Silverwitch Read online

  We moved away from the wall as the fissure grew into a long, narrow hallway. Sapphire-blue light sparkled from the rough-hewn walls. When the shaking stopped, we walked toward the entrance as it cast bluish light on our faces and hands. Kull got to the opening first, and he unsheathed a sword that I’d never seen him use. Its wide blade and heavy, Wult-style pommel seemed sturdy enough, yet it didn’t fit him in the same way as Bloodbane.

  “This will take us to the witch’s castle?” Heidel asked.

  “It will take us into her vaults, which are underground and separate from her castle. You won’t need the torches.”

  Kull and Heidel doused the flames, then left the smoking torches alongside the rock face. We entered the tunnel with magic lighting our path. Bursts of azure radiated around the walls and rock-strewn ground. The ocean of light made me feel as if we were walking underwater.

  The path sloped downward, the only sound coming from our booted feet as our footsteps echoed in the widening tunnel. Small crystals grew like flowers along the floor and in recesses in the walls. Most glowed blue, but occasionally we came across clusters of green or black-tinted crystals. Magic pulsed from the surrounding cave walls and through my hands, making my fingertips tingle.

  As we walked, I felt the presence of Theht deep inside my consciousness, a presence I did my best to ignore. It was like a thorn under my skin, constantly throbbing, reminding me it was there.

  The tunnel grew brighter as the sound of rushing water came from up ahead and the smell of damp earth filled the air. Soon our path broadened, and we stood on the bank of an underground river. Black water churned past, its rushing roar filling our ears. Droplets of moisture dampened my hands and face as we followed the path along the river.

  Maveryck paused when we reached a spot where the water calmed and a path of stones broke up the surface, leading from one shore to the other.

  “We’ll have to cross the stones to make it to the other shore. It’s not deep, but these stones are slick, so we must tread carefully.”

  Kull and Heidel both sheathed their weapons as we prepared to cross. Maveryck went first, stepping lightly from one rock to the next until he crossed the distance and leapt to the far shore. His wolf, Grace, followed close behind him on light feet that didn’t make a sound as she bounded from one stone to the next, finally making it to her master’s side.

  “Who’s next?” Maveryck called.

  “I’ll go,” I said. “I’d like to get this over with.”

  I shouldered my pack and stepped onto the first stone. My boots slipped and I almost tipped into the water, but I managed to catch myself just in time and made it to the next stone, and then the next. When I reached the halfway point, I felt the air change and realized I must have crossed the barrier into the witch’s territory.

  An uncontrollable chill made me pause as Theht’s presence reacted to the magic. Flexing my fists, I pushed my fear aside and concentrated instead on leaping from one stone to another, keeping my eyes on the path ahead. The sound of rushing water drowned out the pounding of my heartbeat.

  Soon, I leapt from the last stone to the shore where Maveryck and Grace waited. Kull and Heidel made it across without incident, and without speaking, we followed Maveryck along the shore until we reached another tunnel. The path led us steadily upward until all sounds of the river disappeared once again.

  Farther along, an elaborate carving made to look like a door blocked our path. A faint trace of bluish magic hummed through the written spells carved over the arching gateway. I felt its power as it vibrated through the wards, warming me. It was an odd sensation—one that I was unfamiliar with.

  “What is this?” I asked.

  “An elodise,” Maveryck answered. “An ancient elven gateway.”

  “Elven gateway?” I asked, confused. “Are you sure? I’ve been around elves, but I’ve never seen anything like this.”

  “I don’t suppose you would have. They aren’t commonplace.” He turned to face the gateway. “Once I conjure the spell, the door will only remain open for a few seconds. We will need to pass through it quickly; otherwise, we’ll become a permanent part of the mountain. Are you all prepared to enter?”

  We each nodded, then Maveryck reached toward the door. Just as before, his magic gathered around him and spiraled in swirls of glimmering blue light. As he released his magic into the door, I felt the hairs on my arms stand on end. The door disappeared, replaced by a dark opening. On the other side was a faint golden gleam, but I could see nothing past that.

  The door was an enigma to me. I’d studied magic my entire life, so I should have heard of a door such as this at least once. But for now, I had other matters to worry over. I turned back to the open gateway.

  Kull and Heidel walked through first. I followed, then Maveryck and his wolf came behind me. We stepped into an enormous cavern. Behind us, the door sealed shut with a quiet whoosh.

  Around us stood immense stacks of gold, though I spotted a few items made of precious stones, bronze, or silver. The labyrinth of jewels and weapons made my head spin. Light came from somewhere—up ahead, maybe?

  “Where is the staff?” I whispered quietly to Maveryck.

  “I’m not sure, but the witch keeps her most guarded treasures in the next chamber on the top level. Follow me.”

  We crossed into an open area, and the entire vault came into view. The cavern was built like a honeycomb, with spiraling staircases and narrow bridges connecting one level to the next. Wooden and stone pillars, balconies, and bridges were embellished with images of skulls and winged demons, an ornate masterpiece that sent shivers down my spine.

  “Up there,” Maveryck whispered, pointing to the topmost level, “is where she puts the most dangerous objects. If we’re to find the staff, I believe it would be there. Stay close.”

  We followed Maveryck as we hiked toward one of the staircases, our footsteps echoing through the immense chamber. As we walked, we passed a set of towering double doors.

  “That is the only other entrance into the vaults,” Maveryck said, “and it looks as if we’ve beaten the elves here.”

  “I don’t like this,” Heidel whispered. “It reminds me too much of the catacombs in the goblin lands. It was a nightmare trying to fight my way out of that place.”

  “We will have no need of fighting our way out as long as we do not attract attention,” Maveryck said. He gave Grace a gentle pat on the head, and we continued onward.

  I’d never been to the goblin underworld, so I had no way of disputing Heidel’s statement. But I knew she’d spent time in the goblin catacombs, and I was sure it must have been an unpleasant memory, to say the least.

  We made it to a narrow, spiraling staircase situated under the dome’s apex and began climbing to the top. In several places, a bridge connected the staircase with the surrounding balconies. With each stair we climbed, the height grew more dizzying.

  When we reached the top of the staircase, we crossed a bridge that led us to the balconies surrounding the honeycomb. With no handrails, I focused on putting one foot in front of the other until I stepped onto the far landing. The others gathered around me after crossing the bridge. We found ourselves on a narrow balcony that circled the upper edge of the catacomb. Niches had been hewn into the rock, and inside the crevices sat assortments of objects—mirrors, crowns, daggers, and some more unusual objects like a skull, a large spider, and a lock of hair. Greenish magic glowed around each of the objects, making my skin tingle from their spells.

  “There’s dragon magic here,” I said.

  “Yes,” Maveryck said. “Each of the talismans has been spellcasted. Be cautious. Do not touch anything.”

  We circled the outer rim of the catacomb. I detected other sorts of magic radiating from many of the items we passed, and I tried not to gawk as we neared several objects of enormous power, their magic calling to me in quiet, seductive whispers.

  As we rounded a corner, Kull stoppe
d at one of the niches. Inside the glow of the dragon’s spell sat an all-too-familiar object—Kull’s sword.

  Bloodbane.

  Kull stared at the sword with wide eyes, and his mouth slacked open.

  “Was this your sword?” Maveryck asked.

  “Yes,” Kull said after finding his voice. “Is there any way for me to reclaim it?”

  Maveryck shook his head. “No. As soon as the spell is triggered, we will only have a matter of minutes to escape from the chamber before the dragon’s guards catch up to us. The sword will have to remain here.”

  “Is there a way to get past the spell?” Kull ran his fingers over the embellished stone surrounding the niche. “Couldn’t we get around it somehow? Break through the stone, perhaps?”

  “Not possible. Not unless you’ve brought a chisel.”

  “I could do it,” Kull said, “if I had my sword.”

  “But it’s surrounded by a spell,” Heidel said. “Come, Brother. We do not have time to waste. We are here to retrieve the staff and nothing more.”

  “Then go,” Kull said, “and I shall meet you at the elven door.”

  “You want us to leave you?” Maveryck asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Kull,” I said, “do you think that’s wise?”

  He turned to me, and I saw the desperation in his eyes. “What would you do if you were in my situation? We’re so close. I can’t leave it now that I’ve found it.”

  I stared at the sword, at the familiar broad blade and simple, unadorned pommel. That sword was more than just an object to him—it was a piece of his identity.

  “Fine,” I said, relenting. “I’ll stay with you. I’m sure I can come up with some sort of spell to remove it.”

  “I don’t like this,” Maveryck said. “Removing that sword, if it’s even possible, will take time, which is a luxury we don’t have. You cannot expect me to wait for you.”

  “This sword is causing you to lose your judgment,” Heidel said.

  “I assure you, my judgment is fine. I am justified in reclaiming my sword. Go ahead without me if you wish. Olive and I will meet you at the elven door. I give you my word.”

  Maveryck worked his jaw back and forth as he debated Kull’s request. Grace stood straight, her ears pricked forward as if listening to something, then raised her hackles and gave a low growl.

  “We are wasting our time arguing,” Maveryck said. “Meet us at the door if you must, but if you do not return, we will have no choice but to leave without you.”

  Kull nodded. “Very well.”

  Heidel, Maveryck, and Grace turned away and continued walking down the path until they disappeared from sight. I turned to Kull, who stood staring at the sword.

  “Do you know how to get past this spell?” Kull asked.

  I reached out, feeling the enchantment glowing with a steady intensity. The characteristics of a protection spell encircled the sword, but I also felt something shielding the sword—another spell, almost imperceptible.

  “That’s odd,” I said. “There are two spells. I can get past the protection spell, but I’m not sure about the other one.” I glanced up at him. “Are you sure you want me to do this?”

  “Yes. I’ll never get another chance to reclaim it.”

  “I agree, but I can’t promise I won’t trigger the spells.”

  He smiled. “I’ve seen your powers. If anyone can free my sword, it’s you.”

  I turned back to Bloodbane, its metal gleaming with a greenish tint under the light of magic. “I’ll see what I can do.”

  Reaching out, I tried to come up with some way to remove the second spell. It would’ve helped if I’d known more about it. Dragon magic was fairly simple to understand, but this was different from any dragon spell I’d been taught.

  As I scanned the foreign enchantment, I focused on finding the simplest information first. Splaying my fingers outward, I let my hand hover close to the spell, feeling as if the power were made of individual threads in a web. As I concentrated, I could almost see the spell, like a net covering the opening.

  “The spell was created to function like a trap,” I said. “If anyone were to reach for the sword and grab it, the spell would be broken and most likely alert the witch.” I moved my hand just above the spell, up and down, left and right, looking for any sort of opening. “And if I were to send a spell through this one to remove the protection spell, I suspect it would also alert the witch.”

  “Can you get past it?” Kull asked.

  “I’m looking.”

  After several minutes of searching and my hand tingling from the effects of the dragon’s magic, I gave up.

  “There’s got to be a way,” I said.

  Kneeling beside me, Kull scanned the stone surrounding the opening. Carved into the rock on either side of the niche stood two winged skeletons. Their empty eye sockets seemed to follow Kull’s movements as he scanned the encased sword. I wasn’t sure what he was searching for, but if it could help him free his sword, I wouldn’t argue.

  After a moment of examining the stonework, he turned to me.

  “Have you found something?” I asked.

  “Maybe. Do you feel this?”

  He took my fingers in his and placed them below the sword, in a small crack marring the stone casing.

  “Is it an opening?” I asked.

  “I’m not sure.” He pulled out a dagger and stuck the blade inside the gap. He looked up at me. “Some of the stone has crumbled away. I think I can punch a hole through the mortar. Give me a second.”

  Kull worked the knife back and forth, slowly shaving away bits of dust and small pebbles, filling the chamber with the echoing sound of crumbling rocks as the broken stone fell to the floor. After creating a narrow space through the stone, he moved back.

  With only a little light to illuminate the space, I couldn’t see if the fractured stone opened into the sword’s chamber. “Does the opening go all the way inside?” I asked.

  He sheathed his knife. “I believe so, but there’s no way to be sure.”

  “I can try to send a spell through the crack and see what happens,” I said, “but if this doesn’t work…”

  “If it doesn’t work, we run. Fast.”

  “I agree.”

  Controlling my magic would be a problem. Since we’d restored the fairies’ stone, my magic had been less erratic, but it was still a pain to control both the Earth and Faythander powers. The two magics were in a constant struggle for supremacy, and I wasn’t sure if I could ever balance the two. Plus, having Theht’s presence in my head seemed to dampen my powers—I’d felt them weakening ever since our encounter.

  Steadying my breathing, I prepared to bypass the web spell and conjure a spell to undo the protection enchantment instead. When I felt ready, I reached for the crack in the stone. “Here goes nothing,” I whispered before allowing the spell to rise to the surface and then releasing the magic into the fracture.

  Blue wisps of magic glowed over the stone’s surface as I concentrated on sending the spell through the gap and toward the sword.

  The azure wisps fed into the stone while I held my breath, praying the spell found a way through the stone and around the web spell. A tiny tendril of magic threaded through the crack in the stone, and more followed, wrapping around the sword. I exhaled my pent-up breath as the magic stripped away the protection spell surrounding the sword.

  “It worked,” I said. “I can’t believe it worked.”

  “I knew you could do it,” Kull said.

  “Yes, but now we have another problem. How do we get the sword out of there without tripping the web spell?”

  “Could you remove the web?” Kull asked.

  “No. I can’t touch it with magic or it will trip the spell.”

  “What if you were to make the sword invisible and move it through?”

  “No. It would still be covered in magic, which would also trip the spel
l.”

  Kull removed his blade and flipped it from end to end as he stared at his sword. We were too close to fail now. There had to be a way.

  “What if I were to widen the gap in the stone?” Kull asked.

  “It might work. How big can you make the gap?”

  “With this?” Kull held up his knife. “Not very big. I’ll only be able to remove the stones that are already loose.”

  “Do what you can,” I said.

  As Kull chipped at the stones, I studied the sword. I reached out, focusing on the narrow path of non-enchanted air leading inside the sword’s chamber.

  “I’ve almost got this opened up,” Kull said. A small stone fell to the ground, leaving a tunnel in the stone leading into the bottom portion of the sword’s chamber.

  Kull stuck his hand into the opening, but as he reached inside, his elbow got stuck in the hole. He heaved a frustrated sigh as he reached for his sword, his hand within a foot of its pommel, but failed to touch it. Pulling away, he turned to me.

  “Can you reach it?”

  “I doubt my arms are long enough, but I’ll try.”

  The cold stone chilled my arms as I reached inside the hole and tried to grab the sword. I pressed my body against the stone encasement, using every bit of leverage I could muster, stretching my arm as far as humanly possible, but I failed to reach it.

  It was impossible for either of us to reach it, but maybe a spell would do the trick. It wasn’t my first choice, and it would be risky, but at this point, I had no other choice.

  “I’ll try a spell,” I said, hoping I could control the magic without interfering with the web enchantment as I steadied my breathing. “Levitate,” I whispered.

  Magic flowed from my fingers and through the gap, then the shimmers of blue and amber light wrapped around the sword, lifting it up and moving it toward us. I controlled it downward until I was able to grab the pommel, the metal cool in my hands, and then I pulled it free through the narrow gap.

  I stood, holding the sword as the pommel warmed in my hands. Maybe I only imagined it, but the faint impression of Kull’s hands seemed worn into the metal.

  “Here,” I said, handing it to him. “Pretty sure this belongs to you.”