“If we go back, we will be eaten. Hurry, finish getting dressed.”
Zahrah helped her wrap the sand colored fabric into pants and a top before using the last strip to wrap her head and face. Candace sat and pulled on the soft leather boots. Her chest ached and her shoulders drooped. The flute didn’t matter now. She had to get back to Earth before she lost her job.
“Get up! I know a place easily defensible from the crabs. They’ll be following your scent. We need to burn your clothes and get out of here,” Zahrah said.
“I’ll do it.” Candace called her magic to pull the fire from the lantern and throw it at the bundle of clothes. As flames curled around the fabric, Candace felt a burning in her stomach. Would she ever get home again?
“You’re an elemental!” Zahrah’s voice showed surprise.
“If you mean am I a fire witch, then yes.”
“Do you shift into a dragon? I didn’t know.” Zahrah wrung her hands and her voice trembled.
“No. I wouldn’t even know how to start. I wasn’t told Mother was a dragon until long after she left and my brother let me in on the secret.” Why was her mother’s servant suddenly so afraid?
Zahrah sighed in relief and her shoulders relaxed. “They say to be a dragon is to be magic. I am not a child of the dragons, so I have no powers. Your mother took me as her servant anyway, saying she valued loyalty above magic. Children of the dragons who can transform are given equal rank as all dragons. Children who cannot are made to serve in whatever capacity their parent dragon deems useful. If the dragon has no use for the child, it is sacrificed to Omeo, the mountain of the First Dragon.” Zahrah picked up the lantern. “This way.” She rushed down another tunnel.
Candace could see the glow bobbing up and down as the woman moved. How could dragons sacrifice their own children? Following closely behind, Candace struggled to keep up. She wasn’t a marathon runner, but she did exercise regularly.
“Can you slow down a little?” Candace asked.
Zahrah looked over her shoulder and sniffed. “Not yet. Soon you can rest a few hours. Right now, we must get to safety. The crabs are hard to kill. Their shell exoskeleton protects them from most weapons. I only have a small knife. Killing them is unlikely.” Candace nodded, saving her breath.
Her muscles burned a half hour later. Zahrah showed no sign of slowing. Candace refused to quit. If Zahrah could keep going, so could she. Trudging on, Candace worried that soon she’d trip since her feet weren’t lifting quite as high due to exhaustion. Luckily, sand covered most of the tunnel floor.
They turned a corner. Zahrah stopped and Candace almost bumped into her.
“Back up. They’ve found us,” Zahrah said. She backed next to Candace.
Two sand crabs the size of small ponies stood in front of them. Candace took in their large pincher claws and eye stalks swiveling on their heads. She called her magic, pulled the fire from the lantern, and threw it at the eye stalks. A loud shriek filled the air.
Zahrah grabbed her arm and yanked her back. They both turned and fled.
At the next tunnel juncture, Zahrah turned right and the tunnel appeared to slope downward. The clicking of claws on stone filled the air behind them.
“Hurry,” Zahrah said.
They continued to run. The flood of adrenaline gave Candace new energy as her heart pounded. They came into a large cavern with an underground lake. The water lapped slowly at the beach in front of them. A small skiff sat on the sand. She couldn’t see the other side.
“Help me push it into the water. We’ll float it across.”
Candace pushed the front of the skiff into the water.
“Jump in,” Zahrah commanded.
“I don’t understand. Why didn’t we come this way the first time?” Candace asked.
“Because the crabs can swim underwater. They use this lake to lay their eggs.” Zahrah hung the lantern on the prow and pushed the skiff the rest of the way into the water before she jumped in. She grabbed an oar and began to row. Candace found another oar on the bottom of the boat and put it into the water. They floated across the lake into the darkness.
§
Haytham rubbed his hand through his hair and walked into his office at the Guardian Headquarters building. It had been a time-consuming day. First the attack on Aiden and Candace, then the return of Elise and her Destined One, Owen Avery. Then the emergency meeting in Mabel’s office to discuss the spell that made the Marwolaeth. Hay’s head whirled.
He didn’t want to go back to the Luften House, especially at two in the morning. No, he needed to think. Instead, he walked into the Guardian lounge and grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator.
Who would have guessed that when Hay saw Elise leaving Garrett’s Destined One Ceremony with a stranger, she would suddenly be kidnapped and then reappear with the spell to undo the cursed magic that created the Marwolaeth. It appeared that Destined Ones were part of the answer. Hay went over it again in his head.
Destined One full of love
Strength of two hearts connected
Love embodied magic makes.
Upon the journey your destiny claim
Four love unconditional-strength tested
Only the pure of heart the mark will bear.
In the East stands spring eternal
Fairy's Breath whispers upon the skin
Healing arms hold the wisp.
In the South summer’s heat rises
Dragon’s heart dances in flames
Firelight transmuting into purity.
In the West autumn dreams flow
Living water quenches thirst for reprisal
Peace drowning bitterness.
North winter blankets fertile soil
Renewing sand rests in crystal hands
Order transformed to normal.
The married elements, their purpose clear
Celestial light shine on what is inflicted
Magic undone, breaks the chains.
As it is commanded, so it is done.
Haytham kept thinking about the stanza that mentioned “Dragon’s heart.” Candace was part dragon and a fire witch with the direction of South relating to Fire.
Elise was an Air Witch and had found her Destined One. East, the direction related to Air. Did the second stanza mean that Hay needed to claim his Destined One and her Dragon Heart? He leaned against the counter and sipped his drink.
Another question kept nagging at Haytham. How did the blood cult know that Aiden told Garrett about the Red Wizard? This morning his uncle had a visitor from a man wearing a red robe.
Hay also told his uncle about Candace being his Destined One. Then the blood cult members attacked the blacksmith shop. Was it coincidence or did his uncle have something to do with the Red Wizard?
But why? His uncle was a member of the Witches Council. Nothing made sense. He shook his head. Later today, the Guardians planned to capture the Red Wizard, so maybe he could get some answers.
Not going home tonight meant his uncle wouldn’t get the expected report on Guardian activities. As a council member, he felt it was right he be kept informed. Hay finished his drink, and tossed the empty bottle into the recycle bin.
He’d always assumed it was a power thing with his uncle. Finley wanting to be one up on the other council members. If Finley was somehow connected to the Red Wizard, his uncle wouldn’t know they planned to attack the Red Wizard’s compound. Thank goodness Owen had been able to destroy the portal allowing the Marwolaeth to come to earth and infect witch-kind. Hay sat on one of the couches against the wall.
He rubbed his hand over his face. Was his uncle a traitor? He glanced at the clock. In a few hours they would fight for their lives against the members of the blood cult. He needed to get some rest.
He could die without ever bonding with his Destined One. Haytham laid on the couch and moved the pillow under his head. His last thought was of emerald eyes and red hair.
§
Haytham shook his
head. Pain, immediate and sharp hit him. It felt like a knife plunged into his chest. How could they treat him this way? His friends and fellow Guardians? “I’m telling you that isn’t me! I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize the Guardians.” How did the security footage show him entering the armor room and removing the protection spells? Why would someone target him this way? His team members assembled around the table stared at him. He rubbed at his chest.
“Haytham, wake up. It’s time to armor up,” Mabel, the Guardian Captain, said. “Owen and Elise are already in the armory.”
Hay opened his eyes. It was just a dream. Only, it wasn’t. It was a memory. He had been accused of tampering with the Guardian’s armor the last time they went against the Red Wizard’s forces. It happened the same evening his uncle and another council member renewed the protection and warding spells on their equipment. Thank goodness Tolya and Seth, the Lycan Guardians, vouched for him. He moaned as he sat up.
“Eat something before you come down. You’ll need your strength.” Mabel turned with a worried frown and left the room.
They’d need a good dose of luck, as well. Hay pulled a box of protein bars from the shelf before grabbing a water bottle from the fridge. Munching on his breakfast, he hurried downstairs to the armor room.
Seth ran in the door behind him, and for a minute, he wasn’t the last team member to arrive. Then he remembered that all Seth needed to do was shift into his wolf form while Hay needed to put on the special plate armor and robes that held the protection spells used by the Guardians. He grabbed his breastplate and noticed Elise standing next to her Destined One, Owen. They looked so happy even as they prepared to go into battle.
“Owen, don’t waste your magic on my armor, save it for the fight. The protection spells are already strong. Besides, my weapon of choice will be the Taser. I saw what it did to you. Trust me, anyone coming at me will feel like lightning hit them.”
“Promise me you’ll be careful, Elise. I will be extremely upset if something happens to you.” Elise rose and kissed Owen.
Haytham turned away, embarrassed to be watching such an intimate moment. Green eyes flashed in his mind, Candace. “Goddess, grant us success this day so I have a chance to find her.” He continued putting on the many pieces of armor.
“You worry too much,” Elise said to Owen. “Garrett will have my back. The Guardians have been fighting evil since the dawn of time. We will win this day.”
“If that’s supposed to make me feel better, it doesn’t.” Owen looked around the room.
Haytham stepped up to join his team of ten Guardians standing in armor and the two shifted lycans. That made Owen the thirteenth member of their party.
“Hopefully, the goddess will be pleased with our number,” Owen said. “May good fortune follow us into battle. Let’s split into two groups. I will transport one. Prepare for battle!”
Haytham stepped forward and put his hands in the scruff of Seth’s neck while taking Vahni’s arm. To battle.
§
Candace followed Zahrah up a tunnel away from the underground lake. Without sunlight, she couldn’t know what time it might be. If her body was an indication, it was late at night. She was so tired; she fought to keep her eyes open. Trudging along behind Zahrah, the lantern became her only focus.
“There’s a chamber ahead where we can rest. It should be safe. The doorway is low, near the ground, and we must crawl through. Once inside it opens into a larger area.”
“Uh huh,” Candace said. Just one more step. One more step.
“I know you’re tired. We’ll rest and eat. I left supplies when I traveled from Zaltana. The journey to your mother’s house is difficult, but will get easier the farther north we go.”
“Okay.”
Zahrah must have realized that right now Candace couldn’t offer more in the way of conversation. She fell silent and continued forward until a small hole appeared near the bottom of the tunnel wall. Zahrah crouched and then crawled through leaving Candace in complete darkness. A low glow from the hole was the only sign that anyone else was near. Candace squatted and then using her elbows and legs scrambled through the short tunnel into the next chamber.
Zahrah stood waiting. Once Candace squeezed completely through, Zahrah rolled a large rock to block the entrance.
“Now, not even the smallest sand crab can get through. The smaller they are, the more of them there will be. We don’t want the crabs to find us while we’re resting. They could overpower us with their combined weight.”
Candace nodded and looked around. Past the glow of the lantern, she didn’t see walls or a ceiling, so the chamber must be large. Zahrah picked up the lantern and walked deeper into the space. Not wanting to be left in the dark, Candace quickly followed.
“How did you find this place,” Candace asked.
“It has been used for many generations by those of us who are servants to the dragons. The small crabs are actually considered a delicacy to our masters and once a year a hunting party comes to collect them. That time comes very soon.”
“How do you carry them back?”
Zahrah stopped by what appeared to be a fire pit. A stack of wood sat outside a ring of stones. She motioned for Candace to build a fire. “We carry them in baskets to the surface and then use the rogne to take them home.
“Rogne?”
“Yes, they are what you would call a lizard. They are large enough to carry a person on their back as well as several baskets strapped to the saddle. They eat insects like the giant red ants of the Glaw forest near where we will exit the tunnels.”
Zahrah pulled up two bedrolls next to the fire. “Here, make yourself comfortable. I’ll fix us something to eat.”
“Thanks,” Candace said taking one of the rolls and untying it. What had she gotten herself into, giant red ants and huge lizards, not to mention sand crabs as big as a house?
Chapter Three
“No matter what happens, they can’t keep Destined Ones apart,” Haytham said.
“Haytham?” Candace reached toward the voice.
“Candace, wake up. We need to get moving. Your mother will be expecting our return.” A hand jostled her.
Candace blinked her eyes open. Darkness lay like a blanket in the cave except for a few glowing embers in the fire pit. Zahrah knelt next to her, her hand on Candace’s shoulder.
Haytham’s voice still rang in her ears. She must’ve been dreaming. He didn’t know she walked through the portal to Hreghen. What would he do when he couldn’t find her? Sighing, she sat up and began to roll up her bedding. She ached from sleeping on the hard ground.
“Here, eat this.” Zahrah tossed a small packet toward Candace.
She caught it and opened the paper like wrapper to find two spears about six inches long of what appeared to be dried fruit.
“What is it?”
“Suchi fruit. It grows in the Glaw forest. Try it, it’s good. The crabs forage for the fallen fruit on the edge of the tree line.”
Candace took a cautious bite. She chewed slowly. The fruit tasted similar to dried mangos. It wasn’t bad.
“Let’s go, the sun should be high enough that the crabs will be seeking their dens.” Zahrah tied her bedroll to a pack and slung it over her shoulder. She handed a brown strip to Candace. “Wrap the bedroll so you can carry it on your shoulder.”
Candace fingered the length. It felt bumpy like snakeskin. Not daring to ask more questions while Zahrah stared at her, she quickly tied up the bedding and slung it over her shoulder.
“Good. We’ll need to be vigilant while in the tunnels, but we should be in Glaw forest by midday.” Zahrah picked up the lantern.
Candace nodded and followed Zahrah to the entrance.
After another long trek through tunnel after tunnel, Candace panted, her muscles burned. Her head drooped and she went back to forcing herself to put one foot in front of the other. She wanted to lie down and pretend she was back in her own room. Why did she let Aiden talk her into goi
ng through the portal? You were attacked, a little voice niggled in her ear. She shook her head. She was so out of her element here in Hreghen.
“I should have fried all of them,” Candace muttered.
“Did you say something?” Zahrah asked.
Candace looked up and shook her head. Did the tunnel seem lighter?
“We’re coming close to the entrance; we must be cautious. The red ant sting is painful and if bitten enough, toxic. A swarm can take down a man. The rogne and sand crab are immune to the bite, but we must be wary.”
Candace nodded her understanding. What she wouldn’t give to be home where she needn’t worry about being eaten and only feared the Marwolaeth.
She followed Zahrah, blinking her eyes as more and more light filtered into the space. The tunnel turned upward and a large opening came into sight. Sunlight slanted down, carrying a wave of heat and humidity. Candace’s stomach clenched. She never considered herself a city girl, but something told her this adventure would be more than challenging.
When they stood in the entrance to the tunnels, Candace gasped. The colors of the foliage around them were so many and so brilliant, they almost hurt the eye.
The trees stood so tall, she couldn’t see the tops. Glaw was a rainforest. Calls and squeaks of birds and animals sang a song of a healthy ecosystem. Where did man fit in or dragons for that matter?
“Stay here a moment. I’ll scout around and call our mounts.” Zahrah hurried into the trees and disappeared. She reappeared a while later, a huge frown on her face.
“Bo and Tae have wandered off. I have called them, but not heard their answering calls.”
“Didn’t you tie them to a tree or something?” Candace asked.
Fiery Magic Page 3