by Paul Cude
Continuing on his way at an absolute snail’s pace, he recalled everything Marg had taught him over the previous days. With barely a whisper, he called forth the supernatural power hidden deep inside him, marvelling at its touch as it flooded his subatomic bonds, momentarily setting them on fire, fuelling not only his desire but his physical body as well. In but a moment, the fatigue and exhaustion that flowed through him were washed away. Never before had he felt so alive. Careful not to show his actual feelings, and weary of the treacherous ice he was walking on, he let the magic consume him and expanded his mind, extending out the reach of his ethereal power as he did so. There... one... two... three... four... five of them, all hidden away in tiny little crevasses that he would never have known were there. It had worked, he’d found them with his magic. How good was that?!
And then it hit him, like an out of control bulldozer. If somebody as inexperienced as him, with absolutely no control over the power they wielded, could find his dad’s goons, then surely Marg would have no trouble at all working out what the hell was going on. If that were the case, and he was sure that it was, what on earth should he do?
Continuing on the path at a slightly quicker pace now, not wanting anything to look out of place, his mind was alive with all the possibilities. The only certainty as far as he was concerned, was that their guest, the naga known as Marg, had to know that something was up, and if that were the case, was the truth the only way forward? Betrayal, reunion, family, blackmail, escape, were all words that popped into his head as he reached the entrance to the enclave. Swallowing nervously, he stepped around the corner, his breath freezing as he exhaled, wondering whether or not the naga was awake, and whether or not he himself was in any danger. Perhaps during the course of working together, Marg had some method of detecting his deception? Of all the thoughts running through his mind, currently, that was the one which really didn’t bear thinking about.
Stealthily approaching the curled up, serpent-like monster, Man wondered exactly what he should do. If the beast was truly asleep, it might react badly to being snuck up upon. Not wishing to get any closer for fear of reprisal, he did the only thing possible in the situation... he used his magic. Finding a tiny little spark again, not wanting his actions to be mistaken for any sort of aggression, he willed it on its way towards the statue-like naga hoping to attract the attention of his mind before his body had a chance to react.
“Good morning, young one,” echoed a voice deep within Man’s head. “You’re a little early for our lessons aren’t you?”
It was disconcerting to say the least. They’d talked about this the day before, and had even made one or two half hearted attempts at doing it, but all had failed spectacularly. This though, seemed to be working a treat.
“I...I...I...I’m sorry if I startled you. That wasn’t my intention.”
“Sneaking up on me wasn’t your intention?”
“Well, yes... but no, but... yes, but... no.”
A hissing chortle, starting low but immediately getting much louder, filled every corner of his mind. It was both exciting and disturbing.
Whilst continuing to keep his mind open, Man’s physical body trudged on over and slumped down next to the gigantic scaled tail, sighing as he did so.
“You seem... unhappy, youngster. Is there anything I can help you with?”
What to do, what to do?
During the course of his short life so far, Man had never found himself in anything like the quandary he was caught up in now. Right, wrong, good, bad, family, loyalty, as far as he was concerned, it all blurred together, and he struggled more than ever to get his head round all of it. Why his father couldn’t just ask for their help, he really didn’t know. That would have been so much easier. Instead though, he’d taken his mother hostage, threatened her with death if he didn’t comply with his orders. If nothing else, he knew this to be wrong... and not just a little. This was getting out of control, too many beings’ lives lay on the line. Rushing around inside him, the magic that had become the tipping point screamed out for him to do good, to follow his conscience. There and then, that’s what he decided to do.
“I... I... have something to tell you. Please don’t be mad,” he whispered through the telepathic connection both he and Marg shared.
“Why should I be mad?”
Taking a deep breath, closing his eyes, and ignoring all of the pain from the freezing cold all around him, he replied. Doing so broke his heart.
“My father, the leader... you shouldn’t trust him.”
“Why on earth not?”
“They’re up to something, all of them. I don’t know exactly what, but if I had to guess, I’d say it involves you in some way, shape or form.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“I was tasked with gaining your trust and keeping you as far away as possible from the stream that you first arrived from, preventing you from escaping. There are others, my father’s men, positioned all around, in an effort to stop you from doing the exact same thing. You must have felt them?”
“Indeed I have. It didn’t take long with the power I have at my disposal. You still haven’t answered my question.”
“They... I mean he, he’s kidnapped my mother, and is threatening to kill her if I don’t do what I’m told,” mumbled Man, visibly upset, even inside his mind.
Across their shared link, Marg could tell the truth was coming out and that the boy’s emotions were running high. He waited to see if there was anything more.
Stoic, on the ground next to the naga’s huge intimidating body, nothing outwardly appeared wrong with the leader’s son and Josh’s brother. Inside, things were very different, almost as though he were fighting for his life. After a long, awkward silence, the boy dragon continued.
“I didn’t ask for any of this, not once. All I want to do is leave this place and lead a good life with my mother. Never have I ever harmed another being. It’s not me, I just wouldn’t do it.”
Marg took him at his word. It seemed like the right thing to do.
“As well,” continued Man, “the magic inside me... it wants me to do... good!”
‘Ah,’ thought the naga, ‘so that’s it.’
“It’s quite the predicament we find ourselves in. Do you have any idea where we go from here?” asked Marg.
Trying to remain as outwardly calm as possible, he answered the only way he knew how... truthfully.
“I’m sorry... I don’t. I’ve gone over and over it in my head, but I’ve no idea what to do next or just how to get out of this situation. I’d hoped by telling you the truth that somehow you just might know what to do. I fully understand if you don’t want anything to do with me. I won’t give away what we’ve said here and that you know something’s up. On that you have my word.”
“I don’t think it’ll come to that, at least I hope not for both our sakes. I would suggest we work together to formulate something in the way of a plan going forward. I don’t think either of us can break free on our own, but maybe by using a little teamwork, we might just get this thing done.”
“That sounds great,” declared Man enthusiastically, buoyed at the thought of having someone he could trust one hundred percent on his side. “What do we do first?”
“I think we need to stay in here, act normal and proceed with your lessons. That should deflect any undue attention away from what we’re doing, and hopefully hone your skills enough to help us when the chance arises to escape.”
Agreeing that it was a good idea, the two of them settled down to a day’s worth of magical practice. First on the agenda was setting up and breaking down a series of mental defences. So Marg explained to his young charge how to arrange the mental armour, with what force it needed to be held in place, and just what to look out for in any kind of attack or onslaught. Man did exactly as he was told. Twenty one seconds after the first practical test started, it was all over. Marg had well and truly breached his fortifications and had exacted a clear and pre
sent memory to prove that he had done so. This was how it continued over and over for the rest of the day.
By the time Man slumped down onto the familiar, cold, icy block in the insignificant space that he’d been allocated, his head hurt like hell from all the attacks that it had come up against. At first, Marg penetrated what little resistance he could offer easily. But as the day wore on, and the magic to counter the attacks was explained to him in a much more detailed way, he got better and better at dealing with the assaults, finally, right at the end, managing to oppose everything the naga had to offer, much to his amusement.
‘What a day,’ he thought, as his weary head and body started to succumb to the sleep that easily took him.
Overnight, having checked that the boy and the naga were both in their respective quarters and fast asleep at that, the head of the leader’s force, and his trusted lieutenant, reported in, deep in the seclusion and walled off room of his boss.
“Nothing out of the ordinary appeared to be going on today. Magic was being taught, with your son struggling for the most part to pick it up, from what we could tell. They parted exhausted by the look of things, Man heading off to the room in his dorm, with our alien guest just curling up on the spot, fast asleep.”
“Hmmm...”
“You’re unsure of what I’ve told you?”
“No, not at all. It just seems a little too convenient, don’t you think?”
“For all intents and purposes, it appears as though it’s all going to plan.”
“And that’s exactly what I mean. It all appears just a little too perfect.”
“Don’t you think you’re being a little paranoid?”
Those words from anyone else would probably have meant a severe beating, maybe even warranting a death sentence, but the second in command knew that he could speak his mind without fear. If he couldn’t do that, then he couldn’t do his job, and what would be the point in continuing?
“You might be right,” declared the leader, after much thought. “Keep a close eye on them both. I don’t trust either... not with so much at stake. All we need is a little more luck, and we’ll be free. How good will that be?”
The lieutenant nodded his head eagerly, longing to be rid of this place and relaxing on a beautiful hot beach somewhere. In his mind they were already there. What could go wrong? Nothing! Everything seemed to be going to plan.
Thousands of miles away in the South Pacific Ocean, twenty one sleek, dark shapes peeled away from a group of nearly five hundred, tearing through the shadowy, harsh waters, heading south towards Antarctica, determined to find the truth behind an obscure message that had been passed between a few members of their race, implying that danger was heading their way. Little did they know, they were about to face exactly that, head on.
The very next morning in the out of the way enclave that served as Marg’s room, the young boy dragon and the naga greeted each other with much pomp and circumstance, putting on a show, for those hiding discreetly out of the way. After that, it was down to business. As they both sat down, laughing and talking together, suddenly Marg launched an all out mental attack on Man, using magical brute force to batter his psychological barricades into nothing. Momentarily stunned, the leader’s son responded in but a split second, repelling the attack as he had done later on yesterday, sending a surge of feedback through Marg’s onslaught, catching the naga off guard, dispelling all of his unusual magic. Without appearing as though anything outwardly had happened, the guest from another domain spoke softly through their shared telepathic link, a sense of pride resonating in his voice.
“Excellent! You are a quick study. I was sure I could catch you off guard and penetrate your defences. I don’t think I’ve ever seen reactions quite like that. You should be very proud of what you’ve achieved.”
Catching his breath, more than a little shaken at what had just happened, again maintaining an outward facade of peacefulness and calm, he replied, all the time trying to steady himself.
“That was just a test?”
“Of course. What did you think it was?”
“I thought you were actually attacking me. I was scared for my life.”
“Easy youngster... easy. It was just a test. This is how nagas learn. Their tutors constantly probe and investigate everything they’ve been taught, trying to catch them out, reinforcing all that they have learnt. That’s all we were doing here. I wanted you to be ready, wanted to make sure you hadn’t let your guard down. I suppose I could have warned you at the end of yesterday what I might try, but I wanted to see how you reacted. As tests go, you passed easily, something that bodes well for what we’re trying to achieve here.”
“Well... thanks, I think.”
“You’re welcome, my young friend. Keep up the good work, and we’ll make you a formidable warrior in no time at all, and return your mother to her rightful status.”
“I hope so, I truly do.”
With the shock of the surprise attack out of the way, the two settled down to learn about projectile magic.
Talking out loud, Marg explained the basic principles, whilst at the same time continuing on in their bond, about a few more unusual adaptations that involved using digits... fingers to you and me, to enhance and augment the projectiles, either in power, intelligence, trajectory or doubling up, combining two or even three different forms of energy together to form a blisteringly unstoppable spell.
Fascinating didn’t begin to do it justice as far as Man was concerned, and he couldn’t wait to get started. The mental attacks and evasions had been an absolute revelation the previous day, but this... this was just outstanding and ‘floated his boat’ more than ever.
Trudging across the slippery ice, a meagre sack of spoilt vegetables and fruit slung across his shoulder, Josh, the younger of the two brothers, felt consumed by guilt at what he’d done. At the time it had seemed like the right thing to do... to go to his father and explain that Man was having second thoughts about helping them out. Now though, he was not so sure. He could never have envisaged his father taking his mother hostage, threatening her very life, in exchange for his brother’s help. The look on Man’s face haunted every one of his waking moments. That expression, the disappointment, the love lost, it hurt more than any of the beatings he’d taken from his father when he was younger, more than knowing what their mother had endured during her incarceration here. All he wanted was for things to go back to the way they had once been, before he’d chosen the wrong course of action. At the moment though, that seemed a million miles away.
Rounding the icy wall, his target swam into sight, looking it had to be said, more than a little worse for wear, which in itself was unusual. Getting as close as was safe to do so, Josh wondered what on earth had been going on, to see the dragon prisoner in such a state and so much pain.
“Rough night?”
Unlucky, from his frosty view point on the icy surface, just about managed to blink open one purple coloured eye, to pinpoint the source of the voice.
“What do you think?” he replied sarcastically.
“What happened?”
“What do you care?”
“I don’t,” mouthed Josh angrily.
“Then leave.”
Incensed, Josh grabbed the bottom of the sack, and in one swift stroke, hurled the contents in the direction of the dragon prisoner, carrots, potatoes, cauliflowers, apples and oranges, most darkened, some ripped open, all landing with a ‘THUD’ on the floor in front of Unlucky.
Turning around, Josh started to storm off, but not before the dragon prisoner spoke up.
“Where’s your brother? I haven’t seen him in a few days. What’s that all about?”
Much more tempestuous than his elder sibling, instantly Josh whirled around to face the cause of his immediate frustration.
“What’s it to you... dragon?”
Although battered and bruised from the late night beating he’d taken only hours ago at the hands of this one’s father, the priso
ner held his ground, unafraid, seemingly not a care in the world, keenly aware that he’d struck a nerve. Undeterred, he ploughed on.
“I merely mention that I haven’t seen him for a while. The two of you are normally inseparable. There’s absolutely no need to lose your temper.”
Josh kicked out at the empty sack that had fluttered to the ground, screaming in frustration as he did so.
“Is there something that you’d like to get off your chest... youngster?”
“Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid!”
“What’s happened to make you so upset?”
Under normal circumstances, Josh wouldn’t have had anything to do with the dragon prisoner, not by choice anyway. He hated him, knowing the history that had brought him here, and considered it deeply unfair that he even lived, let alone was being fed and looked after. But circumstances were not normal, and he had no one else to talk to, not even his brother. A mixture of desperation, guilt, worry, anger and fear forced him into the unthinkable.
“I did something... something I don’t think he’s going to be able to forgive me for... ever!”
Unlucky, surprised at the turnaround of events, and amazed the angry young dragon had deigned to talk to him at all, considered what he’d just heard.
“Family can be a tricky thing. From what I’ve seen of you both, I can say with absolute certainty that your brother cares for you a great deal. I’d be surprised if he can’t forgive you for whatever it is you’ve done.”
“You... you... you don’t understand.”
“Then explain. My agenda seems to be clear for the rest of the day.”
Considering the request carefully, Josh wondered what sort of being could make light of the precarious position they found themselves in, particularly one like this. Was it a strength or a weakness? He didn’t know, but on brief reflection, he considered it a weakness. If it was him in that position, there would be no jokes, no friendliness, nothing. But it wasn’t him, and at the moment, he had no one else to turn to, not his brother or his... mother.