Enchantress Awakening: Part One of the Book of Water (The Elemental Cycle 1) (9 page)

“Good, I think. What should I do?”

“Clear your mind as we have practised, then focus your charm.” Caleigh sat down and tried to empty her head of questions for the meantime. A picture of Ellie standing at the edge of the training yard, watching Penric as he sparred, filled the vacant space. Ignoring this image, Caleigh focussed once more on being at one with the magical currents drifting imperceptibly through the world. She looked down and saw the pale smoke of her charisma charm rising up from her bosom. It seemed to be ever-present now, without any need to summon it. She could feel it there even without focussing her sight to discern it.

“Have you done it?”

“Yes, can you not see it?”

“It is inherently easier to see one’s own spells than others.” Gideon looked at her afresh. “Ah yes, there it is. Good, now try to take hold of it, strange as that may sound.” Caleigh brushed her hand over her skin and as she drew it away was amazed to see that some strands of the smoke stuck to her fingers so that she had a handful of the stuff in her palm. “Now direct it towards me as though it were a dart speeding from your fingertips.” Caleigh extended her fingers and concentrated on a spot on Gideon’s tunic. The charm began to fly, no faster than a slow breath on a cold morning yet little by little it drew close to its mark until when it was two feet from touching home it billowed out in a circle as though it had encountered a convex barrier. The smoke disappeared almost at once leaving the faintest of ripples where it had come to its end. “Very good, now try again and really concentrate on projecting it.”

“What about rule number one? The same spell cannot be cast in quick succession.”

“Well remembered, except this time you are not going to try charming me you are going to focus a potent thought that you believe will distract me and…” He unfurled one of the pieces of parchment that were habitually strewn about their practice room, “say…I…hmm…with yearns of thy heart I bedazzle thy senses.”

“Bedazzle? What does that mean?”

“Err, I am trying to translate.”

“I thought spells were supposed to be said—

“—Incanted—

“Incanted in a foreign tongue like Tovrik does during his shows.” Gideon laughed at her example.

“Most of what he says is nonsense, all part of the show. Even so, spells are often incanted in foreign or arcane tongues. In general, the older the language the better, magic remembers and responds best to words it has known longest. Also, many wizards choose to incant in lesser known languages so those who hear them do not know what they are saying.”

“Should I not learn the original incantation then?”

“It is far more important that the thought behind the words is concentrated and clear than what words are used. Therefore it is better to use a form of words that means something to you.”

“Like bedazzle?” Caleigh laughed.

“It means blind and confuse, in any case words only help make the thought clearer, they are not essential. Maybe it is best to try silently to begin with.”

“As you wish” Caleigh prepared herself and with a wicked smile conjured up an image of herself with no clothes on pouncing on Gideon where he sat.

“As soon as you’re ready-

Caleigh had already flicked her fingers towards him propelling the charm faster than before and taking Gideon by surprise. No barrier impeded its progress this time and it hit him squarely in the chest. She was not sure what reaction she had expected but she knew it had failed when Gideon merely smiled at her as the charm played across his torso. “A good mage always has more than one line of defence.”

“It seems I have a long way to go to get past your defences.”

“I should hope so. I’d be deeply embarrassed to be overcome by an apprentice with three weeks training.” Involuntarily he raised his hand to his brow where a single bead of sweat had trickled down. “Though perhaps after six I will have to be careful, things will be interesting once you join us at Elevered.” He faltered. “Forgive me, I do not mean to presume your choices.”

“Think not on it.”

Think on it Caleigh did though, from the moment Tovrik had made the suggestion she had been set to go to Elevered when the month passed. Now when the thought occurred her mind went always to Penric, Ellie, Dana, Sir Marc and Dame Edith, her parents’ old tavern and all the sights and sounds of her youth. Apart from the very occasional visit to neighbouring villages and the Shrine of Lost Souls she had never spent any time outside of Connlad, yet in two weeks’ time she could be saying goodbye to it, perhaps for good.

If this was not enough, every time she had these thoughts she felt a sense of shame for being swayed by such small concerns against the weight of all that was happening and was yet to happen and all that had gone before tied up with it. Quite apart from the constant pity she felt for Loreliath, she also thought often of Dana, who had lost one side of her family because some of them were like her.

After much consideration, she decided that this was something she needed to talk about. Whilst it was tempting to try to be sensitive by avoiding the subject she realised that as a friend it was better to acknowledge the tragedy. To her slight surprise Dana was not reluctant to talk even though she had presented it as related to her own dilemma. “Of course I missed my family when I moved away but I did not let it stop me. Did Tovrik tell you what became of them in the end?”

“He hinted that it was something bad.”

“Yes, it was very bad. My great-grandmother was quite open about her gift and she brought her children up to be the same. Then fifty years ago everything changed; the young King and his family were murdered and witches were blamed for it.”

“Did they do it?”

“I know not, it was long before I was born, I thank you. My mother did tell me that there was a bad bunch of wizards around in those days who did a lot of evil and all gifted people suffered for what they did. That was what did it for my great-grandmother; Cruxiars came to our village and took her away. They told her she could repent but she was a stubborn old woman and refused to say she had done anything wrong. I’m still not sure whether my grandmother was proud of her or annoyed with her for that; maybe a bit of both. After that my family did not show their gift openly anymore. When I was young I was always told it was supposed to be a secret.”

“Is that why you were angry with Brother Adam, because what the Cruxiars did to your family?”

“No, it was as I said at the time. It’s not safe to tell everyone that you’re special. As for the Cruxiars; I do not blame them as such. It isn’t part of their creed to persecute our kind; they just like to be seen leading any public outcry. Those that killed my great-grandmother probably had no great plan behind their actions; they were no different to the mob that threw stones at my grandmother when a child died with no obvious cause. If they had taken the time to be sensible they wouldn’t have acted so harshly.”

“What happened to your grandmother?”

“One of those stones hit her on the head; she died a few days later. At least some people did come by to pay their respects.”

“How old were you?”

“I was twelve. I can tell you it wasn’t fun growing up in that village after that happened. We knew most the people in that mob and they knew that one of them had killed an old lady in a moment of stupidity. I don’t know how my parents could stand being surrounded by that guilt all the time. Luckily, I met Tal when I was your age and he brought me here away from it all. He probably saved my life too. Two years later Bergonia’s army went through my village during one of those stupid wars that move a border two miles one way or the other. Someone let slip about my family’s druid heritage, which they found very interesting apparently. My mother, her sisters and aunts were all tortured and murdered under the orders of some young noble trying to prove his piety. Not that it did him any good; King Aethelwine took the village back the next month. It makes it worse somehow, nobody ever benefited from all that cruelty, nobody’s life was made better; it was all just pointless, ignorant, pain.”

“They would be comforted knowing that you survived.”

“I hope. Tovrik’s right you know, we need protecting from people like that. Have you decided about Elevered yet?”

“Yes,” Caleigh answered knowing the answer finally as she said it, “I am going. I think I have to go.”

“Good, then I think I’ll finally take Tovrik up on his offer. I stayed here all this time to keep watch on you. I can hardly do that if you’re somewhere else.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful! Are you certain, though? I cannot ask you to uproot yourself for my sake alone.”

“I’m not so rooted here and besides, maybe it’s time I revived the family tradition. Tovrik tells me there is someone at Elevered who knows a bit about Druidry. Perhaps there I can be who I truly am. Before we go, would you like me to brew up any more of my special potion for you?”

“No thank you, I have yet to use that which you gave me.”

“Ah, you are able to control the thoughts then?”

“No, at least not wholly, having these lessons to concentrate on has helped, maybe ‘tis because I’ve had something else to think about, but I think ‘tis mainly because I have been kept away from too much temptation.”

“Do you not like Gideon?”

“No, ‘tis not that. I like him well enough but he is able to keep his desires hidden from me. I find I can cope most of the time when it is only my desires to be controlled.”

“Well, I suppose ‘tis good that you’re coping but do not hide yourself away; ‘tis far better to relieve yourself in a healthy way than starving yourself. You weren’t made for chastity Caleigh.” Caleigh was about to object when she realised this was not a judgement on her character.

“I shall try to remember that.” She answered finally.

10. A Lesson in Distraction

Hiding herself away wasn’t an option that night because Gideon insisted that they join everyone else at the feast to mark the end of the summer. They held this every year towards the end of August knowing that with autumn approaching there might not be too many days to come that were dry, warm and light enough for everyone to gather in this manner. Tables had been moved into the fields to the north side of the castle below the battlements where Caleigh had stood in starlight with Robin, and looked towards the Shrine of Lost Souls.

The air smelt of roasting meat from the spit turning gently over a fire attended to by Master Garrick and Clod, apparently qualified by their familiarity with standing close to flames to aid the cooks in their duties, children ran about carelessly staining their knees green on the grass, momentarily pursued by parents who would have to wash those stains out later. Everyone she knew was in attendance and now she was here she couldn’t believe she had contemplated not coming for this was not just a farewell to the summer, in effect, it was her farewell party too.

She caught sight of Dame Edith standing next to Esther, both of them looked lovely this evening and for a moment Caleigh regretted that she couldn’t have been part of helping them prepare. Glyn the goldsmith stood close by, seemingly admiring the effect of his work on them, seeing how richly he was garbed himself Caleigh remembered her guilt at persuading him to repair Dame Edith’s necklace free of charge. In retrospect, the guilt felt misplaced.

About the company Caleigh went and mingled, doing as she used to, listening to everyone’s small tales with patient interest and sharing in their enjoyment as they recounted them. “Is it true you are going away?” They would ask.

“Yes, I’m afraid so.” She would answer.

“Oh, we will miss you.” They said and meant. It was a pleasant reminder that for all they might gossip sometimes most people in Connlad did think well of her after all. By and by she wandered through the crowds to see Gideon standing with two girls from the village about Caleigh’s age, holding his goblet lightly, with a smile on his face. Slowly Caleigh approached him from behind hoping to surprise him into maintaining this mood. When she was but a few yards from him the girls suddenly stopped mid-sentence and looked over at the roast. “I’m hungry all of a sudden.” One announced.

“Me too.” The other agreed heartily. Both excused themselves and departed at once, whereupon Gideon turned on the spot and looked Caleigh straight in the eye.

“Here at last.” He joked. Caleigh followed the progress of the girls who upon reaching the roast seemed confused by their prior urgency.

“Did you do that to them?” Caleigh asked suspiciously.

“Do what to whom?” Gideon replied in earnest.

“You knew I was here and made them leave.”

“How could I do such a thing?”

“You did, you put the thought in their heads.”

“Really Caleigh, how unlikely, that sounds like magic or the like.” He continued in the same deadpan tone. “However, since we are alone now we can discuss the purpose of our coming here.”

“Is the purpose not to enjoy ourselves?”

“I find doing magic immensely enjoyable.”

“Apparently so, I meant enjoy ourselves bodily and emotionally by eating, drinking and being merry with company.”

“Ah, those things, well there is no reason we cannot do that too. Simply, dear apprentice, I want you to use this opportunity to test your powers in an uncontrolled setting, without me blocking you or time to carefully prepare yourself.”

“But you’re still blocking me.”

“Only from affecting me, there are scores of others here to test on.” He said grinning.

“This really is fun for you. People are not toys.” Caleigh said disapprovingly.

“Of course, they’re not.” Gideon agreed with his grin firmly intact. “Now, you must excuse me those girls look as if they’ve taken more than they can eat.” With that he wandered towards the spit. Despite herself Caleigh was amused, as always she found good moods infectious.

Coming back to task, she exhaled heavily before proceeding. She knew that exposing everyone to her powers when there was ale and wine flowing was a risk. Likewise she knew that she had to learn how to use her powers with discretion if she was ever to survive happily outside of a wizard community.  Her charm expanded around her but she made an effort to keep its spread to her immediate vicinity.

For a few minutes she waded purposelessly amongst those present noting how everyone appeared to cheer up when she talked with them. Quickly, she realised that this was not much of a test, being pleasant and charming was natural for her. Scanning the faces of the crowd she finally found Ellie standing a fair distance away with her back half turned to her. Several times Caleigh tried to make eye-contact but her friend did not see her. “Very well, Ellie.” Caleigh muttered. “You shall be my prey.”

Clasping a handful of her charm she extended her thoughts to Ellie, thinking not of charming her only of getting her to turn around and notice her. She chose a spot on her left cheek to concentrate on then, trying to do so without being obvious, pointed her fingertip at it launching the magic as a smoking dart.

Then something unexpected happened; the dart did not strike home and disappear, instead it turned back to a small cloud and trickled down Ellie’s shoulder and settled around her chest. Caleigh tried not to panic, thinking she might have done something bad to her. I just want you to turn round, that is all, she repeated in her head. From the pink glow where the spell had stopped another smoking dart flew out this time back at Caleigh and came to rest in the hand that had sent it thither in the first place leaving behind a thin vapour trail linking her with Ellie. Duly, Ellie turned round and looked straight at her and gave a wave and a beaming smile and then tried to find a path between the crowd to make her way through.

Immensely relieved she had done no harm Caleigh set off trying to find a like trial. Halfway towards each other Caleigh passed one of the tables and sitting there, addressing three fellow riders whose backs were to her was Robin Stronghand with a tankard of ale in one hand and gesticulating with another. Seeing her he looked up and gave a sidelong friendly wink. A naughty smile crossed Caleigh’s face and feeling emboldened by Gideon’s encouragement took the lustful image that floated across from him and focussed it back at him along with another projectile charm.

In contrast to when she had tried this charm on Gideon the effect was immediately obvious; Robin’s eyes went glazed and his hand drooped lazily pouring his ale slowly onto his lap. “Robin!” Shouted one of his friends and he woke with a start from his momentary daze.

“Ah, shit!” He cried realising he had soaked himself and stood up desperately trying to brush the liquid off with his hand. 

“I’m so sorry.” Caleigh blurted rushing to his side. Robin forgot his dampness for a moment and looked her quizzically.

“Why do you apologise? It was my hand that slipped.” He reasoned. Caleigh remembered herself with a moment of cold shock. There was no way this could be her fault unless she confessed to using magic.

“Yes, true but I waved at you and that was when your hand slipped. I thought I might have distracted you.” She recovered. 

“Did you wave? Maybe that’s what caught my eye. Either way, it was my clumsiness alone.”

“Looks like your hand’s not so strong.” A nearby friend joked.

“Excuse me, I must change garments now. Perchance I will see you later, Caleigh.” He suggested softly. Caleigh stepped away to make room for him and nearly stumbled into Ellie who had come close.

“A spell that makes men wet themselves. I think that will be very useful.” She quipped.

“Be quiet Ellie, I nearly revealed myself then.”

“I should be quiet? If you keep talking about revealing yourself every man here will start paying attention.”  

“Very funny” They moved into a less crowded part of the field. Confident nobody would overhear them Caleigh relaxed and turned to speak but Ellie beat her to it.

“Have you been here long?”

“Not long, well maybe an hour actually.”

“Oh, so you wander around for a whole hour before you seek me out?” Ellie said in mock affront.

“I could say the same for you.”

“Fair point”

“Are you drunk?”

“Give me time, Caleigh.”

“I think some are there already.” Caleigh observed looking over the field.

“It is the end of the summer.” Ellie answered in way of explanation.

“The end of many things, I am leaving in a matter of days, I am going to Elevered and I may never return.”

“I know.” Ellie suddenly flung her arms around Caleigh in a tight embrace.

“I will miss you more than all the fields and gardens and nice bedchambers with their own looking glass and everything else put together.”

“I will miss you more; you’re the only good thing in this town. Well, except Penric’s…hey, you never did tell me if he likes me or no.”

“True.”

“You owe me.”

“Very well, I shall make good tonight. Speak to Penric later and when you do I will observe will all my power.”

“And help, I hope. You can work that charm for me too.”

“If I can, I will do just that.”

Night drew on and even the late sun of summer began to turn red over the horizon. Though the feasting had finished, the drinking and merriment continued unfettered. It was strange and joyous to Caleigh to see everyone from her life together in one place, when normally they lived in distinct spheres. Yet here they were together, just to her side she could see Dana standing in conversation with Dame Edith. Ostensibly such different people had little to talk about but living in a town such as this there were too many shared experiences to be complete strangers.

As carefully planned, Ellie peeled off to talk to Penric when for a moment he parted company from his fellow warriors. Caleigh looked on, half hidden behind a pair of women from a neighbouring village talking about the small differences between there and here. Concentrating as she did when she wished to perceive her own charm, she watched the interplay between the two of them for signs of interest from Penric’s part. This she could do easily enough without magic, it was simply more interesting to see what more she could learn with the aid of her powers.

Her previous opinion had been that Penric found Ellie attractive yet was hesitant to act on this, partly out of lingering affection for her. There was no avoiding this they had been parted barely six weeks and had been together for six months and more. Looking back, Caleigh appreciated that they had not come together out of great passion. They were friends who had drifted closer until it seemed a natural progression that they should become lovers. At the time she had not questioned it, this was perhaps a mistake yet it was an innocent mistake that belonged to an innocent life. Had she not become aware of her gift it was quite possible she may have been happy with this life and married Penric and been a happy wife.

Perceiving them as she did in this moment it was possible to see how their auras interacted. How Ellie’s burned hot and how Penric’s reached out to it then retracted like a child daring to put his hand close to a flame. Examining this pattern more closely she could even see how at the moment Penric’s aura retreated, the energy dissipated in her direction. Her theory seemed correct, though this was of little surprise. Not to me: to her, she willed in her head as these currents drifted thusly. Almost unconsciously Caleigh gestured with her fingers as well as her thoughts and rather than from her a dart issued from Ellie’s surrounding charm and connected with Penric. Seizing the moment, Caleigh focussed hard as earlier when she had tried to attract Ellie’s attention the trail remained like a linking cord. 

Was it her imagination or did Penric’s body language relax the moment this connection was made? This was uncharted territory, she did not know if this was a new spell or merely a fanciful extension of her imagination. Then again, imagination was the key to magic according to Gideon. Almost as if thinking of him caused it, as soon as she thought of his name Gideon’s voice reached her ear through the hubbub.

“Yes, I do work with Tovrik.” He was agreeing in a slurred voice. “Can I do what he does? I can do some tricks, yes.” Several voices pleaded at once for him to show them.

“Yeah, show us some magic. Please sir, as it is a special occasion.”

“Well I’m not sure…” The voices pleaded again. Caleigh noted that although the high pitched tones of children were the most imploring amongst them they were by no means alone. “We usually ask for coin for this…” Caleigh was thoroughly distracted now and looked over at Gideon. He was holding his hand up as the people around him started scrabbling in their pockets for coin. “As I was saying…we usually ask for coin
but
…since this is a
special
occasion I believe we can make an exception.” He looked round and shouted “Caleigh!” Oh Gods, he is drunk, she sighed inwardly. 

“Yes Gideon.” She answered sweetly.

“These people want to see some of our show.”