TERRA

by Adrian M Ferguson

  Erdgeist’s eyes briefly shimmered. He lowered his head, hiding the unearthly giveaway. Looking up at Ford again, he growled, ‘Don't touch her again,’ and quite deliberately turned his back on him, reaching out his hand to help me up.

  Ford rushed him, disengaging his anodized baton from his side belt and whipping it at the Erdgeist’s head. I knew he was deadly with this and he intended a serious hit. At the last minute, Erdgeist turned quickly, almost in a blur, and moved into Ford’s space, backhanding him across the face. Ford flew through the air and hit his car, hard, denting the side. He slid down the car, slumping to the ground, motionless.

  ‘Oh shit, Erdgeist!’ I ran over to Ford, practically falling myself from a brief bout of dizziness. I checked and he was breathing, thank god. He was a definite bona fide asshole, but I didn’t want or need a death on my hands.

  ‘Thank you for helping me, Erdgeist, but please in future, no human casualties. I’m meant to protect them, no matter how stupid they are.’

  Erdgeist shimmered, his body blurring, shooting up in size, human nothing melting away. Mahogany Death appeared at his side and he was once again his usual quartz-like self.

  He chuckled, low and dark.

  ‘As you wish, Warder', he said, bowing to me briefly.

  I grinned up at him, ‘Cocky son of a bitch, though,’ I said, nodding at Ford. ‘He got the jump on me this time so let’s keep our eye out for him from now on.’

  Nodding, Erdgeist slid into the ground, silent as the owl’s passage above us. I walked slowly back to my car, rubbing the back of my head. Looking back at Ford, I figured he’d be alright, though he’ll have a nasty fucking headache. He stirred, groggily, and lifted himself unsteadily up on one arm. I high-tailed it out of there, laughing to myself.

  CHAPTER 28

  day six

  After a restless night’s sleep, the morning was taken up with all the necessary but boring stuff — aka, calling the shop and making sure all was running smoothly. Colleen, the new employee, was ecstatic about her new role. Since she was practically keeping the shop going, I increased her pay a little as an incentive. I think she was more relieved to be doing something different; coffee making was getting a bit dull she said.

  I promised to come in and go through the more complicated stuff later on if I had the opportunity, asking her not to promise any of the rarer books, unless talking to me first, letting her know that they were under lock and key at the moment anyway and couldn’t be accessed.

  She assured me all was well and that she would call me if there were any problems, stating that Zoey had already checked in on her earlier.

  My heart skipped a beat at the mention of her. Thank goodness Zoey was alright. I hadn't called her on the assumption that Hulda had taken care of it all; it seemed that she’d fulfilled her promise.

  I promised myself to give her a call when I could.

  I pottered around the kitchen concentrating on chopping up the fresh coriander for my cucumber salad, mid-cut I accepted the fact that I was stalling. I eyed the twine bracelet, which I had dumped on the steel kitchen counter the previous night.

  I was stalling alright, worried that if I proceeded down this particular track it could have disastrous consequences.

  What if I failed at whatever the quest might be? Would it be dangerous, even life threatening? Hilda told me that not even my mother could acquire the Earth Focus — shit, no warder had even filled the first slot on the bracelet. How the hell was little ol’ me going to do it?

  I knew I was reasonably tough, as in physically. Being on the police force had toughened me up. They made sure of that, but this was a different sort of tough. A curveball had been thrown where now I wasn't an ordinary human being anymore and had access to elemental magic, but I was learning a lot of this on the fly.

  I stood staring at the bracelet, so innocent looking but a symbol of power. It was definitely no ordinary bracelet. It was made of twine that had been tightly braided together, and every couple of centimeters there was a loose loop, which had space to place a gem or stone. There were five of these spaces along its length, ending with a dark old copper-like metal intricately shaped into a clasp.

  Sitting there I slowly ate my salad. Damn, this was good — crunchy cucumber slices, light French vinaigrette, finely chopped coriander and some lime juice — beautifully refreshing. I ran my fingers over the bracelet’s rough twine.

  Dammit.

  The facts were that some serious shit was happening with revenants, freaking necromancers and something evil and nasty behind it all; I needed this extra power. I’d touched upon that evil in the cemetery, and again when helping Ghob free Agrona, and I knew that it was a vast, impeccable force. Whoever wielded such power undoubtedly had more experience than I had.

  So whether I liked it or not, I needed extra power — plain and simple.

  I figured I would attempt to call Ghob outside, now that I’d finally made up my mind. It would be better for him and me, instead of coming up through my kitchen floor. I quickly stacked the dishes, took a deep breath and went out on to the front porch.

  I wasn't really sure if there was a procedure or particular way to do this, so I settled on just standing on my lawn, calling out his name, and relying on my direct contact with the earth.

  A few calls to Ghob and he rose silently up from the grass.

  ‘You rang,’ he intoned purposely stretching out the syllables.

  ‘You have a sense of humor, wow, miracles do happen,’ I quipped. Right after Ghob, Agrona arose from the ground. She faced me but kneeling, with her head down in supplication. Then off to his right, Erdgeist also rose out of the ground. His stony skin shone darkly with barely visible striating circles of hoary white crystals, refracting in the light they made him look even more otherworldly. Agrona stayed silent and unmoving in her kneeling head-down position.

  Looking at Erdgeist I noticed another blade silvery in hue, this one jutting out secured on an angle across his back. Nodding at him I said, ‘More weaponry, Erdgeist, are we expecting trouble?’

  ‘I have been directed to be more prepared,’ he indicated, only his eyes slowly moving over to Ghob.

  Agrona edged forward on her knees and clasped my shoes, fingers hard and blunt.

  ‘Please, Warder, please forgive me. You have my eternal gratitude … please, please?’

  Backing up, I looked Ghob in the eye, raising my eyebrows. Yes, I’d helped her, but I so did not expect flat out groveling — maybe a terse ‘thanks’ and possibly a hint of a smile, but not this.

  ‘Rise, please, Agrona,’ I said, sensing that a formal note was required.

  With liquid grace, completely at odds with her form, she glided up to her feet, head down, hands clasped in subservience.

  ‘Look at me, Warrior!’ I snapped. Her head jerked up in surprise, eyes narrowing in instant anger.

  ‘Good, that’s better. I don't want your apology, Agrona, just your talents and service, as we don't have time for anything else. So back beside your King, and keep doing what you do best. Do we understand each other?’

  Bowing her head, a smile flitted briefly across her face. ‘Yes, Warder, as you command.’

  She slid straight down and reappeared next to Ghob; eyes glinting she kept them forward. I kept my eyes on her and then nodded in satisfaction.

  ‘Now, Ghob, why I called you — have you spoken to Hulda recently?

  Ghob shook his head, ‘No, Warder’, he said, contained mirth shining from his eyes, ‘I have not yet seen or heard from the grove sorceress. Is there a problem?’

  ‘No, there’s no problem, but I have a question.’

  Holding out my hands, I opted for formality again. It seemed logical under the circumstances, and I’d learned that it appeared to garner more of a response.

  I fell to my knees, holding the bracelet cupped in both hands. I looked at Ghob.

  ‘I am petitioning you, Ghob, Elemental King of Earth, to allow me the opportunity to seek out and obta
in the Earth Focus so as to enhance my abilities in these forthcoming hard times.’

  Gob stepped back, black eyes widening in surprise.

  ‘When did Hulda give you this, no Warder has been given the Focus this early on in their role’

  ‘Just the other day, Ghob.’

  ‘Do you realize what this means, Deirdre? Did Hulda explain what the bracelet entails?’

  ‘Yes, she did, and she also explained that my mother couldn't obtain the Focus, or any warder in fact. But she told me she had faith in my abilities and that I could achieve the impossible.’

  ‘Did she also mention that the very few that have tried, and have even come remotely close to the Earth Focus, have either died or been very seriously injured?’

  ‘Well, no, not in so many words,’ I said sharply, ‘Of course she didn’t mention those little facts.’

  ‘No, she wouldn’t have. Hulda has always liked her little games and generally has her own agenda,’ he said, while looking at me seriously.

  ‘You are a fresh Warder, unfamiliar with the myriad intricacies of Earth. You would need your champion. Erdgeist can accompany you to show you the way and assist you if necessary, if you feel you must attempt this folly.’

  ‘Hang on a minute, Ghob, what merit is there in proving myself if Erdgeist helps me? Aren't there rules to this?’ I replied. ‘No offence, Erdgeist,’ I added, quickly looking at him.

  ‘Humph,’ Ghob muttered.

  ‘Hulda mentioned that I have the potential to do this, but I can't realize that without the struggle being fully mine, Ghob. If I don't, then victory is worthless to me. Erdgeist can’t come with me; otherwise I'm not worthy of the Focus.’

  ‘Hmmm,’ he acknowledged reluctantly, ‘Yes, you are correct Warder, I will not make any exceptions then.’

  ‘Your Highness,’ Erdgeist, interrupted, bowing his head, ‘I humbly request to accompany her; please. I am her champion. There is no loss of honor if I just lead her to the Focus, is there?’

  ‘No, terra gnome, she is correct. I must not bend the rules to suit me. The journey is also part of the quest. She must endure the journey as well, end of story.’

  Turning back to me, Ghob touched the bracelet. Closing his eyes, he muttered one word, Erde, breathing onto the bracelet. It started glowing, hues of ochre, black and verdant green, shimmered along its length.

  ‘Warder, as King of Earth and all Elementals that exist on its surface and below, I will allow your petition for the Earth Focus. You may begin the quest as the light leaves the earth. So shall it be.’

  ‘You honor me, Ghob, thank you. I humbly accept the charge.’

  Rising up, I looked at the bracelet entranced with how it shimmered when the light hit it just right.

  ‘So, where do I find the Earth Focus, Ghob?’

  Looking at me, he pointed down at the ground and said in a monotone, ‘Where does Earth’s actual power reside? At the center of the earth, Warder.’

  CHAPTER 29

  Oh, shit, I thought … My jaw dropped.

  ‘You’re joking, right, Ghob?’

  ‘Meet me here at dusk, Warder,’ nodding both to Agrona and Erdgeist.

  ‘It is done.’

  In unison they simultaneously nodded at me and sunk beneath the ground.

  Holy shit, the center of the earth, the heart of the fucking planet. He was serious — damn, when wasn’t he serious? Was he out of his fucking mind? I leant heavily up against the bannister leading to my verandah. I was panicking. I dimly recalled Erdgeist mentioning that only the oldest elementals could go that deep.

  How the hell was I meant to?

  I blindly reached for the chilled vodka/lemonade mix I’d left out a while ago. Fumbling with it I discovered that it was, thankfully, still cold. I grabbed a half melted ice cube and ran it along my forehead.

  I was hyperventilating, goddammit.

  Falling into the patio chair with a thump, I poured a generous amount into a glass, chugged half almost desperately, and sat heavily back trying to get my breath under control.

  Me and my big mouth: Oh, no, don't let Erdgeist come, no I won't be worthy, blah, blah, blah … shit.

  I must have dosed this mixer too liberally as I felt the vodka spike hit me a little too hard and fast. Though, admittedly, it did hit the spot.

  Mind whirling, I vainly tried to recall what I was taught in high school. Wasn't the center of the earth full of lava and red-hot magma? Would I need freaking sharks with laser beams? Laughing at my stupidity, I gave up. I needed some sleep. This was going to be the most arduous undertaking of my life, worse than being bitten by thousands of deadly spiders. Hmmm, not so sure about that one, it was so far in the top ten, but this would probably break even, I’d say.

  Going upstairs, I fell onto the bed, clothes and all, setting my alarm for a few hours before dark. My head swam slowly from the alcohol. Good. Sinking into the pillow I sighed at the comfort of my luxurious Sheridan linen. I took a long deep breath, and to my vague surprise fell instantly into an exhausted sleep.

  Hours later I woke to the incessant ringing of the alarm clock. To my delight I’d slept fully with no dreams, just restful deep sleep. That was a good sign.

  Not knowing what one wore to the center of the earth, I settled on form-fitting black pants, and a black Ralf Lauren polo. I felt I might need freedom of movement and this felt pretty comfortable. I wrapped a small black scarf around my neck and pulled my hair back so I wouldn't have to worry about hair getting in my eyes. I felt the part. Tucking in my Ruger pistol, my get-up was complete. It might not do me any good, but I’d already learned my lesson about not packing some sort of firearm.

  I'd gone over through my head a few possible plans to survive this ordeal. Checking the Internet enlightened me with a few relevant facts, such as the center of the earth was supposedly a mass of swirling solid iron, surrounded by a molten nickel-iron alloy, at temperatures exceeding anything any living being could endure. I hoped my magic protected me from that, considering other warders had failed. I planned not to fail, if possible, and actually getting there seemed like half the challenge.

  Chewing on a nutty roadhouse bar, I made my way outside. It wasn't quite dusk but I needed a moment more to reflect before undertaking this feat.

  Sitting close legged on the lawn, I shoved my palms down into the soil, breathing in through my mouth and out through my nose, centering myself. I let myself drift down, asking Earth’s spirit to guide me and protect me on my perilous journey. Holding myself there in my mind, I felt warmth imbue me, re-assuring and comforting. Earth had answered, soaking me in her armor. (I’d decided after my first contact with Earth that I’d refer to it as a ‘she’; it somehow to me seemed fitting.)

  Energized, I glided back up into my body, opening my eyes to find Ghob, Erdgeist and Agrona standing there like statues in front of me, eliciting a small eeeek from my lips before I could help it.

  ‘Earth’s spirit answers you — that is in your favor, Warder.’

  Nodding, I said, ‘She has answered me twice now, Ghob.’

  ‘She?’

  ‘It works for me,’ I countered.

  ‘Very well, Warder — I have known other warders in the past make the same connection. With all warders being female, I am not unduly surprised. Have you rested well enough, Warder?’

  I nodded.

  ‘Good, are you ready for this quest to begin? Because once you have started there is no turning back, and no second try. Each warder only gets one attempt at this.’

  Nodding as confidently as I could muster, I announced, ‘I am as ready as I'll ever be.’ My voice only quivered slightly, boo-yah for me.

  Striding up to me, bending close, he whispered ‘Are you sure you want to do this, Deirdre?’

  Seeing his concern touched a chord in me, but realizing I couldn't show any sign of weakness, I answered curtly, ‘Yes, I am, Earth King,’ snapping my gaze on him.

  It was like anything else in my life, from being too small, f
rom being bullied at school, to being the only woman at the time in the academy, to the constant sexual ribbings and innuendo thrown my way, it was a personal battle, fought everyday of my life, and displaying any weakness was just not allowed.

  Weakness betrayed a lack of inner character, which equaled being preyed upon. I so was not prey.

  Stepping back, he touched my forehead with one thick finger. At his touch I was enveloped in warmth. I basked in it, momentarily closing my eyes.

  Ghob’s deep bass voice filled my front property. ‘As we all stand witness, may Earth’s spirit fill you, quest taker, and may it bless your undertaking and speedily bring you back to us, so your destiny may be realized.’

  ‘Blessed be,’ Erdgeist and Agrona said in unison.

  ‘Good luck, Deirdre,’ he breathed for my ears alone, his spicy earth scent washing over me. Funny but his scent soothed me more than any pep talk or words of reassurance.

  Backing away, Ghob gestured for me to proceed. The early evening chill was fast approaching as the sun reached the edge of the world, sinking smoothly down.

  ‘Alright then. So Ghob, straight down, huh?’

  ‘Yes, Warder, all I can tell you is that you will know the Focus when you see it. Place it in your bracelet, the first on the clasp.’

  ‘Gotcha,’ I said trying to sound perky. Checking the bracelet, I noticed a tiny faint symbol, matching the Earth sign on my palm, was delicately embossed above the first slot. Each slot had a different symbol. The markings were very fine and clearly made of different materials.

  Noticing that I was stalling again, oh so subtly, I sighed quietly, and moved further out onto the lawn. My witnesses turned on the spot, following my movements.

  Erdgeist and Agrona murmured again, ‘Blessed be, Warder,’ bowing low to me in passing.

  Shit this was not going to be my funeral.

  Closing my eyes to block out distractions, I pointed at the ground roughly two meters out from me. Turning on my axis, I created a circle of protection, a ward, visualizing it thick and strong. It rose around and below me, a perfect globe.