The Redemption, Volume 1

by Clyde B Northrup

  Ghelvon’s jaw clenched. “You have spoken,” he mumbled. The council members on either side of him snorted–Storga and Ghreis.

  Thal raised an eyebrow. “No, I meant to speak on behalf of the accused,” he added.

  Ghelvon looked at Thal for a moment before speaking. He turned to those seated at the council table. “Any objections to allowing this maghi to speak?”

  “Since his father and master,” began Avril, “was the greatest logician of his order, I, for one, would like to hear what he has to say on Klaybear’s behalf,” he finished, nodding to Thal and smiling.

  Ghelvon ignored Avril. “All in favor?” Three nods and one shake. “Fine. We will allow this maghi a chance to speak.”

  Thal gave a slight bow. “If I understand correctly, you have only three facts in this case: first, that the altar in your secret glade was destroyed and marked with a sign; second, that this apprentice, Klaybear, was the last known person to enter the glade before the altar was discovered destroyed; and third, that the altar has since repaired itself.”

  Storga interrupted. “We already decided that the altar repairing itself was irrelevant to what the apprentice of the Headmaster did.”

  Thal shook his head.

  Storga went on, ignoring Thal. “Also, we know that he was the last person to enter the glade.”

  “How do you know?” Thal asked.

  “It is only possible for kailum of Shigmar’s order,” she replied, “to enter the glade.”

  “And how do you know that?” Thal asked. “Has anyone not of your order ever tried entering the glade?”

  “We are the only ones who possess the keys,” she said, reaching into her robe and withdrawing her symbol. “This special artifact, possessed only by our order, allows entry.”

  “But could not someone steal one of those symbols,” Thal noted, “and so gain entry?”

  All those seated at the table shook their heads. Avril spoke. “Each symbol is attuned to the individual kailu who possesses it; if it were taken, that attunement would be broken, rendering the artifact incapable of opening the door.”

  A sudden thought occurred to Thal, and he acted on it at once. “Is it possible for a kailu of your order,” he said, “to be possessed by a kwalu, who could then use the symbol through the possessed kailu?”

  Avril nodded again. “Shigmar foresaw that very possibility, and so imbued the door with teka that would prevent kwalum from entering in the way you suggest.”

  “So again,” Storga said, “the apprentice of Myron was the last person to enter.”

  “No,” Thal shook his head, “he was only the last person to enter the glade through the door.”

  Voices mumbled around the room. Ghelvon snorted. “How else could someone enter?”

  Thal’s eyebrows rose again. “How indeed? Are you implying that the glade is shielded from teleportation?”

  Wegex laughed. “No simple shield is powerful enough to cover an area of that size,” he said. “Not only that, but if it were possible, it would have to be constantly maintained, as a city’s shield must be, and to expend that much power renders it virtually impossible.”

  “Even so,” Storga added, “there is no telepad within the glade to serve as target for teleportation ortheks.”

  “It is not necessary,” Thal said, “for there to be a telepad to use teleportation ortheks, as Blakstar has just shown.”

  Storga laughed. “No, that is true,” she said, “but one must be incredibly powerful and must have been to the place, before it is possible. I do not know anyone who is powerful enough.”

  “Don’t you?” Thal asked her.

  Ghelvon interrupted. “This is precisely why I wanted to move forward; this maghi’s line of reasoning is, as we voted earlier, irrelevant to the matter before us.”

  “Please, master,” Thal implored, “if you will bear with me and follow my reasoning to its logical conclusion, you will see why I argue that it is both important and relevant to Klaybear’s defense.”

  Ghelvon sat down. “Fine. You may continue, although I wish it noted in the record that I am opposed to this line of reasoning.”

  “Thank you, master,” Thal said. “So, where were we? Oh, yes, teleportation ortheks. We have established that it is possible for someone to enter the secret glade without using the door; we have also noted that one would have to have been in the glade to teleport there, also, that there are very few powerful enough to do it. So my next question is who? Who is powerful enough to teleport into the secret glade, and who has been there?”

  They sat silent for a moment, not looking at Thal. After a time, Avril spoke.

  “I imagine that your father, Thal,” Avril noted, “was strong enough, and perhaps some other members of the council of maghem, like the sedra, Hierarch Kresgart, but I doubt even the heads of the other orders are powerful enough, nor have they been to the glade.”

  “I could not do it,” Myron said.

  “Which is precisely,” Ghelvon said, “the problem with this line of thought.”

  Thal ignored Ghelvon. “Is Gar powerful enough?” Whispering hissed above and around them. “Has he been to the glade?”

  “Are you suggesting,” Storga began, “that Gar, the incarnation of evil, has entered the most sacred place to the kailum of Shigmar?”

  “I doubt,” Avril put in, “that Gar would go there himself; he need only send an agent to do the work.”

  “I don’t see how that is different,” Mistress Keney said.

  Thal shook his head. “Is he powerful enough? I think all would agree that he is; has he been there before?”

  “In the oldest legends,” Avril said, “that speak of the secret glade, we read that the glade was the place where the two brothers–Elos and Gar–the firstborn sons of the One, met as they were forming our world. There were two chairs upon which they would sit to discuss what each had done and what each planned to do next. Gar destroyed his chair after he had been cast out of the One’s presence for his rebellion. This is the reason why there is one stone chair and a pile of rubble in front of the altar.”

  “That is only a legend,” Ghreis said, “as you pointed out.”

  “Maybe,” Thal admitted, “but it tells us that it is quite possible for Gar to send someone into the glade, or enter himself.”

  Ghelvon smiled. “However, your argument is built upon more ‘ifs’ than the simplest explanation: Klaybear was the last person in the glade, the altar was destroyed, so therefore, Klaybear destroyed the altar.”

  “That is true,” Thal said, “but let me ask another question. First, as the Headmaster has presented evidence that the altar is rebuilding itself, what kind of teka would make this possible?”

  “I don’t follow you,” Storga said.

  “Who built the altar,” Thal added, “in the first place?”

  “Shigmar,” she replied.

  “What kind of teka did he use?” Thal asked.

  “Our kind, of course,” she replied.

  Myron and Avril exchanged looks, and Thal saw realization dawning on both their faces.

  “No,” Avril said, “when Myron and I were there three days ago, we both examined the altar and its renewal by teka; there was more than kailu teka operating. I did not realize what it was until just now.”

  “Nor did I,” Myron added. “We both noticed that something beyond our abilities was operating to repair it, as Avril said, a teka more than kailu teka.”

  Thal smiled widely at this. “Excellent! This further supports my argument. Now, if we for a moment assume that the altar was constructed only with kailu teka, how would one go about destroying it?”

  “Perish the thought!” Storga exclaimed, appalled that Thal would suggest it.

  “If it were only constructed,” Avril said, “with kailu teka, then it would take a kailu orthek to undo it completely.”

  “Yes,” Ghelvon said, “which is why your apprentice failed to destroy it completely. This line of reasoning places us right
where we began, accusing your apprentice of trying to destroy the altar.”

  Thal’s mouth fell open; he tried to speak again, to deny it–that he meant something else, but Ghelvon stood and for a second time, left his place behind the council table and around the table to where Thal stood with his mouth open. He waved his hand over Thal’s head.

  “Well,” Ghelvon said, “it appears that the apprentice did not live up to the expectations of his master.” Ghelvon placed his finger on the top of Thal’s head. “Can you see why?”

  When Ghelvon said these words, Thal felt something like a burning finger stab into his mind; his surroundings blurred then shot back into sharp focus–flash-flash–Ghelvon was replaced by a dark shadowy figure that seemed to occupy the same space–flash-flash–Myron’s figure replaced by green fire occupying the same space–flash-flash–Avril’s figure also green–flash-flash–as also the other council members–flash-flash–Klaybear was also replaced by green fire, with the addition of the red symbols inscribed in hand and forehead–flash-flash–a multitude of green figures in the seats above and around them–flash-flash–red ball of power hurtling toward the top of his master’s tower–flash-flash–his parents embracing on top of the tower–flash-flash–red ball of power exploding around them–flash-flash–their bodies burn away, still holding each other–flash-flash–the top of the tower exploding–flash-flash–ash and dust settling on the rubble strewn around the tower–flash-flash–silence. He slumped to the ground and the finger withdrew from his mind; words echoed from a distance.

  “He, too,” Ghelvon’s voice echoed, “bears the mark of evil, written in the very patterns of his mind.” A gasp echoed around the room; Ghelvon plowed on. “He, too, cannot bear the touch of good.”

  Whispering echoed around the hall. Ghelvon returned to his place at the head of the council, smiling. He looked and noticed the fearful faces on those seated next to him; only Avril looked unshaken.

  “Anymore objections to voting for conviction of both?” Ghelvon asked.

  “This is nonsense!” Avril exclaimed. “Are we all so blinded by the fear Ghelvon has raised that we cannot see who they are? Have we forgotten Shigmar’s prophecy? At the center of the ages come those chosen of the One–they who will end Gar’s dominion–two from my own order: one more powerful than all others, doubled of another; one who opens the forbidden way, sprung from my home–one from Karble, myth reborn, dear to the people, bearing the living waters–one from Melbarth, fire of logic burning in his mind–three from the new order, one king, one queen, mirroring each other, one aperu slayer, sacrifice for another–and the cunning mouse, who penetrates all secrets–all maimed and marked by the burden of their choosing. Darkness and evil go with them, light guides them, rumor precedes them, destruction and disturbance follow them; choose to aid them to suffer, choose to oppose them to die. Have you all forgotten it?” He looked at Myron. “I think you should call the others forward.”

  Myron nodded, turning and raising his hand; Delgart, Marilee, and Blakstar stepped into the center of the room for the second time.

  Ghelvon sneered. “You appear to be missing some of them, three, if I’m counting correctly,” he finished.

  “Let us see,” Avril said. “First are mentioned two kailum, one who has a twin that is also chosen, which one is Klaybear. The second, who is from Shigmar’s home, Kalbant, would have to be my apprentice, Klarissa; a kortexi of Karble bearing the Waters of Life, Sir Blakstar; a maghi of Melbarth, steeped in logic, Thalamar son of Kalamar; three seklesem, the new order, two of them mirroring each other, Delgart and Marilee; the third seklesi, Klaybear’s twin brother Rokwolf; and the ‘cunning mouse’ is Telvor ven Galagrude, a scout.”

  Ghelvon was smiling. “Your translation of the prophecy,” he said, “is a bit loose.”

  “What do you mean?” Avril asked. “I quoted the standard translation of the text.”

  “Yes,” Ghelvon went on, “the ‘standard’ translation ignores the blots on the original manuscript.”

  “It does not ignore the blots,” Myron said, “it uses the corrections written on the manuscript.”

  “And who,” Ghelvon began, tapping his fingers together in front of his face, “introduced the corrections?”

  “Shigmar,” Avril answered.

  “How do we know that Shigmar himself corrected the manuscript?” Ghelvon asked.

  “That is the tradition handed down from the beginning,” Myron put in, “that the scribe who copied the prophecy from the stone tablet upon which it was inscribed, made mistakes that were corrected by Shigmar.”

  “And the original stone tablet?” Ghelvon asked, still tapping his fingers.

  “No one knows,” Myron replied. “It is believed to have been somewhere in the school, but none have ever found it.”

  “So all you have is a blotted copy,” Ghelvon said, “that is rumored to have been corrected by the author. How do we know that the manuscript copy we have was not altered somewhere along the way by someone who did not like what it said, who feared the destruction they might cause when they entered the world? And so, to prevent panic, blotted out the key words and replaced them with words that were less frightening. Without the original, we do not know.” There was nodding at the table; whispers hissed around the hall. “Especially now, where we have some of the chosen before us, all of them bearing the mark of evil, the mark of Gar.”

  “All of them?” Mistress Keney asked. “I only see two of them marked.”

  Ghelvon got up and went around the table again; he walked at Delgart, who stepped aside to get out of his way. When Delgart did this, Ghelvon grabbed Marilee’s arm and pulled her in front of Delgart, turning her so that the maimed sides of their two faces were next to each other, then he pushed them together. Their half-marks reacted by drawing together, so that their two faces were together, cheek to cheek; both groaned in pain as the mark became complete, glowing with angry red light and filling their heads with pain. They slumped to the ground, their faces still touching, the mark still pulsing red. He turned to Blakstar, grinning widely. He poked his finger into the center of the kortexi’s chest; Blakstar felt flame ignite on his chest, gasped, and sank onto one knee. Red light, in the same figure, pulsed through the golden mesh of his special suit and his chain mail. Ghelvon moved to Klaybear and Thal, touching them both again, causing their symbols to pulse again, and Thal saw once more the strange juxtaposition of figures and shadows.

  Angry whispering circled the room. Ghelvon looked up, took note of the sounds, then went back to his place at the head of the table.

  “If the three missing were here,” he said over the whispers, “I’m sure we could show you three more marks of evil. This leads me to ask, what does it mean to be ‘chosen of the One?’ According to the standard translation quoted by Avril, it means those who come to save us from Gar, although causing suffering and destruction. Given that they all bear the mark of Gar, let me suggest an alternate translation of the prophecy. The first blot comes at the end of the first sentence, and the phrase, quoted in the original, kemkwo Dhund Regyu de Ker, the blotted letter is rendered in the standard version as I have quoted it, Dhund, which means ‘to finish or end,’ and only a single letter is blotted, the ‘u.’ But what if the ‘u’ were actually an ‘e,’ then instead of ending Gar’s rule, the would ‘put into place Gar’s rule,’ meaning figuratively that they would support or further his rule. Now the final sentence, which elaborates on what will happen when the chosen are here: Peliwum kwe Wepum Poranent ksun kem Leuka Poreyet kem Gnosildum Gweunt kem Gwhoni kwe Prit Sekwent kem Geuset Nemere kem Petore Geuset Spornare kem Moryore, which is the standard version. If, as we see by the marks they all wear, the chosen are an evil to be feared, then these lines might instead be rendered: Peliwum kwe Wepum Poreyent kem Leuka Peryont kem Gnosildum Gwant kem Gwhoni kwe Prit Sekwent kem Geuset Nemere kem Petore Geuset Spornare kem Moryorene, which we would translate as, ‘Darkness and evil lead them, light, or good, pierces them, rumor welcome
s them, destruction and peace-breaking follows them; choose to aid them to suffer, choose to oppose them not to die.’”

  Angry murmuring filled the room; the council members whispered among themselves.

  Avril spoke above the noise. “But that is only your supposition,” he shouted, “your translation has less authority than the standard, as the standard has been accepted–for three-thousand years.”

  Ghelvon shrugged. “You may be right,” he admitted. “However, given that they all bear the mark of Gar, I’m inclined to think that they are not our saviors but our destroyers. I move that they all be convicted of treason.” Ghelvon waited for a moment before proceeding. “All in favor?” Two nods. “Opposed?” Two nods. A smile played at the corners of Ghelvon’s mouth. “The council is tied, necessitating my vote.” He looked down at Thal and the others, now smiling openly. “I vote for conviction. The penalty for treason is death; the sentence will be carried out at midday tomorrow; guards, take them away.” Total silence followed Ghelvon’s words, as most of the kailum, novices, and apprentices in the galleries above sat and watched in stunned silence as the officers led the chosen, stumbling in disbelief, out of the Assembly Hall through the door that would lead them to the cells below, on the dungeon level of Shigmar’s school.

  “But the evidence is only circumstantial!” Thal called back as the guards dragged him through the door. “How can you, in good conscience, condemn us based on circumstantial evidence?” The question hung in the air, but before Thal could see any response or say more, the door clanged shut, cutting off the possibility for him to say more. Thal hung his head, feeling for the first time in his life that he had failed; he heard Marilee groan as the guards dragged them down the stairs that would lead to cells where they would await the next day and their immanent execution.

  Chapter 15

  Many will follow me, and try to equal me, but all will fail save for one, and this descendant will far exceed all that I have accomplished. . . .