The Iron Seal

by J. M. Briggs

  Two more came jumping through the air, vaulting off an electrical box. Bran brought his hand up, catching the pair in a wave of yellow and leaving them hanging in the air. They kicked against the air as if it would free them. One started moving like it was trying to swim. Bran’s chest lightened for a moment before a fireball exploded around the creatures. Blinking, Bran shook himself. These were Red Caps; they were vicious. Not amusing. They weren’t under the power of the Iron Chain. He needed to remember that.

  More were coming. They were splitting off into small groups, and a few were by themselves, crawling across the alley walls. Their twittering words and giggles surrounded them, echoing off the walls and creeping up Bran’s spine. He and the others grouped up in the center. Catching sight of a couple heading for Alex, Bran sent a volley of bolts straight at them. A bolt of lightning erupted from Alex’s hands, striking and killing one of them. The other caught a bolt in the shoulder and screamed before a second bolt finished the job.

  There were fewer and fewer. Ice swept up to trap two in a corner. A fireball exploded to his right and took out a couple. The shadowy corners of the alley were going silent. Bran’s heart was beating steadily, rather than racing. His limbs didn’t ache, and he realized, with surprise, that he was getting better at this. He caught two more Red Caps and pulled them off the ground. Two well-aimed icicles sailed through the air and killed them.

  Looking around, Bran saw only one Red Cap left. It had no weapons and was looking around frantically. A raspy call escaped it, but nothing came to help it. Nicki kicked her right leg forward, catching the Red Cap and sending it flying back against the dumpster. The metal rang, and Bran grimaced. Aiden didn’t hesitate, and a well-placed fireball destroyed the creature, leaving a lingering scent of smoke on the air and a small scorch mark on the side of the dumpster. They were all still, listening for the sound of more. It was quiet in the alley, and Aiden sighed in relief.

  “Someday we’re not going to fight in an alley,” Aiden muttered.

  “Don’t complain,” Bran said. “It’s easier this way. Unless you want another incident that involves the whole town.”

  “Don’t even joke,” Nicki said. She was looking around carefully. “I think that’s all of them.” Nicki turned slowly and held out her hand. Another light orb formed as her blue magic spun together. She tossed it forward, but rather than hanging in the air, it moved around and illuminated the corners of the alley as Nicki moved her finger. “I’m not seeing anything.”

  “Me neither,” Aiden agreed. Shaking his head, he motioned towards the scattered clothing, knives and other makeshift weapons. “We should deal with those.”

  “On it,” Bran said. Waving his hands, he sent his magic forth to scoop them all up. Nicki turned and opened the closest dumpster. “Uh… yeah, I guess that will have to do.” Curling up his nose slightly, Bran floated the mess of objects over and dropped them into the dumpster. “Do you think that’s safe?”

  Nicki stood on her toes and peaked in. “One second,” she said. Nicki waved her hand and sent blue sparks flowing into the dumpster. Bran couldn’t see what she was doing, but she nodded to herself. “There, I broke them apart a bit and wrapped some of the other trash around the pieces. Not perfect, but it should do the trick.” Laughing slightly, she shrugged. “It isn’t like this is prime dumpster diving territory.”

  “No,” Aiden said. “That’s always the giant one they put by the dorms at the end of the year.”

  “I’ve found some good stuff in that one,” Nicki agreed. When Bran gave her a doubtful look, she grinned. “Seriously; two years ago I got a perfectly good working scanner and printer. It’s all about what people don’t have room for and know their parents will replace for them. There’s a reason I collected for the thrift stores last year. Too much good stuff was being thrown away.”

  Looking towards Alex, Bran noted that she’d barely moved during the fight and had stayed silent. The odd shimmering wall was still in place, and he walked towards it. Everything on the other side was distorted, like an old swirling window. Alex had caught her breath and smiled at him as he stopped beside her.

  “How’d I do?” she asked.

  “Good,” Bran said. “And good idea.”

  “Seemed like the right call on a Friday night,” Alex said.

  “Yeah,” Nicki agreed. “But you can stop now. I think we got all the evidence.” The magical lights vanished, and Alex nodded. Then the wall was gone, and the noise of the street rolled over them. “Huh, you must have blocked out the noise too,” Nicki said.

  “I didn’t mean to.” Alex shrugged a little but looked surprised herself. “Must have done that part subconsciously. I just wanted a wall that would keep people out and from seeing us.”

  “A spell to keep the noise separate would make sense then,” Bran said. “After all, if someone heard fighting, they’d try to come into the alley.” Smiling, he nodded towards the doorway. “We should probably reassure the others that we’re alright.”

  “And check on Avani,” Nicki added. She looked behind them at the alley and shuddered. “I wish the Red Caps would stop doing this.”

  “Yeah.” Alex dusted off her hands and shook her head. “Me too. But I doubt they will. Come on, let’s get inside. I need something sweet.”

  “That chocolate chip cookie with ice cream did look yummy,” Nicki said. “I haven’t had that one before.”

  “Really?” Aiden asked. He blinked and looked confused. “I thought you had.”

  “No, I usually go for the cake, but that sounds a bit heavy right now.” Nicki’s cheeks reddened, but it wasn’t because of the neon lights. “I wonder if Avani will want to share it.”

  “Ask,” Bran said. It was hard not to tease her, but he kept himself under control. Turning to Alex, he asked, “What about you?”

  “I’m not sure, maybe some pie.” Alex hummed and smiled. “Yeah, pie.”

  The door jangled as they opened it. Some people had left after they’d gone out, but Jenny, Lance, and Avani were all still in the booth. Avani looked up as they came in and visibly sighed in relief. She looked tired but was still sitting upright. The waitresses glanced their way but didn’t stop them as they returned to their seats. Alex grabbed her basket of food eagerly but then frowned. She looked over at the waitresses and then down at the burger.

  “Alex?” Bran asked. “Is it too cold?”

  He put a hand on the bun of his burger. They weren’t icy, but the temperature had dropped while they’d been distracted. Holding his breath for a moment, he reached inward for the spark of magic. It was thrumming and felt strong. Despite the battle, there was no aching in his muscles. There was also no feeling of guilt for the death of the Red Caps.

  “Don’t tell Morgana on me,” he said. Alex looked at him in surprise, and he quickly checked that no one was looking. Snapping his fingers, he sent a spark of yellow magic into Alex’s burger and then his own. “You earned it. That was an impressive cloaking spell.”

  Alex smiled, and Nicki huffed, looking down at her burger. She then elbowed Aiden in the side and nodded pointedly at her food. Aiden rolled his eyes but followed Bran’s example. Small red sparks floated across the table to heat everyone else’s food. Humming in approval, Nicki picked up her sandwich while Avani laughed in amusement. Jenny shook her head, and Lance hid a smile in one of his hands. As he bit into his now warm burger, Bran spotted Nicki plucking the dessert menu from the little condiments rack on the table.

  A shadow fell over the table. Someone had come up right next to them. Bran looked up, expecting one of the waitresses. Instead, it was a tall man with messy brown hair and dark bags under his eyes. He was dressed in normal clothing, but they were stained in places like he’d been wearing them for days.

  “Uh… are you okay?” Alex asked.

  The man looked right at her. “Don’t get overconfident, mages,” he said. His voice was low and raspy. “I know you have the sword. I’ll be coming for it. Do you really think yo
u can protect the world? You can’t even protect yourselves.” A nasty little smile twisted up the man’s face, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “You couldn’t even protect your families.”

  Alex started to move. Bran saw dark gray sparks around her hand and grabbed her arm, pulling it under the table. The man laughed, the sound disconnected and off. People were starting to look at him. A waitress was coming over. Groaning, the man’s eyes rolled back, and his knees buckled. On the far side of the table, Aiden moved to catch him, but the man’s head hit the edge of the table. Blood spilled out onto the floor as he slumped unconscious at their feet.

  15

  Searching for Shadows

  Podlasie Province, Poland 983 C.E.

  Dobiemir knew this was dangerous. The forest was dangerous, and these strangers were dangerous. Yet here he was, showing them the paths where he’d most frequently seen the Shadows. Merlin and Morgana were taking it all in stride. They said that they’d never seen creatures like these before, but it was obvious that they had experience with battling others.

  They’d explained things. At least they seemed to think they had. It was still too much, and Dobiemir couldn’t quite make things fit. Reality, his reality, had been turned over too many times for him to be sure of his footing in the universe. They weren’t gods, so they said, but he had a healthier son at home and was helping them hunt for vile creatures. It was all very confusing.

  He’d let them stay at his farm last night. There wasn’t room in their small house; not with all the food he’d been trying to stockpile. But Merlin had calmly waved his hands and made a small hut out of slabs of rock that ripped right up from the ground. It had been horrifying and thrilling all at once. Slavko had, of course, asked dozens of questions about the strangers and what was going on. Dobiemir wasn’t even sure anymore just what the mages had told his son. Today it all seemed like it should have been a dream.

  He’d come out of his own home this morning to check on the fields and animals and spotted the stone hut. Slavko had been awake and healthy, eagerly offering to help with chores. It hadn’t been a dream. It was all real, and as grateful as he was for his son’s renewed strength, Dobiemir was at a loss.

  So here he was walking towards danger with the two strangers. Around them the forest was humming with life. He could hear creatures moving in the distance and heard birds chirping. It was reassuring, and yet not reassuring enough. Merlin and Morgana had power, but Dobiemir worried that they were poking at a beast that was beyond them. Kneeling, he plucked a few mushrooms from the ground and eagerly stowed them in his bag.

  “I did tell you that we could help with food,” Merlin said gently. The older mage was looking down at him with an indulgent smile. “You don’t need to do that.”

  “Let him, Merlin,” Morgana said. “Surely you remember a time that you faced the fear of famine. Gathering food is a difficult habit to break.”

  Merlin frowned at her back as Morgana moved ahead of them on the small game trail. “When were you ever in a famine?”

  “That’s hardly what you should be focusing on now,” Morgana said. “Besides, making plants grow takes magic, and that can be exhausting. Then you eat more to recover. It is still helpful, but gathering is much safer.”

  “Fine, fine,” Merlin said. He looked at Dobiemir and chuckled. “There is no arguing with her.” He paused and glanced at the bag Dobiemir was carrying. “And I suppose that she isn’t wrong.”

  Watching Merlin move forward on the trail, Dobiemir shook his head and tightened his grip on the bag. He took a deep breath and followed the pair further into the trees. Beneath their feet dried pine needles cracked softly, and he jumped as a deer ran past.

  “No sign of any Shadows,” Morgana said. “Do you think we frightened them off?”

  “I doubt it,” Merlin said. His light-hearted tone was gone. “We were forced to run. They may not have followed up, but I doubt we scared them.”

  “Maybe… but depending on the intelligence behind these things it may want to avoid mages altogether.”

  “Possible,” Merlin agreed. “Still, I’d like to know for sure. Unless your scrying has revealed anything?”

  “I’d tell you if I’d learned something,” Morgana said. “But it’s just dark when I try to look. I can’t see anything.”

  “Darkness and shadows,” Merlin said. He shook his head. “I don’t like this. Something new after all this time. I don’t like something new showing itself in the realm.”

  “I don’t know how much help I can be,” Dobiemir said weakly. “Maybe I should go home?”

  “We may need you,” Merlin said. “You know the area. If something is off, even a little, you have a much better chance of noticing than us.”

  “But I can’t fight them,” Dobiemir insisted. “I’m not sure what to do.”

  “For today stay behind us,” Morgana replied. She almost smiled at him. “We can teach you to use magic once we know more about what we’re dealing with. You have the potential. We told you as much. Did you think we were teasing?”

  “I’m not sure…” Dobiemir hesitated. “Things are tense… the missionaries and everyone is afraid right now. I’m not sure using magic is wise.”

  “You’ve got a good mind if you noticed that,” Merlin said. “You’re not wrong. It’s why we were merely watching in the village. We only stepped in against the Shadows because they were going to kill you.”

  “But I still would have seen you.”

  “That can be fixed.” Merlin smiled at him, a secretive and pleased smile that Dobiemir didn’t understand. “Don’t let fear of the villagers stop you. This area has fallen under some sort of dark influence, and you are a mage. You are meant to fight it back.”

  “I’m not so sure,” Dobiemir replied. He hoped he sounded calm, but his heart was jumping at every little sound. “I’m not a brave man.”

  “Bravery is not a simple thing,” Merlin said. “It is complex and determined by the situation. I’ve met many brave people, coward, and those who were only out for glory and wealth. Most of the brave men never felt brave. That was why they were.”

  “I don’t understand,” Dobiemir said. Then he shook his head. “There’s much I don’t understand about you, but you talk in riddles.”

  “He does,” Morgana agreed ahead of them.

  Merlin chuckled and looked towards Morgana fondly. “I suppose she would know that better than most.” Looking at Dobiemir, Merlin smiled warmly. “Tell me more about yourself, Dobiemir.”

  “There isn’t much to tell. You’ve met my son; he’s my only surviving child. I was born in this village. My parents settled here not long before that. My father had been part of a roaming tribe in the past, but hoped that farming would be easier.” Dobiemir patted the bag on his side. “He taught my sister and I to find food in the woods. I’m better than most of the others around here. My wife had a talent with the animals that I lack.”

  “And farming is your trade?”

  “I can do some other things, basic woodworking and such.”

  “Blacksmithing?”

  “No, not that. I’ve never tried.”

  “I see,” Merlin said. “Well, I could teach you. Though I’m uncertain if these creatures are affected by iron. Many are.”

  “I’ve heard that from the stories.”

  “Yes, many of the Fae are known to your people,” Merlin agreed. “But what of your childhood? Your sister?”

  “She died years ago,” Dobiemir said. “There were others, but I only remember her.” Shrugging, he ignored the fact that he couldn’t remember her face. There was only a vague memory of dark hair and eyes like his own and a pretty smile. Even the pain that he remembered being present when she passed was muted. “It happens.”

  “It does.” Merlin looked around carefully, though his pleasant demeanor didn’t change at all. “Anything else?”

  “No, I’m not that interesting,” he insisted. “These things are the only exciting thing ever to happe
n here. What about the pair of you? You must have exciting stories.”

  “Many,” Merlin agreed. “Some far darker and more frightening than others. The reason I believe this is an Old One gone mad is that we’ve seen that before. They didn’t create living Shadows, but they made the dead walk.”

  “Dead… walk?” His heart stopped at the very thought, and his feet almost slipped out from underneath him. “How? Why?”

  “She was tormenting humans,” Morgana answered. “She was crazy. That’s something you need to understand. When the Old Ones begin to lose themselves, they don’t necessarily have plans that make sense. Sometimes they’re lashing out and just trying to make others hurt like they hurt.”