Mage- The Guardian's Oath

by S A Edwards

  She lowered her hand. “I was a Shade. I can’t use my gifts like I used to anymore, but I can take full form when summoned.”

  “I didn’t summon you.”

  “Yes, you did.”

  I frowned. “Can you leave the Shadow Realm?”

  She shook her head.

  I bit my lip, a little relieved, but hoped my expression didn’t show it. “Can you tell me how to get out?”

  The whispers grew, and the ghosts stirred.

  “Quiet.” Tia frowned at the silhouettes. “Please understand,” she said, “that we can’t move on without you.”

  “I don’t know how to help you.”

  “If you’ll allow me to assist …” She gestured behind me.

  I followed her finger, peering at the spectres’ features, still obscured by shadow. My scalp prickled.

  “Shades can create things in the Shadow Realm,” Tia said. “Nothing solid, like the castle over there.”

  Bright turrets sparkled far in the distance, no closer, it seemed, than when I first arrived here.

  “Only the Dalrene have that ability,” she added.

  The seven Original Elders. They first came to this land thousands of years ago and were the first to claim the gifts. Time had transformed their tale into legend. Supposedly. I didn’t know anyone who believed the old stories. Although my beliefs were beginning to waver.

  Tia cut through my thoughts. “Picture in your mind’s eye what you wish to create. A structure of some sort. Or a building.”

  I hesitated, unsure what she expected to achieve by this.

  “Done?” she asked.

  The courtyard from Matriarch’s garden leapt to mind. Charlie, Lallana, and I often played there and visited the pond around the back. The blooming Lallanas floated on the water, glittering in the sunlight in the warmer months, although just out of reach. The lotus bugs held poison in their bites, and Matriarch never allowed us near enough to taste of their deadly dose. “It’s a courtyard. There are pillars … there and there.” I pointed to the darkness.

  Almost in reaction to my words, smoke billowed before us and merged to form wispy pillars and a roof. The smoke curled, deep purple, writhing amongst the ghosts.

  Those standing inside the courtyard changed. Their bodies filled out, their features were revealed. Pale and grey, their human appearance settled my fear even more. Excitement covered their expressions.

  The few who remained pushed past the pillars, and the same transformation occurred.

  Frustration coursed through me. Orator could have told me about this.

  “Well done.” Tia’s voice held a hint of longing. She hugged her body.

  I felt for her, no longer able to do what she loved.

  She cleared her throat. “The rest is simple. You reach out to them.”

  “I thought we couldn’t touch?”

  “We can’t.” She sighed. “Just try it.”

  One of the ghosts sidled closer to me. An elderly fellow, he caught my eye and grinned.

  I held my breath, stepped toward him, and stretched out my hand.

  His fingers rested against my palm. They didn’t drop through me, like mine had with Tia.

  Warmth spread through my hand. A breeze fluttered my hair.

  He glowed. The light spread, growing brighter, until he was no more than a white silhouette within the darkness.

  I squinted. Excitement overpowered all my emotions, washing over me like the rain, eliminating my horror. I longed to jump, to shout, to scream with sheer exhilaration.

  Then, he vanished.

  I stared at the place he had stood. The excitement faded gradually, but not enough to restore my fear. “That’s what it’s all about?” It seemed silly to have been so scared now that everyone appeared normal.

  My skin under Charlie’s crystal tingled, and the stone glimmered bright purple in the darkness. Beams of its light reflected on my pale skin, sparkling and pure. Then, it faded and became clear once more.

  “What was that?” Tia asked, her gaze on the crystal.

  “No idea.”

  A woman approached from the masses and stood near, reaching out to me.

  I took her hand with slight hesitation. My desire to find Charlie and Lallana pressed at my will to help these people. Warmth spread up my arm at her touch.

  Light glowed within her. Right before she disappeared, overwhelming peace flooded me, replacing the excitement, and I knew they were okay. My Charlie. My Lallana. They were waiting for me.

  Another stepped in front of me, a hopeful smile on his face. A baby rested in his arms. He held her out to me.

  I stared at her, a lump in my throat, and touched the tiny hand. Heat caressed my shoulder, dimming the sting. My eyes closed against the babe’s glow. Overwhelming happiness tugged at me. Tears brimmed and spilled down my cheeks, uncontrollable and unwavering, even after she disappeared.

  Except no reason within me led to the joy.

  I turned to Tia, my voice shaking. “I’m feeling their emotions.”

  She gave me a small smile. “Now, you see why I loved this.”

  The ghosts swarmed round, and one by one, I gave them my aid. Their mixed feelings were wondrous: joy, peace, contentment. Warmth spread to every part of me, the terror a distant memory.

  I stretched toward the last, but instead of accepting, he stepped back, frowning. His hands were up, barring me.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “This happens sometimes,” Tia said. She approached slowly. A frown tugged on her lips. “Not everyone is ready to leave. Some may have unfinished business.” She studied him carefully and continued, “Usually when something sinister causes their death, they can’t move on until they’ve sought help. This is one way we call to the Seekers.”

  “Something sinister,” I muttered. Thoughts of the beasts came crashing back. All the pleasant emotions dissolved.

  I retreated from them.

  Beyond the pillars, half-hidden features floated toward the courtyard.

  “I must go,” I said.

  Tia focused on the approaching figures, longing in her eyes.

  “I’ll come back,” I said. “I promise.” I meant it, though I didn’t think it comforted her.

  She smiled, anyway. “Picture in your mind’s eye where you want to go.”

  My brow furrowed. “It can’t be that simple.”

  “All things are simple, once you understand them.” Smoke billowed from her cloak, and within moments she had merged back into the darkness.

  Emptiness grew inside me with her departure, and the desire to return home increased.

  The whispers grew dimmer.

  My hair fluttered against my face.

  The courtyard faded.

  I imagined the arch, my favourite branch where I’d meet Charlie and Lallana in secret, the place they’d given me the crystal. My fingers touched the fraying string, caressing the rough texture.

  Purple smoke engulfed me.

  The surroundings lightened. Moonlight flooded the scene. A host of aromas filled the air: sweet, smoky, bloody. Pain seared my shoulder, forcing a cry from my throat. I grasped my blood-soaked arm, lightheaded.

  The wisps cleared as quickly as they had emerged.

  The arch stood before me, barely visible in the drizzle.

  I stared into the forest, gasping, torn between my emotions. Were Charlie and Lallana still out there, or had they returned to the village? They were safe, that much I knew. Something deep inside confirmed it. But the need to find them tugged at my mind.

  Following instinct, I moved through the arch. If they weren’t at the village, the Elders would join the search. Dread filled me at the thought of facing the Elders and their fury at me passing the arch. Even if Charlie and Lallana were there, there’d be no hiding my blood-covered tunic.

  Surrounded by the familiar forest trail, mud squelched under my feet, and I picked up speed, fighting the growing nausea. The scent of blood was sickeningly strong. Raindrops t
rickled from the leaves where they’d collected in the downpour, but with the village several minutes’ walk away, the rain would soak me before arriving, and each drop on my shoulder stung like stabbing needles.

  A roar pierced my ears, shaking the ground.

  I skidded to a halt. Fear clenched like a fist around my chest and sweat clung to my back.

  The roar had come from the village. The beasts were in.

  5

  I set off at a sprint toward the village, battling through my pain. My shoulder pounded with every step. I slipped on the narrow path and gritted my teeth with frustration. The moons’ light dimmed, hidden briefly behind a cloud, but I pushed on with confidence, following the familiar trail.

  My vision blurred, the world shimmered, and the dull surroundings disappeared in blackness.

  I skidded to a halt, alarmed, and stared at the new scene. Stars sparkled over every inch of the sky above, but not my sky. Sheer rock stood on every side and rippled below my feet. Not a bush in sight. Crimson red moons overlooked the world and made my blood run cold.

  Seven glowing balls tore across the sky toward one another, each a different hue. A tail of colour trailed behind them, glittering, burning. So close to me. So big.

  My stomach turned to ice.

  They collided with an explosion of blinding light and deafening sound.

  I cried out. The ground shook. My legs buckled.

  Wet grass pressed against my knees, moisture seeping through the fabric of my trousers. The scent of sweet maple and blood stung my nose.

  I gasped, staring at the path.

  Silver light flooded the area and pooled beneath the leafy canopy. Bright, normal, moons guarded my sky like nothing had occurred, and the familiar forest trail lay beneath my feet.

  What just happened? I could have sworn I stood in a cave.

  Tiredness weighed heavily on my eyes. I blinked, fighting the growing weakness.

  Someone screamed.

  I scrambled on, unable to move as fast as I’d like. The first of the cottages came into view across the harvest field. Bursting from the treeline, I staggered through the crops, across the short stretch of grass, and into a narrow street. The refreshing scent of night cooled my skin, rain glistening on the dark, empty windows.

  Nearby growls cut the air. My trembling hands led me to a corner and pressed against the old, grey brick. The tiny space amplified my rapid breathing, and rainwater slid between the cracks in the cobbled ground.

  I risked a peek.

  The beast filled the street from cottage to cottage. Its huge head snarled, hidden inside a doorway. Its fur bristled and froze like needles, and then the creature pulled out. Its eyes snapped to me, gleaming green in the shadows.

  My breath caught in my throat.

  It stepped forward.

  I fled deeper into the village where the cottages grew larger and further apart. Matriarch’s courtyard lay silent on my right, sharing the refreshing scent of Lallanas on the pond, and then I plunged into the first street surrounding the square. Empty carts lined one wall, their shadows distorted on the cobbles.

  Shouts masked the wind and the rustling of leaves. Guttural growls and snapping mingled with the scent of panic, urgency.

  The rain stopped.

  An Elder emerged ahead, and with a flutter of his long robes, raced around the corner into the square. Ruben.

  I followed, grimacing against the stitch in my side and throbbing wound.

  Beasts surrounded the fleeing villagers in the square. Light streamed from the cottage windows. Broken glass scattered across the ground. Boxes and crates lay on their sides, strewn through the area, and fruit rolled along the ground, abandoned like dust. Ruben stamped on a junipen, scattering aromatic juices along the stone.

  A girl with blonde hair ran from a doorway. She paused by the marble fountain, staring at the monster slinking toward her.

  “Lallana!”

  The creature’s eyes locked on me.

  I leapt between them and gripped Lallana with my free hand.

  Its hair stiffened.

  “Clara!” Her eyes widened, roaming over the blood coating my tunic. “You’re hurt.”

  I faced the beast.

  It prowled forward, undeterred by my presence, probably spurred on by the scent of my blood.

  What could I do? I could take Lallana to the Shadow Realm, but Orator’s words leapt to mind.

  ‘It draws out life. Were you not a Shade, you would be dead already.’

  I couldn’t risk it.

  The monster loomed, a head taller than me, teeth flashing.

  Mouth dry, I searched desperately for something to aid us, but with buildings surrounding almost every inch of the creature-filled square, our escapes were limited.

  A water bucket rested on the edge of the fountain, the handle still wet from the rain. I grabbed it and held it between us like a sword.

  It did nothing to sway the beast. Its mouth tilted up at the corners and a low, uneven rumble emanated from its throat.

  I stared, sweat coating my brow, sure it was laughing at me. I braced, ready to swing.

  A black shadow slammed into the bulky body, knocking it to the side with incredible force. It stood, shaking itself briskly, and fixed its attacker with narrowed eyes.

  The newcomer was huge, twice the size of the other, and pure black. It barked once, and the beast bounded off into one of the side streets.

  My head spun, confusion tugging at the tendrils of my mind. One of the cottages flared up, blue flames dancing across the rooftop.

  “Clara.” Matriarch grabbed me, sending pain shooting through my shoulder. With silver hair pulled back in a bun, her gaze grazed over my blood and the torn fabric of my tunic. She frowned, her eyes darkening. Seriousness etched into her features, eliminating all signs of the mother-figure within her. “We have to go. Now.” She tugged me away from the fountain.

  “But …” The beast had bounded away. “The monsters –”

  “They will not hurt you.”

  “What? I don’t –”

  Flames leapt from a street ahead, smoke curling through the air.

  Lallana clutched my arm, her nose wrinkled, and Matriarch faced me. “Clara, you must relax.”

  “But –”

  “The beasts are allies.”

  “Allies? What are you –”

  “There’s no time to explain.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me away, into the village hall. Lallana followed close behind. Her face was pale, but she wore an expression of gravity that didn’t belong on her young features.

  Just like the stone beyond the wall, seven rings were carved in stone above the door.

  Matriarch headed for the cool training arena, unaffected by the lack of light. Our footfalls echoed in the hall, lit only by the moons glow and the flickering blue flames outside.

  Wooden weapons stood, untouched on the racks. Tools of my training. History and general knowledge were taught in separate rooms. Here, we fought. My mentor, Griff, was tough, and should’ve given up on me long ago, though perhaps he didn’t because of being an Elder. Hand to hand was never my forte. Then, there were the weights: huge balls lined up on pedestals, each heavier than the last.

  “The beasts can’t be allies. They did this to me!” I touched my blood-stained shoulder.

  Matriarch released me with a frown, marched past the training weapons, and to the cabinet. “That beast will be dealt with.” She yanked open the door, snapping the padlock like a twig.

  My mouth dropped open. Lallana didn’t react to her action, shifting instead to take the sword Matriarch handed to her.

  “What is going on?” I demanded. “Where’s Charlie? Is he here?”

  Matriarch’s lips twitched, and her gaze softened. “Charlie is fine.” Two swords clamped in her hands, she shoved open the far door and led us to the back street. Burning wood and stone tainted the air.

  I glanced down the lane to the shouts from the square, and almost bumped into
Matriarch.

  She’d stopped, dead in her tracks.

  A beast blocked the path ahead. Its eyes reflected the low moonlight. It slunk toward us, making no sound.

  Matriarch advanced wordlessly and stopped before it. She stood tall, calm.

  “No,” Lallana said. “I can do this.”

  “I’ll take her from here. You get to Charlie.”

  Lallana scowled and moved to the beast.

  My stomach lurched. “Lallana!” I reached out.

  Matriarch did nothing to stop her, gripped my arm with a stern expression, and watched as she slid down its side and disappeared behind it.

  It snorted and bared its teeth, its gaze turning on me.

  I retreated. Blue light exploded in the cottage beside me. Flames flickered at the window. The heat cut through the night air, warm against my cheeks.

  The beast bounded from the road, revealing the empty street.

  Matriarch tucked a sword in her belt and reached for me.

  I pulled away from her. “Why did you send her away? It’s not safe here. We should get Charlie together.”

  She tried to take my hand, but I shoved her off. “No. Lallana!”

  “Clara, listen to me.”

  “Where is she? Where’s Charlie? What is going on?” The leaves on a tree burst into flames. Blue shadows flickered on her face, deepening her wrinkles. Smoking ash drifted around us.

  “Clara, they’re fine. They’re taking a different route.”

  “What route? To where?”

  “To the forest, Clara. The Seekers are coming. It’s the best chance we have.”

  I stepped back. “The Seekers?”

  She touched my arm. “I know this is confusing for you, but time is running out. You must come with me. We can explain everything later.”

  I nodded, my body numb. Terror gripped my stomach, spreading like a wave. The darkness increased. The shouts grew, and then died away.

  Sparks spat out of my fingers, and blue flames flickered to life. My pulse pounded, and I shook my hands, willing the flames to die. They only flared up more. Frustration poured through me. Someone would get hurt. “How do I stop this?”

  Matriarch glanced at me, adding further distance between us. “Just keep up with me.”