The Lost Runes Saga [Epic Fantasy]

Dousing the shadow creepers with flames killed those touched and forced back those out of the fire's reach. Some disappeared into the floor, walls, or even ceiling, but they always returned, always followed.

Once they were down the flight of stairs, Alvarn shone a kenaz rune down the tunnel they would need to traverse. More shadows. "The essence in my heartwell is almost used up," he panted. "I am not sure how much farther I can press."

"Don't act the fool," Vidar hissed, pushing his way past his larger friend. "The other option is to lay down and let the shadows take us."

"Perhaps algiz will protect us."

Vidar shook his head. "Unlikely. Their movements are not quick enough. They'll tear us to pieces."

"Or pull us into the wall," Alvarn said with a shudder.

Another burst of logiz tore through the shadows approaching in front of them, and Vidar hurried forward. "Don't lag behind!"

At least they didn't need to go far, but the junction was a tense moment as shadowed limbs reached for them from all directions. One touched Vidar and a chill ran down his spine, but then the darkness just moved right through without doing any harm. That, at least, answered the question whether algiz would protect them or not. The barrier rune would not keep them safe. Not from these adversaries.

"The other rune!" Alvarn shouted, his voice shrill and anxious.

"What?" Vidar pushed ahead. They didn't have time to stop. Not with the shadows closing in from all directions. If he wasn't mistaken, the languid creatures had quicked their pace somewhat, and were reaching with more intent and perhaps even a measure of eagerness.

"We can't leave the other rune! The one in the ritual chamber!"

Understanding dawned on Vidar as he pushed out of the corridor and into the room next to the ritual chamber. Shadows crawled on the floor, through the walls and even reached out from within the floor. Their eyeless, blank faces were all turned to Alvarn and Vidar as they surged forward. With their overwhelming numbers, it wouldn't be long before all was lost. Little time for action remained, so Vidar returned to a trick that'd saved him time and time again, and threw a triggered sowilo rune into the ritual chamber. It slowed when the wood touched shadows, but it did not stop. As it clattered to the floor, Vidar released another bout of logiz flames, this one directed to destroy a large number of shadows, but more importantly, directed to destroy the sowilo rune.

The chamber rumbled as the force of the explosion threatened to push them to the floor. Vidar's hope, that the blast would bring many shadows down with it, turned out to be fruitless. While logiz burned them, explosions didn't even touch their ethereal form. More of them crowded into the room, forcing Vidar and Alvarn back to the wall. Dragon fire scattered them but more followed.

"Ack!" Alvarn shrieked, as a shadow reached out and grabbed his ankle, pulling. To their horror, Alvarn's foot sank into the floor, and he let out a wailing, "Help!"

A small burst of fire from the logiz rune in Vidar's palm forced the shadow to let go, but it also burned Alvarn's leg, and he let out another cry. Despite the pain, Alvarn charged forward and into the tunnel that would see them both to the room with the cart. Beyond that, the outside. Freedom.

Shadows surged after them, faster than ever, reaching until Vidar's dragon fire saw them dispersed. That gave them a brief respite. The short tunnel ended and this time, there was no cart full of pale corpses waiting for them.

"My heartwell is empty!" Alvarn shouted.

Vidar pushed past. "It'll regenerate on its own now, don't worry! Let me handle the door!" Rather than even checking if the door was unlocked or not, Vidar triggered the stakra rune in the palm of his hand. The door flew off its rusted hinges with a crash and natural light flooded in.

Not hesitating for a moment, Vidar grabbed Alvarn and pushed him out and toward the pair of shocked guards outside. Spinning, he saw the shadows having stopped in the tunnel. Rather than advance or fall back, they just stood there, like they had lost their motivation. Frowning, he gave them another long look, then shrugged and stepped through the open door and into the cold, free air.

The guards just gaped and didn't even make an attempt at apprehending them when they left, walking along the building to the front of the church, where people still held out hope. Either hope that they would be allowed to enter, expecting warmth and food, or hope that the ones inside were safe and sound. Other than the wide double doors being warm to the touch, there were no signs of the fire raging within the building. Soon enough, the doors would no longer stand, and then the terrible fate of those inside would become public knowledge. This would hopefully lead to the priests being found and captured, but that was an issue for another day.

"We should go," Alvarn said, his voice hoarse and his shoulder slumped. "Still haven't talked with the thieves and rune scribes with Siv."

Halmstadt's lower city showed signs of the dragon assault. This time, however, it was not the poorest districts struggling with the most damage. The keep of Halmstadt was all but a ruin, with the top floors crushed under the weight of one massive dragon. Much of Nordstan, the wealthiest part of Vidar's home city, had suffered under the flames. They trudged down the streets, exhausted to the bone, as dragon's essence regenerated in their heartwell.

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"Where do you think the priests went?" Alvarn asked.

Vidar took a look at the design for the new rune they'd found, the one rejuvenated by using countless citizens of Halmstadt. "I don't know, but this rune has something to do with their disappearance. We need to find out what it does."

"Lytir said we should stay clear."

"Lytir says a lot of things," Vidar said. "I'll experiment a little on my journey, and you research on your end while I'm gone."

"You think that's wise?" Alvarn asked, his tone of voice telling of his thoughts on the matter.

"Which part?"

"Experimenting with unknown runes is a quick way of ending up dead in a myriad of different ways."

"I know," Vidar said with a shudder, remembering Sven's shriveled remains. "I'll be careful."

Alvarn sighed and looked like he was about to argue further on the topic, but then dropped it. "The algiz-styrka glyphs seem to have worked even better than we hoped, at least," Alvarn said, gesturing toward one such rune formation. Men and women sat around it, panting and ashen-faced.

"Aye, they worked," Vidar agreed. "But their reach is lacking, and we didn't have time to craft enough of them." They walked past a smoldering building, proving his point.

"Better than nothing," Alvarn argued. "And many left for your underground shelter."

"Don't forget to descend and close the gate to the dragon skeleton," Vidar said. "Can't have people rummaging around down there, and we don't want the steward's men finding it either, or Rend will never forgive me."

"Haven't forgotten," Alvarn said, removing his glasses as they walked to give them a much needed polishing. "Just wish you'd come with me down there. Your explanation of the gate leaves much to be desired."

Vidar shrugged. "Didn't have time to give it a thorough examination. You're better at figuring out that sort of thing, anyway."

"Must you leave?" Alvarn asked, stopping and turning to face Vidar.

"Come on now," Vidar said, refusing to stop. They walked in silence for a moment before Vidar spoke again. "If we don't broker some sort of peace with the dragons, they'll destroy us. The styrka-bolts from the ballistae didn't do a thing against that massive bastard. Rend threw down that map for a reason. He wants me to follow. Or do you have a better idea?"

"No," Alvarn grumbled.

Vidar grinned. He knew he'd make his friend see reason. "There you have it!"

"Don't know how I'm supposed to keep all of Halmstadt safe," Alvarn said.

"You have connections in the rune scribes' guild. I'm sure they'll give you a hand."

"They tortured me, Vidar."

"Fair enough," Vidar said, wincing. "But now you can heal! Your heartwell is brimming with dragon's essence. Or, well, it will be again. Soon enough."

The mention of Alvarn's heartwell made the rune scribe's eyes glitter with excitement as he touched a hand to his chest. "It's beautiful. The strength of the runes is something to see."

As they approached the building designated as the thieves' headquarters, Alvarn broke the comfortable silence they'd been walking in. "When do you leave?"

"First thing tomorrow," Vidar said, feeling around his satchel. It needed a restocking of runes after the events of the last few days. "Preparations today, journey tomorrow."

They continued past several thieves slumped around a sizeable algiz rune. It covered most of the ground in front of the buildings. Styrka runes surrounded it. On those runic symbols, each of those men contributed their essence. The triggered styrka rune pulled essence from whatever living thing touched its circle. Joining lines between styrka and algiz then funneled that essence to create a barrier that anyone could power. From the smoldering, broken houses surrounding the building, they'd found use of the styrka-algiz runic construct during the dragon attack.

"Good thing they placed one right here," Alvarn said as they stepped into the headquarters.

The stench of burning wood filled Vidar's nose, but it was another smell beneath, one that sent his stomach churning with nausea. That of meat cooking over a flame. Telling himself it was an animal made it a little easier to keep what little food he'd eaten from coming back up.

Fjodor and his few gathered men inside the building looked ragged. Some wore signs of the fires, singed clothes and hair, and even burns. All sat with slumped shoulders, sharing the quiet.

"We live to see another day!" Vidar boomed, cutting through the suffocating silence. He looked around and frowned. "Where's Ida?"

"Ida and I had a little talk," Fjodor grunted.

Vidar stopped and swallowed hard, a chill running through him. "How did it go?"

"It did not go as I had hoped, I'm afraid."

"Where is she?" Vidar asked, steel in his voice.

"In a building near your house, Vidar. She withdrew her girls after we spoke. Fearing repercussions, I'd wager. We followed them but have held back on account of you."

"Me?"

Fjodor stood and coughed into his hand. Flecks of ash broke free from his hair and floated to the floor. "You are her friend. Make her see reason. Ida's youth makes her impulsive and headstrong. Poor qualities in a guild leader. They cannot operate within Halmstadt. Not anymore. Talk her into joining my guild as a lieutenant before she forces my hand."

"I will talk with her, but she is not liable to listen to me, either."

"Make her listen," Fjodor said, eyeing his lieutenants, who still sat around. "My hands are tied in this matter."

"What of the rune scribes?" Alvarn asked, speaking for the first time since they entered the house.

Fjodor's gaze shifted, and he gave Alvarn a considering look. "What about them?"

"Have you released them?"

"No," Fjodor said. "There is still much work to be done. The dragons will return. Barriers must be erected and improved if we are going to stand a chance."

One lieutenant chuckled and looked up. "Did ye see the keep?" He slapped his hands together. "Like that! Boom! Crushed!"

Another one barked, "Bet the steward shit himself!"

"You can't keep a rune scribe against his will for long," Vidar said.

Fjodor gave him a warning look. "I know all about their capabilities and have taken the necessary precautions. I can hold any rune scribe for as long as I please."

Vidar glanced at Alvarn and saw his friend fuming. He grabbed his arm and pulled him out of the room and through the front door.

"This will not stand," Alvarn said in a hushed whisper as they left the courtyard.

"It won't," Vidar promised.

"How are we going to free them?" Alvarn asked.

Vidar set them on the path back to Runes Aplenty, their rune shop, and shook his head, looking at the ground. "The students will be with Ida and Siv, I'm sure. Together with them, you'll find a way through this."

He clenched his jaw tight, struggling not to offer to stay. His friends needed him in Halmstadt, and it was where he belonged. But this was bigger than them, bigger than himself. His task stood clear before him. Vidar had to reach the dragons and broker a peace. A series of unfortunate events and a serious lack of skill on Rend's part made for a misunderstanding for the ages. That's all this was. A misunderstanding.