"I know you're doing all you can to find Zhimosom and Chihon," Lorit said. "Please let me know if you learn anything that might help."
"I will."
He dropped the connection and lay back on his bed to rest. The mini dragon sat quietly on the table, curled up, asleep.
Early in the afternoon, two monks in orange robes knocked on Lorit's door and invited him to the Temple. They stopped at the Princess' room. "You must attend too," they told her. "You are his partner."
They escorted Lorit and the Princess to the Temple. The way had been decorated with paper lanterns and colorful streamers. People stood along the streets to watch them as they walked.
"What's the celebration for?" the Princess asked Lorit.
"I don't know. They brought me to the temple this morning when the mini dragon came. They think it's some kind of sign."
They arrived at the large entrance chamber where Lorit had met the monk earlier in the day. It was packed with tables, each one overflowing with produce, fruits, nuts, steaming vegetables and pitchers of wine, mead, and water.
"Please, if you will," the monk said. He ushered Lorit through the banquet room, navigating the tables, and back to the side chamber where he'd met the senior monk earlier.
The old monk was seated on a pillow in the center of the room. Lorit lowered himself to the floor, taking a seat across from him.
"Please forgive me," the ancient monk said. "I never properly introduced myself earlier today. I was so overwhelmed that I forgot my manners." He bowed his head to the floor and rose. "My name is Tormu. I am the senior monk at the Temple here, in Friega."
Lorit bowed in a similar manner. "Pleased to meet you. My name is Lorit and this is Princess Ukina of Veldwaite."
"I am glad you are here. We have arranged this celebration in your honor. It's not every day that a dragon chooses a new master." He inclined his head to the mini dragon still perched on Lorit's shoulder.
Lorit reached out his arm and the mini dragon crawled down his sleeve and onto the floor. It curled up next to him on the pillow, tucking its head beneath its body, leaving only the tiny horns sticking out.
A gong sounded and Tormu looked back towards the banquet room. "It appears that they are ready." He stood up with an agility that Lorit had not expected out of such an old man. Tormu stretched out his hand. "Come with me."
Lorit grasped his hand and rose. He could feel a strange Wizard's power in the old monk as their hands touched. He was startled, but not surprised; the monk had indicated that he had some power. As they headed for the banquet room, the mini dragon woke and sped through the air after him, taking up its perch on Lorit's shoulder.
Tormu led them to the head table. There were three oversized chairs there. The center one loomed larger than the other two. It had a high back that was made of a rich dark wood, with the seat covered in red silk. The chair was adorned with intricate carvings that depicted the mountains, the forest and animals that Lorit did not recognize. The two on either side were similar in construction, only slightly shorter.
Tormu directed Lorit to the center chair. He seated the Princess to Lorit's right and took the other open chair. As soon as they were seated, a second gong sounded and the room began to fill. Monks in their orange robes filed into the room and took their seats. A gong sounded and people streamed in until the room was filled to overflowing.
They were dressed in finery the likes of which Lorit had not seen even at the court in Veldwaite. Families with children large and small entered and took their places around the tables, seating themselves.
The noise grew to such a level that Lorit could barely make out what Tormu was saying. The guests laughed and told jokes and stories, some gesturing wildly with cutlery and crystal. They appeared to be having a pleasant time.
"What is all this for?" Lorit asked.
"To celebrate," Tormu said.
"To celebrate what?" Lorit shouted to be heard over the din.
"To celebrate you and the Princess."
"Us?"
"Yes, you. You are our special guests tonight. Don't worry, there is nothing you need to do, just sit back, enjoy yourself and have a good time. There will be plenty of time for business tomorrow."
A server arrived with a pitcher of wine and reached for Lorit's goblet. He stretched out his hand and placed it over the top. "Water for me."
"But, this is a very good vintage. We serve it only at special occasions, I am sure you will enjoy it." She reached for his goblet again.
"Please," Lorit said. "Just water."
The server looked over at the monk who nodded his head. She smiled and walked away to return quickly with a pitcher of water. She poured a clear stream into his goblet in a flashy manner, lifting the pitcher high in the air as she did so that everyone could see that Lorit was drinking water instead of wine.
Lorit reached for his goblet and took a taste. It was clear and refreshing. He probed it with his magical sense and found that it was simply water, nothing more.
As he set his goblet down, the entire table raised theirs to him. He looked around at the monk and the Princess. They both nodded to the guests so Lorit picked up his goblet and raised it high in salute. He brought it to his lips to take a drink when Tormu put his hand on his arm to stay him.
"You should say a few words," he whispered.
"Say a few words? What should I say?"
"Thanks them for coming. Thank them for honoring you."
Lorit sighed and stood. "I would like to thank you all for coming tonight. I would also like to thank you all for honoring us in such a manner. I am overwhelmed." He quickly sat down taking a drink from the goblet.
"That was perfect," Tormu whispered. "Not too long, just enough to let everyone start eating."
The clamor of the crowd died down as they dug into the feast before them. The stories and jokes were muted now by mouths full of food.
"Why are they celebrating us?" Lorit asked around a mouthful of roast fowl.
"Because you two are to be the new masters," he said simply.
"The new masters? Masters of what?"
"Masters of the temple. When a Wizard and a Sorceress are chosen by a dragon, it is a sign that the new Master has arrived."
"I'm not the new master. I am a Wizard, but the Princess is not a Sorceress."
"How can that be? The magic about her is strong, almost as strong as yours," he explained. "I could feel it on you even this morning. Once I met her, I was certain. She has the Sorceress power about her. It is quite distinct."
"She was bewitched by a Sorceress, but she is not a Sorceress herself."
"She is not your partner?"
"No, she was enchanted to look like my partner, but she is not. She is tied to my partner, but that's all. She's bound by a spell that I've been trying to break, so I can find Chihon. Chihon is my partner. Chihon and I are paired. Not the Princess and I."
Tormu looked at Lorit in shock. "This is terrible."
He stood up, clapped his hands once, and waited. The din in the room muted but did not fall completely silent. He clapped them again; this time the room fell silent.
"Please excuse me, but there has been a terrible mistake," he said bowing low.
"These are not those we were to expect. This girl is linked to the Sorceress, but she is not the one." He bowed his head again, almost touching the table as he did, then he turned and strode out of the room without looking back.
Lorit looked at the Princess. "Now what?"
The Princess shrugged her shoulders.
Lorit looked around the room. The celebrants were still seated in shock. No one moved. "Do you think we should go?"
"That would seem like a wise choice."
Lorit stood and slid the heavy chair back. He reached down to take the Princess' hand. As she rose, the crowd started howling derision at them. They slid their chairs back and grabbed food from their plates, hurling it at Lorit and the Princess.
Lorit raised his shields before any of the food reached them. It stopped in mid air and slid to the ground. The mini dragon hissed on his shoulder. He reached up and stroked its head between the tiny horns. "It's alright. We're safe behind my shields. Come on. Let's get out of here."
They walked through the crowd, flinching as the remnants of the celebration were hurled at them from every direction. They exited through the ornate doors and headed down the street. People were pulling down the decorations and burning them in the street. They looked up and hissed or spit at Lorit and the Princess as they passed by.
"Word spreads fast," Lorit said.
"It sure does. I don't understand why they thought I was your partner."
"I think they saw the spell that connects you to Chihon and thought that you were her."
"I thought you took the spells off me in the mines."
"Some of the spells I was able to remove; there are still more that I cannot. Rotiaqua thinks that with the help of the mini dragon, I may be able to remove them. Once we get back to the inn, I can try again."
By the time they reached the rooms, the crowd had thinned. There were no more people lining the streets, no one calling out to them or throwing things at them. They reached their rooms to find their possessions piled on the floor in the hallway. There was a large brass lock on the door.
As Lorit tried to probe the lock and open it, an orange robed monk came running down the hallway. He was panting and out of breath. He stopped and put his hand out to steady himself as he caught his breath.
"Please forgive us," he said. "We were wrong, not you." He dropped to his knees and bowed his head to the floor, rocking back and forth. "Please forgive us. Please forgive us. Please forgive us."
Lorit reached down and grasped his shoulder. "I forgive you. Stand up. There is no need of this."
"We were wrong," the monk said again. "It was not your fault. You were treated unkindly because of our mistake. Please forgive us." He raised his eyes to Lorit but remained on his knees looking up at him.
"I forgive you," Lorit replied. "Now stand up."
The monk arose. "My name is Asule. I have been asked to beg your forgiveness. The Senior wishes to personally apologize. He has made a grave mistake."
Lorit picked up his pack and shouldered it. He reached for the Princess' pack and handed it to her. "Let's go back to the Temple."
They walked down quiet streets as the people cleaned away the debris from the decorations. Some looked up at them, and then quickly turned their heads away in shame. There was no more name calling or food throwing as they made their way back to the Temple.
They entered the banquet room that was being cleared and cleaned. The monks that swept the room looked away in shame as they passed through and into the anteroom where the Senior waited. He bowed his head low, touching the floor as they entered.
"Please I beg your indulgence. I have made a grave mistake. I was upset. I have waited for so long for a Wizard to take up the burden so I can retire, that I did not properly examine you both. Please forgive me."
"Get up," Lorit said.
The Senior sat up, but bowed his head deeply to Lorit as he did.
"Let me try to make it up to you. I believe that we may be able to help you."
"Help me how?"
"With the Princess." He stood once again, with a fluid grace that amazed Lorit and held out his hand. "Come with me."
The monk led them down a long hallway to a large golden door. He pushed it open and gestured for Lorit to enter. The mini dragon launched itself from his shoulder and flew into the room, zipping around before finally coming to roost on a perch beside the open door.
"This room concentrates power that a Wizard may draw upon," the Senior said.
The room was made of polished marble. The walls, floor and ceiling were all made of the same material. In the center of the room was a raised marble dais that was trimmed in gold. The symbols and markings on it were in a language Lorit did not know, but he recognized them as ancient Wizard script. It reminded him of an altar.
"The room will help you focus your magic," the Senior said.
Lorit could feel the energy in the room. It was the same as he'd felt in the mines below. He wondered if this room had been built above one of Hanuwar's jewels. There was something more, though. It was a pulsing golden energy that felt exhilarating. He looked around the room until he saw the mini dragon. It was ablaze with golden light and appeared to be pleased with itself, if that were possible.
"Please." He gestured to the Princess and then the altar.
"You want me?" the Princess said. "To get up there?"
"Please."
"No," she said. "I am a Princess, not a sacrificial animal." She turned towards the door.
Tormu stepped in front of her. "Please." He held up his hand.
She brushed his hand aside and headed for the door. His diminutive form sprang into action, moving almost too quickly for Lorit to see. The monk grabbed her hand and twisted it behind her. Before Lorit could react, the Princess was laying on her back on the altar. The Senior had her bound hand and foot to the stone.
"There," he said stepping back and reassuming his elderly stance. "That should hold her while you work."
"What do you expect me to do?" Lorit asked.
"Break the spells that bind her," he said, as if that explained it all, but Lorit had already tried to break the spells; he didn't know how.
Lorit approached the altar. He extended his staff over her and examined her as he had deep in the mines. The web of twisted magic was still there. He could see the different colors and textures of the spells that bound her. He reached for them again, pulling at one that looked loose.
The Princess screamed in pain.
Lorit looked at Tormu. "Last time I did this, I put her to sleep."
"That may be why it failed," he said. "Keep trying, find the power that you need to work through this; she will be grateful if you succeed, even if she is not now."
Lorit kept trying. He located the thread again. This time he pulled it gently away from the others. He reached into the altar and found the source of power deep in the earth. He drew from it, focusing it through the jewel in his staff. He felt the power emanating from the mini dragon. He wove that together with his own magic and that of the earth. He fashioned them into a knife, imaging it sharp as a razor. He carefully guided it to cut away the threads that bound the Princess.