Blood of the Sorcerer

by B. C. Morin

  Samil brought his hand up brushing the backs of his fingers along her jaw line, sending a strange shock through Evyette’s body. She felt him but it was almost surreal. As if it was not happening.

  “Truly is a shame we are related.”Samil’s eyes ran the length of her body, as he ran his fingers down her arm, sending the shocks throughout her entire form now. “You, are a talented little fae, Evyette.” Samil’s ghost fingers wrapped around her wrist bringing it up to where he could gaze at it. With his other hand, he traced her Mark of darkness and shadow manipulation.

  Evyette tried pulling her wrist free but despite his calm demeanor, and the appearance that he was making no effort, his grip was firm and he would not give.

  “You have no idea, the greatness of this gift.” He tore his gaze from the Mark, meeting her eyes. “You have access to spirits I do not.”

  Evyette’s eyes widened at the realization.

  “Do not worry, my dear. It will not hurt. Much.” No sooner did he finish his sentence, than two Dorchae appeared at the door of her cell, unlocking it.

  Samil grabbed her wrist harder and pulled it against his chest, bringing Evyette closer to him. “I am allowing you to leave your cell. Should you cooperate, I may even allow you to stay in a room. Spell-locked of course, but at least you would have a bed.” His eyes burned into her. “You will not use your magic, you will not fight, and you will do as you are requested.”

  Evyette’s eyes watered, as the smell of sulfur that emanated from Samil surrounded her. Her jaw was set as she nodded her head in agreement.

  “Good.” Samil released her, flashing a wicked smile as he walked ahead of her to the door. “That is a good fae.” He walked past the Dorchae and into the hallway.

  The Dorchae grabbed Evyette by the arms as she walked out of the cell. She was grateful for her meager breakfast as the scent of the Dorchae was causing a nausea the likes of which she had never experienced. Evyette tried hard to focus on the path they began leading her down, attempting to decipher where it was she was being kept.

  The stone corridors were only tall enough to allow the Dorchae safe passage through each. There was little or no lighting and the hammering of metal upon metal became louder as she was walked further away from her cell. They approached an opening that led to a bridge. About thirty feet below she saw several Dorchae working on creating armor, weapons, and holsters. They are preparing Samil for war, she thought to herself. Once they had crossed the bridge, she was led down more dark hallways and caverns and she wondered how it was that Samil could find his way to her cell, or anywhere else here, for that matter.

  Samil was stopped by a Dorchae wearing a leather vest with a crest like symbol on the front of it and she guessed that he must have been an officer of sorts.

  Evyette listened as the Dorchae accounted for the weapons and for the mind slaves that had been forcefully recruited, telling him that there were a few new creatures that needed convincing.

  Samil saw Evyette’s interest and pulled the Dorchae further from her so that she could not hear any more of the conversation. The Dorchae holding her looked forward, awaiting command from their master. Evyette glanced around her noting that there was a corridor to each side. Judging from all the stone walls, she had guessed that they were in the mountains, and needed only a path leading to the outside.

  Ignis, Evyette thought clearly in her mind. Instantaneously, the Dorchae at her sides burst into flames. The flames burned her biceps where their fingers held her but it was only for a moment as they released her, patting themselves, and dropping to the floor in an attempt to put out the flames. As soon as they released her, Evyette set herself in motion. She ran to the right, since Samil had pulled the Dorchae he was talking with to the left, out of earshot. Evyette ran down the length of the dark corridor cursing her lack of weapons.

  “Levis.” Evyette said lowly, hoping not to cause an echo and a small ball of light appeared in front of her, lighting the hallway. She stopped for a moment at the end as the hallway forked off into three different paths. She could hear the voice of Samil yelling at the Dorchae and their grunt responses. Evyette took the path to her left as it was the furthest away and she hoped that Samil would assume she took the closest one to her.

  Her footsteps were light as she ran down the stone floors. Out of an opening a Dorchae appeared, though he was not armed and unprepared.

  “Obstupe!” Evyette yelled, and the Dorchae’s body became stiff and fell to the floor. Evyette jumped over him, grazing her head against the stone ceiling, and knocking herself off balance.

  She fell to the ground scraping her knees and wrist. Evyette looked back to ensure that no one else was following her and got up quickly, continuing her run.

  “By the God, how will I find my way out?” Evyette thought out loud. She made another turn, appreciating the light in front of her as they did not have candles lighting them. She heard faint voices in the distant. People crying out for help and for release. As she ran down yet another corridor in this labyrinth, she was dropped into a large room circular room with cells running along the walls. There were pixies in one cell, a Minotaur that had been badly beaten in a cell with a Satyr, who eyed Evyette as a hungry fae would eye a plate of food.

  “Help us!” The cry came from a Rogue Faerie at the far end of the room, close to the opening she would have to take to continue her way out of there.

  Evyette ran to his cell. His blonde dirty hair fell over his black eyes. Dried blood crusted the corners of his mouth and he had bruises on his jaw line and around his eyes. It seemed a miracle he was even conscious.

  “Expediere.” She yelled, but the lock did not give way.

  “The cells are enchanted.”

  Evyette pulled on the bars and cried out in frustration.

  “Stand back, everyone!” Evyette glanced at the cells, quickly ensuring everyone had stepped as far back into their cells as she could. Evyette closed her eyes and the Mark on her wrist began to burn. Shadows began to appear from the cracks in the ground and the walls. They crept and slithered their way to her. She knew that this would be a guess at best, but she was hoping that the shadows could give her enough energy to multiply the spell.

  “Contúndere!” She yelled out, her eyes closed as she mentally pictured the doors of the cells unhinging and flying out of their places. The sound of the metal doors hitting the stone ground and walls announced the completion of her spell.

  The rogue faerie ran out from his cell, grabbing her by the shoulders.

  “Quick, we were brought in through here.” He turned her around leading her down the corridor she had been standing next to.

  “Thank you!” he called out as he ran beside her.

  “You are welcome!” She shot back.

  The Rogue faerie caught Evyette by the elbow pulling her into a narrow passage way where only two or three of the creatures could fit at a time.

  Evyette heard the clashing of swords and knew that the Dorchae and possibly even Samil had found them.

  “Who are you?” The Rogue Fae asked as he stopped near a makeshift ladder that had been carved into the stone.

  “Princess Evyette of Meira.”

  “Hm, saved by a Princess, who would have thought? I must be sure not to repeat it to anyone. Pendere!” The stone ceiling above them moved at the sound of his last word, hovering at least four feet off of the ground. The rogue fae crawled out first and reached his arm to Evyette.

  She took hold of his arm and crawled through the space, allowing the fae to help her to her feet.

  “Thank you.”

  “Valic.”

  “Which way now, Valic?” Evyette shielded her eyes from the noon day sun with her arm.

  “This way.” He grabbed her hand pulling her along through mazes of trees and along ledges and cliffs.

  Evyette looked around her, seeing nothing but more mountain and peaks. She had no idea where they were. She stopped suddenly, hearing a familiar sound, dread running cold through h
er body.

  “What?” Valic turned, looking at her and following her gaze to the sky.

  “We need shelter. Now!” Evyette pressed herself against a tree, scanning through the branches for the bird.

  Valic stood next to her glancing from her face to the sky.

  “What is it ?”

  “Saros.” She said solemnly. “I would know his sound anywhere.”

  “Saros?” Valic looked at her, his brow furrowed.

  “He is a Raynor bird.” Evyette looked into Valic’s eyes discovering that they were not black but a deep brown. “He is not just any Raynor bird, though. He is the bird of Maligo, and they are both working with Samil.” Her eyes pleaded with his. “If he finds us, he will only take us back.”

  Valic thought for a moment, as he looked around.

  “This way.” He grabbed her arm once again, pulling her off of the tree and into a dense wooded area.

  “Where are we going?” Evyette whispered to him. She tried continuously to see the sky through the branches, but it was futile. At least, she thought, this would be a difficult place for Saros to maneuver through.

  They walked for what seemed like hours. The small rays of light that had managed to penetrate through the trees hinted to an ending day.

  Valic began to slow, putting his hand against almost every tree he passed.

  “What are you doing?” Her breathless voice still low.

  “It is around here somewhere.”

  “What is?”

  “A long time ago, I made a deal with a pixie. Her payment to me was her home.”

  Evyette furrowed her brow, appalled that he would take someone’s home.

  Valic turned, seeing her reaction.

  “It was not her only home. It was one she kept out here. It is much like the large oaks you find in the Kingdoms.” He stopped walking, facing her. “When you look at them, all you see is an oak that you could stand ten fae around and they could still touch fingers. But when you walk in, it is the size of thirty of those oaks put together.” He turned his attention back to the trees, jumping over slithering branches. “Of course, this one is not as large, but it will do.”

  Evyette jumped as a branch slithered its way toward her boot.

  Valic laughed. “Oh, and you may want to be careful. The woods here are enchanted. I would liken it to the Aberrant Woods, only here, you can actually find your way out.”

  Evyette ran forward, running into Valic and knocking him into a nearby tree.

  “Apologies.” She said immediately, pulling herself off of him and helping him to stand.

  Valic laughed as he brushed off his shirt.

  “None needed.”

  “Why do you feel the trees? How will that tell you which one it is?” Evyette looked nervously behind her and towards the ground.

  “I enchanted it to be hidden. At my touch, it will hum.”

  “Hum?” The sarcasm in Evyette’s voice was not lost on Valic.

  “Well, it will not break out into song, if that is what you are waiting for. It is more like vibrations that I will feel upon touching it.”

  “Well, you did a fine job hiding it, as you seem to have hidden it from yourself.”

  Valic turned to Evyette, the corner of his lip curled.

  “Do you want to find a place to hide or not?”

  “Apologies.” She managed through an embarrassed smile.

  “Finally!” Valic stepped back a few feet from the tree. “Aperite.” In an instant, a door appeared along the face of the tree.

  Valic turned the knob, and stepped in. They entered into a small foyer, decorated appropriately with vines crawling along the walls. It emptied out into a space that was divided by a sitting room on one side equipped with a large cushioned seat, big enough for three or four fae, a small table in the center, and two chairs facing the seat.

  On the right was a small wooden dining table with four matching seats. There were small reminders of the female pixie that had lived here before in the flowery upholstery, and the teacups that lined a shelf in the dining room. The dining room was adjacent to the kitchen. Ahead of them was a set of narrow stairs, which she assumed led to the bedroom or rooms.

  “It’s not your castle, but it will do.” Valic motioned with his arm for her to enter further into the home.

  Evyette turned to Valic, concerned.

  “Valic, I was under the impression that rogue fae were not to be trusted.”

  Valic stifled a chuckle as he folded his arms across his chest.

  “We are not.”

  Evyette took a cautious step back.

  “However, you saved me. It is not a deed I can ignore.”

  Evyette smiled at him.

  “I am going upstairs to find a change of clothes that is not covered in blood. You can help yourself to anything in the kitchen.” Valic said, as he made his way to the stairs.

  Evyette stopped at the entryway of the kitchen,

  “Oh Valic,” she called watching as he stopped on the stairs.

  “Yes?”

  “Thank you.”

  Valic flashed her a smile and continued on his way up.

  The explosive sounds woke them from their slumber. Valic ran down the stairs, tying his pants into place. He ran to the foyer grabbing his boots that were next to the door. He tossed Evyette her boots as she rolled off the seat in the sitting room.

  “What is that? What is going on out there?” She yelled, trying to be heard over the explosions.

  Valic peered through a small window in the door, but jerked back as soon as the next explosion went off. He turned to Evyette who was now standing behind him.

  “They are looking for you.”

  Samil’s voice carried through the night air.

  “Evyeeette. Where are you my precious? We know you are here. I will tear apart this entire mountain until I have you again.”

  Evyette took a few steps back, completely horrified by the calm tone of his voice. She felt that perhaps if he were angry or furious and yelling for her, she could deal with that. But this eerie calm he had was unnatural, and only forebode of bad things to come. Her gaze fell on Valic.

  “I have to go out there. He will destroy your home.”

  “Are you mad? He will destroy you!” Valic’s brow was furrowed. “How did he even find us?” He looked out the window again, watching as the three shadowed figures made their way through the trees. First, he saw the faint glow of Maligo’s staff, illuminating his profile, though all he could really see was the hood, a part of his face, and his beard. There was a fae in front of him who he continued to prod with his staff to walk forward but there was not enough light to see him. Suddenly, Samil turned to Maligo and nodded his head. Valic’s stomach began knotting as he anticipated the next explosion. Maligo’s mouth moved as he thrust his hands forward and three trees in front of them exploded, sending debris flying through the air at deadly speeds.

  “Ah!” Valic stepped back as a large thud hit the door, a burnt tree branch lay against his home.

  Evyette reached for the doorknob, but Valic grabbed her by the wrist.

  “I will not let you go out there.”

  “He will destroy your home otherwise.”

  “I can obtain another.”

  Evyette bit her lower lip, contemplating her options.

  Valic looked out the window again and saw that they stopped, they were arguing with the third fae that was with them. It wasn’t until the fae turned, and a beam of moonlight escaped through the increasingly scattered forest and lit his face, that Valic recognized him.

  “Murchad, you bastard!” He yelled, as he turned, running his fingers through his hair. “I know how they found us. They must have tortured him, but they have a rogue with them that knows me. Luckily I never allowed him to see which tree is mine, so it buys us some time.”

  “Time for what?” Evyette threw her hands up. “Valic, even if we managed to escape, he will not stop. He will hunt us down, and kill you for helping me.”
She walked up to Valic, putting her hand on his cheek. “Your debt has been paid. Now let me go.”

  Valic dropped his gaze.

  “You will not go out alone.” He raised his head, his eyes meeting hers.

  “Valic, you have no need to do this. Stay inside or run, but do not join me. I cannot imagine what Samil will do to you.”

  Evyette took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her throat and her stomach in several knots. She reached for the doorknob again and turned the handle. As soon as she opened the door, she could see Samil, Maligo and the fae that Valic knew standing no more than twenty feet from her, the moon, lighting Samil’s haunting form. Even from where she stood, the twisted devilish grin he flashed at her could be seen, sending chills down her spine.

  She began walking towards him, Valic by her side.

  “I will go with you, but you must not harm my friend.”

  Samil’s laugh echoed throughout the mountainside.

  “The one harboring you from me?”

  “He did not know what he was doing. I coerced him.”

  “So sweet.” Samil looked at his fingernails, pretending to become bored with the entire situation. “But…wrong!” He threw his hand forward and Valic was suspended in the air, choking noises gurgling from his throat.

  “Stop it!” She screamed as loud as she could. “I said I would come! Put him down, now!”

  Samil was muttering under his breath, chanting whatever spell was torturing Valic. Evyette ran to him, calling out to the shadows under her power, and unsheathing the sword she had strapped on when Valic was telling her to stay.

  Maligo who until now had his head down, undoubtedly trying to recoup his energy from all the spells Samil kept asking him to perform, raised his staff and pointed it at Evyette. He lifted his gaze.

  “Coerceer!” he yelled, his eyes meeting hers for the first time.

  “Olivia” he gasped, as he fell to his knees in exhaustion.

  Evyette fell to the ground, her arms tight at her sides as if an invisible rope had wrapped itself around her. Samil looked down at her as she struggled to get to her knees, her feet bound together as well.

  “Oh good, I would hate for you to miss this.”