The Last Wizard of Eneri Clare (80 page)

It was well into the afternoon when Tvrdik, heading toward the healer’s tents, heard a familiar voice behind him calling his name. Turning, he saw Jorelial Rey hobbling through the busy crowd to catch up with him, and he paused to see what the matter might be.

“Tvrdik, I am so glad I found you. I’ve been trying to track you down for an hour.”

“Sorry. I had no idea. You know you are supposed to stay off of that ankle.”

She scowled at him, “Yes, I know, but there’s so much to do, and I had to come and find you myself, at any rate. Tashroth wants a word with both of us, and he wanted me to keep it between us for the moment.”

The mage frowned and cocked his head to one side, “Do you know what it’s about?”

“Not a clue. I am just the messenger, but I could tell he was excited…must be something important. He’s waiting for us now.”

“Well, I suppose what I was doing can wait. Lead on. Let’s hear what the old boy has to say.”

“I wouldn’t call him that to his face,” she suggested, pointing him back in the direction from which she had come.

“No, indeed. Wasn’t planning on it,” he quipped, striding along beside her. Noticing a slight grimace on her face with each step, he added, “Hey, slow down. Can’t I at least offer you an arm to lean on? You can’t keep pushing it like that or it will never heal. Let me at least be a physician, and a gentleman.”

She stopped, scowling again, “Whole thing’s more of an annoyance, you know. Nothing serious.” But she took his arm, nevertheless, and slowed to a stately limp.

“Where are we going, anyway?” Tvrdik asked.

“Up there, on that ridge. Do you see them?” She pointed off to a ridge overlooking the valley, where the silhouettes of three dragons were just visible against the deep blue sky.

“Hmmm,” he said, “that’s a bit far. What’s the use of being a wizard, if you can’t give a little assist to a friend? Hold on tight…” And in the space of a single breath, the tall mage was replaced by the white owl he favored, only in a version much larger than usual. Spreading its oversized talons, the great bird grasped Jorelial Rey by the collar of her General’s coat, and lifted her off of the ground.

“Hey!” she called out, startled, waggling her dangling arms and legs in protest.

Stop struggling…you’re already a handful,
came a voice within her mind.
Think of it as payback for all the delightful dragon rides you have treated me to.
His sarcasm made her laugh despite herself. Besides, it was exhilarating to see the ground spinning away below her.

I’m a bit worried about the landing,
she thought back at him,
As I recall, it isn’t your strong
suit.

Thanks for the vote of confidence,
she heard the wry comment in her head.
Don’t worry. I’ll hand you off to Tash
roth.

Travelling by this means, the trip to the ridge where the dragons awaited them was brief indeed, and, true to his word, the giant white owl that was Tvrdik transferred its precious cargo to Tashroth, who gripped her in his claw, and deposited her with great delicacy on the grass before them. By contrast, Tvrdik’s owl landed with his usual somersault and pratfall, picking himself up off the skid-scarred ground, once more a wizard, brushing himself off, and setting his spectacles on straight.

“Darn. You would think I could get that to be a little less bumpy by now,” he muttered.

“What a wonderful way to keep a low profile for the secret meeting.” Rel’s voice oozed sarcasm.

“Oh, pish tush. They’re all used to me flying about at whim by now. No one will have even noticed. And think of the wear and tear we’ve saved on that ankle. Not to mention saving time…” He was interrupted by a rather loud and unusual sound. It took a moment to identify it as the sound of a dragon clearing its throat.

“If the two of you are quite finished,” came the deep rumble of Tashroth’s familiar voice. He seemed to be taking on the role of spokesperson. “Thank you both for coming. You already know Candelinda, and this…” he motioned toward a purplish dragon on his left, “…is my esteemed colleague and friend, Danoral.” There were nods of greeting all around. Tashroth went on, “We called you here, because we had an idea which we wished to present for your consideration, but we did not want word of it to spread about the camp. We are not yet sure if it would be possible…or practical…or safe…”

Tvrdik and Rel looked at one another, all at once quite serious. “Go ahead, Tash,” Rel urged, “we’re listening.”

“Hmmm. How to begin. Well, you know that I have always told you that my age was irrelevant, since dragons have some facility in moving through and manipulating time?” She nodded. Tvrdik’s brows furrowed. Tashroth went on, “We are a very ancient breed of creature, and not altogether bound by the laws and limitations that hold later races to the space-time continuum. Generally, we choose to live within those laws because it creates a more satisfying experience of life, and allows us to relate to the other beings on this planet. But we can stretch them, on occasion…”

“Yes, I remember you saying that…” Rel was all attention, a little impatient for the point of this dissertation on dragon lore. Tashroth continued.

“Do you also recall how I discovered the nature of this mage’s mindlink across the centuries with Master Xaarus, quite by accident? How I realized that I could see the image of Xaarus through Tvrdik’s mind, and how I could use my telepathic powers to stabilize, and even amplify this connection between them? And we have used that fortuitous ability on several occasions to assist Master Tvrdik in contacting his mentor, and in holding the connection steady, yes?”

“Yes,” the two humans answered in concert, then glared at one another.

“Well, last night, Candelinda was watching how we accomplished this feat with great fascination, feeling out our bond to see if it could be added to. We talked about it afterward. Well, it was her idea. But we still weren’t certain it was actually possible, so we brought in Danoral here, who also thought it might work. In any case, we brought the idea this morning before the entire company of dragons. There was a great deal of discussion this way and that, but the consensus was that it was definitely worth a try, and they are all willing to stay and participate if you are.”

Tashroth finished, and gazed at them as if expecting a reaction. Tvrdik and Rel stared at the dragon, speechless. Tashroth seemed impatient for their response, “Well, do you wish to attempt it, or not?”

Tvrdik spoke first, treading with caution, “With all due respect, sir, we have been listening with care to everything you have said, and we still don’t have any idea what it is you are talking about.”

Rel chimed in, “Yes, Tash – what exactly is it you are all going to attempt?”

Tashroth rolled his giant eyes, “Why, bringing Xaarus home, of course!”

Now Tvrdik was listening in earnest, cold chills climbing his spine, and gooseflesh crawling on his forearms. “Did you say,
bringing Xaarus home?
Here, to this place, and in his own time? Do you mean, in the flesh?”

“Of course. But, it is not something that has ever been done before. We do not know for sure what the consequences could be…”

At this point, Candelinda stepped in, “Dearest…(Rel’s eyebrows lifted at the endearment), let me try to explain it to them. You see, Xaarus managed to catapult himself into the future, and even to stretch back here for a brief time when he came to train you, sir mage, as I understand it. But his physical form is anchored in that future time, and he has been unable to summon enough energy to leap back here for good and all. Still, he forged a powerful connection to his home time and place through this remarkable mind link with you, Tvrdik. By now, this thoroughfare between you is well worn, and familiar. You see each other and converse with ease, creating a strong bridge over the centuries. Tashroth says that when he adds his own concentration to the link, it becomes even stronger, easier to access, and to hold steady. The picture of Xaarus grows clearer and more of him comes through the link. Tashroth said that we even almost lost you once as well, as your consciousness tried to follow after your Master.”

“That is so, my lady, but I dread thinking of how that episode might have ended had my friends not pulled me back in time.”

“True,” the white dragon responded, “because the corridor still was not wide enough for your whole essence to go through in safety.”

Rel asked, wide-eyed, “What are you proposing?”

Tashroth picked up the thread of the idea then, “If I can strengthen the connection between the wizards, then what if Candelinda joined her mind to the link as well? And then Danoral here linked in, and one by one, all the dragons here added their own concentration to strengthening and widening the passage through your mind, to that moment of time where Xaarus is? Master Tvrdik’s link would sort of act like a kind of …guidepost, for us to find him. And then, with our ability to somewhat circumvent time, one of us might be able to travel to him, while the others hold the corridor open, just long enough to fetch him back here. I am not exactly sure how or why it would work, but somehow, all of the dragons who have heard the idea seem to intuit that it
would
work.”

Danoral spoke for the first time, his voice rather heady and buoyant for a mature dragon. “Yes, we dragons agreed that the combined mental power of all of us joined would be enough to accomplish amazing things. We all respect and admire Xaarus, and would like to give it a try, with your permission…” He was looking straight at Tvrdik.

“With my permission? Heavens, there is nothing in this entire world that I want more than to bring Xaarus back here where he belongs. If I could play some part in it, I think my life would be complete. In fact, I can’t believe you are coming up with this plan
now
, after all we have all been through. If it were possible for him to come home all along, and he might have been here to help us…”

Tashroth frowned, “Immaterial. Things happen at the times they are meant to, young mage. Dragons can be very solitary creatures. It simply did not occur to us until now that our cooperation as a group might, and I stress the word,
might
, achieve this good result.”

Tvrdik sighed, “I apologize, sir. You have me so excited that I want it done yesterday. Of course I am all for this inspired plan, which you have all devised. And grateful for your willingness to participate in implementing it. I say, the sooner the better. Why would you need to ask my permission?”

Tashroth and Candelinda exchanged a meaningful look, and then the white dragon addressed the wizard in a grim tone, “Because our only real concern, besides failure, is the danger all of this might pose to you, sir mage. You see, your mental link is the only pathway we have to Xaarus. We would all have to go
through
you. Your mind would have to hold the joined forces of a dozen dragon minds, all at once, all trying to open and expand a passage that was never meant to be there in the first place. That is the only way Xaarus could be located, and come through. We are not sure how accustomed you are to such mental discipline, how strong your mind is. You could be injured, or even killed. You could be left mentally broken, mindless. Failing in our purpose would be the least of our worries.”

Jorelial Rey looked back and forth between Tvrdik and the dragons in a panic, “Well then, we cannot do it. It’s too dangerous. The plan will have to be refined. Or he’ll have to work up to it. You can’t risk anything happening to Tvrdik.”

Tash swung his great head around to her, “Little one, the time can only be now, and the choice only his. It is not an easy matter to assemble this many dragons together in one place. Such a phenomenon has not happened for centuries, and may never happen again. Also, the link between Xaarus and Tvrdik is very strong now. The necessity to work together toward their shared goals forged it, and it may fade over time as their purpose vanishes. If it is to be done, it should be done soon.”

“But you said so much could go wrong. Tvrdik is the
last
wizard!

“We but disclose all the possibilities. We have no memory of any similar event. We wish the mage to agree or not in full understanding of what he might face. But, of course, we have every intention of doing all that is in our power to help and protect him during the process.”

Tvrdik held up a hand, “I understand, and you are correct that this is the moment, and the decision is mine. And I say every, and any, risk is worth the slightest hope that we may succeed in this mission. Think what a treasure it would be to restore Xaarus to his rightful place in a kingdom that still needs him. I am ready any time – as soon as possible.”

“But, Tvrdik…” Rel seemed to be pleading, but he stopped her from going on with a look.

“Jorelial Rey, I wasted so much of my life mourning, hiding, denying the truth of my being. Xaarus brought me out of my self-imposed exile by giving me purpose, and in so doing, he restored me to the land of the living. These past few months have held for me a lifetime of excitement, of adventure, of new friends, of hopes, and fears, and accomplishments I never thought myself capable of. But I always held before my eyes like a beacon the certainty that I had been given this second chance in order to achieve a purpose. That purpose was threefold: to defeat Lord Drogue and insure the proper succession to the throne; to convince you and your court that we could do it without violence, so that we could change the quality of the future for our descendants; and lastly, to find a way to bring my beloved Master and friend home for good. By some miracle, we have managed to complete the first two tasks, and I would gladly have spent my whole life searching for a way to accomplish the third. But, as my mind is not gifted in the same way as Xaarus’, it is probable that I would have failed. These good dragons have offered another road, and I will give my life in the attempt if it means I can complete my mission. I would then count my existence to have been of some worth. Please don’t try to stop me from doing what it is my destiny to do, Jorelial Rey. I beg you.”