Crystal Cache (Crow Hill Book 2)

by Tom Larcombe

  “Do you think that what you said is true? Will they be able to injure us?” she asked.

  “I haven't been keeping up on military weaponry, but do you remember the phosphorous grenade? Something like that would certainly work and they had those already eighty years ago. I'm sure they've got more things to harm us now, I've already seen some of them recently. So be careful. I'll tell John the same, not that I expect him to listen.”

  John's body stirred, then he sat up straight.

  “Alright, I've spied on them. Now can we attack?” he said.

  “Yes, we'll attack now. But be careful John, we've got no idea what they have for special weaponry that might be able to injure us.”

  John sneered as he walked away from his parents. When he was far enough away, his body shimmered and shifted, a dragon the size of a large motor home taking its place. He launched himself into the air as Merlin and Nimue separated with a kiss. They each walked well away from one another and transformed into their own dragon forms, both of them larger than that of their son.

  With strong wing beats they took to the air, separating to head for their targets.

  * * *

  Merlin was in the midst of his attack on the third unit when his mind was nearly overwhelmed with a scream of pain. He quickly blocked it, for the moment, and finished off the unit. The only actual threats had been from some sort of shoulder mounted rocket launchers and the spells of one wizard in the first unit he'd gone up against.

  Aside from those he'd been fairly successful at destroying the units' equipment with a minimal loss of life to the wizards in those units. For each of them in the first two units he'd removed some sort of controlling spell, snapping the ties that bound them to something back at the base.

  Apparently he wasn't going to get a chance to do that with this third unit, but he'd still managed to destroy most of their equipment, unfortunately killing the man with the rocket launcher when he tried to destroy just the weapon.

  Collateral damage, he thought. Although I hate the idea that such things are common enough that there's a term for it. Now to find out what the problem is.

  He allowed the mental communication back to his mind and, after a moment, realized that the scream of pain was coming from John.

  He didn't pay attention to me. I guarantee it, Merlin thought.

  I can be there in three minutes, Nimue sent to him.

  Careful, you don't know what took him out. Whatever it was might still be there. I'm on the way also and should be there close to when you are.

  Merlin turned from the beaten unit and flew as fast as he could, homing in on his son's mental voice. He saw Nimue in the distance, also flying at top speed. John's dragon form was lying in the middle of the plains, a thrashing lump that seemed to have no control over its movement.

  Farther in the distance, the remains of the unit John had been attacking was moving towards the fallen dragon.

  You get John, he sent to Nimue, I'll take care of the troops.

  Nimue started losing altitude, heading towards her son as Merlin readied a spell. He'd never found something appropriate to allow him to breathe fire as a dragon, but with his magic buoyed by his draconic form, he'd tweaked a spell to allow him to do so.

  I'd much rather just incapacitate them, but they injured my son and they're trying to finish him off. So they've signed their own death warrant.

  Another spell caused his body to fade to the color of the sky behind him, rippling blue and white as it showed the clouds and open sky as they'd have appeared if he weren't there. He prepared the fire breath spell he'd developed and took a deep breath.

  He dove towards the front of the unit, opening his jaws and spitting flame as he leveled out and torched the entire unit from front to back. A moment later he heard a series of explosions as ammunition cooked off. A few seconds after that there was a much louder series of explosions.

  They must've had some of those rockets as well, Merlin thought. Not any more though.

  A quick glance showed a total lack of movement where the unit had been. Charred corpses and burning vehicles littered the ground. He turned and flew back towards Nimue and John.

  When he landed he had to hold in a groan. It looked like John had taken a high-explosive anti-tank round to the stomach. The blast from the round had destroyed some of his scales entirely and damaged others around the impact. The wound behind it was deep and it looked like some of the scale fragments had been driven inside, causing additional damage.

  Nimue was already trying to remove the fragments, but her claws were too large to get inside the wound and John was thrashing enough that she'd be badly injured if she changed to her human form.

  “Wait,” Merlin said. “I'll get those, you worry about healing him.”

  She backed off and he sent his awareness into the wound. As he found each fragment he'd focus a levitation spell on it, but with the force behind it, moving it towards the entry hole of the wound and not up as he'd have normally done. Modifying the spell on the fly took a lot of mental energy and by the time he was done cleaning the wound, he was exhausted. Nimue took over, using her own magic to help the wound heal, but it was bad enough that she couldn't just heal it entirely.

  “It's going to take some time, a few days probably, for me to be able to heal this properly,” she said. “It would be much better if he were in human form and I could get some antibiotics into him.”

  “Can he fly?” Merlin asked.

  She shook her head.

  “I don't think so, at least I wouldn't recommend it. I think if he did that, he'd strain the wound and do more damage to himself.”

  “Let's get him to change back to his human form then and we can carry him to our base camp. Then I'll see about tracking down some antibiotics.”

  They both spoke to John, trying to calm him and get him to shift. When they finally got him to understand that Nimue thought she could heal him faster in his human form, he shimmered and the young man laid there on the ground, clutching his stomach where the wound was visible in this form as well.

  Merlin gently wrapped his claw around John and launched himself into the air. Nimue followed behind as they took their son back to the camp they'd been using for the last few months.

  I can only think of one place around here that might still have antibiotics, Merlin thought. Now how am I going to get onto their base to get some without being captured?

  They landed at the camp. Nimue shifted back to human form and tried to settle John in as comfortably as possible.

  “Can you find some antibiotics?” she asked.

  “I have an idea where I can get some, yes. I'll go do that now,” he said.

  “I may not need them, but if I can get those fighting any infection, and I'm sure there's things in the wound we didn't get out, then I can focus my magic on actually healing him. They'll help speed his recovery up a lot.”

  She proceeded to tell him exactly what types she'd prefer to have.

  “I understand,” he said. “I should be back soon.”

  He launched himself into the sky in, concealing himself with his camouflage spell and heading towards the base. He approached it cautiously, scanning for guards.

  Demon Shit! he thought. There's hardly anyone left here. All those squads moving out must've been bait to get us occupied while they took everyone else off base. I bet I know where they're going, too. I'll have to warn Rynn.

  He landed and shifted back to human form in a location out of sight of the few people left on base. A quick dash into the medical office allowed him to recover the antibiotics for John, then he shifted back and returned to the camp as quickly as he could.

  “Here they are. I need to check something though, and maybe warn Rynn. The base is almost abandoned. When we took off after all the squads they sent out, everyone else left. I'd go after them, but if you're going to be tending John, you'll both be in human form and I need to be here to protect the two of you.”

  Nimue's face reflected he
r worry, for both of her children.

  “I'll take care of John, you do what you can,” she said.

  He cast his awareness out and sent it, high up in the sky, on a direct line towards Crystal Beach. He spotted the troops that had left the base, they were in a series of convoys, slightly separated so they were able to protect one another in case of attack.

  I don't know how long it's going to take them to get to the mine, but at least I can let Rynn know they're on their way.

  He returned his awareness to his body, then settled in and tried to contact Rynn. At first, it felt as though she were blocking him, but she eventually let his thoughts through.

  What? she snapped mentally.

  Rynn? Merlin thought.

  Oh, it's you dad. Sorry, I thought it was Michael.

  Is there something wrong between you two? Wait, don't answer that. No time. Your brother is injured and your mother needs to care for him. I need to stay here and guard them, but the Wizard Corps is on its way to you. At least a good number of them are. They sent out a bunch of smaller units that we ended up chasing and while we were occupied by that, the rest of them headed out on a beeline towards your location.

  I don't need this right now! Rynn shrieked over their connection. But... Maybe I can take my mad out on them. That would be a good thing.

  I just wanted to warn you. If we can get John healed in time we'll help you defend your area, but be careful. They've got rocket launchers with special rounds and your brother was hit by one of them. They're some sort of HEAT rounds.

  Heat rounds, she asked. Like fire? That shouldn't be a problem for me.

  No, high-explosive anti-tank rounds. They went right through his scales like they weren't even there.

  Oh... she sent.

  I've got to go Rynn, there are still soldiers in the area here and your mother and brother are in their human forms. I've got to guard them. Be safe, okay?

  Okay dad, I guess I need to talk to Michael then.

  Merlin broke the connection, wondering what problem Rynn had with Michael.

  I can't worry about that right now though, he thought. Maybe later.

  He opened his eyes and saw Nimue fussing over John. Then he turned and started watching and listening, trying to keep his family safe.

  * * *

  * * *

  Chapter 24

  Rynn was fuming.

  It isn't enough that I feel like Michael betrayed me, even though I know intellectually that he hasn't, but now we're getting attacked again? Gah!

  Rynn had wandered out into the woods after sending Anguis back to the house. She'd been thinking about taking her other form since it looked like she was going to have to do so far sooner than normal this time.

  It's all that magic usage. Any time I do more than I usually do with magic, the scales come back. Why couldn't I just have a normal wizard's life? At least this time when I change it sounds like I'll be able to put it to good use.

  She turned around and headed back for the house. Michael had to know what was going on and since her dad had sounded kind of harried, it was her job to tell him.

  I hope John's okay, she thought. I know how headstrong he can get. Maybe this will keep him more even-tempered in the future, assuming he learns anything from it.

  Some of the fae had slowly grown accustomed to her and now she heard them buzzing around someplace nearby.

  “Good Fae,” she said. “I should warn you that there are more humans coming this way bent upon war. You should protect yourselves accordingly.”

  The buzzing stopped for a moment as she spoke. When it started up again, it quickly moved away from her.

  Well, at least they're warned. Now to warn Michael.

  She sighed heavily.

  I know it isn't his fault. He didn't even know he had a son until today. Why can't I just let it go? It's not like he's going to take up with Miriam, she's got to be in her fifties or something. He wouldn't do that, would he? Why do I even care? I've been trying so hard not to get attached to him. He'll probably be terrified of me when he finds out what I really am.

  With her mind racing while still in neutral gear, she knew she was getting nowhere at all. She went down the slope and the house came into view.

  “Michael!” she called.

  By the time she made it to the house, he was there, waiting on the back porch. His face was filled with worry, and since she hadn't given him her news yet, she was pretty sure he was worrying about her and how she'd been reacting. She wanted to run and comfort him, but her resentment prevented that. She knew that was the problem, but she still didn't know how to get over it.

  “Michael, my dad contacted me. He said that the Wizard Corps, or at least a good sized chunk of it, is on its way here.”

  He'd already looked worried, but now his face fell even further.

  “I have no idea what to do about these guys,” he said. “I can round up the same troops we used last time against the raiders, but what will they be able to do against modern troops backed by magic?”

  I should tell him, I should just outright tell him, she thought.

  But she couldn't.

  “I can help more than I did last time. I've got... Well, I can do something that will help a lot.”

  “What?” he asked.

  “Remember, I told you it isn't my secret to tell, but if I have to use it, I will.”

  “What about your dad? Can he help at all?”

  She shook her head.

  “My brother was wounded, dad said he was hit by a rocket. My mom is tending him and dad is standing guard for them.”

  Michael jumped as he was nuzzled from behind.

  “I can help,” Anguis said. “I'd be more than happy to do so.”

  Michael turned and found the dragon staring him in the face.

  “Thank you Anguis. I think we're still pretty heavily outnumbered though.”

  “But not outmatched,” Anguis replied. “Years ago Rynn told me you're the most powerful wizard she's met besides Merlin. She's no slouch herself either.”

  “Anguis!” Rynn said.

  She felt her face reddening.

  “Sorry Rynn, but you never asked me not to say anything about that,” Anguis replied.

  “So, two Wizards and a dragon. I'll ask the veterans to come help us again, but...” Michael said, trailing off as he considered the odds.

  “Two d—,” Rynn stopped, she just couldn't tell him. “Well, Eugene and Andi would help if you asked them. I don't think they'd do it on their own this time though.”

  “Absolutely not!” Michael barked. “They almost died last time. I'm not getting them involved.”

  “They'll be involved if the Wizard Corps wins, one way or another. You can count on it.”

  The caw of a nearby crow caught her attention. She still couldn't tell them apart reliably, but she thought this one was Calvin.

  “Yes Calvin, I know you'll help also,” Michael said.

  The crow cawed again.

  “What? Gerry wants to talk to me? Where?”

  Michael paced out to the garden and Rynn followed. She didn't get too close. The Fae were getting comfortable around her, but she didn't want to push her luck. She could hear a buzzing sound and a high pitched voice.

  “Really?” Michael said. “It's going to be dangerous though.”

  More buzzing followed.

  “I won't turn it down. Any help is greatly appreciated.”

  Rynn watched as what looked like an oversized butterfly took off out of the garden. Michael turned back to her.

  “The Fae are going to fight with us as well,” he said. “They're the Fae so I don't think that means manning defensive lines or anything, but there's an awful lot of them.”

  “Then it's your veterans, two wizards, a dragon, and the fae against the Wizard Corps?” she asked.

  “That's what it looks like,” Michael said.

  “Maybe we ought to try to figure out what the rest of those artifacts do. Some of them
might give us an edge,” she replied. “There's one in particular that I didn't want to use before, but if they're going to be shooting rockets at us, I just might be able to overcome my aversion to it.”

  Michael perked up at the mention of the artifacts.

  “Well, the odds sound a little more even now at least. I hate to think of what the aftermath is going to look like though. That assumes we'll survive to see it even,”

  The thought of the Wizard Corps killing Michael struck Rynn hard. It cut right through the resentment that she'd been unable to get rid of.

  “You'll survive; I'll make sure of it,” she said.

  * * *

  To be continued in:

  Crystal War

  Crow Hill #3

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  Other books in this series:

  Crystal Beach (Crow Hill #1)

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  Other books by Tom Larcombe:

  Merlin's Awakening (An Untimely Error #1)

  Merlin's Travels (An Untimely Error #2)

  Merlin's Target (An Untimely Error #3)