Reign of Madness (Revised Edition) (27 page)

“Journeyman, what brings you here at this hour? Are you in
need of my assistance?” Rezkin questioned.

Wesson sighed and stepped forward into the dim light of the
lantern. “So you
can
see me. I was practicing my stealth spells. Some
are designed with constructive magic to create a sort of barrier between the
observer and the subject or within the observer’s mind. I am not particularly
good with those, as you can probably guess. Others, however, use destructive
magic to disrupt the sensory elements one uses to observe a person or object. I
had not really cared to master those spells in the past, but your own skills in
stealth have inspired me. I have been amazed at your ability to hide amongst us
without being detected.”

Rezkin nodded and replied, “It can be advantageous to go
unseen and unheard. I imagine that, as a mage with such spells at your
disposal, you would have quite an advantage in that area.”

“You would be surprised,” Wesson remarked. “For one such as
yourself who is used to hiding in shadows, it is much easier to conceptualize
the desire to disappear. Your
will
to do so is stronger because your
mind understands the need and what must be accomplished. Mages, in general, are
constantly competing to be noticed. We have a reputation for showmanship and
grandiosity for a reason. It is a completely different mindset. For this
reason, many mages struggle with actualizing stealth in any useful fashion.
This is a generalization, of course. There are a number of mages who have
mastered the ability.”

“I suppose that makes sense,” Rezkin remarked. “But I do not
see why you think I have a tendency to hide in shadows,” the young warrior
pressed. Wesson had never let on that he detected Rezkin in any way during his
stealth exercises. Now, he was curious how much the mage actually knew.

Wesson chuckled and replied, “You are the most well-hidden
man I have ever met, Rezkin.”

Rezkin cocked his head and looked at the mage questioningly.
“How so?” he asked.

Wesson looked thoughtful for a moment and then said, “Common
sense tells us that it is more difficult to hide something in plain sight than
somewhere where it will be well hidden. Sometimes, though, you can simply
manipulate something you wish to hide so that its presence is obvious and
accepted, even when seen by many.

“You, Rezkin, appear perfectly normal. To my mage sight, you
are an average un
talented
human being. When I refer to
talent
, I
am talking about mage power. To normal sight, you are a striking figure. You
are someone to be noticed, recognized. Yet, you go about town with little
trouble, catching the attention of only the few who get caught within your
sphere. Have you noticed a change in the way people look at you when you first
meet? I imagine the first look is one of recognition, and then suddenly, they
simply accept you for an unknown man of little note.”

The warrior could remember numerous times he had experienced
such an encounter. It had always felt a little disconcerting. “Yes, I am
familiar with the occurrence,” he said slowly.

“I thought so. I do not understand it, yet. Truthfully, I
would not have even noticed if it had not been for…well, that is no matter
right now. The point is that it has taken quite a bit of observation on my part
to detect the effect. It is possible that a spell lay over you. If so, it is
extremely subtle and complex. I cannot even find it, if it exists at all. I
suppose it could simply be a natural occurrence,” he said dismissively as his
eyes drifted away. The mage shook his head and said, “No, see, it happened
again. Every time I start looking for the source, I simply accept that it is
normal and stop looking. Do you understand what I am saying?”

Rezkin narrowed his eyes and said, “I believe so. You think
there is a spell on me that makes people take little note and accept that I am
normal.”

Wesson chuckled and waved a hand in the air as he said,
“Well, of course you are normal. I do not know why I even brought it up.”

The warrior looked at the mage pointedly, and Wesson cringed
in recognition of what just happened. “Why are you able to recognize it at
all?” Rezkin asked.

“Well, now I am looking for it, so it is becoming more
obvious. Each time I notice it happen, I am able to retain the memory of my
suspicions for a longer period of time,” the journeyman explained.

“So, you are becoming immune?” Rezkin asked.

“Immune to what?” Wesson inquired curiously.

Rezkin sighed and said, “The spell, Wesson. The…
misdirection
…spell
you said has been placed on me.”

Wesson’s eyes widened as he asked excitedly, “There is a
spell on you?” His brows furrowed as he looked closely at Rezkin and said, “I
do not see one.”

“Journeyman, you were just telling me that you think a spell
was placed on me to make people accept me as normal. Do you remember the
conversation?” Rezkin asked with frustration.

The mage frowned and scratched his head. Memory dawned in
his eyes as he said, “I know we were having the conversation, but I honestly
cannot remember why I thought it necessary. Obviously, it is a ridiculous
notion.” Wesson abruptly turned to leave when he spied Tam passing by on the
lower deck. “Oh, Master Tam, may I speak with you?”

“Yes, Mage Wesson, can I do something for you?” Tam asked
hesitantly. Most people did not want to be asked to do things for mages. They
usually feared being used as test subjects.

“No, Master Tam. I was hoping perhaps I could help
you
,”
Wesson replied as he joined Rezkin’s former friend, and the two disappeared
into the dark.

If a spell
had
been placed on Rezkin, then it was not
affecting
his
memory of events. The mage’s odd behavior served as proof
of the spell’s existence. Rezkin sighed and headed to the washroom. It had been
a long day, and he wanted to get a good night’s sleep, but the mage’s
revelation only fueled his restless mind. He realized he was probably going to
have to be satisfied with a long night of meditation.

Malcius awoke the next day to an empty berth as usual.
Rezkin had probably risen long before the sun decided to peek above the
horizon. The ship was scheduled to arrive in Port Manai that evening, and
Malcius could not wait to find a decent taproom with strong ale and pretty
women. When Palis suggested the journey, Malcius had thought it a great
opportunity to get away from the monotony that was his life. The tournament
would give him the chance to prove himself against other comparable fighters
and possibly even impress his father. Aside from that, he had expected the
voyage to be average and boring. He would sit on a ship for a few weeks with
his sister and brother, along with a few other
normal
passengers and
crewmen. So far, the journey had been anything
but
average.

He was stuck on a ship with none other than the future Duke
of Wellinven, his commoner cousin turned noble lady, a tiny female
warrior-healer in denial, a journeyman battle mage who wanted to be anything
but a battle mage, a disgruntled striker with mixed up loyalties, and a
Dual-Blade Swordmaster with a mysterious past and relationship issues. Even the
soldiers acted oddly by showing an unexplained deference toward the young
Swordmaster. Perfecting one’s skills to the rank of Swordmaster did not grant
one even a modicum of additional authority, unless one was awarded a position
within a House or the Palace.

The baron and his son were easy to understand. They acted as
nobles should act. Tamarin was also easy to understand. He was a commoner and
acted like a commoner. Tam’s friendship with Rezkin and Frisha would normally
be considered odd, but the young man had grown up with Frisha, which explained
their friendship, and Rezkin had befriended both at the same time.

Unfortunately, Tam and Rezkin’s relationship was strained at
the moment, which put Rezkin in a foul mood. Malcius wished Rezkin would snap
out of it and go back to being the congenial, well-intended noble he was
supposed to be. The source of Tam’s discomfort seemed obvious to Malcius. Tam
was a commoner, and as a commoner, he did not understand the responsibilities
of a noble. Whatever Rezkin had done had obviously been out of duty, and Tam
just needed to accept that. In fact, Malcius decided he would have a talk with
Master Tamarin and tell him just that.

Malcius washed and dressed before heading out to find the
young man in question. He hoped to catch Tam so he could get it over with
before breakfast. The young lord had little experience with commoners, other
than his staff, and considered it a good opportunity to practice his skills of
diplomacy. As count, he would have to interact with his subjects at his country
estate, particularly for the purpose of resolving major disputes.

Tromping onto the deck, Malcius gazed around in the morning
light. He spied his quarry leaning on a rail of the main deck staring at the
rushing river. The young lord pulled up beside the man and greeted, “Good
morning, Master Tamarin. I would care have a word with you.”

Tam was surprised, to say the least, to be addressed by Lord
Malcius. In the nearly two weeks they had been on the same ship, he could not
remember Malcius speaking to him even once. Tam had not expected him to,
either. Malcius was the heir to House Jebai, the son of a count, and Tam was a
commoner, a carpenter’s apprentice.

“Of course, Lord Malcius,” Tam said as he bowed awkwardly.
Tam was nervous and shifted uncomfortably in the presence of the esteemed
noble.

Malcius studied the young man for a moment before remarking,
“I find it fascinating that you regard Lord Rezkin with such ease that you will
berate him openly when you have trouble merely standing
still
in my
presence.”

Tam frowned but held his tongue. He could get into serious
trouble for failing to show due respect and courtesy to a member of the
nobility. “That is different,” he muttered.

The young lord’s interest was piqued as he asked, “Why?”

Tam shifted uncomfortably again and said, “Rezkin generally refuses
the use of any title or standard of position. When speaking with commoners, he
often outright claims he’s not a noble at all. No one ever believes him, of
course. I think he does it to put people at ease and so that he doesn’t have to
deal with all the bowing and scraping. He doesn’t like that kind of attention.”

Malcius nodded. He had not known much of what Tam said about
Rezkin, but it did seem to fit with Rezkin’s personality. “Yes, I can see him
doing that. It still does not explain
your
behavior, though.”

“Rezkin is my friend. He doesn’t want me to treat him as a
superior. At least, he
was
. I think I’ve kind of messed things up pretty
bad,” Tam remarked as his eyes drifted back to the water. After speaking with
Frisha and Wesson, Tam knew he had been wrong. Frisha had always been the
pragmatic sort, at least until Rezkin came along. Tam had never known the girl
to be so reactive until Frisha’s jealousy reared its head. Wesson’s story,
though, had been a surprise. He never would have guessed the quiet mage had
such a devastating past.

“Hmm, that is the subject I wish to discuss. I do not know
what happened between the you and Rezkin, but I gather that he performed some
deed, possibly killed someone, and you are having difficulty accepting it,”
Malcius stated succinctly.

Tam spied the noble from the corner of his eye. How Malcius
had deduced that was beyond him, but at least Tam was certain Malcius did not
know the extent of it.

Tam said nothing, and Malcius continued, “I believe the
source of your problem is that you have forgotten the class difference between
the two of you.”

“What do you mean?” Tam asked curiously.

“You treat Rezkin as an equal, and he does the same for you.
I hope you know it is a great honor he bestows upon you to do so. Not many
nobles would descend to befriend a commoner and then include him in his public
life. The problem is that you are
not
an equal. You do not have an equal
upbringing, nor do you have equal responsibilities.
Your
responsibilities, as a commoner, are to yourself and your family, if you have
one, and to serve the kingdom in times of war. Rezkin is a noble, and although
I do not know his House, I would say it is one of great influence.
His
responsibilities are to his entire House and all of its subjects. He also holds
an even greater responsibility to the kingdom and the crown.

The commoner did not protest, so Malcius continued. “I know
you heard Rezkin speak about the duties of nobles toward their subjects, and I
think he has the right of it. It makes the most sense. Nobles, ideally, are
responsible for maintaining the peace and carrying out justice. We all heard
how strongly Rezkin feels about the subject. Whatever Rezkin did, I am positive
he did it for the welfare of his people, even if the order to carry it out came
from a superior.”

Tam released a heavy breath as he replied, “I know, Lord
Malcius. I overreacted before, mostly for the very reasons you stated. Frisha
pointed out my error. It’s not
just
what he did, though. I thought it
was at first, but I’ve come to realize it’s more than that. It’s the fact that
we’re
not
equals. He is so much
more
than I am. I don’t
understand why he cares to be my friend at all. He gains nothing while I
prosper.”

“Ah, so you feel the friendship is unbalanced, and perhaps
you are correct,” Malcius remarked. “People choose their friends for many
reasons. On this voyage, I have had the benefit of befriending Lord Tieran, to
some extent. He will eventually become duke, and not just any duke. He is
currently third in line for the throne after Prince Thresson, assuming the
prince still lives, and Tieran’s father, who would basically serve as regent
until Tieran is ready to assume the throne. If King Caydean never marries and
produces heirs and Prince Thresson does not return, Tieran will eventually
become king. Yet, I make efforts to befriend him, and he does not begrudge me
the attempt. Many would see only the financial and political benefits. In
truth, I find I actually enjoy his company. Is it so wrong to develop the
relationship?”

“How can you ever prove to him that you are genuine in your
desire to befriend him and that you’re not just using him to your benefit?” Tam
asked.

“Well, you see, that is where I have to accept my place
beneath him in the hierarchy. While on a personal level we may treat each other
as equals, in all other respects we are
not
. I will show him my
friendship by proving my loyalty. When he asks something of me, I will seek to
provide. When he needs my support, he will have it. In social functions, I will
speak only of his good will and achievements. In public, I will at all times
show him honor and respect. In this way, he knows he can depend on me to help
him sway our peers to his cause. If ever I disagree, I only do so in private,
but I accept his final decision before the public regardless.
That
is
how I balance the friendship. It is how it is done among nobles,” Malcius
finished.

“So, you basically submit to his authority and accept him as
your superior?” Tam asked with confusion.

“Of course,” Malcius replied. “He
is
my superior.”

“I guess it’s difficult for me to understand,” Tam remarked.
“Among commoners, we’re all pretty much equal. I mean, some, like Frisha’s
family, have more money or influence than others, but if they accept you, then
you are an equal. If they don’t see you as an equal, then they simply don’t
accept you. I wouldn’t bother befriending the mayor’s son because he’s a snob
and wouldn’t demean himself to befriend a lowly carpenter. I would never
consider placing the baker’s son above me in some hierarchy, and I certainly
wouldn’t submit to his authority.”

Malcius chuckled and said, “You have to remember, there are
many more of you than there are of us. There are only nine counts in all of
Ashai, and only seven have sons. Since we are spread across the kingdom, we
rarely see each other. If I only chose friends of equal rank, I would have
none.”

“Oh, I hadn’t really thought of it that way,” Tam replied.
“I guess you really do live very differently and not just because of your
luxuries. The only noble home I’ve ever visited was the general’s. From what I
understand, he would not be considered as important if he wasn’t the general,
since he isn’t the head of a major House and doesn’t own land.”

“That is true. Since he does not hold a landed title, he
would have little hereditary influence. If a noble such as he wishes to gain
influence and power, he must build wealth or political influence in other ways.
Uncle Marcum did so by proving himself in the army,” Malcius stated. “But, we
digress. We were speaking of your problem with Lord Rezkin.”

Tam nodded and looked down at the ripples on the dark water.
“I know I need to make things right, but I just don’t know how. He offered me
more than I could have dreamed of and only asked for my loyalty, and I failed
him.”

The young noble shrugged and said, “Then, the solution is
simple. Give him the loyalty for which he asked. Apologize, make a symbolic
gesture, and then set out to prove yourself whenever possible.” Malcius paused
in thought and then said, “I think Rezkin is a good friend to have. He holds
his secrets close, so I know not who he truly is, but I feel that he is someone
of great importance. When he speaks, I feel pride in who I am and what I must
do. I believe he is a man worthy of loyalty, and I would be proud to call him
friend.”

Before Tam thought better of it he suggested, “You should
tell him so…ah, my lord.”

Malcius waved the concern away and said, “I am sure he
knows.”

Tam shifted and chewed his lip anxiously. He wanted to speak
on Rezkin’s behalf, but he was afraid to reveal too much. Malcius could see the
ongoing debate in Tam’s eyes, so he waited patiently for the young man to
reply. Finally, Tam said, “I don’t want to discuss Rezkin’s private matters
without his consent, but I think your words are genuine. For his sake, I’ll
tell you that Rezkin didn’t have friends where he came from. I think
friendship, as a whole, is a bit foreign to him. He may not recognize your
intent unless you state it plainly, my lord.” Tam noticed the look of dismay on
Malcius’s face and hurriedly added, “Ah, forgive me for being so bold, Lord
Malcius.”

“Not at all, Master Tamarin,” Malcius replied. “I appreciate
your candor. I had not realized such was Rezkin’s upbringing. He always seems
so practiced and congenial. I suppose it is not so unusual for men and women
raised among those with great power to go without notable personal
relationships, but usually there are one or two. Rezkin had to have been raised
in total seclusion to go unnoticed by any among the peerage. I am certain at
least one of us aboard this ship would have heard of him had anyone outside of
his House had known of him. I should have recognized the fact before, but now
it seems obvious. He could not possibly have had friends among the nobles. No
secrets are kept so well at court.”

The young carpenter’s apprentice noted that Malcius did not
even consider that Rezkin may have made friends among the commoners, but he
said nothing since there was it was not true, anyway. Rezkin had not even been
raised in a noble House. Tam simply shrugged and looked back at the young lord
uncomfortably. He was not sure what else to say. “Um, Lord Malcius?” he said
tentatively.

“Yes?” the young lord replied as he was drawn out of his
thoughts.

“You mentioned making some kind of symbolic gesture. What
exactly would that be?” Tam inquired.

“Oh, well, when one noble offends a friend publicly, he will
often offer some tithe in recompense. It may be a gift of some value, depending
on the offense. If the offense is great enough, he may throw a ball or arrange
a hunting expedition. If one is
very
serious, he might even swear some
sort of oath of confidence or loyalty, but that is done in only the most
extreme cases since such things can have long lasting effects on an entire
House,” Malcius explained.