Chapter 3 - Plans
"What? What is it?" asked Firenze. "You didn't... tell me you didn't..."
I swore again and held my head in my hands.
"By Notch. You did... How stupid are you?" he shouted. He ran a hand through his blond hair and sighed. "Well, unless someone stops that operation, you're doomed. I'm sorry..."
"D'Arvit. D'Arvit!" I shouted, and kicked my chair back. Leaning against the bookcase, I rubbed my forehead and asked, "What, exactly, will this thing do?"
"Obsidian can be used, when combined in the correct configuration, to create a portal to another world. This world is inhabited by monstrous creatures that will kill any who enter. I have read about certain materials that can be found there, that would be of great use to the Council. They will do anything to get at those materials." I sighed in exasperation.
"There is... one thing..." I stepped forward. "What is it? What?" I asked him excitedly.
"They only have a small amount of obsidian. If even one chunk went missing, they would not be able to complete the portal. Of course, it is under strict lock and key. Someone would have to steal it. Someone with access to the main body of the Council, who could feasibly get to the stone without trouble. Someone... like me."
I grinned. "Well, why don't you get it and I hide it? They never need to know."
"They would find out. There are ways of telling, with magical auras and such. Eventually, we would be found out... and that is why you should not become involved."
"But... you would still be caught," I replied worriedly. "What about you?" Firenze said nothing, just looked at me steadily with his piercing blue eyes, waiting for me to understand.
"You're going to... sacrifice yourself?" I gasped, starting forward. Firenze put a hand on my shoulder to calm me.
"Peace, friend. There may be another way. But if not, you don't deserve to die just yet," Firenze said, smiling bitterly. "You must live, no matter what happens to an old wizard like me."
"I won't let you!" I shouted. "You can't do this!"
"You can't stop me," he replied. "You know that as well as I do."
"But..." he stopped me mid-sentence with a raised hand.
"Please, Mike. I've already checked the star charts, several times. I am not long for this world anyway. I would like to go helping you to escape a terrible fate. I believe there is no other possibility, but it is worth a try. I will look for an alternative, but if there is no other way, I would ask you to meet me here tomorrow evening to help me formulate a plan." He said it calmly, resignation flickering in his eyes. "I will see you on the morrow. Until then, farewell."
I knew better than to argue when Firenze had made up his mind about something, so I bid him goodnight and left, trudging slowly to my house and brooding over Firenze's decision.