Black wizards - Douglas Niles [138]
They had discovered a vast nation of dark dwarves – not the tiny outpost she had first suspected. Somehow, the duergar had overcome the natural balance of forces that served to maintain peace in the underdark: they had destroyed or driven away enough of their neighbors to enable them to develop vast resources of precious food. With that food supply secure, there was little that could stand in their way.
Finellen feared for her people, the dwarves of Gwynneth. The retreat of her companies must not lead to the clanholds, or the entire population would suffer an unspeakable fate.
So she directed the retreat away from Gwynneth, away from the caverns that led to her home. She had only one hope – a slim one, at best. She would try to lead the duergar onto the surface, where their strength was weakest. Perhaps if she could lure the pursuing horde under the light of the sun she could face them and die with honor.
That was all she had left to hope.
* * * * *
Alexei was one of the first to arrive at the smoldering chapel. He saw the hole in the wall and smelled the distinctive odor lingering in the air. And he watched in silence as a group of men bore a stretcher from the wreckage.
He heard the thundering of hooves behind him and turned to see the bandit lord gallop in. O'Roarke's face reflected his anger and shock as he dismounted.
"Do you know what happened?" he asked, looking somberly at the stretcher as it was borne from the church.
"I am certain a sorcerer used lightning magic. The damage to the church and that smell in the air is clear evidence. The cleric is not dead, but he is badly hurt."
"How bad?" O'Roarke's grief showed in his eyes, though his voice remained steady.
"He will be crippled and blind, unless you have another cleric here capable of healing him," Alexei said bluntly.
"There are none in Doncastle. This is a serious blow. Now we are left to face the attack without a cleric or a wizard."
"Perhaps not," said Alexei." Vaughn Burne used his healing magic on me last night." The mage held up his hands. They were still twisted and scarred, but he was able to move his fingers with some control. The grimace distorting his face showed that his dexterity returned with considerable pain.
"He also gave me access to the spell books of Annuwynn. I have been studying them."
"And?"
"I think I can use them."
"You can start by finding whoever did this!"
"That would please me greatly" said Alexei.
"I'll be with the troops at the King's Gate. Let me know if you learn anything," said O'Roarke.
Now Alexei could begin to wreak his vengeance. He would avenge himself upon Cyndre, upon Kryphon – upon the entire council that had turned him out.
And it would start with this agent who had caused so much damage in Doncastle. He had a good idea about the attacker's identity, but he stepped into the chapel and quickly reconstructed the attack to be sure.
The wizard went over to the spot where the spell had been cast. Searching the floor, he found what he sought: little shards of the rod that was used to cast the spell.
And he learned more than he dared hope. The shards were not glass, or even amber – materials most magic-users would have used for the spell. The glittering fragments were unmistakably diamond.
* * * * *
"I didn't like that place anyway!" declared Newt. "All those people running around – you couldn't even get a bite to eat without asking somebody. And they'd always say no!"
"I d-didn't like that t-town either," replied the wood sprite. "B-but I miss Robyn – miss Robyn!"
Newt's tail drooped as he settled to an oak limb high above the floor of Dernall Forest." Why'd you have to say that?" he said wistfully. "I miss her, too! Why do you think she didn't want to come along with us? I know she likes the woods!"
"I-I think it was the prince – her prince."