“Correct,” said the hedge wizard. “I especially like the crossbow sounds. They’re very good at deterring thieves. How did you know the sounds weren’t real?”
“Real dogs would have started barking the minute our boat reached the dock,” said Eynon. “And real archers with crossbows wouldn’t have waited this long to threaten us.”
Doethan looked thoughtful, as if he was calculating sums in his head. He was interrupted a few moments later, when Merry appeared at the top of the hill by the tower.
“Are you showing off again, Doethan?” she shouted down.
“Maybe a little,” he replied.
“I’m sure Eynon was impressed, but we have quite a few more miles to cover today.”
Eynon waved at her with his hand holding the bag of fish and started walking up the hill. Doethan fell in beside him.
“Oooo,” said Merry, “are those for lunch? We do have to eat, after all.”
“They are,” said the wizard. “Once Eynon cleans them.”
“I’ll take care of that,” said Merry, “I think Eynon has other priorities.”
* * * * *
“Thank you, sir,” said Eynon as he separated the last of the flesh from the bones on his plate. “I’m really learning to like fish. We don’t have any at my end of the Coombe, unless you count the tiny armored clawfish in the Wentwash.”
“Clawfish aren’t fish,” said Doethan. “No scales. No gills. No backbones.” He nodded at Eynon. “Unlike your companion, here.” Doethan’s eyes moved to Merry and back. “She has plenty of backbone.”
“Are you saying I’m stubborn?” asked Merry, the corners of her mouth turning up.
“Maybe a little,” said Doethan, echoing his earlier response.
Merry and the hedge wizard laughed. Eynon did too, a beat later, though he suspected the other two were sharing a private joke. He leaned back from the table where they had recently finished their meal of fried fish and marshapple slices.
“Where’s Rowsch,” Merry asked Doethan. “Asleep in the sun on the roof? I’d like to say hello.”
“Rowsch?” asked Eynon.
“My familiar,” said Doethan. “A large tan dog.”
Merry jumped in.
“He was the model for the baying hounds in the wards, wasn’t he?”
“That he was,” said Doethan. “Unfortunately, he’s off on business of his own at present. Something about discussing fine points of hunting philosophy with the leader of the local wolf pack.”
“Please give him my best when he returns,” said Merry.
She gave Doethan a slight bow. He nodded his head in return and focused his attention on the two young people.
“I know where you’re going,” said Doethan to Merry, “but why is this young man traveling with you? I’d expect someone from the Coombe to spend his wander year on roads, not rivers.”
“Father asked me to take him to Tyford,” said Merry. “Eynon needs to find someone there who can help him.”
Doethan looked Eynon over, appraising him.
“Help him with what?”
Merry was silent. Eynon lowered his head, then raised it, deciding Doethan was someone he could trust.
“Derry said I needed to find a wizard,” Eynon replied.
“And what am I?” protested Doethan with a smile. “A crock of fermented fish guts?”
“I was told you were a hedge wizard, sir,” said Eynon, “and I think I need a free wizard or a Crown wizard.”
“Someone with truly powerful magic, you mean?” asked Doethan. “A full member of the Conclave, not a mere maker of petty charms or a setter of bones.”
“Pretty much, sir,” said Eynon. “Meaning no offense.”
“None taken, young man,” said Doethan.
“I didn’t just stop here to invite myself for lunch,” said Merry. “I wanted your advice—for Eynon.”
“Hmmm…” said Doethan, stroking his smooth chin. “Advice about what?”
“That’s up to Eynon to tell,” said Merry. “But who should he seek to advise him on the street of wizards? Is there someone in particular you’d recommend?”
Doethan’s eyebrows moved up a fraction, then his mouth turned up in a knowing smile.
“Do you want to become a wizard’s apprentice?” said Doethan, still smiling. “That’s quite an ambition for a boy from the Coombe.”
“No sir,” said Eynon quickly. “I just need help knowing what to do with something I found.”
“Something you found?” asked Doethan.
“Something powerful,” said Eynon.
“He set fire to an old oak at a crossroads,” blurted Merry.
Eynon stared at Merry and she stared back, defiantly.
“It was an accident,” said Eynon.
“No doubt,” said Doethan. “I know I’m only a hedge wizard, but might I see whatever it is you found?”
“I’d rather not, sir,” said Eynon. “I don’t know how it works and I don’t want to hurt anyone, even by accident, by unwrapping it again.”
“That’s understandable,” said Doethan. “Even commendable. Magic needs to be handled with care.”
“I just want to get to Tyford and pass on the responsibility for what I found to a powerful wizard who can deal with it safely.”
“Also commendable,” said Doethan, “and wise, if you select the correct wizard.”
“Where should I take him?” asked Merry. “I’ve only walked along the street of wizards on my way to the booksellers.”
“It will depend on which mages are currently residing in Tyford,” said Doethan, considering the question.
He looked at his hands, which Eynon noticed were graced with rings of different metals, stones, and colors. Doethan removed a plain black ring from his right hand, held it to his eye, and looked carefully at Eynon. Then he smiled again and nodded. The hedge wizard pushed his wooden chair back from the table and looked through the ring at the pack beneath Eynon’s chair. Eynon saw Doethan’s unobstructed eye grow large, then the wizard lowered the black ring and returned it to his hand.
Eynon felt uncomfortable after the hedge wizard’s scrutiny, so Merry spoke to fill the silence.
“Well?” she said.
“I know where you should take him,” said Doethan, “but he’s not going to like it.”
“Excuse me?” asked Eynon.
“You’ll be going on a long journey,” said the hedge wizard.
“I thought I was already going on a long journey.”
“To Tyford?” exclaimed Merry. “Tyford’s not far. Brendinas is far.”
“He doesn’t need to go to the capital,” said Doethan. “In fact, it’s a very good idea if he doesn’t go to the capital. It’s bad enough he has to go to Tyford.”
“You can be very mysterious when you want to,” said Merry.
“I am a wizard, young lady.”
“A hedge wizard,” said Merry, her eyes twinkling.
“As you say,” said Doethan.
The older man muttered something under his breath. Eynon could only pick up bits and pieces of what he said.
“The one below Taffy’s inn would be best... can’t use hers without her permission... wouldn’t be wise, not at all... should have built my own...”
Then Doethan realized he was ignoring his guests and removed a plain gold ring from his left hand.
“Here,” he said, giving the ring to Eynon.
Eynon immediately tried to return it. He’d heard the old stories about the dangers of accepting rings from wizards, but Doethan wouldn’t take it back.
“It’s not evil,” said Doethan. “It’s simply for staying in touch. I’ll show you. Pull on the sides of the ring.”
; Eynon did and was surprised to see the gold circle thin and expand to the width of a dinner plate.
“Hold on to it,” said the hedge wizard. He removed an identical ring from his right hand and pulled it to the same size as the one Eynon held.
“Gwaloeaden!” said Doethan in a commanding voice. Three bells from nowhere chimed different notes in succession.
Eynon nearly dropped the golden circle. Doethan’s face had appeared in the center of it.
“Your face is staring out from Doethan’s,” said Merry. “Don’t look so shocked.”
“You’d be shocked too, if it happened to you,” said Eynon.
“Use the ring to contact me when you get to Tyford,” said Doethan. “Be sure to stay in Taffaern’s inn. Once you know which wizards are in residence, I can advise you from here. You can bring the ring back when you return to the Coombe at the end of your wander year.”
“Yes, sir,” he said.
Merry looked at Eynon. He couldn’t tell if she wanted to be the one to hold the ring or if she was glad she hadn’t been given it.
“Repeat after me,” said Doethan. “Gwal-o-e-a-den.”
“Gwal-o-e-a-den,” said Merry and Eynon. Each time the two rings linked and unlinked in succession, with three soft chimes for accompaniment.
“I think you’ve got it,” said the hedge wizard. “Collapse your ring and be on your way. I’ll clean up.”
Eynon pushed on the sides of the large gold circle and it shrank back to the shape of a ring that perfectly fit the middle finger of his left hand. Doethan did the same to his ring. All three stood and pushed their chairs back from the table.
“Thank you, Doethan,” said Merry, giving him a hug. “We’ll get in touch with you as soon as we reach Tyford and have a chance to scout out the street of wizards.”
“Yes, thank you,” said Eynon. “You’re very kind.”
“I wish I was in this case,” said the hedge wizard, “but that remains to be seen. Safe travels. I’ve heard word of trouble on the river, so be careful.”
“Did a little bird tell you?” asked Merry.
“No,” said Doethan. “A not-so-little hound.”
“Remember to tell Rowsch I’m sorry I missed him,” said Merry.
“I will,” said Doethan. “Time to be on your way. I’ll come with you to cancel the wards.”
Back at the boat, Doethan touched his circlet and issued a word of command in a language Eynon didn’t recocognize.
“That should do it,” said Doethan. “Be careful and stay safe.”
“Thank you,” said Eynon and Merry simultaneously.
They resumed their stations in the bow and stern. Shortly after, Eynon and Merry were back on the river, riding the current downstream. Eynon held up his hand and admired the ring.
“Don’t get too attached to that,” said Merry. “You have to give it back, in a year.”
“I know,” said Eynon, “but all this convinces me there’s a lot more I need to learn about magic.”
“Very true,” said Merry. Her eyes were reflecting the sun bouncing off the water when Eynon turned around.
“So,” said Eynon. “Now will you tell me about wizards?”
Chapter 6
“Never pass up an opportunity to sleep or learn something new.”
— Ealdamon’s Epigrams
“I’ll tell you about wizards, if you keep your eyes on the river and call out rocks.”
“Yes, dear lady.”
“Stop that,” said Merry, “and turn around.”
Eynon saw she was grinning and returned her smile. He shifted to face the bow, looking ahead for rocks as instructed. It was growing warm, so he took off his jacket.
This stretch of the river narrowed and twisted like a batsnake. The current was faster and Eynon had to pay close attention to give Merry enough warning about rocks and other obstacles. He focused on his eyes and ears so he could keep watch and listen simultaneously.
“There are three kinds of wizards,” said Merry in a matter of fact tone, as if she was teaching children their letters. “Hedge wizards, free wizards, and crown wizards.”
Everybody knows that, thought Eynon.
“Hedge wizards know simple charms and healing magic. Free wizards are stronger. They’ve crafted powerful artifacts and know potent spells, but serve no master.”
“Which is why they’re called free, I suppose,” said Eynon without turning around.
“Precisely,” said Merry.
“Rock left,” said Eynon.
Merry adjusted their course with her steering oar and continued.
“The most powerful wizards are crown wizards. They serve the king and the great nobles and protect us from foreign magic.”
“Are crown wizards always stronger than free wizards?” asked Eynon.
“I don’t know,” said Merry. “I’m just sharing what I read in The Venerable History of Dâron.”
“Right,” said Eynon. “Tell me more.”
“The first wizards were from a territory across the Ocean called Athica, east of the Eagle People,” said Merry. “The Athicans discovered the secret of wizardry and were the first to make artifacts to harness its power systematically.”
“Are they the ones who had a blind bard who wrote poems about The War and The Wandering?” asked Eynon. “My uncle served in the levies and told me stories about them he’d heard around campfires.”
“Yes,” said Merry. “My father has books recording those tales in his library.”
“He does?” said Eynon, the pitch of his voice rising. “Do you think he’d let me read them?”
He turned around to see Merry’s reaction and saw she was holding back laughter.
“I expect so,” she said. “If you ask politely.”
“I’m always polite.”
“I know,” said Merry. “To a fault.”
Eynon knew she was teasing him, but was so excited about the prospect of reading books about the Athicans he held his tongue and didn’t tease back. He turned to face downstream and listened.
“Then the Eagle People conquered the city-states of the Athicans and enslaved them.”
“How could they conquer the Athicans if the Athicans had wizards and the Eagle People didn’t?”
“I don’t know for sure,” said Merry. “There was only a page or two about the Athicans near the beginning of The Venerable History, but from reading between the lines, it sounded like the Athican cities got along with each other about as well as the mountain clans do.”
Eynon nodded, then realized Merry probably couldn’t see him do so.
“Meaning not at all,” he said. “That makes sense. The Eagle People always divide and conquer.”
“Some Athican wizards worked for the emperor of the Eagle People and shared their knowledge,” said Merry, “but many of them would not. Some self-exiled wizards journeyed far to the west, to Cymryn, our original homeland across the Ocean. The Venerable History says they took apprentices, teaching them the secret of wizardry.”
“What is the secret of wizardry?” asked Eynon.
The prow of the boat suddenly shifted left and right, then back left again. Eynon turned around and saw Merry was holding her side, trying to keep from laughing. He stuck his tongue out at her. She made a face back at him, then took a deep breath.
“If I knew that,” she said, “I’d be a wizard.”
“Right,” said Eynon. He turned back around. “Look out!” Eynon shouted.
The boat had rounded a bend and was accelerating in a fast current. Directly ahead of them was the trunk of a great ancient oak, even larger than the one Eynon had set aflame at the crossroads. High water had undercut its roots and the giant tree had fallen into the river, its massive bulk goi
ng almost from shore to shore. There was no clear channel for them to get by and the current was flowing even faster. Eynon could see water roiling like a boiling pot where it was dammed behind the trunk.
“Hang on!” shouted Merry.
Eynon bent his calves under the thwart and gripped the sides of the boat near the prow with both hands. He couldn’t see what Merry was doing, but felt the boat rotate until it was parallel to the trunk, turned by the rushing water. He watched as the boat moved toward the east bank, away from the trunk’s tangle of roots and toward the end where only a few broken branches remained. The water wasn’t as rough here, but Eynon missed calling out a rock hidden under bubbling backwash from the trunk.
The front of the boat suddenly rose with a force strong enough to break Eynon’s grip. He felt his body fly up over the prow and into the churning river.
His body was spinning and rolling, like he was tumbling down a hill as a child, but without the luxury of breathing. The water was cold and stung his exposed skin. He waved his arms frantically, trying to stop his twisting motion and find the surface, but he felt one of the few remaining branches on the trunk holding him down. At least my pack is still in the boat, Eynon thought as he began to run short of air.
Then he felt a tremendous blow in the center of his back that forced out all the air remaining inside him. Eynon went deeper and the tree released him. He bobbed up, his body rushing downstream beyond the grasping branches. Eynon’s face was out of the water for a few seconds. He gasped to fill his lungs—then his head struck a rock and consciousness fled.
The Congruent Apprentice (The Congruent Mage Series Book 1) Page 7