Lone Star Magic

by Karen Whiddon

  “She is not sick,” the boy blurted, glaring at them. “She’s been hurt. Wounded.”

  “By the Warlord?”

  The boy flinched. “How do you know him?”

  “He’s after us too.” To Alrick’s surprise, Carly crouched down and wiped the boy’s wet cheeks with her hand. The boy froze and let her, his green eyes wide. More tears trembled on his lashes.

  “Don’t cry. Let us help.”

  “You cannot.” The boy shook his head, his chin jutting forth stubbornly. Then all at once, he lost his fragile grip on his emotions, and began to sob in earnest.

  Without hesitation, Carly gathered him close. She held his stiff, skinny body, stroking his burgundy hair, while his tears dampened her shoulder.

  Alrick lifted the blanket. Ah, here was the wound. A large crimson stain discolored the young girl’s abdomen. “She breathes,” he said quietly. “Boy, how was she hurt?”

  But the boy only continued to sob and would not answer.

  “Is she your sister?” Carly tried, her gaze compassionate. The boy shook his head no, but his weeping began to subside. He hic-cupped and, wiping his nose with the back of his hand, pushed himself out of Carly’s embrace.

  Above them, the bird continued to circle. If it was a buzzard after all, now Alrick knew why.

  The girl was dying.

  One look at Carly told him she knew this too. Catching his eye, Carly came closer. “Save her,” she whispered.

  “I cannot.”

  She lifted her chin. “You saved me. Take her to Rune.”

  He let himself touch Carly’s arm, wondering at how much the touch comforted him, though he’d meant to comfort her. “Would that I could.”

  “You still have your magic. So we might have to endure another freak act of nature. That would be worth it, if you can save this girl’s life.”

  “An earthquake or a tornado would take more lives than save them.”

  “We’re out in the middle of nowhere. Come on, Alrick. Save her.”

  “I can try…” He tightened his hand on her skin, longing for more.

  She allowed his hand to remain, reached up and captured his fingers with her own, threading hers through. “Please. Help her.”

  Alrick tore his gaze away from the brilliant green of hers to find the young boy watching them intently, his eyes an identical shade.

  When he noticed Alrick looking at him, the lad stepped forward and echoed Carly’s plea. “If you are able, save her.” The child’s gaze was as bright with hope as Carly’s. Hope. Something he’d seen too little of in Carly’s face.

  Though he knew any help he could provide would be much too late, he could not deny either of them. “I will do what I can.”

  Dropping to his knees, he gently pulled back more of the blanket. What he saw was not good. The stench of rotted flesh made him swallow hard. Infection had set in. “You,” he motioned at the boy. “Do you know where to get water?”

  The lad nodded.

  “Fetch some. We will need to clean her wound.” Then, as the child scurried off to comply, Alrick called after him. “Do you have a name?” But the boy vanished into the forest without answering, Kayo trailing at his heels.

  Carly knelt at the girl’s head. “She is still alive.”

  “Barely.” Alrick tried to keep his tone light, but failed. “She lives, though I can’t see how.” He peeled back the bloodstained cloth that had once formed a bodice. “See.”

  Her chest was a bloody mass covered with a few strips of skin. Part of her rib cage was actually visible, and one bone protruded at an awful angle.

  Carly gagged. Turning away, her shoulders heaved as she struggled to keep from vomiting. “Alrick,” she said, her back still to him. “She needs a hospital.”

  “No time. I will try to heal her. If that fails, then all we can do is comfort her.” He smoothed tangled hair from the dying child’s forehead, watching Carly. Always watching Carly.

  A sob escaped her. “Where is that boy with the water?” The tears in her voice did not disguise her desperation.

  The girl’s breathing changed. Became a rattle. Then silence.

  Gently, Alrick replaced the purple blanket and pushed himself slowly to his feet. “She’s gone.”

  Shoulders heaving, Carly covered her face with her hands. He went to her, unable to do more than hold her while she wept for a girl she did not even know. He held her and wondered what to say when the boy returned with the water and saw his young friend had died.

  Would the boy blame him?

  From the corner of his eye he saw movement. Keeping Carly wrapped securely in his arms, he looked.

  The girl was gone. Vanished as though she’d never been. All that remained was her purple blanket.

  And the boy, left in search of water?

  Too late, his skin tingled in warning.

  Magic.

  “Carly.” Though he pitched his voice low, Alrick knew he had to make her understand the urgency. To her credit, she stilled immediately, though when she lifted her head from his chest, her face was still covered in tears.

  “What is it?”

  “Something is wrong. I sense magic.”

  “The Warlord?” She pushed herself away from him, rubbing at her eyes. When she saw the spot where the girl had lay, her eyes widened. “Gone? Where is the boy? And Kayo?”

  “What if he’s part of this? What if the Warlord sent him?”

  “Anything is possible. Though I can’t see the reason.”

  But though they search the woods, finding even a fast-moving stream, they found no sign of the boy or Kayo.

  “He’s vanished too.”

  Alrick nodded. “This must have been the magic I sensed when the girl disappeared.”

  “Great. So now we’ve got another weather incident to look forward to. What’s it to be this time?”

  “We can only wait and see. Hopefully these trees will provide shelter.”

  “You know, I believed him.” She rubbed her arms as if she were cold, or felt spiders again. “I feel dirty somehow.”

  “Dirty?”

  “Used, I don’t know… Unclean.”

  He realized what she meant. “He preyed on your emotions.”

  “Yeah. But I don’t understand why. Were they Fae? Or human.”

  “The boy was most likely human. Though I didn’t really think about it enough to check.”

  “How can you tell? Other than the Fae’s exceptional beauty, what one thing allows you to tell instantly whether a person his human or Fae?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know. I just can tell. With those of mixed blood, knowing is sometimes more difficult.”

  “What do you suppose he wanted?”

  “I have no idea. Whatever it was, he must have gotten it, or why would he have left?”

  “Unless this was a test.” Carly looked thoughtful. “If they used us, I can’t see how.”

  Alrick looked around. TM and Merry still stood peacefully where she’d left them, tied to their respective trees. “Unless he wanted your dog.”

  “Kayo!” Carly stepped forward, moving around the stream. “Let me call him.”

  Cupping her hands to her mouth, she shouted her dog’s name. After a moment, Alrick joined her.

  Kayo didn’t come.

  “He’s gone.” Carly’s shoulders sagged. Again, he wanted to go to her, as though by holding her he could absorb her pain. This time, he stifled the urge, focusing instead on what had happened.

  “Yes, he’s gone.” Grimly he contemplated the reasons for the dog’s disappearance, finding none of them palatable. “Come on, Carly.” He turned back to the horses. “We’ve got to keep moving.”

  “I’m not leaving without my dog.”

  He sighed. “I fear your dog has left this world.”

  “Are you saying you think Kayo is dead?”

  “No. I’m saying he’s probably traveled to the future with the boy.”

  “That makes no sense.” She refu
sed to hear what she didn’t want to believe. “This was a child, not the Warlord. Why do you think they were in cahoots?”

  Cahoots? He decided to let that one go. “Maybe they’re not. I don’t know. But who else would take Kayo, and why?”

  “Ok, say the Warlord is behind this. What would he want with my dog?”

  “Maybe he means to use Kayo as bait, like a hostage. If you want your dog back, come to me.”

  “And then?”

  “And then he’ll kill you.” He watched to see her reaction. As expected, she lifted her chin and glared at him. She opened her mouth to speak and he held up his hand, forestalling her.

  “Don’t even think it. No way are you trading your life for that of your pet.”

  “I didn’t plan to.” The look she gave him told him plainly how idiotic she thought that was. “I was trying to figure out how to rescue him.”

  “Rescue him? Don’t you think we have enough problems, trying to stay one step ahead of the Warlord?”

  “Maybe. But Kayo counts on me to protect him. I’ve had him since he was a puppy. I can’t just turn my back on him now that he’s in trouble.”

  Though frustrated, he could understand her rationale. Unfortunately, he couldn’t offer her a solution. Normally a man of action, he would have liked nothing better than to be able to charge in a save her dog. But with the way things stood…

  “If the opportunity presents itself, we’ll get Kayo back.” He promised, settling on a compromise. “But now we’ve got to move. If that kid was with the Warlord, that means our enemy has once again found us.”

  “You know, all this trying to hide seems pointless. If he found us once, he can find us again.”

  Alrick agreed. But the crux of the matter was he didn’t know what else to do. He couldn’t fight, couldn’t leave Carly unprotected and travel to the future to attack the Warlord in his own lair.

  Or could he? Another question Alrick meant to ask the Mage the next time he saw him.

  Cheered by the possibility, however remote, of actually having a plan, Alrick kept them riding until the sweat drenched stallion began to tire. Despite the limited shade provided by the blunt and twisted trees, the air felt hot, as though each time he breathed it seared his lungs.

  Finally, Carly called a halt.

  “I’m tired.” She lifted her perspiration soaked shirt, fanning her body. “And hot. And hungry.” She’d long ago twisted her copper hair into a knot at the nape of her neck. “Don’t you Fae need to eat every so often? We haven’t had a real meal since yesterday.”

  Guiltily he started. She was right. So much for taking good care of his charge. “I apologize. Sometimes when I focus as intently a I’ve been focused on this mission, I forget.”

  She waved his explanation away. “No problem. As long as you don’t tell me you also forgot what you told me when we left my place. “You said because you’re fae, you know how to find food in the wild.”

  Alrick looked around. While incapable of lying, he wondered if he’d spoken truth in this case. He knew how to find food in the true forest. This dry, rolling landscape bore little resemblance to the dark, moist forests of Rune. But, trees were trees. Hopefully that much would be the same.

  He sighed. “I haven’t forgotten. I’ll search for food, though what we eat won’t be much like what you’re used to.”

  “I don’t care. I’m starving. As long as you don’t try to make me eat bugs, I’m good. Bring it on.”

  “I’ve brought something.” A sparkle of light, and the Mage materialized in front of them.

  Chapter Twelve

  TO HIS credit, this time TM only rolled his eyes and snorted.

  “Mort!” Carly grinned. “Boy, am I glad to see you.”

  “Do I look younger?” His lined face appeared almost boyish as he smiled at her. “I must, for you to refer to me as a youth.”

  While they teased, Alrick remained serious, watching them. TM pawed the ground restlessly, as though sensing his rider’s mood.

  Finally, the Mage looked his way. Alrick dipped his head in acknowledgement. “We must talk.” He let his tone convey the serious nature of his request.

  “Talk.” Carly nodded. “We sure do. Maybe you can unravel the mystery of the two children we saw and my vanishing dog.”

  “Later.” Alrick said, as the Mage opened his mouth to question her. “Feed this poor woman first.”

  Carly’s stomach growled, as if on cue. Still, she persisted. “But—.”

  The mage unwrapped a small box. Fruit filled pastries, golden brown and plump, lay nestled among ripe strawberries, melons, and grapes. Distracted, Carly closed her mouth.

  “Help yourself. Five minutes isn’t going to hurt anything.”

  Muttering under her breath, she took two. Alrick, hungrier than he’d realized, took four. They both grabbed handfuls of fruit. Mort declined, saying he’d broken his fast earlier.

  After popping the last grape in her mouth, she wiped her fingers on her shorts. “Too bad you don’t have any mugs of steaming coffee to wash this down.”

  Instead, Mort handed her a flask of juice. “Sorry.” Both he and Alrick watched as she drank it greedily, with unabashed delight. Simple things, Alrick thought, brought her such joy. And, sharing her delight brought him pleasure too.

  As soon as she’d had her fill, handing the flask to Alrick so he could drink, Carly’s expression turned serious. “Talk, Mort. Kayo’s gone missing and I think a lot of my dog. Tell us what you know.”

  Watching, Alrick hoped she didn’t think Mort could say a spell and bring her pet back to her.

  “This is news to me.” Mort frowned. “What’s happened to Kayo?”

  Alrick filled him in on the boy, the dying girl, the way they’d both vanished, and Kayo’s disappearance. When he’d finished, the Mage shook his head. “This worries me.”

  “Me too.” Carly said. “I want Kayo back.”

  “But not enough to risk your life or that of your yet- to-be-conceived child, correct?”

  “Right.” She shot Alrick a look. “Of course.”

  “Describe the boy again.”

  “Odd colored hair, green eyes, freckles. Slender, tall for his age, though not gangly.”

  Mort frowned but said nothing.

  Carly touched his arm. “Isn’t there something you can do to help?”

  “All my magical strength is used merely trying to remain in your time.” The Mage smiled sadly. “Rune rejuvenates me somewhat, but my power is but a shadow of the real might I’ve gained in my own time.”

  “What about Alrick? Since the Warlord figured out how to travel through time, can’t Alrick travel into the future?”

  Though Alrick shook his head, Carly paid him no heed, watching Mort with single-minded intentness. Only the sound of the horses shifting their feet broke the silence while the Mage considered. “I don’t know how the Warlord does it. When I came here, I could not return to my own time. I know as things stand now, if he travels to the future, Alrick would not be able to return.”

  “Would not, or might not?”

  “I… I’m not certain.”

  “There is a way. If the Warlord has learned it, so must you.”

  “I’ll work on it.” Mort promised. “Every waking moment of every single day. Cenrick has been studying as well. But for now… you must wait.”

  “Wait?” Carly frowned, glaring at them both. “This is getting ridiculous.”

  “I agree. No more waiting. There must be something else we can do.” Alrick let his impatience show. “You’re the mage. Come up with something. Anything will be better than this constant running, trying to hide, and always being surprised.”

  “Yeah,” Carly put in. “This Warlord always seems to get the jump on us, no matter what we do.”

  “I don’t have a solution.” The mage spread his hands. “If I did, I would have given it to you long before now.”

  “I thought not.” Alrick spread his hands. “Tell me this then.
Since we took pains to hide in this wilderness, how were you able to find us?”

  Mort pointed to the sky above them. The large bird still circled overhead.

  “The buzzard?” Carly’s disbelief echoed in her voice.

  “Buzzard? You insult my bird. That is no buzzard.” Shaking his head, Mort looked offended. “So flies Tinth, my hawk.”

  Alrick crossed his arms. “You sent your hawk to keep tabs on us?”

  “Yes. I’ve sent her into the future too.”

  “I thought you said—.”

  The mage held up his hand. “Animals and birds appear to have no difficulty moving through the ages. Tinth has been to the future and back more than once. Cenrick says it’s because they don’t understand the concept of time.”

  “A hawk?” Carly raised her eyes skyward. “You’re telling me you use a bird to gather information?”

  “Of course. She is able to observe much, unnoticed. When she returns to me, she shares with me what she’s heard. So far, there have been no new developments.”

  “Oh, come on.” Carly crossed her arms, even though to do so meant letting go of her mount’s mane. “Though Alrick’s always claiming he can communicate with animals, I’ve always thought he was joking. Now you’re telling me your bird speaks to you?”

  Mort and Alrick exchanged looks.

  “Yes,” the Mage answered.

  With his free hand, Alrick rubbed the back of his neck. Perspiration pooled on his back and under his arms. Even though the sun moved slowly towards the western horizon, the day’s heat had not waned. “When I told you I spoke to animals, I didn’t lie. All Fae have this ability.”

  “Fine.” She shrugged. “I want to roll my eyes, but in dealing with you two, I’m beginning to learn anything goes. After all, what’s a verbal falcon in comparison to attack spiders or an alternate reality separated from humankind by some sort of veil?”

  “If you have nothing new to tell us, why have you come?” Alrick wanted to lash out with frustration. “It seems pointless.”

  “I agree.” Echoing his impatience, Carly’s restless movement caused Merry to sidestep. “My patience has worn extremely thin. Mort, once before you told us a little about your time. I’d like to learn more. You knew both my son and the Warlord. Tell us what you know.”