“Say no more,” Talon said, waving his hand dismissively. “I will do this for you, even if it takes me several years to complete.”
“Heh.” Christopher’s laugh echoed throughout the chamber. “That it will. But serve me well in this endeavor, and your rewards will be greater still.”
Chapter TenThe Magic Archives
“And this leader shall gather up
Many artifacts of old,
So that he may rain holy fire upon his enemies,
And lead us all to victory.”
Book of Gallian, 12:5.
Year 4999 (Present day)
Teryn pushed himself up off the floor of the Blue Library, his whole body feeling sluggish after that last vision had concluded. He frowned as he thought about what to do next.
He quickly decided to go back to his dorm. It was entirely possible someone else would stumble upon him in the library, even with the Book Warden mysteriously absent. It wasn’t safe there. His dorm, on the other hand, should provide him with the cover he needed for the next part of his plan. Being a wanted man, he figured the last place anyone would look for him would be his primary place of residence, precisely because it was so obvious.
He donned Valeria’s ring again and backed it up with some minor misdirection spells he had gleaned from Sage Gallian’s mind to stay out of sight of anyone who might be looking for him and crept back to his dorm. He was still uncertain how well the magic would hold up, so he went slower than he otherwise likely had to, but he reached his lodgings safely.
Once he was back inside his own walls, Teryn decided to get a little rest. Even though he was anxious to continue his quest to rescue Valeria, he knew attempting to contact the Sage Mind would take a lot of energy, and he had been running on empty for a while. He ate what he could and decided to try the ultrasleep spell that Gallian had tried to use in the book.
Teryn felt better almost as soon as the spell left his lips. It would appear the incantation was every bit as good as it seemed.
About an hour later Teryn, feeling completely refreshed, settled down on his couch and reached out with his thoughts to try and contact the Sage Mind. If anything could tell him where Valeria was and how to save her, he just knew that would be it.
For several moments, nothing happened. Teryn had been uncertain that the plan would work in the first place, or that the Sage Mind would still exist and have power so many hundreds of years after the tales in the book, so he started to give up hope. Just when he thought all was lost, he heard . . . something. Though what it was, he couldn’t quite tell. It sounded almost like a person mixed with a strangled cat sitting at the edge of his mind.
“Sage Mind, is that you?” he asked the air. There was no response. “Please, if you’re there let me know.”
Again, nothing.
Defeated, Teryn sighed and lowered his head. “I guess it was nothing after all.”
Then he heard the noise again. This time, he swore there were words mixed into the catlike noises, but he couldn’t quite make them out.
“What was that, Sage Mind?” he asked. Silence greeted him again. He sighed. “I guess it’s useless. I’m not a real Sage, anyway, so it was a long shot.”
A harsh, foreign voice boomed inside his skull. Say, ‘let me in’ you dolt!
“Let me in?” Teryn repeated, a little shocked and bewildered.
With that, the walls of Teryn’s mind opened and the Sage Mind was free to contact him.
Took you long enough, it retorted, tsking a few times. And I thought Gallian was a tough nut to crack.
“Sage Mind!” Teryn exclaimed. Suddenly, things were starting to look up again. “It’s really you!”
Who else could speak to you directly through your own brain anyway?
“Good point,” Teryn conceded. “Anyway, I need your help. You see-”
Yes, I know, your girlfriend was kidnapped, and you want to rescue her.
Teryn was taken aback. “Well, err, that is to say . . . yes.”
Shocked that the shared consciousness of so many brilliant minds might know a thing or two, are we? No matter, I can help you. I won’t even charge my usual fee. An image of a fat man fanning bledars in front of his greedy face came at him.
“You have a fee?” Teryn hadn’t been prepared for that.
No.
“Then why did you-”
Never mind that. It’s just a saying. I will help you, but I warn you the path will not be easy. You may be required to do things you’ve never done, including kill someone. Are you okay with that?
Teryn thought about it for a long while. He had to admit he wasn’t quite sure. Though he’d practiced all kinds of attack magic, he’d never actually used any of it outside of training classes or the occasional scuffle with a fellow wizard after school, and none of that had been serious. Still, Valeria’s life was in danger. He knew he would do whatever it took to save her.
“Yes, I’m prepared. I will do whatever it takes. Even . . . kill.” He stumbled over the last word, all the while trying to portray a confidence that eluded him.
It’ll have to do, the Sage Mind replied. An image of a tall man shaking his head appeared. First thing’s first. Your friend was carted off to the Magic Archives. While it’s unlikely she’s still there, it’s as good a place as any to look for clues. Besides, I’m sure we can find a few things there that’ll be of use.
Wait until almost midnight and then head over. The manned guards change shifts slightly after midnight, leaving only the magical locks to guard the building for about fifteen minutes. That’s your window to enter. Once you’re inside, I’ll contact you again.
Just as quickly
