by Tom Larcombe
“Wouldn't they have sent more than just Horst last night if there were anything else available?” Dieter asked.
“No, I think they expected the knife to drain my defenses so Horst would have an easy time of it. They wouldn't want it to get out that they were killing people working for them. Involving a single person makes it far easier to keep a secret, especially if you have a disregard for life. If you think they're going to talk, you just kill them,” Merlin said.
“So, you expect they'll send someone else?” Ernst asked.
“That or something else. Remember, they have some skill with magic as well and access to a large quantity of death magic. So we'll want to keep a physical watch and everyone needs to keep their mental shields up also.”
“Why did you bring us here this early then?” Dieter asked.
“We'll be leaving here about two in the morning. I thought it less likely to attract attention if you sneaked out right after dark when there were still people around than at two in the morning when everyone is normally in bed.”
“Oh, I guess that makes sense.”
The evening passed slowly, with one person at a time sleeping lightly or just resting. No-one got enough rest but none of them did without either. Shortly after midnight, Anselm called out.
“Rein says there's something out there.”
Dieter was napping so Merlin woke him.
“Everyone keep an eye out in a different direction. Anyone that knows how to move part of their awareness out of their body should watch that way as well. Some things can't be seen by the naked eye,” Merlin said.
The three students nodded in response and turned to scan the darkness through the windows.
Evidently Dieter's been busier than I assumed. I'll have to ask what else he's taught them, Merlin thought.
“Merlin,” Dieter said, “I can Sense something over this way. It's a moving spot that's chillier than its surroundings. It's headed towards the cottage.”
Merlin turned his Sight to where Dieter pointed. An amorphous blob of energy was flowing towards the cottage. It glowed an ugly, bruised, purple color to his inner Sight.
“They're using the energy from the crystal I told you about. It's some sort of death magic spirit creature. Try not to let it touch you, I'm guessing that would be bad.”
The temperature inside the cottage plummeted several degrees. Merlin looked about with his Sight and found several of the creatures inside the cottage already. It looked as though they'd come through the walls or up out of the floor.
“There are some of them in here with us. They're staying in the shadows though. Everyone make sure to stay in the light from the lantern and the fireplace.”
All four men backed up into the light. As they watched, the creatures drew closer to the illuminated area.
Ernst spoke, his nervousness giving his voice a quaver.
“Merlin, is it just me or is it growing darker in here?”
Merlin focused on the sight from his eyes. The edge of the illuminated area was slowly darkening, shadows growing and stretching out towards the light instead of away from it.
“No, it isn't just you.”
The light was forced back into a smaller and smaller area. Merlin and his students were driven close enough to each other that they were almost touching.
“Light, they don't like light. We need to create more of it,” Merlin said.
“What about your crystal you used last night?” Dieter asked.
“I don't have it any more. Someone needed it more than me.”
“What?”
Dieter's comment got Merlin's thinking back on track though. The memory of the previous night gave him an idea. His gear, assembled for the escape, was lying on the table. He reached out and grasped the living staff.
One of the shadow creatures moved forward again, forcing the light back away from it. Merlin swung the staff one-handed. It passed through the creature's surface and Merlin knew a moment of dismay before the staff struck the floor and released a burst of light as bright as the sun.
The creature the staff was inside of when the light burst out faded away like mist struck by the bright sun. Merlin saw one of the tiny leaves from the staff wither, then waft away across the cottage as he lifted the staff again.
“Sunlight,” Merlin said, “You've all been in it. You all remember how it feels, what it looks like. Try to remember absolutely everything you can about it, bind all the memories up into a single whole, and place that bundle on the ceiling of the cottage.”
Merlin suited actions to words and a shaft of sunlight sprang down from the ceiling in front of him. It wasn't as strong as the light from his sun crystal but it was stronger than the creatures could tolerate. They fled to the darker portions of the cottage and continued to press in on the light from those directions.
Merlin glanced at Dieter. His student's face was scrunched up in concentration.
“No Dieter, don't try to force the memories out. Simply release them. Let your awareness guide them to their destination and your power make them reality.”
Dieter's face relaxed and moments later another shaft of dim sunlight radiated from the roof of the cottage.
Merlin turned to look at Anselm and Ernst. Anselm was moving closer to the sunlight. Ernst's eyes were closed and he was struggling. One of the creatures dimmed the light between where it stood and Ernst. As the creature surged forward, Ernst's eyes opened and he gasped. Merlin gripped the staff tight and jumped towards him. One hand yanked Ernst towards the sunlight while the other swept the staff down through the creature to the floor below. Another burst of light, another drifting leaf, and the two men were standing in a shaft of sunlight.
“It touched my arm. I can't use it, my arm feels frozen,” Ernst said.
Merlin stared at his arm for a moment using his Sight.
“It should wear off if they don't hit it again. If it had maintained hold of you for a second or more I think it would've been much more serious. Lucky for you I saw it coming.”
Ernst looked at him oddly, Merlin considered the words he used and then burst into a short, sharp, laugh.
“That's a strong innate magic you have there if it even affects me,” Merlin said.
“Merlin, look,” Dieter said.
Merlin turned to where Dieter was pointing. The creatures had backed off from his burst of laughter.
“Well, isn't that interesting?” Merlin said.
“They're backing off.”
“Yes they are. I think I have a handle on their weakness now. Is there anything that any of you feel strong positive emotions about? The things that make you feel happy when you think of them or talk about them?”
All three men nodded.
“Good. One of you start talking about what makes you happy then. I mean things that will make you feel actively happy just by talking about them.”
Dieter, Ernst, and Anselm looked at each other. The creatures started closing back in and all three noticed. Dieter and Anselm started talking at the same time.
“Go ahead Anselm. I'll put my thoughts together while you go,” Dieter said.
“The magic was never something I thought about. Men wanted to be my friend, women were willing to be my lover with only a tiny effort on my part. I thought that was how life worked for everyone.”
Anselm shook his head.
“I learned different when I was turned in by the man that wanted to marry a woman I dallied with.”
The creatures moved closer, the light dimming again.
“Anselm, happy, remember?” Merlin said.
“Sorry. When I started to learn the magic you were teaching me I realized it was something special. Now, there's something that makes me happy every time I do it. Communicating with the animals is incredible. Touching their minds, seeing what they do. But I think I'll never tire of watching through Rein's eyes while he's on the wing. That has made me happy and I cannot believe that there will ever be a time when it doesn't.”
; Anselm lapsed into silence.
Merlin looked around. The creatures were held at bay again.
“Good, I'm right. When they closed in before, we were frightened. Negative emotions strengthen these creatures. It's what they're made of, what they feed on, and we gave them more of it. Happiness, laughter, other positive emotions. They drive them off, sap their strength. Anyone else?”
“Me,” Dieter said, “I don't want to sound arrogant but I've found something that makes me happy in this mess also. I used to be happy just tending my livestock. I always had the healthiest animals around and people would bring me their sick animals to tend. That made me happy.”
Dieter looked at Anselm and Ernst.
“What makes me even happier now is teaching. I'm not trying to put Anselm and Ernst down, or say I'm smarter or anything, but helping them learn has made me happier than tending my livestock did. Teaching is what I want to do now. I've been trying to learn as much as I can from the transcripts and from you, Merlin. The more I know, the more I can teach, and the better I can teach.”
Merlin looked at Ernst.
“Yeah, I have something that's been making me happy recently also. I was going to surprise you with it after I was better at it. You all saw me levitate and that was a thrill. But some of the same principles behind levitation let me move through the air while it's holding me up. I'm not very good at it yet but I can fly.”
Merlin looked at Ernst who appeared puzzled by the look.
“Yeah, it was luck that helped me figure it out.”
“No Ernst, I'm amazed. Not one in ten wizards ever learn how to fly. Only about one in four can even levitate. I'm amazed that in this short span of time, you learned how to fly on your own,” Merlin said.
“Oh, well... Anyhow, that's what makes me happy nowadays,” Ernst finished.
Dieter looked at Merlin.
“Dieter, do you remember that I told you I was careless with a spell? That it was about a woman? That maybe I'd tell you all about it one day? Well, I think it's time, at least for a good portion of the story. It isn't all happy but there's enough happiness that I can tell the story and keep our guests occupied for a while.”
Dieter focused his attention on Merlin.
“I'm afraid that I'll have to ask you to focus your attention elsewhere while I do. Could you teach Anselm and Ernst how to create the sunlight while I speak? I think that if we can all do that, we can pinpoint locations surrounding the creatures and dissipate them if we all create sunlight at the same time.”
“Yes Merlin, I'll do that. I may ask you to repeat the story someday though if I miss parts.”
Merlin nodded.
“According to her parents, Nimue was always a precocious child.”
“Wait, the woman that caused you to make a major mistake was also your apprentice?” Dieter asked?
“Yes, but that part doesn't come into the story for several years. Nimue was precocious. One day as I was performing some minor magics for her parents, she looked up at me and asked how I did that little thing with the glowing hook. That was when I realized that she was a wizard...”
As Merlin related his story, Dieter worked with Anselm and Ernst. The briefest summation Merlin could make still took half an hour and by the end of it, his students were ready.
“So, I chose a poor trigger. The trigger never occurred so I wasn't woken until the physical part of the spell structure took major damage. What makes me truly happy though is knowing that Nimue is still alive.”
“She's been alive for thirteen hundred years? You said she might be, but now you're sure?” Ernst asked.
“Yes, I saw her with my Sight just recently. She's still healthy and doesn't look a day over thirty-five physically. Seen with my Sight, she appears different but beautiful all the same.”
Ernst shook his head in disbelief.
“You'll see, but watch yourself when you meet her. She has a temper, or at least she used to,” Merlin said.
“We're ready Merlin,” Dieter said.
“Good, see how all the creatures are clumped together? I'll hit the farthest point there.”
Merlin pointed.
“Dieter, you get that point. Anselm there, Ernst there.”
Merlin pointed out each man's target as he spoke their name.
“Are we all ready?”
Nods greeted his question.
“Create your sunlight after three then. One... Two... Three...”
Four beams of sunlight, in varying intensities, flooded down from the ceiling. The creatures were bathed in it, with no place to immediately move that wasn't lit. As they dissipated, the cottage warmed. The room was now flooded with light.
“Well, that worked but I'm afraid we'll be attracting attention now,” Merlin said.
{Anguis, can you finish soon?} Merlin sent.
An image of Merlin and his students departing flashed into Merlin's brain. As they walked across the darkened compound, Anguis came swooping in to land on Merlin's shoulder, the expended crystal in his jaws.
“We need to be going. We're only a few minutes ahead of schedule if we leave now, so let's grab our gear and go,” Merlin said.
The four men gathered their belongings and, after a check with Rein to ensure that no-one was watching, slipped out of the cottage.
* * *
Chapter 18
Merlin led his students through the darkened compound with Rein flying overhead to warn Anselm of any obvious patrols or guards. There was more noise than usual for this time of night and Merlin was happy to hear it. He was sure that it was from the warning dreams. Only people deciding that the warning might be for real, and leaving because of it, would be making so much noise at this time of night.
That will provide a distraction if it's the case. An unanticipated benefit of warning the innocent off, Merlin thought.
They arrived at the truck but Gunter was nowhere to be seen.
“We'll wait a few minutes, I think we're early,” Merlin said.
Anselm's soft voice broke the silence.
“Rein says there's a single man coming from the direction of the garage.”
“Hopefully it's Gunter,” Merlin said.
The man was walking with a purpose, jangling a set of keys in his hand. He stopped at the correct truck and Merlin noted with relief that it was Gunter.
“Gunter, why are you being so loud?” he asked.
“Merlin. Good, I have the right truck.”
“Please be a bit more quiet.”
“The best way to be unobserved is to act as though you belong where you are, doing what you're doing. If you sneak, you draw attention to yourself,” Gunter said.
He slid into the truck and inserted the key.
“Are you ready? Can we leave? Are you going to do the same thing to the gate guards again?” he asked.
“Dieter, Anselm, Ernst, get in the back of the truck and please be quiet until we're out of here. I'll ride up front to take care of the guards,” Merlin said.
He slid into the front of the truck with Gunter.
“Yes, I'll be doing something similar to get us out of here, assuming it works. There's been a lot more magic in use around here lately. It wouldn't surprise me if the guards have some form of protection now.”
Anguis swooped in the window and landed on Merlin's shoulder. Gunter's eyes widened.
{Anguis, say hello to Gunter before he injures himself please.}
Gunter's wide-eyed stare became glassy for a moment. Then he shook his head and looked at Merlin.
“A dragon? You've got a dragon?”
“Not a real one. Anguis is somewhere between a living creature and an animated statue. He just happens to be in the shape of a dragon.”
“I said it before, I doubt life is ever boring around you.”
“Really, it is. Just not when there are things that need to be done. Like getting out of here before the SS commander takes charge.”
“Right, let's go,” Gunter said.
&n
bsp; He started the truck and put it in gear. It sputtered and jerked several times before smoothing out as it picked up speed.
“I hate low gear in these things,” Gunter muttered to himself.
He drove towards the exit from the compound. When the guards were illuminated by the headlamps, there were four instead of the normal two. All of them wore the twin lightning insignia of the SS.
“Your turn Merlin,” Gunter said.
Merlin saw Gunter's eyes swivel towards him. Gunter's jaw dropped when he saw Merlin as the guards would. A simple illusion caused him to appear as an SS senior assault leader who was currently in residence at the compound. Gunter's eyes turned forward and locked onto the road. Merlin looked out the window at the approaching guard.
“Sir, may I see your clearance to leave the compound?” the guard asked.
Merlin did a quick scan of the guard's mind, discovering what the man expected to see. He added a sheet of paper to his current illusion and held it out into the light for the guard to read.
“As I thought sir, it'll be good to have one of our own in charge here. I've been assigned to this facility for a while and things seem a bit slack.”
Merlin ensured the illusion was thorough enough that the guard would hear the voice associated with the man being impersonated.
“I'm sure my trip will help get this place into the shape it should be in,” Merlin said.
“You may pass sir.”
The guard waved to his partner, who raised the bar at the entrance. Gunter slowly pulled the truck through the gate, managing to accelerate more smoothly this time. Once they were out and headed for the main road Gunter turned to Merlin again. This time Merlin looked like himself.
“That was frightening. You looked, and sounded, just like him. Where are we headed for now?”
“Did you find out where they're holding Johann?”
“Yes, there's a small SS detachment near the airfield he used to fly out of. They arrested him and still have him. They were trying to find out anything about his missions regarding the occult. Word is that he was happy to talk until they tried to force him to give more detail, then he shut up like a clam.”
“Then we'll head towards the airfield we flew into before. I'm of a mind to see if Johann would like to leave as well. We could certainly use a pilot for when we steal a plane.”