Magician (102 page)

Now the arena itself began to wail as
the ancient stones moved, slipping across one another. Mortar a
millennium old turned to dust in an instant as the very stadium
crumbled. Cries for mercy were swept away by the winds or drowned in
the cacophony of destruction. The fury mounted, and the world seemed
ready to be torn asunder. Milamber raised his hands above his head
again. He brought his palms together, and the mightiest thunder peal
of all sounded. Then, abruptly, the chaos ceased.

Above, the sky was clear and sunny, a
light breeze once more blowing from the east. The ground stood as it
should, motionless and solid, and the rain of fire was a memory.

The silence that followed was
deafening. Then the groans of the injured and the sobs of the
terrified could be heard. The Warlord remained standing, his face
drained of all color, small burns scarring his features and arms. In
place of the mighty leader of the Empire stood a man bereft of any
emotion save terror. His eyes were wide enough to show whites His
mouth moved, as if he were trying to speak, but no words were
forthcoming.

Milamber raised his hands overhead
again, and the Warlord fell back with a sob of fear. The magician
clapped his hands and was gone.

The afternoon breeze carried the scent
of summer flowers. In the garden Katala was playing a word game with
William, she had insisted they should both learn the language of her
husband’s homeland.

It was almost evening, for they were
farther east than the Holy City. The sun was low in the west, and the
shadows in the garden were long. Without the chime announcing
Milamber’s arrival, Katala was startled when her husband
appeared in the doorway of their home. She rose slowly from her seat,
for she sensed at once something was wrong. “Husband, what is
it?”

William ran up to his father, while
Milamber said, “I will tell you everything later. We must take
William and flee.”

William tugged on his father’s
black robe. “Papa!” he cried, demanding attention.
Milamber picked up his son and hugged him tightly, then said,
“William, we are going on a journey to my homeland. You must be
a brave boy and not cry.”

William stuck out his lower lip, for if
his father was asking him not to cry, then there must be a very good
reason to do so, but he nodded and held back the tears.

“Netoha! Almorella!”
Milamber called, and in a moment the two servants entered the garden.
Netoha bowed, but Almorella rushed to Katala’s side Katala had
insisted she accompany them to Milamber’s new home when he
brought his family from the Shinzawai estate. She was more sister to
Katala and aunt to William than a slave. She could see at once that
something was wrong, and tears came unbidden to her eyes.

“You’re leaving,” she
said, a statement more than a question.

Netoha looked at his master “Your
will, Great One?”

Milamber said, “We are leaving.
We must. I am sorry.” Netoha took the news stoically, in the
proper Tsurani fashion, but Almorella embraced Katala, openly
weeping.

Milamber said, “I wish to ensure
that you are both provided for. I have prepared documents against
this day. When we have gone, you will find all my work cataloged in
my study. Above my study table, on the top shelf, you will find a
parchment with a black seal upon it. I am giving the estate to you,
Netoha.” He said to Almorella, “I know you two care for
each other. The document giving Netoha the estate also contains a
provision granting you your freedom, Almorella. He will make you a
good husband. Even the Emperor cannot set aside a document bearing a
Great One’s seal, so do not worry.”

Almorella’s expression was a
mixture of complete disbelief, happiness, and sorrow. She nodded
slowly that she understood, thanks clearly showing in her eyes.

Milamber returned his attention to
Netoha. “I am deeding the lower pasture land to Xanothis the
herdsman. Provide well for the others of this household, Netoha.

“Now, in my study you will also
find several parchments sealed with red wax. These must be burned at
once. Whatever you do, do not break the seals before you burn them.
All other works are to be sent to Hochopepa of the Assembly, with my
deepest affection and the wish that he find them useful. He will know
what to do with them.”

Almorella again embraced Katala, then
kissed William. Netoha said, “Quickly, girl. You’re not
mistress of this estate yet, and there is important work to do.”
The hadonra started to bow, then said, haltingly, “Great One, I
. . . I wish you well.” He quickly bowed and started for the
study Milamber could see a hint of moisture in his eyes.

Almorella, tears running down her
cheeks, followed Netoha into the house. Katala turned to Milamber
“Now?”

“Now.” As he took them to
the pattern room, he said, “There is one thing I must find out
before we attempt the rift.” He held his wife, with their son
between them, and willed himself to another pattern.

They were shrouded in a white haze for
an instant, then were in a different room. They hurried through the
door, and Katala saw they went into the home of the Shinzawai lord.

They hurried to Kamatsu’s study
and opened the door without ceremony. Kamatsu looked up, annoyed at
the interruption. His expression changed immediately when he saw who
was at his door. “Great One, what is it?” he asked, as he
arose.

Milamber quickly conveyed the events of
the day, and Katala paled at the recounting. The Lord of the
Shinzawai shook his head. “You may have set processes in motion
that will forever change the internal order of the Empire, Great One.
I hope it is not a death blow. In any event, it will take years to
gauge their effects. Already the Party for Progress is making
overtures to the Party for Peace for alliance. In a short time you
have had great effect upon my homeland.”

Kamatsu continued, preventing Milamber
from speaking. “That is not a thing of the moment, though. You
who were once my slave have learned greatly, but you are still not
Tsurani. You must understand the Warlord cannot allow such a setback
and save face. He most likely will take his life in shame, but those
who follow his lead—his family, his clan, his subordinates—will
all mark you for death. Already there may be assassins hired, or
magicians who are ready to act against you. You have no choice but to
flee to your homeland with your family.”

William decided it was appropriate now
to cry, for in spite of his attempts at bravery his mother was
frightened, and the boy felt it. Milamber turned away from Kamatsu
and incanted a spell, and William was immediately asleep. “He
will sleep until we are safe.” Katala nodded and knew it was
for the best, but still she disliked the necessity.

“I have no fear of any magician,
Kamatsu,” Milamber said, “but I fear for the Empire. I
know now that, no matter how hard my teachers in the Assembly tried,
I can never be Tsurani. But I do serve the Empire. In my disgust over
what I witnessed in the arena, I became sure of what I’ve
suspected for some time now. The Empire must change its course, or it
is doomed to fall. The rotten, weak heart of this culture cannot
support its own weight much longer, and like a ngaggi tree with a
rotten core, it will collapse under its own weight. There are other
things, things of which I may not speak, that I have learned in my
time here, that tell me great change must come.

“I must leave, for should I stay,
the Assembly, the High Council, all the Empire will be divided. I
would have difficulty leaving the Empire were it not in the best
interest of Tsuranuanni for me to depart. That is my training. But
before I leave, I must know, has there been word from Laurie and your
son of the Emperor’s overture of peace?”

“No. We know they disappeared
during a skirmish the first night Hokanu’s men searched the
area after the fight and found no signs of them, so it is assumed
they were safely away. My younger son is certain they reached a road
behind Kingdom lines. Since then we have had no further word. Other
members of our faction wait with as much trepidation as I.”

Milamber considered. “Then the
Emperor is still not ready to act. I had hoped it might be soon, so
we could safely leave under the truce, before opposition to me
becomes organized. Now, with the Warlord’s announcement of
victory over Duke Borric’s army, we may never see peace.”

Kamatsu said, “It is clear you
are not Tsurani, Great One. With the Warlord in disgrace from your
destruction of games he dedicated to the Light’ of Heaven, the
War Party will be in disorder. Now the Kanazawai Clan will once more
remove itself from the Alliance for War. Our allies in the Blue Wheel
will work doubly hard to press for a truce in the High Council. The
War Party is without an effective leader. Even should the Warlord
prove shameless and not kill himself, he will be quickly removed, for
the War Party needs a strong leader, and the Minwanabi are ambitious;
for three generations they have sought the white and gold. But others
in the High Council will press the claims as well. The War Party will
be in disarray, and we shall gain time to strengthen our position, as
the Game of the Council continues.”

Kamatsu looked long at Milamber. “As
I have said, there are those who are already plotting to take your
life. Make for your homeworld now. Do not delay, and you should
likely win safely through. It might not occur to any but a few that
you will strike for the rift at once. Any other Great One would take
a week putting his house in order.” He smiled at Milamber.
“Great One, you were a fresh breeze in a stale room while you
were with us. I am sorry to see you leave our land, but you must go
at once.”

“I hope the day will come when we
may meet again as friends, Lord of the Shinzawai, for there is much
that our two people could learn from one another.”

The Shinzawai lord placed his hand upon
Milamber’s shoulder. “I hope also for that day, Great One
I will send prayers with you. One thing more. If you should perchance
see Kasumi in your homeworld, tell him his father thinks of him. Now
go, and good-bye.”

“Good-bye,” said Milamber.
He took his wife by the arm and hurried back toward the pattern room.
When they reached it, a chime sounded, and Milamber pushed his wife
and son behind him. A brief haze of white appeared over the pattern
in the floor, and Fumita stood there, startled.

“Milamber!” he said,
stepping forward.

“Stop, Fumita!”

The older magician stood still “I
mean you no harm. Word of what occurred has reached those of the
Assembly not attending the games. The Assembly is in turmoil. Tapek
and the other Warlord’s pets demand your life. Hochopepa and
Shimone argue on your behalf. Never has such discord been seen In the
High Council, the War Party demands an end to the independence of the
Assembly during times of war, and the Party for Progress and the
Party for Peace are in open alliance with the Blue Wheel Party. The
Empire is upside down.”

The older magician seemed to droop
visibly as he related this. He looked years older than Milamber had
ever remembered seeing him. “I think you may have been right in
many of your beliefs, Milamber. We must have changes in the Empire if
we are not to decay, but so many changes so quickly? I don’t
know.”

There was a moment of silence between
them; Milamber said, “What I did was for the Empire, Fumita.
You must believe that.”

The older magician nodded slowly. “I
believe you, Milamber, or at least I wish to.” He seemed to
stand more erect. “Whatever the outcome there will be much for
the Assembly to do when things have settled. Perhaps we can steer the
Empire to a healthier course.

“But you must go quickly. No
soldier will try to stop you, for only a few outside the Holy City
know of your actions, but the Warlord’s pets may already be
seeking you out. You caught our brothers by surprise at the games,
and none singly could stand against you, but if they coordinate
against you, even your vaunted powers will avail you little. You
would have to kill another magician, or be killed in turn.”

“Yes, Fumita, I know. I must go.
I have no desire to kill another magician, but I shall if I must.”

Fumita looked pained at hearing this.
“How are you to reach the rift? You haven’t been to the
staging area, have you?”

“No, but I go to the City of the
Plains, and from there I can command litter.”

“It is too slow. The litter will
take over an hour to reach the staging area.” He reached into
his robe and pulled out a transfer device. He held it out to
Milamber. “The third setting will take you directly to the rift
machine.”

Milamber took it. “Fumita, I mean
to try to close the rift.”

Fumita shook his head. “Milamber,
even with your powers I don’t think you can. Scores of
magicians worked to create the great rift, and the controlling spells
were established only on the Kelewan side. The Midkemian machine is
only to stabilize the rift’s location.”

“I know, Fumita. You’ll
soon know, for I’ve sent my works to Hocho. My ‘mysterious’
research has been an intensive study of rift energies.

“I may now know more about them
than any other magician in the Assembly. I know it would be a
desperate, possibly destructive, action from the Midkemian side, but
this war must end.”

“Then get free to your homeworld
and wait. The Emperor will act soon, I am sure. The Warlord could not
have been handed a bigger blow by losing the war than the one you
handed him in the arena. If the Light of Heaven orders peace, then
perhaps we can deal with the question of the rift. Stay your hand
until you’ve learned what the King’s reaction to the
peace offer is.”

“Then you also play the Great
Game?”

Fumita smiled. “I am not the only
magician to descend into playing politics, Milamber. Hochopepa and I
have been a part of this from the onset. Go now, and may the gods be
with you. I wish you a safe journey and a long, prosperous life on
your homeworld.”