Shaping Magic (Mistakes Return)

by Michael Dalrymple

  “There is no need to apologize, you are doing an amazing job now, and that is all that matters,” Lindon said as he helped the man to his feet.

  “Thank you, my lord. I will strive to be worthy of your praise,” the man gushed at Lindon.

  Lindon, uncomfortable with the title, excused himself from the man and went in search of his grandmother.

  As Lindon was directed to where his grandmother was, he was constantly being bowed to or greeted with “my lord.” Feeling overwhelmed, he hurried into Aodhan's tent, and seeing his grandmother sitting beside Aodhan talking, Lindon waited just inside the doorway.

  “When exactly was it that you started to feel sick?” his grandmother was asking the old man.

  “I don't know for sure, but I believe it was just before you arrived. It wasn't bad until we got word that we were going to be attacked and had to flee,” answered Aodhan. “Who do you think was trying to poison me?” he asked

  “I am not sure…It is possible it was Lairgnen? Hopefully it was, and we will have no more problems. But, just in case, be vigilant. If you see or even get a feeling that all is not well, let myself or Arden know as soon as you can. Do not try to deal with it by yourself—and that goes for you too, Lindon. You have made yourself a bigger target to our enemies. Someone may try for your life next.”

  “I will, Grams. How are you feeling?” he asked Aodhan, hoping to change the subject of someone trying to kill him. He was more concerned that someone may go after his grandmother or try to harm Aodhan.

  “I am doing well, thanks to you. How was it that you were able to heal me from my poisoning?”

  “That I couldn't really say, it's just something that I am able to do,” he answered quietly, not really wanting to elaborate on his abilities.

  “I am glad you came when you did. From what Cora has been telling me, I didn't have long to live.”

  “It was my honor. I am glad I was able to catch it in time.”

  Aodhan nodded his head at Lindon, and feeling that the young man was uncomfortable with praise, he changed the subject. “So I have been told that things in the camp have improved.”

  “Yes; I am sorry if I overstepped my bounds, but they needed direction and with what we face, they must be ready and able, or we are all lost. We will need all the men, Dwarfs, and Elves we can find, and even then that might not be enough,” Lindon said with confidence.

  Aodhan was quiet for a minute, making Lindon a little nervous, when he said, “Lindon, it is time for some truths.” He looked at Cora, and seeing her slight nod, he continued. “This isn't about me or even your grandmother; it is about you. We have not gathered these men and women here for me. These people are yours to command; they always have been.”

  Lindon didn't understand. “What do you mean mine to command? You are the great general, I am just a farm boy from the mountains; I am not a lord or anything.”

  Looking at the boy, he was reminded of his father. “No Lindon you are not just a farm boy, you are your father's son.”

  Lindon looked at the old man. It was a question he wanted to know but was almost too scared to ask. It was his grandmother who spoke next. “I have kept you hidden from danger for most of your life. If it had been known who you are before you could defend yourself then all would have been lost.”

  He could take the suspense no longer. He had to know. He could not let his fear stand in his way. “Who am I?” he asked in a hushed voice.

  “Your true name is Lindon Agether, prince of the Caythian Empire,” Cora revealed. “Your father's name was Cameron Agether. The current king is Tristan Agether, my husband and your grandfather.”

  Lindon was stunned. How this could be true? His grandfather is the man they are fighting against. The sadness that was in Cora's eyes almost broke Lindon's heart, but he had to know. “How is this possible? I mean, he's part of who we're fighting—how could my own grandfather join with the enemy of all living things?” Lindon demanded.

  “Easy, Lindon; there is no need to be upset. What’s done is done,” Arden said from the doorway.

  Lindon spun around. The look that was in his eyes was one Arden did not want to face, but he stood his ground. With some effort Lindon controlled his anger. Arden was right—there was nothing he could do about the past—but he still wanted to know how someone could join with the Merrow against their own family.

  Lindon looked back at his grandmother. Seeing her sadness, he approached her and bending down gave her a hug. “I am sorry for yelling; this all comes a quite a shock to me. Can you tell me how he could do that to his own son?”

  Wiping the tears from her eyes, she nodded. “You have every right to be upset. I kept who you were a secret from you, and it must be hard to hear that your own grandfather is one of the most feared and hated men in the world.

  “Please sit and I will tell you all I know about how he became the man he is today. I do not know everything, only what I have seen for myself or have heard from others.”

  Lindon sat beside his grandmother on the floor, and looking up at her he was struck by how beautiful she must have been when she was younger. Even now she was still beautiful. Age had taken some of it, but beauty was in her lined face.

  Cora looked down at her grandson sitting quietly looking up at her, waiting for her to begin. She sighed. She had been dreading this moment most of his life—telling him everything about how he came to be here with her.

  “I first met your grandfather when I was sixteen. He was nineteen and so very charming. We had a world-wind courtship; we would take long walks and talk about our hopes and dreams. I had fallen hopelessly in love with him.”

  Lindon listened intently as she spoke.

  “We were married in a lavish ceremony. Every lord and lady of the land attended. His father officiated and we were joined for what should have been until death, but at last it was not to be.

  “Not long after we were married, I started to notice little things…the way he would avoid direct contact with his subjects, never touching them. Even when we slept together he would thoroughly wash after every time we would try to have a child. He didn’t want to sleep with me during my pregnancy, saying it was safer for the child if he slept somewhere else.

  “When Cameron was born, he seemed to take an interest in me again but it wasn't long until he started to take extended trips. He would be gone for months at a time, and it was Aodhan who had taken over his training. I wanted to know where he was going, but when I asked him, he would get angry. I would have tried to use magic to see where he was going, but he was a much stronger magus than I was, and I didn't want to risk him sensing me; his anger was not something I wanted to witnesses too often.

  “He never laid his hands on me, but would instead treat his servants and the soldiers very badly, making them do things, like fight each other over some made up charge. At first, it was just until first blood; however, after his father died it changed to their having to fight to the death, and being the king, there was nothing anyone could do to stop it.

  “When you were born, it got worse. He would skulk around the castle. At times he would be seen arguing with himself. When you were five, you went with your father and mother on what was supposed to be a simple inspection of the garrison on the northern border of Sorolan. The truth of the reason behind the trip didn't come out until we were attacked by the Orks. We were able to defeat them at first, but soon after the initial attack, we were betrayed and one of the side gates was opened. The king’s men—alongside Orks—rushed in. Your father battled bravely, but in the end was overwhelmed by sheer numbers. I was knocked unconscious. My last thought was of you and the sadness that you were never going to experience life.

  “I was quite surprised when I woke with you by my side in the middle of nowhere, but was not going to take the chance of being discovered so I took you by the hand and decided to start a new life as simple farmers, hoping that we would be assumed dead, and we would be left alone. I had hoped to live out our lives in peace
, but of course prophecy has a different plan for you, and it will not be denied. That is why I never told you the truth about who you are. If I had, you may have acted differently around town and we had to keep a low profile to avoid notice.

  “I hope you can forgive me for keeping your true life from you, but if I had to do it over again, I would do the same again.” She said the last with determination that Lindon didn't doubt.

  Lindon sat quietly. As his grandmother told of his beginning, he was stunned; his father was a prince and it was his grandfather that had him killed, but why? What was the purpose? Why would the king want to murder his whole family? Lindon suspected that it had something to do with him and what he could do with magic. If the king was in league with the Merrow, they would want him dead. He could face them and not be swayed by their evil power over the mind. That alone they could not allow.

  He looked around the tent; he hadn't noticed that his friends had all entered during the telling of his origins. They were all looking at him expectantly, wondering what he would do now that he knew the truth.

  Donovan had suspected something of what he had heard. This young Human had a way about him that spoke of a background beyond a simple farmer. Looking down at Lindon, he simply nodded that he was still his friend and his oath would stand.

  Aina had also thought there was more to Lindon than was on the surface, and like Donovan, she would stand by this remarkable Human and follow him until either they were victorious over the Merrow or died trying.

  Seeing the acceptance from his friends, Lindon rose to his feet. “Grandmother,” he said, waiting for her to look up at him.

  Her eyes, tearing, looked up at Lindon, expecting to see anger for her lying to him for his entire life, but what she saw was love in his eyes and understanding.

  “I do not judge you for what has happened; you are not the one to blame for all the pain and hurt. You have done what you could to protect me from a monster. I will always be your grandson who loves and cherishes what you have done for me,” Lindon said, tears in his eyes.

  He hugged his grandmother, both of them crying, thankful the truth had come out.

  Arden looked on with shining eyes. He had been worried that Lindon would have taken the news badly but was very glad that the young man had matured far beyond his years, and was able to see the sacrifice that Cora had made for him.

  Lindon released his grandmother from his embrace, and giving her a smile he turned toward the tent entrance. “I need some time alone,” he said as he made his way outside.

  Looking out to the men and women training and working, he couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. “This isn't going to be enough,” he whispered to himself. As amazing as all the activity was to Lindon, he knew of only a small portion of what they faced. What he saw before him wouldn't even be able to stand against them. He was sure that the king, his grandfather, would have many more soldiers to throw against them, and the men, women, Elves, and even the Dwarfs that were before him wouldn't be enough. Turning away, Lindon started walking toward the cliff on the far side of the plateau.

  When Lindon reached the edge he stopped and looked out on to the plains far below him. What were they going to do? If he had been able to get to the Elven homeland before they had all been killed...No, that wouldn't be enough either, but at least it would have helped. Where were they going to find the people they would need to stand up against the king and his evil allies?

  Lindon was losing himself in a rush of self-pity when he could feel a presence beside him. Turning, he saw an elf, but not like the ones back at camp. What stood before him was an Elf free of all flaws. There was no trace of the look of arrogance that seemed to be on just about every Elf he had ever met. Instead there was a look of extreme peace.

  Lindon had only ever felt the same once before—far underground in the old witch’s cavern. The Dwarven god, Gal Nola, had the same feeling surrounding him as did the Elf standing before him. The only difference was this time he was fully awake and in complete awe.

  Unsure of what the protocol was when meeting a god, Lindon just stood there, shocked that not one but two of the worlds gods had shown themselves to him.

  “Be at peace, Lindon,” the god softly said to him.

  Lindon swallowed nervously, waiting for the Elven god to speak again.

  “Know that we are pleased with all you have done. Bringing the three peoples together in this place is quite an accomplishment.”

  Lindon stared at the perfection of the god for a full minute before he found his voice. “I truly thank you for your praise, but I fear it is not enough to face the coming battles,” Lindon told him.

  “Fear not, my young friend. Though you are correct, it is nonetheless the building blocks for an army unlike any that has been seen before. Only when you find the rest of my people will you have the army you will need to confront the mistake.”

  Lindon was momentarily shocked to hear the Elven god speak of the mistake; he didn't think they would admit to the possibility that one of them could ever error, but Lindon was wise enough not to mention it.

  “I don't understand. I have been to the Elven homeland.” Bowing his head in sadness, Lindon continued. “I was too late to save them, and barely made it out alive.”

  “Though I mourn the loss of my people that were laid low from one of the Merrow, those are not the ones I speak of. Far to the west, across the great ocean, where many of my people left this land for, when Humans first started to roam the land. They had decided to leave; it was too small to handle the Humans, Dwarfs, and Elves. So they left, but what no one here knows, is that they also took Humans as servants.

  “Whereas the Elves of this land decided to isolate themselves—which ultimately led to their demise—the ones that left decided to live with Humans, and now after so many years they have both lived with and many married to humans have created offspring that are now half of each race and, as such, are stronger for it.”

  Lindon was shocked at the possibilities; they may stand a chance after all. A sobering thought occurred to him. “My Lord, I have heard stories from traders that if the Elves or even the humans ever came across a half breed, they were put to death just for being alive.”

  “Yes, that has been the way in this land. When we created the races, we made another mistake. It was never our intention that they remain separate, but we gave free will and then watched as they grew. If we had known, we may have joined together and made the peoples as one. I tell you this so you will know all that you will face. For as powerful as we are, we are not infallible. It is no different then the Merrow—for a strong as they seem, they too make mistakes. Your duty is to find what those mistakes are and use them against them.”

  Lindon had many questions he wanted to ask, but before he could ask, the Elven god said, “Your friends approach; tell them nothing of this meeting. You know what it is you must do and where you need to go. Convince them to go with you.” The Elven god began to fade. “One more thing: Only the four must go on the journey.”

  Lindon was staring at the spot where the god had stood when his friends approached. Without looking up, he said. “I must ask you to trust in me, one more time.”

  The three stopped. Donovan spoke. “What is it that you need of us?”

  Looking up at their faces in the fading light, Lindon said, “We must leave once again to go across the ocean to find help; we cannot defeat the Merrow as we are now. Only there may we find the help we need.” The tone of his voice was sobering.

  Donovan, the rock Lindon had come to depend on so much, spoke again. “When do we leave?” he asked.

  Lindon was truly thankful that his friends would stand by him even when what he said or did sounded crazy, even to himself. Looking up into the darkening sky, he could feel a chill in the air. “We have no time to waste; the season is turning and we must hurry. Tomorrow morning, please pack everything we will need for a long trip.” Lindon was a little embarrassed when he added, “Does anyone know how we ca
n get across the ocean?”

  Both Aina and Donovan broke out into laughter. Leave it to Lindon to come up with a crazy idea and then have no idea how to do it.

  Nara wasn't laughing. “Yes,” she said simply.

  Lindon waited for the Ork to clarify what she meant, but she just stood there silently.

  When Donovan stopped laughing, he asked, “Well lass, don't just leave us in suspense. How are we supposed to cross an ocean that—as far as I know—no one since the Elves has ever attempted?”

  “We are going to steal one of the Ork ships and sail across ourselves,” she told them.

  Lindon was glad that he wasn't the only one at a loss at what she was talking about.

  “Do you mean to say that Orks have made the journey across?” Aina asked, worried that her people could possibly be under attack from the Orks even now.

  “No, I didn't say that, only that we have ships that are capable of making the trip. They are mainly used to fish far out in the ocean where the fish are huge and plentiful.”

  “How many are needed to sail them?” Lindon asked, worried, remembering that the Elven god had told him that only the four of them could go.

  “With a little effort I believe the four of us shouldn't have too much trouble.”

  “Have you ever sailed one?” Donovan asked.

  “Well, not exactly sailed one, but I have been on them plenty of times and have seen how it's done,” she said with confidence.

  “This ought to be very interesting, something new to tell the grandchildren. That is if I survive,” Donovan said with a chuckle.

  “One thing more; only the four of us can go and I don't want anyone to know where we are going, only that we go to search for help in the coming war,” Lindon told his friends.

  The three of them looked at each other before turning to Lindon. As one, they said, “Agreed.” Donovan continued, “Not only because you ask, but because if any knew, they would think us out of our mind for ever attempting such a journey.”