A Slave to Magic

by Lana Axe

  Seela’s stoic expression gave way to a crooked grin. “Well done,” she said. “Now put them out before you burn down my cabin.”

  Kwil obeyed, snuffing out the candles all at once. Changing back to his human form, he looked upon his master. “Would you say I’ve earned a day or two off?” he asked, grinning.

  The question came as a surprise to Seela. Kwil had never even expressed an interest in taking a break. “I don’t see why not,” she replied after a slight pause. “But what are you planning to do if you’re not studying?”

  “I’d like to explore the forest,” he replied. “Get to know the surroundings and any creatures that might be around,” he added. “I’m hoping Nera will join me.”

  Nera looked at him with surprise. He was usually content to have his nose stuck in a book. Yearning for adventure wasn’t exactly in his character.

  “Will you come along?” he asked.

  Nodding, she replied, “Of course I will.”

  “I suppose you can take care of yourselves,” Seela said. “You’ve certainly earned a day or two off, but don’t stay away too long. Make sure you’re practicing as well. I wouldn’t want you to become rusty.” Pleased that her student was ready to explore the surroundings, she began planning in her mind what to do with her time without him. A long soak in the tub sounded like a good start.

  “We won’t be gone more than two days,” he promised.

  Nera caught sight of a sparkle in his eye, one that spoke of secrets. Kwil was planning something, and she couldn’t guess what it was. It was clear he didn’t want Seela to know about it, but Nera was determined to find out.

  Seela trotted off upstairs while Kwil collected some food items for the trip. He didn’t hear Nera approaching from behind.

  “All right,” she said. “Seela’s gone upstairs, so tell me what you’re planning. What’s this trip really about?”

  Kwil glanced around the room before retrieving a bit of parchment from his pocket. “This,” he said, passing it to her.

  Unfolding the parchment, Nera asked, “What is this place?” A location was marked on the map, obviously the destination Kwil had in mind.

  “It’s Seela’s childhood home,” Kwil replied. “I want to retrieve the medallion she spoke of.”

  Nera remembered Seela’s story and the medallion she had been forced to leave behind. “It’s sweet of you, Kwil, but how are you going to convince her uncle to give it to you?”

  “I don’t plan to ask,” he replied, grinning. These months of learning had given him new confidence. Master wizard or not, he was ready to face any obstacle to retrieve this treasure for Seela. She had given him his dream, and he would give her this gift in gratitude.

  “This is dangerous, Kwil,” Nera said, unsure whether she wanted to go along with him. “Humans can’t just go barging into a noble lord’s manor. You could be killed.”

  “I don’t plan to go as a human,” he replied. “No one’s going to suspect me.”

  “This is insane,” she commented. “Are you sure you can do this?”

  “Nera, I’ve never been more confident of anything in my life,” he said sincerely. “I’m ready to do this. Please come with me.” He had not forgotten Seela’s words. Nera’s friendship was essential if he was to achieve his destiny. Without her, he might not succeed.

  “Of course I will,” she replied. How could she refuse? He might get into trouble, and who else would be there to help him? He was her dearest friend, and if he felt himself ready to face this man, she would help in any way she could.

  “Master Arsden’s manor is only a two-day walk from here,” Kwil began. “But we can get there much faster if Dirnda will help us.”

  “Wait a minute,” Nera said, recognizing the name. “Seela’s uncle is Master Arsden?”

  “Yes,” Kwil replied. “Do you know him?”

  “I know of him,” Nera said. “He’s a slave breeder. A wealthy one. There will be guards everywhere.” Not only did he need guards to keep the slaves in line, he needed them to avoid theft. Bands of thieves had been known to steal slaves by the dozen and take them to smaller markets throughout the land. That way they avoided regulations and questions.

  “Then we’ll just have to be extra careful,” Kwil decided. Even if the place was secure, he would find a way in.

  “I hope you know what you’re doing,” Nera said. Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she led the way out the door and into the forest.

  Side by side, the two headed to the same location where they had first met Dirnda. Summer’s heat penetrated the dense forest, and the humidity had risen to an uncomfortable level. Kwil wondered how long it would take a master of air magic to alter the weather, but since Seela had never made such an offer, he decided it must be incredibly difficult. Or perhaps it took a team of wizards like the island elves he had read about. His thoughts turned to visiting them someday, maybe even finding his long-lost elven relatives.

  A loud whistle from Nera brought him out of his reverie. She had paused a few steps ahead of him and seen no trace of the puca. But Dirnda hadn’t gone far. Hearing the whistle, he galloped into sight, appearing from deep within the forest.

  With a toss of his long, black mane, Dirnda said, “It’s good to see you both again. What brings you to this part of the forest?”

  “I would ask a favor of you,” Kwil replied, hopeful the puca would be willing to listen.

  “Favor?” Dirnda echoed. “I owe you no such thing.”

  “I know that,” Kwil said, “but I need your help. Will you at least hear me out?”

  The puca thought a moment, his orange eyes staring through the young mage. “Very well,” he eventually replied.

  “We wish to retrieve a medallion for Mistress Seela,” Kwil explained. “If you could give us a ride to her family home, we would be in your debt.”

  Nera’s eyes shifted nervously. She wasn’t sure she wanted the puca’s help. A creature given to tricks, she wasn’t sure he could be trusted long enough to be of assistance. He might gallop off, leaving them at the side of the road merely because he thought it would be funny.

  After a moment’s consideration, Dirnda said, “I will do this, but you must promise to do something for me in return.”

  “What do you need?” Kwil asked. Whatever the puca needed, Kwil would do it.

  “I don’t need anything right now,” Dirnda replied. “I’ll name the favor later, and you must come through for me, no matter what.”

  “Agreed,” Kwil replied without hesitation.

  Nera sighed and looked at the ground. She didn’t like the idea of agreeing to perform some unknown task. There was no way of knowing what the puca would ask for. “I don’t think that’s wise,” she whispered to Kwil.

  “It’s the only way,” he replied. “If we’re gone too long, Seela might worry and come looking for us. And riding there will save energy that we might need.” He was well aware that he might have to fight his way in, and he intended to arrive at full strength.

  “I just hope you aren’t getting in over your head,” she muttered.

  Kwil climbed onto Dirnda’s back and reached a hand down to assist Nera. She took a seat behind him, her arms wrapped tightly around his waist. Laying a hand on Dirnda’s neck, Kwil transmitted the location of the manor, the image of the map moving from one mind to the other.

  The puca lunged forward, speeding through the forest, sending dirt and strands of grass flying in his wake. Nera pressed her face against Kwil’s back and squeezed her eyes shut. The puca maneuvered dangerously close to the trees, adjusting course without losing speed. Paying no heed to the comfort of the riders, he galloped on, his thoughts fixated on his destination.

  Exhilarated by the puca’s speed, Kwil watched as the twisted trees of the Dark Forest thinned, becoming a brighter, more inviting section of woods. The miles passed by, and in two hours’ time, they had cleared the forest altogether. Trees grew sparsely in this area, meadows and open spaces instead appearing befo
re his eyes.

  Though the puca did not slow, the ride became smoother as they entered the fields. Nera dared to open her eyes, looking upon pastures of green as they sped by. Sheep and cattle came in and out of view, fading to tiny dots on the horizon. The air was crisp and clean, the sun bright overhead as they flew across the countryside, never slowing.

  Nera’s heart pounded in her chest, her hands still firmly clasped around her friend. As they reached the road, Dirnda made a hard left, turning away from the heavily traveled path in favor of the green pastures. Nera felt herself slipping, nearly coming off the side of the steed. Kwil felt the tug at his waist and cast white magic over his friend, willing her to stay put. Feeling the magic’s pull, she whispered a quick thanks in his ear, but the pounding of the puca’s hooves prevented the mage from hearing it.

  The lack of obstacles allowed Dirnda to increase his speed, his hooves nearly flying over the soft earth. The landscape changed from scenic to a blur, forcing them to close their eyes to ward off dizziness. Kwil turned his attention to his magic, practically gluing Nera and himself to the stallion’s back.

  Dirnda pressed on without a care, loving every minute of the race. Running was his freedom—the time when he was most alive.

  Shortly before sunset, the trio arrived within sight of Master Arsden’s manor. Nestled safely behind a tall iron fence, the compound stretched out before them. It was easily three times the size of the Orva manor, and Kwil realized that it might take longer than expected to locate the medallion. It could be anywhere within the manor, and if Arsden would not give up the information, Kwil might be in for a long search. He searched his mind for a spell that would help him locate it, but could not recall anything useful. Without knowing what the medallion looked like, he wondered how he would be able to visualize it and connect with it through magic. He kept these worries to himself, not wanting to trouble Nera or give her cause to insist they return home. He would simply have to find a way.

  Relieved that the ride was over, Nera dismounted and resisted the urge to kiss the ground. It had certainly shaved hours off their travel, but she would have preferred a slower pace. She was not looking forward to the return journey.

  “Will you wait for us?” Kwil asked the puca.

  “I don’t have all night,” Dirnda replied. “How long will this take?” He pawed at the ground, anxious to continue moving.

  “I’m not sure,” Kwil replied. “But we might need to get away quickly. I’m not sure we can do it without you.”

  Dirnda grunted and stamped the ground. “Fine,” he said. “I will try to stay in the area.”

  “Thanks,” Kwil said. It wasn’t the firmest of promises, but he would take it.

  Nera watched as Dirnda circled and trotted away from the manor. “What now?” she asked. “How do we get inside?”

  Observing the black iron gate, Kwil said, “We go through the gate.”

  “Won’t we get caught?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

  In an instant, Kwil transformed into his Gatan form, his silver fur gleaming in the fading light. “We can pretend we’ve come to buy a slave,” he replied.

  Nera shook her head. “You don’t buy directly from breeders,” she said. “Breeders send the slaves to markets. They don’t sell from their homes.”

  Kwil’s shoulders fell slightly as he realized his plan to get inside wouldn’t work. In all his studies, he hadn’t bothered to learn the details of Gi’gata’s slave trade. Looking at the fence, he counted three separate locks. Apparently Arsden didn’t welcome visitors. “We’ll just have to break in,” he said.

  “Climb the fence?” she asked, looking at the rails.

  Kwil placed a hand on the metal and felt a tingling sensation. “It has a magical charge,” he said. “We don’t want to be in contact with it for long.” Climbing the fence was out. He would have to hold onto the metal too long.

  “Can you break the spell?” she asked.

  “Not without alerting the person who placed the enchantment,” he replied. “The only option is to open this gate and walk through without being seen.”

  “And that’s most likely impossible,” Nera said, crossing her arms. It seemed the mission had failed before it had begun.

  “We’re getting inside,” Kwil said, his eyes flashing red. “Even if it means blowing this gate to pieces.”

  Chapter 23

  “Don’t get carried away,” Nera cautioned. “You can’t start tossing fireballs at the gate, or all the guards are going to come running.” She looked the gate up and down before placing her hand on one of the locks. “Why don’t you try unlocking these first?”

  The fire dwindled from Kwil’s eyes as he realized the wisdom of Nera’s suggestion. There was still a chance of getting inside quietly. Chiding himself for not thinking rationally, he stepped forward to examine the lock. Through his magic, he viewed the mechanism inside the metal casing and counted four separate tumblers. They were in good repair and would not easily open without the key, but Kwil had to try.

  In his mind, Kwil focused on the first tumbler, avoiding all contact with the other three. Gently he manipulated the pins, forcing the spring to compress and the other components to move into the correct alignment. Breathing out, he turned to Nera. “One down,” he said. Blocking out all other thoughts, he turned his mind to the next three tumblers, positioning them in half the time of the first.

  Kwil handed the open lock to Nera, who tossed it casually to the ground. There wouldn’t be a need to relock the gate while they were leaving. “Two more to go,” she said.

  As he stared inside the second lock, Kwil could see that it had rusted over time. The mechanisms did not move easily, and he suspected opening it would prove difficult, even with the key. Using the heat from his body, he attempted to melt the rust away from the metal, allowing the springs to glide freely. He did not achieve the intended result, however. Instead of melting the rust, he softened the entire lock along with its chain. It fused to the gate as it cooled.

  “I hope you can get that off,” Nera said.

  “I’m not sure I can get it any hotter,” he said. Melting iron required a vast amount of magical heat, and he couldn’t risk using all of his stores at once. Tapping a finger against the metal, he decided to try a simpler approach. He heated the offending chain only at the links that held it to the fence. Then he pulled against the unheated end, forcing it away from the gate. Grinning, he looked to his companion for approval.

  “Do you want me to congratulate you?” she asked, growing impatient. “Just get the third lock open.”

  The third lock proved no obstacle for Kwil’s magic, and sprang open with ease. The gate swung wide, admitting the two intruders to the manor grounds. They crept inside, closing the gate behind them and moving off to the side in hopes of avoiding detection.

  “That was almost too easy,” Nera commented, her eyes darting back and forth.

  The pair remained crouched as they moved along the perimeter of the fence. Kwil knew not to try entering through the front door. No noble in his right mind would allow a stranger to waltz inside, especially one who had just disabled the locks on his front gate.

  “Let’s go around the side,” Kwil said, pointing to an open window.

  Nera nodded and led the way, but a sudden movement ahead stopped her. Placing an arm in his path, she blocked Kwil from going any farther. Eyes shone in the fading light, wild eyes. “Those don’t look friendly,” she cautioned.

  Ahead of the intruders paced a dozen large, doglike creatures. They had shaggy fur and hunched backs, their front legs longer than the back. Their yellow eyes gleamed, their white fangs shimmering in the moonlight.

  “What are they?” Kwil asked.

  Nera shook her head. “I’ve never seen a creature like that. Maybe it’s some hybrid wolf they use for protection.”

  As she finished her sentence, one of the beasts caught her scent, lifting its nose in the air. A low growl erupted from its throat, its pack mates
coming to its side. Kwil immediately summoned flames, which danced in the palm of his hand.

  “No!” Nera warned. “Everyone in the house will see the fire. Let me handle this.”

  The massive dogs charged in her direction, their heads held low to the ground. Nera stepped forward, her heart leaping into her throat. Shoving her fears aside, she opened her mouth, a high note piercing the thick summer air. The beasts stopped short, those behind tumbling over the leaders. Nera continued the song, lowering her pitch. As if in a trance, the dogs lay down, their tongues lolling out of their mouths.

  Kwil approached with caution, examining the beasts with magic. “How long will they stay asleep?” he asked, amazed at his companion’s ability.

  Shrugging, she replied, “I don’t know. I don’t exactly have a lot of experience with this spell.”

  “Then we’d better hurry,” Kwil said. A high-pitched shriek sounded from the distance, and Kwil’s Gatan ears turned toward it. “Did you hear that?” he asked.

  “I did,” she replied with a nod. “It came from over there.” Pointing toward the back of the property, where the faint light of torches illuminated figures in the distance. “I bet you anything that’s where they keep the slaves.” Another cry echoed, filling her mind with images of torture.

  Kwil glanced at the open window and then back toward the screams, his mind torn between two options. He had come all this way for the medallion, but he couldn’t ignore the suffering taking place under his very nose.

  Nera placed a hand on his arm. “I’m going over there,” she said, her green eyes sincere. “If you have any chance at getting that medallion without facing Arsden, you’ll be better off alone. Two of us will make too much noise.”

  “Your route could be more dangerous than mine,” he replied, the words sticking in his throat. Who knows what lengths a sorcerer might go to in order to keep his slaves protected from thieves?

  “I’ll be careful,” she promised. “We came for the medallion, so go and get it. I’ll take care of those people. If there’s a way to free them, I’ll find it.”