Deliverance (29 page)

“It could be a number of things.” Halmez
answered her, “No one knows what lies in there, so the only way to
find out is to actually go there.”

“But do you guys know where it is?” Blaze
asked.

“I’m afraid not,” Halmez replied.

“But we will do research on the subject and
as soon as we can figure something out, we will get you both ready
for the journey,” Orwynn said.

“Thank you elders,” Crystal gratefully
said.

After they finished eating dinner, which was
more delicious than they had eaten in a long time, Blaze and
Crystal followed Bredewig to the library. He instructed them to sit
at a table in the corner of the room and then started thumbing
around on the shelves. They watched for several minutes as the
elder pulled the spines of several books and replaced them after
concluding that they were the wrong one. Finally, after several
minutes of scanning shelf to shelf, Bredewig muttered, “Aha!” and
pulled a book off of a dusty shelf.

He walked over to the table Crystal and
Blaze were seated at and plopped it open with the pages facing
upward. As he flipped through the pages, Crystal recognized it the
same book Thaddeus found the tracking mark spell in and, just as
Thaddeus said, the counter spell for the mark was on the next
page.

“Here it is!” Bredewig said, pointing to the
page.

“Do you need help gathering the supplies?”
Crystal asked.

“I could use some help, actually. Thank
you,” replied Bredewig.

Crystal then helped Bredewig find all of the
ingredients listed in the book. The plump elder even complimented
her knowledge of magic ingredients, stating that Thaddeus taught
her well. Once they both had armfuls of ingredients, Crystal and
Bredewig walked back to the table and placed the bottle carefully
onto the surface.

“Now then, this tracking spell requires a
handful of fire sand as the primary ingredient, so this frost
powder is needed to counteract it. I also need this willow leaf
here, oh and a pinch of . . .” Bredewig continued muttering as
Crystal handed him what he asked for.

Within the next ten minutes, Bredewig was
sprinkling the blue powder onto the tip of his staff, and even
though Blaze braced himself for a frostbitten shock, when the staff
touched his skin, it was cold, but Blaze didn’t even have to wince.
He saw steam rising out of the corner of his eye, and he watched
Crystal’s expression of amazement as the staff pulled away.

“Is it gone?” Blaze asked.

“Yes, the mark is, but . . .” Crystal
responded.

“I’m afraid the mark usually does leave a
scar like that, at least from what I have heard,” Bredewig
replied.

“Scar?” Blaze said. He then looked around
and saw a mirror, so he got up and looked at his reflection. Sure
enough, there was a scar that matched the pattern of the tracking
mark on his neck. Where solid black had been on his skin before,
there was wrinkled skin that looked like a healed burn that never
went away with time. The skin turned whiter where the scar
traveled, and all Blaze could say was, “Damn.”

“I apologize. The counter spell is fairly
recent, so no one that I know of has discovered a way to prevent a
burn scar from forming where the mark was,” Bredewig replied.

“Don’t be sorry, Elder. At least Saitar
can’t see his actions anymore,” Crystal assured.

“Yeah.” Blaze said, turning around, “Thanks,
Elder.”

“Yes, thank you so much,” Crystal added.

“You’re both quite welcome,” Bredewig
responded while adjusting his glasses.

Just then, Elder Ydon walked into the
room.

“Are you finished, Bredewig?” he asked.

“Yes, Ydon. We just removed it,” Bredewig
replied.

“Well done,” Ydon replied, bowing his head
to Bredewig in respect. He then said, “I was just coming to walk
our guests back to their rooms.”

“Very well.” Bredewig said, “I’ll clean up
here. You two go on ahead.”

“Are you sure you don’t need help?” Crystal
politely asked. After the plump elder assured her that he had
everything, Crystal and Blaze thanked him again and followed Ydon
out of the library.

Even though they both found it odd that the
Elven elder was walking with them to their rooms, Blaze and Crystal
didn’t mention it. After stopping at Crystal’s door, she wished
them both ‘good night’ and retreated inside.

Blaze’s bedroom was a little further down
the hall, and when he opened his door and turned to thank Ydon, the
elven elder spoke first, “I was hoping to get a chance to speak
with you privately.”

Blaze leaned against the door frame and
asked, “About what?”

“I told you how I read Crystal’s mind when I
first met her, but I also read the mind of the man you called
‘Gavril,’” Ydon replied.

Blaze straightened up slightly. He paused,
waiting for the elder to speak again, but instead spoke first,
“What did you see?”

“First, I want to tell you that when I saw
your thoughts earlier, I saw that not only had you changed from a
dangerous and cunning prince to a brave, noble warrior, but I also
saw that you changed mainly because you fell in love with Crystal,”
Ydon told him.

Blaze took a deep breath and slouched a
little and faced away from the elder, a little peeved at the
thought of the elder possibly knowing his entire life story.

“I also saw that she returns you feelings
and I truly wish you both the best. That is why I want to warn you
about something,” Ydon said.

Blaze looked back at him and asked, “Warn me
about what?”

“I didn’t want to say this in front of
Crystal, because she was already worried about Gavril enough, but
when I read his thoughts, I saw . . . a certain event from his
past. I am afraid, however, that it is something quite personal, so
it is not my place to reveal it to you. After Crystal told us that
he stayed behind in the castle to ‘take care of something,’ I
became worried that . . .” Ydon explained. He trailed off at the
end and took a deep breath.

“That . . . what?” Blaze asked.

“Based on what I saw in his mind, I can
honestly say that you need to prepare to be there for Crystal and
comfort her because I do not believe Gavril will be leaving the
castle alive,” Ydon replied.

“WHAT?” Blaze exclaimed. He spoke so loudly
that Ydon had to hush him so that no one else would here. Blaze
then continued, “Why the hell would you think that?”

“As I said before, I am not at liberty to
say what I saw. I need you to promise that you won’t tell Crystal
what I said and just be there for her should the worst happen,”
Ydon said.

Blaze calmed down enough to reply, “All
right.”

“Good. Rest well, Blaze. You will have a
long journey ahead of you starting tomorrow. We elders will be
researching the Lost Realm and will try to determine the location
of the entrance,” Ydon said. With that, he walked off down the
hallway and Blaze retreated into his bedroom. He rested his head on
his pillow, his thoughts buzzing around one question; what happened
to Gavril in Daldussa that would cost him his life now?

CHAPTER 19

For the past several days, Bogdan yelled and
cursed at everyone who could hear. Still angry over his soldiers
allowing Blaze and Crystal to escape and even angrier that no one
could figure out how they escaped, everyone tried their best to
avoid the king. Even those who had no choice but to face him
trembled violently, unable to speak as he stared them down. Even
Saitar and Valamar avoided Bogdan at all costs, Valamar mainly
because of the horrible bruise and busted lip that Blaze left him.
Lucky for everyone, the fearful reactions Bogdan got seemed to give
solace to him.

The one thing, however, that angered Bogdan
the most was the fact that he had one shard missing from fusing
together the Eye of Gaull. He had heard rumors that the rebels had
three shards, but the army that raided the hideout returned only
with two. Orodan had brought him the one he lured the rebels into
the trap with from the ruins of the Elven Forest. So now, there was
one shard unaccounted for and he had no idea where to look for it
next.

Saitar finally approached Bogdan in his
study one day and said, “My King, may I speak with you a
moment?”

Bogdan was hovering over a map of Cierith
marking the places his soldiers already looked when he heard Saitar
speak.

“What?” he snapped without looking up.

“I-I . . . I mean, uh . . .” Saitar
stuttered, but when Bogdan gave him a mean look, he straightened
his speech out quickly and spoke again, “There is a prisoner that
was taken to a separate cell from the other inmates after
surrendering in one of the corridors. He’s been requesting to talk
to you for several days, but . . .”

“But WHAT?” Bogdan barked.

Saitar gulped loudly and continued, “But
you’ve been rather busy, so we didn’t bother you. Then he told us a
moment ago that he knows where the last shard is and he will not
say a word about it unless he talks directly to you.”

Bogdan straightened up. His large stature
made Saitar cringe and tremble. And he nearly fainted when Bogdan
spoke again, “Who is he?”

“His name is Gavril Fletcher.” Saitar
responded, “He is second in command of the rebels.”

The name “Gavril” seemed oddly familiar to
Bogdan, but he brushed it off and said, “The poor fool is tired of
taking orders from a woman who abandoned her comrades and so he
wants leniency in exchange for telling me where the last shard is.
Very well, bring him here if he wants to talk to me so badly.”

“Yes, my King,” Saitar replied. He then
bowed and left.

Fifteen minutes later, Bogdan turned to see
his door open and reveal two guards escorting the rebel, Gavril,
inside with his hands cuffed behind him. Bogdan had seen this man,
who he didn’t think was many years younger than himself, during the
incident at the City of Magi and he also remembered him as the
rebel that escaped the ambush at the temple. He stood before Bogdan
now with all of his equipment gone; all the rebel wore was his
long-sleeved, white shirt, his pants, and his boots.

Gavril stared at Bogdan with a stone face
and a stiff body. The two men stood in silence staring at one
another, and Bogdan sensed that the rebel was hiding tension. He
stood in front of the rebel with his hands on his hips.

“So then,” Bogdan said, “I understand you
demanded to speak with me?”

Gavril straightened up and swallowed hard,
but for some reason, Bogdan didn’t think it was out of fear.

Then Gavril spoke, “Yes.”

“Okay. Do you know where the last shard is?”
Bogdan asked.

“Yes, but that’s not what I am here to talk
to you about,” Gavril replied.

“Well that’s what I demand you tell me,”
Bogdan replied with an unusually calm tone.

“I have something to tell you that I can
assure you that you will want to hear more,” Gavril replied, “but I
will need my hands to be free before I continue.”

Bogdan stared at the rebel for some time,
and then he nodded at the guards. They immediately unlocked his
iron cuffs and Gavril shook his wrists to get the feeling back. The
guards then stood on either side of him with their blades
drawn.

“So then, what do you want to tell me,
rebel?” Bogdan asked.

Gavril ignored the blades pointed at him and
responded, “I want to offer you a deal. You don’t harm the other
rebels in any way and in exchange, you can take all of their
punishments and your anger out on me.”

Bogdan burst into laughter. He looked at
Gavril, who continued to stare at him stone-faced and
emotionless.

“And why would I do that?” Bogdan
taunted.

“I take it you don’t remember me then,”
Gavril said coolly.

“What are you babbling about? I know you are
second in command of the rebels, but to me, all of you rebels are
the same. Why are you so much more important for me to punish than
the rest of them?” Bogdan said.

“I’m not talking about the rebellion at all,
Bogdan,” Gavril retorted sharply.

The guards winced when Gavril referred to
the king by his name, and even Bogdan became annoyed, but he was
too intrigued to care.

“What do you mean?” Bogdan asked.

“You and I go way back. I’m surprised you
don’t remember, but then again, you’ve destroyed so many lives that
I’m sure it’s hard for you to keep track of everyone. It was a very
long time ago too, but I remember every detail of that night. I
thought I could forget and run from what happened, but every time I
turn around, my demons from the past find me. I have decided to
face them head on and end this once and for all,” Gavril
remarked.

Bogdan was very irritated at this point, but
he spoke anyway, “Care to elaborate further instead of boring me
with your self-realization nonsense?”

“I suppose just showing you what you did to
me that night will jog your memory,” Gavril replied. He then
grabbed the bottom of his shirt and was about to lift it when the
guards straightened up and moved their swords closer to him. Gavril
paused, but once Bogdan gestured for the guards to step away, he
continued. Once he pulled his shirt off, the color drained from
Bogdan’s face.

On Gavril’s abdomen was an enormous scar. It
was about the size of a knife wound and still dark in color. The
skin around it resembled the remnants of a horrible burn. Bogdan
remember the rebel, All right, and he remembered the very day he
gave him that wound. Bogdan’s wan face suddenly became beet red
with anger and a vein on his forehead threatened to burst.

“You . . .” Bogdan growled.

Gavril smirked and replied, “I knew this
would jog your memory.”

Bogdan took several deep breaths, and once
he could speak without screaming, he said to the guards, “Leave
us!”

The guards obeyed and shuffled out of the
room quickly as if to avoid an explosion. Now the two men were all
alone.