Forgotten Embers

Chapter 30: Enemies of State

A week had passed since he had received his apprenticeship. From early morning until late into the evening, he attended to Lord Blackridge and his needs. His time was filled with meetings, hearings, inspections, and various matters of state, which, on this particular occasion, meant piles and piles of paperwork.

Kelvin sat sorting the papers as Blackridge read through them, writing out the replies.

'It's funny... this work is all so political. I would've expected the position of Archmage to be a little more magical.'

He stared at the piles of assorted papers. There were so many of them - hirings, promotions, demotions, firings, transfers, reports, commendations, assignments, propositions, debriefings, witness statements... he shook his head.

'I guess that's why we have so many lesser mages.' He lifted the next sheet from his stack and noticed the name written on it. 'Even Lord Kallida reports to him.'

"I think we ought to call it a night," Blackridge announced, setting the paper he was reading back on the desk and removing his glasses. He rubbed his eyes and leaned back in the chair. "Everything's beginning to look the same," he told him.

"I understand, sir," Kelvin told him. "I'm not quite there, myself, but I admit that I have been doing considerably less reading. Howbeit, the papers are... well, mostly stacked."

"I do appreciate you staying," Blackridge assured him. "It can be hard with these long hours, and you do help me a great deal."

The door slid open and they both turned to look. A young man in a guard's uniform wearing a mage's cloak stood in the doorway and solemnly entered. He was a handsome man of fine stature with pale green eyes. His skin was ivory and his platinum hair fell to the bottoms of his shoulder blades.

Kelvin watched him with intensely. 'He must be a mage-royal, but why would the King send one of his personal servants?'

"Mage-royal Charlenade, to what do we owe the visit?" Blackridge asked him.

"My Lord the King is troubled. He lies awake restless. He cannot sleep. Lord Blackridge, it is my duty to summon you for an audience with the King. Lord Kallida and Captain Zahaynei have been sent for, also. You will meet in the throne room, immediately," Charlenade stated, his voice and countenance void of any emotion.

Kelvin looked to Blackridge. 'He doesn't seem bothered by it.' He smiled, relieved.

"Very well," Blackridge told him. "Tell the King we will make haste to come to him."

'We...! Does that mean he plans on taking me with him?'

"As you wish," the man replied. He turned to walk away, but stopped by the threshold of the door. "Candles, Lord Blackridge?"

"Yes, what of them?"

"It is unusual to say the least," the man replied. "When you could be using maurium or a simple illumination spell, you choose to work by candlelight, instead. And fire. Correct me, but are candles not generally used by-"

"Me, Master Charlenade," Blackridge cut in unabashedly. "They are generally used by me."

"Of course," Charlenade sneered, "and others." He walked silently away, and the door shut behind him.

"My Lord," Kelvin addressed him, concerned.

Blackridge shook him head. "I don't know what this is about, but I would ask that you accompany me, if you're able."

"Yes, of course," he said, surprised. "I am honored, sir. But... forgive me, wouldn't the others object to me being there?"

"If they do, they'll let us know. That being said, I don't think you'll have any problems," he reassured him.

***

The throne room was large and dark, the walls and floor similar to the room wherein he had first met Lord Kallida. King Zephyr reclined in his throne, which appeared almost to float in the air above them. The King sat to the side, his legs crossed over one arm of the chair with his head resting against the winged headrest, watching as they entered. Blackridge took his place at the left side of the room before the throne, and Kelvin followed, keeping a step behind him. Zahaynei was already present when they entered, standing in position to their right.

The three men stood in silence at attention as they waited for Kallida to arrive. It wasn't long before the grand double doors swung open seemingly of their own volition and Kallida came striding in with some irritation, patterning the floor with glowing purple runes as he stepped. He stopped, taking his place between his fellow officers, and the doors fell shut behind them.

"Feeling a bit showy, Master Inquisitor?" Blackridge jested.

"Aren't you?" Kallida sneered.

"Master Kallida," the King cut in, annoyed, "is there any sort of reason for such a frivolous show of magic in my throne room?"

"My Lord," Kallida protested, "you have an archmage who has his apprentice help him with his paperwork rather than using a simple sorting spell. I'm quite certain that there is more than enough room for some frivolous use of magic by me!"

"Ah, yes," the King went on, his eyes moving to Kelvin, "Mr. Dehnhardt."

"My Lord King Zephyr, if it would please My Lord the King, I would humbly request the allowance of his partaking in our audience... unless there be any objections by my colleagues to his presence here," Blackridge quickly persuaded.

Zephyr smiled. "I have no objections. Master Kallida?" the King addressed.

"If my Lord has naught against it, nor do I."

"Captain Zahaynei?"

"I've no objections."

"Very well, gentlemen. I am king over all the realm. I am rich and mighty. Yet, there is a thing that troubles me," Zephyr told them, standing to his feet and beginning to pace. "See, you three are my most trusted allies. Together, you oversee every area of my reign. So, tell me, how..." he said, staring them down as he spoke, "after all this time and all this progress, my enemies have somehow alluded me? After twenty years, how is it? The kingdom is mine. The power is mine. But somehow they are left to live! They live their lives, they walk the streets, and I am restless because of it! Tell me, have you failed me? How can my kingdom stand if they are left to live? They will be my undoing!" He snarled at them, his eyes a burning caldron. "For twenty years you've searched, and you haven't found a single one of them!"

"My Lord," Kallida interjected, "what would you desire more than the blood of your enemies?"

"Kallida, you're on thin ice this time!" Zephyr warned him. "There is very little to guard your life at this moment."

"Is it not the derision of a mocker?"

"Explain," Zephyr demanded.

Kelvin watched with wonder. 'What is Lord Kallida doing? He clearly thinks himself clever, but if he's not more careful...' he clenched his teeth and felt his muscles tighten, 'this could still end very badly for him... and for all of us. Still, it is remarkable to think they never found any of them. Not one? I can understand the King's frustration.'

"What if I could give you such a person?" Kallida asked him. "Say, a man for whom you have a deep inner hatred. Why would you kill him outright and in secret? Why not subject him to a public trial before the execution? Then, all men would despise him as you do."

"I'm listening, Kallida, but you'll have to give me more than suppositions."

Kelvin looked to Blackridge, who watched them intently, though he remained silent. 'He seems... strained. He has focused his energy on not expressing anything. I've seen him do this before, but... why now?'

"I have such a man, an enemy of the state, and one whom you would very much like to have on hand."

"Present the man," Zephyr commanded, unamused.

"I shall, my Lord, but hear my proposition before I hand him over - arrest him publicly, try him publicly, and execute him publicly. We will make a public example of him, and the others will fall along with him."

"Master Kallida, if you had such a man, why did you not commit him to me sooner?"

"I sent my spies to watch him, along with several others, but there have been some recent incidents which convinced me of his guilt," Kallida explained, still exuding confidence. "I had wanted to follow him, in hopes that he may lead us to the others, but..." he paused, his face fiercely determined, "he's been far too careful."

Zephyr laughed. "Come now, great mage! Don't tell me you've run into someone more cunning!"

"Regrettably, my Lord, it seems I have," Kallida grimaced.

"Tell me, Kallida, is the public mockery of such a man for my sake or yours?"

"I would not have suggested it if it were not the best solution for us all."

"And how do you know this is our man, being as he has thus far outmaneuvered you?" Zephyr asked dubiously.

'Of course. A public trial will require more concrete evidence to properly conduct, particularly if they want everyone to buy in.'

"The Ibori girl is involved, also. Let me bring her in tonight. She should have evidence we need. If all goes well, we can make the arrest by noon tomorrow," Kallida assured him.

Kelvin's mind was racing. 'Ibori? Avera? No... no. This can't be about the book, can it? It must be. No... but Lord Blackridge had a copy, too. It can't be that. It can't be wrong. Avera's not our enemy. She's not a revolutionary or a radical. She's just a girl.'

"And what if all goes poorly? Suppose you fail to bring her in," Zephyr challenged from his throne. "What then?"

"Then, it will be only the more certain, and we will have him by morning. Who knows? Perhaps he'll talk and help us find the others. Though, I doubt it from all that I've heard of him," Kallida replied coldly. "Still, we may have the good fortune that they should come and try to save him. And not only that, but the map you've requested... we've nearly finished it."

"Good," Zephyr replied, seemingly satisfied. "This time, see that it's not stolen."