Amos Daragon_ The Mask Wearer - Bryan Perro [51]
“Very well,” Amos said. “Unlike the knights, I am well rested. And I have a plan. Tell me where Junos is and let’s finish this battle.”
Karmakas had gone back to his laboratory totally bewildered. For the first time in his life, he had lost three consecutive battles. It was unheard of for a sorcerer as powerful as he was. He felt ashamed and dishonored. In his rage, he hit the table in front of him with his fist. It took him a while to notice that the walls of the room had changed. Skulls, femurs, and tibias decorated his laboratory now. In an instant, he knew that Seth had left his world to come and talk to him. Slowly he turned around and saw his master’s golden throne behind him. The snake-god, comfortably seated, was looking at him with scorn.
“How dare you treat me this way!” Seth bellowed as he crossed his legs. “I offer you a rooster’s egg, and first you allow the egg to be stolen by the Knights of Light. Then, after years of searching for it, you recover my precious gift and you lose the hatched basilisk in the most miserable way. How can I continue to trust you and show you my goodwill?”
Karmakas lowered his head and begged for his master’s mercy. “I am, ssss, sorry. I underestimated my, ssss, enemies. I thought that—”
“You thought!” Seth thundered, making the earth quake. “A plague on you! Either win this war or I’ll crush you, you stinking reptile! Now go and show me that you’re worthy of my godly power and of my trust!”
The whole castle shook and cracks appeared in the foundation. Then the walls of bones vanished into thin air, and Seth’s temple disappeared, replaced by Karmakas’s laboratory. The sorcerer fell to the ground, his head in his hands, trembling with anxiety and rage. After a few seconds, he tried to gather himself. He rushed to his book of magic and started to study some powerful spells. For a long time, he stayed locked in his laboratory.
While Amos and Junos were establishing a plan to take back the city, Medusa went in secret to visit Beorf. He was a pitiful sight. The young gorgon caressed his head tenderly.
“You’ll soon be free, Beorf,” she whispered in his ears. “I know that you can hear me. Your body is now of stone, but your soul is still here, hoping and waiting to be delivered. I’ve come to see you for the last time. You’re the first and only friend I’ve ever had. I’ll never see you again, but you’ll be in my heart forever. Keep the sight of my eyes in your memory. You’re the only person who’s admired them. Thank you for your friendship and your kindness. Thank you for believing in me. I’ll show you that I was worthy of your honesty and of your feelings. Good-bye, my friend.”
Medusa kissed Beorf on the cheek and left the cavern, totally distressed by this final visit.
The gorgon returned to the camp as the knights were preparing to enter the city. Night was about to fall and the army had to act swiftly. No one had noticed Medusa’s absence. She saw that the men of Berrion were not wearing their armor. In secret, they had made life-size figures from branches and mud, and had dispersed them around the city. These strange scarecrows were attired in the knights’ armor, helmets, and boots. From a distance, they looked like real humans. Only their stillness seemed a little odd, but one would have to watch them for a long while to understand the trickery.
Leading his warriors, Amos headed for the tunnel through which he had followed Beorf. The knights proceeded after him in tight order, with a torch ready to be lit tucked into their belts, a sword in one hand and