Spirit Past (Book 8) (13 page)

"They will come back," Ansas repeated, "but not immediately. Reiculf will craft a strategy to deal with us all. When he is ready, he will strike."

Jure ignored the sorcerer's warning. He looked to Enin instead.

"What's he doing here?" the elder wizard wondered while not even attempting to hide his disdain for the sorcerer. "I thought he was taken by Baannat, that he was gone for good!"

"It seems in a world of magic," Enin explained, "no one is ever gone for good."

Birk Grund found the explanation inadequate.

"He has no right to be here!" the elf captain stated, fiercely opposed to the presence of the sorcerer. "He is an enemy to all elves."

"That was his past," Enin offered, "and if we hope to have a future, we must try to look forward."

Enin went on to explain what he had heard from Neltus, what he had witnessed in the dark lands, and what he had learned from Ansas. He didn't expect Jure or Birk to display any greater happiness than Ryson in regards to the sorcerer's return, and he was right in that prediction.

"You're not going to trust him, are you?" Jure questioned.

Enin paused to find exactly the right words. He wanted everyone to understand his view of the situation, including Ansas himself.

"Trust is a complicated word," the powerful wizard finally replied. "I do not trust him as I would trust you, or Holli, or Ryson, but I do believe he will act in a certain manner. He is here to help us defeat Reiculf, and in that regard, I think he will be an asset."

"Help us? He doesn't help anyone but himself."

"That is true," Enin admitted, "but in this case, by helping himself, he will have no choice but to help others. Baannat made the same claim.

"And that reassures you?" Jure asked with obvious surprise. "Because Baannat told you so?"

"Actually, yes. That is a very large part of it. I trust Baannat even less than I trust Ansas, but I also understand the slink ghoul. If the daokiln can reach beyond Demonspawn, then Reiculf is a threat to all realms... including a realm of nonexistence. Baannat would not have released Ansas into our care unless it was a benefit to him. Defeating Reiculf is the only thing that matters."

Jure was not so sure. He could not argue that Ansas' black energy was indeed powerful, perhaps even enough to turn the tide of battle against Reiculf himself, but he remained cautious about the intentions of the sorcerer... and the slink ghoul.

"So what do we do now?" Jure asked.

"We let Ansas formulate our strategy," Enin replied.

"You can't be serious?" Jure responded.

"What?" Ryson echoed. "Ansas?"

"Didn't you hear what I just said?" Enin questioned, becoming slightly annoyed with the constant resistance he faced.

"I heard it," the delver answered, "but there's a big difference between using him against Reiculf and putting him in charge."

"Absolutely!" Jure agreed.

Holli almost spoke out against the idea as well, but she held off on any response... for two important reasons.

The first dealt with her loyalty to Enin. She did not believe it was her place to side with those disagreeing with her mentor. As Enin's guard, faithfulness remained as important as watchfulness. She would not pile her objections upon the outcries of others, especially when she had not yet heard Enin's reasoning. She would render an opinion if asked or if Enin's welfare was in jeopardy, but she would not join in a chorus of dissent.

The second reason dealt with Ansas himself. Enin was right regarding trust. It was a complicated concept. She did not trust Ansas in any fashion, but she did not necessarily believe it was wise to reveal such suspicions. At times, it was better to remain silent... and vigilant.

Despite the bitter opposition, Enin defended his position.

"I did not say I would be placing him in charge—not fully anyway. I only said we need to let Ansas formulate our strategy. He is not directly linked to Reiculf, but his magic is being utilized by the daokiln. He is in the unique position of being able to sense the demon master's plans. Are you forgetting that he directed us here? He is the one who said Shantree was in danger."

With such a revelation, Birk Grund could not remain silent.

"He was aware we would be attacked? How did he come about such knowledge?!"

Initially, Ansas ignored the elf captain's question. The sorcerer simply stared at the elf commander as if Birk was nothing more than a petulant child crying for more sweets. He had no intention of bending to the will of others, but there was one among them he could not simply refuse, at least not at that moment.

"Answer him," Enin nudged the sorcerer.

Ansas glared at the wizard briefly, but then spoke out. He addressed them all, intent on making it clear he was revealing his knowledge in a general manner as opposed to submitting to Birk's demands.

"You are now all aware Reiculf is in possession of my notes. He shares my understanding of ebony magic and its powers of alteration. He is also aware of the process I used to share portions of my magical core, though he has altered the process in a way I never would. He is barred from leaving Demonspawn, but he can now reach beyond the barriers by mixing his essence with those who have made certain decisions... those who have chosen to accept the magical energies of another. "

"And what does any of this have to do with our camp elder?" Birk asked impatiently.

Ansas leered at the elf captain.

"Are you that dense?" the sorcerer questioned while suppressing the urge to brush the elf aside with a blast of his ebony magic.

"No, I am not," Birk defended himself. "I can understand why it involves Scheff. You are implying his past mistakes made him vulnerable to Reiculf."

"Then why must I explain further?"

"Because it appears you warned Enin that Shantree was in danger. Why was she singled out? Other than her status as the elder of the council, she has no connection to Scheff."

"Indeed, you have a limited memory."

"Then enlighten me!"

"Explain it, Ansas," Enin ordered.

"Very well. Your camp elder is just as vulnerable as was Scheff. She was singled out because she made a similar choice in accepting my magical essence, and now Reiculf wants to take her as well."

Shantree would not let the accusation stand.

"Your analysis is both inaccurate and insulting," the elf elder admonished the sorcerer. "I made no such choice. I never accepted your magic, never became one of your followers hoping to become something more than I was ever meant to be."

"You may not have been one of my followers, but your memory is as limited as your captain's if you are suggesting you did not accept my magic."

"My memory in that regard is flawless. I recall how you captured our entire camp and held us captive in the dark realm."

"Then you should also recall how you chose to accept my magic during that time, or have you forgotten?"

"I could never forget such a heinous crime! I made no choice! I did not ask for the magic you placed within me... left as a mark upon me as some kind of trophy for your victory."

"Don't be so naive. You allowed it to happen. I couldn't have done it otherwise."

"I allowed nothing! You forced your magic into me!"

"Nonsense."

Ansas almost turned away, believing further argument was no longer worth his time. He had more important matters to address, a war to win, but as he looked upon the faces of the soldiers he would need to utilize, he realized they doubted him as well. If he was going to be victorious, he needed to convince them. He sighed, but then offered an explanation despite his frustration.

"You were concerned about your camp," the sorcerer reminded the elder. "You worried that I would destroy all the elves. You would have done anything to protect them. You may not have asked for, or even wanted the magic I gave you, but you used it. That was
your
choice. We can debate how it was used or the innocence of your intentions until Reiculf returns to take you, but that will not change the circumstances you face."

"And could you please specify those circumstances to all those concerned?" Enin requested.

"Reiculf deals in the past... the decisions we made and the paths we chose. The elf elder chose to utilize the power I placed within her. At that moment, her conscious choice opened her up to my energy. Reiculf is using the echoes of my ebony magic to gain control over certain individuals... individuals such as Macheve, Gnafil and Scheff. He mixes his malice with their magic and extends his power and influence beyond the barriers of Demonspawn."

The situation horrified Shantree, and it infuriated the captain of her guard.

"It seems we are still paying for your actions," Birk growled. He then pointed toward his camp, toward the corpses of both river rogues and elves scattered across the forest ground. "Our camp has been attacked, our elder is now in grave danger... all because of you! How long and how much must we pay for your arrogance?"

Ansas, however, would not back down from the elf's display of seething anger.

"Pay? I have paid a price you cannot fathom!"

Birk considered drawing his sword and skewering the sorcerer through his dark heart, but as a soldier he believed such rash actions could lead to disastrous consequences. He had heard what the wizard Enin had proposed. It was possible the sorcerer held importance in their fight against Reiculf. He would not, however, let certain assumptions go unquestioned.

"And you remain convinced we should listen to this sorcerer?" Birk demanded as he turned his attention from Ansas to Enin. "He is treacherous by nature. I will admit Scheff's responsibility in the recent attack against our camp, but Ansas is the one who seduced Scheff with promises of power."

"What else can we do?" Enin explained. "We are fighting Reiculf. You saw what he has done here. I know I cannot protect you all. Point me to another alternative and I will gladly listen."

"Listening to a mad sorcerer who took our entire camp hostage hardly stands as a reasonable alternative on its own merit."

"It should," Ansas argued, defending his previous actions. "It shows I understand how others will both act and react. You were unable to defend yourselves against me, and now you question my abilities?"

"I question your motives!"

"As do I," Jure added.

"So the old wizard has doubts about me as well?" Ansas battled back against all who opposed him. "Well, what does it matter? Reiculf threatens us all."

"He threatens us because of your mistakes."

"As well as the mistakes of others, as I have already pointed out. Those who are most vulnerable to the daokiln are in jeopardy because of their choices, not mine."

"You can't be serious?" Jure challenged. "You were the one who recruited Neltus and the infern, Gnafil. You're the one who convinced Scheff to join you, and you're the one who placed your magic in Shantree... forced it within her!"

"You make it sound as if I made each decision for them. Nothing could be further from the truth. You remain as narrow-minded as when I first met you."

"And time with Baannat hasn't seemed to have changed you much, either," Jure shot back. "You're just as arrogant as you were when we first fought."

"It has changed me quite a bit. You just don't know where to look."

"Why don't you help me out on that?"

"Because it's none of your concern."

"It is if you're working with Baannat."

"I assure you I am not working with Baannat... or Reiculf."

Holli finally decided to speak, and offered a way for them all to determine what course to take.

"Let the sorcerer reveal his strategy to us," she advised. "Rather than base our decisions on conjecture, we can base them on principles we can examine."

"That seems like an excellent idea," Enin agreed, hoping to get past the growing hostility, and then the wizard cast and expectant glance upon the sorcerer. "Well, Ansas?"

"Do you believe I have already designed some great strategy... that I have already determined how to fight someone like Reiculf? I'm afraid you overestimate me. What I find even more amazing is that you would actually expect me to discuss the details of any such plans here and now."

Holli stepped up to the sorcerer, undeterred by his protests.

"I do not overestimate you at all," she stated coldly, staring into Ansas' eyes and defying him to reject the basis of her assumptions. "If anything, I probably am underestimating your diabolical nature. While I do not expect you to lay out every detail of your defenses, I do believe you should reveal the general nature of your strategy. You have already come to certain conclusions about Reiculf, which also means you are able to speak rationally on methods to counter the daokiln. Everyone here has a stake in this. We all deserve the right to hear your desired approach and determine for ourselves if we should follow your advice."

Ansas nodded, congratulating the elf in her candor.