Master Wizard

by James Eggebeen

  "I suspected as much, but it has been confirmed by the scrolls."

  "How is all this related to the tremors?"

  "Because, my boy, I am weakening. All these long years, I have held spells, not only the one on the Charm of the Joiner, but many others. Spells without which the world would be a terrible place. Spells that hold back horrors you could not imagine."

  Zhimosom shook his head. "The years have taken a toll on me, but lately, someone is actively working to break my hold on the Charm. Someone is attacking my protective spell, draining my magic. I fear that soon I will no longer be able to hold my spells and they will fail."

  Lorit was shocked. Not only that Zhimosom had finally answered his questions, but also that Zhimosom was losing his power, and that someone was attacking Zhimosom.

  "Who's doing this?" Lorit asked.

  "I don't know," Zhimosom said. "It only started this past moon. Someone has discovered the secret I've hidden for four hundred summers. They're trying to free the Charm of the Joiner and use it for their own purposes."

  "Use it for what?" Lorit asked.

  "That, I do not know."

  "Surely you can tell who it is. Is it Sulrad?"

  "It's not Sulrad. He doesn't have that type of power any longer. It's a sorceress and a wizard working together."

  "A pair, like Chihon and I?"

  "No, not a pair, but there are two of them."

  "I thought sorceresses were rare."

  "They are, but there is one working against me."

  "Can't you stop them?"

  "It takes almost all the power I can muster to keep these spells in place. I no longer have enough left to fight them."

  Zhimosom had a pained look on his face. "Have you never wondered why the head of the Wizard's Council uses magic so sparingly? I have little left for anything but maintaining these spells."

  "There must be something you can do." Lorit felt helpless. If Zhimosom lost his fight, whatever he'd been protecting would be free, and no one went to that much trouble for no reason. Turbulent times lay ahead.

  "There is something you can do," Zhimosom said. "Find out who is attacking my spells, and stop them before they succeed. The Charm is the key that keeps me alive and aids me in maintaining many more spells."

  "You want me to do this?"

  "You are the only one strong enough."

  "And if I fail?"

  "Then I'm afraid, my boy, there will be terrible consequences for everyone." Zhimosom pondered for a moment. "Everyone but me. I'll be dead."

  Lorit left Zhimosom and Kedrik to search the scrolls for more answers while he returned to the keep in Amedon. He hoped Chihon was back, but the study was cold and empty. He tried to contact her, but she continued to block him. He sensed that she was in the chandlery and that she was well, but that was the extent of it.

  He sat heavily in his chair and lit the fire by throwing a fireball into the fireplace. The flames flashed to life, filling the study with their warmth and light, but doing little to lift his mood. Lorit watched the tongues of fire flicker and cleared his mind. He tried to relax and let the fire carry away his worries, but he was interrupted by a knock at the door.

  Lorit reached out. He sensed Kimt waiting and spoke a spell that opened the door to admit her.

  Kimt entered and sat in Chihon's chair without saying a word.

  Lorit stared at the fire without looking at her.

  "She doesn't want to hurt you," Kimt said softly.

  "She has." Lorit was in no mood for sympathy.

  "She knows that. She knows that no matter what she decides, it will hurt you in some way. She doesn't want to do that."

  Lorit held up his hand. He didn't want to think about it and he didn't want to talk about it. "I know."

  "She healed Ril."

  "What?" Lorit turned to look at Kimt. He'd been unable to heal the child. How had she done it? "How?"

  "I don't know. She examined the spell and then she just pulled on it and it fell apart. I checked the child over most thoroughly afterward. There wasn't a trace of the temple magic in her."

  "So, Ril is free of the temple magic?" Lorit asked.

  "She is...and Chihon restored the water."

  "How did she do that?" Lorit knew she was powerful, but he hadn't considered that she might break a spell that had eluded him.

  "She used the vial of poison you brought back from Talus. She found that the spell on the water was the same. It must be the way the temple is spreading. Poison the water, then force the people to pay for a cure."

  "But they're safe now?"

  "Yes. I found no trace of the poison in the well after Chihon restored the water."

  "Good. That's one less problem to worry about."

  "There's more?" Kimt asked. She looked concerned.

  "Zhimosom. He's being attacked...rather, some of his long-term spells are being attacked." Lorit explained about the Charm of the Joiner and what he'd learned.

  "Do you think it's the temple?" Kimt asked.

  "Zhimosom says it's not Sulrad, but it must be someone from the temple...or it could be another wizard. I just don't know yet."

  "How will you find them?" Kimt asked.

  "Maybe I'll go to Veldwaite...or Frostan...anywhere but here." Lorit looked around the study. "This place suddenly feels dreary."

  Lorit jumped up from his chair and paced the study. Anywhere but here, he decided. He closed his eyes, visualized a vast empty space, and pulled with all his might.

  Chapter 21

  Tass sat in the study she had borrowed from Ghall. She still considered it borrowed. She hadn't given up her hopes of defeating Sulrad and taking on the leadership of the temple. In the meantime, she had to deal with an upstart prince-turned-priest. Some days, she regretted turning the boy and not just taking his magic, but he was too valuable a tool to waste. She just wished she didn't have to listen to his arrogance. One day soon, she would be in a position to do something about that. But that day had not yet come.

  Ghall entered, draped his lanky frame casually over a chair, and smiled. "Ukina finally broke. She's talking, but she's not saying anything surprising. She sent the egg to Amedon with Sir Adane, but she doesn't know what route he's taking."

  Tass snorted. "To Amedon. How convenient. How will you get it out of there?"

  "I don't plan to let it get to Amedon. I have a small cadre of highly trained and extremely loyal knights on their way to prepare an appropriate reception for the courier."

  "How do you know where he's heading?"

  "I don't. I sent men out on fast horses to cover three likely paths. He has to take one of them."

  Tass was impressed. Usually the boy didn't think things through that far. "And what of the egg? Is it still active?" The egg had started to emit signs of magic a moon ago. The magic was what had signaled them that the egg was in the treasury. She didn't know what it meant, but it definitely bore watching.

  "It seems to be gaining strength over time, or at least sending off a stronger signature. Not that anyone but a trained wizard would notice, but it's starting to glow...as if it were growing hot." Ghall waved his hand in the air.

  "We have to secure the egg. I need it for my challenge against Sulrad." Tass didn't want Ghall to get his hands on the egg. There was no telling what the arrogant little snipe would do with that much power.

  "And, how's that going?" Ghall asked sarcastically.

  Tass grew angry just thinking about Sulrad. He had blocked any attempt at communication since he'd exiled her to Veldwaite. He'd also blocked her ability to travel back to Quineshua. She wasn't sure how he could do that.

  "I'm working on it," she said.

  "It looks that only one of us is keeping up his end of the bargain." Ghall stood up and turned to leave.

  "Not so fast!" Tass threw a spell of containment on Ghall that brought him to a halt in his tracks. He struggled against her, but he was no match for her years of experience and accumulated magic.

  "What i
s it?" Ghall spat.

  "We agreed that the temple belongs to me. You get the castle and the crown. If this thing is useful against Sulrad and his power, it's mine. Don't forget that!"

  Ghall struggled against the spell. He pulled at his arms trying to free himself, but Tass held him firm. "Do you understand?"

  "I understand!"

  Tass released the spell just as Ghall threw himself against it. The pressure relented and he tumbled to the ground with a cry of pain.

  Tass smiled.

  Chapter 22

  When Lorit left Amedon, he had no idea where he would end up. He pictured a wide-open space with no town, no village, no nothing. He had no particular place in mind except getting out of Amedon and away from Chihon. He materialized in a wide-open field with gently rolling hills and lush deep grass. He took a moment to soak in the warm afternoon sun and the fresh air. It was rejuvenating and the tension flowed out of him. The Wizards' Keep was cold and dank no matter the season or time of day, and sometimes Lorit missed the open spaces and fresh air. He stretched his arms wide and took a deep breath as the trill of a blue jay sounded behind him.

  Lorit turned, expecting to find the bird perched in a tree, but instead there was a gallows, partially complete, standing stark against the field. The lonely blue jay sat atop the cross-arm where the noose would hang. A carpenter hammered at the planking, fastening the rough-hewn boards in place.

  The platform was easily twice Lorit's height and stood high above the meadow. The gallows would provide visibility for a very large crowd. It must be for an important or notorious prisoner.

  Lorit strolled over to the carpenter. "Who are the gallows for?"

  "Don't rightly know." The carpenter leaned back to take in the massive structure. "Somebody important, I'd reckon."

  "When is the execution?"

  "Don't know that either. They just told me to get it built and don't dawdle none. It should be finished in another three days."

  The carpenter ceased his hammering and strolled over to the edge of the platform. He sat down with his legs over the side, placed the hammer on the plank beside him, and lifted a large jug to his lips, drinking noisily.

  "That seems like a lot of work for just one hanging," Lorit said.

  The man chuckled. "They said to build it strong, as it's gonna be used a lot." The carpenter scratched his chin. "Come to think of it, that can't be a good sign, can it?"

  "No. It can't. You have no idea who this is for? No gossip?"

  "I hear it's for one of the castle folk. I don't know much about them castle folk. I try to stay out of their way. Unless they need me to build something."

  "This may sound like a strange question, but where am I?" Lorit asked.

  "You don't know?" the carpenter looked at him as if Lorit were a madman.

  "No, I don't. I've been traveling a long way and I'm lost."

  "Well, you're in Veldwaite. The castle's just over the rise there." The carpenter pointed to low rolling hills off to the west. He took another swig from his jug, wiped his mouth on his sleeve, and stood up. "Nice chatting with you, but I'd best be back at it."

  Lorit looked at the hills in the distance; somewhere behind them lay Veldwaite, and if the gallows was for Ukina, Lorit had arrived just in time.

  It was almost a league, and the long walk gave Lorit time to think. He needed to find out what was going on before he headed for the castle. He raised his disguise, using the same appearance he'd used last time he visited Veldwaite. He chatted with the townsfolk who were free with the gossip. There was nothing the townsfolk liked more than to chat about the castle folk.

  Half a moon prior to Lorit's arrival, the castle had been in a big stir. Rumors ranged from “the queen is dead” to “the queen is locked in the tower.” Lorit was not sure what to believe. He'd healed Ukina and knew she was locked in her room, but it looked like the trouble had escalated.

  Lorit decided not to bother with a ruse to get past the guards this time. He reached out with his magic and quickly found Queen Ukina. She wasn't dead, and she wasn't locked in the tower as the townsfolk believed. She sat quietly at the desk in her room.

  Lorit didn't want to startle her if she was in no immediate danger, so he searched outside her room for a quiet place where he would not be noticed.

  A woman approached the guard, carrying a basket filled with clean laundry for the queen. They intercepted her and inspected the basket, pulling articles of clothing out and commenting rudely before they let her pass. Lorit waited for the woman to reappear, then focused in on the queen, and pulled himself through the void into her room.

  Ukina sat at her desk with a tray of cold food undisturbed before her. She wore her casual robes and her hair was its usual mess. She turned to Lorit, unsurprised by his appearance. "I thought I felt you nearby."

  "What have you gotten yourself into now?" Lorit sat in the chair next to her desk, from which he could face her while they spoke. She looked tired, her eyes sunken and dark.

  "The nobles have trumped up some charge and are planning to hang me." She reached for a brush and dragged it halfheartedly through her hair, but quickly put it back, her hands shaking.

  Lorit rested his hand atop hers. They were cold and bony, but her shaking soon subsided under his touch. "When did this come about?" Lorit asked.

  "A few days ago. They finally got tired of torturing me about the egg and decided to hang me."

  Ukina shook her head and sobbed. She covered her face with her hands as if to hide from Lorit. "I tried to contact you, but they had a spell on me that blocked it. I couldn't hold out against the torture. I told them that I sent the egg to Amedon." She looked at Lorit. "I guess that means they don't need me alive any longer."

  Lorit got up from the chair and knelt down beside her. He put his arm around her shoulder. "Don't worry. I won't let them hang you."

  Lorit felt bad for Ukina. She had been mistreated by the temple and the nobles alike since she came to the throne after the untimely death of her father. The king's death had hit her hard and losing her brother to the temple had cut her off from the only family she had left. She was more alone than he was.

  He held her and waited for her sobs to subside. "We have to warn Sir Adane," he said.

  "How? He's good at hiding from wizards...and the temple."

  "I'll send Chihon to protect him. She can meet him along the way, guide him to Amedon, and keep an eye out for the priests."

  "How will you find him?"

  "She'll find him. I'm not going."

  "What about you?"

  "I'm staying here for a while. Chihon and I are not speaking to each other right now."

  "What?" Ukina turned to him. Her face still showed the tracks of her tears, but she was clearly concerned. "What happened?"

  "I don't know. Chihon's upset. She said something about wanting to be a mother, and that I couldn't be the father. Then she stormed out and blocked my connection. She won't talk to me anymore."

  Ukina hugged him. "Don't worry. She loves you. She'll come back to you. You just have to be patient."

  "She won't talk to me," Lorit said.

  "She'll listen to you if you tell her about Sir Adane. She won't want to let him down."

  "Do you think so?"

  "I'm sure. Try to contact her and let her know about Sir Adane."

  Lorit relaxed and reached out to Chihon.

  Chapter 23

  After storming out of the study and leaving Lorit behind, Chihon trudged down the dreary street toward the chandlery where she'd secured her room. The town seemed dingier than she remembered, or perhaps it was her mood that colored it. She was still angry with Lorit and tried to cheer herself up by singing as she walked along. Soon she found her mood lifting, thoughts of Lorit pushed out by a song she used to sing to earn her supper.

  By the time she reached the chandlery, she had almost forgotten the argument. Uwora was still up tidying the shop when Chihon entered. The girl looked up and smiled when Chihon dropped her
pack and sat down.

  "Nice to see you back," she said.

  "I'm glad to be back," Chihon said, and she meant it.

  "You look happier today than last time you were here."

  Uwora seemed genuinely happy to see Chihon. It made her feel better than she had in a long while. "I am feeling better," Chihon said.

  "Good. Last time you looked sort of sad."

  "Did I?" Chihon frowned. "Well, no more."

  Chihon hummed the song she'd been singing as she helped Uwora with the chores. It made the time go faster. Soon she noticed that Uwora was humming along with her. She stopped and listened as the girl continued alone, but Uwora quickly caught herself and stopped.

  "You sing?" Chihon asked.

  Uwora blushed. "Not much, but you sounded so good, I just couldn't help myself."

  "I thought you sounded good."

  Uwora blushed even brighter. "I'm not as good as you. Do you sing, too, or just hum the tunes you know?"

  "I used to sing for my supper." Chihon recalled the times her grandma'am used to encourage her to take the stage back home. Suddenly, she was lonely for the old woman. Her grandma'am always had wise advice for her. Perhaps she should arrange a visit soon.

  "I'm sorry I made you sad. Are you sad because you miss your mother?"

  "I never knew my mother. My grandma'am raised me. I should go visit her someday."

  "That would be good. I don't have any relatives besides my pa. The rest are all gone."

  Chihon felt the touch of Lorit in her mind. She blocked it off and tried to ignore it, but he was insistent.

  "I don't want to talk to you," she finally responded.

  "It's not about us. Sir Adane is headed to Amedon looking for us. He's in danger. Can you find him and escort him back to Amedon?"

  Chihon considered her answer. Was Lorit just trying to get her to join him in his quest, hoping she'd forget all about the reason for their fight, or did he truly need her help? Chihon didn't want to get dragged back into some crisis that would take her back into contact with Lorit. Better he be on his own for a while to sort out his feelings while she did the same.