Chapter 276 - The Lich Queen's Curse

Particularly long chapter today. Took me a little extra time to get it finished but it's about 50% longer than usual.

Hump left the temple quickly, wanting to go and see Nishari before he left with the others to Estora. Only, things never quite worked out how he wanted.

“You must come to me, and quickly,” Owalyn said. “I have something I must give you.”

Even in his own head he felt compelled to obey her. A sensation he continued to resist. Coming to a stop, Celaine looked at him curiously.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“I need to go to the Great Tree. Owalyn has something for me.”

Celaine frowned at that. “We’ll wait for you.”

Hump nodded. “Say goodbye to Nisha for me.”

He turned around, passing Finnian who was busy prepping Aurora for the battle that would surely come. A battle Hump might not return from. He clenched his fist, furious that he couldn’t even say goodbye to Nisha in person. The reality of what he’d just been signed up for hit him like a sack of bricks. They were not just going to war against the undead, they were flying into the lich’s stronghold. If Owalyn’s confidence in finding Irila’s phylactery was misplaced, there was likely no coming back from this. Either they destroyed it, or they perished.

And what was the point? Drakalyn was not Hump’s home, and while he cared for its people, this was far from his problem.

The clearing around the base of the Great Tree was empty when Hump arrived. He walked over the grass circle around it and came to stand before the giant root system at the bottom of the trunk, staring up at the canopy above. The leaves flickered with the light of the temple flame.

Owalyn’s spectral figure appeared before him, so faint, he could see through her. She stared down at him from atop a twisted root. The warm and comforting aura of the Mother radiated from her.

“I could sense your discontent even if I had not been in your mind,” she said softly. “You are displeased.”

“Infiltrating the heart of a lich queen’s stronghold is hardly my idea of a fun outing. Not to mention that I’m doing this for free.”

Owalyn tilted her head curiously. “Excuse me?”

“I’m a hedge wizard,” Hump explained. “Usually, I get paid for this kind of work.”

“You want… gold? You shall have it.”

“Right now, I just want myself and Celaine to return safely,” Hump said. “Can you do that?”

Owalyn’s face became saddened and slowly she shook her head. “I can make no such guarantee. What I can offer you is this.”

She held up a ghostly hand, her fingers flexed and pointed at Hump. A branch bent down from above, then a long, spindly twig grew from it. Something dangled from its end, brimming with essence so thick that Hump could sense it at a glance.

“This is a seed of the Great Tree. I have imbued it with the power to enhance your Spirit Sight and detect the lich’s power. Go where it is thickest, and you will find her phylactery.”

Hump took it from the branch—a necklace formed from intricately woven fibres with a rich brown acorn-like seed bound within, shining with a glint of silver light.

“Why me?” Hump asked. “Elder Ashera possesses the Spirit Sight. Surely, she can locate the lich too?”

Owalyn smiled. “Yes. A second seed has been given to her too.”

“I see,” Hump said, realising her intentions. “You don’t want to put all of your eggs in one basket. Makes sense.”

“That does not make you expendable,” Owalyn said, as if reading his mind. “You may not be my Chosen, but you have already been of great service to Drakalyn. While you do not want my blessing, I shall grant you something else. It will not guarantee your safety, it is my hope that it will be useful to you.”

Suddenly, she was descending upon him. She touched his forehead before he could react and power surged through him, warm and invigorating. It pierced Hump’s core. For a moment, everything became white. Then he sensed the deep, ebbing power of the ground, and of the world around him more clearly than ever.

Hump stared at Owalyn with wide eyes as his vision returned to him. “What did you do?”

“I have imparted upon you an affinity with nature,” Owalyn said. “Now where the wind blows and the forest grows, you will find strength. Do with it what you will.”

This wasn’t simply an affinity with nature—he felt connected to the world. He sensed the flow of essence through the ground at his feet, in the Great Tree and the forest beyond it, even in the air. Reaching for it, it came to him like a warm breeze. There wasn’t much of it, but there was a reenergising quality to it that made him feel refreshed, like a lesser version of Dylan’s Nature’s Spring.

There would be time to figure out exactly what it meant later. For now, he nodded a bow toward Owalyn. “My thanks, Lady Owalyn.”

“As for today, I wish you luck. I shall ensure an appropriate award awaits you upon your return.”

She said the words as if the boon was not already award enough. A smile spread across her face. Her body faded quickly, vanishing in seconds until Hump stood alone before the Great Tree. The presence he’d sensed in his soul and mind was gone too. There was nothing left for him now but to return to the temple. A trip to Estora awaited him.

Just as he was leaving, he felt a familiar shake at his hip and caught a glimpse of power shimmering within the Book of Infinite Pages.

It didn’t, Hump thought.

Tentatively, he opened the spellbook. Lines of shining essence sprawled over the page, forming runes he did not recognise. The diagram below, however, couldn’t be anything but the arrangement of stones and the goat from Owalyn’s spell.

SPELLBOOK
Soul Bound

Unknown | Chant | Nature | Unknown

Description

Connect the essence of one being to another, redirecting the effects to the target.

This was the spell of a god. How… how was it able to decipher it? He closed it quickly, not wanting Owalyn or anyone else to see what he’d just recorded. The runes must correlate to the words Owalyn had told him to chant. He couldn’t read them, but perhaps he’d be able to decipher them and remember the words later. For now, he had a mission that could not wait.

Hump sensed her presence before he rounded the corner. Nishari was there along with Myra and Celaine’s parents. The little dragon raced over to him, leaping into his arms. He caught her, grunting at the impact even with his dragon blooded strength, laughing as she tried clamber further up his body and lick his face. After her initial excitement faded, he put her back onto the ground where she hugged against his legs.

Looking up at the others, he spotted Celaine watching them with a smile.

“I thought you’d like to see Nisha off in person,” she said.

Hump grinned back at her. “You’re the best.”

“Don’t you forget it.”

He turned back to Nisha, kneeling and meeting her eye as she watched him expectantly.

“You did so well today, Nisha,” Hump said. “So well! We couldn’t have spotted the fake dragon without you.”

He did his best to convey his compliments and gratitude through their bond, sending her images of Winston. A wave of recognition bounced back along with fear. It seemed Nisha remembered the shapeshifter’s hunger well.

“He is dealt with now,” Hump said. “He won’t ever hurt you.”

He ran his fingers along her back, trailing the spikes of her spine as she rubbed her head against his cheek.

Hump drew a deep breath, then stood. As he turned back to Celaine, there was a sadness to her eyes. It was then that he noticed the redness to Myra’s eyes. She’d been crying. Caught up in his business with Owalyn and the upcoming battle, the loss of the dragon eggs had been an afterthought.

“I’m sorry we didn’t get to the nest sooner,” Hump said to the two girls. “And about Janeen. I only knew her for a short while, but she was a good woman. I could see how much heart she had every time she interacted with Nisha.”

Myra sighed. “Just imagining what would have happened if you hadn’t arrived when you did is enough to make my heart stop. There shall be a time to mourn, Hump, but now isn’t it.”

“Now is the time for vengeance,” Celaine snarled.

At the edge of the temple plateau, Aurora stood atop a square stone pillar. A strange hammock-looking thing lay on the floor before her with long traps on either side. Before Hump could think on them further, a roar came from above. He looked up at the temple landing to see Itris with her head turned up at the sky as she bellowed, Yunillia on her back. Aurora joined the roar, and then Nisha. It made Hump’s heard pound.

Finished, Itris leapt from the landing and glided down, landing on a pillar beside Aurora with far more grace than any creature that size should have. Another hammock was placed on the ground before her, dragged into place by temple staff with practiced efficiency. Yunillia leapt from Itris’ back and joined Finnian and the other Chosen that had been selected for this mission. To no surprise, Elder Ashera was amongst them, called back from command of the defence.

The group looked all business as they no doubt discussed the plan going forward. It seemed unlikely Hump would have much say in the plan, however, there was one thing he wanted addressed before they left. Something that had been plaguing his mind for over a month.

“Shall we go and see what they’re talking about?” Hump asked Celaine.

Her eyes narrowed. “Why do you look like you’re about to cause trouble?”

“No trouble. I just have a question to ask Yunillia before we leave.”

Celaine sighed. “I suppose it’s better to ask now than when Keeper Yunillia can simply drop you for annoying her.”

It dawned on Hump what the hammocks were for. “Don’t tell me they’re going to fly us in those things.”

“How did you expect to be transported?” Celaine asked. “There’s not much space on their backs. Or did you expect them to carry you in their claws?”

“I… don’t know.” His chest suddenly felt tight. Ever since he’d experienced the vision of Nisha’s mother flying over the forest, he had craved to go again. Dangling in some cloth bag, however, was not what he had in mind.

“Come on,” Celaine said. “Didn’t you have something to say?”

“Right.”

Together, they joined the rest of the group. For once, attention turned toward Hump as soon as he arrived. He didn’t recognise any of the four additional Chosen gathered there, but from the looks of them they were strong.

“What did Lady Owalyn have to say?” Yunillia asked.

“She gave me a seed of the Great Tree. Apparently, it will enhance my Spirit Sight in a way to locate Irila’s power.”

“There is nothing apparent about it,” Elder Ashera said. “An artifact from Lady Owalyn will work, I assure you of that.”

“Do we even need the wizard with Elder Ashera with us?” Finnian asked. “The space can be better used to bring another Chosen with us.”

“No,” Ashera said. “If I fall, you will need Wizard Humphrey to guide you. Clearly that is what Lady Owalyn intended by giving him the seed, and we shall trust her judgement.”

“Indeed,” Yunillia said. “The nine of us will be going. Varesha, Glys, Nascal, and Lia, meet Wizard Humphrey.”

She gestured to each of them as she spoke: Veresha, a tall, broad woman with a longbow on her back; Glys, a warrior shaman, and Nascal and Lia, who both fought with sword and shield. It was a good combination for such a mission, but once more Hump was reminded that only nine of them and the two dragons would be going to Estora. They would need to meet up with Ado and the other keepers, then somehow find their way to the lich’s lair.

It sounded impossible, but this was the most elite force Hump had ever been apart of. Other than Celaine, not one of them was below the fourth Circle. And then there was Yunillia, a Chosen of the seventh circle. She alone was powerful enough to face an army. They’d managed to foil a god’s plan in Sheercliff City with less, how hard could a lich queen be?

“Before we go, there’s something I must ask you, Keeper Yunillia,” Hump said.

She turned to him. “Ask.”

“I’m not sure if this has been discussed already, but what effect does the lich’s curse have on you? I believe we should all be informed.”

“There is no need to concern yourself,” Yunillia said quickly. “Ashera is informed, and she is enough. I will be fine.”

Hump frowned at her quick dismissal, but there was no running away from this matter. If they wanted him to be a part of this, then she’d answer his question.

“This is effectively a one-way mission, isn’t it?” Hump said. “We either succeed and live, or fail and die. I mean no disrespect, but you’re a potential danger to all of us. I need to know what to expect from you before walking into this. That’s my condition for coming.”

Finnian scowled. “No need to make excuses, Wizard. If you don’t want to come, nobody will force you. There are many that would take your place in a heartbeat.”

“Enough of that, Finn,” Yunnilia snapped. “I’m not sure what your issues are with Wizard Humphrey, but you will set them aside for today.” Her gaze returned to Hump. “After all, he has a point… The curse is a mark on my soul. It has wormed its way into my circles, forming a web of Irila’s power, corrupting my blessings and seeking to manipulate me.”

That sounded a lot like the dragon imprint previously on Hump’s soul, only far more sinister. “Does she have influence over you?”

“Only if my will falters, which it shall not. Over the last month I have removed much of her intrusion. What remains is a whisper.”

“I would not permit her to come if I thought she was too dangerous,” Ashera said. “We cannot do this without her. So have faith, Wizard. The children of Owalyn are not so easily bent.”

“Perhaps not, but we should be prepared in the event of serious injury or other distractions,” hump said. “For example, if Itris is killed, Irila may be able to use that moment to overwhelm Keeper Yunillia’s will.”

“What are you saying?” Finnian shouted. “This is our First Keeper! Show some respect.”

“I know what it’s like to have another power tugging at your soul,” Hump said, unperturbed by Finnian’s outburst. “I know how easily one can lose themselves to it, especially when the situation is dire. We must be prepared for if Keeper Yunillia is disabled or turns against us, just as my party was ready to take action against me. Being overconfident in her abilities is not a sign of trust. It’s arrogance.”

“Perhaps my wisdom is already clouded for not suggesting such precautions sooner,” Yunillia said, her brow furrowed. “Ashera, you are to take command in my place if something does go wrong. I will keep you all informed if I feel Irila’s influence strengthening. And if the worst comes to pass… do not hesitate to take me down too.” She faced her dragon who waited patiently atop one of the pillars. “I will speak with Itris and try to make her understand. Is that satisfactory?”

“It is,” Hump said. “I’m sorry if I affected morale, but I thought it important that we are all on the same page for this matter.”

Yunillia nodded. “It is. If we cannot trust each other, this mission was doomed before it began. Now unless there are more questions, let us return to the plan.”

The plan was loose at best. Nine of them would be going, Ashera and two of the chosen would fly with Aurora and Finnian, while Hump, Celaine, and the other two would fly with Yunillia and Itris. They were to fly to Estora and link up with the other keepers if they could. At that point, together they would launch an attack on the palace, securing the building before proceeding deeper into the tunnels below. Hump supposed the simplicity of the plan had its benefits—they could adapt.

There was nothing left to do but say their goodbyes.

Nisha hadn’t left his side. He knelt down and she placed her head against his chest. Worry, sadness, and fear filled his bond, but she was surprisingly resilient. An image appeared in his mind of her moving through a forest, the thrill of the hunt in her. She looked at him, purple eyes brimming with essence.

Good hunt. The thrill grew stronger. She radiated focus like he had never felt from her before.

Hump grinned, amazed at how much she’d grown already. “I’ll be back soon, little one.”

For once, Hump did his best to discard his logic as he prepared to mount up. He followed Celaine’s lead, standing at the base of one of the pillars where he packaged his staff away in a bag attached to the hammock-sling. After that, he was directed to lie down on his front. He slotted his feet through straps, then grabbed two handles. Celaine lay beside him doing the same, while Varesha and Glys were on his other side.

The stone floor was hard, even through the cloth. Hump tried to control his breathing, suddenly very nervous. The temple staff used poles to lift the straps up for Itris, who grabbed them with her two front claws. All that would be between them and a fall that even Celaine would not survive.

“Is everyone ready?” Yunillia asked.

They gave their affirmations.

Then with a flap of her wings, Itris took off. Wind pounded Hump as she beat at the air. The slack of the hammock was gone, and then they were flying.

Hump sucked in a breath. He fought not to scream as his stomach tumbled and the ground slipped away from him. In seconds, they were above the houses of Drakalyn, then even higher than the temple. People became distant lines upon the ground. For a moment, he forgot the mission and stared, enjoying the exhilaration and the wind in his face.

It was less than a minute when they reached the threshold of the village and the shadow of Irila’s power became all he could see. It coated the forest, and loomed in the distance, blotting out the sky with dark clows. Beyond even them was the vortex of power that rose from Estora.

That was where they were going. From up above, it truly didn’t seem so far away. Out there, Ado and the other keepers might already be in battle.

Hump wondered if Irila suspected they were coming. Was she ready and waiting for them with a new body, prepared to take them out in one fell sweep? Or perhaps, for the first time, they’d gotten ahead of her.

“Do you hear that?” Celaine shouted over the wind, excitement in her voice.

“What?” Hump asked.

She beamed. “Drums!”

That’s when Hump realised the beating in his chest wasn’t just his pounding heart—it was Owalyn, sending them on their way with a spark of her power. He clenched his fist, gripping the cloth handle tightly.

“We’re going to make it back, Celaine,” Hump said. “We’ll kill this damn lich and live to tell the tale.”

Celaine smiled at him. “Of course. It’s just one monster. How hard could it be?”