by Mike Shelton
“Wizards came to my town only three years ago to test everyone,” Roland said. “Up until that time, I never knew I possessed the powers to be a wizard. Well, looking back, I did have a special knack for certain things,” Roland reminisced. “But, once I began my training, it was like a block lifted from my senses. Then I could sense power flowing through my veins.”
Alli eyed him with some obvious astonishment. “You only attended here two years before you were apprenticed out? And now they are going to test you for a full wizard?”
Roland smiled.
“Roland?” Alli frowned at him.
“I know you think I am full of myself and overconfident.” Roland spread his arms out from his sides. “That’s what everyone thinks. But none of you understands. None of you.” He felt his face redden as he brought his clenched fists to his sides.
“Understand what, Roland?” Alli asked, raising her voice. “You think you are the only apprentice who is powerful and feels ready to be a wizard? I may be only fifteen, but I feel that power every day, especially when I am in a battle. It flows around me and through me. It heightens my senses and gives me clarity of thought. I even feel that I am at one with the power at times.”
This time, Roland was astonished. He wasn’t quite sure what to say. “Quiet your voice down, Alli.” He glanced back into a nearby window, where a few servants brought food now to some of the Citadel wizards. “Do you think they are afraid of us? Could it be possible that the older wizards are not as powerful as we and are afraid of what we are?”
Alli shrugged, and her black hair bobbed up and down over her shoulder. “I heard what Bakari did with the vulture and what you did to heal the Chief Judge. These are not powers the older wizards are comfortable with. I don’t think they like that we can do more than they. Gorn is always trying to slow me down and telling me to pace myself. But I don’t need to pace myself. I do not get tired when I am in battle.”
Roland had frowned when she mentioned Bakari. He was a quirky, quiet fellow, but a good friend nevertheless. “Do you know where Bak went?”
Alli walked along the rail for a moment, glancing down at the bustling city below getting ready to settle down for the night. “I don’t know Bak well. Even though I am stationed in Cassian, I am usually out with Gorn, fighting King-men or bandits. You know him better than I. Do you think he’s in trouble?”
“Trouble?” Roland thought for a moment. Bakari was the only person he knew who was never in trouble. He stayed away from people and places that would cause him trouble. “I don’t know. Not normally, but things are changing, Alli. He was fiercely protective of that girl.”
“Maybe it was because he doesn’t see many of his own kind around Cassian.”
Roland chuckled. “I hadn’t thought about that. You are right. Bak is one of only a few darker-skinned people in Cassian. He must have been surprised to find someone like him. Maybe that’s it. Good for him!”
“How did he get to the Citadel?” Alli asked.
“He was dropped off at the doorstep here when he was only five years old—it is said—with a note saying his name was Bakari. He doesn’t remember much from before then. Someone from up north brought him. North of Whalen, there are a lot of his people, being closer to the Barrier Mountains of Mahli. He lived here for a long time and moved to Cassian before I did. Then, last year, they raised him to a level-two wizard.”
“Do you think they will test me?” Alli asked, bringing the conversation full circle.
Roland shook his head. “I don’t know. You are even younger than I.”
“But age does not mean strength!” Alli’s eyes flashed.
Roland laughed. “That is what I told Onius. Tomorrow, I will show them. Then I will be promoted to a full wizard—level three or four!”
Alli shrugged her shoulder. “Don’t be too cocky, Roland. You might be powerful, but to jump multiple levels is unheard of. It isn’t done often, particularly at our age.”
“It will be for me. You wait and see.” Roland ran his hand through his hair, pushing it off his forehead. “I will run this place someday.”
Alli seemed about to retort, then closed her mouth when the Chief Judge came out onto the landing. His light brown skin, common down south, near Orr, almost glowed in the torchlight. He stroked his graying goatee with his fingers and smiled at seeing the two apprentices.
“Ah, Roland, I have been searching for you,” the Chief Judge said as he nodded a greeting toward Alli. “I see you two are enjoying the Citadel.”
Alli blushed, and Roland found himself caught off guard. “Discussing our powers, Sir.”
“Hmmm.” The Chief Judge looked from one to another. “I hope you two keep good heads on your shoulders in regards to that. There is too much power being used to manipulate others as it is. In fact, on that note, Roland, I would like to speak with you.”
With those words, Alli was dismissed, and Roland turned toward the Chief Judge.
The Chief Judge motioned Roland over to a set of wooden chairs next to a table, out on the corner of the balcony.
“Counselor, what do you know about the King-men?”
Roland sat in silence for a brief moment, surprised at this greeting. First, Onius; then, Alli; and now, the Chief Judge. Was his entire evening going to be taken up by surprise conversations? He glanced out over the city that had been built up around the Citadel. Farms and small homes now dotted the land outside the walls. “Sir?”
“Are you not a counselor, Roland? Are you not trained to counsel?”
Roland remembered from his conversation with Onius how the Chief Judge had dismissed him earlier. “I am trained to be a counselor. But, as you can appreciate, I am not a full wizard yet.”
“But you have mentioned several times how powerful you are and how you should be recognized as a full wizard, correct?” The Chief Judge motioned for a servant in the building to bring out some refreshments for them. “You shouldn’t worry about receiving a title if you know what you are and what you stand for.”
Roland, however, did want the recognition.
The Chief Judge seemed to notice his hesitation and then continued talking. “I remember being young, Roland. You want the praise, the glory, and to be noticed, right?”
“Is that so wrong?” asked Roland, surprised that the Chief Judge was actually taking time to discuss these things with him.
“No, not so wrong; but, in time, you learn it doesn’t matter what others think of you if you are acting in accordance with what you think is best. You are who you are, Roland Tyre—a wizard with growing powers. A designation doesn’t change that. You will see this as you get older. But, for now, try to remember it is more important to have a conviction and live by that conviction and know that you are true to yourself, more important than to be someone you are not, just to receive the notoriety of a title.”
“I understand what you are saying, Sir.” Roland leaned forward in his chair. “I really do. You are saying that I shouldn’t be a different person whether I am an apprentice or a wizard, that my principles and what guides me should be the same either way, and that I should take what is dealt to me and make a difference in whatever station I am in.”
The Chief Judge nodded and smiled. “My, my, Roland, you do pay attention sometimes. That is nice to know.”
He knew what the Chief Judge wanted him to understand, but Roland didn’t know if he agreed with him. With higher titles came greater opportunities. One thing would always stay the same, though. It was what drove him. And the Chief Judge was correct in encouraging that him to remain dedicated to something—no matter what station he was in, Roland would continually strive for his goal of becoming the most powerful wizard in Alaris.
A simple goal. And the next day would afford him a large step on that path. The wizard test!
The Chief Judge then got down to the point of his visit. “Let’s discuss the King-men: what they want, where their power comes from, and how we can survive the revolt and keep Alaris
intact whichever way things go.”
Roland’s eyes widened. These were the subjects the leader of Alaris usually discussed with Onius. Then he smiled and realized that, once again, he was showing up his mentor. By tomorrow, he could be calling Onius his former mentor.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The next morning, everyone gathered in the great hall of the Citadel to hear the Chief Judge speak. Bright sunlight filtered through the high windows, and food and drinks were set around the hall’s perimeter for the taking. The room was filled to capacity.
From up in the front of the room, Onius watched the Chief Judge walk through the austere group. Inwardly, he felt proud of Daymian. Walking through that many men and women of power was intimidating for even the highest-ranked wizard, let alone for someone who had no powers of his own.
The Chief Judge took the podium and began his speech. He was a master orator and captured the attention of all assembled with a brief history of the system of Chief Judges in Alaris.
“This system of fair government has been part of the heart and soul of Alaris for one hundred fifty years,” the Chief Judge continued. “The barrier has kept other nations from troubling us, the wizards have supported the judges as their scholars, counselors, and battle generals, and together we have built a strong kingdom, a kingdom that is not dependent on any one person, but a government whose rule and law is upheld, shared, and run by the people.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Onius watched Kanzar scowling at the Chief Judge. The High Wizard’s jaw was set firm, and his eyes glared at his current rival for power in Alaris.
The Chief Judge paused and looked out over the crowd, almost as if looking at each person present individually. “This system has existed because of the trust between the wizards and the judges. And the people trust us to keep them safe and provided for. The recent rebels, referring to themselves as King-men, have set aside the law. In the name of wanting a king, they have killed peaceful followers of the law, spread anarchy, and endangered our nation’s peace and prosperity.”
Onius thought the Chief Judge was being a little dramatic about this threat to the land, but his words kept the attention of the wizards and apprentices in attendance. Onius hoped to stave off war, but he knew Kanzar’s greed for power knew no bounds.
His mind wandered back to when he and Kanzar had first met, decades ago. Through the years, they’d had periodic conversations, the last time being many years ago, about the need for Alaris to have a king again someday, a king that must—by right of their power—be a wizard. But that didn’t mean Onius agreed with the way Kanzar was going about it.
It had taken one hundred fifty years for the Citadel to find and train enough wizards to replenish what had been lost during the war when the barrier was raised. Kanzar, without consulting Onius, must have determined that it was now time to make their move; hence the King-men came into being. These were primarily groups of mercenaries and unscrupulous parties whom Kanzar had hired out to cause trouble in the land.
Besides the timing, Onius felt consternation over the fact that he actually liked this Chief Judge, the third he had served. Daymian Khouri was a good man, a fair judge, and a highly competent leader.
A growing rumble in the crowd drew Onius’s attention back to the Chief Judge’s speech.
“I repeat,” he said, his voice booming over the crowd, “the King-men are traitors to our land, and anyone found conducting business with them, supporting them, and colluding with them to take over the government will also be seen as traitors and will be tried as such.”
Kanzar held his seat, seeming barely able to control himself. Most of the Council knew of Kanzar’s plans, and they looked to him for direction.
“The very fabric of Alaris is built on law.” The Chief Judge’s voice rose louder. “The means for continued peace is the following of that law. And those who want to change those laws must work inside that system; to do otherwise will bring anarchy and disaster to this land I am sure we all love. May the bounties of Alaris and the peace we have enjoyed continue to be enjoyed by all.”
Daymian slowly walked from the pedestal and down the aisle of wizards and exited through the gold-bordered double doors, with two guards holding them open for him.
Then Kanzar stood and, without any words, turned sharply, his robes flying out around his large body. He walked through a back door, and Onius followed. Then, throwing open the door to his own office and slamming it closed again after Onius, Kanzar went to a counter and poured himself a drink.
Kanzar excused the servant and turned to Onius. “The Chief Judge goes too far.”
Onius knew he had to tread carefully now. “Kanzar, he is the rightful ruler of Alaris.”
Kanzar threw his glass to the floor, and it shattered. Servants would be called in later to clean it up. “He has no right to call us traitors in our own house.”
Onius frowned. “Kanzar, you seem to be moving on your own here. Why wasn’t I consulted? I could have told you the timing was not right. The Chief Judge is a good man.”
“The time will never be right with you, Onius,” Kanzar bellowed. “You’ve become too soft in Cassian, serving with the judges. Don’t you remember our discussions on the need for a king—a wizard king?”
Onius sighed. “I remember talking about it happening someday, when events had led to it naturally. Not like this, Kanzar.” Onius rubbed his temples with his fingers. This was not going well. He needed to toe the line with Kanzar about the Chief Judge. Onius needed to appear to be enough in Kanzar’s camp to stay in his confidence. But that could lead to alienating himself from the Chief Judge.
“Let me talk to Daymian privately this evening.”
“After that rousing speech, of protecting Alaris and her stable government, I don’t think the man will budge.” Kanzar stood up to emphasize his point. “He even had the gall to say that anyone associated with the King-men would be considered traitors and treated accordingly.”
“I heard the speech, Kanzar,” Onius said, his voice clipped. “I have counseled him for years. I will point out to him the obvious: We are wizards, and he is not.” Onius would hate to throw that in the Chief Judge’s face, but he needed to appear strong in front of Kanzar. He would placate Kanzar until the opportunity came to take him down.
“That we are, Counselor, and powerful ones at that,” Kanzar boomed. “We will crush the government and place a king on the throne of Alaris once again. When the barrier fails, then let the other nations fear us as before.”
Onius cringed inside but outwardly remained calm. “And, who would you propose for that king, Kanzar?” Onius knew full well the answer.
“Why, me, of course. Is there anyone more suited than the High Wizard of the Citadel?”
Onius had no problem thinking of plenty of others, even himself, who would be better. But he said nothing on that point.
A knock on the door interrupted Onius before he could say more.
Kanzar brought his great frame back out of his chair, with a glare that told Onius they were not finished yet. When Kanzar opened the door, Roland took a step forward into the room.
“Ahh, Wizards Kanzar and Onius,” Roland said, forgoing their usual honorific titles.
Onius saw a flash of annoyance cross Kanzar’s face, and he suppressed a smile. He had used Kanzar’s High Wizard title in public, but, personally, it had grated on his nerves that the man had set his title all on his own.
“What brings you here today, apprentice?” Kanzar asked.
“Onius said that, after the Chief Judge’s speech, I would have the opportunity to be tested as a full wizard,” Roland said.
Kanzar turned to Onius with a surprised glance.
Onius stood, his robes flowing around his body as he took a brisk step toward the two. “That was the item I wanted to discuss with you, Kanzar. I agreed we would test Roland today, in exchange for his support.”
Kanzar opened his mouth, but Roland jumped in. “The title of wizard was in exchange
for me to consider giving you my support, Counselor Onius.”
“You did not run this by me or the Council, Onius.” Kanzar’s face darkened with anger. “There are other items needing our attention more than testing this young apprentice.”
Roland’s face turned red, and he opened his mouth to respond, but Onius shook his head at him and jumped in instead.
“Kanzar, I am a member of the Council and do not need your permission to invite an apprentice to be tested. That is the rule of the Council, unless you have changed that recently also.”
Onius realized that his time in Cassian, away from the Citadel for years, had allowed Kanzar to gather too much authority to himself.
“Apprentice Tyre is more than ready to be considered,” Onius continued. “Given the uncertain times ahead, I think we cannot afford to wait any longer. Roland could be a powerful ally.”
Kanzar snarled but nodded his head in acceptance. “Allies are good, if they can be taught their place.”
Roland reddened and clenched his fists but kept his mouth closed for once.
“So be it.” Kanzar flipped his hand out with a dismissal. “Roland Tyre, report to the testing room in one hour. I will be interested to see if you have the makings of a level-one wizard or not.”
Roland again opened his mouth, but, once more, Onius shook his head and, with a tight squeeze on his apprentice’s shoulder, led him out of the room.
When Kanzar had closed the door behind them, Onius turned to Roland. “I am glad to see you were able to hold your tongue in there, Roland.”
Roland scowled and pushed the hair out of his eyes. “It wasn’t easy. That man is too arrogant with too much power behind him.”
Onius nodded his head. “That I agree with. Though, you must learn to tread lightly around him and not let your own arrogance get in the way. He has powerful friends around here.”
Roland hung his head.
They walked outside and through a garden patio. The dahlias were in full bloom, many of them larger than a man’s hand. A small stream trickled by and wound its way through the gardens. Color and fragrance filled the air as the two walked to a secluded corner.
