The Missing Mage (19 page)

Nathan looked at her progress. The knife was working well, but he could see where a really sharp and strong needle would be a better tool. Perhaps when he got back he could make one.

“Oh, and Quinton is going to put an illusion spell on my outfit when it is done,” said Sharon, showing Nathan the enchanted piece of silk that changed color.

“Woah, that is neat,” exclaimed Nathan. “How does that spell work?”

“It is similar to the spells I use to make the paintings, it’s like a coat of magic over the cloth that acts almost like a mirror, but instead of showing an image it picks up the colors near it. Here, let me show you how to cast it.”

While Nathan watched Quinton work his spell he had a thought, “Would a bloodstone make the spell stronger?”

Quinton paused and laughed, “It’s only a simple spell, a bloodstone might be overkill, but yes it would certainly make the spell stronger.”

“After Sharon showed me the silk in the shop I have been thinking about how to make it ever better. I have a few ideas.” Nathan left the room, going into his own bedroom for a minute before returning. He handed Sharon a couple small amethyst fragments. “Sew these into your blouse and leggings,” he explained.

Sharon inspected the small jewels closely. “These are bloodstones?” asked Sharon. “I don’t see any blood.”

Nathan nodded, “They are bloodstones. Don’t worry, I cleaned them up before giving them to you. It doesn’t take much blood. My blood just seems to make the stones more receptive to accepting and storing magic. Quinton will be able to enchant your clothing and it will draw on the power stored in the stones. I have another enchantment I want to add, but I will play with it first make sure it works. Besides, you have to finish the clothing before I enchant them.”

Sharon, already excited to wear her new combat clothing, was now even more determined to finish them that night. “In that case, you two get out of here, I have work to do.”  

“Come on Quinton, let’s go see what Ava is up to,” said Nathan as he dragged Quinton out of the war room. Quinton reluctantly followed.

Walking down the corridor between Nathan’s rooms and the girls’ suite, Nathan broached the subject of Quinton and Sharon. “Are you going to tell me what is going on between you and Sharon? I know I walked in on something. You looked guilty as all get out, and Sharon was trying really hard to look like she was working.”

Quinton looked around the empty hallway as if worried the wrong ears might hear his confession. “I think I accidently told her that I really like her… and I think she might have been about to kiss me when you got home.”

Nathan smiled, his cousin was very kind and likeable, but it was amazing how shy the guy was. “How do you accidently tell someone you like them?”

“Well as usual, she was teasing me and like always my tongue was twisted every time I tried saying anything intelligent. But then I told her that she wasn’t pretty.”

“So you’re telling me she almost kissed you because you told her she wasn’t pretty? I swear, understanding woman is harder than reading your text books on illusions.”

Quinton laughed. “It didn’t happen exactly like that, but it doesn’t matter. She actually might like me! Now I am going to be even more tongue tied than before, and if you think that book is hard to read, wait ‘til I give you one on runes. Talk about boring.”

Nathan shook his head. “You spend all your time worrying that she doesn’t notice you exist, now you are worrying that she is noticing you. Quinton my friend, it is time you stopped worrying, just relax and be yourself.”

Quinton smiled sheepishly. “I suppose I do spend a little too much time worrying.”

The boys arrived at the girls’ bedroom suite, Nathan knocked on the door.

A few seconds later, a high-pitched voice rang out. “Who is it?”

Nathan smiled; even in a false tone, he could recognize Rose’s young voice. “It’s Nathan.”

“Sorry Nathan, we are busy in our studies right now and need our privacy. Can you come back later?” replied Rose in her faux high-pitched old woman voice.

“Oh, no problem Rose, Quinton and I just wanted to say hello, we can come back later.”

The door quickly opened and Rose gave Nathan a dirty look, speaking in her normal voice. “Why didn’t you just say Quinton was with you? I would have let you in right away.” Rose turned her attention to Quinton, “Hi Quinton, are you going to do some magic painting today?”

“Hey Rose. I’m not planning on it, but if I have time later maybe I can get you to help me on a project?” replied Quinton.

Rose smiled brightly. “Sure Quinton, I would love to.”

Nathan looked at his cousin. “Shy guy my foot. You have these girls wrapped around your little finger. I am totally going to finish reading that illusions book even if it kills me.”

Nathan walked over to Ava’s room, her door was open and she was sitting on her bed reading a book. “What are you reading?” he asked her.

“
A Healer’s Guide to Battle Wounds
,” she replied without looking up.

“Sounds exciting.”

Ava sighed, putting the book down for a moment. “Not really, but if you are going off to do something stupid, I might as well be prepared.”

Nathan was surprised; nobody knew that he would be going with Balthazar looking for Cyrnic yet. “What do you mean?”

“I’m not stupid Nathan. First the injured ranger, and then a mysterious messenger arrives with a note for you and within minutes you and Avera are off to see the king. Something important is going on, and the chances of you not being involved are slim. I’d bet that copper I owe you that you end up fighting someone or something.”

Nathan had to agree with her logic, he did tend to end up in the middle of things. “You are right, it is a secret, and even though I completely trust you, the less people that know about it the better. I can fill you in on parts of it.” Nathan explained how the king was sending out small groups of rangers and mages together to search for any missing rangers and that he would be going out with Balthazar and another ranger.

“So really, all the other rangers and mages are going out looking for the rangers while you and Balthazar go on a secret mission,” stated Ava.

“Pretty much, but it is vital that no one knows about it. Knowing what our mission is would put you and Rose at risk,” explained Nathan.

“It is okay Nathan, I understand. I know you would tell me if you could, and I am not angry that you are involved. I have gotten over the fact that I think you are too young to be a warrior. None of us chose this life, it was thrust upon us. You have done what is necessary. I know that you are a talented warrior and Verin trusts you. Therefore, it makes sense that you would be involved. I am just preparing myself to be helpful if needed. Be it with healing magic or crushing someone with a magic rock.”

Nathan smiled, he was relieved that Ava was becoming so much more understanding about his becoming a warrior. Nathan sat down on the bed beside Ava, saying nothing, just enjoying her closeness.

Ava glanced up from her studies. Nathan was sitting beside her, looking across the room at Quinton’s magical painting, but it was obvious that he wasn’t really paying it much attention. Like her, he was content just to sit there. Ava had not been totally honest with Nathan, while she accepted the fact that Nathan was now an accomplished warrior and would do what was necessary to help his family’s kingdom, she couldn’t help but feel that they were a team, bonded by magic. When he left without her, it was as if a part of her was being found unworthy. She knew it wasn’t logical and that neither her magic nor her healing skills were yet strong enough to justify her being included in missions such as the one Nathan was about to embark on. Yet secretly she was much farther ahead on her studies than she was letting on. Soon she would be able to contribute in a way that forced the men to consider her a valuable asset and not just a girl. She vowed to herself to continue to strengthen her magic and healing skills so she could join Nathan on these dangerous adventures.

“I met Avera’s friend Helena today. I am going to be going back to the infirmary again tomorrow, she was impressed by my salves and will be showing me how to use magic to heal.” Sharon was excited by this. Helena was an accomplished healer, and Ava was glad she would be spending more time with her, learning about how to use magic to heal along with her lessons with Nathan under Balthazar.

“Balthazar should be here soon, I am going to head down stairs now,” said Nathan reluctantly, enjoying just sitting beside Ava.

Ava looked over, smiling. “Okay. Come back and hang out with me when you are done talking with Balthazar. I will be here reading.”

Chapter twenty three

WHEN BALTHAZAR ARRIVED, Nathan was sitting at the kitchen table talking with Avera. “Hello Avera, good to see you,” said Balthazar.

“Hello, Balthazar,” said Avera coolly.

Balthazar gave a small smile; he could see the topic of Cyrnic Warnack still had the same effect on her that it did in the past. Before his exile into Hocton Forest, Cyrnic had been Avera’s neighbor. When an accidental explosion destroyed his home and started a wild fire that almost burned Avera’s estate down, Cyrnic became very unpopular with Avera. “Still haven’t forgiven Cyrnic I see.”

Avera gave Balthazar a withering look. “I don’t care how much you like him, that mage is trouble. First he almost burns me out of house and home and now he has gone and gotten involved in lost tomes, warrior mages, and a king bent on ruling the entire continent.” Avera shook a warning finger. A fierce frown conveyed her feelings on the subject.

“One might argue that the warrior mages and the mad king are not the responsibility of Cyrnic. His quest was one of knowledge, not searching for a weapon to conquer continents with.”

“Perhaps not,” conceded Avera grudgingly. “I suppose I am being a little unfair, having a spy in our court and the actions of the king of Morthon have me in a foul mood lately. Being reminded of Cyrnic’s folly does little to improve my mood.”

“Well, with a little luck, we shall find Cyrnic before they do. But, before we get started preparing for our search, I want to do one more set of lessons with Nathan and Ava.”

Nathan was surprised that Balthazar was suggesting another set of lessons; he had been sitting at the table quietly watching Avera and Balthazar discuss Cyrnic. Balthazar seemed adept at calming Avera. “Should I go grab Ava? She is just upstairs in her room,” said Nathan.

“No, for this lesson it is better if she is upstairs for now. Let us go into the downstairs library, and then we shall begin. Avera, it was a pleasure to see you.”

Avera smiled. “Likewise Balthazar. Go ahead with your lessons, just try not to destroy the house.”

Nathan followed Balthazar into the library. Balthazar took a seat on one sofa, and indicated that Nathan should take a seat in another.

Once Nathan sat down, Balthazar spoke. “I thought it might be prudent to continue our lessons on connecting your mind with Ava’s. Mind connection is a very rare talent and considering that you and I are going on a dangerous mission soon, having that talent closer to development might prove invaluable. I doubt we will get to actual communication today, but any progress will move us closer to that goal. While we are gone, we will be able to test your connection at different distances. We might as well take advantage of the situation while we are out there.”

This made sense to Nathan. While he had been training with Amaden Blugroson, the northern mage, one of the things they worked on was Nathan’s ability to sense Thorn at a distance.

Balthazar continued, “To start, let us try something similar to what we worked on last time. Last time you transferred power into Ava with touch. You won’t be able to transfer power over any real distance, the loss is magnified by even the shortest distance. Touch is basically the only efficient means of transfer, in person or by using a transfer medium, such as a crystal or bloodstone. However, like sound, some types of energy travel well over distance. Emotions create powerful energy waves. Strong emotions allowed your connection to be established in the first place. Today we are going to see if we can transfer some positive emotions over a relatively short distance. If I am not mistaken, the girls’ rooms are above us, and a couple doors down. Hardly more than a few yards distance, if one ignored the walls.”

“Yes, she is probably not more than thirty feet away if you ignore the walls,” replied Nathan.

“Perfect, we will easily be able to tell if you have any success at a short distance. I want you to close your eyes, and visualize a happy memory involving you and Ava. Concentrate on that memory; let the emotions it brings fill you.”

Nathan thought about Ava,
pick one memory
? That was harder than finding a good memory. Eventually Nathan settled in. He had so many fond memories of the times he and Ava spent sitting at the pond outside of Elderwood. He could picture them now, staring up at the sky, watching the clouds gently push their way across it. They would occasionally compare notes on what a cloud reminded them of. Ava liked to be contrary. When Nathan would say a cloud looked like a deer, she would say a wolf. When he said bunny, she said chicken. He could imagine her sun-kissed face as she smirked. A warm sensation filled Nathan.

Despite his intense focus, a part of his conscious mind could hear Balthazar talking. “Now imagine yourself sending those memories and feelings to Ava. Don’t let your thoughts float towards her, push them towards her,” instructed Balthazar.

Nathan imagined his memories as a small ball of energy leaving him and going towards Ava. When Balthazar said to push them, he imagined a strong wind taking the ball and shooting out towards Ava.

…

Ava was reading about using healing energy to mend broken bones when she felt a small tingle. It was if the air in the room had slightly changed. Looking up from her book, she examined the window; it was closed, though her door was open, but it hadn’t felt like anything was coming from there.
How strange,
she thought to herself.
I must be spending too much time studying. My mind is playing tricks on me.
Suddenly she felt another wave, this one stronger, and then she could see memories flashing through her head. She could see herself at the pond outside Elderwood and she felt a warm, intense feeling of happiness envelop her.
Woah, this is weird.
Suddenly, she realized the memories she was seeing were not her own. She was seeing someone else’s memories of her. Nathan, she was seeing Nathan’s memories of Nathan and herself sitting at the pond.