Sovereign Stone (61 page)

“I intend to conquer the world and bring it back under the just governance of the Old Law.”

Balthazar sat back with a broad smile. “Outstanding. The willingness to risk yourself to protect the Old Law is the most important quality a Reishi Sovereign can possess. The Sovereign Stone confers upon its possessor a number of important powers. Unfortunately, the first, and perhaps most important, will be of little use to you.

“More than anything else, politics is about information. Knowing who owes whom, who is allied with whom, and where the bodies are buried is powerful. The Sovereign Stone gives each successive Sovereign access to the storehouse of knowledge contained within the minds and memories of all of the previous Sovereigns. Since the Stone has not been bonded to anyone for so long, I’m afraid that our political knowledge is well out-of-date.

“The second is the magical knowledge we possess. We can mentor you in your calling and assist you to overcome the challenges that all wizards encounter from time to time.”

Alexander sat forward with sudden interest. “I don’t know my calling. The Guild Mage is stumped as well.”

“That’s unusual,” Demetrius interjected. “Occasionally, a wizard will have a rare calling but most often it has been seen before. You said you’ve only recently undergone the mana fast, which poses another important question. The Sovereign Stone will only bond with one who has undergone the mage’s fast because it requires an unrestrained link to the firmament. Perhaps if you describe your experience with the firmament, it will shed some light on your calling, as well as the apparent contradiction your bond with the Stone seems to create.”

Alexander started with his second sight and then described in detail all of his magical experiences one by one. He left nothing out, from the precognition that had only happened three times in his life to his two brief forays into the netherworld. He told them how the firmament felt and sounded, how he projected his awareness to the other side of the world, and what it felt like when it was scattered into the firmament by Phane, the fortress island, and the Reishi Keep. He described the process he used to reach the firmament and how his other talents didn’t require him to connect to the firmament at all. They sat and listened patiently while he scrupulously recounted his entire life history of magic.

All of the men at the table looked from one to the other. By silent consensus, they settled on the man two seats to the right of Balthazar.

He leaned forward and fixed Alexander with his golden eyes.

“I am Constantine, the Third Reishi Sovereign. You are the rarest of all types of wizard. You are an adept.”

Balthazar nodded, deep in thought. “It makes sense. No other calling would have the necessary magic to form the bond without first undergoing the mage’s fast.”

Alexander was excited. Finally someone knew something about his magic. “What’s an adept?”

“An adept is a wizard who can’t cast spells in the conventional sense,” Constantine said. “Instead, an adept develops abilities that naturally draw on the power of the firmament. The more you use your magic, the more your natural abilities will manifest and develop. As for what those abilities will be, it is difficult to say.

“One thing is certain: The power of an adept, within the confines of his abilities, is greater than even that of the most accomplished arch mage. For example, you said you’ve used your clairvoyance to see and hear places on other islands thousand of miles away. I was an arch mage of considerable power and I knew how to cast a clairvoyance spell, but I could only look at a place within a hundred miles, and at that distance, I could only maintain the spell for a short time.”

“I had a bad experience with my clairvoyance the other day,” Alexander said. “When I tried to return, there was a dark spirit from the aether that had taken possession of my body and killed two of my men. Is there any way to protect myself when I’m using my clairvoyance so that never happens again?”

Constantine nodded. “That’s always one of the dangers when projecting your consciousness away from your body. There are opportunistic spirits that will take advantage of your vulnerable position. The solution is to draw a magic circle around yourself when you project your mind. Any wizard can draw a circle that will protect them, provided they place the symbols correctly.”

“Will you show me?”

Constantine smiled and waved his hand. On the table in front of him appeared a magic circle drawn in light. It was actually two circles, one within the other. Between the two circles were seven symbols. Each was arcane and complex.

Alexander studied the image closely and committed it to memory as best he could. He closed his eyes and saw the circle in his mind’s eye, then checked the image again to be sure he had it right. If nothing else, he could always come back or even ask Lucky; he would probably be able to help him.

Alexander nodded and the image faded away.

“Practice sending your mind into the firmament every day,” Constantine said. “Focus on a place and concentrate your awareness there. Look at the place for a moment and slip back into the firmament, then move on to another place. By exercising your abilities, you will expand them.” He paused and thought for a moment.

“My brother was an adept, one of only two known to exist during the entire reign of the Reishi Empire. He studied his calling quite extensively and wrote a great deal about what he learned. His keep was in the high mountains on the southernmost island of Ithilian. I don’t know if it’s still there, but if it is, you may find much better information there than we have to offer.”

Alexander nodded thoughtfully. He had many more questions but decided there would be plenty of time later. He nodded for Balthazar to continue.

“Next, you are the master of the Thinblades. You can cause any of them to be destroyed at will in a violent explosion of magical energy. I would caution you not to use this power lightly. The Thinblades are precious beyond measure, not only as weapons but as a means of establishing your authority over the Island Kings. As the Reishi Sovereign, the Thinblades cannot harm you.”

“I’m not certain, but I think there are only two left, Ruatha’s and Ithilian’s.”

Balthazar turned to Malachi. “How many Thinblades did you destroy?”

Malachi sat defiantly.

Alexander snapped, “Answer him.”

“Four.”

“Which ones?”

“Zuhl, Fellenden, Karth, and Andalia,” Malachi said.

Alexander turned to Balthazar and nodded for him to continue.

“What a loss,” Balthazar said, shaking his head sadly. “The Thinblades are priceless beyond measure. At any rate, there is more to the Stone that you must be aware of. After some time, it will allow you to access its Wizard’s Den. This is a place beyond the world of time and substance, a sort of pocket world where only one room exists. It’s an ideal place to store things of value, and it provides a place to sleep in complete safety if you happen to be traveling. No one can access it except you.”

Alexander whistled. His mind was spinning with all the possibilities such a place had to offer. No more guard duty. Faster travel because they wouldn’t have to carry their packs. The idea of having such a place at his disposal was beyond his wildest imaginings. He remembered Mage Cedric’s Wizard’s Den in the top room of the highest tower in Blackstone Keep and idly wondered at the contents that he had yet to fully investigate.

Balthazar continued and brought him back to the present. “You are the master of the Reishi Keep as well. There are many magical defenses and capabilities built into the walls and halls of the Keep and a number of secret areas that can only be accessed by the Sovereign.”

“Mage Cedric left me the Keep Master’s ring of Blackstone Keep. With it I can see anywhere within the Keep in my mind’s eye.”

“You have that ability with the Reishi Keep as well, in addition to many others. The final power the Sovereign Stone confers upon you is control of the Reishi Gates. With the Stone back in the world of time and substance, the Gates are once again active,” Balthazar said.

“What?” Alexander was suddenly alarmed. He remembered Phane telling him his plans to use the Gates to move his army from Karth to Ruatha. If the Gates were active, soldiers could be pouring into the heart of Ruatha at this very moment.

“How do I shut them down?” Alexander asked urgently.

Balthazar looked a little alarmed at Alexander’s sudden concern. “The main Gate is in the Reishi Keep and allows control of all the island Gates. From there you can shut the Gates down entirely so that only you may access them, limit access to holders of the Thinblades, or allow open access to anyone. Otherwise, you must go to each individual Gate to restrict access to it.”

Alexander’s mind was racing. He feared the worst. Phane would have known this was going to happen. He would have been ready.

Alexander could only hope that his father had taken adequate precautions to defend against invasion through the Gate. He knew from his last clairvoyant visit to Blackstone Keep that there was at least a legion dug in at the Gate. He only hoped that would be enough.

“Phane said he was going to use the Gate to move his army from Karth to Ruatha. I have soldiers at the Gate on Ruatha, but I’m not sure if I have enough.”

“Where is your body right now?” Balthazar asked.

“I’m in one of the three tallest towers in the Reishi Keep at the level of the sky deck.”

“When you face north on the sky deck, the master Gate is in the tower directly in front of you, five levels up,” Balthazar said. “It’s guarded by a shield, but it will yield to you.”

The light emanating from above momentarily turned blood red, then returned to a soft white glow.

“The bonding is complete,” Balthazar said. “Alexander Reishi, you are the Seventh Sovereign of the Seven Isles. Walk out of the circle of light and you will find yourself back in your body. If you wish to return, simply hold the Stone in your bare hand and think of this place and you will be here. Go to the master Gate quickly and restrict access to the Gates to you alone until you can determine if those who hold the other Thinblades are friend or enemy.”

Alexander stood quickly. “Thank you,” he said as he turned away from the table and walked into the darkness. He had so many more questions but they would have to wait. Right now he had more pressing concerns.

Chapter 53

Alexander opened his eyes. He was sitting with his back to a wall. There were Rangers all around the room. Anatoly and Lucky were nearby. Chloe was sitting cross-legged on his knee, looking up at him.

“You were gone again, My Love,” she said in his mind. “I was worried.”

“I was within the Sovereign Stone. It’s bonded to me,” he said to her without speaking. She looked at him with surprise and then buzzed up to look him in the eye.

“You do have the eyes of the Reishi, My Love,” she said in his mind.

Then he saw Commander P’Tal standing not ten feet away with his back to him. Alexander quickly and quietly slipped the Sovereign Stone around his neck and under his armor before he got to his feet and drew the Thinblade. Chloe buzzed up into the air circling his head in a wide orbit.

“Turn around,” Alexander growled to the man who had been hunting him.

Jataan P’Tal turned and stood before Alexander with his hands clasped behind his back. He appraised him for a moment before nodding once deferentially.

“I am General Commander Jataan P’Tal of the Reishi Protectorate and I am at your service, Lord Reishi. This is my lieutenant, Boaberous Grudge.”

Alexander was at a loss for words. He stood pointing the Thinblade at his adversary and tried to come to terms with the situation. The Sovereigns told him that the Reishi Protectorate would serve him now that he was bound to the Stone, and Commander P’Tal’s colors said he was speaking the truth, but Alexander had learned an abundance of caution, largely due to Jataan P’Tal’s unwanted tutelage. Then Jataan went to a knee, and the giant who was his companion bowed as well.

“Stand up,” Alexander snapped.

Both men stood without a word.

“You killed my brother,” he said with an undercurrent of rage and menace.

“Regrettably, I gave the order to assassinate your brother,” Jataan said. “He was a clear threat to my charge and I was bound by duty to eliminate any legitimate threats to the Reishi Sovereign and his line. I have since learned, to my horror and deep sorrow, that your brother was in fact Reishi. You have my sincere apology even though I recognize that my words are hollow and powerless. If you wish to take my life for my crime, I will submit to your will, although I believe such an action would ultimately prove self-destructive.”

Alexander surveyed the situation. He saw Lucky sitting with Anatoly and was relieved to see the encouraging nod for the well-being of his old mentor. Rangers were arrayed around the room, and Jack stood off to the side watching the confrontation.

He looked to Jack. “How long have I been out and what’s happened?”

“You slumped to your knees when you touched the Stone just over five hours ago. Not long after, Commander P’Tal attacked with a squad of Lancers. He drove through our defenses and bested Anatoly, injuring him severely. He was within striking range but when he saw that the Stone was bonding to you, he abruptly stood down and helped kill the Lancers when they threatened you. We moved you and Anatoly down one level in the tower because this level is more easily defended. A squad of Lancers led by Nero attacked; four were killed and the rest were driven off by a squad of Rangers assisted by Lieutenant Grudge. The wyvern riders have sent a large force of reinforcements, but so far they haven’t attacked.” Jack sounded almost like Anatoly giving a report.