Magician (114 page)

“ ‘I am older than I care
to remember, old even by the elves’ reckoning. For reasons I do
not understand, I have lived for ages, though my own people are as
mortal as yours. It may be that when I entered into the magic arts, I
unwittingly gave this near-immortality to myself, or it may be the
gift—or curse—of the gods.

“ ‘Since becoming a
sorcerer, I have been fated to know my own future, as others know
their pasts. I have never retreated from what I knew to be before me,
though often I wished to I have served great kings and simple
peasants both. I have lived in the greatest cities and the rudest
huts. Often I have understood the meaning of my participation,
sometimes not, but always I have followed the foreordained path that
was set for me.’ ”

Kulgan stopped for a moment “This
explains how he knew so much.” He resumed his reading.

“ ‘Of all my labors, my
role in the rift war was the hardest. Never have I experienced such
desire to turn from the path before me. Never have I been responsible
for the loss of so many lives, and I mourn for them more than you can
know. But even as you consider my “treachery,” consider
my situation.

“ ‘I was unable to close
the rift without Pug’s aid. It was fated for the war to
continue while he learned his craft on Kelewan. For the terrible
price paid, consider the gain. There now is one upon Midkemia who
practices the Greater Art, which was lost in the coming of man during
the Chaos Wars. The benefit will be judged only by history, but I
think it a valuable one.

“ ‘As to my closing the
rift once peace was at hand, I can only say it was vital. The Tsurani
Great Ones had forgotten that rifts are subject to the Enemy’s
detection.’ ” Kulgan looked up in surprise. “Enemy?
Pug, this refers to something I think you need explain.”

Pug told them quickly of what he knew
of the legendary Enemy. Arutha said, “Can such a terrible being
really exist?” His expression betrayed disbelief.

Pug said, “That it once existed,
there is no doubt, and for a being of such power still to endure is
not beyond imagining. But of all conceivable reasons for Macros’s
actions, this is the last I would have thought possible. No one in
the Assembly had dreamed of it. It’s incredible.”

Kulgan resumed reading. “ ‘It
is to him like a beacon, drawing that terrible entity across space
and time. It might have been years more before he would have
appeared, but once here, all the powers of your world would be
hard-pressed, perhaps even insufficient, to dislodge him from
Midkemia. The rift had to be closed. The reasons I chose to ensure
its closing at the cost of so many lives should be apparent to you.’
”

Pug interrupted. “What does he
mean, ‘should be apparent’?”

Kulgan said, “Macros was nothing,
it seems, if not a student of human nature. Could he alone have
convinced the King and Emperor to close the rift, with so much to be
gained by keeping it open? Perhaps, perhaps not, but in any event
there would have been the all-too-human temptation to keep it open
‘just a little longer.’ I think he knew that and was
ensuring there would be no choice.” Kulgan returned to reading
the scroll. “ ‘As to what will happen now, I cannot say.
My seeing of the future ends with the explosion of the rift. Whether
it is, finally, my appointed hour, or simply the beginning of some
new era of my existence, I do not know In the event you have
witnessed my death, I have decided upon the following course. All my
research, with some exceptions, is contained within this room. It is
to be used to further the Greater and Lesser Arts. It is my wish that
you take possession of the books, scrolls, and tomes contained here
and use them to that end. A new epoch of magic is beginning in the
Kingdom, and it is my wish for others to benefit from my works. In
your hands I leave this new age.”

“It is signed, ‘Macros.’
”

Kulgan placed the scroll upon the table
Pug said, “One of the last things he said to me was he wished
to be remembered kindly.”

They said nothing for a time, then
Kulgan called, “Gathis!”

Within seconds the creature appeared at
the doorway “Yes, Master Kulgan?”

“Do you know what is contained
within this scroll?”

“Yes, Master Kulgan. My master
was most explicit in his instructions. He made sure that we were
aware of his requirements.”

“We?” said Arutha.

Gathis smiled his toothy grin. “I
am but one of my master’s servants. The others are instructed
to keep from your sight, for it was feared their presence might cause
you some discomfort. My master lacked most of the human prejudices
and was content to judge each creature he met on its own merits.”

“What exactly are you?”
asked Pug.

“I am of a race akin to the
goblins, as the elves are to the Dark Brotherhood. We were an old
race and perished but for a few, long before humans came to the
Bitter Sea. Those that were left were brought here by Macros, and I
am the last.”

Kulgan regarded the creature. In spite
of his appearance, there was something about him that was likable.
“What will you do now?”

“I will wait here for my master’s
return, keeping his home in order.”

“You expect him to return?”
asked Pug.

“Most likely. In a day, or a
year, or a century. It does not matter. Things will be ready for him
should he return.”

“What if he has perished?”
asked Arutha.

“In that event, I shall grow old
and die waiting, but I think not. I have served the Black One for a
very long time. Between us is . . . an understanding. If he were
dead, I think I would know. He is merely . . . absent. Even if he is
dead, he may return. Time is not to my master as it is to other men.
I am content to wait.”

Pug thought about this. “He must
truly have been the master of all magic.”

Gathis’s smile broadened. “He
would laugh to hear that, master. He was always complaining of there
being so much to learn and so little time to learn it. And that from
a man who had lived years beyond numbering.”

Kulgan said, as he rose from his chair,
“We will have to fetch men to carry all these things back to
the ship.”

Gathis said, “Worry not, master.
Retire to your ship when you are ready. Leave two boats on the beach
at the cove. At first light the next day you will find everything
placed aboard, packed for shipment.”

Kulgan nodded. “Very well; then
we should start at once to catalog all these works, before we move
them.”

Gathis went over to a shelf and
returned with a rolled parchment. “In anticipation of your
needs, master, I have prepared such a listing of all the works here.”

Kulgan unrolled the parchment and began
reading the inventory of works. His eyes widened. “Listen,”
he said, excitedly. “There’s a copy of Vitalus’s
Expectations of Matter Transformation
here.” His eyes
grew bigger still. “And Spandric’s
Temporal Research
.
That work was thought lost a hundred years ago!” He looked at
the others, wonder upon his face. “And hundreds of volumes with
Macros’s name on them. This is a treasure beyond measure.”

Gathis said, “I am pleased that
you find it so, master.”

Kulgan started to ask for those volumes
to be brought to him, but Arutha said, “Wait Kulgan. Once you
begin, we’ll have to tie you up to get you out of here. Let us
return to the ship and wait for all this to be brought. We must be
off soon.”

Kulgan looked like a child whose sweets
had been taken from him. Arutha, Pug, and Meecham all chuckled at the
stout magician Pug said, “There is no good reason to stay now.
We shall have years to study these after the coronation. Look around,
Kulgan. Do you mean to inhale all this in one breath?”

A look of resignation crossed Kulgan’s
face. “Very well.”

Pug surveyed all in the room “Think
of it. An academy for the study of magic, with Macros’s library
at the heart.”

Kulgan’s eyes grew luminous. “I
had all but forgotten the Duke’s bequest. A place to learn. No
longer will an apprentice learn from this master or that, but from
many. With this legacy and your own teachings, Pug, we have a
wonderful start.”

Arutha said, “Let us be on our
way if we’re to have any sort of start. There’s a new
king to crown, and the longer you tarry, the more likely you’ll
lose yourself in here.”

Kulgan looked as if his good name were
impugned. “Well, I will take a few things to study while on the
ship—if you have no objections?”

Arutha raised a placating hand.
“Whatever you wish,” he said with a rueful smile “But
please, no more than we can reasonably lug down to the boat.”

Kulgan smiled, his mood lightening.
“Agreed.” He turned to Gathis. “Would you fetch
those two volumes I mentioned.”

Gathis held out the two volumes, old
and well read. Kulgan looked surprised, while Gathis said, “I
thought you might reach such an understanding and removed them from
the shelves while you discussed the matter.”

Kulgan walked toward the door, shaking
his head slowly as he regarded the two books he held. The others
followed, and Gathis closed the door behind them. The goblinlike
creature guided them to the courtyard and bid them a safe journey at
the door of the keep.

When the large doors had closed behind
them, Meecham said, “This fellow Macros seems to have raised
five questions for each he answered.”

Kulgan said, “You have that
right, old friend. Perhaps we will gain additional knowledge from his
notes, and other works. Perhaps not, and maybe that’s the right
of it.”

R
illanon
was in a festive mood.

Everywhere banners rippled in the
breeze, and garlands of summer flowers replaced the black bunting
that had marked the period of mourning for the late King and his
cousin Borric. Now they would be crowning a new king, and the people
rejoiced. The people of Rillanon knew little of Lyam, but he was fair
to view, and generous with his smile in public. To the populace it
was as if the sun had come out from behind the dark clouds that had
been Rodric’s reign.

Few among the people were aware of the
many royal guards who circulated throughout the city, always alert
for signs of Guy du Bas-Tyra’s agents and possible assassins.
And fewer still noticed the plainly dressed men who were always near
when groups gathered to speak of the new King, listening to what was
said.

Arutha cantered his horse toward the
palace, leaving Pug, Meecham, and Kulgan behind. He cursed the fate
that had delayed them nearly a week, becalmed less than three days
from Krondor, then the slowness of their journey to Salador. It was
midmorning, and already the Priests of Ishap were bearing the King’s
new crown through the city. In less than three hours they would
appear before the throne and Lyam would take the crown.

Arutha reached the palace, and shouts
from the guards echoed across the vast courtyard, “Prince
Arutha arrives!”

Arutha gave his mount to a page and
hurried up the steps to the palace. As he reached the entranceway,
Anita came running in his direction, a radiant smile on her face.
“Oh,” she cried, “it is so good to see you!”

He smiled back at her and said, “It
is good to see you, also. I must get ready for the ceremony. Where is
Lyam?”

“He has secreted himself in the
Royal Tomb. He left word you were to come straight away to him
there.” Her voice was troubled. “There is something
strange taking place here, but no one seems to know what it is. Only
Martin Longbow has seen Lyam since supper last night, and when I saw
Martin, he had the strangest look upon his face.”

Arutha laughed. “Martin is always
full of strange looks. Come, let us go to Lyam.”

She refused to let him ignore the
warning. “No, you go alone, that is what Lyam ordered. Besides,
I must dress for the ceremony. But, Arutha, there is something very
queer in the wind.”

Arutha’s manner turned more
reflective. Anita was a good judge of such things. “Very well.
I’ll have to wait for my things to be brought from the ship,
anyway I will see Lyam, then when this mystery is cleared up, join
you at the ceremony.”

“Good.”

“Where is Carline?”

“Fussing over this and that. I’ll
tell her you’ve arrived.”

She kissed his cheek and hurried off.
Arutha hadn’t been to the vault of his ancestors since he was a
boy, the first time he had come to Rillanon, for Rodric’s
coronation. He asked a page to lead him there, and the boy guided him
through a maze of corridors.

The palace had been through many
transformations over the ages, new wings being added on, new
constructions over those destroyed by fire, earthquake, or war, but
in the center of the vast edifice the ancient first keep remained.
The only clue they were entering the ancient halls was the sudden
appearance of dark stone walls, worn smooth by time. Two guards stood
watch by a door over which was carved a bas-relief crest of the
conDoin kings, a crowned lion holding a sword in its claws. The page
said, “Prince Arutha,” and the guards opened the door.
Arutha stepped through into a small anteroom, with a long flight of
stairs leading down.

He followed the stairs past rows of
brightly burning torches that stained the stones of the walls with
black soot. The stairs ended, and Arutha stood before a large,
high-arched doorway. On both sides loomed heroic statues of ancient
conDoin kings. To the right, with features dulled with age, stood the
statue of Dannis, first conDoin King of Rillanon, some seven hundred
fifty years past. To the left stood the statue of Delong, the only
King called “the Great,” the King who first brought the
banner of Rillanon to the mainland with the conquest of Bas-Tyra, two
hundred fifty years after Dannis.