and magic to break through the barrier. He also told him that the way it was structured, there was no way that anyone hiding could be burned out along with the castle. Although it was connected, the passageway and refuge that held Marenon’s Map was completely sealed away from the rest of Jekyll Rock. It was a large bunker within a much larger fortress.
Finally, they reached the bottom and came to a large wooden door. “It’s been years since I’ve stepped foot in here,” Garland said.
Together they opened the wooden frame and stepped into a massive room. Almost instantly there was illumination in the room from an unseen source, revealing a comfortable living area. On the two sides of the room were broad archways leading to corridors with rooms. Garland explained that there were various living quarters, a rather large kitchen and other amenities throughout. There was another archway opposite the entrance. Past that particular archway was a passage leading to one small door.
“What’s that lead to?” Julian asked pointing.
“That, Julian, is why we have come down here.”
“Marenon’s Map,” Julian said as wonder and excitement lit his face.
Garland nodded and together they walked through the comfortable living area and through the opposite archway. The hall was long and dark. The door at the end was shrouded in shadows, almost invisible. When they reached the door they stood for a moment.
Garland gave a long look to Julian. “What you have seen today and what you are about to see is strictly private. I show you all of this not because you have earned my trust nor that I have found you to be worthy of this information. Simply put, you are the only one that can help me. You are the only one that there is to trust.”
Julian raised an eyebrow. “Thanks for the vote of confidence,” he said.
“Consider it a return favor for your vote of confidence in front of the council that I created.”
Julian could feel his cheeks go red. He had treated Garland horribly in the beginning. There had been no call for it, but at the time he had only been mindful of his mission. To Julian’s surprise, Garland simply opened the wooden door without passwords or locks.
“If one has made it this far into the secret lair, there would be no stopping that person from getting to Marenon’s Map,” Garland said, sensing Julian’s questioning stare.
The open door revealed another enormous chamber, except this time it was not one built for comfort. It was specifically built for Marenon’s Map. The room looked as if it were made out of the rock facing itself, which Julian imagined was the case. The gray, stone walls, plain and undecorated were identical accept for one. The wall opposite of the doorway stood at a slant with jagged, rocky edges. Several feet in front of the wall was what looked like a sundial without the upper attachment to catch the sun’s rays. The hexagonal top of the stone table had six carved, round slots around the sides. Each of them was painted a specific color. Julian figured this was where each medallion would have to be placed for Marenon’s Map to operate.
“Marenon’s Map is the ultimate weapon,” Garland said. “Each medallion allows us to view the corresponding land area at any distance, close or far. With all six medallions, one would be able to see when an enemy is coming, or in our case, search for a missing person. It is the eyes of Marenon and no one can detect its magic, so you can watch with anonymity. It is a dangerous tool, but advantageous nonetheless. In any hands this could be used to destroy an enemy. You can find their weak spots easily. You could direct full-scale wars within the confines of this room.”
Julian had heard this much about the map. It truly would make for a great tool in the Dunarian’s mission.
“You need Canor’s medallion to see Canor,” Garland continued. “You need Mudavé’s medallion to see Mudavé. And we need Timugo’s medallion to see where Silas and the others are at this instant,” he said glancing at Julian’s cloak where the medallions sat. “They wouldn’t be within the Stühoc’s territory yet, I don’t believe,” he explained.
Julian hesitantly reached for the medallions in his cloak and handed Garland the purple-jeweled medallion of Farlaweer, then the white-jeweled medallion of Timugo. Garland took them in gracious acceptance.
He placed Farlaweer’s medallion in the purple crevice, letting the chain dangle off the side. Instantly, like