by Mary Swift
“Master Enchanter, it’s a girl.” she said. “What will you name her?”
Finnegan took a step forward. It was then that he realized what was wrong. The robe sensed it too, it wrapped itself tightly around him like armor. The child was not mortal or enchanter, it was something else, a vacuum that sucked up all the energy around it. She was already absorbing her mother’s energy. She could destroy Firesea.
He grabbed the arm of the midwife and took her into the hallway. “That child has to leave the circle. The family has to be exiled.”
“She could harm the mortals too.” the midwife said. “You should seal the house.”
“Seal the house? With them in it?”
“Yes. That child will destroy the circle and if she’s put with the mortals she’ll use all of the energy she’s taken from us and unleash it on them. Imagine all of Firesea’s energy in the mortal world, it could wipe them out.”
“If I seal them in they’ll starve to death.”
“Enchant a cabinet or cupboard to contain unlimited food and drink. I remember your father, he was a brilliant enchanter.”
“I’m not brilliant.” he admitted. It didn’t matter who knew, it was obvious.
“You could be, you just have to believe in yourself.”
“This is the end of our world, isn’t it?” he asked.
“I don’t know. It would seem that way.”
Finnegan went back into the bedroom. The mother looked up and smiled. “Have you named her yet Master Enchanter?”
“Yes. Her name is Leah.” It had been his mother’s name.
“Oh, I like that.” She kissed Leah’s forehead. “Thank you Master Enchanter.”
“You’re welcome. The midwife and I are going to step outside now and get some air. I’ll send your husband up.”
“Thank you again Master Enchanter.”
Before he left the house he went into the kitchen. He put his hands on a small cupboard and muttered an enchantment. The robe fluttered and glowed around him. He and the midwife went outside.
“Seal them in.” she told him. “This probably won’t be the last time you’ll have to do this.”
“Then what’s the point? We’re going to be ruined eventually.”
“The point is that we’re not going down without a fight.” she said sharply. “Seal the house.”
Finnegan stretched his hands out in front of him. “Seal this house. No one shall come out or go in.” A milky film covered the structure.
“Good, that needed to be done.” said the midwife. “I could feel that child stealing my energy the moment she was born.”
Suddenly there was a thump on the window. The husband stared out at them. He pounded on the glass and shouted something. Finnegan looked away. “I don’t know what to do anymore.”
“I don’t either. I’m glad I’m not the Master Enchanter.” she said.
Finnegan watched the midwife leave. The man started pounding on the window again. Finnegan hurried away and returned to the council hall. He climbed the hundreds of steps to the top of the dome. He reached into the pocket of the robe and took out a signal. He threw it up in the air. It rose and rose until it exploded in a shower of intense red and gold light. He was recalling the rangers that had been sent out in search of Dante. He doubted any of them were successful anyway.
Chapter 66
Dante returned to his house in Chilton. He was finished. The Founders had defeated him and ruined his relationship with his son. He stared out of the window at the harbor. There was a knock on the door. He went into the hallway and opened the door. Nora’s brother Tom was on the other side.
“What do you want?” Dante asked.
Tom stepped inside and shut the door, his face was flushed. “I got into the Darkhill council hall. It worked just like you said.”
Dante didn’t want to hear about it. He turned away and went back into the parlor.
Tom followed him. “Did you hear me? I got inside. The first time I couldn’t do much. That girl was there, Killian’s daughter. I don’t think she saw me. I stabbed her father and then I got scared she would find me. When I went back a few days later I didn’t see her. I cut the Founder’s hearts with a knife just like you suggested. But there were only three of them left.”
“Killian Cramer was gone.” Dante stated.
“How do you know?” Tom took off his gloves and warmed his hands at the fire.
“Because I’ve seen him.”
Tom pulled up a chair and sat down. “What happened? Why isn’t Killian dead?”
“Something occurred that I hadn’t counted on.” The knife Dante had given to Tom years before was an old ranger’s weapon. Back when he was the Master Enchanter Dante had been asked to enchant it so that it couldn’t kill a Firesea man. Dante had been a Founder when he cast the spell. On Killian the knife would have had the opposite effect of its practical purpose and given him life. Dante should have thought of that, it was an amateur mistake. And he should have never put such a dangerous item into the hands of an angry mortal.
“You said you saw Killian. Did you kill him for good?” Tom asked.
“I’m done with all of this Tom. I don’t care anymore.”
“Is this some kind of joke? We’ve got them. The enchanters are dropping like flies.”
Dante shook his head. “There’s a healer that’s curing the sickness.”
“Then find him and kill him.” Tom clenched his fists. “Do you know where he is? I’ll do it myself.”
“No you won’t. He’s Nora’s son.”
“Nora’s son?”
“Yes, and that makes him Constantine’s brother. And if Rowan is killed then Constantine will never, ever forgive me.”
“Constantine? What does he have to do with anything? I thought you had given up on him.”
“I thought I had too, but then I remembered that I love him.”
“So this is it? It’s over?”
“Yes”
“I can’t believe you’re giving up. All because of your son.”
Dante rubbed his forehead. He was so tired. “Yes, because of him. I’m getting old and I want my son near me. I’ll be lucky if Constantine will forgive me, but maybe if I give up now I have a chance.” He paused, he knew it was hard for Tom to understand. “The healer, he’s unusual, he makes you see things that you’ve done and how they’ve affected others. Constantine hates me and I don’t want that.”
“That’s great for you, but what about me?” Tom asked. “They hooked me up to machines in the Firesea workhouse. You put me there. Don’t you remember? I powered a loom with wires coming out of my body. When I was in the workhouse I was aware of everything. It was a living hell. And then afterwards when I was free and you and Nora and everyone else left Firesea I was stuck there. The rangers came and sold me into slavery.” He stopped and stared at the floor. “There was nothing I wasn’t made to do. Nothing.”
“I know.”
“No you don’t know. You didn’t care. You were off chasing Nora and Killian. Everyone forgot about me. I doubt Nora even remembers that she has a brother.”
“I came back eventually, didn’t I?” Dante knew things had been bad for Tom. Years of slavery had given him a deep hatred for enchanters, there was nothing he wouldn’t do for revenge. He had eagerly accepted the knife offered to him and from that point forward he had done everything Dante had asked.
“I can’t believe you’re willing to give up everything we worked for.” Tom said.
“I don’t want to die alone. I want my son with me.”
Tom stood up. “Well I don’t have a son and I haven’t gone soft like you. I want the enchanters to pay for what they did to me and the other mortals. I’m going to kill that healer.”
“Tom, he’s Nora’s son. He’s your nephew.”
“Where the hell was Nora when I was being beaten? Where was she when I was being worked to death? She left me in Firesea so that she could run after Killian. In fact, I’m going to kill hi
m too. I’ll do the boy first and then his father.”
“I don’t think you should Tom. I’m beginning to realize that Killian is important.”
Tom shoved him against the wall. “I don’t care what you think.” He started towards the front door. Dante grabbed his arm. Tom turned around and punched him in the jaw, sending him staggering backwards. Dante fell to the floor. Tom glared at him. “I’m killing that boy, and if your precious son gets in my way I’ll take him out too.” He kicked Dante in the side and stormed out of the door.
Dante slowly got to his feet. It wasn’t easy anymore, his joints were stiff and sore.
He had to bring Constantine home. He was bound to be somewhere near Killian and Killian would want to go back to Firesea to see his brother. Dante could wait outside of the circle until he saw them. Then he could take Constantine. The sooner he got his son away from those people the better. They couldn’t possibly love him the way Dante did. He would show his son what a father could truly be.
Chapter 67
Arden was in the woods with Kip and Gareth. Gareth had a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. They were looking for signs of Dante when the sky suddenly lit up. “The Master Enchanter’s signal. Things must be bad in Firesea.”
Arden watched as the red and gold swirls filled the sky. Every Firesea protector and ranger was being recalled, that included him. Even though he wasn’t a slave anymore he was still Constantine’s protector. If the Master Enchanter needed him then he had to go.
“Looks like we’ll be riding out soon.” Gareth said.
“Don’t go yet. I want to talk to Killian.” Arden told him. He went back to the house. Rowan said his father was upstairs in the study on the third floor. It was something of an enchanter’s laboratory. Rowan’s hands had been cut off there. Kip had cast his spell in a circle drawn on the floor.
His stomach was heavy as he climbed the stairs. It was ridiculous to be nervous. He was thirty eight years old, a grown enchanter, he shouldn’t be scared of his own father-in-law. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
Arden pushed the door open.
Killian was sitting in the corner reading a book. “Yes?” He set the book aside and stood up.
Arden swallowed. He didn’t know why this man made him so anxious. He had never told Lucy. She probably would have laughed at him. “I, I saw the Master Enchanter’s signal in the sky. He’s calling all protectors and rangers home.”
“Gareth had to be on his way anyhow.”
“I have to go too. I’m still Constantine’s protector.”
“You were his slave.”
“He saved my life, as did you.”
“I couldn’t watch Lucy grieve you. When we were in New Wildbush she was so unhappy. If I hadn’t brought you back she would have never been the same.”
“Thank you again.”
“You’re welcome.” Killian sat down. “You know, we haven’t really spent much time together, just the two of us. Someone else is always around. Have a seat.” He pointed to a chair near his.
Arden crossed the room. He caught a glimpse of himself in a full length mirror leaning against the wall. He looked like a convicted enchanter being sent to the Firesea prison. “I can’t believe my hair has gotten so gray. You’re lucky you don’t have any yet.”
“My hair will never be gray, it’s enchanted. It will always be this color.”
“Of course.” Arden sat down. He could have kicked himself. Lucy had told him never to mention hair to her father. Sunlight was streaming in the windows. Arden watched the dust swirling in the light while Killian stared at him. He wasn’t sure if he should say something else or wait.
“You want me to move the house, don’t you?” Killian asked.
“I thought it might be easier.” Arden admitted. “We’ve been here for two weeks now.” The house was still sitting on the side of the road where they had found Nora and Kip.
“The family deserves a break, don’t you think?”
“Yes, but-”
“I wanted to get married and spend some time with my wife.” Killian and Nora had married a few days after they were reunited.
“I know. But we can’t avoid things forever. I’m sure you want to see your brother in Firesea.”
“Yes, I want to see Finnegan. But half of the people in this house have no defense in Firesea. You want me to bring them to a place they could die in?”
“Kip told me that there’s hardly anyone in Firesea now, and with your brother there I can’t imagine there would be trouble.”
Killian stood up. “Kip is not an authority on Firesea. If we go there managing him will be a full time job. I don’t trust anyone there except my brother and I don’t know if he can handle it, he’s lived as a mortal most of his life.”
“All the more reason to go.”
Killian stared out the window and sighed. “I have to go, I know that.” He turned away from the window. “I don’t want us to be divided again, but the danger is so high.”
“I can protect them. We both can. You have the pen.”
“How can I protect Rowan? His spell is so strong, someone will want him dead.”
“But he can cure the sickness.”
“And he can show you your true nature. Not everyone wants to see that. When he’s healing he senses things about people. It’s dangerous.”
“All I know is that I have to go back to Firesea.” Arden told him. “I’ve been recalled.”
“Why this loyalty to Firesea? I can understand to a certain extent your devotion to Constantine. He saved your life. But Firesea scarred you, they turned you out when you helped Lucy. They sold you into slavery. Why do you want to go back?”
Arden was surprised by his questions. “It’s my home and I have hope that it can be better than it was. We have a chance now with Finnegan. We have a chance to start over.”
“And is that where you want to stay for the rest of your life?”
“I’ll live wherever Lucy wants. But I have to go back right now. Firesea is your home too.”
“Firesea is not my home.” Killian said coldly. “It hasn’t been since I was a child.” He touched the ring on his right hand.
“Is Darkhill your home now? Is that where you want to go?”
“I don’t expect you to understand.”
“Everyone wants to belong somewhere, but Lucy said you didn’t have a choice. Why be loyal to a place that forced you to become one of them?”
The sunlight caught Killian’s green eyes, he looked angry. Arden thought maybe he should go, this didn’t seem to be going very well. He stood up. “I’ll leave you.”
“Don’t go.”
Arden found himself tugging at his sleeves as he used to. “I have to admit that you make me nervous.”
Killian seemed surprised. “I do? Why?”
“I don’t know, you just seem to be so sure of yourself. You always have the answers.”
Killian laughed. “I’m glad it seems that way. I don’t have all the answers Arden. Sometimes I don’t have any. But for some reason everyone thinks I do. I never got along with my father-in-law. In my case he raised me and resented my presence in his home. Did you have a happy childhood?”
Arden thought for a moment. “I did. We were wealthy, by Firesea standards anyway, and we travelled to different circles. It was nice. Of course once I had been scarred things were different and they didn’t want me anymore. So you see I do understand you, probably more than you realize.”
“Lucy is still angry with me about the whole Darkhill thing.”
“She doesn’t understand and she never will. You gave her such a happy life that she can’t imagine what it’s like to crave one. Your children are really lucky to have you.”
Killian smirked. “Are you trying to butter me up?”
“No, I mean it. The way you accepted Constantine-”
“What else was I to do? It’s not his fault.”
“I know but not
everyone would act that way.”
“I’m not everyone. I used to be ashamed of that, but I’m not anymore.” Killian said. “I’m glad Lucy found you.”
“I love your daughter more than anything.”
“I know you do.”
“And I’ll try to be as good a father to our children as you’ve been to yours.”
“Are you planning to make me a grandfather?”
Arden felt his face redden. “I hope so.”
Killian sighed. “We have to go to Firesea, all of us. I’ve known that all along. If we split up I’m afraid that we’ll never find each other again. I just wanted to put it off for a little longer. It was nice to be together and not have to think of conflict.”
“Are the Founders dead or not?” Arden asked. “And why did you wake up and they didn’t?”
“I don’t know.” Killian bit his lip. “But I have to figure it out. I’m the only one left. But first we have to see what Finnegan wants. Let’s get everyone together and tell them.”
Arden offered his hand. “Thank you Mr. Cramer.”
“Mr. Cramer? You’re not still scared of me are you?” Killian snickered. “I don’t usually instill fear in people. You can call me Killian.”
“All right Killian.”
He suddenly stepped forward and looked Arden straight in the eye. “Don’t you dare mention my hair again.” Arden felt his stomach drop. Killian started laughing. “I’m just kidding.”
“Oh, right.” Arden felt like he might be sick.
“I had you going there.” Killian ruffled Arden’s hair. “It must be tough to be so gray.” He laughed again and ran downstairs. Arden was left wondering what had just happened. As his father-in-law’s own words had said Killian Cramer was indeed not like everyone else.
Chapter 68
Killian brought the house to just outside of the Firesea wall. He wished the happy times at home could last a little longer but there was work to be done. He and Kip watched from the third floor as Arden and Gareth went to the front gate and were let inside the circle.
