Chapter 11
Immortality
by Daniel Olarnick
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The Omniscient Voice: Our Story Continues
"Want to know why you possess no name, scribe?" the Skull paused, laughing aloud, "Because it's mine! I am Odan."
"No," shouted the scribe, tears filling his eyes, his voice trembling with fear, fear of the truth being said aloud.
“No, you lie, Skull. You are but the Relic. You are created and meant to deceive. Odan the Scribe sinned. He was punished. He died. Moultrance the Scrivener records the tales of this world."
"I am here. I am Odan. You are my vessel. Come join with me."
Ebon Grupe placed his hands over his ears, trying to drown out the soundless reverberations that echoed throughout the crystalline cavern, but he could not drown out the voices that filled his mind. “The voice of the mind.” He shivered at the thought of the mental powers displayed by the crystal skull
“Behind you, Bard,” screamed the skull's words in Ebon's mind, but it was too late. Utre had struck, knocking Ebon unconscious.
“Kill you, I must,” screamed Utre, as he advanced upon the scribe and the skull. “The Priesthood Commands.”
Utre ran towards the scribe, his massive war club held high over his head.
“Run Scribe, run. Dive into the pool,” sounded the skull.
The scribe turned and ran, tucking the skull under his arm, as he dove into the Pool of Life. He had forgotten the rule the Scribal Priesthood had drilled into him, through their constant indoctrinations. Never Touch the Skull
“No,” the scribe screamed aloud, realizing his transgression, as his body disappeared beneath the steaming waters.
A single word echoed through the cavern, “Amidah!”
*
Ebon, dazed and shocked at the sudden turning of Utre, heard the word reverberating throughout the cavern. It was an ancient word, its meaning lost in time.
“Amidah!” Then its meaning formed in his mind, “Immortality!”
*
The scribe felt an enormous power enter his body, strange thoughts of another world entered his mind. He looked directly into the darkened eye-sockets of the skull, as images of a forgotten time etched themselves into his mind.
He felt himself suspended over the skull, and then, horribly, he saw the skull smile, its words entering his mind, “Thou revives the dead!”
The scribe lost consciousness as the transference occurred.
*
Utre beat his chest, pounded his war club into the ground, challenging the scribe to emerge from underneath the waters.
A howling was heard throughout the cavern.
The scribe emerged from the waters, flinging the skull directly at Utre, who instinctively raised his war club to batter it down. The club met the thrown skull squarely. A horrific sound came forth from the impact, as an unbreakable object met an equally sacred object, driving the club from the grip of Utre, to smash into the crystalline wall, its impact shattering it.
“I'll kill you with my bare hands,” screamed Utre, as he clenched and unclenched his hands, thrusting his talons out.
“Only a coward would use his claws on a mere human,” said the scribe in perfect Trollian, as the scribe opened his own fists, turning them to reveal that he bore no weapons.
“Then I will beat you to death. More pleasure for me,” said Utre, as he retracted his claws; they circled one another. “I will beat you to a pulp, make your meat tender, delicious.”
“I'll trust you to honor your word,” said the scribe, a stream of light circled Utre, as he found his hands suddenly bound in crystalline leather-like gloves.
Utre stared down at his claws, unable to retract his talons, as they became magically bound.
“Bastard human,” shouted Utre, realizing his fists were bound by a power he did not understand. However, he banged his fists together, feeling his power beneath the leather-bound claws, knowing that he would be able to destroy the scribe with his power.
*
(The Omniscient Voice: Our Story Continues.)
From the Scrolls of Ebon Grupe:
My consciousness returned. No longer was I trapped within the flooding waters of the crystalline cavern. My head throbbed, my memories blurred, yet I clearly remember Utre sweeping me in his arms, picking me off the floor, and joining the scribe, as he jumped into the flooding waters of the crystalline cavern.
How long had we been in the cavern? There was no way of knowing. It could have been days on end. Yet my memory of what occurred is very much intact – at least, I think so.
Somehow the scribe had managed to get into the crystalline cavern well before us. By the time we forced our way through the magical barrier, we spied the scribe talking aloud to a skull. We approached him. He turned on us, and flung the skull towards Utre. Utre responded instinctively by batting the skull down – or so he thought – and then the flood came – yes, the mongrel had dug up two or three precious stones from the bed of an ancient pool – and then the flood came – we were being sucked under – Utre saved me. The scribe saved the mongrel – the mongrel held the skull within its mouth – and we were propelled to the surface. Yes, that is what happened, I'm sure of it.
We are on an old road. A favorite expression comes to mind from my dragon slaying days: “All roads lead to Talos Valley.”
*
We entered Talos Valley through a sealed barrier. The mongrel, who seems to be growing healthier and stronger each passing day – did I mention bigger? found the sealing stone, and together the six of us entered the world of Talos Valley. Six? Did I say “six?” Odd, there are only four of us – perhaps I have not fully recovered from the chaos of the crystalline cavern.
We cross over the barrier. The sight will be etched in my mind forever.
We enter through a cave hidden behind a golden mist of a mountain waterfall. I hold my hand out to capture the golden drops of the purest water I have ever felt. I feel cleansed, body and soul.
We climb down the mountain's natural trail. Perhaps it is not a natural trail; some supernatural power had surely carved it out for those who enter Talos Valley.
Talos Valley is a world onto itself. I have never seen such beauty. The sky is filled with rainbow-like colors, different shades of blue interspersed with pink and gold and white.
Huge oak and evergreen trees line the valley floor.
The loch flows east to west, six outlets leading to the great lakes that lead to the uncharted lands within Talos Valley.
The sheer visual vastness of Talos overwhelms me, as we begin our trek towards the Black Dragon Inn. For it is there that we will relieve ourselves of the burden of the Relic and expect the quest will surely end.
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