The Silken Key

Chapter 24

"It's you," Detlef said firmly, remembering the awe he'd felt when he'd met this man in that field with Rector Boso, believing him to be a wizard. "How can you be up here if you didn't have the Key?"

"Surprised, are you?" Tertullian laughed, the gentle wind making ripples in his purple silk robes. He had the same swept-back mane of dark hair, though it was now streaked with the grey of age. "Well get used to it. I'm afraid there is a great deal which is not as you might have expected."

"Enough games," Detlef shouted, holding his halberd across his chest. "Boso was wrong about many things, but he was right about you: you are just a self-serving swine."

"Boso?" Tertullian cocked his head and looked at Detlef curiously before his grin widened even further. "Oh, I know who you are! You are that ridiculous priest's little errand boy! I am assuming the acolyte thing didn't work out so well for you in the end?"

"My name is Detlef Slatesworn, defender of men and women of faith," Detlef declared proudly. "You are standing in the way of one who is under my protection."

"I see," Tertullian turned his gaze towards Tabitha. "You have brought the halfling directly to me, Detlef Slatesworn. I suppose that makes you my little errand boy now."

To Detlef's amazement, Tabitha pushed her way to the front of the group and thrust her staff towards the necromancer. "I have not been brought here by anyone. I am here by the guidance and authority of a patron higher than gods, angels and demons...and more powerful than you."

As she spoke, the opal in the tip of her staff began to glow. Detlef felt a pang of confident excitement. That glow had appeared every time they'd faced their greatest threats. It seemed that some higher being was indeed visiting Tabitha with the power she needed at the right moments.

"Yes, of course," Tertullian laughed. "Your mysterious otherworldly patron. No doubt you think you are here to use my tower to open a connection with this being from beyond and receive his power and blessing?"

"I don't think," Tabitha hissed. "I know my purpose. Are you fool enough to stand in my way?"

Tertullian sniffed and spread his arms out wide. "If you are so certain, then perhaps you would like to know how all this works?"

"Really?" Maddy asked. "You're just going to tell us?"

"Of course!" Tertullian beamed. "Why not! Since you are so certain I am beaten, I may as well be a good sport and show you the ropes, eh?"

Rudiger took a step forward, looking up at Detlef with hopeful optimism. "That's nice of him. He doesn't seem so bad after all, does he?"

"You probably already figured it out," Tertullian continued, "but the 'conduit' is the tower itself. That is simple enough. The key is already in place. As for the 'orientor'...that is the last piece of the puzzle. It is this..."

He indicated the fire pit in front of the altar, which glowed and smouldered with an unnatural burgundy light.

"The power of the Key will be directed and delivered to a being or deity whose symbol or emblem is thrown into this fire."

Detlef reached up to touch the pendant around his neck as he considered the meaning of this. "So...Tabitha just needs to throw a symbol of her patron into the fire, and the key will make a connection with the patron?"

"Something like that," Tertullian nodded. He looked terribly at ease for someone who was supposedly admitting to being beaten.

"That would be your staff then, Tabitha?" Rudiger said. Tabitha didn't flinch. Her staff was still glowing and extended towards Tertullian.