The Iron Realm (The Iron Soul Book 1)

by J. M. Briggs

  One of the chiefs came over to take their orders before shooing them to a waiting area off to the side. Alex grabbed a bottle of water from a cooler and leaned against a metal pillar in the center of the food court with her tray to wait for her food.

  “So how are classes?” Arthur asked, “Haven't seen you since yesterday morning.”

  “Classes are fine,” Alex answered honestly. The classes themselves were fine; it was her fellow students she was worried about.

  “I'm sensing a but,” Arthur informed her with his smile falling away. “Everything alright?”

  “Just some weird classmates,” Alex told him quickly, “I'm sure it'll pass. I've just been sort of stressed.” Alex shrugged, “I've never been away from my parents without a coach and team around me before.”

  “I didn't know you played sports.”

  “I don't anymore,” Alex answered, “Well I'm going to sign up for intermural, but I wasn't…. I mean I wasn't exactly the sports star.”

  “Which sports?”

  “I did a lot of cross country, soccer and track in high school,” Alex replied.

  “Then you should like the intermurals here,” Arthur told her. “But I hope you'll make time to attend the local games.”

  “Course,” Alex said quickly, trying not to blush again as Jenny walked over to them with a sub sandwich and iced tea on her tray.

  She glanced at their empty trays and smirked. “I suppose I'll go and get us a table.”

  “Thanks Jenny,” Arthur told her, beaming at her. He leaned forward and kissed her quickly before Jenny walked over to the checkout station.

  “What about you?” Alex asked, “Your classes I mean.”

  “They're good,” Arthur answered with a shrug. “I was able to get into one of the more advanced Poli Sci classes this semester in addition to 101. Plus I'm getting my math and English requirements out of the way.”

  “I think every freshman is,” Alex remarked.

  Thankfully their numbers came up and they collected their burgers and fries. There was a line at the checkout as more and more students filed in to get lunch, but they quickly spotted Jenny near the far wall once they were through. Joining her, Alex felt like she could finally relax and threw herself into listening to Jenny's excited description of her classes and Arthur's stories from practice.

  At 12:15 Alex had to drag Jenny away from Arthur so they wouldn't be late to their first History of Civilization class. It was back to the Meier building, but in one of the recently upgraded classrooms on the first floor. It was a large lecture room with long white tables on either side forming a long aisle down the center. Each of the tables had outlets between every two chairs. A large rolling computer station stood at the front of the room, hooked to the projection system which was shining the first slide of a presentation on the large white screen.

  A beautiful, but stern looking woman with long dark hair braided hair and wearing a tailored black waistcoat stood at the front of the room. There was a something instantly intimidating about her that made Jenny and Alex fall silent. Jenny touched Alex's hand and pointed to a table safely in the middle of the room at the end of one of the long desks. Students filed in, talking as they did, but quickly fell silent. Glancing up cautiously at her newest professor, Alex saw the woman's lips curve into a smirk, but the professor kept her eyes on the computer screen.

  “Hi Alex,” a familiar female voice said to her right.

  Alex looked up in alarm to see Nicole walking past with Aiden who gave her a quick wave. They settled on the other side of the room, one row ahead of them which made Alex feel only a little better.

  “Wait,” Jenny spoke in a low voice, “Aren't those the pair from this morning?”

  “Yeah,” Alex whispered back. “I'm got a few classes with them. They're a bit …” Alex trailed off. If they were crazy then didn't that make her crazy? She'd have to look up shared hallucinations and see if there was such a thing. “They're strange,” Alex settled on. “But harmless,” she added quickly on impulse.

  “Okay,” Jenny replied slowly, “But if you need Arthur to beat them up or scare them off let me know.”

  “Attention,” a sharp feminine voice with a slight accent called from the front of the room. Alex looked up sharply to see their professor stepping away from the computer. “It is now 12:30 and we will begin. I am Professor Cornwall, and I drew the short straw in the history department to teach one of the freshman classes as one of my colleagues is on sabbatical. You will find me a highly knowledgeable professor and fair to those who put in an honest effort, but a harpy to those who think they can sail through my class. Therefore I will remind you that all students are allowed a certain number of withdrawals with no penalties to their records.”

  Alex could almost hear a collective swallow of fear around the room. Professor Cornwall was silent and let her eyes track across the fresh crop of students. Her eyes stopped on Nicole and then on Aiden before sweeping towards Alex's side of the room. Gripping the edge of the desk, Alex was about to look away when the Professor's eyes met hers, slamming her eyes shut.

  She could smell water and salt with the wind blowing her hair back from her face. Opening her eyes, she gazed down at a wide flooded valley with small islands linked by wooden causeways far below her. She stood atop a high hill that rose sharply from the earth. It was surrounded on three sides by water and in the distance across the water she could see forested rolling hills. Strange haunting music began to echo up from the lake valley below.

  Green eyes moved away from Alex and she tightened her grip on the edge of her desk as she fought the urge to run. Professor Cornwall finished her stare down of the class and then turned her attention to the slideshow.

  “Now class, today we will go through the syllabus and my expectations for this course. You'll find a full copy not only of this presentation, but also the print syllabus on the course website.”

  Forcing herself to focus, Alex pulled up the course website on her tablet and followed along as Professor Cornwall went through a rapid explanation of class dates and subjects. Professor Cornwall did not slow down the whole class. In quick succession they were given the date of the final exam, covered the requirements of two group projects, went over Professor Cornwall’s attendance policy and were introduced to the discussion point system. By the end of the hour and fifteen minute class, Alex was feeling tired and overwhelmed.

  “You are dismissed,” Professor Cornwall told them. “I look forward to seeing who remains on Thursday.”

  “I am torn between fear and awe,” Jenny whispered to Alex as they packed up.

  “Yeah,” Alex agreed with a small smile. “She's pretty intense.”

  Swinging her bag over her shoulder, Alex stood up and looked back at the front of the classroom to find Professor Cornwall looking towards her with a strange expression. Alex swallowed nervously, but the professor kept watching.

  Frowning, Alex realized that the professor wasn't looking at her at all, but was instead watching Jenny. She looked across the room to find Nicole and Aiden packing up and speaking quietly. Sensing her gaze, Aiden looked up and over at her as he pulled on his backpack. Next to him Nicole offered her a small shrug.

  “Alex,” Jenny called. “Earth to Alex.”

  Looking back at her roommate, Alex blinked and quickly smiled. “Sorry,” she apologized quickly.

  “We're done for the day,” Jenny announced, “How about we walk over to Main Street. I heard that there is a great coffee place right at the edge of campus and I'm dying to explore more of town.”

  “Uh, sure,” Alex agreed with a quick nod as they walked out the door. “That's a nice idea.”

  “Plus we can meet more people,” Jenny added. “Tide us over until the weekend parties start at least.”

  Alex fought the urge to look over her shoulder at Professor Cornwall as Jenny linked their arms and guided their way out of the building. To her surprise, Aiden and Nicole walked past her without a word. Aiden simply
gave her a little wave over his shoulder on their way out.

  6

  Lady of the Lake

  834 B.C.E. Snowdonia Wales

  High above his village, Myrddin could see the dusting of snow on the mountains while the highest peaks vanished into the gray clouds. He sighed softly and tightened his cloak around himself before lifting his bag over his shoulder. The dull shape of his sword bumped his back and the weight of the metal working stones at the bottom of the bag felt comforting. At his side hung a small pouch with some food and a dagger strapped to his belt. His right hand gripped a strong wooden walking staff that had small signs carved into it for protection. One of his neighbors looked over at him curiously before giving a quick bow which warned Myrddin of his mother's approach behind him.

  “Do you have everything?” his mother asked in a gentle tone that surprised him.

  Myrddin turned to his mother and studied her face, finding a trace of fear in her normally calm and collected features. His mother reached for him, placing one hand on his shoulder and the other touching his cheek. They remained that way for some time, his mother memorizing his face.

  “Take care, my son,” she whispered before leaning forward and kissing his forehead gently.

  “I will be back,” Myrddin said seeking to reassure her, but it sounded like a question to his ears.

  “I do not know,” his mother murmured. “I hope so, but you were born for a reason. That much was revealed to me. Remember that you are the son of Awena, priestess of the western mountains and that I am proud of you.”

  He swallowed thickly and before he could change his mind, he stepped forward and embraced his mother. Her arms came up and around him, holding Myrddin as she had not for many years.

  “Go,” she ordered as she released him. “Go on Myrddin.”

  Myrddin nodded and took a few hesitant steps backwards before he turned to follow the path away from his roundhouse. Determined not to look back Myrddin focused on the path that wove between the numerous roundhouses. Everyone was already starting their days with many men and their children walking towards the mountains with packs and mining tools. One young boy carried his bone pick over his shoulder and Myrddin could tell that his stone hammer was tucked into the bag slung over his shoulder as he followed his father towards the copper mines. Myrddin fell into step with them and allowed their morning chatter to distract him.

  “Myrddin,” the strange female voice called to him, still sounding so far away.

  The morning mist had barely lifted when Myrddin reached the split in the path. One well-worn path continued on, twisting its way around the mountain while another faint trail headed up the slope towards the peak. He looked up at the rocky mountainside that offered no shelter and the tilted rocks that were broken apart all over the ground. Thick dying grass covered the area as the chill of autumn hung over Myrddin and he knew it would only get colder as he ascended. He tightened his grip on his bag, stepped off the worn path and began to climb the mountain.

  He did his best not to ponder on what being awaited him up the mountain as he worked to keep his footing on the uneven terrain. The ground was cold and unforgiving, but Myrddin was thankful that the snow remained only at the highest point of the mountain. Despite his nervousness, his feet knew the way to go and how to climb. Many times he had joined his mother in gathering plants from the highest points of the mountain and she had shown him the largest of the mountain lakes which was his destination.

  A standing stone loomed before him, marking his progress up the hill and Myrddin gratefully stopped to drink from his water skin. Turning around, he looked down the mountain and smiled softly as he saw his village. He was too far to see anyone moving, but the field boundaries made of mounded earth were clear and there was still enough green in the grass that the thatched roofs of the roundhouses were distinct. After catching his breath, Myrddin touched the standing stone gently and moved on.

  He was nearly out of breath when he reached the precipice of the mountainside, but forced himself to take a few more steps. Myrddin gazed over the long deep blue lake before him which was nestled in the carved grooves of the mountain. Harsh cliffs and steep rocky slopes surrounded the long irregular lake as small creeks and waterfalls fed into it from the upper reaches of the mountain. Mist still clung to the steep peaks just above the lake enclosing the small valley with a chilly veil. The water rippled softly in the wind, but everything felt still, as if waiting for something. Myrddin hesitated to breath, hesitated to move closer to the water; a feeling he had never had at the lake before. He had skipped stones here as a child, but now this place felt strange and wrapped in a shroud of something beyond his reckoning.

  Then, slowly, he descended down the side of the valley, watching his footing carefully. His staff made a gentle clinking sound against the rocks that echoed across the water with each step he took. Finally, he stepped onto the narrow rocky beach at the edge of the water where he paused to look over the long stretch of water.

  Gently lowering his pack to the ground, Myrddin drew a small bronze dagger from his belt. He gently ran a finger over the smooth polished bronze blade before inspecting the carved wooden handle riveted to the metal. Looking out over the lake, Myrddin released a small sigh before bringing the dagger back over his head. Then with one smooth movement he launched the dagger over the water and watched as it hit the water and vanished. The ripples spread out and he held his breath, waiting.

  Myrddin noticed the ripples becoming stronger rather than weakening. Water began to churn in a circle, the height of the small wave growing higher and higher with every moment. Gasping, Myrddin stepped back, nearly tripping over his bag as small streams of water burst forth from the water towards the sky. The shimmering strands of water wove themselves together above the surface of the lake. Then a figure stepped through the veil of water, the flowing drops cloaking it without making a sound and Myrddin found himself looking into deep green eyes.

  Everything around him faded into a thick mist that clung to his skin with an icy touch. The air was thin and he could not breathe. Voices in the distance were singing a strange song that he could not understand, but filled him with loneliness and despair. Moving forward, his footfalls echoed and he looked down to see a floor of polished black stone with ripples of white and silver. A deep voice shouted a strange word and he felt himself pushed forward by an unseen force. The word was repeated and he was pushed forward once again even as he braced himself against it. Light burst forth before him as a strange doorway of stone and glowing metal with glowing marks of it appeared just in front of him. A wall of strange rippling light filled the doorway and Myrddin was filled with fear. The strange voice shouted the word one more time and Myrddin was forced into the wall of light.

  “Myrddin,” a voice called out to him.

  He gasped for air and fell to his knees as the world resettled around him. Pebbles slipped through his fingers as Myrddin grasped at the rocky terrain beneath him.

  “Myrddin,” the voice repeated, but he was loath to look up at the being that had appeared from the lake. “Fear not,” she urged him. “You will not have to experience that again for some time.”

  Slowly, Myrddin raised his head to look back at the strange being. She looked human at first glance with long black hair flowing over her shoulders and small several small braids scattered throughout. Softly glowing water droplets created a circlet on her head that illuminated her face in the low light of the overcast day. Her features were elegant and graceful in form, but strange blue and black flowing lines circled around her eyes. The woman's skin made him think of polished bronze, a rich tone much darker than his own skin and shimmering even in the low light. She was unnatural, not of this world, but his mother had promised she was no Sídhe.

  Myrddin realized that she was smiling at him and dropped his eyes from his face only to see that she was not standing on the water as he had first thought. Instead the water was rising around her creating the silvery white gown that she wore and
flowing down behind her back to form the blue cape at her back. Stumbling to his feet, Myrddin swallowed, unsure of himself.

  “That, Myrddin, was the Connection,” the strange being told him. “It occurs when two beings of magical power come together for the first time. We both see a moment or an impression of the other.”

  “Who- what are you?” Myrddin asked, trying to remain calm and wishing desperately that his mother had better prepared him. “Are you an ancestor?”

  “No,” she answered calmly, sounded amused by the question. “I am not Sídhe nor have I ever been a Child of Earth. I am of another realm. What you saw when we formed our Connection was the moment of my banishment to your realm.”

  She held out her hand and a shape burst from the lake, flying into her hand. Holding up the bronze dagger that he had cast into the water, she remarked, “You forgot to put it beyond the realm of humans.” Then she took the dagger's blade with her other hand. “That is very important Myrddin, the item must transcend the realm of use and the living to give strength to the ancestors,” she reminded him. The woman bent the bronze blade with a smooth motion that twisted the metal out of shape. “That's better isn't it.”