The Silken Key

Chapter 25

The pendant sailed through the air as if in slow motion. Detlef watched it. A look of surprise crossed Tertullian's face. The necromancer was quick to realise what Detlef was trying to do. He shot his free hand forward. Another stream of inky black magic writhed out and plucked the pendant out of the air mid-flight, then retracted until the chain hung in Tertullian's hand.

"Very clever, Slatesworn!" The necromancer cackled. "You nearly caught me out there! I cannot even begin to tell you how angry I would have been if you had directed the power of the Key to that laughable god you worship in Alresbay."

Rudiger rushed towards Detlef and grabbed his sleeve again. "It's alright Detlef. There's no point. It's obvious that we've been outwitted. The halfling is doomed. Why should the rest of us incur the necromancer's wrath?"

Tabitha looked up and gaped. For the first time ever, Detlef thought she actually looked hurt. For his own part, Detlef felt like throwing the gnome into the flames himself. The least they could all do in Tabitha's last moments was let her know they were doing everything they could to try to save her.

Yet as the gnome pulled Detlef's arm to bring him to face, there was a quick, but unmistakable wink. Detlef stared at Rudiger for a few moments. Then, deciding to trust him, Detlef nodded.

Rudiger walked slowly towards the fire, his eyes on Tabitha while Tertullian watched him suspiciously.

"My lady," he said, holding a closed fist out towards her. "We sailors believe that all ill-will shall be revisited upon us in the form of bad luck. Before the end, may I have your forgiveness and a promise that you won't wish poor fortune on me from the afterlife?"

Tertullian groaned and shook his head in mockery of the superstitious request. Tabitha simply glared at Rudiger.

"You saltwater-sucking scumbag!" she spat. "I will send you all the bad fortune it is in my power to send, and you can damn well like it!"

Rudiger seemed unaffected by the vicious response. Detlef stayed rooted to the spot, hoping the gnome knew what he was doing and that it wasn't as absurd as it seemed.

"In that case," Rudiger showed a hint of a smile. "I don't think I can let you die."

He opened his fist and something small dropped out. Something small, shiny and brown. Something made of copper...on a chain. It was the pendant he'd bought at the market in Brenmarsh!

"No!" Tertullian bellowed as he threw Detlef's pendant behind him and attempted to grab for Rudiger's. But Rudiger was too close and Tertullian couldn't move quickly enough.

The copper necklace dropped into the pit. Instantly, the embers glowed a bright orange and began to swirl like a whirlpool. They span, gaining speed and emitting a light that quickly became too bright to look at directly.

Everyone was forced to close or cover their eyes as a roar of cosmic wind filled their ears and a flaming tornado spewed from the pit and up into the vaulted ceiling of the roof-space. As soon as it hit the top, the sky around the tower was flooded with an orange hue, as though an enormous firework had gone off just above it.

Then...silence. Everyone opened their eyes one by one and looked at where the fire had been. All that remained of it was a square pit of black ash with something glinting in the middle.

Tertullian's mouth wagged wordlessly and his hands began to shake. He pushed Tabitha to the ground and then threw himself onto his knees, grasping at whatever was in the middle of the ash. Detlef backed away to pick up his halberd, resolving to be ready for anything.

When Tertullian picked up the object in the dead embers, Detlef saw it was Rudiger's pendant. The necromancer turned it over in his hands, sweat breaking out on his forehead as he looked at the inscription.