Strange Perceptions (8 page)

The moment my hands touched a white light spread out, hitting the king and two guards. Ealdred twisted my body around and the light hit the remaining guard before disappearing. The king and his guards fell down, instantly asleep.

“Stupid boy,”
Ealdred said.
“Did you really think you could outsmart me? What a mess you have caused.”

I fought for control, but Ealdred was expecting it and resisted. I backed off trying to control my whole body and instead attempted to bring my hands together as he had. I succeeded and focused the light upon myself.

Blackness surrounded me. I don’t remember hitting the floor.

I awoke strapped in a chair, both arms securely fastened, no way to touch my hands together. I was in the laboratory. Rain pattered on the sky window.

A guard stood either side of me. The king came into the laboratory followed by a bald man.

“You will instruct Lundren,” the king said. “He will make a batch of truth serum and the potions for the transfer ceremony.”

“As you wish, sire.” Ealdred replied.

“Don’t think of tricking me.” The king stormed out.

Ealdred gave the bald man instructions for creating the potions. He did it correctly, but slightly increased the amount of milkweed in the potion intended for me. This change would result in the background mind being more subdued than normal. It was a good thing for Gytha if Ealdred had less control, but why did he do it?

The next morning they took me to the balcony above the courtyard again. Guards held each of my arms, not allowing my hands to touch. The platforms were set up for the transfer ceremony. Gytha was already there. She wore a beautiful green gown—Cleland’s choice I’m sure. The crowd below seemed even larger than the crowd at the first transfer ceremony. All eyes were upon me and not a single person smiled.

I would not survive the transfer. Like the wizards before Ealdred, I would fade into the background, only my knowledge would remain. At least Ealdred’s crime would be set right.

I tried speaking and to my surprise Ealdred allowed me. “Gytha, please take care of my family.”

She nodded, tears flowing from her eyes.

Just before the transfer potions were given to Gytha and me, I began convulsing. I coughed and sputtered and fell forward, limp in the guards’ arms. Ealdred controlled my body and was having some sort of fit.

“Sire,” Ealdred gasped. “He has switched the potions again.”

The crowd gasped.

What? The potions weren’t switched. Ealdred was trying to trick the king and control Gytha’s body.

“I was afraid this would happen,” the king said.

Desperately, I tried to speak, to tell the king this was all a ruse, a final attempt of Ealdred’s to keep control. I couldn’t. Ealdred was too strong.

Lundren, the bald man, approached holding a cup.

“Drink,” the king said.

“But,” Ealdred said, “truth serum will interfere with the transfer potion.”

The king spoke in a booming voice. “We will postpone the ceremony if needed.”

The truth potion wouldn’t interfere, but I was unable to tell the king.

Lundren held the cup to my lips and my body swallowed the serum in large gulps.

The king walked close to me. “Tell me the truth. Are the transfer potions switched?”

Ealdred didn’t answer, I did. “No.”

“Will the truth potion interfere with the ceremony?”

“No,” I said.

“Continue,” the king said and walked back beside the queen.

The same attendant from the previous ceremony handed Gytha a silver cup. She drained the cup. Then the attendant held a cup to my lips. Ealdred jerked my head away. Two additional guards grabbed my head, held it still, and opened my mouth for the liquid. The potion went down, burning my throat as it went. I coughed, but most the potion had went down.

Guards moved me to the lower platform. They tied one of my arms to the platform before binding the other arm to Gytha’s with the golden cord.

This was it, my final moment. I tried not to cry but couldn’t help it.

My body began to convulse. Darkness surrounded me, coming in from the edge of my vision until I could see nothing. Then I could feel nothing. Then I knew nothing.

It seemed only a moment later I was blinking my eyes. I could see, but my vision was still dark. Blurry dark images moved around darker images. Somebody hovered over me.

My vision cleared. It was Gytha who bent over me. I was in a dark, candle-lit room. I saw stars through a window in the roof above me. I was in the wizard laboratory.

I struggled to sit up.

“Lay still,” Gytha said. “It will take a few moments for your strength to return.”

“What happened?”

The king came into my vision. “Gytha the Wise happened. After the ceremony she sprang into action. She said she could save you. Your dead body was brought here and somehow she returned your mind to your body.”

Was this possible? I searched my memory, the knowledge of past wizards was gone.

I sat up and breathed deep. I held out my arm and made a fist, slowly closing my fingers and opening them. Complete control, no Ealdred.

“Your mother is in the castle,” Gytha said. “Her illness is easily remedied, but it will take a few weeks.”

I stood, my legs shook but it felt great to be on my own feet.

“Tayte, come before me,” the king said.

I stepped to the king and he pulled out his sword.

“Kneel,” he said.

My throat was tight. I knelt before the king and tried to gulp.

The king held his sword over my head. “For putting the welfare of others before your own.” He tapped my right shoulder with the sword. “And for fighting for truth.” He tapped my left shoulder. “I dub you Tayte the Righteous.” He tapped me head. “Now stand.”

Shaking, I struggled to my feet.

The applause surprised me. I looked around. A dozen or more people stood along the edge of the room. My father was one of them. He rushed to me and threw his arms around me. Gytha joined the hug.

“Three cheers for Tayte the Righteous,” the king said.

Together, everyone yelled “Hurrah. Hurrah. Hurrah.”

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