The Kingdom of Eternal Sorrow (The Golden Mage Book 1) (23 page)

After his head cleared a bit, he slowly opened his eyes and stared
dully at the corpse who was most likely the mage who had been controlling the
dyani
swarm. He immediately saw that the mage clutched a dagger in his right hand.
A
spelled dagger
, he thought grimly as he reached for it.

His hand instantly froze over the offending object as he saw the
faintly green sheen coating the blade and realized that it was saturated with
kalie
,
the only poison in Seni’s World that the healers could not counteract.
He
would have killed me unless—

“She called to me,” he whispered wondrously, staring down at the
poisoned dagger with a sinking feeling in his stomach. “By Aidius, she
knew
!”

“Who called to you?” a voice asked behind him.

“She—Allison,” Aidric replied quietly, recognizing Keldan’s voice and
not bothering to turn around.

“Allison?” Keldan questioned in surprise.

“She that was not a direct witness to this horror here,” Aidric went on
as if he didn’t hear the bard. “She warned me of this mage’s attack before I
sensed him coming. She called to me in my mind with a warning she could not
possibly have known to give.”

Before Keldan could reply, Aidric shook himself out of the light trance
he had fallen into and seemed to notice Keldan for the first time.

“Keldan! The battle!” he cried as he whirled his head around to look up
at the bardic-mage. “Has it finally ended? Are Roderick’s troops defeated?”

“Yes, yes, everything’s more or less ended,” Keldan replied absently,
shifting his feet restlessly as if something excited him. “Most of the enemy
fled in terror when you cast the implosion spell. When the troops still
remaining saw their mage fall, they turned tail and fled like the cowards they
are. Our troops gave chase for a while, but when it became clear that they were
retreating for good, we stopped our pursuit. We had prisoners enough. But never
mind about that. What is this about the Golden Mage reaching you with a warning
of danger?”

“Just as I said,” Aidric said with a puzzled frown as he accepted the
hand that Keldan held out and slowly hoisted himself onto his feet again. Fresh
blood began to trickle from his nose, and he wiped at it irritably. Keldan eyed
him worriedly, but Aidric waved his concern away. It was nothing that a few
days rest would not cure.

“She warned me of danger she couldn’t have possibly known of unless she
was here.” He swayed as a new wave of weakness washed over him and leaned
heavily on Keldan’s shoulder for support before continuing, “In my weakened
state after I cast the implosion spell, that fool mage sneaked up behind me,
intending to take a swipe at me with that poisoned dagger, but before he
reached me, I heard Allison shout a warning in my mind. Because of that
warning, I was able to ready an attack and strike him down before he could mark
me. If it wasn’t for her warning, then you would have been presenting my corpse
to Diryan when you returned to Lamia.”

Aidric sagged against his friend, feeling more exhausted than he ever
had in all his years. “By the Thrones above, Kel, what in the six hells does
this mean?”

“The Prophecy of the Six,” Keldan replied gravely as he helped Aidric
walk over to where his brother was helping Selwyn and the healers with the
wounded. “Seni, help us all, the Prophecy of the Six.”

Sitting in King Diryan’s Council Room, Aidric tried to remain passive as
General Caith reported on the situation in Idona, although inside, he was
bursting with impatience to speak privately with the king—and to see Allison. It
had taken those who had returned six days to reach Lamia again since the twins
had put their foot down when he told them he wanted to build another portal to
return. He had been tempted to order them to succumb to his wishes, but he
knew, Mage-general or not, they still would not have obeyed his orders when
they knew he was too weak to do any spellcasting.

The battle had also been extremely trying on his mage troops, and he
would have died first before he allowed any of
them
capable of
performing the portal spell to build the portal for him. Besides, no other mage
could have transported so many people at once as he had. Therefore, they had
commissioned horses from the very grateful Na’arans and had ridden home. A
quarter of the army and a half dozen mages had remained behind to guard against
any further attacks from Mihr in the coming quarter-moons.

Damned if Caith loves to drone on and on about his battles
,
Aidric thought irritably.
I am almost tempted to pull rank and silence him!

“—though I regret, Your Majesty, that we weren’t able to
supply you with prisoners this time,” General Caith was saying as Aidric
brooded secretly.

“Oh?” Diryan inquired with a raised eyebrow. “Why is that?”

Looking uncomfortable, Caith cleared his throat before answering, “My
troops
were
able to capture several of Roderick’s men throughout the
course of the battle, but as each was led away to be taken to our camp, they
just suddenly started to convulse and then fall to the ground dead.”

“A death spell, Your Majesty,” Aidric broke in, feeling a little sorry
for Caith despite his earlier annoyance and deciding to come to his aid, “cast
over his troops to prevent them from betraying him should they be captured or
become defectors. I had thought Roderick was not capable of casting such a
spell, but we all know that he has been dabbling in the Dark Powers. This new
turn of events doesn’t really surprise me. These men are nothing to him,
sheep.”

“Wonderful,” Diryan muttered darkly. “So that path of gaining
information is now closed to us. We shall just have to find another to replace
it. General Caith, I charge you with the responsibility.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” the Arms-general replied firmly, looking eager for
the challenge.

Aidric finally caught Diryan’s eye as the king turned his gaze from
Caith to address his Council. Wordlessly, he made his need known to speak with
him as soon as possible. Diryan gave him a slight nod, and Aidric relaxed
considerably. The king, no doubt, had sensed his urgency, and Aidric knew he would
keep his monologue to the Council short.

“Roderick grows bolder in his attempts to influence me to surrender
Lamia to him,” Diryan began. “From what both the Mage-general and Arms-general
have reported today, this little attack on Idona was only a taste of what we
are to expect from him in the near future. I fear that soon the time will come
when I’m forced to declare open war on Mihr.”

Everyone began to mutter to themselves at once, and a few of Diryan’s
advisors nodded as they expected him to say as much. They all knew that war was
eminent, but how soon warfare would break out was the question uppermost on
everyone’s mind.

And I know what all of them are thinking
, Aidric thought with a
worried frown as he cast his gaze over all the faces circling the table.
They
believe that this is the war that Allison will play her biggest role in, and
the question of whether she is our savior or our destroyer will be answered—and
I don’t in the least like what their expressions are insinuating.

As if reading their minds, Diryan added, “I can’t tell you when this
war will take place, only that I feel it will begin sometime in the next two
years. Roderick’s impatience in his quest for more power won’t allot for any
longer than that. Until then, we must increase our efforts in protecting our
allies and keeping Roderick’s troops in Mihr where they belong. Now, I’m
certain the Mage-general and the Arms-general are very weary from their journey
and wish to rest, so I shall adjourn until tomorrow at nine sand-marks past the
first morning-mark to discuss further strategies and also,” he looked pointedly
at Aidric, “the Golden Mage.”

Aidric lingered behind as the king’s advisors and General Caith filed
out of the room. “Nice speech,” he said casually when the last person was gone
from sight. “I bet they’ll all be sleeping soundly tonight because of it.”

The king chuckled and said, “I was going to welcome you back, but now
I’m not so certain I should. You would do best to leave that kind of sarcasm at
the door.”

Aidric smirked. “The truth does sometimes sting, I’m afraid.”

“Especially coming from your mouth,” Diryan replied with a wry grin as
he slapped Aidric heartily on the back. “Now come lad. Let us go to my study
since I have a feeling that what you want to discuss with me must once again be
done away from prying ears.”

Aidric sighed, all traces of his earlier humor gone from his
expression. “I have only been back a little over a sand-mark with news of at
least one problem resolved, only to bring you the news of another arising.”

“The girl?” he guessed as they both walked out of the Council Room and
towards the stairs leading to Diryan’s private chambers.

“Who else?” Aidric answered wearily.

“Then you have spoken with Maldon Felan, I presume?”

Aidric stopped dead in his tracks. “No, I
haven’t
. I came
straight to the Council Room to report. What’s happened?”
Damn Roderick! I
should have never had to leave her!

“It’s better that we wait until we are in my chambers
before we discuss the matter further,” the king said, and Aidric nodded, though
inside he was bursting with impatience.

Once safely inside Diryan’s study, Aidric wasted no time in
spell-silencing the room against the all-too-eager prying ears of the servants.
Diryan motioned for him to sit down as he, himself, took a seat. He poured wine
into a couple of goblets and offered one to Aidric.

“I have a feeling we’ll need this,” the king said with a wry smile as
Aidric gratefully accepted his cup.

“Tell me of Maldon,” Aidric said after taking a couple of sips of wine.

“The morning after you left for Idona, Maldon came running to me with
the most incredible story. Apparently, Allison had been caught in a Foresight
dream and couldn’t be awakened. While in her sleep, she drew power from the
Mage-field, and Raya called for help since she was afraid that Allison would
begin to recklessly cast spells in her sleep. Maldon and a few other mages came
to her aid and cast the paralysis spell onto her. From what he told me, I
understand that it took the combined efforts of all the mages just to cast that
simple spell on her and hold it.”

“But—but that isn’t possible!” Aidric cried in disbelief. “She hasn’t
yet
Bonded
with the Mage-field!”

“I know,” Diryan said worriedly, “but that isn’t even the
half of it. Maldon and Raya seem to believe that she was not having a Foresight
dream at all, but something—else. In the dream, she claimed to have been
witnessing the battle in Idona, and apparently you reacted to her voice when
she yelled out a warning of danger to you—Aidric, what is it?”

Seni, Seni, it
is
true
, Aidric thought, utter staggered.
It’s
just as I’ve feared. She has the ability described in that old spellbook, the
ability only the Natian Six are said to possess!

“
Aidric
!” he heard Diryan shout, tearing him away from his
troubling thoughts.

“She has it,” Aidric said urgently. At Diryan’s blank stare he
explained, “The power to
Soulwalk
—by the Thrones above, Diryan, she has
it!”

“What!” Diryan boomed. “You are saying that you did actually
hear
her give warning to you in Idona?” He groaned when Aidric nodded. “My dear
Seni, if she possesses the ability of Soulwalking, then that means—”

Aidric nodded reluctantly and said gravely, “Yes, the Prophecy of the
Six. I did indeed hear her give warning to me, and that warning saved me from
the end of a poisoned dagger when otherwise I would’ve been killed.”

“Wait, wait,” the king interrupted in exasperation. “You failed to
mention any of this in your report earlier.”

Aidric shrugged, undaunted by Diryan’s accusative expression, and
continued, “I saw no reason that your councilors should know about that uncanny
situation. Think, Diryan. If I would have raised my suspicions that Allison
possesses the power to Soulwalk in that Council Room, it would have
accomplished nothing other than creating chaos that we just do
not
need
at the moment. You know as well as I that fear does disturbing things to a
rational mind.”

“But the Prophecy of the Golden Mage never mentioned anything about the
Golden Mage possessing the ability to Soulwalk!”

“Didn’t it?” Aidric countered and then quoted, “‘This mage will possess
power such as no man has possessed…’ It says it. You just have to read between
the lines.”

“I see your point,” Diryan said with a sigh. “Why now? And why, oh why,
me? Why did this have to happen during my reign?”

“Seni knows,” Aidric replied, rubbing his temple.
Damn, I feel a
headache coming on—
“The Prophecy of the Six is mainly the reason I wanted
to speak to you in private. I wanted to ask your permission to take Allison to
see the Providencen priests. They know more about the Golden Mage lore than we
do—I suspect a
lot
more than they are willing to admit—and perhaps
they’ll be able to shed some light on whether or not this is the age that the
Prophecy of the Six will be fulfilled.”

“You have my permission, of course,” Diryan said, “but when are you
planning to leave for this journey?”

“The sooner the better, “Aidric said firmly. “Tomorrow morning, if it’s
at all possible.”

“I agree, but whether or not it’s possible depends upon the girl.”

“Why?” Aidric asked in alarm.

Diryan shifted in his chair nervously and answered, “It’s because I
ordered the healers to keep her sedated with—with
tangel
.” He held up a
hand before Aidric could begin to protest, and explained, “Believe me, lad, I
had no choice
but
to order it. After that morning when she drew all that
power from the Mage-field, she became deathly ill—the healers said from
channeling more power than her body was able to withstand. Then, to make
matters worse, along with the illness, she began to have nightmares. From what Raya
has been able to wring out of her, they were visions of war and death, but she
refuses to elaborate any further. I ordered that she be given
tangel
before she cracked.”

“It’s a wonder that she hasn’t been driven mad already, given
everything she’s been through.” Aidric abruptly sprung up from his chair and
declared, “I must go to her at once. It’s important that I rouse her from her
stupor and prepare for the journey. The sooner we speak to the Providencen
priests, the sooner I can begin instructing her.”

Before Aidric could raise a hand to dismiss his silence spell, the king
rested a hand on his shoulder. His eyes rapidly cycled through a stream of
emotions that Aidric couldn’t quite decipher before they finally hardened.

“Aidric, I’m well aware that your feelings for this maiden run more
deeply than those of a teacher to his charge. I just want to warn you to be
very careful, lad.”

Not bothering to deny it, Aidric met the king gaze for gaze and asked
slowly, “Then you—disapprove of what I wish to do?”

Diryan eyes softened, and he sighed as he squeezed Aidric’s shoulder
reassuringly before he said, “No lad, I do
not
disapprove of you pairing
with the girl. I know how lonely you’ve been feeling of late, and I believe the
maiden will be good for raising your spirits. I only want you to be careful,
Aidric.
Both
of you are very special individuals, and you must never
forget that.”

“I know,” Aidric said somberly. “I wish I could forget, but we all
can’t have everything we wish for, can we?”

“No, lad,” Diryan agreed with a sad smile. “We cannot.”

***

I’m still dreaming
, Allison reasoned when she had felt a warm hand
gently brushing a lock of hair from her forehead and had opened her eyes to see
Aidric smiling down at her.
At least the nightmares are gone.

“Come on, little cat, wake up,” he coaxed gently. “I do believe you’ve
slept long enough to last you a lifetime.”

Blinking stupidly at him, she whispered, “Are you really back, or am I
dreaming?”

He chuckled. “I most certainly hope you are
not
dreaming! I’m
too exhausted to still be sitting on the back of a horse!”

Allison started to sit up, then blushed a fierce scarlet
when she realized that she didn’t have a stitch on. She quickly pulled the
blankets up to her neck, and croaked, “Where are my clothes?”

“You had a fever, so the healers undressed you to try to lessen your
body temperature,” Aidric explained hastily as he reached over to grab a robe
from the chair next to her bed. He handed it to her and said, “You shouldn’t
try to get out of bed just yet, but if you’re uncomfortable, put this on. While
you do that, I’ll go and fetch you food and drink. You’ve been long without
real subsidence.”

Then before she could blink he was gone. With some difficulty, Allison
managed to shrug on the robe. She felt so weak, and her muscles screamed with
stiffness and soreness as if she had overdone a workout.