Legend of the Sorcerer

by Donna Kauffman

  “No, of course not. I know he’ll be happy to see you when he wakes up.”

  She wanted to ask more questions, but now wasn’t the time. Cai looked weary and worried and she wondered if there was more going on than they were willing to tell her. She quietly entered the room, and closed the door behind her.

  She didn’t notice the interesting clutter this time. All she could see was a fragile old man in the big, feather-stuffed bed. His white hair flowed around his head on the dark pillowcase, making him look like an otherworldly angel. She smiled at that and wondered what Alfred would think.

  She wanted to pick up his hand and warm it in her own. But not wanting to disturb him, she opted to carefully move a brocade chair to his bedside and sit as close as she could.

  He’d never seemed a robust man to her, but there had always been an energy about him. Now he looked brittle, and she didn’t feel his energy. It frightened her. She couldn’t imagine what this was doing to Cai.

  The door opened silently and Dilys entered, a smaller china tray in her hand. “I thought you’d like some tea.” She set the tray down on the small table next to her chair.

  “There is a pitcher of shaved ice there too, and a glass, for himself, if he should waken thirsty.”

  Jordy watched Dilys arrange the pitcher and glass just so on Alfred’s nightstand and thought it must be as hard, if not harder, on Alfred’s longtime companion. “How did you come to be with Alfred, Dilys?” she asked softly.

  She surprised Jordy by answering. “My family has worked closely with his for many, many years. It is an alignment that has been beneficial to us both.”

  Jordy remembered Alfred had told her that Dilys’ name was Welsh for loyal. “I see,” she said, though the explanation created more questions than it answered.

  “I thought you might be wantin’ this.” From the deep pocket of her apron, she pulled out one of Jordy’s sketchbooks and her ink pen.

  Surprised, but touched, Jordy took them from her. “Thank you, Dilys. Yes, I would like them very much.”

  Dilys paused at the door, her hand on the knob. After a silent moment, she said, “Yer good for him. And for Master Malacai.”

  Stunned by such an admission from someone like Dilys, it took her a moment or two to answer. “They are both good for me, too. I’d never do anything intentionally to hurt either one of them. I hope you know that.”

  Dilys looked at Alfred and there was no mistaking the fierce loyalty in her gaze. When she shifted her gaze back to Jordy, she felt the intensity of it like a wave crashing down on her. “Ye have a purpose in being here, Miss Jordalyn. Be there for them when the need comes, or they will suffer for your lack of courage.” She was gone before Jordy could respond.

  Not that she had the slightest idea what she’d have said.

  “She’s right, Jordalyn.”

  The croaky whisper brought her attention back to Alfred. She grasped his raised hand and held it between her own. “How are you?” Her eyes widened when he tried to sit up. She stood and leaned over him. “No, please lie back. You’re not to exert yourself. Please.”

  “Dilys speaks the truth. ’Tis not for myself I worry, but Malacai. He is to be tested, and I fear you are a part of this.” His attention seemed to drift. “I should have seen that you would serve a greater purpose than rightfully filling the void in Cai’s life. I was too relieved that you’d finally come. Too charmed by your presence and talent to question it further.” A rattling sigh left his chest and she bent over him.

  She didn’t know what to say, but she knew it wasn’t wise to let Alfred go on. “You need to rest.” She reached for the pitcher. “Would you like some ice chips?” She didn’t wait for his answer, but slipped a few of them into the glass. Supporting his back, she tilted the glass to his lips and let the slivers of ice wet them.

  He didn’t speak until he was resting comfortably. “You must promise you’ll stand by Malacai when the time comes.”

  Her heart dropped. “Don’t talk like that. Get some rest. You’ve been overdoing it lately.”

  “Haven’t done near enough,” he muttered. “I should have felt her evil, but I’d let myself become enchanted. What do you know of her treachery?”

  Dear God, he’d found out about the kidnapping. Is that what had caused him to collapse? How much did Dr. Fashel know? She and Cai hadn’t had a moment alone to talk. “Maybe we should talk about this later, once you’ve rested.”

  He tried to rise again, eyes flashing. “I’ve rested too long as it is.”

  Alarmed, she rose and soothed him back to the pillows. She knew from the look in his eyes that there would be no avoiding the subject. She sat back down, his hand gripping hers. “What do you know?”

  “I know she’s taken someone, marked them. I’ve seen the symbol. Do you know of it?”

  There was no point lying to him now. “Yes, I do.”

  He relaxed slightly. “At least he’s not keeping it from you. The boy tries too hard to protect those close to him. I fear I am to blame, encouraging him to remain in this reclusive enclave as I have all these years, but I did it to protect him.”

  Jordy wondered if he knew that Cai stayed here, at least in part, to protect his eccentric grandfather. But what did Alfred think Cai needed protecting from? She tried to lead him to a safer topic. “This is a beautiful place. What child wouldn’t love growing up in paradise?”

  A distant look came into his eyes. “It was the home of Malcolm, my only son. He was a writer as well, of textbooks. He and his wife, Laura, an American he met while at university, moved to Florida after they wed. She had only her mother, who lived in Key West and was ailing. They loved it here and I can say it suited them both. I didn’t worry about them here. Laura’s mother passed on shortly before the accident.” He focused on Jordy again. “They were returning from a brief trip to the Caribbean, their plane went down. Malacai had been left behind with friends. He had only myself and Dilys left to protect him, then.”

  “You both left Wales to raise him here?” She knew part of this story from their first meeting. But she humored him to keep him talking. “That must have been difficult.”

  “It was for the best. He was far removed from the dangers I knew one day would surface.” His expression grew troubled. “And now they have.”

  Jordy struggled to keep him focused. “Have you been back to Wales recently? Has Cai ever been there? Do you miss it?”

  “Wales will live on in my heart and mind clearly enough for me to ever feel the loss too keenly. I am content here and would not trade the years I’ve had with my grandson.”

  “You’ve never been back? In all that time?”

  “No. It was for the best.”

  She didn’t want to push, he’d quieted down now.

  “Life has not slighted the L’Baan men, my dear one.” His eyes began to drift shut. Relieved, she went to settle back in the chair. He spoke before she could sit. “Her evil will not conquer us, Jordalyn. I have not lasted this long to let her succeed now.” His eyes closed and he fell fast asleep.

  Alfred veered swiftly and all too believably between reality and fantasy. It was growing more difficult to take his statements as nothing more than baseless ramblings.

  He recognized the symbol. He knew something about it, of that she was almost certain. She sat for another fifteen minutes, until she was certain he was sleeping comfortably. A minute later, she was knocking on the door to Cai’s office.

  • • •

  Cai pulled his attention reluctantly from the monitor. He still had no luck in finding the symbol’s meaning. Frustrated and worried about Alfred’s renewed involvement in this mess, he barked, “Come in.”

  Jordy poked her head in. “I need to talk to you.”

  Cai went to stand. “Is Alfred—?”

  She waved him down. “He’s fine, sleeping like a baby.” She stepped inside and closed the door. He saw her glance at his desk and despite everything that was tearing at him, he felt that insiste
nt tug.

  Apparently she wasn’t thinking about that. She stood across from him, arms folded. “Alfred knows something about the symbol.”

  Cai blew out a long sigh. “I know. He found it on my desk. It’s what caused his collapse.”

  She shook her head. “No, no. I mean, he knows something about its origins.”

  Cai stood. “You didn’t badger him about it did you?” Hurt stung her eyes, but her jaw firmed. “No, I didn’t badger him. In fact, I steered him as gently as possible away from the topic since it was obviously alarming him.”

  “Alarming him?”

  She lifted her hand. “He’s okay. I eventually diverted him into talking about your father and Wales and he finally drifted back to sleep.”

  “My father? Wales?”

  “He didn’t say much really, he was explaining how you came to live here.” She folded her arms again. “Apparently all the L’Baan men have a strong protective streak. He says he decided to raise you here to protect you. It’s also why he’s never returned to Wales. He says he’s protecting you from her evil.”

  Cai didn’t like the feeling of dread that invaded his body.

  “I know he does this sort of thing often, going off on these tangents, but this time …” Her anger dissolved into concern. She sank into the chair. “Cai, it seemed more … real. I know it’s crazy, but do you ever question what he says? Think there might be more to it?”

  “Not since I was about twelve.” He saw she was very serious, so he rose and walked around the desk. “What else did he say?”

  “He kept referring to ‘her’, saying that she was evil. He made it clear he knew about the kidnapping, so naturally I assume he’s talking about Margaron. But he talks of her as if he’s known her for a long time.” She rubbed her arms and looked up at him. “I know it sounds crazy, Cai, but do you think it’s possible he might actually know the woman who’s doing all this?”

  TWENTY-TWO

  Cai shook his head. “That seems too farfetched.”

  “Have you heard anything back from the research guy?”

  Cai blew out a sigh of disgust. “Eric’s stumped.” He lifted his hand to stop her. “I know where you’re headed with this and the answer is no. You saw what just looking at the thing did to him. I’ll figure this out on my own.”

  This time she wasn’t hurt. She was angry. “On your own? This involves us whether you want it to or not. She involved us.” Jordy went to him, slid an arm around his waist, and stroked his cheek with her fingertips. She looked directly into his eyes. “I’m here. I’m involved. Get used to it, Cai.”

  A man could get lost in those eyes, he thought.

  “Answer me this,” she said. “Is this relationship just about great sex?”

  “Of course not.”

  “Then we share the good with the bad, and even the ugly sometimes. Otherwise, this is all just a vacation fling or something.”

  “We don’t know what this is.”

  “Well, I know what it isn’t. I’m not just dallying here for the fun of it. I don’t know what will happen between us, but I’m not interested in some whirlwind romance where the real world doesn’t intrude.”

  He held her gaze for a long, silent moment. “I don’t want that either.” Suddenly he realized just how much a reality she’d become to him. To all of them. She was becoming a true member of this family, important to each one of them. Which brought his thoughts back to Alfred.

  “Let me help you, Cai. Have you heard anything from Kuhn?”

  “Not a word. I’ve put in several calls, but we’re being ignored.”

  “What about Union Parcel?”

  “I haven’t had much chance to look into it yet, but there is no listing for it in the yellow pages.”

  “We need to check that post office box.” She quietly added, “And we need to ask Alfred about the meaning of the symbol.”

  “No way. I’m not dragging him any deeper into this. He can’t take it.”

  “I don’t think you can stop him now. And if he knows something that can help find this madwoman, then don’t we have an obligation to let him help us?”

  “Not if it means more episodes like today. Or worse.” She moved back to the window. “If he recognized the symbol, then it must be Welsh or Celtic.” She faced him. “From his years of writing, Alfred probably has tons of research materials, right? Would he have books on Wales, myth, legend, things like that?”

  “Bookcases full. But his office is his private domain. Dilys is the only other person who goes in there.”

  “Maybe he wouldn’t mind if we just looked at some of his books.”

  “I have always respected his privacy in regards to his office.”

  “Would you rather ask him for permission?”

  Cai sighed. “No. Dilys is over in Mangrove filling some of Alfred’s prescriptions and picking up a few things. If we’re going to do this, we’d better do it now.”

  Jordy carefully slid a slim volume out from the crammed shelf. Cai was working on the higher shelves, while she was seated on the floor. She opened the cracked leather cover and flipped through the glossy pages. “More legends, mostly pertaining to Arthur. Nothing on symbols.”

  “There is no way we can get through all this,” he said, sliding another volume back in place.

  They’d been in the office for over a half hour and hadn’t found anything helpful.

  “Most of the older volumes have no title on the spine. We’d have to look at every one of them.”

  They’d realized that if Alfred had a filing system for his books, it was beyond their comprehension. Most likely he shoved them wherever they’d fit. Judging by the dust, most of them hadn’t been touched in years. Dilys might have access here, but it was obvious Alfred drew the line at letting her keep this room in her typical spotless fashion.

  Jordy took the hand Cai offered her and got up from the floor. Brushing at her shorts, she said, “Maybe he’ll just tell us. I don’t think he’s done talking about it anyway.”

  “I don’t want him worked up again.”

  She surveyed the office, wondering if they’d missed anything obvious in their zeal to look at his books. It was an amazing workspace, as eccentric and delightful as the man who’d created it. Aside from the shelves lining two of the walls, there was a massive hardwood desk and antique leather chair, several filing cabinets, a brocaded, high-backed chair with matching ottoman, and a floor lamp with a fringed shade placed next to it. An old-fashioned rotary phone and an antiquated black typewriter sat on his desk, amongst piles of books, folders, and other clutter.

  The walls were covered with framed awards, newspaper clippings, reviews, and whatnot. But what made the room distinctly Alfred’s were the smaller versions of the whimsical creatures found in his garden. They were cast in a variety of materials. Made of brass, pewter, glass, clay, ceramic, wood, and stone, they dotted every available surface in the small, crowded room.

  “Why doesn’t Alfred allow you in here?”

  “He’s never said. As a child I never intruded here and he never invited me in. I respected his privacy. I understand the need to have a place to think and write without worrying about distractions or untimely intrusions.”

  “He comes into your office. That’s how he found the copy in the first place.”

  “True. But I don’t mind the interruptions. If I’m on a roll with an idea or scene, I tell him so and he leaves.” He shrugged. “Each of us has our own way.” He took her hand. “We’d better go. Dilys should be back any time now.”

  She was reluctant to leave, not knowing if she’d ever get to come back in again. She looked around one last time, more to imprint the details of the room on her mind than anything else. Perhaps that’s why she noticed the book.

  It was ancient looking and huge, stuffed between two of the filing cabinets. There was no title on the spine, but the sheer size of it intrigued her too much not to check it out.

  “Wait a minute.” She knelt down
and worked the book free without harming the ancient, cracked leather binding. She sat it on her lap—it covered the space from her thighs to her knees—and carefully opened it. She gasped. “Incantations, Spells and Other Magicks,” she read aloud.

  “We really should leave.”

  He was right. She hadn’t missed the sound of the boat engine. She closed it gently, and tucked it against her chest as she stood up. “Do you think he’d miss this for a few hours? I can return it later after everyone is asleep.”

  Cai clearly didn’t like the idea, but nodded. “I don’t think he’ll be back in here for a day or two anyway. Come on.” He closed the door quickly behind them and followed her to her room, which was closer than his office. They were less likely to cross paths with Dilys this way.

  He stood in front of her as she sat on the bed and opened the book across her lap. “This isn’t exactly the way I pictured coming to your bed for the first time.”

  Jordy looked up at him and smiled. His smile didn’t reach his eyes. There was worry there. And a little fear. She patted the bed beside her.

  He sat and pulled half of the big book onto his lap.

  She turned past the first few pages. “I don’t see any publication date or anything like that. It looks almost hand drawn.” She looked at Cai, suddenly uneasy. “Maybe we should have left this alone. It looks like an heirloom. I’m almost afraid it will disintegrate in my hands.”

  But Cai wasn’t paying attention, his gaze was riveted on the page. She looked down and gasped.

  The page was filled with hand-drawn symbols. Words in some other language were written beneath each one. Cai traced a finger lightly over the many columns, coming to one figure that stood out among the others.

  She saw it the same time he did.

  It was the symbol that had been marked on the flesh, and directly beneath it, the words: Mae olion ar y cnawd y sawl sy’n uffuddhau.

  TWENTY-THREE

  It was after midnight when Cai quietly closed the door to Alfred’s bedroom and moved down the hallway. His grandfather wasn’t doing as well as he’d hoped. He’d expected him to be bristling mad at being kept in bed. He’d also been prepared to deal with the subject that had sent him to bed in the first place. None of that had happened. Dilys had been there when he’d come in, feeding Alfred soup like one would a child.