Joint Intentions (Book 9) (5 page)

Neltus kept the enchanted book open as he concentrated on his memories of both Ansas and the slink ghoul Baannat. He also allowed the echoes of past portals to influence his spell. While there was no magic within him, ripples of past deeds trembled against the edges of the plateau. Others had opened gateways into Baannat's realm, and the remnants of old passages hung faintly in the air. Allowing such swells to help shape the energy was the only way he could complete the incantation.

The pages began to turn by themselves, slowly at first, then much faster, as if a heavy wind blew across Neltus' hands. Crimson energy rippled out from the open book like bursts of scorching gas from boiling hot springs. Neltus fought to utilize the magic, and he quickly shaped his spell within the red waves.

Once the spell took firm hold of the energy, the remainder of the crimson magic exploded out of the book in one complete burst. It leapt from Neltus' hands and swirled in the air. Eventually, the red hue began to fade into a gray shadow, and a hollow portal formed over the center of the high plateau. It hung suspended in the air like the empty shadow of a bottomless hole. The inky blackness swirled ever so slightly, but no other movement appeared near the rift.

Neltus held his breath and waited. He began to sweat. He never appreciated confronting beings of great power, even when his core was intact. He preferred facing weaker opponents, foes he knew he could beat. He was opening a gateway into a dimension of emptiness, creating a door for a being of considerable animosity, while he was essentially powerless to defend himself.

To make things much worse for Neltus, he really didn't understand Baannat's abilities. The slink ghoul was once as powerful as Enin. The monster cast white magic marked with the efficiency of two perfect circles. At one time, Baannat had grown even more powerful than Enin and almost defeated the human wizard, but the slink ghoul lost... not only the battle but also his magic.

Many believed Baannat was killed in that clash, but he found a way to return to Uton. He also found a way to reclaim the magic which had been taken from him, and that was the only reason Neltus dared to contact the ghoul.

Neltus peered into the shadow rift. He could see nothing, but that was no surprise. Baannat ruled a realm of nonexistence, and the slink ghoul had become something of an anomaly himself.

Neltus took one deep breath and called into the shadowed hole.

"Baannat?"

He quickly took a step back and waited.

Nothing.

Neltus remained where he stood but called out a little louder.

"Baannat?!"

The shadows within the rift began to swirl more quickly, and the slink ghoul leapt through the rift in one quick bound. Baannat did not land upon the ground. He floated in the air. His shape appeared to glimmer. There was substance to his body, but it also appeared incomplete. The mass at the center of his body swirled with the same inconsistency as the shadow of the portal. The muzzle of his cat-like face formed a quick sneer as he scanned the grounds all around the edges of the precipice.

Realizing he faced only Neltus, Baannat gazed upon the human with more amusement than curiosity. The thin black irises of the ghoul's eyes twitched with delight. He recognized the human, knew he could torment the trespasser with ease. Thin claws jutted out of his paw-like hands as the slink ghoul swiped at the air in front of Neltus' face. Baannat did not strike the human, but he enjoyed watching him flinch.

"You've been here before," Baannat stated, as the slink ghoul began to circle Neltus.

The ghoul took quick steps with his thick, curved legs, but he remained off the ground, as if he walked on a cushion of air. The beast's entire form continued to shimmer in the dim starlight, making it clear that his body remained incomplete in a physical existence.

Neltus did not turn to match Baannat's movements. He remained almost completely still, allowing the creature to stalk behind him and moving only when he sensed the ghoul's claws come near. He tried not to recoil, but he could not contain the instinctive desire to cringe at an expected assault. Finally, he found the strength to speak.

"Yes, I helped Ansas create this rock edifice," Neltus confessed. "I used the crimson magic to shape the land where it would tower above everything else in the dark realm, reach to the very edge of its existence."

"And form a bridge into my realm of non-existence," Baannat confirmed.

"It was never meant to intrude upon you."

Baannat cackled nearly uncontrollably. When he finally stopped giggling madly, he revealed what he saw as an absolute truth.

"It was Ansas' intention to do just that! His search for pure black magic led him to reach where he should not have placed his hands."

"But it wasn't
my
intention," Neltus noted. He hoped to ensure there was no animosity between them before he made his request. "I didn't steal any of your magic."

"What do I care of your intentions? Are you worried that I view your land sculpture as an invasion?"

"I hope you don't view it that way."

"I never have. It has actually served me. It serves me even now. You have opened a portal and allowed me entrance into this physical realm. I must say, though I have grown very accustomed to my new home, I very much enjoy these excursions, and this spire seems to offer the only bridge which allows me access into this dimension."

"I'm glad I could be of service."

Baannat hissed with anger as he rushed back towards Neltus face. The ghoul glared at the human, appeared ready to strike with absolute malice. He almost tore at Neltus' rather large belly, split it open like an overripe melon, but the creature held his wrath if only to reveal what he saw as an undeniable fact.

"You are not here to serve me! You are here to serve yourself. You are one of the more selfish varieties of your pathetic species. The importance you attach to your own desires pours off of you as obviously as your profuse sweat. You would never have dared face me if you didn't want something for yourself."

Neltus didn't even attempt to lie.

"That's very true. I don't even want to be here now, but I don't have a choice."

Baannat tilted his head slightly as he considered the admission. He looked deeply into the very essence of the human before him, and once more, he started to laugh uncontrollably. He even turned away as he giggled and cackled like some small child in the midst of a fit of laughter.

Neltus wondered if the maniacal glee was a sign of good fortune or a precursor to some diabolical torture that the ghoul might find even more amusing. Rather than question the monster, he remained quiet as he waited uncomfortably for Baannat to supply the answer.

"You've lost your core," the ghoul finally stated as he turned back towards Neltus. "You are much like my old adversary, my brother Enin. The last time I spoke with him, he was empty as well."

"We lost our cores in the same battle," Neltus admitted. He was about to explain how he wished to reverse the situation, but the ghoul had questions of his own.

Baannat cared little for explanations of Neltus' troubles. He became much more interested with certain discrepancies of the current situation. The ghoul began to suspect outside influence, and such suspicions led to mistrust and anger.

"Reaching this platform and creating a portal into my realm are no easy tasks. It might have been difficult for you even if you maintained a healthy magical core. It is doubtful you could have made it here on your own. Who sent you... who is really behind this invasion of my realm?"

"There is no one else. I came here through my own incantations."

"You have no core. How were you able to accomplish this? "

Neltus would have rather dealt with his own needs, but he was in no position to force the issue. He decided to oblige the slink ghoul with the truth.

"I used magic stored in enchanted items."

Baannat sneered, wondered if he had wasted his time bantering with the human. The slink ghoul was no novice in the workings of magical energy, and he voiced unrestrained doubt over Neltus' claim.

"Enchanted items? Do you take me for an imbecile? You want me to believe someone imbedded such intricate spells into an inanimate object? Enchanting an item to create a portal is one thing. Using an enchanted item to create an opening into my realm is something else entirely. And what of reaching this plateau? That was no small matter either. Very few spell casters could have achieved such results."

"The items only held magic," Neltus explained quickly. "There was no spell placed within the enchantment. While I can't absorb or store energy, I've found I can shape it under certain conditions. I formed the spell in my head... from my past connection with Ansas and from the ripples of past portals created here. Once I had the spell in my mind, I powered it with magic encased in this book."

Baannat snatched the book from Neltus hands. He appeared to have difficulty retaining it within his grasp, as if the incompleteness of his body limited his ability to maintain hold over solid objects. Still, he managed to juggle the book long enough to analyze it. He threw it back to Neltus before it fell from his claws.

"The book contained magic without a hint of influence," the slink ghoul acknowledged. "How did you obtain such an item?"

"I forced a young boy with crimson power to enchant three such items; a coin, which I used to reach this place, the book, and the ring on my finger. I will use the magic in the ring to return home."

"Hold up your hand with the ring. Let me see it!"

Neltus did as he was told and allowed the slink ghoul to inspect the enchanted item.

"Interesting," Baannat allowed. "You can still cast spells even though you've been completely separated from the magic? You are more skillful than I imagined."

"I was once able to cast pure crimson magic in a full circle."

The claim sounded more like a boast, and Baannat responded with abject dismissal over Neltus' declaration.

"And I once cast pure white magic in two perfect circles."

Neltus didn't want to sound as if he was challenging the monster, but he saw an opening to reach his own intended goal.

"I know. Do you miss shaping the energy in such a way?"

Baannat found the question insulting.

"Do you think I'm powerless as I stand before you?" the ghoul hissed.

"Not at all, but it's my understanding that you're much different than you once were."

"I am. And to a degree, you're right. The magic contained within physical existence no longer bends to my will as it once did."

Baannat grew quiet. The ghoul turned from Neltus and floated over to the tower ledge. He peered down upon the dark lands, considered the vast number of vicious creatures he once commanded. For a moment, he considered diving toward the gray valley, immersing himself in the angry tides of a cruel existence. He stepped to the very edge of the precipice, but he knew he would go no further. For him, the call of nonexistence had become far stronger than the shriek of brutality.

With another hiss of disgust, the ghoul returned to face the human who appeared to test his tolerance.

"You obviously went through a great deal of trouble to get here. You did not come here simply to stir old memories within me. You have neither the courage nor the audacity for such an endeavor. I can see your fears as plainly as I see your hefty body. I also see the selfishness within you, but your particular desires are lost in the emptiness of your core. That is all I can see, so I cannot determine what you want. Tell me now, and without delay, why have you come to me?"

Finally, Neltus was able to make his desires known.

"Everything you see is what brought me back here. I admit it. My emptiness is the only reason I would risk coming to see you. I want my core back."

Baannat scowled with displeasure.

"I have nothing to do with your missing core."

"I know."

"Then why would you come to me?"

"Because you once lost your magic... but you got it back. I've heard the stories. You fought Enin and Ryson Acumen. During your battle, Enin opened a portal and allowed dark creatures to attack you. They took the magic from you, but you created a new core."

"I didn't simply create a new core. I retrieved what was stolen from me."

The news did not sit well with Neltus, and despite his fear of the slink ghoul, he actually contradicted Baannat's explanation.

"But... after you were defeated by Enin, you created a powerful creature to retrieve what you lost. You combined the skins of other dark beasts into an entity powered by magic. It hunted down dark creatures and pulled their magical essence from them. You mimicked Ingar's Sphere and collected magical energy. You ultimately absorbed that energy... restored what you had lost."

"I created a vessel to hold magic, yes, but that vessel was created by killing many of the creatures that originally stole my own core. I didn't simply capture magic. I could have done that by tapping into any source. I needed to regain a substantial portion of my own magical identity. Collecting magic is one thing, storing it within one's self requires a core which matches your essence."