Eighth Fire (4 page)

Jeremy looked up toward the second level.
Nothing except the light was visible. “Mark Young, Steven Young,
Shirley Young and James Young are presented as commanded.”

Mrs. Shadowitz’s voice sounded from above.
“Thank you Jeremy, you may leave.” No sooner had the massive door
closed behind Jeremy, Mrs. Shadowitz continued. “You have all been
summoned to this emergency session of The Council of Elders of The
Seventh Mountain to be informed of the gravely important nature of
recently acquired information, as it concerns your very lives and
the course of events yet to come.

“Mark, as you well know, Benrah was most
adamant in his wish to tell you something. It is for that very
purpose that Mr. Diefenderfer, Mr. Young and Mr. Barns were brought
back to life and it is the decision of this council that the
information is to be relayed to you and your family.

“Benrah is of the opinion that you will
acquire an artifact of significance to him sometime in the
relatively near future. He says he gives you the choice of either
destroying it utterly or returning it to him. Should you decide not
to do this, he says he will destroy everyone and everything you
ever held dear.

“As a sign of his will, he says he has
re-inflicted Mr. Diefenderfer and Mr. Young with their old
scars.”

Mark had been looking up but turned to his
left when he heard his mother sigh. He saw his dad put his arms
around her to keep her from falling over. She had fainted,
again.

Mrs. Shadowitz said, “Steven, you may remove
her from the chamber. Jeremy will be waiting. James, you may leave
as well.”

James clasped his hands together in front of
himself and his voice sounded shaky. “Ma’am, I’d like to stay with
my brother if that’s alright?”

“Very well.”

The large door opened. Steve scooped Shirley
into his arms and walked out.

The door closed again before Mrs. Shadowitz
spoke. “Mark, we are unable to determine what this artifact is that
you will allegedly recover. We say allegedly in the light that this
may be the start of a multi-layered design by Benrah toward some
other end. The Ummim-Thummim indicated Benrah spoke truth about his
desire to destroy a specific artifact, but we have no clue what the
artifact might be. When any statement involves you, the stone will
still not answer, so we don’t know if he spoke truth when
threatening everyone and everything you hold dear. Nor do we know
if it was truth when he said your enemies will petition to become
your friends when you succeed.

“What we do know is that Benrah must control
a great many artifacts to enable him to keep control of the world
once he has attained it. It doesn’t make sense for him to desire an
artifact be destroyed unless that artifact is likely to work
against him.

“That leads to a dilemma, a choice we
unanimously refuse to make. Only you can make that choice should
the situation present itself. Naturally, we desire any tool that
aids in defeating the designs of Benrah, but not at the stated
cost.”

CHAPTER TWO

The Other Mountains

Mark led the rescue expeditions at The Sixth
Mountain, the first of the six planned incursions into the very
gates of hell to liberate those trapped within; and each of the
other five mountains following that. The expeditions began in the
first week of July, right after the wedding. The original team had
rejoined for the simple reason that they had become experienced in
traversing the labyrinth at The Seventh Mountain, a task none
wanted, but one they could wish on no other. There was also the
fact they all knew and trusted each other, a major factor for the
coming incursions.

Each labyrinth had required a couple of
days, outside time, to search and recover the people and artifacts
they contained. Every journey into the labyrinths was followed by a
week or so of unconsciousness in the healing ward of the mountain
where they happened to be.

Everyone on the team had
been completely healed of any ailment, disease or affliction they
might have had as a result of being in the labyrinth of The Seventh
Mountain.
Mr. Diefenderfer had grown hair on his formerly
bald head and even his scars had completely disappeared. After he
returned from the labyrinth, one was not likely to recognize
AlHufus Diefenderfer from his speech or appearance had they not
spoken with him face to face fifteen to sixteen years earlier when
he was perfectly normal. His brain damage had been miraculously
healed, if you could call it that, albeit at a grave price, and his
voice was as normal as it had ever been, so Mark had been told by
Joseph Young.

When Joseph Young had been rescued from the
labyrinth of The Seventh Mountain, he was reputed to be a hundred
and fifty-seven years old, the same age as Mr. Diefenderfer. He
didn’t look a day over fifty. Mr. Young and Mr. Diefenderfer were
close friends and had been ever since they were in school together
at The Seventh Mountain, despite the fact they were of different
tribes.

Now both men had reverted to their damaged
states and had not been restored as Mark had hoped, from their
recent trip into The Sixth Mountain, The Fifth Mountain, The Forth
Mountain, The Third Mountain or The Second Mountain.

The team was walking out of Omar’s Table at
The Second Mountain, a large dining facility similar to The Oasis
at The Seventh Mountain, in order to remanifest to The First
Mountain when Mark walked up to Mr. Diefenderfer. “Sir, why were
there so many scrolls in the first rooms of the last three
labyrinths?”

“That...good sir...is a lesson...that you
will study...at some length...in due course. However...you must
forgive me. In this quest...I often forget...there are many
things...you do not know. I will summarize...the events...that led
to that end. I do apologize...for having to omit...many
details...which are...in and of themselves...very important...and
enlightening...concerning the course...of our history.”

The group of Magi that comprised the rescue team
began trooping past Mark, Mr. Diefenderfer. Joseph Young stopped
beside Mr. Diefenderfer. They were on their way outside in order to
be able to see the sky, a prerequisite for remanifestating. The
decor inside The Second Mountain was much the same as the other
mountains: marble walls and floors, very high ceilings with
intricate woodwork, and fancy lighting.

Mr. Diefenderfer turned and started a slow
pace toward the door. “As I recall learning...the events
began...about a thousand years ago...in North America. Benrah...had
been defeated...so many times...by the Magi...and others...in his
attempts...to take over...the world...so naturally...he came up
with...the idea of...wiping these forces...from the face of...the
Earth. He convinced...several tribes of people...in North
America...to go to war...with those tribes...that followed the
ways...of The Great Spirit...and to especially concentrate...on
their shamans...medicine-men...and prophets...a preponderance of
those...being Magi. That war developed the idea...that killing a
magical person...would cause the killer...to gain great power. This
led to...only magical people...being hunted.

“This concept...as well as this
war...traveled down...into South America...and didn’t end...until
the Magi of...The Sixth Mountain...and The Seventh
Mountain...decided they would unite...and fight back...something
they had chosen...not to do...until this point. Sadly...several
civilizations...were quickly destroyed...as a result of...that
decision.”

Mr. Diefenderfer paused and thought for a
long moment before continuing. “Little is known...about what went
on...in Australia...at this point...in time. But...of what is
known...suffice it to say...similar events...were transpiring.

“In Africa...Europe...the Middle East...and
the Near East...a vast...and far reaching effort...came forth...to
round up...any and all...that were...even in the
slightest...known...or suspected...to have any form...of magical
ability. This period was known as...the Burning Times...in as much
as...those caught were...summarily executed...by fire...except in
rare circumstances. This era ended...with the conclusion of...the
Spanish Inquisition...of which...I am sure...you are aware.

“In Asia...Genghis Khan...and the
Mongols...fought an army...of invading Europeans...whose quest
was...to quash magic people. He stemmed the tide...for his
people...but lost in the end.

“Unfortunately...Magi always trained...as
apprentices...at the mountains...and few had the ability...to
remanifest. As a result...vast numbers of Magi...were lost during
that time. Indeed...it was a time...of very great sorrow. Our
numbers dwindled...to a relative few...and it was feared...nothing
could be done...to stop an invading army...should that army...find
the way...to any of the mountains. All important works...were
encased in wax...and tossed into the labyrinths...with the
hope...that they might be recovered...sometime in the future. That
hope has...not been in vain.”

Mark asked, “So, is that why so many people
live in the Magi cities?”

“It was after that time...that training was
formalized...at the seven mountains...with considerable
emphasis...placed on secrecy. Not everyone...that sought
refuge...at the seven mountains...were Magi. Some had special
skills...others were wrongly accused...others just wanted to help.
Along with the buildup...of the Magi cities...seven
orphanages...were established...one by each mountain...so the
children of those killed...could be cared for. The orphanages were
later moved...except for the one...at The Seventh Mountain...back
into the normal world. After that...the cities and the
orphanages...just became a way...of doing things.”

Mark said, “What’s so important about the
scrolls?”

“Up until the Burning Times...not all Magi
were trained...in all skills. What an apprentice was taught...was
entirely...the sole will...of their teacher. Consequently...a large
number of skills...were lost...with the deaths...of so many Magi.
It is our hope...that many of these skills...can be
rediscovered.”

“What kind of skills?”

“We’re not...absolutely sure. There are
legends...of Magi being able...to levitate...walk through
walls...manipulate objects...at great distances...and many more
things.”

Mark followed Mr. Diefenderfer and Joseph
Young through the door and out onto the school grounds. They were
the last ones out and the others were already gone. Mr.
Diefenderfer extended his arm toward Mark and Mark grabbed his
sleeve. Instantly they were at The First Mountain.

“AlHufus, Joseph, it is so good to see you
both again. Joseph, we were so joyful to hear that you made it out
of the labyrinth.” The man stood about ten feet in front of where
the group had appeared. He wore a golden crown with what looked
like a royal purple and white felt cap underneath. He was obviously
a very old man with very long, stringy white hair and a beard to
match. His eyes were black and shone like a highly polished onyx
stone. A blazon covered his gold trimmed black cloak. The symbols
on the blazon were two crowned figures facing, each with arms
extended to the other. His voice was baritone and heavily accented.
When he spoke the name Joseph it sounded more like ‘Yo-siff’.

Mr. Diefenderfer and Joseph Young brought
their right arm up so their hands were level with their chins,
stepped back with their left foot, then bent their knees and
returned to a normal standing position. The normal salute was just
the arm movement and was always followed by a long-winded soliloquy
by the person doing the salute, extolling their own virtues and
accomplishments. Mark had not been instructed in this variation of
the normal salute for when he met the High Elder, Habeas Grob. He
followed their lead, saluted as they had and buttressed his mind
for the grandiose pontification from Mr. Diefenderfer and Mr. Young
that would surely follow.

The dialogue following a normal salute was
traditional and was thought of as a verbal resume giving the
speakers qualifications for any task that might be required of
them. This speech was only preformed in the exclusive presence of
Magi. If one were unsure if another was a Magi, or if non-Magi were
possibly listening, then the salute was entirely different. For the
non-Magi case one simply said that they were a traveler from some
direction, like north, seeking some vague object. A Magi would
respond with phrases of similar construction, stating the opposite
direction and indicating whether what was sought was present or
not. An example might be, “I’m just a tourist from the west seeking
some answers to my past.” A Magi would answer something like, “I’m
a tourist too, from the east. You may find your answers here.” The
information didn’t have to be accurate; it just had to follow the
proper form. It amounted to nothing more than a secret verbal
handshake that could be fitted to most circumstances.

The High Elder didn’t return their salute,
but instead turned to look at Mark. “This must be the young Magi I
have heard so much about.”

Joseph Young grinned and said, “He is.”

Mark had no idea of what he was supposed to
do next, no one had told him. High Elder Grob had not returned the
salute or spoken anything about himself. This was very unusual for
formal first meetings which he had grown accustomed to over the
past several months. He raised his right hand to chin level and
began. “Sir, I am Mark Young, student of The Seventh Mountain,
bearer of the staff, key to the labyrinths–”

All three men started laughing. Joseph Young
put his hand on Mark’s back and said, “Mark, sometimes it’s hard to
remember that you aren’t a fully trained Magi yet. Formal
introductions are not used for or by the High Elder. He already
knows who you are and you are supposed to know who he is. I’m sorry
I forgot to mention that.”