by Jake Kerr
“I don’t know where she is, and besides Naomi is not my girlfriend!”
With a wave of his hand, Great Grandfather dismissed my objection. “Sure she is. You two just haven’t figured that out yet.” He squinted his eyes and waved a finger at me. “I’m old, but not blind. I saw how you two looked at each other after I healed her.” He closed his eyes and lay back on his pillow. “But I don’t care. I’m going to die soon. If you two want to be miserable, by all means stay miserable.”
I didn’t like talking about Naomi, so I changed the subject to the main reason for my visit. “I have a problem, Great Grandfather. You’re the greatest Archmage I know, so I was hoping you could help me.”
“Just go visit her. Problem solved!” Great Grandfather laughed again, which caused a coughing fit, a longer one this time. When he finished the nurse handed him a glass of water, which he took, drinking a few gulps before handing it back.
“I’m afraid it’s quite a bit more serious than that.” I reached over and picked up the cane. “I’ve lost the power to stop light and affect time with the staff.”
“Eh? What do you mean?”
I outlined the circumstances of seeing the Vice Admiral, and how when I tried to stop time it didn’t work. “I’ve been able to do it many times, and it has never failed me, whether I was facing an opponent or just practicing in my room. The staff always answered when I needed time stopped.”
Great Grandfather’s eyes peered at me with an intimidating intensity I hadn’t seen in over a year. “And it is just this one ability?”
“Yes. I can create light, remove light… I’ve tried everything! It all works except for the one thing that provides me power over others.”
“That’s nonsense.”
“Excuse me?” I had no idea what his objection could mean.
“You have power over others still. Your power is much greater than just stopping time. Please don’t tell me you’ve been lazy in your study of the staff.” If it were possible, Great Grandfather’s stare was even more intimidating as he spoke.
“Uh—” I didn’t know how to answer. Once I figured out how to stop time I hadn’t worked on any other powers. “—I’ve studied Einstein. So I do understand how light can affect space and time.”
“Lazy! Simple-minded! Uncreative!” His voice, which had been firm but weak, rose in anger. “Light is fundamental to many things, Tommy. I am disappointed in your lack of commitment to understanding your power.”
“Okay, I get it. I can do more with the staff than I thought, but can we please focus on what is happening with stopping light? Why can I no longer do that?”
“I don’t know. The staff is its own master. It is foolish to think you can control it. This is an excellent reminder of that.” He looked down at the cane sitting on the bed next to him. “May I hold it?”
“Of course,” I replied.
He reached for the staff, but the moment he touched it he pulled his hand back and cried out. His body started to spasm, and the nurse ran over. “What is happening?” I stood up and watched as the nurse pulled Great Grandfather up into a sitting position.
“I- I’m okay,” Great Grandfather wheezed as he caught his breath. “It knocked the wind out of me is all.” He slapped at the nurse’s hand. “Leave me alone, you oaf. I said I was okay.”
“It’s time for you to rest, sir. I’m afraid your great grandson will need to leave.” The nurse, who was about my size, gave me a pleading look.
“Nonsense. It’s more important for us to talk. Go sit down and leave me alone.” The nurse shook his head and walked over to his chair. Great Grandfather looked at me. He appeared frightened. “Tommy, the staff hurt me. It hurt me on purpose. It didn’t want me touching it.”
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t know. Something big is happening. Something big. I know of our family’s history with the staff. It has never hurt one of us. Ever. It refused to work for some of us, it worked in odd ways with others in our family, but it never hurt one of us.”
“Is it dying?” I couldn’t think of anything else. Maybe the Staff’s power was in decline and it couldn’t connect to anyone but me anymore.
“No. This is something bigger. More ominous.” Great Grandfather struggled to sit up. The nurse hurried over but returned to his seat after my great grandfather shot him a glare. I helped him sit up and placed pillows behind him so he could rest against the headboard.
“What do you think it is?”
“I don’t know, which is why you need to see Mister Ali. He will have some ideas as to what this may be.”
The mention of Mister Ali filled me with conflicting emotions. I still hated him for betraying my grandfather, as well as his own son, but he was an important part of my introduction to the staff. He helped me in ways that I probably still didn’t even realize or appreciate. “I refuse to see him. He betrayed our family. He betrayed your son!”
“Bah. My son. He deserved it. Declan was never smart enough to understand the politics of the world.” Before I could object, he put his frail hand on mine, inches from the staff. “But there is a time when you seek out help, even if it requires you going to someone who did you wrong.”
“When is that?” I asked, my voice clearly full of suspicion.
“When they are the only ones who can help you.”
“Mister Ali knows less of the staff than I do,” I replied. “His lessons were wrong and pointless. How can he help?”
“He doesn’t know of the history of the staff with our family, and you are right—he doesn’t know how it works. But he knows the older stories from Persia. He knows the myths and the legends. He can provide you with tales that may provide insight into what you are experiencing.”
“Tales and legends?”
“We call them that, but doubtless many of them are based on truth.”
“I don’t even know where to find him,” I answered, hoping my dismissive tone and simple response would end the conversation.
My great grandfather would have none of it.
“Sure you do. He works for Cain.”
I didn’t know if I was more disappointed or surprised. My former mentor was now working for my enemy. “I will not beg a servant of Cain for help.”
“Fine. Then you’ll never find out what is going on with the staff.” He shrugged, and with that the topic was closed. He had given me guidance, and that was that. If I didn’t follow it, that was my problem.
His dismissiveness soon fell away as he took a raspy breath and closed his eyes. “I am old, Tommy. I have earned my selfishness. Find your own path. What I would like you to do now is tell me about your most recent adventures. Tell me how you did good with our family curse which has done so much evil.” He crossed his hands and rested them on his chest.
My great grandfather was talking of the staff, of course, which he had taught me was stolen from others and used often by our family for glory and selfish reasons. I outlined the story of the Marid I had recently freed, the last enslaved Marid in England. Great Grandfather nodded and smiled at the point where I berated the Waymaster for trying to stop me by explaining that magical creatures deserved to be enslaved for the good of the country.
By the time I finished the story Great Grandfather was asleep, his breathing shallow. I looked over at the nurse. “Is he okay?”
“He’s tired and in constant pain. I was surprised at how composed he was while talking to you.”
I was stunned. I didn’t realize he was so ill. “Is he dying?” The nurse nodded his head. “How much time does he have?” It felt wrong to be talking about Great Grandfather’s future with him right next to me, but I needed to know.
“Not long.”
I picked up the cane, wishing nothing more than that I could heal him with it or that I could just hand it to him and he could heal himself. But that was now impossible. I didn’t want to leave. Maybe I could just stay by his side during his last final days. But I knew he wouldn’t want that.
He’d mock me for wasting time when I should be fighting to restore our family’s honor.
Still, I couldn’t leave. I sat on the bed as the sun went down. The nurse came and went, tidying, adding ice to the water, and basically keeping busy.
I had been absent-mindedly running my hands over the staff’s runes, wondering what secrets I had overlooked when a gruff voice broke my reverie. “It’s dark. You should be looking for your girlfriend.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “I just wanted to keep you company. I enjoy it.”
Great Grandfather’s voice was a whisper but still had a power. “Bah. Don’t lie. Look, Tommy. I don’t need you to babysit me. I’m too old for that. I’m tired. I’m not good company. You need to go. Find Naomi. Talk to Ali. He knows. You’ve created an honorable destiny. Don’t sit here and waste it.”
“All that can wait,” I replied.
“Sentimental fool!” Great Grandfather’s voice was loud and commanding, but the effort drained him, and he started to cough again. When he finished coughing, he added in a barely audible whisper, “I will miss you, Tommy, but you need to leave. This is not a room for a young man.”
I stood up, and Great Grandfather closed his eyes and smiled.
I watched, and in moments I could tell he had fallen back to sleep. “Thank you,” I whispered, but it didn’t seem enough. So I shared all the bottled up thoughts I had been too intimidated to share with him. I told him I loved him, that he was my greatest inspiration, that I didn’t want him to go. I told him that I wanted him to join me, even if it was just to insult me when I made mistakes. I wanted him to see Naomi again, to perhaps see that we weren’t a couple or that we were. I thanked him for always giving me good advice. I told him that I’d visit Mister Ali and find out about the staff.
I told him I’d never forget him.
The nurse was standing next to me and handed me a handkerchief. I wiped my eyes and turned back to my great grandfather.
“Goodbye, Archmage,” I said. I walked out and told the driver we were heading to the Citadel of London.
6
A REUNION IN THE LIBRARY
The driver and I didn’t arrive at the Citadel until late the next day. By then I had worked through every emotion, had planned every plan, and had considered every challenge. In the end, I decided to follow Great Grandfather’s simple advice: Talk to Mister Ali and then find Naomi.
We drove up the stone roadway to the Citadel. To my shock, Cain was waiting just inside the front gate. I peered at my escort, and he wore a grin which told me everything I needed to know about how Cain knew I was coming.
As I looked back toward Cain I was surprised to see Mister Ali at his side. Mister Ali looked uncomfortable, and I felt embarrassed for him. He was such a proud man and yet he stood there fidgeting. At least he was dressed the way I had remembered him from the Persian Garden restaurant and our adventures—in his colorful robe, which I knew hid armor underneath.
The automobile stopped, and I climbed out. The moment Mister Ali’s eyes caught mine, his jaw dropped, and he staggered back. Cain had a huge smile on his face. “Oh, there was no chance that I was going to miss this reunion.” He turned to Ali. “Your student returns!”
I gritted my teeth and walked forward. I didn’t look at Mister Ali. As hurt as I still felt over Mister Ali’s betrayal, he did not deserve to be used as entertainment. “Enough games, Cain. I didn’t come here for your amusement.”
“Yet I am so amused.” He couldn’t take his eyes off me as he spoke. “It must be interesting to see the man who betrayed your grandfather, nearly killing him.” I glanced at Mister Ali, who was staring at his feet. “Oh, wait, how could I forget? He also betrayed his own son.” I tapped the staff angrily, but that didn’t stop Cain. “Please, please, enjoy your reunion. I’ll just sit back and watch as you two tearfully hug.”
“Enough, Cain.” I raised the staff, and Cain took a step backward. “Mister Ali does not deserve your mockery.” Mister Ali looked up at me, surprise on his face.
“Fine. Fine. If you want to defend the man who betrayed you and your family, who am I to argue?” Cain laughed. “Besides, I’m sure you two have a lot of catching up to do.” He turned to Mister Ali. “Ali, you can tell Black how you’ve helped me organize my magicians to catch him.” Cain sneered, spun on his heel, and marched across the field toward his office.
There was an awkward silence as I looked at Mister Ali. I had grown much taller than him, and although his hair was still black as pitch, the wrinkles were deeper and seemed to frame his face in sorrow. That, more than anything, weighed heavy on my heart. I had been so used to Mister Ali’s joy and laughter that seeing his deep sadness drained the anger I felt and replaced it with compassion.
He looked up at me, his eyes catching the reflection of the setting sun. “Tommy, I did not help anyone in trying to catch you. I cheered you on.” His voice was missing the joyful cadence and tone I was used to. “I’m sorry, Tommy. I never meant to harm anyone. I’ve always loved Declan. I had no idea that Vingrosh would turn to violence.”
I said nothing, and just looked at him. The truth was that I didn’t know what to say. I was a mess of emotions. I couldn’t deny that I still felt a deep fondness for him, and I knew his apology was sincere. He comforted me through frightening moments when I didn’t know what I was doing, and his joyous laugh and positive attitude always made me feel better. At the same time I just couldn’t understand his motivations. On one level I knew that he felt he was trying to help by ridding the world of the staff, but on the other hand he was willing to sacrifice friendship and possibly lives to do so.
Realizing that I wouldn’t reply, Mister Ali added, “I don’t deserve your forgiveness, Tommy, and I apologize that I let Cain fool me into using you and me as entertainment. If I knew you were visiting I wouldn’t have left my quarters.” Mister Ali turned to walk away.
“Wait!” Mister Ali stopped, waited a moment, as if deciding whether to listen to me or not, and then turned and faced me. “I need your help.”
Mister Ali’s eyes went wide and a look of concern filled his face. “Anything, Tommy, anything. Just tell me what you need.” He walked toward me and stopped a couple of steps away.
I looked around, my military escort from Vice Admiral Fraser was behind me, and it looked like Cain had a soldier trailing Mister Ali. “Let’s talk in Lord Ainsley’s library.” I figured Lord Ainsley had the authority to kick out any eavesdroppers.
“Of course.”
We walked in silence, and I followed Mister Ali’s lead. I was still befuddled by the illusions of the Citadel. I was completely incapable of seeing through even basic ones, and the illusions that were woven throughout the Citadel were sophisticated enough to make a two minute walk take me twenty minutes.
Mister Ali opened a door that I saw as a blank wall, and we were in Lord Ainsley’s library at the edge of the Academy of Magic. Did the Academy of Magic even exist any more? I doubted there were any more students remaining. The few that were there during my stay two years ago had certainly long since been drafted as soldiers.
Our escorts followed us in, and Mister Ali held up a hand. The commanding presence I remembered returned.“Go! You two can wait outside.”
“I’m sorry, I was told not to leave this young man’s side.”
Mister Ali’s brow furrowed, and he frowned. When he wanted to look, he could look very intimidating. This was one of those moments. “Do you want me to call Lord Ainsley to have you forcibly removed? This is a library. What possible harm could come to your charge here?” The man stammered, and Mister Ali turned to his escort. “William, you are dismissed.”
Mister Ali’s escort thanked him and left, while mine looked back and forth between me and the open door. Finally he shook his head and walked outside.
“I’m surprised Cain’s lackey just followed your orders like that.” I sat down in one of the leather chairs.
As Mister Ali sat down in a chair near mine, he re
plied, “Oh, he is my servant, not Cain’s. Cain likes to think he controls me, but I have too many friends here. I stay because this is the best place to stay informed of your—” Mister Ali shut up and then added, “—the best place to stay informed of the war.”
Did that sound like I thought it did? Was Mister Ali keeping an eye on me? I had grown a lot in two years. I was able to treat Cain as an equal, and I was able to ask difficult questions. I took a breath. “You said your. Are you tracking me?”
Mister Ali shook his head as he replied. “Not tracking you, Tommy, applauding you. This was the best place to learn about your latest accomplishments. I am so incredibly proud of everything you’ve done. You are a beacon of goodness in this world of magical decay, a decay that is rotting even the best of our intentions, as my own behavior illustrates.” He rubbed his forehead with a hand. “I told Cain I could help him track you down, but really all I did was listen to him rage about your successes and give him useless advice on where I thought you would be next. Of course, I didn’t know. You are too clever for all of us, Tommy.” He looked up at me and peered into my eyes. “Knowing the good you were doing with the staff made me even more aware of my foolishness in trying to rid the world of it.” He folded his hands together and pressed them against his chin, as if praying in gratitude. “You gave the Shadows a home, Tommy. Remarkable. Nothing could have done that but the staff. In that simple act you proved how foolish and sad I truly am.”
I didn’t know how to reply. At every word spoken by Mister Ali any lingering anger drained from me. He followed me. He cheered me. He was proud of me. I was proving him wrong, and he was thankful for it. I had turned his greatest fear—the staff—into the one thing that could achieve what he could not, free and save the magical creatures.
And yet it still hurt. The attack in the alley, the one on the restaurant, perhaps even the attack that killed Naomi’s mother—I would need to ask him about those, to demand an answer, to let him know that forgiveness did not mean he was absolved of blame or that trust was that easily regained. Still, the first step was to forgive.
