***
Kelden awoke with a throbbing headache and found himself staring at a torch-lit cave ceiling. He was chained to a metal table. His neck felt like lead, and he kept his head still, afraid to move it.
He heard footsteps, and a paralyzing fear gripped him. A figure leaned over him, revealing the huge body of the former seer.
"How do you feel?" the man asked.
"My head hurts," Kelden said. "Where's Theodus?"
"Your companions are alive," he replied, "and in other chambers. The Dar fiend appears to be out cold. He could be faking, however. A Dar fiend should recover quickly from a simple blow to the head."
"What will you do with us?" Kelden asked. He remembered what the Thelaran keepers had told him--that they had somehow been blinded. Was some sinister truth now unfolding before his eyes?
"I'm not yet sure," the man said. "There are questions I simply must know the answers to. And you probably have questions of your own. I may release you, or I may be forced to kill you. But your best chance for survival is to be truthful. Is that understood?"
"Yes," Kelden said. "What's wrong with me?"
"Nothing too severe," he replied. "You've been incoherent for a while, babbling nonsense. It is now early morning. I think the blow from my mace rattled your brain. Your neck is sprained, and you've got a decent bump on your head. I hit you harder than I meant to, and at first I thought I'd killed you."
Kelden turned his head, and he cried out as pain tore through his neck; but he got a better glimpse of the chamber--a small cavern lit by four torches. Plump, yellow-spotted mushrooms grew nearby in trays, a nutritious and tasty sort called sunbeams that Kelden recognized from the underground gardens of Valganleer. They were a dietary staple in the tower, consumed at nearly every meal. Pots of soil, crude gardening instruments carved of wood and stone, and strange metal drums also stood nearby, leaving only a bit of space to walk amongst them. A tunnel led from the room into shadow.
"Why did you attack us?" Kelden asked.
"You're from Valganleer, correct?" said the man. "Therefore, you're my enemy and I must interrogate you. I couldn't afford to take chances. You'll tell me everything, including where you were going and why you have an array of incredibly powerful items in your pack. You will not lie to me, for I have sorcery that can determine if you're being truthful. A single lie on your part will be fatal."
Kelden decided there was no harm in telling everything--and it might save his life, if the man truly possessed such sorcery. He told the entire story, stumbling over his words because his nagging headache made him forget things, while the former seer watched silently. He told it in detail, mainly for his own sake--having the need to speak it aloud to someone, even if it had to be his captor. It was a bold risk, one Kelden knew could result in his death. But he felt compelled to tell everything, for during his training at Valganleer, he'd learned to trust his instincts above all else.
The man said nothing for a time. Then he leaned closer to Kelden. "That, my young friend, was quite a tale!"
"Who are you?" Kelden asked.
The huge man smiled. "An alchemist named Dameon. I was exiled from Valganleer over a century ago, for undertaking forbidden experiments with old world Halstarion technology. Now I reside in this cave." His smile broadened. "I started out as a Gelshad fighter--as you may have guessed by my physical stature. Later I became an alchemist, and my discoveries led me to become a seer. I was at one time quite respected. Though I'm no longer officially a seer, I still regard myself as an alchemist."
Dameon spoke in a friendly tone, but Kelden was not about to forget what this man had done to him. Nor could he trust anything Dameon said, former seer or not. Rage built within Kelden as he envisioned the mace slamming down on his skull. He sent his will into his blood, and his heartbeat sped up, the magic coming to life. He couldn't break his chains, but he could still inflict harm.
"You're angry with me," Dameon said, nodding. "The blow to your head haunts your mind, makes you want to strike out at me. You could summon your magic, weak though it would be without your link, but then I might be forced to kill you. You should think carefully before you act."
Kelden let his anger slip away. Frustration wracked his brain. He had a long and frightful journey ahead of him, yet he was trapped in this cave--somewhere still close to Valganleer--while precious moments slipped away.
"So you claim to harbor the demon Credesar inside of you," said Dameon. "Certain factors give much credibility to your story. Why would you be leaving Valganleer with only your link and one other man? If you'd been cast out for a crime, your link certainly wouldn't have been with you. Also, the items you bear are impressive. A slim chance exists you could have stolen them, but it's so slim that your story is more believable. Also, I removed a strange device from your wrist."
"The bracelet!" Kelden said, remembering it now that it was no longer attached to him. "What is it?"
"I don't know," Dameon said. "I only discovered it by using a Halstarion scanning device. I plan to do further tests to see if it could be useful to me."
"I'm losing time by being here!" said Kelden, his patience slipping.
"Of course," said Dameon. "As the weeks and months go by, Credesar will grow stronger until he eventually breaks free." He fell silent for a while before adding, "And that is exactly why I should keep you chained up."
"But why?" Kelden asked in disbelief.
"Credesar could complete my ultimate goal," said Dameon, "which is to bring down Valganleer Tower."
"But why would you want such a thing?" said Kelden, shocked by the blatant and casual way the man spoke of such evil. "That's crazy!"
"It's not insanity that drives me," said Dameon. "Or even bitterness. I was cast out, but I've come to accept my fate. Rather, I seek to end the great corruption that the Legaran towers represent--starting with Valganleer. You may have been fooled into believing the towers are islands of hope in a sea of decay. But what hope do they represent? For over two-thousand years the seers have conducted research within those walls, while the rest of Americk Dreeth rots away. And to what end?"
At Valganleer, Kelden had often heard of important research and experiments being carried out, but seldom learned of the results. Occasionally, the Gelshad fighters were sent out to help protect the small communities that still existed in places on the continent, but they never seemed to improve the land's situation much.
"It has to be the worm plague," Kelden finally said. "The seers haven't found a way to end it. So life outside the towers cannot be improved much."
"Yes, the worms remain unconquered," said Dameon. "But that alone wouldn't keep the seers from improving the lives of those less fortunate. The big secret the seers are hiding is that they don't actually care about Americk Dreeth. Instead, their focus is on the Heart of Green World. The Heart is the hidden realm within our plane of existence that they draw their power from. Contrary to what you may have been taught, most of the seers never actually die in this world. They eventually accumulate enough power to survive in the Heart, where they lead an existence of luxury and pleasure. Instead of fixing this broken world, they choose to leave it!"
Kelden had an overwhelming urge to get up and pace, or shift positions--or do anything except lie there on his back. "If that's true," he said, "then Americk Dreeth is doomed."
"It was doomed long ago," said Dameon, with a sad smile, "when the first Legaran tower was constructed. When the time comes and all animal life is eradicated from the continent by the ferocious appetite of the worms, only the towers will remain--until they too finally crumble into ruin. The reason the seers keep recruiting prospects like you is because new minds make new discoveries, all for the purpose of strengthening their position in the Heart and ensuring that nothing can interfere with their retirement plans. But make no mistake--they don't care if humanity survives on Americk Dreeth in the long run. If fact, they expect it to die out. Remember, I was a seer once."
"What changed yo
u?" asked Kelden. A dark fear was tightening its grip around his heart, assuring him Dameon was no liar. Dameon truly believed the things he said. Whether or not he was insane was another matter.
"It was a combination of things," said Dameon. "But the main factor was my interest in Halstarion technology. I stole forbidden books that forever opened my eyes to something greater. The old world wasn't such a terrible place. It held many wonders brought about through science. Yes, the Halstarions made a dire mistake in creating the worms, but that fact doesn't diminish their amazing accomplishments. I've developed a deep fondness for the ways of the old world, and I believe our future could still lie along the path of science, if we can set things right. That belief--and my lawbreaking efforts to validate it--ended my career at Valganleer."
Dameon's words swirled through Kelden's mind, and any lingering shreds of anger over being bludgeoned were forgotten. There were much larger issues to contemplate than his personal well being.
"That's why I want to bring down Valganleer," said Dameon, "and all the other Legaran towers. I want to begin again, to explore the ruins of the old world and restart the factories. I want humanity to truly rise from its ashes."
"But the worms came from the factories!" Kelden said with a shudder.
"And just as they were born there," said Dameon, "the secret to their destruction can also be found in those places. The seers can never defeat the worms--even if they cared enough to make an effort toward it, which they don't--because the worms were born out of science, and it will take science to destroy them. The centuries have proven that sorcery won't do the job."
Dameon's words were convincing, his convictions strong. But Kelden had been taught to hate and fear Halstarion technology--especially the ruined factories--and he couldn't be swayed by words alone.
"Can you prove this?" he finally asked.
"Perhaps," said Dameon. "But let us return to another issue. Could Credesar do my work for me? Could he bring down Valganleer and all the other Legaran towers? It's a tantalizing prospect!"
"He would probably kill everyone," Kelden said. "If the false god Jarvin still controls him, no one would survive. Humanity would end regardless, unless the seers were able to defeat Jarvin like they did in the past."
Dameon's face fell, and for a moment Kelden wondered if this man was totally insane. In spite of his bushy beard, he looked like a sad child who might break down and sob. Kelden shivered with dread.
But then Dameon smiled. "You're probably right. You should go on with your quest and see Credesar destroyed. I have another method for dealing with the towers--one that's almost ready to be put into action."
"What will you do?" Kelden asked, grateful beyond words that the alchemist was suggesting he would release him--but dreading the thought that Valganleer, and everyone within, might be destroyed.
"Should I tell you?" Dameon said. "You might be a spy who would report my plans to the seers."
Suddenly a thumping noise arose, drawing closer. Dameon whirled about as Theodus strode into the room. The Dar fiend carried the alchemist's crystal mace in one gnarled hand. He looked like an angry gargoyle, and he waved the weapon menacingly at Dameon. His bat ears twitched with rage, and his yellow eyes gleamed with a deadly fire. His wrists dripped dark blood from injuries.
"Release my master," he growled, "or I'll kill you!"
Dameon raised his eyebrows. "I've grown too lax in my old age--leaving my mace lying around. I forgot how strong you Dar fiends are. Now why don't you hand over my weapon before I lose my temper?"
"Do as I say!" Theodus insisted.
"You cannot leave my cave unless I allow it," said Dameon. He unlocked Kelden's chains.
"We shall bind you to the table," said Theodus.
"That's not necessary," said Kelden. "He was going to let us go, Theodus."
"I doubt that," Theodus hissed, motioning at Dameon with the mace, "or he'd have done it sooner. No, I had to do it myself, and my wrists are torn open from the strain of breaking those cuffs. It will take days for me to heal from that. I should give this rogue a taste of his own medicine!"
Dameon's eyes narrowed. "Watch what you say, Dar fiend."
"He's not such a bad fellow in some ways, Theodus," Kelden said. "He thinks he knows things about Valganleer that we don't. He attacked us because he was afraid we might be here to do him harm."
"Well, I know a few things about him," Theodus said. "I've been sneaking around in his tunnels, and guess what I found? A bunch of old world technology, including something that looks like it could be a bomb, if my knowledge of Halstarion weapons serves me correctly. Do you know what that means? A Halstarion bomb causes immense destruction. It just blasts things into pieces in a great shock wave. It is terrible beyond comprehension."
Dameon glowered, and Kelden was sure the two were going to have at it. Then the alchemist softened his expression. "It is indeed a bomb--powerful enough to turn Valganleer into a pile of rubble."
"We shall report you to the seers at once!" Theodus said.
"I need a little time to recover," Kelden said, his headache pounding harder. He just wanted the conflict to end so he could focus on healing himself.
"I can carry you, if need be," said Theodus.
"My neck can't be jarred," Kelden said, shuddering at the prospect. "We have to stay here while I meditate on my neck."
"You have a potion of healing," Theodus reminded him.
"It's for disease," said Kelden. "Not injury."
"I hid all the items I took from you," Dameon said. "And at this point, I'll die before I tell you where. And the only way out of this cave is well hidden."
"We have to stay awhile," Kelden said. "But keep the weapon and don't let him gain any advantage over you."
"Turn Valganleer into rubble?" Theodus seethed. "What kind of worthless wretch are you? How could you ever contemplate such a thing?"
"I'll bring it down," said Dameon, smiling. "Don't think I'm being ridiculous. My bomb will topple the whole tower, and leave nothing but blackened rock to mark Valganleer's passing. And if your intent is to report me to the seers, you'll never leave here alive. Anyway, welcome to my humble home!"