The Four Nations Tournament

by James E. Wisher

  Maria stood outside, arms crossed. “What is it? I was in the middle of reading a treatise on fire realm royalty.”

  He opened the door wide and stepped aside. “Surprise.”

  She stared for a moment. “What’s all this?”

  “Dinner. How long has it been since we had an hour all to ourselves? We got back early, so I thought I’d surprise you. Come on, before it gets cold.”

  She entered and he closed the door behind her. Conryu pulled the chair out for her then sat opposite on the bed. “It’s not the best, but—”

  “It’s perfect.” She lifted the lid on her plate and he poured them each a glass of water.

  His chicken had cooled a little and he assumed hers had as well. Conryu focused and called on a wisp of fire magic. In a blink the food was piping hot again.

  They ate in silence for a minute, just enjoying being alone together. Finally Maria asked, “How did your practice match go?”

  “We won. We also almost killed the Department team, but no one seemed overly upset. Unfortunately, they weren’t in any shape to go another round. What about you, having any luck?”

  “Some. I figured out what the stone is. You’ll never guess.”

  He loved seeing her so excited. “Don’t keep me in suspense.”

  “It’s blood. The crystalized blood of an efreet prince. I also know what the ring does. First, anyone that wears it gets a boost to their fire magic power. Second, and I haven’t actually figured out how to do this yet, you should be able to use the blood as a link to the efreet it belongs to so you can summon and control him. I need to figure out which spirit it is and his true name. Once I learn that I can summon him.”

  “Are you sure?” Conryu hated to rain on her parade, but he feared Maria’s excitement might be overwhelming her good sense. “Maybe it would be better to have a fire wizard do it.”

  She smiled in the firelight. “That’s the beauty of the device. It contains all the magic necessary to summon and compel the spirit as long as you understand how to use it properly. Even the weakest wizard could wield it.”

  “That’s amazing.”

  “I know, right? Elf artifacts are amazing. I think I may have found my calling.”

  “What calling?”

  “Relic Hunter.” She was practically bouncing in her seat. “I’ve had more fun this past month doing research than I have with anything else we’ve tried. I can easily imagine spending the rest of my life working with these items.”

  He’d never seen her so eager, especially about something as dangerous as relic hunting. For every ten teams that went out to explore an elf ruin, only one returned with an artifact and only three returned alive. He would always support Maria, but this struck him as one case where perhaps he should try to discourage her. He loved her too much to want her taking such crazy risks. That was his job.

  “Are you sure that’s a good idea? Relic hunting doesn’t have a very high survival rate.”

  Conryu’s obvious dismay at her announcement made Maria smile. “You don’t know much about the Relic Hunters organization do you?”

  “I know the survival rate of the teams going out into the ruins and it sucks.” He tossed his napkin on the table. “I wouldn’t be able to sleep if you were out in the field with one of those teams.”

  “Well, you’re in luck.” She got up, came around the table, and lay down on the bed facing him. “I have no interest in field work. I’m interested in research.”

  From his blank expression he clearly had no idea what she was talking about. Maria patted the mattress beside her and he lay down, draping one arm around her. She groaned. God that felt good. It had been far too long since they enjoyed some quiet time together.

  “Do you want to fill me in?” he said.

  “The Relic Hunters organization is a huge, multinational group with headquarters in Central, London, Sydney, and Neo Tokyo. Not only do they send out the teams that give them their name, but they also catalogue, research, and store relics as well as non-magical items. Over half their staff is made up of normal people studying elf culture. There are archeologists, biologists, chemists, you name it. Information is shared with the governments of the four nations and they provide funding.”

  “That doesn’t sound so bad.” He relaxed and Maria snuggled into him. “So you’d work in Central?”

  “Probably. Don’t worry. We’ve still got two and a half years of school. I might change my mind again.”

  “If I found a bike shop in Central, I could work near you. We could find an apartment, live like a normal couple.”

  It would be nice, but she didn’t believe for a moment there was any chance of it happening. It was sweet that he still clung to his dream, but even Conryu couldn’t be so stubborn that he imagined a future for himself that didn’t involve magic.

  Maria rolled over so she was facing him. “I’m afraid you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. You’re too valuable to the Department for them to simply let you walk away after graduation.”

  “I know.” The words came out as a reluctant groan. “But can’t I pretend, just for a little while?”

  “Sure.” She kissed him. “You can pretend as long as you want, but I’m not certain how long the world will allow you your illusions.”

  Conryu’s smile held an edge. “Sometimes you can compel the world to see things your way, if you have strength enough.”

  She held him tighter. Thinking like that might get him in real trouble. If Conryu decided to go against the Department, she really didn’t know what might happen. All she knew was a lot of people might get hurt.

  Lady Tiger adjusted her crimson gown as she rode up the elevator to the top floor of the London Museum of Magic. She checked her reflection in the polished brass of the door. Without her mask she felt naked, but she couldn’t exactly meet with an Art Society matron dressed as a Hierarch. The pompous old bat didn’t even realize she was a wizard. All she knew was that Lady Tish, as she called herself, had made a million-pound donation to help cover the cost of the Magic Gala.

  And that was all she wanted or needed to know in order to grant this meeting. Previewing the space, she called it. Showing off the view of the city more likely.

  Lady Tiger adjusted the gold ring on her right hand. The ring held a light magic enchantment that would prevent any Ministry wizards from reading her thoughts. Not that she expected to meet any at this little get-together. Still, better safe than sorry. If she had to fight her way out of the museum, it would make her task much harder down the road.

  The bell chimed and the doors slid aside revealing a large open room with windows on all four sides. From here she could see the entire city sprawling in every direction. Her lip quirked as she imagined the forty Blessed Army soldiers she’d already delivered making their way through the slums, meeting up with their anarchist allies, and distributing the weapons they’d brought with them. It would be quite a show and she badly wanted to get it underway.

  “Dear Lady Tish.” She’d been so wrapped up in her thoughts she hadn’t even noticed the portly matron standing at a bank of windows.

  Mrs. Pollock wore all purple as was her habit. The first time they’d met at a cocktail party two years ago she’d claimed with a wink that it was the color of royalty. To Lady Tiger she looked like a giant plum waddling toward her. She suppressed a shudder, plastered on her best smile, and held out her hands.

  The old woman took them in her white-gloved hands and gave a light squeeze. “I’m so glad you made it. As our most generous donor I felt it incumbent upon me to give you an up-close look at the space we’ll be using. Isn’t the view spectacular?”

  “Indeed. I was so impressed I didn’t even notice you at first. A bit empty though, don’t you think?”

  Mrs. Pollock sighed. “Yes. There’s so much still to do. But in three months this floor will be transformed into a replica of an elf ruin. We’ve even hired a retired Relic Hunter to advise us. We’ll be the toast of London, rest assured.�
��

  “I’d feel better if I could see some of the display pieces.” Lady Tiger knew what her host would say before she said it, but no harm in trying.

  “I wish that was possible, but the Ministry is ever so fussy about security. It’s as if they imagine we’ll snatch them and run off. Foolish, but what can you do? The items we’re planning to show aren’t even on the premises yet and won’t be until the night of our opening. They’ll remain under guard the whole time and return to secure storage at the end of the evening.”

  “I’m pleased they’re taking every precaution.” Inside, Lady Tiger seethed. If the Ministry kept a sizable force of guards on site, it would make it far more difficult for her to get the fragment. She’d figure out a way to do it. Under no circumstances would she allow Lady Wolf to show her up.

  5

  Year End

  Conryu yawned and stared at the ceiling. The team had its last practice yesterday and he was still beat. Lucky for him finals were coming up in a few days so the teachers had given everyone some time to study on their own. All he had to do this year was summon a spirit of each element and show his ability to control it.

  That was beyond simple for him since they all acted like he shared their alignment. Even that golden lion thing he’d summoned last week with St. Seraphim had purred like a kitten and lowered its head for a good scratch behind the ears. He couldn’t imagine any way anyone might sabotage his test this year. Hopefully that didn’t indicate a lack of imagination on his part.

  Someone knocked on his door and Conryu hopped off the bed. He wasn’t expecting anyone today. Maria was buried up to her ears in books. She still hadn’t figured out which efreet prince was bound to the ring, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying. He’d suggested two weeks ago that she move on to one of the other artifacts, but as expected she refused to give up until she worked it out.

  He opened the door and found Kelsie outside, staring at her shoes and twisting her robe in her fingers.

  “What’s up?”

  She dropped the section of robe she’d been holding and looked up at him. “I’m going to fail the final, I just know it.”

  “Since your family isn’t speaking to you, I assume it wasn’t a call from your mother that messed you up. Come on in and tell me about it.”

  She scooted past him and settled on the edge of the bed. “It’s fire spirits. I’m afraid they’re going to burn me and my fear’s screwing up my binding spells. Mrs. Smith says I need to be more confident if I want to control the spirits properly, but I can’t manage it.”

  “We don’t have much time to get this straightened out. What kind of spirit did you summon?”

  “A fire kitten. It’s the cutest thing, but hot.”

  Conryu scratched his chin and dropped into his chair. All fire spirits were hot, so if she wanted one that wasn’t she was out of luck.

  “What if I summon one and you can play with it? That way you’ll see it won’t burn you by accident.”

  “I guess we could try that. Are you summoning a fire kitten too?”

  “No, I’m summoning a phoenix yearling. What’s the name of your spirit?”

  He cast the translation spell and she told him its name. The spell didn’t like it, but it came out to roughly Fire Paws.

  They cleared a space in the middle of his room and he drew an appropriate circle. It wasn’t really necessary for him, but better to cast the spell by the book for Kelsie’s sake. When the circle was in place, he focused on the kitten’s name then cast, “From the hottest realm I call you, child of fire. Appear and serve a loyal ally of flame. Fire Summoning!”

  A flame burst to life in the center of the circle and transformed into the most adorable little red-and-orange kitten he’d ever seen. Little wisps of flame rose off the tips of its ears as it paced around the circle.

  “Are you seriously afraid of that?” Conryu asked.

  “It’s crazy, I understand, but he’s made of fire. It’s like sticking my hand into an oven.”

  Conryu finished the binding and dismissed the circle. The fire kitten ran up and rubbed its cheek against his shin. He crouched and stroked its back. The spirit felt warm, but not hot and more solid than he’d expected for a being made of fire.

  The kitten reared up on its hind legs and waved its paws at him. Conryu grinned and scooped it up. He was going to have to summon one of these little guys to keep him warm next winter. He murmured to it and his spell translated the words into the language of fire.

  Kelsie watched the proceedings with a nervous smile. He held the kitten out to her and her eyes widened.

  “Go on, he’s not burning me, is he?”

  “No, but spirits like you. Who knows what might happen when you let go.”

  “I told him to behave. What’s wrong, don’t you trust my binding?” If he made it a matter of trusting him instead of the spirit, maybe she’d get over her fear.

  “Of course I trust you.” She raised her hands partway, paused, steeled herself, then raised them the rest of the way.

  “Good.” Conryu set the kitten in her arms and it snuggled in.

  She looked up at him with wide eyes. “He’s almost as cuddly as a real kitten. So soft and warm.”

  “Right? Are you still scared?”

  “No. I feel silly for having been worried at all.”

  “Cool.” Conryu released the spell and the fire kitten vanished. “Why don’t we try having you summon one of your own? If you can do it here, you can do it at the final.”

  She chewed her lip and wouldn’t look at him. He recognized that expression.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m not sure if I’m supposed to tell you.”

  “Did someone order you not to?”

  “No.”

  “Then tell me.”

  She took a breath then nodded. “I talked to Dean Blane yesterday. Grandmother is coming to observe the finals.”

  Conryu groaned. So much for his hope that no one could mess up his test this year. “What does she want?”

  Kelsie shrugged. “As far as Dean Blane knows, just to see where the students stand. At least that’s what she said, but I’m not sure the dean believes it.”

  Conryu wasn’t sure either, but it was out of his hands. They couldn’t exactly bar the Head of the Department of Magic from the campus. He was doubly glad he hadn’t let Maria hang on to the elf artifact.

  “How about you try that summoning now?”

  “Okay. I’ll show Grandmother how much I’ve learned. Maybe she’ll finally treat me with something other than disdain.”

  Conryu wasn’t sure Malice knew how to treat people with anything but disdain. Still, he didn’t want to discourage her. “That’s the spirit. Now summon that kitten back.”

  Malice hadn’t been to the Academy campus in three years. The train slowed as it approached the platform. She’d insisted they hook up a luxury car even though the ride only took half an hour. She did it more to remind them who they answered to than because she cared about gold-plated fixtures and calf-leather seats. It was important to remind your subordinates who controlled their fate; it kept them properly grateful when she didn’t turn her gaze their way.

  Speaking of people who needed to remember their place, Dean Blane stood on the platform waiting to greet her. The woman looked ridiculous in the form of a little girl. Malice still didn’t know why she bothered transforming herself like that. The appearance of a child was no more appealing than that of an old woman.

  No matter, the idiosyncrasies of the school’s head didn’t concern her. The place continued to churn out competent, and more importantly loyal, wizards and as long as it did that she didn’t care if the dean transformed herself into a howler monkey.

  Malice glanced at her two aides, distant Kincade cousins for whom she’d arranged jobs at the Department. They were both reasonably strong and absolutely obedient. Either of them would step in front of a death spell for her and Malice expected nothing less.

  S
he levered herself out of the soft seat and grimaced when her hip caught. Damned useless body. Even light magic healing didn’t last these days. It wouldn’t be long before she’d need to decide between undeath and the real thing. But not today.

  “Welcome to the Academy, Director Kincade,” Dean Blane said when she stepped out onto the platform. “I trust your ride was smooth.”

  “The train is always smooth. When do the sophomores have their final?”

  “In just under an hour. I’ve arranged private seating for you as requested. I think you’ll be pleased with how far Kelsie has come.”

  Malice snorted. “Who cares about that ungrateful child? Conryu interests me and no one else. I assume you heard about what he did to the Department team that went up against him and the Academy team.”

  “Yes, I’m glad everyone made a full recovery. I’m sure he didn’t mean to hurt anyone. That boy has a gentle soul.”

  Malice waved a bony hand. “I don’t care about that either. He summoned a Stone Behemoth that stood over twenty feet tall and according to Coach Chort he wasn’t even using his full strength. Twenty feet! I don’t know more than a handful of earth-aligned wizards that could do that, much less a dark-aligned one. He needs closer supervision than we’ve been providing.”

  “Um, the thing is, Conryu is aligned to all elements. Just because he’s strongest in dark doesn’t mean he isn’t also strong in everything else. Lumping him in with normal dark wizards is a mistake.”

  Malice glared at the tiny woman. If there was one thing she didn’t like, it was being corrected. To her credit Dean Blane didn’t flinch from the look. Malice had turned the knees of heads of state to jelly with that stare.

  “I’m aware of his unique situation.” She waved Dean Blane off. “Let’s get inside. I’d like to keep this visit quiet and standing out here where everyone can see me isn’t going to help with that.”