Red Wizard of Atlantis

by Ravek Hunter

  ~~~

  Qel rode at a moderate trot over the stone-paved road that led north through the hills and valleys of the open countryside. He was happy to be back in his comfortably fitted traveling attire as opposed to the formal robes the Battle Wizard insisted they wear during their training. The leather trousers, white silk tunic with turned-up collar, and smartly cut long coat trimmed with leather made him feel like a proper explorer. Flung over his lap he carried a heavy cloak in case it became cold in the early mornings and evenings when the sun was at its lowest. Havacian was outfitted much the same and rode beside him on a Lambei that Qel’s father was generous to provide after hearing that Havacian’s horse had been injured stepping in a foxhole. Qel didn’t like lying to his father, but he liked less the idea of them worrying about him all the time.

  They had departed Mekali Estate two days previous, packed with fresh supplies and warm farewells. He promised to send messages via pigeon as often as possible detailing his travels, and he meant every word, especially after the tight hug from his mother that lasted far longer than it should for his age. When she embraced him, he felt like a little boy again and was sad that as a man he had to think differently about such things. Fortunately, his father was more pragmatic, having traveled to many lands beyond the Emerald Isle, and gave him some practical advice when they stood alone together.

  “Be careful of whom you trust, son,” his father said. “Our own people and the Elves will not deceive you, the Dwarfs are very literal and will usually mean and do as they say, but the humans are different creatures altogether. You will find some that will fear you, take advantage of you, revile and revere you. There is no consistency whatsoever when it comes to their behavior.”

  “The humans in Atlantis seem kind enough,” Qel had challenged.

  His father laughed at that. “That’s because they have to be. Otherwise, they would not be allowed to stay. I know it seems harsh but, as a rule, distrust them all, yet do not prejudge them.”

  It sounded counterintuitive to Qel, but after some thought, he understood the wisdom in his father’s words. He always did eventually. His father had taught him much about respect and honor, while his mother had opened his heart to love, kindness, and compassion. He was grateful to them both.

  “By the looks of it, we should be in sight of Aquilon soon.”

  Qel agreed. It was busier now that they approached the city, with many locals moving along the road in cart, on horse, and on foot. Some of the wealthier Atlanteans glided by in floating carriages or disks, although there were far fewer of those here than in the City of Atlantis. The foreigners they passed were mostly merchants and tourists from the Western Kingdoms. People from outside the Emerald Isle were welcomed and allowed to freely travel where they liked within the Territory of Atlantis as long as they obeyed the laws and conducted themselves properly. However, they were cautioned to stay within the settled areas and near the main roads because the lands away from the cities and estates were wild and dangerous. Even the Atlanteans could not protect the foolhardy adventurer who traveled the untamed lands, especially near the mountains, where indigenous dangers such as the long-toothed lion, giant boar, great wolves, bears, and others were numerous. Then there were the unnatural terrors like the Mountain Trolls and Ogres that had somehow managed to find their way from Fomoire, where they were banished by the Tuatha De over three millennia ago. An involuntary shiver went through Qel at the thought of Trolls.

  The trees around them became more numerous as they rode north, to the point that they were almost always in the shade of an increasingly thick forest, the expanses of farming and agriculture left far behind. Qel had never been this far north, and the unfamiliarity of it made him feel, for the first time, like he was on a real adventure. He knew that feeling would only intensify as they traveled farther and farther away from home.

  “There it is, Havacian! I can see it now through the trees ahead. We are finally here.”

  Qel was surprised that Aquilon was not surrounded by a wall or moat and there was no gate to bar entrance. Havacian explained that it was an Atlantean trade city open to anyone that wished to conduct business on the Emerald Isle and was the primary gateway for trade with Avalon. There were several imperial soldiers casually standing on either side of the road where the city began, observing those that entered, but no one was stopped. Like the City of Atlantis, Aqualon’s buildings and architecture were of clean white stone and marble construction with broad paved avenues between them.

  Riding deeper into the city, Qel appreciated many of the differences from Atlantis. Here, there was a more fluid balance of construction and nature. They passed beautiful, well-tended gardens; a park filled with towering ancient trees; ponds—stocked with fish that jumped at insects—connected to a slow-moving, narrow, winding river that flowed through the city; as well as manicured trees and hedges along every street. Even many of the buildings had trees and foliage growing into, out of, and on top of them.

  Havacian pointed to one of them. “That must be the Sylvan influence. I read about how they use nature in their construction. I look forward to seeing how they do it up close.”

  Just then a group of Elves passed them in the opposite direction. They were men and women dressed in earthy tones of greens and browns. The men’s trousers and jackets were finely tailored, and the women modeled loose gowns of gossamer and silk that flowed elegantly behind them as they walked. Qel was always stunned by their natural beauty. Of course, he had seen Elves in Atlantis, even in the Wizards Enclave, but they were rare.

  The diversity of the population was striking as he observed more of the slender Elves, broad-shouldered Dwarfs, humans from lands he recognized, and many more he did not. Among them all, it seemed the Atlanteans were in the minority within their own city. Qel and Havacian stopped at the edge of the enormous central marketplace filled with colorful stalls and storefronts. There was no way they could ride through the crowds of the market or even walk with their horses. They would have to go around it on a perimeter road that appeared designed for the purpose for others like them who were leading horse and cart.

  Qel spotted a pair of imperial soldiers nearby keeping watch on the crowds, and he dismounted to speak with them. “Good sirs! Could you please direct us to the Tower of the Imperial Order of Wizards?”

  From his current vantage he could see many towers short and tall around the city, but there was nothing to distinguish their function one from another, and only the style of their design reflected their unique features.

  One of the soldiers pointed to the opposite side of the market. “Take the roundabout road there, and when you reach the southwest corner, you will see the Tower you wish to find.”

  After thanking the guards, they continued on their way. Havacian gestured to the crowded market as they led their horses around it. “I want to come back here before we leave. I can only imagine the variety of exotic goods that must be for sale here.”

  “I agree,” said Qel. “After we stable our horses and get a room, we should return and browse!”

  Just as the soldier promised, Qel could see the Wizards Tower in the near distance when they reached the southwest corner of the market. He knew it by the rotating crystal pyramid at its apex that glowed faintly red with the bright western sun setting below it. Soon it would be dark, and the glow from the crystal would dominate the night sky above the city if it were anything like the ones in Atlantis. The modest entrance to the Tower grounds was just a short distance away, and soon they were standing in its long shadow.

  The Tower complex was surrounded by a low wall that held many more two- and three-story buildings inside. At the gate, an Atlantean man was sitting at a small desk. He asked them to state their name and purpose when they approached.

  “I am Qellel, and this is Havaciante. We are on Discovery as recent graduates from the Enclave,” he offered.

  “Welcome Qellel and Havaciante. The stable is there to your left, and you can seek accommodations at the
building in front of the Tower. Safe travels.”

  They stabled their horses and removed their travel packs before proceeding to the main building to request a room. Qel was surprised at the number of foreign guests on Tower grounds. There were numerous Elves, a few Dwarfs, and several humans—all presumably wizards, scholars, or mages—talking among one another in the comfortably appointed common room and enjoying refreshments.

  The house administrator appeared to be of the Green Hall, a Nature Wizard, from the luminescent green belt that cinched his robes at the waist and the gold medallion of his station hanging from a chain around his neck. He sat at a large table with parchment perfectly aligned on one side next to a ledger and an off-center inkwell.

  “How may I be of service, gentlemen?” he asked.

  “We are traveling from the Enclave and would like rooms for two or three nights,” Qel answered. “If you don’t have separate rooms, then we can share one.”

  “We have rooms for each of you,” he assured them. “Tower level four, rooms seven and nine.

  “Please fill in the information where indicated.” The house administrator pushed forward the ledger. “The common room is open all day and night for service; the kitchens serve only during mealtimes.” He continued the introduction while Qel and Havacian completed the registration. “If you require a private office or a conference room, one will be provided for you. The library is located on the second level of the Tower, as is the open laboratory. Finally, only the permanent residents of the Tower are permitted access to the lower levels unless granted special access by the Master of the Tower.”

  Qel thanked the Administrator, then he and Havacian went to find their rooms. They walked through the common room to a pair of massive double doors on the opposite wall that led into the slightly curved wall of the Tower. An Atlantean wizard was walking through one side of the set of doors when they arrived, and he held it open for them to pass through with their heavy packs. Inside, the base of the Tower contained a small room and the landing for the stairway, which three men could easily climb abreast, spiraling up the inside perimeter of the Tower. It was brightly illuminated by light globes set into the walls and spaced only a few paces apart. Near the stairway stood a row of racks holding several luminescent disks similar to those Qel was familiar with as carriers. He and Havacian each pulled one from the frame. The disks slid off easily and floated just above waist high under their own power. Without hesitation, the men put their packs on top of the disks and pushed them forward as they climbed the stairs.

  “What level are we going to, again?” Havacian asked.

  “Four,” replied Qel.

  “I guess a little exercise will do us good after days on a horse!” Havacian chuckled.

  The stairwell rose at a moderately steep angle around the wide Tower that Qel guessed had a diameter of at least fifty paces. As they ascended, they passed several other wizards of different ages and halls that greeted them cordially until they arrived on the second floor where the library was located. Here a broad set of double doors stood open, revealing a massive two-level library. Qel paused to gaze into the room.

  Shelves covered the walls from floor to ceiling on both levels and held thousands of scrolls, tomes of vellum and papyrus, and clay tablets. There were wizards everywhere in the room, sitting in lounge chairs or at tables in groups. Most were immersed in quiet conversations that resulted in a low murmur, almost like a hum, to those not immediately nearby. Light globes of various intensities floated freely around the room, providing illumination that could be moved from place to place as required by those within.

  “A very respectable library,” commented Qel.

  “It is,” agreed Havacian, “although not quite as large at the library at the Enclave.”

  “Yet this one seems so well attended,” Qel observed. “We’ll have to try to spend a little time here before we leave.”

  They continued to the fourth floor and found their rooms as indicated by numbers on the doors. “I’ll meet you in the common room after I have settled my packs in and cleaned up a bit,” Qel told Havacian before he entered his room. Havacian happily agreed. His chamber was only two doors down the hall from Qel’s own.

  Qel walked through the unlocked door and stopped to stare in surprise even before closing the door behind him. It was huge, and the furnishings were opulent with plush chairs, a couch, and a large table that six people could sit around and dine, but no bed. He walked in farther and noticed two doors on his right. He opened the first; it was a lavatory with running water to wash and an elevated stool to defecate. The second door led to a bedroom as large as the one at Mekali Estate and furnished with a large bed and a full-sized writing desk fully stocked with ink and parchment.

  He couldn’t believe how lavish the whole thing was. As an apprentice, he had a tiny room barely large enough to hold a small bed and a little writing desk. He never would have expected that wizards enjoyed luxury of this scale. It looked like a room reserved for the masters. Qel put away his things, washed, and put on a clean robe. He was excited about talking with Havacian about this and wondered if his friend had expected it.

  There was a large open window in the curved wall on the one side of the room. Qel walked by, briefly glancing out, and had to stop and stare again. The city was far more extensive than he had estimated. From his vantage, four stories above the ground, he could see much of the city spread out before him, and it was alive with activity. People were rushing in every direction on what he was sure was important business while others strolled through lavish gardens or shopping boulevards. Looking out farther, he could see an abundance of inns, taverns, playhouses, and other forms of entertainment to keep the very diverse population happy and distracted. He was disappointed that he couldn’t see the market, but the extensive port trafficked by many wondrous ships more than made up for it.

  There was a knock at the door.

  Tearing himself away from the visage of Aquilon, Qel answered to find Havacian standing there in his travel clothes with a worried look on his face.

  “What’s wrong, Havacian?”

  Havacian looked beyond him and into his room as if to confirm his thoughts. “Do you think they gave us the wrong rooms?”

  Qel had not considered the possibility. “By Pontus, you might be right. Let’s go speak to the house administrator.”

  They walked back down the winding stairs to the common room and approached the house administrator who had assigned them their rooms.

  “Why would you think there was a mistake?” he asked them.

  “The rooms seem more . . . spacious and well-appointed than we expected,” Qel replied.

  The house administrator wasn’t much older than they were, maybe by a decade or two, and had the most unusual perplexed expression on his face. Then a knowing smile began to form. “When did you graduate?”

  Havacian shrugged, “A few weeks ago.”

  “So you’re on Discovery.” His smile broadened. “You will have to get used to the idea that you’re not apprentices anymore. Wizards like their comfort, to an extreme, I might add, and now you are one of them. There has been no mistake with your rooms.”

  Embarrassed, Qel thanked the house administrator, and they sat down in the common room. Seconds later, a young human girl wearing an apron over a long wool dress asked them if they would like something to drink. Havacian asked for a carafe of wine, and she returned with it and two glasses only a few minutes later.

  Qel raised his glass, feeling almost giddy about the luxury they were enjoying. “Here’s to the start of a great adventure.”

  Havacian raised his glass in return and smiled. “It’s good to be a wizard.”

  ~~~

  The central market was huge. To simply walk the lanes of merchant stalls would have taken days if one had the time and inclination to do so. Qel marveled at the expanse of it. Not even the City of Atlantis had a marketplace such as this one, he thought. There were merchants from many lands that he
knew and just as many from lands he did not. He recognized many merchants from familiar lands by their attire and the goods the displayed for sale. There were silver and jewelry from Tartessos; fruits, vegetables, and olives from local Atlantean estates; and exotic spices, incense, oils, and dyes from Gades, TaShemau, and TaMehu. Farther down they passed clays, copper, lead, and salt from the Moullians; tools and weapons from the Dwarfs of Tirnan Yog and Lyonesse; potions, healing tonics, and cures from Eriu as well as thousands of items from places so far away that Qel had never heard of the strange lands they came from.

  Everything was a new and exciting experience, with each stall decorated in a unique fashion that reflected the culture and trade of the unique merchant within. It was a visceral experience for Qel. He favored the colorful banners, signs with unusual script, and best of all, the strange clothing the people wore in the fashion of their native lands. Qel happily followed Havacian up and down the lanes of merchants through the remainder of the afternoon and early evening, exploring the endless surprises of the market before returning to the Tower for a meal. They were so intrigued by the vast expanse of treasures that they decided to spend another day in Aquilon, specifically the market, before continuing their journey across the border and into the mysteries of the Sylvan Forest.

  Chapter 7

  Hellas

  Paein