The Iron Hammer

by J. M. Briggs

  It wasn’t far, just another mile around the curve of the old mountain. Merlin fancied that the path he was on might have been the same one that workers used three thousand years ago. That was silly of course due to the years of soil deposit that had occurred, but he liked the idea. Up ahead was a small information sign next to a deep depression in the ground that formed a small entrance into the mountainside.

  A heavy wooden door filled the opening with chains crisscrossing to keep it shut. Merlin allowed himself a fond smile. It was nice he supposed that archeologists were beginning to pay more attention to their native culture rather than just focusing on the Roman era. That and he was confident that the cache was hidden deep enough and well enough to have escaped notice. Moving his hand lazily, Merlin called on his magic. Small green sparks danced across his fingers before he flicked them at the chains. The sparks spun around the metal and there was a soft hiss followed by a crash as the chains fell to the ground.

  He pulled open the door, noting that rot was already beginning to set it. If this door had been put in to stop local children from running wild in the old mining tunnels then it wouldn’t hold up much longer. Before him stretched a dark tunnel that he knew from personal experience had been dug with rocks, antlers, and the first metal tools. He looked over his shoulder, searching the area for the sign of anyone or anything following him before he slipped into the tunnel.

  Opening his palm, Merlin exhaled slowly and watched as the green of his magic collected into an orb and brightened to a warm white color. The light was welcome in the dark tight tunnels and Merlin began walking forward slowly. Beneath him the solid trod dirt floor of the tunnel muffled his footfalls, but his breathing echoed slightly in the long empty corridor. His eyes were occasionally drawn to small bits of artwork on the walls. There were painted animals and several handprints scattered about. Small reminders of the workers from so long ago.

  There was no copper to be found down here any longer. Merlin was certain of that as his hand traced over part of the stone. Back in the late Bronze Age the isles had enjoyed their position of power. Tin from Ireland and copper from Wales combined to make bronze which was moved by boat as far as Rome. It was a far cry from the idea of a barbaric backward world that the uneducated thought it had been.

  He walked slowly, barely paying attention to the change in the air as he focused on all the branches of the tunnel. It was a bit harder than in his youth to keep track of the turns. Glancing back over his shoulder, he shivered a little at the realization of how far he was from the surface. As a young man he’d never properly appreciated that his position as the son of the local priestess and a smith had protected him from working in the tunnels.

  Merlin panted slightly and stopped in front of a small niche in the stone. It was just large enough that one of the children workers could have sat in it to stay out of the way. He gave himself a moment to catch his breath, summoning his magic and releasing it into the air with a stern wish for the air to made fresher. Green sparks spun through the air and the staleness eased enough for him to recover. He was grateful that Morgana wasn’t here to lecture him on how silly he’d been not to pay attention to the thin air.

  With a shake of his head, he turned his attention back to what he came for. Touching the wall thoughtfully, Merlin frowned and pushed a spark of his magic into the stone. Nothing happened and his frown deepened. He looked around the junction in mild confusion. He knew too well that magic had kept his memory strong over the centuries, but now… He stepped away from the wall and looked down the tunnel, trying to see if anything was familiar.

  “Arrogant old fool,” Merlin groaned, rubbing the side of his face with worry.

  Uncertain he moved further down the tunnel and stopped when he came to another niche space. He wasn’t sure if this was the spot, but it looked like it. Just like the last one, he inwardly sighed. None the less he raised his hand to the wall again and pushed some of his magic into the stone. It shifted beneath his hand. A small section of the wall shimmered and sank down, exposing a small hole. He reached inside and carefully picked up a small sealed earthen jar. His fingers cradled it gently and he drew it out with the greatest of care. There were two more such jars in the hole along with a rusted iron dagger that the magic had failed to preserve and a lump of iron ore.

  He shrugged out of the backpack and let it fall to the ground. Unzipping it with one hand, he pulled out the first of several towels and began to carefully wrap the first jar up. There was a strange sound that echoed down the tunnel, a soft muffled thump that made him look up sharply. His light dimmed a little in response and Merlin tucked the wrapped jar into the bottom of the pack. He reached up and took out the second jar and began to wrap it as a muted crunch echoed weakly down the tunnel. Merlin’s movements were shaky, but he managed to get the small jar surrounded in the fluffy towel and shoved deep into the bag before another light appeared at the closest turn. Raising his eyes, Merlin shifted the backpack behind him and carefully pushed it back with his foot.

  A Sídhe descendent stepped around the corner. Its violet eyes caught the light as the beam from the flashlight it carried settled on him. For a moment neither of them moved and Merlin took in the haggard appearance of the creature with its torn jeans and jacket. It was the sound of others coming up behind the first Sid creature that spurred Merlin on. Drawing his hand up, Merlin clawed his fingers and called on his magic. A worried voice that sounded like Alex at the back of his mind cried that these poor creatures were being controlled. Their free will had been stripped away. Guiltily, he said a silent apology to the memory of Frea before tossing the orb of glowing green magic in his hand forward.

  It burst into tiny sparks upon impact with the creature. Merlin glared at them, focusing his magic with a mental command as the spark burrowed into the creature’s flesh. An aborted scream ripped from it only to be silenced as it dissolved into dust. The flashlight fell to the ground and hit the rock with a soft crack as the plastic broke. Light filled part of the tunnel, casting an eerie shadow as he summoned magic into both of his hands.

  “Abomination,” one of the back creatures hissed. The light of the flashlight revealed another three Sídhe just around the corner.

  Merlin took an uneasy step back. There was a glint in the eyes of the advancing Sídhe that worried him. Suddenly it seemed all too clear that they weren’t in control of themselves, but the knowledge that it was part of the power of the Iron Soul made him feel ill. The magic in his palms flared in response to his thoughts, but Merlin pushed the thought away.

  One of the creatures lunged towards him, slashing with long talons. Thrusting his right hand forward, Merlin released the magic in a sharp wave that sliced through the air. The creature screamed as the magic struck its chest, cutting through the layers of clothing and into the flesh. Silvery blood splattered out against the walls and ground, catching the light. It vanished as the creature did leaving only flecks of dust. Merlin brought forward his left hand and release the leaf green magic in a small bolt at the second creature only for it to dodge out of the way. The blast hit the Sid creature behind it before Merlin could turn it.

  It took him a moment to realize that his enemy was right next to the opening in the wall and he froze in horror as the creature grabbed at the jar. There was a flicker of something in its eyes, but Merlin’s attention was drawn away from that as another two Sídhe descendants rushed around the corner, wielding knives and snarling. Throwing a hand forward, Merlin sent a wild shower of green sparks raining down on the advancing Sídhe while his eyes locked onto the jar.

  The creature threw it towards him. Panic gripped Merlin’s chest with an intensity he hadn’t felt in over a century. Magic flared from his fingertips as he raised a hand up in a futile attempt to protect himself. The wave of green sparks rushed through the air, striking the jar and knocking it away from him. He could see the fragile earthen jar beginning to crack as it sailed towards the tunnel wall.

  The jar smashed against the wall,
splashing the liquid across the stone and onto the Síd. Hissing filled the air only to be drowned out by screaming. A shriek of agony and terror ripped through the tunnels. Skin was vanishing from the Síd as the liquid spread up its arm. It clawed at the arm, tried to tear off its coat as the others drew back in horror. Merlin’s eyes moved to the wall. The stone was dissolving, being eaten away by acid as his heart dropped into his stomach.

  He’d been warned it was a powerful poison. Cyrridven had warned him that the remains of the potion they’d brewed all those years ago to help him learn his magic and connect with the Iron Realm would be deadly. The affected creature spun towards its fellows, lunging at one with frantic sounds spilling from its mouth. To escape it, the second creature jerked away only to collide with the dissolving wall. Merlin saw a dark droplet fall onto its arm and grimaced as the process resumed.

  The third Sid creature was frozen in place, its eyes wide with shock. Merlin summoned his magic and sent a bolt of bright green blasting through the air. The bolt struck the creature which dissolved with a cry of surprise. Those affected by the poison didn’t even notice. The first one suddenly dropped to the ground, its body shaking and limbs twitching. Its mouth opened in a silent scream only for the body to vanish around the face. There was no dust, no ash as it vanished. Just nothing.

  An uncomfortable wave of pity hit Merlin as he watched the last of the creatures fall to the ground. He summoned an orb of magic and tossed it towards the creature, ordering the magic to end the thing’s life. But as it struck the dark liquid flowing over the Síd’s skin expanded and the magic vanished. Stepping back in horror and almost tripping on the bag, Merlin tucked his limbs close to his body and stayed completely still. The creature vanished, leaving no traces and then slowly the dark liquid faded away. It was a long time before he dared to move.

  Merlin looked back to the wall. There was a new small opening where the liquid had eaten away the wall and floor. Thankfully it seemed to have finally stopped. There were no sound in the tunnels save his own breathing and Merlin licked his lips nervously. He dropped his gaze to his pack that had managed to remain out of the way of the fight. Two jars were wrapped up inside it. Two jars that he hoped would be the key to destroyed Arthur and Scáthbás once and for all.

  Picking up the pack, Merlin carefully slipped it on. His eyes moved back to the gaping hole in the wall and he grimaced. Part of him dearly wanted to stay and study it, an instinct he blamed on his profession of chemistry a few decades back, but a voice sounding like Cyrridven in his head warned him to stay away. He stepped around the area, taking care not to touch any of the edge and moved down the tunnel stopping just long enough to pick up the fallen flashlight. All he could do was seal up the area and hope that no one came poking around here for a long time. He just hoped that Morgana and the children were staying safely within the new protective blood spells.

  14

  The Departing

  And they were back at the Portland Airport about to go to a whole other continent in order to find a magical artifact. Alex almost burst out laughing. Somehow her quiet and calm life had become one of Aiden and Bran’s games. She’d heard them mention fetch quests in the past and this sort of fit. Find the Iron Chalice in Wales in order to heal Aiden so he will wake up. Find the Iron Hammer so they could hopefully break the magical connection between the Queen and all the Sídhe creatures. So that they weren’t being hunted and didn’t have to kill controlled creatures to survive. Alex’s stress amusement dried up as that thought processed.

  She looked around the main foyer of the airport. It was clean and fairly modern. Nothing looked out of place and Alex relaxed a tiny bit. There were no Sídhe and no sign of Arthur. Still Alex couldn’t help but scan everything. Her fingers clenched and unclenched as she lamented that she now had the habit to check her surroundings.

  “I can’t believe we’re going to Paris!” Looking at her boarding pass fondly, Jenny shifted excitedly between her feet.

  “Going to Paris with no time to see anything,” Nicki added with a dark look and a grumble.

  “Well that may not be true,” Bran pointed out with a reassuring smile. “If I was going to hide something in Paris I’d put it near a landmark so it could be found in the future.”

  “We don’t know that Eckstein ever meant for the Iron Hammer to be found,” Aiden reminded them with a shake of his head. “He might not have been thinking that far ahead, especially without knowledge of magic.”

  “Aiden makes a good point,” Morgana agreed with a nod, turning her attention back to Alex. She grabbed her hands and squeezed. “Remember that this life matters in the here and now. Try not to worry about who Eckstein was.”

  “I’m more worried about all the dreams,” Alex confided. “What happens if I can’t keep it all straight?”

  Morgana’s expression was conflicted and the older mage seemed to be struggling for what to say. Under other circumstances Alex might have found it amusing or impressive that she could make Morgana lost for words.

  “It may not be easy,” Morgana finally conceded. “I won’t argue with you on that. You’re the only female life that I’m aware of and there have been many Iron Soul incarnations. I’m not sure how many exactly, but that’s a lot weighing you down.” She paused and gathered her thoughts for another moment. “Perhaps try writing it all down. See if that helps you create some distance. During the dreams try to think of them as movies.”

  “I’ll try,” Alex agreed with a forced smile. “Thanks.”

  Morgana nodded, but clearly wasn’t fooled by Alex’s brush off. Nonetheless, she reached into her leather satchel and pulled out a small wrapped package. Alex turned her attention to it, eager for anything else to focus on.

  “Your passports,” Morgana announced as she handed Alex the small wrapped bundle. “Do you have everything else you need?”

  “I think so,” Alex told her as she opened the packet and pulled out the passports. Flipping them open, she began to hand them out to the appropriate people. “It isn’t a vacation; hopefully we’ll get there and find the Hammer quickly.”

  “I hope so,” Morgana agreed. “I dislike allowing you to leave Ravenslake again without me.” The frown was back on her face and there were small lines between her eyes.

  “We’ll be fine,” Alex assured her with a forced smile. “Besides, you said so yourself that someone needs to keep an eye out for the Sídhe returning. Even with the blood protection spells active they’ll keep trying.”

  “Yes they will and yes I did say that,” Morgana conceded with a slight frown. “I made one more attempt to call Merlin, but still no luck in reaching him.”

  “We’ll keep an eye out,” Alex offered weakly, earning her a dubious smile from Morgana.

  “You do that,” the mage replied dryly. “I will protect Ravenslake and relay information to you from Merlin once he returns.” Morgana reached into her pocket and pulled out an envelope that she opened quickly, pulling out two credit cards. “Here you are Alex,” Morgana announced as she handed one to Alex. There was no name on the card, instead it was one of the prepaid cards sold in grocery stores. “I’ve taken the liberty of securing you kids some funds. Far easier than trying to arrange repayment to a lawyer who wants to know what is happening,” she added with a teasing look at Jenny.

  “Wow,” Alex breathed looking at the card. “Thank you, how much is on it?”

  “Ten thousand dollars,” Morgana replied calmly as she pulled out a second one and handed it to Bran. “Try not to be ridiculous in how you spend it. I may have been diligent in long term investments, but it isn’t easy to keep that much in liquid assets. I can’t pull it again on short notice.”

  Bran was staring at the card she handed him with a stunned expression and shared a look of surprise with Alex. “Uh on this one too?”

  “Yes, I can’t imagine anything will occur that will require more than twenty thousand at one time, but if there is anything let me know at once,” Morgana insisted, a
cting as if she hadn’t handed them a year of college tuition. “But I don’t want to risk you not getting what you need while you’re in Paris. Hopefully the Hammer is there, but it is possible you’ll be guided somewhere else.”

  Holding back a laugh, Alex risked a glance towards Nicki who looked torn between gawking at Morgana and near irritation. The expression on her face was a bit like a goldfish with her mouth opening as she tried to think of something to say. Some levity was nice and Alex inhaled deeply while the corner of Morgana’s mouth twitched up. The professor clearly knew that she’d managed to put her a little at ease. It was a quiet sort of affection that left Alex reassured someone was looking out for her. And yet here Morgana was allowing her to go off on another ‘quest’ for a magical artifact without her. She trusted them and Alex thought that might be worth even more.

  This wasn’t the time to ponder her relationship with Morgana and she became aware that she’d been silent at least a moment too long. Thankfully the others either didn’t notice or decided against saying anything. She looked down at their meager bags which consisted only of backpacks at this point which just fit in the carry on rules. They were ready to go through security and start the long trip overseas, but Alex didn’t feel ready. Someone moved behind her and she started to tense.