It was still early when they were finished with dinner. Michael once again separated himself from the main group to meditate. While Sarah and the others passed the time in idle conversation, Michael easily slipped back into a trance. Everett watched out of the corner of one eye while the young magician explored the mysteries of his growing powers.
Michael sat quietly in meditation for over an hour, learning more about his potential than he thought was possible. After that, he opened the eyes in his mind, while the eyes of his body were still closed. He saw his friends sitting on the beach around the campfire. Like he did at the cabin in the woods, he once again left his body. Without fear this time, he felt his spirit soar as it was released from the earthly confines forced upon him. He saw that the sun was just beginning to set, firing the ocean view in a brilliant orange glow.
His friends were quiet now, watching the setting sun, or lost in their private thoughts. Michael could see that Everett was watching the body that the young magician had just left. The old master was very interested in Michael’s progress. Michael could understand this, since the entire group’s survival depended on his being able to control the magic of the emerald.
Once again Michael began the exhilarating trip south, spirit flying free. They were much closer to their goal now, and it took Michael but moments to travel to Acantha’s keep. He was nearly overcome with remembered grief as he saw what had at one time been the only home he had known. Michael and Acantha had grown up in the magician’s enclave. They had learned the rudiments of magic together. They had laughed and played together.
That was over now. This place of memories had become a killing ground. Beside his family, Michael had lost countless friends in one short afternoon. Acantha was lost to him as well. Though she still lived, she was no longer his beloved sister.
He remembered that terrible day as his spirit, or consciousness, soared over the green hillside leading up to the keep. As he approached, he saw the delicate fairyland appearance from a distance, and thought of its true massive strength when seen closely. Strength and beauty vied equally throughout. Lush gardens watched over by exquisite marble statues outdoors, and mixtures of rough stonework and massive dark wood enclosing antique furnishings and delicate artwork inside.
The sun had nearly set and the beautiful castle was now shrouded in shadow. The towers stood out like stone monoliths against the rapidly darkening sky. Michael slowed his approach as he reached the grounds of the massive building. The gardens, that had once been tended so lovingly, had begun to degenerate into a weedchoked remnant of their former glory. He tried to turn his attention to finding Acantha, in hopes that if he did not notice the deterioration, it would make it less tragic.
He smoothly melted into and through the wall of the building. Inside was a large darkened room. An ornate oak dining table with chairs to match dominated the room. On the walls were beautiful paintings from antiquity. A fine layer of undisturbed dust covered everything in the room, indicating its lack of use.
Seeing the room in such a lonely state brought fresh feelings of remorse to Michael. This was the dining room used by the elders of the magician’s enclave. The younger apprentices, from age ten to fifteen, would serve the elders their meals in this room, taking their own dinners in the kitchen after the elders had finished. Every young apprentice went through this period of service, as a means to learn respect for their elders, and humility for themselves.
He remembered vividly some of the occasions when he and Acantha performed this service. He remembered feeling honored to serve the master magicians. His parent’s smiles of pride were still fresh in his mind. It grieved him to see this magnificent room left to die as his friends had died. Not wishing to see more, he continued his hunt for Acantha. He instinctively headed for the uppermost portions of the keep. He traveled through deserted hallways, and more neglected rooms. The first tower he reached was empty, and had been for many months. Reaching into the other areas of the keep with his power alone, he detected the strong emanation of magic coming from one of the other towers.
Michael slowly left the tower he was in. By traveling through the wall and over the roof of the keep, he reached and entered the tower where he had sensed the strength of magic. He entered this time into Acantha’s laboratory. In direct contrast to the other portions of the keep that he had just left, this room was obviously in constant use. The worktable was cluttered with materials used in the performance of magic; materials both normal and arcane. In the middle of the clutter was a beautiful cut-crystal bowl. It was empty and gleamed from a recent cleaning. Acantha’s evil powers clung to it like a funeral shroud.
Aside from the clutter, the room was empty. Michael left it and entered the marble and stone hallway. At one end of the hall were two men with mops and wooden buckets.
“I haven’t seen that wicked bitch all day,” said one of the men. “Sshh! Watch your tone.” replied the other. “I wouldn’t put it past her to be able to hear you.” “Yeah, well what’s it matter? How long are we going to put up with this?”
Rather than answering right away, the second man went back to mopping the floor furiously. He spent the next thirty seconds or so trying to ignore the pointed stare of the first.
“Look,” he finally said as he stopped his work and leaned on the mop. “I don’t know what kind of mess we’ve gotten into here, and I don’t think we can do anything about it until we know more. Every time we beat feet for the door, that decayed ghoul is there waiting for us.”
“You aren’t suggesting that we accept what’s happened to us, are you?”
“No, I’m saying we should know what we’re doing before we do it.”
Michael moved closer to the two men as they were talking. Listening to them, he came to the conclusion that these were the men that Acantha had taken from Esther and Brian. The man that had been declaring a need for caution rather than recklessness, showed a remarkable resemblance to Brian. The two men looked as though they were brothers.
“Can you hear me?” inquired Michael as he hovered above the two men. They continued their conversation with no indication that they were aware of his presence.
He lowered until he was directly between them. “Hear me!” he demanded.
Michael gave an emotional sigh as the men went back to work. He traveled back down the hall the way he had come. He figured that Acantha would stay in a small portion of the keep, and would be near the laboratory.
After searching just a short time he found her. She was in one of the larger rooms on the floor directly beneath her laboratory. She had converted it into a bedroom, it was filled with lace and chintz. Against the far wall was a massive canopied bed. Acantha was not alone. Sweat-flecked and straining, a repugnant fat man was seated on the floor taking great joy in cleaning all of Acantha’s shoes. The fat man, rather than acting like a captive, was giggling and chortling with pleasure.
Michael was shamed to see his once-beloved sister enjoying the dominance of the man. As he was watching the man, Acantha sensed his presence. Before he could leave, she whipped her head in all directions, trying to see the presence that she had sensed. She was angry and scowling when she realized there was no one in the room.
“Stop!” she demanded.
“What?” whined Milo.
“Shut-up you fool. I wasn’t speaking to you.”
Milo lifted his head from the work, casting nervous glances around the room, looking for the intruder that Acantha was speaking to.
“There’s no one else...”
She cut short what Milo was about to say with an icy glare.
“I know you’re here, brother, I can feel it. Show yourself, if you’re brave enough.”
Michael’s fear of Acantha’s power, and what he remembered of the killings that happened a year ago, warred with his sense of duty. If he ran now, he would never be able to confront her.
He moved further into the room. “I am here, sister. Can you hear me?”
“Of course I can he
ar you! What is this, some cheap parlor trick?” She continued looking around the room, completely aware there was nowhere for Michael to hide, but unwilling to accept the fact that his powers had grown to such an extent that he could converse over a great distance.
Milo divided his time by looking around the room for the person that Acantha was talking to, and looking at her as though she had lost all sanity. He could hear no voice, other than hers.
“Who are you talking to, my dear?” he asked meekly.
“Where are you?” she demanded, ignoring Milo. “Come out here where I can see you. How did you get here so fast? That stupid air-boat of yours doesn’t move that fast.”
“No, you’re right, it doesn’t. I am still miles north of you. But my soul, or spirit, is here, I can see and hear you.”
Acantha was nearly turning in circles now, trying to find something solid to fix her attention on.
“Enough of this! I saw you myself this morning. I saw you in my crystal bowl. You were still at those stupid people’s shack. How are you able to do this trick of yours?”
“Do you forget, Acantha? I have the other ring. I believe it will prove to be just as powerful as yours, if not more so. In fact, I believe you did something very much like this – weeks earlier.”
Giving up on finding something of substance to vent her anger on, Acantha affected nonchalance as she strode over to a chair by the window. Full night had fallen, and the open window allowed the cooling night breeze into the room.
“I don’t have the faintest idea what you’re talking about,” she replied after taking a seat in the chair.
“I think you know exactly what I mean,” Michael answered as he moved closer to where Acantha sat in mock innocence. “Sometime in the last two weeks you visited one of my friends, much in the same manner that I am using now. You put a spell on him to work against us.”
“Oh, Michael...so what? Did you think that if you came to me and said, ‘Pretty please’ that I would leave you alone?” Acantha crossed her legs and casually rested her arms on the side of the chair. “But, I will make a deal with you. Bring me the emerald and I will release the spell on that old fisherman, and allow you all to go your own way. If not...”
“Fisherman? So it was Oliver?”
“You didn’t know? Well, no matter,” she said with a wave of her hand, “he wasn’t a very effective ally. He did give me a laugh or two,” she added, thinking of when she had surprised the old seaman in the woods.
Michael once again felt the stabbing pain of loss. How could all of this have happened? “Acantha, can’t you fight this evil power that has a hold over you? Can’t you see what you have become?”
“What I have become, brother,” she raged in response, “is the strongest magician in the world!” She surged to her feet and furiously began to pace the floor, agitated at Michael’s words.
Michael was in her path as she paced, causing Acantha to pass through him as he floated. He was shocked at the deep coldness that he felt as they passed.
“What you have become, sister, is the most dangerous magician in the world.”
Stopping, Acantha raised an arrogant chin. “Enough! Agree with my terms or leave me. I have grown tired of your childish debate.”
Milo was still watching Acantha carefully, and saw her relax after making the last demand. “He’s gone,” she said as she lowered her head in thought. “How in the hell did he gain so much power in such a short time?”
“Who were you talking to, my dear?” whispered Milo.
“I need to see them again,” continued Acantha, ignoring Milo’s pleas.
“My bowl!” she shouted. “Get me slaves. I need to make sure they’re still miles from here.”
“What about me?” whined Milo.
“You? Yes, you will do fine. You probably have lots to spare.”
“No! That’s not what I meant, I meant let me go and I’ll find the slaves for you.
“I don’t have time for that. I’ll have to make do with you.”
The two new slaves that Michael recognized as the men from Esther and Brian’s family, heard Milo shouting one floor away. As he was being dragged up the stairs by Acantha’s magic, they wisely found another section of the castle to work in.
Michael made the trip back to his body slowly, barely noticing the star-filled sky, or the surf pounding into shore as he traveled north once again. He had not imagined that he would so easily find Acantha’s unwilling slave. Oliver obviously was not to blame. He was entirely unaware of whatever actions he took against his friends.
Michael would need to be careful how he solved the problem. Oliver had been valuable to the group. No one needed to know about Acantha’s spell...as long as the spell could be broken.
He finally arrived back at the beach where they had made camp for the night. He easily slid back into his body and opened his eyes. Everett was lying on his side, head propped up with his arm. He was the only one awake. Michael had been meditating for two hours.
“I was beginning to worry about you,” the old magician said as he sat up.
“You don’t look worried,” replied Michael.
Everett smiled at his young friend. “Well, I guess I have a lot of confidence in you now. Did you leave your body again?”
“Yes, I visited Acantha.”
“Really? Did she know you were there?”
Michael stood to stretch muscles that had grown stiff from two hours of sitting without moving. “Yes, it’s funny. I saw the two men that were kidnapped from Esther’s cabin. When I tried to talk to them, they didn’t respond. They didn’t even know I was there. But Acantha picked up on my presence as soon as I entered her room. We had no problem communicating.”
“I’m not really surprised. But tell me what happened. What did she say?”
The two talked into the night about Michael’s visit to Acantha’s keep. Time enough later for rest, what was needed now was information. Any information that would help them get into the keep, and wrest the ruby from Acantha.
CHAPTER 23
Michael spent the next morning deep in thought. The use of the emerald had become easy enough that he needed only slight concentration to keep the air-boat afloat. The rest of his mind was occupied with the problem of releasing Oliver from Acantha’s spell. Hopefully without everyone else knowing what was happening.
“What’s the problem, Michael?” Oliver asked as he tended to the sail. “You’ve been real quiet.”
“Oh, sorry, Oliver. I’ve been trying to figure out how to get all of us into Acantha’s keep...and then what to do once we get in.”
“As strong as you’ve become, I don’t see where we’ll have any problems,” the old fisherman answered.
“Right, no problems,” said Michael. His thoughts were once more on the very real problem of Oliver.
They were still flying deep into the afternoon. They had stopped only once, for lunch. Michael was determined to reach the old magician’s enclave before nightfall.
“It’s beginning to look a lot like home, Michael,” said Everett from the rear of the air-boat.
“Yeah, we’re going to make it today.”
“Can you see the keep yet?” asked Sarah.
“Not yet,” Michael answered. “It’s still a couple of hills away. It will be on the top of one of those hills over there.” Michael pointed to a line of hills about five miles inland that was running parallel to the shoreline.
“There!” called out Thomas a few minutes later. “I see it. On top of that hill over there.”
“That’s it,” agreed Everett. “Let’s get this contraption on the ground, so that we can discuss our plans for getting into the castle.”
“What plans?” Oliver asked. “We don’t have any plans.”
“I do.” responded Everett. “Just land this thing, and trust me.”
“I trust you, Everett,” said Michael, “but, not Acantha. I’m going to put a cloaking spell around us before we land. I don’t want to take
a chance that she could track us to our camp.”
After Michael lowered the air-boat to the ground, they unloaded the supplies from the vessel. The first items to be unloaded were the two double-bladed axes, and pitchfork given to them by Esther. Being this close to Acantha’s keep gave them a fearful feeling of unease.
As they sat down to a cold meal, without a campfire, Everett began to tell them of his plans to get into the castle.
“Let’s not talk about that just yet,” interrupted Michael.
“Why not?” asked Everett, as he looked up at Michael in surprise. “These are things we need to talk about.”
“Time enough later,” answered Michael shortly.
The rest of the group looked at Michael without understanding why he would delay talking about the plan to enter the old castle, now that they were at the threshold. However, after seeing how he could keep Oliver’s air-boat suspended all day, they respected the great gains he had made in controlling the emerald’s power. They felt that somehow in the last few days, Michael had become the leader of the quest, rather than Everett. Because of this, they did not question his decision not to talk of their plans.
“Oliver, there are some things I must do to prepare for my battle with Acantha. Will you help me?”
“Well, of course, Michael. What do you need?”
By way of answering, Michael stood and nodded his head to the side, indicating that Oliver should follow him.
“I’ll keep the cloaking spell on the campsite, and keep us cloaked as far as possible. We should be safe as long as none of you leave the area of the camp.”
As Michael and Oliver left the camp, Michael extended the cloak of invisibility to include them as they walked. They had walked nearly a half of a mile before Michael felt his control of the spell weakening. He would either have to uncover the campsite or himself and Oliver.
“Where in the world are we going Michael? Why won’t you tell me?”
“We’re almost there, Oliver. Just a little farther.”
* * * * * Inside the castle, Acantha had been keeping an all-day vigil over her crystal bowl.
The Enchanted Emerald (The Enchanted Stones Book 1) Page 18