Tegus: and the Shards of Solaster
Chapter 20: Hidden in Plain Sight

Chapter 20: Hidden in Plain Sight

It was Muella that stopped Tegus this time, “I think we need a plan. Be cautious and smart about this.”

“I would say to throw caution to the wind on this one and go in swinging, but you may have missed your opportunity.” A voice came from behind and both Muella and Tegus, and they jumped around. There towering above even Muella was a man carved from muscle with his arms folded watching the events unfold. His beard was grouped into sections and tied with metal ringlets, and his hair was long and grouped into one at the back. The oddest thing was that even though he was visible and there, he was still slightly transparent.

“I am Dovarak, Savour of the Skiv’ary, and I see you are having problems with the new leader.” The ghostly form introduced himself.

Muella was physically stunned for a moment and then dropped to a knee while Tegus, who was ever the curious spoke, “How are you here?”

Dovarak laughed at him with a deep chuckle and knew he had to explain. “First Muella my child, stand up, bowing is something I was never good with. Just a nod or a smile is enough,” she stood up and nodded her head in acknowledgement. He gestured then looked at her until she smiled, “that’s better. You know that potion you spilt? Well Tegus you are powerful, maybe even as much as the Great Solaster? I can sense that about you. It has brought me back to your world for a short time.”

“How? It didn’t hit your remains. It didn’t even drip onto them” Tegus needed to know.

“Ah but as you know, my essence is not with my remains. It is within that very belt buckle.” He smiled at them,” I know your quest Tegus Bulock. I have spoken to Ilfirimain and Solaster. The spirit world is as bigger than your world yet there are no boundaries like distance. I can speak to any who have passed as if they are next to me. Unless they are evil and then they are isolated in the afterlife”

“Then what must we do? How much of a threat is Vakaroth? Can you speak to Grandmaster Ilfirimain for me now? What about,” he paused letting the word form in his mouth, “Nanny?.” Tegus gave him some questions with haste.

“Calm, Tegus. Haste does not suit you. Firstly, I cannot speak to anyone while my

presence is here. Secondly, Vakaroth is a great threat that you seem to be underestimating. While these shards you are collecting do indeed need to avoid his hands, they are not the only way for him to gain power. Right now, he has traveled north to the farthest canyons where the ground is split and molten comes freely. A place where demons can pass into your world. He plans to make a deal with one of these demons. He has sent the assassin to meet you at the dwarfs and is using Frujak’s greed to control him here simply to slow you down. The shards became his second goal after he found an old tome that talked about demonic pacts and rituals, the tome was said to be lost. That is why you have not met him directly, he is waiting. As for what you should do?” He paused,” Muella take my belt. You will need it. Fight with all your might to get your friend back and put an end to Frujak. I will make one last appearance to speak to my people and set them on a true path once again.” Dovarak nodded to Muella. She nodded back and took the belt. Dovarak was gone, for now.

She grasped the belt. She felt a strength like she had never felt, and she understood what these artefacts meant in the wrong hands and why Tegus was seeking them before Vakaroth. She knew she had to stop this ruthless leader and un-blind her people.

Tegus interrupted her thoughts as he placed a calming hand on her, “Are you ready to go on Muella?”

The calming hand had no effect as she fastened the buckle. “May I use my strength to protect my people from harm...” Tegus thought this was a high-born sentiment, “...and split the chests open with my blade of any who do them wrong,” and he thought this wasn’t as noble. He could not disagree with her passion, and he understood it better than most. Seeing her with rage reminded him of himself and how he was with nanny. His passion began to burn once more, and he gripped the relic he held on his robe, “I’m with you, for Razahir.”

A few minutes passed, and they found a way out onto a street and with no one watching them climbed out.

Muella looked around with her sword ready in the air. Tegus walked forward observing nearby, “where is everyone?” Tegus asked. “I bet he’s gathered everyone at the temple; he’s going to execute Razahir to make an example of what happens when you cross him.”

“Control by fear” Tegus understood. He planned to execute Razahir no matter what, “We need to hurry.”

Muella started to charge off. The strength from the belt made all her muscles more powerful. Her legs could propel her forward faster, and her run was more like a bound. Tegus was using all his might to try to catch her. “Use the shard Tegus, that’s why we have them” Muella told him, he hadn’t used it much by choice before, but she was right. He put his hand on his robe, and before she realised he flew past even her, on wings of colourless energy and his eyes were solid white, if she did not know it was Tegus; she would be afraid. He flew next to her, “Muella, go in and cause a scene. I will fly high and focus my effort on saving Razahir. They should not be looking to the sky.”

Muella agreed, and they began to near the temple. She went into a nearby building to look for the best attack point. The large opening at the front of the temple was truly full with almost all the Skiv’ary gathered, maybe not all guards but all hearty fighters, children included. Muella knew if they followed her; they could overpower the ones loyal to Frujak. The guards were all around the edges with a larger group with about twenty at the bottom of the temple stairs; at the top, she could see Razahir with his arms tied behind his back and guards surrounding him. Frujak was addressing the Skiv’ary and saying something about how not only was Razahir a thief but an abomination by watering down their pure elf blood, and it was time to make an example. She had to act fast; she saw Tegus perched on an opposing roof building, waiting for her. The guards at the bottom of the tower would be central enough to get everyone’s attention. She believed her chances of fighting so many were low even with the belt. Nevertheless, she wasted no more time and cut out the back of the building and along the parallel alley and into the building as close as possible. There she could see a row of guards between her and the stairs, how could she get there fast? She looked at the front door and thought of making a run for it, that was it! She made a run for it with the door in her arms as a giant shield, the strength she gained from the belt mixed with her own meant the solid door and several guards where nothing as she charged through them bowling them over. As she reached the middle, she launched the door forward taking out two more guards.

“GET HER” She heard the crack of Frujak’s Voice, “WE NEED TO MAKE ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF TRAITOROUS VERMIN.”