by J. R. White
Pulling at the iron nail, he did his best to pry it from the ley line. He sent his power down the long length of metal and quickly ripped it back. Fighting with the push of the spell was quickly taking a toll on his body.
“No. The anchor must stay in place. Balance must be restored,” the magi yelled, and suddenly a dazzling round of neon electric pops began to burst all around them. Magical sparks flew like shrapnel, and several scorched through Malcolm’s jeans, burning his legs.
Knowing that Meredith and Joshua were both in the same danger zone as himself only made Malcolm strain harder to pull the metal free from the ley lines. The magi threw electric magic at them, but he wasn’t getting too close. Stepping into the intersection would channel all of that raw power and what Joshua had said was right. Where that much power would kill the magi, they might survive.
That left the magi with only a display of fireworks to drive them away. If Malcolm didn’t have the very root of raw magic flowing through him, he’d laugh, but along with the power from the ley lines he was still channeling the spell that was driving the nails in. The hammer slammed down in a rhythmic, gut twisting pattern behind all of the magi’s distractions.
Sparks caught the side of Malcolm’s face, searing against his cheeks and chin. Before he closed his eyes tight to protect them from the assault, he spotted Meredith. Her head was ducked down and her shoulders were hunched over as she struggled in her own tug-of-war.
The magi kept throwing magic and over it all just screamed about the balance needing to be restored. It felt like the man chanted it over and over for ages, but it could have been less than a dozen seconds for all Malcolm knew.
It wasn’t until Meredith spoke again that Malcolm opened his eyes. She stood straight, heaving from the effort it took to do what she’d just done. Glaring at the magi with her hair falling around her face and the iron stake in her hand, she said, “Yes, it should, but this isn’t the way, magi.”
The magical explosions of neon stopped and the man zeroed in on Meredith as a new target. His mouth moved, but there were no words coming out. Weaving his new attack left him open to Meredith’s retribution. With the power of the ley line flowing through her, supercharging every atom in her body, she threw out a wall of solid force that knocked the man back. His feet slid across the rooftop, tearing at the black tar layer.
Meredith tossed aside the now-dull spike and started towards the last nail, determination burning in her eyes. The magi threw sizzling static at her, but she brushed it away with an angry swing of her arm. It was inspiring to see her fighting off the magi’s attacks. The raw magic from the ley line coursing through her magnified the family magic that ran through her blood. With a swipe of her hand she threw aside the man’s attacks and marched to the last rod. She was slow, muscles clearly aching from the power surge, but it didn’t stop her.
Meredith was pouring all of that determination into stopping something that wasn’t really her problem. She was insane, but maybe so was he. Gripping the spike tighter, Malcolm pulled harder, setting his mind on helping with the last nail. The ley lines’ energy was coursing through him, rerouting itself back in a loop and tugging at the spike. Even the natural magic of the land knew something was wrong with the iron.
Standing between Meredith and the final piece, the magi didn’t stop his assault. Meredith blew away every blast, took every sneaky pinch and continued. “Throwing off the balance just to correct an imbalance won’t work, magi. It never has and it never will.”
The stubborn magi just repeated his mantra as he threw another blast of magic. “A wrong must be righted.”
“Find another way!” Meredith finally screamed.
With a gush of magic, the nail in Malcolm’s hands pulled free from the ley lines. The hot magic melted away, leaving a lifeless rod of iron. Dropping it at his feet, he turned to help Meredith, but he was too late.
Joshua’s spike had come loose too, and as Malcolm turned, he saw his brother dive after the magi. There was no magic in the tackle. No trick to weaken the thief. It looked like a good ol’ fashioned brawling move as Joshua flew forward, shoulder jabbing the man in the stomach. They fell to the ground, with his brother pinning the magi in place.
Malcolm was sure his brother threw in a punch for good measure, but he didn’t get to see it. Instead he followed Meredith’s lead to the last spike. It was almost completely absorbed into the ley lines, with barely enough room for her own hands to take hold.
Rushing to her, Malcolm took a position at her back. His arms wrapped around her tiny frame and his hands covered hers. Instantly the magic began to course through him again, but with both of them pulling and channeling the powerful surge was weaker. Still, it tensed their muscles, knotted their tendons, and left a hard sting of pain throbbing behind their eyes.
Their personal magics mingled and spiraled together as they both pushed and pulled. The connection between them was raw and inflamed. It only strengthened their ability, and the last spike came free.
As the magic bled away, Malcolm pulled his hands from hers and watched in awe as Meredith straightened her back and threw the rod across the roof. It barely missed Joshua as it fell beside the magi. The power of the ley lines still flooded in and roared around them, but the silver magic was quickly fading away.
Meredith lifted her chin and gave the magi a stern look. “That’s the problem with having to use tools with your magic. Take the tool away and the magic withers. I’m sure your order is listening to this, so listen well. Agreements on the use of the dragon lines have been reached, and if you have issue with a line, you must bring it to the attention of the whole. Not deal with it on your own.”
Joshua lifted himself up and stared down at the magi. “Go home and hope that it’s only the Lacuna Library and the Magical Counsel that comes after you and your order. The hunters won’t be so forgiving.”
Beside Malcolm, Meredith visibly shivered at the mention of the Guards of Ma’at. Fisting his hands at his sides, he didn’t blame her. He was sure she had her dealings with the Magical Counsel, just like his father, but no magic user ever wanted to be noticed by the enforcers.
The magi didn’t seem to understand that fear. Rolling himself up to a shaky stand, he all but snarled at them and spat, “This is an injustice.” Harsh words, but the way he held his side and the blood that trickled from his nose softened the threat.
“Go home, magi, and wait for your punishment,” Malcolm said and that was what the man did. Never turning his back on them, the magi slowly backed away and his body twisted out of existence. The same red tinged magic was all that was left of the man.
With the threat hopefully gone, Malcolm took the time to look at Meredith and Joshua. They both looked frayed and battle worn. Meredith had a number of burns on her arms and her shirt had been ripped along the collar. Joshua fared little better. His clothes were still intact, if a little disheveled, but he was moving a little slower and a cut across his eyebrow was slowly bleeding.
Malcolm expected he looked a sight himself, but didn’t really care, because when he looked back at Meredith she was looking him over too. They smiled at each other and let the silence stretch a little longer.
For several long moments the three of them stood in silence, taking in the glory of the ley lines around them. They didn’t have to channel the magic. Neither family could remember a time when they had, but the sheer expanse of it was amazing. Reaching out, Malcolm took Meredith’s hand. “Are you okay?”
“I could use a hot bath,” Meredith admitted, wrapping her fingers around his.
It made Malcolm smile, and he realized that when they got home he would do whatever he had to do to let her have that bath. Tugging her closer and hugging her to his chest, he said, “Gods, how I love you.”
Rubbing her check against his chest, Meredith let out a sigh and wrapped her arm around his waist. “I love you too.”
The words filled Malcolm’s chest with a soft ache, and if it hadn’t been for his brother
standing nearby, watching their every move, he would have taken Meredith straight home. Instead, he stared at Joshua and waited for a confrontation. His brother had made it very clear their relationship was neither wanted nor accepted. Malcolm expected it the fight to start over.
For whatever reason, it never came. In the end Joshua gave a slight nod and said, “She’s strong, Malcolm, but remember what I said. The future is never set in stone.” There was a sadness in Joshua’s eyes that Malcolm hadn’t seen before, but his brother held his head high with family pride.
Hugging Meredith tighter, Malcolm responded, “Like I said before, keep trying with that new wife of yours and I’ll keep living my life how I see fit.”
Then Joshua popped away. He was probably going back to tell their father everything that had happened. Father would want to know every detail of the near disaster and then he’d report it all to the library and the magic counsel. It’s what any family leader would do. It’s what Meredith would have to do once they returned home.
But first, he’d make sure she got that bath.
After a moment of silence, Meredith pulled back from him and caught his eyes. With a small frown she asked, “What was that about?”
“Just a brotherly dispute.” Malcolm lowered his forehead to touch hers and stole a quick kiss before suggesting, “Let’s go home.”
That earned him a quick smile. “That’s the best idea you’ve ever had,” Meredith whispered, letting her eyes close as she rested against him.
No. The best idea Malcolm had ever had was finding Meredith again and keeping her in his life. There might be trouble, but as long as she was by his side, he could face it and they would find a way to overcome it. It was the one thing in a world full of confusion that he knew for sure. So, for as long as she would have him, he was going to stay right where he was.
The End
Loved it?
Check out how it all began in
Just Beyond Daybreak
Check out the Saving Grace Saga
And other works by J.R. White
@ JRWhite-author.com
J. R. White has been telling stories for as long as she can remember. After her marriage in 2008 she found the freedom to dive headfirst into her personal world of fiction. Currently she lives in the Upstate of South Carolina with her family, where she fills her daughter’s head with fairy tales.
