At last Yuletide week arrived. The seven had finished their studies, except that Jarka and Bernard wanted to continue their studies of potion making and scroll making after the new year began. All of the magic students went to the Stodgy Inn on the first night of the festival to celebrate. They all had much to actually celebrate, and even Archmage Nadia joined them, one of her rare excursions out of her tower.
Sipping a heavy stout, she explained to the five, “Tomorrow I must send your names into the official registry. After that, the entire Federation will know that you five are indeed officially registered Archmages.” All five thanked her for all that she had done for them. A bit later, Aldrick and Sofie joined their children and friends to celebrate as well. Janos arrived later that night and brought Zdenka her surprise present: a beautifully made quiver with two dozen arrows of exceptional quality, ready for her to enchant them, turning them into magical arrows.
On the fourth night of Yuletide, Zoran and Zdenka sat in a corner of the inn chatting. He said, “You know, love, I really want to get you a special present, but I don’t have all that much money, and I can’t go shopping without taking everyone else with me.”
“Same here. I suppose I could slip away for a bit, but I don’t have much I can spend either. We have all been really supported by Archmage Oldrich all this time,” she replied.
“I know, why don’t we go shopping tomorrow and we can each get a little something special for each other?” She liked the idea. After all, Yuletide was the season for giving presents.
Their shopping spree didn’t last too long. At the jewelers, they spied a matching pair of rings with a pale blue gemstone in them. Spontaneously, they both decided this was it. Grinning because they each had the very same idea at the same time, they bought them. Gently, Zoran placed one on her finger and she, he. “Now we are a matched set,” she proclaimed. “I can’t wait for the other ring,” she teased him. He passionately kissed her right there in the store. Jarka made some coy cat-calls, however.
The fifth night of Yuletide, Brother Jiri visited Zoran. “Duke, it is done, I’m proud to say. No way to know if it will work though. It has to be activated in a ceremony conducted by my wife and a Duska — that’d be you. I guess I’m saying we’re ready whenever you are ready to attempt to activate the first new Circle of Ascension in centuries!” Brother Jiri was quite proud of his achievement and rightly so. If it actually worked, he would become incredibly famous indeed.
The next morning, Janos, the Zors, Archmage Nadia, and the seven gathered in the basement of the Archmage’s tower. One section, roughly thirty foot square, contained the new dormant Circle of Ascension. The back side of the room was curved, the outer wall of the circular tower. In the center of the room, a circle precisely twenty feet in diameter lay etched into the stone floor. Brother Jiri had removed part of the floor here, installing his creation. “Duke Zoran has picked the color for his ribbon, sky blue. Each House has their own color.” Two weeks earlier, Jiri had asked Zoran what color his wanted to use for this tower and Circle. To avoid confusion, Brother Jiri suggested that he pick something other than the sixteen already in use. Zoran had picked sky blue.
“This House, whatever it is going to be called, is indicated by the sky blue thread. If we are successful, these seventeen threads will intertwine and activate Shadow Walking between the seventeen Circles of Ascension,” Brother Jiri continued his explanation. “If it works, this will be the first new Circle of Ascension since the time of my great-great-great grandfather, a monumental event to say the very least.”
He advised, “Zoran, the moment we activate this you must be prepared for all of the consequences. I’ve discussed this with my wife and we owe it to you to prepare you for this activation. All of the other Houses will know that this one now exists the very instant ours is activated. That a new Circle of Ascension has been built will be most profound, and many, many others are going to want to know how it is done, will demand that more be built, attempt to come and steal Bandar Zor’s detailed instructions, and so on. My wife and I, plus these documents must be protected. I do not want to find myself being coerced into making another Circle by barons such as your father.”
“There are many other factors to consider as well. Obviously, the other Houses, barons, and their families are all going to want to come and see this one for themselves, if only out of intense curiosity since this is historic in nature. It also opens this place up for invasions, that is, assassins can be brought through by barons or the baron’s men and wizards can be brought through or even attempts might be made to steal it from you — the list is endless. Great protections must be put in place to either prevent these from happening or to at least sound an alarm if enemy forces or unwanted people arrive here.”
“Then, there are all of the political ramifications of a new House being established. I am not remotely qualified to even discuss such things. All this will happen the instant we activate it. Are you prepared to deal with all of these things, Zoran?”
“No, but I have no choice but to ask some barons that I trust for their help and assistance. Janos, how goes our meager Security forces?” Zoran asked.
“I have sixty good men trained and ready for service, Duke Zoran. They will be split into three shifts, so that this tower is guarded day and night, every day. Twenty will be on duty for eight hour shifts. The only problem I foresee is if we are attacked or invaded, these will be wholly insufficient,” Janos replied honestly and a bit worried about this possibility.
Aldrick spoke up, “I have a dozen golden dragons ready to move here from Voss as soon as you are ready to have them stationed here. Of course, they will be desirous of receiving gems for payment.”
“Terrific, Aldrick. Yes, the Security men and the dragon guards must be paid. We still have some of the funds given to us by Warlord Mikolas. We’ll use that as long as it lasts. Obviously, I must quickly find a source of funding. I didn’t realize just how many problems creating this new Circle of Ascension was going to create.”
Archmage Oldrich commented softly, “You are yet young, Zoran; you have much to learn besides magic. Here in Brn, I provide the protection for the province. Each fall, I receive a small amount of monetary support from each household. While not large, this allows me to survive well and provide what is needed for these people to live in safety. However, I have never promised them that I could stop Baron Kazimir’s army, if and when he should decide to invade Brn Province. With this new Circle of Ascension, you, Zoran may be able to provide that guarantee that they can live in peace and prosper without fear of an invasion. It would be reasonable, then, that the households provide a little more each year to help pay for their security.”
“But where will we live?” Zdenka asked the question uppermost in her mind. She knew nothing of politics and armies and money, she only wanted to be able to setup a household with Zoran and soon.
“Er, I haven’t worked that one out either, dear,” Zoran apologized.
“You may stay here in your rooms for as long as you need,” Archmage Nadia offered and was thanked. Still, Zdenka knew this would have to be short-lived.
“Say, Brother Jiri, I have a question. Once we activate this Circle of Ascension, suppose that I am able to build a better place to house it nearby. Can it be moved? Can a Circle of Ascension be moved slightly from where it began to someplace nearby?” Zoran asked, wishing that he had thought of this far earlier.
“Yes, if it is only a little ways,” Priestess Anezka answered, since this was her province not her husband’s. “It is often done to obtain a more secure location within a castle. The Circle of Ascension is tied to this location, this vicinity. You cannot move it to, say, Sholov Province.”
“Well, that is a break. I seem to have found myself embroiled in a multitude of problems,” Zoran laughed nervously. “Say, once we activate it, can it ever be deactivated, perhaps for a little while?”
“Obviously it can, if you are going to relocate it,” she replied. “How
ever, all of the other Circles of Ascension will still have your sky blue ribbon in them. Anyone could come here to investigate. The only way to remove the identifying ribbon is to destroy the Circle.”
“Well, that was a good idea at least. Oh well, I guess we have little choice but to step into the big unknown,” Zoran concluded. “We’ll just have to solve each problem as it comes up. How long will the ceremony take to get our Circle activated?”
“I’ve never done the Activation Ceremony, Zoran. No one has, not for centuries. Maybe an hour? I don’t know,” she replied, a little nervous about attempting a ceremony about which she had only read but never actually done.
“Okay, tomorrow at ten o’clock in the morning, we activate the Circle of Brn,” Zoran said decisively. “Prepare the city for what’s coming; have the gold dragons circling the tower at ten; have all sixty guards on duty. We’re going to give the Sixteen Houses of the Federation of Planets a Yuletide present that they will never forget! I’ll make some arrangements with my Uncles; I believe that they will lend us some support immediately upon activation. Mages, we will need to formally welcome those that will be coming to investigate, as well as protect our new allies and ourselves from assassins and treachery that may come with some of those that come to investigate the activation.”
“But none of us have a clue about how a court should welcome such visitors, Zoran,” Zdenka stated the obvious, rather nervously. “We need to give them a good impression of us, don’t we? I mean, many will be Duskas deserving of high honors — well, some do anyway.”
“Ours will be a different court, dear. No rituals slavishly followed, not for us. We will just all be ourselves. If they don’t like it, that’s their problem. Besides, the magnitude of what is happening will totally overpower any and all rituals and traditions. Those will be the last things about which these barons will be thinking — I assure you of that!”
“I shall see that the dining room is prepared so that you may offer some guests food and drink,” Archmage Nadia said softly, backing him up. “Admittedly, it is going to be a far cry from the type of dining these barons are used to enjoying.” She chuckled to herself. Her facilities were totally functional and inexpensive, no frills. After all, the money for her support came from these hard working men and women here in Brn, whom she had protected all these years. She refused to spend their money frivolously.
She continued, “If I may make a suggestion, Archmage Zoran, why don’t you let us all lend you a hand? Once the Circle is activated, every one of us here has a stake in it, for good or ill. I think that I speak for us all, we want to help shoulder some of this burden of yours.”
“She’s right, you know, Duke Zoran,” Janos added. “Making use of us all would be wise. There are far too many details for one man to handle in so short a time.”
Zoran sighed. “Yes, I know, it’s overwhelming, but my worst fear is the danger that I am putting you into the moment the Circle is activated. Okay, friends, division of labors it shall be. Who wants to do what?”
Archmage Nadia spoke first, “My son, Mayor Bogdan Oldrich, should be contacted immediately and fully informed about what we are doing. To avoid panic, someone must address the citizens of Brn, informing them of this Circle, the political ramifications, the dragons, and what this will mean to them and their families. I will arrange this meeting at once. As I said before, I will see to the food and dining arrangements for tomorrow.”
“I’ll see to the physical security aspects,” Janos volunteered.
Aldrick added, “I will make the arrangements with the dragons. Payments and living arrangements must be worked out and I will deal with those.”
“We Archmages and mages will set about security arrangements and magical protections for this Circle and tower,” Zdenka volunteered.
“Thanks, everyone. I’ll see to the political ramifications of a new House appearing and see what allies I can obtain,” Zoran concluded.
“Now you are talking!” Jarka said coyly. “Let’s get this show on the road.” The group divided up and began working on specific details.
Zoran sat down in a quiet corner and began making mental contacts. Not everyone was available for a conference this instant, but he finally got all four of them all joined up a half hour later. Uncle Milan, that is Baron Milan Matous, Uncle Baron Viktor Pavel, Lida, and Rayna.
Thank you all for allowing me to join us together for this conference. I assure you this is of monumental importance. First, I am an official Archmage. Archmage Nadia Oldrich has sent in the official documents of registry for us five who have achieved this status. It is now official. I guess that I am the first Duska to become an Archmage.
Uncle Milan congratulated him, Incredible! That’s fantastic news indeed, Archmage Zoran.
Very impressive indeed, son, especially since you are on our side and not your father’s, Uncle Baron Viktor said what he felt.
So it was you that canceled all of the magical effects at the Ceremony? Uncle Milan asked.
Yes, that is one of my top power spells. I also cast Darkness to give you cover to escape. I did promise you a diversion, Zoran chuckled.
Amazing, simply amazing indeed. Well done, nephew.
Thanks, but that is only the tiniest thing that I wanted to tell you all. Brace yourselves, I have perhaps the most startling news ever.
Okay, we are all ears, Baron Viktor replied, eager to hear the real reason for this unusual conference.
I want you all to be watching your Circle of Ascension tomorrow morning around ten in the morning. We are performing a ceremony at that time, though my priestess is not sure just how long it will take.
Son, you are not planning to harm our Circles are you? Uncle Milan exclaimed angrily, worried that Zoran was up to some mischief.
Not in the slightest, Uncle. If all goes well, you should see the appearance of the seventeenth House, a sky blue circle. If so, please come to us at once. I will be desperate for your aid and advice! Plus, you will see a sight never before seen within the Federation of Planets.
What! Exclaimed Baron Viktor.
What? This is not possible! A new Circle of Ascension? How? How Zoran? Uncle Milan nearly screamed mentally back to Zoran.
Oh my god! Lida excalaimed.
Zoran! Fabulous! put in Rayna
I am in possession of the actual documents of Bandar Zar, which tell how he built the sixteen Circles of Ascension and how to actually construct them. All I dare say at this time is that a friend of mine has built one and a priestess friend will be performing the first Ceremony of Activation in centuries tomorrow around ten in the morning. If it actually works, I want you four at least to know of it the very instant that it becomes operational and to please come to me at once. Obviously, in short order, all of the other barons will know about this historic event. Honestly, Uncles, Baron Viktor, Baron Milan, I need your help and advice, if it actually works.
Oh my god! Zoran! I’m speechless! This — this is of monumental proportions! Uncle Milan replied, totally aghast.
Holy gods, Zoran! Do you know what you are doing? This will shake up the entire Federation of Planets! You can count on me being there with you the instant your Circle is operational! What forces should I bring with me? asked Baron Viktor, sizing up the situation rapidly.
Yes, what do you need? We’ll be there the instant it is operational. Do you want us to come to wherever your Circle is at ahead of time? Uncle Milan asked the obvious, wondering how Zoran could possibly protect such a find and a new Circle of Ascension.
No need to come ahead of time. If the Ceremony does not work, if there is something amiss in its construction, we will need time to remedy it. I believe that I have enough to protect it for a short while, but after it is going, well, come and see and I will be grateful for any and all advice that you can possibly give me. I am a bit overwhelmed with the responsibility that is landing in my lap. I’m not sure what all must be done, let alone the political ramifications of a new House suddenly appeari
ng without warning. I suppose that all of the barons will attempt to come and see for themselves where this new Circle is located.
Yes, that cannot be helped. Just make sure that you have enough protections in place, enough security men present so that none will be tempted to execute a coup on you, Baron Viktor advised.
Do be careful, little brother, Rayna added.
We’ll see you tomorrow, Lida sent.
Okay, I hope this will do much to get the Baron’s assassins off of you two and your fiancés. See you tomorrow, if all goes well. He broke the connection. Zoran smiled; he knew that those two barons would be conversing like never before between themselves! He’d certainly shaken them up!
“Zoran, we need you a minute,” Zdenka nudged him out of his thoughts. He looked up at her, smiled, and rose, realizing the stone floor was awfully hard and cold. He rubbed the circulation back into his rear, while following her into the Circle of Ascension room.
“Okay, we’ve constructed a really safe and secure location in which to store Bandar Zar’s documents and journals. You stand here, before your Circle, and say ‘In the name of Bandar Zar, appear.’ Go ahead, try it, Zoran,” Zdenka insisted, her alto voice full of excitement.
“In the name of Bandar Zar, appear,” Zoran spoke. To his amazement, an extra-dimensional room appeared right in the center of the dormant Circle! They stepped through the shimmering door into the twenty-foot square room. The walls were white; twenty globes of light provided excellent illumination. One wall contained a locked scroll cabinet and a locked box contained the journals. A third ornate box held the ceremonial books that the High Priestess needed. A mahogany desk and chair sat in the middle of the room.
Zoran Chronicles Volume 1 A Dragon in Our Town Page 19
