Magus (Advent Mage Cycle) (31 page)

I let out a low whistle of amazement. I’ve heard stories of such spells done, of course. But to me they were just that—stories. I hadn’t actually met anyone before that had lived through that.

“It must have been difficult to watch all of your friends and relatives grow old and die,” remarked Xiaolang with sympathetic eyes. “I understand what it is to sacrifice your personal ambitions for the good of your people. I feel like your years of self denial and dedication to your goals are about to repay you, in ways you quite possibly can’t imagine.” Xiaolang gave Raile one of those long penetrating Q’atalian looks that make my skin crawl. Raile returned his gaze unflinchingly, and slowly nodded in understanding.

“So where are we headed?” I asked, hoping to lighten the moment.

Chatta picked up on my intention and added, “We seem to be nearing the center of the city. What is that building in the distance?”

Raile didn’t bother looking in the direction Chatta was pointing; he didn’t need to, as he obviously knew the one she meant. “That is probably the most unique structure in all of Coven Ordan, and one of the oldest. Construction on it began shortly after we arrived here, and it served as a gathering place for both convocations and entertainment. It has been expanded over the years, to accommodate our growing population, but we have kept the original design the same.” Raile smiled as he took in the full view of the building.

I had a very odd feeling about the edifice as we headed in its direction. There was something very familiar about it, but at the same time something extremely ancient and unknown. As we prepared to enter the building through a huge arched doorway, I suddenly felt a wave of vertigo pass through me, and I reached for the wall to stop myself from falling. Chatta grabbed for me, and helped me get my footing again.

“Are you alright?” she asked, her eyes clearly showing the worry she was feeling. I didn’t answer right away, I was too occupied with the sensation I was getting from the wall.

Night eased in behind me and placed his head against my back.
“What is it Garth? Show me what you are feeling.”
I just bobbed my head, not daring to break my concentration. I tried to open up my thoughts to him, so he could understand what I was experiencing. Night turned to the others and said, “He’s not in any trouble, just give him a moment.”

The stone beneath my fingers was smooth to the touch, almost velvety, like a bar of expensive soap. I was surprised when I realized that it wasn’t cold; quite the opposite, it was warm and almost soothing. It was white in color, with small veins of brown and silver running through it at random. There was also a glow to it, like it was radiating energy. The rock reminded me of opals, the way the facets caught the sun and shone in the light like liquid fire. As an Earth Mage, I was very familiar with every type of rock and stone you can imagine, but this one was a complete mystery to me.

I stretched out farther with my senses, trying to grasp the elusive thread that seemed so familiar to me, but remained just out of my reach. I strained to hear the faint melody playing on the ends of my nerves. What was it telling me? I was on the verge of giving up when the answer came to me like a bolt of thunder. “Earth Mage magic, magic from my own family!” I looked around at the group huddled close to me, offering their silent support. “This rock is not native to Bromany; it is from the Isle of Strae. How is that possible? How did it get here?” I looked directly at Raile, suspecting he would know the answer to my question, if anyone did.

Raile was looking directly at me, but I had the uncomfortable feeling that he was seeing straight into my soul. He had a relieved look in his eyes, like someone who had just completed a very long journey. As I watched him, and waited for an answer, tears formed in his faded blue eyes, and rolled down his weathered cheek, without shame. “You are correct Garth; the stone is not of this place. It is indeed from the Isle of Strae, where it was the site of that last great battle. There was such a massive quantity of magic thrown from both sides that it changed the very nature of the stone. It is like a monument, for all time, honoring the memory of who perished there.” Raile paused, like he was trying to order his thoughts before continuing.

“It’s still there, isn’t it?” I asked with a dawning understanding.

Chatta realized what I meant, and narrowed her eyes in speculation. “The survivors must have crafted a spell to allow this last reminder of their colleagues and loved ones to literally be in two places at the same time. It is like a living connection to their past!” she gasped in disbelief.

“You are quite right, my dear,” confirmed the ancient Wizard, “but it is so much more than that. It is also a barometer of the future, like a sentinel keeping a lonely vigil over the healing process of the earth. It signaled the terrible end of one chapter of our history, and has waited patiently to herald the opening of a new one. The ley lines were ravaged and depleted in those last desperate weeks, before the end found the combatants. The land itself reeled from the massive volleys of energy. But when the warriors were gone, the earth alone remained to mourn them, and begin the healing process.

“The power that courses through the veins of the planet, in the form of ley lines, was altered and out of balance. The greatest area of damage occurred in Chahir, the heart of the Magic War. The earth is not an isolated entity, but is part of a greater whole. It needs the people who share its vast expanse, both magical and non-magical, to be complete. For the last two hundred years, with some help, it has been slowly and methodically repairing the horrific damage it incurred. You, Garth, represent the culmination of that healing. You are the first Mage to come forth from that decimated environment. Your birth signifies the return of The Balance between power and life. Life cannot exist without power, and power is pointless without life. You have broken the dam that has carefully been accumulating power over that trackless stretch of time, and now the energy of the earth is once again able to influence the emergence of magic in Chahir. Power and life once again share the earth together, supporting each other day by day.

“I have waited all of my life for this day,” Raile whispered softly, as if the very mention of it might cause his victory to vanish. “We would be honored if you would attend our convocation, as we give thanks for the return of The Balance.”

I turned to look at Night, Chatta, Xiaolang and Shad, my mind numb from all of the information rushing at me. Night extended his right foot forward, bowing so formally that he almost touched his hoof with his nose. He answered simply,
“The honor would be ours. I wished my mother had lived to see this day; she would be grateful to know her destiny has been fulfilled. We have now come full circle.”

Raile was still waiting for my response. Huskily I whispered, “I would be honored.”

We turned and followed Raile through the archway into the light. We emerged from the tunnel into a huge open air amphitheater, crafted from the same stone as the entryway, apparently without seams. Looking over the sea of faces turned in our direction, it was easy to see that every resident of Coven Ordan was in attendance. They rose to their feet as we made our way down the causeway to the dais. There was a rainbow of colors surrounding us, signifying the different callings of each magician. They smiled and nodded, with their hands opened, as we passed. Sitting in the front row, in an obvious place of honor for their efforts to rescue magicians from Chahir, was the entire Red Hand Team. It would seem that I was the only one who hadn’t known that there was going to be a party.

I felt like running for cover, but Night had me hemmed in on one side and Chatta on the other. She looked up at me, as if to say she understood, and took my hand in hers. “I don’t think you will ever be comfortable with your role as the Advent Mage, but you wouldn’t be the man I have grown to respect and love if you did.” I had no good response to that. As I stood there with my mouth wide open, Chatta reached up on tip toes and gave me a kiss on the cheek, and an unmistakable look that meant I was staying. Period.

I don’t recall the words Raile said at the gathering, I just kept thinking about the Rheben Mage who had initiated the sentinel stone on the Isle of Strae, and the Rheben Mage who completed the circle in Coven Ordan. Chatta was right, I would never be at ease with the title of Advent Mage, but I was honored and grateful for the role my family played in restoring The Balance. Now it was up to me to see that Vonlorisen, the Doms of Chahir and the Star Order Priests, didn’t destroy the painstaking progress of the past two centuries. That was a role I was determined to fill to the fullest possible extent.

Ignorance and fear was not going to win a second time.

Chapter Fifteen: Crystals

Terran was the one that dropped us off at Chahir. Considering how much magic that raises, and that there was three known Watchman buildings nearby, we had to leave the area quickly. Xiaolang pushed us hard and fast until we were far away from the area, and when we stopped for the night, our camp was in a very sheltered area. From the road, you couldn’t see us. In fact, we probably wouldn’t have found the place, if not for Didi scouting from the air.

During the course of the past two days, I hadn’t had much chance to talk one-on-one with Chatta. I’d been a little worried that she would be upset I hadn’t told her about Night, but aside from surprise, she hadn’t shown any emotion to the news. That didn’t fit with what I knew of her.

I was worried enough about it to force the issue a little. While we were eating dinner that night, I made sure to sit right next to her. I also made sure to
not
look in Xiaolang’s direction. For the empath, I was probably sending off all sorts of silent signals of agitation and uneasiness.

While I ate, I kept one eye on her, trying to gauge her mood. Aside from tired, hungry, and a little cold, I couldn’t tell what she was feeling. It wasn’t until I had scrapped my plate clean before I worked up the nerve to say something. “You…”

She lowered her spoon, looking up at me curiously. “Yes?”

“You’re not…upset with me?”

Her head cocked. “Just taking a blind guess, here…but are you referring to the prophecy you kept secret from me?”

Maybe I shouldn’t have brought this up… “Um, yes.”

For several long seconds she was quiet, just looking at me. I became more and more tense with every moment. In fact, I was ready to just beg for forgiveness when she finally spoke.

“I’m not really…upset.”

I brightened slightly. That was good. Maybe I wasn’t in trouble.

“I understand why you didn’t say anything,” she continued in a deliberately calm tone. “You made a promise with Advent Eve, and that should be respected. I
am
a little irritated that you talked this over with Terran before you told me.”

“He’s the one that brought it up,” I sighed wearily. “And I was trying my best to convince him not to tell the whole world. He had a different opinion, though.”

She gave a very neutral “Hmmm.”

No, she wasn’t really upset with me at all. Good! I relaxed, and for the first time that day, started to just enjoy her company.

“Now that I know about the prophecy, could you explain parts of it to me?” She arched a challenging eyebrow at me.

If this was the only price to pay for keeping her in the dark, I’d pay it gladly. “What I understand, sure,” I agreed readily. “We know that ‘blood shall be mixed with his coming’ is referring to me accidentally turning Night a Jaunten.”

She perked up. “Of course! I should have realized that sooner. ‘Strangers shall seek him’ must mean the Remnant looking for him.”

I hadn’t thought about that, but she was right. “Well, at least them. Maybe others are looking for him as well, who knows? The part about ‘All shall know his name’ when talking about the Rider must refer to my ludicrous title.” I couldn’t help but groan at that last thought.

Laughing, she patted my arm sympathetically. “I’ve never seen someone who hates being the center of attention become so famous. It’s truly ironic.”

“An injustice is what it is,” I muttered sourly under my breath.

“What about the rest of it?”

“We’re mostly speculating on it,” I admitted. “The wonderful thing about prophecies is that you’re only sure what they mean
after
they’ve been fulfilled.”

She nodded ruefully. “Too true.” She pulled a lock of hair over her shoulder, idly twisting it in between her fingers. “And the bit about ‘once Trivoxor has chosen a Rider, the Balance being restored’ we’ve already had answered.”

“At least, I hope that’s the full answer,” I muttered. The fun part about prophecies is that one line could mean twenty things.

“I wonder why that sentence was cut out of our version,” she mused.

“Sloppy copying job on someone’s part?” I offered. I’ve certainly skipped words or sentences copying things before.

“That could be it,” she agreed. “Or maybe it was deliberate?”

I hadn’t really thought about it that far. “But to what purpose?”

“I can’t think of a reason.” She frowned, fingers halting in their motions. “It just seems very…odd to me that such an important sentence was left out.”

Yes, it was odd. But dwelling on the possibility wouldn’t do us any good either. “Let’s not borrow trouble, shall we?”

“You’re right.” Even though she verbally agreed, the frown didn’t leave her face.

~*~

“So where is he?” Xiaolang asked in exasperation.

“I’m not…entirely…sure…” I answered slowly.

We found the town where Don had spotted the young Mage easily enough, but neither Chatta nor I could find the boy. We’d spent the better part of the day looking around the whole area, without any success. There was only one place left that we hadn’t searched.

Surrounding the village on all sides was a huge mountain range called the Badden Range. It was typical of Chahiran mountains in that it was sparsely populated with short, scraggly trees and pale rock. But there was something about it that wasn’t normal.