The Tome of Law Collection

Chapter 2-2

“Woe.”

“Pardon?” replied a confused looking Keldron, whilst Raoul merely grinned. “Woe. The teeth of woe. That"s what they are called. The Sandstone pillars on the Southern coast of the Isle of Thiwa. I found an old map with a description. Look here!”

Raoul stepped up to look, while Keldron looked on. Belyn had an obsession of sorts with natural phenomena, and was currently studying the great sandstone pillars that appeared in a few places throughout the known world. It showed an ancient map of the known landmass with script so old and feathery that it took a good eye to decipher it. Keldron was less than impressed with this, as he was more concerned with worrying about the killing, the meeting, and just about anything he could think of. Raoul at least gave him credit.

“Where ever did you find such a map? Was it from one of the ancient cities? Or perhaps the main Library in a drawer somewhere?” Belyn suppressed an excited grin. With his flaming red hair it was like watching a volcano try and keep itself from exploding.

“One of my associates came across it, you"ll never guess where, in the Labyrinthine district!”

“Intriguing. Hang on, you actually have people who know their way around that maze?” Keldron asked with a great deal of incredulity.

“Sure I do, but I don"t take any chances with them. Anyone I may be associated with in that district would have to know it beyond any doubt to have any association with me. Unfortunately, that cost me a fortune in focus stones, but there are always more where they came from.”

mayAs he was saying this, Belyn was staring at the doorway, and the window. One could never be overconfident when speaking in a place such as this. Even with their remote locations from the rest, there were subtler ways to eavesdrop available to many of the order, especially the many adepts at focus magic. This was a magic long practised by many orders, and many of the richer citizens to a lesser extent. They believed they could buy the power, but it demanded a will of iron and concentration to a level unknown by most. They were rarely successful. The magic involved focussing the energies inherent in the body, the stone and even the area around to accomplish a purpose. For many years, marble had been the stone of choice, and an oval or egg shape, usually the shape of choice. It was believed that this shape best suited the focussing power and the elements involved. However, when an apprentice had suggested a different shape, and even different types of stone, he had been highly ridiculed by the establishment. Those who knew him found that he was highly successful, but he disappeared suddenly about twenty years ago. The magic performed with the original focus stones was elaborate enough – eavesdrop spells, soundproofing areas and the like, but nothing more. Belyn upon learning about this had set about the task with as single-minded an intent as Keldron had ever seen. He had gathered stones from distant parts and moulded them into various geometric shapes, and had greatly varied results. One time he had turned a solid brick wall into mud, to the dismay of the stiffs who had been dozing close by.

On the other hand, when focussing on a sphere of obsidian, he had opened up a whirlpool of what seemed to be liquid fire, which fortunately disappeared as soon as he realised what he had done and stopped focussing. The result was that although the senior order-men were still ready to dismiss the findings, despite blatant evidence, the rich were even more in demand. This had paid for any number of Belyn"s projects. In short, Belyn had continued the work of someone long disappeared, and he was getting credit for it. A couple of works had been published; lists of shapes and types that had proven successful. The Law order might not acknowledge it, but other orders were, and Belyn had been acclaimed as a true master of the rites of the focus stone.

“Looking back at this map, I see great potential for different rock types across this land, and I believe that special places such as these may concentrate the power of the land into the rocks.” Belyn looked up.

“Where was I? Oh yes, did you come to accompany me to the meeting?”

“You knew about it?” asked Raoul, thinking he had been the only one to know. He liked to be the first to know. Good intentions, but nosy as an old lady, and proud of being the only one who knew.

“I have been playing around with the stones, and I have found that black marble has a much greater effect on mind spells then the traditional type.” He held up a rough block of black stone.

“Even with this rough cube I can penetrate the sound shields that the elders have so painstakingly constructed, but if used too long I believe they will know. Anyway, I can tell you what they are going to say.” Belyn looked back down at the map, his sharp gaze scanning the map as if to search out a hidden clue or piece of information. What he searched for his friends could only speculate; his mind was as closed to them as anyone, and they were closest to him. As he slumped back in his throne of a chair, Belyn noticed Raoul and Keldron staring at him.

“Well? Tell us then!” demanded Raoul, whose impatience was tempered only by his training, but was free to surface when he got agitated. Keldron grinned. He knew Belyn was only doing this to wind Raoul up, and it was one of their favourite pastimes.

“Well dear fellows, it seems we are going on a little trip. Our mighty superiors seemingly have had enough of our stirrings, and have decided that the ancient temple needs some upkeep. We are being sent to restore it, or at least spend the rest of our lives searching for it.” The normally vocal Raoul"s jaw dropped, and his face appeared to lose colour.

Keldron on the other hand quietly commented, “Pray tell, good sir, where is this temple of which thou speakest? For the ancient texts mention it but a few times.” Belyn chuckled. Keldron"s impressions of the elders made him do that quite often.

“I have been researching the land for a while now my friends, and I can safely say that the ancient temple is located on the remote island of Caighgard.”

“Where exactly is that, Belyn?” asked Raoul. “I have never heard of this place, let alone the temple.” Belyn pointed at the top left corner of the map, where it had faded to a scuddy brown with age. There could be seen a whisper of an outline deep within the faded parchment.

exactly“There lies our destination, and our way out of this hole for good. Hey, what"s the problem? I thought you always wanted to get out of here?” Raoul sat down heavily, his dark attire managing to crease despite the fact that it clung to him like a babe to its mother. He looked flustered, as if he had drunk one too many glasses of Orit the previous night.

“I always thought they would never do this. I have looked towards expanding the order and moving away from this bureaucracy for years now. The Gods alone know how much I have argued our case in the hall. I never actually thought they would be awake long enough to actually do something about us.” A rueful smile manifested itself on his face, making him look somewhat like a Jester of death, with his pale face. “Now they have actually gone and done it, and I feel a tad more uncertain than I would have thought possible.”

“Do you want to go with us?” Keldron asked his companion. “You don"t have to. I mean once we are out of the city you can do what you want.”

Raoul looked up, the colour returning to his face making him look normal again. “Not a chance my brothers! I know I am apprehensive but I would not stay here. Not now the stiffs are finally waking from their comatose state. Who knows what they may end up announcing.” Keldron looked relieved, and even Belyn seemed to breathe easier with Raoul"s announcement.

“We have a lot to plan,” Keldron said as he strolled around the palatial room, idly flicking objects with a large feather – his way of thinking.

“I have learned through contacts and research that there has got to be more to these murders than the common people believe. I think my answers lie elsewhere, and travelling may be the way to pick the unsoiled truth from somewhere less corrupt.”

Belyn nodded. “It also suits my purpose. With the studies of the stones so far advanced, I can leave my research in the hands of those I can trust. Unfortunately, none are of our order, but with things as they stand, I do not believe that matters any more.” Belyn nodded in Raoul"s direction. “Yes, we know what you want my friend.”

myRaoul smiled “Books,” he said as Keldron mouthed the exact same word. “I may not agree with our glorious leaders, but I will spread the word of the law wherever we go through the text of the order!”

“You acolyte,” laughed Keldron as he poured them all a glass of Orit.

“This is going to need a lot more planning than thinking about our personal wishes. What say you to not attending this meeting and trying to sort out what we are going to do about our "predicament"?”

With a sly look in his eye, Belyn answered, “It will take them hours to find us here. We are the only ones who travel these corridors.”

Raoul let a mock look of misery posses his face. “Oh isn"t that a shame. We will have to find some way to transport enough Orit to last us. Otherwise we had better hope the ingredients can be found because I for one refuse to go without it.” The three raised their glass in a mock imitation of the elders on feast day.

“Here"s to us, and all like us. Damn few!” With that the three companions downed their Orit, sat down, and started to plan their journey.

It was a good couple of hours later that one of the elders came shuffling through the door, frustration painted on his face like a repressed thunderstorm.

“Elder Cyarda,” Keldron welcomed the ancient being in their midst like a long lost brother. “What a pleasure to have you here. Simply a pleasure it is.” The old man scowled. Beady eyes showing more than a hint of suspicion peered out from under great masses of snowy eyebrows as he glared at the three younger wizards. Moving slowly with the aid of a cane that seemed as likely to snap as he was, he settled down into a chair off to one side of the dais. Once settled, he glared again at them.

“You were summoned to a meeting several hours ago.” He pointed a bony finger towards Raoul. “YOU knew about this and were sent to tell them.” Raoul swallowed hard, the sound emphasised by the lack of noise anywhere else in the room. As Keldron glanced aside at him, he could see old pale face was back. The old man paused, seeming to chew on his lip as much as chew any thoughts in his ancient mind. At length he looked up again, as if remembering that instead of his customary half doze, he was supposed to be chastising some younger members of the order.