April 10, 2008
Standing Stones.
Gingerly, Merlin lowered the final lintel in place and released his magic. The massive stone wobbled a bit, then steadied.
“Thank God,” croaked the wizard, collapsing against a bluestone. The damn monument was finished, finally.
Some strange power prickled up the bluestone. Merlin leaped away, instinctively calling up his own magic.
There was nothing there.
Merlin poked the stone. Something in it poked back.
Merlin made a face at the stone. It stuck a stone tongue out at him.
Merlin stared, slowly letting his fighting magic sink back. He reached for a different strain of magic instead.
“Why don’t you show yourself?” he called, putting a touch of the summoning magic in his words.
A head stuck out of the stone. “I’d come out entirely, but I’m not sure I can go back if I do.”
“I’ve never seen a landwight with gold eyes.”
“I’m only half a landwight, and I’ve never done this before.”
“Ah.”
Wizard and wight stared at each other for the span of several minutes.
“I don’t mean to be rude, but what year is it?” the wight asked.
“Erm… 522, I think. I’m not entirely sure; I’ve been moving stones for a while, and time flies.” The wight was looking at Merlin like he’d grown three heads. Merlin patted his neck to make sure he hadn’t. “What’s wrong?”
“I, er, seem to have gone back in time.”
“Or you’re hallucinating,” Merlin pointed out.
“I don’t think so.”
“Oh, well, if you’re sure. I’ve never heard of a time-traveling wight, but I suppose it’s possible. What else are you, anyway?”
“Hm?” The wight still seemed to be in shock.
“You said you are only half wight. What else are you?”
“Oh. Desert demon and deep elf.”
“Well, there you go.” At the wight’s confused look, Merlin continued. “The alfar are liminal wights; they live in the far fringes of the world where things like time don’t work like they do elsewhere.”
“That explains a lot about Grandma,” the wight said to himself. To Merlin he said, “Thank you,” and promptly vanished.
“You’re welcome,” Merlin said to the bluestone. He shouldered his bag and walked off towards Camelot, and smiled at the watchful curiosity that ran through the earth in his wake.
