"I'm sorry, Grimm, I shouldn't take it out on you. I guess I couldn't expect much more from a life with a Guild Questor. Don't worry; I'll still be here for you when you need me, I promise. I'll be your cook, your maid, your bed-mate for as long as you want me. I just wish I could be your wife, instead."
That last calm, wistful statement hurt him more than her tears.
"I know, Drex, and I wish it, too," a voice that sounded almost like his own said. "But I can't just resign; if I did, it'd be me who became the slave, in the scullery at Arnor House. I have a debt to pay before I can be free, a debt of servitude as a Questor. Once I'm free of that, I promise I'll marry you."
"And how long will that be?"
With a start, Grimm realised he had no idea of the extent of his debt to the House for his nine years of intensive tutelage; he had never thought to ask. How many years or decades of dedicated service? One advantage accruing from accession to the rank of Guild Mage seemed to be longevity; was that gift a factor in his indebtedness?
"I don't know," he confessed, awash in a sea of unaccustomed ignorance. "But if you'll wait for me to be free, I'll be yours, I promise. I also swear that, when I'm in Crar, I'll never neglect you again, the way I did this time. I meant it when I said I'd come to my senses. I've been so tied up in this Quest that I've forgotten what was really important to me."
"I thought clearing your family name was the most important thing to you."
"It is important to me, Drex; I won't lie to you. I hardly spent a day of my life as a Student and Neophyte without being reminded that my Granfer Loras was a traitor, a renegade and an oath-breaker. I've sworn to repay every slight, every insult, by redeeming the name of Afelnor, and I will. But it'll be a hollow victory if I ever manage to do that without you by my side. I love you, and I'll do whatever it takes to convince you of that fact."
Drex sniffed. "You'll have to do a lot to convince me."
"I will," Grimm vowed.
"Prove it. Make a start now."
The kitchen seemed hardly an appropriate place to prove his love, but Grimm gave it his best effort.
****
Lord Prelate Thorn looked at Senior Magemaster Crohn Bowe, called the Mindstealer, across the expanse of his marble-topped work desk. He had not spoken to the man since Crohn and Questor Dalquist had burst into his room, protesting at the spell of Compulsion Thorn had placed on Questor Grimm. Perhaps Thorn owed the teacher a debt of gratitude for interrupting him, since a resonance in the spell, combined with Grimm's unconscious resistance to the magic, had posed a considerable threat to the Prelate's life.
Nonetheless, Thorn had not risen to his current station by being a forgiving man.
The two mages who had erupted into his private chamber on that night had committed a serious breach of protocol by doing so and, worse than that, had seen the senior mage in a less than dignified state. He would make them pay for his loss of face.
"So, Senior Magemaster Crohn, how fare your Students, Neophytes and Adepts?"
Lord Prelate Thorn allowed his words to flow like liquid silk, soft and smooth. He already knew much of what the Magemaster would say, but he bided his time. A reckoning was at hand for Crohn's earlier impudent defiance, and Thorn wished to savour the moment in full.
"Shimath Gundor shows promise as an Adept Shapeshifter," Crohn said, spurning the comfortable embrace of his chair by maintaining a parade-ground stiffness. "He is only thirty-five years old, Lord Prelate, and I expect great things of him within a few years. He has a most rare talent."
Thorn was impressed, despite himself. Somehow, this Adept had escaped his notice, and Shapeshifters were among the most prestigious ranks of Guild Mages. The raising of a Mage Shapeshifter was no achievement to be mocked, especially one who showed signs of flowering at such a young age.
"A Shapeshifter, you say? That will be a feather in Arnor House's cap; well done, Crohn."
Remembering his purpose, Thorn leaned back in his red-leather seat, crossing his hands behind his balding head. "What of your Neophyte, Chag Jura? I understand we might make a Questor of him." The Prelate took care to keep his tone neutral, unthreatening.
Crohn rubbed his beard, his eyes turned towards the ceiling. "It is perhaps too early to tell, Lord Prelate. At this time, Chag's talents seem more to tend towards Herbalism or Healing; he possesses great empathy."
"We need another Questor, Crohn." Thorn spoke with soft urgency, congratulating himself on the perfect blend of concern and sad obligation to his Guild duties he managed to convey in this simple phrase.
He knew the Senior Magemaster was a slave to duty; despite Crohn's earlier opposition of his Prelate, aided by Questor Dalquist, he would not dare to oppose his Housemaster in this regard. The determination of House policy was the Prelate's prerogative alone.
Questor Dalquist could wait for now, but Thorn swore that Dalquist's turn would come.
"Surely you do not mean that, Lord Thorn!"
The Prelate suppressed a smile at Crohn's astonished, even horrified, expression.
"Arnor House's status within the Guild is as high as I can remember it," the Senior Magemaster continued. "We have three young, active Questors; more than most Houses will ever be able to boast. Why do we need another?"
Thorn felt an almost uncontrollable urge to laugh at Crohn's evident discomfiture, but he managed to master it.
"That is my decision, not yours, Senior Magemaster Crohn. I want you to consider Neophyte Chag for this Speciality. He is the right age for it, and he is a charity case, after all."
Crohn's face was like stone. "I urge you to reconsider, Lord Thorn. The boy is erratic in his moods, and I fear for his sanity if he is subjected to the Ordeal. Remember Neophyte Erek."
Thorn was only too aware of the debacle of Erek's Questor Ordeal; the boy had committed suicide after blasting Senior Magemaster Urel into bloody fragments. He had been pushed too far, too soon.
"That is why I want you, Magemaster Crohn, to handle his Ordeal. You are the only living man in this House ever to have raised a full-blooded Questor."
The Prelate saw a momentary expression of naked fear flitting across the Magemaster's face, and he felt an unalloyed sensation of satisfaction.
"Questor Grimm's Outbreak almost killed me, Lord Thorn!" the older mage protested. "Another such eruption of power would surely finish the job."
"You refuse my order?" Thorn forced his expression to remain neutral. Crohn was reacting just as he had hoped.
Crohn's face reddened. "Yes, Lord Prelate, I refuse your order! It is unreasonable and unethical. I also wish to state formally that I consider Chag Jura a most unsuitable candidate for the Ordeal."
"Perhaps Magemaster Faffel would be of a different mind, Crohn."
"Faffel!" Crohn expostulated. "He can be brutal with the Students at the best of times; he would turn an Ordeal into a bloody assassination. In my capacity as Senior Magemaster, I refuse to assign him to any Questor Ordeal, now or ever! That prerogative is mine, and mine alone, Lord Prelate."
Thorn spread his hands, as if placating Crohn, maintaining his reasonable, avuncular tone as he spoke: "I tried to be fair with you, Magemaster Crohn. Perhaps you are right; it may well be that the strain of Questor Grimm's Outbreak and the heavy responsibilities of your position have taken their toll on you. How old are you now, Senior Magemaster Crohn? Ninety years?"
"Ninety-three," Crohn responded, his expression stern. "Lord Prelate, I fail to see what bearing my age may have on this fruitless discussion. I am still healthy, fit, and in my right mind. I may reasonably expect to remain in this state for several decades more."
"You say you are fit, Magemaster Crohn, but you declare yourself unable to resist an eruption of anger from a frustrated adolescent. Should you refuse me again, I shall have to conclude that Magemaster Faffel should replace you as Head of the Scholasticate."
"You can't do that, you…"
Thorn raised an admonitory finger, pleased that the older mage was rat
tled enough to lapse into vernacular speech. This was perfect!
"Be careful what you say, Crohn Mindstealer. I will not tolerate outright insults, even from you."
From the Magemaster's reaction, the Prelate knew he had mustered just the tone of concern and regret he had intended.
"I apologise for my outburst, Lord Prelate. Please forgive me," Crohn said, his face a rigid mask of mortification at his momentary loss of self-control.
"Magemaster Crohn, I can tell you are under a severe emotional stress at this time." Thorn suppressed the smirk that threatened to spoil his stony, impassive appearance. "It would not be fair to expect an immediate answer from you, so I will give you a day of grace in which to consider the matter. Consider it well, and sleep on it. Take the rest of the day off, by all means. Kargan can deputise for you, and Questor Dalquist can cover your classes in Perception, Interpretation, and Visualisation. Think hard, old friend. We have known each other a long time, and I have no intention of seeing you disgraced or dismissed. Nonetheless, I have the priorities of Guild politics to consider."
The ashen Crohn looked a pale shadow of the man who had walked through the door earlier. He displayed every sign of his advanced age as he rose to his feet to leave, leaning on his staff for support.
"Thank you, Lord Prelate. I will think on what you have said." The Senior Magemaster spoke in a halting, tired voice, and Thorn knew he had succeeded beyond his wildest dreams by managing to cow the old man in such a simple manner.
"Thank you, Mindstealer. My position is no sinecure, you know; I often need to make difficult, sometimes painful, decisions for the good of the Guild. I trust you appreciate that I am not always free to act on my own inclinations and desires, and that I must fulfil my duty as best I am able, regardless of the consequences."
Crohn nodded; Thorn assumed the man was too full to speak, full of emotion at having let down the House. This suited the Prelate's purposes well.
Once Crohn had left the room, Thorn allowed a broad smile to spread across his face. The Magemaster was a valuable asset to the House, and the senior mage wanted to humble the man, instead of destroying him. He knew only too well that Crohn would be forced to step aside in favour of Faffel, but he would still prove a useful Magemaster. In the same manner, he intended to belittle Dalquist, giving him trivial, mind-numbing tasks until he might be needed in his role as a House Questor.
The Prelate took a brandy bottle from a desk drawer and poured himself a generous dose of the fiery restorative.
It's time to celebrate, he decided, downing a mouthful of the warming fluid.
Following an angry, almost incoherent telepathic message from his mother, Thorn knew that Questor Grimm had been instrumental in the dismissal of Lizaveta from High Lodge, and he did not believe, for even a moment, Horin's assertion that Questor Grimm was being employed in some kind of fanciful public relations exercise.
Afelnor must have been sent by the Dominie on a very important mission; only the destruction of Lizaveta and her hateful Order seemed to fit that bill. Thorn had no intention of stopping the youth from achieving the Prelate's ultimate aim: freedom from his despised, interfering mother, who had put him in his current, comfortable position at the expense of his dear friend, Loras Afelnor.
However, there was always the risk that the boy would discover Thorn's relationship with Lizaveta, and he might be tempted to reveal this to others. Worse than that, he might even discover Lizaveta's role in Loras' disgrace, and Thorn's complicity in this. The Prelate could not allow that to happen; what to do?
Thorn took another draught of brandy and sat in thought. He knew that he would never have enough magical power to overcome Lizaveta's defences, so as to compel the old witch to keep her mouth shut, so the important factor was to silence Grimm Afelnor.
Once Thorn's mother's influence was nullified, the Prelate would be more than happy to shun the dangerous corridors of High Lodge politics, but he knew that he would need a cogent argument to ensure that Afelnor kept his mouth shut. Perhaps it would be best to intercept the hopefully triumphant but weakened Questor on his return from Lizaveta's Priory, in person. By that time, Thorn was sure, he would be able to handle the young mage, and even kill him if necessary.
No; if Grimm was alive on his return from the Priory, he must die.
If Grimm was unsuccessful in his Quest, the Prelate could say that he had rushed to the rescue of his beloved mother, as soon as he had discovered the purpose of the young Questor's mission.
No, I can't do that, Thorn thought. A House Prelate does not Quest; it would raise too many questions. Perhaps Questor Xylox might accept the task… He's a bit of a prig and a bigot, but he could be just the man I need. He dislikes Grimm intensely, and he's an Arnor man through and through. I'll have to be careful, but I don't think I'll have too much trouble convincing Xylox that Grimm is a rebel and a renegade.
The Lord Prelate of Arnor House drained his glass and poured another. He felt happy to stay just where his was, and he would fight hard to keep that position.
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Chapter 23: Departure
By the end of the third week of preparation, Grimm felt satisfied that the group was ready to leave, and he invited the participants to a meeting in his day-room. The mage regretted that the mighty albino, Tordun, seemed nowhere to be found, although messengers had left word for the titanic swordsman in all his known haunts. Nonetheless, the young mage was not too disappointed; he had a powerful force at his disposal, and, it seemed, even the beginnings of a spirit of camaraderie.
He had always assumed that the main obstacle to forming a cohesive team would be the attitude of his fellow Questor, Guy Great Flame. To his great surprise, despite the haughty avowed disdain for 'hired help', the Great Flame seemed to have developed a genuine friendship with the warriors, Crest and Harvel. Grimm knew that General Quelgrum thought little of Guy as a human being, and the older Questor seemed to reciprocate this; however, each appeared to hold a grudging respect for the other, since their exchanges were at least polite, if cool and formal in tone.
Even Necromancer Numal seemed to have made an effort to increase his value to the expedition, devoting long hours in perfecting his command of the few spells in his magical armoury. It appeared that the lucky acquisition of the two rings on his staff, after a single action in which he had played only a minor role, had focused his mind on the task at hand.
Even Guy now addressed the Necromancer in a polite manner without overt insults, although the relationship between the two men was never particularly warm.
Eying the assembled group in the day-room, Grimm felt a warm shiver of pride running through him; this was his Quest, and these people were at his command. Nonetheless, he knew that the worst thing he could do to destabilise the coterie was to try to impose his authority as he had tried to do earlier. Each member of the team had a vital role to fulfil, were the Quest to succeed; the opinions of each of these older and more experienced men would be important, and should not be belittled or ignored. Grimm had learned a valuable lesson by trying to ride rough-shod over the feelings of others; he felt profound relief that the people he had offended had chosen to overlook his youthful thoughtlessness.
However, overriding the satisfaction he felt at the efficient preparations was Grimm's impression that his two old friends, Crest and Harvel, felt uneasy at the prospect of attacking a nunnery. Perhaps Harvel's religious upbringing, although subsumed by a life of debauchery, was re-asserting itself; perhaps Crest was unhappy at the prospect of assaulting a group of females. Whatever the reason, the fervid spark he had hoped to see was still lacking.
Grimm saw five pairs of eyes fixed on him as he cleared his throat and made ready to speak.
"Gentlemen, I want to say how much I appreciate the efforts you've all made on behalf of this expedition," he said, taking care to meet the gaze of each man in turn as he spoke. "Of course, I'm somewhat younger than all of you, and I may make some dreadful mistakes a
long the way, so please let me know if you think I'm making too much of an ass of myself. I promise to listen to whatever you say and give it a fair hearing, even if I reserve the right to veto it after proper consideration."
Nobody spoke, but the men all gave cautious nods. Crest and Harvel, in particular, still seemed ill-at-ease, and the mage guessed they were remained to be convinced of the danger the Sisters of Divine Serenity might pose to the Guild.
"Now, I know most of you are still a little dubious about the threat this Order presents, but I'll just remind you that these witches' main talent seems to be mind control, and both Lord Horin and I have felt its very real power. These are not sweet, innocent little nuns, but a major menace to the Guild. I don't know if all the women of the Order are evil witches, or if some or most of them are just blameless dupes, but I'm duty bound to end Lizaveta's manipulative reign one way or the other."
Crest proffered a half-smile and said, "Don't worry, Questor, we're committed to this. We'll be with you all the way, believe me." Nonetheless, the half-elf's tone sounded anything but enthusiastic.
Grimm knew he could place implicit trust in the warriors, but he would rather have them as fervent allies than as dutiful, resigned friends.
This isn't working! the mage thought, surveying five blank faces. I wanted to inspire them, but I just don't seem to be getting through to them! What's the matter? Do they think I'm exaggerating this situation, or something?
"Do you mind if I say a few words, Baron?" General Quelgrum drawled.
"Please, go ahead, General," Grimm replied, only too happy to have someone else take up the slack.
The General stood up, and the young Questor realised for the first time how imposing the broad-shouldered, stocky old soldier's presence was. He wore no medals or badges of rank, and he was dressed in simple robes instead of his normal, form-fitting green attire, but, nonetheless, he seemed to be able to dominate the room through sheer strength of personality.
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