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Chapter 42: Wizard Woes

“Voidwing! What did you touch?” Arcturus shouted, avoiding the deadly clamp of a clockwork monstrosity, his calm wavering on the edge of a blade.

The gryphon smashed together two of the constructs, their dome like heads exploding into showers of metallic shards as they collapsed in a defeated heap to his hinds. Voidwing whirled around in a panic, his ears splayed on either side, eyes darting to the phalanx currently marching towards them. “I didn’t touch a damn thing! They just started ripping themselves from the wall!”

“And it just happened to be when you tapped the door frame?” Arcturus countered, loosing three bolts of shimmering light, hurling back one assailant into the wall. The man scowled, wishing they’d not proven resistant to his sword’s tender kiss.

“That’s what I’ve been saying!” He chased after the man’s heels, heart pounding in his ears.

They raced through the halls, putting as much distance between themselves and the sea of metal and electricity currently announcing their approach in a cruel mockery of politeness. They’d have found themselves corned and trapped if not for the unseen hand of a guiding friend, opening any door that lay between them and safety. The first one they’d questioned, but one look to the constructs had been more than enough convincing to not look a gift horse in the mouth.

It was when the gryphon’s breaths were labored, and his muscles were screaming did they slow their escape. Voidwing heaved and panted, the hall spinning before his eyes. Why was he so tired? He thought to himself, never had activity as such proven so strenuous. Perhaps there was a poison in the air? He scowled and collapsed onto his belly, trying to not think of that darkened thought, if so, it wouldn’t be long before they were dead.

Arcturus’ eyes darted to the forms of their pursuers before racing to the gryphon’s side. “Now is not the time for a break, our enemy doesn’t tire.”

“Shame for them really.” He panted, “They could use a break.”

The man swallowed the lump in his throat, doubting he could even a runt of a gryphon. From onyx beak to white hind he searched, noting how matted and scuffed his fur was. “Can you move?”

“Just…Needed a breather.” Voidwing waved away his concern, trying to push himself up on his trembling forelimbs. For a moment he held himself, strength wavering before he crashed onto his belly with a defeated chirp. “Perhaps a bit longer.”

They didn’t have the time. The things would be upon them sooner than the paladin would have liked. Though he liked leaving behind a friend even less. Onto his knees he fell, hands trying to motion the gryphon onto his back. “Let me get a look at you. Don’t be shy now, I’ve seen it all before.”

“I didn’t know…You were looking.” Voidwing chuckled weakly, “Sorry, couldn’t resist.”

From the hall came the distant, monotone call of the wall of steel. “There will be a tingling sensation before death. Remain calm while we preform our governed duties.” They clamped their hands menacingly, almost as if to drive a point home.

“Well…At least their polite.” Voidwing heaved, doing as Arcturus requested when the man pressed more firmly against his forearm. He collapsed onto his back; wings splayed on either side. He couldn’t look, averting his eyes as Arcturus searched his prone form up and down. “How bad is it?” The man’s expression grimed.

Blood streaked through the gryphons white furred chest, now greyed with the dust and soot clinging to it’s surface like little gremlins. Arcturus leaned in without a word, tenderly gliding his fingers across the gryphon’s chest. He counted the times he winced, there were at least a dozen or so cuts scattered about from chest to flank. He spotted bruises and burned sections as well, clearly victims of the clockwork’s vice like clamps.

“Oh, it must be dreadful.” He flopped his head back, wings trembling. “Otherwise, you’d be speaking. Go on without me, you shouldn’t have to die because of me.”

Arcturus shook his head, “You’ll be fine, but this is why we avoid their sharpened bits and clamps.”

“Is your bedside manner really this bad? I thought you’d be nicer.”

“Attention intruder, your deaths are approaching, make peace with your assorted gods.” Came the construct’s threating message, chilling Voidwing to the bone.

“Quick, just go. I’ll only slow you down.” He waved a wing, “Just tell Nivra, I lo-“

“You’re not getting left behind.” Arcturus grunted, rubbing his palms together to begin the spell. “You just need some healing, good as new.” Closing his eyes he focused on the warmth inside him, guiding the power from his shard of Bahamut through his limbs. Pressing into the gryphon’s hide he willed it so, sealing what cuts and wounds lingered upon his friend’s form. In the shake of a gryphon’s tail Voidwing was good as new, but still found himself unable to stand fully, he again collapsed, gasping for air.

“Maybe that wasn’t the only thing.”

“Damn it all.” Arcturus stood tall, steeling his eyes as he faced the incoming hoard of snapping clamps. He willed the magic to his hands and hurled a few more bolts of energy through the air. Before they could strike their intended targets, a solid slab of steel slammed down, crushing one of the constructs in the process. As the knight stood dumbfounded, counting the useless bangs from the opposite side of the door, he couldn’t help but whisper a prayer to whatever god had overseen their safety.

“What’s going on? Are they coming? Oh, I bet their just prolonging it.” Voidwing quivered, his eyes tightly shut. “Arcturus, are you-“

He was at the gryphon’s side, laying a tender hand upon his side, laughing out of disbelief. “I don’t believe it…We’ve been saved.”

“By who?” The gryphon perked up, opening a single eye, “Did you do it?”

“How would I have done it?”

Voidwing shrugged, “Paladin magic? I’d have believed it.”

He shook his head, “Must be our invisible benefactor again.”

“Remind me to send a thank you basket.” Voidwing groaned, trying to stand yet again, only to collapse sooner than before. He glared at the air as if to set it alight. “Come on stupid body, we can’t be dawdling all day.”

“And you must give it time to rest.” Arcturus said, gently stroking between Voidwing’s ears. “You’re not going anywhere. Unless you like kissing the floor with your beak.”

“No.” He snapped, ruffling his feathers. “But I shouldn’t be this tired, some malicious force is at work.”

“Then how come not me?” He eyed the door, almost expecting it to spring open, their assailants surging through to slice and dice them to tiny pieces. “I seem to be doing fine?”

“Paladin magic.” Voidwing huffed, lowering his backside to the floor, and pinning his wings. “You got some sort of thing to resist poisons and disease.”

“Only disease.” He said softly, settling down at Voidwing’s side. “But we could do with a breather I suppose…No sense in running off to our deaths so swiftly.”

But how could he? Voidwing trembled, taking deep breaths, trying to will back his strength. It wasn’t long before he was shaking his head, cursing at his own stupidity. “I should have known this was to happen. Should have planned, been ready. That is my job by the gods…I’ve gotten rusty in my duties.”

“How could you have known?” Arcturus rose to his side, gently yet firmly pressing the gryphon back down to the floor. He met his eye, seeing the desperation that lingered within. Would he be pushing so hard if it were Veledar keeping Nigel company? “This exact scenario couldn’t have been planned for, what would you have done if you had?”

He sputtered and fumbled with his answers, coming up with nothing of note to lay before the knight’s firm gaze. “Fine…I don’t have anything now.” He huffed, averting his gaze, “But I should have.”

Planting himself beside the gryphon, Arcturus leaned against the darkened stone of the hall. Down he searched the dimly lit passageway, focusing on a tingling sensation within his chest. It seemed to be pulling him further down, just as it’d been doing the entire time since their parting. “If it makes you feel any better, I have a plan. Well two plans.”

“You do?” Voidwing snapped to him, demandingly tapping his talon. “Well don’t hold it in, speak of it!”

“First one well…” Arcturus averted his gaze, “I mean…It’s to not die…Oh don’t give me that look, that’s a plan!”

“That’s not a plan, that’s like…A hopeful suggestion!”

“So, we just wait?” Voidwing groaned, walking two talons across the darkened floor, “While Nigel sinks his claws into Nivra’s mind? Twist her round his finger?”

Arcturus sighed, “You think she can’t resist the words of a silver tongued devil? Trust your Umraadi I always say-“

“How can you always say that? Last I’ve counted, you’ve only known Veledar for a few months.”

“Fine.” The knight averted his sharpened gaze, “If you want to be snarky about it, I say that sort of thing now. I trust him, completely and to the ends of the earth. I like to think that makes us quite a formidable team.”

“That must have been some trip to that island.” Voidwing stated flatly into his forearms. “You were at each other’s throats before.”

“Life changing in a way.” He sighed, scratching the base of Voidwing’s ears and getting a comforting warble. “I’ll take you one day if you wish. I know of three souls that would love a gryphon to chase.”

“Chase?” Voidwing pulled back, eyes wide. “My haunches are not for chasing Arcturus.”

“Just wrymlings Voidwing, you’re at least three times their size! They can’t…Well they could nip a little I suppose.”

“It doesn’t matter their size!” He clacked his beak for good measure, indignantly grumbling over how it was the dignity of it all. If anyone was going to be doing the chasing and pouncing, it was going to be him, over wiggling tails. “How can you put trust in her when she accepted his logic before? She was going to sell out your dragon if you recall.”

“She didn’t side with him. Though I may not have chosen as such, she tried to pick an outcome with the least suffering.” Arcturus laid a kind hand on Voidwing’s shoulder, looking the gryphon square in the eye. He could see the turmoil and fear, threatening to bubble to the surface. “Have faith, she will choose the right thing.”

“Easy for you to say.” He plucked Arcturus’ arm away. “You have a god trapped within your chest.”

“Not trapped, bonded. Its far more kind than you claim.”

“Fine, bonded.” He snapped with an indignant tail thump. “But what does all this matter anyway?”

“Cause. I can see the trouble in your eyes, that desperate need. Won’t do us any good if you go rushing off, filled with piss and vinegar.”

“Won’t do us any good?” His wings fluffed for dramatic affect. “We’re wandering around without rhyme or reason, hoping to find Nivra and the others! I like to look on the bright side of things, but here there isn’t one! Were trapped and there’s nothing to do but pray.” Voidwing coiled on himself, talons covering his eyes as he tried to maintain control of his breathing. Even now as he whispered his narration, he could feel the urge to break down into a panting mess. Could he even save her from herself?

“But we’re not.” Came Arcturus calm from the storm of anxiety, again his hand ruffling the gryphon’s feathers.

“What do you mean we’re not?” Voidwing emerged from his talon fort, ears perked up.

“Second part of the plan actually.” Arcturus’ cheeks blushed as he coughed and thumped his gambeson clad chest. “Feeling in my chest…Guiding us down from room to room. That’s what I’ve been following. Funny enough, the doors been opening as well.”

Voidwing gently backhanded Arcturus’ stomach with a smack. “So…You expect to make me feel better by telling me to trust in your gut? I’ll try to hold my applause.”

“Not my gut feeling.” Arcturus snatched the gryphon’s talon, guiding it to his chest. “Veledar and I share this…Bond as you say. We can sense when the other is near, emotions…Now I know he can’t be here, but this feeling has never let me down before.”

This wasn’t any better. Voidwing, in silence, clacked his beak several times, eyes never leaving the knight’s. How could they be filled with such certainty? Calm? Faith? The gryphon’s ears flicked down and up several times in confusion before he continued, “Have you thought about it being a trick?”

“By what? Veledar hasn’t let me down before, and neither has the bond. If we’re lost, any direction is a good one, no?”

The man was right, earning him a gryphon sized scowl at the fact. “Alright, you made a point, but you put that must trust in the dragon?”

“With all my life.” Arcturus smiled, patting Voidwing’s side. “So have faith in Nivra, as she puts her trust in you.” To this the gryphon had no reply but he answered with a reserved trill and nuzzled along the man’s arm.

“Thanks…” Voidwing said softly, “It’s been a while…We really missed you in the dwarven mines…You know the ones.”

Arcturus nodded, rubbing comfortingly up Voidwing’s neck. Already he could see the darkness in the gryphon’s eyes, of memories begging to not be relived. “You need not share your dark times but know it’s alright to be haunted by what you experienced. It doesn’t make you weak or small. It’s the internal demons that make the hardest of battles.”

“And you get better?” He whimpered.

“Eventually.” Arcturus sighed, “Time, effort, and friends. All of which you find yourself in abundance should you require.”

The gryphon turned to the man, offering a nod of acknowledgement before again, a nuzzle of affection. His eyes then went to the walls surrounding them, how there were shelves upon shelves of humanoid skulls. They sat in multiple rows, each bearing twin sockets of darkness, staring off into oblivion. His ears pinned as he pressed to Arcturus’ side like a child. “You were distracting me from the skulls, weren’t you?”

“Indeed.” said Arcturus, “Odd choice of decorum, at least they haven’t begun to move like the angels.”

Voidwing whimpered, “Let me guess, your gut is pulling us that way?”

“Unless you have a different way in mind. It appears the way we came is sealed.”

Tilting his head he stared at the sealed path behind them, their ‘friends’ no doubt waiting to come bursting through. Shivering he shook away the thoughts, wondering what he’d done to deserve such ire from the gods above. He whispered his narration to himself, insisting the hall ahead was only decorated by some crafter’s idea of a joke. That at least gave him the courage to stand upon his wobbly legs, flick his fatigue away with his tail. “No…I can manage, it’s just skulls after all, it will take more than that to crumble my spiri-“

As if to spite the gryphon’s words, the skulls snapped in his direction, swiveling on their shelf. A cacophony of clacks rang through the hall as they gnashed their little jaws together, unable to leap out and tear into the frozen gryphon’s flesh.

“Oh.” Arcturus remarked grimly as Voidwing began to whimper, “Today is just not our day.”

*

Tentatively the pair crept down the skull lined hall, eyes methodically scanning each inch their feet did tread. So thick was the tension lingering in the stale air if they could taste it. No words were shared between them both, silence wrapping around them like an oppressive shadow, only broken by the pounding of their hearts in their ears.

Skulls followed their every movement with the interest of a hoard of starving piranha. Either forced to by their nature or out of fear they held back, content to eye our adventurers, clacking their little jaws to a phantom tune. If they were the only ill force seeking to end the pair, this would have been far easier, but the hall itself seemed determined to bring them to a swift end.

With a resonate click below Arcturus’ boot, the floor gave way. He flailed, eyes wide, beholden to gravity’s cruel will. If not for the swiftness of Voidwing’s talons and beak, he’d have fallen straight into a snapping mass of skulls.

“Good thing I brought you along.” Arcturus laughed nervously.

Voidwing set him down, cocking his head as the man dusted himself off, peering down the hole that had nearly claimed his life. “Still have faith in that bond?”

“Till I die, though this is evidence we can’t get complacent.” He crouched down, slinging off his leather pack, digging through it’s contents until he procured a length of rope. With it he fashioned himself a makeshift harness.

“And what are you going to anchor yourself to-“ His ears splayed as Arcturus turned to him, clearly intending to wind it around the gryphon’s chest. “Well at least ask.”

“Voidwing, will you be my anchor tonight?” Arcturus smiled, shaking the rope.

“Only because you asked nicely.” He rose a forepaw with a sigh, submitted to his position as anchor. In a few minutes, his front to flank was perfectly reinforced to ensure Arcturus wouldn’t be tumbling down anytime soon. The man tested it with a tug. Hopefully, they didn’t need to use it. From that point forward, Voidwing was more towards the front, diligent eyes searching for tripwires and pressure plates.

Either by luck or skill, their journey progressed with little trouble. Though the skulls still did stare, they managed to push it from their minds, guided by the gentle chirp’s as Voidwing sang songs from his village. All of this stopped when they came to a room draped in spiderwebs, only a pair of levers resting before them on the wall, covered and rust.

“You led us to a dead end?” Voidwing whispered, flicking his eyes to the corners of this small room, almost expecting swarms of spiders to come emerge. “I think your bond needs to ask for directions.”

“It hasn’t led us astray now.” He mumbled, tentatively approaching the left most lever.

“What are you doing?” Voidwing yanked him back by the collar. “Are you mad? Just look around! Who knows what sort of trap this could be!”

Arcturus sighed, wrenching himself free. From the gryphon to the corridor his eyes did flick, “Unless you have a better idea, I didn’t see a different way for us to travel.”

“But left?” The gryphon clacked his beak, lashing his tail against the wall. “Do you know how much bad luck that has?”

“Don’t tell me you believe in the ridiculous superstition of the gryphons do you?”

“It’s not ridiculous.” He countered, eyes narrowing, “Where would Aesop the gryph be if he’d picked the left most mountain for his flight’s home? Without ample prey and terrible sunlight in the summer months.” With his beak he grabbed Arcturus’ arm, gently tugging it towards the other lever. “Make the right choice.”

“But the bond pulls to the left.” Arcturus slipped free, pulling back. He met Voidwing’s skeptical look, “Come now, trust me further. We’ve not had any trouble.”

“And the pit?”

“Fluke.”

Clacking his beak in a huff, the gryphon turned around and planted his haunches firmly on the stone. He gestured with a forelimb, “By all means proceed, I await our bad outcome.”

“Always bet on the bond.” Arcturus remarked, pulling the lever with a resounding clunk. Then, as if to spite the paladin’s trust, a trapped door opened beneath them, sending the pair tumbling to their doom.

Head over boots Arcturus did flip, his stomach churning with gravity’s cruel tug. Never did he think to find himself in a similar situation like he did back when Veledar was forced to catch him, yet here he was. No dragon here to save him this time, only the screaming gryphon attached by a rope. With effort the knight pulled himself to the kittybird, trying to install a sense of calm that he was fighting to maintain himself.

“Can you slow our fall with your wings?” Arcturus shouted, grabbing tight the gryphon’s furry underside, hanging on for dear life. Perhaps if they got lucky, they could salvage this.

Desperately Voidwing tried to do as the man asked, his feathers battered by the wind’s cruel passing. Outward he tried to bend his wings, but found the tunnel’s edges too compact to work. His wings ended up half flared, all but useless to prevent what was coming. He retracted them with a defeated chirp, his spirits swiftly fading, “Sorry…I appear to be too big for once.”

That was all they had? Arcturus’ mind all but fragmented. There was no way out of this. Burrying his cheek into Voidwing’s chest, he whispered to Veledar sweet nothings, telling himself the dragon would somehow receive them. Over his shoulder, Voidwing did the same, coiling around the human as he squeezed his eyes shut.

“Maybe it will be over fast?” He shivered.

“One can only hope.” Arcturus closed his eyes, waiting for the end to come.

That’s when the fates yet again seemed determined to subvert this pair’s expectations. Instead of death It served upon them a means of escape. From the walls, gears sprung to life, loosing gale force winds to buffet and divert their descent into a vent. As they screamed and laughed at the luck, it hurled them into another vacant shaft, only to be lifted by a hurricane of winds upwards. With tears in their eyes, gravity lost it’s terrible grip, gryphon and man had been saved.

“What did I say?” Voidwing squawked, air whistling past his ear, “Always pick right!”

“How can you say that? We survived!” Arcturus held on for dear life, grinning from ear to ear.

“But for how much longer. Won’t this have a ceiling?”

“Welcome to Laboratory S, have a nice day.” Blurted a metallic voice, another section of the shaft sliding up. With it came overpowering winds, battering feather and flesh until the pair went hurtling into a darkened room.

What had once been a scene of serene calm was brought to an abrupt end, guided by the shrieking of a startled gryphon. Stacks of tomes, high as a dragon’s head were crashed into, tumbling mere moments after to fill the spacious hall with thunderous slams. Innocent beakers shattered as if to join in on the destruction, spilling their corrosive contents onto wood or stone alike. Dust exploded in the cool air, bringing the scent of freshly chopped oak as crystal lanterns around them swelled to life, chasing away any shadows still trying to linger.

Arcturus groaned, his head throbbing at every angle, when he tried to shift, his world would not cease spinning. He collapsed to his back, briefly patting himself down. Nothing appeared to be broken or maimed, he slumped with a relieved sigh. They’d somehow survived against the odds, gifts of their benefactor or a curse from Nigel’s cruel mind. That’s when he remembered the gryphon. Hurling a pair of books off him, he rushed to the moaning gryphon’s side, finding Voidwing on his back, wings splayed on either side.

“You alright?” Arcturus kneeled, rubbing his hands together for another lay on hands.

Arcturus groaned, hugging his head as every inch of him ached. They’d survived against the odds, a gift from a strange benefactor, or curse from Nigel’s cruel mind. He applied a healing hand to

“Ugh.” Voidwing coughed, shifting to a seated position, shaking his head. “Whoever designed hat contraption, I wish to smash their head into it…Just to say…No…Even with the healing…Does your brain feel like it’s still tumbling?”

“Guess you hit harder.” Arcturus pat the gryph on the back, gesturing to the shattered remains of a desk left in the gryphon’s wake, covered in shattered glass, and shredded tomes. “Though the better question is…Where did we end up?”

Around them, painted by the dangling lantern’s light was any wizard’s dream of a laboratory. Shelves packed to the brim with multicolored tomes to the point of overflowing into the stacks that once dotted around the circular room, now laying in a jumbled pile. There were desks aplenty, of oak, birch, and stone, each a different percentage of scattered parchment, burn marks and melted candles. There were rocks, cages, bottles of preserved taffy, even wind-up little knights with wooden swords. Trapped in their awe, the pair found nick knacks and doo dads aplenty, stashed into every nook and cranny, Arcturus couldn’t precisely name. Any space that was devoid of devices was instead lavished with great paintings of distant landscapes, towering mountains and flocks of birds flying overhead.

Together they slumped against the books, any reservations they had fluttering out their ears. With deep, relaxing breaths they were soothed by the hints of vanilla and cinnamon. Perhaps they could stay here and rest for awhile longer? After all, they’d just managed to escape death! Nivra and Nigel could find them on their own, why had they worried so much about their sepeartion?

“Maybe there is some coffee we can find here?” Voidwing chirped with a happy swish of his tail, pushing himself to all fours and fluffing his feathers. He took a stride with a bounce in his hinds. There was a gentle pop, purple smoke swallowed him whole. When it clear Voidwing was gone, replaced by a black cat with one white hind leg.

What complacent cloud that had swirled around the knight’s head was thrust away so fast his head was nearly spinning. Nerves thrumming to life in the blink of an eye, Arcturus whirled around, pulling his sword free with a hiss. Heart pounding in his ears he searched the field of wizardry things, gripping the hilt with white knuckles. Ignoring the confused, meowing cat, pawing at his leg, he whispered a word to Bahamut and brought holy flames to his sword. Just as the pointed tip was consumed there came the sound of another pop, instead of a blade, the man now held a silver trout.

What in the hells? He shouted internally, instinctively dropping the slimy fish, his brain all but sliding out his ears.

From the mountain of books came a booming voice as a brown robed arm thrust itself free. “YOU DECIDE TO COME NOW? AT MY MOST CRITICAL HOUR? DO YOU KNOW HOW LATE YOU ARE? YOU CAN REST ASSURED I WILL LEAVE A SCATHING REVIEW.”

What magical trap was this? Or was it a monster? Arcturus had a second to decide as he scooped up cat Voidwing, hugged him close and raced for the nearest pile of books to use as cover. Pressing himself down he observed the shifting books around the arm, his breaths ever shallow as an elderly man wrenched himself free.

He was shorter than Arcturus by but a hair, a slight gut protruding from his tattered, brown robes. Flowing down his chest was a chestnut-colored beard, streaked with lines of grey. Worn hands fumbled through the air, reaching out for someone right beside him. “WHAT SORCERERY IS THIS THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN MY SIGHT?” He bellowed, not noticing his eyes were covered by his robe’s hood. The man took his first step, his foot catching on a protruding spine. With a startled yell he tripped forward.

Perhaps this man was nothing to be feared? Arcturus narrowed his gaze, there was something familiar about this man. It was right on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn’t place it, though was it good or was it ill? He looked down at Voidwing, stared back. Perhaps it would not be wise to flip the proverbial coin with what powers had been displayed. He slunk to another book case, certain he’d not be seen.

Muttering curses to himself the wizard removed his hood, azure eyes twinkling in the lantern light. Furrowing his grey brow, he rose a fist, shaking it in Arcturus’ direction, “Don’t think hiding behind those ancient books will do you any good! My sight is better than it’s ever been! So, you might as well come out and face me so I can take down your name, report you to your manager.”

A moment of hesitation flickered across the paladin’s mind, pondering what ill this man could bring. But without sword or armor, gryphon or mighty dragon by his side, what good could he do against such sorcery? With a heavy sigh he emerged from his hiding spot. “You’ve bested us this day wizard. You’ve turned my sword into a fish and gryphon into a cat. I say with all honesty, we meant you no harm.”

“Well of course not! I REQUESTED you be here!” The man scoffed, hobbling over the last stretch of books. “But even a man with my most prodigious patience finds it stretched thin! Do you know how long I’ve waited for my turkey legs?”

Arcturus rose his brow, “Turkey legs?”

“Have you not heard of them?” The old man remarked, clear bewilderment on his face. With a sway of his hand he conjured a floating image of a roasted turkey leg the size of Arcturus arm and proceeded to wave it before the man’s face. “It looks like this! Take a good gander!”

“I know what a turkey leg is.” He stated flatly.

“You’re the one who asked ab-, The strange man stopped dead in his tracks, stroking his beard as observed Arcturus from head to boot, then to the tiny cat in his hands. Like a lantern had been lit, the man’s eyes widened as a surprised gasp left his lips. “Arcturus, is that you? HOW MANY TIMES MUST I TELL YOU, NEVER SNEAK UP ON AN old man!” He stomped over to the knight’s chest, jamming a boney finger into his gambeson. “Who knows what strange things I could have been doing? I could have turned you into, a dog, a cat, dragon, hell maybe even a goldfish, which I assure you is the worst of them all!”

“Goldfish?” Arcturus clutched Voidwing protectively, not doubting the man could do good on his threat. But more importantly, how did he know of him? He only spoke after the strange wizard had strolled around him, clicking his tongue. “Who are you exactly?”

“Who am I?” The old man’s hands pressed to either side of his robes as his voice, loud and booming resounded off the walls. “Who am I?” With a stroke of his beard, he seemed to shrink, turning on his heels and mumbling to himself. “What was it again?”

“I didn’t think it was a hard question. Can you not share?”

“I would if I could remember the blasted thing!” The man snapped, squeezing on either side of his temple.

“You can’t remember your name?” Arcturus scowled, “Surely you jest.”

Red faced he returned to Arcturus, eyes like blue sun’s blazing. “Let’s see you try and remember something so infinitely insignificant with everything in your brain!” He tapped Arcturus’ head before the man could react, “Probably more in mine than ever could be here in there!” Swiftly as the insult came, his face softened and the man was shaking his head, apologizing for his outburst. “Course, sorry, forgot all my manners. Let me make it up to you…I do suggest putting the cat down.” As Arcturus did so, the man rubbed his hands together.

With a snap of a finger and cloud of purple smoke the air radiated with power. Voidwing sprouted from his feline prison. Eyes wide with confusion he clacked his beak, inspecting his body with a critical eye, making sure everything was where it was supposed to be. Satisfied with his scan he perked up; ears pinned to his neck. Without a word he crept to Arcturus’ side, muscles all tensed and waiting.

“Don’t give me those eyes of questions, it was a simple polymorphic spell, any hedge mage worth their salt can do it…Observe.” The man yawned, flicking a casual finger, and doing the same with Arcturus’ sword. With another gesture the blade rose in the air and sailed softly into its scabbard. “There we are.” Florimel smiled, clasping his weathered hands tight, “Can’t have another cat running around the place after all, Harric and Carric get a tad…Well…Murdery in their jealousy. Fool me once shame on them, fool me twice, I have to pay the price.”

“I think he’s mental.” Voidwing whispered, as the strange man yelled out for Harric and Carric to stop snickering to themselves.

Realization swept its way cross Arcturus’ face, he knew where he’d encountered this man. How could he have forgotten? Back in their trip to Entis, the strange wizard at the gate that’d seen through Veledar’s disguise. “Florimel, is that you?” Warily he eyed the man’s expression, last he saw the man he could barely remember the past few minutes. “How could you possibly be here?”

“Is THAT my name?” Florimel spun on his heels, stroking his beard, Harric and Carric forgotten. “What a strange moniker. Doesn’t quite flow off the tongue. But alas…” He gave them both a deep bow. “I am Florimel Thanac-Jhar, the lost mage of foolery, carrier of the seven rings of the Grustanian empire and sometimes referred to as ‘Get out of my kingdom.” His brow furrowed, “Though I don’t think that one’s a term of endearment.” He rose with a cough, composing himself as eyes traveled to Voidwing, lingering on his silver tipped wings. “This isn’t the gryphon I remember you with Arcturus. Did he dye his feathers and not tell me?”

“This would be a different gryphon.” Arcturus heavily sighed, “It’s been awhile since our first meeting.”

“Has it been?” The thought seemed almost alien as he turned, gesturing over his shoulder for the duo to follow in his footsteps. When he saw their lingering eyes upon the wretched state of his books, it only made him laugh, dismissing their concern with a wave. “Don’t worry about the tomes, I tend to do it all the time. It’s why they can do this!” He spread his arms wide. “PULL YOURSELVES TOGETHER YOU BLASTED BOOKS.” Nothing happened. Florimel frowned, cursing under his breath as he tried to remember the spell. When they asked if he were alright, he shooed them away, “I’m not some half-wit old man you know! They’re just being stubborn!” He took a deep breath, his eyes twinkling in the light, before doing the exact motion as before and shouting his command again. This time it worked.

In the blink of an eye the tangled mass of books, scrolls and debris began to shift and wobble before their eyes. Animated by an unseen hand, tomes crawled themselves into standing positions before hurling themselves into the air, waiting pateintly in a growling line to reorganize themselves into their proper place. The broken desk hobbled upon it’s broken legs, slamming it’s shattered pieces back together, splinters gently flying to rejoin their broken homes. Glass was made anew, candles seemed to sprout like flowers, even the potions that’d burned swirled like vibrant colorful ribbons back to their containers.

Held in silent awe at what they were seeing, Arcturus and Voidwing could only watch, twin looks of disbelief upon their faces. The gryphon couldn’t help himself and reached out, eyes wide as he poked the wobbling objects with a talon.

“I don’t believe it.” He whispered, looking to Florimel with a twist of fear and marvel. “He didn’t even say a word of power…”

Wearing a face swelling with pride, Florimel turned to them, dusting off his chest. When their compliments did not come running from their lips he could only sigh and weave his way through lines of books. “So, what brings you to my laboratory?” He leaned against an elegant cupboard of engraved glass, tapping gently until it parted and three teacups floated into his waiting palm. “It’s not every day you get visitors you know!”

“I do believe I asked you first.” Arcturus left the marvelous sight to Voidwing’s parted beak look of awe. The knight seated himself opposite the wizard when he gestured, finding the cushioned seat that was offered rather comfortable.

“Did you?” Florimel chuckled, setting the teacups upon a glass table between them with a clink. “If you must know, I was making popped corn. Is this why you came too, heard about how well I make it?” He grinned, “Got the recipe from an old dwarf way back, should have seen the bright green of his hair.”

That wasn’t something he expected to hear. Certainly not from any magician that he knew. Arcturus leaned back, not being swindled into believing this kind old man act. There had to be a deception at play. As Florimel whipped a tea pot out of thin air, Arcturus whispered a spell to compel those within to speak the truth.

“I’d not go casting zones of truths in my presence Arcturus….” The wizard pulled a pipe from his chair, twirling it through his boney fingers. “One might spoil the tea!”

Plucking the glass up, Arcturus eyed the caramel-colored liquid. It smelled of hazelnut. He placed it down, “How did you manipulate the bond?”

The wizard before him drifted to sleep, only woken by Arcturus’ asking the question again,“Arcturus! When did you-” His tugged at his beard, “Right, a bond you say…Though may I ask why you’re inquiring about an adhesive?”

Arcturus’s eyes steeled, not quite certain if he was mad or found a way to deceive the spell, “Not adhesive, it’s a magical connection to myself and my dragon. Somehow it manifested itself within these halls, guiding me to this room, to you.”

“Marvelous story that is. But I’m not the one doing such things, at least none I’m aware of.” Florimel chuckled, sipping his cup of tea. “Now go on and drink up now, I slaved over a hot spell for that tea.”

He didn’t answer, unwavering in his conviction.

“Oh, mister serious today.” The wizard sighed, “I didn’t bring you here Arcturus... The answer you seek resides within these very halls. For this mechanism is no mere maze, no contraption in which was build.” The magician’s eyes seemed to twinkle in delight, “Would you believe that it’s alive?” Florimel gestured all around them, “Silently observing, waiting, calculating…To some it might hinder, others it might guide. For you it brought you somewhere you hoped to be…Although to be clear, I could have led you here if I wished to…If I could find my hat that is.” Without warning he snapped to his twin cats, shaking his fist as his cheeks went red. “I CAN TO HARRIC, NO ONE WAS ASKING YOUR OPINION! NO CARRIC, ARCTURUS IS NOT HERE TO SPEAD THE GOSPEL OF CATS TO THE MASSES! WHY? HE AND NO ONE ELSE WANTS TO HEAR THAT SCREACHING YOU CALL A MEOW!”

Shaking his head in disbelief, Arcturus could not twist his mind around such a notion. A building being alive? Thinking? His blood chilled at the prospect of some invisible force watching over them, it’s intentions unknown. But surely this had to be a deception, a route to throw him off, how could such a crazy notion be true? He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, “You expect us to believe such foolery?”

“I am the king of foolery…Or was that another time?” Florimel leaned back, stoking his beard. “Its ever hard to remember…Arcturus, does it happen to be Towerday?”

Hands curled into fists, “Listen here Florimel, if that is your true name-“

“It is…I think.”

“Straighten your tongue and speak plainly. We have been separated from a dear friend, whom we believe to be in great danger. The longer the distance between us remains, the greater the peril. So I beseech you, waste not our time with useless prattle…We know not what Nigel is capable of.”

“By the look of those holding cells…” Voidwing slunk over, his entire body shivering. “I’d say almost anything. So Florimel, if you can lend us your aid, we would ever be in your debt.”

Florimel stilled his tongue as he lit his pipe, taking a few drags as the thought bounced between his wizened ears. After a minute of silence he lurched forward, his brow furrowed to the point of stitching together. “So, Hadariel is claiming my laboratory his again?” He averted his gaze to the fall wall, seeming to lose himself to oblivion. “I have missed much in my absence, you’d think the boy would have learned a thing or two by now…Alas. I suppose not all tales have a happy end.” The old man shifted in his seat with a heavy sigh, “How I hate such occurrences.”

“You know him?” Squawked Voidwing, his ears springing up, his feathers fluffed.

As the man only nodded, Arcturus searched his kind blue eyes for any hint of deception. Again, the spell showed no affect, either he was being truthful or more cunning in the ways of avoiding it.

“Ages ago mind you.” Florimel rose, weaving a metal bucket out of thin air and shoving it into Voidwing’s talons. “Didn’t think he’d visit so soon, last we spoke…He seemed distraught over something…Something terrible, that least was certain.”

“What’s this?” Voidwing fell back onto his hinds, tilting his head over the apparently empty container. “And why do I need to hold it?” His tail flicked to his side, avoiding the twin cats that wiggled their haunches and tried to leap upon his silver tip.

“What do you think it looks like?” Florimel pulled a hefty sack of kernals from his sleeve, how they fit was a mystery. “A bucket of course! Now hold still or you’ll be sweeping it all up. I do have gryphon brooms for such an occasion.”

Arcturus rubbed his chest as waves of annoyance swirled through his veins. If it had been leading him here as the wizard said, why was he feeling it again further away? Shaking his head, Arcturus stood, starting to pace as the sound of clinking kernels filled the room. “Not saying I believe your whimsical stories Florimel, for you may have found a way to deceive my spell.”

“Have I?” Florimel perked up, the stream of kernels going with him, spilling a wave of gold in every direction. Voidwing tried to follow but it was no use, he wasn’t swift enough to catch them all. “I love it when I do that. But it’s alright, I’ll assist you…After of course I find my hat.”

“We just need to be pointed in the right direction-“

“Nonsense! Besides, I was getting a bit lonely here anyway.” Florimel spun around, hurling the kernel filled bucket to the floor, ruining whatever progress Voidwing had been making on cleaning. “Harric, Carric, find my hat! We’ve got another adventure on our hands!”

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Thanks for reading along, sorry for the tad late delay! If you like the story, don't forget to favorite it so others can see it, spread it around to those that like adventures with dragons and gryphons as actual characters! Leave a comment if your feeling brave, they do keep up my spirits to keep writing. Have a nice whatever time of day it is when you read this!