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Lazarus suddenly felt dizzy and moved toward a stone chair near the far wall of the interior.
All this was too much for him. "What can we do? I have freed Morgana and she will come here to Earth."
Merlin held up his hand. "Well, you don't know everything. She still needs me."
"But she is free."
The great wizard smirked. "Morgana is free, but she is still partially a spirit. And she still needs me, and also Earth's hidden power." Merlin stretched his arms to the side. "I can't believe I'm finally free from that prison. Morgana is very smart and devious."
Lazarus merely nodded. He didn't want to face the other Alpha Mages. "What is Earth's hidden power?"
"The talisman Excalibur is the key to using Earth's power. This hidden power is inside the center of the planet. We need to get Excalibur first, before Morgana finds it," Merlin said.
"How do we get out of the Blessed Isles?"
"Well, we just need to travel to the entrance," Merlin said.
"The Guardians will not be happy when we exit."
"Don't worry. We will think of something. But first there is a faster way to travel," Merlin said. "Please stand."
Lazarus did as he was told. He wasn't feeling better, but he wanted to start doing something or he would feel depressed and crazy. Maybe, if they got Excalibur, Lazarus could right all the wrongs he had done.
A portal appeared before them. The surface showed the dark caverns and the exit. Merlin entered and he followed. Instantly, they were back in the Caves of the dead. A dark blur came from the sides of the walls.
"It is the guardians," Lazarus said,
Merlin walked before him. The stone knights attacked him. Merlin blew something out of his hands. It was like dust, but it was golden and it struck the stone knights. The guardians stopped suddenly and stared at them.
Merlin said, "We have exited, and you don't have to fight us anymore. We will not go back to the Blessed Isles. You can go back to your positions."
The stone knights nodded and walked back to their positions at the front doorway of the Blessed Isles. Lazarus shook his head. He wondered how Merlin had done that.
"Could you please teach me magic?"
"There is no time right now. And you seem to be doing fine without my teachings."
"I know," he said.
Then Lazarus realized his friends were not there, as he thought they would be. He scanned the dark cavern. "I had friends waiting for me here, but they're gone."
Merlin furrowed his brow. He waved his hands around the area. Suddenly, all around them glowing blue and red lights appeared.
Merlin bent on one knee and inspected the lights. "There was a fight against the ghosts. But they escaped." Suddenly Merlin stopped and turned around. "It was a trap. Your friends escaped, but they are now captured."
Lazarus didn't like the sound of that and he wished he had the magical knowledge to create a spell like Merlin had.
"Can we help them?" Lazarus asked.
"Yes, but we need to have a plan. They are waiting for us. And the wizard holding them is powered by Morgana. I don't like this." He looked around. "Morgana is a very clever person. This wizard has the fabled sword of omens. It will not be an easy fight. And he is already waiting for us."
Lazarus felt like his world was falling apart. It was like when the Bastions were destroyed and he roamed the broken city of Los Angeles.
Merlin said, "Don't worry, young Mage. You will help me."
Suddenly, a glowing portal opened up before them. Merlin suddenly conjured fireballs in his hands. The portal changed into a scene. Lazarus saw the face of the orc wizard, Bruen, standing there with his friends tied up with some type of glowing magic.
Bruen said, "We have been waiting for you. Don't try to surprise me. Your lackey, Lazarus, is no match for me." Bruen held a sword in his hands. It was thin but glowed an odd green. "Merlin, we will be waiting. Come out and face me, old man."
The portal disappeared. Merlin was quiet. Lazarus wanted to say something, but he sensed the great Mage was contemplating something else.
Merlin said, "Lazarus, focus your magic. I sense this orc wizard has other creatures at his command."
"You can defeat this wizard," Lazarus said, though his voice sounded weak and unsure.
Merlin smiled. "This sword of omens is more than a mere weapon. It imbues the user with almost unlimited powers, but the sword has its own mind and cannot be obeyed by its user. To master such a weapon would make this Mage a powerful and strong foe. I thought the Elves had destroyed it." He turned to him. "I don't know, you Lazarus. But I can see the power you possess. I can also tell that you have kinship with me and also,"—he placed a hand closer to him—"King Arthur." Merlin shook his head. "Wow, with your lineage we can defeat anything. Are you ready, young wizard?"
Lazarus merely nodded.
Merlin waved his hands in a concentric pattern and a light pierced his sight. Merlin and Lazarus stood on a high plateau overlooking a valley below. They were not in front of the doorway to the Caves of the Dead, but somewhere else. Bruen was standing directly across from them. Lazarus couldn't see his friends until he heard Cindy gasp. They were being guarded by a group of orc soldiers, fifteen in all. Bruen held up the sword.
