The Sorcerer's Tome

Chapter 6: Betrayed

The Well Chamber's big oak doors were blasted open by such a force of anger that their enormous ancient iron hinges almost gave way. The unfortunate guard inside who, but for his unusual agility, very nearly became a stain on one of the tapestries hanging on either side of the entrance.

"Master, what has happened?" cried Cox, following Balfour as he stormed through the doors, throwing his cloak down in temper.

"It's gone," Balfour shouted. He stomped up to the far end of the hall, banging his leg on a bench as he passed.

He cursed the offending furniture and, his anger getting the better of him, he drew his wand and pointed it at the defenceless seat. "Obliteratum!" he shouted. A bolt of red light shot from the wand and hit the bench. It immediately exploded into a cloud of black dust that hung in the air for a moment before settling on the floor. The irate man jumped up onto the raised dais and threw himself down on his throne. "I was so close before. The Orb of Casther indicated I was almost upon it when last I ventured into the other realm, but as I closed in it moved away. This time the orb remained completely inert. It has gone."

"How can it move, Master?" asked the young man.

"Someone must be moving it, but why? How can anyone in that world know of its existence? It was supposed to have been hidden there, by the last of the Ancients."

"Perhaps someone from here, someone who knows you are looking for the key has travelled to the other realm to keep it from you," Cox guessed.

"Fool!" Balfour retorted. "Only I can open a portal and then only with the power of the Tome," he gestured at the pulpit.

The chamber was the size of a large parish church, complete with a balustrade to separate the nave from the raised chancel. Behind this ornately carved balustrade, was the Well of Fire around which the entire building had been constructed. Surrounded by a low stone wall, the well was about fifteen feet across. Smoke from the fires at the centre of the world rose from it and curled up towards the high ceiling, escaping through a hole in the conical roof. On the right of the well stood the newly added throne, where Balfour sat to address his followers and bestow judgement on those accused of breaking his harsh laws. On the left was a pulpit with seven winding steps leading up to the lectern at the top. On the lectern lay the sorcerer's most prized possession; a large leather-bound book with a faded picture of a dragon on the cover: The Dragon's Tome.

Balfour grabbed the bannisters and pulled himself up the pulpit steps two at a time. He opened the ancient book and looked for the thousandth time at the unintelligible characters which seemed to move about on the page.

"Is it possible it is being protected by an Ancient?" Balfour mused. "Did one go with it, I wonder. The orb was endowed with ancient magic to locate the key, wherever it may be hidden. So why when I entered that world, on this occasion, did it give me no sign when it was previously so forthcoming?"

"I cannot say, Excellency," Cox answered. "Maybe we could ask the..." he was cut off by a loud bang on the door.

The guard who had previously come perilously close to being added to the decor by the enormous doors was now standing a little further to the side, firmly holding his faithful pike. He opened the door a little and peered out. Outside was a similar well-rounded guard, with a similar pike and similar red eyes peering nervously out of a similar yellow-skinned face below a similar short horn.

"Who goes there?" asked the first guard.

"A poor messenger in a state of dishevelment, who comes on an errand from the village," came the answer.