Today, however, the outer stones did not have enough power to sustain a test. Given the minimal power available to fuel them, he needed a quick fix.
“Everything is as I expected,” he said to Darius. “Power is trickling into each stone right now, but I expect that will increase once you bind more areas of the city. Unfortunately, the stones aren’t capable of generating a shield long enough to adequately test it. If everything is under control with Meglar’s wizards, we can speed this along.”
Conferring with Aderic, Darius nodded. “Things are well in hand. What did you have in mind?”
Noting the suspicion in Darius’s voice, Farrell shook his head. “Obviously, nothing as nefarious as you seem to suspect. I thought we’d all take a trip over the ocean.”
The sea held an abundance of free energy, if one could get to it. Since before Kel’s time, wizards had stood at the water’s edge, collecting as much energy as their talent permitted. It didn’t take long for the easy energy close to shore to be collected.
Another popular method required a wizard to book passage on an oceangoing vessel. The destination didn’t matter as long as the ship went into the open sea. Away from land, a wizard had weeks to fill every storage vessel they brought without other wizards vying for the same energy.
Farrell preferred a different approach: fly over the ocean and find a patch of open water rich with energy. Then he would float over the location until he had all the power he could carry. Of Haven’s wizards, only Cylinda could fly.
Gathering as many storage vessels as they could find, Farrell and Wesfazial left the shore, followed closely by Cylinda and Erstad. Moving far enough from the coast to avoid prying eyes, the pairs then split up to avoid trying to grab the same energy. Given how much energy they found, Farrell regretted not emptying all his stored energy before leaving.
Within a few minutes, the three older wizards had almost as much as they could hold. Over time, Farrell had created several superior storage vessels, able to hold far more than the ones most wizards used. Filling these took more time, so Cylinda took Wesfazial back with her and Erstad to allow Farrell to work faster.
Free from supporting Wesfazial, he quickly filled all but his staff. Farrell had spent weeks increasing its storage capacity. He’d woven so many spells and protections onto this staff that only a Source could contain more energy. Not only did it hold more, it absorbed power much faster than the average object. Even with the increased speed, it required ten minutes and two moves to fill his staff to near capacity.
Rather than waste time flying back, he opened a Door to the central stone. The others already waited for him. By agreement, his colleagues deposited half of what they collected into the reservoir. After they finished, Farrell emptied every vessel except his staff.
“You gave away far more than half of what you collected,” Wesfazial said.
Shaking his head, Farrell grinned, holding out his staff. “No, sir, not even close.”
“What in Honorus’s name have you wrought?” Cylinda touched the black wood gently. “It looks like a portable Source.”
Proud of his achievement, Farrell nodded. “Close. It holds vast amounts of energy, as you see, but it lacks the versatility of a Source.”
“Unless my old eyes are wrong, it’s almost full,” Wesfazial said in a wistful voice. “How did you collect so much so fast?”
“Like a Source, this staff soaks up energy like a sponge in a pail of water. Fifteen minutes in an energy-rich area of the ocean was enough to fill it up. Plus it wasn’t exactly empty when I left Haven.”
“I trust you’re happy with the amount of power added to the shield?” Erstad asked.
Farrell smiled broadly. “Absolutely. It’s months ahead of where it would be without our help. If they completely bind their city and the surrounding areas, in a few years, even Meglar will need to exert considerable efforts to bring this down.
“Will it ever be able to hold forever?” Cylinda asked.
“Forever is a difficult thing.” He checked the stones again to be sure he didn’t need to add energy from his staff. Tapping the staff to the stone, he transferred a third of its power, just to be sure. Satisfied, he returned it to his back. “I know how I would defeat this shield, and it’s possible that Meglar could figure out a means of bringing it down, given enough time. But the cost of doing so once the stones have absorbed years of power will be formidable.”
Guards escorted them to where Wilhelm met with his advisors. Darius and Aderic stared out the window, animatedly discussing something. They turned when Farrell and the others arrived.
“Great Arritisa!” Darius’s smile mirrored the Captain’s. “The power level in the outer stones has jumped. I see you had a successful trip.”
“Very.” Farrell joined them at the window. “If you think we have all of Meglar’s wizards in custody, I can complete the shield and we can test it.”
Darius and Aderic exchanged a tense look. “All but one,” Aderic said. “We believe she was the most powerful of his operatives. No one saw her leave, but she could have departed as soon as the other two were arrested.”
Farrell reached out to Nerti. “Your senses are better than mine. Outside of the holding cells, do you or Klissmor sense the presence of a wizard bound to Meglar?”
To the others, Farrell spoke out loud. “I’ve asked Nerti and Klissmor to scan the city for any of Meglar’s wizards.”
“They can do that?” Darius looked shocked.
Before he could answer, Nerti spoke to him. “We found only those held by the constables for miles around Belsport.”
“As always, you have my thanks.” He felt her mind slip away. “Nerti found none of Meglar’s wizards for miles around. I can complete the shield, if that’s acceptable to you, Your Majesty.”
“Please do.” Wilhelm seemed more excited than his usual stoic self.
“Won’t the sudden appearance of the shield create widespread panic?” Peter asked. “And what about people trying to enter the harbor or the main gate?”
“Your father has taken care of the latter two, setting up positions outside the harbor and main gate to temporarily stop people from entering.” Farrell turned to Aderic. “As for scaring the public, Aderic and the wizard constables are taking care of that.”
“My prince.” Aderic bowed to Peter. “The other constables have fanned out through the city and will work with Masters Darius, Erstad, and Wesfazial to cast an enchantment citywide. People will either not see the shield or simply ignore it as nothing of interest. Those in the Citadel won’t be affected.”
“Hopefully, it’ll work.” Farrell smirked at the other wizards. “When I’m done, we’ll see if you four can breach it.”
“Would be worth losing the fee to show up the kid,” Wesfazial grumbled. “You know it’ll work. Stop pretending.”
Grinning, Farrell floated off the balcony. Grabbing a link to each of the stones, he calculated where they would meet and floated below that point. When he activated the spell, a maelstrom of light erupted all around the city. Streams of energy in various shades of blue, green, violet, yellow, and red shot from each of the stones to just above Farrell’s head. For a moment it appeared they would explode, but he kept hold of the energy.
Adjusting the flow of power caused several streams to swap colors. Others took on different hues, while still others pulsed brighter or dimmer. Once he adjusted the flow from the stone in the ocean, he felt the energy working in harmony. Satisfied, he released his grip on the energy and turned off the spell. Waiting a moment, he turned it back on and watched.
Eighty-three different-colored columns of magical power exploded in unison, drawn to the same spot above the Citadel. When they met, a brief but intense flash filled the sky, and a translucent curtain of multicolored energy cascaded down to envelop the city in a dome of protection.
Probing the integrity of the shield, he smiled at his success. Descending slowly, Farrell landed on a balcony next to Wilhelm.
Wesfazial gave him a wink and disappeared through a Door Darius opened. The four wizards reappeared outside the shield, paired off, and moved to different points. At what must have been a preset signal, the two groups began their attempt to breach the wall of energy.
Aderic stood next to his lord, acting as the prince’s magical advisor. Peering intently at the two points of attack, the captain turned toward Wilhelm. “What they’ve tried so far would have brought down any shield I know how to create. But this one shows no measurable decline in its power levels or its integrity.”
Wilhelm barely acknowledged the appraisal, causing Farrell to laugh. “The deal is struck, Wilhelm. Feel free to smile at any time.”
A small chuckle escaped the prince’s otherwise steely demeanor. “I’ll wait until they’re done before I celebrate.”
The attacks stopped, and they could see Wesfazial and Erstad rejoining Darius and Cylinda. Farrell, using his wizard sight, watched the new attack unfold.
“Interesting.” He nodded, impressed by what he saw. “I’m not sure I would’ve tried that, but it’s an innovative attempt.”
“I see nothing.” Wilhelm turned to his constable, who shook his head.
“I don’t recognize the spell, Your Majesty,” Aderic confessed. “All I see is the two Haven wizards trying to overpower the shield by brute force. What Lord Darius and Cylinda are doing, I couldn’t say.”
Farrell never took his eyes off the shield, wanting to see the effects. “It’s called Piercing Needles, Captain.”
He continued to watch for a moment longer, then turned toward the prince. “Erstad and Wesfazial combined their strength and focused it on one very narrow place. While they stressed that one point, Darius and Cylinda each used variations of the same spell. It’s normally used against unprotected or lightly protected troops. Thousands of slivers of energy are thrown at high speeds. Being small and powerful, they can generally pierce a weakened shield. By combining the two, Darius no doubt tried to slip a Needle through, which he hoped would give him a beachhead from which he could punch a hole.”
“I take it he failed?” Wilhelm still watched the attempt to pierce the shield.
“He did, but even had he gotten his one Needle through, the energy is oscillating so quickly that the hole would be gone before he could’ve exploited it.”
The attacks continued for another twenty minutes before the four tired wizards ceased their efforts and returned. Darius went straight to Wilhelm, bowing his head before speaking.
“Lord Wilhelm, we tried everything we could think of and didn’t even dent it.” Eyes twinkling, he smiled wildly. “Give it a few more months to charge, and we’ll be well protected indeed.”
“Excellent.” Wilhelm nodded to an aide, who snapped to attention. “Lord Horgon, if you would go with my assistant, he will see that the money is transferred to Haven, and we can complete this trade.”
Horgon inclined his head to the prince and followed the clerk out of the room. Smiling, Wilhelm turned to his guests. “And everyone is invited to a celebratory dinner to honor the new trade agreement, new alliance, and, most of all, the amazing work by our friend and ally, Prince Farrell of Haven.”
The unexpected attention gave Farrell an uneasy moment. Partially stifling a yawn, he turned red when everyone laughed. He needed a nap before the evening’s activities.
FARRELL WOKE to find Miceral sitting on the bed, stroking his hair. “Time to get up. Dinner is in an hour.”
Looking up through sleepy eyes, he smiled. “I love you, Miceral. I don’t tell you nearly enough, but I do.”
Still stroking his hair, Miceral smiled back. “I see it all the time from the way you look at me. I hope you see the same feelings reflected back, because I love you more than I can say.” He bent over and kissed Farrell before he hopped off the bed.
Reluctantly, Farrell rose to get ready. Washed and shaved, he found clothes set out for him when he returned to their room.
Miceral held up his hands when Farrell looked his way. “Father set those out. Don’t blame me.”
“You’re the Prince of Haven,” Horgon said, standing in the doorway. “It’s important for others to see that when they look at you.”
As much as Farrell hated formal clothing, he couldn’t find too much fault with what Horgon had selected. Dressing quickly, he scowled at the plain gold crown sitting on a cushion.
“A crown?” Farrell summoned it to him with a thought. “Horgon, why must I wear a crown? I’m a wizard, not a king.”
“Actually, you are the King of Yar-del.” Miceral took the circle of gold from his partner and set it carefully on his head. “But more to the point, you are the Prince of Haven and that means you need to be both.”
Adjusting the crown, Farrell used the mirror to stare at his partner. “Gods of Nendor, but you look good all dressed up. Why don’t we skip the party and stay here tonight?”
“Don’t even think about it, either of you,” Horgon said, standing in the doorway, shaking his head. “The dinner is in your honor, Farrell.”
Trying to frown, he almost laughed from the attempt. “If they’re trying to thank me for my work, shouldn’t it be fun for me? A formal dinner, no matter the reason, is never a favorite of mine.”
Horgon looked completely unswayed. “Such a poor, suffering soul. I’m not sure how you stand the pain. Find a way to soldier through, because you’re going.”
Slipping his hand into Miceral’s, Farrell sighed. “Has he always been like this?”
“No, he used to be worse.” Miceral motioned toward the door, letting Farrell lead the way. “In years past, I’d have gotten a stern lecture to go with the command.”
Horgon turned on his heel, muttering something Farrell didn’t catch, though it sounded like “children.”
Their honor guard escorted them to a large dining hall. Farrell managed to keep in good spirits until he saw the room packed with the cream of Belsport’s social elite. Several of the guards gripped their weapons tighter when he mentioned turning Wilhelm into a field mouse and calling in the cats.
Doing his best to keep his pace proper and not glare at the people gawking, Farrell regretted not telling Horgon to go alone. Being prince had to have some perks. They’d just taken their seats on either side of Wilhelm when he heard Darius groan and felt a surge. So much for a celebration.
“Darius.” He gripped the older man by the arms. “Where?”
“What’s happening?” Wilhelm stood next to him, gaze moving from Darius to Farrell.
“My… my… lord.” Darius’s eyes rolled back until only the bottoms of his green irises were visible. Ignoring the demands of Belsport’s prince, Farrell reached into Darius’s mind to keep him conscious. Blocking the feedback from the shattered spell, Farrell steadied his friend’s pulse, allowing him to recover. Grabbing the nearest goblet, he turned the strong ale into water and gave it to Darius.
“Where?” Farrell asked again.
Swallowing the rest of the cup, Darius nodded. “Warehouse district, southeast of the Citadel.”
“Majesty, you’re under attack.” Farrell’s eyes searched for Erstad, Wesfazial, and Cylinda, who ignored everyone and made their way to the head table. “Meglar overpowered Darius’s control of the city and opened a Door.”
Ignoring everyone again, he searched for help. “Nerti?”
“I felt it, Wizard.” Her tone told him she understood the seriousness of the situation. “I’m contacting Rothdin to summon aid.”
“My thanks.” He broke the link to speak to Wilhelm.
“Nerti is contacting Haven to send reinforcement. Erstad or Wesfazial will open a Door to bring them through.” Noting the look in the prince’s eyes, he shook his head. “My apologies if I’m giving orders in your city, but I understand the situation better than yo
u at this point.”
“Understood.” Wilhelm showed no signs he felt slighted by Farrell’s actions. Nodding crisply, he snapped his fingers at the nearest guards.
Turning to his friends, Farrell spotted Miceral moving closer out of the corner of his eye. “One of you three has to stay and defend the prince and his family. Don’t leave, no matter what.”
Wesfazial finished handing Darius a new cup of water and nodded. “I’ll stay here.”
“How did this happen?” Erstad asked.
“Meglar overpowered the lock Darius had on Belsport and opened a Door for his troops.” His mind jumped to several different issues. He barely thought about his answer.
“How?” His mentor almost glared at him.
The question focused him for a moment. “Must have something to do with the wizard who escaped Wilhelm’s detention, but I can’t be sure.”
Wilhelm returned with a young, scared-looking wizard constable. “I’ve sent word for Aderic, but he’s already in the city leading the counterattack.”
“I must join him.” Darius still looked pale but seemed a bit steadier.
Getting the barest nod from Erstad and Cylinda, Farrell fetched his battle staff from their suite. “Erstad and Cylinda will join you.”
Darius motioned for the two Haven wizards and stepped off. Farrell watched for a heartbeat, then turned his attention back to Wilhelm.
“Wilhelm, you need to stay in the Citadel. Meglar wouldn’t launch a full-scale attack through one Door. He may be after you and your family.” He wondered briefly if the prince understood the limitations of Doors and their role in warfare, but the nod he received satisfied him that Wilhelm understood enough. “Wesfazial will remain to protect you and the island.”
“My thanks.” Wilhelm turned to the older man. “Come with me.”
The prince spun on his heels and moved toward the exit. Without a word, Wesfazial followed. Farrell turned his attention to his task.
“Do you trust me?” he asked Miceral.
“Of course. Why do you ask?”
Instead of answering, Farrell concentrated and executed the spell. A small flash later and Miceral wore his mail shirt and greaves with both swords strapped over his back.
Champion of the Gods, Books 1-2 Page 34