by Mark Cole
“The day the Council of the Arcane City recognized her as Nexus of Magic.”
With a wave of her hands, the tall oak doors at the top of the marble stairs swung open. Alex gasped at the beauty of the council chambers. Fluted columns flanked a red carpet that led to nine chairs at the far side of the room. Terra walked down the center of the colonnade and stopped before the council members. The center chair was empty and stood above the others. The four to either side were occupied by men and women of various races and builds. Symbols that represented each of the four elements were engraved on the tops of the chairs above each person’s head.
“Have you completed your task?” a shirtless man with a flame above his head asked. His well-defined muscles were tense, and Alex jolted with surprise when he realized the man’s eyes had vertical slits for pupils.
“I have Lord Bahamut.”
“Where is it?” a tiny woman with blue hair squeaked. A curled gust of wind adorned the pinnacle of her chair.
Terra reached into a small leather purse tied to her belt and pulled out a flower that changed colors as Alex watched. “Here, Lady Tildex” she said, tossing it into the air.
The flower floated to a woman with long black hair and golden eyes. Her resemblance to Caitlyn and Silvia was striking. Their mother, maybe? Alex thought. He glanced at the tree engraved atop her chair as she pulled the petals from the magical flower. “Come here, Child,” the woman said.
“As you will, Mistress Lenora Shadowpaw,” Terra said as she strode to the woman.
“Eat them,” Shadowpaw said in even tones, “then your final test will begin.” The seated woman held the petals out to Terra. Every eye fixed upon her with intensity as she took the six pieces of flower.
“I don’t understand,” Terra said. “What test will begin? That I can cast any spell at all after I eat these will prove I am the Nexus. These will prevent me from using my magical power, but it won’t stop me from channeling the energies of Dae.”
Lenora nodded. “You are correct, but due to the… circumstances surrounding your heritage, we must ensure you are not using some unknown power unique to your kind.”
With each word Terra stood straighter and by the time the woman had finished talking, Terra was glaring at each council member in turn. She shoved the bits of flower in her mouth and swallowed them with an intentionally loud gulp. She opened her mouth to show nothing remained.
“Very well,” an older man with brown hair and a hooked nose said. He made a motion with his hand. “Tell me what you see.” Alex cast his eyes about but didn’t see anything different.
“A square. Each side perfect and made of a different element. Air on top, fire and water on the sides, and earth on bottom,” she said, her tone bordering on anger. “Like this.” She waved her hand, and Alex saw lines of the four elements spring up in front of her. The line of air was so condensed it bent light around it.
“That is unnecessary,” the man said. “That you could see the flows of magic were enough for this step. Now…” The council led Terra through more tests, each more complex than the last. She breezed through the early tasks, but as the testing continued, beads of sweat formed on her forehead. The testing went on for hours.
Alex watched as his girlfriend’s annoyance at the testing grew. “Enough!” she shouted after she finished another one of the tests. “I have more than proven that I can use magic while under the influence of Sorcerer’s Bane. End this foolishness.”
“We have but one more test for you, Terra Duval,” a blond man said. He had not spoken the entire time, and Alex had almost forgotten he was there. His chair was adorned with a drop of water.
“What is it?” she snapped.
He rose from his chair and stepped down from the raised dais. The man was easily the largest member of the council and bore multiple scars of battle on his sun-tanned face and muscled arms. “Just a question. The Nexus of Magic is representative of all Daein.” He reached Terra and walked around her in a circle, studying her from head to toe. “Every sentient being of Dae looks to him or her for guidance and protection. Mediator in times of peace, and centurion in times of war; the Nexus has no friends and many, many enemies.
“If you become Nexus, you will be a target, a very public, very undefended target. While it is not law, it is tradition that the Nexus have a person linked to him or her. With whom are you linked?” the man asked as he came to a stop in front of her.
He asked that, knowing no one would have linked to her. He only said that to hurt her, Alex thought. He didn’t know where the random thought had come from, but he was certain it was correct.
Terra’s glower looked hot enough to melt steel. “I do not have, nor need someone linked to me. I am very capable of defending myself. Even without magic.”
Without a leading movement, the larger man punched at the side of Terra’s head. She ducked under the blow, and faster than Alex had seen anyone move in his life, she was behind him and kicked the back of his legs. The man fell to his knees, and Terra grabbed a fistful of his hair. She held a magically summoned blade of glowing blue light to his throat.
“I do not appreciate being attacked, Elder Stormbringer.”
Stormbringer! Alex thought with a shock. He turned to Michael and immediately saw the resemblance. Abject longing on his face, The Bear watched the exchange before him. He must miss her so much. He built this entire place from stories she had told him.
Alex swung his head back about when the man on his knees began to laugh. “I name you Terra Duval, Nexus of Magic, Paragon of the Realm of Magic,” Elder Stormbringer said with mirth in his voice.
Terra’s brow drew down in confusion. Mistress Shadowpaw stood with some effort. Her belly was large; she was going to have children very soon. “I name you Terra Duval, Nexus of Magic, Paragon of the Realm of Magic.”
As each member of the council stood and named her Nexus, Terra stared at each one with a dumbfounded look on her face. She managed to release her grip on Elder Stormbringer and compose herself by the time the last council member finished talking.
Terra climbed the seats to the empty chair that stood above all the others and took her seat. “Thank you,” she said. “Now be seated, the council is in session.”
The fog gathered and banished the scene from sight.
“They treated her unfairly because she was different,” Alex said.
Michael nodded. “And my father was cruel to her.” He laughed the sound of it resonating in the fog, causing it to brighten somewhat. “That comment came back to bite him, though.”
Alex smirked. “I suppose it did.” The Guardian looked about the timeless place in which he stood. “How long have I been here?”
“A heartbeat and an eternity. Come, Guardian, there are only a few more things to show you. It will not take long.” Alex followed Michael as they walked through the fog. Mountains rose up around them, and stars lit the sky.
A band of four men crouched in the shadow of a nearby boulder. They pointed at a campfire not far away and darted from each hiding place to the next. They were stalking Terra, now a woman grown, as she warmed herself by the fire.
“Terra!” Alex shouted. “Watch out!” She didn’t budge from the fire.
“She can’t hear you, Guardian,” Michael said. “But do not fear, for tonight she has a protector.”
Alex watched as one of the four men slipped a small rock into a sling and with a whirl launched it at Terra. The stone struck her head with a glancing blow, and she dropped to her side. Alex rushed to her, and the four bandits gathered around. Michael, his chainmail gleaming in the reflected firelight, strode up to Alex and pointed into the darkness.
A figure wearing hides charged into the camp. With a roar, he dove into the group of men looming over Terra. He pulled an ordinary iron war hammer from his side and used it to crush the arm of one of the men. With a sickening crackle, it broke, and the men scattered back into the night.
A younger Michael stood over Terra, his
heavy breath curling in the cold, late fall air. “Are you hurt?” he asked her as Michael helped Terra sit up.
She touched a hand to her scalp, and it came away bloody. “I’ll be fine,” she said. “Thank you for saving me.”
“No problem. I was just up the path some and saw them sneaking toward your camp.”
Terra shook her head and rubbed her temples. She studied the younger Michael with a blurred gaze. “Do you know who I am?”
“I’m Michael, and it pains me to admit, but I have no idea who you are. Should I?”
Terra snorted a laugh. “Yes, you should. I’m the…” she hesitated, “the Sorceress Jessica.” She held out her hand in greeting.
Michael took her hand and shook it, taking care to be gentle. “Kind of presumptuous to call yourself The Sorceress Jessica. I’ve never heard of a sorceress named Jessica, but there must be more than one. Jessica is a common enough name, and there are many women who practice magic in the world.”
“I suppose there must be,” Terra agreed with a mysterious smile. “Well, Michael, please share my food and fire. It’s the least I can do for saving me.”
“A smile from a woman as beautiful as you is more than payment enough, but I will gladly volunteer to stand part of the night’s watch for you,” Michael said.
Jealousy gnawed at Alex. This is before you ever met her, man, his rational mind whispered. But that doesn’t mean I have to enjoy watching it, the part of him that was jealous snapped.
Terra blushed at the compliment. “I couldn’t…”
“I insist,” Michael said. “Besides, after a blow to the head, you need to rest to sort out your wits.”
“Very well,” she said. She gathered her blankets and turned away from the fire to sleep. Michael stood watch, daring anything more to come from the night. The fog built back up around the two men. Terra and the younger Michael faded away.
“I stood watch all night,” Michael said. “Terra needed the rest. She had been travelling alone for years, moving from one place to another, doing her job as Nexus. When a crime so foul is committed that it requires a sentence of death, the Nexus is called to investigate the claim lest a life be taken in error.”
“And she was doing that by herself ever since she was younger?” Alex asked.
Michael nodded. “I remember thinking that she was one of the most beautiful women I had seen. Her long red hair was amazing, and her bre…” the big man trailed off when he saw the look on Alex’s face. “I apologize,” Michael said. “It must be strange hearing another man talk of your love that way.”
Alex let out a sigh. “It is, but it must also be strange for you having someone here at all.”
The Bear laughed. “That it is, but it’s also comforting. I know Terra is in good hands with you, Guardian. I have only one last thing to show you.”
Alex prepared himself for the fog to fade away, but it didn’t. Michael walked up to Alex and placed a hand on either side of his head. “Brace yourself, Guardian. I will now show you the last thing I saw. The last time I saw the woman we love.”
This is when the Arcane City fell, Michael’s voice echoed in Alex’s mind. I was too injured to go with her, and the gateway had to be destroyed, lest the demons follow her through.
Blinding pain ripped through Alex’s chest as he was run through. A foot of demonic steel stuck from his chest. She made it through, Guardian. And that was all that mattered.
He looked at Terra through the gateway. Tears ran down her face. He coughed, and blood dripped from his mouth. I had to destroy the gateway. I drew on her powers more heavily than I had ever before.
Sudden vitality charged into his limbs as he drew the war hammer up over his head. He brought the enchanted hammer down as hard as he could. With a blast like thunder, he was blown back from the collapsing gate and crashed to the ground. Everything went white.
Michael released Alex, and the flow of memory stopped. “I think I understand now,” Alex said.
“Good,” Michael agreed. “She protected them, and they treated her like a monster. Not because of anything she did, but because of this.” Michael placed a finger on Alex’s forehead.
Alex braced himself for another viewing of the other man’s memories, but one of Alex’s own memories rose to the fore. Last night, when Terra showed me her wings, Alex thought.
Michael removed the finger, and his face softened. “She must really care for you to have shown you her wings. She never showed me. Terra always told me she was ashamed of them.” He paused for a moment in thought. “I don’t think she has come to terms with being a child of two worlds.”
“Thank you,” Alex told him. “You died so she could find me. Why show me all of this?”
“There will come a day when your empathy for her will save Terra’s life. I don’t want to see her die.” A ghost of a smile crossed his face. “And because I want her to be happy.” Michael turned his back to Alex. “It is time to go now.”
Before Alex could say anything, the world crashed in around him in a riot of color. “Wait,” Alex called. Terra wiped the single tear from her cheek.
“What?” she asked, looking at him in confusion.
“How long was I standing here? How long was I touching Michael’s hammer?”
Terra frowned at him. “Less than a second. You only just touched it.”
Alex wrapped her in a loving embrace. “I’m so sorry, Terra. I never knew he had given his life so you could find me.”
Terra stiffened in his arms. She pushed him back and held him at arm’s distance. “How do you know that?”
“Michael told me.”
“How?” she demanded.
Alex was silent as he tried to make sense of it. The gray glow was gone from his sword and the war hammer. “I touched it, and then he was there. He said his soul was imprinted on the hammer.”
“I’ve never heard of that before. What did he say?” she asked.
“A lot of things,” Alex said as he ran his hand through his hair. “All of them were about you. He said that I would save your life one day. And that he wanted you to be happy.
Terra nodded. She seemed torn between asking more questions and going in to see Silvia. With a sigh, she said, “We’ll have to talk about it later. We have an army to gather.” Alex followed her through the large doors into the council chamber.
Silvia sat to the right of the tallest chair at a large semi-circular table that could fit fifteen with room to spare. Terra led Alex around to the largest seat. She sat in it and motioned for him to sit in the seat to her left. A map was laid out in front of Terra.
Trying to locate their position as he took his place, Alex studied the map. “Here we are,” Silvia began, cutting short his search of the map. She pointed to a small dot in the southwestern region of the large leather chart. “As you know, the Forest of Souls has powerful magic that prevents enemy forces from finding their way to us here in Starfall, but that protection vanishes as soon as you leave the borders of the forest.”
“Which means we’re trapped here,” Alex said.
Silvia sighed. “Yes and no. While we cannot move out from here in force, small groups have been able to leave and come back without incident. When the invasion came five years ago, the Arcane City fell quickly. The months after were complete chaos. Azreal’s forces roamed the land looking for anyone to kill.
“Everyone on Dae was forced to withdraw to the capitol cities of the various races or be killed, if they were lucky. With the Obsidian Tower in the center, our forces are divided.”
“Why doesn’t he just mass his forces to crush the rest of you?” Alex asked.
Silvia shrugged. “Some of the other leaders think that he doesn’t want to waste so large a force just to kill the rest of us, but I disagree. I think he likes to see us helpless and unable to do anything.”
“Then he’s made a mistake,” Alex said. Both Terra and Silvia looked at him in confusion. “You don’t take everything away from a population and thre
aten them with death at every turn. They will fight harder than anything in the world because they have no other choice. Freedom or death is all that is left to them.”
“And that is the way most of the peoples feel,” Silvia said. “But the last time we tried to attack, we were ambushed before we could rally to strike. It was like he knew we were coming.”
“Do you think there is a mole?” Alex asked.
“A mole?” Silvia said not understanding.
“A spy,” Terra explained.
Silvia nodded in understanding. “I am certain of it, but we haven’t been able to sniff out this mole. There are too many hands and ears that messages go through. Only ambassadors and messengers come to council, they relay the messages to their home councils, who then debate the point, then send another messenger back with the response. There are too many involved to find a spy easily.”
Alex nodded, a plan forming in his head. He looked to Terra for any insights she might have, but the look on her face made it clear she was going to defer to his military experience.
“How about we look at this from a tactical standpoint,” he said. “Where are all of our forces stationed?”
“Most of the elven population, as well as the hunting cats of the Changelings of the Fang are here in Starfall. To the south of us, deep in the Adorac Mountains, lies the Adorac Volcano. The dwarves and the Changelings of the Scale both reside deep within the ground there.” Her hand skipped over an area and came to rest almost directly northeast of Starfall.
“The pixies and the Changelings of the Wing live atop the fortified plateau, Highwind Point in the Pillars of Dawn in the east.” Her hand moved north and west. “Last, the humans that survived the fall of the Arcane City scattered to the four remaining cities. The largest portion went north to be with their nomadic barbarian brethren. The Bears of the Changelings of the Claw are there in the Icethrone Castle.”
“How are you going to coordinate the attack?”
“Send messengers to call the races to war. Have them rally here, then attack en masse from Starfall.”