Light & Dark: The Awakening of the Mageknight (44 page)

Danny took a seated position directly
opposite. Chris followed next and sat down on Danny's right side,
while Matt seated himself on the left. Doug and Briza found spots
on the far-right side of the long couch, content to sit next to
each other. Calador and Anthony felt more comfortable standing,
while Alonso wandered around the room, snooping through the curious
collection of wizardly trinkets.

"Would you all care for some tea?" Alamber
asked once everyone appeared settled.

"Please," said Briza politely, while everyone
else simply nodded.

Alamber went to work instantly, leaning
forward and gripping the white pitcher. Taking the matching cups in
turn, he poured out the green-colored contents of the pitcher,
causing steady tendrils of steam to hover through the air.

"Thank you," offered Danny as he received the
warm cup. Peering into the hot liquid, he noted the greenish color
as well as several black specks floating within.

"'Tis only the spice, Squire," said Alamber,
noting Danny's reluctance.

Danny leaned forward and reached out for a
small ceramic bowl containing a mound of sugar.

"Are you not brave enough to try it without
adding other ingredients?" Alamber asked.

"It is rude according to my race to not
accept the offer of tea as it has been brewed first," added
Calador.

"I'm sorry…" began Danny.

"Please," Alamber insisted, holding his right
hand before him in a gesture of peace. "Due to my lineage, I merely
contain half the manners of my race, so I will not be offended. I
only intercede to save you from making a mistake in the future,
should you find yourselves in the company of more civil Elves.
Please, at least try it as is first."

Seeing no harm in the attempt, Danny took a
small sip. The initial sensation he had from the liquid was that it
was hot, but not overly so. The second was an overwhelming taste of
mint, followed by a small tang of cinnamon. Gulping the tea down,
Danny produced a smile. "It's very good!" he said, leaning back
into the couch, content to leave the sugar out of the
concoction.

"I am glad you think so, Squire," said
Alamber, shifting back in his seat, as if to mimic Danny's posture.
"'Tis my own creation, you see. My Elvin brethren often proclaim
that it is much too sweet, while my Human counterparts seem to
truly enjoy it."

"I like it," said Briza after taking a sip.
"But Father would not."

Alamber nodded with approval. "Most young
Elves favor my teas, while the elders of the race tend to be stuck
in their ways. The teas of the Elves tend to be quite plain,
relying on tree bark and grass to flavor them. What say you,
Calador?"

"You know I have always favored your brews,"
said Calador after taking his third sip.

"That is because a visit to Elsmelda is long
overdue, Calador. I am sure that, once there, your tastes will
revert back to the bland preferences of your kin."

"I am more than satisfied with my current
surroundings, Alamber."

"You see," began Alamber, addressing his
words to everyone, "Calador has not returned home since…"

"That is enough, Alamber," interrupted
Calador, his voice loud and commanding. "That is not the reason we
are here."

"In any case," continued Alamber as if quite
used to Calador's tantrums, "should any of you ever visit the
capital city of the Elves, I would definitely recommend adding some
sugar to the teas you will be offered. That is, of course, after
you taste it in the manner it was presented and assuming you can
even find any sugar."

"I'll keep that in mind," said Danny, gulping
down the rest of the balmy liquid.

"More?" Alamber asked.

"Please," Danny said, offering up his empty
cup.

"You were about to tell me the reason for
this visit, yes?" encouraged Alamber, retrieving the alabaster
pitcher, pouring Danny a second helping.

After taking a quick sip to settle his
nerves, Danny began his tale, starting with his initial meeting
with Sabrina Drake and his introduction to Sir Syndil on the day of
his testing.

Alamber listened intently, encouraging Danny
with subtle nods.

Taking another swig, Danny continued,
detailing his duels with Squire Rigil and Calador, and the
discussion with the blind Elf afterward.

"Mageknight," Alamber whispered to himself,
his eye bulging as if it searched Danny up and down for some clue
to the truth. "Do you believe he is the one?" he asked of
Calador.

"I do," insisted Calador, with a slight nod
of the head.

Alamber inched forward, "I have so many
questions."

"I am afraid they will have to wait," said
Calador.

"There is more?" Alamber asked, looking
confused.

"There is," assured Calador.

Danny continued, explaining their suspicions
about Sir Syndil.

Alamber continued to listen intently.
However, once Danny had finished, he said, "'Tis true that Sir
Syndil and Calador have never seen eye to eye, but why would Sir
Syndil keep such a glorious discovery to himself?"

"That is what we are trying to figure out,
Professor Alamber," said Briza.

"Why come to me? What can I do?"

"I found an object in Sir Syndil's personal
quarters."

"…An object?" Alamber scooted right to the
edge of his seat. "What do you mean, you found it?"

"I snuck in while Sir Syndil was away."

"You did what!" Alamber said, turning his
gaze toward Calador. "You knew about this?" he asked the Elf.

Calador remained calm, standing straight and
rigid. "I did not know of their intention at the time. Had I known,
I would have put a stop to it immediately."

Alamber took to his feet. "Such action is
grounds for suspension from the Academy."

"At least listen to the discovery before you
pass judgment, my old friend."

Glaring at Calador for but a moment longer,
Alamber shook his head in shame before turning the stern gaze of
his lone eye upon Danny. "Continue," he said matter-of-factly.

Danny hesitated for a moment, unsure of the
interaction between the two Elves.

"What did you find?" Alamber asked, his tone
remaining stern, but growing softer.

Danny's hand shook, causing the teacup to
rattle on the saucer as he placed it on the table. He went on to
describe the events of his trespass. He explained the open book
that detailed the known facts of the Mageknight and then the vision
of the Ghostsight.

Alamber's eye widened as Danny clarified the
event, the Half-Elf clearly enthralled by the telling.

Danny explained how his vision had led him to
the secret switch and the trap door in the middle of the floor and,
finally, the objects within.

With his anger forgotten, Alamber fell back
into the cushions of the couch, stroking the fine red hairs of his
goatee, whispering the description of the black orb repeatedly to
himself.

"Do you know what the object is?" Calador
asked after a moment.

Pulled from his pondering, Alamber looked at
the blind Elf as if he was seeing him for the first time.
"Honestly, it could be any number of things, truthfully, I am not
quite sure. Have you searched the archives for a description?"

"In painstaking detail, Professor Alamber,"
said Briza.

"What a waste of time that was," added
Alonso.

"…Calador?" Alamber asked.

"I would not have involved you in this had I
not already exhausted every other resource, old friend."

Danny shifted forward to the edge of his
seat. "We were hoping you might be able to search the archives at
Elsmelda."

Alamber resumed caressing the deep red hair
of his chin. "Aye, their archives date back much farther than those
of the Light. Perhaps one of the elders may have more knowledge
about this orb of which you speak."

"Then you'll go to Elsmelda on our behalf?"
Matt asked as his glasses drooped down the bridge of his nose,
giving him a rather comical appearance.

"Truly, with the finals for the Chalice of
Light beginning in the coming week, my scholarly obligations here
are complete. I have been contemplating a visit to the capital
anyway. It seems you have given me a valid reason."

"Thank you," said Danny.

"However," interrupted Alamber, "you must
understand, Mageknight, that the information you have passed on to
me is rather critical to the Light. Our forces are at an all-time
low and your arrival has been preordained to turn the tide in our
favor."

Danny felt self-conscious as all eyes turned
upon him.

Alamber hesitated, sensing Danny's distress.
"Should I succeed in uncovering the truth about this dark object,
as well as the motivation behind Sir Syndil's deception, I need
your word that you will take your rightful place as the
Mageknight."

"You have my word, Professor Alamber."

Alamber sighed. "Then, it is decided. I shall
leave on the morrow for Elsmelda, the capital city of the
Elves."

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week had passed since Head Wizard Alamber
had left for the capital of the Elves. For Danny, the past few days
had seemed somewhat normal; he focused on training and attending
the various classes of a squire. However, every once in a while, he
worried about the news the Half-Elf might bring back when he did
return.

This particular evening found Danny preparing
himself for his final lesson with Sir Syndil. Despite his concern
over the Elf's intentions, he was looking forward to the training
session; Sir Syndil had helped Danny to nearly master a portion of
the Ghostsight.

"If you don't trust that Elf, why do you keep
training with him?" Alonso asked bluntly from across the room,
while lying on his bed with his arms crossed behind his head.

Danny slipped his sword belt around his
waist. "It's because I don't trust him that I train with him. The
more time I spend around him, the more I might learn. Besides, if I
refused his training, he might suspect something was wrong."

Alonso shrugged. "If I were you, I would've
walked right up to the Pool of the Mageknight long ago, claimed
what belonged to me and shoved it in Sir Syndil's face. I bet the
Bonded of a Mageknight is much better than the blades we carry
now."

"Things are already complicated without
everyone celebrating the fact that I may be the Mageknight. And I
like my sword well enough," said Danny, slipping his longsword into
the sheath with a slight ring.

Alonso shrugged for the second time and
added, "Whatever."

"Just ignore him, man," encouraged Chris.
"Are you sure you want to do this? Our training as first-years is
complete, as you know. You have no obligation to see Sir
Syndil."

"I know. I really believe this is something I
have to do."

"Do you want us to come with you?"

"No, all of you have done more than I could
have asked of you. It means more to me than you'll ever know,"
expressed Danny, gazing at each one to make the point. "This is
something I must do on my own." With one final smile, Danny exited
the room, adding, "Enjoy your evening."

At the double doors that marked the exit to
the first-year barracks, he found Calador waiting with his arms
crossed, leaning against the wall.

"Your final lesson with Sir Syndil?" the Elf
asked, even though Danny knew for sure that the blind Elf already
knew the answer.

"…My final lesson."

Calador uncrossed his arms and took a step
forward. "I know I do not need to tell you to be careful."

"If I've learned anything these past few
weeks, it's to be cautious."

Reaching out, Calador placed a stern hand on
Danny's left shoulder. "Be very careful," he said before moving
past.

"I will," said Danny to Calador's back,
certain that the Elf had heard him. With that, he exited into the
cool night air, the breeze from the surrounding ocean carrying a
salty smell. Alone, he traversed Army Avenue, making note as
squires from various armies celebrated the end of the academic
year, every army except for Dragon and Lion; they were both
scheduled to compete for the Chalice of Light on the morrow,
marking the true end to the training year.

Cheers and hoots surrounded him as he passed
through a kaleidoscope of colors created by the dyed robes of each
individual army. Passing the barracks of Dragon Army, Danny felt a
desperate need to tell Sabrina the truth, but he didn't. Not that
he
could
anyway, most likely Dragon Army was engaged in some
last minute training before the final battle against Lion Army.

Before he knew it, Danny stood outside the
doors that marked the training facility supervised by Sir Syndil.
Taking a deep breath, he lifted his hand to knock. Before his
knuckle could even contact the surface, the door swung open,
revealing Sir Syndil and his ever-present smile.