The Raven's Curse

by Rain Oxford

  “But he’s got five dragon eggs and he doesn’t exactly look---”

  “I was referring to myself,” Merlin interrupted. “I am at least five times his age and he currently has more magic in his small toe than I have in my entire body.”

  I hadn’t meant any offense, but despite wanting to apologize, it felt too awkward to get the words out. “We will leave you to your eggs, then. Merlin and I have to go north.”

  “There is nothing but ice and misery north of here. And too many stubborn youths trying to prove they are heroes. I suppose you’re one of them.”

  “Not at all.” I had no use for fame or riches.

  “Then it’s power you want,” he said. “Sorcerers are all so preoccupied with power.”

  Power does make all the difference in completing or failing a quest. Saving the Sjau will take great magic.

  “Remember, young sorcerer, that you should always take the time to help others when you have it to spare,” the old man said. “There are also sea monsters to the north.”

  “What kind of sea monsters?”

  “The kind who eat young sorcerers and their wizard companions.”

  “We should have gone after Blue,” Merlin said.

  I ignored him, grabbed my staff, told the old man we could handle it, and then turned and walked out. Merlin followed me without enthusiasm. We left the forest and returned to the beach, where I pulled the magic boat from my pocket and set it in the water.

  When the boat grew into its full size, Merlin groaned. “Oh… I feel queasy already.”

  I shrugged. “You chose this over using my magic to transport us across.”

  “Your aunt said that your mother could---”

  “Yeah, she says a lot of things, and just like with Dessa, they’re all on her terms. We’re just supposed to blindly trust them and maybe I don’t anymore.”

  Merlin was thoughtful for a moment before saying, “Good friends are a rare and precious find. It can take years to build and a minute to destroy. Livia and Dessa may not be your best friends, and I know that they keep secrets, but they do care about you.”

  He is always so condescending. He must be laughing behind your back all the time.

  Wait, what am I thinking? Not Merlin.

  “Furthermore, pain is your body’s way of telling you something is wrong and I will not ignore it,” Merlin continued, unaware of what was going on in my head. I had never doubted him before and that stray thought was completely unwelcome.

  I wasn’t worried about the pain in my chest or even that my mother could possibly get me if I transported myself across the ocean. I knew I should have been, but I wasn’t. Merlin got into the boat and I pushed it out into the water. The ocean, like the weather, was a lot colder here than in Mokora. Once the boat was loose, I hopped in. “Take us to Monhal.”

  The boat started moving.

  It just wasn’t moving very fast. “Maybe I can speed it up with magic.”

  Merlin groaned and flattened himself on the bottom of the boat. “I will bite you.”

  “Fine, we’ll just sit here and rock slowly.”

  “You are in a sour mood.”

  “I know. I’m sorry. I needed more sleep last night and unicorns are not really comfortable to ride.”

  “You should be getting enough rest. We can stop early tonight.”

  “No, it’s okay. We need to help the Sjau before it’s too late. I’m sure my mother is up to something because she attacked Magnus and left him alive. I wish I knew her plan. Why is she after Sjau when she can’t use our dark magic?”

  “There are only two obvious answers. Either she has a way to turn your magic dark, or she wants to get all of you out of her way. If the latter is the case, she will not be alone in her plan.”

  “Mason said she would need a lot of dark magic from one of us to do it. I get that, but he also said she had to be a blood relative. Maybe she can get dark magic from me if she captures me, but not everyone else. Can you imagine Mason with dark magic?”

  “I cannot imagine you with dark magic.”

  “Then what’s her plan? Also, just because Mason thinks she might be able to, doesn’t mean she knows how.”

  Merlin didn’t look convinced, but he stayed quiet.

  * * *

  I tried getting Merlin to talk to get his mind off the boat, but when he asked if I had ever seen a half-digested rabbit before, I decided to leave him alone. Instead, I put the robe over my face and tried to nap. Just as I started to drift off, I felt something bump the boat. “That had better be sand,” I grunted.

  “I sincerely wish it was ever that easy.”

  I sat up and sure enough, we were still in the open ocean. There was, however, land in the distance, which the boat was headed for. “Please hurry,” I whispered to the boat. Again, something bumped it, and this time, I knew for certain it came from something in the water. Many of the warriors in my favorite books feared the sea and its legendary monsters. “What do we do?” I asked in Merlin’s mind.

  “Keep a steady mind and hope whatever is down there is just curious. Stay low, though.”

  I slipped my wand into my bag, put my robe on, and grabbed my staff. “Teach me some magic to keep us safe.”

  “Actually, I have a better idea. Sea monsters find prey using a variety of methods, including sight, hearing, smell, and electrosensory perception. It is unlikely our boat smells or sounds like prey, but it may look like it. Either that, or---”

  “Merlin, please.”

  “Right. Turn us invisible.”

  “Oh, I forgot I could do that.” I focused my magic on hiding us. As soon as my magic flowed through me into the staff, we disappeared. Merlin groaned. It now looked like I was floating above the water. Something retreated deeper into the dark depths of the water, but it was so quick that I couldn’t make out what it was. “I think that worked.”

  “Does your chest hurt?”

  It did. “Not any more than the rest of me.”

  “Promise me that you will ask the next mage we meet to---” He didn’t get to finish his sentence as a massive tentacle rose out of the water and crashed down in front of us, creating a huge wave. A massive head peaked out of the edge of the water behind us as the wave pushed us towards it.

  The head was slimy-looking and gray with two blood-colored eyeballs that were each bigger than my head. The mouth was a round hole filled with multiple, circular rows of long, jagged teeth, and it could easily swallow ships much larger than my tiny boat.

  Without giving Merlin a chance to argue, I grabbed his fur with one hand and my bag with the other. Then I focused on the piece of land I had seen before the wave blocked my view. Just as we reached the mouth of the monster, I felt the invisibility fall and more magic engulf us with a bright flash of light. When the light cleared, we were on dry land. I looked up and saw the now-visible boat get swallowed by the sea monster.

  “Now we’re going to have to find another way across the oceans,” I said as the monster slipped back under the surface of the water.

  “We are fortunate to still be alive.”

  “Then you’re not mad I used my magic to transport us?”

  “Of course not. You saved us. I am worried, however. If your mother can take you, and she is after you, what is she waiting for?”

  “Like I said, maybe she isn’t watching me all the time.”

  “Or perhaps her plan is going exactly as she expected.”

  Chapter 7

  When night fell, we had to stop. We didn’t get nearly as far as we would have with Kirin, but it wasn’t like the unicorn could have ridden on the boat. Besides, the old man had been right; unicorns shouldn’t be saddled.

  Once I had the fire going, I pulled the mirror out of my bag and studied it. Fortunately, it wasn’t damaged in the slightest. I pointed my wand at it. “Show me the location of the closest Sjau.”

  Magic poured through me into the mirror. The sting in my chest was almost nothing. Once again, a map forme
d on the surface, but it wasn’t the entire world. Instead, it only showed the island I was on with two dots; one for me and one for the other Sjau. Judging by how far my dot was from the ocean in relation to the second dot, I figured Zelli was about a day’s walk north.

  “Ayden, you said you would try not to use magic.”

  “It’s important to make sure the person we’re searching for doesn’t go somewhere else.” The magic mirror cleared and I put away my wand. The sting in my chest faded quickly. “Dessa could have sent warriors instead.”

  “I thought you wanted to go and save the others.”

  It’s my responsibility when my mother attacks people. But that’s not the only reason, is it? “I do, but warriors are trained for quests like this. Wizards here really don’t go on quests.”

  “On other worlds, wizards go on all the best journeys. In fact, no adventure is complete without a wizard.”

  I used my robe as a pillow and tried to sleep, only to realize there was something odd in the sky. Surprised, I rolled over onto my back and looked up at the stars. There were green, moving lights in the sky. They weren’t in the center, but off to the side. “That’s amazing!”

  Merlin looked up and smiled fondly. “Aurora Borealis.”

  “Um…?”

  “Also called the Northern Lights.”

  “So magic users only do it in the north?”

  He laughed. “It is not magic. It is caused when electrons collide with the upper atmosphere. I know that means nothing to you, so yes, you can call it magic. It is part of nature’s magic.”

  It was quiet for a while as we watched the lights. “Do you see stuff like this a lot on your world?”

  “There are many worlds with their own unique beauty. I once waited out a storm in a cave made entirely of ice. When the storm lifted, it was indescribably beautiful. You would have loved it.”

  “It sounds like I would have. Do you miss doing those kinds of things?”

  “Those kinds of events are the loneliest times in my life. I see amazing, incredible beauty… and there is no one to share it with.”

  I tried to go to sleep, but I felt restless. “What happens when we die?”

  Merlin sat up and stretched. “That, I cannot know, and there are too many theories to speculate.”

  “But you must wonder about it sometimes.”

  “I prefer not to.”

  “My father never talked about death either, but he said that people and everything else is made of stars.”

  “That is accurate, if not particularly philosophical.”

  “You tell me about the adventures you went on, but except for Nimue, you never told me about anyone you loved or how you grew up.”

  “Everyone I loved before Nimue is gone, except for Cennuth, and I told you about him.”

  “You told me he’s the dragon who taught you magic.”

  “I lose those who are important to me. That is the curse of immortality.”

  “Then being a wolf is a good thing?”

  “Bittersweet, perhaps. It means losing Nimue, but it also means I will… eventually, have peace. The reason I never tell anyone about myself before I was trapped in the cave and made immortal is because it was practically a past life. I told Nimue, and you know what happened to her.”

  “Not really. I know Gmork wasn’t always a dark wizard because you said as much, but not much else. I don’t really know why Nimue stayed behind.”

  Merlin put his head on his paws. “Love is complicated.”

  “But she loves you, not Gmork.”

  “Very complicated.

  * * *

  I knew I was dreaming, but it was very rare that I couldn’t control my actions in my dreams. Furthermore, it was very detailed compared to my normal ones. Of course, I was also not myself in this dream— I was Merlin.

  Merlin was in a tree, leaning back on a thick branch. Beside him was a young man about seventeen. Somehow, probably because I was seeing through Merlin’s eyes, I knew the man was Gmork. He had the same black hair and bright green eyes, but he lacked the cruelness in his eyes that he would have when he captures Nimue.

  “Are you ever going to invite me to your world?” Gmork asked.

  “Not while magic is a death sentence there,” Merlin said.

  I was surprised to hear how different his voice was. Apparently, he was about the same age as Gmork, but I think the strangest difference was because he didn’t have all the wisdom the Merlin I knew had. In fact, I could feel the difference in his mind.

  “Besides, it’s better here. Don’t you have a ball this evening?”

  “Yes, but I don’t think I’m going to go.”

  “It’s honoring your mother’s birthday. It’s in your castle.”

  Gmork shrugged. “I’ll go next year.”

  “You should appreciate the time you have with her more. I would give up all of my magic to have my mother back.” Merlin turned his head as he saw someone walking by. She was a woman about his age with dark brown, curly hair and light brown eyes. I knew immediately that Merlin liked her.

  “Hello, Merlin,” she said, stopping right below him.

  “Hello, Katherine,” Gmork said before Merlin could. He climbed down several branches. “Are you coming to my family’s ball tonight?” Gmork liked her even more than Merlin did, which was why Merlin stayed quiet.

  “I don’t know. No one has asked me.” She blushed and walked away.

  Merlin turned to Gmork. “I should have known. You still haven’t told Katherine how you feel about her.”

  “I would if she would ever even look at me. Every word out of her mouth says that I’m not her type. What’s worse is that I can make her notice me. I wouldn’t even have to use magic; I could buy her.”

  “You don’t need to do that. There are many ways to get a girl to like you, and they all start with getting her to talk to you.” Merlin jumped down and followed after Katherine, ignoring Gmork’s protest. When he caught up to her, she blushed and looked down.

  “Yes, Merlin?”

  “We need to talk about something.”

  “I’m glad. I’ve been hoping for this for a long time,” she said demurely.

  “About what? You knew that Gmork likes you?”

  “What? No. I was talking about your feelings for me.”

  “What feelings?”

  She blushed even deeper. “Well, I sort of thought maybe you had some. I was hoping you liked me because… I’ve been in love with you for a year now.” Merlin groaned. “I’m sorry,” she said, barely more than a whisper. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”

  “I really wish you hadn’t. Gmork is the one you should like.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with him. He’s sweet and funny, but there’s something… odd about him. With you, I feel safe.”

  “I’m just as odd as Gmork is, if not odder.”

  “When I’m with him alone, I feel like he’s got some kind of dark secret.”

  “Everyone has some kind of dark secret. If he trusts you with his, you’ll know he really loves you.”

  “It doesn’t matter. Love isn’t the most important thing in the world.”

  Merlin considered pointing out that Gmork had money, but he decided otherwise. He had a very different plan. “If you say so.” Without another word to her, he returned to Gmork, who was waiting by the tree and having a nervous fit.

  “What did she say?”

  “I’m sorry, but she’s not interested.” Gmork’s face fell. “Don’t worry. She will be.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  Time skipped forward very suddenly and they were standing in a bedroom, which I couldn’t make out very well. Potion ingredients and cooking utensils were spread out all over the table. Merlin picked up a small red bottle and held it out for Gmork.

  “I have to get her to drink this and then she’ll love me?” Gmork asked.

  “Or put it in her drink or on her food.”

  “Is this really th
e right thing to do?”

  “No, it’s not, but neither is making her marry you for money.”

  “You’re not going to tell me to just get over her?”

  “You know better than me what’s right for you. Love is a powerful force and I think if she gave you half a chance, she would love you.”

  Gmork nodded. “Then I’ll do it.”

  Time skipped forward again. This time, Merlin was at a ball. There were glittering jewels, art, and dancing people everywhere. However, Merlin was standing off to the side, watching Gmork pour some of the potion into a drink for Katherine. Merlin didn’t want Gmork to do this, but he also wanted Gmork to be happy.

  Gmork got Katherine alone with some obvious persistence and they spoke for some time. Then Katherine pointed to the drink and Gmork shook his head. Without another word, he left her looking as confused as I was.

  “What happened?” Merlin asked when Gmork reached him.

  “I decided not to do it. I’ve loved her for a long time and it hurt every time she ignored me, but that’s because we’re different people. How can it be love if I try to change her? Besides, there is someone out there she’ll love that way, and it’s not my place to deprive her of that.”

  “That’s very wise of you.”

  Gmork laughed. “Right. When we’re both old men, I’ll be the wise one and you can goof off and get us into trouble.”

  “I wouldn’t go that far.”

  * * *

  I woke, once again, to the sensation of being watched. The sky was just light enough to see something in the tree above me. “What’s there?” I asked.

  Merlin was sitting next to me, staring up into the tree. “Darkness there and nothing more.”

  “What?”

  “Sorry. They are ravens.”

  “Why aren’t they attacking?”

  “Something is keeping them away. I suspect it is the other presence that has been following us. However, not all creatures that dwell in the dark are monsters.”

  I groaned. “Let’s get on the road before they change their minds and attack.” We started walking north again, but Merlin assured me that the presence followed. “Are you sure it’s not aggressive?”