Dragons of Summer Tide (The Dragons of Hwandor) (43 page)

*****

Though the companions had to take a longer path to reach the city heights, by way of a freight ramp rather than the stairs, the walk to the tower took about the same amount of time as the first trip since the streets were clearing as darkness settled upon the city. Soon enough the companions were standing at the main entrance to the Tower of Verat. Green Eyes, as always, glared and scolded from a nearby rooftop.

As Captain Tarian prepared to knock upon the door it was pulled open by the Butler Aldan. “Welcome,” said the man as he stepped aside to allow the company to pass into the tower. Soon the companions were standing in the same room to which Cyerant, Tarian and Jolss had been shown earlier. The three male mages were waiting in the room and all stood as the companions entered.

“Welcome to the Tower of the Mages of Verat.” The voice of Tornissa led the way before her into the room. As she entered she looked at the companions and showed a very gracious smile. “We know that you are tired from your journey and so we will save all the formal introductions for morning.” The woman motioned toward the three male mages and said. “These gentlemen are Carabice, Arnatel & Flaritan and they are, along with myself, the four current mages of the Tower of Verat. I am Tornissa and I serve here as Magister Templi. We have a small staff headed by our butler Aldan.” The woman looked directly at the three hooded figures and continued very pointedly. “Our staff members have all been with us for many years and so you may rely upon their discretion as to the identity and nature of our guests.”

Myalnar reached up and pulled his hood back exposing his elven features and bowed slightly to his hostess, followed a moment later by both Pelinar and Talyat who did the same. Myalnar said. “We thank you for such consideration.” Though the woman had prepared for seeing her fist elf and thought herself sufficiently steeled there was still a momentary flicker of wonder in her eyes.

The woman continued. “The staff has prepared rooms for you and will show you to them. For those of you who need to tend to animals first, Aldan will show you to the stables and you may tell him what you will need in order to feed and care for your beasts. The birds and dogs may remain inside with you if you wish. After everything is put away and the animals tended to we will all sit down to a nice supper that has been prepared.”

Aldan, the butler, then walked into the room leading a small staff of two and began to take charge of showing the guests to their rooms or to the stables as needed. As Myalnar picked up his own packs and began to follow the woman assigned to show the elves to their rooms the voice of one of the mages stopped the elf. “Master Elf, I was wondering if I may…”

“Not now Arnatel.” Tornissa said to the man cutting him off mid statement. “Our guests have had a long journey and we should let them rest and save questions regarding the library until later.”

“Yes, you are, of course correct.” The man said to the woman and then he turned to Myalnar with a slight bow and said. “My apologies sir.”

Myalnar smiled at the man and responded. “No apologies necessary at all, my friend. Arnatel was it? The man nodded in response and the elf continued. “I would be very happy to discuss libraries with you after our meal. I am myself, a librarian by training and I love nothing more than to be among unfamiliar books.”

The mage smiled and said. “Quite so, quite so. I am librarian here and we have many books that may interest you and some few about which I have questions that you may be able to answer.”

Myalnar said. “That sounds like a pleasant way to spend an evening after so long of a journey. Shall we consider it an appointment then?”

“I will look forward to it.” Answered the mage with a look of excitement. “

A short time later everyone was gathered around a large dining table and sharing a meal. During this time more complete introductions were made. The companions learned that there no apprentices at the Tower of Verat and that there was only now a staff of four, which included a grounds keeper whom the guests had not yet met. The Tower of Verat had once housed many mages but now only four were left and they were all advanced in age. Tornissa was the head of the Order of the Tower of the Mages of Verat, Arnatel had been the librarian of the tower now for two decades and Carabice and Flaritan were general scholars of magic.

After the meal, Captain Tarian prepared to return with Cralnar and Dalnt to the Gardenia. He took the boy Devron aside and spoke to him and then he put his arms around the child and held him close for a few moments. The Captain turned to go as he wiped his eyes. Cralnar followed his father immediately while Dalnt held back a few moments longer to speak quietly with Shira. Looking to most like a hunting dog, Cyool paced nearby glancing warily at the young man and finally the dragon walked over and pushed her way between Shira and Dalnt. Shira looked down at the dragon as she felt the animal push against her leg and also felt a wave of irritation sweep over her from the bond with the dragon. “Cyool don’t do that.” Shira said to the dragon while sounding a bit exasperated. The other companions wisely pretended not to notice.

After Tarian and his sons left, Tornissa turned to the companions and mages and spoke. “Arnatel, would you please allow your appointment with Myalnar to wait a short time while we speak of how the introduction at court should be facilitated? The mage nodded his agreement.

“Very good, thank you.” Tornissa continued. Myalnar, Cyerant, Shira and Veer would you accompany me to my study so we can speak in private?” Without waiting for an answer the woman turned and led the way from the room and she guided the party down a short hallway and into a small but well appointed study. Tornissa pulled a chair over in front of a very orderly desk and she took a seat motioning the others to seat themselves in the other chairs around the room. Tornissa intentionally chose to sit in front of her desk facing everyone without the barrier of the desk between them. She knew that this would make everyone feel more open and less like they are being examined and questioned.

Myalnar was accustomed to the subtlety of elves and so he noticed and appreciated how Tornissa was making an effort to set a comfortable tone. As the elf sat in a nearby chair he nodded his approval to Tornissa.

Tornissa began speaking. “I understand that you have several goals among you, I know that Myalnar wishes to meet with the
king and establish some sort of communication or agreement between the kingdom and the elves. I also know that Cyerant has business with the king concerning noble titles and lands. I suspect that Veer and Shira have something else to present to the king. I am not certain what this last thing is but I have some suspicions. Now, with the return of the ability to touch magic I too have something to discuss in the Royal Court. Not all of these things should be placed before His Majesty at once and perhaps not in the open court where everyone can see and hear.

“And do you have recommendations for this process? Myalnar asked

“Yes, I do,” answered Tornissa. “It is also best if everyone knows exactly what we are walking into. So I will explain a few things about recent history in court and some of what may be expected.”

“I assume then that you have regular access to court then.” Cyerant said.

“As a technical point yes. Tornissa answered. “The Magister of the Tower is always a member of court. However it is very rare that a mage actually attends His Majesty. So as a matter of ceremony I may enter court before the king any day that he is present and so I may bring a concern to him. For this reason my news can wait a few days. And your news from the elves should also wait a few days and we should try to arrange to have you speak to the king in private and not before the court and its spies and gossips.” Myalnar nodded his understanding.

“So then should my news be presented first? Cyerant asked.

“Yes, yes it has to be presented first.” The woman responded. For numerous reasons it should be done first and almost certainly should be done tomorrow. You see, you should go before the king quietly and only when you come before him should you announce your identity.  The Duke of Calyen has already announced that your family has perished in an unfortunate accidental fire. A petition has been presented before the king seeking to assign your lands to the duke and add them to his own lands and to allow your title to become vacant since the family line is broken. He is represented in the court by his second son Garist. The petition was actually presented to the former co-regent Darus. He was not able to approve the petition before His Majesty reached his own age of majority. The new king has ruled for only a week now and for the last three years since King Nevaritch died in an accident his wife Queen Mother Arabella has ruled in co-regency with Darus though he has been the one actually wielding power. Tomorrow will be the first open court day for the new king to hear petitions from the people. It is your best chance to get to stand before him and then identify yourself. So you must plan to go in the morning, and I will accompany you.”

Cyerant looked a bit puzzled and asked. “Why should I not just go to the court and announce myself at the palace and come before the king as is the right of a noble?”

“Darus still wields a great deal of power behind the scenes and he is closely allied with the Duke of Calyen and so I fear that you would end up quietly taken care of in a back hallway of the palace.” Tornissa answered.

Veer jumped to his feet and yelled. “That’s wrong, they can’t do that.”

Tornissa held up her hand toward the young warrior. “It is wrong; very wrong.” She motioned Veer to return to his seat as she continued. “Unfortunately the last three years have seen many changes in the Royal Court and none of them for the good. The kingdom has been run by a regent who is loyal to a duke, a duke who would like to see his family replace the Royal Family on the throne. The Captain of the Palace Guard is charged with protecting the Royal Family but he is loyal to the former regent. The Duke of Calyen has been building a large ducal guard as his private army. Meanwhile for three years the regent has been making the Grand Army of the Kingdom of Verat smaller. So now the largest army in the kingdom doesn’t even belong to the king. A king who has just turned eighteen and has ruled for one week and who has in the past three years managed to survive several near fatal accidents.”

Veer said. “Well, if Cyerant goes in the morning, I’m going with him. My business with the rangers can wait”

“Business with the rangers may have to wait a long time, indeed – the rangers no longer exist.” Tornissa said.

“No longer exists.” Shira said as she jumped to her feet.

“That is correct child,” Tornissa said as she motioned Shira to sit back down. “Darus as regent ordered the rangers to be dissolved and their commander Parenian was retired. But I know Parenian and he will take the first opportunity tomorrow to petition the king to restore the rangers. And I hope that they are restored because they will be loyal to the king.”

Cyerant asked. “Is the army no longer loyal to the King?”

Tornissa answered. “At the moment yes, but as I said the army has been shrinking. General Velendar is getting old and is due to retire soon and while he always has had unquestioned loyalty to the Royal Family his replacement may not be so loyal. Right now the concern is that the young king will stay alive and does not have an accident. If something happens to him the Regent will be restored to power while the Princess Aranissa grows to adulthood and can assume the throne. The comical twist of fate is that there is a new ambassador from the Empire of Khatstan and she is a princess. She runs a formidable network of spies and right now she wants the young king alive in the hope that she can use her beauty to manipulate and control him. She may actually be the deadliest person in the royal court right now and she has, in the last two moons since her arrival, thwarted two accidents which nearly happened to the king. The only thing in the royal court that she has not figured out is that our young king has no interest in feminine wiles and so she will not be able to control him through his baser instincts.”

For a few minutes everyone just sat and digested what they had heard. Tornissa waited to see if there were any questions among her guests and after seeing that there were none she stood. “His Majesty is due to soon rule on the petition concerning your title and lands Cyerant and so we want to get you there to speak before him first. Then the news of the elves and the business for rangers can be presented. It would be best, I think, if your animals stayed behind at the tower in the morning. I see that you are quite attached to them but it would be highly irregular to appear in court with horses and dogs along.” The woman turned to the elf. “Myalnar, I believe that you have an appointment in our library, allow me to show you the way.” The mage and the elf left the three companions sitting in the room.

“I’m going with you in the morning,” said Veer to Cyerant.

“We are going in the morning,” corrected Shira.

Veer opened his mouth as though he would argue with the young woman but he was silenced by the look in her eyes.

Cyerant stood and said. “Until morning then.” And he walked from the room.

Early the next morning Tornissa had the three companions out of the tower and on their way to the Palace. Corth, Cyool and Drace had all reluctantly stayed behind in the tower grounds. Veer could feel Drace through the bond as the dragon paced back and forth upset at being asked to stay behind. Corth and Cyool were also disturbed to be left behind and Cyerant and Shira could feel the frustration of the dragons through the dragon bonds. Veer was also feeling upset because he had been forced to leave his weapons at the tower since no weapons were allowed in the royal court. Veer felt defenceless going into the street and he did not enjoy the feeling at all.

The Mage Tower was situated in Old Verat where the more ancient buildings were located and so the walk to the palace at the heart of the city would take only about ten minutes. As they walked Tornissa shared a few last minute instructions with her three companions. “There is a significant power struggle going on right now in the royal court and the new king struggles to gain control of the court and the kingdom. Information is strength so be careful what information you share and with whom. There are many eyes and ears in the court to see and overhear things. As it stands now Cyerant, your family is believed to have come to grief by a terrible accidental fire, if you wish to tell the king otherwise I would suggest that you do so in private so that he may deal with the matter accordingly. The elves we will introduce to him when we can insure that their presence can be kept to a small number of people. The intrigues of court are already numerous without the assassination of nearly a whole family and the existence of elves being common knowledge.” She stopped and turned to the three young people and she looked at them very pointedly. “Your beasts should not yet be a topic of conversation. And I will quietly inform my grand nephew of the return of magic some time in the near future. Unless, of course, something goes wrong then we will tell him whatever becomes necessary and try to help him work things to his advantage.”

Shira had a look of shock and then she spoke. “You know don’t you?”

“Should I not?” Asked Tornissa.

“Who is your grand nephew Magister?” Cyerant asked.

“The king is of course.” Tornissa answered. “His mother is my niece.” The woman turned and resumed walking toward the palace.

“I didn’t realize that you were related to the king.” Cyerant said.

“Most people don’t, and we are not a particularly close family.” Said the mage. “We don’t make much of it in public and so my eyes and ears at the palace are able to see and hear many things.”

A few moments later they arrived at the gates of the royal palace and there was already quite a line of folks waiting to get in to see the new king. Tornissa was able to gain early entry for herself and her three young companions since she was a member of court. Soon the four of them were waiting to enter the audience chamber hall where the king would hear cases and requests from the public. The doors to the hall were still closed since the public audiences had not yet started. Nobles and members of the royal court began to file by and the doors were opened to allow the members of court to enter. Tornissa entered the great hall leading her companions.

****

After the Magister and her companions left Talyat and Devron retired to a small heavily shaded meditation garden on the grounds of the tower and began their daily harp lesson. As Devron listened for the sounds of the birdsongs which allowed him to tune his harp he turned his sightless face toward Talyat and asked. “Can you feel the tunnels under the ground here?”

Talyat looked a bit startled and answered. “No, I cannot. Can you sense tunnels beneath our feet?”

“Yes,” the boy answered. “I have been feeling them since we walked into the old city last night.”

Talyat looked at the small dragon sitting on the boy’s shoulder and said. “It has something to do with Xave I would imagine. If the dragon can sense them there then you can feel it through the dragon. We should ask Jolss if he has seen anything about such a thing in his dragon book.”

Just then the mage Carabice walked into the garden and noticed Talyat and Devron preparing to play and he said. “Oh, my apologies, I didn’t realize that anyone was out here. It is my habit to come and sit for a time each day. I will return later.” Then the mage turned to leave.

“Carabice, please, a question if I may.” Called the elf.

The mage turned back and said. “Certainly”

“Devron here was asking if I knew of any tunnels under the city, and I know very little of human structures.”

The mage suddenly looked animated and hurried over to take a seat on a stone bench near the two harpers. “Ah yes, the legends and even the old texts say that there are many tunnels here under the old city. It is a special area of research for me I have even found maps in the library. According to the maps and the legends there was a vast network of tunnels connecting the palace with buildings all around the city. They all centred around a single room under the palace; a cavern really. There was a passage from the apartments of the king which led down to this cavern and then there were many tunnels which led from the cavern to entrances all over the city in the cellars of many buildings. Through this network the king was able to move about without being followed or seen. But, there seems to be no doorways into the tunnels. I’m certain that they are there and that we are just unable to gain entry. I have a theory you see. Oh I am sorry I’m sure that I am boring you.”

“No, please – this is fascinating.” Talyat nodded for the mage to continue.

The mage smiled and continued. “Most people are falling asleep by now. You see, my theory is that the doorways which lead into the tunnels were operated by magic. Since magic weakened and then eventually become lost to us the doorways no longer can be opened and so they are a long dead magical barrier that has been locked for centuries.”

“But now magic is working again.” Said Devron.

The mage looked startled. “Oh, oh my. I have to go. I have to get down to the cellars; I think that I know in which cellar room the doorway for the tower should be found.”

“This is interesting, may we accompany you?” Asked the elf.

“As you wish.” The mage mumbled as he quickly made his way back into the tower. Carabice first went into the library Where Arnatel and Myalnar were working on some Elven texts together. “Arnatel, are the tunnel map books in their usual place?”

“Of course,” answered the librarian. “You are the only person who has touched them in a generation. “I would have thought that after fifty years of reading them over you would have everything committed to memory.”

“Yes, yes, I need the keys.” Said Carabice.

“I thought that the keys were all hidden and that the clues to their hiding places made no sense.” Arnatel said.

“No, no, no, you just don’t understand.” Carabice said as he moved through the shelves. “Those nonsensical rhymes are not the clues to the locations of the keys, they are the keys themselves – incantations to open the doorways by magic.”

“Ah so once again you have figured it all out.” Arnatel said as he went back to his text.

Carabice had located the book that he wanted and was rapidly moving toward the door with his book in hand when he noticed Jolss sitting in a corner reading. “You boy, apprentice. Come with me.”

Jolss looked up with a startled expression and saw Talyat and Devron following along in the wake of the mage. Talyat gave the young apprentice a quick smile and nod. Jolss closed his book and got up and followed the older mage.

As the small party rushed through the halls of the tower Pelinar saw them and decided to join in to see what the mission was that seemed to have the old mage in such a state.

Carabice was mumbling to himself reciting passages from memory concerning the tunnels. He led the small group down a staircase leading into the cellars and then along a hallway which passed by the various rooms of the cellars. Finally the hallway angled downward and ended at a set of spiralled stairs leading down to a deeper cellar room. A few minutes later the mage stood in the middle of an empty cellar room holding a lantern. “This is the deepest of the tower cellars and it is where the map shows the entrance to a tunnel may be found. Actually the entrances to several tunnels should be found here.”

“No only two,” said Devron.

Carabice turned to the boy and said. “Correct, there should only be two. I assume that is what the dragon senses and that you somehow feel it through the bond. Can the beast tell where they are in the walls?”

Devron looked stunned. “Dragon, what do you mean dragon?”

“Boy, you are obviously blind and yet somehow you manage to see. The other boy, the apprentice can do magic and he was sitting reading a dragon text when we entered the library. Yes dragon, I’m not a fool. Come now, where are the doorways?”

Devron raised his hand and pointed at two places in the blank stone walls. Then he walked toward one of the paces and placed his hands on it and gave a gentle push. The stone wall suddenly shifted and a small doorway swung open before the boy.

“That should not have happened. It should take a mage to say the incantation that serves as a key. The rightful king can also always open the doorways with a touch but nobody else should be able to do that.” Said Carabice.

“Unless the person is bonded to a night dragon.” Jolss said. “Then all tunnels and underground passages are opened to him.”

“The dragon gives him that power also then.” Said Carabice. “Well I have to see where this leads.” The mage started toward the opening when Pelinar stepped in front of the old man.

“This is not wise.” Pelinar said.

“Pelinar is right.” Added Talyat. “He has been in the dwarven mines and there are some very unpleasant creatures which can live in tunnels and these tunnels have not been used in generations. If there are openings into the true depths then there could be some dangerous things walking these paths.”

“Well, if we do not go in then how are we to know?” Asked the mage.

“Xave,” said Devron” The little black dragon jumped from his shoulder and flew into the darkness of the tunnel. “He can search them quickly.”

“But how can he tell us what he finds?” Carabice asked.

“I see through his eyes.” Responded Devron. “This tunnel ends in a great cavern and there are lots of tunnels leading out of the cavern and some lead down very deep into the greater depths. And there are things down here; very dangerous things.”

“The tunnels will have to be cleared.” Said Pelinar. “I learned how to do this from the dwarves. It will be a bit different with a night dragon and mages to help.”

“Damn, damn, damn, damn it all.” The old mage said. “I have waited fifty years for this. So we will close the doorway and then formulate a plan and start this afternoon.”

“We will close the tunnel and then talk about formulating a plan and start when everything is ready.” Said Pelinar.

“I am in charge here!” Responded Carabice. “Do you realize that I am in charge here?” The mage asked Pelinar who seemed to be ignoring his protestations.

Pelinar placed a hand on Devron’s shoulder and soon Xave came fluttering back out of the tunnel to land on the other shoulder of the boy.  Then the boy touched the wall next to the doorway and it closed leaving no trace that it had ever been there. The little night dragon sat there on the shoulder of the boy licking at some scratches on his belly where something down in the darkness of the tunnels had lashed out at the dragon as he had flown by.

Talyat noticed the scratches on the tiny dragon and said. “When we get out of the cellars I have a salve to put on his wounds. There are nasty things living underground and their scratches and bites can all too easily fester.

*****

As Tornissa led Cyerant, Veer and Shira through the room she pointed out several significant people. Nodding toward one young man who looked to be only a few summers older than Cyerant she said. “That is
Garist Pwol Vrayah the son of Duke Malik who would like to have your lands.” She identified one man who looked to be about thirty summers old as the Captain of the Royal Guard. “See the beautiful woman with the pale skin, black hair and green eyes there.” The mage nodded toward a woman who looked to be a couple of summers older than Cyerant. “She is the foreign ambassador who is an imperial princess. I also see that regent Darus, General Velendar and even former Ranger Commander Parenian are all present. This should be an interesting day.”

After the companions passed, Garist the son of the Duke Malik noticed Cyerant moving toward the front of the audience hall. Garist made his way to the Captain of the Guard and began to whisper to the man. After a brief conversation the Captain motioned a guard over and sent the man for reinforcements. The guard soon returned leading a dozen extra guards who began to quietly move forward through the crowd.

The hall was the largest room that any of the companions had ever seen and it was very high with large windows of coloured glass set in the high walls far above the heads of nobles, guards and officials who lined the walls. The petitioners had formed a line through the centre of the room, leading toward a throne which sat vacant. There were a few desks for scribes located near the throne and many chairs lined the walls around the room. A herald walked in to stand before the throne facing the room and in a loud voice announced the king. “Lords, ladies and good folk His Royal Majesty Palavwar Bal Djundarbin King of Hwandor.” Those who were seated rose to their feet as a young man entered flanked by four guards.