“You do realize that you’re going to be talking to a man at least ten years older than you, who has had seven or eight years experience practicing magic, and who’ll know that you’ve had less than one,” Chris pointed out. “He may think that you’re the one who’s inexperienced.”
“That may be, but I’ll be the one wearing the red sash,” Kevin said calmly.
“Good answer. Just don’t forget it. That’s your edge,” Chris said with a nod. “Next, have you figured out how you’re going to get him out of Zander if he’s not willing to go? You can’t put a shield around yourself if you’re physically connected to him, and you can’t take him through the field with you unless the two of you are connected.”
“No, but maybe I could put a shield all the way around him, like a sphere,” Kevin said slowly, thinking it through. “Then I could hold the sphere and take him through the energy field like that.”
“Can you do that?”
“I don’t know,” Kevin said with a shrug. “Let’s find out.” He looked around the office. “I don’t really need anything big.”
“Here, use this,” Chris said as he cleared off a small lamp table. “Put a sphere around it and see if you can pick it up.”
Putting a sphere around the table was fairly easy, but it took Kevin a few minutes to figure out how to pick it up. Finally he put his mind’s outstretched hand under the table so that it rested on the palm, and then he curled the mental fingers upward, encircling the sphere. Once he had done that, he lifted the table several feet off the floor.
“Okay, that works. Now let’s see if I can carry it through the energy field like that.” Kevin took out his key.
“Wait a minute,” Chris said, stepping backwards. “How will the energy in your sphere react to the energy field that the key opens?”
“I’m not sure, but there’s only one way to find out. Where should I go? I don’t want to be seen.”
“How about back out to the island?”
Kevin nodded, turned the key, and vanished. While Chris waited for him to return, images of colliding and exploding force fields darted through his mind. A couple of minutes later, Kevin and the lamp table reappeared.
“Any problems?” Chris asked.
“None that I’m aware of. Now I need to try it with a person. Ready?”
Chris gave Kevin a hard look. “Being your guinea pig is not one of my favorite roles.” Then he shook his head and said, “I guess I’m as ready as I’m going to be, but I’m warning you, if this kills me, I’m going to come back and haunt you!”
“Promise?” Kevin said with a grin as he formed a sphere around Chris, lifted him, and left for the island.
When they returned, Chris asked, “What would happen if Gaynor threw an energy bolt while he’s inside the sphere?”
“I don’t know, but Glendymere said that no magic could get in or out. I imagine bolts would be absorbed and dispersed, just like they are when they hit a shield.”
“That makes sense, but he did tell you never to throw one from inside a dome. I was just wondering if it might destroy the sphere, in which case you’d be vulnerable again.”
“I’ll ask Glendymere when I go to Willow Canyon tomorrow morning.”
~ ~ ~ ~
The next morning, after Kevin and Glendymere finished working on defensive reactions, Kevin explained his plans for the following Saturday. “I know I can put an energy sphere around him, lift him, and carry him through the energy field to the island because I did it with Chris. But what would happen if Gaynor threw an energy bolt at the sphere? Would the bolt destroy the sphere?”
“No, that’s the one thing that won’t happen.”
“What would happen then?”
“The sphere might simply absorb the bolt, in which case, there’s nothing to worry about, but there’s a good chance that the sphere will deflect it, and it will bounce around inside until it hits something.”
“Ouch,” Kevin said slowly. “Can I count on Gaynor to know that since he’s a sorcerer himself?”
“Not necessarily. Most sorcerers can raise a net shield in front of them, but very few human sorcerers can make an energy dome, and an energy sphere is even more rare. It takes a lot of magical energy to create one, and their power supply is too limited. But whether or not he realizes what could happen isn’t something you should spend a lot of time worrying about.”
“What do you mean? If he kills himself because one of his bolts is deflected by a sphere I made …”
“Kevin, the only way it could happen is if he throws a bolt.”
Kevin looked at Glendymere for a couple of minutes, trying to understand his point.
“If this sorcerer throws an energy bolt, he is trying to kill you, and it would be best for everyone concerned if he inadvertently destroys himself in the process. It would save you the trouble of having to kill him yourself.”
“Oh,” Kevin said. “I guess you’re right.”
“You know I am.”
~ ~ ~ ~
Wednesday morning, Kevin asked Chris to set up a meeting with Joan and Karl, so after lunch the four of them gathered in Kevin’s office. He told them about the problems the people of Zander had been having with Gaynor.
“I have a competition scheduled for this Saturday, and I’d like for the two of you to be there,” Kevin said.
“As the Governor of Camden or as a farmer?” Karl asked.
“Both. And I’d also like for you to meet the three competitors when they arrive and play host and hostess until I can get here. I’ve asked them to be here by 10:00.” Kevin paused for a moment and then added, “Neither Wilhem nor I are going to have any time to get to know these sorcerers. I’d like for you two to talk with them and … I don’t know … vet them? Find out how they feel about things, about magic, about being a sorcerer, about service. I don’t want to leave the people of Zander in the hands of another monster.”
Joan nodded. “No problem. Where are you going to be?”
Kevin explained his plans for Saturday morning.
“Can you take five people through the energy field at one time?” Karl asked.
“I don’t know, but I’m not going to try it. I’ll make two trips.”
“What time do you want us here?” Joan asked.
“Chris and I will leave before daybreak, but I don’t see any reason for you to be here before 9:00 or so. Will you take care of asking Miranda to have some refreshments prepared?”
Joan nodded. “The sorcerers will probably be nervous, and from what you and Chris have said about traveling through the energy field, they don’t need anything heavy on their stomachs. I’ll ask her to set up something light. Where do you want them to wait for you? In your office?”
“That’ll be fine. Chris, who’s on duty this weekend?”
“Ariel and Elin. They can help set things up. I’ll talk to them Friday afternoon.”
Kevin nodded. “Okay, anything else?” When no one spoke up, he said, “Then I guess that’s it.”
After Karl and Joan left, Kevin said, “We’re going to need food and water for the island, just in case I have to stash Gaynor there.”
“How much do you want? A day’s worth?” Chris asked.
“More like a week’s worth, with a little extra thrown in. I’m not sure where I’ll take him from there, and I don’t want to spend too much time worrying about that until I know I need a place. He can just cool his heels on the island for a while.”
Chris nodded and made a few notes. “I’ll take care of getting it all together Friday afternoon and we can deliver it Friday evening. Did you think to ask Glendymere what would happen if Gaynor throws an energy bolt while he’s inside the sphere?”
Kevin nodded. “He said that the sphere might absorb it, but more than likely it would bounce around inside until it hit him. He also said that it would be for the best, that it would save me from having to kill him.”
“He’s right, you know. If Gaynor throws a bolt, he’s sealed hi
s fate.”
“I know, but I’d feel better about it if I knew for sure that he understood energy spheres.”
“Then tell him.”
“I’ve been trying to come up with a casual way to do just that. Maybe I could set up a dome over the two of us when I first get there and tell him I’m doing it as a precaution, so that we won’t be overheard. Then I can mention the hazards of using magic inside,” Kevin said with a light frown. “Think that’ll work? Or will it just make him suspicious?”
“Sounds reasonable to me. At most, he might think you’re a little on the paranoid side. At least that way, if you have to use the sphere, he’ll have been warned. If he’s foolish enough to throw a bolt anyway …,” Chris shrugged and said, “so be it.”
Chapter 12
Robyn
Thursday morning, Chris stepped into Kevin’s office and shut the door behind him. “Are we still going to Mapleton this evening?”
Kevin’s look was blank for a moment and then he recognized the name. “Robyn.”
Chris nodded.
“I had completely forgotten about it,” Kevin said. “Yes. Unless something major comes up between now and then, we’ll plan to go right after dinner.”
“I’ll let Laryn know where we’re going.”
“Fine, but I don’t want anyone else to know. And we’re not taking anyone with us either. I don’t want any witnesses to this meeting.”
~ ~ ~ ~
That evening, Kevin and Chris went upstairs shortly after dinner and left word that they were not to be disturbed. Once they were dressed in old clothes, Chris pulled out a map and spread it out on Kevin’s bed. He pointed to Mapleton. “This is where we want to go.”
Kevin took out his key, concentrated on the map, and he and Chris vanished from the room. When they materialized, they were standing on a road at the edge of the woods that surrounded the small town of Mapleton. As they walked towards town, they passed several small houses. When they reached the town square, there was a tavern and a dry goods store on one side of the road and a stable and a blacksmith shop on the other. Next to the smithy, set back a little ways from the road, Kevin saw the Chapel of Light. He pointed it out to Chris and whispered, “I guess that’s where we want to go.”
“We’re supposed to go to the back door and ask for Sister Glenice. Should we walk through town or try to sneak around behind the stables?”
“I think we’ll be less likely to draw attention if we stay on the road.”
When they reached a small drive between the smithy and the chapel, Chris nudged Kevin and nodded down the alley. “I bet this leads to the back door.”
“Or to the blacksmith’s house,” Kevin mumbled. “Oh well, let’s give it a try.”
The driveway split at the back of the smithy, one fork leading towards a dark house and the other leading towards the back porch of the chapel. They climbed the steps to the back door and Kevin knocked. When one of the aides answered the door, he asked for Sister Glenice.
“I’m sorry, but she’s in her office right now. Is there anything I can do for you?” the young girl asked.
“No, we really need to see her,” Chris said, stepping past the girl into the kitchen. “We have a message from Sister Brena.”
“Sister Brena? From Timera Valley?” the young lady asked. “I’ll get her right away.”
After the girl had run off towards the other wing of the chapel, Kevin whispered, “Are you sure that was a good idea? To mention Brena?”
“No, but it was the only thing I could think of at the moment.”
They heard footsteps running down the hall, and a few seconds later, the young lady stuck her head in the kitchen and motioned for them to follow her. Once they were in Sister Glenice’s office, Chris pulled the door shut behind them.
“Myron, I presume?” Sister Glenice said with a hint of laughter in her voice.
Kevin’s mouth dropped open.
“Shh,” Chris whispered harshly. “We don’t want anyone to know he’s here.”
“I know,” Glenice said. “Brena included a detailed description of both of you. Relax, Chris, we’re used to being careful around here.”
Kevin and Chris settled in the chairs in front of her desk. “We’re not worried about us, Sister Glenice,” Kevin said. “We’re concerned about the consequences for Robyn if Rolan finds out that we were here.”
“Rolan’s a turd,” Glenice said as she turned up her nose. “He won’t find out from me, or from anyone else who lives in Mapleton, though I dare say he has spies about. But you’re not here to listen to me. I’ll send for Robyn.” Glenice stood up to leave the room. “Would you like some scog while you wait?”
Kevin shook his head. “We want to keep as low a profile as possible. I’d prefer that we didn’t see anyone else while we’re here, including the young lady who answered the door.”
Glenice nodded. “I’ll bring you something when I come back. I won’t be but a minute.”
While Kevin and Chris waited, they sat quietly; half afraid that anything they said would be overheard. After a few minutes, Chris whispered, “Are you going to use a shield?”
“I haven’t decided. I thought I’d ask Robyn. This is his town. He knows whether or not it’s safe to talk here,” Kevin answered quietly. Then he mumbled, “I hope.”
When Glenice returned, she had a tray with three mugs of scog on it. “Robyn will be here in a few minutes.”
Kevin frowned, wondering why Robyn hadn’t returned with her.
Glenice saw his frown so she explained. “For the past few years, Robyn has dropped by the chapel most afternoons. Chanz, his dog, sometimes spends the night with me. If he does, I let him out the next morning, and he goes straight home. If Chanz shows up at any other time, Robyn knows I need to see him. I just let Chanz out, so Robyn should be here in a few minutes.”
Chris nodded, approving the plan. “Sounds good. Careful.”
“Like I said, we’re used to this.”
A few minutes later, there was a quiet knock on Glenice’s door. She stepped around Chris’s chair and opened it a few inches. When she saw Robyn, she stood to one side to let him in. Kevin and Chris stood up as Robyn entered the small office and moved around the desk to Sister Glenice’s chair.
“I’ll be in the kitchen if anyone needs me,” Glenice said as she slipped out the door.
Robyn’s red hair was the first thing that Kevin noticed. Rolan’s hair was red, but much darker. Robyn’s hair was lighter, more vibrant, like Landis’s. His eyes were green, but not quite as dark as hers. He was tall, relatively thin, and his face showed a lot of the strain and worry that he had been living with for the past six years. He held his hand out to Kevin, and when they shook hands, Kevin noticed although Robyn’s grip was firm, it was not threatening. After Kevin introduced Chris, they all sat down.
“Is it safe to talk here, or should I use a shield?” Kevin asked.
Robyn shook his head. “I’d rather you didn’t. One of Rolan’s sorcerers lives just outside of town, and I’m not sure where his loyalties lie. If he’s in the tavern, he might sense the magic. I don’t think we’ll be overheard here.”
Kevin nodded and began. “I read your letter during the week following my father’s death, but I wasn’t able to do anything about it until recently.”
“Did you find out anything?”
Kevin nodded. “We found Taelor. He has escaped the castle and is living with Landis’s foster family.”
“So you’ve seen both of them?”
Kevin nodded again.
“Good. I was wondering if she was all right. I assume that Rolan doesn’t know where they are since he hasn’t killed them yet, but if you found them, he can’t be far behind. We need to get them out of there.”
“No. They’re safe for now. I can’t go into it, but we found them purely by luck, and by knowing the right people. Rolan doesn’t have any idea where they are.”
“I hope you’re right,” Robyn said with a
frown. Then he asked, “So what happened to my father?”
“I can tell you what Taelor told me, and it may help to answer some of your questions, but I must tell you up front that there’s not really anything I can do about it. It would all come down to Rolan’s word against Taelor’s, and I think we both know how that would turn out.”
“Then Rolan did kill my father.” Robyn slowly shook his head and sighed. “I was hoping my information was wrong. I can’t stand the man, but you hate to think that you have a brother who’s capable of something like that. What did Taelor say?”
Kevin repeated the story that Taelor had told him.
When he was done, Robyn sat silently for a few minutes. Then he asked, “Is there anything I can do to help Landis? Does she need someone to make arrangements for her to study magic?”
Kevin hesitated a moment and then decided that since Rolan knew, it didn’t matter who else knew. “No, that’s been taken care of. Her foster father asked me to accept her as an apprentice.”
Robyn’s mouth dropped open. “Rolan will never stand for that.”
“I don’t see that he has a lot to say about it.”
“Does he know?”
Kevin nodded. “I told him myself, shortly after I took my seat as Master Sorcerer.”
“And he didn’t challenge you?”
Kevin shook his head slowly. “No. I also told him that both Landis and Taelor were under my protection as of that moment, and that any move against them would be interpreted as a move against me.”
Robyn let out a long breath in a quiet whistle. “You’ve got guts.”
Kevin wasn’t quite sure how to answer that. “It’s more a matter of what’s right than anything else. He has no rights where Landis is concerned, especially since the only thing he’s concerned about is making sure she never gets strong enough to defeat him.”
“But he won’t stop trying to find her and destroy her. You do know that, don’t you?”
The Dragon's Flame (The Chronicles of Terah # 2) Page 16