by Mac Flynn
Chloe frowned and waved a hand at him. “Don’t be so mean to her! She had a rough night!”
“And it’s all because she wouldn’t listen to us,” Gwill countered.
“But that doesn’t mean you have to be so-”
“It’s all right,” I spoke up as we reached the closed doors to the dining room. I turned to both of them and smiled. “He’s right. I shouldn’t have left, and I’m sorry for the trouble I caused.”
Chloe grasped my hands and shook her head. “You’re no trouble at all!” Gwill snorted. She cast him an ugly look before she returned her attention to me. “I’m very glad you’re here, and I hope you’ll stay.”
“Like she has a choice. . .” Gwill mumbled.
“Of course she has a choice!” Chloe snapped.
I grasped her hands and gave them a gentle squeeze. “I’ll stay.”
Chloe’s face brightened with her wide smile. “I’m so glad to hear that! Oh! But you must be hungry!” She flung open the doors and ushered me into the dining room. “Let’s get you something to eat right away!”
Unlike the previous morning, Tristan’s chair was empty and there was no plate or glass laid for him. “Is Tristan all right?” I asked Chloe as I took a seat in my chair.
“Mr. Moody is out in the garden staring at the fountain,” Gwill announced as he floated in behind us. He settled onto the table in front of me and crossed his arms over his chest. “He won’t even tell me what he’s looking for.”
Chloe scooted up to my side and waved her hand at him. “I’ve told you a thousand times not to be on the table!”
Gwill chuckled, but floated up a foot from the top. “And how many times do I have to tell you an ardwid can’t dirty up his own house?”
“I’ve seen it done before,” Chloe snapped.
Gwill’s bemusement fell from his face and a dark look passed over his dark brow. “Those aren’t ardwid, not really.”
“Then stop acting like them and distracting me from my work,” she scolded him as she scurried into the kitchen.
Gwill floated close beside me, but his eyes were on where Chloe had disappeared. “A little touchy this morning, isn’t she?”
“You know her better than I,” I pointed out.
He flashed me a grin. “Yeah, and don’t let that nice act fool you. She’s a real wildcat when she wants to be.”
Chloe reentered with a platter filled with all the breakfast food I could imagine, and then some. She set the steaming platter in front of me and poured me a glass of milk. “Did you need anything else?”
“A larger stomach,” I teased as I picked up my fork.
“Well, if you mortals are going to be boring then I’m leaving,” Gwill mused as he floated toward the ceiling.
“And good riddance,” Chloe snapped before he disappeared. Her eyes remained on the ceiling as she folded her arm in front of her and shook her head. “That ardwid is such a nuisance.”
“I think he likes you,” I mused.
Chloe choked on her spittle. “L-likes me? But he’s always bothering me!”
“A guy who bothers a girl that much has to like her,” I pointed out between mouthfuls of food.
A bright red blush appeared on her cheeks, and she gave the ceiling a second, confused look before she looked back at me. “You. . .you really think so?”
I pushed my empty, greasy plate away and stood where I turned to Chloe and set a hand on her shoulder. “As a friend of mine once said: if he’s willing to risk annoying you the rest of your life then he’s a keeper.”
She blinked at me. “That’s rather strange advice.”
I dropped my hand and shrugged. “She’s a strange friend, but what she was saying is that someone who pays attention to you that much must like you.”
Chloe dropped her gaze to the floor and wrung her hands in front of herself. “I. . .I suppose you’re right.”
I patted her on the shoulder. “He’ll tell you eventually. Just give the little annoyance a chance.” I looked past her at the doorway. “He said Tristan was out in the garden, didn’t he?”
She nodded. “Yes, at the fountain.”
“I’ll be out there with him,” I told her as I walked toward the entrance.
“Chris?” I paused in the doorway and looked over my shoulder. Chloe faced me with a soft smile on her face. “I think Lord Tristan likes you, too.”
It was my turn to blush. “Maybe, but I’ll see you later.”
I hurried out the door, but no matter how far I ran I knew I couldn’t escape the truth, and that truth was that maybe-deep down inside-I liked him a little, too.
17
I walked out of the house and into the bright sunny day. The birds sang overhead and the flowers glistened with the morning dew. I turned my steps toward the side of the house and the hedged walls that lay back there. I had just reached the archway when I saw Tristan coming out of the hedge. His head was bowed and his brow furrowed in thought. My heart quickened as I thought how handsome he looked in the bright light.
He lifted his head and smiled at me. “Good morning. I hope you slept well.”
I nodded. “Very well, thank you.” I leaned to one side and looked past him in the direction of the fountain. “Were you looking for something?”
He stopped at my side and half-turned toward the hedges. “‘Something’ is an apt word.”
“You’re thinking about that thing I saw in my world, aren’t you?” I guessed.
Tristan looked to me and smiled. “That’s quite astute of you to notice, and to answer your question, yes.”
“Do you think it was attached to your spell or something like that?” I suggested.
He looked back to the maze and shook his head. “I couldn’t be sure without having seen the creature myself.”
I pointed in the direction of the fountain. “Do you mind if I take a look?”
“The portal isn’t there,” he told me.
I dropped my hand and smiled. “I know, but it’s a nice fountain, and I really like the hedges.”
The corners of his lips twitched upward. “Do you? I’m very glad to hear that. You see, I planted them myself many years ago.”
“You did a wonderful job,” I complimented him as we walked into the hedge and I admired the perfect uniformity in the walls. “I’ve never seen one so tall and-”
We reached the fountain and a cold chill ran down my spine. Tristan wrapped his arm around my shoulders and drew me against his side. I looked up and saw that his bright golden eyes held a tinge of red and that his face was twisted in disgust. “Stay near me,” he commanded me.
“What’s going-” My question was answered before I finished it.
A dark puddle rose up from between the stones and congealed itself into a humanoid shape. My eyes widened as I recognized the same hideous creature as the thing I had confronted on that fateful night. “That’s the thing that attacked me!”
“Gwill!” Tristan shouted.
Gwill flowed out of the shadows of the hedges to our left. “You-” He glanced at the creature and started back. “How in all the gods did that get in here?”
“I thought perhaps you would know,” Tristan countered.
Gwill crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. “I didn’t sense even a slither out of that monster.”
The black blob lifted its red eyes to the floating shadow. It let out a gurgling snarl and lunged at Gwill, but his incorporeal form meant the attacker merely flung itself through him. The thing splattered onto the stones five feet away from us and congealed into a puddle. The black liquid didn’t so much as twitch.
I took a step toward it, but Tristan stretched out his arm in front of me to block my way. “Don’t approach it.”
The blob rose up and formed itself into its giant ooze monster self.
“It’s a mud golem,” Tristan told me as the creature’s red eyes rolled over and fell on us. It opened its fat-lipped mouth and revealed the same sharp teeth as the other on
e from my world.
“I’ve never seen one that polluted before,” Gwill commented as he flitted behind us. “Or that mean.”
“So do we run now or wait for it to start chasing us?” I asked him.
“There’s no need to worry,” Tristan assured me as he crossed his arm over his chest. A red flame appeared in his upturned palm.
The creature charged at us gnashing its teeth. Tristan threw his arm in an arc ahead of him and pitched the flame at the monster. The fire hit the creature squarely in the chest and set the thing ablaze. The creature tipped its head back and screamed as its body was consumed by the fire which wasn’t a fire. I felt no heat, nor did the fire consume any of the vegetation around the beast. In a moment the monster had disappeared. The flame dropped to the ground and was extinguished.
Tristan walked over to the spot where our foe had stood and knelt on one knee. He brushed his hand over the ground and furrowed his brow. “Interesting.”
Gwill floated down to join him and frowned. “You know I hate it when you say something bad without explaining what it is.”
“The monster is not magic,” Tristan revealed.
My jaw hit the ground. “Not magic? Then how’d the pile of mud come alive?”
Gwill floated between us and jerked a thumb at me as he looked to Tristan. “Are you sure she’s really worth keeping?”
Tristan’s eyes flickered up to the shadow. “Even you were once a mere shadow too afraid of the light to come out of the corners.”
Gwill crossed his arms over his chest and frowned. “Well, that was different.”
Tristan returned his attention to me. “Natural elements are often confused with magic, but they are merely life forces with unique abilities. You mentioned that you had met a dark creature in your world. Was this the same one?”
I nodded. “Yeah, even down to the red eyes.”
“Tell me exactly how it came to disappear,” he insisted.
I shrugged. “I don’t really know. I tripped over my own feet and dropped onto the ground, and the thing jumped at me. I shut my eyes and threw my arms up, and there was this heat in my hand. The next thing I knew the thing was gone.”
Tristan cupped his chin in one hand as he furrowed his brow. “Interesting. Perhaps the creatures are attracted to the portal, even if it no longer exists. However, until I’m certain of that I would ask that you remain in the house for the time being.”
I nodded. “Sure, but how are you going to find the answer?”
“I have an extensive collection of books on rare creatures. They may hold an answer to this mystery,” he reminded me as he looked to Gwill. “Inspect the area for any visual signs of more creatures.” Gwill pursed his lips, but nodded and disappeared.
“So Gwill can’t sense any natural creatures?” I asked him.
“That is one of the puzzlements of this mystery,” Tristan mused as he looked over the scorched spot where the creature had burned. “Gwill should be able to sense anything that comes into the property down to the lowliest worm, and yet this aggressive creature entered without his knowing.”
A horrible thought struck me. “He wouldn’t lie to you, would he?”
Tristan turned to me with a smile. “He is incapable of lying to the owner of the property, though even if he weren’t bound by our pact I have complete trust in him.” He set a hand on my shoulder and led me out of the courtyard. “Now let us return and warn Chloe about the possible danger.”
“Did you want me to help you look through your books?” I offered.
He smiled down at me. “Would you know what you’re looking for?”
I winced and hung my head. “I guess not. . .”
He set a hand atop my head. “But I thank you for the offer.”
My eyes fell on his hand at his side. “So what was that light you threw at it?” I wondered.
“A cleansing spell,” he told me. “It seemed the most practical application considering the creature’s unclean body.”
I bit my lower lip. “Do you. . .do you think I could do that spell?”
He arched an eyebrow. “I have no doubt that you have the talent, but are you sure you want to?”
I met his eyes with my unflinching gaze and nodded. “I want to. I don’t want to stand there again and be helpless.”
“Then I will teach you, but in front of the house,” he promised as he looked down at the shadows of the hedges. “Gwill.”
Gwill’s white eyes made their appearance in the darkness on the ground. “What is it now?”
“Warn Chloe to remain inside until further notice,” he instructed the shadow.
Gwill sighed. “All right, but don’t expect her to listen to me.” The eyes sank back into the darkness.
Tristan led me to the front of the house and into the rows of flower beds. We stopped by a large patch of grass near the pond. I could see little splashes as fish swam to and fro beneath the lily pads.
Tristan stepped ahead of me and turned to face me. He took a step back. “Since you’ve done this spell before you won’t need my assistance.”
I blinked at him. “Done it before? When?”
“When you first faced the mud golem,” he revealed. “The light you witnessed and the warmth in your hands reveals that you unconsciously cast a spell of purification to protect yourself.”
“But you said that magic couldn’t be done in my world,” I reminded him.
“It can’t unless a portal is opened to this world, and when you used your powers the portal was open,” he pointed out.
I raised my hands and looked down at them. “So how do I get these things to turn on when I want them to?”
He chuckled. “First, don’t force the magic. It must come willingly from nature, otherwise what springs forth may become bydron, or corrupted magic.”
“What happens if I do that?” I asked him.
“You risk destroying not only yourself, but the natural space around you from which the magic was forced,” he revealed.
I winced. “So how can I tell when I’m doing the magic wrong?”
Tristan looked around us at the great beauty. “The effort you expend will strain your physical body and the natural world around you will begin to whither.”
“Maybe you should help me with this one,” I suggested.
He smiled and stepped further back. “I’m sure you’ll be fine. Remember what I told you before with the water, but in this spell you must concentrate on all the elements around you. The earth, water, even the air are your ingredients, and all you need do is weave them together to create the spell you see in your mind.”
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “All right, here goes.”
“Open your hands in front of you with your palms turned upward to receive the magic,” he instructed me. I did as he told and stood as still as possible. “You must remember to breath.”
I creaked open one eye and frowned at him. “I’m working on that.”
He chuckled as I closed my eyes and focused on everything around me and breathing. I felt a shift in the air around me and a breeze wafted by. The gentle wind tickled my cheeks and brought a smile to my face.
That was when a column of fire burst out from both of my hands and threw themselves twenty feet into the air. Tristan and I were thrown back by the force in opposite directions and the flames were extinguished. I sat up and blinked at him as he did the same across the yard.
“What the heck was that?” I asked him.
His eyes fell on the spot where I had stood. “I believe that was nature giving you its blessing.”
I followed his gaze and my eyes widened. There was a round scorched circle in my place. I climbed onto my knees and gawked at the crispy grass before I lifted my eyes to Tristan. “Did I do it wrong?”
“In a way,” he agreed as he climbed to his feet and brushed his dark robe off. “And yet this isn’t your fault. Apparently nature has a strong affinity for you and wished to grant your plea, but in a rather exuberan
t manner.”
I rubbed the back of my head where it had struck the soft grass. “Is that natural?”
“They are not unheard of,” Tristan told me as he walked over to me and held out his hand. “Would you like to try again?”
18
“Should I?” I countered as I took his hand.
Tristan helped me to my feet and stepped back. “The choice is yours.”
I stiffened my jaw and nodded. “I’ll do it.”
Tristan smiled and took a few more steps back. “Perhaps limit your plea to one element.”
I held up my hands in front of me as before and furrowed my brow. “Which element is in charge of the protection spell?”
“Any that you choose. Protection comes from all quarters,” he told me.
I sighed, but closed my eyes and focused on that gentle breeze that had kissed my cheeks. Here, breeze. Good breeze. I just want a little bit of help. Please?
I felt a soft warmth develop in my hands and risked opening an eye. Both my hands held a pair of small, glowing yellow balls. They pulsed with a light that warmed my body and made me feel a little giddy. I was at a loss what to do, but an unfamiliar instinct took hold.
I pressed my hands together and the balls merged. The gentle pulse spread outward from the single ball and brushed over the surrounding area, leaving a soothing comfort in its wake. The ball in my hand faded into nothing.
A strange lethargy came over me. I clutched my head and swayed from side-to-side. The world around me began to spin.
“Christine!” I heard Tristan shout as his strong arms wrapped around me.
I shook my head and cleared it a little before I looked up at him with a smile. “Did I do it?”
He smiled down at me and nodded. “Yes, and it was quite a sight to behold. However-” He swung me into his arms and pressed me against his chest. “I believe we should allow you to rest. While magic comes naturally to an athrylis that doesn’t mean the effort isn’t taxing on our bodies.”
“I’m fine, just a little dizzy,” I assured him, but he strode toward the house.
“A little food and sleep would be beneficial to you,” he insisted.
