‘It was someone from the Circle who warned me my life was in danger-a man named Soddan. That’s why I left the city in the first place.’
‘Soddan? I don’t know the name, but that means nothing. You see, Samuel? The Circle is ever-devious. While it may have been in your interest to leave the city then, no doubt it also served some purpose of theirs. They may even have engineered the events leading up to then-it’s not implausible. It does seem like quite a coincidence that you ended up in the same place as Master Ash at the time he was unearthing this relic. Yes…I think there is much more here than we can see on the surface.’
Samuel mulled over the thoughts for a few moments and finally conceded. ‘Very well. I am just so surprised to hear that Eric is alive. All this time I have been thinking he was dead. And what has been happening in the north? I would have thought the war would be well underway by now, but the city seems the same as ever.’
‘That’s not entirely correct. The Garten border has been littered with skirmishes almost every day. The Gartens are at high readiness but the Emperor has not yet committed his full armies. I believe he is not just intent on invading Garteny, but he wants to crush them-a devastating assault that will decimate their forces and be written up in history as one of the great battles of all time. Garteny has never before been defeated and the Emperor’s previous attempts cost him greatly. With all the young magicians Dividian has been readying, that time may nearly be here. Many regiments have already been dispatched with this new breed of battle-ready magician at their side and I feel the time has certainly almost arrived for the great invasion to begin.’
Samuel took a moment to digest everything before speaking up once more. ‘Master Glim, I have one final question. Have you noticed anything unusual about Master Ash?’ Samuel asked.
‘No, not at all,’ the old teacher replied plainly.
‘To me, his presence seems entirely strange,’ Samuel mused. ‘I cannot put my finger on it, but I’m sure there is some foul play at work. Every time I see him I get a distinct feeling that he appears to be something he is not.’
Lomar offered a suggestion. ‘If he is using the dark arts, then perhaps it is affecting his very life energy. I have heard some mention of this, but of course it was only conjecture.’
‘Perhaps,’ Samuel said.
‘So,’ Master Glim mused, ‘what do you plan from here?’
‘It’s very simple,’ Samuel stated. ‘I will find Ash and then I will kill him. As for the Emperor and the war and all the rest of it, I could not care less. Since I left Tindal, all I can think about is putting my hands around Ash’s neck and throttling the very life out of him.’
Master Glim shook his head. ‘No, Samuel. Such revenge is foolish. You will be tried for murder and hunted down by the entire Order. You must remember that you also bear the responsibility of the Order, even if you do not want it. You are a magician and nothing can change that. There is much more at stake here than just your personal tragedies, however terrible they may be. The world is speeding towards war. The Order is full of plots and I am growing old and tired of it all. We still must do everything we can to prevent this war. If we fail, then you can still go and throttle Ash as you wish, but if you kill him now it will only make matters more complicated for us. Countless lives are at stake here, Samuel, so please try to think beyond your own vendetta. You are a gifted magician and, with us, you can help us to set some of these wrongs right again.’
‘I must agree, Samuel,’ Lomar added. ‘I know you have your mind set on revenge, but such an act is petty in comparison to what we face. Can you not put aside your vengeance a while longer for the sake of what we stand to lose?’
Samuel was hesitant. ‘Ash killed my mother and father, my sister and all my brothers. Now, he has killed Leila and still, I cannot seem to have my revenge on him.’ He felt bitterness climbing in his throat, but he forced himself to swallow it down. ‘If anyone has a just cause for revenge, it is me. Can’t I put my family’s memory to rest?’
‘You can, Samuel, but not yet,’ Master Glim told him. ‘Trust me. At present, we three, along with the Erics, represent the only hope of averting the coming war. You can help us, Samuel. Remember that the soldiers from both sides are not playing games. In times of war, terrible things are done by all sides. Their armies will forge a path of destruction wherever they go. Women, children, the old and the invalid, will not be spared. Towns, villages and cities alike will be razed and burnt by the dozen.’
‘Very well,’ Samuel finally agreed. ‘I can see you are right. I will help you, but I promise you, I will kill Ash the moment I get the chance. If you don’t want that to happen, I suggest you keep us apart as best you can.’
‘Oh, don’t worry, Samuel,’ Lomar said. ‘I am sure there will be some opportunity for violence ahead. I have no love for Master Ash and if he ends up getting in the way, I will gladly hold him down while you get to work. How does that sound?’
At one time, Samuel would have laughed to see the lanky man making such threats, but recent events and the long sea voyage had drained Samuel’s capacity for mirth. Instead, he nodded glumly.
Master Glim then began to outline his plan. ‘We cannot act openly, but we must find a way to defy the Emperor’s call for the Order’s assistance in the war. For years, the Grand Master managed this by training the students in other areas, actively avoiding spells with such potential for warfare, but now Master Dividian has undone all that good work. There are hundreds more young magicians training even now in camps around the Empire, learning to coordinate with armed troops. The Emperor is only waiting for confirmation from the Council that all is ready. That is where we must strike-in the Magicians’ Council. We must convince those fools to reverse all the foolishness they have wrought-to vote “no confidence” in the Order’s ability to help in the war.’
‘But that has been tried time and time again,’ Lomar noted. ‘The Council, now more than ever, is aligned with the Emperor’s goals.’
‘And we shall follow their example,’ Master Glim explained. ‘We are backed into a corner, gentlemen. We need to get our own members on the Council, and those who don’t see our point of view will need to be removed by any means. Lord Jarrod manipulated the membership of the Council to suit him and we will do the same.’
‘We can’t just begin killing everyone,’ Lomar stated with some concern.
‘No, no-we won’t. The Archmage would simply step in and annul the whole Council altogether if it started getting too messy. We must keep our actions unseen. We must find out who on the Council is still sympathetic to our cause and find ways to convince the others, or, as I said, have them replaced. We don’t need everyone seeing eye-to-eye with us-just enough of them to throw some anarchy into their discussions.’
‘So who on the Council would help us?’ Samuel asked.
‘It’s difficult,’ Master Glim began. ‘Lord Goodwin is really the only one still arguing for reason, but he cannot do much on his own. I feel some of the other councillors would join him, if not for the fact that Jarrod is there. High Lord Rimus is obviously the most influential of them all but, while he is no friend of Lord Jarrod, he is a stout Imperial and would never dare oppose the Emperor’s view. While their causes are allied, like this, we have no chance of succeeding. We need to talk some sense into High Lord Rimus and break Lord Jarrod’s hold on the others.’
‘Rimus is an intelligent man,’ Lomar noted, ‘and he is not actively supportive of the war itself. He understands the effects of such things. We could conceivably bring him to our side if he can be seen to save face with the Emperor. It’s tricky…but possible. Lord Jarrod…I just don’t know.’
Master Glim nodded in understanding.
‘Did you say Lord Goodwin?’ Samuel asked, cutting in. ‘Tulan Goodwin?’
‘Yes,’ Master Glim answered. ‘Do you know him?’
‘Of course, although I would never have thought he would involve himself in such politics, let alone join the High C
ouncil. He always seemed uninterested in such things.’
‘I do not know him well,’ Master Glim said, ‘but he seems to have garnered many strong friends within the Order. That is how he gained his place on the Council and how it is that he still remains.’
‘I am sure that Tulan would help us,’ Samuel said. ‘And what of the Archmage? What has he been doing through all this?’
‘He says very little,’ Lomar said, scratching his long neck.
‘He meets with the Magicians’ Council rarely and even then only to settle minor disputes,’ Master Glim explained. ‘He seems to have no interest in the fate of the Order any more. It is said that at the last meeting he attended; someone commented on something he had suggested and he stormed out like an angry child. I cannot begin to conceive what is running through his mind. Seemingly, he has lost it altogether.’
‘I have heard some rumours…’ Lomar began, but trailed off.
‘Oh? Go on,’ Master Glim implored.
‘It is nothing substantial-possibly only wild accusations from those who oppose him-but there are whispers that the Archmage has been consorting with the desert folk, experimenting with their potions and exotic extracts to regain some of the vigour of his youth. It goes further. Some say he has been keeping strange company in his chambers at all hours of the night, but even my sources will dare not say any more.’
‘What kind of company?’ Master Glim asked, but a knock sounded on the door and all eyes moved quickly to it. ‘Who’s there?’ Master Glim then called to those outside.
‘Erics!’ returned the familiar voice of Eric Pot.
‘Come,’ Master Glim instructed and the door creaked in.
Eric Pot entered, beaming with joy upon the sight of Samuel. Eric Goodfellow followed him in, adjusting his rounded spectacles and smiling like a birthday boy himself.
‘Samuel!’ Eric declared. ‘It is wonderful to see you!’
‘Samuel!’ Goodfellow echoed.
Both had matured somewhat, a little taller and broader in general. Samuel threw his arms around them both in turn and laughed with genuine pleasure.
‘I only wish it was under more fortunate circumstances,’ he told them.
‘How is that?’ Eric asked.
Samuel quickly explained the events in Tindal to the newcomers and the conversation he had been having with Master Glim and Lomar.
‘But I fear we may need to do something drastic about Lord Jarrod,’ Master Glim added at the end. ‘I am sure he will not easily be dissuaded. He has been pursuing his own agenda for many years, and now that he has the upper hand, he will fight tooth and claw to keep it that way. I feel all his eagerness to begin this war is only a convenience to get what he wants-a lever for his own means. I am guessing he has his sights set on the Elder Staff and has plans to become the next Archmage.’
‘I agree,’ Lomar said. ‘With the Archmage’s current strange behaviour, Jarrod has already begun sowing the seeds of dissent against him-only very subtly, but I can see that the stage is being set. I would not be surprised if he was responsible for the Archmage’s current state, himself. We must find a way to have Lord Jarrod voted out of the Council.’
‘I still think we should just kill him,’ Samuel suggested. ‘While I’m killing Ash, it won’t be too much of an added inconvenience.’
Goodfellow threw Samuel a doubtful glance. ‘We can’t just kill everyone who disagrees with us, Samuel.’
‘Well, not straight away, anyway,’ Master Glim added with a hint of guilt.
‘What other support can we count upon?’ Eric asked.
‘Precious little, Master Pot,’ Master Glim stated. ‘Unless it looks like we have an overwhelming chance of success, I would not expect support from many magicians at all. Most of our number are now old and frail and they would not like to risk confrontation with any of these hardy new apprentices, let alone face the wrath of the Emperor. As you could well expect, many Turians within the Order are quite happy to let this war progress. It is really only those who were formerly close to Grand Master Anthem to whom we could even dare suggest this plan.’
‘What about if we have Lord Jarrod discredited?’ Goodfellow suggested. ‘As Samuel has said, the relationship between him and Master Ash is well known. If we could prove the connection between Jarrod and all Ash’s dastardly work in Tindal, they would certainly have some questions to answer.’
Master Glim shook his head. ‘Samuel cannot even begin to show his face in Cintar. Lord Jarrod has ensured he will be arrested on sight and all Samuel’s accusations would be worth nothing to them. I doubt we could scrape up enough evidence to convince the Council of anything at this stage.’
‘What about the Argum Stone and their use of black magic?’ Samuel asked. ‘Surely that constitutes some kind of crime.’
Again, Master Glim brushed the suggestion aside. ‘Indeed, it is, the most heinous of crimes at that, but again, it requires proof, of which we don’t have any. If we could catch Master Ash in the act, that would certainly be damning, but I doubt he would be so foolish as to flaunt black spells before the Council. I suggest we begin carefully and make some subtle enquiries with those we know well in the Order. We should also speak to Lord Goodwin to ascertain his position in all this. He will know much more of Council matters than us and may be able to provide a handhold for us to begin our work. He may even know more about this relic that they seem to have hidden away. We can refine our plan from there. I know it sounds like we are dragging our feet but, strictly speaking, we are committing treason by even speaking of such things. It will pay for us to tread carefully, rather than rush in like fools and have our heads cut off before we can open our mouths to object.’
They really had little other choice, so all of them agreed with Master Glim’s plan.
‘Well, I had better be going,’ Master Glim said. ‘I had already arranged to meet Master Celios, so I must hurry before he comes grumbling and looking for me. Eric, please organise a guestroom for Samuel,’- to which Eric nodded.
‘Unfortunately, I must also leave for a prior engagement,’ Lomar stated. ‘Samuel, please stay hidden for the time being. From what you have said, you may not be the most popular magician in Cintar.’
With that, Master Glim and Lomar left the room.
‘Samuel,’ Goodfellow said, ‘it’s honestly so good to see you.’
‘I feel the same,’ Samuel returned. ‘And I heard you have both graduated. It feels so strange to think of you as Masters of the Order.’
‘Don’t worry,’ Eric said. ‘It feels strange for us, too! I still keep expecting Master Sanctus to run up and pull my ear every time I laugh out loud.’
‘And what about your great discovery? Any luck recreating your travelling spell?’
‘Not really,’ Eric replied, ‘but we prefer to call it a Journey Spell, if you please,’ he added cheekily.
‘Actually,’ Goodfellow added, ‘we’ve conducted a lot of research on the matter and formulated mounds of theory, but it still remains little more than that.’
‘Yes,’ Eric added guiltily. We just haven’t been able to actually cast the spell. I don’t know what it was that I did before, but we just can’t seem to recreate it-probably because it scared the willies out of me.’
‘Was it really that bad?’ Samuel asked.
Eric waved his two hands before him. ‘You don’t want to know! It was positively awful. I felt like I was twisting inside out. It only took a moment to arrive in Maidensvale, right in front of my parents’ house and, when I did, I couldn’t stop vomiting for hours. I thought I was delirious. On the bright side, my parents were glad to see me.’
‘I’d be curious to see all your notes,’ Samuel stated. ‘Perhaps later, once we have sorted out all this mess.’
‘Speaking of which,’ Goodfellow began, ‘do you really believe Lord Goodwin will side with us? Having a contact in the Council would be exactly what we need.’
‘Yes, I’m sure he will,’ Samuel replied. ‘I k
now him very well. In fact, perhaps one of you could contact him today and let him know I am here?’
Goodfellow nodded. ‘Of course. I can go to the palace now; but do you think it’s wise to mention your name, even to him?’
‘I trust him more than almost anyone,’ Samuel replied without hesitation.
Goodfellow left for the palace, while Eric went to organise another room for Samuel. After only a short time, he returned and led Samuel to a small residence only a few buildings away, which was almost identical to Master Glim’s, both inside and out. He also brought some food and a great pile of papers that were just a part of the total sum of their studies upon his Journey Spell.
‘You may as well look over these now,’ he explained to Samuel. ‘It’s not like we are doing anything useful with them and it looks like we may have a lot of time on our hands.’
They looked over the notes and talked long into the afternoon, until Goodfellow returned and announced that Master Goodwin could meet Samuel the very next day. They passed the remainder of the day idly, with Samuel catching up on all the other happenings since he had left the city. While it was only early evening, the two Erics left and Samuel crawled into bed with their notes spread around him. At some stage, he fell asleep and his dreams were, for once, sweet and refreshing, for his visions were of Leila and her sweet and beckoning smile. In the realms of his fantasy, she was still alive and well and everything felt at peace.
About mid-morning of the next day, while the others were busy, Samuel became impatient waiting for his meeting and, despite all the firm warnings he had received, he left the confines of his tiny room. He only had to wait until after lunch to meet Tulan, but his feet had become far too itchy and he felt the need to get out and see some of the old city sights-and he also had a few loose ends he wanted to tie up. He wandered out of his room and through the ghostly school grounds with his hood pulled up around his head. It had been raining hard through the night and was still bucketing down as if it would never stop, and so barely a soul was out to brave the weather. Heading out through the gates, Samuel was not fussed by a little water and he continued into the city proper. He had walked those city streets many times in the past and he knew the whole north-eastern quarter like the back of his hand. The city was so huge, however, that few people knew all of its main streets well, let alone the endless alleyways and crooks and crannies that criss-crossed between them. It was a test of his memory to find the one small doorway he was looking for but, after several wrong turns and a little backtracking through the puddles here and there, he finally found the tiny smoking house where he had last met Soddan.
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