Bridgeworlds: Rise of the Magi

by Randy Blackwell

  Myles had been waiting for this moment. He had no intention of returning to the island for at least a year or two, even though he hadn’t told Omar yet. He meant to explore this place, to find out what it had to offer. This new world was too tempting for him to ignore. He just didn’t want to stay cooped up on an island any longer.

  Omar and Sebastian raced each other on their Kuon. Myles just climbed higher and higher on Ganan. He had wanted to see how high Ganan would go, but when Myles looked down, he realized he’d rather fly at the tree line. He clicked his tongue to get Ganan to dive, but when the Kuon obeyed Myles could barely handle the force of plunging at such a speed. When Ganan leveled out, Myles sucked in a breath.

  They flew all day until they could see the suns begin to set, eclipsing the silhouette of Caelsis in the distance. Myles saw that he was not quite as close to Omar and Sebastian as those two had gotten to each other. They’d been working together and teaching each other and now they acted like best buddies all the way to Caelsis. It brought a smile to Myles’ face as he watched them. Every once in a while Myles would look back and remember that dark moment when Omar almost let Ischus die. This attitude and playfulness from Omar seemed such a stark contrast to the man he saw that day, a day that seemed as if it had been ages ago when he watched Omar and Sebastian swoop at each other and then laugh. He was glad for them and thought it was good for the Magi, as well as hoping to never see that dark side of Omar again.

  They could see Caelsis now as they drew closer. The city was built on a delta in the shape of a keyhole and all the buildings were made of a sparkling rock. On the horizon they could see a tower much larger than their own and beyond it they saw Castle Enigma, the royal palace of Queen Ariana. They flew over the southern gate and followed the one main road in the middle of the city where they could see shops on either side. This must be the market district, thought Myles. They passed over a mammoth oak tree and saw Remmys entering it. Caelsis had more trees and flowers than Myles or Omar had ever seen in an earthly city. Nepsah flew about in the air and Kat-ken walked around as if they were the nobility here. In the middle of the city there was a large pond where Myles could see ’Am Mayim swimming, and others moving about in the city.

  They passed the large tower in the middle of the city and landed in front of the gate of Castle Enigma at the northern center of the city. Remmy guards stood on either side of the gate. Myles wasn’t impressed. No wonder she wants the Magi to guard the city. A Raphad would squash these guards like bugs.

  Omar, always the research scientist, studied the castle rather than the guards. He’d never seen the kind of stone that its large blocks were made of. They were an iridescent purple and green that sparkled and changed with any shift in the light. The castle had obviously been made to accommodate larger races like humans or Akana-sized people, but it wasn’t quite large enough to invite a Raphad in.

  The Magi dismounted their Kuon, left them with the guards, and entered the castle. The plan was for them to rest for the balance of this day. All formalities would take place the next day, with all of Caelsis watching.

  Seux greeted them at the door. “Greetings, greetings and welcome! Let me show you to your quarters.” Seux darted in spiraling circles down the great hall like an excited kid. The Magi followed him, hiding their smiles.

  When they were settled in their quarters, Seux returned and gave them a warning. “Oh, I forgot to tell you. Be careful if you wander from this hallway tonight.”

  Omar asked, “Why?”

  Seux just smiled at them, waved his hand, and darted out of the room.

  Myles shot Omar a bewildered look. Omar sniffed. “He’s trying to make you curious. Odds are good that Queen Ariana told him to tell us not to wander the halls. But he really wants us to explore.”

  Sebastian laughed at the idea. “Omar wouldn’t fall for it. It’s likely you were his target, Myles. If anyone of the three of us is curious and mischievous, it’s definitely you.”

  Myles shrugged. “Guilty as charged. Maybe I will wander the halls.” Omar put his hands over his ears and turned away.

  ~*~

  It was late that night, after Omar had fallen asleep, that Myles got up quietly. The name Castle Enigma just rang in his ears, and he loved puzzles, so he thought he’d snoop around a little to find out why this castle was called Enigma. Myles was like a kid in a candy store. He rummaged through his bags and grabbed some rope, some moss-imbued knives, and an invisibility device. He also grabbed the goggles that gave him the ability to look at things from different views like infrared, x-ray, NVG, electric vision, and chemical energy vision.

  Myles quietly opened the door and peeked out into the hallway. He saw an ’Am Mayim guard at the end of the hallway who had an invisible Nepsah with him. Myles wondered if the ’Am Mayim’s true vision would allow him to see Myles through the invisibility created by Omar’s device. He was also intrigued that the goggles he wore allowed him to see through the Nepsah’s invisibility.

  Confident that they couldn’t see him, Myles stepped out into the hall and waited. The ’Am Mayim turned his head when the door opened, but they didn’t seem to notice as Myles stepped into the hallway. He watched as both guards came down the hall and went into the room. They didn’t see anyone, and shut the door again. Myles looked up and noticed that the ceiling seemed to give off some form of chemical energy that he could see with the goggles. He realized that he couldn’t use the goggles to see through the walls. Oh well, I’ll just have to actually peek into the rooms instead of snooping from the outside like I’d planned.

  Myles carefully walked to the door at the end of the hallway and knocked on it. An ’Am Mayim guard opened the door and looked through as Myles slipped past him. Now he was in the Grand Hallway.

  This hallway seemed to go on forever, with smaller hallways leading off from it. One hallway had a door at the end which gave off large amounts of cold air and chemical energy. The goggles were working as he’d hoped. Myles went down that hallway and tried to turn the knob. When did locked doors ever stop me? It took him much longer than usual to pick the lock. Someone with great skill had created this lock. Finally the tumblers clicked into place.

  All he saw inside was complete darkness. It was cold too. The goggles didn’t help him in this room so he took a step. Is this happening? Am I really falling up? Is that even possible? He finally hit the ceiling…or is it the floor? All he could think of was that gravity had shifted on him. It took a moment for Myles to adjust and begin thinking of up as down and down as up. Then with his new orientation, Myles stepped forward again. He felt in his pocket for a match to at least try to warm his hands, even if it didn't let him see in this bizarre place where up was down and dark might be light. He struck the match and before him stood what he could only describe as an Ice Dragon.

  The dragon had white light glowing from its eyes and fins protruding from its cheeks. It had large pointed ears and what looked like sharp icicles hanging from its chin. In the center of its nose was one large ridge shaped like a shark fin, and at the top of its head on either side were two horns that spiraled up like giant icicles. Cold mist came from its mouth as it breathed, and Myles could feel how powerful it was. The hairs on his arms stood up from the sheer energy surrounding the dragon.

  It’s humongous! was his only thought. It had lowered its head so that it was eye to eye with him, and Myles cried out and dropped his match. Blue flame and ice shot from the dragon's mouth and streamed to torches on either side of the room. The blue flame lit the torches and the ice crystallized around the flame, creating a globe that magnified the light from the blue flame and lit up the entire room.

  The room was as large as a football stadium. Heaps of treasure surrounded the dragon. Most of it was armor and weaponry, but it looked like it was valuable.

  Myles immediately realized that this dragon was different than Gabriyel. It was much larger and had a fierceness and beauty about it that Gabriyel didn’t have. Its icy scales radiated a white g
low and created a strange, alluring appearance. The dragon spoke in his mind, whispering, “Myles Callaghan, because you have seen me, I will grant you one gift from among my treasures. But in return you must promise that you will never speak of meeting me.”

  Myles was more fascinated by this dragon than its treasure so he shrugged and replied, “That sounds good to me.” He looked around at the various weapons and armor but finally answered, “I don’t believe you have anything I need.”

  The dragon pawed through a pile of shimmering coins, then it flung one at Myles. “This coin will increase your odds of success when trying to perform something outrageous and fantastic. It will also transport you to anywhere in Soterion that you’ve already been.”

  Myles caught the coin and looked at it for a second. On one side was a map of the world of Soterion and on the other was a picture of a man blindfolded, shooting at a bull’s-eye with a bow and arrow.

  Myles looked up, feeling a bit bold since the dragon seemed interested in negotiating. “If you don’t mind, I want some answers to some questions. I’ll take this coin and some answers, and I promise never to tell anyone that I’ve seen you. What do you think?”

  “You speak the truth. I will answer your questions unless I am bound to a secret. Ask.”

  This dragon can probably answer any question I could ask him. This could really be good. “All right, Blue, I’ve got one for you. Can you know things that will happen in the future?”

  “Yes, time is not relevant to me,” said the dragon.

  “Then I want to know if Kasey is going to be my wife.”

  “How human of you. You can ask whatever question you wish, and you ask about a woman. Yes, she’ll be your wife, but you have a long road to travel first.”

  Myles looked down at the coin. “Then this will come in handy. I guess I should ask a better question though…something harder… hmm, let’s see. Oh, I know, is Omar’s sister alive and on Soterion? And if so, where is she?”

  The dragon scowled at this question, as much as a dragon can scowl. “If I tell you, you mustn’t tell anyone else. Do you agree?”

  “All right, I agree.”

  “Misaki is in the far east. She is beyond the lands of the Great Red Dragon, beyond the Brugmos Sea, in the uncharted and mysterious lands that the Raphad call Tanniyn’erets, which means 'Land of Dragons'.”

  “So she’s actually here? Wow, old Omar was right.”

  The dragon moved closer to Myles. “Remember, you’re bound by your oath. You may not tell him.”

  “Oh, I won’t. I promise I won’t.” He promised that because he was already scheming to find Misaki and retrieve her for Omar himself.

  The dragon pushed its way further into Myles’ mind, and Myles felt a cascade of pure pleasure flow into his mind. Some force pushed through his mind and shaped it. It spoke and what it spoke became reality for Myles. It wasn’t a command. It was more than that. It became part of Myles and part of his desires, his own thoughts. I will not seek Misaki, until I have met the Great Red Dragon, I have touched the Spirit sword, and the Shepherd has laid his hand upon me.

  Myles opened his mouth, speaking in an emotionless, trancelike manner. “I will not seek Misaki until after those things happen.” Afterward he felt better, like he was waking from a wonderful sleep. Myles rubbed his eyes. “You know what, I’m done, I think. I don’t want to know anything else.”

  The dragon breathed on a wall, and formed a door that was completely made of ice. “It’s time for you to leave.”

  Without hesitation, Myles stepped toward the door.

  “Myles, beware the Great Red Dragon.”

  Myles tipped his hat to the blue dragon and walked through the door. When he looked around, Myles realized that he stood outside the castle. He looked up at the sky and saw that it was at least two hours before the suns came up so he wondered what other secrets Castle Enigma held. He decided to explore the city instead, and come back to the gates at the rising of the first sun.

  ~*~

  Omar rolled over and began to stretch as he awoke from a night’s rest with a cramp in his neck and soreness from the hard ride into Caelsis. He had slept soundly though. He was sure that a bomb could have gone off, and he wouldn’t have heard it. As he opened his eyes he was greeted by Myles standing over him with a steaming mug. Omar wiped the sleep out of his eyes and gratefully took the cup from Myles. When he did, Omar did a double take because of what Myles was wearing. Here he was in full illusionist costume, wearing a con man’s smile. Omar started to worry.

  Myles wore a western style hat, a long trail coat, a red vest with embroidery on it, and he carried the new walking stick that Omar had helped him design. This walking stick had been hollowed out. It was coated in a chemical compound that would keep the wood from aging, burning, or being easily broken. Then Omar constructed a mechanism of gears and springs inside of the staff, making it into a camouflaged gun with a hidden trigger.

  All the clothing was similar to his originals, but this outfit was brand new. The trench coat was fresh leather and custom-tailored to Myles’ slim body. The hat had barely seen the light of day. His boots were made of the same leather as his coat, and the spurs on his boots were actually sprockets. Myles was also decked out with pouches and pockets all over his outfit, just like his first coat, and those were only the visible ones. Omar knew Myles well enough to believe there were more hidden pockets in the outfit than it would appear.

  Omar slowly took a sip from the cup and gave Myles a suspicious look rather than paying attention to his drink. But the moment the brew hit his tongue, a smile spread over his face. The drink not only tasted good, it took away all the weight of sleepiness, all of his aches and pains, and all the urge to go back to sleep. With just one sip, Omar went from a bad mood to a good one. He looked into the cup, but the brew simply looked like hot tea. He could actually see a few crushed leaves at the bottom of the mug. Feeling both delight and surprise, he looked up and asked, “Myles, what is this? Is this tea?”

  Myles laughed at his animated expression. “I knew you’d like it. It’s Trundleberry Tea. It comes from the Trundleberry flower that flourishes only here in Caelsis. The Nepsah take petals and leaves from the flower, then dry them and use them as a tea. I bought an entire sack of it at the market this morning. Don’t you love it?”

  Omar wasn’t sure what was going on but decided it was time to get up. He pulled back the covers and rose to quickly put on his shirt, pants, and watch. Then he grabbed the copper staff at the side of his bed and slid his goggles on.

  As he dressed, Myles sighed. “I think it’s time to get you some new duds.”

  “What’s wrong with my clothes?”

  “Nothing! They're just boring, that’s all.”

  “And what would you suggest that I wear—a western hat?” The euphoria from the tea made him sound more playful than angry.

  “Nah, I make this look good, but you wouldn’t. You need your own image, Doc. Come on, I’ve already picked out a few things, but we need to get you fitted.”

  “You what?”

  “Just come with me.”

  To both their surprise, Omar didn’t argue, but just followed Myles. Why didn’t I protest? He actually chased after Myles. I like my clothes. Why am I giving in to this little charade? It must be the tea. I don’t really feel like fighting it. He drugged me…well, so what? At least I feel good, right? The thoughts just continued to flood through his mind as he followed Myles out the door and into the courtyard.

  They mounted their Kuon, and Omar followed Myles to the market. In the middle of the city, they saw the huge tower. They marveled at it for a moment, but Omar wasn’t curious enough to investigate it right then so they went on. Myles knew that was a bit unusual for Omar, but he also knew that the tea was at its full effect, so he headed on to his destination. They descended into the center of the city, and Myles showed Omar to the tailor’s shop.

  When Myles and the tailor were done with Omar, he looked in t
he mirror and his mouth dropped open. He wore a dark leather top hat with copper gears on it. His shirt was white and loose-fitting, with billowing sleeves. Over that was a leather vest with buttons down either side. On his left shoulder they’d strapped a copper and leather shoulder pad that had two copper pipes jutting out of it pointing straight up. Myles had slipped leather fingerless gloves on his hands. As he stood there Myles lifted the hat and pulled a strap of leather over his head. It supported a magnifying lens that covered his right eye.

  The bizarre image in the mirror was so foreign to Omar that he didn’t even know what to say. This is not me! What in the world was I thinking?

  Myles grabbed his arm and announced, “Now it’s time to go to the barber shop and chop up that beard you’ve been growing.” Omar looked down and noticed that they’d sewn many inner pouches into his outfit, and it had hidden compartments in it as well.

  Not having a lot of resistance in him at the moment, Omar just followed along as they went to the barber and trimmed his beard. They cut away most of Omar’s scraggly hair and crafted a brief beard along his jaw line and a mystical-looking goatee with a mustache that curled up at the ends. It gave him the look of a master magician. Now that’s a Magi! thought Myles.

  When he was done, Omar didn’t even look like the same person. No matter how much Omar protested and wanted to go back to his old robes, Myles wouldn’t allow it. He even got Sebastian to support him with this new look when Omar started to take the new clothes off. Sebastian argued that it was getting close to the time for their official introduction, and Omar wouldn’t have time anyway. So he gave in and followed Myles and Sebastian out to their royal introduction. They were the mysterious and powerful Magi, and Omar now had the look to go with it.

  Omar, Myles, and Sebastian met the queen at the large tower in the middle of the keyhole-shaped city as she’d requested. Nearing the tower, they saw a massive crowd of people from all over the kingdom with even a few foreign ambassadors from other kingdoms included. Myles noticed that their plan was in place with other Magi mixed into the crowd for security.