When they reached the family quarters, Laryn pointed out her room and Badec’s room and then she led them around the corner to the rooms that had been prepared for them.
As soon as Chris saw which rooms were theirs, he said, “If you don’t need me for anything right now, I’ll go down and get some of our things.” Kevin nodded, so Chris headed back towards the stairs.
“I’d like to ask you a question,” Kevin said as soon as he and Laryn were alone.
Laryn nodded.
“How did you know when we’d get here? We didn’t know for sure ourselves.”
“About ten days ago, Glendymere sent me a message telling me where you were, so I was fairly sure that you’d arrive either today or tomorrow. This morning I asked Freddy to fly down the road and see if he could find out where you were. When he told me how close you were, I sent Captain Lawrence out to meet you,” Laryn replied. Then she added, “Why? Was there a problem?”
“No, nothing like that. I just wondered how you knew,” Kevin said. “I didn’t think anyone had recognized me, but when Captain Lawrence was there to meet us, and obviously knew who we were …”
Laryn shook her head no. “The only reason he knew who you were is that I told him. He doesn’t know anything about the others except that they’re your companions.”
Kevin nodded and said, “I’d like to see my father now if that’s possible.”
Laryn led the way to Badec’s room. As Kevin entered the room, he saw a man lying on a large bed in the center of the room and a middle-aged woman standing by his bedside.
“Myron, this is Sister Agnes. She’s been tending to your father since he became ill a year ago,” Laryn said.
Sister Agnes nodded and whispered, “We’ve kept him alive, but it’s a losing battle. We’ll feed him and care for him as long as there’s a breath in his body, but I really don’t know how he’s hanging on.”
“Have you figured out what happened?” Kevin asked quietly.
Sister Agnes looked at Laryn, who was standing behind Kevin. Laryn shook her head, so Sister Agnes shrugged and said, “No, not really. We know that he wasn’t injured, wasn’t sick, didn’t have a heart attack or a stroke, but as to exactly what happened …” Sister Agnes shrugged again.
“I’d like to sit with him for a bit,” Kevin said as he reached out and touched his father’s hand. He knew that coma patients tended to waste away, but he was surprised at just how frail and fragile the man looked. Then he turned to Laryn and asked, “Is there anything I need to do right now?”
“No. General Crandal, Governor Wrenn, and his wife, Jana, will join us for dinner tonight. I might as well tell you that Governor Wrenn was planning to retire last year. He’d already asked Badec to find a new governor and Badec had agreed, but he got sick before he could do it. Wrenn probably won’t bring it up this evening, but he’ll want you to name someone as quickly as you can, so you might want to think about it. You can’t actually do anything until you become the Sorcerer of Camden, but that will happen on the sixth of April if not before.”
“What’s happening on the sixth of April?”
“The day of the next council meeting. You’ll have to assume your father’s chair at that time, and that will make it official,” Laryn answered. Then she and Sister Agnes quietly left the room.
~ ~ ~ ~
After dinner that night, when Kevin and Chris went up to Kevin’s room, he told Chris what Laryn had said about naming a governor as soon as possible.
“Have you made up your mind between Karl and Steve?” Chris asked.
“I really want Steve concentrating on the slavery thing with Tyree, and I want him free to give me crash courses in economics, politics, and everything else I never thought I’d need to know.”
Chris nodded. “Karl will make a good governor. He’s down to earth and practical, and he’s a natural leader.”
“Do you think he’ll agree to do it?”
“I don’t know. When are you going to ask him?”
“I don’t know when the appropriate time will be, but soon. I need to talk to Laryn about that,” Kevin answered. “What do you think of Captain Lawrence?”
“I like him. Are you sure we can’t keep him on as Captain of the Guard?”
“Yes. After dinner, General Crandal asked when I was going to name someone else to that position. I told him that it wasn’t my guard and I don’t have the authority to name a captain. He agreed, but then he said that I’d have to take over soon.”
“Any particular reason he’s interested in whom you name as captain?” Chris asked.
“His aide has requested a position as a district captain and one of his captains wants to retire. So General Crandal is hoping that Captain Lawrence will agree to be his new aide. Then he can let his aide take over for the captain that wants to retire.”
“Are you thinking about Darrell for that position?”
Kevin nodded. “What do you think?”
“I think he could do it, but he’s going to need some help getting set up and organized,” Chris answered.
“I was thinking I might ask General Crandal to hold off making any changes for a couple of months so Captain Lawrence could help Darrell get started.”
“If Captain Lawrence is in the guard office, he’ll be the captain, no matter who has the title, and that would undermine Darrell’s authority. You don’t want to do that.”
“You’re right,” Kevin said.
“Maybe Captain Lawrence would agree to be available for advice for a while.”
Kevin nodded. “I’ll talk to Laryn tomorrow and see what the proper protocol is for all of this. I don’t want to say anything to Karl or Darrell until I know it’s okay. We don’t want to seem over-anxious.”
~ ~ ~ ~
Sometime during the night, a soft light that slowly grew in intensity woke Kevin out of a sound sleep. When he finally shook off the last remnants of sleep, he realized that Yvonne was standing near his bed.
“Mother?”
Yvonne nodded. “I’m so glad you’re finally here, Myron. It’s been a long journey. One that began many years ago.”
“I feel like it’s just beginning,” Kevin answered, yawning.
“Yes, in a way, you’re right. This is a beginning. That’s what I wanted to speak with you about. Before you can begin, Badec must end, and you need to help him.”
“What do you mean?”
“For the past year, the only thing that has kept him alive has been his determination to live until you arrived.”
“Is he hoping to wake up, to see me, talk to me?” Kevin asked.
“No, he knows he’ll never wake up again. He’s hung on to life this long trying to give you as much time to get ready as he could, but it’s time for him to let go now.”
“Exactly what are you asking me to do?”
“You have to let him know that you’re here and that you’re ready to take over, that he’s held on long enough, that he can let go of life.”
“You mean you want me to tell him to die?” Kevin was aghast at the idea.
“I want you to let him know that it’s all right for him to die, that he can stop fighting so very hard to cling to life,” Yvonne said quietly.
“Wouldn’t you stand a better chance of talking to him? I mean, he doesn’t even know my voice or anything.”
“He’s so far gone that no one else can reach him. Laryn sits by his side talking to him every night. She has told him every day for the past month that you’re ready, that Glendymere says that your power is strong, that you’re on your way here, and that he can let go. But he can’t hear her anymore. I’ve tried to reach him, but he resists me. He senses that if he reaches out to me, he’ll lose his last hold on life. You’re going to have to let your power reach out to the power in him. He’ll know your essence. He’ll know it’s you, he’ll feel your strength, and then when you release him, he’ll be able to let go.”
“I’ll try. That’s all I can promise,” Kevin said sl
owly.
“That’s all I ask.” Yvonne began to fade away. “I must go now but I’ll return soon. Be well, my son.”
“Good-bye, Mother,” Kevin whispered as the room became dark again.
~ ~ ~ ~
Before daybreak Saturday morning, Kevin went to Badec’s room. He pulled up a chair and sat down beside his father’s bed, took his hand, and talked to him. He talked of his childhood on Earth, his foster parents, his Uncle Paul with the funny ears, his college years, and the jobs he had held. Then he told his father about the tornado that Paul had created, the other passengers on the bus, the time at the Gate House, the journey to Rainbow Valley, Blalick and his family, meeting Yvonne, and his training with Glendymere.
Since Kevin was with his father when Sister Agnes arrived that morning, she asked the guard to have one of the household staff find her a comfortable chair and put it outside Badec’s door. Normally, she sat with Badec during the day. She handled his bath, worked with his joints, exercised his muscles, and fed him through a hollow reed, but all of her herbs and care had not been able to halt the inevitable. Now, she prayed for his release.
Sister Agnes came in several times that day to check on her patient, to wipe his forehead and arms, and to add some wood to the fire in the fireplace. Laryn came in for a few moments around lunchtime, stroked her brother’s forehead, kissed his cheek, and left. After Laryn left, Sister Agnes opened the door to ask Kevin if he would like some lunch. Kevin thanked her, but declined the offer, so she told Kevin that she’d be right outside the door if he needed anything.
Kevin talked to his father most of the afternoon. He thanked him for making arrangements for him to learn how to use his magical powers, and he spoke of his plans to carry on with Badec’s work. He told his father that his only regret was that he had not arrived in time to get to know him, that he would have liked that, but he understood the constant struggle that Badec was engaged in just to survive another day, and that the need to rest must be overpowering. Kevin told his father that he was home now, ready to carry on, and he told Badec that it was time for him to get some well-deserved rest.
Then he just sat quietly by Badec’s bed, holding his father’s frail hand between his strong ones, watching Badec’s chest rise and fall as the breaths became shallow and slow. He noticed that the fire in the red opal that rested on Badec’s chest was growing dimmer.
As the sunlight faded from the mountaintops and darkness settled over the valley, Kevin saw an orb of blue-white light slowly take form on the other side of Badec’s bed. As it floated near Badec’s shoulder, the light grew stronger and stronger. A few minutes later, Kevin saw a second orb of light take form over Badec’s chest.
As the light in the orb grew stronger, Badec’s breaths slowed and became weaker, and the light in the red opal began to flicker. With a final sigh, Badec surrendered his hold on life and both orbs began to slowly rise and drift towards the balcony as the light in the red opal died. Right before the orbs disappeared Kevin felt more than heard his mother say, “Thank you, my son.”
Kevin opened the bedroom door and told Sister Agnes that Badec was gone. As she entered the room to tend to Badec’s body, Kevin asked the guard who had been waiting with Sister Agnes to find Laryn, let her know that it was over, and tell her that he would be in his room if she needed him.
When Kevin reached his room, he washed his face and stretched out on the bed. A couple of minutes later, there was a knock on his door. When he opened it, Chris was standing in the hall with a large tray in his hands. Chris walked into Kevin’s room and set the tray down on a table between the two armchairs. There was a sandwich, a bowl of soup, a fruit plate, and two large mugs of scog.
“Thanks Chris, but I’m really not hungry,” Kevin said as he looked at the food.
“I know you don’t want to eat, but you have to anyway. You didn’t eat breakfast or lunch. You can’t afford to get run down or sick right now, so you’re going to have to eat dinner. Remember, your health and well-being are my responsibility now.”
“It’s only one day. I can go without food for one day.”
“True, but you’ll be weak tomorrow, and tomorrow is going to be a rather busy day.” Chris sat down in one of the chairs and picked up one of the mugs of scog. “This food’s good by the way. Your cook is almost as good as Joan.” Kevin sat down in the other chair and began to eat a little of the soup. “They all said to tell you that they’re really sorry that this happened so soon after we got here. They didn’t come up with me for two reasons. First of all, we knew you’d be tired and the second reason is that the guard wouldn’t have let them.”
“We’ll have to do something about that. I’ll talk to the guard in the morning and explain that they all have free run of the castle.”
“I don’t know if you should do that, Kevin.”
“Why not?”
“The more people that the guards are told to let pass, the less protected the family quarters become. We all feel that the area where you sleep needs to be secure, or at least as secure as we can make it. The grounds under the balcony are patrolled around the clock, a guard is stationed on the roof, and right now, only Laryn, Sister Agnes, and the two of us can get past the guard on the stairs. Maybe it would be best to leave it like that, at least for a while.”
Kevin nodded as he continued eating. He was surprised to find that the food did taste good and that he was hungrier than he had thought. After a few minutes, he asked, “What have all of you been doing today?”
“We unpacked the wagons this morning, getting out the things we wanted to keep in our rooms and putting everything else in the castle storerooms. I brought your case up here and put it in the closet. Your clothes are in the chest over there, and your sword is on the floor right under the edge of your bed. I know you don’t need it, but I thought you’d like to keep it, and I didn’t know where else to put it,” Chris said as he got up, picked up the edge of the bed cover and showed Kevin the sword. Then he sat back down and continued, “You wouldn’t believe this place, Kevin. It’s so well-organized. There are a lot of people on staff, but not as many as you might think considering all the work involved. Everything seems to go like clockwork.” Chris reached over and picked up a piece of fruit from Kevin’s tray. “Then this afternoon we helped Laryn get the messages ready.”
“What messages?” Kevin asked between bites of his sandwich.
“The ones announcing Badec’s death. Laryn wasn’t sure it would be today, but she felt sure it would be soon. She said that the only reason her brother was still holding on to life was that he was waiting for you to arrive, and that now that you’re here, he could go in peace.”
“It was peaceful,” Kevin said softly. Then he told Chris about Yvonne’s visit the night before, the way his father had relaxed during the day as Kevin talked to him, and the two orbs of light at the end. “I’m sure the first orb that appeared was my mother. I wish I could have known them.”
“Maybe you’ll get to now.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your mother’s already visited you twice. I bet it won’t be that long before your father does, too.”
“I hope you’re right,” Kevin said. Then he turned to the plate of fruit and quickly emptied it.
Just as he finished the last of the fruit, there was another knock at the door and when Chris opened it, Laryn stepped in.
“I just wanted to check on you. Are you all right?” she asked.
“I’m fine, just a bit tired.”
“I’m sure you are. We just released the falcons with messages for the district sorcerers, our brothers and sisters, Kalen, Duane, and a few other close friends. I’ll take care of the official notifications later.”
“What about Glendymere?” Kevin asked.
“Freddy left as soon as Badec died, so Glendymere, Tyree, and Blalick’s family will know soon, if they don’t already. Now, you need to get some sleep. Do you want Agnes to prepare a sleeping draught for you?”
“Yes, but nothing that can’t wait until morning. Sleep now. We’ll talk tomorrow,” Laryn said as she walked over to the door and opened it. Then she turned back towards Kevin and said, “And thank you, Myron. It was time.”
Chapter 49
Duty Calls
Kevin woke up shortly after daybreak Sunday morning. He was dressed and staring out the window, wondering what the day would bring, when he heard a light tap on his door. He opened it to find Chris standing in the hall with a large mug of coffee in each hand.
Chris handed one of the mugs to Kevin as he stepped inside and said, “I thought you’d probably be up by now.”
“Thanks,” Kevin said as he sipped the hot coffee. “I was thinking about venturing out, but I was putting it off. I have a feeling that this is going to be a busy day once it gets started.”
“You’re right about that. Laryn and I talked a little after you went to bed,” Chris said. “She’s asked all of the housekeeping and grounds staff to meet in the dining room at 8:00 this morning. She’s going to announce that Badec has passed away, thank them for their services while he was the Sorcerer of Camden, and then introduce you.”
“Thank them for their services?” Kevin asked in near panic. “Are they leaving?”
Chris shook his head no. “After she introduces you, you’ll thank them for serving your father and say something like ‘and I hope you’ll be able to stay and help us just as you helped my father.’ It’s more a formality than anything else, but Laryn says it’s important to let them know that you see them as people of free will, not as slaves.”
“Of course. I keep forgetting about that.”
Chris nodded and continued, “Then you’ll need to ask Cryslyn, the Head of Housekeeping, and Neiven, the Head of Grounds, to join us for breakfast.”
“All right. You wouldn’t happen to know if these people are male or female would you? I can’t tell by their names.”
The Master's Chair (The Chronicles of Terah) Page 63