Juxta, Magi

by Porter, Geoffrey C

  She turned on him and smiled. "Oh, it's a beautiful place. The flowers are always in bloom. Fruit trees are always bearing fruit."

  "Really?"

  "The weather is perfect all the time. There's a bakery on every street corner."

  Juxta frowned. "You're just teasing me now!"

  "We don't know anything about heaven." She smiled. "Any priest who says otherwise is lying. We want to believe it's a wonderful place…"

  "Yeah."

  That night they camped beside a good sized lake. Juxta suggested a swim. Lisa answered with, "Not for me. I fear snakes."

  "Oh, I didn't think of the snakes!"

  The cat brought two ducks back to camp. Lisa asked for another story, and Juxta told her of the first time he killed ogres, saving Prince William and Princess Rubie. She asked him why they were on the road in the first place, and he answered, to arrange a marriage between the Princess and the Prince of Nork. Lisa stood up and stretched, as if to retire to her tent, and Juxta blurted out the words, "You're so beautiful by the firelight."

  Lisa smiled. "I'm not beautiful in daylight?"

  "That's not what I meant."

  "What did you mean, Juxie?" She asked.

  "You're beautiful all the time." Juxta looked deep into her eyes. "A few days have passed since I reminded you, is all."

  She sat back down by the fire. "Would you rather the priesthood had sent a man?"

  "Heaven's no. I'm happy just having met you…"

  Lisa paused. She poked at the fire with a stick. "You're not exactly ugly you know…"

  Juxta was a bit dumbstruck by that comment. The cat got up and bumped its head against Lisa's shoulder. Lisa laughed and started petting the cat, rubbing it behind the ears. Juxta waited. Finally he asked, "So, where were we?"

  She turned a blunt stare on him. Without even the flicker of an eyebrow, she said, "You were about to ask me for a kiss."

  "Really? What were you going to say?"

  She closed her eyes. "Just shut up and kiss me, Juxie."

  Juxta stretched around the fire and kissed her square on the lips. They embraced for a long time and moved inside Lisa's tent. Afterwards, the cat tried to push his way between them, and Juxta growled at it. "There isn't enough room for you, stupid cat, git!"

  "That's mean, Juxie. Come here cat, you can sleep on my side of the tent."

  The cat entered the tent on Lisa's far side, and she pressed her body against Juxta. He had no complaints.

  They made their way to Weslan's capital sharing Lisa's tent each night.

  Chapter 29

  Simon made arrangements for a wagon, and their troop headed west in the morning. They reached the druid's house, a simple structure made of timber with windows on each side, sitting on a slight incline with crops planted in rows behind it. Simon looked to the sun, and it was barely rising. He hesitated and then knocked briskly on the wooden door. A few moments passed, and Simon knocked again.

  The door creaked open, and a man about thirty, with a patchwork blanket wrapped around his shoulders, poked his head through the door and looked at Simon. Then his eyes drifted to the troop. "What is it?"

  Simon said, "We need healing for a duel."

  The man in the doorway yawned. "How many are fighting?"

  "Just two."

  "You're a captain. You're on a journey?"

  "Yes."

  "Two squads for one week or one squad for three weeks," the druid said with a smirk.

  A number of the rangers, Johnathon included, gasped.

  Simon waved at them. "How about one squad for two weeks?"

  The druid shook his head and glared. "Two squads for one week is best. I can pit the two squads against each other offering another round of healing to whichever squad can cut the bigger pile of firewood."

  Simon nodded.

  The druid ducked back inside. Simon stepped off the porch, and approached Johnathon and his opponent, Monroe. Simon looked to Monroe and said, "You're the challenger. What are your terms?"

  Monroe closed his brown eyes just a little bit. He had dark skin and muscled arms. His legs were thick, and his hair was in need of a trim. In a loud voice, he said, "Steel. No armor. Blood for points."

  Simon turned to Johnathon. The man's complexion was almost pale, but muscled rippled his arms. He wore a white shirt with a big v-neck and you could see his pectorals clearly. "Defender, do you contest?"

  Johnathon shook his head. "No, we already discussed the terms."

  "Off with the armor!"

  The two men started taking off their leathers. The druid came out of the house wearing a light green robe with a staff in his left hand. He walked up to the rangers. "You know the rules. No hits to the eyes, neck, heart, groin, hands, or feet."

  Heather, the lone female in the group, rolled her eyes to the heavens. "This is the dumbest thing I've ever witnessed in my life."

  Simon shook his head. "We could do this everyday!"

  Johnathon and Monroe drew their swords.

  Simon said, "Ready?"

  Both Johnathon and Monroe nodded.

  Simon waved his hand. "Go!"

  Monroe charged aiming low. Johnathon committed to blocking the blade, and Monroe twisted the angle of his attack up high at the upper arm. Johnathon's face contorted into a grimace, and he leapt right while leaning away from the incoming blade. Johnathon's sword moved in a flash, and the eternal sound of steel clashing against steel echoed. They danced around for a few more moments, and Monroe's blade etched a cut on Johnathon's shoulder. Both men cried out, "Point!" and then backed away from each other.

  The druid stepped in and put his hand over the wound whispering a chant. Johnathon smiled and stretched out his arm. Simon said, "Ready?"

  Both men nodded.

  "Go!"

  This time Johnathon rushed Monroe, catching him at least a little off guard. Johnathon followed up a quick slash to Monroe's leg with a well thrown left elbow. The arm caught Monroe in the center of the nose and knocked him back onto his butt.

  Simon called out, "Blood?"

  Monroe leapt to his feet and wiped his nose. No blood showed on his hand. "I don't break so easy!" and he rushed Johnathon with sword held high.

  Metal clashed on metal a few more times when Monroe's sword point caught Johnathon's right leg. Blood flowed, and the two men called out, "Point!"

  The druid stepped forward and healed the wounded leg. Monroe grinned wide.

  Simon looked at Monroe. "Take the troop west. I'll ride hard back to the castle, assign your rank, and assign two squads to assist the druid."

  Monroe sheathed his sword.

  The druid spoke loudly, "Be sure to have them bring wagons, axes, and saws."

  Simon kicked his horse in the rump heading back for the castle.

  Monroe led the troop to the west. Within an hour Simon caught back up to them, and they upped their pace.

  Simon's entourage arrived two days ahead of Juxta and Lisa.

  Juxta and Lisa showed, and Juxta introduced Lisa to Simon and Kirl. Heather gave Lisa a hug. Juxta secured a bigger tent for them. Juxta's cat eyed Simon's cat. They smelled each other and then wrestled around a bit, with some cuteness. Simon's youngest ranger cadet asked, "Can I have a cat like those?"

  "You'd have to go to Kergia to get one," Simon said.

  "Are we going near there? Can we stop?"

  Simon shook his head no.

  "Drat!"

  Robert appeared and asked, "What's the holdup?"

  "We're still loading supplies," Kirl said. "We'll leave at dawn on the morrow. I'm bringing my apprentice, Marc, along."

  And true to his word, they started out at dawn the following day.

  The first leg of their journey went smoothly. Kirl made Marc cast their camping wards each night. The cats and rangers hunted each evening, so the troop ate well. They traveled north for five days when they came across the ancient highway that led to the Forest of Weslan. They followed it to the northeast for four days. The
y could see the forest from far away, just a green line above a brown line across the horizon.

  One morning Robert materialized next to Lisa and poked her in the ribs. "I don't believe in this One True God business. How can one god control the wind and rain, but still bless the conception of new life? Only the God of Nature can make a tree bear fruit."

  Lisa sighed. This would count as the beginning of the fourth theological discussion she had with Robert since starting this journey. She spoke as if she would to a child, "The One True God does all these things. She both spawns great storms, and the light breeze at our backs as we travel."

  Robert said, "Make her do something."

  "I don't make my God do things. You can't make a god perform tricks."

  Robert turned to Juxta. He said, "I'm not getting in the middle of this, old ghost. I won't call upon the elder gods to perform miracles."

  "But I've seen the elder gods raise tornados in battle," Robert said. "I've seen with my own two eyes the God of Nature spawn crops from barren ground."

  Lisa said, "Do you want my help?"

  "I do want your help. I just have no faith in one almighty God," Robert said.

  "When we get to the Lost City, you'll know God's power. I've faith in it."

  "We'll see, Priestess."

  They reached the edge of the forest. Lisa closed her eyes. "This is an unholy place. Robert, you wanted to see my God's power, and you'll witness it!"

  She slid off of her horse and approached the edge of the forest holding her staff high above her head. She started praying in the language of the priesthood. She increased the tempo and pitch. Her faith shrouded her entire body in an eerie yellow glow. She started to spin her staff in a twirling circle in front of her. Finally she took the staff in both hands and slammed one end into the ground. Nothing happened for an instant or two, and then the very ground heaved upward. It rose up three or four feet and then slammed back down. It frightened all the horses and both cats. The earthquake spread out like ripples in a pond. Some of the great redwoods couldn't take it and came crashing down to the earth. The sound of timber falling echoed back to them from far away deep in the forest.

  "You make a solid point for your case, my lady," Robert said.

  Lisa answered, "I thought I might."

  "Make it do something else now."

  "If I try anything next, it would be to send you straight to hell. I was under the impression you wanted to be judged and perhaps make it to heaven!"

  "True, I would rather be judged than go straight to hell. I'm sorry I asked."

  Lisa got back on her horse and nudged it forward. The others followed her lead. Within an hour three pairs of Tree Nymphs stopped them in their tracks.

  "You destroyed two of our homes with that earthquake!" A Tree Nymph howled.

  Simon said, "We're sorry."

  Robert materialized in a cloud of twisting and turning smoke ranging in color from grey to black. "We must return to the Lost City to put my spirit to rest."

  "Robert?" A Tree Nymph asked. "Is that truly you after all these eons?"

  "Yes, it's me, one of your creators."

  The six Tree Nymphs communicated telepathically, We should let them pass if they'll pay our toll. In unison, they said, "Agreed." They looked at Simon, sizing him up, but one said, "Simon is useless to us now."

  "Why?" He asked.

  "You have sired a male child since you were here last."

  Simon turned to Heather who looked away. She said, "I'm only a little late. I wasn't sure. I was going to tell you…"

  Simon began to laugh. He quieted down after about twenty minutes. "Well, I think that's great news."

  Heather nodded.

  A Tree Nymph said, "Someone else must pay. Let's see your companions."

  The Tree Nymphs looked over the males one by one and pointed at Marc. "He's pure."

  Juxta asked, "I thought you couldn't use a magi?"

  "We can't use you. You aren't a magi."

  "What do you think I am?"

  "This language lacks the words."

  The nymph's eyes settled on the rangers next. They pointed at one of the 16-year-old cadets. "He's pure." Next they looked over the 14-year-old cadet and smiled. "He's pure."

  "He's too young," Simon said. "Two is enough for the toll."

  Marc asked, "What's this about? This toll?"

  "There's no pain in it. It's a simple magical ceremony that let's their species breed. They have no males of their kind."

  "You bring triple the group into our forest," the Tree Nymph said. "We need triple the toll. Find us another pure blood and return."

  Lisa looked around. "I've trouble believing we bought three pure bloods with us."

  The lead Tree Nymph snarled. "There are degrees of pure, to be sure. We must have three."

  Lisa said, "Degrees of pure?"

  Robert's image burst into flame and smoke. He shouted, "Two is enough! We won't go back! We don't even know how to find pure bloods!"

  The Tree Nymphs huddled and whispered amongst themselves. After a few minutes one said, "We'll accept two."

  Juxta said, "Agreed."

  A Tree Nymph asked, "Are you expecting us to guide you, or can you find the Lost City on your own?"

  Robert said, "We can find it."

  They nudged their horses forward and looked for a campsite around dusk. The Tree Nymphs came and collected the two men for the toll. Lisa looked at Simon as they finished eating jerky. She said, "What's the nature of this toll?"

  Simon cleared his throat and looked around. "They had me smoke Lotus flowers, and eat this one kind of bird. They cuddled up to me when I slept. That's about all I remember."

  Heather said, "Liar."

  Kirl just nodded.

  "The Tree Nymphs are generally peaceful, right?" Lisa asked.

  "Yes, although they do get a bit attached to the ones paying the toll," Juxta said.

  "Then why does this forest have such a solid reputation of swallowing up anyone and anything that enters it?"

  Juxta looked off in the distance. "I think only the Tree Nymphs know the answer to that."

  At dawn the apprentice and cadet were returned none the worse for wear. The cadet announced, "I don't know why they call it a toll…"

  With the wagons, it took a week to reach the Lost City. Juxta, Kirl, Marc, and Robert started studying Robert's collection of books and scrolls. The rangers dug a grave in an ancient cemetery for Robert's mummified corpse. Lisa conducted a ceremony over the internment of the body. They filled in the grave. Robert said he didn't feel any different. Lisa replied, "Give it time. We may have to build a funeral pyre."

  It took two weeks before Juxta, Kirl, and Robert found something useful in Robert's books and scrolls, a method for forging a sword which is resistant to magic. Robert said, "I should have remembered that!"

  The next big question they faced was how to resist necromantic telepathy. Robert pointed at Juxta. "I may know a demon who knows."

  Kirl, Juxta, and Marc looked at one another. Then Kirl said, "I've never summoned a demon. How about you, Juxta?"

  "I've killed and banished them but never summoned one."

  Marc raised an eyebrow. "You've killed and banished demons?"

  Juxta nodded.

  Marc turned on Kirl. "You never let me do anything."

  Kirl grabbed Marc by the shoulder. "You're in the Lost City right now, yes?"

  Marc's head bobbed up and down. "Oh, yeah."

  Robert smiled wide. "I'll explain it. This demon is an old friend of mine. He'll likely be prepared to help. I fed him many orcs and goblins."

  Juxta said, "We'll trust you. What must I do?"

  "First create a ward on the floor about three feet across, a circle, with a five pointed star in the center. The points of the star should rest on the circle. Incant this incantation." Robert recited the spell.

  Juxta spoke the words pouring power into them.

  Robert said, "Incant, ‘I summon Baeron of Aldon'
until he appears…"

  Juxta started speaking the demon's name pouring power into it. By the third incantation, smoke appeared, and then a bare-chested demon, with golden horns and not enough hair to cover his considerable genitalia, appeared in the smoke.

  "Who summoned me?" It said.

  "I, Juxta."

  "Where's my payment?"

  Robert materialized in front of the demon. "Will you help us as a favor to me?"

  The demon smiled. "Robert! It has been a long time. Of course, I'll help. Are you trying to get out of limbo?"

  Robert shook his head. "No, we seek a way of protecting one from a Necromancer's telepathy."

  The demon nodded. "Balron is getting out of hand again isn't he?"

  Juxta's eyes pierced the demon. "What do you know of Balron?"

  The demon waved his hand in front of himself in an all encompassing motion. "He commands the largest army of the dead in both our worlds."

  Kirl asked, "So, do you know of a way, Demon?"

  "Yes. Amulets can be forged with very specific inscriptions on them and then charge them with the very telepathy the Necromancer's use." The demon drew pictures of the amulets for them and explained better how to charge them.

  At the end of the explanations, Juxta and Kirl both thanked the demon, and then Juxta released it back to its world. They decided to leave the Lost City. They raided the armory for the flaming swords and the treasury for its gold. Robert asked them to build a funeral pyre and burn his body to ash. They did so. Again Lisa performed a ceremony for him. Still, he felt no change.

  "Maybe there's still some task God is expecting you to perform," Lisa commented.

  Chapter 30

  They left the Lost City and headed towards Lynken to the southeast. Upon reaching the edge of the forest, Marc broke their silence, "I'm staying with the Tree Nymphs. They said I could stay."

  Kirl's eyes burned with hatred.

  The cadet who paid the nymphs' toll looked to Simon. "I'm staying, too."

  "The hell you are," Simon said.

  Kirl said, "No…"

  Marc clasped his hands together and batted his eyes. "Please?"

  Kirl glared. "No!"

  The cadet's eyes gave away his intent of flight.