The Iron Cursed

by J. M. Briggs

  “Peekaboo.”

  Spinning around, water splashed around Alex’s feet as she stumble back in surprise. Brekszta was between Alex and the others. The dark blue magic was spinning around them like a tornado, but there were flashes of red, yellow and a lighter blue in the storm. It wasn’t much of a reassurance that the others were okay, but it was enough. Brekszta just kept staring at Alex with brown eyes that were strangely beginning to turn a dark blue color, like the night was falling within her iris. Alex let the dark gray sparks dance around her fingertips in warning. Yet the Old One’s smile remained firmly in place,

  Alex’s fingers twitched. She longed for the Sword or the Hammer. The voices in her mind were clamoring for weapons, but all she had was a dagger. Sadly, the Hammer was too heavy and large to just keep with her. Brekszta’s eyes dropped for a moment to Alex’s hand and she giggled.

  “No Iron Treasures, Iron Soul?” Brekszta met her gaze once more and pouted. “Disappointing. There’s so many of them. Bright little balls of power in a dull world. Scattered in history and myth.”

  “I still have my magic,” Alex said. Her voice was remarkably even and she kept her eyes locked on Brekszta’s unnerving ones. “You said you’ve been sending messages, but all I’ve had is nightmares.”

  “Poor little, Iron Soul,” Brekszta cooed. She shifted a little closer, moving like a drunken student. “So many nightmares.”

  “Yes, I know,” Alex hissed. “You did that, but why?”

  “So many memories: so many horrors all jangling around in your head.” Brekszta giggled, the sound high-pitched and echoing around them. “I can hear the voices and it isn’t even my head. Oh dear, how do you manage?” Before Alex could jump back, Brekszta’s hand lashed out and caught Alex’s chin, forcing her to look down at the Old One. Despite being taller, Alex felt much smaller as the dark gaze began to twinkle with tiny lights. There were stars, the endless void of space, in her eyes. “You’re lost, aren’t you? Lost in the voices? After all, what is one life to so many?”

  “Why are you in Ravenslake?” Alex demanded. In the corner of her eye, she could see the fog spreading up the hill. The sounds of the others were muted now. “What is it that you want, Brekszta?”

  “Oh, the Iron Soul wants to talk!” Brekszta giggled again, the sound grating on Alex’s nerves. “Should I be honored? Or should I be offended?”

  “You aren’t well, Brekszta, let us assist you.”

  “You’ll just put me back to sleep and shove me in water!” Brekszta’s smile fell away and she glared, releasing Alex’s chin. “I don’t want to sleep. My sisters are gone now. Everyone is gone, but I can see it all now.” Brekszta backed away and waved her hands, rolling her head back to look up at the sky. “The Tree, Iron Soul! The Tree is sick. Has been for so long, withering and dying. It will all die! Tick tock, tick tock, and then only darkness and dreams.” Brekszta paused and frowned. “But who will dream? That’s the question, isn’t it? I don’t think any of us will like the answer.”

  “So you showed me that dead world.”

  “Dead, very dead and abandoned, but not forgotten,” Brekszta said. She rocked back and forth on her bare feet now. “Running, run, run away, but sooner or later there’ll be nowhere to run.”

  “Look,” Alex begged. “Stop this fog and we’ll talk. You can talk to Merlin and Morgana and we’ll figure this out. Stop attacking the others.”

  “Attacking?” Brekszta frowned, sticking her lower lip far out. “I’m not attacking them. Just keeping them busy.”

  “Don’t hurt them,” Alex said. “Or put them into nightmares.”

  “Nightmares…” Brekszta shook her head.

  The eye collapsed. The main rushed in. A scream tore out of Alex’s mouth. She shifted her hands defensively in front of her and the magic jumped wildly. Brekszta just laughed. Pushing her magic forward, Alex grimaced as it crashed against a wall. Alex’s magic frantically twisted and pushed back. In her panic, Alex almost forgot to reach for Brekszta’s magic.

  Brekszta’s power was creeping over her. Dancing across her skin, it tugged sharply at the knot keeping her grief contained. Exhaling, Alex reached for Brekszta’s magic. Their magics began to blur together and Alex’s vision cleared enough for her to see a surprised look on Brekszta’s face, but then the Old One smiled. Pleasure replaced the shock and more magic hit Alex in the chest.

  “No!” Alex shouted. “Let me go!”

  Alex pulled on the attacking magic, twisting her own magic around the dark lines of power. Push and pull. Brekszta fought back even as wisps of her magic turned gray. The Old One’s thin lips all but vanished as she snarled.

  “You. Will. See!”

  Brekszta screamed, the sound like nails on a chalkboard. It reverberated through Alex’s bones. Her focus broke and Brekszta’s magic surged forth. Crashing over Alex, it crushed her beneath its power. She was being pulled under. A weight settled in her chest, chaining itself to the knot of magic and emotion she carried beneath her heart. Alex pushed with her magic, but the world was slipping away and the voices were louder. They were too loud. She struggled, but her body was too heavy. The alien magic was pushing its way in, twisting around her magic to contain it. Something buckled. The knot in her chest expanded and the magic rushed in. It was so cold.

  They were drenched. Rain was pouring down in a curtain of water around them. Beneath their feet the road was muddy and they sank with each step. It stung their skin, lashing their already sensitive flesh. But they didn’t stop moving. The storm was building ahead of them. Lightning flashed in the sky and the winds howled. They could feel it. Magic building in the air, but it wasn’t like theirs. It was different: alien and sharp. It stung their body and hung too heavy in the air.

  “Find Shiva!” a voice shouted. “The demons! The demons are stronger now. My homeland is in danger. Find the Trishula and protect my homeland!”

  More magic seeped in, pulling them deeper and deeper.

  The dark figure rose above them with bright green eyes. Chernobog. They didn’t understand. How could they understand? They had to fight, but they were no warrior. There were others. In the corner of their eye, they saw more figures: more Old Ones ready to fight.

  “I didn’t want it. Any of it,” another voice screamed in frustration. “This wasn’t my world. Why me? I’m just a farmer!”

  The voices fought, they blurred together in a mess of noise. It was them. There was only them.

  Beneath them, the ship rose sharply on the wave. The female slaves on the deck screamed and clutched their children closer. There was moaning from below. The men in the hold were too loud now and they bit back a snarl. Storm or no storm, they would not have disorder on their ship. Their crew dashed about and they eyed the sails as they were being lowered. The storm wasn’t the worst they’d seen. Not even close. Their eyes swept over the female slaves again. They were valuable, but an annoyance to transport. Maybe the next voyage, they’d outright skip the females.

  “Power. You have power,” Cuthbert’s voice hissed. “Use it. Gather it and master the world. I couldn’t. I didn’t understand what I could do, but you do.”

  It came too fast. There were so many flashes. It was all true, but it didn’t fit together. Technology changed. Their hands and reflections changed. Those around them changed, but it was all true. All of them. How? They couldn’t think. There were only the memories and the voices. Nothing stayed long. It was there and then gone in a flash. It was heavy and hard and then hot and fast and then airy and kind.

  Hands grabbed her upper arms and pulled her back. Brekszta screamed something just before Alex crashed back into the icy water of Ravens Lake. The air rushed out of her lungs at the sudden chill all through her legs and arms. Alex’s awareness returned. The visions were fading and the voices quieting. There were flickers of resistance, but her own mind filled her body. She was aware of everything; every sensation, every puff of air, even the cold that she didn’t want to deal with.

  �
��Alex!” This voice was other. It wasn’t them. Yet it was familiar. “Alex, it’s Sif! Can you hear me?”

  That name meant something. Alex brought a hand up and brushed her fingers against Sif’s face. It was smooth and soft, triggering other memories. Only one voice spoke now and Alex was able to push it back. Her jeans were soaked: she was sitting in the shallows of the lake with Sif right behind her. The Old One was holding her tightly and kneeling in the water with her.

  “What?” Alex struggled to remember what had happened.

  Blue magic flared in the corner of her eyes and she gasped. Straightening up, Alex pulled away from Sif’s grip and surged to her feet. Brekszta was on the shore with a wall of dark blue magic between her and the other mages. There were flashes of silver and green now, confirming that Merlin and Morgana were present. Alex’s heart skipped a beat as Brekszta turned towards her. The Old One’s feet were covered in mud, but she seemed otherwise undisturbed. She frowned at Alex and her eyes jumped to Sif.

  “You shouldn’t have done that,” Brekszta said.

  “Leave this place,” Sif ordered sternly.

  “No,” Brekszta replied. Narrowing her eyes on Alex, she shook her head. “What will be left, Iron Soul, when all the rest are gone? Or what will happen when all the rest take control? The lie has to die.”

  “I don’t know what you’re trying to do,” Alex growled. Her voice was too low and sharp with a hint of some strange accent. “Cease talking in riddles or I’ll make you.”

  Sif stood up, the water sloshing around them both and the Old One stepped up beside her. “Leave now, Brekszta. Chernobog was recently destroyed here. There is no need to repeat that.”

  “As was Cyrridven,” Brekszta said. “I will not be ordered about, not even by you, Sif. You were a mate to the Iron Soul once, but no longer.”

  Brekszta flicked her hand. A bolt of dark blue magic shot through the air. Sif gasped, clutching her chest. Golden light flared around her hand. Rage erupted. Alex’s vision narrowed on Brekszta. She screamed and threw forward her hands. Dark silver light flashed through the air and grabbed the expanding cloud of dark blue magic. Brekszta’s eyes widened in shock as Alex ripped away control of the magic. The energy resisted her, but Alex’s power washed over it. Inch by inch it turned dark silver and spun towards Alex.

  “Stay away from her!” Alex shouted. “Sif, fall back!”

  The blonde Old One gaped at her but shifted away from the water. In the corner of her eyes, Alex saw the other mages moving on the shore. They were rushing down to join her. Water lapped around her calves, but she didn’t notice the chill. Dark silver magic filled the air, consuming Brekszta’s power. Alex’s vision darkened. There was movement to her right.

  A figure dressed in jeans and a purple shirt rushed over. It was a young woman her age of Indian descent with long black hair bound back in a braid. Her brown eyes were wide and her mouth dropped open as she looked up at the spinning swirl of dark silver. Brekszta shrieked and rushed at Alex. The dark silver cloud began to crash down but Brekszta ignored it even as the power rushed at her.

  “Look out!” the new woman shouted in an accented voice.

  Dark blue magic was spinning around Brekszta’s fist. The Old One leapt into the air and sailed towards her. A blast of red magic hit the Old One, followed by a bolt of yellow. There was chanting from the accented voice and a golden glow lit up the hillside. Alex adjusted her hand, calling on the magic filling the air. Her heart raced, but she focused on her task. The magic curled back, drawing dark silver patterns in the air. Rushing to her, the magic formed a shimmering half dome in front of her.

  Brekszta hit the shield and narrowed her eyes at Alex before darting to the side. Alex’s own magic reached her as the shield vanished, gathering into an orb. Turning, Alex prepared to unleash the magic on Brekszta. Brekszta turned and began to run. She dove into the water and vanished from view before Alex could blink.

  Sif rushed into the water and dropped to her knees. Grabbing her arm, Alex kept her from going deeper. The water shimmered and rippled for a moment, but then stilled to the usual soft ripple from the wind. Sif looked up at her with bright and confused green eyes. Too many emotions hit Alex all at once. Worry and relief were dominant and her hand moved to Sif’s face before she thought about it.

  “Are you alright?”

  “I’m fine, Alex,” Sif replied gently. Her tone was soft and she touched Alex’s cheek in return. “I’m alright; it was just a distortion attack. Meant to distract and cause some pain, but not enough to destroy.”

  “But, but she could have…” Alex shivered and shook her head. “She tried, and…” There was a dull pain gathering between her eyes. She blinked and tried to dispel it. “And…”

  “Alex?” Morgana’s voice called behind her. “Alex? Are you alright?”

  Alex ignored her, focusing on Sif, who was staring at her in shock. “I can’t watch you get hurt, Sif,” Alex said firmly. “Not ever.”

  “Alex, I think you need to rest,” Morgana said. She was right next to Alex in the water. “Come on.” Morgana began to pull her away. “Come with me.”

  “But-”

  “Alex,” Sif said as she began to follow. Her expression was still stunned, but she was recovering. “I brought a new friend for you to meet.”

  “A new friend?” Alex repeated.

  “Yes,” Sif agreed. “So please, calm down. You wouldn’t want to be rude.”

  “No.” Alex blinked again: the pain was getting worse. “I wouldn’t want… where are my tweezers, Sif?”

  “Your tweezers?” Sif repeated. “Why do you want them?”

  “I’m not ready to meet someone,” Alex protested. “And I need to trim my beard. I can’t remember the last time I…” She trailed off and frowned. Sif’s mouth was hanging open and her green eyes were watery with tears. “What’s wrong?”

  “Alex-” Morgana called. “Alex? Focus on my voice. Focus on where you are!”

  “Thor,” Sif whispered. Alex’s eyes jumped back to her. “Please… go with Morgana. You need to go with Morgana. I’m fine and quite safe, but you may be hurt. Please, let her help you.”

  “I’m fine,” Alex insisted. A flare of indignation rose in her chest, but the knot tightened. There was a truck bearing down, a ship full of slaves, and an Iron Gate forming over a hole in the world. Then everything went dark and the pain was blissfully gone.

  24

  Return to the Mound

  464 B.C.E. The Golden Vale

  Most people never travel far from where they were born. Leugio knew that was certainly true with everyone he’d grown up with. There were stories that in the past when bronze had been used, people would travel far to trade it, but those days were long gone. Trade was limited and usually only within the domain of the king now with rare exceptions.

  Now he found himself a rarity. He’d not only left the village he was born in but been all over the area to check on reports of the Sídhe. Yet he was now also aware of just how much he hadn’t seen. There were messages from other kings to Eochu Finn about Sídhe raids. Rumors were growing about some new Sídhe army. His magic had made him the one the rumormongers were all interested in, but through all his travels and all the messages, he’d never heard rumors of another mage.

  Coming home was odd. He rode into the village atop a fine horse with Flaitheas riding beside him. People stopped and looked his way. Rather than rushing to greet him, they hesitated and eyed the guards who were accompanying them. He didn’t think that he’d changed that much. True, he now wore a finer tunic and had leather armor to protect his chest, but he’d forgone any fancy jewelry even though he was in service to the king. Instead, he still wore only the iron brooch from his father.

  Leugio scanned the people in search of his mother or his sister, but he didn’t see either of them. Galvyn was coming up the pathway through the village and stopped upon seeing them. A wide grin appeared on his old friend’s face.

  “Leugio!” Galv
yn cheered. “You’re back!”

  “Galvyn,” Leugio greeted. He swung himself off the horse, noting with pleasure that he was getting better at it. “Good to see you.”

  Galvyn moved forward and eagerly met Leugio next to the horses with a hug. Leugio noted that his friend’s beard had filled in a great deal since he had last seen him. Galvyn was studying him as well, but thankfully he didn’t seem concerned with any of the changes. Thankfully his clothing covered the scar he now had on his right arm from the Síd blade two weeks ago. The pair laughed and hugged. The pressure in Leugio’s chest eased at the friendly greeting.

  Flaitheas dismounted and came to stand next to him. She gave him an expectant look and Leugio quickly caught on. “Flaitheas, this is Galvyn, an old friend of mine. Galvyn, this is Flaitheas, the daughter of King Eochu Finn.”