Chapter 13

REUNION IN KERON

Dylan sat near the front of the barge. It was a barge similar to the one that had brought them across the lake, but dissimilar in that it floated freely down the river with the current. The first day passed the hours watching the shore drift by. Unlike the lake, the river was quite interesting. There were many small settlements on its bank, and Dylan found himself being observed by many onlookers as he drifted past. Often, he was the subject of much giggling and pointing as village girls washed clothes and scrubbed cooking things with sand. Dylan did not really see what was so funny, but he politely waved at the youthful ladies. For some reason, Coran found the whole thing quite funny and chuckled frequently.

Dylan had a great deal of trouble sleeping that night. The memory of what had happened the last time he had fell asleep in a barge was still fresh in his mind and he was reluctant for a repeat adventure. He was still a bit wary of the enigmatic Velar. When he did finally nod off, he was comfortably snuggled in the center of the barge between two huge boxes with friends protectively sleeping around him.

It was sometime during the second day when Dylan’s master approached him. “You have done well in your studies,” Gage commended him. “After some thought, I have decided to advance your lessons a bit.”

Gage took a seat next to his student. “Show me your spell book.”

Dylan retrieved the item from his pack and passed it to his master. The mage flipped through the pages handling each page carefully and respectfully. He inspected the contents and noted where Dylan had inscribed the three spells that he had learned.

“So far,” the master said to his apprentice, “you have learned two basic spells that all apprentices know, and one defensive spell that many traveling apprentices learn.”
He turned to the first blank page in the book. “But all you know to do is memorize and recite.” He pointed to one of the barge hands working a rope near the center of the craft. “Even the smallest education will enable one to cast such spells. The real mark of wizardry comes in understanding. And I think you are ready for that phase.”

“Over the next few days, we will discuss some things that will draw heavily from what you have learned so far. We will discuss these things in detail for a few days, then you will return to studies to follow up in this field.”

Gage returned the book to the student. “We will start with the primary ethereal equations. Then we will derive the various relationships that interconnect spell characteristics.” The master drew forth a slate and chalk stick. He scribbled some figures on the slate.
“You are familiar with the five parts of a spell. There is the preamble, the direction, the function, the conclusion and the closure.”

“The preamble is the summoning of the power to drive the spell,” Dylan recited.

“And that power comes from the plane of positive energy. It is referred to as ‘the source’.”

“And the plane of negative energy is called ‘the sink’,” Dylan added. I read about that in Tycho.

“That is correct,” Gage answered. “Now, a spell can be driven by the energy coming from the source, or it can be driven by energy being sucked into the sink. It is the motion of the energy that drives the spell. And it is the preamble that determines which force drives the spell, and the magnitude of the energy used.”

Gage pulled his own spell book out and opened it. “Now look at these spells,” he said as he flipped through the pages. “Note that all spells have the same types of characteristics. There is casting time, components, range limits, duration limits, and so on and so forth.”

Dylan looked at his own spells. His spells were not written in any format that he could tell. They were just written down, whereas Gage’s were indexed and outlined. Dylan felt a bit ashamed.

Gage did not miss the reaction. “As you become familiar with those characteristics, and the way they work, your spells will become more organized.”

Dylan nodded, and the master continued with the lesson. “So as we can see by this equation,” Gage indicated the slate, “the numerical value of the preamble characters in mage script is proportional to the casting time plus the component value and what we call the spell level, an indication of the casting difficulty.”

And so the lessons continued for several days. Gage drilled his student in the various relationships between the fundamental parts of the spell and the various spell characteristics. Finally, after about a week of in depth lecturing, Gage and Dylan worked well into the night and made use of many sheets of paper to finally arrive at a single equation that Gage directed his pupil to permanently record in his spell book.

“That is the final form of the general equation of magic,” Gage explained proudly. Every spell that you make from now on will depend on this equation. There are several other relationships that you will use to form the values that you plug into this statement, but in the end, this is the one that matters most. When this equation is balanced, your spell will work. If it is not balanced, then you are in for trouble.” The master addressed his apprentice sternly. “Never! I repeat: never attempt to cast a spell that does not fit this equation.”

“Now I know what you are thinking,” Gage continued after a moment. “In an emergency, we do not have time to apply the equation to each spell before we cast it. So that is the reason why we check each spell we learn and then record that spell in our spell books. Once you have checked a spell, write it in your book. Then you never have to check that spell again as long as you follow the instructions in your spell book. Memorize each spell that you intend to use from your book. And always keep one or two spells for defense memorized so that you can quickly cast it in an emergency. Never trust anyone else’s.”

Dylan had been very attentive and nodded his understanding. “Yes, master,” he answered after each point had been made.

After a couple of weeks of this, they had long passed most of the scenery by, including New Aspberg. Dylan had found it difficult to concentrate on his lessons when they had passed the city, but Gage had had to resort to cuffing him only once.

Now the river voyage was almost at an end. They were only a day or so from Keron, and the lessons were done for the time being. Dylan still had much study to do on his own, but Gage had given him the hard-core basics of spell construction. The master considered his apprentice to be ready to begin researching and creating his first spell from scratch. Gage would guide him, of course, and although few apprentices started that phase of their training so early, Dylan had a natural talent for learning, and his activities on the road may require him to be able to cast spells on occasion.

True, it was looked upon with disfavor for apprentices to cast spells unsupervised, but that was a rule primarily for apprentices at the Academy. Field apprentices were less restricted. The main reason for the rule was to protect other students from spell misfires. In the field there was no such danger.

Under Gage’s tutelage, Dylan began his research into spell casting. He used the cantrips that Gage had taught him to inscribe the sleep spell that he had been taught to defend himself into his spell book.

When they reached Keron, however, Dylan found the distractions of the city to be too tempting. With his master’s permission, of course, he accompanied Crystal into the city to view the sights while Coran and Gage dropped in on Crystal’s parents at the temple.

Crystal and Dylan visited the beach and watched the ships coming in from a long day of fishing. At the wharf, shore men who would take the catch and haul it away for processing greeted them.

Crystal then led Dylan to a tavern where they had a strange dish of bread, meat and cheese with some sauce. They listened to a singing duet. The songs were very good, but melancholy. Their harmony was quite haunting.

“Well, Dylan,” Crystal announced near midnight. “I’m sure your master’s quite put out with me for keeping you out so late, but it was good to get away from all those studies for a bit, wouldn’t you say?”

Dylan agreed. “No kidding. I was beginning to worry about reciting cantrips in my sleep and waking up with blue skin.”

Crystal laughed out loud as they departed the tavern. “Actually, Gage never turned himself blue in his sleep, but I do remember when he was about your age, he turned Coran green out of anger once. Their mother was quite angry, but Armegon secretly rewarded him.”

Dylan chuckled. “Now that is funny. Can you tell me more?”

Crystal smiled. “I don’t think that would be a good idea. Gage is your master. He might not like me telling you about his misadventures.”

“Could you tell me about his real adventures then?”

“Such as?”

“When he started out his journeymanship, I’m sure that he had some interesting experiences.”

Crystal smiled slyly. “You have no idea.”

“Won’t you tell me?”

“Maybe,” Crystal finally replied. She indicated the residential quarters of the temple where they were billeted while they were in the city. “But since we’re here, we’ll just have to take it up another time.”

Coran met Dylan and Crystal at the door. “Well did you two have a good day?”

“I think we did,” Crystal answered. She took Dylan by the shoulder and steered him towards the room that he had been assigned. “And since this young man has worked so hard lately and spent the whole day with me, I think he’s probably ready for some rest.”

Coran smiled with a twinkle in his eye. “I suppose you’re right.” He nodded to the apprentice. “Good night, Dylan.”

Dylan waved and entered his room. He was a little curious as to what was going on, but Crystal was right. He was very tired. So it was with little regret that he undressed and went to bed.

Dylan awoke the next morning after sleeping what normally would have been far too long. He was half surprised that his master had not woken him rudely and reminded him of his chores. This time, however, Dylan was waken by the sound of movement in the bedroom.
He rolled over and looked about the room. A young boy, perhaps a year or two younger than himself, was pouring fresh water into the wash basin in his room. The boy wore a brown robe and cap.

“Good morning,” he bade Dylan.

“Good morning,” Dylan replied.

“My name is Paral,” the youngster introduced himself. “I’m a novice here at the temple. I’ll be at your service should you need something.”

Dylan was a bit taken aback. He was used to serving, not to being served. “Are you here to wait on just me?”

Paral replied negatively. “No, I’m here to wait on you and your master and the others in your party. I was assigned by Father Lowell, whom I serve.

“You are an initiate,” Dylan asked referring to the rank system used by the Academy.

“In a way,” Paral answered. He turned to a wheeled cart that he had brought into the room. He placed a fresh towel and piece of soap on the basin next to the pitcher of water. “We use different terms here in the clergy. But as I understand it, our novices are the same as the initiates at the Academy.”

Paral continued his tasks. “We come here to serve and study just as some people serve at the Academy in exchange for educations. I, myself, hope one day to take the vow of faith and become an acolyte of the priesthood.”

“That’s the clergy’s version of an apprentice isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Paral answered. He completed his housekeeping tasks. “Is there anything else that you need?”

Dylan sat up and stretched. “Food?” he asked.

Paral chuckled. “The main dining facilities are at your disposal down the hall. There are three meals served daily. If you go during those times, it is quite crowded, but if you go during the off hours, you can make yourself something from the stores.”

Paral left, and Dylan crawled out of the bed. He made use of the basin to clean himself up, and then dressed and went in search of something to eat. He found the dining facilities as Paral had told him, and he received only a curious glance and nod of acceptance as the attending novice noted his entrance. Dylan requested a sandwich and water and was promptly served. He ate in silence.

Dylan reflected on the similarities between the cleric and magi school systems. There were some differences, but for the most part they served the same purpose. He recalled that his father had mentioned that his sister, Mari, was going to be sent to one of the clerical schools. He wondered how she would do. Perhaps he would have the opportunity to visit one day.

After eating, Dylan left the dining area to look for his master and friends. He roamed the public areas of the temple and paused briefly to peek into the sanctuary. There he saw a collection of novices and acolytes performing some rituals under the direction of a priest.
When he finally found Crystal, she was emerging from a large doorway. She smiled warmly at his approach. “So you finally got out of bed eh?” she teased.

Dylan blanched. “I was just eating. Where is everyone?”

“Oh they are about. Gage and Coran are visiting my parents. You remember them, don’t you?”

“I do. What’s in there?” Dylan asked indicating the heavy door.

“Oh, that’s a library.”

Dylan nodded. “Has my master mentioned anything about when we’ll be moving on?”

“Not yet. He did say, however, that you should continue your studies.”

Dylan sighed. “That, at least, was predictable.”

Crystal chuckled. “But he didn’t say when you should study.” She winked suggestively. “Maybe you’d like to go into town with me today. I have a few errands to run.”

Now that sounded like an awfully good idea to Dylan and the thought of his books and a day spent shut up in his room went a long way toward making up his mind. “Okay,” he eagerly agreed.

With the apprentice in tow, Crystal gracefully made her way through some of the lesser used passages of the temple. She had grown up there and well knew how to get around without being seen.

“Crystal,” Dylan asked at one point, “did you study here at the temple?”

“No,” she answered. “I was taught by Nikki, Gage’s mother.” The young woman led him through a set of dusty corridors and out a side entrance. There she retrieved a medium sized sack from a closet next to the exit.

“Where are we going this morning?”

“Well I need to go by an apothecary. I make a living by helping the alchemists acquire odds and ends. I recently was away on such a trip.”

Dylan followed his guide down a wide street. A pair of acrobats distracted him momentarily, but the fear of losing Crystal in the crowd restrained him from investigating further. They had not walked far from the temple when they reached their destination. The sign above the door of the small shop was pained green with an emblem of a bottle and scroll in red against a green background. The red letters proudly named the place as Schorell’s Crucible. Dylan followed Crystal in and found her already engaged with middle aged man in a well stained apron.

“Well Crystal,” the man said as Dylan entered. “I’ll certainly take the powered skeleton bones, but they aren’t really potent enough to fetch a high price. Still with all the outbreak of undead these days, they are in some demand.”

“I know,” Crystal was saying as she unpacked a few small bags. “I wish I could do better, but I got a bit side tracked this last time out.”

“I heard. I’m sorry about your brother.”

Crystal nodded sadly. Dylan had almost forgotten about her brother’s death. “My father killed a Lich in High Branch. If I’m back in that area anytime soon, I’ll see if I can get one of his bones.”

“The ground bones of a lich would make a very potent spell,” the man agreed. We could make more on that one transaction than we’ve both made in that last year.”

Crystal nodded as she pulled out a pair of jars. “Skunk musk sacks,” she announced. Good for throwing off trackers.

The man pushed the jars back towards her. “No thanks. I have plenty. “

Crystal frowned and then reached deeply into her sack and brought forth another small bag. She loosened the draw strings and dumped the contents on the counter. A collection of small flat round objects clattered about on the polished wood. “Basilisk scales,” she announced proudly.

The older man rubbed his hands greedily. “Ah, now we get to the good stuff.” He looked at the scales critically. “One is a bit damaged, but not bad.” He counted them out. “Twelve of them eh? I’ll give you five gold each.”

Crystal agreed and the merchandise counted out the gold. “Where do you think you’ll be going next,” he asked.

“I’m not really sure,” Crystal answered. “Why? Do you have any requests?”

“In a way,” the alchemist answered. “I’ve taken a new apprentice. The child is smart and quick, but inexperienced. I thought a little roving with you might be educational. You seem to have a talent for finding the things that make good compounds and potions.”

Crystal fidgeted indecisively. “Well, it could be dangerous. I mean those basilisk scales were a stroke of luck. I happened on the creature as it was wounded and dying. If it had been healthy, I wouldn’t have tried to get them.”

“It would mean a lot to me and the kid,” the man urged. “I’ve trained youngsters before, but this one has a very quick mind. I want to try to tap that potential as best I can, and to do that this youngster needs to see how raw materials are obtained. You and I’ve been doing business long enough that I feel that I can trust you.”

It was clear that Crystal was reluctant, but she finally relented to at least meet the man’s apprentice. “Well, I guess it couldn’t hurt to take a look at him,” she said.

The alchemist chuckled as he rang a small bell on the counter. “Oh, it’s not a boy.”
What the plump man had said had no sooner registered in Dylan’s mind when a lithe female body pushed through the curtain behind the business counter from the main workshop. There was an eternity frozen in time as the two apprentices recognized each other. Dylan’s tongue deserted him and his eyes watered. He was paralyzed and could do nothing but hold out his arms.

“Dylan!” Cindy cried as she ran forward and embraced her friend.

“It would seem that these two know each other,” the alchemist, observed.

“They studied together at the Academy,” Crystal explained. “Hello, Cindy. It’s good to see you again.”

Dylan and Cindy were hugging and laughing uncontrollably, but Cindy did not miss the greeting. “It’s good to see you too. I knew that Master Schorell was wanting to send me out to learn the acquisition side of the craft, but I didn’t know that you were the person he wanted me to learn from.”

“Can I assume that you’ve decided to train Cindy in acquisitions?” The alchemist asked with an amused grin.

“I’m afraid that my young companion would be very angry with me if I refused,” Crystal laughed in returned.

“Well then, it’s all decided,” Craftmaster Schorell proclaimed. “Cindy will be packed and ready to travel when you decide to leave.”

“We’ll probably be leaving either tomorrow or the next day,” Crystal advised. She was reluctant to interrupt the reunion.

“There’s really very little for her to do today. She’s very punctual with her duties and gets her chores done early. If she’s interested, she can spend time with her friend.” The alchemist was an older man with short hair and a neat slightly gray beard. His offer was received well by Cindy who immediately released Dylan and gave the man a warm smile and ran into the back room.

“Let me change,” she called from through the curtain. She had been wearing a thick set of stained coveralls, and to go out in public with them was unthinkable. While they waited, the alchemist counted out a small bag of gold and passed it to Crystal. “This should cover her expenses,” he announced. “If you need more, let me know when you get back in town.”

Crystal watched with no small amount of amusement as the two apprentices tagged along behind her throughout the rest of the day. Dylan helped Cindy carry her belongings from place to place while Crystal took care of her business.

It was late in the day when she announced that they were returning to the temple. She decided that Cindy would stay in the same chamber that she, herself stayed in. “Tonight Cindy and I will do some talking about the things that she is to learn,” Crystal stated. “Ours won’t be a formal master-apprentice relationship as yours is with Gage,” Crystal told Dylan.

Cindy was very excited. When she realized that her old master was also going with them, she had almost broken down into tears. It was almost agonizing for her to have to wait to see her old master, but she passed the long hours in town by getting reacquainted with the dearest friend she had ever had.

As they entered the main temple at the side door, Crystal glanced over her shoulder to tell the two youths to walk quietly. The afternoon ceremonies were under way and the melodic chanting was echoing down the halls. When she spied the two behind her, she caught a barely concealed motion as Dylan released Cindy’s hand and blushed furiously.
Crystal smiled inwardly. Though they were the fondest of friends, Crystal suspected that something more had taken root during their matriculation at the Academy.

The trio quietly entered the temple’s rear section and made their way to the living quarters. Crystal led them to the upper floor where the thick heavy tapestry and rugs deadened the chanting drifting up from the lower levels to a hushed whisper.

When Crystal opened one large door and entered the room, her voice was triumphant. “You’re never going to believe what I found in town,” she announced to the room’s occupants.

Cindy and Dylan followed quickly and Dylan proudly stepped aside to give everyone a clear view of the newest member of their band.

Gage had been sitting at a table across from Coran. The two were discussing the route that they were to take the next morning. The map spread out on the table showed the eastern coastline from Keron south to the southlands. The only major city in the southern lands was Vermouth and it was only a week or two by ship.

When Crystal entered the room rather noisily, Gage suddenly forgot all about the map, the search for the source of the evil spreading across the kingdom, and the fact that he was a highly respected master sorcerer. Instead, his mind was assaulted with a flood of memories, memories of a duo of wide eyed children full of mischief, curiosity and smiles. It was almost as if the sun had come out from a cloud it had been hiding behind for so long that it had been forgotten.

Cindy bolted across the floor with arms spread. There was no thought of dignity or propriety as Gage took the girl into his own arms.