“What would cause him to become...that?” I asked still trying to regain my composure.
“No one is certain,” he answered with a shrug. “But you’ve met Master Pryce. Imagine having him as a Father. It would drive any man up the wall. Mix in a power like magic, and you have a very dangerous mix.”
“How’d he get away with kidnapping 15 children without anyone realizing?” I asked.
“He was quick,” Keeper Anderson answered as he crossed the room to put the book away. “He took one child after another. It took them three days to finally catch him. He used a rare plant to put them into a state of hypnosis so they would willingly do whatever he said.”
“What plant did he use?” I asked getting nervous.
“The Dalen Flower,” Keeper Anderson answered. “Really nasty stuff.”
I shook my head and sighed. “I was hoping you wouldn’t say that.”
“You won’t believe how many times I’ve heard that,” The Keeper chuckled.
“Tom still has one of the plants,” I said.
The Keeper’s eyes grew wide and he crossed the room in a hurry. “Where does he keep it?”
“In the library,” I answered. “Move aside the exotic flowers section and you’ll see the little hole he’s made. It’s in there.”
“Good work, Keeper,” Keeper Anderson said proudly. “I will send a Teacher to go and claim it. Maybe finally Thomas can be put to death for his crimes.”
“How did he avoid it in the first place?” I asked.
“His father obviously,” Keeper Anderson said. “He was ashamed of his son’s actions. Only the Masters and a handful of Teachers knew the full extent of what Thomas had done. To keep things hidden, Master Pryce used whatever dirt he had on them to keep it quiet. Thomas was charged with a lesser crime and Silenced. Over the years everyone involved simply died.”
“And no one questioned it?” I asked.
“Who would question Master Pryce?” The Keeper asked with a raised eyebrow.
“This is insane,” I said bracing myself on the wall. “There has be to something we can do?”
“Nope, you see why I could be called, ‘eccentric’?” Keeper Anderson asked. “This is the Order of Magic! It has a long history of corruption and abuse of powers and no one has ever done anything about it.”
“There must be something,” I said.
“I said the same thing when I first started,” he smiled. “You’ll have a whole lifetime of frustration if you try to fight it.”
I let out a long breath. “I guess there is no backing out now. Is there?”
“No, you took the oath,” Keeper Anderson said. “You’re mine and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
“It wasn’t really much of an oath,” I said.
“It wasn’t really much of a Ceremony,” he countered. “I remember when the Coming of Age Ceremony was held at the end of the summer and all the Apprentices that had the Demon Dream where brought outside for a massive feast. But times change. The Masters wanted to give the Apprentices a chance to begin working for the Order sooner.” He scoffed. “’Working for the Order’. More like slaves for the Masters.”
I nodded but remained quiet. He was right. The oath was still the oath. I didn’t need to be reminded that backing down meant I would be Silenced. This wasn’t the worst position to end up in. As...eccentric...as the Keeper was, he seemed like a nice guy at heart.
“You doing ok?” he asked.
“Just a lot to take in,” I answered.
“I know it’s pretty heavy for a first day but it is important,” he explained seriously. “I wish there was an easier way to do this but there isn’t. You need to be ready to face the truth of things or you will be Silenced to, well, be silenced.”
I thought things over for a minute. “So what are we supposed to do?”
“We record the history as it happens, my boy,” he said sliding right back into his eccentric groove.
“And we can’t do anything to change it?” I asked. “We can’t use this knowledge to make things better?”
“No, the Masters won’t allow it,” Keeper Anderson said sadly. “We are sworn to secrecy under penalty of Death. Can you imagine if this stuff got out? It would ruin the Order of Magic and plunge the world into chaos.”
“Judging by this room alone, it seems the Order is the centre of chaos,” I said.
The Keeper smiled. “I am glad I am not the only one that sees it like that.”
I paced back and forth before looking up at him. “Why me?”
“Why not?” he asked back.
“Surely you had your pick out of every Apprentice,” I said. “Why choose the biggest loner out of everyone?”
“You just answered your own question,” he smirked. “The Keeper’s life is solitude. We work alone, live alone and don’t deal with others unless it is to record an event. Who would you choose for that life? A loner or a social butterfly?”
“Makes sense,” I said.
“Also...” he said then sighed. “I see a lot of myself in you. Back when I was an Apprentice. I’ve been recorded your history your whole life and no you inside and out. No strong desire for any School, a strong love of books and smart enough to slip through danger. I won’t live forever, but at least I know there’s someone like me to continue my work.”
I smiled and nodded. “Thank you, I’ll try and make you proud.”
“You’ll get the hang of all the rules and secrets, kid,” the Keeper said. “Plus, what’s so bad about being able to read every event ever documented? We have everything from rituals to the ancient history of Kalenden. There are even history logs from my time with the Nao.”
My eyes grew wide in shock. “How were you able to do that? I was told no one has seen their city in hundreds of years.”
“They weren’t always the way they are now,” The Keeper said sadly. “People change as the world changes.”
I looked around the room with a little bit more positive outlook. The ancient rituals part intrigued me. There is a very good chance that there would be a Demon exorcism ritual in there somewhere.
I hope so, Cathy said. I can’t stand this.
Yeah, I am shocked you have been quiet for this long.
I was distracted by your emotions, she said. Very overpowering. You’ll have to explain that later.
“We better head to that meeting,” The Keeper said worried. “We might have been up here longer then intended.”
“It’s hard to tell without a window,” I said.
“Trust me, that comes in handy some days,” The Keeper said as he headed for the door. “Just let me grab my log and we’ll be off for your first Master meeting.”
“Are they exciting?” I asked.
The Keeper chuckled. “If you call four old men bickering about nothing ‘exciting’ then, yes.”
Chapter 6
The Masters’ meeting room was located in the large office on Master Pryce’s floor under the Archives. Keeper Anderson explained that the Master that has been serving the longest gets the topmost quarters. The order of the Masters went: Pryce, Larose, Gerth, and Baker. But of course for some, order meant nothing to them. The Keeper and I settled into a couple of seats at the large circle table. He set up his scrolls and quills and told me just to watch for this one. The Masters began filing in with Master Pryce being the last one.
“Let this meeting be recorded on the 16th of Sun’s Peak in 412 of the 2nd Era,” Master Pryce said mechanically as the Masters sat down. Keeper Anderson started writing on the scroll. “We also welcome Second Keeper Holcombe to his first meeting. Keeper Anderson, could you remind us where we last left off?”
Keeper Anderson flipped through the scrolls and stopped on one. He squinted a bit as he read it. “You were discussing the recent aggressive activity of the Evenawks, and the conflict between Nesqa and Balendar.”
“There is nothing more to discuss on the Nesqa – Balendar matter,” Master Larose said. “I have sent s
ome of my best mages to instigate a peace meeting.”
“You did so without the other Masters approval though,” Master Pryce said. “There was too much to look into still. You are rushing things and will only make them worse.”
“At least I’m doing something other than talk,” Master Larose said frustrated. “That seems to be the only thing you are good at.”
“You will watch your tongue, old man,” Master Pryce said eerily calm.
“I’m with Larose,” Master Gerth said. “This was a matter that required action not sitting on our hands.”
“But there were still too many questions,” Master Baker said. “We don’t even know why it started.”
“Do they need a reason?” Master Larose said. “The Nesqians and Balendians are always at each others’ throats. Our best course of action is to get the peace treaty signed so we can investigate the matter without further incident.”
“IF the peace treaty is signed,” Master Baker said in a snarky tone.
“Enough,” Master Pryce said. “Larose, get your Mages out of there. We need more time before we interfere.”
“Let’s put it to a vote then.” Master Larose pitched. “All in favour of my plan?”
Master Larose and Master Gerth raised their hands.
“All opposed?” Master Larose asked.
Master Baker raised his hand and Master Pryce’s face twisted in anger before he raised his hand.
“By the rules of stalemate, the matter is suspended until tomorrow,” Master Larose said smugly.
“This isn’t over,” Master Pryce said.
Keeper Anderson scribbled furiously on the scroll and I had to make sure my face wasn’t showing my shock at what I was seeing.
“Next is the Evenawk Uprising,” Master Gerth said. “Their raiding parties are nothing new but there are still the reports that they have been kidnapping and executing Mages.”
“If the Evenawks want war with the Tower then we should just eliminate them once and for all,” Master Pryce said dismissively. “We have tolerated their kind for far too long.”
“They are still important to us,” Master Baker said disgusted. “Ghanlar holds many important ingredients for our potions. A proper relationship with them is important to our continued success.”
Master Pryce scoffed. “If the Evenawks were that important they wouldn’t have free will. They should consider their continued existence a blessing and not defy us.”
“And can you expect them not to with that attitude?” Master Larose said shocked. “They are still an intelligent species with their own language, customs and beliefs. They are not some common dog that you can beat for being bad.”
“Yet despite everything we have done for them, they still attack us,” Master Gerth said. “This Uprising needs to be stopped before it gets worse.”
“So you would have them eliminated, Gerth?” Master Larose asked.
“That is too strong a punishment,” Master Gerth said. “We need to make examples of the Uprising Leaders. Show our hand, but without going crazy.”
“You are still mad to consider any form of aggression,” Master Baker said shaking his head. “I will not allow such a thing to happen.”
“So without even taking a vote, I would believe we are at a stalemate again,” Master Larose said. “Two for peace and two for aggression; if I am correct.”
“You are correct,” Master Gerth said.
“Then the matter is pushed until tomorrow,” Master Larose said as he turned to face Master Pryce. “I trust there won’t be any unauthorised actions on this matter.”
“You dare accuse me of such petty tricks to get what I want?” Master Pryce said as his temper continued to rise. “You dare think that I would stoop to YOUR level?”
“What I am doing is ensuring peace in the land,” Master Larose said matching Master Pryce’s tone. “What YOU are trying to do is oppress it with an iron fist. You may think you rule this Tower with fear and intimidation but you are wrong. There will be a day when no one will stand for it and on that day, I will be the last thing you see.”
“I will burn this Tower to the ground before you rule,” Master Pryce said intensely.
“Masters, I believe our time is up,” Keeper Anderson said before bowing awkwardly. “Until tomorrow.”
Master Gerth and Master Baker headed out quickly while Master Larose continued to stare down Master Pryce.
“Get out of my quarters,” Master Pryce said.
“Don’t get comfortable,” Master Larose smiled strangely. “They won’t be yours forever.”
Master Larose left the meeting room and Keeper Anderson handed me the scrolls and grabbed his quills. “Let us hurry,” he whispered to me.
We left Master Pryce at the table and climbed the stairs to our Archives floor. I followed Keeper Anderson into his office and he motioned to place the scrolls on his desk.
“That didn’t sound too good,” I said dropping the scrolls.
He chuckled nervously. “They have been at each other’s throats for years now and nothing ever comes from it. I wouldn’t worry too much about it. How did you like your first meeting?”
“Shocking,” I answered. “Nothing happened.”
He chuckled again sounding more himself. “Get used to it. It takes weeks to get anything done with them.”
“Has it always been like that? With the Masters always disagreeing?” I asked.
“Some topics are worse then others, but yes,” he answered. “Sometimes it is just about blocking another Master’s idea. Other times it is because they actually disagree with the method.”
“What were your opinions on the topics?” I asked.
Keeper Anderson let out a long breath. “We aren’t allowed opinions, BUT, for the sake of the conversation, I side with Master Pryce on the Nesqa – Balendar conflict. Something doesn’t seem right with the whole thing.”
“But not the Evenawks?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Ghanlar is too important to us. Master Gerth is right, we should take out the leaders and the others will fall silent.”
“You don’t seem too pleased with these events,” I said.
He smiled weakly. “You’ve never been outside the tower have you?”
“No, I haven’t,” I replied.
“I’ll have to send you on a task soon,” he said. “See Kalenden for yourself. But until then, why don’t you take the afternoon to familiarise yourself with the Archives a bit. We aren’t needed for anything until tonight for the next Coming of Age Ceremony.”
“There aren’t any events we need to record?” I asked.
“Oh, there are,” he said playfully. “But we can’t record them until after they happen. I’ll let you know when I get word of something. If you need my help with anything in the Archives, you can find me in here, usually. I just have to run down and let a Teacher know about Thomas’s flower. I’ll be back in a bit.”
“Thank you, Keeper Anderson,” I said.
“Oh, come on now,” he said with a chuckle. “We are going to be like family now. Just call me Jacob.”
“Thank you, Jacob,” I said.
“Good luck in studies, Andy,” The Keeper said as he headed out of his office.
I followed him out but headed around the corridor to find the room marked rituals.
It’s about time, Cathy said.
Look, I had to make things look normal.
Well, I’m bored, she said. There is nothing to do here.
I have the time to go through the books and get you out of my head. You’ll be back haunting my dreams before you know it.
Tell you what, she said as I found the door to the ritual archives. You get me out of here and I’ll leave you alone.
Really?
Really, she responded.
I opened the door and the room was almost an exact duplicate of the Crime room only instead of tomes being in the bookcases there were scrolls, lots and lots of scrolls.
It’s a good th
ing I have the afternoon.
Why? she asked.
We are going to need it.
For hours, I searched the scrolls getting distracted by the interesting rituals I saw: Spirit Transference, Resurrection for Smaller Creatures, Duplicating Item. Finally I had to stop and grab an empty tome from The Keeper’s office so I could record some of these for future study. I was a Keeper after all, what would be wrong with me studying rituals?
You could screw them up and burn the Tower to the ground? Cathy pitched.
It was a rhetorical question, and stop reading my mind.
Stop shouting your thoughts then, she responded.
I scribbled the rituals down in the tome as fast as I could but the evening drew closer and closer. Finally I had found a dusty, ancient looking scroll containing the ritual on Exorcism of Demons.
Found it.
Can you do it? She asked.
I don’t see why not. I’ll have to gather a few items.
I searched through the scroll and found the four items I needed: Goat’s fur, Blood of a Possessed, Bee’s Honey and Vlas Herb. I had to draw a circle on my forehead with the blood, lie on the goat’s fur then I induce a deep sleep with the mixture of honey and Vlas. I was then supposed to cast the ancient spell the scroll describes on the Demon.
I’m starting to see why this was buried in the bottom of the pile.
I didn’t realize mortals could be so silly, Cathy said.
You know what they say: ‘The old ways are the right ways, that’s why they are still around.’
Whatever you say, she said.
Most of these supplies could be picked up from various supply rooms around the Tower. The Blood of a Possessed was going to be much more of a challenge. I was going to have to sneak into Master Gerth’s room and take it. It says in the scroll that all Blood of the Possessed should be protected by the Master of Demonology.
Couldn’t you just kill him? Cathy asked. Seems like it would be easier.
Things don’t work that way here.
Shame, she said.
I left the ritual room and checked the nearest window I could find. It was still bright enough out that Gerth might still be in lectures. I climbed down the stairs quietly until I made it to his floor. I noticed the door to his bedroom was opened a crack and I hesitated on what to do. I gathered my courage and headed down the hallway checking the doors.
The Tower Of The Watchful Eye: The Legend Of Kairu Book 1 Page 5
