Curse of the Shadowmage - Mark Anthony [79]
"I don't think we really need your amulet to tell us that, " Jewel replied, pointing to the far wall. A patch of stone looked as if it had melted and resolidified, forming the shape of a grotesque mouth that gaped open in a silent, frozen scream.
"In which case," Cormik added soberly, "he now has the Shadowstar."
Kellen bowed his head in sorrow. "Then we've lost."
Fifteen
"So where will he go now?" Mari asked the question as she paced restlessly back and forth across a thick Amnian rug. They had regrouped in Ferret's luxurious receiving chamber.
"Ebenfar," Morhion said after a moment.
The others looked at him in puzzlement.
"Ebenfar was the ancient kingdom ruled by Verraketh, the Shadowking," the mage explained. "Think of the words spoken by the two ghosts. The shade of Talek Talembar warned that a new king would rise to take the place of the old. And Kera's ghost warned Mari not to let Caledan ascend a throne." He smoothed a wrinkle from his long purple vest. "Now that he has the Shadowstar, Caledan will journey to Ebenfar, to rule as the new shadowking from Verraketh's throne."
Mari shivered. "If Caledan's transformation won't be complete until he sits upon Verraketh's throne, then he isn't a shadowking yet," she said fiercely. "I'm going a him, to stop him before he reaches Ebenfar."
"You will not go alone," Morhion said solemnly. "But there is a problem." He took a deep breath. "I do not know where Ebenfar is. We can follow Caledan's trail, as we have been doing, but we have little chance of reaching Ebenfar before him."
Mari's heart sank. Morhion knew so much-she simply assumed he would also know the location of Verraketh's ancient kingdom. She shook her head in despair. Now what were they to do?
A chill gust of air blew through the chamber, ruffling the tapestries and causing the chamber's oil lamps to gutter crazily. In the center of the room, a dark figure materialized out of thin air. It was a man, clad in ornate armor as black as polished onyx. Clearly, he was not alive. His eyes smoldered like hot cinders, and Mari could see dimly through the vaporous substance of his body.
"Serafi!" Morhion choked on the word.
Mari stared at Morhion. Serafi-that was the name the dark spirit with whom, years ago, the mage had forged a pact to save Caledan's life. The others gaped at the dusky spirit in horror, except for Kellen, whose gaze was calm and interested.
"Why have you come to me?" Morhion said hoarsely. "Why here, and why now?"
The spectral knight seemed to absorb all the light in the room. "I have come because it is clear you are far too stupid to complete your quest without my help," Serafi hissed. "And complete it you must, so that I can claim my due."
"How can I possibly afford any more of your help, Serafi?"
Morhion sneered. "Oh, indeed, you cannot," the spirit intoned with sinister mirth.
"So, in my generosity, I will give it to you freely. The lost kingdom of Ebenfar lies in the center of High Moor. Journey there. I will come to you from time to time, to guide you. Now go. And remember, I will always be near." With a blast of charnel house air, the spirit vanished.
A last, a rattled Cormik spoke. "What, in the name of all that's holy, was that?"
"The spirit Serafi has little to do with holiness," Morhion replied darkly. He cast a glance at Mari. For a moment, she thought she detected fear in his eyes. Then his face grew cool and impassive, his mask in place once more. "I will explain later," he went on. "Right now, we must ready ourselves for our journey to the High Moor." Purple dusk was upon them as they gathered with their horses outside a tent-stable on the edge of Soubar. They dared not wait until morning to leave. Ferret had see the Shadowstar in his treasure room yesterday. That meant Caledan was only a single day ahead of them. With the help of the eerie Serafi, they might have a chance of beating him to Ebenfar.