Tak

Experiments - Part 8

     Over the next couple of days Tak cast the Mend spell on the other 'diaries', but unlike the first they showed no improvement except a superficial change in their appearance as scratches and patches of corrosion vanished from their cases. Repeated casting failed to make any difference, and the first artifact also failed to benefit from further use of the spell. It seemed they'd gained all they were going to from the ancient objects, and all that remained was to catalogue every scene and wring as much information from them as possible.

     The rak was rapidly losing interest in the whole project, though, as it became increasingly apparent that the secrets of the demigods' powers were not to be found therein, and he was starting to drop hints that Tak might want to leave and get back to his own life. "You have succeeded far beyond my expectations," he said, for instance. "You have well earned your reward." It was obvious he wanted him gone, and when a rak starts dropping hints a wise man takes them.

     Tak needed just one night to penetrate Gannlow's secret room, though. One perfect night when he could be as sure as he could be that he wouldn't be caught in the act, and so he stalled, saying he still thought there was more to be learned from study of the artefacts. Gannlow was starting to appear increasingly irritated by his presence in his mansion, though, and if the opportunity didn't come soon Tak would have to just cut his losses and leave before he was shown the door forcibly.

     His chance finally came just days before the date he'd set himself for admitting defeat. Gannlow told Tak that he had a difficult and dangerous experiment to perform in one of his other laboratories that would take most of the night, and he warned the younger wizard not to approach that wing of the mansion in case there were any stray magical influences flying about. Tak gave his word he'd stay away, while inside a rush of adrenaline was making his whole body shiver. This is it, he thought. It's now or never. This is the moment I've been waiting two years for.

     His magic sense told him when the rak's experiment had begun. He felt the tingle of powerful magics being unleashed a short distance away and knew Gannlow would be occupied for several hours at least. Chilgrone always slept the whole night through, and none of the house's servants ever came down here. Gannlow forbade them, and they wouldn't have come even if they could, fearing the dark powers he dabbled in and the wrath of the Gods that was sure to descend upon those who dared to intrude into Their domain. Tak had the laboratory all to himself until morning at least. Plenty of time.

     It still took him half an hour to gather enough courage to cast the spell, though, and he couldn't stop himself repeatedly going to the door and looking out into the corridor to reassure himself that no-one was coming. He had a vision of himself still hovering indecisively when morning came, however, and imagined the shame and self disgust he would feel if he allowed fear to rob him of his best chance. Taking one last moment to steel himself, therefore, he faced the wall between himself and the secret room, took a deep breath and cast the spell.

     It was the first time he'd cast this spell, and he was half expecting it to fail or misfire, possibly bringing the ceiling down on his head. He was quite surprised when it worked perfectly, therefore, and the whole wall underwent a change of character, losing its solidity and rippling like the surface of a sheet of water. He imagined a door in the wall, and the rock flowed, pulling away from one spot until a hole appeared. Roughly circular and rough around the edges but large enough to step through. Trembling with excitement and apprehension, he allowed the spell to end and then stepped up to the opening he'd created. The rock was cold and hard. It might have been like that for a thousand years. He allowed himself a moment or two to marvel at it, then stepped through.

     The room was smaller than he'd expected, but packed full of all kinds of stuff so that it looked like someone's attic, everything covered by a thick layer of dust. He paused in the opening for a moment, his magic sense straining for any indication that there were more traps or snares waiting for him. Of course, since only a wizard would either want or be able to break in here, any other defences the room might contain would be shielded to make sure their magical auras didn't give them away, but he paused anyway. If he was trapped or caught, he didn't want it to be because he'd overlooked some simple precaution. There were magical fields in the room, but they seemed to be the kind that were generated by spellbooks and artifacts, not traps. Of course, a clever trap might be disguised to emit the aura of a spellbook or artifact...