by Dan Bilodeau
“No, that is not a good idea.”
“We have to get her!”
“She is safer than we are, I can assure you. When we talked in the forest, she said she had family to the east of Quork. I told her to go to them and you would send for her after everything was over. She agreed, for the time being. The Andals never cared enough to learn the farmers’ genealogies, which is why your mother is still alive, so she’ll be fine there.”
“I’m so damn confused. What if….” Dal trailed off. He missed his mother, yet as he thought about Hadrian’s logic, it was hard to argue. And he couldn’t get her killed if she wasn’t with him. Plus, she was out of the forest. Still, there was something that told him she would be better off with them.
Deidre came back to him. “Snap out of it,” she said. “I heard you. Focus on the future you can do something about, not things out of your control. You’re the one who got your mother away from Quork, or she’d be--”
“You and Hade had as much to do with that as me, maybe more.”
“Everybody had a part in it, and you rescued Pad and Curran too. They’d be dead now. We’d all be dead now.”
“You mean we rescued them.”
“Yes, we did. We’re all part of we, so don’t forget it.”
“You’re as bad as…” he was about to say his brother’s name, but he couldn’t bring himself to speak it aloud.
“As Soren,” she finished as a lump formed in Dal’s throat. “We should always honor the family we lost, but we can’t let it eat away at us every time we have an idle moment. How do you think I feel about my father and brother?”
In his sorrow, Dal had forgotten that Deidre had lost family too, and he was ashamed of himself. “How do we just forget? It is so hard right now.”
“It is, but we have to live. You have a chance to make history with that power of yours. You just have to figure out how to use it right, that’s all.”
“That’s all?” She gave him a look that let him know this was the wrong attitude to use with her, and she walked on ahead again.
The five continued north until they were all too tired to go any farther without rest and some food. Hadrian wanted everybody fed and fresh so they could travel at night, so they set up camp. Pad and Curran left in search of dry wood and kindling.
“Take some knives with you and practice throwing,” Hadrian called to Pad and Curran as they walked away. “Skills such as that will come in handy in the days to come.”
Deidre made some excuse about having to wash up and walked to a pond not far away that they’d had to circumnavigate to get to the woods. Maybe she’d come back with some fish she shot with her bow. His stomach was growling. He was ready to eat anything.
“If Pad and Curran have magic, why don’t you show them how to use it ?” Dal asked.
“Your friends’ time will come, but for now, we need you to acquire a better command of your magic, young Dalziel. You will have more to do with our chances for survival than all of the rest of us combined.” Hadrian walked off 25 paces. “I believe we can skip to the second lesson in the use of magic, since you learned the first one when you got cocky the other day. But one rule applies to everything we do, and it’s that even though we are the conduit through which Dio works, we are still imperfect and frail vessels. We can be, and often are, killed.”
Hadrian lifted his hands. “Let’s start with something simple. I’m going to throw something at you and I want you to put up that fire shield of yours.” Before Dal could respond, he saw red strands coming out of Hadrian’s body. A large ball of fire streaked his way, and he raised both hands, palms outward. He didn’t know how he did it, but a wall of fire sprang up. The fireball hit it, each absorbed the force of the other, and everything vanished.
“Very good,” Hadrian said. “You are able to access your magic in a time of need, but you have to be better than that. You need to be able to use magic without relying on strong emotions such as fear or anger.”
“But fear is what stopped me from using magic earlier. I couldn’t access my power.”
“There are two types of fear, Dalziel. Fear that paralyzes, and fear that drives you to action. You will find, as you did in the market, that you will be powerful for a short period of time and then fade completely. That simply will not do.”
“How can I fix that?”
“Instead of relying on your emotions, I want you to generate the magic on your own. I want you to create a fireball.” Dal stared at him. He had never used magic as anything other than a reflex action. He didn’t know how he did it, he just did.
“I don’t know how, Hade.”
“Close your eyes and picture a flowing stream. You are to eliminate all other thoughts and emotions, including your worry and fear. The only thing that remains in your mind is you and the stream. We call this Oneness.”
Dal closed eyes and kept them shut. He didn’t think about his mother or his fear of being caught by the Andals. He opened his eyes, and without willing it, his right hand was in the air. He cupped a small flame that was growing larger. He stared at it, then a single word buzzed like a fly inside his head: Soren. A moment later, the flame vanished.
“What happened? You were doing well.” Hadrian sighed.
“I…I don’t know,” Dal said, not remembering that the thought of his dead brother had crept into his subconscious. “I envisioned your stream and it seemed to be working. I guess I just have to focus better.”
“Yes, I believe you do. Let’s try earth this time. Watch me closely.” Strands extended from Hadrian’s body, except this time they were light brown. They traveled to a patch of ground next to where Dal was standing, producing a small crater and showering him with the equivalent of a wheelbarrow load of dirt.
“Now you try, young Dalziel,” Hadrian said as Dal busily shook the soil from his hair and clothes.
“I have no idea how to channel anything other than fire.”
“That is because of your temperament. All of us subconsciously associate our emotions with an element. For you, it’s fire. What you must do is feel the earth. And don’t think about creating it, but moving and directing what is already there. Now, close your eyes and concentrate on the stream again.”
It took a while, but he set aside all his thoughts and emotions so he was alone by the stream with no other distractions.
Hadrian broke into this. “Now, feel the earth beneath you. Feel it flow into you. You are not creating the clay, but you are shaping it as a potter does.”
Dal dug his feet into the ground. He slowed his breathing and tried to melt into nothingness. He heard a bird sing in the distance. Dal felt nothing special, nothing out of the ordinary, except for a tingle that ran up from his toes. He reached out. With what, he didn’t know. He traced the tingle back to its source, which was a root deep in the ground, and interwoven with other roots. He could visualize all of them, and choose the one he wanted to manipulate. He tugged on it and exposed a root behind Hadrian.
He opened his eyes to see a crater behind Hadrian, who was covered in dirt, just as Dal had been earlier. He was smiling at Dal and clapping.
“Excellent! It appears you are not as dense as most of your agricultural associates. We will work on the other elements later. How do you feel?”
Dal was gasping for breath, his heart raced, and he felt dizzy. “I need some water,” he said, choking.
“That is the third lesson.”
“What is?” He continued to cough.
“Why do you think you’re so tired?”
“I don’t know, I didn’t do that much.”
“You’re weak because channeling an element is still new to you. You will not tire as quickly or as thoroughly once you become more experienced. Each time an element flows through you, the more attuned you will be to its presence. However, each of us handles a single element best, and this is always the one we can use to the greatest effect. We in the Brotherhood refer to that as our Prime. Your Prime of course is fire, whil
e mine is earth. We can use other elements to great effect, but even when mastered they will tire us out faster than if we use the Prime that is ours. This is why you feel right now as though you worked a long day in the fields. But you must learn to use all the elements, along with developing your skill at flying, before you will be truly effective as a Seraph.”
“What’s wrong with my flying?” Dal asked, his breathing improving.
“You don’t use your wings, my boy, that’s what’s wrong. You simply hover in one place. You must dart to and fro. It’s much harder to hit a moving target.”
“I'm beginning to understand.”
“And be mindful of your position on the battlefield.”
Dal felt a rumble in his stomach and turned and vomited.
“Don’t worry, that's natural. When your friends return, you can fill your stomach.I guarantee the food will stay down, unless I feel like torturing you with air or water.” He chuckled. “No, I think I’ll save that for a little later.”
“It seems that there’s nothing easy about magic.”
Hadrian put his hand on Dal’s shoulder. “What you must always remember is that magic is a gift. It is a way to know Dio. When you channel an element, you are in touch with Him. Not many can boast this, and it's why magic is never to be used to threaten or terrorize but to defend and help our fellow man. The Druids of old were always revered for their compassion and gentility.” He stared past Dal.
“I worry that too many Druids have forgotten the value of these traits. They have been fighting for so long, many of them know only how to harm rather than help. That is where the true malevolence of the Andals has come into play. Because they make us into ferocious killers, many of our own people now fear us. You will find when we reach the Enclave that not all magic users think alike. Keep this in mind as you continue to expose yourself to Dio’s grace.”
“There is so much to learn.”
“Yes, and as your attitude improves, so will your learning. Now, where are your confounded friends?” He plopped down next to a tree. “Can’t an old man get something to eat around here?”
Dal was feeling slightly better and wanted to eat something too. Just then he spotted Pad and Curran coming through the underbrush. Pad’s arms were loaded with wood, and Curran had two rabbits slung over his shoulder.
By the time the firewood was arranged, they had to wake Hadrian, who’d been snoring loudly. “Is the food ready yet?” The old man said.
“No,” Pad replied. “We could use some help starting the fire. We couldn’t find any dry wo--” Before he could finish his sentence, flames shot up from the wood. He jerked back and gave Hadrian a nasty look.
“What?” Hadrian threw up his hands. “I didn’t do it.”
"So who did?” Pad asked. Hadrian pointed to Dal.
“Thanks for giving me away,” Dal said, grinning.
Pad was staring at something behind Dal. Deidre was walking toward them and she was all cleaned up. She had her hair pulled back and her face was shiny and clean, looking beautiful. But she hadn’t had much luck catching fish. So she wasn’t perfect after all. Although in Dal’s mind, she was darn close.
Deidre sat down next to the fire. “How’d the training go?” she asked Dal.
“I moved some dirt. Pretty exciting stuff, considering that’s the only thing around here older than Hadrian.” Hadrian picked up a handful of dirt and threw it in Dal’s direction.
“How did you know about my training?” Dal asked her. It was Hadrian’s turn to smile, and he winked at Dal. “Never mind. He answered my question.”
Curran had put the rabbits on a wooden spit and was turning it. Everyone joined him around the fire, using logs for seats. The rabbits were cooking at an agonizingly slow pace, and Dal’s stomach was rumbling. “So, it seems I’m a Seraph,” he blurted, bored with the wait.
“A what?” Curran asked. Dal might as well have told him he was an elephant.
“A Seraph, like from Hade’s stories.” Pad and Curran looked from Dal to Hadrian.
“He is boys, he’s telling the truth. Though I dare say he still has much to learn.”
“I guess you should have paid more attention to Hadrian’s stories.” Dal said, laughing.
Dal’s revelation gave them a lot to talk about, and the conversation went well into the evening. Since everyone was still tired from traveling, and Hadrian knew their exact location and that they weren’t far from the Brotherhood’s Enclave, even though it was against his better judgment, he agreed to let everyone bed down rather than travel.
SIXTEEN
Dal was almost asleep when he felt a nudge. He opened his eyes to find Deidre standing over him. “Come walk with me,” she said.
Dal wasn’t sure what to say, so he was relieved when Deidre took his hand in hers and they strolled away from the campsite in silence. When they were far from the campsite, she stopped walking and took both his hands in hers “What do you think is waiting for us at this Druid hideaway? Do you think we’ll be safe even there?”
“I don’t know what safe means anymore. I left normal and safe behind when my brother was murdered. I was just a farmer, minding my own business, and now I’m this mythical warrior from Ibernia’s past. So I don’t know what is normal anymore. I’m sorry. You were just asking a question. I didn’t mean--”
“Shhh, it’s okay. Whatever happens, we’ll make them pay for Soren and my folks.”
“If anyone can help us do it, it’s Hade.”
“You’re right. You’re always right.” She gave him a mischievous grin. “Well, most of the time. What would you say if I asked you to kiss me?”
“I--”
“Wrong answer,” she said as she pulled him to her. Dal embraced her and felt her warmth against him. She stared intently into his eyes. “The right answer was to say nothing and just kiss me,” she said and giggled and then kissed him.
Dal felt himself blush. “It was a trick question.”
“If it was, then how about I don’t ask any more questions and you just respond to me?”
They started early the next day. Dal hoped that the Andals were far behind them, if they were still following them at all. Regardless, according to Hadrian the most dangerous part of their trip was still in front of them. They had been walking now for two days and were deep into the forests well north of Quork, the farthest Dal had ever been from home. He felt a twinge of fear. Whatever awaited him was certain to be full of surprises.
This forest was lusher than the ones he had grown up with. The greens shone like exotic gems, washing the woods in color, and the deep brown soil seemed alive with a movement of its own. Birds were chirping everywhere, and Dal watched a deer and her fawn prance through the brush.
Hadrian indicated they would be out of the forest soon. After that, it was two days of open terrain before they reached the outskirts of Dunkirk and the Druid Enclave. Dal pondered what the Brotherhood would be like. Would the Druids be like Hadrian or somehow different? The old man’s words rang in his head. Not all magic users think alike, keep that in mind.
Deidre came up to Dal. “Mind if I walk with you?” she asked.
“Hardly.” When he said this, she was the one who blushed for a change.
“I enjoyed the private time we had together last night. Everything that’s happened over the past few days has been crazy. I have no idea what to make of any of it. But the one constant thing is that you’ve been there for me.” She slid her hand into his. Dal felt enormous power when she was by his side. Not like when he channeled fire, but great strength still the same.
“I think it’s only fair that I be here for you,” he said, fumbling for the words.
“There’s nothing fair about it.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I know you like me.”
“You do? I mean, what makes you think I like you?”
“If there’s anyone who wears his feelings on his sleeve better than you, I don’t know that person.”
He looked away. She squeezed his hand. “It’s okay, I find it to be a rather endearing trait. It also means you’re a poor liar, which is another trait I like about you. Not to mention we’ve kissed a few times and you haven’t seemed to mind. Too much.”
That remark made him concentrate on not stumbling as they walked, since his legs had gone weak and it felt as though he was plodding through knee-high mud. Was he walking too fast for her? Too slow? His mind spun. What should he talk about? He didn’t trust himself to say anything. What was the point? She already knew how he felt. He guessed that stammering and sounding like an idiot every time they talked wasn’t a good way to cover it up.
Of course, the snickering that Pad and Curran were doing wasn’t helping much. Dal heard Pad giggle and say something in a low voice to Curran and heard a kissing noise. He wanted to ascend and give those two a view of the treetops. Then he’d see who was laughing. But he remembered what Hadrian had said about his wings not supporting excess weight and thought better of his idea. However, it was tempting.
After trekking till there was little sun left, Hadrian stopped the group. Dal hadn’t seen any indication of a clearing, but Hadrian insisted they were close to being out of the forest for good. He appeared worried. Dal asked, “Why the long face? Other than the Andals might be on our heels.”
“That’s just it,” Hadrian said. “I chose to rest along the way instead of making haste at every opportunity. Now I’m not sure this was the right thing to do. We’re stuck here now for the night, because I’ve got to work with young Padraig and Curran on their magic or we won’t stand a chance if we’re attacked out in the open."
Dal started the fire as Hadrian took Pad and Curran aside, their training about to begin. Dal wanted to watch his friends, hoping they did better than he did when he started out. Deidre said she’d take her bow down to a stream and shoot dinner.
After Hadrian’s explanation of Oneness to both boys, Pad said, “I’m not a magician like you. Even if I could be, my ma says I was dropped on my head too many times to be of use to anybody.” Curran grunted in agreement. Dal stifled a laugh.