The Road to Nyn by Brian G. Michaud

Author:Brian G. Michaud [Michaud, Brian G.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Brian G. Michaud
Published: 2013-11-14T00:00:00+00:00

Alamin almost lost his footing as he stepped inside the stump. “This is interesting,” he muttered. He and Strapper found themselves at the top of a stone stairway that led down into darkness.

“Lume!” Alamin said as he traced a circle in the air. A small globe of light came into being and floated above his head. The inside walls of the stump were slimy and covered with crawling insects. Looking down, he discovered runes carved into each step. Alamin could not translate them but guessed that they were glyphs of warning.

Strapper barked and grunted.

“You could be right,” Alamin sighed. “This may be a trap. I guess we’ll know when we reach the bottom of these stairs.”

Strapper groaned as if to say, “I was afraid you’d say that.”

Step by step, they traveled downward until they found themselves standing in a chamber shaped like a giant upside-down bowl. Ornate tapestries hung from the walls, and more runes decorated the floors. No light source was visible, yet all parts of the room were illuminated.

Suddenly a commanding female voice filled the chamber.

“WHO DISTURBS MY REST?”

Alamin looked at Strapper and then, with a cracking voice, responded, “Alahh…uh-hm…Alamin the Wizard!”

“I SENSE TWO PRESENCES.”

Strapper barked in reply.

“WHY DO YOU COME HERE?”

“We come in search of two ancient artifacts of power: the Sword of the Dragon’s Flame and the Gauntlets of Might.”

Silence.

Strapper barked again.

“TO OBTAIN WHAT YOU DESIRE, YOU MUST ANSWER MY RIDDLE CORRECTLY. IF YOU ARE WRONG, YOU WILL WISH THAT YOU NEVER BEGAN YOUR QUEST. BOTH WILL SHARE THE SAME FATE.”

Alamin and Strapper looked at each other. The wizard felt bad that Strapper would pay the penalty if he answered wrong. They had been through a lot together, but nothing like this.

“IT GIVES KINGS AND QUEENS THEIR POWER YET IS SHARED BY FARMER AND PEASANT ALIKE. IT CHURNS SEAS AND OCEANS YET CAN BE MOVED BY THE SMALLEST OF CREATURES.”

The room fell deathly silent.

“I don’t suppose we get three guesses?” Alamin asked feebly.

There was no answer.

The wizard repeated the words of the oracle in his head. Gives kings and queens their power…Hmmm. Gold…armies. Yet is shared by farmer and peasant alike. No, that won’t work.

Strapper nudged Alamin with his paw.

“Not now, Strapper. I’m thinking. Now where was I? Oh yes. Churns seas and oceans. Big ships? Titans? No, it won’t fit the last part.”

Strapper nudged Alamin again.

Alamin ignored the dog and began pacing the chamber. He wracked his brain for all that he knew of ancient lore. Sweat began to bead on his forehead as he tried to recall spells for power and control and…

“WOOF!”

Strapper’s bark echoed through the chamber.

Alamin’s bushy eyebrows raised in surprise as he stared at his dog. “Well, I’ll be. I never would have thought of that.”

“WELL DONE. YOU HAVE ANSWERED MY RIDDLE,” boomed the voice of the oracle. “WHAT YOU HAVE SOUGHT YOU HAVE FOUND. MAY YOU HONOR THEM MORE THAN THEIR PREVIOUS OWNER.”

The Sword of the Dragon’s Flame and Gauntlets of Might appeared on the ground in the center of the chamber.

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