A knock outside the small room where Josiah was sleeping woke Teela from her slumber. Her back and neck hurt from falling asleep while leaning her head on the railings around Josiah's crib. His tiny hand was still wrapped tightly around her finger. Teela swallowed the lump of sorrow that threatened to take her voice. "Come in," she managed.
Orko and Dree Elle floated in, Dree Elle's hand on her swollen stomach and strange green-and-yellow-lensed goggles over her eyes.
"Orko. Dree Elle. What are-" Teela began, but her words caught in her throat as a familiar person entered the door just a few feet behind them.
"I hope it's okay, Teela. I heard that your son was sick and I came right away. I ran into Dree Elle and Orko in the outer gardens while I was waiting to be admitted. I told them I wanted to try to help Josiah, and they said they would bring me directly here," Malick explained.
"Malick," Teela said tremulously. "He's so sick. No one's been able to do anything for him. Even magic hasn't worked, but you're welcome to try." There was a defeated tone to her voice that Malick had never heard before.
"I'll do anything I can," he promised, approaching the bed. He drew in a sharp breath at the sight of Josiah's sunken eyes and cheeks. "By the Ancients. What's wrong?"
"We don't know," Teela said miserably, sniffing. "He would scream terribly at first, but now..." Her voice trailed off and the annoying ever-present tears spilled down her cheeks again. "He's getting weaker. He's just whimpering—when he's awake at all. We had to put him on the IV because he stopped eating."
Malick stared at Josiah in fascinated horror as he began murmuring a spell. He knew immediately that Teela was right. Josiah wasn't sick. He moved on, exploring other possibilities through his magic. He frowned deeply, both at the lack of illness he sensed and the fact that there seemed to be something else...something he couldn't put his finger on.
"There's something about this...something off. I'm not exactly sure what it is, but perhaps...." Malick trailed off muttering more to himself than anyone else.
"Perhaps what?" Teela asked urgently.
"Has the IV been helping him at all, Teela?" asked Malick as he once again raised a glowing hand over the sleeping baby, a perplexed look on his face.
"A little," Teela said sadly. "It's only been in since this morning, so it's hard to tell."
"Teela, I need to go to Academy of Magic north of Anas. There are some books on magical healing there that just might point me to whatever this is that is strange in this case. But perhaps if the IV is helping there are magical ways to assist your son as well."
Orko snapped his fingers. "A strengthening spell!" he exclaimed. His ears drooped. "Oh I wish I had thought of that," he chided himself.
"Yes," agreed Malick. With a soft incantation the golden light from Malick's hand surrounded Josiah. Josiah relaxed in his sleep with a contented sigh. "This should help keep the wasting at bay for a little while at least, Teela," assured Malick, clasping her shoulder bracingly. "And Orko and Dree Elle will be able to strengthen it when it needs a fresh infusion of magic."
"It should also give us some extra time to find a cure," Dree Elle added as tactfully as she could.
Teela's smile broke through her tears. "Thank you!" she choked in relief, throwing her arms around Malick. "Thank you so much!" She drew back and dropped an ecstatic kiss on his cheek, then hugged him tightly once more.
Teela's ears caught the sharp intake of breath, and she let go of Malick to turn towards the door. Adam stood there, a stricken look on his face. "Teela?" he said in a questioning tone.
Alarmed, Teela rushed to his side. "No, Adam, there's nothing going on. Malick just realized that a strengthening spell could help Josiah." She placed her hands on his shoulders, looking deep into his eyes, willing him to see that she meant every word. Adam relaxed infinitesimally under her hands. "This gives us more time," she added in a hopeful voice. "Did Granamyr-?"
Adam shook his head. "He had no suggestions," he said in dead tone, not adding anything else. He looked over at Malick, who wore an expression of utmost sympathy. Adam remembered bitterly Malick's own pain. His Kareem didn't deserve her death, any more than Josiah did his illness. The words Adam had said at the time were not trite, but now seemed hollow in the light of his current pain.
"Thank you, Malick," Adam finally managed to say.
"It is the least I could do." A look of concern crossed the wizard's face before he continued. "I'm not sure what is happening, Prince Adam, but something feels strange. It's not illness, nor any spellwork I recognize, but there is something. I'm going to head up to a nearby library of magical healing to see if I can figure out what is going on. I was wondering if I could borrow a transport so I could arrive there more quickly."
"Of course," answered Adam. "Take any of the vehicles in the west hanger."
Malick bowed slightly and quickly strode out of the room.
"Um, I think we'll be going now," Orko murmured, sensing Adam and Teela needed to be alone for the moment. Dree Elle followed him out with a short wave.
Adam stared at Teela for a moment, Damien's words weighing heavily on him. He knew he had to tell her what had happened, but the words weren't coming.
"What is it?" Teela demanded warily, her green eyes piercing through his calm facade. "If you're upset about Malick-"
"No," Adam interrupted, raising a hand to touch her cheek. "I just...I need to tell you something. Something that happened on the way back from Granamyr's."
"What?" Teela whispered, fear rising up within her. She grasped his hand. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Adam replied, though his tone indicated he was anything but fine. "I...Damien appeared to me. He made me an offer." He averted his eyes, shame flooding him as he added hoarsely, "An offer I find myself actually considering as often as I reject it."
"An offer?" Teela repeated incredulously. "What kind of offer? You know you can't trust anything he says."
Adam swallowed hard. "He offered to heal Josiah if I—meaning He-Man—would serve him for one week."
"You told him no, right?" Teela asked immediately, her eyes narrowing.
"Yes," Adam said, "but…" His confused blue eyes searched her face. "If he could really save Josiah…" he whispered.
"Don't even consider it!" Teela said sharply. "Malick's gone to do some research. If he doesn't find an answer, we'll find some other way to cure our son."
"I know you're right. I can't, but if he d-" Adam began, but Teela cut him off by placing her finger over his lips.
"Don't say that word, Adam. It's not going to happen." She gently pulled his face down to hers and placed a tender kiss on his lips. She knew what it had taken for him to tell her right away. "Thank you, Adam. For telling me the truth. For letting me in."
Adam hugged Teela close to himself as his tears once again flowed down his cheeks. "I can't bear it," he breathed.
"Not alone," agreed Teela gently running her hands across his tense shoulders, "but I'm here with you, and everyone is doing all they can. You aren't alone, Adam."
Adam closed his eyes as he breathed in her scent. She didn't understand, not completely, and he struggled to find the words. "Hordak killed you in front of me because I wouldn't obey him," he said roughly. "Teela, I-I can't do it again. I can't watch Josiah die when I can stop it."
Teela pulled back and put her hands on either side of his face, staring into his eyes. She pulled on a strength she hadn't realized was still there as she responded to him.
"You are a good person, Adam. If you did serve Evil, even for an hour, it would destroy you. Your son would never want that for you. You have to remain true to who you are."
Malick's chestnut-colored hair flew wildly around his face. The guardsman he'd acquired this sky sled from assured him that it was the fastest mode of transportation available. Yet it did not seem fast enough. Malick hadn't told Teela, but the wasting he sensed was rapid and deadly. Even with his strengthening spell the child would have very little time left. That meant Malick had even less time.
Malick was so focused on his goal that he barely noticed the black and white falcon until it dove down directly in front of his flight path. He swerved away with a yelp of surprise and just managed to get his sky sled back on course when he saw a woman's face floating in the air in front of him. He slowed the sled to a hovering stop and stared in wonder at the person whose serene voice spoke to him from the vision. "I am the Sorceress of Castle Grayskull, Malick, Sorcerer of Stone Mountain, and I—and all of Eternia--need your help."
"I will be glad to assist you in any way I can, but I'm seeking a cure for Prince Josiah's illness. And I must do it quickly," Malick explained—though part of him was beginning to think that the stress of the day was getting to him.
"A great threat looms over Eternia, and there is little time. If this threat is not turned back, then all of our world will be lost to the power of Evil for all time."
"What?" gasped Malick.
"This is not a safe place to discuss this. Follow the falcon to Castle Grayskull and all will be explained. You must hurry," she said as the vision wavered and faded before him.
A falcon's screech sounded off to his right. Hoping desperately that he was making the right decision, he turned to follow the creature.
Keldor listened as the click-clack of his and Lyn's heels echoed around the wide hallway. Once again he was stuck by the intense irony of the situation. He was going to visit Beastman and Tri-Klops in prison while technically under arrest himself. It was yet another way his life was taking a permanent trip into the land of the bizarre.
Lyn's fingers were intertwined with his own. She had seen him leaving the room and had joined him without a question. It still shook him sometimes how much she trusted him now. How completely he trusted her. Trusted anything, actually. He thought of his companions. They had no reason to trust anyone. And yet, Keldor could not help hoping that they would trust him and listen to his advice. Keldor had a feeling—a strong feeling—that somehow this time in prison could be the beginning of a change for them, just as the time he willing surrendered himself to the royal authorities after his near-death experience
Adam had been there for him when he paced his tiny cell, trying to wrap his mind around what a change to the good meant, and Keldor knew that even if all he could do was provide a listening ear for his former lackeys, he would do it.
Keldor tried not to focus on the week of tension that had passed as Lyn and he worked at staying out of everyone's view. He avoided suspicious activities, but suspicious or not, this visit had to happen. If it roused suspicion, well, that was nothing new.
Keldor and Lyn entered the cell banks. Lyn scowled as she saw the guards glare at them warily.
"Not now," Keldor muttered. He muttered a quick spell and the men guarding the cell were gazing off in the distance, lost in a pleasant daydream, and would be until he lifted the spell.
A short walk down the twisting hallway led them to the cell where Beastman and Tri-Klops sat across from one another. Beastman looked up hopefully. "Did you come to bust us out?"
Tri-Klops snorted, positive that was not the case.
"No Beastman, I came to check on you. I'm not running from justice any longer and I won't help anyone else do it either," Keldor answered, guilt twisting his stomach. They might not be here if it weren't for him.
"Great," Beastman muttered, dropping his chin into his hands. "Thanks a lot."
Tri-Klops stood and approached the cell door. "There are things you need to know, plans that Damien and the others made," he said, his voice carefully neutral. "But most importantly, he linked Hutch and Marzo to Snake Mountain's power in a way I'm not even sure you were aware of."
"In what way?" asked Lyn.
Tri- Klops closed all three eyes as he recalled the little he'd seen. "I'm not completely sure, because I suddenly developed an interest in self-preservation," he said, his tone dry. "But he led them to a crevice where there was a fire, and said they had earned the right to go to that source, and replenish themselves whenever they needed to do so."
"They were going to kill that little girl just to mess with the royal family," Beastman muttered, mostly to himself. "They're even more evil than you were, boss."
Keldor looked at Beastman for a moment--stunned. 'Is it possible that these two really have grown consciences?' As he turned Beastman's words over in his mind, Keldor wasn't sure whether to be annoyed or amused by Beastman's observation.
"Where was this crevice?" Lyn asked.
Tri-Klops frowned as he concentrated. "It's hard to tell," he said slowly. "I was watching through the doomseeker, and sort of lost track of which tunnels it was going through. But I think it was right in the center of Snake Mountain."
"You don't think they entered into the nexxus, do you?" asked Keldor, his face paling. "The power there is enough to consume the even strongest mage."
"Damien did say something about needing to guide them through the first time," Tri-Klops recalled.
"Keldor, if they are drawing on the nexxus then we are in far greater danger than anyone has imagined. We must get this information to Castle Grayskull." The two of them turned to leave.
"Wait," Tri-Klops requested quietly.
"Yes?" Lyn answered, turning back to her former comrade.
"I never-" Tri- Klops began, then stopped. He tried again. "I didn't-" He paused again, then finally drew a deep breath. "I want to change. But I don't know how."
Beastman looked up. "Me too. I liked how it felt when I helped Kimie. When people thanked me."
"What do we do?" Tri-Klops asked in a whisper, as if afraid Damien might overhear him. "How did you two change so completely?"
Keldor walked up to the force field and placed his hands on the invisible barrier between him and his former minions. The tingle of the power traveled over his fingers harmlessly.
"It was hard," Keldor admitted. "Harder than anything I've ever done before in my life. But the first step for me was the one you are making right now. Facing up to what you did wrong, and being willing to pay your debt."
"I know I told you some of the things that happened to us along the way," Lyn said. "But what you need to know is that, in the beginning, we were confused. We felt lost and unsure of everything. Changing habits and behaviors that we'd lived in for most of our lives...it took commitment. We kept moving toward good any way we could and somehow managed to stumble into the light."
"I have observed in my last few years that people follow different paths to get to good, but it seems like if you commit and seek good, good finds you. I know that may not make much sense, but it is what we both have experienced," Keldor explained.
Tri-Klops' shoulders slumped. For too long he had searched for the easy way to power. This not only lacked a distinct promise of power, but it was going to require hard work and a long-term, permanent commitment. He wanted someone to change how he was without any effort on his part. He didn't want to have to work at it. "Sounds hard," was all he muttered.
"It's hard making your inventions," Beastman pointed out. "Or for me taming a new animal sometimes. "
Tri Klops grimaced at Beastman's observation. "So it's patience and perseverance, eh? We both have that."
Keldor's lips turned up in a small smile. "That you both have. But I want you to be absolutely clear on something. Finding this moral life doesn't mean you are free of trouble and responsibility. If anything, for us it has made things incredibly difficult. We may walk free but we are under arrest the same as you. And we will be tried just as you will be. And I promise you, both of you are more likely to have a fair and just trial than I am--no matter how strong my commitment to good has become. We must go for now. But we will return. As long as we can, we will support you. I promise you that."
Keldor gave one last nod to his once and former allies and turned down the hall, Lyn at his side.
Malick's breath caught in his throat as he saw the great stone skull looming in the barren distance. He'd heard tales of this castle before. All Eternians had. But to be here before it was another thing entirely. Even a novice magician could feel the great power radiating from its foreboding walls. Malick swallowed hard. With all of this power at her disposal, why would the Sorceress need his help?
The falcon soared around the turrets of the castle as the giant jawbridge lowered before him. Malick tightened his grip on the sky sled as he flew through the turbulent winds escaping the abyss. The falcon screeched once more and flew in the open entrance before him. Malick sped up to follow the bird into the mysterious black unknowns of Castle Grayskull.
He landed just inside the Castle and turned to see the jawbridge rising of its own accord. In spite of the fact that he had been told from a babe of the goodness of this castle, he couldn't repress a shudder when the jaw closed with a rattle of chain and final echoing thud. Torches lit of a few feet ahead of him and he once again saw the falcon. He dismounted the sky sled and rushed forward after the creature, marveling at the fact that the torches behind him extinguished as the ones in front of him sputtered to life.
Malick was so concerned about keeping up with the bird soaring in front of him that he did not realize that he was coming to the end of another hall until the last second. What greeted his eyes at the end of his strange and winding journey took his breath away. A pair of thrones were perched atop a tall flight of stairs. The falcon was circling around the high ceiling of the throne room. A grey-green light from some unseen source filtered down around him, filling Malick with an anxiety resulting from his time as a boy he when he was briefly trapped in one of the sulfur caves beneath Stone Mountain.
The falcon spiraled lower and lower in front of Malick until it was hovering in front of him. Malick's jaw dropped in astonishment as he saw a brilliant light flash from within and around the falcon. The light grew and soon a woman stood before him. Malick pulled himself together quickly and remembered his manners.
"The Sorceress of Grayskull, I presume," began Malick with a slight bow. "I am honored to meet you. How is it that I can assist you?"
He straightened back up to see the Sorceress smiling. "So very gallant," she commented in a lovely voice. She leveled her green eyes to meet Malick's own and said, "A time is drawing very near when Eternia's champions will be called upon to see that our world is free from evil or lose our world to Evil's domination for millennia. Two helpers from another world have come to join them in this battle, and they will be very important in this defense. It will take more of Castle Grayskull's power than was even used in the defense of Eternia from the Horde to see that those who wish to enslave and destroy our world are defeated. The power is available, but I alone am not capable of serving as a conduit of this power. I have pondered how I would accomplish this impossible task placed before me for many months now. Then, just three days ago, that appeared in this room."
Malick followed the line made by the Sorceress' feather cloaked arm to see the pair of thrones at the top of the stairs.
Malick drew his brows together in confusion.
The Sorceress continued on. "For most of the history of this castle, a lone sorceress or sorcerer has served within these walls as the castle's keeper and the protector of its secrets. At times, when one keeper is ready to retire and a new one is to be chosen and trained, a secondary seat will arise beside the throne, but this," she said waving toward the thrones, "is something rarely seen in this castle's history. Atop these stairs there is not a seat of power and an apprentice's chair, but two thrones. This can only mean that this castle is in need of two mages to wield its power.
"Even without this sign," continued the Sorceress, "I have felt the need to search for likely candidates to serve as a guardian of Grayskull's magic. The only problem I have faced over and over again is time. I require a mage, who understands and has experience wielding great power. Only someone that advanced can learn what they need in time to assist me in the battle ahead."
"Of course, I'll be glad to help," began Malick.
"Do not be so quick to agree," interrupted the Sorceress. "This decision is not to be taken lightly. If you are accepted by Castle Grayskull as its guardian, you may never leave as you are today. You will no longer be mortal, and you will have little power outside of these walls, save for the time of the great battle. You will be, in effect, a prisoner of this castle—able to leave only in your falcon form, unless granted permission from the Cosmic Enforcer to do otherwise."
Malick gaped at Serena for a moment.
"I realize that it is a great sacrifice to ask of you, but I assure you that the fate of all Eternia depends on this victory." Serena hid her clenched hands in the folds of her wings, striving to look calm. She had made her point. All she could do was hope Malick would agree.
"When you say lost to evil, what do you mean?" asked Malick.
"I mean Evil, itself. The same entity that you almost lost yourself to, had it not been for Kareem."
Malick's eyes grew bright as he thought of his wife. It seemed like yesterday that she died, not weeks ago. 'She was so brave and compassionate', he thought. 'And I have no doubt of what she would have done in this situation. I cannot have her back, but I can do this in honor of her.'
"I will serve, Sorceress," Malick said straightening his shoulders and looked her in the eye.
She stepped back a few paces as an uneven patch of stone began to glow in front of him.
"Step into the well of power, and if you are accepted, you will emerge changed."
Malick nodded, a grim look on his face as he stepped forward into the shaft of light that flowed up from the seemingly unimportant stones beneath him. Malick felt himself lower into a glowing light within the very floor of the castle. He was blinded by the brilliance that seemed to flow through him and he felt warm. He also felt lighter—as though he were flying. He cried out as the glow faded and he realized that he was indeed flying. But his cry came out as a falcon's screech. He panicked and flapped his wings, attempting to stay airborne when the Sorceress said, "Merely think of your human form, and you will return to it."
Malick did as he was told and was standing, once again on the stone floor of Castle Grayskull. He looked in shock at his arms now covered in a feathered cloak. He was wearing a feathered tunic that flowed down to his mid-thigh that was surprisingly comfortable. Yet he still shifted anxiously. The power that had changed him was beyond anything he ever could have imagined and the ease with which he returned to his human form astounded and unnerved him. He wiped his sweaty palms against his black trousers, grateful that they and his matching boots were not made of feathers as well.
"Welcome, Sorcerer of Castle Grayskull. Come with me," urged the Sorceress. "We have much to discuss."