Black wizards - Douglas Niles [91]
"You have seen this prince outwit the finest assassin in the land," said Cyndre. "Now, our colleagues Kryphon and Doric pursue him. We can only hope that they fare better."
"We know he is in Doncastle." Talraw spoke hesitantly. "Why don't we simply destroy that town and have done with him – and it?"
"Remember" said the wizard gently, but his undertone told them all that Talraw was a fool for asking such an obvious question. "It is not our power that will win over the Ffolk. We must appear to act only as the king's advisers. Only through him can we gain the power we truly deserve. When that power is ours we will be free to act as we wish.
"But that day draws near. Have patience and listen well: One of you must remain here always, watching the mirror. We have found the Prince of Corwell, and we will not lose him again."
"Yes, master," they chorused, awed at the responsibility he had laid upon them. In truth, they were not ready, but Alexei was lost to them, and Kryphon had a mission of his own.
"And it may be that you will see one looking back from the mirror" said the sorcerer, his voice dropping low in warning. He described the one he sought and watched as the three mages exchanged frightened glances. "Should you see this in the mirror, you are to interrupt me immediately.
"For I seek to talk to the sahuagin."
XIII
Callidyrr
One after another, the druids gathered at the Moonwell, stumbling in from the surrounding darkness to gasp weakly against the sturdy stone pillars. There, they quickly recovered their strength. The milky water glowed softly.
The circle of arches here in the center of the grove was illuminated faintly by the light from the Moonwell. Robyn felt rather than saw the other druids around her. And she knew that the army of death was very close.
Something white moved through the darkness to stand beside her, and she threw her arms about Kamerynn's broad neck. The presence of the mighty unicorn bolstered her own confidence.
"We haven't long to wait," said Genna. The Great Druid emerged from the darkness to stand beside her pupil.
"Did you see the… human?" Robyn asked, wondering if one who commanded such an army could actually possess humanity.
"No, but it was his spell that destroyed the elemental. He cast it from beyond the stream. Perhaps the barrier still prevents him from entering the grove."
"Barrier?" Robyn was surprised. "I've never seen a barrier at the edge of the grove."
"No one can see it. And only one such as he, a being consumed by evil, feels it. He cannot pass into the grove through it, though I fear that now his army may have damaged it enough so that he can."
Robyn saw Eileen of Aspenheight and the stalwart Gaddric step wearily toward them. Their brown robes were torn, and bloody scratches covered their bare arms and legs. Gadrric's stout staff and Eileen's sickle were covered with ripe gore.
"How did the undead pass it, then?" Eileen asked.
"These poor, mindless creatures are not inherently evil. They are simply driven by his foul command. As such, the barrier had no effect upon them." Genna sighed sadly. "All they want is to return to death. The cruel truth is that the cleric has taken from them the only thing they had – the peace of eternal rest."
Robyn had not thought it possible to feel sympathy for the ghastly invaders, but she found herself suddenly pitying their unnatural plight – and hating the cleric who had done this to them.
"Now, to your posts – all of you," chided Genna, tenderly. "Remember, the arches must be held at all costs!"
She swept her arm in a great circle to indicate all twelve arches. These arches provided the only access to the Moonwell. Earlier, the druids had prepared their defenses by filling the spaces between the arches with an impenetrable tangle of thorn bushes. Now each arch was to be guarded by several druids