The Prodigal Mage Part 3

Whats Garricks game? I cant work him out. Formal hearings in front of the Mage Council mean trouble for everyone. No keepin that quiet. Is that what hes after? Folk buzzin about Doranen magic just when Lurs pretty well stopped nightmaring about Morg? Why?

It was a good question, with no answer to it. But Rodyn Garrick werent his only worry. He was starting to worry about all the Doranen. Now that there was no Weather Magic to keep folk sensible, how many more Ain Freidins were out there, sneakin off to muck about with dangerous incants? Breaking Barls Law? Ain Freidin was lucky. A few slimed spuds on her conscience, no real harm done. But what about next time? Next time, could be, someone might get hurt. Or die.

I wish Matt was here, said Dathne, sorrow shadowing her face. Hed know who or what was causing this. He was the best I ever knew at feeling things in the world.

Aye, and so did he wish it. Not a day went by he didnt wish for Meister Matt. Couldnt walk into the Tower stables without remembering. Feeling grief. Seeing him shoeing a stallion, mending a blanket, stirring his smelly horse porridge on the tack-rooms old stove. Time was supposed to heal wounds, soften loss. Gra.s.s was supposed to grow green over a grave.

But not his grave. No, nor Gars. Im as wounded today as I was when they fell. And not even Dathne can bind those hurts.

Im sorry, she said, watching him closely. I didnt mean to stir up She sighed. Im sorry. You never talk of it, so I forget sometimes Aint nowt to say, is there? he said, shrugging. We cant unmake the past.

And wouldnt if we could, she whispered, arms folding again to her ribs. Thinking not only of Matt, but Veira too, that bossy, managin ole besom. And the folk from her Circle who died before she knew them. Even if it hurts us.

Because her pain hurt him, because he couldnt kiss it away, he turned back to Barls Weather map. No, he agreed, reluctant. We wouldnt.

Dath shook herself. So lets not think on it. Weve a problem here and now to solve and no matter who or whats behind it, with luck theres still time to fix things before its too late.

Despairing, he shook his head. You reckon?

I reckon its time we told each other what little we know. For well have no hope if we keep secrets, she said sharply. Didnt we promise each other thered be no more secrets?

Aye. Theyd promised that. And theyd kept the promise for ten years because thered been no secrets to keep. He shoved his hands in his pockets, brooding.

I thought it were over, Dath. I thought once I killed Morg your sinkin prophecy was dead too, and Weather Magic put behind me for good. I thought Lur was free of all that.

She took a deep, unsteady breath. It is. Asher, it is.

No, Dath, it aint, he said, and nodded at the Weather map. Cause that b.l.o.o.d.y thing aint dead.

Not dead? she echoed. Asher, what are you talking about? Look at it. Morg destroyed Barls map when he brought down the Wall.

I wanted to believe that. But Dathne, Im tellin you, theres power in it still. I can feel it. And that cant be good.

Dathne circled the blighted Weather map, her eyes wide and trepidatious. How can there be power in it? Theres no more Weather Magic in Lur. Morg I know thats what we thought, he said wearily. But we were wrong. Looks like Doranen magic dont die so b.l.o.o.d.y easy. Could be it dont die at all. Its fierce, Dath. It burns. It wants toto live.

It wasnt a truth hed ever shared with her before, knowing it would steal her hard-won peace of mind. It werent a secret, not ezackly. Just a little something hed kept to himself, for her sake.

Halting behind the Weather map, Dathne lifted her gaze to him. Her face was disquietingly pale. You feel it? After so long, you still feel it?

He nodded. Aye.

For countless nights after his blood-filled confrontation with Morg hed gone to bed terrified hed conjure in his sleep, in his nightmares, those fell battle-beasts of Doranen warfare hed learned from Barl. The wereslags and the horselirs and the gruesomes, monstrosities of myth and murder. Had been terrified hed wake in his bed to find Dathne clawed to b.l.o.o.d.y shreds beside him. In the end, exhausted and desperate, hed turned to Pother Nix. The Doranen physick had drugged him and muttered over him, wrapped his tired mind in spells and soothings. Taught him how to seal away the dreadful words he knew, that meant he could kill with a thought. And hed found in that teaching a rough measure of peace.

But the words were still there, still buried inside him, just like the Weather Magic. Not even Nix could take them away. Barls magic had branded him, altered him, and there was no going back. There was only going forward, understanding what hed become.

Dathnes face was crumpled into grief. Asher Its all right. Dont fret on me. We got this to fret on now.

With another deep breath, she banished pain. Stared at the map. So if the Weather Magic hasnt died, what does that mean for Lur?

Joining her, he slid his arm around her narrow shoulders. As she leaned against him he felt the chill of foreboding ease, just a little. I dont know, he said, resting his cheek against her jasmine-scented hair. All I can be sure on is somehow, what we been feeling is tangled up with this b.l.o.o.d.y Weather map.

Asher Her fingers drummed against his chest. How long have you been feeling unsettled?

Ha, he said, tightening his arm. You tell me.

Four days. You?

Nine. Close enough.

Im sorry I didnt say anything. Her fingers tightened on his jacket and shook him. You shouldve said something.

He kissed her. Aye, well. Since were both wrong, there be no blame. What is it youve been feeling, ezackly?

A change in the air, she said, her voice low. A change beneath my feet. A sour note on the edge of hearing. Only a whisper, until today. She s.h.i.+vered. It shouted today.

Aye, it b.l.o.o.d.y well did. You aint had a vision? Nowts come to you in your dreams?

Not for years. Not since before the Wall fell. Id have told you if it had.

You didnt tell me this.

I thought you said there was no blame!

He kissed her again. Sorry.

I didnt want it to be true, she said, her voice shaking. Weve been so happy, my love. We weathered the storm of the Walls falling, the revelation of our true magical natures. Weve forged a new Lur from the ashes of the old and what troubles weve had weve dealt with, swiftly. Olken and Doranen have managed to keep the peace, most of the time. I cant bear to think of our new lives tumbling around our ears.

Neither could he. But worse than that, he couldnt bear to see her distressed. Pulling her closer, he held on tight. Needing the comfort of her warmth in his arms.

Who said theyre tumblin, eh? We dont know that, Dath. Not for sure. But even if they are, fratchin ourselves wont help. Whatever trouble this is come knockin on our door, well survive it. After what weve lived through, Dath? You and me, we can survive anythin.

He felt her shudder. Then she stepped out of his embrace and started circling the Weather map again, revulsion and yearning clouding her face.

So this things not dead after all. She chewed her lip, thinking hard. But what does that mean?

Well He started prowling the map with her. We had ourselves six hundred years of Barls Weather Magic, Dathne, soakin into Lurs bones. And this map were a big part of that.

And if its not dead, like we thought, then She gasped, her eyes opening wide. Asher He nodded, feeling sick. Knowing they were thinking the same awful thought. I reckon some of that magic was still workin even though the Wall came down. Keepin this map just a little bit alive.

Leftover Weather Magic, she murmured. That would explain the ten years since Morg. No floods. No drought. No famine. Lurs not been much different from when we had a WeatherWorker. Ill admit it, Ive been surprised.

Hed been surprised toobut he was more surprised now, to hear her say so. He stopped his prowling. You never said that. When folk asked, you said there were no reason to think the weather would turn topsy-turvy.

So did you, she retorted, halting opposite him, and we both know why. Because keeping folk calm was our most important task.

Aye, he said, troubled. But I believed it, Dathne. I thought you did too.

Uncomfortable, she hugged her ribs again. When the Wall came down I feared those storms would never end. And then they did. And I thoughtI hopedit meant that nothing had changed after all. That nothing would change. That Lurs trials and suffering were brief, and over. I was a fool. I shouldve known better.

Why? he demanded. This aint your fault, Dathne. How were you sposed to know? How was any of us sposed to know? It aint like this has happened before.

She managed a small, unhappy smile. I cant help it. Im Jervales Heir. The kingdoms always been mine to protect.

And mine. But he didnt say that aloud. Didnt even like thinking it. n.o.body asked me if I wanted the b.l.o.o.d.y thing.

Dathne was once more frowning at the Weather map. So if the earth is stirring nowif we can feel somethings wrong She looked up, a horrified understanding clouding her eyes. Jervale save us all.

He didnt want to believe it either. The thought made his skin crawl. ButDont reckon theres another explanation, Dath. The Weather Magics runnin dry at last, and Lurs feelin it. He swallowed. Were feelin it. And I reckon what were feelin might just be the start.

Her face was stark with anger and fear. So the cataclysm we dreaded ten years ago is come upon us now?

Could be. He shoved his hands in his pockets. And if it is She inhaled, sharply. Asher. You cant.

I might not have a choice, Dath.

Theres always a choice! she snapped. No more Weather Magic, you told me. How can you think to undo that decision?

How can I not think it? Theres a b.l.o.o.d.y kingdom at stake!

But Asher, you lied to both Councils. To everyone in Lur. You said killing Morg burned the Weather Magic out of your blood. If you tell them you lied then trust will be broken. And once its broken Theres worse things than trust as could get broken here, Dath, he said. I lied so Lur could start over. Leave the past in the past. But the pasts just gone and sunk its teeth in our a.r.s.e, aint it?

Asher, if you bring back WeatherWorking you could die. It could kill you!

I never said I wanted to bring it back! he protested. Believe me, Dath, its the last b.l.o.o.d.y thing I want. I never took a breath without it hurt me, all the time I was doin Gars job for him. Every day it was like walkin on knives. Breathin gla.s.s. Breathin fire. Its behind me, and good riddance. I dont want them poxy days back again. But What? she said. But what?

His belly was churning. They were fighting. They never fought. Not like this. Not over poxy magic. You know what, Dath. If weve spent the last ten years livin on Barls leftovers if the wrongness you and I are feelin is just a taste of things to come what do we do about it? What do I do? If Im the only man standin between us and ruination? What do I do?

Who says youre the only man? Lurs a land of magicians now, Asher. Throw a stone in any direction and youll hit three on the head.

She was trying to protect him. Thered been a time, once, when shed tossed him headfirst into danger but that was before. She might look the same, but she was a different Dathne now.

Question is, I reckon, am I a different Asher?

Aye, mayhap, but theyd be the wrong kind of magicians, Dath, he said, knowing the answer. Feeling the weariness rise in him like a bloodstained tide. There aint a man or woman in Lur to do the Weather-Working aside from me. Im the only one livin with that magic inside. And there aint a way of pa.s.sin it on. Not any more. You know that. You b.l.o.o.d.y know it.

Pointed chin arrogantly tilted, eyes glittering, she glared at him across Barls troublesome map. Then forget about the Weather Magic. Well find another way to fix things, if it turns out theyre broke. But you cant go back to those days of blood and pain, Asher. I wont have it. Youre a father. Your children need you. I need you.

Oh, Dath Warmed anew by her fierce love, chilled by his fears, he shook his head. It aint never been about what we want. What Lur wants did always come first. Youre the one said I was born to save it.

And you did save it, she said. Tears trembled on her lashes. Thats done.

What if it aint done? Eh? What if Lur needs itself savin again?

The tears spilled. Then somebody else can b.l.o.o.d.y save it! Theres no prophecy I know that says you have to save it twice!

He went to her. Folded her within the shelter of his arms. Not a prophecy, no. More powerful than that, I reckon. You said it, Dath. Im a da. You think theres nowt I wont do to keep Rafe and Deenie safe from harm?

I know theres not, she whispered. But I wont have you risk yourselfrisk all that weve worked foron nothing more certain than feelings. Dyou hear me? I wont. This is too important. This is our lives.

Aye, but she were a stubborn, slumsk.u.mbledy wench. She knew it werent so simple. She knew this were about the lives of every man, woman and child in Lur. Again. That they depended on him, again, when all hed wanted was peace.

Dath, Dath He was aching with regret. Aint no use hiding under the blankets on this one. The troubles real, we both know it, and chances are we aint the only ones to feel it. Theres powerful sensitive Olken in Lur. Folk who be woken to ezackly who and what they are. And if they start stirrin round about the place and we aint ready to settle their fears? Thatll mean strife, the kind that spreads itself fast.

She nodded reluctantly, s.h.i.+vering. I know. But you cant risk yourself on guesses and mayhaps. We need to know for certain whats happening.

Aye, but The Circle can help us, she said, pulling free. Whats left of it. Ill reach out to the best of themFernel Pintte, and Jinny of Hooten Creek. One or two others. Ill ask them to the City. Well see what they know. And then well decide whats to be done. Agreed?

He sighed. Aye. Agreed.

Her pointed finger stabbed him hard in the chest. And that means no Weather Magic in the meantime, Asher. No meddling until were sure theres nowhere else to turn. Promise me that. Promise.

I promise, he said, because what else could he say? He didnt want to fight with her. He didnt want to make her cry.

She kissed him. Good. Now lets get out of here. I never liked this Chamber. It makes me want to throw up.

CHAPTER THREE.

In worried silence they walked hand-in-hand back from the Weather Chamber, by privy pathways that meant theyd meet no folk wandering the public parts of the palace grounds. Coming in sight of home at last, Asher felt Daths fingers tighten painfully around his. Pother Kerril was standing lonesome on the Towers distant steps, neat and tidy in her green physicks smock. Waiting for them, it looked like.

What now? Dath said, and let go of him. Please, not Rafel. Not again. She hurried ahead.

Asher wanted to hurry with her, but he made himself walk slowly, casually. Not because he didnt care, but because he knew he cared so much. And because he wasnt comfortable letting all and sundry see how deep he loved his son. That were private. That were his heart, for him to know and no-one else, save Dath. But if Rafe had tumbled into fresh trouble, hurt hisself so soon after his last heedless sc.r.a.pe h.e.l.l be the death of me, that boy. Im goin grey afore my time.

As he reached calling distance from the Tower steps, Dath turned from Kerril. Its all right. Its not Rafel.

Praise Barl. He didnt need to ask if it was Deenie. His daughter werent rambunctious like her big brother. Deenie was his little brown mouse, who startled at a loud sound and eyed boisterous Rafel askance.

But in the wake of relief he felt a pinching of worry. Beneath Daths smile was something heartstruck, and dreadful.

What? he said, climbing the wide stone steps to join her and the pother. Whats amiss, Dathne?

Instead of answering, Dath looked to Kerril. A tall Doranen woman with a calm face and kind eyes, shed taken over from Nix on his retirement to the coast. Royal physician in everything but name, she was, with a keen and constant interest in the health of her patients.

She nodded, a brisk greeting from one authority to another. Asher. Im sorry its Darran.

He felt his heart thud hard, just the once. Darran. Silly ole fart. Thorn in his side. Enemy then ally. Family, of sorts. Hes dead? he asked, and heard the roughness in his voice.

No, he lives, said Kerril. He wished her eyes held less sorrow. But hes sinking. A palsy.

Sinkin how fast?

I wish I could tell you, Asher. I wish I had better news.