Light in the Barren Lands: Travail of The Dark Mage Book One (29 page)

“There he goes!” she squealed when the lizard fled the circle of the target area and raced with all speed out into the desert.

“It worked perfectly!” exclaimed James as he ran forward. He would have liked to have caught the lizard again to make sure it was fine, but by the way it raced across the desert, it looked as if it had survived the process.

“Now you can get us home,” concluded Jiron, coming to join his friend. Jira raced into the desert trying to recapture her lizard.

“Not quite. But we’re closer.” Then to Jira he shouted, “If you get it, let me take a look at it, okay?” She waved her hand in acknowledgement.

“What do you have yet to do?”

James considered his reply for a moment then glanced up to the blue sky overhead. “Jiron, where’s your planet?”

“What?”

“Your world, where is it?”

“I’m not sure I understand.”

James pointed first to the launch area then to the target area. “Think of one being Earth, and the other your world. We have to move from one, to the other.”

“Right. I understand that.”

“Okay then,” continued James. “I was able to send the lizard from one to the other because I
knew
where to send it.” He paused a moment to see if Jiron was following, and he was. “I know where Earth is, but the location of your world is unknown.”

Understanding dawned. “How are you going to find it?”

“Good question. I’ve been so busy worrying about Earth’s magic and whether or not I can even get my spells to work, that I have spent little time considering that aspect of the problem.”

“Can you find it?”

James was quiet for a moment. “I don’t know. Have you any idea how vast the universe is? Of course, there’s always the possibility that your world is in some kind of universe, parallel to this one.” Jiron grew confused again. James shook his head. “Never mind. This universe is vast enough without worrying about parallel ones.”

“If you say so,” replied Jiron in confusion. James understood, and that was enough for him.

With his spells now feasible, James turned his attention to the problem of locating Jiron’s world. By nightfall he was no closer to a viable solution. If he should try to have his magic locate the world, the search would expand to mammoth proportions before it even left Earth’s atmosphere. To search beyond the moon’s orbit would take more magic than James could access. Unless of course he stripped magic from every living being on this world, in effect destroying all life which was something he could never do.

Igor could help, but would he? Though if he found Igor, and the being was amenable, Igor could just as handily transport them himself. He was certain there were other beings that could be of use, but how was he to find them? Hours passed as he mulled over the various options available. He finally came up with an idea that might work though it was a long shot in the extreme.

The night was dark, the only light was that coming from their campfire and the stars above. The moon hadn’t even risen. Jiron and Jira were sitting by the fire sharing memories of home, small bobbing lights of ever changing color danced as she flicked Kenny’s wand. Now that her uncle no longer experimented, she was free to play with it.

Jiron noticed his friend over at the car filling a grocery bag with apples and other foodstuff. Getting to his feet, he left his daughter to play with Kenny’s wand as he went to see what James was doing.

“Going somewhere?”

James looked over his shoulder to his friend and nodded. “Into the desert. I’ll be there for a while.”

“Our company growing tiring?” Jiron grinned.

“No. I think I may have thought of a way to find your world.”

“How?”

“I’m going to make a
Vyrilyzk.
”

Jiron knew what he meant by a
Vyrilyzk
. A
Vyrilyzk
was an offering farmers often left for the earth spirits back on Jiron’s home world. Comprised of a ring of leaves and a portion of the harvest’s first yield, its use was purported to bring a good, or even better, harvest the following year.

“Do you think they will help?”

James shrugged. “Can’t hurt to try. They are after all earth spirits. Brother Willim claimed they were everywhere. I’m hoping he wasn’t just
referring
to
your
world.”

Jiron looked skeptical. “I believe he also said that they were shy and timid, and not likely to come when called.”

“I know. But maybe the
Vyrilyzk
is no longer in use on Earth, and if so, the sight of it may bring them around. For curiosity’s sake if for no other reason.”

“Are you going to capture one?”

“Good heavens, no,” exclaimed James. “I want their cooperation, not their subservience. Besides, I wouldn’t know how to hold one even if I did manage to catch it.” With sack now filled, he closed the trunk and turned to his friend. “I’m not sure how long this is going to take.”

“So in other words, don’t worry if you’re not back by dawn?”

James nodded. “Maybe even a couple of dawns. If this doesn’t work, I’ll be back in three days.”

“You could make one here,” he suggested.

“I thought of that. But since they are shy and timid creatures, they might be more social if I were alone.”

“Just be careful.”

“I will. Though if you hear explosions and see a starburst overhead, come running.”

Jiron grinned. “I’ll do that.”

“Take care.”

“You too,” James said then headed for the desert.

Before being swallowed by the darkness, his orb appeared just above and behind his left shoulder. Jiron watched the light gradually fade into the distance until it was gone.

He should have brought more food. Now well into his second day alone in the desert, his food supply was dwindling. The sun had just set and a fire burned not too far off to ward off the nightly chill.

Situated at the fringe of the campfire’s light sat a ring of stones. In lieu of the ring of leaves Brother Willim had said was the customary building material of the
Vyrilyzk
, he had constructed a ring of stone seeing as there was scant vegetation to be had. Oh sure, he could have made a ring of cactus needles, but somehow the stones felt more appropriate.

Within the stones sat several apples and some trail mix. There had been no sign of the earth spirits the previous night, though a coyote had tried to take off with the offering on two separate occasions. Tonight, he planned to step up his efforts.

Once the sun had dropped below the horizon and night had come, James positioned himself three yards away and facing the
Vyrilyzk.
He then allowed the fire to burn down until there were but coals and waited.

Twenty minutes passed and there was no sign of the earth spirits. Gathering the magic to him, he gradually formed what he hoped was a welcoming bubble of good thoughts and offers of friendship that swelled to encompass not only him, but the
Vyrilyzk
as well. In his mind’s eye, he pictured the earth spirits coming and partaking of the offering within the
Vyrilyzk.

Along with creating the welcoming atmosphere, he also sent his senses out to scan for any movement in the world about him. A scorpion was nestled beneath a stone not three feet away, other bugs and nocturnal critters were going about their nightly business. But of the earth spirits, there was no sign.

He searched his memories for anything that may help. Conversations with Brother Willim during their campaign together proved of little help as he had rarely spoken to James of those he called his “Little Brothers.”

There was an earlier memory that came to the fore. One on an island with a woman named Lyria. She had been a woman of power, and when James had awaken in the hours prior to dawn, he’d found her seated outside on a stump with earth spirits gathered before her.

She had said something about earth spirits. That they were shy and rarely came out, and that they rarely wanted to. When asked why they came out for her, she replied,
“I’ve been here a long time. They’ve learned to trust me. I think they like my singing too.”

Could singing aid in coaxing them forth? He figured it was worth a try. So with this in mind, he began to hum. No words, just a soothing melody one might do for a fussy baby who awoke in the middle of the night and refused to return to sleep.

The bubble of peace and welcome he had in place around him and the
Vyrilyzk
soon began to resonate with the melody. He thought of Brother Willim and the other members of the Hand of Asran whom he had known. Those memories began to be incorporated into the bubble, and soon, lost all track of time as the sense of peace and contentment filled him.

How long he sat in the dark humming the tune he couldn’t begin to guess, but at some point, James knew he was no longer alone. Something was by the
Vyrilyzk
. The realization caused him to momentarily halt his tune and to bring his senses more fully upon the area surrounding the
Vyrilyzk
. But whatever had been there was gone.

He resumed humming and once again tried to create the same atmosphere of peace and welcome as he had before. Minutes passed before again sensing a presence at the ring of stones.

Little Brother, be not afraid.
Speaking the words within his mind, he allowed the magic to carry them to his visitor.

The presence vanished.

Continuing with the melody, he waited. When again the presence appeared, he carried on as if the presence were not there. While he hummed, he kept a constant watch upon the presence that he was certain was an earth spirit. He felt, more than saw, a little arm reach into the ring of stones and take one of the apples.

That is for you Little Brother.

Again the presence, and the apple it carried, vanished even before James could complete the thought. He grinned triumphantly. The earth spirit had returned, it would again.

Throughout the night, the earth spirit, or others of its kind, visited the
Vyrilyzk
. When the food within the circle of stones was gone, he replenished it. Then afterward, he would return to his position, begin to hum and recreate his bubble of peace and welcome. When dawn came and the sky began to lighten, they came no more.

Mid-afternoon of the third day after James’ departure, Jiron paced the edge of camp, gazing off across the desert for his friend’s return. Jira still played with Kenny’s wand, though after days of doing little else, the excitement of commanding magic had begun to wane.

A form appeared far out in the desert. Minutes later, it proved to be James returning. “He’s coming,” he announced to his daughter.

“Uncle James is back!” she exclaimed.

Excitement causing them to be unable to remain in camp, father and daughter raced out together to meet him.

Jiron kept his pace down to what Jira could keep up with. James waved as they drew near, and the grin upon his face told Jiron that his time in the desert hadn’t been a complete waste of time.

“Did they come?” was the question whose answer Jiron most desired to have.

“Yes,” replied James with a nod. Then he held the empty sack in which he had carried the food. “Hungry little guys. They took everything I brought.”

Jiron patted him congratulatory on the back. “Great. I was worried there may be no earth spirits here on your world.”

“After the first night, so had I. But then last night, they came.”

“Are they going to help?”

“I hadn’t reached that point yet,” he explained. “Every time I tried to make contact, they vanished. I’m hoping that another night of offerings may help to gain their confidence.”

“There is still plenty of food,” Jiron assured him. “Do you plan to do it here?”

James shook his head. “No. I think it might be best if I return to the same place where I made contact with them last night. Having you and Jira nearby may inhibit them.”

“That makes sense.”

While James filled his sack, Jiron put the pot back on the fire to allow the contents to warm. James remained at the campsite for another hour and partook of the warmed-over stew. Not the greatest meal, but at least it was hot and hadn’t been pre-wrapped like his previous day’s victuals.

When the time came for him to leave, he said, “I’ll be back in two days to check in if this hasn’t resolved before then. Hopefully this will only take one.”

“Be careful,” advised Jiron.

“I will.” Then with a goodbye hug for Jira, he headed back out into the desert.

Twilight found him seated as he had been the previous night, with the
Vyrilyzk
positioned much closer than before. Apples filled the ring of stones along with slices of bread and some of the more natural, unprocessed foods that they’d brought with them to the desert.

He waited patiently and watched the world grow dark. As the first stars began to appear, he started to hum. Magic flowed from him as he sent out waves of peace and welcome to the surrounding countryside. He even directed some of it into the ground beneath him since after all, he
was
looking for
earth
spirits.

It wasn’t long before he sensed a presence near the ring of stones comprising the
Vyrilyzk
. He could barely make out the form in the all but gone light. Paying it only peripheral attention, he continued with the humming.

Another joined the first. Neither reached for an apple, instead, it felt as if they were merely standing there watching him. Deciding to take a risk, James sent out a thought intermixed with his feelings of peace and welcome.
Greetings, Little Brother.

One of the two forms vanished. The one remaining felt poised to flee, but hadn’t.

Other thoughts began superimposing themselves over the ones of peace and welcome; memories of his time with Brother Willim and the Hand of Asran, the way the moon shone upon the waters surrounding his island back home, and others that comprised his most cherished of memories.

The earth spirit grew more at ease.