A time and place for mag.., p.5
A Time and Place for Magic, page 5
The next day, instead of continuing their search, Jade thought it best that both of them have some time to practice and explore their powers. The memory of the creature from the rest stop was still fresh on both their minds. They were lucky to have the cooler weather which meant that there were less people out and about to discover them. The early fall was crisp and clean. They found an empty campground with small picnic tables and a pathway leading up to a lake. They parked in front of one of the back-picnic tables and hiked up a nondescript dear trail. They found an area with a small, concealed clearing just off the path a bit and spent the remainder of the afternoon there.
Jade threw sticks, rocks and any other projectiles she could find to help Rachel hone her skills. Rachel gleefully split or smashed them all into pieces. She was becoming adept at switching between weapons and Jade laughed as one after the other, her sticks and rocks were obliterated. Jade also took advantage of the time in the clearing to experiment with her own abilities. She caused the brush, vines and trees to thicken and grow around them so that by the time they left the clearing in the late afternoon, it was only visible from above.
While Rachel worked at defeating a burned tree trunk at the side of the clearing, Jade called to a hawk that was circling overhead. It landed on a branch in front of her so that she could pet him. Jade marveled at its markings and the intelligence she sensed. The words of Raspiria started replaying in her mind.
“You will be an inspiration to all who know you. Your power will grow exponentially, without limit. You are a Gaia, a Green Mother as those of old were known. Your children will be as countless as the stars in the sky. Take care to protect those who cannot protect themselves and you will know long life and unfathomable joy.”
Jade pondered those words a little more before sending her hawk back up into the sky to join its mate. She let her power feel its way out into the space around the clearing and caused the pine trees to burst with ripe pine nuts. Jade eagerly collected handfuls and stuffed them in her pockets.
They stayed the night in a small motel, just off the side of the road. The two of them finished off the fresh pine nuts and ate some junk food they found in a nearby convenience store. With their hunger cured, they called it an early night. As Jade slept, she dreamt again about the guardian. This time something was different, there was a sense of urgency. He called her name and even though she couldn’t see anything through the darkness she knew his hand was outstretched to her. She fumbled through the dark on the uneven ground. The air was musty and stale. She continued towards the sound of his voice, reaching for his hand. The voice was familiar, like a friend from long ago. Finally, their fingers touched, and a flood of images poured through her mind, his history and experiences nearly overwhelmed her. Jade’s dream ended abruptly, and her eyes flew open. The details of the dream were already fading, but she held on to the one important piece. She jumped out of bed, flipped on the lamp and started putting on her clothes telling Rachel she needed to get up.
“Are you crazy woman? Rachel groaned. “It’s not even... 5AM yet,” her eyes squinting to see the red digital numbers on the clock. Have some common sense,” Rachel groaned again pulling the sheets over her head. “Last time we were out in the dark you were attacked by who knows what....and it’s probably close to freezing out there. That’s like two good reasons you should go back to bed.”
Jade walked over to her and pulled the sheets down from Rachel’s head, “I found him! I know exactly where the guardian is.”
Chapter 10 – A Fork In The String
Claudia closed the shop, letting Lacy and Atrea head upstairs early. She finished putting the cash in the safe, finalized the day's sales and set the alarm for the store. She needed some air after being cooped up inside all day. Although the recent past events had left Claudia feeling anxious about walking alone, she reminded herself that it was still the same, safe little town she had known for most of her life. The business district, as most locals called it, was a collection of red brick storefronts left over from the fifties when this town was still new. While the excitement had died, the town hadn’t, at least not completely. It held on like a determined, stubborn weed growing through a crack in the pavement. The city hall with its sandstone brick, pinnacled bell tower and steeped roof, stood tall and proud. It was surrounded by a modest park with two iron benches painted army green at each side of the property. The people of this town still waved hello to each other and smiled. It took some getting used to at first, but now, it was everything to her.
The early fall air made it a necessity to wear a light jacket. As the sun began to set, Claudia wrapped her green shawl around her shoulders and pulled her flowing red hair out from underneath it. Jared, the local bar owner spotted her from across the street. Claudia tried not to look at him. He walked out of his bar in her direction, acting as if he were surprised to see her. He waved and crossed the street.
Claudia did her best to smile and be polite. Jared was one of those men that never lost hope no matter how many times you told him no. It’s not that he wasn’t attractive with his salt and pepper beard, strong, thick arms and black hair. She just didn’t have the time or energy for a distraction like him, and what a delicious distraction he would be. She’d already looked at that string.
“So, what’s a beautiful woman such as yourself doing out here all alone on such a chilly evening?”
“I’m going home Jared,” Claudia said flatly, stopping to face him.
“Could I interest you in a drink?” His dark eyes dared her to give in to him.
“No, my sisters are waiting for me. I have things to do.” She turned to walk away again.
“So, what would it take for you to say yes to a date with me?”
Claudia paused mid stride and turned again. “First you would have to ask me. Second, it would depend on where we went and what we did. So why don’t you overwhelm me with your pitch and let’s get this over with.” She couldn’t help but smile at the look of surprise on his face. His shoulders pulled back, and his head cocked to one side.
Recovering quickly, he leaned in close to her face. “Claudia, will you go on a date with me this Friday night at seven? I will pick you up at your place, escort you to a quiet dinner along the river, followed by an evening walk around the rose gardens at the city park where we can talk and get to know each other a little better.”
Claudia felt his masculine presence invading her personal space. Her resolve melted from its heat with every second that passed and so she lowered her eyes to stop his assault on her senses.
Leaning in so she could feel his breath on her cheek he continued, “After which I will bring you home to your sisters and leave promptly like the true gentleman I am.”
Feeling as if she were bound by a spell, the words just tumbled out of her mouth. “See you at seven then. Don’t be late.” She turned abruptly and walked back towards home, angry at herself for being so weak despite the fact her heart was beating as fast as a pair of hummingbird wings.
Chapter 11 – The Guardian
Jade was a woman possessed. Rachel drove, while Jade gave her directions. She pointed to the next turn at the stop sign ahead, even though her eyes were strangely locked onto something in the distance. The pine forest was dense here and the road ended at a small trail head. There was a dirt parking lot big enough for only a hand full of cars and a simple sign pointing the way to the trail. Rachel parked the car and Jade retrieved the small backpack from the rear seat containing water and snacks. Jade couldn’t pinpoint the exact distance, but she was adamant they could go and return within the day. Rachel wrapped up a blanket and a first aid kit from her trunk and stuffed them in a bag. She was trying to think ahead but there were just too many unknowns, and she felt her frustration rise.
“I don’t like this Jade. There is just too much we don’t know, and we will be on our own out here. Maybe we should get help or tell the police we found someone stranded.”
Jade didn’t respond immediately; her attention was far away but after a bit she came back to herself.
“The girls are watching over us and the guardian too. Besides we’re not exactly helpless ourselves,” she said confidently, while touching the back of her hand. “I can’t do this without you.”
“Lead the way then. Let’s go rescue your knight in distress.”
Rachel’s dryness caught her off guard and Jade turned stifling a laugh, trying to act offended. She led the way up the dirt path into the woods. Rachel was thankful she brought her thick coat along. It was dark and freezing in the forest. The morning light had not yet crested the mountain peak and their breath left small clouds of steam in the air. Rachel kept a modest ball of flame in each hand at the ready and her eyes darted around them continuously.
Jade still seemed distant and spoke very little as they reached the top of another foothill which only made Rachel’s anxiety worse. She indicated with a finger that they would have to leave the trail and ascend the rest of the way up through a denser part of underbrush. To Rachel it appeared as if they were going straight up into blackness. Even though the sun had finally broken into the valley, it didn’t seem to penetrate this area at all.
Rachel tried to hold a bright ball of flame as high as she could to illuminate their path. Jade struggled to make it up the steep mountainside. The pine needles and damp earth gave way easily beneath her feet. After several stops to rest, they came to a rocky outcropping. Jade immediately started towards the brush at the base of a cliff face. Pushing aside some of the crowded growth, Jade revealed what appeared to be a shallow cave. Rachel increased the fire in her hand so they could see to the back. The ceiling was not that much taller than her and the roof of the cave had a gentle decline which met the cave floor about seven meters in the back. Besides a pile of rubble to one side of the cave there was nothing.
To their surprise something moved next to the pile of rocks. Both she and Jade saw it at the same time. A small buck had been sleeping, its dust covered fur camouflaged it perfectly. It looked up at them with antlers still in rut. His big black eyes blinked at Rachel’s firelight. It stood up slowly and as it did a small red fox uncurled from beneath the deer. Both stood together facing them. Their eyes intent on the fire Rachel held in her hand.
“Something isn’t right here.” Jade whispered anxiously.
As if in response the fox let out a low growl and began to advance. The buck lowered his antlers dripping with dead velvet. Their eyes reflected a deep sickness. It was then that Rachel noticed the puncture wounds on each of them. The fox had a bulging black hole on his jaw making him appear lopsided in his face and the young buck had a long slice on his flank with a hole in the middle, oozing black pus.
The fox charged at Rachel first. She had no time to defend Jade who ran back down the hill, with the buck bounding after her. The fox was deceptively quick, and Rachel brought down a flaming sword just in time to fend off its first attack. Rethinking her strategy, Rachel willed her sword into a bow and arrow. The fox darted about the cave with incredible speed, not giving Rachel a chance to get a good shot. Then it bolted straight for the pile of stones as if it meant to escape the cave, but Rachel knew better. The fox changed its course at the last second. As it leapt towards her with all of its unnatural power, she sunk a flaming arrow into its chest bringing the creature down. Its muzzle smashed first into the dusty cave floor as the arrow burned it from within. Its bushy tail continued to twitch for a moment and then stopped.
Rachel swung around, half leaped, and half skied down the hillside after Jade who was already out of sight. She swore out loud as her foot caught on a root heaving her forward. She tried to cushion her fall with her hands. Now she could feel the anger rising to replace her fear. Jumping up despite the pain, she heard Jade calling out to her. Rachel spotted her through the columns of trees that gave her short glimpses of movement. Jade had managed to climb up a pine tree and the buck stomped on the trunk below her as if it meant to knock it down.
Further down from them a grizzly bear ran furiously in their direction. Rachel barely noticed the bloody hand marks on the tree. Jade was holding on with one hand while standing on an upper branch of the tree. She kicked at the deer with one foot each time it jumped up towards her. It was using its antlers attempting to dislodge her. Jade’s eyes were full of fear and pleading when the big grizzly arrived.
The young buck backed down from the tree and turned to meet the bear. The grizzly rose up on its back legs roaring in anger. The soft brown ears of the buck pitched towards it. The big black eyes that should have only held wild innocence, contained instead a strange rage. It charged at the bear, picking up unexpected speed with every step. Rachel wavered for a moment but then drew back and released a flaming arrow. It sailed through the air, piercing the head of the young buck in one swift stroke. Its body crashed to the forest floor and the blood pooled as it flowed out. Something hadn’t been right with either of these poor creatures and she was afraid of what else might be waiting for them.
After Jade climbed down and said her thank you to the bear for coming to her aid, they hiked back up the hill together to retrieve their supplies. Rachel bandaged a gash on Jade's hand she’d cut on a broken branch. Her own limp was fading. They sat in the cave opening on the pile of rocks while keeping a wary eye on the dead fox as they took a moment to recuperate and eat.
“What now?” Rachel asked, her eyes shifting between Jade, the fox and the thick forest below.
Jade looked to the back of the cave. Stuffing everything back into her sack, she got up and walked along the cave’s base squinting at where the ceiling met the floor. Jade turned back towards Rachel, but her eyes again went distant, listening to something only she could hear. After their encounter with the fox and the buck Rachel was now certain that they were on the right trail and so she waited. Jade’s long black hair hung unkempt around her face, some of it stuck to her cheek and forehead. Her breathing was steady, her small frame remained still with concentration.
When Jade’s eyes again came back into focus, she pointed at the rock pile beneath Rachel. “There, we need to get through those rocks.”
They attacked the rock pile in tandem. Their concern over what else might be waiting for them in the forest gave them the motivation they needed to move through it almost without stopping. To their frustration, they still spent too much of the afternoon clearing away the waist high pile of rocks. As they neared the bottom, a hole opened into the side of the mountain but only big enough for one of them to crawl through at a time.
Rachel stood with her hands resting on her hips, attempting to catch her breath. She tried not to think about her sore arms and back, her scraped and dirty hands. They proceeded to argue about who should go first but Jade was quick to remind Rachel she was the only one who could lead the way regardless of her fears for her safety.
Rachel did her best to light the way for Jade holding aloft a soft blue ball of fire while they crawled into the unknown. The entrance climbed steadily upwards branching twice, but Jade moved confidently to the right walking upright now that the tunnel had widened. This made it easier for Rachel to light their way and they made better progress after that. The tunnel finally opened into a cavern and their steps echoed all around them. Rachel’s blue light revealed a sunken circular formation like a giant, shallow bowl in the center with the sides leading up to meet the walls in a series of natural raised platforms. It was as if a giant knife had been used to cut the steps all around the bowl. The air however was musty and dry which she thought odd given the moisture in the mountains.
Without saying anything, Jade climbed up the platforms on the left of the cave until she came to a spot against the wall. Rachel made her ball of fire grow brighter and she climbed up to join her. Jade’s eyes were focused on a small pile of rubble. She knelt down and began pulling away the rocks. Together, they soon uncovered an elongated hole in the stone floor. As they labored to pull away the debris, they found what appeared to be a mummified body. At first just a hand but as they finished clearing out the remaining rocks it was clearly a dried-out corpse with thick black hair.
“Jade, I think we’re like a hundred years too late. This guy’s been dead for a while. He doesn’t even smell any different from this cave.”
Rachel’s eyes looked at Jade in sympathy like those of a mother trying to ease the pain of a child.
“That’s impossible. I can feel him drawing me here, even now.”
Pausing thoughtfully, Jade pulled a water bottle from her bag and opened the cap. Carefully she poured a steady but small stream of water between the tiny opening of the corpse’s withered lips. Jade drained the entire bottle and sank back onto her knees hugging the empty bottle, waiting for something to happen.
Then Rachel saw the small up and down movements of the chest begin, accompanied by odd crackling and a barely audible, wheeze. Jade breathed a sigh of relief and after retrieving more water she carefully emptied another bottle between the desiccated lips.
“We need to get him out of this pit.” Rachel said, looking down in amazement.
Jade nodded her head, and they worked quickly to coax his light body out of the remaining debris and onto the flat stone a step down from them. Once they had him there, they began to clear away dense strands of tangled webbing. His body was completely bound in many layers of the annoyingly strong and sticky wrapping. They had managed only to free one hand. Rachel finally remembered the scissors from the first aid kit and with it they made quick work of the remaining webbing.
