The Forgotten Spell (Legends of Green Isle Book 1)

by Constance Wallace

  Soaked and bruised, Thomas began to cry. Miranda knew he was unable to fathom the loss of his friend. The sobs rocked his body. She quickly put the sword back into its hiding place and ran to him. “I’m here. I’m here,” she cried, holding him.

  “I couldn’t save him. Gee whiz. I couldn’t save him!”

  Miranda, hearing those words, shuddered. She realized the truth of what he said. Her Matt was gone. The feeling inside of her blazed to life. Her soul let out a silent scream, a long wail that grew in despair and sadness. Outwardly, she remained quiet. It was now time for her to become the strength that Matt had been. “What happened?” she asked, her voice shaking.

  “It be my job to stay by his side. Me sisters warned me of this.” Lamfada let out a small cry.

  “He was swept overboard,” the older boy finally replied as he lowered himself to the deck. “We were trying to find a way to battle those things. Water just kept comin’. His feet got tied up in some rope and he couldn’t escape.”

  Miranda ran to the side of the ship. She looked over the railing, scanning the water for any sign of the white cloak he was wearing. “You should’ve gotten me sooner. I could’ve helped.”

  “The Slaugh made it happen. He’s gone,” Thomas cried.

  “I don’t believe it at all. Lily, help me look. Please. Fly upwards. The storm’s over. Call for him. He may be out there and all.”

  Lily nodded and flew away.

  Below, Miranda could see the some of the Selkies. They had transformed. Most were Mermaids, some Mermen. “Can you help us,” she called down. “We’ve lost someone overboard.”

  They waved their understanding and dove down under the water. She bit her lip. She wouldn’t allow herself to cry. He wasn’t gone. He just wasn’t. If he had drowned, wouldn’t they be able to find his body? At least that would give her some kind of ending. Some closure of a sort.

  Lug and Ned came out from the cabin and joined the others in calling out Matt’s name. Even when she became exhausted, Miranda refused to quit. She continued searching the waves until the sky slowly turned gray and then pink with the coming dawn. It was only when the dragon landed on the deck, his head low, that she finally sat down.

  “I’ve searched for miles and found nothing. I’m sorry,” he said softly.

  “Lily, didja see anything?” she asked.

  “No. My orb isn’t strong enough to penetrate the darkness of the sea,” she whispered, dabbing her eyes with the corner of her jacket.

  Miranda buried her face into her hands. She didn’t want anyone to see the tears streaming down her cheeks. How could this happen? How could she go on without him? “He's lost. The water’s too cold for him to survive this long.” She wiped her cheeks.

  “Gee. What are we gonna do now? There’s only three of us.”

  “He be havin’ the Wand, too. Me sisters told me to give it to him. They read his future. They be sayin’ it was for him. If he was to be havin’ the Wand, then how could he have died?” the leprechaun exclaimed. “He’s not supposed to be dead. He be the Wand guardian.”

  “He died trying to save us from the Slaugh,” Ned whimpered. He limped to where Miranda sat. “Are we gonna turn back?”

  “No. No, we’re not. Matt wouldn’t have wanted that. Ya know.”

  “He knew,” Thomas said quietly.

  “What are ya talkin’ about?” Miranda asked.

  “He told me back at the Keep. Somethin’ dark was chasing him in his dreams and it was catchin’ up to him. He knew. He asked me to take care of you, if somethin’ happened. He knew he was gonna die. That’s why he said that.”

  Miranda frowned. She remembered their kisses. She closed her eyes and held onto the feeling. Using the power of the sword, she focused on the memory. It was enough. It was enough for her to feel, to make her mind travel outward, mentally reaching for him. And she felt him. “He’s out there,” she said, opening her eyes quickly. “I can feel him. He’s out there. Towards Black Isle.”

  Ned gazed at her in disbelief “Whatda mean?”

  “He’s still alive. I can feel him. I can’t explain it, but he’s alive.” Her eyes lit with fire as her emotion poured forth. “I’m not giving up hope, if I can feel him. We started this quest to rescue five innocent souls taken by evil. We’re just adding a sixth to it. Matt.” She jumped to her feet. “Matt always gave us hope and pushed us when we didn’t have the strength to go on. I’m doing that now. He’s on Black Isle. We’ve got to get there.”

  Thomas raised his head. “Okay. Gee whiz. If you think he’s alive, then let’s get there.”

  Lamfada nodded. “Aye. The lass be havin’ the same vision me sisters do.”

  Miranda smiled. She knew she was right. She watched the sun move above the silver edge of sea, flooding coldly into the sky. It hovered at the very brim of the world, its pale red light smearing itself on the distant clouds. Just beyond was Black Isle...and Matt.

  “I’ll set the course. Look for the Selkies,” Keltrain said as he turned the ship’s wheel. “They’ll keep us on course.”

  Miranda tilted her face into the wind. “Hold on,” she whispered. “Hold on, we’re comin’.” Her heart flooded with love. She felt the vessel adjust its course and watched as the ship's sails filled with wind. No one spoke.

  Miranda reflected on the path that brought them to this point. Not one of them would be left behind. Not if she could help it. The memory of Matt’s kiss filled her mind and she clung to it, fueling her desire to reach him. She didn’t know what would happen when they got to Black Isle. But she understood that her course and her determination to get to him was making her own legend come alive.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Constance Wallace is a graduate student attending Clemson University, absorbing history, as she researches collections of WWI and WWII letters. Calling home for the Moment the Mountains of North Georgia, she writes in her spare time when she is not researching for a history paper or article. Recently, her horror story, “Vengeance” and a poem “The Death of Me” won a literary award from Young Harris College in Georgia. She has collaborated on a romance/mystery book called "Small Town America" (chapter 12) published by Chainbooks Publishing and is in the midst of creating a middle grades series which centers on the First World War and Interwar period, along with the Young Adult Fantasy Series, Legends of Green Isle.