The door led to what was obviously a classroom. Its walls were full of charts of facts and figures, illustrations of anatomy, and various diagrams that Jared didn’t understand. Shelves held bottles containing various animal and plant specimens suspended in liquid, and among them were what looked like snarled puzzles of wire. And of course there were books. Books everywhere.

  Ryan was seated at a desk, with Eglerion hovering over him, both of them analyzing a diagram of a human brain, but Ryan looked up as soon as Jared stepped inside.

  “Did you say just ‘future queen’?”

  Labri laughed. “You didn’t know?”

  “You didn’t tell me,” Ryan countered. “I thought the queen was trapped by the Seed of Trimoria.”

  “She is,” Eglerion said. “And when she dies, her power will transfer to Labri.”

  Ryan gazed at Labri with a wide-eyed expression.

  Eglerion turned to Jared. “Your son is having trouble understanding why he needs to learn the basics before he practices. It seems he’s used to just… randomly testing his theories.”

  Jared winced. “Sorry, that’s my fault. Experimentation was the only way we were able to learn.”

  “Well, I’m afraid that bad habit will have to be broken. Just because a toddler can carry a torch, that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea for him to walk around with fire in his hand.”

  “I’m not a toddler…” Ryan grumbled.

  “Ryan,” said Jared, “your teacher knows more about magic than you and I could ever learn in a lifetime. If you aren’t listening to his every word, you’re just embarrassing yourself. Eglerion is ensuring that you understand the theory and precautions before you do something that could cause harm.”

  Ryan’s face flushed.

  “He has the exuberance and impatience of youth,” said Eglerion. “Perhaps an illustration of why we must be cautious is in order. Lord Riverton, would you indulge me?”

  “Whatever you need,” Jared said.

  “Good. Let’s head outside. I don’t want to burn the building down.”

  “Burn the building down?” Ryan asked, sounding nervous.

  But Jared grinned and followed Eglerion as the lore master led them down a path to a wide clearing. The teacher pointed for Ryan to walk to the center of the clearing while the rest of them stood along the tree line.

  The lore master then shouted to Ryan. “You are familiar with the concept of pushing a thread of power at something like a rock, or a buzzing fly near your head, yes?”

  Ryan nodded. “Yes, I know how that works.”

  “Good. And I understand that you can create a web of power?”

  Ryan smiled. “You mean like this?”

  A thin thread of sparkling energy erupted from his hand and split lengthwise. Those threads in turn split into finer and finer threads, until a hazy wall hovered before him. A few insects that had the misfortune of flying into the haze fell to the ground, stunned.

  Jared felt his heart swell with pride at his son’s ability.

  “Very good,” Eglerion said. “A web like the one you wield is tremendously useful. For although a wizard is powerful, he is as vulnerable to physical attack as anyone else. One punch to your head, or anything else that sufficiently disturbs your concentration, and you are helpless. Which is why it’s critical that a wizard be able to shape such a web into a shield.”

  Jared nodded. There had been no time yet for him to teach Ryan this new skill himself, but he was eager to see how Eglerion went about it. This would be as educational for him as it was for Ryan.

  The lore master went over the technique, and Ryan quickly got the hang of it. Soon Eglerion was repeating the exact same experiment that Jared had done with Aaron—flinging pebbles.

  We really are a lot alike, Jared thought.

  At first Ryan’s shield held, knocking away the pebbles, and Ryan smiled victoriously. But Eglerion didn’t stop there. He had grabbed a whole handful of pebbles and sent them rapid fire at Ryan’s shield, one after the other. And each time a pebble hit, the web was pushed and tilted. Finally one of the pebbles slipped through and struck Ryan’s forehead. Instantly his entire shield collapsed in a loud whuff and explosion of flame.

  As Ryan stomped out the small grass fire burning at his feet, Eglerion said, “As you noticed, your shield moves when struck—even from mere pebbles. Which is why you must anchor it. This time, push more energy into it—much more. The more energy, the more rigid it will be. Also, I want your next shield to surround you. There is no point in being shielded if someone can merely come up on you from behind.”

  Ryan nodded, then created a new web. This one was like a cocoon, completely surrounding him.

  “I did it!” he said. “But now I can’t see anything. Everything’s hazy.”

  Labri called across the clearing. “Keep pushing more power. The shield will eventually become transparent.”

  Eglerion glared down at her. “Young lady, do you want to teach this class?”

  She shrugged. “Was I wrong?”

  The old elf grunted.

  Ryan concentrated, and the haze gradually faded. He smiled, but Jared saw that his son was struggling to maintain the required flow of energy.

  Eglerion set aside the pebbles and hefted a rock the size of a baseball. “Ready?”

  “Yes, sir,” Ryan said confidently.

  Eglerion threw the rock. When it hit Ryan’s shield, it was knocked aside with a giant spark.

  “Whoa! I felt that!” Ryan shouted.

  Eglerion smiled. “I would suggest you ensure your shield is tightly woven. That will better spread impacts across your body. Right now, your shield is like chain mail. It will prevent penetration, but you’ll feel the blows and can still be injured by them. With practice, you’ll be able to turn your shield into something more like plate armor. Even then you’ll still feel the impacts, but not so much that they injure you.”

  Interesting. Jared hadn’t thought of it that way, but it completely made sense. He resolved to practice this technique himself. But at the moment, he wanted to try something else.

  He turned to Eglerion. “May I attempt a magical attack?”

  The elf frowned. “I have never had two wizard students, so have never been able to try that. But according to theory, the shield should be effective against magical attacks.” His frown turned to a smile. “When you’re ready, Lord Riverton.”

  Jared sent a shimmering bolt of energy at Ryan. It struck the shield, which shimmered all over, popping and crackling as the bolt’s energy was dispersed.

  “It worked!” Ryan shouted.

  Eglerion erupted with laughter. “Very good. But don’t be overconfident. You are not invincible. If a mountain falls on top of you, I don’t care how strong a shield you can generate, it will not be sufficient. Also, you’ll need to build up your energy stores. In times of war, times we know lie ahead, you must be able to maintain a shield even as you fight.”

  Jared raised his hand like he was another of the lore master’s pupils, which he supposed he was. “I didn’t know we could expand our energy stores. How is that done?”

  “Through practice, of course,” Eglerion said simply. “It’s no different than any other form of exercise. The more you use your energy, as long as you do so regularly, the more stamina you build. This is one reason why elven wizards have superior stamina—long life. Labriuteleanan, for instance, has been practicing her mental exercises for over a century now.”

  Ryan, obviously tiring, lowered his shield and rejoined the others. “Clearly I have a lot to learn. And practice. I’m willing to do whatever is needed.”

  Eglerion raised an eyebrow. “Good. To begin with, put that shield back up, and keep it up. I want you to maintain it during all waking hours—from the moment you rise to the moment you go to bed. I’ll test you unexpectedly, and so will Labriuteleanan. Failing the test will mean you get hit in the head with a rock. Or perhaps in more uncomfortable places.”

  Labri threw a pebble at Ryan, almost hitting him in a spot where he’d rather never get hit.

  “Hey!” Ryan shouted, then joined in her laughter—and very quickly restored his shields.

  * * *

  “Welcome to my humble abode, Lord Riverton,” Xinthian said. “Please come in.”

  Jared stepped inside—and felt like he’d entered a library. Shelves filled every wall from floor to ceiling, all of them crammed with books.

  “Xinthian, are you also Eluanethra’s librarian?”

  Xinthian smiled. “Lord Riverton, what in the world would make you say that?”

  “Well, I would say that the bookshelves might be a hint. And please stop with the ‘Lord Riverton’ stuff. We’re not in public. If I can call you Xinthian, you can call me Jared. I insist.”

  “Of course, Jared. Let’s go upstairs to sit and relax. I may not look like I’m approaching one thousand years old, but I feel it in my bones, and have grown to appreciate a nice fireplace and a comfortable chair.”

  Xinthian led Jared upstairs to his study, where once again the walls were filled with books. Jared smiled as he breathed in the warm scents of leather, parchment, and wood. In one corner, a small fireplace was burning bricks of what looked vaguely like peat moss. A wooden desk stood against one wall, while two overstuffed chairs were positioned near the hearth.

  Xinthian went to a cart that held a carafe and several opaque glasses. He poured two glasses of an amber liquid and handed one of the glasses to Jared as they sat in the chairs by the fire.

  “This is a wine that we make in Eluanethra. I hope you enjoy it.”

  Jared sipped. The wine had a crisp, refreshing taste, with a hint of honeysuckle. “This is wonderful.”

  Xinthian took a much larger swallow. “I tend to agree,” he said with a wink. “Now. I presume you’re here because you have questions for me.”

  “Well, yes, as a matter of fact. Mostly about Seder.”

  The elf nodded knowingly, as if he’d expected this to be the topic. “Ah, yes. I’m sure it was quite startling to have him visit your dreams for the first time.”

  “The first time? You mean… this wasn’t the first time he spoke to you?”

  “It’s the second. The first time was over five hundred years ago, just before the demons invaded Trimoria. It was only thanks to his warning that our armies were not completely destroyed. We were able instead to fend off the demon attack and seal what remained of Trimoria against further incursion.”

  “It seems a visit from Seder is a sign of dark times ahead.”

  Xinthian nodded somberly. “It was then, and I fear it is once again.”

  Jared sighed. “Not that we didn’t know that already, thanks to the prophecy. But now… now I know I have a lot of work to do. Seder told me I must create an academy of learning, and greatly expand the presence of wizardry in Trimoria. I’m also supposed to resurrect the Conclave of Wizards… which seems impossible, given that I know of only three wizards in this world. Me, Ryan, and your queen. And she may not be… suited to a conclave.”

  Jared paused, choosing his words carefully so as not to offend. “Based on some journals we found, I believe Queen Ellisandrea is trapped within an orb possessed by an extremely evil presence. And that experience may have corrupted her.”

  Jared watched Xinthian carefully, watching for a reaction.

  “Your assessment of our queen is not far off the mark,” he said softly. “What happened to her is a long and sad story. But let us speak of that another day. What else did Seder tell you?”

  “Well, he mentioned a creature called Sammael, a spirit of chaos—and Seder’s brother. I’m supposed to undo some of the actions that Sammael has set in motion. Do you know anything about this Sammael?”

  Xinthian sipped at the wine and pursed his lips. “Sammael is everything that Seder is not. He is known by some as the Destroyer of Souls, while Seder is known by many as the Creator. I think if we wanted to generalize things, some might say Sammael rules those with evil in their hearts, while Seder is a guiding light for those who favor all that is good. If you would like, I can ask our scholars to search our histories for more information.”

  Jared nodded. “I would be indebted to you for any help or guidance you can provide.”

  Xinthian leaned back in his chair. “I can give you one piece of guidance right now: Trust your instincts, and don’t let worry drive your actions. I’ve known several people who have received messages from Seder over my lifetime. The messages always seem cryptic at first, but time brings clarity to such things.”

  Jared smiled. “So far, worry has served me well in this world. I sometimes believe only the paranoid survive.”

  * * *

  Jared rubbed his belly contentedly as he headed back to his sleeping quarters. The dinner with the council of elders had been very productive. He’d managed to get them to agree to aid not only in the construction, but in the operation of the new academy of magic. Although he suspected the main reason they agreed was that he already had Xinthian’s backing.

  He arrived back at the cabin at the same time as Ryan, who looked exhausted. As soon as they both went inside, Ryan collapsed on his bed.

  “I think my head is going to explode, Dad. I’ve been pummeled. I’ve had sticks dropped on my head. I’ve been made to memorize steps for using my powers in ways that Eglerion says I’m not ready to attempt. On the plus side, I nearly caught a tree on fire.”

  Jared suppressed a grin. “You think you can handle two months of this?”

  “Honestly? I have no choice. If it doesn’t kill me, I think I’ll look back at what I know now and be appalled at my ignorance.”

  “I doubt Eglerion will let you die.”

  “I don’t know, Dad. I thought you pushed me hard before, but Eglerion makes your demands seem like a vacation.”

  “Well, good,” Jared said. “Because I’ve arranged to borrow Eglerion to teach at the academy when the time comes. So guess what? Even after you’re done here, you’ll continue to enjoy the special benefits of his teaching.”

  Ryan groaned. “Not helping, Dad.” Then he looked up as if something had just occurred to him. “Does that mean Labri would be coming, too?”

  “I can’t imagine she and Eglerion would part company.”

  Ryan groaned again.

  “What’s wrong?” Jared asked. “Do you not like Labri?”

  “No, she’s fine. She’s nice, when she’s not throwing rocks at me. But did you know that elves bathe in public, and think nothing of being naked in front of others? Arabelle is not going to be happy to have me hanging around with a naked elf.”

  Jared burst into laughter. “I guess it’ll be up to you to educate her on human customs. Just tell her that nudity makes you uncomfortable and might get you into trouble with your betrothed. She’ll understand.”

  The door banged open and Aaron staggered in. At least, Jared thought it was Aaron. He looked more like a bedraggled, mud-covered human-shaped lump of flesh. And just like Ryan had done when he came in, Aaron collapsed onto his bed.

  “Had an easy day playing in the forest,” said Ryan, brightly. “But you didn’t need to bring half of it in with you.”

  Jared chuckled. “Ryan, help your brother off his bed before he makes a mess of it. It’s time to eat. I brought a bunch of food from dinner because I wasn’t sure what you’d be getting.”

  As soon as the word “eat” left Jared’s mouth, Aaron bolted upright.

  Jared set out the food, and his boys wolfed it down. He’d thought there might be enough for breakfast, too—for all three of them—but when they were done, not a morsel remained.

  “Well, Aaron, now that you’ve shoveled down a day’s worth of food, how about you explain why you’re covered in mud from head to toe?”

  Aaron shook his head, grinning. The food had clearly brightened his mood. “You wouldn’t believe how strong Castien is, Dad. And he moves like a deer through the woods. I guarantee you, he could defeat Throll without even breaking a sweat. The next couple of months are going to be awesome.”

  Jared laughed. “It seems like the harder things get, the more difficult the challenge, the more you enjoy it.” He ruffled Aaron’s dirty hair fondly.

  “Oh! I have something I want to show you guys.” Aaron suddenly dived for his mud-splattered backpack, and pulled out two round stones. “I’d fallen in a mud pit—I did that a lot today—and these rocks seemed totally out of place. I’m not sure, but I thought it might be damantite, Dad. It’s got that red and black thing you described.”

  Jared weighed one of the stones in his hand. It was lighter than the metal he’d found in Azazel’s tower. “It does seem metallic, but the weight isn’t quite right for damantite. I have no idea what it is.”

  Ryan leaned in. “How about we see if they can hold a charge? And how much?”

  “Still an experimenter,” Jared said, handing the stones to his son. “I don’t think that’s a habit Eglerion is going to be able to break.”

  Ryan grinned. “Eglerion is an experimenter too, he just won’t admit it.”

  He set the stones on the table and pushed two tiny threads of power at them. They both began to glow.

  “Start counting!” Aaron said with excitement.

  Jared was just about to, but right then both stones began to spark.

  Ryan sat back. “Darn. They’re full already.”

  “Weird,” said Jared. “Maybe they aren’t actually solid, and that’s why they’re so light? Or maybe they have lots of impurities.”

  “Can I keep one?” Ryan asked Aaron. “I’d like to study it. At a minimum, it’ll do as a nightlight,” he added with a chuckle.

  Aaron nodded. “Sure. Maybe I’ll use the other as a nightlight too.”

  Jared laughed. “Look at my boys. Both of you are practically married, and yet you still need nightlights.” He raised his communication ring. “Should I send a message to Sloane and Arabelle and tell them you’re both afraid of the dark?”

  Aaron’s eyes went wide. “Dad, you wouldn’t.”

  “Tell you what. Go wash up—thoroughly—and I’ll keep this our little secret.”

 

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