Delver Magic: Book 06 - Pure Choice (28 page)

"Haven stated she sensed no
spell of persuasion. She believes Scheff made the decision to stay on his
own."

"This doesn't seem
right," the delver exclaimed.

"I agree," Jure added.
"I wasn't happy we let Ansas go, but what can we do with the elf? Tie him
up and throw him through the portal? I don't think any of this is good
news."

Holli stared off at the departing
sorcerer with a new elf accomplice in tow. Jure was correct in many aspects.
None of what happened boded well for anyone, least of all for an elf gifted
with powerful magic over storms who joined with a sorcerer skilled in ebony
energy. Unfortunately, there was little they could do. Was she willing to
attempt to abduct Scheff and save him from himself? Not at that moment, not
while others remained in harms way.

"Let us all leave this place.
I will discuss this with Enin."

Jure sought out Holli among the
elves massed together in Dark Spruce
Forest. He had just finished
casting a teleportation spell that sent the delver back to Burbon. He had done
so away from the other elves so as not to cause any confusion or even alarm.

The elves were quite used to magic,
but a human wizard capable of casting white magic in a perfect circle was
certainly uncommon in Uton. Holli did not wish for Jure to raise any additional
attention. Hoping to avoid any comparisons to Ansas, she advised him to cast
his spell away from the elf camp.

Most of the elves had gathered in
a central clearing while Birk Grund directed the guard to secure a local
perimeter. Those that lingered in the open spaces appeared more tired than
anxious as they waited for orders from the council. They only wished to return
to their normal activities; to return to the forest, collect food, and rest.
They had been removed from their home for far too long and few were able to
sleep during their confinement in the dark realm.

Unfortunately, normalcy and rest
would have to wait until the immediate area was cleared of threats. It didn't
take long for dark creatures to move into the region after Ansas abducted every
member of the elf faction. Goblins rushed into the region like ants onto a
picnic blanket filled with crumbs, and it would take a substantial effort to
coax the monsters back to a safe distance.

Jure found Holli conferring with
Birk. Not wishing to interrupt, he waited respectfully off to the side as the
two elves discussed the dangers surrounding the campsite.

"There are many
creatures," Holli advised, "so many, in fact, I cannot obtain a clear
picture of the full number. They are not within range of our bows, but they are
close enough to warrant concern."

"Not a surprise," Birk
noted. "Quite a few of our stocks were raided. Goblins do not miss an
opportunity."

"I definitely sense goblins
scattered nearby," Holli confirmed, "Mostly to the south and west,
and also a river rogue near the stream between them. Beyond them, it is a haze.
There are just too many to isolate. To the northeast, I know there is at least
one shag, maybe more."

"I have spotters in the trees
working on identification," Birk replied. "We are aware of the shag.
It has been here for some time. It causes us no harm and helps to keep the goblins
away. I also know of the rogue. Its arrival is new and not welcome. I have
already dispatched a patrol to convince it to abandon this area. You are
certain there are a large number of goblins surrounding it?"

Holli nodded.

The captain reconsidered his
tactics as he incorporated the additional information. With quick deliberation,
he decided to alter his plans.

"The rogue probably has its
appetite set on those goblins," Birk acknowledged. "If they leave, the
rogue might be more willing to move downstream. Give me a moment to redirect
the guard to put a priority on the goblins."

As the captain of the elf guard
turned to give new orders to a messenger, Jure took the opportunity to update
Holli on his activities.

"Ryson has returned to Burbon
safely," the wizard advised. "He seemed eager to get back. What do
you want me to do to help here?"

"It is not my place to
say," Holli replied. "This is no longer my camp. Birk Grund is in
charge of securing the area. I have been assisting him as he requests. For now,
I would suggest that we both wait and see if he requires additional aid."

Jure accepted the suggestion
without debate. He was certainly willing to assist the elves, but he wouldn't
force his help upon those that didn't request it. He also wouldn't pretend to
understand the intricacies of an elf camp. Any conclusions he might draw would
be nothing more than foolish conjecture.

His discipline and dedication
brought him more than just the ability to cast potent spells in each hue, it
reaffirmed his belief that everyone had a calling, a place in the land. He recognized
he was never the most gifted when it came to intelligence, but he also believed
he didn't have to be born smart to act smart. If knowledge was the derivative
of focused study, wisdom was the windfall of contemplative experience. And his
experiences continued to remind him that there was a reason for his talents, a
higher purpose that he should never ignore.

In that regard, he was not yet
sure why he was there, in Dark Spruce, but he believed the answer would
eventually become clear. While he would always work to improve his abilities,
he would also allow room for providence to guide his decisions and actions. He
would not try to force his own desires on the path set before him.

With such considerations tempering
his actions, he waited patiently beside Holli as he reflected on the totality
of his circumstances. In that moment of quiet contemplation, he was hit by the
staggering complexity of his life and the way he waded into it without so much
as a blink of surprise. With but one look around, he appreciated the richness
of those very same circumstances. There he was, standing among elves.

Elves!

He was in an elf camp, and yet it
was so simple he would have never guessed the importance of the site. There
were clearings, a few simple shelters, and paths to the trees, but that was it.
If he stumbled upon the area when the elves were absent, he would have assumed
it was nothing more than an abandoned loggers' camp.

But even as he acknowledged it was
so much more, he found himself almost discounting the significance of its
presence. That was a mistake, one he decided to correct.

He was a human standing in the
forest waiting for instructions from a captain of the elf guard. It was not
something many humans would ever experience. He watched the progression of elf
movements both in the trees and around the nearby clearing with a newfound
appreciation for what he could see and learn.

And it didn't end there. Goblins
were in the woods.

Goblins!

When did the land turn so twisted
that he would treat such a revelation with casual acceptance? Goblins and
elves, wizards and magic; his life had become a most interesting adventure. He
wasn't a young man, but he wasn't so old that the thought of such things left
him yearning for days past. His back might have ached a little more and his
knees creaked a little louder, but how could he not be amazed at the spectacles
around him or at what he had become?

While Jure reflected upon the
fascinating events surrounding the elf camp, Birk returned to take council with
Holli.

"Scouts in the trees have
located several goblin packs in the area. Guards have been dispatched to deal
with them first. The rogue is being watched. I believe that it is best to avoid
direct conflict with the creature. Many in the camp are tired and we need to
secure the immediate area as quickly and peacefully as possible. With your
ability to sense dark creatures, I hope you can remain here for a while to
ensure we do not miss any threats."

"I will be happy to
help."

"Is there anything I can
do?" Jure offered.

Birk quickly regarded the human
wizard. He was aware of Jure's ability to cast white magic and in a perfect
circle—he had seen Jure cast spells in the dark realm as well as the
teleportation spell that sent Ryson back to Burbon—but the elf captain was
unsure of the human's full capabilities. Wary of unknown costs, he did not wish
to set the wizard loose to help clear the campsite, even though it might have
been the most efficient way to remove the bevy of dark creatures roaming the
forest.

Still, Jure was a potent asset and
there remained a menace which the elf captain could not ignore. Though the
elves were released from the dark realm, Birk would not believe the threat of
Ansas had been completely removed.

"I am concerned about the
sorcerer," the elf captain admitted. "There are things we can do to
protect our camp, but I believe he has the power to offset any defenses we can
muster."

"You believe Ansas might
recapture the camp?" Holli wondered aloud.

"It is a possibility I should
not dismiss. He did it once. He may well do it again."

"I believe he obtained what
he needed," Holli revealed. "I do not see a reason for a second
abduction. I also do not believe Ansas would waste his energy unless he could profit
from the endeavor."

"That might be, but I would
feel better if I knew more about how he was able to accomplish the task in the
first place." Birk then turned back to Jure. "Can you shed some light
on this matter?"

Jure explained everything he had
learned from previously examining the camp as well as from the information
offered by the swallit that discussed the event with Ryson.

"Everything points to a very
determined effort by Ansas to take your camp—in its entirety—as bait to attract
Holli," Jure summarized. "I believe, based on Ansas' ability, that
kind of effort could be duplicated, but as Holli said, it would take an
enormous effort and I fail to see what Ansas would gain from a second
abduction."

Birk rubbed his chin as he
considered the new information.

"That makes me rest a bit
easier, but I still feel somewhat vulnerable."

The elf captain grimaced as he
looked about the camp. The elves remained grouped together, safe for the moment
from predators in the forest, but not from the onslaught of some magical
assault from a distant realm. As they stood in one large mass, they seemed so
exposed to the sorcerer's power. His gaze fell back upon Jure as he made one
last request.

"If you would, please examine
the entire camp once more. Let me know if there is anything that might assist
us in avoiding another abduction or if there is something I have overlooked
that might leave us susceptible to any magical attack."

Jure looked first to Holli to
ensure his acceptance would meet her approval. When she gave him a slight nod,
he offered his service without exception.

"I'll do everything I
can."

"I will remain here,"
Holli added. "Even now, I can sense most of the goblins leaving the
vicinity. Once I am certain this area is clear, I will move with the outer guards
to locate additional creatures."

"That would be most
helpful," Birk affirmed. "Let me know if either of you need
anything."

"Just let everyone know what
I'm doing," Jure requested. "I don't want to make anyone
uncomfortable."

"Done."

Jure turned to his appointed task
with renewed attention on the underlying aspects of the abduction. He knew how
the elves were seized. Despite being spread out across their camp and in the
trees, they were plucked from the land in one single wave of instantaneous
teleportation. Ansas completed this task from an entirely different realm, so
he must have been able to create some anchor point within the elf camp.
Achieving such a result was a staggering display of concentration and control.

Creating the anchor would have
been the easiest challenge. Opening a portal in the center of the elf camp
would have allowed for an immediate point of reference to all the elves in the
area. The difficulty would have been teleporting the elves the moment the
portal was created. There could not have been even a moment's delay, or the
elves would have been forewarned of the assault.

While Jure considered the attention
necessary to complete such an objective, he wondered if he could duplicate the
spell. Opening the portal would be child's play. Even teleporting a massive
number of elves into the portal would be within his power, but it went beyond
simply a great number. It had to be every single elf. He would have to grasp
every individual simultaneously, and that was the single most challenging issue.

Jure recognized that the time of
the abduction was not necessarily a constraint. The moment was chosen by Ansas
himself. The sorcerer could have waited until the conditions were perfect. The
question was, what were the necessary conditions?

As Jure examined the camp for a
second time, he placed greater focus on the elves themselves as they were not
available during his first assessment. He found it easier to lock onto
individual elves than if he had to do something similar with humans. He
believed it had to do with the magical essence inherent in each elf. That would
have assisted Ansas, but it would still take great concentration to take hold
of so many elves at one particular moment, to place their existence in his mind
in a manner that would allow him to teleport them to a particular spot without
their cooperation.

With that thought, Jure wondered
if some of the elves might have in some way assisted in the matter. He did not
believe it was some conspiracy, but the magic could influence individuals into
making choices that they might normally avoid, and Ansas' ability over black
magic gave him particular strength in the areas of alteration.