The Princess of Trelian (9 page)

“A partner,” Anders said. “He needed someone on this side to help bring him through. He must not have been able to find one before.”

“Or he found one and it didn’t work,” another mage said.

“How is he even still
alive
?” another of the apprentices asked. “Wasn’t he exiled hundreds of years ago?”

“Again, we aren’t certain,” Galida said, “but we believe that time works differently wherever he was sent, and so less time has passed for him than it has for us.”

“The important thing to make clear,” Renaldiere said, “is that a war between kingdoms is not the danger we are afraid of. That would only be a means to an end for Mage Krelig, and the end would be . . . well, it would be catastrophic. We haven’t faced an enemy like this in a long time. The Magistratum has done such a good job of keeping mages in order and controlling potential threats before they cause too much damage that we are rather unprepared for a mage of Krelig’s caliber. He is very powerful, and very driven.”

“And probably very angry,” Anders said quietly from the other side of Serek.

“Not to mention
crazy,
” Calen muttered, mostly to himself. Krelig had certainly seemed crazy when he’d been talking to Sen Eva through the portal that time.

“And he is also . . .” Renaldiere seemed to be searching for the right words. “He was more than just a mage who resisted the formation of the Magistratum. He does not want to return simply to try to disband us. He would bring about a return to the chaos and terror of the old times — mages unmarked and unsworn, acting without rules or restraint, using their powers to force others to bend to their will, and every one of them subject to the whims and goals of a madman of enormous power. A horrible fate not just for our order, but for the rest of the world as well. Including those kingdoms and villages many of us are sworn to protect.”

Several moments of silence followed Renaldiere’s remark. Calen hadn’t really thought it through before; maybe a lot of the others hadn’t, either.

“Could he really do that, though?” Calen asked into the silence. “I mean, believe me, I know he’s evil and powerful and everything, but he’s still just one man. Even with Sen Eva’s help, could he really overpower the entire Magistratum?”

“Oh, yes,” Renaldiere said. “I have no doubt of it.”

The bare certainty in his voice was terrifying.

Council Master Galida was nodding grimly beside him. “From the beginning,” she said, “Mage Krelig was known for being ruthless in his search for greater power. There are lengthy accounts in our histories of his violent acts, testaments showing him to be unalteringly cruel and without conscience or loyalties. He would kill every last one of us, destroy the Magistratum entirely, and kill anyone opposing him and anyone he even suspected of being a potential obstacle to his plans.”

“Even acting alone,” Renaldiere went on, “he has knowledge and power we could not hope to match.”

“And you don’t think he’ll be acting alone,” Mage Anders said. It was not quite a question. “And you don’t just mean this Sen Eva.”

Renaldiere looked steadily out at the assembled mages. “I would not presume to accuse any of our number of being sympathetic to his goals . . . but it cannot be denied that there will always be those drawn to power, and Mage Krelig was known to be very persuasive in his way. His abilities allow him to offer significant rewards to his followers. We must face the probability that he will be able to recruit some other mages to his cause.”

Angry mutters followed this, but Calen felt more frightened than angry. Mage Krelig was good at making promises. That’s how he’d gotten Sen Eva to help him, after all. It didn’t seem hard to imagine that he’d find things he could promise other mages that might win them over to his side.

“He also retains the portal knowledge that we have lost,” Galida said, “which gives him additional powers of frightening consequence. The slaarh reported in Trelian, for example, were brought through a portal from somewhere. We must assume that Mage Krelig instructed Sen Eva on how to accomplish that. Although Mage Devorlin’s journal does contain a lot of information from his own private, ah, experiments. We will be studying his notes very closely.”

There was some general confusion at this, and Calen realized that not everyone knew about the journal. Serek seemed to realize the same thing. “We found a journal in Sen Eva’s possession,” he explained. “It was written by Mage Devorlin of Kragnir, who we believe to be the partner Mage Krelig had tried to cultivate in Lysetta’s day. Sen Eva discovered the journal while serving as an advisor to King Ryllin and began experimenting on her own, unmarked and untrained. There was an accident of some kind in which her older son was killed and her husband lost. It seems she had been opening portals in an attempt to find her husband, when she found Mage Krelig instead.”

“But why send such an attack?” one of the other council mages asked. “If it was Mage Krelig behind what happened this afternoon, what did he hope to gain? Damaging and startling as it was, it did not seem of sufficient strength or viciousness to cause serious harm to the Magistratum. Was it some kind of warning? And if so, to what end? One would not think Krelig would want to do anything to alert us to his continued attempts to return to this world.”

“Seems likely the spell was intended to do more harm than it did,” said Mage Lisbette. “If he is coaching this Sen Eva from afar, she could simply have failed to perform the spell correctly.”

“I believe,” said another mage, “that there was a different reason.” Calen recognized him as one of the mages who had been waiting for him and Serek after he’d gotten his tattoo that morning. “It was surely no accident that the spell was cast when and where it was. We cannot ignore the possibility that Mage Serek’s apprentice is somehow involved with those who sent the creatures.”

Calen’s mouth fell open.
What?

Serek got slowly to his feet, his eyes practically shooting sparks. “Mage Brevera,” he growled, “you go too far —”

But Brevera rushed on, nearly shouting in his attempt to talk over Serek: “There are those of us here who have believed for some time that there is a danger associated with the boy. We have attempted to discuss this matter with Mage Serek, but he has been unwilling to consider our findings!”

Serek’s expression grew even darker, but he did not raise his voice. “I have been unwilling to consider your findings in secret meetings behind closed doors, Mage Brevera. I have been quite clear on how I feel about that. If you have accusations to make, make them here in full council, or keep your opinions to yourself.”

“They are not opinions!” Mage Brevera answered hotly. “They are findings that my colleagues and I have verified through multiple divinations —”

“Privately cast divinations, of which your word is not sufficient evidence.”

Mage Brevera stood up. “How
dare
—”

“Enough!” Council Master Galida shouted. “Mages, must we remind you of the council rules for debate?”

“No,” Serek said at once. “My apologies, Council Master Galida.” He sat back down.

Mage Brevera sat as well, muttering something that might have been an apology. Calen finally remembered to close his mouth, but he still felt as if the ground had fallen away somewhere far beneath him. He swallowed and then asked in a small voice, “What danger?”

Galida looked at him. “Did you say something, Apprentice Calen?”

Calen nodded and tried again, willing his voice to cooperate. “I asked what danger, Council Master. If there is some kind of danger associated with me, I would like to know more about it.”

“Indeed,” she said. “So would I. Mage Brevera, if you would be so kind?”

Mage Brevera smiled smugly. “Gladly, Council Master. As you know, Mages Thomil, Mettleson, and I routinely cast divinatory spells concerning the Magistratum, its members, and related events. We report our findings when they are significant so that appropriate action may be taken if necessary.” Galida nodded, and Mage Brevera continued.

“For nearly a year, we have encountered disturbing trends in our findings. Until recently the warnings were vague and unfocused, and we were aware only of a general sense of danger approaching. I have reported this in the past, but since we had nothing specific or helpful to go on, there seemed to be nothing the council could do but wait for further signs. Those signs recently began appearing. We know that a newly marked apprentice will be directly connected to vast and destructive danger to the Magistratum. We —”

“Calen is hardly the only recently marked apprentice,” Council Master Renaldiere broke in.

“With respect, Council Master,” Mage Brevera said with a tiny nod of his head, “there is more. We know the danger involves a boy who is the first apprentice of his master and one who traveled here from the north. There are many little such facts we can relate. But most significantly, we know the apprentice in question has unusual abilities that others do not share. Can you doubt that our findings must point to this boy?”

There was more muttering from the assembly, and Calen saw far too many mages glancing in his direction. Serek sat stone-faced, listening. Calen wished his master would say something in his defense. Obviously there was some mistake. He certainly wasn’t involved in any kind of danger affecting the Magistratum!

Mage Brevera looked at Serek with a sour expression. “We attempted to discuss the matter with Mage Serek in order to gain his permission for some, ah, testing of his apprentice so that we might further determine the nature of the danger he presented. Mage Serek refused to cooperate.”

“Why did you not report first to the council?” Galida asked.

“Perhaps we should have, Council Master Galida,” Brevera said, making what Calen thought was a very poor attempt to sound apologetic, “but we wanted to have more information before presenting our findings. Divination is such a difficult and inexact art, and we wanted to be sure before bringing any suggestions before the council. And until this afternoon, we were still uncertain. But now . . .” He hesitated, then went on in a rush. “We submit that, for the protection of the Magistratum, Apprentice Calen be immediately subject to investigation to determine the further nature of the danger he represents.”

Serek was suddenly back on his feet, and he and Brevera began shouting at each other across the chamber. Other mages joined in as well. Council Master Renaldiere was ringing his tiny bell like a madman, but no one was paying any attention. Mage Anders caught Calen’s eye from the other side of Serek and gave him what seemed a sympathetic expression. That did nothing to assuage Calen’s fears. What exactly did “subject to investigation” mean, anyway? It certainly didn’t sound good. This was crazy! He hadn’t done anything!

The sound of the silver bell suddenly became deafening, and Calen could see that the council master had cast an enhancement spell to amplify the ringing. Serek sat heavily back in his seat, and the shouting died down around them. He turned to look at Calen, and his face was angry and worried. Calen didn’t mind the anger — he’d seen Serek angry more often than not, and at least this time he seemed to be angry on Calen’s behalf, not at Calen himself — but the worry was . . . well, worrisome. Serek did not generally appear worried. Calen was beginning to feel very scared.

“Thank you,” Renaldiere said when everyone had finally quieted down. He leaned over to speak with Council Master Galida for a moment, then addressed the room once more. “It does seem that we should be open to exploring every avenue that might help us figure out what happened here today. And the findings of Mage Brevera’s group are not to be discounted out of hand. We believe there can be no harm and much possible good in allowing him to proceed with his investigation.”

“I submit that the matter be put to a vote,” Serek said quickly.

Council Master Galida looked at Serek with what seemed like regret. “I do not believe a vote is required, Mage Serek,” she said. “No action is being taken other than an attempt to gather further information about Apprentice Calen’s ability and his possible significance in relation to the mysterious casting we all experienced today. He is not being formally accused of anything or being placed under any kind of official reprimand or notice. We would ask that he comply willingly with this request. Overriding his refusal would call for a vote, but I cannot see any reason he should refuse, unless he has something to hide.”

Serek seemed to be searching for some other objection he could make, but finally he only nodded. He turned to Calen. “They only want to learn more about your ability and to have you participate in some more divination spells,” he said quietly. “We already knew your ability would be a topic of consideration during this visit. And perhaps the divination will be helpful. I don’t like the way this decision was reached, but truly there’s nothing to worry about. Just be polite and cooperate, and tell them the truth about whatever they ask you. We have nothing to hide from the council.”

Calen wished Serek could have managed to erase the worry from his expression while telling him there was nothing to worry about. But his words made sense, and Calen knew there was no real reason to be afraid.
This is the Magistratum,
he reminded himself.
I’m one of their number. No one here is my enemy.
He wished he felt more certain, though, that everyone here was his friend.

“I believe we should adjourn for now,” Council Master Renaldiere said. “Mage Secretary Ettien will form the committee to investigate the nature of the spell cast this afternoon, and Mage Brevera will lead the investigation of Apprentice Calen’s abilities and possible connection to the attack. As originally planned, tomorrow morning’s meeting will focus on what we can do to prepare for the possible return of Mage Krelig. We will have the records of Mage Krelig’s crimes and subsequent exile available for examination at that time, and anyone with any information passed down via apprenticeship or personal connections should be prepared to share that information with the group tomorrow.”

He rang his bell a final time, and the mages began to rise and collect their belongings and talk among themselves. Servants quietly stepped in to begin clearing away the food and table settings.