The Iron Seal

by J. M. Briggs

  “Alex?”

  “I’m fine,” Alex said. “Just thinking.”

  “Okay.” Aiden nodded and smiled reassuringly. “I’ll give you some space. Uh... oh yeah, I just came up to tell you that Nicki is going to run to the store; do you need anything?”

  “No,” Alex said. “Thanks.”

  Giving her one more smile, Aiden closed the door, and Alex exhaled slowly. It was nice having friends who understood her need to be alone. While she’d always loved reading, she’d never been a real introvert. Now she just needed to be alone sometimes. Moving across the room, Alex looked out the window into the trees. The forest wasn’t too close, and there was a tall wooden privacy fence between them and even the closet trees. A hillside rolled up to the foot of the nearby mountains. It was a nice view, but one Alex didn’t appreciate. Turning on her heel, she swung Mjǫllnir around a little and bit her lower lip.

  Restless. She was restless. Alex shifted the hammer and sword in her hands again. There was a dull itch creeping up her spine. Everything was quiet; had been for weeks. She’d returned from India ready for a fight, but there hadn’t been one. Bran, Jenny, and Lance had finally decided to visit their families while Aiden and Nicki helped out at their local family businesses. Even staying with Morgana hadn’t produced anything of interest. She hadn’t learned anything new, and the two had largely just passed by each other.

  Something was coming, Alex knew that. It was just beyond the horizon, but what it was she wasn’t sure. This waiting was horrible. This knowledge and confusion at once were clawing at her. Rolling her shoulders, Alex shuddered and returned to the weapons displays. She carefully set Cathanáil and Mjǫllnir back in their places. Then her hand went to the iron dagger secured in a sheath at the small of her back.

  What else could they do? The others would be back in Ravenslake soon. It wasn’t safe, but it was better than being on their own. Even now, she wanted to have Nicki open a water tunnel and take her to collect them. They’d made it this far and survived Arthur’s plotting, but the Demons’ fear of the Darkness nagged at her. She didn’t know what it all meant, Merlin and Morgana didn’t know, and her gut told her it was important. Yet, here she was, just bracing herself and trying to figure out the next move.

  2

  Waiting for the Right Time

  The ring of the metal hammer against the iron bar wasn’t as satisfying as Alex thought it would be. For a moment she wondered if she should have brought Mjǫllnir with her instead. It seemed over the top to use the Iron Artifact in Merlin’s modern workshop, but that was what it had started life as.

  She wasn’t really making anything. Alex stopped hammering and used the tongs to turn over the narrowing iron ingot. Her fingers itched to push magic into the iron, but Alex kept the instinct at bay. This wasn’t the time to accidentally make something; her thoughts were too scattered. The last thing she wanted was to forge another horrible item that would be used against them. Hitting the iron harder with the hammer than before, she felt a spark of tension ease and welcomed the ache spreading up her arm.

  As the metal cooled she used the tongs to slide it back into the hot coals of Merlin’s furnace. Well, one of them. The large detached workshop had two stations, originally set up for Merlin and Morgana, though Morgana wasn’t much for smithing. As the metal heated in the fire, Alex panted softly and tugged a strand of blonde hair that had fallen loose of her bun back behind her ear. Heat rolled out of the furnace and filled the space, overheating Alex’s already warm body. Between the heavy leather apron and leather gloves, she already felt dehydrated. Shifting back from the furnace, Alex took a long drink from the water bottle that she’d thought to bring. It helped, and she quickly returned to the anvil.

  Time slipped away. She kept working on the bar of iron, trying to figure out what it was. Keeping a tight hold on her magic, Alex focused on just smithing the old-fashioned way. It was harder, and Alex wondered how often she used her magic to help shape the iron in small ways. This time it was rougher, and she still had no idea of what to make. Even looking around at Merlin’s old projects didn’t help. Fancy candelabras, railings, and artwork didn’t hold any interest for her.

  “Alex?” It was Merlin. Alex’s muscles tensed at the sound of his voice. Holding back a sigh, she almost didn’t turn around.

  “Hey, Merlin,” Alex said. Turning to look over her shoulder, she smiled at Merlin. “Sorry if I woke you up?”

  “I was already awake.” Merlin was dressed simply in a blue button shirt and jeans. He was holding a steaming mug of coffee, but his brown eyes were already alert and sharp as he took her in. “Couldn’t sleep?”

  “I slept fine,” Alex said. “I’m just trying to build a routine again.” She turned back to the forge, debating if she should keep working or give Merlin her full attention. “Got up early and stretched out. Didn’t run; I still miss that.”

  “Running on your own would be dangerous.”

  “Hence the not running. But I wanted to do something, so I left a note and came over. You did say that I was welcome.”

  “I did.” Merlin moved around her left side and leaned against one of the long tables that lined the walls. “But in my experience, you come here and work iron when something is wrong.”

  “I’m just a little restless,” Alex said. She gave up and pulled out the iron bar. It had been narrowed and flattened out, but it didn’t seem like a sword to Alex. “Feels a bit like I’m in limbo at the moment.”

  “Are you that eager for classes?”

  “I’m eager for something to do.” Alex watched the red glow fade from the metal. “I’m not a fan of this waiting game.”

  “I understand,” Merlin said gently. “But we can’t risk playing into Arthur’s hands. Sif is still traveling and seeking information. The contacts Timothy helped us get are occasionally emailing in reports. Morgana has even tried scrying for Arthur. I know how hard it is waiting when you know your enemy is out there, but right now staying in the protections of Ravenslake is a good decision.”

  “You don’t believe the Darkness is real, do you?” Alex asked. Merlin’s expression answered the question. He hesitated, clearly searching for a diplomatic way to say it. Alex shook her head almost fondly. “Okay, so you don’t.”

  “Alex, I’m three thousand years old, I’m sure if something like this Darkness was real, I’d know about it at this point.”

  “But you’ve never left the Iron Realm,” Alex said. “Only Morgana ever has, and that was in a controlled environment.” Shaking her head, she turned away from Merlin and organized the small hammers on the rolling tool bench. “There’s a lot of things you don’t know about the others worlds and what is happening there, Merlin.”

  He huffed at her but said nothing. He didn’t lose his temper or snap at her. Alex was pretty sure that he never did. Merlin had never-ending patience.

  “Let’s go inside,” Merlin suggested. Smiling at her, he gestured towards the door.

  “Alright,” Alex said. “Wasn’t working on anything specific.”

  “No?”

  “Nope, but that’s the great thing about blacksmithing isn’t it?” Alex said. She carefully put away her tools and secured the furnace. More heat washed over her face, but it was less comforting now. “You can rework it.”

  “True,” Merlin agreed. “Bronze was much more difficult. I do not miss casting items in molds.”

  “Never?”

  “Well… maybe from time to time.”

  Chuckling, Alex pulled off the leather gloves and shrugged off the heavy apron. Without it on, she felt a little cold. It only got worse when Merlin opened the door and let the summer breeze in. Alex shivered but quickly adjusted as she walked outside and towards the main house. The back door was still open. Clearly, Merlin had figured he could get her to stop quickly. A flash of stubborn irritation flared in her chest, but he wasn’t going to change at this point. At least a few of the voices agreed on that, giving Alex a sense of solidarity.

>   “Clean up, and I’ll get you something to drink.” Merlin shut the door behind her and gave Alex a smile. “I’ll be in the sitting room.”

  He was treating her a bit like a child, but Alex supposed that she had shown up pretty early. But it wasn’t like she didn’t have a standing invitation. She’d even texted the others and left a note on her door. Still, she went to the bathroom and washed off her hands.

  Splashing water on her face helped. Exhaling slowly, Alex looked at her reflection. There were bags under her gray eyes. They weren’t too bad, but they gave her face a slightly more sunken appearance. Frowning, she wondered if she’d lost weight. It was possible, but she’d never had much extra weight to lose. The others hadn’t said anything, so hopefully, she didn’t look too bad.

  Merlin was waiting for her, seated in one of the armchairs. He had brought out another cup of coffee that was waiting for her on the coffee table. He looked up at her, his expression completely calm and patient. Her earlier irritation faded as Alex considered that he was worried. After all, waking up during the summer to the sound of clanging in your workshop couldn’t be pleasant. Smiling at her, Merlin nodded to the chair opposite him, and Alex sank down on the edge of the cushion.

  “You’re frustrated with me,” Merlin said.

  “Not you, or not just you, at least.” Alex picked up the cup of coffee and took a sip. Merlin just watched her silently. “Frustrated with the situation. It feels like I should be doing something more. Waiting around in Ravenslake feels like a waste of time. Morgana wants me to continue school-”

  “It was important to your parents, was it not?” Merlin cut in. “Getting a college education? They saved for years and had high insurance policies to ensure that you and your brothers would receive a college education.”

  “Yes,” Alex said. Swallowing, Alex pushed away memories of such conversations with her parents. “But that isn’t what matters now. School isn’t what I should be doing.”

  “What do you want to do?”

  “Stop them,” Alex said. She sighed and slumped back into the armchair. “But I know, I haven’t a clue of what that means.” Putting her left hand over her face, Alex groaned. “I’m a horrible Iron Soul.”

  “You are not.”

  “Yes! I am! I almost failed at getting my powers in the first place, and then I gave the sword to Arthur, and now I don’t know what to do!” Alex slapped her hands down on the arms of the chair. “I’m a horrible Iron Soul!”

  “You are not,” Merlin repeated. He crossed the room and before Alex could twist away, placed his hand on her head. The large warm palm was a comforting weight, and Alex exhaled. “You are not, Alex. You were the incarnation born in a time of confusion and crisis. Not only have you been faced with the threat of the Sídhe, but also a traitor. You’ve had to face Old Ones and Demons, a war on many fronts.” His thumb brushed her hair softly. “Not to mention your personal losses. Please, do not believe that Morgana or I are anything but proud of you.”

  “It feels like I’m not doing enough,” Alex said. “I should be fighting Arthur.”

  “We don’t know where he is. We need to concern ourselves with protecting the sword. The new Iron Gates are holding the defenses of the Iron Realm strong against the Sídhe, but Cathanáil’s power can circumvent that. The Demon’s proved that.” Merlin removed his hand but didn’t put any distance between them. “Sooner or later Arthur will slip. There is a limit to what he can do.”

  “He has some Fae following him,” Alex said. “That’s dangerous. We have to stop them before they cause havoc.”

  “And I am watching for signs of them,” Merlin promised. “As are the Fae I am in contact with.” Shaking his head, Merlin took a step back and sat in the other chair. “I wish Frea was still alive: I did not appreciate her loyalty and desire for peace enough. Then again, dying of old age is a luxury.” He shook his head and offered her a small smile. “I know waiting is difficult. But Arthur is…arrogant and cruel. I believe that he will slip up. That he will make a foolish choice due to his impatience.”

  “Maybe,” Alex said. “I’m not sure of that. He’s played long games before. And I’m not sure that we’re the best judges when it comes to him.”

  Lifting her cup of coffee, Alex noted that her hand was trembling. She gripped the handle tightly and steadied the cup with her left hand, hoping that Merlin wouldn’t notice. In the back of her mind the voices were whispering soft reassurances to her. Arto and Lokpal’s voices seemed the clearest. It was a sharp reminder of her problems, but also calming in a strange way. Someday she’d have to examine why, but not today. She heard Merlin sigh and looked up at him worriedly. For some reason, he looked older. His hair seemed whiter, his wrinkles deeper, and his posture more defeated. Something in her chest twisted.

  “I’ll be happier when the others return,” Merlin said. “I dislike them leaving the safety of the group.” That almost seemed like agreement with her concern, but Alex wasn’t sure.

  “I know what you mean,” Alex said. Rolling her head towards the window, she looked outside. “They’ll be back soon.” She was telling herself that more than Merlin. “And they know to be careful.”

  “Yes, but Jenny and Lance have no magic.” He waved his hand and shook his head. “I know that Avani Desai started to teach them some of the basics that magicians use to borrow magic from the Iron Realm, but it isn’t the same. And from what I understand they hadn’t made much progress.”

  “We weren’t in India very long,” Alex pointed out, feeling the need to defend her friends.

  “True, true,” Merlin said. “But that just makes them leaving all the more… mystifying.”

  “They wanted to see their families,” Alex said. Not looking at Merlin, she was aware of a sharp pain in her chest. Her eyes teared up, and it was hard to breathe as guilt took over for a long agonizing moment. “Anything could happen. We already know that.”

  “Yes…” Merlin suddenly sounded nervous. “Alex, how are you doing?” She didn’t answer, and he was silent. “Morgana told me what you asked her to do.”

  “I figured she would.” Alex waited for him to launch into a lecture.

  “I know it must have been hard,” Merlin said. “But I think you made the right choice.”

  That surprised Alex. Turning towards Merlin, she was surprised to find him smiling gently at her. His eyes were soft and sad. The ache both eased and spread at once. Tears gathered in her eyes, and she didn’t know what to say or do.

  “You do?” The words slipped out before she could stop them.

  “Yes. Being a mage… it is a difficult life. You never know what is coming and your life isn’t truly your own anymore. For you, as the Iron Soul, I imagine it is even harder. We’ve never spoken of it; maybe we should have, the knowledge that when you die, you’ll return in another life to fight once more. As you know, that has had negative effects on your family in the past. It can be difficult for those that love you as kin to accept the burden you bear.”

  “Yeah.” Alex’s mouth was dry, but she pressed on. “I didn’t want Matt and Eddy turning into Galath. His anger… I wanted them to be able to have peace. Arthur already killed Mom and Dad. I couldn’t- I didn’t want him able to find and hurt them.”

  “Commendable.” Merlin nodded to her. Then he stood and came closer, once again putting his hand on her head. “I believe you made the right decision, Alex. And I promise that Morgana and I are with you. We’ve been here throughout your lives, by your side through many of your battles, and here we will stay.”

  “Thanks.”

  The word fell flat, and Alex knew it. Merlin chuckled warmly. Strangely, she did feel a little better. Sometimes she forgot what Merlin and Morgana’s lives meant. They were three thousand years old thanks to their half-Sídhe nature and magic. For centuries they’d fought the enemies of the Iron Realm and helped her various lives. She at least had the kindnesses of death and gaining a new family, of being able to marry and have children, and ag
e. They didn’t.

  “Thank you, Merlin,” Alex said, trying again. “I know that you and Morgana didn’t choose this life, but I’m grateful you’ve been here for me. No matter what form I take.”

  “We have not met you in every life, Alex,” Merlin said. He looked down into his coffee. “And while I can honestly say that I have always tried to be a guide for you, I will not claim that I was always successful.” Without meeting her eyes, Merlin shook his head. “You live long enough, and you learn that you can make many mistakes. Morgana and I both have things we regret, but Arthur is and will be one of our greatest.” Then he looked at her, his brown eyes cold and distant as a new harshness crept into his voice. “I want him dead and burned. I want to find a way to destroy whatever soul he has so he can never return, Alex. Believe me, I do. I want them stopped, but sometimes you must wait. You must wait for the right time.”