Soul Magic (36 page)

Instantly, Sarina understood.  “But we need to save Ellette.  She must be with Caradoc.  Only then will the third pair give us enough strength to fight that.”

A laugh echoed around the chamber, evil and rancor in the horrible sound.  The unholy flame roared, undeterred by the raging flood. 

“Power.”  Faceless, mouthless, nevertheless it spoke.  “I will take your power and more.”

Now Alanna jumped into the icy water.  She gasped, struggling to stay afloat.  Ahead of her Darrick broke the surface for a third time, the determination on his face making him glow with his own sort of power.

Reaching him, Alanna felt magic surge when she touched his shoulder.  The force of the waves lessened and she saw he struggled with something – no, not something, but some one.  A tiny bundle, encased in a block of ice.

Ellette.  They tread water, supporting her between them.

“Caradoc,” Darrick shouted.  “Help me.”

Caradoc clapped his hands and began to sing.  His song was a song of power, of deeds both finished and as yet undone.  The words were not in any language that Alanna knew, not human nor Fae, but some language whose meaning had been long forgotten.  Still, she understood the words.

As he sang, notes sounded in the gloom.  The clang of three pure bells, chiming.

Caradoc continued to sing, reaching out towards them. The water continued to recede, into the cracks and fissures and the awful, dark, burning hole.

He sang and he gestured and the magic built.  The flame sputtered, then flared towards him.  A flash of light and the awful chair that held him vanished. 

Caradoc staggered forward, his voice faltering.  He stumbled, too close to the edge.

“No!”  Alanna’s heart stopped.  If he fell, he would be consumed by Gorsedd’s fire. 

But at the last moment, Caradoc regained his balance, pushing himself back from the precipice.

The last of the water vanished.  Darrick and she climbed to their feet.  Alanna kept her grip of his arm, drawing strength from the touch of him.

Inside the block of ice, Ellette appeared to sleep.

“Is she--”

“I think she lives.  We must get her to Caradoc.”

Behind Alanna and Darrick, Geoffrey and Sarina closed ranks.  They continued to glow, their spark undimmed.

“Pairs of pairs,”  Alanna said.  “Save one.”

With an angry roar, the black flame became an inferno.  Blue-black sparks shot from it, turning to ice whatever they touched. 

Caradoc spoke a word.  Alanna repeated it, Sarina followed suit. 

Darrick reached for him, holding out Ellette in her block of ice.

Legs planted apart in a warrior’s stance, Caradoc opened his arms to receive her.

“I will not have it!”  Gorsedd’s voice, as the flame solidified and became the shape of a man. 

Gorsedd.

The blue-black fire still danced around him, reflected a hundred times off the rock walls. 

From below came a snarl – and the earth trembled.

“That Which Cannot Be Named is awake – and hungry.”  Gorsedd laughed, his eyes full of madness. “Come to me boy.”

“No.”  Caradoc shook his head.  In his arms, the ice block began to steam and melt.

Inside, Ellette appeared lifeless.  But Caradoc spoke again, and she stirred.  Her blue eyes opened, blazing with trust, and she laughed out loud.   The joyous sound of childish laughter did much to dispel any doubts.

Her chubby hand reached out for Caradoc.  Solemn-faced, he took it.

“I will not have it,” Gorsedd said again, stepping in their path with his hands held out before him like claws.  “The others feed your power and this power is MINE.  It belongs to ME.”  He roared, sending an echo around the chamber. 

“No.”  Caradoc didn’t even look at Gorsedd as he spoke.  He gazed down at the little girl and smiled.

“A soul torn asunder must be made whole.”  As he spoke the words, Darrick gathered Alanna in his arms.  “Now is our chance to right the wrong that was done us, to restore that which Morfran stole.  Marry me, Alanna of Rune, make me whole.  Marry me and come to Thorncliff and live with me as wife.”

Shocked, stunned, she could only shake her head in disbelief.  “You ask me this now?  Now?”

“I have my reasons.” 

“I cannot--.”

“You must.”  He looked at her and she saw he hid

nothing. In his eyes she saw worry and fear, doubt, and urgency.  And love.  Most of all, love.

             
Swallowing, she closed her eyes, feeling as though she lept blindly forward.  “Yes.”

             
“Trust is like that.”  His voice sounded strange.  She opened her eyes and saw him wipe away a tear.

             
“Come.”  Lifting his chin, he gave her a fierce smile full of so much tenderness it felt like a caress.  “We must rescue your son.”  Then he kissed her, the salt of his tears mingling with his breath.  Gripping her hand, he led her forward, directly towards Gorsedd and the sinuous black flame.

“I claim the power.”  Gorsedd grinned as they drew close, his hands out as though he meant to rip the very life-force from their bodies.

“You have no power over us.  We fulfill our destiny.” 

Shimmering, flickering, Gorsedd again became the flame, roaring at them, ice and heat, darkness and evil, daring them to pass. 

Never hesitating, Darrick pulled them forward, striding through like Gorsedd and the awful flame meant nothing.

And it was true.  Indeed, as they passed through the fire, Alanna felt no ice, no chill, nothing.  Nothing but the combined warmth of her soul-half’s touch, of her friend’s contentment, and of her little boy’s joy at their reunion.

“Mama.”  He flew at her.

Alanna gathered him close, happiness making her glow bright.  “Caradoc.”  She spoke his name over and over, stroking his hair.  “Caradoc, I’ve missed you so.”

With Darrick’s arm still around her shoulders, she half-turned, welcoming Sarina and Geoffrey into the circle of their embrace, for only then would all the pairs of pairs be together, so that their magic might hold.

Behind them, Gorsedd/the flame flared, attacking.  She felt the pull as it sought purchase, a source of strength from which to feed.  The thing in the earth, That Which Must Not Be Named, bellowed, sending rock crumbling.  The stuff of nightmares, again Gorsedd’s shape changed.  Not fire, not man, but something worse, the formless terror of the worst nightmare.

Grouped together, Fae and human, friends and lovers, mother and son, their combined glow chased away the darkness.  Beating back the black shape, their magic chased it into the fissure. 

One howl, two.  Gorsedd’s voice, or something worse, she could not tell.  With a clap the earth closed, sealing evil inside.

“Cawadoc.”  Ellette clapped her hands.  Then, to Alanna’s surprise she turned to Darrick, holding up her arms to be held.  “Dawwick,” she said.

He threw back his head and laughed, lifting her up in the air.  “Ellette.” 

Giggling, she squealed his name.  “Dawwick.”

Alanna’s throat ached.  She hugged her son even harder. 

“I love you, boy of mine.”

Never taking his gaze from Darrick and Ellette, Caradoc sighed.  “I love you too, mama.”

The earth trembled as the fissure slid closed.

“Gorsedd is no more.”  Geoffrey pronounced. 

Darrick flashed him a grim smile.  “Aye, but what of Morfran?  Are you certain Gorsedd killed him?  He and I have old scores to settle.”

“Morfran is dead,” Caradoc pronounced. “Gorsedd sacrificed him to That Which Cannot Be Named.”

Glad at least her child had not been witness to that particular killing, Alanna kissed his cheek.

He turned his head and kissed her back.  Then, pulling from Alanna’s arms, Caradoc moved closer to Darrick, studying him with a grave, yet hopeful expression.  `Twas as though he knew what they could mean to each other.
              Behind them, Geoffrey and Sarina murmured endearments to each other.  Caradoc paid them no head, watching only Darrick.

The child of legend
. 

Nay, Caradoc was only her beloved son, as Darrick was the man of her heart. 

They looked at each other, silent.  Heart full to bursting, yet aching, Alanna watched them, knowing what might come could not be of her urging. 

Darrick settled back on his heels, hoisting Ellette on one knee.  Holding Caradoc’s intent gaze, he patted the other and held out his hand. 

“Come here, my son,” he said, smiling.  “I am Darrick, your sire.  We’ve five long years to catch up on, my son.”

Without hesitation, Caradoc moved forward.

Alanna’s eyes filled with tears.  Silent, they spilled out, running silver trails down her cheeks.  Though she tried to hold it in, she couldn’t keep a sob from escaping.

Hearing this, Caradoc turned.  “Mama?”

She sniffled, smiling through her tears.  “Don’t worry about me.  I’m fine.”

Gone was the too-old wise one of the throne and the magic.  The uncertainty of a five-year old child peered at her with concern. “But you’re crying.”

“Your mother weeps with happiness,” Darrick told him, reaching out and gathering him close. 

Caradoc tilted his head. “Why?”

They both looked at her then, studying her with identical expressions, making her smile through her tears. 

“Because she sees her family has found each other.”   Darrick’s gaze darkened.  So much love blazed from his eyes her heart turned over.  “And now nothing will ever tear us apart again.”

Moving forward, one child in each arm, he gathered Alanna into the circle and sealed the bargain with a kiss.