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

by Thomas J. Prestopnik

  “In what way?”

  “Ah, one step at a time.” Caldurian stood in front of the fire and warmed his hands over the flames. “Now pay attention please.”

  Carmella watched intently as the wizard moved his hands over the flicking flames. Bluish-gray streams of smoke escaped between his fingers like twisting snakes. After several moments of intense silence, he cupped his hands together, palms down, and allowed smoke to collect beneath his fingers. He uttered a string of short phrases, his soft, whispery words nearly inaudible and in a language Carmella didn’t recognize.

  “What are you–?”

  “Shhh,” he replied, not looking at her nor missing a beat while uttering the mysterious incantation as his eyelids slowly dropped.

  The wizard grew silent. His facial muscles tightened under a wave of exertion that suddenly took hold of him. Caldurian cupped his hands closer together, squeezing them several times as if forming a snowball as he stepped away from the fire. He spoke more words in the same strange language and slowly opened his eyes. In a single swift motion, he separated his hands and displayed the palms upward. A perfectly formed sphere of smoke, seemingly of solid construction, drifted upward and floated across the tips of the flames toward Carmella.

  “Amazing!” she whispered as the smoke ball hovered before her. Carmella gazed upon it with awe and delight. She passed a finger through the sphere which felt like warm fog against her skin. She glanced at Caldurian with a pleased smile and then touched the smoke creation again, only to have it disintegrate before her eyes.

  Caldurian feigned an expression of dismay. “All that work now up in smoke,” he remarked, breaking out in a tiny grin.

  “Sorry,” Carmella said. “I didn’t mean to ruin it.”

  “Don’t worry. It wouldn’t have lasted much longer anyway, though I could have added a few additional incantations to give it more durability,” he explained. “I just wanted to give you a brief demonstration on manipulating smoke.”

  “It was wonderful! Did you teach that trick to my cousin?”

  “She learned it in no time, and I’m sure you can, too. But Madeline can also manipulate water vapor and fire. She was particularly adept at the latter.”

  “Perhaps I can equal her proficiency with the proper training, but let’s hold off on the fire and continue with manipulating smoke,” Carmella replied. “My fingers are already orange. I don’t want to singe them black as well.”

  “As you wish,” he said. “If only I had my crushed herbs and powdered pigments. We could create some spectacular displays.”

  “I have a variety of items in my wagon. Shall I get a few?”

  “Next time. This demonstration has tired me somewhat as I am still not operating at full strength.” Caldurian stretched his arms and breathed in the night air. “But I shall get a good night’s rest so that when we meet again, I will be refreshed and ready to teach you two or three lessons at a time. Tomorrow night?”

  “I look forward to it,” Carmella said. “And I’ll visit you next time. This way your guards won’t have to leave their quarters and I’ll be allowed more time for training. I need all the lessons I can get before we reach Kargoth. I don’t expect King Justin will let us meet so freely once we’re in Vellan’s territory.”

  The wizard shook his head, his eyes reflecting the reddish-orange flames. “No, he will not. So don’t be late for class. We have lots of material to cover,” he said. “And plans to make.”

  The army traveled along the Rhoon Forest the next day under a thin veil of clouds. The smell of distant rain lingered in the air. King Justin rode among the troops later that morning with Tolapari at his side. Brendan and William rode farther ahead with a company of soldiers from Montavia, both talking up a storm with their fellow countrymen to while away the dreary hours. The King was happy to see the siblings together again, hoping that a similar joy would soon spread throughout Laparia after Vellan was defeated and families were reunited.

  “Justin, please do not take this comment with any disrespect,” Tolapari said, “but did you not have any qualms about allowing them to meet?” The wizard kept his voice low so that the troops riding in the vicinity would not hear.

  King Justin smiled as he fixed his eyes on the gray-soaked terrain many miles in the west–a wide, river valley bursting with muted shades of green and a cluster of mountain peaks nestled sleepily beyond it. Looming closer in the northwest on the far edge of the Rhoon were a handful of slate-gray mountains standing taller than their distant counterparts and ominously guiding the army closer to Kargoth.

  “Of course I had qualms, my friend. And doubts, second thoughts and misgivings, too,” he replied. “But since Caldurian freely provided us with information about Brendan’s astonishing return from the dead, I decided that a little reward was in order. King Rowan, after all, was greatly relieved upon hearing the wizard’s theory. He later told me in private that his mind was eased upon learning what had really happened. Until Caldurian offered the information, the King confessed that a small part of him kept wondering if this Prince Brendan was really his grandson. He thought it might be some elaborate plot of Vellan’s to retake Montavia. Now he is sure that the real Brendan is back.” King Justin indicated the sibling princes who were happily talking with the troops. “Allowing Caldurian to meet with Carmella is a small price to pay for Rowan’s peace of mind.”

  Tolapari silently grumbled. “Since you put it that way, I suppose so.”

  “And Carmella wanted to learn more about the life her cousin had led for the past twenty years in Caldurian’s company. After bringing us the medallion, she has earned an opportunity to speak with the wizard,” the King said. “I’m taking a chance that Caldurian will be true to his word in this one instance.”

  “I still don’t trust the man. I suspect he has some of his powers back though he will not admit it.” Tolapari emitted a sigh of concern. “No, I do not trust him in the least.”

  “Overall, neither do I.”

  “Still, I will trust to your judgment as your decisions have never disappointed me in the past.”

  “Never?”

  Tolapari smirked. “A few have come close, but I’ve learned to live with them.”

  “Good. Then live with this one as well,” he replied. “Anyway, Caldurian is under the eyes of eight watchful guards. It’s not as if he can wander off without being noticed, so what’s the worse that can happen if he and Carmella have a few chats?”

  “Do you really want an answer?”

  King Justin smiled, hearing William and Brendan’s laughter in the air. “Not really. We can debate this another time. But for today, let’s enjoy the glorious scent of spring wafting around us. While we still can,” he ominously added. “The aroma of war, I fear, will be thick in the air before long.”

  The clouds increased overnight, hanging low and dark in the sky the next morning. The army awoke to an oppressive dampness in the air and a pervasive sense of gloom throughout the ranks. They had encamped along the southwestern edge of the Rhoon Forest and were anxious to move on and get an open view of the mountains to their north. But before the first breakfast fires were lit, the sky suddenly let loose with a pounding rain that lasted until late afternoon. Rumbles of thunder reverberated down the nearby river valley as a wild lightning storm exploded miles away above the mountains. Reluctantly, King Justin ordered the army to stay put that day. Visibility was reduced to almost nothing and the path ahead would surely be a muddy mess. The only concern anybody had was to stay dry inside their tents and wagons as rain fell relentlessly from the charcoal clouds.

  Caldurian invited Carmella to his tent later that morning where they discussed the magic arts. The wizard was immensely pleased that she easily grasped the finer points in his lessons.

  “I had no doubt that Liney was my superior in the magic arts,” Carmella admitted as the rain bombarded the wizard’s tent, “but I’m not the slouch she thought I was. With a little more training, I could have held my own agai
nst her in a few tests of skill.”

  “Now you are getting that training, and I have full confidence that you just might surprise Madeline should the two of you meet again.”

  Caldurian smiled kindly upon his student amid the steady beat of raindrops. He sensed an intense eagerness in Carmella to learn the magic arts similar to that of her cousin, yet that interest seemed leavened with an appreciation for the subject that Madeline never fully possessed. The wizard was delighted to impart his knowledge and felt joyous that Carmella seemed genuinely grateful for the opportunity. He wondered where he might have ended up in life had she been at his side these past twenty years instead of her cousin, imagining a world far different from the one he now inhabited.

  By nightfall the rain had ceased. A refreshing breeze swept down the river valley and slowly dried the ground. Soon a string of fires were ignited throughout the waterlogged camps, including outside of Caldurian’s tent where he and Carmella had just finished a meal of soup and bread. After setting aside his bowl, the wizard looked upon Carmella with a professorial air.

  “Now that the rain has stopped, it is time for our next lesson–and a most colorful one at that.” He indicated Carmella’s wagon with a slight turn of his head. “I’ll need to borrow a few items from your inventory. Are you ready?”

  Within the hour, Carmella had proudly created several of her own gray smoke spheres, each one holding its shape longer than the previous. When she released the last one from her hands, she was nearly flawless in her ability to direct its motion, circling it around the flames toward Caldurian. There it remained stationary in front of him until he forcefully slapped it away into a puff of smoke.

  “It had a sturdier composition than the previous ones,” he said. “It looked solid, indicating much progress on your part.” The wizard glanced delightedly at Carmella. “Congratulations. Lesson passed. Now on to the next step.”

  “Which is?”

  “First we need more items from your cart to add some color.”

  “To the spheres?”

  Caldurian smiled. “Spheres? That’s child’s play at this point. Tonight I will create something more elaborate. By tomorrow night, you’ll be just as proficient in the task. Who knows, but soon you may be looking for your own apprentice.”

  The following night, just as Caldurian had predicted, Carmella wildly advanced in her lessons. She beamed with pride in the glow of firelight while gazing upon her latest creations that danced lithely and silently above the snapping flames with multihued vibrancy. One after another, they fluttered lightly on warm currents as she directed their moves with a keen mental discipline she had developed with the wizard’s assistance.

  Earlier that day, when the army had finally passed beyond the Rhoon Forest, a handful of towering mountains were fully exposed on their right flank in the north. By noontime, the skies had cleared and the sunlight chased away a chill that had swept down the Drusala River valley. By nightfall, as the crescent Bear and Fox moons both waxed in the west, the army made camp on a wide field upon a low rise a couple miles north of the Drusala River. In the waning twilight, all gazed uneasily from afar upon the shadowy waters as the Drusala flowed southeast like a dark and graceful ribbon through the narrow realm of Kargoth. Many silently wondered how many people had fallen victim to its terrible enchantment, by force or by accident.

  When darkness enveloped the weary encampment, the waters of the Drusala and the destination ahead were temporarily put out of mind as everyone enjoyed a warm meal, the dry terrain and an early night’s rest. Carmella and Caldurian, however, stayed near their fire far into the night, having quiet discussions and practicing advanced smoke manipulation as if the rest of the army was nowhere in sight.

  A soldier approached King Justin early the next day as he was breakfasting with Kings Cedric and Rowan. A fiery sunrise bloomed above the distant green splash of the Rhoon. King Justin recognized the soldier from one of the rotating teams who kept watch over Caldurian. He excused himself to talk privately with the young man amid a sea of campfires, tents and bleary-eyed troops.

  “What’s on your mind, Nemus?” the King inquired. They walked to a spot where several horses were drinking from a stream and lazily munching on tufts of fresh grass.

  “Good morning, King Justin,” he replied. “Forgive me for interrupting your meal, but I have some news that I thought you should hear at once.”

  “Would it have anything to do with our special guest?”

  “Most definitely.” Nemus, a tall, gangly figure with hair down to his shoulders, sported a worried expression as he stood with his hands locked behind him. “I think we have a problem, King Justin. As requested, we’ve given Caldurian a wide and respectful berth while keeping a discreet watch. But, sir,” he excitedly added, leaning in close and lowering his voice to a frantic whisper, “I think he may be up to something. Last night we saw butterflies, at least what looked liked butterflies, fluttering madly above his campfire while he was entertaining Carmella. Butterflies, I tell you, surviving directly above the heat of a fire! Something is not right here.”

  King Justin gravely shook his head. “No, that does not sound right or natural, and you were wise to report it.” Slowly the King offered a knowing smile and looked less worried, putting Nemus at ease. “Unless, of course, it means that Caldurian has started to regain his powers and was showing off to Carmella with a bit of trickery.”

  “Should I report this to Tolapari?” he breathlessly asked.

  “No!” King Justin insisted. “I will handle this matter while you and the others continue your watch. This may be a good thing.”

  Nemus furrowed his brow. “How so?”

  “If Caldurian’s magic is returning, we need to find out how much and how fast. He’ll never divulge the information voluntarily,” the King said. “But if we leave him alone, he’ll feel more and more comfortable and let down his guard, allowing us to observe at what rate he is progressing. That is the best way to gage his true powers.”

  “A clever idea,” Nemus agreed.

  “And as I speak with Carmella from time to time, she will happily provide me with insight about Caldurian’s intentions.”

  “Of course. That only makes sense,” he replied sheepishly. Nemus perked up when noticing Carmella approaching the King in the near distance. “Why, here she comes now, seemingly eager to speak with you.”

  “What? Really?” The King spun around and saw Carmella making a beeline toward him. “Perfect timing,” he muttered.

  “I would be more than interested in hearing what she has to say about the butterflies,” Nemus said, looking hopefully at the King as Carmella approached.

  “Let me handle this,” the King replied. “Wait here.” He went to greet Carmella, quickly taking her aside to another unoccupied space near a thicket of saplings along the stream. “Good morning, dear woman.”

  “And good morning to you, King Justin,” she said with a cheery smile. “I hoped I might find a moment to speak with you, and well, here you are.”

  “Yes, yes,” he said, lowering his voice and indicating for her to do the same. “Always delighted to talk with you, but let’s keep our business to ourselves, being on the border of Kargoth and all. Now what can I do for you?”

  “I want to confirm the permission you earlier granted me about heading out to search for moonflowers,” she said. “The sky will again be clear tonight and both crescent moons are waxing, so there’ll be sufficient light to guide me the short distance I have to go. Night is the best time to search for moonflowers as their petals are most potent then.”

  King Justin smiled wearily. “Yes, my son informed me of those particulars when he relayed your request several days ago.”

  “Prince Gregory said you had approved my request–”

  “–on the condition that my scouts verify the safety of the areas you wish to explore.” The King noted a dismal frown upon her face as if she were expecting an answer of no. “But I recently talked to the last group
of scouts who returned at dawn and they reported no sign of the enemy over the next several miles into Kargoth. In fact, there are no signs of life at all. The few tiny villages located in this region had been abandoned long ago. It appears that most of the structures had been taken over by the Enâri, and well, you know what happened to them.”

  Carmella cheered up. “So I’m free to go?”

  “Yes, but still be mindful of your location and don’t stay out too late.”

  “Only a few hours,” she promised. “I don’t expect to travel but a mile or two to locate the moonflowers. There are many wood thickets along the river valley that I spotted from here. The flowers should be plentiful along their edges.”

  “Then best of luck on your search,” the King replied. “If you want, I’d be happy to send a few of my men as escorts.”

  “Dear me, no. I won’t inconvenience them,” she remarked with a bit of nervous laughter.

  “Very well. I’ll inform the sentries on the perimeter that you have my permission to wander tonight so they won’t hold you up.” He eyed Carmella with a mix of affection and concern. “Have a safe and fruitful journey tonight–wherever it takes you.”

  Carmella locked gazes with the King, smiling pleasantly. “Indeed I will.”

  Moments later, she departed the way she had come. King Justin turned around, longing to finish his breakfast without further interruption. But when he saw Nemus still standing patiently in the distance, he hurried over to him, eager to shoo him away.

  “I waited here as you requested, sir,” he said, bubbling with curiosity about the King’s conversation with Carmella.

  “Yes, so you did,” he replied with an impatient sigh.

  “Is there anything I should know?” he jumped in before King Justin had a chance to dismiss him.

  The King thought for a moment and then looked Nemus directly in the eyes, lowering his voice to a whisper. “When I spoke with Carmella, she verified everything you told me about Caldurian’s powers returning. She, too, was concerned.”