Holtsclaw, page 17
part #3 of The Master Mage Chronicles Series
----- o0o -----
The three were taking a stroll around the Holtsclaw academy. It was a warm, pleasant evening. Marcus and Melania had spoken briefly, agreeing to guard their thoughts until the three of them could meet privately
Moriah: So, what happened this morning? You have both been silent, so it must have been serious. Your father came here to visit? And Marcus, he wanted to talk to you, too?
Marcus: You first, Melania, if you would.
Melania: I think you have a lot more to share than I do. You told my father we are paired, actually tripled. He understood, to a degree, what this meant. It was news to me, but I have distant family that became paired. I’m sure he was surprised and a bit disappointed, as he had visions of me serving with him in the King’s court. But he was realistic. ‘All we can do is to accept that which cannot be undone.’ You made a good impression on him, Marcus. That made a big difference. He thought you would be a good son-in-law.
Moriah: So he sees pairing as a prelude to marriage?
Melania: Moriah, can it be any other way? I know it will be strange. But I can’t imagine a lifetime that doesn’t include the two of you.
Marcus: A discussion for another time, but I have to agree. You will want to know what he and I discussed.
Moriah: Most certainly. You’ve had such a serious look all day. It must have been important for us.
Marcus: Well, big things first. What I told you several turnings ago, about my activities last third-turning, came about. The king ordered an investigation. It wasn’t hard to track me down, once they separated fact from fiction. He, they, knew a lot more about Iber than I suspected. Even to the tradition of assigning the name Marcus to every fifth-generation descendent of the first. They also concluded I was a master-mage. He asked me to confirm.
Moriah and Melania gave audible gasps.
Marcus: Yes, they know about the oath. By ‘they’ I mean your father and grandfather, Melania. But they have chosen to disregard it. The last time the kingdoms went to battle over this, many mages and several armies were destroyed. They see no point in passing through that again. And they have guilt, after four-hand generations, for destroying the kingdom and banishing the king and his people. He confirmed what I recently learned from the Chronicles. Athenia was the ancestral home of the Iberian people.
Moriah: Does that mean that you, we, are safe?
Marcus: Yes, I believe so. When I told him about our pairing, our tripling, he was quite shocked. Pairing he understood. But not about the compelling attraction of those having identical gift. When he thought for a moment about the power we could wield together, he wanted to know if we were going to recreate the kingdom of Athenia!
They mentally laughed together.
Marcus: I told him about the Illium threat. He was unaware the kingdoms were under attack. Did you know the kings gather every five turns to discuss matters of common interest? And that it will be held in Caldonia in mid-third turning? It would be in a hand of seven-days from now.
Moriah: Well, I know they meet from time to time. I didn’t realize it was this turn. Usually they just talk about trade and security. Tumano hosted it a hand of turns ago. I was only seven, but I remember a lot of pomp and ceremony. I even had to help with preparations.
Melania: Yes, and Suerca hosted it five turns ago. I was a hand and two. What I remember was that all of us younger members associated with the royal household were told to disappear. And be quiet!
Marcus: Your father suggested that I, and therefore we, attend and advise the kings of the Illium threat. I think he is right. It is the perfect opportunity to explain how serious it has become.
Marcus reverted to voice. “We are entering into a new phase of life.” He continued with mind-speak. I think it’s time for us to bring Wilhelm and Corinne into our confidence. I had to use tiemp to retrieve Wilhelm without harm, so he knows at least that much. And of course, he has actually experienced my porting ability. To his credit, he has remained silent about it. But it is difficult for him to do so with Corinne. They might as well be paired, for all they share. And Moriah, Melania’s father warned me about your father, King Weston. He will always consider you to be royal chattel and will never release you from your princess obligations. He must respond to any marriage proposal I make. But he’s likely to demand an impossible bride-price for your release. Wilhelm and I will have to go gold mining as soon as the Academy turn is finished.
Moriah: So you agree with Melania? That marriage is inevitable?
Marcus: Yes. As we discussed a turn ago. I am not much into a plural marriage arrangement. But is there an alternative for us?
Melania: I’ve thought too much and too long about it. I can’t see any other way for us. Moriah, your thoughts?
Moriah: I agree. It’s not like we’re separate persons, in any case. I don’t think it will be any more odd than what we are experiencing now.
Marcus: And what about Wilhelm and Corinne. Do you agree to bring them into this… conspiracy?
----- o0o -----
It was the following evening. Marcus had arranged for the use of a small conference room after last-meal. A storm had moved in, so a leisurely stroll around the grounds was out of the question.
Moriah, Melania, Corinne and Wilhelm were seated around a table. The chair reserved for Marcus was vacant.
“Well, where’s Marcus?” asked Corinne.
“He will be here shortly,” replied Melania.
“There are a few things we need to discuss before he gets here,” continued Moriah. “The first thing you need to know, is that we, the three of us, are not in a normal relationship. Have you ever heard of pairing?”
Wilhelm and Corinne shook their heads.
“So we thought. It is sometimes called mage-marriage. It is a binding of two persons’ gift, something like a conventional marriage. But much deeper and life-long. It is only possible with two people of similar gift, compatible gift if you prefer, and sufficient gift power to cause the binding to occur. In our case, the three of us have identical gift. You have been taught that we are all unique in our respective gifts. But that is not strictly true. We won’t spend more explaining it, perhaps later we will.”
Melania picked up the conversation. “Suffice it to say that our identical gift drew us to each other. The attraction was so great, the stronger gift, and in our case that of Marcus, was actually pulling away our very life force. The only way for us to survive was to pair.”
“Or in our case, triple,” added Melania.
“Is that why you were so sick, when you first came here last turn?” asked Corinne.
“Yes. Marcus was killing me!” she laughed. Then grew serious. “And he would have, if he had not recognized what his gift was doing to me. He realized he was powerless to make it stop, and desperately tried pairing as a last effort to save my life.”
“And the same happened to me, except they were both killing me!” Corinne and Wilhelm laughed nervously. “Their combined power drew away my gift, my life force. Of course, I knew something was happening to me. And it grew worse the closer I got to Holtsclaw. I nearly died as soon as I arrived.”
Moriah looked at her. “Yes, Melania, we almost lost you. But by then, both Marcus and I realized what was happening. Even though it was against all odds of it ever happening. And we were able to save your life.”
“So, what happens? Now that you are paired?” asked Corinne.
“We are one happy little family,” laughed Melania, then more seriously explained. “It is an odd affair. We are constantly aware of each other’s feelings and emotions, and easily communicate without actual speech.”
Wilhelm spoke next: “Which explains why you walk around and around the grounds without saying a word. We’ve noticed how odd it is. But we have been too polite to ask.”
Melania: “And our combined gift power is not only combined, but multiplied as well.”
Moriah: “Of course, there’s more we need to explain. Melania, would you summon Marcus?”
Melania got up from the table and rapped lightly on the door, then retook her seat. Instantaneously, Marcus was seated with them at the table. Corinne and Wilhelm scrambled back in their chairs in surprise, nearly falling backwards to the floor.
Melania spoke: “Let us introduce you to Marcus, the first master-mage to arise in over a hand-fist of turns. He has access to all endowments of gift.”
Corrine and Wilhelm remembered the violent reaction of Mage Charlotte when Moriah had asked the question the previous turn about master mages. Corinne asked the question they both were thinking. “Why was she, Mage Charlotte, so very upset when you asked?”
Marcus answered. “I, as a master mage, have the power to cast gift, same as you. Albeit with much more strength. I also have the power draw gift. So if, say, you choose to attack me with your gift power, I simply absorb it. In the process, increasing my own. If I choose to do so, I can continue withdrawing all your gift-power, including your very life-force. That, as you can imagine, leaves you... without life.”
Wilhelm’s eyes grew large. “As in, you can actually kill someone that way? Have you ever done that?”
Marcus was quiet for a moment, Moriah and Melania watched him closely. “Yes, Wilhelm, I have done that. Many times. But only in self defense. It is not a pleasant experience. When I pull a life-force, if I am not very careful, the memories come with it. The lives I have taken were not those of good men. I have been tainted in the process. Perhaps we move on to other matters, please.”
“So why are you telling us all this?” asked Corinne.
Melania responded. “Because, friend Corinne, Marcus’ identity as a master-mage has been exposed. In the past, master mages were considered such a threat that all high-mages swore an oath to silence, to destroy, any who arose anew. That may not be the case here, with Marcus, as he has powerful friends who will protect him. And with the three of us, there’s not a lot anyone could do anyway. But the threat exists. Going forward, we will need allies, friends we can trust absolutely. You would be the first of these, if you are willing.”
“And if we’re not? Willing, that is?” Wilhelm sputtered. “N-n-not that we aren’t willing, of course. Just wondering, you know.” He was obviously embarrassed by suggesting he and Corinne would not be allied with them.
Marcus replied. “It would matter little, as our path would proceed with or without your help. But as friends, your help would be most welcome. The most we can promise you is safety and a very interesting future.” He chuckled at the last remark. “Seriously, there will be some risk. For the most part you will become players in the destiny of kingdoms. Of this we have no doubt.”
“What do you want us to do, seeing how we are now ‘in’ this group of allies you want to create,” asked Corinne.
Marcus looked to Melania and Moriah, who nodded for him to continue. “Corinne, as a scholar-mage there are documents we would like you to study. They involve learning Kult and searching out new words of power that have otherwise been lost to history. Wilhelm, you and I need to go mining. You have a debt of four crowns to pay. And I need enough gold to pay the bride-price of a princess.”
“And the grand-daughter of a Lord High-mage,” added Melania, with a smile.
----- o0o -----
Marcus was summoned to Lord-mage Petros’ office the following morning.
“Good morning, Marcus. Please come in and be seated.”
Marcus did as he was asked.
“Mage Julius and I had a, well, a bit of conversation before he left. He told me some interesting things about you, his daughter Melania, and Princess Moriah.”
Marcus chose to remain silent to see what they had discussed.
“He said that all three of you were powerfully gifted in your own way. Because of this, you are particularly close as friends. He thought we, this meaning the staff here at Holtsclaw, should be mindful of certain obligations that might arise from time to time. He mentioned sudden calls for you to leave the Academy on what he called kingdom business. ‘These are likely,’ he said, ‘to be of a sensitive nature’, and for us ‘not to be alarmed’. He shared with me your ability to port, with the strict promise I was to tell no one.”
Marcus remained silent, expressionless as possible.
“Ahem. You know, of course, that porting is strictly prohibited anywhere to or from Academy grounds?”
Marcus nodded, still saying nothing.
“However, he gave his assurance you were much practiced and understood all of the precautions associated with it. He asked that you be allowed to port as needed. I agreed. So you may. But please, do it discretely without revealing this ability to any other student here at the Academy. Can you promise me this?”
“No. There are four other interns who are aware of my ability. I have had to port three of them on occasion. But Lord-mage, I have never ported to or from Academy grounds. As per your rules.”
“Let me guess. Moriah and Melania, and your friend Wilhelm. I’ve wondered how he was able to go and return to Adnium so quickly. Who is the fourth?’
“Wilhelm’s friend, Corinne. She’s …
“...Yes, I know who Corinne is. Actually, I know her parents very well. They have contributed material to our curriculum from time to time. She is one of our grantees here, with her tuition waived.”
Marcus spoke: “Of that I am fully aware. She is very strong in scholar and quite attached to Wilhelm. The kingdom business Lord High-mage Julius referred to is very real. And very important to all the mainland kingdoms. It involves all five of us.”
“I see. Well, so be it. We here at Holtsclaw depend on the largess of royalty and the support of the high-mage community. If there’s nothing else, you are excused.”
----- o0o -----
Marcus met with the others and advised them of his meeting with Lord-mage Petros.
Melania: My father apparently has more influence with him than I imagined. The prohibition against porting is a long-standing one.
Marcus: Yes, I agree, I wonder if he told Lord-mage Petros more than Lord Petros told me. It was almost as if he were going to extreme lengths to allow me, or us, to operate freely from Holtsclaw. I wonder if he is aware of our strength and is feeling threatened by the power we might wield? Obviously, he is respecting it. Perhaps he fears it as well.
Moriah: The question is, what does this mean to us? What is our next step? I will have to leave for Tumano in two seven-days. What a dark day that’s going to be!
Melania: What if you tell your father you will be coming to Suerca with me? Marcus could port us there. Then several seven-days later, port you home. You could tell him you would like to see another kingdom, to broaden your political horizons a bit. To meet other royals.” She waggled her brows. “My guess is that he would like that. Rumors are that your father has his eye on one of my king’s sons as a potential match.
Moriah: And even if he doesn’t approve, there would be little he could do about it. I’ll tell him Corinne is coming with me to keep an eye on things. I know he trusts her. She and I have been friends since childhood and he knows her almost as well as he knows me, his daughter. And sometimes I think he likes her more than me!
Marcus: Traveling to and from Suerca is easily done! I can then port discretely to Edmonton and leave a message with your mother to that effect. I could tell her you will be coming home a few seven-days later than planned. With luck, your father, King Weston, will be well on his way to Caldonia by that time.
Later they met as the friendly five-some for a strategy meeting. Marcus led the discussion.
“The most pressing matter, in my opinion, is coin. There are very rich gold deposits in the Isor mountains of north-eastern Iber. I have been able to draw gold from the ground. It’s amazing to see, but requires a large amount of power. And it’s a long port to get there. Corinne, Wilhelm. One of the things that I can do is draw gift from the earth itself. But only at specific times and in certain places. The when is the precise moment the sun and moon are in alignment over the earth. A new moon. Their combined pull causes a great river of gift to rise to the surface of the earth. It is much like the rising tide in the great Betting Sea. This river of gift flows directly under the great capitals, including the destroyed city of Athenis.”
Corinne perked up. “Athenis? Didn’t Mage Dubois say something about Athenis in our history class? The kingdom was called Athenia, if I remember correctly.”
No one else recalled the discussion and bemoaned her memory compared to theirs.
“Yes,” said Marcus. “It was destroyed over a hand-fist ago. Its king and its people were banished from the mainland and driven into exile. The ruins of Athenis sit within the current city of Atimia.”
“Where did they go? Is there any trace of them remaining?” asked Wilhelm.
Corinne answered her friend’s question. “They fled west across the Betting Sea, right? And became the kingdom of Iber.”
Marcus had already shared the story with Melania and Moriah, so they had no reaction to this bit of historical fact.
“Yes, Corinne, you are correct. As I said, the ruined city of Athenis lies within the city of Atimia. I stopped there on my travel two turns ago, from Iber to Holtsclaw. I felt a special kinship to the place. At the time I did not know why. And while there I accessed a particularly strong flow of gift.” Marcus paused, thinking. Do I mention the strange dream? Yes, but not the details. There’s a lot I don’t understand yet, myself. “And I experienced a powerful dream. I propose we go to Atimia, or Athenis. I could port everyone there to refresh and strengthen our gift-power. I believe we can all benefit. It would give me and Wilhelm the power we need to port farther, to the Isor Mountains in Iber. And strength to extract the gold we will need for your bride-price, Moriah. And for yours, too, Melania.”
“How much gold will you need, do you think?” asked Melania.
“Knowing my father?” said Moriah. “No less than a hand-fist!”
