by Stas Borodin
The wizards watched the old librarian warily.
“Should we start?” He approached me and turned around, facing the Tribunal. “Who poisoned the students’ food?”
Everyone said they did not know.
“I thought so.” Master Raydun nodded. “Master Henvis, are they telling the truth?”
Master Henvis hesitated only a second. “Yes, Master,” he said with a bow. “There is no liar among us.”
The wizards stared suspiciously at the old librarian. It appeared that they had long been accustomed to the eccentricities of the supreme wizard, tolerating them like an ordinary family might tolerate the crazy antics of a senile half-mad granddaddy.
“What does this mean, Master Raydun?” Master Aydiola asked sternly. “Take the trouble to explain.”
The librarian just shrugged. He put his hands behind his back, propped himself up on tiptoes and looked straight into Master Henvis’s eyes.
“And what about you, my friend? How could I know you are telling the truth?”
Master Henvis backpedalled.
“I doubted your involvement in this conspiracy.” The librarian looked hurt. “But I know you saw the liar, so why are you trying to deceive me?”
Scared, Henvis glanced at the judges and backed away, holding his hands in front of him.
“It’s Kaledir,” said Master Hile. “He looked at him!”
“Bullshit!” Master Kaledir exploded. “You must have more solid proof to accuse a man. He may glance at any of you. Does it make you guilty?”
“You want proof?” Master Raydun asked. “Then tell us, who else besides you could have dropped an Arro feather in the kitchens?”
“Bullshit once again!” Master Kaledir said. “I just bought the damn hat!”
“Really?” Master Raydun looked surprised. “So, you couldn’t have dropped the feather because you just bought the hat, not because you weren’t there at all?”
Master Kaledir thought for a moment and then scowled. “Damn vile old man! You won’t get me confused that easy.”
The librarian’s hand touched the wizard’s shoulder and he froze like a statue, with his mouth agape and eyes bulging.
“Well, dear Henvis, what about you?” Master Raydun approached the terrified wizard.
“It was a mistake! We only intended to poison one student.”
“Him?” Master Raydun pointed his finger at me.
“Yes.” Master Henvis fell to his knees. “Have mercy on me, Master, I’ll tell you everything.”
“Of that I have no doubt.” Master Raydun smiled and patted the wizard’s trembling cheek.
Chapter 6
For the first time during my stay at the Academy, I was admitted to Aydiola Glef’s private quarters. The wizard’s study looked more like a museum. Stuffed animals with bulging glassy eyes and yellowish teeth grinned at me from the shelves. Dead lizards and dust-covered birds looked down from the ceiling beams. Rare crystals of all shapes and sizes glimmered under the white light of gas spheres.
I held my breath as I passed between the massive bookcases filled with countless leather-bound tomes and ancient scrolls. The walls were covered with paintings, yellowed framed maps and precious tapestries. Following the wizard, I carefully stepped on the fluffy carpet, then on an animal hide, then on another carpet and on another hide with a beast’s horned head still attached. An immense skeleton with long-clawed paws and a cracked and blackened skull was suspended from the ceiling. A gust of air blew through the open window and the skeleton rocked gently.
By the window there was an antique table with neat stacks of paper and writing utensils carefully arranged. Master Raydun took a seat, and ran his palm along the polished table top.
“Sit down, my friend.” He pointed to a row of chairs. “We need to talk.”
Master Aydiola remained standing.
“You got me wrong, Master,” he sighed. “I do everything in my power to keep the Academy afloat. Just take a look at the mess they got us into. The students are hungry for blood; wait a little longer and the whole thing will explode right in our faces. What we need right now is a firm hand. We have to teach them respect, with fear if we must!”
“With fear, you say?” Master Raydun nodded. “And who are you going to scare? The young wizards? The same ones we are trying to make fearless and just?”
Master Aydiola stuck out his chin stubbornly. “These are no wizards, just worthless scum.”
“So that is why,” mused Master Raydun, “you decided to hang two of our best students?”
Master Aydiola shrugged. “Nonsense! These two are just a couple of troublemakers. No one would miss them.”
“It seems that I gave you too much freedom, my friend,” the librarian sighed. “And neglected my own duties for too long…”
“With all due respect,” Master Aydiola bristled, “I’ve run this Academy for more than fifty years, and our revenues are growing steadily with each passing year. Should I remind you of the times when you were in charge? The times we could barely make ends meet?”
“Don’t you forget, my friend, that the true purpose of this Academy is to make wizards, not money,” Master Raydun retorted. “Can you name a single wizard acknowledged by Avalor during your time?”
“That’s not my fault!” Master Aydiola hissed. “The Gift is scarce. It is impossible to make a wizard out of nothing.”
“Maybe you just forgot how to find the gifted ones? Or maybe you were blinded by the glitter of gold?
“You have no right to talk to me like that!” the wizard roared.
“And why is that?” Master Raydun looked up surprised.
“Because I am Aydiola Glef! The Supreme Wizard and the Head of this Academy!” Fury flashed in the wizard’s eyes.
“I see.” Master Raydun smiled. “Then who am I?”
“Just a senile old man, nothing more!” The wizard bared his teeth in a sinister grin. “Your time has passed and I don’t intend to put up with your antics for much longer.”
“I see,” the librarian said calmly. “And what are you going to do?”
“I’m gonna crush…” Master Aydiola clenched his big fists.
Ice and I jumped up from our seats ready to stand up for the old man, but our help wasn’t needed.
“You will apologize for your lack of restraint,” said Master Raydun. “You will take off your mantle and go on a journey. When a year has passed, you should come back to the Academy, and we’ll forget the words you said today.”
As if enchanted, Master Aydiola looked at the librarian’s small fist lying on the table.
“Yes, Master,” he muttered finally. “Excuse me, Master, I don’t know what came over me.”
“I understand you perfectly,” smiled Master Raydun. “A stronger man could crumble under such a burden. Now go, you have a day to make yourself ready for a journey.”
The wizard bowed and hastily left the room.
“I can’t believe it! The poor bastard looked so scared!” Ice finally let his breath out. “I was afraid he might piss himself.”
“Well, that would ruin my precious carpet.” The wizard smiled, unclenching his small fist. “It’s about time I assumed my old name and took all the responsibilities back. All thanks to you, lads!”
Ice’s eyes widened and he turned to me. “So he’s the real Aydiola Glef?” He took me by the hand. His palm was sweaty and trembling. “I’m so sorry I said those terrible things about you, Master. I mean, I didn’t know… Damn, you are not you, and he’s not you…”
“You fooled us all,” I said, looking at the small librarian slumped behind the enormous work desk.
“It is I who must beg your forgiveness.” The wizard shook his head. “Had I heeded your words, we could have avoided this whole mess altogether.”
Ice looked down shyly.
“And now, we need to talk.” Master Aydiola pointed to the chairs and turned to my friend. “Have you noticed anything unusual, anything disturbing at the Acad
emy lately?”
Ice nodded. “Remember me nagging about the teachers giving us only the theory without any practice whatsoever? If not for your lessons, I’d still be playing with a pipe lighter on my finger.”
“I noticed that too. I got the impression that it was all done on purpose. Then, some rare magic books went missing from my shelves. I tried to follow the trail discreetly but to no avail…” The wizard sighed. “The poisoning of the students was the last straw.”
The wizard took something from his pocket and laid it on the table before us.
“The answer was simple when I found this. Zontrakian gold.”
Ice and I looked at the coins in disbelief.
“Some men once approached me in the city. They knew I was a librarian and they gave me a list of books they wanted to purchase from the Academy’s library. I told him it was too risky and refused. Some time later, the same men found me again and offered a huge sum of money and refuge in Zontrak. I was too excited to find the missing piece of the puzzle, so I quietly commenced my own investigation.”
Ice and I listened to the wizard with our mouths agape. The puzzle began to take shape for me too. “I suspected the Zontrakians of backing up the Alims’ invasion of Lieh,” I said. “After all, the Zontrakian warlock Telaris was one of their commanders.”
“Yes,” the wizard nodded. “Apart from buying and stealing rare manuscripts from the Academy, they were doing everything possible to impede young wizards’ education.”
“Are you saying”—I rose from my seat—“that Master Henvis and Master Kaledir were simply bought by the Zontrakians?”
“Probably,” Master Aydiola said. “But I don’t think they did it for money. It was more of a personal matter…”
“But why kill me?” I was puzzled.
“Revenge, most probably.” The wizard shrugged. “After all, everyone knows about your lucky shot that put Telaris out of his misery.”
“He wasn’t that miserable,” I muttered.
Ice coughed again and grabbed me by a sleeve. “So you really did… You weren’t pulling my leg!”
I blinked, trying to free my hand.
“Don’t be so worried,” Master Aydiola said. “It is inevitable. Every great man is bound to make great enemies on his way.”
“And great friends,” I squeaked, hiding my shaking hands behind my back. “I hope…”
The wizard smiled, looking at us. “But you already did.”
He took a blank sheet of paper and quickly scribbled a few lines.
“We’ll hide you two for the time being. The best option is to place you under Captain Gormant’s command. He’s sailing from Paara tomorrow morning.”
Master Aydiola dipped his ring in ink and pressed it to the paper.
“Captain Gormant is my old friend. He’ll take care of you as if you were his own sons.” He carefully rolled the letter and put it in a leather case.
“Well, Marcus, I place you in the hands of my very best disciple. From now on, Master Ayssived should be your teacher.” The wizard winked at my dumbfounded friend. “And I hope you will learn a great deal from each other.”
✽✽✽
The stars were still shining outside when Ice appeared on my doorstep. In his hands he held a small canvas bag stuffed with his belongings and a pack of books tied with twine.
“Thank Orvad you’re awake!” he exclaimed. “I can’t wait to leave this damn place. Some prick just smeared my door with shit and threw a dead cat through my window! No time to linger, my friend, let’s move, while your door is still clean!”
I’d prepared my things the evening before. Sorting through my stuff, I decided to leave my expensive hat and fancy suits behind, taking only the most necessary items.
“I’m worried about my horse,” I said, shouldering my travelling bag. “I hate to leave him like this.”
“Don’t worry! It’s already taken care of,” said Ice. “I paid the groom three months in advance; he will be fine when we get back. My horse, however, is a completely different matter. My pa took pains to find me the most ancient beast in all of Antraga.”
We locked our rooms and slowly walked to the gate. A familiar guard invited us inside the guardhouse.
“Shit, I don’t like this, Mark!” Ice hissed. “Keep your knife handy!”
Quietly, we followed the guard. Master Aydiola was waiting inside; he shook our hands and wished us luck. The Archwizard’s wrinkled face was smiling, but his eyes looked sad.
The guard opened the massive iron-bound door and led us outside, straight to the waiting carriage. We loaded our belongings and climbed a set of squeaky stairs.
The window curtains were drawn; the carriage creaked, swaying rhythmically from side to side, taking us further and further from the Academy, towards a new life and new adventures.
✽✽✽
Despite the early hour, the harbour was already bustling with life. Hundreds of porters descended on mountains of goods like an army of busy ants, scurrying over shaky walkways in all directions and disappearing into open ship holds. Customs officers barked orders, richly dressed merchants echoed them, yelling in foreign tongues and waving their gold-studded arms. Grim fishermen, returning from night fishing, were arguing with busy dealers over some wet fish-filled baskets. Lean dark-skinned sailors scrubbed decks and checked rigging. Shipwrights were swinging their wooden hammers, knocking shells from the glistening ships’ hulls. Vats of boiling tar steamed everywhere. A forest of masts, decorated with colourful flags and pennants, towered above it all. Tiny fishing boats, selling fruit and cheap wine, darted fearlessly between huge moored vessels like small birds among great beasts.
“What a stench.” Ice frowned. “I hope the air will be sweeter on the open sea.”
I, on the other hand, liked the smell of the harbour. The smell of the salty wind, freshly caught fish, foreign spices and boiling tar. I breathed deeply; it was the smell of freedom and adventure.
My mood improved considerably. After all, I was going to set foot on a ship’s deck for the first time in my life. And just like fearless Kallesir, a hero of my favourite novels, depart towards unknown lands and mysterious islands.
“Excuse me.” Ice stopped some trader with a rolled carpet on one shoulder. “Could you show us where to find Captain Gormant?”
“Why not?” the trader grinned. “Look on The Punisher, that’s the place!”
“Is that the name of his boat?”
“No, it’s the name of a monster!” the trader chuckled. “But you are looking in the wrong place, lads. The military wharves are that way.”
The military wharves were separated from the rest of the port by a long squat wall made of massive stone blocks. On the top of the wall I spotted a small turret and shining soldiers’ helmets.
“Just think,” Ice mused, “we were assigned to a warship! Can’t wait to see it with my own eyes!”
It took us almost an hour to skirt the port. When we finally reached our destination, we were panting and sweating all over. Through the open door we saw the wharves and the immaculate rows of freshly painted warships. Busy sailors darted back and forth between warehouses, pushing one-wheeled carts.
“Hey, you, what do you want?” An armed soldier blocked our view. “There’s nothing to see here.”
“We have a letter for Captain Gormant,” I said, taking the paper out of the case.
Ice puffed out his chest, trying to look important. “We were assigned to The Punisher,” he said.
The soldier laughed. “New oarsmen, I suppose?” He scratched his head. “Aren’t you a bit puny for the job?” He took the letter, looked quizzically at the stamp, and shrugged. “Doesn’t look like a proper pass. Wait here, I’ll call the officer.”
The officer took just one glance at the signature and stood to attention.
“You are most welcome, my lords. We’ve been expecting you.”
We took the letter and moved on. After a moment, I heard a heavy thud behind my back and
a muffled scream. “I’ll show you ‘puny’, you dimwit!” the officer roared. “These are the wizards!”
“Right,” Ice said in approval. “The wizards should be respected!”
From the top of the parapet we saw rows of galleys, ranging from very small to unimaginably huge ones. They were painted in different colours, with elegant fishlike sterns, tall bows and submerged rams. Bronze figureheads depicting horses, lambs and tigers sparkled under the rising sun.
“Wow! There are hundreds of them!” Ice said.
“Let’s ask someone for directions.” I wiped the sweat trickling down my cheeks. “The trader said it wouldn’t be hard to find Captain Gormant.”
We went down to the pier and were met by the port attendant. The sailor was barefoot; he wore white knee-length pants and a blue jacket with epaulettes. A long sheathed dagger hung from his wide lacquered belt. He carefully studied the letter and bowed respectfully.
“My Lord Wizards, you are expected,” he said. “The Punisher is at the end of Pier 9; it sails in an hour.”
We decided to introduce ourselves first, and only then, if there was time to spare, to wander around and look at the warships.
At the end of Pier 9 we saw two huge vessels with lowered walkways. Tanned sailors squirrelled up the tall masts like playful monkeys, joking and laughing, tying the sails up and checking the sun-bleached riggings.
“Wow! You’ll never get me up there,” Ice chuckled. “But look at them! They actually enjoy it.” The sailors noticed us and shouted something, waving their arms. I waved back and pushed my friend towards the walkway.
“After you,” Ice bowed. “Lead the way, Master Wizard!”
The ship’s hull towered over the pier like a solid wooden wall. The sun was shining straight into my eyes, so I had to squint, clinging tightly to the swaying rope railing.
“Who are you?” A black silhouette, standing against the blinding sky, suddenly blocked our way. Caught by surprise, I lost my footing. Ice immediately bumped into my back, and we hung on the handrail in the most embarrassing way.
