The High-Wizard's Hunt

Chapter 3

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The Grove of the Unicorns

Gus was beginning to like the traveling spell, or at least he thought he did. It had certainly made things easier when they made their move to attack the guards at Braya. In one place, speak a few words, then appear in whatever location you wanted to be in. He was still pondering the mysterious circumstances of Osric’s power growth that allowed him to travel great distances, for long periods of time, without the sheer exhaustion that the rest of them experienced. He had lectured Osric on practicing magic that was unknown, but over the past few weeks of traveling with him, no noticeable dangers had presented. Yes, he was beginning to like traveling - that is, until they appeared in the grove.

At first, the grove was nice, or so he thought, as he looked down at the low branching Oak trees covered with snow. It was mysteriously warm, and Gus let out a sigh of pleasure; then the warmth quickly disappeared. The air seemed to draw the warmth from his body while he sat clinging to the shoulder of Bridgett’s dress. Gus glanced over to see if she felt it as well, and a shiver overtook him. He coiled tighter to preserve the warmth in his body. Bridgett seemed unaffected by the cold as she smiled and stepped forward. Pebble fell from his perch on Bridgett’s opposite shoulder onto the snow covered landscape, and Bridgett stopped suddenly in alarm.

“Oh, no!” Bridgett raced off in a hurry as Gus fell to the ground as well, the cold overtaking him.

All perception of time was lost as Gus’ breathing slowed. His vision blurred when he saw his son, Pebble, lying close to him on the snow covered ground. With the intensity of the cold, he knew that he should be panicking, but he couldn’t make himself care. He felt tired, and the only thing that mattered to him was taking a nap. A few voices echoed in his head, and he looked up lazily to see who it was. He thought he recognized one of the faces; it was a beautiful woman in a modest gown, and an amulet hung from her neck. She looked down at him and to his right with concern. The woman’s bright blue eyes were watering, and Gus wondered why he couldn’t think of her name, but the two women moved too slowly for his mind to make sense of what he was seeing. At least he thought they were moving slowly, but they were speaking quickly, or were they?

Suddenly, a flash of green hit Gus’ eyes, and clarity began to return to his mind. The return of understanding was slow, yet he knew there was danger. He felt his heart begin to beat faster, and warmth quickly returned to his frail, old body. He suddenly found himself able to focus his eyes again, and the numbness that had shocked him moments earlier ceased. It was an odd sensation to be brought back from death’s door, but he welcomed the release from pain and fear. His lack of concern rapidly turned into panic, and then anger, but at what, or who, he didn’t know. The flash of green that had started his transition back to reality grew in intensity as he looked around at the growth and beauty that surrounded him.

Gus sat back and examined the scenery as he shook his head. The fog lifted, and where he had seen a snow covered landscape there was sunshine and blooms. The grass he sat upon was soft and only slightly damp, not as wet as you would expect if snow had just melted upon it. The trees stood with majestic grace and stretched their branches in an evenly spaced formation, creating a canopy of shade on the path through the trees. Oak? Gus questioned as he took in a deep breath and looked into the concerned face that he could finally recognize.

“Well, Bridgett,” he met her troubled stare with a weak smile and cleared his throat, “a magical trap, was it?” Gus heard the distant sound of a dog barking.

“I am so sorry,” Bridgett fumbled with her necklace, “I did not think it would affect you since I brought you here, but Fallon has given you the formal invitation to the grove so you won’t have any issues with it again.”

“I’s don’t want’s ta do’s that again.” Pebble shook his head slowly, his lower lip quivering, looking for sympathy from Bridgett with big, wet eyes.

“Aww,” Bridgett moved close to pick him up, “it won’t happen again, honey. There are some unicorns close by. We are going to take you to see them in a few minutes. Do you want to see them?”

Pebble sat up in her arms after positioning himself and rubbed his eyes.

“Oh, yes, I’s do.”

Bridgett smiled and pulled him close to kiss his forehead, then rubbed his stomach as he giggled. She sat him back on the ground and he picked up his wand that had been dropped in the throes of the trap.

“Are you up for a short walk, Gus?”

“I think I can manage it in this place,” he said, looking around in amazement, “but where did all of the snow go?”

“It was never here. We don’t understand much about it, really. All we know for sure is that, without an invitation, you could walk through this entire area and never see any of its beauty.” Fallon answered his inquiry in a voice that suggested youthful innocence and acceptance; her lighthearted reply fit the scenery well.

Gus looked at her in surprise, as he had been expecting Bridgett to answer. Fallon looked younger than Bridgett by several years. Gus tilted his head at the thought of someone younger than Bridgett leading the Maiden of the Unicorn. He stepped closer and extended his paw. It was a human custom, but they seemed to like it.

“I don’t believe we have been properly introduced.” He bowed slightly at the woman as she crouched down to greet him. “I am Gus, the Wand-Maker.”

“I’m Fallon.” She gripped his paw slightly between her fingers and gave an awkward bow from her crouched position. Her long, bronze hair fell from her shoulder and she smiled. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“So, you’re the leader of the Maiden, are you?”

“It seems that way, but don’t ask me why. We don’t choose our leader; the unicorns do.” She shrugged her shoulders and stood up, gazing out at the greenery. “Sorry about the protection spell. We don’t control that either. If you hadn’t arrived on her shoulders by magic, it wouldn’t have done that.”

“Really? Why should it make a difference how we arrive?” Gus was intrigued by the workings of the spell. He couldn’t make out anything but a slight fog with his Wand-Maker ability as he looked up at the sky.

“Once again, we aren’t entirely sure. We know that anybody that isn’t invited into the grove by me won’t see anything but snow. My only guess is that it keeps anyone from forcing their way in by magical means.”

“Don’t you at least have stories told by the former Head Maiden? Or anything passed down through the generations? There has to be someone who knows more about this.”

“I wish.” She looked at Bridgett and they both laughed. “That would make this a whole lot more fun!”

“She had to have told you something?” Gus was beginning to grow frustrated at the lack of wisdom he found in their leader.

“I am sure she would’ve loved to have told me everything, but the unicorns are the only ones who understand the barrier, and they aren’t telling anyone. We’re happy to stay here and fulfill our role.”

Gus could hear the sound of a barking dog approaching, and it was beginning to wear at his nerves. There was magic in use that he desperately desired to learn. It was as though Archana was pushing him to the limits of his patience, and his mind was racing to find the answers to questions he hadn’t imagined a few short months before.

“So, what is it, exactly, that you Maidens do here?” Gus certainly wanted to know more about the Maidens, and Bridgett had been notably vague in her explanations since he had met her.

Just as Fallon was about to respond, a burst of white fur came from somewhere behind her. The dog stopped a short distance away, but Gus was rapidly attempting to retreat in alarm. The dog saw the movement, crouched, and began to spin in a circle, barking. It raised its head after every few turns and Gus found himself a few feet closer to the dog.

A course of laughter broke out as Gus repeatedly scurried backward, yet found himself inevitably moving closer to the swirling, stub-tailed hound.

“Help!” Gus began to panic. Knowing he was caught in the dog’s Beckoning gift, he feared he would soon become a fine meal.

Laughter grew from the bystanders, and Gus looked back pleadingly. He couldn’t understand why they thought it was so funny. The two women were laughing hysterically and holding their stomachs, and Pebble was jumping up and down with excitement. Gus was losing ground, and he could feel the air coming off of the dog as it spun. He was forced to the ground and could feel paws holding him down as a tongue covered his face.

“Happy,” Bridgett spoke through her laughter, a tear running down her face, “Happy, leave him alone. He is too old and grumpy to play.”

“Play?” Gus felt the pressure let up, and looked back at the women in confusion.

“I’s wantsta play!” Pebble ran on all fours at the dog and dived to one side. Happy saw a chance to play and followed him, barking, as they crested the slope of a nearby hill. “Come get’s me, Happy!”

Gus wiped the drool from his face as he watched Pebble giggling in the distance. He lost sight of them playing when they disappeared over the slope. He turned an angry eye up at Bridgett and Fallon as they laughed.

“If that thing kills my only Wand-Maker son, I’ll hex you both!”

“Oh, relax. Happy is the nicest dog you will ever meet,” Bridgett spoke, her lower lip sticking out, mocking Gus for his attitude.

“Yeah, and he knows Happy’s name. If you know his name, you’re his best friend, whether you like it or not.” Fallon snickered and looked back at Bridgett.

“Sure, you say that now, but just wait ‘til you forget to serve him his dinner on time.” Gus walked in the direction Pebble had gone. He felt more worry than he expected at that moment. Pebble was his only Wand-Maker born child, and his only chance to pass on the skills he had honed through his life. The thought of losing him to a dog was wreaking havoc on his nerves.

“Oh, come with us, you old grump.” Fallon turned and began to walk toward a large, hilled area of the grove. “He doesn’t eat anything unless it’s cooked, and he waits patiently for our leftovers. So you have nothing to worry about.”

Gus eyed Fallon with uneasiness, but Bridgett winked at him and gestured for him to follow. He did trust Bridgett, so he was put at ease a bit by her attitude. The slopes grew as they ventured farther into the grove, and Gus found himself standing on top of a large hill very unlike the others.

The hill was flattened on top, which was obvious to Gus as a prairie dog. Although whoever, or whatever, had flattened the hill had done a fantastic job. It would look natural to anyone but a ground dweller. There was no sign of flat-topped hills anywhere in the distance, nor was there any evidence of streams or glacier movement, so that only left manual manipulation of the terrain. Gus had spent a great deal of his life walking through various open spaces. He had witnessed many different methods for clearing land for whatever purpose men had in their heads, and he recognized the signs in the landscape. All around him were rolling hills and trees. Someone had flattened the hill for a purpose he could not yet see, but he knew the reason was not on the surface of the hill. He wondered what might be beneath his paws.

In the center of the hill was a small, well-built shop. Gus could see several women working metal inside through the open door. What the Maiden of the Unicorn would need a forge for, Gus could not imagine, but the familiar smell of heated metal, oil, and the sound of a hammer on anvil grew louder the closer they came to the shop.

They made their way around to a path that led down the hill, slightly concealed by a heavy concentration of trees. It meandered downward, following the curve of the slope. The side of the hill became a carved wall as they got closer to the base. Gus was impressed by the skill that it must have taken to design. It was adorned with stone etchings of many different kinds of animals. If it hadn’t been for the worry he felt for Pebble, he may have allowed himself time to gaze at the intricacy of the carvings. As it was, he had a hard time keeping himself from running back to the top by the forge to try and see Pebble’s whereabouts. Once they had traveled to the base of the carved hill, Fallon pulled the carved horn of a unicorn down, triggering a hidden switch. A space in the wall on their left opened up to a chamber within. She smiled and motioned them both inside.

“Welcome to the underforge,” Fallon stated as she followed after.

“Underforge?” Gus questioned, as he gazed at what looked like a massive library, filled with scrolls and abundantly stuffed furniture. Several women gathered around the tables, reading in the well lit room. “I would have thought the Maiden could come up with a better name than that!” He felt a bit ashamed of his tone, but the anxiousness he felt at Pebble’s absence was growing. The lack of concern she showed for his safety seemed to make it worse. “Underforge? The imagination that went into that name makes me question your intelligence.” Gus snorted with more vehemence than he intended.

“Oh,” Fallon rolled her eyes to look at Bridgett, “this one’s going to be a HOOT to have around.”

“Don’t worry,” Bridgett smiled, “you’ll learn to love him. He usually only treats men this badly. You may get tired of the flattery that comes out of his mouth before he leaves.” She leaned over and winked at Gus as she spoke.

Their mocking was only making him grumpier, and he needed to try to make friends if he wanted to learn anything about the unicorns. “If you’re the Maiden of the Unicorn,” Gus cocked his head to the side in an attempt to change the subject, “why didn’t I see a single one of the beasts as we came here?”

“There were dozens of them just beyond the hill Pebble went over with Happy,” Bridgett answered.

“Yes, and they are accompanying Pebble to the underforge right now.” Fallon closed her eyes and smiled. “They seem to be taken by the little guy, too.”

“So, you’re an Empath as well?” Gus raised an eyebrow toward Fallon.

“No, but this job does come with perks,” she answered with a smile. “Go ahead and look. I know you’re curious now.” Fallon spread her arms in mock surrender as she bowed. “I am actually interested to hear what you see. I don’t think a Wand-Maker has ever viewed a Head Maiden.”

Gus wasted no time in accepting her offer. Activating his gift, Gus gazed inside the young, willing woman. Wand-Makers could manipulate magic strands in such a way as to make a wand to channel magic; Gus made the best wands. However, the nature of the ability also allowed a Wand-Maker to look into any creature, or object, and see how the magical strands were comprised. Peering at the magic strands that entwined themselves into everything was the least impressive part of the gift. Manipulating the magic strands was where talent was involved. The creation of the first wand had transformed Archana into a different place. Yet lately, Gus seemed to constantly find himself in the awkward position of having to ‘examine’ a person, a rather intrusive activity, in order to determine the person’s gift.

Yet, in the Grove of the Unicorn, the same unfortunate situation offered a chance at a real reward. Anything he learned while visiting the grove could only help him find answers to the questions he had.

“You’re a Trust,” his ear twitched, “good for you.” He tried to manage an impressed tone to cover up his disappointment, but he overdid it.

“Oh, there’s that flattery you were talking about.” Fallon giggled. “A nearly useless gift for a woman. Sure, a man can seek employment with the Turgent, a Merchant, or a group of bandits, but what good is a Trust as a cleaning lady or a seamstress? Surprisingly, it works wonders for a Head Maiden. I can be absolutely certain if I can trust someone before I extend an invitation into the grove.”

Gus ignored the chatter, but instead fixated on the interesting part. The gift in itself was unremarkable, but the light purple strands that ran in hundreds of directions from her head were greatly intriguing.

“What exactly am I looking at?” Gus ended the session and peered expectantly up at the two ladies. Further examination wouldn’t aid in any discoveries. From what he could see, they were just links of some sort and the explanation would tell him everything he needed to know.

“We call it the bond,” Bridgett smiled knowingly.

“And only the Head-Maiden has it.” Fallon held her head up in what looked like a tease directed at Bridgett. “It allows me to see through the eyes of the unicorns, within a certain distance, and feel their most intense emotion at the time. We assume the unicorns give this gift to whomever they want to lead, or at least that is the way we have always structured ourselves.” She closed her eyes and smiled again. “They are just a bit down the path with Pebble right now. Should we go get him?”

Gus tried to maintain his composure, but their laughter told him he failed.

“All right, Gus,” Fallon instructed, “turn left instead of the way we came. They will be a short ways down the path.”

Bridgett let him out the door and he took off, scampering down the path as quickly as he could make his body move. There was a slight twinge of pain from the last failed hunt in his leg that slowed him down, yet his mind was focused on finding his son.

Gus heard Pebble’s giggle coming from down the path where it curved to the right, and he ventured into the wood to shorten the journey. He planned on giving Pebble an earful for running off without asking first.

Through the trees, he could make out four unicorns watching Pebble. The dog seemed to have felt neglected and was lying on his back, writhing back in forth to pet himself, sneezing occasionally at the dust stirred up from the motion. Relief flooded him at the sight, and then an idea struck him. He quickly activated his gift to see what he could. Slowing himself to a crawl, he approached as silently as he could.

The unicorns had not yet shielded themselves and excitement coursed through him in the approach. Gus could see colors dancing through the majestic creatures, but clarity wasn’t possible at that range and his age caused even his gift to blur on occasion. He moved as quietly as he could muster, inching himself ever closer. Even without the clarity, he could tell that there were several gifts within them, but the shapes and locations were still difficult to discern. The unicorns seemed to be bathed in magic, and he would need time to distinguish one gift from the other, time he desperately desired. The unicorns all turned in his direction at once, and suddenly their secrets were clouded once again.

Gus approached quickly, trying to look as natural about it as he could. Pebble sat on his rear, a teasing look on his face as Gus approached.

“That’s was rude,” he spoke in a mock lecturing tone.

“How dare you run off without asking, boy. Come with me, now!” Gus could hardly wait to have Pebble in a safer location, as he still didn’t trust the dog. The dog was excited once again at his presence, but seemed to acknowledge that he was being ignored and didn’t press the issue. Gus turned and led Pebble back up the path, grabbing his wand to help with the door to the room.

“Thank you’s for playin’ with me’s, Happy. You’s can come say’s hi anytime you’s want.”

“Come, boy!” Gus was frustrated by the lack of consideration Pebble seemed to show. “How am I ever going to teach you to become a Wand-Maker if I can’t get you to listen to the simplest instructions?” Gus mumbled to himself as Pebble said his goodbyes and scampered after his father. Pebble showed a great deal of talent when he did listen, which filled Gus with pride. If I could just get him to act that way all the time.

Gus turned again up the path, and this time Pebble followed. He couldn’t stop giggling as they walked, but Gus didn’t mind too much; just knowing Pebble was safe was calming his nerves.

Pebble smiled playfully, looking back at the group of unicorns and the dog. “I’s like Happy. His hairs is poofy.” Admiration filled his voice. Then a serious expression dawned as he spoke again. “You’s know, you’s supposed to ask before you’s look in someone, silly.”

Gus rolled his eyes as they walked. Children!