“Gentlemen, thank you for coming here this afternoon, when I am sure you would rather be out enjoying this beautiful day. We have much to celebrate besides the lovely weather, the pressures of the Grand Council and Coronation being behind us now. King Darian is crowned, and is progressing in his education. He attended audiences this last week with departing dignitaries, and you would be proud of the grace and understanding he showed beyond his years. I am certain he sent most of our visitors home, enchanted by his charm. Almost all have departed by now, and Theriole can settle back into some semblance of normalcy. Peace reigns, the sun shines, crops bud, everything is established in its proper order, and under normal circumstances we should all be relieved to fall back into the lives we know, and the leisure we enjoy. But, my lords, these are not normal circumstances. Two weeks ago, I informed you that there was trouble brewing in our land. You all had a taste of it at the Grand Council meeting, and later after the Coronation, where an attempt was made on my life. We might hope that these were isolated, unpleasant instances that will fade into memory and bear little lasting import. I told you then that I knew they would not. I also told you how I knew we were facing a more serious threat, and what I intended to do about it. Many of you were understandably skeptical, and I promised to present to you, as soon as possible, my main source of information and a valuable advisor on these matters. I would like to take the opportunity now to introduce you all to our new Court Wizard, heir and protégé to the great Xaarus, Tvrdik.”
There was a round of polite applause as Tvrdik made his entrance from outside the room. If he was anxious, it did not show, nor was there any hint of the young victim who had nearly perished in delirium only two weeks earlier. Jorelial Rey couldn’t help smiling at the tall, lean, serious young man in mage’s robes, carrying a great staff of oak and amethyst, who immediately commanded the attention of everyone present as he crossed the room. Standing before them, he seemed to send down roots into the earth, and hold his head up among the stars. His eyes, behind their ubiquitous spectacles, were eyes that had seen visions, yet seemed to pierce each man’s heart as he met their gaze head on. There was something of Xaarus about him, but something uniquely Tvrdik too, in the lanky grace and crooked smile. She was thinking of the scruffy, intense youth decked in carry-sacks who had first pushed his way into the Hall of Audience, despite her objections. The man before her now was the same at core, yet much had changed. This was no journeyman at his master’s knee. She glanced out at Verger and Bargarelle, looking as if they were about to burst with excitement. Even Lord Maygrew sat up in his chair, and leaned forward. There was a wizard in the room, and he had their attention.
“Everything the Lady Jorelial Rey has told you is true. My name is Tvrdik. Some of you might know my face, though I was but a boy the last time we met. For six years, I lived here among you and studied my craft under Master Wizard Xaarus. He was teacher and mentor to me, and I daresay more father than my own flesh and blood ever was. I am a quiet sort of man, and when he vanished all those years ago, I decided the life of the Court was not for me. I went away to pursue a life of study and contemplation, which suited me well for nearly twelve years. And happily would I have stayed in my solitude, had I not been approached some weeks ago by my old master, Xaarus himself. How is this possible? You have already heard the particulars of what happened to Xaarus during these last years, and how he managed, at great pains, to return over immense stretches of time and space, to find me. Our reunion was too brief, and now Xaarus, alive and well, remains trapped in exile in a far off future. He would be standing here before you himself if it were possible by any means.
“Believe me sirs, after twelve years, no one was more amazed than me to see him standing before me, but I know my master. His story of travelling through time is challenging to even the most credulous among us. But, in the weeks I spent with him and since, so many proofs have emerged for which I can find no other reasonable explanation. Xaarus, from the future, knew to tell me of the tragic deaths of King Darian and his queen, and that of Lord Gareth Rey, when I had heard naught about these events. He urged me to come to court and seek out the Lady Rey with his warnings about what was to come, and predicted that she would listen. He told me that she would surely be acclaimed permanent regent, but that a certain power-hungry lord, Drogue by name, would resent her election and cause a great disturbance at the Grand Council meeting. And he has foreseen the likelihood of what we shall yet face: the greatest challenge of our lifetime.
“But he also showed me how our actions in this time could shape the future for many generations to come, and even affect the character of the time in which he now finds himself, and beyond. I, too, resisted believing these wild tales at first, until I came here and found everything falling out exactly as he had presented it to me. With each new event that fulfilled his prophecies, I became more committed to his plan for our collective salvation. I can see no other possible road. Those of you who knew Xaarus, summon your memories of him now, and ask yourself if you ever knew him to be anything but wise, straightforward, compassionate, and singularly uninterested in wealth, power, or personal gain.”
Tvrdik, who held everyone mesmerized, even though he used no magic and spoke in moderate tones, paused here to survey the faces of those who sat before him. It was clear many in his audience were doing as he had bid them – remembering, searching for a reason to doubt what they were being told, and finding none. When he continued, it was even more quietly, drawing them in. “Xaarus convinced me to return here and offer myself in his stead, in service to my kingdom. He took pains to complete my magical education, and to establish a link whereby I may be in contact with him from time to time, to access his wise counsel. A storm is coming, my friends, a very dangerous one. Your old friend is heartsick that he cannot be here to help shepherd us through it safely. Thus, he has sent me to be his mouthpiece and his proxy. I do not pretend that I am his equal, but I have made a commitment to serve with everything I am and have, for as long as I am needed. Xaarus’ dearest hope is that all of us will throw our lot in together, and with our combined talents, we will find a way to triumph over Lord Drogue and his forces, over whatever may divide us, and even over the tides of time. I understand your reluctance to trust your fate to a stranger who comes into your midst with an implausible story. But, I beg you to weigh my words with your minds and your hearts. Consider if I could have any reason at all to stand before you and invent such a tale. Question me. Ask for whatever proof you need. I stand ready to answer anything that is within my ability and knowledge.”
Here he ended, lowered his head and stepped back a few feet, as if to clear space for someone else. Jorelial Rey picked up the cue.
“The floor is now open for discussion and questions. Our new mage is at your disposal.”
There was a pause. Lord Maygrew gathered himself and stood for recognition.
“It is a pleasure to meet you formally at last, young mage. We owe you a great debt of gratitude for your vigilance and swift action on the day of young Darian’s coronation. I was present, and saw you put yourself in great peril in order to save the king, the Lady Regent, and all of us from Lord Drogue’s treachery. Were it not for your courage, I’m sure we would be assembled here today to discuss very different matters indeed.”
That was gracious of Maygrew, Rel thought, the kind of thing I would expect of him. Tvrdik blushed and smiled his disarming crooked smile. “Xaarus is committed to young Darian’s eventual succession. And to Jorelial Rey as his chosen regent. Part of my task here is to help protect them from danger, but I am young and still learning. Perhaps, next time, I will find a less painful way to accomplish that goal.”
A chuckle circulated throughout the group. It was difficult not to like this earnest, self-effacing young man. That was part of what Jorelial Rey was counting on.
Maygrew went on, “I trust then, that you are well? Recovered from your recent ordeal?”
“On the
mend, sir, on the mend and well enough. And that, largely due to the tireless ministrations of my friends at Theriole, and the capable staff of physicians you employ here.” And that, Rel thought, is gracious of Tvrdik.
One of the other lords interjected from his seat, “Are you well, enough, Sir Mage, to give us a little sample of your magical skills? It’s been a long time since we were treated to any wizardry here.” There were exclamations of agreement all around. Tvrdik had expected this, and reached first for the simplest demonstration. Snow began falling in the chamber – first a few flakes, then clumps, then a veritable blizzard. Every face in the room was turned upward as the cold flakes fell on eyelashes and lips. Several men and women rose to brush off their expensive outfits. A dusting began to accumulate on the parquet floor. Then, in an instant, it was all gone. No trace remained, no moisture in anyone’s hair or clothing. Another voice rang out, goading, “Nice trick, but is that all you can do?” Now that was annoying, and downright rude. In a flash, a giant bear stood upright where the wizard had been. Easily topping seven feet, it snaked its great head back and forth, and batted the air with its huge paws which sported sharp, curved claws the size of carving knives. The bear shambled out into the midst of the assembly and roared, its giant teeth a bit too close to one hapless minister for comfort. The terrified man shrank back, hands thrown in front of his face. And then, the bear vanished, and Tvrdik stood there, rearranging his robes and adjusting his glasses.
“Sorry about that. I may have gotten a little carried away.” Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Bargarelle fanning Verger, who had turned green and slumped against him, drawing his breath in gasps. Tvrdik was torn between sympathy, and an inexplicable urge to giggle at the ridiculous spectacle. He turned his attention elsewhere. He would apologize later to their friends.
Lord Maygrew acted again as spokesman for the group, “I think we get your point, mage. You have some skill with illusion. But how will this avail us against Lord Drogue, should he launch a serious attack?”
“Illusion can be a powerful deterrent, if it is convincing and unexpected,” he glanced back at Verger, and at the unfortunate lord at whom he had roared, still trembling and white in his seat. “It is possible to turn an attacker’s own fears, his weaknesses, or his lusts against him to trip him up without spilling a drop of blood, or putting our own citizenry in mortal danger. But, illusion is not the only weapon at our disposal. Wizards also study to have access to powerful universal energy forces. They must be used judiciously because they can affect the very fabric of the Universe. They can heal or destroy, depending on intention. Human qualities like faith, love, determination, and truth, can also prove powerful forces in holding back evil, which is inherently flawed because it cannot hold community, but turns on itself.”
Boone had been growing restless, and now he had heard enough. He sprang to his feet, “Wizard, you do not lack for pretty words, and high-minded ideas, but what can they do to protect us? It has been my task for decades to look after the security of this realm, and I have kept the peace by maintaining a strong, dependable force of good men, devoted to their country’s protection. They are fearless, skilled in all manner of weaponry and strategy. They are well-trained and responsive to command. And any one of them would give his life to defend his king or his homeland from usurpers. There, sir, is your deterrent. Anyone foolish enough to move against us knows he is up against a daunting warrior band, and if he does not hold his own life cheaply, he will think twice. The courage of our warriors has been celebrated in story and song for centuries. They took this land, secured it in the first times, and have kept it safe for generations. Why, now, if there is an imminent, credible threat, would we throw away what has always worked for us, in favor of some other ridiculous, untried remedy?” His words were passionate, and they posed an honest question that needed answering, as it would be on every man’s mind.
Tvrdik thought a moment, and spoke in quiet, measured tones. They had to lean in and focus to hear him. “I thank you, Minister Boone, for your very important question, and for the excellence of your forces in keeping us safe and peaceful thus far. They are indeed worthy of respect and honor. But there are two important reasons why Xaarus and I are advocating a different path. One is philosophical, and the other practical. I will give you the philosophical first. The reality is that war of any kind is never as straightforward as we like to imagine it. If war comes now, we will not have started it. We will only be responding to a threat, defending our peaceful way of life, as we have every right to do. But violence has a way of overflowing its borders. Wherever there is war, there is loss and destruction. Young men die, or are maimed, unable to care for themselves and their families. Old folks go without support in their last years, widows and orphans abound. Crops are burned, fertile lands ruined, and herds slaughtered, buildings and property destroyed, water fouled. Poverty and disease follow close behind. Cultural treasures and historic landmarks are decimated or destroyed, and the impulse for creativity and study is buried under the harsh struggle for survival in a ruined landscape. Even if the day is won, and peace is regained, endless resources must be poured into rebuilding and re-establishing a renewed economy. Fear and suspicion become a way of life; neighbor competes with neighbor for scarce resources, and those who are perceived as different, in any way, are reviled unfairly. It has always been so. War has no winners. But Xaarus, from the future, has seen that unless someone here and now breaks the cycle and stands up for something different, more and more irrevocable damage will be done. There will be shorter and shorter periods of recovery between conflicts, and everything I just described will become a miserable way of life instead of just a temporary slump. This is what we will bequeath to our descendants, unthinkable and unbearable. We may still have the power to turn the tide in a more positive direction. Left to our children to address, it may be too late.”
Tvrdik’s remarks were met with an uncomfortable silence. He could tell they were somehow struggling to reconcile the truths they could not deny in his words with their reverence for military might. Boone was scowling. Tvrdik went on.
“The second reason I recommend an alternate response is, as I said, practical. It is that Xaarus has seen our future in the matrix of potential time lines, from the other side, and we do not triumph. That is, adopting traditional methods of defense, in pitched battle, army to army, we cannot win.”
Boone exploded, “That is ridiculous. There is no way he could know that. We are talking about the Royal Guard here, and an upstart border lord.”
“It is no reflection on the worthiness, preparedness, or courage of your troops, Minister Boone. Lord Drogue is an unscrupulous and ambitious adversary. He will find ways to raise a substantial force, and follow no rules of civility or fairness. He is even a student of dark sorcery, as near as I can tell, and would not hesitate to use it, if he thought it would work to his advantage. I am talking about destructive forces that I have been trained carefully to steer clear of. I can combat them to some extent, but I am not yet certain how much he knows. As for Xaarus’ reports, I cannot tell why our best efforts are fated to fail us, but I do know that Drogue’s ascendancy, and his ugly tyrannical rule are a large factor in hastening the downward spiral into endless violence and despair which I have already described. It is so in almost every timeline that Xaarus examined. Simply put, we lose.”
“Couldn’t we use Xaarus’ advance knowledge of the future to change it in our favor? To, say, help us to surprise Drogue, or escape some plotted ambush?” This came from one of Maygrew’s friends seated near him.
“A fair question, but I do not believe any of that would change the bigger picture, or the inevitable outcome. In trying to trace back the timelines, it appears that Xaarus cannot see the fine details so much as the larger trends – not enough to really help us move by move. In any timeline he followed through, he could not find for us a military triumph. Men like Drogue only lust after personal p
ower, and thrive on chaos and destruction. It is second nature to him. We cannot beat him on his own terms. Instead we must keep him off balance with the values we know and embrace – those that are second nature to us.”
“I have never heard such a load of rubbish in my life,” cried Boone. “This is madness. What does any of it mean?”
Tvrdik was quick to counter, “Gentlemen, we have an unprecedented luxury. If you were about to engage in a great enterprise that you knew would be costly in both lives and resources, but you had advance knowledge that you would nevertheless fail, would you not pause to reconsider the wisdom of your undertaking? Would you not do your best to re-allocate those resources and lives so that they would not be wasted in a futile effort? To do otherwise would be foolhardy.”
“And if we do nothing against Drogue, we also fail, and we lose the kingdom. At least if we fight, history will not say that we stood idly by and allowed the usurper to take what he wanted unchallenged.” Boone was purple. Tvrdik kept his voice calm and steady.
“What we are proposing is in no way inaction, nor helpless surrender. What I am asking you to do is to take the same courage and discipline and skill in which you and your men excel, and add it to the special talents and creative intelligence of everyone in this room to come up with new and fresh ways of frustrating Drogue in his attempt to steal the crown. Ways that, if possible, do not revolve around who has the bigger fist or the most brutal attitude. Ways in which we certainly have the potential to win the day and drive him clear out of the kingdom. Surely, if we believe in the virtues of intelligence, creativity, truth, unity, and the power of right, we must believe they are strong enough virtues to win the day without being backed up by swords…” He paused here for the response he knew would not come. They were confused and conflicted. He did not blame them, and actually counted it a good beginning to at least shake the certainty in some minds that he was dead wrong or insane. He swallowed and went on.
The Last Wizard of Eneri Clare Page 38