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

by Thomas J. Prestopnik

  “Who can blame you?” King Justin replied. “But such feelings do not invalidate your position.”

  “Indeed they do not,” Prince Gregory chimed in. “And it’s time we face Vellan toe to toe. This is probably the best opportunity for victory.” He was more than prepared to engage in battle at a moment’s notice should his father will it. “A few more weeks of rest and preparation may seem a wiser move in any other campaign, Father, but the men in camp are as ready as you are to go. Most have anticipated such a course all winter.”

  “So you’re saying they’ve been thinking like me?” he replied with a hearty chuckle. “I don’t know if that should comfort me or send shivers up my spine.”

  “Definitely the former,” King Rowan said. “Your wisdom is evident in their training.”

  “My captains train my men,” he remarked.

  “And your captains train them after having first absorbed much from you, Justin. I’ve noticed a vast and positive difference in my army after many of my soldiers took instruction in Morrenwood.” King Rowan indicated William with a slight turn of his head. “And that young man privately told me that he refocused his view of some personal matters after talking with you near Lake LaShear. People take your wise words to heart, my friend, and they have seen wonderful results.”

  King Justin nodded with thanks before addressing his scouts again. “So, gentlemen, have you anything to add?”

  “Only to reiterate that if your army moves south in the days ahead, though while still facing a cold and dreary journey, it shouldn’t encounter the snowy obstructions we were treated to earlier in the season,” the first scout replied.

  “In our humble opinion,” added the second scout.

  “As long as it’s a reasoned opinion,” the King said.

  “It is.”

  “Well then,” he uttered with an air of finality. “After having a few of my doubts allayed, I’ve finally reached the decision I had hoped for all along. We will march south, and very soon, if there are no objections. If so, speak them now.”

  Everyone glanced at one another in that charged yet somber atmosphere, offering their quiet approval as the King scanned each face for any objections. Nedry cleared his throat and spoke up.

  “It seems, King Justin, that unanimity has been expressed by our silence.” He folded his arms and stroked his thin, whiskered face. “At least that is how I read the situation.”

  “As I have wisely followed your advice through the years, my dear Nedry, I shall not stop now,” he replied. “So the only question that remains is–when do we leave?”

  Two days later, the armies of Arrondale and Montavia gathered on the frozen grounds and roads around the Blue Citadel. Beneath a pale mid-morning sun behind a thin blanket of clouds, the soldiers assembled after having dismantled their tents and packed their gear. A cool breeze swept through the leafless trees in the main courtyard and across the low hills lying south of Morrenwood like a sloth of snow-covered bears in hibernation. The soldiers, dressed in various forms of protective gear, carried sharpened swords, expertly strung bows or other such weapons, all bearing insignias of their respective kingdoms. And though Arrondale’s troops outnumbered their Montavian counterparts, the courage and determination of all the warriors was indistinguishable.

  Nervous energy spread through the ranks as the soldiers anticipated the call to move out. At the head of the line far outside the courtyard gates and beyond the last homes on the edges of Morrenwood, Kings Justin and Rowan were engaged in last minute discussions with some of their captains. They stood on a dirt road caked with trampled snow. Their horses grunted restlessly nearby as a chilly breeze sliced through the air. Prince Gregory and Prince William were in the vicinity with Nedry. Though the King’s trusted advisor would not be going on the journey, he wanted to see the troops off.

  “I shall lose much sleep worrying night and day until you all return,” he remarked to the two princes while standing among brittle grass alongside the road. Dozens of conversations buzzed around them as other soldiers milled about. “But what else is new?” he said with a chuckle. “Retirement can’t come soon enough.”

  “You can discuss your concerns with Miss Alb over tea,” Prince Gregory said playfully. “I’ve bumped into her from time to time this winter. She often inquired how you were doing. Apparently she hasn’t seen much of you these past few weeks.”

  Prince William grinned teasingly. “Miss Alb, the head seamstress?”

  “We just had lunch last week, if it’s any of your business,” he replied with mock indignation. “With all the war preparations, I was lucky enough even to arrange that. But I suppose my schedule will be less cluttered now that you’re all finally on your way.”

  “My best to her whenever you see her again,” Prince Gregory replied. He craned his neck to see if his father and King Rowan had concluded their discussion farther down the road. “I wish they’d hurry things up.”

  “When either of us becomes king, let’s promise fewer words and more action,” William said.

  “If only,” he replied. “I believe that we’d– Now what’s going on?” he asked, glancing toward his father a second time. He noticed with apprehension that Caldurian, under heavy guard, had entered the discussion after some of the initial participants had drifted away. “What could that be about?”

  “Shall I nose my way over there and find out?” Nedry offered.

  Prince Gregory sighed. “Better not. Father will tell me in his own time, though I cringe just imagining what that troublesome wizard could want.”

  “All I want is a few moments alone with my former student to discuss old times,” Caldurian calmly explained to King Justin. King Rowan silently looked on. “What’s so complicated about that? Word has come to my ear that Carmella will be accompanying your army on the road to Kargoth.”

  “She is merely traveling in the same direction as she put it,” the King impatiently replied. “She wants to find her cousin who had fled that way after the assault on the Citadel. I relented since she was instrumental in helping us rid Laparia of the Enâri creatures. I owe her that much. But I certainly owe you no favors, Caldurian.” King Justin frowned at the wizard as he wrapped his cloak tightly about his shoulders. “So why do you continue to badger me these last few days? What are you up to? I trust you as much as I trust Vellan–and I’m certain you can guess how much that is.”

  Caldurian stared at the ground for a moment, looking tired and dispirited. “If you want the truth, Carmella and I didn’t part on friendly terms when we last saw each other twenty years ago.”

  “You had cast a sleeping spell upon her in her own home,” the King replied. “And you turned Madeline against her, too. What makes you think that Carmella would want to see you? She made no mention of it over winter while you were a prisoner in the Citadel.”

  “And a far-too-well treated prisoner at that,” Tolapari piped up as he strolled over to the group, his dark blue robes fluttering in the breeze like the black wavy locks of his unkempt hair. “I also talked to Carmella a few times when she was here visiting Princess Megan. And your name, Caldurian, rarely came up during our chats.”

  “Then you clearly need to find more interesting topics to discuss,” he shot back with a subtle glare. “By the way, Tolapari, this is a private conversation as far as that is possible around here,” he added, glancing at the ring of guards keeping a cautious eye upon him. “Don’t you have spells to practice now that your powers have returned after that brazen demonstration of the âvin éska?”

  “Don’t believe everything you hear, Caldurian. Or imagine.” Tolapari looked briefly askance at King Justin before taking a step closer to his fellow wizard, a contemptuous scowl upon his face. “The state of my powers is known only to me–but a clever attempt to extract information nonetheless.”

  “You would have been disappointed if I hadn’t tried,” he remarked with a glint in his eyes before turning to King Justin. “But back to my argument, sir. I know in my heart
that if you asked Carmella, she would be more than willing to meet with me. There is much I could teach her despite my current incapacity.”

  “That worries me, too,” the King replied. “Now enough has been said on this subject to the point of boredom, Caldurian.” He signaled to the guards. “Take our guest back to his horse. The army has dallied here long enough.”

  “But I beseech you, King Justin. I have changed,” the wizard replied with heartfelt sincerity. For a moment neither King Justin, Tolapari nor King Rowan could tell if he was earnest or perhaps veiled with some mild magic produced through sheer force of will. “You may not believe me, but I am a humbled man since my powers were taken away. Humbled and repentant.”

  King Justin locked gazes with him. “No, I don’t believe you, Caldurian. You were neither humble nor repentant after your defeat in Kanesbury twenty years ago, only coming back more devious and vindictive. And if you had even a portion of your powers right now, I can’t imagine you not inflicting some harm upon me.” He sighed with disgust. “I’ll never forget your part in helping to implement Vellan’s plan to have me replaced with that hideous impostor, the same evil being who killed King Rowan’s grandson. No, Caldurian, you are not to be trusted! Everything you do or say will be suspect to me and to a good many others for as long as you breathe.”

  Caldurian appeared genuinely hurt by the King’s words. “Then maybe you should put me out of my misery now and be done with it,” he muttered.

  The King studied the wizard’s defiant expression. “Judgment will come your way, Caldurian, when our score is settled with Vellan. In the meantime, I fear I cannot leave you here in Morrenwood and out of my sight should your powers return–if they have not already returned to an extent.”

  “Have they?” Tolapari asked, eyeing his counterpart. But Caldurian kept silent.

  “So for the last time, this discussion is over,” the King said, signaling to his guards. “Please return to your horse, Caldurian, unless you’d rather walk to Kargoth like most of my men.”

  The wizard flipped the hood of his cloak over his head and grumbled. “Fine. I’ll do as you say,” he said, abruptly turning to follow the guard in front of him while the others fell in to keep watch on either side and from behind. “And all I wanted was a bit of conversation with an old acquaintance,” he muttered under his breath as he walked away. “You would think that I had asked for the keys to the Blue Citadel itself!”

  “Though I wouldn’t be surprised if he had already tried to lift them,” Tolapari commented when Caldurian was out of earshot.

  King Justin chuckled, looking up at King Rowan and the wizard. “Gentlemen, to our horses, please. It is twelve days to spring, and at the rate we’re going, spring might arrive before we finally take to the road.”

  “Those were some fine words you threw at the wizard,” King Rowan remarked as they moved through the soldiers to where their steeds patiently awaited. “Pointed and well delivered. I fear I would have erupted like a volcano if I had addressed the scoundrel.”

  “As I said, he will be judged in a more formal setting. There you can pummel him with your words, measured or otherwise. William might wish to speak then, too, on behalf of his brother.”

  “Perhaps,” King Rowan said with difficulty, turning aside to mount his steed.

  King Justin then stopped for a word with Tolapari who was adjusting the saddle straps on his horse a few steps away. He kept his voice to a whisper. “Are your powers any stronger today?”

  The wizard smiled as he stroked the nose of his horse. “I am nearly back to normal, Justin. As per the design of the spell, the one who cast it should recover first and much more quickly than the intended victim. It has been seventy-one days since I performed the âvin éska and things are progressing much as I had anticipated.”

  King Justin massaged his chin. “Eight weeks as of tomorrow. And how do you size up Caldurian?”

  Tolapari looked around to make sure no one was in listening range before leaning in closer to speak. “He has showed no signs to me or any of his guards that he yet possesses his former powers, though I suspect that at least a small portion of his magical abilities must be regenerating. Still, he wouldn’t tell us if they were, but I don’t believe he is at a point where he can endanger anyone yet. It should be several more weeks, perhaps even a few months, before Caldurian is his old self again.”

  “That’s a bit of good news,” the King replied, “though I hope long before then we’ll have settled the Vellan issue so we can proceed to settle the Caldurian issue, whatever form it takes.”

  “Simply survey a handful of people throughout Laparia and you’ll receive a long list of some rather creative solutions.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind. Now it’s time to move.”

  The King mounted his horse and signaled to one of his captains to sound the call to move out. Moments later, a series of clear and rousing horn blasts echoed off the high walls of the Blue Citadel and swept across the low, snowy hillsides to the south. Upon hearing the stirring yet simple notes, hundreds of horses and thousands of men prepared to move forward, all to be accompanied by a seemingly endless supply line of carts and carriages that would stretch for miles if in single file. King Justin looked behind him at the sea of soldiers. As he gazed northward over the rooftops of the homes and farmsteads of Morrenwood all the way back to the Blue Citadel, he felt the collective pulse of both armies beating steadily in the invigorating air. He glanced at King Rowan to his left and Tolapari to his right before surveying the long road ahead.

  “Now is the time to act, for good or for ill. And this is where it starts,” he said, his eyes fixed to the south. “Let us begin.”

  King Justin drew his sword and raised it high in the air so that it reflected the dim light of the late-winter sky. He pointed it sharply forward and the massive army slowly began to move along the hard dirt road. Various images of Kargoth swirled inside the mind of every soldier with a foot either upon the ground or lodged in a cold stirrup. All expected a long and weary journey.

  A chill coursed through Megan’s body when she heard the call to move out floating high upon the breeze. She and Leo stood facing one another by a row of hedges near the main entrance of the Citadel, talking softly and holding each other’s hands. The sounds of busy soldiers and jittery horses ramping up activity escalated all around them as they prepared to vacate the courtyard. Megan gazed into Leo’s eyes, realizing that it was finally time for him to leave.

  “When you returned from the Dunn Hills, I thought we would have all the time in the world together, Leo. I thought winter would never end.” Megan’s eyelids briefly closed and she bowed her head, the cold burrowing into her bones despite the heavy cloak wrapped about her shoulders.

  “I’ll be back before you know it, Meg. I promise.”

  She looked up as a few tears streamed down her face. “I was very worried when you and Nicholas headed west, but now…” She took a deep breath to steady herself. “Now I’m frightened, Leo, and I’m not ashamed to say it.”

  “Frightened?” He smiled, hoping to ease her fears. “I have an army to back me up this time, Meg. And Hobin, too.” He pointed to his former guide who was talking with Carmella near her horse and wagon under a nearby tree.

  “It’s not the same,” Megan said, dabbing at her eyes. “But I’ve recited my concerns enough times to bore you to death, Leo. I’m sorry. You deserve a proper goodbye and not another lecture.”

  “I love your lectures,” he said with a smile as he hugged her. “And I can’t wait to get back to hear another one.”

  “Then you had better leave now so I can write it down,” she replied, putting on a brave face though her heart was breaking.

  “We still have a few minutes. It’ll be a while before the front lines move far enough forward so we can file out of the courtyard.” Leo placed his hands upon her cold cheeks to warm them and playfully kissed her nose. “I’ll miss our quiet lunches together in that tiny room with a view
of the river. Those were special times, Meg.”

  “I can’t understand it, Leo, but hardly anyone ever uses that room,” she said, holding back another stream of tears. “And it does have such a lovely view.”

  Leo hugged her while she sobbed on his shoulder. Carmella and Hobin strolled over through the bustling crowd. Carmella, in her colorful cloak and beige gloves, noticed Princess Megan’s distraught condition. She gently pulled Hobin back with a tug on his coat sleeve. They kept a respectful distance until Megan finally looked up with a budding smile upon her face.

  “I’m quite all right now,” she said with a sniffle, beckoning for Carmella and Hobin to come closer. “I think I’m finally cried out–until later tonight, no doubt, when I’ll be thinking about how much I miss all of you.”

  “And we’ll miss you,” Carmella said with motherly affection. “I enjoyed our little talks over tea during these past few weeks. But Kargoth isn’t at the end of the world, so expect a detailed accounting soon when I get back. When we all get back.”

  “But soon isn’t soon enough,” she said, giving Carmella a hug. “I don’t suppose it’d do any good to ask you again to abandon your search for Madeline. I don’t feel comfortable that you’re going to Kargoth even in the company of two armies.”

  “But I’m not going with them,” Carmella replied. “I just happen to be traveling in the same direction. My agenda is separate. And if I should ever lay these gloved hands upon that devious cousin of mine…”

  “Don’t do anything rash,” Leo said. “She’s had far more training than you. Perhaps you can reason with her to reverse that pumpkin spell.”

  “Humph! Liney cannot be reasoned with.” Carmella shook her head in disgust. “I stood behind the Citadel and saw the damage she had caused. Liney is not one to engage in rational talk. She must be defeated. And if that means tracking her and her scheming associate all the way to Del Norác, then so be it. This sorry chapter in our lives must come to an end, and only one of us can be the victor.”