I'm still alive... part 2

Well, after the last exciting instalment I expect you're interested in what happened next. Right, I'll let you know, but spare a thought for me, typing away here in these conditions! Well, you'll see, I suppose.

***

I stood there, scarcely able to believe what I'd just seen. Grott stood in front of us, staring at me in an entirely more penetrating way than he ever had before.

Nigel sidled over to me.

"Hey," he said, "Who's old warty?"

"Don't call him that!" I hissed, not taking my eyes off the squat figure in front of me, "I'm trying to figure out what's going on."

I figured I'd better at least try to say something.

"So," I said, "You can talk, then."

"Yes," he said, simply and precisely. He had a voice like some kind of elderly professor who'd spent his life studying something nobody but him had the remotest interest in, which left him prone to bouts of irrational irritability.

It wasn't the best of moments. I passed a hand over my face.

"Good grief," groaned, "How embarrassing."

I took the hand from my face and stared at Grott in disbelief.

"Look - I don't know who on earth you are, but you can't blame me for asking. What the hell did you pretend not to be able to talk for, and why did you pretend to be a bit, well, mentally challenged? I mean, should I even call you Grott? What were you doing? Doing my bidding, all this time you were just pretending? Are you insane? What's the matter with you?"

Grott smiled unnervingly.

"Well," he said, almost cackling, "I can't answer all those questions at once, now can I?"

I sat down on the bed wearily.

"OK, OK. Can you please tell me what's going on, because despite whether I'm supposed to know what's happening, I really haven't a clue."

"Very well, I shall. But don't get comfortable, we don't have a lot of time."

The others sat down on the bed, except Gorgrod, who sat down awkwardly on the floor. Presumably Nigel had temporarily abandoned his house raiding plans as something interesting appeared to be happening. Maevrin had a toned down version of the expression she'd had when she first saw Grott. She leant over to whisper to me.

"I knew he was all weird and unnatural when I first set eyes on him. What was all that stuff you said about him being great and loyal and all that?"

I gave her what I hoped was a dirty look, but I don't think it worked.

Grott was grimacing at us. When he was sure he had our full attention, he began to speak.

"As I previously stated, we do not have the luxury of time. I expect you're wondering who I am, and why this modest tower has remained untouched in spite the furious attacks brought upon it. Am I right?"

"Yes," we all replied in unison.

"Well, then I shall tell you, despite time not being on our side. What I am about to tell you, may shock you, may indeed surprise you. Are you absolutely certain you are ready to hear what I have to say?"

"Yes," we all replied, once again. Yes, this was getting annoying already.

"Very well, I shall tell you. But, be aware! What I am about to tell you is something I have never told a soul during the entire length of my long existence, and time is indeed of the essence. It contains great secrets, the like of which you could not possibly have dreamed. Are you fully prepared to hear what I have to say?"

"Yes!" we all replied again.

"So, then. I shall tell you. Make ready to hear the most amazing revelation..."

"Oh for god's sake!" I interrupted, "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Grott, as I'll continue to call him for want of a better name, grinned almost impishly - was he having us on?

His grin faded suddenly, as a great thundering explosion suddenly roared into life immediately outside the tower, lighting the room in a brilliant yellow, which faded into a swirling kaleidoscope of green and purple. Grott ducked his head, evidently taken by surprise, his face now deadly serious. Almost immediately after the first, a second explosion tore against the tower, and this time the floor seemed to move very slightly beneath our feet. Everyone had nearly jumped out of their skins but Grott, who had jumped up on the chair beside the window and was now looking out of it fitfully. Then, an enormous, booming voice rang out from somewhere in the night, so loud it was as much as I could do to stop myself jamming my hands over my ears. It was a furious, wild, voice, near insane.

"GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT AND FACE ME LIKE A MAN! I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE HIDING IN THERE! I KNOW WHO YOU ARE!"

Grott leapt down from his chair and raised his arm in front of him, palm down. I watched, amazed, as the floor appeared to melt beneath his hand, then draw itself up into a long, tapering point, terminating in a rounded shape which he began to talk into like a microphone. Amazingly, his voice sounded loudly outside the tower as he began to speak.

"Mr Eldrigar, I advise you to try speaking like a civilised human being. Now why don't you tell me what exactly it is you want?"

There was a short pause, then the voice answered, much more quietly this time, as if calmed somewhat by getting a response. It was recognisable as Eldrigar's now

"Who am I addressing?" boomed Eldrigar, "Is that you, you wretched wizard?"

"Never mind who this is. I will tell you this, and this alone. You will not get into this tower, you are meddling with forces you can't possibly have the slightest conception of and if you don't leave immediately, I will unleash this tower's defences on you, and fry you to a crisp. You understand?"

At this point, I was standing there gawping like an idiot. What on earth had we stumbled on here? And I had thought I'd be able to find a quiet life when I moved into Zarfang. Yeah, that worked out well...

Eldrigar answered almost immediately.

"You don't scare me, wizard. I know exactly what's going on here. You may call yourself ridiculous names, and pretend to be some kind of bumbling fool, but I realise now that I was the fool to underestimate you. I came looking for the legendary source, but how could I have known it would be in this shoddy little tower and owned by some mage scarcely worth the name and seemingly incapable of the simplest spell! I've been watching you, waiting for the moment when you were to return to your tower and reveal your true identity. That beggar in the street was me!"

"Whatever trick you were trying to pull in letting me get you out of that tower doesn't matter in the slightest now. I felt the shield around this place weakening when I sent my last attack. If you don't come out and fight me, I will unleash such hellish fire on you that the whole tower will be ground into dust. I will give you one minute to decide what to do."

The echoes of Eldrigar's voice died away. There was a pregnant pause.

"Was he talking about me?" I asked. Despite the imminent threat of utter annihilation, I kind of took exception to the "bumbling fool" part.

"Don't say a word!" said Grott, his face set in determination. "I'm not fooling around now, we really don't have time. Follow me!"

He leapt out of the room and disappeared down the stairs. I looked at the confused faces around me and decided there was little else I could do but follow him. I dashed down the stairs, along the hallway and into the kitchen, skidding to a stop. Grott was waiting there for me, beckoning frantically. The others were close behind. Grott led us quickly into the pantry at the back of the kitchen, and waved his hand across a spot on the floor. With a grating noise, a door slid open in the floor, revealing a set of stone steps winding down into the darkness. So that was where he'd been disappearing to! Grott dived down the steps and disappeared. I followed as quickly as I could - it was harder for me get down there, the passage way seemed designed for someone exactly Grott's size and I had to bend almost double to fit. Gorgrod wouldn't be coming, but I was aware of the others following close behind.

After what seemed a long while, but was probably only a matter of seconds, I suddenly found myself in a large, cellar like chamber, clad in neatly fitted grey stones and lit with a strange, fluctuating light. Grott was standing just ahead, back facing me, but what was behind him took my breath away.

Hovering in the very centre of the chamber was the most incredible sight. I can only describe it being as if there were a great rend in the whole fabric of space itself, just floating there in the centre of the room, a large dome built into the floor and roof to accommodate it. Pulsing light of every colour imaginable appeared to be leaking from it in innumerable strands that brightened and faded rhythmically as it appeared to open and close subtly. But it was the way it seemed you were looking at something that should have been measured in millions of miles, compressed to fit in a modest room that really blew your mind.

I don't normally swear, but I invented seven entirely new swear words on the spot.

Before I'd gathered my thoughts there was a rumbling sound and dust started to fall from the roof of the chamber as we felt the floor quake under our feet. Grott turned on me, wild eyed.

"Quick! Give me your hand, there's no time! I need a drop of your blood!" he shouted.

"What! Tell me what's going on!" I shouted back, totally confused but determined to finally get to the truth.

"OK! I'll tell you! This tower is the original home of the legendary wizard, Venedir Telvarin! He discovered and widened the great vortex you see before you, the source of his power! And if we don't move the tower in the next thirty seconds, Eldrigar's going to get to this source, which it appears he's started to tap, just like Telvarin, at which point the world will be as good as dead! Get it?! Now give me your hand!"

I stuck out my hand and gasped as Grott jabbed at it with a dagger he'd whipped from his clothing. Drops of blood beaded on the blade as I drew my hand back convulsively. A second later he had turned and flung the dagger deep into the heart of the vortex.

****

Well, I hope you enjoyed reading that, because it certainly was bloody stressful living through it, I can tell you. Good grief, the things I get up to these days! Anyway, part three will follow shortly. I've got a bit of time on my hands, hard to believe as it is having just read that. Oh well, see you next time!