Heir to the Sundered Crown (6 page)

“Well the order often receives visits from noble ladies in need of our aid. Although some of my brothers do bring their wives here on occasion. Anyhow, I was going to tell you that the Grand master has called another council, more knights have arrived and he believes the order cannot wait any longer.”

Alira was scared; she had never seen a war before. She had seen the refugees and the resulting chaos a few times in her short life. Being brought up in the borderlands there was always some conflict or another being fought by the Barons and Dukes. But this was different, she could feel it was. Something had changed in the world, something she couldn’t quite place but the mage in her knew it was terribly wrong.

“What’s wrong?” Kaiden asked as he saw the haunted look on her face. Distractedly she shook head as if coming out of a daze.

“I’m not sure; I just have a strange feeling is all. My dreams are filled with places and people I’ve never seen before but all have been tainted by magic or at least that’s what it feels like. I don’t know I’m probably just being foolish.” She said sheepishly.

“You have the blood of a mage within you Alira. That is not something to dismiss, I’ve heard old tales that some mages could see glimpses of places and events, in some cases the future. I tell you what, I’ll discuss this with the Grand Master, he is the keeper of the orders knowledge of magic and the mages, perhaps he could find out something.”

“Thank you Kaiden you are too kind.”

“No problem, I had best be on my way to prayers. Your welcome to join me, perhaps Niveren can give you some answers.”

Alira agreed and the two walked together towards the chapel and to morning prayers.

*

Over three hundred knights were gathered in the priory’s courtyard. Many had travelled from all around, rumour was writhe. Kaiden and Alira stood at the back of the crowd awaiting Grand Master Thondril’s arrival.

The crowd fell silent once the masters stepped onto the makeshift podium.

“Brother Knights.” The grandmaster boomed, “We have recalled you back here because the kingdom stands on the verge of destruction. An unknown enemy assails the land. Assassins killed the King and Queen sowing the roots of mistrust and war amongst the realm. Rumours of death and evil come from the Northern Mountains. Ancient rivalries threaten to divide us further. Word has reached us that the Privy Council has been overthrown and that yet another usurper has claimed the throne.”

The crowd of knights gave out a roar of protest and anger as they heard the news. Kaiden was shocked at how quickly the situation in the world was worsening.

“We can no longer stay neutral in this war. We will not fight for those claiming the crown, instead we will do as Niveren commanded and will do what we can to protect the helpless. The fell beasts and dark magic users long hidden from the world will no doubt use this time of chaos to strike and so it falls to us to carry out our sacred duty we -.”

Suddenly Alira gave out an ear piercing cry and collapsed onto the ground. Immediately Kaiden knelt down next to her and cradled her in his arms. The other knights nearby all turned their attention to the girl who was now writhing on the ground.

“Alira, Alira what’s wrong what’s happening?” he cried desperately.

Flashes of horrific images screamed through her mind. War, death, terrible creatures rending men and women limb from limb, their screams of agony reverberating in her ears. The screams turned into a wailing until it merged and changed into the cry of child. She saw a woman scared and alone clutching a small child to her chest as a dark shadow appeared over them. Then there was a blinding flash; a halo of white light surrounded the child casting back the darkness. A roar of anger and then suddenly a robed figure appeared in the image. His face was white and decayed with eyes of pure black. Tendrils of darkness emanated from him and his fury was aimed at the child. A figure stepped out from the light and raised a sword high into the air. Light and fire blossomed forth driving back the robed figures fury.

‘Alderlade, Luxon’
whispered a malevolent voice.

She gasped awake. Sitting up suddenly only to see the concerned faces of Kaiden and the other knights. Kaiden sighed in relief as she sat up.

“Alira thank god. Are you alright?”

The grand master had stopped speaking as the commotion spread through the crowd.

“Sir Kaiden what is happening?” demanded the Master.

Kaiden called for a healer and told the Master of Alira’s collapse. Quickly three knights picked up the dazed girl and carried her to the Priory’s infirmary.

*

Alira explained all that she had seen in her vision to the gathered Masters. She was seated in the Grand Master’s chamber. Finally once she had finished Kaiden asked, “Masters, is it possible the vision was magical in origin? Since we left Retbit, Alira has been experiencing more and more magical activity.”

The Grand Master glanced at the others. The vision had shaken them all.

“Sir Kaiden, what I am about to tell you cannot leave this chamber.” He cleared his throat before continuing. “The name Alderlade was the name of the King’s youngest child, a boy who was no more than a few weeks old. It was thought that he had perished during the attack on the royal family and the destruction of the palace three years ago. Very few of the commoners or even nobility knew the child’s name. The birth of a child fifth in line to the crown isn’t normally seen as that important.”

Alira sat stunned; the name she had heard was a real person.

“If the child is real and alive then they are in grave danger!” she cried.

“If that is the case and the child does indeed live then he is the true and rightful heir to the kingdom” Said one of the masters.

“If that is the case then we must inform the Diasect, they must verify if the prince still lives and bring him to safety.” said another. The Grand Master nodded in agreement.

“I agree. We will send word to the Diasect about this and we must discover more about Alira’s vision. Sir Kaiden and Alira will travel to Caldaria and find out what the mages may know of these troubling visions.”

“What of the other name? Luxon was it?”

Kaiden shook his head. “I have never heard of such a person, but whoever they are they must be important.”

***

6.

The high ceiling of the Crystal tower of judgement was spellbinding. Orbs of bright light flitted and flew among the rafters in a rainbow of colours. The balls of magic were said to have been cast by Zahnia himself a thousand years ago as a test of his power. The mage lights had lasted for a millennia attesting to the long dead wizards connection to the power. Others said that the lights were simply created early every morning by the Masters as they warmed up for the day ahead. If it was them, then they kept it a closely guarded secret.

A month had passed before the trial had finally been confirmed by the council of masters. With the war raging in the outside world the masters had been kept exceptionally busy tending to the city’s needs. Remaining a neutral party was proving hard, as each of the claimants were pressing to enlist the power of the mages to their cause.

Luxon stood on a raised platform facing a long crystal table. Sat behind it, grim faced and serious were five of the city’s masters. Each was the leader of their specific school.

To the far right was Master Dufran the head of Illusion. His bald head was tattooed in a plethora of mystical looking patterns; his piercing green eyes regarded Luxon with amused interest. 

Sat at his side was Master Fy’odo, the Master of the school of Alteration. His big bushy black beard and raggedy hair virtually hid all of his features; only his small grey eyes could be seen poking through the hair.

On the far left sat Master Enil of the school of healing. He gave Luxon a reassuring smile. For a master, Enil was remarkably young perhaps no older than thirty at the most. His head of red hair mixed strangely with his yellowish eyes.

Luxon nodded to the master thankful to have a potential ally on the judging panel. Hannah had told him that Enil had taken a keen interest in him. When he asked why, Hannah had shrugged her shoulders, but something in her eyes made Luxon curious.

Sat next to Enil was Master Kvar, the master of transmutation. The man had a reputation for being slightly mad and Luxon understood why. Kvar was the skinniest man he had ever seen, the masters robes hung loosely about his body. Under a head of long unkempt white hair Kvar’s eyes were always darting around as though he was looking for something. It was said that transmutation often had a strong impact on the casters mind; after all turning things into something else required a huge mental strain.

The centre seat was empty and reserved for the Grandmaster.

Luxon looked over his shoulder to see Hannah, Yepert and to his surprise master Ri’ges sat in the small gathering of folk who had come to watch the proceedings. Yepert looked petrified but Hannah gave him a reassuring smile.

Luxon twiddled his thumbs nervously. Aside from himself and the masters the hall was filling up with other mages and to his surprise even a couple of Nightblades. His nerves were threatening to get the better of him, he itched to run away, but that thought was immediately quashed as he heard the heavy metal doors to the chamber close with a loud thud. He turned in his seat to see Thanos, the grandmaster stride towards the Masters table.

Thanos looked remarkably young for the title that he held, no older than forty at most but as with all things magic not everything was at it seemed. The Grandmaster was tall and strong with a head of thinning black hair; his serious eyes were a bright blue as though magic flowed through them. Thanos stepped up onto the raised platform and raised his arms to signal that the hearing was about to start. Those in the small crowd stopped their whispering, their eyes all focusing on Luxon and the masters.

Thanos spoke in a clear assertive voice; he pointed a finger at Luxon who shrank back under the grandmaster’s gaze.

“We are gathered here in the tower of judgement to determine whether this student is guilty of committing the serious crime of attempted murder’ the crowd murmured at that, ‘and the crime of uncontrolled use of magic.”

Thanos sat in the centre chair, his hands resting limply on the table’s smooth surface.

“Luxon of Edioz, son of Garrick Edioz and Drusilla Edioz. You have heard the accusations against you. How do you plead?” Thanos asked his tone grave and threatening.

Luxon swallowed, his mouth suddenly felt dry. It took all of his courage to stand and say in a clear voice; “Not guilty my masters.”

Another murmur came from the crowd.

“Very well,’ Thanos bellowed. ‘Bring in the first witness.”

A side door creaked open and in walked Accadus, a smirk on his face. Luxon felt his stomach fall; his enemy had him right where he wanted him.

*

The trial went on for the better part of the day. Accadus greatly exaggerated the incident and basically branded Luxon and Yepert as the bullies and aggressors. The more he had exaggerated the less scared Luxon became. He knew that all of the masters knew of Accadus’s reputation, they would surely never believe him. The other boys who had been injured in the fray also gave their testimony’s, but due to their stupidity neither one of their stories matched up. In one Luxon had used telekinesis to knock them all to the ground, in the other he had muttered a dark incantation.

Luxon was glad the boys had not been allowed to see one another until the trial. They hadn’t had a single opportunity to come up with a lie, ironically though, if they had just told the truth then things would have probably been worse.

Once the boys had given their testimony it was the turn of the defence. Yepert told the truth of what happened, and Master Ri’ges had vouched for them. It hadn’t taken the masters long to pronounce Luxon innocent of the charge of attempted murder.

Thanos stood and addressed the court. “Now, we come to the charge of committing uncontrolled magic use. We would ask that all non essential mages and onlookers leave the court.”

After a few minutes the chamber was empty leaving Luxon all alone to face the Masters. To his surprise all of the masters except for Thanos left as well.

“We have heard some interesting things about you Luxon. Your teacher Master Ri’ges assures us that you are one of the most naturally gifted students he has ever met, that somehow magic comes as naturally to you as eating or drinking.” Thanos spoke.

“Do you know of Zahnia the Great?” Thanos asked.

Luxon nodded his head in the affirmative. “Yes master I do. Everyone has...haven’t they?”

Thanos smiled. The Grandmaster sat casually on the crystal table’s surface his legs just about touching the ground.

“Zahnia was just a boy, no older than you are now before he entered into legend. You see he lived in a time long before Delfinnia even existed as a Kingdom. In his day darkness ruled the world. He was born with a gift so great that he was able to defy the darkness and eventually defeat it. With his power he was proclaimed a King, and it was he that founded the Golden Empire. Magic can change the world, both for good and for ill.”

Thanos paused. The grandmaster looked around the room as though he was listening to something. Luxon strained his ears but couldn’t hear a thing. A few moments of uneasy silence passed before Thanos attention once more focused upon the boy before him.

“What you did to those boys is the reason why the ordinary folk fear our kind.” Thanos held up a hand to stop Luxon’s reply.

‘You were lucky none of them we’re killed and that you were smart enough to do what was necessary to stop it.”

Luxon looked at his hands dumbfounded.

“B-but Master I couldn’t control it, the magic just happened.” he said miserably tears threatening to fall from his eyes.

Thanos’s expression softened. The tall wizard walked over to Luxon placing a reassuring hand on the young man’s shoulder.