The Last Wizard of Eneri Clare

by April Leonie Lindevald

  “I wish I shared your confidence, Master,” Tvrdik mumbled, pushing at his food without interest, and blushing. Then he looked up and met the elder man’s steady gaze, “How will I ever convince anyone at the palace that this is the way they should go? They will think it preposterous, and label me a madman. If we are not all joined in purpose, we have no chance.”

  Xaarus shrugged, “You will do what you need to do to win them over one by one. Use your intelligence, your charm, your wit – use the power of the truth. It can be an amazing tool to wash away resistance.”

  The young wizard shook his head and went back to staring at his plate. The Master saw that something else was called for. Moments passed while he considered, then…

  “There is someone there whom you must seek out. She, of all the court, is destined to be your most powerful ally. She will truly listen to your tale, and she is given the authority to make things happen.”

  “Tell me….who is she?”

  “Her name is Jorelial Rey, of an old and proud family, and now temporary guardian of the infant king.”

  Tvrdik frowned, “I partly remember her…the dragon girl. She was not much more than a child when I left.”

  “And not much younger than you, boy. She is young, but already saddled with grave responsibilities, and up to the challenge, I think…”

  “A bit full of herself, if I recall correctly. Always riding around on that dragon, above everyone else…”

  Xaarus’ tone turned harsh. “Do not judge anyone whose path you have not shared. She walks a solitary road, very different from others of her own age, growing up motherless, being prepared to inherit a position she never wished for, but which she must shoulder. And her best friend and constant companion is a creature whose enormity and fierceness isolates her from her peers. Why, she is not so very different from you.”

  “I-I did not realize…I will take your counsel to heart.”

  “It is most certain she is your link, comfortable as she is with both the trappings of power and the magical world. And she is beloved of a dragon – a rare bond indeed.”

  Another pause. Tvrdik frowned again. “But how will I ever get to speak with someone of that rank? Look at me, Master. I have no money, no suitable clothes, no family or reputation to recommend me.”

  Xaarus pondered for a moment, then pointed to a small stone on the ground nearby. “Fetch me that stone, will you? There’s a lad. It’s going to take every last bit of strength I have to do this, but I believe it will hold…” The old wizard palmed the rock, closed his eyes and furrowed his brow, muttering some sort of incantation. When he opened is hand, a glittering, golden object sat where the stone had been. He smiled as he handed it to his student, “I used to carry these coins in former days as a kind of calling card. I think she might remember that. If I have any influence or credibility left at court after all these years, it might give you an opening.”

  Tvrdik took the coin and examined it. On one side was a profile of the familiar face before him: long hair, sharp, but kindly features, prominent nose. On the opposite face was simply etched a large “X.” The young wizard pocketed this small gift, but pressed it in his hand within the folds of cloth, endowing it with all his hopes.

  As the second week of training unfolded, Xaarus began to have more of those vanishing episodes, like they had experienced on their first evening together. Each time, it seemed to take more of the master’s energy to come back, and he would need more rest to regain his strength on his return. Tvrdik fussed and worried over him, trying to make him comfortable in the rude hut, and offering whatever assistance and nurture he could. But Xaarus would always insist on getting back to work after only a brief rest. Gradually, Tvrdik could see in the older man’s face the toll their schedule was taking, and something about his teacher began to seem frail and brittle, at times almost luminous.

  At noon on the fifteenth day of their reunion, taking a break from study, sitting out in the gentle sun, the two men were talking, and Tvrdik thought his master looked oddly transparent. Still, they continued. “Set your intention always for what you wish to create, Tvrdik, and stand behind it with all your passion and belief and power. In that way, you will always draw the circumstances you wish for. Allow no room for doubt, and you will be successful, and safe…”

  “I do not ask for safety, Master. I believe in this cause. I know some of the dangers I will face, and I am not afraid to die.”

  Xaarus laughed, and seemed to un-form with the laughter. The last words that passed his lips were, “My dear Tvrdik, you are not supposed to die; you are supposed to win!” And he was gone, dispersed on the four winds. Tvrdik sat gaping in awe and dread at the empty space before him. All afternoon he sat there motionless, waiting, hoping against hope that the old wizard would reappear just one more time. By midmorning of the next day, it became apparent that Xaarus would not be coming back. Slowly, deliberately, Tvrdik rose and began to put his house in order.

  With careful deliberation, he selected a few treasured possessions and essential items which would be needed for travel: food, water, a bedroll, firestones, tools, notes, a few books, several medicinal herbs, and an assortment of other useful items. He packed them in several small pouches and one large carry-sack, then piled everything else he owned or had made neatly inside the little cottage. It was then that he had bathed, laundered his threadbare clothes, and dried them at the hearth, and taken up his best knife to trim his wild hair and to shave the unruly whiskers from his face. The knife came along. The fire had to be extinguished and tamped down, dirt spread over the last glowing coals. Then he stood in the little makeshift doorway and looked around the place. So much of his young life had been poured into this place, so much of his heart. But memories of despair and grief lived in the walls as well. He doubted he would ever see the humble little cottage again, but wanted everything to be in order just in case, or perhaps to serve some passing traveler in need. He placed the palm of his right hand on one of the stones in the nearest wall, bowed his head, and sent a message of thanks. Then he turned, without looking back, and strode out of the clearing to spend a few moments with his beloved waterfall.

  Sitting now at its edge, playing with stone and light and water, the young man tried to inhale and hold within the feelings of peace and security that always came over him in the water’s presence. He would need them in the days to come. He pulled off his spectacles to wipe them clean, but fumbled and almost dropped them on the rocks below. Quick reflexes saved the day, and he let out a sigh of relief. Of all the possessions he had managed to preserve with exacting care over these long years of isolation, his glasses were the most valuable. He needed them without doubt, and they would not be easy to replace. He could conjure a pair; any apprentice wizard could transmute matter from one form to another, but those creations rarely kept their shape for very long, and no one yet could just materialize real items out of thin air. Some things were just better done the old-fashioned way. Gingerly, he placed the wire arms back on his ears and settled the bridge on his nose, giving it a little pat, as if to say, close call, old friend, but all’s well now. Then he uncoiled his long legs, stood up, yawned, stretched, and dissolved the magical barrier that had been keeping him dry. Putting his hand in the spray, he intoned, “Ancient, magical place, you have been my companion, my strength, and my inspiration for twelve years. The time has come for me to leave your serenity and rejoin my fellows in the world. I offer you my thanks and blessing, a wish that you will continue undisturbed in your perfection, and that I might revisit you someday, and once again enjoy your unique gifts.” Tvrdik removed his hand from the stream, shook the water from it, and with much reluctance, turned to go.

  “Excuse me.”

  It was a small, unfamiliar, musical trill, enough to stop him mid-step, but not enough to convince him that he had actually heard anything. It must have been the warble of a passing bird, or the song of the water on the pol
ished stone. He took another step.

  “Excuse me, Lovely Man…”

  There it was again – a tiny voice speaking unmistakable words. Eyebrows raised in curiosity, Tvrdik turned back to the cataract slowly…and found himself face to face with a little blue girl. At least, that is what she most resembled. She hung suspended in the waterfall, somehow resisting its downward force, naked and blue. Or green. Or blue-green. Her hair was a profusion of frothy curls which were not quite distinguishable from the water’s foam, and her features had an otherworldly caste that seemed ageless and somehow charming: a very wide, thin-lipped mouth, a little button of a nose, and disproportionately large eyes that were long and narrow and slanted up at the outside edges with a trace of mischief. She stood, or floated, before him, no bigger than the length of his face. But some of the details of her shape were less defined, blending in and out of the moving water. Eyes wide in wonder, Tvrdik queried, “What…who are you?”

  “I am Ondine. I am naiad…water fairy. My sisters and I live here, in this waterfall.”

  An incredulous smile crept across the wizard’s face. “Water fairy? I didn’t realize there were any of you left. I knew this place was special. Well, Ondine, a pleasure to meet you face to face. I am called Tvrdik.” He gave a slight nod of his head in gentlemanly greeting. She wrinkled up her whole face in distaste.

  “Teh-vur-dik” she scowled, “That is strange name. What sort of name is that?”

  He shrugged, “Well, it is my name…”

  I will call you ‘Lovely Man’. I always call you this…”

  He was startled. “You know me?”

  “Yes, yes, of course. You are Lovely Man who comes here many seasons ago. I watch you come and go here often.”

  “Well, why haven’t you ever introduced yourself before, Ondine? I would have so loved to have gotten to know you better before it was time for me to go.”

  She tilted her little head, “My sisters and I, we do as we like here. Not bother anyone – wish for no one to bother us. Ways of men strange to us, good for us to learn. We stay close, safe – watch.”

  Tvrdik blushed, “Well, I hope I have been a good representative of my race. In any case,” he reassured, “none of you have anything to fear from me.” He leaned in conspiratorially, “I will keep your secret, I promise. And I am most honored that at last you chose to come out and say hello. It has been a great privilege for me to make your acquaintance, but now, I must be on my way. Be well, Ondine.” He smiled, and then turned to walk away. A cold splash hit him in the back of the head. “Owww! Why did you do that?”

  “Excuse me, Lovely Man, you are leaving this place? Going away?” She was frowning now.

  “Um, yes. I have work to do in a place far from here, so I must make my farewell…”

  “You do not come back?”

  “I wish I could say. Right now it seems I might be away for a good long time. But, if I am ever again in the neighborhood, you can trust that I will surely come to call.” He was struggling to comprehend what she might be getting at.

  “Lovely Man, you will take me with you.”

  “Excuse me?” Tvrdik had in no way anticipated this. “And please don’t call me that. Look, Ondine, why would I want to do that? You are perfectly happy here. Believe me, I wish I was staying too.”

  “My sisters happy here. I am weary of all play. I think big things happen now in the world outside – want to see and learn. I go with you.”

  “Oh, I see – an adventurous spirit. Very commendable. But I am going on a mission where there may be grave danger, and there is no way I can look after a little creature like you…”

  Her face grew stormy, and she did something like stamping her foot, only underwater. Immediately, the pools became roiled, turbulent. Water bubbled up over the rock where Tvrdik stood, soaking his boots and feet. “Hey!” he yelped, dancing in place.

  “Can take care of self, thank you,” she seemed to control her temper with effort, and the water receded. “I watch you many seasons. You are mage, I think. I know old magic, too. Can help…help you do mission.”

  For a moment, Tvrdik considered this, thinking she could be an asset at that. But he dismissed the fleeting thought right away. It was just too uncertain ahead, too dangerous. “I’m sorry little naiad. It’s simply out of the question. I promise to come back and tell you all about it when I have finished. Farewell.” Again he turned to go. This time his entire back was slapped with a very large wave. Dripping and aggravated, he slowly turned back. But before he could chide her, she shouted at him in her piping little voice.

  “Lovely Man, you owe me. I save your life. I claim my debt now. You take me with you.” She screwed up her face in a pout and thrust it straight at him, eye to eye.

  Tvrdik blinked first, “What in heaven’s name are you talking about?”

  “Long time ago, when you first come here, I watch you. You stop at our waterfall, spend long time here. You like our waters. You think to come swim here with us. I see you – I think you are very lovely man (Tvrdik winced); maybe not so bright not to think of rough waters below, hard rocks. I make waters come up high to catch you, lay you softly down on grass.” She blushed a sort of purplish shade, “I am happy you are not hurt in water here.”

  Tvrdik squatted down on the flat rock, silent, as the answers to his own personal mystery were revealed at last. He kept his head lowered as the truth of what had happened those long years ago washed over him. He saw no reason to explain to this little elfin being how her version of the story was not quite the way things had gone. But it seemed he did owe her his life. He looked up at her, one blonde eyebrow raised behind the spectacles. “Well. It seems we do have a situation here. I remember that day well. I never knew how I came to that bank in safety. It appears I do owe you a debt – and my deepest gratitude.”

  She nodded to him with a rather self-satisfied expression. He continued.

  “But, how can I ever hope to repay your kindness now? Even if I thought it wise to let you come along – and mind you, I’m not saying I do – how could it be possible? Unless I forget my fairy lore, you cannot survive out of water.”

  “You take me in water,” she insisted. “For travel I only need small amount – you can carry.” It was obvious she had thought this through.

  “Ondine, I am sent on a difficult quest which could take us far from here. Perhaps we might not get back to this place ever again. There is danger everywhere. I might not survive to come back.”

  “This is important?”

  “Oh, very important. Vital, in fact.”

  “I will come. Help you with important task. Save you again if danger comes near, Lovely Man.”

  Tvrdik looked at the feisty little fairy, and his heart warmed with appreciation. Somebody was on his side already. That had to be a good omen.

  “So, you are quite set on this course? There is nothing else I can say to dissuade you? Nothing else I can do to repay you?”

  “I say farewell already to my sisters. I come with you.”

  “To be honest, it would please me well to have some company on the road. And, as you mentioned, I do owe you. Wait here.”

  She did, but poised and vigilant in case of some trickery. Tvrdik stepped into the woods a few paces and glanced around for inspiration. He found a sizeable piece of birch bark, flexible and intact, rolled it into a thick tube, and sealed the edges with sap and a bit of magic. He affixed some sturdy leaves over one end of the tube, and cast a spell that the whole contraption would not leak. Stepping back to the waterfall, he filled his makeshift cylinder with water, and offered it to her.

  “This should do until we come to the first village, and can trade for something more suitable. Let me know if it is too close or uncomfortable.”

  She leapt in and smiled up at him. “Good,” she nodded with enthusiasm, “I am not heavy for you?”

 
“No, no,” he replied, “but what should we do about sealing it so it doesn’t spill on the way? Hmmm.” He waved his hand over the open end of the bark cylinder, and sealed it shut with an energy field. Almost at once, the homemade container began to jump and vibrate. He dissolved the seal, and Ondine popped up, gasping.

  “Need…air…too, Lovely Man.” she scowled at him.

  “Oh, sorry! I didn’t realize. You are the first naiad I have ever carried. And, if we are to travel together, please don’t call me that.” He whispered the intention for his magical seal to be porous to oxygen, but not water, and waved his hand over the open end again. This time he was met with a smiling face peering up from inside the container. Tvrdik cast about for a sturdy length of vine, cut a piece with his good knife, and affixed it to the birch bark tube. He slung the finished product across his body and around his neck, backed away from the magical falls, arranged his other pouches and carry-sack, picked up his wooden walking stick, and started down the road to meet his destiny. But, miraculously, not alone.

  FIVE

  At the Palace of Theriole

  JORELIAL REY STRODE THROUGH THE bustling inner courtyard of the palace, on her way to the formal Hall of Audience. She forced her eyes to stay trained on the goal ahead, invisible blinders shutting out everything vying for her attention on the left and on the right. Her lips were set in a grim, determined expression, and she led with the top of her head, as if she could push her way through the crowded corridors with sheer mental energy. This was her least favorite part of the day in what had become the least favorite year in her young life. Having been in council meetings all morning, and having spent the entire afternoon attending to one essential, impossible task after another, she still had at least one audience to survive before dinner. Any chance of sweet privacy was hours away under the best conditions, but she clung to the slim filament of hope that there would be time later to spend with Tashroth.