time,” he murmured under his breath as he waited to meet them.
When the riders drew near, Erz stepped forward and said, “Welcome milord.”
The lead rider glanced over to where the trapper was seated on the log. “Is that him?” he asked.
“Yes milord,” Erz replied. “He’ll see us over the mountains.”
Lord Kueryn nodded and said, “Excellent.”
Chapter Thirty-One
While passing through Kendruck, they heard rumors about a large force of Tribesmen who were laying siege to Yerith Keep. Reinforcements from both Duke Yoric and Duke Knor were converging on the battle. Apparently Yerith Keep had been the target for the large force they had discovered near Sterrith. Why they chose to attack such a fortified place was a question many were asking. It didn’t make sense.
At the junction north of Kendruck, they took the road heading northeast and continued for the remainder of the day. When night began drawing nigh, they stopped at one of the roadside inns.
Everyone gathered in Riyan’s room where the four segments were taken out and laid upon the table. Riyan laid his three segments upon the table first, making sure to leave a few inches between them. Then Bart took his out and placed it on the table before him.
“What should we do now?” Riyan asked Kevik. Being the resident expert on all things magical, they turned to him for advice on the best way to bring the segments together.
Kevik shrugged. “I’ve thought about this moment quite a bit over the last few weeks,” he replied. “To be honest, I don’t know. It all depends on the magic contained within the segments. If we bring them together and reform the circle, they may fuse together and become one, or they may not.”
“Would there be any possibility of harmful effects?” asked Bart.
Again, Kevik shrugged. “I just don’t know. Though, I think that unlikely.”
The companions stared at the four segments, each contemplating the best course of action.
Riyan reached for the segment lying closest to him. “The key must be reforged if it is to open the Horde,” he said. “Right?” He glanced to Bart and Kevik who both nodded.
“Based on the description of the wall you gave me,” Kevik offered, “it would have to be.”
“Alright then,” said Riyan as he placed two fingers upon the segment. He looked to Bart, Kevik, and Chad who each took hold of one of the others. “Now,” said Riyan, “we’ll move them all closer together at the same time.”
“Agreed,” said Bart. Each then began pushing their segment inward as they slowly brought together what had been apart for over a thousand years.
Seth watched as the four segments were brought closer together. “This may not accomplish anything at all,” he said. Glancing to his brother, he saw that Soth’s full attention was focused on the segments moving ever closer toward each other.
Riyan heard his comment and ignored it. Nervousness grew as his segment edged closer to reforming the circle. Will this work? he asked himself. Continuing to move the segment forward, he brought it into contact with Chad’s and Kevik’s. Then Bart moved his in line with the others. The circle was formed.
Each held their breath in anticipation. But nothing happened.
“What…?” began Seth, when all of a sudden a pulse of golden light flared from the circular key.
The unexpected flash startled Riyan and he tried to draw his hand back, but discovered he couldn’t remove his fingers from the segment he touched. Fear welled up from within. Beside him, the others struggled in their own attempts to free themselves.
“I can’t let go!” cried Chad, panic lacing his words.
Seth came to Riyan and gripped him around the chest. Then he tried to pull him back with all his might.
“Stop!” Riyan yelled as Seth’s efforts were putting great strain on the joints of his hand. “You’re tearing my fingers off!”
Letting go, Seth watched in worry as the circular key began pulsating with a golden light.
“Kevik,” Bart asked, “what should we do?”
Before he could respond, a wave of energy seemed to flow slowly outward from the key. Each of the four who were in contact with the key could feel it like a palpable presence as it passed through them.
“What’s going on?” Riyan shouted.
Kevik shook his head. “I don’t know,” he replied.
Then the outpouring wave of energy came to a stop. For a brief moment, it felt as if the world had come to a grinding halt. Still unable to disengage from the key, the four companions glanced with uncertainty at the others.
Breaths were held, none dared move or disturb the quiet in anticipation of what may come next. Then the wave of energy that had poured from the key suddenly snapped back with painful results. As it passed back through Riyan, it felt as if it tore something away. Crying out with pain, the cry suddenly intensified when the segment of the key he touched grew red hot. The smell of charred flesh permeated the room as the flesh of those fingers touching the key was burnt.
A final flash was followed by a second wave of energy traveling outward through the segments. The second wave ripped their fingers free and hit the four of them like a mule. Bart hit the wall hard and seemed to hang there for a moment before sagging down to the floorboards unconscious. The other three lay unmoving on the floor.
Seth hurried to Riyan’s side. The rise and fall of his chest showed that he still lived. “Riyan!” he shouted as he raised Riyan’s head from the floor. Gently slapping his face, Seth tried to revive him to no avail.
Chyfe and Soth rushed to Bart and Kevik respectfully, neither having any luck in bringing them around. At least they still lived.
“Lay them on the bed,” Seth said, as he lifted Riyan from the floor. Carrying him over to the bed, he laid him gently down. Reaching for the hand that had been in contact with the key, he held it up and saw where two of his fingers had been horribly burned. Layers of skin were missing, and the beginnings of fluid filled blisters sprouted around the outer edges of the wound.
First Bart, then Chad and Kevik were placed next to him on the bed. Their fingers showed the same level of damage as did Riyan’s. “Get the ruby,” suggested Seth.
Soth nodded and began searching Kevik’s pouches. When he found it, he began with Kevik. Holding the magic user’s hand in his, he placed the ruby near the burned areas and concentrated on healing. When the light from the ruby appeared, they saw the edges of the burned areas begin to heal.
“What happened to them?” asked Chyfe.
Soth shrugged. “I don’t know,” he replied. Glancing over to the table, he saw a wisp of smoke rising from where the circular key sat. “Seth,” he said, directing his brother toward the key.
Seeing the wisp of smoke, Seth went to take a look. “It burnt the table,” he said. Holding his hand above the key, he could still feel heat radiating out from it. Drawing his knife, he moved the point to where the key met the wood. He was going to try and pry it out of the tabletop.
“Don’t,” cautioned Chyfe.
Seth paused with his knife’s point a mere half an inch from the key as he looked over to him.
“Let’s wait for Kevik to come around,” Chyfe said. “He’ll know better what to do.”
Seth glanced to his brother and saw him nod. Replacing his knife back in its scabbard, he said, “Very well.”
One by one they healed the burned areas on their friend’s fingers. When the last had been healed and the gem grew quiet, Soth retuned it to Kevik’s pouch. Getting up from the bed, he went over to the table to look at the key for himself.
“Damn,” he said in awe. The wood around both the inner and outer edges was blackened.
Standing next to him, his brother nodded. “I could use a drink,” he said. “I’ll go down and bring up a pitcher.”
“And some food too,” suggested Chyfe.
“Alright,” agreed Seth. “Be right back.
