The Sorcerer and the Witch-King's Heir

It was a long, hard day of rough, uphill climbing, but they reached the ridge by late afternoon. Amaya consulted the map and the diary and directed them by pieces to the location of the tomb. According to King Garamond the Third, there was an ancient tomb containing the body of the first Witch-King, Hagrathor the First, and he had broken in, place the crown there, and sealed the door behind him. Supposedly, only one of his direct descendants could open the door, but who knew if that was still true. Tobias insisted on making everyone wait about half a mile back while he and the guardsmen scouted ahead for "hostiles." They were gone a long time. When they came back, they were grim. "The door is open," he reported in a whisper. "There's a man standing guard. All in black. He might be a mercenary, or he might be our sorcerer." "Can you take him out?" Daryl whispered back. "Not if he's got magic," was the terse reply. "And maybe not even then, if he's good with that sword he's carrying." "Do sorcerers carry swords?" Karina asked, also whispering. "During the civil war, most sorcerers were also warriors," Amaya supplied. "It would make sense." "Can we try talking to him?" Karina suggested. Daryl snorted, trying to smother a laugh. She glared at him. "If we give away our position, we won't have a chance at all," Tobias said. "I recommend we withdraw, and send for reinforcements." "If he has an accomplice, he could get away with the artifact before Parliament even knows we're here," Amaya hissed. A cool voice in the darkness broke the whispered conference. "I can hear you whispering out there," said the man's voice. "You might as well come out of the bushes and tell me who you are and what you want." The survey team froze. Tentatively, Karina said, “and who are you and what do you want?” There was a rustle in the darkness, but no one appeared. "I'll put down my sword," said the voice, "if that will make you feel better." Karina looked at Tobias, who nodded. "Fine," she said. There was a clatter, and a sheathed sword was kicked into the open pathway. Karina took a deep breath, and stood up. Cursing, Tobias and the guardsmen hurried to follow her. The path to the tomb was smooth, and worn. It might have been paved once, but centuries of overgrowth made it impossible to tell. The door was open, and just as Tobias had said, a man in all black stood in front of it. Even unarmed, he looked imposing. Karina approached slowly, her hands held out in front of her. "Careful," Amaya said. "If he's a bound sorcerer he could be under the control of whoever is inside that tomb." "I'm not bound," said the black-clad figure testily. "There are no bound sorcerers." "We saw what you did to the wolves," Daryl said. "The unbound can't wield magic." The un/unbound sorcerer shrugged. "I taught myself how to practice magic again," he said. "After." "After what?" Tobias demanded. The man turned to look at him, his gaze like ice. "After the druids broke my binding." "Prove it," Amaya said. "Show us your tattoo." "Are you serious?" Karina folded her arms. "Show us." "You want me to take off my clothes in the cold and dark in front of half a dozen strangers just to prove that I'm not something that cannot possibly exist." "Show us the tattoo," Tobias growled, drawing his sword, "Or I'll cut those clothes off your body." The sorcerer stared a moment long, then sighed. "Fine." His cloak dropped first, then a leather bag, then a long belt with pouches. He wrestled with the ties on his tunic, which then got tangled with his hair, which hung long in the back. After another awkward minute of watching him fidget with the knots, Karina seperated herself from the group and went to help. He turned around obediently while she sorted the problem out, and the tunic fell to the ground. He pulled off his shirt, then his undershirt, and then finally, half naked and shivering, he turned around to show them the horribly black mark that spread from his left shoulder down to his waist and spine. They all stepped closer to look. The binding tattoo was almost indistinguishable under the swirl of silver scarring that cut through and across and over it. It looked almost like a burn. It looked almost alive. Amaya let out her breath. "He's telling the truth," she said. "That's the mark of the druids work. He's not bound." The sorcerer turned around to glare at her, significantly less threatening in nothing but his boots and trousers. "I told you so." "What now?" Daryl demanded. "Where is the crown?" The sorcerer shrugged. "In the tomb." "Who else is in the tomb?" Amaya demanded. The sorcerer ran a hand over his face. Finally he said, "Michael Alden, the last heir of the Witch-Kings." The silence was long and heavy. Then Karina asked the question that seemed the most obvious: "Who are you?" "Sister Karina," the sorcerer said, turning to her with a short, bitter laugh. "I'm Leo, the apothecary." The whole team started. "How does he know your name?" Daryl whispered. "Because I buy Valerian from him," she snapped back. "Every month. You can all lower your hackles. He's the local herbalist!" "Does that mean I can put my clothes back on?" asked Leo, still shivering. "Of course," Karina said. "I'm so sorry for all this. I didn't recognize you. How on earth did you get dragged into this mess, Leo? What are you doing working for...for that?" "Michael means well," Leo said, reaching for his undershirt. "He fell in with a bad crowd. A restoration movement who want him for their figurehead monarch. He asked me to help him find the crown and destroy it before it fell into their hands." "Oh Leo," Karina said, shaking her head. "There's only one way into that tomb," Leo said stubbornly. "I saw him go into it. He said there might be traps or something, that only someone with royal blood can pass. He'll be back any minute, and you'll see. We're on the same side, sister." "How about you let us go and see for ourselves then?" Tobias growled. Leo shook his head. "He'll be back any minute," he repeated. "He promised he would come back." "Leo," Karina said gently, "how long have you been waiting?" He shrugged. Even with more clothes, she could tell he was still shivering. She reached out and took his hand. It was as cold as ice. He turned to meet her gaze. "How long?" she repeated. "Since sunset," he whispered. "It was just after sunset." "That was almost six hours ago now," Tobias said. "Let us in, sorcerer." Leo didn't budge. Karina gave his hand a squeeze and he looked at her again. "Leo," she said softly. "I promise you, no one wants to hurt you or Michael. We can't stand here all night freezing. Let these men search the tomb." "I want to go with," he said finally. "Agreed," Karina said, without looking at the others. The guardsmen came forward with torches. Karina took one, and led the way down the long, slick passage, Leo close at her side. The passage ended at a rotting oak door, held together by iron cross pieces. It was unlocked, and hung slightly open. Karina passed the torch to Leo. He took it, and pushed open the door. It opened into a round room, slightly larger than the passageway, dry and dusty, with a single coffin on an elevated plinth. On top of the coffin was a circle where the dust had been lifted away with some round object. The room was otherwise empty.