Shaping Magic (Mistakes Return)

by Michael Dalrymple

  Lindon showed no mercy to the creature; they had captured the Dwarfs and would kill them without a second thought. Before the creature knew what happened, he was holding his guts in his hands. Lindon, not wasting time, put himself in between the captives and the ones that were holding them prisoner.

  As soon as the shout went out, the Dwarfs and Aina moved in. They came from the tunnel shouting to try and draw some of the creatures toward them and away from Lindon.

  “Kill the prisoners!” the man in the robe shouted.

  Lindon had his hands full. When the rescue party first attacked, he only had one opponent to fight, but after the robed man shouted, three more of the creatures moved back to try and get to the prisoners. If Lindon could have only fought them without worrying about protecting the captive Dwarfs, he would have had an easier time. When he would engage with them, one or more would try to get around Lindon to kill the helpless Dwarfs, and he would have to break contact with the one he was fighting and stop them from getting past him.

  Lindon held them off, and was able to score numerous small hits, but he wasn't able to set up a killing blow. He could tell he wasn't the only one getting frustrated; the longer he could keep the attackers away from the Dwarfs, the closer his friends could get to him to help. The man in the robe was screaming at his men for them to get to the Dwarfs.

  Out of the corner of his eye, Lindon could see the telltale red glow of magic start to surround the magus. He knew it was coming and tried to work the attackers between the robed man and the Dwarven prisoners. When Lindon saw the bolt, it was almost too late; it wasn't being directed his way. The magus was aiming toward Donovan and Aina, who were almost to Lindon.

  Lindon didn’t have time to think of his actions and reached out with his mind, like he did when he was in the tunnels. He attempted to control the light of the magus, trying to draw the magical bolt to him. He didn’t know if he could or not, but he put all of his will into it.

  He was almost as surprised as the magus when the magical bolt curved away from its targets and slammed into the backs of his own men trying to come to Lindon. Having gone through two of the creatures, only a small amount of energy made it to Lindon.

  With only two attackers left slightly dazed from the bolt, Aina and Donovan attacked them from behind. Lindon started to run toward the man in the robe, trying to reach him before he could send another bolt, one that he might not be able to deflect toward himself.

  The robed man was momentarily stunned when his magic didn't go where it was supposed to; however, seeing Lindon running toward him brought him out of it. He wasted no time and sent another one at Lindon, seeing it hit him. He turned back toward the fighting, thinking his bolt would take care of his attacker. When the bolt hit him, Lindon only felt the warm tingling. Not slowing in the slightest, he was almost upon the man. The magus turned back to Lindon with a look of confusion and horror as he realized that his life was over.

  In the next instant, Lindon's blades separated the man’s head from his shoulders. Covered in blood, Lindon looked around to see where he might be needed next. When he looked up, he was just in time to see the last of the strange-looking creatures fall.

  “Lindon, quickly, we need your help!” Donovan shouted.

  Rushing over to him, Lindon saw Kailid lying on the ground with a spear sticking out of his stomach. He knelt down to get a closer look at the wound.

  Kailid was coughing up blood as he tried to speak. “Lindon,” he managed to get out between the coughing. “Thank you for risking your life to help my people.”

  “Shh, just stay quiet for a minute,” Lindon told the injured Dwarf.

  “What's the point; I know what this kind of wound means,” he persisted.

  “We will see, just stay still for a minute,” Lindon ordered. He carefully took hold of the shaft sticking out, putting his other hand beside the wound. When he could feel the flow of energy leaving his hand and flowing into the Dwarf, he pulled the spear out. Kailid let out a moan from the pain. Blood started to spurt. The other Dwarfs standing around started shouting that Lindon was killing the Dwarf. Lindon quickly placed his other hand over the wound and forced more energy into it.

  The surrounding Dwarfs were restless, thinking Lindon was worsening Kailid’s condition. “Would you all be quiet and just watch!” Donovan commanded. They stopped yelling and didn't make any move toward Lindon out of respect to Donovan, but they were not happy with the Human who had caused their captain more pain.

  Lindon stayed over the injured Dwarf with his hands pushing into the wound, pouring his energy into him. Finally, he stopped the flow of energy. He kept his hands on the wound a moment longer, then slowly lifted his hands, having no idea what, if anything, he had done.

  When he lifted his hands, the blood was still smeared all around but there was no trace of the wound. Lindon warily got to his feet and stumbled away to be alone with his exhaustion. He could hear the whispers of the Dwarfs but had no energy left to listen to what they were saying.

  As he was leaning up against the side of the cavern wall, Aina moved next to Lindon. “Here, drink this,” she said, holding a water skin in front of him.

  Taking a drink, he immediately felt better. He was still drained of energy, but no longer on the verge of collapsing. He took another drink before handing it back. “Thanks, I needed that.”

  “Are you going to be okay?”

  “I think so; it seems to be getting a little easier. Probably because of the energy bolt that hit me. I really wish I understood more about it.”

  “One thing. After today, the Dwarfs will know some of what you can do,” Aina stated as she looked over at the Dwarfs.

  “I didn't really have a choice.”

  “I am not saying you did, just letting you know.” She smiled sweetly at him.

  They sat in silence for a while, waiting for Donovan to finish talking to the captive Dwarfs. When he was done he made his way over to Lindon and Aina. “I think its time we leave.”

  “Is everyone ready to go?” Lindon asked.

  “No, but I don't think we should wait for them.” In a whisper, he continued, “I wasn't planning on going back to the city, and after talking with the Dwarfs, I think we should go and see the seer even more now.” After a pause, he said, “There are going to be lots of questions about what happened here, and it would be nice if we had some answerers for them.”

  “Shouldn't we tell someone we are leaving?”

  “I told Kailid that we wouldn't be going back with them earlier, so they won't be worrying about where we went.”

  Lindon, thinking ahead this time, said, “We will need supplies.”

  “Already got them,” said Donovan, lifting his heave pack.

  “Okay, then,” Lindon smiled. “Let’s go find some answers.”

  The Dwarfs were busy checking the bodies and looking after their wounded so Lindon, Donovan, and Aina quietly slipped away.

  It didn't take very long for Lindon to see the problem with leaving the Dwarfs behind. “I don't mean to be a complainer, but I can't see a thing, and I don't really want to be stumbling around in the dark the entire way.”

  Donovan chuckled. “No worries, my friend; we do have a solution to that problem too.” He reached into his pack and brought out two different skins. Placing a bowl on the ground, he poured liquid from one skin in and then the other. After the two liquids were mixed, Lindon could start to see a glow coming from the bowl. Within a minute, Lindon could see his surroundings. They were no longer in complete darkness.

  “What is this stuff, and how does it glow like it does?” Lindon asked.

  “It is two different substances that, when combined, emit the glow that you see. They were discovered a long time ago but haven't been used very much in the last hundred years. When you decided to go with Kailid, I thought it would be better if we went to the seer after we found the missing Dwarfs. My father doesn't want us to go see her, and it would have been difficult to get away without some
other reason.”

  “Why would he not want us to go?” Lindon asked.

  “I’m not entirely sure why, but part of the reason may have been because I have been missing for two years, and he just didn't want me gone.” Donovan paused a minute before continuing. “I think there is more to it than that, but the missing Dwarfs gave us a good reason to go. Frankly, I am a little surprised he let us go with Kailid. Either way, I was not going to pass up on the opportunity to go where we need to go, just because of his fears. At least, he didn't tell us we had to go back with Kailid, so we are free to go now.”

  Lindon gave it some thought. On one hand, he didn't like having to sneak away but on the other, they had to go. “How long will it take us to get there?”

  “From where we are right now, it should only take us about five days, four if we don't stop too often and travel as late as we can.”

  “Well as long as you have enough of this glowing stuff, I will walk as late as we need to,” Lindon replied.

  “Then we'd better get moving; each mixture will last about eight hours, so if we can travel sixteen hours a day we should make it in four days.”

  Lindon found that after a couple hours of walking with the glowing bowl, he could see quite well. It wasn't as good as the magus light, but he could at least see where his feet were and was able to avoid any outcropping on which he might hit his head, and that was a major concern for him, being quite a bit taller than the Dwarfs who usually traveled these tunnels.

  Chapter 13

  Lindon was surprised that Donovan was able to keep the pace that he set. For every step Lindon took, Donovan had to take two. He would have thought that with his short legs he would have to walk slower, but the Dwarf kept the pace up the entire time.

  On the fourth day, just before they were about to set out once again, Donovan said, “We should be there around noontime. When we get there, don't pull your weapons for any reason.”

  Lindon wondered why Donovan would bring that up; he would never use his weapons unless he needed too. He was about to mention it to him when the Dwarf continued.

  “This is important; you must not pull your weapons for ANY reason, even if you think your life is in danger.”

  “Why not?” Aina asked.

  “She is a witch as well as a seer and a very powerful one. She will not let any harm come to us when we reach her cave, and she will not allow any violence to occur, so it is much safer not to give her any reason to act. There are many creatures down here, and she may not be able to use her magic directly against Lindon, but that wouldn't stop her from asking them to attack or simply bringing down the roof of the cave and burying us alive.”

  Lindon thought about it for a minute before he answered. “You have our trust, and we will do as you ask.”

  Aina wanted to argue but she could see that it was no use, so she just nodded her head and mumbled to herself about the stupidity of Humans and Dwarfs alike.

  True to Donovan's word, they arrived at the cavern at noontime, Lindon was amazed again at the ingenuity of the Dwarven people. He had to shield his eyes at the brightness of it. Hanging above the cavern was a miniature version of the sun—the same as the Dwarven city, only smaller—but unlike the city, there were creatures both big and small scattered all around the place. There was a mini forest as well as grassland where the creatures could graze.

  In the middle was a beautiful stone house, not just the square block like the Dwarfs in the city lived in. This place had curves and arches that Lindon would never have thought possible. It didn't seem to be just a structure that was built here; it looked more like it simply grew here out of the ground and seemed to mesh with the surroundings like it was part of nature. What really got to Lindon was not that it was possible to see a place like this, it was that it was many miles underground with seeming nothingness all around it.

  Aina had a small tear in her eye for the beauty of the place. “I would never have thought this was possible anywhere, but the Elven homeland and the house to be made like this out of stone is truly astonishing.

  Donovan just looked at his friends, understanding their disbelief. When he had first seen it, he had the same reaction. “Just remember, no matter what happens, don't react with violence. She may test us, and if she does, be humble.”

  Both Lindon and Aina just nodded that they understood, not able to form words at the moment, still stunned at what they were seeing.

  Walking the path to the house, Lindon could see many small creatures inhabiting the wooded area. When they were getting close to the stone structure, Lindon saw many little drawings carved into the walls. Looking at Donovan, he asked, “What are those?” and pointed at the side of the house.

  Giving a little chuckle, he said, “Those are runes. After we moved the house here, Fenella warned everyone that she would not allow us to ever uproot her again, so not long after she was moved here she put those on to ward against any future relocation. Funny thing, though, is that she is quite happy here. Her old place was nowhere near as nice as it is here, and all these creatures just sort of moved in after she was brought here. They also will not do any violence here.”

  “How is all this possible? I mean, the mini sun and the rest—how can this all exist down here? Wouldn't it take an enormous amount of energy to keep going?”

  “No, from what I understand, only at the beginning it does. It takes very little to renew it—at least that’s the theory; none of the magi will tell exactly how they do it.”

  When they approached the door, Donovan was looking around with a curious expression. “I don't understand why we haven't been challenged yet; normally visitors are challenged long before they reach the house.”

  Donovan was just about to knock on the door when it flew open, and a very old looking Dwarven woman stood before them. She couldn't have been more than three feet tall, but she looked like the typical Dwarf: a large bulbous nose covered half her face and the bushy eyebrows said she was a Dwarf louder than words. “Who are you and how did you come to my door without my sensing it?” she demanded.

  Donovan stepped forward to introduce them, “You know me; I am Prince Donovan of house Steel-Heart.”

  “Yes, I know who you are, and the Elf…What I don't know is who the Human is and why I can’t see him.”

  Lindon quickly looked at himself, not understanding. He was pretty sure he wasn't invisible, and nobody had ever had problems seeing him. “I don't understand how you can’t see me. I am right here.”

  Fenella rolled her eyes. “I didn't say I couldn't see you; I said I couldn't SEE you.”

  “I don't understand,” he answered, still confused.

  “Its very simple, my dim friend. What I mean is that yes I can physically see you but what I can't do is see you in the magical world, and that should not be possible!” She looked off in the distance, for a minute. “Unless...no, it can't be time...Can it?” She looked deep into Lindon's eyes. “It is, isn't it?”

  Lindon, not sure if he was supposed to answer, just stood there under the witch’s gaze. They stood like that for a full minute—the witch looking up and Lindon looking down into the diminutive woman's eyes, unable to look away.

  Finally, she broke the eye contact. “Come inside!” was all she said as she went back into the house.

  Lindon looked at his friends, but all they could do was shrug their shoulders. They had no idea what was happing any more than he did. Seeing nothing else to do, they followed her inside.

  Compared to the outside, Lindon was a little disappointed. Inside was a plain-looking room with a simple table in the middle, a cooking area on one end, and a bed on another. The only other furniture was a workbench with charts and different objects neatly placed, and many herbs and other things he didn't recognize on shelves above it.

  The old woman went to the little stove and, putting water on to boil, she spoke to them over her shoulder. “Sit, I will make some tea.”

  The group sat down, realizing that there was no rushing
the witch; she would go at her own pace. If they wanted to have some answers, they would have to do as she said.

  Sitting quietly, Lindon was still trying to understand what she meant by not being able to see him “in the magical world.” What did that mean? He could see himself and everyone he had ever met, good or bad, could always see him. It didn't make sense. Maybe this seer—or whatever she was—was just a little on the crazy side, and she wouldn't be of any help after all.

  The old woman put the tray of tea and cups in the middle of the table. “Drink,” she said as she sat down.

  Donovan poured the tea and handed them their cups. When each had drank, the old woman looked at Donovan. “Why have you come?”

  He looked at Lindon and Aina, and noted their acceptance for him to tell the tale. “To tell you why we have come. First, you must know how we got here.” He explained their journey from when he went searching for the missing Dwarfs to when he was found under the city.

  The old woman raised her bushy eyebrows at the part where Lindon absorbed the magic bolt, and when he healed Donovan she gasped, but for the rest of the tale, she didn't have any other outbursts.

  When he was done, she turned to Aina. “Now your story from when you met the Human.”

  Lindon wanted to say he had a name, but he kept silent.

  When Aina told of Lindon defeating the warriors one after another, it was Donovan's turn to be amazed. He knew Lindon was good with his blades, but the Dwarven weapons were unique, and they wouldn't allow themselves to be in just anyone's hands—only those of someone with incredible skill and honor could wield them. Now he knew and understood why they chose him.

  Aina concluded her story when they found Donovan at the gate of the sewer. The old woman didn't say anything for a few minutes; she only looked down into her cup. “What you have told me gives me great sorrow and fear as to what is coming.”

  Lindon looked at her; he had a bad feeling about what she would say next. “Why, what is it that is coming? What do you fear?” he asked, not really wanting to know, but he had to know why.