Holtsclaw, page 24
part #3 of The Master Mage Chronicles Series
Marcus caused a sleep to come over King Weston, then spoke loudly. “There sits before you a king fully corrupted by the dark mages of Illium. I have searched his mind. It is now full of darkness. There burns an insatiable desire for revenge upon all of you. It matters not to him, not the cost in blood or coin to achieve it. We would all like to see him return to the strong man he once was. But our experience in Iber was that once corrupted, there is no return. We, the three of us who are mages, cannot take the life of a royal without consequences. But it is in your power to do so, in the protection of your own realms. If there is a consensus, we will dethrone him at your order. And install his heir as the new king of Tumano. How do you vote?”
King Geoffrey was the first to speak, directing his words to the other royalty. “You saw what he was attempting to do here, but moments ago. He commanded his guard to take us hostage and slay us if we resisted. For that alone, I demand his life. Just as he attempted to take mine.”
“And mine,” said the King Lawrence of Suerca, “I vote with you in this matter.”
King Jared followed. “And were it not for Greta, his guardsmen would have taken us as well. As you heard, these attacked at the command of their king. It is a standing law, the murder, or even the attempted murder, of a royal, is a capital crime. So I vote with the others. He must be removed.”
Everyone looked to King Carlos of Illium. “I freely admit being influenced by Milan, the dark mage. To be in league with King Weston. But there was a difference. My goal was wealth, not power. He, King Weston, spoke constantly of ruling over all the mainland kingdoms. The more he spoke of it, the more frightening it became. I realized at the end, his rule would extend to me and to my people as well as yours. We are wise to remove such blind ambition from our midst. I’m sorry, Crown Prince Winston, Princess Moriah. But your father must surrender his throne.”
Crown Prince Winston was the next to speak. “I love my father. Or should I say, I loved the father I once knew. But I traveled with him from Tumano to here, through the breadth of Suerca and much of Caldonia. The ambition he displayed here was planned before this conference commenced. I was powerless to prevent it. The guards-men he employed were of the same mind, influenced by the dark mage in like manner as he. It saddens me, for I have no desire to ascend to the throne. But for the peace of all kingdoms, I make it unanimous.” He said the last with great sadness.
“There is one more vote to be cast,” said a young female voice. Katrina stood. “There is now a sixth kingdom to consider. That of Athenia. As its queen, I vote with the others. Now the vote is unanimous.”
Marcus again took control of the conference, releasing King Weston from his mental confinement. “Crown Prince Winston, are you prepared to govern the Kingdom of Tumano in the place of your Father, whose mind is irreparably harmed by the influence of Mage Gideon?”
“What!” shouted King Weston. “Are you suggesting that I be dethroned? I will have your head for such a threat!”
“I ask again, and for the last time. Crown Prince Winston, are you ready to assume the Tumano crown?”
Prince Winston was at a loss for words, not knowing how to respond.
Moriah: He is a good man in a difficult position. I speak for him. he will rule justly.
“Then I will answer for you. Actually, your sister answers for you.” Marcus stretched out his hand and withdrew the life force from King Weston. “Hail King Weston of Tumano.”
The sudden death shocked attendees, but they mustered a strangled response. “Hail King Weston of Tumano.”
“And now we turn to you, King Carlos. As you said yourself, you were a willing participant in this attempted coup. What do you have to say for yourself? Other than guilty on all charges?”
King Carlos dropped to his knees. “Please, spare me. Yes, I fell under the influence of a dark mage. Forgive me, and I will rule peacefully and abandon any designs on my fellow kings or their wealth.” He looked at the fallen body of King Weston. “Please, Lord Master-mage Marcus. Spare me.”
Marcus: What do you think? His mind is darkened but not black-stained as was the mind of King Weston.
Melania: Well, we can’t just go around killing everybody that stands in our way, can we? And he brought no heir.
Moriah: I agree, Melania. Marcus, we give him another chance under threat of death if he returns to his ambitious ways. He is a merchant-mage, is he not? He spoke honestly. His ambition was wealth, not power.
Marcus spoke: “King Carlos, we spare your life with the understanding that if you covet the wealth of another kingdom, or oppress your people with unbearable tax, we will do to you what we have done to King Weston. Therefore, rule wisely. That is all we demand of all the kings, and queen. Rule wisely. We have no ambition for the power or wealth of your kingdoms, save that of Athenia. If the others of you feel differently, speak now or forever remain silent.”
No one spoke. King Carlos breathed a sigh of relief. He arose, and again took his place at the conference table.
Moriah: Still, I worry about the influence of Illium on him and on the others. They will remain vulnerable as long as Illium keeps sending mind-mage soldiers. We can’t be everywhere.
Melania: Moriah is right, Marcus. This isn’t the end of our problems with Illium.
Marcus: I’ve just had a thought. What if we sever the ability of their remaining soldiers to seek help from Illium? If I summon their porting mage…
Moriah: … who wouldn’t know it is we who are doing it …
Melania: ... and seize his master stone… Oh, I like this!
Marcus: “You have all seen how persuasive the Illium soldiers, that’s what they call the mind-mages they send forth, can be. And you have witnessed the seeds of corruption. Once introduced, they are nigh impossible to remove. Their strategy has already brought down two kings and nearly a third. We three have counseled together and decided to end this threat, at least for now.” Marcus turned to Mage Bartholomew. “Could you arrange for the lighting to be dimmed, please?”
The room had been lit by gift-power. At a wave, the globes dimmed per Marcus’ request.
Marcus stood in the middle and had Moriah and Melania take their usual place to his rear, arms clasped together. He cast a red stone to the floor, simultaneously saying kar-GOON. The kings held their breath in fearful anticipation. Several moments passed in silence. A portal began to form. In the background was a dusty landscape with low houses made of sandstone or mud, it was hard to tell. A very, very old mage came through the portal. Seeing where he was, he attempted to turn back in panic,
But Marcus was faster. He invoked tiemp, seized the old man by the arm, and dragged him away from the portal. He removed the master stone grasped firmly in his left hand and returned to normal time. He waited for the portal to close before speaking.
“Welcome to Caldonia, Mage...”
The old mage stood proudly. “...Kaudeem. I see you have taken my stone, and possess the lesser. Which suggests you know its purpose. May I ask the condition of him to whom it belonged?”
“Passed. Abruptly and with malice,” said Marcus. “Both he and his companion were executed as enemies of our peace and tranquility. Oh, and along with your friend, Sinifir.”
“Yes, we received word of Sinifir’s passing. Unfortunate. He was one of our better soldiers. Perhaps the best.”
Lord High-mage Bartholomew spoke: “So you readily admit to an attempt to subvert our royal families?”
Mage Kaudeem spread his arms. “What is there to deny? You have the full of it. What more is there to know?”
“Oh, there is much more for us to learn about Illium and its evil plans. And you will be the one to tell us all about them!” said Moriah.
“Well, I think not,” said Kadeem in a condescending tone. “I doubt you have the power to do that.”
Marcus looked back as if to confirm Moriah and Melania were in place and ready. Marcus began to pull gift from the old man, whose eyes opened wide in alarm.
“Wh-what are you doing to me?”
“Oh, not much” said Melania, “simply withdrawing your gift-power and sifting your memories. It won’t take long.”
They were grateful to be linked, as the old mage carried a life-time of accumulated gift-power. They searched his body and found a purse containing a few odd coins and four additional red summoning stones. Marcus learned from Kadeem’s memories that a total of twelve had been created. And even understood the method by they had been made. Now, having eight, there were four still in circulation. Unfortunately, Kadeem had not known where they might currently be. To him they had been sent forth with general objectives. He would not know of the location or success until summoned. Melania explained all this to those assembled, who had remained silent in awe, fear and respect.
“Now that I possess the master stone to these, they are useless to Illium. Their activation will summon me, just as they summoned Mage Kadeem. Therefore, I am giving one to each king. With instructions to call me in an emergency, as Bartholomew did earlier. Twice you have heard the word of power that activates the summoning. But I repeat it so you hear it one more time. kar-GOON. There is no need to shout it, and gift is not required. The stones have stored a reserve of their own.” He gave a red stone to the kings of Illium, Tumano, Suerca, Caldonia and Iber. He also gave one to Greta. To Greta he said, “Yes, I know Katrina has her own means of summoning me, but consider this to be added assurance.” He collected the black stone held by Lord High-mage Bartholomew.
Melania: If you haven’t thought of it yet, we need to get Katrina to Holtsclaw. Marcus, she is your responsibility now. So go and have a discussion with Kind Jared.
Moriah: Yes, please. And reassure her that Greta comes with her. Otherwise she will not agree. We need to stay together while the affairs of Athenia unfold.
Marcus turned to King Jared. “We have a small personal matter to resolve. With apologies to the others, I request we meet for a moment outside this room. Katrina, Greta, it involves you as well.”
The six, for Moriah and Melania exited with Marcus, stood in a quiet corner of the corridor.
“And what is this all about?” asked King Jared.
Melania spoke: “It is essential for Katrina to attend Holtsclaw these coming four turns. And before she asks, she would bring Greta along with her. We must work together on many things, and being far apart will make it difficult. She turned to Katrina. “And you will find it immensely useful in history, skill and relationships. There are many young royals who attend. As well as the moneyed families from all four kingdoms. Will you consent to attend with us? Marcus will pay the tuition for both of you.”
Moriah then spoke. “I blade-dance with Marcus. It will be amazing to dance as a threesome!”
Katrina looked to her father. “Father, how do you feel about this? I would like to attend with them. But it would leave you quite alone.”
King Jared was quiet for a moment, thinking. “Yes, it is best you go.” Then he smiled and pulled the summoning stone from his pocket. “Besides, I know exactly how to reach all of you if the need arises.”
Marcus and Wilhelm took care of the one final task remaining. They reentered the conference room using tiemp and removed the body of the Illium mage, Kaudeem. They planted it in the desolate glen in the wilderness west of Claren Falls.
To Be Continued
ATHENIA: BY THE POWER OF FOUR
SNEEK PREVIEW Book Four
MASTER MAGE CHRONICLES BOOK FOUR
Chapter One
The kings of all mainland kingdoms, as well as the island kingdom of Iber, had been in conference. It was a meeting rarely held, but once every five turns. It had been a dramatic time, with the violent elimination of three dark soldier-mages from Illium, the dethroning and death of a king, and an historic agreement on the restoration of the ancient kingdom of Athenia.
The conference concluded late the next morning. Marcus was summoned back to the meeting room, finding the five kings and one queen, in general agreement on the things they had gathered to discuss. And on the new items, elimination of the criminal elements and creation of the new kingdom of Athenia, there was also consensus, albeit after a great deal of debate. Lord High-mage Bartholomew of Caldonia brought those discussions to a sudden end with a simple question. “And which of you is willing to tell Lord Master-mage Marcus Aurelius that we reject his demands? And there is one more matter for us to resolve. There is the long-standing decree that should another of his power arise, he is to be destroyed. It is an oath all high-mages are required to make, by decree of the early kings.” By consensus that, too, was lifted.
King Jared, Princess (now Queen) Katrina, and Greta returned to their quarters to gather up the few things they had brought to the conference. While Marcus waited, he was approached by Moriah’s brother, the newly crowned King Winston of Tumano.
“Marcus, sir. A request, if I may?”
“Yes, your Majesty?”
“It’s regarding my father, King Weston. Or rather, the body of my father. It would not endure the long trip back to Tumano. He became an evil king, true. But he wasn’t always so. I would have him buried with honor in our gallery of kings past. Is there…”
“…something I can do? Such as, port his body home?”
“Yes, that would be my request,” he said in a quiet, respectful voice.
“Better yet, assemble your entire traveling party, along with those who came from Adnium. I will open a gateway for all, men, horses and carriages. I can only open portals to places I have personally visited, so I cannot move King Carlos and his entourage beyond Edmonton. But surely, starting from Tumano will make their trip home that much shorter. Please inform King Carlos. I will return once I have seen King Jared safely back to Iber.”
Marcus, Moriah and Melania remained full of gift-power after absorbing the essence of the dark Lord-mage Kaudeem. Marcus asked it they would like to accompany him to Iber. They answered in the affirmative. The six met in the castle courtyard and Marcus opened the portal as promised. They stepped through to the western palm garden.
“An interesting place to bring us,” said King Jared dryly. “I’m left to wonder just how many times you have been here.”
Katrina answered. “Oh father, always so suspicious! If you must know, this is where we” -- she pointed to Marcus -- “met often during those dark days with Sinifir. I could hear him and Stephen through the walls, plotting their evils. I passed that information to Marcus, and he took steps to interfere with their plans. And yes, before you ask, he was always a perfect gentleman.”
King Jared was thoughtful. “Well, all’s well that ends well, I suppose.” He turned to Marcus. “When will you be collecting Katrina and Greta and porting them to Holtsclaw?”
Moriah answered. “Registration ends the evening of the sixth-day before the turning. We will want to be registered no later than the day before, the fifth-day, in the morning. Do you both remember what we told you about things to bring, and things not to bring?”
“Yes,” said Katrina and Greta in unison.
“There is still one more thing to discuss,” said King Jared. “Coin. Is the tuition unchanged, one crown per turning? Three crowns per turn?”
“Yes,” responded Marcus. “But I have that covered. With the bride-price settled and paid, she has now become my responsibility.”
Melania continued the conversation. “We will be responsible for all of the tuition from now on, for all six of us. Marcus has paid his tuition in advance for his remaining two turns.”
“Well then, I suppose you are returning back to Holtsclaw now?”
“Yes, with a few side trips,” said Marcus.
“He has agreed to port King Weston’s remains back to Tumano, and King Carlos’ party as far as he is able.”
“And King Lawrence of Suerca? Will you be porting him back as well?” asked King Jared.
“We have not discussed it, but it is an excellent idea,” said Marcus. “It’s best if things return to normal as quickly as possible.”
Katrina stepped up to Marcus and planted a kiss on his cheek. She turned to Melania and Moriah. “Hope you don’t mind, girls, but he’s mine, too.” They all laughed.
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Henry Jacobsen
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H. D. Jacobsen, Holtsclaw
