Month: April 2016

Rhiann asked, “Uncle Mayard, did you ask the siren Maranna to watch after me?”

Mayard mumbled, “I might have said something about your safety in passing. Maranna is a great friend and ally. No one tells her what to do. You’d never know that she’s around. Invisibility is one of her innate abilities. She will only intervene to protect you. Sirens generally avoid getting involved in the world’s affairs. Furthermore, Maranna doesn’t spend much time at the Hanging Gardens. Some sort of rivalry with the Three Sisters. It’s an Old One thing. I’ve heard talk of a ‘green monster’ named jealousy but haven’t seen one. Outran a green dragon once, though. I’m very tired now and need to turn in. We have much to discuss on the morrow.”

Mayard fell asleep quickly, but Rhiann struggled to join him. His thoughts raced from his encounter with lovely Decima, his uncle’s plans, and the Magick that welled up in his mind. The encounter with the Siren in the gardens perplexed the young sorcerer. He did not understand the enmity between Decima and Maranna. It clearly predated his involvement. The wondrous females’ eyes exchanged virtual daggers of contempt.

After gracious goodnights dryads led Mayard and Rhiann down a spiraling stairwell to an opulent guest room. Braziers provided light and burning incenses saturated the air with smoky floral essences. The old sorcerer said little as they prepared to retire. Rhiann sensed his great uncle’s preoccupation. The youth’s thoughts returned to the pleasantness of Decima’s touch and her wonderful kisses. He stood before a looking glass, peered at his reflection in the dim light, and held the unusually long strand of braided hair in his hand. Decima’s hair and the flax woven from Nona’s distaff were indistinguishable now from his own flaming red hair that was intermingled with them. Decima had adroitly braided the hair and paced a barrette made of translucent ribbon at its tip.

Mayard mumbled, “Don’t ever cut that hair.”

Rhiann asked, “Will I die if I cut it?”

Mayard chuckled, “Not unless you use a very dangerous shears. Decima gave you her greatest gift.”

The old sorcerer removed the weathered pointed hat that seldom left his head and allowed a long strand of graying hair fall to the floor. Mayard continued, “Nona shared with me in my youth, just as did her sister Mors with the first sorcerer, our ancestor Cydney Klarje.  Cydney welcomed Old Ones, associated freely with them, and learned many of their ways. I’ve tried to follow his path. In all the sorcerers of the past several generations, only you and your mother Caye have any inkling of Cydney’s attitudes. Only you bear the mark of the Klarjes. The Three Sisters recognize this too.”

The womanly figure stared at him. He squirmed a bit and asked, “Ma’am, please don’t be offended, but what are you? I…I mean, who are you? I mean…I know your name is Maranna, but…I’m sorry!”

Maranna laughed and answered, “That’s a fair question. I am a Siren. You rest in Cragmore, my home. I take it you’ve never seen a Siren before, Boton Jhundi.”

“Actually, I’ve read of you. Siren. Huldra. Harpy. I thought you were hideous, without a backside. The texts say you have no heart and are like a hollow tree,” the youth answered ashamedly.

“Well, let us disprove that now,” she answered whimsically.

With that, she turned slowly and Boton saw that the skin of her back was as pearly as that of her chest. The full wings were beautiful. The only other odd thing otherwise was the thick brushy red tail. She was foxy, figuratively and literally.

“Satisfied?” she asked.

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied timidly.

“You need rest. I’ll fetch more nourishment. Please don’t try to leave the cavern. Unless you can fly. Oh, I almost forgot, you are a sorcerer, aren’t you. You probably can fly,” she teased.

“I cannot fly. That Magick is beyond me. Besides I don’t have a feather,” the young sorcerer replied.

“Well don’t be coveting any of mine. I don’t relish being plucked,” Maranna said and laughed again.

Rhiann and Decima walked along a meandering path in the opulent gardens. Decima placed her hands on Rhiann’s shoulders are looked into his eyes. She raised her left index finger to his face and rubbed the heart-shaped birthmark. She gently kissed first the birthmark and then planted a lingering kiss on his lips. Rhiann awkwardly placed his arms around her waist and held her. Long platinum hair fell over his arms and gave the sensation of a thousand tiny legs running across his skin. Goosebumps covered him.

Decima purred, “Would you like to visit my chamber?”

Rhiann nervously replied, “I… it’s beautiful in the gardens. Shouldn’t we stay here?”

Decima coyly answered, “There’s much more to discover, young sorcerer. I wonder… have you never been with a woman?”

Rhiann blushed and said, “Well, I’m with you now. I’ve spent lots of time with my mother. I suppose my mirror ICU doesn’t count.”

Decima giggled, “No, the mirror doesn’t count. Walk with me.”

Decima took his hand and gently pulled him toward a small flower-covered cottage near the rotunda. When they neared the door, both heard the sound of fluttering wings. A lovely siren landed by Rhiann.

Decima said coolly, “Maranna, why are you here?”

The Siren Maranna answered just as snappily, “Mayard Klarje tasked me with watching over his nephew and protecting him from dangerous beasts and misadventures. Looks like I was just in time to save him from both. Hello, Rhiann.”

Dean again slipped between the predator and its intended prey. The Pegasus reared and flailed his forelegs wildly. He scored a lucky blow to the beast’s sensitive nose. The bear howled, moved backward, and fell into the Rainbow Luck Tree. The force of impact knocked one of the red fruits from the branch. The unripe cherry bomb exploded and ripped large wounds into the beast. The animal’s ichors fell to the ground three feet to the left of where the beast appeared to stand, all in all creating a macabre scene. Blood flowed from invisible wounds and splattered onto the ground at the base of the Rainbow Luck Tree.  The wounded mountain airy bear yelped and scampered away.

Dean licked his wounded leg, and Boton wiped his forehead in relief.

Dean avowed, “You can’t fight worth a hoot, Boton!”

Boton protested, “I didn’t want to hurt him, Dean.”

Dean answered in bewilderment, “Hurt him! He was trying to eat us!”

Rhiann asked, “Uncle Mayard, the miners don’t know me. They trust you, not me. I’m sure the stories told in Thynna of the miners’ ruthlessness are embellished, but it’s safe to assume they won’t trust an outsider.”

Mayard replied, “I’ll be with you.”

Rhiann said, “But you said you’d remain in the Hanging Gardens to assist the Three Sisters.”

Mayard answered, “That I did.”

Rhiann returned, “You are speaking in riddles. You are a great sorcerer but not even you can be in two places at once.”

Mayard replied, “Very astute, Rhiann, I cannot. But Lennard will be with you.”

Rhiann queried, “The Shapechanger?”

Mayard replied, “His version of me is as good as his copy of the merchant.”

Rhiann argued, “But he’s not a spell caster! He can’t create Continual Light Spells.”

Mayard said, “You can.”

Rhiann was taken aback and stammered, “Sure… but… but the miners will know I’m casting the spells.”

Mayard answered with a wink, “Not if you are creative. Make it look like Lennard is throwing the spell. Throw your voice. That doesn’t even require Magick!”

Rhiann said, “I don’t know the way.”

Mayard answered, “Lennard does.”

Rhiann said, “I know of the Copper Mountain folk. They are despised in Thynna as being mundane and outsiders. They are forbidden entry.”

Mayard said “Thynna’s merchants covet the copper and other minerals the miners bring out of the ground, but they have no regard for the miners who risk life and limb entering the dark depths of the world. I have a great working relationship with the miners and have bartered with them. In exchange for my light-giving Magick, they have given me artifacts and raw materials. I have acted as a go-between for them in their trade with the merchants of Thynna. The miners of the Copper Mountains found a parcel of unique ore deep beneath the surface. The material was a reddish malleable material. I placed Continual Light Spells on several devices and helped the miners in their excursions deeper into the earth. In return they bequeathed the red ore to me. I made arrangements to have one of the deep miners, a dwarfish armorer named Roswell, to forge the ore into a blade. Unfortunately, I was called back to Thynna, but Roswell’s meticulous work was also going to take some time. I committed to return and give them more lights, but I haven’t had the chance to return. Roswell should be finished now. I want you to go in my stead.”

Rhiann allowed, “I also have dreams. When I awaken I am aware of new spells. But it’s the same with other sorcerers. Why are we different?”

Mayard answered, “Because Cydney Klarje was the first sorcerer, and we have received perks. I’m going to bequeath an artifact to you that my grandfather passed to me.”

Mayard reached into his raiment and produced a small nondescript gray stone.

A single rune appeared on the rock and persisted for thirteen heartbeats.

 

W

 

Then the single letter faded, and three runes appeared on the surface of the rock, which briefly emitted gray light.

 

Ǿ ∞ Ǿ

 

The runes faded after 21 heartbeats and the single rune reappeared. The pattern repeated three times. Three runes appeared on the stones surface.

 

Ǿ ∞ Ǿ

 

Mayard said, “This is an Omega Stone. It’s priceless. You must hold it precious. It seeks its fellows. It came to our ancestor after a dream. Perhaps one day you’ll learn its purpose.”

Rhiann took the little rock and held the stone in his hand. The stone warmed, softened, and meld to his flesh. He released the little rock and it resumed its shape.  Rhiann said, “It feels good in my hand. It gives me a sense of protection.”

Decima kept her hands resting on Rhiann’s’ shoulders and looked into the young sorcerer’s eyes. She gently touched his cherry-red, heart-shaped birthmark and then curled a thick strand of his long red hair on her finger. She touched his hair, forehead, and then birth mark with her infamous red rod. The youthful Fate said, “Sister, might I have a length of fiber from your distaff?”

Nona said, “Sister, I am relaxing. But I will honor your request.” Nona took a spinning wheel and drew forth a length of multicolored thread. Mors snipped the thread with her shears and carried it to Decima, who kept her face about three inches from Rhiann and enticed him ever more with her sweet breath. The young sorcerer’s fingers and toes tingled with excitement. Decima took a strand of her long platinum hair and twisted it around the thread of Rhiann’s red hair wrapped around her finger and bound the pair of threads with the fiber that Mors snipped from Nona’s distaff. Scintillating lights surrounded Rhiann and the beautiful Fate. Decima gently stretched and braided the interwoven strand. The interwoven hair and fiber grew ever longer and surrounded Decima and Rhiann. She smiled alluringly, gave Rhiann another kiss, and stepped away from him. Mors deftly snipped the strand of hair where it left Decima’s head. Rhiann’s locks shimmered briefly and then resumed their red color. The long strand he received from Decima meld with his hair and the fiber from Nona’s distaff.

The old man arrived at Ylysis unannounced.

“I come with tidings for your master,” he said to the Dark Elf guards.

The guards were captivated by the Charm Spell. His true form would instill uncontrollable fear in most who observed him. Xollos had endeavored to keep his Spellweaving secret. The entry to the castle courtyard was easy. The Goblins paid little attention of one of their own wandering among them. The older Dark Elf matron who watched the children made no notice of Morlecainen going into the nursery. The twins thought nothing of their mother looking in on their play. The polymorth illusion had served Xollos well.

Alluna did find it unusual to be staring at her personage. She was not looking into a mirror. Her twin, Businda, remained at the court of Cellexa. She managed a muffled scream before Xollos silenced her with a Sleep Spell. The illusionary Alluna scooped up the real one and fled the room. The twins were startled to see their mother being carried away by her exact likeness. The children’s screams let the sorcerer know of the treachery. He left the Room of Sorcery to find his twins in tears.

Many guards in the bailey, the courtyard within the castle walls, witnessed the abductor’s departure. Xollos assumed the form of a massive Black Dragon and flew into the misty sky with his prize.