The Curse of the Blessed

Chapter Forty-Three

We woke early in the morning, as the world around us turned grey, and birds began to sing. Breakfast was quick and meager. Then we headed to the Magician's cave.

I led us there, and I took a step in front of Bran and Lark as we faced the cave's gaping maw. I would protect them. If necessary, I would focus every attack I had on the Magician and have my deathbirds get them out of here.

"We're back!" I shouted at the opening. "We come with a proposition!"

Silence.

Far above me, my birds wheeled in the sky, ready to come to my aid if I needed them.

Death, they said. Death is coming.

I shivered as tendrils of their worry brushed against my mind.

The Magician's warm, evil laugh echoed out of the cavern. "You're back? Really?"

He stepped out of the opening. His hair shone in the early morning sunlight, a silhouette of gold against the black stone walls of the cave.

"Yes, we're back," I said.

He crossed his arms and yawned dramatically. "And your proposition?"

I forced a smile onto my face. "We want to play a game with you."

"Oh. Oh." His face brightened. "A game. I hope it's a good one. You have no idea how boring it is, hanging around all day with nothing to do but tweak the curses on the towns that have cast me out and redecorate my cavern."

I stared at him.

"So?" he prompted. "The game?"

With an effort that I hoped was not visible, I pasted the smile back onto my face. "We want you to give us our powers back. And then we'll fight you. If we win, you'll take away the curse on our town, and give Reed back to us. You'll also take the curses off all four of us."

"And if you lose?"

"We surrender to you. You're free to do what you want with us—curse us, set us free. We'll be at your mercy."

"Hmm." The Magician smiled. "Sounds very interesting. Any other little details you want to mention?"

"Uh, yes. We want a full minute of rest before the fight begins."

He nodded. "So you can get yourself pumped up with hope, and Bran can get used to having his powers again, and Lark can—I don't know—give you an inspirational speech?"

"Pretty much," I agreed. "So? Take it or leave it?"

"Oh, I'll take it," he decided. "When do we start?"

"As soon as you want to."

"Great!" He grinned and lifted a hand, preparing to snap his fingers. "In that case, three, two, one..."

Snap.

The world froze for a moment, and then-

I fell to the ground as emotions flooded back into me. It was overwhelming—a wave crashing into sand, scattering me and my thoughts until I couldn't separate them, blurring everything into colorful flashes of feeling, and happiness and... Hope.

Awareness flowed back through my limbs. I shivered happily and pulled myself to my feet.

Beside me, Bran writhed on the ground. I kneeled beside him, unable to hold back my excitement, but still worried for him.

"Bran. Bran!"

He gasped and sat up.

"Is it back?"