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MISTRESS OF MAGIC
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"Magic needs faith. With the passing of Merlin, the practice of science grew on Earth. In science, everything must be proven, and so magic was all but forgotten.
"During Earth's magical time, there Was a portal between Earth and Grenair. Anyone with magical powers could pass freely between the two worlds. Beings such as ogres and fairies came and went through the portal, and the myths of those creatures persist on your world even today.
"But as the magic on Earth faded, the portal between our worlds closed. I am considered the most powerful wizard on Grenair, but even I cannot pass through the void between Earth and Grenair. Merlin, who was still around for a while after the portal closed, was the only wizard with the power to travel between worlds after the portal closed. How great were his powers!
"Before his passing, he bequeathed his powers to his direct descendants through the medium of his wand. You, Fair Desiree, being his direct descendant, and in possession of his wand, have the power of Merlin."
She interrupted him. "But how can you know that I am Merlin's descendant?"
"I can't travel between worlds," he said, "but I have the power to observe events on Earth, and with some difficulty, to project my thoughts there. My ancestors before me also observed Earth and kept records of Merlin's descendants."
"How long have you been watching me?" She asked.
"Since your birth," he said. He chuckled, and added quickly, "You needn't be concerned about me eavesdropping or peeking into your intimate moments. I only check occasionally to keep track of your whereabouts, and some of your public activities. For your information, I have long been aware that your shows are merely illusions, and not real magic.
"But the wand you hold in your hand gives you true magic. You have the power of Merlin himself."
Desiree nodded. "I'll accept all you've told me. But what can I do to help?"
"As I mentioned, the portal between Earth and Grenair has closed. But another portal has opened--a portal between Grenair and a world called Volna. Grenair and Volna are not in harmony with each other, as were Grenair and Earth.
"Because the two worlds are not in harmony, they will destroy each other if the portal remains open.. The buildup of stress against the portal is increasing, and eventually the portal will collapse, allowing the two worlds to rush in on each other. Neither Grenair or Volna will survive.
The magic of both Grenair and Volna are useless against it. Already there are strong earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in the vicinity of the portal, and the destruction is spreading rapidly. A complete collapse is only hours away."
"But if your magic has not worked, how do you expect me to succeed. I've never performed real magic in my life."
"You hold the wand of Merlin in your hand, which will respond to no command but yours. The magic in that wand holds the only power strong enough to close the portal."
Desiree held the wand up and looked at it. "Do I simply command it to close the portal?"
"There are limits to magic, even Merlin's. You must be near enough to see the portal before you can work your magic. A wizard can work trivial spells from afar, but for a spell requiring great power, the wizard--even Merlin--must be as near to the object of the spell as possible.
"We cannot waste more time. The portal is three Earth hours away if we fly."
"Fly? You have air travel?"
"Not the mechanical things you have in your world. We will go in a chariot drawn by winged horses."
"Can't we use the wand? That would get us there instantly."
"To do that we would need to pinpoint a location. We can't pinpoint because the landscape there is constantly changing, and we could be deposited inside a volcano or a burning forest."
As they approached the portal, Desiree could see the destruction ahead. There were fissures in the ground and a number of craters were belching smoke and fire. She could make out the ruins of a castle. The sky was filled with smoke and dust and rocks sporadically shot into the air. The horses balked at flying into the chaos.
"It has grown much worse since my last visit," said Arsyn. "We'd best alight and travel on foot from here on. We should get near enough to see the portal within a half hour."
They left the horses in a fairly secure area near a lakeshore and set out. As they trudged toward the portal the ground tremors grew stronger and more frequent. Desiree's eyes smarted from the smoke and the smell of sulfur filled her nostrils. An almost deafening roar grew louder as they neared.
Arsyn grabbed her arm. "There," he shouted. Her eyes followed his pointing finger. Through the smoke and haze, she could see an irregular shaped orb in the sky. It was like looking into the blackness of a cave entrance. It was a seething, roiling blackness, like boiling tar. Even as she stared at it, the orb grew larger.
"The wand," shouted Arsyn, "use it. Hurry!"
She held the wand up, and as she started speak, she saw a hail of rocks and pebbles falling around them. As she instinctively threw her arms up, she felt a sharp blow on her forehead. She fell to the ground and felt a warm wetness oozing down the side of her face. She struggled to get up, but when she raised her head a wave of dizziness and nausea overcame her and she passed out.
She opened her eyes to see a shadowy, blurred image above her. She heard Arsyn's voice.
"A nasty cut on your forehead, but It doesn't look serious." She heard cloth tearing as he ripped his robe to make a bandage.
"There," he said. "The bleeding is stopped. Can you see well enough to use the wand?"
She could see Arsyn's face coming into focus now. "I'm OK. My head hurts, but I can see well enough."
He helped her to her feet. She faced the portal, and as she did so she realized that she no longer held the wand. "The wand," she said, "it's gone."
"You must have dropped when you were hit. It can't have gone far."
They started searching, and she spotted it resting on the brink of a fissure. It was about eight feet away, on the opposite side of the crack. The ground trembled again, and the teetering wand began to slide into the fissure.
"Wand of Merlin, come to me. I so command."
The wand was in her hand instantly. She wrapped her fingers around it tightly.
"Wand of Merlin, close the portal between Grenair and Volna. I so command."
At first nothing happened. Then the black orb slowly began to disappear. The chaotic activity gradually diminished until there was an unearthly quiet over the devastated landscape.
Arsyn spoke, almost in a whisper. "Fair Desiree, our world is out of danger now, thanks to you. We owe you a debt that can never be repaid. The Grand Alliance of Kings and Queens will proclaim a worldwide festival in your honor, but at a time convenient for you to attend.
"I know that you are exhausted now and wish to return to your world, but I hope that you will accept our pitiful expression of gratitude and promise to return."
Desiree took a deep breath and exhaled. "Yes," she said, "I'm exhausted, and I must get back to Earth as soon as possible--hopefully before I am missed. But I promise to keep in contact and to let you know when I can be available for the festival."
Her watch told her that it was 6:30. She left Earth at midnight, so she had been gone over six hours. She was usually up at seven, and Sheila would be calling her for breakfast soon.
She bade Arsyn goodbye and commanded the wand to return her to her room.
Back in the comfort of her room, she became acutely aware of the pain in her forehead. She held up the wand. "Wand of Merlin, heal the wound in my forehead. I so command." The pain abruptly ceased.
Moments later, there was a knock on the door. "Are you up, Sis? Breakfast is almost ready."
"I'm up. I'll be down in a few minutes."
Sheila pushed open the door. "Shake a leg...omigosh! You're filthy. And what's that cloth around your head?
"It's...it's just a little something I'm thinking of working into my act."
Sheila rolled her eyes. "Take my advice and leave it out. You look crummy. Get under a hot shower and clean up. I'll warm up your pancakes and sausages in the oven when you come down.
Suddenly, Desiree realized that she was famished. "I'll take your advice, Sis. Don't know what I'd do without you."
Sheila laughed. "Stow it, will ya."
*End*
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