Chapter Ten – The Otherworld

"Ciaruse is a Siren. You know what they are?"

"I have heard of the legends, yes," Frog responded, keeping his eyes on the stairs. He and Kelke had been climbing them for what seemed like hours and were finally getting close.

"Well, in this universe they're not… not legends. Completely different culture, and… practically everything else. Even language. Would've been fine… perfectly happy on their Island, if we hadn't… hadn't come to interfere."

"Kelke, keep thy breath for the climb. There is not much distance to go."

"Told thee before, the… the silence would kill me before lack of magic does," Kelke rasped. "Same race that… took over Tarreiz's kingdom… tried to do the same for the Island. The Sirens sang the soldiers to death. Drowned thousands of 'em. Don't blame the Sirens… I'd been in that position… I'd have done the same. Unfortunately for the Sirens, they… die on steel as easily as everything else. They reached an agreement. We don't walk on their land, they don't… walk on ours."

"I suppose that makes sense."

"Ciaruse's entire family had been… Priestesses of the Temple of the Moon. High ones. All of them female. Don't ask me how that race reproduces. Something about… about lost ships. We 'trade' with them apparently, anyway. Sailors must… have a ball on that Island." Kelke gave a short laugh that turned into a cough.

Frog stopped, turned to him. "Kelke, we can rest."

"No. We can't. And that's the problem." Kelke waved a hand, indicating that Frog should continue walking. Against his better judgement, Frog resumed climbing the stairs.

The Shadow Mage fell into step behind him and, after a moment, picked up his narrative. "Ciaruse. Became a Priestess just like her family. She ignored… ignored the call for a very long time, because… simply didn't hear it. Made her way to Altrisiac eventually. I hear they… had a very hard time of it. She didn't speak our language. They'd never heard hers. She learned. Somehow. Ciaruse is… most problematic of the Mages… any heterosexual man who can carry a tune hears her sing… will never be free of her. Men have died for… for want of the love of Ciaruse. Me, I'm tone deaf. Completely. No ear for music. No idea of what sounds nice. Ciaruse's little songs don't… don't work on me. Never seen any sign of it in Jhyskar either. Tarkyn she understood early not to touch. Ciaruse is… more perceptive than… others give her credit for. Jandegar… poor fool… thinks he loves her."

Kelke began to cough again, stopped walking. Frog, noticing, turned again to face him. "Kelke, what is the problem? We are so close!"

"I'll never… never make that. I can keep the stairs long enough… for you to reach it. Go."

"I will not leave thee," Frog replied stubbornly.

Kelke narrowed his eyes. "I never asked for your company! Go!"

"Not now! Thou comest with me, or we will both remain here."

"Not more of thine stupid heroics! You don't have time for that. Go! Just go!"

"The other Mages need thee."

"Nobody needs me, and the Mages… Mages make a point of it," Kelke snapped back. "I can't keep the stairs forever! Do you want us to both die?"

"Thou art coming even if I must carry thee," said Frog grimly. "Wouldst thou rather walk like a man or be dragged?"

"I would rather stay here and die alone! There's nothing… nothing to live for."

"Thine world has need of thee. If it were not so, then thou wouldst not be what thou art. Thou must have the strength for this, or thou wouldst not have been called along with the others."

"Thine compassion… compassion makes me sick," Kelke rasped with disgust.

"There is the Mage we all know and do not trust," said Frog affectionately. "Come, hurry. Thou art correct in that we do not have much time."

In fact, the stairs were beginning to become distinctly more transparent with every passing moment. Frog hurried along, pressing Kelke as much as he dared. He was glancing back to make sure that the Mage was still there when he ran into a wall.

"Ow!" Rubbing his nose, Frog took a few steps back to gaze up. He could see clouds and sunlight above, but he couldn't reach the lip of the cliff by an irritating arm's length (and that was when he jumped). "Kelke! Thou art taller than I. Couldst thou reach the cliff?"

"I can't stand by myself, Frog, and I… could never drag you out."

"Couldst thou then raise the stairs just a few centimetres?"

"Kill myself for sure by doing that. I don't think… don't have the power for it anyway."

"I do not want to die!"

The Shadow Mage spread his hands in a gesture of defeat. "I can't do anything about it. I'm sorry."

Frog tried to climb up the cliff but it was too smooth. "Is there nothing thou can do?"

At that moment, like a dark but still welcome angel, a figure appeared on the top of the cliff, cloak and hair swirling in the wind, reaching his hand down to Frog's. Frog took it and was hoisted out of the Otherworld.

"I have never been so grateful to see thee, Magus," the swords frog commented, turning back to gaze down at the Otherworld.

"It's nice to know that you still love me as much as ever, Frog," Magus responded sarcastically, reaching down again. "Kelke, take my hand!"

"I would rather die," the Shadow Mage snarled.

"Don't be an idiot!" Magus exclaimed with irritation. "You'd really prefer to die than to let me have one over you?"

"I don't need you! I don't need anyone!"

Frog rolled his eyes and jumped down again, dragging the Mage forwards. Magus leaned down further and, taking Kelke by the robe, dragged him onto the top of the cliff (perhaps a little more roughly than was truly necessary). He reached down to help Frog out again and no sooner had he taken hold of Frog's arm that the black stairs simply winked out of existence. Magus pulled Frog to safety.

"You saved my life," he told Frog, backing off instantly. "I've saved yours. We're even."

Frog nodded absently. "And the others? They art well?"

"You made us all very upset by being a hero back there, Frog," Magus scolded, carefully avoiding making mention of the fact that he had no idea how any of the others were.

"It is what I am. Thou should know that."

"Don't remind me," Magus sighed. "What happened to Kelke?"

"Thou couldst only ask that of Kelke himself."

Magus glanced over at his archenemy. "I don't think anyone's going to be asking anything of that wizard for some time."

There was a flash of red and Jhyskar appeared. He noticed Kelke instantly and moved forward almost protectively, demanding, "Who are you?"

"Magus," responded the wizard. He pointed at Frog, who gave the finger a wary glance but said nothing. "Glenn. The question is, who are you?"

"You don't need to know that." Jhyskar crouched down near Kelke to check if he was breathing. "First Tarreiz, now Kelke… you two are the ones who weren't with the main group, aren't you?" he asked with sudden recognition. "My name is Jhyskar. I am the Mage of Fire. How did you come to be here with Kelke?"

"I was in the Otherworld with him," Frog explained.

Jhyskar regarded him with surprise. "He brought you out of the Otherworld?"

"It was more of a collective effort, actually." Frog considered, added reluctantly, "Magus helped, but only a little."

"Very well," said Jhyskar somewhat absently. "Come, I'm sure neither of you want to stick around for much longer. I'll take you to Altrisiac, then go and fetch your friends."

"What's Altrisiac?" Magus asked blankly.

"Haven't you seen it?" asked Jhyskar, surprised.

"I have heard of it," Frog volunteered. "It is said to be beautiful."

Jhyskar smiled. "It is. You're definitely in for a treat."

Author's Note : And… that's Magus, people. He explains where he's been in the next chapter. I think. You'll discover a takeover of a kitchen and some more sweet water eventually…