Chapter 5 #3
She’d been in the tiny garden before, but tonight the place seemed different, unearthly, with the bordering trees whispering in the breeze and the fountain babbling secrets as its waters ran through the flower beds.
There was a birdbath in the exact center although as she drew closer, she realized the object was actually a carved altar with a huge silver bowl set on top.
Small branches were laid underneath the bowl as if ready for a campfire and Amellia remembered Cheline had said she would add the element of fire to the spellcasting.
The sky directly overhead was clear of the frightening mist and the stars twinkled high above, indifferent to the life and death struggle going on here.
Far off to the east there was a lightening of the sky as dawn approached.
Icy fear prickled along Amellia‘s nerve endings—they were cutting this close indeed.
Cheline took her place on the other side of the small alter. “Hold hands, don’t speak unless I request you to do so and pray this works.”
Silently Amellia reached for Hagan’s hand and the instant their fingers entwined, she felt the bracelet on her wrist tingling, although it was merely woven fiber with no embedded tech.
She reached with her free hand to massage the area a little, although the sensation wasn’t unpleasant, merely unexpected.
Questions for Cheline crowded her mind but she remained silent.
Emotions she wished she’d expressed to Hagan brought tears to her eyes but again she held her tongue.
He gave her a hug, maintaining their physical bond and coiled his tail around her leg for extra contact.
“We implore the spirits of this world to repel and defeat the curse sent here from another planet, intended to harm your daughter Amellia and her friend Hagan,” Cheline said, raising her wand and gazing into the heavens.
“The couple has gathered gifts to invoke the elements and power the curse breaking tonight.” She broke into song, in one of the old languages of Beneficio, which Amellia didn’t know well.
She caught a word here and there but not enough to know what her aunt was communicating.
Shivers ran through her entire body and Hagan pulled her closer in response. His warmth was a comfort.
Cheline handed her the staff, which was surprisingly heavy and unwieldy and Amellia wondered how her aged aunt could manage it.
The dark stone at the top flared with purple light as their hands met during the transfer and remained aglow as Amellia took sole possession.
Item by item Cheline deposited the mawkhen egg, the satin sea clam pearl and the root knot in the silver bowl and then poured a thick oily substance over it, from a small flask she withdrew from the voluminous folds of her cloak.
The stuff remined Amellia of honey and she caught a whiff of an exotic floral scent.
Tracing a symbol in the air, which sparked and glowed, Cheline dropped into Basic. “The woman who requested this evil spell has no right, no claim on which to base her demands.” She pointed at Hagan. “Speak more of this.”
He stood tall and proud. “I terminated our egg match in accordance with the laws and tenets of my people because I’d met the woman who is my fated mate, who I treasure beyond all others and with whom I hope to spend my life.
She stands beside me now, united with me in this quest. And if it be the will of those who decide that I must perish regardless, strike me down but leave Amellia untouched. She’s totally innocent in this matter.”
Cheline stared at Amellia. “What do you wish to tell the spirits considering your case?”
“Hagan is a good and honorable man and I’m thrilled to be his partner in this quest. I pray we’re both spared but especially Hagan because he shouldn’t be punished to serve our adversary’s ego.
” She took a deep breath. “Love can’t be forced.
It’s a gift and I’m honored beyond words to accept.
” Was that enough? Were there better words?
Why wasn’t there a ritual with set speeches for this kind of thing?
Disjointed thoughts filled her head, chief among them the sheer unreality of the entire evening and this scene in particular.
Believe, I have to believe for this to work.
As Cheline reverted to chanting in whatever the archaic language was, Amellia stole a glance at Hagan.
He was grim, jaw clenched, muscle twitching but turned to brush a kiss across her lips.
Imperiously Cheline held out her hand for the wand which Amellia passed back, nearly dropping the massive piece of wood.
Voice rising, holding the staff up to the heavens, her aunt shouted, “I call for the element of fire to join the others which have been gathered this night. Let the magic rise to the skies and do battle with the evil forces overshadowing my friends.”
Thunder rumbled and lightning jumped from cloud to cloud above.
Cheline pointed the jewel atop her staff at the contents of the makeshift altar now and a miniature bolt of lightning arced from the gem to the bowl, setting the liquid ablaze.
The flames were transparent sheets of color—green, ocean blue, pearlescent—rising several feet from the container and burning fiercely.
Amellia caught a whiff of the rancid smell from the fog and checked the perimeter of the garden.
Sure enough tendrils were drifting into the space like snakes seeking prey.
She clung to Hagan, not at all confident this ad hoc ceremony was going to work, terrified now.
Cheline was tense and on edge as if waiting for something although she kept eyeing the flames.
She drew complicated patterns in the air with her staff, the jewel emitting light more brilliant than any handlamp and forcing the fog to recoil where it came too close.
Overhead the thunder increased in intensity and suddenly a bolt of pure energy flowed from the sky, striking the altar.
Amellia was thrown to the ground, Hagan landing on top of her, shielding her.
She couldn’t see what had happened to Cheline.
Wind spiraled like a cyclone in the small space and Hagan dug in with his claws, holding tight to Amellia with his tail.
Mawkhens screamed and Amellia squirmed against his hold until she had a clear view of the altar.
A flock of giant birds was pouring from the silver bowl as if it had become a portal, rising into the sky like avenging furies and driving the encroaching fog back with their powerful wings.
Like a multicolored fountain a column of water rose from the center of the silver bowl.
Amellia caught the fresh salt scent of the ocean even though they were many miles inland and filled her lungs with the clean air gratefully.
A pearl easily a hundred times the size of the one Hagan had harvested was poised in the exact center of the water as if resting on a pedestal.
“The sun is up,” Hagan said directly into her ear. “I love you, Amellia.”
“I love you too,” she said, kissing him. If they were going to die, she was going to pass from the world with a peaceful heart, surrounded by love.
The pearl had stopped rising, being now above the trees in the garden.
As the sun’s first rays touched the iridescent surface, the gem exploded, light and music pouring from it, swirling like a centrifuge and spreading.
The illumination was blinding, as if the sun had come to the planet’s surface.
Amellia had to close her eyes against the power of the elements and felt herself being lifted into the air, wrapped in Hagan’s arms.
“Hang on tight,” he said.
As if they were wearing antigrav gear, they rose together until they were directly over the altar, standing on thin air in the middle of the water.
“You are free,” said a voice emanating from everywhere and nowhere and maybe just in Amellia’s head. “The curse is broken.”
While the echoes faded, she and Hagan tumbled to the lawn, which felt as soft as a pillow underneath her and she experienced no pain. Sitting up, leaning on Hagan, she gawked at the altar, which was now a twisted, blackened remnant.
Dazed, she rubbed her forehead and pushed her disheveled hair off her face. I might think I’d dreamed the whole thing except for the ashes in front of me.
The day had dawned, rosy and full of promise and she and Hagan were still alive.
There was no sign of the fog and the air was clean and fresh. Amellia’s clothes were soaking wet but dampness was the least of her worries. Throwing her arms around Hagan’s neck, she kissed him with pent-up urgency and he responded with equal fervor and passion.
She broke the kiss off and surveyed the garden frantically. “Where’s Cheline? What happened to my aunt?”
Hagan clambered to his feet and pulled her up. “I pray she’s taken no harm in the course of all this curse breaking. She was magnificent.”
“Thank you very much. It’s been a long time since I had to dig so deep and call upon the powers to such an extent.”
Her aunt’s voice was as strong as ever and carried a triumphant note.
Amellia wheeled to find Cheline standing on the patio at the edge of the grass.
When did she find time to change? Gone were the elaborate robes, there was no sign of the heavy staff and her aunt was her everyday self in a neat denim skirt and tunic.
“Unless you’re planning to stay in the garden all day, come inside and have a cup of coffee before you leave,” Cheline invited, adding a beckoning gesture. “I do have a shop to open and appointments to keep. Can’t lie around and be lazy like some people.”
“I’m calling in sick today,” Amellia said defiantly as she and Hagan made their way to where her aunt stood. “There’s no way I’m going to deal with Maintenance and messages and meetings after the night we had.”
“As you please, none of my business.” Cheline led them inside, taking them to a cozy kitchenette at the rear of the store, where she already had the rare and expensive beverage brewing. She set out three heavy mugs and poured them each a generous serving.
Hagan took a deep breath of the aroma from his cup. “I can’t thank you enough for what you did last night,” he said to Cheline. “I owe you not only my thanks but any payment you choose to levy. My House is among the oldest and richest on Zackmarune.”
Tilting her head, Cheline sipped her coffee as she plopped down on a stool.
“No, I think I’m good. It was a grand battle and I thoroughly enjoyed wading into it.
I’ve kept my access to the power. Besides, Amellia is my favorite relative so in the future if you can avoid embroiling her in any more curses, I’ll be satisfied. Take good care of my girl.”
“There will be no more curses, I can assure both of you ladies on that point. I’ll be sending several messages to my home world today and will be most emphatic.” The tip of Hagan’s tail tapped on the floor, echoing his emotion.
“The curse may have rebounded on the one who purchased it,” Cheline said mildly, opening a container full of donuts. “Care for one?”
“The magic could affect her all the way from here?” Amellia asked in disbelief. “I mean, the curse she launched at us had to be delivered in a box.”
Looking smug, Cheline brushed powdered sugar off her lip. “I believe the spirits of this world were highly insulted anyone would dare such a thing. By the way, we need to set up appointments for you to take lessons.”
“Lessons?” Amellia knew she sometimes changed subjects dramatically in the course of one breath but her aunt far outdid her on tangential conversation gambits.
“The staff recognized power in you—didn’t you feel it? I’ve been waiting decades for one of my blood to manifest an aptitude with magic and now you have. Congratulations!”
Not sure she shared her aunt’s enthusiasm, Amellia swallowed hard. “I’ll uh check my calendar and we can set something up.”
“Soon.” Cheline was adamant. She rose from the stool, placing her mug in the sink and it was plain the visit was over.
Amellia gulped the rest of her coffee, too rare and precious to waste, and she and Hagan headed toward the store’s front door, shepherded by Cheline.
“Let me go first,” Hagan said when they reached the door, moving ahead of the ladies.
“I assure you there’s no threat.” Cheline sounded affronted and her forehead was creased in a fearsome frown.
Courteous but undaunted, Hagan placed his hand on the control panel. “Nonetheless, I was trained to be a prudent warrior and will reconnoiter before allowing either of you to come to any harm.”
Amellia found she was holding her breath as the door opened but only bright sunshine poured in. Hagan eased cautiously outside and a moment later he was back.
“I think we tore up your landscaping,” he said with a rueful grin. “But otherwise there’s no more fog and the coast is clear.”
“I’ll send you a bill for the damage,” Cheline replied, standing on her threshold and surveying the deep ruts left by the groundcar as it landed in the flowerbed. “I’m not upset but I have to present a professional and inviting facade for my customers.”
“No problem, as I said earlier, I’m good for it.” Hagan took Amellia’s hand and bent over to kiss Cheline on the cheek. “Thank you again for all you’ve done. I feel as if we’re family now—I hope I see you again, Amellia’s aunt.”
Giving her niece a wink, Cheline said, “Oh, I suspect we might be seeing you at the family gatherings from now on.”
“Any parting word of advice?” Amellia asked, reluctant to leave the sanctuary of her aunt’s store.
“Don’t open any more mysterious boxes from offplanet.” Cheline shook her finger at Hagan but even as she scolded him, she was smiling. “All right, be off, the two of you, I’ve got work to do.” She stepped back and the next instant the door closed with a thump as the lock engaged.
“I like your aunt,” Hagan said as he escorted Amellia to the groundcar and helped her over the torn-up earth and broken planters. “She’s a fine mixture of common sense and powerful magic.”
“Which apparently I might inherit.” Amellia sat in the passenger seat and grimaced. “I didn’t see that development coming. She sounded so smug about it.”
“I’ll drive you home,” he said as he took his place behind the controls and maneuvered the vehicle off the lawn and onto the road, where he proceeded to sedately drive.