Sword of Stars

Chapter Twenty. No Way Back.

“Thanks for all of ‘ure gold, matey!” Hery the drunken sailor called as the S.S Annie slowly sailed away from Cecil.

He flipped the man a rude gesture with a hand and Hery’s laugh rang across Lake Feldor like a ripple. He knew that Cecil had gold and had demanded more for another trip. In the end it didn’t matter. Cecil didn’t think he’d be leaving this island alive anyway.

He watched the S.S. Annie until he could no longer see the vile man aboard, then with a heavy sigh, Cecil turned and made his was down the path that led to the entrance of the tower. It led down then up and wound its way around to the highest point where the tower sat, gloriously reaching up into the clouds.

Again, the huge double doors swung open as he got near and he climbed the steps to enter. After his eyes adjusted to the darkness he saw the platform had already arrived and someone was standing there, waiting. It wasn’t Zeth this time. It was a rather plump woman.

“Hello sweetie,” she said. Her once dark hair was now as white as Cecil’s and tied up in the usual bun on top of her head.

“Oh, Dott, your hair…” Cecil felt a great empathy blossom in his old heart. Though she was surprisingly calm about it and Cecil had to admire that.

“It seems a lot of the Casters hair has turned white. Something big is about to happen Cecil,” She looked down at her hands and fidgeted.

“You have no idea,” he whispered.

Cecil stepped on the platform next to Dott. “Take me to the Lord Caster, would you Dott?” He placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed with a smile.

She nodded. “Oh yes, he’s very interested to know what you have discovered.” Her fingers touched a button on the control panel and the platform started its decent down into the true tower.

“I fear a war will break out across Vinriel. The war between Andrill and Feldor will be a mere skirmish compared to this,” Cecil said turning to Dott. Both of her eyes were a brilliant green. She was the Preceptor of Water and had been for many years.

“What do you mean?” Dott asked with curiosity.

“I’ll tell all once we get to the Lord Caster.”

Finally the gardens appeared as the wall zoomed out of view in front of them. It was still full of students and Casters alike. Cecil did notice a lot more people with hair like snow and it clouded his mood.

After the platform rumbled to a stop they made their way towards the Lord Caster’s room. As they walked a group of children ran past, no more than eight or nine. Even some of them were plagued by ghostly hair. How much will this darkness consume? Cecil thought with disgust. By the stars they are just kids!

Dott knocked a few times on the Lord Caster’s door and his deep bass voice invited them in. The door swung open to reveal his usual erratic room, with bits and bobs strewn about the place. The only thing different was the Preceptors were in the room, semi-circled around the Lord Caster’s desk. They all turned as Cecil and Dott entered.

Cecil suddenly noticed the person who had opened the door. It was glaring Zeth. His once beautiful black hair now white. Strangely enough it didn’t make the man look any older. Cecil looked at him with pity and Zeth’s glare deepened.

“Cecil, what news do you bring?” the Lord Caster called from his desk.

Cecil made his way across the soft carpets and stepped up the small dais. He nodded to the Preceptors, some of them he knew from his time in the tower, some of them he did not. Where do I start? “Deep within the underground building,” Cecil started, setting the mood like an ancient bard retelling an epic, “we did not find an airship, no, but we found something just as strange. A cyborg.” He paused for dramatic effect.