Staff of Shigmar: Chapter 4, Part 2

27 March 2026

Last time, in the last installment of our epic, Staff of Shigmar: Book 2 of The Redemption, Headmaster Myron told his apprentice that he would meet them outside the walls of Shigmar, at the kailu secret entrance into the city; this week, the chosen gather in their sanctuary and share what has just happened to each. . . . (6 October 2014) We remind all readers that this book, Staff of Shigmar, as also the first book, is free for download from Smashwords! Glossary links: Book 2, Book 1

Chapter 4, Part 2

“How did he know?” Klaybear asked. He and Klare had arrived back in their sanctuary after the others, who had shared what they had found with Tevvy. They had just related to Klaybear and Klare the door they had found that led into what they thought must be the kailum teleport house in the northwest quarter of the city.

“How did who know?” Thal asked.

“The Headmaster,” Klaybear replied, “how did he know there was a way into the house from the sewers, a secret way that could only be opened by Blakstar?”

Thal shrugged. “Probably the same way the founders knew,” he said, “or maybe they left him instructions.”

“That’s possible,” Klaybear said, “there is a book kept by the Headmasters, a book that only the Headmaster can read.”

“Well why wouldn’t they have spoken more clearly,” Tevvy noted, “you know, like told us exactly where to find the keys.”

“The One told us where to find the next key,” Klaybear said, “in the tomb of the greatest kailu, which we have reasoned to be Shigmar and his staff.”

“We also now know,” Thal added, “that the morgle who is attacking Shigmar holds the rod of Melbarth, so we know where both of the other two keys are.”

Tevvy shook his head. “Why do we need to leave the city?” he asked. “Isn’t Shigmar’s tomb here?”

“No, Tevvy,” Klare said sweetly, “he retired to his hometown before he died, so that is where he is buried.” Klare entered the room in which she had been sleeping.

“So now we need to go to the tomb of Shigmar,” Thal noted.

Blakstar stood on the other side of the table, looking at the things on the shelf. “And we need to leave the area around the city,” he said, “before the morgle’s army is fully in place, or we never will leave.”

“We don’t have much time,” Thal noted, “before the morgle opens another door with Melbarth’s rod.”

Klare disappeared from view, and they heard the sound of a door opening. The three wethem and one awemi, looked in the direction of the sound, then back at each other. Thal spoke.

“So now all we need is the location of Shigmar’s tomb,” Thal said.

Klaybear shrugged. “The record only says that he was heading north when he left, carrying a cloth-wrapped, staff-sized bundle. It’s possible he returned to his estate in Kalbant.”

“How do we know he actually went there?” Tevvy asked. “How many supplies did he carry? Was he traveling by horse?”

“Those are odd questions,” Thal replied.

“Not really,” Tevvy said, “since if we knew how he traveled, and how many supplies he carried, we would narrow the area we need to search for this tomb.”

Thal raised one eyebrow. “Good thinking,” he said.

“Klare said that he was buried in her hometown,” Tevvy went on, “so with the knowledge of how much he carried, we could search the map for towns within the circle of distance he could have traveled. That would help us focus our search.”

“There is only one town,” Klaybear said, “that I know of, that is north of Shigmar: Kalbant, on the shore of Krystal Lake, where the Krystal River leaves the lake and flows south to Shigmar.”

“He could have turned another direction after getting out of sight of the city,” Tevvy said, “we cannot depend on him going straight north, since there is no record of him reaching his estate. For all we know, he could have turned south out of sight and circled the city, going somewhere else; that is why knowing how he traveled and how many supplies he carried will help.”

Klaybear shook his head. “As far as I recall from my history studies, the record does not give us that information.”

“Of course not,” Tevvy quipped, “that information might actually be useful.”

Klare stuck her head out of the door. “What information might be useful?” she asked.

“Well,” Tevvy said, “how Shigmar traveled from the city when he retired, how much food he carried, maybe even the location of his tomb.”

“Horse, one day, and Kalbant,” Klare replied with a smile. They all looked at her, stunned.

“How do you know?” Tevvy asked.

“Because,” she smiled, “he came from Kalbant, and so did I. Didn’t my husband share that information with you?”

“He did,” Thal replied, “but knew of no record that he actually arrived there.”

“That makes things easier,” Blakstar noted.

“I require the presence of my husband,” Klare said, still only showing her head in the doorway.

“What for?” Klaybear asked, suspicious of her request.

“I’ve just found the bathing rooms attached to this, our bedroom,” she replied, “and thought to take advantage of them. Since you, husband, have just been digging in the dirt, and are covered with both dirt and sweat, I thought bathing might be wise.” Her eyes went to the others. “I’m guessing that the other bedroom also has a bath, and I refuse to travel with dirty males, short and tall, handsome though they might be.”

“Don’t be fooled by the sugar,” Klaybear said to the others in a quiet voice, “her honeyed requests are not so subtle commands.”

“Klaybear, don’t be mean!” Klare replied even more sweetly.

“We don’t have time,” Blakstar noted.

“You said,” Klare smiled, “that we still had more than an hour before we needed to meet the Headmaster outside the walls, which gives all of you plenty of time to clean up.” Her head disappeared, but her voice followed. “Coming, dear?”

“Enjoy your baths,” Klaybear whispered as he walked to the bedroom.

“I’m becoming impatient,” Klare’s voice called.

Tevvy looked up at the white maghi and the kortexi. “If I ever begin to consider marriage,” he said softly, “say one word to me: Klarissa.”

Thal snorted; Blakstar shook his head and frowned. “I recognize that tone; my mother used that tone on me all the time. We better do what she says.”

Come back on Monday when our heroes attempt to leave the city by the secret way, coming up from the sewers and into the kailu safe house in the northwest sector of the city of Shigmar. Get a full ebook copy from Smashwords for free! If you prefer print, purchase your copy from the link provided. Good reading!