The Last Wizard of Eneri Clare (47 page)

“There are others who covet our magic, regardless of the price. Humans did this to Shar, years ago, lusting after the gold his horn would bring them. They nearly killed him. Most of his wounds have now healed, but there is a part of him that can never be whole. Do you now understand why we shun the company of men, and are reluctant to join with you in common cause?”

Tvrdik, watching the wounded unicorn’s face throughout Wynne’s speech, was almost moved to tears. He addressed Shar directly, “I am greatly saddened at the extent of your suffering, sir, and outraged that it should have been caused by some of my race. It is inadequate, I know, but I must apologize for the misdeeds of the immature, and beg your forgiveness. I want to assure you both, as well, that all of mankind is not motivated by lust and greed alone. Please believe me that there are many more good souls who are kind and respectful of their world, and of those with whom they share it. Do not, I beg you, judge us all by the actions of a few.” He looked down again at the animal’s scars. “Ah, but do my eyes deceive me, or is that the work of Xaarus?” For a moment, Wynne’s expression changed, and he seemed to lose his studied mask of indifference.

“Indeed, it was your master who saved Shar’s life and healed the wounds he could. How did you know?”

“I recognize his handiwork, the pattern of stitching on that wound. It is how he taught us. I have one very like it across my knee, acquired in a childhood fall. It is as I have told you. Xaarus was likely heartbroken at your distress. He represents the best of us, and I have always striven to be like him.” There was another pause, as the unicorns exchanged glances, considering all that had just occurred. “I understand your caution,” Tvrdik continued, “I did come here today partly because I need your help to succeed. But also partly because, whatever you decide, you need to be informed, that you may take whatever precautions you deem necessary. It is only right.”

Wynne blinked, and turned to Ondine, who had kept uncharacteristically silent during the entire exchange, “And you, sprite? You are old magic. Why do you travel with this one?”

She was trembling, but faced the beast head on and replied, “He is mage. Watch him very long time. Know him well. He is good, Lovely Man. Ondine trusts this one. Wynne can trust too.” Tvrdik’s heart melted to hear her frank assessment of him – he would have to thank her in private later. But for the moment, there seemed to be a brief convocation among all the nearest unicorns, with much head-tossing, nickering and neighing.

At last, Wynne turned his head sideways, pointing the mortally dangerous horn away from Tvrdik’s heart, fixed the mage with one large, liquid eye, and said, “Enter in peace. We will hear more of this plan to engage the tyrant Drogue.” It was all he could do to make his feet shift beneath him, but, heartened by his success thus far, the young wizard gathered himself and entered the sacred grove, ready to tell the rest of his story to the unicorns.

It was well after dark when Tvrdik arrived back home, and he was leaning rather heavily on his staff. But his heart was light, since he was fairly certain he had persuaded the unicorns to participate in his growing army. Ondine had seemed pleased and excited at how well the meeting had gone, when he left her off at their special place. There had been hours of serious conversation that afternoon, and at last, Wynne had at least committed to attending an assembly at the end of the week, where it was hoped there would be representatives from all of the other groups the wizard’s comrades had gone to solicit.

As he crossed the threshold of The Cottage he called home, Tvrdik had to admit he was bone tired. But, considering that only two days before, his friends would not let him walk the short distance from the palace, he thought he was doing fairly well. This was the weariness of a day well spent, as opposed to that absolute lack of vitality he associated with his long recovery. It occurred to him that spending time with magical creatures, such as Ondine, and the unicorns, had been an energizing experience for him. Still, a soft pillow and a good night’s sleep would be most welcome tonight. He closed the front door behind him, and surrendered his trusty oaken staff to the corner. With a thought, he lit the lamps in the parlor, and only then realized he had not eaten anything at all since breakfast. Stumbling into the dining room and lighting the wall lamps there, he grinned to see the tray of cold supper that Mrs. Praeger had already laid out for him. That woman truly was a gift.

Tvrdik reflected to himself that it would be easy to become accustomed to this sort of pampering. So many years of doing things for himself, and only a few days to grow fond of being waited on. He shook his head in amusement, and mentally set the kettle to boil for the tea she had already set up for him. For that matter, with Stewart and the Praegers gone, and the sun down, the big old house seemed awfully empty. It surprised him how much that bothered him. Again, years of perfectly comfortable solitude, and only a few weeks to grow accustomed to company. Well, for tonight, he would have to be content with his own thoughts while he enjoyed a bite. And in a short while, at any rate, he expected to be fast asleep. He wondered how the Praegers had fared in their re-organization of the dormitory space, but he pushed that thought away when it began to drag at unpleasant memories, and instead re-focused on his encounter with the unicorns. How noble and beautiful they were!

TWENTY–NINE
Tvrdik the Healer

W
HILE TVRDIK WAS ON HIS
way to meet the unicorns, back at Theriole, Jorelial Rey had been spending some long-overdue quality time with young King Darian, when she received some bad news. General Boone requested her presence in his office. Once there, she was presented with reports from his most reliable intelligence officers, recently returned from reconnaissance. It seemed that Lord Drogue was indeed in the process of assembling an army, and it was already growing to alarming proportions. Far off in his mountain stronghold, he thought himself safe from prying eyes, so the fact that Boone’s spies were as capable as they were was indeed a coup. But they brought back confirmation that two or three other mountain lords, as she suspected, had thrown their lot in with Drogue in exchange for promised lands and favors. He had also made overtures to several overseas kingdoms which were supposed to be either allied with the Crown or neutral, but which were at least entertaining his emissaries, and considering their offers. Boone’s agents reported that it looked like mercenaries, malcontents, and the down–and-out were flocking to him from across the kingdom, and he was beginning to equip and train several thousand foot soldiers for his cause. Worst of all, and most surprising, Drogue, though a mountain lord, was assembling ships, repairing and fitting them for battle. Was he planning a two-pronged attack, then, and how soon would all of this be ready for action?

The news was grim, and made her feel quite behind schedule in shoring up their defenses. But, it was certainly better to know what to prepare for, rather than being taken off guard. Boone assured her that he was busy training the Crown’s standing army, even as they spoke, drilling them in all manner of skill and strategy. Jorelial Rey restated her hope to avoid armed conflict all together, but conceded that she did feel safer, knowing he was diligently preparing for the worst. She thanked the special agents for their service, and gave each a small purse of gold as a reward for their dangerous and vital work. After they had taken their leave, the Lady Regent and her Defense Minister remained to discuss precautions that seemed prudent, such as checking the sea wall that protected the castle on the cliffside, for weaknesses. It also seemed wise to shore up their own small navy in case Drogue should attempt an attack by sea. Lastly, any merchandising and recreational activities that had, over the years, crept down to the beaches and along the riverbank must be pulled back behind the protective wall. And all of this should be done without divulging too much information that might alarm the public, or cause a panic. She would choose her own moment to let the citizenry know they were at war.

Taking her leave of General Boone, she immediately went to take a look at the sea wall herself. This was a part of the palace she did not otherwise frequent. Tashroth’s absence at this critical time weighed on her, even though he would only be gone a matter of days. When she finally did allow herself to seek sleep, she found her muscles tense and her thoughts racing, so that she could not surrender to its comforts until far into the night. She prayed that Tvrdik and the others were having good fortune recruiting for their alternative army, and that Tvrdik was busy coming up with a long list of brilliant strategies for them to employ.

Tvrdik woke from a sound sleep the next morning and came out of his room to Mrs. Praeger’s bright smile, the scent of something delicious, and her cryptic comment, “Best eat a good, big breakfast, Master Wizard. Ye have a busy day ahead.” Confused, and not entirely awake, he smiled back and said, “Excuse me?” In response, while she bustled about straightening things, she nodded her head toward the nearest window. Tvrdik adjusted his glasses, glanced out where she had indicated…and blinked, now fully awake, at the sight of an endless line of people standing in his front yard, snaking back to the gate, and presumably onto the riverwalk. None of them looked wealthy, but otherwise, there were all sorts: men and women, children, adults, and aged folks. They waited patiently – standing, sitting, balanced on crutches, leaning on friends, lying in stretchers. Every one of them carried some homespun offering for the healer – a wheel of cheese, loaves of bread, pails of milk or of potatoes, a pole of fish, or a live chicken…

“Gods!” he muttered under his breath at the sight that would not vanish, glasses or no. Alarmed, but without taking his eyes from the bizarre scene, he called out, “Mrs. Praeger, where did all these people come from, and what do they want?”

Without even slowing a beat in her labors, she called back, “Oh, my man told a few folk yesterday that ye were willin’ to take a look at what ails them, and they must’ve brought their friends. Everyone has heard of our Lynette’s recovery. Ye’re already a fair miracle worker by reputation,” she chuckled, and continued. “These are simple folk who don’t have much, but they’ve all brought something to trade, sir, have no worry for that. And all that food will come in right handy, that it will. Now, never you mind. Sit yerself down and take yer breakfast, sir, and you take yer time. They’ll wait for ye, they will.” She tugged him away from the window, and settled him down at the dining table, where breakfast was already laid out. Tvrdik took a deep breath, counted to ten, took off his glasses to wipe off the smudges, and with enforced calm, cleared his throat to speak, “Mrs. Praeger, thank you for the lovely supper you left for me last night, and for this sumptuous breakfast. And when it is convenient, could you tell your husband that I’d like to see him for just a moment, please?”

His voice shot up in pitch on the last few words, as the magnitude of what he was facing flooded over him. He picked at the delicious breakfast, barely paying any attention to what he was chewing. His thoughts reeling, he wondered how he could ever manage to apply his talents to such a vast army of patients in one day. He had always considered himself rather good at this particular aspect of the wizard’s craft, but this was well beyond anything that had ever been asked of him before, and he doubted that he was up to it. Yet, glancing out the dreaded window once more, his heart went out to them. He could see in those faces their hope and faith, and in some cases, their pain. Some of these folks were really suffering. How long had it been since any of them had been able to find any help? He remembered what Praeger had looked like when he had first met him, and what he had been willing to do for just a chance at helping his family. And besides, what better way was there to win friends and allies among the common folk for their cause, than to help ease their pain? Perhaps this was what Praeger had had in mind all along, and this was the little man’s special contribution to the Legions of Light.
Except I have to do all the work,
Tvrdik thought.
What if
there are people here who are so ill that I cannot help them? They’ll hate me. I’m not a miracle worker, after
all.

Now, then, Tvrdik,
the other side of his mind responded,
you signed on to be a healer, so then be
a healer. You’ve been lying around long enough
–
time to make yourself us
eful.

“Did ye want to speak with me, sir?” Praeger’s voice interrupted his reverie, and he looked up to see the man’s curious face.

“Sit,” he commanded, which Praeger did, somewhat taken aback. In a low voice, the wizard addressed him, “Praeger, just what is this?’

“What is what, sir?”

“Why, all those people waiting out there.”

“Well, sir, ye said I could give the word for folks to come for healing.”

“I said you could tell a few friends. I never expected
this.
”

Praeger smiled mischievously, “Word spreads quickly in the villages, sir, and there truly is a need. And people are curious, sir, to see for themselves if there really is a wizard once again in this house – it’s been a long time. Good way to meet yer neighbors, sir, and make some friends, if I do say so.” He winked. There it was…this man was more clever than he appeared.

“But what if I can’t help all of them? This could backfire, you know.”

Praeger was still smiling, like the cat that knew where its master’s lunch had gotten to, “Aw, ye’ll do just fine, sir, I’m that certain of it.”

“But…so many!”

“It’s early, sir, and Lynette will stand by to help ye with fetchin’ and carryin’ and all. Glad ye enjoyed yer breakfast, sir,” he cocked his head toward the collection of empty plates. Tvrdik raised one eyebrow in surprise, wishing that he remembered eating any of it. Praeger went on, “All right if I take my leave, sir? Full day ahead for me as well, sir, workin’ on the back rooms…”

“Yes, yes, go ahead. Thank you.” He waved the amused man away and rose from the table, glancing out the window again.
Alright
, he thought,
what’s done is done, and nothing for it but to dive right in and do my best.
He pulled back his hair with a tie, adjusted the belt of his robe, went into the parlor and arranged the two comfortable chairs in a sort of doctor/patient arrangement, with the low table beside his seat. In one quick circuit around the house, he gathered a number of the most useful potions, salves, elixirs, and medicines that Xaarus had on his shelves, and lined them all up on the table. Then he added some fresh herbs, bandages, knives, small cloths for washing, and a basin of warm water from the kettle over the hearth. Eyeing it all, and deciding it would do for the moment, he sat himself in the ‘healer’s’ chair, and called for his young assistant.

“Lynette, your father said you might be willing to help me out with a bit of doctoring today, is that right?”

“At your service, Master Wizard.” And she did a little curtsey.

“Alright, then. Your assistance is most welcome. As you can see, we have a
lot
of patients to treat today. You tell me when you are tired and need a break, yes?”

“I can do it. Just tell me what to do.”

He adjusted his position in the comfortable chair and sighed, “Are you ready? Good. Lynette, will you please show our first patient in…”

The healer/mage sat there all that day, and long after the sun had gone down. He saw thirty-two people and several animals, giving each his full attention, and the best care and advice he knew to give. Lynette ushered patients in and out, gathering up their hopeful offerings for the growing pile in the kitchen, and ran for supplies and medicines as Tvrdik instructed her. She was willing and hard-working, and mature for her age, but a child after all. Thankfully, Delphine happened by for a visit after the first hour and a half, sized up the situation, rolled up her sleeves, and dived in as assistant for the remainder of the marathon. She took over anything to do with fetching, mixing or pouring medicines, explaining instructions, or writing them down, and with any hands-on assistance the mage required in handling patients. Lynette only had to take charge of escorting patients in and out, and collecting the various payments. Even so, Mrs. Praeger came out to spell her every now and then and give the little girl a rest. She was working on the back rooms with her husband, but checked often on her daughter, and insisted that Tvrdik and Delphine also take breaks now and again. Not that they ever stopped for long – a quick cup of tea or a sandwich hastily consumed – but even those brief pauses helped them to address the next patient with renewed energy. In the course of that single day, Tvrdik saw rashes, earaches, toothaches, stomach aches, broken limbs and sprains, strains and wounds that would not heal. There were cases of croup and asthma, burns and warts, babies that cried constantly and aged patriarchs who were thin and bent. Some complaints were fairly trivial, and Tvrdik could tell that the main motivation for the person’s presence there was simple curiosity – the desire to see the new wizard close-up, as Praeger had remarked. He tried to be patient and pleasant, and give them something of a show for their efforts.

Others he saw had far more serious complaints, coming in for treatment not a moment too soon. He was glad of the opportunity to help those folks regain their health, and felt he was doing some real good. Thank the heavens there were no pox, no plagues, no contagious diseases in the mix, but a few of the most aged or very ill presented him with the unpleasant task of telling their families that there was very little he could do to restore them. In most of these cases, however, everyone seemed to understand that he was doing the best he could to make their loved ones more comfortable, and to take away any suffering.

There were the heart-touching, memorable cases: the little boy who brought in his beloved cat, and explained tearfully that it had been run over accidentally by the family cart, and had broken a leg. Tvrdik set the leg with great solemnity, applied some salve against infection, and gave the boy very detailed instructions on the care of his best friend, telling him to come back in a week’s time. Both the boy and his charge left feeling much better. There were the two friends who carried a third companion for miles on a stretcher to see the healer, since the man was too sick to make the journey on his own. There was the young husband who fussed over his pregnant wife with such concern and attentiveness one would have thought her made of fine porcelain. With such variety, the day was never dull, and the people were all good, honest, plain folk who treated him with great deference, but seemed to bloom at his natural kindness and good humor. Tvrdik took their gifts and offerings out of respect for their dignity, though he would have seen them for nothing. Much of what they brought was actually very useful to a new homeowner, and seemed a fair exchange. In some cases, however, where he sensed that the gift was a hardship or truly beyond the means of the client, he would only accept a small portion of what was offered, and sent them home with the rest.