by Guy Antibes
CHAPTER TWELVE
~
DAYLIGHT INTRUDED ON HER TROUBLED DREAMS as Restella woke in a fine bed. She laid on top of the velvet coverlet, still in her uniform trousers, but her leather shirt, boots and weapons had been removed. Someone had thrown a blanket over her aching body.
Her head pounded and pain lit up her shoulder when she sat up. Restella staggered to the door, the blanket wrapped around her. She threw the door open with her good arm and a soldier stood at attention. Her first thoughts had turned to the result of her night’s work. Restella thought they had achieved victory, but she wanted to be certain.
“What happened last night after my… after Baron Jiffero’s men surrendered?”
The soldier laughed. “Beg your pardon, ma’am. Silver and Lieutenant Hanni came up with the idea to use the bolthole to our advantage. The Oringians rode around the castle walls and then began to pound on the gate. They had sought a battering ram, but obviously couldn’t find one. Then they threatened to throw oil on the gate and set it on fire—“
Another soldier passed by and joined in the conversation. “While the enemy hooted and hollered outside the door, Silver and a good number of the company shot through the bolt hole and did the same to them that we did to the baron. To top it all off, the villagers came out and began to attack their flank. The Oringians didn’t know what hit them.”
“How many casualties?”
The soldier’s face darkened a bit. “Always those, Lieutenant Beecher, but a lot less if we hadn’t of surprised ‘em twice in a day. We’re all thankful to you.”
Restella didn’t know why she should be getting the credit. She’d give it all to Silver. She shuddered to think what might have happened if Lieutenant Hanni had led the operation all by himself. Between the Oringians and Baron Jiffero’s castle gate, she doubted the company would have survived. She wouldn’t share that thought to any but Silver.
“Please notify Lieutenant Hanni that I am awake and please notify Silver that I need to see to my troops more appropriately dressed. I find this blanket a bit confining.” She clutched it closer to her body.
~
Running up the stairs all the way to Fessano’s chambers kept Lotto in shape. He remembered the first time that Mander had taken him up there. He could hardly make it, wheezing and out of breath. He grinned and knocked on the door.
“If it’s you, Lotto, come in. If it’s anyone else, just go away.”
Lotto opened the door to see Fessano sitting by the fire wrapped up in a red wooly robe. The old man’s nose nearly matched robe’s color. The early snow had started to drift onto the windowpanes and Lotto could feel the cold draft coming from them and Fessano’s rooms didn’t smell very well either.
“If you’re under the weather, sir—” Lotto said.
“This is more important. It’s been six months since I gave you those books. You know the spells, but the magic just isn’t there. We both know that something is blocking your Affinity, lad. I’m going to try something, but I’ll need your permission.”
Under the gravelly voice and the sniffles, Lotto detected the utter seriousness of the wizard.
“You have it.” He always hesitated to trust Fessano, but Lotto had also felt the block. From the first, he put it down to a lack of concentration. With the weapons lessons and all the things that Mander stuffed in his head, he thought that distraction seemed to be the cause, but as he dug more deeply into the texts, there were passages that made sense, but when Lotto tried a simple spell, he felt a little twist inside. He’d asked Mander about it who could repeat a spell, but he didn’t have enough Affinity to move a speck of dust.
“Lay on the table that I’ve cleared.”
Lotto saw spells written on scraps of paper pasted around the sides of the table and pinned to a pillow at one end. He jumped up on the table and leaned back.
“Don’t say a word to distract me. I’m going to use these spells to examine you inside. I can’t just say one and see all of you and my mind is somewhat addled by this cold, so I wrote everything down.”
“Is there a risk?”
“Anytime one taps into nexus there is something that could go wrong. I can’t imagine any damage by my examination. The damage, if there is any, will come when I spot the block and try to remove it.” He shuffled up the table. “I’ll warn you before I get to that point.”
The examination didn’t hurt at all, but Fessano stood silently looking at him with his hands on his hips for too long until he sighed.
“Five possible blockages; two at your wrists, two at your ankles and one at the base of your skull. I imagine there was another inside your brain somewhere that the Moonstone obliterated. You have a great deal of Affinity locked in your body and those barriers keep you from using it. I imagine that you grew up with them… maybe the blocks were vestiges of the spells used on your parents to inhibit their powers when under attack. Who knows at this point?” He shrugged.
“Can you remove them?”
“Do you want them gone?” Fessano said. “You told me that Affinity is not a good thing for a young lad. To rely on it too early could destroy who you are. Isn’t that right? You’re more right than you know. It changed me, I’ll tell you.”
“In what way?”
“I had a girl that I thought I loved. She worked in her father’s bakery shop. I apprenticed with a magician who wasn’t much above a hedge wizard. I had a natural resistance to taking on power. Nothing like your situation, but the hedge wizard finally bumbled into finding it. My troubles started the day he removed it.”
Fessano coughed and went to his chair by the fire to drink from a large mug and returned.
“The power enervated me and I lost interest in the lass. My life changed, I never married and I’m the worse from it. Magicians and marriage aren’t necessarily a good combination. Many magicians avoid entanglements with the opposite sex. Unca, the Court Wizard of the Red Kingdom has never married, either. It’s always a matter of confused alliances. Who takes precedence? Your family, your king, your profession? I’ve always considered my profession as my chief alliance.”
“There’s also the matter of errant power. If you have a great deal of Affinity, as you do, the exercise of your power might begin to pull from the life force of those around you. Do you think stealing the life force of others is a good thing to do?”
“No.”
“Everyone has a tiny bit of power in them, believe it or not. It’s what makes you function. If your Affinity is strong enough, it can pull the life energy right out of them. So, if you can’t create a good shield, then you don’t get married. Marriage isn’t always the best course. You might not be as happy, but it’s better than the possible consequences.”
“Mander’s not married and he’s a happy man.”
“Who said he wasn’t married? Who do you think Lady Anna is?”
“But they live in separate houses.”
“That’s a habit brought about from a number of assassination attempts on the man. I guess he’s gotten into the habit and often spends his nights away from her. His marriage is not a secret, but Mander doesn’t spread the existence of the relationship about, nor does his wife. They think it’s a game and I’m convinced that they enjoy playing it.”
Lotto blinked his eyes and turned red. He had made some indecorous comments about Anna and Mander after their dinners where she tried to show him courtly manners. Mander just laughed along with him.
“I don’t have a lady love and no prospects. What do you recommend?” Lotto didn’t know enough about life to make a good decision.
“Remove them, your ultimate path might not be a wizard’s path, at least not right now. You are barely learning how to be an adult. Know a few good spells and keep it that way. It’s not the Affinity, but the use of it that is dangerous. Plenty of nobles with talent do the same thing. They don’t have your power of course, but that’s up to you.”
Lotto just stayed on the table, looking up at the ceiling a
s Fessano hovered over him. He had never thought of having power as a responsibility. Perhaps, like his hard-won prowess with a sword, power didn’t mean he’d have to do anything he didn’t want to.
Although he still didn’t entirely trust Fessano, he didn’t see the evil in him that he had always thought wizards had. His parents were wizards, he had to remind himself. It was time to take more control of the future and if he had the power, he’d learn to control it.
“I will learn to live with the power. If I don’t unblock it, there might come a time when I could use the talent to save others and will sorely regret my decision.”
Fessano patted him on the chest. “I can’t dispute your motives, young man. Stay still, for you might feel pain this time. The wizard read the scraps of paper and closed his eyes and muttered another spell.
Lotto felt as if a hot poker had been thrust through his wrists. He jammed his eyes shut, yet tears still flowed from his eyes. He grunted and refused to scream as the same thing happened to his feet.
“Are you ready?” Fessano said. “This next one will be directed at the base of your skull.”
“I’ve made it so far. The pain leaves when you’ve done your work. I only need to endure a moment.” Lotto gave Fessano a weak smile. Actually the pain had been excruciating, but he kept thinking that if he had the use of power, he might have done something to save his parents.
“Good lad.”
Lotto took a deep breath and clamped his teeth and eyes shut. The final spell felt like the bottom of his head had split open. He opened his eyes, trying to blink away the nausea and the pain and couldn’t see a thing. He heard himself groaning as he tried to maintain consciousness. The pain lessened, yet Lotto continued to feel disoriented. This wasn’t a flash of pain like the others. The discomfort began to increase and then began to change, not getting any better.
“It’s over.” Fessano said, the exhaustion in his voice made Lotto worry for his health. “You need to sit and rest.”
Lotto sat up, choking on his own vomit, as the blackness hit him.
~
“Ah, you’re awake,” Lotto opened his eyes at Lady Anna’s voice.
“I am.” Relief flooded him. Lotto had been afraid when he sat up in the wizard’s rooms that Fessano’s spells were about to kill him. “How did I get here?” His throat raw.
“Your wizard had to call for the king’s guard. They transported you to your rooms above the bookshop. I convinced Mander that you would thrive in my care, and so you have.” Lotto always liked her smile. He now knew it carried some mischief. “Here, drink some water.”
Lotto rose on an elbow in his bed. “My clothes are off.”
“It’s not as if I haven’t seen a man before,” she said and then chuckled. “You’ve been out for two days. I’ve got some soup simmering on the stove up here. I forgot what a nice little kitchen you’ve got.”
“Don’t you have servants to do your work?”
Anna put her hand to neck. “Poor little me, a helpless little noblewoman?” She laughed again. “I’ve been out on the road with Mander enough. I can put together a meal or two, if need be. But don’t you tell anyone.” She put a finger to the side of her nose to enlist his secrecy as she returned to her cooking.
Lotto liked Lady Anna’s playful manner. She always had treated him respectfully, but not casually like this and it made her more accessible—more like a friend. “I won’t tell anyone.”
Footsteps clomped up the stairs. “I see the fairies have cured your malady, young sir,” Mander said, arching his sore back. Lotto could see his words were more for Anna than himself.
“Indeed they have. I’d like to see if I can stand.”
Mander’s eyed looked a little panicked. He shut the door to the kitchen that looked right into Lotto’s bedroom. “There.” He found underclothes for Lotto and then rummaged around in the wardrobe for more.
“Looks like what your lean-to must have been like—what a mess.”
“I didn’t know anyone else would see.” Lotto felt a bit embarassed. He’d organize the wardrobe as soon as he felt better.
Mander turned and threw a shirt and trousers on the bed. “It’s what you do when there are no visitors, that reveals the man.”
A lesson. Lotto took it as such and tucked it away along with the other good pieces of advice to think of during Mander’s absences. Perhaps his father would have given him such instruction. He gave himself a half-smile. He’d never know, but then he had three fathers and two mothers of sorts. Mander, first of all, Kenyr, Fessano and then Jessie and Lady Anna. All so different, but all had taught him so much. He was a book of empty pages when he first arrived in Beckondale and quite a few of those pages were now filled with advice, training and experience. He had more that needed filling.
Anna knocked at the door. Lotto quickly dressed and realized that he could amble about as usual.
“Set it on the table.” Mander said through the door. “See? The boy walks!”
The table had been set for two and Anna hurried to put a place out for Lotto.
“Now, here’s our little family,” Mander said and then looked abashed. Anna caught her breath a bit, but carried on. Mander had said something that had a deeper meaning between them. No children. Lotto nearly gasped at the slip of Mander’s tongue.
“Lotto, you’ve always been a part of our family,” she said after a silent pause and patted Lotto’s head. “Mander has had his eye on you for years.”
“Not his eye, exactly, Lady” Lotto said. “I talked to Kenyr about the men who looked in on me.”
“Indeed. But look at you now. Fessano wanted you to return to him as soon as you woke. If you’re feeling up to it, the snow has stopped and it’s midday. The wizard’s cold has improved and I believe the sun is trying to blind us all,” Mander said. “I’ll go with you. Anna can mind the shop.”
She hit him on the arm. “Cooking and caring for Lotto is one thing, but minding your little hobby is something else,LordHart.”
“Lord?” Lotto said.
“It seems that I’m a Duke.” Mander sighed. “It’s a secret since I have no lands. King Goleto insisted some time ago. It gave me the right to talk up in strategy meetings.” He looked at Lady Anna.
“Fessano told me you two were married.”
“Curses,” Anna said, “Now our little charade is over.” She reached over and took Mander’s hand. “However I can now do this and not have to worry what Lotto thinks.” She kissed Mander’s palm and he stroked her hair.
“I hope you’ll forgive us for our little game. I thought that if you thought that Lady Anna was a single woman, you’d act more formal around her. It was actually part of your training.”
Lotto shrugged. “It worked. Now I’ll have to act formal around both of you. I work for a Duke!” He shook his head.
“You’re the son of one, Lotto. Duke Mistad of Bomai in Serytar. You can ask Kenyr about your father’s former lands. The Dakkoran emperor seized all of your properties when your father left. He’s seized most of the rest of Zarron since. Fessano told me that the stone linked your mother and father. It works better that way, evidently along with the, uh, physical enhancements. Something designed into the thing when created,” Mander said. He waved his hand in the air.
“Don’t bore us, dear,” Lady Anna said.
The son of a Duke eating with another and his wife. Lotto had never known. He felt a certain discomfort over being a noble among nobles. He’d known about his parentage, but since no one treated him as a gentleman, it was easy for him to ignore his pedigree. He wanted to fight and learn and do things. In his limited experience, being a noble might just get in the way. Mander did his best to help him become a man and the fact that Mander deigned to labor in his own shop made Lotto proud of him. He didn’t say another word as they all concentrated on their midday meal.
~
Fessano looked more like his chipper self, except for the red nose that remained. Lotto didn’t feel any ill
effects of the spells and ran up the stairs, waiting for Mander.
“Now back on the table. I’ll examine you again.”
Spells were muttered and Fessano made grunts and sounds as he surveyed Lotto’s insides.
“Gone. All gone. Now I’d like you to try a new spell.” He set a candle on the table. “Light it with this.” He handed Lotto a piece of paper.
He’d tried to use this spell before but failed every time. He pulled energy from within him and recited the verse. A flame spouted from his finger and he lit the candle before blowing the flame out.
“I guess the block is gone,” Lotto said, totally amazed.
Mander clapped. “A wizard is born.”
Lotto darkened. “I’m not a wizard. I won’t be a wizard. I’ll pursue my own interests. I’m still learning. I’ll learn some spells, but I won’t exercise powers. Fessano and I discussed this before he went to work on me.”
Mander squinted and smiled. “That’s my boy. I’m all for hidden talents because you can use them when others don’t expect you to.”
The wizard poured three glasses of wine and passed two of them out and sat in his chair by the fire.
“Here’s to you Lotto. I won’t have you coming here anymore unless you need specific help. I think you can now learn what you need to with the books that you’ve got, at least for now. I’m more confident that you made the right decision today than I did when you collapsed in this room.The nexus fills you with power. Spells will drain you of that stored energy. If you overextend, you can blackout or worse. Practice allows you to draw more power.”
They all took a sip of their wine.
“Thank you all. So I’ve got more work to do and practice, so I can learn to do magic spells without others knowing that I am. But first I need to know how to shield myself, so I can spend as much time as I want with my friends.”
“Precisely!” Mander raised his forefinger in the air.
~~~
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
~
WINTER SOLSTICE HAD JUST ENDED and the walk between Kenyr’s shop and bookstore became longer as the air became colder. Lotto shook off the snow as he opened the door, careful that none of the white stuff would blow into the store.