by B. J. Beach
Karryl looked up, concern evident in his dark eyes. “It’s nothing to do with that. It’s just that the whole thing was dropped in my lap and I feel personally responsible.”
Symon’s finger sliced the air. “So you are, but that doesn’t mean you have to carry the whole load for the entire journey. Delegate now and then. We are on the same side after all.”
Surprised at the unusual vehemence in the little magician, Karryl leaned back in his chair and stared at him. Symon looked as though he expected to be struck by lightning at any second.
Lady Evalin called from the doorway. “Library please, gentlemen.”
Karryl quickly pushed himself out of his chair. “That’s never an hour!”
Evalin shook her head. “To be sure it is not, but as Kimi is ready and everyone required is here, we may as well begin.”
Karryl felt the tell-tale frisson as he followed his companions into the large book-lined library. He also noticed something else which piqued his curiosity. Pausing just inside the doorway, he gave a little cough to attract Evalin’s attention. Eyebrows raised in query he silently gestured over his shoulder towards the two stern-faced guards who stood outside either side of the door.
Evalin crossed the room and carefully closed the wide double doors before giving Karryl a knowing smile. “I thought you’d probably notice.”
With a slight and graceful hand gesture she laid a ward of silence over the room, and stood facing them in front of the large and ornate fireplace. “You have all probably realised by now that the small company of guards I retain are no ordinary men.”
Karryl noticed Symon and Magnor nodding in agreement. Bardeen looked slightly bemused, while Kimi’s dark eyes sparkled with interest.
Evalin clasped her hands. “They belong to an ancient, but sadly dying, race of beings known as the Halven. This isle is steeped in the legacy of their magic and their mystical ways. Sadly, the pure race of forest dwelling people from whom they are descended are no more.”
She looked directly at Karryl. “The crystal that kept you alive is theirs, as are a number of strange and magical artefacts whose safe-keeping they have entrusted to me. Tell me, what was it that you particularly noticed?”
Karryl smiled. “I sensed the magic within them first, and then I caught a glimpse of their ears. You don’t notice them normally because most of the guards wear their helms, but the ones outside the door are bareheaded.”
Evalin gave an assertive nod. “Indeed, they are. Often I have tried to persuade a number of them to return with me to guard King Vailin, but the Halven will not leave these shores. I have had to make some concessions for them to even be here, but they are loyal, trust-worthy and deadly fighters, and I can ask no more than that.”
Karryl’s smile turned to a wry grimace. “Quite a force to be reckoned with I should imagine.”
They all turned as Kimi spoke. “Their skills in hill and forest craft gave even I much envy. I learned much while with the one who accompanied me.” The wiry Ingali looked almost shamefaced. “I thought to teach him things, but he taught me more.”
Evalin walked across to one of the wide bookshelves, reached up and pointed to a large thick volume bound in white leather. “In there is as complete an account as could be obtained of their history and lore. It is written in the Halven language, but a carefully woven spell of translation should provide you with some insight.” She turned to face them. “Study it at your leisure. Now, we have other matters to attend to.
* * *
The procedure was not what Karryl had expected. He had imagined something similar to the transfer of power he had experienced on the top of the King Tower in Vedra; a sudden and forceful push which had enabled him to retrieve the medallion. Lady Evalin had other ideas. It was well after lunchtime before she broke the link and announced the process complete. Calm and inscrutable, Kimi stood beside Evalin and watched as Magnor and the two magicians flopped heavily into armchairs.
Karryl blew out his cheeks with a noisy rush of breath. “I don’t know about restoring my powers. I feel as if they’ve been drained!”
Evalin chuckled. “I’m led to believe that it is quite a normal reaction to this particular series of spells. You’ll feel much better after lunch.” She grinned almost wickedly at the others. “You gentlemen may find an afternoon nap most restorative.”
Symon pushed himself out of his chair and pushed his fists into his eyes. “If everyone would excuse me, I think I’ll miss lunch and take that nap now.” He patted his palms together. “By dinner time I shall have restored my appetite if nothing else.”
Karryl felt the tingle as Evalin removed the ward of silence, and Symon ambled out of the room, closing the door quietly behind him.
His hands folded under his chin, Karryl looked up at Evalin. “So, now that’s over, how soon can I return to Vellethen?”
Evalin feigned surprise as she gave the young Mage-Prime a bright smile. “Whenever you feel you are ready.”
Karryl almost jumped out of his chair. “Thank goodness for that!”
Lady Evalin was pleasantness itself. “Your ship is even now lying rigged and ready in Bolduin harbour.”
Karryl stared. “Ship! What ship?”
Evalin folded her arms, her expression one of mild amusement. “Now, were you really thinking you could just get up and fly away as soon as we were done?”
Karryl looked bemused. “Well…yes, I suppose I did. You mean I can’t?”
With a shake of her head, as if despairing of a backward child, Evalin stepped forward and placed her hand on the disappointed Mage’s arm. “By tomorrow your powers will be near enough those bestowed on you by the entities in the sea of mists. Even so, you will still need time to assimilate them properly. That is why you will be returning by sea. It is only a short voyage, two days at most. It will also give you enough time to regain more of your physical strength. When you are ready to leave here, I will have a message sent to Captain Finn. I believe the first tide tomorrow is midmorning.”
Tilting her head on one side, she raised an eyebrow as if seeking confirmation.
Karryl nodded mutely then looked round at his companions and grinned. “If I’m to build my strength up I’d better go and start working on it. Anyone for lunch?”
Evalin crossed to the door and pulled it open. “There’s cold fare in the dining room, and I’ll send to the kitchens for hot soup and fresh bread.” She stepped out into the corridor as the two Halven guards thumped a salute with the butts of their halberds. “I will join you all later, at dinner.”
36 - An Indefinable Something
After dinner, Karryl excused himself to the others, telling them he was going for a walk. The afternoon nap had refreshed him and restored his energy. Now he wanted to think. He had been strolling for about ten minutes when his peripheral vision caught the flicker of a long shadow. Satisfied to feel a strong and positive response as he drew in power, he slowly turned. His first reaction was to feel a little irked, but the feeling soon faded to be replaced by a little surge of satisfaction. About five paces behind was one of the Halven guards, helmed, and armed with a long slender sword scabbarded in silver-ornamented leather. The two men eyed each other for a long moment.
Karryl cancelled his power and beckoned the man forward. “Walk with me, rather than behind me.”
The guard strode up to stand rigidly in front of Karryl. He could have looked the Mage straight in the eye, but discretion shifted his gaze to a point somewhere over Karryl’s left shoulder. “I sensed you had troubled thoughts, sire. I did not wish to intrude.”
Taken not only with the man’s acuity, but also his soft lilting accent, Karryl allowed himself a little smile. “I think we can dispense with the formality. Call me Karryl, or Master Karryl if you’re more comfortable with that.”
The guard made a slight but respectful bow before relaxing visibly. “Thank you Master Karryl. I am known as Rheid.”
With a nod of acknowledgement, Karryl pushed his ha
nds into the pockets of his robe and resumed his stroll, Rheid keeping pace beside him.
* * *
Lady Evalin watched from an upper storey window. Since the meeting in the library she had been unable to shake off a deep and unaccustomed disquiet, one that both pleased and puzzled her. When a rather subdued Karryl had told them all after dinner that he was going for a walk, Evalin gave one of her trusted Halven guards specific instructions and sent him to follow at a discreet distance. Her brow furrowing with a concern which also registered in her deep blue eyes, she turned away from the window where she had been watching as Karryl and Rheid now strolled together, apparently deep in conversation.
She sighed. Her task was almost over. Once Karryl was aboard the ‘Sea Mist’ there would be little more she could do. His powers would by then be far beyond requiring her assistance. Evalin had detected the subtle yet still clearly definable change in Karryl when they had linked hands, allowing the combined power of the magicians to infuse part of itself into him. Something new, something strange and unfathomable had entered the mix. Evalin knew almost at once that its origin was not in any of those present. Acting as a kind of catalyst, it had supplied a strengthening bond, enfolding Karryl’s newly restored powers in an unyielding web of exotic and, to her, barely recognisable force. She wondered whether Karryl was yet aware of it. Returning to the window, she resumed her watching of the two figures who stood in silhouette against the rose pink and deep lilac of the day’s end. There would be time in the morning to speak to both of them. After drawing the heavy curtains against the approaching night, she left the room and went in search of Symon.
His chin resting on the backs of his folded hands, the diminutive magician regarded his hostess thoughtfully. “To tell you the truth Lady Evalin, I’m not really surprised. There is still his wilder power to consider. Could it be possible that it has metamorphosed into something beyond our comprehension?”
Evalin’s face paled slightly. Her brow furrowed but she said nothing.
The little magician tilted his head. “What also intrigues me is the question of whether this new force was already present when we performed the transfer.”
Evalin paced the width of the library, stopping to gaze out of the window at the night shrouded gardens. She replied without turning. “I’m sure it was. I’m also sure it was during the time he was being sustained by the crystal that he received whatever it is that he now has.”
The deep silence in the room was almost palpable as the two lost themselves in their own thoughts. As if reluctant to disturb the ambience, Symon’s question was quietly hesitant. “Erm…do you think there might be anything of help in that book of Halven lore?”
Evalin spun round, her dark blue eyes sparkling. “To be sure, there may well be. I have only a smattering of the language, but we have time I’m sure, to do a spell of translating.”
She hurried across to the shelf and carefully lifted down the white-bound volume. Almost reverently, she placed it on a small reading table to one side of the fireplace. Gently she eased the book open to the first thick and closely written page.
* * *
Symon and Evalin stared at each other with a mixture of disappointment and disbelief. Despite them both trying in turn, and more than once, the translation spells elicited no response. Slowly, Evalin closed the book and replaced it on the shelf.
Symon perched on the edge of one of the reading chairs. “How’s this for a theory? It may not be accurate, but I find the idea quite appealing.” He looked up at Evalin and raised a forefinger to stress his point. “Perhaps these various transcendent powers or beings are using him as some kind of vessel or transport. They know that a conflict is imminent and they all want or need to be part of it. So, when the opportunity presents itself, they all jump on. In return, Karryl receives the benefit of their power.” He tilted his head to one side, one bushy white eyebrow raised. “It could even be that a small part of our young Mage-Prime is now Halven.”
Evalin stared at the little magician. “Now, isn’t that a little radical for you, Master Symon?”
He nodded briefly, his grey eyes twinkling. “Yes, I agree, but you must admit it does have a certain indefinable logic. After all, for every lock, somewhere there is a key.”
37 - A Necessary Voyage
At breakfast the following morning, Karryl was earnest in his efforts to persuade Lady Evalin that he could safely relocate to Vellethen with Symon and the others, rather than take ship, but Evalin was most insistent. Irked by her obdurate attitude, Karryl would not allow himself to be drawn into revealing details of the long conversation he and Rheid the Halven guard had had the previous evening.
He paused, a forkful of sausage halfway to his mouth. “Where’s Magnor? Not like him to miss breakfast.”
Everyone looked round the table as if they had only just noticed Magnor’s absence. Lady Evalin finished her mouthful before replying. “I asked him to go and attend to something for me. You’ll probably see him later.”
It was a rather subdued and thoughtful little group which gathered on Bolduin’s broad and bustling quayside. Hands shoved deep into the pockets of his robe, Karryl grumbled as he stood gazing ruefully at the sleek ship awaiting him. “I could have been back by now and working on Keril’s book. There are other things I have to attend to as well.” He turned to Evalin, his dark eyes almost pleading. “Are you sure this is really necessary?”
Evalin’s lips formed a narrow and grimly determined line. “Yes young man, I am. Mage-Prime you may be, but sometimes I think your sense has yet to catch up with your powers.”
Her expression changed to a warm smile as she looked past Karryl’s shoulder. “The top of the morning to you, Captain Finn! Do you anticipate a good voyage?”
The captain touched a broad callused hand to the peak of his cap, his lightly grizzled beard waggling as he returned the greeting. “And to you ma’am.”
More to reassure his passenger than for his own benefit, he squinted towards the horizon and sniffed the air. “It will be a good fast voyage, I’ve no doubt. We shall be running before the wind, so I reckon that by noon the day after tomorrow we shall be rounding the point and preparing to make landfall at Vellethen.”
With a despondent sigh Karryl looked at Evalin once more, giving her his best pleading, hang-dog look.
Shaking her head, she placed her hand round his elbow. “Time to go aboard, I think. You’ll enjoy the voyage I’m sure, and you’ll be there before you know it.”
As he stepped onto the gangplank, Karryl muttered under his breath. “But not as fast as I could be.”
Bardeen called out “Have a good voyage.”
Symon nodded in agreement, and with a brief wave called “See you back in Vellethen.”
Kimi simply raised a hand and watched as the ship prepared to set sail. Leaning on the rail, a dejected Karryl looked down as the heavy mooring ropes were unhitched from their bollards and pulled on board.
He called down to Lady Evalin. “I would have thought that Magnor would have got back from whatever he was doing to see me off. I don’t know when I’ll be seeing him again.”
Evalin smiled broadly and raised a hand as the ship got under way. “Don’t worry. I’m thinking it will be quite soon. Safe passage!”
His thoughts racing, Karryl stayed by the rail and waved occasionally as the gap between ship and harbour wall grew progressively wider. Soon the ship was luffing to the wind.
Karryl was about to turn away from the rail when something solid buffed his elbow. “Miss me, did you?”
Karryl gritted his teeth and gave a wry smile as he looked down at Dhoum’s sleek-haired face. “Well, I did wonder why you weren’t there to see me off, but now I can see why. It would appear I have a sailing companion.”
Dhoum’s brown-flecked amber eyes held a knowing glint as he stood up on his hind legs and leaned on the rail beside Karryl. “Lady Evalin thought it…um…would be best, and I was happy to oblige.”
Karryl si
lently cursed himself as a mélange of emotions tumbled over themselves, struggling for dominance. Happy as he was that Magnor had reverted to Dhoum and was on board with him, he should have realised Evalin would second-guess him. On top of that, he felt slightly cheated. As far as he was concerned he had fully recovered both his strength and his powers, having proved it to his own satisfaction. While he and Rheid had been walking in the extensive grounds of Evalin’s palace the previous evening, they had run one or two field tests. The idea of spending almost two days on an unnecessary sea trip did not sit well with him.
He placed a hand on Dhoum’s broad humped shoulder. “I’m going below for a while. I have a lot of things to think about.”
Dhoum dropped onto four of his six limbs. “Seems like a good idea. I wonder what time we eat.”
Karryl chuckled and followed Dhoum, who drew only a few mildly curious glances from the crew as he led the way across the slightly heeling deck towards the companionway. “Are we sharing a cabin?”
Dhoum carried on across the deck as he looked over his shoulder. “Your choice. The cabin you’ve been given is big enough. There’s a smaller one next to it that I can use. I’d be in calling distance if you needed me.”
As they reached the bottom of the companionway, Dhoum indicated a door, two down to his left, furnished with shining brass. “That’s your cabin. Mine’s this one here. The captain’s cabin and crew’s quarters are down there.” He jerked a finger over his broad shoulder.
Karryl opened the cabin door and took a quick look inside before turning back to Dhoum and gesturing towards the nearest door. “I think you’d better take that one. The two bunks in here are rather close together, and I’ve heard you snore.”
The two grinned at each other and went into their cabins to settle in for the voyage.
Under full sail, the ‘Sea Mist’ cut cleanly through the ragged chop. Out of sight of land, the ship sped under the scattered clouds which raced across the face of a near full moon. Golden light and insubstantial shadows dappled a fast-moving and ever-changing pattern across the white holy-stoned deck. Having eaten a light supper an hour previously, Karryl and Dhoum leaned on the rail, listening to the hiss of water creaming along the strakes. Despite having made numerous voyages with Symon, visiting many parts of the world, Karryl did not sail happily, much preferring to have his feet on dry land.