The Steward and the Sorcerer by James Peart (small books to read .TXT) 📗

what has brought you all the way to Carasan through such inhospitable weather- indeed, one of the worst storms to hit Ara Fein in over ten years.  It must have been important.”

Daaynan put aside his finished plate (Simon noticed there wasn’t a single crumb left of it) and leaned forward in his chair, his angular features intent, alive with dark knowledge that somehow carried past what he would say- an inexpressible awareness.  “I need your help,” he said.  “The Northern Earth is in danger from the might of the Steward of Brinemore, the man who calls himself Karsin Longfellow.”  He fell silent for a beat, studying Mereka.  The other nodded.  “I’ve heard of him.  Most people in Carasan know his name.  He’s a true statesman, and as such is about as reliable as a double-sided lock, but no one has any particular issue with him in this town, as far as I can tell.”

“Well, he tried to kill us the other day,” Simon interjected.  “I’d say we’d take issue with that.”

Daaynan silenced him with a look, then turned back to Mereka.  “It is true that he has tried several attempts on our lives, and we have escaped with some luck, but it is not that about which I wish to hold talk with you.  This Steward represents a great threat, not only to the Druidic order but to these lands and everyone living in them.  He is plotting to take over the Cru Dynasty with the might of his Northern Army, including the Cru lands which as you know consists of most of the Southern Territories.”  The Druid paused.  “There has been another development.  We are headed to Brinemore behind a dangerous party that has been let loose on these lands.  It is of paramount importance that this party not reach Brinemore before we do, yet we are several days behind him.  The threat this man presents is greater even than that posed by Karsin Longfellow and his army.”

Mereka quietly took this in. He folded his arms on his stomach and leaned back in his chair.  Finally, he said “politics are not my strong suit, Daaynan.  It matters little who governs what in this day and age.  Besides, I can tell there is more about this than you would let me know.”  Here he glanced at Simon and Christopher.  “You say this party you are tracking north plans to visit Brinemore, perhaps to do the kind of harm to Longfellow you are also planning?  Is it over-simplistic to say that the matter has already been taken out of your hands?  One ruler is as good as another, you know.”

“In this case you are wrong,” Daaynan said.  “No matter.  My question to you is this: where can I find transport that will take us from here to Brinemore in less than a day?”

“No kind, at least over land.”

“I’m thinking of a winged creature.”

The other man seemed puzzled.  “What kind of winged creature?”

“A Carrion bird.”

Mereka contrived to look bored, yet a thin thread of alarm crossed his eyes, gone in an instant. Simon noticed it though, and he bet to himself the Druid did as well.  “Those things are more myth than reality,” Mereka said.

“They exist,” Daaynan said, “and you know where I can find one.”

The two men studied each other for a long moment.  Finally, Mereka said “Listen, I can’t just tell you.  If anyone discovered what I said there would be consequences, perhaps serious ones.  If word reached the wrong ears it is even conceivable I might have to leave Carasan.  You’re asking too much of me, old friend.”

“Then let me offer you an incentive, one that you can’t refuse.  I have magic at my disposal.  With it, I can achieve almost anything.”  Simon and Christopher looked at each other as they heard this but they said nothing.  “This power was formed in the birthing fire of the Druids of old, forged by the Brightsphere, a relic of the age they once lived in.  The fire comes in different colours, one for each purpose.  The grey fire is transformative: it can render almost complete change in whoever it is directed against.  Permanently.  Insect into fish, fish into animal, animal into human being.”  He paused, looking hard at Mereka.  “Man into woman.”

Mereka stared back at Daaynan, saying nothing.  He turned then to Simon and Christopher.  “Did you know this?  Why has he brought you here?”

Simon didn’t answer, addressing the Druid instead.  “I thought your magic was all finished.  You told us as much not five minutes ago when we asked you to return us home.”

“It seems that people are always misunderstanding me,” Daaynan answered.  “What I said when you asked me to return you to your England was that my magic would not work.  The green flame, as you know from using it, draws you back to your world of origin from another world, but because you passed through the temple, that became your world of origin.  Therefore, you cannot return home that way.

“But there are other means at my disposal. Although the magic in me has admittedly grown weak, I still have use of the grey fire.  It will effect the kind of permanent change you have been looking for all of your life, Mereka.  To live out the rest of your days as a woman and not have to switch between one gender and the other.  To express yourself as one sex like everyone else and not have others question your identity, forcing you to live on the margins of society.”

Mereka seemed to look past the Druid, his eyes black, lost in thought.  “I need time to think about this,” he said finally.

“Of course.  We are leaving in under an hour.  I expect your answer then.”

Simon looked outraged at the sorcerer’s demand, although ultimatum would be a better way of putting it, he thought.  He wondered if he should say something but, as before, he kept silent.  This was a decision only Mereka could make for himself, he reasoned.