The Last Wizard of Eneri Clare (78 page)

Valour looked at her with his large eyes, an expression in them something like wonder. Then he flung back his head, once again taking on the haunted look of one chased by old demons, and asked, “The girl…?”

Delphine shouldered her way quickly into the space before the creature, offering her warmest smile, “I am here, unharmed, and I do not in any way hold you accountable for my misadventure.” Valour snorted, pawed the ground, and swept his head around to meet the eyes of each unicorn, each bard, each dragon, and every person who stood there offering him healing, forgiveness, and friendship. The battered wings stretched and straightened and the powerful neck arched, as he stood handsome, tall, and prouder than he had in many months. Then he tossed his head up and down, whinnied, and addressed the company surrounding him.

“For the great honor you do me, your generosity and kindness, and for the gifts of my life, and my dignity, I am in your debt. I would consider it a privilege from this day forward to serve King Darian and his court with all that I have to offer.”

Jorelial Rey reached out her right hand, which bore the official royal ring, and Valour kissed it in token of his offer and its acceptance. A great cheer went up from all assembled on that field. Hats were thrown in the air. Comrades hugged, and laughed, and shouted in joy. But a moment later, that happy noise was quashed by those on the edge of the circle who had seen something else approaching. A hushed intensity spread through the crowd as four young soldiers staggered into the center, half dragging, half escorting none other than Lord Drogue.

The young captain who seemed to be heading the party came before the Lady Rey to make his report. He saluted her, “My lady, this one had evaded all the sentries and would have sneaked off through the woods if one of the trees had not caught him. Pummeled him good, too. We thought you would want him brought to you at once.” He ended with a nervous glance up at the large face of Valour, still standing beside the Lady Regent, and at the even larger face of Tashroth, which swung in closely to see what miscreant had been captured. Drogue stood straight and arrogant in their grasp, hands tied behind his back, a condescending sneer on his fine-boned face. His black, expensive clothes were torn. There were twigs in his dark hair, and a rather nasty bruise on his forehead where the tree had struck him.

Jorelial Rey stared at the man who had terrorized them all only moments before. She searched her feelings and found traces of pity, revulsion, disgust…. But, welling up from her gorge and drowning all the other emotions was a violent, overwhelming urge to cause this man pain; to make him suffer, as he had made so many others suffer. She could feel Tashroth’s eyes on her. For that matter, pretty much all eyes were on her. She pushed down the angry impulse, regarding him instead with an icy cold stare.

“So, we meet again, my lord,” she murmured.

He lifted his proud chin, “You had better go ahead and kill me now, Jorelial Rey, because you will live to regret any other choice you make. As long as I am alive, I will fight you. I will plot, manipulate, scheme, and harass you until the crown I desire sits on my head. Nothing will stand in my way, and no one will be safe. All that you care for will be at risk, and you will live in fear of what I will do next. Best to behave like a true leader now and get it over with.” His stare was unflinching. But when she drew her sword – an emblem of state, but sharp, nevertheless – and held the point to his pale throat, she saw fear leap into his black eyes. There was a collective gasp, and then silence. She pressed the blade to his Adam’s apple so hard that a thin red line began to appear on his skin. Mercilessly, she held his gaze, and saw the terror creep in to his mocking, careless expression. Then, with as precipitous a motion as she had made to draw it, she withdrew the sword and sheathed it.

“Sir, it seems I am, in fact,
not at all
like you,” she spat out and turned from him, considering what to do with him. Tvrdik, relieved and proud of her, waved at a nearby legionnaire who had one of the blue shields by her side. Catching her attention, he motioned for her to bring it over. Thanking her with a curt nod, he took the shield, closed his eyes, turned it upward and laid one hand on its face. With the other hand, he grasped his wizard’s staff, and set it firmly on the ground, feeling the energy surge up through its core at his summons. As everyone watched, the mage muttered some words in an ancient tongue, and then intoned, “Master of the Blue Light of Truth, I here set my intention that this receptacle of your power not only reveal the inner truth of the one who looks upon it, but that it send him back to the exact time and place where he became divided from his better nature, and turned down the darker path of hatred and despair. I ask this in the name of the forces that direct and create our journeys here, and for the highest good of all.” He opened his eyes and seized the shield’s handle, making a move to deploy it, and then stopped. With great ceremony, he offered it instead to the Lady Jorelial Rey.

“My Lady Regent, Jorelial Rey, I believe this is
your
privilege?” Their eyes met for a moment, and she reached out to take the shield from him. “Ladies and gentlemen, creatures of all sorts, cover your eyes!” he shouted. Valour whinnied, as the Lady Regent lifted the blue mirror shield, and twisted it to catch Drogue square in the face. There was a split second where his eyes went wide in abject terror, and he strained against the firm grip of his captors and the bonds that held his hands fast. Then, there was an explosion of bright sapphire blue that lit the twilight like a summer noon, and blinded all who were near enough to perceive it, even with closed or averted eyes. Jorelial Rey threw the shield to the ground, her hand still trembling with its power. When the glare diminished and it seemed safe to lift her eyes, the shield lay before her, cracked, blackened, and smoking – destroyed. But there was no sign of Lord Drogue. Fearing that he might have escaped, his captors cast about in a panic for some clue to his whereabouts – and nearly stepped on a small child sitting on the ground at their feet, crying in misery.

He was perhaps two or three, thin and frail-looking, and pale-skinned, with wisps of dark hair framing his pinched face. He sat swathed in an oversized black shirt, trying to reach out his arms to some invisible object of desire. Everyone’s eyes were on the lost child by now, and standing in shock, they all heard the boy call out in heart-rending despair, “Mama! Mama, where are you? Why don’t you come? Mama, it’s dark here. I’m cold. I’m hungry. Mamaaaa…” The word dissolved into a pitiful wail that could have cracked the hardest heart. The little boy put his fists to his eyes and continued to weep and call out.

“Is that…?” Jorelial Rey whispered in amazement.

Tvrdik nodded, “I asked that he be sent back to the turning point, the moment that caused him to choose the road we know he took. Small wonder he was so set on being the center of everyone’s attention, not to mention trying to insure that his primal needs would always be met, once and for all.”

“But, will he stay like that?”

“He is starting again from that place. He will grow up again and become someone, the same or different, depending on his experience from here on. But, he is no threat to anyone now.”

“I…I didn’t know you could do this.”

Tvrdik leaned in closer, “To be frank, I didn’t either. I thought it might be worth a try. Pretty amazing, eh?”

She pulled back and regarded the mage with horror, “Well, that was taking a pretty big chance, wasn’t it? Now what do we do with him?”

There was a pause as everyone stared at the unfortunate infant, still sobbing his heart out. Delphine, unable to bear the child’s suffering any more, stepped forward and lifted the boy into her arms, where he burrowed his head in her breast and clung to her. One hand supporting him and one on his little head, she bounced him and spoke to him in soothing tones, “There, there, little one, dry your tears. You know, Mark and I could raise him.”

“Delphine!” Mark cried out, sideswiped.

“Delphine,” her sister warned, “he murdered our father. He just tried to kill you as well. How can you even consider such a thing?”

Delphine pulled back, frowning, “That Drogue is gone. This is a whole new human being – a helpless child. All he needs is a fresh start to help him become something other than what he was. There is nothing that cannot be transformed with enough love.”

Another voice broke the standoff between the two sisters. It was Lady Brendelle, pulling off her helmet, and stepping up to her daughter with great tenderness, “No, Delphine, dearest. I am so proud of your great heart. But your sister is right. Even if this child is innocent now, he will always remind the two of you of grief and loss you have both borne at his hands. Besides, you are so young, and newly married. You should enjoy time with your husband, chase your dreams, enjoy your youth, and someday, when the time is right, you will have children of your own together.” Mark was blushing, but relieved.

Delphine wrinkled her lovely brow, still holding the baby Drogue against her breast, “But then, what…?”

Brendelle smiled a wistful smile, “Darling, I believe it is
my
destiny to raise this child – a second chance for both of us, so to speak, from some kind hand in the heavens. When I had my one chance to raise a child, I ran away. I abandoned you. Thank the gods someone stepped in and helped you grow into the woman you are, so beautiful inside and out.” She turned to Jorelial Rey and met her gaze, “For that, I will always be grateful. But I am punished for my mistake by being childless all these years. This little boy was also abandoned, and did not have such good fortune as my Delphine, I imagine. His need for love and attention turned sour and made him a monster. Now, he can start over, and perhaps, as you say, with enough love, walk a new path. We belong together, he and I. Perhaps we can help to heal each other.” She looked down at the dark child who had stopped crying and fallen asleep in Delphine’s arms. “I will take him across the sea to my own country, where no one knows his history. My husband will be thrilled to have a son, and we will shower him with affection and opportunity, and teach him what is right. From henceforth his name will no longer be Drogue, but Drake, and he will be my son.”

Tvrdik cocked an eyebrow at her, “Are you sure, my lady? There is no guarantee he will not turn out bad again, despite your best efforts…”

“No more than there is any guarantee with any child of one’s own birthing. I will take that risk. Delphine, my dear, you have such a beautiful heart, but I must believe this is our miracle – his and mine.” She held out her arms, and after only the slightest hesitation, Delphine handed the child over to her mother, with a smile and a blessing. As Brendelle shifted the sleeping bundle against her own heart, the little boy, without waking, sighed deeply, and murmured, “Mama…” Brendelle gasped and looked up, speechless, tears in her eyes, and everyone present smiled back at her, knowing that at the end of this long, frightening, exhausting, amazing, magical day, they had all, in the end, been present for a true miracle.

FORTY-ONE
Aftermath

A
S WORD SPREAD THAT LORD
Drogue had vanished into thin air, his army evaporated. Neighboring lords who had supported him with troops or supplies, or even captained regiments for him, lost their nerve and slunk back to their own estates, hoping that their treachery would not be called to account. In this case, it seemed obvious enough that with the head cut off, the rest of the rebellion would wither, and the Lady Regent saw no reason to take any punitive action other than keeping an eye on the malcontents. She hoped that her leniency in this matter would serve to draw the renegades closer in gratitude. It helped also that there would be no fatalities, on either side of the battle, to provoke personal vendettas. In any case, time would tell.

Among the rank and file, those who were lucky enough to collect gold from the field were already gone to celebrate their good fortune. The foreigners headed for home, or went searching for another war elsewhere in the wide world – one this time that wouldn’t hold so many surprises, and would be closer to what they were accustomed to. The mountain gnomes sighed and headed back to the hills, to their normal, secluded lives, working the earth for gems and metals, quite relieved to be done with all the politics and unpleasantness, which they did not care for in the slightest. Valour helped to reunite any of the magical beasts who had fought for Drogue with their ancient cousins on the other side. Talks occurred, and bridges were built, especially when it was revealed what Drogue’s plan would have meant, in the long run, for all magical creatures. The gryphons, including the one who had snatched Delphine, were surrounded by dragons, given a stern talking to, and sent off somewhat shame-facedly, but nonetheless forgiven.

Those that had been frightened almost to death by dragons, or enchanted by the blue mirrors wandered off, and for the most part turned fresh pages in their lives. Some despaired and fell into ruin, but many went about trying to erase their past misdeeds by doing service to others. There were none whose lives were not changed in some measureable way forever. Any whom Drogue had blackmailed, pressured, enchanted, or deceived into his service, now free of whatever bondage held them in thrall, were out celebrating their newfound independence. Scores of these began showing up, hat in hand, at the Legion’s campsite, begging amnesty, and seeking to bend the knee to the rightful king. Jorelial Rey and her counselors did their best to welcome all comers, and to assure them that every effort would be made to find them useful employment upon the Legions’ return home. Verger, calculating the financial ramifications of such promises, all but tore the last of his hair out. But the Lady Rey managed to calm him with her word that they would soon sit down together and work it all out, and reminded him what the cost of a prolonged war might have been in comparison.

Boone, Maygrew, and Bargarelle congratulated each other on a brilliant campaign, well waged, and admitted to Tvrdik and Jorelial Rey that their eyes had been opened to the benefits of this new way of responding to threats. They all wanted to continue planning for a standing Legion, and for developing a peacetime training regime. The Lady Regent and the wizard responded with sincere gratitude for their eventual faith, commitment, and expertise, without which there would have been no victory.

Jorelial Rey wished to keep Mark and Delphine close by her side, but she asked Baldezir if, after a suitable rest period, he might be willing to return to his wife and family with the message of the battle’s ending, and to help them liberate and escort the humans in their charge back to Mark’s family estate, where they could now wait in comfortable safety until it could be arranged to take Lynette and Darian home. Baldezir was more than happy to undertake the mission, and the Lady Regent repeated her intention to call him to the palace, knight him, and grant him lands carved from Drogue’s own holdings. These lands would be declared safe zones for all wolves, talking or not. Baldezir was moved by her generosity, and thanked her on behalf of himself and all his clan. The Lady Regent reminded him that no words or favors could ever thank him enough for the major role he played in saving her sister, and perhaps the king as well. The great dire-wolf trotted off with his head held high.

Messengers were sent to Theriole with the joyful news of victory. Among them was Jarrod the crow, who had returned to camp frantic and miserable at the near tragedy his carelessness had caused. It was Tashroth who took the time to soothe him, assuring him that no one held him responsible for Delphine’s misfortune, especially since it had all worked out well in the end. The dragon added that every great warrior at some time or other had learned from mistakes and grown from them. Jarrod acknowledged both the gentle reprimand, and the confidence in that remark, and was comforted.

Several Legionaires who normally worked in the palace stables went about rounding up any horses from Drogue’s cavalry who were wandering about, riderless and frightened. Shar, seeing what they were up to, lent his presence and voice to calm the muddy, confused beasts, and shepherd them to a still-grassy area where their needs and injuries were seen to by compassionate, knowledgeable folk.

Andrus reported that all the wounded were doing well, and on the road to recovery, remarkable as that might seem. He then became very solemn, and offered his deepest regrets to the Lady Jorelial Rey and to Delphine that he had been so helpless and blind during their father’s illness. In hindsight, foul play seemed an obvious possibility, which, at the time, had never occurred to him. He told them that he would never forgive himself for failing that great man, and them. “I brought him that port myself every night. It seemed to soothe his pain…” The man’s voice broke at the memory.

In answer, Delphine threw her arms around him, and Jorelial Rey said that it was Drogue, not he, who deserved their wrath – old Drogue, who no longer existed. The would-be usurper had all of them, including their wise and clear-eyed father, so fooled and manipulated, that no one could blame the doctor for not realizing what was going on. They assured him that they both knew that he had done everything he could think of to help Gareth, and they begged him to forgive himself for not discovering the poison. They already had.

Tvrdik summoned some glow-balls to light his way in the deepening shadows, and went to the river for a joyful reunion with Ondine, who couldn’t resist a pirouette and a splash or two at the sight of him. He thanked her for the important part she and her compatriots had played in winning the day, and when he inquired, was assured that she and all the naiads had emerged well and unharmed. He also shared his deep appreciation for her help in pulling Jorelial Rey out of the darkness that almost claimed her. “I don’t know what would have happened this day if we had lost her, Ondine, and I wasn’t able to bring her back on my own.”

Ondine beamed, “We work together, always, Lovely Man. I tell you at waterfall, I can help – you need me. See, I show you how you need me for great adventure. We send nasty folk away, make things right again.”

“That’s right, dearest. It was my lucky day indeed when you insisted on joining me on my travels. I couldn’t have accomplished any of this without you. We are great partners… and great friends.” She splashed him just a little, and then leapt up to kiss him on the cheek. He laughed, taken by surprise, and then shared her ebullient company for a time, rediscovering the deep feelings of delight she always stirred in him. Then, excusing himself, he walked the edges of the wood, thanking and blessing the trees for joining their cause, doing such a wonderful job of derailing the enemy’s assaults, and, in the end, of capturing Drogue. A whisper of leaves and a gentle swaying of branches welcomed his acknowledgements.

It was almost midnight when he approached the central campfire, where Jorelial Rey, Mark, Delphine, Stewart, Warlowe, Verger, Bargarelle, Boone, Maygrew, Andrus, and the Praegers were bustling about trying to put together some semblance of a meal from the supplies on hand. There had not been much sleeping or attention to eating for days. They were all beyond exhaustion, but wide awake, unwilling to let go of the day – its accomplishments, and its feelings of camaraderie, of confidence, and of vindication. Now, at last, they allowed themselves the luxury of feeling their weariness and hunger, but it felt good to be all together.

“Where have you been? We missed you.” Delphine asked brightly, not in the slightest changed by her frightening experience.

“Thank you, my friend. I was out talking to the naiads and dryads, thanking them for their part. They are all well, and very proud of what we pulled off today. They send their love. Where is Lady Brendelle?”

“Oh, she begged leave to retire early and attend to the baby-uh-the child…Drake. You know. I suppose her life will be quite different now.”

“Children will do that, I hear.” Tvrdik smiled.

“Are you hungry?” Rel asked.

“Yes, famished. But there is something I think I need to do first. Don’t you all think it seems incomplete to enjoy this victory without letting Xaarus know? Aren’t you all just dying to see if we changed anything – the future, I mean – if we accomplished anything bigger than the here and now? And don’t you think we should let him know what happened here?”

Everyone was staring at him. Bargarelle smiled and answered for the whole lot, “Well, young man,
yes
, to all of it. But you are our only link to the great wizard, and we didn’t want to push you, figuring you must be tired, and that there would be time enough for most things tomorrow.”

“I am weary, I suppose, but I think I owe Xaarus, and all of you, at least a brief contact. With my energy this low, I could use Tashroth’s help. Where is he?”

Jorelial Rey put something hot in her mouth and shrugged, “Last I saw, he was going off somewhere with Candelinda.”

Delphine giggled, “I think those two have something going on.”

Rel frowned, “If I have to share him with someone, I’m very glad it’s a girl as remarkable as she is. How could I
not
be crazy about her? Especially after she pulled off that brilliant rescue and brought you back to me, Sweet Pea.” The two sisters smiled at one another across the campfire.

Tvrdik tried to redirect the conversation, “I hate to disturb him, but I think it’s important, and it shouldn’t take long…”

“I’ll call him,” Rel agreed, still eating. Someone handed Tvrdik a plate, which he received with appreciation while the Lady Regent concentrated on sending a mental message to her saurian companion. Tvrdik had only begun to sample some of the simple fare he’d been given before they were all aware of the familiar sensation, and noise, of giant wings. Tashroth and Candelinda both soared into range, and landed with precision in a nearby space. Tash’s great, green head swung into view in the firelight, a sight that startled more than one of the friends sitting there.

“What is it, dear one?” Tash’s patient voice rumbled.

“We are sorry to bother you now, Tash, but Tvrdik thinks we need to contact Xaarus right away, and I think he’s right. He is afraid his energy is too low for a meaningful contact without your help. Are you up to it?”

“Of course. A very good idea. We can begin anytime.” The head withdrew, and she knew he was arranging himself in a comfortable position, and setting his concentration on holding the energetic space for Tvrdik, amplifying his mind’s outreach. Tvrdik put his plate aside and seated himself on a stump near the fire where he too could be somewhat comfortable. He handed his staff to Mark to hold, and, placing his hands on his knees, closed his eyes, knowing he was surrounded and supported by his friends. Before casting after Xaarus, he teased, “If you all concentrate, perhaps some of you might even catch a glimpse of him.” And then, he set his mind on some of his most vivid memories of his old teacher: the familiar voice, a peculiar scent, the touch of his long, bony fingers, the ageless, twinkling eyes…

“Oh, my boy, my boy…you did it! You did it.”

“Master, is that you?” Tvrdik opened his eyes, and Xaarus stood solidly before them. Tvrdik could not recall a time when his mentor had last looked so young, so joyful and light-hearted. He was beaming, his eyes were shining, and he moved about as if he would break into a dance at any moment.

“Of course it is, son. I am so proud of you, and of all the rest, that I cannot contain myself. I knew you could do it. I
knew
you were the right man for the job. I
knew
it, even when you weren’t so sure, my boy, but you are quite a wizard –
quite
…
a
…
wizard
, if I do say it myself. And now, you’ve done it.”

“Uh…yes. We defeated Lord Drogue, and we did it just as you showed us, no lives taken, none lost that we know of. Even Drogue, twisted as he was, managed to get a second chance. But, however did you know?”

“Lord Drogue? Ah, yes, Drogue. Yes, yes. You’ve saved the kingdom, defended the king, and managed to prevent a war of great destruction. I imagine all of those things mean a great deal to those of you there right now, and they were well done. You have every right to be proud.
But
, I am talking about the bigger picture, lad. You changed history! You have shifted the timeline, just as we had hoped. Oh, my boy, we were
so
right that your moment in time was indeed the turning point for everything that was to follow. I knew you had succeeded, because, in an instant, everything was different here in the future. Well, not different, so much. But
different
, if you know what I mean. Before, the place felt gray, miserable – dying, in fact. Now, it vibrates with
life
, with energy, with hope, my boy. The magic is back, the people are happy. The extraordinary is accepted as ordinary…oh, the changes are subtle, but so very, very deep. I have faith now that life and love and creativity will go on from here, robust and healthy. If I must remain here, at least I can be content to do so now. I cannot express to all of you the magnitude of what you have done. Your courage and resourcefulness, your willingness to take a leap of faith have changed the course of everything.”