Robert Newcomb - The Scrolls of the Ancients

Wulfgar bent over and picked up the dreggan that had belonged to Osiv. Holding it high, he examined it carefully as the sun bounced off its shiny blade.

"Such fine craftsmanship," he said, half to himself. "These swords really are a marvel. It is said that even the Jin'Sai himself carries one." With a sneer on his face, he strode purposefully to the gunwale and threw the beautiful weapon overboard. Pointing back to the slavers, he singled two of them out.

"You!" he ordered sternly. "Throw these dead bodies overboard. The rest of you return to your duties." With dutiful nods the two monsters he had chosen went about their work.

Wulfgar's tactical gamble had worked perfectly. He gave silent thanks to Nicholas for providing invaluable information about Minion abilities and customs. Now he had an excellent idea of how far away the Minion fleet was, without them knowing the position of his own. Two days' flying time, he guessed. One day from the scouting vessels to here, and another from the scout ships to the Minion fleet. That put the Minion position near the coast.

Looking over the side, Wulfgar watched as the slavers tossed the Minion bodies into the sea. The water ran red with blood, and he heard the snuffling, hungry grunts come as the pieces were greedily consumed. As he continued to watch the feeding frenzy, he smiled.

"I'm sorry there wasn't more, my children," he said softly. "But soon now, you will have your fill." Looking toward the stern, he saw the supposedly empty sea behind him, and he smiled. Even the wakes of his ships were unseen.

He silently thanked the late Krassus for gifting him with the Forestallment of invisibility.

Wulfgar closed his eyes. He raised his arms, and the familiar azure glow engulfed his flagship. When it faded away, all that remained was the cold, restless sea.

Sixty-seven

T he thirteen confused women sat side by side in the Hall of Supplication, each waiting her turn to approach the lead wizard. Wigg and Faegan sat at a table before them. On the table was a tall stack of parchment documents, and an odd-looking device the likes of which none of the women had ever seen. A group who had already passed the wizards' exotic tests sat off to one side.

As she waited for her turn to be called, it was plain to Adrian that so far, none of her sister acolytes had failed the wizards' examinations. Still stunned by the beauty of her surroundings, she looked around again at the sumptuous room. Fledgling House had been beautiful, to be sure, but she had never seen a place like this. Huge stained-glass windows had been swung open slightly to let in more light and fresh air. The black, variegated marble floor was covered with multicolored patterned area rugs, and an ornate mahogany throne sat on a dais at the far end of the room. The room still smelled faintly musty, leading her to believe that it had seen little use of late. She could only imagine what the rest of the palace must look like.

She and the other women had arrived only this morning. They had discovered one another on the way here, and as they shared their experiences, they learned that every single one of them had been overpowered by the same sudden, unexplained compulsion to make the journey to the royal palace in Tammerland.

Adrian, as the senior among them, had been selected to lead them through the palace gates. There they had been greeted by a hunchbacked dwarf who had introduced himself as Geldon. He had explained that the lead wizard himself was responsible for their undeniable need to come here, and that they had done the right thing by doing so. No harm or punishment would befall them.

Greatly relieved, the women had followed the dwarf across the drawbridge, through the courtyard, and into the palace proper. Once in the Hall of Supplication, Geldon had recorded their names and family houses on a piece of parchment, handed it to the wizards, and directed the women to their seats.

Still taking in the grandeur of her surroundings, Adrian was startled when the lead wizard called out her name.

"Adrian of the House of Brandywyne, please approach."

Standing, Adrian took a deep breath and ran her palms down her robe, smoothing it out. Then she walked to the table and looked down at the lead wizard. Not knowing what else to do, she gave him a slight curtsy. The lead wizard smiled.

"Please sit down," he said. "And do not be afraid, my child. No harm will come to you here, I promise."

Adrian took a seat in the high-backed, upholstered chair across the table from the lead wizard.

Rifling through the pile of parchments, Wigg finally pulled one out and placed it before him. After examining it, he looked back up at Adrian and smiled.

"Welcome, my dear. I knew your father. He was one of the best of the consuls."

Was, she thought. The single, harsh word went straight through her heart. "Begging your pardon, Lead Wizard, but do you mean to say that-"

"Forgive me, Adrian," Wigg interjected quickly. "I do not mean to imply that your father has died. In truth, we do not know. But more of that later. Now then, how many years have passed since you graduated from Fledgling House?"

Somewhat relieved, Adrian let go the deep breath she had been unconsciously holding. "Nine," she answered.

"That would make you one of the first class to do so, would it not?"

"Yes."

"Have you married?"

"No, Lead Wizard."

"Do you have children?"

"No."

"Please show us your tattoo, if you would."

With a nod, Adrian slipped her left arm from the sleeve of her robe and lifted it to show Wigg the Paragon on her shoulder, just as the other acolytes before her had done. After the lead wizard nodded, she placed her arm back into the robe.

"And now, please demonstrate some small use of the craft," Wigg asked her. "If the azure glow appears, that is permissible. But as a test of your talents, please try not to produce it."

Adrian looked around the room. Seeing the cold fireplace along one wall, she raised her arm and spread her fingers. The logs immediately jumped ablaze. No azure glow was evident. She closed her fist, and the fire went dead. She turned back to the lead wizard just in time to see one of his eyebrows arch up thoughtfully.

"Well done," he said. Beside him, Faegan smiled and stroked his blue cat.

"Please extend one wrist," Wigg said, placing a blank piece of parchment on the table.

Adrian did so. Wigg caused a small, painless incision to form in her skin, and a single drop of her blood fell onto the parchment. Almost immediately the droplet began to writhe its way into her familiar blood signature. For some time the two mystics compared it to the document Wigg had pulled from the pile. Finally, the lead wizard nodded his approval.

Reaching out, he pulled the odd-looking device toward him. It seemed to be a tripod, with a glass lens mounted at its top. Placing it directly over Adrian's blood signature, he looked down through the lens. After a few moments he nodded again, and passed the entire affair over to Faegan, who went through the same process. When the crippled wizard nodded, Wigg looked up at her and smiled.

"Welcome, Adrian," he said to her. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you. Were your father here, he would be very proud. As one of the first class to graduate Fledgling House, your senior status will be very much appreciated. Please take a seat with the others of your sisterhood."

With a nod, Adrian walked to the side of the table and joined those upon whom the two wizards had already passed judgment.

It took close to two hours for Wigg and Faegan to interview the remaining women. In the end, all were accepted.

Then Wigg stood and spoke to them as a group. He told them a brief history of the return of the Coven of sorceresses, the destruction of the Gates of Dawn, and how and why he had summoned them here. Prince Tristan had wished to greet them personally, Wigg said, but was on urgent business elsewhere. He also told them not to fear the menacing-looking Minions of Day and Night, whom they would soon see in and about the palace.