Riding the Dim - Chapter 2
Eyes in the Night
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READ Riding the Dim - Chapter 1
Gareth looked down at the shattered carriage wheel and shook his head. Minor repairs he could handle, but he was no wainwright. After the carriage burst through the mystic portal created by the Shard, he'd done everything he could to slow the enchanted horses. He and Alrich were barely able to leap to safety as the carriage swerved into an outcropping of rock. All bruises aside, Gareth knew they were both lucky to be alive. Moreover, the two carriage horses had survived, though now exhausted from the effects of Alrich's spell.
Alrich watched as Gareth fiddled with wagon parts that no longer fit together properly. He could feel the grizzled warrior's frustration, knowing full well it had little to do with their broken ride.
"What troubles you, old friend." Alrich said, half to himself. He knew the answer, but for some reason it always made him feel better to ask.
"The same," Gareth replied without looking away from the ruined carriage. "Need I go into detail?"
"No, I suppose not."
It wouldn't have mattered. Alrich knew his friend's mind. They'd traveled too long together, survived too many scrapes.
"Well," Gareth's demeanor slightly softened, "At least we brought saddles."
"You'd best water them soon,” Alrich replied, gesturing to the horses. “They'll need special tending to tonight."
Alrich stepped out into a clearing near the ruined carriage, closed his eyes, and drew in the early evening air.
"I'll need some time to determine what thaumaturgical lines permeate this place," he continued. "There's no telling what magic will work here...if at all."
"Thalend. This is best the Shard could do? And we don't even know if your magic will work? Alrich, you told me…” Gareth stopped and took a breath. “Promises were made..."
"I'll need some time." Alrich turned toward Gareth, fixing him with a blank stare.
"Alright...I'll take care of the horses and try to find some food." Gareth looked around the area. He could see a stream several yards to the east, a fine spot to begin his hunt.
By the time Gareth had gathered the horses, Alrich was already sitting on the ground against a large stone. He was meditating, drinking in the energies that gently flowed through the cool air. He recited ancient incantations and reached out to mystical forces, determining their effects in this new world. In Kaledon, Arich was an expert at evocation, hurling spheres of fire and blasts of eldritch power at his foes. This world, Thalend, was different. He could feel the magical bindings, but they were subdued, subtle. He was accustomed to a world where even an inept apprentice with only rudimentary arcane knowledge was dangerous. Not here. It was possible that even the great sorcerers of Kaledon would be lost in this place.
Alrich opened his eyes and began fingering the small crystal in his hand. It was called the Star Shard; a stone that fell from the heavens some 500 years earlier. Known to possess the power to open doors between dimensions, it was procured by Tharciss the Last over three generations ago. He was a collector of rare artifacts, though it was widely rumored he'd never put the Shard to full employ. The Last Necromancer had grown old and sedate, no longer driven by the ancient mysteries, now satisfied to simply terrorize the Farstone Valley from his keep and rule his corner of the world. He’d no doubt lost a step. The lax security of his lair made it relatively easy to steal the Star Shard. Alrich smiled. The Shard's theft must have been the first excitement Tharciss had enjoyed in 50 years. Yet, something about their escape made the wizard uncomfortable.
Little more than an hour had passed when Gareth wandered into the clearing carrying a small deer over his shoulder. Alrich took a moment to note his friend and bodyguard. Though a complete loss in regard to magic, Gareth was an excellent hunter and unmatched swordsman. His gift for strategy was exceptional. He would do well in this new world. Too bad they didn't plan on being there long.
"What? You couldn't start a fire while I was gone?" Gareth said with just the inkling of a smile. "So what have you found out?"
"There are definite magical ley lines here, but they're unrefined, not like home. We should be alright, but I'll need a focus."
"A focus? Like what?"
"Something natural, like a stick."
Gareth looked on Alrich with raised eyebrows. He was used to not understanding what the mage was talking about but this seemed comical. "You need a 'magic wand'?
"A focus," Alrich replied with narrow eyes, "Wands are for fairy queens and sprites."
"How's this?" Gareth found a thin switch on the ground outside the clearing and kicked it up into his hand.
"Excellent," Alrich responded. "That should do nicely."
"What about the Shard?" Gareth continued.
"Ah...that, that is going to take some time and reflection." He looked around the meager encampment they'd thrown together. "Sooner or later I'll need a proper place to study. You know, like a library or an inn."
"An inn? We don't even know the language of this world or it's inhabitants, for that matter, and you want to find an inn?"
"Understanding the language shouldn't be a problem. I think I can create an enchantment for that. As for the inhabitants, I've done my homework. Do you really think I'd have gotten us this deep into our caper without knowing the basics? We'll be fine."
Gareth raised his hands in surrender. "As you say. I did see a settlement over that southern ridge. It's about 3 miles from here; just a few farms around a hamlet. Might have an inn, I suppose."
"Perfect. See, everything's working out as we planned. I'll start the fire, you skin that...thing. It's getting late."
After the fire was burning brightly, Alrich prepared himself for what he hoped to be his last spell of the day. With his limited understanding of Thalend's magic and a bit of ingenuity, he was able to weave a warding that surrounded the camp. Anyone or anything entering the area would trigger the effect. Alrich was hoping for a quiet night. He wasn't fully prepared to deal with any new threats. He needed another day or two of experimentation to know his capabilities in this world. How he longed for a good, functional lightning spell.
They finished dinner long after dark. Gareth bedded down as he always did, clad in an uncomfortable chain mail hauberk with his blade, Deathknell, tucked under his bedroll. Alrich kept his two long daggers and the switch by his side. Daylight would come soon and he was eager to continue his study of the Shard. But for now, he was exhausted. Within moments, both men were sound asleep.
Gareth lept to his feet, nearly falling over from the sudden change of elevation and taken aback by the horrible ringing all around him. His longsword was in his hand as he looked over at Alrich who was struggling to get to his feet, holding the switch. His attention was drawn away by several sets of glowing red eyes, moving toward them. He backed toward Alrich, taking a defensive stance, and barely heard the mage's mystical words over the din. As the red eyes closed in, a strange cool mist rose up from the ground around them.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Cover Image - Goodfon.com
Horses photo - Libreshot
Campfire - Rawpixel