MageLife (22 page)

The sunlight made the trees glow green, sunbeams created clouds of flickering motes along the well-trod track. I let go of Sophia’s hand and she scampered off down the path, dragging Airis along, to be fair he didn't resist much.

I made my way at a leisurely pace. It was a nice sunny day, no kid was going to make me run. The others were still behind me, Jase and Avery chatted quietly. I heard heavy footsteps behind me not quite muted by the birdsong that drifted from the trees above us.

“That boy is different,” Fion’s gruff voice sounded from just behind and above my left shoulder.

I didn't turn, it wasn't a question. I just kept my eyes on Airis and Sophia chasing each other around, maybe Fion would realise I didn't want to walk about it. A hand landed on my shoulder.

“Yes he’s different,” was all I said in response to the touch. I did turn my head to look at the older mage.

He had a distant look on his face as he stared at Airis. It was as if I could see the wheels of his thoughts turning as he puzzled his way through the mystery that was Airis.

“Sophia, Airis don't go far, stay in sight, we need to set up,” Avery called from the back.

“How about over there?” Jase asked.

I looked back and saw Jase had his right arm out, pointing across his body, to the left of the path, his left was holding Avery’s hand. I averted my eyes and looked rather quickly to where Jase had pointed. I didn't want to intrude on a private moment. I felt a strange pang in my chest as I turned, I really wished Lyphia could have made it.

The area Jase had gestured to was a small glade just off the path. A slight rising mound covered in thick but low grass. The gentle slope was ringed by large trees in almost a perfect circle. The sun shone down on the bright grass. It was almost dazzling after the shade of the path.

I nodded more to myself than the others. I hefted the basket as I changed direction slightly taking us off the path.

“Sophia, grab Airis and get over here, we are setting up. You can help first then you can play,” I called as I reached the peak of the tiny hill, it was barely a foot above the path. I stood at the top surveying all beneath me,

Sophia was running dragging an unresisting Airis by an arm, her hair was flying out behind her in a vivid fan of colour, her cheeks were flushed and she was breathing hard. Airis in comparison was a total contrast his dark hair flowed never a strand out of place. Not out of breathe at all.

“I’m here, hurry up, I wanna play,” Sophia said breathlessly.

“Here is the basket,” I said handing it to her after taking the large blanket out. Avery had helpfully packed it on top of the food. “I will lay this out.”

I took a few steps back. So did everyone else. Then I flicked my wrists with two of the corners of the blanket tightly gripped in my hands. The deep blue fabric flew out as a great sheet, it opened wide. Like a piece of the sky falling to earth as it drifted down to lay on the top of the green knoll.

Airis knelt down to tug it straight and smooth the wrinkles out.

Sophia quickly placed the basket in the centre of the blanket, her tiny hands darting in to take out the cloth wrapped parcels of food, she didn't unwrap anything, just rapidly emptying the contents of the basket with a barely restrained desire to be running and jumping and catching butterflies, or whatever it was young girls did at a picnic.

She looked at me. I nodded, and she was off dragging Airis with her as he struggled to regain his footing. For a stone being he really was clumsy, that must have been my influence.

Avery and Jase were the first to sit down. Fion joining them shortly, I watched Sophia skipping about, my heart lightened a touch to see her so genuinely happy. A deep fear had taken root the moment I had taken her from the remains of her parents’ home, that she would never be able to be truly happy again. I wasn't kidding myself, she wasn't suddenly over her parent’s death, but that fear was gone now.

I sat down on the edge of the blanket, to try to enjoy the bright sun and fresh air.

Avery was the perfect hostess, unwrapping the food and handing it out, even on plates that Sophia had neglected to get out of the basket. I got passed a place with some bread and cheese, what looked ham and a strange cup of juice. The cup was ceramic, but where the opening would normally be was a sort of spout, never mind. I placed my lips around it and tilted my head, the fluid hit my tongue in a wash of freshness. Like tasting sunlit grapes. I lowered the cup and took a look at Avery who was watching me with a rather intent gaze.

“What is this?” I asked her with a gasp.

“Sunlight drops, mood lightening wine. It’s not very alcoholic, but it’s great for lifting moods. I found a bottle or two in the cellars. I thought it might be a nice treat. Even the children can have a small measure.”  Avery said with a large grin. It clearly worked on her. She had relaxed wonderfully.

Fion stiffened suddenly, Jase, and I turned to look at him then I felt it. I jumped up.

A shifting in the magic, a wave. Headed straight for us. It wasn't strong, but it didn't need to be. We were out in the woods with no protection.

At the edge of the woods I caught a flicker of movement, I turned but it was gone. “Sophia! Airis! Get back here now,” I screamed, fear pushing a touch of magic into my voice. It echoed through the grove with deep rumble like the voice of a storm.

I couldn't see them, but I caught another flicker of movement in the woods.

“Jase protect Avery, get Fion to help if he snaps out of it in time.” I said shortly.

Jase nodded and stood murmuring reassurances to Avery. Fion continued to mutter to himself.

I spun trying to catch the flickers out, they were small, fast and there was clearly more than one.

I activated my reading as I readied my magic, holding it firmly.

With my enhanced sight I could see Airis like a beacon on the edge of the wood, glyphs flowed over his stone form, he had dropped his boy shape. Cradled in his arms was Sophia, pale and limp, I couldn't get a read on her but she wasn't moving.

My heart froze.

All around them were shattered bodies of gnomes, their blue colouring unmistakable.

“Airis, run you fucking idiot, you’re her protector. Get her out of danger. Take her to Rysan It’s a wave, she can’t be out here,” I screamed, my magic, a torrent around me as I shot blast after blast through the earth, tremors that knocked the remaining gnomes about

Airis’ eyes blazed with power, he nodded towards me and ran. When I say ran, it was like watching a mountain suddenly grow legs and move like the wind. A few moments he was gone, out of my sight.

The gnomes were massing, there had to be more than twenty, their matted fur and glittering eyes furious that their prize had been snatched from them turned their attention to me.

I spared a glance to Jase, he was holding Avery tightly his arms wrapped around her his head resting on hers, he looked to me, a sharp serious look filled with anger. His own power swelled around him, fire and earth, flecks of stone rose around him, heated to little more than cinders, shimmers appeared warping the air as the cinders flew out, a rain of blazing embers hitting gnome after gnome.

Fion was still muttering but his power was rising, so complicated that even with my reading couldn't tell me anything useful about it. Shapes that defied all reason like tattoos appeared on his skin, glyphs that were so small and densely packed they looked like scales.

I had no idea about Fion, so I turned my attention back to the gnomes. A few remained, more than enough to finish us if the wave didn't.

I was feeling the pressure of the coming wave on my links, my magic was suddenly thick and sluggish, as my links shook, they were twined around each other like the threads of a rope. They held each other together. I drew on what I could, which was far less than I had hoped. I drove it hard into the ground at my feet. I used it roughly, no time for finesse. Twisted spires of stone lanced from the ground under the gnomes. I was sagging as the magic took my stamina. I had enough for a final strike if I was careful, but it might be my last if I wasn't.

The wave hit, magic howled. Avery screamed as her link was shattered. Jase screamed as his shield buckled, fire washing back on him and Avery. Fion grunted and smiled, a vacant smile and raised his arms to the sky. A swarm of dark shapes rose from his bare arms, a dome of sigils I realised, as the giant mage poured his most personal power, some would say his soul into the air. The sun dimmed, and the wind stilled. The screams stopped. Everything stopped. I stopped.

Chapter 20

Darkness

I blinked, it didn't help. It was still dark.

I wasn't outside. The air wasn't moving, I had the feeling of being enclosed, you know the one. I found myself in a very dark place. I was lying face down on what felt like solid rock, rough and cool. I pulled myself up and took a look around.

I couldn't see. I activated my reading. Nothing.

Huh, that's weird, I thought. Then I noticed something else. I couldn't feel the magic, at all.

I stood up hesitantly, I raised my arms to feel around to make sure I didn't hit anything. Or I tried.

I was stopped by a pressure around my wrists, I could move my arms just not far. I brought my hand to my other wrist and felt. Cool metal, thick and what could be...

Chains.

I had woken up in a cold dark room in chains.

Don't panic, I thought. Panic never helps. Think. How did I get here? Where is here.

I cocked my head as I thought.

I could hear something.

Even better, I could see something.

There was a faint glow of yellow light flickering from the other side of what I could now see was a door of bars. Footsteps. A shadow as the light drew closer, slowly, so slowly.

A figure carrying a torch. Young, about my age. Tall and slim, with short hair. I couldn't make much else out

“You’re awake, I see,” he said in a deep, deep rumble that was startling, I would never have expected such a voice out of such a slim man. It was familiar, but I couldn't place it.

I attempted to speak, but my throat was dry. “Who?” I rasped out.

“That doesn't matter, what matters is what you and your colleagues were doing,” he said as he moved the torch closer to get a better look at me,

I flinched and stepped back, the light from the flames too bright after my time in the dark.

“Look at me, boy!” he said sharply.

I blinked, my eyes watering as I tried to look at him. “Why am I in a cell?” I asked.

“Because I will it so watch your tongue or ill cut it out," he informed me, his voice harsh. I recognised it.

“Try it,” I challenged him. I lunged forward snarling my sudden anger to be brought up short by the chains.

He stumbled back as step before stopping. I had seen the fear on his face.

“I suggest you mind your manners, I do have your friends,” he said, the rumble absent this time.

I couldn't talk, I was snarling and growling like a maddened animal. I pulled so hard on my chains I could feel the metal dig into my flesh I ignored it. I wanted to tear the bastard’s throat out. I didn't care. I was pulling so hard on my links, that the feedback floored me. There was no magic here, I thought as pain roared through me.

The bastard laughed, it echoed from the stone.

I managed to move into a one knee kneeling position, panting. My hair was loose. It hung down around my face as I looked at the floor.

“I’m going to kill you, and if you harm my friends, I will make it last a long time,” I said softly, I wasn't sure he heard, but his shadow seemed to flinch.

“Your friends are in my hands, you are in a cell in chains and you dare to threaten me! You have spirit, boy, but you’re a fool,” the man said with a laugh. “I hold all the cards and you spit in my eye.”

I could hear his footsteps retreating taking the light with them. His laugh stayed echoing in my ears

I stayed where I was, listening, waiting as I racked my brain for clues. How did we get here and why were we locked up. It turns out I didn't have answers, but I did have the glimmerings of a plan.

I shuffled over the rough floor of my cell, which was set into a very natural cave. On my hands and knees, I crawled. Following my chains, to their anchors. They had to be set in something. The floor dug into the tender flesh of my hands and was harsh on my knees. I couldn't risk standing and making the chains rattle while someone could be so close. I found the anchor, a simple ring projecting out of what felt like a massive slab of metal sunk into the stone locked to my chains by a very large, heavy lock. So much for my original plan of wiggling the screws out of the stone. I couldn’t lift the metal let alone move with it if I managed.

I scooted round the other side of it gently, so I could keep an eye on the door. I felt the lock, manoeuvred it so it was flat on the plate. I did my best to line up my wrist restraints to the edge of lock, but it was dark. I raised my arms. I brought them down with all the strength I had in my body. The sound of metal striking metal sounded, loud, echoing. Sparks flared, that blinded me.  I clenched my teeth to keep from screaming out as my arm caught in the operation. I blinked away the sudden tears that welled. No time for weakness, staring towards the door. I looked for light, listened for footsteps. I waited some more, I had no clue how long I had, but they would come for me eventually I needed to be ready. I rose my arms again. I could feel warmth trickling under the cold metal. Blood, I assumed. Down again. Wait again. Three more goes, that felt like forever as time crept along. My arms were numb, the vibrations throbbed through my bones. Sweat made my scalp itchy and drops ran into my eyes, I blinked quickly to clear them. I rose my arms again they were so heavy. I blinked. I felt dizzy. I slammed the manacle into the lock. In the light from the sparks I could see the lock had separated. I felt giddy. I was free.

I took a deep breath. I wasn't free. I still had the door to get through and find Fion, Jase, and Avery. But it was progress. I pulled my chains out of lock gently, my hands shook. I gathered up my chains in my arms. I crawled back towards the door, slowly. The clunk of the chains was making it hard to listen for footsteps. I guessed when I was at about the previous limit of the chains. I knelt on one knee again. I grabbed one of the chains and wrapped it around my arm, looped around and around. I did the other arm. I placed the ends in my hands. I left a few hands free, which is hard by feel alone, to dangle from my hands. I hoped that would fool whoever came for me. I was feeling weak and woozy. I tried to keep my mind focused on the plan, but I drifted to thoughts of Sophia in Airis’ arms limp and pale, she is my responsibility. I will make this right, I will do what I have to and get back to her. My tears threatened again, but I held them back. I focused on where I remembered the door was and I waited.