Star Mage (Book 5) (13 page)

What a different outcome than expected
, Nikulo mused, and he walked around and sat next to Yarin, and opposite to him sat Callith. He had thought that by now he’d be deep in the heart of Carvina making his way north to find the Naemarian spring. But was he not pleased to find himself free of them, and to be able to enjoy the lovely sight of Callith once again? Strangely, a part of him missed the wildness and fury of the Naemarians, and the feelings they provoked within himself. And when he studied Callith’s curious eyes, he wondered what part she saw in him: the murderous maniac or the tenderhearted fool?

“Master Holoron has informed us of your former affliction,” Yarin said, and filled Nikulo’s goblet with a fragrant ruby-red wine that roused Nikulo’s spirit. “And how despite your illness you endured a great pain and helped us retake Ursula. Nobly done, sir, truly noble and commendable. I had no idea you were suffering whilst we waged war against the sorcerers and necromancers. How did you manage the pain and the affliction while in the heat of battle? Frankly, I’m astounded.”

Nikulo waved away the man’s compliments, and found himself surprised that Yarin and the others weren’t already dead for their utter lack of competence in the art of warfare.
I suppose the gods love the comedy of the fool with lofty ambitions
, he thought. And did the Jiserians really put up all that great of a fight? He glanced at Master Holoron and wondered how such a powerful wizard could have allowed himself to be captured by such an ill-organized enemy.

“Master,” Nikulo said to the old wizard, “you never mentioned the story of your departure from Naru and your capture by the Jiserians here in Ursula. I am curious to find out what happened after Talis, Mara, and I left through the portal. None of the Sej Elders were still in Naru upon our arrival.”

Master Holoron seemed hesitant for a quick second, then he fixed a resigned expression on his face and spoke. “It was a foul time for the Order of the Dawn and the Sej Elders. Viceroy Lei had proved a traitor to his own people and to the King, who is now ruling in absence in Ostreva. When it was clear that the Jiserians would fully take over Naru, the remnants of the Order of the Dawn met in secret and we agreed to each go on separate missions in the hopes of once again restoring Naru.”

He sighed in fatigue and rubbed his reddened eyes. “Mistress Cavares had the most complicated mission and required my participation. It was necessary for her to convince the Jiserians of her loyalty and support of the dark arts, for we of the Order of the Dawn required someone deep inside the heart of the Jiserian Empire, in Carvina specifically, to work towards our ultimate aims.”

So that was why Talis had found Mistress Cavares inside Carvina
, Nikulo thought, and waited for Master Holoron to continue his story.

“Our plan was to have Mistress Cavares betray me to the Jiserians in exchange for a position of power in Carvina. Under the guise of sneaking together to find a ship bound for Ostreva, I acted the shocked and surprised part when we were surrounded by a horde of Jiserian sorcerers, and Mistress Cavares bound me in her shadow tendrils. She crafted the runic wards inside the prison cell, but provided me with a failsafe in the event I required to escape. Though I was weak when you arrived, I had many days left before I would have needed to escape and replenish my power.”

“Why did you stay inside the prison for so long?” Nikulo said, finding the story somewhat strange.

“It was quite simple, I had to maintain the guise of weakness under Mistress Cavares’s runic wards for as long as I could, to ensure her safety in Carvina. If a Jiserian sorcerer were to discover that I’d escaped, they’d likely open a magical portal back to Carvina and have her arrested as a spy. After you released me, I needed to act swiftly and kill the remaining sorcerers with precise certainty, otherwise our entire mission would have been in jeopardy.”

Yarin hesitantly opened his mouth to speak, and Master Holoron motioned for him to continue. “And do you believe Ursula still at risk of attack by the Jiserians?”

“Not likely. From what Mistress Cavares has gleaned, the Empire is fragmenting at the edges and Ishur is in chaos with complete civil war among the various magical Orders. Only Emperor Ghaalis maintains his firm grip of power within Carvina.”

At Nikulo’s quizzical expression, the old wizard said, “We can communicate in the world of dreams.”

Several servants entered the room with steaming plates of fish covered in rock salt, a huge bowl of rosemary and garlic potatoes, and a dish of fava beans mixed with onions and chard. Nikulo found himself drooling at the dinner.

“Now you should eat, young master, and regain your strength.” Yarin gestured at the food. “Will you stay in Ursula?”

“Master Nikulo will be going with me to Onair,” Holoron said, his voice decisive as if there were no other alternative. “Soon Garen Storm will return to meet us here in Ursula, and he will travel east with his family to Naru. Do not worry, we will leave your city under the protection of a squad of knights from Master Storm’s garrison, and a wizard, Master Jai, to aid your city. Though I doubt you will find any Jiserian sorcerers or necromancers visiting here anytime soon. The knights will train your people in the art of war and help you to raise an army. From what we have heard of Onair, there is a great need to root out the Jiserians occupying the remnants of that destroyed city. Though they may have left by now, we have to be absolutely certain they are gone.”

“And what course will I pursue?” Callith said, her voice soft and beautiful, and the color of her voice reminded Nikulo of their tender nights together out in the desert.

Master Holoron studied Nikulo and glanced at Callith in return. “I suppose that is your decision to make, young lady, and perhaps involves young Nikulo as well?” His wrinkled mouth formed a warm hint of a smile.

“I would return to my family in Naru.” Callith spoke with conviction, and her eyes darted over to Nikulo’s. As he ate, he felt a twist of emotion flicker over her face at her inspection of him. “And I would talk in private with Master Nikulo after dinner, for there is much for us to discuss…”

“Then it is settled. When Garen Storm returns to Ursula in a few days, you will depart east under his protection.” Master Holoron raised his glass to Nikulo. “Let us raise a toast to the hero of Ursula, Master Nikulo, whom the citizens of this city should forever give thanks for his selfless aid in the face of overwhelming opposition. To Nikulo!”

Everyone at the table cheered and called out his name, and Nikulo felt embarrassed for it, but bowed his head and played the role of humble acceptance, knowing himself a fraud and his actions done out of self-preservation.
But you did keep your promise to Callith to keep her safe
, he told himself, and he caught the look of appreciation in her eyes as she raised a glass to him and mouthed her thanks.
 

In the distant part of his mind he heard a faint, familiar voice.
But you failed us, young master, you failed us… A fatal mistake and one we will not so easily forget. We are as old as the stars, and we were formed from the original seed of life, and we remember everything. We could have given you everything, all our knowledge to guide you. But you choose to live as a mere mortal individual, one disconnected from the whole. It is never too late to listen, we are always here in your mind. Waiting for you to come, to come and drink from the water of life…

Soberness had flared in Mara’s eyes that feverish night when Talis had realized they were kissing in a wild fury. There was no guilt or shame, only caution and the cool calming of the fire that burned inside them. He had urged her off to the side and asked if she was ok, if they were ok, and she told him that nothing had happened. That it was all a fever dream and that they should sleep. He left her bed and found his clothes still wet, and crawled up to the top bunk and fell into a fitful sleep.
 

They didn’t really talk about that night for the next few days while the ship sailed along the southern Galhedrin Coast. The storm had broken and clear skies guided them past the Horn of Hardrin and on to where the famous Port of Carvina awaited them with its five hundred foot statue of an unknown Goddess. She stared south, her palms spread in supplication, and her lips were parted in a snarl as if she were starting to sing a dirge. On the ship high above, a sailor was raising a white and red flag, replacing the pirate flag that had flown for most of their voyage.
 

“She’s the drowned bride of Pagamon, the God of Thunder, and legend has it that she threw herself into the sea after her lover never returned. Later, the gods had pity on her and she became a Goddess herself, and rose from the sea to found Carvina, from whom the city gets its name.” Captain Cridd had smiled upon telling the story, as if all who heard the legend would feel a warm fondness towards the capitol because of it. Talis felt nothing but dread as he stared at the lifeless statue with her menacing eyes and cruel, calculating face. Carvina was the home of his enemies, and a vast and powerful city it was, stretching as far across the horizon as he could see.

Other than the massive statue at the harbor, the most distinctive feature of Carvina was the silver palace complex that snaked its way around several jutting hills in the center of the city. Talis borrowed a spyglass from the Captain and surveyed the tops of the hills. Towering silver temples gleamed in the afternoon sunlight, and were adorned with gigantic statues of gods and goddesses and mythological creatures. Twisting silver pillars supported long, rectangular buildings and each corner of the roofs was shielded by the wings of angels (or demons). The city blazed in the sun and surprised Talis for its lightness and illumination. He’d expected a dark, dreary place of death and doom.

When he shared his surprise to the Captain, the man chuckled and nodded his head in understanding. “You are thinking of the City of Ishur, she’s is an oppressive place and filled with dread and wariness. You have to watch your what you say and where you look in Ishur. They might blind you or cut off your tongue. Not like the fair City of Carvina. She is a beauty to experience and rich in history and art and music and food, and they run a massive arena with the world’s most skilled gladiators. The Emperor Ghaalis merely uses the sorcerers and necromancers in Ishur to do his dirty work. The citizens of Carvina know very little of such things, or perhaps they care little of what goes on outside their blissful city.”

Talis chuckled to himself at the idea, and wondered how the Emperor was faring with his people now that his Empire was experiencing a widespread turbulence. Did the Jiserians need to expand their empire to support such a vast and wealthy city? Perhaps to placate the luxurious lifestyles of the citizens of Carvina, the Emperor was forced conquer new cities and bring in the wealth and goods acquired. But it seemed hardly sustainable.

“And here I thought that Illumina was the most beautiful city I’ve seen.” Mara snaked her arm inside his and leaned against his shoulder, a sweet sigh escaping her lips. “Carvina causes all cities to pale in comparison to her magnificence. Will we be safe inside her walls, Master Goleth?”

“As honored guests of mine, the city will welcome you. Though I imagine when the Emperor’s Court hears you are from Naru, there will be much gossip and scandal. The official account of the siege is that the citizens of Naru acted in open rebellion to the Emperor and were utterly decimated as a result. I imagine weaving in the tale of our travels with Lord Aurellia will incite an even greater furor.”

“Do the people of Carvina even know of Aurellia?” Talis glanced at the Builder.

Master Goleth crinkled up his eyes at that, and thought about his words for a moment. “He is not a public figure, that is, Lord Aurellia has never shown his face to the crowd or openly visited the Emperor’s Court from what I have heard. But he is known in whispers and murmurs in the dark. I believe they have even have contrived children’s tales of his dark power and the legions of undead that he commands. He’s quite the boogeyman in Carvina.”

How strange
, thought Talis,
that Aurellia is a shadow figure in the very Empire he supported for so many years. Perhaps he was even the same way in Darkov and the other kingdoms around the world? Likely Vellia was always his true home in his mind…

“Do you think we’ll get to meet Emperor Ghaalis?” Mara whispered, and Talis caught Master Goleth studying them.

“We’ll be staying at the Regent’s Inn, the place diplomats and foreign dignitaries always stay.” The wizard glanced with fearful eyes at the shabby docks the ship was approaching as it glided through the gentle sea. “That is after we make our way out of this hideous area. Captain, is this where you always make port?”

Captain Cridd gave Master Goleth his best devious smile and shrugged, then turned to bark out orders for his crew. He was a smuggler after all, of course he would bring his goods into the dingiest port in the city. Though from what Talis could see, there were few poor areas of Carvina. Even the houses and the buildings near the modest docks were newly painted and well maintained, and the area seemed thriving with workers bustling around in activity.