Michael Foster - The Young Magician

‘Welcome, Master Samuel,’ the Empress began. She was slender and beautiful. Her proud cheek bore a vivid pink scar-perhaps a souvenir from Ash’s dungeon. ‘I must begin by thanking you. I understand it was you who brought an end to the horrid magician, Master Ash, who had imprisoned us.’

‘Thank you, Empress,’ Samuel returned politely.

‘As a result, I would like to offer you a place on the Magicians’ Council-as a temporary measure in recognition of your skills. I understand this is a great honour for one so young. Never has the Council had such a youthful member in its ranks. The permanent members will need to be elected in the coming months, but there is much to be done and the Empire needs the Council at full strength. I trust you will make good of the opportunity.’

‘Thank you, Your Highness,’ Samuel responded. ‘I will be glad to fill the role, if only for the time being.’

‘Also,’ she continued, ‘I have nominated Lord Lomar to be High Lord. Again, it is only a temporary measure to fill the coming weeks, but if he and the Council agree, perhaps he can take on the role permanently.’

‘That sounds fitting.’

‘As you know, the Emperor was obsessed with the desire to conquer Garteny and complete his expansion of the Empire. I, on the other hand, wish only to maintain the law and keep the people secure. I’m sure you all realise a woman has never ruled the Empire before, and this will only last until my son becomes fit to take my place. I am not entirely convinced I will have the same power that my husband did, and the officials even now have created ways to stop me from making many important decisions. Know this at least, that I will do my best to serve the Empire and its peoples well, and I hope the magicians of the Empire can serve me in turn.

‘We all know that Cintar has been host to Garten spies, but we also have our own spies in Garteny and we have just received word from them. It seems that the Gartens are not content with only my husband’s death. They seem to feel that the Empire is still a threat to them and King Otgart sees this as a time of opportunity. He has marched his armies into our northern lands and has already taken several towns. I have begun a diplomatic process to try and maintain the peace, but I don’t know how far King Otgart is planning to go with this. If he insists on pushing his soldiers further south, we will be forced to send our own troops to dissuade him. For the time being, I have asked our men to keep their distance.’

Samuel sighed. Despite all their best efforts, it seemed the threat of war had still not yet been staunched.

‘What the Empress is saying,’ Lomar explained, ‘is that even though we are not planning to continue with the war, we may have little choice if the Gartens bring the war to us. She is counting on the aid of the Order of Magicians, should the need be required.’

Samuel nodded. ‘I understand.’

‘Very well,’ the Empress said. ‘I shall leave you to discuss the matter further. I have much other pressing business, as you can understand.’

With that, her ladies helped her up and she and her entourage filed from the room with General Ruardin striding out beside her.

The various nobles and ministers each took the opportunity to introduce themselves to Samuel, for it seemed he had developed quite a reputation after felling Ash. They were all smiles as they shook his hand and offered their congratulations and assurances of support. Slowly they left the room, followed by the remaining officials, until Lomar, Master Glim and Samuel were left alone, standing beside the long table.

‘Well,’ Master Glim said. ‘That went well.’

‘Yes,’ Lomar agreed.

‘What does the Grand Master think of this,’ Samuel asked.

‘Well, we haven’t exactly had time to tell him,’ Master Glim explained. ‘But if we prepare him enough, and tell it the right way, just maybe he won’t lose his temper and explode.’

‘I doubt it,’ Lomar added with a grin. ‘I think he will have a fit either way.’

‘Perhaps, but I believe I heard mention of a celebration,’ Master Glim said.

‘Preparation is well under way,’ Lomar informed with a smug smile. ‘Tonight, the Empress will take her vows and choose her ministers. Mourning for the late Emperor shall end and then there will be a great celebration. The entire city will herald the beginning of a new era and the palace grounds will host the greatest event of recent times.’

‘It sounds wonderful,’ Samuel said. And, indeed, it was.

That evening, as magicians’ spells coloured the night sky, Samuel stood with his closest friends-Grand Master Anthem, Lomar, Master Glim, Eric Pot and Eric Goodfellow-and marvelled at the crackling explosions and lights that sounded above them. The Imperial Engineers had prepared a host of rockets and they whistled up above the city to explode and shower the city with shimmering embers. The sounds and smells made the rockets as thrilling as any magician’s efforts. Several magicians were trying to outdo the display and had set the sky afire with all manner of glittering and streaking spells that crossed and hung in the sky.

The palace grounds were covered in tents, pavilions, ribbons and decorations, with music and singing coming from every corner. Soldiers, ministers and courtiers alike rubbed shoulders and clinked their cups together with merriment. With so many men present, serving girls, maids and ladies of the court were precious commodities and all barely had a breath to spare as partner after partner swung them around to the joyful melodies.

Empress Lillith had strictly forbidden any magician to appear in his robes or any form of black on this occasion, marking them as too dark and sombre, and so the younger men of the Order had gone out of their way to wear as brightly, and ridiculously coloured threads as they could find. Never before had such bright reds, blues, yellows and greens been seen in such stripes, circles and swirls! It seemed that years of monotony had resulted in the most colourful burst of imagination that each magician could muster, and they did it well.

Many of the older magicians could not break their age-old habits and gathered on the border of the celebration, still in their drab magicians’ robes, but nonetheless smiling and tapping their toes. The Empress declared that they should at least have a coloured ribbon around their waists, and they each submitted to that with only a slight grumbling.

Eric danced with as many young ladies as he could, but Samuel noticed he had settled for one particularly fair lass while the night was young.

‘I see young Eric still has a little fire left in him,’ Lomar mentioned to Samuel as they watched the pair embrace. ‘I wonder how young Master Goodfellow is faring?’

Samuel glanced around and found his other friend talking to a group of young apprentices, deep in conversation. ‘He’s never been one for romance. He’s always been logical and precise, so I’m not sure he will even notice the change when it comes upon him.’

‘And what about you, Samuel? Will you make the most of your youth while you still can?’

‘No,’ Samuel replied forlornly. ‘That’s not for me. I think that part of my life has finished. I thought I would feel better once I killed Ash, but I don’t. Strangely, I still love Leila as much as ever, even though I know she is gone. I still think about her every moment, even now.’

Lomar nodded. ‘Perhaps time will help to heal your sorrow. I can’t know what you must be feeling, but I can advise that you do your best to think about the future and forget your woes. Life must go on and heavy days lie ahead. We have much left to do.’

‘Of course, you’re right,’ Samuel said to his friend.