The Young Magician tlt-1

by Michael Foster

  The man showed no hint of recognition, but began away at once. Samuel hesitated a moment, at first wondering if there were some mistake, but then he realised that Tulan’s friend was only trying to maintain some secrecy. He started after the man, keeping some pepper in his stride just to keep up. They weaved through half the city like that, with Samuel often needing to bob his head above the crowds just to keep track of the man’s green cap. It was no help that the man was really quite short and often vanished for long periods amongst the throngs of people.

  Finally, long after Samuel had begun again wondering if this was even the right man or not, the fellow stepped aside into the entrance of a dilapidated-looking building. Samuel paused a moment in the doorway, then started up the short stairs after him. The green-capped man was waiting at the top of the first flight of creaking old stairs and, as Samuel neared him, he reached over and opened the door beside him. Without so much as a word, he squeezed past Samuel, went back down the stairs and disappeared back into the street.

  Samuel guessed he was supposed to wait inside, so he poked his head through the doorway. Inside was a featureless, single room. To the rear, Samuel could see a small squatting chamber with a low open window, built above the outside gutter. There was also a table, having only three and a half of its four legs and two aged chairs. Otherwise, the room was empty. With some trepidation, Samuel stepped inside and pushed the door back shut behind him. There were a couple of iron brackets on each side of the doorframe, and a length of wood leaning beside it, which Samuel put into place, barring the door from opening.

  He poked around the room for a while, but, aside from the table, chairs and toilet, there was little else to investigate. He only hoped the others would come and find him sometime soon. It was not too different from his cell-small and confining-but at least here he could still feel his magic. From out of the window he could see the palace towers jutting into the sky, just visible through the haze and smoke of the city. In one of them, his escape had probably already been discovered.

  Samuel stayed alone in the small room all day. He occasionally peered carefully out from the window. One time, he saw several black-cloaked magicians pushing determinedly through the crowds. Whether they sought him or not, he could not tell, but it was better not to take any chances-he kept his head well inside from that point on. Eventually, however, being overcome by hunger, Samuel had to creep outside to fetch himself something to eat and drink. He kept his eye out for magicians all the while and only felt safe once he had scurried back up the stairs and had his door barred firmly shut once again.

  After a long day of uneventful waiting and a long night of trying to sleep on the rough floorboards, Samuel was roused by a soft tapping at the door. He rolled to his feet as softly as he could and tiptoed to the door. Again, the tapping sounded and a soft voice called, ‘Hello? Anyone in there?’

  ‘Eric?’ Samuel asked back through the door. His own voice sounded thin and strained from the lack of sleep.

  ‘Yes, it’s me,’ came the reply and Samuel quickly lifted the bar from the door and opened it. He was greeted by the grinning face of Eric Goodfellow dressed in commoner’s garb.

  ‘Eric! What are you doing here?’ Samuel asked.

  ‘I’ve come to join you,’ Goodfellow replied, stepping in past Samuel and shutting the door quickly behind. ‘Lord Goodwin sent word that you had escaped. You wouldn’t believe how much trouble you’ve caused! You’d think you had stolen the Emperor’s crown itself from all the kerfuffle outside. The Archmage has set the whole Order into a frenzy to find you. They came asking questions yesterday, trying to find you or your accomplice. Lord Goodwin said the palace itself had been turned upside down. It was obvious they would not stop harassing everyone until they found whoever helped you escape, so I decided to become him. Once I am reported missing, they will have their accessory and lessen their focus on everyone else-or so I hope.’

  ‘But how did you find me?’ Samuel asked.

  ‘Oh,’ Goodfellow responded. ‘This friend of Lord Goodwin’s led me here. A strange chap. Very quiet.’

  ‘Ah,’ Samuel said. He was still unused to hearing Tulan referred to as Lord Goodwin. The title seemed to sit so strangely on the man whom Samuel knew best for travelling the countryside and belittling the establishment. ‘But you have resigned yourself to my fate, should we be caught,’ Samuel noted. ‘Who knows what they will do to us if they find us.’

  ‘Yes,’ Goodfellow admitted, nodding, ‘but I believe it will make our overall task easier. The others will be able to act more freely.’

  Samuel conceded and they sat at the wobbly table.

  ‘We may have to do something about this room when we get the chance,’ Goodfellow noted. ‘This is appalling.’

  ‘Or get some blankets, at least. I froze half to death last night.’

  ‘How did you come by this place?’ Goodfellow asked.

  ‘Tulan’s man led me here. I have no idea what he is doing with such a place,’ Samuel admitted, ‘but I’m assuming we are free to use it. I’ll remember to ask him next time, but I’m not sure we’ll even get an answer.’

  ‘So, what happened when you saw the Archmage?’ Goodfellow asked, brushing his sandy hair from his eyes. ‘I take it all did not go well, judging from the fact he threw you in the Mage Cell.’

  ‘He accused me of being a traitor,’ Samuel began. ‘He said everything was happening for the good of the Empire and that Grand Master Anthem was a traitor, too, for resisting their efforts to go to war. They’re planning a full invasion of Garteny and the Order is pivotal in providing victory over King Otgart’s forces-at least, it was before Ash returned with the Argum Stone.’

  ‘And I assume you didn’t tell him you appreciated his idea?’

  Samuel laughed. ‘That’s right. Before I knew it, he used the Staff of Elders to knock me senseless. When I woke up, I was in the Mage Cell.’

  ‘Is it true what they say about the Mage Cell-that you can’t use magic at all?’ Goodfellow asked.

  ‘It’s worse,’ Samuel confirmed, a shudder tickling his spine. ‘Not only can you not use magic, you can barely feel it. It made me feel so lost and hopeless. I hope I never see that wretched place again.’

  ‘Do you think we’re safe here?’ Goodfellow asked, glancing towards the window.

  ‘Well, they won’t be able to find me,’ Samuel said. ‘Nobody can-but now you’re here we may have to think of something. In a way, this room is well chosen, as the sheer number of people outside will help conceal any magician’s presence. You even surprised me just now. Given time, however, they may be able to find us. We may have to ask Master Glim or Lomar if they know any good concealment spells.’

  Goodfellow nodded and leaned back in his rickety chair. He looked to all the corners of the room, and at the sorry-looking excuse for a privy that opened up over the rear alleyway. ‘So…what do we do?’ he finally asked.

  ‘We need to wait until we can speak with Tulan. Perhaps he will have some idea of what to do. The Archmage said the war is inevitable now and that they will use the Argum Stone to ensure victory.’

  ‘Is it truly that powerful?’

  ‘So the Archmage seems to believe,’ Samuel replied, ‘but I have no idea what it can actually do. All I know is that it could negate my spells entirely. Perhaps they can find some way to harness that power, or perhaps they have some other use for it entirely.’

  Goodfellow sneaked out later that day and returned holding a basket with enough food and water to last them a few days, plus a small satchel containing some common clothes for Samuel, which he promptly changed into. It was another day later, after almost insufferable boredom, when another knock sounded on the door and Samuel felt a familiar presence on the other side.

  ‘It’s Tulan,’ called a voice from outside, just as Goodfellow was beginning to panic. ‘Open the door.’

  They promptly let him in, surprised to see that even he was dressed in common clothes.

  ‘We ca
nnot afford to let anyone notice magicians coming and going from here,’ Tulan mentioned on noting their glances. ‘It’s quite some trouble to find some place to secretly change clothes so I won’t be able to come here very often in the future, if at all. You’ve made things much more difficult for me, Samuel. And I see that you have ignored my advice to leave entirely.’

  ‘Are you aware that the Emperor is preparing to invade Garteny?’ Samuel asked.

  ‘Of course I am. Why else do you think I’m here? My life was once relatively carefree and even occasionally enjoyable. Now I’m eternally locked up in meetings and discussions and doing things I vowed I’d never do again-all in a vain attempt to stop exactly that.’

  ‘We had all heard the rumours,’ Goodfellow spoke, ‘but we originally understood the Gartens were set to invade the Empire, not the other way around.’

  ‘That’s what the Emperor wanted you to think,’ Tulan explained. ‘The average Turian would have no problem whatsoever with the Emperor going to war, but the territories are another matter. He learned the hard way that the outlands must be carefully managed if they are not to fall back into disarray. A sudden return to war could bring disquiet and opportunity for rebellion to the territories, so better to make it seem like a defensive action. Once the invasion begins in full, he will proclaim that Garteny is a rogue state and must be conquered once and for all. Then, the Emperor can do as he wishes.’

  ‘That’s horrid,’ Goodfellow stated.

  ‘Of course it is,’ Tulan responded, ‘but it’s also very clever. That’s what politics is all about.’

  ‘So what are you going to do about it?’ Samuel asked.

  ‘There’s not much I can do,’ Tulan replied, ‘as it’s difficult. There are some on the Council who secretly do not favour the Emperor’s plans, but do not dare say so. The Emperor is all-powerful. No one can tell him what he can and cannot do. All we can do is make gentle suggestions.’

  ‘Could the Magicians’ Council just refuse to grant the Order’s assistance?’

  Tulan laughed and shook his head. ‘Certainly not! That would be the end of us! We exist by the pure grace of the Emperor. One word from him and the Order vanishes. It’s only while we are useful to him that the Order can exist at all. That is why I have been progressing with the utmost care. Given enough time, I am hoping to turn this situation around, but all this sudden commotion is the last thing I need at the moment.’

  ‘What about the Archmage? Doesn’t he have any leverage?’ Goodfellow questioned.

  ‘He’s more intent on the war than anyone.’

  ‘So I have learned,’ Samuel noted.

  ‘But it doesn’t matter now,’ Tulan then stated. ‘Despite Master Dividian’s best efforts, it looks as though he has not been able to ready enough new magicians to support the Emperor’s armies. The Council has been debating the matter every day for long months, and it finally seems that the Emperor is rescinding his request for the Order’s assistance in battle. Today he told us we are no longer needed.’

  ‘Do you mean it?’ Goodfellow asked. ‘Does that mean it’s all over?’

  ‘Yes, of course. So there’s no need to be making so much trouble. If you give it some time, I’m sure you will see the Order returning to its old self soon enough.’

  ‘So the Emperor no longer wants magicians to go to battle?’ Samuel asked suspiciously.

  ‘That’s what I’ve heard,’ Tulan said.

  ‘And the invasion of Garteny is truly cancelled?’

  ‘The Emperor’s forces can’t hope to assail the fortified Garten cities. The Order’s assistance was the pivotal point of his invasion plan. I can’t see how any war could go ahead at this point. Turian losses would be extreme. No magic equals no invasion.’

  ‘What I’m asking is, are you sure about it? I mean, are the troops all packing up and going home, or are they still massing along the border?’

  Tulan looked confounded. ‘Well…I don’t know. It just seemed obvious that the invasion can’t go ahead. Garten defences are just too strong. That’s what has been stopping it all these years. The Emperor will just have to come up with some other plan, or give up for good.’

  ‘Oh. Then we may still have a problem. While I was in Tindal, I met Master Ash,’ Samuel began to explain, ‘and he had unearthed an ancient artefact called the Argum Stone.’

  ‘Yes, I heard something about it,’ Tulan admitted. ‘They put it in the High Tower. I thought it was just some old relic.’

  ‘That’s right,’ Samuel continued. ‘I believe it is a source of magic from the time of the Ancients and the Archmage believes the same. I think you’ll find the Emperor now has the advantage he needs to break the Gartens. When I spoke to the Archmage, he seemed quite confident that the war was going ahead and I don’t think he cares if the Order lends their assistance or not.’

  Tulan’s smile began to falter. ‘So what are you saying?’

  ‘I’m saying this relic, the Argum Stone, could potentially be powerful enough that the Emperor doesn’t need the Order’s help any more. In fact, I think he’s painfully aware of how problematic the Order can be and has decided it may be better to do without us altogether. With the Argum Stone and the Staff of Elders together, who knows what the Archmage could achieve?’

  Tulan’s jaw literally dropped open. He stood and began pacing up and down the small room, rubbing at his eyes. ‘Hell’s bells, this is worse news than I could have feared,’ he stated. He stopped and looked to Samuel and Goodfellow, his eyes already red-rimmed from all the rubbing. He looked suddenly devastated. ‘I can’t believe it. I was foolish to think we had won so easily. What can I do now?’

  ‘There’s no need to panic,’ Samuel urged him. ‘Not yet. As far as we know, the Argum Stone is still locked up inside the High Tower. The Archmage has not figured out its workings, so we still may have time. From what I understand, the Argum Stone will need to be properly readied before it can be used at all. I suspect this has not happened yet. At the very least, I suspect that if such a powerful object was used in earnest, we magicians would feel it.’

  ‘Yes. Perhaps, you are right. Samuel, I need to find out more about this Argum Stone. What else do you know?’

  ‘That’s all,’ Samuel admitted. ‘The thing is immune to magical effect, but even that could be because the object is in a dormant state. Once awakened, it could potentially be another Staff of Elders. All this is only suspicion. I would need some time with the thing and we need more information. We should search the Great Library, or seek advice from the most learned of the Order.’

  ‘No. You two can’t risk going to the School of Magic. It’s being closely watched.’

  ‘So what, then?’ Goodfellow asked.

  ‘If they haven’t been able to awaken the Argum Stone by now, I’m sure they are hastily working on it,’ Samuel mused. ‘Ash seems to have some knowledge of the Ancient Lick, so I would guess he is the one doing most of the work. Somewhere he has found some information about the Ancients that no one else has come upon or he wouldn’t have found the thing in the first place. The only way to stop the war now is to stop them from unlocking the dormant power of that relic, or else to steal it away from them altogether.’

  ‘Lord Jarrod has just left the city this morning,’ Tulan stated. ‘Some say he has returned to Hammenton. There was once a small magic school there, but it was closed some time ago and converted into a retreat for research and transcription of the most ancient texts. Lord Jarrod runs the place. It’s possible he has returned there to unearth such information as you suggest.’

  ‘It’s possible,’ Samuel agreed. ‘If only the Grand Master were here. I’m sure he would be able to help us.’

  ‘Anthem?’ Tulan queried.

  ‘Yes. I’m sure he would know something.’

  ‘Very well. I will try to contact him.’

  ‘Contact him?’ Samuel asked with disbelief. ‘In Garteny?’

  ‘Oh, no. He’s not in Garteny,’ Tulan responded. ‘He
never would have gone there and I doubt King Otgart would let him return in any account. He’s not far away at all, on the isle of Dunbar, where he can keep an eye on the city.’

  ‘He is? How do you know?’

  ‘You can’t spend as much time on the road as I have without getting to know some people, Samuel. Anthem is quite good at remaining hidden, but not perfect. Eventually, word of his hiding place made its way through my network of contacts to me.’

  Samuel laughed. ‘Wonderful! Could he get here soon?’

  ‘Yes, he could be here in a few days-if he wanted to. It’s very dangerous for him now. He has made a great enemy of the Archmage. There is quite a decent price on his head.’

  ‘The Archmage would do that?’ Goodfellow asked.

  ‘Certainly,’ Tulan replied. ‘And often has. The Order has its own secret members who do all the Archmage’s dirty work; hired killers, thieves, assassins-even magicians.’

  ‘People like Ash,’ Samuel noted sourly.

  Tulan nodded. ‘Exactly, and much worse.’

  ‘I’m sure he will come,’ Samuel asserted. ‘The Grand Master would jump at the chance to stop this war.’

  ‘As you say,’ Tulan responded. ‘I will try to get word to him, but I do not know him as well as you do. He will either come or he won’t. I guess it’s up to him.’

  ‘But we should search the Great Library in the meantime. The chances are slim, but we may find something useful there. Any information on the relic could prove useful.’

  ‘If we can get word to Eric Pot, he can go there without raising suspicions,’ Goodfellow suggested.

  ‘Your friend?’ Tulan asked. ‘Yes, that will have to do. I will send word to him at once.’

  ‘With your green-capped friend?’ Goodfellow enquired.

  ‘That’s right. He’s quite the useful sort.’

  ‘You seem to have some secrets of your own, Lord Goodwin,’ Samuel noted. ‘Perhaps, one day, you will have to explain all your secretive associates and safehouses to us.’