“Well, I know they are looking for the Crown of Light right now,” offered Niki. “It is supposed to be at the bottom of that mountain.”
“What do they want with the Crown of Light?” puzzled Dalgar. “Wait
… tell me everything you know about them already.”
While Dalgar sat attentively, Niki told him about the members of the group and how they met. She explained about the Sword of Heavens and the fairy’s demands for the Crown of Light. When she went into detail about how they rescued General Gregor from the Royal Palace in Tagaret, Dalgar smiled. He paid particular attention to the meaning and description of Tedi’s necklace.
“So, it would appear that their next stop will be back to the fairies if they manage to find this Crown of Light,” surmised Dalgar. “I will explain a number of ways for you to get information to me. The easiest will be for you to leave a message at the campsite when you leave in the morning. I’ll have someone following the group and they will be instructed to retrieve the messages. If you stay in a city and do not camp, you can leave a message at any Black Devil drop with my name on it. Now listen closely and I’ll explain how to identify a Black Devil drop in case you need to use one.”
Dalgar and Niki spent another hour talking and making plans to rule the world. Dalgar warned Niki that other Black Devils would ambush the group if they found out about them. Dalgar explained that there would be little he could do to intervene if that happened and she should be prepared to defend herself. After Dalgar left, Niki returned to the mansion in a happier mood than she had been in a very long time.
Chapter 26 Crown of Light
Everyone except Tedi was in the sitting room discussing the various approaches to getting the Crown of Light when Niki walked in humming to herself. Garth immediately turned towards Niki and frowned while shaking his head. No one sensed Garth’s displeasure at seeing Niki and everyone greeted her warmly when she asked what was going on. Arik summarized the events of the day for her and waited for some revelation on how they could retrieve the Crown of Light. Instead, Niki sat down on the floor and leaned her head against the wall.
When the discussion continued, Garth tapped Kalina lightly on her arm and led her outside. When they were far enough away from everyone, Garth stopped walking.
“I think the stalactite may be the key,” Garth declared. “If it passes through the roof of the vault, it is the only place where the vault is not solid. Is it possible to melt the stalactite without causing harm to the mountain?”
“It would certainly be easier to shatter it,” Kalina replied. “I can do that without causing the mountain to drop on us. It will be extremely loud, but the vent looked big enough to allow the pressure to escape. I think I can do that.”
“It is just getting dark now,” Garth mentioned. “Why don’t we ride out towards the mountain so we are alone. As soon as it is dark we can enter the vent unseen.”
“Okay,” Kalina replied. “Get a lantern from the stables. I don’t want to waste any energy with a mage light while we are down there.”
Garth and Kalina mounted their large horses and rode towards the mountain. Within the hour, darkness was complete and Garth checked to make sure no one was around.
Okay, Kaz, we’re ready. Let’s go play where the dragons live.
Kaz snorted as the mindspeech registered and the black stallion’s wings appeared. Gone, too, was the illusion spell, which hid the unicorn’s horn. Alongside Kaz, Yorra was performing the same transition. Together, Garth on his black unicorn and Kalina on her white one, they rose into the sky and headed for the vent at the peak of the mountain.
It has been too long since you have let us spread our wings, Alex. Yorra and I have missed the thrill of flying.
I am not sure that I could stand the hero worship of the Children, Kaz. Even without Alex around, they can’t stop talking about all of those ridiculous tales they have heard.
It was Yorra’s turn to snort. The tales are not ridiculous, Alex. Just because you refuse to acknowledge your contributions, there is no reason to belittle the Children for wanting to believe in someone good.
Jenneva gave Yorra a pat on the neck. Stop it, you two. Alex has enough problems with the Children and their hero worship. Don’t you two start on him. Just get us down the vent so we can do what we’ve come for.
The unicorns circled the mountain peak once before Kaz led the way down into the vent with Yorra close behind. At the bottom of the vertical shaft, the unicorns landed in the dragon’s lair. Alex and Jenneva dismounted and Alex lit the lamp he acquired at the stables. Ignoring the piles of gold and silver objects, Alex hoisted Jenneva onto the roof of the vault to examine the stalactite.
After examining the stalactite, Jenneva shook her head. “I can’t tell if it goes through or not. The easiest way will be to shatter it and see what happens. Let’s find something to provide cover. When it shatters, pieces of rock will be flying all over the place and I won’t have any shields up.”
They scampered off the roof onto a pile of gold and slid to the floor of the lair. Alex found some full-length silver shields and dragged them to the opposite side of the lair.
“I can hold the two of these and we can hide behind them,” Alex declared as he indicated to Kaz and Yorra to leave the chamber. “Will they be sufficient?”
Jenneva nodded and focused on the stalactite. Suddenly, the hairs on the back of Alex’s head stood out and he looked around frantically to see if someone else was in the lair. High above him, he picked out a small pair of eyes just as Jenneva yelled, “Down!”
It was hard for Alex to tell which was worse, the concussion of air and rocks smashing against the two shields as he strained to hold them away from Jenneva and himself, or the absolutely deafening sound that reverberated off the walls of the lair. The reverberation lasted for over half a minute. The ringing in his ears lasted much longer. Jenneva ended up prone on the floor with Alex on top of her. The two shields lay on top of both of them. Pushing the shields off, Alex looked up to find the pair of eyes, but the chamber was so full of dust that he could see nothing past the shields.
Jenneva slowly got up and started another incantation. Within seconds, a whirlwind was created in the vent and started twirling violently. Gold and silver coins started to rise off the floor in the center of the lair to be caught up in the whirlwind, but quickly dropped back to the floor. What did get caught in the whirlwind was the dust and within moments Jenneva was able to see across the chamber again. She turned towards Alex and saw his lips moving, but all she could hear was a ringing in her ears.
Mind speech is the only way we will be able to communicate for a while, Alex.
You didn’t mention that we would go deaf, Jenneva.
I’ve never quite done this inside a mountain before, Alex. It won’t last long. Let’s see if we have an entrance hole.
Alex again hoisted Jenneva up onto the roof of the vault and they crawled to where the stalactite had been. Alex smiled when he saw the hole in the roof. It was too small for him to fit through, but Jenneva would be able to make it. She obviously had the same idea because she was already lowering herself into the vault. Alex grabbed her hands from the lip and stretched his arms into the vault as far has the hole would allow him. She dropped the short distance remaining and Alex lowered the lamp down to her. She was soon gone from his view and Alex turned his attention back to the vent where he had seen the small pair of eyes. He hoped it had not been Kaz or Yorra coming back down the vent. He would know soon enough because the unicorns would return when the dust stopped flowing out of the vent.
Having nothing to do for a while, Alex slid off the roof and scooped a couple of handfuls of gold coins into his pouches. Kaz and Yorra returned and settled down on the floor.
How did you and Jenneva avoid getting hurt down here? inquired Kaz.
We hid behind some old silver shields. Did you see anyone in the vent on your way up? Alex asked.
Nobody, but the concussion blew a bird out, an osprey I think, though it was hard to tell. Poor little thing must have been frightened out of its wits. Is Jenneva in the vault? Yorra snorted.
I am and I would like to come out now, Jenneva answered.
