The Last Wizard of Eneri Clare (43 page)

Tvrdik was dabbing at his dripping face with the edges of his sleeves, and laughing, “Oh, my girl, how I’ve missed you and your wicked antics!”

“Miss you too, Lovely Man.” Several of Tvrdik’s guests to whom that appellation was new exchanged glances. “Seventeen days. Seventeen days we wait for you to come and visit with us. Very worried about you. You are well now, Lovely Man?”

Delphine giggled and Tvrdik whispered aside to her, “It’s a long story. I keep trying, but I can’t get her to stop calling me that.” He turned back to Ondine, “Yes, thank you, mostly well. I would have come out sooner if there was any way, but it took me a long time to recover.”

“So happy you are better now. We hear you are coming home to live in house; Ondine teaches all her friends special song to welcome you. You like it?”

“It was beautiful. You all did a wonderful job. What a thoughtful, rare, homecoming gift! Will you sing again?”

She grinned, and, alone this time, began to trill something that sounded like, ‘Welcome home, Lovely Man…’ Tvrdik cleared his throat and raised a hand, “Alright, love. I appreciate it, but we have company. Thank you, dear naiads, for your concert. It is good to be in your company again.”

The little grey-green nymphs giggled shyly and spun around in various directions. Tvrdik went on, “You are all welcome here at this house any time you like, and I will be glad to see you. In fact, Ondine, we are holding a meeting of friends to talk about our plan of action right here in about two hours. Can I count on you to attend?”

“Today? Very good, Lovely Man. I will take the others home and come back later. Time we begin our work, yes?”

“Yes, Ondine. What a joy to see you, and thank you, all of you, from my heart.” Remembering what they enjoyed, he conjured a ring of flame in the shape of a heart just above them. A host of tiny ‘oohs’ and ‘ahs’ filled the air, along with a few from bigger companions behind him. The heart faded to smoke, which drifted away in the river breeze. Ondine waved to everyone, and then sent up a gigantic splash aimed at Tvrdik. She was near doubled over in laughter as he stood there drowned, spluttering, shaking his arms up and down, and mopping his brow with a damp sleeve.

“Master Wizard!” exclaimed Mrs. Praeger, horrified.

“It’s alright, Mrs. Praeger. She means it as a sign of affection.”

“Lovely Man, where is your hurt?” Ondine called.

“Here, my left shoulder and arm.” He pointed with his other hand. There was a moment when the little imp seemed to be concentrating, bobbing up and down in one place in the water. Suddenly, everyone began to notice a very large patch of the brackish water turning clear, and shining with a shimmering blue light, flecked with silver. A few of the onlookers gasped audibly, but no one said a word. Ondine addressed her friend, nodding toward his left side.

“You put that hand in water, here,” she insisted, “feel better.” Tvrdik rolled up his left sleeve as best he could, and reached his hand into the shining patch, submerging it past the wrist. Immediately, he felt a surge of energy, a sort of cool-heat sensation shooting through his hand and pulsing up his arm. He closed his eyes as the healing energy spread up toward his wound, through that shoulder, and from there, throughout his entire being. So powerful and ecstatic was the feeling that he wished it could go on forever. But after a few moments, the pulsing energy stopped, leaving in its wake an aura of strength, warmth, and well-being. Tvrdik opened his eyes to see Ondine’s broad grin.

“You feel better now. Heal faster – you see. Old magic we do here…we know one thing or two.” And she giggled.

“Thanks again, dear heart,” muttered the mage, moving his fingers and arm about cautiously, but feeling their new flexibility and strength. “Once again, I am in your debt.”

“Farewell, all. I come back later and see you again.” And shepherding her city cousins into some sort of formation, she led them into the depths and away. Everyone stood on the shore blinking for a moment. There truly was no sign now in the slow-moving, silty flow that anything unusual had just occurred. Stewart barked, wagged his tail, and remarked, “I always find those wee girlies charmin’”

Mrs. Praeger, ever the pragmatist, seemed to come to life at that, “Let me fetch ye a towel, sir. Ye’ll catch yer death standing about here soakin’ wet.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Praeger, but it is a fair, warm day. I’m sure I feel quite well.”

“Nevertheless…” and she hustled back into the house, closely followed by her daughter, who had finally found her voice. “Mamma, did you see them? Faeries? They were real, mamma….and did you hear the beautiful song?”

The rest of the group turned from the river bank with some reluctance, and followed back to the house, exchanging hushed remarks with one another, as if they had been standing in a holy place. Upon entering the house, Tvrdik was handed a soft towel and began scrubbing at his damp face and hair.

“Ye should get out of those wet clothes as well, sir.” Mrs. Praeger exhorted.

“Nonsense.” he reassured her, “They aren’t so bad. I’ll dry in the sun.” He raised his voice and addressed the whole assembly, who were all gathered around rather uncertainly. “You’ve all made this day a real occasion for me, and you are all welcome in this place, my
home
, any time, day or night. As for today, we have almost two hours until the others arrive and we address serious matters. That’s not enough time for you all to leave and return, or to be busy about other things. I hope you will consider staying, and making yourselves comfortable here. The house and grounds are at your disposal. A little calculated relaxation can be a very salutary thing.”

“Hear, hear!” Mark said, and Delphine smiled up at him with adoration. They patted Tvrdik on the shoulder and stepped out to walk in the bright sunshine among the fragrant, blooming trees. Stewart found a sunny corner and curled up for a nap, which was exactly what Tashroth was doing in the front yard. Lynette was off to play, as imaginative children do, and the Praegers took their leave and busied themselves about various preparations for the upcoming meeting. Rel turned to Tvrdik and asked, “What about you? Big things ahead. Would you like to rest for awhile?”

He shook his head, “No, I feel strangely energized. Must be something in the water here.” He winked at her and she grinned. “I have an idea,” he offered. “Are you interested in a short walk? There’s a special place on the riverwalk I could share with you. It’s sort of a little personal sanctuary I’ve relied on since childhood, and it isn’t far from here. Would you like to see? It would do us both good to stretch our legs after that meal…”

“Are you sure you want to show me? It’s your own secret place…”

“I have a feeling there will be times ahead when you will also be grateful for a little hideaway. Let’s go. You’ll like it. Mrs. Praeger, the Lady Regent and I are out and about for a little while. Be back soon,” he called, taking Rel’s arm and escorting her through the front gate to the riverwalk. She reached up to pat the snoring Tashroth as they passed by. He immediately opened one eye and winked at her. Tvrdik released Rel’s arm, “I guess it
is
true what they say about slipping by a sleeping dragon…”

“Oh, there isn’t much that gets by him, awake or asleep.”

They strolled up the path, warm sunshine, fragrant air, and birdsong lifting their spirits, and filling them with a temporary peace. Idle conversation seemed extraneous, but at last, Rel ventured, “Ondine is adorable. She seems very fond of you.”

“When I decided to return here, she really was my first friend and companion. She insisted on coming along, although I tried to discourage her. She was giving up what for her was a paradise, in order to learn more of the wider world. Now she’s finding all the faded naiads in the waters hereabouts and re-educating them in their own traditions and lore. Quite a remarkable creature.”

Rel’s eyes twinkled with mischief, though she assumed a serious expression to ask, “Why does she call you that…you know….”

He blushed and chuckled, “Gosh, that is so embarrassing. I told you it was a long story.”

“Do tell.”

“I think I mentioned when I was wandering in despair all those years ago, and came to the waterfall where she lived, I found it so heartbreakingly beautiful that I decided to end my life right there. So, I took off all my clothes, climbed up to the top of the cliff, and jumped. Except I only managed to knock myself out, and woke up bruised and sore quite some time after. I never knew what had really happened, but took it as a sign that I was to go on living. Well, I only just learned that she had been there right at that moment, and saw what I was doing. She believed I was just trying to go for a swim, but had miscalculated the danger. Apparently it was she who saved my life, somehow pulling me out of the pool so that I would not drown. All those years she never revealed herself to me – not until I was ready to leave for good. Now I find that she has been watching me, and watching
over
me for the entire time. She made me her personal project, although I can’t think why. Really, I was more of a disruption to her world than anything. I was the first human she had encountered. I suppose she was intrigued, and curious…”

“Or found something in you to care about.”

He glanced at her, “Perhaps…”

“And it seems that she liked what she saw…” It was all she could do to keep from dissolving in laughter.

Tvrdik blushed again, a state that his pale complexion succumbed to with some regularity, “Well, that, and the fact that she can’t pronounce my name – thinks it is ridiculous.”

“If it comes to that, why, then, I should be calling you ‘Lovely Man’ as well.”

He started, “Pardon?”

“The name, silly. It really is a challenge to get right.”

“Oh.” He replied awkwardly, “Yours is like music.” She hadn’t expected that, nor had he expected to say it out loud.

“Thank you.” She looked away.

“Here it is.” Tvrdik raised his voice and pointed out the small gap in the bushes ahead. “Let me hold that branch back, and you go ahead through – that’s it – I’m right behind you…” He guided her through the thick foliage, and in a moment they both stood in the sheltered arbor where the flat rock sloped gently down toward clear rushing waters.

“Oooo! This is beautiful.” Jorelial Rey turned in place, taking in the whole picture. Tvrdik lowered himself onto the rock, warmed with sunshine that was filtering down through birch leaves, and stretched out his legs.

“I don’t think anyone knows about this little place. You can’t see it from the riverwalk, and most folks don’t take the time to explore off the path. I discovered it by accident when I was around thirteen, and used to come here quite often to study, or dream, or just be alone. It hasn’t changed much at all since then, though I confess I thought everything much larger in my youth. Later in summer there will be berries, too.” He leaned back on his good hand, and turned his face up to the sky, listening to the rush of water, the rustle of leaves, the rhythmic creak of branches, and the twitter of birds overhead. Rel sat down beside him, her arms around her shins and her chin resting on her knees. It was a childlike pose, but she felt like a girl here. This place had the air of a sanctuary, insulated from the outside world, the pressures of ruling, the demands of court, and the worries she had that their future held danger and uncertainty. Here, there was only nature, and a feeling of timelessness.

“I can see why you like to come here. It’s so peaceful.”

“It’s a good place to disappear for an hour – or an afternoon.”

“Hmmmm.” They were quiet for a few moments. Rel broke the silence again.

“Were you alone a great deal as a child?”

“Hmmmm, I suppose so. Before Xaarus, I kept to myself a lot. My family thought I was strange, or worse. Afterwards, we spent a lot of time with him, studying, observing, and practicing. It was a grueling schedule he kept us on. But when we had any leisure or private study time, the other two went off together a lot. I was shy, and something of the odd man out. Somehow the time I spent here always brought me back to harmony of a sort. I had my best inspirations here, and some of my happiest times.”

“I didn’t fit in very well with the other children at court either. I always preferred to tag along with the adults, until they lost patience with my questions and sent me away. I spent a lot of time in my own imagination, but of course, I always had Tashroth. He has always been my best friend, but it’s more like he is a part of me. My education was pretty intensive too, and when Delphine was born, I helped take care of her. So, I kept busy.”

“Xaarus told me we had a great deal in common.”

“Xaarus is a wise man.”

“I laughed at him.”

“Why? Was it that hard to imagine?”

“Don’t be angry. All I could remember was seeing you standing by your father, dressed in expensive clothes, always in important places, and flying around on a dragon with your little nose in the air. I thought your life must be perfect, and that you were insufferably full of yourself.”

“Oh!”

“I was an idiot. I was seeing you through the eyes of a child. I am learning to see more deeply, and am glad to learn how superficially I once judged people. I strive now to do better. I hope you will forgive me?”

“If I were honest, I’d have to admit I might have been a bit privileged and conceited back then, so you might not have been entirely mistaken. But it wasn’t all my fault. I
was
raised in a sheltered environment. And, I think I also adopted something of a superior attitude in response to being labeled, ‘different.’ I like to think I’ve also grown somewhat since those days.” She paused to reflect, “I remember noticing you, though. I thought you seemed interesting, if a little strange. You did tend to stand off by yourself a lot even when the three of you were all there with Xaarus. I never saw you smile or laugh.”

“I don’t think I did much of that back then.” His eyes were closed, but a wide smile spread across his face, “I’m making up for lost time now,” he said.

They sat in silence then, enjoying the peace and beauty of the place. When it was time to go, Tvrdik rose to his feet with a sigh, “I could stay here all day, but the others will be arriving soon, and we ought to be ready for them.” He reached his right hand down to her, which she grasped and sprang to her feet. “It will be here waiting when we need it.”