War mage crystals of mem.., p.32
War Mage (Crystals of Memory Book 4), page 32
Then he brought his hands together.
“Now, call out what you’d like to see, and I’ll make it appear. Keep in mind, these are harmless and not real, so be creative!”
Naturally, no one said anything for nearly twenty seconds, as he waited. Finally, one of the soldiers spoke, his voice playful.
“A blue pony?”
Anders didn’t answer, simply forming the image he wanted in his mind, adding power to it. There was a soft gasp, when the tiny animal, no higher than his knee, trotted around the fire pit. Then it made the rounds, first moving in a circle, the soft clip clop of hooves on dirt audible, and then, tentatively, the vision moved closer to some of the children. One of them tried to pat the thing, his hand moving through its back.
Ander pointed.
“I did mention they aren’t really there? Now, what’s next?”
A girl, who looked to be no older than four or five, stood up.
“A ball? A red one?”
He nodded, and built the vision out of thought and magic. Floating in the air in front of the girl. She tried to tap it, which, with some timing and focus, he moved. She tried to toss it to him, so he mimicked catching it, which looked fairly real. As they did that back and forth a few times, he started to alter the color. First to light blue, then green, then to a glowing gold color.
Then he caused it to grow, until it was the size of his own head.
It was tossed to a few other people, and back to the little girl, several times. Then two more were created, and he pretended to juggle them, which had some hooting going on, at his apparent skill. Probably because he could actually juggle. Not well, but Farad had learned as a child, as an entertainment. Oddly, Anders had done the same thing, so they both had a few tricks to show that way. It didn’t hurt that he was creating the balls, which had to fly in the way he demanded.
After half a minute of that, two of the balls were tossed up into the air, very high, and vanished. Then, holding his left hand out, the glowing globe cracked open, like an egg. There was a popping sound, and he walked around the circle, pointing at what was happening. The creature that climbed out was, fearsomely enough, a rather normal sized puppy. It was tan in color, and seemed rather real. It scampered out into the crowd, pretending to climb up Princess Salina, then hopping away, jumping from person to person, around the circle. Several people jumped or ducked from the tiny beast, as it playfully leapt at them, but no one seemed upset.
Then he made other things. A tiny wagon, with an ox, and a driver. That, the driver, was a two-foot-high version of Sir Daniel, who waved as he rounded the circle. After that, he was asked for a dancing girl.
Anders nearly lost a step then, but managed to start some music, in the Barquean style, and then did a version of the one show he recalled of scantily clad ladies dancing. The trick was putting them in rather more clothing, since what was tradition in that far off warm land would be shocking there in Istlan. It could be, at any rate. So, instead of thin cloth that could be seen through, they wore the same fashions, but in solid red and orange cloth.
There were bits of jewelry showing, copied from the real ladies he’d seen. Their faces were the same as he recalled, so each of the six women was different that way. Clearly foreign, of course.
No one seemed to mind too much. People started to clap along with the music, several of the children moving to dance as well. Just in place, which was good, since holding six illusions as well as music, on all sides of himself at once took a lot of focus. Adding all of them at once would be too much for his current skill level, he knew. When the song ended, and the women held their poses at the end, he slowly had them fade away.
Some other things were called out, and he added a few of his own, with some more music, ending on a set of glowing insects in several colors, each the size of his hand. They flew in entrancing patterns, then landed, stepped back to the fire pit stones, each sitting on one, glowing merrily. Then they vanished, the sounds ending.
“That, for today, is the end of the show. Thank you all for being here to witness it.”
There was clapping of hands then and calling out for more. They didn’t get it, since he wanted to save something for the next show. That, he decided, would be in a few days and if possible, wouldn’t be him doing it. Who he could get to try it, he didn’t know, but he wanted to show other people doing fun and happy things as well. That way it wouldn’t be just him, but magic itself that wasn’t all that frightening.
Bowing, he left the circle, and changed his clothing back to his former green outfit. Prince Erold walked up to him, his face pleasant, but not really happy seeming.
“That was very different! I was half expecting monsters and a new world being shown. This worked however, didn’t it? Small things, shown in a way that informed, instead of being strange or frightening. They all know what an illusion is now, don’t they? You should do something different, next time. Maybe wizardry? Tell people what numbers they are thinking or something like that?”
He agreed, after a fashion.
“Magician skills? I was thinking that you could do that part, so that it isn’t just me being seen doing such things? We probably don’t want to point out to people that we can read their minds. Simple things, though. Starting a fire, putting one out, calling water from the air, and that kind of thing?”
The boy, who was a man now, having seen battle several times, rolled his eyes.
“I suppose I can do that. Though, wouldn’t it work better to go around and actually do that for people? At least if simple things like that are the plan.”
He stopped then, looked away and shook his head.
“I... When did I start to think of calling water from the air and making things burst into flame as simple things?”
Anders didn’t know, so had no answer for the question. Instead, he patted the man on the shoulder.
“In three days or so? I need to work on music, I think. What I have so far is a bit simplistic. I’ve heard better, so should be able to repeat it. That doesn’t mean I can make original things, of course.” He could hum a new tune, after a fashion, but hadn’t been trained to such things.
No part of him had been.
The words got a nod, from the other boy.
“That works. Everyone likes music, after all. Not that it’s on us to provide entertainment. I get doing this, since we’re on the road, but back at the castle, that would be considered beneath our station. You need to keep that in mind? Um...” He looked away then and shook his head. “Alpert asked me to talk to you? About making books, for coin. That... It’s a good idea, but you can’t do it. That will make it look like you’re focused on coin, instead of on the people, as you’re supposed to be, as a prince there. That...”
Anders looked at his friend for a moment. His uncle, for all he never thought of him that way.
“Yes? This is the first I’m hearing about that... Explaining that earlier would have helped a bit, in my plans. I can see if Daren and Jeld want to try it? Walden... Honestly, I should get him to focus on that, since he’s worried about having to make his way in the world, for himself and his mother. Prince Alpert could have simply told me no, don’t you suppose?” It would have allowed him to focus in the right direction, sooner.
That got an exasperated sound from the Prince, as they walked, toward where they were staying for the night. It was a well decorated home, in bright blue and green.
“Could he, Anders? You took Yanse. You. Yes, with an army there and helpers, but you led the charge and did most of the work. One single man, storming a kingdom. Then you passed the wealth from it to the Army, directly from your hand. Each of the men with us would slit my throat, to back you, if you wanted it done. Alpert wants to steer you toward proper behavior, but he doesn’t know what he can ask of you at all, now. I know that Father has asked if you planned to take over, there. Master Tolan has communicated with me five times on that very topic, over the last months.”
“I’m not.”
“I know that Anders, and told them as much. The thing is, if you aren’t planning to take Yanse, what are you planning to take? No one knows right now, and that’s leaving some very powerful people feeling rather uneasy.”
Chapter twenty-two
It took weeks to cross half of Istlan and nearly that much of Yanse, of course. Anders was fine on the trip, but felt a bit down, on seeing home again. The castle of King Mathias. It wasn’t that his time there had been bad in any way. Not truly. He’d lived a life of privilege, after a fashion. Never to the level that a prince was given, but he’d had steady food, a warm bed at night and no one had harmed him, outside of weapons practice.
Even that had mainly been Guard Cohen, who, assassin or not, had actually helped to harden and train him greatly, in the weeks they’d worked together. Nearly as much on his own as all the other training that Anders had been given, combined.
Farad understood the reason for the dark feelings, having age on his side, compared to the boy with him. When they were traveling, they were useful. He hunted and prepared food, which people valued. He’d done a few little shows and even played music at the fire, some nights, for people to listen to. Every few days he took a turn improving the meadows that people stayed in, adding temporary housing, which they left up, for others to use for years to come.
At the castle he was, of course, simply Anders again. Even if that hadn’t truly been what had happened, the last time he’d returned. No, he’d thrown himself into work, bribing servants into bettering their lives. A thing that had failed, it seemed.
Not that he knew that yet, having just ridden in, with the others. The wagons had all drifted away, over the last days, with only the whores staying with them until they reached the city near the castle. They weren’t all from there, but it seemed that the men they traveled with had become fond of some of them, and a few had even talked of legitimate marriage. That was too great a prize to pull away from any of them, so the woman in charge had kept going. They were planning to turn back, toward their base, in a few days. If they couldn’t find places in the city, that was.
So, dressed in finery that left him feeling conspicuous, surrounded by others in the same state, the six riders moved to the front of the dwelling, to find about forty people there to officially meet them. Oddly, there were also watchers. Servants, but some who must have come from the city. Indeed, there were thousands of them. When they moved up the road, lined on either side with bodies, a great cheer went up.
Anders didn’t get it at all, though Depak sighed and leaned over, to whisper to him. He still had to be loud, since they were nearly ten feet away.
“Smile, Anders. I think they might be here for you.”
He did paste a grin on his face, but it was clearly questioning, since Salina spoke about it.
“You’re their Great One, after all, aren’t you? Though, I suppose they could be welcoming their victorious Prince Erold? Is that common here? I mean, it isn’t unheard of for a Prince gone to war to have such back home, so I could see it being that.”
So could Anders, really. Given the Istlan fear of magic, even if they were going to do better in the future, that seemed right.
The important part was that no one got in their way, on the stone road, so they were able to dismount in front of the King, Queen, and Heir. Several others as well, including his own mother, and the Barquean Princesses. The other ones. Interestingly, it was the blond Prince, Robarts, who moved forward, bowing toward them. He did it back, going into second courtly, his left knee well bent.
The man spoke loudly.
“Hail, the returning heroes!” He actually yelled it, which got a response from the crowd.
“Hail! Hail! Hail!”
Several servants ran over, to take their horses, with more stripping their packs and gear, to remove it to their places inside. Anders tried to hold a smile on his face, as he felt suddenly uneasy. It was only the press of people, reminding him of battle, of course.
The Heir moved in, and clapped Erold on the arm.
“Brother! Welcome home. We have a meal planned, this evening, in celebration of your return. Also, good news for you. Princess Sweyn, your lady wife, is with child.” The man leaned in then, and whispered, though loudly enough for those standing there to hear. “The timing works. It’s yours. I just didn’t want you to be left shocked and dumfounded, later.”
Anders patted the Prince on the arm.
“How wonderful! Congratulations! I should get a present for her.” He had some small things to give, from Yanse, but they really weren’t grand enough for such an occasion. Bits of braided ribbon and some silverwork in the style of that land.
A few interesting tools, and knives. Nothing too heavy, since Chestnut had been set to carrying it all the whole way.
Robarts moved toward him then, and repeated the clap on the arm.
“Anders! We have a meeting, after the celebratory meal? You’re expected for that. Truly, plan to dine at the high meal, from now on, unless you have leave not to? Father wishes a word with you, with both of you, in private, directly after this.” The words were oddly serious seeming.
Anders looked around again, for attack, and nodded.
“I’ll stand ready.”
Depak was greeted in a similar fashion, with Hoatha getting another bow. Princess Salina was given a small hug however, in the polite court fashion, with a pretend kiss to the cheek, and Saffron, very interestingly received the same. After she was called by name.
“Now, some of you should be shown to your rooms. Erold, you and Anders should meet at my office? If you have time at the moment, of course, Anders?”
He grinned, since there was going to be a bit more than that first.
“After I say hello to my mother and congratulate Princess Sweyn? Unless this is pressing, in which case, we can plan those things for later?”
The King himself moved forward, smiling a bit. He seemed strained when looking at Ganges, but that was, perhaps, to be expected. He was, or had been thought to be, their greatest adversary, not long before.
“There’s time for a few hugs and well wishes now, of course!” The man seemed calm and official, though he did spare a pat on the arm for Prince Erold. “We can, of course, wait on your convenience, Sir Anders?”
That was, other than as a jest, the first time anyone had referred to him that way. It seemed a good bit more real, coming from the King, for some reason.
He didn’t need to refresh himself, so smiled back.
Then, for the life of him, couldn’t work out what he was supposed to say. That he’d hurry, most likely, or that he did, indeed, have something to see to. Which wasn’t true at all. So, lacking words for the moment, he bowed to the man, using first courtly.
That got a knowing nod, as if it weren’t the wrong thing to do, thankfully.
Then, he was nearly taken to the ground, by his mother, who had Lady Martya beside her.
“There you are!” He was hugged for a good long time, Lady Lyse finally letting go of him after nearly a full minute. “So, it will be a bit harder to hide your exploits from me this time. I fear news of your heroism has rather traveled.”
Lady Martya moved in as soon as Lyse let go of him, for her own hug. That didn’t last as long, but seemed well meant enough. Then, they were, in a strange fashion, also old friends. She was also attractive, which Anders noted, actually forcing himself into a trance to prevent a response to her being pressed against him, before she let go. That got her to go slightly wide eyed, which had to be forced on her part. She might not have been the original Ganges, being her own, new, person, but she’d been alive for hundreds of years.
Anders doubted much that he could do would surprise or amaze her.
“Lady Martya! How have you been? Is all well here?”
It was the smallest of chatter, meant to be polite. The woman tilted her head, however.
“I’ve slowed my efforts on this continent, for now. Things are going well, that way, however. I’d thought that Yanse would take Istlan, but the other way around works just as well. Perhaps better, since Mathias and his sons are better leaders than Yarler and his family were. Now, I need to go and give Saffron a hug as well. We’ll talk, soon?”
He nodded, since that was probably required. Especially since she’d just admitted that her plans, while slowed, were ongoing there. A thing that Ganges himself hadn’t really spoken of that way.
Many of the onlookers noticed the scaled woman in their midst, but no one seemed shocked and several relaxed when Lady Martya, clearly a noble of some sort, even if not well known to the public, moved in, held her without dying, then started to speak to her in a strange tongue.
It was all small talk, as far as Anders could tell. In Farad’s language, if with some changes having been made over time. They spoke of the trip, and how Saffron hadn’t found a husband yet. Though, she had to admit rather happily, having learned to speak Istlan had opened a lot up for her that way. A few of the soldiers had been polite to her and one had even asked her to bed.
She’d refused, for the time being, but hadn’t actually turned the man away, so far.
As he listened to them, he was suddenly pulled back. Then several women took turns holding him, from various directions.
They were, in the main, princesses.
Pretty close to all of them, actually. After a few moments he got his feet under him and, smiling, hugged Princess Sweyn, lightly.
“Congratulations! Prince Robarts warned his brother, so he wouldn’t jibber when you told him later. I was close enough to overhear.”
Instead of being upset that her good news had been stolen from her, she smiled, her cute face, a nice tan color, seeming sweet.
“I was taken by surprise, it happening so quickly. I...” She looked to the side, where Princess Lissa stood. Waiting for her own turn. “We’ll speak later?”
He bowed, which simply meant that Lissa was closer to his level when she jumped in and held him for a bit. Tightly.
