The Secret of Azuron (The Sword Empire Book 1)

by J. R. Kearney

  "I suspect it's a curse of some kind. Quite common you may not know, but hard to detect. Dangerous things that lurk in dark places, dormant for years most of them, hungry for someone to latch themselves on to. It's an old fairy magic originally, though the Fayfolk would argue such a truth. If it's a curse then they can be tricky to determine no doubt, the solution may reside in my tower. It will take some time to analyse, this centenary you perhaps heard has everybody busy, even an old man like me," he smiled.

  "Why would a curse attract so much trouble?"

  "I cannot say. I see nothing physically wrong with you, and that's always a good sign."

  The wizard’s words sounded comforting in their telling, but behind her beauty Landau couldn’t help recall a concerned glint in Anduniel’s eyes.

  "The Queen seemed worried I think."

  "The Queen has much to burden herself with, but do not be abashed by your misgivings Landau. Very few children run through these halls, and the Queen would certainly encourage that for the time being."

  "Samson told me the Queen hasn't any children."

  "No, and she would think herself too busy to mother some younglings. No matter how warming she may be she keeps men at a distance. In a way she is a mother to this kingdom, and has nurtured it to grow into something of great quality, and it has always been her priority. Besides, she is highly independent, and does not allow herself the pleasure of companionship, for it is a distraction she cannot abide. Only through her steward and I does she often commune. There are few wizards left in these lands you may not know, considering her age it is difficult to know what effect a child would have on her body. You don't mind if I speak so freely?" Vhalen asked of Landau, encumbered with the wizard's veracity he was interested none the less.

  "I don't get it. Sam says the Queen rarely shows herself, but she's beautiful. If I looked as good as that I wouldn't be shy, that's for sure."

  Vhalen let out a small laugh, delighted at Landau's honest company.

  "I don't think she doubts her beauty Landau. The burden of keeping her citizens safe and protected is a great task. Her responsibility extends beyond the walls of this city, even your farmlands are but a corner for her concern. Ruun is vast despite being the smallest province in Heldorn, even beyond our borders her worry lies. She has given two centuries of her life to all that dwell within her dominion, which is a fortune not many monarchs can claim I might add."

  "How can she live so long?" Landau couldn't fathom. "Without a wrinkle, or grey hair to show for it."

  "Ah it is a long and hard answer, even knowing it leaves you none the wiser. She, as well as I, committed ourselves to the learning of magic many years ago. Unlike the mages of Astiroth our teachings concentrated on the understanding of magic, rather than the ability to wield it. Though her power has shaped much of Ruun, Anduniel's attention resides in politics now, far removed from younger days."

  Vhalen escorted him to a large balcony that spanned the length of the palace exterior, populated by nobles minding their own business. Landau peered over the railing where the Queen's army was training, the clashing of swords was mixed with arrows of archers penetrating their targets. The pounding of the blacksmith's anvils rang loud, making repairs to armaments damaged in battle.

  "Within this ward used to be the old city. This palace was but a fraction of the size, and houses spread where the gardens now grow. Only a butcher and baker did dwell here once, now we have goldsmiths, cordwains, even weavers no less. The Queen's promise of peace was enough to tempt the country dweller, and thus brought about the city’s prosperity as you've seen it, a mirror that reflects the very attitude, wealth and well-being of our society."

  Landau was fascinated how efficient the guards practiced, a feat no fisherman could ever imagine. Soldiers parried and poked their weapons like a choreographed dance, the determined impact each blow produced astonishing in its ferocity.

  "This is but a portion of the Queen's infantry, most now reside in the east, forever fighting for our safety. I'm no zealot when it comes to the sword but I do admire the skill acquired in wielding them."

  "It's very impressive," said Landau.

  "They are valiant indeed I must admit. Dedicated to the last. These celebrations are for them as much as they are the Queen. Though scarred and battle hardened, they are family men and respected role models. Such symbolism gives birth to freedom, which is a trait our people proudly revel in."

  They moved on, enamored in his surroundings Landau still felt extrinsic with every noble that passed by, for very few gave him acknowledgement. Vhalen did well to cheer him, regaling him with the history of the palace, he pointed out the purpose of each passing location as though Landau were free to explore them. He led them downstairs toward the end of the palace, to a door like no other, of swirling emerald and silver hinges that blossomed like branches across its surface. Upon entering they were confronted with a grand spiral staircase that twisted upward along the length of the wall to where the wizard's tower was located up above.

  "You'd have to be fit to climb these every day," Landau said, but in vain no less, watching Vhalen position himself in the center of the tower where row upon row of stairs twirled above them.

  "Yes I imagine I would, but there is much you don't know about us wizards Landau."

  Vhalen planted his staff into the circular floor and rubbed it vigorously between his palms. The circumference of the room emanated a blue mist, bringing a warm breeze that crawled across Landau’s skin. Vhalen clutched his hand tight before the strength of the wind roared beneath their feet, and elevated them from the ground, soaring them past the rows of stairs to land atop a ledge at the height of the tower. Landau smiled in disbelief, peering down to watch the mist retreat back into the floor, and disappear altogether. Vhalen smirked in the arrogance of his magic, approaching an old wooden door without a handle.

  The wizard thrust the apex of his staff against it, and an electric shock pulsated throughout its metal until Landau heard a heavy iron lock unhinge itself, allowing the door to open inwards, and reveal Vhalen's abode.

  Landau was welcomed inside, and the first thing he noticed was the untidy nature of his workshop, scrolls and books lay scattered precariously wherever there was space, and objects crowded benches that even Clancey would find peculiar. The tower branched off into four different rooms, and in its hub a large maple desk settled against a sizable window, engraved with images that changed in the reflection of the sunlight. Across the desk more parchments were perched atop of maps and scrawlings of varying kinds, while candles were strewn with little nuance among a collection of tools he could not clarify, and skulls whose purpose escaped him.

  Behind him was a similar desk of mahogany, bulkier than the first yet far more cluttered, with mortar and pestles of different sizes encompassed by other apothecary items. Behind a giant alembic were shelves of jars that contained a wealth of ingredients, from flowers, herbs and worms to tongues and eyes and teeth. The smells that wafted from this desk stung the nose, absorbed in the furniture from years of practicing alchemy. The wizard was quick to deter him from touching anything.

  "Your belongings will be with you shortly I imagine, until then feel free to read any books you find of interest, if you know how."

  "My dad taught me to read, though books are pretty limited in my village. I must have read them all at least three times."

  "Well then young Landau, I offer you a far more generous selection," he smiled.

  Vhalen gestured his hand upward to which Landau's gaze followed, for high above them bookshelves occupied the inner walls of the ceiling. He gasped in disbelief, it was uncommon to find literature in the south-lands, perhaps a shelf of books he had witnessed once but never a plethora flooding the walls of a tower no less.

  "Is there a spell to get them down from up there?"

  Vhalen laughed and gestured to a ladder that leaned against the wall, with wheels on its base, capable of rolling around the circumference of the room.
/>   "It hardly looks secure," said Landau.

  "I see. Well if it troubles you, you could politely ask my helpers to acquire one for you if you like."

  Landau didn't understand to who he referred, when he noticed quills and an athame ambulating on the wizard's desk. He squinted to notice tiny purple-skinned creatures, plump for their size, wearing sizable clothes and hats, working to organize Vhalen's scattered belongings.

  "What are they?" he asked bewildered.

  "Why they are gnomes, very helpful creatures, descendants of the Fayfolk. They're usually found in caves, as were these clan, fortunately they agreed to help me with my chores around here. Being a wizard can be very time consuming."

  Landau picked up a magnifying glass from Vhalen's desk for a closer inspection, the gnomes glanced back unimpressed, for their oversized noses and scruffy beards of varying shapes Landau found amusing.

  "I've never seen anything like them."

  "They are not toys for your amusement," Vhalen was quick to point out. "They do not speak our common language but understand what we say quite well. They are hard workers, and surprisingly artistic, and also have a great communion with arcane magic, which is of great benefit to me. Do not be perturbed by their grouchy appearance, they are naturally friendly, offer them compliments and they will eventually warm to you. Come, I have more to show you."

  To the left were two rooms, one was Vhalen's quarters while the other was piled with cages and enclosures of diverging sizes. Landau recognized many animals from rabbits to cats, birds and even insects. Further on resided an aquarium with fish and other odd sea dwelling creatures.

  "These are your pets?"

  "No, they are much more than that. They are my familiars. A familiar is a great ally to a wizard, they can teach me knowledge that cannot be learned elsewhere. Who better knows the depths of the sea like a fish, or the intricacies of the land like an insect. They can educate us with this unique wisdom, so we can have a better understanding of the world around us."

  "It must have taken some effort to catch all these things," Vhalen quaffed at his statement.

  "You don't catch a familiar my dear boy, how will they ever respect you? A familiar needs to come with you willingly, you must give them your friendship and trust."

  It was much for Landau to comprehend. He approached a hefty cage, where a peculiar being nestled in the corner, its skin was dark pink with ears that pointed out horizontally from its head. It was small in size, equivalent to a puppy, yet had no inch of hair on it, only a long tail that whipped around waywardly like a cat, with hands that resembled his own, though forlorn with fewer fingers. Tucked away were a set of wings, small in contrast to its body, with wide green eyes it exuded innocence.

  "This is Klemm, he is an Imp. They are descendants of the Fayfolk also, though where fairies are inherently good creatures, Imps are known to be more malicious and evil." Landau took a backward step, pessimistic of what it could do. "No need to worry," Vhalen laughed. "Klemm here has been my ally for longer than you have been alive. They are lonely creatures, desperate for human attention."

  Landau leaned in for a closer inspection, it was a hideous creature in his eyes, but there was something curious about it. The Imp suddenly became responsive, regarding him now as it hobbled closer toward him, displaying a stunted smile for him to appreciate. But through its puckered lips the Imp abruptly rendered teeth like a shark, and growled in distress at Landau's presence, before it pounced towards him. Klemm's clawed fingers penetrated the gate and narrowly missed his face, almost toppling its enclosure on top of him. Landau fell on his behind as the Imp scratched at its cage, fluttering about in a frenzy to free itself. Vhalen yelled for his Imp to calm down, when Landau turned to watch a dangerous asp lunge toward him, its venomous teeth on display against a glass pane that thinly divided them. Vhalen jerked him from the floor, many of his familiars were now in a chorus of agitation, as the wizard hastily pushed him out of the room and closed the door behind them.

  "Did I do something wrong?" a startled Landau asked while gasping for breath, Vhalen glanced at him in peculiar fashion.

  "No…though I have never seen them act so erratically. It isn't often we have visitors in this tower. Come, it's best you stay away from this area."

  Vhalen's expression was perplexed, to Landau they were simply animals but to the wizard they were his friends, and to act so mercurial had made him uneasy.

  They moved to the other end of the tower where two more rooms existed, one was a kitchen, while the other was home to a bed and a cupboard, surrounded by clutter the wizard had no apparent place for.

  "This room used to belong to an apprentice of mine, some time ago. The bed is comfortable and should be a fitting size."

  From the state of the room Landau was relieved the bed didn't collapse when he sat on it. He moved to wipe the dust covered window, and beheld an eagle eye view of the city, stretching all the way to the harbor down south.

  "It's fine, thank you sir."

  "Right, well I have much to attend to, calming these familiars for one. Be so kind not to break my concentration if I am studying, distraction is the enemy of learning. Anything you need feel free to ask the gnomes, they are more helpful than you think." With that the wizard exited the room to his quarters.

  It appeared sudden for Vhalen to abandon him to his lonesome, hardly accommodated to his foreign whereabouts. Landau glanced at the books across his room, many in foreign dialects, instructing him on tasks inconsequential to him. Sitting clueless on his bed on what to achieve he noticed a dozen gnomes spread out through his room, staring at him in confused silence, attentive to his actions they were, making him feel awkward and remorseful of being so far from home. It was going to be a long stay.

  Chapter 12

  THE CENTENARY OF ARWENDEL

  The day of celebrations was welcomed by a clear buy sky, with only a few clouds to scar the early morning. The cool wind of fall breezed through Landau's window and the sun kissed his cheek, and urged him out of bed. He awoke restless several times through the night, the mutterings of the wizard ever present outside his room and Landau refrained from intruding. Since arriving he had remained mostly silent, any conversation was minimal, and only started when the wizard deemed it suitable. Even now Vhalen had escaped early in preparation for tonight's celebrations, leaving him alone in the company of his gnomes.

  He was surprised to find they prepared him breakfast, and they watched in interest while he digested his meal. It was exceedingly satisfying, upon finishing the gnomes were on hand to remove his plate and tidy the crumbs that he had spilt. He thanked them for their effort, and as Vhalen anticipated the gnomes were most gracious, smiling in the admiration of his compliment. They managed to wash his clothes through the night, much to his relief, for his belongings still hadn't found their way to the tower, and with all the visitors entering the palace of late he was resigned in ever reuniting with them.

  A knock on the tower door startled him, and hesitantly he made his way out to open it and find Samson, looking far more refreshed from whence they last met. Removed from his hauberk he now bore clothes of regal fabric, his pants and tunic matched with shades of ivory, uniform in design, with emblems stitched upon its chest and sleeves.

  "How do you open this thing, there's no handle?" Samson asked. "Anyway Jema told me to look after you for the day, thought you might want to start with a tour of the city, show you the sights, that sort of thing. I brought your belongings too," he showed Landau.

  "My room's just over here," he pointed relieved, though Sam appeared preoccupied to gawk at the eccentric nature of the wizard's suite. It was apparent he’d never had the chance to do so before.

  "I can see why Vhalen lives alone up here. Not much a place for company."

  He placed Landau's possessions against the clutter of his room, his eyebrows raised at the array of disgruntled gnomes that glowered upon him with unwelcome guises.

  "So you sleep with these things here
?" Sam said, surprised to see the gnomes frown upon his statement.

  "I guess so - they're not as strange as some of the other creatures in this place." Samson could not refrain from staring at their minute physique. "Is this your first time here?" Landau asked.

  "Yes, I mean no, no Jema has brought me here before, on…occasion, an occasion," the squire was hardly convincing. "Been a while since I've seen his goblin friends here is all."

  "Gnomes you mean?"

  "Right," Sam shook his head, he wasn't about to question the practices of wizards. "Well we should be going then, grab your coat," he suggested, "I don’t know how long we’ll be gone for, there is much in this city to see. I think you’ll be quite surprised." They descended the stairs and from behind the tower door intuitively closed behind them.

  Sam guided him down the same road they arrived from, and the difference in traffic was phenomenal, even with the celebrations half a day away the town was already excited in anticipation. Sam didn't really have a plan in how to occupy his time with him, still his company was appreciated after all the strange faces Landau had met since his arrival.

  "How are you anyway, after that ordeal in the Yalthume?" Sam asked.

  "It's still a shock. I couldn't sleep much last night, even in Vhalen's tower. I feel like I can't keep up with all that's happening of late."

  "Must admit I was rattled myself," said Samson. "My courage was tested, that's for sure. Exhausted as I was I couldn’t find much sleep either, even in a familiar bed."

  "Thanks again for saving me," Landau lauded, unsure if he had uttered it before, though Samson appeared modest of the appreciation.

  "No need to thank me kid, we’re the ones that put you in that danger to begin with. Jema knew the risks of that forest but he was determined to go through, no matter what warning I gave him. Considering Raminus and all, I think Jema is a little naïve to the danger that surrounds you, from what I’ve seen most of it has come from his own caution."