As he led the group to the Tower, Gavin said, “Lillian, would you mind asking your grandfather if he’d be so kind as to host a Conclave of the Great Houses for me?”
“Of course, Gavin,” Lillian replied.
“If it’s at all possible, I’d like the Conclave to happen before the midday bell,” Gavin continued. “Before I get my apprentices situated in my old suite, I’m going to stop by Valera’s office and ask her to arrange a meeting with the Council of Magisters this afternoon. I would like to have visited the Conclave before then.”
“If you don’t need me before the Conclave, I’ll go right now,” Lillian said.
Gavin nodded, saying, “That’s fine.”
“What should the rest of us do?” Braden asked.
Gavin stopped and turned to regard his friends. “You’re free to do as you will…well, within the confines of the Arcanists’ Code. You’re no longer my apprentices, so from here on out, it’s up to you. But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t mind seeing you from time to time. I consider all of you my friends.”
“Why don’t you come with me?” Lillian interjected. “We can discuss what we want to do.”
The others nodded or vocalized their agreement, saying their farewells to Xythe, Jasper, and Holly before leaving with Lillian.
* * *
Sera, Valera’s long-time assistant, looked up as the outer door opened and promptly gaped, her jaw dropping. Gavin led a dracon, a young girl, and a young man into the office and stopped at her desk.
“Hello, Sera,” Gavin said. “Would you please tell Valera I need to speak with her?”
Sera stared at Gavin, her mouth still open, which continued until the silence became a bit awkward. Gavin looked at Sera’s desk and saw a small dish of berries. He retrieved one from the dish and tossed it into Sera’s mouth. The moment the berry hit her tongue, reflex caused her to close her mouth with an audible click of her teeth, and seemed to jerk her out of her reverie. She practically leapt to her feet and scrambled to the door of Valera’s office, skittering inside without even knocking.
Valera looked up when the door opened and watched her assistant dash inside. Sera closed the door and hurried to stand at the edge of the desk.
“He’s here,” she hissed, her semi-whisper urgent.
Valera waited a heartbeat or so before asking, “Who’s here?”
“Kirloth,” Sera answered. “I mean, the Archmagister.”
Valera blinked. “Gavin’s back? Or the Archmagister is waiting? I’m not sure I understand, dear.”
Sera shook her head. “No, no, no…Gavin is the Archmagister, and he’s outside with a little girl, a young man…and—and a dracon.”
Valera leaned back against her seat. “Well, now. I never imagined that Gavin would become the next Archmagister. ‘You shall know their victory by the golden flame’ indeed. And you say there’s a dracon with him? Are you certain?”
Sera nodded with sufficient force that Valera feared for her neck.
“Then you should probably show them in,” Valera replied. “And do try to relax, dear. Gavin never wanted you to fear him when he was just Kirloth; I doubt that’s changed now that he’s the Archmagister.”
Sera reopened the door enough to squeeze through, leaving Valera alone for a moment or two.
Gavin looked up as the door to Valera’s private office opened and Sera returned.
“The—the Magister will see you now,” Sera said, pointing to the door.
Gavin tried not to smile as he led his apprentices around the desk before saying, “Thank you, Sera.”
Gavin opened the door and led his apprentices inside. A cursory glance around the room showed him the office hadn’t changed much while he was in Vushaar. He saw Valera starting to rise.
“If you’re going to kneel,” Gavin said, “please don’t. I’m already very tired of people kneeling to me.”
Valera smiled. “As you wish, but I assume you’re going to introduce your associates?”
“Indeed,” Gavin replied. “This is Holly Walsh from Thartan Province in Vushaar, Jasper who is the nephew of Terris Muran’s Court Wizard, and Xythe of Qar’Zhosk. They are my apprentices. Apprentices, this is Valera Muran. She serves as both the Magister of Divination and Collegiate Justice.”
Valera moved to shake hands with Holly. “Welcome to the College of the Arcane. I hope your time here is enjoyable and instructive.”
“Your family name is Muran?” Holly asked. “Are you related to King Terris? He introduced my father to Gavin.”
Valera smiled. “Yes, I am his grandfather’s youngest sister.” Valera’s eyes flicked to Gavin. “I received a letter not too long before the sconces in the halls re-lit. It seems the King of Vushaar somehow saw an unedited copy of the Muran Genealogy and felt it incumbent upon himself to reinstate me into the family history and records. Did you meddle, Gavin?”
Gavin grinned. “I meddled all over Vushaar, Valera. Why should you be exempt?”
“Fair point,” Valera replied, moving to Xythe. “It is both a pleasure and honor to meet you, Xythe. Welcome to the College of the Arcane. This is the first time I’ve ever met a dracon, and I hope your people will soon return from their seclusion. The world is less with their absence.”
“Only time will tell, Magister,” Xythe responded. “I do know the Council of Clans in Qar’Zhosk called for a Grand Moot after Gavin visited them a short time ago, but I do not know if it has happened yet or what the outcome will be. I thank you for your welcome.”
Valera moved to Jasper, shook his hand, and offered him warm words of welcome as well.
“Please, be seated,” Valera said as she returned to her side of the desk.
Gavin sat in the chair to Valera’s right, and Xythe settled in the other, lifting Holly onto her lap. Jasper stood behind them, clasping his hands at his waist.
“How can I help you, Gavin?” Valera asked.
“Can you arrange for a meeting with the Council of Magisters this afternoon? Perhaps scheduled for the first afternoon bell? I should probably introduce myself as the new Archmagister. I also hope to have a Conclave of the Great Houses before the midday bell.”
Valera nodded. “I can easily arrange that.”
“Thank you,” Gavin replied. “I’m going to put my apprentices in my old suite. I should probably get used to the idea of being in the Citadel now.”
“Yes, that is the Archmagister’s residence. Most would look forward to it.”
Gavin sighed. “I don’t like that it’s so removed from Tel Mivar. I mean, it’s floating up there, showing everyone in Tel Mivar how the Archmagister is above them. I’m not above them. I’m…just me.”
Valera gave Gavin a soft, partial smile. “Perhaps, that is part of the reason Bellos chose you for the post. Can you imagine what things would be like if Tauron was the Archmagister?”
“He wouldn’t have lasted,” Gavin countered. “Marcus would’ve killed him.”
Valera snorted a laugh. “Yes, you might be right.”
“Very well,” Gavin said, nodding once and slapping his knees. “Thank you for your time and hospitality. I need to get them settled and then see about that Conclave. I’ll check back to confirm that we’re on for the Council meeting.”
“Gavin,” Valera replied, her tone almost chiding, “You’re the Archmagister. Of course, we’re on for the Council meeting.”
Gavin nodded and shrugged, before leading his apprentices out of the office.
* * *
The Mivar Estate didn’t look like it had changed while Gavin was in Vushaar, either, so he decided to test something as he approached the manor wall. Instead of reaching for the bell rope, Gavin walked right up to the manor wall’s gate. As it would for Lillian or her grandfather, the latch clicked open, and the gate swung wide. Gavin went ahead and rung the bell once, so they’d know someone was approaching the house, before walking through.
Gavin approached the steps up to the manor’s portico and the door. Adelai
de Mivar stepped outside. Her eyes widened at seeing Gavin’s gold robe, and she started to move into what Gavin feared would end with her kneeling.
“Please, don’t kneel to me,” he said. “Especially in your own home.”
“The whole city is all abuzz with whispers ever since the street-lamps and braziers atop the city walls re-lit,” Adelaide replied. “Torval told Lilly there was a new Archmagister that no one had seen yet, and she just grinned and didn’t say a word.”
“It happened while we were in Vushaar,” Gavin said. “Bellos talked me into it after I destroyed the slave marks.”
Adelaide nodded. “You did a good thing, there, Gavin. Those slave marks were a blight on the world. Please, be welcome in our home. The others are already in the Conclave room.”
“Thank you,” Gavin answered and stepped into the manor.
Eight heads turned as Gavin opened the door to the meeting room for the Conclave. Torval, Sypara, Carth, and Lyssa all displayed signs of shock or surprise. Lyssa’s surprise quickly shifted into a triumphant—almost maniacal—smile, and she pumped her fist in the air.
“Yes!” Lyssa cheered. “Those sorry wastes of space on the Council are in trouble now!”
Gavin sighed as he walked to the chair set aside for Kirloth and said, “It’s nice to see you, too, Lyssa.”
“Now, we know why no one has seen the new Archmagister,” Carth remarked.
Gavin nodded. “Thank you for not kneeling to me. I teleported straight to the gate outside because I’m so very tired of telling people to stand up.”
Torval coughed into his fist. “Yes, well, we probably should have kneeled, but I for one was too surprised.”
“Let’s take our seats and begin,” Gavin responded. “I don’t know that this needs to be a formal Conclave. I just wanted to meet with you, basically to give fair warning that a lot of things are going to be changing in Tel over the coming months. Everyone and anyone appointed to any kind of civil administration post by the late, unlamented king will find themselves out of a job. You will once more resume full and complete authority over your respective provinces as was set down in the Constitution of Tel, as well as resume your position as advisors to…well…me. One of the first things we need to do is examine as many of the laws and tax codes as we can and strip out anything the Royal Family instituted that is truly unjust. Start discussing this among yourselves and come up with a few ideas to bring to me. Any questions?”
The dukes and duchesses around the table all looked to one another before turning back to Gavin and shaking their heads.
Gavin nodded once. “Very well. Mariana, do you mind tracking down the head of the Battle-mages and sending him to find me? I’ll be in either my suite or the Citadel.
“Right, then. If you’ll excuse me, I have a suite to move out of and a floating castle to move into. I’ll send a messenger once I have a vague idea of a proposed meeting schedule.”
Chapter 15
The Citadel was both the residence of the Archmagister and—technically—the Kirloth Estate in Tel. Every doorframe contained the Glyph of Kirloth centered in the lintel, as did the keystone of every archway in every corridor or hallway. Paintings and tapestries lined the walls, and exquisite rugs and carpets lined the floors.
The moment Gavin entered the Citadel, a phantom—much like the College’s Master of the Field—faded into view a few feet in front of him.
“Good day to you, Milord,” the phantom said. “I am Hartley. I serve as both the head of the Citadel’s staff as well as your personal assistant. Part of my duties is to liaise between you and those who serve and maintain the Citadel. If I may say so, Milord, it is good to see that Bellos has named an Archmagister after all these years and especially gratifying that a wizard of House Kirloth was named. My belated condolences for the loss of your kinsman.”
Gavin nodded. “It’s good to meet you, Hartley. I’m Gavin Cross. Please, feel free to call me Gavin.”
“I understand, Milord,” Hartley replied, a hint of a smile flicking across his ghostly features.
“It’s going to be one of those, then,” Gavin remarked, returning the specter’s smile. “I’m going to have the head of the Battle-mages looking for me at some point. Is it possible for one of the Citadel’s staff to meet him when he enters College grounds and bring him to me?”
“Of course, Milord.”
“In that case, Hartley,” Gavin said, “why don’t you give me a quick tour? I don’t even know enough to ask intelligent questions about the Citadel at this point.”
The specter nodded once. “Of course, Milord. If you would, please walk with me.”
* * *
Gavin was getting all of Marcus’s trunks settled in a corner of the Citadel’s library when a specter faded into view.
“Milord,” the specter said, “please forgive the interruption, but Hartley said you wanted to know when the head of the Battle-mages was available. He is in the sitting room on the main floor.”
Gavin looked up from the trunk in front of him. “The sitting room on the main floor…right. I have no idea where that is.”
“If you like, Milord,” the specter replied, “I shall guide you there.”
“Perfect. Let’s go.”
The main floor turned out to be where Gavin first arrived in the Citadel. The specter led Gavin to an arched doorway a short distance from the entry portal. Gavin stepped through the archway and found an older man waiting for him, who stood the moment Gavin entered the room. Of average height, Gavin’s guest had a bulky, muscular build. The mantle he wore over his red robe was burgundy, the color for the Battle-mages of Tel. The sleeves of his red robe bore silver runes that proclaimed him both a specialist in Evocation and a Magus within the Society. He kept his silver-flecked, dark hair cropped close, and the intelligence in his hazel eyes belied the man’s somewhat brutish appearance.
“I’m Gavin Cross, Head of House Kirloth and the new Archmagister,” Gavin said, approaching the man and extending his right hand. “Thank you for coming on such short notice.”
The man grinned. “When the new Archmagister summons you, you don’t send a note asking where and when. I’m Garris Roshan, Commander of the Battle-mages of Tel.”
Gavin blinked. “It’s a pleasure to meet you at last, and I want to thank you again for loaning me some of the Battle-mages to assist with sorting out the fallout of the Rite of Holsgyng.”
“You’re welcome, Milord,” Garris replied, “and it is a pleasure to meet the young man who has done so much to turn both the Society and Tel on its ear.”
Gavin shrugged. “I’m just me. I can’t help it if doing the right thing means I’m creating waves. Let’s sit. Would you like refreshment?”
“Some tea would be nice if you have it,” Garris answered.
“Hartley,” Gavin said, and the specter came into view. For a brief moment, Garris looked like he was going to jump out of his skin.
“Yes, Milord?”
“Garris and I would like tea while we discuss some matters. Could you see about arranging that?”
The specter nodded once. “Of course, Milord. It will just be a moment.”
“Well, that was different,” Garris remarked, once Hartley had vanished. “Is he really gone?”
Gavin shrugged. “I would assume so, but the staff of any place like the Citadel always knows what’s going on anyway. If he wants to keep an ear on my conversations, I’m not too worried about it as long as he keeps what he hears to himself. But…on to business.”
“Of course, sir,” Garris agreed. “Forgive me.”
Gavin replied with a dismissive wave. “Don’t worry about it. I want you—well, everyone really—to feel comfortable discussing or saying anything with me. I don’t want anyone feeling like he or she can’t say what needs said.
“I asked Mariana to communicate my interest in speaking with you for a couple of reasons. First of all, I’d like to borrow some Battle-mages again. I’m going to disband the Royal Gu
ard. While I feel very confident that there are not enough of them to pose a threat, I’d rather have them leave the palace compound without violence. If it comes down to violence, I’ll wipe them out, but quite frankly, I have enough of a personal body count as it is.”
Garris nodded. “That’s easily arranged. Do you have an idea of how many you’ll need?”
“Not at this time,” Gavin replied. “I should have that information soon. The other matter I wanted to discuss is that I’d like for you to be part of my advisory council. You’d share the table with the Conclave of the Great Houses right now and possibly Ovir Thatcherson, if he agrees when I ask him. Valera Muran would probably be a good person to ask, too.”
Garris twitched. “Did you say Valera Muran? The Magister of Divination is a daughter of Vushaar’s royal line?”
“Yes,” Gavin replied, smiling. “Her father disagreed with her decision to stay in Tel and pursue her studies in the Society and decided to eliminate her from the family’s records and history. I made the current king aware of that, and apparently, he chose to re-instate her. Didn’t you ever look up the glyph in her wizard’s medallion?”
“No,” Garris answered, shaking his head. “In all truth, the idea never occurred to me.”
Just then, Hartley returned with a full tea service on a chair-height wheeled cart.
“Apologies for taking so long, Milord,” Hartley said as he placed the cart at an equidistant position between the two men. “I made the unfortunate discovery that the Citadel’s larder is rather bare and had to send to the College’s dining hall for the tea. We have a selection of sugar, cream, and honey for the tea and pastries to choose from, as well.”
“Thank you, Hartley,” Gavin replied. “Don’t worry about the larder. That’s easily rectified.”
Archmagister Page 9