A time and place for mag.., p.8
A Time and Place for Magic, page 8
The afternoon turned to evening in a sunset of fiery reds, golds, and ended in streams of pink. The chilly night air had the group huddled together around a big fire in front of the canopy with all the torches blazing. The dark shadows were far away from them and for a while a feeling of safety permeated the area like a warm blanket.
Despite this feeling, the wall behind them lit up with a green haze revealing the other side of the wall. Turning, they could clearly see the old Gatekeeper with his back to them and in the black and desolate beyond, an army of creatures, with contorted furry legs, torsos swallowed up by a long bulbous spider body. They saw a sea of faces from many races, recognizing human, Elf, and many unknown but all were reanimated servants of the Dark Lord.
Lightfoot reached out with his hand to discover he could move forward through the green haze and into the gate. Standing a little taller he joined the Gatekeeper, pulling out a long machete, ready to fight. The others retrieved their weapons and gathered at either side of Lightfoot forming a barrier of their own against the invaders. The spider creatures began to throw themselves at the wall. They stabbed at it with their pointy feet, stung with their barbed stingers and bit with their sharp mandibles. As the attack grew in ferocity, the wall weakened, forcing the group into action.
The battle had distracted them from noticing what advanced towards them from behind. Gordon was the first to see out of the corner of his eye, a small, dark figure at the edge of the torchlight. Rachel, seeing Gordon’s attention drawn away, glanced quickly behind them. She could see a few shadowy shapes and so she turned, sending power to the torches. The flames burned brighter illuminating the dark shadows in all directions, which revealed a sea of reflective eyes belonging to an army of animals spreading back as far as the light allowed.
The hairs on Gordon’s back and arms stood on end becoming covered in goosebumps. All of them bore the same black and oozing puncture wounds Rachel and Jade had encountered in the fox and deer. These poor animals would be as driven as the spider creatures and just as deadly. Rachel didn’t hesitate. Moving with blinding speed, she threw her fire weapons with deadly accuracy, taking down the closest enemies.
They snarled and whined as they advanced, eager for battle. The largest of them were put off by the fire from the torches but the smaller ones, such as the racoons, javelina, and dogs began slipping through. Gordon picked up one of the torches and swung it at them but seeing they only backed away slightly, he resorted to punching and kicking. He waded into the throng with their snarling and snapping teeth. After taking out a few of them he discovered that even though he heard their bones break and saw their blood gush out, they would not die. They came limping or crawling back. Only when Gordon decapitated one and it stopped completely, did he understand how to defeat them.
Gordon and Rachel picked up speed with their slaughter, but still they were losing ground. From behind their right-side Lightfoot joined the attack. As he stripped off his clothes, his skin began to protrude with muscle contortions and black fur sprouted all over. He lumbered on all fours in great wide strides transforming completely into a big, black bear. He roared, plunging into the thick of the creatures, slashing through them like they were nothing more than tall grass. Rachel and Gordon were able to retake their lost ground. Rachel’s arrows of light struck the largest creatures from a distance while Gordon focused on clearing the area of the smaller threats with his torch and fist.
As the battles raged in front and behind them the sisters kept a close circle around Miranda. Even Jade was only able to glimpse her between their movements. Jade grew a wall of thick pine trees laced with vines and weeds above them. She had learned her lesson from before and wouldn’t allow them to be attacked from an unexpected direction.
She sent new vines surging through the gate to pull down the piles of spiders. Using their thick, spiny thorns the vines ripped and tore at their prey. Her mind filled with noxious and poisonous desires which fed the creation of the plants growing on the other side of the wall. Whole swaths of the spider creatures began to succumb to her poison barbed vines which provided some reprieve in the fighting. Jade took advantage of the brief lull and sent out a summons to all friendly animals who might hear her call.
The sisters continued their fight along the section where Jade’s plants had made the least impact, while being careful to protect Miranda. They had the advantage of foresight and struck with small hatchets at the spider body parts that managed to pierce the Wall. Behind them the Gatekeeper used all his strength to fortify and reinvigorate the Wall. Great streams of green light pulsated from his frail hands, gushing outwards like a fire hose.
The dark night wore on and the battle only intensified. Miranda saw that her friends and the Gatekeeper were tiring. She felt useless while those around her fought for their lives. Despite what she’d agreed to, she knew she had to help, even if only from behind the protective barrier of the sisters. Focusing her mind, she sent a ripple of power, emanating from her like a giant wave which levitated and threw back the front line. Jade saw it happen. She knew Miranda had studied with the sisters but was still surprised to see her topple a pile of the spider creatures with such ease. The sisters reacted quickly scolding her for drawing attention to herself.
Then Jade’s gaze was drawn to the arrival of a group of wild animals. She recognized bats, owls, cougars, bears and others in the dim light. Looking closer, she determined they were responding to her call from earlier in the night. Her heart leapt! She had finally been heard. They joined the fight, helping to divide and conquer the Dark Lord’s horde with their numbers.
Just as it seemed they were turning the tide in their favor; a new wave of fervor infected the Dark Lord’s armies on both sides of the wall. Lightfoot was tiring, and a group of horses interspersed with mountain lions had him surrounded. They stomped and sliced at him, leaving bare patches in his fur. Rachel and Gordon were beaten back again. A new group of rabid animals poured into the area while the fight on the other side of the wall became a frenzy of black furry legs and contorted abdomens throwing themselves at the wall. Jade grew spiny vines as fast as she could, directing them at the spiders but even so, she was not able to keep up with their overwhelming numbers.
Lightfoot stood on his great hind legs swinging and tearing at anything in his path. He knew that he was in trouble. In a sudden flash of light, he transformed into the shape of a small dragon. He shot straight up into the air, sending short spurts of fire on those directly below. Gordon and Rachel nearly lost their balance at the unexpected transformation but with the advancing sea of menacing teeth and claws, they had little time to dwell on it.
Jade saw the Gatekeeper turn with desperation in his eyes. The green light continued to pour from him but now, only one hand aimed at the wall while the other arched up into the sky, giving life to a protective barrier which descended down around them. The dome formed between them and the Dark Lord’s armies. Lightfoot continued circling and firing from above, outside its protection, but Rachel and Gordon paused to catch their breath as the Gatekeeper’s green light held the creatures back.
“Come close my friends, I sense a great power has been unleashed and I will protect you from it but only if you are near me,” he said as loudly as he could, signaling all of them to come.
The dome shrank as they moved closer to the Gatekeeper. Gordon, saw Lightfoot fall and disappear under a group of mountain lions whipped into a frenzy at the sight of their downed prey. He ran towards Lightfoot, leaving the safety of the protective barrier. Gordon arrived just in time and brought his fists down so hard on the earth it threw off the mountain lions and the others who’d joined the fray.
Gordon found Lightfoot unconscious and back in human form. His body was bloody and covered in grime. Then his eyes fluttered open, coming back to himself. Seeing that he was still alive, he refocused his efforts on the animals who’d regrouped and circled back around, ready to pounce. A pair of horses were especially determined, thrashing at Gordon with their hooves and nipping at him at the slightest opening. Finally, he slammed his foot down into the ground with all his strength. The ground rippled and rolled sending the animals backwards, smashing into the others behind them. Gordon knew he had only bought them a few more moments of reprieve and needed to find a way to get them both to safety.
While all the attention was on Gordon, Jade was the first to spot the approach of the small, glittering lights carried by the desert breeze. They were everywhere outside of the green dome flowing from Athra like a river in the starry sky. Millions of shimmering, tiny lights floated over them like fireflies on the night wind. She watched as they went, spreading out into the world.
Miranda too was distracted for a moment by the sudden appearance of the strange lights, but then spotted Gordon and Lightfoot overtaken by another horde as they ran towards the protection of the dome. She pushed the sisters aside rushing to the barrier’s edge. She reached out with her hand, screaming for Gordon and sent her power hurtling towards him with all her strength.
The impact of her magic sent those on top of him flying into the air. Her vulnerable hand hung outside of the barrier, allowing hidden spider creatures the opportunity they had been waiting for. They darted through the air latching on to her hand, causing her torso to fall forward outside of the protection of the dome. Simultaneously they sliced her amulet’s cord from her neck.
Losing her balance, Miranda’s pregnant form toppled outside the safety of the dome. Fear ran through her as she watched it all happen in slow motion. In an instant another spider ripped open her stomach with wicked precision and tore a baby from her womb. It hacked and cut at the cord and mucus clinging to the fragile form with terrible determination. Faster than any of the others could get to her, the baby was gone, and Miranda lay dying, blood pouring out of her open abdomen.
Jade was the first to reach her. Frantic, she tried to assess the damage and hold her friend’s hand reassuringly at the same time. The sisters were only a step behind Jade and bent down around her to try and stop the bleeding. The Gatekeeper extended his dome to protect them, and the others gathered around Miranda’s still form as the unexplained lights continued to float on above them. Unnoticed by the group, all of the Dark Lord’s creatures had started to retreat.
Miranda looked up at Jade unable to speak but pleaded with her mind for Jade to save the life of her other baby. Jade nodded her head in understanding but then Miranda’s eyes grew distant and calm. Miranda spoke but her voice was different and yet familiar. The high-pitched voice of Raspiria spoke through her.
“I have stopped the bleeding and will keep her alive long enough for you to save the child. But if she is to survive, she must become the next Gatekeeper. This has always been her destiny. The sisters know this to be true.”
Jade caught Claudia’s reluctant gaze and felt suddenly betrayed and angry. She couldn’t understand why they’d kept this secret. Despite her overwhelming emotions, Jade worked feverishly to free the baby girl from the lacerated womb. She wiped off the mucus and secured the umbilical cord with a quick cut from her pocketknife. Cradling the infant, Jade sent some of her own life force to sustain and protect the child. The pointed ears and delicate features began to move in jerky movements followed by a cry. Relief came in a great exhale from Jade. The baby was alive, and she held her close.
“She is all that I dreamed of,” said Raspiria, staring proudly at her from Miranda’s eyes.
Gordon and Lightfoot arrived at that moment. Gordon fell to his knees holding Miranda’s other hand. Jade showed him the baby and he took her into his arms, pulling her tiny body to his chest leaning over Miranda so she could see.
Raspiria interrupted, warning them that Miranda must quickly take the place of the Gatekeeper or die. Lightfoot hearing this, looked up at the Gatekeeper, their eyes met and after a moment they nodded at each other in mutual understanding.
Gordon handed the baby to Jade and as they positioned themselves to pick up Miranda, Raspiria whispered weakly, “Don’t worry, she won’t feel any pain. Miranda is here with me now. She is grateful you have saved our baby.”
Lightfoot helped Gordon carry Miranda. Gordon’s eyes streamed tears as they went. They moved her battered body over to the Wall where the Gatekeeper stood, laying her torn and bloody form at his feet. He held his hands higher, the sparkling lights shown only in the far distance now, and so he let the protection of the dome fall. He kneeled at Miranda’s side, placing his forehead to hers. He rocked her back and forth. A deep green light emanated from him and poured into her. Miranda’s ripped flesh began to heal as it filled her body. The light erased all signs of damage until at last she lay whole. Then the Gatekeeper crumpled at her side, his life force utterly spent.
Chapter 14 – The Best Of Days
It had been nearly six years since one child was ripped from Miranda’s womb and the other was taken by Gordon and Jade to be raised far away. The death of the Gatekeeper was something she still felt responsibility for, even after all this time and her frequent nightmares forced her to relive the horror and pain of that terrifying night. It was as if a part of her wanted to keep the memory fresh as an undying penance for his selfless sacrifice.
Today however, she would see her daughter Riley, without the close supervision of either Gordon or Jade. At her urging, Lightfoot had convinced them both to allow her to make the trip alone with him. Miranda knew he would arrive in the early morning hours, in his dragon form, with an elated Riley holding tight to his neck.
The sisters had arrived the night before and after a lengthy conversation, they thought it was time to teach Riley how to disguise her elven ears with magic. Atrea urged Miranda to consult with a Gatekeeper named Wiswali, one of the remaining originals. She had sought his guidance in the past on a wide variety of magic but never imagined he might also be an expert with illusion spells.
While dwelling on this, her thoughts were interrupted by Raspiria’s voice. She felt her disembodied presence frequently ever since she’d nearly died at the hands of the Dark Lord’s servants that fateful night. It was Raspiria’s magic that saved her and now she was her welcome companion.
“I am quite capable of providing you with an illusion spell that would essentially have the same effect.”
Trying to hide her impatience with Raspiria’s sudden insecurity, Miranda replied.
“It’s not that I don’t have complete faith in your abilities, it’s just that I’ve learned through experience to listen to the sisters when they give specific instruction like this.”
Something like a sigh echoed in her thoughts and Miranda felt Raspiria’s resignation as she began to prepare her mind for travel along the Great Wall. She let her senses reach out along the endless space that was the Wall. She hopped from one mind to the next until finally she found Wiswali. While she could have communicated with him telepathically, she preferred to speak to her follow Gatekeepers in person whenever she could. There was something to the physical interaction that made a conversation so much more genuine.
Having located him, she let the magic of the Wall connect with her own and suddenly the ground beneath her lurched forward, humming with an energy that spoke of the incredible speed with which she was traveling.
When she stepped through to his gate, she found Wiswali awaiting her arrival with a broad grin, pushing his plump cheeks up and out. His cherub like eyes sparkled in their dark depths and his brown skin and jet-black hair, somehow glowed with an eternal youthfulness, despite his age.
“Miranda, my dear sweet thing, it has been a while. I have to admit I was beginning to think you had forgotten about me.”
His sideways glance and knowing smile revealed he was teasing her.
“The Wall travels both ways you know. You have yet to visit me.”
He feigned a look of pain. The very suggestion that he had allowed their friendship to become one-sided was a little too close to the truth.
“Regardless, know that you are my favorite above all of the others. That should make up for my neglect.” He said to her with a sly wink.
“Well, I do have a favor to ask of you, if you wouldn’t mind helping your favorite Gatekeeper with a tiny spell.”
“Of course! Anything you want. Just say the word and it is yours.”
“My daughter as you know, is elven. The sisters thought you might have a simple illusion spell that we could teach her to hide her ears.”
His eyes grew distant and his right ear twitched as it always did when he was deep in thought. Then his gaze snapped back, and he lifted his pointer finger to his temple.
“I have just the thing for the little elf princess.”
He chuckled as he set to looking for something. A feeling of dislike bubbled up from Raspiria who had developed an aversion to the man. She claimed he was disingenuous and couldn’t be trusted but Miranda knew better. She sensed Raspiria’s true feelings. He was competition, not only for Miranda’s attention but in his magical knowledge which she was starting to believe might be quite vast.
As he summoned a piece of parchment, he began to write on it with an old ink and quill, which for him was something of a new invention given his true age. As he wrote, pulling the spell from his vast storehouse of knowledge, he questioned Miranda.
“Is there any news of the Dark Lord?”
She knew instantly that he was really asking, if there was anyone willing to stand against him, to halt the death and destruction that sweeps over Athra with renewed vigor every day.
“I’m sorry Wiswali. I know your people suffer from the droughts. So much of Athra is barren and lifeless now. If it’s any consolation, the only living things I see from my gate is the occasional spider patrols. There isn’t even a single blade of grass, an insect or any other living thing. It’s as if he has sucked the very soul from the land.”
