“Marvelous, simply marvelous contraption, Oliver,” said Everett, as he pumped his hands in congratulations.
“Never doubted you, ya’ old coot!” boomed a smiling Thomas.
“Hey. What about me!” objected Michael.
“You were wonderful, too, Michael,” said Sarah, hugging him tenderly. “But, why did you almost tip the boat over when Oliver put up the sail?”
“Oh brother! Such respect we magicians get. Come on. We’re going to take a test flight with everyone on board.”
There was a strong sense of excitement as Sarah, Thomas, and Everett clambered on board. Sarah was seated directly behind Michael, with Big Thomas behind her. Everett was on the back end of the craft; he was to levitate anyone that might get tossed overboard.
Esther and Brian stood to the side and watched as the group prepared for the second test flight. Michael saw the longing in Brian’s eyes as he watched his new friends.
“Come on along, Brian,” Michael said. “It’s time to have a little bit of fun.”
Brian’s elation quickly turned to disappointment when his mother started to protest.
“It will be okay, Esther,” Michael quickly assured her. “If he begins to fall, Everett will keep him above ground until we can return for him. Just as easy as this.” With a wave of Michael’s hand, Brian’s feet left the ground, and he was floating six feet in the air, the boy’s legs thrashing, and arms pin wheeling to keep his balance. But the squeals of delight showed that he was not frightened by the new experience. With additional assurances from Everett, Esther finally agreed to allow her son to join them on their flight.
It was hard to tell who was the most excited when the air-boat rose from the ground, Brian or Sarah. She was thrilled by the new experience of flying. It was exhilarating to travel over the rugged terrain, without the dragging effects of physical exertion. She was aware of every sensation during the short trip...the hard rough planking that threatened to shoot rough slivers into her soft flesh, the freedom of her legs that were dangling from the side of the craft. The wind above the sheltered woodlands cooled her, even as she threw her head back to feel the warmth of the late afternoon sun on her face.
“Why didn’t anyone think of this before now, Michael?” she asked.
“I suppose all of the magicians were too busy trying to go about their business unnoticed. How long would they have remained unnoticed, flying through the heavens on pieces of wood?”
As Sarah watched the beauty of the surrounding countryside slip past her, she became aware of Brian’s hands anchored in the folds of the back of the jacket that she wore. He was sitting on Big Thomas’ lap, holding onto Sarah, just in front of him.
“What do you think about all of this, Brian?” she asked.
“It’s great!” he exclaimed. “Anyone that can make this happen, is sure to be able to rescue my dad.”
No answer was necessary; either they would be successful or they wouldn’t. There was no sense in giving the boy doubt.
The test lasted about an hour with Oliver and Michael practicing turning maneuvers, and sailing different directions. When they returned, it was near dusk; Esther had a fire going, preparing dinner.
They would stay one more night before returning to their travels.
CHAPTER 21
Early the next morning, Michael and Everett went off by themselves for a walk by the stream, while the others prepared the air-boat for travel. Thomas and Oliver were busy loading their supplies, while Sarah helped Esther put the finishing touches on cleaning the cabin. Against his vocal wishes, Brian was left behind.
“So, what’s on your mind that you pulled me away from everyone else?” Everett inquired.
“That fire, Everett,” Michael replied as he sat on an embankment overlooking the small stream. “One of us started it.”
Everett sat beside Michael, and sighed as he began gently tossing pebbles into the stream. “I’ve been thinking about that ever since we were so unceremoniously ejected from the Church of the Second Millennium. One of our people told them that we were magicians.”
Michael looked over at his old friend and nodded his head to indicate that he had been thinking the same thing. “It’s too much to believe that Acantha could have positioned a spy in the right place months ago. Could she have reached one of us over this kind of distance, and coerced them to do her will?”
“I’m sure that she could,” replied Everett. “And whoever that person is, I don’t believe they even know what they are doing.
“It could be any one of them...or us,” Everett continued as he looked over at the young magician.
Michael shook his head to answer Everett’s thought that the problem could be with one of the magicians.
“No, not you or me. I don’t think she could get that kind of control over me anymore. If she can, we’re in big trouble. And I don’t think it could be you. You were inside the cabin with Sarah when the fire broke out. That leaves Big Thomas or Oliver.”
Everett leaned back until he was lying on the small grassy hillock. He stared up at the clear spring sky as he spoke to Michael. “I’m getting too old for this, son. I should be reclining in an old wooden rocking chair somewhere rather than traipsing across the countryside, battling evil magic. We need to make an end of this.”
Everett sat back up and looked over at Michael with a concerned look on his face. “Are you ready, Michael? Can you better Acantha’s power?”
Everett had put words to the fears that Michael had felt. His power was growing steadily every day, but Acantha had been using her powers longer than he had. There would be no second chance. If he failed in defeating Acantha and the strength of the ruby, he would become just another fatality, joining all of the lost friends from the magician’s enclave.
He stood and turned his face from the old master to hide the doubt that he knew was reflected there. “I don’t know, Everett, but it’s too late to worry about that now. With Oliver’s flying air-boat, we’ll be at the keep in a matter of days, rather than the weeks it would have taken us before.”
Everett stood to join his friend, but tactfully let him continue to face away. “Well...I guess we’ll worry about it when we get there. For now we have to figure out who among us is helping her – unwittingly or otherwise. Come, it is time to take up our journey again.”
When Michael and Everett returned to the cabin, everyone was outside by the new air-boat. Thomas and Oliver were lashing the supplies to the side of the vessel, while Sarah stood saying good-bye to Esther and Brian. Her arm was around Brian’s shoulders, and he was looking up at the beautiful young woman with adoring eyes.
“Oh, there you two are,” she said as they approached. “Are we ready to go?”
“I guess we are,” answered Michael. “Let’s just see how Thomas and Oliver are getting along with the supplies.”
They all walked over to where the two men were putting the finishing touches on preparing the vessel. The innovative air-boat sat in the clearing looking like a child’s randomly assembled toy. Thomas was securing the last of the supplies, while Oliver looked on.
“How goes it, Thomas?” asked Michael as the approached.
“Good,” Thomas answered. “Our hosts gave us a couple of gifts.” He pointed at the two double bladed axes that were tied to the side of the vessel.
“That’s a good idea,” Everett responded. “I’m afraid we may need them. Acantha may have more of those beasts lined up for us.”
“We’ve even got that pitch-fork that Sarah used,” added Thomas.
“I would give you anything I have, if it would help you to free my husband,” said Esther as she lowered her head to hide the tears that were forming in her eyes.
Everett took one of her hands in his, patting it to comfort her. “My dear child, we will do our very best to help free your husband and his brother. I wish we could promise you that we will succeed, but...”
“I know you will do all you can,” replied Esther as her teary e
yes began to smile. “Come back and see us when you are through. My husband and I will give you a feast you’ll not soon forget.”
“Marvelous idea!” boomed Thomas. “We’ll be successful, if for no other reason than that.”
The travelers all took their seats on the air-boat, and prepared for Michael to lift it off the ground, when Brian approached. “Ya’ going to bring my dad back?” he asked Michael.
“We’re going to try.”
The young boy thought for a minute before he continued. “I’m going to learn how to respect magic, like ya’ said, then I’m going to be a magician, just like you.”
“If you put your mind to it, Brian, I’m sure you will.”
Esther and Brian stood back and waved as the flying air-boat lifted from the ground, slowly gaining altitude until it was above the top of the trees. Oliver once again raised sail and allowed the wind to fill it. Michael, alert to what to expect this time, managed to keep the vessel level as the wind sent it on its way.
The rough conditions of the previous few weeks were quickly forgotten as the five sailed over the lush green beauty of the coastal forest. It went unsaid, but all of the members knew the conflict was now near at hand. If they had continued their travels by foot, it would have taken them another month to beat a path through the dense undergrowth to Acantha’s keep. With the air-boat that Oliver had envisioned and they had built, they would be there in just a couple of days.
As they slipped quietly over the tops of the trees, Sarah leaned forward and rested her head on the back of Michael’s shoulder. “It’s beautiful up here, Michael. You can see everything, the green hills, rocky beaches, the sun shining on the ocean.”
“I can understand how unusual this is to you,” he responded. “I remember how it felt the first time I floated more than just a couple of feet off the ground.”
“Did you ever get tired of it? I mean, all of this beauty, how could you get tired of it.”
“No,” answered Michael with a chuckle. “I suppose I got use to floating above the trees, but I never got tired of the feeling of freedom.”
Big Thomas looked over the top of Sarah’s head, to Michael. “How high could we go, Michael? I mean, is this the limit -- or how much higher could we go?”
“What’s the matter, Thomas?” Oliver called back. “Isn’t a couple of hundred feet of the ground high enough for you?”
“Sure it is,” he responded. “Until we come upon a mountain that’s a couple of hundred feet higher than us, that is.”
“I honestly can’t tell you how high we could go, Thomas,” replied Michael. “I’d rather not take any chances. This is something all of us are unfamiliar with.”
“Boy, what a view though,” Thomas continued. “Isn’t this just the prettiest thing you ever saw, Sarah?”
Sarah looked over her shoulder, and the wind gently ruffled her hair until it covered her face. “It sure is,” Sarah answered as she tried in vain to push her hair from her face. “I’d like to come over the hills into Monterey flying like this. I’ll bet that’s even prettier.”
They sailed on for another two hours before Michael became tired and asked Everett to use his magic to support the air-boat. Everett’s efforts lasted less than an hour before he needed to lower the air-boat to the ground so they could all rest.
“I’m not complaining, you know,” said Sarah when she climbed off the now grounded air-boat. “But, I wish we had thought to put some cloth on the boards where we sit.” She noticed she was not the only one that was gently massaging their backsides.
“Yeah, I think I’m going to have to agree with you,” replied Everett.
“Just a bunch of soft landlubbers,” taunted Oliver. “Look, we just made as much progress in a couple of hours that would have taken us days if we were still walking. With a bit of rest, we can sail for another couple of hours.”
Understanding how quickly they were traveling brought back to everyone how soon it would be that they would confront Acantha. None of them knew if they had the strength, or if Michael had the power to survive, let alone win the battle. After a couple of minutes, it was Sarah who broke the fumbling silence. “Well, if you men want to eat before we start off again, we had better get to work. We need a fire and some of the supplies brought from the air-boat.”
While the other men were unloading what Sarah had specified that she needed for making lunch, she stole off for a few minutes alone with Michael.
“You know,” she began, “a few days ago I would have tried to convince you to put this fool’s errand behind you. I still felt that perhaps you could turn away from it, and we could go back to normal lives. Now, after the attack on the cabin, and knowing that Brian’s father was stolen away, I see what Everett meant when he said that Acantha would never let you live in peace.”
“Sarah, I know it’s not fair to you...”
“That’s not my point, Michael,” she interrupted. She stopped and put one hand on Michael’s shoulder and looked up at him. “My point is, I understand now that this woman -- no matter that she’s your sister – needs to be stopped. I also understand that you may be the only one capable of stopping her.”
“I have to try,” said Michael, returning Sarah’s gaze.
“I know you do. I just wanted you to know that I agree with you; and I’ll be with you all the way.”
Michael smiled as he pulled her into his arms. “How did I get so lucky, to find you?”
“And don’t you forget it,” she replied playfully. “Come on, we had better get back to the others before they think we are getting overly romantic.”
He caught her arm as she pulled away. “Not a bad idea, you know. We haven’t had that much time to ourselves lately.”
“Michael...what if one of the others comes looking for us?”
“Don’t worry. No one will see a thing.” Michael punctuated his promise by raising his right arm and circling it around their heads. “Now, if anyone comes looking for us, they’ll pass right by.”
Sarah sighed deeply as she once again moved into his embrace.
* * * * * Acantha cursed and slammed her fist against the table, as the two forms in her magical bowl disappeared from sight. “So easy...it’s getting so damned easy for him.”
She spun around to face the shadowy figure behind her. It was the forlorn, shattered man that Sarah had first seen crashing through her doorway weeks earlier.
“If you had done as I instructed in the first place,” shrieked Acantha, as she pointed a wickedly accusing finger at him, “I wouldn’t be faced with them approaching my very door.”
Croom made a futile gesture with one hand and continued staring at the floor in front of Acantha.
“I did what I could. His magic was stronger than yours.” Acantha spent nearly thirty seconds sputtering in an
uncontrolled rage. “His power is not stronger than mine!” she finally shouted. “I merely meant, the distance was so great. He was immediately in front of me, and you were so very far away.” Croom raised his eyes without raising his head to see if his words were soothing her rage. Her face, however, was still a vivid red from his unintentional barb.
Although Croom was already dead, there were greater things than death that she could -- in fact already had – threatened him with. Fearing an eternal state of limbo between death and life, Croom tried once again to soothe the irate sorceress.
“You nearly defeated him at the church, and again on the cliffs with the avalanche. It was only by blind luck that he escaped.”
She finally calmed her rage, as she stalked across the stone floor of her laboratory. She stopped in front of the wretched dead man. “For once you are speaking as though your brain has not rotted completely away.”
She moved to a comfortably padded chair and sat. Taking a flute of wine from the table beside the chair, she daintily sipped while thinking what her next move should be. “I have mended that putrefying hole in your chest. Do you think perhaps you could approach Michael and his cro
nies without alerting every animal within a mile’s radius this time?”
She regarded Croom over the rim of her glass as she spoke. Knowing how utterly in her power he was, she gave a wicked smile waiting for his answer.
Croom lifted his head. Now, rather than the floor, he was staring at the ceiling. “Whatever it takes, Acantha. You caused my death, and you caused my rebirth. All I want is to return to oblivion. I would take one hundred people with me, if that was what was needed to gain my release.”
Acantha threw her head back and laughed loudly. “Oh, Croom. You are such a humanitarian.” She raised her glass to him. “I should propose a toast to you.” Lowering her glass, she added, “But, I think perhaps I’ll wait and see if you can do better this time.
“Now leave me,” she said as she stood once more. “I’ll call you when I’m ready.”
Croom slowly backed out of the door of Acantha’s laboratory, never taking his eyes off the sorceress. If it had been in his power he would have taken her with him back into the abyss of death.
Knowing his thoughts, Acantha’s smile turned even more malicious. “Yes, Croom,” she whispered to herself. “Harbor that hatred in your heart. It may serve you well when I call upon you.” CHAPTER 22
Michael and his friends had finally passed the southern edge of the great forest they had been traveling above. Later in the afternoon they made camp on one of the sandy coves.
There were still a few hours of sunlight left, and Thomas and Oliver were trying their luck at fishing for some of the smaller fish that frequented the surf. Oliver had brought plenty of line, and a few of the precious fish-hooks that he had made from what pieces of metal that he could find around the village of Monterey that weren’t rusted.
The bait that they used was plentiful. As the waves rolled out the men would simply dig into the wet sand, pulling out burrowing sand crabs. Oliver showed his greater knowledge of the art of fishing by doubling Thomas’ catch. The evening meal consisted of filets of ocean perch, mostly provided by Oliver.
The Enchanted Emerald (The Enchanted Stones Book 1) Page 17
