Seeds of Virtue, Dark Descent, Book I

CHAPTER 5

  At this time of night, the streets were clear, so they moved swiftly through the city. There were no bodies to bump into or merchants stopping you along the road, doing their best to convince you to buy their wares. There had been nothing to slow them down. Druzeel kept up with the pace that Brask had set but he traveled at the back of the group. Though the Knights’ leader told him to lead the way, he ended up in the back, telling Dex and any of the others who were close enough to hear about what had happened at the tower and what Graeak wanted them to do. He barely got out all the details before they reached the large doors that led into his home.

  As the group came to a stop, Druzeel wound his way to the front, to find Brask standing before the doors, hands on his hips. Druzeel came up next to him, stopped, and waited, wondering what the large man was doing.

  “Well?” Brask finally said, not bothering to turn his head toward Druzeel.

  “I explained to Dex what happened but perhaps you didn’t–”

  “I heard you,” Brask replied curtly, still not looking at him. “We all know why we’re here and know our roles. Perhaps you need a reminder why you’re here.” Druzeel looked at him in confusion. Brask finally turned an angry look his way. “Open the damn doors! Or do you expect us to walk through wood? Not all of us possess your supposed talents.”

  Druzeel finally realized why Brask had not walked into the tower. Only people that Graeak had given permission could open the doors. Anyone else could pound on them for hours and never gain access. Though Graeak and his band had been hired, Graeak had apparently not granted them access. Perhaps that was another reason he had sent Druzeel. He needed someone he could trust, one of his own students, on this quest.

  “Of course,” Druzeel finally replied with a forced smile. Even though he had forgotten for a moment, he wanted to let Brask think he was toying with him. The man just turned his irritated eyes back to the doors.

  Druzeel walked forward and placed his hand on the crease where the doors met. He recited a few words of magic and the doors slowly opened, revealing the great hallway of Fount of Knowledge.

  “Welcome to–”

  He was abruptly cut off as Brask bumped into him entering the tower. He caught the doorframe and turned in anger. How much of this do I have to take? he asked himself. Perhaps a few spells of uncontrollable laughter or an arrow of flame up his backside would teach Brask to respect him. As if reading his thoughts, Dex walked over and placed his hand on Druzeel’s shoulder.

  “He’ll calm down,” the man said. “Once we go to work, he’ll have other things to focus on besides tormenting you.”

  “Yeah,” came Jannda’s voice. “Like tormenting us.”

  “I’m more than just a bag of bones,” Druzeel said to Dex, anger on his face as he watched Brask and the others making themselves comfortable on the large couches and seats placed throughout the hall. “My magic can greatly assist us on our quest. I may not be as powerful as Graeak, but I can hold my own.”

  “I believe it,” Dex replied, trying his best to offer a friendly smile, “and when trouble arrives, you’ll have the chance to prove it.”

  “I’m surprised your group does not have a wizard,” Druzeel said when the anger fled from his body. He did find it odd that a group like the Knights would not have some type of wizard or priest. Most, if not all of the adventuring parties he had read about or heard of always had some type of magic user in their group. The road was a dangerous place and you had to be prepared for every type of danger.

  “Oh,” Jannda said, offering him a wink, “we get by.” Druzeel looked at her in confusion. She only smiled and joined the rest of her companions.

  “She may not appear as strong as the others,” Dex said to the bewildered young wizard, “but that halfling provides us with more than enough magic. She is quite an accomplished bard.”

  “Interesting,” Druzeel said. “I’ve read little about bards but know they can use magic in their music.”

  “With any luck,” Dex said, turning to move further into the hall, “you’ll get to hear some.” Druzeel smiled, finding himself wanting to hear Jannda’s music, but that would have to wait. Now he and the others had more important matters to attend to.

  “So where is the almighty Loyalar?” Vistalas asked no one in particular. He leaned back in the plush chair and took a bite out of the apple he had taken from the large basket of fruit that sat on the table in front of him. Druzeel didn’t remember that basket being there when he had left for the Lady. It seemed that Graeak knew they would be coming to the tower tonight.

  “Shouldn’t you be fetching him?” Ristil then asked from the couch, his gaze locking onto Druzeel. “Isn’t that what you do? Fetch things?”

  Druzeel narrowed his eyes and brought a nasty retort to mind, but before he could speak, there was a loud pop and a puff of smoke appeared near the back of the hall. Thorstar sprang to his feet, sword in hand. The weapon had appeared in his grasp so fast that Druzeel hardly saw him pull it. His reaction was so impressive that Druzeel found a small sliver of doubt slide into his mind. Perhaps I shouldn’t be going along.

  “My apologies, mighty Thorstar,” came a voice from the other side of the smoke. “It was not my intention to startle any of you.”

  The smoke eventually cleared to show Graeak, dressed in his golden robes and sporting a golden staff, standing before everyone in the hall. His white hair was neatly combed but his eyes showed lack of sleep. As he walked forward to greet his guests, Druzeel noticed he was moving a little slower than normal.

  “Why not just use the stairs?” Jannda asked as Thorstar put away his weapon.

  “At my age, my dear Jannda,” Graeak replied, “it is much easier on my bones to just...appear. And my young apprentice does much more than just fetch things, Master Trueseeker. It is my hope you shall personally see his other qualities on the quest ahead.”

  Druzeel smiled and felt his chest expand hearing his mentor come to his defense, though he knew it would take more than just Graeak’s kind words to earn the respect of this group.

  “Speaking of the quest ahead,” Brask said, coming to his feet and facing the aged wizard, “shall we get on with why you hired us?”

  “Indeed,” Graeak replied. “I’m sure by now young Sesstar has filled you in about the uninvited guest we had the other night and the artifacts he has stolen. Simply put, I require your services to find this rogue and bring him back here, along with the goods he wrongly acquired. As always, this quest is of the utmost importance and I would like you to be as discreet as possible.”

  “So he broke in here?” Vistalas asked when Graeak finished. “A wizard’s tower nigh impregnable and warded with spells you personally cast?”

  “And left no trail we can follow and no trace of his passing,” Graeak added.

  “Impressive,” Vistalas replied, a smile of envy on his face.

  “And you two are the only ones that saw him?” Dex asked, looking from Druzeel to Graeak, who nodded.

  “Interesting,” came the inquisitive reply from Ristil, the tracker of the group. “Any intrusion, be it magical or otherwise, should leave a trace.”

  “Unless magic was used,” Jannda surmised, “to cover up the trail.”

  “Magic powerful enough to confuse one of the most powerful wizards in the city,” said Dex. “No offense,” he added, looking at Graeak.

  “None taken,” the old wizard replied. “I am usually the first to admit when I cannot figure something out so I must admit that I am baffled as to how the thief accomplished so much, or even got into the tower in the first place. I warn you all that he is powerful, or works for someone that is in good supply of strong magic and even stronger supplies. If I were a bit younger and had the time, I would pursue him myself, but I have passed this task to my very able apprentice, and you. I trust you shall succeed for the Knights of the Chipped Blade have never failed me.”

  “And we never will,” Brask said with a confidence that had even Druzeel loo
king at him with respect. He did not like the man, but he admired his confidence and pride.

  “Excellent,” Graeak said. “My tower is yours then.”

  “Knights,” Brask said with sincerity, turning to face his companions. He looked at each of them, who returned the serious look with one of their own. “Find the trail.”

  His words were like a flame to an oil soaked candlewick. Before he had even finished, the Knights sprang into action, searching through their pouches and packs for tools, examining the walls and floors for cracks, and looking to every shadow or crevice for hidden passageways. Druzeel knew they wouldn’t find anything in the hall but he wasn’t about to voice his opinion. They were at work and like any working man, he knew not to disturb them. He didn’t know how long they would be at it, but based on their scrutiny, it could be quite some time.

  Brask and Dex headed for the upper levels after a brief sweep. Vistalas and Jannda walked back outside, wanting to examine the tower itself. Thorstar and Ristil stayed in the hall, doing a more thorough examination. For the most part, Ristil was doing most of the searching. The large warrior just lent his eyes when asked. Druzeel watched them both, but eventually turned to Graeak, who had taken a seat on one of the couches. He sat across from him but stayed silent for a few moments. Only when Ristil and Thorstar disappeared down the stairs, heading for the lower leaves, did he speak.

  “Master,” he said in almost a whisper. Though the Knights were gone, he still felt like they would hear if he spoke to loudly. “Are you sure these men are the best option for this quest?”

  “You do not trust them?” Graeak asked, looking at his apprentice with intrigue.

  During his life in the tower, from the earliest days, Graeak had always encouraged his students to ask questions, to seek out answers even if the answers they sought were undesirable or unattainable. Seeking knowledge, no matter the outcome, made for a better wizard. The look he was giving Druzeel now told the young wizard that he approved of his inquisition, even if the answer he provided was not one Druzeel would like. He wanted his apprentice to know why he chose these men. It seemed only right for Druzeel would be traveling with them, possibly for a long time. If he trusted Graeak’s judgment of them, regardless of his feelings for Brask, then he could trust them.

  “It is not a matter of trust,” Druzeel replied. “With the exception of Dex and maybe Jannda, I can’t see them as reliable. Brask has no morals, no ethics. He seems to care only for the coin filling his pockets. What is to stop him from taking more coin from someone else? What happens if the thief, if they catch him, offers him a better deal?”

  Graeak could not help but smile for Druzeel had come to the same logical conclusion that he himself had come to many years ago, when he had first hired Brask and his crew. The man seemed immoral, ruthless, and reckless, but Graeak had quickly found out that regardless of his faults, Brask was a man of his word and he had learned to trust him long ago. Now he just had to convince his apprentice.

  “I understand your concerns,” Graeak said, “but think of this: would the Knights be as renowned as they are if they turned on their employer for the chance of more coin? Would their deeds, however malicious or lewd, be as well known or often spoken of if they betrayed those they had sworn an oath to? Who would hire them knowing they could turn on them in an instant?”

  Druzeel leaned back and thought on his mentor’s words. He could see his point but he had a hard time believing that they could indeed trust Brask with such a delicate task.

  “I know the way you feel about him,” Graeak said, speaking before Druzeel could continue to voice his concerns, “but know that Brask and his men–all of his companions–have my trust, completely. He may be a bully and often times lean away from purity, but he has honor when it comes to his men and his reputation. He will keep his word to me, regardless of the wealth, fame, or fortune someone else may offer. And he will complete the task I set for him, no matter the time required or the obstacles set in his path.”

  “And the others?” Druzeel asked, still wondering if the Knights were the best choice. He honestly had no qualms with Dex or Jannda. They seemed a little more accepting of him, but the others, especially Ristil, he had an odd feeling about.

  “As the saying goes, as goes the leader, so does his men. They are loyal to Brask and will follow his lead, to death if need be.”

  That last comment slowly washed away any doubts Druzeel had about the Knights. If Graeak trusted them with this task, then he could as well. But he still did not like Brask, or Ristil, and knew that before this adventure was over, if either of them kept berating and disrespecting him, they would come to blows. He really didn’t want that, but he would only take so much.

  “Patience,” Graeak said as if hearing his thoughts. “Show them what I have taught you. Mystify them with your magic and use your spells wisely and they will come to see you as one of them. Remember, respect is not given freely. It must be earned.”

  “And if it cannot?” Druzeel asked, concern written across his face. He truly believed that it might be impossible to gain anything but hate from Brask.

  “When you fight with him,” Graeak said, trying to comfort his student, “when you are blasting foes that seek both your blood and basking in the glory that only victory can bring, you will gain their respect.”

  “And are there going to be many battles on this trip?’ Druzeel asked with a smile on his face, though he felt a little nervous as well. Graeak smiled back and shook his head.

  “One never knows what fate will bring.”

  “And if I should need your guidance?”

  In response, Graeak snapped his fingers and a golden ring appeared in the air in front of Druzeel. It was a simple golden band, set with a sapphire. Druzeel caught it as it slowly drifted toward his hand.

  “I had a feeling you would ask, so I prepared this ring. Just slip it onto your finger and turn it three times and I shall appear within.”

  Druzeel looked at the ring in wonder. He could have cast a spell to speak with his mentor, but the ring made the task that much easier. The fact that Graeak had prepared it for him made him love his teacher even more. It showed him that Graeak would always be with him, in one way or the other.

  “Thank you,” Druzeel said.

  “Though its power is everlasting, use it sparingly. I want you to use this,” he said, pointing at Druzeel’s head, “when confronting a problem. Trust in yourself for you have the knowledge and talent necessary to combat any situation even though at times it may not feel like it. Though it would be nice, you cannot rely on me forever.”

  “I know,” Druzeel said, tucking the ring away. “And I hope to never need this. It is just good to know that it is there.”

  “Peace of mind is an often overlooked benefit,” Graeak said. He watched Druzeel take a deep breath and saw the weariness in his body. Neither one of them had had much sleep in the last few days. A few hours of rest would do both of them good.

  “Now go and rest your mind,” he said, slowly rising to his feet. “It may be some time before the Knights find what they are looking for. When they do, the real quest will begin.”