by J. M. Briggs
“Okay, fair enough.”
“This is so exciting,” Avani whispered. She was holding a spiral notebook in her hand and was poised to write in it. “Finding weak points in the world’s defenses.” Looking over at Morgana, she asked. “I’ve never heard of this, have you tried it before?”
“No,” Morgana answered patiently. Then she looked at Avani and smiled a little. “This crop of mages is always coming up with interesting new ideas.”
“RPG books, baby,” Nicki added. When Avani looked her way, Nicki smiled, but blushed a little.
Avani raised an eyebrow in response and Alex felt an odd little flash of irritation alongside one of amusement. Pushing them aside, she offered Bran her hands as he sat across from her. He rolled his shoulders and exhaled. Yellow sparks appeared across the skin of his hands and Alex could see small flickers of yellow further up his arms.
“So what exactly are they doing?” she heard Avani ask softly.
“Alex has the ability to transform the magic of others into her own magic,” Morgana explained. “Convert the energy, if you will.”
“Really?” Alex smiled at the awe in Avani’s voice. “How fascinating.”
Then Alex had to stop listening because pulling Bran’s magic away from him was a process she needed focus for. Her own dark silver magic brushed across the sparks of yellow. His magic brushed across her skin, sending small vibrations up and down her arms. It was similar to her own, but different enough. Not as sharp and cold as Chernobog’s, but then again she hadn’t cared about hurting Chernobog. Alex coaxed the magic gently and let her own magic wash over the ripples of power Bran was releasing.
It began to change colors and she vaguely heard Avani say something else. Closing her eyes, Alex released the magic around them slowly. It shimmered through the air, encircling objects and brushing against the energy radiating out of the ground. She could see through it now. The world was dark and lit by strange colors, but Alex could identify everything. There were lines of yellow around Bran and Alex pulled on them, gathering them together. She didn’t allow the magic to stay together though. Instead of forming an orb like usual, Alex pushed it out into the world.
The magic spread further and further. There was Merlin’s house and then the rest of the houses on the road. Alex waited. Sweat began to cling to her brow. So far nothing drew her attention. There was the lake, the campus which was already at lower than the usual population as people fled for the summer, and the forests surrounding Ravenslake. Cars on the highway zipped through her awareness and sent a shiver down her spine.
Then she felt something. There was a dark spot. A void almost, where the magic of the world didn’t seem to be touching anything. Pushing more magic that direction, Alex’s body quivered, but she kept going. Her magic circled the void, a hole of nothing. It wasn’t very large, but it was there. She was pulling back when it occurred to her that she needed an actual location. Shifting the magic, Alex sensed it twist against her, but it obeyed the strange command to find some sort of signage. She found a mile marker sign a moment later and tried to memorize the slope of the hill. Sweat dripped into her eyes and stung, pulling her back towards physical awareness.
Alex eased her grip on the magic. It swirled around her and she tried to coax it back. Some snapped back into her chest, causing her to gasp while the rest dissipated through the air. Opening her eyes, Alex found Morgana kneeling next to her with a handkerchief at the ready. Alex took it with a grateful smile and cleaned up the sweat on her face. The back of her shirt was a bit sticky, but there was nothing to do about that.
“I found something,” Alex said. She rambled off the mile marker and the direction as best she could, hearing the scratch of Avani’s pencil as she wrote it down. “Let’s go.”
“Are you up to it?” Merlin asked.
“I’m fine,” Alex promised. “I pulled a lot of a magic back so I actually feel a bit hyper.” Frowning a little, she looked at Bran. “What about you, Bran?”
“Bit tired magically,” Bran admitted. “But not physically, and I’m not exhausted. I’ll be fine.”
Alex saw Merlin and Morgana exchange a look, but they raised no further objections. Glances at the others told Alex that they were a little surprised at her just wanting to jump into it but hoped it could be dismissed as wanting to be secure. Bran stood up and extended a hand to her. Alex took it with a smile and climbed to her feet.
“I’ll get the iron then,” Merlin said. His eyes lingered on her for a moment, but Alex didn’t let it bother her. “We can take my SUV.”
“And my truck,” Aiden offered.
Nodding, Alex wiped off the back of her neck and tightened her ponytail. Morgana was still watching her.
“What did you see?” Nicki asked.
“A void in the magic.” Alex paused and shifted her lips quizzically “It’s hard to explain, but it was a like a black hole that my magic didn’t touch right. There might not be a tunnel opened there yet, but there’s definitely something wrong there.”
“Fascinating,” Morgana said. Her intense stare almost made Alex look away. “Your abilities are certainly proving useful.”
“The others might have been able to do it,” Alex said. Shrugging, Alex folded up the used handkerchief and shoved it into the back pocket of her jeans. “But I’m just the one who stumbled on it.”
They loaded up the cars in relative silence, though Alex caught Nicki talking with Avani, who was very interested in what it had been like to be healed by the Iron Chalice. At least Nicki seemed in good spirits. Her near-death experience didn’t seem to have shaken her, but then again Alex hadn’t really examined the wounds. It was possible that they hadn’t been that deep and the Chalice had just prevented scaring. Merlin called her name and Alex climbed into his SUV with him and Morgana. To her relief, Nicki and Avani climbed into the back seat with her, leaving the boys to take Aiden’s truck.
“I hope you don’t mind me coming along,” Avani said to her.
“No, I don’t mind.”
“But Lance and Jenny are not here.”
“Lance and Jenny help with brainstorming and research,” Alex replied. She noted that Avani had added a few more braids to her hair today. “We don’t take them with us when we make Gates, just in case.” Alex paused and shifted her bag around, digging out her dagger. She handed it to Avani. “I know you have some magic but hold onto this just in case.”
Nodding solemnly, Avani took the dagger and examined it curiously. Amused, Alex watched the newcomer for a moment before turning her attention to the mile markers as they made their way out of town. Nicki turned in the back seat and looked out the back window to confirm that Aiden’s truck was behind them. Catching Alex’s eye, Nicki gave her a soft smile and Alex’s chest tightened for a moment. She was grateful, she realized a moment later, that Nicki had come with her and the Professors. If nothing else, Merlin and Morgana would hesitate to start an awkward conversation in front of her. They were very careful about not undermining the Iron Soul in front of other mages.
They pulled off about fifteen minutes later onto a small trailhead parking lot. It was close to the area that Alex had seen, but they’d still need to hike a bit. Aiden pulled up next to them, effectively filling the small turn out. Climbing out, Alex opened the back of Merlin’s SUV and grabbed the red backpack. It was heavy, but the hum of the iron infused with her magic was comforting. Nestled at the top was the Iron Chalice which she hoped they wouldn’t need. Avani grabbed a pack and didn’t make a sound as she pulled it on with a determined expression.
“Alright.” Morgana was looking down at an unfolded map in her hands. “This trail heads up into the hills.” Her green eyes met Alex’s. “We’re going to need you to guide us once we get closer.”
“No problem,” Alex said. “We’ll find it.” She reached up and tightened her ponytail, giving Avani a reassuring smile. “Hope you’re up for a hike.”
“I hike a lot on Elephanta Island,” Avani replied. “A
nd walk around Mumbai a lot.”
“Elephanta Island,” Alex repeated in confusion. “Is it near your home?”
“It’s an island in Mumbai Harbor,” Avani explained. “Sorry, you probably wouldn’t know it by that name and I’m not sure what you called it in ancient times. It’s an island with a lot of sacred caves and shrines to Shiva.”
“Ah, I see.” Alex heard one of the voices whispering louder and silently urged Lokpal to calm down. “Well then, let’s find this weak spot and seal it up. The sooner we do, the sooner I’ll be comfortable leaving Ravenslake.”
They fell into a line with Morgana in the lead and Alex right behind her. Avani and Nicki followed her with Aiden, Bran, and Merlin at the back. The trail was narrow and a bit overgrown, making it a bit harder to navigate. Alex kept her eyes open for any sign of tracks that didn’t belong, but the trail thankfully only showed signs of deer and birds.
“So Avani,” Nicki said. “Tell us a bit about yourself. We haven’t really had any time to just talk and get to know you.”
Alex glanced over her shoulder as a sudden rush of curiosity took hold of her. It was a nagging and almost desperate sensation that she didn’t know how to shake off. Reminding herself that Lokpal lived long ago didn’t help any. There was another jolt of longing and a few names echoed through her head. Gottfried was wondering about the fate of his family, but that was a can of worms Alex was afraid to open. Cologne had been in western Germany, so his wife and daughters had probably survived the war and stayed away from the Eastern Bloc, but his sons... Shaking her head, Alex kept moving and focused on Avani’s words.
“Well, as I said my family are descendants of Lokpal. We’ve stayed connected to the Old Ones due to our magical tradition, but it is strongest in my branch of the family.”
“Do you have a large family?” Bran asked.
“Huge by western standards,” Avani replied. She chuckled lightly. “I have three uncles and their families, and my two aunts and their families. Over fifteen cousins in total.”
“Wow,” Nicki gasped. “That must be a huge family reunion! Are they all magical?”
“No,” Avani answered. “While magic can be taught, some people don’t have a talent for it. Unlike math or writing, they won’t ever be able to do anything with it. Besides, my family is a bit paranoid about spreading knowledge of magic too far, so my cousins are only told about it if they show the right personality traits.”
“Sounds strict,” Aiden said.
“A bit, yes,” Avani agreed. “But children with magical spells has the potential to cause a lot of problems.”
“Fair point,” Aiden conceded.
“So do you use magic in English or in Hindi?” Bran asked from the back.
“Actually my native language is Marathi so I use that the most,” Avani answered. “I also speak Hindi and English fluently.”
“How old are you?” Nicki asked, changing the subject so suddenly that Alex had to hold back a laugh.
“Twenty-two.”
“Oh.” Nicki sounded very surprised. “You’re older than us. That’s surprising.”
“Am I?”
“Yeah, most of us are twenty,” Nicki replied. “So not much older.” Alex actually turned around to look at Nicki. She was blushing and stammering a little. It was enough to make her smile. “Is that why they sent you? Cause you would blend in better?”
“No; I’m the best with magic in my generation,” Avani said. “Better than even my grandfather. They even thought that I might be a mage when I was young, but sadly that wasn’t the case.”
“Or maybe that was good,” Bran suggested. “While having the powers is nice, life has been more than a little insane since we learned we were mages.”
“You would have all had Connections when you met though, correct?”
“Yeah,” Alex said. “And some of us worried we were going crazy.”
Aiden laughed behind her and Alex smiled. It was strange to remember those first days. They seemed so long ago, but it was just two short years. Not even a full two years. That sobered Alex up, and she focused on their surroundings. Nothing was very familiar yet, but there was a slight tickle at the edge of her senses. They were heading the right way at least.
The tickle grew stronger the longer they walked. Ignoring the conversations behind them, Alex directed Morgana onto a small game trail off the main trail. Beneath her feet, the soft pulse of magic rose through her body. It was getting ready to defend, she realized with a slight smirk. A sharp sense of satisfaction sang through her. Alex reached out for the magic.
It rustled in the leaves and around their bodies. The energy, the magic, whatever you wanted to call, it was so obvious now. And yet, Alex could remember being so unaware of it. So blind. She’d doubted it even after forming Connections with the others. Her lips twitched into a smile and the voices became louder. Memories of other Connections zinged across her mind, thankfully fast enough that Alex didn’t lose sight of the living world. Several were familiar: she knew them to be Merlin and Morgana. They’d truly been there many times.
“Up ahead,” Alex said suddenly. “I sense something.”
Morgana looked over her shoulder and nodded. Alex tugged on her magic and felt it flow into her. She stopped on the trail with a quick gesture to Nicki and exhaled slowly. The magic rippled outward, spreading through the air and brushing against the trees and bushes like a fine mist. Alex detached. Once again, the awareness of her body faded away and became the hum of magic. It filled her ears, with her eyes she saw strange colors around the shapes and she tasted a sweetness in the air.
Then she found the void. It was dark and sudden and close. Her magic twisted around it like a ship skimming around rocks. There was another hum there that she hadn’t felt before. It was bitter on her tongue but familiar. Alex could almost hear the Sídhe below the ground, pushing their way through. Magic against magic as two universes clashed and struggled for which would be dominant. She scowled only to have that strange dead world flash through her mind. Ash filled her mouth and Alex pulled back the magic sharply.
Everyone was watching her. Alex pulled out her water bottle and rinsed her mouth. Nicki frowned at the action and Alex didn’t try to explain. It didn’t help: the taste of ash lingered even as Alex decided it was all in her head. She took another drink and started walking again as the void beckoned.
There wasn’t much in the area. As the Sídhe hadn’t broken through yet, the hillside seemed completely normal. Yet there was a hint of something wrong with the vegetation and Alex didn’t see any birds when she searched the tops of the trees with her eyes. She had the feeling that they’d arrived just in time.
Alex said little as everyone unloaded their bags but did ask Merlin to open a hole in the hillside. He gave her a brief searching look but obeyed while Morgana assured the others that it wasn’t going to allow the Sídhe through. Physical versus metaphysical. Alex didn’t really understand it, but she felt it in her gut.
The false peace was broken by the sudden chirping of a phone. Alex glowered only to realize that it was her phone. Digging it out, she blinked in surprise at the name Matt. She’d been expecting Jenny or Lance. Everyone else who still texted her regularly at this point was with her. Reading the message, the knot in Alex’s chest tightened harshly.
“Okay, let’s get this Gate made,” Alex said as she slipped her phone back into her pocket. “My brothers are coming down for a visit. They want to have dinner tonight.”
Nicki smiled and said that would be nice. Bran and Aiden nodded in agreement while Avani stayed silent. Alex struggled to ignore the sudden tightening of the knot. Pushing more magic into it, Alex felt it quiver and threaten to burst, but thankfully it stilled after another moment. Clapping her hands together, Alex looked at the waiting pile of iron and forced a smile.
30
March of the Sídhe
463 B.C.E. Cashel, Ireland
Soft hands moved through Leugio’s hair. He was lounging o
n the bed with one of the local healers gently packing his latest wound. His head was pillowed on Flaitheas’ lap as she made soft soothing sounds. Shifting slightly, Leugio looked down at the thin red slice in his skin. It made him a bit faint, but he kept still. Instead, he focused on the closeness of his wife.
“I don’t understand why you don’t heal them,” Flaitheas said. She brought her other hand up and touched a long scar on his arm. “You said that you healed your family pet once.”
“Yes, but it left me weak,” Leugio confessed. He shook his head. “It’s difficult to explain, but when I think back on it… I worry that I wouldn’t wake up from the attempt. I’m not even sure if I can heal myself, to be honest.”
The healer glanced up at him curiously. At this point it was well known that he had magic. In the past season he’d used it often in the village, attempting to understand what he was doing. Leugio ignored the curious look. It wasn’t worth trying to explain; he’d learned that much. The woman stood up and nodded to Flaitheas before showing herself out of the roundhouse. As she pulled back the pelt door, a cold burst of air rushed into the roundhouse. Flaithaes tried to move, but Leugio groaned in protest.
