Chapter XX

"I was just wondering," Talina said when the stopped before going down to the next level. "What it is that the Wanderer is seeking. He came through here, we know that much, but why?"

"I'll say he's after the Tomb of Tal Rasha," Geldar replied. "You should know this Talina, with all you say how your people have been ready for these times."

"Thanks," Talina said with a sarcastic smile. "I have heard the story of Tal Rasha but he was hidden so well in the desert that his tomb could be anywhere."

"The will to find can be a powerful thing," Norleche observed. "Such as you searching for your nephew, Geldar. Have you heard anything more about that dark cloaked rider?"

"I was talking with Fara this morning when she was fixing my sword and she said she's seen something of the like," Geldar replied. "But he's since gone east, to Kurast I believe, so my journey continues still."

"Have you considered why you keep pursing him?" Norleche asked.

"He's my brother's son," Geldar replied. "Of course I would go after him."

"Perhaps I should make my meaning clearer," Norleche said patiently. "From what you have told me of this personage you seek he has powers that are akin to mages who serve the forces of Evil. A corrupted soul such as this would have the means of subterfuge."

"So he wants me to follow him?" Geldar said and the Necromancer nodded. "If this is a trap I'm walking into I'm not backing out now."

"Better to go in with all your senses alert now you know what you are stepping into," Norleche replied. "Shall we go on?"

"Yes," Talina said, shouldering her javelin and picking up her shield.

Hewing through more undead they came to a long corridor where they stopped for a moment to let Norleche's skeletons go ahead. When they turned the corner and were smashed to pieces by approaching enemy skeletons Geldar cast a few charges of Holy Bolt to finish them off quickly.

"Is it Radament?" Talina asked.

Geldar stole ahead, his back to the wall and his shield out. He dared to peep around the corner then snuck back.

"Well? Is it?" Talina asked.

"Yes," Geldar asked. "He has quite a few skeleton minions that he keeps raising. I say we get them away from him as it looks to be a tough fight."

"Sooner than you think," Talina said and sure enough there were several behind Geldar.

"Is there any way we can stop them being raised?" Talina asked.

"Yes," Norleche muttered an incantation and the skeletons were on their feet and looked at Norleche in submission. "Now we fight."

Together they raced down the passage and skidded to a stop just short of where Radament was standing. He was a tomb guardian, or a greater mummy, but Geldar could tell that there was much more to him than met the eye.

Yet he was given no more than a second to observe their quarry when Talina gave the order to fall back, following them were several skeletons which he bashed with his shield or smashed with the flat side of his sword. Talina brought up the rear, throwing javelins that felled the stragglers and Norleche cast some sort of spell that left the enemy skeletons with the impressions of flames above their heads. Whatever it was, it aided his own skeletons in cutting them down.

"I'm on him," Geldar said when a gap was cleared and he raced towards Radament, shield in front of him and sword at ready.

The two clashed hard, Geldar was knocked back by the power of his own blow and the mummy kicked back as if stunned. Geldar turned to his sword, using the blade to slash at Radament's decaying flesh, but having to step back when he was almost overwhelmed by a poisonous cloud.

He attacked again, cutting off one of the arms of the mummy and was about to make a slash at the creature's throat when the tip of a javelin pressed through Radament's chest and he fell to the ground.

"Why do you always have to do that?" Geldar asked.

"I'm not known for being subtle," Talina returned, twisting the javelin to make sure Radament was dead.

"I think I found something," Norleche called and they walked over to where he was standing, he held up a yellowed scroll.

"That has Horadric symbols on it," Geldar said after close examination. "Cain might be able to tell us more."

"Ah, the lost Horadric scroll, what a fortunate turn of events," the sage said as he looked at the piece of paper in his room at the inn. "As the last descendant of the Horadrim I alone have knowledge of its meaning. Now, to read the runes it bears," he frowned over the parchment as he read. "Hmm, the Horadric Mages, after binding Baal within Tal Rasha, magically sealed off his Burial Chamber from the mortal realm. Those same Mages crafted fearsome Horadric Staves and imbued them with special power to open the Chamber's hidden door. After nearly losing one to the thievery of a rogue sorcerer, they divided all the Horadric Staves into two parts – wooden staff and metal headpiece – hiding them separately to safeguard them."

"Is there any way we can find one of these?" Geldar asked, he had the feeling such a thing would be useful.

"The Horadrim foresaw our current plight and designed them to reveal themselves to worthy heroes like yourselves," Cain answered. "Collect both parts of a Horadric Staff and unite them using a Horadric Cube. Then you may enter Tal Rasha's burial chamber."

"It sounds easier said than done," Talina said sadly.

"If something is meant to happen it will," Geldar reminded her. "We still haven't told Atma we killed Radament. I was so curious about the scroll."

"I'll see what more information I can get out of it," Cain promised. "I think Lord Jerryn wishes to speak with you."

"Well, we'll see Atma first," Talina said as they walked away. "She deserves to know and it will help her grief."

"Some say the taste of revenge is bittersweet," Atma said after Geldar had told her of Radament's demise. "But I must say I find it to my liking. Is there any way I can help you?"

"Can you tell us anything you've heard about the Tomb of Tal Rasha?" Geldar asked.

"I've heard legends of the Tomb of Tal Rasha," Atma answered. "But I thought they were just old stories meant to scare young children. Drognan or Fara would know more than I."

"She's still quite tortured," Geldar said as they walked towards the palace. "I feel sorry for her."

"If she gives up her hatred then she can begin to heal," Norleche said. "But I fear she never will."

Jerryn looked happy to see them, but quite disturbed about something.

"I have heard of your skill and bravery," he said nervously. "I feel I can trust you with something I have been hesitant to speak of." He took a deep breath and then continued. "Drognan and I have concluded that the Dark Wanderer who passed through here recently was Diablo himself!"

Geldar and Norleche stared, agape. Talina wasn't convinced.

"Are you sure?' Talina asked. "It could easily have been a minion of his…"

"Let the man talk," Geldar said quietly.

"Drognan believes that Diablo is searching the desert for the secret tomb where the great Horadrim, Tal Rasha, keeps Baal imprisoned. You must find Diablo and put an end to the terrible evil that has fallen upon our city!" Jerryn implored. "Drognan is wise and is sure to have some helpful advice for you as to how Tal Rasha's tomb may be found."

"Do you know how we might locate the tomb?" Geldar asked.

"I know not," Jerryn replied. "But it might take you sometime to find The Tomb. May you be ready when you do."

"So between us looking for a Horadric Staff, finding the Tomb of Tal Rasha and getting there before the Lord of Terror," Talina said over dinner that night. "We've got out hands full."

"Why did you doubt Jerryn?" Geldar asked her. "You should know one should never speak of such things so lightly."

"I don't entirely trust Jerryn," Talina replied. "He's hiding something. If he is as willing to help us as he is then why doesn't he let us use his library? I've heard the one here is quite extensive and has books you'll find nowhere else in Sanctuary. It's second only to the one at the Temple of the Zakarum in Kurast."

"I'm aware of that," Geldar said. "But he doesn't have too. He's been though quite a lot recently. And think about it, if you've had two strange people wearing cloaks calling at your door wouldn't you be cautious?"

"That is if there are two strange people wearing cloaks," Talina said sceptically. "There might just be one."

"Talina!" Geldar accused. "You know there have to be two. The cloaked rider and the Dark Wanderer cannot be one and the same."

"Why not?" Talina challenged.

"Consider it rationally," Geldar said, gesturing with his hands. "We know the Wanderer came from Tristram, right? It cannot be the same as the one I saw in the Inn at Duncraig."

"Well he could have taken your nephew, then gone to Tristram and after that gone on to the Monastery," Talina pointed out.

"The rogues told us that he was alone and had come well ahead of us," Geldar reminded her. "We also know that the Wanderer slew Diablo, and according to Cain that took the better part of a month."

"The question really is," Norleche said before Talina could answer. "How Diablo possessed the body of one that slew him."

"Cain was saying something about him having Diablo's soulstone when we first me him," Geldar replied. "He said the Wanderer thought he could contain him but he was mistaken."

"He was clearly mistaken," Norleche said. "Nothing can contain a Prime Evil except perhaps one from Heaven."

"You mean an angel?" Talina asked.

"Of course," Norleche replied. "It has just never been done as who can know the aims of Heaven?"

"Don't make me laugh," Geldar said. "There is no such thing."

"Don't speak so," Talina said in a warning tone. "They are just as real just as the Prime Evils are. Didn't you know it was the Archangel Tyrael who gave the Soulstones to the Horadrim? And it was Archangel Lutana who was killed by Azmodan, the Lord of Betrayal, and her sacrifice sent him back to Hell."

"And of course there was Litany," Norleche said. "Thousands of years ago she took the form of a mortal woman and placed her immortal soul in a secret place so that it may be found by one who is worthy."

"Where did you hear that?" Talina asked. "Lutana is a tale from Glaucus in Southern Kehjistan but I have never heard of a Litany."

"They were apparently what are called the Divine Twins," Norleche replied. "But I have yet to find traces of either of them."

"So how are we going to find a Horadric Cube?" Geldar asked. "That seems to be the first step. Then there's the staff and finally the headpiece."

"One catastrophe at a time," Talina asked. "I've got the feeling it's time we scouted the desert, there's sure to be emptied tombs out there. Cain said there were many Horadric mummies buried out there."

"Well I'm going to turn in," Geldar said, getting to his feet. "I'll see you at the gate to the city at sunrise."