Curse of Stone

Chapter 10 - Part 1

"So, this is where it all began," I said, spinning around.

Lifeless, sterile, and surreal, the smooth gray stone extended in all directions beyond seeing. No bird warbled, no insect buzzed, not even a scented breeze blew. The air was cool and parched. The only thing remarkable was the ruins of an ancient castle, once belonging to Cephas Carne. But time had taken its toll and not much remained standing, only a few block walls and a half-crumbled tower. Hovering above, low gray clouds added to the dreary vibe.

"Cephas stood on the tower when he cast the Curse of Stone," Anara noted, pointing, "or so the legends say."

"Then that's where we go."

"Micah, wait," Mom said, placing a hand on my shoulder. I stiffened, expecting another stern lecture about being careful, but her yellow-streaked hazel eyes were more pensive and conciliatory. "I am sorry for doubting you earlier. You have grown into a good man of conviction, and I should trust your judgment, but it is hard to give up the little boy."

As Mom drew me into an embrace, I whispered, "You have always looked out for me."

"And Anara," my mother said, partially breaking the hug. "I also owe you an apology. I doubted your intentions and skills. For that, I am sorry."

"Thank you, Dawn," Anara replied, looking up into my mother's eyes. "If I may, I would request your permission to court Micah. I promise I shall treat him well."

Mom pressed her lips tightly together, holding back a string of chuckles. But we both knew that in this world of upside-down gender relations, Anara had asked this with all respect.

"That is Micah's decision to make," Mom finally replied. "But if you wish my blessing, you have it."

"Come on, group hug!" I exclaimed, opening an arm for Anara. She fell in with us, nuzzling her head against me. After a moment, I said, "Okay, how 'bout we go kick some curse arse."

Anara wrinkled her forehead. "I do not understand. How would that--"

"An Earth expression," my mother explained with a grin. "To kick arse means to win decisively."

"Oh, yes," Anara replied with her own grin. "Let us do that."

The walk across the smooth gray stone became more of a scramble over piles of fallen blocks as we came within the former castle walls. One side of the tower had collapsed, leaving a semi-circle shell rising from the debris. Targon leaped from Anara's shoulder and spread its wings, flying up to the tower top. The little wyvern perched on a jagged edge and let out a series of chirps, claiming the high ground.

As we approached the tower, the Symbio Magique flame within me sputtered to life without my call. Closing my eyes, I let the Symbio probe ahead. "There is something here," I said, opening my eyes. "Something magic and powerful."

"I sense it, too," Mom said. "With strong flavors of alchemy and geokinesis — Cephas' specialty."

"Where?" Anara asked.

"Under all this," I answered, pointing to the tower rubble pile. "But how do we get to it?"

"My dear, Micah," Anara purred with a smirk. "Two witches be with you."

A matching grin grew on my face. "Oh, yeah."

As if choreographed, Anara and my mother extended hands and allowed streamers of magic to emerge, purple from Anara and yellow from Mom. Alternating, they raised chunks of fallen stone block, some quite massive, and directed them away using hand motions with the deftness of a skilled track-hoe operator. Self-conscious guilt bubbled up as I watched two women do all the heavy lifting while I sat on a stone block, but I could not hope to match the force they exerted.