TBC: Chapter Forty-Five

Hurry, Brogan,Danika said as she reached the right side of the bridge to the palace.

Brogan, who was still several yards behind Danika, blocked an attack from the electrical rod of a Vaznaun with his gladaé and delivered a kick to the head of another Vaznaun attacking his left. A little busy here, he replied. His eyes lit up brightly as he clashed with two more Vaznaun running his way.

Still invisible, Danika pushed through the leafy bushes that aligned the palace wall and stepped onto a stone path that crossed underneath the palace bridge and led to a passageway. She quietly approached two Vaznaun stationed at the edge of the passage but froze temporarily as she accidentally kicked a rock along the stone floor.

The two Vaznaun looked around in alarm. "Who's there?" one said with a sneer.

They stepped back in shock as a bright green-glowing gladaé appeared before them as if it was floating in midair. One of the Vaznaun shrank away in fright.

"Where are you going, idiot?" the remaining guard shouted as his partner ran in the opposite direction down the passageway. "We still have to protect the dungeons!"

The Vaznaun continued to run.

"It's probably just the wizard's magic!"

The remaining Vaznaun hurriedly retrieved his electrical rod. He swung it wildly at Danika's gladaé as she moved closer to him.

The gladaé swung down and then upward in such a fast motion that it split the Vaznaun's electrical rod into two pieces. Sparks flew from the rod. The top half of the rod clanged against the wall of the passage.

The Vaznaun looked down at the remaining piece of the rod in his hand and back up to the gladaé. He turned and ran.

Danika giggled and sheathed her gladaé after the last guard rounded the corner. She released her charisma and continued down the passage.

I think I found the entrance, Brogan, she said as she studied the outline of an old stone door before her.

I'm just beneath the bridge now, he replied.

Two more Vaznaun suddenly appeared around the corner, and Danika turned invisible just in time. She pushed her back flat against the door to avoid bumping into the guards.

"There's no one here," one of the Vaznaun said. "Let's go back."

The two turned to leave and looked up into Brogan's stony face.

The silver glow of Brogan's gladaé reflected light off the side of his head and face, from where it rested against his shoulder. "I'm here," he said as he smashed his large fist into the jaw of one of the Vaznaun. He brought the hilt of his sword against the forehead of the other with his opposite hand.

Both opponents dropped unconscious to the ground. Brogan stepped over the two casually and continued along the path.

Over here, Brogan,Danika called.

Brogan's eyes relaxed in recognition as he saw the glow of Danika's meridians several yards before him. There you are.

I'm just not sure how to get the entrance open.

Brogan placed his hand against the door. Let's see. He ran his hand along the length of the door to the bottom and across the ground before them.

What are you doing?she asked.

The vibrational pulse changes if something is altered in the stone or ground, he replied. So, if it's hollowed beneath it, I will be able to tell. That may be where a latch is hidden. He kneeled before the door. Yes. He smiled. There is a stronger hum here, he swept his hand along the bottom of the stone to the lower right and stopped at the edge of the door, than here.

His eyes briefly lit up as he slammed a fist into the ground. The stone beneath his hand easily gave way. He reached beneath the stone and pressed the protruding lever. The door opened inward. Brogan smiled. Detecting vibrations makes me a brilliant asset, don't you think?

You can't see me, but I'm rolling my eyes.

But, I can see your meridians, he responded with a gleam in his eye. He reached out to touch her leg.

She slapped his hand away and released the use of her charisma again. Come on, she said. I think it is an asset that Mordán didn't upgrade the security system to the dungeon yet.

For sure, he replied as the two slipped into the dungeon tunnel.

The two had only gone a short distance when they heard a voice behind them. "You didn't really think it would be that easy, did you?"

Danika and Brogan turned to see Kar striding fearlessly down the tunnel toward them, his large sword resting across his shoulders.

The two raised their gladaés in preparation.

Brogan's gaze narrowed as he observed a dark silhouette appear suddenly behind Kar.

"Kar," the voice behind him said.

Kar turned. He suddenly grabbed his own forehead and stumbled backward. His sword dropped to the ground.

Brogan lowered his gladaé. Master Aderes.

"You will lead us to the light warrior's cell," Aderes commanded Kar.

Kar nodded and calmly turned around, his eyes appearing slightly dazed. "This way," he said.

Aderes, we didn't know you were coming, Danika said. You could have warned us.

I followed him after Akila told him to find you, Brogan, Aderes responded. I tried to tell you when I was outside the grounds, but I think our telepathic abilities must not work unless we are on the same side of the palace walls.

Akila showed? Danika asked.

Yes, but Mersán is there now.

Kar walked past Danika and Brogan without a glance.

You really have control of his thoughts? Brogan asked.

Aderes nodded. I just have to get him to look me in the eye at the time I ignite my charisma.

Wow, Aderes,Danika stated. Your power has advanced.

Aderes gave Danika a small smile as the three continued to follow Kar down a dimly lit narrow winding pathway that descended further beneath the castle.

"How far are the cells?" Aderes asked Kar.

"The cells are grouped in a large chamber beneath Mordán's council room," Kar replied as he stared straight ahead and kept walking. "The path is twisted like a maze to throw an intruder's direction off, but they are not very far from us."

The group walked in silence for a short while until the path widened. A stream of small white lights aligned the top of the walls along the tunnel, providing a clearer view of the path. As soon as the warriors entered the widened path, however, the strip of white lights turned red and began to glow brightly.

Danika instantly dropped to her knees and slowly fell forward to the ground. Brogan stumbled into the walls of the passageway. He turned and leaned against the wall, then slid unconscious to the ground, his sword clanging against the floor. Aderes grabbed his head with one hand and threw out the other to steady himself against the walls of the tunnel. He slid slowly to his knees and leaned his head against the wall. His arms dropped as his eyelids closed.

Kar looked at the fallen warriors around him in confusion as the effects of Aderes's charisma wore off. He looked up above him at the strip of red glowing suppression lights and laughed. He sneered. "Revenge is sweet," he said, his voice full of hatred.

He stepped toward Brogan's unconscious form.

"I'm afraid your revenge won't be fulfilled today, Kar."

Kar turned sharply to see a white glowing form at the cell chamber entrance. His expression turned from satisfaction to shock. "Wizard," he stated. "I just saw you outside."

"And now I am here," Malik said as he patiently stepped closer to Kar.

"It can't be," Kar said. "Akila has put a spell to block any telepathy or teleporting coming from the outside grounds."

"I didn't teleport from outside," Malik replied.

Kar gazed at Malik in disbelief. "An illusion then," he said as if trying to convince himself. He looked at the warriors lying motionless around him and back up to Malik.

"I wouldn't if I were you," Malik stated, his eyes glowing brighter.

Kar looked at Malik one more time and then darted toward Brogan's gladaé. A silver-white beam of light shot out from Malik's staff and slammed into Kar's back. Kar arched his back—his face grimaced in pain as he went flying past the warriors and slammed hard against the stone floor. His large body tumbled down the passage and then lay motionless.

"I warned him," Malik said.

"Did you kill him?" Jabari asked from behind Malik from several feet back. "I would check, but I am already weak from being near the suppression lights on the bars of Valora's cell.

"He is not dead," Malik said. "I am not the one that must kill him. However, despite the Vaznaun's tough exterior, he won't be battling for several days."

Malik looked calmly at the three warriors sprawled before them. His eyes lit up again, and he slammed the bottom end of his staff hard against the floor. Silver-white jagged strips of light emerged from the end of Malik's staff and raced across the floor of the tunnel and up the walls. The red suppression lights exploded as the lightning strips reached the ceiling.

The warriors stirred and woke slowly as the effects of the suppression wore off.

"I will leave you to explain and tend to those three as I unlock Valora's cell," Malik said to Jabari.

Jabari nodded and hurried to the warriors.

Malik stood in front of Valora's cell. A flash of fury lit his expression as he observed Valora's unconscious form through the bars—her hands chained above her. "Akila," he whispered in a low, harsh tone, "you will pay for the abuse of your power."

He stood back and repeated his earlier gesture with his staff. The silver-white light spread apart and traveled up the length of the bars and into the cell. The red glow within the cell bars disappeared.

With a touch from his staff, the cell bars lifted, and Malik strode quickly into the chamber. He touched the suppression rings around Valora's forehead and ribs with a glowing hand. As the red light faded, the rings unlatched and fell to the floor. He reached to diminish the suppression effect on the shackles at her wrist.

"Valora!" Brogan shouted with heavy emotion as he burst into the cell.

"Easy, Master Brogan," Malik warned as Brogan grabbed his sister. "She is very weak. I am going to break the shackles at her wrist. You will have to support her weight after I do so."

Brogan nodded.

Valora fell against Brogan as Malik broke the chains above her. Brogan's eyes lit up brightly through falling tears as he transferred his light energy to his sister.

Valora's eyelids fluttered open, and she gasped as the power of light revived her. "Brogan," she whispered. She grabbed him tightly to her as her breath caught. "You fell—How did you? I—I thought I lost you."

He smiled. "It'll take more than an old witch to do me in."

Valora rolled her eyes as she released her hold on him and wiped away her tears. "Meaning, someone saved you in the nick of time."

"Maybe…I forgot."

"Sure—"

The rest of the group entered the cell. Danika hurried to Valora's side and embraced her.

"You will have time later to catch up," Malik said. "You should hurry back to the outer grounds away from here and help the others. Mersán has engaged Akila, so it will not be long until she realizes that he is only an extension of me. Form the Lumfáinne when you meet up with the others."

"You are not coming, Sir Malik?" Valora asked.

"I have one more task to do," Malik responded. "Then, I will meet you at the ship."

Jabari nodded and led the others back through the tunnel to the outer grounds.

***