Aphrodite's Acolyte (13 page)

Fidel woke to the sun's rays invading his eyes. Yardana, always the attentive nurse, quickly jumped to Fidel's movements. She immediately asked what he would like. This time, Fidel asked the child to permit all visitors. Yardana frowned, thinking she had upset Fidel with her excessive guarding of him. He comforted her by saying she was doing an excellent job, but he felt he had the strength to handle a full day of company. She accepted his statements and headed out to collect as many visitors as she could. Fidel could only chuckle at the extremes of this child's actions, all of which in his own interest.

Visitor after visitor stopped by. Lord Fineal dropped in, letting Fidel know he would be returning to Puldechra shortly. He informed Fidel there was no sign of Pravas around the city. Fineal dispatched many scouts to try to locate the evil sorceress.

Cap visited for a few, with plenty of comments on how much style Fidel carried in the throes of a successful mission. Cap said with an elated voice, “You shattered that victory!” He was  apparently saving that friendly jab for the lighthearted reunion. Yardana didn't appreciate the comment as much as Fidel did, giving Cap a glare full of daggers.

Shar visited in the evening hours while Methvas stopped in several times throughout the day, each being very much like parents worried about their broken son. Abby stayed right outside the room, giving privacy but having her daggers ready at any moment, seemingly on edge expecting a bold attack directly on Harlow's Keep, thinking the evil sorceress had full intention to carry out her threat. Fidel kept in contact with Grelin and Asante on their magical rings, affirming they should stay in Puldechra as he would be returning.

Many sunrises and sunsets passed as the strength returned to Fidel. Within a few days, he was back on his feet, noting no problems with movement and only an overall stiffness about him. Within a few more days, he was back to the training halls of Harlow's Keep, twirling his staff and tossing small bolts of lightning at the various practice dummies. His practices started very short, no more than ten minutes, and continued to grow to sessions lasting hours. In two weeks time, Fidel was back to full health and ready to travel again.

As Fidel was readying himself for their first large feast in the company of Abby and Cap, the herald of Harlow's Keep came to Yardana's room.

The herald announced his reason for intrusion. “Sir, you have a visitor.”

Fidel looked at the herald, noticing he was shifting his eyes and slightly shaken. “Why are you nervous?”

“Well Sir, it's very rare that Harlow's Hovel sees a dwarven visitor. It's even more rare to see a dwarf with both his skin and eyes sharing the color of a cloud-filled sky.” Abby and Cap both came to attention quickly, Abby pulling her daggers.

Fidel looked to Abby. “Whoa, stay your hands Abby. Noxater is no foe.”

“And how do you know this?” Abby retorted.

“He is a prisoner of Pravas' curse, for that I am certain. I witnessed his desire to destroy her but unable to do so with the simple raising of her hand. He is a slave, his soul bound to her will.”

Abby took the words under consideration, “So he comes here to retrieve your whereabouts?”

Fidel shifted his stance slightly. “It's very possible. He may be here of his own accord. There is only one reason Pravas would send him if he was to take action.” Fidel pulled the amulet from his neck and handed it to Cap. “I would like you to take the amulet and go fetch my father, Methvas.” Cap nodded, took the necklace, and headed off. Fidel confirmed to the herald that the visitor was welcome.

Fidel and Abby descended the staircase of Harlow's Keep. They made their way to the great hall with the mural depicting the creation of Harlow's Hovel. Noxater opened his arms, showing he was without weapons.

Fidel extended his hand for a proper greeting. “Well met, Noxater of Deeder's Pass.”

Noxater did not extend his own hand, instead declining the gesture to Fidel's confusion. “I do not dare touch yer body, Fidel. I know Pravas is still attuned to meself as I feel her intrusions every once in a while. I come to ask ye for assistance.”

Abby interrupted. “We cannot travel with a dwarf whose mind is attuned to the enemy for which we will be seeking out!”

Fidel raised his hand, both to silence Abby and to hold her back. Fidel's tone turned inquisitive. “Noxater, what is your request?” 

Noxater's voice remained calm and steady. “Yer companion, Abby is it? Yes, she is correct in her assumption that I wish to travel with ye.” Abby puffed out her chest as a statement to Fidel that sometimes assumptions are accurate.

Noxater continued, “I do not wish to travel alongside ye.” Abby's posture immediately sunk, showing signs of defeat. “I know me mistress still has a hold on meself and I will be a risk to ye and yer friends.” the dwarf paused for a moment as the mere thought of being under the control of another visibly disturbed him. “I wish for yer aid to find me mistress, meet up with her, and destroy her together. I know we once fought on a battlefield where me actions were of thee aggressor and on thee side of wrong...”

Fidel put his hand up signaling for the dwarf to stop. “Noxater of Deeder's Pass, we will be pleased to join you in the mutual destruction of your mistress. No more words are required to convince us. But I do have a request of you, if you would be willing.” The dwarf's eyes connected with Fidel's and the elf continued. “Would you be willing to spawn a connection with your mistress so we may divine her location from the mystic link you share?” The dwarf nodded his head, agreeing to the thought.

Methvas descended the staircase at that time, with Cap in tow, hearing the final words of the conversation.  Methvas chimed in with the lighthearted comment. “So that is your idea, Son? Where did you get such a clever mind?”

The Seekers of Pravas headed up the stairs and into Methvas' private quarters. Methvas pulled out a couple of items. He pulled a crystal the size of a human's little finger dangling on a string and a map of the island of Mirater. Methvas began chanting with the crystal dangling over the map. The crystal slowly moved in a circular motion.

Nothing happened for several minutes. Methvas instructed Noxater and Fidel to clasp arms and stare into each others eyes. A few more minutes passed, appearing to fail yet again.

Fidel had an idea and asked for Cap to place the amulet around Fidel's neck, leaving it exposed to Noxater's gaze. Cap complied and Methvas continued his chant. A few heartbeats later, the crystal started spinning rapidly and the circular motion narrowed. The crystal quickly descended upon the map, indicating a location directly east of Harlow's Hovel, halfway between the cities of Marisali and Marides.

Noxater's grip tightened on Fidel, holding the elf in place. Noxater's eyes glowed red and the dwarf convulsed. He spoke, his voice a growl of unwilling articulation. “Fidel Austempes...you survived. And you...have found...my pet.”

Abby pulled her daggers from their sheathes, readying herself for the dwarf to lunge at any moment. Cap also pulled out his sword, ready to strike at a moment's notice.

Fidel looked at both of them, his eyes asking them to stay their hands. “Pravas Medeis, slayer of thousands, justice will find you. Prepare yourself.”

The dwarf shuddered harder, as if Fidel's words angered the unseen being. “Come...and while you are out...your family will suffer!” The dwarf's grip quickly relaxed and the fire in his eyes departed. The dwarf stood in silence for a second, staring at Fidel and unaware of what had occurred. Noxater attempted to speak, but not a single coherent syllable escaped his mouth before he collapsed to the ground.

An hour later, the dwarf finally emerged from his exhaustion. He inquired about what had transpired and Fidel filled him in on the details. Noxater spat at the ground, disgusted at the fact that some elven sorceress retained her hold on his essence.

Fidel helped the dwarf to his feet, and informed him of Pravas whereabouts. The dwarf was about to depart quickly, wanting to waste not one more moment. Fidel held him in place, then motioned for him to head over to the armory.

Methvas was finishing up an enchantment on a helmet for the dwarf. A steel double-horned helm which would cover the dwarf's head and half his face. Noxater looked to Fidel, questioning this gift to him.

Methvas rolled the helmet over in his hands. “This helmet will provide you reprieve from Pravas' intrusions. The enchantment is a ward against powers that would intrude upon the mind and will of the wearer." Methvas' tone turned more lighthearted. "Unfortunately, it is not very comfortable to sleep in. So you may find yourself wandering the night as you attempt to rest.”

Noxater quickly fit the helmet over his head and looked to Methvas with a wide smile. “Thank ye, Sir!”

Fidel started his own rapport with the dwarf. “Noxater, I appreciate your offer to travel with us. We will be departing Harlow's Hovel in a few days time, by horseback. While we cannot  travel with you, even with this protection my father has provided, I will inform you of the destination.” Fidel pulled out a map of the northeastern part of Mirater. “The divining crystal landed here.” Fidel pointed halfway between Marisali and Marides. “Pravas is surely in that area. Abby, Cap, and myself will be heading to the town of Marisali and will approach from the south. Lord Fineal has dispatched a brigade of soldiers to arrive in Marides around the same time we reach Marisali. Since you will be on foot, we know it will take you longer to arrive. We should all be meeting up together in fifteen days time at the marked location.”

Noxater nodded his head in agreement, grabbed up the map, and gave his final thank you to his helpful accomplices. He said his final farewells and headed out in his hunt for Pravas Medeis.

Fidel's friends and family settled in for the evening to a large feast graciously provided by Lord Ias, who was also in attendance. The night went long with good company, great food, and fine entertainment.

After everybody settled in for the evening, Methvas returned to Fidel's room to speak privately with his son. The father and son talked for a few more hours, discussing plans for how to evict Pravas Medeis from their mortal realm. During the conversations, Fidel passed one of remaining communication rings to Methvas and explained its powers. Methvas, a very experienced mage, was already familiar with such trinkets but was still thrilled by the ability to speak to his son at any time he desired. Methvas wished Fidel a good nights rest and told him to meet with him for the entirety of the next day as there was some additional training required.

The next day, Fidel and Methvas met in Methvas' private quarters. Methvas taught Fidel several new spells to protect himself and his allies. Spells designed to silence mages, encase allies in protective barriers, heal small wounds, and Fidel's personal favorite, a spell designed to prevent a target from moving a single muscle in their body for a short time. Methvas further taught Fidel how to use his staff to store and amplify any spell effects. The day went long. By the time they completed the training, Fidel was both mentally and physically exhausted.

A day later, the three comrades discussed their plans to depart Harlow's Hovel. Once again, Methvas wanted to give more to the group. He called upon Cap and invited him to pick a weapon from the armory and an enchantment to go along with it.

Cap, being a pure archer and thereby selecting a bow, wanted an enchantment that would split any arrow he shot into three bolts of stinging fire. Methvas, being quite experienced at enchanting, gave Cap a stare as-if asked to perform a miracle. Cap, always the comedian, decided to joke with the wizard. “What? You wanted a reasonable request?” Methvas smiled and shook his head, telling Cap to try again. Cap settled for a simple enchantment that turned any arrow fired from his bow into a fiery blast. When the wizard complied with his more reasonable request, Cap replied jokingly with, “I guess that will do!” Cap thanked Methvas for his gift, promising to never forget the skilled wizard of Harlow's Hovel.

Abby was next on Methvas' gift list, but he did not know what she would want. As Abby and Methvas climbed the stairs of Harlow's Keep toward the armory, Methvas looked for any sign of interest from Abby. As they approached the armory, he noticed Abby's constant gaze back toward a dragon's head hanging on the walls of the stone keep. “I take it the creatures of Maserun carry an interest in your heart?” Abby nodded her head and explained the details of how many exotic animal and plant variants can make many magical potions. Methvas smiled. “So you are an alchemist. This is good as I have something for you then!”

He guided Abby to his private quarters and pulled back a false panel on his wall, a panel which hid a large closet of rare and precious alchemy agents. “I am not much of an alchemist myself, but I know many items in here would carry much interest to one such as yourself.” Abby's face brightened with curiosity. Methvas continued. “But before you go shopping, I have to give you something that will make it easier for you to carry some of the larger items. Methvas headed over to a dresser and pulled a small satchel from a drawer. “I gave my son the larger of this pair before he departed, thinking a satchel was too feminine for his sturdy frame. But I think this will fit you well, Abigail.”

Abby grabbed the satchel and placed her daggers inside, confirming the magical properties of the bag. She hugged Methvas much like a young daughter would hug her father. She waited earnestly for Methvas to grant permission.

Methvas smiled wide and motioned toward the closet. “Go, fill up!”