Richard Tuttle - Sapphire of the Fairies

Niki just nodded and started lookingfor a clearing. Fairly soon, she found a suitable one anddismounted. This time she helped Fredrik set up the campsite andtake care of the horses. They dined on some of the leftover turkeyand sat quietly across the campfire from each other. “What did youmean before when you talked about drawing the power?” she asked.“Drawing it from where?”

Fredrik got up, walked around the fireand sat next to her. “When I was younger and realized that I had aspecial gift, I used to use it for pranks. I didn’t know much aboutwhat I had or how to use it, so most of the time the prank ended upbeing on me. One day I heard some men talking about the magiciansof the Black Devils, so I followed them. They had a house on theedge of Trekum that they used for a meeting place and a spot forthem to practice. For months, I used to go to the house beforelight came and climb up on the roof. I would watch them all day andlisten to their meetings until well after dark. That is where Ilearned most about magic.”

“It’s probably where yougained your dislike for the Black Devils, too,” guessedNiki.

“Yes, that too,” admittedFredrik. “They all talked boldly about how great they were when noone was around, but as soon as somebody important showed up, theywere all down on their faces in fear, bowing and scraping. Theredidn’t seem to be any purpose in belonging to the Black Devilsexcept to learn and I was getting that anyway. The only thing theyseemed to do in an organized fashion was to send out teams topunish selected people or go in teams on the GreatHunt.”

“What is the Great Hunt?”interrupted Niki.

“That was the worst part,”sighed Fredrik. “The Great Hunt was an edict handed down by theDark One. The Black Devils are supposed to be looking for childrenwho were born in the year of the Collapse.”

“But that’s when we wereborn,” stated Niki. “What did they want with kids ourage?”

“Death, mostly,” answeredFredrik. “It seems there is some old, moldy prophecy that the DarkOne wants fulfilled and it requires the death of a couple of kidsborn in the year of the Collapse. Not just any kids, but twoparticular kids. The members of the Great Hunt were to determinethe parentage of the individuals found. If they had a certainparentage, they were to be captured alive. If not, they were to bemurdered, just in case they might miss the real ones that they weresearching for.”

“Now I know why you aredreadfully afraid of being discovered by the Black Devils,”interjected. “Why didn’t you tell me that before? At least yourdemand that I not use magic so frivolously would have madesense.”

“Would you have stopped usingit?” he asked.

“Probably not,” she conceded,“but at least your request would make sense. That still doesn’texplain about drawing power and why you never taught me to do it.You taught me everything else.”

“Exactly,” Fredrik laughed,“and look what trouble that has brought me.” Fredrik ignored herhurt scowl and continued. “One of the things that I learned up onthe roof, was that power exists in everything, not just ourselves.You can use the power within yourself to accomplish something, butit diminishes you like running makes you tired and requires thatyou rest. If you can draw your power from other things, you can useyour power longer and more forcefully. I didn’t feel right teachingyou about it, because I’ve never really learned to use it myself. Itried it once and it was frightening. I thought I was going toburst open like a ripe melon.”

“But if we are going to haveto defend ourselves against the Black Devils, we will need everyedge we can get,” Niki stated.

“It’s not that simple, Niki,”Fredrik declared. “Not every magician can draw on the power ofother things. It is almost like another gift in addition to themagical gift, but I’m not sure. I do know that most of the BlackDevils were unable to attain any power outside themselves, at leastthe bunch that I observed. What we really need to find is a tutorwho is not connected with the Black Devils.”

“Fat chance of finding one,”she said disappointingly. “Still, you could teach me or test me tosee if I have the potential.”

“No,” Fredrik said too loudly.Softer, he continued, “I don’t feel safe using it, Niki. I wouldnot forgive myself if I taught you and you blew up. After we getsettled in Cidal, we will put feelers out for tutors, but in such away that will not lead back to us.”

“You just don’t want me beingas powerful as you,” she berated, “ . . . or more powerful. Well,if you won’t teach me, I’ll just find someone who will.”

Niki went and lay down on a blanket togo to sleep, covering herself with her old cloak, a white cloakwith gold trim and a sunburst upon the left breast. Within momentsshe was asleep. Fredrik sat staring at her for a long time. She wasa very beautiful girl with her flaming red hair and pert nose, butsometimes he wished he were traveling alone. She never seemed tolisten to reason and never missed an opportunity to punish him withsilence at some unseen offense he was supposed to have committed.Eventually, Fredrik went to bed still mystified about the ways ofwomen.

The next day the pair wound their wayback to the coastal highway and towards Cidal. There was verylittle traffic on the road and the people they passed did no morethan acknowledge the couple. Several days later they reached theoutskirts of Cidal and immediately proceeded to a less traveledstreet. Like most towns, there were some abandoned houses andFredrik picked the one that seemed to be in the best shape and yetout of the way. They did pick up a few strange glares entering thehouse, but most people were afraid to say anything to strangers.Still, they could not stay here long before somebody reported theirpresence in the house to whoever passed as the authorities inCidal.

After they got settled in, Fredrik wentout alone to see what the town was like. Cidal was in much bettershape than Forgum as no army had yet ravaged it. There was a fairamount of people and the businesses seemed to be doing rather well.Fredrik visited some of the inns, always blending in and keeping tothe shadows, and picked up the local rumors. There was a localorganization of mercenaries, which probably accounted for the factthat Cidal had not been plundered yet. The most important piece ofinformation was of the Black Devils who had left town this morning.They had obviously killed an old sea captain and taken over hismansion while in Cidal. Fredrik learned the name of the sea captainand hurried back to Niki. Within moments, Fredrik and Niki wereback out of town in the woods where they dressed in their finestoutfits. Fredrik was dressed in gray flannel breeches with a finewhite shirt whose wrinkles were covered by a gray flannel vest.Niki donned a violet silk dress with white frilled sleeves and alavender sash around her waist.

Once suitably attired, the pair strodeinto town with Fredrik leading the train of six horses. This timeeveryone turned and stared at them as they walked along the coastalhighway. Niki walked right up to a group of mercenaries that seemedto include an officer or at least someone whom the others deferredto. The men all stared at her and she had to push back images ofdrooling dogs else she would ruin her entrance.

“Excuse me, kind Sir,” shecooed, “but we are just in from Trekum and I am seeking my uncle,Amos Alrecht. “Could you possibly direct me? We’ve had such adreadful journey with the wagon burning and all and I really wishto make an early night of it.”

The smiling faces all grew dim at themention of the old sea captain and most of the group melted away.The authoritative man remained and appraised her. “Your uncle, yousay?” he asked. “Old Amos never mentioned any kin tome.”