by J. M. Briggs
“Great,” Alex sighed. “One more thing to worry about.”
Nicki moved closer to her. Alex braced herself, and sure enough, Nicki touched her shoulder a moment later. Raising an eyebrow, she looked up at Nicki and forced a smile.
“Ignore me; I’m just whining.”
“You’ve mastered Morgana’s eyebrow,” Nicki said. “You okay?”
“Just… frustrated. Thought we were ahead and now we’re not. With Cathanáil concealed in a scabbard, I was feeling… not optimistic, but not dreading Arthur’s next move. Now that’s gone.”
“He’s a bastard,” Nicki said. “We should call him The Bastard. Capital T capital B.”
“That doesn’t solve the current problem.”
“No,” Nicki said. She nudged Bran’s shoulder and pointed to where he was still holding Alex’s hand. “I’ll recharge her for a bit. Finish your sandwich, Alex, and we’ll finish these iron symbols. And soon we’ll get The Bastard.”
Bran released her hand and moved to the side. With a smile, Nicki grabbed her hand, and Alex felt the tickle of magic increasing. Maybe it was her imagination, but it was a little easier to think now. Then again, she didn’t like any of the conclusions they were coming to. Swallowing another bite of sandwich, Alex held back a shudder and prayed that she would keep the meal down.
26
Waiting Game
Bran liked magic. At least, he liked the general principle of the thing. As a lifelong geek and lover of fantasy, he enjoyed a thrill every time he used his magic to move anything. Of all the mages, he’d managed to have the most useful natural form of magic. True, the first manifestation was just based on personal talents and quirks, but he had used it usefully outside of battle first. As pretty as Nicki’s water and ice sculptures were, they had limited use in day to day life. So, yes, in general, he liked having magic.
He enjoyed being able to do small tasks or play with it from time to time. It grounded him. Bran wasn’t sure if it was like that for the others, but sometimes he’d just sit down and let the magic fill him up. Meditation had been a key part of learning how to use it, but he wasn’t sure if the others still meditated. Alex probably needed it, but she wasn’t going to let things go quiet and look around inside. He could understand her hesitation: in Alex’s case, who knew what she’d find there.
Yet there were aspects of magic that bothered him. It wasn’t even the fighting and the complications derided from it that bothered him the most. In light of what had happened to Alex’s family, he did admit to having some fears for his mother, but at the end of the day he doubted that he was Arthur’s greatest priority. Learning about magic had led to questions that were so much bigger than him. Even now, almost two years later, he still didn’t have his answers, and every fight seemed to bring more questions. His injured leg had been healed, and he’d relearned moving without his brace, but he’d also seen friends hurt and learned he was a reincarnation. But even that wasn’t the worst part of it all.
The worst part was trying to understand magic. It aligned just enough with what he understood about physics to taunt him. Magic was definitely some form of energy. It was used to create and affect the world around them, so there was no question that it was energy. In general, it was some sort of potential energy that seemed to be stored in the Earth itself and generated based on specific changes to the Earth. Once a mage called it forth, it transformed into kinetic energy based on how they used it. He gave objects movement while Alex released lightning bolts and they could all use it to speed up the reproduction and repair of cells.
When there was too much contact with the physical laws of another universe due to an incursion, more magic was generated, and when everything was at relative peace and equilibrium, there was less magic generated. That much he understood. While he wasn’t sure how to measure it and couldn’t reveal it to the public even if he did, he understood it.
Visions were a bit harder. He’d seen a glimpse of the future once and the past several times, but maybe that came down to something on the quantum level that wasn’t yet understood. Maybe the science of another hundred years would know about magic and have explained it to the point that it wasn’t really ‘magic’ anymore but was a form of energy named after someone. It just wouldn’t be him, and Bran could admit that having to be silent bothered him a little.
However, he didn’t understand the why of it all. There were moments, many moments, when something seemed to direct events, and yet physics didn’t have a ringmaster. Why were certain people born mages and not others? Sure, he and the other mages had been drawn to Ravenslake, but only Aiden had been born there. And they’d been born years before the Sídhe broke through the Iron Gates, so it was like something had known.
He supposed it could be related to the idea that everything was happening all at once and human perception gave time order, but he’d never really believed that theory. There were a few other fringe theories that explained pieces, but not all of it. Not without something directing. Or maybe he was too limited. Maybe he was trying to personify a force of energy that operated unlike anything that humans had ever looked at before.
Part of the problem, part of his frustration, came down to Merlin and Morgana. While in general they’d done a pretty good job of staying up to date in an ever-changing world, they didn’t bother with trying to understand magic. How they could see the rise of electricity, the automobile, and modern medicine and not need to know was beyond him. But even Aiden, the engineering major, was giving up and just embracing it.
Maybe that was the smart choice. It wasn’t like anything was ever going to sit down and give him the answers. Merlin and Morgana had grown used to not having the answers and never getting to know what had led to current events. He supposed that maybe sometimes that was just what happened. In a time before smartphones and even written records you couldn’t count on learning what had happened somewhere else.
But he still wanted the answers. Why had Lance and Jenny been reborn time and time again? Why had he been reborn to help Alex and not another incarnation of the Iron Soul? Or had he been reborn before and didn’t know it? Was it because the Iron Chalice was going to be found this time and they needed him? But what had known that? It all came back to the nature of magic and the question of if there was an intelligence behind it.
Groaning, Bran rubbed his eyes and stood up slowly. His mind was too noisy, too busy for meditation today. Alex was gone with Morgana working on establishing defenses at Jenny and Lance’s houses. Officially she was sick with the flu this week. But that left him in Ravenslake worrying. He sat down at his desk and booted up his computer. He needed something in his life that he could solve, that he could figure out and put to paper. Magic was not that thing.
Time ticked on. He stopped studying and called his mother to check in with her. There was no special news, but it was nice to hear her voice. Alex hadn’t revealed the order that she’d be visiting their homes to put up the alarm system and hopefully, with Morgana’s help, some extra protection. Bran’s eyes began to ache, and he closed the laptop with a sigh.
“This isn’t working.”
“What isn’t?” Aiden asked, looking up from his desk. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m on edge,” Bran replied. Tapping his fingers against his desk, Bran sucked in his lower lip and looked around. “Can’t shut my brain down.”
“Well, I’ve got homework if you’d like to give me a hand with that.”
“Sorry, electrical engineering isn’t my thing. I’ll get out of your hair though.”
Grabbing his phone, he headed upstairs and took a quick look around. Timothy was humming to himself in the kitchen and tossing items into the large slow cooker, probably making dinner. The Brownie noticed him and gave a quick wave before going right back to slicing up carrots. Someday Bran would have to study how Timothy managed everything he did.
Settling down in an armchair, Bran glanced up at the clock that had already been on the wall when they arrived. Not
that it meant anything. Morgana and Alex probably wouldn’t be back tonight. They’d probably stay in a hotel somewhere to recover their magic and then do more houses tomorrow. One of Nicki’s books was sitting on the end table, a second-hand science fiction novel, and he picked it up. There was no bookmark so he started reading, resting his phone on his leg where he could easier keep track of it.
Jenny came home about half an hour later and blinked at the sight of him in the living room. “Hey,” she greeted. “Lance home yet?”
“Uh, I’m not sure. I’ve been downstairs.”
Jenny pulled out her phone and tapped the screen a few times. “Yeah, he’s upstairs.” Slipping the phone into her pocket, she smiled. “How were your classes?”
“Fine, nothing unexpected. Yours?”
“Good, good,” Jenny said. She was distracted and looking towards the stairs. “I’ve got several group projects this semester, which are going to be so much fun, and special projects for broadcast practice.” Sinking into an armchair, Jenny sighed. “You know the worst part?”
“That you have a prize-winning story and can’t share it?” Bran smiled at her and chuckled. “Same boat. Well, not a story, but magic and proof of the multiverse would make my career as a physicist. Straight to Ph.D. for me.”
“But it’s not safe for the people we care about.”
“No, it isn’t. Some days I think that it would probably be okay, that Merlin and Morgana are paranoid, but then I watch the news and am reminded of how horrible people can be.”
“Yeah… it makes me wonder about my major,” Jenny admitted. “These upper-level classes… maybe I’m not cut out for journalism. So much of it is about ratings and views now rather than just the truth. Then again… I’m helping hide a big secret.”
“Just because you’re going to school for it doesn’t mean that you’ve got to go into that career.” Bran folded his hands across his chest. “You could always take after your dad and go to law school. Understanding the journalistic process wouldn’t hurt there.”
Jenny’s nose curled and her eyes went distant. Bran recognized the expression and braced himself. “Arthur was doing political science. He talked about going to law school.” The bitterness in Jenny’s voice shocked Bran for a moment, but only a moment. Shaking her head, Jenny sighed and schooled her features into a smile. “It doesn’t matter. Have you heard from Morgana and Alex?”
“Nothing yet.”
“I hope it goes well,” Jenny said. She tugged at the hem of her long blue shirt. “I can’t… my father- I don’t even know how Morgana is going to explain any of this.”
“Yeah.” Aiden grimaced. “And they sort of have to, what with the alarm. It does no good if no one pays attention.”
“Except that my father doesn’t know about magic,” Jenny said. Bran’s eyes widened, and she shrugged, throwing her arms out. “What? I don’t have magic to show him! I told him that Arthur went off the deep end and turned violent.”
“So… Alex and Morgana are going to have to go over everything with him?”
“Or… or make him believe that it is part of the normal security system,” Jenny said. “And to be fair, we do have a very good security system at the house. Daddy is a lawyer.” Snapping her fingers, Jenny nodded and headed for the stairs. “I’m going to call them. It’s better if Daddy never has to get involved in all this.”
Setting his head against the backrest, Bran nodded slightly in agreement. He could certainly understand that viewpoint. Hopefully Alex would remember that he’d never told his mother the whole story about things either. He debated calling Alex to remind her, but with Jenny already calling it seemed like putting too much on Alex. This wasn’t fair. She was trying to protect all their families without help. Yes, they couldn’t draw attention to themselves, but it still sucked. The front door opened again, and Bran twisted around to find Nicki coming in. She kicked off her sneakers by the front door and pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head.
“I have to do a group project,” Nicki announced. She dropped her bag onto the sofa and glared at him as it if was his fault. “A group project! You know what that means!”
“You doing all the work and cursing out the one person who doesn’t even pretend to help or make excuses?”
“Exactly!” Nicki huffed and glared at him. “You’re not even going to let me vent, Bran? That’s low. That’s cruel.”
“We do have other concerns,” Bran said drily. He glanced over at his phone — still no calls. Nicki’s posture relaxed.
“I’m worried too,” Nicki said. “But Alex really wanted to get this done. Waiting until next weekend would have driven her crazier, and we can’t all miss classes without drawing attention.”
“I know,” Bran said. “And Morgana is with her. She won’t let Alex overdo it, no matter what arguments she makes.”
“Exactly, it’ll be fine.”
“I thought you were worried.”
“Of course I’m worried, that doesn’t mean that I’m not confident…” Nicki trailed off and groaned. “Alright yeah, I’m trying not to freak out. I mean, what if the Queen is right about the Tree of Reality? What can we do? Are we supposed to do anything? It’s freaking me out.”
“Alex was going to talk with Morgana: she knows a lot more about the Sídhe than any of us.”
“Maybe,” Nicki sat down next to her bag. “Is that my book?”
“Uh, yeah, sorry. It’s been a bit hard to focus this afternoon.”
“I get it.” Nicki nodded and looked out the window behind him. “Avani should be back soon. Why don’t we do a movie night or something? Maybe it will help us relax.”
A sudden change in the lighting of the room caught his attention. It took him a moment to realize that the flashing of blue light was coming from the wall. Turning quickly, his eyes widened as they landed on the metal symbol hanging on the wall.
“Nicki!” Jumping up, Bran shoved his feet into his sneakers without bothering with the laces.
“Oh shit!” Nicki snapped. “Aiden! Get up here!”
Then the bells began to chime. Bran looked towards the doorway as the strange musical sound echoed around them. He had no idea where the noise came from but didn’t care. Nicki nodded and moved closer to him.
“At least the alarm system is working,” Aiden said as he reached the main floor.
“That’s great,” Bran said. “But we can’t just let them tear up the outside of the house or go after the neighbors.”
“Do you think it’s more Fae?” Aiden asked.
“Red Caps!” Timothy shrieked in the kitchen. Bran raced to the doorway and looked in. Timothy gripped his small hat and pulled it down fearfully. “They’ll rip us apart! Alex is gone!”
Something raced past the window. It was too quick for Bran to see it clearly, but it was much too small to be a Fae. He frowned and looked towards the clock. It was too early for sundown, and yet the Red Caps were already attacking.
Bran looked at Aiden and Nicki. “How do you want to do this? Try to blast them from inside or go outside?”
“We can lay down some cover fire,” Aiden said. “But those things are fast, and we don’t want them losing patience and trying to draw us out by hurting someone else.”
“Right,” Bran agreed. “Okay, I’ll stay near the front door and use telekinesis to help with crowd control. Aiden you focus on range. Nicki mix it up as best you can.”
“What’s going on?” Lance asked. He and Jenny were rushing down the stairs. “Is that the alarm?”
“Yeah,” Aiden said. “You stay inside.”
“Where’s Avani?” Jenny asked. “Is she here?”
“No,” Nicki answered quickly. “She’s still in class. You two stay together. Alex will kill us if something happens to you while she’s gone.”
“Be safe!’ Timothy shouted. “Remember iron doesn’t bother Red Caps!”
“Which is why they are the worst,” Aiden said. “The absolute worst!”
&n
bsp; They all took their positions, the three non-mages inside and Bran, Nicki, and Aiden going onto the porch. Alex’s absence was distinct, a void in his gut as he summoned his magic. His heart rate increased, and the spark below his lungs leapt to life. Holding back a shiver, Bran kept his eyes on the trees but saw nothing.
“There were some around the back,” Nicki said softly. “There’s more cover from the trees there.”
Bran nodded, and they slowly moved towards the back of the house. It was quiet. There was none of the laughing that he’d come to associate with the little psychotic Red Caps. They’d just made it to the backyard when a blur of movement out of the corner of his left eye made Bran spin around. Magic flared in his hands just as metal flashed in the light. On instinct he threw his head to the side. A knife slammed into the side of the house and bounced off the metal siding.