Enchantress Awakening: Part One of the Book of Water (The Elemental Cycle 1)

by Whitmarsh, J. W.

  A green-robed maiden moved through a glade by moonlight stepping out of the shade of tall conifers towards a standing stone covered in moss. Her hair shone deep red in the silver glow upon the stone. Just as soon she was gone and in her place stood Galenna and Gethin by firelight sitting in the middle of a huddle of Calderans on a grassy hillside. The fire remained in Caleigh’s sight but all else around changed to a castle hearth watched by a dark-haired woman of middle-age. A dark, curly-haired man stood over her, shuffling impatiently.

  “The peril has passed.” She said. “I thank you for staying with me during this time.”

  “I am glad to.” The younger man answered. The woman then looked beyond him further into the shadows where stood a woman barely touched by the fire light. “Will you go on to your father’s house? He would be so happy to see you.”

  “It would be better if he did not know we were here.” The shadowed woman answered. Caleigh tried to look deeper too late for again the scene shifted to a stone hall filled with monks barely better lit than the woman had been. One in the foreground might have been Brother Adam but it was impossible to tell for sure. Outlined against the window a tall figure stood with his back to the rest of the congregation, unremarked yet not unobserved. This image too faded and out of the blackness a new room came into view.

  A gloved hand moved a counter over a chequered board and came to a stop. The candles lighting the room grew more brilliant revealing a doorway in the corner. The door opened and a man in body-sculpted Senatian style armour walked through. “My lord, the patrols report no unusual activity.”

  “Let them know they can stand down.” Answered a smooth, silky voice belonging to the unseen owner of the gloved hand.

  “My lord.” The soldier disappeared and the gloved hand tapped the board. A deep inhale whistled through his nostrils followed by a heavy sigh.

  “I wonder...” He spoke to the empty room. “whom it is that is trying to spy on me.” Caleigh exhaled with a start and realised Tovrik was shaking her by the shoulder.

  “Caleigh, come back.” Caleigh looked into his eyes and noting the look of recognition he eased his grip and stood back.

  “He saw me?”

  “I think not. Nonetheless, when you look at someone there is always the risk that they will look back.”

  “I might have had a chance to speak with him though.”

  “Or he might have invaded your mind. Not all wizards will be on our side, even if they are opposed to the Coven. Forgive my caution but I do not wish to expose you needlessly.”

  “I understand.”

  “You will have to extend my apologies to Gideon also if I have drained you excessively before your practice with him. He said he’d meet you in the training yard.”

  “Worry not, I will find the inspiration I need.”

  What she didn’t tell Tovrik was that the inspiration came in bottle form as she drank again from the charisma potion phial then stowed the rest in an inside pocket to her light blue outer robes. Gideon wanted her to practice bringing forth the phoenix charm. It seemed to make perfect sense to attempt it in a state where her powers could brought forth more easily. She could feel the prick of night time excitement touch her mind and pushed it away, ready to be used when the moment came.

  A single torch burned in the training yard somehow covering the entire space with its luminescence. Gideon paced about on the sand levitating the straw dolls away from the centre of the practice area. Caleigh suddenly became conscious of the charisma potion in her inner pocket and the possibility of breaking it during a vigorous spell casting session. Deeper down she also felt a need to keep it concealed from Gideon, though potions were a recognised part of magic she could not escape the feeling that he would not approve of how she was using it.

  Accordingly, Caleigh hung her outer robes before she entered the practice area leaving her in her full length white night robe. “No doubt you are wondering why we are out here?”

  “Perhaps for a change?”

  “Partly. I thought that moving away from our usual practice area with all its protective spells might enable you to feel...more exposed.” Caleigh hugged herself against the fresh air.

  “Can anyone see us here?”

  “It is possible but unlikely considering the hour.”

  “Tovrik sends his apologies for detaining me.”

  “I assume it was a worthwhile delay.”

  “Yes it was.” Caleigh thought about all that she’d seen. “How many wizards do you think there are left in the western lands? Will we find any of them?”

  “It is hard to say. My own guess would be that there are fewer than three score of wizards in these lands. If we were to find half of them, then that would be an extraordinary achievement.” Gideon stood face on to Caleigh at a measured distance. “Have you learned the incantation?”

  “Yes.”

  “Hopefully, by framing the spell within words you will have greater control. When you are ready, begin by protecting yourself.”

  “Temperate.” Caleigh said pointing her wand at herself then began to invoke,

  “I am the flame eternal,

  I am the heat that never dies

  Burn flesh and bone to embers

  A phoenix from the ashes shall rise”

  Every burning lustful though in Elevered and from her memories of the last week burst into Caleigh’s head, lingering longest on the sight of the near naked Loreliath alongside the deep tanned couple’s furious climax. Thanks to the cooling effect of her protective charm she did not notice he heat that was rising from her flesh until she saw the spreading patches of brown on her night robe where the material clung most tightly to her flesh at her bosom and hips.

  “Draw the power to your wand hand.” Caleigh looked down at the wand gripped in her left hand and tried to imagine pouring all her excitement into the length of the birch. The wand seemed to glow with all the energy. “Now channel it away from yourself.” Caleigh extended her arm at a right angle and pictured flinging it like a dart.

  “Agghhh!” Caleigh yelped as a great plume of flame burst out from the wand and streaked at one of the dummies coating it with flame from its waist upward. Gideon waved his wand at the burning straw man sending a waft of icy air over it that snuffed out the flames. “Oh dear, Sir Edgar won’t be very happy with me.”

  “He may not be. I, on the other hand, am most pleased with you.” Gideon looked down at the wand in Caleigh’s grasp. “You are like me, strange that I’ve not noticed that before.”

  “What do you mean?” Gideon held up the wand in his left hand to demonstrate. “Oh, that is because I use both hands. Recently though I’ve felt I have more control with my left hand so perhaps I will keep favouring it for wand work.”

  “You truly are a woman of many tal...” Gideon’s voice trailed off. Caleigh looked down to see the reason why. The brown stained had grown and turned black and now her dress had begun to crumble apart falling first from her shoulders then sliding off her hips coming to rest halfway down her thighs. Gideon looked away causing Caleigh to giggle as she calmly stepped out of her ruined dress then replaced it with her outer robe.

  There was no need for further practice so Caleigh made her excuses and shuffled off to her room in a hurry. What she didn’t share with Gideon was while the fire had been excised the arousal that brought it about was very much still present. It took control of a different kind not to leap on Gideon when her dress fell off. Passing by her contemporaries’ bedchambers she started to wonder if that was not, after all, the best idea. The idea also of joining Penric and Ellie as Ellie had sometimes joked about also had a strong temptation as did paying a visit to Vaughn. Ultimately, overriding these temptations was the thought that in this state she might be able to see into Loreliath’s past again.

  Upon reaching her bed, Caleigh was quickly able to bring herself to a climax recalling all the thoughts that had been in her head when she brought forth the charmed fire. Sleep followed and took her exactl
y where she had wanted; to the golden stone halls where she had last seen Loreliath. There she was again in slightly more modest attire of a backless top fastened by across her shoulders and halfway down her spine. A long slit skirt hung from the golden belt around her waist. Both parts were pure white. Also present in the room was the bald lover she had watched before, adorned in gold over his bare torso and sitting on a throne placed centrally atop a series of steps overlooking the room.

  On the floor beneath the throne was a crowd of people in highly coloured garments of widely varying styles. Although there were many, a handful of these faces stood out more than the others. Argahan stood to the side in simple rustic robes with a group of fair skinned men and women in similar attire. He showed no interest in taking part in the debate occupying most of the people there and shared a wry smile with Loreliath across the room.

  Foremost among the debating group was a small delegation dressed in robes of flowing silk. At their head was one taller than the others adorned in blue, whose white hair hung low over his back. Despite his age this man was straight-backed and sure of step faltering in neither movement nor speech. His was the voice that the room hearkened to at this time. “Does it go unnoticed here in the west because his expansion does not touch your lands? While we debate here the hand of Xyraxis is felt from the inner seas all the way to great mountains that lie at the edge of the eastern kingdoms. Every man who treads upon the silk road must pay homage to him if he wishes to pass. This touches us both in equal measure.”

  “I do not dispute this.” The King answered. “Yet I have no more influence with him than you. Xyraxis does not receive my emissaries.” At this point a wizened man in black robes who stood by the King’s side made his presence known.

  “I believe Xyraxis is wont to give thou an audience, Loreliath. Might thou have speech with him and avail upon him to hear our concerns.”

  “I will endeavour to achieve this end if it is the will of this council to send me thither.” Loreliath answered. A russet-robed man laughed aloud at the suggestion drawing Caleigh’s eyes. He was handsome with carefully trimmed dark hair that contrasted with his pale grey eyes.

  “Shall we truly consent to sending one of our best into the dragon’s maw?” He mocked.

  “Nothing is decided.” Spoke the King. Debate ensured again but the red-robed man detached himself from it with a shake of his head. He retained Loreliath’s glance and she was not alone. A man with a powerful physique dressed sparsely in furs kept watch on him while sidling up to Argahan. The two huddled together and Argahan nodded.

  The council was adjourned shortly after and the delegates exited by various corridors. Caleigh followed Loreliath in her route away from the debate noting from behind how the red robed man skilfully conducted people away from her until they were alone far away from everyone else and here they came to a stop and exchanged smiles. It was a strange thing for Caleigh, seeing Loreliath on good terms with those who would later betray her but then, that moment may have been many years after this one and the seeds of that betrayal were yet to be sewn. “Do not let them put thee to harm for the sake of harmony.” He cautioned.

  “What wouldst thou have me do instead?”

  “We have a growing strength here and that is our hope. For no other reason would I have left my homeland for this place. Nor wouldst thou.” Loreliath smiled in amusement.

  “There will be time to put this forth in debate. For what matter must we speak alone?” Caleigh could not help but notice that the space between them had shrunk considerably and with their matching heights they stood directly eye to eye.

  “What may I say of any worth? The men who have told thee of thy beauty must number as armies. What proof may I offer that tells truly of my desire for thee?” Loreliath reached down with her hand to the bulge about his crotch.

  “I believe it is plain.” Caleigh was torn, partly repelled by the notion that this future traitor may have feelings for Loreliath and also excited by the thought of such a handsome couple making love.

  “Doest though return my desires?” Say yes Caleigh thought despite herself. Loreliath pulled her hand away and took a step back.

  “Alas, I have a lover for whom my desire cannot be sated and a love I will not betray, no matter how handsome the offer.” The man smiled and raised his eyebrows.

  “Then your lover is a man of peerless fortune.”

  “And to my lover I must now return.” Yes! Show me your lover. He must be beyond belief. What kind of man will he be? The answer to this question was not to be revealed as the red robed smiling face changed expression and the scene around him shifted to the Shrine of Lost Souls. Fire flashed from his fingers and encased Loreliath like chains and then there was darkness. Caleigh looked up and thought the darkness saw great thick vines crawling up an earthen wall and high up in its clutches there was someone trapped.

  “Loreliath!” Caleigh cried and at once tried to pull herself up the vines. Her body felt weightless and this made the climb easier than it ought to have been and within moments she seemed to fly up to where Loreliath was trapped. “Worry not, I will free you somehow.” Caleigh said trying to pull at the branches. They did not move by even the smallest margin.

  “Caleigh, it cannot be done.” Loreliath spoke. The voice was not the one she had grown used to but the strained wheeze of a parched and unused throat. “Tonight the walls between our worlds are weak but thou art no more in this one than I am in thine.”

  “What can I do to help you?”

  “Heed these words only; do not let haste lead thee to peril. A true heart is the greatest power thou can possess.” What this meant Caleigh could not ask for here ended the vision.

  26. Cedric

  Several factors came together over the next two days that led Caleigh to an unavoidable conclusion; she needed to go on a trip. Success in her lessons was the initial contributor that put the wheels in motion as she at last achieved what she had been aiming for in the weeks prior. Mabon nodded with satisfaction at the sight of his projectile spell disappearing in the shimmering haze enveloping Caleigh’s body. “Very good, I think we can consider that condition met.” He remarked.

  “And what was the condition?” Vaughn asked listening to Caleigh’s explanation of the necessity of her trip.

  “I want to create an amulet to better protect me from hostile magic.”

  “That’s a very good idea.”

  “But Bryn has not the materials here to make one. So I asked Mabon for the funds to buy these materials from Aldred. I owe him for the wand I could not ask him to work again without payment.”

  “And Mabon said you could have the funds when you learnt how to do the spell?”

  “Yes, he does not approve of short cuts.”

  “So now you want to visit Aldred again?”

  “That is not all. Tovrik thinks I am ready to travel on the ley lines.”

  “Ah, now I get it. Save for one thing, why did you come to me before Gideon?”

  “I could list many reasons.” Caleigh said sweetly. “Beside them it is also Gideon’s birthday next week and I want to get him something.”

  “Anything else?”

  “I need some ingredients for a potion. I know not if Aldred will have them.”

  “We may need to go further then.”

  After lunch, Vaughn led Caleigh, Bryn and Rhiannon west of the castle of Elevered to a patch in the tree line that surrounded it. Stomping through long grass and thickets they came upon an open glade with a standing stone at its centre strewn with ivy and nettles about its base. “Using the ley lines will be a drain on our power. Those with no magical talent would find it very hard to travel in this way unless they are in the company of one with enough talent for the both of them. Fortunately, everyone in this group is gifted so we shouldn’t have a problem.”

  “I’m not really a wizard, am I?” Bryn stated.

  “Nor I.” Rhiannon agreed.

  “It is not necessary to be a wizard. Anyone with ma
gical talent can walk through this door once it has been opened. Come now, stand close to the standing stone.” Caleigh and the others shuffled close together whilst Vaughn put his wand to the stone and concentrated. Beyond a circle of a few yards all became unfocused like to the eyes of one spinning around very quickly. A sound like a roaring wind filled their ears until immediately ahead of them the distorted image of another standing stone came into view a bit by bit became solid. “Go to it.” Vaughn urged. The group stepped forth and suddenly all became still causing all but Vaughn to lose their footing and sprawl over the grass either side of the mud track leading up to the stone. Bryn rose first and almost at once fell to the ground again. Rhiannon seemed in no hurry to move, holding onto the grass like a raft in rapids.

  Caleigh rose first to a seated position and then when she felt sure of her position climbed the rest of the way to her feet. “That was quick for a first time.” Vaughn commented. “I’d give them a little longer.”

  “Where are we?”

  “You’ll see when we walk up this path.” When Brian and Rhiannon were finally able to join them they walked a short way along the narrow clearing in the trees to a point where it turned a corner and widened out revealing Aldred’s cottage from the workshop side. Aldred burst out the back door at their arrival.

  “By the Gods, that was fast!” He exclaimed. “I sent the message mere moments ago.”

  “What message do you speak of?” Vaughn asked.

  “Ah, this is happenstance then. I sent a message to Tovrik asking for help and here you are unbidden.”

  “What’s the trouble, master?” Bryn inquired.

  “Two nights ago as I slept someone must have come into my cottage. The next morn I was sure I was short of a willow wand from the rack. Then today when I returned from gathering firewood I find all my silver stores raided. There’ve been no horses or travellers this way since you were last here so it had to have been someone using the ley point. That’s why I sent a message to Tovrik, thought he might be able to help. But you have come for a different cause, how might I help you?”