Zaconis - Guardian of Magic

by MJ Schutte

  ‘Let me help you,’ he said as he put his hand on her shoulder and allowed healing energy to flow into the wound.

  ‘NO!’ Isobel shrieked as she yanked away and snapped her wings forward in a protective gesture again. The tip of her left wing caught Brighton in the ribs with such force that it knocked him off his feet.

  ‘No Mischief! She did not mean it!’ Brighton shouted as he hit the ground.

  Slowly he got up, holding his bruised side.

  ‘I’m sorry, I won’t touch you again,’ Brighton stuttered, holding his other hand up.

  ‘Touchingsss with you handsss is finesss, but do notssss touch me withssss your magicssss. It mightssss awaken the hungerssss againsss,’ Isobel said softly.

  ‘I understand,’ Brighton said as he stuck his hand out again.

  Isobel watched carefully as he took her hand in his, ready to pull away as soon as she felt any energy coming from him.

  ‘I will respect you wishes. I will never use magic on you,’ Brighton said.

  Thanksss you, brotherssss,’ Isobel said gratefully.

  ‘Can you fly with that wound?’ Brighton asked.

  ‘I willsss try. Our brothersss needsss me,’ Isobel said as she spread her wings once more. A forcefull shove from her powerful legs launched her into the air as she took to the skies.

  ‘We need to get to Celonis as soon as possible,’ Brighton said as he turned around to face Lilian.

  Lilian was busy shoving apples into her dress pockets.

  ‘You and Mischief go ahead. I will follow as fast as I can,’ she said.

  Brighton gave her a quick kiss, and then he and Mischief started their mad dash to Celonis.

  Chapter 26

  Al’taish and Angelina stood next to their horses on a small hill just outside Celonis. Although the elves were nowhere to be seen, Angelina knew all five of them were very close.

  On Goralt’s insistence, they had been avoiding the roads that led into the city.

  ‘Well, I don’t see any soldiers around. Maybe they gave up the search for the elves,’ Angelina said.

  ‘I hope so. Still, I think it is best if we sneak into the city. If the elves can get to your ship unnoticed, they can hide there for a while until we decide what to do. You and I can go to Jenneve’s house in the meantime,’ Al’taish suggested.

  ‘Maybe it’s best to wait for Brighton and Lilian. I’m sure they are not far behind us,’ Angelina said hopefully.

  ‘Angelina, we’ve had this conversation. You know that they are most likely dead,’ Al’taish said carefully

  ‘Yes, I know, but you don’t know those two. Both are incredibly powerful and have survived against overwhelming odds before,’ Angelina retorted.

  Al’taish shrugged his shoulders. They had already had an argument about Brighton and Lilian and their chances of survival and Al’taish did not want to get into another one.

  ‘So, what do you suggest we do?’ he asked instead.

  Angelina did not answer immediately. She was staring intently at a large clearing at the bottom of the hill.

  ‘I think we may just have had a stroke of luck. Do you see that woman down there picking flowers? It’s Jenneve,’ Angelina said with a smile.

  ‘Really? That is my mother?’ Al’taish gasped. He never thought he would ever meet his mother and now she was barely a few hundred paces away from him.

  ‘Let’s go down there. I’m sure she will help us with food and shelter until Brighton and Lilian gets here,’ Angelina said happily.

  They mounted the horses and carefully made their descent. As soon as they came out of the trees and into the clearing, Jenneve looked up. She recognized Angelina immediately.

  ‘Angelina, so good to see you again!’ she called, walking towards them.

  ‘Jenneve, I’m happy to see you too!’ Angelina called back.

  The elves also came out of the trees and fell into step behind the horses.

  When they were close to Jenneve, Al’taish and Angelina dismounted.

  ‘Jenneve, I would like to introduce you to Al’taish,’ Angelina said with a radiating smile.

  ‘Al’taish? My son?’ Jenneve said, tears welling up in her eyes.

  Angelina’s smile vanished instantly.

  Jenneve spread her arms wide, but before Al’taish could take a step closer, Angelina grabbed him by the arm.

  She pulled his head down to hers and very softly said, ‘Something is wrong. Let’s get out of here.’

  ‘Why do you say that?’ Al’taish whispered back.

  ‘I can not see Jenneve’s emotions, but as soon as she realized who you were, there was a black cloud of evil hanging over her for just a moment. I think she wants to harm you,’ Angelina replied.

  ‘She is my mother. Why would she want to harm me?’ Al’taish frowned.

  ‘Is something wrong? Al’taish, please, I have waited many years to see you,’ Jenneve said.

  ‘Uh…I…’ Al’taish stammered, but could not think of anything to say. He was torn between going to meet his mother and trusting Angelina.

  ‘Al’taish, I am your mother. Please come to me,’ Jenneve pleaded.

  ‘Don’t, she is evil,’ Angelina whispered urgently.

  ‘Uh…perhaps we should meet at another time. May we come to your house in a few days,’ Al’taish said, hoping that Angelina was right about Brighton and Lilian.

  Jenneve slowly dropped her arms.

  ‘No, you can’t. I have waited long enough and will wait no more,’ she said. She made a small gesture with her right hand. Soldiers streamed out of the woods behind her. They were so well hidden that even the elves did not know they were there.

  ‘Run!’ Al’taish shouted as he went for his horse, but the animal had already turned and was galloping back up the hill, followed by Angelina’s horse.

  The elves ran, but not up the hill. They quickly positioned themselves between Angelina and the oncoming soldiers, their bows ready.

  Al’taish grabbed Angelina’s hand and together they broke into a dead run with the elves following. Before they reached the tree line, a few arrows flew overhead and slammed into the ground in front of them.

  ‘Stop, or I will tell my archers to shoot you in the back!’ Jenneve shouted.

  The fleeing couple skidded to a halt. Slowly they turned around to face Jenneve.

  ‘Come closer,’ Jenneve instructed.

  Al’taish and Angelina did not move.

  Softly Goralt said, ‘We will provide a distraction. As soon as I shoot the first arrow, you run for the trees.’

  ‘No, Goralt. It will mean certain death for you. There must be two hundred soldiers and only five of you,’ Angelina said.

  ‘Perhaps we can talk our way out of this. We don’t even know what Jenneve wants from us,’ Al’taish suggested.

  ‘Yes, I think that is a better idea,’ Angelina agreed.

  Slowly, still holding hands, they walked closer.

  They stopped a few paces from Jenneve and Al’taish asked,’ What do you want from me?’

  ‘Eternal life,’ Jenneve smiled as she produced a dagger from her pocket.

  ‘I do not understand,’ Al’taish frowned.

  ‘I want the magic that is in you so I can live forever. This dagger will make it possible. You have no option but to submit to me. If you try to run again, my archers will shoot you in the legs. I will have what Zaconis had promised me so long ago,’ Jenneve sneered.

  ‘I will come willingly if you let Angelina and the elves go,’ Al’taish answered.

  ‘No! I will take her magic too!’ Jenneve said as she took an determined step forward.

  Al’taish’s hidden blades snapped into place. Before anybody could move, one blade was pressed to Angelina’s throat and the other against his own.

  ‘One more step and I will end both our lives,’ he threatened.

  Jenneve froze, uncertain what to do.

  Al’taish focused on her, trying to push thoughts into her mind but it did n
ot seem to be working. Next he tried to take energy from his surroundings but could not gather the necessary concentration.

  Angelina stood dead still, wondering what her lover was planning.

  ‘What do you propose?’ Jenneve asked.

  ‘I will willingly come with you once Angelina and the elves are aboard their ship and sailing into open waters,’ Al’taish answered.

  ‘No, Al’taish!’ Angelina gasped.

  Jenneve considered the offer for a moment before saying. ‘The elves can go, but I will have both of you.’

  ‘I was not negotiating with you. You will have me, but only me!’ Al’taish snapped.

  A smile crept across Jenneve face as she lowered the dagger.

  ‘As you wish, my son,’ she said.

  Al’taish lowered the blades, but almost immediately realized his mistake as two arrows slammed into his legs. He got a glimpse of Angelina also tumbling to the ground, arrows protruding from her legs.

  The soldiers stormed forward but did not count on the elves’ skill with their bows. Before they reached the defenders, scores of dead bodies littered the ground. The elves fought like they were possessed by demons, but it was five against an army and soon all five were on the ground, lifeless eyes staring into the sky.

  ‘I told you I will have both of you. Now you will give me eternal life,’ Jenneve sneered as she stood over Al’taish.

  She lifted the dagger high and with a powerful thrust, plunged it deep into Al’taish’s chest, piercing his heart. Holding the hilt of the dagger, she could feel the magic flowing into her with every heartbeat.

  ‘Yes! Yes!’ she yelled as the power flowed through her.

  Angelina watched helplessly as the life drained from her lovers eyes.

  ‘Madam Jenneve! Run!’ one of the soldiers cried as a large shadow passed over them.

  Jenneve looked up at the daraghna circling above them and for a brief moment let go of the dagger’s hilt.

  In a last, desperate effort to save Angelina from a fate similar to his, Al’taish gathered what little strength he had, reached up and plunged his sharp blade deep into Jenneve’s stomach.

  Jenneve grabbed his arm, the shock of what happened taking a few moments to register in her mind. She reached down to grab the dagger again, but a big, powerful claw grabbed her behind the neck. Isobel flapped her wings, carrying Jenneve high into the air.

  ‘Ssssoo, you wantsss to be a daraghnassss? Thissss is yoursss first flyingsss lessonsss,’ Isobel hissed at Jenneve moments before opening her hand, letting Jenneve plunge to her death.

  Isobel landed next to her brother. She reached down to pull the dagger from Al’taish’s chest, but Angelina had pulled one of the arrows from her leg and was trying desperately to stab Isobel with it.

  ‘I amssss here to helpssss,’ Isobel said, but Angelina simply continued trying to drive the daraghna away.

  Isobel ignored Angelina and placed her hand on the dagger’s hilt.

  ‘Thissss willssss hurt, butsss, it’ssss for the bestsss,’ she hissed at her younger brother. Quickly she yanked the dagger out making Al’taish gasp with pain.

  ‘Nowsss our brothersss can savesss you,’ Isobel said as she stepped away from Al’taish.

  Al’taish felt the life fading from his body fast. He knew he had but a few heartbeats left in him. He turned his head so that he could see Angelina for one last time.

  ‘No, Al’taish! NO! Please stay with me,’ Angelina cried as she crawled to him.

  Gently Isobel pushed Angelina away, saying, ‘Our brotherssss will savessss himsss.’

  Al’taish’s eyes closed, his last breath escaping from his lungs.

  A thin energy link raced through the air just above the tree line. It curved down into the clearing and slammed into Al’taish’s body.

  For a moment nothing happened, but then Al’taish’s chest rose and fell, his heart beating stronger with every passing moment. As Angelina watched wide eyed, the wound in her lover’s chest healed, leaving only a tiny scar.

  Al’taish’s eyes snapped open.

  ‘What happened?’ he gasped.

  ‘Oursss brothersss saved you. He isss ssstill many daysss travelsss from here, butsss his magicsss isss very strongssss,’ Isobel said with a grin.

  Al'taish scampered away from the fearsome beast, positioning himself between the perceived danger and Angelina. He held his blades in front of him, knowing the weapons were useless against a daraghna.

  Isobel did not notice. She threw her head back, an ear piercing scream coming from deep with in her.

  ‘The hungersss, itssss awakessss,’ she hissed.

  She launched herself into the air and took course back the way she came.

  When she pulled the dagger from Al’taish’s chest, some of his magic flowed into her. The hunger for magic hit her like a falling tree, ravishing her body, making her mind spin. She knew Brighton and Mischief had left Lilian behind in an effort to reach Celonis in time.

  Isobel knew Lilian was alone, many days travel behind Brighton, and had no defense against her.

  Lilian ran as fast as she could, drawing energy from her surroundings. She knew Brighton and Mischief would be in Celonis long before her, but she ran anyway not wanting to be separated from her husband for too long.

  She kept using her sense in case there were still a few enemy soldiers in the vicinity.

  Lilian was so focused on running, she did not notice Isobel circling above her.

  The daraghna landed heavily behind Lilian making her stop in her tracks and spin around.

  ‘Isobel, you scared me. What are you doing here?’ Lilian exclaimed.

  ‘The hungerssss issss backssss. I wantsss dark magicsss,’ Isobel hissed.

  Lilian brought Brighton’s walking stick up in a defensive way.

  ‘Isobel, don’t do this,’ she said as she gathered energy from the forest.

  ‘I can notsss helpssss it. I needsss magicssss,’ Isobels hissed again as she moved closer.

  For a moment Lilian thought about running, but she knew that Isobel would chase her down easily. She also knew, from previous experience, that her magic was useless against a daraghna. Her only hope was Brighton’s walking stick. Desperately she tried to call the magic in the wood forth, but as with every other time she tried, the magic did not respond.

  Isobel moved like lightning. Before Lilian could even take a swing with the cane, Isobel had her in a death grip. The cane was pressed up hard against Lilian’s chest.

  ‘Isobel….no….’ Lilian stammered as the powerful beast squeezed her tight.

  ‘Magicsss. Needssss magicssss,’ Isobel hissed, then tried to sink her fangs into Lilian’s chest. Instead of biting into flesh, Isobel’s fangs scraped over hard oak.

  ‘No, Isobel, please!’ Lilian pleaded, but the daraghna seemed not to hear anything. She threw Lilian down to the ground, yanked the cane from her grip and tossed it away.

  Lilian’s hand shot up, a black energy ball jumping from it and hitting Isobel in the face. It barely slowed the daraghna down. Isobel pushed Lilian down onto the hard ground with one hand and with the other ripped her dress open in front.

  ‘Nowsss I willsss feedsss,’ she hissed.

  NO!’ Lilian cried as Isobel’s fangs sank into her chest.

  After Al’taish had dressed Angelina’s wounds and fetched her some water, he decided he should give the elves a proper burial.

  Angelina wanted to help, but having had two arrows in her legs made the task too painful for her so she sat on a log and watched.

  Al’taish knelt next to Goralt.

  ‘I’m sorry my friend. You gave your live for us,’ he said softly.

  Suddenly, his forehead creased in a frown. He put his ear against Goralt’s chest and listened.

  ‘This is one tough elf!’ he exclaimed. Goralt’s breathing was very shallow, his heartbeat weak, but he was alive.

  Al’taish knew simply dressing the wounds would not help. He gathered his concentration
and placed his hands on the elf’s chest.

  ‘Please, let this work,’ he whispered to himself.

  After what seemed an eternity to Al’taish, tiny bolts of lightning jumped from the grass into his body. He concentrated on channeling the energy to the elf. It did not look like anything was happening, but Goralt’s breathing became stronger and less ragged.

  Al’taish kept giving Goralt energy until the elf opened his eyes.

  ‘Welcome back, my friend,’ Al’taish smiled.

  Goralt sat up and, with a lob sided smile, said, ‘I was certain this was my last day.’

  Lilian felt the life draining from her body fast. There was nothing she could do. Isobel was simply too strong for her to fight.

  ‘Please, don’t,’ she pleaded, but Isobel was in a world of her own.

  The pain in Lilian’s chest reached the point of almost being unbearable, the darkness closing in over her mind.

  ‘Brighton,’ she whispered, trying to cast her sense out hoping that Brighton would feel it.

  Lilian realized that, although Isobel’s fangs were still buried deep in her chest, her strength did not seem to fade away anymore.

  ‘Brighton,’ she repeated and felt Isobel pull away just a fraction.

  ‘Isobel, would Brighton ever forgive you knowing you killed his wife?’ Lilian whispered concentrating on keeping her mind focused.

  She felt Isobel’s breath against her bare skin.

  ‘He was willing to take you into our family. You could be my sister,’ Lilian tried.

  With her fangs still buried in Lilian’s flesh, Isobel hissed, ‘Ssssisssster?’

  ‘Yes, my sister.’ Lilian croaked out.

  Slowly Isobel freed her fangs from Lilian’s chest.

  ‘Butsss, the hungerssss….I needsss magicsss’ Isobel hissed.

  ‘No you don’t. Fight it. You have lived without magic for so long, you can do it again,’ Lilian whispered.

  Isobel, still on her knees, dropped her head and stared at the ground.

  ‘Isobel, you can live with your own kind,’ Lilian said as she tried to sit up but the pain threatened to overwhelm her mind.