Into the Fray: Volume 1 of The Sorcerers of Jhanvia Series (12 page)

The Valtyr painfully raised her head. Kidreyli struggled to speak, “Kait?”

“No!” Kaitra screamed as she pulled away from Nemainn. “What is this you two are concocting? These events could never be.”

“Calm down, my friend…,” Cliona was interrupted.

“Calm down?!” she furiously blurted out. “I don’t know what you two are playing at, but I will not stand for it!” She got up and stormed out of the hut. She only got four paces away before her emotions grabbed her, forcing her to stop in her tracks.

A moment later, Cliona emerged from the hut.

Kaitra spun around and stated angrily as a tear slipped down her cheek, “You know I would never do such things. I could never do that to Kidreyli.”

“We did not create what you have seen, nor have we influenced it. It is real and it is but one possible future. It is vital that you understand all there is to know about it. This knowledge will strengthen you and help you to cope with what lies ahead. Please, come back into the hut.”

Kaitra stood defiantly, looking her friend in the eyes.

“Please,” Cliona begged.

She yielded to her request. What else could she do. She went back into the hut, followed by Cliona, and sat away from the both of them. She stated firmly, “You both have to know that I would never betray Kidreyli or you.”

The old woman spoke up, “Dear child, we know.”

“Then what did I just see?”

“The same visions you have seen before, only with more depth and clarity. I have a talent for bringing focus to such workings,” Nemainn explained.

Kaitra paused for a moment and took a deep breath to let her emotions calm, and then she conceded, “You’re right. These visions have been haunting me for a while now, and recently they have gained in intensity.”

“Then you realize that they will try and cast some kind of spell on you in an effort to bend you to their will, probably through a potion,” Cliona stated.

“I have been working on a counter to the spell. I think it will prevent them from achieving that goal.”

“What is the basic premise of your spell?” Nemainn asked.

“I thought I would focus on an object of Kidreyli’s, something that is always with her. I would set a spell so that when I see that object, it would bring me back to myself and break whatever control they have.”

Cliona asked, “Have you thought about how you might stop them from getting you in the first place? If we can prevent that, then this problem never exists.”

“How would I do that kind of spell?”

“Maybe a talisman, something you have on your person that defends you from immediate peril,” she posed.

Nemainn smiled, “Yes, yes, that is good. We could also empower it to help prevent your mind from being taken over.”

“I’m not sure I understand.”

Cliona explained, “It should be something that helps bind you to the here and now, because here you’re safe. I suggest a small pouch tied to your belt or clothing at your waist, preferably over your birth node. You need to fill it with things from here, which would tap into the wards that protect us, such as a small piece of the root of a tree, a feather from a bird that lives with us here, and a personal object of one or more of the villagers, such as a fingernail or small crop of hair.”

“Yes, excellent,” remarked Nemainn.

Cliona continued, “You should include personal items of yours and Kidreyli’s. This will tie the two of you back to us and help bind you together in difficult times. Once complete, use your magics to seal the pouch from all outside influences. You need to create this talisman yourself. The act of creation will make the talisman a part of you. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” Kaitra replied.

“Good,” Cliona concluded.

Nemainn said, “I understand that Kidreyli’s Katrion speaks to you now.”

“Yes.”

“She is very special,” the old woman continued. “She has been around a long time and has seen many things. If you find you need counsel, she would be an excellent resource.”

“I had no idea.” Kaitra was surprised. She thought Tyral was just a horse with a special gift.

“Trust in her,” Cliona reinforced Nemainn’s comments. “Now, to a discussion of your defensive magics. Those you are about to face have many weapons, some conventional and some magical. I have asked Destri to join us. We should test your abilities and provide some insight. Would you be willing to meet us by the large stone on the north side of the village in about twenty minutes?”

“I would appreciate anything you are willing to impart. Of course,” the sorceress responded.

“Very well,” Cliona said.

A humbled Kaitra said, “Nemainn, I must apologize for my earlier outburst.”

“Dear girl, you need not. You face difficult times. The burden you carry would weigh on anyone.”

Kaitra knelt down next to her and gave her a firm hug. “Thank you for all you have done.”

“Know that you are always welcome here.”

The young woman stepped over, hugged Cliona and said, “Thank you.”

“You are most welcome.”

Kaitra closed the door gently as she left. The two elders paused quietly for a few moments to allow her to walk out of earshot.

“She’s not going to survive, is she?” Cliona asked.

“I’m afraid the fates are against her,” Neimann replied.

“We need an alternative plan if she becomes lost to us.”

The old woman stated, “The Valtyr have the experience and the warrior instinct. Focusing our efforts with them might be more beneficial. Besides, much of the problem we face is spawned from their culture. They are the ones with the most to lose.”

“You’re probably right,” Cliona noted with a distant feel in her voice.

“What are you thinking?” Nemainn could sense that something was conjuring in Cliona’s mind.

“I believe that a cunning plan has taken shape within me.”

Nemainn smiled, “Oh, please enlighten me.”

he twenty minutes or so had passed. Kaitra had looked for Kidreyli, but she was nowhere to be found, so she stood leaning on the great old stone, letting its warmth caress her. Off in the distance, Cliona and Destri approached, he carrying a sword, some knives and a crossbow. Destri was the strongest man she had ever seen. No wonder, he being the village smith. He was a young man in his twenty-second year and he stood tall at six feet. The muscles in his arms and shoulders overwhelmed his relatively thin waist, bulging out from under the open leather vest that served as his shirt. His black hair fell a bit unkempt over his shoulders. His black leather pants must have been recently made, as they showed little wear.

She took notice that the squirrels and birds had figured out that something was afoot. They had moved away, whether to watch or stay out of the line of fire, it really did not matter.

“Are you ready for this?” the elder asked.

“Absolutely,” Kaitra replied.

“Good. We should begin with the conventional types of weapons. For purposes of defensive magic, I like to categorize them into two types, those that are hand–held, such as swords and maces, and those that kill from a distance, such as bows, crossbows and throwing knives. The magic used for each category is not dependent on the weapon used, as it is designed to defend against the method of delivery. We have brought a few examples, and Destri and I believe we should start with the sword.”

“All right.”

He explained, “I will come at you. Use your magics to defend yourself.”

Cliona interjected with a smile, “But don’t hurt him too badly.”

Destri attacked with sword held high, but not at full pace. As he started down with the blade, she pushed her right hand toward him. A faint green pulse of energy from her magics stopped the blade and pushed him back a few steps.

“That was good,” he observed. “Now I am going to come at you stronger and with more pace. Yes?”

“I understand.”

He followed through as described. His blade got close before she was able to fend his attack off, sending him backward several steps.

Cliona stepped in. “I see you rely on directed magics. Have you used magic to create a defensive perimeter around you?”

“No.”

“Let’s try it then, shall we? The idea is to create and impenetrable circular wall around you. Envision a circle around you on the ground. Use your magics to give it life and then raise the wall around you from the ground up.”

Kaitra followed her instructions and stirred up energies that were a bit unfocused. Destri picked up a small stone and threw it at her. It hit her in the leg.

The young one was clearly frustrated at her failure as Cliona spoke more forcefully, “Focus on the task at hand. Clear your mind. See the circle form, then raise the wall. Do not hold back.”

Kaitra’s instincts took hold. She closed her eyes and used her hands to help achieve the desired result. A faint golden energy came up around her. Destri picked up another stone and tossed it at her. It failed to penetrate her defenses, stopping in mid-flight and harmlessly dropping to the ground.

“Well done,” Cliona smiled. “Now you understand the basics. It is time to make this process yours. Be creative. See that you are being attacked without warning from several fronts. You need to bring up your defenses quickly. Now, go!”

Destri grabbed up several stones and threw them in rapid succession in her direction. She held out her hands palms down and spun around one time quickly, then thrust her hands skyward. The transparent golden glow from her defenses was deeper and richer this time. The stones, one after another, fell harmlessly onto the ground. Destri took his sword and went all out after her. Her defenses held up to his assault. Then she directed her magics at him, a stronger and more vibrant light green pulse of energy that laid him out on his back.

He laughed at the sky as her defensive spell diminished.

Kaitra’s surprise at the success of her spell played out through her wide eyes as she asked, “Destri, I am
so
sorry. Are you all right?”

“Don’t worry, my friend. He’s a tough one,” Cliona said through a knowing smile as she went over and helped him up. “Now, we’ll try the crossbow. It is extremely difficult to stop a crossbow bolt, as they’re hard to see in flight and they are on you very quickly.”

Destri loaded the weapon and pointed it at her. She threw up her defenses as before, but they were not strong enough. Fortunately he had released the bolt just to her left. It sailed past her and crashed into the large stone behind her.

The elder’s encouragement was reinforced with a stern tone, “You can do this. Use your imagination and put as much force as you can muster into it.”

Kaitra paused for a moment to gather herself, and then commanded, “Again.”

He reloaded his weapon and took aim. She spun around as before and raised her defenses, but made an additional sweeping motion with her right arm, causing the air around the outside of those defenses to circle at great speed. The combination of tactics was fortunately successful as Destri had released the bolt directly at her. It hit her defenses and was flung harmlessly away into the nearby trees.

Cliona said, “Exceptional, my dear. The rumors of your talents have certainly proved true. I recommend that you practice your magics as often as possible until they become second nature to you. When the time comes that you need them, you’re not going to get a second chance to get it right.”

“I understand. Thank you both
so
much for this.”

“Now that you understand the creation of these types of defenses, you need to know how to defeat them. How would you take down a defensive perimeter?” Cliona asked.

“By grounding the energies.”

“And how would you do that?” she pressed.

The young one stood silent as her confidence waned.

The elder explained, “The best way I have found is to take some object of the earth and slam it as hard as you can into the ground at the base of their energy signature. It’s an act of directed magic that drives their energies back to their source. Do you wish to try it?”

“Yes, please,” Kaitra replied enthusiastically.

Cliona raised her own defenses with a slight motion of her hand. The young sorceress picked up a stone about twice the size of her fist and followed through as instructed, but her hand left the stone just before it hit the ground. It bounced off the defenses and rolled away.