Chapter Four
Mia and Cerys wasted no time agreeing to the field trip. “Two more elemental witches is a good idea,” Mia said. “We’re always stronger together.”
I agreed. We were stronger together—I just wasn’t sure whether strength would be what we needed. It depended on what the “cost” was for the knowledge we sought.
“Bryn, shouldn’t you be able to control Aenon?” Cerys asked. “I thought you could command water beings.”
“Cato says that Aenon is a special case,” Bryn replied. “He’s ancient and powerful. One-of-a-kind.”
“Are you sure you need his help with the markings?” Mia asked. “Maybe there’s a safer path.”
“We’re short on information right now,” I said. “I think identifying the sword or the runes could point us in the right direction. We know the sword is old, but whether its age is where it gets its value, I have no idea.”
“And it’s only half a sword,” Bryn said.
“Which half?” Cerys asked.
I cocked an eyebrow. “Does it matter?”
She shrugged. “Just curious.”
“It’s the top half,” I replied. “The hilt, the crossguard, and the top of the blade.”
“Weird,” Cerys murmured.
“How are we getting to the water demon?” Mia asked.
“Broomsticks,” I said. “It’s not too far from here and the weather forecast looks good for tonight.”
“Are you sure we should go tonight?” Cerys asked. “Maybe we should get a good night’s sleep and wait until sunrise.”
“I don’t want to miss lessons tomorrow,” I said. I wasn’t keen on ever missing lessons, but I knew that helping my aunt meant skipping a few.
“You have the chancellor’s blessing,” Mia said. “You may as well take advantage of it.”
“If you don’t want to go tonight, then it’s no problem if you stay here,” I said.
Cerys flinched. “Absolutely not. If you go tonight, then we all do.”
“Okay then. Now that we’ve settled that,” I began, “let’s put on our cloaks. It’ll be chilly up there.”
Bryn raised her hand. “Can we eat first? I’m starving and we’ll need our energy if we end up having to fight.”
I groaned. “Any excuse for food. Fine. See what you can scrounge up. I’ll get the broomsticks.”
“I’ll bring the rune rocks,” Cerys said. “And don’t forget your wands.”
“I’ll grab the extra weapons,” I said. I knew how to access the armory after hours.
First, I retrieved Revival, the sword given to me by our weapons instructor, Master Horton. Then I made sure all the broomsticks were skyworthy, while the others grabbed a bite to eat. Finally, I went to the armory and selected a few reasonable options, including a crossbow, a staff, and a dagger. We reconvened by Mercer Lake. A sliver of moon sliced through the dark night sky and, thankfully, there were enough stars to illuminate our path.
“You look like a one-woman army,” Mia said, laughing at the weapons strapped to my body.
“They’re not all for me,” I replied, and handed out the broomsticks. “Who wants to carry the crossbow?”
Mia volunteered for the crossbow. I gave Cerys the staff and Bryn took the dagger.
“Are you sure we’ll need these?” Cerys asked, studying the staff.
“Not at all,” I replied. “But I want to be prepared.”
Cerys surveyed the four of us. “Well, we look prepared. For what, I’m not sure.”
“Should we tell anyone we’re going?” Mia asked, sounding slightly anxious.
“I told Robin when I left the cafeteria to go to the bathroom,” Bryn said. “He wasn’t thrilled with the plan, but when is he ever?”
“What about Gray?” I asked.
“He’s still on assignment,” Bryn replied. “I’m sure he wouldn’t love it either, though, not that it would stop me.”
We mounted our broomsticks. “I’ll take the lead,” I said.
Bryn snickered. “Of course you will.”
I glared at her over my shoulder before launching skyward. The cool air tickled the back of my neck. I loved broomstick riding. It would be nice to have the chance to ride more often, but the academy kept us pretty busy. According to Warden Armitage, agents tend not to ride them because they’re often paired with a non-rider like a vampire or a genie. Sometimes, before I fall asleep, I wonder about my future life as a Sentry of the South. Will I like my partner? Will my life be in danger on a regular basis? Will I be the best and bring honor back to my family? The last one was obviously the one that kept me awake most often. As much as it drove me to work harder, it also plagued me relentlessly. Sometimes I just wanted to rest, to focus on something frivolous, but I felt as though I hadn’t earned it yet. I was too young with too much potential. I couldn’t afford to squander it.
Up ahead, I spotted the field that Cato had described. Even in the darkness, I could make out the golden glow of the bricklebrack flowers below.
“The spring should be beyond the field,” I called over my shoulder. Fireflies lit the way to a small body of water. Although it was a tranquil setting, it seemed mundane for an ancient water demon. We landed our broomsticks on the edge of the field and left them concealed by the flowers, not that it was likely anyone would happen upon them at this hour. A cloud passed in front of the moon, so we waited until moonlight filtered through again before going to find Aenon. We had no idea what to expect so we needed every advantage. Revival remained strapped to my back and I reached for the wand in my cloak pocket just to reassure myself that it was still there.
“Do we need to summon him?” Mia asked. “Or just walk up to the water’s edge and introduce ourselves?”
“I think he comes to us when he’s ready,” I said. “That was the impression I got from Cato.”
The four of us stood in front of the spring, waiting. Bryn whistled a tune I didn’t recognize and caught me watching her.
“It’s a very poor rendition of Shake It Off by Taylor Swift,” she said. “It’s peppy. You’d like it.”
“That’s great, but if Aenon doesn’t like it then he might not come, so pipe down,” I said.
“Maybe I should toss in a coin,” Bryn suggested.
“It’s not a fountain,” I said. “Besides, Fonthill hates when we do that at the academy. He always has to clean them out when they get stuck in the pipes.”
“Maybe we should cough to get his attention,” Mia said.
“Because that’s louder than whistling a tune?” Bryn asked.
“If you do cough, be sure to cover your mouth with your elbow and not your hand,” a voice said. “You’re less likely to spread germs that way.” Despite the absence of a breeze, the water began to ripple.
“Aenon?” I said.
“You come in search of me, I presume?” the voice asked.
“We do,” I said. “A friend sent us. Cato, the brave gryphon whose head is now mounted on the wall of the library at Spellslingers Academy of Magic.”
“Ah, yes,” Aenon said. The water swirled slowly and a form began to take shape—a male form made entirely of water. He had no features to speak of, yet he was clearly a living, sentient being. “And what is it that you seek? Knowledge?”
“Of a sort,” I said. “We’re trying to find more information to help us locate a missing sword…well, the top half anyway. It has special markings on the hilt and the crossguard, but no one seems to recognize or understand them. We’re hoping that you might.”
“I see,” the demon said. His liquid gaze lingered on each of us for a brief moment. “Four elemental witches and one question.”
“You can tell what we are?” I queried.
The watery form moved closer to the edge of the spring, closer to me. “Yes, fire witch. I can see what you are. My knowledge extends beyond the visible world.” He shifted toward Cerys. “You have seen dark times as the prisoner of a demon in the underworld.”
Cerys winced at the reminder of her capture. “I don’t like to talk about it.” Although she met regularly with Alana, the academy healer, to discuss her harrowing time in the underworld, she rarely spoke to us about it.
“I can understand why,” Aenon said. “Such a cruel demon.”
He turned to Mia. “Unfortunately for you, your dark days lie ahead of you rather than behind.”
“I thought you were a water demon, not an oracle,” Bryn said.
Aenon dragged his form closer to Bryn, dripping every step of the way. “Isn’t this interesting and completely unexpected? A water witch and Volans Moldark’s spawn. A fascinating combination.”
“You’ve heard of my father?” Bryn asked.
“Naturally,” he replied.
“But you’re ancient,” she said. “Why would you have any interest in current events?”
“I take an interest in anyone who upsets the balance of the natural world,” he said. “Your father upset it greatly. His connection to dark magic caused ripples right here in my spring. That rarely happens. A testament to his power.”
“He was quite the troublemaker, as I understand it,” Bryn said.
Aenon studied her. “The light in you seems to have won.” He paused for a beat. “For now.”
Bryn’s expression was inscrutable.
“I have the drawing of the markings right here,” I said, in an effort to distract him from Bryn. I didn’t like the direction of their conversation. I reached into my cloak pocket.
“Not yet, fire witch,” Aenon said. “I’d like to take the measure of you first, as I’ve done with your companions.”
“I was first,” I argued. “You called me a fire witch.”
“I identified you,” Aenon said. “That is not the same as taking the measure of you.” I stood silently for a moment as he examined me. “Strength. Confidence. Weakness.”
“Weakness?” I repeated. “You know that’s the opposite of strength, right?”
Aenon ignored my question. “Your goals should not be their goals. That way lies disaster.”
“Who are they?” I asked.
“Anyone who isn’t you,” he replied cryptically. “You must forge your own path, much like your water witch here.”
“Ha!” Bryn said. “Sounds like I’m beating you at something.”
This wasn’t the time for our friendly competition. “I am forging my own path,” I insisted.
“Have you come to argue with me, fire witch?” he asked. “Or have you come for information?”
I pulled the drawing from my pocket and shook it at him. “I’ve come for facts about this sword, not your opinion about my chosen path.”
Aenon’s legs swished through the spring. “All in good time. First, you must prove your worth.”
Bryn folded her arms. “How?”
“A challenge,” Aenon said.
“Cato doesn’t make us do anything in exchange for information,” Bryn countered. “He’s a helper for the sake of it.”
“Cato was cursed to hang upon that wall and offer wise counsel,” Aenon said. “That’s not how it works in my domain. No necromancer pulls my strings.”
“I’m going to tell him you said that,” Bryn said.
The water demon raised both hands in the air, spraying us with droplets. Dozens of tiny figures rose up from the depths of the spring. They looked like miniature versions of Aenon himself.
“Water sprites,” I said. I’d learned about them but had never seen one up close.
“You have ten minutes to rescue your friends,” Aenon said, “or you will not only lose the opportunity to ask your question, you will lose your friends as well.”
“Rescue which friends?” I asked, my head swiveling. All four of us were right—
The water sprites charged, snatching my three roommates and dragging them to the middle of the spring. The sprites slapped what appeared to be water lilies over their mouths.
“Not to worry. The water lilies will help them breathe underwater,” Aenon said, before submerging himself.
“Underwater?” I repeated. I tried not to freak out as the water sprites pulled the other witches below the surface.
I tried not to panic. My fire magic wouldn’t be useful, but I had other skills. My pulse began to race and I took a deep breath. I knew I had to stay calm or my friends would perish. “I can do water magic,” I told myself. “I just need to focus.” At that moment, a crow cawed in the distance. “Shush, I’m trying to think!”
The sprites were holding them underwater. If I attacked the sprites, I could free the witches. I stared at the middle of the spring. How would I reach them? My gut told me that, if I entered the spring to try and rescue them, the same fate would befall me. I had to be smarter than that.
And I had less than ten minutes to do it or my friends died.
Think, Dani. No pressure.
The crow cawed again, but I ignored it this time. I left Revival strapped to my back and pulled my wand from my pocket. Energy pulsed within me. My magic was right there for the taking, but which spell was best? Water magic seemed the obvious choice, and yet I hesitated. Aenon commanded this spring and the sprites. How could I compete with his power over water?
I wouldn’t.
I called to the earth, preparing to unleash my spell. It wouldn’t be easy for me—earth magic wasn’t my specialty, after all. I pulled as much energy to me as possible, drawing it closer, absorbing its strength. My friends were no longer visible, but, if I handled the spell correctly, they would be soon.
I aimed my wand at the center of the spring and tugged at the earth below. It would require more strength than I possibly possessed, but I had to try. The ground trembled beneath my feet and the movement gave me the confidence to persist. I pulled harder, like an ox pulling a yoke. Water from the spring spilled across my feet.
Yes!
My body began to shake and sweat as I continued to command the earth below. More water soaked the ground around me and I knew the magic was working.
Then I saw their heads and that fueled my determination. I took a few steps back but maintained my focus. Water sprites howled in anguish as they made contact with dry land and dissipated. The water from the spring flattened and spread as my friends rose from the spring’s depths, their water lilies firmly in place.
When the bottom of the spring met the ground I currently stood on, Aenon’s hold over them broke. The last of the water sprites merged with the expanding puddle and I dropped to the ground in exhaustion before my friends could reach me.
Bryn ripped the water lily from her mouth and ran to me. “Dani, are you okay?”
I needed to gather my strength, but I was too weak. “In a minute,” I managed to say. I felt my friends’ comforting arms around me and knew everyone was safe.
“That was a clever spell,” Cerys said. “I thought for sure you’d use water magic.”
“Didn’t want to step on Bryn’s toes,” I said, between ragged breaths.
The ground rumbled and the earth sank and the water retreated to its former position, recreating the spring.
“Dani, stop,” Cerys chided me. “You’re too weak to do more magic.”
“It isn’t me,” I said.
“Congratulations, fire witch,” Aenon said, emerging from the spring once again. “You have earned my respect and, therefore, you may now drink from my spring.”
“Take as much time as you need,” Mia said, smoothing my hair back. “There’s no rush.”
“I’m fine now,” I said. Despite my physical weakness, I felt energized by the powerful magic I’d used. That was earth magic—not fire—and I’d managed to raise the entire base of the spring. Wait until Professor Mayweather heard about this.
I kneeled on the ground beside the spring and cupped my hands to scoop water into them. Then I took a tentative sip. My body jolted and I fell backward, twitching.
“Dani?” Mia said, and I heard the note of panic in her voice.
“Wh
at’s wrong with her?” Cerys asked.
“She is unharmed,” I heard Aenon say. He sounded very far away. “It is part of the process.”
“How do we know we can we trust you?” Bryn demanded.
“Your friend Cato,” Aenon began, “would he have sent you to me like lambs to the slaughter?”
“No,” Bryn said firmly. “He would never.”
I rose to my feet and was shocked to see my body still on the ground. It was no longer convulsing but perfectly still, as though asleep. Aenon split from his water form and approached me.
“Am I dead?” I asked. I didn’t feel dead.
“This is your astral form,” Aenon explained. “It is easier to share ancient knowledge with you in the non-physical world.”
I looked at the tense expressions on my friends’ faces. “They’re worried. Can you ease their minds?”
“We will only be a moment as far as they are concerned,” he said.
“Why did I need to drink?” I asked.
“To take in my essence,” Aenon replied. “It helps you move into this plane and absorb the knowledge.”
“What happens next?” I asked.
“Close your eyes and count to ten before you open them again. Then you shall see. Truly.”
I did as I was told. When I opened my eyes, I was no longer in front of the spring. I was in the middle of a raging battlefield where creatures were embroiled in vicious fighting. A bulky warrior wielded a heavy sword, swinging it at every foe within reach. He was clearly the leader of his army and a savage fighter. The blade cut through his enemies as though they were made of water. He lifted the blade to vanquish yet another foe and it was then that I recognized the hilt from Hunter’s drawing. It was the broken sword he carried, but it was still intact. No one seemed to notice my ghostly figure on the battlefield. I was merely a silent observer. When the leader had killed his last enemy, he raised the sword in triumph.
Except he hadn’t killed his last enemy.
One body rose from the ground, bloody and beaten but very much alive. The creature sliced through the leader before anyone had time to react. The leader clutched his stomach where the blade had penetrated him, shocked by this unexpected turn of events. The familiar sword clattered to the ground and the leader cried out, but the only word I recognized was Odin.
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