Chapter 4
Stone Made Flesh
AN 1217 (AZ 1454) - Early Summer
Outside Iakobin, Notos
The foul creatures occupying Iakobin were in retreat. It was a great slaughter. There was still no count of the Alliance's dead, but by Scipio's estimate, at least ten of the enemy was felled for every Notian who was lost. His circle of mages deserved no small share of the credit for that, but the sun was perhaps their greatest ally. The Darklanders were ill-suited for battle in the light of day. Had Rowland tried to retake the city at night, the battle would have gone much differently.
Seven of Scipio's circle lost their lives in the battle and some eighteen were wounded. Several more were called to assist the bands pursuing the fleeing enemy. That left about forty able-bodied mages with Scipio. Although they needed rest, now was not the time.
"Come, my friends," he told them. "Our work is far from finished."
Wearied though they were, his fellow mages heeded his call. The fields outside city and the interior of the city itself were littered with statues, but these were no common statues. They were the work of the dread Gorgon who commanded the Darklanders. Her head was now Rowland's trophy, but killing her did not break the curse. Hope was not yet lost, though.
Standing around a statue that was once one of Lord Garm's Nanoi, the mages looked to Scipio as he tapped the statue with his staff. Scipio took the opportunity to test the knowledge of young Epaphras, who had only recently been recognized as an adept.
"Tell me," the old master said, "what are the three stages of petrification?"
The well-studied Epaphras did not hesitate to reply, "Petrification of the surface, petrification of the flesh, and total petrification."
"And how do we distinguish them?"
"Petrification of the surface just creates a shell of stone around the subject," Epaphras said, gesticulating to illustrate the shell of stone made by petrification of the surface. "Most healthy creatures can break free with little effort. Petrification of the flesh turns the subject to stone, but only the flesh." He rested his hand on the stone Nanos and added, "Like this poor fellow here."
"And why is that?"
"The curse seems to distinguish living matter from dead matter and it is the living matter that absorbs the curse."
"And the third?"
"Total petrification turns all matter to stone, whether it be living or dead."
"Very good," Scipio replied. "Young Epaphras has reminded us of what we are dealing with here. The Gorgon has turned the people of the city, Lord Garm's Nanoi, and some of Rowland's men to stone before our captain put an end to her. As you can see, the Gorgon used petrification of the flesh on the victims. Thirteen days is not time enough to decay armor and clothing, so the bodies must have been stripped by the Darklanders for whatever reason. Our task is to restore those who have been turned to stone. Allow me to demonstrate."
Scipio held one hand over the head of the stone Nanos while waving his staff in slow circles and beginning his incantation. It did not long for him to feel the Gorgon's curse. The curse was rather like an earthenware pot and Scipio's power like a chisel. Through the motions of his hands and the words of his mouth, he chipped away at the curse. The Gorgon's power was great, so it took some time to finally break through. When he did so, the Nanos was once again living, breathing flesh and blood.
"Wut 'appened? Whar am Ah?" the dazed Nanos asked.
"You were under the stone curse," Scipio replied. "But the Darklanders have been beaten back. The one who cursed you is slain. Now it is our task to restore you and your brothers."
Proud though the Nanoi were, the warrior nodded his head—as much of a bow as their pride would permit—and said, "Ah'm obleeged t'ye."
"Perhaps someone can provide you with some clothes."
The Nanos looked down at himself and laughed.
"Wood'n wanna offen' no delicate een, now wood Ah? Har!"
Scipio permitted himself a low chuckle before returning to the task at hand.
"Come, my friends," he told his fellow mages. "There is much work that remains to be done."