Wizard's Quest: Book Two Chapters Fifteen and Sixteen

All works copywrite Jay D Evans 2013

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

 

The hall, normally well lit at this time of day from the many tall windows lining the outside wall, was pitch black, the only light coming from the open doorway. The door slammed shut as soon as he was inside, making him jump. Slowly walking the familiar path to his normal table so as not to trip over anything that may have been left by another, he blinked quickly to try to get his eyes to adjust to the darkness. With blindness, other senses take over and become more heightened, normally hearing and his hearing was better than most when he could see. There were whispers all around him that he couldn’t quite make out and he felt eyes watching him. Could the unknown enemy be here ready to kill him? MacCorkadall wouldn’t have sent him to his death. Was this another test? If it were, he would not panic, taking it as it came and keeping his wits.

Holding his hand out into the darkness he whispered just loud enough to make the spell work, “Ceau sollys!”

The spell should have just lit his palm enough to see as if he was using a flashlight. What happened was the entire room lit up and everyone who lived at the castle jumped out and shouted, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”

The Dining Hall was decorated with streamers, balloons, ribbons and every sort of birthday decoration made. The head table was adorned with party favours and confetti surrounding a cake that was a metre tall. Above the head table was a banner that reached from wall to wall that read, “Happy Eighteenth Birthday, Richard!” In the corner was a platform with stereo equipment, one of the Junior Masters standing behind it, party hat cocked to one side, watching for his cue to start the music, which came promptly and he blasted out party songs from Scottish and Irish bands.

Mary came up behind him and put her arms around his neck, kissed him, smiled and whispered in his ear, “Happy birthday, Richard. I hope you like the party. It wasn’t easy getting this done in a day.”

“You did this? Why?”

“It’s not everyday that a wizard turns eighteen. You deserved it, you’ve had a hard year.”

“Aye, that I have.” Looking down into her dark eyes, he smiled and kissed her. “Thanks. I really needed this.”

For the rest of the afternoon and well into the evening, Richard forgot all his worries. There was no Sceptre, no Sphere. Lost friends were temporarily forgotten. Only the joy of being eighteen filled the heart and mind of the young wizard. As the castle clock struck twelve bells, the merriment started to die down. The DJ announced a final dance, dedicated to Richard who looked at Mary, silently asking for the last dance to be his. The music started, a slow ballad from a time when chivalry and romance reigned supreme, the two embraced and waltzed across the dance floor. The remaining party-goers applauded and soon joined them for one last chance to enjoy themselves.

Sean, standing at the head table gobbling down the remains of the birthday cake glanced over at Elizabeth, sitting at a table talking to another girl, coyly ignoring him. Realizing that he would actually have to ask her to dance, he swaggered over and stood over her. “Dae ye want tae dance? May be th’ last taem fer a while tha’ we git tae party lie’ this.”

The American girl, following suit, used her deepest Texas accent, “Why, Sean Connah, y’all came ova’ heah jest ta ask little ol’ me ta dance? Ah reckon that Ah should accept yore invitation an’ enjoy mah self.”

Laughing, the two joined the rest on the dance floor. Sean, not being a very good dancer, stepped on her feet several times, making her wince in pain, which she tried to ignore. As they neared the door to the main hall, he stepped on her toes one more time. Not being able to control it any longer, she bent down to rub her sore feet. It was then that the massive oak doors burst open, knocking Elizabeth to the floor and Sean into the wall. The noise made everyone look just as Onslo strode into the room. Only this was not the meek and mild Onslo that everyone knew. This boy was larger, more muscular and what was normally a kind and thoughtful face, was twisted into an evil grimace.

Stopping just inside the doorway, the boy looked around, spotting Richard, he advanced toward the front of the big room until within a metre of his prey. Staring intently, confusion showed in the young boy’s eyes, almost as if he were fighting with himself and losing. As he raised his hand and pointed, he shook uncontrollably. “You! You are the cause of all this. It is because you wouldn’t give it up. You had to keep going.”

“Whit dae ye mean, Onslo? Whit is mah faut? Ah huvnae dain anythin'.” Richard moved Mary behind him protectively, not knowing what to expect.

“You wouldn’t quit. You had to give the elves magick to butcher trolls. You had to protect the faeries and kill Sebastian. Quentin, Stephanie, Duncan. All dead because of you. Syrus is in upheaval because you wouldn’t give up the Sphere or Sceptre. It’s all because of you. Now you will pay for it all.” From out of nowhere, Onslo’s wand appeared, pointed at Richard’s heart.

Without thinking, Richard pointed his index finger at the transformed boy. “Dyn obbeeys!”

Laughing manically, Onslo shouted, “Geddyn baase!”

Richard was knocked backward over the head table, taking Mary with him. Picking them both off the floor, cake falling from their clothing, he shook his head. “Ah dinnieken whit happened! My spell should hae taken his magick away. At least his killing spell didnae get the job done, either. Ayr yoo all reit?”

Mary nodded reassuringly. “The wind was knocked out of me, but, I’m ok.” Then, with horror on her face, “Watch out!”

Once again without thinking, Richard turned and swept his arm in a circle in front of them, producing an energy field between him and his attacker. The killing spell bounced off the shield and exploded against the huge rafters of the ceiling, splintering one. As shards of ancient oak rained down upon them, Onslo ran out of the dining hall with Richard following close behind. As he went through the doorway, he did not enter into the main hall as he expected. He was in a void, not like Nowhere, which was black with darkness, but in a deep fog that swirled around him like a living thing. Turning to go back where he came from, all he saw was the fog. Then it cleared away and he was in MacCorkadall’s study. Confused, he looked around.

“Nicely done, Richard, my boy. Nicely done.” MacCorkadall clapped his hands together as he moved from behind his desk.

Jib, ever the pessimist, just scowled. “I didn’t think he would do that well. His history is one of violence.”

“Ye mean tae tell me thes was jist anither test?”

“Yes, and you did brilliantly. We had to make it unpredictable to you. Otherwise you would be expecting something. It was Mary’s idea to make it your birthday party.”

Looking at Mary, Richard scowled. He didn’t like being fooled and he expected more from the girl that he loved and supposedly loved him. She knew him better than anyone else here at Crauford, she should have known it would upset him, even though it was a test that MacCorkadall had needed to give him. The good thing was that he had passed. He hadn’t lost his head and had done the right things in the right sequence. No one had gotten too badly hurt. Sean and Elizabeth would be all right, just bumps on the head and Onslo had not attacked anyone else. The one casualty had been his birthday cake.

Mary just smiled. “Richard, don’t be angry. I know how important this is. If you can’t learn to control your emotions and keep your head in unpredictable situations, you won’t be able to handle whatever comes. And, from what Master MacCorkadall and Jib have told me, there are things coming that you will have to keep your head about or you will lose.”

He knew that she was right. Being angry at her was the last thing he needed. She had been the most help to him since coming to Crauford Castle. She completed him. He would need her wisdom and anchor in the coming battles. He still had to find Quentin and Stephanie, recover Duncan and Sebastian’s bodies, and take care of Kahnlin once and for all. Through all of this, Mary would be his one source of strength. “Aam sorry. Ah ken ye were daein’ whit needed dain. Ah ken ye were daein’ the reit thin’.”

“It’s all right. I know you don’t like to be lied to, or fooled like you were. In normal circumstances I would agree. But, like Master MacCorkadall said, if you had known, you would have been expecting something and been prepared. You had to be surprised by it so that he could see how you would react. That is why I picked your party. It was the last place and situation that you would expect something bad to happen.”

Calming down enough to control his accent, Richard gave a weak smile. “I know. You did the right thing. Just wish I could have been warned.”

The castle clock chimed one bell and Angus MacCorkadall looked at his two most promising students. “It’s late. Tomorrow is another day. You two need your rest. Now, off with you.” And he ushered them out of his study.

As the two walked back to their rooms, Elizabeth came running up to them. “My parents aren’t here yet! They were supposed to be here by ten—it’s after one. I know something has happened. I know it.”

Trying to calm the American, Mary put an arm around her shoulders. “Calm down. Their plane is probably just late. Either that or they stayed in town instead of coming up here this late.”

“I called the airport. Their plane isn’t late, it arrived on time. I checked at all the hotels in town, they aren’t there. I need to find them. It just isn’t like my mom to not let me know what’s going on.”

Richard interjected, “I don’t know your parents, but from what you’ve said your faither is quite the explorer. Maybe they went somewhere else tonight. Just to explore. It’s not like they could get lost around here. Everyone knows where Crauford Castle is.”

With a pleading look, Elizabeth asked, “Richard, Mary, would you help me find them? Tonight.”

Without thinking, and regretting it immediately after, Richard almost yelled, “Are you mental? It’s after one a.m.”

The tears flowed like a river from her deep brown eyes. “Please?”

“Ah dunnae kinn wa th' fuckin’ heel aam daein' thes. A body in th' morn an' aam gonnae it tae swatch fur an American 'at loves tae oan yer bike. Aam th' body that's mental,” Richard muttered under his breath knowing that if it was heard, Elizabeth wouldn’t know what he was saying.

“I don’t know what that was, but, thanks. I knew you would help me, even reluctantly.” Elizabeth had a feeling that Richard’s comment wasn’t nice but that he would help look.

The three returned to their rooms and gathered their winter clothing. After the lightweight Elvin clothes, the heavy winter coats and boots made for a Highland winter were uncomfortable and bulky. Moving stiffly through the castle hallways, they were glad it was late and no one was around to see their awkwardness. As they approached the massive oak doors to the courtyard, they each looked around the Main Hall feeling as though they were being watched. Seeing no one, they went out into the cold winter night in search of the American’s lost parents.

At the top of the staircase, deep in the shadows, the small figure watched the three young wizards walk out the door. Knowing that they would be alone and unprotected in the night his blood stained right hand raised into the air in challenge. He needed to fulfil his obligation, if for no other reason than to get back to his usual surroundings. This castle was cold and uninviting to him. The deserted road by the river was home and he needed to return as quickly as possible. If only he had not struck the deal. The Ly Erg, if nothing else, will do what it takes simply because they are soldiers. He will challenge the young wizard and the human boy will die. There was no doubt about that.

“Ah dinnae kin why Aam daein this. It’s bloody baltic out here.” Richard shivered as the wind whipped around him.

“Because you love helping people. That’s why.” Mary, also shivering, smiled at her soul mate.

“Aye, that I do. But not at this time of night in the middle of a bloody snowstorm. I’d bet my last pound that we find them in a hotel in town.”

“I checked all the hotels, Richie. They weren’t anywhere close.” Elizabeth looked at her friend in the darkness. “And before you start coming up with any other ideas about them going exploring, they hadn’t rented any cars, either. I checked that, too.”

“Just my bloody luck!” Richard glanced at Mary. “Is there any way at all that I can get out of this?”

“Not a chance, my love.”

Walking down the path towards town, the three friends discussed where they should start their search. Since Elizabeth had already checked all the hotels and hostels in the area, it would do no good to go to any of them and since the Americans didn’t rent a vehicle, they would have walked to where ever they were. Each used the light spell to help in looking along the pathway. As they reached the town limits Richard turned and looked behind them. Turning back, he shook his head then looked behind them again thinking that he had seen something in the deep shadows of the woods. Mary looked at him quizzically.

“I thought I saw something. Must have been the wind.” Looking around again, not able to rid himself of that feeling of being watched, the young wizard shrugged.

Deep in the shadows of the trees lining the snow covered road, the Ly Erg trembled in rage. He had wanted to challenge the boy before now, yet he did not want to kill him with the two females watching, he did not really want to kill them also. Now he would have to watch and wait until he was back in the forest. The boy had almost seen him and that would not do until he was ready for the challenge. There had to be no escape with this one, even knowing that if the battle went the wrong way the boy would die anyway. He wanted to see this one die, to cover his hand in the blood of one of the most powerful wizards alive and to see the life drain from his young body.

 

The three young friends searched the town side streets and alleys, just in case Elizabeth’s parents had gotten lost, robbed and left for dead then checked the local hospital. Finding that the Americans were not there, they stood in front of the small health centre and stared at one another. The only thing left to do was to search the roads out of town for several miles in each direction. That would take a lot of time, especially this time of night in this kind of weather. The snow had picked up and was now coming down hard enough to make it hard to see very far. Richard was beginning to regret, once again, offering to help find the adventurous American parents.

Since the three had come from the Castle north of town and had seen nothing they decided to try east of town where there were some ancient Druid mounds. Elizabeth thought that her father would be interested in investigating such artefacts and that there would be the place to start. Even in the dark there was always some form of light at the ruins. No one could ever explain it other than it was left over magic from the Druids.

As the town limits receded farther and farther Richard became more uncomfortable. Someone was following them; he knew it, although he didn’t know who or where they were. Every time he looked around all he saw was swirling snow or the darkness of the forest and the lonely thing he heard was the wind whistling through the trees. Somewhere out there was a stalker- possibly someone who wanted to kill him. The unknown enemy had yet to be identified, much less found.

They were almost to the Druid Mounds when the snow stopped falling making it much easier to see around them. The glow from the ancients grew brighter with each step they took, lighting their way. As the three moved from the path into the clearing Richard saw movement out the corner of his eye. Turning quickly enough to pull a neck muscle the young wizard saw someone disappear into the trees just a few metres from the path. His attention was brought back to what he was doing by Elizabeth.

“Oh my god!” She stopped so abruptly that Mary ran into her, knocking her to the ground.

“What is it?” Richard looked toward the centre of the clearing seeing only the snow covered ruins. “What dae ye see?”

Running toward the centre as soon as her legs were under her, Elizabeth stopped just at the entrance of the centre mound next to a snow drift. Dropping to her knees she brushed away at the snow uncovering two bodies frozen in an embrace. “My parents.”

Stooping down beside her, Mary put her arms around her friend. Knowing that words would mean nothing all she could do was whisper softly, “We’re here for you, Liz.”

The falling snow had covered any trace of the Americans coming here and there wasn’t enough light to see what had happened to them. Standing here in the freezing night was doing no one any good. They would have to go back to the castle to see what had happened. Since the two were embracing one another anything was possible. Richard moved over next to them.

“We need to get back. We’ll be able to tell more there. Maybe Master MacCorkadall will be able to figure it out.” As he held his wand over them he softly spoke, “Druaightys shinyn dachaidh.”

As the group disappeared, at the edge of the forest the Ly Erg screamed in rage.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

 

Richard, Mary and Elizabeth, along with Elizabeth’s frozen parents, appeared in MacCorkadall’s study covered in snow. The master sorcerer looked up from the ancient text he was studying with interest. It was unusual for three students to appear in his office unannounced, especially by just appearing out of thin air. Not that appearing out of thin air was out of the ordinary for him, just not this way at this time of night. It was then that he noticed the two frozen bodies lying on the floor next to his students.

“I take it that you found your parents, Elizabeth.” This was not meant sarcastically or coldly. MacCorkadall was simply stating a fact.

“Master, they’re dead! Can you help at all?” The pleading in her voice was overshadowed only by the grief in her eyes.

Moving from behind his desk the old man moved slowly toward the two Americans, looking them over carefully for any sign of what might have happened to them. Seeing nothing obvious, such as external wounds or bruising, he moved his hands over the two frozen bodies slowly from head to foot. As the snow melted off their clothing, the three friends could see that the bodies themselves were being thawed and they slowly fell apart one from the other. It was then that the full extent of the wounds was visible. What were once healthy bodies were now just empty cavities. The chests of the two Americans were torn open and vital organs were missing along with the rib cages protecting those organs.

Elizabeth could control herself no longer. The hope that she had that the master sorcerer could bring her parents back to life had vanished just as the life sustaining organs had vanished from their bodies. Falling upon the bodies of the two most important people in her life, she wailed in grief. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she shook uncontrollably. MacCorkadall wrapped his arms around Richard and Mary and led them to the far corner of his office.

“It is best to let her vent her grief. There is nothing right now that will comfort her.”

“Master, what would have done that? I’ve never seen wounds like that before.” Mary’s eyes were wide with horror.

“Aye, ne’er before hae Ah seen ‘at.”

“There are many things that will decimate a body. Most will devour what they kill. This was not by instinct or survival. This was done by design.” MacCorkadall stroked his long beard, deep in thought.

Lycans will tear a body apart just to kill. Vampires will tear a throat out. Red Caps, Pamarindos will maim but not kill and are from Italy, Rubezahls will kill but stay mostly in Germany, the Glaistig will kill men but not women, the Ly Erg and Duergars to come up with few. Was it one of these or something that they had brought from the New World? All he knew about the Americas was what he had learned from Elizabeth and Cassandra when they had arrived for their training. He would have to do some research and try to discover if there was something that would have travelled thousands of miles just to torment and kill.

Coming back to reality MacCorkadall looked at his two favourite students, “The two of you should get some sleep. I will attend to Elizabeth. She will be fine; it will just take some time.”

The two looked at their friend one last time then turned and left the Master’s study to return to their rooms.

* * *

            Two weeks went by as normally as thing at Crauford Castle could. Elizabeth had stayed in her room preferring to handle her grief alone. Richard and Mary made preparations to continue the quest on Syrus, MacCorkadall had immersed himself in research on spirits, sprites and ghouls of the Americas and Sean, Connor and Fergus were desperately trying to find the Unknown Enemy. The morning that Elizabeth came down to breakfast in the Dining Hall, eyes red rimmed from crying, everyone knew that things would return to normal quickly. Richard and Mary knew that the quest would resume soon and they should get ready to go on a moments notice.

Elizabeth sat down next to them. “I’m ready to go. When do we leave?”

“Elizabeth,” he started then stopped, not knowing what to say. Richard had talked with MacCorkadall about the quest. The old man had insisted that the search should not resume until Elizabeth had sufficiently recovered and that it would be several weeks before that happened. Knowing this, Richard was torn about what to do. Elizabeth was now out of her room wanting to go but was not over the horror of losing her parents. How was he to tell her that she couldn’t go just yet? She stood there defiantly, staring at him through blood shot eyes, daring him to tell her that she would not be leaving with them.

Chivalry is the better part of valour he thought to himself then looked at Mary for help. He didn’t have the heart to tell his friend that she couldn’t go with them and that he had discussed it with the Master and it was decided that she needed more time to heal. Losing one parent to violent circumstances was traumatic enough. To lose both parents in the manner that the Boothes had died was unfathomable, even to the most evil of people.

Mary stared coolly back at him. She would not let him get out of this one. As much as Richard did not like confrontation, he would need to learn how to deal with many different such instances. MacCorkadall had told her that what lie ahead for the young wizard would not be easy, that he would need every bit of wit, wisdom and heart to endure all that would come his way. The tests that he had been through since returning from Syrus were small compared to that which he would come up against in the future. This small ordeal was nothing. No, she would not let him make her do it for him.

Seeing no help coming from his other half he looked at Elizabeth in grim determination. “Ye cannae go. Ye need mair time tae grieve.” Then quickly, before she had time to respond, “MacCorkadall an’ Ah discussed it. Th’ decision is final.”

She wanted to go, she had to go, but seeing the look on Richard’s face, she knew it was a battle that was lost. Richard, Mary and Sean would leave without her and there was nothing to be done about it unless MacCorkadall changed his mind, which rarely, if ever, happened. The quest was now out of her grasp. With tears streaming down her cheeks, she turned and ran out of the Dining Hall.

Sheepishly Richard looked at Mary. “That went well.”

“Really. And what are you going to do for an encore, slap her in the face?” Mary turned and followed Elizabeth.

Sean and Connor came up behind him. Putting his hand on Richard’s shoulder, Sean shook his head. “Ye really know how to play it, Mate.”

“Don’t worry, Rich. She’ll get over it. You know that. As for Elizabeth, well, so will she.” Connor’s words were sincere, Richard knew that. He just wasn’t so sure that either one would recover very soon.

Dejected, Richard left the Dining Hall, turned right toward the massive oak doors leading out into the courtyard of the castle he had come to call home, head bowed. He knew what he had to do. As much as he would need their help, he would have to continue the quest on his own. There was too much sorrow and regret to face the others now. He had hurt the one that meant the most to him. He had torn the heart out of one whose heart was already broken and the two most helpful for the quest were disappointed in him. No, the search for the others would have to be his alone. No one could depend on him anymore. Looking up at those oak doors that held the outside world at bay he sighed deeply then pulled them open, letting in the cold December wind.

Outside Father Winter was settled in so comfortably that it seemed he might never leave. The snow had piled high against the ancient stone of Crauford Castle. In the wide courtyard there were only a few paths shovelled clean from doorway to doorway and from the drawbridge gates to the main doors where he stood. The stars shone brightly in the now clear sky making everything cast shadows in the white blanket that covered the Earth. Shivering in the cold he realized that he had not gotten his coat but didn’t want to go back for it, maybe the slight breeze would clear his troubled mind while making him work to keep warm. The light from the Main Hall disappeared when he closed the door behind him, leaving only the reflected starlight off the snow to light his way along the familiar path to the stables.

As he entered the home of his beloved horses, he had to blink to adjust his eyes to the brightness of the ever-burning lanterns that lit the interior of the building. He could hear the horses shuffling in their stalls, their breathing. He could smell them and the leather tack that hung on the wall. It was all so right to be here. He had missed this in the year that he had been gone on his quest. It was then that something caught his attention. It wasn’t something he saw, everything was as it should be as far as he could see. It was a smell that wasn’t right. It was almost as if something had died long enough ago that the smell of death had just about dissipated. MacCorkadall would have told him if one of the horses had died. Maybe it was a rat or some other animal that had crept in to die alone in hiding. As he started to look around it was then that he realized he was not alone in the stable. Just as he drew out his wand, the Ly Erg stepped out from the far stall.

“Wizard, I challenge …,” he shouted as he started to raise his bloodstained right hand!

As he threw up his wand, Richard yelled, “REODH!”

The Ly Erg did not get his challenge completed before being frozen where he stood with his arm half raised. No one had ever survived a Ly Erg challenge. Even if the battle was won and the Ly Erg was killed, the challenged one would not live the night, dying by some other means. Because the challenge was not completed, Richard did not have to worry about this. Leaving his antagonizer where he was, the young wizard returned to the castle proper in search of Angus MacCorkadall. He would know what to do with this one. The question was: is this the Unknown Enemy or just another diversion? Once again, MacCorkadall would know what to do.

From the shadows of the loft, the slightly slanted eyes stared down in hatred at the back of the retreating young boy. How could this whelp be so lucky as to evade every trap set for him? Having the human girl’s parents killed should have scared him enough to make his confidence weaker. Instead, it had made him stronger. This wizard was as strong and powerful as one other he had known; only this one did not realize just how much power he had. Once he did, he would be unstoppable and the hopes of regaining the power rightfully his would be gone. The tips of his pointed ears became bright red with anger, fire burned in his eyes and the dark, thick eyebrows so prominent of the Trelfs furrowed and met in the centre of his forehead. Kahnlin could only watch as Richard left the stable and burn in his own fury. He could not show himself, not yet. No one could know he was here, especially Angus MacCorkadall. He had to get the Sphere and Sceptre of Oberon before he was found out. MacCorkadall would prevent that at all costs.

Jumping down from the loft Kahnlin stared at the Ly Erg with contempt. “You worthless piece of flesh. I should have known you couldn’t get the job done. I’m going to have to do this myself.”

The trelf turned and followed the same path as Richard out of the stable and into the castle, only much more discreetly. As he entered through the main doors, he glanced in all directions to make sure he was not seen. It was mid-morning and everyone should be occupied in classrooms and offices, not wandering around the halls of the massive structure. Seeing no one he continued on and up the stairs. He knew this castle like the back of his hand having studied it for decades in the event that he should find his way here. Richard had made it much easier by leaving opening the portal between worlds when he had left Syrus. The trelf knew exactly where he was going. As he approached the door to Richard’s room it opened and there stood Master Sorcerer Angus Seville MacCorkadall!

“Kahnlin-elRiney. I should have realized it was you. I have been so preoccupied with other things that it didn’t enter my mind that it could have been you.” The old wizard stared in mild consternation. He was upset at himself for not thinking about Kahnlin as the Unknown Enemy. Now, at least, he knew and could deal with the issue the best way.

“MacCorkadall, you Beelzebub. I want the Sphere and Sceptre of my father. They are mine and you know it!” Kahnlin nearly spat the words out.

“Oberon gave the Sphere to me and hid his Sceptre to protect Syrus from you. He knew what you would do with them. I will not let you have them. They now belong to Richard. He is the rightful ruler of your world, not you. Oberon made sure that only one of great moral character could find the Sceptre and that only one could control both the Sceptre and the Sphere. Richard Evans is that one. He has proven himself time and again.” MacCorkadall glanced back into Richard’s room.

“Let me through! I will kill him where he stands. Then I will have what I came for.” Kahnlin tried to push his way past the old man.

Standing immobile the ancient wizard just stared at the trelf with mild amusement. It would not be long before Richard was ready to face this creature and do what had to be done. The anger in Kahnlin would be his greatest downfall. Anger is a weakness to be avoided in a battle as it clouds the mind and makes the wits fail. Richard would be able to win against him without much effort as soon as he learned to put his emotions to the side. The love of all living things in the boy was his greatest weakness. When it came to protecting himself he used constraint when force was necessary. That would soon end, though. Kahnlin did not realize that what was in the young man was more than anything the master sorcerer had ever seen before.

“You will not do anything here unless I allow it.”

“I already have, Old Man. You have no idea what has been happening in your precious little bubble.” Kahnlin gave an evil smile.

“You are the one with no idea. Have any of your minions succeeded in their missions? No. Nothing happens here unless I allow it.” MacCorkadall smiled. “I know about the Ly Erg, the Red Cap and the senseless murder of Elizabeth Boothe’s parents. Everything.”

“If you knew, then why did you not stop the ‘senseless murder’,” Kahnlin looked at the wizard quizzically?

Angus MacCorkadall stared deep into the trelf’s brown eyes as if he were searching his very soul. “I did not stop it because it happened outside the boundaries of the Castle. I knew about it when it happened, not before. If I had, the Boothes would still be alive.”

MacCorkadall knew that he was giving away an important piece of information. With Kahnlin knowing that it was only within the boundaries of the Crauford Estate that he could control things would make it difficult to keep track of what he was doing in Glenfinnan and the surrounding area. Nevertheless, even at that he knew that Richard would not be leaving the castle until he was ready to resume the quest, therefore keeping him out of harm’s way and the son of Oberon would not know when the boy returned to Syrus, of that he was certain.

Mary chose this moment to come around the corner. “YOU! How did you get here? Richard left you imprisoned in a rock.”

Kahnlin laughed. “Your little whelp of a mate wasn’t as intelligent as he thought. My army wasn’t far away and they freed me. I just followed through the gate that he left open for anyone to use. To borrow a phrase from this lovely land you call home- he is a balloon. I’ve never seen someone so overly-confident without any reason.”

“You under-estimate the boy’s power, Kahnlin. It would be prudent for you to be less of a…balloon.” MacCorkadall smiled confidently at the trelf.

“I am no fool, Master Sorcerer. I may not know much of this world but I do know enough to get what I want. I have already achieved more than you could imagine.” Kahnlin looked into Mary’s deep blue eyes, winked and smiled lasciviously. “I will always get what I want.”

MacCorkadall looked up at the ceiling two metres above their heads and mumbled something in a language that only he knew. Out of nowhere came a voice that had not been heard for almost two hundred years. Mary stared in awe at her teacher as Kahnlin shivered slightly. This was a voice that he had hoped never to hear again. One that he had silenced with a knife across the throat.

“Kahnlin elRiney, I am sorely disappointed in you. Nevertheless, as always, you have done what I expected you to do. Moreover, you have wondered why I hid my tools from you. You are a disgrace to both Troll and Elf.” Oberon’s deep, booming voice made the trelf tremble.

“Oberon! How? You are dead. How can you speak to me?” Staring hard with fear and suspicion in his eyes, fear that this was real and suspicious that it was a trick, the trelf demanded, “What kind of sorcery is this? There is no possible way that Oberon could be here. He is dead and turned to dust.”

“My physical self may be dust once again but my essence is alive and well and will continue to exist for eternity. You, on the other hand, cannot comprehend the simple things that are life and will perish one day in the future and never see Paradise.”

MacCorkadall shook his head, making his long hair and beard sway slightly. “Kahnlin, your father is quite correct in his assessment of your intellect. You cannot grasp the simplicity of life. You are too concerned with power and control. You cannot see the forest through the trees. Oberon was not killed those many years ago. His body was destroyed, yes. His very being could not be. Some would call it the soul while others call it the life essence. Whatever it is, what makes a being be, lives on after the physical is gone.”

Once again Oberon’s voice boomed throughout the hallways of the ancient castle. “Kahnlin, you will never possess my Sceptre or Sphere. They are beyond your grasp forever. The boy will destroy you if you continue on your present course of action. You never listened to my wisdom while I was ruler of Syrus- it would be prudent of you to start listening now.”

Kahnlin stared into space. His father was dead, yet here he was telling him what he could and could not do. The tools of Oberon were the most powerful things in the universe and they would be his. He would die to possess them. How could a mere boy defeat him, a grown man more than four hundred years old? No, he would possess the sphere and sceptre, of that he was certain. Oberon could not predict that the whelp would kill him with any certainty, no one could. A boy with very little experience in life, much less in battle, could not defeat a seasoned warrior such as himself. Even the magick of the humans could be overcome with wit and stealth, that had been proven with what had already been achieved. To appease his father and to make the old sorcerer believe he had given up he would acquiesce to their demands, at least in words. That would give him enough time to formulate a new plan.

“Perhaps you are right, Oberon. Perhaps the boy does have the power to defeat me. I will return to Syrus empty handed…how do you say it here, MacCorkadall…with my tail between my legs?”

“You do not need to return home a failure, Kahnlin. Just return home as a better person. Learn a lesson from what you have encountered and be a better person. You have the ability to lead, and lead well, if you could leave your greed for power behind you.” MacCorkadall looked at the trelf with the eyes of wisdom, hoping that Kahnlin would listen and learn from his and Oberon’s words.

“I am far from a failure, Old Man. I lead legions of armies and control half a world. If that is failure, I would like to see what success is. No, I leave here beaten but not defeated.” Kahnlin turned and started walking toward the grand staircase to the ground floor. As he reached the top step he turned around and faced his father’s closest friend. “Master Sorcerer Angus MacCorkadall, this is not the last time we shall meet. I may not return to your world again but, sometime in the future, you will return to mine.”

“A prophecy that may well come true, or, may not. Only time will tell.” The wizard’s words fell on an empty landing. Kahnlin was gone.

Wizard's Quest: Book Two Chapters Thirteen and Fourteen

All works copywrite Jay D Evans 2013

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

 

Richard and Mary had arrived at the Dining Hall when he stopped and got a look of panic on his face. “I left the Sceptre and Sphere in MacCorkadall’s study. I need to go back and get them.”

“Why? You know they’re safe if they are with the Master. No one will get to them.” Not understanding his urgency, Mary just wanted to eat and go to bed.

“Ye dae nae understand, the power they have. Alone, the two are powerful tools. Together, they are unstoppable. I have to get them.” He turned and ran back to the sorcerer’s study.

Mary caught up with him as he reached the oak doors of Master MacCorkadall’s study. “Richard, you are acting like the Master is going to use them against you. He’s the one that is going to teach you about them.”
            “Aye, Ah kinn ‘at. Ah jist want tae hae ‘em with me.” The boy knocked lightly on the door.

When there was no answer, he knocked louder. With still no answer, he opened the massive door slowly and looked in. MacCorkadall was sitting at his desk holding the Sphere, the Sceptre lying on the desk in front of him. As Richard watched, the master sorcerer became enveloped in a ball of distortion, very much like when Kahnlin first appeared to them and held the Sphere. The old man sat there and allowed the distortion to envelope him completely. The air in the room was static with energy that threatened to spill out into the hall from the open door. Startled by the phenomenon, Mary slammed the door shut.

“What is he doing with that?” Not having seen this before, Mary was a little frightened.

“Ah dunnae kinn. But Kahnlin did the same thing when we first met.” Richard remembered when Kahnlin had held the Sphere and almost enveloped him, Sean and Elizabeth and that they, too, were frightened by it.

Whatever it was that the master sorcerer was doing, the boy wizard decided it would not be prudent to interrupt him, he could wait until the next day to retrieve his tools. He trusted Angus MacCorkadall with all he had in him. The old man had taken him off the dirty streets of Edinburgh and a life a crime and brought him to the Highlands to learn the ancient art of magick. For three years he had taken extra time with Richard to teach him more than the others were learning and had promoted him beyond his peers. True, he had been tested to the limit to get that promotion, losing friends, making friends, almost dying himself. But through it all, MacCorkadall had done nothing but stand by him and support him. He had even given him the Sphere of Oberon. Why was it that he had a feeling of foreboding because his teacher had possession of both tools?

The warning that his mother had given to Mary was also gnawing at his mind. What did she mean that the rain was coming? Who was it that was the unknown enemy? Surely this didn’t have anything to do with what he was feeling about his teacher. Thinking though all that he had learned, from his mother before she died, all the times he was running the streets of Edinburgh, what he had been taught here at Crauford Castle, what he had learned through the quest for the Power Stone and even what his mother had told him in his visitations. There was nothing that gave a clue as to what she was meaning or who it could be. Sebastian was dead in Fey, he had made sure of that. Kahnlin was a statue in the Elvin Forest. Those were his two known enemies. But, Mary had said that the enemy was not known yet, but would surface before the quest continued.

As they reached the Dining Hall a thought occurred to him. “Mary, could my enemy be one of the Brownies? I don’t think I’ve insulted one, nor do I wish to. But, they are sensitive about a lot of things. Maybe I inadvertently turned one into a Boggart.”

Brownies, being just a little over a foot tall with no nose, are sensitive little creatures. They will help out with chores around the house as long as the patrons don’t reward them. All they ever ask for is a little food and shelter as their payment. If they are criticized they can turn into Boggarts, nasty little beasties that are malicious and dangerous. Normally a Boggart will only torment and destroy belongings, killing is not something that they do. But, if one was tormented enough, he could turn homicidal.

 “Richard Evans! You may be conceited, at times even arrogant. But, insensitive is not one of your traits. What could you have done to, or said about one of the Brownies that would turn him evil?”

“Ah dunnae kinn. That’s just it. It takes a lot to turn a Brownie that evil. It’s the best I could come up with trying to decipher what my mum told you.”

Mary stopped dead in her tracks. “Wait a minute. The Corrigan. You know, that ugly woman that wanders around the forest. I’ve been told that she is great with riddles. Maybe she can help with this one.”

“It’s night time. She won’t be out now. Besides, how are you going to find her?” Richard didn’t like the idea of finding a Corrigan. True, they were great riddle solvers, but the stories that he had been told about them scared him.

“I can find her. Now, do you want to figure out what your mother said or not?” She grabbed Richard by the sleeve and dragged him toward the main door.

When the door was opened, the two realized that they were not going anywhere. The wind had picked up and the snow had turned to blizzard, already piling up against the tall oak doors of the castle. To go out in this would be suicide. It took both of them to close the massive doors against the wind and snow.

“I guess I don’t want to find out, at least not tonight.” Richard yawned and stretched. “Besides, it’s late and I’m tired. I think I’m just going to go to bed.”

“Fine! You just do that. I’ll just go to my room, worry about you, and not sleep a wink. I’ll be fine.” With that, Mary stormed up the stairs and out of sight leaving her friend lost and confused.

Trudging up the stairs to his own room, the young wizard was lost in his endless array of thoughts, walking the familiar path without thinking about where he was going. It wasn’t until he ran headlong into a wall that he realized that the path he had taken was not to his room but to an unfamiliar part of the castle, a dark hallway that led to a dead-end. Angry with himself for not paying attention he turned to go back the way he had come and caught a glimpse of something hiding in the shadows. Throughout the past year, he had learned to conquer any fear that he had, knowing that whatever lie ahead was nothing that could be worse than what he had been through already. This was just another situation that required confidence that he could handle whatever was there. As he started walking back toward the more brightly lit corridors of Crauford Castle, whatever was watching him moved deeper into the shadows of the dimly lit hall. As he passed the area where the entity was hiding, it disappeared totally. Shaking his head, confused, Richard continued on to his room.

All through the night he felt as though someone, or something, was watching him. He would turn and stare into the dark around him hoping to see, or hear, something move. After several hours of this, he lit the small candle next to his bed hoping that would allay his feelings. All this did was to bring into the light what was making him feel what he was. There, against the door was an urusk. Startled by the huge head, wrinkled face and feathers peeking out from his cloak, Richard let out a yell. The urusk rushed to cover the boy’s mouth and raised a crooked finger to his lips, indicating that he should be quiet.

“Wha…wha…what dae ye want o’ me?”

“I am here to help you, Richard. There is trouble afoot and you are in grave danger. Even here.” The voice was soft and soothing, not something that one would expect from the creature it came from.

Calmed only slightly, Richard sat up in his bed. “I’ve nae seen a body of yer kind afair. Yoo’re an urusk arenae ye?”

“Yes. But don’t be frightened. I will do you no harm. I want to help you.” The urusk turned as there was a knock on the door.

“Richard, are you all right? I thought I heard you yell.” Onslo’s voice came through muffled.

Richard looked at his visitor thoughtfully. “Aye Ah am. Jist a bad dream. Go back tae bed, Onslo.” The two could hear Onslo shuffling away back to his own room. Looking back at his visitor he realized that what the creature was saying was true. “What’s yer name? I cannae keep callin’ ye Urusk.”

Astonished, he looked down at the floor. “No one has ever asked my name before. It is Jib.”

“Ok, Jib. What did ye mean tha’ Ah was in trouble even here?”

“Dark forces are at work. You have the Sceptre and Sphere, something that is coveted across time and space. Everyone knew that Oberon had given the Sphere to MacCorkadall. But the Sceptre was hidden where no one could find it. You did. Now, there are many that would kill to get them both. Even here there are those that know about the power of Oberon’s tools.”

“But here? At Crauford? No one knows I have them except for MacCorkadall, Sean, Elizabeth and Mary. Even the handful of masters that teach haven’t been told yet. And the rest of the students are oblivious of everything.”

“There is one more that knows.” Jib glanced toward the door. “The one you call Onslo. He, too, knows about them.”

“Onslo?! You think that Onslo is out to kill me?” Richard couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He had met him his first year at the castle and been friends ever since. The worst that could come from Onslo was an unending series of questions and being a pain by wanting too much of his attention.

“I did not say that the boy wanted to kill you. I merely pointed out that there were more that knew about the tools than you realize.” Jib realized that Richard would need more evidence before he would believe things that weren’t obvious.

“How do you know so much about all this? You just showed up tonight.”

“How much do you know about the Urusks?” Jib sat on the edge of the bed and stared at Richard as if he were questioning a student about an important point in class.

“Nae much. Just what they look like mostly and that they are friendly.” Richard wondered where this was going.

“Urusks are extremely psychic. We know things that others don’t. That is why some people search us out. Others, such as you, don’t realize what help we can be. They are frightened by our appearance and so avoid us. I searched you out simply because my, what would you call it, sixth sense told me that you needed me more than most would.”

Richard stared at the little man. All he had been told about these creatures were that they were a hybrid of human, goat and fowl, that they craved human companionship but were so ugly they terrified most people and that they were extremely intelligent. No one had said anything about them being psychic. This put a whole new meaning to the relationship that was budding between the two. He could use someone that could for-tell the possible events that were in the future, see things that others could not and contact those that weren’t reachable. This man could possibly help him find the rest of his missing friends within days instead of weeks or months.

“Can ye tell me who, or what, is tryin’ tae kill me? If yer as psychic as ye say ye are it shoods be easy.” He didn’t really think that this being could tell him, and if he did, it would be in a vague way to where it could be anyone. He assumed that what he saw in the dark hallway earlier was this man, but, it could have been his would be assassin.

“I cannot tell you. It is not the right time. I can tell you this; what you saw in the hall was neither me nor your antagonist. You were extremely lucky this night. What you saw was a Red Cap, which, under normal circumstances, would live in a ruin. This Red Cap has been jinxed and is uncertain of anything. You would surely have perished if he had been himself.” Jib made it sound as if it were nothing more than reporting the weather. Richard knew that a Red Cap would kill on sight. He was lucky indeed.

Night was turning into dawn and the grey sky was showing signs of more snow. As he climbed out of his warm bed, he shivered. The cold penetrated the thick walls of the castle as if they were made of paper. One thing that Richard had never gotten used to was not having a warm room on cold days and nights. His father’s flat in Edinburgh had hot water heat that was always too warm, but the ancient castle had only hearths with little wood to burn for the rooms of the inhabitants. The only places where there was always a hearty fire burning was in the Main Hall and the Dining Hall, even Master MacCorkadall did without constant heat in the winter. The robes of all who studied and practiced the ancient art of magick were thick wool in the winter to keep them warm. On this frigid morning, he decided that he should don extra clothing to keep the cold away. He had gotten too used to the acrid heat of Syrus.

“I need to get ready for the day. Do you plan on staying here in my room or what?” Richard turned toward where the urusk had been standing only to find that the creature had disappeared. “I guess he’s not sticking around.”

 

The Dining Hall was empty when he arrived, it was still very early, but there was food waiting for him. The Brownies always knew what was going on around the castle and made sure that everything was in order for whoever was up and about. Richard knew that to give them any more than a ration of food would make them disappear so he made sure that he left the best of the meal for them. As he finished his breakfast he went through all that he had to do for the day. The first thing on his list was to feed, water and groom the castle horses. It had been over a year since he had last seen these magnificent creatures. It had always been his job to take care of them before he had gone on his quest, now that he was back, if only for a short time, he would resume those duties. It was one of his greatest pleasures to care for them and would do it as long as he could. The horses understood him and he them.

As he entered the stable Onslo was there, cleaning the stalls. Richard looked around and saw that he had already fed and watered each horse just as they had always been fed and watered by him and each had been groomed as if he had done it himself. Irritated that someone would do as good a job as he did, he turned and stormed out unnoticed without saying a word. “A fine way to start my day!” Realizing that someone had to do his chores while he was gone, and Onslo was the logical choice because of their close friendship, his mood elevated somewhat. Stopping to turn back to apologize to his friend, the castle bells chimed the hour. Seven bells, it was time to start his new training of the Sphere and Sceptre with MacCorkadall. No time for apologies now. Not stopping to talk with anyone, even Mary who was standing just inside the door, he made it to the Master’s Study before the last chime sounded. As he skidded to a stop in front of the doors, Master MacCorkadall spoke from inside.

“You are just in time, Richard. Punctuality is an admirable trait. Please come in and we’ll get started.”

The massive doors opened and Richard stepped into the room. What was normally a densely furnished, almost cluttered room was totally bare. The tall bookshelves were gone, not just the ancient texts that sat upon their shelves, but the shelves themselves were gone. The cherrywood desk that the master sorcerer sat behind and the tall chair he sat in were gone, as were the numerous tables and chairs that were scattered around the room. The only things left were the long velveteen curtains covering the windows, which were no longer dark purple but were a colour that seemed to blend into the walls surrounding them, making the windows almost disappear. Even the hardwood floor was changed, now resembling the ancient stonework of the walls, making the entire room a bleak and lonely place. The only thing there was a pedestal in the middle of the room with the Sphere and Sceptre of Oberon lying on it.

Looking around at the empty room, Richard stammered, “Whit happened haur? Whaur is everythin’?”

Amused, MacCorkadall laughed. “Don’t worry, my boy, I just cleared out a few things so that there would be no distractions for your tutoring. Shall we get started?”

Picking up both items, he handed them to Richard. “These are yours, the Sphere given to you by me, who received it from King Oberon, and the Sceptre was given to you by the King by your own merits. Only one of great character, values and morality could possibly have possession of both of these at the same time. You have proven yourself time and again that you are worthy of them. Now is the time to learn what they can do for you.

“Whoever has the Sphere can only be harmed by very powerful magick. It puts a protective ‘bubble’ around whoever owns it that is virtually impenetrable. When I gave it to you I told you that it would take you where you needed to go. It does far more than that. With the Sphere you can control time and space, not just travel through it. If you would allow me to show you…”

Richard handed the Sphere to his instructor and the old man gazed at it intently. Soon, the now familiar distortion began to form. As it grew, he did not back away from it. Enveloping both men the very air around them became electric, making the hair stand up on their arms and the backs of their necks. The world around them became fuzzy and started to swirl, disorienting the young wizard. Glancing at MacCorkadall, he saw that he was smiling, almost diabolically, at the small round object in his hand, eyes glued to it. Slowly, almost imperceptive at first, his senses started coming into focus. As he watched, the room they had been standing in disappeared, being replaced by an alien landscape- barren of any life. The sky was a multitude of colours that reminded him of the Aurora Borealis, moving in the heavens as if they were a flag waving in the breeze. The ground consisted of hardened lava, smoothed by the ebbs and flows of a volcanic eruption many millennia ago, and the air was as still as a tomb.

As he spoke, his words echoed. “Master MacCorkadall, whaur air we? This isnae anyplace Ah’ve ever heard of.”

“This, Richard, is a world between worlds. From here you can go anywhere, anytime. What would you like to see? William Wallace being defeated at Sterling or Genghis Kahn pillaging a village in what is now China? How about the beginning of the Universe? It can all be done from here, with this device I hold in my hand.”

“But how? Is there a spell or incantation I need to know? Or do I just think about it?” He hadn’t seen, or heard, the old man do anything but stare at the Sphere.

Smiling at the boy, Angus MacCorkadall winked and was gone, taking the Sphere of Oberon with him and leaving Richard alone without knowing how to leave this world-between-worlds.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

 

Richard stood there, motionless, not wanting to believe what had just happened. His mentor, his friend, the man whom he trusted and loved like a father, had just left him stranded on an alien planet with nothing except the clothes that he wore. Of all the people that could have been the unknown enemy, Angus MacCorkadall was the last person that he would have thought was that evil. Now, because of his trust and innocence, he was here, alone, with no food, water or a way to leave. Looking around, there was nothing, as far as he could see, from horizon to horizon. There was no sun in the sky, only the swirling ribbons of colours lighting the barren landscape. The gently rolling swells of hardened lava that he stood upon continued in every direction, giving no indication of changing into anything else, leaving no room for any life giving substances such as plants or animals. And there was no water. He was doomed to die on this barren rock, alone.

“Why?” He screamed into the endless nothingness, his voice echoing back to him, mocking his frustration. Then, pleading quietly, tears in his eyes, “Why?”

Sitting on the ground he put his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. Something jabbed him in the stomach, but he ignored the pain, concentrating on his dilemma. MacCorkadall had said that this was a place from which a person could go anywhere, anytime. He didn’t say how to do it, though. Thinking hard, Richard tried to will himself home, yet nothing happened, he was still sitting on the hard, rocky ground. Laying back, staring at the swirling colours overhead, he absently rubbed the area that was being poked. He tried a simple incantation, still to no avail. He sat up and again something poked him in the side, this time more painfully. Not being able to ignore it any longer, he lay back again and checked his pockets. There, sticking out of his front pants pocket was the Sceptre of Oberon.

Excitement replaced frustration and betrayal. This was something that he could use. Standing and raising the powerful wand, he cast the only spell he knew that should send him home. “Druaightys shinyn dachaidh!”

Expectation turned into disappointment once again. The boy wizard knew that the spell would send him home, yet, here he stood, still on this desolate ball of rock. Seething at himself for being so gullible and not seeing what was really happening, Richard sunk back to the ground, dejected. Mary would be so disappointed in him for being so stupid and getting trapped. She had warned him that he should not be alone. Yet, he hadn’t been, he had been with the man they all trusted so much. At least that man didn’t have the Sceptre, that would have made him even more powerful and no one would be able to stop him from doing whatever he wanted.

The colours in the sky changed suddenly from the reds, blues, yellows and purples to a deep shade of brown, casting the whole area into a dismal negative of what it was. The landscape was foreboding enough with the bright light from the rainbow colours but now it was as if there was a cloud of doom overhead. The temperature, which had been comfortable, turned cold and a breeze had picked up, raising goose bumps on his arms. Shadows disappeared and were replaced by an overcast hue. Anywhere else, this would indicate rain but it was uncertain what was coming on this world.

Faintly, he could hear voices. At first he thought he was imagining them or it was just the wind whistling around some of the sharper edges of the landscape. But as he listened it became clearer that it was voices, albeit not loud enough the make out what was being said or who it was. Looking around he saw no one. Where were those voices coming from? The landscape showed no indication of any openings or entrances at all. Could it be that there were hidden caves such as the elves have that are fighting the Dragon Riders? Desperately searching the ground for anything that could be hiding a doorway Richard started kicking at anything that looked like it could move, all to no avail.

Cupping his hands to his mouth he shouted to those elusive voices, “Hallooo! Can ye hear me?”

All that came back to him was the echo of his own voice. As he sat back down on the ground snow started to blow across the barren rock. The snow was not coming from the sky, which was still cloudless, but from behind him out of nowhere. Confused, yet curious, the boy wizard stood and stared at the air where the snow was originating. Something about it was strange. The sky wasn’t the same colour, more like a winter sky at home. Slowly approaching it he could see that it was a window, a window to another world. Excited now, he shouted once more.

“Hallooo! Is anyone there? Can ye hear me?”

Faintly, almost inaudibly, “He must learn what to do by himself. He has the power, the tools, he must be the one.”

“But look at him! He doesn’t understand.”

“He will.”

More confused than before, Richard started to become angry. These voices were talking about him like he was a science experiment. He was not a mouse in a maze to be studied. “Who are ye? What dae ye want whit me?”

“Think, Richard, think! Use your mind and your knowledge. Remember, things are not always what they seem to be.”

“Whit the bloody hell are they talkin’ abit? Things arenae whit they seem. I hae th’ power an’ tools. Whit knowledge?” This was a test! It had to be. Whoever it was out there was testing him. If only he could distinguish who those voices belonged to. Taking their advice he thought about what was said; Things aren’t always what they seem to be, I have the power, tools and knowledge. All these things had to make sense somehow. The only tools he had was Oberon’s Sceptre, and true, his knowledge of magick had increased exponentially in the last year, but what was meant by- Things are not always what they seem? Suddenly it hit him like a brick on top of the head.

Pulling the Sceptre from his pocket he pointed it the sky. “Glenney magh! Clear this out.”

The brown sky changed to a vaulted ceiling, the ground became a stone floor and stone walls appeared around him. A window was open behind him sending a chilling wind and snow across the floor. Standing across the room, huddled together were Angus MacCorkadall, Mary and Jib watching him intently. The master and Jib were looking like they had failed somehow. Mary, frowning, had a look of distinct disapproval and her arms were folded across her chest. MacCorkadall whispered something to Jib, listened to his reply then moved over to Richard.

Before the master could speak, he lashed out. “You left me alone! With nothing. You took the Sphere so that I couldn’t use it to get home. YOU LEFT ME ALONE!”

“Richard, you did well, but not until you had help. There will not always be someone there to help you. There will be a time when you must rely on only yourself and your abilities. You have the power, the knowledge, to achieve great things but you must learn to trust yourself before you will be able to use that power and knowledge to its’ greatest advantage.”

“I told you what he was thinking. I told you that it was wrong the way you did it.” Mary came over and stared accusingly at the master sorcerer. “You could have at least told him it was a test.”

“If the boy had been informed, it would not have shown us what we needed to know. We now know that he needs to improve on his psychic abilities, his intuition and, must I say this, he has anger issues.” Jib looked at Mary like she was Richard’s mother and he was the headmaster explaining what her child needed to work on in school.

“Richard, you never left this study. It was all an illusion. It was a test to see what you would do in that situation. We could watch you, but not interact. I told Master MacCorkadall what you would do. I thought it was stupid.” Mary put her arms around his neck and hugged him.

Holding her by the waist, he glared at his mentor. “Ah cannae believe ye did ‘at tae me. Ah thooght ye hud betrayed me like Sebastian. Ah thooght ye waur th’ unknoon enemy.”

Jib, even as compassionate as the Urusks are, poured sarcasm at the young boy. “And you handled that quite well from what I saw.”

MacCorkadall shut the window, turned to look at Richard with quiet authority and without pretence stated simply, “We have a lot of work to do.”

“Aye, ye dae. Ye need tae learn hoo tae treat people.” Richard headed toward the door, pulling Mary along with him. “Ah’m gang tae th’ Common Room. Mebbe we shoods start again tomorrow.”

MacCorkadall started to say something but Jib silenced him with an upraised arm. “Let him go. In his state of mind, he won’t learn anything. Let him realize what happened through talking with the girl. He’ll come around.”

Thoughtfully stroking his long beard, the ancient sorcerer agreed. “You are probably right. Tomorrow will be better.”

 

“Ah cannae believe he did ‘at! Ah thooght Ah was a goner. Ye dinnieken whit was gang through mah heid.”

“Richard, you’ve got to calm down. I know what MacCorkadall did was wrong. He should have let you know something, anything. He wanted to know how you would react to something that extreme.” Mary had watched the entire ordeal. Standing in the same room as her soul mate, only she saw the reality, he saw what MacCorkadall had conjured for him to see. It was as if she were watching a play at the theatre, he the actor on stage.

“You were thaur the whole time? Noo I really am embarrassed.” Richard started to calm down enough to control his accent. It didn’t make him feel any better to know that he had been put on display like some zoo animal. It was so real to him that he had a hard time understanding that he had never left the study and that it was all just a show.

“You don’t have to be embarrassed. I knew what he was doing, he told me last night. I came in right after you and he ‘left’ the study. It was interesting until he let you believe that you were stranded somewhere alone. Then it got cruel.”

The two arrived at the Common Room, which was empty, and sat in front of the roaring fire on the floor. As Mary leaned into him and put her head on his chest, he kissed her hair and breathed in the scent of lavender. She looked up and smiled at him. It had been only two days since they had been alone together, but it seemed like a lifetime. This wasn’t the same as being alone at the mansion, there they were alone. Here at the castle, anyone could walk in on them at anytime. But, alone time was just that, time that they could forget about the world and centre their attention on each other. They had been sitting for only a few minutes when the door burst open and in ran Onslo.

“I’ve been looking for you two. Where’ve you been? I want to know all about the Quest! You promised, Rich. Remember?”

“Aye, I did.” Reluctantly he unwrapped himself from Mary. “Where do you want me to start, my friend?”

“From the very beginning when you left to find the Power Stone. What happened? Why didn’t everyone come back with you? You were in hospital for over a week and then left again. Thomas and Fergus come back and won’t talk to anyone except MacCorkadall and then you come back again. I want to know it all.” The exuberance flowing from Onslo’s very being overwhelmed the other two.

Imitating Elizabeth and Cassandra’s American accent, Mary tried to slow him down. “Whoa there, Cowboy. Give a body a chance.”

“Aye, I can only tell ye when ye close yer gob long enough for me tae talk.” Richard laughed at his friend, knowing how excited the boy got over little things.

For the next three hours, Richard retold the story of the quest. From the point where Mary and the five others were lost, to finding Elizabeth in the Troll Caves, finding the mansion that supplied their every need, meeting the elves, Connor being returned, the faeries, the Desert Elves and their war with the Dragon Riders, all the way through to his return to Crauford with the Power Stone chip. He left out the more gruesome points of how Quentin, Stephanie, Duncan and Sebastian had been killed, but that they were dead. He recounted his encounter with the rock creatures with more embellishment than was needed just to make it more exciting for his audience, but that was all, everything else was told true to fact. When he got done, he stood up and stretched.

“Onslo, I really need to get back to studying with MacCorkadall. If things go the way I’ve been told, I’m going to need everything I can get from him.”

“You’ll tell me the rest later though, right? When you left the second time, until now. Right?”

“Of course I will. You’re my best mate.” Looking at Mary to see if she was going to follow, Richard waited at the door.

“I’ll be along shortly. There are some things I need to do.” Mary smiled at him, stood and went up the stairs to her room.

Watching her go and wanting to follow, Richard felt lonely. He knew that he had to go see MacCorkadall, there was no getting around it. He had walked out on him, now he had to apologize for not giving his teacher the benefit of the doubt and start anew, this left no room for pleasure. He would much rather her be with him for this, but he had to give her the space she needed. Finally, shaking his head and heading out the door, he called back to his friend, “I’ll catch up with you later, Onslo.”

Angus MacCorkadall and Jib were deep in a discussion when Richard arrived back at the study. It was several minutes before they acknowledged his arrival. When they did, it was a curt nod and back to their discussion. He knew better than to interrupt so he stood back and waited, after all, he was the one in the wrong, not them. When they finished, MacCorkadall looked at his young pupil with sternness. It was almost as if he had forgotten that it was he that had told Richard to be here. After more than a few minutes had passed, the ancient sorcerer approached his young student.

“Richard, you have improved in skill tremendously in the last year. In skill, not in maturity, your outburst was inappropriate, although, I do understand the why. You need to learn to control your emotions and let your logic control you instead. Emotions will help the magick, logic keeps it, and you, under control. This will be important in the days to come, more than you can realize.”

“Aye, I kinn ‘at. It doesnae make it any easier, though.”

“Nothing worth having is ever easy. Trials and tribulations are a part of life and how a person deals with those situations indicates what kind of person they are. Lashing out in anger at everything says that the person is immature, no matter how old they are. No one takes immaturity seriously and therefore that person doesn’t go far in life.

“Now, I believe that we have done enough for one day. We will start again tomorrow. It is now dinnertime and if I know you, you haven’t eaten yet today. Go down to the Dining Hall and eat, relax and enjoy the day.”

This was strange coming from the Master. He was not one to influence what a person did. Whether it be eating, sleeping, or whatever, that was that person’s decision. Now, here he was telling him to go eat, in the Dining Hall, and to relax and enjoy the day. There were things that needed to be done, there was no time to relax. Finding the identity of the unknown enemy was more important than eating. Learning what the Sphere could do was more important than relaxing. But to argue with a master sorcerer, especially this one, was pointless.

“Before I go, I need to apologize to both you and Jib for my outburst. As you said, it was inappropriate. I’m sorry.”

From across the room, Jib spoke, “There is hope for this one yet.”

MacCorkadall smiled. “Off with you, Richard. Tomorrow will be a busy day.”

 

Still pondering MacCorkadall’s telling him to eat and relax as he reached the Dining Hall, Richard hesitated at the door and turned back the way he came. Wanting very much to get back studying, he contemplated going back and asking to continue with the lessons. He had made a complete fool of himself and he needed to rectify it. The only way to do that was to continue and prove to his mentor and the Urusk that he could do it without losing all his composure. He was just about to leave when he heard strange noises behind the oak doors of the Dining Hall. It was late for dinner and there should not have been many people eating, and those that did were usually studying while they ate, not making merriment and it sounded like a party was going on.

The door creaked ever so slightly as he opened it and he heard someone whisper loudly, “Someone’s coming, everyone hide.”