With so much time and so little to do but sit and gaze out to sea, Samuel spent long hours thinking of Leila. He could not help it. He wished he could somehow shut her out of his memory altogether, for the vivid image of her blood-soaked body made him choke with sadness, but he could not. Not even his disciplined magician’s training could stop dreadful thoughts from charging back into him without warning, flooding him with sorrow, overwhelming him. He could not believe she was really gone.
Sometimes, he almost thought he could feel her tender touch against his arm, and would catch himself looking for her, mistaking a sound for her voice, a creak for her steps. His heart ached and the stinging salt mixed freely with his tears on many occasions. The sailors observed his behaviour and kept well to themselves, whispering and muttering about him all the while.
At the tiny island port of Pallem, Samuel changed vessels as the Pride of Jerrod would take him no further north. It took a good deal of persuasion, but Samuel finally managed to gain passage for himself and his horse on a ketch with a shifty-looking crew, called the Southern Bird. The captain was familiar with Cintar and knew of the Order; he gladly accepted Samuel’s payment.
Samuel had considered compelling the man with a spell to grant him passage, for his purse was now emptied. However, it was becoming more evident to Samuel that even the slightest meddling in a person’s mind could have dire consequences. Animals seemed to suffer little ill effect, but human minds required meticulous attention for even the tiniest alteration. Just the act of entering a man’s mind seemed to create a cascade of changes within. The only safe way to alter the thoughts of another was via passive suggestion and that would only work if the subject was not resistant. The magician, Tabbet, had broken those rules within the mind of Count Rudderford, altering the man’s mind in exact and expert ways. Then again, Rudderford had been an extremely simple man. The difficulty of manipulation seemed to rise in direct proportion to the complexity of the mind. Magicians, Samuel postulated, with their lifelong mental training would be nigh on impossible to affect. Samuel sighed and nudged the foot of some railing with the toe of his boot. There were so many facets to magic. He would need the span of several lifetimes to even begin to master them all.
Jess was nervous on the deck as the little ship groaned and rolled, but Samuel soothed her mind with a lullaby and managed to keep her calm. The sailors aboard the Southern Bird seemed to sense something unnatural about Samuel and, as the voyage wore on, the men skirted him with greater girth. They made no attempts to converse with him, but that suited Samuel fine. Work went on around him as if he were a fixture, with the crew throwing dark glances and muttering, even making the occasional gesture to ward off evil. Samuel did not care to dispel their superstitions and, when he was not on deck with Jess, he kept himself locked below in his tiny cabin, scouring through his journals and notes over and over again. He did not really expect to find anything new in those papers, but the act gave him something physical to focus upon. He had seen well enough of the sea already and wanted to be alone with his misery.
The city looked quite different from this vantage point but, as the Southern Bird made harbour, Samuel realised the docks of Cintar had changed little, if any, since he had last seen them. Great, tall ships lay anchored within the sanctuary of the cove. Tiny longboats ferried cargo back and forth from ship to shore, while the smaller craft, such as the Southern Bird, could pull alongside the long stone-and-wood jetties that stuck out from the shore, well beyond the city walls.
Samuel actually felt relief to see Cintar again. He had been at sea for far too long and his stomach had experienced quite enough of sea travel. It had taken about ten days for the tiny bobbing ship to skirt its way along the coast and Samuel had spent more than his fair share of that time leaning over the side.
Men moved all over on the docks, carrying bundles and containers of all forms, while the officials stood ready with handfuls of paperwork. A long, wide plank was pushed from the pier onto the Southern Bird and one such fellow stepped past Samuel to talk with the captain. Samuel urged Jess up onto the dock, pulling her by the reins. Her hooves clattered nervously on the wood, but Samuel finally had her safely up on the pier. He was not entirely sure why he had brought the animal all the way back with him. She had been his companion since he had first left Cintar, so it just seemed fitting that they should return together.
Seeing the crowded confines of the city laid before him, however, brought a worrying thought back to Samuel. It had been foretold by Celios the Seer that he would kill the Emperor and, despite Samuel’s best efforts to escape the place, destiny had found a way to draw him back. He had no intention of even approaching the Emperor, but Samuel had the nagging worry in the back of his mind that perhaps he had no say in whatever destiny had planned for him.
Samuel was still wearing the simple clothes he had grown accustomed to in Tindal, with his black magician’s clothes still folded tightly in his pack. As he led Jess up the steep roads from the docks, he seemed to be seeing the city with fresh eyes. The fashions seemed strange to him now and all the noise and pushing and shoving seemed quite overwhelming. He could imagine nothing more in contrast to his life in Tindal, where, looking down from the goat-spotted hills, he could go days on end barely seeing a soul.
He found his way promptly to the School of Magic, spying more dark clothing and magicians’ robes the closer he came, but many of the faces were unfamiliar. Without a pause, he led his animal through the entrance and was given only a few glances by passing students. He entered the stables, where the apprentices saw to Jess upon his commands, jumping at the tone of his voice. While the boys were tending to her, Samuel stepped into a vacant stall with his pack and quickly changed into his loose-flowing magician’s robes. They would hide his features somewhat and allow him to make his way around the school without attracting attention.
Samuel stuffed his other clothes into his satchel and fastened the buckles.
‘Mind my horse well,’ he told them firmly. ‘Keep my pack up in the cupboard up there.’ They nodded, as he eyed the topmost cabinet.
He left the stable boys to their work and strode out of the stables, feeling strangely awkward in his old mage clothes. The sun shone strongly for a moment as the clouds briefly parted. Returning to the School of Magic brought back many memories. At another time, Samuel would have smiled or laughed aloud, but instead he took a deep breath and started off to find Master Glim.
As he made his way across the grounds, he was astonished to catch sight of a magician he knew very well and he had to run to catch up with the man’s long strides.
‘Lomar!’ Samuel called as he caught up with his friend under the shade of the enormous oak tree that sprung up beside the Great Library. The grey paving stones were all cracked and pushed upwards around the base of the tree and its roots had done similar damage all around.
Lomar stopped and turned around. It took him a moment to recognise Samuel, but then a smile beamed across his face. ‘Samuel,’ he said. ‘You’re back! What a wonderful surprise!’ He then looked around the courtyard for any others. ‘Is it safe for you to be here?’
‘I had to return,’ Samuel said. ‘Let’s go inside so we can talk.’
Inside, the Great Library was dim and deserted. No one had yet drawn open the slatted window shutters to let in the morning light and it was a good sign that no one was there. Still, Samuel drew Lomar into a distant vacant niche at the very rear of the building.
‘I have bad news,’ Samuel spoke in hushed tones, ‘but first, I need to know what has been happening in my absence?’
‘Everything changes and everything stays the same,’ Lomar began. ‘The Magicians’ Council is ever arguing and bickering. There is ever talk of a war that never seems to begin. Lord Matar and some others left the city in disgust. No one has heard any word of them since.’
‘And Ash?’
Lomar raised an eyebrow. ‘Master Ash? I haven’t seen him, but I’ve heard he has returned after som
e period of absence.’
Samuel nodded. ‘I’ve followed him here from Tindal. He has discovered an ancient relic and returned it here to the city. It is called the Argum Stone.’
‘I have not heard of it. There was some talk of him making some discovery, but I did not pay it much mind. I honestly have been doing my best to ignore the goings-on of the Council.’
Samuel nodded. ‘I’m sure he was sent to find it by the Circle of Eyes. It seems to be another device from the time of the Ancients. I found a few notes mentioning it here in the library and I think Dividian has been researching it as well. I’m sure the two must be collaborating, but I don’t know what they plan to do with it.’
Lomar shook his head with worry. ‘Just what we need,’ he sighed. ‘As if we need even more to concern us.’
‘What of Master Glim? Is he here?’
‘Yes,’ Lomar replied softly, ‘but he is not quite the man he once was. The changes in the school have taken their toll on him. He is not quite his old self without Grand Master Anthem to spur him on.’
Samuel nodded. ‘What of Eric Goodfellow? Where is he?’
‘He’s still here,’ Lomar answered. ‘Together with Eric Pot.’
‘Eric?’ Samuel exclaimed with disbelief. ‘How can that be? I thought he was dead.’
‘He’s alive,’ Lomar corrected.
‘So the spell of travelling was successful? That’s incredible!’
‘It turned out his spell was entirely successful. Eric was transported all the way to his hometown in Reve. It took him a while get back here, but once he did, Dividian set him and Goodfellow straight to work researching the spell. Dividian still hopes to learn the secret of such magic, but so far, they’ve had no luck. It rattled poor Eric quite a bit, so I’m not surprised he has had such trouble repeating it. There was a great fuss made over him when he first returned, but it soon faded away as the months passed without result.’
‘Where are they now?’
‘I’m not sure,’ Lomar replied. ‘I was actually looking for them myself just before you found me. Master Glim is giving a class. Perhaps we should go wait in his cottage. From what Goodfellow told me, I think it is not such a good thing if you are seen here.’
‘I’m sure you’re right,’ Samuel noted.
They left the library, Samuel with his hood up, and made for Master Glim’s small residence. A few candles on the wall lit themselves as they entered, despite the room being already bright with sunlight.
‘I see Master Glim is still learning a few things,’ Samuel said and noted the spells involved.
‘He’s had himself buried in research, now that he has little contact with the students,’ explained Lomar. ‘I know he’s trying to make this candle-spell work only at night, but it’s understandably complicated. Wait here and I shall fetch us both something to eat.’
‘If you see either of the Erics, could you let them know that I’m here?’
‘I’ll send word for them to come, but you should know that they are Master Goodfellow and Master Pot now. Their graduation was said to be quite spectacular. They are both highly skilled and will become great magicians of our time, I’m sure.’
‘That’s good news.’
With that, Lomar slipped outside. Samuel sat and waited in Master Glim’s chambers. Like all the magicians’ rooms in the school, it was humble but comfortable, being one single room that served as both bedroom and study. A plush rug lay on the timber floor, helping the room to feel warm. It was a fine piece of work from Western Garteny, where such craftsmanship was supposedly unmatched and Samuel felt guilty treading all over it with his worn old boots. He sat idly awhile and then traversed the room, looking at all Master Glim’s things and peering at the notes spread all over his desk.
Gravelly footsteps sounded outside and Master Glim stepped in through the opening door, followed close behind by Lomar. Master Glim wore a broad smile and offered his hand directly to Samuel. The passing of time had made its mark upon him. Grey hair adorned his temples and a few more wrinkles crept out from the corners of his eyes.
‘Samuel!’ Master Glim said warmly. ‘You leave a boy and return a man! It’s good to see you well again. I only wish you had not left so abruptly. Goodfellow told me of your predicament, but I’m sure we could have found some solution for you.’
‘Unfortunately, I didn’t know whom to trust at the time,’ Samuel said, ‘and the city just seemed like the worst place for me to be.’
Master Glim showed concern. ‘So, it’s true. Tell me what happened.’
‘None of that is really important now,’ Samuel said. ‘In fact, I’m quite glad I left. I would never have returned at all, but for Master Ash. He tried to kill me, and he murdered the girl I was going to marry, so I have returned to Cintar to see him dead.’
‘Marry?’ Master Glim asked incredulously. It surprised Samuel that he would leap onto that fact before even questioning the comment that Master Ash was a murderer. ‘Why would you even think about wedding, Samuel? You know it would be doomed. Magicians cannot be affectionate with women and after only a few more years all thoughts of that nature will be entirely alien to you. You certainly would not be able to bear children and the woman would be disappointed to say the least.’
‘I didn’t ask for it to happen, Master Glim.’ Samuel responded. ‘I’m not sure that the change is happening to me as it should. All my feelings are still intact. I fell in love and I certainly have more than enough hatred and bile and venom left over for Master Ash. I had found a new life in Tindal and Ash took it away once again.’
‘Master Ash?’ Master Glim replied, still mulling the situation over in his head. ‘That man seems to have his fingers in everything.’
‘What do you mean?’ Samuel asked.
‘Grand Master Anthem told me you believe it was Ash who killed your family. It is a strange set of coincidences.’
Samuel nodded. ‘I failed to kill Ash before, so I have followed him here. He brought with him an ancient relic, the Argum Stone. I dread it has some malevolent purpose to play in his plans.’
‘This is grave news, Samuel,’ Master Glim said, looking thoughtful, ‘but I do not doubt you. Ash has long been the pet of Lord Jarrod, carrying out all his underhanded instructions. I saw them bring a large relic to the palace, but no mention was made as to its name. It took several days to have it raised inside the High Tower using all manner of ropes and levers and causing quite a fuss. It was a source of some excitement at first, but there has been no further word since then.’
Samuel nodded. ‘It could be cause for great concern, especially if it proves to be an equal for the Staff of Elders,’ he explained, ‘but it needs further research. And there is something else. Ash has found some knowledge of the Ancient Lick. He employs a strange magic with it that I could not overcome. At one time, he also empowered a spell with another man’s blood and somehow has learned to store spells into bottles of fluid.’
‘Blood and fluids?’ Lomar questioned, looking over from where he stood by the curtained window. ‘That is the stuff of myth and hearsay. If such a foul art was ever known, it is lost.’
‘And found again,’ Samuel corrected.
‘Your news gets worse by the minute, Samuel,’ Master Glim stated, rubbing his chin. ‘We will need to look into all of this but, of course, you should keep hidden. If what you have said is true, just about everyone in the city probably wants you dead for one reason or another. Is there anything else you wish to burden us with while you are doing so well?’
‘There is, but first I need to ask you something.’
‘And what’s that?’ Master Glim asked in return.
‘Before I left Cintar, I learned that everyone had been searching for a magician who was destined to kill the Emperor. Everyone had assumed that Eric was the one, but with his apparent death it must have put an end to the idea.’
The brush-browed Master looked deep in thought before responding. ‘When the foretelling of the Emperor’s d
eath became known, it set the Empire ablaze with activity. Everyone began searching for the one who would fit the description, all for their own reasons-some to save the Emperor, some to kill him, some just for fame or power. But, as you know, any translation from the Old Tongue can have many and varied meanings and no magician fitting the prophecy was ever found. When young Eric arrived, however, and he began to move objects with little effort, making them jump from place to place, we were astonished. Such spells should require great power and effort, but to Eric it almost seemed second nature. Somehow, Eric had instinctively found the massive leap of complexity required for such a spell, when no one else could even come close. If he could do that, we thought, who knew what he could accomplish in the future-and we tried to keep his talents hidden. Foolishly, we thought we had succeeded. We hoped that once he had grown and matured he would be a boon to the Order like no other.
‘Can you imagine what it would be like, Samuel, for us to have the ability to be anywhere we wished? Most of our problems could be solved overnight. But he was just a boy and our meddling almost got him killed. Lomar has graciously offered to keep an eye on him, but when Eric first returned, we were dreadfully worried he would not last long. I must admit, that for supposedly learned men, we can be incredibly foolish at times.’
‘I understand,’ Samuel returned. ‘I just wish you had told me something of this before.’
‘That was impossible, Samuel. For this power to fall into the wrong hands would have been disastrous. No one would be safe…anywhere. When you arrived, we were already busy minding Eric. You seemed something of a curiosity-no more-and a stubborn and sometimes arrogant one at that. We were fearful at every moment that the Circle of Eyes might discover Eric and in the end we failed to protect him from himself. Instead of hiding him and distracting him from his natural abilities, we should have focussed on that power and nurtured it. He almost killed himself experimenting with his innate skills and now it seems he has lost that ability forever. At least, I am glad to say, in losing that coveted power he is now safe from the Circle and the likes.’
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