Black wizards - Douglas Niles [114]
And, for the time being, what better way than to aid the one whom Cyndre had branded their most dangerous foe? After a while, of course, Alexei would be capable of dealing his vengeance alone – but for now he needed allies, and fate had provided him with a ready pair.
First, Alexei decided, he would need tools to help him regain some of his lost powers. That was why he had directed the men to this secret passage and now urged them to hasten downward.
He knew where to find those tools.
* * * * *
The unicorn looked sad, thought Robyn, as she, Yazilliclick, and Newt made their farewells. "I wish you could come too, old friend, but without wings…"
Kamerynn lowered his head as she stepped away. She held the runestick in her hand. It was now her only possession, since she had dropped her staff beside the arch. Yazilliclick had told her that the Moonwell was still surrounded by undead, so she dared not risk an attempt to regain it.
"Wait here for us, Kamerynn! We'll be back soon, won't we, Robyn? I'll find you something nice from Alaron. And Tristan will be with us. We'll have to have a party then!" Newt exclaimed, with a reproachful look at Robyn.
"Farewell again," said the druid, clasping the unicorn's neck. "Will you watch over Genna and the others until I return?" Stifling her tears, she turned to the two faeries.
The faerie dragon and wood sprite rose quickly into the air as Robyn held the runestick to her side and closed her eyes in concentration. Once again she felt her body shrink and tumble forward, and she instinctively spread her wings to break her fall.
But she noticed more subtle changes this time. She felt her heartbeat accelerate. She opened her eyes, and the keen vision of the eagle was more brilliant even than before.
And she took to the sky with the dragon and the sprite. The other two were dwarfed by her massive wingspan, but they darted easily around her in flight. They headed east, toward Alaron.
* * * * *
Daryth led the way through the narrow tunnel. It descended sharply, often as steep as a stairway. Rubble along the floor made footing very treacherous. In places, rivulets of water trickled along the floor and walls, making the surface as slippery as ice.
"This is a path of the sorcerers," explained Alexei. "Unknown to the guards of the castle – although it has challenges all its own!"
"Where do you come from?" asked the prince after several minutes. "You don't look like one of the Ffolk."
Alexei shook his head. "None of the wizards are from your islands. Cyndre recruited his council from throughout the Realms and brought us here to achieve his ambition."
"What ambition is that? What does he want – and what power does he hold over the High King?" asked Tristan.
"He desires to rule a large kingdom. The Realms of the Ffolk seemed to fit his needs, as best as I can guess – a weak ruler, divided peoples, but a large and rich land, ready for exploitation. The king fell prey to a simple charm spell long ago. Cyndre constantly tightens his hold on the pathetic worm, until it has reached the point where the king will not make a move without the wizard's approval."
"And your role…?"
Alexei's eyes flashed anger. "I was his right hand, the first to be recruited from Thay, where Cyndre also passed his apprenticeship. I watched my master's back, while he practiced his evil. He is in league with a powerful cleric – thinks he controls the cleric, though I have my doubts. But together they make a potent force." Alexei did not add his knowledge of Hobarth's mission – the capture of the druid who loved this prince. It did not suit his purposes to distract Tristan from aiding his escape.
They made good time. The passage widened into a cave about thirty feet wide, still dropping steeply. After some time, Tristan guessed that they might have descended as much as a thousand feet underground. He wondered when they would begin going up.
"Here," said the mage, suddenly pointing