Lone Star Magic (29 page)

Briefly, she entertained the idea, watching
as the Warlord’s form took shape. With his black hood cloaking his
face, only his eyes were visible, glowing with a violent intensity
that spoke of madness. No trace of humanity showed there, no Fae
recognition, nothing human either.

Carly shivered. She could do this, she could.
She would fight for her right to live. She’d kill if she had to, in
order to protect her unborn child.

Alrick began to speak the words of a
spell.

“Give me the woman.” The Warlord spoke, his
voice a harsh sound, the voice of a man in great personal pain.

“You can’t have me.” Voice shaking, Carly
stepped forward. “So come down and fight like a man.” She lifted
her sword, the white ice of the blade flashing in the sun. “Come
down. Bring it on, dude.”

The Warlord laughed, a harsh, guttural
sound.

Alrick stepped up with her, still muttering
words to the spell. Neither of them dared to take their eyes off
the other man.

Raising his voice, Alrick spoke louder,
rushing to complete the spell.

The Warlord floated closer, unaffected.

The spell Alrick used was a powerful one,
ancient and deadly. The magic he called was in the air, the ground,
everywhere. The earth reacted. Rumbling came from the ground deep
below their feet.

The sky filled with clouds. Lightning
flashed, great jagged bolts that struck the earth like a hammer.
Thunder boomed, and the wind began to shriek as the trees bowed
before the coming storm.

Hair blowing, Alrick braced his legs and
raised his sword, chanting louder and louder as the magic built.
Pushing Carly behind him, he slashed at the air.

The Warlord dived left. Alrick pivoted, sword
ready. Carly mimicked his motions.

Moving so fast he was a blur, the Warlord
zoomed directly at her. Screaming, she raised her sword and gave a
battle cry of fury and fear. A shudder ran through her as her sword
connected.
First blood
, she had time to think. Then Alrick,
the horses, and the entire world as she knew it disappeared in a
blinding burst of light.

Thunder cracked a warning seconds before
lightening struck mere feet from where Alrick stood. The resulting
charge tossed him and the horses backward at the same instant as
Carly struck the Warlord with her fae sword.

The shock must have rendered him unconscious.
When he was able to stand again, the Warlord and Carly had
vanished.

TM and Merry, both miraculously unhurt,
grazed nearby.

“Carly!”Alrick bellowed loud enough to be
heard in both the past and the future. The Warlord had taken her
–where, Alrick could only guess. Whatever magic the Warlord had
used, Alrick’s spell had come too late.

Spell. The roiling clouds were in the
distance, and while lightening still flashed, the danger looked far
off. Though the last remnants of magic still resonated in the
hapless earth, the worst of the storm seemed to have moved on.

Shades of Lothar; the Warlord had Carly.
Alrick had failed to protect her.

Cursing, he located his sword on the ground
and sheathed it. He must find Carly, find her now, before the
Warlord killed her.

Or die trying. If he could not save her, he
did not want to live.

Gathering the horses, he spoke the words that
would take them to Rune.

When he reached the great hall, the Mage
stood waiting.

“You caused another earthquake in the human
world,” the old man said. “Why are you here?”

Impatient, Alrick told him.

“The Warlord has Carly?” The Mage appeared
unsurprised. “How did this happen?”

Alrick pushed past. “His magic was stronger
than mine. I’m going after them. You,” he stabbed the older man in
the chest with his finger, “are going to send me.”

“Alone?”

“No. I need help. I’m getting Cenrick.”

The mage hurried to keep up as Alrick strode
down the long, marbled hall. “Your father will not want to risk
both his sons.”

“To hell with that. I refuse to let Carly
die.”

Trying another tact, the Mage plucked at
Alrick’s arm. “But this is
your
task, your chance to prove
yourself worthy to be named heir. If you enlist your brother’s
help, how will you ever prove your readiness for the throne?”

Teeth bared, Alrick rounded on the other man.
“Do you honestly think I care about this now?”

Only by putting his hands out in front of him
was the Mage able to keep from crashing into Alrick. Undaunted,
Mort peered up at Alrick. “Being named heir is
all
you’ve
ever cared about.”

“Maybe once.” Hearing the snarl in his own
voice, Alrick took a deep, calming breath. “Not now. Carly is mine.
Mine
. Saving her is more important to me than anything
else.”

The Mage of Rune did not appear surprised.
Standing in the glittering hallway, surrounded by sparkling walls
and Fae beauty, he looked small and insignificant in his mysterious
black robe. “More important than the throne?”

But Alrick didn’t answer. He’d already moved
away, intent on reaching his brother.

This time, the Mage did not follow.

At the end of the shining hall, Alrick turned
right. Ten paces down on the left was Cenrick’s room. Pushing open
the door, he called his brother’s name.

A light sleeper, Cenrick sat up and ran a
hand through his hair. “What’s going on?”

“I need your help.” Anguish and worry making
his voice hoarse, Alrick told his brother what had happened.

Immediately, Cenrick grabbed his clothes. “Of
course I’ll help. What do you want to do?”

“Go after them, of course.”

Cenrick opened his eyes very, very wide.
“Into the future? Are you serious?”

“Can you think of another plan?”

Slowly, Cenrick shook his head. “Are you
aware we might not be able to return?”

“So be it.”

“I see.” Clearing his throat, Cenrick looked
dazed. “When?”

“Now.” Alrick tossed his shoes at him. “Here,
put these on. The Mage will help me. He has to. Let’s go.”

Together, they started back down the hall.
When they reached the great room, the Mage waited near the front
door.

“I need your assistance, Mage.” Stopping in
front of him, Alrick did not ask, he ordered. “We’re going after
the Warlord, to the future, to your time. I need your help to get
there.”

The Mage inclined his graying head, once.
“I’ll lend a hand. But be warned. While my magic will help you get
there, when you wish to return, you’re on your own.”

“Go with us.” Cenrick stepped forward. “You
know the place, the customs, and the layout. Your familiarity would
aid us greatly.”

“I cannot.”

“You mean,” Alrick stared the other man down,
“you will not.”

“I don’t know how.” Stroking his beard, the
Mage’s lined face was full of sorrow.

Cenrick looked from one to the other. “Why do
I sense undercurrents of which I know nothing?”

Neither man answered.

With a sigh, Cenrick shook his head. “I give
up. I guess I’m just along for the ride.”

“You have been studying.” Alrick’s tone was
fierce. “If anyone can figure out how to get us back to our own
time, you can.”

“Alrick, I have something for you.” Reaching
inside the folds of his voluminous robe, the Mage pulled forth a
cloth wrapped bundle. “Take this. It might come in handy.”

Alrick accepted the gift without
question.

“Will you need horses? TM and Merry look
exhausted.”

“No.” Alrick smiled grimly. “I am done with
conventional means of travel. Until Carly is safe, I mean to use
magic.”

“But the consequences…” The Mage sounded
shocked.

“He cares not for what his magic does in our
time.”

“But—.”

Alrick sighed. “I will do as little as
possible, but I must save Carly. Now tell us where you will send
us. We will be in Rune, will we not?”

Slowly, Mort shook his head. “The Warlord
keeps a fortress there. But he spends a good deal of time in the
human world. The human world has changed much in the future. It’s
not safe for you there. Remember, the Fae are feared and killed on
sight, if possible.”

“I have my crystal sword and crossbow.”

“And our magic.” Cenrick chimed in.

“Magic is hampered by the machines. You’ll
find it difficult to defend yourself should you be at risk around
them.” The Mage sounded worried. “And to even attempt to use magic
there, with the world already so unstable, could cause
disaster.”

“I’ll do what I have to do. I must save
Carly.”

Cenrick stepped up beside him to show his
support.

“Very well.” The Mage sighed. “You are right,
this time. Carly is our future.”

“She is more than the future, to me. She is
my everything.”

“Seriously?” Cenrick stared as Alrick gave a
slow nod. “Will you wed her?”

“If she will have me.”

“First you must save her,” Mort put in. “Let
me offer a word of advice. You should—.”

“Not now.” Alrick shifted his weight from
foot to foot, impatient to be off. “Maybe later.”

Grinning, Cenrick clapped Alrick’s shoulder.
“Are you ready?”

“More than ready.” Still glaring at the Mage,
Alrick crossed his arms. “Come on.” Striding forward, he used both
hand to push open the heavy crystal door. “We’ll start the spell
outside.”

“Alrick.” The Mage stepped in front of them.
“Before we start, there is one more thing I must tell you.”

Clenching his teeth, Alrick nodded. “Why are
you trying to delay us? Begin the spell.”

“Carly is with child.”

Making a strangled sound, Alrick froze.

Cenrick’s mouth fell open. He closed it with
a snap.

“How…,” Alrick sputtered. “When? I—.”

Cenrick laughed.

Mort however, was serious. “You are the
father of Carly’s child. You, Alrick, will have a son and call him
Lance.”

Alrick swallowed hard. His chest felt tight,
like his heart might explode. “This Lance you’ve told us of, he is
my
son?”

“Yes. Even now, Carly carries your babe. When
you go to save her, you also go to save your child.”

Struck dumb, Alrick heard roaring in his
ears, then the steady thump, thump, of his heart. Reminding himself
to breathe, he tried to speak, and found he could not get words
past the huge lump that had formed in his throat.

“A child!” Cenrick echoed Alrick’s thoughts.
“But Carly’s child is to be—.” He fell silent as the impact of the
Mage’s words hit him, then, wild-eyed, grabbed Alrick’s arm. “Did
you know?”

“No.” Turning his attention back to the Mage,
who’d never been wrong, Alrick narrowed his eyes. “Are you
certain?”

“Yes.”

Alrick didn’t know whether to curse or cry.
“Is she aware of this?”

“Carly? Not yet. She suspects, but is not
sure.”

Alrick had heard enough. “Come on.” He shook
off his brother’s hand. “We’ve got to find her.”

“There is one more thing.” Again the Mage’s
words halted them both in their tracks.

“Stop delaying us. Tell us everything at
once, and let us go.”

“This is important. There has been a slight
change in the Warlord’s plans.”

Slowly, Alrick turned to face him. “A change?
What kind of change?”

Instead of answering, Mort looked down at his
hands. Alrick’s stomach sank. Such an action on the part of the
normally confident elderly man could not bode well.

“What of the Warlord?” Cenrick moved to the
Mage, touching him lightly on his shoulder. “Tell us.”

“It’s best the Warlord does not know of the
child.”

“Why? Since he only wants to kill her, what
difference would the name of the child’s father make?”

With a sigh, Mort grimaced. “The Warlord no
longer wishes to kill Carly.”

Alrick stared. Cenrick did the same. Finally,
Cenrick spoke. “How do you know this?”

Mort raised his head, the miserable
expression on his face making Alrick clench his teeth and swallow.
“He sent me this.” He lifted his hand and Alrick saw he held a
rolled up parchment. “After the bird attacked you and Carly, I sent
Tinth into the future to spy on the Warlord. This morning, Tinth
suddenly returned, carrying this announcement in her beak.”

“Announcement?” The roaring in his ears grew
louder. Alrick took a step forward. “Announcement of what?”

Time seemed to stand still while the Mage
made a show of unrolling it. He held it up, so they could see the
elaborate gold lettering, read the taunting words.

“Of the Warlord’s wedding. He plans to marry
Carly and get her with child, with his heir. He wants Lance to be
his son. That way he will have total control over the boy.”

“But—.” Clenching his jaw so tightly it hurt,
Alrick dragged his hand across his mouth. “You’re telling me that
Carly is in no danger of being killed.”

“Not now.” Mort clapped his hands. “But if
the Warlord learns she is already pregnant, Carly is as good as
dead.”

“Then nothing has changed, as far as the
Warlord’s concerned.” Alrick stepped outside, Cenrick close on his
heels. “No more delays. We go now.”

With that, he began to speak the words to the
spell. Cenrick mimicked him. Finally Mort joined in.

The crossing was different this time. Unlike
the simple passage through the veil from Rune to the human world,
this time they sent themselves through decades, straddling the fast
moving river of time and hoping to come out in one piece on the
other side.

When they materialized in The Warlord’s
world, Alrick glanced around to make certain they weren’t noticed.
Noticed? Hah? The smog was so thick he could barely see his hand in
front of his face.

“Straits of Westra.” Cenrick coughed.

Squinting, Alrick tried to make out
something, anything. “I can’t see my hand in front of my face.”