Chapter 4 Part 1

SHACKLES OF THE MIND

"It was Tyson," Avery said mechanically. "His scent was everywhere."

"Tyson was here?" Ultrecht asked.

Armegon, with Calista close on his heels ran forward and took Sam's body from the ranger's thick arms. He laid his adoptive son on a mat before the fire and the others gathered round. Calista knelt and placed his head in her lap. She rained tears upon his forehead. "Is he dead?" she asked.

"No," Avery answered, "But there’s no mental activity. His brain is like an empty room. I believe Tyson has trapped his mind."

"How did it happen," Ultrecht asked.

"It was done before I arrived," Avery replied. "Later we can go back and review the time stream."

"'Review the time stream'?" Nikki asked.

"A special spell that allows someone to view the events that took place in a given place and time," Ultrecht explained as Armegon and Calista cared for Sam. "It’s not a common spell, but it can be very useful in times like this."

Armegon sat back on his heels. "Avery’s right," he announced. "Sam is alive, but his mind has been captured." He placed a comforting hand on Calista's shoulder. "He can obey autonomous commands, but there is no mind to think." Armegon looked at Avery. "Is there nothing you can do?"

Avery leaned over the boy in concentration. "There is no sickness or injury," he replied. "SAM!" he yelled sharply. The action caught everyone by surprise, and everyone turned and looked at him reflexively, including Sam. "I have freed his deeper mental functions so that he can act reflexively, but not consciously."

"But a response to his name implies some mental faculties," Ultrecht objected hopefully.
"No," Avery countered. "It wasn’t the name, but the noise that invoked the reaction. I remind you that you all turned even though it was not your name."

"I told that boy not to trust Tyson," Armegon swore.

"I think that it’s possible that Tyson charmed him before your warning was made," Ultrecht said. "They did spend a lot of time together."

"We should never’ve trusted him in the first place," Armegon snapped. He was taking it badly. He had failed as a father in his opinion.

"You gave him the benefit of the doubt," Avery corrected. "To have done otherwise would have lowered yourself to his level."

Armegon almost bit Avery's head off. "Tell that to Sam!"

"He’s not dead," Ultrecht reminded him. "Tyson could’ve killed him, but he didn't."

"He wants something?" Avery suggested.

"More than likely," Ultrecht replied.

"Well I’m going to give him more than he bargained for," Armegon growled.

"Cool your temper," Ultrecht advised. "If they do have Sam's mind, then they can easily kill him. On the other hand, if what he wants isn’t too outrageous, then we can get Sam back without a lot of fuss."

"And if it is?" Avery asked.

Ultrecht sighed. "Then we will have to figure a way to break the enchantment."

"That will require getting the receptacle of his mind's imprisonment," Armegon said gravely. "I'm sure Tyson has it and we don't even know where he is."

"I’d venture to guess that he has gone back to Aspberg," Ultrecht surmised.

"Aspberg?" Nikki repeated. "That place is far away."

"Tyson has been working with the Blackheart clan," Ultrecht informed her. "They don't like us for some reason."

"Excuse me?" Calista interrupted weakly. Her tear stained cheeks glistened in the dimly lighted room. "But you say that his mind has been stolen?"

"Yes," Ultrecht confirmed gently.

"Then can his captors see through his eyes? Can they see my anger? Can they hear though his ears? Can they hear my hatred?"

"Ultrecht," Armegon advised, "she has a point. They may be eavesdropping on us right now."

"Nikki," Avery said as he lifted the limp body from the floor. "We'll put him in our room. There we can care for him and keep him under observation." He walked to the bedroom and Nikki opened the door. Calista was close behind.

Ultrecht exchanged glances with Armegon. "If they want a fight," he began.

Avery returned and caught the statement. "Aspberg has very little influence in this area," he informed them. "We’re in the Tycarian realm. The snake cult has few followers here."

"What kind of cults, if any are there?" Armegon asked.

"The most obnoxious bunch, I suppose would be the followers of the Spider," Avery said. "They put a lot of emphasis on their philosophy of patience and ruthlessness. I have even heard tale of a demon that visits them in the form of a giant spider."

"Stealth and Strike versus Patience and Ruthlessness," Armegon repeated. "Those attitudes are so counter to each other that I don't think they would be working together against us."

"I have seen stranger bedfellows," Avery stated.

"Okay," Ultrecht said as he seated himself in one of the rockers. "What’s our plan?"

"As I see it we have three choices," Armegon began. "We can try to steal Sam's mind back, we can find out what their demands are and give in, or we can try to break the enchantment from the outside."

"Without knowing how the act was done," Ultrecht warned, "that last option could be very dangerous."

"Well, then let's go and take a look at what happened," Avery said reaching for his cloak. The others dressed as well, and they left the cabin.

"Try not to worry so, dear," Nikki said to Calista as she helped the young woman undress her fallen hero. "I have known Avery for a while. He is not going to let Sam die or waste away."

"Suppose you tell me what they can do?" Calista's reply was sharp and stung. "I'm sorry," she apologized. "I’m just a little up tight."

"That is perfectly understandable," Nikki said. They finished undressing Sam and pulled a heavy blanket over his body. Nikki then took a spoon and dipped it in water. When she put it to Sam's lips, he reflexively opened his mouth. Slowly Calista and Nikki fed the mindless body.

"Oh, Nikki," Calista broke down into a fit of crying. "Just a few weeks of love to be followed by a lifetime of sorrow."

"There, there," Nikki said and placed the young woman's head on her tiny shoulder. "We will think of something."

She and Calista held each other for several long moments. Nikki felt great sympathy for the child who had at long last found love just as she had the day a storm's rampage had deposited a broken amber eyed, silver haired woodsman at her own doorstep. She herself had been an outcast, for she was too much of an elf to be accepted as anything but an elf, and yet technically not enough an elf to be accepted as one. Her own mate, Avery was her compliment. He too was a half elf, but with the exception of a few traces in his features, and perhaps his height, he appeared human.

Nikki bit her lower lip, she knew what was coming. She was about to lose Avery back to his longtime friend, Armegon. Even if only for a little while, he would be gone. She was not angry with Armegon. Even if he were not involved, Avery was not one to sit aside and let Sam suffer.

In the years they had lived together, Nikki came to know Avery well enough to know that she did not want to lose him completely. He still loved her, but that damned sense of duty that drove him would carry him away to deal with Sam's enemies. If he survived, Nikki knew that Avery would return. If he died...

Nikki excused herself and left Sam in Calista's care. She had private arrangements to make before those three boys ran off into the world to play.

She exited the cabin. The surrounding forest spoke to her. The trees sang in the wind. The long sun was coming. That one year in which the temperature rose high enough to melt the northern seas and made the forest a tropical jungle was just around the corner and the citizens of nature knew it. Nikki listened as birds sang of eggs and nests. A squirrel scampered overhead complaining about the breeze making it hard to carry nuts. Nikki noted the telltale signs of the upcoming warm season as she made her way around the side of the cabin.

Nikki arrived at her shack. After several months in the cabin, the shack, where she had first lived when she met Avery seemed frightfully small and insufficient. She should probably get Avery to enlarge it when he had time. That though snapped her mind back to the notion that Avery would soon be leaving. It also reminded herself as to why she was there.

Nikki pushed a desk aside. Papers Avery had used to chart the stars' and moons' paths through the sky fell to the floor. She gathered them and stacked them neatly back on the table. On the floor, she pried loose a board and lifted it. Beneath the board was a buried log. Nikki peeled back the bark to reveal a hidden opening to the hollow log's interior. She reached inside and drew forth a solid gold bowl in which lay several sprigs of foliage in a wet sprinkling of rainwater.

Nikki double checked the door to make certain it was secure, then she removed her clothing. It was not the right time of her cycle, she knew, but she was afraid that she would not have a month to spare before her mate departed, so she set about her druidic work. Nikki was determined to keep at least part of Avery with her.

When she was done, Nikki replaced the tools of her trade and dressed. She could already feel the effects of the spell as her body began to make the preparation for the task she had asked of it. Before she left the shack, she opened a small box that had been sitting on Avery's desk. Inside was a seed. It was the seed of a flower known as the Maternity Rose. Once planted, it would bloom exactly nine months later no matter what the weather. It was traditionally planted on a maiden's wedding night. Nikki had found the seed one evening after sharing private time with Avery. She had snipped a lock of his hair while he slept and wrapped the seed in it. Then she had placed it in the small box and put it on his desk as a paperweight. If all went well, she would plant the seed the next morning.

When Nikki returned to the cabin, the others were there. She learned that the spell that Ultrecht laughingly called, "instant replay," had confirmed their hypothesis of who the culprit was. It also revealed that the instrument of the charm had been a belt buckle. Thinking back Nikki, like the others, vaguely recalled the item. The last useful bit of information gained was the motive. Apparently Tyson thought that by holding Sam's mind hostage, he could exercise some control over their activities, or at least prevent them from interfering in his.

"That eliminated one option, at least," Ultrecht pointed out. "He’ll keep Sam's mind forever if he has to keep us out of his affairs."

"Right," Armegon agreed. "He has no intention of ever relinquishing Sam's mind."

"Then we can go after him," Avery said, "or we can try to restore Sam indirectly."

"Tyson is no fool," Ultrecht reminded. "He’ll have that crystal trapped, hidden and cantriped to be destroyed at a single word."

"Then we must figure out a way to retrieve Sam's mind artificially," Armegon concluded.

"That means research." Ultrecht sat in the rocking chair next to Armegon. "Avery," he asked of the Ranger who was stirring the fire, "did you say the Northern Archives at Tycho was poor in magic?"

"Yes," Avery replied.

"Then it is back to Allentown," Armegon said. "If we travel light we can be there in a month. If we could fly we can be there in a few days."

Nikki interrupted. "It just so happens I might be able to provide airborne transport. There is a certain young, but sharp dragon who owes me a favor. He flew in with a terrible battle wound the day before you arrived. I patched him up and sent him on his way, but he promised to repay the favor if I needed it.

"It won't take us all, to research this," Avery said. "Ultrecht and Armegon seem to be the most familiar with Allentown, and they are definitely the most educated in magic. Let them go."

Armegon smiled. Avery did not like large cities at all. "Yes," he agreed. "Avery can stay behind and take care of and guard Sam."

"I want to go!" All eyes turned to see Calista emerge from the bedroom. She had been crying again.

Armegon looked at Ultrecht who looked at Avery who shrugged. "It might be good therapy for her to get out and try to help."

"No," Nikki said adamantly. "I need her here." She stood firm looking into Calista's defiant blue eyes. "I am going to spend most of my time trying to keep Sam alive. Avery is going to be working hard at protecting us and providing for food and clothing. You need to help out here." Her voice became more gentle. "And even though there is no mind present, Sam can still feel your presence. He needs you."

Calista broke into tears again and flew into Nikki's arms. "There, there," Nikki said patting her head. "Be brave."

Plans were planned, and packs were packed. That night was spent in preparation of the two mages' departure. Nikki disappeared for several hours with Avery. When they returned, her cheeks were rosy and flushed the color of her hair. She announced that they had spoken with her friend and an agreement had been made. Brandorthamannax of Damsire Hydrastormavet and Proteumgalacia Second of Six had agreed to fly Armegon and Ultrecht to Allentown and return them three days later. Avery added that the dragon had considered it two favors since it was two trips and two riders, so it was going to cost a little extra.

Ultrecht groaned. There was no such thing as 'cost a little' when it came to dragons.

"What’s he want?"

"He said he wanted a minor item of magic," Nikki told them.

Ultrecht looked puzzled. "Can you be more specific?"

"Not really," Avery answered. "I couldn't bargain because I didn't know what you had to trade."

Armegon clapped Ultrecht on the shoulder. "We'll just have to deal personally with this business minded dragon," he laughed.

The next morning, Calista woke to find the three men gone. Nikki told her that Avery had taken them to meet the dragon. Calista was more than a little disappointed. She had never seen a dragon before, but had always wanted to. Most dragons were greedy, and reclusive, but also generally thought to be very wise and benign.

About three hours after sunrise, Avery returned laughing as he and Mirfak, who had been visiting a female friend for the last few days entered the house.

"What is so funny," Nikki asked.

"Ultrecht gave the dragon an open display of his wares," Avery told her. "He had the diamond coin of High Branch."

"He had a diamond coin?" Nikki asked unbelievably. "Where did he get it?"

"That is the best part," Avery chuckled as he flopped into his rocker. "He didn't know he had it!"