Talon of the Silver Hawk (16 page)

“Make sure you know where the hook is before you cast,” he warned Talon. “It's no fun to catch yourself with it. You have to push the damn thing through the skin and cut it off to get the hook out of your flesh.''

Talon sensed he spoke from bitter experience. Moving a short distance away from Magnus, Talon put the dried beef on the hook. Then he let the line rest on the sand as he stepped forward a pace, then with a whip of the pole cast the line farther out than Magnus had.

“Well done,” the magician said.

They stood there in silence for nearly half an hour. Neither man feared silence. Then Magnus said, “What do your people believe about this world?''

Talon asked, “I'm not sure what you mean.''

“What stories do they tell regarding the nature of the world?''

Talon thought about the stories told by the old men around the fire during the summer, and when the shaman would come and speak of the history of the race. “The Orosini believe the world is a dream, fashioned by the gods, living in the mind of the Sleeper.''

“And what about the people?''

“We are part of that dream,” Talon responded. “But to us everything is real, because who can know what is real to a god?''

Magnus said nothing for a while. Then he said, “Your people may be right, because nothing in that concept of this world is in conflict with what we know of it. But for the moment, put aside your people's beliefs and listen to me. Here is what I know to be true.

“The world is a large ball of earth, mud, rock, and water, with air surrounding it. As vast as it is, it is but a tiny part of a universe which is large beyond imagining, and full of other worlds, many with life on them.

“There are billions of worlds in the universe.”

“Billions?”

“What has Robert taught you of numbers?” Magnus asked.

“I can add and subtract, multiply and divide, if I am careful.''

“Better than most men. How many figures can you manage?''

“I can multiply four numbers by four other numbers.''

“Then you know what a thousand is.''

“Ten hundreds,” answered Talon.

“And ten thousands by ten is a hundred thousand.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“And ten such is a million.''

“Ah,” said Talon, sounding uncertain.

Magnus cast him a sidelong glance and saw that Talon was now lost. “Look, let me explain it this way. Should I give you grains of sand, one each second, in one minute you would have sixty in your hand.''

“And if you did so for one thousand seconds, I would have a thousand. Yes, I see,” Talon said, anticipating where the lesson was going.

“It would take more than thirteen days for me to hand you a million grains of sand, if I continued at one a second without stopping.”

Talon looked amazed. “That long?''

“A billion would take me more than thirty years.''

Talon looked at Magnus in complete disbelief. “Can there be a number that big?''

“Bigger,” said Magnus. With a slight smile, he said, “Two billion.''

Talon could only laugh. “And then three billion and four: yes, I see.''

“There are many billions of worlds in the universe, Talon, perhaps even too many for our gods to know them all.''

Talon showed no emotion, but it was clear that he found the idea fascinating. Magnus went on, describing a universe of endless variety and possibility.

“What of the life on these other worlds?” Talon asked at one point.

“You've heard the stories of the Riftwar?''

“Yes, told me by my grandfather. He said to the west . . .” Talon paused, then glanced at the sea and said, “. . . the west of our homeland—I guess it might be to the east of here.''

“No, it is still to the west of here, off on the Far Coast. Continue.”

“He said that men from another world came by magic to wage war on our world, but that the Kingdom repulsed them.''

“That's one version,” said Magnus with a wry expression. “I'll tell you what really happened some other time.''

“Are these people like us?''

“As much as the Orosini are like the men of Roldem.''

“Not very much, then,” said Talon.

“Enough like us that eventually we found common ground and ended the war. You can meet some of their descendants someday.''

“Where?”

“In Yabon Province of the Kingdom of Isles. Many settled in the city of LaMut.''

“Ah,” said Talon as if he understood.

They stood there in silence for another half an hour; then Talon said, “We don't seem to be doing very well.''

“At catching fish?''

“Yes.”

“That's because we're using the wrong bait.''

Talon looked at his teacher in surprise. “The wrong bait?''

“We might hook a bottom feeder or a shark with dried meat, but if we wanted something lively, we should have put a fresh mackerel on the hook.''

“Then why are we doing this?''

“Because fishing isn't about catching fish.” The magician looked into the water, and Talon felt the hair on his arms rise, which meant Magnus was about to use magic. “There,” he said, pointing. He motioned upward with his right hand and something large seemed to leap out of the sea. It was about the size of a small horse, and covered in red scales and had a lethal-looking array of teeth. Once out of the water it thrashed about in midair, attempting to bite at whatever unseen foe held it aloft.

With a flick of his wrist, Magnus let the fish fall back into the waves. “If I want fish, I take fish.''

“Then why do we stand here with these poles?''

“For the pleasure of it,” said Magnus. “It's a way to relax, to think, to ponder.''

Despite feeling completely silly holding the pole, Talon nevertheless found himself reverting to the lessons he had learned about the process of dragging a hook through the surf.

As the day grew late, he said, “Magnus, may I ask you something?”

“How am I to teach you if you don't?''

“Well . . .”

“Out with it,” said Magnus, making another cast into the surf. The wind was picking up, blowing the magician's white hair back from his face.

“I'm confused about something.”

“What?”

“Women.”

Magnus turned to stare at Talon. “Something specific about women, or just women in general?''

“In general, I suppose.''

“You're hardly the first man to say that.''

“So I've come to understand,” said Talon. “It's just that
among my people, things between men and women were . . . predictable. Your bride was selected before you returned from your vision quest, and you married shortly afterward. You stayed with one woman . . .” He lowered his voice. “I've already known two women, and I'm wed to neither.''

“This bothers you?''

“Yes . . . no . . . I don't know.''

Magnus planted his pole in the sand and walked over to Talon. “I can tell you little, my young friend. My experience in this area is very limited.''

Talon looked at the magician. “You don't like women?''

Magnus smiled. “No, it's not that . . . I had some experience when I was young . . . about your age. It's just that some of us who practice the magic arts prefer to stay aloof. Matters of the heart confound things.” He looked out at the sea. “I like to think I gain clarity by avoiding such things.” He looked back at Talon. “But you and I are set upon different paths. What is your question?”

“I was . . . with Lela, for a while. I thought perhaps we might . . .” Talon looked down at the sand, feeling very self-conscious. “I thought we might even wed.''

Glancing at Magnus, he saw the magic-user betray an instant of amusement, but then his face became once again an immobile mask.

Talon continued. “But when I returned from Latagore with Caleb, she was gone. I barely had time to think about not seeing her again when Meggie . . .”

“Ah,” said Magnus. “You were with her when I woke you that morning, that's right.''

“Well, how can I feel so strongly for Lela, yet so easily find myself with Meggie? And I didn't even think about Lela the whole time we were together.”

Magnus nodded. “Let me ask you, if I could bring either girl here this instant, who would you wish to see?''

Talon stood silently, holding his fishing pole. “I don't know,” he answered at last. “I thought I loved Lela . . . I do love her. But there's something about the way Meggie . . . moves. She's . . . ardent. That's the word, isn't it?”

Magnus fell silent for a moment, then he said, “The ways of the heart are complex.” He looked out at the ocean again. “The waves churn and break upon the rocks, Talon. So do human feelings. Passion can be a man's undoing. With passion must come wisdom; otherwise, your enemies have a weapon to use against you.''

“I don't understand.”

“Most men are passionate about something at some time in their lives. It may be about a women he loves, or his calling or craft, or it may be about an ideal.''

“An ideal?''

Magnus nodded. “There are men who would willingly give their lives for an ideal. Men who put the greater good ahead of their own personal gain.” He looked at Talon. “Then there are the dark passions: ambition, greed, lust, a hunger for power.

“What you feel for Lela and Meggie is somewhere between those extremes, between the ideal and the dark. At its worst, what you feel is blind lust, without regard for the complexities of the women you pursue. At its most ideal, you will fall under the spell of women too easily, thinking each worthy of selfless adoration.

“Either extreme is a mistake.''

Talon nodded his understanding.

“You are young. There will be many women in your life if you want them. But circumstances may place you in such a position where you must discern the truth quickly, as to whether it is mere lust or if it there is some deeper love involved.

“Both young women you have known are good women,
for the most part. At least they had no evil designs upon you. They cared for you in their way, and you for them. But I also remember what it was like to be your age, to gaze into a pair of green eyes and be swept away by feelings so intense I thought my heart would stop, only to have the feelings repeated just a few short days later when gazing into brown eyes.

“That is the heart of a young man, Talon. It must be tamed and reined in, like a fractious colt. It must be made to follow the mind, for you will learn that love is a difficult thing.''

“I don't know if you've answered my question.”

“I don't know if you've understood what it was you were asking.” Magnus picked up his pole, reeled in the line, and cast it out in the surf again. “We'll speak more about this soon. And before too long there will be others you can ask about such things. Others who are more able than me to address your concerns.”

“Thank you, Magnus.''

“Think nothing of it. You will have many more questions for me before our time on this island is over.''

“How much longer will I be staying here?''

“As long as it takes.''

“As long as what takes?''

“Whatever it is we are to accomplish,” answered Magnus.

Talon started to ask another question, then thought better of it.

The afternoon wore on, and Talon grew hungry. “Are we likely to catch any dinner here?''

“Getting hungry?''

“Yes, actually.”

“Do you know how to cook fish?''

Talon had prepared a number of fish dishes with Leo.
“I do, but you have only the kettle and spit to cook upon. I suppose I could fashion a chowder . . .”

“No,” said Magnus. “I was thinking about something a bit more refined. We've been eating soups and roasts for a month or more. Let us have some fine dining tonight.''

“How shall I prepare such a meal?''

“Don't worry,” said Magnus. “First we must find you a proper main course.” He closed his eyes, then opened them again, and Talon thought he saw a faint sheen of light upon them. Magnus held out his hand, palm up, then slowly raised it. From out of the sea came a fish, something close to four feet long. Magnus motioned, and the creature floated through the air and dropped at Talon's feet. The fish flopped and writhed upon the sand.

“Be careful, those fins can actually cut you if you grab it too firmly.''

Talon looked at Magnus. “I'm to carry it up to the hut?''

“How else will you get it there?” asked the magician.

Talon attempted to pick up the thrashing creature, but found it both slippery and heavy. “Is there something I can hit it with, to stun it?” he asked after several exasperating attempts to subdue the fish.

“Oh,” said Magnus. With a flick of his hand, the fish fell quiet. “It's still alive, so it will be fresh when you fillet it. This creature is called a tuna, and you can grill it lightly, with a variety of different spices. A lightly seasoned rice and an assortment of steamed vegetables would complement it nicely. And some chilled white wine—perhaps an off-dry from Ravensburgh.”

Talon picked up the huge fish and looked at the steep path up to the bluff. “Anything else?''

“If I think of anything, I'll let you know.''

Talon trekked slowly back up the trail, and by the time he reached the hut he was in considerable pain. His arms
and shoulders were in knots and his knees shook. The fish must weigh almost as much as he did, he was certain. He wondered what he was supposed to do with it. He could gut it on the table, but it would be messy. Perhaps on the ground outside, then he could wash away the offal with well water. That should get the dirt off it. And if the fillets were large enough, he could spit and roast them.