EPISODE 47:
MAGIC WORDS
“Vash, wait!” A voice called from behind him. Vash was so busy angrily striding away from the temple that he didn’t recognize it at first. The voice was female, and that was surprising.
Vash thought, casting the question into the part of himself where he had last felt his ‘passenger’. He had been afraid to prod that part of himself, not sure what he would find.
Vash thought. The Underlands had been several days of trauma on top of the debacle at the Mossfen Delving. It wasn’t unheard of for people’s minds to create fantasies to protect themselves from further pain.
Taking a quick mental inventory of the state of his spirit, Vash found the node that he thought of as ‘Cass’.
Vash thought, his stride slowing.
Vash sent a tentative brush of mana to the node and felt it briefly stir. Nothing like consciousness, but it was He was so focused on his inward self that he jumped in surprise when a hand lightly touched his arm.
Sera, the novice working with Sister Clea, let out a cry of surprise and stepped back. “Sorry! You just looked so angry and then you stopped and wouldn’t answer…”
Vash blinked, shaking his head to clear it of flashes of memory from the Underlands. “It’s fine, you surprised me, that’s all.”
Over her shoulder, Vash could see Corwin rushing to catch up. Edda, the halfling cleric, and Charity, her paladin companion, weren’t far behind.
Vash thought.
“I’m so sorry about all of that.” Sera said, clearly upset. “You, Corwin, and Jabez have been through so much already and for Master Orban to spring that sham of a vote on you…It really makes me furious.”
“I’m used to it from Athairians.” Vash said, not bothering to hide the bitterness in his voice.
“Most don’t become petty tyrants.” Edda said, getting in range to hear Vash and Sera. “But then they usually have a stronger Ellanian to balance them out. Lyra’s a kind soul, but she’s got the backbone of a wet sponge. Strength and compassion are supposed to work together. But when you have a hard-ass like Orban, then strength seems to bowl everything else over.”
“Master Orban isn’t normally so hasty, though.” The paladin, Charity, said. Her voice was softer than Vash expected. Most paladins that Vash had met were more bombastic. They had personalities that took up all the air in the room. Charity had a tendency to fade into the background, which was surprising.
“Politics is all jammed up in this.” Edda frowned, her wizened face gaining more wrinkles. “I’ve warned Jabez more times than I can count that he needs to keep a low profile. Damned can’t help poking his head into nooses wherever he goes.”
“You know Jabez?” Vash asked.
“Aye, known him since he was a pup just earning his Guild marker. More stubborn than a herd of mules, but he’s got a good heart.” Edda said.
“Edda helped me when I was facing my Gauntlet in Samson’s Rest.” Corwin said. “We even traveled with her a few times.”
“Getting to be a real family reunion.” Vash said. “Edda, Logan Lackhand…”
“Ugh, I’d heard he was in town.” Edda made a face. “I was hoping they were mistaken. The last thing you need is Logan sticking that golden hook of his into everything.”
“Too late.” Corwin said with a wince. “He’s already talked Master Stahl into voting against us.”
“Damn.” Edda said. “I was hoping to head up there next and put in a good word. Where does the vote stand as of now?”
Corwin looked away. “Two against, one for. We still haven’t spoken with the Broken Tower or the Speakers for the Wyld.”
“Try the Tower first.” Edda suggested. “Master Astinak’s a bit of an opportunist. If he thinks the vote is swinging against you, then he’ll vote that way just to stay part of the ‘in’ crowd.”
“What about the rangers?” Vash asked. “One of Logan’s apprentices looked like a ranger, a Vanan elf as well. Should we let them get ahead of us?”
Edda shook her head. “It’s not just rangers in the grove. You’ve also got alchemists and druids. Right now, Master Heggin leads the Speakers, and just getting him to acknowledge the physical plane is a challenge. You have some time.”
“Thanks, Edda.” Corwin said, with genuine warmth in his tone.
“Don’t mention it.” Edda said, waving off any other gratitudes. “Jabez has been in my corner more times than I can count. Least I can do is make sure that things don’t get screwed up while he recovers. Speaking of which, how is he faring?”
Sera blinked as all eyes turned to her. She blushed briefly in embarrassment, then put on a professional face. “Not much has changed since this morning. He’s recovering, but it’s a slow process. The mana burn was extensive, and forming new connections in a dwarf’s spirit weave is difficult.”
Edda nodded, putting the stem of her pipe back in her mouth while she thought. “I may have a few things we can try. If Master Clea is open to some help?”
“I think she’d welcome it, to be honest.” Sera said with a relieved smile. “Dwarves, halflings, and gnomes have such different structures. Not just from a physical standpoint, but metaphysical as well. The meridians are all different, and I already mentioned their spirit weaves.”
“Yes, I’m well aware of that.” Edda said, gesturing to her own halfling body.
“Of course.” Sera said, blushing again. “I’ll take you to the infirmary. Master Clea is likely heading that way.”
Edda gestured for Sera to lead the way and the two of them headed back towards the infirmary. Charity followed behind them, then stopped, turning to regard Vash for a long moment. “I have had experience dealing with members of the Eth Mitaan before. It was not pleasant.”
Vash felt a sudden tension between himself, Corwin, and this paladin. Charity seemed, at first glance, to be a shy young woman who just wanted to stay out of the way. He was quickly coming to recognize that dismissing Charity this way would be a mistake. She was tall, but she hid it through posture, keeping her head down and her shoulders slightly slumped. This also hid her broad, muscular shoulders and back. The way she carried the heavy-banded staff in one hand spoke to a great deal of hidden strength. Charity had yet to tap into her Core, but Vash felt certain that she had one that was deep and that she had a large well of mana when she needed it.
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“We aren’t the most sociable group.” Vash said, cautiously.
Vash thought.
Charity nodded, accepting what Vash had said without comment. “They were, however, honorable in my experience. Not causing more harm than necessary to achieve their goals. I may not agree with those goals, but I can respect the way they conducted themselves.”
Vash wasn’t sure what to do with this information, so he just nodded.
“I hope you remain a Wayfarer.” Charity said. “For what that’s worth.”
She paused for a moment, letting the silence hang between the three of them. When no more seemed forthcoming, Charity turned and walked back towards the temple.
“Paladins are so strange.” Corwin said once she was out of earshot. “Never know if they’re about to tell a joke or split your head open.”
“At least she seems on our side for the moment.” Vash said. “I’ll take strange help over no help.”
Corwin made a shrug and started towards the hill that housed the so-called Broken Tower. “Speaking of help. Let’s go see if we can get the mages on board.”
The tower stood on the top of one of the high hills that ringed the town of Amical Falls. As Vash completed the climb, he could see how the surrounding hills and mountains formed a shallow bowl for the small but bustling adventurer’s village. The Amica river flowed past the town, then cascaded over the drop-off beside Cliffside Lodge. Mist shrouded the bottom of the cliff, but Vash knew the waters fell into another series of pools, one of which emptied into the depths of the Underlands. He shuddered, thinking of dodging the Hammerworms in his desperate climb.
Vash thought.
Beyond, the Amica flowed into the distance, eventually joining the Great Obrun, carving its way through the heart of the mountains. All he could see were mountains, river, and trees. The only sign of people was the village directly below him. That felt like a tiny speck of civilization in the vast wilderness.
While he gazed out over the valley below, Corwin joined him at the top of the hill, facing the other direction. A slight sheen of sweat shone on Corwin’s brow, but he didn’t appear winded. Corwin’s brows furrowed in confusion as he looked behind Vash. “All right, now that’s just strange.”
Vash turned, looking at the tower behind him for the first time. The hilltop was roughly flat, with a scattering of tall stones, smooth and weathered from age and exposure. Small trees grew in thin copses around the edge of the hill, leaving the center open for the tower itself. The building looked like the other towers that Vash had seen in Sathsholm. It was a circle fifty feet in diameter, made of the same pale gray stone as the ones that dotted the top of the hill. The joinery looked old, but in good repair. From first glance, Vash didn’t see any of the telltale marks of a wizard’s tower. The stone didn’t shine in the sunlight, keeping itself magically clean. It appeared to be constructed with standard masonry, not the thin, almost invisible technique used by wizards when they wanted to show off. Ivy and moss grew in places, but the plant life wasn’t over sized or a strange color.
Vash blinked when he finally noticed.
“Where’s the door?”
“I was wondering the same thing.” Corwin said, hands on his hips, giving the tower a confused look.
“Haven’t you been here before?” Vash asked.
“To Amical Falls, yes.” Corwin said. “No one really comes up to the Tower unless they’re a wizard or they really need something. Jabez doesn’t like wizards all that much, so we never came up here. If we needed something magical, most of the time we just dealt with the wizards down at the Lodge.”
Vash approached cautiously, peering as far as he could around the side of the tower. “Maybe the door is on the other side?”
“Anything’s possible.” Corwin shrugged, moving in the opposite direction.
They circled the tower’s base, keeping a careful twenty feet of distance. After a few moments, they joined one another on the far side of the tower.
“Nothing?”
“Nope.” Corwin said, shaking his head.
“Should we go down to the lodge and see if anyone knows how to get in?” Vash asked.
“Maybe there’s a secret password. What’s the elvish word for ‘friend’?” Corwin said.
“” Vash said, perplexed.
Corwin looked at the tower expectantly.
Nothing happened.
“What was that about?” Vash asked.
“It worked in this one story I read,” Corwin said, sheepishly. “It was worth a try.”
“Why would a human wizard’s tower respond to elvish?” Vash asked, thoroughly confused.
“In the story it wasn’t a wizard’s tower, it was a dwarvish mine.” Corwin mumbled, walking away.
“That’s even more confusing!” Vash exclaimed. He was getting a headache.
“I just thought it was worth a try, that’s all.” Corwin said, defensive.
“Maybe we can call it a ‘pretty, pretty lady’ in Old Malconian.” Vash said, trying to keep a straight face.
“This isn’t helping.”
“Or a ‘very naughty boy’ in whatever the halflings call their language.”
“Galsic.” said a woman’s voice from behind him. “.”
Vash turned to face the newcomer, seeing a woman about his age standing at the top of the path and giving him a bemused look. She had an average build and looked like she spent long hours walking like most members of the Wayfarers. Her skin was a dark, tawny brown, while her eyes were a lighter amber color. Her thick, curly hair was plaited into tight braids that ran close to her scalp and had small, colorful beads threaded into them.
“Did that help?” The newcomer asked, a slight curve of a smile touching her lips.
“Probably not.” Vash said, feeling a blush touch his cheeks. “I was just giving my friend a hard time about believing old bard’s tales.”
This time the woman gave him a full smile, warm and lovely and causing her eyes to crinkle at the corners. “I wouldn’t discount old bard’s tales out of hand. I can’t tell you how many of those old stories have led to some amazing discoveries.”
“Told you it was worth a try,” Corwin muttered.
“You still haven’t said what it was you were trying to accomplish.” The woman said, moving past Vash and approaching the tower. As she passed, Vash got a good look at her gear. She wore traveling clothes, heavy enough to protect from the elements, but loosely fitted so they didn’t impede movement. A heavy belt stuffed with pouches hung about her waist, and she wore a writing satchel at one hip. Vash could just see the corner of a thick tome among the pages stuffed haphazardly inside the satchel.
“We’re looking for a way into the tower.” Vash explained. “I need to talk to Master Astinak.”
“Ah!” she said, brightly. “!”
Corwin turned, a cheery grin on his face. “You’ve read it?”
“It was one of my favorites when I was younger.” She said, nodding enthusiastically. “When the heroes saved Barhold the Blue from the evil sorcerer, the Spider, I knew right then that I wanted to be an adventurer.”
“I always loved the goblin ambush in the beginning.” Corwin said, a gleam of excitement in his eyes. “Though I have to say that real goblins are far more dangerous.”
“True.” The woman said. “And real wizards don’t use simple code phrases to protect their towers. You have to be attuned to the tower’s Core before it lets you inside, or bear credentials that let you pass.”
“How do we get credentials?” Vash asked, looking at the blank base of the tower with growing annoyance.
“Being a wizard helps.” She said with a shrug. Moving with a calm confidence, the woman approached the base of the tower and scanned the stone blocks at eye level. After a moment of searching, she seemed to find what she was looking for. She dug out her Guild marker from within her shirt, then leaned forward and pressed it against a weathered carving.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then a faint chime rang out from beneath the woman’s hand. The sound of rock scraping against rock followed. Vash watched in amazement as the stones retracted or rotated out of the way, leaving a door-sized opening in the tower’s base.
“There we go.” She said, with an air of satisfaction. As she tucked her medallion back into her shirt, Vash spotted a copper band encircling her right wrist. It wasn’t a bracelet, since it moved and flowed with her skin. The band looked like the metal was a part of her skin, like a tattoo.
“That was very cool,” Corwin said. “I love seeing real magic. Well, real magic that’s not trying to kill me. I’m Corwin, by the way, and that’s Vash.”
“I’m Galia. Nice to meet you both.” She said, giving them a brief nod but not extending her hand. “I’ve got business with Master Astinak as well. Shall we go find him together?”
