by Vance Huxley
“Even if the other person isn’t warded?” Rob ignored comments from Kelis and Jenny about girls who might want to carry out scientific experiments.
“A shield won’t hurt anyone who isn’t magically aware because they have no natural barrier. A magically aware person, even if they can’t actually control magic and have no ward, will be repelled. Unless they are included.” When Abel took her hand Ferryl tugged him closer. “Ask Zephyr to come home, please.” As soon as the Sprite disappeared into her tattoo, the blue glow outlined Ferryl and Abel, before opening into an elongated blob that included Abel. “Then the sorceress can let her guard down, because only someone trusted would be invited inside.” She put her arms around Abel and kissed him.
“Oh yeuk, purrrlease. You could have made the colour stronger to keep that private.” Kelis had a hand up to hide the sight.
“I’m more interested in how we test if we’ve got that part right. Do we have to kiss the other person to check if it holds when we’re distracted?” Jenny looked at Rob, then Kelis, tapping her chin with a finger as if debating. “Hmm, that could be awkward.”
“Safest to try with someone who can’t see creatures, just in case.” Rob grinned and pointed at Kelis. “Maybe Kelis had better stick to warded lads, or lasses, in case she binds the sucker.” A quick flurry of teasing about who might carry out the test with who died down until they were all watching Ferryl again.
Kelis touched the shield very gently, as Jenny had. “Perhaps we’d better learn how hard it is to cast before sharing.”
“Don’t worry about sharing at all, not yet. I want you to drop all other practice and concentrate on learning to shield.” Ferryl turned slowly to meet everyone’s eyes, one at a time, obviously worried and trying to impress on them how serious this was. “I’ve been pushing, trying to get this right, because I want you all protected as fast as possible. My friends must be safe, now I am learning how friendship feels. Once you’ve perfected your shields, then it’s up to Abel who else learns.”
The others relaxed just a little because Ferryl always repeated the last part when telling them anything new. She would teach Abel as fast as he could learn, and he insisted she taught his closest friends. Ferryl still didn’t seem to care about anyone outside the Taverneers except Zephyr.
“Even so, you usually let us sort of ease into a glyph for a day or two, to get used to it.” Jenny looked at the rest for support and they all nodded agreement. “Why is this one so urgent?”
“Because on Saturday we will meet someone who definitely knows about magic. Not only will these protect you, they will send a message. I’m sure Pendragon will ask our client about the meeting.” Ferryl’s little smile had real wicked in it. “Only senior apprentices learn to shield, so we’ll try to find a reason to demonstrate them to help with the scaring glyphless. There’s also an outside chance whoever it is will hire a senior apprentice as a bodyguard when meeting a strange sorceress.”
“So just how hard is it to learn the glyph, well enough to look as if we are competent?” For once even Kelis looked unsure, because a senior apprentice glyph sounded like very advanced magic.
“Not hard at all, so you will practice until you really are competent. Pretending would be dangerous if you were challenged. This glyph is similar to casting a veil and you all cast strong veils, very stable. Now you have to cast one, just inside your skin.”
“Inside my skin? I still haven’t perfected etching under the surface of wood, and I really don’t fancy putting my skin through that sort of punishment!” Jenny really looked downhearted and the rest weren’t pleased. The others could get down to their bones to create wits, but remembered the damage to the tree branches when they’d first practiced. Casting a new glyph inside their skin could be very painful.
Ferryl waited until the complaints stopped. “Not to do anything like staining or etching, just to get inside your natural shield. You can all do that, even you, Jenny, because you won’t be trying to alter anything. The shield glyph incorporates the one for a veil but also combines with your natural defences. If you make the shield into a globe and then rotate it, that will also act as a veil.”
“So anti-clockwise. Do we also have to spin a glyph clockwise to extend the shield, like we do with the veil?” Abel tried to see, but even from inside the shield there wasn’t a clue. The blue faded away but left a very faint lemon-coloured hint. That suddenly disappeared, as Ferryl dropped the shield and launched into her explanation. The size and shape came down to intent, and the hint of lemon reminded the caster they had an active shield. Depending on the strength, the amount of magic available, the shield could repel physical attacks such as thrown rocks or arrows as well as magical ones. Her shield deflected musket balls, but Ferryl couldn’t be sure about stopping modern bullets.
“Never mind bullets, it’s a rain and wind shield.” Rob smiled happily as they all looked at him, puzzled because they could manage that using wind glyphs. “I hate getting wet or cold because Melanie is walking with us and I can’t divert the raindrops or wind. Now I can keep the shield close to my skin so it won’t matter if my clothes are soaking wet.”
Jenny perked up, holding out both hands and twisting one as if accelerating. “I’m all for that when I’m on my moped. Where there’s no traffic to see me I’ll put a shield right round it to stop the wind and any rain. It should act like an air bag as well, if I get in an accident.” The four of them kept exchanging ideas on how to use the shield as Ferryl carefully drew the glyph. The shield consisted of a double veil glyph with the dashes forming the inner one offset to cover the gaps in the outer. Just as a veil for a person also hid solid items they touched or wore, so a shield tolerated any such items including the small patch of carpet they stood on. A shield cast while sitting in a chair included the chair. Standing up and breaking contact or trying to sit while shielded would burn the chair, though Ferryl felt sure she would find the solution on the damaged wit.
Ferryl insisted on two hours of concentrated practice, which included trips out into the garden to fill up with magic. Zephyr disconnected from Abel so she could learn to shield independently. The sprite would take a little longer because she’d never needed a veil to hide from most people, and didn’t have enough magic to cast the stronger versions.
Eventually Jenny had to leave, but promised to work on her shield at home. She had kept the two belts of gold bars from the New Year party, so with her diamond she’d have plenty of juice for more practice. According to Jenny, using up more magic was an incentive in its own because filling both belts and the diamond still gave her a giggling fit. Once she’d recovered and ridden off home, the others left Castle House as well.
Ferryl hadn’t been kidding. She insisted on practice at every opportunity, so by Saturday the humans could all cast a solid shield without any fluctuation. A last check by Zephyr confirmed everyone else’s flows were steady, though hers wasn’t that good yet. According to Ferryl, that was because Zephyr had never practiced her veil, and her outer limit wasn’t as clearly defined as human skin. If shields were needed Zephyr would stay inside Abel’s. Ferryl might think they were all safer, but her precautions left the rest feeling more nervous.
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Mixed Results
The first visit on Saturday, to Frederick’s house, combined business and pleasure. Frederick liked the idea of protecting Elmwood Park and his dryad friend. He became enthusiastic at the thought of offering a few dryads from the orchard new, young trees in the park so they could keep his friend company. Jenny and Kelis came up with that, giving a dryad three young trees to compensate for them being smaller, so that Frederick and the Taverners could use the magic in the orchard trees they vacated. Twelve Taverners walked to the park to set up the boundary, an echo of the first time the Tavern went there.
Dryad Elm, in its big Horse Chestnut tree, didn’t seem keen on anyone claiming the park until Abel explained. The dryad would stay, but now it coul
d ripen seeds to go into a couple of the other trees. The saplings weren’t quite big enough to protect seedlings, not yet, but the protection around the park would deal with that. Explaining there might be other dryads coming, some extra company, really cheered up the old dryad. With ten other magic users to help, Abel and Fay soon set a dozen lead bars into the park walls to power a warning barrier around the whole area. That should claim the park and the trees until Ferryl could set up a feed from the trees to create a real deterrent to magic thieves.
She announced, through Abel and Zephyr, that she didn’t want to put in the traps to zap any sorcerer poaching magic, not yet. It had been a while since she last cast those, so she’d prefer to inspect a working version first. Privately Ferryl admitted she didn’t know how, not without the right wit. With luck, if Zephyr helped her to inspect one of Abel’s new parks, she could work it out.
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Shawn, one of the oldest Taverners, drove the BMW for the next visit because he filled the hexes for this customer. On the way, Abel warned Shawn to keep well clear of everyone else. He explained the shield, and that the best of the Taverners such as Shawn would learn as soon as Abel had got it perfected. At least Abel had an answer when Shawn complained about not having enough magic to practice yet another glyph. Providing he only took one extra lead bar’s worth a week, Shawn could tap the young trees in Elmwood Park. If Dryad Sycamore told him that damaged the tree, Shawn had to cut back immediately or use several trees.
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The security guard on the gate of the protected property called the house before letting them in. By the time the car reached the turning circle outside the front door, a man and woman stood there waiting. “That bloke is always here, but I don’t recognise the woman.” Shawn sounded worried.
Ferryl’s mental voice didn’t sound very happy. “The owner must be nervous about sorceresses, very nervous, because both of those people wear shields close to the skin. The man must be a permanent magical bodyguard. Pendragon or some sorceress might have loaned the woman, a senior apprentice, to help out. We must all be ready to shield very quickly.” Abel waited a moment as Zephyr confirmed the shields, and the active hexes on the house. He knew about the hexes against creatures because Shawn topped up the magic levels every week, but there were also a couple of others not mentioned in the contract. “The extras are dormant, and have similarities to those in Woods’ office so they could be there to protect against glyph users. We might be dealing with a sorceress, though not a strong one if Pendragon tolerates her living in Stourton.”
When Zephyr passed the information to everyone else, Shawn released his seat belt and twisted to look at the back seat. “Will we be safe?”
“You four can handle those two, and I’ll deal with the sorceress.” Ferryl seemed really confident, so Abel did his best.
“No problem. Come on, introduce us.” That part went smoothly enough, though neither greeter offered to shake hands. Magic users didn’t anyway, Ferryl confirmed, in case the other person had an active shield. The usual liaison between Shawn and the owner preceded them into a large dining room, while the woman stayed in the hallway. He moved to the French windows looking over the rear gardens and stood with his arms crossed. When Zephyr sent out spooky-phones to remind everybody to keep an eye open, the man definitely saw them.
Large wooden double doors at the other end of the dining room opened, using magic according to Zephyr, to reveal a middle-aged man sat at a large polished desk in a luxurious office. “Welcome. I am known as Redwolf. I am here specifically to meet our new local protection. Which of you is the sorceress?”
Abel looked at Shawn who shrugged. “I’ve never met this bloke. I dealt with the man who met us at the door and he spoke of a woman.”
“I am Ferryl Shayde, known locally as Fay Shayde.” She walked towards Redwolf. “Is our contract with you or someone you protect?”
“The young sorceress from Germany? This is my private house, somewhere quiet where I can relax. I’d provide my own protection but Pendragon bought the monopoly in Stourton, though now it seems he has released some work to you. Please come through and take a seat.” The sorcerer indicated a plush seat in front of his desk. “I would prefer it if your apprentices stayed in there. There are plenty of chairs.” Redwolf nodded towards the offered chair. “Though not quite as good as this.”
“Not as magical as that either.” Abel asked Zephyr to let the others know, though not Ferryl because Abel felt sure she’d see the magic. Zephyr also primed Rob, so if those doors started to close he could put his rounders bat in the way. Abel had a bad feeling about this, because they’d been deliberately misled about the owner.
Ferryl walked through into the office before stopping to inspect the chair. “Perhaps not.” She turned and a wind glyph snaked out to grab one of the dining chairs and bring it through. “This looks more comfortable.”
The sorcerer, definitely sorcerer because when Ferryl cast her glyph Zephyr saw him raise a shield, sat down slowly. “That has answered my first question. You are a sorceress and one with better than normal magical sight. Someone has cast doubt on that.”
“Pendragon? I’ve never met him. The trainees dealt with him the last time he caused trouble.” Ferryl glanced back at the man who had shown them in, presumably Redwolf’s apprentice. “Please explain to your apprentice, his shield will not protect him. Not only that, but it’s not polite.”
“Just a precaution with you bringing so many apprentices. Another rumour claims they are not tethered, so I worried about them being under control.” The sorcerer pointed at Shawn. “That one is always polite, but one never knows. He only brings one other, yet they fill all my hexes. An apprentice given that much magic should be tethered. One carrying a bound spirit definitely should be.” Abel kept glancing around, uncertain where Redwolf might be going. This definitely wasn’t a client checking the contractor knew their job.
“Sending more people would be a waste of time and effort.” Ferryl finally sat, half-turned to keep an eye on the door into the office. “Perhaps I should introduce everyone?”
“No need. Since you give them so much magic, they should wait elsewhere. Just so I don’t get nervous.” Redwolf never moved, but the man at the French windows opened them and a woman came in. At the same time the woman who had greeted the party came into the dining room through the door, followed by another man.
“All have shields! Three are tethered to Redwolf.”
“Tell Rob to be ready with the bat. Tell the others to put up shields when I call, and Shawn to crouch under the table in the middle. We’ll cover him.” Abel thought furiously, and something Redwolf had said made him smile. “If it kicks off, run at them and crash shields. Apprentices don’t get much magic, he said.” Abel gave it a few moments for his friends to get set, then called out “Shields!” He moved to stand opposite the newly arrived man. Beside him, Kelis put her hand up towards her throat, which looked like a nervous gesture, and moved towards the woman who’d just come in the door. Abel knew Kelis would be opening a button, for if she needed her big diamond.
“Are you sure about that, Abel?” Jenny didn’t sound too confident.
Abel forced a laugh. “They haven’t got half the magic you carry.” He hoped Ferryl would order him to stand down if he’d got this wrong, but she sat back with an enigmatic smile.
“This could be a mistake, Redwolf. The trainees don’t want to go. Perhaps you should have let me introduce them?” She glanced at Redwolf as he came to his feet. “Sit down.”
Abel would never be sure if Ferryl put the contempt in her voice to deliberately provoke the sorcerer. If so, it worked. “Take them!” Redwolf gestured and the doors began to close.
Ferryl didn’t move except to raise a negligent hand towards Abel. “Deal with it. I’ll slap Redpuppy down if he interferes.”
That probably upset the sorcerer, it definitely shocked the man in front of Abel. He recovered, his eyes narrowing as he lunged forward to try a
nd intercept Rob. Abel moved to block him, so Rob could get to the doors. After the Castle House fiasco, they’d cut the Tavern hex deeper on both sides of the bat, and melted lead into the grooves to hold more magic so he felt confident it would hold. The apprentice hit Abel, or rather his shield did, and Abel blinked and rubbed at his eyes as a firework display went off in front of him.
Through the showering sparks and flashes of coloured light coming off both shields, Abel could see the effect went right round the globe. The apprentice stopped, startled, then pushed again but Abel dug his heels in and both shields flattened where they met. He could feel pressure, and magic draining away, but with four belts he could handle that for ages. Lights reflected from the walls and the French windows and he glanced round.
Rob had placed his bat and now he locked shields with the other man, stopping him from getting to the doors. Jenny and the woman who’d come in through the French windows looked equally uncertain, so their shields were only clashing intermittently. Kelis had no doubts. She had a hand inside her blouse and was trying to herd her opponent into a corner. A brilliant idea, Abel realised.
“Drive them towards the walls, away from the doors and window and into a corner if possible. Once they run out of magic, they’ll surrender.” He certainly hoped so because his opponent redoubled his attempts to get to Rob’s bat. A sharp crack and a whiff of smoke meant the doors had met the bat’s hexes. Abel pushed back hard, confident he could stand the drain. He still hadn’t seriously dented the first belt.
“What do we do once they surrender?” Abel turned enough to see Shawn. Instead of diving under the table, he’d crouched on top of it, a glyph boiling in each hand.
“If anyone drops their shield, Zephyr will confirm it. We’ll herd them over to the far wall and you will guard them. First sign of a glyph, you fry them.” Abel looked back at his opponent in time to see the shock on his face. “They’ll keep their palms flat against the wall, Shawn, so you’ll know.”