“Amanda, Amanda,” Demus closed in on her, alarmed, showing compassion for the first time that day. “I’m really sorry, I didn’t think –”
“No! You didn’t think,” she said between racking sobs.
He just sat there in silence.
After her tears subsided, Amanda lifted her chest off her knees as she sat on the cold, hard floor of Emerana. She glared up at him and calmly demanded, “Demus, please. Just take me home.”
Chapter Forty-Three
Amanda peered out at the stunning beauty of the Canadian boreal forest – maple, oak, pine, and spruce trees, towering over whatever soil they could find among the gleaming outcrops of bedrock – the Canadian Shield. She and Regi had just appeared out of nowhere, in this untouched, virgin forest near Smoothrock Lake, Ontario, which was over one hundred and fifty miles north of Thunder Bay on Lake Superior.
“It’s lovely, Regi,” Amanda said as she caressed his arm with both her hands.
Regi seemed to enjoy her affection. “The great Canadian boreal forest… one of the last vast expanses of forest on this planet.”
Amanda rested her head against his shoulder. She trusted Regi. In fact, she adored him. Even though he was a wizard – which Amanda was lately feeling was a horrid species – he was different. He was generous and kind, although he could be as arrogant and cruel as the others sometimes. But never to the extent of Demus or Indie.
Dammit, today she would find out why he could be her boyfriend. There must be a reason. And Amanda would have to deal with it, no matter what. She wanted his company, she wanted him. Badly.
“Ready for the wizard’s walk?” Regi asked, smiling at Amanda.
“What’s that?” Amanda queried, still not fully confident in his good heart. She hoped it wouldn’t be another in-your-face game. She had enough of those.
“Well,” Regi said, dreamlike, “it’s very relaxing. You walk, like you do usually, but you’re a few feet off the ground. It’s like an aerial path, only you don’t have to focus. You’re not too high up at all, so you have no fear of falling. Moreover, the magic automatically lays out the best path for you. It takes you over marshes. It takes you around trees. It even makes sure that you don’t trip over logs.”
Perfect. “So it’s like an invisible conveyor belt through the forest?”
“Yes. But it won’t move when you stop walking. So you can pause anytime you want to see something special.”
Amanda’s eyes gleamed with gratitude. “It sounds so romantic.”
Regi sighed. “I’m ready to talk about it. Let’s just start walking.”
He’s ready to talk? Amanda opened her eyes wide. Her heart skipped a beat.
Extending his arm up slowly, Regi ensured that both he and Amanda were hovering a few feet above the soil. Then, her feet felt rested again a slightly soft, but firm surface. She looked at her feet; there was nothing she should see right beneath her toes. But she felt as if she were standing, as secure as could be, atop a well-worn dirt path.
Regi started walking, prompting Amanda to start, too. Magically, she felt like she was just out for a stroll. Yet, she was bypassing bushes, shrubs, logs, creeks, and large rocks without even trying. It was magical. They weaved in and out through trees with barely an effort. They progressed much faster than merely walking; the conveyor belt effect sped them up, as if they were ambling about on rubber conveyor belts in an airport. Amanda was amazed. It was like covering twice the ground in a forest with only one-half the effort. The sun beamed down upon them, save for the intermittent shadows of the trees. The air was crisp and cool, and had a hint of moisture from the lake.
“I love this, Regi,” Amanda said affectionately.
“Another benefit,” Regi said with a smile.
“What?”
“I’ve set up a buffer zone around us. Any insect, like blackflies or mosquitos, will instantly vaporize upon coming into contact with us.”
Amanda laughed. “You’re perfect.”
“Thanks.”
She held her head up high. “Wizards are amazing.” To her right, she saw a puzzled porcupine atop a tree, momentarily pausing its chewing of the bark in order to look at them.
Regi grimaced. “I’m not sure about that, Amanda.”
Wow. That was the first time she’d heard a wizard say anything less of his race. She protested. “Regi, not all wizards are incapable of caring for others.” She glanced at him conspiratorially. “I know it was you.”
“Huh?”
“You got that homeless man, Leonard Bragg, a new home, didn’t you?”
Regi jerked his head back in surprise, his eyes revealing him as a man caught with his hand in the cookie jar, rather than as a man convinced he’d been the victim of mistaken identity. “I – I don’t know what you’re talking about, Amanda.”
She grinned at him, feeling giddy. “Come on, I saw you. You were there.”
“You were there?” Regi’s eyes widened. “Well,” he stammered, “it could’ve been someone else.” His acting was terrible, and Amanda enjoyed watching him squirm.
“So anyone can disappear in a dark alley?”
“Well, stranger things have happened,” Regi said, sighing. “Look, Amanda.” He appeared deep in thought, flustered. “I know you’re in love with me.” He gazed at her with soulful eyes. The effect was like an electric current running straight through Amanda’s heart.
“I am.”
He let out a long breath. “Then you have a right to know how I feel about you.” They stopped, and stood still, nestled among the pines. He gazed at her in the eyes. “I love you, Amanda.”
The world stood still. Sunlight filtered through the boughs of pine. Pine scents filled the air, delicate and ambrosial. Hope. She had hope. Regi’s eyes were kind; she felt as if she could peer into his soul. She longed to be part of something bigger than both of them.
Amanda didn’t want to talk now. All she wanted to do was embrace him, to be with him. She slowly brought her face up to his and closed her eyes, knowing that he’d do the same. With passion, they kissed gently. Again and again. Regi never once made a forced movement onto her face; it was all sweet and trusting and delicate. They couldn’t stop embracing. They hugged many different ways, but their kisses were all simple. Just the way they both wanted it.
Finally, reluctantly, they parted slightly.
“I knew,” Regi spoke so softly, Amanda wouldn’t have heard him if he had moved a few more inches away. “You knew.”
“Mmm-hmm.”
Regi shook his head, “But Amanda, there’s something you don’t know about wizards, and after you hear it, you may not want to love me anymore.” His eyes misted up.
“Never, Regi,” Amanda pleaded, hugging him harder. “Tell me. What is it?”
Regi’s eyes betrayed his utter defeat and dejection, causing her heart to leap out in instant sympathy. “I’m going to die soon.”
Chapter Forty-Four
No! That can’t be! Amanda’s heart cried out at the news.
Not my Regi. He’s a wizard. He’s indestructible. He’s mine. He can’t go away.
“No…” Amanda finally blurted out, unable to comprehend the devastating news.
“Yes,” Regi’s resigned posture affirmed her worst fears. “I can’t do anything about it.”
“Is it cancer?” Amanda asked without a breath.
Regi laughed, and then cried, all in one choking sound. “No. wizards don’t get cancer. No, you see, all wizards die at the age of thirty.”
Trauma overtook Amanda’s mind. Desperately trying to overcome her primal instincts, Amanda fought to clear her thoughts. “All wizards?“
“Yes. We automatically expire –” – a nervous laugh – “upon the last minute of the last day before we turn thirty years of age.”
“Indie too? Justica? Demus?”
Regi nodded. “Yup. All of them.”
“All the other wizards too?”
“Yes.”
Oddly en
ough, it made sense. That’s why there were no older wizards! She’d never seen a wizard that looked one day over the age of thirty. She chillingly recalled Demus’ affirmation to her question, “Do they leave Earth for another wizard world?“ Only it was wizard heaven, and not a tangible world that they could see and touch. That contriving liar! She was once more furious with Demus. But Regi was here, and he needed her.
“Regi, I’m really sorry,” Amanda tearfully said. She hugged him, afraid that if she let go, he would disappear forever.
Snuggling up to her, Regi said, “That’s okay, Amanda. It’s always been that way, and all wizards eventually learn of this when we become wizards.”
Quickly, she jumped to the next obvious question. “How much time do you have?”
“That’s easy. Until the last day of our council’s three year term.”
Amanda’s brain automatically jumped ahead to doing quick calculations. “Fourteen months left?”
Regi nodded.
Damn. But Amanda couldn’t think that far ahead. She knew she still had him for a little more than a year, and she’d explore one day at a time. Perhaps there was a way to overcome it – like unlocking the oft-touted secret of Elsedor.
“Yup,” Regi said, shaking his head. “Up to the last day of our council in our last year – I’m still good. Right up to the minute I was born – I’ve been told it was eight in the morning.” He nervously chuckled to himself.
Amanda turned to him. So many questions. “Do you know when Demus and Indie die? And Justica?”
“They all die the same day as me.”
“Whaaaaaat?“
Regi pulled at Amanda’s hand. “Come on, it’s a beautiful day. Let’s walk some more, and talk some more. Let’s make the best use of our time.”
Amanda followed along dutifully, still in shock.
The invisible path meandered around the awe-inspiring forest, calming Amanda down significantly. She let her thoughts clear as she viewed a giant beaver dam on a nearby lake.
“I think it’s best if I explain our governance structure,” Regi said, now speaking normally. “Do you know how the wizards are chosen for the council, Amanda?” It was more like a rhetorical question; he knew that she couldn’t possibly know.
“No.”
“All right.” Regi furrowed his brow. He knew this by heart, but was unaccustomed to having to explain it. “You recall that the Liberators freed Earth on April thirtieth.”
Yes! She remembered the date from Demus. The date in which all wizards’ councils start and finish. Perfectly collaborated.
“Yes – nearly two years ago.”
“Well, that’s the day all wizards’ councils start. Doesn’t matter if you’re in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, or Africa. We all begin and end the same day of the year. We run for three year terms.”
“Very interesting.”
“Now – this is where it gets more fascinating,” Regi stared at her, indicating something important was about to be said. “They pick the wizards – two males and two females – who are most close in age to thirty the last day of council.”
A light bulb clicked in Amanda’s mind. “So all the four wizards on council die on their last day of service.”
“You got it.”
“And,” Amanda thought some more, “that must mean all the four wizards chosen are those who turn twenty-seven on April thirtieth the day that the new term starts.”
“You’ve always been brilliant, Amanda.”
“Who made up these stupid rules?”
Regi glanced in a way to indicate he didn’t take her tone lightly. “Elsedor.”
Okay. Amanda had to be careful now. Regi never told her about Elsedor. She had to play dumb. “Who’s Elsedor?”
Regi accepted her reaction as if he didn’t give it a second thought. “Elsedor – he is the god of the wizards.” Speaking in a reverential tone much like Demus did, “He’s our sacred deity. Next year would’ve been one thousand years since his death.”
“When’s his birthday?” She knew.
“April thirtieth.”
“Ohhh,” Amanda exclaimed, pretending to be surprised. “So, all four of you, and Elsedor too, share the same birthday?”
“Yes, you got it.”
“So,” she said, attempting to act as if she was hearing all this for the first time, “Elsedor is your god. He set the rules of the Five Continents and the three-year terms and –”
He stopped her.
Astonished, while she had been trying to act out Regi’s expectations of her behavior, and while she was still staring out in space, Regi leaned over to her and kissed her on the lips. Savouring the passion, she let her thoughts go and just enjoyed embracing him back. They gently touched and slightly parted, then embraced over and over again. Should she figure out… no. She wanted to feel, not to think. Too easily, she shoved her tormented thoughts out of her head, and focused on Regi’s dreamy green eyes, firm jaw, muscled shoulders, thick neck, and crew cut, jet black hair that stood back up no matter how often she tussled it.
Time passed. It was as if the moment would never end, and that was just the way they wanted it. In a trance, Amanda barely perceived the fact that Regi had subconsciously weaved a spell that allowed them to continue floating above and to meander forward through the forest floor, maneuvering between the majestic tree trunks. It was a dream. No, better than a dream.
“Regi,” Amanda hoarsely said, “why do you love me? I have no magic.”
“Yes, you do,” Regi answered, starting to cry. “You humans have compassion, which we wizards don’t have.”
“I know,” Amanda said as she turned away. “Why not?”
As Regi deliberated over his answer, she could see that he had never thought of it before. “I guess – because we have magic. We don’t need each other. You humans need each other.”
“Magic is wonderful.”
Regi softly said, “Magic is our blessing, but it’s also our curse. Like a death sentence.”
“I’m sorry.”
He put his fingers underneath Amanda’s chin and wiped away her tears. “I have to ask you something.”
“I think I know what it is.”
Regi sighed. “If you want to continue loving me… do you realize you’ll go on to live for decades more, and you may always think of me?”
She looked at him with certainty. “I can deal with it. I know I can handle it. If it means I can love you and be with you until the moment you die, yes. Yes!”
“Oh, Amanda,” Regi exhaled slowly as he slid his fingers into her hair. “That means so much to me. It really does.” He lovingly gazed at her. “You Mortals have another advantage.”
“What?” She laughed, more out of nerves rather than in response to anything funny.
“You can have children. When I held that baby in my arms the other day, I just…” He wiped his eyes some more.
Amanda spoke in a hushed voice. “You looked really good, Regi, you did.” She stroked his arm. She brightened. “Regi, you and me… we can try to find out a way to avoid this thirty-year rule!”
He shook his head dismissively. “Impossible. No wizard has ever avoided his fate. Even Elsedor couldn’t do it.”
She held her chin up defiantly. “We’ll try. We’ll keep trying until we’re defeated. Maybe our love will be enough, you never know.”
She pondered some more, then gave out a startled exclamation upon a certain thought. My God!
Regi was taken aback by her unprompted outburst. “What is it?”
Amanda smiled as she turned to him. “Nothing, Regi.”
They snuggled up together, adrift among the towering forest canopy.
Chapter Forty-Five
Marcus Gelby, algorithm manager at Liberators’ Headquarters, nervously paced the shuttle elevator on his way to the biggest office in the complex – that of the Supreme Liaison.
He recalled when there had been a time when he’d felt the sideways movement of t
he shuttle was strange. He had started nearly two years ago, and he loved his job. He’d heard whispered rumors about how much of a perfectionist Amanda was, and how she’d return reports that had a faulty analysis that wasn’t supported by the logic. He’d heard how difficult it was to work for her, and how she abhorred small talk. Someone had given him advice when he breathlessly said that he was meeting with her: Don’t talk unless spoken to. Don’t make small chatter. Only ask her what she needs.
He was ready to break out in sweat, but consciously calmed himself by closing his eyes and visualizing a wide swath of ocean with its foaming waves crashing upon a white sandy beach. He imagined himself in the hammock. So far, so good – the only perspiration was that on his upper forehead and lower lip. If it was worse, it would gush from his underarms, his temples, and the back of his neck. Stay calm, stay calm.
The elevator beeped, and the doors opened. He was now in a confinement zone. For security reasons.
The computer droned, “State name and reason for appointment.”
Swallowing, Marcus said as clearly as he could, “Marcus Gelby, appointment with Amanda Fullerton, Supreme Liaison.”
There was a moment while the computer checked his collar by way of infrared red scan – all Liberators were required to wear uniforms that consisted simply of T-shirts or long-sleeved shirts with computer chips embedded into the collars. The computer processed his identity, matched it with Amanda’s appointment database, and then approved the visit. “Mr. Gelby,” the computer said with false cheer, “welcome to your appointment. Please step through.”
Although he didn’t need to, he thanked the computer. The distraction was enough to prevent a fresh bout of sweating.
He entered the office. At once, he was struck by the huge space – the ceiling was about twenty yards high, and in the center of the round office was a huge glass dome, acting as a giant skylight. He knew that the glass was bulletproof. It could also be tinted at will – temporarily – should a news helicopter have the audacity to hover above in order to take sought-after photos of the Supreme Liaison working in the nerve centre of North America.
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