the hidden form became angry.

  “Oh, yes Bounty Huntress. You will obey me,” his sick voice cackled with glee.

  “Why do you need him?” she decided to play a game with him.

  “Quaid has certain values to us. He is a rebel and must be destroyed.”

  “Certainly, with your great feats, you, yourselves can destroy him. Unless, of course, his power threatens you.”

  “Enough of this game. Bring her to me!”

  Noleann struggled as the men grasped her arms and she threw one to the ground. A few more men held her fast and pushed her up as the man's form became more visible. Beneath the dark cowl were blistered lips and pale white skin. Black eyes saw through her and scrutinized her. His nose and facial features appeared to be twisted with an evil presence that slowly consumed the last of his humanity, a presence that would destroy him. Noleann felt a sense of recognition for on absolute moment, but it vanished as he stood in front of her.

  “You see my face?” he turned for her to fully examine it. “The magic has done this to me. It has corrupted my soul, my flesh and mind, but I still live. Yes, I have lived a hundred more lifetimes than you, girl. I have been witnessed to the unspeakable powers that have bestowed life upon me. I have conquered the depths of time, of death. I live where others have died. Quaid has stolen the one thing which keeps me alive.” He paused. “The Blue Star. Only he knows where it is. For exchange of your life and the others I want it back. You will help me to recover it.”

  He held his hand up to Noleann's face. She shuttered at his cold touch as his face gleamed and dead eyes blinked. He moved back and gray haze swirled around his fingers as spoke an incantation. The haze burned into a purple light as he held it in his palm. Noleann looked at the light as she felt her will fade. She struggled to focus away from the light, but it called to her as she looked at it menacingly. The power summoned her to it as he spoke the soft gentle words. She felt a wave of sleep calm her down as everything around faded. She lost track of time as she watched the light, her mind bending to the control of the Darkmage’s power. She struggled to gain strength as her will dwindled into the drowsy beacon of light. She fought it as her will snapped and a vision unfolded before her. She found herself facing the cave on the span of the bridge. A spectral form moved at her as mist burst up and flames swirled all around her. The worn figure called out to her as Dayven carried a form toward her. Noleann cringed in horror for the dead girl in his arms. She tried to fight the fear as the Seekers lashed out flames and the bridge crumbled. She screamed as they fell toward the molten lava. Noleann fell to her knees, her will was gone.

  Shadown, Ariq and Valendor followed the slow-moving form of Prince Grandur. They left the Kingdom of Nomads a day ago and were on their way to Iclandia. Prince Grandur shuddered at the thought of the death of Arieal. They experienced so many ordeals, it would not end here, it must not. The entire journey for Noleann was lost. He was now a prisoner of the Nomads, caught in a war with the Darkmages of Iclandia, a pawn to get Quaid's family and the rebels freed. Prince Grandur was now playing the part of Prince Alec, it was the only way he could survive. Prince Grandur thought about Noleann and seemed to feel so far away from her. He realized that he loved her. He remember the chamber room and shock at seeing the Staff of Power destroyed, How? - Why? He never unearthed the answers from her. Prince Grandur vowed to kill them when he got the chance. They had taken his friend's life. Shadown arrived too late and Arieal had been dropped into the pits that were beneath the mountain. Thousands of ice caverns and tunnels interweave throughout the Kingdom. Prince Grandur came to the end of the plateau that dropped a hundred feet in front of him. He shuttered at the sight, which captivated his imagination. Iclandia.

  “We rest here.” Shadown sat down, his green emerald glowing in the setting sun.

  “I don't like it at all. He could be leading us into an ambush,” Valendor shoved the Prince.

  “I think not,” Ariq stated. “There doesn't appear to be any battalions of men down in the valley.”

  Prince Grandur watched a dark man in a black cape weave in and out of valley below. He stared up and whistled twice. Shadown returned the whistle.

  “Nothing ahead. I suggest we get moving. We can rest on the edge of Snow Lake.”

  With those words, the company continued forward.

  The sun was setting as the company finished a small meal and warmed their bodies by the fire. They had quickly dug a small hole and caught some fish. Shadown had carried the supplies in his pack and was adequately ready for anything. They rested in the middle of what was called Snow Lake. The crystal blue ice shimmered with setting of the sun and often creaked. Prince Grandur knew that there were five mercenaries out there watching them. Shadown hired them to watch and warn the others, and if necessary, to kill. A whistle signaled from the east as one of the men came yelling. Shadown, Ariq and Valendor pulled their swords.

  “Someone's out there.” Shadown said through his face covering. Valendor looked around as he felt something move and the man in the dark cape came running over.

  “A movement between the ice walls,” the stranger said.

  “Maybe it was a small avalanche,” Ariq added.

  “I don't think so,” the stranger turned, his bandanna hiding the fine features, blue eyes looking at the distance waiting for something.

  Shadown looked up as Valendor went to speak, the man hushed him. A tremor in the lake shook as they vaulted forward and back.

  “Impossible!” Ariq said.

  “I know.” Valendor watched as the ice lake started to shatter around them. “It's not supposed to break up for another month.”

  “Get moving!” the stranger hollered. “Now!”

  Shadown pushed Prince Grandur as the rumbling exploded into a piercing blast. The ice before them cracked with a fierce force and rumbled like a giant earthquake. It sank before them as the dodged the falling ice. The capped man screamed out as they all stopped in horror to see the ice explode. The stranger fell back as huge chunks heaved upward and something dark and horrible emerged.

  “Ice Worm!” Shadown screamed as the mass rose. The creature shrieked and ice shattered all around. Suddenly the four mercenaries appeared before the creature. The mass roared as its gleaming black scales looked impenetrable. Red pupils glazed with fire as a jaw snapped open with rows of jagged teeth. Arrows hit the creature as it roared with delight. It's black mass arched around as the men positioned themselves.

  Shadown let out his dagger and cut Prince Grandur’s lines and handed him the sword.

  “Use it if you have to.”

  The mercenaries dodged the massive blows of the creature, its jaws shattering the ice as the men leapt out of its way. An arrow struck its sleek neck and broke off.

  “The arrows will not help us!” Ariq screamed.

  “We have to get off the lake!” Valendor yelled.

  Shadown sent the message and the mercenaries used their swords and shields to protect themselves. One of the mercenaries fell before the creature as it came down upon the man. The ice exploded inward as the creature dove into the man, his scream lasted only a moment. The hole it smashed was enormous and it blocked their path. They would have to go around the edges of ice to go through the eaves before them. It would take too long to go around the glaciers, Shadown knew they were pressed for time. Shadown and Prince Grandur took to the edge. The dark waters bubbled slightly as they put their back to the ice wall and went across the edge of the broken path. Ariq and Valendor followed with the four mercenaries behind them. They froze in a terrifying breath as the worm broke through its watery opening. The men were showered with ice cold water as Prince Grandur lifted his sword up. The creature came at him, jaws snapping open as Shadown raised his sword to meet the monster. Prince Grandur squatted in the little space that he had as the bulky head smashed into the wall, shriek
ing in pain. The mercenaries slashed wildly as one of them drove his sword in, the worm screamed and dropped into the water with the sword intact. The mercenaries stood at the edge of the pool and backed up as the water sprayed, Prince Grandur and Ariq were frozen in place as Shadown and Valendor looked for a new attack. The mercenaries signaled one another as they looked at the calming water. Ice exploded behind them as two fell forward and the other two turned around.

  “It came behind them!” Valendor screamed.

  “Let's go!” Ariq said with eye wide terror.

  The creature ripped into the two men that were swimming in the pool and dragged them under with a quick dive. It came up a second later with the broken body of one of the mercenaries. The others stride across to the other side of the pool as the two remaining men ran. The creature roared with a hideous screech submerging its tubular scaled body underneath the water.

  “It is gone.” Shadown grabbed Ariq by the collar. “You did not help us, next time you are on your own!”

  “What was I to do?” Ariq stated in defense.

  “Fight it.”

  Ariq shoved Shadown away from him and turned to the Prince. He pointed his finger with his dark rimmed eyes.

  “This is your fault. I hope for your sake that Quaid's family is still alive.”

  Prince Grandur just stood there ignoring the man as he put his sword back in its sheath. Ariq turned to yell at the mercenaries and found them gone.

  Shadown began striding once more and the others followed suite. Valendor and Ariq stuck together as Shadown walked ahead with the Prince. Valendor's suspicions of Shadown were ripening because of the warriors actions. He defended the Prince on several occasions. Valendor could not be possibly sure that the warrior had leaked information on the whereabouts of Ravenhold. A piece of the puzzle was missing, yet, everything was falling into place. Shadown had tried to save the girl from her fate that had taken her life. Valendor found that he might be walking into an ambush, that Prince Alec might lead the small company into one. His fears vanished at the far distant sight of the remaining two mercenaries. The men had been defeated by the monstrous worm but would kill any soldiers with precision. They were the best fighting men in Iclandia. Valendor thought about breaching the walls of the Kingdom. It would be an easy task. There were many secret passageways throughout the entire fortress. Escape could be easy, but one thing preoccupied his mind, the Darkmages. He wondered if their power would be enough to defeat the Mages. They had the dark arts to aid them, to help destroy all those who opposed. The mercenaries were superior weapon fighters and could possibly catch them off guard, but five had become two. Valendor had lost his most valuable weapon, Quaid. Only the Mountaineer's skill and power was a match for the Darkmages. Years ago, the Darkmages had killed most of their family members, some escaped and fled to the Nomad Kingdom, others perished. Valendor felt a shocking breeze fill his lungs. A strange sensation overcame him, he looked up and stopped the others.

  “Something's out there.”

  Shadown stood next to them as their cunning eyes watched for a sign of movement. Before them, a large ice cave opened up like a giant tortured mouth, wind and snow swirled in stinging circular motion. Shadown turned to survey the giant towering walls and noticed miniature holes, slanted red eyes greedily watched them.

  “Abominable.” Shadown whispered as he turned and shielded his face. The winds screamed through the tunnels as a white mass blew at them. Shadown lifted his arm up and saw claws pounding down his chest. The man was thrown back as Ariq was knocked over. Prince Grandur reacted and drove his sword cutting the creature, it moved away from Shadown and roared with hatred. The massive creature was covered with white hair, red searing eyes and razor-sharp teeth and it charged them. Valendor threw his shield into the muscular arm and was pushed back with a scream. Shadown lay motionless as it reared toward Grandur, on two legs. The sword went up and cut into its chest as shrieked in smashing into the Prince. Grandur felt the air knock out of his chest as the sword dropped to the side. A wall of bright light flared through his mind as it raised its claw to cut him. Prince Grandur mouthed Noleann's name in sheer terror. The creature rose up before him bearing gleaming fangs, it examined him with scrutinizing eyes, hesitating before the kill. Grandur blacked out as the creature dropped down. It shrieked as rows of knives cut into its humped back. The mercenaries drew it toward them and cut it down.

  The world spun in strange haze as Prince Grandur opened his eyes. The stern body of Shadown sat next to him as he felt a cold breeze. The warrior looked down and smiled, “Awake are we.”

  “Where am I?”

  “On our way to Iclandia.”

  Grandur realized that he was staring at a sail. His head lifted to see the white cloth blowing in the cold wind. Towering ice mountains rose up around them. He looked down to find himself in an Ice Boat. Skis were attached to the bottom of the sled as they raced along the flatlands of Iclandia. Prince Grandur looked over and saw two other runners alongside. Valendor and Ariq manned one vessel and the two mercenaries sailed the others.

  “Thank you.” Shadown expressed his feelings for the first time in years.

  “For what?”

  “You could have let me die Prince Alec.” Shadown pulled the rope and ice boat slowed, he swung the sail and it veered sharply to the right, missing a block of ice. The other two ice boats sailed alongside with simple ease. Shadown's tired eyes watched the snow-capped mountains and vast frozen forest pass by. Grandur glanced back and relaxed while taking a deep breath. Ariq gave him a dirty look as Grandur smiled politely.

  “Ariq hates me.”

  “A fool at times. He thinks that you've set up an entire ambush of men to stop us. It makes no difference because they will not be able to catch us.”

  “I want to free Quaid's family. I am willing to use you as a pawn. I will kill you should you step out of line. “

  Prince Grandur sat back quietly and was no surprised by his attitude. The Prince looked in the distance and saw the spiraling towers of Iclandia. He knew that he would have to bluff them, but as soon as they were discovered the entire plan would fall apart. The Prince would have to escape from them, but it would be difficult because of the two mercenaries that tracked alongside kept watch.

  The Ice Boats roared as Shadown pulled the lever and metal scrapped into the ice. The ice boat slowed for a moment and then a gusting wind took the boat. Shadown applied more pressure and the brake lever snapped.

  “Cursed!” Shadown screamed.

  “What?” Prince Grandur's attention was turned his heart beating.

  “The lever snapped. We are caught in gale blow.”

  “The ledge!” Prince Grandur snapped as he saw a large crevasse drop into darkness. Shadown rose up out of the vessel and slashed a rope, but it was too late. The sail dropped as the momentum of the vessel brought it forward. Grandur looked in shock as Shadown signaled to him, screamed and leapt.

  “Jump!”

  The Prince leapt as the boat went off the edge. He hit the ground and continued sliding, the ice and snow blasting through his clothes. The edge was before him as he went over. An arm snapped and grasped him. Shadown held him for a moment and started sliding. They watched the boat smash against the gaping crack as it disappeared into the void. The winds blew up as Grandur held on. Shadown had pushed himself between a frozen boulder and the ledge. Voices could be heard screaming from above as Grandur was pulled up. Valendor yelled down to the men.

  “Are you all right?”

  “You are on bad luck charm,” Shadown looked at the Prince.

  “Tell me is traveling always this dangerous for you?”

  Ariq sent down a line as Shadown looked at the Prince. His blank expression remained as the Prince began to climb up. The danger still existed and there always a possibility that he would take his own life, but his stern grip would prevent any such tragedy. Shadown's attention turned to other matters. He would have to rescue Quaid's family and use his powers again
st the Darkmages, their journey was almost over.

  Iclandia towered above them like a twisted knife. Torches could be seen blowing above the glass windows and the ramparts were empty. The walkways were unguarded, the Darkmages confident of their power. Valendor wondered why the place seemed so desolate, he looked at the Prince. Ariq turned and walked toward the giant iron bars that blocked the ways to the underground passage.

  “The Darkmages must be powerful,” Valendor said silently.

  “The Dark Lord has the Blue Star,” Shadown whispered. “It has made them invulnerable. It still does not mean that they cannot be defeated by their own arts.”

  “I will go with the Prince to defeat the Mages,” Shadown explained quietly.

  “Very well. We will go down to the Prisoners Keel. Our men should be there in lock up. We will take the mercenaries with us.”

  A strange pause passed between the men. Shadown had a feeling of death. If they defeated the Darkmages and freed the men, they would resume the Kingdom. Your father will have no choice, but to surrender.”

  Prince Grandur's heart raced. He had no idea that Prince Alec had a father. Arieal was right all along. He wished she were there to help him out of the mess he had placed himself in. The memories of the vast green Southlands entered his memory. He missed his father and wanted to be with him. The whole ordeal had turned into a nightmare. Prince Grandur wondered if Noleann had found her way out of the Maze Mountains. A thought struck him, maybe she was tracking them, maybe she knew where he was. Impossible! The whole thing was ridiculous. He turned. as Ariq shoved him over and the metal bars rose up in the windy tunnel. Moments later the six forms entered within the giant mass of Iclandia. Grandur watched the bars slam down with a crashing thud.

  The game had begun.

  NINE

  King Fallqron heard Lady Saunder's and Prince Alec's unbelievable story. Forerunner and Willfull volunteered to form and dispatched a small party of Gnomes Clerics to fight against the Darkmages. Willfull returned with five Gnomes wrapped in dark brown cloaks, their faces disguised in a shadows of awe. The King sat in the study with the Prince and Lady Saunder, eyes crossed fiercely at the maps. Large twisted iron brackets held huge torches which lit up the rooms of the great fortress of Gnomeholden.