Joshua reached up to his shoulder and clasped Micah’s hand.
"Thank you, Uncle. That is all I have ever wanted, to see this wondrous land that your stories have painted in my head over the years."
Micah watched Joshua run down the steps and get into his car. When he saw Joshua drive off toward the hangar, Micah went inside and walked into the living room. He looked around. Nothing had changed. The sofa, the coffee table, the plush reading chairs, even the Oriental rug on the floor; all were just as he had left them. Joshua and the staff kept the place neat and clean.
He strode to the grand bookcase on the back wall and went directly to the far left corner. Micah jumped up and pressed a small whorl in a carving at the top. As he landed on the floor, there was a small sigh as of a slight pressure being released, and the lower half of the bookcase slid silently backward into the wall. Micah ducked down and walked into the newly revealed recess. He moved off to the right and pushed another button that closed the bookcase behind him. He then removed the small, frost rimed, silver flask from his pocket and took a quick drink. As the liquid slid down his throat, Micah felt a warmth flow out from his stomach to all of his limbs. He gasped in ecstasy, threw back his head, and laughed. He replaced the flask in his pocket and reached out to a six inch glass globe at eye level in the wall on his left. When Micah touched the globe, it flared with a stark white light, illuminating the passage.
The light revealed a small landing about six feet long and three feet wide. There was a flight of stairs descending in front of him. More globes lined the walls leading down. These flared to life in rapid succession, illuminating the entire stairwell.
Traversing the stairs, Micah came to a large, stone room at their base. It was circular, about twenty feet in diameter with a domed ceiling. There were four more globes around the wall placed at the major compass points. Micah moved to the center of the room and lay down on the floor. He took the flask out again and drank down approximately half of the liquid. Placing the flask on his chest, he folded his hands over it, feeling the chill that flowed from the container while its contents again spread warmth throughout his body. Micah looked up at the ceiling, which appeared to be made of polished, seamless silver.
"Ostendo mihi unus Volo video vidi visum," Micah spoke the words with practiced ease.
He felt a rush of power course through his body and watched the ceiling turn black. Fuzzy images appeared and started to swirl on the ceiling. As the tableau cleared, the scene became a hospital room. Micah felt himself being drawn towards it. He stood in a corner watching a nurse bustle about the room checking readouts on various monitors.
Micah walked up to the man in the bed, knowing the nurse could not see him. He reached out and touched the man's forehead. Sorting through the mundane, Micah found what he sought. Michael Nickels, Louisville, Kentucky.
"Iungo meus mens ut vestri," Micah whispered and then withdrew his hand.
"Rest well, Michael. We will be meeting soon."
Micah's consciousness snapped back to his body, and he felt the rush of power suddenly leave him. The ceiling went black and then reverted to the silver dome once again. Oh, how I have missed that sensation, Micah said to himself.
"So, our budding sorcerer is named Michael. I’ll take that as a sign. The Oakrin were right. I am going to be tested again. Things are going to be…interesting." Glancing up at the ceiling, Micah smiled.
Chapter Six
Merric woke with a start. His neck was stiff from sleeping with his head on his desk. He stood up and stretched, yawning and rubbing his eyes.
"Well, I suppose I better relieve Mieka." Merric spoke the words that would take him to the scrying room.
"Hello, my dear," Merric said rather loudly, smiling as Mieka turned with a start.
"Uncle! You startled me," Mieka said as she put her hand over her racing heart.
"Martin said to say hello." Merric grinned devilishly.
"You did that on purpose, didn’t you?"
"Well, serves you right, scaring poor Martin half to death all the time."
"If that’s the worst I get from it, then it is definitely worth the punishment," Mieka replied smiling.
"Anything new?"
"Nothing much. They moved him to another room and hooked him up to a bunch of devices. He has been unconscious since they brought him in."
"Well then, you run on and get some sleep. I will have Martin relieve me and Mathis after him. That way, you can still teach the day’s lessons."
"Very well, Uncle," Mieka smiled, then stood up on the tips of her toes and kissed Merric on the cheek.
"I will see you later this evening." Mieka spoke a few words as she spun around then disappeared, leaving behind a small wisp of smoke that made a popping sound as it vanished. Merric grinned broadly.
"That girl always did learn fast."
Merric extended his hand over the basin and said, "Ostendo." The silver liquid darkened and returned to the image of the man in the hospital bed.
"Well, my young friend, you are going to bring a lot of trouble, through no fault of your own, of course, but trouble nonetheless. Poor boy, I’m afraid the troubles you bring us are going to be nothing compared to the ones you will have to face yourself," Merric sighed as he settled in to observe. Merric watched as a shadowy form appeared in a corner of the room.
"Ah, Micah. I see you have found our young friend."
Merric watched as Micah walked passed the woman in blue as if she did not exist. The woman acted as if Micah was not there either. Merric observed with a puzzled expression on his face as Micah placed his hand on the man's forehead, then removed it and disappeared.
"You never fail to astound me, Micah. I really wish I could achieve even half of what you accomplish with such seeming ease."
Micah walked into the hangar and waved up at Joshua seated in the plane's cockpit. Joshua disappeared from the window and reappeared at the door.
"We are good to go, Uncle."
"Good. Let’s drive back to the house. There is a lot to prepare to ensure this place is secure before we leave."
"When do you want me to file the flight plans?"
"Not until tomorrow night, at the earliest. I still have much to do."
"Can I help?" Joshua offered.
"Of course you can. I need you to button this place up tight. Tomorrow, I want you to go to town and lay in a good supply of necessities. Remember the siege lessons from when you were a child?"
Joshua smiled.
"I most certainly do. How long of a siege am I to plan for?"
"Get enough to last a year," Micah estimated.
"Wow! Will it be that long? I currently have enough here for about three months. It’s good that you built a huge basement," Joshua laughed. Micah's silence put a damper on Joshua's amusement.
"I assume this is more than just testing my memory of logistics and supplies."
"Yes, much more. When we return from our trip, I need you to remain here until I come back for you. No trips out for any reason and absolutely no visitors. Mortow must know by now that I have chosen a side this time. He will try to find leverage against me to keep me and the Avari out of the coming battle."
"And you think Mortow would come after me, here?"
"Mortow is very cunning. If he knew of you, he would have already moved to capture you. You are the only chink in my armor, Joshua, and the only one he could use to counter the unknown factor that I represent. There are none left alive who truly know me. I am an enigma to Mortow, and he hates mysteries. They have a way of biting one in the ass when least expected."
"I would hate to think that I would be used against you. Uncle, you must promise me that, if I am taken, you will not let that decide your course. You must side with Kantwell in this fight. From what you have told me, the Purging was horrible beyond belief. I don’t want to be responsible for another slaughter like that."
"Joshua that is one promise I will never make. However, I will promise you that I will
use every resource I can to make sure that it never happens," Micah said earnestly.
"Then I guess that will have to do."
"Come. Let’s get back to the house. You need to get some sleep. I have some calls to make and defenses to arrange."
They both walked from the hangar, closing the doors behind them, and got into the car. Joshua started the engine and drove the short distance back to the house.
Once inside, Joshua turned to Micah.
"You will be here in the morning when I get up, won’t you?"
"Yes. I will not run off without saying goodbye. I will be in the library. Now go get some rest. You have a lot of supplies to pick up tomorrow."
"Good, I have some new work to show you, when you have the time," Joshua said eagerly.
"I look forward to seeing it."
"Uncle Micah."
"Yes…"
"I am very happy you are home again," Joshua grinned.
Micah smiled at last.
"It is good to see you again, too. Good night, Joshua."
"Good night, Uncle."
Micah watched Joshua climb the stairs and then strolled towards the library. He pulled open a set of mahogany doors to reveal a small hallway about ten feet long and seven feet wide. There was a matching pair of doors at the opposite end of the hall. The walls within were richly paneled in a very dark wood.
He closed the first set of doors behind himself and pressed a button on the wall to his left. There was a soft clicking sound of a lock releasing. Micah walked to the doors ahead and pulled them open. He stood looking into the library letting his eyes slowly take in every detail.
There were no windows, but the giant glass globe hanging from the center of the ceiling lit the room with a warm glow reminiscent of sunlight. There was a large bookcase on the left wall, identical to the one in the living room. It was filled mostly with large, leather bound books, but here and there, interspersed between the books, were various trinkets. These included a silver bracelet with Celtic symbols engraved on it, a small, wood carving of a hawk in flight, a die cast of a Morgan, and what appeared to be a blood stained robe of coarse material folded and encased in glass.
Micah moved to the right wall where several oil paintings hung. One illustrated the LondonTower. One displayed the grounds around the house. Another portrayed a snow covered forest surrounding a frozen lake. He admired the paintings, running his fingers over the signature at the bottom of one, J.C. ’94.
"Joshua Christani 1994." Micah smiled and shook his head.
"As gifted as I am with a sword, so is Joshua with a brush. We are all given our own gifts it seems." It never ceased to amaze Micah how much talent Joshua possessed. The paintings looked as if they were windows upon the very scenes they depicted, and that one could simply step into them.
Micah turned and went to his desk, a grandly carved monstrosity with only a blotter, a phone, and a pen stand. He reached into the upper right-hand drawer and pulled out a rolodex. He found the number he wanted, picked up the phone, and dialed. He waited. Three rings, four, five, and then a sleepy, heavily accented voice answered.
"Bastise."
"Colonel Bastise, this is Micah." There was a long pause.
"Good God man! How long has it been?" The voice sounded fully awake now.
"Five years, Colonel. How have you been?"
"I have been fine, busy, but fine. You know, one man’s war is another man’s business," Bastise chuckled.
Micah laughed as well.
"Same old Bastise. Colonel, I need your help again. Same job, different parameters."
"Anything you need man. You know you can count on Bastise. When will you need us?"
"As soon as you can get here."
"We can be mobilized by tomorrow night and be on your doorstep Thursday evening."
"Excellent, Colonel. I knew you were the man to call. The only man I trust to watch over my nephew."
"You said same job, so I assume we will be guarding the house again. What about the parameters?"
"We will discuss those upon your arrival."
"I understand."
"I will make the necessary wire transfers in the morning, when the bank opens."
"Then I will see you in two days' time."
"I await your arrival, Colonel. Safe journey." Micah hung up the phone.
Micah was hanging the phone up from his call to Zurich when he heard the lock on the outer doors click. Then the inner doors opened, and in walked Joshua, freshly showered and shaved, dressed in charcoal grey dress slacks and a light blue, long sleeved oxford.
"As good as your word. You are still here I see," Joshua said smiling.
"Aye and looking forward to seeing your new work. First, you have an errand to run, and I have to attend to some tasks of my own," Micah returned with a smile of his own.
"Did you get hold of Colonel Bastise last night?"
"Yes, and he will be here Thursday evening. I will brief him and his men, and then we will fly out Friday morning."
"Ok. Would you like me to pick up anything for you while I’m out?"
"As a matter of fact, yes. Here is a list of herbs I need," Micah said as he handed Joshua a half sheet of paper with neat, black writing on it.
"You will have to go to that specialty store I took you to in order to get them. The quantities are listed as well."
Micah pulled out a stack of cash. "Here’s ten grand. Use the cash to buy everything, especially the herbs; no credit, no tracks."
"I always love this part," Joshua said as he picked up the cash.
"If I didn’t have to pack so many supplies, I would take the Aston Martin."
"As it is, I think you are stuck with taking the lorry," Micah grinned.
Joshua smirked and said with his best Connery impersonation.
"Since when did James have to drive a lorry?"
"Since…about now. Go on, be about your mission," Micah laughed as he looked at the feigned hurt expression on Joshua’s face.
Joshua preformed a slight bow and walked out of the library, closing the doors behind him.
Micah heard the lock click as the inner doors closed, and then another click as Joshua passed through the outer doors. Micah leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. He saw the nine doors in his mind, all closed. His hands clinched the arms of the chair, and he heard the wood beneath the leather start to crack. Micah sighed, forcing his hands to relax. He did not want to break his favorite chair.
Joshua returned late in the afternoon to find Micah in the study playing solitaire at his desk. He shook his head and took a seat in front of the desk.
"With all that’s happening, how can you sit there calmly playing cards?" Joshua asked.
"When you’re as old as I am, patience is no longer a virtue, it’s a habit. Besides, there was naught else I could do until you returned," Micah replied.
Joshua placed a large, brown paper bag on the edge of the desk.
"Here are the herbs you wanted."
"Did they have everything on the list?"
"Yes, but the shop owner was most curious as to the use for such ingredients."
"Best to leave them guessing. Most of the old herb lore has been lost, and those practicing the art today are just starting to find bits and pieces of it again."
"Mind if I ask what all that is for?"
"I need to make up some antidote."
"Antidote? You think they will use poison?"
"Not poison, per se. Let’s call it an infectious agent. Some of the Weres have joined with Mortow, and I believe they are what he will send, if he sends anything." Micah picked up the cards from his desk, squared the deck, and placed them in the middle drawer. He reached out and picked up the bag. Leaning back in his chair, Micah opened it and began sorting through its contents.
"Weres?!" Joshua shuddered.
"I had forgotten about them. It still baffles my mind, even after all these years, to think that such creatures actually exist."
"Aye
, they exist alright, but not how the movies portray them. And it’s not just wolves. Weres are a race of humans who can change to animal form. They were originally believed to be druids who gave themselves over so fully to nature that they took on the aspect of the creatures in their care. They became more animal than human and, over time, it passed on to their offspring. Through the generations, they forgot their druidic ways and reveled in the power of the change. For what is a man compared to a bear or a tiger when you disregard the mind? Now, they can change back and forth between human and animal almost at will. Most of the lower caste prefer to remain in animal form and give themselves over to the instincts of the beasts. The high caste prefer their human form and are as intelligent as any man. They use their animal forms when there is benefit or need."
"And you think this is what we will face?" Joshua asked, moving forward to the edge of his seat.
"I think it is highly likely. Mortow is short on magi. Trolls and ogres would be too conspicuous in this world, whereas Weres look like you or me when in their human form."
"So the infectious agent would be from their bites, as in the movies?"
"Yes, and possibly from being scratched as well. Most animals lick their claws to clean them and could transfer the contagion that way as well. So I will make up an antidote that can be taken to counter it."
"How quickly does the infection spread?"
"Not very fast, and it is not especially virulent. Most bitten would never change. The natural immune system would normally be sufficient to combat the disease, but I don’t like taking chances." Standing, Micah continued.
"Now, I’m going to make up the antidote while you bring in the rest of the supplies. After I am finished, I want to see your new paintings."
"You got it," Joshua replied and left the room.
Micah went to the far right corner of the bookcase and took out a large, ancient volume entitled Shamanic Herbalism. He reached into the vacant slot and pulled on a knob. The section of bookcase in front of him slid back into the wall, exposing a stone, spiral staircase in the floor below. Micah grabbed the bag of herbs and, as he started down the steps, reached up and replaced the book. He descended the stairs, spiraling down for about twenty feet and came to a ten foot by ten foot room with smooth concrete walls. The stairs were in a recess in the northern wall.
The Chronicles of the Myrkron: Book 01 - The Nine Keys of Magic Page 5
