Hemlock And The Wizard Tower (Book 1) (56 page)

"I agree," added Samberlin.  "If I know Falignus, he’s been plotting the retrieval of that Wand for some time.  He will have studied its powers well by now.  And no Wizard can compare to Falignus, we know that.  Not even Gwineval.  Hemlock has unique powers, but we do not yet understand them.  I think it’s better to try to defeat Falignus before he is able to gain that Wand."

"But how will you get there in time?" asked Tored.

"I have an idea for that," responded Hemlock.  "Safreon befriended a Griffin who lives in secret in the eastern mountains.  Her name is Penelope.  I watched him summon her and I believe that, with the help of the wizards, I can duplicate that spell.  If she answers the call and agrees to help, I will ride her in pursuit of Falignus."

"Wait, I assumed you would teleport?  You can’t go alone, Hemlock," cautioned Samberlin.

"We have no teleporters calibrated for the desert.  It would require many hours to do that and still be dangerous because we do not know the geography of the region well," responded Miara.

Hemlock noted that Samberlin was looking increasingly concerned.

"If Hemlock fails, then we will be facing Falignus with two Wands, not one.  Perhaps this isn’t the correct course of action, given that risk.  I believed that Tored or some other wizards should be able to accompany Hemlock," Samberlin said.

"He does have a point, Hemlock.  If you take this path alone and you fail, then we are doomed," added Tored.

Hemlock considered these words for a moment.  She contemplated the possible consequences of her failure.  Her sister would be at the mercy of Falignus.  Tored, Gwineval, the Tanna Varrans, and everyone that she had known in the Warrens would all be subjugated to Falignus’ will.

And he’ll know how to use the Wand–he could be unstoppable
, she thought to herself.

She closed her eyes and turned within, into that place that she was now able to see with the power of the Wand.  She felt for the now familiar presences which felt close to her in the strange, infinite space outside of her normal experience.

She sent a message to them asking them about her dilemma.  Somehow she was able to communicate the subtleties of her circumstances easily.  She watched as the energy left her and travelled over the tendrils to these neighboring spirits.

Their replies came swiftly and were uniform in their opinions.

"You must face your nemesis alone, and quickly," they said to her.  They sent Hemlock information about their lives, which paralleled hers in many ways, but with odd differences.  In each instance, they had faced some great opponent who had sought an artifact of power.  They had overcome the opponent only because they had been able to deny them the use of the artifact.

"Look to the lives of those who failed to do this," they said.

Hemlock realized then that she could look into the other consciousnesses that were close to her, but who were not reaching out to her.  She did so and saw that some were earlier in the progression of their lives than her.  Some were later.  She did see that those whose great opponents had been able to use their artifacts ended up dominating her counterparts in those realms–to disastrous effect.

She realized something and pointed it out to the others with whom she communicated. "None have loved their nemesis, as I do."

"That is your unique burden," was their reply, which was accompanied by a wave of compassion which washed over Hemlock.

Hemlock sent a message of thanks and returned her attention to the material world.

She was conscious again of a receding feeling of buoyancy in her body as she looked over the faces of those seated with her.

"How long was I concentrating?" she asked.

"For as long as it would take to walk the circumference of the Lake," responded Samberlin.

"Really?" asked Hemlock.  In her estimation, she had only retreated into her mind for a few moments.

"I have determined what must be done," Hemlock said.

The three who sat with her were impassive. "I must face Falignus alone."

"Why, Hemlock?" asked Samberlin.  "Caution would dictate otherwise."

"I now have sight beyond sight.  I have seen what could happen if Falignus is allowed to get the Wand first.  We will not defeat him if he does."

Miara frowned. "I, too, favor the cautious approach.  Hemlock, you have only wielded that Wand for mere hours.  Gwineval, when he wakes, will be able to help you to further realize its power.  Or perhaps he could wield it himself."

Samberlin nodded.  "I agree with Miara, Hemlock.  This is not the time to be impetuous."

Hemlock was unmoved.  She had never felt surer of a decision in her life, after seeing what she had seen in those other parallel realms about the lives crushed by the one who played the role similar to that of Falignus in her life.  But she couldn’t find a way to put the things that she had seen into words.

"Tored?" Hemlock asked, looking at the warrior.  He looked reticent, and did not answer at first.

Hemlock did not avert her gaze, and finally the warrior spoke.

"I believe that we are now in Hemlock’s hands," he said, looking at Samberlin and Miara.  He then turned to Hemlock. "You have been given power, and now, you alone, must decide how to exercise that power."

Hemlock had already made her decision, but his words emboldened her somewhat.

"I will leave tonight to pursue Falignus," she said flatly.

Miara was defiant. "And what if we don’t aid you in summoning the Griffin?"

Hemlock looked at her and responded calmly. "You will."

Miara blanched under Hemlock’s gaze.

Hemlock turned to Samberlin, and for the first time, she thought she saw a hint of fear in his eyes.

...

"Place the lanterns all around the baluster," directed Hemlock, her voice carrying strongly in the cold night air.

Wizards fanned out around the balcony at the top of the Tower, following her instructions.

Miara and Samberlin were both frowning as they stood beside her.

"Hemlock, the people will not understand this display," commented Samberlin.

"Oh, I think they might."

"We haven't had time to explain the attack on the Tower to them yet.  This will scare them," the Senator replied.

"Hemlock, people are used to the Wizard Tower being a silent bastion of strength for the City.  They don't need to see this," cautioned Miara.

"You are out of touch, Miara.  The Wizard Tower is a symbol of fear to most people.  That is what I aim to dispel tonight–at least in part," said Hemlock.

The placement of the lanterns was soon complete and Hemlock walked to the baluster of the balcony and looked down over the City below.  Despite the late hour, people were gathering and looking up at the Tower.  There were crowds forming in both the Elite district and the Warrens.  People in the Elite district were moving onto the path around Hemisphere Lake to get as close to the Tower as possible.

"This is good," Hemlock thought, "I want them to see what free magic looks like."

Hemlock was aware that Miara and Samberlin had moved up behind her and had joined her again.  She heard another set of footsteps then and saw that Tored had also emerged from the interior of the Tower and was at hand.

"Hemlock, we have raised the drawbridge with the help of the wizards," Tored said and then he paused uncomfortably before continuing, "There is terrible magic in the gatehouse."

"Yes, I know.  We need to destroy it," muttered Hemlock, still distracted by the crowds.

"I will pursue that immediately," replied Tored.

"You'll leave the Tower defenseless!" cried Miara.

"Yes, Hemlock, again I counsel you to exercise caution in how much change that you allow the people to be conscious of.  Change breeds chaos and chaos can breed rebellion.  It could embolden criminals in the Warrens–what, with you and Safreon now gone–who or what now keeps the peace but fear of the authority of the wizards and the senate?  The senate can't police the Warrens, and the criminals know it," lectured Samberlin.

"More like the senate won't police the Warrens," responded Hemlock, "I've seen your knights.  They could be used as a police force."

"That would be unpopular.  Those are the sons of noble houses.  War is glorious.  Police duty is not," said Samberlin.

Hemlock shook her head. "I can see that we have a lot of work to do when I return."

"You think that you can change things without consequence.  I am trying to point out what these consequences would be.  A study of government is a study of the history of unintended consequences," replied the Senator.

"Hemlock, I implore you: do not destroy anything in the Tower before you return and we can discuss it at length," said Miara.

"Fine... fine.  Tored, please obey her instructions in this.  Now, Miara, gather the wizards for the casting of the spell.  Place them around the balcony so that all can witness the casting," commanded Hemlock.

Miara sighed in response, cast Hemlock a look of resigned frustration, and then walked off and began issuing instructions to the assembled wizards.

Soon the wizards began to chant in unison.  A warm, green light bathed the top of the Wizard Tower then, eliciting a gasp from the crowd below. 

Miara gestured to Hemlock.

Hemlock began to reach out to the Griffin with her mind.

The chanting and the green light continued for many minutes. 

Suddenly there was a stir in the crowd.  People were crying out and pointing upwards.

Hemlock turned and saw that the Griffin was approaching.  It was a dark silhouette against the bright, full moon.

Soon the Griffin reached the Tower, and it landed on the balustrade near Hemlock and her companions.

"Hello, Hemlock," said an elemental voice in her mind.  She knew that it was the Griffin speaking to her through the power of the wizard spell.

"Hello.  I need your help," Hemlock said simply.

"Is he gone, then?"

Hemlock knew instantly who the Griffin was referring to.  She felt a wave of emotion at the reminder of the fate of Safreon.

"Yes.  He is gone.  He fell heroically during a battle in the Witch Crags."

"Somehow...I knew that he was gone."

"He died trying to save the Tanna Varrans from the wizards and from an evil Witch," explained Hemlock.  She then quickly explained the events that had transpired since the death of Safreon.

"Will you help me to pursue Falignus?" Hemlock asked finally.

"
Long have I lived.  Your lives are
brief:
like the passage of a moon for me.  I remember the old Wizard.  We agreed to join him.  He kept us safe.  But then the other came and hunted us.  All of my kind were slain.  I chose to die rather than flee.  But somehow I stayed hidden.  Then your friend found me.  He hunted me for many years.  I grew weary and let him find me.  He spoke to me about the City.  He hoped to return to the old ways.  He made me hope.  I think you are his greatest hope.  And because of this
, I still hope.  I will help you."

"Thank you," Hemlock replied, "I know that Safreon cared for you and would appreciate that you are helping me."

The Griffin bowed to Hemlock.

Hemlock heard the sound of a small sniffle behind her, turned, and saw tears streaming down Miara's face.

"Miara?" she asked.

"I'm sorry," said Miara as she wiped tears from her cheeks, "it's just that I remember the last time that I saw a creature like this."

"I was just an initiate wizard then.  Zaringer, who was then the head of the Seventh Circle, led an expedition of wizards into the mountains to hunt a dragon.  He said that it was evil and that it was menacing the mining communities that were close to its lair."

"We travelled for a few days and reached the lair.  When the beast emerged, I was struck by its beauty. It carried itself with a pride and grace not unlike this Griffin does.  It did not attack us, but instead tried to escape.  Zaringer had planned for this, though.  We cast spells of confinement on it before it could fly away."

"As it lay there, helpless, I began to take pity on it.  It didn't seem evil to me and it hadn't reacted violently when we surprised it.  But I was too scared to say anything."

"We put it to sleep and took it back to the Tower.  Zaringer did terrible things to it.  Terrible," said Miara, her voice trailing off to a whisper as she concluded.

"Maybe we should open the Tower and destroy the gate after all.  Let's end this evil here and now," said Hemlock, moved to anger by Miara's tale.

"Don't be rash!" replied Samberlin.  "The people already have a great deal of change to digest.  If you destroy the authority of the Tower, then there will be no authority over magic.  There will be a surge in spell casting and there will be accidents.  There will likely be violence.  You can't destroy an institution overnight without chaotic repercussions.  If you truly wish to destroy the influence of the Tower, then it must be done gradually so that there will not be any disorder."