by Bob Blink
“I suspect the crystal is for something else. It is a means that someone else is using to observe and transport their power that supplies the field. I believe it isn’t the Baldari, but whoever is on the far side of that crystal who is triggering the barrier.”
“You meant the lady with the lavender hair that Mitty has warned us about?”
“If she is the one behind the Baldari raids. We don’t understand the relationship between them as yet. Perhaps there is another force at work here.”
“How do we find an answer to the shields if what you say is true?”
Nycoh shrugged unhappily. “I don’t know. But I think it is going to become important soon. The relative quiet suggests something significant is about to happen. We need answers, but have nowhere to turn. For all we have grown, I sense we are as yet novices with magic.”
Nycoh reached out a hand.
“Come. You need to get out of here. Come have dinner with me, and then get some sleep. Tomorrow you need to travel with me back to Sedfair. That is why I came. Queen Rosul will be formally replaced tomorrow by Jusay. There will be a large ceremony, and Queen Rosul asked if I could have you attend. Rigo and Mitty will be there, and the two of you represent the bond that links the kingdoms. The change in scenery will do you good.”
Ash’urn looked around and knew that staying here would be a waste of time. Nycoh was right, and if he went to Nals, he could stay over and look up Fen and see if he had made any progress with the secretive task he’d given himself.
Chapter 17
The Coronation, and the Grand Ball to follow, were to be the most significant events of their kind in recent memory. It had been decades since a new monarch had taken control of the land. On this occasion, since the reigning Queen and her replacement were on good terms, the party was also to bid farewell to Rosul, as she stepped down and returned to her life as a normal citizen. Perhaps the only thing that might have made the whole thing grander would have been for the castle to have been in some kind of shape to conduct the ceremony. Tents were considered for a time since the weather was cooperative, but a tent of sufficient size posed problems, and it was unlikely that one could have been designed and constructed in time. The ancient castle in far off Yaul had been suggested, but Yaul had uncomfortable connotations given recent events, and in truth the castle there was such a ruin that a massive expenditure would have been required to make it ready for such an important event.
In the end, the large events center in the Arts Center down by the waterfront was selected as being the only other facility large enough to contain the expected visitors. It was a showplace in its own right, catering to the wealthy families and could easily be modified to provide a more dignified appearance appropriate to the important event. Hundreds of artisans and skilled Casters were put to the task, and before long the facility began to take on the appearance desired.
A week before the event, the city of Nals began to swell with the influx of important visitors. Each of the Hundred Families expected to attend, and in most cases nearly every member of the family traveled to the capital. Fortunately most had residences in Nals, or at least family with whom they could stay, so the inns were not taken solely by these important members of the kingdom. Nobles and politicians from all around Sedfair also made the journey, keeping the Guild members capable of creating Doorways very busy in the days leading up to the Coronation Ceremony.
In addition to the rich and privileged, many of the Guild would be expected to attend, as were a great many family and friends of the incoming and departing Queens. Such a large number of people flowed into the city, that all businesses, especially those that provided food and drink, were experiencing a windfall unlike anything they could ever recall. Sometimes tempers ran short as normally pampered guests had to wait in long lines to be served. There simply were not enough places to comfortably handle the number of patrons.
Normally some of the guests would have been put up at the castle, but since new construction was waiting for the arrival of the new Queen, this was not an option. Ash’urn was able to stay with Nycoh, who had her own comfortable cottage with several spare rooms. Daim would also be staying at Nycoh’s residence. Rigo and Mitty lived in Nals, and had extended their hospitality to Jeen and her family.
There had been some complications with invitations to the royal families of the Three Kingdoms. The formal planning didn’t address the matter of foreign royalty, since none had been known to exist at any of the previous coronations. Queen Rosul insisted that invitations be sent, since the strengthening of bonds would be important to the future Queen. Because there were few options for quarters, the visiting royalty would come for the day, then be escorted back to the Three Kingdoms at the end of the day by several of the Outpost’s wizards. Their visit would allow them to make the appropriate appearance, meet the new Queen face to face, and be seen by the upper crust of Sedfair. Since language was still a barrier for them, the ceremony would be mostly wasted on them, and attempting to mingle with a translator simply wasn’t going to be effective anyway.
Ash’urn was surprised when Nycoh led him toward the front of the vast redecorated chamber. He’d expected to be included, but hadn’t considered where he might be seated. Given the importance of most of the visitors, he assumed they would have seats in the general gallery toward the rear. Instead, Nycoh led him toward the front, where a large section had been set aside for foreign visitors. It was as close to the raised dais upon which the new Queen would be crowned as any of the seating. To the right were the seats of the Hundred Families, and to the left those of the senior officials of Sedfair. Senior members of the military formed ranks in their finest uniforms and were already in place to the left behind the raised platform. To the right, the Guild’s Senior Casters and ranks of their new wizards were also moving into place. Ash’urn noted that Lyes was already in place, with a vacant seat next to him he assumed was for Ardra.
Ash’urn was surprised that Rigo and Mitty were already seated in the foreign dignitaries section. Somehow he’d expected that Rigo would have been elsewhere given the fact that Mitty was a local and close to the Queen, and Rigo had been all but adopted by Lord Chaten. Daria and Kaler would not be here today. This was not the kind of thing they enjoyed. Rigo motioned to Ash’urn and Nycoh, and they moved over and sat next to him.
“Jeen’s taken the Three Kingdom’s royalty to see the new Queen. Rosul wanted them to meet in advance of the ceremonies, knowing that once this all got started everything would be too formal for any meaningful interaction.”
Rigo’s eyes passed over Ash’urn. He quickly assessed the elder scholar’s appearance, and then let his eyes shift to Nycoh, who shrugged. Ash’urn didn’t look much different, but he clearly wasn’t his old self, and Nycoh’s shrug indicated she had not detected anything that might be the cause of the changes they had noted. Rigo hoped he wasn’t simply getting old and declining as a result. Ash’urn was one of those closest to him, and he couldn’t imagine something happening to his friend.
Soon it became difficult to talk. There were so many people milling about attempting to find their seats that whispering didn’t work, and unless one wished to share his comments with the whole gallery it was best to remain silent. Ash’urn noted that Ardra had arrived, and back in the ranks he also spotted young Fen. Today Fen carried his staff as did the other Senior Casters. Seeing so many with the ornate staffs lined up was quite impressive. Ash’urn had noted that a large contingent of Casters and wizards had been assigned outside to provide protection for the arena and those inside. Given who was gathered in the structure, it would have been imprudent to have neglected proper measures to ensure everyone’s safety. Neither Nycoh nor Ash’urn carried their staffs today. It wasn’t considered appropriate.
Moments later, King Rhory and Queen Mos’pera arrived along with King Briz, who Ash’urn hadn’t seen in some time, and the current Lamane of Lopal, who Ash’urn had never met. There was no time to talk, and Jeen simply nodded to Ash�
�urn and the others as she took her seat. Things were about to begin.
The ceremony had been designed for those circumstances when the reigning Queen was still alive when power was transferred. It was a reasonable expectation that the former Queen would be alive given the legal limitation on age, and the ceremony was designed to include the retiring Queen. In situations like the current one, her role was expanded. Queen Rosul and incoming Queen Jusay were on good terms, had many of the same ideas about how the country should be ruled, and therefore the transition could be expected to be without incident. In this situation, Rosul was actually anxious to pass the responsibility to her younger replacement. Nycoh had told Ash’urn that Rosul and her long time friend and advisor would be departing Nals in the morning, sailing up the coast to Alani’s villa where they planned to live.
The formalities began shortly thereafter, and while Ash’urn had never attended a coronation back home, he expected it wasn’t much different than would be performed in the Three Kingdoms. Much was simply show and formality, but it was clear that an important moment in Sedfair’s history was taking place. Most of the crowd were enthusiastically behind the new leader, and most cheered loudly when Rosul formally passed over the scepter of authority. She was still a favorite. There were those less than enthusiastic, and as Ash’urn’s eyes scanned, in the ranks of the Hundred Families, he could see a number whose faces failed to hide their displeasure at the events. He assumed they might be related to one of the candidates who had lost. He wondered why they had come if they were so displeased with the new Ruler, but then decided it was important politically to make an appearance. Happily the formalities lasted less than a glass, then everyone was released to pass into the adjacent chambers where the mingling would begin.
Jeen was needed to translate for the Three Kingdom’s royalty, but the foursome of Nycoh, Ash’urn, Rigo, and Mitty made their way through the crowds into the party. More than a hundred musicians were playing at the far end, fortunately loud enough for those who wanted to dance, but quietly enough those at this end of the stadium could converse.
“This will be an interesting week,” Rigo was saying. “Now that she is officially Queen, Jusay will be expected to make several key decisions that have been awaiting the transfer of control. I’ll be interested to see if she breaks with Rosul’s visions, or proceeds to implement her policies.”
“You expect her to do so?” Ash’urn asked. He hadn’t paid much attention to politics of late, and with his mind on the ancient scrolls hadn’t followed the issues in Sedfair during the elections.
“She’s always seemed to be mostly in agreement with Rosul, other than being less supportive of the growing role men are taking in the kingdom. I’m wondering if she will make changes in the Guild. That would have the most impact on our direct interaction with them.”
“You mean she might replace Ardra or Lyes?” Ash’urn asked.
“It’s possible,” Nycoh said. “Ardra has indicated there are those within the Guild who feel she was raised to the top position over others more qualified. There are also those who feel Lyes shouldn’t be in his position either. He never formally graduated, you realize.”
“Lyes was chosen for a reason,” Ash’urn objected. “He was the first wizard from Sedfair, and to this day is probably their strongest. Rosul wanted both factions represented.”
Rigo smiled. “That doesn’t mean that everyone is happy. We’ll see if she does what is logical, or what is politically expedient. It will tell us a lot about her. With the Baldari problem, I think making such changes now would be imprudent, but I’m an outsider.”
Their conversation was interrupted as Rigo spotted Lyes approaching. With him was a lovely young woman. She was blond, with long hair done up formally and glittering with jewels that emphasized her position in Sedfair’s society. She was slightly taller than Lyes, and despite a generous figure she looked small beside Lyes’s bulk. Rigo noted that Ash’urn was examining the woman carefully. Lyes, in turn, seemed intent on conversing with the elder scholar.
“Fen wants to speak with you,” he informed Ash’urn when he approached. “He has found something of interest. He hoped you would come today. Perhaps later, or in the morning if you are staying over.”
“In the morning would be best,” Ash’urn suggested. “I doubt this will be over any time soon, and I wouldn’t want to be impolite. And this is?” he asked looking at the attractive woman who had uncharacteristically for Sedfair, taken a less dominant position in the conversation.
“I’m sorry,” Lyes said. “I’d like you to meet Nori. She is part of one of the more prosperous merchant families in Nals.”
As Ash’urn greeted the young woman, he could sense the stiffness in Nycoh who stood next to him. The two women had been exchanging looks that even Ash’urn had no trouble interpreting. It was obvious they didn’t like one another. Ash’urn also sensed a coolness between Lyes and Nycoh, which would have told him all he needed to know even if Nycoh hadn’t given him a hint back at the Outpost.
As Lyes completed the introductions, Ardra walked their way. She had a great deal of respect for Ash’urn, and hadn’t seen him in some time. She was just about to say something when Senior Caster Crissi pushed her way hurriedly through the crowd. She made directly for Lyes and Ardra, her face drawn and worried.
Caster Crissi was one of those who wasn’t happy with her current situation. She also wasn’t happy with the choice of Queen. An extremely competent Caster, and one of those with the ability to tap inherent magic, she had long dipped in Nals politics and with the removal of Carif and her Specialists, had felt herself the most qualified choice to lead the Guild. Queen Rosul had not given her a thought, and had chosen these two inexperienced individuals instead. Crissi had made a private alliance with the woman she had expected to win the election, and knew she would have replaced Lyes and Ardra had the other woman won. That would have put her in charge, and muted the power of men in the Guild, something that Crissi felt was happening far too quickly. As it was, she had been assigned duty, and not even given a position that included her in the night’s ceremonies. Medium height, with a wide and chunky body, she was brusque and direct, which served her current purpose.
“The Baldari are attacking,” she said without waiting to be recognized and not caring that she was interrupting their conversation.”
“Where?” Ardra asked, her eyes intent on the other woman who she knew didn’t like being subordinate to her.
“Here in Nals. They are attacking the Guild.”
“In Nals?” Lyes asked. “How could they get all the way from the southern border to Nals without being detected. They have never come this far north and we are weeks from the western border to the Wastelands.”
“They came through Doorways,” Crissi said. “They simply appeared all at once, coming through multiple portals. That’s not all. They have Casters with them.”
“Casters!” Lyes and Ardra asked simultaneously.
Crissi nodded. “I don’t know how many, but they have staffs just like ours and are clearly not Baldari.”
“It’s Shym,” Mitty said suddenly. “I can see her.” Mitty’s eyes were white and vacant, her vision focused on somewhere else far away. The warning had triggered something inside her and she was having her first waking vision. She could clearly see the Guild compound under attack by more than a hundred armed Baldari, and a number of Casters holding aloft their staffs. The Baldari were on foot, without any of the fearsome mounts they had been known to use of late. Guild defenders were blasting back, but with the powerful beams from Shym, who Mitty had known and recognized, they were losing the battle.
Chapter 18
“Shym!” cursed Ardra softly. “She has joined the Baldari?”
The last of Carif’s Eight had long eluded every attempt to locate her. Some had thought her dead, but Ardra had been certain she was still alive somewhere. She had worried she had some kind of revenge plan in work, but would have never considered anything
like this.
“There’s something else at work here,” Lyes objected. “Even if Shym might aid the Baldari, I can’t see how the other Casters could have been persuaded to join her. How would they have known where to locate the Baldari for that matter?”
“Shym disappeared with others loyal to Carif,” Crissi said.
“There were not as many remaining as you claim are currently involved in the attack,” countered Lyes.
“It doesn’t matter right now,” interrupted Ardra. “We have to alert our fellow Casters and arrange for the protection of the nobles here as well as go help those at the Guild.”
Ardra considered quickly. She didn’t like Crissi, her ambitions were no secret, but more importantly she had no real combat experience. She had never faced the Baldari. The same was true of Lyes, although she felt his instincts would be more dependable if pressed than those of the manipulative woman.
“Lyes,’” she said. “You and Crissi will organize the defense here. I’ll take twenty Casters with me and we will see to defending the Guild. Hurry. We must alert our people. There is no time to waste.”
They turned toward the ballroom where their people were scattered among the guests. All were mingling with the other guests, the staffs they had carried earlier during the ceremony checked into a storeroom since they were not considered appropriate for the party. Dividing up so as to be able to gather the Guild members together as quickly as possible, the three Guild members disappeared into the crowd. It would be necessary to alert the Casters, then return to where they had checked the staffs, and then create the Doorway to the Guild complex across town.
Rigo turned toward Nycoh at the sound of her staff smacking solidly into the palm of her hand. Like Rigo’s staff of days past, she had designed it so that it could be commanded to her any time she wished to have it at hand. She had left it at her cottage earlier in the evening.
