Biff was standing at the front door. He barked out one word, “Yellow!”

  The guards drew weapons and created a protective circle around me.

  “I’ll need open space to see and talk with Sandor. Biff, please arrange the front rank, which will need to move a little to the side.”

  He nodded, and they stepped aside, but they were still in weapon range.

  Sandor entered. He looked scared and disheveled, not his normally neat and meticulous self.

  He stood at the door and waited for Biff to give him permission to advance.

  Bella, is he clear? I asked.

  He is scared, Gwydion. They all are. Scared, angry, confused. Their emotions make it difficult to read, but I do not sense anything in him that would suggest harm to you.

  “Let him approach, Biff,” I said out loud.

  Biff nodded to Sandor, but his hands crackled in their magical gauntlets.

  Sandor turned and walked slowly toward me. Biff walked one step behind and to his left. Sandor was left-handed.

  “Stop,” Biff commanded when Sandor was ten feet from me.

  The journeyman alchemist stopped and stared at me. “I tried to warn you, Patron. But I was under a guild compulsion.”

  “I understand,” I said softly. “I picked up that you were trying to tell me to leave. I do not hold you responsible for the actions of the masters.”

  He relaxed visibly, and then he teared up as he said, “They killed my master, the guildmaster, and two other masters in front of us. I had no idea they were necromancers. It was terrible. They threatened the apprentices and all our families. It was terrifying.”

  Bella, is he telling the truth? I asked.

  He is speaking the truth as he understands it.

  What does that mean? I asked.

  Believing in something does not mean it is true, accurate, or even morally correct. I can sense whether someone believes what is being said, but that does not tell me if it is true. She answered.

  That’s good enough for me. I said.

  Sandor kept talking. It was as if a dam had broken, and he could not stop himself. He told about how the guildmaster and others were turned into ghouls and were able to use some of their magic and weapons. He told about a conversation he overheard where the same was planned later for the journeymen, and that the apprentices were to be fed to the undead or sacrificed in some ritual they were working on. He told about a tunnel to the Undercity from the lower storage room where all their valuable magical potions were kept, and finally how he and other journeymen fought the ghoul guildmaster to escape out the front door with the apprentices they were able to gather. But not all of them made it out.

  “I used your rings to defeat the ghoul,” Gwydion. “If you had not given them to me, we would all still be in there.” He looked miserable. “I had to kill my master.”

  “Your master was murdered by the necromancer. You removed the animation of evil that tormented your master’s body. You don’t have to be proud, but don’t you dare be ashamed of what you did. It saved the lives of your friends.” I replied.

  As Sandor worked out his feelings and my words, I asked Bella, Bella, are you sensing any change in him?

  He feels better that he told you all this. I do not sense any danger from him.

  I nodded to Biff, who relaxed slightly. I walked up and put my hand on Sandor’s shoulder. “You are safe here, my friend, and I will help you rebuild your guild. We need you back on the team. Are you with us?” I asked.

  He burst into tears. “Yes, Patron. Yes!”

  I asked him to go to his quarters and get cleaned up. I promised him that I would meet with each of the others one at a time.

  And we did. Biff brought them in one at a time based on their lineup. Each was scared, angry, and confused.

  Near the end of the line, just as I thought we were getting comfortable, that the stories were consistent and all was okay, the trap slammed closed.

  A thin, sickly, and malnourished apprentice walked forward. He was the youngest of the group, and he had tear streaks down a dirty face. He appeared tired and frightened like the others, but Bella projected a thought much like a yell.

  Poison ring!

  She must have sent it to Biff as well, because as I took a step back, his gauntleted hand grabbed the apprentice's outstretched arm, and I heard a bone snap as he lifted the apprentice into the air.

  The boy screamed, and a change came over him like a spell had been countered or released. He was ferocious and struggled madly to get released. His eyes turned bloodshot, and he foamed at the mouth, yelling that his master would find us and we would all perish.

  His other hand clawed at Biff’s arm, drawing a little blood but not doing much serious harm. The whole thing was very unsettling.

  Steven cast a spell that calmed the apprentice, and Biff removed what looked like a family ring with a crest that he had been permitted to keep wearing. The ring had a concealed needle with some kind of toxin that Bella assured us would be fatal to humans.

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  Steven also healed the boy’s arm but he was taken by three Watch soldiers to a holding cell in the Keep. No other troubles arose from the other apprentices or journeymen. They appeared to be sincere and uncorrupted.

  As the apprentice was led away, Steven asked, “What will happen to him?”

  “I don’t know,” I said. “The Duke will get a report and then decide if there is any healing or counseling that can be done for him.”

  Steven didn’t ask what would happen if nothing could be done to save the apprentice. Neither of us wanted to think about it.

  “What next?” Biff asked.

  After learning about the deaths of the other alchemists and that, without doubt, the tower was in the hands of our enemy, there was only one course for me to take. Bella, please update Isaac and tell him I am about to confiscate the entire potion supply of the alchemist tower, and thank him for the emergency gems. I plan to use a 49pt emerald to summon a legendary elemental.

  She replied quickly. Done. He said to be careful. Those elementals are nothing like the ones below them that he had mastered before. She paused. He is right, Gwydion. I sense a great power in each of those Archmage gems. They are not to be used without extreme need.

  Thank you, Bella. I replied. But it did not deter me.

  I walked over to the vault and to the far back, where a high shelf held a plain wooden box with a palm imprint on its lid. It was out of normal reach and was not a box I had anticipated seeking until the goblins arrived. I removed it, set it on a nearby shelf, and placed my palm upon it. I stated formally, “I am Gwydion Istari and I have great need.”

  The lid opened, and before me rested five, 49pt elemental gemstones with a sixth 49pt sorcery amethyst taken from Jade. I picked up the emerald, closed the lid while being careful not to touch the amethyst, and placed the box back in its secure location in the vault.

  I walked out of the vault and down the nearby winding stairs to the lower level, deep in concentration and preparation.

  Bella, please ask everyone down here who is able to walk away from their work to come to the back by the summoning circle. I asked.

  Half the room was already gathered at the back by the time I had walked down the stairs and made my way over. Most of the rest, not working at a forge, joined them soon after.

  “I’m about to try something dangerous,” I said. “Well, dangerous to me. If it works, I will need all of you to pick up some objects that start to appear in the summoning circle and move them to the back corner near all the alchemy supplies. For now, everyone, please stand back a good 10 yards or more. Just in case.”

  Nobody questioned my directions, but there were some concerned looks back and forth. Our work was never exactly safe, and if I had asked for an extra level of caution, then they knew something was up.

  When the last had moved thirty feet or more away, I spoke with Bella. You know what I am planning?

  Of course, it is a bit reckless, which has been your style lately.

  I wasn’t looking for commentary, just confirmation. But as usual, she was looking out for me.

  Do you understand why I am going to approach this the way that I am? I asked.

  Because you feel it is more likely to work. That respect is preferable to force. And that if you end up there someday, you will receive equal treatment.

  Right. I said, surprised at just how well she understood me.

  Like I said, reckless. She replied. Creatures of power rarely care for others, but merely for the acquisition of more power.

  I would like you to make your presence known. You are the dominant being here, and I want to make sure it knows that. Do not act in any way that might be construed as hostile. Merely be. You are the true threat here.

  She was silent. I may have asked for an impossibility. So you want me to be like a big, mean dog but only growling a little? She asked, annoyed.

  Well, maybe. I never saw you as a mean dog, more like a great big giant bear.

  I like that better. She said, mollified.

  A panda.

  Not funny. She replied.

  Ok. Are you ready? I asked.

  She sighed mentally. I may not be able to react fast enough to stop it should it decide to attack. I will stop it afterwards, but then, you know. It would be too late for you.

  It was my turn to sigh. I’m sorry about the panda comment, Bella. It’s just that you are both dangerous and adorable at the same time on occasion.

  She was silent for a moment. I am ready, Gwydion. She finally said.

  Should I do this from within the sealed summoning circle? I asked her.

  If you do, I will not be able to act. As dangerous as your plan is, bringing it here but not charging the summoning circle is the only option. Unless you just summon it in the circle.

  That defeats the purpose. I said.

  But it is safer. Yes, I am ready. She repeated.

  I focused on the 49pt emerald that I borrowed from Isaac and The Tower. I held it in the palm of my hand. I used my ability to search into the gem, but it was already affixed to summon a legendary earth elemental, a lord of its realm. There was only one effect possible.

  Isaac had not disapproved of my plan, but thought the risk was pretty high with not much chance of success.

  I had sensed far less magic in the alchemist tower than was typical of a guild hall. It was not extradimensional, and there were far fewer masters to work on maintenance and upkeep than I presume would be necessary. Their defenses were sparse, brutal, and psychological. I thought this plan had a decent chance of success.

  We are about to find out. Bella noted.

  I reached into the gem and called for the elemental.

  One moment, the circle was clear, and in the next, a presence was in it that seemed to bend the candlelight toward it. The creature had such a presence that even I felt drawn toward it.

  Steady. Bella urged.

  “You dare summon me, little human mage? You must desire your death!” It bellowed.

  “Actually, I was hoping you would be willing to do me a favor. It is completely your choice, of course.” I stated calmly.

  It paused; whatever threats it was working up to insult and intimidate me were forgotten.

  “What is this, a mage trick?” It asked, once more, building up anger and steam to threaten me some more.

  “No, lord of the elements, I truly seek your favor. Hear me out and if you choose not to help, then I will send you back. I just thought you might be curious why I asked you here.” I said simply.

  “You did not ask, you summoned. You compelled. You-” It realized that it was not bound.

  It leaned down closer to me. “You forgot to bind me, little mortal. That will be your death.”

  “I did not forget. I honor you as a lord and equal, and wish to treat you with the respect you deserve.”

  It paused again. Then it said more carefully, but still with disdain, “We are not equals.”

  “In some ways, you are correct, lord of stone and rock. In others, less so. I am mortal, and you are immortal. In that you are far superior.”

  “It is so.” The elemental said in satisfaction.

  “And yet, do you doubt, in this place and at this time, that I lack the power to destroy your powers? I may not be able to destroy your immortality, but do you doubt I lack the power in my demesne that I could not strip you of your power and send you back the least of your kind?”

  It stared hard at me and clearly sensed Bella. It withdrew slightly into itself and became smaller by a small amount.

  “I acknowledge this. So much for your respect.” It spat small pebbles as it spoke.

  “And, lord of pressure and grinding, if I were equally in your realm, standing before you in your demesne, do you doubt that, filled with all my might and wit and magical tools, you would lack the power to strip me of my mortality and leave so little remaining that it would barely be worth remembrance?”

  “Nothing of you would remain for remembrance to cling to, lowly mortal.”

  I nodded. “And that is why I state that in some ways we are equal. We are both lords of our demesne with the power of life, death, and mysteries. This is why I treat you as an equal and with the respect two lords should pay one another. I cannot speak for other mages, or their purposes, or your experiences with them over the ages. I speak now to you, lord to lord.”

  It stared at me. “You are correct about at least one thing, mortal mage.”

  “And what is that mighty lord of the earthly realm?”

  “I am curious. Speak quickly before I depart.”