The Unwilling Apprentice (Book 2) (27 page)

Ned nodded. "Yes, we're all here."

"As some of you know, I keep in constant contact with other regions of the world, particularly since Lord Canavar became more active with the fulfillment of Lady Lamikan's destiny approaching." Lord Tramadore held up the papers. "These are letters from four surviving regions of the continent. In each of the capitals has arisen a stone like that in the plains here and in Galaron." The two captains straightened and there were several gasps of surprise. Lord Tramadore held up his free hand. "A moment, there's less need for alarm than you may think. The stones haven't attacked the cities, they've only appeared."

"But how is this?" Captain Hawkins spoke up. "The moment the stones at Galaron and here appeared, they attacked everything."

Lord Tramadore looked to Ned. "Care to explain?"

Ned stood up and dug inside his cloak. After a moment he pulled out a massive book and dropped it on the desk. The whole thing shuddered beneath the volume. "This is a history of our world going back centuries, and tells the story of legendary stones used by castors."

Pat glanced over the cover and frowned. "Isn't that book from the library at the Temple of Phaeton?"

Ned coughed and shrugged. "Yes, well, I may be borrowing it from someone, to help against Canavar, you see." Pat rolled her eyes at his thieving ways, and he continued. "Before castors mastered the use of staffs they used stones to focus their magic. Some of these were of immense size and power, like those we saw on the plains of Tramadore and in Galaron. Others were smaller, like that which controlled the water monster at the bridge of Salaron."

"We know about the powers of these stones, but why are they appearing now?" Captain Hawkins asked him. "How did they even get inside the statue at Galaron and the stone on the plains?"

"Each stone was created by the castors as an extension of the region it inhabits, a sort of reflection of the dreams and nightmares of its people. They hold such immense power because so many people are connected to the stone," Ned explained. "Canavar tapped into this magic and twisted it into the worst characteristics. For Galaron, that was the king and his ambition to return the dead to life. That's why it lies in ruins beneath the feet of the dead."

"And for Tramadore?" the lord wondered.

"It attached itself to the fiendish ambitions of Sturgeon, and the magic twisted into the wraiths," Ned replied. "Canavar used his magic to substitute the material of the fountain and large stone with the essence of the region's stone. Then he merely had to bide his time and wait for the right moment to activate the dormant powers."

"But why now?" Percy spoke up.

Ned turned to Fred and Pat. "Perhaps he sought to capture Lady Lamikan using the demons inside them, or perhaps he sought to destroy us all and create chaos in the world. What matters now is that each of these stones is destroyed before they create more havoc in the world."

"But the hairpin is destroyed," Hawkins pointed out. "And we have no idea how to make another."

Ned rested his hand on the cover of the tome. "Ah, but that's where this wonderful book helps us. It tells of several special items created by castors long ago just in case someone was to use the stones for evil purposes."

"Let me guess," Pat spoke up. "These items are hidden in each region."

Ned rubbed his hands together and his mischievous eyes glanced over the people. "Precisely. Now who wishes to go for a treasure hunt?" Everyone stepped forward except Fred, who hung back near the door. "That's very kind of you all, but Tramadore and the people of Galaron will need protection while the rest of us are gone. Captains, I'm afraid the people need you." His words were addressed to Spalding and Hawkins, who sulked but didn't protest.

"That still leaves you with quite a group," Tramadore commented.

"I would rather you not take the traitor's son with you," Spalding requested. He glared at Percy.

Percy bowed to the captain. "As amends for what my father did, I respectfully request to join your adventure." He smirked at Spalding. "Besides, I don't think I'm particularly welcomed here anymore."

"The sins of the father don't extend to the son," Tramadore scolded his captain. He looked to his old friend. "But would you like a larger escort? The men of Tramadore and Galaron would be glad to accompany you on your mission."

Ned shook his head. "A smaller group has the element of surprise on their side, and we would move much faster without soldiers all around us."

"Then it will be seven who will save our world," Tramadore replied with a smile. "A very lucky number."

Ned smiled. "A very good number, my lord, and with the fate of the world In our hands we should leave tomorrow. Our first stop should be in Galaron to free that city of the dead."

"I'll make sure you're well provided for," Tramadore promised. The meeting broke up and all but Ned and Tramadore filed out of the room. Tramadore fell back into his chair and sighed. "You make this trip sound very easy," he scolded Ned.

The old castor sat down and wryly smiled. "No great adventure is easy, and this may well be the hardest I have ever faced."

Tramadore glanced up to Ned. "That makes me even more worried," he replied.

Ned shrugged. "This is dire stuff, old friend."

"And yet here you are sitting there shrugging your shoulders at it," Tramadore countered with a smile. "What makes you so confident you'll succeed?"

"Confidence to succeed? I'm confident most of us won't come back alive. Canavar has control over the Region Stones and is intent on using them to some purpose that will cause us all trouble."

"Then do you know for sure what he's planning?" the lord wondered. "You knew him the best before-well, before this mess happened."

Ned scoffed and the humor slipped from his face. "To know him was to know an impassive stone. He uses their powers merely because he connects with them better than any living thing."

"But do you know what's happening?" Tramadore insisted.

Ned sighed and leaned back in his chair. "I haven't any idea how he's using the stones, but perhaps visiting each stone will show us the way."

"And if it doesn't?" the lord countered.

Ned shook his head. "Then there's no hope for any of us."

Above the pair Fred lay on his bed contemplating the serious discussion moments earlier. His fingers toyed with the broken stick at his waist as he recalled the talk about the stones and Canavar. He wondered what a psychopath looked like, but all he could picture was an old man with a grizzled, tired face. Fred jumped when someone knocked on his door. "Come in," he called out. Fred was surprised when Pat slipped inside; she was alone. He sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. "Oh, um, hi."

Pat didn't reply. She stepped across the room and sat at his side. "I noticed you didn't step forward when Ned asked for volunteers," Pat told him.

He wryly smiled. "And I noticed you did," he countered.

She shrugged. "What else do I have to do? My destiny is fulfilled, and the rest of my life is devoid of any specific meaning."

Fred turned to her and raised an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I've led my grand army against a terrifying foe, just as it was foretold. There's nothing else left for me to do but be useful as I may." She turned to him with a playful smile. "Maybe I could become a serf," she teased.

"I wouldn't recommend it," Fred replied with a smile.

"How's the pay?"

"Terrible."

"And the food?"

"Even worse. What about marrying that dead guy?" Fred reminded her.

Pat rolled her eyes. "I think being betrothed to one is as close as I ever want to get to marrying one. Besides, you still haven't told me why you didn't step forward," she reminded him.

Fred cringed. She was always so blunt. "I guess I didn't feel like volunteering for a suicide mission."

"Why not? You've done a lot of those already," she pointed out.

"Yeah, but not volunteering. I've been pushed into everything dangerous, and now when I'm asked to do something crazy I-well, I-"

"-you choke," she finished for him.

Fred scowled. "Maybe I just don't want to be racing through any more cave-ins or fighting monsters. Maybe I'm tired of risking my neck for-"

"-for me," Pat reminded him. Fred turned away, but she clasped his chin and forced him to look her in the eyes. "Ned told me what happened down there, and how you were the one to think of trapping Sturgeon down there. Don't be mad at yourself because he died."

"I'm not mad at myself because he died, I'm afraid of who else will die if I keep going." He pulled the stick from his waist. "Maybe I'm going to be the one to kill them."

Pat put her hand on the stick and pushed it down. "I don't know if any of else is going to survive this trip. The world is a big place, and the regions are filled with people who, well, who may not help us on our-"

"I know it's not going to get better!" he interrupted. He stood and tossed the stick across the room. It clattered against the far wall. "Maybe I'm tired of thinking we've won when there's someone else even crazier out there to deal with. We go to that valley to help and end up nearly getting eaten by a bunch of skeletons. We save Tramadore to see Galaron fall. When are we going to be done with all of this?"

"When we defeat Canavar," she softly told him. "He's the source of all this misery. If he's still alive to make more of it then we can't win, but first we have to weaken him. Destroying these stones might give us that chance to destroy his power and allow us a chance to destroy him."

Fred whirled around to face Pat. "You mean kill him," he corrected her. "We need to kill him to save anyone else." She nodded. He stomped over to the stick and shoved it back into his waistband. "Then I guess I'm going to be going with you guys."

She smiled. "Because you want to save the world?" she teased.

"No, because I'm tired of winning the battles without winning the war, so let's go win us the war."

Thank you for reading this book, your support is very much appreciated! Without your support, I wouldn't be writing anything, so there's always room for you in my dedications.

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