Catfantastic II

The hill shaped like a crooked finger loomed ahead. They slowed their pace, stopped on seeing Pacer. She sat before a ragged opening in the earthen mound. In the cave mouth Tabler and Marian could be seen supporting one another. Apprentice Marian's arm was in a sling. As they all dismounted, Tabler shouted, 'Don't come any further!'

Belldancer stopped beside Pacer, lightly touching the cat's head. He could see no barrier preventing their escape, but did not doubt Tabler's warning.

'What happened here, Tabler?'

'We followed the bats to this cave. Once inside we couldn't get out.'

Marian interrupted. 'Please, have you any food or water?'

Jariel tossed them a water bag and a packet of dried fruit. As they helped one another sit down, Jariel himself matched the wizard's slow approach to the cave mouth. Sanja's hands were stretched forth, eyes closed in concentration. Jariel clasped the seer's elbow to guide him around a large rock. They were both within inches of Marian and Tabler when there came an explosion of light. Akin to lightning, it flashed across the opening.

Dazed, Jariel staggered and rubbed his eyes to rid them of the afterimage seared on his inner eyelids. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he hurried to Sanja. The force had thrown the wizard a good ten feet from the cave. As Jariel knelt down to raise his friend, Pacer said, He's fine, Minddancer. Even so, relief coursed through him when the man moaned. Jariel helped him sit up.

'The power sealing that cave is old,' Sanja said, blinking his eyes. 'So old it makes my back teeth ache.

Here,' he grabbed Jariel's arm. 'Help me up.' Together they walked back to the cave.

'If it's as old as you say, how can it still retain such force?' asked Jariel.

'If I'm not mistaken, and I doubt that I am, this is the work of the Wizardess Baltaz.'

'Baltaz! How can that be possible? She's been dead two hundred years.'

'Even so. She was the most powerful mage of her time. Her delight was creating intricate traps and puzzles with spells made to last beyond her lifetime.' Sanja turned from him, a look of utmost concentration on his face, and slowly began to pace back and forth before the cave mouth. Jariel left him to join Pacer. She rested, out of the hot sunlight, in the shade of a tree.

What do you make of all this?

She yawned, pink tongue curling up to shield her front teeth. I had removed the bells the Healers placed in your body would you have learned how to dance without making a single bell chime?

No.

Then the answers to the questions you pose you must seek yourself.

With an inner sigh he hoped Pacer did not hear, Jariel examined the area around the hill. Clumps of tough grass thrust up from among the stone riddled ground, still green though it was mid-autumn. He knelt down, fingering the earth. As he wiped the damp soil from his fingers onto the grass, Jariel sniffed the air. Close by, there was a source of water.

On the eastern edge of the hill he discovered a small disturbance in the ground. Circling it, Jariel noted the dried dung, only partially covered in dirt, the freshest about three days old. There was also a tuft of reddish fur snagged on a rock. Near the dung he saw a paw print. Fox. Jariel turned back to Pacer.

A fox has used this cave as a dwelling place. It has not returned because the cave is now occupied by humans. Tabler and Marian could enter but not leave. When the mage tried to walk through, it repulsed him.

And, she prompted.

If this wizardess was as powerful as history tells us, she could have set wards to allow only animals the freedom to come and go.

Why?

Jariel paused to review. I think to hide her real purpose it was necessary that the cave appear normal. That is why ordinary humans cannot leave. They would carry the tale of a strange cave and someone Gifted would eventually investigate.

Very good. But, my heart spirit tells me we only scratch the surface here. Come, let's talk with Tabler.

A chill slipped down Jariel's spine as Pacer mentioned her heart spirit. Over the years she had chosen to become his teacher and friend, he had developed a healthy respect for the times when her inner voice spoke. It usually called them to action, dangerous action.

Sanja met them, shaking his head and saying, 'I can't find a weak point anywhere. I even tried to walk through without calling on my powers. It repulsed me, though not as violently. It's as if the barrier can tell I have the gift.'

Jariel clasped the wizard's shoulder, turning him. 'Let's see what Tabler can tell us.'

The scholar looked exhausted. He held a wet cloth above Marian's hand so the moisture dropped gently on her injury. Her fingers were red, puffy, blistered. In several places, cracked skin oozed a bloody pus.

Jariel asked, 'How was Marian injured?'

Tabler did not look up. 'Foolish curiosity, Belldancer.'

Jariel studied the bent head, the muscles across the scholar's shoulders tight with fear. 'Tabler, look at me.' In the old man's eyes were fear, exhaustion, and guilt. He conveyed all the distress of his position as Belldancer spoke.

'Is Duval in jeopardy?'

'I do not know.'

Jariel motioned to the ten guardsmen that accompanied him. 'Come forward. You and the Wizard Sanja will bear witness to Tabler's words.' When they were settled about him, Jariel said, 'Speak with truth before these witnesses.'

At Jariel's nod, Tabler continued, grateful Belldancer wore no warrior's knot in his hair. Had that been so, he and Marian would have to face the young man in a judgment dance for bringing either shame or peril upon Duval and its people. Peril they might bring, but only through foolish, not deliberate actions. 'We followed the bats into the cave. We used the night lanterns Sanja made us…'

Sanja eagerly interrupted. 'Did they work?'

'Very well. Once our eyes were adjusted, we could see just fine. The dim light didn't bother the bats at all. In the course of studying them, we discovered something odd. This cave is quite large, larger than the hill containing it. In fact it seems to lead into a maze of caves and stone grottoes.' He shook his head. 'Strange, very strange. I'd like to make a study of it.'

Jariel commented dryly, 'If we can't get you out of there, you might just have the opportunity.'

'Sorry, Belldancer.' Tabler shook out the cloth he used to wet Marian's arm and laid it again gently over her injury. She moaned. 'Does anyone have anything for pain?'

One of the guard leaned forward. 'I have some brandy.'

'Thank you, Marcan,' Jariel said, taking the flask which he tossed to Tabler.

The scholar supported Marian and tipped the flask. She gagged. 'I know it's awful, but it will help. There, that's enough. Now, lie down beside me.' Tabler covered her with a cloak. 'Try to sleep, brave one.'

Jariel saw the fatigue on the old man's face. He hated to push Tabler, but he had to have more information. 'You were saying?'

'My apprentice and I got turned around in the caves. As we were trying to find our way out, we saw a dim orange light. At first I thought it was moonlight shining in through the cave mouth. I became concerned, though, when the light brightened, stronger than any moon glow, the closer we approached.' Excitement tinged his voice. He looked at Sanja. 'We found a large cave. The walls were smooth, covered by a strange orange substance that glowed. The place reeked with magic, the very air was tinged with the scent of spent lightning. But the true wonder was the woman. She stood on a plinth in the center of the stone room.'

'A woman!' Sanja leaned forward. 'Is she alive? Where is she?' Not waiting for an answer he turned to Jariel.

'By the One! What if she is from Baltaz's time? What I-we could learn from her.'

Tabler shook his head sadly. 'Don't hold any hopes, Wizard. We ruined all.'

'What do you mean,' asked Jariel.

'She stood encased in a substance that rose up from the edges of the plinth. It had the appearance of flames