The Last Wizard of Eneri Clare (38 page)

“Oh, thank the gods. I was beginning to think we’d lost you again.”

“What are you doing down there, Jorelial Rey?” Tvrdik frowned, trying to move his hands from their position on the wizard’s staff and finding his fingers surprisingly unresponsive.

Rel sprang up to sit on the bench beside him, still keeping a steadying hand on his shoulder. Tvrdik could see Tashroth’s huge face behind her, staring at him with as much concern as a dragon face could register. The Lady Regent explained, “You said something like, ‘Master, don’t go…’, and then your head fell forward and you just started sliding off the bench. I shouted and called and grabbed you to keep you from falling, but I couldn’t rouse you. Even Tash roared, but you were gone…”

“How long?”

“I don’t know. It seemed like forever. Minutes, I guess. Maybe five minutes. But that’s a long time to be unconscious, isn’t it?”

Tvrdik pried one of his hands off the staff and used it to straighten his glasses, then wiggled the fingers to bring back their circulation.

“I felt my consciousness following after Xaarus, but ending up in this big, vast nowhere, all dark and silent. I felt like I was falling, but I couldn’t see any ceiling or floor, or light, or way out, so I just relaxed and gave up. Next thing you know I was back here and you were shaking me.”

“I tried to hold you here, but your link with him was stronger, and I lost the touch of your mind. I
am
sorry.” It was Tashroth who spoke, still sounding worried.

Rel asked, “How do you feel now? Are you alright?”

Tvrdik shifted on the stone seat, and switched hands, wiggling the fingers of his left hand now. “I-I think so. It just takes a great deal of energy to speak to him over such a long distance. I expect I’m just not quite back to myself yet, and I might have pushed it a little and just blacked out is all.”

Rel shot him a skeptical look, then hit him hard across the good arm.

“Hey!”

“Well, don’t do it again. Do you realize my heart almost stopped? I don’t even think you were breathing all that time.” She paused, calming herself with deep breaths. Then, “Listen, you have no idea how frustrating it is to stand out here and hear half a conversation directed at nobody I can see. What did he say?”

“What? Who?”

“Xaarus!” she was losing patience now, “What did Xaarus tell you to do about the Cabinet?”

“Oh. Well, he told me to be truthful, and patient, and enthusiastic, and answer all of their questions – not much new there – and he said that if they continued to be difficult, we should summon him back again in the presence of the Cabinet members, and he would communicate a few things that might make them sit up and take notice.”

Jorelial Rey looked as if she were about to explode. “Really? That was his suggestion? Oh, fine. Just perfect.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong. Only I can’t let you to do that, and now we are back to square one.”

“What do you mean, you can’t let me do that? You can’t
stop
me. Xaarus told me to use the link in front of the Cabinet.”

“Tvrdik, look what just happened. Look at yourself. How can we take another risk like that again so soon? What if you get stuck somewhere in between and I can’t
ever
wake you?”

“Jorelial Rey, I’m alright. Just a little tired is all, and we had to do it twice, remember?”

They glared at each other in silence for a moment, when Tvrdik, noticing the dark circles under her eyes, and the anxious look behind the flaring temper, softened. “Look, I’m sorry if I gave you another scare today, but I’m fine now, really. I’m not all that fragile. I came here with a job to do, and instead I feel like a millstone around everyone’s neck. Let me do what I came to do…please?” She tipped her head, birdlike, one eyebrow raised as if assessing the truth of his words, but made no verbal response. He went on.

“If it happens again, we are right in the palace, with every resource available. And a little melodrama can only help our cause, eh?” Usually his attempts at humor could shift her mood, but she wasn’t buying today.

She remained staring at him intently for another moment, lips pressed tightly together, then closed her eyes, and let out a long sigh, “You’re right. I can’t tell you what to do – or rather, I can, but I don’t want to. And I don’t have any other wonderful ideas. If bringing Xaarus into the meeting is what it takes, and you’re willing, I won’t stop you. Just try to be careful, will you?”

Tvrdik smiled, “Relax. I’ll go to bed early tonight and eat my vegetables. Besides, he told me he’d be standing by, but only to use him as a last resort. Maybe it won’t even come up.”

She rolled her eyes heavenward, “You don’t know this bunch.”

Tashroth, who had been watching their debate with curiosity and interest, moved his face closer to hers, and purred, “Remember to tell them I also see the old wizard. Some might find that an argument of note.”

“Yes, Tash, don’t worry. I will use every line of reasoning at my disposal, believe me.” The dragon nuzzled her once in a supportive gesture, and lifted his great head high, surveying the gardens. “Yes, Tash. It must be full morning now, and people are up and about. As usual, I have a full schedule ahead of me. I suppose it is time to go back. I will come to you tonight on the tower, dearest. Thank you for your help today.”

Tashroth nuzzled her again tenderly, “Be well, be strong today. I will await you later.” He swung his head over to Tvrdik, closer than the young mage was expecting, and spoke low, “Mage, I will seek your thoughts tomorrow and help you strengthen the link if I am able. I am certain you will use it.”

“Very good.” Tvrdik responded, his voice breaking like an adolescent. He cleared his throat and tried again, willing himself to just breathe and be comfortable with the dragon at that proximity, “I appreciate anything you can do, Lord Tashroth. Thank you for your help.”

Without additional courtesies, the great green dragon swung his head up, extended his wings, gathered his weight, and sprang into the air. Circling once, he vanished in the distance among the drifting clouds. Rel and Tvrdik watched until long after the dragon was only a tiny dot in the far-off blue, and then the wizard, who was still seated on the stone bench, said, “Well, then,” grasped his staff firmly in his right hand, and stood up. And almost immediately began to sink down as his vision went gray and his knees buckled. She was under him in an instant, supporting his weight from the other side, steadying him with the help of the oaken staff.

“Stood up too fast,” he reassured, “Just a little lightheaded. Probably past time for breakfast, hmmmm?” The wave of faintness had passed, but he did feel inordinately tired.

“Can you walk?” Rel asked without inflection.

“Yes, of course.” But truth be told, he was grateful for her supportive presence at his elbow as they made their slow way back to Theriole. If he were honest with himself, he felt like someone had turned a tap and siphoned all the life-force out of him. He really did hope breakfast would help. Jorelial Rey offered no further word of conversation all the way back, and once they were inside, escorted him back to his quarters. All efficiency, she suggested that she arrange for food to be sent to him there. He thanked her and opened the door to go in, concerned that he had displeased her, or somehow added to her burdens. But then she turned back, touched her hand to his shoulder, and spoke just one word, “Rest.” He nodded, and she hurried off to begin her own day.

Tvrdik leaned his staff on a corner wall and sat down on the bed. He wanted to be at his best on the morrow. He would convince no-one of his fitness to engineer an entire kingdom’s defense if he appeared weak or unwell. What had gone wrong this morning? Even given the fact that he wasn’t quite recovered from his injuries and the fever, the brief visit with Xaarus he had conjured this morning should not have left him so debilitated. If he could only focus and think it through, perhaps he could figure out how to prevent the same thing from happening again. But, he was so tired. Just then, a knock on the door alerted him to the arrival of breakfast. He wasn’t very hungry after all. But, hopeful that some nourishment might help to restore his depleted energy, he rose to let the servant in. The rest of Theriole might be just beginning their day’s activities, but after breakfast, he fully intended to do exactly as Jorelial Rey had suggested, and rest. An hour later, when Delphine arrived to help him with his exercises, she found the wizard fast asleep.

TWENTY–FOUR
The Cabinet

T
HE NEXT DAY, AN HOUR
before the Cabinet was to assemble, Jorelial Rey returned to Tvrdik’s door. She had received a message earlier that, if it were at all possible to arrange, he would appreciate a moment with her to compare notes. She was already dressed, in the formal garb of her position: a tailored tunic of deep blue with matching leggings and black riding boots. Her dark hair was plaited down her back in a single thick braid, and the silver circlet of her Regency was planted firmly on her brow. Sick with apprehension, she stood outside Tvrdik’s door. It was a good idea for them to meet and get their strategy straight before facing the skeptics, but after the events of the day before, she dreaded that more bad news awaited her on the other side of that door.

It would not do to cancel the meeting at this late hour, but Tvrdik could do more damage to their cause if he appeared ill. She had long ago learned the hard way that most men in positions of authority only respected strength in their leaders: vitality, decisiveness, passion, and strength. Over the years, she had learned how to either cultivate or pretend to those qualities when necessary, as a single moment of perceived weakness could be used against you again and again.

She need not have worried. Before she could even knock, the door opened, and there stood Tvrdik as she had not seen him in weeks. Tall, bathed, clad in his best violet robes, his pale gold hair like an aura around his smiling and relaxed face. He was peering at her in surprise through the golden spectacles on which he relied.

“Ah, there you are. I thought I sensed someone at the door. Come in, come in. I don’t imagine we have much time…” Amazed, she followed him into the room, and he closed the door behind them, motioning her to a nearby comfortable chair. Swallowing, she sat, following him with her eyes as he sat himself in the other chair opposite her and leaned forward toward her. He wasn’t even wearing the sling today.

“You look, well…wonderful. No sling today?” she asked.

“Ah, well, it aches a bit sometimes, but I don’t really need it, and I thought, today…”

“And how do you feel?”

“Much better, thank you. I took your advice and slept through most of yesterday, and then I had a really good breakfast this morning, and was thinking and thinking about what happened…”

“You mean, in the garden?”

“Yes, that’s why I wanted to see you now. I think I have it figured out.”

“You think you have
what
figured out?” She was mystified, but he could not contain his excitement, and plunged ahead.

“Why I had such a bad reaction. It wasn’t just that I was still recovering. I mean, that was a part of it, of course. I’m not entirely back to myself yet. But I knew there had to be something else; it was all too strange and extreme. And I thought and thought, and just couldn’t understand it until suddenly it all came clear: Tashroth!”

“Tashroth?” The man still wasn’t making any sense.

“Yes, you see, it was the first time I opened the link with Tashroth present, and he got in there through my mind, and strengthened and held it open with his own energy. When Xaarus pulled back, I really wasn’t ready to end our conversation, so I hung onto him, and in essence, followed after him. But not just my thoughts this time, you see; my entire consciousness went through the link that Tashroth was making stronger and wider. Somewhere in there, Xaarus disconnected the link, and your dragon lost me, and I was just stranded in the void between times, unable to find my way back over what might have been a really long distance. You were right to be concerned, as I could have been trapped there forever. It was you who pulled me back. You wouldn’t give up, and you kept calling my name until I found you, thank goodness.”

Rel blinked, speechless.

“I kept wondering why I was so exhausted all day after that, and then I remembered the weeks when Xaarus was here, training me, and how much effort it took for him to stay in this time. Toward the end, he would have moments when he was so weary, he would just collapse, or even disappear for a time. I’m not at all sure how this works, but I think the two experiences are somehow linked. With Tashroth’s help, I was close to doing some time travel myself yesterday, with only my physical body left behind. And because I wasn’t at my full strength, and I am not at all used to focusing so much power, I ended up useless for the rest of the day. All of this is really hard on Xaarus, too, but he is so much more powerful and experienced than I am. Anyway, I don’t claim to understand it very well right now – I know I’m just scratching the surface. And I’m thinking sometime in the future this information might become useful, or clearer, or something…but, what I really wanted to tell you is that now that I know what was going on, it doesn’t have to happen again.”

“You mean you can link with Xaarus safely?”

“I think so. Tashroth told me he would be helping again today, which, trust me, is an advantage that I would not want to give up. But, I think I have devised a sort of psychic energy shielding that will protect me from drifting out of this time frame. And when it is time for the link to be severed, I know enough now to pull back and break contact. I’m sure it will work. It should be fine. And, look! I’m fine too – I just needed to regenerate. No need for you to waste any more worry on me.”

Despite her impatience with his longwinded explanation, it was beginning to dawn on her what he was trying to tell her. “This
is
good news. And I can see for myself how well you seem today. You appear to be almost back to your usual, energetic, exasperating self. Oh, Tvrdik, what a relief.”

“I thought you’d be pleased. I didn’t want you to spend another moment anxious that something could go wrong. You already have enough on your mind.”

“I can’t say I understand much of what you just told me, but if you are confident that
you
know what you are talking about, and can work with it, then I trust you. Since I am here now, why don’t we take this opportunity to go over the main points we want to touch on today?”

“Excellent idea. Fill me in on how the meeting will begin.”

A little more than an hour later, the Lady Regent was standing before her Cabinet, nervous, but poised – the very picture of a confident leader. She took a moment to notice the faces before her. Minister Verger was sitting with Bargarelle (to whom she had sent a special invitation), both looking up at her with happy anticipation. Ministers Boone and Alanquist were close to the front, their expressions not at all so open. There was Lord Maygrew, her one-time champion, sitting back with arms crossed over his chest, curiosity flickering across his bearded face. Near him sat some of his closer friends, lords from the nearby valley provinces, only slightly less influential. There were lesser ministers too, of agriculture, public works, and so forth. She certainly had their attention, but not their faith. The room was silent. Time to make a start.

“Gentlemen, thank you for coming here this afternoon, when I am sure you would rather be out enjoying this beautiful day. We have much to celebrate besides the lovely weather, the pressures of the Grand Council and Coronation being behind us now. King Darian is crowned, and is progressing in his education. He attended audiences this last week with departing dignitaries, and you would be proud of the grace and understanding he showed beyond his years. I am certain he sent most of our visitors home, enchanted by his charm. Almost all have departed by now, and Theriole can settle back into some semblance of normalcy. Peace reigns, the sun shines, crops bud, everything is established in its proper order, and under normal circumstances we should all be relieved to fall back into the lives we know, and the leisure we enjoy. But, my lords, these are not normal circumstances. Two weeks ago, I informed you that there was trouble brewing in our land. You all had a taste of it at the Grand Council meeting, and later after the Coronation, where an attempt was made on my life. We might hope that these were isolated, unpleasant instances that will fade into memory and bear little lasting import. I told you then that I knew they would not. I also told you how I knew we were facing a more serious threat, and what I intended to do about it. Many of you were understandably skeptical, and I promised to present to you, as soon as possible, my main source of information and a valuable advisor on these matters. I would like to take the opportunity now to introduce you all to our new Court Wizard, heir and protégé to the great Xaarus, Tvrdik.”

There was a round of polite applause as Tvrdik made his entrance from outside the room. If he was anxious, it did not show, nor was there any hint of the young victim who had nearly perished in delirium only two weeks earlier. Jorelial Rey couldn’t help smiling at the tall, lean, serious young man in mage’s robes, carrying a great staff of oak and amethyst, who immediately commanded the attention of everyone present as he crossed the room. Standing before them, he seemed to send down roots into the earth, and hold his head up among the stars. His eyes, behind their ubiquitous spectacles, were eyes that had seen visions, yet seemed to pierce each man’s heart as he met their gaze head on. There was something of Xaarus about him, but something uniquely Tvrdik too, in the lanky grace and crooked smile. She was thinking of the scruffy, intense youth decked in carry-sacks who had first pushed his way into the Hall of Audience, despite her objections. The man before her now was the same at core, yet much had changed. This was no journeyman at his master’s knee. She glanced out at Verger and Bargarelle, looking as if they were about to burst with excitement. Even Lord Maygrew sat up in his chair, and leaned forward. There was a wizard in the room, and he had their attention.

“Everything the Lady Jorelial Rey has told you is true. My name is Tvrdik. Some of you might know my face, though I was but a boy the last time we met. For six years, I lived here among you and studied my craft under Master Wizard Xaarus. He was teacher and mentor to me, and I daresay more father than my own flesh and blood ever was. I am a quiet sort of man, and when he vanished all those years ago, I decided the life of the Court was not for me. I went away to pursue a life of study and contemplation, which suited me well for nearly twelve years. And happily would I have stayed in my solitude, had I not been approached some weeks ago by my old master, Xaarus himself. How is this possible? You have already heard the particulars of what happened to Xaarus during these last years, and how he managed, at great pains, to return over immense stretches of time and space, to find me. Our reunion was too brief, and now Xaarus, alive and well, remains trapped in exile in a far off future. He would be standing here before you himself if it were possible by any means.

“Believe me sirs, after twelve years, no one was more amazed than me to see him standing before me, but I know my master. His story of travelling through time is challenging to even the most credulous among us. But, in the weeks I spent with him and since, so many proofs have emerged for which I can find no other reasonable explanation. Xaarus, from the future, knew to tell me of the tragic deaths of King Darian and his queen, and that of Lord Gareth Rey, when I had heard naught about these events. He urged me to come to court and seek out the Lady Rey with his warnings about what was to come, and predicted that she would listen. He told me that she would surely be acclaimed permanent regent, but that a certain power-hungry lord, Drogue by name, would resent her election and cause a great disturbance at the Grand Council meeting. And he has foreseen the likelihood of what we shall yet face: the greatest challenge of our lifetime.

“But he also showed me how our actions in this time could shape the future for many generations to come, and even affect the character of the time in which he now finds himself, and beyond. I, too, resisted believing these wild tales at first, until I came here and found everything falling out exactly as he had presented it to me. With each new event that fulfilled his prophecies, I became more committed to his plan for our collective salvation. I can see no other possible road. Those of you who knew Xaarus, summon your memories of him now, and ask yourself if you ever knew him to be anything but wise, straightforward, compassionate, and singularly uninterested in wealth, power, or personal gain.”

Tvrdik, who held everyone mesmerized, even though he used no magic and spoke in moderate tones, paused here to survey the faces of those who sat before him. It was clear many in his audience were doing as he had bid them – remembering, searching for a reason to doubt what they were being told, and finding none. When he continued, it was even more quietly, drawing them in. “Xaarus convinced me to return here and offer myself in his stead, in service to my kingdom. He took pains to complete my magical education, and to establish a link whereby I may be in contact with him from time to time, to access his wise counsel. A storm is coming, my friends, a very dangerous one. Your old friend is heartsick that he cannot be here to help shepherd us through it safely. Thus, he has sent me to be his mouthpiece and his proxy. I do not pretend that I am his equal, but I have made a commitment to serve with everything I am and have, for as long as I am needed. Xaarus’ dearest hope is that all of us will throw our lot in together, and with our combined talents, we will find a way to triumph over Lord Drogue and his forces, over whatever may divide us, and even over the tides of time. I understand your reluctance to trust your fate to a stranger who comes into your midst with an implausible story. But, I beg you to weigh my words with your minds and your hearts. Consider if I could have any reason at all to stand before you and invent such a tale. Question me. Ask for whatever proof you need. I stand ready to answer anything that is within my ability and knowledge.”

Here he ended, lowered his head and stepped back a few feet, as if to clear space for someone else. Jorelial Rey picked up the cue.

“The floor is now open for discussion and questions. Our new mage is at your disposal.”

There was a pause. Lord Maygrew gathered himself and stood for recognition.