The Prodigal Mage Part 30

You can raise the matter in General Council, said Baden, after a moment. Perhaps even the Mage Council. You can call for a hearing in Justice Hall.

It was raining. Again. Beyond the open curtains Westwailings cobbled streets were deserted, and waterspouts danced across its dull grey empty harbour.

No. Im not returning to the City, Lord Baden.

Not retur Stranded in the middle of the parlours expensive carpet, Baden stared. May I ask Because there are things I must do at home. Things that cannot wait. You may not.

Arlin He turned his head, just enough. The bruised cut over his cheekbone throbbed. Lord Garrick.

Silence. Sarle Baden, Fathers oldest and dearest friend, breathed in and out quietly. Stood still. Only his abraded palms gave a hint of the previous days adventure. Briefly, the man closed his bloodshot eyes. Hed been weeping. Or perhaps it was the salt from Westwailings ruined harbour.

Lord Garrick, Baden said at last, if you like, I can speak on your behalf in General Council. I can lodge a pet.i.tion in No.

Baden stepped forward. You cant mean to leave this matter unpursued. Your father is dead.

Fatherand Ain, whod never smiled at him. Ennet Vail too, who mattered not at all. Yes, thank you, I had noticed! he said, and stood. Turned his back on the cobbled streets and the harbour. On the folly that had left him without a body to bury. Get out, Lord Baden. Go back to Dorana with Meister Pintte. Say what you like to those fools in the City. Therell be no justice for my father there. He was murdered by a heros son.

Baden swallowed, his eyes sheened with grief. With what he imagined was grief. The man had no comprehension of grief. Arlin Lord Garrick!

Arlin, youve no-one but servants on the family estate. You need more than servants around you at this difficult time. You need To be left alone. He nodded at the closed door. I believe I said you could go.

What of your fathers work? Baden said, his voice hoa.r.s.e. His dream of leading our people out of their bondage to this land.

He raised an eyebrow. Yes? What of it?

I intend to see that dream fulfilled, Arlin. And hed want you to help me.

You intend? I dont think so, Sarle. As you say, Lord Baden, my father is dead. I very much doubt he wants or dreams anything.

I see, said Sarle Baden. Two small words, very clipped. Very tight. Do you have any objection if I take up his cause?

Every objection under the sun. Sarle, Sarle He smiled. You can leap into a whirlpool for all I care.

The chamber door slammed so hard behind his fathers best friend that the gla.s.s in the window s.h.i.+vered, in danger of breaking.

There was brandy in the privy guest parlour. Disdaining the polite civility of a gla.s.s, Arlin drank it straight from the bottle. Felt its fumes sear his nose and eyes. Felt its potency fog his flogged mind.

I am an orphan. My father is dead.

Silly of him to be so surprised, really. Contrary to impressions, his father had been merely mortal. A man. No more and no less. But he was surprised. It had never seemed possible for Rodyn Garrick to die.

I should weep. Arent I meant to be weeping? I am the bereaved. He was my father. I should weep.

But there werent any tears. His eyes were dry. He was empty. So he drank some more brandy, to fill himself up.

For Deenie, the two-week journey back to the City was the worst of her life.

With Da so poorly, retching three or four times an hour, Rafe drove the carriage the whole way. Mama had wanted to hire someone but Rafe wouldnt let her, even though he was retching too, and Da was asleep when they talked of it so he couldnt take her side. Mama was so worried about him she let Rafe win the argument. At leastthat was partly why. But there was another reason. Deenie could feel it, bubbling under the surface. She could see it in the way Mama wouldnt quite meet Rafes eyes, and how Rafe was fretted about Da but didnt sit with him while Mama packed their things.

Rafe was so angry, hotter and gnarlier than shed ever felt him. It had something to do with what happened on the harbour. With the terrible burst of power shed felt in her brother, that had buried her face in the pillow and made her scream, and scream, and scream. With the power that was in him now, finally set free.

But n.o.body was talking about that.

They left Westwailing at first light the next day, even though Mayor Threeve came to the Dancing Dolphin himself and begged them to stay so Da or Mama or Rafel or someone could make the whirlpools and the waterspouts disappear. But that couldnt be done. She heard Da telling Mama that, his voice broken and sad, and Mama told Mayor Threeve. He tried to argue, upset and bl.u.s.tery, but Mama stood her ground. Then the mayor started on about the drowned Doranen, and how thered been an official complaint made, and how if they didnt want trouble theyd stay as long as they were wanted and then maybe And that was when Rafel stormed out of his chamber, crackling with so much power Mayor Threeve nearly wet himself.

You come here threatening us? said Rafel, looming over the frighted mayor. What are you? Arlin Garricks yapping lapdog?

Mayor Threeve was twice Rafes age and an important man, but he turned pale as b.u.t.termilk. Nonoyou misunderstand. I No, Meister Mayor, you misunderstand, said Rafe, his eyes glittering. Only a fool would listen to Arlin Garrick right now. His da got swallowed by a whirlpool. Hes half out of his mind with grief. And my da nigh on killed himself trying to save Arlins da and them other Doranen mages and your fishermen. So in the morning were going home. The harbours your problem. Da told you it was a mistake to fuddle it. You shouldve b.l.o.o.d.y listened.

Almost weeping, Mayor Threeve gave up and left.

In the morning it was pouring rain, but Rafel wouldnt change his mind about driving. He didnt want to sit in the carriage with Da and Mama he wanted to be on his lonesome, no matter if that meant he got cold and wet and caught an ague. Mama was so hurt, but she pretended she wasnt. She put Da in the carriage, wrapped snug in a blanket and so poorly, and didnt say another word.

The rain fell for three days, unceasing. For three days in the steadily rolling carriage, with Da sleeping and heaving and Mama silent, Deenie huddled in the corner and watched the sodden world go by, silent, because her parents werent talkative and Rafel hardly rubbed two words together, even when they stopped for the night at this inn, or that one.

They woke on the fourth day to clouds, but no rain. Mama, I want to sit up with Rafel a while, she said as they s.n.a.t.c.hed a plain, cold breakfast. Can I? Please?

Da roused himself. He still looked awful, his eyes sunken, his face horribly pale. Every time he breathed, it looked like the air hurt him. His lips were dry and cracked.

Course you can, mouse, he said. Rafel wont mind.

Except her brother did mind, she could see it in his surly eyes. She waited for him to argue. Was surprised when he didnt. Asked him why, when they were back on the puddled road home.

Rafel shrugged. Why should I care? Its not like Im going to talk to you. You might as well be luggage.

And that stung, like he knew it would. Days gone by since the Harbour and he wasnt one whit less hot and gnarly. She didnt bite back. She knew that would be pointless. So she sat beside him like luggage, glad to be in the fresh air. Content to enjoy the dank green countryside, the flitting birds in the hedgerows, the breeze in her face, the carriage horses, and wait for him to talk.

Because he would. She knew her brother.

Five hours later, he stirred. Theyd bought pasties and cold fresh milk for lunch in Yelton, one of the tiny villages leading to the Flatlands, and hed let her hold the heavy reins while he ate and drank, now that the worst of his retching was done. Taking them back from her, grunting begrudging thanks, he looked at her sideways.

Why dont you bite me? he said, sounding almost resentful. Why dyou let me treat you so mean?

She could still taste her own pasty, tingly-spiced on her tongue. Youre upset. I dont mind.

Upset, he muttered, and slapped the reins hard against the carriage horses backs, to stir them into a faster trot. Is that what you call it?

Sitting beside him was like sitting next to a furnace. The power in him burned so hot, so bright. Hed never burned like this before West-wailing harbour. She thought she could find him blindfolded, in the middle of the night.

You can feel it, cant you? said Rafel, accusing. Could you always feel it, Deenie? Were you part of their lie?

Ive never lied to you, Rafe! she protested. Not ever.

You never told me you could feel things. Thats the same as lying. When its about me, its the same.

Now he sounded like a sprat. Like he was working up to a tantrum.

Rafe, I never lied. I never knew. Not about this.

He sighed, a gusty sound full of pain. The only reason I know is cause Da needed my power. If we hadnt gone to Westwailing, chances are Id have never found out. Chances are Id have died an old man, like Darran, and never known what was in me. What I could do.

The cloudy sky was getting lower. The air felt suddenly damp. Any ticktock it was going to start raining again, and once it started raining shed get called back into the carriage. Delicate, Da and Mama said she was.

And I spose I am. But I hate it.

Id be angry too, Rafe, if it was me, she said quickly. Even if I knew why they didnt tell me. Even if I understood it was cause they were scared for me. Id be mad.

Hah, he said, hunching his shoulders. Dont you go wheedling me, Deenie. I aint in the mood.

Im not!

You are. You never get angry. He nudged his elbow to her ribs. You should try it, sometime. Probly do you a world of good.

She didnt think so. It was bad enough feeling other peoples crossness. What are you going to do, Rafe? You cant stay gnarly forever.

Cant I? He slapped the reins again, and the carriage horses increased their pace. Im thinking Ill give it a try.

Oh, Rafe Dont fret on it, he said sharply. Its not your problem, is it?

In a way it was. Because what he felt, she felt, whether she wanted to or not. And what he felt, so hot and hard, was making her feel ill.

They love you, Rafe, she murmured. How can you punish them for loving you? Its not fair.

He glared at the carriage horses broad brown backs. How can they love me and lie to me? Is that fair?

Poor Rafe. He wanted this to be simple. He wanted him to be right, and them to be wrong, and no uncomfortable middle ground between the two. But nothing in life was ever not messy. Shed learned that much from all the things she could feel. She let her head fall against his shoulder, and waited for him to shrug her away. But he didnt. Her eyes p.r.i.c.kled with tears, there was so much pain in him.

And then it started to rain, and Mama called her inside.

Order! Order! I call this meeting of the General Council to order! Speaker s.h.i.+frin bellowed, banging his gavel almost to breaking. If you do not come to order I shall disband these proceedings!

The General Council ignored him. Defeated, frustrated, s.h.i.+frin collapsed onto his seat, tossed his gavel to his desk and sank his head into his hands. All around him the tempest raged on, accusations and refutations and lamentations and disarray.

Asher considered shocking them all to silence with a thunderbolt or three. But only briefly. Things were bad, but they werent so far downhill he had to tell these shriekin fools the truth about his Weather Magic. Not today.

And Barl b.l.o.o.d.y willing, not ever.

But in the meantime there were no reason he had to put up with this malarkey. Two days after reaching home from Westwailing and he was pretty much recovered from his exertions there. Kerrils mucky possets had done the trick. He still got tired a mite easy. Still felt a few aches and pains in his bones. And when he closed his eyes to sleep he could hear the ravenous whirlpool, roaring But it didnt kill me. Nor Rafel, neither. And them it did kill, well, we did our best to save the poor b.a.s.t.a.r.ds. I aint about to blame either of us for them.

Others might. Others did. Not Arlin Garrick, not yet any road. Word was hed collapsed in private grief. But Garricks friend, Sarle Baden. He was makin a fuss. Fernel b.l.o.o.d.y Pintte. Natter, natter, natter to anyone whod lissen. But so far theyd done nowt official, and if they changed their mindswell, theyd best look out. Because hed warned em, hed b.l.o.o.d.y told em, dont muck about with Dragonteeth Reef.

But there aint no tellin nowt to a yellow-headed mage. Or any Olken as arrogant as Pintte.

He looked at Council Speaker s.h.i.+frin, expecting him to bang his gavel again and restore order, but Rufus had given up trying to a.s.sert his authority. So he looked at Doranas mayor, cause Pellen wouldnt have put up with this folderol for two minutes, but Fernel Pintte were too busy brangling with Sarle Baden, wearing his little bandage round his forehead like a b.l.o.o.d.y badge of honour.

Scowling, Asher shoved to his feet.

Down to me, again, eh? Whys it always come down to me? Shouldering his way through clots of fratching Olken and Doranen, he fetched up at the Speakers table and rapped his knuckles hard upon its doc.u.ment-crowded top.

What ydoin, Rufus? Be you the Speaker or aint you?

Rufus glared. You want to knock sense into their idiot heads, Asher? Youre welcome to try. He hauled his chain of office over his head and threw it down on the meetings laboriously handwritten agenda. Im done with it.

Oh no you b.l.o.o.d.y aint, he retorted. Cause if you quit, some fools like to ask me to take over. Now, you put that b.l.o.o.d.y chain back on, and Ill get em to quit their cacklin.

He clambered his way onto s.h.i.+frins Speakers table. Summoned his bell from Justice Hall, boldly using Doranen magic, and raised it clanging over his head.

Shut your traps! he bellowed. The whole sinkin b.l.o.o.d.y lot of you! One by one they fell silent, the Olken and the Doranen chosen by their guilds and their districts to meet in General Council once a month to thrash out issues of importance to Lur. When at last the only sound in the chamber was the bells clamour, he put it down on the table. Raked his jaundiced gaze over them, and slowly shook his head.

You lot, you be a b.l.o.o.d.y disgrace. Reckon the folks as sent you here want you carryin on like this? Raisin hackles and pointin fingers and lookin for somebody to blame? Whats the use, eh? Blamin each other aint goin to fix our troubles.

Sheepish sideways glances. Gazes dropped to the floor. Hands pushed into pockets and shawls tugged tight. Shamefaced the lot of em, and so they b.l.o.o.d.y should be.

I cant deny we got ourselves a bad situation, he continued, staying on the table. With them whirlpools and waterspouts springin up like weeds everywhere between the reef and Lurs coastline, and every b.l.o.o.d.y fis.h.i.+n fleet in the kingdom stuck at anchor or smashed to kindling. We got a lot of families without their livelihoods just now.

Its worse than that, Asher, said Sarle Baden. Without the fis.h.i.+ng fleets catches and not enough fish in our rivers and lakes to make up the difference, and the wheat and barley crops ruined almost to a field, stock drowned or dropping with footrotand theres a pestilence been found in my apple orchards, Ive just had wordLur faces a crisis the likes of which has not been seen for centuries.

Agitated muttering from Olken and Doranen alike. Then Bediah Threeve, come up to Dorana from Westwailing specially for this meeting, tucked his thumbs into his braces and rocked on his heels.

Are you sure there aint a chance you can fix Lurs harbours, Asher? You and your boy?

Me and my boy. He felt the words p.r.i.c.k him, like spurs. Hed hardly laid eyes on Rafe since Westwailing Harbour. Days and days of silence and avoiding each other. Cause they had too much to say and no b.l.o.o.d.y way of sayin it, all choked up with grief and guilt and anger and blame. Dathne told him not to push. Give it time. And he was trying. He was. Only Asher! said Threeve. Can you fix them? We need to know.

The Council chamber was dead quiet, like a crypt. Every gaze on him, every breath held.

He stared at Westwailings mayor. Fix em, Bediah? No. You got told in Westwailingaint no-one can fix em, which be why I said dont fuddle with the b.l.o.o.d.y reef in the first place.

And they didnt like hearing that, but so what? It were the truth and he werent about to swallow it cause some folk found it inconvenient. Or cause Rodyn Garrick and his friends had died of their foolishness.

Frustrated, he stared around the gathered faces. You think I aint gutted by whats happened? Ythink I dont want to snap mfingers and make them whirlpools and waterspouts disappear? But I cant, so best you stop hangin your hats on the hope I can. He raised a warning finger then. And my boy cant, neither, so dont none of you get the bright idea of bailin Rafel up and fratchin at him till he says h.e.l.l try just to make you go away.

Because you b.l.o.o.d.y would, and he would, and Ill fettle every last one of you if you put my son at risk.

Rufus s.h.i.+fted uneasily in his seat. Yes. About Rafel, Asher More mutters and whispers. Exchanged glances. Fresh tension.

Aye, Rufus, he said, sighing. For once the Citys tattlemongers be right. Rafes got a drop of Doranen magic in him, like his da.

Sarle Baden fixed him with a piercing pale grey stare. You kept it a secret.

That an accusation, Lord Baden?

An observation.

Aye, well, here be another one, he said, letting his temper show. My family aint none of your b.l.o.o.d.y business. He looked around the crowded chamber. And that goes for the rest of you. If it be good enough that I got Doranen magic, you better b.l.o.o.d.y believe it be good enough for my son. And anyone who says different, youll answer to me. Now, are we here to talk on tacklin Lurs problems or do we turn round and go home?

Theres only one answer to our woes, Fernel Pintte declared. This Council must rescind the prohibition on sending expeditions over Barls Mountains.

Why? demanded Sarnia Marnagh, one of the few in the chamber whod kept her seat. So you can forcibly eject all the Doranen from Lur? Chase us out of the only home weve ever known? Is that your intention, Meister Mayor? To start a Doranen purge, and save yourselves at our expense?