The Last Wizard of Eneri Clare (82 page)

“Well, why haven’t you told him?”

“I don’t even have a clue that he could ever think of me like that. He’s been so distant. I’m sure he hates me.”

Delphine laughed – but not with meanness – and surrounded her older sister, who was shorter and slighter than her, in a warm, loving embrace.

“There, there. Put your head on my shoulder, that’s it. Don’t forget I’ve been there. Don’t you think I went through some of this myself with Mark? Don’t you know we are always the last to see the obvious? The rest of us have known for ages how Tvrdik feels about you – the way he stares after you when you leave a room, that look of pure admiration on his face when you speak, the way he seeks out your company at every turn, and is always the last to leave so that he can have his time alone with you…he’s like your guardian angel. Heavens, he’s already saved your life twice, maybe three times. How could you not know how much he cares?”

The sobs were abating, replaced by shallow breaths and shaky sentences.

“But, then, why hasn’t he said something, done something…been clear?”

Delphine pushed her away far enough to look her square in the eye.

“Rel, first of all, you as much as told him to go away. And besides, think who you are – the absolute monarch of a whole kingdom! He probably assumes you are so far out of his reach…”

There was a pause, and now Jorelial Rey’s eyes widened with the dawning of a new insight, “I – I never thought of that.”

Delphine swung an arm around her shoulders. “Look, you must tell him how you feel as soon as you can. Trust me, you’ll get a pleasant surprise. Take a risk. It can’t be scarier than facing horrible Lord Drogue and his army.” She giggled, and then whispered, “Don’t worry – he’ll be alright. I feel certain nothing bad will happen. I can’t explain it, but I feel it as sure as we are standing here together.”

Rel wiped her eyes and stood taller, to hide her embarrassment, “Thanks, Sweet Pea. You really are awfully wise.”

Delphine smiled, “I know. I learned from the best. See, here comes Tashroth now. I’d better go.”

“No, stay. He’s just going to go over the details of the plan with me I’d just as soon you heard it all too.”

“Alright.” Delphine kissed her sister on the cheek, brushed a stray hair out of Rel’s eyes, and they stood, arms around each other’s waists, waiting for Tashroth to touch down.

Earlier that day, Tvrdik had been sitting on the flat rock at his special place by the river, alone with his thoughts. He had found himself restless with too much study, and almost before he knew it, his feet were headed down the path to the secret alcove where he had always found peace and clarity. Ondine had met him there, and they had shared a happy, playful visit. There weren’t many flowers or berries left as summer drew to a close, but the leafy green canopy and the sounds of the river running by, along with the cool breezes, and soft kiss of sunshine still created the feel of a small piece of paradise on earth. Ondine was her usual irrepressible self, but now that much of their work here had been done, Tvrdik promised her that soon he would take her back to her beloved waterfall in the depths of the ancient forests. He knew she was enjoying her adventure in the wider world, but that she was beginning to miss her sisters, and the familiar surroundings of home. My, would she have some tales to tell them, upon her return, of the great events in the outside provinces, and of the vital part she herself played in making history. Tvrdik and Ondine laughed to imagine it, but she grew serious then for long enough to caution him about this new experiment, involving time and dragons. She wished him to be,
oh, so careful
, as she was counting on him to come out of the experience unscathed, and ready to take her home. After a while, she whipped up a good splash, as was her habit, blew him an affectionate kiss, and was on her merry way again.

Much as he delighted in her company, Tvrdik had come to this place today hoping for solitude, and perhaps some relief from his own thoughts. He was excited that, any day now, he would participate in an action which had a good chance of bringing his beloved teacher and mentor back from exile after almost thirteen years. It was a bold plan, and he felt confident that he could hold up his end, and that it had a better than average shot at succeeding. Everyone seemed concerned with the potential risks to him, but those didn’t bother him. He was consumed with giving this one last gift to Xaarus, and perhaps he had been feeling a little reckless of late as well.

The truth was, that since they had been successful in defeating Lord Drogue, and in shifting the timeline to the future as well, he had been feeling a little adrift. He had been persuaded to come back to court to accomplish those particular, impossible tasks, and now that they were completed, he wasn’t sure he had a reason to stay, or indeed what his life purpose was. Yes, he was changed. He’d set down some roots, made friends, done some healing, some good. But he was pretty sure that, at this point, the healing, the friends, the restoration of normalcy at court, would all carry on quite well without him. If he could bring back Xaarus, and restore him to his old position as Court Wizard, then things would have come full circle. His mission would be complete, and everything would be once again back in its proper, normal place. Then he, Tvrdik, would be somewhat extraneous, and he could go back to his cozy, hand-hewn stone dwelling in the ancient wood, to live out the rest of his days in peace and privacy. He missed that life sometimes, the simplicity of it, the deep connection with Nature and her rhythms, the absence of complicated relationships and uncomfortable emotions. Besides, that’s what Jorelial Rey said she wanted, wasn’t it? For things to go back to the way they were? And, he agreed, everyone would be happier. The sooner, the better.

And, if by some chance something went wrong in this attempt to save Xaarus, it didn’t matter anyway, as he would have, at least, the good work he had done to show for his thirty years. And he would have made the ultimate sacrifice in a worthwhile endeavor. It would also save him the trouble of trying to figure out what to do next.

And yet, as he reclined on the river-smoothed rock, and felt the sun playing on his face, something in his thinking seemed somehow wrong, flawed. Something was missing from the equation, but what? Searching his memory, he kept lighting on moments that had transpired over the past few months – joyful moments, meaningful moments, moments where he seemed to understand that the true essence of life came from relationship. Not thoughts. Not even deeds. Not study or achievement, or even heroic sacrifice. The moments he would recall most from this time involved smiles and laughter, tears, shared meals, events celebrating friendship, griefs borne together, memories, wounds, hopes, dreams, fears. And so many of the moments he was sitting here reliving had one thing in common – Jorelial Rey. Aww. Why must his thoughts always circle back to her, her eyes, her voice, her gestures, the scent of her hair, his desperate panic when he thought she might slip away into death’s cold grasp. She was so much a part of him now that there was no line of thought, no memory, that didn’t lead to her. He loved her. That much was clear. He had almost known it since their first encounter in the Hall of Audience that fateful night, and the feeling had only grown and deepened with prolonged exposure. But she had made her own feelings clear. Oh, she liked and respected him as a colleague. She relied on him as a partner in achieving peace and security in the kingdom. She saw him as important to the health and well-being of the nation. After all, he was a wizard – the
last
wizard anybody knew of, unless they could indeed bring back Xaarus. They had worked well together, and she had been friendly and made him feel valuable. But, green, naïve soul that he was, he had mistaken that for something else. When he thought about it now, it seemed positively ridiculous that the acting ruler of a vast and powerful kingdom, princes and dignitaries courting her, could have any interest in a vagabond like himself. What had he been thinking?

And now, she would not need him for anything at all, once Xaarus was returned to his proper place. And, loving her as he did, knowing the sentiment was not returned, it was too painful to stay around and be reminded of a dream that could never be. So, there it was – as it had been before – you get involved with people, and you always come away with pain. This was a difficult paradox for one with such innate sensitivity as Tvrdik. His nature was always compassion. He could not help approaching everyone, and every situation, with honesty, and a wide-open heart. Too often, his reward had been disappointment and hurt. Better to go back to the ancient forest, alone again, where expectation and reality were better matched. Trees were more steady and predictable than human beings.

As that thought crossed his mind, a small twig from the tree under which he reclined snapped off under the weight of a bird, and fell, leaves and all, down through the array of branches and onto Tvrdik’s upturned face. Spluttering, and scrambling to clear the unexpected debris away, the mage sat up, blinking in surprise. Then his eyes narrowed. “Very funny,” he muttered, and rose to make his way back to The Cottage.

FORTY-THREE
Rescue Attempt

T
HE RESCUE OF XAARUS WAS
set for two days later, at dawn, in the most secret place they could think of: Jorelial Rey’s hidden lakeside retreat. Only this time, it would not be a vacation spot. It seemed a logical choice. It was quiet there, and unpeopled, conducive to concentration, room enough for all the dragons, and close enough to Theriole in an emergency. They would not be disturbed there, and they would not have to explain what was going on to any curious bystanders. They all agreed that it would be unwise to allow word of Xaarus’ possible return to leak, in case they were unsuccessful. If they pulled it off, his unheralded reappearance would be a happy surprise.

Since anything and anyone essential for the operation had to be transported by air, it was also agreed that the list of attendees for the event would be kept short. There were an even dozen dragons, and the human list included Tvrdik, of course, and Jorelial Rey, Mark and Delphine as family and support, Warlowe to help with odds and ends, and Andrus, in case of medical need. The others who knew about the project, were to await news back at home, keep silent, and send good thoughts. Stewart was quite disappointed at being left behind, but was not so keen on riding dragon-back, in any case. He understood that there was little he could do to help with the actual process anyway, and that he could send moral support just as easily from The Cottage.

Those who were going intended to be well-rested and at their best for the event, but excitement and jitters chased away any hope of sleep the night before. The early hour was chosen for its peace and coolness, and the relative mental acuity with which most people - and dragons - began their days. The actual process would not take long at all, they guessed, and they had discussed and rehearsed the plan over and over so that each participant knew his or her part well. Xaarus had been living in the future, in what he described as a large city, but in order to minimize the risk of interference from bystanders on his end, and for him to be recognizable to Danoral, who would be making the pick-up, he had arranged to take a small dinghy out into the middle of the harbor at dawn, and wait there, apart from everyone and everything else. Danoral was the dragon with the most experience and facility in time-hopping. Dragons, like people, had individual special aptitudes, and he emerged as the logical candidate for the actual physical retrieval. Once Tvrdik had summoned his usual mind-link with Xaarus, Tashroth would be the first to join on, as he had done so many times before, stabilizing and amplifying the link. Candelinda would come into the mix next, with the other dragons adding the power of their minds one by one.

Beside participants who needed to be transported by dragonback, there were also chairs, cushions, blankets, medical supplies, lamps, and other equipment to be packed, secured, and air-lifted. The dragons did not seem to mind a little mule duty, in this case.

And so it was, in the chill, pitch-black hours before any inkling of morning whispered in the breeze, Tvrdik found himself once again on Tashroth, behind Jorelial Rey, soaring through the star-dappled skies. For once, he was so enchanted by the beauty around him, and the emotional rush of flight, that he forgot to be afraid. Jorelial Rey spoke in his ear, over the roar of beating wings.

“Are you nervous?”

He answered with shining eyes, and a sincere smile, “No. Why should I be? We are on our way to do something wonderful.” No other words passed between them.

Arriving at their destination, dragon after dragon found a space to land, using their remarkable night vision, and the business of unpacking and setting up began. Lamps were lit, and Mark and Delphine built a campfire on the lakeshore with extra wood they had collected for that purpose on their honeymoon. Rel and Warlowe untied and pulled down the chairs, and arranged them on the sandy shore as had been pre-determined, not far from the fire. The extra cushions and blankets they dragged up in a nearby pile in case they should be needed for comfort or warmth. Andrus took charge of the medical supplies, and a small folding cot, which he set up in a convenient alcove between some rocks near to the center of the action. In case of a problem with either Tvrdik, or Xaarus, the idea was for him to be standing by, prepared with whatever might be needed.

Tvrdik swept his gaze over the vast, pristine lake, just becoming visible in the first hints of dawn. “You were so right about this place, Jorelial Rey,” he called. “It is indeed magnificent.”

“You haven’t even seen the half of it,” she called back from behind a pile of cushions. “Sometime, I’ll fly you over and
really
show you around…” But her offer drifted off unfinished, as she found herself fighting off the thought that such a thing might never happen.

When all the preparations were complete, the young wizard took his place in the center chair, leaning against its high back, facing away from the water. He wore a loose, comfortable robe, unbelted, his powerful staff in his right hand, and his left fishing the old coin bearing Xaarus’ image out of a pocket. Delphine and Mark sat down in chairs on either side of him, each laying a hand on one of his forearms. If Tvrdik sensed at any moment that he was in the slightest trouble, or he wished to discontinue for any reason, he was to move his hand or his arm so that they would know to call for help. They would also be in a good position to use the leverage of physical contact to pull him back from the brink to reality. They were to do that, in any case, at the end, if the process succeeded. Cushions were stuffed under Tvrdik’s arms, as well as behind his head and at the small of his back, to keep him comfortable and relaxed for the duration of the exercise.

“I feel like a salmon packed for shipping,” he quipped, a slight edge of hysteria to his good humor. “Is this necessary?”

“We don’t know how long you’ll have to sit there in the same position,” Delphine answered, fluffing one of the pillows. “Just relax, and let us make you comfortable.”

Jorelial Rey would sit in a chair facing him, watching him at all times, and also keeping an eye out over the lake, which was where Danoral would be making his exit and re-entry. Andrus and Warlowe watched from a few paces away, ready to step in if need arose. And now, eleven dragons, of various sizes, ages, and colors, began to arrange themselves in a ring surrounding the odd little scene. Tash took his place right behind Tvrdik, in the closest and most supportive role. His mind would be the first to join with Tvrdik’s consciousness, and the last to pull out. Candelinda stood at Tashroth’s right, as near to him as practical. A rust-colored creature called Morenwood stepped in beside her, and so on, dragon after dragon placing themselves beside their fellows, until the full circle was complete. Danoral remained by himself, facing the lake and the sunrise, poised to execute his peculiar function at the appointed moment. When the circle of dragons unfolded their wings even just a little bit, it was like being in an enclosed shelter made of vibrant, living tissue. One felt cocooned in safety, warmth, and power.

Jorelial Rey took her seat, and Tvrdik reached forward and handed her his glasses for safekeeping.

“Please look after these. You know what they mean to me.”

She slid them with care into a pocket, and nodded, leaning in close to him.

“The sun is just coming up. Are you ready?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

“You can still change your mind, you know. No one would think any less of you.”

“I’ll see you on the other side.”

“Don’t wait to signal us if you feel the slightest bit uncomfortable…”

“Alright! Let’s just get on with it.”

Tashroth’s deep voice coached now, “Master mage, you will forge the link as usual, and I will lend my assistance, as we have done before. Candelinda will then add her mind to the link. Once you are comfortable with that, each of the others will join at intervals, stretching and opening and strengthening a corridor through time, one layer at a time, right to where your mind tells us Xaarus is waiting. At any time, you may tell us to stop, if the experience becomes too much for you, and we will reverse the process. As soon as Danoral feels he has a clear fix on your teacher, he will attempt to dive in and fetch him back. In and out, precise and quick. It may take only a few of us to create a safe corridor, but we anticipate needing the minds of all of us present to accomplish our goal. If we succeed, once Danoral and Xaarus are safely through the corridor, we intend to disengage one mind at a time, to bring you back in gentle stages. Is this clear?”

“Thanks, Tashroth. Very clear. We’ve been through it a hundred times.”

“Patience, mage. No harm in making sure we all know what we are doing. Fine, then. Whenever you are ready.”

“Wait!” cried Jorelial Rey, and all eyes were on her, as she fumbled for something of worth to say which might delay things further. She glanced at Delphine, her eyes pleading. Delphine returned her look with sympathy, but there was nothing at all to say now that made any sense. Rel swallowed, and muttered, “Good luck, Tvrdik.” Everyone nodded and echoed the words, voicing their support. Tvrdik closed his eyes and fingered the small coin, imagining Xaarus in his mind – the expression in his eyes, the timbre of his voice, the grace with which he moved…

“I am here, son,” the familiar voice seemed to say aloud. “I’m going to keep talking to you as much as possible throughout this experience in order to keep us both focused on our connection, yes?”

“Yes, Master. It is good to see you again.”

“And you as well, my boy. With any luck at all, very soon we will see each other in the flesh for the first time in a long, long while.”

“That will be wonderful, indeed.”

“Ah, and here is Tashroth come in with us. I recognize that familiar
boost
in the transmission.”

“When Tashroth joins us, I always hear you better, and your image seems to be more solid, less…translucent, if that is the word. Also, I always feel like I can relax some, as if a weight is lifted from my shoulders.”

“He is providing some of the energy that helps us connect, so that we both needn’t work quite as hard. But, mind you do not relax too much today. We need you to have all your wits about you.”

“Don’t worry. I’m paying attention. I don’t wish to miss a moment of this adventure. Whoa, I think that must be Candelinda joining on. Now,
that’s
a different feeling. It’s as if we are standing in the same room talking, but I feel sort of euphoric. Light as a feather….” Tvrdik giggled. Candelinda had indeed come aboard, and things were moving along. Those who were outside observing had had various levels of experience with the phenomenon of this mind link between wizards, and were not all comfortable with what they were watching. It was like a strange, disjointed performance where half the characters and half the dialogue were missing. Tvrdik’s eyes were open, and he seemed very alert, but stared at a point in space where there was nothing to see. Since they could only hear his part of the conversation, it seemed as if he kept up a running dialogue with the air. Not all of what he said made sense to them, but they listened, nevertheless, for signs of potential danger. So far, what they had heard was a bit odd, but the mage seemed fine. A third, and then a fourth dragon added their consciousness to the joined minds.

“Oooooh! This is amazing. There are all sorts of remarkable visions spinning by. So many colors. So much knowledge and wisdom. Centuries of records. And flashes of scenes – blood and fire and ice and stars and wind and motion…I-I can’t make sense out of it all. My mind is reeling.”

“Now, Tvrdik, I know it is tempting, and I know you are curious by nature,” Xaarus soothed, “but don’t go wandering around in the dragons’ minds, alright? You wouldn’t want to get lost there. They can be very convoluted. Focus. You are pointing them to me, remember? So, stay with me, boy. Here, take my hand…”

“Oops, no, Xaarus, they’re panicking. That was our signal for trouble, and I’ve moved my hand now. False alarm, everyone. Xaarus asked me to take his hand, and I must have flinched. I’m fine. Keep going…”

A fifth dragon came into the mix. Delphine, who had jumped when the fingers on her side had suddenly twitched and reached, appeared shaken. The coin bearing Xaarus’ likeness had fallen to the ground. She searched and picked it up, folding it back into the mage’s left hand and cupping it in her own. “Tvrdik, this is Delphine. Can you hear me too? Can you hear any of us? We’re all right beside you. Can you see us anymore?”

“I can heeear you, from a veeery looong way off, but I can’t see yoooooou. No. I am too big, you see. I am so very, very enormous, and you are so very small. I can’t find you. I’m glad you’re there, but you have no idea how huge I am. I can step from star to star. I am stretched across the sky…” The sixth dragon had taken his place in the group consciousness. They were only halfway there. “Wait a moment, Xaarus is calling me again – I can see him.”

“Tvrdik, Tvrdik! Look at me. We are still linked, and you need to focus on me, lad. This is all about finding the way to me. Now, listen carefully. You don’t have to move your physical body. You don’t have to lift a finger at all. Just imagine your energetic self, standing right here in your mind’s eye, just as you see I am, and I am thinking that my hand should reach out to you. Can you will your energetic hand to reach out and clasp mine, son? There, that’s it. That’s right. Can you feel me beside you now?”

“Yes, I can. Master, can you not see all of these wonders? Do you not feel all of this as I do?”

“Not with the same intensity as you. Partly as I am older and more experienced with disciplining my thoughts. But mostly because everything is coming from your side; your mind is the doorway. You are the conduit, so you are the one who must contain everything. It is a lot to ask, I know. Do you understand? Are you all right? Do you still wish to go on?”

“Yes, yes, of course. I couldn’t be better. I am amazing! I know so many things. There is no possible way I will remember all of this later with my own tiny brain. Someone should be out there taking all of this down before I forget it all.”