by Terry Schott
Leo took a step closer to Lenidas and the other man jumped backward. "The Chronicler sends his regards."
"He gave you a chip to get here?" Lenidas smiled and sidled closer to the sword lying on the ground. "That’s against the rules, but I suppose he justified it as payback for me stealing the tome."
"If I’d known about that I would have returned sooner."
"Why leave at all?" Lenidas nodded toward the king. "Seems like he knew about me. Why not stay and hunt me?"
"The advantage in that match would go to you. We needed you comfortable and assured that I was not around. Plus, the king did not fully believe you existed." Leo glanced at the king, then back to Lenidas. "Now he does."
Lenidas smiled. He was close to his prize now. "So we have one last duel to decide who continues down the path? That is very sporting of you, brother." He raised one hand and smiled. "I mean clone."
"Leo shook his head. "There will be no duel. Instead, I will distract you with talk and the hope that you might retrieve your sword, allowing Mouse to creep up behind you to stick a blade in your throat."
"That’s a grand—" Lenidas gurgled as the tip of a blade appeared from his open mouth, blood spraying. Mouse grabbed the man by the hair and pulled back, pushing the weapon into the back of Lenidas’neck. Eyes wide, Lenidas grasped his throat and fell forward, dead as he hit the ground.
69
The servant led Leo into the main chamber and pointed to the large table in front of the throne. "Lord Argon will be with you in a moment. Please be seated."
"Thank you, but I’m used to standing while I wait."
Laughter sounded from the opposite door as Lord Argon entered. He moved toward his throne and Leo could not help but notice the difference that a year had made on the alley lord.
He looks older. Still a strong man, but older. Still a great beast of a man that I would not want to face in a fight. Leo bowed. "It is good to see you again, Lord. I trust that my tribute continued to be paid on time in my absence?"
Argon approached the younger man and hugged him. "It does my eyes good to see you, lad." He slapped Leo on the back, then pushed him away. "And to answer your question, yes, the pretender paid his tribute on time."
Argon took his seat while Leo poured two glasses of wine. He presented a goblet to the alley lord and sat at the table. "I assume you knew I was alive all along."
Argon laughed and nodded. "We did, aye. Lissandra cast her net wide and reported that you were living at sea." He frowned and took a sip of wine. "Then, a few months ago, you disappeared. I was convinced you were slain."
The sound of Lissandra’s laughter made Leo lean forward so he could see past Argon and watch her emerge from the shadows behind the throne. Leo stared at her in awe.
She is more beautiful than the day I first saw her. Age has not touched her.
Lissandra put one hand on the back of the throne as she walked around it, letting her hand glide down until it touched Lord Argon’s face. "I assured the old wolf that you were fine." She kissed Argon on the cheek, then turned to face Leo. "You met a water mage, right?"
"Yes."
She rushed down the steps and placed one hand on Leo’s shoulder. "I knew it." It was clear from the tone of her voice that she was excited. "My awareness of you ended so abruptly that I knew it had to be magic." She raised one eyebrow. "Or a sea creature biting you in half. Still, it felt as if another magic user had severed my link." She sat down beside him and leaned forward, one hand on his lap. "Tell me all about him." She slapped his leg and her eyes widened. "Or was it a her?"
"Lissandra." Lord Argon laughed. "Leave off the boy, will you? I swear you sound like a teenage girl just returned from her first visit to the Pits."
She turned and looked at the alley lord. "Argon, I’ve told you how rare and difficult it is to run across a water mage. If you knew how many times I’ve roamed the oceans looking for one . . . the spells and magic they have access to could help me gain power in certain areas that would help all of us. I swear by the gods if you—"
"Okay, enough." Argon held up his hand and smiled. "There will be plenty of time to speak with Leo about that. Now come sit on my lap. We both know what I am about to do and I require your body touching mine as support."
Lissandra stood and glided toward her lord, sitting on his lap and nuzzling her face into his neck. She whispered something and tugged on his beard.
"Stop it." He laughed as if being tickled.
Leo smiled and watched the two carry on for a few moments before Argon seemed to remember that Leo was there. He hissed at Lissandra and she giggled once before stopping to look at Leo.
"I have recently come to a major decision," Lord Argon announced.
"What would that be, Lord?"
"I think it is time for me to retire as alley lord."
Leo’s eyebrows raised. "That is a serious decision, Lord. Are you certain?"
"I am. Most alley lords end their careers without their head attached to their shoulders, or with a blade planted in their back." He shook his head. "There is no need for me to go out that way. I am still young."
Lissandra snickered.
He pushed her off his lap, smacked her bottom, and pulled her back onto him before she could protest. "Young enough and strong enough to keep a woman such as this entertained."
"I can’t disagree with that." She bit his cheek playfully.
"Oak is in his prime and it would be unfair to all involved to keep him from this throne."
"He is the perfect choice for your replacement, Lord."
"I thought you would agree, although your rank and position within my court entitles you to demand the title as well."
"Me? Oak is like a brother to me. More than that. I would not challenge him for what is rightly his."
"I am pleased to hear that."
"Where will you go?" Leo asked.
"Retire to a house in the country somewhere."
"And when you get bored of that?"
Argon smiled. "Yes. A few weeks after retiring I will need something to do. Do you have any suggestions?"
"My lord?"
"Will you hire me to work for you in some capacity?"
Leo considered the request and shook his head. "I’m afraid not."
Argon frowned. "Why not?"
"To hire you would not be right."
"Damn it!"
"I would bring you on as a business partner, however."
Lord Argon’s frown disappeared. "That does sound better." He grinned. "Tell me what you have in mind."
70
The Chronicler looked up from his desk as the door opened, placed the feather-quilled pen onto its holder, and stood. "Welcome. Please sit down."
Leo nodded and sat. "I did not think to be here again until I turned forty."
The Chronicler smiled and took his seat. "That is the wondrous thing about life, isn’t it? Plans change."
Leo reached into his breast pocket and withdrew the black chip. "Thank you for this. It came in extremely handy." He placed it on the desk and leaned back.
The older man opened a drawer, picked up the chip, and placed it inside. "I’m glad. It would have been unfortunate if Lenidas had managed to steal your life."
"I wasn’t expecting that from him."
"It was clever."
Leo nodded.
The Chronicler walked to the bookshelf behind him and scanned the volumes of identical books. "Recite your accomplishments to date."
"I have created bothÉlua andélu. I have befriended a king and introduced xai to the world. I was fortunate enough to meet and befriend Ricin."
"Finding Ricin was a pleasant surprise," the Chronicler admitted. "Have you invited King Adam to becomeÉlua?"
Leo shook his head. "Not yet."
"Everything in its time." The Chronicler selected a tome from the bookshelf and returned to his desk. He opened it to a blank page and retrieved his pen. "I have questions."
"Ask them."
&nbs
p; "It will require time."
Leo bowed his head. "Take all the time you need, Chronicler."
***
Hours passed while the two men spoke. A servant brought food and they continued speaking while they ate.
Finally, the Chronicler nodded and replaced the lid on the ink. He set the pen to one side and closed the book. "Thank you for the visit, Leo. I am . . . encouraged by what I have heard. Prosper and return to this place, should you reach the age of forty."
"Very well. Will you be alive when I return?"
The older man’s mouth twitched and he smiled. "Do I appear older than when you saw me last?"
"No."
"Perhaps I will look the same twelve years from now. That is my burden, not yours. You must wait and see."
"As you say, Chronicler." Leo bowed and left the room.
***
The Chronicler read the information in the book, then replaced it on the shelf with the other volumes. Then, he walked to the study door and lowered a heavy iron bar, sliding it into place and nodding as it glowed with a red aura and made a soft humming sound, securing the door against any entry from the other side.
He removed his heavy black cloak and approached a section of the wall, pulling back the large tapestry. He touched three stones. A deep grating sound came from within the wall, and a section pulled back to reveal empty space beyond. The Chronicler tapped a pattern against a large round crystal beside of the doorway and misty blue light appeared, swirling as it filled the entire alcove. He took a deep breath and stepped into the mist, gritting his teeth as sparks popped off his skin like small flashes of lightning. The sparks spread and intensified, crackling and hissing louder as he walked further in. His steps became heavy. Eventually, he reached the back wall, placed both palms against its bright blueness, and screamed, no longer able to contain the pain as a single flash of brilliant lighting enveloped him.
When the lightning disappeared, so had the Chronicler.
***
"Sir?"
The Chronicler looked up. A young man stood over him, holding a white luxurious robe. "Put this on, sir. Are you okay?"
"That depends. What’s your name?"
"Dalton, sir."
The Chronicler stood and grunted, accepting the robe and rolling his head back and forth as the pain which had, a moment ago, felt like fire shooting through every nerve ending in his body, faded.
"Dalton is correct, is it not?" The younger man sounded worried.
"Yes, yes. Dalton is correct."
The young man sighed. "Excellent, sir. Are you strong enough to go to your office?"
"Yes."
"Then follow me. I will have food and drink sent up."
The Chronicler followed his assistant into the hallway, his eyes squinting at the bright artificial lights, his bare feet uncomfortable against the cold, smooth, tile floor. They walked to the end of the hall and the silver steel doors opened with a pleasant chiming sound. Both men stepped into the elevator and Dalton pressed the floor marked‘PH’.
Minutes later, they entered the penthouse suite. The Chronicler walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows and looked down at the sprawling city. It was nighttime and lights filled the landscape below. Dalton approached and handed him a drink, which he accepted and sipped. "Every time I return, I am in awe of how much this place has changed over four hundred years."
"The contrast must be remarkable, sir."
"It is."
A chiming sounded from inside Dalton’s breast pocket. He removed a thin phone and pushed a button. "Hello? Yes, he’s right here. No, he does not have his cell on him yet. Just a second, I’ll see if he is ready to talk." Dalton put his hand over the mouthpiece. "Sir?"
The older man reached for the phone and held it to his ear. "What is it?" He listened for a moment, then frowned. "Fine. Call a meeting for tomorrow. Gather everyone at nine a.m. Of course I’ll be fine by then. There’s nothing wrong with me now." He handed the phone to Dalton and took another sip of alcohol.
"Will there be anything else, Mr. Wrathson?" Dalton asked.
"Not tonight, Dalton." The old man looked down at the immense city, taking another drink from his glass.
To Be Continued…
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