by Mac Flynn
Maddock grasped my hand and drew me closer to the captured woman. “This is rather a simple trick, and I’m sorry I didn’t notice it sooner.” He nodded at Katherine. “Since her blood caused the curse, her blood, or in this case her life force, can cure you.”
“So sort of like a ‘hair of the dog’ idea?” I asked him.
He smiled at me. “Quite right. In order to have the best chance for the lifting you will have to draw her life force using Gaeis. That is, the snake you see here.”
I shook my head. “But I don’t know how to do that.”
“And you’re not supposed to do magic on anyone against their will!” Katherine snapped.
Maddock raised his eyes to our ‘guest’ and glared at her. “That is correct, but since you have already attacked her this is to defend herself.” He glanced over his shoulder at Tristan. “Surely you’ve taught her basic healing magic.”
Tristan nodded before he looked to me. “You need only summon the elfennau’s help as you have done before and it will guide you.”
I stiffened my jaw and nodded. “I’ll try.”
I returned my attention to Katherine who continued to struggle and raised my hand. Gaeis pulsed with his green light and raised the slender spear of light. I winced as the sharp end stabbed into Katherine’s arm. She flinched, but stared at the spot in confusion and horror.
“What are you doing to me?” she screamed as she resumed her struggles. “Let me go!”
Gaeis drew back his ‘tail’ and scratched my arm with the tip. I felt a warmth flow through me that focused in my forehead. The heat grew hotter until the room grew blurry with fever. I clutched my head and swayed to one side, but Tristan caught me before I collapsed.
But he couldn’t stop me from fainting from the heat.
28
I shifted and winced. My head ached at one specific spot. I reached up and brushed my fingers against the center of my forehead. My breath caught in my throat when I didn’t feel the now-familiar touch of the hard curse mark.
My eyes flew open and I sat up. A gentle pair of hands grasped my shoulders and pressed me back against the myriad of pillows behind me.
“Don’t move too quickly,” Tristan advised me as he dropped his hands and sat back.
I sheepishly smiled up at him. “A lot of people are saying that to me lately, aren’t they?”
He returned the smile and nodded. “Yes, though I wish that weren’t true.”
I pressed my fingers against my forehead again and relief washed over me. “I think that isn’t going to happen as much as before.”
He nodded. “Yes. You cured yourself. I must admit I didn’t think it possible.”
“You underestimate your apprentice,” Maddock called from his standing place beside the crackling fire. He leaned one shoulder against the mantel and tilted his head to one side as he studied me. “She has the potential to be quite the magnificent athrylis.”
I looked down at my upturned palms that lay in my lap and furrowed my brow. “That would mean giving up on going home.”
Maddock’s face fell and he straightened. “I didn’t mean it that way.”
I raised my eyes to him and shook my head. “I know you didn’t it, but it’s hard to get around the fact that I’d have to stay here for a while to learn anything. But then, I think I’m going to be stuck here for a while.”
Tristan turned his face away. “I’m sorry.”
I cupped his cheek in my hand and turned his face back to me. “Don’t be. Even though I’ve had a lot of danger, I’ve also had a lot of fun. Your world is amazing, and I’m glad that I’ve been able to see it.”
Tristan searched my eyes. I suspected he was looking for doubt or lies. I leaned forward and pressed a light kiss on his lips. When I drew back his eyes were wide and his mouth was slightly agape.
Maddock laughed. “Now that’s the first time in a long time that I’ve seen that face on you, Tristan.”
Tristan smiled at me. “It has indeed.”
I cleared my throat and looked around the room. One of my friends was noticeably absent. “Where’s Chloe? Is she okay?”
Tristan nodded. “Yes. She’s fixing something for you to eat right now.”
“And Katherine? What happened to her?” I asked them.
Maddock chuckled. “I gave her quite a choice. She could either go with me to the academy at Laethion for a fair trial, or she could present herself before Tristan’s merciless but just jurisdiction.”
My eyes flickered to Tristan. “She chose Laethion?”
He nodded. “She did.”
I fell back against the pillows and smiled. “I’m glad that’s over.” A thought struck me. “So what happened to Harry?”
Maddock pursed his lips. “He was near death when we found him with an unconvincing suicide note lying beside him. Fortunately, I carry quite an extensive supply of antidotes and was able to cure him.”
I winced. “And that’s what Katherine intended for me, too. . .”
“She won’t be hurting anyone else any time soon,” Maddock mused as he walked over to the window to the left of the bed. He brushed aside the curtain and smiled at the sunny day. “A beautiful place, but remind me not to become your neighbor. The others in this area appear to be either very wicked or in danger of being killed.”
“I will endeavor to remind you of those dangers if you are ever to return,” Tristan promised as he stood.
Maddock looked to me and smiled. “I believe I will be returning more often than I used to. But if you’ll excuse me, I must try some more of Chloe’s cooking before I leave.” He bowed his head and left.
Tristan remained beside the bed. I reached out and grasped his hand. He looked down at me and I smiled up at him. “I really am happy to be here.”
He gave a nod. “I know. Your eyes are too pure to lie.” He paused and opened his mouth, but shut it.
“Is something wrong?” I asked him.
He shook his head. “Not at all. I will leave you to rest.”
That rest turned out to be a few more days, but with Chloe’s cooking I was nearly my old self again. Tristan, however, wasn’t nearly his old self, or what little I knew about him. I didn’t see him for more than an hour during that time.
“Where’s Tristan?” I asked Chloe as I dressed myself.
She had my empty dishes on a tray and nodded at one of the windows. “He’s out in the garden. He’s been there a lot these last few days.”
I furrowed my brow and went in search of my elusive host. I found him seated on one of the benches in the center of the maze. His eyes lay on the fountain and didn’t move as I made my appearance.
“Thinking?” I wondered as I walked over to him.
A dark shadow passed over his brow. “Christine, there is-” He pursed his lips and looked away from me.
I stopped in front of him and frowned. “There’s what?”
Tristan closed his eyes and sighed. “I have not been entirely truthful with you, and after what happened I feel you must be told.”
My heart quickened. “Told what?”
He opened his eyes and looked up to me. “I have the power to return you to your home.”
My jaw hit the paved stones. “You. . .you what?”
“I have the power, and I have always had the power,” he reiterated.
“But you said-that is, I-” I shook off my shock. “Why did you lie to me?”
He couldn’t look at me in the eyes. “I sought to keep you here, but I see now how foolish and selfish was my choice. I can no more protect you from the evils of this world than I can force you to be my bride.”
My legs wobbled a little, so I sank down on the seat beside him. “You. . .I. . .I can go home?”
He looked at the fountain and stretched out his hand. A faint glow appeared in his palm and a beam of light shot out. It struck the fountain and the familiar portal spread open. Tristan dropped his hand and looked to me. “Return to your world, Christine, and may you b
e happy there.”
I studied the darkness for a moment before I looked to Tristan’s face. His eyes were full of sorrow and conviction. He would allow me to go home and be left alone in his world, possibly to wait another thousand years for his betrothed.
A faint smile slipped onto my lips and I sighed. “Close it.”
He blinked at me. “Pardon?”
I put my hands on my hips and frowned at him. “I said close it before another mud monster decides it looks tasty.”
“You are sure?” he persisted.
“Do I have to close it myself?” I warned him as I stood.
He followed me to his feet and grasped my upper arms. His eyes searched mine. “Your truth lies in your eyes, and yet-”
“And yet you’re standing here jabbering,” I teased as I nodded at the portal. “So you know I want you to shut that. Besides, it’s not like you can’t open it again, right?”
Tristan furrowed his brow. “Truth be told, there are certain conditions needed to open the portal, and the effort is a strain on this form.”
I grabbed his shoulders and spun him around to face the portal with me at his back. “Then you’d better shut it before I get angry, and you don’t want to see me when I’m angry.”
Tristan raised his hand and the light shone again. A single ball flew out of his palm and struck the portal. The swirling vortex collapsed into its center and disappeared. Tristan swayed a little, but I caught him.
“Easy!” I shouted as I helped him back onto the bench. “That does take something out of you, doesn’t it?”
Tristan had his gloved hand over his face so that I couldn’t see his expression. “Quite.”
I took a seat beside him and looked at the empty air. There wasn’t regret, but I felt as though I had closed a door and didn’t know where to look for the next one. “So what now?”
He dropped his hand and smiled at me. “Now we begin your apprenticeship in earnest. That is, when you are ready.”
A flicker of phoenix floated by me and I smiled. “I think I’m ready.”
But how little I was ready for the adventures that lay ahead, but with my new friends by my side, and Tristan there for me, I was prepared to take on the world.
First, though, I had to take on a box.
Appendix
aethera word that refers to both ‘air’ and ‘heaven.’ Those with the skills of an athrylis are said to be able to ascend to the aether while still living and reside there forevermore in perpetual peace.
Arallthe name for our world which lacks the magic of its twin world, Ledrith.
ardwidrefers to spirits that protect households. They are usually shadow in appearance, but can take on human shape.
athrylisthe term for a magician in the world of Ledrith. A competent consure is able to make a good living by helping others with their abilities.
Blodaua village within two miles of Tristan’s home. The inhabitants specialize in growing the enfise flower.
bydronthe corruption of magic when it is forced from nature rather than freely given. The consequences of an athrylis calling forth bydron are numerous, and most end in the death of not only the athrylis but the surrounding nature from which the magic was forced.
Cadwathe ethereal manifestation of the protection elfennau used by athrylis. The creature has the appearance of a phoenix-like bird, though as an elfennau the form is slightly different for each user of magic.
caethwasthe ellyll term for a spirit that is bound to a mortal.
Council of Treona group of five individuals who enforce the rules of the athrylis. Their name derives from a legendary athrylis named Treon who was said to have gathered all the wisdom of the world unto himself and disappeared into the aether, though not before leaving behind sacred texts and the initial commandments of the athrylis. They also preside over judgment should an athrylis break any of the sacred commandments.
dierthcreatures of Ledrith that have unknown origins, but are generally considered mutations spawned from the darkness within nature.
elfennauan ancient name of unknown origin used in reference to the elements of the world of Ledrith. They are incorporeal beings that control the natural order and bestow their powers only on a few mortals, namely the athrylis. To the inexperienced athrylis they appear as strands of light, but a trained athrylis is capable of seeing their unique ethereal form. One such form is that of the Cadwa.
ellyllthe singular and plural name for the fairy folk of Ledrith. They inhabit the deepest and oldest parts of the world, and like athrylis they weave their magic from nature. However, they are considered immortal, unless struck by illness or mortally wounded, and generally consider the mortal world to be a cold and miserable place which they gladly avoid.
enfisea flower that looks like a cross between an iris and a tulip. The flower is highly sought after for its many varieties of color, and fetches a high price because of its reputation as a difficult plant to grow.
ferangean orange tabby cat the size of a tiger that is capable of using magic.
Gaeisa snake elfennau that is the ethereal manifestation of healing magic. Like other elfennau, its characteristics are slightly different for each user of magic.
gatha feline species of shifter with a humanoid appearance but incapable of hiding their cat ears. They are descended from the mountain cats, or ancient gath, that inhabited the higher elevations.
Harliprenthe woods near Blodau in which dwell the ellyllon. The name translates to Shade Wood in reference to the deep shadows cast by its ancient trees.
Laethionthe capital city of one of the larger empires and home to a prestigious college for athrylis.
Ledriththe name for the other world that is connected to our own, but still retains the magic our world lost ages ago.
methrinaan ancient word defined as ‘cherished’ that refers to the relationship between an athrylis and the natural elements. The elements, or elfennau, consider those bestowed with their gifts as their children and grace them with their powers that they might thrive in the world.
syka word that translates to ‘dry’ and refers to people who are incapable of using magic. Much of the population of Ledrith are syk.
Treona legendary athrylis whose texts were the foundation for the sacred commandments of all those athrylis who proceeded him. He is also the namesake for the Council of Treon.
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Continue the adventure
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Shadows of Myth:
A wondrous collection of beautiful creatures floated around me, and the evil little things were doing a good job of ignoring me.
I held out my hand to the familiar phoenix that was Cadwa, the elfennau of protection. “Over here,” I coaxed. The creature floated over to me somewhat languidly, but finally settled itself in my palm. I looked down at the elegant creature of light and frowned. “Sometimes I wonder if you guys really don’t like me.”
“It’s because you hesitate to summon them,” Tristan countered.
My dragon mentor sat on a nearby rock. Around me was the wondrous front yard of his estate. Flowers bloomed and birds sang, and all around our magician selves were the floating entities known as elfennau. They were the source of our magic, the beings that gave us their different powers so we could use it to form spells.
I dropped my tired arms to my sides and bowed my head. A sigh esc
aped my parted lips. “I know. It’s just that-well, I don’t know why they think I can use them.” I raised my head and looked to Tristan. “What makes someone an athrylis? What do we have that so few others have?”
He stood. “Many athrylis have tried to unlock that mystery, but the only closure they have found is that each of us must discover our own path in using the gifts the elfennau gift to us.”
“So what they’ve found is that we special few need to find our own path like everyone else in the world?” I guessed.
He smiled. “Yes.”
I dropped my head. “I guess I really shouldn’t expect anything else. I mean, I haven’t even been in this world for more than a month.”
Tristan walked over and cast his shadow over me. He cupped my chin in his palm, and I looked up to find his golden eyes sparkling. “I would not have traded this month for all the world.”
I tilted my head into his hand and smiled. “You always know how to make a girl feel better.”
“I may have a betterment for your skills, as well,” he teased.
I noticed movement behind him and toward Harlipren, the wood that bordered two sides of Tristan’s property. “Chris!” a tiny voice called, and a tiny form latched onto my neck.
I started back, but smiled when I recognized the small figure of the ellyll who had befriended me on my first adventure in this world called Ledrith.
She looked up at me and her face was aglow with glee. “I have very good news! My Lord and Lady have returned, and they wish to see you!” She cast a side-glance at Tristan and frowned. “Oh, and you, too, but we prefer you not to come.”
