Nicholas Raven and the Wizards' Web (The Complete Epic Fantasy)

by Thomas J. Prestopnik

  “No, no, no! Are you purposely trying to undermine our efforts?” Mune asked. “What kind of ridiculous story are you attempting to pass off as truth? Madeline and I arranged for the kidnapping of Princess Megan. We spoke to her ourselves and delivered her to Karg Island. We even saw the silver medallion she wore around her neck indicating her royal lineage.”

  “He speaks the truth,” Madeline insisted. “I lifted it off the girl’s neck to examine while we held her prisoner in a root cellar near Cavara Beach.” She looked at Caldurian, her swift glance pleading for him to believe her story, yet a vague uneasiness gnawed at the pit of her stomach. Was it remotely possible that they had made a mistake? The wizard indicated for Dooley to continue.

  “Though it pains me to contradict you both, the woman I heard speaking claimed to be Princess Megan of Arrondale,” he said with subdued glee. “And since King Justin lovingly greeted her as his granddaughter, what greater proof do you need?”

  “If this is true,” Caldurian said, “then who is the other girl?”

  “According to the story I heard, the kidnapped individual goes by the name of Ivy. It seems Princess Megan reluctantly agreed to some sort of switch while in Boros, a change of identities,” Dooley told them. “And it seems to have worked.”

  Upon hearing the name Ivy, both Madeline and Mune were visibly shaken. Their skin grew pale, their expressions morose. Both recalled that the girl whom they assumed was Princess Megan had insisted her name was Ivy. When they mentioned this to Caldurian, the frustration and simmering anger upon the wizard’s face indicated that he believed Dooley’s story.

  “What better way to convince you that she was the Princess than by denying it,” Caldurian commented. “No doubt the real Princess Megan lent her the royal medallion to aid her performance.”

  “And we were taken in by the deception,” Mune said contritely, hoping such an admission would temper the wizard’s ire.

  “Though Megan’s abduction wasn’t part of your assignment, the loss is still a disappointment,” Caldurian said with surprising calm. “Captain Lok is wasting his time guarding a girl who is not a princess. We’ll have to get word to him.”

  Mune grunted. “I’d rather you took your time doing that, Caldurian. I found Lok to be a most obnoxious and arrogant sort. He wasn’t too pleased having the girl in his care, and the longer he has to continue doing so, the happier I’ll be.”

  “In that case, Mune, send word to him when it suits you.”

  “With pleasure.”

  “Well, I’m glad that all worked out,” Dooley said, his words steeped with sarcasm, wishing that Caldurian had shown a bit more anger toward his two closest allies. But the thought quickly dissipated when the wizard posed his next question.

  “By the way, Dooley, who were the two men who tried to rescue Ivy above the grasslands and accompanied the princess to Morrenwood?” Caldurian asked. “What can you tell us about them?”

  “What?” he asked uncomfortably, never expecting he’d have to answer such a question, assuming Caldurian only wanted information about Princess Megan.

  “What were the names of the two men with Princess Megan?”

  “Uh, they were just a couple of locals she met on the road,” he said, returning to his seat on the crate. “Farmhands, I guess. So tell us what happened in Montavia?” he added rather quickly.

  Far too quickly for Caldurian’s liking. “I’ll do so in a moment, Dooley. But first I’d like the names of those two men. You must have heard them when you were hidden in the rafters.”

  Dooley cleared his throat. “I’m trying to recall…” He cast a subtle glance at Farnsworth for assistance, but none was forthcoming. The last thing he wanted to tell the wizard was that Nicholas Raven, the man he and Farnsworth were supposed to run out of Kanesbury, now had the fate of the Enâri race in his very hands.

  “Dooley!” Caldurian snapped as he glared at the man. “Their names please.”

  Dooley Kramer squirmed in his seat. “Well, one of them was Leo Marsh, I believe. An apple grower from Minago. As for the other one, his name may have been…” Dooley wiped beads of sweat from his brow.

  “Yes?”

  “I think it might have been–Nicholas Raven?”

  The wizard remained stone still as he absorbed the information, though no one could fathom if he was on the verge of an explosive fit or a boisterous laugh. He finally glanced at Dooley with the most composed demeanor, posing a simple question.

  “Our Nicholas Raven?”

  Dooley nodded. “Yes, sir. And I was reluctant to say so, knowing that you’d probably get upset since he was the person you had ordered Farnsworth and me to get rid of from the start. But in our defense,” he quickly added, “we did get rid of him, clear out of Kanesbury. That he later met up with Princess Megan and is now delivering the medallion to the wizard Frist are just two unfortunate developments.”

  “He is the one King Justin chose for the mission?” Caldurian incredulously added.

  Dooley nodded timidly. “He and Leo Marsh, yes.”

  Caldurian paced around the storage room, sputtering as he tried to keep his anger in check. “Intellectually, I know this isn’t your fault, Mr. Kramer. Nor yours, Mr. Farnsworth. After all, I hired you to get Nicholas Raven out of the way, out of his abode. And you did just that in your own unique way, framing Nicholas to get his job. Perhaps it might have been best if I simply asked you to kill him as you did with the real Maynard Kurtz.” He spun around and glared at Dooley. “You did get rid of him properly, didn’t you? Arileez informed me that you and Farnsworth carted away Kurtz’ body after Arileez put him under a sleeping spell before assuming his place in Kanesbury society.”

  “We did,” Dooley said, nodding several times.

  “Yes,” Farnsworth added, sensing the need to jump in and save Dooley. “Maynard Kurtz is now lying at the bottom of a swamp. You needn’t worry about him anymore. He won’t show his face in this village ever again–at least not the real Maynard Kurtz.”

  Farnsworth crossed his arms and offered a reassuring nod, thankful that neither wizard could read his mind. If they discovered that Maynard was still alive and sleeping in a tiny shed on an island in the swamps–and only a short distance from Adelaide Cooper, of all things–he feared that both he and Dooley would find themselves permanently under water before the night was over. Though admitting to himself that he and Dooley were dishonest schemers of the first order, Farnsworth realized that neither had the stomach for killing by his own hand. But certain that their loose ends in the swamp were going to catch up with them eventually, he knew he’d have to arrange for a permanent solution after Caldurian and Arileez left the village for good–and it couldn’t be too soon for his liking.

  Caldurian combed a hand through his tangles of iron gray hair, feeling exhausted. “I suppose this is just another setback we’ll have to accept. But how is it that every time we have dealings with the princess from Morrenwood, that slippery key to the Spirit Box or even a local bumpkin from Kanesbury, they always seem to come back and prick us like a nest of kalaberry thorns? It doesn’t seem possible!” He flung his arms in the air in frustration. “Is there anything else I should know?” he asked, retuning to his seat.

  Dooley, first glancing at Farnsworth for his silent permission, raised his hand before asking his next question. He figured Caldurian couldn’t get any more upset, so now would be the perfect time. “Sir, I was just wondering why you hired us to get Nicholas Raven out of his home in the first place. You never did tell us.”

  Caldurian buried his face in his hands and sighed before looking up at Dooley. “I think that by now it would be obvious, but as I’m learning more and more each moment about whom I dealing with, perhaps not.” The wizard leaned back in his chair, vowing to keep his temper in check. “My friend, Arileez, is doing a favor for me in Kanesbury, namely, taking the place of Maynard Kurtz, if you haven’t already noticed. Later he’ll go to Morrenwood and attend to Vellan’s assignment.”


  “I noticed,” Dooley whispered.

  “That’s a start. In the meantime, I meet regularly with him to discuss my plans for the village,” the wizard continued, “and it would be very difficult to do that in secret with Nicholas Raven living in the adjacent cottage, thus my need to get rid of him. That’s not too complicated a reason, is it, Dooley?”

  “No, sir.”

  “Good. And if you and Farnsworth needed to know that earlier, I would have told you. And now if you’re done questioning, I’ll tell you about my time in Montavia before going on to other matters,” he said, briefly recounting how he, along with the Enâri creatures and forces from the Northern Isles, stormed the city of Triana and usurped the seat of power from King Rowan. “I left Commander Jarrin in charge during my absence while Gwyn dutifully keeps an eye on the Enâri troops. When exactly King Justin plans his assault will be a surprise to us all, though I hope our Island allies send reinforcements soon. Most seem to be going up the Lorren River to Vellan himself. I fear our leader is spreading our resources too thin. Still, we must do what we can for Vellan with what we have. But now on to my agenda regarding Kanesbury.” Caldurian detected a slight grimace on Mune’s face. “Don’t fret, Mune. It will only take about a week to accomplish what I have in mind for this trifling village. And best of all, you and Madeline need not involve yourselves. I’ll have men from the Northern Isles to assist me. You may leave for the Trent Hills as soon as we conclude here. Arileez will follow in due course.”

  Mune instantly perked up. “In that case, I’m quite interested.”

  “So am I,” Farnsworth added. Now that his direct interests were being discussed, he grew suddenly wary of Caldurian’s tone. “Men from the Northern Isles? What exactly do you have in mind for Kanesbury? You promised to leave it in one piece after you left.”

  “And it will be,” the wizard said. “For the most part anyway. I’m more concerned with Otto Nibbs and making sure he gets his due. After the misery and public humiliation I suffered at his hands twenty years ago, he’ll be lucky if the citizens of Kanesbury don’t hang him in the public square when I get through.” Caldurian chuckled as he pondered the revenge he had been cultivating for two decades. “Mayor Otto Nibbs will be the talk of the town the day after tomorrow after he makes his secret appearances.”

  “Where is he?” Dooley asked. “No one has seen Otto since he went to meet with the Enâri at Barringer’s Landing near the end of last month.”

  “Otto Nibbs is still there, sound asleep and safely hidden in an abandoned barn,” Caldurian said. “Isn’t that right, Arileez?”

  “Yes,” he said softly from the shadows, still in the guise of Maynard Kurtz.

  “You see, when Otto received his late night visit from one of the Enâri creatures, it was really Arileez in disguise,” the wizard explained. “All of the real Enâri were with me, ready to invade Montavia. Arileez later met Otto at Barringer’s Landing and cast a sleeping spell upon him. Your mayor will contentedly doze there until I need him in a few more days.”

  “Then how will Otto make an appearance in the village the day after tomorrow if he’s asleep?” Dooley asked.

  Caldurian sighed. “Arileez will play the part for him. If he can assume the shape of Maynard Kurtz or one of the Enâri, he can certainly transform into Otto Nibbs as necessary.”

  Dooley squirmed in the shadows. “Yes, of course. That makes sense.”

  Caldurian smiled as he observed his attentive audience, eager to reveal the details of Vellan’s greatest plan. “But Arileez’ most masterful performance is yet to come, and soon, when he finally performs the role of King Justin himself. Now that will be an act worth seeing!” the wizard said with pride. “And Arrondale will never be the same.”

  CHAPTER 41

  Words of Warning

  Two nights later, Ned Adams trudged wearily down a creaky staircase in the dark of night. He wondered if he had dreamed that knock on the front door. Certainly his wife hadn’t heard it as she continued sleeping soundly. He carried a burning candle which cast dancing shadows upon the wall. He suddenly stopped. There it was again–definitely a knock. But who would stop by at this hour? More frantic knocks rattled the front door.

  “I’m coming,” he muttered, rubbing his bleary eyes. He wanted so much to return to bed, wishing this were a dream.

  Before opening the door, Ned nosed up to the nearest window pane for a glance at his nighttime visitor. He saw nothing in the pitch blackness. He cautiously unlocked the door and opened it a crack, planting a foot in front. He held up the candle as he peered outside, straining to see the face of his caller. A cool draft rushed in and extinguished the flame, but not before Ned recognized the man who had rudely awakened him. His jaw dropped.

  “Ned, I need to speak to you. It’s urgent!”

  Ned opened the door and invited the man inside. “I– I can’t believe it’s you. Why are you here?” he asked, shocked out of his lethargy. “And where have you been for the last month?”

  “I’ll explain everything, Ned. But we have to hurry. There’s not much time!”

  Less than an hour later, a similar knock was heard upon the back kitchen door of Oscar and Amanda Stewart’s home. A gentle yellow glow spilled out through the windows and onto the lawn after one of the kitchen oil lamps had been lit. A suspicious face peered through the window from within, investigating the disturbance. Morris, one of the Stewarts’ oldest servants, noted a dark figure standing outside among the birch trees and pines, all silhouettes against the inky, predawn sky. His eyes widened in shock when he distinguished the stranger’s facial features in the soft light. He hurriedly opened the door and invited the unexpected guest inside.

  “Please, come in! Come in!” he said, dressed in a black night robe. He offered the visitor a chair. “I can’t believe you’re back, and here of all places. I must get Mr. Stewart at once.”

  “Yes, please do, Morris. I need to speak with Oscar. It’s of the utmost importance.”

  “Certainly,” he said with a bemused expression, exiting the kitchen. “I’ll wake him immediately.”

  A few minutes later, Oscar Stewart stepped into the room, a dark, red robe over his sleeping clothes, his hair uncombed and his mouth agape. He stared at the man seated in the kitchen, knowing that his wife would scold him if he didn’t wake her up to witness this strange visitation.

  “It really is you, just as Morris had said,” Oscar whispered, though still in disbelief. “Where have you been? I–” He shook his head, not knowing what to think or say. “Let me have Morris put on some tea while I get Amanda, then we can talk. My head is swimming right now,” he said. “I can hardly believe you’re back, Otto.”

  “Though not for long,” Otto Nibbs replied with a grave sigh. “I escaped from the Enâri after they kidnapped me at Barringer’s Landing, but I can’t stay. Wake your wife, Oscar, and I’ll explain everything. But hurry. I have other people to visit before dawn.”

  By midmorning, word spread swiftly that Mayor Otto Nibbs had made a number of mysterious appearances to several people in Kanesbury, including all five members of the village council and Maynard Kurtz. And though speculation about Otto’s brief return was rampant, the explanations for his second disappearance afterward were equally wild and widespread. As the day wore on, Maynard, in his role as acting mayor, sent word to the members of the council that an emergency meeting would be held at the village hall, in private, to sort out the details of Otto’s predawn visits.

  As crisp, purple twilight wrapped itself around the buildings and trees of Kanesbury, Maynard sat down with the five council members that included Ned Adams, Oscar Stewart and Len Harold. And though they had desired a confidential meeting until matters were settled, a curious crowd soon gathered near the outer steps of the village hall, hoping to be let in on the discussion.

  “Thanks for attending on such short notice,” Maynard said to the council. “I thought it best that we address Otto’s strange reappearances and warnings to
us before rumors get out of hand.”

  “Not just to us,” Len Harold said. “I’ve heard from a handful of people who said Otto stopped by in the middle of the night to talk to them, too. When I was at the banking house earlier, both Horace Ulm and Zachary Farnsworth said they each had been visited.” The other council members likewise admitted to hearing similar stories.

  “That explains the crowd gathered outside,” Maynard said. “Constable Brindle assigned one of his deputies to keep them at bay until we’re finished, but I suppose it might be better to let them inside as Otto’s visits are no longer secret.”

  “I suppose you’re right,” replied Oscar. “But since I was chosen as head of this council since your appointment as mayor, I think we should agree to a plan of action before we include the others. Otto warned all of us that trouble was coming to Kanesbury, and though he was vague on specifics, I could tell he was deadly serious. I saw fear in his eyes.”

  “As did I,” Maynard said. “That alone convinced me.”

  As the other members nodded in agreement, the wizard Arileez, in Maynard Kurtz’ form, thought how easily he had these people trapped in Caldurian’s web of deceit as he sat before them. They willingly followed him because of a few carefully chosen words or a reassuring smile. It was almost too easy playing the part of their mayor, but enjoyable nonetheless after enduring years of island imprisonment. Arileez was happy to repay Caldurian with this performance after he had rescued him from Torriga with Vellan’s magical potion. But his future impersonation of King Justin would be an even greater challenge as soon as this stint in Kanesbury was completed. Arileez looked forward to assuming the reins of power in the Blue Citadel.

  “What should we do when trouble comes our way?” Len Harold asked.

  “If,” Maynard cautioned him. “Despite our concerns, let’s not turn Otto’s dire warnings into reality just yet.”