Spell Fade

by J. Daniel Layfield

  “Really.” He stood and bowed. “Logan Peter Wettin, tenth generation dragonslayer, Guardian of the Gate, and Protector of the Key, at your service.” He extended his hand at the end of his introduction.

  Aliet did not stand but gave a slight nod of her head and took his hand as she replied, “Aliet.”

  “Pleased to meet you.” Logan gave the back of her hand a small kiss, then sat back down.

  “So, ‘Guardian of the Gate and Protector of the Key’, what does all that mean?”

  “I have no idea,” Logan admitted with a laugh, which Aliet echoed. “I used to hear my dad say it, so as I got older, I started using it too.” He leaned closer and added from the side of his mouth, “Plus it really seems to impress the ladies.” He leaned back and gave her a look. “Although, none of them have ever bothered to ask about it, before now.”

  Aliet rolled her eyes. “But you are a dragonslayer, right?”

  “Absolutely,” he said without hesitation. He leaned back against the log again, and smiled as he stared up into the night sky. “At least as much as one can be considered a ‘slayer’ of something that hasn’t been seen in centuries.”

  Aliet laughed. “So, what makes you so special?”

  He turned his grin to her and sat back up. “I’ll assume what you really mean is what makes slayers so special, and not me, as a person.”

  “Good assumption,” she affirmed with a nod.

  “I’ll give you the short version,” he said, leaning back, his hands behind his head. “The talent passes from father to son, and typically only develops in one son, which has led to many family tragedies, but we’ll skip those. Let’s just say, most slayer families only had one son, either by design … or otherwise.”

  “That’s barbaric!”

  “Agreed. Luckily for those opposed to barbarism, within a couple of generations after the defeat of the dragon army, our talents grew out of favor. In short, no one cared. The knowledge was not passed on, leaving the talent to wither from disuse.”

  Aliet’s brow furrowed. “Without dragons, how can you even be sure you have the talent, much less practice it?”

  Logan looked at her with squinted eyes. “You do want the short version, right?” She stared at him, uncertain. “Go ahead and nod your pretty little head, dear. We don’t want to get stuck on this point all night.”

  She frowned, but complied with a defeated, “Continue.”

  Logan drew a long breath and continued, “Suffice it to say, if the knowledge of how to use the talent is taught by someone who has themselves been instructed, then it can be passed on to the next generation.” He paused and looked at Aliet.

  “You could have just said that,” she mumbled.

  Logan continued as if he had not heard her. “But you asked what makes us special. The simple answer is that we had the uncanny ability to kill dragons without ending up dead ourselves.”

  “But how?” Aliet asked. Then, more to the point, “And how does your ability fit in with whatever the wizard has planned?”

  Logan’s mouth dropped open in mocked surprise. “You’re not interested in me at all, are you? You’re just using me to figure out what you can about the wizard and his plans.” She rolled her eyes at him. “Yeah, you’re right,” he said with a wave of his hand. “I’ve never objected to being used by a beautiful woman before, so why start now?” She smiled then, and added her own wide-eyed, open mouth, mock shocked look.

  “Mind you,” Logan continued, “I’ve never actually experienced it. From what I’ve been told, we can sense them, or their magic more specifically. It’s like being able to read their minds, to know what their next move is, even as they are deciding it.”

  “Do you have any magic of your own? Something you can use against them?”

  “No. No magical abilities to speak of.” He lowered his voice and added, “We prefer to keep things physical.” Aliet simply shook her head.

  Logan smiled and continued, “I am actually a little special, even as slayers go.”

  “Of course you are.”

  “No, really.” He sat up as he explained. “I can sense both kinds of magic.”

  Aliet’s brow crinkled again. “Both kinds?”

  “Dragon and wizard,” he further explained.

  Aliet still looked confused. “You mean, you can tell what a wizard is thinking?”

  “No,” he shook his head. “They’re very different sensations. A wizard uses magic, but dragons are magical. Everything about them practically oozes magic.” He paused for a moment, then added, “With a wizard it’s more of just an awareness magic is being used.”

  “And that’s how you knew we were being followed by a wizard?”

  “Precisely. Although, I haven’t felt anything today, so they’re probably using more traditional tracking methods.”

  Aliet chewed her bottom lip for a moment. “And Dartan,” she asked tentatively. “Have you sensed anything from him?”

  The smile dropped from Logan’s face, and for the first time that night, he moved away from her. “Your boyfriend? Yeah, I felt something alright.”

  “Oh, he’s not … ”

  Logan held up a hand to stop her. “I don’t know what you think of him, but he has some strong feelings for you.” Aliet’s cheeks flushed and she lowered her eyes. “If Alain hadn’t stepped between us at the tavern, they would most likely still be cleaning bits of me off the walls.”

  “I don’t understand.” She looked back up at him, shaking her head.

  “He’s dangerous, Aliet. He’s got more power than I’ve ever felt, but there’s no control.”

  “He would never … ”

  Again, he stopped her. “We both know there’s enough firewood here to last two nights, and he does too. The only reason I’m still sitting here with you is because I don’t feel a fireball being aimed at my head.”

  Aliet looked over her shoulder into the darkness. “Can you feel him out there?”

  “Not at all.”

  “But you’re sure he’s a wizard?”

  “Definitely.”

  Aliet leaned back, a small smile on her face. Logan tilted his head, “You almost look relieved.”

  “I am,” she answered without hesitation. “And Dartan would be too.”

  Logan merely shook his head. “Well, I’ll be relieved when Alain returns to take control of his apprentice.”

  “Is he really that dangerous?” Aliet was unconvinced, having known Dartan most of her life. “How can you say that when you don’t know anything about him?”

  Logan simply stared at her for a moment, then ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “He can make anything he desires happen, and there’s nothing either of us can do to stop him. You have no idea what corruption that kind of power can cause without the proper guidance. Frankly, Alain is being irresponsible and putting everyone around Dartan in unnecessary danger by neglecting his duties as master.”

  “Bold words. Aren’t you worried Alain might be listening?”

  “That would require magic.”

  Aliet was beginning to see how this might be a useful talent after all. That made her wonder. “Does Alain know?”

  “About my extra talent?” He shook his head. “No, I don’t think so. It’s not exactly the kind of thing you want everyone to know.”

  “I suppose not,” Aliet agreed. “So, that must mean he needs you for your abilities as a slayer.”

  “I was thinking it might be my charm and quick wit, but you’re probably right.”

  “But the dragons are all gone, so how do your talents help the wizard?” They were both silent, each thinking, but Aliet found her thoughts turning back to Dartan. Why had he stormed off so abruptly? Wasn’t he interested in trying to figure out what the wizard wanted with them? How could he be so childish? And what exactly were her feelings for him? Logan interrupted her thoughts.

  “Barring the unlikely and terrifying possibility of their return, I can only think of one other thing. Dragon part
s.”

  “Parts?”

  “Sure. Scales, claws, teeth – parts.”

  “What about them?”

  “Rumor mostly. Stories my father told, passed down to him. Stories about being able to use the magic retained within them.”

  “And you would be able to sense them?”

  “Possibly,” he said with a shrug. “Although, I never have before. Which means there’s damn few of them, or they might have to be used for me to feel them.”

  Aliet was nodding her head. She was making some progress. “If that’s why you’re here, then the next question is does Alain want to use these parts, or stop someone else from using them?”

  “I’m afraid I can’t help you there. I don’t even pretend to understand how a wizard’s mind works.”

  Aliet eyed him silently for a moment. “How did he get you involved in this? What did he tell you?”

  “He told me that I would be paid … handsomely. Although, if he had told me half of what I was getting in to, I would have told him to forget it.”

  “No, you wouldn’t have.”

  “Well, I would have demanded double what he offered.”

  Aliet smiled, but there was something else he wasn’t telling her. “It’s more than just the money. What’s the real reason?”

  Logan almost dismissed the question with a wave of his hand, but the look on her face told him she wasn’t going to just let it go. “Another story from my father. I won’t bore you with all of the details, but essentially it tells of the time when dragons ruled this land. It was a burned and barren landscape, and we used our power to just stay out of their way, hiding from them.” He was looking into the darkness, hearing his father’s words echo in his head, remembering the visions it had conjured in his mind. Aliet shifted beside him, the noise reminded him he was not a boy listening to his father anymore.

  “Do you know what we were before we became slayers?” He stared straight at her and Aliet shook her head. “Riders.” Her eyes widened. She barely believed the old stories of dragons even existing, and now he claimed men actually rode them?

  “It’s true,” he added, perhaps sensing her disbelief. “At least, according to my father it is. From father to son, for I have no idea how many generations, it has been passed down. Stories of man and dragon, riding as one, protectors of this land. Until one day some of the dragons decided they were no longer content to be our equals. They sought to rule over man and this entire realm. They slaughtered hundreds of riders and any dragon that wouldn’t join them. Then they turned their attention to the land, razing every bit they could.”

  How long ago was this, she wondered, thinking of the thick forest they had been hiking through for almost a week now. It was hard for her to imagine a burned and dead land when she had been surrounded by so much life. Logan continued his father’s story.

  “Then he came – the Great Wizard, my father called him. He showed my kind how to use their skill to fight back. With his help, we pushed back the dragons and reclaimed this land for man.”

  “And you think this ‘Great Wizard’ was Alain?”

  Logan shrugged. “My father did. And so did every other father who passed it on.”

  “But that would make him-”

  “Old,” Logan agreed. “Very, very old. It also makes us indebted to him. Forever.”

  Chapter Twelve

  “Incoming!” Logan’s voice rang through the early morning air, and Aliet looked at him, puzzled, question poised on her lips.

  A hail of “Good Morning!” from behind her changed the question to a smile. Alain had appeared in the middle of their camp, and when Logan saw her smile, he gave her a quick wink.

  “That really is a useful talent,” she whispered. Dartan simply looked from Logan back to Aliet, shook his head, and finished packing his own supplies. Oblivious to this exchange, Alain headed towards Marcus. Both of them turned towards the looming mountains, discussing something amongst themselves as they pointed towards the still distant peaks.

  “We’re headed straight into that pass.” Logan had moved next to Aliet, watching the two men talk. Aliet looked up at them, saw her brother look back at them and shake his head.

  “No, Marcus wouldn’t do that. Not after the way he talked about it last night.”

  Logan held out his hand. “I’ll wager a third of my earnings. That’s where we’re headed.”

  “You’re on,” she answered, roughly shaking his hand. There was no way her brother would march them straight into certain death.

  “Here it comes,” Logan said as Alain and Marcus turned around. He called out to them, “Where are we headed, chief?”

  Marcus glanced at Alain, then answered, “The village of Kinsley.” Aliet smirked, hitting Logan with an elbow to the side.

  Logan coughed, but managed a discreet, “Wait for it,” from the side of his mouth. Then to Marcus, “What are we doing there?”

  “We need some more supplies.”

  Aliet raised her eyebrows, but Logan held up a finger – wait. “We just left Amstead, and it looks like we’ve got plenty of supplies. Where exactly are we going afterwards?”

  * * *

  “Varlain Pass,” Logan grumbled in what was admittedly an almost spot-on impression of Marcus. After the tenth time though, Aliet had had enough.

  “Ok, you were right,” she said, giving him a light push. “Can you please drop it?”

  “Alright,” Logan put his hands up in surrender, but his broad smile refused to be silent. He leaned in closer to her. “Let me know if you need to discuss, um, alternate forms of payment.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “Honestly, I can be very flexible. How about you?”

  “You’re a pig.” She smiled as she said it. She had calmed down considerably since she first heard Marcus so casually announce their destination. At the time, Logan had tried putting a comforting arm on her shoulders, but she had brushed him off like a fly.

  Marcus had seen her coming, expected her actually it seemed, and one wondered if he might have even thought he deserved it. Whatever his thoughts, his stern face betrayed nothing. He simply shouldered his pack, and started leading them towards Kinsley, even as Aliet stormed across the camp towards him. He had refused to talk to her, or even look at her. Even now he walked out ahead of them. Alone.

  Aliet looked behind them and saw Alain and Dartan falling further behind. “What do you suppose they’re doing back there?”

  Logan glanced back as well. “Training, I would hope.”

  “How do you think he’s doing?”

  “He hasn’t used any magic, yet.” Logan paused and looked closer. “Spending years as an apprentice slayer under my father, I’d say he’s getting his ass chewed out right now.”

  “That’s your professional opinion?”

  “Yeah. Disappointment is easy to read on both their faces, but if you look closer you can see they both feel it for the same person.”

  * * *

  “Know you nothing of the workings of magic, boy?” Alain was at a loss. He had no memory of a life without magic (and his memory was long), and he had been without an apprentice for centuries. He looked at Dartan, wondering how anyone could live their life completely ignorant of magic. Dartan’s answer didn’t help matters.

  “Sure, you wave a wand around or say some words, and magic happens.” Dartan’s frustration was evident as well. How could Alain expect him to understand magic when he was the very person who insisted magic be kept from him?

  Alain took a deep breath. “As I told you before, magic comes directly from your own will. Its strength and purpose come from within you. A wand or words can help focus your will, but will ultimately become a hindrance. They stymie your potential, limiting what you are capable of by the movement of a wand or words in a spell. Those with true talent need nothing more than the desire to make something happen.” Dartan stared blankly at him, bringing the frustrated glare back to Alain’s face. “How can someone who cas
t and maintained such a complex spell to keep his farm running not have a clue as to what I’m describing?” A slight shrug accompanied the stare. “Think back, boy,” Alain pleaded. “Has there not been a time in your life when you wanted something so badly you could almost feel your desire reaching out to grab it?”

  Dartan immediately thought of the night at the tavern with Aliet. Her bare, smooth skin and that slipping fur. “There,” Alain pointed at him. “Whatever you’re thinking about. That’s it.”

  “What are you talking about?” Dartan asked, slightly red-faced and relieved the wizard couldn’t read his thoughts.

  “The thought you were just having. That was a moment when magic happened.”

  “No,” Dartan shook his head. “It wasn’t.” He had replayed the moment hundreds of times in his mind, and he knew, “It was-”

  “The wind?” Alain interrupted. “Coincidence? A mistake, a slip, anything except your own doing?” Alain shook his head. “It was you. Something you wanted badly enough to reach for, but weren’t brave enough to do with your hand. Instead, your will reached out and acted for you.” Dartan had not wanted to admit it, but what the wizard was saying, it was exactly what he had felt that night. “If you can remember that feeling, then you can learn how to use magic.”

  Alain looked ahead, noticed how far behind they were falling, and began walking. Dartan followed. “Look around you, Dartan,” Alain instructed. “Everything has a will, a desire for something. Magic is figuring out how to use that desire to meet your own needs.”

  Dartan nodded slowly, so Alain continued. “Do you see the leaves on the ground?” Again, Dartan nodded. “Reach out to them with your mind. Feel them, as if you held them in your hand.” Thinking again of Aliet’s fur, Dartan put his hand out and reached for the leaves.

  He felt nothing. He stretched further and wiggled his fingers. Still nothing. Glancing up, he was relieved to see how far ahead the others were, sparing him from the embarrassment. He was, however, not pleased to see how close Aliet and Logan were walking together. He should be up there, between them, keeping her from getting too close. He pictured himself next to her and was startled to see Logan stumble away from her, almost as if he were pushed.