More than magic
Part 3.
When someone's hand came on my head, I figured it was time to take more drastic measures, otherwise the intruder wouldn't get out. I don't know what specific measures I had in mind, but abruptly pulling myself up to a sitting position was certainly not the smartest move. The explosion of pain stunned me for a good moment, during which I apparently screamed, because when full consciousness returned, the first thing I registered was a big, ice-cold hand on my mouth. A big hand belonging to a big man. Leaning over me was a guard from Earm, or rather his twin brother, boasting complete dentition and no mental heaviness written on his face. I froze, paralysed with terror, as Arthur would probably put it, like a rabbit cornered by hounds. The clear glint of triumph in the giant's dark eyes left no doubt; if I didn't do something right away, will be bad with me. Soundlessly, I lifted a few stones still in the bed and made them hit each other, just above my attacker's head. The big man looked up, took his hand away from my mouth and moved back a few steps. He didn't look surprised by the use of magic. He smiled slightly, as if he had expected exactly that. Damn it! My own stupidity is really going to murder me brutally in some dark alley one day. Or even now, in bed, in broad daylight. It is, in all probability, a man from the accursed Earm. It is possible that he has been following me for a long time and has finally caught up with me.
„What do you want"? I asked, begging in spirit for Gaius to come back and help me. I doubted that, in my current state, I would be able to find a way out of this situation on my own.
„Don't be afraid", replied the giant. „I come by Alator's command".
The stones... didn't fall with a clatter to the floor, even though I dropped them, as the newcomer effortlessly grasped them in his arms and carefully put them down on the bench. What a pity. Maybe if they had made a noise, someone would have looked here.
„He showed me you a few months ago, he said you're one of us, that you…'re a very important ally".
I straightened up with an effort and poked my gaze at him. Where the hell did he get those missing teeth? Maybe he's really the twin brother of that half-wit who swore to Leon that no magical vermin would leave Earm alive? As for the fact that he had been sent by Alator, I had serious doubts, based, I must admit, on an inner unease caused by the circumstances rather than on knowledge of the person whose envoy he claimed to be.
„Do you know what that looks like to me? You've tracked down a few sorcerers and you're trying to sniff out connections, reach out to more so you can turn them all in. I'm warning you, if you leave me no choice, I'll kill you".
I was shivering from the cold and my voice was out of control and didn't sound very strong, but I was surprised to see that something had knocked him off his guard, that he had shrunk, diminished.
„I'm not going to turn anyone in", he said quietly. „But your lack of trust is more than understandable. Alator would have appeared in person, but he was convinced that he would have to communicate with a certain Gaius, which he claimed could prove difficult, if not impossible, given the course of their last meeting".
I breathed a sigh of relief and at the same time felt as if someone had cauterised me with a red-hot iron. Everything pointed to the fact that the giant wasn't lying, but the way he proved his truthfulness aroused something bad in me. Very bad.
„Indeed, he wasn't wrong", I replied a little too harsh, not taking my eyes off him. „I'm not sure he'll want to talk with you".
„Well, he doesn't have to. The matter has become obsolete. I brought a bracelet that is the only one that can combat animortus magic, but apparently this your's knight knew what he was doing and you were given the right help here".
There was a mixture of slightly bitter amusement, resentment and something else in his voice. Like jealousy?
It shouldn't be surprise,' I thought, and the guilt jumped softly like a cat to its permanent place somewhere in my gullet. The law was broken here for me, a magical artefact was used, purely because I'm lucky enough to be a servant... a friend of the king whose father stole this artefact.
I stopped drilling him with my eyes and smiled.
„Nevertheless, I'm grateful", I said. „I didn't expect that. But how did Alator find out what happened"?
The newcomer sat down on the bench and hid his hands in the wide sleeves of his coat. It must still have been very cold outside. It made me feel embarrassed. I should prepare something warm for him to drink.
„You seemed quite conscious as you drove through Earm. Don't you recognise me"?
„I wasn't sure. You look... different".
He laughed briefly. The next moment his face changed expression to one of utter dullness, and a few teeth disappeared too. I suppose at this point my face didn't look much more intelligent.
„What do you say to that"? he asked in the voice of an old woman and in the blink of an eye he changed into her. Before I had time to reply, he transformed himself several times; into a boy, a corpulent middle-aged woman, a fair-haired girl, into a strange creature with greenish skin, and finally... into me. He did this with incredible fluidity, as if he hadn't put the slightest effort into it.
„How"? I asked in awe. He returned to his usual form. In his eyes I saw a sadness all too familiar to me.
„It's an illusion. I'm no sorcerer, I can't open doors with a spell, even if I've busted my guts, but I can make people see me as I want. I was born with this... talent".
„Amazing. And very useful".
„Yeah, Alator says so too". - He sighed heavily. „I tried to keep you, or at least persuade the honourable knight to leave you, and when I failed, I informed Alator. He must care about you, because he was concerned about it, and this is not usually in his habit. He told me to apologise to you for what happened as soon as you regained consciousness".
„Why would he apologise to me for that"? I asked in astonishment.
„He says he should have informed you about the cave hideout and how it is protected. This was our animortus".
„Yours? What are you talking about"?
I leaned back against the cushions and pulled the covers over me. I felt strange. I would have loved to get up, my body even demanded it, but at the same time I was too weak to sit up straight for any length of time. But the matter of treating my guest to a warm drink was something I intended to resolve.
On one of the shelves stood a jug of wine for daily use. I concentrated and used magic to remove it carefully, making it hover in the air. I didn't even have to look at it. It was enough that I knew where it was. I took the goblet off another shelf and placed it on the table. As the wine began to pour into it on its own, the guard's eyes grew round with amazement.
- I'm sorry. I'm not able to get up", I said. „Check if it's drinkable".
I sent the jug back to where is it's place. It landed on the shelf with a quiet clatter. The guard slowly reached for the goblet and raised it to his lips, his eyes beginning to resemble small saucers. I supposed he was horrified to see a person using magic in the heart of Camelot without particular restraint.
„It can't be", he mouthed. „This wine is mulled. And spiced".
„Yes. That's more or less what I meant", I replied with satisfaction.
„How did you do that? After all, you didn't utter a single spell. You were lying there the whole time. Only your eyes shone".
„I was born with this talent".
„This is impossible. I've never seen anything like it, and I've seen a lot". He looked at me with awe lined with trepidation.
„Come on, it's just some mulled wine", I said, wanting the expression to disappear from his eyes as quickly as possible. He shook his head.
„Believe me, there's a few, who would do terrible things to you if they saw what you can do. Some sorcerers are jealous beasts, ready to scratch the eyes out of those more capable than themselves. I already understand why Alator cares so much about you, but he doesn't want to reveal much. When he told me about you, I had to swear not to reveal any information, even to any of us. I thought it was because you were in the royal court and it wouldn't be best if someone inadvertently exposed you. It wouldn't have occurred to me that it was a much more serious matter".
„There's nothing extraordinary in what you have seen. Spell formulas can sometimes be very useful, they send a clear message of what we expect and help us achieve it, but in reality the environment responds primarily to our will. Words clarify it, and with more complicated processes, it is safest to stick to these established patterns, so as not to make a silly mistake and give someone a pig's tail, for example. However, when a tree falls on me, I don't waste time saying the formula. Too circuitous way, if you understand what I mean".
„The only way", he replied quietly. His eyes thankfully finally changed their expression to one of seriousness.
„There are sorcerers who speak formulas in their minds, however, what you described... Such people have been gone for a long time. You use magic as if it were your own hands, although you haven't had much time to learn it in your life. Maybe you don't realise it, but you are like a diamond found in the debris. And you have to guard against ending up in a pile of shit".
I laughed.
„Too late. It has already happened to me. But thank you for the recognition. I wish I deserved it. What about that animortus"?
„Ah, yes. We put it there so that no unauthorised person would get into that cave".
„We, meaning who? Please be clearer. I don't have the energy to play riddles today".
„These are no riddles". Someone's footsteps and voices came from the corridor. The guard glanced anxiously at the door. I thought I heard Elyan, but after a moment there was silence. „These are no riddles. Either you join that madwoman Morgana and doom yourself to perdition, or you just try to live with the confusion and possibly limit the number of victims, in the hope that it will all end one day".
„And that magic will return to this land"", I added with a compressed throat. I immediately regretted it.
„Oh, to hell with supposed prophecies. If anyone wants, let them believe the bullshit, let them wait for Emrys the saviour and the golden age. Only I have no idea what that golden age would look like. Would people gifted with magic take over for the good of those who don't wield magic? Or would we live side by side, in peace, sharing power fairly and caring for each other's well-being? For how long? For a week? A month? Don't get carried away by these pipe dreams, my friend. There will be no golden age. Magic is power, almost unlimited power, and it goes to people's heads and will never stop".
„Before the Great Purge, people lived in peace", I said. I heard some despairing note in my voice. „And I believe that it will be again. I'm ready to fight for it".
The guard snorted dismissively.
„Did they live in peace? Who told you that"?
It occurred to me that no one, that these were purely my guesses.
„The sorcerers did what they wanted. There were, of course, those who didn't like it. They protected ordinary people. They looked after them, but the situation was tense all the time. Uther thought it best to buy into their favour and reap the benefits. It soon became apparent that he was aiming too high. It's not clear what happened, but he blamed magic for his wife's death. He claimed that that bitch Nimueh killed her and he was probably right. After that, power went to his head too. He thought he was powerful enough to declare war on magic to fight it. He killed several magical creatures, imprisoned a dragon using the dragon lord, slaughtered people who knew only that magic existed or had little skill, which prevented them from escaping, and Nimueh laughed in his face for twenty years until some other sorcerer supposedly finished her off".
Something turned over in my stomach. I began to fear that I was about to vomit. I reached for the mug with the brew Gaius had prepared and took a few sips.
„The so-called Great Purge made a many enemies for Uther, but it contributed very little to the elimination of magic. You can't fight magic without magic and the Sarrum of Amata knows this very well. Uther next to him is…" He spread two fingers an inch wide. „But back to the point... The Golden Age is a dream that will not come true. Times are changing, magic is clearly passing away, receding into the shadows, and we are left to come to terms with it, to adapt".
„Alator says that"? I asked. I was overwhelmed with sadness. There was so much pain in his words, so much bitterness. I longed to do something - now, immediately - to somehow bring life back to those faded eyes.
„Alator doesn't talk much, but that he isn't an idiot is known by anyone who sticks with him. He has long hunted witch finders, who are themselves sorcerers. They are the biggest scumbags the earth has borne. We have almost exterminated them. We help each other in different ways, warn each other of dangers. I keep an eye on things in Earm. It's very easy to lurk in that nest of vipers, and by the way you can cut off the head of one if it gets too aggressive. We hung one like that yesterday. He found a Druid settlement and was going to burn it down on his own".
„The King has forbidden disturbing the Druids"! I cried out in indignation.
„That is why on your own. Earm is a state of mind, don't forget that. Without smoke from the stakes, they are unable to breathe normally".
„So let them burn themselves. It will be benefit for everyone".
I was surprised to see that my eyes were moist and a single tear was running down my cheek. Damn, I'm not fit to have these conversations today.
„Don't worry. They're under control. Have you seen a denouncer from there in Camelot the last time"?
I shook my head. Indeed, the denunciations from Earm were over, even before Arthur came to the throne.
„We have a hiding place in the cave you visited", the guard took up after a while. „If you need to talk quietly or hide for a while, it's safe there".
He rummaged in his coat pocket, took something out, stood up and walked over to me.
„Take this in your hand", he said. On his outstretched hand he held a small crystal. Inside it shimmered a golden speck, a tiny but eye-catching sparkle.
„What is it"?
„No worries. You will read the spell from this that will allow you free access to the cave".
I took the crystal from him. As soon as it touched my skin, I heard something, like an unintelligible whisper, and the next moment... I knew the spell. It was in my head, etched in my memory, as if I had been repeating it since I was very young. Until now, I had thought that only dragons could share knowledge in such a way".
„Amazing", I said. I stretched my clenched fingers and looked at the crystal. The golden sparkle was no longer in it.
„Another invention of the Order of the Cata", explained the guard. „They are second to none when it comes to burrowing into people's minds".
As I returned the crystal to him, he unexpectedly took my hand. His hands were warmer than before. Apparently the fire in the fireplace and the wine had helped.
„Listen to me, my friend", he said softly. „You will do as you wish, but if I were in your shoes, if I had something... someone to fight for, like you, I would fight. To throw yourself into a raging element to save someone, without a shred of magical power, that is bravery. Protect these noble people. Let no illusions blind you to them. There is no denying that we are living in historic times. Everyone wants revolution, the blood of enemies. Everyone thinks that they are the one who is right, that they have invented the remedy to cure all ills. It is easy to succumb to this and lose what is truly valuable".
„Yes, the times are historic", I replied. „And Arthur's reign will be written in them in capital letters. I am here protecting him not for any illusions. Simply because he is worth it. I believe he will change the world for the better. He is already doing that. And I don't intend to lose him".
The guard smiled suddenly, a genuine smile encompassing his eyes.
„Unheard of. A sorcerer who wields magic as if he is one with it, believes that it is a poor little man without magic who has the power to change the world. You really are a diamond in the debris".
He squeezed my hand lightly and let go.
„Arthur is the one. I'm just looking after him. Anyway… Where's your dog"?
I knew there was something else wrong with the guard's image until I remembered the wolfdog with stomach problems.
„He doesn't belong to me. We are friends. He came with me, but he ran somewhere. He probably has a lot to do. To warn someone of danger, to lead a stray wanderer to the right road".
„I have heard of such dogs, but there are reportedly not many left".
„Like all of us".
He wrapped himself more tightly in his cloak.
„I must go, to bring Alator the good news. I'm glad to have met you, Merlin. Get well and take care of yourself. If you'll need any help, you know where to find us. And my name is Halvor".
„Tell me something else", I asked when he was already at the door. He turned around and sent me a questioning look. I breathed deeply.
„Why did you accuse me of stealing... this particular type of potion"?
He immediately blocked his mouth with his hand and bent in half. His body was shaking from suppressed laughter. I felt myself blushing. What tempted me to mention this? Ordinary human curiosity, I guess.
„I'm sorry", he wheezed out when he had calmed down a bit. „I thought you might understand the allusion and realise I was trying to help you. It's a known fact that the greater the magical power, the smaller in bed. And you always seemed to me to be the kind of man who rather not drag a girl into a barn".
Before I had time to consider whether I had the right to feel insulted, Halvor left, quietly closing the door.
I drank the rest of the lilac brew and lay there, turning over in my mind everything I had heard. Something was scrabbling at the wall, making me nervous. My covers were weighing me down, but I was too cold to take them off. I realised how isolated I am here, within the walls of Camelot, from information about other magic users, how much I don't know what they think, what drives them. Camelot before the Great Purge appeared to me until now as a paradise lost, which can be at least partially recovered. Yes, I have had my doubts, especially when the mention of magic brought fear to people's faces. A fear that was growing with each, successive magical attack on Camelot. However, the naive belief that everything can be put right if you put your whole heart into it always won out. Exasperated and devoid of hope Halvor taught me a valuable lesson, forced me to clarify my view of what I actually expected from the future, to prioritise.
The Druids were given a royal guarantee of safety on the grounds of Camelot, no one was pursued without good reason, the pyres weren't burning. The change was a big one, compared to what I found when I arrived. Morgana compounded the fear of magic, but it was Arthur's particular, individual view of people that definitely changed the atmosphere. Can anything else be achieved? Will the day come when we cease to be stigmatised as a threat simply on the basis of our abilities? Well... For my part, I will do what I can to make that happen.
Gaius returned, accompanied by Gwen, who greeted me with the words: "Don't ever do that to us again" and a cautious but heartfelt hug. In that moment, I thought, that without hesitation I would give up my own magic, my own life in exchange for the certainty that those I love would be safe and happy.
This isn't the final chapter. I think that Arthur needs to make his royal presence felt. :)
