Madness and Magic- The Seers' War

by Greg Curtis

  But it was peaceful. The morning's showers had passed, and the sun was now peaking from behind the clouds. He could sit there and simply enjoy the warmth on his face.

  Meanwhile inside the house his aunt and his great uncle were busy arguing with one another. They argued most days. Truthfully not a lot of what either of them said made much sense. The strange thing was that though both seemed to understand that the other was muck spouting, they didn't realise they were doing the same. But who was he to judge? He just wanted to go home. And not to have to eat any more of his aunt's cooking. Or to have to think about what might be in it!

  The sound of something forcing its way through the undergrowth took his thoughts away from such matters. For a moment he worried about what was coming his way. It didn't sound like the wild boar that seemed to have made her home its territory. Normally when it forced its way through the jungle in a desperate attempt to hunt for roots, there was a lot of grunting and puffing. Occasionally some squealing as well. He had no idea why his aunt had allowed the thing in her jungle garden let alone her house – save of course that she was mad.

  But then the creature forcing its way through the jungle appeared, and his worries were instantly replaced by surprise.

  “Nyri?!” Somehow he just hadn't expected her.

  “Baen!” She looked shocked. “I knew you weren't dead!”

  Without warning she raced around the side of the tree, vaulted lightly on to the raised patio, grabbed him up in her arms and started squeezing the life out of him. Then she kissed him. Then she started swinging him around as if he was a small child. The woman just didn't know her own strength!

  “Please … can't … breathe.” He forced the words out as he flew around like a child's spinning top. He had to do it a couple of times as she was lost in her excitement.

  Finally Nyri put him down – though she didn't let him go. Instead her face grew stern while he found himself wondering once again how she could be so strong. And what had happened to the normally calm, composed and critical woman. And why she was still holding him, her arm wrapped around his waist as they sat down on the branch.

  “So why didn't you tell us you were alive?!” She started scolding him. “Caris is out of her mind with worry – again! Your family are distraught. And half the Mission is holding prayers to the spirits for you.”

  “I'm sorry,” he mumbled, wondering why she was still holding him so close. It seemed a little familiar. Though he had to admit it wasn't unpleasant – provided she didn't squeeze too tight. Maybe he should nearly die more often! “I was recovering. Sleeping mostly.”

  “Ahh, the giantess! I should have known!” Great Uncle Mortimer appeared on the patio, interrupting things. “Come to explain?”

  “Explain what seer?”

  “Why Grenland is falling into anarchy!”

  “What?” Baen hadn't heard that. But then he hadn't heard much of anything lately. He'd been too busy sleeping – and trying not to drink his aunt's teas!

  “King Richmond's claim to the throne has been shown to be illegitimate. He's fled the castle and the city along with his family – before he ends up swinging from his own gallows. But he's probably wooing members of the Court and forming some grand plan to retake the throne. The Duke's in the wind too. And half a dozen of the most powerful families in the land are vying with one another to take the throne for themselves. The rest are forming alliances to stop them.”

  “Praise the Lady, how did that happen?”

  “Someone released the documents proving that they weren't King Raegan's heirs. I assumed it was you –” he turned to Nyri. “But my memory’s a bit unclear on that.”

  “It was Dariya,” Nyri replied. She used Baen's press.” Then she kissed him again. “He's so clever.”

  “Clever?! He's a fool boy who doesn't know his manners!” he grumbled loudly. “And you! Another fool! You're perfect for each other!”

  “So, do we have your blessing then?” Nyri grinned.

  Blessing? Baen almost died when she said that. What was happening to the woman?! He'd thought she detested him! Or at least disliked him. A little. The woman was losing her mind! Everybody was losing their minds! And his great uncle was no better as he stood there, his mouth hanging open.

  Nyri burst into laughter. “You fools should see the looks on your faces!” She finally let Baen go and stepped away a little. A seer who can't see what's right in front of his face and one of the most powerful enchanters around. And you have no more wit than children!”

  “I can't see anything at all lately. It's all a jumble.” His great uncle eventually mumbled.

  Baen for his part just sat back down again. He was feeling even weaker than before. Now the Protector was poking fun at him? That didn't seem right either.

  “Tea?” Millie appeared in the doorway. “I put the kettle on when I saw you come.”

  “Don't drink the tea,” Baen immediately warned Nyri. “It's not tea.”

  “It's not tea?” Nyri arched an eyebrow.

  “I don't know what it is but it's not tea. It's never tea! Try the water – it's safer!” He also thought about warning her not to eat the food either. But then he saw the look in his aunt's eyes and thought again. She was, despite all reason to the contrary, proud of her cooking.

  “And you Uncle Grouch?!” She turned to Mortimer.

  “Definitely water for me.” Mortimer quickly took a seat opposite the two of them. “Just plain water though. I don't like fungus! Or earthworms in my stew!”

  “Hah! Ungrateful! That’s what you are!” Aunt Millie snapped at them, then turned on her heels and headed back inside. But at least she didn't slam the door behind her.

  “That woman gets crazier by the day!” Mortimer complained to the air. “I blame Deana – she was never the most stable! I mean look at her children – Martha and Millie. Muck spouting lunatics, the pair of them! Would you ever invite either one of them to dinner?!”

  Baen would have protested – because it was the proper thing to do. But then he considered the matter and thought again. So he changed the subject instead.

  “Dariya used my press?” He was surprised by that. He'd thought the woman didn't like his magic. Not that he minded her using it.

  “With a little help from J'bel. But it was her doing.” Nyri started telling them both about the woman's escapade in Grenfields while they waited for the water to boil, and despite it seeming odd somehow, Baen found himself fascinated by what she'd done.

  Baen had to admit that it was a clever idea. Clever enough that he almost wished he'd thought of it himself. But then he'd never known that the Duke had a secret underground vault full of documents. Soon though he found himself wondering about the consequences of what she'd done. And despite the fact that she'd had good reason for her actions, he knew there would be a price to pay. Not least that her actions would have pushed the Realm into chaos. But as well as that they also had four players to think about. The Duke, Estor Metea and the King, all apart from the last in hiding. While they were out there, he couldn't imagine that anyone was truly safe. But he didn't know what any of them would do. And he guessed his great uncle didn't either. That was why he was complaining so much lately. The future had turned upside down again.

  They needed to be caught. And Dariya needed to go through with her abdication – assuming that that was still her plan. Or find a suitable husband. One with an army behind him to bring order back to Grenland.

  Then a thought struck him, just as Aunt Millie appeared in the doorway again with a tray of chipped mugs and a kettle of hot water – at least he hoped it was water.

  “You,” he turned to Nyri, “are a genius! A full steam ahead highbrow!”

  “Ah huh?” She stared dubiously at him as she accepted a cup. Or was that suspiciously? “I've always known that of course, but a little more information would be helpful!”

  “Yes of course.” He accepted a cup himself, and then stared dubiously at the brown concoction. It looked like
a cup of hot mud! “And we need to get started on the invitations at once!”

  “Invitations?”

  “To the wedding of course! How will everyone know to come if they aren't invited?!” He enjoyed seeing the sudden look of alarm appear on her face even though it was a little bit cruel.

  “You do understand that that was a jest?”

  “Was it?” He smiled mischievously at her. “Because I was so looking forward to our wedding night! I should be fully recovered by then – provided Aunt Millie doesn't do the cooking!”

  “Boy!” Aunt Millie protested, starting to become annoyed at all the japes about her skills in the kitchen.

  “Sorry Aunt Millie. A poor joke and I apologise for it.”

  “As you should!” She bristled a little. But then she sat down by Nyri, and put the tray down beside her. “Congratulations, Girl. I had no idea! Welcome to the family!”

  Nyri had had no idea either, which might have explained why she'd turned a little pale and seemed to be struggling to find something to say. And why Great Uncle Mortimer was trying to keep from laughing. His gift might be in pieces at the moment, but even he guessed that Baen was joking.

  “My apologies to you too Protector.” He thought she'd swung in the wind for long enough. “I didn't mean our wedding. I meant Dariya's.”

  “What?! She's getting married?!” Nyri looked shocked all over again. “I didn't know! When? Who to?!”

  “J'bel of course. The two of them seem to be close. But naturally due to my poor skills with my press, he'll be “Jeb” on the invitations.”

  “Jeb?”

  “It sounds like a Grenland name, and as everyone in Grenland knows now, the moment Dariya weds, her husband becomes King. This is a Royal wedding. Every noble house will be rushing to Cedar Heights to attend. There'll be so many of them that we'll have to drive them away with a stick!”

  “But he's Fae!” Nyri's eyes opened so wide that they almost looked like they might fall out of her head.

  “Exactly!” He laughed at the thought. “That’s the beauty of it. Of course, we won’t mention that in the invitation. The guests won’t know until they arrive and witness the ceremony. At which point all their plans and schemes to stop the wedding or kill the new King, will come to a dead stop. But they won't mind. In fact most of them will want the wedding to go ahead.”

  “Why?” Nyri asked.

  “Because he's Fae! The King of Grenland cannot be Fae! Richmond and his uncle might be able to get away with a little bit of Fae blood – save of course for the fact that it makes them bastards – but full blooded Fae? Never! The moment the priest announces them as wed, Dariya has effectively abdicated. Truly abdicated. More so than if she'd actually done so as she'd planned.”

  “Some days you almost make sense!” Nyri sighed and then held her head. “And then some days this comes out of your mouth! Why can't she just abdicate if that's what she wants to do?”

  “Because Grenland is a jungle. A political jungle. If she did that there would always be nobles, factions of the Court, who would want the Queen back. Who would be claiming that she was forced to abdicate. That she is the true Queen denied her throne. Trying to force her to reclaim her birthright. And of course trying to wed her off to their sons. No matter what she said she would still be a piece in their endless game of power.”

  “This way, they can never do that. She's not only abdicated, she's married a Fae. In front of the realm. They could never undo that. Her claim to the Throne is gone forever.”

  “But before the priest pronounces them husband and wife, she gets to speak. She is after all, the Queen. Or the Regent. She's just never claimed the Throne. Whether or not she has the power to make decrees in her own name, if she speaks she will be listened to. Her words will carry weight. So her vows will be critical. Ones about how the realm will be run in her absence. Without a Royal Family. Vows that will be heard by every noble in the realm, and written down by every scribe. There will be no denying them later when the time comes to form a new Grand Court to rule the realm.”

  “Al … right.” Nyri answered him hesitantly. “It solves one problem. But would either of them do that? Go through with the wedding? They're not in love.”

  “Actually it solves more than one problem. Remember when I said that every noble in the Realm will be there? Do you really imagine that the two men who have fought their entire lives for the throne, will not also be there to watch it be given away to someone else? The Duke will certainly be there – just waiting to be arrested! And this time, since he's not of Royal heritage and everyone knows it he can be sent to G'lorenvale to be locked away for the rest of his days. He's part Fae. King Richmond will almost certainly be there as well. He and his family will be looking for sanctuary among the Fae as well. Because with his claim to the throne gone and most of the Court hating him, he won't have a choice. I would suggest granting him his request. He'll only make more trouble if he remains here. And finally, if we are really lucky Metea and Estor will also be there.”

  “In short, our four most wanted will be all in the same place; just ripe for the picking. Depending of course on how much of Metea's gift is working again by then.”

  He was almost sure that the Duke's gift wouldn't be. His great uncle's gift was in pieces still, and he was only incidentally affected by the events of the Realm. But the Duke's entire future had shifted when Dariya had released those documents. And with Estor gone he'd surely run out of potions to help him through the madness. He was likely still reeling and would be for some time to come.

  “They don't have to be in love. They don't even have to live together. The most they have to do is to hold hands and have a ribbon tied around them. A few months later they can get divorced and go back to their old lives if they want. It won't matter by then.”

  Of course it might to them. He didn't really know what either of them would think about a sham wedding. But Baen knew that this would work.

  After this there would be no more vying for the throne between uncle and nephew. Neither would have a claim to it and it would be obvious to the entire Realm. King Richmond’s terrible decisions would be a thing of the past. It should also put an end to hostilities between the two Realms. And the Fae would finally have at least some justice for the attack on Illoria. They would have the man who'd arranged it and maybe the High Priestess as well. That mattered to them.

  “That's …” Nyri tried to find the words.

  “Perfect!” He completed the thought for her. And then since she was sitting right beside him, still holding him, a thought struck him. “Like you!”

  He took advantage of their closeness to to kiss her as he realised she wanted. As they both did. And he tried not to listen to the complaints of his great uncle as he did so. Nyri didn't seem to mind after all!

  Chapter Forty Two

  “This is not right!” Dariya stared in horror at the reflection of herself in the mirror, resplendent in a formal wedding gown the seamstress was currently fitting for her, and immediately hated it. It was just so wrong. Of course she knew she was a woman! She was supposed to love dresses and pretty things. But she simply hadn't worn one in so long that doing so now felt uncomfortable. Besides, she was too big for a dress. Her muscles were too well defined. All those years training with weapons had given her muscles. She simply wasn't lithe and delicate as a princess or a queen should be. She was a soldier!

  And where was she going to put her weapons?! Because she absolutely needed to be armed. People were going to be trying to kill her – right up until the moment they discovered she was marrying one of the Fae. Then they'd be desperately wanting to hurry the marriage up. Waiting eagerly to hear those words spoken by the priest. That he pronounced them husband and wife.

  After that the cheers of joy she expected would be rapturous. No more Kings and Queens – the nobles would be beside themselves with joy as well as they looked to carve up the realm. And despite the wizard's claims, she wasn't at all sure that they would obey h
er first, last and only decree. That the thirty largest houses form a Grand Court to rule the Realm in her absence. For a while, maybe they'd be good. Or at least they wouldn't start shooting one another. But in the end a Queen couldn't make decrees in her own name. She could be Regent – as she guessed she now was. And eventually the nobles would decide that she'd spoken those words as merely a Regent. The moment it suited them to defy her they would.

  And then she'd be Dariya Tar!