HeroQuest - Book 2 - The Screaming Spectre
Short Description
HeroQuest...
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The Screaming Spectre
Dave Morris
CHAPTER ONE The Archimag Archimage e Magnus Magnus was one of the migh mighti ties estt sorcer sorcerer ers s of his era. By virtue of his rank he commanded the grimoire, or spe spell-bo -book, ok, of one of the great eat Coll olleges eges of magic. magic. The arca arcane ne lore lore cont contai aine ned d wit within hin its its page pages s gave gave Magn Magnus us access to spells of uneualled power. But now he was weak as a kitten, needing the help of his three apprentices to stand at all. Mercutio, the Archimage!s manservant, was aghast at the sight of his master wa"en-faced and limp. #$ha #$hatt has has happened%! he gasped. &t fell to the eldest apprentice, Baskaino, to e"plain. #$e were out walking on the cliffs. The Archimage was stung by a large red bee.! #'e complained of di((i ((iness,! put in )ashor the notary!s son as he pushed the manse doors shut against the wind that was now blowing in off the sea. #$e left him resting under a tree, but when we came back he was like this * feverish.! Mercutio placed his master in bed and brought him broth roth,, but the the feve feverr per persist sisted ed.. The appr appren enti tic ces decided to keep a vigil at the bedside during the night and Baskaino administered a potion to keep the Archimage!s sleep free of ve"atious dreams. The Th e poti po tion on was wa s inef in efff ecti ec tive ve.. &n the th e earl ea rly y hou ho u rs of the morning, the Archimage began to moan in his sleep. 'urrying to his side, the apprentices heard him muttering the name Baltha(ar. #$ho #$ho is this his Balt Baltha ha(a (ar% r%!! wond wonder ered ed +sri +sric, c, a stur sturdy dy youth you th of peasan pea santt stock sto ck whose who se aptitu apt itude de for fo r predic pre dictio tion n had earned him his apprenticeship. 'e ran a hand through his tousled corn-gold hair and looked down at the Archimage, worry clouding his grey eyes. #An enemy enemy,, possib possibly% ly%!! sugge suggeste sted d )ashor, )ashor, a small small slim fellow brimming with nervous energy. Baskai Baskaino, no, leani leaning ng over over to mop the Archim Archimag age!s e!s
b r o w, c a s t th e m a s i de l o n g gl a n c e b ut k e p t d is d ai ai n nff ul u l ly l y s il i l en e n tt.. + f t he h e t hr h r ee e e , h e p re r e se s e nt n t ed ed t h he e appe ap pear aran ance ce of grea greates testt compo composur sure. e. But Bu t afte afterr all, al l, Baskaino was of noble birth and had the easy air of one accustomed to privilege. Th T h e s e r v a n t M e r c u t i o c a m e o v e r t o t h e b e d , bearing a tray with goblets for them all. Baskaino took one of the goblets, dipped his fingers into it, and moistened the Archimage!s lips. The spiced wine had no perc percep epti tibl ble e effe effect ct.. Agai Again n the Archi Archima mage ge groan groaned ed,, and and then he spoke #Baltha(ar The mast has split Baltha(ar! #Bal #Balth tha( a(ar ar was was the the Arch Archim imag age! e!s s own own ment mentor or,! ,! said said Mercutio in his whee(ing voice. #The original master of t h i s m a n se se . & s er er v e d h i m t h en en , u st st a s & s er er ve ve Archimage Magnus now.! Th T h e A r c h i m a g e h a d f a l l e n u i e t a g a i n . ) a s h o r took one one of the gobl oblets and sipped at it. #And what happened to him%! he asked Mercutio. /ike all of them, he had sensed that a tale lay behind the old servant!s words. #/ost at sea, Master )ashor,! said Mercutio. #'e #'e and and Archi Archima mage ge Magn Magnus us were were trav travel elli ling ng back back from from 0uneport. A storm blew up without warning and the ship capsi(ed. &t was a good many years ago.! #'ow did the Archimage survive%! asked +sric. M e rc r c ut u t io i o s hr h r ug u g g ed e d . # $ ho h o k no n o ws w s % B y m ag a g ic ic , perhaps * or because he was a strong swimmer. 0emember that this happened when he was a good deal younger than he is now.! The remark brought a faint smile to their lips. The Archimage was not a young man, it was true, but he was was bare barely ly into into midd middle le-ag -age e and 1his 1his curr curren entt fever fever asid aside2 e2 he was was robu ro bust st and and vigo vigoro rous us.. Merc Mercut utio io,, by cont contra rast st,, gave gave the the impr impres essi sion on of bein being g shri shrive vell lled ed and and brow rown with e"tr e"trem eme e anti ntiuit uity * like ike an old old item tem of furniture that has not been properly cared for. )ashor )ashor had once oked to the others that the old servant servant
moved so slowly that it was a wonder he didn!t gather dust. #$hy don!t you rest a while, young masters%! said Mercutio. #&!ll keep an eye on the Archimage.! As they filed out of the chamber, the three apprentices glanced back to see Mercutio sitting on the edge of the bed, pale and thin as a ghost in the candlelight, gently mopping the sweat from his master!s forehead. #'e!ll probably still be here when one of us is the Archimage,! whispered +sric. #'ush! cautioned Baskaino sharply. #3ou could bring bad luck on the master by speaking of such things.! )ashor looked pu((led at this, but +sric nodded. After Baskaino had gone into his own chamber, the younger apprentices walked on along the landing and )ashor asked what he had meant. #& should not have referred to a time when the Archimage would not be with us,! e"plained +sric. #&t is illomened to speak of mortality when someone lies in a fever. &n the country they would say talk like that attracts the evil spirits.! #The evil spirits! said )ashor with a laugh. #To think of all this fuss over a bee sting. & e"pect the Archimage will be fine by the morning.! +sric nodded. They had come to the door of his own room. #& hope so,! he said. 'e lit the lamp in his room and handed the candle to )ashor. #$ell, good night.! #4ood night, +sric,! said )ashor. The pre-dawn trickled a gloomy grey light between the shutters. Mercutio hobbled over and opened them, to ga(e out over the steel grey e"panse of the ocean. 5aylight sat wanly on the scene, a tint of silver over charcoal. The sea heaved slowly, waves lifting as though the water were the flanks of a giant beast as it drew in its ponderous breath. #Mercutio...!
The old servant turned. The Archimage had risen on one elbow, the effort drawing lines of pain on his pallid face. #Master,! Mercutio said urgently, #do not e"ert yourself.! #/isten to me, Mercutio,! said the Archimage. #& have had a dream * and one, it seemed to me, full of portent. & must tell it to you.! Mercutio came back to the bedside. #6hall & fetch the apprentices, master%! The Archimage shook his head, falling back on to the pillow with a sigh. #7o, the details might elude me by the time they arrived. 5reams are so insubstantial, Mercutio ... especially those dredged up from the boundary of reality. & feel this to have been such a dream.! Mercutio sat, arranging the coverlet as he spoke. #Then, master, tell me * if my poor counsel is worth having.! #$orth more than any, dear faithful Mercutio. /isten, then. & was aboard a ship, the Harbinger. &t was the last ourney & took with Baltha(ar. A storm rolled over th e sky, eclipsing the heavens. &n my dream it was like the rage of a titan. The ship was a child!s toy made of twigs, we were helpless dolls in the fury of the elements...! The Archimage paused and gave a puff of wry laughter. #Master%! said Mercutio. #& was thinking, Mercutio,! said the Archimage. #& am considered a master of elemental sorcery. +ther wi(ards envy my power. But & was powerless that day, aghast and impotent when & beheld the true sight of nature unbound! #&t was a dream, master,! Mercutio reminded him. #5oubtless it seemed more terrible than it was in reality.! Magnus shook his head. #7o. & remember it indelibly, that storm. &t was every bit as awful as & r e c al l e d i t i n t h e dr e a m . T h e m as t c r a c k e d, th e
timbers opened. The ship broke apart from under us, leaving us in a void of storm and sea. & clung to the figurehead * it was a stout spar of wood, but it had been shorn like kindling. The water fro(e my bones ...! 'is eyes closed, memories of agony contorting his face. #And Baltha(ar, master%! asked Mercutio in a hushed voice. The Archimage!s eyes remained closed, but now he began to tremble violently and turn his head this way and that, as though witnessing a scene on the backs of his eyelids. #3es, he!s there * his cloak snagged on a floating timber. Baltha(ar Baltha(ar 'e cannot hear me... seems so still. &!m swimming to his side. 4ods, the cold stings me like a nest of phantom hornets Baltha(ar 'e looks so lifeless as & reach for him, his face dipped into this icy brine. 'is beard is like seaweed. & turn him over and*! The Archimage!s scream tore through the passages of the manse # No! ! #+h, master! cried Mercutio an"iously, shaking him. #8lease...! The Archimage!s eyelids fluttered open. 'e gave a gasp as he struggled awake again. #& saw his face, Mercutio, in my dream. That was the one detail that was different. &n reality, his body was never found.! #& know, master.! Mercutio placed his hand over his master!s, a gesture of reassurance. Magnus shook it away. 'e s ee me d n ot t o h av e r eg is te re d t he o ld s er va nt !s remark. #After that, & clung to the figurehead for hours, staring into its blind painted eyes. $hat tears & shed for Baltha(ar were washed away by the sea, an d & had the horror of my own predicament to occupy my thoughts. At last, numb with shock and cold, & was washed on to a rocky island. & spent a week or more there before the sprites & conured were able to find
a ship and lead it to me. . .! # $e t ho ug ht y ou l os t a lo ng w it h A rc hi ma ge Baltha(ar, master,! put in Mercutio. #8erhaps & should have been. & should have dived to look for him. & was young then, a strong swimmer, while he was frail. 9or all his wi(ardry, he relied on my strength for protection that day, Mercutio. & should have e"hausted my spells in searching for him ... plunged into the depths... railed against the very heavens for bearing him away. But & did not, Mercutio. &nstead & clung to a timber and thought of my own safety.! Magnus had spoken with such bitterness that Mercutio could have wept. 'e had seen his master torment himself over Baltha(ar!s death before, but never with such vehemence. #3ou could have done nothing,! he maintained. #At least you have kept his teachings alive * brought more apprentices into the study of your secret art.! #+h yes,! said Magnus with a curl of the lip. #& returned here to Truillon and took over Baltha(ar!s position as Archimage. & doubt if he would count that as a great favour.! There was a sound at the bedroom door. Mercutio went and opened it a crack. Baskaino stood there in his night-shirt. #&s the Archimage all right, Mercutio%! he asked. #& heard a cry ust now.! #&t was nothing, Master Baskaino,! said Mercutio. #A nightmare only. The fever has passed.! #&s the Archimage well enough to receive visitors%! enuired Baskaino, disliking to be kept at the door by a servant. Mercutio returned an ingenuous smile. #/ater, & think. Best you get dressed and go down for breakfast, Master Baskaino.! And he closed the door. +sric rose and spent the morning in the library. A book lay open in front of him, but he turned the pages
listlessly. 'e had really gone into the library to avoid the others. &t wasn!t that they did not share his concern for the Archimage, but only that +sric had his own way of dealing with worries. 'is parents had always said that he liked to brood. #9orever mulling things over and over inside your skull, boy,! his father had said: #no good can come of daydreams, you know.! Then the day had come when Magnus passed through his village a striking figure, almost regal in his cabbalistic robes, astride his horse like a spirit of the night. 'e had peered into the eyes of a fey youth and saw some smattering of special talent the second sight. +sric!s parents had been consulted, gold e"changed, farewells said * and +sric rode off on his donkey behind the Archimage. 'is apprenticeship had begun. +sric turned another page, listening to the rustle of the ancient parchment, like the dusty wing of a moth. &t had been two years since he left his home to come here to Truillon, and he often wondered if he had fulfilled the promise Magnus saw in him that day. 'e found the runic symbols so difficult to memori(e, the spells so hard to master. The others had been here at least a year before him, and it was that head start in their studies that +sric never seemed able to make up. Baskaino, aloof and imperious, remembered every lesson with cool precision. )ashor lacked Baskaino!s scholastic breadth, but compensated for this by dint of enthusiasm and diligence. &n comparison to them both, +sric felt himself a dullard. A draught made the lamp gutter and stirred the pages of the book. +sric shivered and looked up. Beyond the wisp of smoke rising from his lamp, he saw a blurred image in the amber light. Breath catching in his throat, heart hammering, he lifted the lamp and held it out. A figure stood in the shadows between the shelves. &t was an old man in long velvet robes, leaning on a staff decorated with golden runes. 'is hand drifted along the shelves like mist on a bree(e, endlessly searching for a
book he could not find. 'e turned, eyes boring straight into +sric!s. The face was long and thin, with a wispy beard and bloodless lips. 'e was very, very old. +nly the eyes seemed ageless, liuid ewels brimming with pinpoints of gleaming gold. +sric thrust the lamp forward and opened his mouth to speak. The old man smiled a broad knowing smile and broke apart, fading into darkness like an image in a soap bubble. +sric took a faltering step forward. The old man had vanished, but not before he had got a good look at him. 'is ga(e went up to a portrait hanging on the library wall. +sric knew it well * the previous master of the manse, whom even Archimage Magnus spoke of in tones of hushed reverence. The face was the same. #Baltha(ar ...! said +sric.
CHAPTER TWO
By lunchtime the Archimage!s condition was much improved. 'e was able to sit up and take a little broth. 'is face was wa"en, his voice lacking its usual booming strength, but the light in his eyes had recovered some of the usual vigour. Mercutio showed the three apprentices into the room. +utside, beyond the latticed panes of the window, the sky was the same blustery grey as the sea. Cold wind whipped up foam across the waves. But here in the Archimage!s chamber Mercutio had built up a good fire, and the air had a warm reek of burnt coriander, a herb renowned for its curative properties. #;vidently the bee that stung me carried an unusually potent venom,! said the Archimage. #8erhaps we should have surmised as much from its atypical colouration. 7ow a poultice of mustard, basil and linden oil must be applied to draw the poison out. Baskaino, you are the eldest and display a special knack for alchemy < prepare that, if you will.! #+f course, master,! said Baskaino. 'e bowed and withdrew from the chamber. #)ashor,! said the Archimage, turning to the ne"t of his apprentices. #'ave you prepared your dissertation on the usages of ;arth-magic% 7o% 5o not forget your tutorial is scheduled for tomorrow < off to your desk, )ashor.! )ashor snatched up his papers and hurried out, so flustered that he almost forgot to wish the Archimage a uick recovery. Magnus finished his broth and handed the bowl to Mercutio. Then he sat back on his pillows and watched +sric with a thoughtful e"pression. This scrutiny finally caused +sric to become uncomfortable. #Master,! he said uncertainly, #have & done anything to offend you ... %! The Archimage still watched him intently. #Mercutio,! he said at last. #3ou may go. & shall sleep later, but you
should wake me at dusk.! Mercutio nodded and went out, closing the heavy oak door behind him. +sric was about to speak again, but the Archimage raised a hand to wave away his remarks. #There is a presence here, +sric,! he said, almost impatiently. #9ocus. =se your gift. Can you not sense it%! +sric bent his head in concentration. 'e thought that perhaps he did sense something amiss < a nebulous feeling, like the unremembered aftermath of a dream < but how could he be sure% &t might ust be something planted in his mind by the Archimage!s suggestion. And this might be a test, to see how reliably he could use his sorcerous skills. +sric feared to appear credulous. #&!m not sure, master...! he ventured. Magnus made a sound e"pressing e"asperation. #A presence &t sits behind you like a bat with folded wings, +sric 3ou know the feeling of being watched ... 3ou are being watched now, by an entity of considerable force.! #7o, master: it!s watching you.! +sric suddenly felt stunned: he had spoken without pausing to think. #3es, yes 3ou do feel it, then.! The Archimage sat forward and clutched +sric!s arm. #Trust your inner vision, +sric. Tell me what you perceive.! #& sensed it early this morning, master,! said +sric. #& was in the library, alone. & felt a chill, and looked up to see an insubstantial figure drifting between the stacks. 'is face was the same as Archimage Baltha(ar!s portrait.! #3ou should have mentioned this before,! said Magnus. +sric hung his head. #Master, & thought & must have fallen asleep in the library and dreamed it...! Magnus compressed his lips. #3ou should have sensed him haunting the manse. & did. &t is Baltha(ar, +sric: his aura is unmistakable.! #Master,! said +sric fretfully, #surely you are still
unwell. This is a figment of your fever. Archimage Baltha(ar died many years ago.! Magnus ignored him. #4o to my study, +sric,! he said. #There you will find a lens of green crystal my scryingglass. Take it to the library and inspect the area where you thought you saw Baltha(ar. Then come and report to me.! +sric did as he was instructed. $ith the green lens to hand, he went to the library and e"amined the spot where the apparition had appeared. To normal vision there was nothing to see. 8eering through the lens, however, +sric discerned a gold-tinged violet glow in the air. &t had the general shape of a man!s shadow. +sric returned to Magnus!s bedchamber and described what he had seen. The Archimage nodded thoughtfully. +sric waited a long time and then said, #$hat does it mean, master%! By way of answer, Magnus moistened his finger and pressed it to the drinking-cup on his bedside table. 'e held it up for +sric to see the distinctive pattern of whorls left on the glass. #The print of a finger,! he said, #is uniue. 7o two are the same. 6o it is with a person!s aura the psychic emanation which this scrying-glass makes visible. The gold nimbus denotes an individual with magical ability, the strength of that ability being shown by the brightness of the nimbus. Take the lens again and observe me.! + sr ic d id s o. # 3o u s ee m y a ur a% ! d em an de d Magnus. #3es, master. A blue-grey shadow with a golden outline. &t seems to flicker...! #Because & am unwell. The blueness is a personal signature, like the finger-mark & ust showed you. Baltha(ar!s distinctive aura was violet. And you note th e gold nimbu s. $as the one you saw in the library more or less bright, would you say%! #Brighter than yours, master,! +sric admitted. Magnus nodded grimly. #$ell then, it must be B al th a( ar . + r r at he r, h is g ho st . T he ue st io n
remains what does he want here%! 6unk in thought, he said nothing more. After a prolonged period of silence, +sric sensed he was not needed and uietly withdrew.
CHAPTER THREE After several days, Magnus had so far recovered as to be able to resume his usual activities. The apprentices noted that he remained pale and walked with a limp 1the bee had stung him on the leg2. +n a mo re in tang ib le le ve l, his demeanour was withdrawn and sombre. 5ur ing the ir les son s he several times lost the thread of what he was e"plaining, and reacted with brittle bad temper to any errors in their work. #$hat is troubling the Archimage%! whispered )ashor to the others as they bent over their c op yb oo ks l at er . # Th is m or nin g h e o ve rl oo ke d a glaring omission in my essay, yet only an hour ago he lambasted me for something so trivial as failing to sharpen my pen-nib.! Baskaino gave him a slow supercilious glance before turning back to his own book. #3our calligraphy was barely legible,! he remarked. #A blunt pen indicates a blunt intellect, )ashor.! )ashor fumed but kept silent. After a moment, +sric said, #The master is out of sorts, it is true. /ately he has been troubled by thoughts of Baltha(ar, his own mentor.! +sric refrained from mentioning the incident of the ghost in the library, since he felt Magnus was entrusting it to his confidence. 'e was flattered that he, the youngest apprentice, was held in such trust. The scratching of nibs on paper continued uninterrupted for a while and then Baskaino said, #&s there anything specific that brings you to that conclusion, +sric%! #$e all know about the fever-dream! muttered ) as ho r u nd er h is b re at h, s ti ll s ma rt in g f ro m Baskaino!s previous rebuke. #3ou are both too young to remember much about Baltha(ar,! said Baskaino after a while. #'e was a legendary figure * like one of the great wi(ards of
ancient times.! #'e must have had many powerful spells,! said )ashor, whose thoughts always turned to the lure of great magic when he had to work at his books. #+f course he did,! said Baskaino. #6pells you can never imagine. But, )ashor, you understand nothing if you think that is the measure of a wi(ard.! 'e put down his pen. #/isten, then, if you want to learn the ways of magic. +ne story that was told in my childhood recounted how a plague had settled on the ;mpire. $hole villages became deserted, and if you w a l ke d t h e s t r e e ts o f a n y t o wn yo u c o u l d ne v e r escape the sound of mourning from behind shuttered windows. Bodies had to be piled on to carts and buried in mass graves, since the plague was vicious and swift. 3ou might see a friend hale and hearty one day, only to be startled by the sight of his lifeless corpse on a burial cart the ne"t day...! By now even )ashor, despite himself, had put aside his pen to listen to Baskaino!s tale. #Baltha(ar went looking for the plague,! he continued, #and met it on the road to Borghaven. The plague had taken the form of a little old woman carrying a broom, though of course no-one could see that e"cept a wi(ard like Baltha(ar. They walked on for a league or so without e"changing a word, but the plaguespirit was curious and finally asked Baltha(ar where he was bound. >To Borghaven,? said he. >& mean to claim many lives there.? #$ell, >That you cannot do,? complained the plaguespirit. >& have prior claim on those lives...? +h, but this is no doubt ust a silly story,! said Baskaino suddenly, turning back to his copybook. #7o, no! cried +sric and )ashor together. #4o on.! Baskaino shrugged indulgently. #$ell, the upshot of it was that Baltha(ar challenged the old plague-hag to a dice game. 6he readily agreed, and the two of them
hunkered down in the middle of the road over the dice she had < two yellow dice carved from dead men!s knuckles. >&f you win,? win,? said Baltha(ar, Baltha(ar, >we!ll >we!ll agre agree e that that you you go on to Borghaven and beyond. But if you lose, you must go back to the land of the dead and never again visit the world of mort mortal al men.? men.? The The hag nodded nodded,, and then then they they threw threw the dice.! #And Baltha(ar won%! said )ashor in an awed tone. #7o, he lost. 6o they walked on again towards towards the town town.. But after another league or so had gone by, the plague-spirit coul could d not not rest restra rain in her curi curios osit ity y and and she she said, >3ou must have claimed many souls in your time.? #At this this Balth Baltha(a a(arr only only shrugg shrugged, ed, smilin smiling g as thoug though h mode modest sty y forb forbad ade e a repl reply. y. The The plag plague ue-s -spi piri ritt licked her her bloodle dless lips with a blood oodless ess tong ongue and doub doubtl tles ess s thought, why take the long walk to Borghaven when she could could feast feast on one who who had in turn urn 1as 1as she supp suppos osed ed it2 it2 feas feaste ted d full full on mort mortal al soul souls% s% Anoth Another er league league passed passed,, then then Balt Baltha ha(a (arr said, said, >& migh mightt consider another wager, for it is fine sport. /et us dice again. This time, if & win you must go and never return, ust as before. But if you win, you may have ave the the life life that that beat beats s here here.. ...? .? Balt Baltha ha(a (arr touc touche hed d his his hea heart.. rt.... >but >but the then you you must ust bego begone ne from from the morta ortall world.? #Th #The plag lague readi eadily ly agr agreed to this his, since nce she she now believe believed d that that Baltha Baltha(ar! (ar!s s one life would would sustain sustain her more than a thousand thousand paltry normal normal souls. 6o she took out her dice and again they rolled.! #And this time Baltha(ar won%! said )ashor. #+f course not,! said Baskaino scornfully. #This was 5eath whom he diced with. 6o when the dice were cast, the plague-spirit took Baltha(ar and led him away to the end of the world and then said, >7ow & leave this world never to return, but first & shall have your life.? And she raised her broom whose touch was death. #But #But instea instead d of flinch flinching ing,, Baltha Baltha(ar (ar only only stood stood ther there e and said >+ur pact was that you would have the life that
beats here.? 6o saying, he opened the front of his robe and took took out out a tiny tiny mouse mouse that that had had been been nest nestle led d agai agains nstt his his chest, asleep. This he gave to the plague-spirit. 6he uttered none none of the the hide hideou ous s curs urses tha that a morta ortall migh ight when hen thwarted, but ust gave a sort of sigh and then drew back out of the land of the living. And so Baltha(ar drove away the plague.! #But how did he know he!d lose the dice games%! )ashor want wanted ed to know know.. #Both #Both times times% % And And how how did did he know know to have the mouse under his robe%! #'e knew,! replied Baskaino with a condescending smile. #Tha #Thatt was was how how grea greatt a wi(a wi(ard rd he was. was. 4rea 4reatt enou enough gh to cheat 5eath.! #But he didn!t didn!t even use a spell,! )ashor blurted. blurted. # 8ah , yo u f ool ! r epli ed Baskai no in a vo ic e dripping with contempt. )ashor )ashor turned turned to +sric +sric for suppor support, t, but +sric coul could d onl only shru shrug g and say, say, #$hat $hat spell pell could ould you use use agains againstt 5eath, after all%! Baskaino had already taken up his uill again. As he returned to his work, he added #4reat wi(ards tran tr ansce scend nd the need for mere mere spel sp ells: ls: theirs theirs is true magi ma gic. c. Balt Baltha( ha(ar ar was was the great greatest est of wi(ar wi(ards ds.. The world will never see his like again.! +sric stared at the page in front of him, but he coul could d not not conc concen entr trat ate. e. Bask Baskai aino no!s !s stor story y had had put put an unsettling notion into his head. ;ven in his younger days, Baltha(ar had been able to cheat 5eath. &f he had done one so once, why not again * with whatever manifestation of 5eath had come to claim his spirit after the shipwreck% At brea breakf kfas astt the ne"t ne"t day, day, Merc Mercut utio io told told each each of the the apprentices that the Archimage had cancelled their regular lessons. #'e says that you are to attire yo u r s e l v e s in w ar m c loth lo th in g a nd a s s e mb mbll e o n t he etty.!
7aturally this sent a bu(( of e"citement through th he e th hrr ee ee o f t h he e m. m . ) as a s ho h o r, r , i n p ar a r ti t i cu c u la l a r, r, w a as s c o ns n s um u m e d w it i t h c ur u r io i o si s i ty t y . # A re r e w e g oi o i ng ng o n a voya voyage ge%! %! he dema demand nded ed of Merc Mercut utio io.. #6hou 6hould ld we take take provisions%! The old servant serv ant had seen apprentic appre ntices es come and go during his tenure tenure at the manse, man se, and was amused amu sed by th e e"cita e"citabil bility ity of the the young. young. 'e suppres suppressed sed a smile, smile, but th t h er e r e w as a s a t w in in k kll e i n h iis s e ye y e s a s h e s ai ai d d #The Archimage did not give any such instruction, Master )ashor. & imagine it will only be a short ourney.! They dispersed to their rooms and hurriedly hurriedly ch c hanged , assem as sembl bling ing fift fi ftee een n minu mi nute tes s late laterr in the th e entrance hall hall.. )ash )ashor or wore ore an outf outfit it of blac black k leat leathe herr boots boot s and legging leggings, s, grey grey and black black doublet, doublet, and a velvet cap cap. The only dashes of colour were the purple c abo ab o c hon ho n gem gem of h is cloa cloakk-cl clas asp p and and the the l ong ong red red gryp grypho hon n feather in his hat. The effect would have been more impres impressiv sive e on a person person of greate greaterr stature stature b ut )a sh o r, t h o u gh gh t a l l , h a d y e t t o d e v e l o p t h e p o w e r f u l p h y s i u e t h a t + s r ic s a w i n h i s f u t u r e . A t t h e moment, he simply resembled a gangling scarecrow wound in black cloth. +sric wore his only travelling-clothes a plain tunic of brown wool above green cotton leggings, with an oiled woollen woollen shoulder-cape shoulder-cape to keep him dry. 'is leat leathe herr cross-thonged boots were simple but sturdy. The only ador nmen t was a t alis man on a l eath er thong ong a tiny bit bit of mirr mirror or-g -gla lass ss set set into into gree green n clay clay.. &t had had no true true magical value, but was a gift from +sric!s father. Bask Baskai aino no took took the the long longes estt to get get read ready, y, sele select ctin ing g a long long russ russet et gown gown with with an over-t over-tun unic ic of glis gliste teni ning ng white samite. 'is boots and gauntlets were of soft buff leather, fastened with gold buckles, and a large gold gold pin pin fast fasten ened ed his his ochr ochree-ye yell llow ow velv velvet et cloa cloak. k. 'e had tucked a bright blue handkerchief into his sleeve and * ever conscious of his noble status * wore a slim
sword in a gilt scabbard at his belt. They filed out of the door and down the stone steps that led to the etty. The sky was like slate, the day dull under a canopy of grey clouds. As was so often the case, a fine dri((le was driven in from out at sea by the northerly wind. 0ather than drenching them it was only a minor annoyance, forming tiny droplets that all knew would gradually permeate their clothing with the familiar damp chill of the region. Truillon Manse wa s built on an outcropping of rock that rose from the sea some distance out from the shore. &t could be reached from the mainland by means of a stone causeway at low tide, but at other times the sea covered this route and it was necessary to use a boat. The usual vessel was a crescent-prowed gondola painted in incongruous style, capable of bearing eight passengers. &t had been at Truillon since Baltha(ar!s time, having been brought back by him after an e"pedition to the &sles of the Cabiri. &t looked thoroughly unsuitable for seafaring, but in fact had the advantage of being propelled by watersprites, so that no oarsmen were needed. #3ou are all here. $e can begin,! said Magnus. 'e was already in the boat, wrapped in a thick fur cloak and leaning on his staff. $hile still pale, the fresh air had put him in better spirits and his eyes sparkled as he watched them clamber into the boat +sric with easy agility, )ashor nervously clumsy, Baskaino fastidiously lifting his robes clear of the water. #'ow are you feeling, master%! asked Baskaino as the gondola moved away from the etty. Magnus smiled to himself. 7o doubt it was not the uestion they all most wanted to ask, but Baskaino would never be so crass as to betray his curiosity so abruptly. #& am better, thank you, Baskaino,! he r ep li ed . # 8e rh ap s y ou w il l p re pa re m e a no th er poultice when we return < this time with a little more
basil, as the sting still troubles me.! The remark about returning gave )ashor his cue. #$here are we going, master%! he asked. Magnus glanced at +sric, who sat in the bow of the boat staring out to sea. #+sric, what do you perceive%! +sric erked his head around, startled from his reverie. #& ... & thought there was something huge out there...! 'e peered again southwards, to where the dri((le hid the hori(on in wet grey murk. #&t was larger than a ship, rising slowly out of the depths ... a sound like the thudding heartbeat that an unborn child hears...! 'e pressed his hands to his eyes and looked again. #7o, &!ve lost it.! Magnus nodded encouragement. #That!s good, +sric. @ery good. $hat you saw with your second sight is something that lies in the near future. $e are going to raise up a spirit of the deep and commune with him.! The apprentices e"changed startled looks. )ashor said, #A spirit of the deep, master ... %! There was fear in his voice, along with e"citement. Magnus spoke with calm conviction. #9astitocalon is how he is known to men the floater on the ocean currents. According to myth he was birthed in the earliest times of the world, amid the unmelting ice floes at the bottom of the 4reat Abyss, when there was nothing but Chaos. &n form he is like a great rock, strewn with seaweed, wet sand crusted to his sides. 'is si(e is greater than any ship, and when he rises from the salt wave it is like the birth of a new island, long and smooth and black...! +sric pointed into the water. #Master, he is coming 6ee, rising up from the ocean bed... . The others looked. A huge shadow could be dimly seen in the depths. A rumbling rose through the water to shake the sides of the boat * a sound like the deepest notes of a cathedral organ.
#3ou all know the incantations,! said Magnus abruptly. #oin me in them now.! 'esitantly, the three apprentices sang the chant while the Archimage wove the spell reat spirit o" the #ha$e roa%& Come& #e summon thee' A#a(en "rom )our be% o" san%& An% rise "rom out the sea.* The wind dropped suddenly. 5ri((le hung like a pall in the dank air. The watery groan was oined by a deeper sound the protesting crack of distant thunder high in the heavens. The sky darkened and flickering lightning could be dimly seen behind the leaden clouds. 0ain lashed down hard out of the sky, making the sea seem to boil. Then, with a sonorous piping sound, a great black shape broke the surface and rose, towering like a reef beside their tiny boat. $ater sluiced down the flanks of 9astitocalon, where weed trailed and barnacles clung as though to the hull of a giant hulk. A fin the si(e of a bank of oars slowly stirred, thrusting out a wave of foam. An eyelid opened larger than a shield. 5eep-set in flesh like weathered stone, a single glimmering eye watched them * uncaring and immemorially wise, full of fathomless thoughts. A noise came, resonating through their whole bodies. 4radually they made out the words T '0;; =;6T&+76 MA3 3+= A6), T';7 & 0;T=07 T+ T'; /+$;0 $+0/5.
Magnus had bared his teeth in a fierce grin, e "a lt in g i n t he s uc ce ss o f t he s um mo ni ng . T he apprentices clung to the sides of the boat, faint with fear, overawed by the sea-demon!s monstrous si(e and strength. # My m en to r m et h is d oo m i n yo ur d om ai n,
9astitocalon,! said Magnus. T '; $&A05 BA/T'AA0. 3;6, '; 50+$7;5 &7 M3 'A// +9 5;AT'.
A gust of wind blew down icy rain. Magnus gave a kind of sob and said #And does he lie there still%! T ' ; $;&4'T +9 T'; +C;A7 /A3 =8+7 '&6 6)=// 9+0 9&@; T'+=6A75 5A36 A75 7&4'T6, B=T 7+ /+74;0.
#Then he has arisen ...! said Magnus. 'e stared down into the grey waters, and suddenly his face contorted in a look of horror. 5ropping to his knees, he plunged both hands into the brine. 'is eyes were focused on something the apprentices could not see. But was it a figment of his guilt, or a spectre dredged up from the sea!s depths% #Baltha(ar! cried Magnus. #& tried to save you ... would have if & could. $hy do you return to torment me%! +sric sei(ed his arm. #Master, have you forgotten the sea-spirit% &t*! 9astitocalon swung his great fin, swamping their boat. &t capsi(ed, casting all four into the water. +sric clung to the keel, his other hand still gripping Magnus!s sleeve, and spluttered as he tasted salt water. 9astitocalon opened his great aws. $ater rushed in, a mighty torrent, pulling the gondola and the four frail figures. A strange sweet smell gusted out of the monster!s guts. They saw his teeth, like many polished skulls, poised to grind them. Baskaino struggled up on to the overturned boat. +sric called to him #'elp me with the Archimage. 'e might yet send the monster back.! Baskaino reached down, hauling Magnus over the keel with +sric!s help. But the Archimage only lay there like a beached whale, gasping incoherently as he stared at some inner vision. #Master! screamed )ashor, treading water. #$ithout you we are doomed! 9astitocalon sucked them closer to his cavernous maw. 'is head reared from the water, ready to dash down on to them. +sric stared up to see the sky entirely blotted out.
The monster!s head made him think of the warhammer of Thor, the thunder-god. $hen it fell, no force on earth could save them. Baskaino raised his arms, twisting his fingers into the pattern he had been taught. 'is voice made a lilting chant that somehow could be heard even above the wind and the waves and 9astitocalon!s triumphal snorting reat spirit& no# avaunt thee+ Return unto the %eep+ The #aters c$ose above th) hea%+ Resume th) ancient s$eep.* 6ilence. +sric swept water out of his eyes and looked around, baffled. There was no sign of the monster. The waves rose and fell slowly: salt spray hung in the air. #6prites, right the boat,! commanded Baskaino as he slid down off the keel with the Archimage. #$e wish to board.! 7o sooner had he spoken than the gondola tilted and returned to an upright position, bobbing up and down in the water. )ashor swum over. #Baskaino, you saved us all,! he said. #'elp me get the Archimage aboard,! said Baskaino. #'e is unconscious.!
CHAPTER ,O-R By evening the dri((le had turned to steady rain. The three apprentices sat in the parlour of Truillon listening to the insistent drumming of droplets outside the shutters. Magnus had been taken to bed as soon as they returned to the manse. 6oaked to the skin, he soon lapsed back into his fever and remained partially delirious throughout the afternoon. As before, he seemed troubled by visions of his dead master. Mercutio had ust looked into the parlour to say that there was no change in his condition. The apprentices sat in despondent mood. )ashor turned from stoking the fire. #$hat & can!t understand is why this is happening now. After all, Baltha(ar has been dead for ten years or more, and the Archimage has hardly mentioned him.! #'e has always been troubled by guilt over Baltha(ar!s death,! said Baskaino. #&t is only that he managed to keep it locked away until now.! +sric had been brooding all afternoon, trying to decide how much he should tell the others. $ith the Archimage so ill, the responsibility for the decision fell on his shoulders. #Baltha(ar is haunting the manse,! he told them now. #& saw his shade in the library a few days ago.! )ashor stood open-mouthed at this news. Baskaino must have been eually ama(ed, but he hid it well. #& suspected something of the sort,! he murmured, settling back in his chair and placing the tips of his fingers together in contemplation. #Tell us more.! +sric got up and began to pace in front of the hearth. #There is little more to tell. The ghost was searching for something, but seemed unable to find it. & recogni(ed it from Baltha(ar!s portrait. $hen & confided all this to the Archimage, he had me e"amine the scene of the haunting with a scrying-lens, and that confirmed that the ghost was indeed Baltha(ar!s.! )ashor fell into his chair in shock. #The demon-turtle
this morning said that Baltha(ar had lain on the ocean bed for ... how long%! #Thirteen years and nine months,! supplied Baskaino. #An ominous period for the gestation of a vengeful ghost.! #But what would he want with revenge%! asked )ashor. #And what was he looking for%! Baskaino thought for a moment. #The second uestion is easy to answer. $e might guess that he was searching for the secret grimoire.! #;h%! +sric was nonplussed. #Th #The book ook that lists ists the the past ast maste asters rs and doctr octrin inal al principles of our college of wi(ardry,! e"plained )ashor. #3es, #3es, such such a book book is alway always s hidden hidden by magic, so so even even a ghost ost might have trouble uble loca ocating it. But what what does does it signify, Baskaino%! #That is where we fall into the region of stark spec specul ula atio tion,! n,! sai said Bask Baskai aino no.. #& might surm surmis ise e that hat Magnus felt he could have done more to save Baltha(ar * as perhaps perhaps he might. might. Could Could ealo ealousy usy of Baltha(ar!s great repu reputa tati tion on have have caus caused ed him him to hesi hesita tate te at the the cruc crucia iall moment moment% % As true true a murder murder might come about through some someon one! e!s s fail failur ure e to act as out of malice malice.. &f that that is corre correct ct then the ghost has an obvious moti otive for haunting Magnus.! #3ou #3ou cannot mean that the Arc Archimage meant for Baltha(ar to die! said +sric. #&!m sure he mourns what happened every day of his life.! #Mo #Mourns rns * or blames himse imself lf,! ,! repli eplied ed Bask askaino. ino. #Moreove #Moreover, r, in view of Baltha( Baltha(ar! ar!s s reputati reputation, on, Magnus Magnus must have felt unsure of his own ability to take over the college. 0emember what & told you yesterday% That was ust one of the tales that used to be told about the great Baltha(ar. $ould-be apprentices used to flock to Truillon in thos those e days days.. 7ow 7ow look look at the the coll colleg ege! e!s s fort fortun unes es.. ...! .! 'e waved a hand around the room. room. #A farm-bo farm-boy, y, a scriv scrivene ener! r!s s son, son, and and one one old old servant who is teetering teetering at the edge of his grave.!
#And you,! said )ashor resentfully. Baskaino nodded. #And me.! 9or 9or seve severa rall minut minutes es ther there e was was only only the the soun sound d of the rain on the window-panes window-panes and the crackling crackling of logs in the hearth. Then +sric said, #& don!t know what else you think the the Archim Archimag age e could could have have done. done. Mayb Maybe e it!s it!s true true he didn didn!t !t meas measur ure e up to Balt Baltha ha(a (arr * & don!t know. But at least he kept the college college going. 7o one else could have.! #3es, he did,! agreed Baskaino. #8erhaps it!s not for me to critici(e. critici(e. 'owever, 'owever, you!re you!re wrong about ther there e bein being g no one else else to take over over the college college.. 3ou are ar e both bo th too to o young yo ung to know this, but Baltha(ar orig origin inal ally ly had had anot anothe herr stud studen ent t 9yral was his name, a minor princeling. 'e had garnered a certain certain renown renown despit despite e only only having having been with the college college a few few year years. s. 'ad he taken taken over over after after Baltha Baltha(ar (ar!s !s death, death, his roya royall status status would would have have attract attracted ed students students and wealth wealthy y sponsors.! Mercutio moved forward into the firelight bearing their supper on a tray. 7one of the apprentices had heard him come in. #8lease e"cuse this cold buffet, masters,! he said, placing cing the tray ray on a tabl able, #but & must must atte attend nd to the the Archimage. The fever has not abated.! #Tha #Thank nk you, you, Mercu ercuti tio, o,!! said said Bask Baskai aino no.. #Thi #This s will will be uite sufficient.! Mercutio nodded and withdrew. At the door oor, he turned and said, #+h, & could not help overhearing what you said, Master Baskaino. About 8rince 9yral, & mean. 7one of you was here then, but & remember him well.! #$hat happened to him, Mercutio%! asked +sric. #$as he also lso on boar board d the shi ship wit with Balt altha( ha(ar and Magnus%! Mercutio shook his head. #+h no, Master +sric. 'e!d already been e"pelled from the college by then. A c ru ru el el , s el el f is is h a n nd d w ic ic ke ke d y o un un g m a n , h e w as as . Master Baskaino was right in saying he had a certain renown, but it wasn!t the sort you!d envy, you see. The Th e day da y he left le ft & hear he ard d such su ch curs cu rses es as &!ll &! ll bear be ar with wi th
me to my grave, and most likely beyond. 'e has not been heard of since.! The Archimage woke from a nightmare drenched in sweat. &t was dark. A red glow came from the hearth, where the fire had burned down to embers. +utside, the wind howled around the tower and up under the eaves. 7o, it wasn!t ust the wind. There was another sound so und,, an eeri ee rie e cry cr y whic wh ich h recol re colle lect cted ed some so meth thing ing Magnus had heard in his dream. &t was his memory * or perha perhap p s his his imag imagin ine% e% memory * of Baltha(ar!s screams as he sank beneath the waves. 5rawn by the sound, Magnus rose from his bed and pulled a fur cloak on over his night-shirt. Mercutio lay do(ing in a chair beside the hearth. 9ait 9a ithf hful ul Merc Mercuti utio. o. 0athe 0a therr than than troub trouble le him hi m with with fres fresh h worr worrie ies, s, Magn Magnus us blew blew a pinc pinch h of powd po wder ered ed phoeni" feathers into his face and recited the words of a cantrip a simple spell to ensure restful sleep. Then, Th en, rest re stin ing g his hi s weigh we ightt on his hi s staf st aff, f, he ma made de his way downstairs to the door. The pain from the beesting still throbbed, ignored, in his thigh. 'e pulled o p e n t h e d o o r a n d f a c e d a c ur t a i n o f c o l d r a i n . Beyond the porch light, the darkness was draped thickly over the sea. Magnus swayed, clinging to the staff like a bellringer to his rope as a wave of di((iness swept over him. Agai Again n the fear fearfu full scre screec echi hing ng came came out out of the the rain rain-swep sw eptt dark da rknes ness. s. Magn Ma gnus us mutt mu tter ered ed anoth another er spel sp ell, l, causing a lantern to appear beside him. &n its beam, he saw a flickering figure out on the causeway. #Baltha(ar,! called Magnus hoarsely into the night. The figure drifted off, towards the mainland, with Magnus staggering behind. ;ach breath came as a hot gasp. The rain trickled down inside his cloak. 6ea-
spray in his eyes ... 'e was on the beach now. A path led up towards the headland where a circle of ancient monoliths s to od . T he l an te rn s wu ng i ts b ea m d ru nk en ly , responding to Magnus! swooning thoughts, picking out a figure for a moment. Baltha(ar was making his way to the headland. Magnus followed, oblivious as pebbles cut his bare feet, splashing through sandy puddles. The figure turned and paused on the path ahead of him. Magnus uickened his step, lurching onwards, staff driving hard into the ground as he went. 'is vision came and went in clouds, burning sweat and icy rain mingled on his brow, his ragged breathing drowned out by the wind!s howl. Trees overhung the path, whipping their branches against the cloud-laden sky. The figure waited until Magnus was almost upon it. 'e stared into the rain, pushing the lantern-beam up with a giddying thrust of will. &t fell full on the figure!s face. &t #as Baltha(ar Baltha(ar opened his mouth. Magnus stumbled a step closer, waiting to hear his mentor!s words. Baltha(ar!s face contorted, eyes starting from his head. A scream of unearthly rage and fear resounded up to the heavens. 'e lifted his arms, teeth bared. 'e looked about to lunge for Magnus! throat, but the Archimage did not move. 'e could only stand stockstill, fro(en in sick horror at the sight. 6uddenly the spectral figure shot backwards, receding down the path at incredible speed. &ts ghastly howl dwindled as it went. The lantern-light held it for a second, its arms still outstretched to sei(e, mouth still working in vengeful fury a translucent image as starkly bright as a dream. And then it was gone. /ike a sleepwalker, Magnus continued up the path
until he cleared the woods and reached the circle of standing-stones, perched desolately on the headland over high granite cliffs. 9ar below, wind smashed the sea on to the rocks. ;ach wave broke apart into grey foam, individually ineffective in the assault on the land: but gradually, over the eons, the cliffs would be worn ba ck and the sea would have its victory. Magnus stopped with the standing-stones around him * a forlorn ring of monoliths raised by a people long e"tinct. $ith head pounding and vision swimming, he steadied himself against one of the stones, feeling the leprous surface. 5roplets of rain danced in the lantern-light. Clouds moved like galleons under the invisible stars. A movement showed in the darkness. Magnus looked up to see Baltha(ar rise into view, drifting at the cliff s edge. 6trands of s eaweed hung from his arm, and his face was deathly white. The rain drove right through him as he raised a hand to beckon Magnus closer. Then he spoke, voice like the wind in a deserted chapel s this the Archimage o" Trui$$on/ This inva$i%/* Magnus took a step closer, and another. #Master...! The illness made him reel, clinging to his staff for support. #Master, & would have saved you & did all & could. The gods know & would have given my life for you.! Baltha(ar!s white lips broke open in a terrible smile. An% )et )ou $ive%& an% %ie%. 0ou became master o" m) manse& #hi$e $a) "i"t) "athoms %eep #ith a pi$$o# o" har% cora$ an% san% "or m) sheets. 0ou too( the tit$e o" Archimage. #as "orgotten.* #& have honoured your memory,! said Magnus. #7ot a day passed that & have not thought of you.! Thoughts an% %reams&* said Baltha(ar hollowly. ha% on$) "ishes "$itting through m) s(u$$.* Another wave of hot nausea caused Magnus to bow his head. As it passed, darkness sliding away from his vision, he looked up to see a change come upon the
scene. 4reen murky light surrounded him, and sand lay under his feet. 6ea-stirred fronds rose in banks all about about him. him. 9ish 9ishes es move moved d abov above, e, slow slow silv silver er ligh lights ts darting in the gloom. 'e looked back. The standing-stones had been replaced by the skeletal timbers of a sunken hulk. 'e could make out the faded paintwork on its bows the Harbinger. Baltha(ar drifted closer. 0es& )ou recogni1e it' the abo%e )ou*ve shunne% these thirteen )ears.* 6omething pushed up through the wet sand < an arm, bare of flesh, clad in tatters. &t clutched at the rotted frame of the ship, pulling itself up a figure sat up out of the sea bed. ;yeless sockets stared at Magn Magnus us from from unde underr a barn barnac acle le-s -stu tudd dded ed skul skull. l. Then Then anot an other her figure figure arose ar ose,, and an d anoth an other. er. The Th e drown dr owned ed sail sailor ors s who who had had crew crewed ed the the Harb Harbin inge gerr on her last voyage. They rose on thin legs and scuttled closer, closing in on Magnus with grisly grins. Magnus stepped back, then gasped as he felt a chill shudder through him. Baltha(ar was at his shoulder, his hand outstretched. &cy words rumbled in Magnus!s ear 2isten to m) #or%s an% hee% them #e$$& usurper. 0our p$ace is among the %ea%.* Magnus screamed, but it was the soundless scream of a nightmare. Then oblivion struck like a thunderbolt, and he knew no more.
CHAPTER ,3E #Master +sric, you must come at once.! +sric +sric look looked ed up blea bleari rily ly from from under under his bed-cov bed-covers ers.. #Mercutio.! o.! 'e got up, up, yawning, and pull ulled on his slippers. The The routi routine ne gave him time time to come fully fully awake. #$hat!s wrong%! Mercutio gave no answer, but only took him by the arm and almost pulled pulled him along the draughty draughty pass passag age e and up the the stai stairs rs to the the Arch Archim imag age! e!s s room room.. The door stood stood open, showing a gleam of red light from the fire. +sric entered and gave a gasp. The Archimage Archimage was crouched crouched by the fireside fireside in a puddle of rainwater, hair plastered wetly to his head, the fur robe robe around around him thoro thorough ughly ly soaked soaked.. 'e was rock ocking back back and forth forth on his heels, heels, eyes wide wide but unseeing, as he said again and again through chattering aws #Among the dead ... Among the dead...! #& woke oke and foun ound him like this,! said Mercutio helplessly. helplessly. #& was here here all the time, but & didn!t didn!t hear him hi m go out. out. & must must have have fall fallen en asle asleep ep.! .! 'e hung hung his his hea head in shame. The crisis imbued +sric with a calm authority. $ith $ithout out hesit hesitati ating, ng, he stoope stooped d and passed passed a hand hand over over the Archimage!s eyes, murmuring a spell as he did did. =nusua =nusually lly for one of +sric! +sric!s s spells spells,, it worked worked firs firstt time time.. The Archima Archimage ge slumped slumped forwar forward d into into his arms, sound asleep. #'elp me get him undressed and into bed,! said +sric. After a moment of ama(ement, the old servant hurried to his side ide and and betwee tween n the the two of them hem the they dried dried the Archimage off and laid him in his bed. +sric gave the Archimage a cursory e"amination. #4oing out out in this this wea weather ther cann cannot ot have have done one his his feve feverr much good. &n addition, the bee sting seems further inflamed. $e had better get Baskaino to administer one of his alchemical preparations.!
Mercutio did not hear. #& was supposed to be keeping a vigil,! he groaned. #&n his fever he must have sleepwalked, but & failed to wake up.! #5on!t blame yourself, Mercutio,! said +sric, laying a hand on his shoulder. #3ou!ve driven yourself all day and night since the Archimage became became ill. &f &f anyone!s anyone!s to blame, blame, it!s it!s us appr appren enti tice ces. s. $e should should have have taken taken turns turns sitti sitting ng with him. $e would have, e"cept who could have anticipated anything like this%! The door opened and )ashor came in. #$hat!s wrong% wrong% & heard a commotion outside my door. 'as the Archimage!s fever worsened%! Befor efore e +sr +sric could ould answe nswerr Bask askaino ino cam came in too, yawn yawnin ing g slee sleepi pily ly,, his his hair hair tous tousle led. d. As soon soon as he saw saw the Archim Archimage age,, lying lying still still and pale pale in the the bed, bed, his habi habitu tual al e"p e"pres ression sion of arr arroga ogance nce chang hanged ed to one one of shock. 'e glanced at the wet cloak, steaming beside the fire. #'e has been out, then. 6leepwalking. & feared such a development.! +sric and Mercutio nodded. #3ou might have said so,! declared declared )ashor. )ashor. #A sleeping sleeping potion could have helped.! Baskaino shook his head. #7o, it would have been of no use. use. My limi limite ted d skil skilll was was enoug enough h to treat treat the bee sting sting,, and my potions helped a little with the original fever, but that isn!t the problem any more.! They all looked at him. &t was +sric who spoke #Then what is%! #Th #The Arc Archima himage ge has has a ma mala lais ise e of the spir spirit it,! ,! he said said sorrowfully. #'e feels guilt over Baltha(ar!s death, and and the the strength of this feeling has drawn Baltha(ar!s ghost back to haunt him.! #Bef #Befor ore e & put put a spel spelll of slee sleep p upon upon him, him, he was deli deliri riou ous. s. 'e seem seemed ed to see see hims himsel elff am amon ong g the the dead dead,! ,! remembered +sric in dismay. #$hat can be done, Baskaino%! pleaded )ashor. Bask Baskai aino no spre spread ad his his hand hands. s. #7ot #7othi hing ng can can be done done.. 'e
has gone out to meet Baltha(ar!s ghost. 7ow & fear he is not long for this world.! +sric walked along the beach, watching the pale sunlight slant off the water. 8ebbles crunched under his feet. &t was late afternoon. The Archimage had become weaker and weaker, until finally +sric could not stand to watch the ine"orable progress of his illness. 'e could not bear the company of the others, either * neither Baskaino!s proud isolation, nor )ashor!s grating agitation. Arriving at the broken spar of a ship!s mast that had long ago been washed up on the beach, +sric rested his hand idly on it. /ow tide had revealed a rusted iron plate riveted into the end of the mast, covered with glistening black mussels. As he brooded, +sric prised one of the mussels free. 'e was on the point of casting it out into the waves when a gleam caught his eye. 'e looked closer. &nside the mussel was a tiny pearl, no bigger than a fruit pip. 6uch pearls were very rare. This one seemed especially so. &ts blue-grey lustre was enhanced by a golden sheen. +sric hesitated. The sight stirred some memory at the edge of his thoughts. Then it came to him those were the colours of the Archimage!s personal aura. +sric felt a sudden e"citement. All wi(ards uickly learn to put value in omens, and he was no e"ception. An occurrence that to another man might seem a simple fluke could be vital to one who dedicates his life to magic. 7ow, with the Archi mage!s life hanging in the balance, +sric felt impelled by a force beyond himself. 6cooping out the flesh of the mussel with his pocket-knife, he washed the shell in the sea and used his sleeve to dry it. Then he moved up the beach and, finding some dry sand, filled the shell. +sric looked around. 'e needed a flat surface. A nearby boulder, buried deep in the beach and flattened by the tides of centuries, would serve his purpose. 'e
suatted beside it and cleared his mind of all distractions, then upended the mussel-shell with a flick of his wrist so that the grains of sand spilled out across the boulder. 'e turned his mind into a blank slate, allowing full rein to his innate wi(ardry powers. 6uddenly, into his mind flashed a clear runic symbol which his fingers hastily traced into the sand. +sric stared at it and then recognition came it was a number. Three to the seventh power. #Two thousand, one hundred and eighty-seven,! he said aloud. 'e bent over the grains and patiently counted them, his e"citement growing as he neared the end of the count. At last he finished, brushing all of the grains away with a victorious flourish. 'e had been e"actly right. 'e sat back on his heels and drew a deep breath. 4uessing the e"act number of grains of sand in a musselshell was one of the many impossible tasks that an apprentice had to master. +sric had never managed it before. 6uch a task formed one of the components of any advanced spell. Admittedly, it was only of the first order of impossibility < nothing so difficult as what an adept might attempt, such as catching the north wind in a sack, or finding a rainbow!s end. But for a minor enchantment, it was a startD Two more impossible tasks must be completed for +sric!s spell to work. 9or the ne"t, he looked around for inspiration and his ga(e fell on the waves that came rolling up the beach to wipe away the footprints where he!d walked. &t recalled an old sailors! notion that every seventh wave was the strongest. 'e knelt at the edge of the sea and pushed his open palm down into the smooth wet sand where the waves came up. &t left a deep handprint. +sric stood and backed off as the first wave came surging up to cover the handprint. $hen the sea pulled back, mustering its strength for another wave, the handprint was still there, only somewhat fainter. +sric held his breath. &f a trace of his handprint still remained after the seventh wave, he would have achieved a
second impossibility. The surf came crashing in, closing its foamy grip over the foreshore. The second wave. As it fell back, +sric saw the outlines of his hand still sketched on the wet sand. The third wave struck with more force < and the fourth, and fifth. +sric stood over the handprint now, watching with hands bunched into fists. &f the sheer force of wishing could have sustained the handprint, it would have become an eternal carving, the sand around it congealed to stone... But the truth was that it was getting fainter and fainter with each irresistible beat of the ocean!s pulse. The si"th wave swept up, obscuring what remained of the handprint. As it withdrew, +sric felt a sick sinking feeling in his heart. +nly the faintest outline remained < and half of that supplied by his own wishful thinking. &t could not survive the seventh wave. 6adly he dropped the pearl he had found on to the impression in the sand, then started to turn away. The last wave roared up the beach, crashing over +sric!s feet. +ut of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed a glimmer of light through the colourless water cloudy blue mingled with gold. 'e spun back. The sea drew back like a veil. Almost laughing in disbelief, +sric saw the outlines of his hand as deeply imprinted in the sand as when he had freshly made it. &n the palm of the handprint rested the luminous bluegrey pearl. $as it a glint of dying sunlight that had caught his eye, diffracted through the water, or some inner glow of the pearl itself% There was no way of knowing. +sric!s heart was pounding by now. 'e had never been so close to succeeding with such a difficult enchantment. +ne more feat was all he needed. A conch shell had been washed up on to the foreshore. +sric brushed it clean of sand and lifted it to his lips. The ancient druids had used conch shells as horns to summon mermaids out of the sea. That would be the obect of his spell, then, for such a wondrous creature might gift him
with supernatural aid. The sun was dipping low towards the hori(on, red light streaking under a heavy layer of violet cloud. +sric udged its position, estimating it would be another three minutes before the sun!s disc touched the surface of the sea. 9or his third and last impossible task, he would blow the horn continuously for that time. 'e took a deep breath, filling his lungs, and began to blow. A deep low note rolled out over the sea, its mournful sound silencing the shrieks of the gulls wheeling overhead. +nly the soft sigh of the waves on the sand remained to accompany the horn. Tears came to +sric!s eyes as his lungs emptied. Barely a minute had gone by and he was running out of breath. This was how it had always been when he attempted this task < though usually with the silver rune-inscribed trumpet that the Archimage used. #Blow not with your lungs! the Archimage used to admonish him. #The breath should come from the force of your psyche. &magine the depths of your spirit as the infinite Abyss < think of the winds howling through it. 3ou should have no trouble blowing it till 5oomsday, if need be. The only wonder is that the trumpet does not break asunder! +sric sank to his knees, his breath failing. The note of the conch descended. 'e felt as though a grey ha(e was passing over his vision. 'e could not sustain the note. 'e!d failed... never be a wi(ard... ust a sorry country-boy with a paltry smattering of talent... And the Archimage would die, and he could do nothingD The greyness in front of his eyes became an infinite depth. 'owling darkness rushed up to meet him. But instead of engulfing him, it seemed to flow through him. 'e rose to his feet, filled with a surge of ine"haustible power from a hidden reserve he had never before tapped. The conch-horn blared hard across the sea, to +sric!s mounting astonishment. Blowing it was effortless now. ;verything that had threatened to overwhelm him < all the
troubles that beset the college < were no longer unconuerable. An apprentice could only cower and look to his master for help. But +sric was a true wi(ard now < and, win or lose, his destiny was in his own hands. The sun touched the hori(on, sank lower, finally drawing its light off into the depths of the sea. 6till +sric stood, sounding the continuous note of the conch, as the dusk drew in around him. #8ut down your horn,! said a musical voice out of the surf. #&t!s served its purpose. & have heard, and come.! 'e looked down. 9loating under the water near his feet was a mermaid. 6he lay on her back, hair spread far out into the water around her head, eyes closed like one asleep, arms folded across her breast in repose. +nly the slow sinuous undulations of her tail showed she was alive at all. 'er lips opened. Again that captivating voice came out of the water #$hy have you called me here, man of the land%! #+ sea maiden,! said +sric, #tell me the mysteries of your realm.! #This realm has many mysteries,! lilted the mermaid. #+f what do you wish to know%! #The Archimage Magnus is beset by troubles,! replied +sric. #'e lies in a fever close to death. Can you tell me how to cure him% =nlock your secrets, & pray you.! #6uch matters do not go unnoticed in this silent realm of mystery. Magnus once came close to making it his abode, and saved himself with but a spar of broken wood. 'is mentor was less fortunate.! #Baltha(ar 3es, what of him%! #'e took his last breath of air and drifted into death. +n the sea bed he lay a long time, but then a storm sucked his skull up to the surface. A sorcerer skilled in dark arts plucked that grisly catch from the waves and used it to his purpose.! To +sric these events suggested use of necromancy and storm magic. #$ho was it, that sorcerer%! he asked. #That & cannot say,! replied the mermaid. #'is magic is
too mighty: & fear him. But & can tell you more < last night he walked upon yonder cliffs, bearing the skull with him, wrapped in illusion. And Magnus, thinking to see his mentor!s spectre, followed in his tracks.! #Then Magnus has been the target of malignant sorcery By the gods, who has done this%! #That & cannot say. 5ismiss me now: & yearn for the stillness of the deep.! +sric knew the formula of dismissal. 'e closed his eyes and bent over the water, as though to plant a kiss on those cold white lips. 'e tasted brine, felt something brush against his face for barely an instant. &t was lighter than the touch of a moth!s wing. There was a soft splash, further out among the waves. $hen he opened his eyes, he found the mermaid had gone. Although stunned by the e"perience, +sric knew there was no time to lose. The conch shell was still in his hand. 'e tossed it aside and it broke on the pebbles * but by that time +sric was already racing along the beach back to Truillon.
CHAPTER S4 They arrived at the woodland glade where the trouble had begun +sric, Mercutio and )ashor. There had been no time to summon Baskaino, dusk being the hour he took his walk on the cliffs. )ashor held up a lantern in the twilight. 'e was still rather pu((led by the garbled e"planations +sric had blurted out, but he could see that his friend was agitated for a purpose. 7aturally )ashor found the agitation infectious. #$hat are we looking for%! he asked breathlessly. #The bee,! +sric panted. #The red bee that stung the Archimage and started all of this.! Mercutio stooped over the bushes and swung his lantern, wincing at the pain in his aged oints. #Bui what good will that do, Master +sric%! #&t!s the key to the mystery,! said +sric in a tone of conviction. #&f we can find it, we may yet save the Archimage!s life.! +sric!s certainty in that belief was a spur to them all. They had spent the day miserably waiting for Magnus to die. 7ow there was a chance < however slim < they searched like men possessed. At last, after half an hour of frantic scrabbling in the gloom, +sric discovered the dead bee lying on a leaf. 'e held it up and inspected it in the lantern-light, then showed it to the others. #&t!s a simulacrum,! gasped )ashor as he scrutini(ed it. #A construct of wire and lacuer.! #&ncredible,! muttered Mercutio, dumbfounded to see such a tiny device. +sric pointed at it. #An artificial bee, indeed: an ingenious invention.! #The wi(ard who made it must have been very clever,! said )ashor. #& thought such skills were known only to the wi(ards of long ago.! #Clever,! admitted +sric, #*and steeped in black-
hearted evil. 6ee this sticky residue on its sting%! 'e touched his finger to the stuff and gingerly licked it, grimacing at the taste. #&ts tail was dipped in alchemical venom. The Archimage was deliberately poisoned
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