by Phil Stern
Unicorn companion? Fascinated, Tornado raced around to pointedly block her horse, wide eyes nearly swirling. For where? What?
“You weren’t supposed to hear that!” she protested. “That’s a little rude.”
Rude? Why?
“Because talking is one thing, eavesdropping quite another!”
Tornado gave the horse equivalent of an innocent shrug. Clearly, he didn’t see the difference.
Caylee decided to let it go. Still, Tornado was very sensitive, and she didn’t want him to feel insulted. “Look, I do need a unicorn companion. But an older, um, mother-type unicorn…”
Why?
“Well, to watch over me, I guess.” Even as Caylee said it, she felt utterly ridiculous. “Um, you know.”
Tornado frowned. No, he didn’t know. Did Caylee consider herself in need of additional mothering?
“No! Of course not! But I was told that…”
Interrupting her with a loud bugle, Tornado excitedly pranced around in place. Why couldn’t he be her companion? That was his job, after all. He was very strong, and very fast. And anyway, he and Caylee would have a great time together! Wouldn’t they?
Taking a long moment to retie her pony tail, Caylee considered. True, Tornado was almost fully grown, and was indeed very powerful and agile. Actually, his strong magical signature in and of itself might be enough to scare off any Lysandy predators. He was also kind of interesting company. In many ways she could do worse.
But the young unicorn was also horribly immature. And this would be extended duty, perhaps exceeding Tornado’s sadly limited concentration and attention span. Not to mention that Eleanor did specify…
But looking straight into the young unicorn’s hopeful, whirling eyes, Caylee felt her heart soften. In a way, Tornado was like her. Always being held back, having to convince everyone he now belonged, even when he was actually more magical than most. And it wasn’t his fault everyone spoiled him a little bit, was it?
Speaking of which, Tornado would benefit immeasurably from a trip into the real world, where it wasn’t all green grass and fluffy croissants. An actual, adult-unicorn mission might be the best thing for him, really.
And if everyone else got a Coven Stick, and she didn’t, couldn’t Caylee at least take whatever ‘corn she wanted to? Mommy-uni, indeed.
“All right,” she heard herself saying. “You can go with me.”
Letting out a tremendous bugle blast, Tornado raced about her mount three times. Stopping in the exact same spot, he was now shaking with excitement.
“But…” she sternly cautioned. “You have to behave yourself. And do exactly what I say. All right?”
With great sweeping nods of his head, Tornado agreed.
“And you have to be careful!” Once more, her own horse had to step aside. “You nearly caught Saja in the flank!”
Actually, her mare’s name was far more complicated than that, but it was a fair approximation. In fact, Saja had been quite insulted at being called “Milk Drop” by the barn attendant. Human horse names, the horse curtly informed her, were really stupid.
Stepping back, Tornado tried to comport himself. It won’t happen again, he most seriously informed her, even while half-tripping on a rock and nearly pitching over.
Sighing, Caylee already wondered if this was all a big mistake. Saja promptly informed her that it most certainly was.
At this point two battle hawks swept down and landed in the grass to either side. They were Lewn and Jarob, a “married” hawk couple that had actually found the gauge within Lysandy in the first place. How they came to find Caylee now, or were even aware that a new mission was heading into Lysandy, was a mystery. Battle hawks were oddly intuitive sometimes. In any event, their sudden appearance certainly simplified matters.
Well, it was time to go. Taking a final look around the mini-unicorn bowl in the shallow valley, Caylee urged Saja back up into the Haven plains again. Soon they were riding towards the nearest Boundary portal, the hawks comfortably gliding overhead.
For his part, Tornado felt it necessary to race ahead and then back again like some eager puppy, bugling his delight to the world-at-large.
CHAPTER FOUR
PASSING THROUGH THE Boundary portal into Lysandy, the enchantress paused to carefully survey the immediate area.
Caylee’s earth stone glowed with power, ample magic readily available should any enemies choose this vulnerable moment to strike. But there was no one around save Tornado, who was properly positioned about thirty feet away, facing outward, covering the portal. The hawks, of course, had already swept even farther into this strange land, ready to attack anything threatening their sorceress.
On foot, with Saja pacing behind, Caylee took ten full steps forward. Having fully cleared the Boundary, she pointedly turned around to watch the portal fade away. But the mist thinned and then blew off entirely to reveal only more tall grass. Of lurking enemies, waiting to ambush an unwary inter-dimensional traveler, there was no sign.
Well, so far so good. Relaxing slightly, she then leapt up on Saja once more for a better view of this brand new, barely explored dimension.
As advertised, a natural landscape with bright blue sky and unbroken plains stretched virtually to the horizon. Indeed, one had to look very closely to pick out the vaguest hint of mountains in the far distance. Of large forests there was no sign, at least in the immediate vicinity, though there were small groupings of tall, exotic trees spotted about. Caylee suspected she’d find a small lake in their midst, or at least some water source.
A barely-discernible herd of giraffe-like creatures was some ways off, while a large, gaudy bird angrily lumbered skyward in their direct path, angrily screeching at her unicorn. The heat was instantly oppressive, the sun’s hot rays seeming to almost bore into Caylee’s skin.
In short, whereas Haven was more like a picture of the 19th century American plains she’d once seen in Tiffany’s apartment, Lysandy was perhaps closer to a savannah-type environment. Yet unlike Earth, which was wholly mundane, this entire dimension was unmistakably natural, saturated in a nearly-palpable aura of raw magic.
Twirling her horse around in place, she now studied the terrain behind her. About a hundred feet away a steep cliff dropped off into an ocean, which in turn extended, unbroken, out to the sky. A faint crash of waves could be heard down below. Some local seagull-type birds twirled about some ways off, no doubt keeping a wary distance from the battle hawks.
Indeed, even as Caylee watched, Lewn shot straight up into view, soared over the lip of the cliff, and swung close by her head. There were no enemies down there, the hawk reported, but the drop-off was sheer and crumbling. She definitely shouldn’t go any closer.
And that, Caylee thought, seemed like solid advice. Spinning Saja around again, she spurred her mount inland, away from the cliffs and sea.
Tornado was carefully sniffing the air, the tender magical sensors in his horn alert to any hostile magic. Yet at that precise moment a strong magical wind surged over the plain, carrying traces of at least a dozen different empowered plants and animals. Taken by surprise, her unicorn let out a great snort, awkwardly swiping at his nose with a front hoof.
But the human sorceress suddenly had her own problems. The cacophony of wild, conflicting energies somehow ignited Caylee’s already pulsing earth stone, which instantly began burning though her shirt. Quickly tempering her own magical output, it took a full menlar to cool the magical talisman. Another half-menlar was then needed to reassure Saja that everything was okay.
Okay, then. Wincing up at the blazing sun, she realized a change of clothing was in order. First conjuring a broad, safari-type hat, the standard jeans soon disappeared in favor of lighter pants. A cooler, mesh-type shirt was also a bit more comfortable. Caylee even managed to fashion less stylish, but more practical footgear, slipping her sleek boots into the magical travel bag.
During all this Tornado let out a series of frustrated whinnies, occasionally stamping
his hoof for good measure. Clearly, the unicorn wasn’t at all happy.
Sighing, the sorceress finally tucked a few stray strands of blonde hair underneath her new headgear before ambling up beside him. “Everything all right?” she pleasantly asked.
Fine, he sourly replied. Just a lot of magical dust swirling about. And it’s very hot here, too.
“Oh, so things aren’t as comfy everywhere else as they are in Haven? What a surprise.”
Casting her a baleful look, he again sullenly stamped his front right hoof. I’m just making an observation, he said.
Smiling, she patted him on the neck. “Well, why don’t you observe what’s going on a little farther out? Jarob must be wondering were we are. When he sees you, he’ll know everyone made it through the portal okay, and then we can get on our way.”
This, of course, was standard Coven procedure for these types of situations, something even an inexperienced unicorn shouldn’t need to be told. Saja let out a great sigh, flicking her long tail over Tornado’s rump for good measure.
At this, the young stallion’s head jerked up. A mere horse felt entitled to treat him with such insolence? Giving Saja a sullen glare, he then charged off at full speed into the tall grass, quickly swinging around a distant stand of trees out of sight.
Since Jarob should be at least a mile away, it would be several menlars before Tornado made contact and returned. First glancing up at Lewn circling overhead, Caylee then dug the gauge out of her magical travel bag. With pursed lips, she began studying the busted dial again in the hot sun. The symbols and measurements hadn’t gotten a single hit in the Coven Library. Which was amazing, really, in that…
Yet almost immediately, Caylee was distracted by the sound of thundering hoofs emanating across the savannah. Glancing up, she was surprised to see Tornado already on his way back, angling in from a slightly different direction.
This new path, however, clearly didn’t lend itself to angry unicorn charges. Cutting an almost violent swath through even taller grass, Tornado’s horn awkwardly bounded in and out of sight. Frustrated by the clinging vegetation, he then attempted a tremendous, final leap.
But that was a mistake. Catapulting high up into the air, Caylee saw sheer panic spreading across Tornado’s equine face. A moment later he crashed down in an ignominious pile of hoofs, tail, and horn almost at Saja’s feet.
Rapidly backing up, the sorceress watched the young unicorn angrily untangle himself. Rising once more, he then curtly informed both Caylee and Saja that Jarob was returning to provide closer cover. According to the battle hawk, Tornado huffily added, no hostile animals or other dangers could be reported, though the grass was so thick in places it was hard to tell from the air.
“Oh, so the grass is thick in places?” Caylee giggled. “I hadn’t noticed.”
Frowning, Tornado’s tail flicked back and forth. He then sourly informed his obviously inexperienced sorceress that sarcasm wasn’t appreciated by equines.
Oh, it is by me, Saja interjected, especially when so richly deserved. Bristling, Tornado cast her an astounded glance. With some difficulty, the Haven witch managed not to openly laugh once more.
But this entire mission was already lagging, and needed to get back on track. “Look, what you just did was quite impressive,” Caylee now soothed. “Going out so far and returning so quickly? I wouldn’t have thought it possible.”
Really? Almost shyly, the powerful equine now peeked up at her. Do you really mean that?
“Of course I do! But Tornado, we really do have to get going…”
You’re not already wishing you brought another unicorn?
“What? Of course not! Why would you even suggest such a thing?”
Because no one really likes me! was his plaintive reply. Tornado’s large, expressive eyes actually welled up, a single tear rolling down his long face. Turning away, he began sadly meandering off.
“Hey!” Leaping down, Caylee ran after him, rushing around to throw her arms around the unicorn’s neck. “Don’t say that!” Hugging him with all her might, she then buried a kiss deep into his fur. “I think you’re a great unicorn! And you’ve done very well so far.”
Yet he remained stiff and unyielding. I don’t believe you, the ‘corn muttered.
Giving him another reassuring squeeze, the neophyte magician then walked around to look him straight in the eye. “Look, you’re just a little rambunctious…”
Ram, uh, bunnions…
“It means you get a little carried away sometimes,” she explained. “But you’ve always been a favorite of mine! Remember when we first met? I gave you, like, half-a-dozen croissants.”
Tornado instantly perked up. He loved croissants.
“Don’t you remember? You actually got to stay in Haven Village overnight, before Tiffany, Keri, and I brought you back to your mother the next day.”
First swelling with pride, the young unicorn then gave her a bleak look. Do you think Tiffany’s forgiven me for ripping her kitchen apart?
“Of course she has!” Caylee assured him, even while knowing her senior Coven-mate was still a touch sore about it. “But that’s what I’m talking about. You just need to, um, behave like a grown up unicorn a little more. Then all the Coven, and the rest of the herd, will like you the way I do.”
Really?
“Yes, really. Can you do that?”
First glancing about the hot plain, the two battle hawks now irritably circling overhead, Tornado then gave a purposeful nod. I can try, he said.
Oh, wonderful, Saja muttered, idly kicking at a sharp stone in the grass. The unicorn’s going to pretend he’s an adult! Aren’t we lucky.
Magically tossing the stone aside, Caylee pretended she hadn’t heard her. “Thank you, Tornado. But we’re on a mission here.” Smiling, she now patted him on the nose. “So let’s stop being so emotional and just do our job. Okay?”
Okay, he pleasantly agreed. But your horse is a snob.
“No, she’s not.” Sighing, Caylee folded her arms. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that.”
With a unicorn shrug, he then playfully butted against the sorceress, nearly knocking her over. Snob! he chortled once again while happily dashing off.
Rubbing her brow for nearly a menlar, Caylee then conjured a good pair of sunglasses. Hopping up on Saja again, the Coven witch then cantered off through the alien landscape, the tall grass to either side both oddly threatening and soothing at one and the same time.
*****
Once on their way, Tornado’s natural instincts obviously took over. Carefully attending to the business at hand, the unicorn easily swept all about his sorceress. Often cantering on ahead, at other times to either side, he always properly positioned himself between Caylee and whatever mild danger might present itself.
Indeed, they soon passed by a wide assortment of bogs, depressions, muddy streams, odd mound things, and even thicker stands of taller grass, any of which might be sheltering a potential predator. They also began seeing more herds of wild animals in the distance. And while these all seemed to be grazing herbivores of one kind or another, Caylee decided to keep her distance.
One battle hawk was always directly overhead while the other ranged out far and wide. Jarob, whom she was now told had originally found the Victorian-era gauge on a previous expedition to Lysandy, was guiding them to the same exact spot. But there was still a long way to go. At this rate, Caylee calculated, they would reach it by the next mid-morning.
Stopping for lunch around noon, Caylee pulled a sandwich and drink out of her magical travel bag. She’d brought enough food for a few days, but might have to do some conjuring/scrounging before too long. First taking off Saja’s saddle, the enchantress climbed up on top of a low mound. All three of them ate in silence, her two equine companions munching on some grass just below.
As for the hawks, she soon heard a sharp cry and violent fight a little way off. Shading her eyes in alarm, she watched Lewn glide in to land a little to o
ne side of the equines, carrying a dead bird in her claws. The great predator then happily began ripping the prey apart, hard eyes whirling in contentment.
Feeling a little queasy, Caylee quickly finished her own meal. Then, on a whim, she dug into the standard magical travel bags on either side of Saja’s saddle.
As she’d hoped, there was a fine sword in a scabbard. Not bringing one herself was a stupid oversight. Relieved, she strapped it onto the saddle. Perhaps the most basic of weapons, a strong blade was still the perfect instrument for focusing raw magical power.
She also found a full stock of basic items, including a small first-aid kit, miniaturized two-person tent, and a flashlight. Even in Lysandy, apparently, technology had it’s uses.
Ten menlars later Jarob flew down for his turn at the dead bird. When everyone was done resting and eating, she quickly saddled up Saja and hit the open plains again.
The attack occurred sometime after that, as they were sliding into late afternoon. By this point a tired Caylee was considering another extended rest. Jarob was ranging ahead, with Tornado out on the far left flank. Lewn, flying close cover, was directly overhead.
Letting out a great scream of rage, the female battle hawk suddenly dove down at a forty-five degree angle off to the right. Instantly, there was a great commotion in the tall grass, along with more hawk shrieks and a muffled roar. Even as Caylee was registering what was going on, a great scaly paw with long claws swatted Lewn up into the air. But instead of flying off to safety, the battle hawk quickly recovered and sliced in once more to the attack.
Despite Saja’s fervent protest, Caylee had the horse turn back and charge at the scene of combat. Though things were quite murky, first impressions were that Lewn was outclassed. A land animal most certainly, with the clear advantage on the ground. And even though it was the battle hawk’s job to screen and protect her sorceress, Caylee wasn’t about to just run off and leave her companion to fight alone.