Watt-Evans, Lawrence - Annals of the Chosen 01 (97 page)

"But
then—there
are
only
nineteen
wizards
in
all
Barokan?"

"So
far
as
we
know,
yes,"
the
Red
Wizard
said.
"It's
the
Wizard
Lord's
job
to
track
down
and
kill
any
others."
"But
they
aren't
all
rogues
...
!"

"Yes,
they
are,"
another
wizard
said.
"By
definition.
Our forefathers
decided
a
century
and
a
half
back
that
it
would
be
better
for
everyone
if
all
wizards
joined
the
Council,
and with
the
Wizard
Lord's
aid,
they
did
not
make
it
optional."

"There
are
just
nineteen!"
the
Archer
said.

"You
need
a
Wizard
Lord
to
control
nineteen wizards!"
Breaker
said.

"Well,
there
were
hundreds
when
the
system
began,"
the old
woman
who
had
come
to
Mad
Oak
said.
"But
our
numbers
have
dwindled."

"Then
hasn't
the
need
for
a
Wizard
Lord
dwindled,
as
well?"
Breaker
said.
"Shouldn't
we
see
what
happens
without
one,
rather
than
once
again
giving
someone
the
power
to kill
entire
towns
and
flood
whole
regions?"

There
was
a
mutter
among
some
of
the
wizards,
but
the blue-robed
leader
said
firmly,
"No.
The
system
has
worked for
seven
centuries,
and
I
am
not
going
to
abandon
it
just
because
we
happen
to
have
had
a
ninth
Dark
Lord."

"But
we
don't
need
it,
and
another
Dark
Lord
could
be
a
disaster!"

"And
how
likely
is
it
that
we'll
see
another
Dark
Lord
in our
lifetimes?
The
system
works,
Swordsman—the
Wizard Lord
went
mad,
and
the
Chosen
removed
him,
just
as
they were
meant
to.
If
there
were
no
Wizard
Lord,
who
knows how
many
people
might
have
been
killed
or
enslaved
by
wizards,
or
killed
by
storms
or
famines?
We
had
more
than
a
hundred
years
of
peace
and
plenty—one
small
town
and
a few
floods
are
not
too
high
a
price
for
that."

At
the
mention
of
enslavement
Breaker
glanced
at
Boss, who
did
not
meet
his
gaze;
then
he
turned
back
to
the
wizards.

"I
think
you're
wrong,"
he
said.
"I
think
the
Wizard
Lords have
outlived
their
purpose.
I
don't
know
why
there
are
so few
wizards
now,
compared
to
our
ancestors'
times,
but whatever
the
reason,
it
makes
a
Wizard
Lord
an
unnecessary
danger!"

"It's
because
so
many
of
the
ler
have
been
collected,
or tamed
by
the
priests,
or
softened
by
the
mere
presence
of
so
many
people
nearby,"
a
short,
dark
wizard
in
the
back
began.
"There
are
fewer
truly
wild
powers
..."

"Never
mind
that,"
the
blue-robed
wizard
snapped,
holding
up
her
hand.
"It's
none
of
his
concern—he's
merely
the
Swordsman.
We
have
no
obligation
to
answer
to
him."

"I
just
killed
your
Dark
Lord!"
Breaker
protested.

"And
that
was
your
duty,
your
role,"
the
wizard
replied.
"Thank
you
for
performing
it
effectively—but
it
gives
you no
right
to
question
us."

"I
killed
a
man
because
your
Council
has
propped
up
an ancient
and
unnecessary
system
..."

A
sudden
gust
of
wind
whirled
around
him,
unnaturally intense,
snatching
the
breath
from
his
mouth,
and
Breaker
staggered
back.
His
hand
fell
to
the
hilt
of
his
sword.

"Stop
it!"
the
Council's
leader
ordered
over
her
shoulder. "He
is
the
Chosen
Swordsman,
and
entitled
to
our
respect,
if not
our
obedience.
Release
him!"

The
wind
stopped
as
abruptly
as
it
had
begun.

"You
see
why
we
need
a
Wizard
Lord?"
the
blue-robed
wizard
said,
more
gently.
"We
can't
be
trusted.
We
know
that.
So
we
set
one
of
us
up
to
keep
the
others
in
check,
and you
eight
are
chosen
to
keep
him
in
check.
Thank
you, Swordsman,
for
your
service.
Thank
you
all,
O
Chosen.
Deliver
now
the
Wizard
Lord's
talismans,
and
take
your
own
with
you,
and
go
about
your
business."

"You'll
exorcise
the
dead
in
Stoneslope?"
Breaker
demanded.
"And
see
to
it
that
the
Seer,
the
Thief,
and
the Leader
are
replaced?"

The
Council's
leader
sighed.
"We
will—and
if
you
were not
already
the
Swordsman,
I'd
make
you
the
new
Leader!
You
seem
to
take
the
role
upon
yourself."