When she caught up to her friends, she could see that Keltrain’s crystal emitted a soft white glow that bathed the enclosure in just enough light to illuminate water droplets on the walls. It didn’t take them long before they reached the end and emerged into an enormous cavern sheltering a small lake. The water surrounded a raised platform and this was connected by a walkway on both sides. One side led to the tunnel and the other to a stone staircase that reached upward to the roof of the cavern.
“This is the bottom of Crag Cairn,” Keltrain said. “Those steps lead up to what’s left of the ancient fortress.”
“Somethin’ seems to be missin’ from here,” Lamfada exclaimed as he pointed with his walking stick to some tracks leading away from the platform. “Heavy and on wheels.”
“He must have had the mirror down here,” DaGon said. “This cavern would have given him protection.”
“Could you imagine being down here in darkness for three thousand years?” Lily asked. “It would be frightful.”
“Don’t ya be goin’ and feelin’ for that thing. That demon didn’t feel nothin’ for the Fomorian people when he cast that spell around them. Or when he slaughtered the survivors from Earth. No pity needs be allotted for the likes of that one.”
Miranda agreed with Lamfada. After her merger with the Sword of Balorn, she had felt the anguish and torture of the souls who perished at the Black Warlock’s hands. There wasn’t any pity from him for the gentle people who once inhabited the island kingdom.
“All things need pity. Even those who do evil.” Lily flitted around the leprechaun. “At one time, he was innocent.”
“There’s a choice,” Keltrain said. “He had a choice. And he chose unwisely. He could have selected a different path.”
The group grew quiet at the roughness of the wizard’s words. Miranda knew he was at a breaking point. They were all exhausted and it was taking a toll on them.
“Did you hear that? There’s something down here.”Lug pointed to the water.
“Yes.” Sonya meowed. “Be prepared.”
It was a muted sound. At first, the hum was nearly inaudible. Then it grew louder. Miranda could hear it now. It emulated from beneath the lake waters. Walking to the edge of the platform, she slowly drew the sword and waited. Fear left her body. A subtle glimmer appeared at the deepest depth. She could see a small dot of light growing larger and brighter as it made its way to the surface. Lug grabbed her arm and pulled her backwards just as a large orb broke the water’s surface and hovered directly above her.
Keltrain grabbed his dagger from his tunic. He hurried in front of Miranda. The orb floated slowly over their heads to the center of the platform. It settled on the rocky floor and broke into a thousand water droplets. From its destruction, the three Water Wraiths appeared.
“Me sisters,” Lamfada cried. He hobbled over to them.
Something in Miranda broke as she saw the faces of the wraiths and she ran to them and hugged all three. She wept silently. The pent-up emotions of the past days seemed to be brought forward by the appearance of her motherly guardians.
“Why are you sobbing?” Huathe asked her.
“Everything. Just everything.” It was all she could muster.
“We bring good news,” Saille said.
“Yes. News from Morrigana herself.” Trinne took Miranda’s hand.
“It’s Matt. He’s on the island. He’s alive.” Saille’s voice trembled. “She didn’t know if you knew.”
“Yes. I’ve felt him and all. But there’s been something else. It’s him, and then, it’s not.”
“I understand. Morrigana told us that your powers are growing. Your intuition is, too. What you are feeling is a reset in the prophecy.” Huathe glanced at Keltrain.
“What in heavens name do you mean by a reset?” Sonya padded to the older sister. “How does a prophecy reset itself?”
“There’s always a higher power at work. Morrigana said Matt has become reborn. He’s now a creature of Green Isle. She doesn’t think he remembers Earth. Or if he does, he doesn’t let on.”
“Unfortunately, we don’t have the answer to that question. When Azasha, the Selkie queen, found him in the sea, he was dead. She brought him to the shoreline. That was the last place he was seen. So something woke him. When he came out of the shadow realm, it was him, but then again, not him.” Trinne patted Miranda’s hand and let it go. “Your sight is correct.”
Miranda was silent. She couldn’t think. Her heart wanted to go look for him, but there wasn’t time. She could feel the warlock now, and she had to make sure that the spell wouldn’t be cast. Earth and Green Isle were in danger and saving both worlds had become her priority.
“What should we do?” Lily swirled frantically around the wizard.
“We don’t have time to look for him.” Keltrain looked at Miranda. She could tell that he was just as conflicted as she was.
“It’s okay. I understand and all. I know what we have to do.”
“I’m sorry. The magic of the sword and your magic is getting stronger. Uthal will be able to sense its presence. If he hasn’t already.”
“We must go,” Saille said to her sisters. “I can’t hold the spell of cloaking anymore. He’ll know we’re here if we don’t leave now.”
“Good luck to you all.” Huathe gave Miranda a quick hug. “We would welcome you to Green Isle if you decided to stay,” she whispered. “Destiny has worked its magic with you, too.”
Miranda’s eyes grew wide. She nodded without saying anything. It took her a second before she realized Huathe sensed her mind as well as her heart.
With a quick goodbye to their brother and the others, the Water Wraiths disappeared into a bubble. Miranda watched as it plunged down into the murky depths of the small lake. Her heart skipped a beat. At least now she had the answer to why Matt felt so different. It was him, but not him. They both had been remade by this world of magic.
“Are you ready?” DaGon asked.
Miranda hesitated. Was she ready? “Yes.” She nodded. “Yes, I’m ready.” She looked back over her shoulder at Lug. She had been remade. Perhaps they both had been reborn as a creature of magic. Her rebirth through fire and Matt’s through water. It was a strange thought, but it made sense to her soul.
She followed the group as they crept up the stone steps to the doorway above them. It was here, in this brief journey up the stairs, that she found herself again. A sense of purpose returned to her heart, and behind it, an image of Lug’s face. She knew where her heart lay.
When Keltrain opened the oak door to allow them access to the warlock’s fortress, a rush of heat filled her body. It was time, the voices told her. It was time for her own legend to be born. Miranda pulled the sword from its sheath and headed toward it.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
The pace of the Nuada Findi soldiers had intensified and the captain knew that if they slowed down, they would not make it in time to help the wizard and those who were with him. When he and his men stumbled on the slain Fir Darrigs in the temple corridor, he knew that danger was closing in on all of them. The only comfort he had was in the fact that he hadn’t discovered any individuals from the wizard’s group among the dead.
“Do you think we’re closing the gap, sir?” his lieutenant asked.
“I have to believe we are.” His mind wouldn’t allow any other scenario to play out. Adalay’s death still haunted him and he knew she would want them to be there helping and assisting in the destruction of the Black Warlock. He couldn’t think of failure at this point. If Uthal wasn’t defeated, then Green Isle, and eventually Earth, would be destroyed.
“This is the work of a blade.” Papella examined the mangled remains. “From the looks of it, someone that knows how to use it.”
“I’m sure it was the sword bearer. And most likely the wizard and his dagger. He called it Urldrenn back at the outpost. It could defeat anything. Even those changelings. The Brollachan.” He glanced back at the thing that im
personated the boy. Its face held no expression as it stared at the pile of dead creatures. Not one thing to indicate that it cared for friends.
“At least we know the sword bearer is alive.” Christos scratched his chin. “Takes a big blade to lop off a head.”
Urcias nodded at the aging warrior. He was glad Christos stood so close to the specter that carried the face of Matt. None of his men suspected yet, but that could soon change. He wanted the timing to be right before he revealed to them that this boy was a fake. Once the veil had been lifted, the thing would make a run for it. Especially now that they were almost to the fortress. He hoped Christos would be able to stop it before it got anywhere. The fear of being discovered before they caught up to the wizard still filled him.
“We need to keep moving.” The words came out gruffer than he wanted, but the situation called for sternness. He motioned for Zuya. “Windwalker, find the way for us.”
“No wind down here to talk to, eh, windwalker?” Ditred’s small banter caused the captain to frown. “What does the stale air tell ya?”
“I don’t need the wind to follow them,” Zuya replied to the injured man. “I can read the marks there and there.” He pointed to small disturbances on the temple floor.
Urcias shook his head. The fact that Zuya was the last of his people seemed a very sad ending for the Windwalker Clan of Half Moon Lake. All because of Bera. He despised what she and her master had done to those here. This was an odd emotion for him. Hate. He had never entered battle with hate hanging around his neck. Maybe resilience and resolve, but never hate. It was a new feeling and it didn’t settle well in his soul.
Leaving the bodies behind, the men picked up their unyielding pace again. Zuya edged out in front of the group. His eyes darted. He would point to the hint of a footprint on the stone floor. Before Urcias knew it, they were deep beneath the earth, past the temple.
When the air grew colder, the caves darker, the captain halted his men. “Before we get further into the belly of this island, check the torches.”
Ortho brought out a small bag. He put a bit of oil on the burning material. They flared brighter. He nodded and put the oil back.
“Where do you think we are?” Thyssen asked. He tightened a sash around his shoulder and touched his knives. “These tunnels are like a labyrinth. I don’t even know if I could remember how to get out.”
“Under the fortress. I’m sure of it,” Christos answered before the captain could. “I’ve heard stories. Legends. Of a temple of powerful beings that guarded the secret entrance to Crag Cairn. It was supposedly destroyed when the Second War ended. But since the temple is here, I would say it’s been maintained.”
Rufus walked up the incline behind the captain. “Wouldn’t do anybody good to get lost in here. Especially with those rat things about. Ya would be takin’ your chances.”
“Chances or not, we need to make sure that we get there. To help the wizard. Those he travels with.” Papella touched the hilt of his sword. “At least to honor the queen and those of us who didn’t make it. It shouldn’t be in vain. This journey. It shouldn’t be in vain.”
Urcias shuddered slightly when he thought of Adalay. Papella was right. Before he could say his own atonement for those who perished, they heard running.
“Sir? Come quick!” It was Zuya.
They all followed the windwalker. He soon stopped and pointed at a gooey mess of yellow liquid. Something seemed vaguely familiar about it. It took Urcias a moment to find the memory. The images of their battle with the Brollachan at the fortress in the Great Pine Forest filled his mind. “It’s another one of Bera’s toys,” he remarked. “We dealt with the likes of these at the outpost. They’re changelings. Can take the shape of anything it touches. Only the wizard’s dagger could kill it. He said it had a powerful spell on it.”
“Looks like they met up with something else, too,” Zuya said. He knelt on the cavern floor. “Something very large. See here. It’s another dragon. But bigger than the one with the wizard.”
“Another dragon?” Urcias took a torch from Rufus. He held it close to the cavern floor and viewed the area Zuya pointed to. There weren’t any other signs of battle that he could see. At least no blood. He sighed with relief. “Perhaps this dragon is the one who conquered the brollachan.”
“And there’s another young person. The large dragon and young one met up with the rest, it seems.” Zuya knelt beside some shuffled prints in the dirt. “They all left together and went that way.” He pointed into the darkness.
The captain held the torch up to view the larger passage. “Then we go that way. Seems they may have more help now.”
“Do you think this larger dragon is a friend?” Christos asked.
“It must be. Otherwise, there would be more destruction than just the gooey mess of this creature,” Urcias replied.
The thing that pretended to be Matt stood at the edge of the yellow mess and continued to gaze at the remains. Christos and the captain held back as the others began to follow Zuya up the passageway.
“Come on, you. Let’s get going,” Christos said. He motioned for the imposter to move.
“I’m not going,” it said.
The voice had changed. It wasn’t that of the boy’s. The coldness of the words caused the captain to shiver.
“What?” Christos remarked. “Where ya off to, then?”
“Sssssomewhere elssssse.” A hideous sneer spread widely across the boy’s face. “My ssssservicesssss are done.”
The captain regarded the thing with caution. This was the moment he had feared. He knew it was going to try to escape. The other men stopped their movements when they heard the words echo off the cavern walls.
“What do you mean, your services are done?” Urcias locked gazes with the creature. He could read hate in its features. Its eyes clouded and then swirled again with the black as they had done earlier. “Who are you?”
“You ssssshould be afraid. My massssster is waiting for you and the othersssss. All are going to die.”
Without warning, the form of the boy melted into a black inky wave that rolled along the cavern wall. Christos lunged for it, but his fingers only managed to grasp the cloak it had worn.
“Watch out!” Urcias cried to his men.
The black mass continued to roll toward them and then quickly diverted its path when it was confronted. The black blob climbed the wall and then moved along the top of the cavern. Maneuvering around the weapons and torches of the men, the thing disappeared into the blackness beyond.
“What was that?” Ditred shook his head. “It certainly was no boy.”
“I don’t know,” the captain replied. “You’re right. It wasn’t the boy I knew. Another type of changling? And if its gone back to its master, then…”
“It’s gone to warn Uthal.” Christos’s face contorted. “We’ve got to get to the others before it’s too late.”
“Then we need to move faster.” Urcias heart beat in fear. Would they would make it to the wizard in time?
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Adalay wiped the wetness from her hands. What did she fall over? Taking her talisman from under her tunic, she cast a small enchantment to make it glow. Holding it up, she looked at the mound in front of her and gasped. The bodies of Princess Ceridwyn’s guards, or what was left of them, lay in a heap on the floor. The wetness on her hands was their blood. She quickly doused the light and moved away. Something had shredded their skin and she didn’t want to stay to find out what it was. She quickly found her way out of the room and into the corridor.
Catching her breath, she allowed her eyes to adjust to the dimness. Small points of fire dotted the dungeon hall. Torches, barely lit, provided her enough light to make out the twists and turns of the maze she found herself captured in. She had been trapped down here for hours. Wandering. Unable to discover a door that led out of the prison area. She felt herself begin to panic. What if she never found a way out? Her mind thought of Nimi and Idril. Would
they be successful in making their way to Uthal? Perhaps retracing her steps would give her the answer.
Walking softly, her fingertips trailing the wall beside her, she cautiously moved forward. She hoped the other two had not fallen into a similar situation. After she wove the spell of invisibility, they had become separated in the darkness. We should have stayed together. Adalay’s advance to the fortress was unfortunately deterred by the sudden appearance of a group of Fir Darrigs. She knew their keen sense of smell would detect her presence, so she quickly sought an escape. She went back behind the fortress walls. It was by luck that she had found a small door leading down into the depths of the left side of the castle. Once the door closed behind her, it disappeared.
In her mind, the image of the border elf smiling at her appeared unexpectedly. It was fitting. Nimi would probably be laughing right about now. Knowing she trapped herself, he would delight in the fact. It would afford him the opportunity of being her rescuer once again.
Shaking her head, she pushed thoughts of the elf away. Her heart didn’t need any distractions. He was fast becoming that. She had to find a way into the castle and this must be her focus. Her magic would be needed to add to the ever-growing energy against the Black Warlock. She could feel others. Some with strong magic. It must be the sword’s power she was feeling. Its presence filled her mind.
A sound caught her attention. The slight scraping echoed along the dungeon cells. Could those rat men have found her? She held her breath as the noise morphed into footsteps. Someone was coming. She should hide. But where? The only other enclosed space open to her was the room she just left. And she didn’t want to go back to the mangled bodies. Maybe it was the beast that killed them. Adalay’s heart jumped at the thought.
The Mirror Sliver Page 21