Oldhollow and the Seaworm of Gallus Page 5

  Sav was delighted that the girls had come so far in their studies, seeing a cohesive unit all banding together to support one another, whereas before the squabbling and rivalries set them apart. Gracie helped explain the still breath technique to the others that Mrs. Lors taught her, which only further aided the others in their casting abilities.

  Sav took the witches deeper into the school to a massive atrium and said, “This is the deepest chamber of the school. Here, we will cast an all-out group cast spell towards the wall over there. This requires synergy of the highest degree amongst you all. Don’t worry about the wall: it’s magically enchanted to resist such damage. I want that wall covered in slime. Can you all do it?”

  The girls all gathered and began to focus on the wall and matching their casting and timing the best they could with one another. All of them then casted and watched a massive blob of green slime appear above on the ceiling, then crash down in one massive splash on the wall. They then all cheered at their efforts, amazed by what they just saw.

  Mrs. Lors approached a grinning Sav and asked, “Well, do you think they’re on their way?”

  “Mrs. Lors, I think they’re near finishing their training and preparing for the battle ahead. We’ll guide them the rest of the way, and make sure they’re fully ready when the time comes. These witches have enlisted themselves into what will be known as the Cackle Crag Hundred. They will be integral to helping fight this great war that descends upon us.

  Chapter 7 The Council of Alliances

  Marcendes had a flashback to when he was a young boy, when he sat in the giant bird nest that sat before him, and a broad smile filled his face. He enjoyed playing around the nest as a child, and now the nest was before him once again as he walked through Emberia.

  The bird nest began to lift as the branches took him up, he let himself fall back with his legs sticking up in the air as the nest began spinning, which made him uncontrollably laugh. He stayed on for at least five minutes, briefly forgetting all the current troubles that he had. Getting his composure back and his mind on current matters he exited the nest but before he walked away he turned around to look into the nest like he did as a young boy to see not just one egg like Laquastas, the guardian of the sky, but three eggs.

  Marcendes face lit up with joy as he had no idea why eggs would only appear for him and why he was keeper of the guardians of the sky. He quickly scooped up the three eggs, one a creamy colour with brownish-red spots, one a pistachio green colour, and lastly a light cream brown speckled egg. Placing all three eggs snugly into his beard, Marcendes smiled once again.

  Marcendes approached the grand hall of Emberia, which was a city enchanted by powerful magic and built with delicate, beautiful designs. All around, various lights were glowing from orbs, replacing the need for torchlights. The main tower for all mages was a massive tree that shot up high, with large bird nests that served to bend down and let mages board before taking them up and down.

  The high wizard knew he was in his element upon looking around at all the magical enchantments and finely built architecture. Approaching the high tree tower where he knew the magic users of Emberia were, Marcendes walked inside.

  The tower had many rooms and staircases, as well as more floating platforms to carry mages to different floors. Marcendes walked to the platform at the centre and stepped on. A gentle hum was heard, and the platform began to ascend. It passed five floors before setting on the sixth and highest one. Marcendes stepped off and headed for the room ahead of him, which he knew to be the mages’ enclave.

  Entering through the metal double doors, an older man in royal blue robes, with a long silver beard and a bald head turned from the window to see Marcendes. Smiling, he immediately cried, “Marcendes! My old friend! What brings you to Emberia?”

  Marcendes smiled back and warmly returned the mage’s hug before taking a seat at his desk with him. His face grew grim as he spoke, “It’s good to see you, Harchand. I have pressing news, though. The seaworm of Gallus has awakened his army.”

  “I thought I sensed something amiss across the realms,” Harchand replied, running a hand through his long flowing beard. “Lots of unrest and talk amongst the people.”

  “Indeed. Things are not looking well. I’ve met with the people of my home in Llewellyn and have them at the ready. But that alone is not nearly enough. Two of our friends are rallying their own people in Gorobow, while my daughter trains with Sav in Cackle Crag. I plan to go to Bondross next and ask for their help, in hopes that we can pull our numbers even higher to match the army before us.”

  “I see. Well, as a long-time friend of mine, as well as a free mage of Emberia, I’ll gladly lend you aid.”

  Marcendes let out a breath of relief and replied, “Thank you, Harchand. That means the world to me. I planned to hit Bondross first, but I figured it better to earn alliance on multiple fronts before heading there.”

  “A wise move. The leader there is a stoic man, wary of outsiders, especially magic users. Oh!” Harchand stopped to reach into his desk, and after sifting through it for a moment, he pulled out three books. “Two of these are bestiaries, with information on the seaworm race. The last one is a tome of powerful spells native to Emberia. As a friend and wizard, I will let you borrow it for the time of conflict.”

  Marcendes looked over the cover and saw it was beautifully etched with intricate designs and runes of various magical writings. Peering inside, he saw different spells, some he had only heard of or seen in his lifetime. His mouth went agape with shock as he saw spells that did various things like shatter stone, manipulate the elements, call forth light or darkness, and even summon creatures.

  “My friend, this is truly a marvelous gift. Thank you, I will take care of it until this war is over.”

  “Anything to aid you in this coming conflict. You have access to my mages, should you need, at any time. When the battle finally arrives, I will help lead the forces in the ensuing conflict. Until then, I will make my people ready to deliver magical devastation of unheard-of severity to these abominations.”

  Marcendes nodded with a grateful smile and said, “Thank you, Harchand. Knowing you’ll aid us helps. Every little bit helps. There’re thousands of these creatures just spawning from their incubation, and if they’re anything like the leader that Laquastas killed, they’re going to be nearly, if not as powerful.”

  “Laquastas? The battle was that severe to bring a guardian in?” Harchand asked, eyes wide with wonder.

  “The numbers were far fewer at the time, but my daughter and her friends were captured, and I had to stage a rescue solo to take no chances. And to think there’s going to be thousands of these vile creatures now.”

  “This incident reminds me of way back, when the red wizard tried to battle you in the valley that led to the Springstone and created a ruby golem to kill all who entered. You managed to make an emerald golem to stop it and made the battle by proxy.”

  “It does. Unfortunately, making golems takes far longer than we have to deploy them in battle.”

  “I know. In the meantime, you continue gathering forces. I’ll send a scout team to see if they can gather some ancient magic relics in the ruins across the land. We’ve left them be for ages, but maybe now is the time to go and hunt them down.”

  Marcendes and Harchand got up, then shook hands tightly as Marcendes said, “It’s good to see you again, friend. Thank you. Please, keep me updated on all that happens.”

  “The pleasure is all mine,” Harchand replied, smiling. “Now, go forth to Bondross. And be sure to ask my assistant downstairs for road provisions. I will see to it you at least hit the road well-fed and equipped for your travels.”

  Marcendes nodded, turned around and headed back for the nest that led him up there. Now that Emberia was on board, Bondross was next. Marcendes hoped his luck would hold in a land that didn’t receive magic users well.

  Marcendes sat in the carriage looking over some of the books he acquired in Emberia. The
Emberian council was a week prior, where he had successfully enlisted the aid of other wizards and mages, swayed to the cause by the threat of the seaworm. The books they gave him were mostly history on the seaworm folk and how they came to be, and Marcendes pored over the pages looking for further insight as to how to best defeat them.

  One of the books was a legendary tome, exclusively used by the Embrian mages for powerful magic. Seeing as the threat of the seaworm army coming to pass, they gave Marcendes special permissions to borrow the tome and use it in extreme circumstances.

  Whereas Emberia was receptive to the news he brought, his next destination had him not so sure. Bondross was a clan of fearsome warriors, with no interest in magic, only might and power. Marcendes was in thought of how he was going to sway the warrior folks to the cause.

  An hour passed and the carriage arrived at a large iron gate that stood tall and mighty, reflecting the nature of the inhabitants that lived within the city. A guardsman in full plate armour with an axe insignia on the breastplate halted the carriage and walked up to Marcendes, then spoke, “State your name and business.”

  “Greetings! Marcendes, high wizard and ally of Bondross and Emberia. I seek council with your leaders,” Marcendes said in a warm tone, hoping to ease the man’s apprehensiveness.

  The guard looked him up and down, then dryly replied, “We generally aren’t fond of magic users here. Mind your manners while in Bondross.” The guard then pulled the iron gate open, allowing passage for the carriage.

  Marcendes entered beyond the iron gate and stone walls into the township and took in the sights. The houses were all sturdily built from stone and mortar, with wooden framed windows. The smell of smoked meats hung in the air nearby as a man on a food cart was cooking turkey legs for sale. Marcendes has never been to Bondross before and was a bit unnerved and rather impressed by the place.

  As he headed for the large structure that resembled a long house made of stone in the centre of the town, he passed by a group of children all sparring and play fighting each other. A man was busy hammering away at a forge on a new weapon, pounding on the bright hot metal, working it into the shape he desired it to be. Passing by another building, voices and laughter could be heard booming from within. Taking a glance inside the window, Marcendes saw a tavern with jovial people enjoying fine ale and spirits.

  Finally approaching the steps of the long house, he made his way up to the door where two guards stood watch. Marcendes approached them and said, “Greetings! I seek council with your leader, as an ally of Emberia and Bondross.” The two guards nodded and opened the door, letting Marcendes in.

  Inside, a stretch of a table with various guards and soldiers sat around it, eating their lunches, and talking with one another. Judging by the additional colours and sashes on their persons, Marcendes deduced they were their leader’s personal guards and troops. Passing by the table, each of the men and women there gave Marcendes a look before resuming with their meal. Marcendes passed by the main common area and walked through a doorway that led to a room where a man in a large pelt and crown sat. Marcendes approached, bowed, and said, “Ah, you must be Bondross’s leader!”

  “I am. Jarl Bosvir at your service. What may I do for you, wizard?” the man gruffly replied. The man had a large jaw, covered by a thick brown beard. His left cheek had a scar running across it, no doubt from a battle. His blue eyes were calm but belied a fury and undercurrent of power that Marcendes knew such a leader of warriors had. Marcendes looked up and said, “Marcendes, high wizard. Good observational skills!”

  “I know a wizard when I see one.”

  “I come here on a very important matter.”

  “And what matter is that?”

  “There’s a crisis that’s taking over the land. Have you heard of the legend of the seaworm of Gallus?”

  “I have. A fairy tale to my knowledge.”

  “Not anymore.”

  Jarl Bosvir looked to Marcendes with raised eyebrows and said, “You surely jest, right?”

  Marcendes, his tone now growing more serious, replied, “I wish I were. This is no joke. The seaworm of Gallus has awakened his army and now threatens to fall upon all of us. From Oldhollow, Llewellyn, to Gorobow, Shamadan mines, Emberia and even here.”

  Bosvir stroked his beard for a moment, then said, “That’s quite a claim to be making, wizard.”

  “I wouldn’t come here if it were something so willy nilly. This is indeed a real matter that the free folks of the realm need to be aware of.”

  “And what do you seek by coming here?”

  “Your aid. We’re amassing an army of various lands and could use the unmatched might of Bondross in the fight.”

  Jarl Bosvir replied, “You ask a great thing of me, wizard. You expect me to go to war against a thing of legends and fairy tales?”

  “It’s no fairy tale, my jarl. It’s quite the reality.”

  “If that’s so, show me proof.”

  Marcendes thought for a moment, then thought of something, and said, “Do you have a large bowl of any kind?” Jarl Bosvir cocked his head in confusion, then sent a servant to retrieve one. A moment later, he returned with a silver bowl about the size of a party punch bowl. Marcendes smiled and uttered, “This will do.” Taking a waterskin out of his pack, Marcendes filled the bowl up halfway with the water in it and set the bowl in front of the jarl.

  Reciting a spell from memory, Marcendes cast a scry spell into the bowl to show the jarl events from afar. The jarl watched with growing interest as the water revealed the sight of a ship, like the one Marcendes had helped rescue everyone from at the awakening and taken.

  A horde of seaworms were hatching from their incubation at the dam near Frostfall as Jarl Bosvir watched on with growing concern. For the ones that hatched, they made their way to the same ship ported nearby and showed them growing rapidly once onboard and fed a goop of some sort to accelerate their growth into full being within a matter of minutes.

  Jarl Bosvir looked on with rapt attention at the sight before the water became clear again. Looking up at Marcendes, he said, “That had better not have been a trick to get me to lend you soldiers for no reason.”

  Marcendes shook his head and replied, “I wouldn’t dare disrespect the mighty people of Bondross like that. This is a real threat. I’ve gathered many of those from Llewellyn, as well as Emberia and even some witches to join the cause. I’ve two allies now heading to the animal people of Gorobow to request their aid as well. This is no joking matter, my jarl. While the numbers size up considerably with our current forces, we could use the fearsome fury of Bondross, fighting side by side with us.”

  Jarl Bosvir took a swig of his ale and then sighed. He looked at Marcendes and said, “If what you show me is true, then our realm is indeed in peril.”

  Marcendes nodded and added, “The Bondross warriors do not thirst for a fight? They are known for their muscle and steel, their undaunted battle prowess, and courageous hearts. With Bondross at our side, we stand the chance to turn the tide and bring them a real fight.”

  Jarl Bosvir digested the words, and from the facial expression he had, his interest had been piqued. Marcendes had appealed to the Bondross leader’s pride, honor and fighting reputation to great effect as Jarl Bosvir replied, “You are correct, wizard. Bondross’s people don’t shy away from a fight. From what I’ve seen, if it to be true, then the army needs Bondross’s help. I will gladly give aid to your cause.”

  Marcendes bowed before the jarl and replied, “Your words do me much honour, my jarl. I’m glad to know your mighty people are with us in this upcoming fight.”

  Jarl Bosvir smiled and ended, “The pleasure is all mine. It’s been far too long since I’ve tasted battle. And the people of Bondross are itching for a good fight as well.”

  Chapter 8 The Rally of Gorobow

  Neo and Bailey walked into their hometown of Gorobow, ready to rest their feet after an arduous trek. Gorobow was a settlement in the woodlands near the vall
ey that led to the place where the Springstone once was. Various homes made of stone and wood were both built in the soft grass as well as in treetops, offering protection both below and above ground. A small creek ran through the town, providing fertile land for crops of many kinds to be grown.

  A rabbit farmer was tending to a line of carrots as he looked over his berry bush and plucked the succulent red fruits to put in his basket. Further down the creek, a group of turtles were gathered around, happily talking with one another. The sun shined from above, sending rays of light to sparkle off the creek’s surface.

  At the end of the creek, a large spring of water pooled at the end, with various inhabitants fishing, collecting water or playing. Bailey and Neo walked along the creek and followed it before taking a right to head into the enclave of woods. A dirt path led along the way through lush trees and bushes, which held more of the treehouses for the residents that could make the climb.

  The path led to a large wooden house, bigger than all the rest. They looked upon it, then sighed a breath of relief: the two had made it to the duke of Gorobow’s home. Walking inside, the two set their eyes on the entry room, full of various potted plants, including mostly bamboo and white birch leaves. Several dogs were walking around, carrying papers, and going about various tasks.

  A black Labrador in regal clothes walked up to them and said, “Ah, Sir Neo and Sir Bailey! Welcome back from your quest! Was your search fruitful?”

  Neo nodded and replied, “It was. I retrieved the map needed to find the Kalpan amulet.” Holding up his necklace, Neo showed the dog an amulet of black stone embedded in a silver relief.

  The dog nodded and said, “Oh, that’s wonderful!”

  Bailey quickly added with a worried look on his face, “Listen, we’d love to chat more, but we need to see Duke Queras. We’ve news to report to him at once.”