Cast A Spell (Mages and Mates #4)

16. Thal

Thal

T he wind was a relentless companion, pushing us onward as we rode toward Jalen's camp. The terrain beneath my hooves was sick with tainted magic. I couldn’t feel any life from the soil.

Beneath a sky smeared with the colors of twilight's last stand, I felt the urgency pressing against my chest—a silent drumbeat insisting on haste. The image of Lysandor scared in the hostile encampment hardened my resolve. Like Otto, I’d do everything to save our brothers.

I knew where such thinking could lead, but we couldn’t dwell on negative outcomes. We remained the same beings at our core, except now, we refused to enter the fight with our hands tied and our hooves bound together. This was war and you either fought to win, or you went home. Otto and I weren’t leaving without our brothers.

“Keep close,” Percy called out over the howling wind.

The guardians were comforting in their unyielding nature. A steadfast mountain whose presence was always there to lend strength.

Watching Percy take command, I was reminded of Otto. Neither asked to be in charge but both assumed the role because they were the most qualified. They were thoughtful beings who sought peaceful solutions but didn’t shrink from a fight—natural protectors who did not let injustice go unpunished.

We’d been riding for almost an hour and hadn’t seen anyone from Jalen’s herd since Otto put the quartet guarding the village to sleep. For their sake, those four had better be dreaming about our return. Only a mage could undo the magic and said mage would need to know what spell Otto had used or they’d risk killing the sleeping unicorns.

“Stop worrying about them,” Otto said. “They’ll be fine until we come back. We need to stay focused on saving Lysandor and Owen.”

He was right, but I had nothing to do other than carry Otto. “Do you want to go over the plan again?”

“We’ve been over it four times,” Otto said. “But I get your point. I’m sorry if I snapped at you. This isn’t an excuse, but I did all I could to keep them safe until we get back. If they die, that will be unfortunate, but I’m prioritizing Owen and Lysandor’s lives over theirs.”

Otto’s tough talk was his way of dealing with the deaths he caused trying to save our brothers. Lethal force was a last resort for Otto, and he’d used it in a failed effort. To him, he’d killed needlessly. “I’d have done the same as you, Otto. You’re allowed to care more about your family than the beings that attacked us.”

A gust of wind swept around us before he could respond. It kicked up dusty earth in its wake and sent it swirling around us. I’d never felt a place as devoid of life as this. Cut off from earth magic, it was easy to understand why Jalen and his herd went mad.

“The camp is over the next hill,” Gio said. “Remember to stay in character until we free your brothers.”

Staying in character meant keeping silent. “Jalen” would speak for the group, but if one of us needed to speak, it would be Pelagios, not me. That suited me fine. I was too angry, and might give us away. “Understood.”

Dusk had settled into the shallow bowl Jalen’s unicorns used to set up camp. The silhouettes of tents pitched at odd angles lacked the crisp precision I expected from an organized party of unicorns. Percy had said Jalen’s control was absolute, but I didn’t imagine it extended to the basic needs of his unicorns.

We rode down the hill and figures moved around the camp in front of the flickering light from a central bonfire. They moved without the purpose typically found in an encampment.

Searching the area for Lysandor and Owen, I was disappointed when I didn’t find them. It was foolish to expect they’d be sitting in the open.

“There,” Otto said. He pushed the image of a tent in the center of the camp.

Two unicorns stood guard in front of a small tent. Unlike the others, these two appeared focused on their task. “Figures they’re being held in the middle of the enemy camp.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Otto said. “Once they’re free, I’ll deal with anyone in our way.”

I’d seen his magic decimate Jalen’s unicorns when they ambushed us. This time he was ready for a fight. We also had Percy with us, and once we freed Owen, the three of them should be able to deal with any unicorns who tried to stop us.

We approached the camp's boundary, and Percy had his attention fixed on Jalen. The way his jaw muscles ticked, it seemed he was working harder to keep our captive under control. “Is everything okay with Percy?”

“Jalen’s fighting his control,” Otto said. “The farther we venture into the corrupted land, the more Percy has to fight whatever has control of Jalen.”

A moment of fear struck me at the thought Jalen might break Percy’s control before we freed our brothers. Almost as soon as it hit, Otto sent soothing energy across our bond. “How are you so calm?”

“I’ve checked with Percy, and he won’t lose control,” Otto said. “But once we free the boys, we’ll need to get out of here in a hurry. Percy’s hold on Jalen won’t survive once we move too far away.”

The thought of racing back to the village with Jalen and his herd chasing after us left me uneasy. We needed to get Owen and Lysandor away from Jalen, but the risks were high. Would they be able to run once they were free? Their bond might give them an energy boost, but what if it wasn't enough? “Why don’t we neutralize them before we leave?”

“They’re not really our enemy,” Otto said. “What corrupted them is to blame. Killing them won’tsolvethe problem.”

My careless remark poked at his wounded conscience. I couldn’t lie and pretend he misinterpreted me, but I could admit I was wrong. “You’re right, but can’t you render them unconscious like you did with the guards?”

“We’ll try, but this camp is a foul place,” he said. “Whatever is at work interferes with spells. I can still use magic to create fire, blasts of energy, and other attacks, but I can feel the bindings of spells being dissolved. It’s why Percy is having so much trouble keeping Jalen under control. Under ordinary conditions, his spell would continue to work until he removed it. Now, he must hold it together by force of will.”

Our easy rescue mission was going to be a lot harder than any of us anticipated. Unexpectedly, Otto let me see his thoughts. He wanted my insight on how to incapacitate our enemy without killing any more of them. Although he initially resisted our bond, he’d embraced it now and was using our connection to its fullest.

I let him see all the vulnerabilities unicorns had, which weren’t many. Most magic didn’t work on us unless it was tailored to us specifically. Percy’s spell worked because he had Gio’s insight. Otto was trying to do the same.

Otto searched my memories and it felt odd for another being to be so entwined with my thoughts. The fact it was Otto and he’d granted me the same access made the sensation more intimate than I expected. I stopped dwelling on what he was doing when a vivid image of a childhood experience from when I was ten pushed its way to the front of my thoughts. “You think that’ll work?” I asked.

“Whatever’s doing this, it can’t think rationally like we do. It’s more elemental, and it can’t enact affirmative countermeasures. The spell might dissolve quickly, but once it's cast, it’ll do what we need.”

A wave of gratitude flooded into my body. I’d given Otto a way to protect us that didn’t offend his morals. His emotions boosted my optimism. This crazy plan of Percy and Gio’s might work after all.

Gio led us deeper into the camp, and the members of Jalen’s herd eyed us with dispassionate expressions. They kept their attention on Jalen but didn’t change what they were doing. I waited for him to address his herd, but Percy didn’t let him speak.

My pulse pounded in my ears. We’d ridden right into the heart of the enemy’s encampment depending on the ancient guardian to control Jalen. If his hold failed or he faltered, we’d have more to worry about than saving our brothers.

I followed Gio until we stopped in front of the tent Otto had identified. Jalen gestured toward Percy and Otto before shifting into human form.

“You two,” Jalen said in stilted words. “Dismount, and don’t try to escape.”

“When they’re on the ground, don’t shift,” Gio said. “Percy and Otto will be out quickly.”

We’d been over the plans enough times that I knew what was expected of me, but I swallowed my annoyance. Speaking to him gave me something to do other than think of what could go wrong. “What about the guards?”

“Percy will take care of them once they’re inside.”

Assuming they went into the tent.

Percy and Otto did as ordered, and I noticed their hands appeared to be bound. Since they hadn’t been tied when we left the village, I assumed it was an illusion. I could’ve asked Otto, but it didn’t matter, and I didn’t want to disturb his concentration.

I scanned the camp to see if we’d been discovered. The other unicorns acted like we weren’t there. Even the two guards in front of the tent didn’t react to us.

“Put them inside with the others,” Jalen spoke slowly and twice appeared to try to turn around.

“We must hurry,” Percy said. “My control over him wanes with every second.”

The guards moved without hesitation and escorted Percy and Otto into the tent. Jalen struggled, but eventually went inside. I kept waiting for someone to let out a shout or ride up with weapons at the ready. If any being had been watching me, my nervous behavior would have given us away.

“What now?” I asked Gio.

“Patience, youngling.” Gio’s tone was kind and reassuring. “They’ll be out in a moment. Then the fun begins.”

He sounded upbeat, almost thrilled at what was to come. I supposed after twelve-hundred years of being hidden, the chance to run like your life depended on it was an exciting diversion.

“I hope you’re right.”