“It seems so mystical,” Miranda whispered, coming up behind Matt. She placed her body against his. “Here, I’ll warm you up.”
Matt closed his eyes when he felt her arms wrap around his chest. She laid her head against his back. He didn’t dare breathe, afraid the Moment would end. He finally understood his emotions and knew he was falling in love with her.
“I’m glad we’ve gotten this far and all,” she said. “I wish Sonya hadn’t disappeared, though. That cat is so strange.” She paused for a Moment, and took her cloak and wrapped it around Matt, as best she could. “Whatda ya think is happenin’ to your brother, Caitlin, and George? Do ya think they’re all right? I’m so afraid for them.”
Matt nodded. “I’m worried about Toby. I wanna get him back home, safe with my parents.” He frowned. “All of this just seems so unreal sometimes. Like a nightmare I can’t wake up from.” He held still, feeling the beat of her heart. Softly, he covered her hands with his. “I’m glad you came with me. I don’t think I would be able to bear this place, if you weren’t here.”
Miranda squeezed him slightly. “I like ya too, Matt Kelly.” He could feel her smile against his back. “We’re so much closer to the sword. Don’t ya feel it?” she asked quietly.
“All I can feel is apprehension, especially after what happened to Ned today. He was almost killed, and it would’ve been my fault, all because I asked him to come.”
“It wouldn’t be your fault. Besides, the others will protect us. They said so. And then, when we have the sword, we’ll be able to destroy the one who took your brother and our cousins, and this will all be over.”
Matt thought on her words for a Moment. “Somehow, I don’t feel like it’s going to be that easy.”
“Yes, it will. You’ll see.”
Shaking his head, he glanced at Ned. “Not if Ned is the sword’s Champion. We’ll be doing double work to protect him...from himself.”
Laughing slightly, Miranda let go of Matt and looked up at him. “Ned may surprise ya.”
Keltrain interrupted their quiet conversation, pointing to the ruins. “Let’s get to the Pillars before another storm comes. We can camp in a sheltered area not far past them.”
Matt watched as the wizard followed Lily, who was already zipping around the charred and broken buildings. He regarded the darkness of the ancient city and realized that he rather agreed with Lamfada. There were too many shadows, and the image of the Bodach rolling along the dirt settled in his thoughts.
“Hurry up, you two, before we lose sight of the wizard,” Chester said over his shoulder, as he followed the dragon into the blackness beneath them.
“We’re coming,” Matt replied. “Go on, I’ll be right behind you,” he said to Miranda. She nodded and was soon engulfed in the shadows as well.
“Gee, I’m ready to get out of this cold.” Thomas led his horse over the crest and down the slope, his feet slipping on a patch of snow.
“Where’s Keltrain?” Ned asked. “He’s disappeared.”
“Look for Lily,” Chester advised patiently. “She’ll be in front of him.”
“I see her. There, through that archway.”
Matt waited until they all passed. He felt it his duty to protect them from behind, should anything come out after them. The place left him unsettled, and he drew his dagger from its hiding place. When the group traversed deeper into the inner city area, following the ancient road as it meandered through the Keep, he realized there was a force, something he couldn’t pinpoint, that made him feel wary. The jagged rocks of the ApHar Mountains soon towered over them as they carefully made their way to the Pillars. The shifting rocks crackled as the temperature grew colder, the sound bouncing and echoing mysteriously, and frightened the restless packhorses.
“Be keepin’ those fillies quiet,” Lamfada demanded. “Do ye want to be givin’ any foul thing the opportunity to know where we stand?”
“I’m trying, but this place seems to be spooking them,” Matt replied, trying to calm his animal. He grasped the reins of his horse tighter around his hand as the beast danced sideways. It was difficult to keep his dagger in check as well as the animal, and with the unsteadiness of the horse, Matt dropped it somewhere in the shadows. He tried to look for it, but his horse kept getting in the way.
“Gee whiz, what’s making them so scared?” Thomas asked, growing frustrated as he tried to control his horse. His feet slid on the road as the horse backed away from him. “Can’t be the echoes, can it?”
“I need help,” Ned cried out as his horse reared up on its back legs, pawing the air wildly.
Before any of them could respond to Ned, Matt noticed a craze look come over Chester. The horse snorted loudly, his eyes bulging wide in terror, as he screamed in pain. “Blood! Death! All around me, the smell of evil. Pain and fire. Burning inside my head. I see her!” Chester reared in agony.
“It’s something unseen. Only the horses can sense it,” the dragon observed. “It’s got to be the witch.” The dragon grabbed at the reins Ned held and tried to help the younger boy control his animal.
Matt held onto the reins of his horse with both hands as the animal pranced around him erratically. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a shift in the shadows of the building next to him. “There’s something there,” he cried out, seeing the thing take flight.
“What did you see?” Keltrain demanded.
“It was huge, with wings, but then it was gone. It had large black wings.” Matt scanned the ruins again.
“We need to get to the Pillars quickly. There’s a place we can hide for the night,” Keltrain said as he leaped up the broken stone stairs.
“I need my dagger,” Matt exclaimed. “It dropped somewhere here on the ground.”
“No time,” the wizard demanded. “Especially if it was wings you saw. We need to move and move now.”
Caution forgotten, the group sprinted towards the steps. When they gathered at the top, a strange calmness came over the animals. Matt shook his head. What was going on? Was there a spell from the witch, or not? The winds blew angrier, seemingly conjured by an unseen hand. The wizard glanced behind them, surveying the ruins. Squinting against the dark, he studied the shadows. Matt wondered if he saw the same flitting black shape.
Lily hovered in her orb at the top step with Keltrain. “Do you believe the Bodach or Brollachan are out there?” she asked. “What made the horses so wild?”
“It if was black wings Matt saw, then there is another foul creature lurking around. One that will bring death and misery with it. She’s probably the reason the horses were upset.”
“Queen Onagh’s spell will protect those dear children, won’t it?”
“Not from this creature. She’s more wicked than Bera.”
“What’s out there?” Matt asked. He knew his hunch had been right. There was something in the shadows. He regarded Chester. The poor old horse seemed out of his mind a Moment ago, and now looked like nothing had happened.
“A thing I hope we can avoid.” Sighing heavily, Keltrain abruptly turned. “For she’s one of my greatest enemies.”
“Tomorrow the bogs be covered with mist,” the leprechaun blurted out unexpectedly.
“How do you know that?” Keltrain inquired.
“The Water Wraiths be singin’ on the wind, and whisperin' their foul deed to me,” he replied.
“Good. Then they know what we’re up against. Perhaps we’ll have a chance at staying out of sight.”
“Or they be helpin' put us to our deaths,” the leprechaun exclaimed as he bit down on his pipe. “We’ll be needin’ to step lightly or else sink.”
The wizard nodded. Digging around in his pockets, Keltrain pulled out a white crystal. He placed the transparent object in his palm and muttered three small words. The crystal glowed with a soft white light, and when the wizard held it above his head, Matt and the others were able to see into the interior of one of the buildings. “Ah, here’s the main corridor,” Keltrain state
d, motioning to the right.
The black and white diamond patterned tile they walked on looked similar to the marble flooring of the Elf’s castle.
“Be careful where you step,” the wizard warned as he walked around the debris on the floor.
In the light of the wizard’s crystal, Matt peered at the domed ceiling above them. Intact but aging, it displayed dusty, cracked mosaics of gardens and unknown flying machines. He squinted at the scenes of the Fomorian life, trying to visualize what they must have been like.
“This is the antechamber to the library beneath this floor. It’ll be an ideal place to shelter for the night,” Keltrain said, heading to the back wall where a black hole gaped in the floor. Bending, he thrust the light of the crystal into its darkness. “It looks as if the marble stairway is still in place. I don’t believe its integrity is compromised.”
“What’s he saying?” Ned asked.
“He said the stairs are okay to walk down and all,” Miranda replied.
“Gee whiz, do ya think the horses are gonna go down there? That doesn’t look very safe.”
“Trust me. It’s fine.” The wizard’s blue jacket fluttered as he quickly walked down the steps. Chester bounded behind him, and was soon out of sight too.
Lamfada pushed his way forward, leading his green ponies. He glanced back at Thomas and shook his head. “Boy, ye are as stubborn as they come,” he mumbled, his voice fading as he disappeared into the bowels of the temple.
“Hurry,” DaGon insisted, nudging at the children. “We’ll be protected in there. I promise.”
Matt sensed he should be the first. He was their leader, wasn’t he? Taking a deep breath, he guided his horse to the outer rim of the decaying stairway and peered into the inky blackness. He could see the glow of Keltrain’s crystal light below, and focused on it as he took the first step. He didn’t let himself think about the broken edges or crumbling parts of the staircase as he slowly walked down with his animal. He heard footsteps behind him.
“Whoa, horsey, whoa,” Ned said quietly.
“Ned, don’t look down. You’ll be okay,” Miranda whispered.
After several tense Moments, the friends joined each other at the bottom of the staircase. Matt looked up at the black hole in the ceiling, and wondered if they would be hidden from whatever was hunting them. He glanced at Ned, who was sweating. “You gonna be okay?” he asked the younger boy.
“I’m a little afraid of heights,” Ned sheepishly admitted.
“And a bunch of other things, too,” Thomas added.
“Everyone has fears they need to conquer,” Keltrain mused. “You did well tonight in conquering yours.” Shifting the crystal to his other hand, the wizard peered towards a wall opposite them. Matt saw a large bookshelf filled with dusty crystal shards.
“What are these for?” Miranda asked as she touched one.
“They hold the knowledge of the Fomorians,” Keltrain answered. “A crystal has a lot of storage space.” He picked up a rose-colored shard from the brittle shelf and cleaned the small oblong quartz with his robe. Carefully searching the outer section of the large bookcase with his fingers, he set the crystal into a cobwebbed niche. Energy surged outward through the marble walls, and soft sounds of electric life filled the ancient library.
Matt watched as shell-shaped lights, attached at equal distances on the wall, flickered, and then dimly illuminated the circular room. Rows of tall shelves fanned out in a semi-circle, arranged around an over-sized granite table. Giant chairs, carved from mountain stone, silently sat around its edge, as if waiting for the return of their formal occupants.
“They're huge,” Ned whispered with awe. “Did giants live here?”
“No, just very wise people,” the wizard answered.
A massive fireplace sat opposite the bookshelves, large enough to contain all the horses. Constructed of the same stone as the chairs, its blackened interior reflected a testimony to its use in the time of King Finley.
Miranda walked over to it, her footprints marking her path in the ageless dirt. “Can we use this for heat?” she asked, glancing at Matt, who was shivering uncontrollably. “Matt doesn’t have his cloak to cover up against the cold.”
“Yes, but only a small fire,” Keltrain replied. He swiftly spoke a magic phrase and conjured green flames that danced within the massive pit. “Smoke may draw attention. We’ll use the magic fire of the leprechauns.”
“Aye, everybody be usin’ the leprechaun magic. I should be makin’ me fortune by now with bottlin’ a batch or two,” Lamfada muttered, and gathered the reins of the packhorses from the three boys and relocated the animals away from the group to feed them.
Matt sat down in front of the green fire and held out his hands. He regarded his friends thoughtfully. They seemed a little different. He couldn’t describe it, but there was a subtle change that had come over all of them.
DaGon hunched next to Matt, with Lily by his side. “I’ll stay by the stairs tonight and stand guard,” the dragon offered. “All of you look like you need rest.”
“I don't think we were followed.” The wizard sat down with the group and leaned his elbows on his knees. “I’m more concerned about the creature that Matt may have seen. Tomorrow our venture through Elathe Bogs begins, and we must have our wits about us. If there were to be an attack, it would be there.”
“How long do ya think it will take to reach the other side of the bog?” Matt asked. “Not that I’m worried about it, but I’d just like to know what we’re up against. Still wish I hadn’t lost my dagger.”
“Perhaps a day, not any more than that,” the wizard answered softly. “Maybe we can find another one for you tomorrow in one of the saddle bags on the horses.”
“Remember them demon women, Water Wraiths, will be coverin’ the bogs with the mist,” Lamfada quietly reminded the group. Lighting his pipe, he puffed on it several times, before pulling a rolled-up pallet out from under his arm and throwing it on the floor.
“Chester can lead us through the veil the Wraiths grace us with. His sense will be keener in picking up the trail in the mist. If you’re up to it, that is.” The wizard glanced at the old horse.
“I will try my best,” Chester replied.
The group sat silently, intent on the green flames. No other word was uttered for the remaining time they were awake, and Matt watched as one by one they drifted into sleep, until only Keltrain and he remained awake, watchful. His eyes studied the dimly lit room, lingering over a certain part of the floor. Squinting at the marks there, he caught his breath as he suddenly became aware of tiny paw prints in the dust next to Miranda’s footsteps.
Chapter Sixteen
Sleep would not come easily to Matt as he held Miranda, offering his body’s heat for her. He slumbered fitfully, his mind filled with thoughts of the pending journey to the tombs. Toby’s voice seemed stronger in his dreams now, begging for help. When he awoke sometime in the early morning hours, his brother's cries still echoed with the vivid images of his nightmares. Matt glanced around the room at those still sleeping, their faces illuminated by the soft green of the leprechaun fire. Seeing their stillness, he closed his eyes again. He couldn’t help but wonder if the visions were stronger because they were closer to the sword, or to Uthal.
He drifted back into a deep sleep. The dreams faded, but the solace of nothingness lasted only briefly. Thomas kicked him gently and startled him into alertness. Matt jerked, opening his eyes in surprise.
“Keltrain says it’s time to go,” the older boy said, pointing to sunlight streaming through the entrance above. “Gee whiz, did ya sleep okay? I think I pinched a muscle in my back. I’ll be glad when we see somethin’ that resembles a bed.” He held out the thin blankets the elves had packed for them. “These do nothin’ for me.”
Matt squinted, allowing his eyes to adjust to the light. Bright yellow rays filtered to the floor, highlighting hazy dust particles that floated in a chaotic dance in the heat. “I must have fallen
asleep,” he murmured through a yawn.
“Gee, you mean ya didn’t sleep at all?”
Matt stretched, arching his back to relieve the soreness of spending the night on the hard floor. “Some, but my dreams kept waking me up.” He paused, his brow furrowed in worry. “I keep wondering, what’s gonna happen when we get to Black Isle? Have you not thought about what they keep saying about battling this Uthal guy?”
“Gee, I guess. I think maybe, I just kinda let it go in one place and out another, without too much thought. It’s somethin’ I don’t really wanna think about.”
“I’ve never fought with anyone. What if we don’t win? What if Ned ends up being the sword’s Champion and he fails? We’ll all be doomed.”
Thomas helped Matt rise from the ground. “That’s what I’m afraid of, too. I know he’s my brother and everything, but gee whiz, he gets scared of a June Bug flyin’ around the porch.”
Matt dusted off his leathers and ran his fingers through his hair. The two boys stood quietly for a Moment, watching the others and saying nothing in their commonality of uncertainty. After a Moment, Thomas turned to Matt.
“Gee, you’ve got a lot more faith than I do. Ned and I probably wouldn’t even have come, if you hadn't convinced us. If ya weren’t there pushin’ us, we probably wouldn't gotten this far. When the time comes, though, and we’re there in front of this Uthal guy, I know you’re gonna make the right decisions for us. Plus it doesn’t hurt that we got a dragon on our side.” Thomas chuckled softly.
Matt smiled briefly. “Hey. Thanks. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t come.” Swallowing hard, he continued in a whisper, “But could ya promise me something? If anything should happen to me, wouldja you take care of Miranda, and get Toby back to my parents?”
Thomas shook his head, dismissing the severity of Matt’s words. “Don’t think like that. Nothin’ is gonna happen to you.”
“Promise me. I’m not kiddin’.”
“Okay, take it easy. Gee.”
The Forgotten Spell (Legends of Green Isle Book 1) Page 21
