by David Wind
Take it, Mikaal said.
Areenna drew her hand from the large wraith and turned to the new danger from the south.
With the loss of Areenna’s aid, Mikaal drew deeply from within and, breathing heavily, ramped up his power.
Areenna struck at the smaller wraith, sending a stream of the crystal blue low over the water to where the dark beast jetted toward them. Just before the light struck the smaller creature, it dove beneath the water and disappeared.
Areenna searched madly for it in the bouncing waters, but could not find it. She started to turn to Mikaal, to join with him again, when the boat was hit from below.
There was a loud, shuddering crash. The boat lifted into the air, hung there for a moment and then crashed wildly downward. The bow cut beneath the surface of the water; waves rushed over the ship’s deck while Timon fought to keep the vessel from floundering as the bow returned to the surface.
Mikaal was knocked from his feet and sent rolling across the deck, his stream of energy cut off while he fought for a grip to stop from being thrown off the boat. Areenna cried out sharply, her feet ripped from beneath her when a second surge of water roared over the side and caught her unprepared. Swept across the deck by the rushing water, she was halfway over the far side railing when a hand caught her arm.
Trapped within the surging water that spun him across the deck, Mikaal slammed into a post of the animal pen and grabbed onto it. Everything around him was a water-blurred vision. When he saw Areenna fall, he pulled himself forward and, as the water whirled her past him, reached out and caught her arm. His was almost torn from its socket, but he held tight, refusing to lose his grip on her.
Beneath him, the boat shuddered and settled. The sail hung limp, the boat lay dead and at the mercy of the currents and the two monsters attacking it.
<><><>
The five standing on the western Landing watched the display of fiery lights discharging in the sky. Each of them was lost in the awe of the power they were witnessing. They followed every step of the deadly battle and when the smaller wraith dove into the water, and the boat was thrown into the air, Ilsraeth cried out.
When the blue light and the bright flames disappeared, Enaid turned to the three women. “We must try now.” Together, gripping each other’s hands and closing the circle, they built their own abilities, funneling all of their powers into the strongest of them, Enaid.
Enaid focused first on the boat, which she steadied with an easy push of her bloodline’s ability to hold and move objects. Then she raised her eyes to the flying monstrosity about to crush the craft from above and sent a charge of energy at it.
There was a flash and the huge wraith was knocked sideways. Its rage echoed across the water and, as it fought to regain balance, the smaller wraith rose from below the surface. Sheets of water poured from its wings. It circled the boat and then swept downward.
Atir pushed her powerful blocking ability at Enaid, who sent it speeding to shield the boat. The wraith struck the shield, skittered wildly and fell into the water. Seconds later it rose and joined the larger wraith now circling above.
As Enaid and the other women fought to protect the boat and its passengers, there was a flaring of energy twenty yards from the Landing, as if a wall had suddenly formed above the water to stop their energies.
“You won’t stop us you black-souled snuck!” Enaid screamed at the wall as a spurt of anger unlike anything she had ever experienced blasted through her.
Closing her eyes, she grasped intuitively at the rage, channeling it, using it to fuel the women’s combined powers, and released it at the wall.
Sparking streaks of light erupted and raced across the invisible wall, seeking the chink within its armor. As she threw everything within her at the enemy attempting to destroy her son, the wall shattered and disappeared.
But as she stared at the shadowy outline of the boat, she saw they were too late. The two wraiths were almost upon the boat.
<><><>
Areenna and Mikaal scrambled to their feet as the smaller wraith descended on them. Just as it was about to strike, it hit something, slid off and twisted back into the air.
“Enaid is at the Landing,” Areenna said between gulping breaths.
Mikaal looked up, searching the sky. He spotted the wraiths above the boat, circling. Then he glanced over his shoulder toward the far Landing and saw the bright flaring of power grow across a solid barrier.
“They fight the sorceress.”
Mikaal! Up! Areenna shouted, but the sound was only in his head. He craned his neck to stare at the charging wraiths, so close their bodies blocked out the stars.
Darkness shrouded them like a blanket thrown over their heads. Black and evil, it leeched into their minds with a force that held them in thrall. Fight! Areenna commanded. Fight!
Though he didn’t know how, Mikaal found a force within him that gave him the strength to raise his now flaming hands to the sky. He used all the power within him to send the fire upward.
In the space of a heartbeat, the small wraith exploded when the fire hit it. Burned shards of the dead beast rained onto the water, but the larger creature didn’t hesitate in its downward dive.
Areenna joined Mikaal and added her ability to his. Gaalrie dropped onto Areenna’s shoulders. The fire crackled with blue light, flaring in a wide barrier above their heads. And then, from somewhere, more power joined with them, swelling their abilities.
Areenna knew instantly what it was. Even as she recognized what was happening, Mikaal became aware, too. Now, he commanded and, together, they released this new combined power.
Above them, the giant wraith, the creation of incomprehensible evil burst into a ball of fire that lit the night for miles. Nothing was left of it, not a feather, not a piece of its body fell to the water. It had disintegrated in mid-air.
Mikaal and Areenna sank to the deck, their knees hitting the smooth wood at the same instant, their hands still clasped together, their heads bowed and their chests rising and falling from the work done while a vision of the eight Cloaked Ones floated within their minds.
Go now, Man, go now, Woman. Do what is required. Do what you have been created for.
<><><>
Timon’s boat docked at the Western Landing and the three climbed the ladder to its wooden surface where they found Roth, Enaid and the other three women waiting for them. Before they could reach them, Charka charged across the Landing and when he reached Mikaal, he nuzzled against his chest.
Mikaal stroked his aoutem’s neck for a few seconds, absorbing the gentle warmth emanating from the kraal before stepping around him to face the others with Areenna on one side of him, Timon on the other.
Gaalrie lifted from Areenna’s shoulders and hopped onto Charka’s back, much to the surprise of those who watched.
Roth stood to one side, watching the trio. Relief flooded him as he ran his eyes over his son. The first thing he noticed was the way Mikaal held himself. He stood straighter, taller, and his skin had a glow to it. He saw the same glow on Areenna as well.
Enaid crossed the short distance between them and drew Mikaal and Areenna into her arms, flooding them with emotions of love and welcome while the other three women watched.
When she released them, Mikaal went to hug his father. When Roth pulled back without completely releasing his hold, he gazed into his son’s eyes and said, “We’ll talk later, when we are alone. I look forward to hearing about your adventure.”
Mikaal nodded slowly. “It was…I don’t have the words yet to describe it.”
Releasing his hold on Mikaal, Roth clapped him solidly on both shoulders. “When it is time, you will.”
While all the attention was on Mikaal and Areenna, Timon approached Ilsraeth. When he stepped before her, he bowed and said, “My Lady, I am surprised…and pleased to see you here.”
“As am I to see you, Master Boatsman, and happy to see you survived the journey across.”
They fell silent. The
re were no further words they could speak, and both understood so. A moment later, Roth called Timon’s name.
He turned to find the high king approaching. “Master Timon, I am forever in your debt.”
The boatsman bowed his head slightly. “My Lord, there is no debt. I did only what was needed.”
“I would like to hear how you came to help them.”
Timon smiled. “I have no answer based on fact. When I left them at Northcrom, I was about to return home, but had a feeling something more was needed of me. Why I can’t say, but I followed that feeling here, nothing more.”
“Nonetheless,” Roth said, his voice tight with emotion, “your service to Nevaeh, to my son, and my family are a debt I accept. You have my lasting gratitude.”
“And again, I must repeat, there is no debt. Whatever I have done, I have done because I believed I should.”
“I understand. If there ever comes a time when you have need of me, I will be there for you.” Roth clasped the boatsman’s muscular arm; Timon responded in kind.
“My thanks,” Timon responded. They turned to the others who now sat on the Landing, encircling Areenna and Mikaal.
“I think we are not a part of what they now do,” Roth said.
“No, but I have wine aboard, if it survived the crossing. Shall we?”
With a nod, Roth and Timon went to the boat. When they went past the five women and Mikaal, Roth smiled at Enaid, who returned it before returning her attention to Areenna and Mikaal.
Looking at them, she said, “Atir, Ilsraeth, and Laira know the story of Roth, and of you,” she added, looking at Mikaal. “Both of you may speak freely before them.” She paused in thought before saying, “While what happened to each of you is meant only for you, is there anything you can tell us about your time there?”
Areenna looked at Mikaal, who silently said, tell them what you can.
An hour later, Areenna finished speaking. The women had been transfixed and it took a minute before they responded. Atir spoke first. “Eight cloaked ones gifted you?”
“There were eight cloaked ones,” Mikaal began, “they were a single mind.”
“Is this possible?” Laira asked, looking from her mother to Ilsraeth and then Enaid. “How can it be?”
“We were shown what happened when the dark circle destroyed the world. We saw it happen on the Island, we saw how the cloaked ones came to be. And it was…terrible,” Areenna whispered.
“She—they were old, very old,” Mikaal added. “And when they used their powers, they…”
Sensing the difficulty he was having, Enaid cut in, “You’re both exhausted. We can talk more in the morning. Now is the time for rest.” With nods of agreement, each found a spot on the Landing. A few minutes later Roth returned, leaving Timon to sleep on his boat.
But after spreading her sleeping silks near Mikaal’s, Areenna looked over at Enaid and saw her mentor watching her. Standing, she went to Mikaal’s mother. “We should talk,” she whispered.
“What bothers you?”
Areenna gazed into her mentor’s eyes and took a breath. “You knew what would happen when you put Mikaal and I together, did you not?”
Enaid nodded somberly. “Your power would increase, you would become—both of you would become—who you were meant to be.”
“No,” Areenna said. “You knew what would happen between Mikaal and me...our feelings.”
As she stared at the young woman, understanding came. A smile tugged at the corners of Enaid’s lips. “That you might find each other as mates? That there might be love? No, child, I only knew that you and he belong together.”
“Is that not the same?” she questioned.
“No. What I sensed was only a possibility of what might be. But I knew you needed to be together in this journey and to prepare for what is coming.”
Enaid fell silent for a moment, and then reached across and took the young woman’s hand. “May I ask a favor?”
Puzzled, Areenna nodded.
“When I watched you battle that creature, the powers you and he raised were…inconceivable. The fire Mikaal used. I have never seen abilities such in a woman. Will you tell me what happened the first time Mikaal found his power?”
Areenna told Enaid of the night he had discovered the root of his power. How she had forced him into a battle, chasing and attacking him without mercy. She spoke of his discovery of power and how it had flared out and encircled her with roaring flames.
When Areenna fell silent, Enaid gently squeezed her hand. “He circled the fire around you, but it did not touch you, did it?”
“It did not.”
Enaid smiled. “Were you able to control your first release of power?”
She shook her head. “My mother was prepared and stopped me from hurting her.”
“Yes. The first release is always the most dangerous, and it was my mistake not to prepare you for it. But don’t you see, child? Do you not understand what happened that night? Why you were unharmed?”
When she shook her head once again, Enaid leaned closer, her mouth so close her breath washed Areenna’s cheek when she said, “He knew, even though he was unaware of it, that the two of you were meant to…no, you were not just meant to be together. Born to magic were you both.”
CHAPTER 35
Beneath the new day’s crisp blue, welcoming sky, the sleepers on the Landing awakened. Roth rose and, as he did, saw the others stirring.
“A fitting morning after yesterday’s drama,” Timon called from the stern of his boat.
“That it is,” Roth replied, looking at the sun, floating above the horizon. “A good day to sail, is it not Master Timon?”
“Perfect,” Timon agreed then climbed the short ladder to the Landing.
Behind Roth, the others left their silks. Atir went to where the kraals huddled together and separated one bag from the others. She carried it to the center of the Landing and pulled out several loaves of bread while Laira, who had trailed her mother, prepared the small brazier to heat water for morning tea.
While they worked, Enaid went to the boatsman and said, “I did not thank you for your services, Master Timon. Please allow me to do so now.”
When Timon began to object, she stopped him quickly. “It is a mother’s right.”
He smiled at her. “As you wish, My Lady.”
She took his hands in hers and smiled warmly at him. As she was about to speak, her vision blurred and went dark. She stiffened against the flood of images. It passed within an instant and she was once again looking at Timon. A sense of sadness lingered from the vision.
“My Lady?” he asked in concern.
“It is all right,” she whispered.
“What happened? You saw something.”
“It matters not,” she said. “What matters most is how you helped my son and Areenna. What matters more is that very soon you will find the peace you have been seeking for so long.”
“You saw my death?” he asked in a whisper.
Enaid shook her head emphatically. “Far from it. Stay close to your home for the next few weeks…and ask nothing more of this.”
He searched her face, looking for a clue, but found only her expression of warmth. “I will do as you suggest.”
She smiled. “Good. Let us have our morning meal.” Turning, she started back to the others.
While they ate, conversation was sparse, and when the food was gone, Timon stood. “It is time I return home.” He looked at Mikaal, and at Areenna who stood next to the young prince. “I can’t say it’s been a pleasure, but it has been an adventure.” With a nod at the others, he started toward his boat.
“Boatsman,” he heard Ilsraeth from behind. He turned.
Ilsraeth stood still, her hands clasped before her. “I…we wish you a safe and speedy journey home. Make certain it is.”
Timon did not stop the smile that broke across his face. “I will do my best, my Queen.” So saying, he descended the ladder and prepared his boat.
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While Timon worked, the group gathered their belongings and readied their kraals for the return to their lands. By the time they were set, Timon’s boat was a quarter mile north, its sail billowing proudly in the morning breeze.
Laira strapped the last bag to her kraal, checked the binding and then gazed across the water at the red-misted Island. She wondered how long it would be before it was her turn to be tested. She started to say something to her mother, when she saw movement near the edge of the Landing.
Walking to the ladder, she looked down and gasped. In the instant she saw it she knew its significance and saw the rest of the foretelling she had been given the day before. “Mother…”
Atir, talking with Ilsraeth and Enaid, turned at the strangled sound of her name. Everyone went to the young girl, who was pointing at the water and the small skiff bouncing gently upon it.
When Mikaal looked and saw what appeared to be the same skiff he and Areenna had started their journey on, he shook his head. “How…”
Enaid came up behind him, Areenna at her side. “They sent a new one. There must always be transport for the next woman.”
Laira faced her mother. “It is meant for me,” she said.
Atir, her features stiff, nodded slowly. “Yes, I feel the truth of that.”
Enaid sensed the same and moved close to her friend’s daughter. She gave Laira a confident smile and drew her into a gentle hug. “Fear not what you find there. Face it openly…and honestly and with all your strength. You will be welcomed and return even stronger. Of that I have no doubt. Now kneel.”
When Lira knelt, Enaid placed her hands to each side of the young woman’s head and closed her eyes. An instant later, Laira gasped.
“Hold this tight, use it well.”
Ilsraeth replaced Enaid before the kneeling woman and placed her hand on Laira’s chest. A spark of energy flared between them. “Draw it deep within you,” she whispered before stepping back.
All eyes turned to Atir, who shook her head. “She is my daughter, it is not permitted.” She looked at Areenna and nodded.