"What you don't know is that there is a wizard who has safeguarded you from the evils of the temple at great personal risk despite your suspicion of wizards and their magic. Even now, he stands among you unnoticed."
Even louder murmurings came from the crowd. People looked around for the wizard. Lorit couldn't wait to hear what she had to say next.
"Come up here, Lorit!" Ukina turned and looked him straight in the eye. Lorit was caught out. He'd hoped to observe this event undiscovered, but she'd found him in the crowd.
Lorit climbed the stairs and walked over to her. He bowed deeply. "Your Majesty."
Sir Adane stepped up to the edge of the dais and addressed the people. He spoke of the wizards of Amedon and the temple, and how the strife had done nothing but damage the kingdom.
Ukina held onto Lorit's arm and leaned in to whisper in his ear. "You thought I wouldn't recognize you? Are you going to grow the long white beard to go with that hair?'
Lorit reached up and scratched his chin. "Maybe. Perhaps after the wedding."
"Wedding?"
"Chihon and I are getting married...well, I think we are. I didn't wait for her answer when I asked."
Ukina grasped Lorit's arm and pulled him close to her. "Don't worry. She'll marry you."
"So, you'll come?" Lorit asked.
"We will." Ukina nodded to Sir Adane. "If you will come to our wedding."
Lorit smiled. "Of course I'll come. I look forward to it."
"Good. Sir Adane is royal stock...and the crown needs an heir...and he's always been there for me."
"So, you're all right now?" Lorit asked.
"Yes. When the temple collapsed, several of my worst detractors suddenly disappeared along with the priesthood. It seems the nobles were a lot further into the temple debt than I'd imagined."
"I'm glad it all worked out. Without your help...both of you...we would never have been able to defeat Sulrad. I will be forever in your debt."
She hugged his arm tight to her. "Good. It always helps to have a wizard in your debt."
Chapter 47
Lorit spent two days with Ukina and Adane before returning to Amedon to find the wedding arrangements well advanced. The great council hall was clear of its usual trappings, and holly and ivy climbed the pillars, covering the ancient stone with the fresh green of spring. Lorit could only assume from this that Chihon was amenable to his proposal. He was surveying the work when he heard her call out.
"You're back." Chihon rushed over to Lorit and kissed him.
"I wasn't gone that long." She acted as if he'd been gone a moon and not just a few days.
"There was always the chance you'd change your mind, or get caught up in something that would distract you," she said.
"Everything was calm and quiet." Lorit scanned the preparations. "Will we have room for our royal guests? Ukina and Adane are coming. I will ask Kedrik to fetch them as soon as we decide on the date for the wedding."
"Tomorrow," Chihon said. She bounced up and down on her toes, looking into Lorit's eyes. He'd never seen her so excited, so he probed for signs of magic at work, but there were none.
"I wasn't sure you were going to be back today, but since you are, it's tomorrow," she continued.
"Tomorrow," Lorit said quietly.
"I'm not letting you get away." Chihon grabbed his arm and dragged him toward the dais that was under construction at the front of the chamber.
"Should I have Kedrik go get the queen now? She might want some time to prepare." Lorit thought things were moving a little quickly, but he didn't want to admit it to Chihon.
"Sure. Have him go get them, but don't you leave with him." She squeezed his arm again and released him.
Lorit found Kedrik lounging in the student quarters with the hatchling perched on his shoulder.
"I have a job for you," Lorit told him. "Go get Queen Ukina and Sir Adane. I promised them that they could be at the wedding."
"Are you sure it will be all right for me to just show up and carry them away by magic? Commoners are not supposed to speak to royalty."
Lorit laughed. "She knows you as a powerful wizard, and one to whom she owes a great debt. She'll be glad to see you." He clapped the boy on the shoulder and sent him off.
After Kedrik's departure, Lorit went to seek out his mentors. Zhimosom and Rotiaqua had been the only family he had since he'd left home and the priests killed his mother and sister. Lorit had never been back. It was just too painful. He'd never seen his father or brother again and had heard that they had died not long after his mother. No doubt, some retribution from the temple.
Lorit found Zhimosom and Rotiaqua in his study. The old wizard looked ancient and tired. It was apparent that Zhimosom had very little magic left in him. He was fading, insubstantial, transparent. Lorit hoped they would make it to the wedding.
"Ready for the wedding, my boy?" Zhimosom smiled up at him when he entered.
"Yes, I think so. Everything is moving so fast."
Zhimosom laughed. "Don't worry. The council is usually headed up by a married pair. You two are perfect for the part. I'm glad to see you two finally getting married. You will be happy together."
"You were never married," Lorit said. He knew very little about Zhimosom's life outside of his wizard's duties.
"Rotiaqua and I are very close, but no, neither of us ever married. We have each, in our own times, had our own relationships, but when you live as long as we have, it's very hard to get close to someone knowing you will outlive them."
"Will we live as long as you two?" Lorit worried about that. He was not sure he wanted to live as long as Zhimosom and Rotiaqua. His own short lifetime had already been filled with more excitement than he'd ever asked for. He wasn't sure he could stand four hundred summers of it.
"You may, but we are not sure. Our lives were extended by our bond to the Charm of the Joiner. Our earliest battle with Sulrad forged that bond between us all. Now that the Charm is gone, we will not last much longer."
"What will happen to you?" Lorit wondered about the ancient pair. He had heard that wizards didn't have to die. If they were powerful enough, they might transition to another plane of existence. He wasn't sure if he believed it, but he hated to see the end of the pair.
"We will leave," Zhimosom said. "This realm is no longer a place for such old wizards."
"What do you mean, leave?"
"We will leave. Depart. Travel onward. Be gone from this place," Zhimosom said.
Rotiaqua, who was just as insubstantial as Zhimosom, reached out and patted Zhimosom's hand.
Zhimosom's expression softened. "We will leave," he said. "But not today. And not tomorrow. We have a wedding to attend."
"What will we do without your guidance?" Lorit had come to depend on Zhimosom's wisdom, even though he felt at times that the old wizard held back information just so that Lorit would have to figure things out on his own.
"You will do just fine. You don't need our guidance. You are a master wizard, after all."
"What will we do without the temple to worry about?"
"How about uniting the land?" Zhimosom said. "Maybe you can find enough wizards to restore Amedon to its former glory. Before the temple began, this was the center of all the lands and the home of many wizards. Amedon was dedicated to working toward prosperity for everyone."
"I'll think about that," Lorit said.
"Not until after the wedding," Rotiaqua said. "Until then, the only thing you need to think about is that sorceress you've been neglecting lately."
Lorit blushed. He'd been so busy with the temple, he'd hardly had time to relax, but now that was all over. He would soon start his life with Chihon as a normal couple. No more chasing priests, no more temple trouble.
"I'll send someone to help you get dressed in the morning," Rotiaqua said. "It won't do to have you looking like you just came in off the road."
Lorit left the wizard and sorceress alone and headed back to his room. He was accustomed to finding
Chihon there when they were both in the keep, but she'd said it was bad luck for him to see her before the wedding. She sent word that she was staying with Kimt and would not see him again until the ceremony. The room felt empty without her.
What could he do to show her he was thinking about her even if he couldn't see her before the wedding? Lorit leaned out the window, looking at the garden below, searching his memory for any spell or incantation that would make a big impression, but he could think of none. The garden below was in full bloom, the flowers a riot of colors.
Wait. That was it. Lorit rushed down to the garden and carefully selected one simple red rose. He found a young wizard wandering the halls and shouted to him.
"Do you know where Kimt the healer stays?" he asked.
"Yes...sir," the student stammered.
"Take this to Chihon. She's staying with Kimt."
"Yes, sir." The boy looked expectantly at Lorit.
"That's it. Take the flower to Chihon. Tell her it's from me."
Lorit returned to his room and reached out for Chihon. He wanted to see her reaction when the boy arrived with the rose, but her block was back, even stronger now than it had been before, but this time, there was more. Kimt was blocking him from seeing Chihon.
The morning sun woke Lorit with its kiss as he turned over in bed. It was bright and just starting to warm up. Birds sang outside his window, and the air was fresh and clear from the gentle rain overnight. He wanted to relax and take it all in. Lorit closed his eyes, intending to get a little more sleep, when someone cleared her throat.
Lorit sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. A young girl stood before the bed with a towel over one arm and a pail of water at her feet.
"Good. You're awake," she said.
"What are you doing here?" Lorit wondered why this strange girl was in his room. He looked around for Chihon but she wasn't there.
"I'm here to help you get ready."
Ready? His mind was foggy from sleep. Oh, the wedding. Lorit looked at the girl and shook his head. "I don't need any help to get ready."
The girl reached out and grabbed Lorit's hand. She turned it so that he could get a look at his fingernails. They were dirty and chipped.
"No?" she asked.
"Maybe I do need a little help," he said.
"Good. Bathe first. I've already filled the tub."
She pointed to a screen that would provide modesty for him while he bathed. Lorit started to get out of bed but stopped. He felt uncomfortable about the girl standing there, watching him, especially on his wedding day.
"Do you need my help?" she smirked. "Your back probably hasn't had a good scrub in ages, and I'm sure your feet need a good brushing, too."
"I'll be fine on my own." He felt a flush rise in his cheeks.
"Don't be afraid of me," she said. "I've seen it all before. I'm sure you're nothing special."
Lorit's face heated up. He must have been redder than an apple. The girl was making fun of him now. He laughed and fought back his embarrassment.
"I'll be fine on my own." Lorit wrapped the blanket around himself and headed for the privacy of the screen. He heard the girl laugh behind his back.
Lorit lowered himself into the warm water. It was relaxing, too relaxing this early in the morning. He was afraid he'd fall asleep if it were not for the girl who shouted to him over the privacy screen. She kept up a constant stream of chatter all the time while Lorit was in the bath. She said that if he fell asleep, she would have to come wake him, and that she was looking forward to it.
"I really don't need help getting dressed," Lorit insisted.
"I'll just lay your clothes out then," she said. "I'll throw your small clothes over the screen so you won't be embarrassed. How's that?" she giggled.
"That would be just fine," Lorit shouted back to her.
Lorit soaked in the tub until she threatened to come and get him if he didn't get out. She helped him dry his hair and braided it into a single braid that extended to the middle of his back. He was still getting used to the white hair, but it had shown no signs of changing back to its normal color.
After braiding his hair, the girl deftly shaved him. His beard seemed to be growing much faster these days. He shaved it almost every day, but it soon looked like he'd neglected it for a week.
Finally, the girl helped him dress in finery that Lorit thought would be appropriate for a royal wedding. Where had she gotten them?
"These are new," Lorit commented.
"These are a gift from the queen," the girl said as she helped Lorit into a soft pair of leather pants. The green shirt of woven wool was unbelievably soft. After that, she buttoned him into a red jacket adorned with gold buttons. Lorit felt silly with all the formality, but he knew this was a big event, not only for Chihon, but for the whole community of Amedon. It wasn't every day the head of the Wizard's Council got married.
"The queen. Is she here?" Lorit asked.
"Yes, they got here late last night. They visited with Chihon when they arrived, but you were already asleep."
"Too bad I missed them. I suppose I'll catch up with them today."
"You may be very busy," the girl reminded him.
"They're friends. I'll find time to chat with them." His relationship with Queen Ukina had not started off well, but over time the queen and Sir Adane had become good friends. Wizards had few friends, so he cherished the relationship he had with them.
"It's almost time," the girl said. "We have to be there soon." She looked him over, turning him to inspect his garments from every angle. She pushed him back on the bed and helped him into shiny black boots that came almost up to his knees. She looked him over from head to toe and pronounced him ready.
Just as they reached the door, the girl grabbed his arm.
"Wait." She slapped her forehead. "I almost forgot."
She rushed back into the room and returned with Lorit's staff. It was made of rough wood and polished from use, but otherwise it stood out in sharp contrast to the rest of his garb.
"It looks out of place." Lorit didn't want to spoil his regal look with an old gnarled wooden staff.
"Fix it, then," she said.
"Fix it?" Lorit wrinkled his brow. How would he fix his staff?
"You're a master wizard. Can you not transform you own staff?"
"I never thought about it before."
Lorit looked at the staff. He imagined it as a polished wooden shaft, turned with precision and smoothed to a glassy finish. He visualized the banding that held the jewel in its head as the brightest gold. He probed the stone, but it was such a fine cut that it already belonged in the new staff. He gave the freshly renovated staff a thorough inspection and decided it was fit for the regal outfit he wore.
"That will do nicely," Lorit said.
"We're ready, then. Come along." The girl led him from his room down the passageway.
Spring had come to the great hall. The holly and ivy had sprouted deep green leaves and were dotted with clusters of bright red berries. Sunlight shone through the windows in bright bands of gold that warmed the place more than usual.
Down the center of the hall a brilliant red carpet stretched from the massive doorway up to the dais. It was decorated with scenes from around the lands, depicting each major city and its particular trade good or special structures. The border of the carpet was decorated with scroll work of arcane symbols written in the wizards' runes. The runes spoke of love, companionship, and fidelity.
The carpet ran up and onto the dais that had been set up where the council table usually rested. On it, the chairs for the councilors were arranged in a gentle arc surrounding the two grand master seats.
Elaborately engraved golden candle stands decorated the dais, casting their flickering light into the shadows left by the sunbeams. In the center of the dais, a podium stood facing the two chairs. It was made of deep dark wood, decorated with carvings of forest animals and more of the wizards' runes. These runes spoke of power, peace, and
prosperity.
"Come on. You have to come with me." The young girl tugged at Lorit's arm.
"Where are we going?"
"Just come with me." She pulled Lorit toward the door to the study that was just off the main hall.
"Why?" He was impressed with the transformation of the great hall and wanted a moment to take it all in.
"You aren't allowed to see her." The girl tugged harder at his sleeve.
"Why can't I see her?"
"It's bad luck." She shoved Lorit toward the door.
"I think we've already had our share of bad luck."
"Well, then, you surely don't want anymore." The girl pushed Lorit through the door and into the study.
Zhimosom and Rotiaqua sat before a cold fireplace. When Zhimosom saw Lorit, he smiled. "Well, my boy. This is it."
"You look like a king," Rotiaqua said.
"I feel like a king." Lorit turned around so they could see his fine garments.
"You sure have come a long way, my boy." Zhimosom stroked his white beard as he spoke. "Quite a long way."
"That, I have." Lorit did feel grand. It had been a long and dangerous road for him and Chihon. Now it looked like they were going to get a chance to settle down and enjoy life without the threat of the temple hanging over their heads, or worrying about what some evil priest was planning.
Music wafted in the door. It was powerful and grand, the sort of music you hear at a coronation. "It's almost time," the girl said.
Zhimosom struggled to his feet, walked over to Lorit, and extended his arm. "Let us proceed."
Rotiaqua took up on Lorit's other side, cradling his arm in hers. The girl opened the door and Lorit heard a thousand voices crying out. They were whistling, screaming, and cheering his name. He flushed with embarrassment, but Zhimosom pulled him onward.
Lorit, Zhimosom, and Rotiaqua walked up the long red carpet amongst the sea of gathered wizards. Lorit saw friends and associates from all over the kingdoms. He smiled at them as he made his way to the dais where Queen Ukina and Sir Adane were seated beside the council members.
Zhimosom stopped Lorit short of the dais. "We wait here."
Master Wizard Page 29
