by C E Johnson
Maaca’s hair was bobbing delicately above her shoulders, so she pulled her spun silver tresses back from her face, deftly tying her hair out of her eyes. She lifted one fist, and her team descended together in silence. Just before swords were pulled from scabbards and death was imparted, there was an error, a fault in her plans. One of her Black-Blades clumsily placed a boot on a dry branch, and the misstep let out a loud crack. Maaca froze, trying to blend in to the dark to no avail while inwardly cursing in frustration.
“To arms!” a sentry yelled while drawing a sword. His comrade blew on a black war horn that he pulled from his cloak, and a deep sonorous wail shattered the night. Hands grasping for armor and weapons, the sleepers scrambled to their feet.
“Attack,” Maaca roared. She drew her magical blades and put all her weight behind her first slash which bit deep into the armor of the first sentry who had just warned his comrades of their approach. He erupted in death-smoke, and she sucked desperately at his magus. The substance was warm as a kiss and sweet as honey. She had just a taste before it floated fleetingly past her. She scanned through a portion of his surface thoughts and memories, assimilating anything she found that might be useful for her current battle.
“Nathan!” Maaca thundered. “Unleash the wyverns!” Nathan nodded before making a hand signal to the flying creatures. All at once, the wyverns darted downward, attempting to take bites out of exposed enemy flesh. However, wood and leather shields were now in action. The enemy squad was able to deflect the majority of the wyverns’ venomous attacks, slamming them aside. Out of the corner of her eye, Maaca watched the noble enter the fray. She wasn’t sure if he was a warrior or not. His two-handed greatsword moved quickly in a brutal arc and he imbedded the steel in the skull of one of her vampires, who erupted in black smoke instantly. He was a warrior, she realized. Maaca was taken aback by his skill and strength. As his hooded cloak fell away, she realized with shock that the noble was an elf. She had never viewed an elf in combat, and an unfamiliar chill began to creep down her spine, a cold biting sensation that she had almost forgotten, fear.
With a building sense of urgency, Maaca attacked the second sentry, still clutching his war horn. She was relentless with a savage flurry of blows that took him by surprise. Her enchanted blade Doom drove the man backward into the rich soil and he erupted as the edge of her other steel blade, Death, opened his throat. She drank in his magus and gained more information. She discovered the elf lord was actually a cousin to Shadoe, traveling all the way from the northern elf forest of Harath to meet Shadoe for his birthday feast.
Maaca barely dodged a steel-tipped spear that came hurtling in her direction and she exchanged a quick glance with Nathan and her remaining stunned Black-Blades. Wishing she had brought her entire coven for this battle against an elven warrior, she cursed her arrogance and poor planning. The conflict continued with steel glimmering deadly in the pale light of the three full moons high above. She gasped as she watched the elf’s blade bite through scales and bone to enter the skull of an attacking wyvern. His dexterity is definitely above my own. She felt sickened with the realization. The wyvern erupted in a faint cloud of orange smoke.
Maaca killed another warrior and she pushed back sweat-soaked hair from her forehead while sucking up the residual magus from the downed man. She was going to need every fragment of energy she could draw. Before she could revel in her success, she heard a muffled grunt and wheeled around to watch the elf’s greatsword sheer through armor, cleaving into Nathan’s arm. She could sense his pain and she felt flushed with fury as the elf made another savage cut that sliced into her captain’s chest. Nathan glanced at her, his face filled with apology and regret just before he erupted into dark death-smoke.
A light rain began to fall and Maaca lifted her face to greet the soft, warm liquid falling from the sky which merged with her tears. She closed her eyes and imagined Samil’s fingers delicately tracing on her exposed skin. When she reopened her eyes, she realized only herself and the elf were left standing. They regarded each other through the hazy death-mist and falling rain.
“What are you?” the elf asked icily.
“A half-dead vampire formed from an arch-mage by an arch-mage,” Maaca answered defiantly. She spoke with more arrogance than she felt. A blade had bitten into her forearm, and she touched the wound and winced, the spasm of pain making her grit her teeth.
The elf noticed. “I didn’t think your kind felt much pain.”
“I’ve assimilated many creatures. I’ve evolved,” Maaca quipped in a hostile manner. She gazed into his eyes, which were molten green, shining like green emeralds.
“I almost regret that I have to kill you,” the elf said thoughtfully. His tone was resigned and even. “There’s a primal beauty about you.” He advanced toward her and they began to circle warily. The information Maaca drew from the men wouldn’t help her, they hadn’t seen the elf fight. She watched his movements, searching for a chink in his armor, but he was graceful, nimble and strong. She could find no weakness. The chill in her spine was now clutching her heart. He leapt forward and began his attack.
Maaca blocked a savage blow with her wounded arm, but pain lanced up toward her shoulder with the magnitude of the impact. He was moving fluidly like liquid lightning, driving her backward, every blow staggering her. She fought well with her knowledge from countless victims rising in her mind, slicing at his mail hauberk and leather with thin lines of blood welling from multiple wounds where her swords found purchase, but they both knew he was a better fighter. Without warning he moved in a blur, shadowy blows bit at her wrists, knocking Doom and Death to the ground. He moved again, and the blunt of his blade connected with her skull. She fell to the ground alongside her weapons, her fingers digging into the damp earth, stretching toward her swords which were too far away for her to make contact.
Maaca was amazed that everything would end this way—this wasn’t what Samil had planned for her, but she wasn’t about to beg for mercy. She closed her eyes, struggling for breath, remembering when Samil had kissed her so tenderly. She barely had the energy to open her lids. The elf stood above her, and above him the leafy canopy swayed in a bizarre waltz.
“Back to Ater from whence you came,” the elf’s voice was cold as ice and hard as stone. He lifted his sword for the killing blow. Without warning, before his greatsword could make its descent, he gasped as two longswords emerged from his chest like two steel snakes emerging from their dens. He erupted in a cloud of green smoke and Maaca screamed in ecstasy as his magus flowed in and around her. She had never tasted elven magus, and the taste, the sensation, the joy was beyond compare. Through the green death-smoke mist, she saw two half-dead shades who had stabbed the elf from behind. Their faces were in rapture as they also consumed the energy in the air. They were terrifyingly impressive and incredibly soothing all at once.
“I am Wuldur and this is Ullr,” one of the shades spoke in an even tone once he had regained his composure. Silver irises shining, the elven magus made him appear positively alive. “Samil sent us to guard you.”
Maaca closed her eyes in joy, assimilating portions of the elf, learning all she could about Shadoe. I won’t fail you again, she pledged to Samil, her maker.
CHAPTER 26
Shield
Emily opened her eyes in the early morning hours. A white and blue flame instantly shot up from a mage-light to illuminate the room. She changed into a set of clothes her godfather had stored for her in a cedar chest. On the chest lid, a dragon had been carved deep into its surface and the hinges were bound with clasps of a heavy, solid silver. The shirt and pants she selected had tiny animal figures sewn into the fabric in a golden thread. Over the top she wore a leather jacket which served as a type of light armor and extended down over her arms. A green cloak was also laid out for her, and she discovered long leather sandals that laced up her lower legs.
Emily looked at herself in the mirror. How did he know I’d choose this room? she wondered.
Check your injury, Xena advised gently, we’ll solve the mysteries of Dr. D another day.
Emily smiled as she looked to her wound, it was improved, but she again accelerated the healing, speaking, medicor, softly. She bandaged the injury and picked up Dr. D’s book, taking it with her into the central great hall with the many doors.
Magus-fires were instantly roaring in the corners upon her arrival. She led Xena out one of the passageways that deposited the two into an enormous stable. The stable doors opened to a large field and the bondsmates stepped into the dazzling world of Acacia.
Emily gasped in awe at the beauty before her, somewhat like the lake, but even more breathtaking. Islands of wildflowers dotted a great field of green grass with thick trunked trees lining the sides. The branches were bedecked with green leaves and delicate white flowers which left their leafy homes in pod-like clusters to float to the ground like dancing fairies. Emily raised her senses to their highest levels, allowing full exposure to the brilliant colors of the flowers, the vibrant and pure sounds of the birds peeking at her from the trees, and the smells of bouquets of fresh aromas. The breeze touched her skin sending a gentle caress of a thousand fingertips, and a hawk wheeled overhead gliding on unseen currents. She had never imagined such a peaceful place. Protected by natural stone walls on one side and a sheer cliff on the other, the meadow was a secure taste of paradise. In the distance, she could see snow tipped mountain peaks reaching stony crags toward the heavens.
With a whoop and Xena hot on her path, Emily ran into the field with only a slight limp. She blocked out the pain shooting up her leg and cartwheeled through the tall grass, laughing at Xena nipping at her heels. They landed in a pile of fur and legs. Breathing deeply of the fresh air, Emily rested her head on Xena’s rump, thinking over the many differences emerging between Acacia and Earth. She loved the world of her youth, but memories of Earth were of a subdued and muted place, and she now felt truly alive. Emily pulled out Dr. D’s book and started to read a chapter that began with a prophecy he had discovered:
I have only found two verses of the Dragon Prophecy which I will list for you here:
From ancient bloodlines most rare,
From the Houses of the Elves and Humankind,
Two offspring stronger than steel,
Their futures intertwined,
One will depart raw,
One will depart trained,
One the sword, one the shield,
Power deeply ingrained,
Emily wasn’t sure why Dr. D had stuck these stanzas in the book at this point, but she understood he thought the prophecy was important. He further detailed that he wanted her to search for the other verses involved with the prediction. Emily was intrigued, but she didn’t gain any insight from the words of the Dragon Prophecy. Promising herself to keep vigilant for the rest of the prophecy, she kept reading the next section of Dr. D’s book:
You will find maps in the cave that show a portion of Acacia. There are waterways to the east leading to a large lake and the Island of Bashan. To the west is the land of the Javan, able fighters separated from the mainland Acaceans by the Lacerta and desert-dragons. To the south is the Dothan Forest, inhabited by elves led by Shadoe and more sinister creatures, half-deads, and to the north is the elven forest of Harath.
Emily read about a variety of topics, including magical magestones, magestone sets, and about details of his cave:
In my Castle Cave, there are hundreds of rooms with treasures dating back thousands of years. Perhaps your heightened magus will help you find the aura of a magical item that has been forgotten or that others cannot see. Take anything you desire. Remember, enchanted items will glow with a faint aura that only strong magicians are able to detect.
Emily felt a thrill at the thought of exploring and finding treasure. With Xena, she went back into the castle to begin a more thorough search of its rooms. They took the same path through the empty stable cut into the side of the mountain and began their exploration in the room of twenty doors.
One passageway revealed a library with thousands of books where Emily planned to spend the majority of her time, but for now, she continued her hunt. Another one of the corridors exiting the great hall led to doors that glowed like polished opal. Emily mouthed, Aneoxa porta, and found a stone hallway with walls carved in intricate detail portraying cavalries and magicians casting spells. On the far end stood a door of black stone, which opened into a room filled with suits of leather and metal armor and vibrantly painted wooden shields, many with dragons and birds of prey highlighted in colors. Longbows, crossbows, and swords hung from the walls, and chests of daggers and sabers lined the floor. Emily inspected each weapon carefully but didn’t sense any magical aura.
You might need another weapon on the next leg of our journey, Xena advised. Testing the swords for strength and balance, Emily selected an unadorned weapon with a sharp edge.
The next room caused Emily to stop in her tracks and rub her eyes—the treasury. Precious stones glinted from every corner of the room and jewelry spilled out of chests and onto ornate wooden tables. Crowns and tiaras glittered from their resting place as she dragged light fingers over extravagant jewelry and stacks of coins. Gingerly lifting various items, she eschewed the gaudy finery for a delicate chain with a pendant crafted into a silver tree. It reminded her of home. Slipping it around her neck, she carefully selected a handful of jewels and coins and packed them into her satchel. On her last glance backward, she froze. Was that box glowing?
Be careful of traps, Xena warned. Emily rushed to the far corner of the room and slid heavy crates away to reveal a small chest. She felt a rush of adrenaline without knowing why and opened it to reveal a blue gemstone cut into a cube. Bluestone, whispered her ki.
Hesitantly she reached toward the stone, which fit easily in her palm. It fell apart in her hand creating three separate pyramids. It’s somewhat like Dr. D’s magestone cube, Xena realized.
I wonder if it has any powers besides augmenting my spells. Emily focused on the stones, and the three pyramids began to shine brighter, rising from her palm to twirl and tumble through the air in a ring. The blue glow was reflected in Xena’s eyes. As the pair watched the stones, they began to dance higher and higher, expanding their pattern to swirl around them. Unnerved, Emily snatched the stones out of the air and reformed them into a cube in her hands. The separating lines became nearly imperceptible.
Keep them safe, Xena advised. Emily returned the bluestones to their bag and placed the bag in her pocket. Their aura immediately faded away.
Although there were plenty of interesting artifacts to be found, Emily didn’t discover any other objects that seemed to have magical properties, and she spent the next several days in the library. A squishy leather chair quickly became her preferred retreat, and she spent hours utilizing her enhanced speed and memory to devour book after book. Each book she read revealed more about Acacia, its history, and its inhabitants, and she began to feel a fondness and pride for this colorful and mighty land.
Emily also found herself drawn to the look and feel of her graceful bow. Each morning after tai chi, she practiced in the field by the stables. She was rewarded with a rapid improvement in aim and technique. Arrow after arrow would whip through the air, embedding themselves satisfyingly into the practice targets she mounted. Although she knew her skill was increasing, she wondered if she would actually be able to ever kill another person in battle if it came to that. She wasn’t a killer. Xena was always at her side observing with support and approval as the arrows rushed through the wind. There was also something else in Xena’s eyes as she watched, something dark and somber which made Emily turn away from her bondsmate because it spoke to her of bloodshed and death.
Emily also had time to read the final portion of her guidebook which, among other items, included a spell that Dr. D thought would be important for her survival.
This spell protects you from attacks. Your blue magic will make this a very powerf
ul spell.
As with all spells, this shield spell will drain your strength, so you will not want to use it for a long period of time. Each weapon that might hit your body will be blocked by the shield spell. However, you will lose magus for each protective event, and well-fired arrows, sword blows and kill-shots, will have a higher drain than poorly aimed attacks. Use the spell carefully and be aware that you will definitely not be invincible. There is a limit to every spell.
Thyreos o. She burned the words and motions into her memory.
We should test the spell, Xena said thoughtfully.
Emily murmured the spell, feeling the bluestone shift within her pocket as she did so. She unsheathed her dagger and held it over the palm of her hand that she covered with strips of leather. In a smooth motion, she swiped down. The knife bounced off—something—and swung to the side. Was it deflected? she asked Xena.
Try it again, but include me in the spell, Xena whispered curiously. She sat on her haunches next to Emily. Much to Emily’s excitement, she discovered she could extend the spell to include her bondsmate in her protection. Satisfied she ended the spell, Makria.
I feel a little more prepared now, Emily thought to her bondsmate. She ran her hand down to the bandage on her leg and removed the cloth. Her wound was nearly healed with only a faint residual scar. I think we’re ready to leave. She spent that evening in the cartography room perusing various maps and plotting a course to Haran.
CHAPTER 27
Yapoks
Reluctantly, Emily emerged from her cocoon of silken sheets the next cool and crisp morning. Knowing she would soon miss this place, she took a long warm shower, relaxing in the heat before dressing in her favorite Acacean clothes and putting on her boots for the impending trip. She found only mild residual pain and discomfort from her injury. Her wet unbound hair tumbled over her clean shoulders and she felt refreshed and recharged. She took her bluestone cube from its bag and pulled it apart into three pyramids. Still working, she thought with delight as the triangular surfaces again rose, tumbling and turning around her as she sent her magus questing toward the small structures. She plucked the bluestones from the air and pocketed the magical stones and put on her tree necklace.