November 17
Word Count: 1953
For once, Trevelyn felt like she had everything under control. The noblemen had given up their attempts to cut in line, only after she’d sent three of them to the very back. The brothers were getting very efficient at problem solving by themselves, sending each person off to the correct part of the city, via the colored signs. And for the first time, people were beginning to move in the opposite direction. An entire of group of formerly purple people left the city praising the wonders of the Great Mages. It caused quite a stir in the line, but nothing Trevelyn couldn’t handle. In fact, it was getting to the point where she was hardly needed at all. Trevelyn could once again turn her attention to other matters.
It was quite a relief that they’d turned things around. Trevelyn was looking forward to a nice leisurely meal in the great hall, rather than a sandwich or two scarfed down between problems. Perhaps she could even find a book and a pretty little park to relax in.
She groaned as she saw a brother in a brown robe and yellow belt running towards her at top speed. Yellow would be a Malek problem. He’d probably shouted or grumped at someone. Trevelyn thought about fetching Mitty, but then realized she was actually doing work and turning out results in the infirmary, something that Trevelyn could not yet do. She’d have to deal with Malek herself.
“Can I help you, brother?” she asked calmly as he wheezed and huffed.
“Master Malek,” he managed to gasp. “There’s been an accident. We can’t wake him up.” Trevelyn immediately motioned for him to lead her to Malek. Trevelyn was quite grateful the brother was out of breath, as she had no desire to run.
“At least it’s not me this time,” she said to herself as they wound their way to the Magical Objects Department. Trevelyn could have cursed herself for celebrating too early. Life would probably never be dull again.
The brother led her into the rows of shelves. Items were in complete disarray, some laying in pieces on the floor, others had skidded off the shelf. Malek lay half propped up against a shelf, his eyes closed.
“Perhaps someone should fetch Brother Ettu.” Trevelyn hoped that this was going to be a physical malady, rather than a magical one.
“We sent someone to look for him, but they haven’t come back,” a brother said.
“Did he fall and hit his head?”
“Well, he fell when the blue ball exploded.”
“Exploded?”
“Yes,” a brother explained. “I was right there when it happened. He was talking to the blue ball, trying to make it work, and it exploded! It knocked me down, but Master Malek was knocked back at least six feet. He was conscious for a few moments after, then he passed out. There’s no blood or anything. I looked,” he added.
Trevelyn would have preferred blood. She could deal with blood. Mysterious unconsciousness was something else.
“What is Malek doing on the floor?” Mitty asked from behind her. “Malek?” Mitty knelt down on the other side of Malek. “What’s wrong with him?” She poked him. “Wake up!”
“He’s alive,” Trevelyn said watching his chest move up and down.
“Of course he’s alive. He can’t die. He’s Malek!” Mitty stated rather irrationally.
Trevelyn stood to give Brother Ettu room to examine Malek for himself. His sure hands traced over him. “Nothing’s broken,” he stated. “I think it’s safe to move him.”
“I’ll take him home. Maybe he just needs a good night sleep.” Mitty placed her hand on Malek’s chest and closed her eyes. She nearly fell over. “I forgot. I’m all magicked out. It won’t work.”
“Right. Perhaps we can carry him to your apartments here in Tamarin.”
“We have apartments?”
“Technically, yes, even if you choose not to use them, your staffs still need a place to meet.”
The brothers gently picked up the prone Malek and carried him. The two girl’s followed. Trevelyn was definitely worried about Mitty. She didn’t seem to quite be thinking clearly. If she were Lynah, Trevelyn knew that Mitty would be wailing about and inconsolably noisy with grief right about now. There was relief in not having to deal with it, but there was also uncertainty of not knowing exactly what Mitty was feeling.
Word has apparently spread as they reached the apartments. Brothers Chau, Ilden, and another brother, introduced as Axio, Mitty’s new chief of staff, were all waiting. Mitty and Trevelyn oversaw while the brothers tucked Malek carefully into bed. He still showed no signs of stirring.
“What’s going on?” Saratin asked, appearing out of nowhere.
“Malek’s had a magical accident. One of the objects exploded and knocked him unconscious.”
“That’s just what we need… to be down another mage,” Saratin mumbled half to himself.
“Another mage?” Trevelyn asked.
“In case you haven’t noticed, Lynah is missing,” Saratin said as he touched Malek’s forehead. He closed his eyes and concentrated, but after a minute, he shook his head and opened his eyes.
“I don’t know,” Saratin said. “I’ll see if the book has anything to say.” He turned to Mitty. “But I promise, this is first priority.” He took her hands in his and gave her a comforting squeeze, then disappeared.
The group stood around for a moment in silence before Trevelyn turned to Brother Ilden.
“Where is Lynah? Have you seen her.”
“No, I haven’t. Though it does seem strange that the only two mages that opposed Saratin’s leadership have now been… afflicted.”
“Brother Ilden,” Chau said sternly. “I don’t think Saratin had anything to do with either one. I’m quite sure he plans to heal Malek as soon as possible, and try and find where Lynah’s gone off to.”
“Do you think she was kidnapped?”
“I don’t think it’s possible for a person to be taken out of Tamarin against their will, unless it were done by a Great Mage,” Brother Chau added.
“So it could have been done by a Great Mage.”
“Assuming one would want to remove someone by force? This conversation does no one any good. I suggest we all return to our activities. Brother Ettu and Brother Axio may wish to stay to provide services to their mages, if you don’t mind, Master Trevelyn, as Malek has not yet chosen his own chief of staff, and Brother Ettu is also well qualified as a healer.”
“I think that is a perfect idea.” The brother’s bowed and exited, leaving Mitty and Trevelyn with Axio and Ettu.
“I think what this calls for is some nourishment,” Brother Ettu said. “I know that Master Mitty was on her way to the dining hall, and I’m quite sure Master Trevelyn has probably not eaten yet either.”
Brother Axio jumped up. “It would be the greatest honor for me to go fetch something from the great hall.” He headed towards the door. He turned, just before out of sight, and said, “Don’t worry, Master Mitty, I’m sure he’ll wake up soon.” He smiled and darted off.
“What if he doesn’t?” Mitty asked, more to herself than to anyone else. She sat on the bed next to him and stroked his hair. “I just found him. I mean in relative terms. You know he kidnapped me? I wanted to go and give myself up for stealing back some dragon cloth from a nobleman, and he wouldn’t let me. I thought he was quite crazy for a while, but he’s got a big heart… and once you’re in it, he won’t let you down. I mean, he came here, didn’t he? He hates this city, he hates depending on other people. But he loves me… and I think he actually is beginning to love the other mages too.”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Malek stated suddenly as he opened his eyes. He looked straight at Mitty, then Trevelyn, and then promptly passed out again.
Saratin had just about given up on the book. Every time he came close, it giggled and snapped at him. He was not in a playful mood. In fact, Saratin had begun to notice that whatever mood he took, the book chose the opposite one. He wouldn’t learn anything about it until his mood improved, which wasn’t going to be anytime soon.
It would be easier for Saratin to turn his mind to other problem for the time being. Malek didn’t seem to be in imminent danger and Saratin had plenty of brothers who had begun to cross reference anything about exploding blue balls in the texts of the library.
The other problem which no one seemed to be taking seriously was the sudden disappearance of Lynah. She’d been quite upset after the meeting, and Trevelyn had said she needed time to cool down. No one had seen her since. Most of them were relieved of the constant annoyance of her whining.
Saratin had thought that giving her some actual tasks to do, she’d pull together and bury herself in creating protocols and that sort of thing. Instead, she’d done something rather atypical of Lynah, not demanded any attention at all. Unfortunately, Saratin needed to have a vague idea of where to look for her before he could instantly travel to her.
An idea popped into Saratin’s head. When Mitty had been miserable, she’d instinctively gone where she had been most comfortable – home. Perhaps Lynah had done the same, and found herself stranded without a way to get back.
Saratin
focused and popped into the castle at
“I was wondering if you were going to pay a visit,” Snult said in between bites, noticing Saratin standing by the fireplace. A rather small Snult was sitting on top a great stack of assorted meats.
“Oh,” Lasser said, looking up from a desk that was covered in paper. “I wonder if you could tell me how this sounds.” He held up a piece of paper. Saratin took it.
“I didn’t exactly come here for a social call. Lynah is missing. I was wondering if maybe she accidentally came here.”
“I haven’t seen her.”
Saratin turned his attention to the paper in his hand.
Heart, Strength, and Mind – the three areas a leader must be good at.
“I was thinking some sort of puzzle round, then a contest of strength and endurance, and something to test courage.”
“Sounds good.”
“This quest designing is a lot harder than it sounds. King Dormas said he already had 50 applicants signed up… and those are just nobles. I haven’t told him that I think that anyone should be able to sign up. It’s only fair. I mean, hey, I’m a forest ranger, and look how I turned out?”
“Perhaps a literacy test to begin with,” Saratin said. “A king can’t be successful if he doesn’t communicate well.”
Lasser nodded. “Only a scholar would think of that.”
“It’s quite true. If you see Lynah, give me the heads up.”
“And how exactly am I supposed to do that? Speaking of, I almost chocked this afternoon when they wanted a display of magic.”
“What did you do?” Saratin asked. He hadn’t even thought about how the king would receive a common forest ranger into his court, telling him how to behave.
“They went along with what I had to say after I sicced Snult on them. Don’t worry. He stayed under two hundred pounds.”
Saratin tried not to smile, but he could imagine how the court would react to a dragon in their midst.
“Well then,” Saratin stated, “I suppose it’s time I taught you some magic.”