The Conservation of Magic

by Michael W. Layne

  Merrick decided that Fenton was probably right and that he needed to calm down. He greeted the rock wall like he had when he had asked its permission to build his home. He tried to feel what the rock was feeling, to understand the material he would be working with.

  Once again, Merrick repeated the Earth Dragon words that Fenton had taught him. This time, the rock broke off with a straight edge. By the end of the evening, Merrick was consistently making clean cuts in the rock, and was able to concentrate, with Fenton’s guidance, on the right cuts to make to build a sturdy home embedded in the rock wall.

  The following morning, Merrick and Balach went directly back to work on the home, forgoing their normal wandering around the city. As the morning wore on, Merrick became more confident in his abilities and started cutting larger pieces out of the mountain.

  By lunchtime, when Fenton showed up, the raw form of a rectangular encasement had begun to emerge from the mountain wall. Merrick’s pride welled up inside when Fenton told him that it was as good as many he had done himself when he was a Master Builder.

  As darkness started to fall on his first full day at work, Merrick stopped and sat down to rest. Even though he was using magic to transform the interior rock face of the mountain into his new home, he was exhausted. His arms felt loose like noodles, and his legs were wobbly and shaking. His entire body hurt, but the pain was worth it. He was creating something that was far from elegant and there was much work before it would be finished. Yet, it existed because he, Merrick, had willed it into being. As he sat there, looking at the simple, box-like structure he had created, he grinned.

  That night, Merrick went directly to bed after the evening meal with Fenton’s family. He slept faster and more soundly than he ever had before.

  When he awoke the next morning, Fenton told Merrick and Balach that he would be able to go with them this morning, to help Merrick turn his rough house into a more comfortable home.

  Arriving at the building site, Merrick eagerly showed Fenton how far he had progressed in his skill by splitting a large piece of the stone from the rock wall. As it was about to fall to the ground, Merrick spoke the Earth Dragon command, telling the stone to float. The piece of rock was twice as big as Merrick himself, but moved easily through the air, until it came to rest in front of the box carved into the mountain wall. When Merrick told the stone slab to settle into the ground, it proved a remarkable fit, as it became a piece of the outside facing wall of his home.

  By lunchtime, Merrick was happy with his house. It had three walls, with the inside of the mountain itself acting as the back of the house. It was about half the size of Fenton’s house and had no interior walls. Merrick had managed to cut the opening for a door in the stone and was anxious to go with Balach to visit a wood worker for a door to fill the gap.

  As Merrick stood there, surveying his accomplishment, he thanked Balach and Fenton for their help. Fenton and Balach accepted his thanks, but then both started to laugh uncontrollably.

  “It’s a beauty of a home, Merrick. But, you forgot to put any openings for windows.”

  Merrick felt the blood filling his face as he blushed in embarrassment. He had indeed forgotten to include any windows. He walked up to the wall that had just been created by the large rock slab and within minutes, had fashioned a square hole in the side of the outside wall, to the left of the door portal.

  “That’s good, boy. Now let me show you how to make some glass for your wonderful window.”

  Merrick wondered why he had forgotten such a basic thing as a window. Perhaps he didn’t want to see outside when he was in his house—or more likely, maybe he didn’t want anyone seeing in. One thing Merrick sorely missed about his old life was his privacy. He grew up as an only child and was used to spending long periods of time by himself, even as an adult.

  When Merrick looked at his new house, he saw the potential for quiet solitude. He wondered if his subconscious desire for seclusion had caused him to forget to create any windows.

  Fenton showed Merrick and Balach how to create glass by heating up a small slab of stone with magic, then he let Balach and Merrick experiment until they were both able to create a pane of glass of passable quality.

  Merrick took his best attempt and fitted it inside the hole he had made for his window.

  “That’ll do fine for now, Merrick. When you see the man about your door, be sure to ask him for a sill and a set of hinges to hang your window properly. There’s also something else I think you’re ready for now that will really bring your home to life.”

  Merrick was curious as to what Fenton meant and waited anxiously as Fenton dug something out of his carrying pouch that hung from his wide leather belt.

  “Take these seeds, and get to know them. Remember, it’s no different than what you did with the mountain, so don’t be nervous. Once you’re acquainted, place them around the sides of your house, and put one, the one that you make the best contact with, just to the right of your doorframe.

  Merrick did as Fenton requested. After about half an hour of communicating with the seeds, Merrick planted one of them to the right of his doorframe and stood back, half expecting a giant tree to spring forth from the ground. Merrick watched closely, but nothing happened. Then he heard Fenton speaking Earth Dragon in a commanding voice, and several vines sprouted up from the ground. With another word from Fenton, the vines grew until they covered the roof of Merrick’s house and much of the externally facing stone wall.

  “Your turn now, Merrick.”

  Merrick looked at the vines that Fenton had created and then closed his eyes, the winding green images still in his mind’s eye. He cleared his throat, and then did his best to imitate the command Fenton had given for the vines to grow. When Merrick opened his eyes, the same vines had doubled in size, snaking their way up all of the walls of Merrick’s new home.

  “Those seeds are from an ancient tree out in the valley that I used to play under as a child. Close your eyes if it helps, and think of a yew tree, with no leaves and a trunk that twists and turns like an old man’s back. Then imagine that same tree filled with dark green needles to shelter it from the wind out on the Highlands.”

  Merrick once again did as he was told, picturing a barren tree and then seeing it covered with deep, lush green leaves. Fenton stood close to Merrick and whispered a dragon word in his ear. Merrick, still holding on to the image of the tree, repeated the new word with all his skill and strength and then whispered the command to grow.

  The ground trembled, and Merrick bent his knees instinctively to lower his center of gravity. When he looked up, the same tree that he had envisioned was standing in front of him, just off to the right of his new home. As he watched, the tree continued to grow until its branches were completely covering over half of Merrick’s roof.

  “Now, that’s a proper tree guardian if ever I saw one. Get to know your tree, Merrick. Trees have their roots in Terrada and their branches in the world with us. They know a lot more than most of us ever will. Even this one that has just grown carries the memories of all its ancestors before it.”

  Merrick smiled and walked over to the tree. He touched the trunk with both of his hands and felt the texture of the smooth bark, the twisting lines of its skin, and the coolness of its wood. Suddenly, Merrick felt as if he knew the tree already. There was something familiar that he could not explain. For a moment, Merrick thought that he caught sight of Ohman standing next to him. He turned to catch the fleeting glimpse, letting go of the tree as he did so, but no one was there.

  Merrick wondered why he had suddenly imagined seeing Ohman. Maybe his own yew tree reminded him of the one back at Rune Corp that Ohman had seemed so close to. Maybe there was something else reminding him of Ohman. In this world of magic, he couldn’t be sure.

  #

  It was dark. He watched Merrick and Balach through the window of Merrick’s new home. They were sitting in the newly built stone house, the only illumination that of a small oil lamp that sat on
the floor between the two of them. It was their first night in the house, and he imagined the two of them would stay up most of the night, telling each other stories of each other’s worlds—but he could wait—after all, he was the Master Keeper, and patience was his strong suit.

  Being the Master Keeper for the Earth Clan meant that sometimes he had to do things that he didn’t like doing. He felt sorry for the boy, Merrick. After all, it wasn’t his fault who his parents were—nor was it his fault that he was cast into the unenviable role of being the only person in the world that could help Eudroch succeed with his treacherous plans to bring Sigela, the Fire Dragon, back to this world.

  The Master Keeper would have to be careful. For some reason, the Queen seemed determined to keep Merrick alive and well as a permanent guest of the city. Usually, he would not have acted without royal approval, but in some matters, he felt that there was a higher voice to answer to—that of Terrada’s.

  As Master Keeper, he was entrusted above all others to ensure the recreation of the Earth Dragon tongue. He and his close ring of Keepers alone knew more of Terrada’s words than anyone—even the Queen. He knew that the first family to fully restore their language would rule the others because knowledge was power—knowledge was all.

  If Eudroch were successful, all the work of the Master Keeper and his ancestors would have been in vain. Everything he had committed to memory since he was a young boy, all of the names of every member of the Earth Clan to ever have lived, would be wasted. He didn’t like what he knew he must do, but sooner rather than later, Merrick must die for the sake of the clan and for Terrada.

  He doubted that Fenton’s boy would live with Merrick—he was too young for his father to allow that. Some day very soon, Merrick would be alone, in his house, at night, and it was then that the Master Keeper would take him. Before Merrick died, he would be forced to give up his name to the Master Keeper, if he even knew it. If not…well, there were spells and other creation names that the Master Keeper could employ to help speed the boy’s memory. They weren’t very delicate methods, but Merrick’s creation name would be a powerful addition to the clan’s lexicon, and as the Master Keeper, he could not afford to lose it.

  CHAPTER 28

  FIREFLY TRIED TO HOLD steady her jar of fireflies, her hands slick with sweat—not from the heat inside the Viracocha pyramid, but because she was terrified of facing Eudroch.

  Back in the woods with Merrick, she had felt a similar fear as his power had almost exploded, not knowing exactly what was going to happen, but knowing that it was going to be bad. If she had not fled, she knew that she would have died. Her instinct to run was again strong as she stood before Sigela’s altar, waiting for Eudroch to arrive. She wondered which of the two brothers she feared the most.

  Eudroch’s craft was honed. He wielded his magic with complete control and was always deadly. Firefly smelled the same immensity of power in Merrick, but his magic was more raw and uncontrolled than Eudroch’s. Back in the woods, she had made a split-second decision between the two brothers. She had decided that it would be better to face Eudroch with her failure to bring Merrick back, hoping that Eudroch would show mercy. At the time, she would have done anything rather than stand before the uncontrolled onslaught of Merrick’s magic as he tried with all his strength to fight Firefly’s magical charm. Now, she was regretting her decision in the light of Eudroch’s reality.

  Still embroiled in her thoughts, Firefly almost did not see Eudroch as he entered the room. She turned to him, her eyes downcast, her body shaking. It was no use trying to hide the truth. He would know soon enough. Better to come out with it up front.

  “Master Eudroch,” Firefly said, still looking at the floor, “I have returned with news of your brother. As you suspected, he is living with Terrada’s followers in the Earth City. I…I was unable to bring him back with me, but did not want to wait any longer to give you this news. Forgive me my failure.”

  Firefly swallowed hard, her mouth dry, as she waited for Eudroch’s reply. Silence filled the room. It seemed like forever until Eudroch finally spoke. When he did, she knew for certain that she had made a mistake.

  “My dear Firefly,” Eudroch said, “I am pleased to hear that you have found my brother. However, I am…disappointed to hear that you failed to bring him back to me…”

  It would have been no use pointing out that she had indeed accomplished her mission. That Eudroch had never told her to bring back his brother. With tyrants like Eudroch, a failure against unreal expectations was still a failure.

  “I tried, Master Eudroch. I did, but…” Firefly raised her head slightly, cautiously looking into Eudroch’s cold eyes. “…but he was too strong. It is as you said—he has the magic you seek—the power that is rightfully yours. I used all my magic, but he resisted until I thought he would explode. I felt his energy leaking from him onto me, and I panicked and ran away. His magic was like a volcano, ready to erupt. He does not have your control, Master Eudroch. If I had stayed, I am sure that I would not have lived to return to you and tell of his capture by the Earth Clan. I…I was just trying to do what was best for you and our tribe.”

  Surely, Eudroch would understand her logic. She would have died if she had stayed, and then Eudroch might never have known the location of his brother. She had done what was best, even though it might still mean her death.

  Eudroch stood before her, his hands behind his back, his eyes staring at her as he pondered her words.

  “You would have been better off to risk his power than to return with nothing that I did not already know. Don’t you realize that Merrick is more important than your life? The destiny of our entire people, this world, is at stake, and yet you are not prepared to give your life to the cause. Now, you will go to Sigela and account to her for your actions.”

  Eudroch walked over to the bloodstained altar, placing his hand upon the stone.

  “Before you go, you will give me your creation name. It is the least you can do for your tribe, and the only way you can prove yourself of some worth to future generations. Tell it to me now.”

  Firefly tried to suppress the urge to vomit as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. She would not give up her pathetic life yet, no matter what Eudroch said.

  “I have more to tell you besides my name, Master Eudroch,” she said, her voice shaking, but still under control. There is one that Merrick treats as a brother. His name is Balach, and he is the Son of Fenton, Captain of the Fianna.”

  “That information is worth nothing to me. Give me your name.”

  “But, the boy is special. I can give you his name in exchange for my life. It is worth much more than my name. Please.”

  Eudroch crossed his arms impatiently.

  “Very well. Tell me this special name.”

  Firefly thought that she saw Eudroch’s face lighten for a second when she pronounced Balach’s creation name in the Earth Dragon tongue and told him its meaning. Maybe there was a chance that Eudroch would spare her life after all.

  Firefly stood with her hands by her side, trembling, unable to move.

  “You were right. The boy’s name is worth more than yours will ever be. I accept your offer of his name in place of yours.”

  Firefly was about to thank Eudroch for his kindness, when she heard a word crackling like fire in the air and felt her neck tighten and grow hot. She clutched her throat with both hands, unable to breathe. It felt like she had swallowed a red-hot piece of coal as her throat and her chest were consumed by heat from within.

  The searing sensation of her body being destroyed by fire was the last thing beautiful Firefly ever felt.

  #

  Swella watched from the shadows as the pretty young girl fell to the floor and died. The glass jar she had been holding rolled onto the floor, her last act being to save it from shattering.

  As Eudroch turned to walk away from the girl’s lifeless body, he crushed the glass jar under his heel, then stepped on the fireflies inside until they w
ere all dead.

  With his lip curled in disgust, Eudroch left the room, while his two guards walked up casually to take the girl’s body away. When they were gone, Swella dared to venture to the center of the room.

  Swella looked down with astonishment at the collage of glass shards and crushed firefly remains. The residue from the fireflies’ tails had smudged into the floor, forming an uncanny resemblance to an ancient sign that Swella had only seen once before. As a young girl, she used to explore the surrounding jungle and play among the ruins outside of the secluded area of the tribe.

  The sign she had seen then, and recognized now, was one made by drawing a curvy line through the middle of a circle. She had asked her mother one time what the sign had meant. She had drawn it in the sand outside their home for her mother to see.

  Her mother told Swella that the shape signified balance. Some said that the circle represented the world and the curvy line was Sigela. Others claimed that it was simply a marker for night and day.

  Swella stood there, hunched over, staring at the symbol on the floor, illuminated with the dying energy of the tail ends of the fireflies. She understood now that the sign symbolized balance between Sigela and Terrada, and therefore between Eudroch and the brother he was seeking.

  Even though Swella loved her tribe and Sigela more than anything, she realized that without the balance between the two dragons, there could only be death—and the end of the world as she and her people knew it. It was Eudroch’s imbalance that had killed her lovely son, Dabu. She imagined, for the first time, the realities of a world where Sigela roamed free and complete, unchecked by the other three dragons. Everything would die. Eudroch told everyone that Sigela would protect them and declare the Fire Tribe to be the rulers of the world. She had seen too many of Eudroch’s deeds to trust his words. If he promised one thing, then the truth was likely to be the opposite.

  Swella remembered the stories the old ones told around the fire at night—tales of how Sigela was betrayed by the other dragons, her own siblings, and unjustly banished from this world, only her tail left on this world to give the gift of fire to her people.