“Cowards-all of them.” The air crackled with chaos. “And they send you, a woman. You are supposed to be my assistant, not their lackey.” The High Wizard lifted the amulet. “Here. You take it. Be my guest, O lackey of Redark and Kinowin.”
The redhead looked at the amulet, then at Sterol. “I won’t be tricked like Jeslek.”
“Either shut up or take the amulet,” Sterol snapped.
Anya’s hand lifted, then dropped. Finally, she sighed. “Someone has to do something.”
“Why?”
“Do you intend to do nothing while this… oddity… builds so much order into black iron that Recluce will dominate the Eastern Ocean forever?”
“I don’t see that much of a threat.” Sterol laughed. “He can’t live forever. Why spend golds we don’t have on a threat that won’t hurt us?”
Anya laughed, harshly, metallically. “You know… those were Jen-red the Traitor’s exact words? Creslin didn’t live forever, but he lived long enough so that you-the High Wizard of Fairhaven-are afraid to take any direct action against Recluce. Will you be the one who’s remembered for letting Recluce dominate all of Candar?”
“No.” Sterol chuckled, bitterly, and laid the amulet on the table beside the mirror. The image of Southpoint vanished. “You want action. Take the amulet-or give it to someone else.”
“I’m asking you, Sterol.”
“And I’m refusing. Have those lackeys come to me.”
“Fydel!” Anya nodded toward the door, and three guards appeared, all bearing chains. Behind them stood three White wizards.
“How predictable, dear Anya. You would all chain me rather than act yourselves.” White chaos fires swirled around Sterol.
By the window, Cerryl lifted his shields, then focused the tight white light lance.
The redhead’s eyes burned; her fingers tightened on the white-bronze dagger.
Fire, white flames, and swirling mists filled the room. The mirror upon the table exploded, and two of the guards shriveled into dust on the white-powdered stones. A single blaze of light flared through trie dust, boring through the shields raised by Sterol.
Abrupt and sudden silence fell across the tower.
As the remaining white smoke subsided, Anya picked up the amulet, glancing down at the pile of white dust that lay within the white robes and white boots. She turned and extended the amulet. “Here. You earned it, Cerryl.”
Cerryl looked at her sadly. “No. You earned it, but I’ll wear it for you.” His eyes flickered to the white powder on the stone that vanished as he watched.
“Good. We need to plan the attack on Recluce.”
“As you wish. Bring me a plan, and we will implement it. I need a moment.” He gestured.
After a moment, the sole remaining guard eased his way back out of the chamber. Then Fydel, Rospor, and Anya stepped outside the tower room. Anya closed the door behind her, leaving Cerryl amid the white dust and the residual chaos.
Has any High Wizard died in his sleep? Can anyone really rule the White City? And you think you can unite Candar?
His laugh was short-and bitter. In time, he slipped the amulet over his head.
CLXVI
Cerryl stood looking out the White Tower window at the clouds that threatened rain and massaged his forehead, hoping the rain would hold off, hoping Anya wouldn’t return too quickly. He fingered the amulet. Hard to believe you wear it, but keeping it will be even harder.
He turned and studied the room. It needed cleaning and the removal of Sterol’s effects-among other things.
“High Wizard, the Lady Leyladin,” Gostar announced through the door.
Cerryl opened the door immediately and swept her inside. “You shouldn’t be here. How did you get here?”
“I came here to the Halls right after you left this morning. I stayed down with Kinowin. I couldn’t help you, but I wasn’t going to leave you, either.” The green eyes that sparkled so often were somber. “The word is out that you and Anya and Fydel have destroyed Sterol and that you were the compromise choice to be High Wizard.”
“Scarcely a ringing mandate, but it’s better that way.” And the only way you could possibly succeed as High Wizard… if you can. Cerryl laughed ruefully. “I understand why you’re here, and I love you.” He paused. “I do worry, and I didn’t want you in danger.”
“I’m safer here than at the house. You have guards.” Her eyes danced mischievously. “Besides, right now, who would attack the High Wizard?” The green eyes turned somber again. “You’re safer from Anya if I’m near.”
Cerryl couldn’t argue that. “I am, but are you?”
“For now. It will reinforce her belief that you need a woman to support you, you weak-willed White noodle.” The healer grinned.
“Noodle? I’ll show you-”
“You need to meet with Kinowin.”
“You change the subject too much.” He waited.
“Send a messenger for both Kinowin and Redark,” she insisted.
Cerryl looked around, then finally located the handbell on the side table. He rang it.
“Ser?” A young messenger peered inside the door, his eyes wide, almost fearful.
“If you would, please inform the overmages Kinowin and Redark that I would greatly appreciate their presence here at their earliest convenience.”
“Yes, ser.” The door closed swiftly.
“You’re so fearsome,” Leyladin said ironically. “If they but knew…”
“They do. Everything was going as it had. I returned, and suddenly there is a new High Wizard-or a very young mage claiming to be High Wizard. All those who once knew him-except the Council and Anya and a suspect Black healer and a few ancient Whites-are gone.”
“You are more cynical.”
“More realistic, I fear.” Cerryl glanced toward the door.
“That could be. What will you do first… after this meeting?”
“Get the Guild to acknowledge me. Then start working on changing trade in Candar.”
“You sound like Father.”
“He’s right about trade.”
“He is…” Leyladin smiled.
Thrap! “The overmage Kinowin, ser.”
“Have him enter.”
Kinowin stepped through the door. Despite his gauntness, his shoulders were straight, and his gray eyes were intent, with the hint of a smile buried there. “Cerryl-or should I say ‘honored High Wizard’?-greetings, my best wishes, and my condolences.” He bowed slightly to the healer. “Especially condolences to Lady Leyladin.”
“ ‘Cerryl’ is more than sufficient, old friend.” The new High Wizard gestured to the round table. “Please sit. We’re awaiting Overmage Re-dark.”
Kinowin settled into one of the seats, and Leyladin sat beside him.
“You intend to have Leyladin here?”
“Absolutely. I’m a weak-willed compromise for High Wizard who needs a healer nearby.”
Kinowin laughed. “Anyone who knows the healer knows the lie of that.” After a moment he added, “Some will claim that you will be too soft on Recluce, if you listen to a Black.”
“That is possible, but I would have them judge by my actions.”
Kinowin frowned. “You are not going to allow Anya her head in invading Recluce?”
“Let us see what the season brings.” Hating the immediate temporizing, Cerryl offered a smile as he seated himself with his back to the window, facing the door.
“You have something in mind?”
Much in mind… but whether it will play out as you wish, that is something else. “Some thoughts.”
“He has grown more cautious in what he utters.” Kinowin nodded toward Leyladin.
With another knock, Gostar announced, “The Overmage Redark.”
“Have him come in.” Cerryl stood and gestured to the single empty chair. “Please join us, honored overmage.”
“Honored Cerryl.” Redark inclined his head, and the ginger beard bobbed. “This has been a surprise, truly a surprise, but not necessarily an unwelcome one, though change is always unwelcome to some.” He cleared his throat as he sat down at the table. The pale green eyes flicked to Leyladin but centered back on Cerryl.
“We need a full Guild meeting,” Kinowin said, “within the eight-day.”
“Many could not be contacted and return,” protested Redark.
“They should not leave their posts, not at the moment,” Cerryl said as he reseated himself. “In Spidlar but Lyasa and Syandar remain, and their presence is necessary. With the trade problems, both Gorsuch and Sedelos must remain watchful.”
“Besides,” Kinowin added dryly, “how will their presence change matters? Half of those elsewhere would favor Cerryl, and the others know him not.”
“Mages belong in Fairhaven,” Redark replied, “except when they are needed elsewhere.”
“That is often these days,” Kinowin observed.
Leyladin smiled faintly but did not speak.
“It may become more necessary in the days to come,” added Cerryl.
Redark raised his ginger eyebrows.
“Recluce must be respected in Candar before it will be respected in Recluce.” Cerryl made a vague gesture. “How to accomplish that we will discuss in greater detail later.” He smiled. “For now, we need to discuss whether you and Kinowin feel that immediate changes are necessary within the Halls.”
“The younger mages… the apprentices… they protest the sewer training,” offered Redark.
“Who handles that now? Or is it still-” Cerryl glanced at Kinowin.
“Alas… I am still working with Kochar and Kydasl on the sewers.”
Cerryl knew Kochar from when he had been an apprentice but had never heard of Kydasl.
“Kydasl was an assistant in Renklaar, but Gorsuch thought he might better serve the Guild in Fairhaven, and Sterol suggested he could one day take over the sewer cleaning and training.”
Redark nodded. “He is inclined to be most fastidious.”
Cerryl concealed a wince. “I think we all disliked sewer training, but it is necessary.” He smiled at Redark. “If you have some thoughts on exactly how we might improve that training, I would find them most welcome.”
“I will think on it,” promised Redark. “There is also the question of whether the tariff structure for gate medallions might best be improved so as to raise the revenues…”
The last thing Fairhaven needed to do was discourage farmers and traders from entering the city. Cerryl nodded. “Perhaps you could prevail upon Esaak to show what revenues might be raised with changes at both higher and lower levels and how that might affect the number of wagons entering the city.”
“Esaak… he is inclined to lower the tariffs.” Redark frowned.
“I see.” Cerryl paused, then added, “Ask him to show all the possible numbers and golds received so that we might review them. And the numbers for past years as well.”
Redark nodded. “I will.”
Kinowin covered his mouth for a moment.
“We also need to consider refurbishing the Guild Hall…”
That’s the last thing golds should be spent on… “Perhaps dealing with that would seem too presumptuous for a new High Wizard.” Cerryl knew the meeting was going to last far, far longer than he wished-or needed.
He could sense the smile hidden behind the bland expression of interest shown by Leyladin, but he nodded at the ginger-bearded overmage to continue.
CLXVII
Cerryl felt exposed as he sat in the front row of the Council Chamber. He could feel Anya’s and Fydel’s eyes on his neck… and countless others’ as well. Never imagined you’d feel this alone amid so many mages…
Kinowin, erect and broad-shouldered still, despite the gauntness of age, marched up the side steps and then to the center of the polished gold-shot marble dais of the Council Chamber. Behind him by several steps followed Redark, his eyes shifting nervously from the marble floor to Kinowin and down again.
The two waited for the whispers to die away.
“The first order of this meeting is to affirm Cerryl as High Wizard.” Kinowin nodded toward Redark.
The second overmage smiled quickly and faintly, as though he would rather have been anywhere else.
“Is there any member of the Guild who wishes to propose another member as High Wizard?” questioned Kinowin.
A few murmurs followed the inquiry, and Cerryl wondered who speculated about what but did not turn his head.
“Does any member of the Guild propose another for High Wizard?”
In the silence that followed, Kinowin surveyed the chamber, looking methodically from the gold oak desks and red-cushioned gold oak seats at the front to the white granite columns at the sides for any who might be standing under the swagged crimson hangings. Finally, he announced, “Seeing as no other candidate has been proposed, as overmages and representatives of the Council we declare that the new High Wizard is the most honorable Cerryl.” The aging blond mage motioned for Cerryl to take the dais.
Cerryl forced himself to rise deliberately, calmly, and mount the dais. Once before the assembled mages, he bowed, noting in passing that with each meeting the numbers were fewer, the ages younger. Which is why you stand here and why you need to do something.
He straightened, forcing himself to pause, to let the silence draw out before he spoke, to survey the mages as though he could look into each heart. Finally, he spoke. “It is right and customary for a High Wizard to thank the Guild for its support, and I do so with gratitude.”
He waited for another moment, his eyes studying the chamber once more. “We, all of us, face a time of change in Candar. We did not seek that change, but we must address it. The overmages and I will be seeking your assistance, and your wisdom, in continuing to undertake the steps necessary to strengthen the Guild and to ensure that all of Candar respects you. This was the goal of both Jeslek and Sterol, and it will be my goal.”
Cerryl bowed slightly again. “I will not deceive you. The Guild faces dangers greater than any known in recent years, and we must work together in overcoming them. I am most confident that we possess the will and the power to do so. And we will.” He waited, knowing there would be questions, hoping he could defuse them.
“Honored High Wizard,” began a figure in the back, one Cerryl did not know, “can you tell us exactly how effective all the golds poured into the trade blockade have been?”
“For the most recent details we would have to ask Sedelos and Gorsuch, since they observe the largest ports in eastern Candar,” answered Cerryl, trying to ignore the veiled sarcasm of the speaker. “From what I have seen, the blockade has been most effective in keeping goods from Recluce out of Lydiar and Spidlar and, more recently, from Hydlen. The Council and I will be looking into ways to reduce the cost of such efforts.”