The Prodigal Mage Part 12

You b.l.o.o.d.y have, yknow, said Asher. You got me. Reckon Ill sit idle if a Doranen tries any funny business on one of us? Took care of that b.l.o.o.d.y Ain Freidin, didnt I? Trust me, I aint forgot what I learned killin Morg. And Ill use it quick as a flys fart if any Doranen breaks them laws we all agreed to.

And if they decide that us keeping secrets from them is a breach of law? countered Polly. What then?

Aint said we will keep it secret, Polly, said Asher, almost snapping. But I dont see any use flappin our lips till we know what we be flappin about. Do you?

Pollys round cheeks tinted deep pink. Im sure theres no need to be rude, Asher.

He threw up his hands. I aint rude. Why do folk always bleat that Im rude? Im just sayin Perhaps a smidgin forcefully, said Pellen, swallowing a bark of laughter. Ashers lack of tact and his genuine bewilderment never failed to amuse. Though I think the point is fair. He nodded at Polly, letting her see his sympathy. I understand your concern, madam, but after ten years as Doranas mayor, rubbing shoulders with the Doranen every day, I can promise you theyll not take kindly to us talking about any kind of magical trouble without proof or a reasonable explanation.

They can hardly bring themselves to admit that what we have and do is magic, said Dathne sourly. Then she shrugged. I suppose its not surprising. Compared to them were glowing coals to their bonfires.

Fernel snorted. Were subtle. Theyre brash. Its not the same thing. Shame on you, Dathne, for disparaging your own people.

She aint disparagin anyone, said Asher, a dangerous edge to his voice. Fernel, what be your problem? Eh? Mayhap you and I should step outside and talk on it private, like.

Youll do nothing of the sort! said Dathne, leaping to her feet. I dont need you thumping Fernel or anyone else on my behalf. Fernel I speak my mind, Fernel retorted. Its not my fault if you dont care for what I Please, lets not fight, said Jinny, a little breathless with distress. Weve gathered here to talk of Lurs troubles, not start new battles amongst ourselves.

Pellen cleared his throat. Shes right. Would you have me pull out my old Captains uniform and play City Guard beneath my own roof? Asher?

No, Asher muttered.

No, said Fernel, his jaw tight with temper.

Then leave be, he said firmly. Both of you. Weve plenty to talk about without reopening old wounds, be they Timon Spakes death or what life was like as a Circle member or what the Doranen did hundreds of years before we were born. None of that matters. All that matters is now.

Asher and Fernal looked at each other, tomcat unfriendly, but held their tongues.

Letting out a sharp breath, Dathne dropped again to her footstool then nodded at Polly. You go first. Tell us what youve been feeling in the earth.

Taken aback, Polly s.h.i.+fted a little beside Beale, plump fingers fluttering to the pale pink stone hung on a chain about her neck. I dont know, she said, almost whispering. Its hard to explain. Then she half-laughed, half-sighed. Youll think Im just a foolish old woman.

No, we wont, said Dathne, leaning forward. I asked you here to share your impressions, Polly. She swept her sharp gaze across everyones face. n.o.body will mock you, no matter what you say.

Pollys fingers tightened on her pink stone pendant. The only way I can describe it is to say it feels to me as though the flowers are crying.

The flowers? said Fernel. Oh come now, Polly. How can flowers I dont know! Polly cried, turning on him. I told you it would sound silly. But Im a gardener, growing things is my gift, and I tell you that when Im planting seeds or tending bulbs, when Im pruning or weeding or watering, Im one with the earth and the flowers are crying!

Beale took her hand and gave it a small, rea.s.suring shake. Its all right, Polly. We believe you.

What about you, Beale? said Dathne. What have you been feeling?

The old man sat silent for a time, holding Pollys hand. Then he stirred, and let his eyelids droop half-closed. When the Wall fell, he said, his voice a hairsbreadth from trembling, it was a dreadful shock. The air itself was torn and bleeding. The earth was bleeding, in my heart. But it healed. In time, it came to feel whole again. But lately lately What? Dathne whispered. Beale, please. The truth now, no matter how difficult.

Beale opened his eyes. They were red-rimmed with unshed tears. This will sound foolish and fanciful, just like Polly. But I imagine were living inside an hourgla.s.s, Dathne. The sand is running out its running out and I dont know why. I only know that when it does run outmay Jervale have mercy on this poor kingdom of ours.

Pellen s.h.i.+fted his gaze to Asher, and what he saw in his friends face nearly stilled his heart. He knows. He knows what Beales talking about. For a moment he was so angry it felt like he was breathing fire. Asher, sensing it, looked at him and then looked away. Shadowed swiftly in his eyes, a shamefaced regret.

Dathne, caught up with Beale, hadnt noticed. Please, Beale, dont fratch yourself, she said. Whatever it means, Im sure well be all right.

The old man nodded. Yes. Yes. He managed a painful smile. With the Innocent Mage to fight our battle, Ive no doubt well prevail.

If the Innocent Mage agreed with him, he wasnt saying so. Ashers scowling face was shuttered tight. Unfathomable to anyone who didnt know him. But Pellen, who knew him so well, who had seen him in every extremity: rage and agony and despair and blinding grief, knew that what he saw now was fear.

d.a.m.n you, Asher. What do you know?

CHAPTER EIGHT.

Your turn, Jinny, said Dathne. Sweet, fragile Jinny of Hooten Creek sighed, fingers pressing against her pale lips. They all looked at her, expectant. It was held that those whod lost their sight gained in other ways. Would she prove it now?

Jinny, said Asher. It aint easy to talk on, I know, but cant one of us hide from this, much as we want to.

Shoulders slumping, Jinny pinned her hands between her knees. I feel sick with nerves, all the time. As though Im waiting for bad news. As though a messenger is bringing it, and hes riding just out of sight. Even when the sun feels hot on my face, underneath the heat theres a bitter cold. Dread. Her next breath caught in her throat. Thats what it is. I feel dread.

Dread, said Fernel. His scorn couldve etched gla.s.s. Crying flowers. Hourgla.s.ses. Listen to yourselves. If Veira were here shed slap the three of you silly. And shed slap you too, Dathne, and you, Asher, for encouraging them. The explanation for this unease is obvious, if only youd wake up from your dream.

And what dream would that be, Fernel? said Asher. Instead of belligerent, dangerously polite. Pellen saw Dathne brace herself, and felt his own muscles tense.

Careful now, careful. Lets all of us keep our heads.

But either Fernel Pintte didnt know Asher well enough to take heedor he didnt care. The dream that tells you we can keep walking the road were on without consequence. His hostile glare swept all their faces. The earth is off-kilter. Doranen magic has been poisoning Lur for centuries. I fear our home is succ.u.mbing at last. I fear that if we dont put an end to the Doranen taint, our land will sicken until it dies.

What do you mean, put an end to the Doranen taint, said Dathne, staring at him. They live here, Fernel.

Only because weve not sent them away, Fernel retorted. When the Wall was destroyed we should have told them to leave. Lur is not their home. Its our home, and they stole it. When the Wall was destroyed we should have taken it back.

Dathne was shaking her head. And sent the Doranen where? Across the mountains? Thousands of them? All the mothers, with their babies? Children scarcely old enough to walk? The elderly and infirm too? Fernel, are you mad?

They came here over the mountains, said Fernel, his face red now. Ugly. They couldve left the same way. Or they couldve taken boats and sailed off. Just so long as they left and never came back.

Aint no sailin beyond Dragonteeth Reef, said Asher, watching the man carefully. Every sprat in Lur knows that. Them sinkholes and whirlpools the dyin Weather Magic left behind wont let any sized boat through to open water. Not even a dinghy. Its suicide to try. We got enough dead fools buried in fis.h.i.+ng village graveyards to prove that even to you, I reckon.

I dont care! said Fernel, his teeth bared, his eyes narrowed to slits. Let them drown, every one. Ill not lose a wink of sleep. Lur will never be clean until its free of the Doranen.

Dathne pushed to her feet. I dont believe what Im hearing, she said, sounding dazed. How long has your hatred been festering, Fernel? Did Veira know you felt like this?

No, Fernel snapped. I never told her. Why would I? What business was it of hers? My duty was to safeguard Lur, and you, and the Circle, and at the risk of my own life thats what I did. You expect me to apologise for hating the interlopers who made that life a misery? Who forced me to live a lie? Who to this day sneer at me, because Im not one of them?

Dathne threw up her hands, as Polly and Beale stared at the man and blind Jinny kneaded her fingers in her lap. Fernel, Fernel, theres n.o.body sneering at you!

Course there is, Dath, said Asher, and slid off the windowsill. We got scores of Conroyd Jarralts in Lur. Rodyn Garrick and his cronies, for starters. Folk born blond and magical and better than everyone else. Leastways, that be what they reckon. Now you and me might reckon theyre wrong, but it dont matter. Its only thoughts. And folks can think what they like. Fernel here, he can think we ought to toss every last Doranen over the mountains or into the ocean. I wont do it. And I wont let him do it, neither. But he can think on it all he likes, if thats what makes him happy.

Fernel stood, hands fisted at his sides. Im not alone, you know. Im not the only Olken who thinks its high time Lur was returned to its rightful owners. With the Wall destroyed, all that keeps the Doranen here is greed, and their habit of believing that what is ours belongs to them.

Fernel, there is nothing for the Doranen beyond those mountains! said Dathne. You know what Tollins expedition found. Blight. Corruption. Lingering death. Wed be no better than murderers if we threw them into that!

That was years ago, said Fernel. Thanks to our cowardly General Council, we dont know whats there now. For all we know those lands have grown green and fertile these past few years, Dathne. For all we know Tollin lied. Got cold feet and lied. Or killed those men with incompetence, then brought back a nonsense tale to cover it up!

Pellen had known and liked Ryn Tollin. And then sickened himself and the other survivors to death, I suppose, to be certain no-one doubted their story? Shame on you, Pintte, for slandering men who cant defend themselves.

As Fernel Pintte sneered, Dathne turned to Asher. Hes mad, she said, helplessly. I had no idea. I doubt Veira knew, or she never wouldve have brought him into the Circle. Hes an insult to her memory.

Asher shook his head. Dath Ignoring him, Dathne rounded on Polly and Beale. Did you know? Have you heard any of thisthis vile spewing before?

I knew he had no love for the Doranen, said Beale heavily, after a moment. But then neither do I.

Polly?

Plump Polly Marsh fingered her pendant, looking away. Ive nothing against them personally, she murmured. Some of them are quite nice. I suppose.

Despairing, Dathne turned again. Jinny? Jinny, tell me you dont agree with Fernel. Please.

Not agree, no, said Jinny, reluctantly. Though I understand his anger.

But you two agree with him? Dathne demanded, staring again at Beale and Polly. You think the Doranen are a taint? A poison to Lur?

Not quite so far as that, perhaps, said Polly, blus.h.i.+ng. But they did take what was ours, Dathne.

They saved us from Morg! Dathne retorted. The best way they knew how. It might not have been a perfect solution but we never suffered. We prospered.

Tell that to Timon Spake, spat Fernel. And Maura Shay, murdered before him. As for Morg, the Doranen created him. It was their duty to save us from him and then leave us alone!

Oh, this is ridiculous, said Dathne. Youre ridiculous. You need the help of a good pother, Fernel. Even if youre right about Barl and the first Doranen who came here, the Doranen living in Lur today are innocent of any crimes they committed. Our Doranen didnt ask to be born here any more than we did. Fratching ourselves over what happened six hundred years ago changes nothing, you fool. All we can do is worry about now. And now we have a new challenge before us; and if we dont meet it, more Olkenand Doranenmight well die.

Fernel folded his arms. Ive told you what the problem is, he said curtly. And Ive told you what must be done to fix it. If you choose to disregard my advice, well, I cant stop you. But I dont have to stay here and listen to you, either.

Alarmed, Dathne looked at Asher then back at Fernel. What are you going to do, Fernel? Forswear your Circle oath and speak of whats been discussed here?

Fernel raised one scornful eyebrow. What Circle oath? The Circles broken, Dathne. You broke it yourself eight years ago, remember? You said it was no longer needed. If you recall, I disagreed with your decision. But you knew best. You always know best, dont you? Youre an arrogant one, Dathne. In fact, youre a lot like a Doranen. Perhaps thats why you champion their cause. You always thought being Jervales Heir made you better than the rest of us.

Dathne took a step back, as though hed struck her. What? I neverFernel, thats not true.

Asher cleared his throat. Well, he said, considering. Its a bit true, Dath. Bossy you were back then, and bossy you are now. Aint much changed, that road. Still. You got a point. He nodded at Fernel. Broken Circle or not, Meister Pintte, you swore blind youd do everything in your power to protect Lur. I reckon once an oath like thats made you dont get to take it back.

So Im answerable to you now? Fernel demanded. Is that it?

Ashers smile was deceptively genial. I spose you could look at it that way. I dont. But you could.

Id rather not, said Fernel Pintte, his lip curled in another sneer. Id rather leave. So if youll excuse me Sickened, Pellen looked at Asher. Hed restrain the hateful fool if he had to, find some pretext or other that would see him cooling his heels in the City Guardhouse for a day or so. After all those years a captain, and his rule book not forgotten, he could trump up something or other that would give them a moment to breathe.

I might well hate myself, but Id do it. Weve lost too much already to throw the rest away.

Fernel Pintte was almost at the parlour door. Asher, looking after him, released an irritated sigh. Pointed a finger and said, very softly, Drego.

Fernel Pintte froze in mid-stride, turned stone-still with one word.

As Beale and Polly cried out a protest, and blind Jinny gasped, and Dathne dropped back to the footstool, pale with despair and staring at the carpet, Asher wandered over to Fernel and frowned into the mans rigid face.

There now, see? he said, sounding mildly peeved. But Pellen, who knew him, could hear the killing fury beneath the words. You made me use magic on you, Fernel. I aint fond of usin magic on folk. It makes me feel manky. And I dont like feelin manky. So just you lissen a bit while I tell you whats what.

Dathne looked up. Asher He lifted a finger at her, never taking his cold gaze from Fernel Pinttes wide, unblinking eyes. I meant what I said, before. You can think what you like. I aint about to stop you. You be a free man, in a free land. But if I hear you rousin up other folk to hate, Fernel? If I hear you agitatin of an evening down your local alehouse, how Lurd be better off if all them pesky Doranen got emselves tossed over the mountains or beyond Dragonteeth Reef? And you know I will hear, Fernel. You know I hear everythin, sooner or later. Well, if I hear owt of that I reckon I might be a bit fratched. Reckon I might have to come pay you a visit. He leaned close. Fernel? You dont want me payin you a visit. You dont want me gettin riled. The last man who got me riled were Morg. Didnt end well for him. Reckon you might not want to make his mistake.

Pellen swallowed, feeling ice slide through his veins. The cheerful parlour crackled with menace.

Vardo, said Asher, and took a step back.

Sickly white and slicked with sweat, Fernel Pintte stared at Asher in silence. Tried to speak. Could only stutter.

Well? said Asher. What you waitin for? Off you go.

Fernel Pintte ran.

Hes not a bad fellow, really, said Beale at last, breaking the taut silence. He just takes things to heart. Always has.

Pellen exchanged a raised-eyebrow look with Asher, then turned to the old man. How well do you know him?

Beale sighed. Well enough to know hes mostly talk and very little action.

And were to take your word on that, are we? Dathne said dully. Were to trust him? After what hes said?

Fernel only said what some of us think, Polly snapped. Perhaps if you spent less time in the City and more time talking to regular Olken youd not be so surprised.

And whats that supposed to mean? said Dathne, stung.

It means were shocked and upset, Jinny said, before Polly could answer. Please, we didnt gather here to talk of Fernels obsession with the Olken peoples lost heritage. Our concerns are far greater than that. What are we to do about thisthis wrongness in the earth? The imbalance we feel must be put right. I fear a calamity for everyone in Lur if we dont.

You a.s.sume it can be put right, Jinny, said Beale, and looked at Asher. Can it? Or are we just spitting in the wind?

I dont know, said Asher, shrugging. Reckon all I aimed for in meetin you here was to make sure I aint been imaginin things. Didnt reckon youd expect me to snap mfingers and fix whatevers the matter this time. He snorted. Like magic.

It pleases you to be snide? said Beale, his lined face lining deeper with displeasure. When this poor land of ours is groaning in pain, you think He doesnt mean it like that, Beale, said Dathne quickly. Hes just being Asher. Of course hes worried about Dont reckon I need you speakin up for me, Dath, said Asher, frowning again. Reckon Im growed enough to speak for mself. Any road, ole Beale heres just fratchin at me cause hes scared spitless we got more trouble.

And why wouldnt I be afraid? Beale demanded. When you can make light of whats happening? Our lives were built on faith in you. On believing that youd save this kingdom from destruction. Fernel might be misguided, but he wasnt entirely wrong. A lot of good people gave up any hope of true peace, true happiness, so you might fulfill your destined purpose. Years and years of sacrifice, Asher. Years that did not leave us untouched.

Years I never b.l.o.o.d.y asked you for! Asher spat at the old man. So dont you go throwin em in my face! Sink me b.l.o.o.d.y sideways, you think I wanted any of this? I had a life! I had plans! But you and your b.l.o.o.d.y Circle, that ole besom Veira, you had other plans. And I did what you wanted. I saved the b.l.o.o.d.y kingdom. Killed my best friend to do it, too. So dont you sit there on your skinny ole a.r.s.e waggin your finger at me! Not when you be expectin me to save Lur again!

Silence, ragged and raw. Pellen, heartsick, watched as Asher turned his back on the room, his breathing harsh. Dathne pressed her fingertips to her closed eyes, trying to contain tears. Polly, not trying, took a kerchief from her purse. Blind Jinny smoothed her green wool skirt over and over her knees. Then, neatly, precisely, she folded her hands in her lap.

Youve yet to tell us what youve felt, Asher, she said softly. Like it or not, you are the Innocent Mage. The most powerful Olken magician in Lur. What has the earth been whispering to you?

Asher hesitated, then turned round. Shoved his hands in his pockets, his face settling into that familiar, belligerent scowl. Pellen looked from him to Dathne. Her lips were pressed tight, her arms folding as though to contain some bitter pain within her belly. He felt a fresh wave of unease flood through him.