Wizard in the Woods

by Jeffrey M. Poole

  How? When?

  THAT DOES NOT CONCERN YOU, HUMAN PRINCE.

  Gareth and Pravara reappeared.

  The cave isn’t that big, Gareth began, as soon as Pravara had exited the cave. There’s no real signs of anything ever having been in there, except for the some serious clawing at the entrance.

  It appears to be a natural cave, Pravara added.

  That’s right, Gareth confirmed. I couldn’t find any evidence of enchantments or spells.

  What does that tell us? Mikal wanted to know.

  That perhaps the Athan… I mean the thriper was asleep and something woke it up. Once it did, it wanted out.

  Fernius, from his position nearby, grunted once. The three smaller shealk looked over at him and waited, wondering if Fernius was going to say something. When he didn’t, Mikal and Pravara turned back to the jagged opening in the ocean floor.

  Perhaps we should…

  YOUR WIZARD COMPANION IS LEAVING.

  What?

  It would appear that Gareth is going back for the shield, Pravara explained. Come. I wish to see what he’s doing.

  They followed Gareth back to the spot where he had dropped the shield. He had picked it up once more and was silently studying it. Mikal tried to cough in order to clear his throat but the only thing he heard was a quiet rumble coming from deep within his chest.

  Fine. I’ll ask. Gareth, what’s with the shield? Is there something we’re missing?

  The answer is here, Gareth told them. This shield has been enchanted. I can sense the jhorun within it. Will you come with me? I want to explore that sunken ship. It’s the only logical place this shield could have come from.

  The four of them swam over to the remains of the ship. Surprisingly enough it was resting upright, having apparently sunk in calm waters. The ship’s hull, while mostly intact, was covered with barnacles. A huge gouge was seen, stretching almost the length of the boat, and well below the water line, suggesting the boat had run afoul of the rocks and had suffered accordingly. Mikal figured it must have sunk amazingly fast in order for it to have dropped straight down without tipping over, as most sunken ships typically did.

  Gareth swam over to the huge gouge and looked inside at the boat’s interior. He stretched out a foreleg as much as he could and felt around a bit inside the jagged hole before pulling his leg back out.

  Did you feel anything?

  Not a thing. This arm is too small.

  USE YOUR TAIL. IT’S MUCH LONGER.

  My tail? You think I can grab something with my tail and then be able to figure out what it is?

  WHAT ARE YOU SEARCHING FOR?

  I don’t know. There’s something in there that’s emanating jhorun. I can sense it, just like I did with the shield.

  Fernius swam over to the side of the ship and placed his eye next to the serrated opening so he could see within the ship’s hold. With a grunt he spun around and carefully inserted his long supple tail into the hole. Not to be undone, Gareth did the same.

  Can you feel anything? Mikal asked.

  No, Gareth automatically answered.

  AYE, was Fernius’ response.

  Mikal moved closer.

  You found something? Already? What is it?

  Fernius withdrew his tail from within the ship’s bowels. The tip of his long flexible tail had coiled into a knot. Clutched within the knot was a two-handed broadsword. The huge shealk deposited the sword at Mikal’s feet and reinserted his tail back into the ship. Twenty seconds later he withdrew it once more to reveal his tail had wrapped around some type of small (for a shealk) sack.

  What’s in there? Gareth asked, giving up on getting his tail to replicate what he had seen Fernius’ tail do.

  Mikal poked a talon at the sack and gave it a quick jerk, ripping the sack to shreds. A stream of gold coins appeared, and then disappeared from sight as they sank into the thick bed of seaweed.

  Do you think it’s some type of treasure ship? Mikal guessed.

  Can you tell us anything about that weapon? Pravara asked.

  Gareth nodded, This weapon has been enchanted, just like the shield.

  Enchanted to do what? Mikal asked.

  How do you know this? Pravara pointedly asked, at the same time.

  Because I’m the one that enchanted them, Gareth quietly answered. I remember now. This was from a group of weapons I was asked to enchant several years ago. Those men paid well, so I made certain that the swords wouldn’t break, the shields couldn’t be pierced, and so on.

  So what happened to them? Mikal wanted to know. How’d they end up down here?

  More than likely the vessel was caught in a storm, Pravara guessed.

  I’m responsible for this, Gareth whispered. His jet black shealk body sank slowly to the ocean floor. I’m the reason the Athanaus has escaped.

  How? Mikal countered. Did you see any of those weapons in the cave? Did it look as though the Athanaus –

  THRIPER… Fernius gently corrected.

  …used one of those shields to dig himself out? Mikal continued, ignoring Fernius’ constant corrections. No. Why? Because he escaped on his own.

  I BELIEVE YOUR WIZARD COMPANION. HE IS RESPONSIBLE.

  Gareth groaned as Mikal rounded on the much larger shealk.

  You don’t know that for certain.

  LOOK AT THE FACTS. THE THRIPER IS ATTRACTED TO JHORUN. A SHIP SINKS NEARBY THAT IS CARRYING ENCHANTED WEAPONS. ENCHANTED WITH JHORUN. IT’S EASY TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. THE PROXIMITY OF THOSE WEAPONS AWAKENED THE THRIPER AND, ONCE IT WAS AWAKE, IT ESCAPED.

  Why in the world would you enchant weapons for a bunch of strangers? Mikal asked as he turned back to look at the black form of the wizard.

  They paid me well, Gareth recalled. My aunt’s house needed work. The roof leaked. The chimney needed new mortar. Neither my aunt nor my mother could afford the price for the labor and materials. That job paid two hundred gold grifs. I took care of all the details, allowing my aunt to think she had won some type of lottery and therefore had the funds to fix our home. Not all of us are born into luxury, Mikal. I had to do what I had to do in order to help my family.

  That’s the first thing you’ve told me that I could relate to, Mikal confided. No one thinks less of you for doing what you did.

  Good, because I’m not sorry.

  However, Mikal continued, if Fernius is right then those weapons, or more likely the presence of those weapons, woke up the thriper. The question is, how do we get it back in there?

  The better question would be how we are expected to keep it in there, Pravara added.

  LURING THE CREATURE BACK INTO THE PRISON WILL BE EASY. IT’S ATTRACTED TO JHORUN. WE HAVE A WIZARD AMONGST US. IT’LL COME LOOKING FOR HIM.

  Are you talking about me or your own wizard that has lost all his jhorun? Gareth asked.

  YOU, YOUNG WIZARD. OUR WIZARD IS BEREFT OF JHORUN. YOU, HOWEVER, WILL BE TOO TEMPTING A TARGET TO IGNORE.

  That’s just swell, Gareth grumped.

  Can’t we just kill this thing? Mikal suddenly asked. Wouldn’t it be easier than trying to trap it and seal it back up?

  THAT WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION, TOO, ONLY…

  Only what? Gareth prompted. Finish that sentence, please.

  ONLY I DON’T THINK IT’S POSSIBLE.

  Why not? Mikal asked.

  THINK ABOUT IT. THAT THRIPER HAS BEEN IMPRISONED FOR A VERY LONG TIME. LONG BEFORE I WAS HATCHED, I MIGHT ADD. THE FACT THAT IT WAS IMPRISONED, RATHER THAN DESTROYED, SUGGESTS IT EITHER CANNOT BE DONE OR ELSE IS MORE DIFFICULT THAN ANYONE HAD EVER EXPECTED.

  So now what? Mikal looked at his companions. There has to be a way to take care of this thing once and for all.

  I AGREE. I WOULD RECOMMEND WE CONSULT LORD PHAEDREN.

  Who’s Lord Phaedren? Mikal asked. Is he your king?

  Fernius nodded.

  PHAEDREN IS LORD OVER THE WATER AS KAHVEL IS LORD OVER THE AIR.

  Does he live far away? Pravara asked, growing nervous. Do you think Lo
rd Phaedren will see us?

  I SHOULD THINK SO. FOLLOW ME.

  The three companions held back just a little bit so they could converse privately without fear of Fernius overhearing.

  Did you think there would be a chance we would meet their Dragon Lord? Pravara asked, casting a worried glance at Fernius. What if we say the wrong thing and anger the shealk? What if we end up ruining relations between our two species?

  Hey, I have just as much at stake here as you do, Mikal pointed out. Your father is the Dragon Lord, so you’re the representative for all aerial dragons. I, on the other hand, am the son of the human king, so I get to speak for all humans. I really wish my father was here. He’d know what to do and would be able to say all the appropriate things one is supposed to say in situations like this.

  Well, he isn’t, Gareth haughtily informed him. You’re the prince, Mikal. Haven’t you ever watched your father conduct official business as king?

  Well, yeah.

  And you’ve seen what he does when there’s a visiting dignitary, right?

  Yeah, I guess.

  No, there’s no guessing. You already know what to do. Make your father proud. And that goes for you, too, Pravara. You’ve no doubt seen your father in action before. Stop worrying about what to do or say and let it flow naturally.

  That’s easy for you to say, Mikal growled, as he hurried to catch up to their large shealk guide, who was threatening to leave them behind if they didn’t pick up the pace. You don’t have to worry about screwing up and embarrassing your family.

  Every time I cast a spell, or create an enchantment, I pretend my father is with me, by my side. Just once I’d like him to look straight at me and tell me he’s proud of me.

  I promised you before that I’d help you find out what happened to your father, Mikal reminded him. I meant it. We’ll either find him or else find out what happened to him.

  Thanks, Mikal.

  Thirty minutes later they encountered a second shealk. Mikal had lost all sense of direction and didn’t know which way they were heading, and the moment he decided he was going to ask Fernius which direction was north was when he noticed that a second shealk was out in front, easily matching Fernius’ pace. This new shealk was slightly larger than Fernius, had thin, somewhat curved horns that angled straight out from his skull, and was several shades of blue. The top half of his body was a deep dark blue which gradually brightened as it approached the lower half of his body.

  Who’s that? Mikal whispered to Pravara.

  Unknown, she answered. I didn’t see him approach.

  Neither did I, Gareth confessed.

  I MUST LEAVE YOU NOW. I HAVE BEEN CALLED AWAY. YOU ARE IN GOOD COMPANY. HE WILL SEE YOU THE REST OF THE WAY.

  You’re leaving? Mikal asked. How come?

  AS MUCH AS I’D LIKE TO SEE THE OUTCOME OF THIS MEETING, I HAVE BUSINESS ELSEWHERE. FAREWELL.

  Fernius flicked his tail and practically disappeared from sight. Mikal had no idea a shealk could swim that fast. Could he do that if he tried? It sure didn’t feel like it. He was rapidly tiring and it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with their guide.

  How much farther is it? As I’m sure Fernius told you, we’re not really shealk, and weren’t prepared for a long journey. I don’t know how much farther I’m going to be able to make it. Pravara and Gareth are probably as tired as I am.

  Their guide had briefly slowed as Mikal had explained their plight but quickly picked up the pace.

  I know we’re in a rush, Gareth grumped, but I was really hoping to have a chance to rest my tail.

  You’re over exaggerating your movements, Pravara informed him. That’s why you’re tiring too soon.

  You’re telling me you’re not tired? Gareth incredulously asked. You’ve been swimming just as long as we have.

  No, I’m not tired. I would not say no to a brief pause, for your sake, but I can continue on.

  We are almost there, their guide’s brusque voice cut in. You may rest when we arrive.

  Do the shealk have their own city? Mikal quickly asked, anxious to see where and how a shealk lived.

  Do the aerial dragons?

  That is a good point, Pravara admitted. We don’t, so that must mean the shealk do not, either.

  What’s your name? Mikal asked, adopting the friendliest manner he could muster.

  Their guide remained quiet, aside from a low hum that almost felt like a growl.

  I never would have thought Fernius would be the talkative one in the bunch, Mikal whispered to Gareth. Pravara overheard and suppressed a chuckle.

  Sometime later Mikal tasted a difference in the water. He looked left, then right, and then finally up. Several hundred feet above his head he could see the surface of the water. He hadn’t realized they had been ascending. Mikal had noticed the salinity changing as they had emerged from the depths of the ocean. He nudged Gareth and indicated he should look up.

  I was wondering about that, Gareth whispered. I think it might be time to cancel my nocturnal vision spell. Are you ready?

  Mikal and Pravara both nodded. The ambient light faded. Mikal closed his eyes and waited for his vision to switch to his parietal eye. As before, he started seeing tiny swirls of light. It was enough to adequately see where he was going. He looked over at his companions and saw that they, too, were looking around with renewed wonder.

  Have I told you how glad I am you’re here?

  Gareth turned to look at him.

  Are you talking to me or Pravara?

  Both. I’m glad you’re both here.

  Gareth’s black head nodded once in acknowledgement.

  As long as we’re being honest, I am glad both of you are here as well, Pravara confided.

  Would you three like a minute alone so that you may profess your love for each other?

  Their guide had stopped swimming and was now in what could be considered an underwater mesa. It was ringed with rugged rocks and had small subterranean mountains on all sides except the south, which is the way they had just swam in. Mikal looked up and saw that several of the rock formations jutted up out of the water, presenting an unwelcome hazard to any seafaring vessels that might happen by. He also noticed that it was now bright enough so that he could resume normal vision.

  There, waiting for them in the direct center of the small underwater valley, was a shealk of such a dazzlingly bright red color that Mikal briefly wondered if he might have been a shealk-shaped ruby. Each scale sparkled in the filtered sunlight as the shealk’s body gently swayed back and forth, as though it was swimming in place. Mikal saw the glittering red head shift as it watched their procession approach.

  Do you think that is Lord Phaedren? Pravara quietly asked.

  If not then I say he could be a damn fine candidate, Mikal decided.

  Of course it is Lord Phaedren. Do not speak unless spoken to.

  Their guide stopped far short of the ruby shealk’s location and indicated that the three of them should continue on. Just as Mikal, Gareth, and Pravara settled into place directly in front of the silent red shealk, Mikal sensed there were others nearby. Mikal glanced once at the cool, calculating eyes that were studying him intently before he lifted his head and scanned the area.

  As if on cue, four more shealk swam into view. Several of the shealk were the same sea-green color he was now, while a third shealk was completely white and a fourth was a deep, rich blue.

  GREETINGS, HUMANS. GREETINGS, COUSIN. I AM LORD PHAEDREN, MASTER OF ALL YOU SEE. WHO ARE YOU? WHY ARE YOU HERE?

  Mikal’s head lifted.

  I am Mikal, son of Entu and Callé.

  THE HUMAN PRINCE. I KNOW OF YOU. YOU ARE WELCOME HERE, MIKAL.

  Mikal nodded as Pravara gently inclined her head.

  I am Pravara, daughter of Kahvel, aerial Dragon Lord, as I’ve heard him called here.

  I KNOW OF YOU AS WELL. THE GREAT DEEDS OF YOUR FATHER HAVE REACHED EVEN MY EARS, YOUNG PRAVARA. YOU ARE WELCOME HERE.

  Gareth inc
hed forward. He fixed Lord Phaedren with a neutral stare and gently bowed his head as he had seen Mikal and Pravara do.

  I am Gareth, son of…

  At the mention of Gareth’s name Lord Phaedren immediately growled and looked over at their uncommunicative guide who was resting nearby on the mesa floor.

  HOW IS IT THIS HUMAN HAS YOUR NAME, GARETH?

  Mikal, Pravara, and Gareth exchanged shocked looks before all three of them, as one, turned to look at the blue shealk resting quietly several hundred feet behind them. He refused to meet any of their eyes.

  Because, my lord. He is my son.

  Chapter 12 – Shealk Shock

  Would you like to run that by me again? That can’t possibly be right. There’s no way that my father is a shealk. He’s a human, as is my mother. Do you know what that makes me? A human, plain and simple.

  The large blue shealk that had guided them in pushed off the ground and drifted closer.

  Except you’re not, my son. I always knew we’d see each other again; however, I never thought it would be under these circumstances.

  Gareth placed himself directly in front of their guide and gave him a long, hard look.

  If you’re my father then you’d know what happened to me three years ago at the start of summer.

  Are you referring to your period of depression after your defeat at the hands of the fire thrower? Or are you referring to the blacksmith’s daughter and your fascination with her? If memory serves that was the year she gave you your first kiss.

  Gareth stared at the shealk with shock written all over his features.

  Oh, yes. I knew of your competition between yourself and the fire thrower.

  You did? How? When did you know?

  I knew from the moment you were born that you inherited the same strength of jhorun that I once possessed.

  You’re this shealk wizard we’ve heard about? Why didn’t you tell me? Does mother know?

  The blue shealk sank to the mesa floor and shook his head no.

  I wanted to tell her. Many times. I lacked the courage. I thought if I told her then she’d take you from me and I’d never see you again.

  But you left anyway! Gareth sputtered, his anger rising. I thought something that I did might have driven you away!