They watched several more cycles of the flare until finally Lorit called for her to run. As they entered the burned out trees Chihon saw bright orange and yellow plumage sticking up from behind a log. "Over here, I think this is it."
Lorit came running and jumped over the log. "It's trapped," Lorit said. "It must have caught its foot beneath the log when the tree fell."
Chihon rushed to help. They tried to lift the log, but it was too heavy. Chihon took out her dagger and started to dig around its foot. The Firebird was huge, with a fan shaped tail almost as large as an ostrich. It was orange and yellow and had circles that looked like eyes on its plumes. It squawked at them as they worked, but made no move to hinder or attack them.
It was no use; the log was too heavy, and the ground too hard. They were not going to make it.
"Come on, Lorit." Chihon focused her efforts and reached for Lorit's magic. She was able to lift the log ever so slightly, just enough for the bird to free its foot.
It leaned its head back and took in a deep breath. The bird stepped back, screeched once, and took another deep breath.
"Lorit. Run!" Chihon sprinted for the beach.
Lorit ran close behind her, hurdling the burned branches and tree trunks in his haste. They reached the river just as the bird gave another piercing screech. Chihon felt the heat on her back. They were too far to make it to the beach. She held her breath and dove for the pool where the river emptied on its way to the ocean. She felt Lorit strike the water at almost the same instant.
Chihon dove beneath the water just as the flames arched overhead. She flailed about, sinking for the bottom when she felt the touch of Lorit's hand on her arm. He helped her to the surface, holding tightly to her as they made their way to the shore.
"I thought you couldn't swim," Lorit said as he helped her out of the water.
"I can't, but I know you can." Chihon was sure Lorit would be there for her, so she had taken the plunge into the water. She was glad she'd been right. She gave him a thankful hug and smiled.
As they sat on the shore of the pool, the Firebird shot up from the ruins behind them. It swooped overhead and landed near them, standing on the scorched rocks. It bowed its head to them and screeched.
Chihon could feel the magic that powered its flames. It was offering her a portion of it, sharing it with her as a reward for freeing it. She reached out and accepted the power that was offered, hoping this was the last of their trials.
The dark lava shores faded from view and Chihon found herself sitting beside Lorit on the floor of the Council Chambers, where they had begun their trials.
Book of Spells
Lorit and Chihon returned to their rooms and rested until the next morning. They stood before the council table and performed the spell that would call the members and convene the meeting, and then waited impatiently for the Wizards to arrive. One by one, the members appeared. Some were prepared and properly dressed, others were not.
"Why have you returned?" Neussul demanded. "I dismissed you to your trial. Have you come to tell me you have declined them?"
"No, we've passed the trials. We were deposited here after completion of the last one."
"Have you any proof?" Neussul asked. He stood up and raised his staff.
Lorit raised his hand and drew on the magic he'd absorbed during the trials. He had access to each of the four elementals' magic, but just in case, he raised a shield to ward off anything Neussul might throw at him.
The first fireball came quickly. It was blue and sparkled brightly, like the crest of a wave. Lorit recognized the water magic in it. He drew on the nymphs' magic and turned it into nothingness. The next one had the brown color and feel of earth. It came at him like a landslide. He drew on the magic of the Dray'e and easily defeated it.
With each successive attack, Lorit drew more and more of the power he had just learned to tap, defeating every attempt with the elemental magic he had earned.
"It appears that you have learned something after all," Neussul said. "You will be granted a seat on the Wizards' Council ... as provisional members." He took his seat, looking over the other members of the Council.
"We have no further business. This meeting is adjourned." Neussul waved his hand in dismissal.
"Wait," Lorit shouted. "What about Zhimosom?"
"As provisional members, you are not entitled to petition the Council."
"Are you all going to sit there and listen to this?" Lorit looked from Wizard to Wizard. He saw guilt in some of their faces, but none of them moved or even spoke.
"We are agreed, then?" Neussul stood up. "Since there is no more business, we will meet again at the next moon phase."
"Wait." Lorit held up his hand. "There must be something. We must find Zhimosom."
Neussul stared at Lorit. Lorit could feel the magic rise in the Wizard and did his best to raise a barrier against any attack. "There is one thing you could do that might help. The Summa Purus Magicae has been lost. If you can find it and open it, I will help you find Zhimosom."
"I will find it," Lorit said.
Neussul laughed and raised his hand. He turned to mist and vanished without a word. Lorit watched as all but one of the Council members dissolved. Awbelser sat quietly in his seat. "You received my message, I see?"
"Your message?" Lorit asked.
"Yes, it was I who advised you to undertake the trials. I see that it has worked out for the best." He examined Lorit as he spoke.
"Yes, it worked out. We've not only passed the trials, we've acquired powers that I would never have hoped to possess."
"You will need them to succeed in your final quest. You must find the book and open it to free Zhimosom. It will not be an easy task."
"What do you know of Zhimosom's captor? Do you know where Zhimosom is?"
"His location is hidden. I cannot tell for sure, but Neussul has taken to carrying full shields at all times. He hides himself behind them, so that not even we can see his real intent. I suspect that he is behind this. He is a powerful Wizard, and you put yourself in grave danger when you thwart his plans. He will not allow you to upset his game."
"A game? Is this what that is, a Wizard's game?" Lorit was growing angry at the idea that this was all just some game the Wizards undertook for pleasure or as a distraction.
"A game it is, but Wizards' games are for power and dominance. They are very real and very permanent. I fear that whatever has been done to seal Zhimosom away may have caused him and Rotiaqua permanent harm."
Lorit gave Awbelser a determined look. "Where do you suggest we look for the book?"
"Start by searching the Wizard's study. He may have left you some hint."
"Do you know where Zhimosom's study is?" Lorit asked.
"No, no one does, but you've been there. Haven't you?"
"Yes, I traveled there in a vision."
"Why don't you just travel there now? Just as you have done in the past?"
"We can do that?" Chihon asked.
"Yes, you have the power and you know where it is."
Lorit turned to Chihon. "Are you ready?"
"Yes." She reached out her hand and took his. Lorit visualized the Wizard's study. He felt for the room, bringing to mind the details of the study and its contents. Before he tried to project himself there, he searched the floor for any hexagram that might have been set as a trap.
The floor looked clean. He squeezed Chihon's hand and visualized his destination once again. He concentrated and imagined that they were there. The Wizard's Council chambers faded from view, to be replaced by the familiar coziness of Zhimosom's study.
Lorit looked around the room for any signs of Zhimosom or Rotiaqua. There were none. There was a door leading out of the study. It was unlocked, so he opened it and stepped through.
"Who's there?" an old woman shouted. She dropped a pot of boiling water on the floor and raised a hand in defense.
"We are friends of Zhimosom's," Lorit said. "I am Lorit and this is Chihon."
"It took you long enough to get here," she said. She drew her shawl back to reveal a face that Lorit knew well.
"Rotiaqua!" Lorit rushed over to give her a hug and helped her sit down in a comfortable chair. She was frail and looked ancient.
"Have you had any luck?" he asked.
"No, still no luck. Last time we talked, he said he had proof that one of the Council was working with the Temple. He could feel it in the traitor's magic. Whoever it was, the Wizard was drawing on Temple magic to power his spells."
"Did he say who it was?" Lorit asked.
"He didn't say, but from what you tell me of Neussul's behavior, I'm certain it's him. Zhimosom went to confront him. He didn't believe that even with the Temple's magic at his command, someone could be strong enough to hurt him. He was wrong."
Rotiaqua looked frailer than Lorit had ever seen her. She was almost helpless without Zhimosom.
"He is weak, but still alive, Rotiaqua said.
"How do you know?" Lorit asked.
"Because I'm still alive." Rotiaqua looked at Lorit and slowly closed her eyes to rest.
"He never told you where he keeps the book?" Lorit asked.
"No, some secrets he kept, even from me."
"How can that be?" Chihon asked.
"Just you wait and see. There are some secrets you just won't want to share. You have to keep something back, and he always was a little shy around me."
"I thought you've been together for four hundred years," Chihon said.
"We have. You'd think that would be enough time to get over anything."
"Get over what?" Lorit wanted to know as much about Zhimosom as he could, as he believed it was all part of his education as a Wizard.
"A long time ago, Zhimosom was treated badly because of me." She held up her hand. "No. It wasn't something I did. It was who I was, and he's never properly gotten over it, but that's a long story for another time."
Rotiaqua patted Lorit's shoulder. "You get on and see if you can find that book."
After a long day of searching, Lorit felt that they had examined every book in the Wizard's library. They found arcane spells the likes of which they had never imagined, but the Summa Purus Magicae was nowhere to be found.
"I'm beginning to think he didn't have it," Chihon said.
"Maybe it's not in his study," Lorit said.
"You two ready for dinner?" Rotiaqua called. "I'm just about done cooking. You want it in here or out on the porch?"
"We'll have it outside," Lorit said. They had been so intent on their search, that they had not even looked outdoors. They still had no idea where Zhimosom lived. Maybe the outside of the house would yield some clues.
They followed her outside and onto the porch, where a small table was set. It was flanked by comfortable chairs. Beyond the split log railing of the porch was a short grassy slope that ran down to the shores of a crystal clear lake. The setting sun made an umber track on the water where the lake disappeared between the far off snow-capped mountain peaks.
The mountains with their rugged terrain were mirrored in the glassy surface of the water. Lorit could hear eagles cry off in the distance. All around the residence, the deep thick underbrush licked at the tall redwoods that towered over them.
Rotiaqua pulled up her own chair and sat quietly, watching the sunset.
"This is a beautiful view," Chihon said.
"Sure is," Rotiaqua said. "Zhimosom sits out here and thinks almost as often as he does in his musty old study. Some days he just stares off at that lake."
"Do you know where his Sorcerer's stone is?" Lorit asked.
"Over on that rock ledge. He sometimes spends the whole afternoon just sitting on his Sorcerer's stone, his hands folded in his lap. Likely as not he's just sleeping, soaking in the power."
"Is there a trail that leads there?"
"Right over there." Rotiaqua pointed out a well worn path that led off into the woods. "Follow that path; it will lead you straight to it."
They slept on the floor in the study and rose early to search the rock in the early morning. Rotiaqua helped in the kitchen. Lorit was eager to find the book and get back to the Council. He couldn’t wait to find Zhimosom's stone and see if it would lead them to the book.
"Come with us?" Lorit asked Rotiaqua. "You may see something we miss."
"No, this task is yours. I'm tired. I'll just wait for you here."
The path was clear and well used, winding around the forest until it dropped them at the rock ledge that extended over the water. The stone itself bore a path as if worn into it by years of repeated use.
Lorit and Chihon sat on the rock, looking out over the lake as the early morning sun lit the mountains, painting a deep red splash on the pure white of the snow caps. It was refreshing and recharged their power quickly.
Lorit heard a deep slow moaning coming from beneath them as they relaxed.
"You hear that?" Lorit asked.
"It almost sounds like the mountain's breathing."
"Caves!" they both said in unison.
"Maybe Zhimosom hid the book in a cave near here." They jumped up and searched around for evidence or any indication that there was a cave nearby.
Chihon called to him from a path below the rock. "Lorit. There's an opening here."
The mouth of the cave was well hidden, but accessible. Lorit ducked his head as he entered the low opening. The cave was dry and clean, almost as if someone had swept it clean just that morning.
Chihon ducked her head and followed him inside. As they penetrated deeper into the cliff face, the outside light faded. Lorit lifted his staff and called up a spell that would light their way.
Soon the cave widened into a large room that was decorated with crude drawings of animals and hunters. Lorit looked them over carefully. Most were rough representations of prey animals or primitive weapons, and looked to have been made by some long lost civilization.
Way off in one corner, a symbol caught his eye. It was a stylized drawing of a man holding a staff and wearing a Wizard's robes. Lorit pointed to it and laughed. "Look! A Wizard. Do you think this means we are on the right track?"