Trail of Bones: A Young Adult Fantasy Novel (13 page)

This is the key, Korwin!
he thought, as he walked up the steps of the massive lodge at the center of the city.
With my magic, I can help them defeat Cordale… or at least that’s what they’ll think. Interesting… I will rule Cordale after all… with the help of Draghone. And once mighty King Gundir falls from his golden throne, I’ll rule these savages, too. Then no one can stop me, not even Headmaster Id and his oh-so-precious students of magic!

Elbane Draghone was bigger than any human or barbarian Korwin had ever seen. His shoulders were massive, so broad in fact, that the skins of two bears were sewn together to create his royal cloak. The Storm Elf had felt small before, but this meeting shrank him to a new level of smallness. On the other hand, if he could win them over, he could not think of better, more intimidating allies.

“I need the use of my hands… and my things, please?” Korwin asked feigning confidence as he stared at the barbarian ruler.

“Release his bonds!” ordered Elbane. “No tricks, Elf, or will hang you from my wall!” Elbane’s husky voice confirmed this was no idle threat. And Korwin’s attention moved to the variety of species and races, stuffed, mounted, and displayed around the ruler’s throne room.

With a controlled breath, Korwin retrieved the items from his pack and began his demonstration of magic. As before, he started with the hawk of smoke and he completed the task flawlessly. The reaction from the crowd in the room, however, was far different from what had occurred in Cordale. The onlookers shouted with shock and fear.

“Run!” they shouted.

“A creature from the afterlife comes for our souls” another cried.

The crowd pressed against the walls of the chamber, attempting to back away from the magical bird.

“Quiet!” shouted the barbarian king and instantly there was silence in the large room.

After a moment, Korwin clapped his hands and the raptor of smoke disappeared. The shouts and screams died, but there were a few hushed responses and muffled gasps. The barbarian king, however, remained upon his throne, watching with great interest. While the reaction of the crowd was amusing, Korwin was not about to make the same mistake twice when it came to the ruler of the kingdom. Up next was the flame trick, but this time the Storm Elf added a little more flair.

“Behold!” he shouted as he extended one of his arms out toward the center of the room. “The greed and pride of Cordale!” An image of the castle of Cordale appeared. Though smaller in scale, the vision revealed a detailed re-creation nonetheless.

As soon as the onlookers recognized the stone keep the shouting began again in earnest. Calls for war bombarded the chamber: shouts to take up arms and cries to retrieve what had been stolen.

The magician owned the crowd.
Now to take them where they wish to go,
he thought as he rolled out the balls of flame onto the floor.

“This is the fate of Cordale! To fall to ashes, courtesy of the tribes of Draghone!” The globes of fire criss-crossed along the stone floor and ignited the castle.

The reaction was beyond even what Korwin had imagined. The crowd roared with excitement, cheering and applauding into a near frenzy. But then as the flames licked the wooden rafters of the room, many, including Elbane, realized they were all inside a hall constructed of wood at the center of a city built of wood. Just one spark could be an angel of ultimate destruction.

The king leapt from his throne as cheers of approval transformed to screams of fear. “Alert the River Guard! Ready the gates. Prepare to flood the city,” he ordered.

Oh no! I’m losing them,
thought Korwin as he realized the gravity of his mistake. He had not even thought of the combination of the log style structures and the threat of fire.

“Wait! Wait!” he shouted, trying to be heard above the mayhem. Finally, he walked into the center of the burning image and as before, was completely unharmed. “Have no fear, the flames must obey my command!” he said. With a wave of his hand, the fire subsided then disappeared without leaving a mark, scorch, or dreg of evidence.

The reaction of the barbarian entourage was a mix of surprise, horror, awe, and confusion. Even the barbarian king stood speechless.

The Storm Elf didn’t hesitate.
This is either going to work or it’s not
, thought Korwin as he conducted his final show of magic. The illusion of the bear materialized, and Korwin watched Elbane Draghone closely. His reaction alone would determine the elf’s fate.

Whoosh!

Korwin slid to his backside as the barbarian king’s huge, double-sided axe, swung through the air and passed right through the chest of the bear, assaulting nothing but magical air.

Failing to strike his target as intended, Elbane spiraled to the floor as the weight of his axe landed the leader onto his rump. The barbarian and the elf both sat a few paces apart and stared at each other as the illusion of the grizzly bear dissipated.

There was silence again. The crowd dared not utter a word, and neither did Korwin. Like everyone else, he looked at Elbane Draghone and waited for what would happen next.

“Excellent!” shouted the king and then he nearly doubled over with laughter. Following the king’s lead, the rest of the crowd laughed and cheered.

Korwin breathed a sigh of relief.
Finally it worked!

Elbane was the first to get to his feet. He stood over the tiny Storm Elf as his massive chest continued to heave with laughter. The barbarian reached down and plucked Korwin off the ground, almost pulling him straight out of his boots.

“I have asked the gods many times to help me punish Cordale,” said Elbane as he slammed Korwin back to his feet. “You are the answer I’ve been seeking. You will be my champion. You will bring Gundir Cordale to his knees, and he and his great city of the South will burn!”

The magician couldn’t help the smile that spread from one pointed ear to the other. As Elbane continued his tirade of threats against Cordale, Korwin bowed. “I am at your service, mighty king. But I have been to Cordale. Their armies are large, and their walls high. It will take magic, powerful magic to defeat them.”

Elbane was a little confused. “That is why you are now my champion. You will call upon the flames and strike them down, yes?”

“Indeed I can… and will for you, mighty king. But what if Gundir has a wizard of his own?”

The ruler stopped and grunted. “Hmm.” This was not a scenario he had considered. “You think this is possible, little elf?”

Now I’ve got him!
thought Korwin. “No, my king, it is certain. Cordale has taken much from your people; now they wish to take it all. But they have not beaten you yet. Magic is only way, and King Gundir knows it.”

The king’s confidence was fading fast as he contemplated the reality of this new threat. He shook his head. “No, the gods would never allow such a thing,” he said, trying to reaffirm his faith.

“Are you sure?” asked Korwin. “The gods allowed Cordale to take your lands, to steal away your little ones. Perhaps the gods are waiting for you to act… or perhaps they wish to wait and watch the destruction of Draghone.”

The veins in Elbane’s neck pulsed as he clenched his teeth. “No! My people will fight to the death before we let Cordale step into our lands!” The onlookers nodded in agreement. “I will die before I see my people in chains.”

“Very well. I am your servant,” said Korwin. “What is your command, King of Draghone?”

“This wizard of Cordale, can you defeat him?” asked Elbane.

“I can… but…” Korwin paused as he baited the trap.

“What is it, Elf?”

“I will need a powerful magic, an ancient and forgotten magic. I will need your help to find what I seek. Only then can I defeat the wizard. Only then can I help you protect your people from Cordale.”

“You will have it! Whatever you require is yours! I will see Cordale fall!”

The beast is snared
, thought Korwin as he smiled and then gave King Draghone a deep and long bow.

****

In a strange way, the pit was a pleasant change of scenery for Kelor. When the sun was directly overhead he could feel the warmth of its rays and bask in the temporary flood of light. Even if it was a momentary pleasure, it was something denied him while imprisoned inside the holding tent.

The wounded Minotaur had barely moved since joining the panther a few days ago. Dox sat with his back up against the side of the mud wall, blankly staring at nothing.

Kelor couldn’t tell if the beast-man could even see him. One of the creature’s eyes had swollen shut, an injury sustained from his fall into the pit. The cat could hear Dox’s heavy breathing and an occasional cough, but the beast-man did not say a single word. If the panther’s former captor was faking his condition, it was a world class attempt, because Kelor was amazed the beast was even alive.

Taking the Minotaur’s life would be so easy, perhaps even merciful, but all Kelor could think of was his family and his part in their deaths. And then he shifted his anger from Dox to the source of his captivity and contributor to his family’s demise… the Warden. That human was the cause of all this; Kelor had no doubt.
Not only did he imprison us, he could have done more to save them! He should have done more! He let them perish,
thought Kelor as he dropped his head on top of his paws and closed his eyes.

The panther then dozed, visualizing his new prey and then, exposing both fangs and claws, he pounced upon the Warden. But just as he was about to deliver the killing blow, he heard a voice.

“Kelor.” He heard the soft, female voice. “Kelor,” it repeated, but now the cat recognized it as a human voice.

Walking through the dark haze of the pit was a beautiful human female, tall and slender with long brown hair. She had delicate features, but her green eyes were as fierce in color as the deepest of forests.

How did she get down here?
Kelor asked.
And why would she?

“A fair question,” the woman answered, much to Kelor’s surprise. “I’ve come to speak with you, of course. As your goddess it was time we met.”

My goddess? I know of no such thing
, he thought.
My mother made no mention of a goddess.

“Ah, your mother. Do you miss her?” asked the deity.

This time Kelor spoke aloud. “Yes. My brothers, too.”

The woman walked closer to Kelor, and with her delicate hands, she carefully stroked the fur on the side of the panther’s face and then moved to his chin. “What happened to them was wrong. I wept for them, Kelor, you must know that,” she said.

“Why do you care? You’re human,” answered the cat.

“This form you see may look human, but I assure you, I am anything but. I am known as Narisa. I live with the rest of the gods. What happened to you and your family was a tragedy. But it does not have to be so.” She circled the panther.

Kelor looked over and saw himself, lying asleep on the floor of the pit across from the Minotaur. He was dreaming. He had to be.

“How are such things so? Everyone who meant anything to me perished in the fire. I saw it all. Everything in the tent is gone. There’s nothing that can be done,” said Kelor.

The woman looked at the sleeping cat as well, and then turned to the dreaming Kelor. “Don’t be so sure. There are some things that can be undone. But to do so requires power, more power than you possess.”

The cat was intrigued. “What do you mean?” he asked.

The goddess paused and looked up toward the heavens. Her eyes scanned the sky as if she looked for something. When she looked back, their eyes met. “I foresee much sorrow and suffering during your mortal journey, Kelor. The loss of your family is only the beginning. But as I said, it does not have to be that way.”

“I don’t understand,” said the young cat. He had no idea what she was talking about or where the conversation was leading.

The goddess circled back near his head and spoke directly to him. “From the moment you were born, you have been a captive, an item for sale, and a victim. If you wish to change this you must seek power. And real power is not given, Kelor; it is seized, won, taken through sacrifice and sometimes through death.”

“What is it you want?” Kelor asked.

“It’s not what I want, but what you want, Kelor. There will come a time when you must choose. There is no if, but when. It is a certainty. The time will come. Only the answer, your choice yet remains.”

“How… I… don’t know. What choice do you speak of?” asked Kelor. “I’m a prisoner in this pit. What am I supposed to do?”

“Don’t worry about the moment, Kelor. You will recognize it as clear as that sun shines overhead. Will you take it and fulfill your destiny, or avoid it and live the remainder of your life in misery?” asked the goddess.

The cat grew agitated. “How can I be ready when the moment comes?”

The goddess smiled. “Ah, I was hoping you would ask such a question.” She leaned over and whispered into his ear. “Learn all you can, from friends and foes, good and evil, the living and the dead. Then when the moment is right, you’ll be ready and power, incredible power, will be yours. I promise you that.”

“I will,” said Kelor, still unsure of what the promise and his answer truly meant.

The woman slowly faded away, disappearing into the shadows, but before she vanished she offered one final comment. “Some things can be undone, Kelor, if you have the courage to do what you must.” And then she was gone, only the loud snoring of the Minotaur sounded in the depths of the pit.