“What do we do, sir?” Xylepher spoke quietly as he crawled alongside the conjurer, his eyes glued to the woman. Silvio looked at the little people behind him, now frozen like deer sensing danger. He weighed his predicament before he answered. Hacatine’s ships moored near the beach. This warrior woman lay close enough to hex. He could freeze her again but why waste his magic? Already longboats approached. The whole army was coming ashore.
“Scoot away!” Silvio waved the little people further from the sleeping sorceress. “Dig down! Tunnel! And be quiet about it!”
“What about you?”
Silvio turned back to watch the intruders now pulling their gigs onto the sand. Close enough to see their faces; Silvio crouched low to the ground. Hacatine was one of the first to set her wicked feet onshore. She gestured with her arms, waving directions to the rest of her company. The warriors ran toward the cliffs and scattered as they climbed, quivers on their back and swords at their waists.
“The depraved witch will sift the countryside until she finds us.” Silvio grumbled under his breath searching for a more suitable camouflage.
He squinted at the nearest pine tree that lingered over him. Solitary, it’s trunk thick and dry, had been weathered against the constant storms that blew over these hills. Stunted by blowing wind, sand, and gravel, and by lack of water, yet still green, still a pine.
Silvio crawled to its base and twisted his already crooked arms to match. Slightly bent over, his hair blowing like dry lichen across his shoulders, he closed his eyes. A fight ensued within him, for he hadn’t ever wanted to be a tree again. Still, what was safest had to be done. He resolved that his body turn gray like the tree. Evergreen needles pierced through his fingers from inside out and soon Silvio became the newest pine that stood in the field, looking out over the ocean. A tree, but still aware
“Promise,” Hacatine called out when she saw the woman’s body. Her voice caught an air of excitement, as though she was happy to have found her warrior, but then she restrained herself and slowed to a walk. The girl rolled in the grass, moaning as though in terrible pain, holding her hands over her face.
“Get up,” the queen said.
Promise didn’t respond. Hacatine knelt next to her and pulled Promise’s hands from her face. The girl cried out burying her head in her knees. If Silvio had not been a pine tree at that moment he would have cast a spell to relieve her of her pain, for she was miserable.
Other of Hacatine’s warriors ran to her side, each armed with swords and bows strung on their backs, their long hair blowing freely in the wind.
“Help her stand,” Hacatine ordered. “I can’t talk to her like that. She’s pathetic.”
Two of the women helped Promise to her feet but when they stepped away from her, Promise staggered and stretched out her arms, grasping for whatever she could touch. Hacatine held out her hand until the girl found it.
“What happened to you? Are you blind?” the silver-haired woman asked with a voice as cold as ice.
“I see shapes, dark shapes.”
“What happened?”
Promise gained her balance and then let go of Hacatine. She brushed her hair with her hands.
“Who did this to you? Where have you been, and why did you leave your watch?” The lack of sympathy in Hacatine’s voice made Silvio shudder causing pine needles on his branches to ripple.
Promise lifted her chin, a gesture the conjurer read as defiance. Was she really standing up to her queen?
“Answer me.”
“I’ll not,” was all that Promise said. The slap Promise received across the face made Silvio flinch.
“Is this the gratitude I get from you? I’ve given everything to you, Promise. Rank! You were my first mate, my right hand woman. You disappointed me. You’ve abandoned me. What do you think this looks like to your peers? To the other warriors on my ship?” She waved her arms at her army.
Promise stood steadfast. “Ask them what it looks like, if you want to know.”
Hacatine turned to the guards by her side but they stepped away. None spoke. She pivoted back around to Promise, her eyes wild with anger. “Why are you doing this to me? You were my favorite. What is it that took you away from me?” The queen grabbed Promise’s cheeks and looked into her eyes. “It’s gone! Where is your magic? Why can’t I see what’s in there? Who robbed you?”
Promise pulled away from Hacatine’s hold.
“Who? Who stole your powers? Was it that decrepit old conjurer, Silvio? Tell me!”
“What does it matter if I was robbed or if I gave my powers away? I left your ship because I hate you.”
Silvio held his breath. Only the crash of waves far below the cliffs broke the silence. The other women stood silent, eyes wide, fear paling their faces.
“You hate me?” Hacatine’s lips slid into a slanted smile. “You’re not as intelligent as I thought you were. The choice you are making is, in fact, ignorant, Promise. I’m sure you will regret what you just did for the rest of your short life. Today instead of my favorite, you became my enemy. Pity. You’ve seen what I do to my enemies?”
“Which is why I hate you.”
Promise’s daring awed Silvio as he watched from his hiding place in the tree, chills racing up his back rustling the needles on the old pine.
“Well then.” Hacatine paced a circle around the blind girl, a crude smile on her face. “Let me think what curse to use. To wander here in unknown lands, forage the wilderness for food, blind.” She laughed. “You being food for the wild beasts of this cursed country. Whatever animal hungers for your flesh will be well satisfied. Does that sound attractive to you?”
“Your Highness,” one of the other women spoke, but stopped when Hacatine turned sharply toward her.
“She’ll be an example, mind you, for what happens to anyone who resists me. Keep that in mind. All of you! I won’t have a traitor aboard my ship.” Hacatine waved, beckoning her warriors back down the beach.
“You’re the traitor, Hacatine.” Promise called after her.
Hacatine turned around. Her silver hair blew in the breeze. The black silk of her gown hugged her body as it danced in the wind. Though her stance sent terror through Silvio, Promise didn’t budge. Instead she raised her voice even louder. Silvio eyed the other warrior women as they glanced at one another. Their ears were keen to the first mate’s words.
“You’ve ruled tyranny over all of us; your lies have destroyed Taikus, our homeland, the land we used to love. It’s you that steals. You’ve stolen everything good that the Taikans ever had. You’ve murdered our loved ones and those who didn’t die, fled. There’s not a man on Taikus left who is a man anymore, and it’s because of you.”
“Men? Is that your problem? You’re worried about men?’ She circled Promise again, this time taunting Promise with slight tugs of her hair and a jab at her shoulder. “Ah, now it comes out. How long have you been holding this in, child? How long have you harbored resentment for our new way of life? You don’t need a man.”
“What way of life is that? Forsake love in order to relish in our own accomplishments? That was never my way of life, nor my parents. Ask the others. Ask your warriors what they want in life.”
“Don’t bring your parents into this. I know your father. He abandoned you, Promise. Do you think he cares?” She snickered as she brushed against Promise, pushing her off balance. “You live off of emotions. It will be the death of you.” She looked into Promise’s eyes again. “Now I understand your motives. You rescued that Kaempern boy, didn’t you? You have feelings for that dark haired vagabond? Is that it? Fool! He’s not even a wizard. He’s less than dirt. Really, Promise? I’m surprised you would stoop so low. But then, what else could come from the daughter of a half breed.”
Promise straightened, her face reddened. “Keep your wicked tongue from mentioning my father. He was a good man and some day he will return and usurp your cursed kingdom.”
“You think? What will you do, join him? What g
ood will you be to him. You’re powerless.” She laughed. “Completely powerless! Tell me. Did you give your magic to that dark haired boy?” Hacatine lifted the girl’s chin, but Promise shook her head loose from the witch’s touch. “You looked into him on the ship, didn’t you? There are some things that you aren’t telling me, aren’t there? It’s all coming together now. He isn’t even a Kaempern, is he? Let me guess. You saw his secret, and it blinded you?” She chuckled, arms folded across her chest as though amused with her own antics “And now it’s your secret, too.” She flipped Promise’s hair behind her shoulder. “Our secret.”
Silvio would have hexed her if he had enough power, right then, as the witch continued scorning Promise.”
“Silly, silly girl, indeed, you are foolish. You aren’t the first one to fall away from the Sect, chasing after dreams of relationships that will never be. Do you actually think a mere man can give you what you want? Not to mention a boy. I offer Taikus something more substantial than any promise a man or wizard could conjure. And you’ve rejected me.”
“What could you possibly offer Taikus?” The girl’s voice trembled and Silvio feared for her, his eyes inside the knotty pine grew wide and he held his breath.
The queen inhaled, her face turned red, her fist clenched. “I have given Taikus more than that island has ever known. I’ve given Taikus a means of joining the rest of the world, unlike your dear wizard friends who have alienated us. My kingdom will be rich with prosperity, land, and slaves.” She exhaled, and her color returned as she regained her calm. “Pity my best soldier has chosen not to partake in the plunder.”
“I’m sick of your brutality and your atrocities. None of those girls want to follow you. They only do so because they’re afraid of you. Go ahead and kill me. At least I won’t be one of your pawns.”
“Kill you? That’s not my plan, dear. Not yet. I can still use you, more now than before.” With that the woman walked down the slope, her bare feet digging into the sandy soil as she strolled onto the beach signaling her warriors to follow. Some ran toward her, others lingered reluctant, glancing back at Promise. Eventually they all returned to shore and pushed the skiff into the sea. It wasn’t until Hacatine’s party was a tiny dot bouncing past the surf that Silvio moved. The pine needles fell, his hair turned silky again, but his bones creaked even more than they ever had.
When his trunk grew feet, he stretched. Pieces of bark and dust fell and he could breathe as blood flowed back into his veins. He approached Promise, stepping softly on the grass, and when she didn’t make a move, he stood in front of her. Eyes red from the wind blowing sand and salt at her, or from tears, he couldn’t tell. Still she held her chin high.
Her large auburn eyes were open, but they showed no recognition that someone was near. Silvio waved his crooked fingers in front of them. “She’s gone,” he said.
“Who are you?” Promise wet her chapped lips with her tongue.
Silvio cleared his throat. “What do you see me as?”
She was silent for a moment, her focus resting not far above his head. “You’re the shape of a man. You remind me of someone I know.”
“Who?”
She hesitated again, as though it was difficult to answer. “My father.” A tear formed in the corner of her eye.
By this time the Xylonites had appeared from their hiding and tiptoed quietly to Silvio’s side, their mouths opened in awe at the sorceress standing in the grass. Silvio signaled for Xylepher to bring Ivar’s water skin and when he did, the old man touched Promise’s lips with the spout. She drank greedily.
“Whoever you are,” she said, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “Whoever you are, you’re not safe. Hacatine is watching me. She’ll make captive of anyone who helps me.”
“Bah,” Silvio said, a wad of spit in his mouth. “She’s been watching me for a hundred years.” Letting the force of his disdain carry it, he shot the spittle as far as it would fly.
“Are you Silvio?”
The conjurer scowled, and exchanged glances with the little people, but he didn’t answer.
“Ivar told me your name. You gave him your magic, didn’t you?”
Silvio wasn’t one to blush, not often, but he felt heat rise to his head.
“That was an unintelligent thing to do.” She brushed her hair out of her face. “And now the young fool has a bit of my magic as well. The mix of sorcery and wizardry is an ill mix if those powers aren’t affectionately given. Being a wizard you should know that.”
“Little choice I had.” Silvio grunted, offended by her reprimand. “It was a choice between giving my wizardry to the youth or to Hacatine.”
She shook her head and snickered. “Just a choice of time. Ivar won’t be able to defend himself against her. He’s naïve, much too arrogant, and extremely foolish. I’m afraid we’re all just waiting for our ruin. She’ll find him, get what she wants, and destroy us. She’ll destroy all the civilizations around us too, eventually, unless they bow to her heavy hand.”
Silvio straightened, as much as he could, for his bones ached anew. He agreed with her, but the Xylonites were standing there next to him, their faces long with pouts. They had offered him hope whenever he had been despondent. He owed it to them to return the favor. “Maybe not,” he said and winked at Xylepher. “Maybe we can get through this, and things will turn out for the better.”
Those were hard words for Silvio to utter, because in his gut he didn’t see how anything could go right. Here they were, a powerless old wizard, a blind girl who had lost her magic, and a colony of little people depending on him for safety. Still, without hope they would die without a fight. There had to be something to believe in.
“Find him.” Promise’s voice softened. “Find the Kaempern and try to reason with him. Maybe that’s your hope, though I doubt you’ll be successful. He hadn’t listen to reason when I offered it. Even if he did return your powers to you, fighting Hacatine is beyond your strength, even with magic. She’s not going to retreat this time. Her throne sits on shaky ground back home. Taikans are waiting for results that she has not yet delivered.”
“Is that right?” Silvio asked, combing his beard, intrigued by the news of his homeland. Silvio felt a tapping at his knee and looked down.
Xylepher whispered his name. “We should bring Promise with us, sir.”
It wasn’t a bad idea. The Xylonites could tend to her. She’s no way of taking care of herself alone in the wilderness.
He nodded thinking, I’m moved by her tenacity. “Come with us.” The gentleness in Silvio’s tone surprised even him. It’d been a long time since he spoke softly, and even longer since he’d spoken to a sorceress, other than his hissing and spitting at Hacatine or Promise when she was a statue on the beach.
She didn’t answer for a long while. Only the ocean surf beating on the beach below filled the air with sound.
“I refuse sympathy. Your kindness would be your death,” she finally whispered. “I would be of no help to you but would only cause you pain.”
Silvio grumbled to himself, though he expected that answer. How does one counter that kind of response? “Bah,” he retorted. He would have shown her his bulging eye if she could see, but she couldn’t. “Hacatine can’t cause me any pain that I don’t already have. There’s the woods west of here that leads to Alcove Forest. That’s where the boy is going, my wager. If Hacatine wants a war, I don’t see how any of us can avoid getting involved. We might as well stay together.”
Eyesight
The campfire smoldered with stale smoke as the sun sent beads of color across the surf. Ivar awoke at sunrise, remembering something significant had happened the night before, but not until a transparent outline of a dagger distorted his vision did he recollected the events.
“How are you doing, Promise?” he asked as he watched the clouds roll across the sky. “You know; I keep wondering about that dagger I saw in your eyes last night. Did you see it too? I wonder if that has something to do with w
ho I was when I was young. A golden dagger? Pretty remarkable.”
Promise didn’t answer. The blankets he had conjured up for her the night before were still intact as though she never touched them.
“Promise?” Ivar stood, and wiped the sand from his hands and looked out across the beach at a figure in the distance. She probably just went for a morning walk.
Hungry, it was time for Ivar to get to work. The food on the table was gone, the last bites having been plundered by a band of seagulls still hovering over camp. That was fine, as Ivar had an appetite for fresh fruit and perhaps a bowl of meal. He closed his eyes and imagined a sweet juicy apple.
But instead of an apple appearing in his mind’s eye, he saw an apple tree. It stood in an orchard at the edge of Kaempern. Tage was standing next to him and they were stalking a buck that munched on unripe fruit fallen from the tree.
No, no. Just one apple is all I want. Not a deer, or an apple tree.
He squinted and tightened his fist, visualizing a dark red apple. Nothing happened. Ivar opened his eyes. Where his hand shimmered with green magic, swirls of yellow also spun beneath the flesh of his fingers. Okay. The power is there. Maybe I’m distracted.
He thought about an apple again, this time with his eyes open. His hand glowered yellow and an apple appeared. But when he tried to take a bite of it, he closed his teeth on air. The apple disappeared, if indeed it had even existed at all. Oddly, the taste of apple lingered on his tongue.
Something’s gone wrong.
He thought about an apple again and this time found himself sitting under an apple tree in the same village he saw the day he almost drowned.
The tree was huge, full of large red fruit ready for picking. Children played in the street, and he saw a woman waving at him, calling to him. “Daryl, come home now, it’s time to eat.”
Fear groped him. Daryl? Ivar opened his eyes. His wizardry power wasn’t working the way it had been the day before. He couldn’t control the magic.
Diary of a Conjurer Page 19