Allan COLE - Wizard of the winds

Safar, who was getting used to the one-way exchange between the twins, paid no attention. He examined the scroll and when he was satisfied he made a magical gesture, stirring the air with a forefinger. A miniature tornadoabout the size of Safar's little fingersprang up over the paper, quickly drying the paint. When it was done Safar blew on it and the tornado vanished.

Then he rolled the scroll into a tight tube and gave it to Gundara.

"Keep it, he commanded. When you hear me chant the words to the spell you are to activate it. Do you understand?"

"What's to understand? Gundara said. You humans make such work out of magic. Demon wizards know it all comes from the gut, not the head. They just do it, while you're still thinking about it."

Despite the retort the Favorite did as he was told, collapsing the paper tube into an object the size of an infant's finger and tucking it into his sleeve for safe keeping. For a change, however, Safar was stung by Gundara's comments.

He'd learned much in Walaria. He had a mental storehouse of spells to confront almost any possibility. And he had the sound intellectual knowledge to create new spells to meet eventualities rote learning didn't cover. Compared to the other students and, yes, even compared to Umurhan, he had much greater power. He could feel it surging forward when he cast a spellso strong he had to hold back so he didn't betray his true abilities. Still, the force was nothing like he'd experienced when he'd bested the demons in the snowy pass years before. He'd tried in private many times but he'd never been able to equal the river-like surge he'd felt during that life-and-death moment. The failure frustrated him. At first he tried to tell himself it didn't matter. That magic really wasn't his true purposewhich was to find the answer to the puzzle of Hadin. But the more he'd studied, the more he'd realized the solution would only come through sorcery.

"When I have time, Safar said, which probably won't be until I'm safely on my way home, you and I need to sit down and have a long talk about Hadin."

"Best place in the world, Gundara said. Smartest mortals around. They made me, which ought to be proof enough. Although, somebody sure made a big mistake when they made Gundaree. Probably a human assistant. You know how there are. Of course, anything I have to say will be pretty old news. The gods were still in swaddling clothes last time we were there."

"Anything will help, Safar said. Also I want to hear about Asper."

Gundara yawned. That'll be a pretty short conversation, he said. All I know is what I've heard from other wizards."

"I understand he wrote a book about his theories, Safar said. Have you ever seen it?"

"No. And I don't know anyone who has."

"I think there's a copy in Umurhan's library, Safar said. Among his forbidden books."

"Then why didn't you steal it today? Gundara asked. You could have gone upstairs. I told you it was safe. And once you were inside I could have sniffed it out for you easy. You wouldn't have even had to give me another sweet roll."

"There's wasn't time, Safar said. Now I'm afraid there never will be. I don't dare go back to the University. And after Founder's Day I'll be running as fast as I can. With a lot of angry Walarians chasing me."

Nerisa's voice came from behind them"I can get it for you."

Safar and Gundara turned to see her perched on the window sill.

"I was starting to worry about you, Safar said.

Gundara snickered. Stick with worrying about yourself, Master, he said. She does just fine. I sensed her climbing the watchtower fifteen minutes ago. But you didn't notice a thing until she was inside and announced herself."

Nerisa giggled. She jumped off the sill, dug a sweet out of her pocket and walked over to give it to the Favorite.

"I knew it was my lucky century, Gundara said, soon as you stole me from that stall. He popped the sweet into his mouth, closing his eyes and chewing with great gusto.

"Why don't you go rest for awhile? Safar told him. He gestured and the Favorite disappeared in a cloud of smoke. The turtle idol rocked on its legs as the smoke funneled into the stone. Then all was silent.

"His lip smacking gets to you after awhile, he told Nerisa.

"Never mind that, Safar, Nerisa said. I really meant it. About the book. I can get in and out of Umurhan's place in no time. Especially with Gundara to help me."

"It's too dangerous, Safar said.

Nerisa put a hand on her hip. Nobody's ever gotten close to me yet, she said. What could be so hard about an old library? Let me have Gundara and I'll be back before First Prayer."

Safar shook his head. You don't know what you're saying, Nerisa, he said. Things are a lot worse since last night."

He made her sit down, brewed her a pot of mint tea, and told her an edited version of what he'd learned. He left out the bargain he'd made with Olari, figuring quite correctly that she'd want to get involved.

Tears welled up when he said he was leaving Walaria.

"It isn't safe for either of us, he said. He dug into the heavy purse Olari had given him and pulled out a handful of gold coins. Here. This is for you."

Nerisa struck them away. Coins scattered across the floor.

"I don't want money, she said. I can get money anytime."

Safar gathered them up again. I'm not abandoning you, Nerisa, he said. This is just in case money. If I'm caught, or… there's some other emergency. If all goes well, you can go with me if you want."

Nerisa grinned through her tears. You'd really take me with you? she cried.

"It won't be very safe, Safar warned her. There'll be a lot people after me."

Nerisa threw her arms around him. I don't care, she said. Let them come. I know all kinds of tricks. They'll never catch us."

Safar unstuck her, gently pushing her back into her seat amongst the pillows. You don't have to go all the way to Kyrania, he said. It's a pretty boring place for someone who grew up in Walaria."

"Well, it won't be boring to me, Nerisa said, thinking that for all she cared Kyrania could be the dullest place in all Esmir. It didn't matter as long as she was near Safar.

Safar patted her hand. We'll see, he said. Once we're clear of Walaria we can talk about this again."

"Anything you say, Safar, Nerisa said, dreamy.

Then she yawned and stretched. I'm so tired, she said. Can I sleep here for awhile? I've been ducking and hiding all day."

Safar hesitated. They know to look for you here, he said.

Nerisa yawned again. That's okay, she said. Gundara will warn us if anybody comes."

Safar started to say it was still too big a chance to take. Then heard her breathing deepen and looked over and saw that she'd fallen asleep. In repose she seemed even younger and more vulnerable. Her lashes were delicate fans on her soft cheeks. He could see the fine bones of her face and thought that someday she'd be a great beauty. If she lived long enough to reach womanhood. He didn't have the heart to awaken her. So he banked the coals in the brazier and pinched out the wicks in the oil lamps. He found an extra blanket and covered her. She sighed, clutching the blanket tight and murmuring his name. Safar found a comfortable place a few feet away. So much had happened he doubted he'd be able to do much more than rest. But he'd barely closed his eyes when sleep rose up to carry him away.

It was a dreamless sleep, although once he thought he heard the rustle of fabric and felt soft lips brush his.

The next thing he knew the door crashed open and four burly men rushed inside.

He rolled out of his blankets but before he could come to his feet the men were on him. They clubbed him down and pinned him to the floor.

Then a heavy boot crashed into his head and stars of pain flared. He lost consciousness for a moment, then he heard steel strike flint and he opened his eyes to see Kalasariz standing over him, an oil lamp in his hand.