First Comes The One Who Wanders (3 page)

"You shouldn’t be in the School of Land," she tried to explain her confusion to him.

"But I’m always at the School of Land when I walk in the mists," replied her master. "Being here with you, I begin to understand why."

As Leilas tried to comprehend his cryptic comment, the mists swirled back into the bowl and soon all that was left was a bubbling green liquid. Leilas stared into it, wondering if what she'd seen had helped her at all.

Picking up the bowl that held the green liquid, Gidron dumped the potion down a pipe that emptied into the drains beneath the city. A strange smile flickered on Gidron’s lips as he turned to Leilas. "I believe we should meet with the masters. It is time."

"Time for what? Did what we see in the mists have some meaning to you? It meant nothing to me."

"The answers to your future and your questions were there. Surely you understood what was shown to you."

What Leilas understood was that nothing she’d seen meant anything to her and that nothing she’d seen had to do with saving Dirth and the Jovanulum living there. Clearly, Gidron had seen something that was beyond her teaching. Disappointed at the outcome of her trip into the mists, Leilas followed Gidron out of the schoolroom and headed toward the council chamber.

She caught up with him standing before the doors of the meeting hall. He had already pulled the chord of the great gong that called the members together. She could hear them assembling in the room behind the door. She’d never been before the masters. She was supposed to make her first visit behind these doors when she took her oath. Truth be told, she always felt uncomfortable around the members of the council. For some reason, they made her feel as if she had been judged and found wanting. Perhaps she had been judged. After all, her father was one of the most evil kings in Preterlandis and his blood flowed in her veins. Whatever the reason, she wasn’t looking forward to facing them when they hadn’t requested her presence.

The gong sounded deep within the school once again as the doors began to swing open. It sounded twelve times before the doors were resting against their hinges. By this time, several other students, who had taken their oaths and stayed to extend their knowledge in specialized areas, and masters from the guild within Dirth had gathered before the door and entered as Frey ushered Leilas into the massive chamber.

Twelve masters sat on the council for the School of Sky. Today only nine were present. Three were not teachers at the school or associated with the local guild and could not return at such short notice. They would come within the day or would be made aware of the problems presented. No decision would be reached until they had been contacted, either in person or in mindspeak. Crafters had used this ability for many years, but only those blessed with the true gift could send their thoughts to the reaches of the earth and find the crafter they were seeking. Master Manchu, the eldest of the council, was one who was blessed with such a gift.

"Master Frey, step forward." Master Manchu motioned to her master after all had been assembled. His voice echoed off the decorative plaster of the domed ceiling of the chamber. The upper tiers of seats were empty this day. There had never been many people invited to attend the council meetings, at least not since Leilas had been an apprentice of the school.

Cedric Manchu was a huge man, typical of the people of the Drakmoth Mountains. His hair was dark and his eyes narrowed upward at the ends. Her father had tried for years to get Drakmothians to join his army, but most of the mountain people were content to stay in the mountains and mind their sheep. Rarely did someone like Master Manchu come from the mountains to make his home in Dirth.

"Why have you summoned us?" He asked as her master took her arm and stepped into the circle that was surrounded by the seats of the Council. Those who came only to listen sat in the seats behind the masters on the Council. The twelve council seats formed a circle of power. Those who stood within it could only speak the truth, unless they were a very powerful magik and could overcome the combined power of the masters encircled there.

"I believe you are all aware of my student Leilas, King Leyhan's daughter." Gidron pulled her forward into their sight. She’d been content to hide in his shadow. She’d felt the power of the masters as soon as she’d stepped into the circle. It had not intimidated her as much as she thought it would, although it would be a powerful force to try to overcome. She felt the intensity rise as the nine sitting there focused on her.

"We are to see her at the ritual, not today," Cedric answered softly.

"I was leading her through the mists, to help her understand how her actions affected the overall balance in Dirth."

"It was probably time to let her see into the mists, although she is young," agreed Cedric. Murmurs of agreement came from the others on the council. "What has this to do with the council?"

"She was identified as the Chidra," stated Gidron, with barely controlled intensity. "I saw myself again at the School of Land, with her there. It began to make more sense. Also, the man who named her was Adrian Cheran. He was fighting with Darryl. The time has come."

Murmurs hummed through Leilas' head as the council commented to each other on Gidron's interpretation of the vision. It still didn't make sense to her. Although she began to realize that Chodra and Chidra were titles and not names.

So, she’d been named Chidra by a man named Adrian Cheran. What did that mean? What did Chodra mean? More importantly, why was he asking her where their champion was? She was but a lonely crafter.

"The Chidra is the one who will name the Chodra, the Champion, who will lead the Jovanulum against the Dredracians." Master Ren Narwhal addressed her for the first time. He was affiliated with the Sea and had studied at the School of Sea for some years before he attached himself to the School of Sky. Master Narwhal had been chosen to the council because of his unique knowledge of the regions by the sea, as well as his ability to become several of the animals of the sea. He was small, dark-skinned and lithe, and reminded her of a seal. "We will reveal what Master Frey has not bothered to tell you. We need time, however, to discuss what this vision means. Gidron’s interpretation is but one conclusion that can be drawn."

"I fear time is not a luxury you have right now, my lords." A man stepped through the large wooden door and moved forward to address the council. He was a darkly-tanned man, appearing to be in his early thirties. Leilas was immediately drawn to him, although she couldn't pinpoint a reason why. He wasn't handsome, though he wasn't ugly. He looked weary, as if he spent too much time on the road. Clothed in a dusty cloak, he wore the silver clouds of a Sky wanderer, as well as the gold of a master. Leilas wondered what had brought him to the school. The crafters who chose to be wanderers at the time they took the Crafter Oath very rarely came home. Magiks who wanted family and stability joined the local guild when they took their oath and were assigned to a city, which they soon learned to call home.

"Joshuas, it is good to see you, old friend." Cedric's eyes lit with pleasure as the wanderer stepped into the circle. "But knowing you, what you have to tell us must be very important, if you have come to address the council."

Leilas slipped out of the circle, relieved to be out of the pull of the power. Standing off to the side, she watched the interchange between this stranger and the council. Unlike most of the students and masters who addressed the council, Joshuas’ thoughts were protected from probing. It was a bit disconcerting to find one who felt the need to protect himself from those in the School of Sky.

"I didn’t know I would have the honor of addressing the council, that honor was just a lucky coincidence. I am afraid I bring dire news." Joshuas bent in a slight bow before he continued addressing the members of the council. "Jarras has rejected King Leyhan's overtures for an alliance, and has aligned himself with Darryl. Darryl and Jarras are approaching Dirth at this moment with the intent of overthrowing King Leyhan, killing all of the royal family and their servants." Joshuas waited for this news to be assimilated before he continued. "Darryl and Jarras have also aligned themselves with the School of Land and intend to attack the School of Sky. They believe that the school has been promoting their own claim for power by helping King Leyhan acquire land and power with the use of magic. They are intent on putting an end to the school's interference."

"How can the School of Land ally themselves in this fight?" asked Gidron, angrily. "The powers are in balance. They must know this. This would be in direct conflict with the Treaty of Greyan."

"There are some who don't believe the powers are in balance as do you," replied Joshuas.

"Surely you are not one who believes this." Gidron accused him.

"I don't think it matters what I believe at this time. What is important is that the school is being threatened and you need to prepare yourselves for battle. I have come as quickly as I could, but I didn't give you much time. I was delayed in Dari by some of the School of Land."

Leilas felt the hum as the Masters shielded their thoughts while they spoke together. This was grim news indeed. Her father was not prepared for war and would surely be defeated. If Darryl was intent on killing the royal family, her mother and brother were in danger. She needed to go to them and get them to safety. Backing away from the circle, she began to slip away to find her mother and brother. She needed to help what was left of her family.

"Leilas, please do not leave." Cedric called to her and stopped her in her tracks. His call brought the attention of the stranger upon her. She couldn't read his thoughts and had no idea what he thought of her, though by his expression, she thought he disapproved of her, of her being here and in the limelight. "You must stay within the walls of the School. It will be sealed with power and if you are not within the seal, we cannot protect you."

"That is a risk I have to take. I must try to get my mother and brother out of the city before Darryl and Jarras arrive."

"You will not have time to get them out of the city," Joshuas answered her. "But perhaps with Cedric's permission, we can get them within the walls of the school, before the seal is complete."

"Are you saying you will help her in this?" asked Cedric, to the newly-arrived magik.

"Someone must protect her. After all, she is the Chidra. This much I do not dispute."

"We have heard your theory on this subject. But this is not the time to discuss it. We have much to prepare. I would speak with you before you leave."

Having turned her over to the care of this stranger, Cedric began giving orders to the masters and students who were assembled. Within minutes, magiks were scurrying to their appointed tasks, preparing for war. Leilas watched the orchestrated motion in amazement. Cedric and the other masters must have practiced for this moment, even while believing it would never come. They knew exactly what must be done in order to preserve the school, magic books protected, scrolls hidden and warded, walls strengthened by spells, weapons woven with power. As she watched, Leilas wondered if she would ever be a master of this school. There was no time to take vows now, and after this battle, should the magiks here lose, there would be no time for many years to come.

Waiting impatiently for Cedric to finish giving his instructions and then summon Joshuas to his side, Leilas fretted at the delay. She needed to find her mother and brother, and every minute counted. She knew how vulnerable her father's keep was to invasion. He'd been overextending himself for years and there was no loyalty to him among the people. Jarras and Darryl would find no resistance from the villagers. Only when they reached the Manor would there be a show of resistance and Leilas wasn't sure how strong that would be. Her father hadn't earned any loyalty with his policies of oppression and fear.

Joshuas bowed slightly and backed away from Cedric, tucking something into his sleeve as he did. Leilas wondered what Master Manchu had entrusted to this scruffy master's care as she turned and almost ran out the doors to the entrance from the school that led to the Manor. Joshuas kept pace with her, even though she knew he must be tired. Chaffing against his presence, not sure why Master Manchu would send one of his obviously trusted masters with her when he was surely of more use in the school, she slowed her pace to one that was less rigorous. Although he said nothing, Joshuas' breathing became less ragged as they followed the turnings of the Manor hallway that led to her mother's chambers.

"Mother, I must speak with you," began Leilas as she knocked on the chamber door. "May I come in?" Without waiting for an answer, she pushed open the massive doors she knew were never locked and entered the large chambers her mother called home.

Queen Daina almost never left these rooms. Knowing it was her brother's custom to visit with their mother at this time of day, Leilas hoped he was here. It would save her the precious time it would take to find him within the castle. Leilas found the two of them, seated at a small table, engaged in a game of rocks. It was a simple game, moving rocks from one carved hole to another. But it was amusing and it helped to pass away the lonely hours that had become Queen Daina's life.

"You don't manage to get up here very often," said Brenth, looking up. He was barely in his fifteenth year, tall, fair-complected, gangly, and his nose didn’t quite fit his face. He was not yet a man, but she could see the man he would become in his face now. "What brings you here? Who is that with you?"