The Emperor nodded to the guard who raced into the palace. I followed everyone as we entered the Palace. From the main assembly room, we headed through a door and entered a small room containing two thrones and a group of chairs along the two other walls. This was where the Emperor meets with his advisers.
The Emperor and the Princess sat down on the thrones and I sat next to Donkor in a seat he ‘saved’ for me. A middle aged fat man entered the room looking sleepy and irritated but smiled and bowed towards the throne.
“It is good to see you again, Princess,” he said. “You had us worried.”
“It is good to be home again, Nnamdi,” Princess Morowa said.
“What is the big news that has everyone waking me up?” he asked in good humour.
“The Mage, Andy, has brought something to my attention that could be a threat to Kalanden,” Princess Morowa said.
“Andy?” Nnamdi said.
I stood up and extended my hand. “I should really get in the habit of formally introducing myself. Second Keeper Andrew Holcombe.”
“Chief Advisor Nnamdi,” he replied shaking my hand. “Second Keeper, you said?”
“Yes, I’m apprenticing,” I said.
“I should have recognized the robes,” The Emperor said. “But if I remember correctly Keepers don’t interfere because of the laws of the Tower.”
“The Tower is in a bad place right now,” I said as Nnamdi sat down in a chair. “One of the Masters is getting hostile towards the others and one isn’t going to stand for it for much longer. I came across a group of dead Mages from the School of the Spiritual in Balendar. Here in Nesqa, I found the Mages responsible for their deaths and was forced to kill them. When both Masters find out their groups are dead. They will go to war with one another.”
“It seems like this happens every few years with you Mages,” The Emperor said. “How can we be sure something is going to happen this time?”
“The Keeper sent me on a quest to gather items for a ritual,” I answered. “This ritual will make the Master unable to use magic.”
“Sounds like you are doing everyone a favour,” Nnamdi said. “Why do we have to worry?”
“When was the last time anyone relinquished power willingly?” The Emperor asked thoughtfully. “You really think he will start a war over this?”
“He already feels like he owns the Tower and all of Kalanden,” I answered. “He’ll watch everything burn before he allows his magic to be taken from him and his school is fiercely loyal to him.”
“So we must prepare to defend ourselves should the war slip into our lands?” Nnamdi asked rubbing his chin.
“Yes,” I answered. “If I succeed in my mission there is a chance that everything can be prevented. If I fail...the four provinces need to stand together ready. Call a truce, cease fire, create an alliance, anything.”
“The Evenawks may be too far gone,” The Emperor said. “Who knows what the Mages have done up there but as far as I’m concerned, if the Mages go to war, the Evenawks march with them.”
Remember the Master meetings you went too? Cathy asked.
Sort of.
Here, she said as a memory flashed through my mind.
“I might be able to help with the Evenawks,” I said. “I remember the Masters saying that there is a rebellion amongst the Evenawks. If I can help the rebellion overthrow the Mages then they won’t be a threat.”
“I haven’t heard of any rebellion,” The Emperor said intrigued.
“The Mages don't want it to be known that they might be losing control,” Princess Morowa pointed out.
“We should still strengthen that border,” Nnamdi said.
“Andy and Donkor have cleared out the old outpost outside of Bauda,” The Princess suggested. “I think Donkor should be put in charge of the outpost and train the soldiers to hold the border. He was saying that he wanted to be a teacher.”
“He would be a good teacher but not a good commander,” The Emperor said. “Nnamdi, select an officer to run the outpost, Donkor, you are in charge of training of the soldiers and protecting the border.”
“No one will hurt Bauda,” Donkor replied.
“Good,” The Emperor said turning to me. “You have been most...interesting, Second Keeper. You will be the only Mage welcome across the border whatever happens. I wish there was more I could give you for your trip but we avoid the Ghanlar Mountains at all costs.”
“The Demon’s Bane is all I need, Emperor,” I said with a small bow.
The Emperor reached into his pocket and pulled out a small silver box. “I must warn you again about Ba Moumno. Everything about it is death. Even if you touch or smell it, it will cause the most painful death you can imagine.”
“I will be careful,” I promised.
The Emperor rose to his feet and handed the box to me. I took off my backpack and placed the box into a safe compartment.
“Now, please, stay the night,” The Emperor offered. “You and Donkor can leave for the border in the morning.”
“Thank you,” I said.
Nnamdi and the Emperor left the room and Donkor and the Princess stood up.
“You’ve certainly got those two fired up,” The Princess smiled. “They will be planning and holding meetings for days now.”
“The King of Balendar is looking forward to an alliance,” I said. “There should be some interesting times in the near future.”
“I can’t believe that I get to teach AND live close to Bauda,” Donkor said excited. “I have to go tell my mom.”
He hurried out of the room and the Princess laughed. “It is good to see him happy.”
“I can’t imagine him any other way,” I said.
“He tries to be positive but he is still human,” she said. “Helping you to save me has really boosted his confidence. If there is a war the Mages are in for a surprise.”
“Remind me to hide on the other side of Kalanden when that happens,” I said.
She chuckled softly. “So it looks like I’m forced to show you to the guest quarters. This way please.”
She led me out of the room in the direction the Emperor and Nnamdi had gone earlier.
That mountain climbing isn’t going to be a cake walk, Cathy said.
Fighting a rebellion is going to take some serious strategy.
No, I mean that actually climbing part itself, she said. You have the tendency to trip while walking on flat ground.
Only rarely.
Well, I’m convinced, she said sarcastically.
Chapter 27
The view from the top of the mountains was breathtaking. From here I could see the Tower standing tall over the Archanion Field, the forests to the north and south and the glint of sunlight reflecting off the white castle at Thurlborn Peak. I tried to take in all the sights of Kalenden before the sun disappeared and cast the entire land into darkness.
“It really is the perfect spot,” She said as she joined me.
She was a brown haired beauty with sparkling blue eyes. We had travelled up the mountains to take in the sights before I was called away to the Tower again.
“I’m glad we could do this one more time,” I smiled while looking into her eyes.
“We can still run away,” She said hopefully. “Just spend the rest of our lives up here.”
“I can’t,” I said taking her into my arms. “This affects all of us. If I turned my back on it now, it will just find us in the end.”
“But what if you don’t come back?” She said softly as her soft hand touched my face.
“I will,” I reassured her. “Once it is over, it can be just you and I till the end of time.”
She smiled weakly and I leaned in to kiss her. She pulled away and a look of confusion and anger crossed her face.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Damn it, Andy, we are not doing this,” She exclaimed.
“What are you talking about?” I asked confused.
“Wake up!” She said
as she grabbed and shook me.
***
I sat up quickly, breathing heavily.
“Cathy?” I said. “What the...?”
You dragged me into a fantasy dream? She replied angrily.
How do you know it was my dream?
Because in my dream, I am aware, Cathy explained. Your sub-conscious was controlling me.
Seems like you had control at the end.
Only after I figured out what was going on! She exclaimed.
Well, it’s not like I can control my sub-conscious! I was stuck going with it too. Couldn’t you have just woken me up normally so I could end it?
Like you would willingly end a fantasy, she said in disbelief.
If it was going to make you uncomfortable, yes I would.
Liar, she scoffed.
Well, we’ll never know now, will we? You just have to believe and trust that I would continue to be me.
She sighed. I know I’m over reacting but...it is just...so many emotions and...confusing.
What happened?
I... she started. ...need time to think. We’ll talk later.
Cathy!
I could feel her trying to hide her thoughts and emotions as she disappeared deeper into my mind so I stopped trying to probe around. If she needed time to think and hide then it must be serious but she was going to explain what happened when she came back out.
I rubbed my eyes and swung my legs off the bed as I tried to remember where I was. Slowly the memories of last night came back. I was in the Nesqan palace and I was to meet Donkor in the morning so we could travel to the border.
What a dream last night. I’ve never had one completely mess with my head like that. Cathy is right, emotions are confusing.
I chuckled and shook my head. I stood up from the bed and put on my robe and hat. I shouldered the pack and felt the strain from the previous days of carrying this thing. I couldn’t wait to be back at the Tower so I could finally put it down for good.
I left the guest room, headed through the hallway back to the main assembly room and finally out the front door. The palace guards nodded to me as I stepped out into the already humid morning. The sun was rising over the water, illuminating the island cities close by. As I climbed down the stairs to the city, I made a promise to myself try and visit here as a tourist when I can.
In more appropriate clothes of course.
At the bottom of the stairs, I noticed Donkor moving through the light morning crowd. When he looked up to see that I was already in front of him, he threw his arms up in frustration.
“I was hoping to scare you awake,” he said.
I chuckled. “I was hoping to scare you first.”
“Are you as excited as me?” he smiled.
“Probably not,” I smiled. “But close.”
“I want to thank you for helping me talk to Moro about teaching,” he said.
“It was the least I could do after you trusted and helped me,” I said.
“I still can’t believe that bandit guy smelt me,” Donkor said.
I laughed. “I told you to keep your arms down.”
“Are you ready to go?” Donkor asked trying to steer the conversation away.
I looked around one more time before nodding. “It is time for me to move on.”
“You’ll come back to visit, right?” Donkor asked hopefully.
“Of course,” I smiled.
“Good,” he smiled as he took the lead.
We left Kay Julis heading on the same path we had travelled just yesterday. Despite this, as soon as we entered the forest, I was lost. I don’t think I could ever travel the forests without help no matter how many times I walked it. A tree is a tree to me.
Donkor’s pace was slower then our first time and without any interruptions, we entered the village of Bauda. Donkor pointed to a thin path on the far edge of the village and gave me directions to the border. He needed to fix Abuya’s roof before he headed to the outpost so we said our goodbyes and I promised him, again, that I would visit, before leaving the village.
The trees closed around me more now that Donkor wasn’t with me but quickly thinned out as I reached the hillier landscape of the borders. I would have to cut through the Archanion Field to get to the entrance to the mountains Donkor told me about but he explained that it would be a safer walk up the mountain.
According to my map the path up the mountain from the Archanion field would take me to the capital of Willow’s Trap, where the Mage’s run the plateaus and mines. The rebellion would be somewhere within the depths of the forest west of the cities but it would be a good idea to see what I could turn up from the locals.
If they would even talk to me.
The walk through the Archanion Field was quiet. Very quiet. Cathy still hid in the back of my mind trying to hide her emotions and thoughts and wouldn’t be coaxed out. It was strange to not have her cracking some witty joke about my observations or trying to get me to kill the wildlife as we passed. I was starting to miss her. In such a short time, I’ve grown to consider her such an important part of my life.
With the path up in the mountain ahead of me, I took a second to look back. In the distance the Tower of the Watchful Eye rose over the landscape, the only thing with any height in an otherwise empty field.
I would be home again soon, if it could still be considered a home after all this. To wish that things had been different was tempting but it wouldn’t change a thing. The Mages were tormenting the provinces of Kalenden like they had tormented me my whole childhood. Things needed to change and I would see to it myself.
I see you haven’t lost any confidence in yourself, Cathy said softly.
I smiled and started my walk up the mountain path. Welcome back.
Thank you, Cathy said. It is...not easy to be away.
“Do you want to talk about it?” I asked.
Yes...and no, she said slowly. But I do owe you an apology.
I stopped walking. “Whoa, did I hear that right?”
Ha ha, she said sarcastically. I mean it. Human emotions are...complex and confusing and I can’t seem to ever get the hang of them but...I shouldn’t take them out on you.
I started walking again. “Well...thank you for apologizing.”
As to what happened... she started, I...don’t know. A lot of emotions came over me and...umm...
I chuckled. “It is ok. I think you handled yourself quite well considering your position. It is not like we’ve been together like this for seasons. It has only been a handful of days. I’ll do my best not to put you into those dreams again.”
No...I mean... she sighed. Like you said, you can’t control your sub-conscious. If it happens again...we’ll deal with it calmly.
“Agreed,” I said. “I’m just glad to have you back.”
I’m happy to be talking to you too, she said softly.
A wave of relief washed over my body either from Cathy or myself...
Probably both, she said quickly.
...as we continued on our way. The winding path grew steep in some areas as it narrowed. As we approached a large ravine with a thin, rickety looking wooden bridge, my confidence failed to grow as I noticed the large sections in the middle of its span with missing boards.
Well, we tried. Let’s go home, Cathy said.
“And here I was worried you wouldn’t have any faith in it,” I said sarcastically.
It has to be a trick of some kind, she replied.
“Worth a shot,” I said as I reached out with my mind.
I could feel the magical energy around the bridge, it felt like a Ward used by Spiritual Mages. I held up my hand and sent a Pulse at the bridge. A second magical bridge glowed and faded as the Pulse bounced off the Ward.
Oh yeah, Cathy cheered.
“Good call,” I said. “If I remember correctly, there is a way to form a bond with the bridge so I can supply consistent power.”
You are correct, sir, Cathy said as a memory flashed through my mind q
uickly.
I walked towards the bridge and held out my hand. I sent another Pulse and the bridge glowed brightly. I reached out with my power through my hands and grabbed the Spiritual nature of the bridge. Forming a bond with it, I felt the unnatural feeling of being tethered to the wood.
“Is this right?” I asked.
Beats me, Cathy answered.
The bridge started to fade and I pushed a little more power through the bond and the bridge glowed again. Confident in the connection, I supplied a steady stream of power that kept the bridge tangible.
I approached the first step of the bridge and placed my foot on it gently. The magical bridge felt solid and I continued with another step, then another and another, until I was walking at a slow and steady pace across the bridge.
The wind started to pick up as I approached the missing middle section of the bridge. With the glowing magical bridge, the way was covered but I could still make out where the wooden bridge ended and the fall that awaited me. I stepped out carefully and my foot landed on the solid magical bridge. Walking quickly I crossed the gap and made it to the other side with a sigh of relief. With the magical bond starting to take its toll on me, I quickly made for the end of the bridge.
A large gust of wind rocked me on the bridge and my hat was blown off my head. I reached out to grab it but missed as it fell off the bridge and to the ground below.
And it is out of here! Cathy exclaimed.
“Damn,” I said sadly. “I liked that hat.”
You are better off without it, Cathy said happily.
I finished crossing the bridge and released the bond. The relief of not having my power drain out of me brought a small smile to my face as I looked down the gap for any sign of the hat.
“It had been through so much,” I said.
But now we can get you something fashionable, Cathy countered.
“I suppose,” I sighed continuing along the path.
The wind slowly died down again. Having already done its damage there was no more reason for it to stick around.
Oh, don’t be so melodramatic, Cathy said.
“I thought you would like that,” I said playfully.
The Tower Of The Watchful Eye: The Legend Of Kairu Book 1 Page 22
