Amelie: Wizards of White Haven

by Frances Howitt

  ‘Johnny, did you bring any of the grain back with you?’ Jim asked.

  ‘No sir, we hadn’t finished and I thought you should be told as quickly as possible.’

  ‘Who else knows?’

  ‘Mrs Daily, who owns the field we were harvesting and Merchant Foster. I had to collect my horse from him and thought he should know. He seemed to think he’d be summoned to vouch for us since we were working through him.’

  ‘Ah. Maybe it’s best for me to wait and see what happens then. Do you feel it is safe to return and continue working?’ Jim asked with a glance to Drako.

  ‘Yes, if I take care to stay out of sight,’ Johnny said slowly. ‘I’d rather take someone with me though. Many of the tasks need two pairs of hands,’ he added.

  ‘I’ll send Dustin with you,’ Drako told him and noted his relief.

  ‘But sir, Dustin’s your guard,’ Johnny objected, feeling torn.

  ‘You need him more than I. Dustin,’ he called more loudly and the door opened. ‘I’m sending you with Johnny to get the wheat. You’ll then be close if Freddie needs you when he gets out of Cedar Castle. Go as soon as you can. Johnny can fill you in.’

  ‘Yes sir. I’ll send Tosker over for you,’ Dustin responded. Freddie would have his hide if he didn’t take all precautions to guard their lord, even here, within friendly walls. Tosker might be in his fifties, but he was still strong enough to remain alpha of the dog pack and most importantly, had the experience to be an effective bodyguard. Drako simply nodded and with that he hurried off to obey the order.

  ‘Does Lord Aubrey employ a wizard?’ Jim asked once the wolf-men had gone.

  ‘He certainly used to, but then I heard wizards were being summoned back to their guild to help with the war effort.’

  ‘War effort? Edmoston isn’t at war.’

  ‘That is only because the defences have been dramatically improved at the border. It’s not possible to travel secretly into South Rosh anymore. East Rosh is still passable but it’s a small barren country of hills and mountains. It’s too easy to become cornered against the mountains or the sea. I believe you came over what was originally part of East Rosh.’

  Jim knew Drako should have been one of the heirs to a large chunk of North Rosh. The country now no longer existed, nor did the middle lands, all swallowed up piecemeal by South Rosh’s greedy Prince Casper continuing his father’s legacy of bloody conquests.

  ‘Ah, I wondered why the town Prince Casper was staying in was so edgy. Amelie and I came across a no-go area in the town where the refugee animus lived. They tried to get us to join them. I wondered at the time why animus people would be living so close to the man who wanted them dead. I suppose they had run as far as they could go with the border closed.’

  ‘How did you make it over?’ Drako asked. ‘Did you get permission to go through the main border pass?’

  ‘No. We left before he could wake from surgery and remember us. No, surprisingly enough, Lord Dirk helped us. I got the impression he was fed up with the war. Casper’s lords aren’t necessarily as loyal to his cause as they want us to believe. Lord Dirk had an animus man in his service, for goodness sake; evidently his main aide for many years. He suggested the Woodsman’s Trail and sent his wolf-man Daniel to guide us to the right track. It wasn’t easy going.’

  ‘No, it’s a hard climb and treacherous up the mountain, especially this time of year. I’d have thought that crossing would be guarded though. It certainly was the last time we scouted it.’

  ‘Yes it was guarded. Amelie turned into a dragon and carried us off the cliff into the valley, neatly avoiding the blockade.’

  ‘She carried you down?’

  ‘Yes. I had to lend her my strength of course. She tells me I’m heavy,’ Jim said with a grin and decided Drako was impressed enough without mentioning the utter stupidity of his letting his lady try to carry both of their horses, too.

  ‘I wouldn’t like to carry you far and I’m a damn sight bigger and stronger than she can possibly be,’ Drako admitted. He reflected yet again that the partnership Jim and Amelie had was unusually deep and tested for such young people. Their differing skills, when combined, clearly made them a very strong team. But both were young; Amelie not yet twenty. They could not have accrued much experience of the world and thus wisdom. However, ones of Jim’s most redeeming features, was his lack of arrogance. He knew he didn’t know everything. He’d kept the existing staff in place at this school and listened to their council. Even Vako had been kept on and was thus available when advice was needed. Drako suddenly realised that he too must be on this short list of advisers that Jim actively sought out.

  ‘I wish I knew how Freddie and Rupert are being treated,’ Drako muttered in frustration. He’d known Freddie his whole life and counted him his closest friend.

  ‘Maybe I can reach Freddie,’ Jim said pulling at his lip absently.

  ‘You can do that?’

  ‘With Freddie, I don’t know. He’s closer than the distance I covered to contact Amelie, but he’s not got wizard magic to aid the connection. But I was talking to him before he left and I remember enough of his mind’s identifying signature to find him again. Well, here goes. Oops. I think I just scared him to death,’ Jim chuckled. Freddie’s mind did not have the barricades to intrusion that a wizard learned at an early age and his mind was thus relatively easy to connect with. The distance separating them was the issue, compounded by the fact that by not having physical contact, keeping connection to a specific mind was difficult. If there was a stronger magical presence nearby, the magic would seek to jump to that. Freddie was stronger magically than Rupert close beside him, but combined their magic made enough of a beacon to home in on, stronger even than the single wizard’s presence somewhere nearby. Freddie’s mind was now recoiling in terror and Jim hastily spoke so he’d know who was invading his mind. He let Freddie know of Johnny’s report and that he and Dustin would be waiting at the farm for them. He felt Freddie’s fear subside and that he was absorbing the information, but before he could in anyway respond, Jim felt something bash against his link. Immediately Freddie wanted to know what was attacking them. ‘It’s my presence the wizard is objecting to,’ Jim told him. ‘I’ve singed him for his rudeness in trying to cut a private conversation, but can do little more from here,’ Jim added in lightning fast thought transfer. ‘We’ll get you both out.’ With that he returned to his own body, severing the connection. He glanced at Drako and knew those shrewd eyes missed little.

  ‘You made contact then,’ Drako observed.

  ‘Yes. I managed to fill him in and that Johnny and Dustin will be waiting for him. A wizard attacked the link before he could tell me anything though, so I had to disconnect. But I didn’t feel any pain from him, well, nothing new,’ he amended sorting through his brief impressions. ‘Rupert is with him, and as far as I could tell, neither has been harmed. They are locked in, but not in a dungeon.’

  ‘That’s a weight off my mind,’ Drako admitted. ‘So, Lord Aubrey does have a wizard and that wizard now knows Freddie is indeed being watched over by another wizard. It will add weight to his cover.’ Jim nodded. ‘Could the wizard have identified you or have read your mind?’

  ‘No. We butted heads. Almost literally,’ Jim admitted wryly. ‘Wizards learn to shield their minds from others at an early age and it becomes automatic. I felt his surprise at encountering me, but nothing else. I disconnected quickly because I didn’t want to give him the opportunity to attack me; I don’t know many defensive spells. He must have been monitoring Freddie to have reacted so fast, or perhaps it was just for any magic flowing into the keep. That means they are being cautious. I was able to give Freddie a shield for his mind, but from this distance, all I could do was what we call a light privacy shield. It won’t stop a wizard breaching it if he really wanted to, but it’s enough to keep his every thought from being read without him knowing. His mind may already have been read of course and unfortunately I don’t know Rupert, so
haven’t been able to shield him.’

  ‘Freddie’s mind is more crucial to protect,’ Drako said with a heavy shrug. Freddie would be a treasure trove of information about Clan Green Bear if his mind was breached by a wizard bent on exposing them. ‘They are better protected than they’re accustomed to. All we can do now is wait to hear.’

  25

  Visiting Lord Aubrey

  ‘Sir!’ A breathless and worried looking man appeared in Jim’s office doorway. ‘Soldiers! Five men, wearing Lord Aubrey’s colours, are coming up the drive.’

  ‘About time,’ Jim responded easily, hiding his sudden apprehension. ‘Show them in,’ he added and Drako’s man gave a quick salute and disappeared. Being a clan man it was little wonder he’d been nervous of soldiers approaching inside the gates of their refuge, but he’d seemed reassured by Jim’s nonchalant response. Once he’d gone, Jim went to the window curiously. The five men trotting up the drive looked very neat and impressive, riding in close formation. They were all looking about them attentively however and Jim knew they would report on what they saw. He was proud however of his changes and knew the impression they would be getting was of good management and prosperity rather than the neglect clearly visible when he’d first arrived. Despite the bitter chill, people were moving about purposefully outside, and groups of students were running around the sports fields under a teacher’s watchful eye. The school was prospering and he felt a great sense of achievement in that. As the soldiers halted and dismounted at the hitching rail near the front steps, he returned to his desk to finish the correspondence he’d been part way through.

  ‘Come,’ he called in response to a knock at the door.

  ‘Professor Jim, Captain Vorn of Cedar Castle is here to see you.’

  ‘Thank you, you may show him in,’ Jim responded ignoring the fact the Captain already stood in the doorway. Captain Vorn strode up to the desk and bowed, showing proper respect but the sharp grey eyes were wary. Captain Vorn was a broad, grizzled veteran of many battles judging by his scars. His close cropped hair was thick but salt and pepper grey, his face lined. He wore a chain mail vest and a sheathed sword at his hip. It was obvious his accoutrements were not for show and had seen hard use, but all were shiny and well kept under the road dust.

  ‘Good day to you Professor. I have a letter of invitation from my Lord Aubrey,’ Vorn announced and placed it on the desk.

  Jim eyed the Captain and the letter for a long moment. The document was on thick creamy paper, folded small and sealed with a blob of deep red wax bearing what must be Lord Aubrey’s crest. Detecting no magic on the letter, he opened his hand and the letter flew to his palm. He frowned over the short missive before returning his attention to the Captain.

  ‘This is a letter saying nothing at all. It doesn’t actually give the reason as to why I’ve been summoned either. Do you know?’

  ‘No sir.’

  ‘Mm. It certainly doesn’t mention my two men that he is detaining either. Have they been set free?’

  ‘I don’t know who you are referring to, Professor,’ Captain Vorn said uneasily. The wizard’s pale blue eyes narrowed and he could have sworn they momentarily changed colour.

  ‘I would prefer it if you didn’t lie to me. You tempt me to reach into your mind and take the information. I can assure you that you wouldn’t like that,’ Jim said in an even tone and noticed the man’s breath hitch. ‘You know exactly who I mean and I can tell you’ve heard something about them. They have been at Cedar Castle for the best part of a week now. I take the safety and well-being of my people seriously,’ he added and the Captain nodded. ‘Have you heard why they are being detained?’

  ‘I have heard talk of two strangers, yes,’ Vorn acknowledged hastily. ‘I know they were picked up by a patrol, but not why they are being held. However, I can tell you that they are being treated well.’

  Jim frowned. Was he being sent for just to verify his men’s identity in person? Or was there another reason? Jim knew very well that even a wizard should never ignore a Lord’s summons. Even though this one was worded more as a request, he shouldn’t delay. Whatever the reason for the invitation, he was certainly curious to meet Lord Aubrey. Cedar Castle was well beyond Merchant Foster’s holdings, but Johnny had done it on horseback in a day. He knew of no reason to doubt his safety in going alone to meet with Lord Aubrey and also stood a better chance of negotiating the men’s release, face to face.

  ‘Very well Captain. I will be ready to accompany you at first light. Was there anything else?’

  ‘No sir.’

  ‘Till tomorrow then,’ Jim said by way of dismissal and returned to his paperwork watching the man bow and leave out the corner of his eye.

  The following morning Jim was ready to leave when Captain Vorn returned just after dawn. Drako was up to see him off, not quite hiding his concern and frustration that he could not come along to help. He tactfully ducked out of sight of the soldiers just in case any of them recognised him.

  ‘You are not bringing an escort?’ Captain Vorn asked in surprise as the young wizard awaited them alone mounted on an unpretentious small horse.

  ‘I thought your squad was to be my escort?’ Jim responded. ‘This is a school. I don’t have people to spare and besides, the two I could have called on are already at our destination. I expect they will be accompanying my return.’

  ‘Of course, Professor,’ Captain Vorn replied, feeling a little abashed. He then had to hasten to turn about and get his squad back in proper order as the wizard simply trotted around them and off down the drive ahead without waiting. Someone audibly sniggered. He glanced up at the school and realised many windows had faces in them. He shrugged to himself and followed the wizard briskly trotting ahead, not wishing to be left behind. On the one hand he was glad the wizard was not only obeying the summons, but was doing so promptly. But on the other hand, the bold confidence this young wizard exuded made him nervous. If the rumours were true, other wizards had spoken of him with apprehension, but gossip had yet to ascertain why they felt that way.

  Lord Aubrey was a big man in all dimensions. The heavy muscles of a warrior had turned a little soft with age, but he had the kind of presence that commanded notice. He sat on a raised dais in a substantial, intricately carved, chair that was almost a throne. The large audience chamber was rather crowded when Jim arrived, so he took the opportunity to have a good look around while Lord Aubrey was listening to a petition from one of his merchants. Behind the throne stood two armed guards, while two men to either side of the throne had ornate chairs sited on the broad step below; presumably the Lord’s advisors. Jim felt the presence of another wizard and located him amongst the advisors. He pinpointed the signature as coming from a small skinny man sitting on Lord Aubrey’s left. Physically, he was the kind of man that no-one usually noticed, and in Lord Aubrey’s company, he was nigh on invisible. Jim wondered who had instigated this pairing, for it must be deliberate. He however, knew better than to discount any wizard at first glance. He was not fully trained; this stranger would undoubtedly have better knowledge and experience of spell-casting. Whilst he could tell the man was not overly powerful magically, he was expecting Jim’s arrival here today and might have prepared something unexpected. Jim let a small surge of power escape and noticed the wizard’s head snap round alertly. Jim met his eyes, not bothering to drop them when the wizard finally pinpointed him, but he did incline his head respectfully. He kept a light shield around himself that wasn’t going to be obvious to the wizard, unless he attempted to breach it. Jim thought an attack unlikely, but since he was alone and surrounded by strangers, prudence was what he’d had to promise Amelie. The wizard leaned over and said something in his Lord’s ear and both gazes switched to him. Jim gave the Lord a small bow and received a nod in acknowledgement before Lord Aubrey’s attention returned to his rambling petitioner. The wizard however came down directly to meet Jim. He ushered Jim out a side door and down a long corridor until they reached a pleasant p
rivate reception room, before speaking.

  ‘I understand you are the new Headmaster of White Haven. Jim, I believe?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘I am Tobias, aide to Lord Aubrey.’

  ‘Pleased to meet you, Tobias,’ Jim responded, his expression carefully neutral.

  ‘I am also a member of the Edmoston Wizard’s Guild. You are not a member,’ he added, his tone sharpening unexpectedly. ‘Nor have you approached us to apply for a transfer. Yes, we know where you came from. We also know you are but a novice, yet to complete a full wizard’s training. Tell me why you would consider it appropriate to take over the running of an Academy? And why you thought no-one would question this appointment’s validity.’

  ‘Ah. So, you called me here to meet and assess me?’ Jim stated and Tobias gave a small nod. He glanced up as the door opened and Lord Aubrey entered. Had he cut short his merchant’s petition? Lord Aubrey closed the door but stayed in the doorway and gestured for Jim to continue. ‘I was waylaid by headmaster Vako on my return home and persuaded to visit White Haven. He offered me a comfortable place to stay over the winter, if I would help them out with some chores. What you say of my training is true, but Vako knew of this before he later offered me the headmaster job. I have not hoodwinked him, nor ever falsely claimed to have fully fledged status. I am well aware I have knowledge gaps, and have not therefore been taking over classes from existing teachers.’

  Tobias raised an eyebrow. ‘That cannot be strictly true. We have felt huge waves of magical power being used at the school since your arrival, indicating massive spells being cast. How do you explain that?’

  ‘Ah, that’d be some of the chores. Well, I should say renovation projects. Yes, I suppose other wizards might have sensed them, if they were monitoring us.’