The Sorcerer's Abyss (The Sorcerer's Path) (29 page)

Miranda laid a restraining hand on Allister’s forearm. “Wait, look out there.”

Allister looked to where Miranda pointed and saw a mass of cavalry flying Duchess Melina’s standard galloping toward the school. From the dust farther down the road, he assumed an equally large number of footmen followed. The clarion calls of a dozen horns preceded the cavalry’s arrival, likely in an attempt to preempt any hostile actions by either side.

Duchess Melina reined her horse in hard with General Brague at her immediate right. She glared fiercely from under her open helm. “Who is in charge here?”

Magus Harvey bowed at the waist. “I am in charge of this taskforce, Your Grace. I am Magus Robert Harvey, appointed by The Academy to carry out its instructions.”

“I don’t give a damn if Solarian himself appointed you. How dare you bring an armed contingent into my duchy and threaten not just my citizens, but my own daughter and grandson! You will leave my territory immediately.”

“Your Grace, your daughter and grandson are free to leave at any time,” the wizard said smoothly, “but this school unlawfully teaches magic and therefore falls under the jurisdiction of Academy law, not those of the state or the crown.”

“Academy autonomy does not allow you to bring armed troops through my city without notice or permission. I have half a mind to clap you in irons for that!”

Magus Harvey continued to smile in his annoyingly ingratiating manner. “You did not receive my notice? I apologize, Your Grace, I must have forgotten to file it with your staff. I would ask that you refrain from carrying out your threat of incarceration. Interfering with the legal execution of Academy law is against the King’s law and could have rather serious repercussions.”

Melina took several controlled breaths to keep the scowl from her face, and General Brague looked as though he was just waiting for a signal to cut this wizard’s head off. “I will speak with my daughter and Magus Allister. General, keep to my side.”

“Always, Your Grace,” the General replied.

“Thank you, Your Grace,” Magus Harvey said, thinking he had cowed the Duchess.

“It is not for your benefit, you little dung heap!” The Duchess snapped in a rare show of vulgarity and nearly trampled the annoying mage with her horse. “Open a gate for myself and the General,” Melina called out.

A sally gate opened immediately and the Duchess and her general guided their mounts through. The inside of the school compound was prepared for battle. The students of the Orphan’s Academy erected multiple barricades and defensive positions in what must have been very short order. Melina and General Brague gave an invisible nod to the students’ training and discipline.

The Duchess and her general dismounted near the wall and ascended the ramp to its top where they quickly located Magus Allister and Miranda along with several other senior staff members of the school.

“Miranda, Magus, please tell me what is transpiring here,” Duchess Melina said. “If I must listen to that arrogant little twit down there I may very well ask the General to cut him down.”

“I still can if you would like, Your Grace,” Brague mumbled.

“You are sweet to offer, but let us try a diplomatic approach first. What is this all about?”

Allister answered, “He first came last year ago looking for Ellyssa and threatened to shut down the school. From what I can tell, he failed to get Ellyssa and is now trying to accomplish his secondary task.”

“And his claim of legal authority?”

“I assume The Academy council has issued an edict of some sort. He did wave a piece of parchment at me,” Allister said.

Melina gave the archmage a disapproving look. “You did not bother to read it? What exactly is his intent?”

Allister looked abashed. “I am not certain, Your Grace.”

Melina rolled her eyes. “I expect such verbal imparity from men, but I thought I had trained you better, Miranda.” The Duchess looked down at the people below. “You there, annoying little man, what are your intentions here?”

“Magus Harvey, Your Grace,” the wizard clarified.

“Oh, as if I care; now answer my question.”

Magus Harvey’s ingratiating smile slipped to a scowl at being so readily dismissed. “I have an order from The Academy to place this school under its direct control and supervision. Several Academy staff will stay on as instructors and council members to ensure Academy law, guidelines, and curriculum are strictly adhered to. Were it up to me, I would shut it down completely, but there are those who have chosen to keep it open as long as it complies with Academy standards.”

Melina turned to Allister and Miranda. “What is your decision? My infantry are nearly here. I will support your decision, King’s or Academy law be damned. I will deal with that when it comes.”

“They are talking about taking over my home, Mother,” Miranda said forlornly.

Rusty took a step forward and spoke. “Will it really be that much different than what we do now? Our curriculum is a little more advanced and faster-paced than The Academy, but our classes are already overflowing. More instructors could help a great deal, even if it means we give up some control.”

“It’s not about keeping control, Franklin,” Allister said. “It’s about surrendering Azerick’s legacy to a bunch of elitist snobs. Many of these new wizards, Harvey in particular, support the Academy’s exclusivity in regards to attendance. I will not allow this jumped up jackanapes to dictate our enrollment.”

“Perhaps an agreement can be reached in regards to shared authority,” the Duchess suggested.

Allister considered it and called down to the assembled forces. “The current administrators of the school will have equal authority and positions on the council, and any admissions, expulsions, or punishments will follow Academy rules regardless of social standing or wealth.”

“Allister, you are hardly in a position to make demands. The Academy has given me authority in this matter, and I am under no requirements to make concessions.”

“I strongly suggest you take note of the two thousand men approaching and rethink your position, annoying little man,” Melina loudly recommended. “You may wish to confer with your soldiers’ officers regarding tactics when trapped between a fortified wall and numerically superior forces. I think he will recommend you to consider concessions.”

Magus Harvey’s face burned with such intensity its discoloring was evident even to those atop the wall. “You would dare violate the laws of the King as well as The Academy?”

A devious smile played across the Duchess’s lips. “Are you referring to the same King whom my forces and members of this school personally returned to the throne? Would you also be referring to the same Academy whose two senior most archmages are now standing atop this wall? I believe you are, and I will take my chances with the political fallout.”

Magus Harvey stewed over the unexpected turn of events. He had planned on cowing the stubborn Allister into submission. He had not expected the Duchess to be so intractable and quick to rise to the school’s defense. It was poor planning on his part, and he accepted it. He could still achieve victory even if not as wholly planned. He could not eject most of the low-class trash if he agreed to the archmage’s terms, but he would still have control over the curriculum. He would agree, but the applied magic course currently being taught would come to a glacial crawl.

“All right, I will agree to the terms, but know The Academy has appointed me as Headmaster, and I will not tolerate dissension from the staff or students.”

Allister internally railed against the thought of this man acting as Headmaster and feared for his school under his control, but the only other option was to fight, and fighting meant people dying. This school has seen too many of its students and staff perish in the battles with Ulric’s mercenaries and the undead terror on that dreadful night. It would be different, even uncomfortable, but the school would survive.

“Very well, Harvey. I will comply with The Academy’s order as long as you honor your agreement as well.”

“I will keep my word, Magus Allister, and it is Headmaster Harvey if you please.

“Headlessmaster Harvey would please me more,” Allister grumbled. “Open the gates.”

Magus Harvey, his fellow wizards, and several score soldiers passed through the gates. Magus Allister ordered everyone to stand down and return to duties or dorms. He, Miranda, and the Duchess then met Magus Harvey’s contingent on the ground.

“I am glad you chose to be reasonable, Magus Allister,” the new Headmaster said with a self-satisfied smile.

“Same for you, Harvey,” Allister retorted shortly.

“Headmaster Harvey, Magus Allister. We do not want your lack of protocol to be seen as disrespect. Such a thing could rub off on the impressionable young minds of our students, which could foment dissent and cause them to act in a manner resulting in expulsion. We would not want that to happen, would we?”

“No,” the old mage choked back the bile that rose in his throat, “Headmaster.”

Headmaster Harvey smiled in way that made it look more like a sneer. “Excellent. I shall have my quarters and office set up at the top of one of the towers. The larger one will do nicely.”

“The hell it will!” Miranda shouted. “Those towers are my home, built by my husband. They are not part of the school and you shall not step foot inside of either of them without my leave. You can find housing in one of the dormitories or in the city. I am sure we can create a suitable office in one of the outbuildings.”

“What? This is unacceptable!” Harvey railed. “I am the Headmaster, and I require suitable accommodations on the grounds.”

 “Then file a construction request with The Academy so they can agree on building and budget plans. I am certain it should not take more than six months for such a request to go through all the proper channels,” Allister said.

The new Headmaster looked as if he wanted to continue his protests and demands, but a look at Duchess Melina’s face clearly indicated this was a nonnegotiable issue. As the ruler of this region, she could simply recall the property and structures and reclaim them as her own. The fact she had the forces to evict him and his contingent convinced him to cease his protests.