Hemlock and the Wizard Tower

by B Throwsnaill

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  Hemlock was very conscious of the warmth of the Wand in her hands. She was also still dimly conscious of the strange place that she could travel to within her mind. She knew that with the Wand in her possession, she could return her mind to that realm at will, should she desire to do so. Her instinct told her she would be able to summon help from those other beings that lived in that realm whenever she needed it.

  Samberlin was speaking to the assembled fighters. "This is a time of change and we must not shrink before the force of this change, no matter how unexpected it may be. I come before you today to proclaim this: that Hemlock is the new leader of the Wizard Guild."

  There was a stunned silence, and then a great ruckus erupted from the wizards.

  A wizard, bolder than most, stood forward and yelled accusingly, "Why should we follow Hemlock?  She's not even a wizard.  Falignus had her imprisoned prior to leaving with the expeditionary force!"

  Samberlin turned his attention to the man. "Yet here she is, free–can you deny that some force works within her and that it has seen her through great trials?  Whatever differences she may have had with Falignus were in another context.  Circumstances have changed.  You would probably all be dead at the hands of Gwineval were it not for her.  Not one among you can now stand against her will.  You have no leaders left, either you follow her, or the Senate or the Tanna Varrans will take control of the Tower. Is that what you want?"

  "There is another choice," yelled a voice from the direction of the open drawbridge.  The throng of Senate knights parted as a dark figure strolled forward.  As he emerged from the shadows and drew back his hood, Hemlock recognized him with a start; the sneering features of Falignus were now visible to all.

  "Interesting," muttered Samberlin.

  Falignus looked at Hemlock and the sneer left his features. "Hemlock, you have the Wand. Now is the time to take your place at my side."

  Hemlock shook her head sadly, "You know I can’t," she said.

  Falignus reddened with anger.

  "Samberlin, let us unite our forces and kill these Tanna Varrans while we can!" Falignus called boldly.

  Hemlock turned to Samberlin to see how he would react.

  Samberlin's gaze lingered on Falignus and then moved slowly across the room as he appeared to consider the offer, which was delivered forcefully enough to fall just short of being a command.

  "I think not!" Samberlin pronounced in response, at which several wizards gasped.

  "You old fool!" cried Falignus. "I’ll destroy you and the entire Senate! Remember the Night of the Ninety-Nine Tears! It can happen again!"

  "Oh, I have thought long and hard on the events of that night, and it is precisely because of that night that I will not support you any longer. The wizards will no longer hold the City in a strangle hold. They will no longer control all magic," replied Samberlin.

  Falignus smiled coldly, as great black batwings extended from his back and spread out many feet in each direction.

  "So, you’ve had this little plan all along, have you, Samberlin? Well, it is amusing to see it finally revealed. You think that you are so smart. Do you think that Hemlock will protect you from me? She’s just a girl: greatly talented, but untrained and raw. Where she now dabbles in the old magic of the Imperator, I shall master it. When I return to the City, all who oppose me shall be reduced to ruin. My new order cannot rise from the City as it is now, that much is clear. All must be destroyed, and I will start afresh."

  Falignus began to withdraw from the room, as all considered his threat.

  Several knights looked toward Samberlin as if wondering whether to attack the retreating Wizard, but Samberlin gave no such order.

  "You wizards who have followed me loyally, do what you must to survive until I return. Do not despair, for the wait will not be long!" cried Falignus. He then turned and leapt out the front gate and into the air, his bat wings beating strongly as he flew out into the dark night.

  …

  Hemlock sat in a fine ivory chair, feeling out of place in her torn, blood-stained dress. The stench of the battle in the Wizard Tower still clung to her. A potato sack had been placed under her so that she wouldn’t stain the fine embroidered seat of the chair. The room in which she sat was in a wing of a large home in the Elite district. White, painted wainscoting lent the space a restrained dignity which Hemlock admired. It was the home of the Duke who had taken in Mercuria under the direction of Falignus.

  Her sister sat across from her looking worried and radiant at the same time as Hemlock stared at her.

  Hemlock had just arrived and had been reunited with her sister, who now seemed like a different person to Hemlock. Hemlock had always perceived Mercuria through the lens of Mercuria’s illness. Now that that illness had apparently been cured, Hemlock was able to appreciate her sister without feeling uneasy or apprehensive about her taking sick; Hemlock was left feeling a profound sense of peace.

  She had demanded to see her sister as soon as Falignus had fled the battle at the Wizard Tower. Over the objections of Samberlin, Hemlock had insisted on going straight to Mercuria in order to make sure that Falignus hadn’t harmed her.

  As she sat, content to simply look at her sister without speaking, Hemlock recalled a small exchange that she had upon leaving the Wizard Tower to find Mercuria. She had left the Tower under the control and command of Tored, whom she trusted. As she had walked past the gritty warrior, he had said to her, "I hope we did not go through all of this simply to crown another Witch Queen."

  Hemlock had responded dismissively, but the comment was still on her mind.

  Returning her attention to the present, she realized that Mercuria was speaking to her. "Hemlock, I can’t imagine how you must have suffered. Is it true that you have been declared the new leader of the wizards?"

  "Yes, although I can’t say I’m very comfortable in the role," responded Hemlock.

  There was another period of silence.

  Hemlock again noted the warmth of the Wand of the Imperator. "Look, I need to take you back to the Wizard Tower until I resolve...a situation."

  Mercuria looked taken aback as she replied: "I...I don’t know what to say. I suppose you must have your reasons, but I...I am frightened at the prospect of leaving. I’ve been happy here and these people have been like a family to me. Can’t I stay here with them?"

  "No, it’s too dangerous. Do you remember the wizard, Falignus? He knows that you are here and he is now my professed enemy. I need you to stay somewhere that I know is safe–at least for a time."

  Mercuria’s brow furrowed and she looked increasingly upset to Hemlock. Hemlock realized that she had not seen Mercuria angry for many years–but she felt certain that this was the emotion that was now rendered on Mercuria’s face.

  "Does it matter what I want?" Mercuria asked in a voice that did not reflect her apparent level of emotion.

  "What do you want? You have to appreciate the danger that you would face if you stay. And not just you–your new family would be in danger, too."

  "I understand that. That’s why I’ll go back to our apartment in the Warrens and wait this out."

  "Absolutely not, Mercuria! Falignus saw our apartment in my dream and he might try to find you there. I need you under guard for just a few days," Hemlock argued.

  "Hemlock, I don’t want that. I’ve tasted true freedom for the first time over these past several weeks. I’d rather die than be confined again–whether it is confinement by disease or by fear."

  "Mercuria, I am tired and I have great deeds yet to do. I can’t worry about this any longer. You will do as I say."

  Mercuria let the full force of her anger show then. "I knew this life was too good to be true! And now I finally see my sister again, only to realize that she is hardly the same person that I remember."

  "You have changed and I have changed, and neither of us for the worse. I have power now–power to k
eep you safe permanently. Please let me use it!" Hemlock pleaded.

  "I see the power in your eyes, Hemlock. It scares me. It is too much power."

  Hemlock watched emotions play over her sister’s face. She noted that Mercuria was young and just at the threshold of womanhood. Hemlock could see that her sister was struggling to assert her own will, despite wanting to make Hemlock happy.

  Hemlock's every thought pleaded with Mercuria not to be naïve and stubborn, but she did not remonstrate her sister out loud.

  Hemlock saw Mercuria’s jaw set and she knew that her sister had made up her mind.

  "I won’t do it, Hemlock. If someone wants to harm me, then so be it," Mercuria stated obstinately.

  Hemlock lost her patience for debate.

  "Samberlin!" she called into the foyer.

  The Senator had been waiting at a respectful distance with the Duke, who now acted as Mercuria's stepfather. Both of the men entered the parlor, where the two sisters sat.

  "Samberlin, take Mercuria back to the Tower–use force if necessary."

  Mercuria shot an incendiary look at Hemlock.

  "Hemlock, who are you?" cried Mercuria.

  "I don’t have time for this now, Mercuria!"

  "I don’t even know you anymore. You haven’t even taken the time to explain things to me."

  "Right, because I don’t have the time. I know that you will be safe. That means the world to me. But I have to go away to face our enemy soon."

  Mercuria looked pleadingly at the Duke, but his facial expression made it clear to Hemlock that he would not attempt to intervene.

  Samberlin had two knights take Mercuria by the arm and escort her out of the room. The Duke followed, leaving Hemlock and Samberlin alone.

  "So you’ll go after Falignus then?" he asked.

  "Yes, it’s the only way. I know what he’s planning to do."

  "He’s going to retrieve another Wand?"

  Hemlock looked at the Senator sharply. "How did you know?"

  "I didn’t. But I guessed, based on his comments. I gather that few could face you now without an item of similar power."

  Hemlock did not deny the assertion.

  "Hemlock, let us return to the Tower and meet with the others. All must be made to feel a part of this decision, even if it is already made."

  …

  Hemlock felt a bit awkward as she sat at the jet black meeting table of the Wizard Council. Samberlin, Tored and the wizard Miara were seated with her.

  Hemlock noted the deep yellow bruising on Miara’s face that had resulted from the blow which she had delivered only hours before.

  Hemlock was weary after the events of the evening, and her stamina was still diminished from her time in the wizard’s prison cell. But Samberlin had insisted that they meet to discuss their course of action before anyone retired for the evening.

  "I believe that I know what Falignus will attempt to do," Hemlock told the assembled leaders.

  "He mentioned to me that he believes there is another Wand in the forbidden desert to the north. I think he will seek out the wand in hopes of using it to defeat me, and then you all as well," she continued.

  Hemlock looked around the table. Tored nodded and grunted. Miara raised her head and her eyes to the ceiling, as if in thought. Samberlin nodded slightly, his gaze still distasteful to Hemlock, even though they were now at least circumstantial allies.

  Miara made eye contact with Hemlock. "Why not wait for Gwineval to recover? The healers say that it might only be a few days."

  "You saw Falignus’ wings. He will be able to reach the desert quickly. If we wait any longer, then we risk letting Falignus gain the Wand that he seeks. I fear that Falignus will be able to use the Wand more effectively than I will. He seems confident in that," Hemlock replied.

  "I agree," added Samberlin. "If I know Falignus, he’s been plotting the retrieval of that Wand for some time. He will have studied its powers well by now. And no Wizard can compare to Falignus, we know that. Not even Gwineval. Hemlock has unique powers, but we do not yet understand them. I think it’s better to try to defeat Falignus before he is able to gain that Wand."

  "But how will you get there in time?" asked Tored.

  "I have an idea for that," responded Hemlock. "Safreon befriended a Griffin who lives in secret in the eastern mountains. Her name is Penelope. I watched him summon her and I believe that, with the help of the wizards, I can duplicate that spell. If she answers the call and agrees to help, I will ride her in pursuit of Falignus."

  "Wait, I assumed you would teleport? You can’t go alone, Hemlock," cautioned Samberlin.

  "We have no teleporters calibrated for the desert. It would require many hours to do that and still be dangerous because we do not know the geography of the region well," responded Miara.

  Hemlock noted that Samberlin was looking increasingly concerned.

  "If Hemlock fails, then we will be facing Falignus with two Wands, not one. Perhaps this isn’t the correct course of action, given that risk. I believed that Tored or some other wizards should be able to accompany Hemlock," Samberlin said.

  "He does have a point, Hemlock. If you take this path alone and you fail, then we are doomed," added Tored.

  Hemlock considered these words for a moment. She contemplated the possible consequences of her failure. Her sister would be at the mercy of Falignus. Tored, Gwineval, the Tanna Varrans, and everyone that she had known in the Warrens would all be subjugated to Falignus’ will.

  And he’ll know how to use the Wand–he could be unstoppable, she thought to herself.

  She closed her eyes and turned within, into that place that she was now able to see with the power of the Wand. She felt for the now familiar presences which felt close to her in the strange, infinite space outside of her normal experience.

  She sent a message to them asking them about her dilemma. Somehow she was able to communicate the subtleties of her circumstances easily. She watched as the energy left her and travelled over the tendrils to these neighboring spirits.

  Their replies came swiftly and were uniform in their opinions.

  "You must face your nemesis alone, and quickly," they said to her. They sent Hemlock information about their lives, which paralleled hers in many ways, but with odd differences. In each instance, they had faced some great opponent who had sought an artifact of power. They had overcome the opponent only because they had been able to deny them the use of the artifact.

  "Look to the lives of those who failed to do this," they said.

  Hemlock realized then that she could look into the other consciousnesses that were close to her, but who were not reaching out to her. She did so and saw that some were earlier in the progression of their lives than her. Some were later. She did see that those whose great opponents had been able to use their artifacts ended up dominating her counterparts in those realms–to disastrous effect.

  She realized something and pointed it out to the others with whom she communicated. "None have loved their nemesis, as I do."

  "That is your unique burden," was their reply, which was accompanied by a wave of compassion which washed over Hemlock.

  Hemlock sent a message of thanks and returned her attention to the material world.

  She was conscious again of a receding feeling of buoyancy in her body as she looked over the faces of those seated with her.

  "How long was I concentrating?" she asked.

  "For as long as it would take to walk the circumference of the Lake," responded Samberlin.

  "Really?" asked Hemlock. In her estimation, she had only retreated into her mind for a few moments.

  "I have determined what must be done," Hemlock said.

  The three who sat with her were impassive. "I must face Falignus alone."

  "Why, Hemlock?" asked Samberlin. "Caution would dictate otherwise."

  "I now have sight beyond sight. I have seen what could happen if Falignus is allowed
to get the Wand first. We will not defeat him if he does."

  Miara frowned. "I, too, favor the cautious approach. Hemlock, you have only wielded that Wand for mere hours. Gwineval, when he wakes, will be able to help you to further realize its power. Or perhaps he could wield it himself."

  Samberlin nodded. "I agree with Miara, Hemlock. This is not the time to be impetuous."

  Hemlock was unmoved. She had never felt surer of a decision in her life, after seeing what she had seen in those other parallel realms about the lives crushed by the one who played the role similar to that of Falignus in her life. But she couldn’t find a way to put the things that she had seen into words.

  "Tored?" Hemlock asked, looking at the warrior. He looked reticent, and did not answer at first.

  Hemlock did not avert her gaze, and finally the warrior spoke.

  "I believe that we are now in Hemlock’s hands," he said, looking at Samberlin and Miara. He then turned to Hemlock. "You have been given power, and now, you alone, must decide how to exercise that power."

  Hemlock had already made her decision, but his words emboldened her somewhat.

  "I will leave tonight to pursue Falignus," she said flatly.

  Miara was defiant. "And what if we don’t aid you in summoning the Griffin?"

  Hemlock looked at her and responded calmly. "You will."

  Miara blanched under Hemlock’s gaze.

  Hemlock turned to Samberlin, and for the first time, she thought she saw a hint of fear in his eyes.

  ...

  "Place the lanterns all around the baluster," directed Hemlock, her voice carrying strongly in the cold night air.

  Wizards fanned out around the balcony at the top of the Tower, following her instructions.

  Miara and Samberlin were both frowning as they stood beside her.

  "Hemlock, the people will not understand this display," commented Samberlin.

  "Oh, I think they might."

  "We haven't had time to explain the attack on the Tower to them yet. This will scare them," the Senator replied.

  "Hemlock, people are used to the Wizard Tower being a silent bastion of strength for the City. They don't need to see this," cautioned Miara.

  "You are out of touch, Miara. The Wizard Tower is a symbol of fear to most people. That is what I aim to dispel tonight–at least in part," said Hemlock.

  The placement of the lanterns was soon complete and Hemlock walked to the baluster of the balcony and looked down over the City below. Despite the late hour, people were gathering and looking up at the Tower. There were crowds forming in both the Elite district and the Warrens. People in the Elite district were moving onto the path around Hemisphere Lake to get as close to the Tower as possible.

  "This is good," Hemlock thought, "I want them to see what free magic looks like."

  Hemlock was aware that Miara and Samberlin had moved up behind her and had joined her again. She heard another set of footsteps then and saw that Tored had also emerged from the interior of the Tower and was at hand.

  "Hemlock, we have raised the drawbridge with the help of the wizards," Tored said and then he paused uncomfortably before continuing, "There is terrible magic in the gatehouse."

  "Yes, I know. We need to destroy it," muttered Hemlock, still distracted by the crowds.

  "I will pursue that immediately," replied Tored.

  "You'll leave the Tower defenseless!" cried Miara.

  "Yes, Hemlock, again I counsel you to exercise caution in how much change that you allow the people to be conscious of. Change breeds chaos and chaos can breed rebellion. It could embolden criminals in the Warrens–what, with you and Safreon now gone–who or what now keeps the peace but fear of the authority of the wizards and the senate? The senate can't police the Warrens, and the criminals know it," lectured Samberlin.

  "More like the senate won't police the Warrens," responded Hemlock, "I've seen your knights. They could be used as a police force."

  "That would be unpopular. Those are the sons of noble houses. War is glorious. Police duty is not," said Samberlin.

  Hemlock shook her head. "I can see that we have a lot of work to do when I return."

  "You think that you can change things without consequence. I am trying to point out what these consequences would be. A study of government is a study of the history of unintended consequences," replied the Senator.

  "Hemlock, I implore you: do not destroy anything in the Tower before you return and we can discuss it at length," said Miara.

  "Fine... fine. Tored, please obey her instructions in this. Now, Miara, gather the wizards for the casting of the spell. Place them around the balcony so that all can witness the casting," commanded Hemlock.

  Miara sighed in response, cast Hemlock a look of resigned frustration, and then walked off and began issuing instructions to the assembled wizards.

  Soon the wizards began to chant in unison. A warm, green light bathed the top of the Wizard Tower then, eliciting a gasp from the crowd below.

  Miara gestured to Hemlock.

  Hemlock began to reach out to the Griffin with her mind.

  The chanting and the green light continued for many minutes.

  Suddenly there was a stir in the crowd. People were crying out and pointing upwards.

  Hemlock turned and saw that the Griffin was approaching. It was a dark silhouette against the bright, full moon.

  Soon the Griffin reached the Tower, and it landed on the balustrade near Hemlock and her companions.

  "Hello, Hemlock," said an elemental voice in her mind. She knew that it was the Griffin speaking to her through the power of the wizard spell.

  "Hello. I need your help," Hemlock said simply.

  "Is he gone, then?"

  Hemlock knew instantly who the Griffin was referring to. She felt a wave of emotion at the reminder of the fate of Safreon.

  "Yes. He is gone. He fell heroically during a battle in the Witch Crags."

  "Somehow...I knew that he was gone."

  "He died trying to save the Tanna Varrans from the wizards and from an evil Witch," explained Hemlock. She then quickly explained the events that had transpired since the death of Safreon.

  "Will you help me to pursue Falignus?" Hemlock asked finally.

  "Long have I lived. Your lives are brief: like the passage of a moon for me. I remember the old Wizard. We agreed to join him. He kept us safe. But then the other came and hunted us. All of my kind were slain. I chose to die rather than flee. But somehow I stayed hidden. Then your friend found me. He hunted me for many years. I grew weary and let him find me. He spoke to me about the City. He hoped to return to the old ways. He made me hope. I think you are his greatest hope. And because of this, I still hope. I will help you."

  "Thank you," Hemlock replied, "I know that Safreon cared for you and would appreciate that you are helping me."

  The Griffin bowed to Hemlock.

  Hemlock heard the sound of a small sniffle behind her, turned, and saw tears streaming down Miara's face.

  "Miara?" she asked.

  "I'm sorry," said Miara as she wiped tears from her cheeks, "it's just that I remember the last time that I saw a creature like this."

  "I was just an initiate wizard then. Zaringer, who was then the head of the Seventh Circle, led an expedition of wizards into the mountains to hunt a dragon. He said that it was evil and that it was menacing the mining communities that were close to its lair."

  "We travelled for a few days and reached the lair. When the beast emerged, I was struck by its beauty. It carried itself with a pride and grace not unlike this Griffin does. It did not attack us, but instead tried to escape. Zaringer had planned for this, though. We cast spells of confinement on it before it could fly away."

  "As it lay there, helpless, I began to take pity on it. It didn't seem evil to me and it hadn't reacted violently when we surprised it. But I was too scared to say anything."

  "We put it to
sleep and took it back to the Tower. Zaringer did terrible things to it. Terrible," said Miara, her voice trailing off to a whisper as she concluded.

  "Maybe we should open the Tower and destroy the gate after all. Let's end this evil here and now," said Hemlock, moved to anger by Miara's tale.

  "Don't be rash!" replied Samberlin. "The people already have a great deal of change to digest. If you destroy the authority of the Tower, then there will be no authority over magic. There will be a surge in spell casting and there will be accidents. There will likely be violence. You can't destroy an institution overnight without chaotic repercussions. If you truly wish to destroy the influence of the Tower, then it must be done gradually so that there will not be any disorder."

  "I think Samberlin is right, Hemlock," interjected Tored, "this situation is tenuous as it stands. We cannot afford panic or chaos in the streets on top of our current challenges. We need to maintain order until you return."

  "All right, we will wait, then," said Hemlock, taking the counsel of Tored to heart.

  Hemlock returned her attention to the Griffin.

  The white, eagle-like head of the Griffin took on a silvery hue in the moonlight, as she watched it.  Something about the scene made Hemlock reflective, and she suddenly experienced a great feeling of loss for all of the magical creatures that the Imperator and the wizards had destroyed.

  "We will return this realm to a safe place for your kind to live. You have my word on that," Hemlock expressed to the Griffin with her thoughts.

  "Thank you. I hope that we will succeed," responded the beast.

  With that, the Griffin descended from the balustrade and stood on the balcony. It dipped its front shoulder.

  Hemlock got onto its back with a graceful vault.

  The Griffin began to beat its wings and took to the air.

  Hemlock met the eyes of Tored, Samberlin and Miara in turn as the Griffin climbed higher and higher. Each of them bade her farewell and she felt a weight of responsibility for each of them and for the entire City.

  Some people clapped and cheered in the crowds below the Tower, as she flew over them and then moved northward into the night.