The aroma of the oily mixture was strong, but not unpleasant. Removing his robe, Emrys anointed every inch of his body with the thick tincture. From his scalp to the soles of his feet, Emrys body shone with the dark substance. It was the only protection he would have during the incantation and summoning, he just hoped would help to preserve some of his lightness of being.
Emrys lived now more for Anna than himself, and he needed to return whole and relatively sane to her. He smiled a crooked smile thinking of the gift of love his Anna had bestowed upon him; he had a reason for living that was beyond himself for the first time in his life.
The only spell more potent than the Charm of Making, the Charm of Thaumaturgy was the most powerful of all necromancy incantations and therefore the most dangerous application of sorcery.
Emrys sat, lotus style, on the floor in front of the vat and began to meditate and pray for absolution from the darkness of what he was about to do. Twenty minutes later, Emrys rose and stood before the gently bubbling vat.
Focusing on the realm of Sidhe and chanting softly, his monotone voice recited the Charm of Thaumaturgy.
Emrys voice was low and strong;
“I summon thee from the darkness and mire,
From earth, water, air, and aimless fire.
From realm of space, or dimensions below,
To this element, this age, your presence bestow.”
Emrys paused as the vat began to glow with an unearthly florescence. Greenish yellow fumes that flickered like ethereal flames, rose high from the vat, illuminating Emrys face in a sickly glow.
He raised his arms, summoning the highest power of necromancy, his face a composed mask Emrys continued the Charm of Thaumaturgy in the old language. This time focusing solely on a single member of fairy; a Sidhe warrior and no less than the Goddess of War herself - Cath Bodva.
“Rwy'n galw di o dywyllwch a llaid, O ddaear, dŵr, awyr, a thir y fire.
From ddiamcan o le, neu ddimensiynau isod, I yr elfen hon, mae hyn yn oed eich Cath Bodva bestow.”
The words Emrys spoke hung in the air, suspended and echoing throughout the room, they repeated in the same cadence and volume of Emrys voice, over and over, as the incantation continued without his help, Emrys plunged his arms into the depths of the glowing vat, pulling out a body that squirmed and struggled against him.
Emrys laid the heaving bulk on the floor, and wiping its mouth and eyes clear of the glowing ectoplasm, he soothed it with his voice, “You are safe, you are well, you are alive; I will not harm you.” His words seemed to calm it, the struggling ceased as Emrys eased it onto a chair, laying a blanket over it’s shoulders.
“Why summoned here me have you?” It rasped in broken English, “Cold, am I…thissss place, where?”
Quickly donning his robe, Emrys explained, “You are on the Earthly realm in the human dimension of the fifth century in Caerfyrddin, Wales in the crannog of Emrys Wledig Aurelius Ambrosius Merlinus Caledonensis, and well known by your Queen simply as, Merlin.” Emrys bowed.
“Earthly realm… Humaness…why, why here bring me you did, Merlin?” It shivered again and Emrys waved a hand causing the hearth to burst into flame.
“I summoned you, warrior for Aine of Knockaine, to act as a witness, to warn your Queen mistress of a dark druid threat to your source.” Emrys was taking an enormous risk, hoping that the information would be regarded with gratitude.
The creature straightened, the warmth of the room seeming to revive it more fully, the blanket fell to the floor.
Its’ appearance became more defined as the effects from the vat dissipated, and flaked off its skin. Rising before Emrys, the fairy stood. Easily six feet tall, and clothed simply in a green tunic, her white hair flowed straight to the middle of her back. Almond shaped golden eyes regarded Emrys coldly, “This threat, say you Merlin of Caledonensis, what of these dark druids?”
Emrys nodded, “Yes. We found an altar in the woods.” Emrys pointed to the area on his wall map, “Here. There is evidence that the druids have invaded your dimension through a fairy ring to steal Sidhe power. We will go there in the next hour. I summoned you to accompany us so you can see for yourself and report to Aine. I hope she will regard our help favourably, and spare the innocent villagers who had no part in this transgression.” Emrys inclined his head respectfully.
“What, if you say, be truth, Merlin, Queen of the Sidhe, Aine will be merciless to those responsible. You will show, Cath Bodva this place of you speak.”
“Goddess of War, Cath Bodva, we will leave shortly. There are others from the village who have lost family, children are missing, crops have failed and animals have perished. They seek to regress this evil and close the rift between this dimension and Sidhe. A party of men will accompany us, to protect you and allow you to investigate this possible transgression for yourself.”
Cath Bodva reached into a small pouch attached at her waist, and withdrew an impossibly long bow and quiver from the tiny bag. She slung the quiver over her back, and the bow over her left shoulder. “I will eyes use of my own, Merlin Ambrosius of Caledonensis, and promises not to make for Queen of Sidhe. But witness, I will, if saying you have told correctly of dark druid sorcerers.” She dipped her chin slightly in acknowledgement to Emrys.
Emrys sighed with relief, this was a far better result than he’d hoped, “You are gracious and brave, Cath Bodva. I am at your service, as always.”
The pounding on the door below them alerted Emrys to the arrival of the men. Nodding to Cath Bodva, she followed him down the stairs.
Emrys and Cath Bodva walked side by side accompanied by a party of men that included Blaise, Cador, Alun and Anyon.
Leading them was a skilled woodsman who knew the way through the dense forest, and the location of the hidden druid altar. Additionally, Blaise had enlisted a small company of the Kings soldiers to assure their safe passage through the potentially dangerous forest.
The soldiers fanned out before and behind them to provide the best defence. Emrys noted with approval that Blaise had selected a troop of seasoned warriors; the heavily muscled men carried their weaponry with the confidence that only years of battles and marching could have affected. If they ran into trouble, Emrys and Blaise could handle attack by sorcery, while the soldiers dealt with any mundane forces.
Everyone gave Cath Bodva a wide berth. Her appearance, while beautiful in an otherworldly fashion, was intimidating. As tall as many of the men, and with lithe muscular limbs, she walked with an assurance that spoke of her strength and confidence in battle. Her face was an unreadable mask as she moved gracefully beside Emrys.
"Tell me about villagers; this sickness you told of." Cath asked as they marched.
Emrys motioned to Blaise to join them, "I have only learned of the malady affecting them second hand, Cath. I think Blaise could tell you more than I."
Blaise nodded to Cath, "It is a strange illness, if you can even call it that." He ran a hand over his brow, "I arrived here a fortnight ago, and saw the final stages of Cador's sister-in-law's…fading. She had obviously lost weight; her clothes hung on her. But it was her eyes that told the bigger story. She looked…empty. She simply stared off into nothingness, and nothing could rouse her. I tried everything I knew; medically, psychologically and metaphysically — nothing I did made a difference."
Alun heard them and came forward add his comments, "Yes, it was exactly like that, Blaise. Nothingness. Connwyn was fine one day and the next… the woman she had been was gone. My Carwyn could lead her anywhere, and she'd sit where ever she was put until someone came to move her again. She wouldn't touch a bite of food nor drink. Cared for nothing and no one. She lasted for three weeks, and she finally just didn't care enough wake up one morning." He shook his head sadly, "Carwyn was heartbroken, she loved Connwyn…she was her only sister." Alun hastily wiped a tear before anyone noticed, "Then Anyon's wife seemed to get the same sickness and died a couple of weeks later." Anyon nodded bleakly, confirming Alun’s statement,
“And two more from the village the next month." His eyes looked from Emrys to Blaise, hoping they would have an answer, "Everyone is frightened and no one knows what to be afraid of. We didn't have Emrys anymore, so we sent for Blaise because we hoped he'd know how to help us." Alun looked regretfully at Emrys.
"I'm sorry for all that you've suffered, Alun, and you were right to send for Blaise in my absence." Emrys briefly draped one arm over his shoulders in comfort.
Cath walked on in silence for a few moments before turning to Blaise, "If all that you say is so, and the dark druids have stolen power from Sidhe, human apathy for life and the deaths described, may be a result of releasing Tylwythen deg Grymuster into this pitiful, and weak human realm."
Blaise frowned, and murmured, "Tylwythen deg Grymuster; the legendary Sidhe Dragon. The Fairy nomenclature for the supreme energy source supplied by Queen Aine."
Cath shrugged dismissively,”Of course. Just as I said, Tylwythen deg Grymuster."
Emrys looked at Cath gravely, "What you're saying is, if the druids exorcised power from fairy, and once called some of the released power escaped…"
"Yes." Cath favoured him with a brief smile, "Exactly so, Merlin. If a dark druid priest summoned the essence of our Queen's source, and it did not choose to favour him with all of its venom, the power may have sought other sources to expend itself fully." Cath paused, clearly editing what she wanted to disclose, "Queen Aine is most powerful and all consuming." She bowed her head respectfully, "Her essence is equal to herself and her's alone. Absorbing even a minute amount of my Queen's beautiful strength would have such an affect upon weak humans, and their fragile minds."
Cath nodded to herself, “Yes, once shown truth by Tylwythen deg Grymuster, they would realise the smallness of their human lives, and the utter futility of their meaningless existence in this dull plane.” She looked around at the dense forest in distain, "They would look inwardly and upon seeing the truth of their mortality, and uselessness, they would simply…stop. Why care? Why live? Once truth is known — death is only release.”
Cath's voice held no superiority or ego, she even allowed her eyes to show the briefest sympathy for Alun who had gone pale at her explanation.
The party marched on, each caught up in their own thoughts. Cath bade them stop at various points as she knelt on the earth, briefly touching her tongue to the soil as if testing for something.
After a little over three hours of steady marching through the still forest, the woodsman trotted back to address Emrys and Blaise, "It is ahead, and just beyond that stand of fir trees," he pointed to the left, "is 'Cyfrgolledig Ogof Tywyll,' also known as the dark cave of the damned." He explained nervously, "Just in front of the cave you will find the altar — where the…remains were found. I will go no closer. I have a family." He looked nervously towards the stand of tall trees, "I am sorry."
Blaise nodded, "It is enough that you brought us this far my friend. You may return to your family." Blaise handed him a small pouch of coins as he patted him on his back.
The woodsman crossed himself, and quickly disappeared down the trail they’d come.
"You men stand guard from there," Blaise pointed to where the trail widened slightly, "to that point where the trees are too thick for anyone to either attack or escape." Their leader nodded and the eight men quickly formed a nearly invisible line of protection hiding themselves in the thick foliage of the forest.
"And you men," Blaise indicated several swordsmen and their Captain, "accompany us into the glade, we may have need of you."
"Cador, you and Alun and Anyon are welcome to stay here with the soldiers, or come with us; either way will neither be a hinderance nor a help, but you may face danger if you come into the glade with us." Blaise said without judgement.
They both nodded silently, Anyon and Cador stood their ground beside Emrys, but old Alun melted into the forest to remain with the guards.
Cath Bodva, and the four men followed the soldiers as they pushed past the dense fir boughs to enter the small glade.
The clearing they entered was carpeted with thick, lush grass and was shadowed by giant fir trees that stood like sentinels on the perimeter. A draft of cool, musky air from the inner depths of the earth, gave away the presence of the cave whose entrance was nearly obscured by overgrown ivy and thick ferns. In front of the cave, a smooth, stained limestone slab sat upon a heavy blocks of cut marble and around the altar, a thick fairy ring, of large red and white mushrooms, formed a nearly perfect circle. Overall, if the sense of foreboding and evil hadn't been so prevalent, the scene would have been beautiful, maybe even mystical.
"It is here, at the fairy ring, that we suspect the druids were able to tap into Sidhe power." Blaise nodded towards the fungi ringed altar.
Cath pushed past them purposefully to the fairy ring. Again she knelt to the earth to taste the soil. She frowned, "Yes. As you thought is so, Blaisbheum." She agreed using his full Gaelic name, "Tylwythen deg Grymuster was released here, and more than once, the Earth is rich with corrupted Sidhe power. This land," She swept her arm wide, "is dangerous to humans, and a blasphemy to my Queen."
The soldiers shifted nervously, eyes darting around searching for threats, their hands twitchy on the hilts of their swords.
"I don't see any present danger here from mundane attack at the moment." Emrys offered, noting their discomfort, “I think just Blaise, Cath and I should investigate from this point."
Blaise nodded in agreement, "We'll call out if we have need of you. Retain anyone who attempts to enter this area." Blaise addressed the Captain of the swordsmen who touched his finger to his brow in a brief salute, before leading his men back the way they'd come.
"I know you're here to find your children." Emrys turned to Anyon who nodded, his mouth set in a grim line, "I see no evidence that they’re here. We’ll search the cave after we examine the altar and fairy ring. The fewer people in the immediate area the better. Remove with the soldiers my friends, I will send for you and Cador when we're ready for the search to begin."
Anyon turned, and with Cador followed the soldiers. His shoulders slumping, clearly disheartened that no obvious clues had been found leading to his missing children.
Cath Bodva stepped over the fairy ring delicately. She held up the palm of her hand indicating that Emrys and Blaise should stay back. Cath stood near the altar facing the left side of the ring.
Raising her arms, she began to chant in a language that was both foreign, but also vaguely familiar to Emrys, as her voice rose in volume, the singsong beauty of the clear tones stilled the surrounding forest. Not a bird nor insect made a sound, even the wind settled and the trees stopped waving their branches. The Earth seemed to hold its breath, listening to the purity of the fairy's musical chant.
As Cath's melodic song grew in volume, the fairy ring began to glow with a phosphorus hue. Emrys and Blaise stepped back a few feet as a green mist began to rise in wisps from the base of the fungi. The slender tendrils of the mist grew, and began to solidify, finally taking on a serpentine shape that wove in and out between the mushroom caps of the fairy ring.
The snakelike stream began to move with a rhythm that kept time with Cath's chant. She lowered her arms and changing her incantation slightly, the ground shuddered as the green colour of the serpentine mist changed to amber, gradually becoming clearer and less substantial, until finally fading to a white mist that was forcibly sucked back into the fairy ring with an audible whoosh. The Earth seemed to sigh as it accepted the powerful essence back into its depths.
With her last note, Cath collapsed to the ground, her eyes rolling as she fell. Emrys rushed forward to catch her before her head hit the altar, Cath's eyelids fluttered open as she regained herself.
"Did Tylwythen deg Grymuster go home?" She asked as she pushed away from Emrys.
Blaise was kneeling next to one of the mushroom caps, sniffing carefully, "I can detect nothing unusual, Cath. I think it is gone, but you should check too."
Cath moved away from Emrys unsteadily, and bent down to examine the unusually large mushroom caps of the fairy ring. The area around the ring seemed to almost vibrate with electricity and power.
"The energy from Fairy here is too near the surface. I have never seen its equal before." She shook her head, "My Queen will remove this threat to our world and…I know not the words for you…she will 'empty' this place."
The Dreamweaver Page 15
