Elemental Courage

by M. W. McDonald

  It got to the corner apartment quickly. It observed the room from the darkness just outside a shattered series of windows. The only lights in the room were cast by the police and fire department flood lamps. Caution tape was strewn about the entire room. A sign that read “Danger possible gas leak” was hanging near the front door. The chaos of the apartment had died down after the fires were put out, leaving only a couple of paramedics attending to two injured men. It smelled the essence of shamans. The two men were in severe pain, their agony caused the instincts of the shade to race their delicious energies seeped from wounds and burns like chum in the water to the malevolent shark now circling its prey. It slowly entered the room, pouring itself out of the shadows. One of the men saw the shade emerge from the blackness of night, just feet from them. His face lost its color immediately and contorted in silent fear. His wounds reeked of essence and fear. The shade moved forward, silently settling behind the working medics. Without the ability to feel the elements, the paramedics were unable to see the apparition. They merely felt the chill of its evil on the air. The shadows that always trailed the evil figure devoured the light in the room causing complete and utter darkness for only moments. The shade stabbed each of the shamans with its savage curved blades and dragged them down into the abyss of its shadows. The lights came back on, the accompanying trail of shadows had released their grip on them. The medics stood speechless. Their patients had vanished and only their screams could be heard on the night air.

  26

  “Where are we going, David?” Brian asked.

  “Someplace safe. At least safe for a little while.” David replied. They were all traveling through the rift now. Dyaina and William were riding upon David, and Alex and Brian were riding with Michael. Alex was in awe of the contained chaos that the rift possessed. It was stunning. The all too familiar crackle and hair-raising electricity caused William’s body to recoil with not so fond memories of recent events. David felt William tense up as an unusually large bolt of energy passed them just off to their left.

  “You alright back there Will?” David asked concerned.

  “Yeah, I’m tired and jumpy, other than that I am feeling better.” William sighed unconsciously thinking of everything that he was putting his new friends through. It made William feel worse to know that not only was he putting all of these strangers in danger with his energy ripple, but most of them were his family. That made it much more burdensome for him.

  “When you are rested Will, I will help train you to not kill yourself,” Dyaina spoke softly behind William, a smile in her voice. William nodded quickly in immediate agreement.

  “Where we are going will have plenty of space to do anything you need, training wise. I am sure the guys will have something to teach you as well.”

  “I am assuming,” Alex started “That with his present company, he is a water shaman. How would I be able to impart anything to the young man that he could use?” Brian spoke up first, “regardless the element, it’s always a welcome experience to see how others gather focus or conjure their element. It may open up something they wouldn’t have thought of, and perhaps make it a bit easier for him to control his power. And believe us when we say that control of his power is very important.” Dyaina looked back and thanked Brian with a smile. She wasn’t ready for another person to be aware of her son’s Archmage status, friend or foe. Not yet.

  “I suppose you’re right,” Alex said after he thought about it a moment. “My first couple of times were quite painful. If something could have lessened that, I would have taken the opportunity that’s for sure.” He paused once more “Ok I’m in.”

  “So where are we going, David?” Brian asked again.

  “It’s a surprise, but I do have a quick stop to make in Northern Arizona, there should be someone there who can help us.”

  “Who?” Dyaina asked she was sure she knew everyone that David would seek help from, but couldn’t think of anyone he would get help from in Arizona.

  “Owen Ravall,” David spoke. “I just hope he has forgiven me.”

  “Owen? Brolin’s brother?” Dyaina asked, astonished that Owen could possibly still be around, he was a reticent boy and never played at being that bright, but he had a good heart and was tremendously loyal. Usually, the long years of a shaman’s lifetime were very unforgiving to someone like him. You typically had to have an edge about you to survive the centuries. His apparent survival arose some questions within her as well. His brother was the Enchanter of Earth and was the first to sacrifice himself to incapacitate Khorynn. Would he forgive her for living and his brother dying? She suddenly felt ill and she tried to avert her attention to something else.

  “So what has Owen been doing all of these years?” She asked as calmly as she could, the anxiety edged into her voice. “I haven’t talked to him since our little incident a while back,” David replied somewhat sheepishly.

  “What incident?” Brian asked, trying to take the attention off of the twinge of pain coming from his backside as it bounced on the running wolf.

  “Long story,” David said quickly. “Does it look like we are going anywhere soon?” Brian and Alex said in unison.

  “He was always a kind man, a truly gifted smith of everything elemental, even if he could only use the earth element. A few years back, he came at me quite angry.”

  “Owen was angry? That had to be something to see.” Dyaina said laughing. She couldn’t picture the gentle man get angry in the least.

  “David probably rifted him through his shower too, that would do it for me.” Brian chided.

  “Anyways,” David continued “Owen was livid, he came at me with accusations of his wife’s creation. He seemed to think that I was trying to steal her away. Of course, I denied them. But he was fueled by his wife’s words and he attacked me, through his anger, he swung his gigantic blacksmithing hammer at me just once.” David paused for an extended period, knowing that Brian wanted to hear what was next.

  “And? Damn man, you can’t leave an audience hanging like that.” Brian said annoyed.

  “He missed me, but where it struck the ground caused a great rip in the earth that went on for miles and miles.”

  “Wait… He caused a great rip in the ground that went on for miles in northern Arizona? You mean to tell me that the man who was going to hit you for stealing his wife accidentally created the Grand Canyon?” Brian said incredulously. “You have got to be kidding me, that thing is thousands upon thousands of years old.”

  “Not quite, it’s almost 4 thousand years old. The people who lived there at the time had no means of record keeping simply word of mouth, and the cause of the canyon was skewed over time, and it wasn’t called the Grand Canyon then. Owen called it Infidelity Gorge. The severity of the tear allowed for the other natural elements to attack the jagged surfaces easier speeding up the erosion process to only a fraction of the time.”

  “Damn you’re old,” Alex said under his breath.

  “That’s what I said,” William said quickly. Michael just laughed. Dyaina laughed out loud, not wanting to bring to light the fact that David was young compared to her.

  “Just when you thought you knew somebody,” Brian started. “They gain a few thousand years on you and sprout a wife and kid.” Even David had to laugh at that one.

  “We are here, hold on.” David howled. Both rift wolves and their passengers passed through the rift.

  27

  Owen Ravall was meditating in his earthen home. It was hewn out of the rock itself. His abilities had afforded him some of the more exceptional luxuries in life. His wife, Renai, craved them far more than himself, but he was unable to refuse her. It often appeared to the casual observer as if his marriage was one of material convenience for his wife. Owen did very little in the way of trying to find out. He loved Renai, and as long as he felt that she loved him back and was with him, he was happy. He didn’t mind if she liked to play the part of a vicious tease and “trophy wife.” Owen was a big lumberin
g man and was always accused of being mentally slow, and he felt no need to correct that assumption. He found it easier to strike at someone or to protect another if he was underestimated. In actuality, Owen was brilliant. He was cunning, yet stoic in his demeanor. His heritage afforded him great physical attributes as well. He was a giant of a man. Nearly eight feet tall, extremely broad shouldered and barrel chested. His massive physique spoke of lifetimes of manual labor and physical exertion. In comparison, his Renai was the opposite. Five foot nine and curvy. She liked to flaunt an expensive exterior with rich looking things, shiny metals and sparkling baubles always drew her attention. She walked into the meditation chamber looking a vision of loveliness that belied her mischievous eyes.

  “You have a few visitors dear,” Renai said softly. She always enjoyed watching Owen meditate because he always did it shirtless. She smiled as she watched his chest rise and fall with each even breath. “I heard them on the wind.” She finished.

  “Thanks, Ren, I’ll check it out.” Own replied. “And do me a favor. Try not to stare. When you do, you kick up quite a breeze, and it chills a bit.” He said smiling, never opening his eyes.

  “You stare at me,” she pouted, exaggerating her disappointment.

  “True, but the difference is that when I stare, I don’t hit you with rocks.” He chuckled and stood up slowly, grabbing his white t-shirt off the peg on the wall next to Renai. He pulled the shirt over his head and then bent down and kissed her lightly on the cheek.

  “How many?” Owen asked as he turned to make his way outside.

  “Five or six.” Renai replied, “But they came from a rift.” Owen stopped. The heavy webbing of his back muscles tensed before he continued walking.

  “Is it David?” He asked over his shoulder.

  “He’s the only rift wolf I know,” Renai answered with a glimmer in her eyes and a mischievous grin on her face.

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  David knew that he was close to Owen’s home. He also knew that if Owen were still married to Renai, he would have known about their arrival almost immediately. Renai was a deceptively strong shaman of the wind element, and she was particularly adept at eavesdropping through the breezes. David doubted that she had any actual battle experience, but he learned very quickly to never rule out anything with that woman.

  The group was resting near a sheer cliff face that blocked them from the wind. Dyaina and William were asleep, leaning into Michael’s flank. David has asked Michael to stay in his shifted form, just in case things went badly. Alex had made a fire a few feet away and absentmindedly fidgeted with the flame, making it dance along his fingers. The sounds and darkness of night had come quickly, the rich dark blues and purples of the evening were only broken by Alex’s fire.

  “I hate waiting,” Alex said, boredom was heavy in his voice.

  “We won’t be waiting long,” Brian said quietly, eyes closed. “He’s here, and he has been for a while. My guess is he’s waiting for something.”

  “Close,” A tremendous voice echoed off the cliff. “I told you not to come back, David.” The voice was more focused now. Michael’s ears perked up, and Dyaina and William woke up disoriented.

  “I wouldn’t have, but we need your help, Owen,” David said. The thundering voice laughed bitterly, “You have nerve wolf. What makes you think I will help you? I could kill you now and be gone without a second thought.”

  Upon hearing the threat, Brian and Alex drew in energy and stood attentive and ready for battle. William and Dyaina stood also clinging to Michael’s fur like David told them to before they arrived.

  “Easy guys. You can relax this is between Owen and me.” David said loud enough for Owen to hear.

  “Indeed it is,” Owen said as a massive stone hand erupted from the ground around David and took him in its grasp.

  “Dad!” Michael growled. Alex and Brian leaped towards David, intent on freeing their friend.

  “Stay back!” David shouted.

  The stone fist held fast. David kept still. Only his head was visible as the rest of his body was encased in the stone hand.

  “You shouldn’t have come back,” Owen spoke measuredly, as he walked forward into the light of the fire.

  “Oh. My. God.” Brian said under his breath as he got his first look at the powerfully built man. He thought to himself “I bet he could crush walnuts with his eyelids. You went after this man’s wife, David? You would have done more for your life expectancy if you had slammed your head in a car door for the next few years.”

  Owen walked towards David slowly, naturally in no rush. He stopped and made the stone fist raise David’s head to his eye level.

  “I never dishonored you in any way,” David said, struggling to breathe.

  “You DARE to lie to my face?!” Owen’s face contorted in rage. “Are you calling my wife a liar?” His fists clenched tighter, and the ground shook; pebbles and small rocks fell from the cliff in a shower of dust.

  David did not answer Owen’s question as it would just fuel his anger. David was at a loss. He had thought that Owen would have been more receptive now that so many years had passed. But he was wrong.

  “I’m sorry,” David said, resigned to his fate.

  “So am I,” Owen replied, as he outstretched an arm and opened his hand wide. The ground beneath it split open and spewed a massive hammer into his hand. David closed his eyes. Brian saw David give up and ran forward, intent on intercepting the hammer. Owen saw him moving to help. He glanced in Brian’s direction and forced a rolling wall of earth and debris at Brian that sent him flying a few yards. Owen turned his attention back to David and raised his giant hammer over his head.

  “Stop it this instant.” A stiff breeze brought the words to Owen’s ears.

  “I am doing this for you, love,” Owen said in a barely audible whisper.

  “And I said to stop,” Renai said, floating down from the darkness on vortexes of air. She walked between Owen and David and looked at her husband.

  “You told me he was trying to steal you from me,” Owen said, anger still blazing in his eyes.

  “My dear man,” she said gently, putting a hand on his chest. “I said a lot of things back then. You didn’t seem to show any interest in me, and it was the only thing I could think of at the time to test your devotion to me. It got out of hand, and then I didn’t know how to tell you the truth.” Renai responded quietly, her face was turned down in shame.

  Owen was in shock. Renai turned to face David. “I’m so sorry. It was wrong of me to play with his emotions like that.” She began to weep softly. The massive hammer in Owen’s hand dissolved, falling back to the ground as harmless dirt and rocks. He wrapped his massive arms around his wife, hugging her to him tightly.

  Owen looked at David, the gentle giant of older times had returned. Owen smiled, and the stone fist released David and withdrew to the earth. “I am sorry David…” Owen gathered himself determined to make right his friendship with David once more.

  “We have much to discuss, David…my friend.” Owen said gently, “Starting with what you needed help with.” David looked dazed and relieved as his breathing was returning to normal.

  “We need some help.” David managed between deep breaths.

  “Yes, I got that much.” Owen replied, “But help with what?”

  “We need some foci, enough for four people.” David continued.

  “Expecting some trouble?” Renai asked, still holding tight to Owen.

  “Yes, the Shade of Khorynn is back, and it is after us.” Owen’s face darkened.

  “The shade? So soon?” Owen asked.

  “Yes, my son Michael helped this man escape from it.” David was gesturing to Michael and Alex. “That’s Michael, my son.” Owen extended his hand and Michael shifted to his human form and hesitantly shook the massive appendage.

  “And that is Alex.” Owen shook his hand as well simply
nodding and saying, “Emberchild.”

  “And these two? Who…” Owen stopped instantly, recognizing Dyaina.

  “Dyaina Vrastal.” Owen said curtly.

  Dyaina was fidgeting with her pendant and was nervously holding her breath. Owen suddenly grinned broadly, lighting up his face as he strode forward quickly. He hugged Dyaina to him and lifted her easily.

  “You look wonderful! How have you been?” Owen asked excitedly. Renai cocked her head to one side and put her hand on her hip.

  “And who is this?” She asked dryly.

  Owen laughed, “Don’t misunderstand Ren, this woman pretty much raised Brolin and me.”

  “And we thought David was old!” Brian said as he elbowed Alex. Dyaina shot him a challenging glare. He quickly added as he tried to hide behind Alex. “But you don’t look a day over 40. I hope I would look as good as you do if I were as old as you guys.” Dyaina raised one eyebrow and smiled as Owen laughed, his laughter bounced off of the cliff walls.

  Renai’s attitude turned from jealousy to admiration as she listened to the exchange and she hugged Dyaina.

  “Thank you for making him the man I married. He always spoke so highly of the person who raised him, but he never used your name, said it was too painful a loss. He acted like you were dead, no offense of course.”

  Dyaina looked down, regret was heavy in her voice. “I should be. I was nervous when David told me we were coming here. I was worried that you would resent me for Brolin’s death.” She finished her eyes welled up as she looked at Owen.

  “Truth be told, if you had tried talking to me when it happened, I would have blamed you,” Owen said with sincerity rich in his voice. “Not many people could have done what you tried to do, let alone to someone so close to them. I didn’t realize that until much later. Even if you have sacrificed yourself, it wouldn’t have destroyed Khorynn.”