“Damn. In other words, they stared at candles a lot.”
Diana snorted. “Now, I see. You aren’t stupid, merely stubborn. There aren’t any shortcuts.”
The wolves dashed after a bobcat that was bounding through the snow. A few minutes later, they returned at a lope. Diana said something to them in Gaelic, and they headed up the trail. We followed, and it eventually led back to the pasture.
As we drew close to the barn, Diana said, “There’s one other matter we need to discuss. If you intend to accept my help, you must accept indenture.”
“Are you making me your slave?”
Diana rode silently for a moment, and then replied, “In a way. For each month I mentor you, you will be obligated to spend three months here protecting the clan.”
I wasn’t crazy about staying so close to her, but I was learning a lot. “Okay, fair enough.”
As we entered the barn, I sensed Hercules’s hunger. He had a fondness for oats, so, in honor of his winning the race against Liam, I gave him a big scoopful. His happiness washed over me.
Then the largest of the wolves, Washta, padded into the barn.
I didn’t have any food for him, so I used a brush to groom him. He closed his eyes, and I felt his pleasure flow through me, too.
“Whoa! What the hell?” Diana said.
Her comment brought me back to the present. “What?”
“For a minute there, you almost disappeared. Earlier, you also looked ghostly, but I assumed that was due to the mist swirling around us. Is Tess teaching you to vanish?”
It was time to come clean. “Diana, here’s a little more weirdness to figure out. From time to time, I can see through an animal’s eyes and feel what they do. Hercules and I have a strong connection, and I’m sharing Washta’s emotions now, too.”
Diana shook her head and took my hand. “Can you see anything in my mind? I know we haven’t woven magic, but that would only share feelings.”
Diana’s magical core entwined with mine, and Diana’s confusion came through loud and clear.
I told her, “I can’t see any memories or thoughts, only emotions.”
“A moment ago, your body turned to mist and flowed into the wolf. He remained as solid as ever.”
“Maybe Washta and I are becoming one spirit.”
Diana rubbed her temples. “That’s a figure of speech. No sentient being physically becomes another.” She paused for a moment. “You’re the strangest witch I’ve ever met. I’ll check with the great masters and find out what I can about how Osage warriors merge into horses and wolves.”
-o-o-o-
I WAS SCHEDULED TO work in the barn, so I looked for Herman. Then I noticed the sorcerer I’d just beaten, who was mucking out one of the stalls.
“What is your name?” I asked him.
“Chuck Bauer, Master.”
I asked him about his connection to Hudson, but he couldn’t say much, so I kept looking for the ranch foreman. He was in his office.
“What’s my work assignment today?” I asked.
“You don’t have one anymore. Fighters get to live off the fat of the land. Without you to protect us, we’re all steers ready for slaughter.”
I doubted that Diana would agree with his decision. “You’d better confirm that with Her Majesty.”
Herman smirked. “She just told me to cut you loose. By the way, our master of arms before Tess did nothing around here but get drunk and chase booty.”
My Methodist mom had always claimed idle hands were the tools of Satan. “I’m too used to staying busy.”
I looked around, searching for something that needed doing. “Call it a hobby, if you need to. Bad thoughts sneak into my head when I’m acting lazy.”
He scoffed, and his brow furrowed. “Diana expects to be obeyed. I don’t cross her.”
“You don’t have to. I have lifelong love for animals, so give me something useful, or I’ll wander around until I find something on my own.”
Herman swore me to secrecy and then let me help him put new shoes on the horses.
-o-o-o-
LAURA AND I ATE lunch together with Christina and Rascal. The cat scarfed down two big spoons of tuna salad and then fell asleep.
After we’d finished eating, Diana carried over a huge coffee mug and sat with us. She was wearing another long face.
“No crisis,” she said. “Simply an update from Nicky. Judge Eastwood still intends to return you to Oklahoma pursuant to the warrant, but Nicky says Eastwood’s order is subject to appeal.”
I asked, “Did Nicky tell that idiot judge how Cantor slaughtered my family? What about my video? Eastwood must want me murdered, too.”
“Settle down,” Diana replied. “Nicky explained everything except the video. He wants to save that for when you really need it. The judge hasn’t issued a formal ruling yet, so stay out of trouble until he does.”
Fat chance of that. Rain clouds seemed to follow me everywhere.
“Anyway,” Diana continued, “now it’s time to get serious about fighting magic.”
“Gee,” I replied. “I thought I was serious. I’m ready to go after Pestone.”
“Not anytime soon, Lone Ranger,” Diana snapped. “You’d be diving into water way over your head. Now that he’s beaten Maggie, he’s far stronger than you and much more cunning.”
“I just need one punch,” I said, shaking my fist in front of her. “I’m stronger than he is. I can combine my muscles and magic to beat him.”
“You’d never get close enough to touch him,” she replied.
Laura asked Diana, “Why don’t we hunt him the way he hunts us?”
Diana didn’t start singing the Battle Hymn of the Republic. Instead, she said, “We’d need to hire a powerful assassin at great cost. Until I can raise sufficient funds, the only way we can stay safe is by pouring our collective power into the wards that protect the ranch.”
“How do I have any advantage over them?” I asked.
Diana sighed. “They underestimate you because you look like another stupid yokel, fresh off the farm. That helps you, but not nearly enough. Avoid every encounter with Pestone until further notice. That’s a direct order.”
She pointed at me, and light blue tendrils of smoke came from her finger and wrapped around me before they vanished.
She’d obviously done something to force me to comply. I took a deep breath and exhaled. “Okay, I’ll avoid him, but these monsters want to wipe us out.”
“They do,” Diana agreed. “We’re the last outpost of Celtic witches in the region, and Hudson won’t stop attacking until we’re gone. To fortify our defenses, I’ve arranged for a great fighter from Atlanta to come. Henry Dunham is a Grade Four Master in the Holar Guild. He just landed at DIA. Meditate until he arrives.”
Chapter 18
TWO HOURS LATER, I headed to Tess’s training room. Since my last time there, she had covered the walls with photographs of the prominent local sorcerers, including Pestone, his boss, Hudson, and the regional slayer, Escobar. Each picture was marked with the words, AVOID AT ALL COSTS!
Henry was staring at the photos with Diana and Tess. He was a giant, much taller than I. His chest was massive, and he outweighed me by at least fifty pounds. He must’ve been a linebacker or a tackle when he was younger, but his curly black hair was sprinkled with gray now. Thank the Mórrígan, he was on our side.
The ebony staff he was carrying was covered with dozens of carved faces, presumably the sorcerers he’d defeated in battle. I shuddered as I realized how often he’d stared down evil.
When Diana saw me, she introduced me. His handshake was firm, but thankfully not bone-crushing.
Tess patted him on the back. “Henry’s lightning spell is by far the best I’ve ever seen, and he’s here to teach it to us.”
“A pleasure to help,” Henry said in a deep, booming voice. “Nothin’ I enjoy more than whipping young pups into shape.”
His eyes narrowed as he looked me up and down. “Diana says you’re the new hot thing. Call me unimpressed.”
How about if I call you rude instead?
Tess snickered. “He’s got potential. A diamond in the rough.”
Henry snorted. “What do you know about stunning spells, Mr. O’Rourke?”
“Tess taught me the basics,” I replied. “Diana hasn’t spent any time on them yet.”
Henry glared at me for a second. Then, with a lightning-fast punch to my forehead, he knocked me senseless.
“Don’t you be sassin’ back at your betters, young’un.”
When my head stopped spinning, I looked at Diana and Tess. Neither of them seemed the least bit surprised that Henry had coldcocked me.
The man obviously had a much worse mean streak than Diana.
Henry grinned at me. “It’s good I came before you could settle into any bad habits, like smart-mouthing your elders.”
He looked at me expectantly.
“No disrespect meant, sir,” I said, keeping a close eye on his hands.
“Listen up, pup. Holar’s fighting magic is different from most other traditions. What is the most important first step in most magic?”
Tess raised her hand, but Henry shook his head and pointed at me.
“Calm concentration. Focusing on my magical core.” I stepped back in case that was the wrong answer.
He grinned at me like we were old friends. “There you go, boy. Holar’s spells are different because you need to be angry to make most of ’em work. When you shock somebody, they should feel like they’ve stuck their tongue into a wall socket. Shall I demonstrate?”
I put up my hands and took another step back. “No need, sir. I believe you.”
“If the spell is powerful enough, it might kill ’em.” He pointed his staff at me, and yellow lightning shot out of the end and hit that same spot on my forehead.
The pain was incredible. My eyes lost their focus, and my mind dimmed. I dropped to my knees. “Fuck! That really hurt!”
Tess cringed in sympathy.
Diana’s face scrunched up. “I’m sorry, Henry. I’ve gone too easy on him. He lost his family so recently. I’ve tolerated terrible behavior out of pity.”
The giant man nodded. “Pity ain’t doin’ him no good, darlin’.” Then he glared at me. “Time to toughen up, punk. If you think this is hard, life as a slave can be a real bitch.”
All I knew for sure was that I didn’t want to get zapped again. “Yes, sir.”
Henry scowled. “You mockin’ me, boy?”
I held up my hands, palms forward. “No, sir, absolutely not mocking you.”
He looked at me crosswise. “Best behave.” After a moment, he continued, “Where was I before he started sassing?”
Tess hurried to say, “Tongue in a light socket.”
“Right. Smart girl. I’ll bet Tess never sasses back.”
“She knows better,” Diana said solemnly.
Henry nodded. “So, you let your anger build inside you until it reaches a peak, and you let loose without mercy.”
I had a premonition that the giant witch was about to blast me again, so I focused on the limestone wall at Carter Pass. Holar, protège.
My ward had barely formed when Henry’s fucking lightning bolt crashed into it, shooting sparks in every direction. My protection vanished, but it’d saved me from most of the asshole’s spell.
“That’s what I do,” Diana said nonchalantly. “So, why aren’t my spells working better?”
“If you’ve really followed these steps, then I suspect the problem is that you don’t let yourself get pissed off. It’s a damned tough thing for people who usually keep their emotions under control. You gotta let anger roar through your body.” His eyes narrowed, and he yelled, “Fuck you and your little dog too!”
I couldn’t get my shield back up in time, but he pointed his staff at the photo of Escobar. A red laser-like light shot out and hit the picture, setting it on fire.
Henry let loose with a deep, rumbling laugh at how big Tess’s eyes had become.
As she smothered the flames with a wet towel, Henry glared at me. “Better get your wall up faster next time, son.”
I nodded several times.
“True anger is a searing, ugly thing,” Henry said. “My problem is, I get riled up too easily. So, most of your spells are probably better’n mine, but I can shock or stun with the best of ’em.”
I blurted out, “I believe that with all my heart.”
Diana smirked. “Only a lunatic can be calm in one instant so they can perform defensive magic and then become furious enough to shock someone.”
“Yep,” Henry replied. “Not easy, that’s for damned sight sure. But I’ve got a few tricks to help get you into the right frame o’ mind. Mind you, I only share these secrets with the prettiest ladies facing incredible danger.” He glared at me. “You’re shit out of luck, Ian.”
But I was finally catching on. This guy was a lunatic, and I needed to keep my ward up all the time. I calmed my mind and pretended I was standing behind a limestone mountain.
Henry’s bolt hit it, but it didn’t shatter this time. It vibrated like hell, though.
Tess shook her head with a sickly smile. I could see she wanted to help me somehow, but couldn’t.
“Of course,” Henry said, “you’re gonna be mad whenever you’re attacked, but mad alone don’t cut it. You need to jack up that anger, blow it up huge. Say to the sorcerer, or think, ‘What did I ever do to you, fucking asshole?’”
The question resonated in my mind, but I didn’t try to conjure the spell. That would be suicidal.
Tess burst out laughing, probably worried that I’d go berserk. “Sorry,” she said. “Just caught me by surprise.”
“No problem, darlin’,” Henry replied. “I swear a lot, so don’t tell my mama. It gets the juices flowing real good. Treat any sorcerer like the filthy sewage scum he is.”
Tess said under her breath, “Scum.”
Henry patted her on the shoulder. “Damn right. Let your anger explode inside you.”
“Is the first step, assuming you’re attacked and can’t run away, to build your shield?” I asked.
“You betcha,” he said. “Best to do that while your attacker’s still frozen from his challenge. Of course, you need to ignore your anger for a few seconds while you form your ward. Calm concentration with your magical core is critical at first”—Diana shot me an I-told-you-so look—“until you get that ward solid. Then, you divert most, but not all, of your thinkin’ to fury. You’ll need to keep part of your mind cool so you can maintain a strong ward.”
He was schizophrenic. I needed to get that way, too.
“Once you’re as riled as you can get,” Henry said, “point your finger or staff at him and think or say, ‘Holarthon, CHOQUE!’ That’ll turn him into a cracklin’ cinder.”
“Why not ‘Holar’?” Tess asked.
“Can’t rightly say, but Mama taught me this way, and she’s one helluva witch. I do know adding ‘thon’ works better for me than ‘Holar’ alone. Your mileage may vary.”
“Thinking about so many things at the same time is tough,” Tess said.
“Yep, told you. It don’t come easy. Which is why we’re gonna work at it, even if it takes the whole damned day and night.”
I faced off against Henry, and he hit me with a green bolt that destroyed my shield again.
“Your ward’s good,” he said, “but your concentration wanders too quick. When you think about that wall, your magical kernel has gotta be completely settled. Yours ain’t.”
Probably because I was terrified of him, but that would be the case in any desperate fight. I focused on my magical core to make my barrier as strong as possible.
“That’s better,” he said. “Can’t rush those steps.”
From across the room, Diana asked, “Is he learning any
thing?”
Henry snorted. “Bit by bit. Stubborn pup, but I’ll whip him into shape.”
I struggled to focus on my ward while he tried to punch me on the forehead again. Thank the gods, my protection held him off.
“Okay,” he said. “I think the ward’s working. Time to let your anger rip.”
I was more than ready to go apeshit, full freaking nuts on him. Internally, I thought, HOLARTHON, CHOQUE!
A green thunderbolt blasted from my hand against Henry’s ward. Green sparks bounced off, and some reflected back me. I’d already forgotten about keeping my wall solid.
A smile exploded onto his face. “Now, you’re smitin’. The hairs on your arm are smoking ’cause you forgot your protection so soon.” He breathed in deeply. “But you got a little lightning going. I’m smelling the ozone.”
He was right. I could, too.
Tess grinned, and her long red hair sprung out sideways. Static electricity made my skin crawl.
“I hope you’re learning fast enough to survive the scum around here,” Henry said.
“We’ve suffered several terrible attacks recently,” I replied.
“Yep,” Henry said. “Diana told me. Damn sorcerers pounce without mercy. Make sure you do the same right back at ’em.”
I fired four more lightning bolts at Henry, but the last one was little more than a spark. I was sweating badly, but he still seemed cool.
When I sat down, exhausted, he said, “Making good progress. I’ll try to get back this way again soon to see what’s what.”
Diana and Tess showered him with praise. I realized by the end that he’d gotten me pissed to help my training, so I could hardly hold it against him. I thanked him as much as the others. Then I dragged my sorry ass back to Laura’s bed and collapsed for the night.
-o-o-o-
Sunday, September 15th
THE NEXT MORNING, AFTER breakfast, I met with Diana in her apartment. We sat together on her sofa.
Lone Survivor: The Sorcerers' Scourge Series: Book One Page 20
