Wizard Pair (Book 3) (14 page)

The dragon grew insubstantial, shrunk to the size of a child next to the couple, and shifted color, turning a burnished copper. Then it faded, leaving the couple behind.

"What does it mean?" Alwroth shuffled up close and put his arm around her shoulder. He leaned in to get a better look at the figures.

"We need to send someone to find them."

"The dragon?"

"I don't know what the dragon means, but they wtill need to be tested." She blew on her hands. The image turned to a cloud of bright sparkles and disappeared. "Don't you agree?"

"Yes, of course." Alwroth leaned in and kissed her gently. "You know best."

"I'm thinking Garlath. He's a solid man. He can handle this, and he could use a little time away from Amedon. What do you think?"

Alwroth smiled. "I think he's just the man for the job. Where shall we send him?"

"I don't know. I'll search and see if there's a place they're sure to go."

Uskin stood up and extended her arm in invitation. "Shall we?"

Alwroth rose and took her arm. He escorted her to their private sitting room and rang the bell for the attendant.

"Go find Garlath and invite him here to break his fast," Uskin said.

"Yes, Your Mightiness." The attendant turned and left the room.

Garlath arrived in mere moments. He wore the traditional robes of a senior Wizard. He was an older man, with long gray hair and beard, verging on white, but he carried himself with the air of a much younger man. The Council had offered him a seat on several occasions but he had refused, claiming it would only tie him to Amedon.

He threw himself into a guest chair and scanned the room. When he noticed a cup of tea already waiting for him, he picked it up and drank, then set it back on the table.

"We have a quest for you." Uskin had donned her Sorceress crown with its glowing red jewels and intricate braid of multicolored rope.

"A quest?"

"One that will take you away from Amedon for a while. One of great importance."

Garlath smiled at her words. She knew that he was eager to get out on the road and experience life among the common folk, if only for a short while. He'd always told her that life amongst the Wizards was dull and boring, without the surprises of the mundane world.

"You have that look of mischief in your eyes." Garlath smiled back at her. "This must be especially difficult."

"I sensed a pair form just this morning." Uskin raised her upturned palms and gently blew on them. The image of the woman and man from her earlier vision reappeared, but this time they were static and lifeless.

"Why don't you go after them yourself?"

"Because this one is special," she said. "Not only are they perfectly paired, they are somehow bound up with the dragons."

"Dragons?"

"Yes. That's why I thought of you. Would you take on this quest? I don't know where they are now. I don't know when they will decide to come to Amedon." She waved her hand in the air. "I don't even know that they
will
decide to come to Amedon, but we need someone like you out there looking for them.

"They must be tested and trained before they show up here. I fear it will be a long and difficult quest, not soon over."

Garlath smiled broadly at her last words. "I'll do it."

"Where will you start?"

"In Tustow. There is an old Wizard there. He no longer associates with Amedon. He's ancient and feeble, but he's still powerful and he's an expert in dragons. If they are somehow mixed up with dragons, they will eventually be drawn to him. I can wait for them there."

Uskin saw that Garlath was already off in the mundane world. "Garlath," she said softly.

"Hmmm... Oh, sorry, I was just thinking. I can set myself up as an apothecary and sell potions and herbs in the market. That will give me a chance to mingle and watch for them."

"Garlath." Uskin tried again to get his attention. "This is important. These two are already very powerful, and with the dragon's blood on them they will be so powerful that they could easily destroy the city by accident just experimenting with their powers.

"It's important that you find them and test them. If they pass, you must train them before you bring them here. I don't need to remind you how important that is."

"No, you don't." Garlath glanced over at the wall that had been hastily repaired after an inexperienced young Wizard blasted it out by mistake years earlier. Uskin and Alwroth left it that way as a constant reminder to themselves and their guests that young untrained Wizards were dangerous.

Sorceress Rotiaqua

Rotiaqua made her way back to the castle in time for her late breakfast with her father. On this occasion, her mother had also joined them. They had just begun the meal when a Guard interrupted.

"Sorry, My Lord, but there's someone here to see you. He's insistent that you be told that he is waiting, and that you would be receptive."

"Who is it?" the Baron growled at the Guard.

"It's the Priest. He says it's in regards to your daughter."

Rotiaqua tensed up at the mention of the Priest. She looked at her father, who scowled back at her.

The Baroness leaned over. "It's not often I break my fast with you. Do you have to see that man now?"

"He says it's about our daughter." The Baron glanced at Rotiaqua. "Know anything about this?"

"No, father, I have no idea what the Priest would have to do with me."

"Let him in." The Baron waved at the Guard, who left and quickly returned with the Priest.

"My Lady. My Lord." Sulrad bowed his head as he took his seat. He looked over at Rotiaqua and smiled.

"What is so urgent that you would disturb my breakfast with my family?"

"It is your daughter and her welfare that I have come to see you about this day, My Lord."

The Baron looked over at Rotiaqua once more. She shrugged her shoulders. She was confident that he hadn't discovered her secret.

"What of my daughter's welfare?"

"My Lord. Perhaps it's best if we speak privately." He looked at Rotiaqua then back to the Baron.

"Whatever you have to say about my daughter, you can say in front of her."

"As you wish, My Lord." Sulrad smoothed his robes and sat up straight. "My Lord, I have discovered a Wizard, here in the city. He's been in contact with your wife and daughter. He works in the stables.

"I currently have this Wizard restrained in the Temple, and have been interrogating him. He has declined to answer my questions, but I was able to determine that he has had recent contact with your daughter."

Rotiaqua tried to control her reaction. She almost fainted with. What had happened? Had the Priest somehow interfered with Zhimosom's travel spell? She tried not to let her emotions show on her face, but she was worried about Zhimosom.

Rotiaqua reached out to Zhimosom. She could tell he was alive, but his magic was muted and somehow distant, as if there was a wall between them, blocking their connection. She pressed harder, but was unable to connect. She abandoned her efforts and looked to Sulrad.

The Priest was staring at her.

"What does this have to do with my daughter?" the Baron demanded.

"My Lord ... Your daughter ..."

"Yes. My daughter." The Baron turned to look at Rotiaqua. She flushed and turned her eyes down.

"What of my daughter?" the Baron asked.

"I'm afraid ... that your daughter ... is a Sorceress, My Lord. She's the one who's been helping the Wizard."

The Baron stood up. "A sorceress? What are you talking about?"

"My Lord, your daughter has magic. I just felt her cast a spell. While we were talking, she was reaching out to that Wizard."

Rotiaqua tensed up at the mention of magic. She raised the shield that she and Zhimosom had practiced to keep Sulrad from detecting her magic, but feared it was too late. How foolish could she be?

"I'll not hear of this." The Baroness waved at the Guard and pointed to Sulrad. "Throw this madman out of here."

"If I might be so bold," Sulrad said and flicked his hand at Rotiaqua.

Rotiaqua felt a blast of magic headed her way and acted instinctively.

The fireball impacted Rotiaqua's shields and shattered into a brilliant shower of sparks that fell to the floor and died out. Anger flared up in her at the thought that Sulrad had tried to kill her in her own home before she realized that he had tricked her into revealing her powers.

The Baron looked at Rotiaqua. "What's the meaning of this?"

Before she could speak, Sulrad said, "You see, My Lord? A Sorceress, and quite strong, too. She must have been practicing magic for quite some time to develop shields like the ones she carries. It is those shields that kept me from identifying her as a Sorceress before today."

"Is this true?" The Baron looked at Rotiaqua. He had that 'no argument' look about him that Rotiaqua had come to recognize. She couldn't argue the fact that she was a Sorceress.

"It's true, father. I am a Sorceress." She straightened up and looked him in the eye.

"What?" The Baroness demanded. "A Sorceress?"

"How ... How long?" the Baron sputtered.

"A while." Rotiaqua was not going to admit to anything more.

Rotiaqua saw the rage descend on her father's countenance. She wanted to tell him that there was nothing wrong with magic, but before she could speak, Sulrad was on his feet.

"She must come to the Temple for training, My Lord," Sulrad said. "She needs to learn discipline ... and restraint."

The Baron folded his arms across his chest, and shot Rotiaqua a look of disappointment. Clearly, she had hurt him; but would he actually allow this? Would he let the Priest take her to the Temple?

"You know how I feel about Wizards. Sulrad has agreed to train and restrain them in my realm. He will be able to teach you how to control your power and use it properly."

The Baroness laid a hand on the Baron's arm. "Are you sending our daughter away?"

"As a Wizard, she's disqualified from the rights of royalty. She cannot rule or marry anyone who might rule one day."

"You can't just send her away like that. She's our daughter." The Baroness turned to the Baron, her eyes glistening with tears.

"She's not my daughter any longer. She's a traitor, a Sorceress."

"But ..."

Before the Baroness could say another word, the Baron turned to Rotiaqua. "You ... are no longer my daughter. Go with him. He will keep you out of trouble."

"Rieck!" The Baroness said, her voice heavy. "Don't do this."

"Father, surely you cannot mean that," Rotiaqua begged. "Why do you trust him over me?"

"He's shown restraint and has agreed to use his magic only for the good of the realm. You need to learn to do the same." The Baron stood and turned his back on his wife and daughter.

"Father, I beg of you. Do not decide this now." Rotiaqua knew that if her father had some time to think it over, he'd probably change his mind. Once he'd decided, he would rarely reverse a decision.

"I've made up my mind. You go with him." The Baron waved his hand in dismissal without turning back. He stormed out of the room, leaving Rotiaqua and her mother with the Priest.

"Please, Mother." Rotiaqua reached out for the Baroness, but her mother withdrew from her touch, turning her head away.

Sulrad reached out and took Rotiaqua's hand. "You will grow to like the Temple. Perhaps even love it. I am building a great and powerful organization and you will be the first beside me." Sulrad stood up and motioned to the Guard.

Rotiaqua pulled away from his grasp. She stood up and started after her father, but the Guards grabbed her.

"You heard what the Baron said. Please take her to the Temple. See that you do not harm her."

Sulrad turned back to Rotiaqua and made motions in the air with his hands. He spoke words of power and Rotiaqua felt her will draining away. No longer did she wish to fight him. She allowed the Guards to escort her out.

Rotiaqua was taken to a comfortable chamber in the Temple and left alone. She tried the door and found it unlocked, but a spell kept her from walking out of the door once it was shut. Sulrad had put an enchantment on her that sapped her will and kept her docile. She tried to break the spell, but she didn't have the willpower to focus long enough on the task. Finally, frustrated and exhausted, she fell into a troubled sleep.

The next morning, Sulrad came to see her. "I trust you slept well?"

"I slept, but I would have slept well if I had slept in my own bed." Rotiaqua tried to fight his control as much as possible. Even this small step towards independent thought made her feel that there was hope of breaking free.

"This is your bed now." He waved his hand. "You have everything you need right here. You heard what your father said. You're no longer a royal. This is your new life; you will come to love it here.

"What I am building is grand and glorious. We will heal the sick and infirm. We will help countless people using my magic, and yours. Can you not see the good in that?"

"All the while, you are taking the Golds from the wealthy and turning away the poor who need your help the most. How can you call that doing good?" Rotiaqua demanded.

"Everything costs Golds. Nothing comes free, not even healing. How do you think I power my healing spells? From my own reserves?" He sat on the edge of the bed and faced her.

"If I used my own reserves to heal the sick, I would soon be impoverished and be unable to help anyone. I have to take power from wherever I can to drive spells like that. Surely you don't expect me to heal others at a cost to myself?"

"I know where you get your power." Rotiaqua recalled Zhimosom's description of the sacrifice of the young girl, Brill. Sulrad killed to obtain the power to heal.

"There must be a balance. In order to save a life, one must be given. It's not as if the small folk have much of a life anyway. Their existence is short and full of pain and hunger. They don't have a great deal to lose. By helping those able to pay, I can build a Temple that will stand forever and continue the good I start long after I am gone.