The word from Father came back and we were all congratulated on our success. We weren’t sure it was exactly what we were looking for, but it was promising. We also weren’t sure it was a real success! Father promised he would go over Alec’s report and try to figure a way around or through the monsters that were guarding the black blob that was so effectively hidden from us.
The next morning, Star awoke with a pained moan. I felt for her because I’d been there. I sent Lisa to Wizard’s Castle to get Aunt Chloe, in the hopes that she could do something to help. I didn’t have much hope but it was my angel that was hurting and I had to try something. I also asked her to bring Lia; that way, we could move her very gently and quietly to the guest suite. I knew that I’d have to admit that Lia’s porting was smoother than mine, but I’d take the kick in the ego to get the job done right. An injured family member was on the top of Chloe’s priority list and any sibling’s request was at the top of Lia’s, so it didn’t take them both long to arrive.
Chloe went to Star and examined her, then did whatever she could for her to ease her pain. There wasn’t much she could do and I had to watch the tears steal their way from her tightly clenched eyelids.
I talked to Lia and asked her if she would mind moving Star to the guest suite.
“Why don’t you do it, Big Brother?” she asked, grinning.
“You just want to hear me say it, don’t you?”
She nodded smugly. “I know the reason, but hearing you ask nicely would just make my day!”
I dropped to my knees and wrapped my arms around her legs. “Oh please, great lady who is so much better than this poor man at porting sick individuals! Would you please relocate my injured and miserable wife to a more quiet room?”
She snickered quietly. “Overkill, Brother, but it will do. A simple ‘please’ would have sufficed! I do like this a lot better, though. Silly men always have to turn to a woman for anything that takes a delicate touch.”
I walked to the guest suite and pulled the covers back to prepare for Star’s arrival. I’d left both the suite doors open and could see Lia go to Star’s bedside. She whispered to her mother for a moment and then Star disappeared, reappearing in the bed beside me. Whispering, I asked my wife if there was anything I could do for her. There was a barely perceptible shake of her head that made me fight tears. I hated seeing her in pain. I let her know that I’d check in on her often and left the room.
That afternoon we went through the same routine when Kemma finally came around. I didn’t have to beg, this time. Lia’s ego was still nicely inflated from the morning’s silliness. Chloe had asked for volunteers from Wizard’s to sit with the girls and every Wizard and trainee had stepped up. My mother had set up around-the-clock shifts that consisted of sitting in silence and sometimes fetching food or water, in silence. At long as everything was as quiet as possible, the girls felt better. Father said it was like having a migraine from hell. I didn’t know what either a migraine or hell was, but having suffered magic exhaustion, I got the point.
Chapter Twenty-Five
The battle plan was shaping up into one of the plans from the old days. The older wizards used to jump into the situation with the best plan they could come up with at the time and just adapt from there. It left for tons of variables, but back then it got the job done. We weren’t facing orcs now, though. We were facing creatures that were specifically designed to kill wizards and they were good at it. So far we hadn’t actually lost anyone, but that was due to always working in pairs and plain dumb luck.
Star and Kemma finally recovered from the effects of the attacks. There were many tears shed, due to the depression that the attacks caused, but we all made it through. Star’s baby wasn’t injured in the slightest and Aunt Chloe came over regularly, just to make sure. It was good to have them back in the room with us, and when they were told they were sitting out the battle, we got no argument. They’d had enough of revenants to last a lifetime.
Father and the mothers finally hit upon a battle plan that they hoped would work. It was based on the incredibly destructive force of the meteor swarm spell and our ability to make a rapid retreat if the situation demanded. Using the information garnered by Alec, Father planned on opening a magical tunnel a half mile from the spot where the revenants were under water. We were to go through the tunnel and line up, with casters, Apprentices and Experts staggered slightly in front of us. They were to blanket the area as we approached with flaming, explosive rock from the spell. If any of the casters were knocked down with the magical draining attack or anything else, the closest sibling was to port them to Aunt Chloe and Lia, who would be bringing up the rear. Chloe would give them a once- over, heal if needed, and Lia would port them to a bed in Kethos’ Castle. So with the plan in mind, we all met at sunrise in the courtyard of my castle. I looked around at the force that had assembled and was impressed by the numbers that Father could summon at a moment’s notice. And then I saw Ivy.
“Ivy, my dear, who is watching Jilcey?”
“Star and Kemma volunteered to watch her, since they weren’t going to go anyway.”
“With your level of training, you shouldn’t even be going, Hun. Why don’t you stay here and take care of the baby? It would be safer for you and less stressful for me, knowing that the mother of my baby girl was safe.”
She gave me a determined look. “Since I do have a baby here, I have more reason than some of the others who are going to make sure that nothing ever happens to baby Jilcey. The creatures attacked Star and Kemma when they were working at the range, and could attack Jilcey while she was playing in the courtyard just as easily. I might not be able to cast the higher level spells, but I’m sure that fireball will cook one just as easily as flamestrike, and I’m going.”
I had to slow her argument down, but I was getting used to doing that. I agreed that perhaps she did have more reason to fight than the wizards that were here under orders. I told her that I wanted her next to me, even though she was a caster and wanted to be on the line with them. I knew that with her by my side, my protective instinct would be heightened and nothing dead that moved would get anywhere close to her.
Finally, the gate to Itus was cast and we started filing through. There were about forty of us and it took a couple minutes. Father left the gate open and linked to Kethos, justin case someone needed to get out of here and couldn’t get a focus on the place they wanted to go. We lined up with the siblings interspersed behind the casters. Even littleBaissel, my half-elf sister, was with us, using her skill in nature magic to walk on dry ground while the rest of us slogged through the swamp. It frightened me, seeing her there, because she was much too pretty and dainty-looking to be up against a revenant. She was only a few months younger than Davie, but being an elf, she looked six, at most. She was just another reason to protect the kingdom from the danger lurking in the swamp.
Alec called out, “Stop here. Seventy yards ahead was where I walked into the trap. The creatures were hiding under the water and pounced when I got close. If we get caught that way with the casters with us, we’ll lose half our force in moments.”
Father nodded. “All right, casters, you know what to do. Flatten everything fifty yards ahead and work the spells forward to a hundred yards. We’ll advance after that.”
The dripping quietness of the swamp was rent by the thunderous explosions of the summoned rocks crashing to the ground. A flattened path to the north started extending itself as the spell was advanced farther and farther down range. When they got to the pool that Alec had discovered, body parts scattered everywhere. It was eerie seeing arms, legs and heads and trying to locate the missing pieces to put a full body back together. We cooked them with fireballs until nothing moved.
Off to my right there was a scream and I saw flamestrike light the gloom. There was the soft pop of a teleport spell and I saw a young caster was down. There must be some of the monsters hiding along the ends of the battle line, as well. Now that we knew, we were all on our g
uard for attacks from that direction, too.
The rain of stone continued clearing us a path for a half mile. Then through the steam and vines, we could make out a ruined temple. We approached with caution and I saw a creature I’d never seen before. It was standing in a cleared area next to a crumbling altar. Magic shone from it with such intensity that you didn’t have to have the special sight to see it. It was surrounded by a shield that looked strong enough to deflect any possible attack that we could mount against it.
It faced us and cackled in a wicked, resounding voice. It singled out my father and faced him directly. “Well, Arkie, it seems that you’ve done really well for yourself! When last we met, you didn’t have nearly as many followers or offspring. When you tricked me into sending myself back to our world, I admit I was angry. My powers of persuasion decreased from what they had been here, but not back to what they were. I became a rich man, but I refused to forgive and forget. Call it a character flaw, if you will, but I had to return for revenge. When I met this tribe, they promised me that they could give me magic, but there was no mention of turning me into this! Sure, I have magic now and can raise and control the dead, but I miss having a heartbeat and don’t care for swamp water for blood. I could never rule Eredwynn from here, and that had been my goal. When I learned you had a son who was within striking distance, I knew how I’d get my revenge. Now, turn over your eldest, we’ll end this spat on the altar and I’ll leave you in peace.”
My father shook his head. “Sir Gildon! I didn’t think I’d ever see you again. In fact, I’d hoped that I wouldn’t see you again. I could have killed you outright, and perhaps that is what I should have done. I’d hoped that you could return to your life in our old world and make a life for yourself there. You know that I’ll never turn my son, or anyone else, over to you. I learned that you were selfish and heartless the last time we crossed paths, and that hasn’t changed. You’ve given us no choice but to destroy the creature that you’ve become. I’m sorry that it has come to this.”
Father cast a flamestrike spell, hot enough to destroy almost anything in the kingdom. The spell was absorbed by Gildon’s shield without weakening it. I looked around and there was shock on the others’ faces that I’m sure mirrored mine. Except for Alec’s face, which I couldn’t find anywhere. I scanned around, looking for magic, and spotted him. He was invisible, shielded and was working his way into a position behind the creature.
Gildon laughed. “Now I can see that you’re getting worried! There’s nothing you can do to harm me. The boy sneaking up behind me has a better idea, but he’ll never get close enough to try it!” With a wave of his hand, the lich revealed Alec and slammed him into a tree. He was instantly ported to Chloe for damage assessment, and then to Kethos. The short sword he’d been carrying was on the ground next to the tree and it made me wonder if a physical attack might have a better chance. He had demonstrated that a magical attack was futile, but had taken no notice of the sword.
I looked up and down the line, trying to get an idea, when I noticed that my little Ivy was missing! I hoped that she hadn’t gotten the same idea that Alec had. He was a tough young man and she was so tiny and fragile- looking. A smack into a tree like my brother had taken could smash her. I scanned the area, looking for invisibility or the trace of a hidden shield. I couldn’t see her anywhere and was getting a sick feeling in my gut. Lia saw me whipping my head around looking for the Halfling and went pale. She started looking, also, and neither of us could locate her!
Suddenly there was an unearthly howl that jerked my attention back to Sir Gildon. Black fluid was pouring from the arteries on the insides of both of his thighs! There was a soft pop and my little Ivy ported back to my side, holding an evil-looking dagger that was dripping with ichor.
Ivy suggested, “See if the monster can keep its shield up with that kind of distraction!”
Gildon was weakening rapidly and his shield was indeed starting to flicker. We all watched and waited, and then on some signal that was never given or needed, we all attacked at once. Dozens of flamestrike spells and a few fireballs engulfed the lich, causing him to light up like a torch and crumble into ash.
Everyone converged on my Ivy but she was already in my arms. “How did you get past his defenses without being seen?”
“Remember when you were sick after being drained really badly, and you had to have all the girls from the castle come over to play with pillows so you could absorb the active magic from them and recharge? Well, back then you mentioned that my magic felt different, and it wasn’t a bad thing, but just a different thing. I thought that if my magic felt different to you then maybe it would feel different to him, and since he hadn’t shielded against physical attacks, I could just walk up to him and poke him with a dagger! It worked, too!”
Dozens of people were standing around rubbing their temples, trying to decipher what she’d said. I translated it into, “Halfling magic is different and he wasn’t watching for it. She used that to her advantage and got close enough to stab him.”
There were nods of understanding and gentle pats on the back from everyone. My father declared, “Ivy, we owe you for this. If there is anything that you want or need, you just let me know and I’ll see that you have it.”
Ivy grinned. “Now that you mention it, do you think you could make your son build a nursery that would be easy to access from our rooms? Jilcey isn’t going to be the only baby for long, since there are two others on the way. With your son’s favorite pastime being bouncing the mattress, I’m sure there will be more than that, soon.”
I love Ivy because she can even make a king blush. He pronounced, “Consider it done, young lady. I’ll have construction crews and Aunt Alice report to Kethos in the morning. Thank you for your service to the kingdom, and thank you for being a member of the family. Now we should go report our victory to the kingdom.”
We all made our way back to Kethos through the magical gateway. I went inside and met Alec on the stairs. I asked, “Have you heard the news yet?”
“No, I had a couple broken ribs that Chloe fixed up, but I haven’t heard. After I got spotted and was introduced to that tree, everything is yours to tell.”
“It seems that my li’l Halfling followed your lead. The difference is that her magic allowed her to get past him and she nailed him pretty effectively with a dagger. He was bleeding out and dropped his shield. I don’t know if Ivy would have thought of the idea if you hadn’t led her to it. Even though you were knocked senseless, you still defeated the creature, in a roundabout way.”
“Thank you, James. I don’t want to take any of the credit away from Ivy, but I felt like a fool getting slapped into a tree like that. It makes me feel better to know that it had some purpose.”
We said goodbye and he went toward the courtyard and I went to my room. I waited until my little family had regrouped and announced Ivy’s role in the defeat of the lich. I also let them know that Ivy had requested and was granted a construction crew to come in and build a nursery that would be easily accessible from our rooms. Lynna and Star were grateful for that, and so was Lisa. She announced that in about six months, she’d be adding to our family, too. Squeals and congratulations erupted and I smiled, knowing that the kingdom was a bit safer for my children.
About the Author
Daniel Harris is an Independent writer and e-book author. Several of his books, Wizards of Eredwynn series, have been published by Createspace in paperback and in e-book format by Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing. He has been a fan of the fantasy genre since Disney’s The Sword in the Stone.
He was born in the late 60’s and was too young for the good times. He spent his teenage years choking on hairspray in the 80’s. Later he discovered that coffee actually adds hours to a day and now can’t live without it. He is the father of four living, three grown and one who think she is, in Arkansas with his wife and youngest daughter. The grown ones have given him lovely grandchildren that he intends to teach about The Sword in
the Stone, too.
The Wizards of Eredwynn
Another Typical Day
Another Typical Day, Too
Not Another Typical Day
Generations of Eredwynn
James, The Crown Prince
*Paperback now-2014, Kindle 9-2014
Davie, The Mage
*Pre-publishing* (aka, ain’t done yet)
In production
Seth, the Half-Naiad
James, The Crown Prince Page 21
