A Coursing Passage (A Life of Magic Book 3) (36 page)

She stood up. "Here is all you need to understand what I have told you." She handed a small book to me. "Learn or die. That is your option." She turned and slowly left the room.

We all sat there and looked at the book. "What do you think she means?" Raven asked quietly.

Tulip sat there and shook her head. "She means that there will be a point that we will have to meld our powers in such a way that we become one entity working magic together and that if we fail then we shall all perish." Tears started to fall from her cheeks. "There will be no secrets, no hidden thoughts." She stood up, "I need to talk to Stain. Stay here and continue your work." She slowly walked away, still crying gently.

***

"We leave today." Stain stated this simply at breakfast. "Be sure to pack everything. Breaker will be sending us out of the mountains just shy of where Ott's father is camped. We will join up with him and make plans." He stood up and walked off.

"The big day!" Mophar jumped from the wagon and landed on my shoulder. "I am tired of all this rock."

I smiled and gave him a piece of fruit. "I am also. I want to feel the breeze in my hair and hear birds again."

Raven smiled and made a noise like a bird singing.

"Oh.. I hear a raven." Mophar joked and tossed a seed at Raven.

She laughed and hugged me. "It will not be long. Today we will feel the grass under our feet." She stood up and started gathering up our scattered belongings.

"I will be glad to be outdoors once more." Tag's voice rumbled through the cave. "I get tired of being surrounded by rock."

We all grinned and got to work on packing up camp. By midday we were ready to leave and eating our meal. Stain returned just in time to join us.

"The guards are ready and waiting on us. As soon as we finish eating we continue on the part of our journey." He seemed excited.

"How are we leaving the warren?" I asked Stain.

He grinned, "Why, the same way we came in. Magic and an exit through rock." He grinned more broadly at our faces. "Did you think this warren was under the plains of the Iron City? We are in the mountains next to the plain. The brethren keep watch from outposts. They brought us to the warren, the outpost would barely fit Tag, much less all of us and the wagons."

I just shook my head and smiled. "Where is my father?"

Stain frowned, "He seems to have holed up in the forest to the far east. Just beyond the swamps and moors. How he arrived there must be a story. I look forward to hearing it."

Breaker walked up, "Time is short. Is everyone ready?"

We all jumped up and took our places behind Breaker and Stain.

"I will lead you out. Then you shall be on your own." Breaker started down the tunnel that we entered three days before.

The wagons rolled gently over the rock and we were on our way. Within a short time I could see daylight at the mouth of the tunnel. The door was wide open.

"Goodbye, Breaker of Mines. May your warren flourish." Stain shook his massive hand and followed us out of the tunnel.

The light was blinding for a moment. When I could see my surroundings I was surprised, green trees marched right up to the rock face. I could hear water pouring down from a high height. It reminded me of home.

"It sounds like home!" Pat cried out.

Stain looked around and frowned. "That is because it is the woods you called home." He looked back at the rock face, but the opening had shut already. "I fear something is amiss here."

"What is amiss is that you have escaped too many times old man!" The shadow's voice rang out into the clearing.

We all jumped and looked for the danger. No soldiers, no mages, not even the shadow appeared.

"Show yourself!" Stain cried out.

"Very well, I shall do as you ask." The shadows snickered. The shadows of the trees grew and took shape. The dark shadow oozed upwards and soon a living shadow stood before us. "I am the shadow of my master. He commands you to surrender."

Stain laughed and shook his head. "Never shall we surrender. A shadow has no power here." I could feel the pull of magic as he cast a brilliant light spell, attempting to dispel the shadow. It wavered and danced but refused to disappear. It stood like an ink blot before the light.

"Very pretty, old mage." The shadow laughed. "I am a creature of pure darkness. Light has no power over me. Surrender or face my power." Purple energy writhed from within the shadow.

"Shields!" Stain yelled to everyone.

Mophar jumped to my shoulders as I threw up my strongest shields. He yipped as they snapped into place. "That was close. Everyone else can shield. I am just a lemur."

"Surrender or be destroyed!" The shadow cried out one last time, his voice full of power and lashing at my shields.

We all replied together, "Never!"

"Very well, be destroyed!" The shadow cast out with power, the purple energy filling the clearing. It wrapped around all the shields and enveloped them all in darkness. The power was immense, pressing in on all sides until it felt as if I was holding my shield against an entire mountain.

"Hold on Ott!" Mophar called out as I shook from the strain. "Just keep holding your shield."

"What about the others?" I asked him as I focused on keeping my shields in place.

He looked around, "I can not see them. The shadow is blocking my view."

"Surrender!" The shadow's voice rang around my entire shield.

"Never, not even in death!" I cried in pain and desperation.

"Ott! Hold it! Hold it please!" I heard Mophar's voice fading as I passed out, my shields still holding the shadow at bay.

***

"Master, he awakes." The shadow's voice penetrated my brain.

I sat up and looked around. I had been captured. A metal box surrounded me on all sides. Bars marched around near the top, allowing me to see out of the box. The air was damp and smelled of the ocean. I stood up and looked through the bars. Other boxes hung from a series of chains. Walkways ran between the boxes, providing access to each box. Beyond that I saw rock walls and could hear waves crashing against rock.

"So he does." That voice that haunted my dreams whispered out. "Welcome to my home, Ott." He stepped into my view. "I hope you will let me call you Ott." He walked towards me and leaned on the bars. "Now, where is the rest of your party? More importantly, where is my FATHER?"