Nicholas Raven and the Wizards' Web - Volume 1 (52 page)

At the mention of Mune’s name, Nicholas thought about all the strange events he had been embroiled in lately, wondering how or if they were related. It intrigued him that one of Ivy’s kidnappers had also been in Kanesbury on the first night of the Harvest Festival, yet he couldn’t connect the events. Maybe it was simply a coincidence.

Megan noted the distracted look upon his face, her thoughts paralleling his. “You must be wondering why the man who helped Madeline kidnap Ivy was also in your village arranging for the release of the Enâri.”

“I am,” he said, ready to explain everything that had happened to him in Kanesbury in front of King Justin and the others. He hoped they would indulge the personal speculations of a commoner and not feel that he was wasting their time. “I find it strange that the Enâri were released on the same night that I was arrested for robbery and that Arthur Weeks was murdered.”

King Justin leaned back in his chair in surprise, wondering exactly who his granddaughter had invited into the Blue Citadel. Carmella sat up at the same moment, a chill running through her at the mention of the name Arthur Weeks.

“Don’t worry, Grandfather. Nicholas didn’t rob anybody,” Megan said. “He was framed for that crime and the murder, which is why he fled Kanesbury and eventually met me.”

“Your grandfather and I both look forward to hearing the details surrounding that episode,” Prince Gregory said with an assumed smirk.

“As do I,” Carmella added, turning to Nicholas, her heart beating wildly and her hands quivering as she gripped the armrest of his chair. “Did you just say a man was murdered in your village on the very night the Enâri were reawakened?”

“Yes. His name was Arthur Weeks, and word around town was that I killed him,” Nicholas said, still incensed by the accusation. “And since Arthur implicated me in the robbery right to my face, well, apparently most folks found it hard to deny that I was his killer. But like Megan said, I didn’t do it. And I have a witness.”

“Oh, I believe you,” Carmella said, gazing at the medallion lying upon the table. “Because I think I now know who killed the unfortunate Arthur Weeks.”

“You do?” he asked in disbelief. “How is that possible?”

“Because of something Jagga had mentioned to me, which up until now I never gave a second thought,” she replied. “You see, when he told me he had stolen the key from a man in Kanesbury, he briefly mentioned that his name was Arthur Weeks, but said nothing more about him. I didn’t pay much attention to the detail as I was so fascinated that Jagga had stolen the magic key–and it happened around the time you said you had fled Kanesbury.”

Tolapari leaned back in his chair, nodding. “If a just awakened Enâr needed an excuse for murder, then I guess securing his freedom was as good an excuse as any. And it makes sense, too. If Jagga had abandoned all allegiance to Caldurian and Vellan, then why would anything stop him from pursuing his own agenda at any cost?”

“Even murder,” Nicholas softly said as some of the pieces of his life’s puzzle fell into place. When he looked up at the others, an enlightened gleam filled his eyes and his world started to make sense again. “If Arthur was killed because he possessed the key to the Spirit Box, and since he and Dooley Kramer were close friends, then I’m guessing that Dooley knew about the key as well. Arthur was killed inside Dooley’s house, after all. And that means–”

“–that Arthur and Dooley were involved in something more sinister,” Megan jumped in. “You once told me it didn’t make sense that those two would go to all the trouble to frame you for a robbery just to get your old job. But if they had possession of the key when Mune arranged for the release of the Enâri creatures, chances are they were in league with Mune or his associates. Otherwise, how would Jagga have learned that Arthur or Dooley had the key?”

“Meaning what?” Nicholas asked.

“Meaning that they needed you out of the way for some reason other than your job,” Megan said. “You were about to be arrested, Nicholas, most likely to languish in the village lockup for who knows how long.”

He smiled at Megan. “Perhaps you should have been a constable. But word was around the village that I planned to leave for Morrenwood soon to join up with the King’s Guard and…” Nicholas suddenly felt embarrassed for blurting out such words in front of King Justin, now feeling a bit presumptuous to have even imagined that the King would want someone like him in the royal guard. But King Justin put him immediately at ease.

“You would have made a fine addition to my guard,” he said, the sincerity evident in his voice.

“I’ll take the blame for Nicholas not fulfilling his original intention,” Megan said. “Remember, after meeting me on the road, he decided to escort me to Boros.”

“Which we are very grateful for,” Prince Gregory replied. “In a way, Nicholas was soldiering for the King in an unofficial capacity.”

“Precisely,” King Justin replied, urging him and Megan to continue with their thoughts.

“My point was,” Nicholas said, “that if I was already planning to leave Kanesbury, why would Dooley and Arthur go to all the trouble to make it look like I committed a crime?”

“Maybe they had other motives,” Megan said. “But it appears that those two were involved in framing you and were probably associating with people connected to the key, including that Mune fellow. So the big question you need to think about is why they wanted you out of the way? How could your presence interfere with their plans, whatever they are?”

Nicholas shrugged. “I’m not sure. I’m just a bookkeeper in a gristmill, after all, and work part time on Maynard Kurtz’s farm. For what possible reason would anyone want me out of their way? I have no power or influence in the village.”

“Apparently someone thinks you do,” Leo said.

“You know Maynard Kurtz?” King Justin asked. “Len Harold mentioned that man’s name to me during our discussions. It seems he was appointed as acting mayor in Otto’s absence.”

“Is that right?” Nicholas asked. “Maynard’s a good man, and the village did a wise thing to select him. I live in a small cottage on his farm. He defended me to Constable Brindle after I was accused of the robbery. He’s been like a father to me for much of my life.”

“Pardon me for interrupting,” Nedry said, an elevated sense of urgency in his voice, “but all this talk of local politics and whatnot in Kanesbury, while interesting to a point, doesn’t address the matter of the melted key lying upon this table or the fact that one of Vellan’s Enâri creatures is camping on the grounds outside the Blue Citadel.”

“Fear not, Nedry. I’ll have several guards keep an eye on Jagga from a distance as a precaution,” the King said. “But from what Carmella has told us, I’m willing to give him a bit of leeway and not toss him in a prison cell. If he was a danger and up to no good, why would he give Carmella the key in the first place? I think Jagga genuinely desires his freedom from all superiors.”

“I agree. Yet possessing the key affords us an opportunity,” Tolapari said. “If it could be reforged and used to open the Spirit Box, thus destroying the Enâri race, think of the grievous blow such an act would deliver to Vellan. Kargoth would forever be cleansed of the Enâri’s insidious presence.”

“As would Montavia,” Prince Brendan said. “And if this act was accomplished right before any attempt to retake Red Lodge, it would greatly enhance our efforts since all of Caldurian’s Enâri troops are stationed in and around my grandfather’s residence.”

“Then why not take the medallion to one of the smithies in the Citadel and refashion it into a key as soon as possible?” Leo asked. “I shouldn’t think that that would be much of a challenge.”

“No indeed,” Tolapari said, glancing at the King with a trace of doubt in his troubled eyes. “It would be quite easy to have the piece of metal reforged into a key that would fit the Spirit Box. Having it
open
the box is another matter entirely. I’m afraid the task won’t be so easy.”

“By the look on your face, I suspected not,” King Justin remarked despondently. “Where is the flaw in Leo’s suggestion?”

“Reshaping the key is easy. Reshaping the magic spell within it is a whole other matter.” Tolapari picked up the medallion again, the tips of his fingers and the marrow in his bones attuned to the magic pulsing within. “As I said earlier, its magic has been altered, or possibly lessened, by the intense heat of the forging process. I sense that the original spell cast by Frist is not whole. Only the wizard himself could reconstitute it to its original potency and purpose.”

“Still, it is possible, isn’t it?” King Justin asked.

“Yes, very much so,” he said, gazing at the medallion before setting it down on the table. “But first you must find him.”

“Find him? Where exactly is this wizard?” Carmella asked, contemplating the fate of her gift from Jagga.

“He is spending his final years alone, as do many of the true wizards from the Valley. I guided him to a place of his choosing some time ago,” Tolapari said, “a request I was deeply honored to fulfill as one of his earliest apprentices.”

“Where is this place?” Megan asked.

“Oh, a guide would never reveal such a piece of information unless under the most dire circumstances,” he replied. “And though this situation qualifies, I will only divulge Frist’s location in secret and only to those few who absolutely need to know.”

“Fair enough,” King Justin said. “But you still deem this a viable option?”

“Very much so, assuming that Frist yet lives. The damage we could do to Vellan would greatly improve our chances for victory over Kargoth if we confront him in the future. And as Prince Brendan said, it would give us the upper hand in Montavia, too. So the time we have to take advantage of this opportunity is slim since we cannot put off sending assistance to King Rowan for too long.” Tolapari glanced at the nine individuals hanging on his every word. “Because of these intricacies, I recommend that word of this development not be allowed outside this group. We should swear ourselves to secrecy until after the key is reforged and used to open the Spirit Box.”

King Justin noted the wisdom of Tolapari’s suggestion. He urged everyone to extend a hand forward and touch an edge of the medallion, swearing them all, including himself, to keep the details of their plan a secret unless success should one day shine upon them. After everyone in unison pledged their solemn agreement, they each sat back in silence for several moments, staring at the medallion and wondering what good or ill would come of Jagga’s gift. Finally, King Justin’s voice broke the hypotonic silence of the room punctuated only by the crackling flames from both fireplaces.

“I thank you all for taking such an oath. But in doing so, we have backed ourselves into a corner,” he said, briefly tossing to both Nicholas and Leo a commanding and beseeching glance. “Though Tolapari hasn’t yet revealed where the wizard Frist is living out his last days, the medallion must still be delivered to him. And soon, if it is to do us any good, perhaps saving countless lives among the free people of Laparia should we succeed. But we have yet to appoint any individuals to accept this secret mission.”

“I would be the first to volunteer,” Tolapari said, “but I feel I must accompany the mission to retake Montavia. I must confront Caldurian once and for all as someone should have done a long time ago. He has grown powerful under his master’s tutelage, causing as much trouble throughout Laparia as Vellan himself.”

“I was hoping you would offer your services in that capacity,” King Justin gratefully replied. “And as I will be leading the troops to battle in Rhiál, I will appoint my son to spearhead the charge to Montavia with Princes Brendan and William riding at Gregory’s side to help free their homeland. Your presence, Tolapari, makes me optimistic of the outcome.”

“And your words give me hope, King Justin. My brother William and I cannot express our thanks for your assistance,” Brendan replied as William echoed his sentiments.

In the meantime, Nicholas and Leo glanced at one another knowingly, each having been mentally calculating who in the room remained to go on such a mission. King Justin had made it perfectly clear that he and his son would each lead troops into battle, with Tolapari, Brendan and William accompanying Prince Gregory to the east, which immediately discounted half the people at the table. And since Nedry was too old, and the King most certainly wouldn’t allow Megan or Carmella to undertake such a journey, Nicholas and Leo realized what was expected of them. If the King’s imploring gaze just moments ago hadn’t put them on the spot, then this not so subtle process of elimination certainly did.

Yet Nicholas also felt a rush of pride, believing that King Justin deemed him worthy of his trust and capable to perform such a vital task. He was again reminded of his desire to join the King’s Guard before a whirlwind of intrigue had blown him off course. He glanced at Leo, trying to read his thoughts. When Leo returned a discreet nod, Nicholas knew that his friend was thinking along the same lines. They had guided Megan safely home, after all, and tracked down Ivy after a long and arduous journey with the odds stacked against them. Surely delivering a medallion to a wizard hidden somewhere in the wilderness, and then returning to Morrenwood with a finished key wouldn’t prove too difficult a challenge. He realized that it was time for him and Leo to step up with pride and do what they could for the safety of Arrondale. Before a lull in the conversation had formed, he addressed the King, hoping he sounded more steady and confident than he felt.