Part 5: The Quest to Heal the Source of Magic
218 Colorverse Ham #65 Glistening
The morning they were to go back through the Muirdoor, Quin woke to find the High Wizard gone. A note and four magically protected boxes lay on the table in their cabin. "He's gone," Quin said after scanning the note. He wasn't sure how to feel about that. "Where?" Makhabesh asked. "Back to the Wizards' Palace." "But what about the Source?" Essri whispered. "He says we have to go without him. That people will be watching for him when he returns and he would just put us in danger." Essri shivered. "Who needs him," Makhabesh said.
219 De Atramentis Archive Ink
"These are for your pack," Quin said, handing Makhabesh the two smallest boxes. "And these are for mine." Quin put the two larger boxes in his pack. "They all contain some of the happy tears from the silkworms." Essri slithered up Quin's arm to look at the letter - not that he could read. "Why divide them?" "In case we don't all make it," Quin answered. "Pfffff," Makhabesh said. "Clearly that old man wasn't paying attention. Not make it. Pfffff." "Yeah," Essri said. "Of course we'll make it." After a slight pause, he added, "Make it where?"
220 Anderillium Motor City Peacock Blue
The High Wizard had included a rough map, with warnings, where to find supplies, and instructions to rely on Essri to find the Source once they got close. "Apparently," Quin finished, "no one's entirely sure..." He stopped and re-read. "What!?" he exclaimed. "What?" Essri said. "He's going off ancient legends. He claims no one really knows where it is." "Quit worrying," Makhabesh said. "My little buddy can find anything." Essri grinned, even though his tail had started twitching. "Does he give a description?" Essri asked.
221 Karas Pen Co. Desert Varnish
Quin approached the Muirdoor, Makhabesh on one shoulder, Essri on the other. "I'll introduce you to the mushrooms," Makhabesh told Essri. "You can talk to mushrooms?" Makhabesh puffed up his chest. "We're good friends." Quin rolled his eyes. "As long as that crazy goat-witch isn't there," Essri said. "I'll take care of Mad Mara," Quin told them. Essri slithered into Makhabesh's pouch and Makhabesh jumped to the ground. Quin called for his sword and opened the Muirdoor. A giant stream of pink feathers and green vine flew toward them. Essri squeezed his eyes closed.
222 Pilot Mixable Colour Sepia
"Fast!" Quin commanded. The stream of feathers slowed to a crawl. He hacked at the stream, sending pink feathers everywhere. The goat-witch cried a slow, "Maaaaa!" as Quin raced toward her. He swatted her backside with the flat of his sword as she raced slowly away. When he was sure she'd keep going, he returned and closed the Muirdoor. Time returned to normal. Feathers drifted to the ground. "Take that!" Makhabesh shouted. "You can open your eyes, little buddy." Essri opened his eyes. "Let'th get out of here."
223 PenBBS #406 Dark Moon Myriad Stars
While Quin and Makhabesh slept, Essri secretly consulted Quin’s staff. “What if I can’t find whatever we’re looking for?” “I think we can find it together,” the staff said. “But we don’t know what it ith.” Essri had never used his magic to find something he knew nothing about. “Well,” the staff answered, “we may not know what it looks like, but we know it’s what enables our magic, so that will help.” “I hope tho.” After a moment, Essri grinned. “At leatht we’re going away from the goat village.”
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"Whoa,” Essri said, gaping at the town of Atramentiburg. “This is nothing,” Makhabesh said. “You should see where Quin’s from - that’s three times this big.” “Really?” Just then, a town crier shouted, “Oily sorcerer still at large! Lamyton hit by mold-plague! Hundreds dead!” Quin’s heart started to pound. “We have to find a message board,” he said. “What’s a message board?” Essri asked. “Dunno,” Makhabesh said as Quin hurried down the street. When they reached a square, he said, “There,” and rushed to one side. He scanned the posted pages, looking for one from his family.
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Quin scanned the pages on the board. Finally, he found one with his family crest on it. “What’th happening?” Essri whispered. Makhabesh shook his head. Quin lifted the page from behind another and read: Q, M. escaped. Has sworn vengeance against you. Be careful, Mom. And below that, a second entry had appeared: Your father has the mold-plague. Come home before it’s too late. Love, Mom. “It’s message paper,” Quin explained. “Magically bound to another sheet. What’s written on the first appears on the second.” What do I do now?
226 Diamine Meadow
After getting a private room at the Wizards’ Guild, Quin explained, “My family must have sent someone to post message paper in various cities in hopes I would see it.” He looked again at the sheet in his hand. “Why not just carry it with you?” Makhabesh asked. Quin’s face heated and he looked away. “I refused.” He took a deep breath. “You know how moms are, always wanting to know every detail, telling you what to do…” Makhabesh and Essri nodded in unison. “But what do I do now? They need me.”
227 Büroservice Bergmann Blaufliessende Eisengallustinte
Essri listened and then said, "Your staff says we have to heal the Source first." Quin jumped to his feet. "But they're my family!" "I could go," Makhabesh said. "Flying is faster." "But you have no healing magic." Quin flopped back into his chair. Essri whispered, "What if magic fails while you're on the way home?" Quin swallowed hard. "What if my father dies? We don't even know where the Source is, or if the fix will work." Essri spoke for the staff again, "She says we have no choice; she can feel something wrong in the world's magic."
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"I need to be alone," Quin said and rushed from the room. When he finally cooled off, he started shopping. Whatever they did, they needed more supplies. His mind kept going back to the message paper, but he couldn't find any solution. He returned to discover Makhabesh, fountain pen in hand, writing in a notebook. Essri's head poked out of Makhabesh's Infini-pack, watching. "That's your name," Makhabesh said. Essri grinned. "I already know mine. Write yourth." "What are you doing?" Quin asked. "I'm learning to read," Essri answered. "Well, get some sleep, we leave in the morning."
229 Wearingeul Don Quixote
"Which way are we going?" Makhabesh asked. Quin set a sack on a chair. "What choice do I have?" He flopped onto the bed. "You all think we should go heal the Source. If we don't, I may not be able to help. Maybe we wouldn't make it home in time anyway." Quin waved a hand toward the sack. "I got us supplies." "Don't worry," Essri said, "we'll make it." "Yeah," Makhabesh added. "We're the perfect team. Essri will find the way, I'll scout the trail, and you and your staff will protect us." Quin nodded and tried to sleep.
230 Private Reserve 2 Minutes to Midnight Blue
Outside Atramentiburg, Quin’s staff taught him a spell to draw heat from the earth into her orb so Essri could act as her voice for the rest of their journey. “Ah, much better,” Essri said as he coiled around the warm sphere. Quin examined the map. “According to this, we have to cross Akkerland, then cross the channel to the isle of Diaminnia. Our next stop is the town of Cavayco, just across the Ester River. Looks like it’ll take a couple of days.” “Ooooh, a-scouting I will gooooo,” Makhabesh sang as he launched from Quin’s shoulder.
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While Essri and Makhabesh slept, Quin told his staff the name his parents had given him. "Oh Quin, that isn't your true name." "Of course it is." He heard a gentle sigh like wind through tree branches. "Quin, your true name isn't necessarily a name, it's who you really are. Your parents have magic, do they not?" "Yes." "Then they knew never to speak your true name. They might not even know it. Tell me about your past." "I was born in Lamyton. But I was apprenticed young, to the Five Wizards at the Wizards' Keep in Calliopolis, the largest city in the Wizardlands…"
232 Rohrer & Klingner sketchINK Marlene
As they approached the Ester River, Makhabesh said, “Looks more like a brook, to me.” Three men stood on the short wooden dock, guarding a single row boat. “How much to cross?” Quin asked. “One gold.” A second man eyed Essri and Makhabesh before saying, “Each.” “That’s crazy!” Quin said. Makhabesh spread his wings. “Only one of us needs a ride.” “Still three gold.” Quin glared at the men, then turned down stream. “Keep an eye on them.” When he was directly across from Cavayco, he stopped and rummaged in his pack.
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Quin set an arrow-shaped block, roughly the size of his hand, but about a span high on the ground. “What is it?” Essri asked. “It’s a bridge-builder.” After a moment, he adjusted the direction the arrow pointed. Makhabesh launched into the air. “Hurry up!” Quin glanced back in time to see a fireball hit the ground in front of the three men. “Inky stars!” He moved back and cast the spell to trigger the bridge-builder. The men shouted. Makhabesh launched another fireball. The bridge-builder rumbled. “Whoa!” Essri said. Moments later, Quin raced across the new bridge.
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Quin ran into Cavayco, right past the stunned guards. He dodged this way and that down streets and into alleys until he was sure he’d lost the angry boatmen. “Heh heh,” Essri laughed. “She says we shouldn’t stay long.” “Whoever’s in charge of this city probably gets a cut of whatever they take,” Quin said. “We’ll just get supplies and move on.” Later, on the far side of the market square, Quin spotted Makhabesh. “Oh, I am not letting him live that down.” Makhabesh sat in an old lady’s lap. “Nice kitty,” she said as she stroked his fur.
235 Diamine Jalur Gemilang
“I thought for sure Granny was going to adopt you,” Quin said. “Shut up and eat your lunch-on-a-stick, Wizard Boy.” Essri grinned. Quin offered him a little chunk of meat from his skewer. Essri gulped it whole and said, “There’th a barrier up ahead.” Quin bit off more from his skewer. “Don’t like the look of that.” “Pfff,” Makhabesh said. “They get you coming and going.” “Well, I don’t have a bridge-builder to get us over a whole forest, so we may have to pay this time.” Makhabesh thrust his empty skewer. “Or skewer them.” “You two get in my pack.”
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“Halt!” ordered one of the guards. “It’s one gold to use the road.” “Why?” Quin asked. “To pay the cost of patrolling.” “Who patrols it?” “Lord Roar’s men on this half and Lord Kling’s on the other.” Quin frowned, then fished some silver and copper coins out of his pocket until he had a gold’s worth. “How will they know I paid at the other end?” “Give them this token.” Quin took the token and when he was well out of sight, he opened his pack. Makhabesh climbed out and shook himself. “It’s way too big in there!”
237 Noodler's 54th Massachusetts
That night in camp, Quin flipped the token over in his fingers. “I think I can copy this with magic.” “Why?” Essri asked. “We can just go back in your pack at the other end.” “Copy it! Copy it!” Makhabesh said. Quin collected the needed potion from his pack, then found a chunk of wood, and began his spell. Soon, he held up three tokens and grinned. “Perfect!” Makhabesh snatched one away. Quin got out the map and studied it by the firelight. “If the rest of the road is as good, we should make the coast in two more days.”
238 Colorverse Vortex Motion
The next night, while Makhabesh continued Essri’s reading lessons, Quin checked the message paper. A new message had appeared, but it was garbled, with half the words looking like scrawls. The ones he could make out gave him no hope. His heart clenched. He placed his hand on his staff’s orb and asked, “Will we still be able to find the source?” “Essri and I can both feel it now,” she answered. “But it feels very wrong. I worry we’ll be in great danger.” Quin frowned. “I think it’ll be worse if we fail.”
239 Diamine Raw Sienna
No ship would take them to the isle of Diaminnia, despite it being less than a day’s journey from the continent. All claimed it was haunted or infested with monsters. Quin traded his last bridge-builder for use of a small, one-sail ship. At dawn the day after their arrival, they set off with Quin manning the oars whenever the wind died down. The others helped with navigation. They arrived in a small cove shortly after dark. Quin dropped the anchor and once ashore collapsed into sleep while the others stood guard.
240 Diamine Steel Blue
“Wake up! Wake up!” Essri whispered in Quin’s ear. Quin blinked. Something landed on his chest. “Ooof!” “Hurry up, wizard boy!” Makhabesh said before launching into the air. Quin scrambled to his feet, heart racing. A tall, skeletal man stood a few paces away. Quin squinted. The man was grey. Everything was grey. He snatched up his pack and staff. Even Essri was grey. “Good morning,” the man said. “I’m the Earl of Grey. A little grey never hurt anyone. You’re looking much better now.” Quin sprinted up away from the beach.
241 Lamy Blue
Quin ran until he topped the hills. The ground started to take on color, but he didn’t dare stop. Ahead he saw an orange field and kept going. His feet made a crunching sound as he raced into the field. He stopped to see why and saw a crust climbing up his boots. “Gaaaah!” he shouted and ran back out of the field. “He’th following us.” Quin glanced back. The ground was greying in front of the skeletal Earl. Quin dropped his pack. “Inside,” he said, and stuffed his staff and Essri into the pack.
242 Büroservice Bergmann Rotfliessende Eisengallustinte
“Makhabesh,” Quin yelled. Makhabesh dove to the ground. “Take my pack and find me the shortest route across.” “Right.” Makhabesh grabbed the pack and launched with difficulty into the air. Quin’s pack seemed heavier than before, but there was no time to think about it. He rose higher and higher while Quin trotted along the edge of the orange field, away from the Earl. After several minutes, Makhabesh dove toward Quin. “This way,” he said, and led Quin to a narrow point.
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“Don’t wait!” Quin said. “And don’t try to save me. Heal the source!” “Don’t talk crazy,” Makhabesh said. “I’ll drop this on the other side and be back.” “No!” Quin yelled as Makhabesh flew away. “Dumb sphinx.” He took a deep breath and got a running start. “Fast!” he commanded as his foot struck the orange field. His speed-altering enchantment kicked in, but he wasn’t moving as fast as he should. Each time a foot struck the ground, orange crust crept a little further up his boot, making it harder to lift his leg.
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Makhabesh flew as fast as he could to the far side of the orange field. As he passed over, he saw pillars of crust, but didn’t let himself think about what they meant. Quin’s pack grew heavier and heavier as he flew. When he reached the far side, he half dove, half fell to the ground. He quickly opened Quin’s pack, looking for Essri. “Come on, little buddy.” He reached out a paw and Essri quickly climbed up to Makhabesh’s pouch. “Where’th Quin?” “In the middle of that.” Makhabesh launched back into the air.
245 Noodler's Rome Burning
Quin saw pillars of orange crust, about his own height, and began to fear his speed-altering enchantment wouldn’t be enough. The crust was up to his knees. He didn’t even notice Makhabesh until a fireball struck in his path. It left a black patch and Quin felt a surge of hope. Makhabesh shot another fireball. As Quin reached the black patch, some of the crust crumbled away from his legs. Quin grinned and poured all he had into running. Makhabesh launched another fireball but it sputtered, making a much smaller patch. “Hurry up, wizard boy!”
246 Lamy Turquoise
Quin tumbled out of the orange field, pounding his feet to knock off the orange crust. “Where’s the Earl?” he asked. “Still on the other side,” Makhabesh answered. “Are you OK?” “Barely,” Quin muttered. When he’d caught his breath, he found his pack and pulled out his staff. “I think we need to hurry.” He held the staff out to Essri, who slithered over. “Which way?” Essri extended himself at an angle from the orange field, pointing directly to a lone mount rising not far away. “There,” he said. Quin grunted as he slung his pack over his shoulder.
247 Nemosine Pleiades Blue/Black
The journey to the mountain took until the middle of the next day. Though they encountered no one else, they traveled through utter silence punctuated by random screams and cries. At the head of the trail that led up the mountain, Quin dropped his pack. “Too heavy.” A sign read, “Mount Grappa”. An arrow pointing up the trail read, “Castle Faber”. Makhabesh reported ruins near the top of the mountain. “It’th under the mountain,” Essri said. “She thinkth the cathtle ith to protect the Thourthe.” “Let’s hope so,” Makhabesh said. “I didn’t find any caves or tunnels.”
248 Diamine Moon Dust
Before they began their climb, Quin belted on his sword. He found an ordinary pack and loaded it with the silkworm tears, food, and what supplies he could carry. Then he stashed his Infini-pack under a nearby bush. Makhabesh’s mini Infini-pack carried too little to be that heavy, but out of concern that its magic would fail or corrupt the contents, they swapped it for a make-shift pouch holding the rest of the silkworm tears. “Let’s get this over with,” Quin said, leading the way. Makhabesh launched without a word to scout the trail. “I’m thcared,” Essri whispered.
249 Diamine Sepia
As they neared the ruins of Castle Faber, Essri cried, “Thtop!” Quin ducked behind some vegetation. “What’s wrong?” “Your thtaff ithn’t anthwering me.” Quin placed a finger on the staff’s orb and asked, “Are you there?” He heard no reply. “We’ll have to go on anyway.” “The Thourthe feelth icky.” Quin looked up to where Makhabesh circled the ruins. “We’ll just have to hurry. Keep your eyes open.” Quin stood and moved from cover to cover toward the walls of the castle. He tried not to think about the headless skeletons they’d already passed.
250 Jinhao Black
“Just more skeletons inside,” Makhabesh said. Quin finished tying a makeshift sling for his staff. “Maybe you should hide that out here,” Makhabesh said. “No. I won’t leave her. She’s sentient. I have to protect her.” Quin slung the staff over his back. “Well, you’ll need a torch.” Quin took one from the wall near the entrance and lit it without magic, then carefully entered the castle ruins. Several skeletons leaned against the walls or sat on the floor. Quin headed for a passage across the room. One of the skeletons stepped away from the wall. “Stop!” it commanded.
251 Rohrer & Klingner sketchINK Klara
Quin froze. “I am Viscount E, Guardian of Castle Faber. State your purpose!” Makhabesh whispered, “Wonder what happened to Viscounts A through D.” A few other skeletons stirred. Quin decided truth was his best option. “The High Wizard sent us to heal the Source.” Viscount E cocked his skull to one side. “The High Wizard entered a few minutes ago.” Quin, Makhabesh, and Essri exchanged confused looks. “Well, we may still be needed,” Quin said. “Give me the pass-phrase,” Viscount E replied. “I don’t have it,” Quin said. “Then how did you get past my sons?”
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“Sons?” Quin asked. “The skeletons outside,” Viscount E said. “Uh, they didn’t challenge us.” “Robert, Pel, go check on those slackers!” Two skeletons clattered toward the doorway. “Um, the skeletons we saw didn’t have heads.” Quin’s hand twitched toward the hilt of his sword, but he stopped himself. “What!?” Viscount E bellowed. Robert and Pel raced from the castle and returned minutes later. “They’ve been killed!” “Not by us,” Quin said quickly. After several skeletons searched the area and Quin showed that there were no skulls in his pack, one of the skeletons said, “The High Wizard was carrying a large sack.”
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Before anyone could react to the realization about the High Wizard, the ground began to shake and the mountain seemed to groan. Dust and then debris fell from the high ceiling. Quin took the chance and ran for the passage across the room. “Stop!” yelled Viscount E. Quin felt strands of magic trying to hold him back, but he kept going and they faded. He dashed through the doorway and started down a large spiral staircase. “Fast!” he commanded. His speed didn’t change. Behind him came the clatter of bones. “Fatht!” Essri cried.
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“Go!” Quin told Makhabesh. “Hold on, little buddy.” Makhabesh, Essri still in his pack, spread his wings and dove down the staircase, spiraling so quickly he was almost dizzy. The staircase seemed unending. Torches lit the way, barely. He wasn’t sure Quin would be able to see. The sounds of stomping boots and clattering bones began to fade. Finally he saw a murky, flickering light below him. Essri whispered, “What ith it?” Makhabesh slowed. Then he spotted an archway. He landed and paused to listen, but couldn’t make out the sounds he heard.
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Essri hardly dared breathe as Makhabesh crept on silent paws to the doorway. Light as if from a corrupted rainbow flickered, murky colors flashing and fading. A voice sounded from the chamber beyond, but Essri couldn’t make out what it said. Makhabesh crouched and poked his head around the edge of the opening. A cloaked man stood with his back to them. In front of him was a short circular wall, as if around a well. The light came from within that wall. On the floor lay a black sack, a skull fallen out of it.
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Quin ran so fast he practically fell down the staircase. Torches hung at random, not enough to see clearly. He hoped Makhabesh would return and tell him if there were any gaping holes. He wondered what the High Wizard was up to. The man was supposed to have gone back to the Wizards’ Palace. He couldn’t have gone there and made it here this fast. Suddenly the ground rumbled again. Quin barely kept his footing. “Concentrate,” he muttered. After several more revolutions, the sound of clattering bones and Viscount E shouting, “Stop!” began to fade.
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Makhabesh padded back up the stairs a few revolutions. “I don’t know what he’s doing, but it doesn’t look good,” he whispered. Essri nodded. “I say we get Quin, go in together, surprise him. Otherwise, his magic might be too strong for us.” Essri nodded again and they headed back up the stairs. Once they found Quin, they slowed their descent as they filled each other in and made a plan. When Makhabesh spotted the flickering lights, they crept down in silence. The mountain rumbled again. The clattering of bones came faintly from above. Essri gasped. “The Thourthe ith fading!”
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Quin drew his sword. “Stick to the plan,” he whispered, then hurried as fast as he could and still remain silent. The sounds of the skeletons grew louder. Quin peeked into the room beyond the archway. The High Wizard’s back was still turned. The man was muttering something. Quin stepped out, sword held in both hands. The earth shook. Behind him came a great clattering of bones, as if all the skeletons were tumbling down the staircase. The High Wizard spun at the sound. Quin’s jaw dropped. “You!” they hissed in unison. Quin ran toward the man.
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Makhabesh growled. “Who ith he?” Essri asked as Makhabesh launched into the air. “Marsell, the Oily Sorcerer.” As Quin reached the man, Marsell cast an oily web. Quin slashed at it with his sword. Marsell cast another. “He needs our help,” Makhabesh said as he neared Quin. “Thourthe firtht!” Then, before Makhabesh could stop it, Essri slithered out of his pack and dropped straight down toward Marsell. Though he wanted desperately to dive, Makhabesh ripped a vial out of his pack. He emptied it into the Source. Two more vials followed. The flickering lights grew brighter, but it wasn’t enough.
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As Essri plummeted down toward Marsell, time seemed to slow. He hoped the man didn’t move too far. Quin was tangled in a web. His sword arm was still free, but it didn’t look good. Marsell began to move. Essri stretched out, trying to change the angle of his fall. He bared his fangs. Marsell took another step. Then suddenly Essri’s fangs caught on the back of Marsell’s cloak. He worked his jaw over and over. Finally his fangs found flesh. Essri clamped down like his life depended on it. Marsell screamed. Quin shouted unintelligibly. “Look out!” Makhabesh yelled.
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Makhabesh watched in horror as Quin ran his sword into Marsell’s chest. “Look out!” Makhabesh shouted to Essri. He flew like mad toward his little buddy. Then the sword came through Marsell’s back. Time slowed. Essri fell. Marsell dropped. Makhabesh lost sight of Essri and dove. “Essri!” Quin pulled his sword from Marsell and started cutting to free himself from the oily web. “What’s wrong?” Makhabesh landed beside Marsell’s cloak. “You killed Essri!” he hissed. He started to pull away the cloak, looking for his little buddy. “No,” Quin whispered. The sword slipped from his hand.
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“Go dump your vials,” Makhabesh hissed. Quin loosened his pack from his shoulders. “Maybe it’s not too late.” He hurried to the Source. His hands shook as he emptied each vial. After each, the light grew brighter and whiter. “Please work,” he whispered as the last drops went in. The mountain rumbled. White light flared, blinding him. Quin felt a surge of power swell around and in him. The clattering of bones grew louder. He turned back to see Makhabesh carefully pulling Marsell’s cloak away. “Essri!” he cried.
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When the blinding light faded, Makhabesh saw Essri lying motionless in a fold of Marsell’s cloak. “Essri!” he cried. He looked for blood or signs of breathing. Quin dropped beside him and unslung his staff. “Is he alive?” Bones clattered from the stairwell. “I can’t tell,” Makhabesh said. Quin put one hand on his staff’s orb and reached the other toward Essri. “Stop!” shouted Viscount E. Makhabesh felt magic wrap around him and freeze him in place. Quin’s hand stopped half way to Essri. Skeletons swarmed into the room. “What have you done?” cried Viscount E.
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“Break the spell, Quin,” his staff told him. Quin tried to speak, but couldn’t even do that. How? he thought. “With your will,” she answered. “The Viscount is strong, but he’s animated by magic. You are a wizard. You command magic. Now hurry, Essri needs you.” Quin wasn’t entirely sure how to command magic when he could neither move nor speak, but he couldn’t let Essri die. He concentrated on the magic holding him motionless, feeling it around him. After a moment, he was shocked to sense a connection back to Viscount E. In his mind he smiled. Break!
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Quin nearly toppled over as the spell broke. “It wasn’t the High Wizard,” he said in a rush. “It was Marsell, the Oily Sorcerer. He killed your sons. Look in the sack. Now, I have to heal Essri.” Makhabesh gaped at him. Viscount E stared. Quin said to his staff, “The High Wizard needed a potion. How do I heal him without one?” “Makhabesh’s injuries were much worse, and by then, the Source was already weakened. Your will is strong enough now.” Quin concentrated on Essri, remembering his grin and his lisp, forming a vision of Essri whole. “Heal!”
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Essri opened his eyes to Quin and Makhabesh staring down at him. “Did it work?” he asked. Quin nodded and lowered his staff. Makhabesh pushed it away. “He tried to kill you!” “I did not! Essri was supposed to be with you emptying vials.” “You should pay better attention!” While they argued, Essri slithered over to Viscount E and said, “Could you make them thtop?” Viscount E stared a moment, then commanded, “Stop!” Essri grinned at the sight of Quin and Makhabesh, frozen with their mouths open. “Thtop fighting! I’m fine. Let’th get out of here.”
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Essri waited for his words to sink in, then asked the Viscount to release his spell. When Quin and Makhabesh were freed, Essri continued, “It’th not Quin’th fault.” Makhabesh snarled, looked thoughtful, then growled. “You’re right! It’s yours! Are you crazy? You could have been killed! You knew Quin was going to use his sword and I told you it was Marsell--” Essri grinned. “Quit grinning! It’s not funny.” “I love you too, Big Buddy. Now, let’th get out of here. Thith plathe giveth me the creepth.” After a moment, he glanced at Viscount E and added, “No offenthe.”