“I want to be brave, like Marcus,” he said. “And strong, like Aaliyah. And smart like Timothy. I want to be kind like Eleanor. Loving, like my mother. And determined, like Kyra.”
Hollianna nodded.
“Then what is stopping you? Be those things. Be that person.”
She stood and offered her hand to him. He took it, but ended up having to push himself up. Elves were not known for their strength.
“Now what would that person you want to be do right now?”
Aidan gripped the phoenix egg a little tighter.
“Whatever it takes to save my country,” he said. “Even if it means working with my father.”
Hollianna smiled again and led him back through the tunnels. He was glad she found him, because if not he probably would have starved to death before he made his way out of the place. After a lot of zigzagging, they came back to the room where Aidan had met his father. The cave was full of elves now, as well as the phoenix and Aidan’s father. Some of pointy-eared people were sobbing, and about half were carrying large backpacks. Aidan avoided Matthias and walked up to Aeron, who was wearing the largest pack of all.
“Is it true?” Aidan asked. “Are you from Terra?”
Aeron smiled. “Yes, it is. In another life I was an accountant for an insurance firm.”
Aidan frowned. “What’s that?”
“To be honest, I haven’t the slightest idea. Everything past three hundred years ago is difficult to recall.”
Aidan looked around the room. He had never seen this many elves in one place.
“Where are you all going?” he asked.
With me, said a voice in Aidan’s head. The boy had never heard it before, but he knew immediately that the phoenix was speaking to him. The beautiful creature hobbled over to where the wizard and elf were talking.
Avalon is my home, and I am the last of my kind, it said. The elves were based on creatures found there. Now that you are here, both of us have played our parts in this realm. There is no need for us to stay here to be slaughtered in the coming war.
The creature’s voice felt similar to the roc’s, except less arrogant. Aidan could feel magic practically dripping from its feathers.
“Before you go, I need you to see this,” the wizard said. He brought the phoenix egg into the light.
The red and white bird bowed its head. I’m sorry, but there is nothing I can do to help you hatch that egg. Your father can explain better than I can. I must go now. The portal can only be opened at certain times, and not for very long.
Aeron grasped Aidan’s shoulders.
“Be safe, Firebird,” the old elf said. “I shall not see you again, but should I live another thousand years I will not forget you.”
Hollianna hugged her father, then stood back while he walked over to the black curtain.
“Friends,” Aeron said, addressing the elves. “I have been your leader for as long as all of you have been alive. I now pass on this burden to my daughter. She may be young, but she is brave and wise. Follow her as you have followed me. I wish you all the best, and hope to see you one day in paradise.”
The elf turned and ripped the black curtain down, revealing a normal cave wall. Then the phoenix touched its beak to the rock, and it began to glow. Little by little, a picture grew on the wall. Aidan was surprised. He had never seen magic paint something so realistic. It was a grassy field, covered in sunlight. Two creatures that looked like tiny women with wings sat on a flower. Then the creatures looked up, and Aidan realized that the painting wasn’t a painting at all.
Aeron didn’t waste any time. He and the other elves with backpacks ran towards the massive hole, ducking as they went. As soon as they were all through, the phoenix opened its wings and took off after them. When the great bird was gone, the portal slowly fizzled into nonexistence.
All of the other elves slowly made their way out of the cave, leaving Aidan and his father alone. The young wizard took a deep breath and approached the ancient.
“I need help hatching this egg,” Aidan said.
Matthias shook his head. “Aidan, I am afraid it is not quite as simple as that. The phoenix is not nearly so crude as a human. Their mating rituals are intricate and complex.”
The Ancient took the precious round object in his hands.
“It is a common belief that when a phoenix dies, another is born from the ashes. That is partially true. When one of the great birds disintegrates, they leave a clutch of eggs behind. They are infertile, however, until a mated pair binds near them. The phoenix is a creature of magic, so to mate they literally combine their souls. The act releases a pulse of arorr and energy that fuels the young life inside the egg. It is one of their greatest secrets. I’m not sure any human of Sortiledge has ever been told, until now. They told the council that heat was required to hatch the eggs so that, should the sorcerers ever turn on them, their young ones would be safe. In the end, it didn’t save them.”
“So there’s no way to hatch it?” Aidan asked. “Then why would you give it to me? Malcommer will destroy Sortiledge if we don’t have a phoenix on our side.”
“I gave it to you in hopes that somewhere, a female phoenix had survived. The last male just went through that portal. Until two souls of Avalon can be found, that egg can never hatch. However, it still contains a massive amount of power. I hope you will use it wisely.”
“So then Sortiledge is doomed,” Aidan said. “This entire journey was for nothing.”
“Not quite,” Matthias answered. “Sortiledge still has a chance. Armies can be defeated or persuaded. Generals can be outsmarted. Targets can be neutralized. The only person that no man in your country can defeat is your half-brother. I believe that with enough training, you can be as strong as he is.”
“What do you mean, training?” Aidan asked. “Bartemus is already teaching me to be a better sorcerer, and Aaliyah is teaching me to fight.”
“Aidan there is something you need to understand. You are not a sorcerer. You can be, if you want, but your birthright is far greater. You are the son of a Traveler. That’s why you could never find an aptitude, Aidan. Magic itself is your aptitude.”
Aidan pulled out his wand. No, Edwin’s wand. It was beautifully carved with runes the wizard didn’t understand. The wand had always felt natural to him, but if what his father was saying had any truth, then it was a crutch more than a blessing. The boy closed his eyes and dropped it on the ground.
“How do I start?” he asked.
Mathias shook his head. “Well you certainly don’t need a wand. But if you truly wish to learn how to use the power of ancients, you must remove that ring. It is holding you back.”
Aidan looked at the Phoenix Ring, sitting perfectly on his right middle finger. It was still stunningly beautiful and hadn’t been marked or scratched at all, despite what it had been through. The wizard had never been separated from it, not even to bathe or sleep.
“You performed magic before you had it,” Matthias said. “Malcommer’s soulrock was destroyed when he was imprisoned. It was only when he was released from it that he learned the true potential of his power.”
Aidan slowly slipped the ring off and put it in his pocket.
“Good,” Matthias said. “We have work to do.”
15
Aidan sat on a soft pillow. The Phoenix Ring was tucked away in his pocket, far from his skin. Without it on, he felt like he was missing a limb.
In front of the wizard was a wooden bowl filled with water. Aidan recognized the elves’ craftsmanship. Matthias stood at his right, encouraging him in his task.
It was simple, really. But also impossible, and completely unlike anything Aidan had ever tried to do before. His father wanted him to set the water on fire. Not the surface of the clear liquid, but the liquid itself. And he wasn’t allowed to use any of the sorcerer’s tongue to do it.
“Couldn’t we start with something easier? Like wood?” Aidan asked.
Matthias shook his head. “I
told you, magic is the antithesis of reality. The down for every up, the east for every west. The laws of physics say that fire cannot exist in water. Magic in its purest form says fire can only exist in water. All you must do is channel it.”
Aidan sighed and tried to concentrate.
“Does Malcommer know how to do this?” the boy asked.
“Probably,” his father said. “But he is not the only threat you face.”
“What do you mean?” Aidan asked, keeping his eyes closed. In the back of his mind he was still trying to picture what fire would look like burning underwater.
“Garret is still out there somewhere, and if he has a chance to slay someone who bears the mark, he will take it.”
Aidan smiled and shook his head. He could feel something inside him beginning to respond to the call of magic.
“Garret is dead. I killed him myself.”
“I’m afraid you’re mistaken,” Matthias said. “There are few left who bear the Mark of Avalon, Aidan. When one of them dies, I can feel it. Garret is still very much alive.”
The young wizard’s eyes snapped open and he turned to his father.
“That’s impossible. I saw him, he was dead. Very dead.”
“Garret has always been a master of illusion,” The Ancient said. “I’m sorry Aidan, but whoever you saw was someone else. The Dark Angel is alive.”
Aidan jumped to his feet. Eleanor.
“My friends are in danger. I have to go,” he said.
“Of course,” Matthias said. “You’re not a prisoner. I can have the elves prepare a wyvern for you to fly out on. But Aidan, look.”
Aidan turned back to the little wooden bowl. In the center of the water, a tiny flamed burned, distorted as he water rippled around it. It was the most beautiful thing Aidan’s magic had ever created.
“You’re ready, Aidan,” Matthias said. “From here, where you go is your choice.”
“I know,” the young wizard said. “And right now I chose to go to Timothy and Eleanor. But I don’t know how.”
Matthias grinned. “Yes you do. Keep that ring off for just a little longer. As long as you wear it, your own magic will cloud your senses. Without it, you can feel every strand of power in the world if you look hard enough.”
His father was right. Aidan could feel Timothy, and Eleanor. He could be there in a few hours on the back of a griffin or wyvern. But he could also feel Garret. The Dark Angel was close to his friends.
“Come, follow me,” Matthias said. They made their way back through the tunnels. While they walked, the Ancient pulled out a communication crystal and asked the elves to get a wyvern ready.
Until now, Aidan hadn’t realized how the underground complex was lit. Glowing fungi grew everywhere on the walls, ceiling and floor. Wherever there was no natural light, a torch had been placed.
“The magic of the elves is incredible. I’m not sure how Rhavock gave them their abilities, but I envy them,” Matthias said. “Without their power, we would be using far more torches.”
Eventually they came to the largest cave Aidan had yet seen, and the only one with an opening into the outside world. A gorgeous blue wyvern was saddled, lazily sitting back on its haunches. Aidan’s pack had already been attached to the saddle. Aidan wasted no time in pulling himself onto the creature’s back. Unlike the massive griffin, who basically carried a giant bowl on its back and could fly for several days, the wyvern was equipped with a saddle similar to those made for horses. The creature was built for speed and strength. Aidan was grateful for the change.
His father handed him a folded piece of paper.
“Here. This is a map of the eight realms. Perhaps it will prove useful to you on your journey.”
Aidan nodded in thanks and took the reins.
“Wait,” Matthias said. “Aidan, when you were born, you were correct. I intended for you to be a weapon. But you have become so much more than that. I don’t have much power left, but if you ever need me, I will do whatever it takes to help you.”
“And I as well,” Holliana said, coming out of a cave. “I’m sure at some point you will need a healer again. We elves will be happy to assist you.”
“Thank you,” Aidan said. “Goodbye Hollianna. Goodbye … Dad.”
Then he snapped the reins and the wyvern soared out of the mountain.
“Hang on guys,” he whispered. “I’m coming. Just hang on.”
***
Aaliyah landed the griffin a mile or so outside the town where Timothy and Eleanor were supposed to be staying. It was dark when they flew in, so she doubted anyone from the town had seen the black cat-bird. Not that it mattered. If there were any communication crystals at Wyvern’s Roost, Garret would already know they were coming. The amogh was mildly surprised that they hadn’t been attacked by a wyvern squad during their flight.
As soon as they touched down, Aaliyah tied the griffin to a tree and started jogging. Kyra kept up well enough for a normal human, and they got into the town as the sun breached the horizon. It wasn’t hard to figure out where they needed to go. Every person in the town was gathering at its center, where a makeshift gallows had been set up. Aaliyah’s heart went cold when she saw Eleanor shackled to one of the supports. Timothy was nowhere in sight.
Aaliyah and Kyra mingled with the crowd as it grew. The amogh had hidden her crossbow under her ranger’s robe against her stomach. If someone looked closely, they would probably notice that something was wrong, but she didn’t plan to be the center of attention. Kyra was reaching into her witch’s sack to grab some powders, but Aaliyah caught her arm. There was no point in making a move until they had a plan.
When the sun was barely over the trees, a lone man climbed out of the crowd onto the gallows. Aaliyah was impressed. The Dark Angel looked exactly like his clone back at Wyvern’s Roost, down to the eyes. The amogh slowly unsheathed a Rakka steel knife.
“Thank you all for coming here today,” Garret said.
The crowd hushed..
“As you are all aware, our country has recently been infiltrated by our enemies, in an attempt to steal our soulrocks. This is one such!” he said, pointing a finger at Eleanor.
The crowd booed, and some boys in the front went so far as to throw stones and mud at the poor girl. Aaliyah gripped her knife tighter. She didn’t like that the crowd was against them, though a riot might give them a chance to escape.
“Today I have the honor of slaying an enemy sorcerer and a spy. When our valiant soldiers have joined us, we shall begin the punishment.” Garret held up a large communication crystal. “I have already consulted the council. This girl shall hang for her crimes against Aranumis and the Southern Lands.
Aaliyah pulled her arm back. From where she stood, she could perform an underarm throw that would leave the crowd confused and Garret dead. She was about to flick her wrist when a young man came running from the other side of the town, half covered in chainmail. His eyes were wide with fear, and he was breathing hard.
“Sir, the prisoner. The guards are dead. He’s—”
The boy was cut off by a spell Aaliyah had never heard before. And for good reason. The messenger’s neck twisted, as if of its own accord, and his body was flung from the stage. The people of the town screamed and ran, until no one was left but Garret, Kyra, and Aaliyah. Timothy stood at the other end of the street. Aaliayh let out a breath of relief. He lived. Actually, he was more than just alive. His eyes were shining white from the magic inside him, and his forehead glowed with a mark in the shape of two wings. He was a warlock.
“So,” the Dark Angel said, smiling. “These are the friends of Matthias’s son. The ones that the council is so afraid of that it sent me to kill you. I must say, I expected more.”
Timothy didn’t waste time talking. Aaliyah saw him raise his hand and say something in the sorcerer’s tongue, and then Garret went flying backwards, right into the noose. The rope wrapped itself around the Dark Angel’s neck and the floor fell out from underneath him.
<
br /> Well that was easy, Aaliyah thought.
Except that Garret’s neck didn’t snap. If anything, he looked mildly annoyed as he dangled from the rope that should have killed him. Aaliyah’s heart sank.
“Right. I guess we’re doing this ” he said.
He snapped his fingers and his crossbow appeared out of nowhere. Again, it looked exactly the same as the one his clone had carried. He pulled a bolt from the bow and used it to slash the rope above his neck. Where the bolt had touched the rope, purple energy fizzled. He fell to the ground and walked out from under the gallows.
Aaliyah’s eyes narrowed. Timothy stumbled forward, clearly weakened by his spellcasting, and Garret seemed impervious to harm by normal objects. That was okay. No matter how powerful he was, no sorcerer could survive a Rakka steel blade to the heart.
“Go get Eleanor,” Aaliyah said to Kyra.
“Yes,” the witch said. She handed Aaliyah a tiny pouch and then ran to the gallows.
Aaliyah and Timothy charged Garret at the same time. The amogh fired off a bolt as she went, but it glanced off the Dark Angel’s skin as if he were made of bronze.
They clashed in the middle, Aaliyah with her dual knives and Timothy with his sword. Garret was fast. He used his crossbow to deflect both of their attacks at once. Too late, Aaliyah saw him swing the weapon toward her head. She fell backward as the wood slammed into her face.
Great, so it isn’t made entirely of magic, she thought, before leaping back to her feet.
Garret and Timothy were fighting for their lives. Both used magic as much as their weapons, screaming out spells in between the clashes of blade and bow. Timothy was clearly weakening though. Aaliyah ran back into the fray and let her instincts take over. Garret held a bolt in one hand and the crossbow in the other. He deflected every strike the amogh sent his way, all the while throwing spells at Timothy. Aaliyah wasn’t sure how he managed to spar with two people at the same time, especially when one was a highly trained assassin at least twice as fast as him.
The Phoenix King: The Thunderheart Chronicles Book 2 Page 21
