The iron crown, p.12
The Iron Crown, page 12
“You okay, Bran?” Aiden asked. Bran nodded, not trusting his voice just yet. “Alex?”
“I’m fine,” Alex said. “We’re close, but it is two worlds away. We need to make another jump, tomorrow if possible and then jump again.”
She frowned thoughtfully, and Bran was suddenly sharply aware that Alex had seen something different than him. Again, he tried to speak, but exhaustion weighed him down. His chest burned hot in brutal warning that he was at the edge. They had the Chalice, but it was best not to risk it and use the magic without true need. Inhaling slowly, he let the cool evening air ease the heat. When had it become evening? He looked around in alarm and confusion.
“There’s a branch off of the next world,” Alex continued. “I was able to see it in the Tree of Reality. It’s… I don’t think it has survived at all, but it is the other branch where the Darkness came through. I caught… glimpses, I guess, but I’m still not sure what they did to cause it.”
“Do you think it is important?” Morgana asked.
“I’m sure it is.” Alex shuddered. “The sky… it’s horrible, Morgana. When I look at it, I can see faint hints of magic being eaten away as it spreads and spreads. Whatever they did… it created small holes throughout the upper branches of the Tree of Reality. The Darkness has been seeping through them ever since.”
Bran hadn’t seen that. He swallowed. It wasn’t clear why, but maybe magic didn’t feel they both needed to see that. But he’d seen the sky. Not like Alex had, but he’d seen it. Then again, he didn’t have her ability to see magic and read energy. Only Alex could do that. But he had seen something. There was something that he’d seen that Alex hadn’t. He squeezed Alex’s hand, grateful that they were still connected. She stopped speaking with Morgana and turned towards him for a moment, and smiled. It wasn’t enough to completely ease his fear, but it helped. Her hair was slipping out of her braid, long blonde strands framing her face and making that soft smile seem like a work of art. She was messy and tired, with no crown in sight.
What was that crown? This was the second time he’d seen it. A sense of foreboding was churning in his gut. A certainty that he wasn’t going to like what the vision meant, but he had no idea how to even begin understanding his vision. Like Arthur’s betrayal, it would probably only make sense when it was too late.
14
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Absolute calm and certainty that they were on the right path was a rare commodity in the lives of humans, and likely all sentient beings, but Alex had it. Her magic was strong and flowing smoothly, like a river, through her chest. The way forward had been made clear to her. They needed to move to the next world, and then one more jump would take them to the end of the branch. No human had ever traveled so far! It made her little adventure in the tunnels look like a spring holiday on the coast.
She almost smiled as the last of the camp was packed up. Her heavy backpack was sitting by her feet, waiting for her to pull it on, and Cathanáil’s familiar weight rested against her hip opposite Mjǫllnir. The Iron Pendant around her neck seemed heavier today than it had yesterday, but Alex wasn’t worried about it. Flickers of her dark gray magic danced just under the surface of the metal. It was hers, in the same way that Cathanáil and Mjǫllnir were. The way that the Iron Trishula back on Earth was hers, and the Iron Chalice at the top of Bran’s pack was hers.
Strange to imagine now that she could have ever thought the Sword could belong to Arthur. How could she have not known the instant she touched it? Then again, it had felt right in her hand when Cyrridven had thrown it to her, hadn’t it? That night was a blur with a few very clear details. She shifted her hand and touched the Sword while the others got organized.
Bran was moving slowly. Hesitation hung around him and colored his every move. Every so often, he would glance her way, but had yet to explain. She met his gaze, only for Bran to drop his eyes. He shook his head a little and grabbed his pack. With Aiden’s help, he hoisted it on and secured the straps. Morgana came over and helped Alex with her own pack, and Alex was distracted, helping Morgana with hers. When there was time to take a breath, she’d talk to him.
They were ready. The others looked at her, and Alex pulled Cathanáil out of the sheath secured to her belt. She gave Nicki a soft smile, once again, very grateful for her friend’s amazing work on the magical item. Hopefully, when this was all over, they could turn Nicki loose with materials and time to see what she could come up with. Then again, Arthur was dead at last, and if the Darkness was stopped, fewer creatures would try to come to Earth. Eventually, the level of magic would drop again. Alex dismissed her thoughts. That was a good thing.
The still morning air seemed to know what she was about to do. Colors blurred slightly, and the faint hint of mist made the area around Alex seem to quiver with anticipation. Cathanáil sliced through the air, and the fabric of this world was cut open. She stopped the swing of the blade, unwilling to do more damage than was absolutely necessary. The last thing they needed was her leaving wounds in the Tree of Reality that would make it easier for things to go wrong.
She took a breath, letting the sweet air of this world fill her lungs and held it in as the others formed a line behind her. They all grabbed hands tightly. Stepping into the tear, the tidal wave of magic that swept her forward did not surprise Alex. A glittering tunnel of magic surrounded her. It wasn’t rough or painful. They were following the natural flow of magic this time, and it made the ride much smoother. In the corner of her eye, Alex caught sight of stonework and doorways, but they were gone as fast as they appeared. An idea formed in her mind, but there was no time for it to fully manifest before her feet hit solid ground. Stumbling forward, she gasped as the weight of her bag shifted and quickly sought to right her center of gravity as she released her grip on the mage behind her.
Alex sniffed the air. There was a dusty, almost musty note to it that made her nose curl as Alex held back a sneeze. That smell did not inspire confidence. Her eyes rose to the sky, and relief washed over her at the sight of the violet tinted dim sky. It wasn’t Earth, but it wasn’t the stormy sky of the final world. Alex felt herself smile. Her confidence and certainty were not misplaced so far.
Turning back to the portal, Alex watched the others come stumbling through. Morgana barely stayed on her feet and looked around nervously. They were in a forested area, but had come through at the top of a hill in an open patch. From its height, Alex could see that the forest seemed to cover several hilltops and spread up the sides of a nearby chain of mountains. They were worn-down mountains, reminding her of the old Appalachian Mountains that as a child she hadn’t been impressed with upon comparison to the familiar Rockies of the west.
The forest looked very similar to the last one. The shape of the leaves was wider and longer, more like those of tropical trees on Earth than the thinner leaves on the last world. There was a hint of green in the trunks here, though the color was still very silver. Alex walked to a nearby tree with a thick trunk and branches heavy with leaves. Touching the trunk, she rubbed her thumb over the smooth outer bark. It was almost soft to the touch.
“Everyone alright?” Alex asked, shaking her head and turning back to the others.
“That was easier this time,” Aiden said. He was a little hunched over but appeared fine. “Not as bumpy, but still, the speed is like being on a roller coaster.”
Nicki nodded and said nothing. Alex noted that she was a little green and frowned. The journey had felt pretty smooth to her. She glanced around again, trying to take in the sounds of this forest and listening for potential threats. The wind was rattling the leaves, which were louder than she was used to, hitting each other with hard smacks. She thought she heard something moving to her right but didn’t see anything in the shadows of the trees.
In the distance was something much more interesting to them all. Silver spires were visible and reached into the sky over a scattering of rooftops that they could barely see over the tree line. It was a city—a real city on an alien world. Alex’s heart jumped despite her knowing that the Sídhe were not friendly, and they couldn’t go see it.
“Okay, I feel better about the idea that we are actually in another world now,” Nicki said. A nervous giggle escaped her. “Walking through a forest just doesn’t give that vibe.”
“Even when the trees are silver?” Aiden asked dryly.
“Shockingly, no.”
Now it was Alex’s turn to laugh. Morgana shook her head at them, but she didn’t hide the small smile that curled her lips. Levity was a grand thing. Turning her attention back to the opening they had made in the world, Alex rolled her shoulders as much as her pack allowed and raised Cathanáil. Heat flared in her chest, but her magic responded to her call. Lightning arced over the blade of the Sword before leaping into the air to knit the portal back together.
That done, Alex sheathed Cathanáil and scanned the horizon, forcing herself to pay attention to more than just the city. If she’d had a phone, she would have taken some reference shots, but that wasn’t possible. It was a pity they hadn’t thought to pick up a battery-powered digital camera. She turned to find Bran scribbling in his notebook once again and smiled.
“Okay, what do we think?” Alex asked. “Camp until we can make the last jump, or find a more isolated area to recover?” Her fingers itched to open the final portal, but Alex knew that her magic was too low for that. “The valley below doesn’t look too bad.”
“We need to rest for at least a few hours,” Morgana warned. “I know that the magic of Cathanáil helps you open the portals, but we shouldn’t push ourselves to exhaustion given that we don’t know what’s waiting in the next world.”
“So we’re only staying for a few hours?” Bran asked. He sounded a little disappointed.
“The Darkness didn’t originate here,” Alex replied. She shrugged, even though she understood his curiosity. “And I’d rather not cross the locals.”
“Morgana, do you think this or the last world was where you lived?” Nicki asked. “Or were you raised between worlds in the tunnel? How did the tunnels even work?”
“I’m not sure,” Morgana admitted. “I… I always imagined them as being between the worlds, but since we started this mission, I’ve been rethinking that.” Morgana paused and looked towards the city with a frown. “This world is very similar to the last. The glimpses of the Sídhe world I grew up on that I had were very limited. The interior of the palace was very closed off from the outside, the same as the tunnels, and I was kept rather isolated as you can imagine.”
Alex could imagine a lot. She didn’t like anything that she did. The Queen wouldn’t have kept Morgana in a cell or anything so obvious. Alex didn’t doubt that Morgana was well fed, well dressed, and technically cared for, but Arto’s memories of how tightly Morgana had clung to her loved ones told her a lot. Scáthbás had been emotionally manipulative and abusive to Arthur, even after birthing him. She knew the Queen had been just as damaging to Morgana, if in different ways. It was an unsettling thought. Alex stepped closer to Morgana and caught her hand, giving it a squeeze. Her mentor raised an eyebrow, but Alex could see the gratitude shining in Morgana’s eyes.
A snap in the trees to their left made them all tense and turn towards the noise. Shifting her left leg back, Alex adjusted her body and reached for Cathanáil before second-guessing herself. Raising her hands, she gestured to the others in what she hoped was a clear “relax” signal. The shape became clearer rapidly. It was moving towards them, not sneaking, and not trying to be quiet.
It came out of the trees, carrying a spear and staring at Nicki, who was closest to it. The Síd was a small creature, slighter and shorter than those Alex had seen on Earth. Large violet eyes glared suspiciously at them. They sniffed the air, and Alex blinked at the odd behavior. She’d never seen any Síd on Earth do that. Next to her, Morgana was in a solid and protective stance. Alex didn’t have to look over to know that Morgana was glaring at the creature.
“Identify yourself,” Morgana barked. Her cold hand gripped Alex’s arm, and Nicki’s warm hand was quick to join it. She saw the dark green of Bran’s jacket in the corner of her eye. “I will not ask again.”
“You are the stranger.” The Síd crept a little closer and reached for them with its right hand, only to quickly pull it back. The movement let Alex see the sword hanging on the Síd’s belt under the cloak. “What are you?”
“Human,” Nicki answered. Morgana made a warning sound, but Nicki continued regardless. “Of the Iron Realm.”
The Síd’s eyes widened, and its mouth dropped open in shock. There was a moment that stretched out into minutes before the Síd recovered. It checked them over with a sharp gaze as Alex tried to identify the gender. A loose tunic and pants made it difficult for Alex to gauge the physical build, and the features were effeminate like most Sídhe she’d seen over the years. Unlike most, the white hair of this Síd was cut short, almost a pixie cut which exposed its pointed ears and slender neck. The height made Alex think it could be a young one, but she wasn’t sure. Sharp and elegant features were common amongst the Sídhe and made it difficult for her to pinpoint age.
“You can’t be human. All the humans died out centuries ago. And the princes have no new tunnels.” It bared its teeth at them. “We would have heard.”
“We are human,” Morgana said. Her voice left no room for argument, and the mage’s presence seemed to unfold and fill the surrounding space. “We opened our own path here.”
“Why?”
“Something threatens the entire Tree of Reality,” Alex answered.
“Tree of Reality?” Confusion darkened the Síd’s face, and it eyed her suspiciously. “What are you talking about?”
Alex felt foolish. “That doesn’t matter, but there is a force threatening this world and ours. We’ve come to stop it before it can do more damage.”
“Alex,” Morgana hissed in warning. “Don’t. We have no idea what this thing will do with that information.”
It was Aiden who cleared his throat next and spoke. “I am sorry if we startled you,” he said kindly. Aiden ignored Morgana starting to talk. “We mean you no harm. If you’re willing, please go on your way and forget that you ever saw us.”
The Síd raised an eyebrow. Its dubious expression was so much like Morgana’s that Alex almost burst into giggles. She’d never say it, but the idea that Morgana had picked up the behavior from Queen Scáthbás was both funny and terrifying. Vague memories of Merlin saying something similar echoed in her mind. He was braver than Alex if he’d truly voiced that thought.
“We don’t want any trouble,” Alex said carefully. “We aren’t staying. We promise.”
“Alexandra.” Morgana’s anxious voice made Alex tense.
The Síd was uneasy until a noise in the trees behind them made the creature shift back, its posture relaxing slightly. Alex braced herself as three more Sídhe came stomping into the clearing. Judging from the swords and spears they were carrying, they’d heard at least part of the conversation. Alex kept her hands away from Cathanáil’s hilt and tried to look friendly. She didn’t smile, aware that baring her teeth might not be taken as a friendly gesture in this world.
“We don’t want to fight,” Alex repeated.
“That one does,” one of the newly arrived Sídhe said, gesturing towards Morgana. This one was taller than the first with very short white hair and a dark gray scar across its face. “She’s hostile.”
“A bit,” Alex sighed. “Morgana, stand down.”
“Alexandra.”
“Let’s not start a fight,” Alex whispered. “Our magic is drained.”
Anger and worry radiated off of the older mage, and the Sídhe took a nervous step back. Holding back a groan, Alex wished desperately that Merlin was there, only to be rewarded with a wave of grief from both her own heart and her other-selves. Thankfully they were quiet, allowing her to focus on the Sídhe. Bran and Aiden were staying put and watching the proceedings and listening with alert expressions.
“That one speaks of things that Eirwen does,” the first Síd said. It pointed right at Alex. “Spoke of a danger in the Tree.” They glanced towards the other Sídhe, and Alex bit her lower lip nervously. “Come with us.”
“No,” Morgana scoffed.
“You will come with us,” the Síd repeated. “Eirwen will want to see you. He’ll be the judge of your reasons for being here.” Their lips twisted unpleasantly. “Besides, you are too close to our base for us to let you roam free.”
More Sídhe had come out of the trees while they were talking. There were seven of them now, and they were surrounded. Spears had been lowered, but the threat was still present. Morgana growled softly, but Alex touched her arm once again.
“Alright,” Alex said. “We won’t fight you. Please, take us to see this Eirwen. We’ll go from there.”
“Alex?” Nicki asked.
“They haven’t attacked us,” Alex pointed out. “Let’s not start hurting them if we don’t have to,” she added in a whisper.
Alex was the first to start walking when their Sídhe escort gestured them forward. Morgana stayed glued to her side and grasping her hand. The others were close behind, and Alex knew that she could expect a lot of grabby hands if a conversation started again. Glancing around at the Sídhe, Alex tried to decide how much trouble they were in. Her magic was a weak little flame in her chest, and she didn’t trust it not to sputter out when she needed it. Crossing between worlds was exhausting, and it would have been much better if she could have taken a nap first.
But the magic had dropped them here, right in the path of this patrol. Maybe she was running on too much faith, but it seemed like the answer. At least for the moment, it was better to go with them rather than exhaust themselves and have more Sídhe after them. She glanced over at Morgana, who looked no happier.
