by Martha Carr
It was a familiar tactic of Charlie’s to put someone immediately off their game. The young man blushed and stuttered, “After you,” still turning in a circle as he looked up at the high ceiling. Charlie smiled graciously and showed him to the wide doors that led to the library.
“I’m sorry about the limited time. Just about fifteen minutes. This was all last minute and I have a golf game to get to. Can’t leave my friends waiting at the first tee.” He waved his hands around as he talked.
“Of course, I appreciate the time. I’ll get this started.” Langston fumbled with an ornate wooden box he was carrying, setting it down with a thud on Charlie’s antique oak desk. A momentary wince passed across Charlie’s face but he let it go. Thirteen minutes.
Langston put both hands inside of the box, gingerly lifting out a metal wheel decorated all the way around the rim in hieroglyphics. He laid it carefully on the desk and took a short, hollow brass metal pipe out of his pocket, giving the wheel a solid hit in a specific pattern across the symbols. Each time he made contact the wheel let out a loud ding in a perfect pitch of C. On the twelfth ding, the wheel started to rattle on the desk as Charlie took a step back.
The symbols along the rim lit up as the wheel lifted, spinning in a circle, rotating a few degrees to the east with each turn. The smile froze on Charlie’s face as he watched. “It’s an impressive magic trick.” What the hell?
“Just keep watching.”
The wheel spun even faster until sparks flew out, some of the cinders landing on the heirloom rug, quickly sputtering out. An opening emerged the size of a window just above Charlie’s desk and he found himself staring at the backside of a tree.
“How the…” He took a step forward, blinking his eyes to see if he could detect the edges of the illusion. It’s real… It’s real! “It’s fucking real!”
Langston looked at him and smiled, a sheen of sweat across his face. “It’s a tree in a world called Oriceran.”
Charlie stepped closer and felt the warm air on his face as the smell of blossoms filled his nose. “Not Earth?” He cautiously put out his hand and felt the bark of the tree. “That’s an elm…” he said in a hushed tone.
“Who goes there!” A loud, angry voice shouted from somewhere in the depths of the forest. Charlie quickly pulled back his hand as the Gardener of the Dark Forest appeared in front of them, his four pupils all focused on Charlie. The Gardener saw the spinning wheel and leaned out of the portal toward the desk.
Charlie froze where he was, unsure for once in his life what to do. Langston quickly hit the sides of the wheel again, sending a shower of gold sparks as the portal shrunk in size, sucking the Wood Elf back to Oriceran, and closing with a loud pop.
The wheel slowed its spinning, finally coming to rest as Charlie came closer, scrutinizing it over and over again, saying nothing.
“You had it half right,” said Langston. “It’s magic but it’s not a trick.”
“Can’t be magic. Has to be science! Why didn’t your grandfather mention this?” Charlie was stunned, his mind spinning.
“Because I never told him. He would have told the world before they were ready. Something like this has to be handled correctly or it could cause panic. I knew you were the right person. All of your connections. I mean, your company stretches across the globe. You know every important politician, every foreign leader. You could help tell the world.”
“Langston, what you just did… I’m not even sure what I just saw…”
Langston smiled and shook his head. “Sorry, I do that. I get so excited I forget to fill in the details. But I knew I had to show you before I told you, or you would have kicked me out of here. That hole that you saw just hanging there in space? It’s called a portal and that tree you touched is in another world, in another dimension. They call it Oriceran. Over there, magic is commonplace. It’s more like a form of energy that runs through everything that lives on the planet.”
“In one of your emails you mentioned something about that place. How do you pronounce it?” Charlie walked across the rug where the portal had opened up. There’s nothing here. His mind worked to hold onto the idea. It’s like bad mushrooms. Never liked being high either. No control. Fuck.
“Or-i-sar-en. I found all of these ancient writings that talked about gates and portals inside of a large vault, along with that wheel. Think of it this way. The same way electricity revolutionized this country… another kind of magical energy at the time… take that and multiply it by a thousand. That wheel…” He pointed at the wheel, his face flush with excitement. “It’s like a battery.”
“It holds this energy…” Charlie was taking in shallow breaths fighting to maintain his composure.
“Exactly! The last time the gates were closing the ancients poured their energy into it to store for later use. The missing capstone from the top of the Great Pyramid in Egypt? A crystal artifact that someone else got to first. You see what I’m saying? These artifacts are everywhere.” Langston’s voice cracked from the excitement.
“Who’s taking them?” Charlie sat down in his leather chair, trying not to let it show how fast his heart was beating.
“There’s lots of theories. Foreign governments. Large corporations. Treasure seekers. There are thousands of these artifacts so probably all of those theories are correct.”
“How did I not know?” Charlie muttered to himself. He was always prepared, always watching the bigger picture, but this got right by him.
“It’s not too late. Only a small fraction of what’s believed to be out there has been found.” Langston’s face lit up and he smiled, his eyes shining. “It’s not even the best part.”
“There’s more.” Charlie gripped the sides of his chair, doing his best to give his trademark smile, showing every pearly-white tooth.
“Here’s the only thing that really matters. Every 25,800 years there are these gates that are much larger than that small portal you saw. Huge gates! These gates open and stay open for thousands of years. Beings from Oriceran crossed over to Earth and vice versa.” Langston waved his arms over his head. “The last one was over thirteen millennia ago and magic was just as commonplace here on Earth.”
Langston pressed his hands down toward the floor. “That Golden Year takes thousands of years to get here. But the gates will start to open in just a few more years. Slowly at first, but with each slight opening more of that energy we call magic will pour into Earth.”
“That’s a lot of information.”
“The ability to transform and create using a pure form of energy that comes from within is coming back to Earth. Magic. But we need to be ready.”
“I’m going to need more proof, Langston.” I’m all in. I can use this. Transform the economy.
“I thought you’d say that and I brought along a little more to show you.” Langston reached into his backpack and pulled out a wooden goblet, placing it on the desk. “Doesn’t look like much. Take it in your hands and hold it. Go on.”
Charlie looked up at Langston, hesitating. Not his usual nature. He slowly picked up the goblet and held it in his hands, the smile fading from his face, replaced with a sense of awe. A warm feeling of peace rose up through his body, settling in his chest. It was a new feeling for Charlie and unsettled him. He put the goblet back down and looked at the red glow in the palms of his hands.
Langston smiled at Charlie and shook his head. “It’s like it can teach you to be happy or something. I’m pretty sure that’s not what it was intended for but I can’t figure out anything more. According to what I’ve read, there are some artifacts that require you to be magical to access their powers. Like it’s part of your DNA or something. Can you imagine? But even still, it gives off this cool vibe.”
“Is it your plan to gather artifacts and relics and just wait for the gates to open? Is this some kind of negotiation tool when the beings from Oriceran walk through the gates?”
Langston laughed and shook his head again. “I did it again. Left
out an important detail.” He slapped his leg in excitement. “That’s not necessary. It says it throughout all the documents I’ve found. They’re already here. Thousands of them, living right alongside all of us. A lot of them stayed the last time the gates closed. We can negotiate with them now. Think of the problems we might be able to solve, but we have to get to the artifacts first.”
“I see your point,” said Charlie, rising out of his chair. “Let me cancel my golf game. We need to talk.”
Charlie Monaghan liked to be prepared and he was already a little behind. First order of business, look for a way to harness the new energy, he thought as he texted the Country Club of Virginia. ‘Start playing without me. Something came up.’
They’ll just have to understand. There’s a deal on the table. And it’s going to be mine. “Do we need to keep calling it magic? Seems like we just found some new kind of oil but this one is in a lot more places.”
“You can call it whatever you want but most do call it magic. Bending the laws of physics from within the biology of the practitioner in new ways to alter the environment.” Langston shrugged. “Magic.”
CHAPTER THREE
Leira walked Correk to the guest house while Hagan took a walk to calm his nerves. He was still rattled and looked a little pale. “I’ll be fine. Just need to shake it off.”
Leira slipped through the gate as Correk followed her. The patio was still quiet and Estelle was nowhere in sight. Leira knew better though than to assume Estelle wasn’t watching from a corner by a window somewhere. The bar owner had a knack for seeing everything.
“Leira! Glad I caught you!” Craig popped up from behind the far end of the bar, holding up a credit card. “Forgot this last night! Was having a better time than I realized. Don’t worry Estelle told me to go get it. I wouldn’t put a toe in that woman’s territory without permission. I’m very good at following orders. You coming to softball practice? You too, Correk! The Ice Cold Pitchers could use a decent third base player.”
“Craig!” Estelle snapped a towel in his direction from the door of the restaurant. The cigarette clenched between her teeth was already mostly ash. “Git! Too early to be running on like that. They’ll be there. They’re family!”
Craig cracked a smile and winked at Leira as he raced by Estelle at the door. She cracked the towel at him again as the ash fell to the floor and she brushed it away with her foot, leaving a gray streak. She turned back to give a wave to Leira and Correk.
“Love the comb. That’s new.” Leira pointed at Estelle’s head. There was a silver and gold metallic butterfly comb tucked in her tall, red bouffant.
“Felt the need for a little something this morning.” Estelle shut the door and threw the bar towel over her shoulder, retreating into the kitchen.
Leira turned to Correk, the words tumbling out of her. “Did I just put all of us in danger back there? I feel like I sent up a flare and told some big bad dude we’re following him.”
“Like it or not, he probably already knew all about us.”
“Then why the enormous blow back? Was it because I magically felt him up?”
“Partially, and like I said in the car that was a tap on the shoulder for that wizard. He was giving us just a taste of what he could do.”
“Dear God…” Leira’s voice came out in a whisper. She turned and walked toward the guest house stopping abruptly at the door. “Is it possible I missed the necklace’s trail and it was in the house?”
“Not likely. It’s far too powerful to mask. But I suspect they were headed to wherever the necklace is being kept. He was making sure they’d have a chance to get away and we’d think twice about following them right away.”
“I would have followed him if the general didn’t need us. I’m still going to go back and read the trail he left behind to see where they were headed.”
“Be very careful. I’m not going to bother to tell you not to do it. But he will certainly have left traps in his wake specifically designed for someone with your power. They’re not taking any chances with this necklace.”
“Royal Elven power poured into something for millennia…”
“It should have been fine inside the walls of the Light Elves castle.”
“Till it wasn’t.”
Light flashed across Correk’s eyes for a moment. Leira knew she hit a nerve.
“I know the prince was your friend. I didn’t forget that,” she said, softly. Leira gently pressed against the scar on her chest. It was still tender. “But there’s already been a lot of destruction from the loss of that artifact. How is it any different from what the Gnomes have locked in their vault? Even the Silver Griffins see it my way. They locked it up in their vault.”
“The difference is obvious. The Light Elves stored the power to be used for good. The intention was always different. The energy held in the necklace is different.” He spit out the words, clenching his jaw.
“An important distinction with a similar ending. Set aside in case it was ever needed. I do understand. Humans do the same thing all the time. Weigh the risks. It’s the damned unintended consequences that bite you in the ass. I’ve never asked you, but are there other artifacts like this still inside the castle?”
“No, none this powerful. It was one of a kind. One…of…a…kind.” He drew out each word.
“I get it. Positive energy. We’ll keep searching and we’ll get the damn thing back. Someday it may turn the tide for something else and we’ll all be grateful it exists. Time is funny that way. Look, I’ve got to go. Case is calling. I just want to go in and check on Mom and Nana and then I have to get back to the car. I want to make sure Hagan is taking long, deep breaths. Are we good?” Leira squeezed his arm, sending out a low, soothing jolt of energy.
Correk arched an eyebrow at her. “Trying to make nice?”
“More like returning the favor. You’ve helped me stay steady more than once. Estelle’s right. We’re all family. I’m still going to say what I believe is true but it doesn’t mean I was trying to wound.”
Grief passed across Correk’s face. “That’s the thing about living a very long time. A lot happens but I learned like every other Elf to stop thinking it was happening to me. Still… the pain can linger.”
Leira looked at Correk and hesitated but decided to give in to the idea and grabbed him in a short hug, squeezing tight.
“A little aggressive Berens but appreciated.”
Leira punched him in the arm and rolled her eyes. “Now I know we’re good.”
She walked the rest of the way to the guest house and opened the door, dropping her purse on the red velvet chair as she walked toward the kitchen. “Mom? Nana?”
She called out but the place was quiet. The troll was sitting on a large frond of a potted fern Eireka brought home. He was happily eating Captain Crunch from a box nestled among the leaves, watching an old episode of Star Trek. Captain Kirk was up to his waist in tribbles. Yumfuck let out a trill and made a loud crunching sound as he bit down on a mouthful of cereal.
Correk sat down near the troll and held out his hand as the troll poured cereal into his palm.
Leira glanced down. “Classic kind? I didn’t even know they still made that stuff. How did you get it? I know I said the spell this time. What else have you been into?” She went back into the kitchen and glanced around but nothing was pushed to the side. A sure sign of troll foraging. She saw the note on the counter by the coffee pot and scooped it up.
‘Gone apartment hunting with Nana. Your grandmother didn’t like the house I found. Gave the troll the cereal. Don’t worry. He can handle the sugar. Be back by dinner time. We’ll be fine. Took an Uber. Love, Mom.’
So fucking normal. “Thank goodness I have a homicide to go to,” she muttered. She folded the note and stuffed it into her pocket, the sapphire ring on her hand catching on the lining.
She went back out into the living room and grabbed her purse from the chair.
Correk was tossing cereal into his m
outh as the troll guzzled a Fresca out of a can.
Leira put her hand on the door. “What’s with the throwbacks? Wait, don’t tell me. Nana and Mom did the shopping. Weirdly touching. Careful with that cereal. It has its own little payback. It’ll scrape the hell out of the roof of your mouth. I will be back by dinner.” She shook her head. “Can’t believe I need to let people know that.”
Correk gave a crooked smile and waved at her to go. He had his own things to attend to. Leira headed out the door and he waited, listening to Craig shout goodbye before he conjured a ball of light between his hands and opened a portal to Oriceran. A light breeze moved through the living room rustling a pile of papers.
“You keep this between us. I’ll be back in a few hours,” he said to the troll who gave him a side glance as Correk stepped through to the forest and closed the portal behind him, sending a spray of sparks across the living room. The troll let out a raspberry and filled his mouth with cereal.
***
Leira found Hagan in the food court brushing small bits of taco shell off his shirt. “You caved.”
Three young privates in uniform walked by and started when they saw Hagan’s jacket.
“PDA, cool dude,” said one of the young men, shaking his shaved head. “Didn’t even know that was a job.”
Another tall, muscular young man held up his hands. “No public displays here. You guys really take that seriously.”
Hagan snorted and held out his hand. “Thank you for your service,” he said, not bothering to explain. He pulled his hand back and brushed a small bit of salsa off, using his pants before putting his hand back out. “Thank you for your service,” he said to the young woman, as he shook each of their hands.
Leira smiled and nodded at the group as they walked up to place an order at the taco truck. The woman glanced back over her shoulder before placing her order. On a hunch, Leira pulled in just enough energy and saw the glow surrounding the woman. She’s a witch. Good to know. Leira took a look at Hagan. “How many?”