Path of the Magi (Tales of Tiberius) (15 page)

Messura was ready, already casting a true vision spell of his own to watch over Ian.  If there were any medical problems, he was the man for the job.  But this was a risk no one could really make safe. 

Ian sat cross-legged on the ground.  His mind at perfect peace.  He controlled his breathing just as they’d done many times before.  After a time he reached a state of perfect peace within the body.   That was the moment when his soul could step forth. 

It seemed to be going well.  Tiberius watched as Ian’s spirit floated out of his body.   As expected he straightened up and seemed to relax.  But then something unexpected occurred.  Ian turned and looked over his shoulder, as if he heard some voice that none of them could hear. 

Ian then turned to face him.

“I’m sorry but I’ve got to go.  They need me here.  It’s wonderful, Ti; I wish you could see it.”

A note of horror struck Tiberius.  “Ian, wait.”

“I can’t.  God is wonderful, Ti.  You’ll see one day.”

Tiberius could see everything that was happening, which was a lot just now.  Messura was by Ian’s body in an instant.  Tiberius thought he gave him some sort of stimulant, but he wasn’t sure what he did, only that he did something.  He was more preoccupied with Dallen.  In a flash Dallen was also standing on the ethereal plane, his spirit also out of his body and charging towards Ian.  Ian had his back to him though and seemed to be fading.  Tiberius saw Dallen thrown back suddenly as if he’d hit a wall. 

“Ian, WAIT!” he shouted.  It was a shout from the soul, some sort of word of command.  Ti saw Ian look back at Dallen for a moment. 

“It’s all right.  I know what I’m doing,”  Ian said.  Dallen tried again to go forward, closer to Ian, but some powerful force was pushing him back.  Dallen’s spirit looked like he was in some sort of wind, fighting for every inch.  Ian had completely vanished now, but Dallen had not given up. 

Just then Ti noted Tanyia’s spirit beside Dallen.  It seemed difficult for her to reach him, but she did, and she put an arm on his shoulder.

“You have to let him go, Dallen.”

“I’m not losing one of my students,” he said.

There weren’t many occasions when Tiberius had the opportunity to see Dallen unleashed, but this was one of them.  It was easy to underestimate Dallen.  He had the look of a nondescript tinker.  But at need, Dallen was as tough as they came.  Right now, standing on the ethereal plain, Dallen’s soul shone as bright as a star.  He was fully prepared to storm down the gates of Hell, or, if need be, Saint Peter’s, to help one of his students in trouble.  Looking into his eyes, Ti didn’t doubt that if anyone could do it, it was Dallen. 

It took all of Tanyia’s skill to try to calm him down. 

“Dallen, you aren’t losing him.  Ian has been called to a higher purpose.  It wasn’t expected.  But we must obey the commands of the Father, even when they are painful.  Ian has gone to a better place.  There’s nothing more you can do for him!  You go any further and we will lose you too.  It isn’t your time.  I need you.  Tiberius needs you.” 

Dallen turned and took a long last look towards the gate that had closed to him.  These were not the gates of hell he was storming.  Tanyia was right.  Ian had gone to a better place.  Sadly he closed his eyes and then in an instant his soul was back in his body.  Tanyia followed a moment later. 

Ian’s body was still here, Messura’s arms cradled around it.  But Ian was gone and they all knew it.  Tiberius walked up beside him.  The look on his face was one of perfect peace and contentment.   

Dallen was speechless with shock.  They all liked Ian.  No one expected this.  A sadness at his departure filled all of their hearts.  There was a long moment of silence over the field.  Tanyia walked over and put her arms around Dallen.  Messura gently put Ian’s body down and said a prayer for his spirit.  Tiberius looked over to Greentree.  He looked very pale and shaken.  He was Ian’s friend too.   

“He always did have good instincts,”  Ti said to Messura, who nodded agreement.  “I’m sure he did what was right, even if we don’t understand it.”

“In my work I see many live who should die and many die who should live.  Our lives are always in God’s hands,”  Messura observed. 

“Amen,”  Tiberius replied.  He could hear Tanyia quietly weeping next to Dallen. 

Tiberius turned and walked over to Dallen.  He was still numb with shock.  Tanyia had her arms around him.  A few gentle tears stained her cheeks.  Tiberius felt like crying himself.  Ian had been a good friend.  Standing in front of Dallen he cleared his throat.

“Sir, I believe we still have a job to do,”  Tiberius said.   

Dallen slowly turned his head around to look at Tiberius in astonishment. 

“I believe it’s my turn,” Tiberius said quietly. 

Singh looked at him in shock.  Ian’s departure had rattled his soul to the core. 

“You can’t be serious,” Singh said.  “Didn’t you see…”

“Yes, I saw,” Tiberius replied.  “Daniel 3:17-18.  ‘Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.’  Ian didn’t make it.  I’m sorry for him.  No, I’m sorry for us.  He’s fine; he’s with God.  We’re the ones deprived of his company.  Ian was a good friend.  But we still have a job to do.  To serve God, I’ve got to place my life in God’s hands as well.  If I fall, I fall but into his arms, just as Ian did.  But I’ve still got to take the chance.  I think God’s going to let me get on with my work.  But if not, I know it was his decision.  I’m not going to back away from this path just because it’s dangerous.  I knew that when I started.”

“You can’t know that you’ll come though this alive,”  Singh said.

“No,” Tiberius answered.  “The future is never certain.  But you made it.  Dallen made it.  Messura made it.  Tanyia made it.  Those are pretty good odds.  My only chance of keeping people alive is to take the risk.”

“Tiberius is right,”  Dallen said.  His voice was quiet but firm.  He walked over and put a hand on Tiberius’ shoulder.  “You’re Fire-Axe Fuller’s son, and a brave man,” he said with a strained smile.  “We cannot change Ian’s fate.  Those of us still among the living must carry on as best we can.  However, out of respect for Ian, we will wait a few days before Tiberius makes the attempt.”  He gave Tiberius a pat on the shoulder.  “There is no hurry, and it is only right and proper that we first honor the fallen.”

Tiberius nodded his understanding, then turned to help take Ian’s body inside.  Messura handled the funeral arrangements.  Ian’s family was notified and a simple funeral was held.  Ian must have had some premonition of his departure.  He had a will in good order and he’d written a letter to his sister, talking about how the spirit had spoken with him in prayer and told him he was destined for great service with God.  It was a letter which took on a different meaning in the light of subsequent events. 

They took Dallen’s carriage to a small chapel in Ian’s hometown near the capital.  It was a quiet, dignified service and a proper send off for a trusted friend who passed too young. 

A couple of days later they assembled again in Dallen’s backyard.  The day was slightly overcast, but no rain had yet come.  Tiberius sat down and began his meditations.  It wasn’t any harder than usual.  He’d learned to do this while being doused with ice water.  Today was just another deep meditation.  Like Ian before him, he rose out of his body.  Strange to look at yourself, he thought.  It never looks quite like you. 

He glanced around.  There weren’t any angels or devils calling to him at the moment.  He wondered if that was good or bad.  He just felt, well, more like himself.  With a shrug he ran though the formulas he’d been taught and spoke the words.  The results were a bit queer.  He produced a small burst of …something.  It sort of looked like fire, but different somehow?  Dallen had warned him that while it was easy to make magical effects here, they wouldn’t likely affect the non-astral world.  Affecting the material world from the astral plane was very advanced magic.  That wasn’t the objective here, though.  The trick was to jump start the process of drawing the raw power of the universe within himself and using it to produce changes.  He could feel the change within him.  Here he felt more real, more connected with the universe.  That was both exhilarating and frightening.  This was the raw power of the universe, and with it came the responsibility to use it wisely or not at all. 

He felt Dallen’s astral hand on his shoulder.  Time to go back.  Tiberius relaxed and slipped back into his body.  That was the awkward part.  His body felt, well, sluggish for a moment, like he’d just put on a set of dirty clothes.  It was almost as if he’d lost part of his hearing for a moment.  And yet … no, it was still there.  He could still feel that connection to the universe.  It had always been there, he realized now, just he’d never quite noticed it before.  It was power meant to work with the human spirit. 

He stood up and faced the targets that lined one end of the yard.  He felt that energy now.  Something was different now; he knew he could do it.  No training staff, no assistance spell this time.  He went through the equation again in his head, and again he spoke the words, “Fulmo trafu!”

He sent a small burst of fire across the yard.  It didn’t quite reach the target, but it was a real start. 

“Now we can get to work,” he said.  Surrounding him were looks more of relief than congratulations, but Dallen nodded his agreement.  Ian may not have made it.  But Tiberius was now a practicing magus.  Like it or not, magic was now a part of his life. 
  

Chapter VI

Lessons in Magic

“I need to make a quick trip into the capital today to get some classes lined up for you,”  Dallen said the next morning over breakfast.  “We’ll need to make a some minor adjustments to your schedule in the wake of Ian’s passing.” 

“What did you have in mind?” Tiberius asked.

“I want you to take some classes at the University,”  Dallen explained. 

“What’s new about that?”  Tiberius countered taking a bite of his omelet.  “I’ve always taken a few classes at the local school.” 

“I’m thinking of something a bit more formal, and I mean THE University. Queen’s College in the University of Port Elizabeth.  You’ll take a formal doctorate program in the liberal arts.  Some things the University can teach you as well as I can,”  Dallen said.

“Somehow I doubt that,”  Tiberius answered.

Dallen gave a small smile.  “Yes, arguably not quite as well, but close enough that they’ll do no harm.  There are still things you need to study.  One of them is mankind.  I don’t want you to miss the university experience.  I also don’t want you to be too isolated, especially in the wake of Ian’s death.  You need some social contacts.  If you’re to help your fellow man, you’ve got to know them.”

“Won’t this delay my studies in magic?  Now that I can cast spells I’d think we’d be focusing on that,”  Tiberius asked, puzzled.               

“This is part of becoming a magician, Tiberius.  It isn’t all about learning to throw the biggest fireball.  You have to strengthen your connections to the spirit world.  That means getting in touch with your fellow man.  You don’t need to worry though.  You have work to do on your magic, yes.  But much of it is theoretical, not practical.  I propose that you stay at the school four days a week.  Fridays and Saturdays we can work on practical applications.  I’ll give you homework the rest of the time.  You can even do small effects in the privacy of your dorm room.  Graduate students have private rooms.”

“Whatever you think best, sir,” Tiberius said.  Truth to tell, he didn’t understand.  After all the waiting to get to this point, it seemed like a very strange turn in his education.  He wondered if Dallen was still simply grieving over Ian. 

Dallen gave a brave smile, though, and answered as if he’d been reading Tiberius’ mind.  “Don’t worry, you’ll be learning plenty of magic from now on.  It just won’t be all that you learn.  Anyway, your classes at Queen’s College won’t start until the fall.  We have the whole summer to get you started on magic.  Tanyia will stay on for a bit to go though some of the basic elemental effects with you, while I run into town to get your application squared away.  Tanyia is an expert elementalist, Tiberius.  Far better than me at the sort of direct applications of energy you’re looking to learn.”

“Oh, tush, you throw a mean fireball,” Tanyia said, bounding into the room on cue and accepting a plate of bacon and eggs from Mr. Eumaios.  “You were just looking for an excuse for me to come visit you.  But as long as you’re too lazy to do this yourself, I’m willing to lend a hand.” 

“That would be most appreciated,”  Dallen said with a smile.

After breakfast, Tanyia led the way to the mansion’s backyard, beckoning Ti to follow.  “Well, come on, let’s have some fun.” 

Spying some marked hay bales set up a short way across the yard, she gave a gesture and effortlessly sent a small fireball across towards one of the targets.  

“Earth, air, fire, and water are what we might call the poetic elements.  Not much use today if you’re doing chemistry.  But all good magic is poetry and the ancient concept of elements resonates though the human soul.  It really isn’t as far off the mark scientifically as some suppose.  Plato understood that mathematics would reveal the structure of the world.  By now Dallen’s taught you the true names of fire, lightning, and so forth.  Now that you understand these things you can use the concept of elementals as a shortcut in your spell casting.  Note the Asian elements are similar.  Earth, Fire, Water, Wood, and Metal.  Elemental metal is a very useful concept if you want to add a bit of oomph to an attack.  Like so.”

She gestured again and this time she sent a spray of small spinning metal disks into the target.  They made some impressive slashes though the target, then vanished back into the air where they’d come from. 

“Then we have the modern elemental forces,” Tanyia explained.  “Electromagnetic energy, the unified forces, light, gravity.  The ancients used to think that lightning was a form of fire, and in some ways it is.  But we get better results now that we more know the true name of lightning.”  So saying she let rip another spell; this time a very impressive blast of lightning arced across the lawn and set one of the targets on fire.

“If you are doing something more complicated it helps to have a substantial quantity of the element around.”  This time she had to concentrate a bit, but she had a manlike form of earth rise out of the ground.  “There’s an earth elemental for you.  He can fix the target for us.  It’s a sort of temporary clockwork like Mr. Eumaios, only not so sophisticated.  We keep the artificial intelligence fairly simple with these things.  I can show you how to do walls and such as well.   Well, you get the idea.  Let’s see what Dallen’s been teaching you.  Then you can go over your formulas with me and I’ll show you where he’s gone wrong.”

“Flamoj frapu!” he said, sending out a rather small, weak fireball.

“Don’t try and rush it,” she said.  “Give yourself time to draw in enough energy.”

“If I can’t do it quickly on the battlefield, it won’t be much use,”  Tiberius protested.

“One thing at a time,” Tanyia laughed.  “Learn to walk before you run.  You’ve only just learned to use magic.  Speed will come with practice.  For now lets work on form.  No good developing bad habits.”

Tiberius tried again, spending more time to draw in more energy.  It did feel better this time, and he sent a bit more respectable blast of flame across the field.

“That’s not bad at all, for a beginner.  Try some water next?”  Tanyia said. 

Tanyia spent the next few weeks going over the basic elemental spells with Tiberius.  It was a lot to absorb, but he was making real progress now. 

Singh watched as Tiberius practiced throwing fireballs at the target one morning. 

Again and again, Tiberius stood back, called “Flamoj frapu!” and sent a small burst of flame across the yard. 

“You know, I think you have the hang of that,” Singh observed.

“It still takes too long,” Tiberius said.  “A good longbow man can put twelve arrows on target in a minute.  It takes me about thirty seconds.  If I can’t catch up to that I’m not really much use.  How long does it take you?”

“I’ve never timed myself.  A spell doesn’t have to be fast to be effective.  There are other issues.  Armor penetration, damage, range,”  Singh noted.

“I’m picking up speed.  I just need practice is all.”

“No one can doubt your dedication.  It’s traditional to start a duel with defensive spells anyway.  You don’t need to worry about speed if your opponent’s arrows can’t hit you.”

“I'm just trying to nail down the basics.  Tanyia says she’ll show me some more sophisticated attacks later on.  Multiple spells, indirect attacks, and so on.”

“I gather you think this will help with your specialty?”

“Combat is my specialty,”  Tiberius observed.

After a few weeks of working with Tanyia, Tiberius was somewhat relieved when Dallen announced over breakfast that he would be covering the lesson for the day.  Ian’s death had strongly affected Dallen.  Tiberius thought he could see new lines on Dallen’s aged face.  How old was Dallen, he wondered sometimes.  After a few weeks though, Dallen seemed to have mostly recovered.  As Tanyia put it, Dallen was a tough old bird. 

After breakfast, Dallen walked Tiberius out into the back yard.  “Now that Tanyia has shown you some basic attacks, it’s time we worked on your defenses.  Sad to say but people are not always friendly.  You’ll also find that while some fairy folk are beautiful and friendly, others are downright hostile.  The wise magus is prepared to defend himself.

“Each day to confront the servants of the enemy we put on the armor of God.  In our case, rather literally.  The spell I call the Armor of God creates a basic force field around the magus.  You’ve seen my notes by now I presume?”

Tiberius nodded.

“Good.  Well lets give it a try, shall we?”

He concentrated on the formulas he’d studied and spoke the key words.  “Mi forĝu Kiraso de Dio!” he said. 

There was a faint purple glow around him for a moment, then it faded.  Dallen looked him over with approval. 

“Not bad.”  He gave him a rap on the shoulder with his staff.  There was a faint purple sparkle where the staff struck.  It felt to Tiberius much as when he was protected by his old suit of militia armor, save that this was obviously much sturdier. 

Dallen gave a faint smile of approval.  “You’ll get better at forming the cold plasma field around you with practice.  I think you’ll find that will protect you better than the finest suit of plate armor.  I wouldn’t wear any sort of metal armor while you're casting it.  The cold plasma field is basically electromagnetic in nature and a suit of metal armor underneath will just weaken the spell.”   

Dallen continued, "It’s served me well over the years. It should give you substantial protection from any sort of direct attack.  Unfortunately you will also find that the enemy has other ways of inflicting harm besides direct physical attack.”

Tiberius nodded.  “Obviously there are indirect attacks.  A witch could cause an explosion or drop rocks on you, but I assume the defense for that would be the same shield spell.”

“Correct,” Dallen said.  “Your basic armor spell will protect you from any sort of physical harm, including to resistance to basic environmental effects.  It will give you some protection against even dragon fire, but I wouldn’t rely upon it for that sort of heat.  It’s also gas permeable or you couldn’t breathe.  No I was referring to more subtle forms of assault.  Mind control, transformation, environmental, biological and chemical attacks including poison.

“I’ll let Messura cover advanced toxicology and so on.  For now you can rely upon the shield spell protecting you from poison darts,” Dallen continued. 

“Psionics defenses are mostly a matter of spiritual strength.  That’s one reason we devote so much time to your classical education.  To resist any form of mental domination, we teach you how to think.  We give you a solid background in theology and the liberal arts. You’re well along with that.  That is how you create the sort of strength of will that you need in direct mental combat.

“The other thing I want to cover today is the basic defense against transformation attacks or direct magical ‘curses.’  Any sort of ‘curse’ is an attack that must, in some way, try to alter you.  Whether it’s trying to lock up your nervous system in a paralysis attack, or just outright kill you with a ‘death’ spell, the effect is the same.  The attacking warlock has to make some sort of involuntary transformation of your personal space.” 

“This isn’t to be confused with poison or environmental effects.  You can be paralyzed by a chemical effect from a toxin.  What I’m talking about is another witch or warlock taking the direct approach.  Trying to directly turn you into a frog or something.”

“How do I stop that?” Tiberius asked.

“Spiritual strength is important, but this is a case where we can also use spiritual leverage.”

“Spiritual leverage?”

Dallen nodded.  “Some things are obviously more difficult to do than others.  It’s easier to shove people downhill than uphill.  It’s obviously easier to use psionic suggestion to get a man to eat just one more crisp, than it is to get him to pick up a knife and kill himself.” 

“That makes sense. But, how does that help in resisting transformation?”  Tiberius asked.

“Any form of transformation attack has an intrinsic weakness in that it must alter the character of space that is already occupied by another spirit.  If that spirit is trained to assert its spatial dominion, it can resist the most powerful transformation effects.  The tiniest mouse can stand up before Satan and state that he is a mouse as made by God.   An attack that tries to alter your spiritual space is a losing prospect for the attacker if you’ve got a sense of what’s going on.”

“That sounds ok in theory,”  Tiberius said, somewhat uncertainly.

“You’ll understand more once you feel it.  I’m going to try and turn your skin blue, and you’re going to resist.  It’s a simple transformation, but the principle is the same as if I was turning you to stone or ordering you to die.  Let’s try it.  I’ll do it very slowly at first.  You should be able to sense the encroachment of your spiritual space and throw of the suggestion.”

Dallen brought up his staff.  “Ready?”

Tiberius took up a relaxed defensive stance.  “I guess.”

Dallen gestured with his staff and Tiberius saw the tips of his left hand start to turn blue.  The color change started creeping down his hand and onto his arm.  He could sense that something foreign was interfering with his spirit.  Concentrating, he was able to slow the change and finally stop it, though it was covering most of his left side now.  Slowly concentrating and with effort he was able to push back the change, till finally his skin returned to his normal color.