Shapers of Worlds Volume II

Letters from an Imprisoned Wizard to a Young Queen, and Associated Explicatory Correspondence-2

I have also sent a copy of the latest letter to Fellquist, who may be able to identify where Zelznibone is incarcerated. I am presuming that he was entrapped or encased himself in some temporal fastness and has since emerged, confused and very dangerous.

From Archivist Fellquist to Guard Captain David Tzikes,

copied to Her Majesty the Queen

Captain:

I thank you for our conversation in the Rose Garden yestereve, enlarging my knowledge of these messages. I, too, am perturbed by the most recent letter and perhaps more still as I have uncovered certain correspondences and associated records that deal with the succession of Queen Katelyn III and the surprisingly large number of executions at that time, all of them excised from the usual archival references, requiring me to reconstruct them from an executioner’s private tally within a secret diary, and the so-called long roll of the providore-wrangler of the New Castle, which at that time served as the principal prison of the realm, the Korraut then being rebuilt.

As instructed, I have kept this matter close, most particularly as there are certain aspects that speak to the legitimacy of the dynasty, though not, of course, that of our present beloved Queen, whose line of descent can be traced via the possibly dubious Katalyn III but also the absolutely definitive line of Emmelina the Great.

I am scouring all possible records that might indicate the location where Zelznibone was incarcerated. However, as it was definitely done secretly, none of the usual rolls or books will be of help, and I am having to explore ancillary and obscure archives and correspondence, again without the help of my assistants.

From the Keeper of the Green Cabinet,

Wizard Suzanne Palindros,

to Captain of the Guard David Tzikes,

copied to Her Majesty the Queen,

sent with all haste by a spirit of the air

Dear David,

I am returning at once and will risk flying Wildbjorn close to the Stones in order to be back during the night, or perhaps shortly before dawn tomorrow. Her Majesty must remove immediately from the Scarlet Fortress and lodge in a building that has been built within the past century. I offer my own Palindros House, though I suspect her Majesty would prefer Onesuch Palace. If so, she must not enter the North Wing, which I believe predates the rest and may be several hundred years old.

Zelznibone has not emerged from some temporal stop or fastness. He still exists entirely in the past, but there is a connection with our present. I suspect some temporal fissure caused by his sorcerous efforts to communicate, rather than an intentional joining, as I believe he intends to threaten the Queen of his own time, that is, Katelyn III, not our own dear Monarch. However, because of this temporal fissure, he may be able to cast malevolent spells within any building that physically existed in his era, and if they are addressed against the Queen rather than Katelyn by name, they will, unfortunately, strike Her Majesty in our own time.

It is possible we may be able to exploit the fissure by utilizing a magical device I know of to send someone back to physically deal with him, as it is likely he is warded against a direct attack using magic. But to do so, we must locate him geographically, in addition to exploiting the time fissure that joins his moment with our own. Furthermore, any person who did venture into the past to give this wizard surcease would themselves cease to exist at the moment of Zelznibone’s death because this would heal the temporal fissure. To find a suitable agent for such a task will not be easy. Perhaps a prisoner, who has no other hope of release, promised a new life of freedom? This would be truthful, even if the life be very short.

The spirit who brings this will return to me upon command. Keep me informed of any change to the situation. Its name is Ichuangor, and you should use the words, “Ichuangor, take this message to your mistress with all haste.”

From the Wizard Zachariah Zelznibone

to Her Majesty the Queen

I know not whether it is evil advisors I must blame or the canker that has ever resided within the black hearts of your family for my continued imprisonment. I had hopes the charming child I knew, the young woman raised apart from the noisome clan that calls itself the royal family, might not carry within her the vicious nature of her ancestors, but clearly, I was foolish. While it is true I remain physically bound by chains I cannot break, my magic is not so constrained, and I declare my revenge shall have no limit. In truth, I shall probably die here, but I will not die alone! If I am not released by the morrow’s dawn, Your Majesty will die!

From Guard Captain David Tzikes

to the Keeper of the Green Cabinet, Wizard Suzanne Palindros, sent via the spirit Ichuangor, copied to Her Majesty the Queen

Suzanne, the latest message from Zelznibone appeared while I was in private audience with Her Majesty in the Onyx Room of Onesuch. One moment there was nothing there, and then on the floor at the foot of her throne, a folded paper. We both saw it at the same time. No servant of the air or any such creature brought it, I would swear, even if one could pass the wards.

Onesuch was nothing but fields and an apple orchard a hundred years past, so clearly, Zelznibone is not limited by the novelty or otherwise of the Queen’s residences.

We must act! How can we send someone back in time to deal with Zelznibone? You mentioned a device. Can this be utilized before your arrival, as I fear there is no time to be lost?

From the Keeper of the Green Cabinet,

Wizard Suzanne Palindros, to Guard Captain David Tzikes,

sent via the spirit Ichuangor, copied to Her Majesty the Queen

I write in haste and very untidily from my dragon-back perch; I trust you can read my scrawl. We are close to the Stones, and I must give most of my attention to directing Wildbjorn’s flight. I am still at least four hours away.

Go to the Inner Armoury and obtain the amulet of the Arch Wizard Helen of Dran and the tablet that is with it. The incantation on the tablet, while holding the Amulet, will take the bearer back in time. Whoever bears the amulet should hold the latest missive from Zelznibone. This will give the direction in time, but we still need to know the place.

Be aware that I am now certain whoever goes back will cease to exist when Zelznibone is slain and the fissure in time is made whole. Furthermore, if they are successful, we should already know it, as past time cannot be changed as such. If it has been done, it has been done. Ask Fellquist to redouble his efforts to find the place of Zelznibone’s incarceration and also any indication of how he met his end. Perhaps a name will be mentioned.

David . . . I beg you do not do this yourself. If you cannot find a suitable prisoner, there must be someone among the guards who would put themselves forward for any opportunity to do Her Majesty such a service. You are too valuable to Her Majesty to be risked. And dare I say it? Also, to myself.

From Her Majesty the Queen

to Captain of the Guard David Tzikes

David, you are forbidden to use the amulet. Find someone else. Suzanne’s notion of using a prisoner appeals. Though I cannot immediately think of anyone we have to hand. Is Isobel Armantero still in the Korraut? She would be ideal.

From Archivist Fellquist to Captain of the Guard David Tzikes and the Keeper of the Green Cabinet,

Wizard Suzanne Palindros, copied to Her Majesty the Queen

As per your request, I have found something pertaining to the location of the prison containing the rascal Zelznibone in a ledger concerning the replenishment of the Threxen Shore Fortress at Rougefiere, which was destroyed along with much of the town in the great storm in the tenth year of the reign of Queen Baras II. The ledger covers more than a hundred years and contains a number of charges for the “keeping of the prisoner Zelznibone” during the reign of Queen Jayne IV and Katelyn III, so I deduce this is where he was imprisoned. I am not sure if this will be of much help with the current matter, given the place is no longer extant.

The charges for the prisoner Zelznibone cease in the month of Leafall in the second year of the reign of Katelyn III, and there is a notation, “NLOBBRR,” but I do not yet know what this means. I will continue my researches.

Also, I wish to assure you again that I have adhered absolutely to Her Majesty’s instruction. The materials relating to the succession of Queen Katelyn III have not been shared with any of my staff, and I have all the papers locked in a coffer in my personal chambers. There is only one key, and the mirror you gave me, Suzanne, watches over the room entire.

From Guard Captain David Tzikes to Archivist Fellquist and the Keeper of the Green Cabinet, Wizard Suzanne Palindros

Good work, Fellquist! Keep at it.

From Guard Captain David Tzikes

to the Keeper of the Green Cabinet, Wizard Suzanne Palindros, sent via the spirit Ichuangor in great haste

Suzanne, I am not copying this to Her Majesty. She has forbidden me to use the amulet myself, but I cannot in all conscience order one of my guards to undertake this task, and we have no suitable prisoners. Isobel Armantero was released more than a year ago—Her Majesty had forgot she was pardoned with the Third Repenters and sent in exile.

So I must do the deed.

But I am not particularly eager to die, so I will wait until the quarter-hour before the dawn in the hope that you might arrive and think of some other way of dealing with this problem.

However, should this not occur, may I finally say what has been in my mind these several years, crystallized in these last weeks by your absence and this looming crisis, and emboldened by the last line of your most recent message. I have been a fool not to express my love for you. I have loved you almost since we first met, when you came into Her Majesty’s service. But I did not speak or act, knowing Her Majesty’s dislike of romantical attachments among those who serve her closely. I think, I hope, you felt something of this too and held back for the same reasons. Perhaps I delude myself, but I wanted you to know. Not before it is too late, as it is too late. I simply want you to know, whatever your own feelings.

From Archivist Fellquist

to Captain of the Guard David Tzikes, sent via the boy Willem, EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND URGENT!

Read this before you do anything! David, your last message to Suzanne came to me instead. I don’t think Ichuangor is that all bright, or perhaps you understandably gave it the wrong verbal directions. I have sent the spirit on with it, but I am not sure it understood me either.

You don’t need to use the amulet to go back to Zelznibone’s time and kill him. What is that this Wizard wants? He wants an order to be released from his durance from his own Queen, that is to say, Katelyn III. I have found such an order in the fifth Scarlet Box of the Judiciary, scraped the name from the parchment, and written in “Zelznibone.” As soon as I finish this message, I will run as best I can to the Treasure House. I have already alerted the Keeper of the Seals to bring forth the seal of Katelyn III. Meet us there with the amulet, and then I believe we can use it to send the order for Zelznibone’s release back to the wizard in his own time. No one will need to venture in time themselves.

There is still an hour to dawn. Meet me at the Treasure House!

From the Keeper of the Green Cabinet,

Wizard Suzanne Palindros, to Guard Captain David Tzikes,

sent via the spirit Ichuangor

Ichuangor came back to me but without a message! I will be there within the hour, minutes ahead of the dawn. Do not go back in time yourself, David! I fear you will. Wait, and I will essay the time fissure myself—I am sure that by my arts, I might survive the closure of it and still be able to return. I can save Her Majesty. Wildbjorn speeds me to your side. Do not go!

From the Wizard Zachariah Zelznibone

to Her Majesty the Queen

Neither Abel nor Sarissa can tell me if it is dawn, the foolish creatures, and my guard has not yet brought me breakfast. Lacking windows, as I may have mentioned, I cannot see for myself. But I adjudge it must be dawn or close enough, and still I have not received the order for my release. You have brought a terrible fate upon yourself, Your Majesty. I do only what must be done. I know I shall die, but you will die first, and in—

From Archivist Fellquist to Captain of the Guard David Tzikes

Captain:

Once again, I proffer my most sincere apologies for my stupid accident, which came so close to upsetting everything. The boy Willem should be rewarded, for his mind is very keen and he saw to the heart of the matter at once, taking the order to you without pausing for a moment to see if I had, in fact, even survived the fall down those cracked steps by the monument. I admit I was somewhat irked at the time, but he had the right of it. I suspect if he had not taken it on, I might not have been in time anyway, what with the Keeper of the Seals being so slow. She should be retired; I have said so these many years.

I have now found the meaning of the code “NLOBBRR” set against Zelznibone’s name in the Rougefiere replenishment ledger. It means “No Longer On Books By Reason of Release,” as opposed to “NLOBBRE,” which indicates “by reason of execution,” and “NLOBBRPOV,” which was the notation used for “prisoner’s own victuals,” when they remained incarcerated but were not fed at the state’s expense. But I digress. In any case, it confirms that Zelznibone was indeed released.

Allow me also to congratulate you and Wizard Palindros on your forthcoming nuptials. Should my leg be sufficiently restored, I hope to dance.

From the Rose Garden Gatekeeper of the Scarlet Fortress, Veronika Napp, to her sister,

the Deputy Laundress of the Avilla Fleet, Leonora Napp

Of course, I know what the fuss with the Queen and Captain Tzikes and the Green Wizard was all about, Nora! But as they say, a stone must not speak, should the mason’s chisel be ever so sharp. I was at the centre of it too, and the girls earned thruppence each assisting, though it has been a sore trial to see it paid. We are all heartily glad it is over, and more than pleased the Captain and the Green Wizard have finally sorted themselves out and are getting married. I could tell you more, far more, but I am a stone, as you know, and speaketh not. Give Harry a buffet on his earhole and I will see you at the turn of the season when you come with the fleet.

From the Wizard Zachariah Zelznibone

to Her Majesty the Queen Katelyn III,

as discovered in the Archives by Archivist Fellquist

and copied to the Keeper of the Green Cabinet,

Wizard Suzanne Palindros-Tzikes,

and Guard Captain David Tzikes-Palindros

Your Majesty, it has been seven weeks since you so nobly but rather belatedly ordered my release, and yet I have not received my patent to assume the office of Rector of Snowwade, or a warrant to assume the post of Keeper of the Pale Leopards. I am aware those incumbent in either position must be removed, and perhaps that is the cause of delay. If this is so, I offer my services to remedy this situation. My powers remain as potent as ever, and I have been reunited with staff, wand, and athame.

As for the matter of the donative, I had not known the shortage of gold to be so severe, and so I will allow that it be paid in the form of a draft to my bankers, the Good Dames of Parrat Street. I expect to hear from them soon as to the successful arrival of a suitable sum.

If I may serve Your Majesty in any way, you have but to issue the command. I have already begun the making of a new mechanical monkey for Your Majesty, as I suspect dear Rollo may be winding down. It has been some years, after all, but I do not begrudge my time in durance vile and rest assured I blame the evil companions of the former Queen entirely.

I remain your most loyal and obedient servant,

Zachariah Zelznibone

Wizard of the First Class

Toymaker to Her Majesty the Queen