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Elias of Eradal Chapter 12
"You'll be fine." Kole assured. "El's going to look after you."
Avi's crestfallen face screwed into a frown. "He don't need te look after me!" He huffed indignantly. "I just dunno why you ain't comin'."
With a sigh, Kole bumped Avi's shoulder gently. "In that case why don't you make sure to look after him? You know how he gets."
This brought a reluctant smile to Avi's face, and he looked up at Elias who simply rolled his eyes in response.
"You'll be back here before you know it." Kole promised. "Just as long as you behave yourself in Calon-Ken and don't get caught stealing."
Avi scowled. "I won't get caught."
It was Kole's turn to roll his eyes, but he did not comment. Instead, he lifted himself up from where he had been crouched and gave Elias a long searching look.
Elias had awoken that morning with Kole's arm still locked around his waist. It had been simultaneously embarrassing and pleasant. In his mind, Elias had tried to blame the somewhat compromising position on the alcohol, but he knew that he had not overindulged, and his mind had been his own at the time. Moving slowly, he had tried not to disturb Kole, but the second he shifted, his bedfellow had rolled over and sat up groggily.
When Kole turned over, Elias had felt or imagined something large brush against him down near the base of his spine. This sensation had sent a rush of electric feeling shooting all through him in a way that Elias still could not describe or explain. He had looked for the source but due to Kole's seated position and covering with the coarse blanket he was unable to be sure if his suspicions, or perhaps his hopes, were correct.
Even now as they parted ways, Elias opted not to talk about their shared night. He certainly did not want to discuss it in front of Avi and Dain. Although, the younger two seemed more closely bonded this morning as well. Elias had noted their sleeping position the night before but assumed at the time that Avi's clinginess had simply gotten the better of him as it was doing now. As the four of them said their final farewells however, Dain stood practically shoulder to shoulder with the shorter boy; almost protectively in a way that Kole sometimes did.
"If we make good time, we can be there before nightfall and meet with Master Lavelle tonight." Elias explained as he urged his younger companions to hurry.
Avi waved to Kole who still stood outside the little tavern watching them go. The young thief's face was always easy to read, and now the forlorn look he wore clearly showed how he felt about this turn of events.
"C'mon, Tibbs..." Avi mumbled over his shoulder and Elias did a double take when he heard a quack in response.
Quickly though, Elias saw that they were passing a pen with some livestock. A small group of ducks wandered about the yard and had coincidentally sounded off at the appropriate time. Dain's mouth twisted in thought however, and Elias found himself wishing that the young druid was as easy to decipher as Avi.
Without Kole their travels were much quieter. Not that Kole was usually the particularly chatty one, but Avi who filled that role did not have his long-time friend to bounce his curiosities off of. He spoke some to Elias and to Dain as well. Elias tried to be patient with Avi's questions about the frequent travelers they passed, but usually only gave brief answers. Dain on the other hand seemed more than happy to share any information Avi was interested in. Dain's expertise lay mainly in the different types of plant life that dotted the roadside, and he gladly told Avi and Elias what the trees and the shrubs were thinking about.
As Elias had expected however, Dain grew restless as the frequency of their encounters with other travelers increased. His strange clothes and the markings on his neck drew more attention to him than he would have liked. Few people on the mainland had ever seen anyone from Verduin. Elias regularly caught Dain glancing skyward, a habit that must have been hard to break. He imagined that the young boy must have been missing his feathered companion in these unfamiliar and populated lands.
Despite it all, the trip to Calon-Ken was quite uneventful. Avi kicked at the dirt the entire way and Dain shied away from the stares of the passers-by, but it was only just turning to twilight when the impressive walls of the city came into view. Elias had forgotten just how impressive the city was. Erania had walls but the city was built for ease of access and commerce. Calon-Ken was an ancient settlement, built to survive anything. It was comforting when thinking about the coming storm to imagine the people of the outlying rural countryside being able to take refuge behind the thick stone ramparts. As long as they could raise the alarm in time of course.
Even though it had been years since Elias had set foot in the Calonian city, stepping through the stone arch brought him back. Calon-Ken was the same as it had been back then. The same as it had been likely for decades or even centuries. The streets within were packed full, but not in the same way as the city of Erania. Erania's thoroughfares were broad and its squares were expansive. All of it made with the purpose of moving goods and coin. The avenues of Calon-Ken were scarcely wide enough for two wagons. This was another reason the city was so defensible. Even if an army breached the gate, they would move slowly, up hill and surrounded by flat-roofed buildings and countless places to mount ambushes and counter attacks. Elias was no tactician but even he could see the deliberate nature of the architecture.
"This is not a city." Dain commented, seeming to read Elias's thoughts. "It is a fortress." The Verduin boy stayed huddled close to his companions, obviously not caring much for the sights and sounds of the city streets. Elias took a small amount of petty pleasure in seeing Dain's usual soft confidence shaken by something that was so familiar to him. He knew he should feel nothing but gratitude toward Dain for the help he had already given, and had promised to continue to give, and this brief flash of spite left a poor taste in Elias's mouth.
"It was built in times of war." Elias explained. He kept his tone comforting as a means to distract Dain and to absolve himself of his internal maliciousness. "Before the Five Kingdoms were formed there was a lot of infighting. All five made their own alliances and fought their own wars against each other."
Dain shook his head in sad disapproval.
Whilst Elias and Dain talked however, Avi's eyes had begun to dart in all directions. The bustle of the people brushing past, practically shoulder to shoulder, the sounds of vendors hawking their wares, and even the mixed scents of food and refuse all spoke one word to him. Home.
The short tail of his hair swayed back and forth as he practically bounced on the balls of his feet in excitement. Every so often the glint of some trinket or bit of coin trading hands caught his eye. It took every ounce of self-control in his small body to not dart off into the crowd in search of new treasures. Even just since entering the gate Avi had already lifted a small handful of coins from their unsuspecting owners. The way he saw it, if they were standing so close, they must want him to borrow from them. What other reason could there be?
Avi had even gone so far as to snatch a wooden game piece off a vendor's table and place it into another pedestrian's pocket. He couldn't explain why he sometimes did things like this. The man he had placed it on looked like he would appreciate the little carving. After it was done however, Avi felt bad about removing the game piece from the others like it. Now it was alone. He had almost made up his mind to sneak away and take it back once more to return it to the vendor's table when Dain called his name.
"Look here." Dain encouraged, pointing to a nearby stall. Avi turned at the sound and cocked his head curiously. He saw that Tibbs was standing next to Dain, but that was not what Dain was pointing out. Tibbs spent a lot of time near Dain, and she seemed to like him. That made sense. He liked Dain too.
Moving closer Avi saw that the stall had several forked sticks made into slingshots laid out across a table. He frowned at Dain quizzically.
"You have good aim." Dain answered his unspoken question. "On Verduin we often use weapons similar to these for hunting."
Elias shook his head. "These ones are just toys. They might cause a bruise but nothing more."
Picking one of them up, Dain tested the resistance and then nodded in disappointment. "You are right." Abruptly he looked up at the stall owner. "How much?"
"Halffarthing." The man grunted, barely paying them any attention.
When Dain looked questioningly up at him, Elias sighed. "You don't have any money, do you? You said yourself, they're not real."
"They are sturdy enough." Dain assured. "I can fix it."
Elias rolled his eyes but nonetheless pulled out a small coin and set it on the table. The vendor accepted the transaction without a word and Dain handed the toy to Avi who examined it excitedly.
"Fer me?" He grinned ear to ear.
"Try it out." Dain returned the smile. "I will replace the band to make it stronger. Now you will have a weapon as well."
Avi fidgeted and blushed as he looked down at the cheap piece of wood in his hands, obviously unsure how to conduct himself. When he met Dain's eyes again he was beaming and looked almost like he might cry. "Fanks Dain! Erm..." He suddenly remembered who had actually purchased the trinket. "Fanks El." He said, slightly more reserved.
Dain put a hand to Avi's shoulder that lingered for a time as the two shared a smile. Abruptly though Dain nodded and turned. "We should continue."
The atmosphere in the city was almost too normal. Part of Elias expected the people to be rushing around in a panic over what was to come. He had to remind himself that none of them knew. It was better for it to stay that way until there was something they could do about it.
The streets began to gradually become less congested as evening set in and many of the vendors closed down their stalls for the night. Elias led the way up the hill toward the nicer parts of the city where the wealth lived. When he was apprenticed in Calon-Ken, Master Lavelle had been the only high wizard in the city. That could have changed since then, but regardless, High Wizards were well respected and usually well paid for the services they offered.
As the houses grew more opulent Avi and Dain both began to marvel openly. Even though it was disguised by decorative arches and expansive planters, a keep observer would still notice the defensive nature of these structures. Each house was akin to a miniature keep that could be held against an invading force.
Finally, near the center of the city, Elias brought them to Lavelle's house. It was comparable to the housed around it but had two standing braziers at the front door that were lit with blue flame, marking the home of a spellcaster.
"Wow..." Avi chortled as he took it all in. "'e must be rich as mince pie."
Dain gave a quiet laugh at Avi's idiom, but Elias ignored them and knocked on the door sharply. The blue fires flared slightly when he did, making Avi shrink back warily.
A small hatch near the top of the door slid to one side and a pair of eyes peered out at them. "Master Lavelle is not receiving guests at the present time. Come back tomorrow." The person's tone was cordial but brisk and all-business.
"Master Lavelle will want to see me." Elias replied confidently, squaring his shoulders but keeping his voice respectful. "Tell him that Elias Valern is here."
The figure behind the door nodded and shut the hatch, leaving the three of them standing awkwardly outside. Several minutes passed before the handle suddenly clicked and the door swung outward. Lavelle himself, tall and stick-like as ever, stood in the doorway, his pale skin cast in purplish blue from the torches by the entry. He wore a long robe of purple trimmed with gold and had his beard in a tight and oiled braid with several ringlets woven in. Aside from his dark beard having more grey hairs, the bald-headed wizard looked almost the same as he had years ago when Elias left him.
"Elias?" A smile spread slowly across the man's face. "By the gods, look how tall you are!" Lavelle turned to laughter as he stepped in close to measure himself against his former pupil. "But I still have you beat. Come in, please!"
"It is good to see you Master." Elias couldn't keep the smile from his own face as well. Stepping through the doors of Lavelle's home was a force of nostalgia he was not prepared for.
Lavelle chuckled louder. "Master? No, no, my boy. You're not my student anymore. It's just Samuel to you. Or Lavelle if you like." The wizard shook Elias's hand vigorously while clapping him on the shoulder. "Did you write to say you were coming? I did not expect to see you, much less coming with a young Verduin. Interesting company you keep, my lad."
It did not surprise Elias that Lavelle could identify Dain by sight. He was after all one of the smartest men that Elias knew. "There was no time to write. I wish I were here for a simple visit but there is great danger coming. Danger I fear that I have caused." Elias's face fell as he spoke the words.
Lavelle's brow furrowed at the seriousness of Elias's words. "I see. Come in and sit. Standing in the door is no place for these talks." He turned and led them farther into the house. The trinkets and knick-knacks that decorated the walls again returned Elias to his childhood, but the mood had shifted suddenly, and the house from his youth seemed darker now.
The sitting room had a cozy fire blazing in its hearth and several well-stuffed chairs and lounges. Books, tapestries, and paintings lined the walls. Despite being a devoted scholar, Elias knew that Lavelle also had a deep love and appreciation for art. He particularly liked landscapes from Calonia and Falheim.
Elias's former mentor invited them all to be seated before taking his favorite chair close to the hearth. "Morris." He called out softly. "Bring some tea for our guests, will you boy?"
A short and portly young man appeared from an adjoining room that Elias knew to be one of several libraries. He nodded once to Lavelle and then again as a greeting to the other three before retreating from the room once more.
"My newest apprentice." Lavelle explained. "He's a good lad. About your age I think." He lowered his voice. "Doesn't have your talent though, or your mind. There won't be another like you, Valern."
Despite the grim news he bore, Elias felt a swell of pride at his former master's compliment. He said nothing, but it made his burden easier to know that Master Lavelle remembered their time fondly also.
"Now tell me what you have gotten yourself into, Elias." Lavelle asked. "I thought I might have felt a shift in the forces of magic lately. I worried that it was age catching up with me." He laughed softly.
Elias sucked in a breath. He didn't know where to start. The story would change Lavelle's perception of him, maybe damage it irreparably, but this was his responsibility. No one else was going to do it.
"I told you in my letters I've been living back in Erania in the house of Master Saito." Elias began. "It started, I suppose, when I was given a vision in my sleep."
From there, Elias relayed their adventure in as much detail as possible. From meeting Avi and Kole, to the stand off with the brigands and their stay in Brilling. The encounter with the treggans, entering the swamps and meeting Dain, Elias even spoke briefly about Tibbs. He detailed the fight with Amarack, then their ascent into the mountains. Finally, Elias told Lavelle all about the dragon, Amarack's revelation, and the dark creatures that now massed in the Koval mountains and the swamps below.
All through, Lavelle did not speak. At some point during the long story, the apprentice, Morris returned with a tray of teacups for all. Dain and Lavelle sipped quietly, but Elias and Avi's cups remained largely untouched. Elias did not have time to drink tea between the story he told, and Avi took one sip of the floral yet bitter liquid, made a face, and set the cup down.
Finally, Elias finished by explaining their need to use the Sage's Beacon in Calon-Ken. He heaved a long sigh and waited tensely for his former master to respond.
Lavelle took all the news without expression. It was not at all what Elias had expected from him. Anger, shock, maybe even consolation were all possibilities in Elias's mind, but a stoic deadpan had not occurred to him. The old wizard took a long sip of his tea before responding.
"You were very foolish, Elias. Impulsive and arrogant." He spoke solemnly, and his words cut deep. Elias could not bring himself to meet his mentor's eyes. Lavelle sighed and then gave a single humorless chuckle. "Although, I am not sure my behavior would have been different at your age. I forget so often that your immense knowledge has not yet been tempered by wisdom."
Silence dominated the room for a time, aside from the crackling of the fire. Even though Elias had expected as much, Lavelle's rebuke hit him hard. His hands trembled slightly as he gripped his teacup. Avi inched closer to him on the sofa, sensing his distress.
"You should have conferred with me, or with your Master." Lavelle reproached. "Saito may be a pompous old man, but he certainly could have helped you decipher this `vision'." Again, he sighed and softened his tone. "True visions are hazy at best, often couched in riddle or metaphor. The fact that yours was so clear and pointed would have aroused immediate suspicion from Saito or myself."
"I am sorry, Master..." Elias mumbled, trying to hold back tears of shame. For the first time since leaving Elkhollow, Elias was glad that Kole was not with them. It was bad enough that Dain was here, witnessing this well-deserved humiliation, but Elias did not want Kole to see him like this.
"I know you are, my boy. But this is a blunder of catastrophic proportions. The last of the dragons is dead, and the world is on the brink of a war the likes of which we haven't known in centuries. And none of the Five Kingdoms are prepared for it."
"This is why we need your help, sir." Dain chimed in for the first time when Elias had no answer. "Verduin will fight alongside the mainland, I am sure of it. We have no great armies, but our magic is strong, and our rangers and trackers are the best."
Lavelle nodded. "This is good. We will need all of nature on our side to have a chance against such unnatural evil. Elias my boy, there is no time for sulking. I know your motives were pure if misguided, but now is the time to make it right. Do you remember Lord Titus of House Colgaren?"
Finally looking up, Elias nodded. He was determined not to let them see any further weakness from him. "I do. He is liege to the nobles of Calon-Ken."
"When you were here, that was all he was." Lavelle explained. "Fortunately for our cause however, House Colgaren was elected Lord-Imperator of Calonia several years ago."
Elias's eyes widened as he realized what this meant. The Lord-Imperator of Calonia was the only one that could call all of the noble houses to war, not just the banners that served under him. It was not a power that any Lord-Imperator had used in many years, but nonetheless, the fact that Calon-Ken was now the seat of power in the kingdom boded well for their efforts.
"Lord Titus and I have been friendly for many years." Lavelle continued. "He will hear our case in the morning and, with luck, will issue the call immediately."
Calonia had the largest army of all the Five Kingdoms, with knights in every city and levies from the outlying towns. If they could raise all of Calonia's strength quickly then they might be able to hold back the tide of darkness long enough to unite the other kingdoms.
"The Sage's Beacon also sits in the keep in the center of the city." Lavelle told them. "As soon as we have spoken to Lord Titus, I will relay the warning across the Five Kingdoms."
Hope was beginning to mount but Elias could hardly bear the thought of waiting until morning. "Can we not go now? It is urgent."
Lavelle nodded knowingly. "So it is. But even I would not be able to get an audience with Lord Titus at this hour." Elias wanted to argue but his former master knew him too well and held up a hand. "Part of what makes a wizard wise is knowing when to act and when to prepare. Convincing Lord Titus to invoke his rights as Lord-Imperator will be a large request. It would strengthen our cause if he were in a good mood when he hears our proposition. Even if you managed to force your way in and demand an audience, Titus is unlikely to feel accommodating."
Elias sighed and stowed his argument. Of course, Lavelle was right, but it still felt like he should be doing something.
"Which tribe are you from, young man?" Abruptly Lavelle changed the subject, addressing Dain now.
Puffing out his chest, Dain smiled. "Tor. Though my mother's mother was of Curlough."
Lavelle returned the smile pleasantly. "Ah, I met a Curlough once. Good people. I have heard though that if you convince the Tor then Verduin will follow."
Nodding proudly, Dain agreed. "We are the first of the tribes, and we are strong now from many good harvests. We will convince Verduin to stand together, I know it."
"Excellent." Lavelle clapped his hands once as he stood. "Well, I must admit this was not what I expected from the day. Elias my boy..." Elias lifted his head from where he had been staring at the ground. "Walk with me."
Elias stood to follow the bearded wizard but paused to look back at Dain and Avi. Dain was just finishing his tea, but Avi was already beginning to look bleary-eyed as he stared into the fire. "Dain..." Elias spoke awkwardly. "Can you... make sure no one causes trouble?" He asked pointedly.
Dain frowned at him for a moment before understanding dawned. The young Verduin nodded agreeably. Elias did not want to return from the short walk to find half of Master Lavelle's belongings stuffed into a certain boy's pockets.
Master Lavelle led Elias through the familiar corridors of the estate and out into the garden before he spoke again. Lavelle had something of a green thumb, even as wizards were concerned. Vibrant flowers bloomed year-round and potent herbs gave strength to the master's potions. The space was equally functional and elegant. Elias had noted long ago that Master Lavelle seemed to keep at least one plant of purely aesthetic value for every useful herb or flower he cultivated.
The soft trickle of the fountain nearby once again dragged Elias back to his youth, wandering the paths of the garden with his master just as he was doing now. Master Lavelle's heavy sigh brought him back to the present.
"I can not help but feel partially responsibly for this." Lavelle admitted after a long moment. "I fear that I may have been one of the first to feed into your ego, young Elias."
If the reprimand from his former master had shaken him before, this continuation nearly doubled Elias over.
"I had never trained one like you, my boy. I likely never will again. I could not spare my excitement when seeing your talent in action." Lavelle spoke gravely, almost apologetic.
"That... is not your fault..." Elias's attachment to his former tutor spoke for him.
"Elias, your talent is remarkable." Lavelle turned to face him; his wise old eyes clouded by pensive contemplation. "But you knew that before you came to me. Perhaps if I had asked you to stay longer to focus your skills and refine your wisdom..."
"I... would have resented you..." Elias interrupted in sudden realization. "I would have thought you were holding me back. I thought that Wizard Castor of Falheim wanted me to stay only because he did not wish to be surpassed."
Lavelle nodded solemnly. "Perhaps resentment would be preferable though." Elias's face fell even further, and the tall wizard placed a fatherly hand on his arm. "Do not despair my lad. If the old prophecies and stories are to be believed, then it was only a matter of time before Kordiith returned. I find it possible that he chose you as his agent not only because you are capable, but because he hoped to break you. If you give in to your guilt and doubts, then Kordiith will have lost a formidable opponent."
Elias sighed and looked around at the beauty of the garden. It felt out of place compared to the dark thoughts that swirled in his mind. Lavelle called him a powerful wizard, yet Elias felt like he had failed at every step. Powerful wizards were supposed to be able to do anything.
"I almost got us killed by treggans." Elias voiced his concerns. "I could not protect my companion from the swamp drake. It was sheer luck that defeated Amarack the first time, or perhaps he allowed himself to be defeated. What help could I possibly be against an ancient god?"
"The pendants I gave you." Lavelle reminded. "You have not been using them, have you?"
In embarrassment, Elias dug into his shirt collar to pull out the two runed crests that hung around his neck, just as he had on the night that he had shown them to Kole and Avi. "There never seems to be time or energy to spare, Master."
Lavelle laughed as he took the pendants gently in one hand and examined them. "You must find time, Elias. All wizards rely on catalysts like this one." He held up the second runestone that was meant for storing energy. "Your inherent abilities are impressive but that alone will not be enough for the coming storm. You performed a moonstrike spell against the treggans on your own, without a catalyst, and with almost no preparation." Lavelle reminded. "Most wizards would not be able to do that and survive the cost. Imagine all that strength poured into a totem to be used when you needed it."
Nodding, Elias hung his head sheepishly. Their fights could have gone much differently if he had stored his power the way he was supposed to.
"Before you continue your journey, I will give you several more catalysts that already have considerable stores of energy." His old master told him. "You can add to them as well, but it is time you begin your own collection. Every totem can only harbor so much power before it will begin to fall apart and become dangerous. Do you remember what makes a good catalyst?"
Elias thought back on his instruction. It had not been something he had focused deeply on, always being able to rely on his own considerable strength. "Runestones harbor the most power." He recounted. "But it can only be directed toward spells relating to the rune or runes that are used on the stone." Lavelle nodded in confirmation, allowing Elias to continue. "Precious gems can hold considerable power too. Raw power that can be directed toward any spell. But the type of gem lends strength to different kinds of magic." Try as he might, Elias could not come up with the list of which gems correlated to which types of magic. He knew it was in his books somewhere and resolved to study them when he retired to bed.
"Nature and living things hold energy as well." Elias remembered. "But using it can weaken or kill them."
"Very good." Lavelle commended. "The druidic wizards like your friend can usually find far more energy in natural environments than we can. It is one of their many closely guarded secrets. They do not use totems and runes in the same way that we do though, which limits their potential."
Giving a sigh, Elias wished fervently he had spent more time studying under Master Lavelle. His impulsiveness when he was younger would hardly have allowed it, but he could see now that his favorite tutor had so much more to offer still.
In an effort to lighten the mood, Lavelle changed the subject and asked Elias about his time under Masters Saito and Castor. Elias spoke more carefully about his teachers now, where before he might have discounted some of their decisions. The casual conversation did its job and by the time they had finished a circuit of the garden, Elias was feeling much better. The anxious fear and shame were still inside him, but they had retreated to the back of his mind.
"Thank you for allowing us into your home." Elias spoke sincerely as they returned to the house. In the sitting room, Avi was napping in his chair while Dain held quiet conversation with Lavelle's apprentice, Morris.
"It is no trouble. You know you are always welcome. I only wish it were under better circumstances. You remember where the guest rooms are no doubt? I will have Morris guide you anyway."
Elias gently roused Avi and the three of them followed the apprentice up the stairs to the long hallway of bedrooms. It was of course very odd for Elias to be using the guest quarters and not the apprentice rooms, but it was certainly a better accommodation than he had gotten used to in recent times.
Dain offered to share a room with Avi, and Elias agreed gratefully. He trusted the young Verduin would make sure that nothing went missing. Elias had to laugh at himself at that though. He really knew very little about Dain, yet already he had more faith in him to shepherd Avi away from his thieving impulses.
Despite the comfort of the room, Elias stayed up into the night pouring over his books and reading up on the catalysts that he and Master Lavelle had discussed. The lengthy study left him with only a few hours to spare for sleep, but the knowledge he refreshed in his mind was worth it.
Morning came, and Elias was awakened by a familiar pinging sound. It took him a moment to recognize the noise as the magical alarm that Lavelle had created long ago to sound off when the sun hit a certain angle. Although he was tired, Elias shot out of bed immediately. It was instinctive, ingrained in his mind from his time spent with Lavelle to rise at the sound.
Dressing quickly, Elias exited his room and woke Dain and Avi as well. Time was their greatest commodity, and they could not afford to waste even an hour now that the sun was up. Lavelle met them in the hallway. If Elias knew his former master, he had likely been up for some time now.
"Normally," Lavelle told them as they trooped out the door into the broad street that was just beginning to come to life. "Lord Titus would not hold an audience this early. But I believe that for me he will make an exception."
The wizard led them up further toward the center of the city and the houses grew even larger and more opulent. The homes of the highest of Calon-Ken's aristocracy. Then finally, at the peak of the hill, was the keep itself. It had been the seat of power in the city for longer than Elias could say. House Colgaren had held that seat for several generations and had apparently only consolidated greater power in recent years.
The bridge over the moat was lowered, but the portcullis was down, baring access. Avi gazed at the battlements in wonder and Dain had grown noticeably more withdrawn in the presence of the intimidating structures.
"Hold there!" A voice called down as they crossed the bridge. A few moments later a man met them at the other side of the grated portcullis. Dressed in a common soldier's chainmail and leather he nodded respectfully when he saw Lavelle.
"High Wizard. What can we do for you?"
"I know it is early my good man, but my companions and I request an audience with your Lordship Titus Colgaren. It concerns a matter most urgent that his Excellency would want to hear." Lavelle responded formally.
The guard considered only for a moment before reaching out and unlatching two heavy bolts that held fast a small door in the heavy iron gate. The door swung outward on oiled hinges and the man beaconed them through.
"It is a cage..." Dain spoke quietly with obvious trepidation as they stepped past the iron bars. Even Elias had to admit feeling on edge. He had never been inside the keep, and certainly never met with anyone as important as Lord Titus.
"Wait here." The guard instructed. "I will summon an escort to bring you..."
"Who have you let in so early Lorren?" The watchman was cut off by a voice from across the courtyard.
A young man strode toward them, casually curious. It was difficult to place his age. His face was young, but he stood quite tall. He wore close-fitting leathers and carried a practice sword over one shoulder. Despite the early morning hour, the young man was drenched in sweat obviously from rigorous exercise.
"Ah, apologies Sir Triston." The gate guard made a hasty bow. "High Wizard Lavelle is here to see your father. I thought that he would be welcome."
The young man chuckled easily. "As he is, Lorren. I trust your judgement." Something about his laugh and the way he carried himself seemed vaguely familiar to Elias. The shaggy mop of light brown hair on his head only added to the sense of déjà vu. "I will escort them myself if the esteemed wizard will excuse my bedraggledness."
"Gladly, Sir." Lavelle inclined his head cheerfully. "This is my former apprentice, Elias Valern, and his companions Dain, and Avi."
"Well met. Any friends of Wizard Lavelle are welcome in House Colgaren." The young man's voice also made it difficult to pinpoint his age. It still carried some of the mixed timbre of youth. "I am Sir Triston Colgaren, son of Titus. My father will be happy to meet with you."
The three of them fell into step with Sir Triston's long strides across the courtyard in the direction he had come from. Avi and Dain were still obviously uncomfortable inside the walls of the keep, but the young knight's courteous and amiable demeanor seemed to have allayed the worst of their concerns.
"Did the potion that I made for you help your shoulder?" Lavelle asked the youth as they neared the heavy wooden doors. Two guards hastened to open them for the Lord's son.
Sir Triston nodded with a pleasant smile. "Very much so, Wizard Lavelle. Thank you." He rolled his right shoulder where his practice sword was perched. "I was back to sparring the next day."
Lavelle barked a short laugh. "I warned you to let it rest for a day or two. You may be more stubborn than your father young sir."
Triston smiled ruefully and shrugged. They entered through the enormous doors and into the heart of the keep. The stone walls around them were carefully and artistically sculpted, with statues of proud knights and beautiful maidens. As with all structures in the city though, it was clearly a fortification first. Rich tapestries on the walls and the ornate purple and red runner along the floor could not hide how well protected the Lord and his servants were. Elias hoped that The Lord Imperator would not rely only on the strength of his walls.
"If you would wait here." Sir Triston brought them before another set of double doors. "I will bring Lord Titus and you will be let into the hall."
"Thank you, Sir Triston. A pleasure as always." Lavelle inclined his head.
"Likewise, High Wizard." The young man gave a respectful bow as he departed.
"Rather young for a knight." Elias remarked when he was out of earshot.
Lavelle chuckled. "Not much younger than you, my boy. House Colgaren does not believe in the idleness of youth. They've turned out some of the greatest knights in the history of the Five Kingdoms, all the way back to the dragon slayers." Lavelle shook his head regretfully at the most misguided of their folk heroes. "Many of them no older than Sir Triston."
Elias shrugged. Something tickled at the back of his mind but eluded him every time he tried to take firm hold of it. His nervousness was beginning to get the better of him. He knew that Lavelle would expect him to relate the story to the Lord Imperator. Detailing his critical failure to the most powerful man in the most powerful of the Five Kingdoms was not something Elias was looking forward to.
It was too late to turn back now though. Even if he could, his mind was set. No matter the consequences, he had to warn them. It was his duty. As they stood in the corridor waiting, Elias reflected on what those consequences might be. It would not be unreasonable for a man of Lord Titus's station to decide to imprison him for the danger he had brought on the people of Calonia and the Five Kingdoms. Imprison him or worse. Dain's comment about the cage-like nature of the keep became suddenly pertinent.
Elias forced himself to keep breathing normally. Master Lavelle would do his best to prevent that, surely. But if that was the Lord Imperator's decision, then Elias would accept it. Imprisonment was probably better than he deserved. As the herald within the great hall announced their arrival, Elias swallowed hard. Lavelle gave him a reassuring smile as the carved double doors swung open with scarcely a creak. The hall was brightly lit within and seemed to glow from high windows that cast beams of sunlight directly toward the doorway. It was difficult to see, as Elias's eyes tried to adjust from the dim torchlit corridors. The cleansing light of justice, Elias though grimly as he took a deep breath and strode forward into the hall of the Lord Imperator.