The Last Wizard of Eneri Clare

by April Leonie Lindevald

  “I will do that, sir, but the issue at hand is that I am now recovered sufficiently to address the Cabinet myself. This is scheduled for tomorrow, and I do not know how I might succeed in convincing them to adopt our strategy any better than Lady Rey did. We were hoping you might have some suggestions. You have been most helpful on such matters before.” Tvrdik was referencing his first encounter with the Regent. Xaarus appeared to be thinking. When he finally spoke, he seemed to be continuing the process out loud.

  “I know most of these men. They are good men, and generally wise. But they are cautious and aging, very attached to traditions and methods that are tried and true. They need to be unstuck, even shaken up. Nothing as simple as a coin will help you this time, Tvrdik. As I counseled you before, be yourself. Be honest and open. Let your passion and enthusiasm shine through – it can be infectious. Be patient with them. Answer their questions – give them the proof they want. And, if they are still resistant, summon me again in their presence.”

  “But they will not be able to see or hear you…”

  “We may still be able to conjure a few surprises that will turn heads. I will be ready. Seek me when you need me, and go with confidence.”

  “Master, I have been studying your books and parchments, and have begun to assemble many ideas for our defense. But your input is vital to our success. I am so new at all of this.”

  “One thing at a time, son. Let us approach the hurdle of the Cabinet first. There will be time for all the rest, and I will most certainly be with you many times as you craft your plans. I can already feel you on all the right roads, though, boy. Hold fast. I am proud of you….” The image was fading again.

  “Master, must you go so soon?”

  “Tomorrow…” and the word echoed into oblivion, as Tvrdik felt himself falling, falling into a blackness, a void with no end, no beginning. Cold, silent, dizzying. He thought he heard someone shouting, calling his name, but the sound was so very far away, and he could see no-one. He was drowning in darkness, and it seemed of no use to struggle any longer, so he just allowed the current to take him, deeper, deeper, nowhere, nothing…

  He opened his eyes to see the face of Jorelial Rey, puckered with concern, just beneath his. She was down on one knee on the hard cobblestones, and her hands were holding him upright on the bench where he still sat, gripping his oaken staff but slumped over limply.

  “Tvrdik! Tvrdik, come back to us. Come on – wake up.” She was trying to support and shake him at the same time, without much success. As she jostled his left arm, a twinge of pain brought him fully back to his senses, and he sat upright. “Ow!” He yelped.

  “Oh, thank the gods. I was beginning to think we’d lost you again.”

  “What are you doing down there, Jorelial Rey?” Tvrdik frowned, trying to move his hands from their position on the wizard’s staff and finding his fingers surprisingly unresponsive.

  Rel sprang up to sit on the bench beside him, still keeping a steadying hand on his shoulder. Tvrdik could see Tashroth’s huge face behind her, staring at him with as much concern as a dragon face could register. The Lady Regent explained, “You said something like, ‘Master, don’t go…’, and then your head fell forward and you just started sliding off the bench. I shouted and called and grabbed you to keep you from falling, but I couldn’t rouse you. Even Tash roared, but you were gone…”

  “How long?”

  “I don’t know. It seemed like forever. Minutes, I guess. Maybe five minutes. But that’s a long time to be unconscious, isn’t it?”

  Tvrdik pried one of his hands off the staff and used it to straighten his glasses, then wiggled the fingers to bring back their circulation.

  “I felt my consciousness following after Xaarus, but ending up in this big, vast nowhere, all dark and silent. I felt like I was falling, but I couldn’t see any ceiling or floor, or light, or way out, so I just relaxed and gave up. Next thing you know I was back here and you were shaking me.”

  “I tried to hold you here, but your link with him was stronger, and I lost the touch of your mind. I am sorry.” It was Tashroth who spoke, still sounding worried.

  Rel asked, “How do you feel now? Are you alright?”

  Tvrdik shifted on the stone seat, and switched hands, wiggling the fingers of his left hand now. “I-I think so. It just takes a great deal of energy to speak to him over such a long distance. I expect I’m just not quite back to myself yet, and I might have pushed it a little and just blacked out is all.”

  Rel shot him a skeptical look, then hit him hard across the good arm.

  “Hey!”

  “Well, don’t do it again. Do you realize my heart almost stopped? I don’t even think you were breathing all that time.” She paused, calming herself with deep breaths. Then, “Listen, you have no idea how frustrating it is to stand out here and hear half a conversation directed at nobody I can see. What did he say?”

  “What? Who?”

  “Xaarus!” she was losing patience now, “What did Xaarus tell you to do about the Cabinet?”

  “Oh. Well, he told me to be truthful, and patient, and enthusiastic, and answer all of their questions – not much new there – and he said that if they continued to be difficult, we should summon him back again in the presence of the Cabinet members, and he would communicate a few things that might make them sit up and take notice.”

  Jorelial Rey looked as if she were about to explode. “Really? That was his suggestion? Oh, fine. Just perfect.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing’s wrong. Only I can’t let you to do that, and now we are back to square one.”

  “What do you mean, you can’t let me do that? You can’t stop me. Xaarus told me to use the link in front of the Cabinet.”

  “Tvrdik, look what just happened. Look at yourself. How can we take another risk like that again so soon? What if you get stuck somewhere in between and I can’t ever wake you?”

  “Jorelial Rey, I’m alright. Just a little tired is all, and we had to do it twice, remember?”

  They glared at each other in silence for a moment, when Tvrdik, noticing the dark circles under her eyes, and the anxious look behind the flaring temper, softened. “Look, I’m sorry if I gave you another scare today, but I’m fine now, really. I’m not all that fragile. I came here with a job to do, and instead I feel like a millstone around everyone’s neck. Let me do what I came to do…please?” She tipped her head, birdlike, one eyebrow raised as if assessing the truth of his words, but made no verbal response. He went on.

  “If it happens again, we are right in the palace, with every resource available. And a little melodrama can only help our cause, eh?” Usually his attempts at humor could shift her mood, but she wasn’t buying today.

  She remained staring at him intently for another moment, lips pressed tightly together, then closed her eyes, and let out a long sigh, “You’re right. I can’t tell you what to do – or rather, I can, but I don’t want to. And I don’t have any other wonderful ideas. If bringing Xaarus into the meeting is what it takes, and you’re willing, I won’t stop you. Just try to be careful, will you?”

  Tvrdik smiled, “Relax. I’ll go to bed early tonight and eat my vegetables. Besides, he told me he’d be standing by, but only to use him as a last resort. Maybe it won’t even come up.”

  She rolled her eyes heavenward, “You don’t know this bunch.”

  Tashroth, who had been watching their debate with curiosity and interest, moved his face closer to hers, and purred, “Remember to tell them I also see the old wizard. Some might find that an argument of note.”

  “Yes, Tash, don’t worry. I will use every line of reasoning at my disposal, believe me.” The dragon nuzzled her once in a supportive gesture, and lifted his great head high, surveying the gardens. “Yes, Tash. It must be full morning now, and people are up and about. As usual, I have a full schedu
le ahead of me. I suppose it is time to go back. I will come to you tonight on the tower, dearest. Thank you for your help today.”

  Tashroth nuzzled her again tenderly, “Be well, be strong today. I will await you later.” He swung his head over to Tvrdik, closer than the young mage was expecting, and spoke low, “Mage, I will seek your thoughts tomorrow and help you strengthen the link if I am able. I am certain you will use it.”

  “Very good.” Tvrdik responded, his voice breaking like an adolescent. He cleared his throat and tried again, willing himself to just breathe and be comfortable with the dragon at that proximity, “I appreciate anything you can do, Lord Tashroth. Thank you for your help.”

  Without additional courtesies, the great green dragon swung his head up, extended his wings, gathered his weight, and sprang into the air. Circling once, he vanished in the distance among the drifting clouds. Rel and Tvrdik watched until long after the dragon was only a tiny dot in the far-off blue, and then the wizard, who was still seated on the stone bench, said, “Well, then,” grasped his staff firmly in his right hand, and stood up. And almost immediately began to sink down as his vision went gray and his knees buckled. She was under him in an instant, supporting his weight from the other side, steadying him with the help of the oaken staff.

  “Stood up too fast,” he reassured, “Just a little lightheaded. Probably past time for breakfast, hmmmm?” The wave of faintness had passed, but he did feel inordinately tired.

  “Can you walk?” Rel asked without inflection.

  “Yes, of course.” But truth be told, he was grateful for her supportive presence at his elbow as they made their slow way back to Theriole. If he were honest with himself, he felt like someone had turned a tap and siphoned all the life-force out of him. He really did hope breakfast would help. Jorelial Rey offered no further word of conversation all the way back, and once they were inside, escorted him back to his quarters. All efficiency, she suggested that she arrange for food to be sent to him there. He thanked her and opened the door to go in, concerned that he had displeased her, or somehow added to her burdens. But then she turned back, touched her hand to his shoulder, and spoke just one word, “Rest.” He nodded, and she hurried off to begin her own day.

  Tvrdik leaned his staff on a corner wall and sat down on the bed. He wanted to be at his best on the morrow. He would convince no-one of his fitness to engineer an entire kingdom’s defense if he appeared weak or unwell. What had gone wrong this morning? Even given the fact that he wasn’t quite recovered from his injuries and the fever, the brief visit with Xaarus he had conjured this morning should not have left him so debilitated. If he could only focus and think it through, perhaps he could figure out how to prevent the same thing from happening again. But, he was so tired. Just then, a knock on the door alerted him to the arrival of breakfast. He wasn’t very hungry after all. But, hopeful that some nourishment might help to restore his depleted energy, he rose to let the servant in. The rest of Theriole might be just beginning their day’s activities, but after breakfast, he fully intended to do exactly as Jorelial Rey had suggested, and rest. An hour later, when Delphine arrived to help him with his exercises, she found the wizard fast asleep.

  TWENTY–FOUR

  The Cabinet

  THE NEXT DAY, AN HOUR before the Cabinet was to assemble, Jorelial Rey returned to Tvrdik’s door. She had received a message earlier that, if it were at all possible to arrange, he would appreciate a moment with her to compare notes. She was already dressed, in the formal garb of her position: a tailored tunic of deep blue with matching leggings and black riding boots. Her dark hair was plaited down her back in a single thick braid, and the silver circlet of her Regency was planted firmly on her brow. Sick with apprehension, she stood outside Tvrdik’s door. It was a good idea for them to meet and get their strategy straight before facing the skeptics, but after the events of the day before, she dreaded that more bad news awaited her on the other side of that door.

  It would not do to cancel the meeting at this late hour, but Tvrdik could do more damage to their cause if he appeared ill. She had long ago learned the hard way that most men in positions of authority only respected strength in their leaders: vitality, decisiveness, passion, and strength. Over the years, she had learned how to either cultivate or pretend to those qualities when necessary, as a single moment of perceived weakness could be used against you again and again.

  She need not have worried. Before she could even knock, the door opened, and there stood Tvrdik as she had not seen him in weeks. Tall, bathed, clad in his best violet robes, his pale gold hair like an aura around his smiling and relaxed face. He was peering at her in surprise through the golden spectacles on which he relied.

  “Ah, there you are. I thought I sensed someone at the door. Come in, come in. I don’t imagine we have much time…” Amazed, she followed him into the room, and he closed the door behind them, motioning her to a nearby comfortable chair. Swallowing, she sat, following him with her eyes as he sat himself in the other chair opposite her and leaned forward toward her. He wasn’t even wearing the sling today.

  “You look, well…wonderful. No sling today?” she asked.

  “Ah, well, it aches a bit sometimes, but I don’t really need it, and I thought, today…”

  “And how do you feel?”

  “Much better, thank you. I took your advice and slept through most of yesterday, and then I had a really good breakfast this morning, and was thinking and thinking about what happened…”

  “You mean, in the garden?”

  “Yes, that’s why I wanted to see you now. I think I have it figured out.”

  “You think you have what figured out?” She was mystified, but he could not contain his excitement, and plunged ahead.

  “Why I had such a bad reaction. It wasn’t just that I was still recovering. I mean, that was a part of it, of course. I’m not entirely back to myself yet. But I knew there had to be something else; it was all too strange and extreme. And I thought and thought, and just couldn’t understand it until suddenly it all came clear: Tashroth!”

  “Tashroth?” The man still wasn’t making any sense.

  “Yes, you see, it was the first time I opened the link with Tashroth present, and he got in there through my mind, and strengthened and held it open with his own energy. When Xaarus pulled back, I really wasn’t ready to end our conversation, so I hung onto him, and in essence, followed after him. But not just my thoughts this time, you see; my entire consciousness went through the link that Tashroth was making stronger and wider. Somewhere in there, Xaarus disconnected the link, and your dragon lost me, and I was just stranded in the void between times, unable to find my way back over what might have been a really long distance. You were right to be concerned, as I could have been trapped there forever. It was you who pulled me back. You wouldn’t give up, and you kept calling my name until I found you, thank goodness.”

  Rel blinked, speechless.

  “I kept wondering why I was so exhausted all day after that, and then I remembered the weeks when Xaarus was here, training me, and how much effort it took for him to stay in this time. Toward the end, he would have moments when he was so weary, he would just collapse, or even disappear for a time. I’m not at all sure how this works, but I think the two experiences are somehow linked. With Tashroth’s help, I was close to doing some time travel myself yesterday, with only my physical body left behind. And because I wasn’t at my full strength, and I am not at all used to focusing so much power, I ended up useless for the rest of the day. All of this is really hard on Xaarus, too, but he is so much more powerful and experienced than I am. Anyway, I don’t claim to understand it very well right now – I know I’m just scratching the surface. And I’m thinking sometime in the future this information might become useful, or clearer, or something…but, what I really wanted to tell you is that now that I know what was going on, it doesn’t have to happen again.”


  “You mean you can link with Xaarus safely?”

  “I think so. Tashroth told me he would be helping again today, which, trust me, is an advantage that I would not want to give up. But, I think I have devised a sort of psychic energy shielding that will protect me from drifting out of this time frame. And when it is time for the link to be severed, I know enough now to pull back and break contact. I’m sure it will work. It should be fine. And, look! I’m fine too – I just needed to regenerate. No need for you to waste any more worry on me.”

  Despite her impatience with his longwinded explanation, it was beginning to dawn on her what he was trying to tell her. “This is good news. And I can see for myself how well you seem today. You appear to be almost back to your usual, energetic, exasperating self. Oh, Tvrdik, what a relief.”

  “I thought you’d be pleased. I didn’t want you to spend another moment anxious that something could go wrong. You already have enough on your mind.”

  “I can’t say I understand much of what you just told me, but if you are confident that you know what you are talking about, and can work with it, then I trust you. Since I am here now, why don’t we take this opportunity to go over the main points we want to touch on today?”

  “Excellent idea. Fill me in on how the meeting will begin.”

  A little more than an hour later, the Lady Regent was standing before her Cabinet, nervous, but poised – the very picture of a confident leader. She took a moment to notice the faces before her. Minister Verger was sitting with Bargarelle (to whom she had sent a special invitation), both looking up at her with happy anticipation. Ministers Boone and Alanquist were close to the front, their expressions not at all so open. There was Lord Maygrew, her one-time champion, sitting back with arms crossed over his chest, curiosity flickering across his bearded face. Near him sat some of his closer friends, lords from the nearby valley provinces, only slightly less influential. There were lesser ministers too, of agriculture, public works, and so forth. She certainly had their attention, but not their faith. The room was silent. Time to make a start.