Gathering Storm (The Salvation of Tempestria Book 2) by Gary Stringer (howl and other poems .txt) 📕

“Sharing your life and love is a beautiful and precious thing,” he whispered, tenderly, “no matter what form it might take.”

Their conversation from that point on was entirely private, gentle reader. As such, it has nothing to do with you or me, so I trust you will understand if I cut the scene here.

*****

After a while, Mandalee returned and took in the vista before her. Crouching down, she had a turn stroking the rabbit.

“Look at you!” she cried. “You’re so cute, I could gobble you up!” She paused as a thought entered her head, and added, “Actually, don’t let Shyleen see you in this form, or she’ll really gobble you up.”

The rabbit hopped down off Daelen’s lap and shifted back to Catriona’s natural form. “Good point!” she laughed. “I’ll have to be careful of that one.”

“Well, speaking of Shyleen, I’ve decided to leave the philosophy to her from now on and focus on doing what we’re doing.”

“Good policy,” Daelen approved. “Now, Cat, didn’t you say you had something you wanted to show us?”

“Yes, I did,” Cat confirmed. The druidess explained that she believed she’d worked out how to counter an anti-magic field.

“You’ve sussed it?” Mandalee gasped, very proud of her friend. “This I have got to see. Dazzle us, Cat!”

“OK, practical demo first, then I’ll explain.”

The druidess stood and walked a few paces away. Then she asked Daelen to generate his most powerful anti-magic field around her, making sure it surrounded her like a bubble, not a dome that would leave her feet touching the ground.

Even Dreya had made that mistake the first time, she remembered.

The shadow warrior did as she asked, but to his amazement, after a moment’s thought, Cat was able to put on a concert overture of her magical powers.

What made this even more spectacular was Daelen’s impossible realisation, “The anti-magic field is intact. You haven’t broken through it, and yet it’s not stopping you. How is that possible?”

Cat sat down on a wooden stool that had just grown from a dead branch on the ground.

“OK, here’s the theory part. For years, it has been in my mind that anti-magic fields are fundamentally flawed as a concept. ‘Why?’ I hear you ask. Well, tell me this: how do you power an anti-magic field?”

Mandalee knew the answer Catriona was looking for – she’d been to this lecture before. “With magic,” she declared.

“Precisely – an anti-magic field is itself a form of magical energy, and in theory, any form of energy is useable, if you know how. So, all one has to do is adjust one’s magic and adapt it to feed off the anti-magic field itself. The field detects magic being used, so it strengthens, which only provides more energy for me to tap into.”

Mandalee applauded, while Cat stood and took a theatrical bow.

Daelen was wide-eyed, as he breathed, “All my years and I have never thought of that.” Sweeping her up into a proud hug, he told her, “The way you create new magic by connecting half a dozen different ideas is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. You’re a genius!”

When Daelen set her gently back down, a blushing Catriona explained, “Well, an anti-magic field is a standard defence against wizards, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we faced one in the battles to come. It’s best to be prepared.”

“If they try it on you,” Mandalee put in, “they’re really in for a shock, and of course, you can use your druid magic to bind a wizard’s hands, which will effectively neutralise them, but what about clerics? Suppose I went rogue and attacked you?”

“Well, you’re a bit different because you have a unique connection with Shyleen. As for regular clerics, bring them on,” she declared, confidently. “I’ll give my Faithless spell a workout.”

Mandalee put her hands on her hips in mock anger and huffed, “You always have to have an answer for everything, don’t you?”

With a deadly serious look, her friend replied, “If I want to survive, yes I do.”

Mandalee hugged her friend and told her, “Then don’t you dare stop, cause I’m not going to lose you.”

A concerned Catriona held her friend and asked, “Hey, what’s this about, Mandalee? Who said anything about losing me?”

Pulling out of the embrace, the assassin replied, “It’s nothing. Just after our conversation with Daelen, I’m beginning to realise how dangerous this quest of ours is. We’ve all been acting like it isn’t – especially since coming to this world, but it is serious. It’s deadly serious. I’m not stupid; I know I can be reckless at times, but I know when it’s time to be scared and now is definitely the right time.”

“You’re right,” Catriona agreed, matching her tone, “I’m scared, too and,” she dropped her voice to a whisper, “so is Daelen, though I don’t expect him to admit it in so many words.”

Daelen, who had been keeping a respectful distance, spoke up then.

“We are only part of the puzzle, Mandalee. Things are developing back on your world, and Michael is bringing others who will stand with us when the time is right. That moment is coming soon, but we still have some time, yet.”

“In that case,” Mandalee declared, composing herself once more, “we’d better not waste it.”

*****

“So, are you still up for more training?” Daelen wondered.

Cat was pleased to have her opinion asked and decided to reinforce that behaviour with another hug.

Before she could speak, however, Mandalee asked, “Do I get a vote?”

“Of course,” he replied, “I was throwing that question out to both of you.”

“Yeah, Mandalee,” Cat assured her, walking over to her friend and taking both her hands in hers, looking her straight in the eye. “When I was fighting for my right to be treated as an equal, I was fighting for you, too, you know? Sorry if I haven’t been making that clear.”

“Right then, I declare that the rest of today is officially Mandalee’s Day,” Daelen announced. “That means we’ll do whatever you want to do. It’s your choice.”

Cat seconded the motion.

“OK,” Mandalee