Spin Offs, Walker Part B

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In the depths of the necromancer’s citadel Walker had found nothing one would expect to find in such a lair. Or, mostly nothing. The first sub level had a kitchen and various storage rooms, there were some of the undead servants Igma kept. Below that had been a large wine cellar with some truly remarkable vintages and a broad selection of other alcoholic beverages. Further down he had been surprised to find training rooms, where members of her court sparred and exercised. Two more levels were used as storage where a few lifetimes worth of diverse objects had been gathered.

 Timid, Destroyer of Worlds or whatever her name was lead him further down, “This is my favourite place in the citadel. One of the best spots to do some serious magic.”

The stairs spiralled down, they continued to descend, perhaps to a depth equal to the five sub levels above them. The walls and ceiling of the stairwell were only partially worked, the lower they went the more he saw veins of quartz running through the stone. He felt the mana levels shift. When they came to the lowest chamber of the necromancer’s lair they moved into an area where the mana was much higher than usual. He paused a moment after they entered the cavern, the feeling of power was heady.

Timid watched his reaction as he looked around the vast room. They had stepped into a giant geode of quartz, great crystal formations created partitions, dividing the room. The cave was suffused with a soft iridescence, he could hear water lapping against stone. There was a bright flame across the other side of the cavern, but it was not the source of most of the light. Shadows shifted across the crystals, he experienced a sense of disorientation.

“Something else, is it not? Have you seen such a place before?”

“No, never before.” He replied in a hushed voice.

“It is pretty overwhelming the first time you come here, but you do get used to it. Most of the cavern has been left in its natural state, but some work was done to accommodate utility and luxury. Igma truly is a genius.”

“It would appear so.”

“Likely best if I lead you to the pool. It can be difficult to discern where the walkways are if you don’t know what you are looking for.” She offered a small hand.

Walker looked around again and wondered if he should proceed, Igma would be at her most powerful here. With no small amount of trepidation he took Timid’s hand. She lead him through a maze of crystal to where the sorceress floated in the centre of a large bath. He saw that the flame was across the other side of the pool, it appeared to be floating above a crystal altar of some sort. Around and within the pool, considerable work had been done, stairs descended into the water and a broad walkway framed its entirety. At various points he saw pieces of furniture shaped from stone and crystal, he did not think they would be very comfortable.

Still floating in the water, Igma suggested, “You two should join me.”

“Yes mistress.” Timid replied. Her voice had a husky tremble, edged with excitement. She stripped out of her garments and dropped them at the edge of the pool. She splashed into the water, down the first couple steps then leapt towards the centre, slicing under the surface.

Walker took his time removing his clothing, the pale iridescence and bright flame played havoc with his perception of the place, the disturbed water only worsened the effect. He carefully stepped into the pool, it was cool and made his skin tingle a bit. He was not sure of the depth past the stairs. When he moved off the last step he was in water up to his chest. Timid had reached Igma, they were both treading water. The sorceress was nearly as tall as he was, he reasoned that the depth dropped away towards the centre. He dove and swam out to the other two. When he reached them, he also tread water. Trying to keep his tone casual, he said, “Nice place you have here.”

“Indeed.” Her alabaster skin was more pale in the strange light, the whiteness of her hair darkened by being soaked and her oddly coloured eyes appeared aquamarine, within them the iridescence of the cavern was reflected. A shiver passed through him.

Timid smiled, “This is fun.”

“You wanted to see me?” Igma asked.

He blinked a couple of times, it took him a moment to order his thought and focus on his purpose, “Yes… I came to inform you that I will have to leave shortly. Family matters require it.”

“That is a shame. I had hoped you and your companions would choose to winter here.”

“That is a generous offer. If circumstances were otherwise I would accept such hospitality. As for the others, I think their concerns lay southward. I’m sure you’re aware that Ijah chaffs against each day that she is delayed here.”

“Mmm. Not all your companions will be heading south. In fact, I suggest you have a talk with Osran, you and she could travel together for a while longer. I think it would be best if you did so.”

“Ah… sure. I can do that. There is another matter.”

“There usually is.” Her tone was dry, about the only thing that was within this cavern of wonders.

He glanced over to the perpetual flame, looked back at the two women, “It is a matter of some delicacy. Not something that I would want many to know of.”

“What is said here, shall be kept among us… Timid?”

“Absolutely, mistress.”

They observed him, the necromancer’s ageless gaze was one of eternal patience, Timid’s was of open curiosity and perhaps arousal.

“Well, my family has a drake problem. Within our lands, under a ruined fortress the creature sleeps and we do not know how long it has been there. Our intent is to kill it. Is there any aid or lore you could provide that would help us resolve our difficulty?”

Igma laughed, not with merriment but something closer to dry sarcasm, “A young drake does not sleep overly long, maybe up to a few months at a time, they also typically have a fairly small horde of treasure and are unlikely to have recruited minions. As a general rule an older drake sleeps longer, has a fairly large pile of treasures and likely has recruited or enslaved any number of other creatures to serve its will. How long have you known about this creature?”

Quietly Walker said, “Over a year, it has been sleeping all this time and from what I’m told, there is a vast horde or treasures. We’ve seen no minions of any sort.”

“Then you likely have a serious drake problem.”

“Yes, that is what we believe.”

“Do you know what a dragon moot is?”

“After such a creature has been slain, other drake come to pay homage.”

“The older they are, the more of their kin that will gather. They are also prone to taking immediate revenge on those who slew the first dragon, especially if those folk are still in the area.”

“We are aware of that.”

“Do your kin still have a high number of the gifted?”

“We do.”

“Have you artifacts? Elvish or ellodran weapons are typically the best.”

“We have some and many of us are in the process of acquiring more.”

“Do you know the creatures name?”

“No.”

“How many of your kin have visited the area or are regularly in close proximity to the creature?”

“After we discovered it, most have not gone to that area since. Some of our more capable mages keep an eye on it, though indirect means.”

“Well, you should keep people away from the area as much as possible, until you move against the creature. Even at that, you may find the drake has or will subvert some of your kin.”

“Will you aid us?”

She chuckled, once again it was a sound devoid of mirth, “Well, it seems likely I shall be far away combating Tannican necromancers. Do you know when you will confront the creature?”

“Next autumn.”

“Another year… Well, I do have things, both lore and items that I could share with you. I can perhaps find one of my court who would volunteer to assist you directly.”

Timid splashed around, excited, “I’ll do it!”

“There, that was easy. The question is, what will you give me in return?”

He was initially at a loss, what would the necromancer need? Very little from what he had seen. “What do you want?”

She smiled, “An alliance with your people, should you prevail, wherein some of your kin will attend my court and in turn some of my court will spend time with your gifted elders. And you, in the here and now, a union to consummate the alliance.”

“You ask a lot.”

“I offer a lot.”

“Do you?”

“You need proof?”

“I need to know the value of what you offer before I could agree to your terms.”

“Very well. If you dive to the bottom of this pool, you will find mana crystals. Whatever you can bring back to the surface you can have. Additionally, the belongings of one of your kin, who once served in my court, are stored here. I have compiled a vast amount of lore about the drake I and my court have encountered over the years, names and descriptions. I also have a quiver of nine arrows, enchanted for the purpose of slaying a drake, ellodran. Is that value enough for you?”

“Seemingly. Let me see what lies at the bottom of your pool.”

“Be about it then.”

Walker took a breath before swimming downwards, the pool was deeper than he expected, ten paces or more. When he reached the bottom he could see very little, but he could feel the mana crystals, the bottom of the pool was covered with them. He took two handfuls. Never had he held so much power, some of the shards were as thick as his thumb and as long as his hand. He returned to the surface.

The sorceress smiled, “Do we have a deal?”

Feeling overwhelmed, not only by what she had offered him but also by how much he had underestimated the magnitude of her power, he replied quietly. “I cannot refuse your offer.”

 —

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