Alth left the temple the day after he heard the conversation. He went
straight for the wizard's guild. Entering the cool, dark room, Alth looked
around. Seeing no one, he searched rooms until an old man called out to
him.
"Good sir, may I help you?" Alth turned.
"I wish to see your guild leader. Where might he be?"
"Right this way, sir." The wizard led him through rooms until they came to one that looked like a great throne room. Power swamped Alth. Since his arrival in the city, Alth had felt many powers nag at his awareness, but this man's power overwhelmed him. Staggering slightly, Alth walked forward toward the old wizard seated in the center of the room.
"My lord?" Alth inquired. "I wish to speak with you."
"As do most who come here, Lord Alth."
"How do you know me?"
"I'm surprised at you, Lord Alth. You have more sensing power than anyone I have ever met. You should know by now what I am capable of."
Alth reached out with his powers, exploring the old wizard's power. What he found made his legs weak.
"You know about Attaly." Alth accused.
"Well done Master Alth. Perhaps you will tell me how you know of her?"
"You also know of the God," Alth continued, ignoring the question. The wizard frowned.
"Yes, I know of him, as do most guild leaders, though some choose not to believe it. What do you know of him?"
Quietly, Alth spoke. "He used to be my master."
The guild leader raised an eyebrow. "Used to?"
"Yes. I no longer serve him, though it seems he is still able to be connected to me." He lifted the foggy purple ball that hung on a chain around his neck. A shock prickled his fingers.
"It's your fault, isn't it?"
"Alth. You as well know about Attaly. Are you here to give her help? Gods know she needs someone to help her believe."
"I can not make her believe. I am here to ask your help. I need to get her out of the palace. Her life is in danger there."
"Danger? By all means, we must get her out. If she were to die, the God would kill our gods, and enslave humanity."
The two were silent a moment. The wizard broke the silence.
"I know of a few heroes to help."
"Why would I need to bring people with me? I am perfectly capable of-"
"You will not be allowed inside the palace. Raleigh will know who you are. He will know that you have betrayed your fellows. You will need the help."
The thought never even crossed Alth's mind to ask how this wizard knew about their fellowship.
"Very well. Who are these people?"
"A young wizard here, just became an initiate. As a novice he showed extravagant power. He will be perfect. Also, another young man, a rogue; my seers have told me that he has a large part in the world's savior. There are others, who will join your quest as well. Two of them I believe are already involved."
"What quest?" inquired Alth. "There was to be no quest. I only mean to-"
"There will be a quest, Alth. And you must help this girl to defeat the God, else we will all die."
They were silent for long moments. This time, Alth broke the silence.
"So were is this young wizard? And how in the world am I to get a rogue to come with me?"
"The wizard, Rahmadon, shall be summoned immediately. The rogue, Handarr, will take a bit of persuasion; give him this." The old wizard held out a hand. Dwarfed in his palm was a small bag. When Alth took it, it grew slightly, and began to feel very heavy. Looking in the bag, Alth saw that it was filled to the rim with gold.
"Mind, only give it to him. Take none for yourself. Eventually, it will pay off."
"All right. So were is this Rahmadon?"
The old wizard looked toward the door. A very young wizard stood there. He had short black hair, to be dyed white when he became a master. His eyes were a strange yellow color, like a young cat's. His movements were graceful and cat-like as well. When he reached Alth and the old wizard, the young man bowed deeply.
"Sir?" he asked in a medium voice for a male. "You called for me?"
"Yes, Rahmadon. I have a favor to ask of you. This man here," he gestured to Alth. "He has an important quest to undertake. Do you remember your legends well?"
"Yes sir. I make them a study of mine."
"Then you recall the legends of an evil being called the God?"
"Of course, sir. His was the first legend I learned."
"It is not a legend. Rahmadon, the God is very real. You also recall the descendant of the gods who is to be his downfall?" Rahmadon nodded.
"She is in the palace, and her life is in danger. You must help this man to find her, and smuggle her out of the palace somehow. Do you understand your job?"
"Yes, my Lord High Wizard."
The guild leader turned to Alth. "Then be off with you. Find Handarr and get that girl away from the God's clutching hands." Alth nodded and Rahmadon bowed. They turned and walked out of the room. Alth had not noticed the boy's power because of the old wizard's, but now it hit him in full force. It was nowhere near the other wizard's, but for a boy his age (He couldn't have been more than sixteen or seventeen), his power was mighty.
"Rahmadon, right?" asked Alth when he had overcome the awareness of the boy's power.
"Call me Rahm." The boy said. "If we are to be on a quest together, we shouldn't be so formal. And you are…?"
"They call me Alth." He replied simply. After a moment of silence, Alth asked, "So, where is the rogues guild? That's our first stop."
"Right over here," replied the young man. Rahm led Alth to a steel gate fence. Opening the creaking door, they made their way past overgrown gardens, and unattended grass. Alth knocked on the door. A wooden plate flapped back to reveal a pair of eyes that looked at the two men.
"Whadaya want?" the man said in a rough accent.
"Is there a rogue by the name of Handarr here?" Alth asked coolly.
"You wouldn't be workin' fer the king, would ya?" the man asked suspiciously. Alth's eyes narrowed. His face became shrouded in darkness.
"I would not work for this king if my life depended on it. Let us in."
The door swung open, admitting them. An older rogue led a younger man by the scruff of his neck. They walked towards the wizard and man.
"This be Handarr." The older rogue said roughly. "You want 'im? You can have 'im." He shoved the younger man into the other two. This boy seemed around the same age as Rahm, about fifteen to seventeen.
"He ain't nothin' but trouble. Don't come back till ye can manage to bring some gold to this guild!"
Alth and Rahm dragged Handarr to the door. Outside the guild, the young rogue halted. "What do you want?" he asked in heavily accented Common.
Rahm looked at Alth.
"You must come with us. You know the legend of the God?"
"Yeah."
"You know of the child born to save Ardania from his wrath?"
"Of course."
"She is being held in the palace. For the sake of humanity and all life, we must free her."
"So she's bein' held prisoner in the castle?" Handarr asked. Though he spoke like a commoner, there was intelligence in his voice.
"Not exactly prisoner. She isn't there against her will, but she will be murdered if we do not get her out."
"A'ight. I'll help – for a price."
Alth reached into his pocket, pulling out the bag of gold.
"Will this do?" he asked. In awe, Handarr reached out and took the gold. Pocketing it, he said, "That will do. Now, what are we doing about this?"
"We are getting into the palace, and taking the girl away from this harmful place. We cannot let her stay there any longer then a week."
"A'ight. Well, let's git movin'" They walked on, Alth in the lead.
"Rahm, do you know any invisibility spells?" Alth asked.
"Yes, but they are time and energy consuming…"
"I got an invisibility cloak, if invisibility is what ye need." Handarr commented
"Yes, invisibility is what I need. You wouldn't be asking for more money for it, would you?"
"Nah. The bag you gave me will cover it. And call me Darr. It's easier for times when ye gotta talk fast."
"Alright Darr. Now where is this cloak?"
"Right here." Darr reached into a pocket, and pulled out a tightly folded brown cloak. "Try it." He said. Alth took the feather light cloak in his hand. It was silken smooth as he threw it over his shoulders.
"Well?" he asked. "Does it work?"
"Yeah, it works. Look down." Replied Darr. Doing so, Alth saw that his torso to his toes had disappeared.
"Alright. It works well. Thank you Darr." The rogue nodded.
"Come. We can stay in the inn over there. She'll be safe for tonight."
"She?" Darr asked.
"Yes she."
"Gods, I always thought it would be a man who would be the God's downfall."
"So did I," Alth said quietly. "So did I…"
"Good sir, may I help you?" Alth turned.
"I wish to see your guild leader. Where might he be?"
"Right this way, sir." The wizard led him through rooms until they came to one that looked like a great throne room. Power swamped Alth. Since his arrival in the city, Alth had felt many powers nag at his awareness, but this man's power overwhelmed him. Staggering slightly, Alth walked forward toward the old wizard seated in the center of the room.
"My lord?" Alth inquired. "I wish to speak with you."
"As do most who come here, Lord Alth."
"How do you know me?"
"I'm surprised at you, Lord Alth. You have more sensing power than anyone I have ever met. You should know by now what I am capable of."
Alth reached out with his powers, exploring the old wizard's power. What he found made his legs weak.
"You know about Attaly." Alth accused.
"Well done Master Alth. Perhaps you will tell me how you know of her?"
"You also know of the God," Alth continued, ignoring the question. The wizard frowned.
"Yes, I know of him, as do most guild leaders, though some choose not to believe it. What do you know of him?"
Quietly, Alth spoke. "He used to be my master."
The guild leader raised an eyebrow. "Used to?"
"Yes. I no longer serve him, though it seems he is still able to be connected to me." He lifted the foggy purple ball that hung on a chain around his neck. A shock prickled his fingers.
"It's your fault, isn't it?"
"Alth. You as well know about Attaly. Are you here to give her help? Gods know she needs someone to help her believe."
"I can not make her believe. I am here to ask your help. I need to get her out of the palace. Her life is in danger there."
"Danger? By all means, we must get her out. If she were to die, the God would kill our gods, and enslave humanity."
The two were silent a moment. The wizard broke the silence.
"I know of a few heroes to help."
"Why would I need to bring people with me? I am perfectly capable of-"
"You will not be allowed inside the palace. Raleigh will know who you are. He will know that you have betrayed your fellows. You will need the help."
The thought never even crossed Alth's mind to ask how this wizard knew about their fellowship.
"Very well. Who are these people?"
"A young wizard here, just became an initiate. As a novice he showed extravagant power. He will be perfect. Also, another young man, a rogue; my seers have told me that he has a large part in the world's savior. There are others, who will join your quest as well. Two of them I believe are already involved."
"What quest?" inquired Alth. "There was to be no quest. I only mean to-"
"There will be a quest, Alth. And you must help this girl to defeat the God, else we will all die."
They were silent for long moments. This time, Alth broke the silence.
"So were is this young wizard? And how in the world am I to get a rogue to come with me?"
"The wizard, Rahmadon, shall be summoned immediately. The rogue, Handarr, will take a bit of persuasion; give him this." The old wizard held out a hand. Dwarfed in his palm was a small bag. When Alth took it, it grew slightly, and began to feel very heavy. Looking in the bag, Alth saw that it was filled to the rim with gold.
"Mind, only give it to him. Take none for yourself. Eventually, it will pay off."
"All right. So were is this Rahmadon?"
The old wizard looked toward the door. A very young wizard stood there. He had short black hair, to be dyed white when he became a master. His eyes were a strange yellow color, like a young cat's. His movements were graceful and cat-like as well. When he reached Alth and the old wizard, the young man bowed deeply.
"Sir?" he asked in a medium voice for a male. "You called for me?"
"Yes, Rahmadon. I have a favor to ask of you. This man here," he gestured to Alth. "He has an important quest to undertake. Do you remember your legends well?"
"Yes sir. I make them a study of mine."
"Then you recall the legends of an evil being called the God?"
"Of course, sir. His was the first legend I learned."
"It is not a legend. Rahmadon, the God is very real. You also recall the descendant of the gods who is to be his downfall?" Rahmadon nodded.
"She is in the palace, and her life is in danger. You must help this man to find her, and smuggle her out of the palace somehow. Do you understand your job?"
"Yes, my Lord High Wizard."
The guild leader turned to Alth. "Then be off with you. Find Handarr and get that girl away from the God's clutching hands." Alth nodded and Rahmadon bowed. They turned and walked out of the room. Alth had not noticed the boy's power because of the old wizard's, but now it hit him in full force. It was nowhere near the other wizard's, but for a boy his age (He couldn't have been more than sixteen or seventeen), his power was mighty.
"Rahmadon, right?" asked Alth when he had overcome the awareness of the boy's power.
"Call me Rahm." The boy said. "If we are to be on a quest together, we shouldn't be so formal. And you are…?"
"They call me Alth." He replied simply. After a moment of silence, Alth asked, "So, where is the rogues guild? That's our first stop."
"Right over here," replied the young man. Rahm led Alth to a steel gate fence. Opening the creaking door, they made their way past overgrown gardens, and unattended grass. Alth knocked on the door. A wooden plate flapped back to reveal a pair of eyes that looked at the two men.
"Whadaya want?" the man said in a rough accent.
"Is there a rogue by the name of Handarr here?" Alth asked coolly.
"You wouldn't be workin' fer the king, would ya?" the man asked suspiciously. Alth's eyes narrowed. His face became shrouded in darkness.
"I would not work for this king if my life depended on it. Let us in."
The door swung open, admitting them. An older rogue led a younger man by the scruff of his neck. They walked towards the wizard and man.
"This be Handarr." The older rogue said roughly. "You want 'im? You can have 'im." He shoved the younger man into the other two. This boy seemed around the same age as Rahm, about fifteen to seventeen.
"He ain't nothin' but trouble. Don't come back till ye can manage to bring some gold to this guild!"
Alth and Rahm dragged Handarr to the door. Outside the guild, the young rogue halted. "What do you want?" he asked in heavily accented Common.
Rahm looked at Alth.
"You must come with us. You know the legend of the God?"
"Yeah."
"You know of the child born to save Ardania from his wrath?"
"Of course."
"She is being held in the palace. For the sake of humanity and all life, we must free her."
"So she's bein' held prisoner in the castle?" Handarr asked. Though he spoke like a commoner, there was intelligence in his voice.
"Not exactly prisoner. She isn't there against her will, but she will be murdered if we do not get her out."
"A'ight. I'll help – for a price."
Alth reached into his pocket, pulling out the bag of gold.
"Will this do?" he asked. In awe, Handarr reached out and took the gold. Pocketing it, he said, "That will do. Now, what are we doing about this?"
"We are getting into the palace, and taking the girl away from this harmful place. We cannot let her stay there any longer then a week."
"A'ight. Well, let's git movin'" They walked on, Alth in the lead.
"Rahm, do you know any invisibility spells?" Alth asked.
"Yes, but they are time and energy consuming…"
"I got an invisibility cloak, if invisibility is what ye need." Handarr commented
"Yes, invisibility is what I need. You wouldn't be asking for more money for it, would you?"
"Nah. The bag you gave me will cover it. And call me Darr. It's easier for times when ye gotta talk fast."
"Alright Darr. Now where is this cloak?"
"Right here." Darr reached into a pocket, and pulled out a tightly folded brown cloak. "Try it." He said. Alth took the feather light cloak in his hand. It was silken smooth as he threw it over his shoulders.
"Well?" he asked. "Does it work?"
"Yeah, it works. Look down." Replied Darr. Doing so, Alth saw that his torso to his toes had disappeared.
"Alright. It works well. Thank you Darr." The rogue nodded.
"Come. We can stay in the inn over there. She'll be safe for tonight."
"She?" Darr asked.
"Yes she."
"Gods, I always thought it would be a man who would be the God's downfall."
"So did I," Alth said quietly. "So did I…"