“Master Adelwolf! I wasn’t expecting to see you hereabouts!” the burly innkeeper bustled up, wiping greasy hands on an equally greasy apron. “Cenric!” he shouted to the back of the room, “bring us a round of ale for Sir Adelwolf and his man here!” Running his hands through the one wisp of hair on his bald head, the man continued, “Glad you’ve come back, I am. Things have been grim these last years. Reminds me of the years leading up to the dark days those many years ago, although I was barely a lad then. This Gerlach Pwyll, he’s the cause of the trouble, I say.”
A scruffy young boy a few years younger than Sebastian scurried up with a tray of three tall mugs filled to overflowing. His long dark locks bounced when he moved and he wore a green tunic that looked to be two sizes too big, cinched at the waist with a wide grey piece of fabric for a belt. “Here you go Masser Jowan,” he said, setting their drinks down at the nearest table.
“Thank you Cenric…now go check to see cook knows we’ve got guests for the night.” The boy hurried off towards the back of the bar. Adelwolf and Jowan watched the boy move off until he passed through the door to the kitchen, then settled in at the table. Sebastian joined them, taking a swig of the beer that was obviously meant for him.
“Is the boy well?”
“Oh, where’s my head? Of course you’d be wanting to know that right off. He’s right as rain, so they say. Lazy, but what boy doesn’t have a speck of that in ‘im?”
“And his other training?”
“Slow going it is I’m sorry to say. Two winters ago Cormac got caught up in the blizzard and never truly recovered. He passed about eleven months ago. No way for me to get word to you nor to find another of his kind to work with him.”
“Damnation!” the innkeeper flinched at the vehemence in Quiren’s voice, “I don’t blame you of course. Cormac should have sent a message. It sets the timetable back somewhat. Tell me, was he making progress at all before?”
Giving Sebastian a sideways glance, Jowan took a long pull of his own drink, “I’m not one to say, and I’ve discouraged ‘im from practicing hereabouts.”
“Of course, of course.”
“Will you be taking ‘im with you?”
“Aye, we will. The Council will appoint him a new master when we arrive.” Sebastian felt there was something big he was missing in the conversation between the two men, but wasn’t of a mood to ask Adelwolf to explain, and he doubted the old man would tell him much. “Sebastian, I need you to stay here in the inn. There’s something I must see to on the far side of the city. The Council must be summoned and assembled by the time we reach the Dazhberg. Remember, we must remain inconspicuous. We ride at first light.” Adelwolf took one last quaff from his mug and headed out the door.
“Well, lad I’ll have Cenric bring you out a meal when cook’s finished. In the meanwhile you can stay here or take the stair up. Yours is third on the right.” Collecting Adelwolf’s empty mug, Jowan stood to greet a pair of locals who came in for a pint to wash away a long day. Sitting there peering into his ale, Sebastian stewed for a time on their entrance to the city. He knew better than to blow up like that. He had just been so mad, and Adelwolf had not even given him a chance to explain. Not for the first time he found himself wishing he had never played hooky from his chores that day. Then he would never have met Krystelle Mora and gotten wrapped up in all this. His aunt and uncle would still be alive. Bernice…still alive. He took a long chug of his beer and slammed it down on the table, startling the two men sitting a few tables way. They gave him a nasty look and turned back to their own drinks.
“You came with Sir Adelwolf?” Sebastian looked up to see the servant from before standing in front of him, another mug of ale in one hand and a bowl of stew in the other. “Master Jowan says I’ll be going with you on the morrow. I’m Cenric Brice.” Sitting, he set the beer and stew on the table in front of Sebastian.
“Sebastian. And yes, I think you will. Come with us that is.” He nodded in thanks for the drink and the meal. Taking a spoonful of the piping hot soup, he considered the unwelcome intruder sitting across the wooden table. He couldn’t understand why Adelwolf would want to bring this urchin on their mission to recover the Sunstone. “You best be ready early.”
“I will be. I’ve never been outside of the city. Well, except when Master Cormac took me out for lessons. What’s it like traveling with Adelwolf? Is he truly as great a warrior as the stories say? Have you known him long? Are you one too? A warrior, I mean. I bet you are! This is going to be a grand adventure! Have you been to the Dazhberg before? They say no enemy has ever set foot inside its walls and the very foundations were formed with…” he paused, glancing around at the few nearby patrons and then continued in a low whisper, a hint of awe in his voice, “…MAGIC.”
Until that last, Sebastian had only been half listening to the deluge of questions. It didn’t seem to him that Cenric was really looking for answers, and Sebastian wasn’t in a mood to give him any, even if he really knew what was going on himself. Talk of magic made him uncomfortable. The Ban had been put in place for good reason. “They may have been laid down with magic, but it is the cold steel of the Gabirelian Knights and the wisdom of the Council that holds the tower. You shouldn’t talk of magic, not here. Not anywhere!”
“Master Cormac always said that people are afraid of magic because they don’t understand it. Just like soldiers use swords and farmers use plows, mages use magic. Evil people use swords, yet we don’t keep everyone from having them and we shouldn’t stop people from using magic either!”
“Except one man with a sword can only kill another man, and the fight is fair. During the Dragon Wars, each of the Dark Wizards killed thousands at a time. Entire armies were swallowed when they cracked the earth open in the final battle!”
“But the Wizard Council of Uriasz defeated them!”
“With the help of the Gabirelian Knights. It doesn’t matter anyways. The wizards are gone, and good riddance I say! Now, what I want to know is how you know Sir Adelwolf?”
“I don’t really. Master Cormac used to tell me stories about him. I’ve never seen him before today.”
Sebastian raised his mug to take a sip of the ale, “Then why is he bringing you with us?”
“Because I’m going to be a Wizard!” he said with a wide grin.
Stunned, Sebastian almost spit out his ale at the boy. He did not know how to respond to that brazen statement. Looking at Cenric, his skin began to crawl. This seemingly innocent servant boy was tapping into the forces and powers that had all but destroyed humankind. Leaning away, Sebastian ran his hand through his light blond hair. He wanted to put some distance between himself and the corruption of this misguided boy’s magic. “Why would you say such a thing?”
“The Ban is just there because people got scared after the Dragon Wars. Master Cormac said I had a real gift and it was better that I got trained so I didn’t go do bad things. He said all the Gabirel Knights knew about magic and always worked with the Wizards, especially the Arch-mage, to watch over the Kingdom.” Cenric cocked his head and took a long look at Sebastian, “Besides, don’t you have magic too?”
It was a good thing Sebastian had not taken another drink, he was like to lose his whole lunch at that suggestion. Pushing back from the table, he scowled at Cenric. “Be careful what insinuations you make.”
Cenric looked confused, “Insinuations? I just thought…I mean…”
“Whatever you’re going to say. Don’t.” Standing, Sebastian turned to flee the room and this conversation when the door to the tavern opened again and two red cloaked men stalked inside. It grew cold throughout the common room of the Frisky Flask and a gust blew out half the candles. Every eye turned toward the two figures and Sebastian fell back into his seat as Jowan rushed over to the interlopers.
“’Ere now,” he began, “You’ve no business here…” The taller of the two turned toward him, lowering the hood of his cloak to reveal a bald head. Jowan stopped, pierced to the co
re with the animosity of those bloodshot eyes.
“Our business is our own and we go wherever it takes us innkeeper. I am known as Kazik and this is Lugus. You know who we are?” Jowan nodded, voice frozen in his throat. “Good, then we will be quick. Two travelers entered the city today. We have questions for them. Did they come to this place?”
Wringing his hands together, Jowan assiduously resisted looking over to where Sebastian sat with Cenric Brice. “Well now, there are many travelers in and out of the Flask here. Perhaps if you told me a bit more about these two?”
“Do not dissemble,” said Kazik moving closer to the man. His companion grabbed his arm, sniffing the air. Whispering into Kazik’s ear for a moment, the two turned toward Sebastian and Cenric Brice. “You boy, come here.” Riveted, Sebastian squirmed to his feet, unable to resist. “Not you! You.” Kazik pointed at Cenric. Sebastian turned to look at Cenric, who sat glued to his bench, terror evident in his eyes.
Before either of the boys could move, the door to the tavern slammed open, bouncing against the interior wall. Quiren Adelwolf stood there, cloak thrown back to reveal his armor and back-lit with the light of the setting sun. “HOLD!”
As one, the two red-robed figures turned toward the warrior. “This is none of your concern old man,” said Lugus. “Be gone with you.”
Adelwolf strode into the room, hand on the hilt of his sword and positioning himself on a diagonal between the two Krenon and the boys. “Who are you to say what my concerns are, Krenon?”
“You try my patience old man,” said Kazik. “There is a Defiler in this place and we will see him properly chastised for his blasphemy.”
“You have no writ here, Krenon. This city is under the protection of King Ercanbald and there is none here who have defied the Ban within its limits. Begone or face my wrath and that of the city watch.”
“The writ of the Krenon extends into whatever dark holes the Defilers crawl, even this city that your King has abandoned. Again, who are you to stand against us? Answer or remove yourself so that we can be about our holy business.”
“Very well then. Know that I am Quiren Adelwolf, Swordmaster General of Gabirel, Keepers of the Ban in Cynneweald and Naevean and I say you have no writ here. Or do you deny my authority?”
The two Krenon took a step back to distance themselves from the old warrior. “This is not over old man,” said Kazik. “Gabirel’s days will soon be at an end and your unholy alliance with the Defilers will be finally avenged. Even now, the Brothers lay siege to your fortress.”
“Enough of your words. Begone!” shouted Adelwolf.
Glaring at him, the Krenon raised their hoods and turned back toward the door. As it slammed behind them warmth returned to the room and Adelwolf turned to Sebastian and Cenric. “Prepare yourselves. We leave within the hour.”
#
As they rode away from the Frisky Flask, Sebastian worried over his conversation with young Cenric and the encounter with the two Krenon. He’d lived his entire life under the Ban, and to hear the boy so glibly declare his intent to live a life in violation of a stricture stronger than law disturbed him. Even speaking about magic was considered taboo. That was not to mention what the boy had said about him and using magic. He did not even want to contemplate that possibility, yet in spite of himself he did wonder what Cenric meant.
Then, of course, there were the Krenon. He had heard of the Krenon, but never thought to meet one, much less be in the same room as two of them. Remembering what Cenric had said about magic, he looked toward the other boy with wide eyes. Don’t play with magic, people always said, or the Krenon will come for you. They were the bogeymen of nightmares come alive, worse than the wizards themselves, they hunted anyone who dared to meddle in the dark arts. Self-appointed keepers of the Ban, they were not known for mercy or understanding. Adelwolf had stood them down and sent them running. He had not thought to see such a thing. Would they follow, trying to separate Cenric from them? Anything could happen on the road and Sebastian was not entirely sure that they shouldn’t just turn the boy over to the Krenon.
He had been hoping that, after so many long days on the road, they would have at least a few days in Aldmoor to recover and explore the city. The memory of the morning’s encounter with the guard still stung, as did Adelwolf’s evident displeasure and he was glad that the city watch seemed much less concerned with those entering than leaving as they passed through without incident.
Rather than cutting away to travel cross-country, Adelwolf elected to stay on the king’s road for speed. With smooth terrain, the three travelers were able to make much better time than they ever had on the journey south. After a few hours, he led their party into an open glade just after a sharp cut where the road passed through an old river bed to allow the horses a rest while they refreshed themselves.
After their repast, Adelwolf continued Sebastian’s lessons in sword-craft, just as if nothing had happened to send them back out on the road so quickly. With half a month of daily training under his belt, Sebastian’s confidence and ability had grown. Normally their lessons lasted a full hour. Yet on this day, Adelwolf set Sebastian to a series of form practice exercises after only thirty minutes and went over to sit beside Cenric.
“Cenric, it seems your education has been neglected for some time. I believe we need to rectify that. A wizard I am not, but I do know about magic and its uses. I assume Master Cormac instructed you on the ten basic circles of magical intention?” Cenric nodded. “Good, good. Each of the circles has its ritual invocation. I’d like you to begin practicing those each day, beginning with the elementals.”
As Cenric began his first spell-cast, Sebastian stopped his sword forms. Sword point grinding in the dirt, his jaw dropped halfway to the ground at the display before him. “What are you doing? Magics are outlawed and the penalty is death. Those Krenon could be upon us at any moment. You condemn us all!”
“And we do not already stand condemned if Gerlach Pwyll were to find us? Did obedience to the laws save your uncle? Did it save your little niece?” Adelwolf rose from the ground, marching over to Sebastian. “I see you have no answer. The Knights of Gabirel and the Wizards of Uriasz were ever allies. The greatest works have always been done when steel and magic are united. It is true, after the Dragon Wars the King outlawed magics. He was forced into that course of action by those who live in fear and ignorance. Once the Dark Wizards were put down, an agreement was forged in secret between Gabirel, Uriasz, the King, and the Council of Lords, among others. The wizards went into isolation and self-imposed exile, pledging to honor their own vows, but prepared for the day when the forces of the Dark Wizards would rise again. This appeased the nobles of the Council far enough for the king to retain his throne, but only just.”
As Adelwolf continued explaining, Sebastian sheathed his sword and the two walked over to where Cenric was practicing his craft, Sebastian trailing uneasily behind. He kept a wary eye on Cenric as he tried to come to grips with a version of history that did not quite contradict what he had been taught, but came very close.
“Now, young ones. Even if the Krenon had not shown up at the inn we would have left today. Indeed, there is a reason I’ve chosen this particular spot for our luncheon today. I believe that Gerlach Pwyll is moving the Sunstone today and they will pass through this very spot with it on their way to Cinaeth. I am going to need both your help to recover the stone. Sebastian, I need to know that no matter what happens you can control your temper. You will need to do exactly as I say or you put us all in danger. Can you do that?”
Sebastian nodded, “I can.”
“One thing more.This will require the use of Cenric’s magic. Is that going to be a problem?”
Looking over at Cenric, Sebastian felt the uneasiness rise up inside. Would it be a problem? He wondered. Steeling himself he met Adelwolf’s gaze, a desire to make the old man proud welling up in his heart. “I’m with you,” he said at last.
Before he knew it, Sebastian found hims
elf waiting with Cenric at the edge of the road, sword drawn. He watched as a small caravan from Aldmoor came into view; a pair of heavily armed guards walking alongside a closed coach, and a warrior in black plate armour mounted on a grey stallion. Based on what Adelwolf had told him on the journey to Aldmoor, Sebastian assumed is must be Henrich Tornike, Gerlach Pwyll’s right hand. “Halt!” Sebastian commanded as they drew near.
Tornike lifted a fist to call a halt. Thanks to the illusion Cenric had cast the two boys had the appearance of well-worn city guardsmen to Tornike, and his companions, “What is this? Does the city guard’s writ call for travelers to be accosted so far from the city walls?”
“M’ Lord,” the disguised Sebastian began. “We’re searching out a ‘scaped prisoner. Tracked ‘im this far. He’s gone off into the woods hereabout.”
“Then why do you sit here rather than make chase?”
“M’ Lord…with just the two of us we couldn’t see a way to corner the blackguard without separating. We found where he’s hiding and was strategizing.” Behind Tornike, Sebastian could see Adelwolf stealing his way up to the side of the coach. “We require the help of your men to act as beaters to drive ‘im towards us.”
Opening the coach door, Adelwolf did not find Sunstone as expected. Instead, Tornike’s cargo was a single prisoner. He motioned to the woman to be silent and to follow him away from the coach opposite where Tornike, his guards, and the two boys were negotiating. It only took a quick moment for them to pass out of sight, the coach obstructing them from view. As expected, Tornike was not sympathetic to the two apparent guardsmen and their demand for assistance.
Adelwolf and the passenger had just reached the edge of the tree-line when Tornike abruptly ended the conversation with the two boys and swung his horse around to signal their departure. Seeing the old warrior and the woman stealing into the forest he called out, “She’s escaping! To arms!” Everything happened fast from there. Cenric made a beeline towards the trees and their rendezvous point, casting a spell backward to cause the horses pulling the coach to bolt.
Eligium- The Complete Series Page 5
