The Last Wizard of Eneri Clare (62 page)

Ondine’s pretty face pouted for a moment. Then, she smiled. “You good man, Lovely Man. Good heart. It is why I love you.” Tvrdik blushed, but no one really saw in the moonlight. “OK. We not harm anyone. Scare them good, but not kill.”

Tvrdik shrugged, “It’s possible that what you did today was exactly what was needed. Perhaps those ships never would have turned back if they hadn’t been severely compromised. We’ll never know for sure, and it’s more important right now that we succeeded, and everything turned out alright. Just be careful, alright? I worry about your welfare too.”

“Silly man. We fine in water always. Big waves like games for us. No fear. But thank you for worry. I worry for you, too, so long to hold picture. Good magic! Hard work. You fine now?”

He smiled. “Yes, I’m tired, but fine. Thank you, dearest. We should both get some rest now. No work tomorrow. The Lady Regent made it a holiday for us.”

“Very good thing, everybody rest and play.”

“Oooh! Before I go, next week, six days from now, is my thirtieth birthday. I’m a little embarrassed, but I mentioned it and Delphine wants to have a party – a picnic outside, at The Cottage. Will you come?”

“Your birthday? Ooooh! Wonderful time, Lovely Man. Yes, yes, I come. Bring friends. We sing you a song, make you happy.” She spun around and showered him with water. Laughing out loud, he reached for his staff, and let it support him as he got to his feet. He was still stiff and achy.

“I am already so happy, dearest, to have friends like you.”

She stopped, mid-splash, “Six days? Is that not the day set for trials to prove our strength to Council?”

“It is indeed, and because of your quick thinking today, they have been deemed unnecessary. The skeptics are joining forces with us already. So, we will be having a picnic instead.” That brought forth a whole new round of acrobatics and joyful laughter. Tvrdik brushed himself off, and made ready to go home. “Thank you again for everything, sweet Ondine. Rest well. I will see you soon.”

She spun around, leapt straight up, and planted a very wet kiss on his forehead, then turned to dive below the surface and disappear. The mage lingered another moment, sighing as images of everything the day had brought, danced through his mind, waiting to be sorted and filed. But for now, it would all have to wait. He could only focus on one thing – most welcome sleep. He turned, the glow-ball both following and anticipating his movements, pushed his way through the lush bushes, and started down the path for home.

“We sank three of the enemy’s ships, my lord.” Neritz reminded Drogue, who stared down at him from a formal chair of audience, an expression of disgust contorting his handsome features.

“You
lost
three of
my
ships, Neritz.”

“My lord, it was all we could do to escape with our lives. You weren’t there. It was as if all the demons in hell had been unleashed upon us. I beg you to consider that I have returned to you the better part of your fleet, only somewhat compromised, and most of the men as well. Even this was something of a miracle.”

“And what victory have you brought me that was worth the sacrifice of the rest, sir?” Drogue’s voice pierced the trembling Captain like an icicle.

“My lord, we sunk three of their ships. Three ships they will not be able to use to oppose you…”

“And is Theriole delivered into my hand?”

“No, my lord…”

“Do you see a crown on my head, Neritz?”

“My lord?” Neritz was growing uncomfortable, and uncertain. How was he supposed to respond? He blinked and sputtered a few more words, but before he could even form a coherent thought, Drogue had sprung from his seat, and was bearing down on him, his eyes all fire.

“How could it be possible that you could not even
find
an enormous, sprawling edifice that can be seen for miles? How can you face me, and claim you never came upon it?”

“Lord Drogue, we searched for hours in every direction. We took measurements with all the instruments we had and consulted all the maps. I had all the most experienced seamen putting their heads together. It simply wasn’t there!”

“They must have used some kind of sorcery to veil it, or to keep you out of range. Can you not recognize a trick when you encounter it, Neritz?”

“We found ourselves surrounded by jagged rocks and dangerous whirlpools, and hampered by evil mists that made it hard to see anything at all…”

“You are an idiot and a coward. You should have braved all of that, and come to the palace.”

Neritz was almost in tears. “My lord, I had no wish to lose your brand new ships to the whirlpools.”

Drogue lashed out at him, “You lost
three
of them! It seems your cowardice did not, in fact, protect you.”

“You can’t know, my lord. There were dragons everywhere, and a tidal wave that nearly drowned us all, and some sort of blinding lights that came out of nowhere…”

Drogue stood still and collected himself, sounding now eerily calm. “All that, but no Theriole, even though you sailed right up to where it should have been. Well, I am so sorry, Captain Neritz. You
have
had a difficult time of it. All that drama, and nothing to show for it, hmmm? Poor Neritz. You did your best, I’m sure, but you simply couldn’t
see
the palace, is that right?” The dark ruler was pacing the floor very near him, and Neritz was beginning to feel a sense of alarm. What was the man working up to, and what had he been thinking, aligning himself with such a madman? He took a single step back, but there were two large guards firmly planted behind him. Fear squeezed his heart in its cold fist.

“M-m-my lord, wh-what would you have me say?”

“Say, Neritz? Oh, you needn’t say anything more. I understand. You tried your hardest, but you could not see Theriole. Obviously, there is some flaw in your vision. We must strive to correct that, my dear man…we must help you to see properly. Guards!”

At that last word, before he could even turn to run, Neritz was held fast by the two burly strangers, one on either side of him. Squirming and struggling in their grip, he pleaded, “My lord, please, no! I am ever your man. I will go back again. I will let nothing deter me, and I will find it this time, trust me…”

“Oh, Neritz, I
do
trust you, and good officers are difficult to come by. I don’t blame you entirely. It seems my plans are constantly being spoiled by that infernal wizard, lately come out of the woods. He is a nasty surprise, like the hand of that idiot Xaarus come from the grave to put obstacles in my way. No matter. I shall soon find a remedy for the annoying young mage.”

Neritz was whimpering, “Yes, my lord. You must dispose of him, my lord. I can see now that it was some spell that held us off. It was not our fault. Surely you can see that, my lord…”

Drogue sidled up very close to the sweating, pale man, and clucked his tongue with a scolding sound. “Of course I cannot expect your little brain to comprehend such complex mysteries. There, there, I forgive you.”

Neritz’ knees nearly buckled in relief, “My lord is generous and good.”

“Yes, whatever. But, I really think we should do something to help with your vision, so that next time, it will serve you better. And perhaps to remind you that I do not expect my commanders to fail in their assignments. It rankles me beyond words. Guards, take him below and remove his left eye. Mind you, the right one is to remain undamaged. He will need that if he is to be at all useful.”

Neritz howled, “No, no, my lord, please! Please, spare me.”

Drogue laid his hand gently on the man’s cheek and purred, “Don’t struggle so. It is unbecoming of an officer. You will come to understand that this is fair, and that I have, in fact, been quite lenient in taking only the one. I am feeling particularly sympathetic, and I wish to reward your good intentions. Be off, now. Let’s have it over with. Guards, take him.”

They did, though he fought them with all of his remaining strength. It did him no good, and his pitiful screams were heard all the way from the depths of the dungeons out across the courtyard, where many in Drogue’s employ paused an instant, and swallowed hard, before going about their tasks.

In his Hall of Audience, Drogue still paced the parquet floor, and considered a new plan aloud, although no one remained in the room to hear him. “I shall have to march on Theriole myself,” he mused. “We shall meet them head-on, and when I do, I shall have a little surprise for that meddling wizard.”

THIRTY-FOUR
A Good Deed, an Envoy, and a Secret Weapon

I
T WAS ALREADY WELL INTO
the next day when Tvrdik began to stir in his bed. The Praegers had tiptoed around, attending to breakfast and chores. Mr. Praeger had then gone out to work in the garden, while the Mrs. went off to the market with Lynette, excited about shopping for a birthday picnic. Stewart went off on some errand or another as well. But the mage allowed his body the luxury of whatever time it needed for rest and regeneration, and it took him up on the offer. His sleep was long, and deep, and dreamless, and when he finally woke, he started his day feeling slow and addled – not at all refreshed. He was grateful for a day that held no particular agenda, as he suspected it might take a while to reclaim his natural rhythm and energy.

He washed, dressed, and stumbled out into the empty house, wondering for a moment where everyone had gone. Sun was streaming in through the windows, and poking his head out to examine the sky, he was surprised at what time of day it was. He realized he was hungry, and looking around, found a generous tray of cold breakfast awaiting him on the kitchen counter. There was fruit juice, but he used a touch of magic to start some tea, thinking it’s warmth and herbal fragrance might perk him up a bit. He ate and drank in silence, his mind still unfocused, enjoying the flavors and textures, and the gift of a leisurely day. By the time he had finished eating, cleaned up and put away the breakfast things, he was feeling more himself, and had decided to devote the next few hours to a project he had tossed around in his mind for weeks, but had not had time to tackle. He rifled around a bit in Xaarus’ supplies for a few necessary items, and set to work.

Several hours later, as the Praegers were just arriving from their various occupations, he was leaving the house carrying the fruits of his labors. He stopped to assure them that he was feeling much better after his long sleep, and that he would not be gone long. With a cheerful wave, he made his way to the front gate and let himself out onto the path. He headed back toward the palace gardens, searching for a certain isolated corner, not far from the alcove where Delphine had held her wedding. This out-of-the-way meadow of wildflowers, surrounded by tall junipers and blooming rhododendron, was where the unicorn herd had chosen to make camp, in order to be nearer the center of activity. The mage, a small bundle slung over one shoulder, strode along the path, peering now and then between bushes and under limbs to find the place. Finally, when he was beginning to be concerned that he might not find them, he ventured down one last obscure side trail, turned a corner, and there they were.

It was now the hottest part of the afternoon, and they were all relaxing, some on the cool ground in the shade of leafy bushes, others standing about cropping grass, tails swishing back and forth in a lazy rhythm. Clearing his throat to announce his presence, the mage stepped into view. In an instant, all eyes were on him. Wynne, their leader, trotted over to greet him, “Welcome, Sir Mage.”

“I do not wish to disturb you, unbidden…”

“Please, come within. It is a pleasure and an honor to have you here among us. Is there something we can do for you?”

Tvrdik walked with Wynne deeper into the sheltered grove, and noticed there was a small fountain in one corner with a marble rim just tall enough for him to sit on. Indicating to Wynne with a gesture that he was headed in that direction, he replied, “Well, first, I came to thank you for your part in yesterday’s victory. I apologize that it has taken me so long, but I was recuperating myself. I wish I could have seen it, but by all accounts, what you did was magnificent. The Lady Regent sends her best regards and humble thanks, and she also thought you might like to know that, due to our resounding success, the rest of the Palace Council has had to admit we offer a viable alternative in defeating Lord Drogue. They have all come on board with our plan, and the trials that were to be our proving grounds next week are suspended.”

Wynne nickered, “That is wonderful news indeed. Though I confess, I half looked forward to seeing all of their faces when we revealed everything we have been working on.”

“That, you will still be able to enjoy. Field-work has been suspended today, as I am sure you have heard by now. But, Lord Maygrew and General Boone are coming tomorrow to take part in our maneuvers. You will be able to watch their reactions to all we have planned. But, they are also seasoned veterans, with valuable ideas of their own to add, no doubt. It is a very good thing to have all of our forces at last united against our common enemy: Drogue.”

“True, of course. Sir, we appreciate the respect you show us by coming here yourself to bring this news, and acknowledge our contributions, which were relatively slight, compared to your own. But I sense there might be another reason for your visit?”

“Well…yes, as a matter of fact. Since our Lady Regent decided that today should be used for rest and leisure, I found myself with the extra time to work on an idea I’ve had in the back of my mind for a while now. I think it’s ready – a little thank you gift from me. Or perhaps just another part of my healing work, if you prefer…”

“My dear mage, you have lost me.”

“Oh, sorry. I suppose I am rambling on a bit. I was wondering if it would be possible to see Shar?”

“Shar? For what purpose?” Tvrdik took the small bundle he had been carrying, untied the strings and unwrapped what was inside. He put aside a small bottle, some bandages, and two small knives. Then, with great care, he unfolded a bit of cloth that protected the last item. When Wynne saw what it was, he gasped, and looked startled. “Wait here a moment,” the unicorn spoke with quiet excitement, and trotted away to a shadowed corner of the meadow. A few moments later, he returned, accompanied by the darker, smaller unicorn to whom Tvrdik had been introduced when he first met the herd. Wynne stood by and watched as the wizard, doing a poor job of concealing his nervousness, addressed Shar.

“Hello, Shar. It is good to see you again. Ever since we first met, I have been thinking a lot about you – well, your injury, to be precise. Among my own people, I do a fair amount of healing, as well as magic – part of the job, you know – and I have been trying to think of a way that maybe I could help you. I’m afraid that no amount of healing skill, nor magic, will grow you a new horn. But, in my years of solitude in the wood, I also became quite good at whittling. I had to make myself bowls and spoons and utensils and other odds and ends.” He held up what had been in his lap; a perfectly carved, smooth and symmetrical spiral horn, made of wood, and just the right size for Shar’s head. The dark unicorn’s eyes widened in amazement.

“Of course, it wouldn’t have the same magical powers as your original horn, but wood has special magic of its own. This is made from ash, a strong, pliable wood that shares most of the letters of your name, so perhaps you will find a connection in spirit. I also knew that Xaarus had been doing some work on perfecting some very reliable adhesives, which I hoped would serve to attach it firmly. It might look better than the broken piece, and might help you to feel a little more like yourself. Would you…could I have your permission to try it out?”

Shar turned to glance at Wynne, who gave an almost imperceptible nod. The dark unicorn then lowered his eyes and spoke in a timid voice, “Master Wizard, I would be most grateful if you would see what could be done.”

“Very good!” exclaimed Tvrdik, delighted, “If you wouldn’t mind stepping over very close…I think this would work best if I could carve out some notches in what’s left of your own horn, so we can get a secure fit. Would that be alright? I don’t think it should hurt…” Tvrdik continued, step by step, explaining everything he was doing to the beast as he worked. He had thought the process through, but found the actuality, of course, a little more challenging than he had imagined. Still, in the end, he had knit bone and wood together in a snug joint that revealed almost no seam, applied the special adhesive, and wrapped the juncture in a temporary bandage.

Shar gingerly dipped his head, then swung it back and forth in a broad arc, testing the new weight on his face. He stepped near to the fountain where Tvrdik sat, regarding his reflection in the still waters. And then, in a burst of exuberance, he kicked up his heels, tossed his head and gamboled across the meadow. Tvrdik rose and called after him, “Hey, hang on there, Shar! Be careful with that. It probably needs to set overnight before it’s strong enough for those maneuvers.” Despite the rebuke, he was smiling to see the little unicorn’s joyful reaction. Shar calmed a bit, trotted around in a circle, neck arched with pride. “Once it sets, we can take off the bandages, and then, if you like, we can stain it black, or white, or any color you prefer. We can even dip the tip in silver…I didn’t know what you might like best…” The mage stood there, anxiously awaiting some word of approval from either of the unicorns. Were they satisfied with his hair-brained scheme? He added, “And, if it doesn’t hold, or if it ever breaks, you can just come and find me, and we’ll fix it right up, alright?” Shar did not reply, and Tvrdik fidgeted with the bandage roll, his face the very picture of a question mark. Without a word, the dark unicorn trotted up to the young wizard, fixed him with a great black eye shining with emotion, and nuzzled his face. Tvrdik raised a hand to touch the place in wonder, as Shar trotted off to his accustomed corner of the meadow, head held high, making sure this time to nod and greet his fellows on the way. Wynne was staring straight at the mage, his expression unreadable.

“Shar is my kinsman. It has been many years since the …unfortunate incident that took his horn. Over the course of those years, there have been times when we have all wondered at the wisdom of Xaarus’ having saved the lad’s life. That is how devastating his loss was for him, as it would have been for any of us. But, even Xaarus never thought to try anything like this. Today, I almost do not recognize him. He stands tall, dances with joy, engages with the rest of the herd…one meeting only, and you could feel his pain, did not rest until you came to us with a solution. You truly
are
different, Master Tvrdik, most unique among men.”

Tvrdik was embarrassed, “Not so different. There are many who might have sought to help…”

“Not so many, in my experience, who would have taken the trouble to come back here and
do
something. It is a great gift you have brought. You have given him back his life. Mage, you inspire in me emotions for which I hardly know words. I am in your debt.”

“No, Wynne. Men were responsible for the problem to begin with. It only seems right that one of us should try to repair the damage.”

“Listen to me, mage. I am bigger than many of my fellows. When you have need, in the battle to come, I will be your steed. You will ride on my back against the enemy, on to glory and triumph.”

“Wynne, you are a king. It is not necessary for you to offer such a thing. It is payment enough to see Shar happy, and perhaps to earn your trust.”

“Master Wizard, I insist. It serves both of us for you to consider my offer.”

There was a pause as Tvrdik searched the unicorn’s face for clues as to how serious he was. Finally, not wishing to disrespect such a generous gesture, he nodded his head, “Yes, then. I accept your offer. You do me great honor.”

“The honor is all mine,” the unicorn said, lowering his head. Instinctively, Tvrdik offered his open right hand, and Wynne laid his muzzle gently in it. Tvrdik’s hand worked its way around to scratch behind the unicorn’s left ear, knowing that such was a privilege reserved for a very few, and that he was living a historic moment. In the distance, Shar seemed to be enjoying conversations with several admiring compatriots. Tvrdik smiled. He packed up his equipment, took his leave with a gracious bow, and made his way between the bushes back out to the main path. The young mage glanced up at the sun, which was now far advanced on its daily journey, but seemed to be returning his broad smile with its warm beams. He enjoyed an unhurried stroll back to Xaarus’ Cottage. When he arrived, and couldn’t stop smiling, both Stewart and Mrs. Praeger asked what he’d been up to. Tvrdik’s response was, “Ah, my old master often used to say, ‘a wizard’s ways are inscrutable – not to be questioned or understood.’” And, still smiling, he left it at that, his mystified housemates staring after him.

Jorelial Rey arrived from the crater lake late that night, feeling refreshed and renewed. A part of her knew it might be considered irresponsible on her part to absent herself for the entire day, just after an enemy attack on home ground. But her instincts told her she could have these twenty-four hours in peace, without incident, and that she would be a more effective leader if she seized the chance for a retreat.

Upon arriving at Theriole, she immediately sent Tashroth off to ask Candelinda to come for an audience, despite the late hour, with an eye toward a special mission. The two dragons appeared atop the crenellated turret only minutes later. Candelinda was even more beautiful in close-up, her hide glistening with faint, opalescent rainbows, and her dark, expressive eyes framed with long lashes. Jorelial Rey was even more impressed, however, with her intellect, enthusiasm, and willingness to take on responsibility, just as Tash had described. The Lady Rey began by praising the dragons, and Candelinda in particular, for their excellent work during the recent battle. She then went on to describe what she needed in an envoy to Lord Drogue, and asked if Candelinda were interested in the job. The response was a resounding, ‘Yes!’, and Rel felt confident that here was someone she could trust to communicate with clarity and eloquence, to observe with meticulous detail, and to take care of herself and come back unharmed.