Chapter 20 –Suggo

The panther streaked through the shadow, the pads of its foot-long feet making no sound. Its strides were effortless, unrestricted by the bounds of terrain. Within an hour, the beast returned to the small mountain which overlooked Haver, for it was returning to its master that had summoned it.

Suggo observed from atop the small mountain’s peak that overlooked the valley of Haver, his gaze focused on the temple. Since his power had grown, Suggo’s caution had as well, fearing Zelicia would sense his power. Though she never has before. She’s a fool. To her I’m little more than a hedge witch that presents tricks with the gypsies.

His magic was that of the Old Gods, its origins more difficult to detect. Someone would have to know of its source. He was nearly certain she knew of the Old Magic, just not that he used it. Either way, once she knew he had power, she’d consider him a threat. Suggo knew what that meant. I’ve grown strong, but not that strong.

He only had to avoid her, for his task wasn’t to defeat her. In fact, it wasn’t to defeat anybody. It was to convince, deceive, to do whatever it took to influence Animus and Yayisha to follow Crag, the Eldest of all Gods. My master.

Suggo thought back to his meeting with the Elemental Sprit of Earth. He knew it wasn’t Crag’s true form, only a glimpse of the God’s actual power. Most of Crag’s power and the God’s body was still buried deep within the Earth. How the God had ever been defeated and imprisoned was beyond Suggo’s comprehension. There were of no tales or stories of the Old Gods told, not anymore. They were a lost legend, nearly forgotten, save for a few learned people that knew better. But they’re coming back. And Crag shall remember those that first followed him.

Suggo felt the approach of a being. He’d set magical alarms around the hilltop, and they ticked in his ear like chirping birds when something crossed that invisible, circular barrier around the hilltop.

Suggo willed himself to the shadows and extended his senses. As it closed unerringly on his location, Suggo realized it was his summoned shadow panther returning to report to him.

The beast padded toward him, its own ability to see in full darkness countering Suggo’s shadowy camouflage. Suggo emerged from the shadows and approached the creature, fearlessly gripping its lower jaw. He whispered, “Show me what Animus has done.”

Images from the beast’s memories flooded Suggo’s mind, the suddenness startling Suggo, who was not yet accustomed to absorbing the creature’s thoughts. Images of Animus flooded though Suggo. For almost a full minute, Suggo absorbed the panther’s recollections, then the creature wavered and then vanished, leaving Suggo’s hand holding only air.

He staggered, leaning against a rock that jutted from the hillside to avoid falling. This was new magic to him, and these absorptions of these summoned creatures momentarily weakened him. After recovering somewhat, Suggo wiped the sweat from his brow and took a deep breath, contemplating what he’d just learned. The boy survived what could have been a lethal encounter. Amazing. He’s more attuned to the Old Magic than I suspected. Touching that spirit- bow should knocked him unconscious. Yet he held it with no harm it seems... Remarkable. And this Kendra. Who is she? How does she wield a weapon imbued with Old God Magic? I’ll have to watch her as well to figure which of the old God she serves. That symbol is not Crag’s.

Suggo thought of sending another summoned panther to watch the boy, yet decided against it. He knew he’d need all of his power this night. So he waited, hoping for his opportunity.

An hour later, a rider galloped into Haver, riding directly for the temple. Suggo morphed into panther form and moved closer to the temple, justifying the risk, hoping that Zelicia still couldn’t detect him. A risk, but I must see what happens next with my own eyes.

Moments later, Suggo was hidden in a copse of trees a mere thirty feet from temple’s main doors, the acute eyes and hearing granted by his panther form giving him an enhanced awareness of his surroundings. He could hear a guard’s boots echoing off the stone inside the castle. An owl perched in a tree across on a large branch forty feet away from him, yet Suggo could see its eyes staring right back at him. Then the owl hooted as its feathery head twisted toward the sounds of a galloping horse that approached the temple from the only road leading up to the plateau upon which it sat.

Suggo turned his attention to the rider, who was a woman dressed in green and brown, her form easily handling the lean black horse. Her boots were a dull black and well-worn, scratches and stains marring them. At her belt was a dagger, though a sword hilt stuck out of one of her horse’s saddlebags.

Approaching the temple, the horse slowed. Before it came to a full stop, she dismounted, landing easily on her feet. She took off her gloves, and Suggo could see the long scar running from her knuckle, up past her wrist to disappear further up her arm where clothing covered the rest of it. Suggo knew exactly who she was. Karissa from Woplin. Zelicia’s spy, coming to report.

Several guards raised the alarm. Three of them blocked the door, but he heard Marissa’s voice say, “Move you fools. Or do you wish me to tell Zelicia you stopped me?”

They exchanged glances, none of them moving until another guard from within the temple yelled, “Let her through fools!”

Karissa shoved them aside and disappeared into the temple.

Suggo didn’t try to follow. Instead, he waited for Zelicia’s response to the news that her husband had taken her son from Haver without her notice.

Another guard appeared in front of the temple, this one a tall, lithe female. She approached the male guards, who whispered amongst themselves. The woman pointed to two of them and jerked her thumb back toward the temple’s open doors. “You’ve been summoned to the dungeons for duty. Off with you."

“Why us?” One of them yelled. “The last guards that went down there never returned.”

“Yeah,” the other one said. “Maybe we don’t want to go. Till we get some answers. What goes on down there? What happened to the other—?”

In a flash, the woman drew a knife, stepped forward and thrust it into his neck. Blood drenched its pommel as she yanked it out, blood arcing from the dagger’s tip to the floor’s tiles. The guard coughed on his own blood, grasping hopelessly at the wound. She kicked him between the legs and he dropped to the ground.

The other guard quickly darted into the temple.

Who is this woman that serves Zelicia? Someone new or someone I’ve missed?

The woman placed the dagger in the guard’s hand and looked at the remaining guard. “I’ll send for the priest. He jammed his own dagger in his throat. You saw that, didn’t you?”

The guard nodded. Suggo suddenly smelled urine as a puddle quickly formed under the man.

“Priest will probably say he had Stiggler’s,” the woman said. “Wouldn’t want to catch that yourself, would you?”

“N-no!”

She pointed her dagger at him. “Then tell it like I told you. And don’t think of running. You do, I’ll kill you slow.” She approach him in a near blur of speed. She was suddenly in front of him with a dagger a hand space from between his legs. “And I start with this, understand?”

“Y-yes Captain Renee. Stabbed himself in the neck. Saw it with my own eyes.” He away from her until his back pressed against the wall.

“Make certain everyone in town knows it,” Renee said.

A few other guards came out of the temple, but by then Renee has sheathed her blade. With his keen panther eyes, Suggo could see the sweat upon their brows. Neither spoke nor looked at Captain Renee as they picked up their barely-breathing comrade and carried him into the temple.

Renee followed them back into the temple, not bothering to spare a glance toward the guard she had threatened.

Suggo heard the guard start sobbing. This Captain Renee rules by fear alone. Given the opportunity, the temple guards would abandon her. Perhaps I can use that when things start happening…

About an hour later, Karissa returned. Zelicia walked by her side, a green cloak wrapped around her. Trailing them both was Captain Renee.

The sorceress’s eyes walked to where the guard’s blood had pooled on the smooth stone ground. A spark of green spiraled from her hand to the ground into the red pool. She whispered, “Q’wothla Vulgarmeth’r Daug.”

Her left arm extended toward the far clearing. Green lightning shot from her hand and struck the owl. With a final woot, the owl dropped from the trees.

Then Zelicia’ body glowed bright green. Her body rose from the ground and hovered a few feet in the air. She turned her body in the air until she looked at the lone guard. “What of this one? He saw what you did?”

Captain Renee nodded. “But he’ll do as he’s told.”

Zelicia nodded. She rose her voice so the guard could hear her. “Very well, Renee. If he doesn’t, bring him to me. I’ll make use of him.”

The guard dropped to his knees. “I swear, I’ll—“

Zelicia extended both of her hands and struck him with twin bolts of green fire. He started to yell but with a flip of her wrist she silenced him. Moments later, she closed her fists and the fire ceased.

The guard wavered on his knees, looking none the worse for wear except for the sudden sweat that covered his body. He flopped onto his face, groaning.

“Take him to the infirmary. I believe in his struggles with the one you bled, he contracted Stiggler’s Fever. I don’t think he’ll make it.”

Captain Renee nodded. “Anything else while you’re gone?”

“Scan the tree lines for owls, hawks, ravens, or buzzards. Any bird bigger than a sparrow, kill them on sight,” Zelicia said.

“Trouble?” Captain Renee asked.

“Caution. Report to me when I return.”

“What of Yayisha?” Captain Renee asked.

“She’ll sense when I’m beyond sight of Haver. Within the temple, let her do as she wishes. I have wards in place to keep her in check there.”

“And if she goes to town?”

“Let her. Just keep an eye on her.”

Captain Renee nodded.

“I won’t be gone long.” Zelicia handed the woman a locket with bulging ruby hung on a silver chain. “Wear this. If something happens that requires my quick return, break that locket and I’ll know there’s trouble.”

Again, the captain nodded.

Zelicia floated higher as she directed her attention to Karissa. “I release you from service, Karissa, daughter of Careen. See that you leave these mountains. Take a caravan across the Easter Desert as we’ve discussed.”

Karissa bowed, keeping her eyes to the ground.

Without further word, Zelicia floated into the sky and flew toward Woplin.

I didn’t know she could fly.

Captain Renee stood and watched Karissa ride down the path, then she returned to the temple, yelling. “Guards! Out of your bunks. We’ve a task to complete.”

Suggo moved. In seconds he’d reached the temple wall. Still in panther form he scaled the temple walls until he reached the gardens atop the roof. Once there he melded into a copse of bushes and waited. Time to speak to Yayisha.