Myrkron (Volume Two of The Chronicles of the Myrkron) (31 page)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Michael returned them to the Great Hall in Kantwell.  The hall was empty
, but he could hear the buzzing of many voices coming from the direction of the dining hall.  He turned to Micah and the two Avari.  “I assume that is where the action is,” Michael said pointing to the door at the back of the Great Hall that led to the classrooms and dining halls.

He began walking in that direction
. Micah, Reek and Branik followed him.  Just as they reached the statue in the center of the hall, Merric appeared.

“Michael, where have you been?”  Merric asked with concern.

“I have been to see the Oakkrin.  I thought they might have some information about how to destroy the Garoliths,” Michael replied.

“Learn anything useful?”

“Only that it is not just a ninth key that can affect them.  It requires magic from the ninth door.  Only the magic pertaining to the soul will work to destroy them,” Michael explained.

“Well that is more than we knew before.”

“Aye, but it still doesn’t help me much.  I know next to nothing about the magic of the ninth key.  Micah was able to provide me with a book of observations about it, but I have yet to read it,” Michael told him, intentionally leaving out that it was Micah’s own observations.

“Micah, where did you come by such a book?”  Merric asked in surprise.

“I wrote it.  It is just a collection of bits of information I have been able to gather over the course of time.  When you have time in abundance, you find ways to keep busy,” Micah replied with a crooked smile.

“No doubt.  I should very much like to see this
collection of information
you have accrued one day,” Merric said frowning.

“Maybe one day I shall let you.”

Seeing that nothing else was forthcoming from the Avari Lord, Merric turned back to Michael.  “Maybe I could help you with understanding what you read.  I have no firsthand experience with the magic of the ninth door, but I know all the theory contained within the libraries here,” Merric offered.

“After I have read the book
, I am sure I will have many questions.  I would appreciate any insights you may have,” Michael said sincerely.

As Merric was about to speak
, he heard a loud cheer ring out behind him.  He turned to the door that led to the dining hall and saw a young soldier hurrying toward him.  By his armor and crest, he was one of King Westan’s men.

“Wizard Merric, there you are.  King
Westan requests your presence in the dining hall.  Prince Rein has returned with news.”

“Very well
,” Merric replied.  “Come along gentlemen.  Let us see what news the Prince brings.  Judging by that noise, it must be good,” Merric said looking over his shoulder at Michael, Micah and the two Avari.

They followed the soldier through the door and to the main dining hall.  Merric could hear the clanging of pots and pans coming from the kitchen and hoped T
ess was not too overwhelmed at having to feed all the men.  He had sent a few of the younger magi to her earlier to help out.

Turning his attention to the tables, Merric caught sight of Prince Rein instantly.  His shock of white hair stood out in stark contrast to just about everything else in the hall.  Merric waded through the soldiers who had clustered around the King and Prince
with Michael, Micah, Reek and Branik in tow.

He could see a man and a woman in gray standing there also.  It was to the man in gray that all the attention seemed to be focused.  Just as Merric made his way through the last line of soldiers, King
Westan turned and, with a huge smile on his face, waved Merric forward.

“Come, my friend.  Hear the glad tiding my son and his friends bring,” King
Westan bellowed out laughing.

Merric was a bit taken aback by the jovial mood.  The King acted as if the war were over and won.

“What is this news that seems to have everyone on the verge of celebration?”  Merric asked.

“Were we in my court, the celebration would be in full swing already.  Rein, inform the Headmaster what has transpired.”

“Wizard Merric, I believe you met Quin and Rena earlier today,” Rein paused as Merric looked the two over.

“I am sorry, there have been so many new faces lately that I am afraid I do not recall having met them,” Merric replied with a shake of his head.
  Seeing the widening smile on Prince Rein’s face, Merric frowned.

“Oh
, you met them, but not personally; and I am sure you will remember them.  Quin and Rena were the two dragons that took out the Weres and their ships,” Prince Rein explained.

Merric’s frown faded and a look of curiosity came over his face.  Michael’s face registered something very close to awe as he looked upon th
e man and woman in gray robes.

Micah cleared his throat loudly as the silence lengthened.
  “Excuse me, King Westan.  We have not been properly introduced.  I am Micah,” Micah said bowing slightly from the waist to King Westan.

At mention of his name, the crowd of soldiers grew silent.  Murmurs started in a wave, expanding out, as his identity was relayed.

“Lord Micah, it is an honor to finally meet you.  Tales of your exploits and those of the famed Avari, in the Race Wars, are still told within our halls,” King Westan replied, bowing in turn to Micah.

Micha
el, watching the exchange, did not know which was more intimidating; seeing two Were-dragons or seeing the king of the High Caste Weres bowing to Micah.  He assumed that kings did not bow too often.  Micah’s legendary status never failed to surprise and awe him.

King
Westan’s eyes left Micah’s as he saw Michael standing partially hidden behind Merric.  The smile left his face as he took in the purple robe and golden sash; he went to one knee bowing his head.  “Myrkron, I am honored beyond words,” King Westan breathed.

Like the wave of murmurs that flowed out with Micah’s name
, so too did a wave of men kneeling.  Michael was stunned beyond words.  All he could do was stare at the bowed heads.  Only Merric, Micah, Reek and Branik remained on their feet.  Michael tried to speak, but his voice cracked so he cleared his throat.

“Please, all of you, get up.  This is not necessary,” Michael croaked timidly.

“Maybe it is I who should be awed by you,” Micah said with a smile, leaning in close to Michael to whisper in his ear.

As King
Westan rose to his feet the rest of his men followed suit.  The King had a very satisfied smile on his face as he looked up at Michael.

“My son told me a Myrkron once again walked the land
, and now that I have met him and seen some of his character, I have no doubt left in me that victory will be ours.”

“I wish I could share in your belief, your majesty, but I am newer to my powers than even the
newest apprentice here at Kantwell,” Michael informed him.

King
Westan seemed surprised by this statement and looked at Merric questioningly.

“It is true.  Michael has been studying magic for much less than a year and
, though his power is great, no one knows how or what to teach him.  We have been training him in the basics, but he has already displayed powers beyond our knowledge,” Merric explained.

King
Westan shrugged.  “The Myrkron will prevail,” King Westan replied matter-of-factly.

Michael shook his head in disbelief.

“Have faith in yourself, Myrkron.  And if you cannot, have faith in our faith in you.  You are the living instrument of the Great One, sent to us to do what we cannot.”

Michael was
horrified.  He could not believe that King Westan thought him sent by the Great One like some messiah.

“I have been around a long time, Michael.  Not as long as the Avari Lord here
, but still a considerable amount of time as humans measure it.  And that look on your face tells me even more about your character.  That is the look of a man appalled by what he has been told; and an honest, righteous man would be appalled, even if it’s the truth.  You are a true Myrkron,” King Westan explained with a small smile.

Merric cleared his throat to take the focus off a shaken Michael.
  “I believe you had some news to share,” Merric prompted.

“Yes, of course.  Quin killed the Garolith at the beach!”  King
Westan exclaimed.

T
he dining hall erupted with another cheer.

The news took Michael’s mind immediately off King
Westan’s previous statement and overcame his awe of the man in gray robes.  Michael stepped around Merric and approached Quin.  As he approached, Quin bowed to him.

“Is it true?  Did you really kill that monster?”  Michael asked in wonder.

“Aye, Myrkron.  It is dead.  Prince Rein witnessed the battle firsthand,” Quin confirmed.

Michael looked at the man’s face and for the first time noticed the scars and the cloudy orb of his eye.
  “Was this injury a result of that battle?”

“Aye, Myrkron
, but it is a small price to pay to rid the world of such an evil.  The slashes have almost completely healed and, in time, so will the eye.  Worry not.”

“The price has been paid
, but need not be endured,” Michael replied raising his right hand and cupping the left side of Quin’s face.

Quin
went rigid as Michael met his eye.

“
Vigoratus vulnus
,” Michael said softly.

Quin flinched
, but then his face transformed with a look of awe.

Michael removed his hand and the scars were gone
.  The eye was clear and sparkling blue, a match to the other one.

Quin raised his hand to his face and his fingers told him what his eye already had; he was healed.  Quin’s awe turned to reverence and he
knelt down before Michael and touched his head to the floor in front of Michael’s feet.

“Thank you, Myrkron.  I have no right to ask but could you…” Quin began
, but Michael interrupted him.

“You have no need to ask
, and it’s Michael,” Michael told him as he moved to stand in front of Rena.  As he healed Quin, he had sensed that she, too, was injured.

“Myrkron,” Rena said bowing her head.

“Michael,” he corrected her as he placed his hand on her stomach.

Micah watched Michael closely
and with great interest.  He had never seen a wizard heal before.  He had believed, like Merric, it was impossible; but then, Michael had accomplished a lot of things thought to be impossible.

“
Vigoratus vulnus.
”

Rena drew in a shuddering breath
, but as she exhaled, she felt the pain of her wound fade and disappear.  As Michael removed his hand, Rena tried to kneel before him as Quin had, but Michael stopped her by clasping her upper arms.  He looked around again and saw everyone was kneeling again.  He had been so focused on the healings that he did not notice before now.

“No one should kneel before me.  I am a man the same as all of you, well, oh you know what I mean,” Michael said in exasperation as he realized these men were not really the same as himself, they were Weres.

King Westan rose to his feet again and chuckled at Michael’s statement.  “We understand your meaning, Myrkron,” King Westan said gesturing for the others to rise.

“Please call me Michael.  All of you.”

“As you wish, Michael,” King Westan replied.

“You see.  This man has proven that he can do what I could not.  The Garolith was totally unaffected by my magic
, but Quin was able to kill it by himself,” Michael said, gesturing to Quin as he addressed King Westan.

“No one can accomplish everything solely on his own, Myr…Michael,” King
Westan said with a knowing look at Merric.

“Only the young believe it so
, and we are all young once,” Merric replied with a raised eyebrow.

Micah stepped up to Michael and leaned in close.
  “You have some reading to do and time grows short.  I would suggest you be about it,” Micah whispered.

“Yes, you are correct,” Michael agreed
, but turned to Quin and Rena.

“I want to thank you both for what you did at the beach.  You saved many lives today and most probably many more in the future.”

Michael turned to King Westan and bowed to him.  “If you will excuse me, your majesty, I have something I need to attend.”

“Of course, Michael
, and it's Westan,” King Westan said with a smile.

Michael managed a faint smile of his own
.  He began to speak the words of transport, but Micah tugged on his sleeve interrupting him.

“It has been a long day for you, Michael
, and whether you can feel it or not, your body needs nourishment.  Food first,” Micah told him and made it clear it was not merely a suggestion; it was an order from his Lord.