by E M Graham
‘Erm.... Dunno about that,’ she said uncomfortably. ‘Not sure exactly what you mean by connecting the minds.’
‘I’ll show you,’ I replied, and looked into her gray eyes as I confidently sent out feelers to her.
But I touched nothing. Fergie’s mind was an impenetrable fortress, a solid mass of base rock; there were no chinks into the barriers of her head. I pushed, I insinuated, I tried creeping in like a morning mist, but there was no getting in.
‘You’re going to have to allow me in, or it won’t work,’ I complained finally.
‘I still dunno what you’re talking about,’ she said, shaking her head.
‘Well, that won’t work.’ I leaned back against the stone wall and dropped my head. What had I been thinking? Of course there was no way I could pull it off. Best just to quit now, and not get involved in Willem’s scheme. If it wasn’t for Mom in the land of the Ice King...
Fergie shrugged. ‘Why don’t I just say the spell with you? That’ll add power to yours, and it’s a lot easier than this creeping about other people’s heads that you’re talking about.’
‘That’ll work? Just... saying the words with me?’ There was so much I didn’t understand about wielding magic, so much I still had to learn. ‘How about intention?’
She almost rolled her eyes at that. ‘I will have the intention of working with you to putting a safety spell on your mother,’ she said. ‘It’s as simple as that.’
I nodded. ‘Okay then, problem solved. I guess.’ I thought about it all a little more.
‘I want you to fully appreciate what you’re signing up for,’ I told her slowly. ‘And for God’s sake please don’t breathe a word of this to Sandy, don’t let him read your mind.’
We looked deep into each other’s eyes, and she nodded. Her uncertainties had fallen away and I could see she recognized the seriousness of the night’s events.
‘I got your back,’ she said. ’In case Sandy tries anything. I don’t trust him, I never have.’
Her gray eyes were shadowed but I could feel the steely strength behind her words and I relaxed, just a little, for the first time that evening.
‘Good thinking. And as you know... you won’t see a lot of the action,’ I told her as we made to leave our little hidey-hole. ‘But it’ll be happening. The moment when I lay my hands on the stone, that’s the time I’ll be doing the safety spell.’
We stopped and looked at each other again. ‘You’re a real friend,’ I said softly.
She smiled ruefully. ‘Well, sometimes maybe.’ She drew a breath as if to say more, but was interrupted by the sound of a heavy foot slapping the flagstone floor. We both jumped out of the nook in time to see the gray wool skirt of Pauline’s frock disappearing around the corner.
‘I’ll get her!’ Fergie hissed and made to run off, but I held her back.
‘It’s no good,’ I said. ‘We’re late for Sandy and we need to get this over with, hopefully before she amasses the troupe and comes after us. Leave her.’
‘How much did she overhear?’
I shrugged. ‘I don’t know, and not much we can do about it now. Let’s just go and meet Sandy.’
‘YOU DIDN’T tell anyone, did you?’ Sandy whispered furiously to Fergie as we paused outside the door into the tunnel, shining the light of his driftwood wand directly into her face. I knew he was just trying to scare her into submission, to keep her cowed so she would only do what he told her to do.
‘No!’ She stood up to him with her hands on her hips, but with an uncertain look in her eye and a quiver on her lip. I prayed she didn’t lose heart.
He paused to cock an ear all around him before he opened the hobbit door.
‘Were you followed?’ I could barely hear him.
‘No,’ I assured him, shaking my head. Although Pauline may have been spying on Fergie and I, there’d also been no sign of her or the others as we’d made our way to the tunnel entrance. Which, now I thought about it, perhaps was an odd thing. But they had no way of knowing what we were about to do.
‘Alright then,’ he said. He took a deep breath and pulled open the small solid door.
Once inside the portal, we could feel the heaviness of the magic in the air vibrating like a discordancy, but we pushed past. Sandy hesitated, his hand on the door. I could tell what he was thinking; an open door would alert any passers-by that someone was in the tunnel.
‘’We don’t want to leave it closed,’ I said in his ear. ‘We’re going to be leaving in a hurry.’
He nodded with reluctance and led the way down, down the circular stairs, deep into the tunnel.
Fergie poked me. ‘This is a lot better going down here with company,’ she said. ‘Not half as spooky.’
I shushed her and followed Sandy. His torch was our only light.
A cistern dripped, far away, adding to a distant puddle one slow drop at a time. I thought I heard murmurings, maybe from the right, a whispered susurration like the wind in the tree tops. Were those footsteps stealthily making their way down the stairs behind us? I looked around, but could see nothing in the blackness.
I see you brought another adventurer with you. That wasn’t in the plan. Willem’s voice in my head was disapproving.
She’s going to help us. Sandy won’t be able to hold the curtain of spells aside by himself.
Oh, you have so much to learn. It will be a pleasure to teach you.
I shivered, a chill running up my spine, and concentrated on not thinking about what lay ahead for me, so as not to alert him with a wisp of my thoughts. I could see the barrier gate up ahead; the others could sense it, and we slowed down.
‘Now what?’ asked Fergie in a stage whisper that bounced off the cavernous walls of the tunnel.
‘Be quiet!’ I could feel the tension emanating from Sandy as he spoke.
‘Now,’ I breathed. ‘Now I have to somehow take the net of spells and hold it back.’
‘It’s a net? Is it woven?’ This from Fergie.
I nodded, forgetting she could barely see me in the dark.
‘Is it like a cloth weave, or is it more a spider’s web?’
I felt Sandy turn on her and I laid my hand on his arm to stop him.
‘Now what do we do?’ I spoke out loud but I was addressing Willem.
Now is the moment. Steel yourself, Dara dear, we’ve got company. Our cozy little coupling is now a threesome.
And Sandy was with us, in my mind, or in his mind, or maybe we were in some metaphysical place where the physical had no boundaries; it was like nothing I’d ever felt before; I found myself in uncharted territory. The strangeness of being not one or two, but three, the distinct feeling of another, as if all three of our minds were stuck in a tight closet space with no barriers between us and I could feel everything Sandy was feeling. All I knew was it was crowded in there.
‘I think I hear someone coming,’ I heard Fergie say at a distance. ‘What do we do now?’
A rush of impatience flowed from the other two, I could feel it as if coming from myself, and no sooner had it begun than Sandy lifted his wand and Fergie’s voice was abruptly silenced, her mouth moving but no sound coming out, only her eyes expressing her surprise and confusion, then bone-deep fear.
We stared at each other in horror. Neither of us had foreseen that action, and now I wasn’t able to count on her assistance with the safety spell. If I had been wavering the least bit on my course before, that action decided it for me.
Fergie waved her hand at me. It was a small movement, but I realized she was telling me it didn’t matter, that she would think the words and hopefully that would help.
Both of you hold out your mediums, and I will unwork the spells through you. I’m so happy you’ve joined us, Dara, for it makes my job so much easier for me as you have the capacity to see them.
And then he was doing it. Now that space which held all three was charged with a rush of new energy, I could feel the p
ower flowing between us. It was exhilarating, and scary as hell for I was not the one in control. Willem chanted in our minds, I couldn’t even pick out the words, just the feelings and the images which flowed with them like an endless stream of flotsam running under a bridge, and I had no explanation for them or their importance in his counter spells. It was a blend of feelings and colors and moods, indescribable. How these all played a role in his workings, I couldn’t know.
Meanwhile I was staring at the web of spells, allowing Willem to see through my eye, and as I watched and as he worked, I could see the loosening happening; a spell popping here, another flaring then losing its brilliance like a streetlight blowing out, a third simply melted away like butter in a hot frying pan.
This was powerful magic the sorcerer had, and if I stayed with him he would show me all of it.
And then we were through.
Sandy lifted his driftwood wand to part the remaining curtain enough for me to step through as instructed. I could feel his strain, not physical at all, but mental exertion, for Willem was leaving him behind to bear the brunt of the force. We had to act quickly, for Sandy would tire soon enough and the magic still in the spells would burn him.
I heard a shout from further down the passageway, but I had to ignore it for now was the moment. I took a deep breath and walked to the opened curtain, feeling the fizz of magic all around me as I passed through, and the Crystal Charm Stone lay before me in all its glory, glowing on its stand of roughhewn rock.
As before, the rainbow of colors danced over the stone walls inside the broch, the source of light being the crystal itself. It was the size of a small cat carrier stood on end, but shaped like a miniature mountain of crystal shards, all hard edges and prisms in its terrible beauty.
I crossed the small chamber to stand on the other side of the stone. I wanted Fergie to be able to see my actions. Our eyes met over the fluctuating prisms of color and light where she waited, silenced, beyond the barrier of spells and I nodded, ever so slightly.
‘Show me my mother again.’
What? What is this? I could feel Willem tearing his attention from the crystal to my demand. After, after. Right now we must do this. There are others in the tunnel.
He was right, I could hear footsteps running, coming closer and a voice echoing through the distance, but I couldn’t worry about that right now. I stood over the stone.
‘Show me my mother.’ My arms begged to reach out and touch it as Willem willed me to do, but I remained steadfast in my determination.
There is no need. You trust me. The stone! Take the stone, now!
‘Remind me why I’m throwing away my future to help you.’ My hand hovered over the stone and I forced myself not to touch it. Not yet.
He swore an oath in his own language, then we flashed back into the Ice King’s court. Still the same walls of ice and the huge log burning in the grate, and the beastlike King still seated on his throne of bones. I felt the chill in the air as I looked upon his terrible visage.
With all the power and sense of self I could muster, I gripped my coin, my medium in one hand and with the other reached toward the stone, for I would need all the help I could get now that Fergie was hampered by the silencing spell. Just a light touch, that was all I needed, and I prepared to whisper the safety spell aloud while screaming it in my head, and in Willem’s mind too.
The moment my finger touched the stone, I felt a fire, a blaze running through my entire body and soul, as if all the portals in the worlds were opening in me. It wasn’t painful, not in the least, it was pure and powerful and as if all the love and joy in the world was contained within me. It was a terrible peace, in that the sadness and anger and jealousy and all of our petty human emotions that wars had been fought over were exposed to me as nothing more than ripples on pond; meaningless and inconsequential and nothing.
My mother felt that moment happen too, I knew as she lifted her head from her task and she saw me for that split-second of time. She smiled the secret half-smile I knew so well and hope bloomed through me. I watched the Ice King glance up as if a whisper had passed over his head.
That moment’s pause in wonderment cost me; it must have lowered my barrier to Willem and my intention to say the safety spell over my mother leaked through to his mind, and he knew I was not going to pick up the stone for him.
Sandy! Something flashed between the two like quicksilver and I looked up to see Fergie caught in Sandy’s tight grip with his silver knife at her throat. Sandy’s face wore an expression of grim satisfaction, while Fergie still couldn’t even scream her terror. He had dropped the curtain of spells.
Pick up the stone.
‘No, Willem,’ I said fervently. ‘Don’t do this. I won’t take the stone until you let Fergie go.’
Oh, my sweet, traitorous Dara. What is she to you, compared to your mother? Compared to your future? Sandy won’t hesitate, you know this. We will both have failed, but you will have her blood on your conscience.
Yes, he was right. Willem wouldn’t, because he didn’t have a conscience.
Sandy’s arm tensed as if he was preparing to cut her throat.
‘Stop, Sandy,’ I called. ‘Okay, I’ll pick up the crystal.’
I braced myself for that terrible flow of energy again. Could I, a simple Normal half-witch bear it? The journey out of the tunnel was a long one, surely I would burn out every nerve ending in my body. Or die trying.
I will help you carry the load of power. Willem’s voice in my ears was hungry.
‘Why is this crystal so important to you? I can’t believe you’re just doing this as a favor to someone else.’ I temporized, though I could feel his impatience like a rapid drumbeat in my head.
Stop the small talk. Just do it. Allow me to help or it will kill you.
He was right. My arms picked up the physical load, it wasn’t light, being pure crystal, yet not as heavy as I’d expected. Willem was right there with me to help as the force of the stone washed through me like a lightning bolt. I had to keep my eyes narrowed to stop the prismatic colors form burning my retinas. Together we shared the awe inspiring power of the crystal’s flow.
Together, Willem and I, we carried the weight to the curtain of spells, where I hesitated.
You will find no barriers to your way now, Dara. The crystal will allow you to pass through unharmed physically.
I had no choice but to trust his words, and I stepped forward. He spoke the truth; I passed through that gate as effortlessly as if it were a waterfall, a mere rainbow mist. I could feel each of the myriad spells pass through me, the kaleidoscope of color and smells and emotion that I had no way to understand, and I made it to the other side unscathed. I stumbled past Sandy who still had one arm around Fergie’s neck. I could see the sweat trickling into his eyes and the awe on his face as he watched my passage.
The tunnel stretched on into darkness, the only light was that which emanated from my joyful burden.
To the jetty.
How did I manage to get through the tunnel and up the circular stone steps into the castle proper? To this day, I have no idea, the whole trip was a blur. I was like someone stoned on the strongest narcotic; all I was conscious of was the irrefutable joy of life everlasting and all the terror that it entails.
Willem led me to the dark hallway exit where I’d lit the sconce, that very first night which seemed so long ago now, and out the side door into the cool clear night air. I noticed in passing the brightly lit windows of the dining room in the Victorian wing. Johanna, Rasmussen, Durand and even Hugh, all sat at the polished table, candelabra lit around, dining in fine style without a clue as to what was passing under their very noses. I felt Willem’s glee at the high end heist he was pulling off. Finally, his life’s work was nearing completion.
But I think they didn’t stay in ignorance for too long, for the other Kin finally found to us and realized the extent of my perfidy. The ensuing fireworks and drama that lit the nig
ht sky could not be ignored even by the most self-satisfied of witches.
Caught up in this surreal journey, I barely noticed the resistance in my way as the others came upon us and tried, in their pathetic ways, to stop me. Timothy sent the arching rainbows of his own crystal out to meet mine; they danced and played and as soon as I directed my glance to them, they bounced harmlessly off the stone walls of the garden like a psychedelic light show. Beautiful yes, but to absolutely no effect.
Poor Pauline unleashed a magic portcullis of iron as we left the walled garden, but I stepped through it easily as if it were no more than a sprinkler tickling the hairs of my body, and Sandy, with Fergie still thrust before him, slipped thorough in my wake.
If anything, their shots of power merely increased my own as the Crystal Charm Stone hungrily sucked up all the loose magic in the air then pumped it through me. I laughed as I saw Oliver approach, and a mere flick of my eyes sent him reeling against the stone walls.
Surprisingly enough, Win was the only one who gave me a run for my money, as she called upon her powerful oriental Dragon magic. We were just at the top of the cobbled road leading to the pier, I paused to watch the cloud of green gas as it rose from the path, rising and expanding until it morphed into a huge iridescent dragon twenty feet tall. It towered over me, sending me the foulest puffs of its breath, right from the sulphurous depths of Hell itself.
With a fearsome roar it attacked me, and I could smell my hair singing even as its fetid fire blew over me, bouncing harmlessly off the stone in my arms and wrapped itself around me, engulfing me. But made fearless by the power surging through me from the charm stone I stood in the path of its fire and stared up into its eyes, and I moved forward directly into the path of it, daring the beast to try to destroy me.
I was unstoppable. I found I had no need to speak a spell, or even form a conscious intention in my mind. My every thought was translated instantly into action; the rush of power from the stone to the dragon was invisible, but I felt it, I felt each atom of the wind that grew and rose, lifting the green scaled beast like it was a new hatched butterfly, buffeted on the fates of the gale.
