Magistaire Chronicles: Shadows of the Past

Chapter 29

Elies sat and watched the clouds swim beneath him, the fluttering of Rune's wings harmonizing with the howling wind. The city lights faded behind them, leaving nothing but the night-filled void ahead.

He leaned forward, peering into it before Zanius flicked his ear. He winced and glared at the man who crept to his side, his now red eyes glowing dimly. "Don't stare into a void of any sort," he said.

Elies looked him up and down. The wizard wasn't even looking at him, and instead, straight ahead. "...noted," the young man said slowly. "But you should take your own advice."

"Nay." Zanius shook his head. "There are only three kinds of people who stare into the endless abyss," he began. "The mad, the malevolent, and those ready to face what stares back."

"And which are you?" Elies asked.

The wizard chuckled. "I'll let you decide."

"He's mad."

Elies and Zanius turned to Hazelmere, who sat near the Unicorn's tail. A frown was plastered on her face, and it had been since they'd escaped. "Hazelmere," he said under his breath. He was afraid to speak to her when she sulked around—such a thing was unnatural, alarming even.

"He's mad because he's ready to face what stares back. What he doesn't understand is that some things are best left alone."

Elies eyed Zanius, who shrugged and turned away from her. The wizard patted his shoulder and climbed up Rune's neck and onto his head. "Heed what I said, lad."

The young man stared after Zanius, then back to Hazelmere, who tightened her lips and looked away from him. Tell me what's wrong, already, he thought. With a sigh, he plopped onto his back and shut his eyes, wishing to lie there in silence for hours, to forget about what transpired only hours ago.

He hummed several melodies to himself and allowed the wind to run its gales through his hair. Zanius' bickering with Rune only hindered his escape from reality, however. The wizard cursed and hurled insults well into the night.

"You can and will, you fat piece of sugar!" Zanius barked while the Unicorn whinnied and whimpered.

Elies snapped open his eyes and watched Rune's wings flutter slowly. He skittered to the familiar's edge and watched the ground creep closer. Clouds slapped his face, spraying him with water and ice while the wind pricked his skin.

"To the Void with it!" Zanius declared. "Rune fell asleep."

The Unicorn's trilling laced the wind, bubbles streaming from its nostrils as it slumped its head. Its wings drooped, and it dove nose-first, tearing a hole in the cloud sea below. Darkness enveloped Elies, followed by clouds that Rune's horn ripped in half. Rain pelted his robes and drenched the familiar's fur, making his hands slip when he grabbed it by the fistful.

Fur slid between Elies' fingers, and he tumbled down Rune's back and into the air, his hands brushing against its tail when he reached for it.

Zephyriere!

Hazelmere stretched out her hand, the wind twisting around Elies, holding him in place. His heart drummed when she slowly reeled her hand back, her face twisting with strain. The wind yanked the young man onto Rune's tail before the half-elf's arm fell to her side. She stretched out her other hand, squeezing Elies' and pulling him beside her. "You're okay," she said softly.

Elies smiled at her and then looked up at Zanius, who tugged at one of Rune's ears. He buried his head inside and shouted obscenities, throwing up his hands when the familiar didn't budge. "For the love of—" He threw up his hands and smiled at Elies and Hazelmere. "Cover your ears if you'd please, my dears."