Until All Curses Are Lifted

by Tim Frankovich

  And then what? Was Tezan truly the King returned? If not, who was he and where did his power come from?

  CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT

  TEZAN TOOK ZES Sivas by storm. Over the next two days, he charmed and negotiated his way into virtually everyone’s good graces. From what Seri heard, he was affable and friendly to everyone.

  The biggest moment came on the second day, soon after noon. The Conclave of Mages met to consider Tezan’s claim all together. All of the Lords and Ladies joined the usual crowd of mages and acolytes. Seri and the others found themselves pushed even further into the back for this gathering.

  Tezan stood before the Masters with no podium of his own. As on the dock, he stood straight and tall. He seemed completely at his ease.

  After perfunctory greetings, Master Hain got straight to the point. “Tezan of Rasna, are you the rightful heir of Akhenadom the Great, and thus claimant to the throne of Antises?”

  “First of all, I am not Tezan of Rasna. I cannot claim to belong to any of the six lands in particular,” he answered in smooth, articulate tones. “Because I do make the claim you say. I am Tezan of Antises, rightful King and heir of Akhenadom the Great.”

  A murmur went through the crowd. It was what they all expected, of course, but to hear it said so openly was still cause for discussion. The Masters waited for the sound to die down.

  “Do you make this statement of your own will, and not by any coercion?” Master Hain asked.

  “I do, and while I know you must ask such a question, it is somewhat painful for me to hear it. I recognize that you think Lord Tyrr might have some power over me, but the simple truth is that I came to him, not the other way around.”

  “Why did you come to him?”

  Tezan let out a deep sigh. “Like my father and his father before him, I had resolved to remain in hiding. Our purpose in this was because my great-grandfather had decided that the system was wrong. The Laws of Bindings and Cursings themselves were flawed. We had hoped, by leaving Zes Sivas, to create an atmosphere where all could eventually be changed. Perhaps the mere absence of the King’s power would cause the Laws to fall apart.”

  Seri could not see Tezan’s face, but she took note of how he stood. He rotated now and then, to be sure he was addressing all of the Masters without focusing on any one or the other.

  “As my father lay dying, just three months ago…” Tezan broke off, as if he needed a moment to regain control of his emotions. “Some of his final words to me were an admission that we, the royal family, had failed Antises. Despite our good intentions, the results were not what we had hoped. In fact, the opposite has occurred. Antises itself has suffered. The recent earthquakes are only the latest symptoms of the trouble caused by our absence.

  “After I buried my father, and had mourned for an appropriate interval, I made my way to the nearest capital city, which happened to be Raeton. Once there, I sought an audience with Lord Tyrr, convinced him of my identity, and here we are.” Tezan spread his hands to either side.

  Master Hain asked a few more questions related to Tezan’s heritage, his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. In each case, Tezan answered without hesitation.

  While he spoke, Seri looked over the crowd, trying to gauge their reactions. The majority seemed eager to believe, hanging on Tezan’s every word. She couldn’t blame them. She felt much the same way herself. But something nagged at her. Something about the magic.

  Someone was missing. Her eyes searched every corner of the room and confirmed it, as best she could in this crowd. Curasir was not here. That seemed exceptionally odd. He had been one of the most excited about the coming King.

  “And you have the power of the King within you?” Master Hain asked.

  “I believe I demonstrated that yesterday,” Tezan said. “But I will continue to prove it as often as needed. To be honest, I have not possessed the power for very long. As I said, my father died only three months ago. It was then that the power passed on to me. Initially, it was quite overwhelming. I have yet to gain full control, and I freely acknowledge that I have much to learn. I look forward to gleaning all the wisdom and training I will need from this body.”

  “Show us once more, if you please.”

  Tezan nodded. Seri could not see his front, but she assumed he was putting his hands together again and forming the Heart of Fire. The glow that burst from him confirmed that, as did the reflection in the eyes of all the Masters.

  “I believe you call this the Heart of Fire,” Tezan announced. “And it is the physical manifestation of the true King’s power. No one else can do this, if I am correct.”

  Curious, Seri wanted to see Tezan’s power. She blinked and her star-sight blurred her vision momentarily. She stared at Tezan and the room around him.

  Beams of light, the magic of Zes Sivas, continued to erupt from the ground. But none of them seemed impacted by Tezan. They did not bend toward him, nor did he absorb any of them. His magic clearly did not come from here.

  A sideways beam drew Seri’s attention. She had never seen anything like it. A huge beam of multi-colored light flowed into Tezan, but it came from the side, not from below. Seri could only guess at its direction, which seemed to be somewhat southerly, if she were remembering her compass points accurately.

  Tezan was not a massive ball of magical power, like the Lords who sat watching him. Seri could see each of their powers, all of them incredibly strong. Tezan radiated more power than any of them, but it did not come from within him.

  Someone or something else was giving him power.

  CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE

  “REMAN, CITY OF hills,” Aelia announced. She waved her arm, encompassing all they could see in front of them.

  “Edin Na Zu!” Victor said. Marshal didn’t blame him. He had never seen anything like it.

  Nian chuckled. “Don’t let anyone from Arazu hear you saying that,” he said.

  Marshal didn’t know what he expected when seeing Reman. Perhaps something like Efesun, but on a larger scale. Or even something like Intal Eldanir, though he knew human designs would be different from the Eldanim’s. Reman, capital of Varioch, did not resemble any of them.

  The road they had been following crested a hill, allowing them to look down at most of the city. Spread over a number of hills, Reman created a widely varied look. Some areas contained densely-packed buildings, while others shared space between buildings, gardens, and open spaces. The central part of the city looked especially dense, but organized. Marshal thought he could make out a grid pattern to roads in that region. A tall, solid wall surrounded most of the city, though parts of it seemed to have sprawled outside.

  “What is the round building there?” Talinir asked, pointing.

  “It’s an amphitheater,” Aelia explained. “Used for big events, performances and such.”

  “And that tall, rectangular one?”

  “That’s the temple. Our destination.”

  “Why does it have a wall?” Victor asked.

  “Historically, the only reason to have a wall is if you’re anticipating an invasion,” Nian said. “I’m not sure when this wall was built. Maybe at a time people still worried about barbarians?”

  “I don’t think it’s that old,” Aelia said.

  “Kuktarma has many walled cities, but they have more reason, I think. They actually do a lot of trade with barbarians from outside Antises.” Nian adjusted his backpack and started down the hill.

  “So they’re worried about an attack?” Victor hastened to keep up with him, followed by the others.

  Nian shrugged. “Not so much. Their walls actually have another purpose - they help divert flood waters during the Spring. I don’t think that’s much of an issue here. Besides, barbarians haven’t attacked in hundreds of years. They don’t dare.”

  “Because of the curses,” Talinir said.

  “Exactly. In the early years of Antises, barbarians thought to plunder the six lands, but soon discovered there were severe consequenc
es for their actions.”

  “Wait.” Victor stepped in front of Nian and put out his hand. The priest stopped walking. “You mean people don’t get cursed outside of Antises?”

  “No. The Laws of Bindings and Cursings are bound up in the magic of Antises. They don’t apply outside.”

  Marshal had never thought of that. Outside Antises, people were free to break the laws? Kill, steal, rape and so on? It sounded horrible… And yet…

  After a long moment of silence, Victor said, “You’d think more people would leave, then.”

  “You should know why they don’t, better than most,” Aelia pointed out.

  “Bindings.”

  Aelia nodded.

  They resumed walking. Marshal found much to think about. Bindings kept people together. Curses punished them. That answered Nian’s question from the other day. Why no blessings? Blessings wouldn’t keep everyone in line. Everyone in Antises was trapped, in a way. It seemed so cynical.

  •••••

  It took another five hours of walking before they finally reached the city gates. The wall’s construction fascinated Marshal. Most of the buildings he had seen thus far were made of brick. Not so the wall. It seemed almost like one giant piece of rock, towering far higher than any of the nearby buildings, but that was impossible. When Victor asked, Nian called it “concrete” and explained some process involving water and mortar, like the material used to hold bricks together. Marshal stared at it so much, he didn’t notice the child sitting by the gate until he had almost passed him.

  “Any coin, sir?” the boy called.

  Marshal’s stare shifted from the wall to the boy. Small and ill-fed, he sat beside the massive gate’s opening with his legs outstretched. Marshal heard Aelia gasp. A moment later, he realized what she already saw: the boy’s eyes stared past them. He was blind.

  “Any coin?” the boy repeated, holding out a crude wooden bowl.

  Aelia dug into her pack and found some coins that she dropped into the bowl. Nian knelt beside him. “I have no coins, lad, but perhaps I can help in other ways.” He took out some bread and offered it.

  Marshal and the others waited while Nian continued to speak with the boy. He gave him several other items from his pack, stood, and rejoined them, shaking his head. Marshal had expected him to look sad, but anger filled Nian’s usually pleasant face.

  “Was he… was he born blind or cursed?” Aelia asked.

  “He’s cursed,” Nian said. He adjusted his pack and started walking down the street. Other travelers moved back and forth around them, gaping at Talinir and avoiding Marshal.

  Victor caught up with the priest. “How could a child that small be cursed?” he demanded. “What could he possibly do?”

  “He’s an orphan,” Nian said. “Somewhere in this city, an evil man – or men – is taking advantage of children like him. They send orphans to do their dirty work, letting them get cursed. If their curse is too debilitating, they send them out to beg, instead.”

  “That’s horrible,” Aelia said.

  “We should do something!” Victor said. “We should find this man! Put a stop to it!”

  “How would we do that?” Nian asked. “Would you hurt him? Kill him? Either way, you would bring a curse on yourself.”

  Victor gestured angrily. “Talinir isn’t restrained by curses, right? He could solve it!”

  “It would do no good,” Talinir said. Marshal looked up at the warden and his face was pale. For a moment, Marshal wondered if he was suffering from the starshine withdrawal again.

  “What do you mean? Why not?”

  “If we remove one evil man, another will rise in his place. You have to change the system.”

  “If we lift Marshal’s curse, it will be a start,” Aelia said. “Let’s focus on that for now.”

  While they conversed, Aelia guided them down multiple streets. She stopped once to ask for directions, then moved on without difficulty.

  Marshal continued to be fascinated by the varied architecture throughout the city. While not as elaborate as Intal Eldanir, Reman’s buildings did include a lot of decorative features. Most structures were made of brick, though he did notice a few that incorporated some of the concrete. Columns and arches seemed to be favored designs among builders.

  After several turns, they spotted Theon’s temple towering over the surrounding buildings. Unlike most other buildings, it appeared made of massive stones fit together seamlessly. The structure was simple, rectangular, and narrow.

  In short order, they reached the gates to the temple courtyard. They stood open, revealing a huge open space within.

  “Are we… are we going to lift the curse right now?” Victor asked.

  “No,” Aelia said. “But we need to make the proper arrangements.”

  •••••

  “Welcome, children of Theon!” Two priests waited near the steps that led into the temple itself. The short one who had spoken was somewhat rotund and seemed short of breath. The other was of average build, but had a stern mien. Both displayed elaborate white robes trimmed in gold. Their eyes panned briefly over Marshal, Victor and Aelia, then focused on Talinir.

  “Greetings, brothers,” Nian called. He stepped out from behind Talinir and drew their attention. Marshal almost smiled at their startled reactions. Whatever they had been thinking about the Eldani warden, the appearance of one of their own undoubtedly threw off their thoughts.

  Both priests made short bows. “You are welcome here, brother of the travels,” the stern-looking priest said, his voice much pleasanter than his face suggested. “Tell us of your travels and your… most interesting companions.”

  Nian gestured broadly. “I am Nian of Mandiata. I have traveled much of Antises since leaving home,” he said. “I met these good people on the road but eight days ago. While my visit is but the latest stop of a ceaseless wanderer, they have come for a much more serious purpose.”

  The priests looked over the others, thought their eyes continued to be drawn to Talinir. “What might that be?” the rotund one asked. “We stand ready to serve in Theon’s name.”

  Aelia stepped forward and knelt on the ground. Both priests’ eyebrows went up. “I have come that my son’s curse might be lifted,” she said.

  A long silence follows her words.

  The stern-looking priest knelt and took Aelia’s hand. “My daughter,” he said. “Would that such a thing were possible. But it is beyond our power to…”

  “It is not within your power, but it is within mine,” Aelia said. “I know there is a way.”

  “It is within the Law,” Nian pointed out.

  “It is within the Words of Aharu,” the portly priest corrected. “Not the Law.”

  His partner helped Aelia back to her feet. “Your dedication to your child is admirable,” he said. “But this cannot be done.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because no one has ever done it before!”

  “That is not a reason.”

  Nian had taken out the well-worn Book of the Law Marshal had often seen him reading. He opened it and held it out. “The relevant passages are here,” he said. “I looked them up and marked them, once I knew what this good woman was planning.”

  The rotund priest wiped sweat off his brow and took the book. He looked at the open page. “Yes, I am familiar with this, but… but it’s just not done. Theon would not ask this of anyone.”

  “Is not the law from Theon himself?” Aelia demanded. “Did not Aharu found the priesthood? Who would know Theon better?”

  “Yes, but–”

  “Then he has asked it.” Aelia pointed to Marshal. “My son stands cursed for the actions of his father, not for anything he has done. As his mother, I can take this burden from him. The law provides a way.”

  “The cost is… Have you thought this through?”

  “I have. I am determined.”

  Marshal frowned. Not if he could help it.

  “Only someone who is without a cu
rse is even eligible,” the other priest said, looking at the book again. “Are you…?”

  “I am without curse,” Aelia said. “I have not broken the curse laws.”

  The priests looked at each other. Clearly, they wanted to argue more, but didn’t know what to say. Marshal wondered if anyone else had ever even tried to do this. And if they had tried, why had they not gone through with it?

  “It would have to… take place within the holy chamber,” the stern-faced priest said slowly.

  “Unthinkable! No one is allowed within that room but priests, let alone a woman!”

  “Is that part of the law or part of tradition?” Nian asked.

  “There’s no difference!” the short priest said.

  “Well, yes. There is,” his companion said. “The holy chamber’s restrictions are not specifically spelled out in the law, but have been passed down for generations. To my knowledge, they have never been violated.” He paused. “But neither has anyone seriously suggested lifting a curse, either.” He searched Aelia’s face. “Is this something you are absolutely certain about? Without hesitation or doubt?”

  “It is.”

  “The other brothers will never accept this,” the short priest argued. “I don’t believe that I accept it. This cannot be done!”

  “Do they need to know about it?” Victor asked. The priests looked at him in shock. He shrugged. “I mean, maybe we can come in at night or something, when no one’s here.”

  “There are priests on duty at all hours! Theon does not rest in his work, so we must be ready to assist him at all hours!”

  “Except…” Everyone looked at the stern-faced priest. “Except in two days’ time. No one will be here then.”

  Silence followed again. Nian slapped his forehead. “Of course! The Passing! I lost track of the time!”

  “What do you mean?” Aelia asked.

  “On the day of the Passing,” the stern priest said, “all of the priests will leave the temple and assemble on the beach, facing Zes Sivas. We will pray for a successful ceremony on this holy day.”