The Dragon's Flame (The Chronicles of Terah # 2)

by Morgan, Mackenzie

  Laryn nodded and turned the key. The three of them materialized on a narrow road carved out of the side of a steep mountain. Kevin immediately returned to the office to get Chris and Theresa. Once they were all on the road, Kevin took some time to glance around. Below him, he could see a lake shimmering in the sunlight through the trees, but above him the shadow of the mountain made the woods look dark.

  The road bordered the lake for a little while, and then cut back between two mountains, following one of the many streams that fed into the lake. After a while, they emerged into a small valley. There was no village as such, just a scattering of houses with small footpaths leading to them. The only building of any size was a long, L-shaped log structure with a wide porch surrounding it. Their road ended at the steps leading up to the front porch.

  Laryn stepped up on the porch and knocked on the front door. A young woman in a long dress and a full-length apron opened it. Her hair was tied at the back of her neck and she was drying her hands on a towel that was tied to her belt. She was so small that at first glance, Kevin thought she was a child.

  As soon as the woman saw Laryn, her face erupted in a huge smile and she rushed through the door to hug her. “Oh, it’s so good to see you. It’s been too long.

  Laryn smiled and hugged the woman back. “I’ve really missed you, Verna. How do you like working here in Timera Valley?”

  “Working with Brena is wonderful. I’m learning so much, but I do miss everyone in Milhaven,” Verna said. “Tell me, how is Sister Agnes doing?”

  “She’s fine now,” Laryn said. When Verna looked at her questioningly, Laryn explained. “She was pretty wiped out after Badec died, so Theresa and I convinced her to take a short vacation. Theresa ran the chapel while Agnes was gone.” Laryn nodded in Theresa’s direction.

  Verna looked at Theresa closely. “I’m sorry, but I don’t remember seeing you in Milhaven. You must have come after I left.”

  Theresa smiled. “I’ve only been in Camden a little over three months. I was in Nandelia before that.”

  Verna nodded and turned back to Laryn. “What can I do for you?”

  “I’d like to introduce Theresa to Brena, and I’d like for Brena to meet my nephew, Myron.”

  “Myron,” Verna said quietly as she stared at Kevin. “We’ve heard wonderful things about you. It’s an honor to finally meet you. I wish you well.” Then Verna stepped back inside the door to let them enter the chapel. She led them to a small sitting room. “Brena’s in her workroom right now. If you’ll have a seat, I’ll go let her know you’re here.”

  Alek stepped inside the sitting room, looked around to make sure there was only one entrance, and then stepped back into the entrance hall. Chris and Kevin sat on the couch and Theresa sat on one of the chairs. Laryn walked over to the window and looked outside.

  After a couple of minutes, Verna returned with a tray, a pitcher of scog, and five mugs. “Brena will be along in just a minute. She had to wash up.”

  By the time Theresa poured everyone a mug of scog and handed the mugs around, a petite, middle-aged woman breezed into the room. Everything about her exuded energy and she seemed to bubble with life. Her curly black hair was speckled with gray but there was a sparkle in her gray-green eyes. She rushed over to Laryn, clasped her in a crushing hug, and said, “Laryn! It’s so good to see you! How are you doing?”

  Laughing, Laryn untangled herself from Brena and said, “It’s good to see you, too. It’s been a long time, too long.”

  “How are things at the castle? I’m so sorry about Badec,” Brena said, still clasping Laryn’s hand. Then she realized that there were others in the room and turned around to look at them.

  Before Laryn had a chance to answer her, Brena walked over to Theresa and took her hand. “You must be Theresa. Drusilla wrote me about you. Welcome to the Sisterhood,” she said as she kissed Theresa’s forehead.

  Before Theresa could respond, Brena had walked over to Kevin. She looked at him closely and then said, “Myron, it’s nice to see you again.” When Kevin raised his eyebrows in question, she explained. “I was there when you were born. You might say I helped you into this world, and then, sadly, a few days later, I helped your mother leave it. She would have been so proud of you.”

  Then she turned towards Chris. “I could be wrong, but I think you must be Myron’s assistant, Chris.”

  Chris smiled and said, “Your grapevine’s very good, Brena.”

  “Yes, it is,” she answered with a grin as she turned and walked back over to Laryn. “Now, what can I do for you?”

  Laryn looked at Kevin. He cleared his throat to get Brena’s attention and said, “First of all, I’d like to ask a favor.”

  “Certainly.”

  “I need to send a letter to a man in Mapleton, Brendolanth, but I can’t send it to him directly. It could put his life in danger.”

  Brena nodded. “You don’t want word of it to get back to Rolan. Are you trying to reach Robyn by any chance?”

  Kevin and Chris looked at each other. Kevin turned to Brena and nodded. “That’s right.”

  “No problem. Write your letter, send it to me, and I’ll send it to Sister Glenice. She’ll see that he gets it, and if there’s an answer, she’ll send it along to me.”

  “Thank you, Sister,” Kevin said as he handed her the letter.

  “You said that the favor was the first thing. What’s the second?” Brena asked.

  “I wanted to tell you about something that happened at the April meeting of the Council of Sorcerers,” Kevin began.

  “You mean about Gwendolyn wanting to neutralize our pendants and wanting us to stop treating injuries unless we’re sure the victim’s not a runaway slave?”

  “You know about that?” Kevin asked in amazement.

  “Well, Glendymere thought I should be aware of it,” Brena said a little hesitantly. “From what he said, you handled the situation and there was nothing for any of us to be concerned about. He just wanted me to know what was going on in case any of the sisters in other provinces heard about the complaints and got worried.”

  Kevin nodded. “I should have known that he’d tell you. In fact, I should have told you about it myself when it happened. I apologize for that.”

  “Nothing to apologize for,” Brena said, patting his hand. “Now, was there anything else?”

  “No, that was all. Other than the fact that I wanted to meet you.”

  Brena’s smile spread up to her eyes and lit up her face. “That’s nice.” Then she turned towards Theresa. “I know they’re going to have to head back soon, but do you have to go? Or could you stay with us for a couple of days? We’d love to have you.”

  Theresa thought about it for a minute and said, “I’d love to, if someone would let Sister Agnes know not to expect me tonight.”

  Laryn nodded. “Shall I tell her you’ll be back on Friday?”

  “If Kevin has time to come get me.” Theresa glanced towards Kevin.

  “Kevin?” Brena asked with a frown.

  “Sorry,” Theresa said. “That’s what those of us who knew Myron before he became the Master Sorcerer call him. It’s like a nickname.”

  “Oh,” Brena said, sensing that there was a lot more to that story than she was likely to find out.

  Kevin nodded. “After lunch, about this time. Okay?” When Theresa nodded, he said, “I hate to run, but you’re right that we need to get back.”

  Laryn hugged Brena again and whispered, “I’ll see you before long. I have someone I want you to meet. I’ll tell you about him later.”

  Brena looked into Laryn’s eyes and murmured, “It’s about time.” Then she started herding them all towards the door. “Now go on. I know you have things to take care of. See you soon.”

  Chapter 11

  Details, Details

  The next Sunday morning, Kevin slept later than usual. The monthly council meeting the day before had gone reasonably well, but the ever-present tension and animosity among the s
orcerers had worn him out. During every meeting so far, he’d felt like he was sitting on a keg of dynamite that the slightest thing would set off, and it was his responsibility to see to it that nothing did.

  Chris was up and had already gone down to the kitchen for coffee, pastries, and fruit by the time Kevin woke up. They sat down in Kevin’s room to eat.

  “Do you have any plans for today?” Chris asked.

  Kevin nodded. “I thought I’d go to Zander and talk to the minister. Did you ever look up his name?”

  “His name’s Wilhem, and I’ve got directions to his house on file in the office.”

  “How did you get them?”

  “I wrote to him and asked for them.”

  “What excuse did you use?”

  “No excuse. I just wrote a letter saying that we were requesting directions to all of the district officers’ houses. He sent the directions a couple of weeks ago.”

  “Not bad. Maybe we really should do that.”

  “Already done. I’ve got directions to most of them already. The rest should be coming in soon,” Chris said. “Have you decided what you’re going to tell him?”

  Kevin nodded. “The truth. I’m going to tell him that early next Saturday morning I’m going to take Gaynor away, that we have three qualified sorcerers lined up to compete for the position, and that we’ll hold the competition Saturday afternoon. I just hope he keeps the news to himself.”

  “I do, too. Are you going to use a shield to keep your conversation from being overheard?”

  “No, I don’t think so. I really don’t want Gaynor to know that there’s another sorcerer around. He’s more likely to notice the magic than to overhear the conversation.”

  “Do you want me to go with you?”

  “Not today. I don’t see any reason for it. Rigel can go.”

  “When do you want to leave? I’ll let him know when I go back down.”

  “I thought I’d go after lunch, but I’ll tell him. I’m going down to the storeroom anyway,” Kevin said. “I don’t want anyone to recognize my tunic and tell Gaynor that I was in town. I’m going to dig out one of my old ones.”

  Chris nodded. “You might want to wear your official tunic and sash under the old one though, for identification purposes.”

  “I guess I could,” Kevin agreed. “If my old tunic isn’t big enough, I’ll use one of Darrell’s.”

  “You’ll need a tunic for Rigel, too.”

  “He probably has some off-duty clothes, but if not, maybe one of Karl’s will fit him.”

  ~ ~ ~ ~

  Shortly after lunch, Rigel joined Kevin in his office and the two of them left for Clayborn, the village in Zander where Wilhem and Gaynor both lived. When they reached Wilhem’s house, Kevin knocked on the door.

  Wilhem opened the door, asked them in, and looked at them as if he were trying to place them. Finally he said, “You’re not from Zander, are you?”

  “No,” Kevin answered. Then he slipped his top tunic off, revealing the tunic of the castle of Milhaven and the sash that identified him as the Sorcerer of Camden.

  Wilhem’s mouth fell open for a moment. Then he nodded and said, “I’m very pleased to meet you, Myron. What can I do for you?”

  Kevin smiled. “Is there some place where we can talk?”

  Wilhem nodded and led Kevin into a small office off the front room. “We won’t be disturbed here.”

  Kevin turned to Rigel and said, “Let me know if anyone comes in.”

  Rigel nodded, stepped in front of the door, and pulled it shut.

  Wilhem motioned Kevin to an armchair as he sat down behind his desk. “What brings you to Zander?”

  “I came to discuss the complaints my office has received about Gaynor.”

  Wilhem looked like someone had deflated him as he leaned forward and rested his arms on his desk. “I don’t know what else to do. I’ve talked to him and talked to him, but it just doesn’t do any good. Everyone in the district hates him, and what’s worse, everyone’s afraid of him, and he seems to want it that way. Would you like to talk to him yourself? I can send for him.”

  “No, not today. Let me explain what I have in mind.” Then Kevin told Wilhem that he was going to give Gaynor a choice between leaving Camden altogether or working for Warren up in Ragenon.

  Wilhem shook his head. “He’ll never go for either one of those.”

  “Those are his only options. I can remove him by force if I have to,” Kevin said firmly. “One way or another, he’s leaving Zander next Saturday, and you’re going to get a new sorcerer. Period.”

  “You aren’t planning to tell him today, are you?” Wilhem asked in near panic.

  “No, I’m not going anywhere near him until next Saturday morning. From the moment I give him the news until I remove him from Zander, I won’t leave his side. He won’t have an opportunity to do any damage here. But you’ve got to be careful not to mention it either.”

  “I won’t. You don’t have to worry about that,” Wilhem said emphatically. Then a slow smile spread across his face. “You really are going to take him away? We’re going to finally be rid of him?” He sat back in his chair and sighed. “You have no idea how pleased the people in this district will be to see the last of that man.” Then he leaned forward again and asked, “When do you think we’ll be able to get a new sorcerer?”

  “Well, I thought we’d hold the competition Saturday afternoon after I get back, so you should have a new sorcerer by that evening if we can work out the details of the contract. I’ve looked over the one you had with Gaynor and it seems pretty good, but you might want to take a look at it sometime this week and see if you want to make any changes.”

  Wilhem’s eyes widened and his eyebrows arched high up his forehead as his face paled. “You already have the competition set up?”

  Kevin frowned at Wilhem’s reaction. “Yes, it’s all arranged. We’ve picked three sorcerers to compete for the position.”

  “But what if one of them comes in a couple of days early to look around? What if Gaynor finds out that he’s being replaced? He’ll be furious! How do I protect everyone from a raging sorcerer?”

  “Whoa, relax,” Kevin said gently. “That’s not going to happen. No one’s going to show up here. The only information we sent the competitors was a job description and pay level, and we took all of that from the contract that we had on file. We didn’t mention the name of the district in any of our correspondence with them. They’ve been told to report to the castle around 10:00 Saturday morning.”

  “I don’t understand. Aren’t you going to hold the competition here?” Wilhem asked, a bit confused.

  Kevin nodded. “I can bring them through the energy field with me. It won’t be a problem.” Then he paused a moment to see if Wilhelm had any other questions. When he didn’t, Kevin asked, “Now, where would you suggest holding the competition?”

  “We usually hold all of the public events in a field outside town. It’s only a few miles from here. Would you like for me to take you out there?”

  “If you have the time. I’d like to look around and see what we’ll have to work with.” Kevin stood up and slipped his old tunic back over his official one.

  Once they were on horseback and headed towards the field, Kevin asked Wilhem to tell him about the area, the people, what type of work they did, and their problems. As Wilhem talked about Zander, Kevin tried to picture ways in which a sorcerer could be of use to the people who lived there, and by the time they reached their destination, he’d come up with most of the events for the competition.

  The field was basically a meadow, about half the size of a football field. Rigel stayed with the horses while Kevin and Wilhem walked around the area and talked about the competition.

  “For one of the events, I’d like to have the sorcerers clear a section of land. Would you like to enlarge this field?” Kevin asked.

  “I’d love for this field to be a little longer. I asked Gaynor to do it about six months ago,
but he hasn’t gotten around to it yet.”

  “Which way to do you want to extend it? Make it longer, wider, or go in all directions?”

  “I was thinking of keeping the width as it is, but I’d like to have it about a hundred feet longer.”

  “Fine. We’ll rope off three adjoining areas and have each sorcerer clear one of the areas. Where do you want to add the hundred feet?”

  Wilhem pointed to the northern end of the field. “There’s a stream through the woods on that side. I’d like to take the field out to the stream.”

  Kevin nodded. “If we keep it the same width, they’ll have a section about fifty feet by a hundred to clear, right? This field is about a hundred and fifty feet wide, isn’t it?”

  Wilhem nodded.

  “We’ll need enough rope to mark off the three areas. Can you take care of getting the rope?”

  Wilhem took out some paper and a pencil and made a note. “I’ll have someone come out and rope it off early Saturday morning. What else will we need?”

  “Just have them leave the rope in the middle of the field. There’s no need for someone else to spend an hour or so doing what I can do in minutes.”

  Kevin stood still for a moment and appeared to be concentrating on something. Wilhem waited for him to speak.

  “I was just checking the roads around here. There’s one that runs on the other side of the north woods that looks good. It has several roads coming off of it, a couple of good forks, and some interesting curves. A river runs beside it for at least a couple of miles before you finally cross a bridge and enter a small village. I was thinking of asking them to use their seeing eye to map out the road and to see if there were any obstructions on it.”

  “I was just on that road Thursday. Is there something wrong with it?” Wilhem asked apprehensively

  “It’s fine right now, but I was thinking of adding a few obstacles to it during the competition. I can put a fallen tree by the side of the road and then move it across the road right before we begin this event. There are several places where I could set up a landslide, and I could create a small washout somewhere along the river bank.” At the look of concern on Wilhem’s face, Kevin grinned. “Don’t worry. I won’t leave it like that. I’ll have it ready for travel again as soon as that event is finished.”