by Danny Macks
Silva fished in his pocket for a piece of paper and handed it to Dr. Anguilla. “Here’s your payment, as promised. Mother’s sigil, unknown to anyone but us, and free for you to register in your name alone. Did they ever find out who mind-wiped Kate, after she left Winterhaven?”
Dr. Anguilla shook his head. “No idea. From her behavior, we estimate she’s been regressed back to age sixteen. She’s forgotten any Sparian she once knew and has to start over in a completely strange land."
“I’ve been seeing to it she’s taken care of,” Doris interjected. “She’s been teaching me math. Despite what’s happened to her, she’s quite clever.”
“I’ll help.” Silva grinned. “Sixteen puts her a lot closer to my age.”
“No,” Father and Doris chorused.
“Rather,” Doris added diplomatically, “your help will be appreciated only if you can keep the relationship professional.”
Doris looked around, his mind already leaping ahead to other things. “So the disaster is finally cured?”
“No, but it will stop getting worse” Father said. “Thanks to the Capstock Tunnel, the Winterhaven problem is now spread out to become a national problem. I expect better mages than I will start putting effort into turning the wemyds into an effective cure.”
Dr. Anguilla placed a hand on Silva’s shoulder. “Are you certain I can’t convince you to share the rote you created to kill the wemyds? It's no longer useful for the purpose for which it was designed, but the way you managed the power consumption on such a wide-reaching spell is certain to have other applications. The knowledge would be a huge benefit to people everywhere.”
Silva removed the doctor’s hand from his shoulder. “I’m certain. I’m going to stay here, with my father, and ask the people who left if they would like my help rebuilding Winterhaven. Together.”
AFTERWARD
Engineering for Drudges was published by a small independent publisher. While superficially a collection of álgebra problems and physics experiments, the intellectual concepts raised by the book have caused it to be unsuccessfully banned at least a dozen times. The book became a bestseller after it was publically cited as the primary inspiration behind the invention of the steam-powered locomotive.
The book’s author is unknown. Doris Stone, administrator of the trust created to handle the book's profits, refuses to comment on the subject.
EPILOGUE
Two and a half years later
Silva studied his master scroll, checking over each sigil one last time. Dr. Poincer had been true to his word, acquiring a parchment copy of his father’s work and Silva remained true to his vow to master it.
Learning to mentally juggle over a hundred sigils into a cohesive whole had taken longer than a year, as had returning to University to acquire tutoring to fill the holes in his basic medical training. Father’s scroll required it. Dr. Eston had been more forgiving in allowing Silva to bypass dream healing, now that he knew the circumstances of Silva’s background. With pockets of pollution now located throughout the country, there was even some discussion among the University deacons of making that class elective.
Holding the completed rote in his mind, Silva breathed power into it. At first, nothing changed. The walls in his room at the base of the tower did not suddenly grow artwork. The worn stitching on his robe did not repair itself or turn purple. He had expected music, or something.
As soon as the thought formed clearly in his mind, Silva did hear music. He climbed the stair, past his father's room. Father had the door open and was quietly reading a trashy magazine.
“Do you hear music?” It sounded like the music was on the tower’s roof.
Father lifted his head and listened intently. “Sorry, no. Should I?”
“No.” Silva continued to climb the stair. “I think it was just my imagination.”
Father returned to his magazine.
At the top of the stair, Silva found a phonograph, playing his mother’s favorite record. Holding his breath, Silva raised the needle off the record. It moved easily and the music stopped.
“Congratulations,” a feminine voice said behind him.
“I've been wanting to talk to you.” Silva turned and faced Officer Neran. “For a very long time.”
Officer Neran was dressed in her full green and grey uniform, complete with black tricornio hat. The uniform's collar was buttoned up, hiding her neck. She crossed her arms and shifted her weight onto one foot. “I’m not really here, you know.”
“I know. But I still wanted to say I’m sorry.” Silva ran a hand nervously through his hair. “The things I said — the things I made you do — they were never about you and what you did. I couldn't forgive you because I couldn't forgive my parents. You were hurt, semi-conscious and trying not to die. You weren't hurting anyone and even the grass was fine after Adeline healed it. Yes, you broke the law, but I’ve done worse — much worse — since then and found a way to forgive myself and even make amends to the people in my life. Will you forgive me, too?”
Officer Neran pulled a rope from behind her back and tossed it at Silva’s feet. The noose was already tied in one end. “You say you’ve made amends, by helping to close the portal, forgiving your father, and giving the townspeople their land back. You’ve even been helping Kate learn Sparian and find a good place in society. But you haven’t made amends to me.”
“The rope isn't real.”
“Put it around your neck and tie the other end off somewhere solid on the roof. You’ll see it’s real enough. Use it, and I’ll forgive you.”
Silva hurriedly dispelled the illusion. The phonograph and rope disappeared.
“I see,” Officer Neran said, shoving her hands in her uniform pockets.
“Why are you still here?” Silva checked, but the spell had been correctly de-powered. He didn't see any ley energy in use, anywhere around him.
“All master scrolls have a hidden danger or difficulty. You’re an illusionist, so fate gave you a scroll with a subtle danger.” She gave Silva a broad smile, unlike any she had ever given him in life. “Me."
Officer Neran faded from view, but Silva could still hear her. "From now on, awake or asleep, you aren't going anywhere without me beside you.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Danny Macks lives as uninteresting a life as multiple children, dogs and cats allow, drinks too much coffee and not enough tea, loves the latest technological gadget, and at the same time gets wistful about the good old days when children respected their elders and nostalgia trumped accurate memory.
https://dannymacks.com
