Curse of the Shadowmage - Mark Anthony [14]
Choked by fear, Mari could barely voice the words. "The door… they're blocking it."
A score of the amorphous black creatures had drifted before the open portal. The fear in Caledan's eyes was quickly usurped by rage. He shook a fist at the nameless creatures, snarling. "Let us pass!"
At once, like a curtain of black velvet, the creatures parted before the doorway, leaving room to pass. Caledan pulled Mari's arm. "Come on!"
She froze, staring at him. She was struck by a sudden, inexplicable fear. At that moment, Caledan seemed as alien as the jet-black blobs that floated before them.
"What's wrong with you?" he growled, tugging at her arm.
It was irrational-perhaps even mad-but he frightened her as much as the unnameable creatures. She tried to pull away, but he held her tight. At last she managed to speak. "They… they listen to you. They obey your commands." She felt dizzy and ill. "But why…?"
Caledan's eyes were wild with urgency. "What does it matter?" he shouted at her. "The way is open. We have to go!"
This time he pulled her hand so fiercely it seemed to nearly dislocate her shoulder. Brilliant pain flared, but she welcomed it, for it cleared her head. Later she could deal with what had just occurred between Caledan and the things of darkness. Now they had to flee. Hand in hand, she and Caledan dashed between the floating ranks of onyx creatures and careered headlong down the twisting stone tunnel.
*****
To Belhuar Thantarth Master of Twilight Hall
In Milil's name, greetings!
I am gladdened to report that the Zhentarim threat to Iriaebor has once again been averted. It is now clear that the unexplained murders were indeed part of a Zhentarim plot to assume control of the city. I have concluded that the unfortunate victims were being fed to ravenous magical creatures conjured by a group of Zhentarim sorcerers hidden in the New City. In the lair of the Zhentarim were found schematic drawings of Iriaebor's High Tower, suggesting that the magical creatures were going to be used as a weapon in a bloody coup attempt. Ironically, it seems that the Zhentarim's own magic turned against them in the end; all the Zhent sorcerers were found slain in their hideout. Scores of the strange creatures were discovered in the Zhent lair. It appears that, in their hunger, the creatures turned upon the evil sorcerers who had conjured them. However, when I returned later to investigate with the mage Morhion Gen'dahar, the creatures were not to be found. Apparently, without victims upon which to feed, the magical creatures were dispelled.
With this mission completed, I am ready to assume the new task you have described in your latest missive. I will report again in one moon's time. Until then, may Milil's music be sweet upon your harp!
Yours in the fellowship of Harpers Mari Al'maren
Alone in the chamber she shared with Caledan on the upstairs floor of the Dreaming Dragon, Mari set down her quill pen. She sprinkled a dusting of fine sand across the missive she had written, then tilted the crisp piece of parchment, shaking off the excess sand. Finally, she rolled it up with the sketches she had made of the dark creatures and sealed the scroll with hot wax from the single candle resting on the writing table. For a time, she stared at the neatly rolled parchment, thinking how the eerie creatures had drifted around Caledan in what almost seemed to be reverence; how she and Caledan had fled the Barbed Hook in terror; how only at Morhion's urgent prompting, after they told the mage what they had witnessed, did they return to the Zhent lair and find them vanished.
Why the things had seemed to obey Caledan's commands was a mystery. Perhaps it had something to do with his shadow magic. After all, the creatures had come from the shadows. Morhion had discovered a black, noxious residue in the corners of the underground chamber, and had collected some in