Tashroth finished, and gazed at them as if expecting a reaction. Tvrdik and Rel stared at the dragon, speechless. Tashroth seemed impatient for their response, “Well, do you wish to attempt it, or not?”
Tvrdik spoke first, treading with caution, “With all due respect, sir, we have been listening with care to everything you have said, and we still don’t have any idea what it is you are talking about.”
Rel chimed in, “Yes, Tash – what exactly is it you are all going to attempt?”
Tashroth rolled his giant eyes, “Why, bringing Xaarus home, of course!”
Now Tvrdik was listening in earnest, cold chills climbing his spine, and gooseflesh crawling on his forearms. “Did you say, bringing Xaarus home? Here, to this place, and in his own time? Do you mean, in the flesh?”
“Of course. But, it is not something that has ever been done before. We do not know for sure what the consequences could be…”
At this point, Candelinda stepped in, “Dearest…(Rel’s eyebrows lifted at the endearment), let me try to explain it to them. You see, Xaarus managed to catapult himself into the future, and even to stretch back here for a brief time when he came to train you, sir mage, as I understand it. But his physical form is anchored in that future time, and he has been unable to summon enough energy to leap back here for good and all. Still, he forged a powerful connection to his home time and place through this remarkable mind link with you, Tvrdik. By now, this thoroughfare between you is well worn, and familiar. You see each other and converse with ease, creating a strong bridge over the centuries. Tashroth says that when he adds his own concentration to the link, it becomes even stronger, easier to access, and to hold steady. The picture of Xaarus grows clearer and more of him comes through the link. Tashroth said that we even almost lost you once as well, as your consciousness tried to follow after your Master.”
“That is so, my lady, but I dread thinking of how that episode might have ended had my friends not pulled me back in time.”
“True,” the white dragon responded, “because the corridor still was not wide enough for your whole essence to go through in safety.”
Rel asked, wide-eyed, “What are you proposing?”
Tashroth picked up the thread of the idea then, “If I can strengthen the connection between the wizards, then what if Candelinda joined her mind to the link as well? And then Danoral here linked in, and one by one, all the dragons here added their own concentration to strengthening and widening the passage through your mind, to that moment of time where Xaarus is? Master Tvrdik’s link would sort of act like a kind of …guidepost, for us to find him. And then, with our ability to somewhat circumvent time, one of us might be able to travel to him, while the others hold the corridor open, just long enough to fetch him back here. I am not exactly sure how or why it would work, but somehow, all of the dragons who have heard the idea seem to intuit that it would work.”
Danoral spoke for the first time, his voice rather heady and buoyant for a mature dragon. “Yes, we dragons agreed that the combined mental power of all of us joined would be enough to accomplish amazing things. We all respect and admire Xaarus, and would like to give it a try, with your permission…” He was looking straight at Tvrdik.
“With my permission? Heavens, there is nothing in this entire world that I want more than to bring Xaarus back here where he belongs. If I could play some part in it, I think my life would be complete. In fact, I can’t believe you are coming up with this plan now, after all we have all been through. If it were possible for him to come home all along, and he might have been here to help us…”
Tashroth frowned, “Immaterial. Things happen at the times they are meant to, young mage. Dragons can be very solitary creatures. It simply did not occur to us until now that our cooperation as a group might, and I stress the word, might, achieve this good result.”
Tvrdik sighed, “I apologize, sir. You have me so excited that I want it done yesterday. Of course I am all for this inspired plan, which you have all devised. And grateful for your willingness to participate in implementing it. I say, the sooner the better. Why would you need to ask my permission?”
Tashroth and Candelinda exchanged a meaningful look, and then the white dragon addressed the wizard in a grim tone, “Because our only real concern, besides failure, is the danger all of this might pose to you, sir mage. You see, your mental link is the only pathway we have to Xaarus. We would all have to go through you. Your mind would have to hold the joined forces of a dozen dragon minds, all at once, all trying to open and expand a passage that was never meant to be there in the first place. That is the only way Xaarus could be located, and come through. We are not sure how accustomed you are to such mental discipline, how strong your mind is. You could be injured, or even killed. You could be left mentally broken, mindless. Failing in our purpose would be the least of our worries.”
Jorelial Rey looked back and forth between Tvrdik and the dragons in a panic, “Well then, we cannot do it. It’s too dangerous. The plan will have to be refined. Or he’ll have to work up to it. You can’t risk anything happening to Tvrdik.”
Tash swung his great head around to her, “Little one, the time can only be now, and the choice only his. It is not an easy matter to assemble this many dragons together in one place. Such a phenomenon has not happened for centuries, and may never happen again. Also, the link between Xaarus and Tvrdik is very strong now. The necessity to work together toward their shared goals forged it, and it may fade over time as their purpose vanishes. If it is to be done, it should be done soon.”
“But you said so much could go wrong. Tvrdik is the last wizard!
“We but disclose all the possibilities. We have no memory of any similar event. We wish the mage to agree or not in full understanding of what he might face. But, of course, we have every intention of doing all that is in our power to help and protect him during the process.”
Tvrdik held up a hand, “I understand, and you are correct that this is the moment, and the decision is mine. And I say every, and any, risk is worth the slightest hope that we may succeed in this mission. Think what a treasure it would be to restore Xaarus to his rightful place in a kingdom that still needs him. I am ready any time – as soon as possible.”
“But, Tvrdik…” Rel seemed to be pleading, but he stopped her from going on with a look.
“Jorelial Rey, I wasted so much of my life mourning, hiding, denying the truth of my being. Xaarus brought me out of my self-imposed exile by giving me purpose, and in so doing, he restored me to the land of the living. These past few months have held for me a lifetime of excitement, of adventure, of new friends, of hopes, and fears, and accomplishments I never thought myself capable of. But I always held before my eyes like a beacon the certainty that I had been given this second chance in order to achieve a purpose. That purpose was threefold: to defeat Lord Drogue and insure the proper succession to the throne; to convince you and your court that we could do it without violence, so that we could change the quality of the future for our descendants; and lastly, to find a way to bring my beloved Master and friend home for good. By some miracle, we have managed to complete the first two tasks, and I would gladly have spent my whole life searching for a way to accomplish the third. But, as my mind is not gifted in the same way as Xaarus’, it is probable that I would have failed. These good dragons have offered another road, and I will give my life in the attempt if it means I can complete my mission. I would then count my existence to have been of some worth. Please don’t try to stop me from doing what it is my destiny to do, Jorelial Rey. I beg you.”
He fixed his pale, intense eyes on her, waiting, while she glared at him, lips pressed together in frustration. At last she said, “Could you at least assure me that you would prefer not to ‘give your life in the attempt’ if the job can be done without your going out in a blaze of selfless glory?”
There was a silence, as they locked gaz
es. And then, he laughed; first, a small chuckle, but one that bloomed into a big, hearty laugh that quite dissolved the tension that had crackled between them a moment before. Eyes twinkling, he grabbed both of her arms, looked her square in the eye, and answered, “Yes, my friend. I promise I will do everything in my power to make this happen, and live to rejoice in it. All right?” She nodded, swept away by his enthusiasm. He turned to the triumvirate of dragons, “When can we begin?”
Tashroth spoke for them, “There is more discussion we need to determine our part in this.”
Jorelial Rey added, “May I also suggest that we might better address all this at Theriole, where we are at home, with resources available to us, and we can better control the conditions?”
“Agreed,” nodded Tvrdik.
“Agreed,” Tash vouched for the dragons. “Make what study and preparations you think wise, and we will be in frequent communication. Perhaps it would be wise to keep this plan a secret from any but your most trusted inner circle. We do not wish to raise hopes that might yet be disappointed. But, if it is in any way heartening to you, mage, I believe we will succeed.”
Tvrdik’s eyes were shining, “As do I, friend. As do I.”
FORTY–TWO
Doubts and Misgivings
JORELIAL REY SAT ON HER stool atop the north tower waiting for Tashroth to arrive with the last details. The sun was well on its way to meeting the horizon, and most of the color had gone from the landscape below. A breeze stirred up white peaks and rolling breakers on the shore below, and blew wisps of unruly hair, that would not stay braided, into her face. As the sun withdrew, she wished she had brought a jacket, feeling the chill of evening approach. Two weeks had passed since the great battle in the Valley of the Yechtze, which had been re-christened the Valley of Miracles, and the triumphant army had come home. King Darian was back at the palace, as were Mark and Delphine, and of course, little Lynette. There had been victory celebrations at Theriole, cheering crowds to welcome the Legions of Light on their return, and a parade through the streets of town to honor the brave heroes who saved the kingdom from an evil usurper.
The Lady Regent and the golden-haired mage were treated like new deities in the pantheon of heaven – feted and honored at every turn, common folk crowding up for a chance to glimpse, or even touch them, in the flesh. Petals were strewn on the paths they travelled, and chains of late flowers laid around their necks. It was all very heady and gratifying, but in the end, more exhausting than exhilarating. They were weary from the long months of stress, and even less interested in celebrations because their minds were already consumed with their next project: the proposed rescue of Xaarus from the future.
Out of necessity, they had shared news of the dragons’ plan with their closest family and friends: Delphine and Mark, Stewart, Bargarelle, Warlowe, Verger, Andrus (in case his services might be needed), Ondine, and the Praegers. But the general public could not know the grave thoughts and serious considerations that filled the minds of their anointed heroes so soon after their great triumph.
Of course, there were also a host of matters of state to be addressed as well – the regular business of running a kingdom coupled with the aftermath of a major campaign. Verger seemed on the edge of nervous exhaustion tallying up expenditures, budgets, and spoils, while Bargarelle turned his attentions to whipping Theriole back into the finely-honed machine it had been before all the excitement. General Boone set about absorbing those fighters from both sides who wished to make a career in the Crown Military, into a small standing army, and rewriting his training briefs to better reflect the philosophies of the Legions of Light. There would be no going back to the old assumptions and the old ways. And a new focus on diplomacy would help to insure that most conflicts never reached the stage that this one did. Nevertheless, the remaining inventory of activated blue light shields were re-covered with reverence in Mrs. Praeger’s cloth sleeves, and locked away in the palace armory against future need.
Jorelial Rey had to deal with a number of important royal decisions: the disposition of Lord Drogue’s titles and lands, awards to the brave and deserving, disciplines for the rebellious. There were several knighthoods to confer, among them one for Baldezir the wolf. She made good on her promise to rope off a parcel of good wooded land as a safe haven for his clan. Another piece of Drogue’s territories adjoined Mark’s family estate, and she annexed these to their holdings to honor their service. It was mostly earmarked by his parents as additional acreage for Mark’s dream of a school.
There were honors conferred on Ondine, Wynne, Shar, Nyree, Andrus, Candelinda, Stewart, and Lady Brendelle. The Lady Regent offered to knight Warlowe, and to grant him and his family lands, but while he accepted the commendation, and a small purse to make his family secure, he begged to continue in his position at Theriole where he felt he could serve best. There was no argument from Lady Rey. A similar offer to advance the Praegers’ state for their contributions was met with horror and embarrassment by both Mr. and Mrs. Praeger. Both of them insisted they could be no happier than right where they were, as personal aides to the last wizard of Eneri Clare. Mrs. Praeger so enjoyed feeling needed – indeed, how would Tvrdik ever get by without her to run his household, and especially to feed the slender young man? And Mr. Praeger opined as he still had a debt to the young wizard to pay off, and would hear nothing to the contrary.
The Lady Regent did insist on knighting Mark, and brushed aside his protest that such a move might be considered nepotism. She pointed out that his daring rescue of the infant king, while they were in mortal danger, deserved recognition. Delphine was delighted, and Mark’s parents were beside themselves, although he assured everyone it would not change his plans for the future, nor his current occupation, even a little bit. Drogue had no surviving family, and in the end, she dissolved his fiefdom, and distributed the unaccounted-for lands and holdings as fairly as she could among his neighbors who had been supportive of the king.
Lady Brendelle had been homesick, and eager to bring her new adopted son home to meet her husband. With the loving care she lavished on him, little Drake already seemed like nothing so much as a normal, happy child – if a bit on the frail, shy side. If one week could create such a remarkable transformation, there seemed hope that an entire childhood with loving parents might indeed ensure that he would grow into a very different person. One week after their return to Theriole, Brendelle, her warriors and sailors, and her son Drake set sail for Euligia. There were tearful farewells, kisses, and long embraces, and promises all around to stay in close touch and visit often. And then, the mother Delphine had found for the first time only weeks before, was gone from their sight once again. But this time, not from their hearts.
Tvrdik, when not pressed to appear in public, had thrown himself into reading and studying on any subject that might facilitate the process of bringing Xaarus back. Books on dragons and their legendary abilities, on mind training, on time theory…he devoured whatever portions seemed pertinent, and practiced whatever disciplines they suggested, with diligence. At earliest convenience, he contacted Xaarus himself once again, and informed him with great enthusiasm about their plan to bring him back. Xaarus was intrigued, but at first cautious. As he considered further, he became excited about their prospects for success. But, soon enough, the old wizard arrived at a deep concern for Tvrdik’s welfare.
“There is no doubt that if it were possible for the dragons to bring me home in safety, I would leap at the chance,” he said. “I would like nothing better than to be back at my little cottage, among my friends, living out the rest of my days in peace, and perhaps some usefulness. But I would not attempt such a thing if it meant risk to you, lad. It wouldn’t be right.”
“You are a very great wizard, Master, and you are needed here. I will assume the risks. I count them as well worth it.”
“I am old, son, and I did this to myself. I will not let you play the martyr for me. There must be
another way.”
“Master, the risks we speak of are only possible ones, and the dragons and I will do our best to minimize them. We must seize this opportunity while we can; we do not know when another one this promising will come. You have done so much for me, Master. Please, let me do this for you.”
In the end, Xaarus was persuaded that this could be his last, best chance at returning to the time and place he called home. He saw that Tvrdik was determined to make the attempt despite every argument he could think of to dissuade him. And so, he set about doing his own research, hoping to discover some additional piece of the puzzle that might make the process safer, surer, or easier.
And now, in the chill, late summer twilight, Jorelial Rey sat with a restless heart, and awaited word of the last details of their plan: day, time, place, procedure. The dragons were all eager to be off to their own respective territories by now, and this thing must take place very soon, or else be abandoned. A noise behind her caught her attention, and she rose and spun around to see the trap-door which accessed her rooftop perch spring open. Her momentary stress at someone’s invasion of her sanctuary was relieved on seeing the thick, auburn waves on the head that poked through the square opening: Delphine.
“Rel, I know you like to come up here sometimes and hide, and I hated to disturb you, but it’s getting cold, and I thought I might bring your jacket.”
“You’re an angel. I was just thinking I could use it. Come on up. Tashroth isn’t back yet, and I could use some company. My own thoughts are driving me crazy.”
The Last Wizard of Eneri Clare Page 75