Staff of Shigmar: Chapter 17, Part 4

28 July 2026

In today’s installment from the second book of our epic, Staff of Shigmar, we return to the chosen, having just received instructions from the founders, they now attempt to contact Klare and Rokwolf, and discover that they are blocked, for some reason. . . . (14 September 2015) 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 17, Part 4

Klaybear drew a small circle on the altar with the heel of his staff, the green glow of the emerald eye filling the room, then lifted it to form the arch. For a moment after the arch shimmered to life, they saw a flash of Klare’s face, but before they could determine if the look on her face was of fear or pain, the small archway went black. They exchanged puzzled and concerned looks. Klaybear tried again; when the arch shimmered to life for the second time, they got another glimpse of Klare’s face, sweat covered, streaks of dirt, and in pain, and they heard a split-second of her scream, cut off when the arch went black.

“I must go to her,” Klaybear said, withdrawing his staff so the small black arch winked out. He put his staff on the floor and started to draw a larger circle.

Thal put out a hand to stop him. “You cannot. If you tried to step through when the arch went black, I fear you would be caught in between, forever lost. Try to contact Rokwolf.”

A spasm of anger shot across the kailu’s face, then he slumped to the ground, both hands wrapped around and sliding down the staff; the light of the eye dimmed.

Thal looked from Klaybear to Blakstar. “You try,” he whispered.

Blakstar nodded, taking out his sword and imitating Klaybear’s actions, filling the room with golden light. When the arch shimmered to life, the space inside was completely black; they saw no glimpse of anything.

“This is not good,” Tevvy said, needlessly.

“Is it possible that we are still inside the tomb,” Thal said, “so still blocked?”

Blakstar shrugged. “You know more about teka-enhanced devices than I do.”

“Why don’t you and Tevvy go outside, and try it again, there,” Thal suggested.

Blakstar nodded, moving to the door; Tevvy followed, looking back at Klaybear, face wrinkled with concern. Bright sunshine stabbed into the tomb as the door opened and the two of them stepped out. Thal tried to coax Klaybear to his feet, and after several moments, Klaybear stood up.

“We must get to her,” Klaybear said dully, “she’s in trouble.”

Thal nodded. “Let’s go outside,” he said, “maybe Blakstar has gotten through.”

The kortexi stepped off the porch of the white stone building, squatting on one of the flat stones leading up to the porch. He drew the small circle again, concentrating on Klare. For the third time, they got a glimpse of her face, dirty, streaked with sweat, and heard a split-second of her scream of pain, then the arch went black. He tried again, concentrating on Rokwolf, and this time, he saw Rokwolf’s face, dirty and bruised, as if he had been beaten. His head lolled, and his eyelids fluttered open.

“Blakstar?” Rokwolf croaked. “How? I can only see your head.”

“No time to explain,” Blakstar hissed. “Where are you and Klare?”

Rokwolf’s face, which brightened when he saw Blakstar, darkened. “They have her; I’ve failed.”

His head drooped; his body shook as if he were silently sobbing.

“We’re coming to you,” Blakstar said. “If you can stay awake, we can open a doorway right to you.”

“No,” Rokwolf croaked, “there are too many; you’ll be trapped. They’ve already violated Klare.”

“What?” Blakstar growled, his face suddenly mottled. “Stay awake!” he exclaimed. “We’ll be there in moments.” He lifted the sword; Rokwolf’s face vanished. He drew a second archway, will-giver flaring brilliantly; Thal and Klaybear came out of the temple. Before either could say anything, a doorway to Rokwolf had opened, shimmering in the air, and the kortexi leapt through.

“Blakstar!” Tevvy exclaimed. “No, wait!” The archway winked out.

“What . . . ?” Thal started to ask, but Tevvy cut him off.

“Give me the staff!” Tevvy shouted. “I saw where Rokwolf is; I can open the doorway to him.”

Thal and Klaybear stood looking at him, unable to process what he was telling them.

“Klare’s in trouble,” Tevvy went on, holding out his hand, “they’ve been captured, and they’re . . . they’re . . . ,” he stammered, but he could not complete the sentence. He jumped to them and took the staff from Klaybear’s limp fingers.

“Klare?” Klaybear asked.

But Tevvy ignored him, opening the archway as he had seen the others do, with the image of Rokwolf clearly in his mind, the emerald eye glowed brightly in response to the awemi’s need.

The gray shimmering changed to Rokwolf, beaten and bruised, tied to a tree.

“Hurry!” Tevvy exclaimed, “before Blakstar is overwhelmed. Rokwolf said there were too many of them!”

Thal grabbed Klaybear’s arm and dragged him through the archway; Tevvy stepped through after them, and pushed the staff back into Klaybear’s hand, the green light of the stone dimming and going out as soon as Tevvy released it. A dagger appeared in his hand, and he sliced the ropes holding Rokwolf, who slumped to the ground, body wracked with sobs. They could hear shouts of fright and the clash of weapons to their left. . . .

Come back Thursday to learn the consequences of Blakstar’s rash actions. Until then, get a full ebook copy from Smashwords for free! If you prefer print, purchase your copy from the link provided. Good reading!