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The Journeyman for Zdrell

Page 25

by David K Bennett


  Silurian paced. “I’m doing what little I can, but as I’ve been warning the others of this for years, they don’t listen well. What I need to convince them that things have really changed is tangible evidence, and that’s where you come in.

  “I’m not content to have you just lying about while the funds are prepared. I need you to start making more power rings. They are the most potent message that can be sent, as well as a tool to assist those on our side. When they see what it is like to have access to so much power, I’m fairly certain they’ll start to come around.”

  “Is that wise, Master?”

  “Wise? It’s essential. Eril, wizards are inherently tricky to convince of anything that means changing their ways. Despite all the evidence, there are still a sizable number of wizards out there who still think that the demon wizards are no threat to them. They believe that if they continue to do as they’ve always done, the demon wizards will continue to leave them alone and nothing will change. They don’t see the threat in front of them because they choose not to look.

  “If, on the other hand, we give them access to the kind of power your rings can provide, if they choose to aid us . . . there we have a chance. I don’t think you’ve realized how rare power generating rings like yours have been. They seem to have been nearly as rare as line cutters. Again, I wonder if this wasn’t a failing of the old zdrell masters. They were known for being very stingy with their gifts to lesser wizards. I’m hoping that this is not a mistake you will desire to perpetuate.”

  “No, Master, not at all. I think getting more of these rings out there would be a good thing.”

  “Well, time will tell if it is a ‘good’ thing. I can think of too many ways these rings could be abused, but in any case, at this time, they are a necessary thing, especially if it brings allies to our side.”

  Chapter 40

  The next morning, after a restorative night’s sleep, Eril set out to work on creating new power rings. Master Kason, Eril’s old metalworking master, had sent a small jeweler’s forge to the castle the previous evening. Eril set it up in a lesser-used storage room and began the increasingly familiar process of creating power rings.

  This time he decided to work on five rings at once. This was a new level for him but harkened back to his days working under Kason where he’d routinely work on sets of multiple knives.

  He started by trimming all five strips to the same dimensions, then he rolled them individually and melded their ends. Then, one at a time, he heated them to near molten temperature and began changing the way they interacted with the surrounding force lines to cause them to draw power to them.

  Within moments after he started the process on the second ring, Eril knew he was going to have to modify his strategy. The first ring, on which he’d already completed the gross parts of the process began to pull energy out of the second ring as fast as he put it in. It wouldn’t allow him to work on the second ring at all, as it was pulling energy from any free source.

  Eril realized his mistake. Previously, he had always completed a ring before moving onto another. The finished rings only drew power as their users wished. The uncompleted ring was like a drain in a tub with no stopper. It was drinking all free energy and would continue to do so until it was completed and the binding spell placed. Eril wasn’t sure what would happen if he left a ring in this uncompleted state, but he imagined it might be catastrophic.

  After he returned to the first ring, he was reminded of how his first power ring had absorbed a huge amount of power to the point it had scared him and caused him to cast the binding spell on it. Now he realized just how lucky he had been that he had chosen to cast that spell before something horrible had happened.

  Eril used the power the ring had already absorbed to allow him to make the fine adjustments to make it even more efficient, and then quickly placed the binding spell. Once bound, he was able to work on the second ring without the first completed ring absorbing the power he was using.

  By the time Eril broke for lunch, he had completed the first three rings. Each time he created a new ring, the process became more natural, and he saw potential improvements to make them even more powerful. As he tested the third ring, he became alarmed when the two globes he had placed to light the room went out, and he felt the temperature decrease markedly.

  As he saw this, he realized that if he created the rings in a sufficiently powerful state, they would be increasingly dangerous, allowing the ring to pull power, not just free-floating in the environment, but from every object near them. He realized that his master ring already had this power, but he would have to make the conscious choice to make it happen, whereas these rings would do it simply by the user desiring more power.

  He knew he needed to talk to Master Silurian about this development.

  § § §

  As they sat at lunch, Eril explained his problem to Master Silurian.

  “So, you say these new rings are more powerful than your original or the ones you made at Dorull’s castle. How is that?”

  Eril replied, feeling embarrassed, “Master, I just see better ways of making them each time I do a new one, and I use them. I want them to be the best at what they do.”

  “Eril,” Silurian sighed, “there is such a thing as ‘too much’ of a good thing. It is true for food, and I’d say it is true for these rings as well.” He held out his hand. “Let me see this last one you made.”

  Eril fished around in his pocket until he came out with the cloth he’d wrapped the three rings in. He selected the latest one and handed it over.

  The wizard barely touched it before he shouted incoherently and threw it across the room, his face ashen. He sat, shaking. Eril sat, confused at what just happened.

  “That nearly killed me, Eril,” the old wizard said, his voice unsteady. “I’m not sure why you weren’t similarly affected. It may be that master ring or just your mastery of zdrell, but that ring is a death trap to any but you. I’ve never felt that much power at once from anything that wasn’t an attack spell.”

  “So, you want me to fix it?” Eril asked sheepishly.

  “If you can, yes, fix it. If not, destroy it. Right now. That thing is a menace.”

  The Master’s color had returned, and he looked at Eril with sadness. “I’m sorry, Eril, I wish I knew more and was able to guide you. I know you’re just trying to do the best you can, but the power you wield is enormous. It could destroy you or those around you without you even intending it. This,” he said, pointing at where the ring lay on the floor, “is an example of just that. So, for now, we need you to do those five rings, and I want you to make sure that they are all less powerful than your first ring. Can you do that?”

  “Sure, Master. If I make them weaker, they’ll be easier and quicker to make.”

  “Great. Do that. Rework these three and then do the other two and you can call it a day.”

  § § §

  Eril did just as Master Silurian had suggested. He reworked the three rings, deliberately making them less ‘sticky,’ less able to draw power from the environment. He then made up the remaining two. Since he wasn’t trying to maximize these, he was able to create them in one step and then place the binding spell. It took him less than an hour per ring.

  He brought the five completed rings to his old master. Silurian gingerly picked up the first one and then smiled as he closed his eyes and put it on.

  “Yes, that’s much better, Eril,” he said as he opened his eyes and took the ring off. “That’s just what we are looking for. There is power here, but nothing to overwhelm. As long as they never get hold of one of your earlier rings, they’ll never know you can make them stronger.”

  Master Silurian then tried on each of the rings for a few moments. He continued to nod and smile as he finished with the last one.

  “What happens if you are wearing two at once?”

  “I’m not sure, Master. I’ve never tried. But, I’d guess you’d get more power, but not double. I already found
out when I was making them that if two are active at once, they tend to steal from each other. I guess you’d have to try to find out.”

  Master Silurian looked thoughtful. “You know, as much as I’d like to try that experiment, after my earlier experience, I think it would be best if you tried it for me. I think if something goes wrong, you’re probably the only person here who could survive it.”

  Eril grimaced, remembering his old master’s previous reaction. “Certainly, Master.”

  Taking off both his power ring and master ring, Eril took the ring the master held out. He put it on and then reached for one of the other rings. He put it on the middle finger of his left hand, as he’d put the first on the same finger of his right.

  At first, he did nothing but observe the effect of having both rings on. He felt nothing other than what he was used to with his single power ring on. When he deliberately tried to draw power, he felt at first the two rings trying to draw from one another as they also drew from the environment. As soon as he was aware of the effect, it diminished until it vanished altogether.

  About this time, Eril heard Silurian shout.

  “Eril, stop!”

  Eril had been so intent on the interactions of the flow of energy he was drawing, he hadn’t been using his physical eyes or senses at all. He now saw that the room had grown dark. All the candles were burning but casting no light. The fire across the room similarly continued to burn without heat or light. He realized what was going on and stopped the rings from drawing power.

  Immediately, the room brightened. Only then did Eril notice that he was glowing brighter than any of the candles in the room.

  “Oops,” he said, as he hastily took off both rings and put back on his master ring. With it on, he quickly dumped the extra power infusing his body into it.

  Master Silurian shook his head and sighed loudly. “I believe,” he sighed again, “that we have sufficiently proven that for anyone not a true zdrell wizard like you, that putting on two of those rings at once is a terrible idea.”

  “Yeah, I’d have to agree, Master. That was really weird. The two rings tried to steal from each other at first, but then I kind of convinced them not to do that, but they both worked at full power at once. Of course, if you had a really powerful spell to use the power or a good storage place, that might not be so bad . . .”

  “Eril, Eril, Eril,” the old wizard said, shaking his head. “I am so glad you’re a good-hearted lad. I can easily imagine what a ruthless or evil man could do with the power you wield. I hope this power never corrupts you.”

  “I won’t let that happen, Master. I’m an orphan, and I was a slave. I know what evil men with power act like. I swear I’ll never be like that.”

  “Oh, Eril, I can only hope that always remains true. I truly do.”

  Chapter 41

  Over the next two days, Eril spent his time creating additional items and recharging ancient ones. He created two storage rings, both of which had greater capacity than any he’d created previously, as his interactions with the gates had given him insights into how power could be stored.

  When he showed them to Master Silurian, the man was dumbfounded. “Eril, I don’t know how you do it, but if you keep refining your skills at this rate, I almost begin to feel sorry for the demons and their wizards. Almost.” He smiled grimly.

  After completing the storage rings, both of which he’d made out of plain iron, to make them look less valuable, he spent hours recharging sets of communicator pairs. He restored several amulets Master Silurian had as well and then went to the basement and topped up the charge on the gate.

  When he finished with recharging all these items, he ate, went up to his old room, which was currently unoccupied, and slept for sixteen hours.

  The next day, when he’d finally woken midmorning, the Master had a new task for him. All the apprentices in the castle were assembled in the courtyard, and Master Silurian formally introduced him to the forty or so boys of various ages. He then turned to Eril, who had no idea what was going on and said, “Eril, I want you to shake hands with each of these boys, talk to them for a moment and see if you can tell me which of them can perform any magic. I will tell you that a few of them have already shown signs. I want to see if you can from just a short interaction determine who has the talent and who doesn’t.”

  Eril started to protest, but Silurian waved him down. “No, I’m not going to tell you how to determine who has ‘the spark’ and who doesn’t. Figure it out.”

  Grumbling under his breath for a moment, he turned back to Master Silurian and said, “Fine. But first I have to shake your hand and Feldor’s. Then I’ll do these boys.”

  The wizard looked for a moment like he was going to protest, but then nodded thoughtfully. “Fair enough.”

  He came forward and shook Eril’s hand. Eril felt the eyes of many of the assembled boys on him, but concentrated on using his zdrell sight as he looked at his old master. Immediately, he saw that, just like his power ring, the force lines were disturbed by Silurian’s presence. They writhed around him, as though moved by a wind. He didn’t think he’d ever deliberately looked at his old master this way before, but could easily see that no one with zdrell sight would mistake this man for anything but a wizard.

  Eril’s concentration was only broken when he heard Feldor’s voice. “You wanted to see me, Master Silurian?”

  The Master gestured towards Eril. “Actually, he wants to see you. Please shake hands with him.”

  Feldor looked puzzled, but stretched out to shake hands with Eril. Even before they shook, Eril was using his zdrell sight to compare what he’d just seen with the Master and what he now saw with Feldor.

  It was undeniable that certain force lines were attached to this man as well. But where the lines around Silurian had trembled and reacted to the wizard’s movements and emotions, the lines around and connected to Feldor were rock steady. They had no more fluctuation than those of a stone.

  “Thank you,” Eril said and turned back to The Master and nodded. “I think I’m ready now.”

  The Master called Biruell over and handed him a parchment sheet and a grease pencil. “You know all the boys here by name, don’t you Biruell.” The boy nodded and accepted the parchment. Silurian turned to Eril. “Have Biruell mark what you think of each boy after you’ve shaken hands with them. Try not to make your reaction too visible to these boys. I’m sure most are still hopeful. You know how that is.

  “After you’re done, come see me with the list and we’ll compare your results with mine.” He walked away as soon as Eril turned to the boys who had formed up into a rough queue.

  Eril shook each boy’s hand and asked their name, how old they were and where they hailed from. All the while, he was watching them with his zdrell sight. For most of the boys, he saw nothing unusual, but the fifth boy in line, who looked to be fourteen or so was clearly different. Eril could see the lines squirming around the boy, and when they shook hands, he felt an energy pass between them. The boy clearly felt it too, as his eyes widened when their hands clasped.

  The process continued as Eril shook each boy’s hand in turn. Three more times he had solid experiences where he was confident that a boy possessed what The Master had called ‘The Spark.’ But, with five more boys, he felt something that was neither the solid mundanity of someone like Feldor nor the energetic interactivity of someone like The Master. Those five he had Biruell mark with question marks, rather than the pluses used for those of certain ability.

  After he had seen all the boys, Biruell turned and handed the list to Eril, but then stood with his hand out, waiting. Eril was confused. “But Biruell, we’ve tried before. I already know you’re not a budding wizard. Sorry.”

  Biruell continued to stand with his hand out, shaking slightly. “Can’t you at least shake my hand?”

  Eril felt his heart twist. “Oh, Biruell, I can do better than that.” He shifted the list to his left hand and gripped the boy wrist to wrist and then pu
lled him into a hug. Biruell quietly shuddered in the embrace.

  “You saved me, Eril. You cared about me when no one else did, and I just so wanted to be like you.”

  Eril found it hard to speak past the lump in his throat. “I know, Biruell. I wish I could give you the power, but I can’t, or don’t know how. But, I love you like a brother. I’ve never had a brother, but I’ll never forget or give up on you.”

  “Thanks, Eril. That means a lot. It just stinks that I can never be a wizard. You guys get to do all the prodigious stuff.”

  Eril broke the embrace and held the boy at arm’s length. “Don’t forget, Biruell, you’re pretty prodigious yourself. I don’t know anyone braver.”

  Biruell snuffled, wiped his eyes and nodded. He waved at Eril and then turned away. Eril watched him go and then headed to The Master’s study with the list.

  § § §

  The Master studied the list with a furrowed brow. As his eyes tracked through the names, he nodded and grunted as he encountered the names Eril had marked. He looked up.

  “What do the names with the question marks mean?”

  “Just that, Master. Those boys weren’t mundane, or didn’t feel like them, but they didn’t feel like you or the other positive ones either.”

  The wizard, looked back down at the list, his eyes scanning. He grunted. “So, you really think Axel is certain? The others were ones I’d already identified in the usual fashion, but not him.”

  “Which one is Axel?”

  “Short kid. He’s actually eleven, but could pass for eight if you saw him on the street. Black hair.”

  “With the white streak on one side?”

  “Yes, that’s him.”

  “Then, Master, I’m absolutely sure he’s got it. Only one other was stronger. I’m surprised you hadn’t already noticed.”

  “Well, Eril, Axel is a bit like your old comrade, Roald. He’s only been under the knife a handful of times, and . . . they haven’t gone well for him. I don’t think he’s ever been able to concentrate at all while under the knife. Small wonder he hasn’t figured out how to influence a portal.”

 

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