Master Wizard

by James Eggebeen

  Du'ala laughed quietly as if sharing a joke with herself. "So many questions that you are not ready to hear answered."

  Lorit was frustrated and angry. Why did everyone have to keep secrets from him? All he wanted to do was make the land safe from the temple, but everyone had their own secrets and kept the answers to themselves.

  "Why not?" Lorit demanded.

  "Patience. There will be a time when you are ready to hear that story. For now, let me tell you a story that you are ready to hear. It is about the priest Sulrad."

  This was more like it. Maybe he was going to learn something after all.

  Du'ala handed Lorit the pipe once again. "For this—smoke."

  Lorit scowled at her. "I don't need the smoke to give me visions."

  "No smoke, no story." She waggled the pipe at him.

  Lorit gave in and took the pipe from her. He inhaled the smoke and held it in his lungs, feeling it cloud his vision and his mind. Brilliant colors erupted everywhere as if they had just been created. The contents of the hut twisted and turned, taking on new and strange shapes as a cloud of golden flakes flowed from the carpet before him, taking the form of a dragon.

  As the dragon flew off into the sky, Lorit felt that he was sharing its vision, seeing through its eyes...becoming the dragon. He felt his wings beat as they caught the wind and lifted him into the warm afternoon sun. He saw the air currents before him and knew instinctively where to go to gain the most lift with the least effort.

  The sky above was deep purple, darker than usual, the grass below a strange color, not the familiar green, more blue, sharper. At first Lorit thought his eyes were seeing familiar sights in a new and unfamiliar way, but when he caught a glimpse of the sun, he knew he was in another realm.

  The sun was much, much larger than normal. Instead of the bright yellow glare, it glowed with a brick-red light that barely illuminated the ground below.

  Lorit's eyes adjusted. The vertical slits and heavy lids allowed him to see much sharper in the distance and even look directly into the face of the strange red sun.

  Overhead, diaphanous drapes of green and blue formed, shimmering in the darkness of the evening sky. Something strange pulled at him, drawing him toward the shimmering curtains. He tried to resist, but it did no good. He was compelled to enter.

  He flew toward the lights, wings beating hard to gain altitude until he reached the insubstantial curtain. He banked hard and turned. Twisting his wings, he sped in and out of the glowing sheets of blue-green light that hung across the sky.

  Suddenly, the sky darkened. It was night and the moon lit the ground beneath him. The call came again, stronger this time, and Lorit couldn't resist. He folded his wings and dropped toward the rocky crags. Just before he hit the ground, he stretched out his wings and caught the air, settling to the dirt with the gentlest touch.

  A figure stood within the shadow of the steep rocky walls. Lorit couldn't make out who it was, so he widened the slits of his eyes. It was a man, wearing a black robe. The man's head was shaved and he had a birdlike beak of a nose. His arms were outstretched, calling, inviting, demanding.

  Lorit waddled forward, his tail hitting the rocks as he took one cautious step after another until he was scarce spans from the man. He lowered his head to get a better look at the one who had summoned him. Who had called him across the void from the realm of the dragons to the realm of man?

  The man pulled his hood down, exposing his face. It was Sulrad, only younger, no more than thirty-five or forty summers in age. Lorit reared up, trying to escape, but the pull was too strong. He couldn't resist.

  A charm hung from a heavy gold chain about Sulrad's neck. In the center of the charm a jewel glowed brightly. It was hypnotic, mesmerizing. Lorit couldn't take his eyes off it. He grew relaxed and sleepy. He struggled to remain in control but lost the battle with the strange glow. He lowered his head to the ground and closed his eyes.

  A weight descended on Lorit's back, pinning him down. He couldn't turn his head to see what was happening, but he knew it was another dragon. Claws grasped his wings and pinned them close. A massive jaw snapped at his neck and wrenched his head to the side. Lorit tried to fight it, but he was not strong enough and the charm compelled him to surrender. He was trapped.

  Sulrad grasped one of Lorit's scales and lifted it, sliding a knife into the exposed skin beneath. Pain—not only from the knife that Sulrad had driven deep into Lorit's neck, but also from the magic it contained. It burned like fire, like the temple torture. Pain shot through Lorit as his dragon blood ran freely forth to stain the dry soil.

  The knife pulled at Lorit's magic, drawing it from him. Sulrad was trying to extract Lorit's power. He fought it, but the magic of the knife was too strong. He was losing blood quickly, along with his magic. He would soon be too weak to resist, even if he could free himself from the dragon that perched on his back.

  Why had the dragon attacked him? Why was it working with Sulrad? What was happening?

  The last of Lorit's life-blood drained away and the pain grew in intensity until he thought he could stand it no more. He wanted to shout out against the pain. He roared with his loud dragon's voice at the final agony, screaming in frustration as much as pain.

  Then, suddenly, the pain was gone.

  Lorit was no longer a dragon. He was back to normal, sitting across from Du'ala on her mat, his robe drenched in sweat. He was so weak, he was about to pass out.

  Du'ala frowned at him. "You understand?"

  "What was that?" Lorit tried to remain sitting when all he wanted to do was lie down and sleep. He tried to follow Du'ala's words, but his head swam. He focused on her face. He knew that what she had shown him was important. "Sulrad killed a dragon to take its magic?" Lorit asked. "He has some sort of charm that took their power? But the dragons have been extinct for well over a millennium."

  "Sulrad used the Charm of the Joiner to command the dragons,” Du'ala explained. “He killed many of them so that he could enslave the rest. He planned to kill or enslave all of the dragon clan, but Zhimosom stopped him."

  "How?"

  "That is his story to tell." Du'ala folded her arms across her chest.

  So, she was still keeping secrets, then.

  "What can you tell me about this Charm of the Joiner?" Lorit asked.

  Du'ala waved her hand in the air, and images came tumbling into his head. There was the amulet Sulrad had worn, the one that was so compelling to Lorit's dragon form that he could not resist it. It was gold and contained a jewel that was rare and valuable, like the one he had been given for his staff while he was in Friega. This jewel stored magic, lots of it, more than Lorit could handle on his own, and he was powerful. Whoever had this charm would be formidable indeed.

  "This is what Sulrad used to command the dragons, but Zhimosom stopped him?" Lorit wanted to make sure he had it right.

  "Yes. The Charm of the Joiner stored the magic Sulrad stole from the dragons that he killed. He used it to call and command more dragons."

  "What did he do with the dragons under his command?" Lorit had his suspicions, but he wanted to hear it from Du'ala.

  "He sent them against the wizards. First in Ryden, then in Amedon. Many wizards were killed and many dragons."

  "What did Zhimosom do?"

  "That is his story to tell."

  "Where can I find this Charm? Does Sulrad still have it? Can he still use it?"

  "We believe he still has it. We have never heard of any appearance of the Charm after the last battle."

  "Can he still use it?" Lorit asked.

  "He is limited. It has prolonged his life, but he cannot use it to perform very much magic. Zhimosom holds a spell over the Charm that prevents its use."

  Du'ala leaned in toward Lorit and spoke softly. "Zhimosom is fading. If he dies, the Charm will be freed once again and whoever holds it will have unimaginable power."

  Lorit had heard enough. He was angry with Zhimosom for holding this back from him. He wanted to
confront his mentor about the Charm while it was still fresh in his mind, but he was exhausted from the vision. Lorit agreed to rest and share a meal with Du'ala while he recovered, but he could get nothing further from her. When he finished, he thanked Du'ala for her help and returned to Zhimosom's home without stopping in Amedon.

  The sword grass faded and was replaced by the familiar cabin in the woods where Zhimosom made his home. Lorit climbed the stairs to the porch and knocked on the heavy plank door. He didn't wait for an answer, but entered immediately. He was surprised to find the old wizard awake.

  "Hold on. I'm coming." The voice came from inside.

  Lorit stood in the open doorway as Zhimosom ambled out of his study. The old wizard was dressed in his formal robes and was neatly groomed, but he lacked the luster that Lorit remembered. Something was wrong.

  Zhimosom waved Lorit inside. "To what do I owe the pleasure of a visit in the flesh? Have you forgotten how to converse using magic?"

  "No. I just wanted to see your face when we spoke, and I don't want you dropping the connection if you get uncomfortable."

  "So, it's like that?" Zhimosom sat heavily in a chair and slid it up to the table. He poured himself a cup of tea and held the pot out toward Lorit with a questioning look.

  "Please." Lorit shoved a cup toward Zhimosom. "I've just come from Du'ala."

  Zhimosom poured the hot brew into Lorit's cup, placed the pot on table, and sat back. Lorit was impatient but knew better than to rush Zhimosom.

  "She was most enlightening, I take it?"

  "She said you had done something to the Charm of the Joiner when Sulrad used it against the dragons."

  Zhimosom looked out the window at the lake that stretched to the distant mountains. After a long pause, he turned back to Lorit. "Has it turned up then? The Charm?"

  "No, but she's worried about you and about the Charm. She thinks you're growing weak and that would affect the Charm."

  "What else did she tell you?"

  "I asked about the dragons, but she wouldn't tell me anything. She said that was your story to tell."

  "And so it is...and so it is..." Zhimosom muttered.

  "Are you going to tell me what happened?" Lorit demanded.

  "When the time is right." Zhimosom's bushy brows contracted. "But the time is not now."

  "Why not?" Lorit demanded.

  "You might run off and get yourself in trouble or cause grief for others unless you truly understand all that has happened. You have much to learn before you go running off to save the world." Zhimosom smiled.

  Lorit wondered why the old wizard was so reluctant to share with him. Lorit had passed the trials and earned his seat on the Wizard's Council. Surely he could be trusted with any secrets the wizard held.

  Lorit grabbed his cup of tea. He downed it in one gulp and set the cup back on the table with a thud.

  "The Charm was how Sulrad commanded the dragons," Zhimosom said. "I placed a spell on it so that it could not be used."

  "So, what happened to the dragons?" Lorit demanded.

  "They're safe."

  Lorit wanted answers. Zhimosom had hidden the truth for far too long, and while he had the wizard talking, he decided to keep pushing. "What do you mean, safe?"

  Zhimosom sat back and closed his eyes. For a moment Lorit thought the old wizard had gone to sleep, but he finally answered so softly that Lorit almost missed it. "They're safe. Sulrad can't hurt them."

  "Why is Du'ala worried about you?" Lorit pressed.

  Zhimosom remained relaxed, eyes closed, but his face took on a pained expression. "If I die, or lose my powers, all of my spells will be released."

  "And the Charm will be active once again."

  "It will." Zhimosom opened his eyes. They glimmered with tears.

  "And Sulrad still holds the Charm?" Lorit asked.

  "He does."

  Chapter 16

  Lorit was angry with Zhimosom for avoiding his questions. He was angry with Du'ala for keeping secrets. He was angry with Chihon for continuing to block him even after he'd helped heal her. What was she waiting for? Hadn't he proved himself to her time and time again? The whole debate about motherhood was starting to wear thin. He was beginning to suspect that there was more to it than that. Had he done something that upset her, that she didn't want to talk about? It was getting old.

  He tried to return to his duties, but he felt off-balance without Chihon around. He was determined to put things right, but until he could figure out what to do about her, he would focus on his routine. Dealing with other people's troubles always helped him forget his own.

  There was a knock at the door.

  "Come in," Lorit shouted.

  Kimt entered and leaned against Chihon's vacant chair. "Your favorite student is in trouble again. I've heard from the Head Master that Kedrik is a little bit, shall we say, 'unrestrained'?"

  "Unrestrained?" Lorit laughed. "He's a fourteen-summer-old boy who just discovered he has magic." Lorit spread his arms wide. "Lots of magic. What do you expect from him?"

  "That's the problem," Kimt said. "He's so powerful, the Head Master is nervous about his own ability to rein the boy in if Kedrik gets out of hand. I think Kedrik needs a strong father figure. You saw the boy's back when we brought him here."

  Lorit scowled remembering the scars. "Don't you think he's had enough of his father?"

  "Not his father, a father." Kimt pointed at Lorit with her chin.

  Lorit was not much older than Kedrik. Lorit had lived at home until he was eighteen summers old, much longer than most men did. He'd never had kids, or even imagined himself as a parent. He wasn't sure how he could be a father figure to Kedrik. "I'm hardly a father figure."

  Lorit paced the room, his head down. How could he be a father figure to anyone, much less a lad like Kedrik who had been so poorly treated by his own father?

  "You may not be much older than him, but you're very wise." Kimt slid into Lorit's empty chair. "You've been through a lot already. You can help him settle down. Maybe a little closer supervision for a while will help him adjust to life in Amedon."

  "Hmmm...I was thinking of going to Frostan to have another look around." Lorit stopped pacing and dropped into Chihon's chair. He rubbed his chin and looked at the cold empty fireplace. "I want to see if I can find the source of the disease that the temple has planted there. If it's the same as the one they tried in Talus, it might help me find an antidote. I could take Kedrik along. I could use his help."

  Lorit released his chin and looked at Kimt. "I don't want to ask Chihon. She's still not fully recovered."

  "She's strong enough to travel, if that's what you mean, but it may be better if you go without her." Kimt frowned.

  "Why do you say that?"

  "She's got a lot on her mind. The disease and her recovery have taken a toll on her and she has not truly come to terms with it all yet."

  Kimt was still concerned about Chihon and that worried Lorit. "Should I go see her?" he asked.

  "No." Kimt waved him away. "It's better if you just give her time away from you to think. She'll come around."

  Kimt stood and turned for the door. "Take Kedrik and see what you can find in Frostan."

  "I'll take the boy with me." Lorit sighed. He'd have to come up with some lesson to teach Kedrik respect for his teachers and the rest of the wizards in charge of his training. It wouldn't do to have Kedrik constantly in trouble.

  "Thanks," Kimt said. "I think it will help him greatly."

  That afternoon, Lorit collected Kedrik and brought him to his study.

  "Kedrik?" Lorit looked Kedrik in the eyes. He wanted to make sure the boy was listening carefully. "We're going to Frostan to look for the source of the disease the temple has afflicted on the townsfolk."

  "Do you think it's related to what we discovered in Talus?"

  "I hope so. We'll look for anything they may have put in the water. When we get there, I'll show you how to probe for signs of temple magic."

&nb
sp; "Is it hard?" Kedrik shifted in his seat.

  "Hard to detect temple magic?" Lorit asked. "Not really, but this spell is hidden or masked somehow. I wasn't able to sense it last time Chihon, Kimt, and I visited the place, but now that I know what to look for, I'm hoping that we can find it before it does much more damage."

  "How will we get there?"

  "We'll travel to Frostan using magic, just like we did when we brought you here."

  "I thought you had to have been there once already. I've never been to Frostan."

  "You may not have been there, but I have. I'll take you with me. Pay attention to the place once you arrive, and you'll be able to travel there on your own, too."

  "When do we start?"

  "As soon as I notify the Head Master that I am taking you along with me. I don't want you to get in any more trouble."

  The next morning, Lorit collected Kedrik, and the two of them traveled to Frostan, arriving just outside Sond's house.

  "Where are we?" Kedrik asked.

  "This is where Sond lives. She's the mother of the baby we came here to try and heal. I want to check on the baby." Lorit knocked and the woman answered.

  "How's Ril?" Lorit asked.

  "She's doing well."

  "May I see her?"

  Sond invited them into her small house. She left them in the kitchen and quickly returned carrying the baby. Ril was awake and alert. She seemed fine by the look of her. The healing Lorit had done on his last trip had improved her condition, but he could sense that she was not yet fully recovered.

  Lorit took baby Ril in his arms. He bounced her up and down. "Have you been a good girl?" he cooed. "Giving mommy some rest?"

  Ril gurgled and smiled. Lorit glanced over at Kedrik. "Use your senses and look into her. Carefully. See if you can feel the magic in her stomach."

  Kedrik wrinkled his forehead. Lorit felt him probe the child. He was surprised. Kedrik was more controlled and subtle than Lorit had expected. Ril smiled the whole time.

  "I see it," Kedrik said. "It's dark green and brown, like rotten vegetation, and it has a strange texture to it. It's gritty and confused as if several different wizards were at work."