Tvrdik was taken aback at the man’s heartfelt speech, and moved at his obvious distress. “Praeger, I beg you, get up off of your knees. There is a chair here – sit down and we will talk…”
But the man would not get up. Instead, he groveled lower still, and grabbed hold of Tvrdik’s boot, beginning to weep, “No, sir, I dare not look ye in the eye. I am not worthy even to wipe yer boots…”
“Praeger, please! I want nothing of you. This is entirely unnecessary. I am happy to see your daughter thriving, and glad to be of some help. She is a charming, delightful little imp, and deserves a happy life.”
“Aye, and her father deserves torture and death for his treachery. When I came with her a week ago and saw ye so pale and pained, and yet so kind, it cut me to the quick to see what I had done, and for what? And still, you struggle, yer shoulder…”
Tvrdik willed all of his strength into his sound right arm, which he used to firmly lift the limp figure from the ground and install him in the chair facing his. “Master Praeger, I beg you to calm yourself and let us speak man to man…there, that’s better.” Praeger pulled out a large handkerchief and blew his nose with a resonant blast. Tvrdik continued, “Sir, I know your story, and I assure you I bear you no ill will. We were all fortunate that no real lasting harm was done to anyone, so there is room for second chances. See, I am mending, every day a little stronger. And King Darian and the Lady Regent are well, as is Lynette now, so some good came of the whole episode. All of us make bad decisions – errors in judgment – sometime in our lives. The important thing is to recognize the errors, learn from them, and make repairs where we can. I appreciate your apology, but just looking at you, I can see you have suffered enough, and I am content.” As he spoke, Tvrdik thought fleetingly of Benjin and Ailianne, wishing there had been a second chance for them.
Praeger squirmed, “But what may I do for ye, sir?”
Tvrdik shrugged, “You don’t need to do anything, Praeger. I forgive you. I trust your promise that you will never intentionally hurt another soul. That’s enough for me. Go. Be happy.”
Praeger’s face took on a panic-stricken look. “No, no, sir! You must let me serve you. It were part o’ my agreement with the Lady Regent. This will never do. She has been most generous t’ us, and I swore I would do penance for your losses. You must employ me in some way, sir. Please, please do not send me away. I dare not break my word t’ the Lady, and truth be told, I would rest much easier in myself if I could find some way to repay you. I am strong and able, and will not shy from any task…”
The man was so pitiful and insistent that it took Tvrdik off guard. Perhaps he had underestimated the importance of giving this haunted man a chance to make amends. Jorelial Rey was truly a wise leader to have understood that instinctively. He paused a moment to think.
“Praeger, have you any skill with gardens?”
The little man blinked, then lit up, “Why, I have worked in small fields and kitchen gardens since I was but a lad. My wife and I always grew a good portion of our own food, and enough to sell a bit on the side. This time of year, I do miss having my hands in the dirt. You know we had to flee our old homestead for fear of that wicked Lord Drogue…”
Tvrdik’s eyebrows knitted at that. Another wise move he would not have thought of, but then the man must be bored and restless to boot. “I’ll tell you what I was thinking. Do you know where old Master Xaarus used to live, on the riverwalk?”
“Aye, or some idea thereabouts…”
“Well, the Lady Rey had only recently given me permission to stay there, and I had only just fixed up the house, and gotten the garden back in shape when all of this foolery happened. It’s a rather large garden: some edibles, but also many medicinal herbs and flowers, important to any healing work I might do. One of my chief regrets is that all this time that I am stuck here at Theriole – on doctor’s orders, mind you – the days go by and no one is tending to the garden there. Watering, weeding, harvesting, and the like. Before long, it will be back to wild again, and we will have lost this year’s yield. And, of course, even when they do let me out of here, I won’t be much use for awhile one-handed…” he made a feeble sort of gesture with his bandaged arm in its sling.
“A terrible shame that would be, sir, with so much important growin’ there, and the rain being as sparse as it has been this year…” Praeger was sounding positively enthusiastic.
“Yes, I’ve been thinking that as well…” Tvrdik sighed.
“Oh, sir, say the word, and I will be down there first thing in the morning with spade and hoe. Give me leave to put the land back to rights.”
“It would be a tremendous favor to me, Praeger, an important work indeed. You could check in here as often as you wish, so that I could guide you on which of the less familiar plants are not weeds, and on what flowers and leaves should be preserved, dried, etcetera. Could you handle that for me too?”
“I daresay my wife would be right smart at helping with those things, sir. She has a way with preserves…”
“Right, then. It’s settled. If you see a big dog hanging around down there, his name is Stewart, and he is a good friend minding the house for me. I am most grateful for your assistance.”
At the mention of the dog, Praeger’s mouth tightened a bit, remembering their first encounter, but he swallowed and said, “Master Wizard, I am well pleased to have a service to do for ye, and again, for the pain and suffering I have caused ye…”
“Let’s hear no more of that. In a while all of that will be a distant memory, but at least my garden will be intact.”
“Oh, ye’ll be well pleased with it, that ye will, sir. Ye’ll see.” And, fairly beaming, tattered hat still in hand, he made his way out of the room backward, bobbing up and down all the way. Left alone with his thoughts once more, Tvrdik marveled at how little it sometimes took to make people bloom. Not so long ago, he himself had appeared to be a wild man that folk might have shied away from on the road. And now…well, things were different now, was all. And with that, confident that he had put Xaarus’ rich treasure-trove of a garden into capable hands, the young mage decided to take a nap.
TWENTY–THREE
Back to the Master
AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE, DURING those days of Tvrdik’s recovery, Jorelial Rey stole time to visit with the patient. Sometimes they would have tea, or a bite, served in this case by palace staff without any magic. Tvrdik would share some of his ideas for countering Lord Drogue, both the sophisticated and the simple. Some were new concepts he was studying in Xaarus’ dusty volumes, difficult to explain. At times she lost patience – and faith – trying to wrap her mind around the things he was suggesting. She would pace the room, chewing at her fingers, and sometimes would lose her temper in frustration. But Tvrdik was always steady and calm, patient and soft-spoken, unshakeable in his convictions. He was beginning to understand and anticipate her moods, what to ignore and what to seize upon. Sometimes, he would draw diagrams for her to take back to Tashroth, and the dragon would pore over them with her late into the night, finding new ways to explain things, and adding his own ancient and magical perspectives. In their time together, Tvrdik and Rel would also discuss individuals and groups they thought they could approach for support, and planned how, and through whom, they could reach out. Little by little, a skeletal sort of framework emerged – mere possibilities, but enough to give them heart.
At last, a full two weeks after the first disastrous presentation to the Cabinet, they agreed it was time for Tvrdik to introduce himself formally, and address that august body himself. The passing weeks had turned the days warm and longer, and the rhododendron were in full bloom in Theriole’s gardens. The flowers of early spring had withered and been replaced by fragrant honeysuckle and roses. Stewart had been by often to visit, relaying wistful messages from Ondine, as well as the news that Praeger had made the cottage gardens a personal mission, working with fervor for
hours on end in the various patches, and even straying into a few outdoor repairs on the house, which he judged were needed. Praeger himself had come by every few days for detailed instructions on what to do with the medicinal herbs and flowers ready for harvesting. He seemed energized with his new purpose, and, all in all, happy. Only once had he pulled out a few handfuls of medicinal plants, thinking them weeds, and on discovering his error, was on the way back to deep despair when he saw the mage laughing, and realized the offense was nothing serious.
Tvrdik was feeling much better, his energy and stamina greatly improved. His wound was healing well, and he no longer needed bandages, though the palace healer encouraged him to continue using the sling whenever possible. Delphine had taken him out for walks on the grounds nearby, where he could at least enjoy fresh air and sunshine, and he was progressing in his exercise regimens, achieving more strength and flexibility each day. He was already straining at the bit to move back to Xaarus’ Cottage, and was told that as soon as he could easily make the journey, on foot, on his own, he would be allowed to go. Jorelial Rey did not want him to be even that far away while they were working out stratagems, if he were going to be confined there in isolation. There might, however, be some advantage to having a place to meet and discuss things, away from prying palace ears. As the mage got closer to being cleared to move, they had to agree that there was no longer any real reason to delay addressing the Cabinet.
Tvrdik was eager to try his hand at swaying the most powerful figures in the kingdom to his cause, but decided it might be helpful to have a conversation with Xaarus before going into the lions’ den. He was a little uncertain of the energy it would take to summon his old teacher, but it seemed as good a time as any to give it a try. Jorelial Rey wanted to be present for the communication, and Tvrdik agreed it would be wise for someone he trusted to be around anyway, in case…well, in case the effort proved too much for him. But then they decided it might be a good idea for Tashroth to be present as well, and so needed to find a big enough, out of the way space. The tower roof was still out of the question for the recovering mage, and nothing inside the palace would accommodate even a dragon’s head comfortably. At last, Tvrdik suggested that he was certain he could walk as far as the garden alcove where Mark and Delphine had been married. There were benches to sit on, and it was quite private. If they went early, they would avoid discovery, and still have a little of the warm, early summer sun. So, Jorelial Rey sent out a message to all of the Cabinet that on Monday afternoon they should assemble to meet and question the new Court Wizard. And on Sunday morning, before almost anyone was up, she arrived at the door of Tvrdik’s room to help escort him into the garden.
Tash had already planted himself on a stretch of lawn nearby, from whence he could arch his long neck and lower his head into the little guarded corner, as he did at the wedding. The dragon was just as curious as the Lady Regent about what this link over time and space would look like, and was delighted to be included in the proceedings. Tvrdik took his oaken staff along for both physical and magical support, and Rel insisted he take her arm as well. But she was pleasantly surprised that he seemed to stride along without any need of external props, and he only winced once when she accidentally tugged on his arm from an unfortunate angle. Within minutes, they were sitting on stone benches in the quiet, lovely alcove, no one else in sight. The sounds of water burbled in rhythm from the swan fountain, and a windchime leftover from the wedding surrounded them with melody. They both felt that with their first deep breath in that place, the doubts and tensions they carried all melted away. It was a magical spot, and a good choice for the morning’s endeavor.
Tvrdik sat square on the bench, spine erect, and feet planted solidly apart, holding his staff upright before him with both hands. One end rested firmly on the cobblestones, and he leaned into it, lightly touching its polished gnarls to his forehead. Breathing deeply, eyes closed, he concentrated on all of his memories of Xaarus: the old man’s kind, lined face, the roughness of his homespun robes, the scent of sage and lavender. Almost like waking gently from a dream, Tvrdik realized that the image he was looking at had already passed from the remembered to the real, and he felt embraced by a wave of love and deep concern.
“Oh, my dear boy,” the image said, “I have taken from your mind the history of the last few weeks and I am so sorry for all that you have endured. This was something I could not have foreseen, and when I think of how close we came to losing you…”
Tvrdik smiled his crooked smile, “You could not have foreseen my foolish, gallant impulse, is that it, Master?”
“I didn’t mean it quite like that, boy. You did a brave and wonderful thing, but I am glad that you are still here to tell the tale. My compliments on your skilled use of my healing potions, and also on the compassionate treatment of your attacker – a most creative way to cultivate the new attitude we have talked about so much.”
“Well, that, Master, was all the Lady Regent. It was she who was wise enough to see his true nature, and treat him kindly. I daresay the man is firmly in our camp, now, forever.”
“Well done. You see, there is very little that cannot be healed with enough love and understanding.”
“Yes, Master.”
“What is he saying, Tvrdik? What about me?” Hearing her name, Jorelial Rey had jumped up from her bench, excited and frustrated to be privy to only half of a conversation.
“He commends you on how you handled Praeger; it impressed him.” That brought a proud grin to her face. Imagine, a personal nod from Xaarus himself!
“Jorelial Rey.” It was Tashroth’s low, musical voice over her shoulder.
“Shhh. Not now, Tash. He has to concentrate.”
“No, Jorelial Rey. Listen to me. I can see Xaarus. I can hear him.”
“What?” She hadn’t meant to shout as she turned abruptly to face the green dragon. This was all too much for Tvrdik, who also started, straightened, and turned to stare at Tashroth in disbelief. The connection was broken.
“I said, I could see and hear the Master as plainly as I see the two of you.”
“But, how is that possible?” Tvrdik was incredulous, “The link is only in my mind.”
“I am not entirely certain, but as you recall, I have been inside your mind, which is, if I may say so, unusually open. It is not difficult for me to find the frequency again. It is also rumored that dragons have some ancient facility with time and dimensional travel. Our consciousness is not as locked into this plane of existence as yours…”
Rel frowned. “Well, I’m not sure I grasp any of that, but it certainly makes me feel a bit left out here.”
“On the other hand,” Tvrdik reminded her, “here, at last, is your validation of the reality of my claims: independent confirmation from the most trustworthy source on earth. We should have thought of trying this long ago.”
“I admit I am somewhat surprised myself,” Tash answered, “but it is very good to see Master Xaarus alive and well, wherever he may be.”
“I told you,” Tvrdik said.
Rel interrupted them, “But now, what do we do? There was still so much we had to ask him, and we have lost him.”
“I will have to try and re-establish the link. I’m not sure I can, but I can try.”
“Now that I am aware of what it feels like, I think I can help you to hold it steady, mage. Go ahead when you are ready.”
Tvrdik glanced at both of them and then repositioned himself on the bench, eyes closed, head touching the upright staff. He began to recreate his sensory memories. In a moment, his old teacher stood before him once more. A slight rumble issued from the dragon’s throat in acknowledgement. Xaarus spoke first, “What happened, son? I lost you for a few moments.”
“Apologies, Master. I am here with the Lady Jorelial Rey, and the dragon Tashroth, who says he can plainly see and hear you through this link. Hearing this news startled me, and I could
not hold my focus.”
Xaarus’ eyebrows lifted, but he was nodding in a very familiar gesture. “Interesting. Dragons are rumored to have some ability in transcending time…”
“Tashroth pointed that out as well, and also reminded me that he is familiar with my mind, having earlier searched it for deception.”
“Ah. Also interesting.”
“Can you see him as well, Master?” There was a pause, during which everyone held their breath and concentrated.
“No. I’m afraid I am only tuned into you, my dear boy, but it is a comfort to know that your claims can be backed up by another source. Greetings to you, mighty Tashroth. What a pleasure to be in your distinguished presence once again!”
“And to you, Master Wizard. Your long absence is much lamented among my people as well as among humans.”
“He returns your greetings,” Tvrdik relayed.
“Well, this may be useful information later, but I fear our time may be limited. How can I help you, boy?”
“Master, while I was still compromised by my injury, the Lady Rey went before her Council of Ministers and closest advisors, and attempted to explain my true identity, your predicament, and the plan we hope to implement against Lord Drogue. She was met with doubt, resistance, and even the accusation that she might be unstable.”
“Tell him about Verger.” Rel whispered, tugging at his sleeve.
“Oh, yes. The Lady Rey wishes me to tell you that our only firm support from that body came from Minister Verger, who recognized your hand in it right away.”
“My dear friend Verger. I could always count on him.” Xaarus smiled reflectively, “Do give him my warmest regards…”
The Last Wizard of Eneri Clare Page 36