Chronicles of Lormere: Chapter 15 A Forfeit Paid

Collection: Lormere
Chronicled by: Ghasty

Chapter 15: A Forfeit Paid

Jaa had reached the bottom of the well. The well hadn't had water for centuries, save for a thin layer at the bottom. Jaa could see the scarlet light, but its origin was larger than Jaa expected. Jaa walked forward towards the scarlet light. The scarlet light came from a cavern filled with rubies which scintillated in the light of two torches. At the end of the cavern sat a granite throne upon which sat a six-winged creature. The creature appeared hewn out of a piece of granite. The creature's eyes were like gleaming rubies.

​"Who dares to trespass within my domain?" the creature asked.
​"My apologies, my name is Jaaldeald. I am the revenant of Lake Xuwhyl in Amarastia," Jaa responded.
​'Well, Jaaldeald, why are you here?"
​"I seek aid from Xaneduazahl. Are you Xaneduazahl?"
​"How dare you think me such a villain! I am Marpovkath, the revenant of the city-state Okkathi. Why do you seek aid from such a creature?"
​"A journal was found written in an unknown language. We believed Xaneduazahl could translate it."
​"Who is 'we'?"
​"Antlousai, the revenant of flowers, Novaci, a fire elemental, and myself."
​"May I see this journal?"
​"Yes, one second." Jaa walked over towards the bottom of the well and looked up the well. "Antlousai, Novaci, come down here!"
​"I can't!" Novaci called back.
​"All I need is the journal. Can Antlousai bring it down?"
​"Sure!" Antlousai called. Antlousai unfurled his wings and descended into the well. Antlousai descended and gave Marpovkath the journal. Marpovkath flipped through the journal's pages before she handed it back.
​"This looks to be Lūsăwil," she stated.
​"What is Lūsăwil?" Jaa asked.
​"Lūsăwil is the language of the Anisa Sytvolil, Dyumjor's servants, the guides of souls."
​"Do you know Lūsăwil?"
​"No. Only Dyumjor, Xaneduazahl, Auytvola, and the Anisa Sytvolil know it."
​"Could you take the three of us to Xaneduazahl so that he may translate the journal?"
​"Fine, but I will oversee this interaction."
​"Thank you." Marpovkath snapped her fingers, causing a blinding light to come over the cave and the well. When the light receded, the four were gone.
​The four reappeared in a cave that glowed in the light of multi-hued fungi. Speleothems and cobwebs lined the distance from ceiling to floor. At the end of the cavern sat a small pool of water from which a stone throne jutted out. On the throne sat a skeleton with a crown and an engraved golden orb. The engraving was in Okkathian runes which read "Unkatruniz." Behind the skeleton's head was an engraving which read "Yahlim aor ovolix yopo deruztassein ahl dornos zo Regsailen Drellralf ehl Trezea!"
​"What does that mean behind the skeleton?" Novaci asked.
​"It says 'Woe unto those who disturb the rest of King Drellralf the Third!'" Antlousai explained.
​"It sounds like we shouldn't do that then." Marpovkath approached the throne and picked up the orb. Small scarlet flames flared to life in Drellralf's eye sockets. Drellralf rose from his throne.
​"Mouz eno proghjus res dous!" Drellralf screamed, "Ieg thezelin malase dornos!"
​"Dornos!" Marpovkath yelled. The skeleton returned to his throne and became a lifeless husk once again.
​"What did he say?" Novaci asked Jaa.
​"He said, 'Can't you read! I only want to sleep!'" Jaa explained.
​"Now, to summon Xaneduaza-" Marpovkath began before a blinding light enveloped them. The light receded and in its place stood Smiin'qol'xams, Teliyol, and Vezoxden.
​"Who else dares to trespass within my domain?" Marpovkath asked again, though this time less threateningly.
​"I am Smiin'qol'xams, the revenant of plant-based magic, this is Teliyol, the revenant of plants, and this is Vezoxden, the revenant of the sky," Smiin'qol'xams answered.
​"Why are you here?" Marpovkath asked.
​"We seek help from Xaneduazahl."
​"He seems to be very popular nowadays. Why do you seek him?"
​"Delumer and the rest of the Qel'qhet'opi revenants seek to destroy the two opposing forces in a feud over Queen Amelda and Amarastia. Doing such would only add to the bloodshed. We seek Xaneduazahl for disablement of the three forces' magic."
​"Then you've come just in time for my explanation. Now, as I was saying, Xaneduazahl cannot be summoned without the sacrifice of a life. I created this enchantment's payment to demonstrate how hazardous Xaneduazahl and his powers can be. So, is anyone willing to pay this forfeit, or have you realized how foolish such an action is?"
​"I will," Novaci volunteered.
​"Are you sure?"
​"My life is not my own. Edya sacrificed herself so that I may live while I was yet an interloper on her mountaintop and in this world. From what I have heard about her, she strived to maintain peace. If my life may help to maintain the same peace she sought, I'm willing to give mine."
​"This is your last chance to say no."
​"I'm sure.' Marpovkath nodded solemnly.
​"Puzdre ahl ziaver zo Novaci oi elebert Xaneduazahl ade ovos ekaip!" Marpovkath yelled. As Marpovkath finished her incantation, Novaci fell limp to the floor. Her body slowly began to be covered by the hard outer layer that Edya had healed. The remaining six watched as an Anisa Sytvolil came to take Novaci's soul. At the same time, the orb in Marpovkath's hand began to quake. The runes began to glow with azure light. The orb's lights ceased, and standing in front of them was Xaneduazahl.