"That was very impressive, Castamir," said Dragovar who had sat down near me.
"Frightening too, I imagine," I added.
"Yes, I never saw Harmon use that amount of power," Dragovar said.
"Harmon never had need to," I replied. “Had he known about this he would have done similarly. And with less effort too. I'm tired not because the tower was running out of magical potential, but because I found it very fatiguing to control and direct the power that I took. If it's any comfort to you, that amount of power frightens me too."
"I'm glad to hear it," said Dragovar earnestly.
Chessina sat down beside me, put her arm in mine and leant her head against me. I felt happy.
The bore in the mouth of the river now pushed into the harbour itself, the surface still lashed by the rain from the clouds I had called. The water was very turbulent and a greyish yellow in colour with all the silt and sand. The water level in the harbour rose higher and broke choppily on the beach where the cottages had been and the bore pushed further on sweeping the sandbanks away with its passage. The rain swiftly eased and then stopped altogether as the sandbank rune was dispersed, the clouds dissipating with the same swiftness with which they had formed. The bore pushed out to sea clearing the mouth of the harbour and river and then collapsed into the sea. The fishing boats, that had sailed to safety began to gingerly sail back to the harbour.
"What exactly is going on, Sir Tasseder, and why was I not informed?" said an irritated voice, that sounded like a turkey gobbling.
"The harbour has been cleared of its sandbanks, Portman Garvandron," said Tasseder, stating what I would have thought was the patently obvious. Portman, portman? Oh yes, I remembered Tasseder telling us that the local officials weren't called aldermen but portmen as Braidfleet was a port.
"The sandbanks have been cleared? Preposterous," declared the turkey voice.
I got up and turned to look at the owner of the voice. He was of middling height and well over middling girth looking somewhat like an egg on legs. This bulk was clothed in expensive if sober fabrics and surmounted by a head which didn't appear to have a neck, but just flowed into a join with the torso. A join mercifully concealed by an intricate lace collar.
"The noble wizards," Tasseder said, putting emphasis on the words, "discovered that the harbour was cursed and have broken the curse. Allow me to introduce you. Royal Wizard Dragovar, Towermaster Castamir and Apprentice Chessina, may I present Portman Garvandron, the head portman of Braidfleet. Chessina is a distant kinswoman of mine."
Garvandron made inarticulate gobbling noises as Tasseder had declared Chessina socially superior to him by introducing Garvandron to her, and not the other way round.
"I wasn't consulted, the matter should have been raised at the next meeting of the portmen," said Garvandron pompously, "where it could have been given the proper consideration."
Ah, not just a pompous idiot but an officious one too. I wondered if this buffoon had taken on the essentially meaningless position of portman, as the port really didn’t function, just to give himself a title and hold meetings to hear the sound of his own voice.
"As Royal Wizard," Dragovar stressing his title as Garvandron seemed impressed by such, "it is my duty to end magical threats and oppressions on the king's subjects. Towermaster Castamir discovered the nature of the curse and it has now been dealt with. Such curses have to be dealt with at the correct time, and cannot wait on the maunderings of petty officials."
"Of course," I said waspishly. “If you object so much, I could always put the sandbanks back."
There were several mutterings from the crowd at this.
"Oh, ah, no, that . . . that, please don't do that," gobbled Garvandron.
I heard very faint muttered words from Chessina and wondered how long that man's farts were going to glow. I noticed a coloured cloud rise from behind one shoulder and saw how the crowd backed away from it. I love that girl.
"Portman Garvandron," said Tasseder, "I think it would be a wise use of your time to hold an emergency meeting of the portmen to discuss what matters are necessary to fully open the port."
I think Tasseder suggested this to get Garvandron away from me before I turned him into something unnatural.
"A good suggestion, Sir Tasseder," interjected Dragovar. “The king will want a full report on this as soon as possible, the implications to the tax base, you understand."
"I quite understand, your Royal Wizardship," said Garvandron, who waddled off importantly, trailing a cloud of multi-coloured glowing vapour.
"Perhaps," I remarked, "we could start for the capital after lunch."
oOo
A local tavern keeper, introduced to us by Tasseder as Frott Tapster, invited us to eat at his tavern, and I for one was happy to accept as I was famished. The crowd seemed well disposed to us and politely made way for us with much raising of hats and forelock tugging. The crowd gave a wide berth to the invisible servants carrying our luggage however. The meal was of good plain food and plenty of it. Frott wouldn't take payment as he said we had saved the town. I did notice Tasseder giving Frott's wife several coins with a finger to his lips urging her to keep quiet. Tasseder wouldn't want one of his people to suffer, except possibly Garvandron.
oOo
We set off up-river for the second time today. The reed-beds near the river mouth had been mostly carried away by the bore. I hoped that the increased river flow wouldn't damage the reed-beds further upstream too much, but judging by the ubiquity of the thatching, the reeds had been here much longer than the cursed sandbanks had. Chessina was flying the rug to give me a rest and I was glad that she had something to concentrate on. After lunch Chessina had opened up the bundle containing the mirror and gazed fixedly into it. I wondered if it were a mesmerising mirror, but it only seemed to have that effect on Chessina. I had asked Dragovar to take it with him on his rug. The navigation was a little more difficult on the return journey as we had to leave the river Braid and head north-west for the capital city of Adalsburg. If we headed more west than north when we left the river we should find the river Mattle and could follow it northward to the capital. The sun was sinking towards the horizon when we struck the course of the Mattle and I was worried that we might not reach the capital before nightfall. Fortunately, the rim of the sun had not yet touched the horizon when I saw the glimmering of many lights ahead of us, it was Adalsburg. The perimeter of the courtyard surrounding the Royal Tower of Wizardry, Dragovar's home was fortunately well-lit and we were able to land with little difficulty. Many people came out of the tower and outbuildings to receive us. Foremost among them was a young woman who ran towards Dragovar. From the blonde braids flying behind her I recognised her as Dragovar's apprentice Tasayne. When she reached Dragovar, she took his hand and knelt before him. Dragovar raised her up and embraced her.
"If Dragovar's not serious about her, he ought to let her know, I think she's absolutely smitten with him," said Chessina.
"I get the impression he's fairly smitten with her, but I'll mention it to him," I replied.
We followed Dragovar and Tasayne into the tower, she talking nineteen to the dozen, with non-invisible servants, whom I was only just beginning to get used to, behind us carrying our bundles.
oOo
The last thing I remembered before falling asleep in my room in Dragovar's tower was being kissed by Chessina.
"You sleep well, master. You need a full night's rest, you did well today," her voice was soothing. So soothing, in fact that I didn't wonder what Chessina would be doing with a night to herself. Silly me.
oOo
Dragovar and I were already seated at the breakfast table when Chessina joined us.
"Ah, Dragovar," Chessina said, using a tone usually reserved for naughty children. “I need to ask you your intentions towards Tasayne."
"My intentions?" queried Dragovar. “Tasayne is my apprentice, I don't understand what you mean."
"Don't be stupid, Dragovar," snapped Ches
sina. “That girl is besotted with you, though the gods alone know why. Do you have any feelings for her? Because if you do you should let her know and then do something about it. And if you don't have feelings you should let her know that and let her down as gently as possible."
I noticed the martial light in Chessina's eyes and the determined set of her jaw. There was no way I was getting involved in this matter. With Chessina in this mood, cowardice was the only part of valour.
"I . . . well, I more than like, Tasayne, much more," said Dragovar on the defensive, "but I'm . . . she's my apprentice, I . . . well, it would be abusing my position to try to . . . well, impose on her."
"Have you asked her whether she would consider it an imposition?" asked Chessina, pointedly. “Castamir had similar foolish notions but I swiftly disabused him."
I think that was the first time Chessina had referred to me by name, not master or my master.
"No, I haven't asked her," Dragovar replied.
"Well go and do so," Chessina issued her instructions. “No, not when you've finished your breakfast, now!"
Dragovar meekly rose from the table and went out.
"Was there something, master?" asked Chessina as she settled down to eat.
"No, everything's fine, Chessina," I replied. “I didn't say a word."
I was rewarded with a cheeky grin.
oOo
We had almost finished breakfast when Ammand, Dragovar's major-domo entered the room.
"Excuse me, Towermaster, Apprentice, do you know where my master is?" Ammand spoke in his customary orotund tones. I did find it somewhat irritating to be addressed as though I were a crowd of commoners.
"Your master is engaged in an extremely important matter and must not be disturbed," said Chessina, imperiously. “You may go, Ammand."
The major-domo's face turned red and he swelled like an enraged pigeon. He opened his mouth to give, no doubt, an annoyed rejoinder, when he was interrupted by a voice coming from his left shoe.
"Help, help, some idiot has stuck his sweaty foot in me. Get it out!" The rather nasal voice shouted.
Ammand stared at his shoe with an expression like a dyspeptic codfish. Well how I imagine a dyspeptic codfish might look, having never met one in actuality. Ammand glared at us, but neither of us had said anything, and our hands were occupied with cutlery. To cast a spell that would produce such a speech would be difficult to do without either words or gestures. He turned on his heel and left the room. A few moments later I heard the voice again shouting its pleas for rescue from a sweaty foot through the open door. The expression of total innocence on Chessina's face was too much for me and I dissolved in helpless laughter. The servants had just cleared away our breakfast plates when Dragovar returned. He gave Chessina a rather resigned look.
"Did you enchant all of Ammand's footwear, Chessina?" Dragovar asked.
"Oh no," replied Chessina. “Only the left ones."
"Why?" asked Dragovar wearily.
"Because it was funnier than doing both," replied Chessina.
"I know that wasn't what you meant Dragovar," I said. “Ammand's studied insolence has been somewhat irritating to us both and although I had nothing to do with this prank, I totally support Chessina for doing it. Besides a harmless joke like this has eased the tension we have both been under."
"In any case Ammand is unimportant. Did you tell Tasayne how you feel about her?" Chessina asked, intently.
"Yes I did," Dragovar replied.
"And did Tasayne squeal in delight and hug you?" I asked Dragovar.
"How did you know?" he queried.
"Guess," I replied, smiling at Chessina.
Chapter 21
"I have been thinking about the mirror," said Dragovar who instantly had Chessina's rapt attention. “If I remember correctly, the rulers of the Empire of Agerak very occasionally used a mirror to temporarily hold the soul of important advisors to their ruler the Archon, or even the Archon themselves. It was only done if their council was vital for some very important reason. After this the held soul was released. We should all, including my apprentices, go to the Royal Library and search for references."
Chessina and I nodded agreement. Dragovar's apprentices, Ceslin, Riccar and Tasayne were waiting for us at the tower entrance and we all headed for the library. Tasayne's eyes were bright and she looked as though she was walking on air. Chessina just looked smug.
When we arrived at the library Frigermar the librarian looked at us with the expression of someone who has just found something very unpleasant on the sole of their shoe. Dragovar went over to the librarian, and I was close enough to overhear. Alright, I edged closer so I could, wizards are cautious.
"Friegermar, we are doing something important," Dragovar said softly but with an undertone of menace, "and if you are your usual obstructionist self, I will see that you are transferred as a tax-collector to a village so small and obscure that it has not a single book as every person in the village is illiterate."
Friegermar went white, but made no objection as we fanned out into the collection of books. Ceslin, Riccar and Tasayne were searching through the general collection, while Dragovar, Chessina and I looked at the restricted section. The first problem affected Chessina when one book grew fangs and tried to attack her. She dealt with the problem by growing fangs and claws herself and growling at the volume which subsided. I had warned Dragovar about the problem I had had in the library and we each agreed to keep the other in sight. Even so I noticed that Dragovar was gazing rather fixedly at one particular page in the book he was reading. I had to shake him quite roughly to break his attention. I learned a great deal about the mortal capacity for self-delusion and stupidity, both usually accompanied by a large dose of arrogance. I was going to say the human capacity, but it seemed that all races were equally culpable. A few of the works that I studied were scholarly tomes, that using precisely detailed experiments delved deep into various aspects of magic. Most however were books that detailed attempts, mainly desperate, to grasp power, self-aggrandisement or, usually, wealth. Ceslin, Dragovar's senior apprentice came into the restricted section, obviously looking for us. He was a sandy-haired, blue eyed youth, looking for all the world like a cud-chewing bucolic. His blue eyes were anything but vacant however, and betrayed a keen intelligence.
"We found the book with the original reference to the soul-trapping mirror, master Dragovar," said Ceslin, "it references other works. Riccar and Tasayne are looking for those now."
"That's good news, Ceslin," Dragovar said, "well done, all of you."
"How goes your search, master?" asked Ceslin.
"Not well, unfortunately," sighed Dragovar. “I've discovered that some people will go to any lengths, including murder, to try, unsuccessfully, to turn base metals into gold, but nothing about soul-trapping mirrors."
"By your expression you have fared no better, master Castamir?" Ceslin asked.
"No, I haven't, I'm afraid." I replied. "Many writers mention that mirrors might have magical properties, but very few have done any serious research."
"And I've managed to avoid being actually bitten by one volume, but otherwise nothing valuable," remarked Chessina joining us. "My hopes were raised at one point by a slim book titled 'the mirror of the soul' but it was only a bad novel."
"Why is it in the restricted section?" I asked, confused.
"There is lots of sex in it master," replied Chessina, "written by someone who had obviously never had any. It's fifty pages of garbage."
She scowled disgustedly.
"Might we break for lunch, master?" asked Chessina, a little plaintively. “I'm not getting anywhere except hungry, and you don't seem to be doing much better."
I looked at Dragovar, who nodded.
"If we get too tired we will miss things," declared Dragovar, "we'll fetch the others."
When we reached the table where Dragovar's apprentices had been working, Tasayne looked up from the book she was reading and beamed at Dragovar.
"Master," she said, excitedly, "this book is one that was referenced. It details how soul-trapping mirrors are made."
"Well done!" said Dragovar, in such volume that made librarian Frigermar look up angrily. Tasayne smiled in pleasure, ignoring Frigermar.
Seeing Dragovar's hand moving towards the book I interrupted.
"We will have lunch first," I said, firmly, "the book will still be here when we have eaten. At least," I added glaring at Frigermar, "it had better be."
oOo
We ate lunch rapidly and returned to the library eager to see what secrets the book contained. By common consent Dragovar was the one to read it as the most knowledgeable. While he was reading I persuaded the others to return to the search. Dragovar would tell us when he had something worth the telling. It was some hours later when Dragovar called to us.
"There is a mostly complete description of how to make a soul trapping mirror," Dragovar began, "and details of how they were used. Unfortunately, that includes releasing the soul once it had performed the duty required of it. Which is precisely what we don't want to do. We want to retrieve the soul to place it in a body. I will study this book more thoroughly in my own study later. If none of you have found anything more, I suggest we finish for today."
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