Happily Ever After?

by Marie Brown

  "Like this," Vindra said. "Listen to the change, from speaking voice to Voice of power." As he spoke, his voice did indeed change from a merely pleasant voice, to an incredibly rich and compelling Voice. "One must be careful not to abuse the Voice. When you have mastered the use of it, you can make people do anything you choose."

  Then he showed her how to use her own power to weave a shield about herself, building off the firm support of her ground. This shield, unlike the one Malkren had imposed on her, did not cut her off from the world around her. Instead, it concealed her power from other mages.

  "The other man was inept," Vindra said. "There is no need to cut yourself off entirely from your mage senses. In fact, if that is the way the Circle teaches shielding, it is no wonder their mages tend to die young. I can think of few things worse for a mage of life and light to endure than being cut off from life itself."

  "This is much better," Leena agreed. "Will you show me more?"

  "Not tonight, my dear." Vindra smiled gently. "You may be young and strong, able to stay up all night despite your injuries, but I would like to seek my bedroll and rest."

  Startled, Leena realized how late it was. Countless stars glittered in the black sky overhead, and Cam valiantly attempted to smother his yawns. Varley already lay sprawled across his blanket, sound asleep. Then Leena noticed something wonderful.

  "Vindra, my head!" she gasped. "It doesn't hurt any longer!"

  "That is because you have cleansed yourself of the Nameless One's foul influence. Now go to bed, dear." With that, the sorcerer rose and sought his own blankets.

  Chapter 13

  The next day, Vindra agreed to travel with them as far as Caissa. "But after that, I must be on my way. The Magicmen of Larantyne do not care for me, or my teachings."

  "Why not?"

  "Many reasons. They practice an entirely different school of magic there and have little tolerance of other ways."

  "Other ways," Leena mused. The party of travelers moved off into the morning light, three riders and one afoot. "Vindra, we've heard the Circle of Lights mentioned several times now. Do they teach one of those different ways?"

  "Indeed they do. The Circle of Lights is based in Caissa. The Circle is made up of scholars, teachers, and active Lights who travel about in Clusters, fighting the Dark One in his many ventures. They are quartered beside the great Temple there, dedicated to all forms of Light-serving religion. Servants of any god are welcome there."

  The three Bandorans exchanged startled glances.

  "Now, your people are monotheists, are they not?" Vindra chuckled at their blank looks. "Of course they are. Your Church denounces all other gods as powerless demons. Well, this is a far more open-minded land you have arrived in."

  "How much more open-minded?" Camryn asked casually.

  Vindra shot him a sideways look. "Stay clear of Shandar Province."

  "Oh really?"

  "Shandar is well known to be intolerant of magic use and unconventional relationships."

  All three friends turned white.

  "And what makes you mention that?" Varley said in a tight voice.

  "Easy, friend. I am from neither Shandar, nor Bandor. I was raised in a more enlightened culture."

  "And what of other people? What does the rest of this land think of such things?" Leena was aware that her voice was no match for Camryn's casual tone.

  "Users of magic are welcome anywhere, outside of Shandar. As for the other. . . well, people being what they are, there is always intolerance from some. But the only place with laws against those relationships is indeed Shandar."

  "Thank you for the warning." Camryn had lost the casual tone. He smiled, but Varley looked unconvinced.

  "Are there. . . Purifications here, ever?" Leena asked in a low voice.

  "Certainly not." Vindra shook his head vehemently. "Shandar Province is the only place which allows such barbarity. There are those who hold the purifications to be mere myth, outside the Province, but I know they occur. Forgive me, don't answer if you don't want to, but is that what brought you to this land? Were you fleeing the fires?"

  Leena and Cam looked to Varley for guidance. He gazed at Vindra intently for a moment, then nodded once, slowly.

  "Well, no need to fear such here. Demons may take you, evil mages try to corrupt you, and bandits try to rob you, but no one outside Shandar will try to burn you."

  "Well that's a relief," Leena said.

  "If it's true," Varley muttered.

  "Oh, true enough, my friend. I have no need to lie to you."

  Leena shook her head sadly. They had all changed so much, just in the last few days. . . She sighed, then began plying Vindra with questions about magic. She felt so ignorant in this strange land with its unknown customs. Not to mention the discovery that she had power which she had been taught was pure nonsense.

  Chapter 14

  The descent from the Palantirs ended abruptly in a broad, grassy plain. Leena was amazed at the difference. Flowers bloomed all over the vast meadowland. Trees were scattered all around, filled with twittering birds. The sun beat down less harshly here. The road widened, and soon they began to spot scattered farms. Peasants in the fields sometimes waved at them as they passed.

  "These lands look prosperous," Varley observed, during one of the infrequent pauses in Leena's relentless questioning of her mentor.

  "That they are. This far from Larantyne and the Dark One's greatest influence, it is as though there is no war. In fact, if you asked that man over there—" and Vindra pointed to a man working a hand plow "—he would say that there is no war, and the Dark One is a mere myth."

  "Some myth," Leena observed dryly, looking at the rope burns on her arms.

  "Indeed." He paused. "Perhaps I shouldn't tell you this, as there's nothing we can do about it, but there has been a dark presence probing at my shield quite frequently. The evil one must suspect you are under my protection."

  Leena sighed heavily and rubbed her wrists. "Great. Just great."

  * * * *

  "So that is the great city of Caissa." Varley managed to voice a comment at the sight of the vast sprawl of civilization. The other Bandorans sat silent, stunned. No city in all of Bandor even came close to the size of the tightly packed mass beneath them.

  "It's enormous," Leena whispered, gazing at the walled hive of humanity. At the center of the city, a gleaming structure of marble stood, surrounded by smaller buildings and much open space. The setting sun painted it a vivid orange.

  Camryn simply stared.

  "Yes, well, we shall be well taken care of tonight." Vindra set off eagerly down the hill. He was in better shape than the horses, who required considerable urging to resume movement.

  "What do you think, Izzy?" Leena asked the kitten on her shoulder. He yawned.

  "I'd say he's not impressed," Camryn snickered.

  "Vindra, where are you taking us?" Varley called, booting his horse into a slow trot to catch up with the sorcerer.

  "To the Temple. They will house us all free of charge."

  Varley grinned at that. The amount of coin in his purse had dwindled to almost nothing over the last several days.

  They followed Vindra through the crowded streets, trying not to gawk at the sights. As civilized Bandorans, none of the trio should appear impressed. However, each felt a sneaking suspicion that perhaps Anarill might not be so barbarian after all. . . People swirled about them constantly in the complicated dance of city dwellers. As they approached the Temple, structures grew grander in design until the three Bandorans were gaping in awe. Such buildings did not exist in Bandor. Not even the King's palace was as splendid as these mere homes.

  The Temple itself was breathtaking. A low wall set the grounds off from the rest of the city. Inside, a lawn spread up to the gleaming marble stairs of the Temple. A smaller, less impressive building, also made of marble, stood beside it.

  "We will stay in the smaller building," Vindra said, leadi
ng them onto the carefully tended gravel path. "That is the Hall of Lights, where the Circle is based. The Temple is, naturally, strictly for religious purposes."

  They followed him up to the main entrance, then nervously dismounted as Vindra went inside. They removed their travel packs and waited. He emerged a moment later with two people dressed in light gray robes. One of them took the reins of all three horses and led them around the Hall.

  "Welcome to the Hall of Lights," said the other. "I am Serena, and I will show you to your rooms. If you have any questions, please ask."

  "Why do you house travelers? Can just anyone stay here? Will we get to meet any Clusters?" Even while gazing about in awe, Leena was still capable of producing questions.

  Serena laughed wryly. "Well, I did offer, didn't I? The Circle houses travelers of a certain kind- those who fight the Dark One. You will be safe here." She glanced significantly at Leena's wrists, where the rope burns were still faintly visible over the cuffs of her gloves. "You will likely meet many active Lights in the dining hall."

  Serena led them out a small door. Behind the Hall was a U-shaped building. "Over there are the classrooms, and over here are the living quarters. First floor is for resident Lights, second floor is for visitors and upper level students. Third floor is for the youngsters." She indicated the shorter portion of the U. "That is for administration and meals." She entered the building and took them to the second floor. She opened two doors, across from each other.

  "Here you go. I trust you don't mind sharing rooms?"

  "Not at all," Varley assured her gravely. Leena snorted.

  "Sorry, furrball," she said in response to Serena's inquiring look. Izzy obligingly stuck his tail up her nose, from his now-accustomed shoulder perch. Leena sneezed. Cam grinned wickedly at her, then hastily straightened his face as Serena looked at him.

  "If you'd like to leave your packs?" She let the odd behavior pass without comment.

  They all did so, Vindra and Leena taking the room with two beds. A look of understanding passed across Serena's features. As she led them all back down to the dining hall, Cam elbowed Leena and they snickered like naughty schoolchildren.

  The dining hall held a large number of people, mostly students, judging by age, eating their meals with only a smattering of quiet conversation. Serena showed them where to find the food, then left them to their own devices. They settled with bowls of fish stew at a table full of people in a darker shade of gray robe than Serena. Leena leaned over to whisper in Vindra's ear.

  "Do you know the significance of their robes' colors?"

  He shook his head. "Probably a way to separate the Lights by rank or duty."

  Then the Light next to him, a young adult in a light grey robe, introduced himself as a magicuser, and the two were off on a discussion of magic. Leena listened at first, fascinated, but they quickly went beyond her meager knowledge. She wondered if she would ever be fully trained. Vindra was showing her the basics, things every gifted child learned as soon as their power manifested, but she wanted more.

  By the time Leena finished her stew, she was nodding over her bowl. So she excused herself and returned to her room, too tired to even use the common bathing room. She fell into bed, Izzy curling himself on the pillow.

  Chapter 15

  "Is it true, you ride to join the Old Guard?"

  "Beg pardon?" Leena looked up from her porridge.

  "I heard that is where you travel to." A young woman smiled shyly at her, out from under a shock of unruly dusty-brown hair.

  "Not necessarily. We go to seek employment in Larantyne." Leena gathered her scattered wits.

  "Ah." She seemed disappointed, then smiled again. "We leave today for the Guard. My Cluster and I, I mean. My name is Kaylyn. What's yours?"

  "I'm Leena. I didn't know the Clusters ever joined the Old Guard."

  "Many of us do, at some time or another. It is our duty to fight evil, and there's not much worse evil than the Dark One."

  "True."

  "So would you like company along the way?"

  "Um. . ."

  "Rannel wanted me to ask. He said he talked with Vindra all night last night, and wanted to work with you."

  "Let me ask my friends." Leena was having difficulties keeping up with the other's quick speech in the predawn darkness. She knew trade speech, of course, like most people in the civilized world. But knowing didn't necessarily equate to thinking rapidly in tradespeech as she sat over her breakfast.

  "Cam, where's Varley? Someone wants to travel with us."

  "He's already gone off to the stables, with Vindra. Who's this?"

  "Kaylyn, this is my friend Camryn." That's bloody hard to say at this hour. "Cam, she wants to travel with us. And her Cluster, too."

  "Huh. Fine by me. We'll have to ask Varley."

  "Great! I'll go tell my Cluster." Kaylyn darted off.

  "There's something positively indecent about being that awake before dawn," Leena muttered. Cam grunted assent.

  After they ate, they returned to their rooms and collected the packs. Leena felt odd knowing that Vindra would not accompany them any further. Perhaps this. . . Rinna? Rennel? Ah, yes, Rannell would continue teaching her.

  Cam and Leena joined Varley in the stables. Vindra was there as well. He smiled when he spotted them.

  "I have good news! For me, anyway. The Circle is interested in my methods of teaching. They wish me to remain here and teach a class or two, and write a book for their great library."

  "How wonderful!" Leena said, clasping his hands. Then she turned to her horse, whom she had named Ellis. The gelding's red chestnut coat reminded her strongly of a kennel worker of that name. He was already tacked, so Leena fastened her pack to the saddle and scooped Izzy off the ground. She deposited the kitten on the pack, then checked on the others.

  "Oh. . . before I forget, Varley, someone wishes to travel with us for a ways. What say you?"

  "Who is it? And why?"

  "A Cluster of Lights," Camryn responded. "They are on their way to the North, to join the Old Guard."

  "Fine with me." He shrugged, then turned to Vindra. "Is there anything else?"

  The sorcerer shook his head. "Just remember."

  An intense look passed between them and Varley nodded. "I will." He swung up into the saddle. "Until we meet again, friend." He moved his horse out into the main stableyard, looking back impatiently.

  "Thank you, Vindra," Leena said. She surprised herself by hugging him, then mounted and rode out.

  "Good bye, and good luck with your book," Camryn called, as he urged his horse out to join the others.

  They were following the path back to the city when a group of four riders caught up with them.

  "Greetings, friends!" A tall man with shoulder length dark hair said. "I am Rannell. Kaylyn said she discussed traveling together with you?"

  "You are welcome to ride with us," Varley said.

  "I thank you, friend. I had words with Vindra last night." He looked at Leena. "Would you consent to magic lessons while we ride?"

  "Gladly!"

  And so Leena and Rannell began a concentrated course in magic. Rannell had spoken with Vindra of how to combine their methods of instruction to the best effect. Leena absorbed everything he said avidly, paying little attention to anything but Rannell.

  Two days out of Caissa, the travelers ran into trouble. Distant shouts and the clash of swords alerted them to the conflict ahead.

  They kicked their horses into a gallop and ran up on a scene of chaos. A group of scruffy-looking mounted men attacked a merchant caravan with swords and arrows, assisted by a mage hurling fireballs and lances of power. Varley, Camryn, and Danir the swordsman drew their weapons and rode to help. Rannell held his horse in for a moment, with hand raised to prevent Leena following.

  "I want you to construct a shield," he said. "Make it completely reflective of magical energy and put it around your two friends."

  "But what abou
t—"

  "Do it! I'll worry about Danir."

  Leena concentrated fiercely and made two shields, one for each of her friends.

  "Now watch."

  Rannell raised his arm and pointed. A compact ball of distortion flew towards the conflict and hit the head of a mounted bandit. He flew out of his saddle and sprawled on the ground.

  "Did you see how I did that?" Leena nodded. "Good. Lets move in a bit closer. I want you to continue to watch what I do closely, but do not let your shield falter. They are depending on you to keep them safe. Kaylyn, Bidley, stay close. I don't want you near the conflict."

  They rode a bit closer, then stopped. Rannell threw a few more disruption balls. They shimmered and twisted as they flew, making them hard to see. Their effects were plain, however—when one came in contact with a bandit, he toppled to the ground. After the third one fell, the enemy mage spotted him and turned to attack. Rannell cast a shield about the mage, similar to the one Leena held about her friends but reflective on the inside. The other mage gathered power and made a throwing motion, then fell like a dropped rock as the mirror shield reflected it back at him.

  "Did you get that technique?"

  Leena nodded. "Very neat way to deal with the problem. That required little of your strength, since he felled himself."

  "Indeed. Remember that trick, you may need it someday. Now let's see you make a ripple-ball."

  Between the two of them, they knocked down the remaining bandits. Leena's aim was abominable. She even hit Camryn twice and Varley once.

  "At least my shield is working properly," she observed the second time she hit Cam.

  Once the bandits all sprawled unconscious, the two non-combatant members of the Cluster caught the riderless horses. Leena and Rannell rode to join the others, then met the people they'd rescued. The merchants were effusively grateful.

  "Name your reward, and if it's in my power I'll give it," the caravan master urged.

  "A job?" Camryn said with wry humor, wiping sweat from his brow.