Chapter 19: The Gardens

A powerful necromancer, in his hubris, took the ashes of a devil, and created a mixture of undead evil the likes of which the world has never seen. High Priests of the Reapers, Starkeeper Tanya and Eternal Light Elvi, warped through the void to fight the power which had grown beyond the necromancer who raised it.

• “Legends Of The Incursion” From The Archmage’s Library

Everyone is mostly how I left them, sitting around a small fire, and chatting in the setting sun as they rest. I can see the restlessness in the mercenaries, but that will hopefully be over when we begin our extraction of the library and the gardens.

Keve moves over on the log he’s sitting on, making a spot for me, and I sit down with a sigh.

“We were startin’ to worry.” Grildor said as he handed over a bowl of delicious looking soup.

I smile in thanks as I take the wooden bowl. “It took longer than I thought.” I take a bite, and close my eyes in enjoyment, “This is good.”

“Thank you!” Tanya pops up from where she’d been lying in the wet leaves of the tree. “Cooking is a lot like alchemy, and I enjoy them both.”

I hide a smile as water drips down the vines over her ears, then take another bite. “What have you guys been up to while I was gone?”

“Libby and Daron hunted the meat you’re eating.” Tanya says excitedly. I look over to the two mercenaries who give me a small wave and a nod.

“You’re in a chipper mood,” I’m happy to see it, she’d been down ever since the battle with the undead.

“Some little ones hatched!” She holds out her hand, and a twelve-legged Reaver spider the size of her hand climbs out of her wrist.

“Angels!” I stumble backwards, tripping over the log I’d been sitting on as the tiny reaver sits on her hand with curious eyes.

Grildor bursts out laughing as Tanya wilts a little.

“Sorry.” Tanya says quietly.

Grildor pats her on the back, “Don’t apologize lass! Scared the wits out of me too,” He gives her a wink, “I was just better at hiding it.”

She brightens at the warrior’s words.

I push myself off the ground, and sit back down. My poor bowl of soup had been caught by Keve, and he hands it to me unspilled. “The Ichtl’e are scary.” he says with a small smile.

“Thanks.” I take the bowl back, and take another bite, watching as the creature climbs back into the tattoo on her wrist. Now that I’m watching closer, I can see that the tattoo has changed, several small reavers surrounding the clutch of eggs. “I’m surprised they hatched so soon.”

“Lucky timing.” Tanya says as she leans against one of the Rock Lizards.

A tent moving draws my attention Eyla, who stretches before joining us at the fire. “Did she show you her spiders?”

I clear my throat and ignore the question.

She laughs, “So what’s the plan for tomorrow, oh leader of ours?”

I focus back up at the question, “I’d like to do the gardens next…” I explain the vines we encountered during my first delve, then look at Tanya, “We’ll be counting on you to identify and help us organize any plants that are still alive down there.”

Her look turns serious as she nods, “You can count on me.”

I look at the tent beyond Eyla, “How’s he doing?”

“Recovering. Slowly, but surely.” She smiles at Libby who gives a small salute, before turning back to me. “He trusts me to handle this.”

“We’ll be counting on you.” I finish the last of my soup and set it to the side. Everyone’s attention turns to me as I stand up, “I’m going to catch some rest, and we’ll continue into the depths in the morning.”

A series of agreements and goodnights follow my announcement, making me smile. The group was growing pretty close.

Shar follows me into my private tent, padding on soft paws as I make my way over to my bedroll.

I put my bag down, then rummage around in it, pulling out several of the books I’d been reading in the Archmage’s Sanctum.

I stare at them for a long second, remembering the latest ability of my mage class.

Private Library.

The power rests at the ends of my fingertips, and I can feel two different ways to use the spell. The simplest one needs a book.

I grab the book on top of the pile, a bestiary I’d been considering gifting to Tanya. Then I cast the magic.

Mana drains from my hands, drawing glowing hazel symbols into the air. Finally, the spell finishes, and a small book-sized portal opens in front of me.

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Hesitantly, I place the book through the portal, then pull my hand back.

The portal snaps closed, leaving only the faint sense of mana in the air. I take a deep breath, then cast the spell again, creating another portal.

This time, I reach in, and pull the book back out.

I hold the book in my hand, then close my eyes to get a sense of how full my mana is. It’s the least mana intensive of any of my spells, best I can tell. Maybe, a tenth? It’s hard to quantify.

That does leave one other form of the spell. The one that doesn’t require a book.

I glance at the flap of my tent, the soft voices at the campfire reaching me through the leather hide.

I hold my hand up, and cast Private Library again.

This time, more of my mana is called, draining me as several symbols fill the air with their hazel light.

A door of ancient mahogany begins to take shape, not quite fitting into the tent.