“By the Six, I learn new things every day.” He thought about pulling away but decided to enjoy how he felt in Miceral’s arms. “Actually, I’m trying to decide if I should speak to Erstad and Wesfazial first. They might have some advice on how to proceed.”
“That sounds like a good idea, but I’d suggest asking Nerti, Klissmor, and Rothdin to the meeting.” Miceral kissed the back of Farrell’s neck and let go. “They’re all older than Trellham and might know things no one else would.”
Separated from his partner, Farrell already missed the contact. “Good idea. We should probably invite your father, too. He is first minister, after all.”
“Agreed. Are you planning to convene a full meeting of all the senior advisors?”
Having everyone together usually proved tedious. Then again, explaining it twice didn’t make sense. And a full meeting only meant adding Cylinda and Glendora. “Probably smart to invite them all. Can you send down for food? I’ll set up the sitting room to accommodate everyone.”
Still holding the book, he entered the sitting room. For most of his life, the allure of returning home to Yar-del captured his imagination. Every time he’d visited, he hoped to one day live with his mother and claim his birthright. That dream died when Meglar killed his mother and Heminaltose on the walls of Yar-del.
The chair he moved slammed into the wall, rousing him from his somber musings. He’d grown up at Haven, and Heminaltose had been his family. The bond that connected his heart to Yar-del had been his mother. Her death severed that link, turning Yar-del into nothing more than a location on a map.
Yet, in the blink of an eye, Kel rekindled his yearning to return home. Across the centuries, his ancestor reached out and reminded him what it meant to be part of the royal house of Yar-del.
Satisfied with the room, he walked toward his bedroom.
“Nerti?”
“Did you enjoy your afternoon?”
“I did until Khron interrupted our lunch to anoint me His Chosen and task me with freeing the dwarves of Trellham.” He caught the hint of anger in his mental voice and took a deep breath.
“I can tell you are not pleased with your new title. I assume you voiced your displeasure to Khron.”
“I did. Khron told me if I beat Him in a fight, I didn’t have to be His Chosen.” He snorted at the absurdity of his tale. “I nearly won, but Honorus tripped me just as I was going for the winning strike.”
Her mental laugh improved his dour mood. Did her emotions bleed through their link? Before he could ask, she spoke. “I’m certain Master Baylec will be pleased to hear how much you’ve progressed.”
“Indeed.” Smiling, he almost forgot why he’d contacted her. “Khron also gave me a book written by Kel to help me with the task. I want to talk to the senior wizards to see if they have any ideas that will help. Miceral suggested I invite you, Klissmor, and Rothdin to join us.”
“Miceral is a wise Muchari. Your adoptive father, Klissmor, and I might not have the answers you need, but we fought during the war, so our knowledge may prove helpful.”
He stopped walking. How had he not realized they’d been there? “I’ll . . . We’ll . . . I mean, let’s meet in an hour. I’ll contact Father and let him know what we’re doing.”
“Don’t be so flustered, little one.” This time her chuckle felt like a mother instructing her child. “Sometimes even the wisest can miss the obvious.”
She left his mind, leaving him shaking his head and smiling.
“Why the smile?”
Miceral stood in the doorway to his closet.
“Nerti admonished me like a child.”
Miceral laid a new tunic and pants on the bed. “What did you do this time?”
He waved his hand near his face. “Nothing like that. I somehow never made the connection that she, Klissmor, and Rothdin fought at Trellham. Had I thought about it, I probably would have figured it out, but it just never crossed my mind before she said something.”
“Hmmm.”
He looked at Miceral, who shrugged. “What?”
“I think I need to speak to Glendora about an annulment of our union. You’re clearly not as bright as you led me to believe.”
Sneering, he gave Miceral a fake laugh. “Keep it up and you might find out I’m not as sweet and innocent as you thought, either.”
“I’ll give you sweet, but who said you were innocent?” Peeling the tunic over his head, Miceral gave him a suggestive look.
Staring at the naked torso, Farrell put the velvet-wrapped book on the table and took off his shirt. “No one I know.”
FARRELL CLOSED the Door after his adoptive father crossed the threshold. Even with all the empty space he cleared, the peregrine’s presence made the room feel small. Rothdin settled onto the bedding Farrell set out.
“Thank you for remembering. Cold stone floors are not the most comfortable to sit on for long periods of time.”
“Um . . .” He looked at Nerti, who appeared to roll her eyes. He didn’t know a unicorn could do that. “I didn’t, Father. Nerti reminded me of my poor manners when she arrived.”
“I merely pointed out that if he was going to be the adopted son of a peregrine, he needed to learn your ways or risk insulting you.”
Rothdin clicked his beak in amusement. “Nerti, you know we make allowances for the young, but you are right. He may need to spend time with his brothers to better learn our ways.”
Lifting Kel’s book from the chair, Farrell sat on the newly vacated cushion. “Perhaps we can discuss why I invited everyone to my home?”
Rothdin stretched his wing, swatting Farrell gently on the head. “Be polite, child. When you invite others to your aerie, you must accept they will tease you if you forget something.”
Laughter filled the room and when it stopped, everyone turned to Farrell.
“It’s just a book. Its pages don’t hold the answer to our Meglar problem.”
“It may or it may not.” Erstad’s voice held a hint of glee. “But either way, it’s exciting to find a lost book written by Grand Master Kel.”
“I might be more exuberant if the book didn’t come to me as part of my new task.” Unwrapping the velvet cover, he turned to Rothdin and Nerti. “Do either of you know anything about this book?”
“We do.” Rothdin’s mental voice held a hint of annoyance. “Honorus sent Nerti and me as messengers to Kel to instruct him to write a book about his efforts during the war and to give it to Khron’s priest.”
Before Farrell could ask for more details, his adoptive father continued.
“Some years after the great war ended, Honorus and Lenore sent a group of peregrines, unicorns, and Muchari to Ardus. We settled in the vast undisturbed lands east of where Kel founded Yar-del. Before the wizard Beatrice and her cohorts finished carving Northhelm from the bowels of the mountain, Honorus sent us east to speak to Kel.
“Kel was told to write down what he had done at Trellham to aid his descendant when it came time to undo his spell. At the time, he confessed that he did not know how to free the dwarves of Trellham.”
“That doesn’t sound like it will be very helpful to Farrell,” Miceral said.
Farrell shook his head and noticed the other wizards doing the same. “Actually, it should be very helpful. If I know what he did and how he did it, it should make my job that much easier.”
“A word of caution, if I may.” Rothdin paused until Farrell faced him. “Kel’s book may well contain information of great value, but do not look to it as if it were written by Honorus.”
“I don’t understand.” Did his adoptive father want him to ignore Kel’s book?
“After we warned him that Neldin would one day return, Kel set out to find ways to thwart Neldin’s plans. He created the Source to give his descendants near-limitless power to use in the future conflict. Now that weapon has been turned against you and the Six.”
“Are you blaming Kel for Meglar’s rise to power?” The idea that Rothdin would acc
use Kel of siding with Neldin seemed absurd.
“No. Blaming him for Meglar’s actions would be akin to blaming the smith for the deaths his sword caused. The point I seek to impart is that Kel made a mistake thinking he could thwart Neldin on his own. When you read his book, remember that even the best ideas can end badly.”
“If I can’t trust what Kel wrote, what should I do? Not read it?”
“You can trust Kel meant only to help you when he wrote those pages,” Nerti said. “Just don’t blindly follow his words.”
“Sound advice.” Speaking aloud, Erstad’s voice seemed harsh and strident by comparison. “That book was written thousands of years ago. Much has changed since then. Even if Meglar hadn’t stolen Yar-del’s source, it would be prudent to heed your father’s warning.”
Farrell turned toward Miceral, hoping to find some guidance. The small nod reassured him more than anyone’s words. “Agreed.”
“That easy?” Wesfazial looked as shocked as he sounded. “No argument? No railing that we’re trying to needlessly hold you back?”
Farrell opened his mouth to answer, but Cylinda’s snicker cut him off. When he shot her a half-real, half-feigned glare, the other wizards laughed in earnest.
Catching Miceral’s eye, Farrell gave him the barest of nods. “Next time I suggest we invite Master Wesfazial and the other grumpy old wizards to our rooms, remind me they are such bad company.”
Amid the protests from his mentors, he unwrapped Kel’s book. When the last fold of the velvet fell away, the room went quiet again.
A smirk crossed his lips. “I see that got your attention and bought your silence.”
Wesfazial opened his mouth to speak, then shut it. Giving the older man a quick wink, Farrell stared at the book to avoid laughing at the grumble he got in return.
“Perhaps you should open the book,” Glendora said. “Otherwise, this back and forth will keep us here all night. I would suggest, however, that any actions you undertake based on what you read should be vetted first by this group.”
Heads nodded around the room in support of Glendora’s words—all but Farrell’s.
“I’ll try whenever it’s practical, but I can’t promise I’ll bring everything to you before I act.”
Erstad shrugged. “It’s a start.”
Ignoring the snide looks he knew the others gave him, Farrell lifted the leather cover. Shorn of its velvet wrapping, the book looked unremarkable. Its plain but well-oiled cover held no fancy markings or lettering. Despite the centuries, the parchment appeared supple and new. Folding the cover to the left, Farrell found a letter from Kel.
“This appears to be a letter of welcome.”
Seated to his right, Miceral leaned over to peer at the page. “All I see is a blank sheet of paper.”
“You don’t see the flowing script?”
“No, not a single line of ink anywhere on the page.”
Holding the book out for the others to see, Farrell watched as everyone shook their heads.
“Clearly Kel’s words are meant for you alone,” Glendora said.
For an instant he considered reopening the debate about sharing the information with his fellow wizards. But their arguments were as sound now as when he thought they could read the book themselves, Kel’s wishes notwithstanding.
He spun the book around, scanned the page for content, and then began to read out loud.
“Greetings, my distant grandchild, however many times removed. I hope this finds you in good health, though if you are reading this, Neldin must be threatening Nendor once more. This book is written at the behest of Honorus. He and Lenore sent my old friend Rothdin and an imperious unicorn named Nerti to inform me of my new task. Despite her condescending nature, I strove to do as my god instructed.
“If you haven’t figured this out already, only a descendant of mine can see these words. Since it was foretold my descendant would free the dwarves, only a child of my house could qualify to receive this book. The information is for your eyes alone. What you choose to share with others is left to your discretion. However, be warned. Should you try to break the enchantment barring other eyes, the entire book will be destroyed. Some words are meant for you alone. They should not be shared, for reasons that will be made clear in this tome.
“Contained in these pages are an accounting of what happened at Trellham, some high magic I’ve not recorded elsewhere, and some suggestions on how to free the dwarves. It has taken me nearly five hundred years to complete this book, but as things happened, I kept adding pages. In addition to this book, I’ve collected and secreted numerous magical artifacts of great power. There are clues within this tome to where they are located. To find and use these items will require you be a wizard of high power. I hope my pride has not created false expectations for my future sons and daughters. But since only a powerful master wizard will be able to free the dwarves, I feel it is safe to assume you are a wizard of great power.
“I’m sorry we ‘meet’ under such dire conditions, but there is no help for that. We serve the Six and are subject to Their whims. May the Six bless and watch over you.
Fondly,
Kel”
Staring at the book again, Farrell suddenly felt possessive of what it contained. Kel hadn’t meant for him to read it to the others, at least not until he’d had a chance to determine what he should keep to himself. Even without looking up, he felt the stares of the other wizards in the room. Like him, they wanted to know what Kel left behind in the book.
“I think I’ll wait to read the rest of Kel’s words. Clearly he didn’t mean for me to share everything in the book.”
The expected protests came immediately. As he knew they would, his mentors counseled him not to read the book alone.
After listening to their arguments, he held up his hand. “I’ve heard your advice, but for now, I’ll keep to my decision. I promise not to act on anything I read without consulting you, but I want to read the book first to see what I should share.”
“Who decides what should be kept from us?” Wesfazial’s question lacked his usual annoyance. “You must see that there could be things you think are not meant to be shared that we might see otherwise.”
“Your requests are noted.” Rothdin stirred from his cushion. “But Nerti and I agree that my son’s decision is the correct one, at least for now. He has given his word not to act without seeking your guidance. That ought to be enough.”
“And even if you disagree”—Nerti’s tone lacked the gentleness of Rothdin—“it will not change our support for Farrell’s decision.”
The wizards were ready to argue, but Rothdin, Nerti, and Klissmor did not back down. If anything, the position of Rothdin’s feathers told Farrell he was angry. He welcomed their support but wondered why they gave it.
“I realize in the past I have kept things from you, believing only a grand master wizard could understand what I was doing, but you have my word I won’t do that this time. After I have had a chance to read Kel’s book, I will share as much of it as I can with you.”
Farrell made eye contact with each of the other wizards. When no one raised any more objections, he set the book on the cushion next to him. “Since Kel’s book won’t be of any immediate help, how do I bring the dwarves back from the edge of nowhere?”
“You don’t know that,” Glendora said. “Khron would not have you attempt something this important without believing you could succeed.”
“I wish I shared your optimism.” He didn’t completely disagree with the priestess. He just didn’t know where he’d find the time to learn what he needed in order to carry out Khron’s wishes.
Chapter Five
FARRELL JERKED suddenly, splashing water in the process. He opened his eyes, certain he’d heard someone call him.
“Farrell?” This time he recognized Miceral’s voice.
“I’m just finishing taking a bath.”
“More like sleeping in the tub from where I stand.”
He twisted his body and saw Miceral smirking at him from the doorway. “How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough to tell you fell asleep.” Miceral retrieved the towel and held it out. “Rough day?”
Standing, Farrell felt his partner’s gaze on him. A year together and he still felt scrawny and unattractive. Not that Miceral ever said those things. “Yes.”
Rubbing the soft cloth through his hair first, Farrell dried off and wrapped the towel around his waist. Leaning against the wall, Miceral continue to watch him, wearing the same silly smile.
“Why’d you cover up so fast? I was enjoying the view.”
“Sure you were. Scrawny, pale, and scarred—haven’t we been through this before?” Farrell tried to inject as much humor as he could into his words. “Be honest, when it’s dark and we’re together, don’t you imagine something better? I mean something bigger, stronger, more like you?”
“Never.” He leaned closer, kissing the side of Farrell’s neck. “I always see you, and you know what that does to me.”
The kiss and Miceral’s words sent a wave of energy coursing through his body that focused on one area. Why did he even have these thoughts anymore? “If I didn’t know how much you loved me, I’d accuse you of lying.”
“Good.” He kissed Farrell again.
Before the tingle faded, Miceral ripped the towel from Farrell’s waist. “Hey!”
“Just getting a last look before we eat.” Miceral tossed the towel back and made for the door. “Get dressed. I had dinner sent up.”
“Dinner?” When did Miceral start ordering food?
Poking his head back into the room, Miceral said, “Yes, dinner. You know, that meal we eat at the end of the day.”
Miceral disappeared and Farrell shook his head. Tying the towel around his waist, he cast a quick spell to keep it there. Using his fingers as a comb, he smoothed his unruly mane as best he could and left the chamber.
Free of the scent of soap, his nostrils detected a rich, slightly spicy aroma coming from the other room. When he started to salivate, he swallowed and quickstepped out of the bath chamber.
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