Robert Newcomb - A March into Darkness

“During my perusal of the Scroll of the Vagaries, I found mention of a ‘partial’ time enchantment,” Einar answered. “I read the formula, and it appears valid. I suggest that Clarice be immediately protected by its workings.”

Serena scowled. “What are you talking about?” she demanded. “There is no such thing as apartial time enchantment.”

As Einar walked toward Dagmar and Clarice, he dropped the hood of his robe to show his sharp features and intelligent eyes. Dagmar had finished suckling the child, and she was gently rocking the baby in her arms. For a moment Einar lovingly reached down to stroke Clarice’s downy hair.

“Ah, but there is such a spell, Your Grace,” he answered. Placing his hands into the opposite sleeves of his robe, he turned to face his queen.

“As we know, a time enchantment carries two distinct parts,” he said. “One part stops the aging process. The other protects the subject from disease. We had always thought that the two were inseparable. They aren’t.”

Serena was intrigued. She highly respected Einar’s intelligence. Moreover, she trusted him. But if her daughter was to be involved, she would need proof.

“Can you show me the calculations?” she asked.

“Of course,” Einar answered.

The consul produced a parchment from the folds of his robe. He unrolled it and started reading aloud. At the same time he caused the formula’s glowing numbers and symbols to hover in the air for his queen’s inspection.

Serena walked closer and read the calculations. What she saw surprised her. It was indeed a formula for a partial time enchantment. Unlike the full spell, this one held only those calculations that would protect Clarice from disease, and it had been formulated to work independently of the half that halted the aging process.

She immediately understood how this could greatly benefit her child. Granting Clarice a full-time enchantment would be counterproductive to the Heretics’ plans, because it would keep her from maturing to an age that would allow her to consciously employ the craft. But if Serena could forever protect her daughter from disease, the advantage would be enormous.

She looked back at Einar. “You are sure about this?” she asked.

Einar nodded. “Yes,” he answered. “The child’s health should be protected-especially because the Recluse was recently inhabited by lepers. The choice is yours. But should you proceed, I suggest that you first dismantle the other spell. Despite the strength of Clarice’s blood, I would not wish to see the two calculations entwine in a subject who is so young and vulnerable.”

“Of course,” Serena answered.

She walked to the balcony, thinking. She would remain that way for some time before deciding. Finally she turned back to look at Einar.

“Very well,” she finally answered. “I agree that it should be done. But after I dismantle the first spell, I want you to apply the partial time enchantment. You are more familiar with its workings.”

“As you wish, Your Grace,” Einar answered.

Serena’s lead consul could barely contain his delight. Finding the spell had been a stroke of luck. Not only would it protect the child, but it would further cement Serena’s bond with him. He had no doubt that after the war was won, he would become a high-ranking official in Serena’s new order.

He looked at Dagmar. “Bring the child to me,” he said.

Under Serena’s watchful eye, Dagmar stood and carried the squirming baby to the consul. Einar looked at his queen.

“With your permission, Your Grace?” he asked.

Serena nodded. From his place on the other side of the room, Reznik watched with rapt fascination. After handing the child over to Einar, Dagmar walked to stand beside the herbmaster.

Einar cradled the child in his arms. She cooed quietly as he looked down at her.

“Whenever you are ready, Your Grace,” he said.

Serena closed her eyes and started to dismantle the spell. She did so carefully, taking great pains to be sure that the convoluted formula had been completely eradicated. After she opened her eyes, she hurried over to check on her daughter.

Einar smiled. “Well done, Your Grace,” he said. “There seem to be no ill effects.”

Glad to see that the child had not been harmed, Serena lovingly took Clarice into her arms. She rocked her gently for a time before looking back at Einar.

“You may proceed,” she said. Einar could easily detect the ominous warning her voice carried. “But if any harm befalls her, you will die,” Serena added.

“I understand,” Einar answered.

Closing his eyes, he folded his hands before him and recalled the needed incantation. Although it was much like the one used for granting a full-time enchantment, it held subtle differences. Einar began the incantation:

“Your health shall remain forever true,

“Your strength and vitality shall always shine through.

“Of neither disease nor sickness shall you fear,

“Nor the world’s wasteful processes seem so near.

“From this moment on you shall walk with new life,

“Free of all ills, and with them, their strife.”

Serena watched as the familiar azure glow of the craft appeared all around the child. Then it faded away, leaving the room as quickly as it had come. She carefully examined Clarice for signs of distress. There were none. In fact, the child’s color seemed to have improved, as had her overall vitality.

Looking into her mother’s face, she wriggled about happily and smiled. Like she knew that she shared a sacred bond with the withered rose tucked into the bodice of Serena’s black mourning gown, Clarice reached out and touched it with her delicate fingers.

She is truly Wulfgar’s child, Serena thought. Delighted by what she saw, Serena fought back tears as she looked at her trusted lead consul.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “Please leave me now; I wish to be alone with my daughter. Unless I miss my guess, theJin’Sai won’t be long in coming. Should our sentries see the slightest movement from the enemy, I am to be informed at once.”

“Of course, Your Grace,” Einar answered. He led Reznik and Dagmar from the room and closed the door behind him.

As Serena lovingly rocked Clarice, to anyone who did not know her, she could have been any contented mother, anywhere in the world. But she wasn’t. She was the reigning queen of the Vagaries, and she would soon lead her side of the craft in a historic battle that would be remembered though the ages.

Worried for the fate of her only child, Serena closed her eyes.

AS TRISTAN READ TRAAX’S BATTLE REPORT, HIS HEARTfell. Nearly a quarter of his warriors were dead, as were a third of the highlander horsemen. Rafe, Ox, Scars, and Duvessa had survived, but even they had been shaken by the recent battle’s savagery. Despite his losses, Tristan planned to start the final assault on the Recluse within the hour.

From the bow deck of theTammerland, Tristan looked out over the bloody field. The midday sun was bright. Flies and carrion birds had started gathering on the corpses, to avail themselves of the unexpected feast. Wigg and Shailiha stood quietly beside Tristan, waiting for him to give the order. Aside from the three of them, theTammerland ’s topside was deserted. So were the topsides of the other three Black Ships, resting nearby in their earthen cradles. Seeing the vessels’ decks without warriors or highlander horsemen atop them suddenly seemed strange, the prince realized.

By his order, every fighter waited in the sweltering areas belowdecks on their respective ships. So too did Adrian’s acolytes, whom Tristan had been holding in reserve and whose numbers had been equally divided among the four vessels. As the ships neared the castle he wanted everyone hidden from attack until the last possible moment. Faegan, Aeolus, and Jessamay were aboard their vessels. When they saw theTammerland lift into the air they would immediately empower the ships and follow her.