Shadows of the Realm (The Circle of Talia) (14 page)

The weak winter sun was retreating for another night to the west. The two Academy members mounted their horses. Agmunsten knew the intelligence of animals and treated them with respect, but wouldn’t go so far as to stop eating them. He had bonded an animal when he was young, a rather obscure one. He had never told anyone about his creatura and knew the other realmists thought it odd that he didn’t have one.

An uneasy peace had blanketed Talia over the past thousand years, and since Agmunsten was busy with people all the time, he had no desire to share his life with a constant creatura companion.  It was because of this that Agmunsten had not had contact with his creatura for at least 200 years. He knew the animal was alive somewhere—he had a general feeling due to the mind bond, but he never intruded. It seemed to suit both of them. He knew if he ever needed him he would be there, so in the meantime, he let the animal enjoy as normal a life as possible.

Agmunsten
’s slight enthusiasm at going into the world again was heightened by Arie’s obvious excitement. The boy had lived his first ten years in a local fishing village two days’ ride from the Academy. He had spent his next two years learning anything and everything the Academy had to teach him. Agmunsten had been quick to notice the boy’s genius and aptitude for delving—the word realmists used to describe their form of acting with power drawn from the Second Realm. The boy also made a good assistant. He always did what he was told, if he thought it was the best way to do it, but also had the initiative to know when he had worked out a better way. Surprisingly, Agmunsten had learned a few things too, but there had inevitably been more than a few arguments—that sometimes became an amusing game.

Agmunsten enjoyed looking at the world through the boy
’s eyes. After too many years on the planet, not many things were exciting anymore. The old man had been to too many places too many times and had seen multiple lifetimes of triumphs and tragedies to be surprised or inspired by much. That was the downside of living a protracted life. Watching Arie’s pleasure and exhilaration as he discovered his way through life helped Agmunsten remember what it was like to feel that way.

A few of the students and teachers came to wave them off and wish them luck, although no one knew what for. Agmunsten had kept the bad news to himself, lest he start a full-blown panic among the Academy
’s population and eventually into the surrounding countryside. His first port of call was to Bayerlon, and King Edmund. The news he carried was too sensitive to send a messenger. He had warned Hermas by mind message that he was coming. It was a rare occurrence, but some realmists had discovered how to eavesdrop on mind communications, especially those over long distances. Being aware of this, Agmunsten had kept his message brief.

As they exited the huge iron gates, the noises in the courtyard faded. The horses’ hooves rang out loudly on the cobbled road. Agmunsten smiled; it was good to smell fresh air and to have an open road ahead. Soon, billions of stars would shimmer above and a near-full moon would light their path. Agmunsten knew this was the calm before the proverbial storm, and he would enjoy every peaceful minute. He looked over at Arie and saw a hint of a smile and knew that if nothing else, their first night on the road would be a good one.

The duo slept in the open, under the gaze of uncaring stars, rolled up in blankets in front of a lively fire. They rose early the next morning, in time to bid some of their starry companions goodbye. Arie was a competent horseman and let his eyes wander over the surrounding vista as they rode. Acre after acre of farmland led away from the Academy. Sheep and cattle grazed, the occasional chicken crossed their path, and every once in a while a farmer, tending his fields, would wave. Arie smiled at the animals, deftly avoided the wandering chickens, and waved enthusiastically at every farmer. Agmunsten observed and enjoyed.

Their journey to Bayerlon took one week. They slept by the roadside. If they had veered off into every town along the way to slumber in comfortable beds, they would have added at least a couple of days to their trip. Right now, time was of the essence. Agmunsten had been trying to avoid thinking about what was happening on the other side of the world, but now that Bayerlon loomed ahead, it became impossible. He readied himself. His words to the king would have to be chosen carefully so as to impart the urgency of the matter without revealing the horror of it. The king was not a rash man, but who really knew what he would do when faced with the possibility of the bloody annihilation of his country and all the people in it?

“Bayerlon is magnificent. Wow, look. It’s huge.” Arie stared at the impressive castle. “Are we really going to see the king?”

“
Yes.”

“
Is he nice?”

“
Is he nice?  Well, if you’re a friend he’s nice, but he can be a ruthless man, which is a necessary trait in a king.” Arie wrinkled his brow. “Don’t worry, lad, he’ll be nice to us. We’ve known each other since before he was your age.” Agmunsten chuckled. “In fact, he used to be scared of me.”

“
Why would he be scared of you? You’re just an old man.” Agmunsten gave Arie the mouth-open, offended expression the boy was looking for. Arie laughed.

They entered the city gates and Agmunsten took hold of Arie
’s reins. “I would hate to lose you in this crowd.” Arie sighed at the suggestion he couldn’t take care of himself.

“
Can we have a look around? There’s so much to see.” Arie was trying to look everywhere at once.

“
Not today. We have more urgent things to take care of.” The young apprentice didn’t try to hide his disappointment and scowled at Agmunsten’s back on the walk up to the castle.

Even though he couldn’t get off his horse to explore, there were still many things to see. By the time they reached the castle walls,
in front of which stood a full compliment of stiff-backed guards in regal blue attire, Arie had forgotten his scowl. He dismounted when Agmunsten did, and stood staring up at the imposing uniformed men. 

Agmunsten approached the captain.
“I’m here to see King Edmund.”

“
Name?”

“
Agmunsten, Master Realmist and Principal of the Realmist Academy for Superior Learning. I am here on an urgent matter and wish to be presented to His Highness, posthaste.”

“
Just a moment, sir.” The Captain spoke a few words to an errand boy at the guardhouse, who dashed off to confirm the king was indeed waiting upon such a person.

Agmunsten trie
d to maintain his calm exterior but was annoyed at being treated like a common salesperson. How dare they question his identity? He felt enormous frustration at his lack of authority, at times, in the world outside the Academy. It was moments like this he had to remind himself that it was the realmists themselves who had tried to cultivate a non-threatening attitude. They didn’t want the general population fearing what they were capable of and attacking them. They had so successfully created an image that what they did was little more than making a few healing potions and tricks of the eye using sleight of hand, that some people not only didn’t fear them, but had no respect for them whatsoever. “But it seemed like such a good idea at the time.” Agmunsten’s shoulders drooped.

“
What seemed like a good idea?”

“
Nothing, Arie, just talking to myself.”

“
So what else is new?”

Agmunsten
’s shoulders fell a little further.

Soon the errand boy returned, and the captain led them through to large oak doors, which gave entry to the vast foyer of Bayerlon
’s castle. Once inside they were handed over to the steward. The balding man with a superior attitude said nothing as he led them through one ornately decorated corridor after another. Every once in a while he would look behind and down his nose at them, making sure they were not touching anything. 

Arie wondered at the unashamed display of wealth in the hand-woven rugs covering the stone floors, to the tapestry wall-hangings exhibited in gilded frames. Ornately carved tables and plinths lined the walls, each displaying a priceless vase or statue. Arie couldn’t believe this many treasures existed in the whole world, let alone in one building. At his mother
’s house their only wealth was contained in the two fishing boats his father owned and one rug, which took pride of place on the floor in the living room. The rug was faded and worn, having been handed down through his mother’s family for three generations. 

He thought about the Academy, with its spare white-washed walls and stark classrooms. The room he shared with two other boys had sea-grass matting on the floor and thin sheets on the beds. He had to admit the blankets were warm and of good quality, having been made from local wool, which was some of the best in all of Talia. He realised he didn
’t actually miss the Academy. He had thought he would. He still missed his home, although he’d had plenty of opportunity to return and see his family.

The silent servant halted in front of a well-guarded set of heavy, timber doors. The stone frame was ornately carved, but the timber was plain, polished as smooth as river stone. The guards consulted with baldy, who grasped an iron handle and led them through one of the doors. He motioned them to stand just inside the door and wait.

The immaculately dressed servant strode to the middle of the room and announced their arrival. “King Edmund, I present to you Agmunsten and his servant boy.” Arie was even more enraged than Agmunsten had been at his insulting treatment at the castle gates.

He whispered up at his master.
“I’m not your servant. How dare he!”

“
This is the first of many insults you’ll have to endure, so get used to it. Didn’t I mention the life of a realmist wasn’t an easy one?” 

Arie took a deep breath and wondered if he had made the right decision to be a realmist. He supposed it wasn
’t too late to change his mind. 

“
Chin up, boy. What we’re doing is vital to the whole world. Just because this lackey doesn’t understand that, doesn’t mean what we’re doing is any less significant.”

Arie nodded, feeling a little better.

They approached the king. As the steward walked past, Arie couldn’t help but speak. “Thank you for being such a good little servant. You can go now.” 

The man opened his mouth and eyes in giant, com
ical O’s, skin heating to red. He raised his hand in retaliation. Agmunsten stood in between the two. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. I could turn you into a pile of horse dung if I so chose.” 

Agmunsten conjured up a manure odour through the Second Realm from a farm just outside the Academy. He smirked as the anger in the steward
’s eyes turned to fear.

The realmist turned and looked down at Arie. “That was uncalled for. I’m very disappointed.” 

Arie’s cheeks blossomed into a nice shade of pink.

The king watched the exchange without smiling and waited until his servant left.
“You are an old bugger. Can’t say he didn’t have that coming, pretentious old git. I’ll have to have a word with him about insulting my guests.” The king rose from his high-backed, gilt-armed chair and stepped down the two stairs to warmly embrace Agmunsten. Arie’s chest swelled with pride at the honour they were being given. He was amazed at the king’s familiarity with his mentor, as he hadn’t quite believed Agmunsten’s claim that he knew King Edmund. 

“
And who is this strapping young fellow?”

“
It gives me a reasonable amount of pleasure to introduce you to my partner in this journey, Arie.”

Arie bowed.
“It is an honour to meet you, Your Highness.”

“
Likewise. Any partner of Agmunsten is welcome in my castle. I think we’ll retire somewhere more private. I fear the news you have for me is not of the good variety.” The king dismissed those in the room and left instructions that he was not to be disturbed for the afternoon. He took his guests to the reception area in his private chambers.

Arie was again wide-eyed at the riches surrounding him. He wandered the room, looking intently at plinths which held carved crystal vases with freshly cut flowers, artworks in gilded frames, smooth marble statuettes and small
, hand-blown glass figurines of sailing ships, naked women and horses. Arie carefully keep his distance lest he break something. King Edmund and Agmunsten each took a glass of mulled wine and sat in a plush leather sofa, surrounded by blue, white, and gold cushions, all bearing the royal insignia of the Laraulen family—a snow-covered oak against a blue sky.

“
Edmund, I have very sensitive news, which I don’t wish to impart in front of anybody.” He indicated Arie.

The king rose and opened the door,
“Fetch Boy immediately.” The king left the door open for the moment and approached Arie. “I’ve sent for someone to show you around the castle. Does that sound like fun?” 

Arie swapped his serious face for a huge grin.
“Definitely, Your Highness. This place is huge. It could take all day to explore.”

“
Probably longer. Anyway, the person I’ve sent for seems to know this place better than me, so you should be busy all afternoon.”