Tales of a White Mage
Sands of Blood
(Chapter 2)
Deronis was jolted awake the next morning when the wagon he was resting in came to an abrupt halt. Nearby, Linya and Lantis were blinking in sleepy confusion. Determined to find out what had stopped the caravan, Deronis slipped out the back and began walking towards the front of the line.
As he approached the front wagon, he noticed the smell. Bodies don't keep well in the dunes, even for a short period of time. It was unusual, though, for bodies to be left out in the open. Adventurers always buried their prey, after looting them of course. As he came close enough to the site to see the remains, however, he quickly realized why the bodies had been left. The adventurers hadn't won.
As Deronis walked over to the bodies, he ran into Galin, a retired paladin and leader of the caravan. Deronis held the elderly man in high esteem, as he did all those who served in the noble order of paladins.
"This is the second battle we've run across in as many days. These poor souls weren't as fortunate as you and your friends though." Galin stated without preamble.
"Indeed, the beastmen in this region seem to be agitated for some reason." Deronis looked carefully at the ground for a few moments. "Look at these wounds. It appears this group was hit from behind, much like the young travelers I rescued yesterday. It is strange that both battles seem to have been initiated by the goblins. It is often the adventurers who start the fighting."
"I was thinking the same thing myself. This isn't the first trouble I've run into either. The caravan has been attacked three times in the last two weeks we've been traveling from Bastok, and the problem seems to be getting worse the farther we go." Galin looked away to the horizon, where the sun was slowly rising in the sky. "My guess is that something in these sands is scaring them, and scaring them good."
The two silently went to work. Galin began digging graves, while Deronis prepared the bodies and uttered a quick prayer for each of the fallen warriors. Five adventurers had been slain in the ambush, and each of them were far too young. As Deronis finished his task, he silently asked Altana to watch over the souls of the fallen in the next life.
As the caravan began moving on once again, Deronis made his way back to his wagon. Inside, Lantis and Linya were curious as to the cause of the delay. He simply told them that they had run into an obstacle, and that he and Galin had taken care of it. Deronis shifted the focus of the discussion to Lantis.
"So, how are you feeling this morning?" Deronis asked him. "It is no easy task, coming back from the dead."
"I've felt better." Lantis replied honestly, "But I'm feeling much stronger than I was last night. I'll be back to normal in no time."
"You're incredibly lucky that Deronis came along. We both are, actually. What are the odds of running into two powerful white mages in such a short amount of time?" Linya added.
"Two? You have run into another member of my order in this region?" Deronis asked, intrigued.
"Yes, and this was no initiate either. His armor was very similar to yours. He must have been a high ranking priest." Lantis told him.
"And what of his weapon, did he carry a maul like my own?" Deronis inquired further.
"No, he was carrying a wooden wand. Why, does that somehow denote his standing with the church?" Linya questioned him.
Deronis was lost in thought. 'That may very well explain what is going on here…'
"Quickly, did he say where he was going? Did he travel alone, or with a large group of warriors?" Deronis demanded.
Startled, Linya and Lantis looked at one another. "He traveled alone," they replied, "he said he was headed to a hidden beach, to pacify a lost soul. We simply wished him luck on his journey and he continued on his way. It seemed to be very important."
'That fool. Surely he would not attempt this task by himself. What could he be thinking?' Deronis's thoughts were racing. 'It would explain all the disturbances in the area, and I have been feeling a dark presence ever since I set foot upon these sands.' His last thought was the most troubling, however. 'If he goes through with it, the death count will be enormous.'
Linya and Lantis looked at one another once again. Deronis's recent behavior was beginning to worry them.
"Is everything alright?" Lantis asked him.
After a moment, Deronis responded. "I'm afraid I'll be taking a quick detour before I head to Selbina. I will ride with the caravan until we reach the outpost on the outskirts of the town. There you and I shall part ways. Stay with the wagons and help to protect them in my absence, and you should arrive there without difficulty. Perhaps after my business is concluded, I shall see you again in the port."
Linya replied for them both. "We will be sad to see you leave, master white mage. We are grateful to you for all you have done for us. Are you positive you won't require any aid? We would be happy if we could help you in any way."
Deronis smiled at her, but shook his head. "Thank you for your sincere offer, but I'm afraid I must do this alone. Haste is of the essence."
When the caravan arrived at the outpost later that day, Deronis parted ways with his young friends. As he continued North, he recalled his own history in the dunes. He, like many other fledgling adventurers, had trained here in his youth. However, these were not the memories he dwelled on. Not so long ago, he had journeyed to the dunes with several of his most powerful friends. He had been called upon by his order to battle a most dangerous foe, as a right of passage. Alone, he would have been quickly destroyed, but together, he and his friends had managed to vanquish the terrible evil. Upon his return to the cathedral, he had been rewarded with the magnificent hammer resting at his side.
He and his friends had battled the demon on a little known beach that was hidden by a dark cave, far north in the area. He feared, after learning the destination of this new white mage, that the younger man planned to complete a similar assignment single handedly. If that were the case, the results could be disastrous. While not many of the younger adventurers new of the secret area, those that did were often the best and bravest in the region. Frequently they trained together there in large groups. They were young enough not to stand a chance, but good enough that they might foolishly try to help his fellow cleric if, and when, he started to lose the fight. If that were to happen, they would inevitably lose their lives.
Even worse, the unknown white mage would need to release a sacred seal surrounding the area in order to eliminate the threat posed by the aura of the monster. If he did so, and then failed to banish the demon back to hell, it would be free to roam the area, possibly even attacking Selbina. While it was likely that the combined efforts of all those in Selbina would be able to defeat the beast, the cost in life would be exorbitant.
With these thoughts in mind, Deronis hastened his pace even more. It had been a few years since he had fought with his friends to end a similar threat, and he had grown much more powerful since then. He doubted, however, that he'd be able to do much more than slow the creature down, even with the help of the other white mage… assuming he was still alive by the time Deronis arrived. His only chance was to reach the beach first, and intercept the other mage. Hopefully Deronis would be able to get him to listen to reason, and call for additional support.
As he continued moving north however, he looked up at the sky and watched the setting sun fall, and knew deep inside that he would be too late.
To be continued…