The Last Wizard of Eneri Clare (41 page)

Corbin Maygrew spoke again, “I think I speak for all in commending the Lady Regent for her even-handedness and skill in brokering an acceptable solution to our dilemma. I would also welcome our new Court Wizard to Theriole. It will be an adjustment to have a wizard at court again, but be welcome among us, Master Tvrdik…did I get it right?”

“Close enough, sir, and I am eager to be of service to any of you in whatever way I may.” There were a few more affirmations from the floor, and then the Lady Regent called out, “Meeting adjourned, ladies and gentlemen – go out and enjoy the rest of this beautiful day.”

In the confusion that followed, as Cabinet members rose and collected their belongings to leave, Tvrdik was the first to reach her. “Jorelial Rey, have you lost your mind? Six weeks? How can we have an army to show them in six weeks? How can I demonstrate anything, assuming there will be anyone to teach, or anything reliable to teach them?”

“Calm down, Tvrdik. Where is your usual confidence? We can do this. And it was necessary. Xaarus was right…and you were right. These are good men. They mean well, and we want them on our side. But we are asking them to take a huge leap of faith in a direction that is not natural. It is up to us to persuade them – to show them what’s possible so that they can
believe
in what we are proposing. Otherwise, it will never work.”

“But, what if they choose the other way in the end? Then we’ve failed.”

“Tvrdik, I am not one jot less committed to the cause. We just need to give them a chance to catch up to us. Heavens help us, it falls to us to be irresistible…and so we must be.”

“But,
six w
eeks?
”

“Tvrdik, six weeks ago, you were still in your ancient forest, and we had not yet met. Look how much has happened since then! I took a chance that we even have that much time before Drogue makes his next move. We always knew that time was short. I have just made it a little more concrete, is all, so we know our first deadline.” She put her hand on his shoulder, “A little luck, a little magic, and a bit of a miracle, and we can pull it off.” She smiled at him. At that moment, Minister Boone interrupted and bowed to her, “My lady, we will not fail you.”

“Of that I am sure.” He bowed again and walked away, but before she could say another word, Corbin Maygrew was at her side, his arm around her slim shoulders, “Rel, my dear, just when I thought we were headed for disaster, you come up with something like this: a brilliant way to invest everyone in the process, even when we disagree. You are, my girl, absolutely born to this job, and you have my vote again and again for it.”

“Ah, my lord, I am not sure whether to thank you or curse you.” They both laughed, and Maygrew continued.

“I am not making light, of course, of our situation. I want you to know you did an excellent job presenting your case today. I am at least partly behind you. But I am an old dog, and need a little more time and evidence. I feel better with Boone on top of his game, and I look forward to what you can teach me about these other possibilities. Jorelial Rey, your father would be proud.” He gave her a squeeze and removed his arm from her shoulders, extending his hand next to Tvrdik. “A pleasure, young man. Most impressive work today. I look forward to getting to know you better.” Smiling and shaking his head, he turned and strode away.

The room was emptying, a few of those gathered hanging about in conversation, or making their way toward the door. Jorelial Rey scanned the room and came back to Tvrdik, lowering her voice, “Do you see? Where Maygrew goes, they will all go. We have to court them and win them fairly. Today was a good start. You really got their attention.”

“Well, that was Xaarus, and he could always charm water from a stone…”

“No, no! Xaarus backed you up, but I’m talking about before that, Tvrdik. About you. You were positively glowing. How are you feeling, anyway?”

“A little tired, but nothing unusual for a long day. I’m fine.”

“Good. Are you hungry?”

“Famished, now that you mention it.”

“Well, then, what are we waiting for? We have to keep our strength up. Tomorrow will be another busy day. Assuming the palace healers agree, I think we should move you back to The Cottage. We will need a headquarters…”

“Yes, my lady.” She slipped her arm carefully through his injured one, while he carried the great oak staff in his right hand, and, arm in arm, they made their way out of the room.

“The bear was a nice touch,” she commented, as they strolled toward the kitchens.

He chuckled, “I honestly don’t know
what
came over me. Did I frighten you?”

“Frighten me? Don’t be silly.”

“Not even a little?”

“Well, maybe…a little.”

TWENTY–SIX
Coming Home

I
N THE MORNING, TVRDIK PACKED
up everything he had accumulated at the palace, which, with all that he had sent for over the past two weeks, had grown into quite a substantial collection. The Palace Physician paid him a call, checked him over, pronounced him well on the way to a complete recovery, made him promise to continue the exercises for his arm and hand, and released him to go home. The two shook hands, and Tvrdik thanked him again for his efforts during the crisis. The man demurred, but repeated his suggestion that they should share an ale sometime and discuss their profession. Tvrdik agreed. Then, on a whim, he asked if the man happened to be free that very afternoon for a gathering on another subject entirely. The wizard explained that he did not wish to divulge too much, but that a number of key people were being invited to discuss a matter of great importance. The physician seemed flattered and intrigued, promising that he would clear his schedule to be there.

The Lady Rey insisted on ferrying him back to The Cottage on Tashroth, who was only too happy to be of service. Tvrdik tried to lobby for the footpath, but she would have none of it, instructing him to save his strength for more important things. He found it impossible to communicate to her how challenging – no, terrifying – he still found dragonflight. But he knew better than to resist, once she had made up her mind. Mark and Delphine offered to gather his belongings in a little wheeled cart, and walk them over. They arrived at his suite midmorning, positively bouncing with excitement at his ‘release from prison,’ as they called it. While Mark packed up the cart, Delphine accompanied her new friend on one last stroll about the palace gardens, and caught him more than once stopping to glance back at the huge structure. At one such moment, she gave him a gentle shove, “What are you thinking?” He hung his head.

“Oh, well, I’ve been so eager to leave, and now I think I will miss this place. It’s funny, considering the circumstances, but, you know, I’ve led a rather… solitary… life. My memories of this time at Theriole will always be of my first real friends, and a feeling of home.”

“I shall miss having you right next door, any time of the day or night. But, it’s not like you are losing any of us, Tvrdik. You’re not going far, and we’ll all be coming to visit you at your place now. You’ll see. It’s only the beginning. You never even got the chance to settle in at The Cottage and make it feel like home. In a few weeks, it will be like you’ve always lived there.” Tvrdik’s mind wandered for a moment to a time when he had indeed lived there. His face clouded. Delphine could not help but notice the sudden change. “Have I said something wrong?”

Instantly he was back with her, smiling down at her, “No, my friend. I was just remembering things from a very long time ago, things best left forgotten. We have so much to do in the next few weeks; there will be no time for brooding over the past. You will come this afternoon? And Mark? I’m counting on you to be there.”

“We wouldn’t miss this for anything in the world. Of course we’ll be there.” They stood together in the sunshine for a few minutes, breathing in the fragrant spring air, watching birds fly back and forth to their nests with food for their little ones. Now and then a little beak would be visible over the edge of twigs, or a scrawny, damp head. So much of the world seemed beautiful and fresh today, as the two friends shared their mutual sense of wonder without a word passing between them. A shadow passing overhead broke the spell, and they both looked up to see Tashroth coming in for a landing on the broad palace lawns.

“Time to go,” Delphine muttered. “I’ll bet Mark is ready and wondering what’s keeping us…”

Tvrdik nodded. Then, on an impulse, he turned to her, took her face in both of his hands, and kissed her forehead gently. She blushed as he released her, but they were both smiling as they turned back toward the palace. They made their way to the great stone steps of Theriole, in front of which Mark was indeed waiting, along with Tashroth and Jorelial Rey. Tvrdik’s things were stowed neatly in the little cart, and Rel was already seated on the dragon’s neck, ready to give him a hand up to the seat behind.

“Should I go in and check one more time? Is that everything?” the wizard stalled.

Mark shrugged. “I’m sure I got everything. Checked several times. And anyway, you’re only going down the riverwalk if we forget anything.” Tvrdik shook Mark’s hand and thanked him, winked at Delphine, and made a small reverence to Tashroth in greeting. There was no use delaying any longer.

“Come on, Tvrdik!” Rel shouted down, “I’ll give you a boost.” Tvrdik edged up close to Tash’s left forearm, and reached up his uninjured hand, which Jorelial Rey clasped. Glad of her support, he clambered up over the huge forearm and swung one leg over the central spine, settling himself between bony ridges, and casting about for something to hold onto. The thought crossed his mind that he was grateful he had worn his tunic and leggings today, and not his robes, which might have been somewhat awkward in this position. Before he had left that thought, Tash’s great muscles gathered and rippled in one great leap upward, and as the huge wings beat down, they were airborne. Tvrdik’s stomach dropped earthward and then rose into his throat as he looked down to see the ground and his friends spinning crazily away from him when the dragon banked to head upriver.
I will never get used to this
, he thought, but dared not speak aloud.

“Isn’t it a glorious day for flying?” Rel remarked, and when Tvrdik tried to respond, “Oh, glorious!” his voice cracked.

Since he closed his eyes for the descent, and for most of his ungraceful dismount, it was a complete surprise when he opened them to a regular reception committee. Stewart was there to greet him of course, barking and dancing about. And the entire Praeger family was there to welcome him. The adults seemed so peaceful and happy, he almost didn’t recognize them. But Lynette he knew, even though she had changed in appearance most of all. Rel came down beside him, and Tash settled himself on a wide place in the riverwalk just beside the front gate.

“Come in, come in, and welcome home, Master Tvrdik,” Mrs. Praeger cooed, while Lynette ran forward to take his hand and pull him through the gate. Stewart and Praeger seemed to have come to some sort of peace with one another. He noticed they still gave one another respectful space, but did not seem to harbor any animosity.

As he came through the gate, he noticed how smoothly it opened and shut, without the old creak he had not gotten around to fixing, and when he looked up at Xaarus’ gardens, he was amazed to see lush, colorful, orderly rows of herbs, flowers and vegetables growing in happy profusion, not a weed or an insect blot in sight. The neat plots were surrounded with stones, and divided with posts and string. Speechless, he let his eye wander upward to the house. He had left it in decent condition, but now he noticed details such as the broken shutters, sagging gutters and cracked sills had all been fixed. There were curtains in the windows. Smoke was streaming from the front chimney, though the day was warm, and his nostrils were greeted with the unmistakable aroma of fresh-baked bread. Tvrdik looked at Mrs. Praeger in amazement, a question on his face. “It’s made from potato flour, sir – we find it serves well enough. I hope you like it. There’s also a nice hot lentil stew with spinach and potatoes, all ready for you, and some early strawberries.” Stewart wagged his tail and barked once. Tvrdik stood staring at everyone in shock, “You – you did all this?”

“A great wizard deserves a proper homecoming. We wanted ye to feel comfortable. I hope we did not overstep?”

“No, no, it’s wonderful. I just wasn’t expecting such a …surprise!” He turned for support to Jorelial Rey, who was standing behind him, wearing a smug smile. “Did
you
know all this was going on?”

“Not me.” she chuckled, “But it seems entirely appropriate – a great wizard does indeed deserve a proper homecoming.”

Praeger himself took a step toward the mage, frayed hat in hand again, which made Tvrdik apprehensive about what might be coming next. “Master,” the little man began, “we didna mean to put everythin’ on ye the moment ye arrived, but since ye asked, well, we have a thought to discuss wi’ ye, and perhaps ye might just hear us out and put it in yer mind for considerin’ later?”

“Go ahead…”

Mrs. Praeger picked up the thread, “Well, we were thinkin’ as how ye’d be fair busy wi’ weighty matters now – entertainin’ important visitors, doin’ healin’ work, and attendin’ to study and other magical matters and such – why, ye won’ be havin’ time to take proper care o’ yerself. And ye shouldna be wastin’ yer time on work like gardenin, fixin’ things, cookin,’ and washin’ up. We were thinkin’ how ye might need people to do all those things for ye…”

Praeger jumped in, “And after all that’s happened, ye know…my heart just isna in the bow and arrow business anymore. Canna much see the good o’ creatin’ things that only bring death and sufferin’, if ye take my meanin’. This last two weeks, workin’ in the earth, and doin’ odd jobs here, I feel really good. Always did like workin’ wi’ my hands, sir, and now it was for buildin’ and growin’ things.” He nodded toward his wife, “Maihre here loves takin’ care o’ folk, and keepin’ a nice, orderly house. Lynette is that wild about ye, and we will always be indebted to ye for makin’ her well…”

Again Mrs. Praeger took over, “…and seein’ as how ye have that whole wing in the back there that no one’s been in fer years, we thought perhaps ye wouldna mind if we fixed it up ourselves? It could be a right comfortable little space for a small family. And then we could stay on and look after ye, proper-like; cook and clean and tend to the garden and the walk in winter…”

Finally they paused for air, but by then Tvrdik’s head was spinning. In his mind, he saw a picture of the old dorm, all of Benjin’s and Ailianne’s things still lying about where they had fallen, covered in dust. Did he have a right to reclaim, to violate that space and its ghosts? And how could he justify having servants when he was of modest background, and used to doing for himself? Mistaking his silence for disapproval, the Praegers glanced at each other in dismay. Praeger broke the silence, “Ye don’ need to answer right away, sir. We just thought ye might do us the kindness of thinkin’ about it. I wouldna blame ye if ye still weren’t comfortable sharin’ house wi’ the likes o’ me, but if ye come inside and have a look around, ye can see a sample of our work. I know a trick or two for fixin’ things, and Maihre here is quite a good cook.”

Lynette, with his hand still in hers, looked up at him and smiled, “I helped, too. I put flowers on all the tables.”

Tvrdik hastened to correct their misunderstanding, “Oh, no, no! Please don’t be offended. It’s a most generous, wonderful offer. It’s just that, well, I’ve never had…um…
staff
before. Always did things for myself. Plus, I was wondering if the back rooms were even mine to use…”

At this remark, Jorelial Rey, who had been listening with great interest, stepped in and grasped his arm, “Of course they are. I told you to take over the whole house if you could make it livable, and as far as I am concerned, it’s yours. Remember, Xaarus told you to use it with his blessing as well.” Then she leaned in and for his ears only, she whispered, “Let the past go, Tvrdik. They aren’t coming back. It’s time we all moved on.” Startled, he pulled back and stared at her hard. She nodded, then continued aloud, “You know, the Praegers do make good sense. You are going to be awfully busy, especially over the next
six weeks
, and it would befit your new stature at court to have someone to delegate the chores to. As Court Wizard, you will be receiving a regular stipend from the Crown to cover your expenses. In return, I shall expect you to be on call if necessary seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day. If we stand down from high alert sometime in the future, then those points could be renegotiated.” He looked at her quizzically, thinking they both knew he would always be at her beck and call at any hour. But, seeing the twinkle in her eye, he just said, “Oh, yes, that sounds reasonable…”

“And you could choose to pay the Praegers a fair wage out of that stipend, or if you prefer, I could make an arrangement directly with Minister Verger. I do think it is an excellent idea, and suits everyone’s purposes.”

Still not quite able to process so much at once, he turned back to the family, “You’re sure this is what you want?” Praeger and his family nearly tripped over each other to assure him, “Oh, yes, sir.”

“Ye’d be doing us a great favor, sir.”

“…an honor, indeed, sir.”

Tvrdik turned to Stewart next, “What do you say, friend? This house has become almost as much yours as mine over the last few weeks.”

Stewart clearly enjoyed being consulted on such weighty matters, “Fine, fine. Bring them on. The more the merrier, I say. Splendid idea. Woof.”

“Alright then, I have only one other condition – Praeger?”

Praeger looked nervous, not knowing what to expect, “What would that be, sir?”

“You will let me work with you in the garden from time to time, won’t you? I think I’d go mad if I didn’t have my hands in the earth at least once in a while – for therapy, you understand?” Tvrdik winked.

Praeger’s face broke into a broad grin, “Why, yes, sir. I think we could turn a blind eye to that, sir. Anytime ye want, sir.” He was worrying his poor hat again, Tvrdik noticed, but this time with joyful energy.

“Good. We can work out the details later, if that is agreeable to you both, but since you seem determined, you are herewith hired, with my gratitude. You can begin working on the back rooms as soon as you like. I’ll even help. Shall we shake on it?” Praeger eyed the hand extended toward him as if it were a fish flying through the air, but Tvrdik held it out firmly before him until at last, gingerly, he grasped it with his own and they shook hands to seal the deal.

“Mrs. Praeger,” Tvrdik was beginning to regain some of his normal good spirits, “this feels like cause for a celebration. How much of that lentil stew did you say we had?”