Allan COLE - Wizard of the winds

"What's the use? Safar said. No matter how well I do Umurhan will fail me anyway."

Katal's eyebrows shot up. How can that be? he said. You're the best student Umurhan's had in years. Umurhan was Walaria's Chief Sorcerer. As such he supervised the temple and attached university where scholars, priests, healers and wizards were trained. He answered to no one but King Didima, ruler of the city and its environs.

"He's going to fail me just the same, Safar said.

"There must be some reason, Katal said. What did you do to earn his wrath?"

Safar made a sour face. He caught me in his library, he said, making notes on a forbidden book."

Katal was aghast. How could you take such a chance?"

Safar hung his head. I thought it was safe, he said. I've slipped into his study before without being caught. I knew the risk I was taking. But I'm on the trail of something important, dammit! And I thought one more trip might turn up what I needed. I slipped in well before first light. Everyone knows old Umurhan likes his sleep, so there shouldn't have been any danger. But this time I'd barely entered the room and lit a candle when he suddenly appeared from the shadows. As if he'd been waiting there for me."

"Did someone alert him? Katal asked.

"I don't see how they could, Safar said. It was a last minute decision. No one knew. My only guess is I left some clue on my last visit. And he's been waiting all this time to pounce."

"You were fortunate he didn't expel you at once, Katal said. Or, worse, report you to Kalasariz as a dangerous heretic. Lord Kalasariz was Didima's chief spy. There were so many in his employ the joke was that in Walaria even the watchers were watched.

"Umurhan said the same thing, Safar replied. He said he could have me thrown into one of Kalasariz cells where I could rot for all eternity for all he cared. And the only reason he didn't call one of Kalasariz minions right then was because I was such a good student."

"You see? Katal said. There is hope. You've completed four years of work in two. No one else your age has ever qualified to take the second level acolyte exams in so short a time. He indicated the wine jug. Now you're destroying the chance he's giving you to make amends."

Safar grimaced, remembering Umurhan's wrath. I don't think that's possible, he said. The only reason I wasn't thrown out immediately is because my sponsor is Lord Muzine, the richest merchant in the city. Muzine was Coralean's friend, the man he'd said he'd call on to help get Safar admitted to the university. Umurhan doesn't want a scandal and he certainly doesn't want to offend Muzine. He'll fail me, then report the sad news to Muzine. It's the cleanest way to be rid of me."

"Well I for one won't be sorry, came a voice. The two turned and saw that Zeman had worked his way across the patio and was now cleaning the table next to them. Zeman was about Safar's age and height. But he was so thin he was nearly skeletal. His complexion was bad, his face long and horse-like, with wall eyes and overly large teeth.

"It's leeches like you who keep my grandfather poor, Zeman said. You all eat and drink on credit, or for nothing at all. You rent books and scrolls and keep them as long you like without paying for the extra time. And it isn't only the students. What of that bitch Nerisa he's taken under his wing? A thief, of all things. No, I fear my grandfather is too charitable for his own good. And for mine. I go without as well because of your sort."

He indicted his costumetight brown leggings, green thigh-length smock, slippers with curled toesa cheap imitation of what the fashionable lads wore. I'm forced to clothe myself in the alley markets. It's an insult to a young man of my class and prospects."

Katal was angry. Don't speak to my friend like that! Safar only receives what I beg him to take. He is a friend and he possesses one of the finest young minds I've met in many a day."

Safar intervened. He's right, Katal. You are too generous. I'll wager you haven't raised the prices since you opened the Foolsmire forty years ago. That's why we all come here. You have a right to a decent profit, my friend. And at your age you deserve to live a life of ease."

Zeman pushed in. I'll thank you to let me defend myself to my own grandfather, he said to Safar. As if I need defending. I'm only being sensible, not mean."

"Both of you speak with the arrogance of youth, Katal said. Neither has the faintest notion of why I live my life as I do."

He pointed at the faded sign hanging from a rusty iron post over the door of bookshop. The name speaks it for all to see'Foolsmire. I was a young man when I hung that sign. I planted that tree at the same time. It was just a stick with a few leaves then. Now it shades us with its mighty boughs. His old eyes gleamed in memory. I was a bright young fellow, he said. Although probably not as bright as I thought. Still, I had a mind agile enough to compete at the university. But I had no money or influence to gain entrance. Yet I loved books and knowledge above all else. And so I sought a fool's paradise and became a seller of books. I wanted the company of the most intelligent students to discuss the ideas the books contained. I created a place to attract such people, offering my wares at the lowest prices possible. You see before you a poor man, a foolish man, but a happy man. For I have achieved my dreams at the Foolsmire."

Safar laughed and nodded in understanding. Zeman frowned, more unhappy than before. What of me, Grandfather? he protested. I didn't ask for this life. I didn't ask for the plague that killed my parents. My motheryour daughterwas comely enough to attract a man with prospects for a husband. But he died before he could prosper and see that I had a chance to prosper as well."

"I gave you a home, Katal said. What more could I do? Your grandmother died in the same plague, so I lost my whole family, except for you."

"I know that, Grandfather, Zeman said. And I appreciate the sacrifices you've made. I'm only asking that you try a little harder. Don't give so much away. And when I inherit this place someday you can go to your grave in peace, knowing I've been cared for. Zeman glanced about, noting the shabbiness of his inheritance. It does have a good location, after all. Right in the heart of the student quarter. It should fetch me a decent sum."

Safar had to fight his temper. In Kyrania it was unheard of for a lad to speak so coldly and rudely to his grandfather. But to leave Zeman's comments completely unanswered would bedevil his dreams.

"If it were me, he said, I could never sell all these books. To misquote the poetWhat could you possibly buy that was half so precious as what you sell."

"A brothel, for one, Zeman said. With a well-planned gaming parlor attached. He gave the table an angry swipe and stalked off.

"You shouldn't let him get away with that, Safar said, hotly. He shows no respect."

"Never mind him, Katal said. Zeman is what he is. There's nothing to be done about it. It's Safar Timura I'm worried about just now."

"There's nothing to be done about that either, Safar said.

"What possessed you to take such a chance with Umurhan? Katal asked, giving his beard a tug of frustration.

Safar lowered his eyes. You know, he said.

Katal's eyes narrowed. Hadin, again?"

"Yes."

"Why are you so obsessed with a place on the other side of the world? Katal said. A place we're not even certain exists. The Land of the Fires, it's called. For all we know it might really be The Frozen Lands. Or The Lands of the Swamps.

"I know what I saw in the vision, Safar said. And I know deep in my bones it's vital that someone find out what happened."

"I gather you think the trail leads into Umurhan's private library, Katal said, dryly. Among his forbidden books."