Prologue
Who knew a wish so desperately prayed for could bring so much terror. May grappled with this thought as something battered into her prison home. Adrenalin pumped through her making everything jittery. She told herself it was excitement and nothing else, but anything with the power to smash through the warding demanded fear. Still she smiled at the possibility of seeing grass and trees and the brilliance of the sky. This would be a good day, anything to get out of the dark. They had come at last to free them.
"Areon," she said, calling a small bird to her shoulder as she hastily gathered her materials. She didn't need to say anything else for the finch to stay close anticipating her excitement.
She jumped up as masonry clattered somewhere below. Whoever they were had gotten through. Her bare feet danced on the cold stone carrying her to the open archway. The dying witchlights limited even her dark accustomed eyes in the stairway. No matter, she could fix that and readily reached for her magic. She softly chanted a spell to bring light. Her right hand warmed with the power gathering to complete the spell. Muffled voices now rose from below. A thin smile spread across her face as she moved to greet them. She faltered. Words stopped in her mouth and the spell faded. The distinctive ring and crunch of metal met her ears. Her heart rate spiked. It had been years but she knew the sounds of armor and weapons.
She raced up the tower skipping the many broken steps automatically. Gasping for breath she reached the top and moved past the humble living space to the alcove and the tiny slit to the outside world.
"Lady Alestra," the woman looked up from her shrine to the sunlight, "People are coming."
Her face fell, not needing May to confirm their intentions. She stood quickly but took the time to smooth her skirt over her too-slight frame and settled her suntouched hair. "We must hide."
"Where? We can't go down to the basement, they are already inside." Elsewhere in the tower there were limited options; each level was a perfectly cylindrical room and below this one they were almost entirely empty, "We could empty the blanket chest."
"Out of the question, if they are determined enough to break in then they will take more than a cursory glance," said Alestra.
"Then what do we do?"
"I don't know."
Alestra glanced at the fragment of sky longingly before leaving to gather a few belongings. May frowned at the room. There had to be somewhere they could go undiscovered. She shivered. The intruder's voices could be heard again. The stamp of boots and spear butts reverberated off stone making their number hard to define, but there were many coming. She turned wide eyed to the doorless opening. There weren't even any corners to hide behind, except where she stood. She turned back to the alcove she and Alestra had painstakingly dug from the wall with nothing more than a bread knife. Then she knew what to do. As shallow as it was, the alcove would do. She knelt to the ground thumbing through her spell book. She knew each spell's contents and location by heart. She smoothed the page covered in faded ink and began the illusion after calling Alestra over.
Her voice was articulate but rhythmic as she reached for her powers. Her hands wove invisible threads deftly. Individual voices became discernible. She continued on her body rocking as the magic took its form. The heat took her by surprise; she didn't often have reason to use a spell as powerful as this. Magic seared through her veins to follow her will. The illusion replicated the stone across from the hollow deepening with each word. Mirage complete, she fell silent. She clenched her teeth ready for the test of endurance that maintaining the large illusion would entail.
Alestra gasped. Not part of the magic she could only see the illusion of stone surrounding her, not the spectral image May saw as the caster. She assured Alestra that this plan would work even though it was very much in the air if she could keep the spell long enough. The drain of the spell could be felt from the begining. Beads of sweat were already forming on her face. Even in her inexperience she trusted that she would hold. The casting had gone off seamlessly and there was nothing like fear to push you.
They waited in suspension as the strangers closed in. Each minute they dawdled, May's energy sapped a bit more. Eventually, finally, the motley crew materialized. A touch of relief passed that they were indeed strangers. 12 or so, all armed to the teeth, moved confidently and fanned across the room. They wore no uniform or livery but their gear unified them enough that they would be identified as a group. They must be mercenaries or some other non sanctioned fighting force. Of all the group, three drew her eye.
The first was clearly the leader. He was tall, taller than anyone she had seen before. A Bronze shield hung at his back. On his hips were a set of throwing axes and a bow and quiver but the most pressing threat was the large ax resting in his hands. Unlike the rest who wore primarily brigandine or linen armor he had a chain shirt. He looked to be as properly trained and outfitted as any of Lord Lewellyn's knights. He watched the others with darting eyes beneath dark curly hair. He seemed more preoccupied with the others in his group than the contents of the room. He was the oldest in the group besides the next that drew her attention.
A woman of what must be seventy was substantially the rest of the group's senior, but her form had been hardened by age and not weakened. She entered the room last but even so was the first to spot where Alestra previously had her jewels hidden. Her tightly bound veil only showed a line of sliver of gray hair. A pink face watched with severe eyes as she paced the room brandishing a spear. A bright medallion around her neck had symbols of the otherfolk. She could possibly see through the illusion. But if she could, she did not react as she scanned past their hiding spot.
Lastly she noticed a feral sort as they begain to search the room in earnest. She recoiled at the aggression with which he tossed the room. He ripped through the room hacking with his sword like he cleared a path through the forest. His green eyes burned giddily as he cleaved the blanket chest in two without so much as a glance inside before hitting. Alestra flinched behind her at each crashing pot and splintering board.
It was unclear if they looked for something specific, but they were definitely combing the room. They pocketed anything they saw fit and May's heart fell when they took the porridge pot. If they survived, there would be hungry days ahead. It was strange, dissociating almost, to see these strangers casually wreck their home. Needlework made over the long quiet years torn; Plates that served all her meals tossed aside; Furniture that held her dashed to splinters. She didn't know if she wanted to cry or scream.
She almost didn't notice the strangest thing of all. At first she thought the rangy dog was the leader's pet. It hovered never far from the large man's side. Its massive size would give a wolf a run for its money. The longer she watched it the less it behaved like a dog. It reached out and pawed to inspect objects. It sorted things with accuracy and intelligence. It's pale eyes focused with too much sentience. When the leader spoke to it it responded not like a creature being commanded but someone who understood the words.
By now the initial shock was wearing off. The strangers had been searching for what seemed a long time and she had been holding the illusion for longer. Watching the people diverted her focus for only so long. The effort of maintaining the spell now consumed all her effort. She did not have the endurance built up for this type of casting. The heat from the magic was just tolerable. Still she had confidence she could outlast them and where her confidence failed fear spurred her energies on. There was light at the end of the tunnel. Only a few places in the humble room remained untouched. Most now stood idle only the angry man and a few others searched on.
She could hold out. Even as she silently panted and wiped the pouring sweat from her eyes she knew she could make it. Unfortunately, as peculiar as it acted, the dog was still a dog. As it passed near their cubby hole it's nose tilted to the air. It knowingly stared straight at them. A short low bark made its discovery known. The humans soon gathered behind it.
"It's a wall, stupid dog," said the angry man.
"Quiet," said the leader.
"I'm not taking orders from a stupid dog," others murmured agreement. The tall man tuned and his look silenced them.
The old woman finally joined the group, "This tower was guarded by heavy magics, do you not think it's possible for there to be more inside?"
Encouraged the dog pressed forward into the illusion. The charade was over. The bird flew at its face in a desperate attempt to shield May, but the hound had her scent in its nose. She fled at the dog's advance and lost the spell in the panic. She appeared to the intruders as a weak pile at Alestra's feet. Now unveiled there was no more she could do. Alestra helped her up and supported her weak body with a bony arm. The lady straightened herself once more, rising to an imperious stance.
She spoke calm and clear, "Take what you want, but then I must ask you to leave. As long as no harm comes to us, my father will not hear of your indiscretions."
"And who might your father be?" asked a woman.
"My father is the Lord Cadwaller of Lewellyn, and you are trespassing on his lands. Now let my servant and I pass."
May slowly cooled and regained strength as the conversation continued. They needed a means of leverage, hopefully the threat of a lord would be enough. There was no doubt they played outside the law.
A few of them laughed as she said this. The angry man said, "This is your father's tower?"
"Yes and I don't know how you got past the guards."
There was unrest in the group before the old woman said, "There were no guards dear, the lord of this land is dead for treason."
Alestra's hand tightened on May's arm, but her face remained steeled.
"There is no lord now to give us a real reason to let you go," said the angry man. Alestra remained silent. "Perhaps you can pay us." he ripped the bag alestra clutched away.
"Blythe," the tall man warned.
"I can break the spell on your friend." May said, stepping up.
"Which one?" asked the tall man.
"The dog," she said, shrinking from the many eyes on her.
"Do it," he said without hesitation.
It worked. She hadn't expected that, "It will take some time."
"You can't be serious." said Blythe, "I doubt this stray knows magic at all."
"We are on a schedule," said the old woman.
"Take as long as you need," and he turned away to settle his people again.
Cautiously she left the alcove. Alestra held on to her arm but let go as she pulled away. A minor hex wouldn't be too hard to lift and if the tall one's reaction was anything it might actually earn their safety. Giving the mercenaries a wide berth she moved about the ransacked room gathering a few necessities. After the drain of the illusion she would need some support. She dug through the carnage pushing all the memories it held from her mind. She glanced back at Alestra sitting haunted in the alcove. After a few minutes she managed to pull everything needed for a potion despite the lurking dog following her every move. It was unsettling to be watched so closely by an animal, she suddenly felt intense pity for deer. She was used to practicing in the solitude of the lower floors away from Alestra's melancholy. Now she had a massive brindle dog breathing down her neck like a clingy puppy as she set up.
She looked up almost ready to start and saw more eyes waiting impatiently. Blythe paced more predatory than the hound behind her. She decided against running down to get her usual cauldron and used the kettle instead. Hot water was needed anyways. All supplies collected and books placed she pushed out her surroundings and began.
She placed the eager dog on the opposite side of the kettle and placed the first ingredient in. The process of potion making soothed her nerves. Fortunately, the potion brewed only a short while but it would pull whatever hex there was to the surface saving her effort in the casting. A moment of worry flashed in her mind. If it wasn't the simple anamorphic hex she thought, it might be too strong for her. But casting was predictable, there was no sense in using a powerful spell when a simple would do. Not that this hex was simple. Whoever was behind the dog must have angered a wizard far more powerful than herself. It concerned her that someone would leave a hex like this on someone seemingly indefinitely. If not removed the dog would have the lifespan of a dog. Even so, she didn't know the circumstances of the hex and at least it would help her and Alestra out.
She began the chant of the final stages of the potion encouraging the ingredients to bind. White vapors rose from the kettle like gossamer strands. They gathered a few inches above the kettle and the potion was ready. With a sigh, she blew the mist over the dog where it clung to fur. It sank in to do its work and tease out the hex. To her relief the sickly green glow that rose was what she expected though she double checked with her book to make sure.
She had to move to take advantage of the potion and quickly flipped to the proper spell. She had never used this dispell before for obvious reasons, but she had studied it. She studied it intently and carefully like all of the precious spells she had even if they were impractical or far beyond her abilities. She mouthed the pronunciations then looked to the dog.
"I need to touch you."
The hound padded to her and sat close enough that she could smell damp fur. She placed her hand on its shoulder with dark matted fur and closed her eyes. She began the spell and almost instantly felt the hex. The potion pulled it to her. Her magic flowed around the dog burning the hex away. It tried to retreat into the dog but the potion held. Warmth bloomed around her and her hands trembled in exhaustion. Her voice remained strong and she held till the last of it was expunged. Beneath her hand fur fused into cloth and the shoulder beneath broadend and flattened. When the shifting halted she opened her eyes.
Before her was a young man sitting there. His eyes squeezed shut and brow furrowed in concentration. She removed her hand, but he remained still. Despite the comical expression and hat with one too many feathers she found him attractive. Or maybe she just liked him because he was the first one not to threaten her. Still she thought his light brown hair and athletic build were fine and his expressive face kind. She shook her head, he wasn't kind and was glad the heat of magic hid her flush. She cleared her throat and he finally opened his eyes.
He inspected his hands, rotating them every which way. He seemed mesmerized. Then he jumped up in a great exclamation and did a jig about the room.
"Oh, you have no idea how wonderful it is to be on two feet again," he said in a thick accent distinct from the others. He skipped up to the leader smiling giddily, "look Tam I'm a real boy."
The older man, previously stern, cracked a smile at his antics. He wiped back towards May. Bounding over he lifted her to her feet. Shaking her hand vigorously he said "you are a wonderful human being!" he wrapped her in a hug and spun in a circle.
"Bran," said the older woman "Leave the girl be. She looks ready to pass out."
She was feeling faint and the spinning wasn't helping. Bashful, he set her down and retreated a step. "Sorry, you did me a real solid. I thought I would be a dog forever."
"Your welcome" she said with a small smile growing on her face, but it fell as Blythe approached.
"Come on," said Tam, herding the others away, "They have kept their bargain, we should no longer hold them."
Relife sagged May's shoulders.
Bran looked confused, "Shouldn't we help them?" Tam came back over, "We can't leave them here."
In a low voice still intelligible to May, "No, I'll explain later. It is better that we go now."
Bran didn't seem entirely convinced, but left with the others. At the door he placed something on an upturned chest on the way out. Blythe had already stormed out with the majority of the pack. The woman wished us luck before exiting and Tam lastly nodded as he slipped out. Moments later silence returned to the tower. The only notion of time passing was the regular flicker of the witchlights.
It seemed like a bad dream that just kept going. Without knowing why, maybe just to do something, she set about straightening the room. Then she saw Alestra staring blankly out the crack. Its light was now the orange of sunset. The room would have to stay as it was. She stoked the fire in the magical stove and washed the kettle of its potion; the water barrel had thankfully been spared from the ransacking. At the door she saw what had been left, a strange medallion the size of her palm. Both front and back had a spear crossed with an ax surrounded by ivy. A strange gift. It reminded her of battle heraldry. She tucked it in her pocket and continued on.
She returned to Alestra with tea in one of the few unbroken mugs. She woke the woman from her trance placing the drink in her hands. She wrapped her hands gratefully around its warmth. May patiently waited for her to speak. There had been times like this before and she could hardly blame her today had been one more in a continual line of rough spots in her life. Perhaps now she could be free of them. Finally turning back to the dying light she spoke.
"Do you think it's true that my family is dead?"
"I don't know my lady," but they both knew the surprise of the strangers was genuine, "But we can find out, we can leave the tower."
"I'm telling myself I should be happy they are gone after what they did, but I'm not."
"It's your family no one would blame you for being sad." She took the cup from her trembling hands and helped her sit.
"How did you feel when..."
"Sad, angry … alone." she reflected on that time. It was distant and fresh all at once, "It gets better though, in time it does. You helped me get better." She wished that was true but Alestra was probably worse off than her. Still time heals wounds or at least closes them up.
She smiled at May, the sad smile of a broken heart just beginning to feel the depths of its pain. Turning back to the light, silent sobs shook her body. May lay a hand on her back and waited for her tears to slow.
"We can go back tomorrow to the castle if you want."
"What do you know? You're just a child. Lyr, what has it come to that I am taking advice from a little girl who knows nothing." May drew away. She didn't mean it but it hurt all the same. She sighed and wiped her eyes, "But you're not are you, you stopped those goons today. We have been in here so long you are all grown up now. I am so sorry. I made you lose so much of your life."
"It's not your fault."
"Is it? I know this place. It kills me a little more each day. I can't imagine what it has done to you."
She didn't know and she wasn't sure she wanted to know how it had changed her.
"You know what? You are right, we're free and I am not spending another minute in this wretched place." she raced down the stairs, almost manic.
May stood to follow looking around the place that held her for so many years. She grabbed her books, a quilt and a few other supplies as she left. Looking in the alcove the sliver to outside was now dark and she left the room for the last time. At the top of the dimly lit stairs a cool gust of air met her. She breathed in deeply and could taste the forest.
"Are you ready to see the stars Aeron?"