The Seance and the Spell

The aftereffects of the spell were minimal, and by the time Reagan and Elisa reached the other end of the passageway, the healing salve had alleviated most of the rash from the invisibility spell, though Reagan had been unable to check for any burns or bruises on himself or Elisa.

As he waited by the entrance, pressing his ear against the stone plate to listen for any sounds of townspeople milling about nearby, he hoped they would make it out of Omstadt quickly. If anyone tries to stop us…

He pushed the thought out of his head.

Reagan waited until Elisa had untucked her dress from her pantalettes to push open the stone tablet. He peeked out, saw nobody in the vicinity, and led the way out. To his relief, the fountain square was deserted as the early rays of dawn peeked over the horizon.

They exited as quietly as they could, then replaced the cover and headed to the merchant’s quarters.

The apothecarist opened his doors to Reagan and Elisa waiting outside. The pair greeted the old man quickly, then gathered the necessary herbs for the spell, as well as two more vials of healing salve and five of alcohol. At the general store next door, they bought four tent pegs.

As soon as the supplies had been secured, Reagan and Elisa rushed out of the building. Reagan glanced up at the sun, noting that dawn was edging into midmorning. I don’t know how many hours we have left… he thought. Panic propelled him through Omstadt faster.

Townspeople turned to watch the two as they ran through one street after another with Elisa in the lead, but Reagan paid them no mind. He only had one thought in his mind.

Elisa led them to the south exit of Omstadt, but she hesitated at the barrier, and Reagan did, too.

This’ll be my first time venturing into the woods without Liam… he thought. The pain that came with that thought gave way to fear as he surveyed the shadows for any hint of movement. Everything looked sinister from his distance. If there’s even a chance that this will work… I can’t risk dying yet.

“Stay close to me,” he said, and drew his sword before walking through the shimmering spell. Elisa took hold of his holster again, and together the pair ventured past the edge of the woods.

Every sound set Reagan on edge, but he encountered only a Lapoursin. With Elisa watching and giving commands from a safe distance, they made quick work of the monster. Reagan left it behind without stopping to strip the claws or the hide.

To his relief, he found a suitable clearing within a short walk of Omstadt, and he and Elisa hurried to set the pegs in place along the perimeter. “I don’t want to take any chances if we bring Liam back,” Reagan said as he hammered the last peg into the ground with the hilt of his sword. I’m not going to let him get hurt ever again.

Reagan finished the last of the dandelion and nettle leaf tinctures in between casting the four barrier spells. Coupled with the other spells he’d cast and the sleepless night he’d spent, the tinctures failed to chase away the cold settling in beneath his skin, but it kept him from shivering.

Please, he begged silently. I need enough magic for one last spell. After that, I don’t care if I can never use magic again.

With slow, sluggish movements, he cleared the fallen pine needles away from the center of the clearing. Elisa ground the herbs together and mixed them into a paste, and Reagan sketched the diagram out with a stick.

The preparation took longer than Reagan would have hoped, and he squinted up at the mid-afternoon sun as he finished outlining the diagram with the mixture Elisa had prepared. He carefully stepped out of the circle and surveyed his work, ensuring that every line, every symbol, had been filled in, and no gap had escaped his notice.

“We’ll have only one chance at this,” he mumbled. He hadn’t realized he’d spoken aloud until Elisa nodded and came over. Unless I can buy us some time…

“Maybe you should rest before trying the spell?” she said. “You look awful.”

Reagan shook his head. “I’m not taking any chances. What if we only have until sundown the same day? Or eighteen hours instead of twenty-four? It might be too late already.” He dropped his head, crushed by the weight of his fear. Unable to look up at Elisa, Reagan dug the amulet out of his pocket and said, “Please, bring him forward.” He pulled out the book and studied the spell to keep his mind off the possibility of failing.

Elisa took the amulet from Reagan and held it tight in both her hands. The black ring on her right middle finger glinted in the sun. She closed her eyes, brought her hands and the amulet closer to her face, and stood still for a long moment, speaking silently into her hands.

Before her, Liam materialized. He was faint, at first, then his image grew sharper, more distinct, and within seconds, he was standing in the clearing.

He looked around, and in the snappy movements of his head, Reagan saw a panicked expression. It wasn’t until Liam turned around and spotted Reagan that he relaxed, though worry still creased his brows. Looking between Reagan and Elisa, he asked, “What happened? Where’s Dietfried?” He turned to Reagan again, examining him up and down for any signs of injury. “How did we get here?”

Reagan turned before Liam could see the bloodstained tear in his coat where Dietfried’s sword had cut him. “Dietfried’s gone,” he said, looking down at Liam’s feet. “Come here.”

Liam came closer, but his frown deepened and he repeated, “How did we get here? And when did you find that?” He pointed to the book Reagan had dropped. “What happened?”

Reagan ignored him, instead closing his eyes and touching two fingers to his wrist as he started the tether spell he hadn’t used in a decade. A silver thread materialized between his fingers, and he pulled it toward Liam, but the second he let go, the thread fell and dissipated.

“What are you doing?” Liam asked.

Reagan swayed, dizzy from exhaustion and disappointment. This is it. There won’t be another chance. “It doesn’t matter,” he said, finally addressing Liam’s questions. “We’ll tell you later, but for now you have to stand in that circle so I can-”

“You can’t perform another spell like this,” Liam interrupted. “You’re about to collapse. I’ll keep watch while you rest.”

He started toward the edge of the clearing, but Reagan yelled, “There’s no time for that! You disappeared. Dietfried cut the tether, and if I don’t perform the resurrection spell now, you’ll be gone for good.” His voice cracked. “Please, Liam. I can’t lose you again.”

Liam stopped. “I disappeared?” He looked at Reagan, then turned to Elisa for confirmation.

“You don’t remember?” she asked.

He glanced at the ring on her finger and shook his head. “No. I went into the archives, and then I was here, now.” Facing Reagan, he said, “Where do I need to stand?”

“In the center,” he said. “Over that rune. Make sure both your feet are touching it.”

Liam nodded, but he didn’t move. He waited for Reagan to look at him before saying, with a sad smile, “If something goes wrong, stop the spell, and if I disappear, I’m okay with it. Don’t risk your life for me. Mom and Dad will welcome you home no matter what.”

Turning to Elisa, he said, “If I’m not there, take care of him for me, will you? You know him well enough by now to know he’ll throw himself into a nest of Schialtags if this doesn’t work.” He looked back at Reagan one final time to say, softly, “I don’t want that.”

Then Liam walked to the center of the circle. He offered a comforting smile to both Elisa and Reagan as he positioned both his feet on the center of the rune Reagan had indicated.

Reagan’s vision swam, and he could barely keep himself upright. Elisa came to stand behind him, supporting him and holding the spell book open.

He read the spell one last time, then closed his eyes and concentrated. All the warmth left in his body gathered in his hands, and as he started the spell, a silver light consumed the clearing.

As soon as the last syllable was out of his mouth, and the silver light dimmed, Reagan dropped to the ground, cold, numb, and barely conscious.

Before he passed out, he thought he heard Liam speak, but couldn’t make out what he’d said.