The Guardian's Apprentice (Beyond the Veil)

by J. Michael Radcliffe

  “Ah, Keegan,” said Alexander in what Keegan thought was a somewhat strained voice. “Welcome to your final test.”

  The wizard gestured to a chair that had been provided, motioning for him to sit and await his instructions. Acamar sat near Keegan’s feet and was staring intently at the grey wizard.

  “Now then, young Master Whitestone,” smiled Ducat. “Let us begin your final task.”

  Suddenly the chamber was filled with an enormous crackling sound. Arcs of blue-white energy erupted as a powerful portal snapped open. Although a good ten feet away the energy made the hair on Keegan’s arms stand straight up. Half of the wizards around the table had grabbed their wands, staffs or other magical talisman; then, just as suddenly, the portal snapped shut and extinguished itself. Standing where the portal had been was the Guardian, staff in hand. Stunned by this sudden display of raw power, Ducat was (for the moment) speechless.

  “Surely you weren’t about to begin without me?” asked Phineas, glaring through his bushy eyebrows at Alexander.

  “N-No, of course not!” stammered the grey wizard defensively.

  Keegan saw the fear in Ducat’s eyes, but there was something else there as well. For just a moment, there was the faintest flicker of pure hatred that passed across the Grey wizard’s face. Keegan was shocked to see such a reaction; Ducat had been one of this grandfather’s oldest friends.

  Phineas gathered his robes, sat down in his appointed chair and continued boring holes through Ducat as if he were a cockroach to be stepped upon. The sense of fury boiling just beneath the surface of Phineas’ normally calm exterior was almost palpable, puzzling the other Council members. What could Ducat have done to enrage the Guardian? Starting without him was certainly a snub, but should not provoke this kind of outrage.

  Ducat’s nerves recovered somewhat, though he was still mindful of Phineas’ smoldering temper. “Now then,” he smiled at Keegan, “where were we?”

  “We were about to start the third trial,” Keegan said. He was just as puzzled as the rest of the Council. He had never seen his grandfather so angry before. Yet at the fringe of his memory, there was a nagging sensation that he should know what the problem was. It was like seeing a shadow out of the corner of your eye only to lose the image when you tried to look straight at it.

  “Ah, yes. This one should be relatively simple compared to the last ones. This one will involve scrying and your ability to conjure visions of the past, present or future,” said Ducat in an all too friendly voice. Keegan thought the voice reminded him of the witch who promised Hansel and Gretel a lovely little afternoon snack right before she popped them into a pot of boiling water.

  Ducat handed him an oversized crystal orb.

  “This is larger than your normal scrying sphere,” he said. “It is designed to take us all into the vision with you; normally with an average sized sphere you could only take two, maybe three of us at best.”

  Keegan accepted the orb from the wizard and hesitated for a moment. Was it his imagination or were Ducat’s robes getting darker? Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Keegan looked deeply into the sphere.

  “What you show us will be up to you, Keegan. However, I would suggest to you that something from the recent past would likely be the simplest. If you try to delve too far into the past, especially since you spent most of your life in the mortal world, you could overtax your senses.”

  Keegan ignored Ducat, focusing instead on the orb in front of him. He could feel himself drawn like a magnet inward towards the center of the sphere. He wasn’t choosing a vision – it was choosing him, whether he liked it or not. The room around him shimmered and shifted, and was gradually replaced with a scene he had witnessed before. He was in the library again and as before, it was prior to his arrival for the first challenge. Keegan was barely aware of a shuffling sound near him as he focused on the scene – he felt drawn to it, as if it was trying desperately to show him something he had forgotten.

  Slowly he was aware of the other Council members on either side of, behind and above him as they joined in his vision. He could even sense Acamar at his feet, though Keegan’s thoughts were pulled towards the center of the room. Again he saw Nemwith, the little gnome librarian working with stacks of books lying scattered around the aisle. As before, he saw the little gnome look up as someone entered the aisle where he was working. Nemwith was nodding his head, apparently talking with someone. Keegan focused on the little man, willing the scene to zoom in. The vision shook slightly and blurred a little, but did not change perspective. It was as if something was anchoring Keegan in place, not wanting him to venture any closer to the scene at hand. Keegan looked down at Acamar and saw the cat make an odd motion with his paw and then nod at Keegan. Suddenly something snapped and Keegan remembered what had happened the night before. A flood of anger swept over him and he channeled this newfound energy into his vision, focusing on the image he knew was there. Although there was resistance at first, it shattered before the onslaught of Keegan’s raw emotions and the vision zoomed inward so quickly that it made Keegan’s head swim for a moment. The figure from before was there again, only this time the cloaking spell wasn’t as perfect; the shadowy outline was more distinct and the voice could be heard. Keegan was aware of the Council members around him muttering to each other. It was obvious that they saw the image too, but they could no more make it out than he could. Keegan was furious – the figure was there but just beyond his grasp. Focusing his anger, he channeled it into his ring.

  Help me, Nek’kar! I need you! Bolster my strength, let me reveal the truth!

  Pointing his ring towards the shadowy figure Keegan could swear he saw it flinch as if stung. Suddenly a bright pulse of energy shot forth from the gemstone in Keegan’s ring, bathing the vision in a flash of golden light. As the pulse intersected the figure, it writhed in agony and let off a scream as the vision froze. Everything in the vision become still and, like snapshot developing before their eyes, the image came into focus. The image of Ducat handing over a bottle of nettle wine to Nemwith was as clear as day to Keegan and the surrounding Council members. Although the image had frozen, the echoes of Ducat’s voice continued as he forced the little gnome to do his bidding.

  “STOP! ENOUGH!” screamed Ducat.

  The vision shattered and dissipated, returning all of them to the Council chambers where they had started, only Ducat was standing now, pale faced and shaking at the end of the table. Phineas was standing too, staff crackling with power and anger flashing in his eyes. Acamar shifted to his human form and stood protectively in front of Keegan, hand clasped over his red pendant.

  “It’s a trick! The boy is lying, don’t you see?” snapped Ducat angrily, as he backed away from the Council table. He pointed accusingly at Phineas. “He put him up to this to discredit me!”

  Phineas took a step forward, his staff raised slightly. “Show me your ring, Alex,” he said in a soft yet incredibly stern voice.

  Ducat looked surprised at this request. “What? Why? Why do you want to see my ring?”

  “Show me your ring, Alex. Now!” said Phineas in an ever-louder voice.

  Puzzled, Ducat held up his hand so that his ring was visible to all. “There. Happy now? What is it you expect to see?”

  “I expect to see proof of what you’ve become, Alex,” said Phineas sadly. “Your ring confirms what I have suspected. The stone in your ring is no longer grey; like your robes that you now wear, it is turning black. I suppose you hid it as long as you could by changing your robes as quickly as they turned, but you cannot hide your ring. You are tainted by evil, Alex – from prolonged contact with the Shadow most likely. You were the one that opened the Great Seal, weren’t you?”

  “What?! That’s absurd. You are a crazy old fool Phineas! You’ve been plotting against me for years now, just waiting for a chance to turn the rest of the Council against me!” Ducat’s wand was in his hand now, as he backed away from Phineas and the others. The crazed wizard made a down
ward slash with his wand, and with a shout sent a spray of golden sparks into the midst of the wizards and witches of the Council. The sparks ricocheted amongst the Council, rooting them to the spot with the exception of Phineas. The sparks had angled away from the old wizard the moment they came near, repelled by an unseen force.

  Phineas walked slowly towards the grey wizard, with his staff raised in Ducat’s direction. Ducat increasingly looked like a cornered animal, on the verge of panic. With a flick of his wrist, a powerful bolt shot from Ducat’s wand towards Phineas, who deflected it easily with a swipe of his staff.

  “It’s over, Alex. It is time to undo what you have wrought.” Phineas continued to advance on Ducat, stopping about ten feet from the wizard.

  Ducat responded with a sweeping motion of his arm, sending a ring of green flames arcing towards Phineas. The sparkling green fire coiled around the Guardian, obscuring him from the view of the Council, Keegan and Acamar. Still bound in place by Ducat’s spell, they could only watch in silence, unable to help.

  “Ha! You are a spent force, Whitestone! I have uncovered powers you can only dream of - powers beyond your simple comprehension. Your pitiful little followers will watch you die, and then follow you into the abyss!”

  “I think not, Alex,” came the calm yet stern voice of the Guardian.

  As he spoke, a shaft of silver shot upward from the center of the inferno surrounding the old wizard. Smaller lines of silver split off from the main shaft and arced downward, slicing through the flaming coils and extinguishing them.

  “It is time to end this madness, Alex,” said Phineas as he brought his staff around with a flourish, binding Ducat with silver strands that shot forth from the tip.

  Ducat screamed in pain as wisps of smoke snaked upward from his bindings. Without warning a cloud of inky blackness shot outward from the wizard, obscuring him from sight as clouds of oily darkness swirled around the room. Suddenly the sound of Ducat’s voice pierced through the mist – a shrill voice that shouted “Spiraktus!” A crackle of energy reverberated throughout the Council chambers and the cloud quickly dissipated except for a few wispy tendrils of smoke, leaving nothing but scorch marks on the floor where Ducat had been.

  Phineas leaned heavily on his staff and sighed, obviously weakened by the battle. Turning to face his still frozen comrades, he sketched a symbol in the air with his index finger, murmuring softly. A flick of his wrist and the symbol dispersed into the midst of the others, freeing them from their bondage. Some fell to their knees from the sudden shock, others swayed and braced themselves on their staffs or each other. Acamar rushed to the side of his Master, Keegan not far behind.

  “Master, are you hurt?”

  “No, Acamar. Just very, very tired,” said Phineas, his voice somewhat hoarse.

  “What happened to Ducat? Where did he go?” asked Keegan.

  Phineas knelt and examined the markings on the floor, muttering an incantation under his breath.

  “He used a very old and very dangerous transportation charm. Although it is extremely powerful, it is unpredictable if not properly planned. His arms were bound to his sides, with his wand pointed downward. I’m afraid his initial direction will be towards the Earth’s core; if he does survive it will make it even more difficult to find him.”

  Phineas rose and pulled himself back to his full height, some of his strength returning.

  “I am afraid Master Ducat is even more tainted by evil than I thought.”

  By now, the other Council members had gathered around the Guardian, some examining the marks on the floor. Nigel Bannister, one of Phineas’ own caste was the first to respond.

  “What do you mean, Phineas? Were his robes and ring not indication enough?”

  Phineas shook his head sadly. “No, Nigel, I’m afraid that was only the outward sign of his transition. The spell of binding I cast used strands of pure silver; did you notice his scream of agony and the wisps of smoke? That should not have happened if he were still completely human. Silver would only have that effect on a true creature of the dark, or someone who is quickly becoming one.”

  Hyacinth Stonecipher, one of Ducat’s early supporters in the Grey order, still looked stunned.

  “I just don’t understand, Phineas. What would drive him to do this?”

  “The thirst for unlimited power, Hyacinth. In hindsight, I wonder if it didn’t begin some time ago with the death of his mentor, Tobias.”

  “Surely you don’t think…”

  “We may never know for certain, Hyacinth, but you must admit Alex’s ascent to power was quite rapid.”

  “But why didn’t that damned crystal stop him?” demanded Portia, only recently freed from her crystalline prison. “It has intervened every time a wand has been raised in this room, but did nothing just now when we were all powerless!”

  “I do not know, my dear,” said Phineas, with a glance upward at the Oracle. The giant crystal remained in its usual place, floating high above the Council table, emitting a soft blue-white glow. “I cannot fathom why or when it chooses to act.”

  Phineas rose and turned to face the remaining Council members. “I think you would all agree that my grandson has passed his exams, would you not?”

  The members murmured amongst themselves until a voice came from behind the group.

  “You would be correct, comrade. The young master has earned his place as your apprentice and should rightfully begin his studies.”

  The other witches and wizards turned towards the voice, finding Cedric Thornback still seated at the table. He leaned forward and smiled at Phineas. “You needn’t be surprised, old friend. I may disagree with you on a great many things, but on this, we stand together. Ducat must be caught and interrogated at all costs. Based on what has happened and the information your grandson brought to us from his encounter at the lair of Seba’an, I believe that Ducat has truly opened the Great Seal and released the Shadow upon us.”

  There were gasps of horror from the other Council members, but Phineas only nodded. “I suspected as much. With the Council’s permission, I will return to Pahret T’pur and begin Keegan’s training at once. It is imperative to bring his skill level up to scratch before Ducat can try something drastic.”

  “I completely agree,” said Cedric. Turning to address the rest of the Council, who were largely still speechless, he called for a vote. “As Head of my order, I hereby put forth the motion that Phineas’ grandson, Master Keegan Whitestone, be accepted as apprentice and begin his training immediately.”

  “I second the motion,” said a middle-aged witch with neatly cropped grey hair and white silk robes.

  “Thank you, Flora,” said Cedric, nodding his approval. “All those in favor?” he asked, scanning the group of wizards and witches. As a group, the ten remaining members raised their hands in assent.

  “So be it then.” Cedric turned to Keegan. “Young Master Whitestone, I would like to congratulate you. By order of this Council, you are to be apprenticed to your Grandfather, the Guardian of the Veil. You are to learn the craft as quickly and as thoroughly as you can, as the Council will depend upon you to keep our worlds safe.”

  Keegan bowed deeply to the Council. “I am honored to be chosen for this position. I will not let the Council down.”

  Phineas remained where he was, staring intently at Cedric with a puzzled expression on his face.

  “I have to know, Cedric. You adamantly opposed my choice for apprentice and even went so far as to try to have him killed before he arrived. Why the sudden show of support?”

  “You are only partly correct, Phineas. I did indeed arrange to have the boy dropped at the edge of the forest as a means to test him. I assure you however, that I did not arrange for the courier dragon to be set loose. Nor did I have our young friend kidnapped by the giant. I’m afraid that you’ll have to thank our recently departed member of the Grey order, Master Ducat, for that.”

  “Ducat?”

  “I’m afraid so Phineas. You see
, I had asked Nisha to take care of the simple task of arranging the drop off,” said Cedric, gesturing as he spoke to the large black raven that had just flown in through the window and settled upon the back of his chair. “Unfortunately it seems she has a loose tongue and mentioned what she was doing to Master Ducat. I had wondered who would have dared to stun my assistant and then wipe her memory; now I know. Since young master Keegan did not show up as scheduled, I assumed she had completed her duties; it was after learning that the courier had been freed that I began to get suspicious.”

  Phineas smiled sadly. “It would seem that Master Ducat had us both fooled.” He then drew himself up to his full height and his features hardened. “I can promise the Council that he will regret his actions.”

  Phineas bowed to the assembled Council and expressed his gratitude at their acceptance of his grandson. Then, turning to Keegan he motioned for him to come over.

  “It is time Keegan. We must return to Pahret T’pur immediately to begin your instruction.” Standing next to his grandfather, Keegan flinched as Phineas raised his staff and in an instant opened the most powerful portal he had ever seen. In a flash of blue-white fire, the two of them left the chambers of the High Council.

  ***

  Cedric remained in his chair long after the others had gone. This had been an unexpected development; he had not sensed Ducat’s corruption.

  May the ancients be with you Phineas, thought Cedric. We shall all need their help before this is over.

  ###

  Chapter 28 – Tea

  Cold. This stupid, damp old castle is really cold!