The Witch & the Cathedral - Wizard of Yurt - 4 by C. Dale Brittain Page B
Authors: C. Dale Brittain
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not need very complex spells to realize mat the whole city was permeated with magic.
"It was on the docks by the river," the young guard panted as we hurried through the narrow streets. The dean led the climb up the tower last night, so I ran for him at once. I didn't tell anyone else except my captain." "Good thinking," I said. "We don't want panic." But the docks were no more ominous than the construction site. We wove between stacks of cargo crates, coming into the city or ready to leave. I probed for magic and found very little. The aura that fingered seemed wild and unfocused, nothing like the tightly constructed spells used for illusions—but then I had never expected any of this to be illusion.
An older guardsman joined us, lifting his eyebrows at me. "So the mayor's sent for a wizard," he commented. I didn't have time to correct him. "What happened to the winged lizard?" I probably would have called it a small dragon myself, but "lizard" did not sound as horrible.
He shook his head. "It's gone. It disappeared with a pop, right into the air. I tried thrusting with my sword into the space where it might be, but I didn't hit anything." He paused.
"Just before it disappeared, I had the impression it was picking up some of the cargo crates... . "A sword won't find it," I said grimly. "It's going to take magic. Stay on guard here in case it returns, and tell the dean at once if it does. I'll search the rest of the city for it." As I hurried away from the river, I asked myself if a winged red lizard, the size of a hound, could have been what they all saw on the cathedral last night But I rejected this idea—-Joachim would certainly know the difference. But why should terrifying magical creatures suddenly be appearing in Caelrhon?
I turned a corner and thought I saw Prince Vincent. After a startled second I realized the lord coming toward me could not be Vincent himself. He was slightly taller and quite a bit heavier, as well as several years older. He had the same burnished copper hair, the same wide-spaced eyes and firm jaw, but not the same easy and confident way of walking.
I gave all my suspicions free rein and stepped into his path. "Excuse me, let me introduce myself. I am Daimbert, the Royal Wizard of Yurt. You're the heir to Caelrhon, Prince Lucas if I recall correctly. We met several years ago; I don't know if you remember."
His reaction did nothing to lessen my suspicions. He gripped his sword and his eyes narrowed. "And what are you doing in my kingdom he demanded.” I took a step backwards as he thrust his face toward mine. "The monster," I babbled. "The dean of the cathedral asked me to come. I heard that your own Royal Wizard had an unfortunate accident, so—"
"We dismissed him even before his accident," said Lucas, glowering. "We have no more use for magic-workers in Caelrhon."
"But— But why not?"
"You keep it so discreet you think we won't notice," said Lucas coldly. "But after my experiences, my eyes were opened. We know you wizards are plotting to throw off the
'service' you claim to practice. 'Establishing peace throughout the western kingdoms,' you like to call it, but I know better. And now I wouldn't be surprised to learn that you're hoping to influence the election of the next bishop. If you really are here at the invitation of the cathedral—something I intend to find out!—then all I can say is that the bishop should know better."
Shocked at his open vehemence, I didn't reply but made him the formal half-bow and hurried away. None of this made any sense. Even though Sengrim, Caelrhon's wizard, had always treated me rudely, I could not imagine what he could have done to get himself dismissed with harsh feeling that would persist even after his death.
As I walked I kept probing with magic but found no sign of either an enormous bat-winged monster or a giant lizard with hands. Regretfully, I had to conclude that neither of the princes of Caelrhon could be responsible if they no
"It was on the docks by the river," the young guard panted as we hurried through the narrow streets. The dean led the climb up the tower last night, so I ran for him at once. I didn't tell anyone else except my captain." "Good thinking," I said. "We don't want panic." But the docks were no more ominous than the construction site. We wove between stacks of cargo crates, coming into the city or ready to leave. I probed for magic and found very little. The aura that fingered seemed wild and unfocused, nothing like the tightly constructed spells used for illusions—but then I had never expected any of this to be illusion.
An older guardsman joined us, lifting his eyebrows at me. "So the mayor's sent for a wizard," he commented. I didn't have time to correct him. "What happened to the winged lizard?" I probably would have called it a small dragon myself, but "lizard" did not sound as horrible.
He shook his head. "It's gone. It disappeared with a pop, right into the air. I tried thrusting with my sword into the space where it might be, but I didn't hit anything." He paused.
"Just before it disappeared, I had the impression it was picking up some of the cargo crates... . "A sword won't find it," I said grimly. "It's going to take magic. Stay on guard here in case it returns, and tell the dean at once if it does. I'll search the rest of the city for it." As I hurried away from the river, I asked myself if a winged red lizard, the size of a hound, could have been what they all saw on the cathedral last night But I rejected this idea—-Joachim would certainly know the difference. But why should terrifying magical creatures suddenly be appearing in Caelrhon?
I turned a corner and thought I saw Prince Vincent. After a startled second I realized the lord coming toward me could not be Vincent himself. He was slightly taller and quite a bit heavier, as well as several years older. He had the same burnished copper hair, the same wide-spaced eyes and firm jaw, but not the same easy and confident way of walking.
I gave all my suspicions free rein and stepped into his path. "Excuse me, let me introduce myself. I am Daimbert, the Royal Wizard of Yurt. You're the heir to Caelrhon, Prince Lucas if I recall correctly. We met several years ago; I don't know if you remember."
His reaction did nothing to lessen my suspicions. He gripped his sword and his eyes narrowed. "And what are you doing in my kingdom he demanded.” I took a step backwards as he thrust his face toward mine. "The monster," I babbled. "The dean of the cathedral asked me to come. I heard that your own Royal Wizard had an unfortunate accident, so—"
"We dismissed him even before his accident," said Lucas, glowering. "We have no more use for magic-workers in Caelrhon."
"But— But why not?"
"You keep it so discreet you think we won't notice," said Lucas coldly. "But after my experiences, my eyes were opened. We know you wizards are plotting to throw off the
'service' you claim to practice. 'Establishing peace throughout the western kingdoms,' you like to call it, but I know better. And now I wouldn't be surprised to learn that you're hoping to influence the election of the next bishop. If you really are here at the invitation of the cathedral—something I intend to find out!—then all I can say is that the bishop should know better."
Shocked at his open vehemence, I didn't reply but made him the formal half-bow and hurried away. None of this made any sense. Even though Sengrim, Caelrhon's wizard, had always treated me rudely, I could not imagine what he could have done to get himself dismissed with harsh feeling that would persist even after his death.
As I walked I kept probing with magic but found no sign of either an enormous bat-winged monster or a giant lizard with hands. Regretfully, I had to conclude that neither of the princes of Caelrhon could be responsible if they no
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