by Aaron Thomas
The sound of her name escaped his lips as he collapsed to his knees.
“You. You have lived amongst us for so many years. How could we have missed it?” Alexander said speaking to himself.
“You missed it because I restrained myself. I have lived among you and practiced my magic in secret,” Sahera said with a hiss on her tongue. “For so long I have hidden because I was scared of what the world would do to me if I were discovered, but now it does not matter.”
Even though Sahera spoke, Alexander could not tear his eyes away from the men that surrounded him wondering which one would be the one to kill him. He reached his fingers into the leather pouch covering his chainger. He slipped it free and felt the power rush into him. He was filled with the magical strength of forty-one wizards. As he reached out for the wind, he grasped at nothing. She had a mediator.
His heart sank along with all his hope for escape. He carried no weapon, and it would take only one of the woman before him to land a fatal blow to end him.
“I was hoping the Elders would send someone to me. I could not have hoped for a better choice of a wizard. Perhaps, Calvin Parker? No, with your knowledge of my son I think you were the best I could hope for,” She said, smiling.
“You wanted the Elders to send someone?” Alexander said, trying to buy himself time to make a plan. He needed to find the wizard that held the magic for him to make an escape. He tried using earth magic, then fire, and water. Each had no effect other than making Sahera raise an eyebrow.
“Funny thing about imbuements, they can be used by the dead or the living,” She said with a grin.
Alexander was at a total disadvantage. The Elders were wrong in all their assumptions of Soul Wizards. He didn’t stand a chance in facing her. Any one of the soldiers could be carrying the imbuement keeping him in his magical cage.
Sahera stood and pointed at one of her soldiers, “It’s that one.”
Alexander raised his eyebrow and looked at the soldier.
“You are trying to figure out which one holds the wind imbuement. It is this one,” Sahera said as she stood directly beside the soulless. “I will warn you that as soon as you kill him. The one over there will take over control. Then this one over here and then three more outside stand ready.”
“What do you want of me?” Alexander croaked with fear making his throat thick with a lack of moisture.
“Your cooperation,” Sahera replied frankly. “Yours and the other Elders of course.”
“Why would we cooperate in killing everyone in the elemental realms?” Alexander asked, starting to get over the feelings of despair he had felt.
Sahera gave a small chuckle, “I don’t want to kill everyone. Matter fact, I would love nothing more than to see my son reign as the Water Realm king for years to come. I have a small problem, and I need your help.”
Alexander was confused by her but was getting better information than he could have hoped for. He wanted to keep her talking so he could figure out a way to run for his freedom. Even though they controlled the magic, their strength couldn’t extend forever. Even the most powerful wizards had their limits. He pushed his wind magic to his full strength, hoping to overcome the power already holding it. His efforts bore no fruit.
“What is your problem?” He asked, trying to catch his breath from his mental effort.
She didn’t seem to care that he was pushing against her wielders, so he continued to try. She walked to a table near her makeshift throne and poured herself some wine. After taking a drink, she refilled it and sat it before Alexander.
“I was not originally from the elemental realms. The land that I am from is twice the size of this and is richer with gold than the elemental realms could hope. Although the land is fertile, wizards are a rarity amongst my people. They are so rare in fact that my former master sent me here with two other soul wizards to conquer the land and bring him all the wizards I could find,” Sahera said, starting to lounge on her throne.
“I still do not see your problem,” Alexander said.
Sahera smiled, “I am going to get to it. Would you rather me end your life and tell the next one they send?”
Alexander said nothing. Instead, he picked up the goblet of wine and pulled up a barrel to sit down on. Once he was comfortable, he waved her on with the story.
She giggled and continued, “Your wizards and armies were stronger than we had anticipated, but still where your men fell, our armies grew. They grew until my fellow soul wizards got greedy, made mistakes, and were defeated. I remembered my master’s teachings and fled to fight another way.
“Since then I have traveled this realm. I have been a servant, a noble, seamstress, and an innkeeper. Until I met Dylan, I had yet to become a mother. Something about the man drew me to him and gave me hope. He helped me change who I was, and I became better. I had two children, and I live each day to ensure their freedom.”
Alexander opened his mouth, but a soldier drew his sword, silencing him.
“There was a reason why Dylan drew me to him. He was a type of wizard that I had not encountered yet. It took me years to fully understand why I was so close to him. He is a spirit wizard,” Sahera said.
“A spirit wizard,” Alexander said. “So they are real.”
“Yes, a type of wizard that has eluded everyone, but was more powerful than them all,” Sahera replied. “Think of a wizard that can capture the living spirits of their victims inside of themselves. They can draw on their memories and experiences. They would be in control of a vast knowledge in the blink of an eye.”
Alexander turned the goblet over showing he had drunk it all, “Either I am drunk, or you have not explained it correctly. I know knowledge is power, but a spirit wizard doesn’t seem to be that big of a threat.”
Sahera poured him another goblet and put her hand on his shoulder, “If a spirit wizard can summon an elemental by using an imbuement, he can transfer a spirit into the elemental. The ability leaves his mind to use his own body and a spirit to use the elemental.”
Alexander dropped the cup with a memory coming to his mind. The memory of Kilen talking to his elemental.
“I see that you understand the problem with spirit wizards, but it gets worse. He can do this with multiple spirits, in different elementals. A spirit wizard’s power to use the dead as soldiers that think and move, and magically made of a pure element. Now you know why spirit wizards scare me,” Sahera said, going back to her seat.
“Is Dylan not your husband?” Alexander asked. “Last I heard he was a near legendary scout. We would have no reason to fear a man like that.”
“No, we wouldn’t,” Sahera said, leaning forward. “But we would have reason to fear if one of the spirits managed to take control of Dylan’s body and his ability. Years ago I noticed a Change in Dylan. I sent him away because he was ranting that he was not Dylan but that his name was Aston. By the time that I understood what had happened Aston, had disappeared with my husband’s body. Since that day I have watched his power grow.”
“You’ve watched it?” Alexander asked.
“Do you remember me saying I was drawn to Dylan? He was like a warm light when I was near him. Over time Dylan’s growing reputation and skill at being a scout gave him a large collection of spirits. Each time he collected a spirit I felt more drawn to him. I could tell which direction he was traveling. I could stand with him leagues away and point directly to him.”
Sahera pointed her finger to a wall inside the barn and the living woman in her way scattered from her finger’s point.
“He is there, many leagues away. He is the brightest star in the sky amongst others. Like my son,” Sahera said. “If you haven’t noticed it by now, my son follows in his father's shoes. He is a spirit wizard as well.”
“I was hoping you hadn’t noticed,” Alexander said.
“I have noticed, Alexander. If I have, then so has my former master. I don’t know how much longer it will take before he comes to investigate the feeling of long
ing he has towards Dylan. Alexander, we have to put out a star before my former master comes to put it out himself. You will not understand the destruction the two will cause if they combine their forces,” Sahera said, almost in a whisper.
“What is it you are proposing?” Alexander asked, mimicking her whisper.
She cleared her throat, “I want the Elders to help me and my army kill Dylan Everheart and every spirit in his body before they destroy this world. His elementals will slay my army in droves, and they will see the Elders coming from leagues away.”
“You want me to negotiate a truce between you and the Elders so that we can work together to kill your husband?” Alexander sounding perplexed by her information and her mercy.
“Not a truce, Alexander. A partnership,” Sahera said as she led him out of the barn.
Outside, each of the soulless that she had indicated as being wielders formed a circle. Confirming her intentions to let him return unharmed, a cylinder of wind was freed for his use. Without waiting to ask more questions, he took the opportunity given and left them far below as he took to the sky.
Chapter 15 - Lighting Deuterium
Yurin had very little opposition in the last few days of traveling, and the legendary trees of Deuterium made the city easy to find. The only problem now was finding the right plan to get King Elric out of the dungeon. They had studied the city from every angle, and today they would meet up to report any weak spots they found. It was going to be tough for a small group like theirs to take on a city full of guards and soldiers.
Giving a whistle, he finally heard a distant response coming from both directions. His men were close. He put away his sharpening stone and rubbed a bit of oil on the blade of his two-headed axe. He knew it would be time to use it soon. He stood as two of his men were running through the brush. They bent over still breathing hard, having run a complete circle around the city. He knew they would need a moment.
Looking out for the others, he saw them coming only a bit slower. One was carrying a handful of sacks that looked light but was holding at a distance. When the man slowed, Yurin could clearly see something squirming inside. They let out small barks and clicks.
“What is in the sacks?” Yurin asked.
Duri smiled, “They call them squirrels. They're fast and nimble, and they can be seen climbing trees all over here in the region.”
Yurin cleared his throat, “You want to use squirrels to take over Deuterium?”
Both Duri and Eley nodded their heads with boyish grins on their faces.
“We will give them fire imbuements and set them loose in the city,” Eley said. “Look, there is one, there.”
Yurin looked up to see a brown rodent with a bushy tail running circles around a tree and then upside down on a branch. The lightning-fast creature did not slip or fall and moved so quick it would be hard to hit with a sling or arrow. If the creatures had fire imbuements and were let loose in the city, the destruction would take years to repair.
He thought about how it would be useful to have a creature so small that it could fit into places that others could not. It could scale walls, jump, and maneuver into places a larger creature couldn’t. He smiled knowing he couldn’t find a better way to distract soldiers so they could help their king escape.
“Since you have obviously thought about it a great deal, how do you suppose we go about this?” Yurin asked.
Eley held his hand out as if he wanted Duri to give the plan, “We attach the chainger to their backs and put leather bindings between the chainger and their skin. When the time is right, we pull the leather out and drop the sack. The sack should give us a moment to get some distance before they burn their way out.”
“And if it doesn’t?” Yurin asked.
Duri shrugged, “We hope they don't attack us. If not, we simply make our way to the castle and release another. The more we release, the more chaos it will cause. We’ll have little resistance when we get to the castle.”
Yurin grunted, “I’m sure we will still have plenty of resistance.”
Duri laughed, “Even so, we save the last squirrel for the castle gates. Throw the sack over with the leather binding attached to the rope. The weight of the creature will pull the rope free, and the Squirrel will be released inside the castle grounds.”
Yurin squatted and thought the plan through. As it stood, they would possibly have to fight their way through a thousand soldiers, walls, and barricades. If this plan worked, they would simply stroll right up to the castle and possibly into the dungeon.
“Haric, Jarvis, either of you two have any idea’s?” Yurin asked.
The two brutes shook their heads. Of course, Yurin hadn’t chosen them because of their ability to strategize. The two men were simply muscle and axe. With the Crimsons training, these two were the men most skilled to storm a castle at your side.
Yurin nodded his head, “Duri, get started fashioning the rodents with their imbuements. Eley, I want you to get us a wagon and horse. Haric, Jarvis, I need you to get us some clothes. Make us look like we’re from Deuterium. Gentlemen, no killing.”
The four men grunted but went to carry out their tasks, leaving Yurin to contemplate the finer details of the attack. He stood and stretched in anticipation of the fight. Pain from the wound in his arm flared as it pulled the thread holding his flesh together. He had been kissed by an arrow during their last skirmish. He pulled the bandage free and saw that the stitches had broken. He knew they would have broken in battle but hoped to have it last at least until the next swing of the axe. Fishing around in his bag he found his spool of thread and needle. If he left it as it was it would bleed and possibly draw suspicion.
Slowly, the thread slid through the skin giving a slight burning sensation until the knot at the end tugged it closer to the other side. New blood flowed down his arm and dripped off his forearm as he sewed. He winced as he pulled the wound closed with each pass, but the pain was minimal to the pain he had felt in years of training. He had cried out the first time he received stitches but when joining the Crimson, stitches could be a daily occurrence.
Pulling the red band from his other arm, he wiped himself clean of blood. Most people didn’t understand that the armbands use to be white. The Crimson earned their stripes of red cloth by their willingness to overcome pain in battle. If you proved worthy of your wound, the rest of the Crimson would wipe you clean and stain the cloth red.
Since they were getting so deep into the Earth Realm, making fire hadn’t given their presence away. It seemed as if no one cared about smoke trailing into the sky. In the Fire Realm, if you made a fire it could be seen for leagues. Here, Yurin had found the people, soft and unexpecting. They didn’t fear being killed as they lay near a fire with no guard. Twice, his men stole food from sleeping travelers with no notice.
Yurin started a fire and made a small dinner with the last of their supplies. When the men returned, they all ate their portions without speaking to one another. Duri worked to fashion the brown barking pests with insulated imbuements so that they would not take to flame too early.
Sticking the axes in the bed of the wagon Eley had found, and covering it with straw he made the weapons readily available. He hated being parted with his blade, but the plan could possibly keep them from fighting the entire distance across the city. His men had endurance, but even a short battle could make a man weak and slow. No man could last forever fighting.
Being the leader of the group, Yurin divided up the imbuements according to each man’s talents in magic. He hoped it wouldn’t come to using magic, but if it did, they would be prepared as best they could be. They donned their new clothes over their leather bindings to look like the people they would pass on the road.
When they were finished, they left the fire burning and piled into the wagon. Each man burying his weapons amongst the contents of the small wagon Eley had found. Yuri clamored up into the driver's seat as he had seen the Earth Realm men do. With a flick of the reigns, they began their qu
iet attack on Deuterium.
It took over an hour for them to reach the main gate. The sun was high, being just a bit past noon by the time they easily passed through the giant stone wall. With a nod from Yuri, Eley slipped out of the back of the cart with a squirming canvas sack in his hand. He disappeared amongst the crowd walking the streets and down a side alley.
Yurin kept the wagon moving, trying his best to avoid looking suspicious with the sweat rolling down his brow. Subterfuge was not his best ability. Still, he pushed forward and let out a small sigh of relief as the crowd began to point towards the sky behind them. A large column of smoke rose out of the city and into the giant trees towering above.
After a few moments, Yurin began to feel as if something was wrong. The smoke still climbed, but the city was not in a panic, not even a bustle. The flames grew, and yet the people still walked their same pace and went about their shopping without a care. He gritted his teeth when he realized that was what the Earth Realm was to him: a people weak and without a struggle. They had fruitful lands and water a plenty. Their nobles were in fine clothes and stepped on the less fortunate.
Anger started to swell up in his throat, these rich people refused to honor their agreement to help the Fire Realm. The canal would provide his people a way to grow crops and provide for those that starved. He was just a warrior but one that cared about his people so much he would give his life for a cripple in the Fire Realm. Here, the cripples and homeless were stepped on and kicked out of the way.
Yurin nodded for Durin to jump out of the wagon, but with a quick flash of the man’s eyes, Yurin saw caution. He turned back to see a small contingent of leather armored soldiers marching through the crowd. He grumbled to himself knowing that the soldiers still would not stand a chance against his group of five veteran wielders.
Pulling the cart as close as he could to the buildings, they all watched as the soldiers passed by. He stared at them just as the others had done further down the street. The lightly armed group of men passed Yurin and his men without so much as a second glance. He gave a little smirk and nodded again to Duri. The man quickly leaped from the cart to be about his business.
