The Riddle

It was where Einhart said it would be. A lone humble mound, not even tall enough to clear the treetops surrounding the meek glade it was erected on. It was hardly a burial ground worthy of a wizard, but Katnir knew that there must have been a reason he was laid to rest here. Regardless of its stature, the mound reinvigorated Katnir’s hope.

The goal, at last. My toil on this forsaken land is at an end. And it was so close, too. I was so close to missing it.

He looked at the mound, mesmerized, as they crossed the glade. Grand or not, the tomb was his pathway home.

“This is it” – he said, without looking at his companions.

“Not much of a builder, was he?” – Reiny commented.

“Doesn’t matter.”

Suddenly, there came a disturbing realization. He didn’t sense any aura in the area. The tomb of such a powerful wizard, and especially the khorii crystals themselves, should emanate an aura equally strong. But not even a trace could be sensed. Doubts started creeping in.

Is this really the place? – he thought. – What if Einhart was wrong or he lied to us?

He circled the mound, and even climbed on the top, looking for any sign of entrance, but there was only grass.

“What now?” – Reiny asked. – “Shall we dig?”

“Not yet” – Katnir replied. – “Give me a moment.”

He pulled the seal from the pocket. It was strangely warm to touch. It seemed alive. He walked around the mound and finally found a spot near the base where the seal reacted the strongest.

“Here.”

He reached out towards the ground and probed underneath with his magical senses. It felt as if the entrance was right there. He backed away a few steps and stretched out his arms, lifting a large chunk of dirt with telekinesis. He tossed it aside and continued digging until he exposed a stone wall with a circular recess the size of a gateway.

Reiny approached the wall and touched it.

“There’s nothing…” – he said, disturbed. – “There’s only dirt behind that wall. The mound is empty!”

Katnir chuckled.

“Indeed! I understand now.”

“I don’t” – Satine said. – “How can you celebrate if the mound is empty?”

“Lo…” – Katnir pressed the seal into a barely visible niche in the wall – “…and behold!”

The seal clicked and the runes etched on it shone with a bright purple light. The circular recess became blurry and dissolved into thin air, revealing a chamber behind. Satine took a look inside.

“It’s larger on the inside! How is that possible?”

“Because the tomb is hidden in a pocket dimension” – Katnir explained, smirking with satisfaction from his own expertise on the matter. – “And the seal is the anchor that can attach it to the physical world. That old rascal! He built himself a tomb outside of our reality!”

From the moment he activated the seal, he had felt a wave of familiar aura. He was now certain that the wizard buried within was one of his kin. This sudden burst of joy made him deaf to the sound of a crossbow bolt which screamed past him and hit Reiny square in the back, knocking him on the ground.

“Reiny!” – Katnir shouted, shaken back to his senses.

More bolts started falling on them from the other side of the glade. Katnir grabbed Satine and pulled her down on the ground with him. They hid on the ramp going into the tomb. The bolts clattered against the stones above them for a few moments and then the bombardment ceased. The wizard glanced at Reiny. He wasn’t moving, and was too far to pull him to safety.

“Damn it!” – he gritted his teeth.

Satine nudged him, sword in her hand.

“Let’s lure them closer” – she whispered. – “Then we can ambush them.”

Katnir nodded and they both hugged the opposite walls of the entrance. It didn’t take long before they heard heavy steps of approaching soldiers.

“It’s probably the Brotherhood…” – Katnir said quietly. – “Are you sure you want to fight them?”

“I don’t care anymore. I’ve never liked them to begin with.”

Hearing the steps getting closer, they crawled up to the edge of the ramp, ready to spring the ambush. Suddenly, they heard a voice above their heads:

“You would be wise to surrender.”

When they looked around, they saw knight commander de Montfort with a squad of soldiers, standing on the top of the mound, crossbows aimed at them.

Check, but not mate yet – Katnir thought, getting ready to cast a fireball at them. He knew it wouldn’t get past their catharite, but blasting it on the ground could knock them down and buy them some time.

He wasn’t quick enough. Before he could release the projectile, two knights seized Satine and pressed a dagger against her throat.

Now it’s a damn check mate… – Katnir clenched his fist, putting the fireball out with a muffled hiss. With heavy heart, he let the troops take his weapons and camp catharite shackles on his wrists. – Why did it have to go to hell at the very end?!

De Montfort descended from the mound and looked Katnir in the eye. There was something odd about him, but he could not pinpoint what exactly it could be.

“Excellent work, young wizard! Not only have you brought the seal to us, you’ve also opened the tomb. The Brotherhood of Righteousness is thankful for your cooperation.”

He looked at Satine.

“As for you, young battlesister, a just trial awaits you for your treason. It’s a shame that the gallant Sisterhood of Benevolence has stooped so low.”

She didn’t say anything, simply scowling back at him. De Montfort huffed with annoyance and turned his gaze back to Katnir.

“You are fortunate to witness the victory of the Brotherhood of Righteousness over you, filthy sorcerers.”

“Twenty years… you took your time.”

De Montfort slapped Katnir with his armored glove and scoffed at him. He could taste some blood in his mouth. The knight commander turned around with contempt and tried to enter the tomb, but he bounced off an invisible barrier and almost tripped.

“What is the meaning of this!?” – he screamed at Katnir.

“Pocket dimensions don’t do well with catharite. You’ll have to leave it outside.”

The knights looked at de Montfort in anticipation.

“You heard this scum!”

Irritated, he took off his gorget and his catharite-encrusted gloves. The rest followed suit.

“Take his shackles off too. He’s coming with us. If he tries anything funny, slit the girl’s throat.”

He walked into the tomb followed closely by his bodyguards. The rest of the soldiers marched behind them, taking Katnir and Satine with them.

What a dirty rat, taking her hostage.

The interior was dark at first, but soon magical candles sprung to life all around the hall. The hall was so large it could fit an entire regiment inside. There wasn’t any sarcophagus in the chamber, as it seemed to be merely a vestibule, yet it was still awe-inspiring.

It had a conical shape, with the walls meeting in a narrow dome high above their heads. They were decorated with frescos depicting what seemed to be scenes from Halandir’s life, beginning with his childhood near the entrance, through his exile and later deeds on both sides of the hall, ending with his funeral on the far side, where another door was located. De Montfort’s men got to work, trying to pry it open with crowbars.

To calm his nerves, Katnir took a closer look at the frescos. It wasn’t uncommon for the wizards of the Isles to decorate their tombs in such a manner, as many wanted their achievments to be remembered long after their death. What was surprising, though, was the modesty and even simplicity of Halandir’s life after he arrived in Rainhoven. There were no grand battles, no striking poses, no displays of might, just a wise man surrounded by a group of people seeking his assistance or wishing to learn from him. He was shown taming wild animals, healing the sick or driving evil spirits away. Hardly worthy accomplishments, at least by the standards of his kin. He had expected more, but the last scene caught Katnir’s attention, as in Halandir’s stretched hand there shone his purple khorii crystal.

The goal itself – the wizard thought. – If I can use this crystal instead of my own, the path home will be opened. If only…

Strangely, despite the humbleness of the ancient wizard’s life, he seemed satisfied. Similar depictions in tombs of other wizards always showed them focused, astute, powerful, while Halandir was… just content. Katnir couldn’t grasp it at first, but then he thought:

Maybe he found what Sonia was talking about. His own meaning of life.

Katnir’s contemplation was cut short by de Montfort’s command:

“Bring him here!”

The soldiers dragged him to the knight commander. Katnir glanced at Satine, who still had a dagger pointed at her neck. Her scowl extinguished, she now seemed simply hopeless.

“Tell me what it says!” – de Montfort pointed at the runic inscription on the sealed door. It was nicked on the edges, but still stood victorious over a couple of bent or broken crowbars. Other than the inscription, it had no features, not even a keyhole.

That’s unexpected. I thought the seal would be enough to open the tomb…

“Well, what does it say?”

Katnir took a closer look at the text. He recognized the elegant strokes of the ancient runes of his people. He ran over them with his fingers, and read:

“In a mortal’s life, I am the greatest prize of all

Many are called to me, but ev’r few answer the call

Paths unnumbered lead to me, in wise hearts doth I dwell

Halandir found me in days of yore, may thou as well

What am I?”

It’s a riddle… – Katnir thought.

De Montfort smirked with satisfaction, stood proudly facing the door and declared:

“Thou art power!”

Something cracked deep within and the candles flickered, but the door did not budge. Instead, the paintings of wild beasts tamed by Halandir began moving and descended from the walls, turned alive.

“What?” – de Montfort exclaimed. – “She lied! She lied to me!”

There were three of them, all black as night: a giant, purple-eyed serpent, a towering bear with emerald eyes and a blue-eyed, snarling wolf. The beasts circled around the room, slowly closing in at the trespassers.