The Archmage: Chapter Twenty-Six (Patreon)

I drew the spell for the memory packet creation on the sheet of paper, followed by the spell that would let it slip into the dreams of a person the moment that the portal opened, then passed it over to Tara. She studied it with a critical, curious eye, then slowly nodded. 

“Alright,” she said. “Interfacing the sympathetic link with that will be an interesting challenge, but even if I have to add half again as much spellwork in order to get it operational…” 

She traced out the space, then held it up and compared it to the metal plate that Osheen and I had brought. 

It was close, very close.

But the spell fit. 

As long as Tara didn’t need to go completely, unreasonably overboard, we’d be able to get it to fit. The relays would work. 

When she put the plate down on the table, I felt like there should have been cheering, applause, and tears of joy. 

But instead, all of us were completely silent as we sat there, staring at the plate. 

“It’s really going to happen,” Osheen said, a hint of disbelief in his voice. He shook his head and let out a long, slow, measured breath. 

“It’s going to happen,” I agreed. 

It was. 

Finally, after more than a year’s worth of plans, setbacks layered on setbacks, and expanding my magical capabilities to a level I’d never even hoped to accomplish, it was in my grasp. 

It wasn’t ready or perfect, of course. There was still a lot of work to do, and it was the hard work, now. 

But the development of the spell was over, at least for me.

“What now?” Osheen asked. “Other than you linking the sympathetic spells in, Tara.” 

I held up the orb of power that the hag had traded with me.

“I need to set up a ritual that will let me convert my faerie aura into the same as this faerie aura,” I said. “Just a variant of the stained glass spells, it shouldn’t take too long at all. Then I’ll need to get the metal shaping spell. I’m going to use the one that Lynn and Sarai’s uncle used to imprint the pattern I showed them onto the sword. That should make it a pretty simple matter of slip in, cast the enchantment onto the box to engrave it from the inside, then slip out.” 

I glanced at him. 

“I think you’d be a great lookout, if you’re okay with that. Maybe I can throw together a veiling artifact for you, Bridgette, and Oracle, and you can keep watch over the towers while I head in?” 

“There is still one big issue to be resolved,” Tara said. “Well, two. The first is your personal faerie problem, Evan.” 

“We’ve made good progress on that,” I said. “We should be getting the first spell up this weekend, in fact.” 

“The second is power,” Tara said. “That’s a major concern. This is a spell on the level of which I’ve never seen cast before. Even with each of the relays able to reach their completed status pretty quickly…” 

She shook her head. 

“We’ve still got to power the central spell here. And that’s going to take a ton of work. Any news on aura generators?” 

I shook my head and let out a groan. 

“No, I’ve got so much to research that it’s absolutely absurd. I haven’t even really looked into the generators. After I get the work done with Obereon, I should have more time to practice, so I’ll look into them. Do you have any ideas?” 

“No,” Tara said. “But I’ve looked into them a few times. All I know is that they’re capable of producing aura, irrespective of the amount of ambient aura. Seems like nonsense, but it’s apparently the key to how they work.” 

She made a face. 

“That and they have a really annoying set of anti-prying spells built in that trash the whole enchantment if you try to look inside. Even with mage sight, and I don’t know how they did that!” 

“Wait, what?” I asked, and Tara nodded. 

“It’s a pain,” she complained. “But I was hoping that since your mage sight isn’t mortal magic, it could slip by, or that you’d be able to get something out of the scrambled mess that I couldn’t, since enchanting isn’t my speciality.” 

I rubbed my eyes slightly. That was going to be annoying, and I was starting to reconsider her idea of just enchanting a bunch of rocks to act as capacitors that could fuel the spell, then scattering them around. 

But that would double the amount of secret trips out that we had to make, and in turn, doubled the amount of effort we’d need to expend on hiding our trail. It wasn’t the worst thing in the world if someone discovered the charging stones. 

I could probably just say I was using them to cut down on charging time, but if they decided to look deeper before they confronted me, they’d find out. 

“Alright,” I said, after a bit of silence. “There’s nothing to be done for the power problem, not right now at least. I think the best thing I can do right now is get to work on the other tools we’re going to use.” 

“I agree,” Tara said. “I’ll work on this. You build your staves, and get Oberon.” 

“Oh, speaking of, I need to actually talk to Draven about that.” 

Oracle sent me a mental image of him flying across the giant boughs of the tree that was the Silver Queen’s castle, and landing in front of another, slightly larger bird, then squawking at him. They squealed back and forth for a bit.

I felt… Incredibly dumb. Last year, to get Draven’s attention, I’d made a complex set up with ritualistically scrying him, and then yanking at his mind to get his attention. 

But I guessed this worked too. I didn’t think it would be great to actually communicate complex messages, and it only worked if your familiars were in a similar place within the other realm, but it would be fine to get his attention, at least. 

It only took a few hours for Draven to arrive, and I explained the predicament. 

“My faerie magic is growing stronger, and consuming the threads of human magic that are in the aura alongside it,” I said. “I’m slightly concerned it may jump the split over to my human aura, and–” 

“It could mean all of your work in discovering a new arch-star was for nothing,” Draven said, sighing. “Yes, I can see the problem. Why are you calling me? The spell is still in the bottle. Go abduct someone off the streets and use them.” 

I shook my head. 

“Not what I need. I’m planning to summon Oberon.” 

That got his attention. 

“What?” he asked. 

“I’m summoning Oberon,” I said. “I’m already working on his gift, as well as the tool to pay for his services.” 

Draven’s eyes glowed for a second, shimmering like pools of blood, then he nodded. 

“I see, yes, he would be the perfect choice. Fine. I’ll help. I want an audience with him, however. I’ll prepare my own gifts and trades. When will you be ready?” 

“Soon,” Osheen said. “We’re doing a test run of the gift now, and if things go well, then we’ll start on the other gift and the trade bribe right away.” 

“Understood,” Draven said. “Who else is helping with the summoning? Seven would be a good number for it.” 

“Well, there’s you, me, Osheen, Tara, and Seth,” I said. “Do Bridgette and Oracle count? They’ll be helping.” 

“Well, Bridgette’s not a budding ritualist,” Osheen said. 

“Then Oracle will, and not Bridgette,” Draven said. “I’ll acquire the last one. They’ll be a discreet mercenary, don’t worry.” 

I glanced at Tara and she shrugged, then I looked at Osheen. 

“Liam?” he suggested, and I smacked my forehead. 

“A necromancer would be perfect,” I said. 

“That’s our circle, then,” Draven said. “Now, don’t contact me for a while. I had already spent quite a bit to prepare for my meeting with Medb, and I need to get things prepared for Oberon.” 

With that, he spun on his heel and flowed into the shadows. 

“At least this time he didn’t leave behind a set of eyes,” Osheen said. I glanced at him. 

“What?” 

“Nothing, he just did that earlier, when you were captured, and it was annoying and creepy.”

“Huh,” I said, then shook my head before turning to Osheen. “I did think of one neat trick, however. It should give us a bit of spare time.” 

“Oh?” Osheen asked. 

A few hours later, Awel Meddal appeared in a summoning circle. 

“Done already, Evan?” she asked, sounding curious, and I shook my head. 

“Done with designing,” I said. “And willing to pitch you an opportunity. These weapons will be used to help Mellt make a breakthrough from a Lady of Lightning to a Lady of Storms.” 

She inclined her head, and I nodded. 

“I have the design, as I said. But instead of just implementing it here and now, and then seeing what happens, why not allow Mellt to help me create and fuel the enchantment? It would help me get it built and charged faster, and could allow her the insight needed, since instead of just using a weapon, she’ll also be helping create it. She’ll get to see how I’ve interwoven them. It’s a win for both of us.” 

“You know,” Awel said, a slight smile slanting at her lips, “in my very long life, I’ve found it rare to ever find such a thing as a ‘win’ for both parties. Usually there’s a trick involved. But that’s why I like you, Evan. You seem to ceaselessly create situations where everyone is better off, rather than simply stealing strength. I know you do this for your own end, but it’s still remarkable.” 

“Uh,” I said, blushing slightly at the praise. “That’s kind of you to say.” 

“Of course,” she said, then bowed her head. “Mellt, please come here.” 

There was a flash, and Mellt appeared in the circle. 

“Hihi!” she said. “Howareyoutwo?” 

“Good, and yourself?” Osheen asked. 

“I’m okay!” Mellt said, making a visible effort to slow her speech again. “What is it, my Queen?” 

“Evan has asked for your power and knowledge to assist in the completion of the enchanting of your weapons,” Awel said. “In exchange for your help, you’d be clearly able to see the designs throughout the whole process. As an enchanter, this might help you broaden your song.” 

“Oh!” Mellt said. “Dealdealdeal!” 

She stuck her hand out so quickly that it slammed into the ward barrier. 

“Ow!” she said, before promptly trying to do it again. This time, I stuck my hand in, and we shook. 

The magic seeped into her, and out of me, but at the same moment, I felt the magic seep out of her and into me. I shivered, disturbed by the fact that the fae in me had enough power to sense that.