by Tom Larcombe
“So we go to our invasion plan? Take the mine ourselves?”
“We shouldn't need the entire force to do it, but I was thinking that we might want to base ourselves near there anyhow. If the Council decides to be stingy with those crystals, then we can just take as many as we want. They won't be able to do a thing about it.”
“So, you want to send a couple of squads to take the mine while the rest of us set up a base? Are we going to use the town there, Crystal Beach? Should be easy enough to clean it out.”
“That's the new plan. Set the men loose on the town and just make sure they keep enough people alive to support us. Evidently, they've got quite a bit of food production in the area. So we need to keep those people alive, at the very least, until they train a few of our troops.”
* * *
Walter quailed at that memory. His mother was one of the people in the area they were talking about. She sold the eggs from her large chicken flock, along with raising a few for meat as well. He didn't even want to think about what they might do to her if they thought they didn't need her any more, at least not after the rest of what he'd heard.
He flashed back to the rest of the conversation.
* * *
“So, shall we start setting up for movement?”
“No, definitely not. The Council could scry on us at any time if they wanted to. Their troubleshooters may be a joke, but they do have some top notch magical spies on the Council itself. We need to wait until they actually inform us that their attempt failed. Then we can start to ready ourselves.”
“Yes sir, one more thing sir. Those dragons the men keep reporting. How are we going to move everyone without attracting their attention?”
The other man smiled, and it wasn't a pleasant look.
“I have initiated a bit of extra training for a few of the men, the ones I issued the shoulder mount rocket launchers to. We'll divide those men up, add one to a squad. There are several of them, so we send several squads out individually, each with a portable rocket launcher. I imagine even a dragon might have a problem with a High Explosive Anti-Tank round. And if they don't we have a few other types of ammunition to try also.”
The other man looked doubtful for a moment, then shrugged.
“Even if they don't work, we can send the rest of the men out while the dragons chase those squads.”
“You've got the idea now. How's the obedience ward power level? With some of the troops we've got, I'd hate to have that ward run low on power. We'd have a mutiny on our hands in no time flat.”
“We charged it yesterday sir, you were right, it does appear that something's been draining it. We're investigating.”
“Good, good. Now, time for you to get back to your work. Remember, say nothing of our plans until after the Council notifies us.”
“Sir, yes sir.”
The last man to speak saluted crisply, then turned and left the office. After the door closed, the other man spoke once more.
“And don't think that I believe you weren't behind the ward losing power. I know you want my position and don't care what you have to do to get it. You'd get along grandly with some of the troops who'd just want to carve out their own little fiefdom in the bread basket. Scum of the earth, that's what they gave me to work with, but I turned them into a powerful little force. More powerful, man for man, than any other force on this planet.”
* * *
Walter realized that he'd slowed his pace while his thoughts were wandering. He still wasn't sure how he'd broken out from under the ward the officers mentioned, but he was rediscovering some hazy memories from his last patrol and he thought that might have something to do with it.
At the same time he'd been rediscovering those memories, he'd remembered something else. He knew Crystal Beach, and he knew the mine they were talking about. He'd grown up there. But he couldn't, for the life of him, remember anything about a mine manager, at least not when they'd first mentioned him.
Now, he could place a face to the mine manager, but not a name. He assumed this was the Michael the officers had mentioned and was amazed that he'd forgotten the man. Walter's memories of the man spanned several years and only now was he remembering that the man had never appeared to age.
He'd seen him around town now and again, and at his home also. Michael had religiously bought his mother's eggs, claiming that they were far superior to the ones available at the grocery store. Walter remembered that because he'd just thought, eggs are eggs, there's no difference. He'd found out differently later on, after he went to college.
What he remembered most about Michael though was that when he saw him in town, he seemed just a guy, not really happy or sad ever, just this guy. But as Walter's memories returned he'd realized that every time he saw the man at his house, buying eggs from his mother, Michael hadn't been the neither happy nor sad man from in town. Every time he bought eggs Michael looked like someone had just killed his dog or he'd recently lost someone close.
That sadness stuck in Walter's mind and, for the life of him, he couldn't figure out why.
Walter looked out over the plains and kept putting one foot in front of the other. A sip of the Earth's energy with each step and he was still as fresh now, physically, as he had been when he set out. Mentally, he was starting to tire.
I wonder if they've realized I'm gone yet. I could have troops chasing me already, or worse.
He separated a fragment of his awareness and sent it back behind him, to the edge of where he could see.
Good, no sign of pursuit yet. I'm sure they'll be along sooner or later though, and with a vengeance once the officers realize where I'm headed.
* * *
* * *
Chapter 17
Michael stared at the tendril approaching him. He never would've seen it if Rynn hadn't warned him. As it was, he was wondering how to defend against it.
He set his normal shield but the tendril slithered right through it. It kept approaching as though nothing would stop it.
We'll see about that. Magic is about willpower as much as anything else. If my shield won't stop it then maybe I can force it away.
He focused on the tendril, on keeping it from getting any closer, and nearly sighed in relief.
That's got it. Maybe I can keep the enemy wizard occupied this way, I'll see if I can stop the other tendrils.
He could see the tendrils moving in on the defenders, but when he tried to focus on them, they all slowed, but the larger tendril coming for him began to move again.
That's not going to happen then, I need to focus on my own section of battle here. Hopefully they'll be able to focus on their sections.
He forced his tendril back a touch, but then noticed that as the others reached their targets, the men they touched went stock still, barely breathing.
A commotion broke out behind the mired trucks and moments later several shots rang out. Two men in the trench to the left of him went down in a spray of blood as they were shot.
Michael, dry out all the soil a couple feet in front of the trenches, right now! As absolutely dry as you can make it, Rynn thought at him.
I trust she knows what she's doing, Michael thought.
He sent her a mental nod, unwilling to try any more complex communication at the moment.
He stopped focusing on his tendril and ranged his attention out in front of the trenches. It was a moment's work to force all the moisture in the rocks and soil there down farther underground. The powdery, dry soil remaining was almost entirely devoid of moisture.
The dried out soil roared up in a wall of flame that was hot enough that he could feel it from here.
The tendril, taking advantage of him removing his will from it, lunged forward and struck him. A feeling of weakness began to spread from the point it had touched him at. Michael realized that he couldn't move, but he also couldn't force himself to care about it very much. The tendril was draining off his energy, he could tell that, but it was also draining his emotions, leav
ing him apathetic and uncaring.
Michael? Rynn thought at him.
What? he replied, the pain affecting his mental voice.
The kids, they're on the cliff. Andi's doing something to the mire you made, using it to crush the raiders.
He felt a strange satisfaction from the thought of the raiders being killed, then realized that it wasn't his own emotion, but one from the tendril trying to ensnare him.
Can't do anything, he thought at her. This thing is draining away my energy and using it to spread all over me.
He saw a flicker of movement with his Sight, a vision of flame being applied to the tendril directly, then the pain began.
His tendril finally began to burn from the flames. The others had simply burned through, but his was being burned away bit by bit and it was transferring the feeling of it to him. His emotions were no longer being drained, but he felt as though the tendril were boring into him with an arc welder. Then it began to spread, trying to cover him in a mesh of whatever it was made from.
Michael! Rynn shouted into his mind.
He knew his reply was incoherent.
Fire! Flames! Burning! were the only thoughts in his mind to send.
Water! Douse it with the mental equivalent of water! Water that could wet the tendril will put out the flames.
Michael fought to shutter away a corner of his mind from the pain. When he'd managed it, he used that section to erect a shield. His standard shield was Water Magic and he hoped that would be enough to lessen the pain at least, because he was having problems keeping even a tiny portion of his mind free from the pain.
The shield came into being strong enough to shimmer in the air in front of him and he immediately felt a sense of relief. The magic of the shield felt cool and soothing on the spots the tendril had burned. It still hurt, but now it was a controllable pain. He was pretty sure he'd broadcast that to Rynn as well, but had other things to worry about at the moment.
With the tendril gone, Michael collapsed into the trench. A quick look showed that the damage was more than just mental. His clothes were burned and torn, the skin beneath them welting with long burns in narrow strips.
All the water Michael had sent deeper into the ground was waiting for him. He tapped it, bringing it up through the soil so he had cool water on his burns. That eased the pain even more so his ability to concentrate increased.
That crystal is around here someplace. If I use that energy I can heal myself right up. It would exhaust me if I did it from my own energy, but the crystal has more than enough power for it.
He reached out and pushed his hand into the soil he'd buried the crystal in. Drawing on its energy, he began to heal his burns.
* * *
He wasn't sure how long it took, but cocooned in the power of the crystal, Michael healed quickly. Once his burns were down to slightly raised pink welts he began to take in as much of the crystal's energy as he could. When he finished, the crystal still wasn't empty, but he wasn't going to try to carry it with him.
Michael stood and looked for the wizard. His search was disrupted as a voice literally filled the air, leaving his ears ringing and him shaking his head to clear it. He looked around, trying to locate the source of that voice.
I think it came from up on the cliff, he thought.
He stared up at the top of the cliff, not seeing anything. Before he could turn away, Rynn's voice spoke in his mind.
We'll need you there soon, Rynn said. But the wizard is wounded and holed up. I think behind that big boulder on the edge of the mire you made. I'll go do what I can with Andi, you take care of the wizard.
She sent him a mental image of the boulder she'd mentioned.
What's wrong with Andi? he thought. Oh crap! I bet that voice was Eugene, that means whatever happened to her is bad.
Andi? he replied.
The wizard did something to her that stopped all her bodily functions. Eugene is keeping her body alive with CPR.
Michael had grown fond of the children that had arrived with Rynn. He didn't realize just how fond until now. Anger raced through his veins, combining with the power he'd absorbed to set his entire body thrumming.
He picked up the artifact that hurled ball bearings like a gun, then raised a shield around himself. The energy racing through his body was easy to tap and use, so the shield was stronger than he'd ever made it before. He stepped out of the trench and ran across the battlefield.
Several raiders fired at him, but the shield caught and deflected their bullets. Each time one struck his shield Michael paused to return fire. He didn't know if he hit anyone, but he did know he was firing in the correct direction. The impacts on his shield registered in his mind, complete with the angle the impact originated from, allowing him to return fire directly along the same paths.
Just in front of the boulder he was headed for he found a blood trail. He was already out of the line of sight of most of the raiders, so he resisted the urge to charge around the boulder, gun blazing. Instead he forced himself to calm down a touch. With the calm he'd forced upon himself, he noticed the familiar cry of a crow, high overhead, and the feather light touch of Calvin's attempt to communicate with him.
He opened his thoughts directly to that touch and a dizzying sight filled his mind. He could see himself, from high overhead. He could also see behind the boulder, where the blood trail stopped.
Calvin focused on one small part of the picture and the rest of it disappeared. Where the trail stopped there was a shimmering haze that didn't accurately show the ground beneath it.
The Wizard's still using that blurring shield. I wonder if it offers any other form of protection, Michael thought.
Calvin was still connected to his thoughts and Michael felt a touch of amusement through the link. He glanced upwards and saw Calvin flying towards the cliff. A moment later the crow dipped, then soared back up into the sky. Michael got the sense that Calvin was planning something, but he wasn't sure what until the crow was overhead again and a small dot plummeted from the crow's claws.
The dot began to glow as it grew nearer and Michael recognized it as one of the night light crystals Calvin had stolen. The light was faint enough that it had been hidden by the distance at first. When Michael realized where the crystal was headed, he suppressed a chuckle of his own, then waited.
A moment later the crystal thumped down behind the boulder and he heard a muffled cry of pain, followed by cursing.
“What the hell is this?” the voice said.
Michael decided to use the momentary confusion he heard in the voice to his advantage and quickly ran around the boulder.
He was greeted by a strange sight. The glow of the crystal was visible in mid-air, but the crystal itself wasn't. The glow was about at head height so Michael guessed that the wizard was looking at it to make sure it wasn't more than it appeared.
Michael's artifact snapped up and he aimed it at where he guessed the Wizard's torso would be. He willed a tiny bit of energy to the artifact just as the crystal reappeared, falling to the ground.
Another cry of pain told him he'd hit the target he couldn't see. But when no body faded into view he knew he hadn't dealt him a mortal wound. He strengthened his shield, brought up his Sight, then waited.
As he waited, he thought of Andi, and realized that she was probably dead already. His thoughts flickered to Rynn, going to tend Andi, and Eugene, who he'd assumed had made that cry, then realized that Eugene had probably snapped and killed Rynn after Andi died. Eugene, realizing what he'd done, had probably thrown himself from the top of the cliff at that point.
He could see all of that in his mind, but something opposed the vision. A tiny portion of his brain saw the three of them from far overhead, at an angle. But Eugene was still alive, staring intently at Andi as Rynn knelt next to her. Rynn's hands glowed with the blue-white nimbus of an electrical charge and she plunged them down onto Andi's torso as Michael watched.
He shook his head and pushed the other visio
n out of his mind. Now he knew for sure that the opposing Wizard was using Spirit Magic, Michael could defend against it better.
Thank you Calvin, he thought, as he stooped to grab a handful of dirt and pebbles.
It doesn't matter what he's using for a shield, it won't change where his body truly is.
Michael cast his handful of dirt and pebbles out in a wide arc in front of him. He drew the moisture from the dirt as it flew, so it fell as a light scattering of dust and pebbles.
There, he thought as a portion of a human body was outlined in the dust.
He snapped the artifact up again, shooting at the dust-covered outline. It fell, the dust puffing up and away when the outline impacted the ground. Still, there was no body.
Michael's head rocked backwards, a physical reaction to a mental assault. He could feel someone trying to force their thoughts into his mind. More than their thoughts, really, their entire being.
He erected a mental shield which rapidly crumbled. Then tried again. Once more the mental shield fell, but he could feel the attack weakening as it continued. Part of the attack raced up his connection to Calvin.
Calvin, he thought at the crow, careful, mind attack.
The communication was less words, more feeling and emotions. It was replied to by Calvin's amusement and a touch of disdain. The portion of the attack that had raced up the connection came spilling back down, severely weakened.
That's enough of this. I am me! I will not allow someone to take over my mind or body! Michael thought.
He set the strongest mental wall he could, hoping it would hold long enough.
He kicked at the soil, sending dirt and gravel flying towards where he'd seen the outline of the body fall. Once again, it came down and outlined part of a human frame. There was blood pooling on the ground nearby as well, and he followed the trail. Between the dust and the blood he pinpointed the position of the Wizard.
