Myrkron (Volume Two of The Chronicles of the Myrkron) (14 page)

"
He no longer exists.  I thought as you do, that he must be like Micah, but he told me he was not. He only remained here until I came.  Once he passed the sash to me, he just faded into nothingness.  He said his oath had been fulfilled and that his time was finished.  He told me a few things concerning my powers and hinted at others.  Apparently, it falls to each Myrkron to figure certain matters out for themselves.  As to why he never let himself be known, and why he was confined to a certain area; it was part of the deal he made for his living long enough to pass on what information he kept."

"
If it has been twenty thousand years since a Myrkron has been among us, then I can see why no one knows of their existence.  The records here at Kantwell only go back about seven or eight thousand years.  I have no idea what could have happened to the older records. I was never able to find out.  No one knew, but it was obvious from reading the oldest tomes and scrolls that there were other manuscripts that predate the ones we have. There are references to other scrolls and prior events that we cannot find.  I even spent some time in my youth searching for their possible location.  Kantwell was not built yet, according to the oldest ones, so there must have been a former seat of magic, one that contained those earlier records."

"
So this castle is actually seven to eight thousand years old?"  Michael asked amazed.

"
No," Merric said with a slight smile.

"
This castle has only been standing for about three thousand years.  The old Kantwell was torn down about then and then rebuilt on the same site.  The original castle was much smaller and, back then, they needed more space to accommodate all the magi training here. So the old school was torn down and a new one erected in its place."  Merric sighed.

"
The way things are now, we could get by with a large manor house for the students, but we would need two more to house the wealth of books and scrolls.  Kantwell is our home and, though much of it is empty, I could not leave.  It is all I have known for over seventy years."

"
Still, three thousand years is a long time.  The number alone is staggering to the mind.  Where I come from, if a building has been standing for over a hundred years, it is considered very old and could even be named a historic site if something noteworthy happened there.  To think this building dates back to before my religion was founded just blows my mind.  Looking at it, you wouldn't think it could be nearly that old," Michael commented looking around the room.

"
We maintain the building and the grounds with magic.  Kantwell will endure indefinitely as long as there are magi to care for it, which is by no means a certainty with the way things are going."

"
Speaking of which, you never answered my question earlier."

"
Oh and what was the question?"  Merric asked puzzled.

"
Where is Micah?  He was supposed to be at the elven encampment with you, but when I got there he was absent."

"
Ah, yes, I do remember you asking that.  I’m afraid he received some disturbing news.  Mortow has taken Joshua hostage."

Michael sat upright in his chair, all trace
s of sleep gone from his face.  "When did this happen?"

"
Just recently I suspect.  One of Micah’s friends from your world came through the gateway last night, a Colonel Bastise.  It seems he captured one of the Weres sent to abduct Joshua and managed to get quite a bit of information out of the fellow before he killed him."

"
I have only met Colonel Bastise once, but he is physically imposing to say the least.  I would not have wanted to be the guy he caught.   Bastise is here, in this world?"

"
Yes. He is here at Kantwell.  Micah brought him here from the gateway.  Poor fellow got an abrupt introduction to magical transport," Merric said with a faint grin.

Michael grimaced.
  "I feel for him.  It was not so long ago for me as to forget the stomach wrenching nausea it can cause.  I would like to talk to him if I may."

"
Of course.  He is housed on the first floor of the west wing with some of the Avari that remain here.  I thought that a man such as he would feel more comfortable around other warriors.  Now back to you."

"Wise choice," Michael agreed."

"What else can you tell me about these Myrkrons?  Any information you can give me may be helpful in aiding you to discover more.  I have read every volume here in Kantwell and, though none have mentioned them by name, you never know what piece of knowledge can lead to other references."

"
Well, Mason told me that a wizard’s power comes from within; that is the reason for the rock garden.  It shows the wizard the boundaries of his strength."

"
That is correct.  I presume a Myrkron is different."

"
Aye, we draw our strength from external sources.  We can still tire like a wizard, but our magical strength is linked with our physical endurance.  Mason told me that I am a channel for magical energies.  My strength is not limited like a wizard.  I can draw from the very land and air around me.  The more I channel, the more I will be able to channel.  The more physical endurance I have, the longer I can channel the magical energies."

"
I see, well, actually I don’t see.  That goes against everything I have read and been taught.  You can actually pull magic from your surroundings?  Is that how you were able to drain my attack against your shield?"

"
Probably.  Mason did say that he could not have done that.  He told me that was very likely a power unique to me, as was as being able to sense Mortow scrying on me and opening a return channel," Michael informed him.

"
So Myrkrons have varying degrees of power?"

"
Yes.  Mason said that there has not been one of my power born in over forty thousand years."

"
Then how is a Myrkron’s power determined?  I mean, with wizards, we see a number of doors.  How is it with you?"

"
I see the same doors as you, plus the ninth.  Beyond that, I may not reveal.  It is one of the secrets with which I was entrusted."  Seeing Merric’s frown, Michael continued.  "I am sorry, Merric, but there were two things told to me that I cannot tell anyone; what lies beyond the ninth door and their names.  I do not understand why they are to remain a secret, but they are.  I can tell you that Mason told me I am now able to heal.  I have not tried it, but it was something he could do, and said I could as well."

"
Healing, like what the dwarven healers can do?"  Merric asked, his interest piqued.

             
"Aye.  He told me my power was no longer just a weapon, but also a tool against all other weapons."

             
"This is all very disturbing.  Granted, I don’t know everything there is to know about magic, but I thought that I knew a great deal.  Now you tell me there are powers within our magic that I had been told were unattainable.  Since you have come to this world, Michael, everything I knew to be true has been proven false."

Michael laughed.
  "Now you know how I feel most of the time.  Merric, you said Joshua was abducted and brought to this world."

"
Yes.  The Weres will have taken him to Gratton.  He is being held as leverage against the Avari joining the war."

"
Then Micah has a very difficult decision ahead of him.  I don’t envy his position," Michael said with feeling.

"
Micah knows what he has to do.  Although the choice is a hard one, it is not difficult to make.  What is one life against thousands?  He has made similar decisions before.  The Purging was one such decision."

"
I don’t understand.  You mean Micah is going to let Joshua die?  I can’t believe he would do that," Michael replied heatedly.

"
No. What I said is that he knows what he has to do.  Do not write Joshua off yet.  Micah will do everything in his power to save the man except pull his Avari out of the war.  He is not stupid.  He knows there are no guarantees that Mortow would release Joshua even if Micah and the Avari withdraw.  He is, no doubt, off somewhere at this very moment plotting and assessing what can and should be done to save Joshua.  So no, Micah is not just going to let him die."

Michael thought
about Micah's predicament for a few minutes.  "Merric, would you be willing to help me with an experiment?  One that could possibly help Micah save Joshua."

"
What do you have in mind?"  Merric asked hesitantly.  "You are hardly in any condition to go storming Gratton."

"
What I have in mind is a test of sorts.  Mortow will have similar defensive fields around Gratton like the ones you have here, right?"

"
Yes."

"
Is it very difficult for you to modify those defenses?"

"
That would depend on the type of modification.  Why?"

"
Could you change the field around Kantwell to keep me out?"  Michael asked.

"
Of course, but why would I want to do that?"

"
So I could attempt to get in.  You said yourself that I keep proving that I can do things other magi cannot.  If I can gain entry to Kantwell with you having changed the field to keep me out…"

"
Then you could likely get into to Gratton as well," Merric said, quickly cutting Michael off.  "It is certainly worth a try, and I could modify the field in such a way very easily.  You would have to be outside Kantwell before I change the field though."

"
Why is that?"

Merric stood and began pacing with his
hands clasped behind his back.  "Think of the defensive field as a fence.  If you put up a fence to keep an animal out that is already in, all you succeed in doing is trapping that animal on the inside with you.  The field works the same way."

"
Ok, can you modify the field from the outside?"

"
Yes."

"
Then let’s get Branik and Reek and go outside the field.  By the way, where is the field’s actual boundary?"

"
It is slightly outside the curtain wall surrounding Kantwell.  Are you sure you are up to this right now, Michael?  You have been through a lot recently."

"
There's no way I could sleep knowing Joshua is in trouble, and that I may be able to help him.  You’ve never met him, Merric, but I have.  He is a nice man who does not deserve what is happening to him.  I have to try to help him.  Even if I didn’t know Joshua, I know Micah.  That alone is reason enough for me," Michael explained in agitation.

"
Relax, Michael.  I will help you in any way I can.  Micah is my friend, too.  Just knowing how he feels about Joshua is enough for me as well."

Merric walked to the door and opened it
to find Reek and Branik in the hall right outside the door, standing like two sentries on duty.  "Masters Branik and Reek, would you please come in here?"

Both men moved forward simultaneously.  Reek hung back to allow Branik to enter first
and then followed him into the study.

Branik gazed around the room
, locking eyes on Michael, still seated in front of Merric’s desk.

"
What is it that you require, Wizard Merric?"  Reek asked when Branik remained silent.

"
Michael has an experiment he wishes to conduct and we must go outside Kantwell to test it," Merric explained.

Michael rose as Merric was speaking and
turned to face the two Avari.  "We will be just outside the wall surrounding Kantwell.  This could take some time, and I don’t want you angry with me again, Branik."  Seeing Branik’s nod, Michael continued.  "Ok, let’s get to it then. 
Transfero nos ut mea visum
."

The four of them stood outside the main gate of Kantwell’s curtai
n wall.

Michael turned to Merric
.  "Do whatever you need to do, Merric."

Branik and Reek moved off behind Michael and stood watching the plains surrounding Kantwell.  The elven camp was visible to the south
, its colored tents rippling in the breeze.

Merric glanced over his shoulder at the gates,
"
Tribuo pello Michael.
"  He felt the magic take hold of the shield and shift the energies.  "It is done.  Try to walk through the gates.  No magic, just walk."

Michael looked at the gates and began walking toward them.  When he was about ten feet away he stopped short and rebounded
, landing on his backside.  Michael touched his nose gently.  "Feels like I walked into a brick wall."  Michael rose to his feet and dusted off his hands.  "I assume this field extends underground as well?"

"
Yes.  It is a complete sphere encompassing all of Kantwell.  If it were not, then Mortow and his magi would be able to teleport into the lower levels and simply walk up into Kantwell proper," Merric explained.