Authors: Laszlo,Jeremy
Sirus turned and quickly pulled one of the massive doors open. He led them inside the building and allowed the door to swing shut upon its hinges. Zorbin dismounted and he and Garret followed Sirus through the building to the right with Xanth on their heels. The first room was a simple room lined with wooden tables and chairs. Passing through that, they entered a hall down which Sirus pointed out a small library, their tactical planning room, an armory equipped with a forge, much to the delight of Zorbin, and several small rooms each with a bed and desk. Some of the rooms had plaques on the doors with the name of the knight to whom it belonged, but most stood empty and so unmarked. Sirus let them choose their rooms and he waited while they unburdened themselves of their packs and also as Zorbin unstrapped Xanth’s armor and laid it carefully upon the floor.
“If you would like, Zorbin, I will have a rack crafted for Xanth’s armor and have it delivered tomorrow,” Sirus suggested as he watched the care with which Zorbin handled it.
“If it is not too much trouble,” the dwarf replied in his rumbling voice.
“No trouble at all. Anything that makes your stay here easier, just let me know and I will see to it that your needs are met as promptly as possible,” Sirus stated earnestly. “I will let Garret tell you the details later, but I shall inform you now that your training is to be accelerated, for I am afraid that we do not have sufficient time to follow a more relaxed schedule.”
Though Sirus talked, Garret could not help but watch the wolf. Now that it was free of its armor, the great beast stretched his muscles and shook himself until his matted fur no longer clung to his skin. He was indeed an amazing creature. His coat shifted from black at his feet to bright silver on his back. His face too was black with a silver mask around his bright blue eyes. He was a mass of muscle and fur, and stood regal and proud before Garret and Sirus who openly admired the animal.
“Let’s get the three of you fed before you begin, shall we?” Sirus asked them, and without waiting for a response, he turned and began walking back down the hall in the direction they had come.
Garret and Zorbin quickly fell in step behind the man and Xanth padded along some distance behind them. Leading them back to the entrance room of the building, Sirus told them they could seat themselves at any of the tables and he would return momentarily. Garret and Zorbin sat side by side at the nearest table, and while they waited, Garret relayed to the dwarf all he had learned of the knights only a short while ago. They spoke openly, telling each other of their homes prior to the ceremony, and Zorbin related his tale of how he met Xanth and how they had grown up together as much brothers as was possible for a man and a beast. He too told Garret that upon reaching maturity, he had crafted the armor for the wolf for he hoped to one day join the Knights of Valdadore, though this, he stated, was considered an oddity among dwarves. Garret then decided to tell his tale of their journey to Valdadore, of how he and Seth had met Ashton and Sara and had formed friendships that had endured their trials throughout their journey.
As Garret finished his shortened narration, he couldn’t help but wonder for what purpose his brother and Sara had been chosen for. He was happy that they managed to stay together, but also disappointed his twin’s path was not the same as his own. It was these thoughts that Garret mulled over when the door Sirus had departed through opened once again and the knight’s leader strode into the room leading three women who each carried a covered platter.
Garret watched as Sirus seated himself across the table from Garret and Zorbin, while two of the three women placed their platters on the table before the two new knights to be. The third placed hers on the floor at the end of the table. When all three were in position, the women removed the covers simultaneously and turned and left the room carrying the covers with them. Both Garret and Zorbin’s platters were covered with bread and cheese and a steaming bowl of stew. One of the platters could have easily fed them both, but Sirus assured them they would need their energy and told them to eat until they could eat no more. The platter that had been placed on the floor held one tremendous bone with large chunks of meat still clinging to it. Xanth quickly snatched it up and began gnawing upon it hungrily. As the boys ate, Sirus took the time to share more details with them.
“I have sent word to the rest of the knights of our two new chosen members. Philip should be able to deliver the message and return by late tomorrow. Also Zorbin, I have sent for carpenters to take a look at Xanth’s armor so that they may build you a suitable stand for it. After your meal we will go to the library and I will give you tonight’s lesson. You will each have a book on Gorandor to finish by morning. In the morning we will begin weapons training. I hope to have the two of you sparring in a week’s time. You both have told me you already plan to swear yourselves to Gorandor so I will arrange the ceremony. We will be training twenty hours a day, stopping only for meals and morning and evening prayer. I am afraid that with circumstances being what they are, the two of you will not get much rest, but the faster you progress, the sooner we shall be able to relax our pace.” Sirus stated the facts as they were, straight to the point, wasting no energy on anything unnecessary.
Twenty hours a day sounded like a lot, but if that was what Sirus expected of him, Garret knew he could do it. Quickening the pace at which he ate, he noticed both Zorbin and Xanth ate faster as well. In little time all of them had finished their meals. Pushing back his bowl, Garret rose from the table along with his new companions as Sirus led them to the library. Given their assignments shortly thereafter, Garret returned to the room he had chosen earlier for a long night of reading.
Seth and Sara followed Judilanthaliz across the vast stone courtyard to the southwest. They walked side by side behind the man who now held them as his charge, frequently exchanging looks of uncertainty. As they walked, towers and spires loomed above them, casting them into shadow, making Seth feel small and insignificant. They neared one of the larger towers and as they did so, Seth watched as another group of chosen people entered the vast stone structure led by a man in a crimson robe. As they too approached the entrance to the massive tower, Judilanthaliz stopped walking and turned to face the young couple.
“From here on out, at least for the next five years, this tower will be your home. Those who came before us built the tower for young mages to be trained in and named it Birthright Tower. It is believed that those with the gift are chosen before birth by a specific god to be blessed. It is the person’s job to seek out their particular god in order to receive the blessing promised to them within the womb. Hence the gift is perceived to be a right of sorts from the day of birth and thus the tower was so named. The shields or guardians, as we are called, live in the uppermost parts of the tower, so I hope the two of you are up to the task of climbing stairs. We shall talk of your futures as we walk.” Judilanthaliz finished his narration and turning, he entered Birthright Tower.
As they stepped towards the door, it silently swung open as if from some unspoken command and Seth could not help but to watch it with an open mouth. Once they cleared the threshold it again swung to close itself behind them. After that, Seth and Sara looked around inside the tower, both of them half expecting to see amazing and disturbing sights within. Instead only two things were visible from the doorway. To their right, the direction Judilanthaliz was now heading was a single massive staircase that clung to the exterior wall and slowly spiraled up into the floor above them. To their left was a broad stone hallway that led straight ahead from the main entrance deep into the tower where it either ended or was simply lost in darkness.
Seth followed Judilanthaliz with Sara at his side, up the spiral staircase, trailing the disfigured man by several steps. Looking over his shoulder with his good eye, Judilanthaliz checked to see that the young pair was able to keep pace and then asked them from over his shoulder to walk beside him. They did not hesitate to do as the man asked and soon they walked up the stairs abreast one another, falling into step to keep pace.
“Seth, it is truly my wish to see you join the order of the gray robes, as there are currently only two of us that serve the kingdom, though there may be others out there in the world somewhere unknown to me. Both I and Lauren are sworn to protect the king and both of us have bound our fates to his. Lauren accompanies the king nearly all the time, whereas I only travel with the king when he marches for battle.” Judilanthaliz paused a moment as if to reflect on what he had said and then continued.
“Let me elaborate. Those of us who wear the gray robes are gifted with powers to protect others. The gift has many forms, but for simplicity’s sake I will only speak of Lauren’s and my own blessings. Lauren is blessed with the ability to absorb harmful magics and spells. Being bound to the king, she absorbs the brunt of all magic used to harm him, though even so, she must remain fairly close to him to be effective. In contrast, I have been blessed with the ability to protect another from physical harm. Every scar you see upon my body is a blow that was landed on the king. But, so long as I am fairly near and still alive, I am the one who receives the damage of the blow, allowing the king to continue fighting unharmed. Both Lauren and I absorb the king’s injuries so long as the healers can keep us alive. I have survived dozens of battles, two war campaigns and three assassination attempts. But enough of my abilities and my life, this conversation is to be about you,” Judilanthaliz said looking to both Seth and Sara.
“I am sure both of you are quite worried about what the future holds, and how your future will change and be affected by the new paths your lives have chosen. I tell you to fear naught, as I will do all that is possible to see to it that your transition is a smooth one. The only problems I foresee are first and foremost getting you blessed, Seth, and secondly the war on the horizon. Our lives here in the tower are simple lives. We study and pray here indeed, but it is also our home. For the next several days Seth you will study the books I have on my chosen goddess, Saranadia, as well as histories of several different brothers who once wore the gray robes of our order. After those will be books and scrolls about magic, the different ways to wield it and how to learn your limitations without killing yourself. After you finish a book or scroll we will discuss what you have read and find answers to any questions you might have. And if by that time you are blessed, we shall also practice that which you have read about if it relates to your specific blessing. Mages like those in the army have ranks. In the army your time in service as well as your knowledge of battle determines your rank. Among the mages, your rank is decided by specific tests that are usually administered six months after your choosing and then every year thereafter to mark your progress and mastery of your gift. The better you wield your blessing, the higher you climb in rank. Those are the basics of what to expect in the weeks and months to come for you, Seth. Now, Sara, it is your turn.” Judilanthaliz glanced now at Sara as they continued to climb the many steps curling up the tower’s outer wall.
“Your new position is simple enough if you are sound of mind and organized. Your task is to be near me at all times unless I tell you otherwise. You will be taking down notes for me, running errands for me and delivering messages as well. We head mages keep in close contact with one another, and with a war forthcoming, we communicate even more frequently now than we do in times of peace. I hope you learn fast, young Sara, as you need to familiarize yourself with the lay of the city and where to appropriate certain goods rather quickly, as well as memorize a few dozen names and faces so that you might deliver a message swiftly if the need arises. Keep your eyes and ears open at all times as you will need to learn the habits of many people so that you might know their whereabouts at any given time.” Judilanthaliz paused as he looked around to take note of their surroundings as they continued to climb.
“Only a dozen floors to go and we reach the first floor of our home. It will be just the three of us on the uppermost two floors of the tower so we will be seeing a lot of each other and spending a great deal of time together as well. We have our own kitchen and a cook who can prepare whatever you like so long as you let her know in advance your favorite dishes so that she can keep the ingredients in stock. I think if you are hungry then the three of us shall eat and then we can find you rooms. After you are settled in, we will visit the library and gather up the first few tomes that you will need to read to begin your training. I will have to be returning to the castle proper for a meeting held by the king that will probably run late into the night. Normally this is the type of thing you would be joining me with, Sara. However, I think it better if we start you off tomorrow. A new day, a new task,” Judilanthaliz smiled leading them up the final flights of stairs.
Seth was beginning to like the man already. He seemed kind and wise, with a sense of purpose and honor. Oddly, he kind of looked forward to beginning his studies, though it was not yet time.
The first floor of the home of the gray robes looked identical to every other floor they had passed on their long climb up the stairs. Upon reaching it, all that was visible was the staircase they were on and a hallway that led into darkness. This floor Judilanthaliz told them held all their common rooms, such as the dining room, kitchen, library and several informal lounges, amongst a few other areas. They walked down the darkened hallway and, as they passed, torches flared to life with an almost eerie transparent green flame. The flames did not waver nor sputter as they erupted into life, nor did they smoke. The small spectacle left Seth in awe and dangerously curious.
The coming of light to the darkened hallway revealed several open-arched doorways lining each side of the hall. No doors were present thus leaving each room open to the hall, and allowing a view into every room they passed. As expected the hall did end abruptly, with a new hallway appearing, stretching both left and right from the one they had traversed. Leading them to the right, Judilanthaliz strode silently upon the stone floor, his gray robes rustling slightly with his movement.
As they approached the first doorway within the hall, the gray-robed man stopped and turned, gesturing for them to enter the room. As they entered, the same green light burst into being, revealing all that had previously been shrouded by darkness. This time it was not torches that lit the way. Instead a giant ornate chandelier hung from the center of the room’s ceiling. The chandelier held dozens of small candles that now burned with the same light of the torches, illuminating everything within the room in the strange glow.
Looking around, Seth realized that it was not what he would have expected. It was neither a large room, nor was it lavishly furnished. It was a simple dining hall filled with wooden chairs placed around two long, wood-framed tables topped with polished stone. Judilanthaliz passed around the first table and seated himself quickly mid table and gestured for his guests to seat themselves across from him. Seth and Sara quickly seated themselves, sliding their packs off their shoulders and placing them on the floor. Being near enough to touch Sara, but unable to do so without revealing their secret, was driving Seth insane. It apparently was having a similar effect on Sara as she fidgeted often in her seat. Judilanthaliz studied them for a moment, and apparently discovering nothing of immediate interest, he began to speak as he had upon the stairs.
“Our cook should be here shortly. In the meantime I think perhaps the two of you might have some questions. Please feel free to ask me anything, no matter what the subject, and I shall do my best to provide you with an answer.” The man said pulling back his cowl to reveal his mangled features.
“How do the torches work?” Sara asked quickly, curiosity obviously getting the best of her.
“Good question” Judilanthaliz smiled before going on to explain. “Many years ago, Vladmere’s predecessor had a talented pupil blessed with the ability to mold and control fire. Most of the red robes have this ability these days, but this particular student was extremely talented. His gift was so great he could imbue items with a magical flame such as those above us. Most of the buildings within the castle walls are lit by torches and candles imbued by this young mage. He had also suffused some weapons with the flame of his gift. Unfortunately, he savored power too lustily. He repeatedly pushed his limitations. During an experiment that he believed would unlock his most potent abilities, he lost control of the power blessed to him and he himself was consumed in the flame. Not an ash remained where he had stood during the blaze. No trace of the man managed to withstand the heat. Everyone half expected those items imbued by him to extinguish after his tragic end, but all except one continue to burn. The sole torch that illuminated his very own room never again erupted to life after the mage was lost. It remains vacant still. Some fear it may be cursed, though others leave it untouched in homage to the man who brought us unending light in the darkness. He was a very powerful mage, one of the most powerful the kingdom has ever seen. It was a tragic day when he was lost. Does that answer your question, Sara?” Judilanthaliz asked, his eyes unfocused as if seeing something the others could not.
“Yes Judilanthaliz, thank you,” Sara answered.
“Please both of you just call me Jud, my name is such a mouthful. I prefer to keep it simple,” Judilanthaliz replied.
“I have a question,” Seth stated, waiting for Jud’s look of approval before continuing. “What happens if I am not blessed by Saranadia in the time I am allowed?” Seth was quite certain he would not be receiving a blessing from the goddess, seeing as he would not be worshipping her.
“Well young Seth, if you are not destined to wear the gray robes, you will be assigned a new position. First and foremost, I am sure if you are not blessed here then Vladmere will probably take you on to see if you are destined to wear the crimson robes of his order. As I told you before, though, it is believed you can only be blessed by the god or goddess who has given you the gift. So if you have any idea who that particular god may be, or if you feel inclined to visit a particular temple, please let me know as the sooner we may find you an allegiance to a god, the sooner we can begin your training,” Jud finished with a sincere look upon his face.
“What of the tests you spoke of earlier, Jud? I assume they aren’t written tests, so how are they given? What do they consist of, that is, if I am allowed to know beforehand?” Seth asked again.
“The tests are each designed for the individual to be tested. First we must know what a young mage’s blessing consists of, what are its limits, and the limits of the mage. The tests are designed to be difficult to accomplish. They are intended to make the mage push himself or herself both mentally and physically. All tests are monitored closely by the heads of all the mage orders. Healers are always on site as sometimes a mage fails their test, or sometimes they are simply injured during the test. That is all I can reveal on the subject at present. Your tests will depend mostly on you and your abilities.” Jud stated finishing his explanation.
During their discussion a young woman poked her head through a small doorway off the side of the dining hall. As quickly as she appeared, she again disappeared behind the stone wall. Shortly after, scents of spice mixed with herbs permeated the air around them. Judilanthaliz sat quietly for a moment thinking to himself as his new guests watched his expression and waited patiently.