Ancient Magic

by Blink, Bob

  Taent turned without waiting for a reply and headed off at an angle across the inner courtyard. He wasn’t interested in being a guide and pointed out nothing of the facility as they walked. Across the wall they passed through another set of gates into a smaller compound that contained several buildings. Taent stopped before the largest.

  “Oblate Cari will show you to your quarters. The chapel is the building behind me and is available at any time should you wish to use it. Meals will be taken in the building to your right. Oblate Cari will inform you of the schedule. Baths may be taken behind the rooms. You must remain within this compound unless escorted to another area. If you need anything, inform Oblate Cari. Do you understand?”

  The three travelers nodded in unison.

  “Fine. I will take my leave now. There are other matters that require my attention. The Healer will be by shortly, and the Prior will contact you once his schedule permits.”

  Without another word, Subprior Taent turned and walked away, disappearing out the gates through which they had come.

  “Seemed happy to see us, don’t you think?” Kaler said sarcastically. “Let’s go have a look at the rooms and see about a bath.”

  They were each given a separate small room. Fortunately the rooms were located adjacent to one another so that they could move freely between quarters if they wished. Rigo was in the center with Kaler and Daria on either side. The rooms had a minimum of crude wooden furniture, but the beds were comfortable and the blankets cleaner than anything they had encountered in any inn during their travels.

  “What did the Healer say?” Rigo asked later when they were gathered for the evening meal. The dining area was connected to the rooms, so they had been able to make their way over without having to go outside where the storm was pounding the area with a particularly intense downpour.

  “He was extremely curious how the wound had been acquired. I told him it was an infection, neglecting certain details. After completing his inspection, he expressed grave doubts about being able to help. He promised some salves that have had good success returning flexibility to the skin, but he couldn’t promise anything. I am not going to expect much.”

  Kaler stirred the boiled mush in the bowl before him. The monks were vegetarians, and beyond the vegetables in the porridge, they had bread and ale. Eating here was not going to be very exciting.

  “Do you think they might let us go out and hunt our own food?” Kaler asked hopefully as he reluctantly raised a spoon to his mouth.

  Chapter 27

  “Magic, you say,” said the Prior after Rigo had briefly explained what he sought. Subprior Taent had escorted him to the room where the Prior, the Monastery Librarian, and the Sacrist, the overseer of all things holy, and several scholars were waiting for him. The Prior had a short carelessly trimmed beard as though it was a necessity and a distraction. His eyes were a deep penetrating blue, but tired and sad looking.

  Rigo knew that Kaler was off in his own meeting with the brother he hadn’t seen or communicated with in some time. He couldn’t help wondering how that was going.

  “Magic is a thing of amusing tales, but hardly a matter for serious contemplation,” the Prior said. “Our scholars have more important matters to study. I am surprised that you would come all this way to bring such a manner before us.”

  “I was told that the monastery did not restrict any topics from investigation and that if anyone had records or histories on the matter it would be here,” Rigo interrupted before the man could reject his request outright.

  “It is true that we collect all manner of histories and have novices who are responsible to see to their care, but some subjects are deemed of far less significance and are treated accordingly.”

  The Prior addressed his next question to the Librarian. “Do we have a section on such a mundane topic as I have stated?”

  The Librarian hesitated. “There are records and books that address the topic,” he said finally. “They are poorly catalogued and studied. I don’t know if anyone has much knowledge of the materials.”

  “Brother Lorcer,” one of the scholars added, interrupting the Librarian.

  “Brother Lorcer?” the Librarian asked, unable to stop himself. Brother Lorcer had long been a problem for those at the Monastery. He failed to contain himself properly, and failed to be properly diligent in any task he was assigned. More than once the leaders had raised the matter of dismissing him from the brotherhood.

  The scholar who had supplied the name nodded. “He finds many topics amusing and spends long hours reading for personal pleasure rather than conducting appropriate researches. I know that the matter of magic has long intrigued him. He has a rather fanciful imagination.”

  “I see,” said the Prior. “So it would be possible to allow our guest to have a look at these documents? Perhaps that would be sufficient for him.”

  Two of the scholars objected immediately. “It would not be wise to allow someone access to materials that have not been properly vetted by the brotherhood. We could tarnish a reputation long in the making by presenting materials as fact, which in truth are merely the result of someone’s careless imagination. Before allowing anyone from outside the monastery to have access, the documents should be more carefully reviewed within.”

  “This seems a reasonable precaution,” the Prior agreed. “Especially as it appears Brother Lorcer has not performed his task of doing so to our satisfaction.” He looked at the Librarian who nodded his agreement.

  “How long would such a review require?” the Prior asked.

  The two scholars consulted one another quietly. The third listened, but said little.

  “Six months, perhaps a year,” the more vocal one suggested. “We aren’t really certain how much there is to investigate.”

  “Six months!” Rigo blurted out. Even the shorter date indicated was unreasonably long. It was time to try and move this along.

  “I am prepared to make a donation to the monastery for consideration of speed,” he said, looking at the Prior. The idea of offering gold for their cooperation had been Daria’s idea.

  “Pious as they may seem, greed had not been purged from them. Gold makes things happen.” She had provided another of the small diamonds and told him to offer it if required.

  “A donation?” the Prior asked, suddenly curious.

  “A hundred gold Royales if you can make available the material you have in a timely manner.” Daria had told him the diamond was worth twice that, but not to try and over value it. He could show it to them, and they would know its true value even if they pretended they did not.

  “Where would you come upon such a sum?” Subprior Taent asked.

  Rigo extracted the gem from his pouch and handed it over. Taent’s eyebrows rose as he examined the perfect gem, which he handed over to the Prior.

  “What do you seek in the archives?” the third and previously silent scholar asked while the gem was being examined.

  “I seek proof of the existence of those with such powers, and more importantly some idea where they might have lived. I would seek them out if any still exist.”

  “They do not,” the Prior said with certainty as he finished examining the sparkling stone. “We would know of them if they did. At most your studies will reveal fanciful tales and stories. More than likely you will soon come to understand what I say is true.”

  “I have shown I am willing to pay for the privilege of satisfying my curiosity,” Rigo said. “That should make it worth your trouble.”

  “Yes. Yes. You have shown your seriousness. Perhaps it would be possible to accelerate the review process somewhat.” He looked to the scholars.

  Now they were uncertain. “Perhaps a couple of months. Certainly not much less.” They were not used to working under pressure.

  “I am willing to work with Brother Lorcer to see what exists and make the materials available sooner,” said the scholar who had asked about Rigo’s interest. “Perhaps in a week or so I can have complet
ed a partial review. He could start with the approved documents while I continue working my way through the rest.”

  “Perhaps,” replied the Prior slowly. “This matter must be brought before the Archimandrite. This is not a subject the church should be encouraging an interest in. Until I have spoken with him, I think we need to let the matter rest.”

  Rigo could see where the matter was going. He knew the Archimandrite was the senior leader of the Monastery. He might well decide belief in magic would undermine the foundations of the teachings here. They might completely disallow him access, or filter what they had to leave only the fanciful and useless materials.

  “I think there is another factor you should carry to your superior,” Rigo said deciding he needed to elevate the stakes. He had hoped that gold would have been enough.

  “You claim that magic is false, yet you hesitate to allow anyone to look into it. I can assure you that magic is quite real. I know that because I am able to perform magic. Your Archimandrite should know that as he considers his decision.”

  “Come now, what manner of claim is this?” asked the Prior. “I am of a mind to refuse this manner once and for all.” He handed the gem back to the Subprior to return to Rigo as if it had suddenly turned dirty.

  “Would you like a demonstration?” Rigo asked, suddenly angry.

  “Yes. That would be instructive,” answered the Prior. “Afterwards we can be done with this nonsense and we can have you escorted out.”

  Rigo pointed to a sheet of parchment lying on the stone table in front of one of the scholars. “Is that of any value?” he asked.

  Startled, the scholar shook his head. “It is blank. Why?”

  “Without answering, Rigo made a totally unnecessary gesture towards the sheet. He’d learned that a little showmanship sometimes was worth more than the result itself. The sheet suddenly burst into flame, startling everyone in the room.”

  “How did you do that?” asked the Subprior.

  “Magic,” hissed Rigo. “The very force you claim doesn’t exist.”

  The Prior had been surprised, but now he said. “A conjurer’s trick. If you really were a wizard of some sort, you would be able to do something far more impressive.”

  Rigo considered the skills he had at hand as he surveyed the room. He wished he knew more about his abilities. Finally he pointed at a section of stone wall that formed part of the hallway.

  “How important is that?” he asked.

  “The wall? Not particularly. It is mostly a decorative section. What did you have in mind?”

  “May I damage it?” he asked without replying directly.

  “Please do,” replied the Prior with a touch of mirth. “I would love to see you harm it. It is six inches thick and solid stone.”

  Rigo thought that his pushing force, applied sharply rather than as a smooth shove might just be able to crack it or punch a small hole. He’d considered the fireballs, but hadn’t tried them without his staff, and he didn’t want to burn the place down in any case. He wasn’t certain if they would bounce around in here. He wished he had his staff. He knew it augmented his power somehow.

  “Where did that come from?” the Subprior suddenly asked. “I asked you not to bring it from the guest area.”

  Rigo was startled to find his right hand wrapped around his staff. He recalled wishing he had it, and here it was. Had he always been able to call it into his presence? He wondered that he had never attempted to try, given the fact he knew it would follow him. He wondered how many other things he should try. He clearly had failed to be sufficiently proactive.

  “You know I didn’t bring it with me,” he said. “Where have I kept it through these discussions? It has a tendency to appear when I am about to perform magic or consider its presence important.”

  The group of monks murmured among themselves, clearly uncomfortable with the turn of events. There was something here they didn’t understand.

  “You are certain about the wall?” he asked.

  “Proceed,” said the Prior, although he sounded less certain than before.

  Rigo faced the wall, then suddenly extended one hand, the palm flat and parallel to the wall. In his mind he focused on a sharp slap rather than a push. He hoped this would work. He was going to look foolish if nothing happened.

  As he snapped his hand forward, the section of wall he had selected exploded violently away from him, the entire height from floor to ceiling and a section four paces long suddenly breaking and flying away to crash into the supporting wall of the room some distance away. There was no sound of an explosion, only the crashing noises as the blocks of stones smashed into the far barrier and then tumbled to the ground. Great clouds of dust filled the space.

  Rigo looked at what he had done. He had expected a small hole at best, not a complete destruction of the wall. First the fireballs and now this. His powers must be growing for some reason. He turned and looked at the Prior, careful not to let his own surprise show.

  “Magic,” he said simply. “Do you require something more?”

  The Prior swallowed. He was visibly shaken. “I must speak with the Archimandrite immediately,” he said finally.

  “Please do,” Rigo agreed. “Explain to him that this matter is important to me and I will be awaiting his decision.”

  “You did what?” Kaler asked aghast when Rigo had been returned to his quarters pending a decision by the Archimandrite.

  “I shattered a wall,” he said somewhat smugly. He was pleased with what he was able to do.

  “It might not have been wise to reveal what you are capable of,” Daria said softly.

  “It was clear how things were going. They were going to deny me access to what they have. Either that or filter the documents and give me only the useless ones.”

  “It is not wise to make people like these fearful of you,” Daria repeated.

  “What can they do? They are not fighters. Kaler could probably take on the entire lot without breaking into a sweat.”

  “Just the same, we should be extra alert now. We should consider the possibility of poisons in our food. That would be an easy way for them to rid themselves of a problem they don’t like. Don’t think because they are some kind of holy men they wouldn’t consider such an act.”

  “Poison?” Kaler asked. “Do you know anything about poisons?”

  “Quite a bit actually,” she said. “They are useful in my work. I clearly don’t know as much as I thought though.”

  “What do you mean?” asked Rigo.

  “The poison the Duke had used on me. I have never encountered any that work as that one did. It is something I will need to research at some point.”

  “Would you be able to detect poison in our food?” Rigo asked.

  “In this tasteless mush. Probably. At least most of them I could. There might be some of which I am unaware, however. I would think we need to eat from a communal pot or tap into our own meager supplies just to be safe for a while.”

  Rigo had trouble reconciling the idea of being poisoned by the monks with what little he knew of a religious order. Then he remembered the look on the Prior’s face, and Daria’s warning suddenly became more of a concern. Perhaps she wasn’t over-reacting.

  “What about your brother?” Rigo asked Kaler. “Wouldn’t he be someone you could count on to look out for you?”

  “That meeting didn’t go well,” Kaler told him. “We spoke only briefly, and it was obvious he was less than pleased that I had come to remind him of the world outside. He has given himself to the order. I doubt my fate matters much to him.

  Later that same day Subprior Taent returned to their quarters.

  “The Archimandrite would speak with all of you immediately,” Taent informed them.

  They stood up and followed the man out into the courtyard. Taent glanced at Rigo and his staff, then shrugged. It was obvious from his action he had accepted the folly of having Rigo leave it behind since he seemed able to call it to him whenever he wish
ed.

  They were led to an area inside the inner compound that Rigo hadn’t visited before. Taent took them inside a large structure and then through a pair of ornate doors. Inside the Archimandrite, the Prior, and the scholar who had agreed to help waited. Once they were seated the Archimandrite spoke to them. Unlike the other monks, he was dressed in a white robe, a sign of his authority.

  “You present a quandary for us,” he said bluntly. “From what I have been told, you possess a power that was believed to be legend and unreal. Your existence does not fit well into our beliefs and understanding of the world.”

  “I cannot explain what I am, but clearly I exist. If there is one, then there must be others. I would seek them out. I do not wish to be a threat to you or your beliefs.”

  “Yet you possess a great power. How much more damage could you have wrought had you wished?”

  “I could have easily leveled this entire Monastery,” Rigo said evenly. It was a bold lie, but one the Archimandrite couldn’t be sure of. As surprised as Rigo had been by the amount of damage he had wrought, he had sensed at the time that was the limits of his strength. Not realizing what he was doing, he had expended the total of his power in the demonstration. Still, it would be useful if the monks thought he could do more.

  “That would make you one to be feared,” the Archimandrite said.

  “I have no reason to use my power. One of the reasons I wish to find others of my kind is to learn appropriate control. The demonstration earlier shows how easy it is for my strength to be ill used.”

  “I have instructed the Prior to see to your studies. The scholar you see here today will be directly responsible for seeing you have access to everything we have. You may begin today if you wish. If you feel you are not getting the support you require, have word sent to me. A Novice will be assigned to you to carry messages. Is there anything else you require?”

  “Yes. We would eat with the rest of the monks in your common dining area,” Daria said boldly. Rigo could tell she was not the least cowed by the power this man represented.