“That’s wise,” Kelvin said.
“And politically savvy,” Jack said. “There are bound to be some questions about the Sovereign Stone amongst the nobles. Some may question your ability to be both the Sovereign of the Seven Isles and the King of Ruatha at the same time. Others may be reluctant to support anyone claiming the Reishi name. An open council meeting with all in attendance will give you an opportunity to provide them with the assurances they need to remain loyal.”
Alexander frowned. “To be honest, I hadn’t thought about that. Given the history of the fall of the House of Ruatha because of their allegiance to the Reishi during the war, I can see how some might find it difficult to support anyone claiming to be the Reishi Sovereign.
“As for being both the Sovereign and the King of Ruatha, it never even occurred to me that I can’t do both, but I think you’re right, Jack. I’ll have to give it some thought.”
Isabel put her hand on his. “The Regent of Northport may have some harsh things to say about the destruction of his city.”
“Can’t say I’d blame him,” Alexander said. “I’m still not sure it was the right thing to do.”
“It was,” Jack said. “Consider the alternative—a fortified city with eight enemy legions supported by two or three mages awaiting reinforcements from Andalia. War without end. You made a hard decision. Ultimately your choice saved a great many lives at the cost of stone and timber. Not a bad bargain.”
“I agree with Master Colton,” Kelvin said. “The damage done turned my stomach but the alternative was much less palatable.”
“How many of those weapons do you have left?” Alexander asked.
“One large one like the ones we used on Northport and three small ones like the ones used in the battle for the Gate,” Kelvin said.
“As much as I don’t want to have to use them, we may find they’re the best weapons we have for certain circumstances,” Alexander said. “Do you have what you need to make more?”
“No,” Kelvin said. “Each requires a very small quantity of Wizard’s Dust and I’ve used all that we had. Incidentally, six of the seven candidates for the mana fast have survived and become novice wizards. The seventh was lost to the firmament.”
Alexander sighed. He remembered the trials and felt a pang of pity for the one lost. It wasn’t a good way to go—if there was such a thing.
He opened his pouch and removed his five remaining vials of Wizard’s Dust and placed them on the table before the Mage.
“We found more in the Reishi Keep,” Alexander said. “Lucky has a small quantity with him as well, but not enough for a mana fast.”
Kelvin smiled in wonder. “I had not hoped to mentor more than one or two wizards through the mana fast for the rest of my life. Our order is reborn, Alexander.”
“Use it as you see fit, but I think we might need some more of those weapons,” Alexander said. “I gave enough Wizard’s Dust to the guild on Ithilian for three new wizards, and I gave three vials to the Reishi Coven. Isabel used one and Magda is holding one for Abigail if she wants it. I suspect they’ll use the third to induct another member into their order, if they haven’t already.”
“Very strategic thinking, I see,” Kelvin said with an approving smile. “Not only have you given priceless gifts to a guild of wizards and a coven of witches, thereby engendering goodwill, but you’ve created the impression that you are the most likely to triumph in this conflict because you alone possess the secret to magic.
“Alexander, I am reluctant to ask, but it is a question that has plagued me since I learned that you had bonded with the Sovereign Stone.” Kelvin hesitated. “Does it hold the secret?” he whispered intently.
“It does,” Alexander said, “but I can’t make use of it yet. On the advice of Balthazar Reishi, I’ve decided that the secret should remain a secret for now. I don’t know what it is and I don’t intend to ask until I can put it to use.”
Kelvin smiled and nodded to himself. “I have often dreamt of the day when the secret of wizardry returned to the world, but I see the wisdom in your caution. Just know that every wizard in my order stands ready to help you make whatever preparations you require.”
“Thank you, Kelvin,” Alexander said. “I understand how much this must mean to you. Once we return to Blackstone Keep, I’ll set my plan in motion, and hopefully, we’ll have the ability to make Wizard’s Dust for ourselves by year’s end.”
“All of the threats we face seem to diminish in the face of that knowledge,” Kelvin said.
***
Several days later they reached the main encampment of the Ruathan army located between the Reishi Gate and Blackstone Keep. It was an imposing sight. Tens of thousands of soldiers spread out across the plain in the shadow of the Keep.
Horns called out his arrival as he approached the perimeter defenses, and a squad of soldiers rode out to meet him.
“Lord Reishi,” the squad sergeant said, saluting crisply, “General Valentine posted us to watch for your arrival. He would speak with you.”
“Very good, Sergeant, lead the way,” Alexander said, then turned to Lieutenant Wyatt. “You’re welcome to join us after you see to your men.”
Wyatt turned to the commander of the hundred-Ranger honor guard that had accompanied Alexander from Northport.
“See to the men’s quarters and horses, then find them a hot meal,” Wyatt said before nodding to Alexander.
They wound through an ordered maze of tents and paddocks. The soldiers were mostly busy with their tasks, some cleaning and repairing equipment, others sharpening weapons. Many turned to look as Alexander rode by—some cheered, while others looked at him as if he had brought war into their lives. Even though the army was comprised of forces from many different territories, they were organized and disciplined, no doubt as a result of his father’s stern leadership. Alexander knew all too well that his father expected much of those around him and even more of himself.
The sergeant brought them to an inner area of command tents surrounded by a perimeter fence guarded by a force of Rangers. They pulled the fence aside when they saw Alexander approach and put it back in place the moment his party had entered.
Duncan came out of the command tent to greet his son. “I hear you had some trouble,” he said, gesturing to the bandage around Alexander’s left arm.
“Seems Phane’s been building a small army of very dangerous assassins,” Alexander said. “We killed two and captured one.” Alexander pointed at the wraithkin mounted on a horse and shackled to the saddle.
“Has he said anything interesting?” Duncan asked.
“He was reluctant at first, until Isabel persuaded him.” Alexander smiled at his wife as she dismounted, handing her reins to a nearby Ranger.
“Apparently, he came to Ruatha with eight others,” Isabel said. “Hopefully, the other six drowned during the naval battle off the coast of Southport, but we probably shouldn’t count on it.”
Duncan smiled over at Alexander. “You did well with this one, Son. I’ve always said, hope for the best, but plan for the worst.”
“The perimeter guard said you had news,” Alexander said as he pulled his father into a hug.
“I do,” Duncan said. “The army is coming together. Most of the command structure of the individual legions has been reorganized into a single unified command. It’s taken some doing but we should be ready to move within a few weeks.”
Alexander nodded, listening to his father as they walked toward the command tent. He knew Duncan was putting on a show of a report without getting to the important news, but he didn’t know why. His father was a cautious and deliberate man by nature, but he didn’t spook easily.
Alexander started to worry. He’d noticed the additional security around the command tents but didn’t think much of it, until now.
The oversized tent enclosed a stone slab with a magic circle inlaid in silver and gold reaching nearly to the sides of the stone square. Within the circle was a large table surrounded by a number of general officers, including Kern and Markos, and a few wizards, Sark and Jahoda among them.
All stood when they saw Alexander enter. He looked to his father for an explanation.
Duncan frowned and shrugged. “Recent events have made an abundance of caution prudent.” He motioned to the chair at the head of the table.
Alexander took his seat with Isabel at his left and Duncan at his right. Jack and Kelvin took empty seats at the table, while Boaberous took a position near the door and stood watch. Before Alexander could ask his question, Chloe appeared in a ball of light and floated gently down onto the table in front of him. Several of the men at the table sat up a bit straighter when she appeared.
“All right, why the extreme measures?” Alexander asked.
Duncan nodded gravely. “For the past three nights, there’ve been murders within the camp: two men the first night, five the next, and three last night. Last night we got some measure of confirmation about the threat. A squad of Buckwold infantry were sitting around a cook fire when one of their own stood up abruptly, drew his sword and killed his two closest friends in cold blood. The rest of his squad was stunned by the sudden turn of events and sat speechless, staring at their fellow soldier. All six men independently gave the same account of what followed.” Duncan paused and shook his head.
“Apparently, the soldier said, ‘I am Shivini and my master, Prince Phane, has promised me the souls of any who do not bow before him.’ Then he cut his own throat and fell into the fire.”
Alexander took Isabel’s hand and shared a look of stricken horror with her. He knew what she was thinking: together, they had loosed the shades on the world.
“At least we made the right choice in retrieving the Sovereign Stone,” Alexander whispered as he closed his eyes.
Once again he was facing a threat sent against him by the Reishi Prince, and Phane was probably dining in comfort and safety inside the walls of the palace on Karth. Alexander felt like he was being forced to react to Phane’s threats without ever having the chance to choose his next move. He remembered another of his father’s many lessons on strategy: He who controls the initiative controls the game. From the day Phane woke, Alexander had been reacting, scrambling to stay alive. He’d made gains, more than he would have thought possible, but he was coming to see that he couldn’t match Phane on his terms. He needed to change the rules of the game. But how?
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly before drawing himself up and facing the scrutiny of those arrayed before him. The people at this table needed him to be strong, even if he didn’t feel up to the challenges that lay before him.
“All right, one thing at a time,” he said. “First, Phane has created a new kind of enemy called a wraithkin, a man blended with a creature from the netherworld. They have the power to teleport short distances and heal nearly any injury they’ve sustained each time they disappear and reappear. They’re armed with daggers that taint the wounds they cause with dark magic, preventing our healing magic from having any effect.” Alexander gestured to the bandage on his left arm. The gash still hurt but he’d learned how to deal with pain. Just six short months ago, this wound would have had him mewling in agony—now it was just a minor distraction.
“Phane sent nine wraithkin to Ruatha to kill everyone close to me,” Alexander said. “I’m afraid I made it personal for him when I killed his familiar. He wants revenge and he knows the surest way to hurt me is to hurt those I love.”
“I’ll order bodyguards for Bella and me as well as Hanlon and Emily,” Duncan said. “Lucky, Anatoly, and Abigail are probably safe inside the Keep, but I’ll send word to Erik just in case.”
“Good, I’d also like to assemble several teams of hunters,” Alexander said. “I think Captain Sava’s new unit, augmented by a few wizards, might be the best-suited for the job.”
Duncan nodded thoughtfully. “We can field four platoon-strength units from his company,” he said, turning to Kelvin. “Can you spare four wizards, one for each platoon?”
“Yes, in fact I already have a very short list of the best candidates for the job,” Kelvin said. “Once we return to the Keep, I’ll make the arrangements.”
“I would recommend a Ranger or two be attached to each platoon,” Lieutenant Wyatt said. “They can serve as trackers and scouts.”
“I agree,” Duncan said. “General Markos, I’d like you to oversee the formation of these units and coordinate their operations. Captain Sava will report directly to you.”
“Understood, General Valentine,” General Markos said.
“So now to the shade,” Alexander said. “From the nature of the attacks, it’s clear that the intent is to undermine morale and create fear within the ranks. As damaging as that might be, I don’t for a second believe that’s its only mission. If Phane has bound it to his will, then he sent it here for something. Other than the Sovereign Stone and my head on a platter, what might Phane be after?”
The table fell silent. After a long moment, Kelvin ventured a guess.
“Perhaps Phane knows of something within the Keep that we are unaware of. He fought at his father’s side against Mage Cedric for many years. He may be after some relic of that struggle.”
“That’s unsettling,” Jack said. “There’s no telling what’s in there.”
“Maybe it’s time to do some more exploring,” Alexander mused. “Mage Cedric said there were things of power and danger locked away under the Keep. Unfortunately, he wasn’t more specific than that.”