Chapter 22
We would never have found the spot if Nemetona did not show us. The door was hidden in a shielded cave and furthered covered by a huge vertical slate. Even if a mortal soul would chance to pass here, he would not suspect anything unusual and certainly would not creep into the crack to investigate.
“I wonder how that old fox could find out.” I said examining the five hollow circular marks that were without the slightest doubt meant for housing five of the discs which would act as keys.
“He had abandoned his faith and vowed to served the most ancient ones.” Nemetona said in low voice. We shuddered. We all knew what the ancient once meant. Long before the era of we Druids and the gods and goddesses that ruled this universe, there existed something powerful and evil. Chaos and slaughter were their source of food and reason and compassion something unknown. So, he had made his unholy pact with them, who were banish from this universe during that big battle! And he was trying to bring them back! The world would be swamped with innocent blood if he ever succeeded.
“Let us try to open the gate.” Epi said.
I hesitated for a moment. What would it mean? What could we find inside? But there was no other choice now and deep inside me, I also wanted to know.
I picked out the disc one by one and tried on the hollows. Some fit, some did not. But finally, we fixed five of them on the marks. I had in my hands the Beast Disc and the Mona disc left.
There was a rumbling sound.
We stepped back and watched in amazement as the huge rock door slid open.
There was a small dark cave immediately after the door and then a narrow tunnel led to an ending with a mysterious blue light. We looked at each other. Finally, we mustered enough courage to take our step and walked in.
“But what is the use of the other two?” Epi asked.
Even before she finished her sentence, we heard the rumbling sound behind us. We turned around and were just in time to see the rock sliding shut!
We tried to arrest its motion. But the force was too strong. We jumped back into the cave just as the door locked us in.
I cast a spell and there was light in the cave.
The rock surface was dripping wet. But we could see strange marks on them. They did not belong to our druid sign system and we suspected they were much older, rougher and conveyed a spirit of brutality and intolerance. There was also one hollow mark on the rocky wall to the left of the door.
I placed the Healing Disc in and again the door slid open.
“So, this is the escape disc. Anyone entering the cave without this would be trapped.” Nemetona made a summary of our observation.
“I see, so in order to come in and get out, you needed at least six discs.” Epi said.
“Yes. Very thoughtful.”
The rumbling sound came again and the door again was shut. So, even with the disc in the hollow, the door would shut by itself after some time.
“Shall we proceed?” I asked.
Nemetona led the way. It was a long tunnel. Epi and I were reminded of our scary experience in Memetae and wished that none of the kind we had encountered inhabited here. We would not be so lucky every time.
We finally reached the end of the tunnel. A much larger cave awaited us. It was divided into two halves, separated by a deep abyss in between. A swinging rope bridge hanged precariously in between. It was the only mean to reach the other side.
We went to the edge and looked down. What we saw was horrifying. Though the objects were so small due to the great height, we could identify as of humanoid form. They were the source of the blue light, with limbs like humans but on their heads were horns that ended in sharp points. Their bodies were no more than skin over skeletons and they were groping at each other, biting, tearing, and emitted that made our hair stand on ends. It was differently non-human.
“The passage to the Other World!” Nemetona exclaimed.
We looked across to the other side.
There, glittering in the dark was a crystalline sarcophagus. We could see it was empty and a kind of icy smoke enveloped its base. But our eyes were all caught by the object that stood on its own on the top of the cover.
It was a double edge war-axe of immense size. Though it was stationary, its dark and evil blades sent rings of energy across the space. As we starred longer, those energy took hideous shapes of human like shapes in bitter agony, some trying to flee in vain from the grip on their gas form bodies, twisting and crushing and as soon as one such shape disappeared, another would take its place in its dance in horror.
“The Evil weapon! The Axe of Affalach!”
I was drawn by it, followed by Epi. It had a magical property that our eyes seemed drawn to it as if iron to magnet.
“Stay where you are!” we heard a voice and turned.
Nemetona was on the ground. She seemed to suffer no mortal wound but was knocked out by a staff.
Eugenix and Asla were standing there, smiling.
“How on earth!”
The evil Druid laughed.
“Thank you for leading us in. It had saved me all the trouble. Nemetona thought she had stolen the discs. But she was wrong. I wanted her to steal them. And she would come to you.”
“But, how could you…”
“Of course I can. The five discs were outside. No. Do not be surprised or feel any guilt. You could not have prevented it. If you remove one single disc from there, the door would snap shut and you would not be able to come it anyway. So, the waiting is over. And I will be the master of the Axe!”
“We won’t let you.” Epi was defiant.
The Druid hissed. “And what can you two miserable things do to stop me? Bituitius, you should devote more of your time to improve your magic, particularly some that would give you real power, the power of destruction. Ah, but no, I have forgotten. You are a peaceful druid and would not harm anything at any cost, right? Good. That is excellent. And you know the odds of your magic against mine, don’t you?”
Of course I knew. We had as much chance of a sparrow against a charging hawk!
“Asla, get the axe!”
“Not until over my dead body!” Epi guarded the end of the swing bridge.
The old druid simply smiled. We had forgotten something.
Asla blinked her eyes and immediately took the form of a crow! She needed no bridge to cross the abyss!
Epi was fast too. Once Asla in the crow form took flight, her pebbles were in the air, homing in! And she never missed!
Eugenix realized what had happened and he was prepared for it. From his rod, s protective magic shield shot forward, covering his female disciple all the way. The pebbles just bounced off!
Epi was desperate. She shot three pebbles in quick succession with the same result.
By that time, Asla had reached the other side and perched on the cover of the sarcophagus. She became her human form again and reached her hand towards the axe.
“Nothing could stop her now!” I thought.
Epi shot out her sling again. The old Druid sneered at such pointless gesture.
But he was wrong!
Epi had sent out two pebbles instead of one as the old Druid expected and was sure the shield would cause it to bounce off again. The first pebble indeed hit the shield. But the second one was not aimed at Asla.
It was aimed at the blade of the axe!
The pebble bounced from the axe from an unprotected angle and caught Asla between her eyes!
She gave a sharp cry and fell backwards, and then there was a sharp shriek as she realized she was falling into the waiting arms deep down!
We did not want to look what had happened.
Eugenix’s face contorted with anger. We had always suspected the old Druid and Asla had some kind of unusual relationship other than master and pupil. Now it was finally confirmed. But the element of anguish was not there. It was simply rage, rage of being deprived of his deserved trophy, even though it would only mean for a very short time.
From the rod, two balls of flames shot in our direction and both Epi and I had to jump to escape being roasted alive!
He was advancing now and the fire balls kept us on our feet to do anything that could stop him reaching the bridge. Epi tried her sling again but the pebbles just vapourized in the blocking flame. Eugenix made sure there was no more lucky hit!
I reached into my pouch, hoping to find the last disc to throw at him. It was not expected to get results but at least I had to do something.
My fingers touched something round and an idea ran through my head.
I took that out and sent it rolling on the ground towards the old Druid.
“Epi, don’t let him get that…please!” I sounded the greatest urgency.
Epi let go another round of pebbles but Eugenix simply used his staff to ward them off as if they were mere flied. But his attention was caught by the rolling thing now. I could read his mind: what was it so important that I had to stop him from getting?
He picked it up and looked into it. His eyes showed his amazement and his face broke into a smile looking at the object as if he was being entranced by a deep probing voice.
“Look! Look into your heart and you would be awarded accordingly.”
Then it happened!
A fierce black flame erupted from the mirror and engulfed the entire body of the Druid. He screamed and waved his arms like a madman. We could see his flesh being burnt away, the sockets of his skull glaring with astonishment and hatred and then he toppled over the rim and joined his disciple in the blue abyss.
I did not know what the old Druid wished to see in the mirror but it certainly would not be the healing of the sick.