Page 66 of Pure Magic
Stopping over the spot where we crossed the water earlier, Goddess stares at me. “I only ask that you try to stop her from destroying my world and yours.”
“How do we do that?”
She floats closer and opens her arms. “Three powers have given you tools for a task that has never been completed by a mortal. The fourth comes from the two of you.”
I’m about to ask for more clarification when she shimmers out of existence. I close my eyes. “Why is she always so vague?”
With a short laugh, Sara Beth falls back into her chair. “Because she’s Goddess. She’s not supposed to interfere. I think her vagaries are to keep that promise while still helping us.”
“Rubbish! It’s all a lot of rubbish, Beth.” I sit and tear a piece of meat from the fowl. “We’re to go into battle with weapons we don’t know how to use against a magic we can’t understand to save beings that have lived for millennia from my sister. Is it me, or is this a ridiculous quest?”
“When you put it that way, it does sound unlikely.” She eats and grins.
“It’s not funny,” I say around a mouthful of food.
She nods and eats with a silly smile lighting her face.
It’s impossible to stay annoyed when she looks so pleased, so I eat my fill and enjoy looking at Sara Beth while I do.
As the first light of day crests the horizon, I’m sorry to leave the clearing. It was the best night’s sleep I’ve had in years, and I wish again we might stay forever in Midhir’s woods.
We find the horses happily eating grass just outside the woods without their saddles or bridles on. Those items hang neatly on the branches of a large tree.
I pet Pilot’s nose. “It looks as if you were well cared for.”
Sara Beth slings her saddle over Zephyr’s back. “I never doubted. The fae are noted for their love of beasts and disdain for men.”
Once both horses are saddled, I look back at the woods and long for more time in the peace of the fae world.
“It will all be lost if we don’t stop Ariana, Adam. You know that as well as I do.” Sara Beth swings into the saddle and watches me.
“Yes.” I mount. It does no harm to imagine a perfect world where I can live happily with Sara Beth for eternity. “I know. We’d better make our way to Stonehenge.”
We head southwest with the sun rising behind us. Sara Beth’s thoughts are less organized than usual. She flits from the lovely night in the clearing to missing her coven.
Strangely, I miss them too. I love having a large family group to laugh and chat with. At least we’re heading back in their direction.
Sara Beth smiles. “It will be nice to see them all again. We shouldn’t have any encounters with Ariana and Kaden. If she’s found someone to take your place, they’ll be heading to the stones as well.”
“Who do you think she’s taken for such a task?” Goddess said that the dark magic channeled through her would kill her. My heart hurts at the idea that my life will cost someone theirs.
“We’ll know soon enough.” She frowns and kicks her horse into a gallop.
For five days, we ride, sleep, and ride again. On the morning of March second, we wake before the sun. I think about the miles ahead of us and pull Sara Beth into my arms. Ready to run, the horses stomp and grunt. “We’re not going to get to Stonehenge in time.”
“I know.” She holds me around the waist and presses her cheek to my chest. “You might use the magic that speeds your progress.”
“I’ve never used it for such a distance. Would we leave the horses behind and hope they find their way home? I’m not even sure I could carry you for such a stretch of miles.” My mind is racing with all the things that might go wrong attempting such a spell.
She cups my cheeks and presses her lips to mine. Once I’m calm, she looks me in the eyes. “The wand enhances magic. I think if you alter the spell so that the horses move at the increased speed, and we stay on the main road, it will work.”
“It might get us there early enough to rest before the coming battle.” We might be seen or hit something. What would such a spell do to the horses? I can cast to avoid obstacles and people. I’ve never been injured by using the spell over short periods. I can monitor the animals and make sure they are well. In truth, I can see it’s the only way we can arrive in time to stop Ariana. If we fail, no animal, man or beast, will live in the darkness my sister can bring.
I take the black wand from my pocket and let out the breath I’ve been holding. “We had better mount and hold on. I imagine this will be very uncomfortable. Whatever you do, Beth, don’t fall off the horse.”
Once we’re both in our saddles, I try to convey to the beasts what I’m going to ask of them. It’s hard to tell if they understand, but they paw the ground and make no signs of distress.
I pat Pilot’s neck. Lifting the wand, I cast my spell with the words changed to indicate the horses, that we all stay together, and not come to harm, or harm any on our way. I envision the circle of massive stones that will be our destination and set my will upon the task.
