The Elder's Curse Andrew Walbrown (red scrolls of magic .TXT) 📖

“We think so,” Kona replied. “There were no other objects that could have been Kuruk’s powerstone.”

Ushokku grunted in approval, her growling like the rumbles of distant thunder. “Excellent. Since there are more of you now I will have to make two trips. Who will stay?”

Amantius volunteered to stay behind, assuming Ulam would do the same. After all, if someone had to remain behind in the wilderness alone for the next few hours it only made sense for the strongest fighters to be those chosen. He also wanted to separate Ulam from Kuruk’s staff so he could have a private conversation with his foster-brother because he needed to know why Ulam was so obsessed with the powerstone. And if by chance Ulam proved to be stubborn or reticent, then at least he would be separated from the gem’s influence.

“Mazargo will stay with you,” Mazargo suddenly offered. Of all the possible pairings, that was the one Amantius thought was the least likely to happen. At first, he felt slightly disappointed since he was not friends with Mazargo and only had limited interaction with him. But then Amantius realized if Mazargo remained in the clearing, then Ulam would leave, thus separating him from Kuruk’s staff, at least for a little while. And by judging from the restive look in Ulam’s stone gray eyes, he realized this as well.

“Alright,” Amantius said with a nod, keeping one eye on Ulam as he spoke. “It’ll give us time to get more acquainted with one another, I suppose.”

Mazargo lightly dipped his head in a bowing motion, pleased with the proposition. Without any further discussion, Ushokku and Chulzi snatched up their passengers in their sharp talons, and with a couple beats of their enormous wings, they launched into the sky. Within seconds they disappeared beyond sight, their shapes blending with the mountains in the distance, leaving Amantius all alone with Mazargo.

As the winds subsided and the dirt began to resettle, birds returned to the trees, their songs filling the air. Amantius and Mazargo remained so quiet and motionless that a doe and her two white-speckled fawns entered the meadow, completely unaware of the Mwai and Human standing next to a smoldering pile of burned wood. Only when Mazargo folded his legs and sat in the grass did they realize they were not alone, leaping away to the safety of the forest.

Not knowing how much time would pass before Ushokku returned, Amantius joined Mazargo on the ground, watching the last few wisps of smoke fade into the air. Mazargo stared at the amber powerstone atop Kuruk’s staff, clearly fascinated with the jewel, but not in an obsessive manner. Unlike Ulam, Mazargo’s eyes possessed an element of curiosity and thirst for knowledge; he looked at the powerstone as an inventor would a newfound contraption, not as a treasure hunter would a hoard of gold.

“This powerstone is dangerous,” Mazargo began without returning Amantius’ gaze. “Forgive Mazargo for saying so, but your brother must not be allowed near it.”

“It is obvious to you, too?” Amantius replied, somewhat shocked by Mazargo’s candidness, though he was quite relieved. “Why is he so obsessed with it, though?”

“Mazargo does not know, just as Mazargo does not know how Ulam was able to harness the staff’s powers. Be there no mistake, Mazargo is grateful for not being crushed into a pile of fur and bones, but there is no logical explanation for what happened in the tower.”

“Does there need to be a reasonable explanation? It seems to me that with magic anything is possible.”

“Everything has rules and boundaries, even magic,” Mazargo replied. “Only with the proper training and experience should he have been able to use the staff so effectively. Mazargo fears something sinister is lurking, something he does not quite see yet.”

Amantius nodded. “Yeah, so does Amantius.”

Chapter 21

Ulam

With one last flap of her wings, Ushokku landed in the lair with Mazargo and Amantius firmly in her grasp. Ulam watched nearby, eagerly awaiting the moment of Mazargo’s release, hoping the impact from the landing would be powerful enough to wedge the staff from the mage’s grip. But Mazargo was too agile, disembarking with the same grace he had routinely displayed in Kuruk’s Tower. Because Ulam had been so focused on Mazargo, he did not see the Matriarch emerge from the black depths of the nest.

“Good work, Ushokku,” the Matriarch said as she approached, the ground beneath Ulam’s feet quaking with each step. “And to all of you as well. Not only have you found the powerstone, but you have found one who will disenchant the stone as well. I am quite impressed; I did not expect you to return. You are far more resourceful than those that came before you.”

“Wait, there were others before us?” Amantius asked as he slapped the dirt off his legs.

“You seem surprised,” the Matriarch replied. “Surely you did not think we would put all our hopes into a singular expedition? Others came before you, and others would have followed, continuing until either the Elder’s curse overtook him or someone returned with the powerstone. I am pleased the result is the latter.”

“Now what happens?” Nilawen asked.

“A mage must disenchant the powerstone within close proximity of the afflicted,” the Matriarch stated, “or at least, that is what the great wizards in the Academy said. The powerstone will then lose its glow, transforming into an ordinary rock.”

I must get my hands on the staff before this happens, Ulam thought, I need to communicate with that mage again. He must be a great wizard in the Academy and that is how he was able to speak with me.That is the most logical explanation.

“Come,” the Matriarch said as she turned towards the poorly lit tunnels in the lair, “hold onto my tail and I will lead you to the Elder.”

One by one they grabbed onto the small spikes jutting out of the Matriarch’s tail, careful not to injure themselves on the sharp points. The spikes felt like horns to