Finding Real Magic

by Shawn Keys

  Below them was a ten-story drop.

  Ending in a spike-filled pit.

  Shit. Death trap.

  Instantly, Zahn activated his time-relic. He hated using it so soon, but it was either that or they were all dead.

  The world smeared into slow motion for the others. Zahn, unaffected, fell faster below them. The relic didn’t just increase his speed. He had learned that earlier on. He had no idea how the localized time-magic worked, but everything went faster for him. He actually fell faster, gaining on his friends above with each passing millisecond. Needing that separation, he waited two seconds in his accelerated time-frame to search the walls of the pit.

  There! He saw it. A tunnel exit was positioned only a few feet above the level of the massive stone spears lurking below them.

  He had gained enough distance between him and the others to act. He ignited his guantlet’s power and swept a wash of azure power around himself as far as he could reach. Then, inverting in mid-air, he created a slide for himself. Gliding down the hardened energy he was forging, he angled himself at the wall. Using his feet, he pushed off back over the drop-off. At the rate he was falling, he had maybe three passes before he was at the level of the tunnel. Aiming precisely, he made sure he swept under Angelica and Kaylee first, not about to lose them. Ash came next as a known factor. The last pass, he tried to make sure he got close to the other three.

  Zahn had never stretched his gauntlet’s power so far. Usually, he only created small shields or blades in the air. This was an entire construct. He fought to retain the form of it all in his mind. If he lost his concentration, it would shatter.

  He was visibly vibrating with the effort as he skidded into the tunnel’s mouth. He slid to a stop, hitting one of the tunnel walls heavily. His stared back into the pit area, eyes burning with mental strain as he focused on keeping the slide construct stable.

  Time surged to normal.

  Screams of panic, terror and surprise all mingled together. The light of Zahn’s crystal-relic blended with the azure glow of the construct. They could suddenly see the same pit Zahn could, and a heartbeat later realized there was a path to salvation existed. They only had to hit it.

  Angelica and Kaylee did it easy. Zahn had made precisely sure they were cared for. They struck the slides dead center. Both were athletic and managed to keep inside the edges. Their fall stopped, only for their speed pick up again as they slid down the near-frictionless surface of the energy path. They tumbled into the tunnel with reckless speed that was sure to cause more than a few bruises.

  Ash had a bigger fright. She fell past the first ramps, connecting only with Zahn’s second pass. She rebounded off it and ended up sliding face-first onto the third before she was definitely safe. She actually launched into the tunnel ahead of the other two women because of how she impacted.

  Her mercenaries had the worst of it.

  Mike had been near the side of the pit when it opened. He dragged along the shear edge, unable to slow his fall much. When he saw the ramp construct appear, he timed a jump. Kicking off the side, he nearly overshot. Smashing into the third tier of the ramp hard, there was the sound of a cracking rib and forearm and maybe something in his right hand. Managing to hold on, he was dumped into the tunnel in a heap of pain.

  Jake was near the first ramp tier by chance, but just out of reach. His fingers caught on the edge of the construct and sent him into a toppling spin. He struck the edge of the second on his hip. That only made his spin worse. He smashed into the third tier flat on his back, then skidded right toward the edge. Hooking his fingers around that edge, he was just able to halt his fall into the pit. Thankfully, Zahn hadn’t put sharpened edges onto the ramp or his fingers would have been severed. As it was, he started to slide down it like a rail system. He sped right at the stone around the tunnel edge. Seconds before impact, he jumped his grip and grabbed hold of the tunnel entrance. His feet kicked against the very top of the spikes below. Ash and Kaylee rushed over and grabbed onto his arms. With their help, he fought his way into the tunnel.

  Gord wasn’t nearly so lucky. He crashed off two of the ramp sections, but never managed to get a hold. He plummeted right past and impaled onto one of the great spikes below. The stone shard was twice the length of a long-spear and as wide as a tree trunk at the base. When he stopped, most of his chest was gone, replaced by one of those spikes. He was dead before he came to a halt near the base.

  Picking himself off the ground, Zahn went to the edge. He saw the last twitch of Gord’s finger. “Damn.” His held out the crystal on his arm, scanning wider. “Looks like we found most of Hoki’s ancestors.” Dozens of skulls and other bones littered the spike pit. He could see a few rats and roaches scurrying about. Gord would not last long.

  Ash sucked in a horrified breath. “Can we do anything?”

  Zahn asked, “Like what?” He rubbed his face, trying to make sense of what just happened. “That was real magic, Ash. It wasn’t connected to any relic visible to the Eye of Ra. Those glyphs were scribed by someone who knew magic and had the essence to imbue them with lasting power.”

  Mike was hunched down in pain, clutching his fractured limbs and protecting his rib cage. He still had the strength to break in on their conversation. “What the hell, man? That was insane! That wasn’t a test of us being worthy. We were inches away from dying! What would that prove about our worth? Was it testing if we fall right? Or if our skin is soft and skushy enough to get speared?”

  Kaylee was as shaken as the rest of them at the close call. But she was a little calmer as she brushed the pansalve-wand over Angelica’s bruises. “He’s right. How many could survive that, magic or not? One in a thousand? Maybe a rock climber who happened to be near the edge when it was set off? Maybe one in a million.”

  As Angelica spoke, her voice eased from the aching pain it carried – proof of the pansalve doing its work. “Zahn told me about some of the relic-dives he has done. I was part of one. Some of those hiding places were old owners who guarded their relics. Getting in after they died was like solving puzzles or time locks. Others were passing on their relics to ancestors or worthy people with the same beliefs. So, the challenges aligned with their beliefs. Sir Gawain, according to legend, was pure of heart and the picture of a perfect knight. But this didn’t feel like a test he would give. This was a flat-out attempt to kill anyone who came knocking.”

  While the others listened to Angelica, Zahn nestled another range-extender into a nearby crack in the rock. He saw the signal strength on his HUD go up a little. “Problem is, I doubt whoever built that contraption was lazy. Like Kaylee said, one in a thousand might make it through. Gawain didn’t just believe in magic. It was part of his life during a time when magic was not a joke. Which means, he wouldn’t trust that only one trap would wipe us out.”

  Jake threw up his hands. “Oh, just fucking great!” He keyed a microphone and spoke under his breath. Then, tried again. Finally, he gave up. “Carter isn’t answering. We’ve lost the surface. Can’t even ask them to lower a rope down to us.”

  Zahn traded secret glances with Angelica and Kaylee. He held their gazes as he said, “So what if we could? Regina, Nora and Carter are still up there. Do we think Lars will care if we come back empty-handed? He’ll assume we’re lying.”

  Mike blurted out, “You’re saying we should keep going?”

  Zahn pointed up. “Death up there.” He pointed into the tunnel. “Death in there.” His focus remained on his two lovers. If one was the traitor, Mike or Jake could beg for help from the surface. Even Ash knew that Carter would understand if he got sacrificed; he was part of the game surrounding magic. But their two mothers were pure innocents in this. They had contact with Heather, and could probably reach Lars. If there was nothing but death in here, maybe they could bargain with Lars.

  Angelica was the first to point up the tunnel. She was in this till the end. And she knew Lars wouldn’t show any mercy if they failed.

  Kaylee was a heartbe
at behind, and no less sure of what she wanted. No less sure that it was the only viable way to save her mother.

  Zahn faced Ash. “Stay here if you want. Try and catch a signal to the surface. Beg them for a rope and hope they don’t hang you with it. But we’re going for the Staff, whatever stands in the way.”

  Ash spoke to Mike and Jake, “Use maximum gain on your radios. Test for any signal at all. Even a squawk.”

  Both shook their heads grimly. Nothing.

  Ash spat in disgust. Then, she said to Zahn, “Guess we’re all in this till the end.”

  Zahn nodded. “No choice. I agree. Do you have any other surprises up your sleeve?”

  Ash shrugged, “Every Guardian agent is offered a relic to help them. Stronger ones for better known agents. Even hired mercenaries might be offered a trinket. I lost my suppressor.” She gestured at Mike and Jake. “This is their secret to reveal.”

  Zahn glanced over the edge into the spike pit again. “Which means Gord’s relic is lost. Even more of a shame.” Unless you were the traitor. Then you can roast in hell. He asked, “Well you two? Anything that might help us out?”

  Jake shrugged. “If it matters, I’ll use it.”

  Mike rumbled, “Same.”

  Zahn sighed. Guess trust still isn’t in abundance. By the way, you’re welcome for saving your lives. Aloud, he said, “Should have expected that. Leea?”

  She was finishing a final sweep of the pansalve along her own arm. Flexing the muscle, she sighed in relief. “Bruise is gone.”

  Zahn asked Mike pointedly, “Have anything else to offer?”

  Ash came to his defense, “You’re going to hold that healing magic hostage?”

  Zahn gritted his teeth, not breaking gaze with Mike. “Knowing what you can do can mean the difference between life and death. We know that now. I’m the only one here with experience in relic-diving. You want to hold out on us? Then you’re a liability and I’ll gladly leave you here to the rats.” Sounded harsh even to him, but he had to punch through their stubbornness .

  Jake was a little pissed off.

  Mike was downright furious. He tried to rise, but crumbled almost immediately against the wall again in pain. “Monster!”

  Zahn’s frustration spilled over. He stalked over and punched the wall above Mike’s head. He used his magical gauntlet, and flowed enough power through it to make the runes light up. “No. The monster is up there. And for all I know, you’re the one feeding him information that is going to get me killed. Imagine how much sympathy I have for you?”

  Mike snarled, “It isn’t me!”

  Zahn fired right back, “Then one of your friends is the one! Think about all the time you spend with them. Think about getting drunk with them. Swapping stories. Lots of time to let clues slip. You could figure it out if you tried. Instead, you’re covering for them.”

  Jake objected, “Hey! For all you know, it was Gord! The traitor could already be dead!”

  Ash jumped in, “We’re not doing this! You’re not going to burn his memory like that!” She snapped orders, “Both of you, tell Zahn whatever relics you have on you! Now!”

  Jake grumbled, stalking up and down near the far wall. Finally, he lost the inner battle. He tugged out a small rod about a foot long. There was a point on one end of it, making it sort of a stake. “This is unbreakable. Could put it under or between anything and it’ll hold firm. The end will punch through pretty much anything with little effort.”

  Zahn nodded. Obviously useful. Then, he glared scathingly at Mike. “You going to hold out?’

  Mike fumed, but finally said, “This ring. I can speak and understand any language.”

  Zahn let out the breath he was holding. He wasn’t sure he had been bluffing or not. Who really knows until that bluff gets called ? He asked Kaylee, “Can you get them back on their feet?”

  Kaylee had given nothing away. He didn’t know what she would have done. Zahn would never consider her anything but her own woman. Her own morals might have demanded that she heal the men regardless of Zahn’s posturing. But she hadn’t said anything as Zahn forced the issue. Now that the bluff remained uncalled, she swayed over to Mike and set about healing him.

  While she worked, Zahn turned his attention to the tunnel leading away. His light extended far enough in to see it curving and bending off to the right, as well as beginning to climb back upward.

  Angelica stepped up beside him. “The next death trap could be two paces in.”

  Ash joined him on the other side. “Or a day’s walk. Meant to drag this out until we’re crazy with anticipation.”

  Zahn asked quietly, “Sounds like we need a scout. Don’t think insects are going to do it, Angie. Magic can sense if something is warm blooded. The rats?”

  She gave a somber nod. “They could get fried before I can pull them back.”

  “I’m sorry to ask, but I think it’s necessary.” Once again, he was struck with how empathetic she was becoming to the creatures of the world. He found it rather endearing.

  Mike blustered, “Why are you sorry? They’re rats!”

  Zahn snapped back scathingly, “So are one of you.”

  In spite of being Mike’s boss, Ash whispered, “Nice one.”

  Zahn shrugged. “Even I have my moments. He’s beginning to piss me off. Put a leash on him for me.” He focused on the problem of the tunnel again. “How about it, Angie?”

  “I already have two scampering the right way. Twenty yards up the tunnel and opening. The spiral is continuing. I think it is going to wrap around the whole pit.”

  Two minutes later, Mike was whole enough to be back on his feet. Jake took only thirty seconds to shake off his rattled senses and the few small cuts and bruises he had picked up. Making sure everyone was ready, they together inched into the corridor. The slope was steep, and the rocks smooth enough that they had to watch their footing. One slip would send them on a bad ride back down toward the spike-filled pit.

  Ash whispered, as if a raised voice might set something off, “Have you checked Crawson’s journals about this part?”

  Zahn growled. “I don’t know if I can trust any of it. Whatever bread crumbs Gawain left to be discovered are probably tricks meant to mislead us. None of the clues came from anyone escaping this place. Which means the only hope is one of the workers that dug the pit and this tunnel passed on a few secrets to Hoki’s ancestors.”

  Ash hummed in thought. “Never considered that. So? What does it say?”

  “There is a story about how difficult it was to find the perfect location in the desert mountains. Workers laughed that it was tortuous to get here, but then they languished in an oasis drinking and bathing to their heart’s content.”

  Angelica concentrated on her link to the rats. “They can smell water.”

  Zahn froze. “But we haven’t seen any.”

  Kaylee darted her eyes all around, dread filling her, “Do you see where we are? It’s like a rain chute!”

  Zahn started to bark orders, “Everyone, get out whatever climbing gear you have in your packs! Anything that will dig into the stone!”

  As he spoke, a grinding sound echoed down from the top of the winding path.

  Angelica yelled over the sound, “The rats are at the top of the tunnel. There’re terrified! The noise is so loud! They must have activated something when they got that close.”

  All Zahn could think about was the smooth rocks of the tunnel floor. They would batter them horribly, but wouldn’t stop them from being launched right back into the spiky pit by a flood. Worst fucking water slide in the world ! He grabbed Angelica and Kaylee and pulled them in. “Stay close! I’ll do what I can to deflect the water.” He jabbed a claw hammer into a small wedge in the rock wall.

  Angelica drove a spike into her own hole while Kaylee tossed a silk rope over them. They all took turns weaving it around themselves. Together, the trio pressed into the side of the wall.

  Ash managed to haul out a set of spiked shoes worthy of
making an ice climb. She set about hacking into the side of the tunnel with a climbing axe. This wasn’t ice, but she was able to chip away at the stone and widen a hold. Digging it in deeper and deeper, she worked feverishly while wedging her foot spikes into the rugged tunnel corners. She dug in a couple other steel spikes and latched onto them with some bungee cords.

  The other two had come prepared for a rock climb, but they needed time. Heaving out pinions and hammers and d-rings, they tried to get themselves locked into place. Jake had the added benefit of his relic-spike, which he sank six inches into the rock with one slam. It would be a perfect handhold. He looped a couple coils of rope around it for good measure .

  It wasn’t more than a minute before the hidden mechanism from another age lumbered into life. A sluice opened, and hundreds of gallons of water thundered into the tunnel.

  Angelica gasped, “Oh no!” The torrential rush swept away the rats. Terrified squeals were cut off as the rats were caught in the storm and washed down the tunnel. A deafening roar howled down at them as the deluge of water pounded around the curl of the corridor until it smashed into the huddled group.

  In the instant Zahn saw the oncoming waves, he activated his gauntlet and conjured a water break. He dared not block the whole tunnel. The force of the water coming at them could be enough to shatter the magic. Plus, if he blocked up the tunnel, they they’d be trapped until his concentration failed. Then they would be washed away anyway. Instead, he deflected it, aiming for the torrent to launch against the ceiling and then smashed down behind them.

  The effect wasn’t perfect, but it stopped the first powerful blast from hammering them all into oblivion. The weight of the remaining water turned the spray coming over the top into a firehose. Jets of water blasted against the rock and pummeled them as they clung on desperately to their tools.

  One random jet shot right at Ash’s face. The water cannon knocked her senseless. She lolled in place, dangling from the cords she had tangled around herself. The water continued to beat her back and forth but couldn’t dislodge her.