Zaconis - Guardian of Magic

by MJ Schutte

  Angelina grabbed Lilian by the arm and pulled her back.

  ‘We can’t do that! What if the wizard uses his magic on us?’ she gasped.

  ‘If he was going to, he would have done so already,’ Lilian replied as she pulled free from Angelina’s grasp and headed up the slight slope towards Palentis.

  Angelina and the elves followed but Lilian turned around and said, ‘No, wait here. Two elves will stay with you for protection.’

  Angelina wanted to protest but Lilian ignored her and continued walking. Goralt pointed to two elves, signaled for them to protect Angelina and then dashed after Lilian, followed by the rest of the elves. Mischief jumped from the tree where he had been hiding and fell into step next to Lilian.

  ‘Go back to Angelina, boy. Protect her,’ Lilian said to the cat.

  Mischief’s eyes met hers for a moment before he dropped his gaze again and continued walking next to Lilian.

  Without stopping, Lilian turned back and shouted, ‘If things go bad, take the horses and get out of here as fast as you can. Mischief seems intent on staying with me!’

  When they were roughly halfway up the slope, the rest of Father’s troops came streaming out the gates. They surrounded Lilian and the elves, ignoring Angelina and her two protectors in the woods.

  Father Zaconis, flanked by Imlan, walked out into the open as Lilian and the elves came to a halt about a hundred paces from the gates.

  ‘What are you doing here witch?’ Father shouted.

  Lilian was ready to weave a protective barrier around her and the elves at the first sign of trouble.

  ‘I want to speak to my husband!’ she shouted back.

  ‘And who might that be?’ Zaconis yelled.

  ‘You know who he is! You stole him from me in Mendin!’ Lilian hollered.

  ‘Why should I let you speak to him?’ Zaconis asked.

  ‘If you don’t, I swear with all the spirits as my witnesses, I will kill every single person here. You’ve seen what I am capable of. Do you really want to be at the wrong end of my wrath?’ Lilian threatened.

  To give extra credibility to her threat, she held her arms out, drawing energy from the forest behind her. Seeing the thick, black lightning bolts connecting Lilian and the forest, some of the soldiers took a few steps backward.

  ‘She cannot harm you! Do not be afraid!’ Zaconis shouted.

  ‘Zaconis, make up your mind or I will unleash the full force of my power against you and these soldiers!’ Lilian threatened.

  Quietly Zaconis said to Imlan, ‘It’s your choice. Do you wish to speak to her?’

  Imlan did not need to think about it.

  ‘Yes, I want to,’ came the answer.

  ‘You may have a few moments with Imlan on one condition: You will submit to me when it is over,’ Zaconis shouted at Lilian.

  ‘Will you let the elves go unharmed?’ Lilian asked.

  ‘I will,’ Zaconis replied.

  ‘Agreed,’ Lilian shouted as she dropped her arms.

  ‘Mistress, what are you doing?’ Goralt asked quietly.

  ‘I will remind Brighton of who he is. Once his memories have returned, he will protect us against this wizard,’ Lilian answered.

  ‘But you promised to submit to the wizard,’ Goralt argued.

  ‘A lie he does not need to know about. Keep those bows ready,’ Lilian replied.

  ‘Mischief, stay here,’ she instructed the cat before slowly walking up the slope until she was standing barely ten paces away from her husband.

  ‘Brighton…’

  ‘Before you speak to him, he will put this on your arm to make sure you don’t use your magic against him,’ Zaconis said, holding out Evangeline’s bracelet towards Imlan.

  Lilian recognized her grandmother’s bracelet, wondering how Zaconis got hold of it.

  Imlan took it and stepped closer to Lilian.

  Wordlessly she held her right arm out. As soon as the little clasp on the bracelet snapped shut, a searing pain shot up her arm.

  ‘Brighton, it’s me, Lilian. I am your wife,’ Lilian said through clenched teeth.

  ‘I do not know you,’ Imlan answered.

  ‘Brighton, please just listen. Please try to remember when we were children, playing in the woods near Four Mountains. We used to play hide and find, but I could never find a hiding place that was good enough. The first time you knew you were in love with me, I was wearing a dress like this one,’ Lilian said softly.

  She turned slowly so Brighton could get a good look at her, the dress and the pink ribbons in her hair.

  Her arms shook from the pain the bracelet was causing as it stole the life from her body, her legs trembling as she struggled to stay on her feet.

  ‘I don’t remember,’ Imlan said.

  ‘We had two children, Thomas and Clarissa. Don’t you remember them? Thomas was killed by an evil man, but Clarissa grew up into a beautiful woman. She married and gave us two grandchildren,’ Lilian tried.

  Imlan thought hard, trying his best to recall even the tiniest memory of what the woman in front of him was speaking about, but his mind was blank.

  ‘We’ve lived in Livia Farasnei for the last two hundred years, trapped there by the forest itself,’ Lilian said, tears welling up in her eyes.

  ‘Enough! You’ve had your chance. Now you will submit to me as you promised,’ Zaconis shouted.

  Lilian sank to her knees, her legs not able to hold her up any longer. Despair settled like a dark cloud over her mind. She was so sure that Brighton would remember her if he saw her in the white dress.

  ‘Imlan, take that sword and end her life,’ Zaconis instructed.

  Imlan leaned forward and pulled the sword from Lilian’s belt.

  ‘I’m sorry. I honestly don’t remember anything you spoke of,’ he said softly.

  ‘Behead her and take your place in the Elite Corps,’ Zaconis said, a small smile creeping across his lips.

  Imlan lifted the sword high.

  Lilian looked up one last time into the eyes of the man she had loved for so long.

  ‘Remember, I will always be your Lily,’ she said.

  Lily.

  The one name, the tiny fragment of a memory that Imlan still held on to.

  Lily.

  Imlan felt himself swinging the sword downward in a wide arc, aiming straight for Lilian’s neck, but somehow it seemed like it was not him wielding the blade.

  Angelina watched in horror as Brighton lifted the sword. She almost did not hear the two elves falling just behind her. She spun around to see her two protectors each with a crossbow bolt in the back.

  A man was standing not far behind them. He dropped the two crossbows he had in his hands and drew his sword.

  Angelina lifted Brighton’s cane in a defensive way although she knew she had no chance against a seasoned soldier.

  ‘There is no need to fight. Just come with me to Father. He will decide what to do with you,’ Fayet said with a wicked grin as he walked closer.

  Angelina slowly lowered the cane.

  ‘Good girl,’ Fayet smiled as he stuck out his hand to take the cane from her.

  Angelina swung the cane up viciously, aiming for Fayet’s head, but the warrior was fast enough with his sword. He deflected the blow and in a blindingly quick counter attack, he disarmed Angelina, forcing her to her knees.

  ‘You evil witch! Now you will die right here,’ he snarled as he stepped behind her, sword held high.

  Angelina waited for death, watching another enemy soldier rush towards them.

  Al’taish raced through the trees trying his best to call his gift forth, but seeing Angelina about to be killed did not allow him to gather the required concentration.

  ‘Fayet, no!’ he called as the sword came down.

  His older brother stopped and looked up, a confused look on his face.

  When Al’taish was less than ten paces from them, he jumped high into the air, cocking both wrists back. His hidden blades snapped into place
a moment before he flew over Angelina, plunging the sharp steel deep into Fayet’s chest.

  The two men crashed to the ground, Al’taish driving the blades further into his brother’s chest.

  ‘Al’taish?’ Fayet croaked out.

  ‘I’m sorry, brother,’ Al’taish whispered.

  ‘At least you finally used your blades,’ Fayet coughed as blood poured into his lungs.

  Al’taish twisted both blades hard before pulling them free.

  Slowly he got up and turned around. Angelina was still on her knees but she had turned around to face him.

  ‘Come, we need to get out of here,’ Al’taish said, holding his hand out to her.

  The sight of the bloody blade sent waves of panic through Angelina’s mind. She scrambled to her feet and ran, but Al’taish caught up with her easily. He grabbed her from behind making sure he kept the flat of the blades against her body.

  He pulled her close to his chest and whispered in her ear, ‘I will not hurt you.’

  Angelina struggled against his superior strength, but to no avail.

  ‘I will not hurt you,’ he repeated, trying to calm her down.

  Something familiar about the gentle way he was holding her, his masculine smell and his voice tugged in her mind.

  Angelina stopped struggling.

  ‘Let me go,’ she whispered through the tears streaming down her cheeks.

  Al’taish immediately released the small woman and stepped away.

  ‘Please don’t run. You have my word of honor, I will not hurt you,’ Al’taish pleaded.

  ‘What are your plans with me?’ Angelina stammered.

  ‘Uh…nothing….I have no plans,’ Al’taish replied awkwardly.

  For a few moments Angelina hesitated. Somehow she could not read his emotions, but deciding to trust her instincts, she stepped closer, putting her hand over Al’taish’s forearm.

  ‘Let me put away these blades,’ Al’taish apologized.

  ‘No,’ Angelina said as she lifted his arm and pulled back his sleeve.

  She had a good look at the blade and then the leather sheath, noticing the teeth marks in it.

  ‘It was you,’ she whispered.

  ‘What was me?’ Al’taish frowned.

  ‘You saved me at the Justice Hall,’ she replied.

  ‘Well…uh…yes, that was me,’ Al’taish admitted self-consciously, glancing around nervously.

  ‘You are the enemy. Why did you save my life twice?’ Angelina asked, trying hard to keep her voice even.

  ‘I will tell you later. First, let’s get out of here,’ Al’taish avoided the question.

  He pushed both blades back into their resting places, took Angelina’s hand and led her away from the troops. Some of the soldiers noticed and followed them.

  ‘Come! There are too many for me to fight,’ Al’taish said as he broke into a dead run pulling Angelina along.

  ‘I saw an old farmhouse not far from here. Maybe we can find a hiding place there,’ he said as they ran deeper into the forest.

  Memories flooded back.

  For a few moments, it seemed like time was standing still.

  Imlan remembered the first time he saw Lilian in a white dress with those tiny pink ribbons in her hair. They were only children back then, playing in the fields, swimming in the river and, unbeknownst to them, falling in love. He remembered when he told her she will always be his Lily.

  More memories of their life together crashed into his mind. He felt yet again the joy of being a father, and the pain of losing Thomas at such a young age. He relived those final moments of Clarissa’s life, her begging him to let her go be with her children in the spirit world. Like a knife through his heart, he felt again the terrible loss as his beloved daughter died in his arms. The pain was quickly driven from his mind as he remembered all the wonderful years he had spent with Lilian, and the deep love they had for each other.

  His mind reeled for a moment with shock as he remembered his gift, the talent for energy manipulation he had always insisted was not magic, and exactly how to use it.

  Suddenly, he was not standing at the gates of Palentis anymore. He was floating in mid air above the ground looking down on himself and Lilian.

  ‘What…’ he gasped.

  ‘Brighton, don’t be afraid. You have once again entered the spirit world,’ a female voice said from behind.

  Brighton spun around.

  ‘Who are you?’ he asked.

  ‘I am Dina,’ the spirit answered.

  ‘Send me back there! I’m about to kill Lilian!’ Brighton demanded.

  ‘In the spirit world, time has no meaning. We can talk for a long time here while only a moment passes in your world. We both know you can go back anytime you want. Once your life was ended by an evil man, once you took your own to save yourself and another and once a loved one, your wife, killed you. We do not fully understand why, but these three events enabled you to enter the spirit world at will, as you found out when the spirits took Lilian two hundred years ago. You can move freely between your world and ours, but, before you go back, I need to talk to you, please,’ Dina smiled.

  ‘What is there to talk about?’ Brighton frowned.

  ‘Evangeline warned me that you have very little love for the spirits, and I understand why. However, I must ask of you to listen carefully to me. You are about to make an extremely difficult choice. I cannot tell you what that choice should be as I do not know myself, but I do know that, should you choose wrong, both the spirit world and your world will be destroyed,’ Dina replied.

  ‘Can you be less cryptic?’ Brighton asked sarcastically.

  ‘Unfortunately, no. I have seen two possible futures. In the one scenario, everybody, including the spirits, die. In the other, you do something to avert this, but lose the one closest to your heart. The only thing I can tell you is that you have to look at your past and the things you have learnt before you choose. You have lived for a very long time, longer than any human should, and you have learnt valuable lesson in this time. Use these lessons to guide you,’ Dina urged him.

  ‘Tell me what I’m supposed to do,’ Brighton said as calmly as he possibly could.

  ‘I do not know. I cannot see the events that will lead to these scenarios, only that two possible futures exist,’ Dina replied.

  Brighton thought of making another sarcastic remark, but seeing the serious look on Dina’s face, he suddenly realized that she was only trying to help.

  ‘Why is it up to me to save the world? I am only a simple man trying to live a peaceful life with my wife,’ Brighton sighed.

  ‘We both know you are not a simple man,’ Dina smiled at him.

  ‘Perhaps not, but I want to be. I do not want to be responsible for the spirit world or the human world,’ Brighton frowned.

  ‘I know you don’t, but there is nobody else. Some of us have put a lot of time and effort into making sure you would be alive and well prepared for the upcoming events,’ Dina pleaded.

  Before Brighton could ask the question on his lips, Dina said, ‘Let’s look at a few events in your life and then you will understand what I mean.’

  A blur of images flashed before Brighton’s eyes and then suddenly they were floating above Four Mountains. Brighton saw himself entering Thomas’ house. He immediately knew what was about to happen. It was the day Seth had abducted Lilian. Sadness washed over him as he also remembered finding his adoptive mother murdered in their home.

  ‘Please stop this. I do not wish to relive these events,’ he said softly as he closed his eyes.

  ‘The purpose in showing you this is not to make you sad. It is to show you that a small event can make a big difference in the long run. That day, so many years ago, you got involved in a fight with the town bullies. Let me show you what would have happened if I did not send those young men across your path,’ Dina said.

  Brighton opened his eyes again and saw himself lying on the ground, a long knife sticking out of his chest. Seth
was walking away from his corpse, dragging a screaming Lilian away.

  ‘I would have been killed,’ Brighton said wide eyed.

  ‘Yes, you would have. Let us have a look at something else,’ Dina replied.

  Images flashed again and suddenly they were above Fenton, watching the warrior trials. Brighton was involved in the final battle with Asdargh.

  ‘I learnt how to fight and not always be dependent on my gift,’ Brighton said in understanding.

  Again the images before their eyes shifted and they watched from above as Clarissa’s well aimed arrow slammed into Jaclyn’s eye, killing her instantly.

  ‘Why are you showing me this?’ Brighton frowned.

  ‘You are not alone in this. Your daughter, barely old enough to hold a bow at the time, helped you defeat Jaclyn. There had been other times where Lilian, and a few others, were right by your side in times of desperate need,’ Dina explained.

  Slowly Brighton nodded, thinking of the countless times Mischief had been there for him.

  ‘Do you need to see more?’ Dina asked.

  ‘It is not necessary. I understand what you’re trying to tell me,’ he said.

  ‘Good,’ Dina smiled as she began to fade away.

  Chapter 22

  Brighton cocked his wrist slightly upward, making the sword pass harmlessly over Lilian’s head.

  ‘Imlan? Do you not wish to be in the Elite Corps?’ Father frowned.

  ‘I am Brighton of Clareton, husband to Lilian, father to Thomas and Clarissa, protector and master of the elf forest,’ he growled at the old wizard as he slowly turned around.

  For a few moments Zaconis looked at the man he knew as Imlan, and then said, ‘I need you to join me. It is very important.’

  ‘What? You abduct me, attempt to kill my wife a number of times and then still expect me to join you?’ Brighton gasped.

  ‘Yes. It is very important that you do. I had my reasons for…’ Zaconis replied, but Brighton interrupted.

  ‘You are crazier than that old man who works at the docks! I will never join you, and I will ensure you can not harm anyone else ever again,’ he growled.

  ‘Don’t be foolish. You have no idea what is really going on,’ Zaconis pleaded.