Magic's Return: Generations

By Chip Gagne

It's been five years since the dragon war, and the sole open portal remains under guard beneath Shen Peterson's house. When Xan, the leader of the dragons on M'atoi dies, a new leader must step forth. Shen knows it’s only a formality, and Mei'lon will surely take over, but there is still so much unrest with the dragons. When he gets called to the council, he fears a new war could begin all over again.
Meanwhile on Earth, a sinkhole opens up, leading Shen, Mark, and Bitsy on a hunt for something of magic that may have implications that reach far into his family's past. When a dragon attacks Shen's wards, he realizes there may be a new issue with the portals, and magic is here on Earth to stay forever. Magics Return: Generations.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chip Gagne
• Release date: Aug 22, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370175017

Chip Gagne

Chip Gagne is a software engineer whose main hobbies included reading and writing (and Lego, but that is a different story). Born on the hottest day of the year, Chip was guided to reading at an early age. Some of his favorite memories include weekly trips to a used book store where he inevitably would find a new science fiction, horror, or fantasy novel to read.Over the years, Chip wrote several short stories and even an attempt at a script or two, but never attempted to do anything with them once they were written. Yet he always had the drive and desire to create.After discovering a real enjoyment of fantasy and anything with dragons, he decided to try and persuade his mother, Pat, who had previously published 25 books under the name Dani Sinclair, to write a fantasy novel. He had several ideas and suggestions for one, but it was only after he agreed to co-author the book with her that she agreed. The result is the Magic's Return series.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

The Beginning

1956 Earth

Excuse me, sir, but I am in need of an elf.

Sean Fitzpatrick gaped at the petite woman who slipped onto the bar stool beside him. He felt the first stirrings of unease.

What?

The bar was only now starting to fill with people leaving work and stopping in for a quick drink before heading home. He'd left early, afraid that if he stayed any longer he'd tell his overbearing boss exactly what he really thought.

I am in need of an elf.

He shook his head and quickly looked away. I don't know what you're talking about, lady. In the mirror over the bar he saw her smile without humor.

You do, and in return I can be of help to you.

He shot an uneasy glance around to see if anyone was listening. No one sat near their end of the bar. Paul, the bartender, had moved away to speak with one of the servers. The odd woman continued to regard him steadily. Her long black hair shimmered in the dim overhead lights. Exotic seemed the perfect description for her. Asian descent with a trace of something he couldn't pin down.

No matter. He wasn't interested in whatever she was selling. He'd had a long, frustrating day, and he just wanted to enjoy his drink before he had to go home and listen to Beth's tedious list of complaints, or the kids squabbling with each other. The last thing he needed was some stranger asking about elves.

Beat it, lady.

Something flashed in those dark eyes. A trick of light? He tried to shake off another prickle of unease. There was something disturbingly odd about the woman. Her green dress was neat and unremarkable. She wore no makeup or jewelry that he could see, not that she needed any enhancements. She stopped short of beautiful, but only just.

Look, lady, I want to finish my shot and my beer and get home to my wife and kids. Get lost, okay?

I need your help.

He swore under his breath. He didn't need trouble, and this strange woman asking about elves was definitely trouble.

Ask the bartender, he suggested brusquely.

He is not an elf.

Her calm statement ripped right through him. He shifted on the stool as unease surrendered to fear. "Who are you?"

One who is here to offer you a chance at more power than you have ever dreamed of having.

His heart raced. Something had definitely flashed in those eyes. He stared hard at her. She was no elf. He considered opening his senses and examining her properly, but if she was a wizard, and this was a trap, that would be a bad idea. I'm not looking for a new job, lady.

You are. And more. That is why I am here. You would like to go to M'atoi.

The word hovered in the air between them. He couldn't draw a breath. Her hair caught the light as she tipped her head. For the briefest of seconds, her features seemed to blur. He heard her nails score the wood surface of the bar. It had to have been a trick of light, but for a fraction of a second, he would have sworn he'd glimpsed...scales?

There's no such place. His words were soft as his fear took flight.

M'atoi is real, I assure you.

She said it with such conviction he was totally spooked. Breathing audibly, he stared from her hand to the four deep gouges in the surface of the bar. She quickly covered them with her palm, but no mere fingernails had scored that surface.

Who are you? He asked again, gazing around frantically. No one so much as glanced in their direction.

No one can see us, she told him calmly. Unless I want them to see.

He began to shake in earnest. You're not an elf.

I am not.

He drew in a sharp breath. Wizard? You're a wizard? Fear danced along his nerve endings. He drew on what little magic he could, preparing to defend himself.

You will not need that.

His magic leached away as her gaze pinned him to his chair. I am not going to attack you.

He was panting.

Magic is weak in the Earth Realm, she continued calmly, ...unless you have an artifact to draw on.

Oh, he knew that. Being a half-breed with no artifact of his own made him one of the weaker elves in the local council. Artifacts made elves strong. Powerful.

Her lips curved. Yes.

For a second, the pull of that thought was so enticing he could almost taste the magic. Then someone called to the bartender. Reality returned. How did she know that? How did she know any of this?

Get away from me. You're crazy, lady.

He picked up the shot glass and downed the contents in a single swallow. It choked him and he coughed. His hand was trembling visibly as he thumped the glass back down again.

Her gaze commanded his attention. I have an artifact.

Once again, he inhaled sharply.

It must go to M'atoi.

He tried to swallow past the churning ice in his gut. He no longer tried to pretend he didn't know what she was talking about. She knew!

Sean shook his head. M'atoi is a fairy tale. And if it did exist, there'd be no way to get there.

It exists, she said firmly. "And you can go there."

He tore his gaze from hers. Frantically, he peered around the room. The bar was filling rapidly, yet no one came near them. It was as if this end of the bar simply didn't exist. She was right, they were invisible.

He licked suddenly dry lips and picked up his beer. She waited patiently while he took a big gulp. The beer hit his tensed stomach muscles making him want to puke.

Okay, I don't get the joke, but the fun's over. Tell whoever sent you, you succeeded in scaring me, okay?

I do not wish to scare you. I need your help.

Right. Fine. Let's pretend you really have got an artifact and you want me to take it to M'atoi. Why?

Because I am failing.

He shook his head. What? Never mind. Look, keep your artifact, lady. Or better yet, sell it. You know what they go for on the black market?

Fury, cold and terrifying, flashed in those dark eyes. He barely maintained his bladder control.

It is worth more on M'atoi. And much more to me. I require an elf to take it there.

He had never known such fear. Why me?

Because you are unhappy with your life. You crave more. Because elves were tasked with recovering artifacts and returning them to M'atoi. And this is your obligation. She spoke calmly but there was force behind her words.

He swore softly and reached for his glass again to give his hand something to do. This time, however, he held it without putting the rim to his lips. His gaze returned to the deep gouges she had made in the wood. The bar was solid oak. Human fingernails could not score wood like that. He didn't know what could, but if he wasn't very careful, he was pretty sure he was going to die, right here, right now.

Okay. Let's say I'm an elf. Let's say I learned the story of M'atoi as a kid from my crazy father. Let's pretend dragons once existed and told elves to collect everything that belonged to them and take it to their home world. If you know that story, then you know that wizards wanted those artifacts as well. Elves and wizards went to war over them.

His gaze returned to the gouges and he tried to swallow. "In order to go to M'atoi, an elf needs a key and a portal. He spread his hands, embarrassed by how hard they were shaking. His drink slopped over the glass to drip off his fingers. Afraid I'm fresh out of both."

I have a key.

The quietly spoken words stopped his breathing entirely. The bar was almost full. Noise surrounded them, yet he couldn't hear a thing. He exhaled, set his beer down, and placed his hands flat on the bar preparing to rise.

Stay.

An invisible force pushed him down against the stool. He was riveted by the flashing in those hypnotic eyes.

I have little time, and less patience.

She glowered, and he cringed.

Your human name is Sean Fitzpatrick. Your true name is Se'anro au Fee'atick. You work as an actuary for the elven run firm of Sislan and Gzeresky. You dislike your boss and the feeling is mutual. You have a wife named Beth, and three children. Two are daughters, Marissa and Kira. You also have a son, Dugal. You did not bother to gift any of them with true names, and only your son knows anything of his heritage. Your brother Baird inherited your father's only artifact upon his death. As a result, Baird is moving up in the elven council while you are not. You are unhappy with every aspect of your life. You would like to escape, but do not know how.

She stared deeply into his eyes and he began to pant again.

I offer you an opportunity to do exactly what you wish to do.

He knew guttural terror. This petite woman...wizard...for surely she must be a wizard, because how else could she know everything about him...she was scaring him beyond rational thought. His hands shook so hard he nearly knocked over his glass.

I have been seeking one such as you to approach for some time now. Your brother, and others like him, would never take the risk. But you...you want what I offer. You need it. And I do not have time to find another.

He never saw her move, but suddenly she held a strange pouch in her slender hand. From it, she withdrew a necklace and dangled it before him. The magical glow filled his vision. He'd never seen or felt so much power. It was heady...mind numbing. He wanted that power as he'd never wanted anything else in his life. And he was afraid. Terribly afraid.

Come.

He was on his feet with no memory of moving. So was she. His eyes returned to the necklace. He couldn't help himself. He touched it. The world blurred. He had to shut his eyes against sudden vertigo. The beer and whiskey threatened to make an undignified return. He bent over, breathing slow and deep until he was sure he could control his stomach. Then he straightened and opened his eyes.

CHAPTER TWO

Dragon's Request

Sean had been afraid before. Now he was beyond terrified.

The woman was gone. What stood in front of him was a barely visible nightmare, beyond his wildest imagining. The enormous sloped head on its long, sinewy, scaly neck was only inches from his face. Spikes of panic threatened to send him sprawling at its feet.

There's no such thing as dragons!

He sensed amusement, even as the nightmare spoke words in his head.

Most would say there is no such thing as elves, either. Yet here we both stand.

What happened to the woman?

Her role is ended. Yours begins.

This can't be happening. He looked wildly around. The bar was gone. He stood inside some sort of cavern facing a giant reptile that couldn't exist, yet was speaking in his head. He wasn't drunk. He knew he wasn't drunk. And he wasn't dreaming. Was he dead?

You are not dead.

Again, that sense of amusement, now tinged with impatience. The cave was shrouded in such deep shadow he could barely make out the large black form. For all he knew there were a dozen dragons all around them in the dark.

Dragons. This was a dragon. Dragons were real! The bedtime stories his father had told him were true. This was a dragon and it wanted him to go to M'atoi.

Yes. You will go. And you will tell the dragons there that one raised by All'oor is in need of help. You will be rewarded.

An oval shaped rock appeared at his feet. Beside it was the pouch that had held the necklace and a small, leather bound book.

Discover the location of the nearest portal. The necklace is a key that will take you through. Take these items with you. Inside the pre'liote...the warded bag...is a ring that will bring other dragons here to me.

He felt giddy with fear and excitement. How am I supposed to find a portal?

The elves will know of one nearby.

He was an elf, but he didn't know of one.

Only, his brother might. And if Baird didn't, he'd probably know someone who did. Would he share that information with his baby brother?

What if the M'atoi dragons don't believe me?

These items tell the story. Take them, and the egg to M'atoi. They will be sufficient.

Egg? That funny shaped rock was an egg? A dragon egg?

Why not? It was no weirder than the rest of this. No one had ever seen a dragon's egg before. No one living had ever seen a dragon before, either.

What if I drop it or something? Panic filled him at the thought.

It is in stasis. It will not shatter, nor will it hatch. Take it. It must go to M'atoi. There are none left here who can help.

Those penetrating eyes seemed to see right into his soul. He couldn't look away.

You will give me your bon'yei...your oath...that you will do this thing.

His head bobbed of its own accord. Suddenly, he wanted to do this more than he wanted anything else. His brother was older and more powerful, but he was the one the dragon was sending to M'atoi.

"Okay. I will. I'll take it there. I promise."

A strange blue symbol appeared in the air between them. It hung there, glowing for a second before melting away. Sean felt...different. Older. Wiser. More powerful. He would take the egg to M'atoi. He could do this. He would do this.

The dragon lowered its long neck and touched the egg. The gesture was gentle, almost loving. Then the dragon stared pointedly at him. He took that to mean he should pick it up, so he did. It was surprisingly light. It hardly weighed anything at all, no matter that it looked like a solid rock. And it had a leathery texture. He gathered up the pouch and notebook and regarded the dragon.

The huge beast said nothing else. Before he could ask any more questions, he had to shut his eyes against a sudden swirl of vertigo. When he opened them again, he was standing on the street outside the bar right next to his car. Noise and smells resumed. He hadn't realized how still and silent the cave had been, nor how hard his ears had been straining for the slightest sound. He had no idea where the cave was located, or how long he'd been there. Looking around at the busy street and the people walking by, it didn't seem like any time at all had passed.

If not for the items he was holding, he wouldn't believe it had really happened. He couldn't stop shaking as he climbed behind the wheel. He set the egg on the passenger seat and stared at it. This was real. He was supposed to go to M'atoi.

The concept was terrifying. Exhilarating. Completely life altering. He felt so giddy he nearly laughed out loud.

He would go, but first he had to put the egg and the pouch somewhere safe. No one could know that he had them, especially not his brother. His brother would do anything to lay his hands on that egg.

Sean nearly groaned out loud. He had to go see his brother. His brother didn't like him much. The whole drive home he worried how best to approach him. Baird would want to know why he was asking about portals, and Sean needed to come up with a convincing reason...a reason that didn't involve dragons and their eggs.

And where could he put the egg to keep it safe? He couldn't take it inside the house. The kids would toss it around like a beach ball. Besides, what would he tell his wife? She couldn't know anything about this, or she'd try to stop him from leaving.

Leaving. He was going to leave Earth! He hated his life. That strange woman in the bar had been right about that. He wondered who she had been and where she had gone. Then he dismissed the thought as he turned into his development.

Pulling into his driveway, the solution for the egg came to him. He could shove it under the front porch of the house. It looked like a large rock, unless you picked it up. And no one ever looked under the porch. The egg would be safe there. Except, he couldn't leave the pouch or the notebook in the dirt. He'd have to hide them inside the house. They were small, so that shouldn't present much of a problem.

He stopped the car, turned off the ignition and regarded the house sourly. His brother's house was bigger and newer, and in a much better part of town. His brother, being the oldest, always had the best of everything.

Until now. Baird didn't have a dragon's egg or a portal key.

Grinning, Sean climbed out and hurried over to the lattice that covered the crawl space beneath the front porch. No one was around. The car would shield him from anyone who might look in this direction.

He worked the lattice loose with his pocket knife until he was able to set the egg up against the basement wall. Stepping back, he regarded it critically. Yep, it looked like a rock. He replaced the lattice and smiled in satisfaction. Then he gathered up the pouch and notebook and headed inside.

Spaghetti sauce simmered on the burner. The table was set for dinner, but there was no sign of his wife. Good. This was his chance to have a quick look at the notebook and hide the pouch. He hurried upstairs.

He ruled out the obvious places in the bedroom. It wouldn't do for his wife to find them. But the heating vent had promise. It was summer so the furnace wouldn't run, and his wife rarely cleaned in here. She wouldn't pay any attention to the vent. He used the screwdriver on his pocket knife to undo the cover and set the pouch inside. Curious, he was about to open the notebook when Dugal appeared in the bedroom doorway.

Whatcha doin', Dad?

Dugal! His heart threatened to pound right out of his chest. Staring at the child, he thought quickly. Come inside and close the door. Where's your mother?

Obeying, the boy shrugged. She took some spaghetti over to Mrs. Cook's house. She's sick again.

No surprise there. The neighbors were always caring for the nasty tempered old woman. Her family needed to put her in a nursing home or something.

What's that? Why are you putting a book in there? Dugal asked.

Sean set it beside the pouch in the duct and replaced the grill. It's a secret. You mustn't tell anyone, not your sisters, your mother, or your friends, do you understand? This is our secret, yours and mine. Can you keep it?

Wide-eyed the boy nodded eagerly.

Promise me! he demanded.

I promise.

For just a second, Sean thought he saw that same blue light appear between them. But that was impossible.

Okay. If anything ever happens to me, you'll have to take care of the pouch and the notebook. Keep them safe and hidden. You mustn't tell anyone, ever. Do you understand?

I won't tell, Daddy. I promise. But what are they?

Sean? His wife's muffled voice carried through the closed door.

Your mother's home. This is for us men only. She can't know about this, Dugal. Let's get washed up for dinner and I'll show you later, okay?

His son's eyes sparkled with excitement. Okay, daddy.

Dugal was a good kid. Too bad later would never come. Sean would miss the boy, but he and the artifacts would be gone, and Dugal wouldn't be able to tell anyone what they had been. Good thing the boy hadn't seen him hiding the egg, too.

Dinner's ready, his wife called out.

Sean scowled. He'd have to wait and call his brother after dinner. No, on second thought, he'd drive over and talk to Baird in person. If a portal was nearby, Sean could be gone by morning.

You're a good boy, Dugal. Feeling uncommonly paternal, he patted the pleased boy on the head and opened the bedroom door. He felt good. Strong. Sure of himself for the first time in his life. He went downstairs for dinner and decided to have a drink with his meal. Maybe he'd open that bottle of wine that was collecting dust in the cupboard. Beth would be angry. She didn't like him drinking. But tonight, he didn't care. He wouldn't have to listen to her litany of complaints much longer.

An hour later, over her furious protests, Sean got back in his car and headed out to see his brother. Most of a bottle of wine had left him feeling relaxed and excited. He laughed out loud.

He never saw the traffic light change, or the large truck barreling toward the intersection. He never saw anything again.

#

Wearily, the dragon climbed into the nest. The wards were set. She had done everything she could to protect the egg. Hopefully, it would be enough. Her husband didn't know about this child, and she couldn't tell him. She could no longer summon enough magic to ensure its safety in this world. He'd be upset when he realized she wasn't coming back, and he would search for her. She closed her eyes in pain. He'd search in vain. She needed him to care for the other children until she could return. If she could return.

Hopefully they wouldn't be apart for long, but she could no longer maintain a human form for any length of time. She didn't know why, but it wouldn't matter once the dragons from M'atoi sent help.

She only hoped the elf hurried. Just in case, she would put herself in stasis just as she had done with her egg. The monks had the twin to the ring she'd given the elf. They would see that her rest wasn't disturbed. They knew what to say to wake her when the dragons came.

All'oor would be proud. If things worked out, magic would finally be returned to the Earth Realm.

CHAPTER THREE

A New Leader

Present Day

The mighty dragon regarded him through dull eyes, glazed by pain. Stretched before the fire pit, reflected flames danced in those clouded orbs.

Zachary blinked back tears. You are certain this is what you want?

Very certain. No one can know what we do here.

Pain squeezed his chest so tight he thought he might be the one to die.

Gently, dear friend. Death is not something to fear. Can you handle this task I have set before you? I know it is asking much.

He laid a hand on her cool scales, remembering all the complex tasks she had set him to over the years. None had been so hard as this.

I would die for you.

It will not come to that. I have taken all precautions. She sent a smile with those words, but he couldn't summon one in return.

Lone and Mia would be most upset if that were to happen.

A tear slipped past his control. It ran unchecked down his seamed face. I will be lost without you.

The words were choked by the tears crowding his throat.

You have your family to sustain you. You will go