Chapter 7

The Stone's Location

The office of the minister of magic had been repaired since the duel between Drakan and Justarius. Drakan had put the head of the auror office Edward Delirium in the post of Minister. Edwards was merely a puppet meant to do Drakan's bidding. To Drakan's surprise he met little resistance; no one spoke up against him. Everyone knew what had really happened, knew that Edwards was a puppet and that Drakan was really in control. News of the duel spread quickly though Drakan had his death eaters leak a faulty story. He sent out that Justarius had fled without a fight in order to ruin any chance of people rallying behind the ex-minister.

The duel had shaken Drakan, he wasn't sure if he could have won. After his killing curse backfired on him he was severely burned, had his servants not joined in the fray he most likely would have not survived. Though technically you could consider it a victory since Justarius had fled Drakan knew what it was. He was not as powerful as he had believed. Did not have the ability to defeat Justarius, and if he couldn't kill Justarius then Horbey was out of the question.

There still was hope; Drakan had a spy in the Crimson sunrise that had reported that they were seeking an object to defeat him. Once the spy discovered what and where this object is Drakan would seize it for himself and then kill off the only two wizards in the country that he needed to worry about.

There was another wizard he worried about. The James son, Jon had managed to escape him. Though it was not due to the boy's skill, the boy scared him. He had potential obvious potential to become more powerful than Drakan. If that happened Drakan would have more to worry about. Drakan cursed himself for taking his time on the boy.

They had nearly caught the boy, he had gone back for the clock to give away James position, and luckily James had called that out and allowed them to set it up for a trap. Of course Horbey had known it would be a trap, though had Drakan not taken the extra precaution the trap would have turn out horribly.

James had been a huge help to Drakan. He was a powerful wizard, a brilliant potion maker, and a very accomplished Legilemens. It had been James who managed to put Delirium under the imperious curse, which played a big role in Drakan seizing power.

His duel with Justarius had left Drakan scarred. The explosion had left Drakan's face with burn scars all along the side of his face. The scars never stopped hurting, they were a mark was the once of the darkest curses ever, they gave Drakan's face a green tinge that made him look pale. They would burn forever as a reminder to him that he was not the most power wizard in the country like he had believed.

The death eaters were using James' house as there headquarters. Drakan had taken up James room, the room where he had killed his wife. Outside was the hallway where Jon had took on multiple death eaters including Drakan himself and survived. The room was given a desk for Drakan to use. He sat there going over the letter he had received from his traitor in the rise. It simply said.

Your Darkness,

I have discovered what we have been searching for; I will be able to sneak out on the following night shortly after the house is emptied. Horbey is going to take the boy he is planning on the boy using the object to defeat you. I will be in contact by tomorrow evening.

Sincerely,

Your Traitor.

Drakan had poured over the letter all night; the traitor was due at the house within the hour. Finally he would know of the object that would give him the power to defeat the last wizards that could give him any trouble.

The traitor in question had been part of Drakan's forces when the dark lord was in power last time. The traitor had played its part so well that the traitor was never discovered making it able to become a spy this time.

After a few moments there came a knock on the door to Drakan's room, he lifted his heavily scarred face wincing at the massive pain that never left him and waved his wand causing the door to swing open. The spy was standing in the doorway with a smile.

"So you have discovered this object and where it is?" Drakan asked happily.

"Yes, but you will have to hurry, Horbey, Justarius and the boy have already left to go and get it." Answered the spy.

"Where is it?" Justarius said excitedly. Horbey smiled and sat down on the couch. Jon and Justarius followed taking seats on the two chairs in the room. They both leaned in to listen not wanting to miss anything that Horbey was about to say.

"Well, after hours of studying I was able to discover Merlin's Journal." Horbey paused to lift up an old looking brown paper back book with a drawstring used to hold the pages shut. "In the journal it chronicles his experience it tells where he was when he found it, and where he hid it." Horbey said happily. "He was walking down an old road in great Britain when the stone landed in front of him. And he hid it around the same spot. It doesn't give the exact spot but it was in a cave somewhere north of London. So we will have to go to the countryside and look around for a cave."
"How hard do you imagine it will be to find?" Jon asked quickly. Horbey took a moment to think things over before answering.

"Well it says he put strong enchantments over the area, so all we really have to do is cast spells looking for magic in the area. So I don't imagine finding the cave will really be all that hard." Horbey spoke happily.

"Does it say anything about the spells he used to protect the stone?" Justarius asked.

"Sadly it does not say anything about what's protecting the stone, I can only imagine that the spells are powerful." Horbey answered. Jon sat back for a moment. Was he really prepared for all this? Could he handle the dangers that surely lie ahead? He had never doubted himself, but now that he was faced with something genuinely dangerous he wasn't quite so sure in his abilities. Merlin was one of the most powerful wizards ever; the protections around the stone could be beyond him.

"Horbey, how do you know that I am strong enough to get the stone?" Jon asked. The fear in Jon's voice was obvious and Horbey recognized what was happening. Jon wasn't so sure whether or not he would be able to complete the mission.

"Jon, you are the most talented young wizard I know, I have complete and total faith that you will walk out of the chamber with the stone in your possession." Horbey said trying to bestow some confidence into Jon. Though Jon appreciated Horbey's confidence in him he wasn't as sure about himself as Horbey seemed. So far all he has needed were guts, and for Jon that was ok because he had plenty of that. The chamber could require magic that Jon didn't know, he was after all 17 fresh from school and had not studied magic like Horbey or Justarius had, they would have a better chance to succeed.

"Horbey I really don't know if I can manage." Jon said sadly. "What if the protections require some kind of magic that I don't know?" Horbey opened the journal and scanned through the pages until he found the one he was looking for.

"Jon will you read this section of the journal please. I think that it will end your doubts." Horbey said as he held the book open to Jon. Jon took the journal and held it so that he could read the page that Horbey was requesting.

I put defenses around the stone, defenses to test the purity of the person seeking the stone, so that if someone were to get the stone then they would be good and use the stone only for purposes that were just.

Jon finished reading the paragraph and quickly looked up at Horbey who was smiling. Horbey gave Jon a happy wink and took back the book.

"So you see Jon you have nothing to worry about, you are pure and seek only to use the stone for a just cause." Horbey spoke as he pocketed the book. Justarius stood up and stretched.

"So what do you say we go and find this stone so that we can put an end to this war?" Justarius said happily as though getting the stone was as simple as going to the store to buy some milk and would only take a couple minutes. It still seemed tough to Jon, he wasn't so sure he was gonna use it just to take care a Drakan, and he had contemplated using the stone against his father. That wouldn't be a very just cause Jon was positive about that.

Obeth had been in the kitchen with Jude enjoying some dinner and came out rubbing there stomach's followed by Portnoy who was happily bouncing along like always to that hidden beat.

"What's going on? You all seem to be in a good mood." Obeth asked. Horbey turned quickly and answered.

"Good news, we have found the stone, now we must be off quickly!" Horbey said as he made for the door. This was it for the first time Jon would be leaving the house. It had been over a month since he had been able to breathe any fresh air. But now he would be leaving to end the war, he would be going to remove the obstacle that was in the way of his revenge. He would be going to take down the usurper of evil that was terrorizing so many people. He Jon would be able to end it, he would be the hero, it was all him. All doubt had left Jon's mind, he was now too focused on the task at hand.