The mage from nowhere, p.41
The Mage From Nowhere, page 41
Most in the dining hall halted their retrieval of bowls and silverware as they watched the king.
“Sire?” Arthur asked.
Leon said, “I vote for the god to have his audience, and let this be done.”
“Arthur,” Nykal said, “you may go.”
Callie took her seat again.
Over the next half hour, she tried to get something out of Basael. As skilled as he was with sorcery, he was even greater at speaking without saying anything. She could never quite figure out if he was purposefully vague or just absolutely terrible at explaining his spells. She ended up leaving the table frustrated, though she did manage to keep her emotions in check.
Callie headed to the keep. She had not asked her father if she could go with Basael and the others into Curdith Forest, but everyone was going. She almost didn’t care what her father would say. She was going to go with them and find out more about this mortal magic tree if it was the last thing she did.
“Princess,” Tarak said as he lightly touched her arm.
She hadn’t seen him following after her. She turned around.
“It might be best to ignore Basael,” Tarak said as he dropped his hand. “I cannot say if he will ever tell you what you want. Caarda was like that with me, and I used to hate him for it. Now I see he is a saint compared to Basael. These gods do not understand sorcery like the rest of us. It is like breathing to them. Ask them to do it and they do; ask them to explain it and they will piss you right off trying.”
She laughed. “I will try to keep that in mind.” Then she noticed others heading out of the great hall, and she quickly turned away and retreated to the keep, where the guard Randy opened the door for her.
She nearly bumped into Zarin on the other side. He stopped suddenly, made a face of pain, and fell to his knee, then rubbed the other one to soothe it.
“I’m sorry,” Callie said as she helped him up.
He hissed through the pain as he pushed her hand away. “Ya torry shak oot ij!” he growled.
Callie jumped back reflexively. “I’m truly sorry,” she repeated.
He nodded and offered a sympathetic smile. “It is fine. I apologize for raising my voice.”
Callie wanted to know what he’d told her, but she was a little afraid to find out. He seemed a little embarrassed as he passed by with red cheeks.
He had never spoken analyse to her, but even with it being another language she should have at least recognized his voice. Instead, he’d sounded like a completely different person.
Ya-tori sha-koot-eej, she repeated to herself as she took the stairs. Ya-tori sha-koot-eej.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Tarak could do nothing but laugh without humor as a few hundred people followed Basael out of Newhaven and into the forest. When Tarak had first met Arthur and heard about this new magic and the god responsible for it, he had figured this was a small movement with maybe dozens of people.
The bastard’s been busier than I imagined.
Michael approached Tarak as all the sorcerers walked with the king’s guard at the front, Basael at the head. “Hey Tarak, did Basael tell you how he’s going to make this portal?”
“He has explained nothing, and I expect that to remain.”
“You have asked?”
“Many times.”
“What about Caarda?”
“He does not know,” Tarak answered.
“Damn. I was hoping we could rid ourselves of Basael by sending him off with his followers.”
“It is a comforting thought, but he is more dangerous apart from us.”
They walked in silence for a moment.
Michael said, “How long has he been alive?”
“It could be a thousand years.”
“How many more does he have left?”
“I wish I knew.”
“Is there something we could give him?” Michael made a rolling motion with his hand. “Like wine or something that will make him docile?”
“Only praise seems to make him more sufferable.”
“Damn,” Michael repeated. “It’s like giving Leon a compliment.” Michael nudged Tarak as he pointed at the king and Lord Langston walking past them. “Sire, lord,” Michael called. They each glanced over. Tarak followed Michael to walk beside them.
“What are we to do about Basael?” Michael asked. “Seriously. He ruined most of our breakfasts. It’s probably the beginning of many things he’s going to ruin. Who can say what he’ll do with this portal. Even Caarda knows nothing about them.”
Lord Langston asked snidely, “What do you suggest, Michael?”
He gave a questioning look at Tarak. “Can’t Caarda do something?” Michael asked.
“He wants to repair the relationship with his father,” Tarak said.
“How powerful is Basael?” Michael wondered.
Tarak noticed the king and the lord also waiting for that answer. “He has proven he can change the entire mana system.”
Nykal asked, “Can Caarda prevent that?”
“Yes, I believe so. Maybe more of us will be able to make changes in time. That is when Basael will be less dangerous.”
Lord Langston said, “How can one being change mana for everyone? That doesn’t sound right.”
“Caarda,” called the king.
Caarda parted from Basael and slowed to join their group. Basael seemed to study them with a look over his shoulder, but then he walked around everyone as if to meet his congregation at the back. The king let him go.
“We never had a chance to finish our conversation during breakfast,” Nykal explained to Caarda. “Regarding the change of mana.”
“Yes, I have considered how to better explain that. Think of this example. Your kingdom is built alongside a very wide and powerful river, mana. With the right tools, someone may have the ability to alter the river. They cannot stop it. No one is that powerful, but they can divert some of the water to other places. Depending on how your kingdom was using this powerful river, these diversions may be helpful, or they may be a hindrance. With even more advanced tools, the river can be modified in other ways that make certain tasks easier. Some of it can be diverted into a lake, where fish will dwell. Some of it can be used to push waterwheels and other machinery. There are many uses for such a powerful river, but sometimes it is best left alone. However, mana works a little differently than water. Once it is used in a certain way, it becomes accustomed to that use. It would be as if the water was alive and did not like change.”
“You are saying that the initial change to mana would be the most difficult for the sorcerer responsible,” Nykal said. “But if their change remained for many years, it would be just as difficult for another sorcerer to change mana back.”
“Yes, the initial change to mana would take a great amount of power that would leave even someone like Basael severely weakened. Their state of weakness would diminish over time as mana became accustomed to its change and required less force to remain this way. During this time the sorcerer would be susceptible to attack and trackable by anyone who is in touch with mana. It is why my siblings were always able to sense each other. We were all connected to mana, responsible for its modification in our own way.”
Michael said, “So if Basael changed mana, we could easily stop him.”
“Yes,” Caarda answered.
“But could we change mana back if he escaped from us and we could not reach him?”
“I am unsure of that. It is like asking who would win a wrestling match. One can only speculate. Now if more of us were able to compete, the speculation becomes easier. However, I am unsure how many of you are connected to mana in the necessary way to both make and prevent changes.”
“What does it take?”
“Your connection must be strong enough for mana to provide life to you.”
“Leon,” Michael mused.
“That abrasive man is your strongest sorcerer?” Caarda asked.
Michael answered, “Why do you think we’ve kept him around?”
Nykal put up his hand. “Michael, allow me to speak to this from here on.”
“Sorry, your majesty.”
Nykal nodded. “Leon!” he called.
Leon walked nearby with Arthur and Reuben. Tarak could hear from here that Leon seemed to be asking something of Arthur with his usual bothered tone, most likely how he could possibly believe Basael’s bullshit.
“Leon!” Nykal repeated.
Leon looked over. Nykal gestured for him to come.
As Leon walked over, Tarak commented to Caarda, “Why do you always use rivers as your examples?”
“What do you mean?”
“You always use rivers. Even when teaching me sorcery, you described mana like an endless river. You have even described spells like small rivers coming out of us. You are obsessed with rivers.”
“If our world was a human body, then rivers would be the veins that carry our blood.”
“That is what I am trying to tell you! You discuss everything in terms of rivers!”
“Tarak,” the king silenced him as Leon arrived.
“What is it?” Leon asked.
“Caarda believes you might be able to change mana in some way.”
“Me?” Leon pointed at himself as he glanced at Caarda.
“You are how old?” Caarda asked.
Leon glanced at Michael, then at Tarak. “Older than I look,” was all he admitted.
“Do you feel that your mana is capable of speaking to all mana?”
“No.”
Caarda told the king, “He is not yet ready.”
“When will he be ready?”
“It could be one year or fifty. I cannot say.”
“Hold on,” Leon said. “If I can change mana, that means I can also prevent others from changing it?”
“Yes,” Caarda said.
“Tell me what it should feel like.”
“Like a river—”
Tarak’s loud groan interrupted Caarda.
“Like a river,” Caarda continued, “consisting of all mana. Your mana is a small stream running beside it. Like hearing the powerful river hidden behind a line of trees, you might notice signs of this flow of mana. Once you can sense it is there, you may begin pushing your mana to connect to it. This will take strength. It is like casting a spell except it is not temporary.”
“It’s not?” Leon had put his hands up as if to begin, but he dropped them. “What else might happen if I connect my mana to all mana?”
“Depending on how difficult it is for you to connect, you may find it difficult to disconnect. Your mana is a part of you. Changes to your mana may also affect the way you feel, the way you cast, and perhaps even the way you think. I cannot say what might occur. Mood changes at the very least.”
“That would do him good,” Michael said. “He only has one mood right now. Grumpy.”
“Michael,” the king admonished. “Leon, you should connect to all mana if you can.”
“Hold on, this sounds like serious shit!”
“What are you saying?” Caarda asked.
Michael answered, “He means he’s scared.”
“Fuck yes, and I’m not afraid to admit it. I can be brave and attempt this, but I say we’d better make sure first. What else can you tell me about this, Caarda?”
“Nothing. I have explained everything.”
“At least tell me what you were like before you connected to all mana.”
“Happy, I suppose, but ignorant to the ways of mana. I was a child and connected during my teenage years.”
“And were you happy after?”
“I have not been happy in a long time.”
Tarak’s heart broke. Not once had he considered his father’s happiness. The only thing that had mattered to Tarak was Tarak. Caarda had wanted so much out of him and pushed so hard that Tarak had felt he had no choice but to push back for some semblance of normalcy.
He could’ve done more to appease his father’s wishes. At least it wasn’t too late to start.
“You’re never happy, either,” Michael told Leon. “Might as well do it.”
“Just because I’m never happy around you doesn’t mean I’m never happy elsewhere.”
“Michael,” the king admonished again.
“Michael, leave!” Lord Langston ordered.
“What?”
“Go now!” Lord Langston shouted. Many others looked their way.
Michael hung his head. “All right, no need to make a scene.”
As Michael left, Zarin limped over to them with the help of his cane. Walking appeared to be giving him even more trouble than usual today.
“Basael is telling his followers they will soon see why he is their god,” Zarin informed the king. “Some of the things he’s saying might be considered blasphemous.”
“Caarda,” Nykal said. “We have spoken about his attitude.”
“We have.”
“This is becoming more of a problem,” Nykal added. “He needs to be reminded that I am his king and he cannot undermine my authority.”
“I have tried to calm him. I am afraid there is not much more that can be done. You have only a few options, as I see it. You allow him to continue, you send him away, or you fight him. There will be repercussions no matter what you decide.”
Tarak asked, “You would condone fighting your own father?”
“I condone what is best for the greater good,” Caarda replied. “His relation to me has no effect on my choice.”
“What about my relation to you?” Tarak asked.
“You are not my father. I am yours. I am bound to protect you, so long as you are good.”
“Do you not feel obligated to protect anyone who is good?”
“I do.”
“So you admit you treat me no differently than, say, the king.”
“No, the king I would protect more. His death would cause more harm than yours.”
“What! Would my death mean anything to you?”
“Of course, Tarak. It hurts me that you feel the need to ask. Your death would devastate me personally, but your death would not cause as many problems as the king’s death, hence his would cause more harm than yours.”
“Oh, so you meant more overall harm, not to you personally.”
“Of course. Regarding Basael, your majesty, I support the decision you make. However, there is nothing more I can do to change his behavior. I have tried.”
“We need some enemies,” Leon commented. “Then we’ll see how useful he really is.”
“We have enemies,” the king reminded him, “but many have yet to show themselves.” He asked Caarda, “How confident are you that Basael tells the truth about other beings as powerful as him?”
“I have spoken to him at great lengths about that, and I do now believe he has been telling the truth. It is likely that at least one of these Ancients will come to Dorrinthal. I cannot say just how powerful they are, but it does seem likely that if they are to come at all it will be soon, before our system of mana becomes more difficult to change.”
“Let them come,” Leon said. “Have Basael fight them.”
“And if Basael is to fall?” Caarda asked. “Will you be next in line to fight?”
“Fuck yes,” Leon answered without delay. “I’ll even be right there beside Basael. I’ve fought beside people I hate before.”
“Zarin,” Nykal said, “please go with Lord Langston and try to stop Basael without angering him. We will continue to deal with him for now. It’s best I am not the one directly chastising him before a crowd, in case he refuses to listen. If a time comes when more drastic measures are required, I will order them.”
Zarin and Lord Langston headed back.
Tarak went to walk with Illia and let Caarda and the king discuss his grandfather on their own.
“Greetings,” he said.
“Hello,” she replied. “I scare portal. Danger. Trust Basael?”
“Uh,” Tarak paused. He wanted to lie and ease her worries, but she should know the truth. “I cannot say.”
“You cannot say?” she asked.
“I do not know.”
“He grandfather.”
“Correct,” Tarak said.
“You do not know?”
“Correct,” Tarak repeated. “Maybe danger, maybe not. I do not know.”
“I understand.”
“What does Zarin say?” Tarak asked.
“Safe,” Illia answered. “Danger…em.” She pinched her fingers.
“A little,” Tarak realized.
“Little, but danger…em…go…no Korrithin.”
“I understand,” Tarak said. “Basael might send you to another place on accident.”
Illia nodded.
Callie joined them abruptly. “Illia, what does this mean? Ya-tori sha-koot-eej.”
Illia showed her confusion.
“Ya-tori sha-koot-eej?” Callie asked and shrugged. “Zarin said it.”
“Ah,” Illia replied. “Ya torry shak oot ij?”
“Yes,” Callie said.
“Leg pain, eh,” Illia paused. She made a flat line out of moving her hand across. “Leg pain, leg pain, leg pain. More leg pain, leg pain, leg pain.”
“His leg will hurt for a long time?” Callie asked.
“Yes.”
“Oh, thank you.”
Tarak asked, “Why did he not tell you that in common tongue?”
“He yelled it in anger after he fell. I almost bumped into him coming through a doorway because I was going too fast. I wanted to know what it meant. It makes sense now.”
“Zarin,” Illia said. “Eh, Zarin mad.” She made an exaggerated face of fury. “Much mad. Danger, Zarin. Big mad.”
“Ohh,” Callie murmured. “I didn’t know.”
“Yes. Zarin…sad life. Much pain. Much anger. Sorry Zarin.” She tapped her heart. “I mad Zarin. I sorry, I say. He forgive, but mad, but pain. Understand?”
“Yes,” Callie said.
“Zarin handsome.” Illia pointed at Tarak. “Tarak handsome, but Zarin…leg.” She shook her head as if disappointed. “No girl. No fun. Much mad.”
“I don’t think we should be talking too much about his personal life,” Callie said. “But it’s my fault for bringing it up. Thank you for your help.” She gave a quick curtsy and hurried off.
