Close Encounters of the Magical Kind

by Jeffrey M. Poole

  At the same time, a very sleepy teenager, complete with tousled hair and sleep lines etched across his face, appeared in the doorway. Kri’Entu noticed the boy’s arrival and waved him in.

  “Mister Gareth, it’s good of you to come.”

  Shardwyn, in the process of emptying several of his pockets out on the king’s personal desk, looked up with surprise.

  “Your majesty? Why is my apprentice here? I assure you I can deal with whatever needs to be done.”

  Gareth shrugged, grunted once and spun on his heel. He managed to take a few steps in the opposite direction when the king called out to him.

  “Mister Gareth, hold please,” Kri’Entu commanded.

  Gareth froze in mid step. The boy yawned as he slowly turned back around.

  “I need you here for this, son. Please have a seat and listen to what we have to say.”

  Gareth sullenly nodded and headed towards the closest chair. Just as he was lowering himself into one of the plush armchairs in front of the hearth the young apprentice noticed Steve watching him. Gareth’s eyes cleared.

  “What are you doing here?” Gareth quietly asked him. “For that matter, why am I here?”

  Steve glanced over at the king, who nodded in Gareth’s direction. The king, in turn, pulled Shardwyn aside and explained the nature of the problem. Steve turned back to the boy and took the chair next to his. He conspiratorially leaned forward. Gareth mimicked him.

  “We have a problem,” Steve quietly explained. “Sarah and I both need to ride the back of an old griffin, more than likely for an extended period of time. And, to make matters worse, we need to figure out how to do this as quickly as possible.”

  “What’s the rush?” Gareth asked.

  “We’re supposed to be meeting this griffin at sunrise. Look out there. The Great Hall is bathed in sunlight. That means the sun is up.”

  “Why do you need to ride a griffin?” Gareth inquired.

  “Not important. Figuring out how to do it, that’s important.”

  The teenager fell silent. Steve groaned. He had heard Shardwyn ask permission to brew yet another potion. Thankfully the king dismissed the idea, citing a lack of time. Steve watched Kri’Entu turn to look directly at the young wizard.

  “If you’ve got an idea,” Steve whispered to the boy, “then now’s the time to voice it.”

  “Let me think,” Gareth returned, closing his eyes and leaning back in his chair.

  “What about increasing the griffin’s strength?” Shardwyn suggested as he paced in front of the king’s desk. “That way the poor beast would be able to handle the increased burden of two riders instead of just the one.”

  “You’d overtax the griffin,” Gareth murmured quietly. “It’d be a bad idea.”

  “Umm, wouldn’t that hurt the griffin?” Steve asked, raising his voice so Shardwyn could hear him. “You don’t want to overtax the poor fellow, do you?”

  Shardwyn nodded, “A valid point, I must confess.”

  Gareth’s eyes snapped open.

  “I have it. Weightlessness. We’ll make one of the riders lighter than a feather. That way the griffin would be able to carry the two of you with ease.”

  “That’s what I was going to do,” Shardwyn announced, turning to his apprentice with a sad smile, “only we don’t have the time to properly brew the potion.”

  “You and your potions,” Gareth muttered, rising to his feet. He stretched his back, yawned again, and faced his master. “A simple spell would do it. Null the weight of the invoker and make certain it won’t wear off until the appropriate counterspell is activated.”

  “I don’t think we have the time to do that, either,” Shardwyn pointed out. “A proper spell would take hours to properly craft.”

  “If you were doing it, sure,” Gareth quietly muttered, causing Steve to let out a snicker. Shardwyn’s apprentice turned to point at the king’s desk. “What is that there, your majesty?”

  Kri’Entu turned to stare at his desk.

  “What are you referring to, Mister Gareth?”

  “That wooden thing by the closest corner of your desk. It looks like a tiny castle.”

  The king strode to his desk to pick the item up. He nodded.

  “It’s a replica of the East Tower, given to me by a school child earlier this year. Why do you ask?”

  “May I borrow it? I need something to use in my spell.”

  Curious, the king passed the crude, hand carved model which loosely resembled a tower to Gareth. Kri’Entu moved closer to Steve and stared at the boy, who had just closed his eyes.

  “What is he doing?”

  “I would imagine he’s working on that spell,” Steve answered.

  Sarah appeared a few feet away. She smiled at the king and hurried to her husband’s side.

  “Tesur is there and is waiting for us.”

  Steve stared at her, waiting to see if anything else was forthcoming.

  “And?”

  “And what?” Sarah wanted to know.

  “Did he feel it? The, uh, you know.”

  “Oh. Yes, he did.”

  “That’s good. Or bad, depending how you look at it. So he’s waiting for us?”

  Sarah nodded, “Yes, although I can tell he really wants to get going. Now that he’s felt it he is anxious to start his, uh, journey.”

  “Got it.”

  “No, I’ve got it!” Shardwyn loudly declared, causing everyone in the room to jump. “It doesn’t have to be a potion. It can be a charm!”

  “That would do what, Shardwyn?” the king asked.

  “Well, the charm would keep the griffin well supplied with energy, as though the stout fellow had a full belly of food for the entire journey. That way he shouldn’t tire, even if he’s carrying a heavier than normal load. Fear not, your majesty. It shouldn’t take that long to create.”

  The king looked over at Steve to see if it was a viable idea. Steve quickly shook his head no while Sarah stared at the old wizard as though he had finally gone off the deep end. Kri’Entu put a reassuring hand on Shardwyn’s shoulder and gave him a friendly shake as he firmly turned the wizard around so that he couldn’t see the expressions on his audience’s face.

  “I have an idea,” Kri’Entu announced.

  Everyone in the room, save Gareth, turned to look at the king.

  “Why don’t we make this a learning exercise?”

  Shardwyn looked quizzically around the room.

  “A learning exercise for who, your majesty?”

  “For Mister Gareth, of course.”

  Gareth finally opened his eyes and looked over at the king.

  “Mister Gareth is your apprentice,” Kri’Entu continued. “Why don’t we see if he can come up with a viable option for solving this problem? If not then perhaps you could offer a few feasible alternatives that would guide him in the right direction?”

  “Of course, your majesty. Of course. I’m surprised I didn’t think of that myself.”

  “Did the king just do what I think he did?” Gareth quietly asked Steve. “Does he want me to handle this and not Shardwyn?”

  “You’re here because I suggested it to the king,” Steve whispered back. “Don’t make me regret that decision, kid.”

  “You won’t. Besides, I’m done.”

  “What? Already?”

  “Contrary to popular belief, composing a proper spell really isn’t that time consuming.”

  “He’s done,” Sarah announced, overhearing the hushed conversation with a pair of sensitive ears only a woman could possess.

  “Is he now?” Shardwyn exclaimed, delighted. “I’m so proud of him. I taught him everything he knows. Well done, boy. Well done. So, let’s see it!”

  Gareth held out the model of the tiny wooden castle to Steve.

  “Hold this. It can be invoked twice. The first time will render you weightless, Steve. You’re the larger of the two so it would make sense to have the griffin carry the lighter rider. Now, the second ti
me it’s invoked will revoke the spell. You do not want to invoke it a second time while airborne. Do you understand?”

  “So how do I invoke this thing?” Steve asked, curious. Two seconds later he let out a cry of disbelief as he floated up off the ground.

  “Just like that. The only prerequisites are to be in physical contact with that castle and to say the word ‘invoke’.”

  Steve snorted, “Thank you, Captain Obvious.”

  Sarah reached out to grab her husband’s hand as he floated by her. She stared at the hand that was clutched tightly in hers. It looked and felt like a real hand only the texture was… different. It was like she was holding a balloon shaped hand, only the balloon’s surface felt like real skin. There was absolutely no weight to the hand. She looked up into her husband’s eyes and smiled at him.

  “How does it feel?”

  “Really freakin’ weird.”

  “You have the counterspell?”

  Steve patted his trouser pocket.

  “Got it right here.”

  “Good. We’re off. Kri’Entu, Shardwyn, thank you. Gareth, thank you very much for the spell.”

  Gareth blushed as he nodded, “You’re welcome.”

  Kri’Entu indicated the Antechamber’s main door.

  “You may go back to sleep now, Mister Gareth.”

  “I don’t think so,” the teenager told the king. “I’m wide awake now. I might as well stay that way.”

  Shardwyn clapped his hands together excitedly and grinned at his apprentice.

  “Excellent. I have several potions I need to brew today. Have you finished restocking my potion ingredients? If you started now you should be able to finish by lunch. Why don’t you…”

  “Do you know what?” Gareth suddenly interrupted. “I am feeling rather tired. Perhaps I will go back to bed.”

  “Good night, kid,” Steve amiably told him as the boy hurried out the door.

  They bid farewell to the king. Sarah, still clasping her husband’s hand, pulled him close. Suddenly they were standing back amidst the nests of the griffins. There was only one griffin present, and he was presently laying in the soft grass. At their appearance the griffin, with silver streaked fur and white wings, slowly regained his feet. The old fellow took one look at Steve and then turned to give Sarah an alarmed look.

  “I am sure I can carry you, milady, but I fear I will not have the strength to carry your mate.”

  “Now don’t you worry about a thing,” Sarah assured Tesur. “We consulted a wizard and were given a spell. This is Steve, my husband. He’s presently weightless. Look. He’s not even touching the ground.”

  Sarah put a hand on each of Steve’s hips and effortlessly hoisted him high in the air. Next she gave him a slight spin and watched, bemused, as he spun around like a spinning top.

  “That’s just great,” Steve grumped, once Sarah had stopped him from spinning. “Let’s start this out with a bang by having me puke over everything.”

  “You’re fine. Don’t be melodramatic.”

  Tesur approached and stared at Steve with wide, unblinking eyes.

  “You took measures to ensure I wouldn’t be overburdened for my Journey?” Husband and wife both nodded. Tesur bowed again. “You have my thanks. I never knew humans could be so thoughtful. Are the two of you ready? If so, let’s be off. I have waited long enough.”

  Sarah approached the griffin and swung a leg up and over the griffin’s back, finding a comfortable spot just ahead of Tesur’ wings.

  “Uh, dear? I could use a little help here!”

  Sarah glanced back at her husband. Without realizing it she had released his hand and, as a result, he was being carried away by the gentle breeze that had just started blowing. Sarah hurried off the griffin’s back and leapt up into the air, managing to snag Steve’s foot before he could rise any higher. She pulled him down until he was directly facing her.

  “Thanks. That could have been awkward.”

  “Don’t let go of me,” Sarah instructed as she made her way back to Tesur. “You’re going to have to make sure you hold on to me at all times.”

  “Yeah, yeah, I got it.”

  Sarah twisted in place and stared back at him.

  “I’m not kidding, honey. We’re going to be flying through the air. Winds are going to be whipping by us. Look what that small little breeze just did to you! Do you want that to happen once we’re up there?”

  “I won’t let go,” Steve promised.

  “See that you don’t. Tesur, we’re ready when you are.”

  The old griffin broke into a trot. Tesur navigated his way through the huge trees with such ease that Sarah momentarily forgot he was the oldest griffin she had ever seen. Ten minutes later they made it to the same clearing where Steve had been attacked before. Tesur increased his pace until he was practically sprinting along the ground. Suddenly his wings snapped up and he began beating the air.

  “If we’re too heavy then you need to say so!” Sarah shouted, leaning forward to bring her face as close as possible to Tesur’s.

  The old griffin squawked once. Even though Sarah didn’t understand a single squawk of the griffin language she knew Tesur had said something along the lines of don’t worry, I’m fine.

  The ground fell away. Higher and higher they rose into the air until Sarah felt as though she could reach up and run her fingertips along the undersides of the cloud’s belly. Realizing she wanted to do just that, she stretched an arm up and watched the gaseous substance of the cloud swirl around her fingers.

  “What are you doing?” Steve hissed as he fidgeted in place. “Stop moving around. Are you trying to dislodge me?”

  “Oh, cool your jets, Sparky. I’m just enjoying the ride.”

  “At least one of us is.”

  “You’re not enjoying yourself?” Sarah asked, turning to look back at her husband. Steve was pale, his eyes intense, and was clutching her waist so hard his knuckles were turning white. However, she couldn’t feel a thing.

  “Imagine this,” Steve suggested. “Someone has come up behind you and has decided to play tug-of-war with your belt. You know you have enough strength to be certain the other team doesn’t win, but the problem is, the other team isn’t letting go. There’s this constant force trying to pull you away.”

  “Wow. Is it that windy?”

  “For you, probably not. To me, it feels like it’s a category 4 hurricane. I’m not enjoying myself. I wish you could have just teleported there.”

  “I told you, I already tried. Tesur said he has to be guided in. Even he doesn’t really know where he’s going. This Pull, or whatever it is, is, well, pulling him a certain direction. All he can do is to go to wherever he’s led.”

  “This sucks.”

  Sarah turned to look back at him once more.

  “Would you stop complaining? What’s the worst that could happen? What do you think would happen to you if you fell off? You certainly wouldn’t fall to your death, would you?”

  “Well, no, I guess not.”

  “Try and enjoy the ride. I know you’re not happy, and I’m sorry about that. There’s nothing I can do. Just hang in there, okay?”

  Steve grumbled something and buried his face in her back.

  Two hours later Tesur announced he had spotted a human village.

  “Where?” Sarah asked, curious. She leaned out over the griffin’s side so she could see the ground far below.

  “It’s gotta be Donlari,” Steve guessed. “Wow. I’ve never seen it from this perspective before.”

  They were flying at an altitude of 1,000 feet. Down below them Sarah could see the river village of Donlari spread out in all directions. The vast majority of the buildings may have been spread along the mighty river’s banks on both sides of the river, but she could see that there were houses and cottages scattered all across the flat, featureless plains. She never realized just how many of Donlari’s citizens were situated next to the wide, slow moving river. She could see farmlands wit
h fields of various crops, complete with tiny workers moving amongst the rows of plants.

  “I never knew Donlari was so big,” Steve remarked.

  “Tell me about it. I never noticed how many farms and houses were outside of the city’s town limits.”

  Ten minutes later Donlari had disappeared, replaced by acres and acres of open grassland. The mighty Zylan River had fallen away behind them and now they could see the beginnings of the rugged southern Selekai Mountains. The closer they flew to those desolate mountains the colder the air became.

  Sarah shivered, which drew an immediate response from her husband.

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m just cold. I don’t think that has ever happened with you right beside me before.”

  “Hardy har har.”

  “Is something wrong with your jhorun?” Sarah asked, concerned.

  “No. I deliberately pulled it back and tried to keep myself as cool as possible.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m not sure how Tesur would handle it,” Steve answered. “Besides, I didn’t know how it’d affect me in this state.”

  “As for me, I can assure you that I’d handle it just fine,” the elderly griffin assured them. “A bit of warmth right now would be most welcome.”

  Sarah was instantly sympathetic.

  “You poor thing. You’re cold, too?” Sarah twisted in place to give her husband a stern look. “Honey, you need to do something about this.”

  “I’ve got it handled,” Steve assured her.

  Sure enough, less than five seconds later her back had warmed, as though she had turned on the seat warmer in her car. Sighing contentedly, she leaned back and rested her head on Steve’s shoulder. He looked down at her and smiled.

  “Better?”

  “Absolutely. Thank you. I could do this all day now.”

  “What about our griffin friend?”

  Tesur’s head turned to the left. The griffin fixed his eye on his two passengers and nodded.

  “You are the fire thrower we mistakenly fought all those years ago, aren’t you?”

  Steve nodded, “Yeah, I am. Sorry if I ended up hurting you.”

  “You didn’t hurt me but you did injure my eldest offspring. He told me that most the feathers of his left wing had been burned off during the attack. He also said that a human female, you I presume, miss, administered some type of elixir which forced his wing to sprout new feathers.”