Hemlock And The Dead God's Legacy (Book 2) (14 page)

As he reached it, he thought he heard furtive footsteps both above and below him.  But nobody was visible when he looked up and then down, though the spiral curve of the stair obscured most of the visibility to the adjacent floors.

He knew that he couldn’t be quiet, but he did his best.

Soon he reached the hall outside of the council chamber on the sixth floor near the former location of the emerald stair.  The mysterious seventh floor atrium loomed above him, but he quickly noticed a number of shadowy figures lurking behind the columns that lined the wall and supported the balcony above them.

The familiar faces of Gwineval, Miara and the other wizards loyal to them were soon visible
. That comforted Merit greatly.  Gwineval appeared to be warding the area, so Merit approached Miara.  As he did so, he noticed the comparatively slender Mercuria standing beside the wizard.

“Miss Mercuria!  I feared they would forget you!” he exclaimed.

“No, Merit, we would never do that,” chided Miara kindly. “We feared that Jalis would move against her just like you apparently did.”

Merit
smiled, which was a recent new ability of his and still caused him some exertion to achieve.  But the expression was beginning to come naturally now that he had re-discovered its use.

Suddenly Gwineval shrieked at the far end of the hall
. “What’s this?”

Miara and Mercuria rushed to his side as the other wizards, though curious, gave them room to pass unhindered.  Merit followed along as quickly as he could.

“There is other Imperial magic at work here!  And it’s all over the hall!”  Gwineval hissed loudly.

A stunned hush replaced the murmur of concern that had filled the hall just a moment prior.

“What type of spell?  Is it some sort of trap?” asked Miara.

Gwineval closed his eyes and held his hands out before him.  As he slowly rotated, the glowing outlines of cunningly fashioned runes were revealed along the length of the inner wall.  Each rune was shaped like a small, arched doorway situated about a foot above the floor
, and a solid line of magical power extended toward the floor from each portal.  Merit saw that a bright line of magic power ran along the seam where floor and wall met.

Gwineval opened his eyes and the last of the doorways quickly faded from view.
  Some forty of them had been revealed as he turned.

“Someone has created secret entrances to this room,” hissed Gwineval hoarsely.

“To what end?  To ambush us?  But who among us is familiar with Imperial magic besides you?” asked Miara.

“None
, to my knowledge.  Jalis must have discovered some secret that we missed.  I have to try to bind these portals with my own spell.  Stand back!  Give me space!  There is little time!”

“Gwineval, can you manage such a spell?”  Miara asked.

Gwineval ignored her as he drew a large piece of glowing chalk from his cloak and began muttering and moving his hands in graceful arcs.  All of the portals glowed fiercely in response.  Next he knelt in front of the first and began to draw a series of offset circles that extended across the front of the portal.  When that was complete, he drew six arcs from the line formed by the circles to the glowing intersection of the wall and floor.  As he connected each arc, there was a crackle of magical power, and the circles glowed with increasing strength.  He quickly moved to the next portal and repeated the exercise in front of it.

Everyone in the room watched Gwineval nervously
, feeling impotent.

“Someone needs to lookout for Jalis!” Merit cried with a shrill blast of steam.

Miara looked at him and nodded.  She turned and pointed at four wizards who quickly moved toward the passages to the central stair and the rear stair.

Gwineval had completed his runes in front of about half of the portals when Mercuria broke the nervous silence
. “Do you think he will complete it in time?”

As if in answer to her question
, there was a subtle but detectable shift in the air pressure in the chamber.

“The front gate has been opened.  Surely Samberlin and his knights h
ave arrived,” whispered Miara.

Everyone looked at Gwineval and noted that his progress seemed to be accelerating.  He had completed the
warding of nearly thirty of the forty portals.

The wizards returned from their positions of sentry over the stairways.  They reported that Jalis and a large group of wizards and knights were approaching on the central stair.

“They are pausing at each floor to look for those who might be caught unawares,” said one of the scouts.

“Good, that will buy us some time,” said Miara.  “Position yourselves for battle and consume your Oberon doses!  Face the stairs and do not worry for our flanks!  We must trust that Gwineval will complete his spell in time!  First Circle wizards in front!  Battle wizards behind them.  Warders and healers in the rear!”

Merit was shuffled to the rear of the loyalist line as the wizards arrayed themselves according to Miara’s instructions.  Merit noted with dismay that there were only a few squads of First Circle wizards that had joined their side.

It’s too few!

Just as he felt the icy touch of despair engulfing him, he saw Gwineval rise from the floor as the last of the rune doors faded from view.  Though Merit thought Gwineval’s complexion, which was normally a deep green, looked pale, there was a determination in the bearing of the serpentine wizard that restored his confidence.

Gwineval shuffled to the front of the line of wizards loyal to him just as the first squads of rebel wizards scurried through the far passage from the central stair.

“Hold!” cried Gwineval as a few incantations of battle magic were heard amongst the loyalist lines in reaction to the first sight of the enemy.

Soon no fewer than eight squads of First Circle wizards stood in the hall across from the loyalist lines.  Jalis,
Sychran, Colberth and Splintor strode into the room next—each meeting Gwineval’s stare with a defiant glare, and flanked by numerous wizards from their circles.  Finally, a full company of brightly armored Senate knights entered the chamber, led by Samberlin, who looked incongruous in his Senate robes amongst the heavy armor.

When all were assembled, the two sides regarded each other.  By Merit’s estimate, the loyalist forces were outnumbered by at least three to one odds.

Jalis stepped forward like a coiled snake, reveling in bearing his fangs.  “So, our actions have not been conducted in the secrecy we hoped for.  It is just as well.  For look at the numbers on our side versus yours, Gwineval.  It is clear that your influence no longer holds sway in this Tower.  It is time for this wizard tower to be run by wizards again!”

Sychran
, leader of the First Circle warrior wizards, raised his sword above his head and cried out in support of Jalis.  His squads joined in with his cry, and many of the other wizards in the rebel lines joined in as well—although Merit thought that this latter group did so with less enthusiasm.

“So that is your justification for fomenting rebellion?” cried Gwineval as the rebel cries died down.  “You insinuate that Hemlock has been in control—and that is true to a certain extent.  But you can tell she tires of the role. 
And she only gained power because we wizards lost our way and allowed ourselves to become complacent in the face of the corrupted ambitions of the old Seventh Circle led by Zaringer and Falignus.  Your aim is to take up the mantle of those two despots.”

Gwineval then turned his attention from Jalis and addressed the wizards behind him
. “Don’t support another dictator.  I have been too engrossed in my research and have not spent enough time directing the affairs of the guild.  That will change now.  You have my word on that.  And if the council—our wizard council—would like to appoint another leader, then I welcome that.  But not like this—not through intimidation and bloodshed.  Jalis knows that he needs a crisis like this to assume power.  Nobody in their right mind would agree to be led by him if given time to consider what that would mean!”

Jalis turned and faced the wizards behind him
. “So, now, at the time of succession, we are given promises.  Gwineval promises that Hemlock will step down—but where is Hemlock to agree to that?  She has proven that she acts as her whims dictate.  Maybe she would step down… or maybe she’d decide to destroy the Wizard Tower because some of us had the courage to stand forth and demand our rights!  No, I’m not going to accept false promises and put myself at the mercy of this girl!  We’re going to take back this Tower tonight!”

Again there were cries of support led by
Sychran and the First Circle wizards.

Jalis turned back toward Gwineval
. “So, will you subject these misguided souls behind you to a needless fight?  Look at the forces arrayed against you.  And just in case you have any lingering doubts, I’ve brought back an old friend to the Tower for a visit!”

A slight figure in a full length gray robe moved from out of the shadows behind Jalis.  Merit wasn’t sure where it had come from, and was sure he would have noticed the figure in the crowd.  The way the figure moved disturbed Merit.  It seemed hunched over
, as if from great age, but it scurried with a swiftness that belied this posture.  It stopped beside Jalis and threw back the hood of its robe.  A gaunt face with deep, hollow eye sockets and dry, desiccated skin was revealed.  Its flesh had dried and shrank, creating the effect of a toothy grin on a mirthless face.  Its limbs were similarly decayed as it revealed two swords in scabbards at its bony hips.

Gasps erupted from both lines.

“This is Usum, leader of The Seekers.  Perhaps you recall their tale?” Jalis cooed.

As Gwineval beckoned Miara to his side, the robed figure raised his arms.
  The magical runes on the wall sparked and roared to life, hissing and popping with magical power.  Each portal began to glow more intensely, and through the glow dark silhouettes began to appear.  Soon forty of the robed figures stood in a line against the wall behind the wizards loyal to Gwineval.

Merit worried that the loyalist line might break in confusion, but Gwineval shouted words of encouragement.

“Steady!” he shouted in his distinctive voice, which had a power to carry over the din of the magic as it faded from hearing.

“We also have a revelation for you!” 
continued Gwineval, looking toward Samberlin pointedly.

Samberlin was impassive in response.  The old Senator tilted his head to the side as he felt the attention of the room focused on him.  Then he took a few steps forward
. “The Senate is interested in stability and a path forward to continued prosperity for the City.  We do not want a disruptive event to occur, which is why we are here to ease this transition.  It is said that the most effective weapon is one that is never unsheathed from its scabbard.  My hope is that we will resolve this transition with that in mind.”

Jalis smiled boldly and turned back to Gwineval
. “And what of this revelation?”

Gwineval stared for a moment at Samberlin, who met his gaze unapologetically.  Then he pointed an arm back toward the scores of corpse-like figures behind the loyalist lines.

“Have you noticed that I’ve kept our lines intact despite your surprise on our flank?  Do you wonder why that is?” Gwineval asked Jalis in a loud voice.

“Enough of this foolishness! 
Usum, advance your ranks toward those misguided fools!” cried Jalis.

The leader of the robed figures drew his swords from their scabbards an
d held them over his head.  Then he emitted a commanding sound which sounded like a mixture of a strong exhalation and a hiss.  As the scores of figures behind the loyalists started to move, the runes that Gwineval had marked out at their feet sprang to life, engulfing them all in a waving blue field of magic that was punctuated by small flares of lightning that played across its surface.  As the now enraged figures within the magical field struggled against it, their cries of anguish filled the chamber.  They all stepped back from the field which entrapped them.

“You see
, I’ve been practicing the old Imperial magic for several months,” cried Gwineval. “Some have cautioned me against this, and it’s true that the magic is very powerful and could be abused.  But I believe there is great potential in it as well—and I intend to share this magic with all the wizards in the Tower,” said Gwineval.

Gwineval looked at Samberlin and Merit saw the Senator nod subtly in response.  Gwineval then addressed Jalis and the other council members beside him
. “Unfortunately, some wizards will be leaving the Tower tonight—within the hour, as a matter of fact.”

Jalis smiled and began to voice a retort until he noticed the Knights beside him shifting their alignment away from the loyalist lines toward the rebel lines.

“What is this treachery?” Jalis cried out.

“As I said, I serve the City and its interests, Jalis.  And those interests are in a smooth transition of power and a steady supply of magic,” said Samberlin.

“But I would have brought back the Oberon and given you all the magic you would need!” said Jalis.