The Eynan

by L. S. Gibson

  "I cannot promise to do more than try, but that I will do. I know many men in the government who'd like nothing more than to take some kind of action. And if I can tell them the Eynan is no myth and that he's coming to our aid, I may even succeed." Egon hesitated, a frown creasing his brow. "Do you wish the news of the Eynan to spread among the people and give them hope?"

  "Can I ask that you keep the news quiet for now?" Girau replied. "I understand you may need to tell your colleagues, but we intend to travel on to Colyon and we don't want to rouse the Illurians. They are suspicious enough of us as it is. Please inform them the information is in confidence."

  "Very well, but please travel quickly for I can't promise such exciting news won't slip out."

  "We leave in the morning," Amired said.

  "I won't start talking to colleagues until after you've left. Is there any way I can contact you?"

  "Can you safely send a message to the Ministry of Security in Colyon?"

  "You are going to speak with Narivin? Yes, it's possible. We already have a code we use for sensitive information. I'll send an update within a few days."

  Girau rose and inclined his head to Egon. "Thank you, and may things progress as we hope."

  * * * *

  Jhond felt strange walking into the audience chamber of the palace. It had been some time since he had last been here, over a year he realized, though somehow it seemed much longer. They were all dressed in court finery--borrowed, of course, in his case and that of Ninian. Jhond's own court clothes no longer fit him, but he had managed to borrow some from his older brother, Tiran. It just happened Ninian was roughly the same size as Patinus and the prince leant him a set. However, looking as if he belonged didn't make Jhond feel as if he really did.

  He glanced around. He'd forgotten how busy it always was at court and everywhere he looked, there were small groups of men and women, some talking in earnest, but others just chattering. At the far side of the large chamber, the king sat in a rather comfortable, but unthrone-like chair. As they got nearer, Jhond realized King Corianus was talking with Duke Vikor.

  Jhond stepped closer to Gallia and Patinus, who were walking just ahead. "Did you know your father would be here?" he murmured to Gallia.

  "No, I understood he had a meeting at the War Ministry."

  "Perhaps it's better this way," Patinus said. "Save having to explain more than once."

  Just then, the equerry approached. "Your Highness, My Lady, sirs"--he bowed--"His Majesty is in conference with Duke Vikor. If you would wait but a few minutes."

  "Of course. Would you please inform His Majesty that our news will also be of interest to the duke?"

  The equerry gave a slight bow and moved to stand behind the king. When the duke bowed and made as if to retire, the equerry stepped forward and spoke quickly to the king, who held up a hand at the duke. Vikor glanced behind him and saw his daughter waiting. He managed to smile at her and look curious at the same time.

  "Patinus," the king said with a welcoming smile, "it's good to see you again. You've been absent too long, but, of course, with such a lovely wife, who can blame you?"

  Patinus stepped forward, took the king's hand and bowed. Gallia curtsied, and Jhond and Ninian also bowed.

  "I understand you wish Duke Vikor to be present while we speak?"

  "Yes, Your Majesty, and could I ask your indulgence that our meeting be in private?"

  Clearly curious, Corianus considered Patinus for a moment, before signaling to his equerry, who hurried over. "I am retiring for a time. Inform all attendants they may return this afternoon."

  The king rose and led the way to a door at the rear of the chamber that Jhond had never noticed before. Behind them, the equerry was making the announcement, which was met with a combination of grumbling and dismay. They entered a large room, one wall of which entirely consisted of windows with a view of the park behind the palace. There was a desk flanked by bookshelves against the wall at right angles to the windows. Opposite the windows was a large ornate fireplace surrounded by a grouping of comfortable chairs. The king walked toward the chairs and sat.

  "Please take a seat," the king invited. When they were all settled, Corianus said to Patinus, "Well, and what is all this about?"

  "I think I ought to let Jhond explain, Your Majesty."

  The king switched his attention to Jhond, and he rose, stepping forward to stand with his back to the unlit fire and facing the semi-circle of curious watchers.

  "Sire, you know me as Jhond Reeve, the youngest son of Lord Girau and Lady Narissa."

  The king frowned, but nodded in agreement. Duke Vikor looked puzzled.

  "I come here today to proclaim myself as the Eynan and to put myself and my fellow mage, Ninian of Hartees, at your service."

  King Corianus sat rigid and staring in his seat. Vikor leapt to his feet, his face red. "What do you think you're doing?" Vikor shouted. "There is no such--"

  Jhond cut across him. "I'm doing what is needed!"

  Gallia was also on her feet, demanding, "Listen to him!"

  Patinus reached for his wife, gently pulling her back into her seat. Ninian sat quietly watching.

  Vikor had quieted but still looked angry and confused.

  Corianus stood, facing Jhond. "You ask us to believe much, young sir." His gaze travelled around those seated before him, finally resting on Ninian. "And you, sir, are a stranger to me, but it's claimed you're a mage. From Hartees, no less." He stared at Ninian intently, and the mage returned the look until it was Corianus who turned away. To Jhond, he said, "Have you come here with mere claims, Jhond of Reeve, or do you have some proof of the claim?"

  It was now Ninian who rose and answered the king. "Proof on paper, Majesty, is not possible. I can attest that at the time of the Withdrawal, it was my family who was given the honor of searching for and training the Eynan when he arose. Only a mage of great power could fulfill the criteria. I met Jhond by chance and almost immediately I knew at last I had found the man for whom I had been searching so long."

  He glanced at Jhond and smiled. "He had no idea he was talented and yet he was drawn to the Temple of the Magi at Tandera. It was there he discovered for the first time that not only did he have talent, but that he was very powerful. I completed the time-honored ritual yesterday that sealed him as the Eynan."

  "I'm not saying I doubt your word, Ninian of Hartees, but you can understand my incredulity. The belief in mages is long past, many think they were simply stories, and as for the Eynan? It was nothing but an intriguing myth."

  "You want proof, Your Majesty?" Jhond said. "Words will never convince you, I can see."

  Jhond turned to the fireplace and with the movement of one finger at the hearth it blazed into life. Using the same finger, Jhond curled it as if beckoning and the flame from the fire broke away and moved toward him. Corianus stepped back hurriedly, Ninian following at a leisurely pace. The flame settled in Jhond's palm, shrinking in size. Smoke curled lazily from the top of the flame and with his other hand, Jhond drew the smoke higher and higher. Abruptly, he closed his fist, and the fire disappeared, but the smoke remained, still growing, billowing out to half-fill the room above the fascinated witnesses.

  Jhond blew at the smoke and it divided into six neat twirling pillars that danced, weaved and intertwined, but always returned to their individual forms. Jhond blew again, harder this time, and the smoke became a series of arrow shapes, aimed at the windows. Jhond clapped his hands and said one strange word. The smoke arrows flew straight and true, each at a different window, where they drove straight through the glass before surging high up into the sky and dissipating. Amidst gasps and cries from his audience, Jhond lifted his hands, palms out facing the smashed windows. He slid his hands sideways, away from each other, and the glass was repaired, as if it had never been broken.

  Jhond turned to the king. "That was a simple display, merely child's play. I am the Eynan, Majesty. If you wish for further proof, I can provide it, but I think pe
rhaps it's time to discuss future plans."

  "You should understand," Ninian added, "the Eynan can already reproduce the elements and he has yet to gain full control of all his powers."

  * * * *

  Travelling through Colyon proved to be more difficult than Amister. There were more frequent patrols and the Illurian uniform was very much in evidence. At one point, Girau wondered if it were wise to continue on. Twice his identity as a "possible enemy alien" had been brought into question, though each time the papers provided by Patinus and judicious mention of the prince's alliance with the emperor had managed to allow them passage.

  In the end, as they were not far from their destination now and neither Girau nor Amired wanted to give up so close to possible success, they decided to press on. The sailors were not quite as positive, but their captain didn't exactly give them a choice. However, it seemed quite obvious that attempting to travel deeper into the empire's territory wasn't a viable option. Girau admitted he would have to rely to Egon's promise to seek further help and hope that Login Narivin would be as cooperative.

  "One more hour should bring us to the capital city, Girau," Amired said.

  "Thank the Lords," muttered Ekin.

  "Come on. Your rear is used to riding now," Mathias said.

  "Maybe, but to my way of thinking, the sooner we get to this place, the sooner we'll be on our way home again."

  Amired rode closer to Girau. "By now Ninian should've finished whatever was needed to complete the ceremony. It could even be that what we do here is moot if the Eynan is as powerful as Ninian says."

  "Maybe, but I prefer to err on the side of caution and continue with our mission as long as possible. We will need alliances to build a future for all our people. After we've spoken with Narivin, we'll get back to your ship as soon as possible."

  "That'll please my men." Amired smiled.

  A little over an hour later, they arrived at the Ministry of Security to find Narivin was expecting their visit. They were shown directly into his office, where it transpired he'd already received a message by bird courier from Egon. There was also a message waiting for them.

  Girau quickly read the note from Egon and it confirmed he'd spoken to his colleagues, some of whom had been quick to agree and others who'd been more reticent. The information regarding the Eynan was met with mixed reactions: some excited, some doubtful. Egon would keep trying. With a sigh, Girau threw the note into the fire; he would tell Amired of its contents later.

  Narivin was not the kind of man who indulged in small talk and after the introductions, he informed them, "I wish I was more confident the people will rise simply because it would be to their advantage in the long term. Most ordinary people can't see beyond the present, but have clear recollection of a troubled past. What took place at Endymion is seared into their memories, My Lord, and I don't know what could supplant that. I'm sorry, but it's the truth."

  Girau sighed. "I do understand, but I'd hoped for your assistance." He glanced at Amired, who raised a questioning eyebrow. Turning his attention back to Narivin, he asked, "Would it make a difference to your people if they knew the Eynan had emerged?"

  "The Eynan?" Narivin looked puzzled. "That word is familiar, although I can't place it. What does it mean?"

  Girau sighed. "You don't know of the legends surrounding the Withdrawal of the Magi?"

  "The magi? Lords, I've never been sure if all those old stories weren't just that...stories."

  "No, they were real. It's a mite complicated, but the magi set things up so when they withdrew from the world of men, they left a legacy that could rise again if it were needed. The mages didn't quite disappear, but hid from the world instead. My family was one of the original ten families. Another family was left the duty of searching for and guarding one very special mage, who would come into his own if needed. Just before we left Timendra to come here, that mage, the Eynan was revealed. He will become more powerful than we can possibly imagine."

  Narivin had listened in silence, his eyes narrowing as Girau had finished his explanation. "And you believe this...this Eynan is strong enough to challenge the emperor?"

  "Definitely, and more importantly, to defeat the emperor's own mage, Suvran."

  "Preceptor Suvran. I've heard rumors about that man, but I never quite believed them. He really is a mage?"

  "Oh yes, he's a very powerful mage," Amired said. "I've seen him in action. He held my life on a knife edge, and I watched Jhond defeat him."

  "Jhond?"

  "The young mage who at that time was still learning to use his powers and who we now know is the Eynan."

  "If he's that good, why didn't he just kill this Suvran when he had the chance?"

  "First, because even he was shocked at what he was able to do--he'd no idea he was so powerful--and second, we were vastly outnumbered by Suvran's men. We were lucky to get away with our lives. The next time, Suvran won't escape."

  "You asked if it would make a difference if the people knew the Eynan had emerged. I honestly don't know the answer. I don't know how many of our people even know of this legend, let alone believe in it."

  "You don't believe it's any good to try, do you?" Girau asked.

  Narivin raised his eyes and stared at the ceiling. He took a deep breath and shifted his gaze to Amired and then Girau. "I wish I could say otherwise, but in all honesty, no, I don't. If my people saw an army coming over the hill, they'd rise up in droves to beat these Illurians from our land, but on a promise and a hope? No."

  "I see. If you don't object, we'll keep in touch?"

  "Of course."

  * * * *

  "They've been in there a long time," Mathias said from his comfortable position leaning back against the large tree. It had been something of a surprise to find the small park in the center of the square around which the various government ministries were located. Ekin and Tulier were seated near him, lounging on the grass enjoying the heat of the noonday sun.

  "Probably got a lot of explaining to do," Tulier said. "I wouldn't like to have to try and convince a stranger to risk going to war."

  Abruptly, Ekin sat up. "Look!"

  Following his pointing finger, Mathias saw a troop of Illurian guard marching across the square, heading directly to the Ministry of Security.

  "What should we do?" Tulier queried when the squad of a dozen soldiers entered the ministry.

  "Nothing we can do but watch," Mathias said.

  It couldn't have been much more than five minutes later when the guard reappeared, but this time, Girau and Amired were with them. Their hands were tied behind their backs and as they watched, a third man was pulled from the building, his hands also bound. The three men were roughly shoved into the center of the group of soldiers, who then marched back the way they had come.

  "Someone must've betrayed them. That was no casual appearance. They knew who they came for," Mathias said.

  "Who was the third man?"

  "Must have been the minister...what was his name?"

  "Login Narivin. He was betrayed, too." Mathias looked thoughtful. "One of his own people maybe in the ministry?"

  "This guesswork is all well and good, but it don't help us. Here we are, trapped in an enemy state and the only man with any pull--and diplomatic papers--just got arrested," Ekin said.

  "We need to help them." Mathias replied, already starting off across the square in the direction the soldiers had taken, the others tagging along with him.

  "We need to help ourselves," Ekin stated, pulling at Mathias' sleeve.

  "He's right, Mathias. There's nothing we can do for them."

  "I want to at least know where they've been taken." He kept on following. "Then we try and get a message to Jhond."

  "And just how are we are going to do that? Even getting out of this country is going to be a problem," Tulier said.

  "I don't know...yet," Mathias answered, chewing his lip as he struggled to think of a way.

  * * * *

  The king had
called an audience with his council, the rest of his ministers and every important nobleman within one hour's ride of the palace.

  The people had begun to gather during the last hour or so, and the equerry had reported to the king that the room with rife with questions, theories and rumors as to why the meeting had been called. The whereabouts of Lord Girau were also a matter of conjecture and the fact none of the other members of the council knew his location only added fuel to the fire.

  When the king entered the chamber, the noise had immediately ceased, but when Jhond mounted the dais to stand next to King Corianus, the murmurs began again.

  The equerry raised a hand and demanded, "Silence!" and the muttering ceased.

  The king rose and took a step forward, his gaze raking over the assembly. "I have called you all together for an important announcement. We are not going to wait any longer to gather our forces and strike out against the encroachment of the Illurian Empire. We are going to take the fight to Emperor Bardius and we are going to destroy him!"

  The sound of raised voices calling out questions rolled around the room. The king raised a hand, and the equerry called out, "Quiet!" The voices ceased, but the uncomfortable feeling in the room was very easy to read.

  "You are puzzled why I made this sudden decision without consultation with my council or my ministers. There is a simple, astounding answer to that, an answer that I only learned of today." He turned and beckoned Jhond forward. Placing a hand on Jhond's shoulder, Corianus continued. "You will all, at some point or other, have heard the old legends surrounding the time of the Withdrawal of the Magi. One of the most compelling and yet unbelievable tales was of the emergence of the Eynan."

  Corianus took a second to sweep his gaze slowly around the hall once again, his regard resting for a second on those he thought of as the most reliable. "Compelling and very believable because I now know they were more than legends. They were the true words laid down by the ancient mages. And here is the proof. I present to you, the Eynan!"

  There were gasps and shouts of denial amidst many questions called out. This time, the king did not demand silence. He let the doubts and hopes spill over everyone.