The Guardian's Apprentice (Beyond the Veil)
Read The Guardian's Apprentice (Beyond the Veil) Online
Authors: J. Michael Radcliffe
By
J. Michael Radcliffe
http://www.theguardiansapprentice.com
Published by J. Michael Radcliffe
Copyright 2010 J. Michael Radcliffe
All rights reserved.
For information email
[email protected]
The events and characters in this story are fictional.
Any resemblance to real persons, living or
dead,
is purely coincidental.
To my wife – my soulmate in this life and beyond,
To my children, my reason for being,
To my sister, for believing in me.
Chapter 10 - An Unwilling Accomplice
Chapter 13 - Always Tip the Skunk!
Chapter 20 - A Council Divided
Chapter 21 - Interview with a Dragon
Chapter 23 - Thoughts and Reflections
Chapter 31 - The Color of Blood
Chapter 32 - Sealing the Gateway
Chapter 33 - An End and a Beginning
Chapter 36 - A Thief in the Night
A parcel wrapped in plain brown paper had arrived at the chambers of Tobias Follett, Chancellor of the High Council and head of the Grey order of Neutrality, just over an hour ago.
He was not expecting a delivery at this late hour, so he regarded the package with some suspicion.
It was just past midnight and the wisp over his desk gave off a soft white glow, casting shadows across the old wizard’s features and making him look pale and drawn.
A thin man already, he looked positively gaunt as he leaned forward with the seeing crystal in his hand.
He passed the crystal over the package, which was about the size of a deck of playing cards.
The crystal showed him the vial nestled within, and the opalescent liquid it contained.
According to the note attached to the package, the vial contained salamander tears, a very rare and useful item for potions.
The writing on the outside of the package indicated the parcel had originated from Deadwood & Blight’s, his usual supplier for such hard to find ingredients.
Although he had a standing order for salamander tears for whenever they became available, they had been out of stock for months and did not expect a new source for some time.
Something’s
just not right
...
He leaned back in his red leather chair and stared at the parcel, still trying to decide if he should open it.
Tobias had been Chancellor of the High Council now for five months.
His election came after almost a year of bickering among the council members, and he relished the position of power he had finally achieved.
As the leader of his sect, he controlled the votes of three other members while as Chancellor he could threaten, berate or cajole the votes of most of the other castes.
The only two he could not control were Cedric Thornback, leader of the dark wizards and Phineas Whitestone, leader of the white.
Despite this however, he still wielded powerful influence over their followers.
The fact that Phineas, who served as the Guardian, could not vote on matters before the Council also strengthened Tobias’ hand, for so long as Phineas held that position he
was so bound
.
The Guardian maintained control of and watched over the BlackStar amulet, which created the veil of separation and divided the magical world from the non-magical one.
As long as he wielded that power, Phineas was independent from the Council and one of his subordinates on the Council had to serve as his deputy.
That left the White order with just three votes, while the Black and Grey orders still had four.
Tobias schemed and plotted for years, until he finally had enough votes to win the post as Chancellor when old Eudora Fogle, a very stern black-robed witch, had stepped down in the midst of a scandal.
Of course, it was not
his
fault Eudora had developed a habit of betting on the snark fights – it was a very addictive sport.
He had simply tipped off his contacts at the Daily Tattle (
worst
gossip rag he had ever read) and the pieces had fallen into place.
Even with the threats, bribes and outright intimidation it still took almost a year, but now it was his!
Perhaps the parcel really was a gift of congratulations from his supplier, as the note said.
He sighed deeply as he leaned forward again to examine the package one last time with the seeing crystal.
His mind must be playing tricks on him.
Ever since his election he had become more paranoid, convinced that someone was actively seeking to undermine him, though he had no proof.
As he finished examining the package for the fifth time, he set the crystal down on the desk and chuckled.
Rubbing his tired eyes with the back of his hands he smiled to himself as he picked up the package.
He must learn to trust people again.
After all, his fellow Council members had been lavish in their praise for him since he took office.
Opening the box, he extracted the vial and held it up to the wisp for a better look.
He smiled broadly, as the contents swirled in the pale light and cast prisms of color over his desktop.
He was still smiling when the contents erupted into a violent explosion, vaporizing the still smiling wizard and tearing a gaping hole through the side of the castle.
###
The High Council had convened three days ago to nominate a new leader.
Their Chancellor, the grey wizard Tobias Follett, had died in an apparent (and
very
tragic) potions accident.
The resulting explosion killed the old wizard instantly and destroyed his chambers, as well as a large portion of the castle’s north wing.
Although Tobias had schemed, plotted and backstabbed for years, he was still one of their own and
would be missed
, terribly.
Cedric Thornback, leader of the Dark wizards, stood to address the Council.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the Council, it has taken us three days to come to agreement on nominations to replace the late Tobias Follett as Chancellor.
I would therefore like to make a motion that we cease this incessant bickering and proceed to a vote!”
There were various nods of agreement from around the table as the other eleven witches and wizards looked around the room at each other.
With the death of Tobias, his deputy stepped into the role of temporarily leading the meetings until the Council elected a new Chancellor.
There were only two nominations so far, both of whom were heads of their respective orders.
Portia Nightshade, an ardent supporter, had nominated Cedric while one of the white wizards had likewise nominated Phineas.
Alexander Ducat, now the leader of the grey wizards, rose from his seat in the Chancellor’s chair.
Motioning for quiet, he glanced from face to face around the table.
“Fellow Council members we have a motion before us.
As deputy for our now deceased colleague, I accept the motion and call for a vote.
Will those in favor of Cedric Thornback please signal by raising their right hand?”
Portia’s hand shot skyward so fast Ducat thought the witch would actually leap from her seat, while the other two members of the Black order also raised their hands, along with Cedric himself.
Looking around the table, there were no other votes.
“I see,” said Ducat.
“So, that is four votes for Cedric.
Now would all those in favor of Phineas Whitestone please raise your right hand?”
This time the three members of the Grey order raised their hands, as did the three members of the White as well as Ducat himself.
Phineas however, did not raise his hand.
Ducat looked at him with a puzzled expression.
“Phineas?”
The old wizard smiled warmly at Ducat.
“I will abstain from casting a vote in this, Alex.
As the Guardian I serve the Council as a whole and do not seek the trappings of power.”
Ducat chuckled at his old friend.
“Well it would appear that your vote is not necessary anyway, my old friend.
The vote is seven to four – you are our new Chancellor.
Congratulations,” he said with a deep bow to the older wizard.
Phineas nodded politely in return.