Mage- The Guardian's Oath

by S A Edwards

  My boots sank into the building snow, camouflaged in the pure white fluff. Flakes swirled, wind knotted my hair, building in sound and strength, and even with the warmth, my cheeks stung. The clouds thickened, deepened in colour and blocked out the sunlight.

  “Do you get a lot of storms up here?” I shouted.

  Glacies nodded, her light hair barely waving.

  “Am I doing something wrong? The wind is so strong, but it doesn’t seem to affect you.”

  “You haven’t yet mastered your gift.” Her words touched my ears as clear as in a silent room. “Keep calm. Keep your focus.”

  A deafening crunch cut through the gale, and the mountain shook.

  My stomach lurched, and I wobbled.

  A crack streaked across the ground, cutting between Glacies and me. Snow cascaded into the gaping mouth with a hiss. The ice beneath my feet broke, and I tumbled into the chasm.

  33

  I got one brief glance of Glacies before slipping into the crevasse.

  Frost battered my body and embraced me with a slap, dragging me further into the earth down a sharp slope. A crack in the ice opened ahead and light broke the shadow.

  I rolled through it. Wind whipped my face, and snow obscured my vision, cold on my tongue.

  The slope levelled out, and I drew to a stop. The chill of snow crept down my collar and onto my neck.

  My breath came fast and hard. My shoulder ached, and my cloak lay in shreds.

  Snow drifts and walls of ice dotted about on the uneven ground around me. Fighting for control, I called back on the warmth, banishing the chill.

  A growl cut the howling wind, and a white, bulky creature slinked into view below. It didn’t look up, and relief coursed through my thudding heart that the wind was on my side. Another patrolled near the first, fur waving in the gale. What were they called? Ursus, or something.

  Standing on shaky legs, I searched for an uphill path, and my remaining heat turned cold.

  One stood above me, snarling down over a drift. Sharp, white teeth bared, the Ursus’ pupils dilated, turning its eyes black.

  My mouth turned dry. “No. I’m a Preserver.” My voice shook. “You can’t hurt me.”

  The Ursus dropped to the snow. Flakes scattered beneath its huge paws, and the ground shuddered.

  “I’m calm. You won’t attack. I’m calm.”

  It snarled.

  “I’m calm. I’m calm, I’m calm.”

  The creature crouched.

  I leapt across the snow.

  Teeth snapped beside my ear.

  I scrambled to my feet and raced behind the nearest ice wall, twisting through a narrow valley.

  The padding of paws faded, and silence fell.

  I pressed my numb fingers against the side of the wall and listened for the predator.

  Warmth crept down my neck, and a musky scent mingled with the cold. I stared at the daggered teeth bared over the top of the valley.

  A blast of ice slammed into its black nose from my palms.

  The Ursus sniffed and shook its head, its fur whipping violently, and then regained its focus. Claws extended from its paws.

  I fled, skidding behind one of the snow drifts.

  A shadow fell over me, and the Ursus rammed into the snow before me. It swiped, claws flashing.

  I yanked back and dropped in the frost. At my command, ice punched through the ground, separating us with a thick wall with razor edges.

  The Ursus roared. The sound echoed through the valley, shaking my wall. Fragments plummeted from the top.

  Fear tore through my heart, and the wall crumbled.

  I crawled backward, kicking up snow.

  The Ursus sprang.

  I curled up, eyes squeezed shut. Thoughts of Charlie filled my mind: his dimples, the way he shuffled his feet when nervous, his giggle … Heat caressed my skin at the memory of his cuddles. Lallana’s smile. Her scent of lavender and her unmatched kindness.

  The fear was strangled under my smile, and my body relaxed.

  A hot breeze blew on my face, accompanied with sweet musk.

  My eyes opened.

  The Ursus crouched before me, a mere hand’s distance from my nose. Teeth tucked away under furry lips, its breaths wafted my hair.

  I crawled back further, Charlie and Lallana still in the front of my mind. My back pressed against the side of the wall.

  The creature’s attention remained on me, as though awaiting my order.

  “Would you just back up a little?” I whispered.

  It shuffled back, and then lay down in the snow.

  I gaped, surprised that worked. This close to the Ursus, the flakes clinging to the thick fur were unmistakeable.

  Cautiously, I stood.

  Unlike the fire hounds guarding the Refiner Capital, it still carried an air of danger, even in submission. One wrong move, and I wouldn’t make it back to Charlie, but the control was mine now.

  Snow shuffled beneath my feet in my approach. I knelt before it.

  The Ursus cocked its head.

  I copied.

  It nudged my hand with its wet, warm nose.

  A buzz surged through me, and a smile touched my lips. My fingers laced with the rough fur, soaking in its warmth. Something tugged within me. “You’re a good boy.”

  The skin below my crystal tingled, and I glanced down in time to see it change. The light blue shade matched that of Glacies’ crystal, glimmering like the frost.

  My gaze strayed to my reflection in the wall of ice behind me. My eyes had changed, too, sparkling like the magic itself.

  Then, they faded, once again returning to their original brown colour.

  I stood and wandered back to the wall, studying my reflection.

  The Ursus watched silently, and my finger brushed a stray hair from my face. “Could you take me back to the palace?” I asked.

  The Ursus rose and lolloped toward me.

  I smiled at the creature. So wild, so untamed, and I controlled it. This power belonged to me, and with every gift, the Council moved closer to extinction.

  My fingers laced in its fur, and I followed it back through the valley.

  Charlie raced across the drawbridge ahead of Glacies and Lena when we neared. “Clara! I saw you fall.” He stared at the Ursus. “Cool. What happened to your cloak? Are you hurt? Because you can’t heal yourself –”

  I laughed and reached up to brush his fringe back from his eyes. “Relax. I’m fine. But you’re taller. How is that possible?” His head was nearly level with my eyes.

  “Growth spurt, I guess.” He eyed the Ursus. “I’m glad you’re not hurt.” He grinned and ran back to Lena.

  Jealousy stabbed at my mind.

  The Ursus shuddered, shrugged out from under my grip, and slunk back down the slope.

  Glacies stepped in my way. “You touched him.”

  “Should I not have?”

  “I’m the only Preserver that has. Until now.”

  I blinked. “Vitora said something similar. I can create blue flames –”

  “And other than you, she’s the only one that can. Just like you can sense the Ursus is a boy.”

  “No one else can?”

  She shook her head. “When you took the oath, you weren’t merely given all seven gifts. You carry the ability to reach their full potential.”

  I smiled. Four down. Three to go. And once I mastered the rest of them, no one would be able to stand against me, but another question played on my mind.

  “My crystal.” My fingers traced the fraying string and paused at the cool pendant. “You, Orator, Sil, Vitora and Custos all have one.”

  “Yes.”

  “So, why won’t mine hold a colour?”

  “Mine is fashioned from a piece of the comet, taken from the crystal cave,” she said. “The cave, set in the very centre of the land, is where the different parts of the comets joined when they first fell.”

  “I thought that was just a myth.” But considering everythin
g that had happened, the news didn’t surprise me.

  “Truth quickly becomes legend when allowed to perish with time,” she said.

  “How did you get it? I thought the cave was heavily protected.”

  “Few can enter,” she said. “I’m one of those privileged.”

  “So, the others –”

  “They are privileged, too.”

  “Do you think mine came from the cave?” Although that wouldn’t explain how Charlie got it.

  “Perhaps,” Glacies said. “I really don’t know anything about yours, except that you only have it because you’re a Guardian. You must protect it, whatever the cost.”

  “Why? What happens if someone else gets it?”

  “That depends on what power it holds. It does not keep the colour of a comet, which means there’s something else, but I have no answers.”

  My gaze shifted to Charlie and Lena, and my teeth gritted. She looked like Lallana, but she wasn’t her. I didn’t like Charlie being with her. Like she was trying to take Lallana’s place. She could never.

  “You’re angry,” Glacies said.

  “I’m fine.” Why was I angry? It made no sense to feel this way. The sooner we left the better. “Where do we go from here?”

  Her eyes narrowed. “The Dark Capital. The Beasts will meet you at the forest border and accompany you.”

  “What about the Seekers? We have a few hunting us, and they could be waiting at the bottom of the mountain now.”

  “Not a few. Eleven. More have joined the hunt.”

  34

  The crisp, late-morning air stung my nose, leading me to pull warmth inside me when we wandered to the edge of the mountaintop. Two weeks had passed since I had gained control of the Ursus, and each day, I had become more and more in control of my gift. Keeping warm came naturally now and barely took any of my focus.

  Low, white clouds blocked any view of the forest miles below us. The remains of our recent meal still hung heavy in my tummy. “So, Lena seems nice.”

  Charlie’s cheeks turned pink, and he grinned. “Yeah, she is.”

  “You like her.”

  “She’s different.”

  “She is different.” My cloak flickered in the wind. The slope dove out of sight ahead, and the thought of the hunters at the bottom made my nerves flutter. “Charlie?”

  He looked at me.

  “Why don’t you stay here?”

  His face dropped. “Don’t start this again.”

  “I’ve barely seen you since we got here. You’ve spent every possible moment with Lena. You may never see her again if you leave.”

  “I took the opportunity to find out what she could do. Chances are I’ll never see what I’ve seen here again. I like her. But not enough to abandon you.”

  “You wouldn’t be abandoning me.”

  He folded his arms. “I’m coming with you.”

  “Doesn’t anything frighten you? There are at least eleven Seekers down there. Haven’t you thought about what happens if you get caught?”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  “Not necessarily. You’re not safe with me.”

  “You’re not safe without me.”

  My brow furrowed. So, he bailed me out a couple of times, and now he thinks he can protect me from everything? Surely not. I could take care of myself. “Look, Charlie –”

  “Are you ready?” Glacies dropped an oval board at my feet. Its white surface bore two loops, and flakes flurried around it.

  “What’s this?”

  “Your way down.” She dropped another in front of Charlie.

  “I don’t understand.”

  “This is the steepest, most impossible part of the mountain to climb. The Seekers are spread out along the bottom and will sense you the moment you reach the end of the snow, but they won’t expect you to take this route. It will give you a few minutes’ head start, but you will have to be quick on your feet.”

  “I still don’t –”

  “Step in and slide down,” she said.

  Charlie slipped his feet inside the loops, and the board slid forward a touch. “Woah.” He gripped my arm. “Cool.”

  Glacies’ hair whipped in the wind. “The slope is steep, and you will reach the bottom fast. Rest as little as possible to reach the forest border by nightfall. Good luck.” She turned and marched back through the snow, disappearing amongst the flakes.

  Charlie released me, arms outstretched. “It’s kind of nice isn’t it, going back to the forest? Almost like we’re going home.”

  “I hadn’t thought of that.” I stepped into the loops, and my heart thudded when the board slid forward. “I’m not sure how safe this is.”

  He shuffled forward with a grin. “You can wield the frost now, remember? You’ll be fine.”

  “And you?”

  He shrugged. “It’s not so bad once you get your balance.”

  I shuffled toward the drop and paused at the edge. “Ready?”

  He nodded.

  My sweaty hands balled. “Let’s go.”

  The board slid over the edge. My stomach lurched, and wind slammed against my cheeks. Snow flicked up beside me, threatening a fall.

  “Woooooohoooooo!” Charlie stabbed his fists in the air, rocking from side-to-side on his board. His fluid movements minimised the disruption in the snow and increased his speed, sending him rocketing ahead.

  My body mimicked his, and my focus moved to the snow, cutting an easier path down the mountain.

  My board drew level with Charlie, and his dimples flashed. “Think you could warm it up a little? I’m freezing.”

  I pulled on the cold inside him, matching it to the warmth in me.

  Ice walls lined the area to our right, and the bulky figure of a patrolling Ursus caught my eye. It paid no attention to us, and soon slunk out of view.

  Several minutes later, the first pine trees appeared, and then the brown dust of the mountain. Sheer rock plummeted beside me, battered by the grinding dirt. The ground levelled out, immersing us in barren woodland foliage.

  I peeked at Charlie. His lips tight, he surveyed the surroundings.

  “You haven’t spoken in a while,” I said.

  He flashed me a quick grin. “I’m listening.”

  “For what?”

  “The Seekers.”

  “I doubt you’ll be able to hear them.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “You never know.”

  The boards drew to a halt.

  The hair on the nape of my neck stuck on end, and thick terror pooled in cold sweat.

  “You can’t hide.”

  Charlie tugged his feet from the loops seconds before me.

  “Quickly.” I shoved him and sprinted into thicker woodland.

  Bushes and wild grass tangled under my feet. The scent of sweet pine and musk clung to my nose.

  “Hurry, Charlie.”

  Heavy breathing cut over our rapid footfalls, and padding shook the ground.

  A Beast leapt from the tangled trees, long grey fur flattened against its body with its speed. Teeth clasped on my white cloak and tore it from my shoulders.

  I staggered, eyes wide.

  More shot into view, snatched a corner of the fabric, and scattered, shredding the cloak in seconds.

  A long, brown-furred Beast brushed against a tree. The material scratched against the bark, and then the Beast was gone.

  Charlie grabbed my arm, urgency shining in his eyes. “Let’s go.”

  “What was that about?”

  “They’re scattering your scent for the Seekers.” He tugged me. “Come on.”

  Heart thudding, I grabbed his hand and raced on further into the trees.

  “Charlie, how would you know that?”

  “I thought it was obvious.”

  Obvious? No. What happened to the innocent child I lived with in our home village? He was so different, so changed. Hardly a surprise though. No one could experience what we had and leave unchanged.

  A chill
touched my skin, and shivers coursed down my spine.

  A black cloaked figure perched on a root ahead of us. His familiar dark eyes clamped on me, and a crooked smile played on his lips.

  Shadow rushed around him, and he vanished.

  I skidded to a halt, intense dislike cutting through my fear.

  “What’s wrong?” Charlie asked.

  “You didn’t see him?”

  Charlie stiffened. “Who?”

  “Zantos.” A cool breeze slithered over my skin, and I sensed the Keeper’s smile.

  “You’ve got yourself in quite the pickle, haven’t you?” His voice hissed in the shadows, resounding around us.

  We didn’t have time for this. “The Seekers are coming.”

  “Yes.”

  I shivered, fighting against my revulsion for him. But maybe there was an escape. “Help us.”

  “Help you?”

  Darkness flickered in my periphery, gone in a heartbeat.

  “Why would I do that?”

  “You said we were friends … in the past.” Although last time I had accepted his help, the Council killed Lallana. Any help given now surely wouldn’t be without consequence.

  “I said we were close. There is a difference.”

  Uncontrollable fear gripped me like a vice, constricting my chest. The Seekers were close.

  “Clara,” Charlie whispered. “We need to go.”

  “I deal with Gates. There are none here.”

  “Then, what are you doing here?”

  Unyielding amusement stabbed at my mind. “Seeing how this plays out.”

  My feet scrambled for the thicker woodland, Charlie leading.

  “Of course, there is one thing I could do.” A snatch of eyes flashed in the gloom, bringing my flight to a halt. “Every gift requires reaching through a Gate to access the magic. I could close that of the Seekers.”

  Hope rose within me. “You can do that? Stop them using their magic?”

  “I can. But I won’t.”

  Sweat beaded on Charlie’s forehead, matching my own, and the air turned thick. “They’re coming!” He beckoned to me, panic in his words.

  A Seeker’s voice churned in my mind. “I have you now.”

  My neck prickled until it stung.

  Then, a Seeker skidded into my path.

  35