War of Power (The Trouble with Magic Book 3) (22 page)

The two magicians talked far into the night while they waited in hope of seeing Karryl. Eventually resigning themselves to the unassailable fact that they needed some sleep, they made their way reluctantly to their rooms.

At breakfast the following morning they and the other guests were joined by Lady Evalin. Tense expectation hung in the air as she poured herself a cup of tea and carried it to her accustomed seat.

Her hands cradling the delicate porcelain cup she looked at each one in turn and smiled. “You’ll be pleased to know that Karryl has had a restful night. He is taking breakfast in his room, and will hopefully be up and about later this morning.”

Symon breathed a sigh of relief as he spread butter on bread. “How does he seem? What I mean is, do there appear to be any adverse effects?”

Evalin shook her head. “He’s come through it very well, though I doubt he’s fully recovered, so don’t you be expecting too much of him for a day or two.”

Bardeen raised a questioning eyebrow at Symon who responded with a non-committal shrug. The younger magician’s voice was tinged with disappointment. “So, he won’t be coming back with us then?”

Evalin looked at him as if he had just made an improper suggestion, but there was a twinkle in her deep blue eyes. “Indeed he will not. Although your inspired reasoning provided the vital answer to our problem, he still needs some time to fully recover his powers and his physical strength.” She chuckled. “I doubt whether he could summon enough power to light a candle at the moment.”

Symon’s eyes widened with alarm. “Is he in any danger?”

All eyes turned to Evalin as they waited for her reply. Straightening her shoulders and lifting her chin, she gave the little magician a confident smile. “Not while he is under this roof with yourselves and Kimi to keep him company.”

Symon nodded his acceptance then frowned as he looked round the room. “Where is our Ingali friend by the way?”

Evalin picked up her cup of tea and took a sip before replying. “He seems to be quite taken with the surrounding countryside. I gave him leave to go exploring. One of the guards has gone with him. They’ll be back in a few hours.”

She stood up from the table. “Now, Prince Florian and I have things to attend to but I’m sure you can all find things to do until lunchtime.”

Almost wistfully, Symon watched them leave. He liked Florian. The ageing prince was entertaining and well read, with a seemingly endless supply of amusing and frequently thought-provoking anecdotes. Symon wished he could have spent more time in his company. He little knew then that his wish would one day be granted, and not quite in the way he had hoped.

It was about an hour after lunch when a somewhat pale and hollow-eyed young Mage-Prime wandered onto the balcony where the two magicians were quietly talking and admiring the view.

His face alight with pleasure and relief Symon hurried forward to grip Karryl’s hand between both his own. “I’m so glad to see you up and about so soon.”

Karryl gave his fellow magician a wry smile. “It’s a case of necessity as much as anything. Evalin has just given me as many details as she could of what’s been happening.” He turned to the other magician. “Master Bardeen, I have to thank you for all the effort you’ve made to get me to where I am now.”

Bardeen shook his head. “I cannot take all the credit.”

Symon patted his palms together. “Forgive me for interrupting, but if you’ll tell Karryl everything you’ve told me, I’ll go and see if I can arrange for a pot of tea to be brought to the library.”

He scurried off. Karryl moved across to lean on the balustrade, his eyes travelling slowly across the broad vista of woodlands and mountains. “This is a wonderful place to be. I’d love to stay, but I have to return to Vellethen as soon as possible.”

Bardeen placed a hand on Karryl’s arm. “That’s as may be, but one step at a time. Let’s get settled in the library and I’ll attempt to fill in the gaps in the story. Then you can decide what you want to do next.”

Karryl knew exactly what he wanted to do next, but his present weakened condition prevented him from doing any of it. Keeping his frustration and anxiety under control, he listened carefully as, fortified with cups of tea, Bardeen and Symon between them furnished further details of the events which had so swiftly overtaken him. When they eventually finished, Karryl leaned back in his chair, holding his hands over his face while he slowly restored order to the turmoil of his racing mind. Filled with trepidation, the two older magicians occasionally glanced at each other as they waited for further reaction from the young Mage-Prime.

To their surprise and relief, Karryl lowered his hands into his lap and thoughtfully regarded the two men. “The thing I can’t understand is why? Miqhal has all the artefacts except Keril’s book. Does Ghian want that as well? And if he does, what would killing me achieve?”

Symon and Bardeen both shook their heads, but it was Symon who answered. “This thing is not finished yet by any means, but I think that if there was anything else of significance in the book, Miqhal would have taken it with the other artefacts.”

Karryl frowned as he raised a finger for emphasis. “That’s just it. There could well be something else. Miqhal knows I haven’t worked through the whole of the book. That’s why I need to get back as soon as possible.” His brow furrowed. “I’m not even sure how long I’ve been here.”

Bardeen leaned forward. “If you count the day of the attack as day one, this is day seven.”

Karryl did some quick calculations of his own. “A little less than two months to the astral conjunction, and there’s still so much to do.”

Symon regarded him thoughtfully. “Have you any idea what it is you have left to do? It could be that now you have located the artefacts and turned them over to the Jadhrahin, your part in this is finished.”

Karryl grimaced with frustration and thumped his fist weakly on the arm of his chair. “I don’t think so. Don’t you remember what D’ta told me? I have to meet Ghian. It’s unavoidable. But before that there’s still the problem of discovering what strengths he has. If he’s surrounded himself with a battalion of Vedric magicians…”

He left the sentence hanging as he pushed himself out of his chair. Slowly he crossed the room to stand, arms folded, gazing out of the window. “That’s why I must contact Miqhal as quickly as possible.” He turned to fix his dark shadowed eyes on Symon. “Would you go to Naboria and see what you can discover?”

Symon’s eyebrows raised high in astonishment. His snort of disbelief did nothing for Karryl’s confidence. “If I went to Nebir and started asking questions, I’d stand out like a day-old chick in a vipers’ nest, and last about as long.”

Karryl opened his mouth to speak but the little magician held up a restraining hand, raising his voice slightly to preclude any further protest. “However…we do have a mutual friend who has, I believe, the skills and resources to undertake such a venture.”

His words hung in the air while Bardeen and Karryl stared at him for a long moment. Then Karryl grinned. “Magnor!” His wide grin was quickly replaced by a puzzled frown. “I wonder why he hasn’t already turned up here.”

Symon raised his hands. “That’s easy. Nobody told him.”

His voice tight with concern, Karryl stared open-mouthed at his fellow magicians. “Why-ever not? With the astral conjunction, which seems to be the crux of the whole matter, moving ever closer, it’s vital that everyone involved is kept informed of everything that’s happening.” His voice and dark eyebrows lowered in unison. “Except Ghian, of course.”

Sensing rather than hearing another presence in the room, he spun round to see Lady Evalin gazing intently at him. He strode towards her, his shoulders pushed urgently forward. “Lady Evalin. If I have to stay here very long I think everything will start to get out of hand.” He raised his hands in desperation. “I have more work to do on Keril’s book as well as the scroll he left. Somehow I have to get in contact with Miqhal, and there’s still the matter of the prophecy. I think I told you that Master Gibb is working on that. He may have discovered its meaning while all this has been going on. That’s why it’s so essential for me to...”

Evalin flicked a finger in his direction. Karryl stopped in front of her and shook his head, a puzzled expression on his face. “Sorry. What was I saying just then? I think I must still be rather tired.”

Giving Symon and Bardeen a knowing wink, Evalin stepped forward and took the arm of the temporarily confused Mage-Prime. “That’s only to be expected. Perhaps it would be best if you went to your room for a while. Don’t worry. Everything will work out.”

With her free hand resting lightly on his back, Evalin carefully guided Karryl out of the room. Symon and Bardeen returned to their comfortable chairs and began to discuss ways they could ensure that things didn’t get, as Karryl had put it ‘out of hand’.

* * *

A bitter scowl contorting the sharp features of his bearded face, the Grelfine Lord paced the cold floor in front of the darkly encrusted altar. The temple was empty of worshippers, yet the air, heavy with the cloying odour of incense and blood, seemed to swirl with a throng of whispering voices mocking and accusing. He had already spent hours fervently praying for answers. None came, his fruitless efforts witnessed only by two black-armoured temple guards, their faces stony, contempt evident in their dark-lidded slanted eyes.

Angered and desperate, Ghian had led the final search for the Jadhrahin victims of the Wraith attack. When the search produced no evidence, he accused the men of cowardice. Using a small cavern near the surface as a base, he remained there and cast intricate spells of search and locating, dismayed and frustrated as he felt the sullied residues return to him, having found nothing.

He glared at one of his lieutenants. “One of the desert scum must still be alive and has cast a powerful glamour or spell of concealment over the corpses. They are no longer our concern.”

The soldier dared to look hopeful. “Are we to return to the city then, Lord Ghian?”

Swiftly, Ghian drew in power. Wrapping the man in a spell of immobility, he stepped close. Their faces almost touching he snarled. “Neither you, or the men in here with you will return to the city until the artefacts are located. Only when you have done that and marked their position will you be allowed to return. Is that clear?”

With a brief gesture he released the spell. A contemptuous sneer twisted his wide mouth as the lieutenant staggered before regaining his balance.

His eyes wide, the man nodded. “That is understood, Lord Ghian.”

The lieutenant quickly brought the men in the cavern to order and led them out once more into the dread depths of the meandering tunnels. As the sound and echoes of their footsteps faded, Ghian played the intense blue light of a torch over every inch of the smooth walls and ceiling. Seeing and hearing nothing, he switched off the torch and transferred himself to the surface. From the wind-whipped crest of a dune he scanned the desert and nearby mountains for any sign of movement. Embittered and enraged in equal measure, he took one last look before shifting to the comforting gloom of the Vedran temple’s main hall. Carrying with it the sinister echoes of mocking voices, a blast of freezing wind hurtled and howled through the distant tunnel complex.

The day started quietly enough for Karryl, but after a leisurely breakfast in the company of Symon, Bardeen and the other guests of the palace, the remainder of his day was to prove rather more taxing. The first indication was the unannounced arrival of Magnor. Dressed in his finely pleated silver-grey robe, the Grrybhñnös elder strolled onto the balcony of the dining room where the three magicians had gathered to sit and talk about nothing in particular. Springing up out of his chair, Karryl spilled his tea as he hurried to place the cup on a side table.

He bounded forward to take Magnor’s hand in both his own, surprise and relief struggling to occupy his face at the same time. “Magnor! Someone’s told you at last! How long have you been here?”

Amber eyes shining, Magnor acknowledged Symon and Bardeen with a nod over Karryl’s shoulder. “I arrived last night but you were asleep. And before you ask, I had breakfast with Lady Evalin.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than the lady herself arrived and stood beside Magnor. “I’ll be leaving you gentlemen to talk, but I want you all to join me in the library in one hour.”

There was a determined set to her mouth as she looked across at Karryl. “As you are so intent on returning to Vellethen as soon as possible, I suppose we should make a start on restoring your powers. It would take far too long to wait until it is achieved through natural progression.”

Magnor looked bewildered as he turned to Lady Evalin. “Has he nothing left at all?”

Before she could reply Karryl chuckled and raised his hands in a gesture of self derision. “As I am at the moment I could just about manage to light a candle. Unless of course, someone got me really annoyed and my wilder power unexpectedly surfaced.” He grimaced. “Ghian certainly knew what he was doing when he chose that particular poison.”

He gazed down at the floor while his mind rapidly analysed the implications such an act might have. Slowly he lifted his head and looked at each of his companions in turn. “It’s fortunate his timing was so poor.” He grinned. “Let’s hope it’s a major character flaw.”

Evalin frowned. “Such possibilities are best not dwelt on now. Please, just be ready in one hour.”

Karryl’s brow furrowed as he cocked his head on one side. “Why can’t we do it here, now?”

Evalin gave him a flat stare. “The library. One hour.”

As she strode out of the room, Karryl shrugged, sat down in his chair and pensively sipped at his half cup of cold tea. He looked up at Magnor. “Do you know how she’s going to do it?”

The Grrybhñnös elder thought for a moment. “Normally, we would form a linked circle and each of us would release some of our power into you, rather like priming a pump. Once you have a certain amount, you will be able to draw more. Gradually your own power would increase until your full capability was restored. But I have a feeling that this is going to be rather different.”

Noticing the concern which registered on Karryl’s face, Bardeen leaned forward. “Lady Evalin may be intending to speed up the process.”

Karryl raised a questioning eyebrow and Bardeen gave an assertive nod. “It can be done. It happened to me when I was in the mountains to the north of Ingalia”

Symon chuckled. “Oh. Yes. I remember you telling me about that. Rather a shock to your system I believe.”

Bardeen grimaced. “It certainly was.” Seeing that he had everyone’s interest, the mild-mannered magician cleared his throat and continued. “I’d been hiking in the mountains for days. Occasionally I came across some little mountain village and used a few simple spells to heal someone or improve something, but I didn’t stay too long, even though I was always made to feel very welcome. Anyway, the last village was about two days behind me when the weather turned for the worse and I…ahem…I got lost.”

Trying not to smile, Karryl shuffled his chair closer. “Why didn’t you use a locating spell and go back towards the village?”

Bardeen shook his head. “For some reason it wouldn’t work. I just kept locating myself. It might have been the severity of the weather. Everything was blowing white, and I couldn’t see more than a pace in front of me, so I dug a snow-hole. When I was inside it I did a variation on a warming spell and was prepared to sit there until the storm blew over.”

Magnor slipped his hands inside his wide sleeves and began to pace. “What puzzles me, Master Bardeen, is how this relates to Karryl’s situation.”

Bardeen raised a finger. “I was about to come to that. You see, when I cast the warming spell I added a little extra, which not only kept me considerably warmer, it gave me light as well. Now, you might think that’s what any magician would have done, and you’d probably be right. The other factor that came into the equation, and the one that made all the difference, was the duration of the storm.”

He paused, shuddered slightly and took a deep breath. “It lasted for five days and nights. It was a further two days before the villagers found me, by which time my power was exhausted and I was barely conscious. They gathered me up and took me down the mountain and left me with the Ingali hill people.”

Everyone turned as Karryl murmured “The witch women.”

Bardeen nodded. “That’s right. They had me on my feet in hours, and my powers restored almost overnight.” He looked slightly peeved. “No matter how I coaxed and cajoled, they kept the details of the spell firmly to themselves.”

Noticing that the others were showing signs of impatience, Bardeen took a deep breath. “Anyway, that shows it can be done, and as Kimi is here somewhere, it’s quite possible that Lady Evalin knows the spell and can work it with our Ingali friend. Who knows? By the end of the day you may well have your full powers restored.”

Karryl’s gloomy expression changed to hopeful. “Then I can get back and finish working on Keril’s book and scroll. There’s still much left to do and not a lot of time to do it in.”

Magnor frowned down at him, his tone mildly reproving. “And what says that you have to do it all yourself? Perhaps a little faith in the abilities of others would not be misplaced.”

Karryl looked up, concern evident in his dark eyes. “It’s nothing to do with that. It’s just that the whole thing was dropped in my lap and I feel personally responsible.”

Symon’s finger sliced the air. “So you are, but that doesn’t mean you have to carry the whole load for the entire journey. Delegate now and then. We are on the same side after all.”

Surprised at the unusual vehemence in the little magician, Karryl leaned back in his chair and stared at him. Symon looked as though he expected to be struck by lightning at any second.

Lady Evalin called from the doorway. “Library please, gentlemen.”

Karryl quickly pushed himself out of his chair. “That’s never an hour!”

Evalin shook her head. “To be sure it is not, but as Kimi is ready and everyone required is here, we may as well begin.”

Karryl felt the tell-tale frisson as he followed his companions into the large book-lined library. He also noticed something else which piqued his curiosity. Pausing just inside the doorway, he gave a little cough to attract Evalin’s attention. Eyebrows raised in query he silently gestured over his shoulder towards the two stern-faced guards who stood outside either side of the door.

Evalin crossed the room and carefully closed the wide double doors before giving Karryl a knowing smile. “I thought you’d probably notice.”

With a slight and graceful hand gesture she laid a ward of silence over the room, and stood facing them in front of the large and ornate fireplace. “You have all probably realised by now that the small company of guards I retain are no ordinary men.”

Karryl noticed Symon and Magnor nodding in agreement. Bardeen looked slightly bemused, while Kimi’s dark eyes sparkled with interest.

Evalin clasped her hands. “They belong to an ancient, but sadly dying, race of beings known as the Halven. This isle is steeped in the legacy of their magic and their mystical ways. Sadly, the pure race of forest dwelling people from whom they are descended are no more.”

She looked directly at Karryl. “The crystal that kept you alive is theirs, as are a number of strange and magical artefacts whose safe-keeping they have entrusted to me. Tell me, what was it that you particularly noticed?”

Karryl smiled. “I sensed the magic within them first, and then I caught a glimpse of their ears. You don’t notice them normally because most of the guards wear their helms, but the ones outside the door are bareheaded.”

Evalin gave an assertive nod. “Indeed, they are. Often I have tried to persuade a number of them to return with me to guard King Vailin, but the Halven will not leave these shores. I have had to make some concessions for them to even be here, but they are loyal, trust-worthy and deadly fighters, and I can ask no more than that.”

Karryl’s smile turned to a wry grimace. “Quite a force to be reckoned with I should imagine.”

They all turned as Kimi spoke. “Their skills in hill and forest craft gave even I much envy. I learned much while with the one who accompanied me.” The wiry Ingali looked almost shamefaced. “I thought to teach him things, but he taught me more.”

Evalin walked across to one of the wide bookshelves, reached up and pointed to a large thick volume bound in white leather. “In there is as complete an account as could be obtained of their history and lore. It is written in the Halven language, but a carefully woven spell of translation should provide you with some insight.” She turned to face them. “Study it at your leisure. Now, we have other matters to attend to.

* * *

The procedure was not what Karryl had expected. He had imagined something similar to the transfer of power he had experienced on the top of the King Tower in Vedra; a sudden and forceful push which had enabled him to retrieve the medallion. Lady Evalin had other ideas. It was well after lunchtime before she broke the link and announced the process complete. Calm and inscrutable, Kimi stood beside Evalin and watched as Magnor and the two magicians flopped heavily into armchairs.

Karryl blew out his cheeks with a noisy rush of breath. “I don’t know about restoring my powers. I feel as if they’ve been drained!”

Evalin chuckled. “I’m led to believe that it is quite a normal reaction to this particular series of spells. You’ll feel much better after lunch.” She grinned almost wickedly at the others. “You gentlemen may find an afternoon nap most restorative.”

Symon pushed himself out of his chair and pushed his fists into his eyes. “If everyone would excuse me, I think I’ll miss lunch and take that nap now.” He patted his palms together. “By dinner time I shall have restored my appetite if nothing else.”

Karryl felt the tingle as Evalin removed the ward of silence, and Symon ambled out of the room, closing the door quietly behind him.

His hands folded under his chin, Karryl looked up at Evalin. “So, now that’s over, how soon can I return to Vellethen?”

Evalin feigned surprise as she gave the young Mage-Prime a bright smile. “Whenever you feel you are ready.”

Karryl almost jumped out of his chair. “Thank goodness for that!”

Lady Evalin was pleasantness itself. “Your ship is even now lying rigged and ready in Bolduin harbour.”

Karryl stared. “Ship! What ship?”

Evalin folded her arms, her expression one of mild amusement. “Now, were you really thinking you could just get up and fly away as soon as we were done?”

Karryl looked bemused. “Well…yes, I suppose I did. You mean I can’t?”

With a shake of her head, as if despairing of a backward child, Evalin stepped forward and placed her hand on the disappointed Mage’s arm. “By tomorrow your powers will be near enough those bestowed on you by the entities in the sea of mists. Even so, you will still need time to assimilate them properly. That is why you will be returning by sea. It is only a short voyage, two days at most. It will also give you enough time to regain more of your physical strength. When you are ready to leave here, I will have a message sent to Captain Finn. I believe the first tide tomorrow is midmorning.”

Tilting her head on one side, she raised an eyebrow as if seeking confirmation.

Karryl nodded mutely then looked round at his companions and grinned. “If I’m to build my strength up I’d better go and start working on it. Anyone for lunch?”

Evalin crossed to the door and pulled it open. “There’s cold fare in the dining room, and I’ll send to the kitchens for hot soup and fresh bread.” She stepped out into the corridor as the two Halven guards thumped a salute with the butts of their halberds. “I will join you all later, at dinner.”