by J. M. Briggs
“‘Just bad memories’ huh?” Alex asked. Nicki snorted in response.
Despite her reservations, Alex and Nicki calmly climbed into her car after stowing their bags in the back seat. As Alex pulled out of her spot she found her mom’s dark blue car waiting for them by the exit of the parking lot. Nicki wisely stayed quiet as Alex tightened her grip on the steering wheel and told herself to stay calm before pulling out of the parking lot and into traffic. The trip across the river and into the tree covered hills outside of the main area of Ravenslake was usually very short, but this time it seemed to drag on and on. The sight of Morgana’s house and Aiden’s small blue truck was both welcome and unpleasant at the same time.
“Easy Alex,” Nicki said. “Merlin and Morgana can help answer some of their questions.”
“They didn’t really ask much when I told them.” Alex’s grip on the steering wheel tightened as the car rumbled over the gravel of the driveway. “It just sort of… I don’t know; it wasn’t ignored exactly, but…”
“It’s a lot to take in, even with a practical demonstration,” Nicki reassured her. “And it’s not your fault. This is just going to be a process.”
Their car came to a stop and Nicki grabbed both of their bags like nothing was wrong. Looking over her shoulder, Alex focused on her father’s face as he brought their car to a stop behind Aiden’s truck. Her mother was out of the car first, but the sound of the front door opening made Alex look sharply towards the house. Morgana was in the doorway and her face showed surprise only for a moment before she looked towards Alex. Swallowing thickly and licking her dry lips, Alex rushed up the stairs to Morgana with Nicki on her heels.
“I’m sorry,” Alex whispered to Morgana as she reached the waiting professor. “They just showed up.”
“Worst possible day.” Morgana sighed, but she smiled calmly if not warmly at Alex’s parents as they approached. “I suppose Merlin and I should have expected that sooner or later your worry and curiosity would compel you to Ravenslake. Please come in; we’ll try to answer any questions that you might have.”
“Relax, Alex,” Nicki said softly. “You aren’t being led to your execution.”
“This way,” Morgana called to her parents, leading them inside.
Morgana paused in the entryway to allow her guests to shrug off their coats. As soon as she had done so Nicki vanished towards the guest bedroom with their bags, leaving Alex alone with her folks and Morgana. If the older mage was distressed by the turn of events she showed no sign of it and gestured them into the living room. Aiden and Bran were already seated in armchairs with cups of tea in front of them on the coffee table. There were a full tea service, a plate of cookies, and a platter of small sandwiches waiting for them along with a seated Merlin, who merely raised an eyebrow. Nicki returned a moment later through the kitchen and leaned against the doorway to watch the proceedings.
“Since we have guests I suggest we set up watches,” Merlin said calmly. “Bran, Aiden if you wouldn’t mind keeping look out on the porch in opposite directions, and Nicki please keep an eye on the back.”
Her three fellow mages exchanged slightly irritated but also understanding looks. Aiden snagged another cookie from the plate and headed off towards the front door with Bran behind him. This time Bran didn’t even bother taking his cane with him and Alex saw her mother eyeing his leg with interest. As they both moved out of view and Nicki went out through the kitchen, her mom shook her head and focused her attention on the two professors seated across from them.
For a moment no one spoke as Alex slumped into a seat and tried not to fidget. Her parents looked frazzled but determined. They glanced her way a couple of times as they gathered their thoughts, but were focused on the two mages in front of them. Finally, her father removed his glasses and cleaned them off before putting them back on and looking intently at Morgana.
“Are you really Morgana le Fey?” Her dad was staring at Morgana in an awkward blend of disbelief and wonder. “And you’re Merlin?”
“I am the basis of the mythological figure that you’re familiar with,” Morgana replied. Settling back in the armchair, she took a sip of her tea and studied Alex’s parents. “I’m afraid that with the changing and reinterpreting of the myths in which I appear, much of what you have heard is wildly inaccurate.”
“My story is a bit more accurate,” Merlin said. “Of course, Nimue wasn’t real and many of the elements are wildly wrong, but at least I survived without my character being completely transformed.”
Alex glanced at her parents and grimaced. They didn’t look very comfortable or reassured. It was almost funny to consider that Morgana was bad at this. Three thousand years old and explanations and reassurances were a problem. Though with her parents looking like they might be sick or have nervous breakdowns, Alex didn’t find it very funny. Then her mother took a slow breath and sipped her tea before she set the teacup on the table and straightened up.
“I assume that you aren’t going to inform us that this was all a joke?” Her mom looked between Merlin and Morgana.
“No, we are not,” Merlin replied kindly. “I am sorry Doctor Adams.”
“Elizabeth,” she corrected automatically. “Under the circumstances, formality seems a bit pointless unless you prefer Professor Yates.”
“Merlin is fine unless you think you might struggle with calling me Professor Yates in public.”
“Honestly I’m not sure we’d ever have reason to see you socially,” Alex’s dad pointed out, shaking his head. “I’m afraid that while we asked Alex some questions when she told us about magic, it hasn’t truly sunk in yet. It isn’t normal to learn that your daughter has magical powers and is one of the people responsible for protecting the world.”
“No, I suppose not,” Merlin agreed with a nod. “Forgive us if we have difficulty understanding your position; Morgana and I are from a very different time.”
“So we’ve heard,” her mom replied giving Merlin a curious look. “It’s all a bit too fantastic to be real.”
“So you’ve indicated; perhaps if you had specific questions the answers might help you understand the reality you find yourself in,” Morgana said.
“What is the long term plan here?” her dad asked, drawing himself up and stubbornly meeting Morgana’s gaze. “Are you going to take the fight to them? It sounds as if these… Sídhe outnumber you greatly.”
“They do,” Merlin agreed. “And we do not enter their tunnels. They have the upper hand there. As for the long-term plan, it is our goal to gradually rebuild the layers of protection around Earth that can keep out the Sídhe.”
“And how long will that take?” Her dad was eyeing them suspiciously, causing Alex to grimace.
“I can understand your fears.” Merlin’s words got him doubtful looks. “I raised the first Iron Soul Arto after it became too dangerous for him to remain with his family. Arto was very dear to my heart, and knowing that his powers and propose put him in harm’s way was never easy,” he confessed with softening features. “My duty to the Iron Realm means that I have come to know and care for many of Alex’s other incarnations, and it is never easy to have to send them into battle. It is why Morgana and I work so hard to identify the Iron Souls and train them. Without understanding their powers they could harm themselves or be defenseless.”
There was a moment of silence and her parents squeezed each other’s hands. Her mother recovered first and looked straight at Morgana. “Alex told us that this can be dangerous; that it is a real war. She told us the truth in case she never came home.”
“That is true,” Morgana confirmed with a nod. “I’m not sure I agree with Alex’s decision to tell you, but she is right that someday she may suffer an injury that there would be no easy excuse for. There is even a chance that she might be killed, but please understand that many of the Iron Souls have also lived to old age.” Morgana met Elizabeth’s eyes and leaned forward in her chair. “Please don’t allow yourself to make assumptions abo
ut Alex’s future. There is a reason why Merlin and I very much wish for all of the mages to continue their educations. This is part of their life, an important part to be sure, but it is not the final purpose of it.”
“Exactly,” Merlin agreed. “While Alex is a student in my department and I am in fact her advisor, I admit that I am very curious to see how these experiences will guide Bran in his potential future research in the field of psychics.”
“The point is that Alex is the current Iron Soul. She was not the first, that is true, but each one is important and we will strive to help her and protect her,” Morgana said. “And keep in mind that while magic certainly has a price and responsibility; Alex has not only Merlin and I but the other young mages as well. They care about each other and look after each other. Magic has given her good friends.”
“I suppose so.” Her mom still sounded uneasy with a doubtful expression on her face. “I suppose it is something we can’t change, but I still wonder why my daughter. Is it genetic?” Her mom frowned and looked seriously at Morgana. “I mean if you were the sister of one of the Iron Souls and had magic, then does that mean that Alex’s brothers could potentially have magic?”
“We’d be aware by now if they did,” Morgana replied. “I’m afraid that genetics is a very modern field of science and Merlin and I have not sought to break down that aspect of who is a mage. Magic can be passed on in families, but to be frank, those cases are only in families where they are following formulas to borrow magic.”
“That’s possible?” her dad asked in surprise. “Alex didn’t mention anything like that.”
“Alex is a mage,” Morgana answered tightly. “She has been gifted power by the Iron Realm itself; she doesn’t need to siphon it off.”
“Morgana doesn’t care much for those who use magic like that,” Merlin added with a soft chuckle that did nothing to reassure her parents. “Otherwise I’m afraid there really doesn’t seem to be a magical gene. Incarnations of the Iron Soul have had children and none of them were ever mages, though some did embrace siphoning magic for small scale uses.”
“Children,” her mom repeated before shaking her head. “I suppose I should have expected that, but it’s strange to think about, Alex having children in another life.”
“There is no reason why an incarnation of the Iron Soul can’t live a peaceful and long life,” Merlin told them with a smile. “And in truth, Morgana and I haven’t met every Iron Soul incarnation, as we tend to leave them alone when magic stays at low levels.”
“So is there always some magic in the world?” Rubbing at his glasses, her dad seemed torn between dread and curiosity.
“Usually not enough to do much with,” Morgana said.
“Because of the creatures in our world?” her mom clarified.
“Exactly!” Merlin grinned like her parents were clever students. “Nowadays there are enough creatures living on earth with non-native origins that there is always a bit of magic, just in case I suppose.”
“But there’s more when there is a threat like now,” her dad pressed. “And when this is all sorted out it will go back to normal?”
“It takes time for magic levels to drop,” Morgana explained, “But yes, within a few years Alex and the others will only be able to use a few simple spells.”
Her parents exchanged a look that Alex couldn’t quite read, but it didn’t seem too much like relief or disappointment. “And Arthur? Is he a mage?” her mom asked, turning the conversation away from talk of the future.
“No.” Morgana’s lips twisted with a thoughtful frown. “We’re honestly not sure what he is. If he were just a mage then he would have struggled to use magic due to his loyalty to the Sídhe Queen.”
“We are at a loss,” Merlin admitted with slumping shoulders. “Arthur caused a Connection with Alex, which may be due to them having been cousins in his prior life, but that explanation can’t be confirmed.”
“And we aren’t even sure how the Queen was able to force the reincarnation like that,” Morgana added. “Merlin and I in the past have been able to…” She paused and looked uncomfortable. “In one life it became necessary for us to force a reincarnation quickly. He was for the time an old man and very ill. We were able to use our magic to catch the soul and well, shove it, I suppose, into a nearby pregnant woman. It was very difficult and we weren’t certain it would even work.”
“Wait,” Alex cut in with wide eyes. “You hadn’t told me about that.” Merlin and Morgana exchanged guilty looks and Alex bit her tongue slightly to keep herself from saying something.
Her parents were looking uncomfortable enough as it was and anger began appearing on her mother’s face. “You mean that you could just cause Alex to be reborn again?!”
“It is not ideal!” Merlin grimaced and looked a bit guilty. “But if she were to be badly injured then it would allow us to make sure that the Iron Soul would be reborn quickly.”
“We’ve never found a pattern to the Iron Soul’s rebirths,” Morgana explained. “It isn’t like the concept of the Buddha’s reincarnation where they are reborn immediately or within a year of death. Years can go by, and while the Iron Soul does always seem to appear when they are needed, Merlin and I hesitate to leave things to chance.”
“We have the Iron Chalice now,” Alex reminded her parents. It was difficult to ignore their uncomfortable faces and her own discomfort with the idea of Merlin and Morgana doing that to her. “So it’s unlikely I’ll ever get hurt that badly.”
“Indeed; the Iron Chalice is a powerful asset,” Merlin agreed. “And the young ones usually stay in pairs.”
“In fact, we’re talking about renting a house together next year,” Alex said. “That way we can protect each other and not potentially bring the Sídhe to the dorm rooms.”
“I hate to interrupt!” Rushing into the room, Bran gestured towards the front of the house. “But fae creatures are coming up the drive.”
“How many?” Morgana asked.
“Enough that Aiden and I shouldn’t take them alone,” Bran answered with a pointed look at Alex. “You coming?”
“I- yes,” Alex managed as she stood up.
“I’ll join Nicki out back just in case,” Morgana said. Standing up, she nodded to Alex’s parents. “Please excuse us.”
Leaving the room quickly, Alex grimaced as she heard Merlin quickly assure her parents that they would all be alright. There was a flicker of regret in her gut. She didn’t doubt that her parents needed to know the truth. She wasn’t questioning that someday if Arthur got his way and killed her, they deserved to know she was trying to save the world. Instead, she just regretted that this was necessary in the first place. No parent should have to fear the death of their child and she’d put that on them. At least she hadn’t explained to them what happened last Imbolc. Tightening her fists, Alex breathed out slowly and let the magic churning in her gut flare to life. For once she was a little happy to have the Sídhe or at least their cousins attacking.
14
Realities of a Mage Life
Joining Bran and Aiden on the porch as she pulled on her coat, Alex looked out into the densely forested slopes of the hillside just beyond the edge of Morgana’s property. There were still a few rays of the sun shining past the horizon, but the tall trees and rolling hills cast long shadows that shaded the creatures marching towards them. Alex’s eyes widened as she took in the small legion of over twenty different fae creatures: an odd mix of the humanoid ones that she recognized as Sídhe decedents, Redcaps, and a couple less familiar ones.
The first of the fae creatures stopped and looked at Alex with a blank expression. Its eyes were bluer than any Sídhe related creature Alex had ever seen, and in the loose sweatshirt and jeans with the knit hat covering most of its pale hair she might have mistaken it for a human. For a moment no one moved and Alex exhaled with her breath wafting up through the cold air. Then a Redcap snarled and the horde began to rush them.
Yellow sparks burst forth
in a rapid stream and formed a spinning ring above the creatures. In the blink of her eye, the sparks exploded into a shower of small fireballs that began to rain down on the fae creatures, making them scream and the snow hiss as it turned to steam. Looking towards the boys, Alex blinked in surprise as she realized that it had been Bran who cast the fire spell and not Aiden. There was a smirk on his face and next to him Aiden laughed out loud. Around the fae, a cloud of steam appeared even after the fire dissipated.
“Nice!” Aiden shouted. Red sparks of magic spun around his hands. They transformed into flames and settled into large glowing orbs of fire in Aiden’s palms. “But this is how it’s done!” Gritting his teeth, he pushed his hands towards the assembled creatures.
Fire flashed forward through the air like a flamethrower and sent the creatures scattering even as a few of them vanished in puffs of smoke and dust with aborted cries. Noting in relief that they didn’t seem any stronger than usual, Alex shifted over near the stairs and brought her hands in front of her. She let the magic flow down her arm to her fingers and mentally conjured a bolt of lightning. Energy flashed between her fingertips and Alex allowed her eyes to fall shut for a moment as she struggled to imagine her latest idea for an attack.