He had? Why?
It was Melchior who objected. “But in human form, you have no effective way of fighting, correct? Wouldn’t it be better to be in the air, in dragon form?”
Shunlei shook his head indulgently. “First of all, I cannot see much from the sky. The covering over the woods is too tightly interwoven. It allows me only peeks. I would be of little use.”
Ah, good point. Mei Li hadn’t been able to see anything with enhanced vision. Of course he hadn’t been able to make out much more.
“Second, while it’s true that I have neither claws nor tail in this form, I’m hardly defenseless,” he corrected, blue eyes sparkling with amusement. “I can breathe fire in either form.”
Mei Li was back to blinking again. This was not something she’d ever seen Future Shunlei do. “You can?”
His head turned toward her and he smiled openly now. “So, there are things about my kind you do not know, eh?”
“I’m hardly a dragon expert,” she retorted with a toss of the hand. “On the contrary. I just know more than the average person.”
In a rhetorical tone, Melchior muttered, “That’s a vast understatement. But alright, Shunlei, I see your point and agree. Is your dragon fire and strength diminished in any way?”
“Not really. My range is, as of course my dragon form is larger. But the strength of my fire is the same.”
“I think having a dragon’s fire on the ground would be hugely beneficial, in fact. Let’s tell the others about this so there’s no confusion tomorrow when we go in.”
Melchior stood and went to the other side of the camp, where Kiyo, Hawes, and Nord were bent over their own projects. Mei Li could hear him hail the three and repeat in an abbreviated manner what Shunlei had just told him.
If Shunlei were on the ground, then didn’t that mean he would also be in the line of fire? Melchior had an amulet of magical protection on him, a sturdy thing pinned to his chest. Mei Li had noted it in passing but not thought much more of it. Of course a man battling magic on a daily basis would have such basic spells of protection on him. Hawes, Kiyo, and Nord had their own protections, stronger and tied into their magical core. Melchior’s amulet only warded against him being drained of his life force, and also had a general shielding spell that would deflect most attacks, much like chainmail would do. It was hardly enough against the higher magics, or the demonic attacks, but it was a good sight better than nothing. Mei Li’s protections were wrapped around her body at all times, carved as they were into her belt.
But Shunlei didn’t have even that.
She knew dragons were hardier than humans—unreasonably tough and able to withstand all manner of things that might slay a human outright. But this gnawed at her. She couldn’t in good conscience let him go into the upcoming fight without offering him at least basic protection.
Mei Li didn’t really have much to work with. Paper, ink, what was left of the twine, some cloth. The protection spell she had in mind wouldn’t anchor well to any of that. It drew strength from the element it was inscribed into. If she made it from paper, it would only offer a paper’s strength. If she made it from iron, then it was as good as iron armor. It’s why most pendants were made from metals.
What could she possibly use to inscribe the spell on? It would have to be flexible, too, to transform with the rest of his clothes as he switched between forms. Was this something she could even feasibly do in this moment? Would Mei Li have to put this idea aside until they reached a proper town and she could buy materials to work with?
Her eyes caught on the pearl embedded in his forehead and a wild idea caught hold. Could she use that? The manner of the spell embedded in the pearl only vaguely made sense to her. She knew it acted as a storage space, and that it was universal among dragons, but was vague on the particulars.
Shunlei caught her intense stare and paused again, hands stilling in his lap. “Is there something wrong?”
“I have a wild idea, and I’m not sure how feasible it is,” she answered slowly. “Shunlei, tell me about your pearl. I know it carries your clothes in a pocket-space built for that purpose, but nothing else.”
“It’s a gift from our broodmothers once we reach the age of eight. It’s a matter of convenience, as we can choose to put whatever we want inside, but I generally use it for my human clothing and such. There’s not much space inside, so it can’t handle more than two outfits and a few accessories. What is this wild idea?”
“Everyone in this group has basic magical protections except for you,” she explained, still staring hard at the pearl. The way the spell was worked into his skin, it actually tapped into the dragon ‘magic’ coursing within Shunlei. Dragons always maintained they didn’t have magic, but in truth, their shape-shifting abilities and dragon fire were very magical in nature. It was more accurate to say they were very limited in their magic. And the pearl spell was part of the shape-shifting magic, hence why it was tied into Shunlei on a basic level.
“This bothers you?” Shunlei prompted her when she fell silent again.
“Huh? Oh, yes, quite a bit. I know dragons are tough,” she explained with a quick smile at him before her eyes were drawn back up to the pearl. “But there’s certain things you can’t really protect yourself from. Like the upcoming fight, for instance. Blood mages can draw your life force directly from you, so quickly that it will rob you of all strength before you can get a proper hit in. I don’t want you to fall prey to him because none of us thought to properly shield you.”
Shunlei’s voice came over her like a caress. “You think to protect me. I am awed and thankful for the kindness.”
Mei Li’s eyes dropped back down to his. He looked overwhelmed by her consideration. Had no one ever…no, of course they hadn’t. Was it any wonder he always gravitated to her side? Mei Li was the first ever to try and befriend him. And now she was fulfilling another first by seeking to protect him. It touched him deeply, that was clear by the expression on his face. His eyes burned bright with the emotion.
“Of course,” she said. “You’re my friend, after all. And I have an idea on how to manage this. Will you let me tinker a bit with the spell on your pearl?”
“I trust you,” he answered simply.
She really had the worst impulse to kiss his cheek for that. Why was he so absolutely adorable? “Thank you. Give me one moment. I think I need—” She twisted and grabbed pen and paper before kneeling so she could stare more directly at the pearl. “Yes, alright, keep working on the rope. Be prepared to put it down for a minute. I’m going to sketch out the design for a talisman first.”
With a nod, Shunlei went back to the rope, his hands working faster now.
Mei Li stared hard at the pearl. With the right concentration, she could see how it was designed and functioned. The spell was basic, the only complication being how it was tied into him. She sketched it out first so she could stare at something without going cross-eyed. It might be basic, but it was also miniscule in order to fit within the confines of the pearl. Which, really, was as big as her pinky’s nail.
Her hand flew over the page as she got it down, then she stared at the paper as her mind worked out the possibilities. If she tapped into that line there, the one that linked into his dragon fire, wouldn’t that give her the power source she needed? And really, that would be one fine protection. There wasn’t much in the world that could stand against dragon fire. Forget a shield. Her talisman would be offense, not defense, and use dragon fire to destroy any insidious magic that tried to hurt him.
Offense always was the best defense, according to Abe.
Grinning at the thought, she worked out a talisman, then stared at it a bit longer, tweaking things here and there. She tried to keep it basic, as she would have to write very, very finely in order to make this fit. Looking it over carefully once more, Mei Li tested each element of the design against the gestalt of it, but saw no weaknesses. In fact, she was rather proud of herself. This might be the most ingenious design sh
e’d thought of yet. Someone further down the line might see this and think of a way to improve it—Mei Li had never looked at Future Shunlei’s pearl design closely so couldn’t say—but for now, this would do.
“Alright, put it down.”
“One moment,” Shunlei requested. “I’m almost finished. Annnnd there. I’ll tie this off.”
Distracted, she looked down at the rope and was pleased that the latter half of it, at least, looked excellent. (Her half looked like a novice’s attempt. Which couldn’t be helped, as she was a novice.) “I’ll have you braid ropes for me from now on.”
Shunlei chuckled, a rolling sound that was deeper than expected. “I’m at your future service. You’ve thought of a way to do this?”
“I have. Please sit perfectly still and…” She tapped his knees with her hand, urging him to change how he sat so she could kneel between his spread legs. “I need to be very close to see what I’m doing.”
“Ah. Yes, of course.”
Mei Li kneeled directly in front of him, her chest nearly pressed against his. Seeing his blush, she teased, “I know I’m pretty, but don’t fidget. And hold the design up for me.”
Snorting, he held it up, but sassed back, “You’re more than pretty, and you know it. Stop teasing us poor dragons. We’ve no defense against such blinding beauty.”
“Ha, you smooth-talker. I bet you say that to all the ladies.” Mei Li’s tongue crept out the side of her mouth as she focused hard. The pen in her hand had an extremely fine tip, and she used it delicately as she imbued her magic straight through the tip. No ink for this design, just magic and direction.
In an effort to keep her own balance, she slid a hand onto the base of his head, her fingers tangling with the coarse red hair. Shunlei really needed someone to take his poor hair in hand. Clearly, he didn’t care what it did as long as it wasn’t a tangled nest around his head. Future Shunlei held a similar opinion, and age hadn’t helped his hair texture any. But she put that aside as a thought for later. With glances at her design, she double-checked each line drawn. This wasn’t a time or place for mistakes.
Shunlei was incredibly warm, even in this cool evening air. His breath touched her skin in a warm caress that felt nice. And was distracting. Mei Li was honestly a little chilled out here.
She had no awareness of anyone else but the two of them, so intensely she worked, and she jumped a little in surprise when Nord spoke.
His tone was incredulous as he asked in a reed-thin voice, “What are you doing?”
“Gods above,” Kiyo said in the same tone, but closer, so she was clearly leaning in to get a good view of it. “To write in the spell using dragon fire…” She spluttered to a stop, speechless.
Mei Li sat back about three inches and stared at the overall design with a critical eye. “Anyone see any mistakes?”
“I’m not even sure I’m clear how you did that.” Hawes leaned in as well, his head nearly even with hers. “And I specialize in shielding.”
“I’m using I Xing principles here. Pure elemental magic, as it were.”
Shunlei went taut under her hand. Mei Li knew he had to be uncomfortable sitting there with so many people staring at him, and soothed him with a stroke of her fingers along the nape of his neck. He settled again with an audible sigh of pleasure. Oh, liked that, did he? Mei Li stroked him a few more times, enjoying the rumble coming from his chest. He sounded like a cat.
“That is—” Kiyo started, then she paused and had to clear her throat before trying again. “That is fine from what I can tell. That is your design in his hand? I wish to study it at more length.”
Mei Li silently asked Shunlei with her eyes if that was alright. He acquiesced with a dip of the head before silently handing it over. Feeling that she should move, Mei Li rocked back onto her heels before standing. “Well. You should be protected from blood mages from now on. At least from their life-stealing magic.”
“Truly,” Nord said, still faint. “I almost wish he’d be foolish enough to attack you.”
Mei Li brightened at this idea. “Ooh, that would make the fight easier. But I don’t want to put Shunlei directly in his path.”
Shunlei’s smile spoke of blood and trouble, much like Future Shunlei’s did sometimes. “That’s quite alright. I’ll put myself in his path.”
Mei Li didn’t give yonder blood mage very good odds. “But what are we going to do with him once we catch him?”
“Oh, I don’t think we’ll catch him,” Hawes disagreed with a shake of the head. “Most blood mages go down fighting. But if we do, we’ll figure it out from there.”
Mei Li would rather work that out now rather than spur of the moment, but she let it go with a shrug. They’d discuss it when they needed to, apparently.
Nidffer Wood looked like the skeletal version of itself. Mei Li had passed through here once, many years ago, and while that was thousands of years in the future, every record she’d read indicated the Wood didn’t really change. It was a sentient primeval forest, after all. Most had better sense than to mess with it. And the Wood didn’t think of ‘change’ or ‘time’ in the same sense as humanity, so of course it would stay as it always had.
Right now, it looked beyond disturbing. Mei Li felt as if she stood on the edge of an open crypt, the air of staid decay and rot wafting toward her with every breath.
Shunlei came to a stop right at her side, their sleeves brushing. He drew in a breath and then coughed, making a face with his nose scrunched up in protest. “Smells wrong.”
“Doesn’t it?” She made a similar face. “Like death.”
Nord drifted up to join them. “I believe the blood mage set up here under the assumption that he could drain the Wood easily of its magic. Considering its state, I would say his attempt met with limited success.”
Mei Li gave a nod of agreement. “Because the Wood is still alive. I’d say the Wood has been fighting him, in its own way.”
“Entirely possible. I would think setting up shop here would be more trouble than it’s worth, really. The spells he must have done to keep the Wood from destroying his blood altar or killing him is…” Nord shook his head as he trailed off, utterly flabbergasted. “He might well have used more energy to subdue a section of the Wood than he will be able to recoup from.”
Mei Li grimaced. True, the math didn’t work out. “It does seem stupid, doesn’t it?”
“Either way, it gives us an opportunity to end his practices before he destroys the Wood utterly.” Nord sounded pleased by this. Also pissed that it was necessary, but there wasn’t a legitimate magic user in the world who liked blood mages.
Looking behind her, Mei Li saw Hawes and Melchior double-checking armor, Kiyo putting the last touch of magical protections on both of them. Since last night, Kiyo’s opinion of Mei Li’s magic had visibly changed. She no longer viewed Mei Li with the same smug superiority or misgivings. She didn’t trust Mei Li completely yet—that would take more time—but she was inclined to think Mei Li might in fact know something about magic after all.
Little victories. Mei Li would take them.
“I have belatedly realized that I do not know what a blood mage’s objective here would be,” Shunlei admitted slowly. “I gathered from the way you spoke of this person that their intentions were nefarious and they must be stopped immediately, but what is a blood mage’s aims?”
An excellent question. Mei Li opened her mouth to respond, but Nord surprisingly beat her to it.
“Blood mages often have their own agendas, so I can’t speak to this one’s goals.” Nord fussed with his sleeves, tying them back and to his elbows, clearing his forearms and getting ready to move. “But it’s standard that they never use their magic for good. Their very method of extracting magic is through a person’s blood, hence their name. They leave only corpses in their wake. It’s a highly addictive process of magical empowerment, but to detrimental ends. They gain immediate boosts in power that is unparalleled, but it turns them mad.”
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br /> “Think of them like mosquitoes,” Mei Li couldn’t help but throw in. “The only good mosquito is a dead mosquito.”
Nord snorted, some humor dancing in his dark eyes as he looked at her. “You’re not wrong. However, I put forward that mosquitoes are in fact more elevated. At least they only suck blood to survive. A blood mage has no such excuse.”
Delighted he was going along with her poor joke, Mei Li graciously extended a hand, acknowledging his point. “Agreed. But the world will still be better with one less blood-sucking parasite.”
“Naturally.”
Mei Li tamped down a brilliant smile. She’d gotten Nord’s trust too. Or at least, he was thawing enough around her to banter.
“Alright!” Hawes thumped up to them, his armor making each stride heavier than usual. “I think we’re all ready? Yes? Good. Shunlei, you staying human or going dragon?”
“Human, I think.” Shunlei stared dubiously ahead. “The gathering of the trees will make for very tight quarters in my dragon form.”
Hawes’ worry cleared, leaving relief in its wake. “That’s fair enough. I’d rather have your strength on the ground anyway. Alright, let’s split into pairs. Blood mage will probably go for the richest target first, or the one he deems most dangerous. That means our magicians. Shunlei and Lady Mei, you take right wing. Nord and I will take center. Lady Kiyo and Melchior left. Let’s stay a good ten paces away from each other, not give him a bunched target. Alright?”
That sounded a good enough strategy to her since they only had a general direction to go off of. Mei Li nodded acceptance.
With a deep breath, they set off. No one was inclined to chatter as they waded through the dead underbrush. With all the dry leaves on the ground, there was no way to move noiselessly and they didn’t even try, just moved through it. Mei Li had her eyes peeled in all directions, her head constantly panning from left to right, not wanting to be caught unawares.
First of Tomes (The Tomes of Kaleria Book 2) Page 7
