"You may be right," she said. "We need to protect the egg, but it's not safe here, is it?"
"No, Your Majesty. I fear not." Sir Adane sat next to her in a chair reserved for high-ranking guests. It had taken a long time for her to convince him that he deserved to sit there, and he never looked entirely comfortable doing so.
"Where would it be safe?" Ukina asked. Her brother was growing bolder with each passing moon. If he knew she'd found what he sought, or that she'd sent it away, she wouldn't be safe. If Ghall were behind the nobles, that meant the temple was behind the nobles and that couldn't be good. The priests had drained half the treasury when they forced her father to rebuild their temple after Lorit destroyed it. Now it seemed that Ghall and the temple wanted the rest of the treasury and the throne, too.
Where could she send the egg? Where would it be safe? Who could stand up to the temple and the nobles? Who could she send it to that would not be put in harm's way?
"Amedon..." Ukina muttered. "Lorit will know what to do."
"You think that wise, Your Majesty?"
"No one must know that we've found the egg, and no one must know that we've sent it to Amedon. If the nobles find out where I've sent it, they'll surely end my reign. They're already pressing me to explain my relationship with the wizards. The prohibition against wizardry in any form has extended to denying me any friends who are wizards, and after what Lorit did to the temple, the nobility blame me for the increased taxes needed to rebuild the place. They can't know Lorit is involved or they'll hang me."
Ukina stood up and paced the room. She bit her lip and twisted her hair. "Can you think of anything else we can do with the egg?"
"No, Your Majesty."
Sir Adane sat stiffly in the chair. He was her strength. He was the only one she really trusted. She hated to send him out on a quest. She would be alone and exposed with him gone, but she could trust no one else with such an important task.
"Take the egg to Amedon," Ukina said with a sigh. "Lorit will know what to do. At least that way, the thing's out of my kingdom."
"As you wish, Your Highness." Sir Adane knelt before her and touched his hand to his forehead.
"Take your squire, and no one else. Travel light. Leave immediately."
Sir Adane stood and turned to her. He snapped to attention and bowed formally. "As you command, Your Majesty." He straightened out and turned to leave.
"Adane." She stopped him with a word. Sir Adane had been her protector most of her life. He was one of her father's most trusted men, but she had come to rely on him for more than just his protection. Over the years, she had come to trust his judgment and wisdom. He was her friend and confidant and more.
She spoke so softly she wasn't sure he would hear. "I need you here once this is over."
Sir Adane turned back to her. He had a half smile on his face. "It's what keeps me coming back."
With that, he turned, grabbed his squire by the arm, and departed. Ukina wondered if she would ever see her faithful protector again.
Chapter 5
Lorit replayed the conversation with Kedrik over in his head. It really was simple. Why weren't he and Chihon married? They spent their time together while on the road and whenever they were both in Amedon. He missed her constant contact, that mingling of their thoughts that they shared through their magical connection, but the council had been firm in their admonition. Lorit and Chihon were not to have children for fear of concentrating the power of a pair in one individual. Lorit wasn't sure he agreed with them. It made him short, and he snapped at several of the council members during the day's discussion.
After the council adjourned, Lorit returned to his study and slammed the door behind him. He heaved himself into his chair and sighed, reaching for the pot of wine on the table. He poured himself a chalice, took a deep draught, and swallowed, but it did little to kill the sour taste he had in his mouth from the council meeting he had just left.
The council was split over the decision to step up the identification of young wizards before the temple could find them. Lorit was pushing hard for that strategy. His plan to have the council systematically eliminate the priesthood was voted down by a narrow margin for the third time. Lorit was firm in his resolve about removing the priesthood. It was the only way to keep the wizards safe, but the council kept returning to the prediction that Lorit would start a long-term war if he fought the temple. Lorit didn't believe the prediction. He thought it was just a ruse by Zhimosom and Rotiaqua to keep the balance the way it was. Lorit wasn't sure why they were so dead-set against his wiping out the priesthood, but the argument always ended the same way, with the council firmly on the side of leaving things alone, no matter how bad they were.
Lorit's new plan was to place wizards in every major city where there was a temple. These wizards would search out and recruit boys whose magic had awakened before the temple found them. The council had been effective in rescuing those that they identified, but only after some of the boys had been scarred for life by the temple's induction. Lorit knew those that lasted through the days of torture were either turned to the priesthood or died, yielding up their magic. This assured that only the strongest, most determined became priests, and it made them ruthless.
Kedrik was a perfect example. The boy had been close to breaking and had already endured several days of torture when Chihon found him. Lorit didn't want every new wizard to start his training that way. He argued that the council should get to the boys before the temple did and persuade the families to give their sons up to Amedon for training. But that argument, too, ended the way it always did. The council split the vote, not enough to pass the plan, and not enough to kill it. It would stay on the agenda and keep coming up until it was approved or denied. Lorit was growing upset with the council. On days like this, he wondered why he ever wanted a seat at all. He would gladly give it all up and take up the road again, just him and Chihon. No more politics, no more squabbles, just the two of them searching out young boys and sending them to Amedon for training before the temple got their hands on them.
There was a knock on the door. Lorit reached out with his magic to find Kimt and Kedrik standing there. He released the latch with a simple spell, flicking his hand at the door. "Come on in."
Kimt walked in briskly followed by a dejected Kedrik. She stood before Lorit and dragged Kedrik beside her. Kimt looked amused, but it was obvious that she was trying to hide it from the boy.
"What have we here?" Lorit craned his neck to make a show of examining Kedrik.
Kedrik kept his gaze at his feet and mumbled something that Lorit couldn't understand.
"Someone has been in town trying to use magic on the locals." Kimt grasped Kedrik's arm and guided him to a chair facing Lorit. She pushed him into it. "Tell him."
"I accidentally put a spell on myself..." Kedrik mumbled, still looking at his feet.
"Not that part," Kimt interrupted. "The other part. The embarrassing and potentially dangerous part."
Kedrik kicked his foot against the chair. "I tried to put a spell on a girl."
Lorit couldn't help but smile, but he fought to suppress it. "What type of spell?"
"I wanted her to love me." Kedrik looked up from his feet. The boy had wrinkles in his forehead, and his eyes were swollen with tears. It was almost more than Lorit could take. He suppressed a laugh at the boy's misfortune but silently reminded himself to be stern.
"What if it had worked?" Lorit sat back in his seat and reached for his chalice of wine.
"I don't know." Kedrik's kicking increased in speed.
"Kedrik. Would you really have taken advantage of that girl if your spell worked? Are you that kind of man?"
"I don't know." Kedrik lowered his gaze to his feet once again as they came to a stop. "No. I'm not that kind of man."
"Whatever gave you such an idea? I don't think that's the type of thing you would have come up with on your own."
Kedrik turned red and mumbled.
"Kedrik," Lorit said stern
ly. "Did you think of this on your own or was there someone else involved?"
"Someone else." Kedrik lowered his eyes again.
"Who was it?" Lorit lowered his voice.
"Yorn," Kedrik mumbled. His face turned even brighter red if that were possible.
"Yorn has already been remanded to the Head Master," Kimt said. "He actually did cast a spell on a local."
Lorit laughed. "Kedrik, if you'd succeeded in casting that spell, things would've gone much worse for you. You were lucky you got it wrong."
"Yes, sir." Kedrik kept his gaze on the floor.
Lorit leaned in and put a hand on Kedrik's knee. "What were you thinking?"
"I was lonely. I had a girl...well, sort of...back home. Here, it's just wizards. Nobody has anyone...except for you. You have Chihon...but I have no one."
"Kedrik, the bond that Chihon and I share is very special. You know that sorceresses are rare. Kimt and Chihon are the only two sorceresses in Amedon, and for a long time Kimt was the only sorceress here."
"I just wanted some company." Kedrik flushed but looked at Lorit with red eyes.
"I know. It's hard when you first come here, but you'll get used to it." Lorit placed a hand on Kedrik's shoulder. "As soon as your training is complete, you'll be back on the road for a couple of summers to learn the lay of the land and experience life outside Amedon. What's really bothering you?"
"I guess I'm just lonely," Kedrik said. He turned to Kimt. "Aren't you paired?"
Kimt smiled. "No, Kedrik. I'm not paired."
Kedrik perked up at her response, but Kimt just smiled at him. "Don't get any ideas, Kedrik. I'm over one hundred and fifty summers old. I have great-grandchildren older than you."
The smile faded from Kedrik's lips. "I don't understand."
"Kedrik," Kimt said. "The pairing is a bond between a wizard and a sorceress. Their magic is united, and they become very close and very powerful...but it is very rare. Most wizards marry and have a family if they choose. I expect you will do so one day yourself."
"Go on. Get some sleep." Lorit stood to encourage Kedrik to follow suit.
Kedrik rose and nodded. "Thank you for your lenience."
"Off with you," Lorit said as he closed the door behind the boy.
Lorit turned to Kimt, who smiled wickedly. He tried to stifle his laughter but he couldn't, and let a single laugh slip. When Kimt heard him, she broke out in roaring laughter.
"How did you get involved in this?" Lorit asked.
"I was at the inn, relaxing, when the boys came in. I waited and watched them from the back of the room. Yorn cast a spell on one of the maidens and taught the spell to Kedrik, but the poor boy got the words mixed up. He'd spelled himself to be madly in love with the girl." Kimt snickered but continued. "He was making a fool of himself and just about to get pounded when I intervened."
"What happened to Yorn?" Lorit grew stern. Using magic on the locals was a serious offense.
"Yorn is already in a collar back in the dorm. He's not going to be much trouble for a while. The Head Master put him in iron for two moons and made him a slave to the girl he was after. Tomorrow and every day for the next two moons, he'll report to her for work. That will give him time to reflect on his actions."
Kimt's smile faded. "Yorn may like it, though. It'll give him a chance to be close to the girl. I better whip up a spell for him that keeps him at a distance. Let's hope he finds time to reconsider his actions."
Lorit shook his head. "I'm glad Kedrik didn't do anything to get in trouble. He's a good boy. I'd hate to see him punished like that."
"He seems like such a sweet boy. I'm glad I was there to keep him out of trouble." Kimt smiled.
"He's not just a sweet boy. He's a powerful wizard already. Don't you feel it?"
"He had a little trouble with his spell, but…yes, there was more power there than I would have expected. It was actually difficult for me to remove the spell he cast on himself." Kimt waved her hand in the air. "I didn't let on how much effort it took to unbind him, but it was almost too strong for me. I'm not sure what I would have had to do if I were unable to break that spell. He was most determined to chase the girl down." Kimt smiled mischievously and wagged her finger at Lorit. "I hope you're ready for him."
Lorit shrugged. "We need more powerful wizards." He drained the last of his wine. "Help me keep an eye on him, won't you? I won't always be in a position to help him out. I've heard of the priests moving into a town called Talus. I'll go there and see what I can find before they get a foothold."
"I'll look after Kedrik...At least until he grows more powerful than I am." Kimt looked concerned. "That won't take very long."
Lorit set the chalice back on the table and turned to leave. "I'm afraid it won't," he said.
Chapter 6
The day after admonishing Kedrik, Lorit set out to see if his suspicions were true. He needed to find proof that the temple was interfering in the lives of the common folk and not just the nobility. Up until now, the temple concerned itself only with the rich and powerful, but Lorit had heard rumors that the priests were trying to bring everyone into the fold. Even the common folk.
The rich and powerful were attracted to the temple by the enticement of more wealth or more power. The common folk wouldn't be drawn to that. Most people knew better. Riches and power were not something they sought. Just keeping their family fed was enough trouble for most.
The rumor had come to him from Talus, a small seaport city that Lorit had never had occasion to visit. That meant he'd have to travel there on foot, but it didn't matter. He'd been cooped up in Amedon for far too long and was eager to get out on the road once again. He found Chihon in their study, reading, and eagerly explained his plan to her.
"Come with me?" he asked. She still had him blocked. He hoped getting on the road would open her up to him. He missed her constant contact and commentary on his daily activities, but she just looked over the book and frowned at him.
"I have my work here in Amedon. I can't spend two moons on the road right now. I can't leave my students without a teacher."
"Have Kimt teach them." Lorit wanted Chihon to come with him. He felt that he had to repair their relationship soon or it would be broken for good.
"I have to stay," she said. "You go without me. I know how much you want to get out of Amedon. Take some time on your own."
She closed the book and looked at him. "It might be good for you to take someone with you. Maybe Kedrik. He could use some time on the road to learn how to take care of himself out there."
Lorit hesitated. He didn't want to take Kedrik with him. He wanted Chihon. "It'll be fun. Just like old times."
"I can't go right now," Chihon said. "Take Kedrik. He'll be good company." She picked up her book and made a show of locating her bookmark and opening the book. She turned her eyes to the page, ignoring Lorit standing there.
Lorit waited for Chihon to look up, but she steadfastly ignored him.
He turned and left, but Chihon's refusal to accompany him nagged at him. He was worried that it was more than her workload. Something was bothering her, but he couldn't figure out what it was and she continued to block him.
Frustrated, Lorit packed his things and sent for Kedrik to explain his plans.
"Why don't we travel by magic to Talus?" Kedrik asked. "Wouldn't that be faster?"
"And easier?" Lorit chided the boy about using magic when physical labor would do. Kedrik had not yet learned that magic took more out of a wizard than the same task done by mundane means. It was a lesson Kedrik would learn soon enough.
"Have you been to Talus yet?" Lorit asked.
"No. Why?"
"How would you get to Talus if you don't know where it is?"
"I'd ask someone where it is or follow the map."
"You know someone who is familiar with Talus, then? Someone who knows it so well, you could reach into their mind and pull out the exact details of the place you want to go?"
"No..."
"Then you can't travel there by magic," Lorit said. "No matter how much power you have."
"How about traveling to Ryden and then taking a ship to Talus?" Kedrik asked. "You've been to Ryden, haven't you?"
"Yes, I have, but we're not taking a ship anywhere. When you take a ship, it disconnects you from the earth. It damps your powers, leaves you weak and vulnerable." Lorit recalled his previous travels by ship and shuddered. "No ship."
"So, we walk the whole way, then?" Kedrik grumbled.
"One of the reasons young wizards spend time on quests is so that they can familiarize themselves with many different places." Lorit glanced over at Kedrik, who didn't appear to be paying attention. "It's also why we ask you to observe and memorize minute details of every place you travel. Once you've visited a place, you can return to it by magic."
Lorit emphasized the word. "Return...You can go back there if you recall the place well enough. But you can't travel by magic anywhere you haven't been."
"Why not?"
Lorit shrugged. "Who knows? Magic just works that way. Now go pack your things and meet me at the gate. We're leaving immediately."
Lorit and Kedrik walked along silently most of the time. Lorit showed Kedrik how to snare rabbits for their packs and where in the streams to catch the best fish. Kedrik had little experience with the outdoors for a boy his age. He couldn't have had spent much time out of the city.
Lorit tried to get Kedrik to talk about his family, but the boy was reluctant. He answered questions Lorit put to him but volunteered nothing. Lorit guessed it hadn't been a happy life for Kedrik. He wished he'd found the boy before the priests had gotten to him. Kedrik would have been so much better off if they had whisked him away to Amedon as soon as his power awoke.
Talus appeared in the distance as they crested a low hill. There was a salty, slightly fishy smell in the air that signaled their approach to the sea, and when the hill dropped to white sand, Lorit knew they'd arrived.
Talus was a small city with poorly maintained warehouses gathered around the port. It was a natural harbor with a long finger of rock protruding from the shore and curving out around the port. The strand of low-lying land ended in what would otherwise have been an island, although the island was smaller than the city by quite a considerable amount. A few warehouses huddled on the island crowding up near the lighthouse that stood tall against the cloudless sky.
Master Wizard Page 4