"You let him steal from you?" Vincent said, surprised.
"It was all very controlled; I could have stopped him at any time. He returned to the village with the shield, and told them all, that he had found a magic shield and they would now be safe. I still, to this day, wonder if he really believed that without even seeing it in action. However, the bandits were waiting in ambush; his town had sold him out. When the they attacked, he held up the shield, and it deflected every attack. He managed to push them back, the bandits mystified why all their attacks were powerless."
"It actually worked? He got away with it again?" Alrion said.
"Not quite. After they retreated, the town had a big celebration. Ryder as the hero drank a little too much, and fell into a deep sleep. While he slept, the leader of the group snuck into the town and swapped the shield with an identical one that was not in any way magical."
"You noticed?" Alrion said.
"Of course. However, I didn't act, I just observed. The next day the leader returned and said that if Ryder defeated him in single combat, they would leave the town alone forever. Ryder immediately accepted, thinking that his shield would keep him from harm. So, with the townsfolk and the bandits watching on, the bandit leader and Ryder faced off in a sword fight. The leader wielded two swords, and Ryder used a sword and shield. They traded blows, and the shield held up, but something was amiss. The perfect deflection abilities of the old shield were not there, and the shield started to show damage. Ryder, to his credit continued fighting, even though it was obvious to everyone that his shield was weakening."
"And what happened?"
"Well, seeing his victory was nigh, the leader surged with a final assault, both his blades whirring at great speed as he attacked Ryder. The farmer parried what he could, but kept using his shield to protect himself. His battle prowess could not match the leader. Finally, the shield split in two and dropped to the ground. The bandit leader had his sword at Ryder's throat and demanded that he surrender."
"So, that's where you stepped in?"
"Not quite. Ryder refused to surrender and rolled away. He grabbed one half of the shield and kept fighting, with a ferocity and energy that was unmatched. The leader was suddenly on the back foot. But he counter-attacked and went for broke, trying to finish Ryder once and for all," Falric said. He paused for drama, then continued.
"It all came down to one final swing. The bandit leader had attacked high and was following up with a piercing thrust. Ryder had parried the first attack with his blade, but the shield was too small to protect him. Therefore, instead of trying to block the attack, he used the sharp jagged edge of the broken shield to attack the bandit leader. Both men took critical wounds, and neither could continue the fight."
"What did that mean for the town?"
"The bandit leader retreated and left the town alone. Ryder recovered, but could not return to a life of farming. He took to hanging around this very inn, and soon people would come from all over the area to hear his story. To capitalise on this, the owner renamed it The Sundered Shield, to commemorate Ryder's actions and to cash in on his popularity. With the town safe from bandit attacks, and now on the map for the heroic actions of Ryder, it quickly grew in popularity and prosperity."
"Hang on, there's no mention of wizards in that story at all. Apart from what you have mentioned to us," Alrion said.
"Exactly. So, you see, I knew that direct involvement would change the struggle, and maybe even escalate it. But by letting Ryder take responsibility, and a relatively risk-free item from our stores, I let the story play out to a complete and proper resolution," Falric said.
"But he profited by stealing from you? What kind of message is that?"
"It shows that he was prepared to do what was necessary. It also shows that his actions cost him dearly, but he still managed to win a victory for his town."
"Whatever happened to the magic shield?"
"Well, I visited the bandit camp and retrieved it without them noticing," Falric said with a grin.
"Sounds like wizards do a lot of nothing," Alrion said.
"Sometimes, yes. However, one thing you will learn is that every action has consequences, even inaction. And acting only when required will have a greater impact."
"That's enough stories for the evening, let's get some food, then turn in," Vincent said. Alrion's stomach rumbled in agreement, and he looked forward to what was on offer.
After the meal, they all walked upstairs to retire for the evening. Alrion showed Falric to his room, and the wizard was satisfied with it. Vincent was less than impressed with their room, but at the same time, he seemed to be expecting it. Alrion lay down to sleep and dreamed about being a wizard and hurling fireballs everywhere.
When he awoke, he was alone. His father had packed up and left the room.
"I don't know how he's always up so early," Alrion thought, as he started to prepare himself. He reached into his pocket to look at his ring again, only the pouch wasn't there. After a few seconds of panic, he tried his other pocket, then went through the rest of his clothes looking for it. There was no ring.
He thought back to all the things he had done since they left Hamley. The whole time it had only been the three of them, and neither his father nor Falric would have taken it. Then he had a flash of insight. When he was outside the inn, he had bumped into that young woman. She must have taken it, there was no other explanation.
"But how is that possible?" Alrion thought. He realised that perhaps he had a great deal to learn about the world, and chalked it up to experience. However, he couldn't admit to his father that he had lost such a precious heirloom so soon, so decided to keep the incident to himself.
7
The Wooded Path
Alrion descended the stairs and couldn't see his father or Falric. He handed the room key back to the woman behind the bar, then left the inn. He could see Falric standing outside, waiting.
"Good morning," Falric said.
"Good morning. We're leaving immediately?" Alrion said.
"Yes, the sooner the better. We can stop a little later and have something to eat. Your father is readying the horses," Falric said, pointing to the stables.
"That's fine," Alrion said. He looked around to see if he could see the girl who had stolen his ring but didn't recognise any of the people around. It was foolish to think she would still be here; she was probably long gone. When his father emerged, Alrion slung his bag onto the back of the horse, then mounted it.
"How are you feeling? Have you ridden this much before?" Vincent said.
"Not too bad. I don't think I have ridden this much, but I doubt it will get much worse," Alrion said.
"I think that's fair. We should arrive by evening right Falric?" Vincent said.
"Correct."
"Then let's head out," Vincent said, leading his horse back towards the main gate. Alrion followed, guiding his horse forward but scanning the crowd. He knew it was fruitless but he had to look for the thief. If there was a chance he could recover the ring, he had to take it.
As they passed through the main gate, Alrion finally accepted that the ring was gone. He would keep that information to himself for a while, and tell his father later. After they left Carford, they backtracked a little, before taking another direction back at an earlier fork in the road.
"Any other towns on our route?" Alrion said.
"No, that was it. We will stay on this path initially, then cut through the forest. That will be a good place to stop and eat," Falric said. Alrion nodded and watched the countryside pass by.
The land still looked familiar, even if he hadn't travelled this far before. The grass was a lush green, and there were many trees around. The occasional dirt roads branched off the main one, with signposts directing people to homesteads or smaller tracks.
After an hour or two Falric slowed his horse and Alrion and Vincent followed suit.
"This path here to the left, leads to the Wizard Academy," Falric said, pointing
it out. Alrion noticed a wooden sign next to the path.
"Needle Forest," Alrion said, reading the sign.
"That's the one. We need to pass through there to get to the academy."
"Why not have a sign for the academy?" Alrion said.
"It's better this way. The people who need to find us can do so anyway," Falric said, before setting off once more. Alrion followed, and Vincent waited, taking up the rear position.
They had to ride down the new path in single file, as it was quite narrow. The trees were incredibly tall and had long fine bristles on them.
"I can see why it is called Needle Forest," Alrion said.
"Not very imaginative, but quite apt," Falric said. Alrion returned to looking around as they rode. The trees looked imposing and menacing. Like they didn't want him to be there. He shuddered instinctively.
"Let's stop here," Falric said, turning off the path. He pushed between two trees and Alrion followed closely behind. It seemed like a poor decision at first, but they quickly emerged into a small clearing.
"I love this spot, I always stop here," Falric said. Alrion looked around and could see why. It was covered and secluded as if it wasn't there. Yet the grass was short and looked soft. They tied up the horses and sat down to eat.
"What do you know of the Blight?" Falric asked Alrion.
"Not much really. People talk about it in hushed tones, but nobody seems to be able to talk from experience," Alrion said.
"That's a good thing. It is best to avoid experience of The Blight if possible. Although as a wizard you will have to confront it at some time or another."
"Why is that?"
"From a practical perspective, the Blight is everywhere. You have been lucky enough to grow up in the country of Avaria. Due to the sacrifice of your grandfather, this country is free from the Blight. Strong border controls do help keep it in check as well."
"It's a problem elsewhere?"
"Yes, a big problem. Every person deals with the Blight, in different ways."
"But what is it?"
"That's a good question. The Blight is an infection, a disease as the name implies. But, it's more than that. It has a life of its own, and it connects all those infected. The Blight cannot create creatures, but it twists creatures to its purpose."
"Can it be destroyed?"
"Wizards can cleanse the blight, as your grandfather demonstrated. Only he was able to do so. Our current options are either to destroy the infected, contain them, or keep them away."
"That doesn't sound good."
"No, it's a huge problem. One that you must learn to deal with as a wizard. You will start to learn at the academy, but eventually, you will join the world. And the Blight is a part of the world."
"How long has it been around?"
"The stories vary. Some say it has always been around. But regardless of the origins, it is well catalogued when it became a problem. Around thirty to forty years ago, the Blight became a major problem and swept across the world incredibly quickly. We were not equipped to deal with it. It took many hard lessons to get to the point we are at today," Falric said. Alrion didn't have any follow-up questions, he just pondered what had been said. It was an explanation, but he didn't feel like he understood.
"That look on your face, I have seen it before from others when hearing about the Blight. Trust me, once you encounter it, you will understand," Falric said. He looked over at Vincent.
"I would normally say I hope you don't encounter it, but it seems like you will have no choice," Vincent said.
"So, you've dealt with it?"
"Yes, quite a bit. I travelled a lot before I met your mother and we settled here. Avaria is a precious gift. Unfortunately, when you venture forth to other countries, you will see something a lot grimmer. It is the state of the world right now, and hopefully one day we can end the Blight for good," Vincent said.
"It was your grandfather's wish to end the Blight. I don't believe that his cleansing of Avaria was the final piece in his plan, just the beginning. However, the fact that he already achieved so much means that it is possible for us. We just need to find the right way," Falric said.
"That makes sense. If it's so bad, and it's a more recent thing, then maybe it's not as hard as you think?" Alrion said. Falric and Vincent laughed.
"Maybe not, we'll see," Falric said.
Alrion however, had another question.
"What happens when we get to the academy?" he said.
"You and your father will be welcomed, then there are some formalities to go through before you can start your training," Falric said.
"What kind of formalities?"
"There is an induction ceremony. You will be introduced as a new student to the rest of your peers at the academy. Then you will take part in the ceremony and receive a gift given to all the wizards."
"But what does that actually mean?"
"It means that there are a few secrets that are yet to be revealed," Falric said, a crafty smile on his face.
"Get used to this," Vincent said to Alrion, pointing at Falric.
"Mystery and secrecy are important tools in a wizard's kit," Falric said.
"Can't you at least give him a little more detail?" Vincent said.
"Honestly there is some value in it being a surprise. I have sat through countless induction ceremonies, and still find them interesting and moving. So, I'm very hesitant to say more."
"Has there always been an induction?" Alrion said.
"Yes, there has. When your grandfather established the academy, he was adamant that all initiates must take part in the ceremony. He designed it himself. It's a unifying moment that gives all wizards a shared history, and a greater connection to each other."
"Sorry son, but I think that's all you are going to get," Vincent said.
"It just sounds like that is the way it is."
"Well put. Should we get going then?" Falric said.
"Sure, let's pack up," Vincent said. They cleaned up, packed their bags, and carefully guided the horses out of the clearing and onto the main path once more.
Alrion looked around the forest as they progressed, and noticed there didn't seem to be a lot of wildlife.
"Is there something wrong with this forest?" he said.
"Why do you ask?" Falric said.
"I don't see any animals."
"That's a good observation. Mostly smaller animals live here, and they are nocturnal. It is very quiet during the day."
"Is there a reason for that?"
"I'm not entirely sure; I've never looked into it. The academy has always been nearby, but I didn't think that this forest had any significance," Falric said.
"I guess it's just different to what I'm used to," Alrion said.
"You have good instincts son, there's definitely something different about this forest. There must be a history," Vincent said.
"Tell you what; I'll have someone look into it later. Even if for educational purposes, it would be worthwhile understanding more of the history surrounding this place," Falric said. They continued in silence, as if in keeping with the wishes of the forest. Neither felt like saying anything. Falric was about to announce they were almost there but stopped himself. He decided to let the academy speak for itself.
The trees began to thin, and the path snaked around a bend. As they followed it, Falric slowed down and let Alrion and Vincent ride ahead.
"Wow," Alrion said as he caught the first few glimpses of their destination. At the edge of the forest stood a massive structure, a cross between a manor house and a castle. Its walls were made of stone, with large windows wrapping around the building. Rising behind the main building was a tall tower also made of stone.
"Welcome to your new home," Falric said, gesturing at the academy with a sweeping arm movement.
8
A Wizard's Welcome
Alrion took it all in as they rode closer. The sun was setting behind the academy, an orange and pink glow illuminating it. He was impres
sed; he had never seen anything like it.
"How many wizards live here?" he said.
"It varies; we have had up to one hundred. Around fifty are here at the moment," Falric said.
"Why so few?"
"Various reasons. Some move away for long periods, some leave the academy never to return. Some are lost."
"I see."
"But they are a good group. You will meet them all tomorrow," Falric said.
"What's the plan?" Vincent said.
"We shall get you settled inside tonight, and tomorrow the ceremony will be performed. You can stay as long as you like, and return home when you are ready."
"Sure. I think I'll stay for a few days to make sure Alrion is comfortable."
"Of course. We always have room for Granthion's family," Falric said. As they neared the front gate, a robed man was waiting for them.
"Hello Falric, welcome home," the man said.
"Hello Branthor, thank you. It is good to be home," Falric said while dismounting. Alrion and Vincent followed his lead.
"Were you successful? I see you have guests."
"Yes, I was. This is Vincent, and his son Alrion. Alrion will be inducted tomorrow morning."
"Alrion. A good name. Nice to meet you, I am Branthor, and I am Falric's right-hand wizard. I knew your grandfather, and I am honoured to make your acquaintance."
"Thank you, nice to meet you too," Alrion said, shaking Branthor's hand.
"I didn't know Granthion had any surviving family until recently. Vincent, was it?"
"Yes. I kept out of my father's business and also out of his shadow."
"Yes, quite a big shadow, and a big legacy. We have high hopes for Alrion."
"So do I," Vincent said.
"Let's all get inside before it turns dark," Falric said. Branthor walked ahead, and the rest followed, leading their horses on foot. As they neared the main building, two young men ran out to attend to them.
"Please take your bags, and leave the horses. We will bring them through to the stables," the shorter of the two men said.
Pool of Knowledge (The Hidden Wizard Book 1) Page 5
