The Barrier: The Teorran of Time: Teen Fantasy Action Adventure Novel (28 page)

He leaned in to the drab gray of the rock.

"Symbols, like the ones I found in the cave back home." Shaz said. He put his first finger on the stone and traced one.

"Ancient symbols?" Inelius said, "I have never known anyone to have seen them, you are the first. Can you read them?" he asked.

"Yes. But it doesn't make sense." Shaz said.

"Each portal is different and has a different protocol to activate them." Inelius said, "You must figure it out for yourself, that is what tells the portal who you are."

"They’re alive?"

"Oh, yes, you see, they are record keepers. Commissioned by the Gods to document history and relay truths to those who worthily seek it."

"So they tell you information?"

"Think of it this way. Energy is information, it's a conscience. When energy is present there is conscience. A kind of intelligence that is different than our own."

"How do you know when you are at an earth portal?"

"You sense something change in your body. Like a sensation in your hands or tingling in the body. Perhaps you will see different colors surround an object or rock formation. Earth portals exist only within the realm they are in and there is always something unusual about the surroundings that you must be in tune with."

"How do you use one?"

"You must first clear you mind. Then create an energy ball that you can connect with the energy of the portal." Inelius said tapping his withered finger on his wrinkled temple.

"How do you do that?"

"Like this." Inelius held one hand at his chest, with his palm facing down, and the other at his pelvis, with his palm facing up. He rotated his hands swapping their positions, with each other, back and forth, as though he had an invisible ball in between them. "By rotating your hands you take the energy from your core and channel it into this energy ball. Once you have enough energy to offer, you let it go sending it toward the portal." Inelius gently shoved the ball outward, letting the glistening purple glowing sphere hover toward the wall. "You must open your imagination. A faculty that is open to possibilities. You are not making things up, but if you don't have a good imagination when a piece of information comes to you. You will dismiss it as impossible and doubt. This is the hardest part even for powerful magic users like you." Inelius said.

Shaz mimicked Inelius and rolled his palms around an invisible ball. He focused on the feeling the magic made inside his body. He imagined the magic coming from his core and filtered into the ball. He let his imagination take over him and open his mind to possibilities.
What do I have to loose. Nothing’s the same anyway
. His logical, critical mind argued.

Inelius stood with excitement as the brilliant colors flowed from Shaz's body into a dancing sphere.

"Is there something wrong?" Shaz asked.

Inelius coughed to clear his voice and said, "No, nothing wrong, but everything right, do you feel the energy that is your magic?" Inelius made an effort to control his excitement.

"What do you mean?"

"Magic is energy, its conscience, intelligence, alive." Inelius paused, "Now, just let it go." Inelius said, "Oh, wait, but first you must always gain permission to interact with an earth portal, or any portal for that matter."

"How many portals are there?"

"No one knows. Some are dormant, but most are in a state of being active. Earth portals are not for traveling through time and space, to take you to another realm or place. They offer information, enlightenment and instruction. You don't know what they have to offer until you interact with them. Some of them have to be called upon by those who protect them." Inelius said

"Like the stories that Grandfather used to tell." Shaz said.

"They aren't stories dear boy."

Inelius said slipping his hands into the arm holes of his light blue robe. His white under robe nearly blended in with his pale aged skin.

"Yeah, I know that now." Shaz said a hint of dread in his voice. "May I?" he asked the portal.

A small breeze flowed over his body. Even though they were under the castle and there were no windows or doors to the outside. Inelius reassured him. He released the energy like Inelius had. Shaz's colorful magic ball hovered for a moment and then merged into the stone. The stone like eyes squinted and fluttered before opening wide.

"How may I assist you Shazmpt?" it asked. The voice was deep and almost rumbled in his chest.

"What earth portal is this?" He asked.

"I am the portal of the portals. I teach how to use the time portals. I see that you have your medallion already." Shaz nodded, "Good, then let’s begin."

Illuminated images flowed into Shaz's mind from the mountain side. Images in different forms: a mirror image from a river flowing under a stone bridge, in the forest forming a perfect circle, the high pointed arch high in a dark sky, oval stones set between pillars and many more. The images changed from the different portals to showing how to use them. Showing pictures of objects that act as keys and how they work in the portals. Symbols faded in and out telling Shaz that, each symbol had a meaning and did different things. His mind filled with new understanding.

After several minutes the images faded away. The collar of his blue silk shirt, damp from sweat, felt cold on his skin and his hair flipped back as a breeze blew past him. Shaz faced Inelius and was about to speak. Inelius stirred from his trance like state, and stopped him before he could say anything,

"What is said is only for the one who seeks it."

Mushrooms

Ralti ran down the hall toward the keep. Helios and Pontos followed into a large cavern that was the reception hall for political meetings.

“It’s too quiet, and I don’t see the usual guards.” Ralti said.

“Where are they?” Jaxton asked.

“I don’t know, Kronos thinks he runs things now.” Ralti said.

“I do run things now, with you no longer the first in command.” Kronos said. They spun on their heels and glared at the mangy and unkempt General. “I see you brought some friends with you.” waving to the side he continued, “So did I.”

Several heavily armed soldiers appeared from the dim corners of the room.

“Great, just great.” Pontos said, “I just polished my talons and now I have to get them scuffed up on your shiny armor.”

Jaxton snickered. One of Kronos’s thugs parried forward bringing his sword up in an ark. Ralti side stepped and slammed his fist into his side. Helios swung his battle ax up across his body blocking a forward thrust from another thug. He rotated his wrist and stepped toward him. He threw out his paw and jerked the sword from his opponents grip. The startled gryphton spun out of the way and elbowed Helios in the ribs. Pontos lifted off the ground, whipped his sling back and let loose flinging a polished stone. It smacked the thug’s armor with such speed that it shifted him back several feet and dented the metal.

Ralti ducked away from the forward strike and came up under a thugs chin with his fist. It jolted him up and backward. Ralti scooted around him with the intent on engaging Kronos. Helios felt a slam hit his ribs. He recoiled sharply keeping his ax blocking his body. Helios took a few steps back. The thug advanced quickly, Helios lifted his ax and spun it around the soldier’s ax. Then Helios slammed his fist into his ribs. Helios heard the crack of the bones break and brought his ax down. The dampness of the mildew drenched walls wafted across the cave, as Ralti threw a gryphton against it. Pontos reloaded his sling and shot another stone, this time smacking into the center of the gryphton’s skull. It lodged into the skull knocking the soldier dead to the ground.

Ralti felt the sting of a blade in his side just below his chest armor. Ralti hit the ground on his knees as the pain seared through his body. Helios spun just in time to throw his ax into the assailing blade blocking it from hitting Ralti a second time. Ralti spun on his knee behind the protection of Helios and stood, bringing his blade up and over his shoulder slicing through the shoulder of the gryphton who had struck him.

The thug retreated as his arm lost the ability to carry his blade. Blood hit the ground mixing with the odor of musky dirt. Pontos was about to load another stone, when a gryphton that had come from an adjacent tunnel, slammed a stone of his own into his back. The impact knocked him into a stalactite. Blood dripped from his temple as he hit against the sharp edges. Ralti spun on his knee again, this time swiping his leg under the legs of another gryphton, sending him falling to the ground. Ralti flipped his blade and sunk it into the fallen gryphton.

Helios stepped back with his raised elbow, and slammed it into the eye of the thug. Flipped his sword backward and palmed the hilt of his blade. With both paws he shoved the blade through his heart. He fell with a thud. Pontos spun around and glared through the one eye that still opened. He lifted his hind legs, and released his talons, in time to sink them into the thigh of an oncoming soldier. The combatant roared with pain as the sharpness sliced through the muscle. Pontos gripped his blade and attempted to pull it from its sheath, when the other sliced his belt allowing it to fall to the ground. Ralti rounded a stalagmite, crossed his body with his blade and engaged the gryphton. The clank of metal on metal sounded in the cavernous room. First a forward jab, blocked with a sideways step, a kick to the chest and a crash against the rocks.

“We’re about to be outnumbered, Helios.” Ralti said catching a glimpse of an adjacent hallway.

“Now.” Helios said.

They shoved cloth into their nostrils and took out the masks Helios had given them, and strapped them around their beaks. Kronos and the others laughed.

Helios reached into a pouch and pulled out a little glass jar.

“You may think you are stronger than us but we are smarter.”

He threw the jar at the feet of the oncoming soldiers, shattering it into pieces. The gaseous fumes of the mushroom evaporated into the air. Kronos glanced around and when he didn’t see anything he threw up his blade. Ralti blocked, sliced, blocked, parried, sideways strike, block.

Pontos engaged two new soldiers first blocking then striking, then spun in the air and sliced his blade through the flesh of one and elbowed the other. Helios ducked, sliced, side stepped, and ducked again. It would only take a moment until the effects of the hallucinogen would take over. Helios had spent many hours perfecting his poison.

Ralti shook his head clear of the fog from the last blow Kronos gave. He gripped one of Kronos’s wrists, while the other engaged his blade and slammed his forehead into Kronos’s. Kronos stumbled back as the hit nearly took his senses. Ralti slammed his fist into his throat knocking the air from his airway. He brought the hilt of his blade up and thrust it against Kronos’ temple. Kronos crumpled to the ground and Ralti pulled his blade down through the flesh of his neck. A soldier in the front saw the mask Helios and the others wore and dropped his sword. He started toward the others frantically trying to get away. Others soon too dropped their swords and scrambled through the oncoming gryphtons.

“Why are they running away?” Pontos asked.

“I isolated the components of the mushroom that evokes fear and heightened it, mixed it back in with the hallucinogenic effects. When they see our masks they think they see something they can’t explain.” Helios said.

Ralti smiled, slapped Helios on the back and ran off down the hall toward the keep.

“It’s good to have you back.” Pontos said.

Helios smiled, it had been a long time and it did feel good, even with a broken rib and bruised and bleeding. Ralti ran around the corner and came to a skidding stop. Brigdon looked up through swollen and beaten eyes.

“It’s about time you got here.” Brigdon grunted.

Ralti looked for the keys to open the shackles.

“I thought you were just a political prisoner.” Ralti said, spotting the key on the table across the room.

“I was, until the rumor that Azrak was back started. Is it true?” Brigdon asked.

“Yes, he’s back.” Ralti snagged the keys and darted back to Brigdon. He unlatched the shackles and Brigdon’s arms fell.

“Let’s go.” Ralti helped him stand.

“I’m fine.” Brigdon said. He shook the fog from his mind and rubbed his swollen wrists. “Never felt better.”

“Where’s the treasure keep?” Ralti asked

“Why?”

“Because, we have to get the Orb.” Ralti said.

“Not that thing again.” Brigdon said.

Ralti laughed, “That’s what I said.”

Brigdon grimaced through his black eye and said, “This way.”

************************

The library was vast with two balconies and a level below ground. The smell of leather and paper filled his nose. In the center of the room were isles and isles of shelves. He had never seen so many books in one place. The room was decorated with tall silver and crystal vases. Some had flowers arranged in them and others marbles of lighted glass.

Shaz spotted Inelius sitting in a soft over stuffed leather chair, resting against the tall back. He avoided a large globe sitting in the center of the room but ran his finger on the hand painted surface. The old man stirred in his chair and opened one eye.

"Ah, your here" Inelius climbed out of his chair.

Shaz nodded and shoved his hands in his pockets.

Inelius rummaged through a desk, "Ah here it is" he said, "This is a Time Portal map. It shows you were the Time Portals are in each realm."

Small spheres rose from the surface and hovered over different areas of the map. Bright glittering hues of gem stones contrasted the earth tones of the planet showing the realms.

"These are the same symbols the Earth Portal taught me last night." Shaz said pointing to along the sides.

"Yes, that's right, and since you can't take the earth portal with you this map will help you."

"Thanks.” Shaz said.

After spending more of the day exploring the castle, Shaz and Serin found a large door. It was larger than the rest and very heavy. Shaz tugged on the handle and it opened slowly. As they walked into the dark room, sconces around the walls lit by themselves. It was if the room knew they were there. The walls curved around in a circle. Large window frames round the room. The domed ceiling had more symbols carved into the stone, along with depictions of stars and planets. Shaz walked around the room studying the symbols on the sides of the oval doorway.

“What is this place? It wasn’t here before was it?” Serin asked.

“I’m guessing it’s the portal room.” Shaz said.

“So each of these frames are a portal to another time and place?” Serin asked.

“One does not travel through time, but that time is measured at a different rate in each realm.” Inelius said. He had a gentle smile as he entered the room.

“Does every portal look different?” Serin asked, “I mean from the other side?”

“This is the only place where all portals come to the same location. Each opposite portal has its own environment.” Inelius said, walking to the center of the room.

A light flashed across one of the frames causing them all to jump.

“What was that?” Shaz asked quickly making his way to the frame.

“Or rather who?” Inelius said.”

“What do you mean, who?”

“A portal doesn’t just activate itself dear boy.” Inelius said, “Remember, it’s the lack of imagination that keeps a person limited from the possibilities.”

Shaz tried to open his mind but found it more difficult than before. There was so much stuff running through his mind.
If only I had a box for each worry, I could organize all the chaos
, he thought. The lightning illuminated some of the symbols.

“What’s happening?” Serin asked.

“I must find the book of time,” Inelius said.

“The what?” Shaz asked.”

“A very large book about the portals.” Inelius said.

Shaz thought he saw something in the blackness of the frame. The hairs on the back of his neck stood out as a pit formed in his stomach.

“Blast, shadow magic.” He said under his breath.

“What was that?” Serin asked stepping closer.

“Nothing”

Open me
, came a whisper. Shaz didn’t see anything in the portal. He looked back at the frame,
Open me, I won’t hurt you
, it came again.
I have much to show you, open me
. Shaz’s heart began to beat stronger and the pit grew. The tingle of energy inside his core came to life and rippled through his limbs.
Both magic’s
? Shaz questioned,
We don’t care what magic uses us, we only want to serve
, the voice came again. Something felt very wrong but also so right.
Look with the possibilities
, the whisper said growing louder.

The frame popped to life, dazzling colors glimmered. Serin jumped. Shaz raised his hand toward the light.

“Shaz, I don’t think you should do that.” Serin said taking a step closer to him.

“There is something drawing me in.” Shaz said.

“We don’t know where it goes and Inelius isn’t here.” She said her tone soft.

The pit in her stomach felt as though it was going to consume her whole body any minute. She could feel Shaz was falling into some kind of trance. She touched Shaz’s shoulder a second before Shaz touched the energy wall of the portal. The energy of the portal sucked them into it throwing them threw time and into a realm unknown.

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