by Mike Shelton
“You must have been caught up in your studies, to be so late for dinner,” Roland said with a neutral expression.
“Yes, all the bookwork is quite distracting.” Celia smiled and started to move toward the food. “I better get some, before all the boys wolf it down.”
Roland turned around and sat back down.
“Is there something wrong, Wizard Tyre?” one of the apprentices asked.
“How could something be wrong?” said another. “Didn’t you see that alluring woman he was talking to? Who is she, sir?”
Roland sat in deep thought, still distracted by his conversation with Celia and her obvious lies to him. He rubbed his arm where he had felt the cold breeze pass by him when the lights had gone out.
“Sir?” the apprentice asked again.
Roland shook himself from his thoughts and turned to his men. “She is stunning, isn’t she?” He laughed, and they all joined in, ribbing each other. “Her name is Celia. She says she’s from Solshi.”
The men continued to talk about the lack of women wizards in the Citadel, but Roland was becoming more and more disturbed by Celia. She was, most likely, a few years older than himself, but she looked and acted the part of an apprentice almost too well. One by one, the men finished eating and then returned to their other activities.
* * *
The next morning, Roland was woken up early by one of his servants. “One of the wizards insists on speaking to you, sir.”
Roland grumbled and rolled out of bed. Quickly pulling on a pair of serviceable pants and a shirt and clasping on his signature blue cloak, he strolled into his ready room. Eryck, the most senior counselor wizard left in the Citadel, sat waiting for him. The man nodded his head toward Roland but didn’t stand up. Roland didn’t actually care if these men accepted him as their leader or not. The leadership role had fallen to him by virtue of him being the most powerful wizard left in the Citadel. He didn’t know if he even wanted to run the place or not, but he did desire to be the most powerful wizard in the land.
“What is it you wanted to see me about, Councilor?” Roland said, deciding to be polite.
“Sir, a few of the apprentices were doing some cleaning and straightening in the basement rooms and found something disturbing.” Eryck fidgeted with his hands.
“Go on.”
“Well, we, um…There are rooms down there that stay locked for good reasons, sir.”
Roland raised his eyebrows but said nothing. Leaning forward on his elbows, he pushed his bangs out of his eyes.
Eryck continued. “As I was saying, we have some rooms locked up with very few people having access to the key. These rooms hold ancient artifacts in them, ones known to cause trouble.”
“Trouble?”
“Evil, sir. They exhibit evil magic or have been unstable in the past. Well, one of these rooms was broken into last night, it seems.” The man sat back in his chair and took a deep breath, as if to steady himself.
Roland reached over to a nearby table and poured himself some water that had been left for him by one of his servants. No wonder they had left Eryck behind. The man was skittish and prone to fear.
“Anything taken?”
“We have a few of the older scholar wizards looking through the room. We need to take extra precautions. It doesn’t look like anything was taken, but someone was definitely looking for something.”
“Well, let’s go and take a look, shall we?” Roland stood up, but Eryck did not.
“I would rather not, sir.”
Roland shook his head again at the timid wizard. “Well, I will go alone then.”
“Take someone with you. You don’t want to go into those rooms alone.” Eryck’s face paled again.
Roland peered at him questioningly, but Eryck just shook his head and mumbled something unintelligible.
With a grunt of disgust, Roland stood, grabbed a guard from the hall and an apprentice, and headed down the stairs. Arriving on the main floor, Celia once again crossed his path.
She greeted him with a smile and a bow. “Good day, sir.”
Roland nodded his head toward her, and then, to maintain appearances, he took her hand in his and kissed it. “Lovely as always, apprentice.” Coming back upright, he dismissed her as he and his two men headed down another flight of stairs. Somehow he had missed something when talking to Celia. Something felt out of place, but he couldn’t identify it.
Two floors lower, they left the stairs and walked down a few long hallways. A group of wizards was still taking inventory of the rooms as Roland approached. They appeared nervous, but not as pathetic as Eryck had.
Roland ran his hand over the doorframe. Down lower, by the floor, something dark and oily dripped to the floor. Bringing it up to his nose, he sniffed it. He wished he possessed Bakari’s ability to remember everything. This oily substance had obviously been used to get into the room somehow.
Walking into the room, Roland turned all the way around. It was windowless and held a myriad of shelves. But the room was no more than a few paces wide in either direction. Roland reached his hand toward a random object, but one of the wizards put his arm out and stopped him.
“With due respect, sir, you should not touch anything in here.” The elder wizard moved between Roland and the rest of the room. “In fact, you should not even be here. These artifacts are unstable.”
Roland grunted. “What harm can they do?”
One of the wizards opened his eyes wide. “Unbearable harm…some of them. One will kill you instantly upon touching it, one will turn you old before your time, one will take your strength away, and one will leave you delusional.”
“I get the point,” Roland said. “Just make sure nothing is missing, then lock the door again and station guards down here.”
The wizards nodded, and Roland walked out of the door. Looking at the oily substance once again, something clicked inside his mind. Celia! When Roland had leaned over to kiss her hand, he had noticed that same oily substance on the hem of her dress. What was the woman playing at? Who was she really?
CHAPTER FOUR
Allison Stenos, who had recently been raised to a full wizard, rode beside Tam Anvil, an apprentice wizard. They were making their way closer to the southeastern city of Corwan. Chief Judge Daymian Khouri had sent the two wizards east from his base in Orr to secure help from the neighboring city. The recent rise of Wizard Kanzar Centari, as he attempted to take over the kingdom, had forced people to choose sides—of either the High Wizard or the Chief Judge—thus preparing for civil war. Corwan was an important city, on the banks of the Dunn River, just across the border from southern Elvyn.
“I’ll be glad for winter,” stated Tam. “It does cool down here, doesn’t it?”
Alli smiled. She understood what Tam meant. Both of them were from the more northern areas in Alaris: her, from the East; he, from the West. They were not used to the southern desert.
“I heard that winter in the desert is like spring in the rest of Alaris—well, spring minus the flowers and green trees and rain.” A small laugh escaped her mouth, and she stood up in the stirrups, trying to see farther down the long road. She pushed her dark bangs back from her face. Her hair was getting longer now and stuck to the back of her neck on its way down to her shoulders. Standing five foot and four inches tall at fifteen years old, she figured she wouldn’t grow any taller.
Tam just grunted back in reply. A battle wizard apprentice from the Citadel, he had been sent south on Roland’s command to accompany the Chief Judge. Tam’s dark hair, dark eyes, and bulky build made the older teenager appear more serious than he really was. Alli had met Tam in Orr in the past week and actually enjoyed the company. He was definitely less taxing to be around than Roland. She frowned at the thought of that arrogant boy—why did Roland’s face always intrude upon her thoughts? She kicked her horse softly and jumped out ahead of Tam.
“Wait up, Alli,” Tam shouted and then raced after her.
They rode that way for
the next few miles of open road. Alli reached inside her and felt the familiar magic pouring through her veins. She had sensed her magic almost her entire life. At first, it was just with little things, like running faster than anyone else or hearing sounds from farther away. Then it grew. She had learned to use weapons at a young age. She fought off animals attacking cattle and could lift logs larger than any that the boys could. She also became the town champ in arm and leg wrestling. But her town of River Oak became afraid of her, the little girl who was obviously not like the rest of them. When Alli was ten, her parents sent her off to the Citadel. That was five years ago. Now she rode as a full level three battle wizard.
After a few hours of riding hard, the tall walls and spires and domed rooftops of Corwan came into view in the wavering heat. A fair-sized city, Corwan enjoyed an important river port on the Dunn River. Wood and other goods from up north were shipped there for distribution to Corwan and Orr and the other smaller villages in the area. Now that the magical barrier had come down, Alli wondered how trade with the southern elves and the kingdom of Tillimot would influence the city.
Slowing down a mile or so from the city, they tried to cool themselves off and compose themselves. They would be representing the Chief Judge and needed to look and act the part.
Approaching nearer to the city, Alli saw that a small line of people stood in front of the gates. Guards seemed to be inspecting each person rather thoroughly, probably as a result of the presumed upcoming battle for the leadership of Alaris.
Waiting for their turn, Alli noticed that the people of Corwan appeared similar to those from Orr: not dark-skinned, like Bakari, but a light brown with dark hair and dark eyes. Even though the people had waited a while, Alli didn’t notice much animosity—most in the line seemed happy and were talking with their fellow travelers. Alli hoped this peaceful, friendly people would not be destroyed by Kanzar’s greed.
Soon their own turn came, and Alli presented their credentials. The guards eyed the pair of teenage travelers with some surprise, but they motioned them into the city nonetheless and provided an escort, who took them to the governor’s office.
They waited for a short time in a small but pleasant room. The room’s furniture was serviceable, not ostentatious like at the Citadel. It was in a smaller building than what had housed the Chief Judge in Cassian but seemed to bustle with activity around them. City officers and servants moved in quick and efficient strides throughout the three-story stone building.
Soon they were directed into another room. There stood two men: one, the governor of Corwan; the other, the southern judge of the land; the last remaining judge to show loyalty to the Chief Judge and the current government.
“Welcome, wizards,” the governor said, bowing with hands clasped together.
Alli bowed back. “Greetings, Governor Makin and Judge Azeem. I am Allison Stenos, battle wizard, and this is Tamison Anvil, apprentice. We bring you news and greetings from the Chief Judge.”
All four bowed to each other again. Alli stifled a small giggle at the inordinate amount of bowing these southerners did. The governor motioned them to a set of chairs. Then, after servants had brought refreshments of drinks and dates for the group, they began to talk.
“Allison,” started the judge. “Is it true that Kanzar has replaced all the other judges in the land?”
“Call me Alli, please. Yes. Kanzar, through technically legal means, has appointed his own judges in the North, the West, and the East. You and Chief Judge Khouri are the only remaining judges left out of Kanzar’s control. Because of that, we think Kanzar may attack here before taking on the Chief Judge directly in Orr.”
“Pardon me for saying, young wizard,” Governor Makin said, “but why did Daymian send one so young here on his behalf.”
Alli briefly gave him a dark look.
Tam cleared his throat to hide a laugh. “Sirs, I have seen this young woman in practice, but not in real battle, though rumors do abound. She is a marvel to watch, for her fighting skills rival those of the Battlemaster. From among all the Chief Judge’s men and women, he has sent you his most prized fighter.”
Alli fiercely blushed at Tam’s compliments. “I’m just here to help, that’s all.” She wanted to play down his praise. “One advantage I have is that my size and youth do let me get around easier, and people don’t pay me as much attention. What I am here to secure is your loyalty to the Chief Judge.” Alli stared at both the governor and the judge, square in the eyes, her bright green meeting their brown. “Are you with the Chief Judge or Kanzar?”
A brief moment of heavy silence settled over the room.
Azeem was the first to speak. “As one of the judges of the land, I do uphold the rightful leader of Alaris, Daymian Khouri.”
Alli then turned to the governor for his answer. But his pause did not make her feel comfortable.
“Allison,” he began, “I have never had any problems with the Chief Judge or the judges’ system. They have ruled fairly for one hundred and fifty years. But many of my people do express the desire to once again have a king. And, now that the barrier is gone and Alaris will be out in the world again, a king will ensure our preeminence once again among the lands.”
How could this man sit here and say this?
Alli was about to open her mouth, but then Makin continued, “However, I also hear horrible things about Wizard Kanzar and his treatment of others. His greed knows no bounds. I do not support making him the new king.”
Alli relaxed and saw Tam take a deep breath. Playing the part of counselor, she realized now, was more exhausting than fighting a battle. “I appreciate your candor, Governor. The Chief Judge agreed to allow the people to vote for which form of government they want, and, if they choose to have a king, he will step down peacefully. But—” Alli stood up and pointed with her fingers for emphasis. “He will not, and I repeat, WILL NOT allow Kanzar Centari to be that king.”
The governor took a drink and licked his lips. “Then, we are in agreement. I will not fight against the Chief Judge, but I will await the outcome of the vote.”
“A vote that Kanzar will not allow, I am sure, or, in the least, one that he will manipulate to support his own doings,” voiced Tam. “Will you send men to fight against Kanzar?”
The governor seemed to gather his thoughts. “I will need to meet with my council and decide what we can do.”
Azeem didn’t look happy with that decision. “I have a battalion of men under my control here. We will fight for the Chief Judge. If the governor wishes to sit by and wait on his fate, that will be his decision.”
Alli noticed, for the first time, that there was not peace between the two men. These things had, most likely, already been discussed to some degree.
The governor stood up and put a smile on his face. “We all do what we can. I must protect and support my people. The barrier being down has opened up a whole new world for us. The land of Elvyn and all who control the Blue Sea are now open to endless opportunities for trade.”
They all bowed to each other again, and the meeting was dismissed. Then Alli and Tam were shown to the guest quarters, where they relaxed for a bit and were able to clean up. The group would be meeting later in the evening for dinner.
After freshening up and before their late dinner, Alli went for a walk along the upper docks of Corwan. Looking down from her vantage point, she watched the busy fishermen and other dockworkers unloading their last catch for the day.
Corwan sat at the convergence of the great Dunn River and the smaller, but heavily traveled, man-made Corwan River. It was a busy port city, made even more so now by having the magic barrier down.
The late-autumn sun had set earlier, leaving the men now to work by torchlight as they began closing up for the night. Alli gazed east and wondered what it would be like to cross where the barrier had been and stand on Elvyn soil. She had been close to Elvyn in Celestar but had stayed near the city. The elves this far south were, supposedly, different from their n
orthern counterparts.
Over the sounds from the dockworkers, Alli felt something tickling her astute hearing. She closed her eyes and tried to use her growing wizard skills to home in on the interrupting sound. Her hearing and sight had always been better than others’. Some said that this might be due to her growing up close to the barrier, in the Elvyn Forest. Others said that maybe her heritage was mixed with the elves’. Whatever the reason, Alli used these senses now to her full advantage.
The sound was coming from her left, up river, to the north. She scanned that direction more closely. The night sky was growing darker but had stayed clear, and, even though the night was moonless, the stars shone brilliantly. She soon spotted faint points of light in the distance. She tilted her head, trying to make sense of it. Then the lights grew more abundant. All of a sudden, she understood.
Running without hesitation, back along the docks and up the stairs into the city, Alli continued to pick up her pace. She pushed any back that stood in her way and left a trail of yelling people behind her swift movements. Knocking over a young woman carrying a fruit basket, Alli apologized hastily, helping the woman to pick up a few pieces of the fruit. Alli wished she could do more, but she didn’t dare waste the time. Luckily, the governor’s castle was not too far away.
Alli ignored the guards that tried to stop her at the castle entrance, spinning through them with her unexpected twists and turns, all with very little effort. Then, running up a flight of stairs and pushing past another guard, she burst through the governor’s office door and yelled, “We’re under attack!” Putting her hands on her knees to cool her breathing, she watched the two men turn to face her. One was the governor, and, standing next to him—with a smirk on his face—was Mericus, one of Kanzar’s right-hand men and the newly appointed judge of the West.
A gasp escaped her lips. Then the realization dawned on her.
“My dear, there is nothing to worry about,” said the smiling governor. “I said I didn’t want Kanzar to be king, and I meant it.”