Shaping Magic (18 page)

Chapter 16

When Lindon woke, he found himself on a litter being carried by two Dwarfs.  When he sat up, the Dwarf stopped so he could stand. “Thank you,” he said to the two Dwarfs. “Do you know where I can find Donovan?” he asked.

“Yes, my lord, he is at the front of the line,” the Dwarf said.

“Where are we going?”

“You will have to ask his highness.”

“Okay, thank you again.”

Lindon started walking toward the front of the line of refugees. Seeing the look of despair on the faces of the Dwarfs as he passed them brought a lump to his throat. It wasn't right; these people didn't ask for this. This is what the old witch was talking about: If someone didn't fight, this would be the fate of everyone.

Donovan was talking to Kailid when Lindon approached. Not wanting to interrupt, Lindon hung back a little.

“Are you sure about this, Your Highness?” Lindon heard Kailid ask.

“Yes, Kailid, I am; I know you have a problem trusting an Elf—so did I at the beginning—but she has proven herself time and time again. If she believes the safest place for us right now is to join with her people and with this Aodhan, unless you have a better idea, that is where we will go.”

“No, Your Highness, I can't think of anywhere, but I just don't know...”

“Put your mind at ease Kailid; I trust her with my life.”

“But do you trust her with your people’s lives as well?”

Lindon wanted to step forward and defend Aina, but before he could, Donovan did it for him.

“Kailid, listen very closely, because this will be the only time I will tell you. Yes, I do trust her with our lives, all of us. You do not know everything and nor will you, but you will trust in me the same as you trusted in my father, understand. If it weren’t for her and Lindon, none of us would be here now. They risked their lives for our people when they didn't have to. Would you do the same for Elves or Humans? Not very many people would risk themselves for others who are not kin, but they did. They not only risked their lives, but they saved all of us!” Donovan was almost shouting at Kailid. He wanted all of his people to understand what Lindon and Aina had done for them.

Lindon decided it was time to make his presence known. Walking up to his friend, he said, “Be at peace, Donovan, Kailid was not doubting us. His concern is only for your people, as it should be.
”

He turned to Kailid. “Where we are going is the only hope in finding people that will help us fight against the ones that attacked us. We cannot do it alone. We will need the help of all the races to defeat them. Donovan knows this, but it is only right that we all know what we are fighting against.” Lindon paused, seeing the frightened faces; he wasn't sure if he should tell them.

Donovan took the choice from him. “The mistake of the gods is behind the attack: the Merrow,” he said with anger in his voice. “They took our home from us; they think us weak, but they will find what being a Dwarf is all about. Attacking us but not being able to finish us will be their downfall,” he shouted. “We will have our revenge, but first we need to regroup and recover, so we will go to sanctuary and join with the Elves and the Humans.”

When he finished speaking, Lindon had thought that the Dwarfs would have been more scared, but what he saw on their faces was not fear but anger. As Donovan's words made their way down the line of Dwarfs, he could feel the atmosphere change from one of fear to one of anger. Now that they knew who it was that attacked them, the mystery was gone. Now they had a target for their anger, and the Dwarven people would rise up and fight.  Donovan, in the lead, started marching with a strong, purposeful step, and the Dwarfs followed, not shuffling along like a people beaten, but one going to war.

It was Kailid that started, it then a few more took up the chant but before long, it sounded like every Dwarf was chanting. Five thousand strong, their voices matched in a song.

Hey...Ho. Hey...Ho

Why they came

We do not know

Hey...Ho

We live to flee

This battle lost

Hey...Ho

Mercy none you showed

Friends saved the day

Hey...Ho

Mercy none we show

When home we come

Hey...Ho

Think us weak

Think us beaten

Now we know

Now we fight

Hey...Ho. Hey...Ho.

Lindon stared in wonderment as the Dwarven people sang their defiance at the invaders. They may have been forced out of their homes, but they were far from defeated.

Marching beside Donovan, Lindon asked, “Where is Aina?” He hadn’t seen her.

“She went to the surface to see exactly where we are and the direction we have to go,” he answered. “She is the only one that knows where sanctuary is.”

Lindon looked up wistfully. “Seems like I have been underground forever,” and quickly added, “Don't get me wrong; it's nice and everything, it's just that I miss the sky.”

Donovan looked up at Lindon. “No need to apologize; to be honest I am quite surprised you have done as well as you have been underground; most Humans go a little crazy when they are here for too long.”

“Thanks,” Lindon said with a chuckle, smiling at his friend. He added, “That makes me feel so much better,”

When Aina returned from the surface, she went looking for Lindon. She found him talking to Kailid. “Lindon, can I talk to you?” she asked quietly

“Of course,” he answered.

“Alone, if I can.”

“I will leave you. I must go and check on the supply train anyway,” Kailid said.

“Okay, thank you, Kailid.”

When the Dwarf left, Lindon turned to Aina. “What's up?” he asked.

The Elf was looking down at the floor when he spoke. “I am not sure if I should ask this—I am not even sure it's possible.”

“You know you can ask anything of me, and if it is in my power, I will do what I can.” He spoke softly.

As she was working up the courage, Donovan approached.

“Good, you're here!” she said.

“What's going on?” he asked.

“I want to ask Lindon to do something, but I don't know if he should and your opinion is needed.”

“Sure, what is it you want him to do?”

“We are only about an hour from where my homeland is, and I would like to know if we should go there.”

“I don't see why we couldn't,” said Donovan.

“That's not all of it,” she said, “I was wondering if it would be possible for Lindon to go through the barrier and see if my people are safe. I have had visions that my people are in trouble behind the barrier.”

The look on Aina's face spoke for how much this was weighing on her. “They might be expecting us to try to do exactly that, the shadow of the magus in the city let slip that they don't know who you are, and if we go out there they might be waiting for us,” Lindon reminded her. However, that is not the only reason; you are the only one of us that knows where sanctuary is.”

“Okay, just forget about it. I knew it was a bad idea; I just wanted your thoughts on it,” Aina said with a tearful voice.

She started to turn away when Lindon spoke. “Wait, Aina, I didn't say it was a bad idea, only that you and Donovan are needed here. You have to lead them, but that doesn't mean that nobody should go.”

Donovan looked at Lindon with a sinking feeling. “And let me guess. You're going to go, aren't you?”

“Do you know someone else that can possibly go through the barrier? I am not even sure if I can, but I won't know until I try.”

“It's too dangerous; you can't go by yourself,” Aina protested.

“Not really; I was going to have to make the attempt anyway and this way we are only an hour away. You and Donovan can wait at the tunnel and if anyone approaches, collapse the tunnel and make your way to sanctuary.”

Chapter 17

The light of the morning sun was beautiful to Lindon. Coming out of the tunnel was like being born again after almost two months of darkness. The artificial sun of the Dwarven city was no substitute for the real thing.

“I have missed the open air,” Lindon sighed with true happiness.

“I know what you mean,” Aina agreed. “Being underground has its beauty, but unless you're a Dwarf, there is nothing like the open sky,” she said playfully, giving Donovan a pat on his shoulder.

“Hmph, no accounting for the tastes of Elves and Humans,” he teased back.

Aina handed Lindon a piece of parchment, “This is a map to the Elven Homeland, where the city is and the surrounding area. Also, it shows where the sanctuary is. In case anything happens, you can make it back to the tunnel.”

Lindon studied the map Aina had given him; he could see the landmarks and where he had to go. “Thank you; this will make finding my way much easier,” he said, glad to have it. “And don't worry; if anything happens, this will be the first thing I destroy so no one can follow it.”

“No worries, Lindon. If any but your hand touches it, the map will turn to ash.”

“Really? How can you do that?” he asked.

“One of the perks of being a shaper of nature; anything made of wood or plants I can work with, and putting the impression of you on is not hard. Any other impression will undo it and will turn it to ash.”

“That's useful,” Donovan said. “It would be a great way to send messages and not have to worry about them being intercepted.”

Lindon folded the map and slipped it into his pocket. Picking up his pack, he looked at his friends. “Okay, I guess I should get going. The sooner I leave the sooner I will return.”

“Be careful,” Donovan said. “I wish you would allow us to come with you.”

“So do I, but this is the best way; one person can go unnoticed, where more may be discovered. Besides, if they are watching, they would expect to find the three of us, not a lone traveler.”

“I understand that, but it doesn't make it any easier.”

“Thank you, Lindon, for doing this; it means a lot to me. I need to know what is happening behind the barrier,” Aina said with a catch in her voice.

“It's no problem, Aina; we need the Elves in the fight to come. I just hope everything is okay, and I will be able to pass the barrier to contact them.”

  “Be safe, and if the barrier is too much, don't risk yourself, we will find another way.”

  “I will try; that is all we can do,” Lindon said.

Turning away from his friends, he made his way down the small hill toward the Elven homeland.

Leaving his friends behind was not easy for Lindon; this would be the first time he was on his own. As he walked, Lindon was on the lookout for danger. He wasn’t sure what to make of the fact that there were no birds in the sky and not even any insects buzzing around. The closer he got to the Elven homeland, the more he could see the decay that was happening to the surrounding area. The trees looked like they were starving, and the grass was turning brown. It was almost like something was draining them of energy, leaving nothing for them to survive on.

Lindon's first sight of the barrier stunned him. It was massive. It rose hundreds of feet into the air and went on for as far as he could see. It looked like a giant dome covering the entire forest of the Elves. Nearing it, he could feel the energy from it and looking closer he could see the lines of magic that were being pulled into it.

The reason for the dead and dying plants and trees became apparent. The barrier was using the energy of the living things to fuel it, to make it grow. Lindon could not believe that Aina knew what was happening to the land because of this barrier the Elves had created.

When he was closer, Lindon brought out the map that Aina had made for him. While studying it, he thought he should be close to where the Elven city was on the other side. He refolded it and put it away, then faced the barrier. Closing his eyes, he felt the flow of the magic. He could feel the pattern and how it was held together. He had no doubt that he could unravel the entire structure, but he didn't know if he could handle that much power or would it rip him apart when it was released.

Looking around one last time to see if anyone was watching and not seeing anyone, he stepped into the magical barrier. It parted to allow him to enter, then closed in behind him. Protected in a bubble, the magic flowed around Lindon as he moved forward.

As protected as Lindon was within his bubble, he could still feel the magic entering his body; it was just too much to be able to keep out. Lindon's body was tingling from the amount of magical energy he was absorbing.

Lindon exited not a moment too soon, for the magic he was absorbing was becoming too much for him to handle. His body felt raw almost like his skin was being pinched all over. When he stepped out, he thought he would see a thriving city full of life but what he saw was the opposite. The trees that once towered over the ground were lifeless, the leaves having fallen leaving only dead or dying branches behind. When they should have been full of life, they instead looked like winter was in full swing and the trees were sleeping. Lindon could tell the difference in the way the trees felt: their life force was being drained into the barrier, and the entire forest was dying.

The Elven city looked no better. Everything looked run down, even the walls seemed to be sagging. Walking closer, Lindon could see lumps scattered all along the streets. He moved closer to see what they were. He gasped in shock.

Everyone was dead. The corpses appeared to be sucked out, leaving just a husk of skin and bones. Looking at the bodies and then to the barrier, Lindon sent his thoughts out to see if he could find where the barrier was being fed from, what he sensed was in the middle of the city.

Lindon made his way toward the center of the city, walking through the dead Elves scattered along the street. Seeing the dead and rotting bodies, Lindon couldn't express his grief. What had happened to them—how could they have allowed themselves to be killed like this? The biggest question he was asking himself was how he was going to tell Aina about her people.

As he approached the center, he could see the lines of magic being drawn out of the ground and up into the barrier through a stone tower. The tower was twenty feet high and about five feet in diameter. When Lindon got closer, he could see runes on it—similar to what was on Fenella's house but at different spots. There was another type of rune that looked darker, more sinister then the rest.

Lindon looked around the open area. There was no movement nor sound other then the low drone of the stone tower. Searching for some way to bring this to an end, Lindon decided his only way was to try to use the power it was sending up into the dome and loop it around. Hopefully, the power surge would destroy the tower and stop the transfer.

“I hope this doesn't blow up in my face,” he whispered to himself.

With one last look around, Lindon closed his eyes to take away any distraction. He sent his thoughts into the tower. Through feeling the flow of energy, he could sense the original purpose for the tower. It was meant to only be a light compulsion to confuse and misdirect unwanted visitors away from the Elven land. Instead, someone or something perverted it to what it was doing now, sucking the life out of everything inside the barrier; now that there wasn't much left it was doing it from outside the barrier as well.

When Lindon could see the way, the flow was he was confident he could destroy the tower and shut off the flow of power. With concentration, Lindon took hold of the power coming from the tower with his mind. At first, it resisted his pull, but the more he put into the effort, he could feel it start to give way.

Lindon was sweating from the exertion—not that it was draining him, it was just the concentration he was using. With one great heave against the line of power, it broke. At first it took everything Lindon had to stop from losing control of the power. When he had it under control, he brought the end down to the base of the tower and, using some of the magic that was stored inside of him from the crossing of the barrier, he rammed it into the base.

The explosion of the stone tower was more than Lindon expected. With a great booming sound, it burst apart, sending debris outward in every direction. Lindon was blown backward, landing on his back. Momentarily dazed, Lindon lay there looking up at the barrier.

“If I ever have to blow something up again, I have got to stand further away,” he said to himself with a rueful chuckle.

Lindon picked himself off the ground and looked around at the destruction he had caused. There was a gaping hole about ten feet across where the stone tower once stood. Sending his thoughts out, he could feel the flow of magic was stopped and the lines of the earth's power was returning to normal. It would take many years, but Lindon thought it would bring life back to the area.

A strange noise started in the distance. It sounded like screaming, but Lindon didn't know of any creature that could produce that kind of sound. Fearing that whatever had caused the deaths of the Elves was now coming to see what the noise was about, Lindon decided he didn't want to be here when it arrived.

Turning and running, Lindon made his way back the way he came from. Lindon was maybe a hundred yards from the barrier when he looked over his shoulder just in time to see something reaching for him. At the last moment before he was grabbed, Lindon dove to the right. Completing a roll, he was up and facing the creature with both swords at the ready.

“So, little Human, you dare come here and disrupt our plans,” the hooded creature said in a smooth and somehow compelling voice.

Sensing some kind of trick, Lindon didn't answer. Instead, he sent his senses out toward the creature. He could feel the magic emanating from it and every word it spoke was laced with magical power.

“What, nothing to say for yourself?” it asked with an evil-looking grin.

Lindon somehow knew that this was the creature that was responsible for the demise of the Elven people. Lindon felt confident that he could block out whatever it was trying to do with its voice, and answered, “Who are you? Why have you killed the Elves?”

The creature studied Lindon for a minute. With slow movements he brought his hands up to his hood. Pulling it back, Lindon was stunned. The face was almost too beautiful to look at. Lindon could feel his will starting to slip away at the sight of the creature. Lindon knew as soon as the hood was removed that this could only be one of the evil Merrow.

With Lindon's will starting to slip, the twin swords he was holding started to dip toward the ground. The swords were almost touching the earth when a voice sounded in his head—the same one that spoke to him in the Dwarven castle. “Protect yourself,” it echoed in his head.

With a roar, Lindon brought his swords back up, using the power he was carrying from the barrier to block the magic that this foul creature was using against him.

“You will not have me that easy,” Lindon said, looking into the Merrow's eyes.

The Merrow paused, surprised at his foe’s resilience, but not showing it.
How is this possible? This pitiful Human should be on his knees before me
, it thought to itself. Aloud it said, “If that is the way it is to be, then we can do it the hard way; it matters not to me.”

The creature flipped off its cloak. The Merrow's face was not only beautiful to look at, so was its body. Towering over Lindon by a foot and a half, the Merrow's body was perfectly proportioned to its size. When it revealed itself to Lindon, the Merrow pulled a long sword from its side; the blade was as beautiful as its wielder, long and slender, but looked like it had a strength that beguiled its size.

Faster than Lindon thought possible, the Merrow attacked. Lindon was barely able to get his blades in position to block; the impact sent tremors up Lindon's arms. Blow after blow the Merrow attacked. Lindon was backpedaling, not able to find his balance. 

Lindon could see the frustration written on the Merrow's face. The creature had supreme confidence in its abilities and yet here was a puny Human defying him—first by not succumbing to his magic and now daring to block his attacks. In the Merrow's mind, Lindon should have been under his control from the beginning, so he was puzzled as to how the Human had breached the barrier and destroyed the magical tower.

Lindon could see the lack of skill that the Merrow demonstrated with each step. It relied on its magic, speed, and sheer strength to easily defeat any and all before him. Never having faced an opponent that could stand up to him, he grew frustrated, as never knowing defeat, he couldn't comprehend how this Human could still be fighting.