"Excellent," said Anna, "then let us make it so."
"What about a detachment of knights," said Fitz. "You'll need some guards."
"Sir Arnim oversees my foot guards," she replied, "and my father has authorized the raising of ten knights. How is that going, Beverly?"
"Quite well, Highness," replied the redheaded knight. "Dame Hayley is interviewing two potential candidates even as we speak. If they're suitable, that will bring us up to five."
"We'll take them with us to Bodden," said Anna. "I should like to escort the baron home. From there, we'll head south to Kingsford where we'll take a ship to Westland. I would like to have the rest of the knights sorted by that time. Can we do that?"
"It'll be difficult," said Beverly. "There's not likely to be many candidates on the way to Bodden. No offense, Father."
"None taken, my dear," remarked the baron.
"I can see to the rest," offered Arnim. "I'll travel directly to Kingsford, and put the word out that interested parties should assemble there. I'll have them all interviewed before you arrive."
"Very well," agreed Anna, "though we will miss your presence, Sir Arnim."
"What about the baggage train?" asked Revi. "It's bound to be large, there'll be servants and supplies to sustain us, not to mention the coin."
"I'll look after the baggage train," announced Gerald, "with some help from Beverly. We managed quite well during the rebellion. I daresay a nice peaceful trip like this won't be much work. Might I ask how we're to pay for all of this?"
"The king has authorized a substantial purse. I have a letter in his hand allowing its release. I was hoping we might convince the baron to hold onto it for us while we're here in Wincaster. I can't say I fully trust the Royal Treasurer not to skim coins, but it would be convenient to have it close at hand."
"I would be honoured," agreed Fitz.
"There will be lots to do in the next few days," continued Anna. "I suggest you all get a good night's sleep."
As one, they rose from their chairs, bidding each other good night.
"A moment if you will, Master Revi," called out Anna.
They waited for the others to leave; only Gerald, Anna and Revi remaining.
"Yes, Highness?" said the mage.
"I want to know what you hope to find at Uxley," said Anna.
"I've had some time to pore over the books in Andronicus' library," explained Revi, "and I'm convinced that I can make sense of what we found. I need to return to the temple and study the runes again so that I can unlock them."
"Unlock them?" asked Gerald.
"We discovered new glyphs," continued Revi. "In order to use them, we must determine how to pronounce them; how to control their power."
"Do you think they are powerful, these new runes?" asked Anna.
"Yes, Highness. I'm convinced the magical flame represents a far greater power than we initially suspected, and unlocking the glyphs will allow us to control it."
"Meaning?" asked Gerald.
Revi looked from Gerald, back to the princess. "I'd rather not say at this time, Your Highness, but it is imperative that I be allowed to complete my studies. A discovery of this nature could have far-reaching consequences, and Lily's mastery of the Saurian tongue is of inestimable value."
"I shall ensure we leave you sufficient funds to continue your investigation, Master Bloom, but I expect you and Lily to join us in Westland in the autumn."
"Thank you, Highness," replied the mage, bowing deeply.
Seven
Bodden
Summer 960 MC
Dame Beverly Fitzwilliam stood on the top of Bodden Keep surveying the countryside. It was good to be home, but she knew she wouldn't be staying long. She heard a noise behind her and turned to see Celia Blackburn, one of the newest Knights of the Hound, approaching.
"You're wanted, Dame Beverly, we're to meet in-"
"The map room," the knight completed.
The blond knight looked at her quizzically, "How did you know that?"
"My father loves the map room. It's the only place he holds meetings."
Celia moved up beside her, looking down over the walls of Bodden. "I see your father has catapults," she said.
"Yes, after the last siege he decided he'd had enough of being on the receiving end. We added two of them to the gatehouse defenses."
"Does he really expect another siege?"
"We've had more than our fair share over the last few years, so yes, it's a very real possibility."
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," said Celia.
They stood for a moment in companionable silence while Beverly took in the view.
"Do you mind if I ask you a question?" enquired Celia.
"By all means," replied Beverly.
"I'm grateful to be a member of the Knights of the Hound, but I was wondering how many of us there are? I've only met four."
Beverly couldn't help but laugh, "That's because we're brand new. At the moment there's only five of us, though that is about to change. I was the first, I swore myself to the princess's service months ago. The next was Dame Hayley, she used to be a King's Ranger. Sir Arnim Caster was knighted just before the Battle of Eastwood; you'll meet him in Kingsford. Then, of course, there's you and Levina, you both joined us just before we travelled for Bodden."
"Shouldn't there be more?" she asked. "It seems like a very small order."
"It is," Beverly agreed. "The king authorized the princess to recruit ten knights. Sir Arnim will be bringing the rest with him. They'll join us just before we leave for Westland." She gazed out at the village below. How long would it be before she came home again, she wondered. "I suppose we should get going, the meeting won't wait forever. Who's present?"
"The princess, your father, Gerald and the rest of the Knights of the Hound, at least the few we have here."
"All right, we don't want to keep them waiting."
She left the ramparts, leading the way, with Celia following. Upon entering the room, she noticed that a large map was spread out on the table, taking her back to her youth. She could almost imagine herself on a chair, pulled up to the table, fascinated by the little wooden soldiers.
Princess Anna was standing, examining the map that was spread out before her, but instead of the region around Bodden, it showed a map of the two kingdoms. Behind her, stood two of her knights, Dames Hayley Chambers and Levina Charleston. Beverly had been in correspondence with Dame Levina for some years and had arranged for her to join them as they passed through Tewsbury on the way to Bodden.
Beverly's father was standing to one side of the princess, while Gerald stood on the other. They were pointing to markings on the map, her father looking up as she and Celia entered.
"Ah, my dear, so good to have you here."
Beverly smiled, always pleased to see her father. "So what planning have you been up to?"
The baron smiled and looked to the princess, "Her Highness was about to let us know."
"As you know, we're headed to Kingsford, where we'll meet up with Arnim and the rest of the knights. From there, we'll sail upriver to Falford, where a delegation from Westland will meet us and escort us to their capital."
"I do wish you'd let some of my knights accompany you, Your Highness," offered Fitz.
"Thank you, Baron, but your troops are needed here. The north is still a dangerous area, and I'll feel safer knowing that the border is secure in your hands."
"Any news from Revi?" asked Hayley.
It was Gerald who spoke up, "He's still in Uxley with Lily, as far as we know. I'd feel better if there was a healer with us, but the princess did grant him permission to investigate."
"When do we leave?" asked Beverly.
"Soon," said Anna. "I would like to be in Kingsford by the end of the month."
"Shouldn't be a problem, Your Highness," offered Gerald. "We can be underway whenever you wish. We don't have a large supply train to move, merely some carriages and a couple of wagons."
/> "What can we expect in Westland, Highness?" asked Beverly.
"I've been giving it some thought. I know they don't call themselves Westland, they refer to their own kingdom as Weldwyn."
"That's a strange name, isn't it?" remarked Hayley.
"It's named after a mage, actually," Anna answered. "Mages are much more common in their land. I suspect we shall meet quite a few of them. King Leofric is the ruler, with three sons and two daughters, but we know little else about them. I'm told the king is not the absolute ruler there, he is assisted by an Earls' Council."
"So he's a weak king," implied Beverly.
"No, not weak, he has strong support from his nobles. I expect he will be a generous host as this visit is important to their realm. He wants to secure the borders; we've been adversaries for years. I imagine we'll travel to the capital and then spend the year attending parties and getting to know them better."
"That doesn't sound too bad," offered the baron.
"If everything goes as planned, I daresay it will be quite enjoyable," suggested Celia.
"Yes, but things seldom go as planned," said Gerald.
Beverly looked to her mentor, "Is that you, Gerald? For a moment I thought it was Sir Arnim. It's not like you to be all doom and gloom."
"Never mind him," explained Anna. "He's just not happy about having to take a boat."
"I've had a bad experience with the river," grumbled Gerald.
"How many people are going?" asked Beverly.
Anna looked to Gerald, who consulted some papers. "Let's see," he began, "there's the princess, me, Beverly, Hayley, Celia and Levina, along with Sophie and a number of other servants. That's not including those we pick up in Kingsford, which will include Arnim and the rest of the knights, along with servants sent from Wincaster by the king. All told, we should number about three dozen."
"What about the guards?" reminded Beverly.
"Oh yes, I forgot about them. We'll have to add another dozen or so to the tally as they'll be joining us in Kingsford along with Arnim."
"Sir Arnim," corrected Hayley.
"Yes," agreed Gerald, "Sir Arnim. Thank you for correcting me, Dame Hayley."
"Really? You can just call me Hayley, you know."
"Of course, Dame Hayley," Gerald repeated, winking at Anna, who coughed to cover her smile.
"Well," continued the princess, "there's little more we can do today. I suggest everyone relax this evening. It could be some time before we have the opportunity again."
Eight
Revi
Summer 960 MC
Revi Bloom stared into the green fire that made strange shadows dance around the chamber. Beside him, the Saurian, Lily, held a lantern so that he could see the ancient runes.
"A little closer, Lily," he spoke, though if anyone else had been present, they wouldn't have understood.
He had cast the spell of tongues, and now, as he spoke, the chittering sound of the Saurian race fell from his tongue. Lily brought the lantern closer, careful not to upset the book that the mage had propped open on the pedestal.
"Hmmm," Revi muttered, more to himself than to Lily. "This is most interesting. Some of these runes I can understand, but there are at least two here I can't name." He lifted the book, holding it beside the runes. Was that a faint glow he spied? "Douse the light, Lily."
"What? That will make it dark?"
"Don't worry, I can make light with magic if needs be, though I suspect I won't have to."
The petite Saurian doused the flame using a snuffer, and the room went dark save for the eerie green glow coming from the eternal flame. Soon, their eyes adjusted and Revi watched as the runes in the stone began to glow. Within moments it was as if the room was brightly lit.
"Aha!" he cried. "It's as I suspected! The runes react with light. When the light is extinguished, the magic shines through. This is most wondrous news, most wondrous indeed."
"So you have found the secret of the flame?" asked Lily.
"Not quite, but I'm on the right track. It seems your ancestors were highly advanced, magically. They have a larger alphabet."
"Ee-pok-chula," replied Lily.
Revi swore. Just as things were getting interesting, his spell had expired. "One moment my friend," he said and quickly repeated the incantation.
A moment later Lily spoke again, "What was that? I didn't quite hear."
"I said, your ancestors had more magic letters."
"What does that mean?" asked the diminutive lizard.
"It means...well quite frankly I don't know what it means. Magic is based on a universal alphabet, a magical alphabet, if you like. Every race has its own alphabet, but the magical letters are the same, regardless of the language; the same symbols, the same sounds. It's the combination of these letters that allows us to channel spells."
"And this means new spells?"
"Oh yes, my friend. This is a most astounding discovery. I must make copies of these runes." He reached into a bag he had left lying on the floor, withdrawing a set of bound papers. Next, he dug through the pockets of his robe, pulling forth some charcoal, but now a fresh obstacle presented itself.
"Too dark to draw," said Lily.
"Hmmm," muttered the mage. "We shall have to relight the lantern."
Lily began opening up the door to the lantern, but Revi stopped her with his hand.
"No wait, I have a better idea." He called forth a spell, drawing from the power within him and soon a small globe of light floated just above his hand. He concentrated on it, raising it into the air, some three feet above the floor. "That's it. Now I can draw these runes."
He spent the next little while sketching the runes as best he could. The images reminded him of some of the existing letters, and he wondered if they were related. Somehow he must decipher their pronunciation, or they would be useless.
His task completed, he placed the paper back in the bag, returning the charcoal to his pocket. "I think it is time we leave, Lily. We still have much work to do."
Lily picked up the lantern, but it remained unlit as they made their way out of the temple. By the time they came out of the well, it was dark, and Revi was surprised with how much time it had taken to carry out the research. They hurried back to Uxley Hall to retrieve their horses. They must now hasten to Wincaster to the library of Andronicus, where he hoped he might find the answers he sought.
* * *
The trip back to the capital had been uneventful, though more than one of the folk hereabouts had wondered at the strange being riding on the back of Revi's horse. Most people assumed it was a creature created by magic and gave the Royal Mage a wide birth; the rest likely didn't care one way or another.
They had no sooner arrived at the ramshackle home of Revi Bloom than he rushed to his master's library. No, he corrected himself, it was his library now, the Library of the Court Mage. He left Lily to her own devices and started pulling out tomes left and right, searching throughout the next few days for any indication of how his studies might proceed.
He had been working for Saxnor knows how long when Lily chirped. He quickly cast the spell of tongues; he must remember to enchant a ring at some time. Of course, he must learn how to enchant a ring first.
"What is it, Lily?" he asked.
"You need help, this is too much." She pointed to the vast number of tomes spread across the floor and furniture.
"You're right, but I don't know anyone, and I know you don't read Human. Even with my spell, you wouldn't be able to understand most of this. What I really need is a helper."
"An apprentice?" offered Lily.
"Wait, what did you say?"
"An apprentice, a helper you train to be a master."
Revi leaped to his feet. "That's it. I need an apprentice. I remember something about that, now what was it?" He struggled to pull the image from his mind. He was riding somewhere, and someone was talking to him. The female knight, "Dame Beverly," he said out loud. "What was it she said to me, something abo
ut a cousin." He moved to the bookshelf, digging through more tomes. "Here it is, the book of nobility. Let's see if Dame Beverly's family tree can remind me of the name." He flipped through the pages, finally stopping to examine the writing. "Ah, here it is. Hmmm, no brothers or sisters. No, wait, she said cousin. I must check her father. I see here an uncle of hers with three children. Here it is, Aubrey, Aubrey Brandon. That was the name."
Lily was getting excited just by watching his discovery. "Will she help unlock the runes?"
"Probably not, but she can help search through these books. We'll take the lot with us."
"On horse?"
"No, we'll need a wagon. I need to make arrangements. You grab us something to eat, and no raw fish this time. There should be something in the pantry." He pointed to the kitchen, "Whatever you like."
Lily left the room in search of food while Revi started piling the books he thought he should take.
* * *
Two weeks later the wagon trundled up the laneway leading to the estate of Baron Robert Brandon, the master of Hawksburg. The estate servants had seen their approach, and now one of them neared their wagon as they stopped in the laneway.
"How may I be of assistance, sir?" the man asked, before noticing the presence of Lily. He was unable to hide his astonishment when he took in the Saurian's visage.
"Yes, I am Magi Revi Bloom, the Royal Life Mage. I'm here to see Lady Aubrey Brandon."
"I beg your pardon, sir?" the servant stammered out.
"I'm here to see Lady Aubrey. Are you deaf, man?"
"No sir, one moment sir, and I'll see to it."
The servant ran off back into the house. Everyone around here seems to be in a hurry, Revi noticed. Lily remained sitting in the back of the wagon, leafing through a book. The door opened again, and a mature woman came out.
"You must be Lady Aubrey," he said.
"No, I am Lady Mary Brandon, wife to the baron and Aubrey's mother. Might I ask the nature of this visit, Master Bloom?"
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