Mage Prime (Book 2) (7 page)

The little magician faced the room. “Even as we speak, strenuous efforts are being made to find some way down into the ancient city. However, we do not hold out much hope, as we fear the access has been magically sealed. Unfortunately, the means required to discover how to unseal it has been stolen, almost certainly by our adversaries. The greater part of our efforts is now being concentrated on retrieving this stolen item. Although we have a good idea where it is, its recovery will be no easy matter.

“You have seen only a small sample of what we will be up against. The incidents of a few weeks ago were merely the beginning. There are hard times ahead of us all. Without the employment of magical powers there is not even a remote possibility that we can come through them without heavy losses… very heavy losses.”

The questions came thick and fast after that, and it was well after lunch-time when a vote was called. While the votes were being cast and counted, Vailin, Agmar, Symon and Karryl returned to the ante-room where refreshments were laid out for them. No sooner had they made themselves comfortable than the bell rang.

Vailin hastily crammed his simple crown back on his dark hair. “That was quick! Let’s not keep them waiting, even though we all know they deserve it.”

The liveried footman led them onto the dais then bowed out.

Hands washing furiously, his expression perplexed, the Prime Minister stepped forward. “Your Majesty, Lady Evalin and gentlemen. This is quite unprecedented, but is nevertheless a fact. There was no need to count. We could see when we opened the bag that all the balls were the same colour. The vote was unanimous. All the balls were white. The mages have the full support of the government.”

Days gradually lengthened as Karryl spent increasingly more time with Kimi and Mordas, soaking up the vast store of knowledge which they made available. Spells of varying degrees of difficulty were practised and perfected in a large unused hall earmarked for their use. It was during one of these sessions, near the end of one of those blustery days which snatch precocious blooms, leaving them dying on cold ground which yearns for the first warm kiss of spring sunshine, that they received the first indication that things were beginning to change. The large fluffy grey cat, which had been sitting quietly watching proceedings from a far corner of the room, leapt to her feet. Tail high in the air, she trotted over to stand beside Symon who had joined them to guide Karryl through his first involvement in a group spell-casting. Giving a little miaow to attract his attention, she raised a paw. Symon looked down into her large amethyst eyes. It was all over in a few seconds. The air around them shimmered. The forms of magician and feline dissolved into swirls and ripples of grey and violet. Then they were gone. A long silence followed, eventually broken by the unflappable Karryl. “That was a bit sudden. He could at least have said ‘goodbye’.”

Kimi stared at the empty space then looked at Mordas. “It is not a good feeling I have about this.”

In an attempt to locate the direction of the spell, the tall physician-mage stood with a hand outstretched over the space where Symon had been standing. She shook her head. “I can’t detect anything. It’s just as if they were never here. It must have been something fairly momentous for D’ta to take him away like that.”

Karryl tilted his head to one side, a mannerism he had picked up from his master and mentor, Symon. “Have either of you noticed she’s been around a lot more than usual just lately?”

Mordas steepled her fingers and tapped them against her lips for a moment. “Now you come to mention it, she has, hasn’t she? Although she’s never materialised to her human form since the day you were given the book.”

Karryl chuckled. “Don’t you believe it! I’ve often heard them talking well into the night after I’ve gone to bed, but she’s always been a fluffy grey cat the next day. Y’know, I think Symon knew this was going to happen, and he had his own reasons for not telling us.”

They all turned towards the doorway as a soft lilting voice carried across the vast sparsely furnished hall. “That is indeed the truth, and the rest you will surely find out in time.”

Karryl was surprised to see that Mordas had dropped to one knee, and remained in this position of obeisance, her head bowed.

The owner of the voice came forward to stand in front of Karryl. “It’s pleased I am to meet you again Master Karryl.”

Without shifting her gaze she spoke to Mordas. “Be standing up beside me, Mordas my child. I am no longer your tutor, but a physician-mage, just as you are. Isn’t it the truth now, that we are equals?”

The two women gazed at each other for a moment then reached out and clasped hands. Slow silent tears began to creep down Mordas’ flushed cheeks.

Eventually she brushed them away. “Lady Evalin, I hardly know what to say.”

The tall woman reached out and placed a reassuring hand on Mordas’ shoulder. “Then surely I will speak for myself, for I already know who you all are. As you have probably already gathered, I was once Mordas’ tutor. Now I shall be spending a while with you until Master Symon returns.” She held up a finger and turned to Karryl. “And don’t be asking when that will be, because I’m not knowing that myself.”

Karryl took a deep breath. As if reading his thoughts, Evalin continued. “Also, I am not yet at liberty to reveal where D’ta has taken him. So with this dearth of knowledge you must muddle through as best you can. All I can say is that there will soon be a time when Master Symon and your good selves will need all the power and skill you can muster. It is to that end that himself has been scooted off elsewhere.”

Unable to think of anything constructive to say, Karryl looked across at Kimi and raised a questioning eyebrow. The tattooed hill ranger placed his palms together in front of his chest and gave a brief, slow nod, accepting and approving. Evalin was just finishing a subdued conversation with Mordas when a frantic and heavy pounding began on the massive double doors of the hall.

The others watched in consternation as Karryl hurried over and swung the doors open. “Whatever is the matter?”

He was surprised to see one of the palace messengers, a boy of about fifteen, standing stiffly and respectfully but obviously in some distress.

After several incoherent false starts the lad managed to get his message out. “His Majesty requests that the Lady Mordas attend. There is an emergency.”

Mordas strode forward. “What kind of emergency?”

The messenger sketched a bow and took a deep breath. “Some kind of sickness, all over the city.”

Mordas pushed past him out into the corridor and began to run. “Inform his Majesty I’m on my way. I have to collect my things.”

Evalin hurried across the room to stand beside Karryl who was leaning out of the door watching Mordas. She placed a calming hand on the messenger’s shoulder. “Would you also inform his Majesty that the Lady Evalin will be with him shortly?”

The boy gazed up at her, his eyes wide, and gave a great gulp. “Oh! Yes ma’am. Right away!”

Making another sketchy bow he hurried off down the corridor in the opposite direction to that which Mordas had taken.

Evalin turned to Karryl and Kimi. “My senses are telling me something is dreadfully wrong. I must speak to Vailin immediately.”

Karryl looked thoughtful, and glanced at Kimi. “Should we come too?”

Evalin’s deep blue eyes flashed. “Indeed. I fear we shall all be needed.”

She set off at a rapid pace down the corridor, closely followed by Kimi. Pulling the heavy doors closed behind him, it seemed to Karryl that the thunderous noise of their closing carried a dreadful note of impending doom.

A purple-hued dusk was already beginning to fall as Mordas hurried into the small reception room to find Karryl and Kimi already waiting.

She looked around. “Where’s Evalin?”

Karryl nodded towards the heavily carved double doors. “In the throne room with King Vailin. She said we should wait out here until you arrived. Shall we go in?”

Without waiting for a reply Karryl strode towards the doors which swung noiselessly open as the little group approached.

Mordas spoke from behind him. “Did you do that?”

“Of course. I don’t think we’ve got time for niceties. We’ll worry about etiquette later.”

They trooped into the throne room to find Jobling waiting for them. “His Majesty asks that you join him and the Lady Evalin on the main balcony.”

Leading them across to a side door, he opened it then stood to one side. The cool breeze which wafted in brought very little sound. As the three stepped out onto the balcony, King Vailin turned, his eyes troubled, his mouth a grim line.

The young monarch beckoned them forward, then gestured towards the palace frontage. “They have come to us for help. Is there anything we can do?”

Mordas put down her laden bag and leaned forward on the balustrade. Shock registered on her face as she looked across the wide courtyard. A vast crowd of Vellethen’s citizens were packed solidly in front of the main gate a hundred yards away. All stood unmoving and silent, many with their hands gripped tightly round the cold iron rails. Mordas lifted her head to see more clearly through the gathering dusk. The majority were men, although Mordas could just make out the unmistakeable sounds of women sobbing with despair. As the group on the balcony watched, a ripple of sound and movement ran through the crowd, like an errant breeze through corn. Secure on the inside of the railings but constantly alert, the guards turned towards the crowd and took up a combat-ready stance. Those citizens assembled at the front jostled each other, giving space to one of their number who had shoved his way through.

At first Mordas could make out nothing of his features. Then the holler of the lamplighter cut through the chill evening air. The crowd shuffled raggedly back to give him enough room to squeeze along in front of them and touch his long lighting pole to the lamps on either side of the massive gates. No sooner had he finished and jostled his way out, than the man who had pushed forward returned to the place he had gained, close to the railings. Lamplight struck the man’s features and clothing. With a gasp of recognition Karryl darted forward to lean across the balustrade beside Mordas. Looking up towards the balcony, the man called out.

His deep strong tones lifted easily towards them on the evening breeze. “Your Majesty, Karryl, Mordas! Their children are dying. These people need your help!”

Mordas pulled back and turned sharply to King Vailin. “Did you hear that? Has anyone been to see these people?”

The king nodded, but it was Evalin who spoke. “It was the Mayor of the city who first petitioned His Majesty. Local physicians were unable to identify the illness, and the mayor was able to tell us very little, only that the first case was reported three days ago. Since then, new cases are being reported every hour. The physicians seem to be at a total loss.” Her dark blue eyes flashed. “As the illness seems to be affecting only children, it is causing a more than usual degree of distress. I suspect some kind of enchantment, and until we can get amongst these people we shall not be able to discover what it is, or its origins.”

Karryl turned to the king. “That man is Harrel, my step-uncle. He knows the city and its people. He will be able to tell us what the situation is, probably as well as anybody.”

Vailin looked at Karryl, his expression thoughtful. When he replied his voice was firm and decisive. “You realise that if I have him brought up here it will open the floodgate to a host of accusations of favouritism. I think you are too closely connected. It would be better if someone went down to the gates and spoke to him.”

Evalin placed a hand on Karryl’s shoulder. “Mordas and I will go down. We will question others as well, and you can keep yourself here.”

Karryl opened his mouth to protest, but Evalin cut him short with a flick of her slender hand. “To be sure, I know what you’re thinking. ‘Tis true a crowd like this has been known to turn ugly, but we can hold our own if necessary. And haven’t we got those lovely strong guards to look out for us and all?”

Karryl nodded wordlessly, totally won over, not only by the sense of her argument but also by the musical lilt of Evalin’s voice.

She looked him in the eye and gave him a little wink. “Now, you be coming if I call. Don’t worry, you’ll hear me. When I call, the gods hear me. Isn’t that right, Mordas?”

The auburn-haired physician-mage smiled and nodded as she picked up her large embroidered bag. “That’s right. Now, if we decide to go straight out into people’s homes, which is why I am taking my bag, I will leave a trail for you to follow.”

Despite the gravity of the situation, Karryl’s sense of the absurd kicked in and he grinned. “What are you going to do? Scatter breadcrumbs?”

Mordas scowled but couldn’t hold it, and she too grinned. “You know what kind of trail I mean. You’ll be able to pick it up easily with the fingers of one hand.”

She looked at Kimi who was still surveying the silent, unmoving crowd. He turned as she spoke. “Friend Kimi; we may well need your unique healing spells. Will you follow with Karryl?”

The tattooed hill ranger bowed his head in acknowledgement. The two women turned and with a swift curtsey to King Vailin, left the balcony.

Vailin’s eyebrows knitted as he looked at Karryl. “I wish they wouldn’t do that.”

Karryl was puzzled. “Take over. Is that what you mean?”

The young king gave a wry smile. “No. I’m used to that. It’s that blasted curtseying, all that dipping and bobbing that seems so unnecessary.”

Karryl gave his deep throaty chuckle. “One of the minor drawbacks of being a king I suppose. Anyway, has anybody been sent into the homes in the city to assess the situation, or will Mordas and Evalin be the first?”

Vailin stepped forward to the balustrade and looked down at the two most magically powerful women in the land hurrying across his courtyard. “They will be the first with the benefit of magic. The physicians have been unable to achieve any results. Perhaps Lady Evalin is right and it is an enchantment. If it is, then it would require equal powers to remove it. If that works, then perhaps we shall see what stance those decriers of magic who have sick children will take.”

Karryl stepped back into the shadows at the rear of the balcony and leaned his tall frame against an ornamental pilaster. He kept his voice low, but loud enough for Vailin at the front of the balcony, to hear him. “As much as I am concerned about the plight of the children, the thing that really concerns me is, if it is an enchantment then who is responsible, and more to the point, why?”

Vailin answered without turning round. “That thought had crossed my mind. If, as you say, it is an enchantment, then you know that my ministers and intelligence service are at your disposal, along with anything else you may need.”

Karryl made a gruff noise in his throat. “They won’t like that. You know as well as I do that despite the vote in favour and the efforts of the Lady Evalin and Master Symon, some of them will secretly disapprove of the use of talent. There are probably one or two who will still go so far as to deny its very existence.”

Vailin turned and gave him a long look. A tone of mild contempt tinged his voice. “They’re probably the same ones who maintain that the world is flat. Anyway, they don’t have to like it. I’m certain the arrival of those grelfons is somehow connected to this. The whole thing could well escalate into a major crisis, and that’s something I would rather nip in the bud if at all possible.”

Just as the king finished speaking Karryl pushed himself upright and cast a quick glance over towards the palace gates. “If you’ll excuse us Your Majesty, we have to leave now.”

Vailin frowned. “We?”

“Kimi, and I.”

The wiry Ingalian hill ranger emerged from the deep shadow behind the second pilaster.

Vailin chuckled. “Good grief! I’d forgotten he was even here. What a spy he’d make!”

Karryl clamped his jaws on a grin. Straight-faced he looked at the inscrutable Kimi and then at the young king. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

After making a respectful bow he hurried off the balcony. Kimi placed his palms together in front of his chest in a courteous gesture to the young king then quickly followed. With a jerk of his head, Karryl sent one of the throne room guards out to stay with Vailin who remained alone on the balcony, watching the crowd begin to disperse and drift away, seemingly having been persuaded that something was being done.