Master Silurian sat back and smiled with a twinkle in his eye. “The best part of it is that it won’t be a lie. You are a journeyman jeweler and arms smith, as well as a journeyman wizard. It just shows that long range planning sometimes works out even better than I anticipated.”
Chapter 68
The Master had indeed planned it, and it seemed that he had also planned many other things, for when Jonny arrived back at Kason’s workshop he found much had been prepared there too. Kason was beaming as he showed Jonny all the things he had for him.
“I’m sorry we can’t have a big send off party for you and all like I’d planned, Jonny, I mean, Eril, but the trading caravan Master Feldor has booked you with leaves tomorrow. Master Silurian thought it best if the lads here thought you just went back to the castle, not that you’re leaving Salaways.”
“Master Silurian has once again shown how generous he is. Here, just look at this,” Kason said pointing to a newly built wooden chest. “This has everything you’ll need to open a jewelry shop anywhere you go. It’s a full set of tools, and they’re of the finest quality too. Frankly, lad, I’m jealous. I’ve always wanted a fine set like this myself, but I could never bring myself to buy a new set of tools when the ones I had were good enough. But these are fine indeed. I do envy you, boy.”
Jonny/Eril was amazed at the tools. One of the main reasons a journeyman waited to become a master was because he lacked the funds for a full set of tools of the trade, and here The Master was supplying him with everything he needed and of the highest quality. In a way, it frightened him.
“Yes these are fine tools. You’ll want to guard them carefully,” Kason said, echoing Jonny/Eril’s thoughts.
“But you have that magic sword to help you, not that you need a sword to defend yourself, eh?”
Eril grinned, but after his encounter with Boregond he was not at all certain that he did not need all the help he could get.
“Thank you, Kason,” Eril began, but Kason cut him off.
“Boy, you’ve made me more money in the last year than I made in the previous ten, and I think you’ll keep making me money for at least another ten. It will take me that long at least afore I’ve sold off the last of your weapons, and by that time I’ll be turning this shop over to someone younger.
“Now come see what else Master Silurian and Lord Feldor have gotten for you,” he said, as he led Eril around to the back side of the shop.
Eril saw a pack mule tethered by a traveling case.
“That case has clothes for a journeyman jeweler. Do y’know one?” he asked with a lopsided grin. “Oh, and the nag there is to carry your tools and the case. And you have your own horse to ride.”
“Yes,” Eril said distractedly, still in shock looking at the case and mule.
“One more thing. The caravan you will be with, the head guard for it is none other than Carthic, that duelist who’s crowing to everyone about the dirk and sword you made for him. I almost ought to pay him for all the fame he’s brought me. Though I couldn’t ‘ave done it without your work. Lord Feldor has talked Carthic into giving you fencing lessons while the caravan travels.” Kason sighed and shook his head. “I will miss you, boy, but your master and Lord Feldor have made sure you got a proper send off.”
§ § §
After sleeping one last time in his room at Kason’s, Eril was up early to join the departing caravan. In order to remain inconspicuous, The Master could not be there to see him off, but Kason went with him and introduced him to the caravan master. He gave Jonny/Eril one more bundle, which he said contained two unfinished swords and four unfinished daggers.
“You’ll be wanting these to use to keep in practice and to prove to any new masters just what you can do,” Kason said with a grin. “I think you’ll also want to work more on the looks and less on the magic, if you catch my meaning.”
Eril did understand what he meant, but he was very grateful nonetheless, and said so. Kason said he could stay no longer and gave Eril a big hug. This surprised him, but made him very happy.
“I’ll miss you, boy. When you come back, make sure you stop by and tell your old master what you’ve done.”
“Yes, Kason,” Jonny said, fighting back tears. “I’ll miss you too. I will never forget you and all you’ve taught me. You’ve been like a father. I’ll miss you very much.”
“Enough of that, boy. No tears. I’ll not have us bawling like a couple of babies. Do good. You’re a good lad. Make the world a better place. Gods protect you, son.”
Kason did not wait for Eril’s reply. He turned and walked rapidly away and did not look back. Before he had turned, Eril had thought he had seen a tear starting down the grizzled face.
Eril too was on the verge of tears as he secured the bundle to his mule. He soon heard the command for the caravan to get under way. He quickly walked over, got on his horse, taking the lead for his mule, and started out with the rest of the caravan, away from all he knew, and into a new life.
Postlude
The runner entered the audience chamber still puffing with exertion.
“What is this message that is so urgent that my meal must be interrupted to receive it?” asked High Demon Master Jelnick, in ill humor.
“I know not, My Lord,” answered the runner. “I know only that Master Feltran said it was most urgent and that I must not delay in bringing it to you for any cause, or I would find myself sacrificed to a demon at his next summoning.”
“Hmmm, and you made the journey from the coast in under four days?” Jelnick asked, reaching for the message. The messenger nodded vigorously in agreement.
“I wore out eight mounts getting here, My Lord. I have not slept the entire time.”
“Yes, yes, commendable. I’ll be sure to tell Feltran of your devotion,” Jelnick said unfolding the message.
“Let’s see what is so terribly urgent,” Jelnick said, beginning to read the message. He furrowed his brow in concentration and grunted as he read. He read all the way through and then looked more closely at the message and shook his head.
“You’ve done well, and I suppose this message warrants your speed. I thank you. You may go.”
As soon as the messenger left and he was alone in the chamber, Jelnick grasped the ring on his right hand and said “Karf.” In moments, a yellow light characteristic of a portal began to glow in the air in front of Jelnick. Shortly, the demon he had summoned appeared.
“What do you wish, Jelnick? I see no sacrifice,” the demon said with a voice like a distant thunderstorm.
“I only need to keep you and your lord Kelf informed of a possibly significant event. It seems that Boregond has gone and gotten himself killed.”
“Was he not assigned to destroy the line cutter?” the demon asked.
“Yes, yes he was. That is why I called. I have only now just received word from Feltran. I am not entirely certain his demise is connected with his errand, but it seems most likely. No one directly saw his end, but Feltran’s spies were able to confirm that he was killed in a duel with another wizard, and that the wizard in question was definitely not Silurian. Silurian claims no knowledge of who killed Boregond or where he might be, which is to be expected, but he also made very clear that he does not have a line cutter.
“I am sure there is deception here on some level, but it looks as though this may be more complicated than I had first thought.”
“You must deal with it then,” the demon said. “You are the one who has been charged with keeping zdrell users and their artifacts from this world. You have been afforded much power and a longer life than any of your fellows to accomplish this.”
“Yes, that’s true, and for over one thousand years I have performed that task flawlessly. Do not you and your fellows feast daily off the bounty of this world? Have any of your brothers been killed or even threatened in that time?”
“One thousand years may seem long to you, human, but never forget that to demon kind it is but a short time, no matter how
it seems to you. You must deal with this threat quickly, and completely.”
“And I will, I will,” Jelnick said. “Rest assured that I will devote all my resources to removing this threat.”
“What will you do?”
“For the moment I will continue the search for the line cutter and for this unknown wizard who defeated Boregond. I will send spies to look for him, and one of them will have an amulet I have not used for many years. It detects line cutters from a distance and can lead the user to one. I am loathe to let it out of my presence, but as you remind me, I am over one thousand years old and as yet I see no reason to go searching myself.”
“So you do nothing yourself?”
“On the contrary, I have told you what I am doing. When this line cutter is found and the wizard who defeated Boregond, then I, personally, will act and this annoyance will be eliminated.”
“Do not forget your obligations.”
“I never do. You demons for all your long lives are amazingly impatient. In less than ten years, conditions will be right and the second Great War will begin. Those foolish Skrylarans will soon be brought to heel. They still think they won the first war, not that I simply had our forces withdraw. They are so much more fractured now, and half of the kingdoms will fall to us without even knowing they are conquered. Those that remain will face the united might of Grimor. You and your brothers will feast on the souls of the conquered.
“All is going as planned. Patience. I will find and eliminate this wizard and line cutter, then there will be nothing to stop us from ruling this whole world and you from feasting on its inhabitants for another ten thousand or one hundred thousand years!” Jelnick said laughing.
“May it be so,” the demon said, turning to the portal to leave. “I will inform Lord Kelf,” the demon said and vanished.
“And I will ensure that nothing interferes with my plans,” Jelnick said to an empty room.
About the Author
David K. Bennett first discovered his love for all things SF first by watching Star Trek TOS as very young boy. He fell in love with the works of Ray Bradbury in fifth grade and read voraciously for many years, flirting with the idea of trying his hand at writing, but never committing. He was always making up stories, but never wrote them down or felt they were compelling. Then, in the fall of 2000 he conceived a story which demanded telling and would not leave him alone until he wrote it down. After receiving encouragement from various friends and family who told him that this story was something worthwhile, he wrote what you now have in your hands. Life happens, so it has been a long time coming.
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Thank you very much for reading!
David K. Bennett, Simi Valley, CA, October 2018
The Apprentice to Zdrell Page 37