Mage- The Guardian's Oath

by S A Edwards

  Verum nodded at me, his concern and anger clear in his eyes.

  “What happened here?” I asked.

  “The Council,” Verum said. “They tried to recruit us for their army. Against you.”

  “You refused?”

  “Of course. Many of them wouldn’t be here now were it not for the assistance of the Preservers.” He peered at the mountain.

  “I will heal them,” I said, “but first I must speak with you all.”

  The Elder gestured to an uncovered stall.

  I clambered on top, claiming the attention of the villagers.

  Charlie stood below me, watchful eyes on the crowd.

  “Please listen,” I said, and silence fell over the villagers. “I bring grave tidings. The Alignment is near, a time where the seven comets will collide. The Council intend to harness their magic and subject us all to their will.”

  A murmur rippled throughout the villagers.

  “I have come seeking your help, but I will not force you. We are at war, and there will be many casualties. I can’t protect you … I can’t even …” Hopelessness clutched my heart, and my gaze dropped to the cobbles.

  Charlie stepped forward. “We must fight, for our freedom. Will any of you join us?”

  Everyone remained still.

  Then, a hand raised near the back of the crowd. “You radiate doubt. How can we fight with you if you don’t think we can be victorious?”

  The crowd parted, giving me a clear view of the speaker.

  Pressing on in years, he leaned against his shovel. Dirt clung to his sleeves and fingers.

  “I believe we can win,” I said. “But the thought of any of you getting hurt …”

  “I fought through the old war,” he said. “Had I not, many of us would not be standing here now. We must protect what we love.” He peered at the woman beside him. “Who we love.”

  A smile pinched my lips.

  Another hand raised. “I will fight.”

  “As will I.”

  “Me, too.”

  One by one, their hands rose, brandishing farming tools.

  Tears welled in my eyes. “You are willing, despite the danger you face?”

  The old man slipped his hand in the woman’s. “It is better to die free than to live in captivity.”

  55

  The villagers staggered, short-winded after the journey through the Shadow Realm to the wasteland, their hands still clasped.

  The strength of taking the group through the Shadow Realm drained my reserves, and weakness tugged at my body.

  Woodland lined the clearing on my right, and a steep hill dotted with rocks rose on my left. Tangled weeds covered the ground.

  Separating from the group, I clambered to the top of the hill and stared at the barren plain beyond.

  To the far side, mountainous cliffs stretched, the only disturbance a crack about halfway up. An uneven path wound to the opening.

  “Clara!” Orator stood among the weeds, and I smiled at him. He beckoned me.

  “The Dalrene are aware of the situation,” Orator said when I reached him. He wound around the stones and underbrush, leading the group of villagers. Charlie marched ahead of them. “They are recruiting as we speak. You should stay in the camp with Sil, ready to direct the arrivals.”

  “The wasteland is empty,” I said. “Why can’t we go to the cave now and wait for them?”

  “They’re there. There’s a protective barrier there to hide them in their preparations.”

  “Why? What’s the point?”

  “If we attack now, we will be blind. When my siblings arrive and the army is ready, we will destroy the barrier.”

  We turned a corner, and my heart rose at the sight of the camp. Despite our urgency, they had still constructed shelters: few, simple yet elegant, and pure white. The material draped over them fluttered in a light breeze. The sight bolstered my confidence.

  “Depending on our numbers, we may need more shelters before dusk,” Orator said. “Let me know if you do.”

  “Where did you get them? I could help.”

  He laughed. “One of the perks of being a Dalrene. It isn’t just in the Shadow Realm that I can create things, and my creations don’t remain as smoke.”

  “You’re serious?” That was amazing.

  Sil emerged from one of the shelters. “Clara, good.” He pointed us toward a nearby entrance.

  Charlie sidled beside me and followed me inside the spacious tent.

  A food-covered table rested in the centre. I scampered to it, drank from a goblet, and then grabbed a piece of lemon-corn.

  “This is for the battle.” Sil gestured beside the tent opening to where a black tunic with a navy strip along each side hung. Knee-length boots and white trousers rested beneath. “They were forged with each of the gifts to work in harmony with your magic,” he said. “Don’t want those flames to leave you without. Eat and rest for a moment. I will meet you outside when you are ready.” He left.

  I sank into a chair.

  Charlie grinned at me, easing my tension a little.

  “How long have you known you’re a Beast?” I asked.

  His eyes dropped to the floor, and he leaned against the table. “It started the night Mama and Pa died. I didn’t black out. I changed. But the Mage knocked me out, and I couldn’t stop …” He cleared his throat. “Custos sensed my magic and taught me to control it. I’m going to be an Elder one day, you know, and then I can protect the land, just like you.”

  “The land.” My lemon-corn dropped to the floor, and I raced from the shelter. The latter part of my vision of the Alignment cast worry through my mind.

  Sil directed a new group of arrivals into another shelter, a little way off.

  I ran to him, claiming his attention. “The last collision created this land, yes?”

  He nodded.

  “And this is the only one since then,” I said. “Assuming then, we manage to stop the Council harnessing the magic, what do we do about any chunks that fall from the comets this time? If they were big enough to make this land last time …”

  Sil’s lips tightened.

  “You already thought of this, didn’t you?” I asked. “What do we do?” To stop the Council, only to have everyone die from the impact … It didn’t bare thinking about.

  “I have no solution,” Sil said.

  “But the destruction it could cause –”

  “I’m well aware. All we can do is hope our gifts can protect as many as possible.”

  Charlie touched my elbow. “Can’t we evacuate people? Send them to the old land?”

  Sil shook his head. “If they leave, they can never return. And there is not enough time to evacuate the whole land.”

  I stared at the clear, blue sky, stomach churning. It showed no signs of an approaching storm. If I had just done what Esté wanted, this could have been stopped.

  *

  All through that day new arrivals kept coming. My hopes grew that our numbers might match those gathered against us by the Council.

  Orator filled the clearing with shelters, and then disappeared for an hour or more, only to return with more people.

  Yithan arrived at mid-afternoon. He greeted me with a smile. “It’s nice to finally understand what’s going on,” he said.

  “But unfortunately, it’s led to this.”

  Someone touched my shoulder. “Hey man, war happened before remember?”

  The three Preservers from the mountain stood around me, their light-blue cloaks bright in the sunlight.

  “Lots of people died last time, and the city became a wilderness,” I said. Memories of the desolated state of the Old City returned to my mind.

  “Yeah, but the good guys won, ain’t that right, Doug?” He nudged the Mage beside him.

  “True. An’ we’ll beat ‘em again.”

  They flashed me smiles, and then wandered away to assist in the preparations.

  Sil and I handed out red ribbons to wear in the war t
o distinguish friend from foe.

  Just as the moons began to manifest, Vitora, Tenebris, Cupitor, and Glacies arrived, each with a small group of Mage.

  Vitora took my hand in hers, and heat travelled up my arm. “We brought all we could.”

  I nodded, unable to find words in my growing anxiety.

  Behind her, Kyra waved.

  Lena approached, her blonde hair fluttering in the evening breeze.

  Charlie hurried to greet the young Preserver, towering over her with his new height.

  “You shouldn’t be here,” I said to her.

  “Why not? I want the chance to fight for what’s right.”

  “No, neither of you are going out there.”

  Charlie frowned. “Clara –”

  “You won’t change my mind.” I couldn’t stand him getting hurt. Despite knowing of his Beast gift and new stature, I still saw the old Charlie in him.

  Charlie clenched his fists and straightened. “I am your Guardian –”

  “I will not stand back and let you put yourself in danger.” Or Lena.

  “You can’t stop me.”

  “Charlie –”

  Glacies touched my shoulder, her icy eyes bright in the low light. “A word.”

  I met Charlie’s steely gaze. “This conversation isn’t over.”

  Glacies led me into a shelter and paused before the table. “Lena and Charlie are to be Elders.”

  “I know.”

  “Then, you know they have a duty and right to fight.”

  “And a duty to die? They’re only children.”

  “They are powerful.”

  “Why? Why should they be chosen for this? Who says they have more power than –”

  She held up a hand. “Magic is more intuitive than learned. The potency depends on the inner strength of the person, and Charlie and Lena have more strength than almost every other Mage out there. They have the potential and the ability to survive, more so than other Mage. They will offer as much strength to this army as you, or I, or any of the Dalrene. You cannot deprive them of their right. It may be this that completes their transformation into Elders.”

  “It may be this that kills them.”

  “You have no choice in the matter.”

  A growl rumbled deep in my throat. “We’ll see about that.”

  I marched to the door.

  Charlie chatted to Lena, his hands waving through the air. No fear of the oncoming battle touched his features.

  She laughed, and he flashed his dimples.

  My tears threatened to spill.

  Glacies stepped beside me.

  I didn’t look at her.

  “I know you care for him,” she said, “but he is very capable and deserves your trust. Please understand, you carry a desire to keep him safe, but he doesn’t need your protection. You need his.”

  “He’s fifteen-years-old.”

  “And under Custos, is the strongest of all the Beasts.”

  A shout of alarm sounded through the camp, and then a group of cloaked, scowling Mage strode around a shelter. Black markings ringed their muscular arms and bare shoulders.

  Charlie broke away from Lena to stand in front of me, and other Beasts slunk out of the woods.

  The watchful Mage and Mortals between the shelters backed away at their arrival, and alarmed murmurs rippled through the scattered crowd.

  The Corrupted leader stopped several feet from Charlie, ignoring the growls resounding through the clearing. His gaze clamped on me. “Nice eyes.”

  “What are you doing here, Kilkerran?”

  “We’ve come to help.”

  “Why?”

  He chuckled. “I thought that would’ve been obvious. You’re battling against the Council. Perfect opportunity to leave our mark.”

  “No.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I understand your cause. I even agree with it. But your methods are wrong. We’re fighting for our freedom. The opposition –”

  “Necessary casualties –”

  “Innocents. They are either misled or acting on false promises. If there were any other way, I’d take it.” I wanted as little number of deaths as possible.

  His eyes narrowed. “Our cause is the same. We are allies. Allow us to join you. You need the numbers.”

  Silence fell.

  Every eye turned to me.

  It was risky. If the Corrupted fought like they always had, chances of helping them would become more difficult. They would always be shunned, seen to live up to the wronged reputation they already held. But if they stood by us honourably … “Very well. You can prepare in there.” I pointed at my shelter.

  Kilkerran nodded and led his people inside.

  Padding paws shook the ground, and then Custos bounded into the clearing, his long, dark-brown fur wagging. Far larger than the other Beasts, he directed their path with ease. Old Mage, land workers, and young apprentices followed the group.

  Custos transformed, and clasped my hands, his crystal glowing in the gloom. Urgency was etched into the creases of his face. “We’ve gathered all we can. We’re out of time.”

  My heart lurched. Clambering up the hill, I grasped the rocks and stared over the wasteland.

  Beside me, the Dalrene lined the hill – Vitora, Orator, and Sil on one side, Tenebris, Glacies, Custos, and Cupitor on the other. They raised their hands, and the barrier fell with a line of dropping light.

  Mage filled the space in numberless rows. The colours of the comets mixed among them on their cloaks and clothing.

  I stared at the army, a sense of nausea spreading through me. Their numbers far outweighed our own. “If I had just taken that power … I could have stopped this.”

  The air grew colder. Thunder rumbled. The first drops of rain splashed on my cheeks and made the hair on my arms rise.

  Light flashed beside me, and Esté appeared between Vitora and me. He frowned over the wasteland, his breathing even. “The battle isn’t the priority. The magic will be harnessed from the cave. We must get there before the Alignment if we are to stop this.”

  “The comets are magic, right?” I asked.

  “Pure magic, yes.”

  “So, why can’t we harness the magic instead of the Council? We can keep it safe, guarded, and protect everyone.”

  “It defies every law. Even the strongest Mage couldn’t cope for long under its power. It would overwhelm you.”

  My gaze strayed to the entrance in the cliff wall. If Esté had died, I could have been Corrupted now. His magic could never have been used to stop this.

  I twisted back to our allies.

  Charlie stared up at us, wide-eyed with clenched fists.

  The others huddled together, shivering in the falling rain, and apprehension brought silence to the crowd. Red ribbons, tied to forearms, fluttered throughout the ranks.

  My lips tightened. This was our chance. Our only chance. I may have failed with Esté and Lallana. But not this time. This time would be different.

  “My friends! My allies! Heed my words!” I shouted.

  Thunder rumbled again.

  I nodded to Orator.

  He raised his hands, and the shelters vanished in a whirl of purple smoke, revealing our full numbers.

  I swallowed. “Just over this rise, our enemy awaits! They would take from us everything we hold dear! They would have us, and our children, enslaved, for generations to come! But they will not win!

  “We will fight like the dragons that once roamed this land! Our swing will be like the very fires of their breath! Our determination, like the strength of their hide! Our voices will pierce their hearts like the roar of the beast itself! For our lands! For our families! For our freedom! We will fight!”

  Their cry broke through the pattering rain and echoed across the wasteland.

  The Beasts transformed and roared, drowning out the distant thunder.

  The first time I heard their cry, I’d been terrified. But not now. Now, confidence coursed thro
ugh my blood, as though their voices stirred something deep within me, a weapon just waiting to emerge.

  A ripple spread through the enemies’ ranks.

  The rain increased. It pounded upon my shoulders and soaked my hair. My heart thudded.

  The clouds broke, and silver moonlight filtered over the land.

  “For freedom!” I leapt over the peak and tore downhill.

  56

  I raced towards the army on the battle plain. Thundering footsteps, and cries of determination followed.

  Arrows cut through the rain. Ice and flames collided in blasts of light and heat. Mage blocked the villager’s arrows with a wall of ice and jets of water.

  The Beasts overtook me and plunged into the enemy, scattering their solid line.

  A giant black Beast, smaller only than Custos’ huge form, ploughed into the throng and knocked two Seekers away with a swipe of his paw.

  The sheer size of the Beast betrayed all I knew of Charlie’s vulnerable body.

  Fire blasted toward me.

  I dropped. Damp dust clung to my hands. Heat singed my hair, bringing with it a smoky scent, and my ears tingled with the magic.

  Water whirled from my palms and the ground, engulfed the fire, and with a hiss, transformed it into vision-obstructing steam.

  My eyes adjusted to the obscurity, thanks to the Beast within.

  The surrounding Mage flailed, lost in the heat, at the mercy of the Beasts.

  I pushed past them, further into the battle. Adrenaline led me on, searching for a path through the crowds to the cave.

  All around me, Seekers drew in their victims. Purple tendrils curled from their stones, paralysing their enemies.

  Frost and snowflakes hovered in the air, frozen mid-fall, transforming the nearby rain.

  Lightning flashed, and rain pounded to the dust beyond the ice.

  Light-blue clothing of Preservers surrounded a Healer. A red ribbon tied to his forearm contrasted against his navy tunic. Ice glittered through the rain around him.

  The Healer dropped to his knees, his lips blue.

  I raised my arms, drawing heat to me. It built inside me, pressure burning like a furnace, and then I released it. It exploded in all directions, knocking the Preservers off their feet.