TERRA: Earth Warder Chronicles

by Adrian M Ferguson

  Charming — well, screw her. I left my eyes open, defiantly.

  ‘Suit yourself,’ Agrona said with a grin.

  I felt a tug on Earth's energy from Agrona. I felt her focus on her feet and the ground below her. She looked at me.

  ‘Focus below you, and will the ground to go liquid. Once you're under entirely, I will guide you, though do not let go of my hand under any circumstances, because then you would be trapped and I would be forced to inform Ghob of your death, and I don't want to be the one to have to do that.

  ‘When we are below, I will lead you to an earth trail. There are countless trails that can lead you to wherever you want in this world; the trick is learning to focus correctly so that Earth leads you to the destination you desire.’

  ‘Because you are not an elemental by nature, you must not relinquish your hold on Earth’s energy. Earth will provide you with oxygen, protect your physical body and give you the ability to see in the darkness. It will also give you a sense of which direction to go in while you are moving under its power.’

  I nodded, trying to take it all in.

  I focused on the ground and felt Earth respond to my call. As I envisioned myself sinking below the impacted rock under my kitchen, my feet instantly started dropping into the earth, cold and liquid, similar to the sensation of pushing your hand into a sandpit.

  Agrona mirrored me, matching my pace, and she watched impassively as I sank. I gasped at the unfamiliar feel of the earth encasing my midsection and started to hyperventilate slightly. Agrona's grin widened and she chuckled at my discomfort.

  My god, she's a fucking bitch. I was not going to give her the satisfaction of watching me suffer. I set my mouth, going all poker-faced and watched her grin falter. Take that, you piece of shit.

  The rock engulfed my shoulders and within moments my head, and with that my sensory input was abruptly cut off as well — sight, smell, hearing, gone, leaving nothing but the unmovable rock holding my body tight in its grasp. I thought of Earth and its energy, how it had already assisted me, and kept that calming thought at the forefront of my mind. I slowly got a sense of where Agrona was situated, and could still feel her hand in mine. Feeling her gaze on me, I was startled to sense that she was now not covered in my kitchen’s concrete and tile. They had been left above us in my kitchen. She had now become part of the earth’s composition around her.

  Another feeling came to me and, concentrating, I also had a faint sense of other ‘Earth trails’ in the vicinity, leading off to other various unknown destinations.

  I felt Agrona raise her other arm and point smoothly below us. She wanted to go deeper. I felt Earth’s power buoy me and, casting my mind down, willed myself to go deeper, amazed that I didn't need to open my mouth to inhale. The earth was fantastic, an element I never in my wildest imagination dreamed of being a part of, especially in this manner.

  We sunk rapidly. My notion of speed was vague, almost not applicable, though if I concentrated, I could ‘see’ in my mind's eye the composition of the earth around me, changing the deeper we descended. Abruptly, we entered into open space, landing with a jolt on solid stone. I opened my eyes, and attempted to take a breath of air, only to discover that there was none. Earth through its magic kept oxygen in my body and kept me alive.

  Snatching my hand from hers, I casually leaned against the tunnel wall to get some support for my wobbly legs. There was no way I was going to give the bitch the satisfaction of seeing my discomfort.

  ‘Welcome to an Earth Trail, one of countless others, Warder. You have surprised me once again with your capacity for change. Warders down the ages have varied in their ability to handle the mental strain of traveling through solid Earth. Looking at you, I'd say you might have even enjoyed it?’

  ‘Enjoy would be taking it a bit far: adapted, with Earth’s help, would more sum it up.’

  ‘Well, you are now in Ghob's domain. He is connected to it all, and his mastery of it is absolute. At Ghob’s direction, he asked me to inform you that you are now welcome to travel to any part you see fit, unless otherwise directed by him. A boon of immense wealth, Warder, so do not abuse it.’

  ‘I am honored, surely. Now, where is Ghob?’

  ‘We are not there yet, Warder. This Earth trail connects to an underground amphitheater, which is where Ghob is waiting. Once again, focus on your feet — Earth will speed our progress considerably.

  I looked down, recalling how fast I moved in the forest and willed myself into action. I didn't so much as sprint but glide at an incredible rate, I watched the curved tunnel speed around past me, striations of quartz flickered past me, interwoven with iridescent dolomite. Ducking instinctively, I avoided a protuberance of rock jutting out of the tunnel’s roof, instinct and Earth guiding me unwaveringly.

  The tunnel widened, and we sped out into a massive open area, the air changing in density and lightening in flavor. I sensed enormous space above me and, glancing up, marveled at the roof. Jutting down were thousands of long thin stalactites, growing an inch a year from the mineral rich water that dripped upon us. I abruptly dove to the right, landing on my shoulder hard, though following through and commando-rolling across the uneven ground, narrowly avoiding a football-sized boulder that had been coming directly at me from the other side of the immense cavern. It shattered with a roar against the wall beside me.

  ‘Finally, you've arrived,’ stated Ghob from the far corner, as he lobbed a broken stalagmite in my direction with tremendous force.

  I reacted with lightning speed, astounded at how fast I was moving. I ducked the rock formation with ease, coming up breathless and giddy with euphoria.

  ‘Splendid, Warder, you're a quick study; now this,’ Ghob calmly stated.

  The rock directly around me shot up, surrounding me in a rigid formidable cage, ending in sharp jagged tips. I swiveled, unsure of myself. Hey, I was learning on the fly here. It looked like Ghob's teaching methods were learn quickly or be ground into a bloody paste. I put my hands on the interior of the rock wall and delved my mind deep into its makeup. As I visualized the rock transforming, it sighed and shifted, becoming dark, coarse sand, cascading into a deep, dark ring around me. I looked up at Ghob. He nodded.

  ‘Now let me demonstrate a mode of defense.’ Ghob pointed at the ground and turning started to pace out a rough circle. As he moved around, where he pointed a furrow appeared in the dense rock; rapidly a circle appeared encircling him.

  ‘Deirdre, when forming an Earth Circle, concentrate on the energy and visualize a complete globe around you as well as above and below you. Earth will encapsulate the area you deem needs protection and offer a means of defense if attacked. This circle, though, is not impenetrable; it is relatively robust but can be breached in time.

  ‘Throw a boulder directly at me,’ he suggested.

  I grabbed a large rock from at my feet and pegged it as hard as I could at his head, actually thinking a little one-on-one revenge might feel pretty good after the shit he'd thrown at me. The rock flew true and hit an invisible barrier not a meter and a half from his head. I saw a ripple in the air and noticed the area of impact had slightly hazed.

  Ghob saw me notice, ‘That area is a little less durable now, and if you were to repeat your attack on that area alone, you'd eventually get through.

  ‘When you create an Earth Circle, you are also linked to it, so you will be able to sense damage or attacks, even from a distance.’

  Nodding in Agrona's direction, he quietly commanded, ‘Attack!’

  Agrona grinned and disappeared under the rock floor almost instantly. I panicked. She didn't like me, and now I was fucked. I ran for the wall, wanting it behind me so I could have some protection. I pushed myself against it, hoping to blend in, glaring daggers at Ghob. He stood there silent, like, yup, a freaking statue, arms crossed, legs together. I had the impression that he could remain like that indefinitely, without the slightest movement or inhalation.

  I shuddered. Through the earth connection
I could get a rough sense of how old he was — ancient didn't even cover it; my mind had no comprehension of that much time passing.

  I jerked back, instinctively feeling something move from behind me, but not before Agrona's arm had me by the throat too fast for me to move out of the way. The sneaky turd had risen through the rock wall behind me. Damn, I didn't even think of her coming from that direction. She hooked me in and had me held fast against her and the wall. I stifled a scream, my airway cut off; her arms rasped around my throat, rough and unyielding. Agrona's face was near my ear, her body pressed close. She meant to permanently hurt me, the bitch. I struggled, bucking my body, but that arm held me like steel.

  I felt a slight breath from her. ‘You lose, human,’ she whispered, and her arm tightened even more. I saw stars, a kaleidoscope of colors burst behind my shut eyelids. I was going to pass out, and then what would stop her from “accidentally” snapping my neck with no one the wiser? I reached around and gripped her forearm, grabbing her hard.

  The Earth scar was on that palm, and I felt it ignite, not with heat but with energy. There was a flash of intense white light from under my hand, which caused Agrona to gasp; she flinched back and started to scream the sound reverberating off the chamber walls. I held onto her arm and was actually confused for a second. What the hell was happening? My scarred palm flared again and Agrona's arm started crumbling away from around my throat, the rock breaking away slowly under my hand. She screamed and violently pushed me away, holding her arm out in front of her. Her empty black eyes were wide in shock.

  ‘What have you done?’ she shrieked.

  I looked to Ghob; astounded at Agrona’s limp arm and rock-shattering screams.

  CHAPTER 12

  I backed away, looking wildly around for Ghob, to discover him rising from the earth in front of me, facing Agrona. He grabbed Agrona’s arm quietly, inspecting it; a wave of implacable calm radiated out from him, instantly silencing Agrona’s cries of pain. I turned to them both and noticed the crumbling of her arm had stopped. Ghob scooped rock from the wall behind us, like it was putty; it liquefied in his palm and shimmered. He laid this handful onto the wound on her arm. He closed his eyes, and the rock melded into the gaping hole, reshaping itself back into her forearm. Her arm appeared unblemished and whole.

  He looked at her calmly. ‘Go back to your quarters and rest, Agrona — not a word.’

  She shivered, looking at him, her eyes wild with fear. Nodding with a sob, she fell into the rock underneath her and vanished.

  ‘Well, Warder, that was certainly unexpected. Do you realize what has happened here?’

  I shook my head numbly, feeling unusually tired. ‘You appear to have a gift not seen in a millennium, one I thought was lost for good, forgotten by all except me — a terrible power that had even the mightiest Earth elementals trembling deep in their caverns.’

  ‘What did I do?’ I stammered. ‘Her arm crumbled apart. Was she in actual pain?’

  ‘It was called the “Earth's Touch” in ages past. It’s an ability that can kill or, as legend hints, even heal an elemental. We older elementals are what you might call immortal, but I shaped most of them into life, like Agrona here, and they cannot be undone by anyone but me … The Earth's Touch can undo them, though, which makes it a powerful weapon.’

  I stood there speechless.

  ‘I think it best we finish training for today, Warder, and I also believe it best this be kept quiet. I will inform Agrona not to speak of this again. I will talk more with you regarding it at another time, but come, your abilities have grown immeasurably; you will one day be a powerful warder.’

  Ghob grabbed my arm and pulled me close. We sunk without warning, and floated there in the rock, and I felt a shift and a sense of movement. Eyes closed tight, the comforting embrace of the earth surrounded me, and I wasn't scared now. The earth was like a balm that soothed away my fears momentarily.

  We rose into my kitchen with a soft sigh; the tiles remained where they were and everything was in order. I slowly let go of Ghob. He looked down at me, eyes measuring my worth.

  Turning to Ghob quickly, ‘I didn't mean to hurt her you know, even though she has quickly become a pain in my ass; I honestly thought she was going to kill me, Ghob.’

  ‘I apologize for her going too far. There was miscommunication on my part. I apologize, Deirdre. Though I think you have landed a blow in regards to Agrona’s pride, which I think maybe even more sorely wounded,’ he chuckled. ‘And yes, I agree she can be a little irritable at times.’

  ‘Great, well, I can see this becoming an issue, goddamn rock goblin.’

  ‘No, be calm, all will be well. Agrona may have had that coming. She has not been hurt in a battle for a good while and has become overconfident and complacent. This will, hopefully, ground her — pardon the pun.’

  ‘What,’ I eyed him, ‘did you just crack a joke?’ I laughed. Well, this was interesting. Mr. Big and Foreboding here seemed to have a sense of humor.

  ‘Anyway, all jokes aside, Ghob, I did have something actually important to tell you. I was attacked twice yesterday.’

  His face dropped and went grim.

  ‘Once by some revenants,’ I said, looking at him questioningly.

  He nodded.

  ‘And also by a rather nasty character who claimed to be a necromancer. He seriously did not like me and ruined my car windows while attempting to kill me.’

  ‘Show me.’

  ‘Show you? Show you what? My windowless car?’

  ‘Yes, your transport, please, Warder.’

  ‘Okay, sure,’ I gestured to a door. ‘It's through here.’ I led Ghob through to my internal carport, which was just off the kitchen. I flicked the lights on as we walked through and down the short flight of stairs. ‘The necromancer’s face was made up of my car window glass. He appeared, threatened me, and then blew out all the glass pieces, aiming for me in particular.’

  Ghob stalked over softly to the car, moving surprisingly quietly and effortlessly for someone of his size and bulk. He placed his hand on a remnant shard that was sticking up from the back window opening. He closed his eyes for a moment and frowned.

  ‘What … what is it, Ghob?’ He looked at me, concern etched on his face.

  ‘We may have a problem, Warder. I sense great evil in this sliver of glass. I have felt it before, prior to your becoming our warder. Recently I had my elementals put down several large bears and elk that were infected with this very same evil. They had become polluted, vicious and mad from it, but worst of all they were killed or already dead but reanimated, and had harmed a few humans in the area.

  ‘Oh, I heard about that. The local police are investigating it at the moment.’

  Ghob nodded. ‘That particular threat is then taken care of already, I hope.’

  ‘I also now understand what I sensed in the creature that attacked the sorceress’s grove. I was unsure where it originated from before, but this is the very same taint.’

  ‘So this explains the animals being undead, not to mention the revenants that were soo not alive,’ I recalled, shuddering at the memory.

  ‘Yes, this evil may be the source,’ he stated bluntly. ‘And, Warder, this falls directly under your new responsibilities. Unfortunately for you, it is occurring when you are fresh to your role and power, but we cannot have an imbalance; it will not be tolerated. You must investigate this further, and if necessary deal with the source.

  ‘Also, I’m concerned about your own safety; it appears you already are a target.’

  ‘You don't say. I think I'm well aware of the security issue after the rain of death the necromancer so kindly treated me to.’

  ‘I suggest you lay down some protections around your abode, as I have taught you. This will ensure your home can be a place of defense and retreat if needed.’

  He looked back at my car, bereft of glass. Closing his eyes, he placed his hand on one of the chunks of remaining glass sticking awkwardly out of the side pas
senger window. The glass shimmered and like liquid flowed back up, expanding to fill the empty opening, and just like that I now had one sparkling new window.

  I gasped — now that was impressive. Ghob went around to each window and repeated the process, looking at me after finishing the last.

  ‘I hope that helps somewhat, Warder. I know that some humans take great pleasure in their steel transport.’ His eyes glimmered in silent amusement.

  It clicked then, ‘It was you who cleaned my car!’ I blurted.

  Looking at me in satisfaction, he shook his head, ‘No not me, Warder, but a few of the little people — gnomes — you've already met have taken a shine to you and wanted to show their friendship. It’s an honor, Warder. They don't take to people very much.’

  ‘Wow! You must thank them for me then. Could you do that, please?’

  ‘It will be done, Warder,’ he nodded solemnly.

  His bronze-edged eyes bored into mine, glowing from within from the fluorescent lighting above. I found myself momentarily daydreaming, thinking how terribly masculine and virile he was. He exuded a natural rawness that no man I had ever met had or could probably ever duplicate. I shivered, realizing that he was staring back at me just as intently.

  I felt an intense need — no, a desire — to reach out and run my fingers along that incredibly chiseled jawline.

  ‘Thank you, Ghob,’ I managed to say with only a slight tremor in my voice. ‘It is appreciated,’ indicating the car windows. ‘I didn't know that you could do that.’

  He held my gaze for a few moments longer, perhaps seeing too much.

  ‘Earth provides me with the ability to do great things, but it also can produce subtle effects if a little finesse is used. You, in time,’ he murmured, will also be capable of this and much more.’

  I nodded in acquiescence, and thanks. Another little lesson it seems.

  ‘Show me also this new scar you mentioned in the grove. It concerns me.’