Five Kingdoms: Books 01, 02 & 03

by Toby Neighbors

  Zollin returned to his room and pulled on his extra pair of pants and tunic, wrapped his cloak around his shoulders, and headed back to the common room. The Inn Keeper was busy wiping down the tables when Zollin approached.

  “My, uh, sister and I will be taking a ride today,” he said. “Are the stables out back?”

  “I’ll get your horses,” said the Inn Keeper.

  “Oh, no, that’s not necessary. I’ll be glad to do it.”

  “Alright. Well, there’s more snow coming, so don’t stay out too long. Many a folk’s been lost in a white out.”

  “Yes, sir, we’ll be careful.”

  He went to the door and stepped out into the cold. About a foot of snow had fallen in the night and the sky looked heavy and gray, ready to dump even more snow at any moment. He pulled his cloak around him more tightly and followed the tracks someone had already made out toward the stables. The horses looked up, and Zollin thought they looked as if they were disappointed to see him. The stable was warm, there was straw in each animal’s stall, and oats hung in a bag beside each animal. He didn’t blame them for wanting to stay in the stable – only Lilly looked excited to see him. He walked up to her and rubbed her nose.

  “Hey, girl,” he said cheerily. “Did you sleep well? You look happy, yes, you do.”

  The horse stepped forward and nuzzled his shoulder.

  “I think maybe you should stay here today. Stay warm and cozy in this nice stall.”

  Lilly shook her head and blew out her breath as if to say, no way.

  He rubbed her nose and turned to one of the other horses, but Lilly strained against the wooden door and neighed.

  Zollin turned back to her. “Okay, okay,” he said laughing. “I’ll get you out.”

  He saddled Lilly and another of their horses and was about to lead them out when Ellie appeared. She was wrapped around the shoulders in a bright red shawl, and the cold had made her cheeks pink. She was the exact opposite of Brianna, whose high cheek bones and long, slender figure gave her the air of royalty. Ellie on the other hand was rounder, not short but certainly not tall. She wore her long brown hair pulled back into a sensible ponytail. While Brianna’s beauty made her stand apart, Ellie’s cheerful demeanor and contagious smile made you feel welcome and wanted. Zollin certainly felt wanted. He returned her smile as she called out to him.

  “Master Zollin,” she said happily. “I heard you were going riding and I thought you might like some bread and cheese.”

  “Oh,” said Zollin surprised. “That’s very nice of you.”

  “It’s no trouble at all. I even packed you a bit of apple tart. I made it myself.”

  “Wow, I don’t know what to say! Thank you.”

  “You could ask if there’s enough for me,” Brianna said from the stable doorway.

  “Oh,” Ellie said, “I didn’t think of you. I’m so addle-brained. Let me run and fetch some more.”

  “That’s really not necessary,” Zollin began but Ellie was already hurrying back to the Inn, her plain woolen dress held up to avoid the snow.

  “No trouble,” she called out as she disappeared out of the stable.

  “I think she has a crush on you,” Brianna said sharply.

  Zollin was embarrassed and not sure what to say. He didn’t like the way he felt guilty for liking Ellie’s attention. Of course, he knew there could be no future for an Inn Keeper’s daughter and Wizard on the run for his life, but what did a little flirting hurt? He’d never had so much pleasant attention from a girl before. He’d seemed invisible in Tranaugh Shire, and the only time the girls had noticed him was to laugh at his mistakes. Besides, he’d made a vow to himself about Brianna – she was Todrek’s wife and he had no intentions of pursuing her. He wished that no one would, that she would remain true to Todrek, but he knew that was childish thinking. They’d been married for less than a day before Todrek was slain, and she said herself she had had no real feelings for him. But Zollin knew that Todrek had been crazy about Brianna – it was all his friend could talk about. So he pushed away the awkward feelings and led the horses out of the stable.

  “I saddled Lilly for you,” he said, changing the subject and hoping she wouldn’t continue to look at him so strangely. She was staring at him, her face completely unreadable. It made him uncomfortable, as if she could see into his soul and she didn’t care for what she saw.

  “You should have let her rest,” Brianna said. “I could have ridden one of the other horses, you know, or even shared one with you.”

  “That wouldn’t be wise,” Zollin said, thinking of his real plan for the day. “If we ran into trouble, you’d have to wait for me or leave me. This way, if you need to turn back, you can.”

  “I won’t turn back,” she said firmly.

  “I didn’t say you would.”

  “You implied that I would.”

  “No, I didn’t.”

  “You did,” she insisted. “You probably don’t think I’m as useful as your new girlfriend.”

  “My new what?”

  “Oh, please, Zollin, don’t pretend you haven’t been flirting with the Inn Keeper’s daughter ever since we arrived. I know I’m just a nuisance, someone for you to protect with your amazing powers, but I can stand guard as well as you. I would have thought you’d enjoy the company.”

  “I never said I wouldn’t enjoy having you to keep me company. I was just saying – ” But she wouldn’t let him finish.

  “You were just saying how you wished I hadn’t come along.”

  “I never said that!” he said, his voice getting louder.

  “I don’t know why I came,” she said hotly. “You obviously wish I hadn’t.”

  She climbed on her horse.

  “Wait, why are you so angry?” Zollin asked.

  “As if you didn’t know,” she sneered. “Hah!” she yelled, digging her heels into Lilly’s flanks, making the horse race away.

  Snow flew all over Zollin and the horse he was holding by the reins.

  “Wow, you’re sister’s in a bad mood,” said Ellie, who had just reappeared. She was as jolly as ever. “Here’s the extra food.”

  “Thanks,” Zollin said as he swung up into the saddle. He reached down and took the food from Ellie, who was smiling up at him. He was a little embarrassed and flustered, but he managed to say, “See you later,” before following after Brianna.

  The air was cold and the thick clouds made visibility less than ideal. He had intended to ride up to the forest line of trees and search for Kelvich’s cottage, but now he would have to follow Brianna. He had hoped, even after she volunteered herself to keep him company, that he could find an excuse to send her back to the village, but her strange behavior made that seem unlikely.

  He trotted after her, following her trail through the snow easily enough. She hadn’t ridden that far ahead, and he caught up to her shortly. He rode up beside her and looked at her. She in turn looked straight ahead, her face as cold as the snow all around them. He wanted to ask why she was mad, but he didn’t want to fight with her anymore. He had a vague notion of jealousy, but he pushed the thought aside as ludicrous. Brianna couldn’t be jealous of him, unless she was just used to being the center of attention. He could make a case that he’d been the center of attention since they had left Tranaugh Shire, but it was the attention of powerful Wizards who wanted to abduct him and murder his family and friends. That wasn’t exactly the kind of attention he figured Brianna or any sane person wanted. He certainly didn’t. He wished he could go back to the way things were before magic entered his life. At that time he was miserable, but miserable seemed a step up from his current position. Being a Wizard was exciting but also incredibly dangerous. He had no idea how he had survived this long.

  “Why did you do it?” Brianna asked, breaking the silence.

  Her voice startled Zollin out of his reverie and he looked over at her, but she was still staring straight ahead.

  “Why did I do what?” he asked tentatively,
hoping not to make her angry again.

  “Why did you show me your power? Why did you do so much for Todrek when… when it was so obvious that you didn’t want him to marry me? Why did you save me from that Wizard when you could have been rid of me forever? Why did you give me this stupid ring? Why?”

  “I…” Zollin wasn’t sure what to say. He had no idea why she was asking all these questions, but at least he understood one of them. He answered slowly, “That ring saved your life, not me.”

  “What?”

  “I didn’t do anything to save you from Branock. I was struggling just to survive myself. And you rode in so fast, I didn’t even have time to react. I’ve thought a lot about what happened. I think the ring, or more exactly the stone in the ring, protected you. Do you remember that in the alley back home I couldn’t lift you or the ring? Somehow it repels magic. The ring saved you.”

  “That’s because it’s a White Alzerstone,” said a voice from behind them.

  Zollin and Brianna whirled around, totally taken by surprise. Kelvich had ridden up behind them so silently that they hadn’t heard him approach. Zollin was a bit unnerved. He hadn’t felt the man approach, and even though he could sense magic in the man, it was strangely subdued, like pebbles in a stream bed hidden by the movement of the water around them. Zollin had to look intently to sense the power that was obviously there.

  “Who are you?” Brianna asked suspiciously.

  “Just a friend, I assure you. I was hoping to have a word with your friend,” Kelvich said. “Do you have a moment?”

  “No,” Brianna said.

  “Yes,” Zollin said.

  They looked at each other and Brianna sighed. “I’m going to do what we’re supposed to be doing. I guess you could join me when you’re through,” she said, her voice icy. Then she spurred her horse and galloped away through the snow, making Zollin’s horse shuffle around in the road.

  “Your friend isn’t happy,” Kelvich said.

  Zollin ignored the comment. “Why were you asking about me at the Inn?”

  “Ah, I guess Ellianna told you. I need to remember not to trust young girls. They’re too easily convinced by handsome young men to tell their secrets.”

  “You haven’t answered my question,” Zollin said.

  “No, I haven’t, but I would wager you could guess the answer yourself.”

  “I sense power in you.”

  “Well, that’s kind of you, very kind indeed. But I’m merely a candle while you shine as brightly as the sun.”

  Zollin was confused, unsure of what the man meant.

  “How long have you been aware of your gift?” Kelvich asked.

  “I’m not sure what you mean.”

  “Oh, I think you do. I assure you I only want to help. I’m a Sorcerer, Zollin. Do you know what that means?”

  Zollin’s heart was pounding. Like any young boy, his father and friends had told him stories about Sorcerers. They were said to be evil men who stole children to be sacrificed in wicked ceremonies that bound them with soul-ties to demons or worse creatures. There were stories of Sorcerers who bewitched men into giving away their treasures and their daughters. Zollin had always thought the stories were just bedtime tales to get children to behave. Even after he had discovered his powers, he hadn’t given sorcery much thought. Fear crept into his belly as Todrek’s words came back to him, “Do you really want to be an old man in a tower, casting spells and summoning demons?”

  “I know,” said Kelvich. “It’s not the best way to start a conversation. Most people are terrified of Sorcerers, but I’m a pretty poor one, and I assure you, I mean no harm.”

  “Aren’t…” Zollin hesitated before speaking his thoughts aloud.

  “Aren’t Sorcerers evil?” Kelvich finished the question for him. “Well, that’s a good question and I would say that depends on the Sorcerer. But before we go into all that, I need to ask that you do me a favor.”

  Zollin’s face flushed. He was afraid of what Kelvich was going to ask him to do. But the Sorcerer ignored Zollin’s obvious discomfort and continued. “None of the people of Brighton’s Gate know what I am. They assume I’m just an eccentric old man, and I’d like to keep it that way. I’ll answer all your questions, but first you must promise to keep my secret.”

  It seemed like a reasonable request, so Zollin nodded.

  “Come on,” Kelvich said. “Let’s ride after your friend and I’ll see if I can explain exactly who, and what, I am.”

  Chapter 16

  “A Sorcerer is not what you think,” Kelvich said. “We don’t steal babies or mate with demons or anything like the stories you’ve heard. We’re more like teachers.”

  “I’ve never heard that before,” Zollin said cautiously.

  “Indeed, well, most people haven't, but let me continue. Sorcerers are much like Wizards, but we don’t really have much power on our own. Our power comes in the abilities of other people.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, I can control the magic in you,” he said, grinning. “Observe.” He pulled out three small metal balls, polished until they shone like mirrors. He held them in his open palm. Suddenly Zollin felt the magic in his chest and staff and willow belt blend together. The balls rose into the air and danced around in circles. Zollin knew he was causing the balls to levitate, but he hadn’t tried to cast a spell, and even when he tried to break the flow of magic, he was unable to. Finally, the balls slowly moved back down into Kelvich’s hand, and he quickly hid them away inside his cloak.

  “How did you do that?” Zollin asked incredulously.

  “That is what a Sorcerer does,” Kelvich answered. “That much magic would leave me exhausted, but tapping into your strength is as easy as breathing. Most Sorcerers will either work with Wizards to develop their skills or bend the power of Warlocks to their will for their own purposes.”

  “Warlocks?” Zollin asked.

  “Insane, most of them, but very powerful. Warlocks are a lot like your staff there, perfect reservoirs of power but totally helpless to use it on their own. But under the control of a Sorcerer, a Warlock’s power can be tapped and exploited. That’s where the stories come from.”

  “But you don’t do that kind of thing?”

  “No, like I said, whether a Sorcerer is evil or good depends on the man. Just like Wizards, for that matter. It all comes down to character, just like everything else in life. Give a poor man money, and if he was generous while he was poor, he’ll be generous when he’s rich. If he was miserly without money, he’ll be a greedy wretch with it.”

  “You said that some Sorcerers teach? What do you mean?”

  “I mean I can help you develop your gifts. Teach you how to use magic without exhausting or killing yourself. Point you in a direction, hopefully the right direction.”

  “But why would you do that?”

  “What else would I do? I have a gift that can only be effectively used in two ways. I don’t want to bend anyone to my will, but I love to teach. So I teach. It’s as simple as that.”

  “You’ll teach me?”

  “All I can,” Kelvich said.

  Zollin nodded, thinking. His first impulse was to leap at the chance. Here was what he had been hoping to find, someone who could teach him about his power. But he knew he couldn’t take anyone at their word, not anymore. Kelvich had admitted that Sorcerers often took advantage of other magic users. In fact, he had demonstrated that he could manipulate Zollin’s own power. It was a tempting offer, but he was afraid to trust the stranger.

  “I’m not really sure that’s a good idea,” Zollin said, unwilling to totally close the door. In fact, he was hoping the Sorcerer would try to convince him.

  “That’s wise,” said Kelvich. “You can’t be too careful. I take it you’ve run into Wizards from the Torr?”

  “How did you know that?”

  “Well, there is a story floating around about a young boy who caused a lot of grief in Tranaugh Shire. Some have said
he was a Sorcerer, causing several of the townspeople to run away with him. Of course, that was total nonsense to me. It sounds more like the young man was running for his life from the Torr.”

  “Who are they?” Zollin asked.

  “Honestly? I don’t know who they are, just what they are. They’ve held power in Osla for a long time. They’re led by a man they call the Master, but his name is Offendorl. He’s ancient, probably several hundred years old. He wants to control all the Wizards in the Five Kingdoms. They’ve recruited or killed all that I know about. They would have done the same to me, but I guess my power is too weak to be noticed here in the mountains.”