Forbidden Quest (20 page)

Sarah went to the tree she and Hopper had leaned against while waiting for Jack and Nicole to return. Tears welled as her thoughts turned to Hopper's insecurities about proposing. Pushing the pain
deep inside, she vowed to find him as soon as the monster
was destroyed
.  She brushed away the tears as a sob jolted her back to the task at hand
.
Crawling on her hands and knees, she searched the area surrounding the tree to no avail. The book was nowhere to
be found
.  A movement came from the brush and Nicole appeared at a run.

"Someone's coming!
"
She grabbed Sarah and pulled her
back  into
the darkness.  

Jack appeared at their side as the dark warrior and a handful of elf warriors

emerged
from the bushes.  His elfin vision had no trouble detecting them in the darkness. The large elf motioned for his men to remain behind as he headed across the small hollow. His short cropped blonde hair was speckled with blood, his black chain mai1 was shredded, revealing 1arge muscles torn and bloody from combat
.
He tore what remained of his helmet from his head and tossed it aside, not taking his eye
off of
the sorceress before him.

"The beast has retreated deeper into the caverns. It seeks shelter to gain strength. Apparently, our direct attack so soon after its return has left it weak." His eyes narrowed as Jack placed himself between him and Sarah. Ignoring the barbarian, the elf continued to address Sarah. "We do not possess the power to destroy it. It took 12 of our most powerful wizards to imprison it many years ago. Many of whom have died mysterious deaths since then. Now
merely a handful remain
.  That’s not nearly enough to defeat the beast." His eyes took in Sarah’s her pale, drawn features. Could she actually be mourning the loss of that giant troll?

''We were deceived . . .
“  Sarah
tried to explain.

"Regardless of your reasons, you have sentenced us all to death. My warriors have asked for the privilege of killing our assassins." He tore his eyes from hers, ignoring the depth he found there. "Being a man of honor, I wil1 give you a moment to prepare yourselves."

"I want to kill the creature." Sarah declared, heedless of their death sentence.

"As do I.
"
He answered, surprised
.
He had expected a plea for mercy or a threat of vengeance. "But that is beyond us now.  When you have been
dispatched
we will return to the caverns and search for the beast.  Perhaps we can wound it, delay its strike against our land."

"I can kill it." Sarah replied, confidently. "I hold the magic of Puissant."

"He was a powerful wizard." His blue eyes searched hers calmly, gauging what
lay
behind her innocent face. "If you hold his power then you are truly evil, for his magic came from the darkness that can only be gained in the death of another wizard."

"I know nothing of how he came into his power. He intended to give it to Nicole and sacrifice her to the beast but it came to me instead. He told us the Elf Queen was imprisoned in the Cave of Sorrows
.
It was our intention to rescue her. We are victims, the same as
yourselves
. 
Except we have to live with the guilt from the loss of life and the sorrow caused by Puissant's treachery."

A snap of the elf’s fingers brought one of his warriors forward. The young elf faced her, hatred filled his eyes
.
The elf commander held out his hand and the warrior placed Sarah's Book of Conjuration in it.

"Is this the weapon you intend to use against the beast?" He asked, calmly holding it out to her."Yes." She answered confidently, her eyes locking on to the book.

Tossing it into the embers of the fire, he sneered. "It is nothing more than a wizard’s book of instruction. An apprentice could wield more powerful spells than these!"

"I don't care!" Sarah screamed, banging her fists against his armored chest. "
I
can kill it! That's why we're here
!
It's not to free the beast
.
We're here to destroy it!” 

Taking hold of her wrists, he held her back from him and stared at her in silence. Her words gave purpose to the cautions that had been plaguing him since the moment he first saw her wield her magic. Perhaps she was right, perhaps Puissant had unknowingly given birth to his final aggression
.
As long as the beast had remained imprisoned, there was always a chance that it
would be freed
. 

Could
Puissant 's
quest for revenge and dominance end with this innocent  sorceress: Was she powerful enough to final
l
y rid them of the creature?  Could Puissant have become desperate enough to hand over his powers to an inexperienced young woman? Was the realm the wizards had sent him into so savage that he would risk all to return?  Or was his quest for revenge overshadowing his most inner thoughts
.
Yes, Puissant would risk everything to wreak havoc on the elfin people.  Without doubt, the elf commander was certain of this. 
If the same power that created the beast had been instilled in this girl, perhaps it was possible for her to destroy it and
in the process seal Puissant's fate forever
.
He would pay greatly to see the ancient bastard stranded in a foreign land without
so
much as a card trick to protect himself.

Jack moved forward to take a hold of Sarah 's shoulders and pull her gently back from the elf
.
''We won't stand idly by and allow you to murder us.
"
Jack cautioned,  "We set the beast free, that's true, but if the creature fled as you say, perhaps it's not as invincible as you believe
.
It
wasn’t
able to strengthen itself as planned by absorbing Sarah’s magic.  Perhaps now is the time to strike before it has time to find another victim and gain strength.”

Pulling his eyes away from Sarah the dark warrior faced Jack. "I was surprised at the weakened condition of the creature." He admitted.

Jumping at the chance, Jack glanced back at Nicole.  “
Pussiant
said we  needed the ancient magic of the fairies to escape
.
It’s possible that woodland magic is not as pure or strong and has failed it in some way?"

The dark knight frowned at Nicole.  "Not much is known of Woodlands.  Your people are a mixed breed. Your heritage is a union of elf and wood nymph, sister to the fairies."  Moving to Nicole, he returned his sword to his belt.  "Tell me of your talents. He demanded, stopping before her.

             
Her eyes narrowed. She was not frightened of this warrior. Although his skills  were great, but she was not afraid to die
.
Her thoughts went to Hopper's cold dark tomb.
He had told them to continue.
He wanted them to end it. Her eyes went to Jack and softened, his worried smile of encouragement sent ripples through her. When this was over, she would tell him that she loved him.

Turning back to the warrior, she said, "I can speak with the animals. I have night vision. I can hear the river that's more than a mile to the south as it splashes against the small rocks in its path
.
I know much of the earth's magic of counter spells, I can feel the magic in others, gauge their strength in it and the type of power they wield."

"Can you cast enchantments:" He
asked.

"Only over those who are in love with her."
  Jack offered with a smile.

"I have knowledge of enchantments." Nicole admitted, ignoring Jack's remark.
"
I
have never felt the urge to attempt wizardry."

Moving to the fire, the dark warrior kicked the smoldering book from the embers and gingerly picked it up.  Bringing it to Nicole, he opened it, tore out a page and tossed the book into the grass.

"Read this aloud." He ordered, handing Nicole the page.

“I can't read the words." Nicole said flatly, handing it back
to
him.

He turned to Sarah and asked, “Is this true?”
 

"Yes, I am the only one who can read them.
"
Sarah answered, then moved
retrieve  what
was left of her book, Wanting desperately to search it for a spell to help Hopper..

The elf turned back to Nicole, grabbed her arm and pulled her to the fire.  "Will it to burn higher!
With all of your strength!"

Eager to test the strength of her magic Nicole did as he said. Nothing happened. Releasing her, he moved toward his men, shouting orders.

“You must have been right.
"
Nicole whispered to Jack
.
"
They're
heading back in
. "

"We're going with you." Jack declared, following them into the brush.

The elf commander turned back to him, his eyes dark. "I am Cabal, Prince of the Highland Elves, heir to the throne of Fortress City. I will not sacrifice any of my warriors for your protection. "

Jack nodded and motioned for Sarah and Nicole to follow.

The darkness of the cave consumed Jack and Sarah. The elves insisted they carry no torch light or use spells to warn the beast of their approach. Nicole walked at the head of the party, reaching out with her woodland senses for the beast's magic. Deeper and deeper into the cool dampness they searched, hours passed with no sign of the beast.

Sarah's thought screamed out to find Hopper. She forced herself to search her mind for a spell that might aid them and found none. It was just as Prince Cabal had said the book was simply a learning device for the unskilled.  There must be a way to kill the creature.

When it injured Hopper, she'd thrown fire at the beast
.
Where had it come

from
?
How had she conjured it?  She hadn't felt the magic flow through her as before
.
It had been a rush of power brought on by her anger.
But
it didn't hurt the beast it didn’t even the surface of its skin.  Nicole motioned for them to stop Jack squinted in the darkness and bumped into the irritated warrior in front of him. Shrugging Jack apologized silently.

No reaction came from the warrior as he stood frozen before Jack
.
The beast lay in  a large cavern a few meters ahead
.
Prince Cabal pushed through the group to where Sarah stood. Sensing his presence
,  every
muscle in her body tensed.

Cabal whispered in Sarah’s ear, "We're going to charge the beast head on. You must attack it quickly, before it recognizes you.  It needs your magic to grow powerful. Once it discovers you, won’t stop until it reaches you." His voice softened, "It mustn't reach you. I am the only one, other than your companions that who will defend you.  Know
this,
if it takes hold
of
you, my warriors have orders to kill you before it takes your power.  A light spell might hinder its defenses. Give me a moment to warn my people, then cast it over us and into the cavern
. It’s
immense, much larger than the other.  The spell
must be strong.
"
Cabal placed his hand on her shoulder and added, "Do not fail, it would wound me deeply to take your life
.
Especial
l
y when our world so desperate
l
y needs people of magic."

She nodded, feeling him turn and move off toward Nicole. Jack followed, if Nicole was going to charge the beast, he was going to be at her side. Sarah took a deep breath and thought of Todd. She was certain it was too late to save him.
She’d
lost him forever.  Bringing her anger to
bear
, she allowed it to rise. It allowed her to concentrate on the death of her only love's murderer.  The elves turned their eyes to the floor as Sarah cast her light spell into the cavern. Their eyes adjusted quickly as they rushed forward, just as Sarah screamed at the excruciating pain of the claws digging into her shoulders.

Her scream brought Jack and Prince Cabal to a halt as they spun to find a large band of brown, hairy trolls racing toward them. Jack met the onslaught swinging
his  sword
wildly, severing limbs and clawed hands as he fought to reach Sarah.  Cabal
dove  under
the attack, scrambling through the mass of long hairy legs.  He pulled the trolls down as Jack hacked at them from above.

Bats swarmed out of the darkness as Nicole appeared at Jack's side. The trolls
retreated  as
they attempted  to drag Sarah off into the black void of the tunnels.  Screeching, the diseased creatures swatted at the bats. 
This gave Sarah the opportunity to defend herself.
She called upon her magic to set the nearest troll on fire.  Her need for revenge controlled her choice of spells.  The large beast ran off into the darkness, screaming in horror only to fall a short distance away as the flames consumed it.