Defiant Peaks (The Hadrumal Crisis) (73 page)
Planir’s smile broadened. ‘Lowland mothers keep their children biddable with tales of the Eldritch Kin lurking in chimney corners. Upland mothers scare their offspring into obedience with stories of the Grey Watchers. When I met Aritane, I realised what lay behind such myths.’
‘Did you always intend involving them to curb these Solurans? Did you know how reluctant they would be? Is that why you allowed me to doubt you? Why you kept so many things from me, so they would think you were failing in your duties when they read my mind?’ Jilseth’s voice shook despite her efforts to remain calm.
Planir looked at her for a long moment before answering. ‘It’s said that knowledge is power. That’s a double-edged blade. Keeping someone in ignorance can be just as powerful. I have a responsibility as Archmage to use every weapon I can find, especially in such dire straits. I knew only the gravest threat would induce the
sheltya
to act. I’d learned that much from Aritane. I will ask your forgiveness if you want me to but you should know that I would do the same again, with Hadrumal’s fate hanging in the balance.’
Jilseth couldn’t decide if his frankness made her feel better or worse. ‘What would you have done, if they hadn’t intervened?’
Planir shrugged. ‘There was nothing I could have done. Hadrumal would have been lost.’
Jilseth stared at him. ‘Lost? You can say that so calmly?’
‘Never think that I take any loss lightly. I have lost more than you will ever know just as I have borne burdens beyond any Element Master or Mistress’s endurance.’
His grey eyes were steely and Jilseth was ashamed to recall Larissa’s funeral urn upstairs in Planir’s private chamber.
‘Suthyfer would have survived as a new haven for wizardry. My responsibilities as Archmage go far beyond this island and far beyond mindlessly defending or disciplining every wizard trained by these halls. I want to encourage those wizards to discipline themselves, long after I am dead—or gone.’
He paused, his face reflective in a way which Jilseth found profoundly unnerving. Before she could ask what he meant, the Archmage continued.
‘Hadrumal has long needed a stark lesson in humility. Now every mage can reflect on how powerless Mellitha and Velindre found themselves in Relshaz, for all their vaunted magecraft. Now apprentices and pupils won’t only hear tales of long-dead menaces like Azazir, driven mad by arrogance until obsession with their element claims them. They’ll hear first-hand accounts of Despin’s appalling fate.’
Planir leaned forward, intent. ‘Wizardry is growing ever more powerful as magecraft is studied and honed, here in Hadrumal, in Solura, now in Suthyfer. I can’t do anything to stop that and I don’t believe I should. But power so readily encourages arrogance.
‘I want every mage to stop and think if he or she should use such powerful spells, not merely if he or she could. I also want every wizard to know that there are those who can stop them abusing the most advanced magecraft, just as I wanted the
sheltya
to realise how powerful elemental magic has become. I only hope they that realise their responsibilities to Artifice go beyond remaining remote and aloof in their mountain fastnesses.’
‘As long as they don’t decide the swiftest solution to their problems is reducing us all to drooling mindlessness!’ Jilseth was alarmed.
Planir grinned, though his expression was no less intent. ‘Trust me; the
sheltya
will also learn a few lessons in humility if they choose to come down off their mountains. You should visit Suthyfer again and learn some of the ways Usara and Guinalle have devised for wizards to defend themselves against Artifice.’
‘So this isn’t over?’ Jilseth shrank from the prospect of whatever unknown struggles lay ahead.
‘When is anything ever over? When we lie dead upon a pyre or deep in the ground? Not even then, according to the priests and mystics.’ Planir leaned back and gazed at her over steepled fingers. ‘But I believe that we can hope for calm after these recent years’ upheavals. It will be in everyone’s interests, from the lowliest peasant to Tormalin’s Emperor, to let these ripples die away.
‘As to what the future will bring, I don’t believe that anyone can ever know that, whether they read the runes or the heavenly compass. What will be will be and we will deal with whatever arises with the means we find at hand.’
He sprang to his feet with an energy which surprised Jilseth and fetched a bottle of cordial and two glasses from a side table.
‘For the moment, let us drink to our present challenges being over.’
A
CKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A
S EVER, FAMILY
and friends, long-standing and newly made, have sustained me as I wrote this book, and indeed, this trilogy, through what have proved testing times for this whole household, at school, college and work. My profound gratitude to you all.
Thanks to the wonders of modern communications, I have drawn invaluable inspiration and energy from the enthusiasm of those readers who have followed these adventures from that thief’s first gamble so long ago in an unremarkable Ensaimin tavern, as well as from those who have joined in along the way, in the Archipelago, in Lescar and now in Hadrumal and Caladhria. To all of you who have asked me unexpected questions via email or at conventions, who have reminded me of throwaway lines (or letters) and characters with unexplored potential, who have shared your appreciation of these stories through blogs, reviews or chance conversation, my sincerest thanks.
In this time of flux in publishing (though I wonder if publishing ever sees anything but constant change) I am indebted to my fellow writers for camaraderie, perspective and encouragement, along with so many sociable and amiable editors, agents, booksellers and others within the SF&Fantasy genre and in the wider world of books beyond.
My thanks to Jon, David, Ben and Mike at Solaris and Rebellion for editorial, administrative and marketing support. Over and above the usual acknowledgements, I am most grateful that they commissioned Clint Langley to paint the covers for these books. Having the complete triptych to hand as I wrote has both focused and stimulated my imagination in truly rewarding fashion as I’m sure you will agree, when you find out exactly what Archmage Planir is doing...
The Archmage rules the island of wizards and has banned the use of magecraft in warfare, but there are corsairs raiding the Caladhrian Coast, enslaving villagers and devastating trade. Barons and merchants beg for magical aid, but all help has been refused so far. Lady Zurenne's husband has been murdered by the corsairs. Now a man she doesn't even know stands as guardian over her and her daughters. Corrain, former captain and now slave, knows that the man is a rogue wizard, illegally selling his skills to the corsairs. If Corrain can escape, he'll see justice done. Unless the Archmage's magewoman, Jilseth, can catch the renegade first, before his disobedience is revealed and the scandal shatters the ruler's hold on power...
"Inventive magic, devious intrigue and appealing characters make for an exciting tale, well-told."
- Gail Z. Martin, author of 'The Sworn'
"If your appetite is for fantasy in the epic tradition, with compelling narratives, authentic combat and characters you care about, Juliet E. McKenna is definitely the author for you."
- Stan Nicholls, author of 'Orcs'
Available to buy from the Kindle Store
The Archmage rules the island of wizards and has banned the use of magecraft in warfare, but there are corsairs raiding the Caladhrian Coast, enslaving villagers and devastating trade. Barons and merchants beg for magical aid, but all help has been refused so far.
Lady Zurenne’s husband has been murdered by the corsairs. Now a man she doesn’t even know stands as guardian over her and her daughters. Corrain, former captain and now slave, knows that the man is a rogue wizard, illegally selling his skills to the corsairs. If Corrain can escape, he’ll see justice done. Unless the Archmage’s magewoman, Jilseth, can catch the renegade fi rst, before his disobedience is revealed and the scandal shatters the ruler’s hold on power...
“Inventive magic, devious intrigue and appealing characters make for an exciting tale, well-told.”
- Gail Z. Martin, author of
The Sworn
Available to buy from the Kindle Store
Read the first novel in
Chronicles of the Lescari Revolution
, the bestselling fantasy series from Juliet E. McKenna and Solaris Books!
