Magic
Chapter 13
It is now six months later.
Jim and Johanna still lived in Silverymoon, and they still lived with Rick and Kate. Kate loved having them there, as did Alexis. Even little Johanna seemed to like it. Rick didn't mind having them since they mostly stayed out of his way while he made potions to sell in Kate's store.
Jim came home first and ran into Rick since Kate was downstairs in her shop, selling her beer. "Hi, Rick. You're certain we're not a bother?"
Rick stopped what he was doing. "You're not a bother at all. You can stay as long as you want, just as long as you don't bother me while I make a potion."
"It means a lot to you. Making potions?" Jim asked him.
"It does. Not just for Kate to sell them in her store, which is more of a bar than a store, but yes, it does. Being 10th level means I accomplished something." Rick sat down at the dining room table, and Jim joined him.
"I was part of a small group, all friends. We got ourselves into trouble, more than we could handle. It was back at the portal that we came through. It was cold and filled with ice even then. We got ourselves all turned around in there.
"To make a long story short, my friends all died down there. We were young and thought of ourselves as invincible. They died, and I didn't. I escaped through the portal and found myself in a strange new world. There was no money except for the gold and silver coins I had on me. I had no ID and no prospects for how or where I would live. The magic items and my knowledge were all I had. The potions I make, the level attained in being a Master Alchemist. It makes me feel like I'm living the life they didn't get to."
Jim reached over and squeezed his shoulder. "I think I understand. It means a lot to you – the ability to make potions. Your friends would be proud of you. You succeeded in living a new life in a strange land. I can see why you wanted to come back here.
"Have you told Katie any of this?"
Rick shook his head. "No, I haven't. I didn't see the need. She followed me because she loved me. That was enough for me."
"You should tell her. I think she'll only love you that much more," Jim told him.
"I'll think about it," Rick said. "Enough about me. How goes the training?"
Jim shrugged. "It's going. I think I'm the oldest student they have. I'm not quite as quick as some of these youngsters. But my teacher says I'm easy to teach. I pick up some of it easier than these youngsters."
"And Johanna, how is she coming in her training?" Rick inquired. "I'm asking you because she might not tell me the truth."
Jim grinned and said proudly, "She's taking to it like a fish. She's a natural. Who knew she was so into Nature? I certainly didn't. She surprised even me, let alone herself. I think she's ahead of me. But then, she always was. Even as a lawyer she was better than me. I still can't believe she got herself into so much trouble. She always was headstrong, though. It might explain why she's so good at this."
"Good, that's very good," Rick told him.
"You're sure you don't mind footing the bill for all this training?" Jim asked him. "I don't know how much money you make, but you could be doing something with it other than supporting us."
Rick held up his hand as he shook his head. "We can afford it. Kate's bar is making good money. Even I'm making good money selling my potions. We have to buy ingredients to make it work, but we're doing fine. Have you thought much about what you want to make in your store?" Rick asked him. "When you get one, of course."
"A little. One idea is setting up a flower shop. Jo thinks she can make it work using her new training. Another is creating a Christmas shop. But that one will be a tough sell, given that this place doesn't know about Christmas. Another is setting up more of a nursery, selling plants instead of flowers. Again, it's Jo's idea that she could make it work.
"That's about it. We're still talking about it. The one thing stopping us is the money. You've spent enough on us already. You spent thirty grand on that spell that brought Jo back to life. We still owe you for that, Rick."
"I'm pretty sure what Kate will say about that, Jim."
"Yes, but we still owe you, and you're spending even more on our training."
Alexis chose that moment to call out to him. "DADDY!"
"Duty calls." Rick went upstairs to her room to find out what she wanted, leaving Jim wondering how he and Jo would pay them back.
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It was a Monday, and the store was closed. Rick was busy making a potion to sell in her store. Kate spent time with her mother, father, Alexis, and little Johanna.
Alexis was three years old, and little Johanna was almost two years old. Johanna was spoiling her granddaughter something rotten. Then, there was a knock on their door. Kate got up to answer it.
A man was standing there. "Mistress Castle?"
"Yes, how can I help you?"
"You and Master Castle are invited to see High Lady Alustriel Silverhand. You must come now."
Kate just stared at the man. "The High Lady Alustriel Silverhand wants to see us? Why us? We're nobodies."
"You must come with me, Mistress. Now, as in immediately."
"Let me get my husband." Kate left him standing there and hurried to get Rick. "The High Lady Alustriel Silverhand wants to see us. Can you watch the kids for us," Kate asked her parents.
"Of course, Katie," Johanna said. "Who is the High Lady Alustriel Silverhand?" she whispered to Jim, who shrugged.
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"My thanks to you both for coming. I will get right to it. A Wood Elf ran from the High Forest without stopping, and collapsed when he arrived. We managed to get out of him why he ran the entire way. It seems the Grandfather Tree is under attack by Trolls. The Wood Elves mentioned you in particular and need your help. We are sending a team to help. You have exactly one hour to collect your things and be back here. The two of you are part of the team we are sending."
"Wood Elves?" Rick asked her.
"The Grandfather Tree?" Kate asked.
"One hour," Rick said.
"Right, we'll be back," Kate assured her, and they left. "Any idea why us?" Kate asked her husband once they were outside.
"During that one time, we must have made an impression on the Wood Elves," Rick suggested. "They did feed us."
"Well, if we're going to be back here in an hour, we'll have to run, literally. Run!" Kate took off running, with Rick bringing up the rear.
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They made excuses to Jim and Johanna while they dressed and started packing.
"You're going to save something called a Grandfather Tree?" Johanna questioned her.
Kate nodded. "Yep. It seems we made an impression on the Wood Elves."
Johanna tilted her head and stared at her. "And what will this protection entail?"
"Trolls, we'll be fighting Trolls."
Johanna's eyebrows shot up. "Trolls. Like those Trolls we encountered?"
"Mom, don't. They asked for us. High Lady Alustriel Silverhand herself requested our help. We can't turn them down. And for your information, the High Lady rules this city. She's a powerful wizard and one of the Seven Sisters."
"Fine, fine. Go, we'll take care of the girls until you get back. We'll make sure the store is closed if you're not back in time to open it," Johanna said. "Just be safe. I mean, Trolls?" Of all the reasons, it had to be Trolls.
Kate hugged her. "Thanks, Mom."
"Ready for this, babe?"
"I didn't count on having to fight Trolls, so I only have the one Fireball spell," Rick said. "But my potion bandolier is full of them, and I have my Staff even if it doesn't have that many charges left on it."
"My potion bandolier is full of fireball potion as well." Just for a moment, Kate was worried. "We can handle this, right?"
"You're damn right we can! Besides, you heard her, Kate. We are not going alone. A team is going with us, and the Wood Elves will be there. What's left of them, that is."
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"You be good for Grandma and Grandpa." Kate hugged and kissed Alexis. "You be a good girl, too." She hugged and kissed little Johanna.
Rick hugged his little girl. "Your mother and I will be back soon."
"Daddy?" She didn't know what it was, but she knew something was wrong.
"We'll be back, Pumpkin. Never doubt that," Rick said. He ruffled the hair on little Johanna's head and left. Short on time, they took off running.
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"I thank you for coming. You did not have to do this," the Lady told them.
"Yes, we did, my Lady. The Grandfather Tree is worth it," Rick said.
"This is your team. Meet Aerial, a Sorceress, Elrond, a Ranger, and this is Ingram; he is a Wizard. Team, this is Master and Mistress Castle. They are a Wizard/Master Alchemist and a Sorceress.
"I know the location of the Grandfather Tree, but unfortunately, it has protections against teleporting, meaning I can only get you within one mile of it. You will have to make your way from there.
"This is a scroll of Teleportation Circle. It will get you back right here after you have completed your mission. I made it myself. I will send you on your way if you get in the circle." The Lady waited for them to gather together. "May the Gods smile on you and bless you on this mission. Ready? Off you go." She activated the spell; they vanished and arrived at their destination.
"At least it's Spring," Kate commented. "Which way do we go? We're within a mile, but which direction?"
"This way," Elrond told them. "I have a sixth sense about such things."
"Lead on, then," Aerial said; he began running, forcing the others to catch up to him.
"So you're a Sorceress?" Aerial questioned Kate as they ran.
"Yes, I'm 13th level."
Aerial smiled. "So am I. Though I won't be one for long after this."
"No, especially if there are War Trolls. They're the worst. It takes a lot to kill them," Kate warned her.
"You've fought them before?"
Kate nodded. "Unfortunately, yes; twice, even. The first time, they almost got us. It was a very close call."
"Let's pray this time will be different." At least Aerial hoped so.
"Aerial, what do you know about the others?"
"Nothing other than Lady Alustriel trusts them. And that's good enough for me."
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Elrond stopped. "There it is. The Grandfather Tree."
"WOW! That's what I call a tree," Kate exclaimed. "That base has to be what, 80 feet?"
"Now, where are the Trolls and the Wood Elves?" Rick wondered.
"If they're from the Evermoors, they would come from that direction," Elrond indicated. He took off running in that direction, forcing the others to catch up.
"Does he ever get tired of running?" Kate panted.
Aerial shook her head. "He's a Ranger, so the answer is no."
They came up over a rise and stopped. "Now that's what I call an army." Elrond was impressed.
"That's a lot of Trolls and not a lot of Wood Elves. Looks like they're losing," Rick noted.
"There's no time like the present if we're to save the Wood Elves." Kate cast her first Fireball. Aerial followed her lead, causing hers to blow up in the same area as Kate's, killing all within the sphere.
That got the Trolls' attention; several broke off and headed for them.
"We got their attention. Again?" Kate asked Aerial. She didn't wait for an answer and cast Fireball to help the Wood Elves. Aerial followed her lead with her own Fireball.
Rick and Ingram added their Fireballs, only they struck the Trolls headed their way. "I count twelve War Trolls and roughly forty Trolls still standing," Rick told them.
They watched Fireballs blow up in front of the Wood Elves, though theirs were smaller.
Kate and Aerial both cast a Fireball to help the Wood Elves and watched as several fell. All but the War Trolls, that is.
"Those must be the War Trolls," Aerial mentioned.
Kate nodded. "Yes, and it looks like half of them are heading our way."
Rick and Ingram each launched a Fireball from their Staves and struck the Trolls headed their way. They dropped a few of them, but not that many.
Elrond finally got into the act and fired two arrows that blew up in a mini Fireball on the group headed their way.
Kate and Aerial cast another Fireball to help the Wood Elves, down to just two Fireballs each, while Elrond fired two more arrows, blowing up in a mini Fireball.
Rick and Ingram launched a Fireball from their Staves. They both struck the group headed their way. At that moment, another pair of smaller Fireballs erupted close to the Wood Elves.
Elrond fired another two arrows that blew up in a mini Fireball. He dropped his bow, drew his sword, and readied himself for close-quarter combat with Trolls. His sword flamed.
Rick retrieved a potion and threw it while Ingram launched another Fireball from his staff.
Rick, Ingram, Kate, and Aerial cast Mirror Image at the same time and got ready for combat. As luck would have it, they each gained three Images.
Elrond got in the first swing; he swung four times, showing off his skill with a blade. Seeing that gave Kate an idea, so she let the Trolls take a swing at her. Two of her images vanished, and she cast Haste on Elrond.
Aerial had two of her images wink out, so she cast Burning Hands, made it in the shape of a fan, and dropped both Trolls attacking her.
Screaming in pain as Rick got hit, one of his images winked out. The same happened to Ingram.
Elrond parried the swing on him, and he hit back, swinging six times. He didn't know why, but he'd take it and kill one of the War Trolls.
Rick managed to cast Burning Hands, making a fan out of it, hitting both Trolls attacking him and dropping both.
Elrond got him twice from each of the War Trolls attacking him. He grunted from the pain but managed to swing six times, dropping one of the War Trolls.
Aerial took a five foot step, cast Burning Hands, hitting both of the Trolls attacking Kate, and dropped both of them. Since Kate was freed up, she cast Fireball and hit the group attacking the Wood Elves.
Aerial took a five-foot step, cast Burning Hands, hit both Trolls attacking Kate, and dropped them. Since Kate was free, she cast Fireball and hit the group which was attacking the Wood Elves.
Elrond was hit once and shrugged it off. He swung six times and killed the last War Trolls attacking them.
Aerial and Ingram cast Fireball, aiming for the Trolls still attacking the Wood Elves, of which there were not fewer still standing. At the same time, a pair of Fireballs erupted close to the Wood Elves, and though they were smaller, it freed up the Wood Elves from being attacked.
Since the battle was over, Rick went to the Wood Elves, pulled out his wand of Cure Light Wounds, and touched several, reviving them from dying. He couldn't save all of them, but he managed to save several. Then he turned his attention to Elrond and gave him three Cure Light Wounds.
One of the Wood Elves came up to them and said something none of them understood. Rick yelled for his wife. "Kate! We can't understand a word he says."
Kate cast Comprehend Languages and asked him to repeat himself. "He says thank you for the help. He takes it their messenger made it to Silverymoon and asks us to stay since he's expecting more Trolls," Kate told them and answered. "I told him we would gladly stay, and yes, their messenger made it to Silverymoon."
The Wood Elves tended to their wounded better than Rick could, and Ingram set up a tent for all of them, though Rick and Kate set up their tent. They set it up under the branches of the Grandfather Tree. Kate stood there looking it over. "This is quite a tree."
Aerial was next to her. "It's magnificent. I've never seen a tree like it. I've heard it's alive."
"So I hear," Kate said; she listened to what the Wood Elves said and answered them. The others joined Kate. "The Wood Elves have invited us to eat with them, and they thank you for the help. They wouldn't have held them without us."
"Tell them I'm happy to help and will eat with them gladly," Elrond told her, which Kate passed on to the Wood Elves.
"They also offer us to search the Trolls. Anything we find, we can have," Kate told them.
"Don't have to tell me that twice." Rick started searching the Trolls, beginning with the 12 War Trolls. Ingram and Elrond join him in searching.
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They ate, took a break, and relieved themselves while the Wood Elves set up a watch, allowing them to go to bed and recover their spells. Rick and Ingram gained more Fireballs, and Elrond felt better in the morning. Kate and Aerial each gained their spells.
The sun wasn't even up yet, and they were two rows deep, waiting for the Trolls to show up. Rick had learned that those little fireballs were from a wand. Well, make it two wands. This time, he and Ingram were ready for them. They each had three Fireballs waiting for them, paling compared to Kate and Aerial, who each had up to six Fireballs.
Elrond was in the middle. Kate and Aerial were to either side of him, with Rick and Ingram outside of that. They were spread out and waiting for the inevitable. They heard them before they saw them. The sun came up behind them and directly in the Trolls' eyes.
"That's a heck of a lot of Trolls," Rick remarked. "I count 20 War Trolls and 50 to 60 Trolls behind them. Damn." He hoped they were ready for them.
"They must have cleared out the entire Evermoors," Elrond said.
"The Wood Elves have those potions, yes?" Rick inquired.
Kate answered him immediately. "Yes, I saw to it personally. They even have some of mine, and I told them when to throw them."
The War Trolls were out front, and the others were three deep in a line behind them.
"Remember, overlap whenever possible," Rick called out. "Let's greet them and let them know they're not wanted."
Rick and Ingram each cast a Fireball from a distance, making sure to include as many War Trolls as they could. Kate and Aerial were next, and they hit the very same Trolls. It knocked out two War Trolls and four Trolls.
That did it, however. Instead of walking, they charged the line. The two Wood Elves with Wands were next. Then Rick, Ingram, Kate, and Aerial were next, and they dropped two more War Trolls and four Trolls.
The two Wood Elves with wands were next to fire Fireballs. Rick, Ingram, and Aerial each cast Fireball, and they all hit the same Trolls. Kate cast Haste on Elrond. This time, he knew it was coming since Kate had told him.
The Trolls were now down two more War Trolls and four more Trolls. But now they were close enough to throw potions. Several of them overlapped, and they killed a total of a dozen Trolls.
Then Rick, Ingram, Kate, and Aerial each cast Fireball, wiping out two more War Trolls and twelve Trolls.
Wood Elves with wands fired two more Fireballs. That was followed by other Wood Elves throwing the last of their potion vials. They killed a single War Troll and twelve Trolls.
Then, just as the War Trolls reached the front lines, Rick, Ingram, Kate, and Aerial cast Mirror Image, creating three images of themselves. Elrond stepped forward and swung six times, killing a War Troll outright.
That made nine War Trolls and 36 Trolls, cutting them down to size. It left them with eleven War Trolls and fourteen Trolls. Not that the losses stopped them. Nothing made them more vicious in their attacks.
The problem was the War Trolls were along a line of Wood Elves, and the Trolls were scattered.
The Wood Elves started falling left and right. They did the best they could, but War Trolls overpowered them. Rick, Ingram, Kate, and Aerial each cast Disintegrate, and as luck would have it, they each picked a different War Troll, and all four War Trolls vanished in the blink of an eye.
Elrond stepped five feet forward and swung six times, killing two separate Trolls with his flaming sword.
By now, Kate, Aerial, Rick, and Ingram were in range of being swung. Each of them lost an image. Rick and Ingram cast Burning Hands and did it in a fan, each killing two of the Trolls.
Kate and Aerial each cast Disintegrate again and watched as two more War Trolls vanished in the blink of an eye. The two Trolls on them each took a Magic Missile spell, striking them with three stars, each dropping them and freeing up Kate and Aerial.
Two Trolls charged Elrond, and both hit him, but he shrugged it off and swung six times, killing one.
That left the Trolls with five War Trolls and eight Trolls. Not that it stopped them.
One Troll fell due to the Wood Elves. Kate and Aerial each cast Disintegrate and watched as two more War Trolls vanished.
Two of the three remaining War Trolls charged Elrond, both hitting him, and he cried out in pain. Those two hits hurt!
Together, Rick and Ingram cast Magic Missile and targeted the same War Troll, dropping him for good.
Elrond swung a half dozen times, killing another War Troll, leaving them with one War Troll and six Trolls. They would consider the fight over normally and withdraw, but these were Trolls; they fought to the death.
The remaining Trolls took multiple arrows and two Magic Missiles, dropping two.
Kate and Aerial cast Disintegrate and targeted the last remaining War Troll; he vanished on one of the hits. The four remaining Trolls died, and the fight was over. Rick took out his wand of Cure Light Wounds and touched every Elf he came across. He managed to revive several, but unfortunately, a few were gone.
"Well, that was fun," Kate stated flatly, "NOT!" She yelled that last part.
Rick moved to Elrond since he was bent over and hurting, then touched him four times, helping him to feel better.