The page who’d gone with him froze. He didn’t know whether to run or stay.
Finally Rolan stopped laughing long enough to notice the page. “Get me some tea.”
“Y…y…yes, sir,” the page stuttered and stumbled out the door.
Rolan chuckled. He couldn’t have planned that any better. He slapped the table again and grinned at his luck. It was perfect! Now all he had to do was start a rumor about a curse on the House of Nordin, and he knew just who to use to spread it. Malcolm. That sorcerer loved gossip, and if it was good enough, he considered it his personal duty to spread it.
And it didn’t hurt that Damien kept glancing at Myron with a frown on his face. Only a blind man would have missed how worried he was, and that would lend credence to the rumor.
A knock on his door drew his attention. “Come!”
The page entered, set the tea down, and turned to go.
“I’ll be out of the office this afternoon. No one’s to come in here until I return. Understood?”
“Yes, sir,” the page said with a slight bow as he backed out the door and pulled it to.
Rolan sipped his tea, basking in his good fortune, and when it was gone, took out his key and left for Malcolm’s castle.
Most of the time Rolan liked to announce himself at the front door and enjoy the pomp and circumstance that usually accompanied a visit by a seated sorcerer, but this time he went straight to Malcolm’s main office. While the pages hustled to provide refreshments, Malcolm and Rolan sat down in Malcolm’s office.
“Did you notice Myron at the meeting?” Rolan asked as he sat down.
“He looked horrible, like he was sick or something.”
Rolan nodded. “Reminded me of Badec before he fell into that coma.”
“Huh?”
“You remember how bad he looked several months before he sank into that coma. We talked about it at the time.”
Malcolm frowned in concentration. “Now that you mention it, I do remember something like that.”
“I thought you would.” Rolan fought the urge to grin. Malcolm really was too easy. “And did you see the way Damien kept watching him? With that frown on his face? Like he was worried?”
“Come to think of it, you’re right. Damien did look worried about something, and he did keep watching Myron.” Malcolm’s frown deepened. “And he was a good friend of Badec’s. He probably knew Badec was sick before the rest of us did. Wonder if Myron’s got what Badec had.”
“Probably. That’s the price you pay for mixing magics.”
“Huh?”
“You know, human magic and elven magic. They don’t get along. That’s why Badec died. I guess it’s only a matter of time before it takes Myron, too.”
Malcolm nodded. “Yeah. I wonder if he’ll slip into a coma like Badec did.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he did. Guess we’ll need a new Master Sorcerer then.”
“Too bad Gwendolyn was so quick to challenge him. If she’d waited a couple of years, he’d have been gone anyway.”
“True,” Rolan said with a nod. Malcolm was right where he wanted him. “You know, if she hadn’t been killed, she’d be the logical choice for that chair.”
Malcolm nodded enthusiastically. “She should have won that duel. She was stronger than he is, more experienced. He just got off a lucky bolt.”
Rolan nodded in agreement. “You know, we could still honor her by keeping the title in her house.”
“How?”
“When the time comes, we should support Alastar for Master Sorcerer.”
Malcolm mulled it over. “Think he’ll want it?”
“Of course he will.”
“Are you sure? I wouldn’t.”
Rolan hesitated a moment. “I’ll talk to him and see what he says. If he’s against it, we won’t push him, but if he’s interested, we’ll need to see how many sorcerers we can get to support him. Who knows? With the new rules, there may not have to be a competition. He might get voted in.”
“How many votes would we need?”
“Well, there are thirteen of us. If Myron’s dead, that leaves twelve. I’d say if he has seven votes, he wins.”
“We should be able to round up that many.”
“But there’s time enough for that once Myron’s in a coma. We don’t want to rush things. After all, not all of the sorcerers pay as much attention to things as we do. They might not remember how bad Badec looked before he got too sick to keep going.”
“I don’t know. I’ll bet most of them do, and after today, I bet some of the others are thinking about who to vote for, too.”
“Maybe, but I don’t think we should talk about a new Master Sorcerer until he misses a meeting.” Rolan stood up and took out his key. “See you next month.”
~~~~
While Rolan was at Malcolm’s, Kevin ate some soup, drank a mug of scog, went to bed, and slept until about nine that evening. When he got up, he went in search of Chris and Nikki. They were in the office. Chris was answering messages and Nikki was snoozing on her blanket.
“Hi,” Kevin said as he sat down. “Anything happen I need to know about?”
Chris shook his head. “It’s been quiet all day.”
“What are those?” Kevin pointed to the messages Chris was working on.
“Just a few complaints and requests that have come in lately. Nothing urgent or particularly interesting.” Chris leaned back. “You look better.”
“I feel better. Sleep will do that for you.”
“Hungry?”
“A bit. What are the chances of finding something in the kitchen?”
“Pretty good since Miranda fixed you a plate before she left. Want to go down?”
While they were talking, Nikki had gotten up, walked over to Kevin, and nudged his hand.
“In a minute,” Kevin answered as he concentrated on Nikki. “Miss me, girl?” He rubbed her ears and looked at Chris. “Has she had her evening walk?”
Chris laughed. “She’s had a dinner walk, an after dinner walk, and an early evening walk.”
“Three walks? Who?”
“Corey was up here with Karl today and insisted on taking her out before they went home. Then Jenni took her out when she got back from dinner, and Darrell took her down to his house for a while after that.”
“Darrell?”
Chris nodded. “He came by after dinner, asked where you were, and when I told him you were asleep, he asked Nikki if she wanted to go to his house for a while. She got up and trotted to the door, so he took her. He brought her back fifteen minutes ago.”
“So you’ve had plenty of attention today. Good. Now I don’t feel quite so guilty for sleeping all day.” Then he turned back to Chris. “Let’s close the office and go see what Miranda left.”
After Kevin ate, he, Chris, and Nikki went for a short walk and then headed upstairs. When they reached the top, Chris asked, “Think you’ll be able to sleep?”
Kevin yawned. “I don’t think I’ll have any problem at all.”
“Then I’m going to turn in. See you in the morning.”
Half an hour later, Kevin was back in bed with Nikki snoozing beside him. He had just dozed off when a faint light near his couch roused him. He sat up and watched as his parents took on a more solid appearance.
Yvonne smiled. “We know you’re tired. We won’t stay long tonight.”
Kevin shook his head. “I’m fine. I slept all afternoon.”
“You’ve had a busy few days, son,” Badec said.
“It has been a bit busier than usual.”
Badec laughed. “Good thing. No one could keep up that pace.”
“And you don’t have to,” Yvonne said. “Your father didn’t.”
“I’m sure there were plenty of emergencies while you were Master Sorcerer,” Kevin said, looking at his father.
“Of course, but I had help. I didn’t try to do it all myself, and you shouldn’t either. Having that other sorcerer around was a
good idea.”
“You need to listen to Chris,” Yvonne said. “You need another Marcus.”
“You didn’t have anyone here to call on,” Kevin said to Badec.
“I had lots of family.”
“My aunts and uncles.”
Badec nodded.
“I ask them for help sometimes. Shadron and Kyle worked all night last night helping with that snowstorm, but I can’t ask them to clear fields around here and stuff like that.”
“Why not? I did.”
Yvonne shook her head. “No you didn’t. Laryn did.”
“Same thing.”
“No it’s not,” she argued. Then she looked at Kevin. “The people of Milhaven were no more comfortable asking Badec for help than they are asking you. But they’d known Laryn all their lives, so they had no problem telling her when they needed something done, and she had no problem enlisting one of her brothers or sisters to take care of it.” She turned to her husband. “You never asked any of them for help. She did.”
Badec shrugged. “She’s right. Laryn handled it, but the fact remains, I had help and you need some, too. If you’re not comfortable asking my brothers and sisters to handle the routine stuff, find another Marcus. You won’t be any good to anyone if you’re too tired to function.”
Kevin sighed. “I probably will hire someone, but I need to be sure it’s someone I can trust and someone who doesn’t have any family that can be used against them. We were lucky Rolan never found out about Marcus’s family in Bridgeport. I can’t take the chance that Rolan could get to a sorcerer like he got to Shana. Having a sorcerer around here who’s taking orders from him would be too dangerous.”
Badec nodded. “I’m glad I didn’t have to think about that.”
Kevin looked at his father. “Maybe you should have.”
For a moment Badec didn’t answer. Then he nodded. “True. I never considered the possibility that someone I knew, someone I was around every day, would betray me.”
“Well, for what it’s worth, no one did. I know who made the poison, and more than likely, she’s the one who delivered it. There’s no way you could have foreseen that.”
“You are being careful, aren’t you?” Yvonne asked.
“As careful as I can be, and that’s one reason I’m so picky.”
Badec nodded. “Hope you find someone soon. Spring’s going to be rough if you don’t.”
“You need to get some sleep,” Yvonne said.
“Take care, son,” Badec said as they began to fade.
As Kevin settled back down in bed, he heard his mother say “Sleep well, my son.”
~~~~
Rolan woke up in a good mood Sunday morning. He felt sure Malcolm would talk to at least half the other sorcerers before the next meeting, and even if Myron looked normal then, the idea that he was dying would still be out there.
Things were falling in place. In less than six months, he should have the information he needed to start poisoning the uncles. Then Myron. By the end of the year, Myron should either be dead or in a coma which would leave Landis stranded on that other world. Success was in sight. And, if he was lucky, he might even gain access to that key.
Next step was to talk to Alastar, and he wanted to do it while the image of Myron at the meeting was fresh in Alastar’s mind. But he had to be careful how he approached Alastar. He hadn’t been to Hendon Port since Gwendolyn’s memorial. He wished he’d taken the time to build a friendship with the younger sorcerer, but there was nothing he could do about that now.
Maybe he should send a note asking to meet with him. Rolan frowned. It was late afternoon in Landoryn. Alastar’s morning was around his midnight. Then he shrugged. He could sleep late in the morning.
With a smile, Rolan sat down to write the note. After the note was finished, he opened his bedroom door and said, “Tell Cpt. Yardner I want to see him.”
“Here? Or in your office?”
Rolan hesitated. “My office.”
Then he got dressed in peasant clothes and went to his office. Cpt. Yardner was waiting for him.
Rolan opened the door and motioned for Cpt. Yardner to go in. Then he looked at his pages. “We’re not to be disturbed for any reason. Understood?”
A chorus of “yes, sir” rang out as he shut his door. Then he put his hand on Cpt. Yardner’s arm and turned his key.
Moments later, they were a block from the castle in Hendon Port. Rolan handed the note to Cpt. Yardner. “Go to the castle, introduce yourself, and hand this note to the guard. Tell him you are to wait for a reply. When you get the answer, bring it back here.”
“Very good, sir.” Cpt. Yardner turned towards the castle and walked away.
While he was waiting, Rolan thought about his approach to Alastar. Rolan didn’t know him well, but judging by his reaction after the duel, he was angry about his mother’s death. Maybe that was the way to go. Tap into a son’s feelings for his mother. Rolan nodded to himself. He’d try that first. If it didn’t work, he’d try something else.
When Cpt. Yardner got back, he handed Rolan the note from Alastar. Rolan read it and smiled. The meeting was on.
~~~~
Franco wanted to be at the front door when Rolan arrived, so he waited right inside the door from a little before eight until Rolan got there shortly after nine. After greeting the sorcerer, he led him to the main office, where the pages had set out tea, coffee, scog, and pastries. While the pages took care of Rolan, Franco stepped into Alastar’s office. “He’s here.”
Alastar nodded. “Give me five minutes. Then show him in.”
“Do you want me to stay?”
“Let me meet with him privately, but don’t go anywhere. If I need you, I’ll call you.”
Ten minutes later, after Rolan finished his refreshments, Franco led him to Alastar’s office. After Rolan went in, Franco pulled the door to.
“Good morning.” Alastar stood up to shake Rolan’s hand. “Or I guess I should say good evening.”
Rolan smiled. “Actually, it’s midnight at home.”
“Have a seat,” Alastar said as he sat down in his chair. “What can I do for you?”
“Nothing,” Rolan answered. “I’m here to talk to you about the future.”
“The future?”
Rolan nodded. “I’m sure you noticed how bad Myron looked yesterday.”
“He did look tired.”
“He’s more than tired. He’s falling victim to his blood.”
Alastar frowned. “His blood?”
Rolan nodded again. “Same as Badec and his father before him. It’s the curse of the House of Nordin. They have mixed magics in their blood and the mix is poisonous. The only thing that surprises me is it’s striking Myron so young. But then, Badec died younger than Nolan did.”
“I thought Badec died from a coma.”
“He did, but the mix of magics caused the coma. And it’ll get Myron too, although I didn’t expect it to hit him so soon. I thought Badec’s brothers and sisters would be affected next but I guess each generation’s weaker than the one before. But the reason I came to see you is we’ll need a new Master Sorcerer before long, and I’d like for it to be you.”
“Me?! Why? I’m the newest member of the council! Shouldn’t it be someone with more experience? Like Damien? Or Trivera?”
“They may have been on the council longer, but they don’t have your history. Your mother recognized the problem of having a half-elf as Master Sorcerer and tried to do something about it. It would be a fitting tribute to her for the House of Cornet to take the chair.”
“But I wouldn’t know where to begin!”
“It’s not all that different from being a seated sorcerer. The only additional duty is to represent humans on the Federation of Terah, but I can handle that if you want me to. Your mother asked me to be her delegate once she became Master Sorcerer.”
“Is that even allowed?”
“If you’re the Master Sorcerer, there’s no one above you. Y
ou can decide anything you want to and nobody can say anything about it.”
“But why would my mother want you to do that?”
Rolan sighed. “The Federation of Terah is made up of all races and magical beings. The chairman’s a dragon. Your mother didn’t want to have to deal with them, so she asked me to go in her place. I’d be willing to do the same thing for you, especially at first, while you’re adjusting to your new role.”
“But wouldn’t there be a competition for the title? I remember my mother saying the seated sorcerers who wanted the title would take part in a competition and whoever won would be the new Master Sorcerer. I doubt I could win against sorcerers like Damien or Trivera. Mother thought they were the strongest ones, after her, of course.”
“And she was right about that. They’re both strong, but she was the strongest. She should have won that duel. Myron got in a lucky bolt, but luck can’t help him fight the poison in his blood.” Rolan paused. “But back to the new Master Sorcerer. Before any competition is held, the council votes on who should get that chair, and if any sorcerer gets over half the votes, he or she becomes the Master Sorcerer. That’s why I wanted to talk to you. I think you’d get enough votes to win.”
“Why would anyone vote for me? They hardly know me.”
“To honor your mother. She had a lot of friends on the council.”
Alastar frowned. “She did?”
“Of course she did,” Rolan said. “Even those who disagreed with her respected her. You’d win in her name, and it would be a fine tribute to her memory.”
Alastar shook his head. “I don’t know…”
“You don’t have to decide right now. No one will be talking about a new Master Sorcerer until Myron misses a meeting, but it’s something I’d like for you to think about. If you decide to do this, I’ll do everything I can to help you, as will most of the others.” When Alastar didn’t respond, Rolan stood up and took out his key. “Your mother was a dear friend of mine. It’s something she’d be proud of, and it would mean her efforts were not in vain.”
~~~~
The Rambling Spy Page 63
