"What are you going to do now?" Ash asked as they strolled along the street. Kedrik wanted to visit the market and buy the sticky buns he remembered so well. No one made sticky buns like Ethatta. The woman was as round as a melon, with ruddy red cheeks, but her sticky buns were the talk of the market.
"Do? About what?" Kedrik asked.
"Your ma."
"I'm going back to see her tonight. I have gold that she can use to pay off the Temple. She'll be a free woman once again tomorrow. I'll leave her some extra gold before I return to Amedon, so she won't have to worry."
"Last time she had gold, it didn't help much."
"What do you mean?"
"Your pa was on a moon-long drunk, that's what. He was down at the inn buying ale for everyone. He had more friends for that moon than ever before in his life. But once the money ran out, so did the friends. After that, he got mean. He said people were ungrateful and unfriendly. He demanded they help him out, buy him ale, treat him to meals, but they just walked away from him. That's when he started beating your ma."
"Ma told me to come back after nightfall. She said Pa would be at the inn, like usual."
"That's where you find him most nights. He spends every copper he gets on ale, then sits there and sulks or tries to start a fight."
They paused at the stall where the sticky buns were sold. Kedrik bought one for himself and another for Ash. They smelled of cinnamon and tasted sweet as a kiss, but Kedrik's thought kept coming back to his mother and they way she had been beaten.
"I have to do something," Kedrik said.
"What?" Ash shrugged his shoulder. "What can you do?"
"Containment, illness, paralysis ... there are so many spells I could think of."
"You've mastered all of those?" Ash asked.
Kedrik flushed. He'd exaggerated his abilities slightly. He had heard of these spells, but as yet, he had no training or instruction in any of them. Kedrik licked the last of the sticky bun from his fingers, thinking about the spells that he might try out on Tren. He'd had enough of the man's anger, and if his mother was in danger, Kedrik couldn't just leave her alone with Tren. Next time Tren might just kill her.
Kedrik left Ash and walked back to his home after the sun went down. Light streamed from the window in the kitchen. He knocked softly and called out to Persh.
"Come on in."
Kedrik took a seat at the battered and worn table. He remembered the scratches and gouges in the wood from years of sitting there with his parents.
"Ma. I have gold for you to take to the Temple and pay them back ... and I have extra gold for you. You shouldn't have to work so hard."
Kedrik took the Golds out of his pocket and set them on the table, but Persh shoved them back at him.
"No. I don't want your gold. I don't need your help. Things are just fine."
"No. They're not. Ma, I'm here with the Wizards. Something is going on at the Temple. Did you hear anything? Did you see anything?"
"I don't ... I don't know. They're always so secretive ... I just wash up ... but I do overhear some things ..."
"And?" Kedrik prompted.
"The high-ups. They're fighting. They say Father Ghall is fighting with Mother Tass. Mother Tass just showed up one day and now she's the boss. Father Ghall does what she says, but he doesn't like it."
"What else did you hear?"
"They said she fetched something magic that was important. They're always going on about Father Sulrad, the big high Priest in Quineshua. That's one thing they agree on. Father Ghall and Mother Tass both hate Father Sulrad. They think the thing Mother Tass found will help them defeat him. Father Ghall wants to be King, and Mother Tass wants to run the Temple."
Just then the door burst open and Tren stumbled in. He was drunk. "What you doing back here, boy?"
"I came to see Ma."
Tren saw the gold on the table. "Give that to me," he demanded.
"No. I brought gold so Ma can pay the Temple back and regain her freedom."
Tren grabbed Kedrik by his shirt and lifted him out of the chair. "Give it to me." Tren released Kedrik and shoved him so that he fell and landed hard on the chair.
"Give me the gold, boy. I need ale."
Kedrik stood up. "No."
Tren reached behind the door and pulled out a stick about the diameter of his thumb. He slapped it into his palm. "Get over here, boy. I'll teach you to talk back to your pa."
Kedrik cowered before him. All the memories of his father's beatings came back to him in a rush. He flinched, waiting for the stick to hit him. Where would it be this time? When Tren was angry, he just struck out and hit whatever was closest.
Tren drew the stick back. Persh stepped between Kedrik and his father. "No."
Tren shoved her out of the way. "Stay out of this. Your turn is coming."
Anger rose up in Kedrik. His magic flared clear and powerful of its own accord. "Incendo ignio." Kedrik called a fireball into being on his outstretched palm. "Stay back," he warned Tren.
Tren swung the stick at Kedrik.
Kedrik didn't have time to think. He threw the fireball at Tren and his pa exploded in a burst of flame, turning to ash.
"What did you do?" Persh demanded. "He was your pa."
Kedrik shook with fear. He hadn't thought it through. He couldn't stand there and let Tren beat his ma again. He had to do something and a fireball was all he could think of at that moment. He hadn't expected Tren to attack him while he was holding fire like that. No one was that ignorant about magic.
"Get out of here," Persh screamed. She crawled over to the small pile of ash that used to be Tren and stuck her hands into it. She picked it up and cradled it to her breast. "My husband. You killed my husband."
Kedrik stood there, watching as she wept over the ashes of the man who beat her so bad she would have died.
"Ma. I'm sorry," Kedrik said.
Persh looked up at him with tears in her eyes. "Get out! I don't want to see you ever again."
Kedrik's heart sank. He had not imagined a happy homecoming, but this was not what he expected either. He looked at his ma, wishing there was something he could do. He backed out and slowly closed the door on his childhood home.
Temple Trouble
Lorit sat next to Queen Ukina on the cold damp bench in the cell. She had not been allowed to bathe or even leave the cell for the toilet and she was thinner than usual, if that were even possible. Lorit put his arm around her and held her as she cried. "My own brother. I can hardly believe what a change has come over him since the Temple took him."
"The Temple does terrible things to a boy. I know. They did it to me, too."
"Is there no redemption for him?" She looked at Lorit with tears in her eyes.
"None that we've ever discovered. Once someone has taken power from another, they're tainted, and you can't remove it."
She put her face in her hands and wept loudly as Lorit tried to comfort her.
A cloud of violet light appeared in the cell, turned to a swirling mass of sparks and settled into the form of a man. Kedrik stood there with a look of shock on his face.
"How was your visit?" Lorit asked.
"I turned him ... He attacked my ma ... I turned him to ash." Kedrik was visibly shaken.
"Who?" Lorit stood up and grabbed the boy by the shoulders. "Who did you turn to ash?"
"My ... my pa." Kedrik collapsed to the floor and put his face in his hands.
Lorit knelt beside Kedrik and placed his hand on the boy's shoulder. "Kedrik. Tell me what happened."
"My pa was going to beat my ma, like he beat me. I could have stood that. It happened before ... She would have died if I hadn't healed her."
"Slow down. Start from the beginning."
"My ma. She's been pressed into working for the Temple to pay back the gold they gave her when they took me. When I went missing, they made her work it off.
"My pa. He was drunk and he beat her. He blamed her for my disappearance and the trouble wit
h the Temple. He beat her so bad she was bleeding inside. She would have died."
"What did you do?" Lorit held Kedrik at arm's length, looking into his eyes.
"I healed her, but my pa ... he came back and started in on me. She stepped in between us and he hit her. That's when I lost control. I ... I raised fire ... to scare him."
Kedrik shook.
"Go on," Lorit said softly.
"That's when he attacked me. I just reacted. I didn't think. I turned him to ash ... and my ma ... she got mad at me for defending her."
"It sounds like he had it coming," Ukina said.
"He beat her so bad. I ... I didn't mean to kill him."
Kedrik looked up at Ukina. "I killed my pa!"
Ukina knelt down beside Kedrik and put her arm around him. "It's all right. You couldn't have known he would attack you."
Kedrik embraced her and cried onto her shoulder. His gasping sobs were muffled by her clothes. "Now my ma is mad at me."
Queen Ukina stoked his hair and whispered into his ear. "It's going to be all right."
When Ukina looked up at Lorit, she had tears in her eyes. Lorit was surprised to see this side of her. He had never considered her the compassionate type. He waited for them both to calm down and carefully got the whole story out of the boy. Kedrik's mother was working in the Temple, and Kedrik had had a chance to speak to her about it before his father had intruded.
"What did she say?" Lorit asked. He kept his hand on Kedrik's back to reassure him, and felt Ukina do the same.
"He said that Tass and Ghall were fighting over something, but when Tass returned with it, Ghall let her have her way. She said they are planning to attack some high priest in Quineshua."
"In Quineshua. Who was it, did they say?"
"I ... I don't remember," Kedrik said.
"Was it Sulrad?" Lorit prompted.
"Yes. That was the name. They were going to do something to Sulrad." Kedrik still shook, but he was starting to calm down.
"Was there any more?" Lorit asked.
"No. That's when my pa came home." Kedrik started shaking again.
"That's enough," Lorit said. "I think we should be getting back to Amedon."
Ukina stood and placed her hands on her hips. "Are you going to leave me here, in this cell, waiting to be hanged, or are you going to get me out of here?"
"Aren't you worried about getting in trouble if they know you're keeping company with a Wizard?"
"How much more trouble do you think I can get in?" Ukina waved her hand in the air.
"I'll come back for you if they do that." Lorit reached into his pocket and retrieved a worn old copper. He held it up and focused his magic on it. He tied a small thread of his magic to the coin and infused it with his essence. Then he looked over at Ukina and infused her essence into the coin, as well. That way she could call him at need.
Lorit handed the copper to her. "Here. Take this. If you need to get in touch with me, just hold it in your hand and think of me. I'll be able to hear what you think."
"How will I know you can hear me?" she asked.
"Try it now."
Lorit stood quietly, waiting, while Ukina held the coin in front of her. "Lorit. Take me with you." He heard her voice in his head.
"I can't take you with me. If they found your cell empty and knew you'd come to Amedon, they would certainly suspect you of employing magic. Isn't that what got you into trouble in the first place?"
"It is." Ukina stood there with a sad countenance.
"Don't worry. I'll be back as soon as I can, and you can call if you need me."
Lorit extended his hand to Kedrik. "Ready?"
"Yes."
Lorit focused on his study in Amedon. He drew magic from Kedrik and sharpened the image of his home. He raised the power to take them across the void and pulled with all his might. Just as the cell started to fade, something hit him and knocked him over.
The study in Amedon appeared around him as a sharp pain jabbed in his ribs. It was Ukina, holding on for her life.
"I think you can let go now," Lorit said. "We're in Amedon."
Bound Magic
Lorit materialized lying on the floor of his study beneath a disheveled and dirty Queen Ukina. She rolled off, her bony elbows poking him in the ribs. She extended her hand to Kedrik for help and brushed off the royal rags that had become filthy in the dungeon.
"What were you thinking?" Lorit demanded as he struggled to get up himself.
"I was thinking that I didn't want to sit in that cell until I was executed."
"You can't stay here. If your subjects and the Nobles find out you've visited Amedon, you'll certainly be hung. What will happen when they find out you're no longer in the cell?"
"It can't get any worse than what they were planning. You said it yourself, the gallows is almost finished."
The door creaked open and Kimt entered. "Lorit. I'm so glad you're back." She stopped and looked over the Queen. "Who is this?"
"This is Queen Ukina of Veldwaite," Lorit muttered.
Kimt nodded to the Queen. "We can help you get cleaned up once I finish here."
"That would be appreciated," Ukina said.
"How is Chihon?" Lorit asked.
"I've had no success. I can't seem to get the arrow spell out of her."
"I'd like to see if there is anything I can do." Lorit threw a glare at Ukina. "Kedrik, run, tell the Head Master we have a guest. Tell him to prepare the royal suites."
Kedrik grinned. "Right away." He rushed for the door, glancing back as he left.
"Let's go see Chihon," Lorit said.
Ukina followed Lorit towards the door.
Lorit held out his hand. "Where are you going?"
"I'm going with you."
"No. You're staying here until I get through with Chihon. We're sending you back as soon as we can. You can't be here."
Ukina grabbed Lorit's arm and tucked it close to her, almost affectionately. "I won't hurt anyone, and I'd like to see Chihon again."
Lorit tried to shake her, but she kept a death grip on his arm.
"Oh, all right." Lorit headed for the door with the Queen in tow.
Lorit and Ukina strolled down the corridors to Chihon's room. Everyone who passed nodded to Lorit and Ukina and offered pleasantries. A few recognized her and bowed.
When they reached Chihon's room, they found her asleep on the bed. Lorit sat down beside her and brushed the back of his hand gently across her cheek. She was feverish and sweaty.
Chihon's eyes fluttered open. "Lorit. You're back."
"I'm back. I want to have another look at you."
Chihon put her hand on her belly. "You're not going to use fire this time, are you?"
"No. No fire. I just want to try something."
"All right, but be careful."
"I will."
Lorit probed for the spell. Sure enough, there were three spots where the spell was tied to Chihon's life force. He chose the one in Chihon's leg first. He traced the spell back to where it encircled her life force and, ever so gently, focused his energy on that spot. He increased the power of her life force slowly and gradually. The strain on the arrow spell grew as he fed power into her. There was the slightest of pops, and the spell broke away. The enchantment on her leg was clear.
Lorit repeated the same process on her shoulder. It took a little more time and energy. That arrow and the spell it carried had penetrated deep inside her. Lorit was sweating with exertion and grew light-headed, but he was eventually able to break the spell in her shoulder, too.
"Only one left," Lorit said.
He probed the spell near her heart. The magic of the arrow was there as it had been with the rest, but there was something more. A different magic was intertwined with the Temple spell. It was golden and light, and it was holding back the spell from the arrow. The arrow had chipped the dragon's egg and embedded a shard of the egg in Chihon's heart. He steeled himself to try and remove the Temple spell. If that was succe
ssful, he would try and remove the shard of the dragon's egg.
Lorit raised his magic. It was weak, and fading. He tried to draw on Chihon's magic, but hers was fading, too. She looked tired, and so was he.
"I need a rest." Chihon closed her eyes and laid her head back. She squirmed on the bed until she was flat on her back. "Let me sleep a bit."
Lorit's magic faded as Chihon drifted off to sleep. He sent Ukina off to clean up while he waited for Chihon to wake, frustrated that he couldn't help her.
Ukina returned after a while. She had bathed and was dressed in an elegant dress. Where had she come up with that in Amedon?
"Is she awake?" Ukina asked.
"No. She's been asleep for a while. I was just going to wake her so I can try to remove the last spell. She'll be glad to see you."
Lorit gently stroked Chihon's forehead until she woke. She looked rested, but not yet recovered.
"There's someone here to see you, Chihon." Lorit gestured to Queen Ukina.
The Queen knelt beside the bed and rested her hand on Chihon's arm. "Thank you for trying to rescue Sir Adane and the egg. I had hoped Sir Adane would make it to Amedon safely. He was a good man." Ukina teared up. "I'm sorry you got caught up in this. It's my fault."
"He's not dead," Chihon whispered.
"Who's not dead?"
"Sir Adane," Chihon whispered. "Tass took him with her. I heard her tell the men not to kill him."
"He's alive?" Ukina stood up and turned to Lorit. "Take me to him."
"Not now. I didn't mean to bring you here, but now that you are here, I'm responsible for you." Lorit took Ukina by her arm and guided her to the door. "I'll have Kedrik take you home when it's safe."
Lorit returned to Chihon's bedside. She lay still, with her eyes closed. He probed her to make sure she was sleeping peacefully, and then pressed a spell of general healing on her, before turning to leave.
Lorit led Ukina back to his study.
"I'm worried about Chihon." Lorit heaved himself into his chair and exhaled a deep breath. "Chihon came close to death when she drank the water that the Temple had spelled. She's still weak. I'm not sure she can stand more of this. This spell is even worse than the last one. I'm not certain I can cure her."
Master Wizard (Book 4) Page 19