Relics and Runes Anthology

by Heather Marie Adkins

  “Higher magic hasn’t been used in centuries,” McGregor snapped. “The high council outlawed it. No one would even know how to use such practices now.”

  Bas sighed. “The knowledge is still out there, we have it here in the city archives. The council can’t have tracked down every single book or scroll on higher magic.” He spread his hands on the table. “My team…”

  “Should find the real killer and stop this nonsense. The fey are responsible, not mythological beings using outlawed magic.”

  Bas decided to go above McGregor’s head – something he knew the guild leader would make him pay for. That would mean going to see and actually speaking to his father – something he hated doing. He and his father rarely spoke unless they had to. As the second son, Anton had little use for him instead preferring his oldest son, Garrett. Bas didn’t have much love for his older brother either.

  Garrett was a few years older and hadn’t even cried when they lost their mother ten years earlier. Neither Anton nor Garrett paid attention to Clara. Anton had wanted to send Clara away, but Bastian had refused. She’d become his responsibility and he liked it that way.

  Bas knocked on the door of his father’s office, bracing himself.

  “Come,” Anton barked.

  Here we go. Bas headed inside. “Father, we need to talk.” He put on his hunter’s face, the one that showed no emotion.

  Anton’s sharp blue gaze bored into him. “Is it about the girl?” Anton always refer to Clara as “the girl”. Bas suspected he blamed her for their mother’s death.

  “No, it’s about the string of recent deaths. I’ve discovered they’re not the only cases,” Bas said. “Someone is using higher magic to control spirits into killing six people. All of whom were drained of their lifeforce.”

  Anton sighed. “Why are you coming to me with this?” he demanded. “That’s McGregor’s domain, not mine.”

  “He won’t let me investigate further. You need to overrule him. Someone – whether it be the fey or a mage – is using forbidden magic. I don’t see how it could be connected to the fey, most of them are spellbound now.”

  “Not all of them. There are still fey tribes living in the old world,” Anton snapped. “You should be more concerned with them, not this nonsense. No one could use higher magic now.”

  “Father—”

  “Enough. You can’t come running to me every time you want something. If you disagree with McGregor so much why don’t you run the guild?”

  Bastian’s jaw tightened. “I tried, remember? You ordered the council not to let me have the job.”

  “Enough talk. I have work to do.” Anton waved his hand in dismissal.

  Bas stormed back to his house. Sera, Liana and Niall were gathered around eating sandwiches. They sat laughing as something, but they all looked over as he stomped in, their laughter fading.

  “How did the meeting go?” Liana shot up. “Did…”

  He glowered at her. “They say higher magic isn’t possible, and it’s just fey tricks.” His fists clenched. “McGregor ordered me not to look into it any further.”

  Sera frowned. “How can he do that?” she said. “The evidence…”

  “It’s not enough proof. We need evidence showing who and what did it.”

  “Bloody council always has their heads stuck up their arses,” Niall grumbled.

  “So we just do nothing?” Liana scoffed.

  “McGregor said it’s time to get back to our real mission — finding and capturing fey resistance fighters.”

  “It won’t stop the killing,” Sera said. “The wraith has to be stopped.”

  “Right, which is why we’re going to keep looking. There’s been a fey attack in Landon, we’re going to investigate it.”

  “You think it’s a wraith?” asked Li.

  “No, but you and Niall will go look into it whilst Sera and I visit a contact of mine. He might be able to tell us more about the wraith.”

  “That’s more than a hundred miles away,” Sera gasped as she at her data tab.

  “Spitfire and I can make excuses to stay in Landon whilst you’re gone,” Niall said.

  “Sera, get —” Bas said.

  “No, I can’t go.”

  His eyes narrowed. “Are you disobeying orders?”

  “Yes, I mean, no. I mean, I can’t go. The others might need me.”

  “Oh, how ever will we manage without the brilliant blonde one?” Niall chuckled.

  “Sera, get your gear. We’re leaving within the hour.” Bas headed upstairs to get his supplies. They might be gone a couple of days so he needed to make sure they had enough provisions.

  “I can’t go with you.” Sera appeared in the doorway. “What about Clara? I only just began to try new potions on her.”

  Bas frowned. “Tell Nadia what to do, she’s resourceful.”

  “But I wanted to…”

  “Why are you so insistent about not going with me? You’re a hunter now, and I still lead this team.”

  “I-I hate flying.” They both knew she’d lied.

  “Is there something else keeping you here? Or someone?” Bas gave her a questioning look, unsure whether he wanted to know the answer or not.

  The thought of her being involved with anyone else formed a pit in his stomach and he didn’t know why. There was nothing personal between them – there never could be.

  “No, but you should go alone.”

  Bas ran a hand through his hair. “Sera, just get ready,” he snapped. “Be by the jumper when I come down or I’ll drag you there myself.”

  Her green eyes widened. “Fine,” she muttered, storming out of the room.

  Bas felt a pang of guilt. Damn it, he hadn’t meant to take his frustration out on her. Apologising didn’t come easy to him either. Why had she been so desperate to stay? One more mystery he’d have to solve about her.

  Sera stood waiting by the jumper as Bas walked outside, a bag sat at her feet. She avoided his gaze when he came over.

  I forgot how stubborn she could be! Would she be like this the entire time they were away? He’d hoped he might finally get to know her again. Yet a wall seemed to exist between them, as if she hid her true self behind it and Bas had no idea how to bring it down. She sat beside him in the jumper, pulled out a book and kept her attention on that as they took off.

  Bas sighed. Two days of uncomfortable silence wasn’t what he needed. “Sorry,” he muttered.

  “What?” Still she avoided his gaze.

  “I said I’m sorry,” he repeated. “What’s so important you just had stay in the city for?”

  Silence greeted him when she didn’t reply.

  Bas gritted his teeth, he’d never met a woman who didn’t like talking about herself. But then Sera wasn’t like most women. “I thought you’d be happy.” Bas scowled. “I’m disobeying orders following a lead you found – that’s why I’m taking you – not the others with me.”

  “I never asked you to do that.” She looked up from the book.

  “I’m not doing it for you,” he snapped. “It’s my duty to find out who killed those men.”

  Sera’s shoulders slumped as she relaxed. “You always were a rebel.” She laughed.

  Bas smiled, relieved the tension seemed to have lifted. “Damn right.”

  “Who are we going to see?”

  “My old mentor who I met when I trained to be a hunter. He is knowledgeable about a lot of different magics – he fell out of favour from the council because of it. It shouldn’t take more than a couple of days.”

  “Why did you need me with you?” Sera asked, pushing hair off her face.

  Bas paused and thought, Because I wanted to spend some time alone with you. “You still need training and the experience will be good for you.”

  “Won’t McGregor be angry with you for using outside help?”

  “Oh yeah, going up against him is a bad idea.” Bas chuckled.

  “Then why are you?”

  Bas bit his lip.
“Because it’s sometimes the only way to get things done.” It wasn’t the first time he’d gone up against McGregor, nor would it be the last. He hated the bastard, and even the council, at times.

  “Still rebellious, some things don’t change.” Sera shook her head.

  “What about you? Have you changed much over the past decade?”

  Sera’s smile faded. She shrugged, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. “Everyone changes as they grow up and find their purpose in life.”

  “What’s your purpose?” he grunted. “Other than being smarter than everyone.”

  The smile came back. “To annoy you, of course.”

  “Hey, you’re less annoying than Li and Niall. It’s like trying to govern children when they bicker.”

  They flew out of the city, passing over the hills and villages. Bas loved flying, all worries seemed to fade away.

  “How do you and Li know each other?” He decided now might be a good time to try to get her to open up and talk about herself and her mysterious past a bit more. “Li mentioned you grew up together but didn’t say why. I gather you’re not blood related?”

  “We were raised together by the same man – he’s dead now. We were both orphans and he took us in,” she replied. “We’re sisters in every way that matters.”

  “Nice when you can choose your family – I can’t stand most of mine.” It felt good to finally learn something about her; would she reveal more? “What happened to your parents?”

  “They were killed during the last great war. They got caught in the crossfire.”

  “I’m sorry.” Bas had the urge to reach out and touch her but didn’t. He didn’t know how she’d react to it.

  Layard lived so close to the border it was almost part of the old world. “My friend Layard is…” He paused. “Eccentric would be one way of putting it. Watch out for him. He likes beautiful women too.”

  Sera stared at him. “You think I’m beautiful?”

  Bas felt at a loss for words. Hell, he never got tongue-tied around women – not that he had to talk to them. Women were always vying for his attention. Either because he had royal blood or when they found out he was a hunter. But Sera was different, she’d been his best friend – if only for a short time before they’d gotten married. The prince thing had never interested her, she’d just seemed to enjoy spending time with him.

  “Yeah, you’re – you know you’re beautiful.”

  She snorted. “Okay, thanks.”

  Bas felt awkward, feeling like the teenager who’d been so eager to impress her.

  He guided the ship down, landing outside a small wooden hut surrounded by acres of open fields. Layard liked being alone and it kept him far from the council’s reach.

  Bas turned to Sera. “Listen, whatever you see him do – just don’t repeat it to anyone else.”

  “Everyone has secrets, Bastian.”

  Ain’t that the truth. You’re the most secretive person I’ve ever known, but I’ll change that. One way or another I’ll break down those walls of yours, he thought. Bastian checked his weapons, headed up to the makeshift front door, knocked once. Static prickled against his skin. Most mages couldn’t afford to put wards around their homes and only skilled mages could conjure them. Layard was both skilled and smart. He didn’t welcome anyone into his home unless he had to.

  They waited by the door, but no answer came.

  “Layard? It’s Bastian,” he called. “Layard, open up.”

  The door creaked open, but no one stood there to greet them. Bas frowned, what was the old guy up to now?

  “Layard?”

  Something flashed out the corner of his eye. He grabbed Sera, knocking her to the floor as energy exploded around them.

  9

  Sera grunted as she felt the weight of Bastian’s body on hers, wincing from the impact as an explosion shook the air. Her eyes blurred, and ears rang for a moment. What had Bas dragged her into now? She should be in the city, getting into the vault, not wasting time here.

  Bas looked at her and their eyes locked for a moment. “Are you alright?”

  “I will be if you get off me,” she replied.

  “Oh, sorry.” He rolled away from her.

  “What was that?” She scrambled up, rubbing dust off her arms and shirt.

  “Layard!” Bastian yelled. “Get your arse out here!”

  A wiry looking man with a shock of blonde hair dressed in nothing but a loincloth came out, shaking a wooden rattle. “Blessed spirits, what – oh, it’s you.” He scowled at Bas.

  Sera guessed Layard to be in his late forties to early fifties, but it could be hard to tell with mages. Fey rarely aged themselves.

  “Yes, it’s me.” Bas crossed his arms. “What the hell are you doing trying to blow us up?”

  “I don’t like unwanted visitors and I can’t afford to be too careful living so close to the border,” Layard replied with a shrug. “Why are you here? You could have told me you were coming then I would’ve taken down the traps.”

  “I need your help with something.” Bas inclined his head. “This is Sera.”

  Layard’s dark eyes widened as if he’d just noticed her. His gaze felt like it looked straight into her very soul.

  She had her glamour up and it hid her true appearance well. Still his gaze lingered, making her shift from foot to foot. She glanced at the open doorway, figuring she could make a run for it if she had to.

  “Stop staring at her. She’d never be interested in an old goat like you. She’s too clever for that,” Bas snapped. “I need your help.”

  Layard shook his head. “Can’t help it, she has a strong aura. Powerful and pretty. I see why you brought her with you.”

  “Fascinating,” Bas said. “Focus, will you? What do you know about wraith?”

  Layard scratched his chin. “Can’t say I’ve seen many in the last twenty years,” he said. “They are low level spirits. Nasty buggers too, and hard to control. Why do you ask?”

  “Someone used one to kill four people and drain them of their lifeforces,” Sera answered.

  Bas crossed his arms. “I thought you might be able to help us figure out who might be doing it.”

  Layard led them into another room. Two wooden chairs sat beside a stone fireplace. Layard went over to a stove, picked up a kettle. “Tea?”

  “No thanks, we’re fine,” Bas replied. “Back to the wraith.”

  Sera stared at the crystals, books and strange artefacts lying around the room. A large scaly head hung above the fireplace. It looked like a dragon and made her swallow, thinking of Liana. Yet some of the things appeared to be fey in nature. Who was this strange man? Bas had said he’d been a hunter, but hunters couldn’t use fey objects, nor did they look like souvenirs either.

  “Could a fey have done it?” Bas asked, drawing Sera’s attention back to the conversation.

  “Most fey stay away from that stuff,” Layard said. “They believe spirits should be free, part of nature and to use them is to go against nature.”

  He seemed to know a lot about her people too.

  Who are you? Sera thought. My people never give away such information. Most fey would sooner die than tell mages anything about themselves.

  “Is it possible?” Bastian persisted.

  Layard shrugged. “I suppose. The fey aren’t the peaceful race they once were. Can’t expect them to be after everything the mages have done to them.”

  Maybe the creepy man wasn’t so bad, but Sera’s didn’t trust him.

  “Can you help us track the wraith?” Bastian asked.

  “This is a matter for the guild, not an old hunter like me.” He frowned as he poured himself a cup of what looked like sludge.

  “McGregor won’t allow it. He says it’s fey and won’t consider the possibility of it being something else,” Bas said. “I felt the presence of another mind when I got attacked by the wraith. I need a way of tracking who is behind the attacks.”

  Sera’s gaze fixed on som
e of the devices again, noticing a curved knife called a katal used to cut off Ithereals wings and an agriel, a type of rod that caused terrible pain. Definitely a hunter. She shuddered.

  Fire engulfed the room, stinging her eyes and shaking her lungs. Bastian lay on the floor, unconscious from where the explosion had knocked them both out.

  “Bas?” She reached out to him, seeing him as the teenaged boy he had been. “Bastian, wake up!”

  Outside voices shouted, more explosions shook the air as fire started to engulf the room.

  “Bas, please wake up. We have to get out of here.” She gripped his arms, dragging him across the room. Even with her fey strength, he still felt heavy. She pulled him into the next room, slammed the door shut when they reached the bottom of the cellar. If the house burned down, they’d at least be safe down here for a while.

  She rummaged in her pack for crystals. Maybe she’d could grow a tunnel to get them to safety. Once they got above ground, she’d leave him close to the border. Where else could they go?

  War had begun to rage around them, her people would be hunted down once again. Her wings trembled and began flicking back and forth. “Please wake up,” she begged.

  The cellar door blew open. Sera froze, reaching the magic. Then her mind went blank. An energy ball flew at her, knocking her to the ground, pain exploding in her chest from the force. She looked at Bas, felt her fear become replaced by anger. She wouldn’t let him die.

  Silver light formed in her hand; she hurtled it straight at the figure descending the steps. It didn’t matter if Bas or anyone else saw what she was now. A man yelped as he fell down the steps, an agriel in in his hand.

  Hunter!

  “I won’t let you hurt us!” she snarled.

  The man looked up at her, face paling. “Circe?” he gasped.

  Why would he call her by her mother’s name?

  “Stop!” the man ordered. “I’ve come for the boy, I won’t hurt you.”

  “I know what you are, hunter. I know what you do!” she said. “I’ll die before you ever hurt me or him!”

  Layard. She recognised him now.

  “Please, girl, I swear I won’t harm you. I’m Bastian’s trainer. Just let me…”