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Wizard of Zovoe Chapter 9: The Wizard of Zovoe (nosex viol magic) � 2010 Rhys.The.Mage Ch. 1 || Ch. 2 || Ch. 3 || Ch. 4 || Ch. 5 || Ch. 6 || Ch. 7 || Ch. 8 || Ch. 9 || Ch. 10 || Ch. 11 [1] The troupe, now with the addition of Cydonia (though she insisted on being called Cyd—pronounced Sid), rested for another two days before following the extensive dwarven tunnels off to the east. Although they would be able to avoid many of the potential traps along the way, they still had to emerge a few miles north of Zovoe, about a league south of Tuzon. It was not perfect, but it was the best they could hope for. Travel to the end of the tunnel passage took a full day, and by the time they arrived the decision to put off the assault until the following night was unanimous. Much of the chat during the night and into to the next day was idle. All of them knew the danger they were likely to face, and none of them was eager to discuss it. The dwarves sharpened their weapons, while Cyd, Gylal and Lusan sparred. Rhys and Jillian discussed certain tactics for spell casting in preparation for their encounter with the wizard Rhys had last confronted at the Guild house in Om. In the middle of the afternoon, The group met up, more or less inevitably, to discuss the plan for the night. Of specific interest was the location of the enemy. “We have the note,” Rhys said. There was a chorus of guffaws. “What?” he asked. “Really Rhys. We have no way of knowing if they planted that information,” Lemley said. Rhys nodded. “Then what do you propose?” “We need to scout the scene and figure out where they really are,” said Gylal. “Of course,” said Rhys, “but the problem of our being discovered is still the same. How do you propose we gain this information?” “We dwarves think looking around is a bad idea,” said Lynda. “Best to take our chances with the letter we found.” “Fuck that,” said Lusan. “I'll go,” said the dark elf woman. “It ain't like we can send Gylal by himself,” Rhys said. “I'll go,” said the dark elf woman. “There's no way in hell you are going without me,” Jillian said to Rhys. “I didn't bloody well say I was going, with or without you,” Rhys said. Cyd cleared her throat. There was a short pause in the conversation, and all eyes turned to her. “I said, I'll go.” "Yeah," Lusan said, "send the drow." Once again the group erupted into argument, but ultimately it was decided that precautions could be taken to safeguard her as she performed the reconnaissance by herself. An hour after sunset she would depart the safety of the tunnel and go into Zovoe to find out where the enemy was holed up. While in the enclave Jillian had produced a number of her invisibility potions, figuring they would not be detectable in the same way as a spell cast for the same effect. Cyd was given several of these as well as one of Rhys' precious communication gems. If she ran into significant trouble she was to immediately call for help and tell them as much as she knew. Just after sunset, Cyd left the relative safety of the tunnels and headed out on her recon mission. She headed into town dressed conservatively in a brown cloak that did not reveal anything of her envious figure. Under the cloak, of course, there was everything in addition to a lovely dark elf maiden. Her black chain and plate armor moved soundlessly over her body. A trio of extended duration invisibility potions were slung at her hip. Her blade, known to her to be a rare magical long sword of dark grayish blue metal, hung on the other hip, out of sight under the cloak. She returned a few hours later, shy the few coins needed to loosen some tongues. “I tried to be as uninteresting as possible, but there is always a chance our quarry has heard of my questions.” The group listened avidly to her tale as she discussed where she had gone, who she had talked to, and what conclusions she had reached. “I have no doubt they are in the tower of the abandoned keep outside of town,” she concluded. Rhys nodded, but said nothing. He considered her conclusions, took another tug on his pipe. Once again Gylal had produced some fine tabac. Gylal remained unconvinced. “There must be something more definite!” “And if there is nothing more?” Lynda asked. Gylal scoffed and rose to his feet. “Then we should wait.” Lemley spat. “There is no time for that. We have waited four days. They have no idea when we are coming. Even if they hear of our questions this night they have no idea when we plan to move. But if we wait, they may move and we will be lost.” Lusan borrowed Rhys' pipe and took a long draw. “I agree. Now, why do you think they are in the keep tower?” Without any pause, Cyd said, “Because that was the one place in or around the city that no one wanted to talk about. It's nearly fifty feet high, is damn conspicuous for miles around, and not one person mentioned it.” All the members had once again set down on the floor. There was an uneasy silence. Rhys looked around at all of them, found determination and resolution in their faces, “We leave at half past midnight.” [2] Sleep was fitful, more like impossible, for all of them. Though they tried to rest, the reality of the end of their quest and the battle ahead wore heavily on their minds. Their plan, such as it was, was simple enough. Rhys and Jillian were to head straight away to make contact with the rogue wizard. Lusan, Cyd and Gylal would locate and fight Azarea. The dwarves would try and remain out of sight until Azarea made herself known, at which time they would try and sway the battle against her even as the wizards dueled elsewhere. At the appointed hour, they moved to the exit and ventured forth into the wilds of the swamp above. Eerily, no creatures were moving. Their passage through the swamp was silent, almost as if the world were holding its breath, afraid to make any sound lest it be drawn into the battle to come. The little band encountered no creatures, no men, and no sound save for that of their own feet as they traversed the swamp land toward Zovoe. An hour and a half later, they came upon the rising presence of the tower. It was unlit, and appeared to be unguarded. “Do you think there is anyone home?” Lynda asked. Rhys nodded, his face lit by the light of a half moon. “Our whole transit has been too unnatural for Cyd to have been wrong. They're home all right.” He motioned for them to stop. “Wait here,” he said, “while I scan for wards.” Twenty minutes later Rhys returned. “I have removed the wards. Either this is the place or our mage has spent considerable energy on decoys.” “Do they know we are coming?” Lusan asked. “Hard to tell,” said Rhys. “Removing wards is inexact, but at least the traps they had set for us outside the tower are no longer active.” The group nodded, and followed Rhys as he led them into the tower. [3] Figuring that the first enemy they would encounter would not be the wizard, Lusan and Gylal entered the tower just ahead of Cyd. Following behind, at a relatively safe distance, were Rhys and Jillian. The dwarves brought up the rear. The party entered the tower, moving slowly and cautiously, trying to be ready for the traps they just knew had to be waiting for them. A stairwell off to the left leading down indicated there was more to the tower below ground. Directly across from the entrance was a bricked up alcove, indicating that at one time the tower had connected to another part of the building on this level. Whether or not the upper floors still connected was something they had yet to discover. With the entire group inside the tower, they fanned out to examine their surroundings. Narrow stairwells led up and down, one to the left and one to the right. They were to narrow for the party to proceed in any way other than single file. Lusan moved toward the downward staircase, Gylal close behind. The dwarves were investigating the walled up alcove. An audible 'click' was heard, and all eyes turned toward Lusan. The big fighter froze in place, uncertain what he might have just tripped. A grating sound was heard, and then a large black creature dropped into the center of the room—narrowly missing Rhys. The thing had multiple arms and legs, and seemed to have eyestalks to manage them: allowing it to engage multiple enemies all at once. The thing wielded swords with three of its tentacle-like arms, an axe with another, and one was curiously empty. With the beast taking up most of the room, the party backed up to the walls, with Jillian closest to the upward leading stairs and Lusan still close to the downward set. The dwarves drew blades and were on the beast in a second from their quadrant of the room. Rhys threw a blast of lightning at the bare tentacle and burned it off. The dwarves were parrying quick attacks by a pair of arms, but holding their own. One eye turned its attention toward Jillian. Raising her staff only slightly, she seemed to hesitate and invite whatever it was about to do. She kept her focus, but not her eyes, on the nearest leg that the creature sought to move toward her unnoticed. Staring at the eye until the last minute, she swept her staff and connected with the leg as she concentrated on making it slow. “Lassu,” she said. The creature recoiled at the contact, but the affected leg only dragged back. The eye that watched her squinted. Jillian dove into the stairwell as a bolt of energy shot forth, catching her with a glancing blow to her left calf. She winced in pain, but it was not severe. Gylal, seemingly ignored by the creature, made to strike at one of the eyes engaged with Lusan. Somehow, it saw or sensed him and lashed out with a sword as soon as he made his move. Parrying the blow easily, Gylal nonetheless backed off slowly and more carefully considered his next move. Whereas Gylal might have thought himself unwatched, Cyd was certain of it. She had drawn her blade silently, and now watched for an opportunity. The creature appeared confused to her. It seemed to off and on have the advantage, but it did not move on any of them. It was as if there were too many of them. Jillian emerged from the cover of the stairwell and chanted what sounded like a protection spell—on a block of stone above the creature. Rhys watched as the appendage he had severed quickly regrew. Lusan parried a blow, but then briefly lost his footing. As he did so, the creature threw one of its swords at him. The big man dodged the blow, then yelled in surprise as he fell backwards down the staircase. The creature jumped at the dwarves, then retreated. It danced around to keep away from Gylal, even as Rhys alternately killed its tentacles only to have them regrow. After a few iterations, Rhys was just using his staff to parry its blows. It would have seemed a draw had it not been for the departure of Lusan and the slow sapping of their strength from the constant combat. Twice Gylal had hit the creature, to no effect. Twice the dwarves had hit it, to no effect. Rhys could damage it, but not permanently. “If anyone has an idea about how to summon the good idea fairy, now would be a great time to start,” he said. Gylal, parrying another thrust but unable to score, said, “Why don't you just make it disappear like that maltuse?” “Later, smart guy,” Rhys said. “Lemley, Lynda, push it toward me,” Jillian said. Without a word the two dwarves weighed into the battle further. Each took a minor wound to their upper body as they drove the creature toward Jillian. An invisible wall between her and the creature, it pushed up against it but could not advance. As the creature suddenly jerked as if trying to get out of a trap, Jillian looked at Rhys, “The block.” All of Jillian's energy was focused on her wall. Rhys understood her meaning and uttered a spell to loosen the marked block, which was now directly above the creature. As dust filtered down onto the eyestalks, they looked up in time to see a massive block land square on them. The legs still moved. The eyestalks sought enemies, the sword bearing tentacles flailed for enemies they could no longer reach. Rhys quickly burned off three of the stalks, and Jillian matched him. Cyd danced up to the creature and thrust her sword into and out of the creature so fast it was almost possible to believe she had not touched it. But then it suddenly quit moving. A remaining eyestalk was still held aloft, and as it started to droop she reversed her grip, swung the sword to cut the stalk, then caught it in a pouch before it could hit the ground. As the others watched her display, her sword was back in its scabbard before the pouch rested on her hip. “What was that about?” Lemley said. “Revenal,” she said matter of factly, “native, but rare, to my homeland. Eyes are valuable.” “Charming place,” said Gylal. “What about Lusan?” Jillian said. They all moved quickly to the downward stairs, with Lynda and Lemley in the lead. [4] Arriving at the next level, a strange sight greeted them. Along the distant wall, the now familiar form of the demoness Azarea sat astride the immobile form of Lusan. From their angle of approach they could clearly see his cock sticking up inside her pussy as she rode him. As they entered the chamber, she stroked herself upon him once, twice, then leaned forward and bit him viciously on the neck. Lusan made not a sound. The dwarves rushed her only to be repulsed by some unseen force. Azarea turned toward them slowly, lifting herself off the now dead Lusan with a perverse sucking sound has her greedy cunt released his cock and it thumped wetly against his abdomen. She drew his sword and rose to face them. “Your friend fed me nicely,” she licked her lips, “though he isn't about to tell of it.” Entering the room, Jillian and Rhys threw spells at the demoness. They deflected off the shield, but it was visibly driven back, as was Azarea. She hissed at them. Cyd nonchalantly drew her blade and advanced to the edge of the barrier, testing it with her sword. The dwarves moved the other side, leaving Gylal to watch the upward stairs and Rhys and Jillian to directly face the she-devil. Though she clearly knew what kind of creature she faced, Cyd seemed unconcerned by the danger. Another pair of spells from Rhys and Jillian and the barrier was even closer to Azarea, who was likewise strangely unconcerned at the brazen approach of the dark elf. Rhys and Jillian eyed each other, wondering what they had missed. They did not have long to ponder as Azarea suddenly dropped the shield and caused a patch of moss on the wall to explode in growth. Rhys tackled Jillian as he yelled, “Down!” even as the demoness focused her will and uttered, “Vyout” causing the great patch to explode in flame. The blast stunned all of them, driving the dwarves, humans and even the dark elf to their knees. Azarea smirked, and quickly moved on the elf before she could regain her senses. The unexpected move had caught Cyd off guard, and a quick slash from Azarea took her across the chest. Her armor deflected most of the blow, but not all of it and not the energy. The strike sent her rolling with a streak of crimson opened on her otherwise pristine gray-black arm. The drow now reduced in threat, and with the dwarves down, Azarea turned toward the magic users. The human male was further away, and unmoving. She smiled, advancing on the dazed wizards. Rhys pulled himself from his daze, saw that Jillian was looking up at him, and past him as he felt the demon approach. He looked down, saw that Jillian clutched her staff, ready to strike. “I love you,” he said. “I know,” she said. The demoness raised her arm slightly for the coup de'grace against the wizard. Rhys dropped his shoulder, clearing Jillian and her staff. Jillian concentrated on a simple, powerful emotion, something Rhys had taught her that first day. “Strach,” she said, fear, speaking the word with her own quavering voice. Azareas pure black eyes snapped open in horror, something loathesome and terrible in her mind. Something only she could see. She reared back, and Gylal's blade stabbed through her body. Still frightened by the sight in front of her, she scarcely noticed the blade, but understood at once its damage would be minimal. Slowly fighting off the effects of the fear, the demoness smirked, and grabbed the blade tip. She turned suddenly, yanking the blade out of Gylal's hand. Surprise registered for only a moment as she noted the smirk on his face as she disarmed him. The intense face of the dark elf was only starting to enter her consciousness when the sword of the buxom blade wielder whistled through the air and cleaved her head from her body. A surprisingly small amount of blood, if that is what it was, burped out of the wound and splashed Jillian in the chest. Azarea's head hit the floor, and her body followed a moment later. Eying the muck on her chest, Jillian stood and faced Cyd, “Next time why don't you take the money shot?” Cyd shrugged, then wiped her blade across her torn sleeve and sheathed it. The dwarves had regained their wits, and had checked on Lusan before returning to the group. Gylal pulled his blade free from the body and examined it. “Funny, I kind of thought it might melt.” Eyes turned to Cyd, Gylal spoke what they were all thinking. “And why is it your blade was able to kill her?” Cyd pointed at Jillian. “Didn't she say I was a knight? Don't knights have magic swords?” “Haha,” Lynda said, “never met a knight. Let alone one that could afford a magic sword.” No one moved. “You mean it's a real magic sword?” Cyd nodded. Rhys said, “Anyone injured?” A number of hands went up, and he distributed what little healing potion they had. The dwarves were dazed but okay, Jillian had a twisted ankle that was readily patched up, and Gylal seemed to have avoided any injury. He was surprised, however, to find Cyd did not need any help. “I saw you take that hit, let me look at your arm.” Cyd sighed, then allowed Rhys to look at her arm. It was flawless. No sign of injury even though the chain shirt was torn and marked with dried blood. Rhys raised an eyebrow. “The sword?” Cyd nodded. Rhys furrowed his brow. “That kind of magic is typically dark.” The sword jumped several inches out of its scabbard, and Cyd's hand was nowhere near it. Cyd waggled a finger in front of him. “Now, now, mustn't be insulting. Latek doesn't take kindly to insults.” “Latek?” Gylal said, “Who the hell is Latek?” In an instant the grayish blue blade was in her hand and held up for all to see. “This,” said Cyd, “is Latek.” “Are you saying it's aware?” Rhys said. The blade murmured. They all heard it. “There you go, being insulting again. It's a her, not an it.” Rhys was incredulous. He had heard of, but never encountered and intelligent sword. He shrugged, his curiosity getting the better of him. Someone had once told him of how to approach such an object. “My apologies. Please forgive my benightedness. Madam, might I have the pleasure of an introduction to your friend Latek?� The busty dark elf smiled widely and held the sword forth for Rhys. He took it gently in his hand and barely noticed the weight. The sword pulsed in his grip and he stilled his mind. It did not speak to him in words, but in pictures. A moment or two later and he understood completely. He relinquished it to its owner. “How, may I ask, did you come to find her?” Rhys said. “That is a story for a later time. For now, there is a wizard that needs killing. Er, no offense.” Jillian snorted. “None taken.” They turned and started climbing the stairs, Rhys in the lead, with Jillian, Cyd and Latek close behind. Gylal and the dwarves brought up the rear as they moved up the stairs toward the Wizard of Zovoe. [5] The band of adventurers, fresh off of two hard fought and costly victories, climbed the stairs toward what they hoped was the last denizen of the tower. As they ascended to the fifth level, the stairwells became progressively narrower and the rooms smaller. Rhys paused as he reached the closed door on the top floor. He spoke to the group before moving on. “I know this has been difficult, and we have lost dear friends, but trust me, if the mage we seek is in the next room, you must greet him with all the anger and strength you have.” As he paused, they all nodded. “Jillian, if he is in here, and you will know when you see him, you must not hold back.” She nodded shortly, and Lynda poked her in the back. “Have you been holding out on us?” Rhys cut her off with a wave of his hand. “Once inside, fan out, go after anything you see that is not one of us, and do not stop until we are the only things moving in the room.” Rhys took one more look at the many determined faces, saw no fear there. “Then in we go.” Rhys literally blew through the door, staff in hand. Jillian was hot on his heels, holding onto her staff of the Wyr with a death grip. As she entered the room, she felt a slight tickle in her mind, and immediately blocked it out. She caught a glimpse of movement ahead of her. She focused on a thought that made her skin crawl, but she forced the power to answer her nonetheless. “Ajalom,” she said, pain. Rhys saw the robed figure hesitate as Jillian's spell caught him off guard, score one for her. “Villam,” he shouted, lightning. A bolt of pure energy snaked from his staff to the enemy Mage, but he had instantly regained his wits and countered the spell, shunting the blast to the floor of the tower. Coming through the door, the lightning bolt going into the floor lifted Cyd and Gylal from their feet, sending them reeling. Sensing the mage was going to strike at them, Jillian raised her staff toward him. “Yenge,” she said, weak. At the same moment, the Wizard of Zovoe focused his thoughts and gestured toward the recovering dark elf, “Tuz,” he said, fire. But even as he released the spell Jillian's spell hit him and his attack veered wide and contacted the heavy wooden door. Lynda had just made it through, but the blast seemed to envelop Lemley, and he disappeared down the stairs with a frightful clatter. Lynda, raising herself from the floor, readied her two swords and advanced on the wizard. “You fucking prick, I'll eat your heart for that.” Rhys and Jillian exchanged a glance, then Rhys through a spell at Jillian. “Besseg,” he said. Jillian, accelerated in thinking and in action by Rhys' spell, barked out two words of her own, “Erez,” she said toward the evil Mage, feel. Then in a blink she said to Cyd, “Besseg,” speed. The target of their attack, the Wizard of Zovoe, the one apprenticed to the one they ultimately sought, was unprepared for what happened. Though he may have been powerful, he was not ready for the onslaught of emotion as the first spell hit him. Suddenly feeling the emotions of everyone in the room, it stunned him momentarily. A flick of the wrist, no more, was all it took for Cyd to lash out with Latek. A savage gash opened in his chest where his robes were parted by her strike. She winced at having not struck deeper. Latek howled in frustration. As Cyd danced away, the Wizard threw another spell at her. “Hool,” he said, heat. But the spell impacted Latek and drove the swordswoman back, and the sword barely warmed in her grip. The cowled mage yelled in anger. “Gomb,” he said, sphere, and a shimmering bubble seemed to envelop him. “Magnes, huz,” he grunted, magnet, pull. Lynda shrieked in surprise as she literally flew backward and was pinned to the wall by her armor. Rhys swung his staff savagely, “Zetor,” he said, shatter, just before he contacted the shimmering sphere. The prismatic shifting globe burst under the attack and the besieged wizard grasped his amulet. Jillian felt the tickle again and this time, she acted on it. It felt like a sense of loss, and she said, on instinct, “Stay,” in the common tongue. A look of horror crossed the wizard's face and he dropped the amulet. He turned toward Jillian, but Cyd and Gylal both slashed him with their blades even as Rhys said, “Megall,” stop, and the wizard staggered as his heart stopped briefly. Lynda dropped from the wall with a crash, and upon seeing the enemy was unmoving, headed down the stairs. Cyd stood over the wizard, who was breathing in quick gasps. She looked at Rhys. Rhys bent over and pulled off the amulet by breaking its chain. He eyed the curious metal object and dropped it in his belt pouch. He nodded to Cyd who then let go of her sword. All of them watched in stunned amazement as Latek left her grip, cleanly cut the wizard's throat to the bone, then jumped back into Cyd's hand. They all could have sworn the blade purred as the dark elf wiped it clean on the robe of the fallen enemy. As she resheathed the blade, Gylal said, “Remind me never to piss you off.” Cyd smiled and blew hair back out of her face. “You needn't worry.” Gylal thought she looked energized, even after the fight. “Are you okay?” She grinned ferally. “I am always good after a fight when Latek draws blood.” Rhys smiled. “Very unusual to find that ability resident in something that isn't evil.” Latek purred, and Cyd obviously enjoyed the sensation. Rhys smiled. “Now, what did you do that kept him from fleeing?” Jillian smiled, then laughed. “You don't know?” “Know what?” a male dwarven voice said from the doorway. Though relieved to see him, Cyd did not miss a beat. “What did you do?” “I just had this feeling that my staff and the amulet knew each other. I asked the amulet to stay with us.” None of this made any sense to Rhys. A common word actually had power! He shook his head. “What do you mean, they knew each other?” Jillian shrugged. “I can't explain it, but that is the way it is.” Gylal, who had obviously remained silent until now, found his voice. “Well, plenty of time to discuss that later. Might I suggest that we find anything of value here, bury Lusan as is his due, then adjourn to Zovoe and tell them the curse of this tower is lifted?” Cyd, clearly still energized by the killing of the Wizard, grabbed Gylal's arm and spun him around, kissing him firmly on the lips and holding his hand to her breast. “And we shall show them as well!” [6] Sitting on the ground outside the tower, Rhys pondered the curious amulet he held in front of his eyes. There was nothing particularly notable about the object, and the chain was quite plain as well. While he waited for the others to bury Lusan and loot the tower, he did little more than stare at the shiny metal amulet and its unattractive silver chain. Jillian exited the tower and sat down next to him in the pale light of sunrise. “Is staring at that thing telling you so much?” “No, and I had hoped that it would.” “Wood. Oddly, that is what I am thinking of, wizard of mine.” Rhys looked at her, only a bit surprised by her lusty behavior. Then a sudden inspiration hit him. “Wood! That's the link,” he said. Jillian eyed him curiously, not understanding him in the slightest. Rhys stood, gestured at her excitedly. “Where is your staff?” Jillian reached into her robes and produced the Wood of the Wyr. Rhys smiled. “You said that your staff knew the amulet.” “Yes, so?” Rhys clenched the chain in his hand. “That's it. The amulet and the staff are kin!” Jillian wondered if her lover had lost his wits. But even as she pondered that none too pleasant thought, he continued. “Think only of the amulet.” Jillian did as she was asked, and Rhys reached out and touched the amulet to the staff she held. At the moment of contact, she suddenly felt a connection, and nothing that she wanted to continue. She abruptly snatched the staff away, breaking the contact. “Did you feel something?” Rhys asked. “A very uncomfortable familiarity. It is very hard to explain.” Rhys nodded excitedly. “I know. The amulet is somehow made of the same stuff as the Wyr.” His look then shifted to one of wariness, “and the same as the odd metal that Erdore gave us.” “How is that possible?” Jillian asked. Rhys shook his head, “I know not, but I have questions for Guardian of the Tong when next we meet.” The rest of the party soon joined them, and they made their way into Zovoe, eager to tell their tales of adventure and spend some extra coin they had just acquired from the recently departed owner of the tower. Next Chapter |