The Prodigal Mage.

Miller, Karen.

PROLOGUE.

The first time Rafel told his father he wanted to travel beyond Barls Mountains he was five, sailing towards six. When Da said no, Meister Tollins expedition didnt need any little boys to help them, he cried but not for long, because he had a new pony, Dancer, and Mama had promised to come watch him ride. And then, ages and ages later, the expedition came backwhich was a surprise to everyone, since it was declared lostand he was glad he hadnt gone with Meister Tollin and the others because while they were away exploring, four of the seven men sickened and died, wracked and gruesome for no good reason anyone could see. Not even Da, and Da knew everything.

Once all the fuss was died down, some folk cheering and some weeping, on account of the men who got buried so far away, Meister Tollin came to tell Da what had gone on while they were over Barls Mountains. They met in the big ole palace where all the grown-up government things happened, where the royal family used to live once, back in the days when there was a royal family.

He knew all about them grand folk, cause Darran liked to tell stories. Da said Darran was a silly ole fart, and that was mostly true. He was old as old now, with an old mans musty, fusty smell. His hair was grown all silver and thin, and his eyes were nearly lost in spiderweb wrinkles. But that didnt matter, cause the stories he told about Lurs royal family were good ones. There was Prince Gar, Das best friend from back then. Darran talked about him the most, and blew his nose a lot afterwards. There was the rest of the royal family: clever Princess Fane and beautiful Queen Dana and brave King Borne. It was sad how they died, tumbling over Salberts Eyrie. Darran cried about that too, every time he remembered but it didnt stop him telling the stories.

Youre young to hear these tales, Rafel, but I wont live forever, hed say, his face fierce and his voice wobbly. And I cant trust your father to tell you. He has funny notions, the rapscallion. But you must know, my boy. Its your birthright.

He didnt really understand about that. All he knew was he liked Darrens stories so he never breathed a word about em in case Da fratched the ole man on it and the stories went away.

He especially liked the one about Da saving the prince from being drownded at the Sea Harvest Festival in Westwailing. That was a good story. Almost as good as hearing how Da saved Lur from the evil sorcerer Morg. But Darran didnt tell him that one very often, and when he did he always said not to talk about it after. He didnt cry, neither, after telling it. He just went awful quiet. Somehow that was worse than tears.

When he overheard Da telling Mama about Meister Tollin coming to see him, in the voice that said he was worrited and cross, Rafel knew if he didnt do a sneak hed never find out what was going onand he hated not knowing. The trouble with parents was they never thought you were old enough to know things. They praised you for being a clever boy then they told you to run away and play, dont bother your head about grown-up business.

He got so cross when they said things like that he had to hide in his secret place and crack stones with his magic, even though Da would wallop him if he found out.

Of course he knew perfectly well he wasnt supposed to do a sneak. He wasnt supposed to do any kind of magic, not just stone-cracking, not unless Da or Mama was with him. Or Meister Rumly, his tutor. Da and Mama said it was dangerous. They said because he was special, a prodigy, he had to be very careful or someone might get hurt. He thought they were boring and silly, all that fussing, but he did as he was told. Mostly. Except sometimes, when he couldnt hold the magic in any more, when it skritched him so hard he wanted to shout, he danced leaves without the wind or made funny water shapes in his bath. Only playing. There was no harm in that.

The time when Da said he and Meister Tollin were going to meet and talk about the failed expedition, that was when he was sposed to be in his lessons. But the moment Meister Rumly left him to work some problems on his own, and took himself off for a chinwag with Darran, he did the kind of earth magic that helped Mama creep up on a wild rabbit she wanted for supper and fizzled away to the white stone palace. He had to wait until there werent any comings and goings through its big double doors before he could hide in the tickly yellow lampha bushes beside the front steps. Waiting was hard. He kept thinking Meister Rumly would find him. But Meister Rumly didnt come, and n.o.body saw him scuttle into the bushes.

Da and Meister Tollin came along a little while after, and he held his breath in case they didnt choose to talk in the palaces ground floor meeting room where Da and the Mage Council made important decisions for Lur.

But they did, so once they were safely inside he crawled on his hands and knees between the lampha and the palace wall until he fetched up right under that meeting room window.

There, hunkered down on the damp earth, yellow lampha blossom tickling his nose so he had to keep rubbing it on his sleeve in case he sneezed, and got caught, and landed himself into wallopin trouble, he listened to what Meister Tollin had to tell Da about his adventure, that Da didnt want anybody else to hear.

The lands beyond the Wall were dark and grim, Meister Tollin said. Werent nothing green or growing there. No people, neither. All theyd found was cold death and old decay. Mouldy bones and abandoned houses, falling to bits. There wasnt even a bird singing in the stunted, twisted trees. That sorcerer Morg had killed everything, Meister Tollin said. Might be Lur was the only living place left in the whole world. It felt like it. On the other side of Barls Mountains it felt like they were all alone, in the biggest graveyard a man would ever see.

Meister Tollins voice sounded funny saying that, wobbly and hoa.r.s.e and sad. Rafel felt his eyes go p.r.i.c.kly, hearing it. All alone in the world. Meister Tollin was using tricky words but he understood what they meant. Most every day Mama told him he was too smart for his own good, but he didnt mind that kind of scolding because in her dark brown eyes there was always a smile.

Next, Da wanted to know why Meister Tollin and the others had broken their promise and not contacted the General Council through the circle stones they took with them. They couldnt, said Meister Tollin, sounding cross. In the dead lands beyond Barls Mountains their magic wouldnt work. Not gentle Olken magic, not pushy Doranen magic. They tried and they tried, but they had to do everything the hard way. Just by themselves, no magic to help out.

Rafel felt himself shiver cold. No Olken magic, the way it was before Da saved Lur? That was nasty. He didnt want to think on that.

Then Da wanted to know more about what happened to the four men who died. Three were Olken, and two of them were his friends, t.i.tch and Derik. Theyd been Circle Olken, and helped him in the fight against Morg. Da sounded sad like Darran, saying their names. It was horrible, hearing Da sad. Scrunched so small under the meeting rooms open window, Rafel tried to think how hed feel if his best friend Goose died. That made his eyes p.r.i.c.kle again even harder.

But before he could hear what Meister Tollin had to say about those men getting sick for no reason, Meister Rumly came calling to see where he was. His manky ole tutor had a sneaky Doranen seekem crystal that Olken magic couldnt fool. Meister Rumly was allowed to use it to find him. Da had said so.

It wasnt fair. There were rules about that for everyone else, about using Doranen magic on folk. There were rules for pretty much everything to do with magic and big trouble if people broke thembut sometimes they did and then Da had to go down to Justice Hall and wallop em the way grownups got walloped. He hated doing that. Speaking on magic at Justice Hall got Da so riled only Mama could calm him down.

Remembering his fathers fearsome temper, Rafel crawled his way out of the lampha bushes and scuttled to somewhere Meister Rumly could find him and not cause a ruckus. If there was a ruckus Da would come out to see why and his tutor would tell tales. Then Da would ask what hed been up to and hed say the truth. Hed have to, because it was Da. And he didnt want that, because when Da said Rafel, you be a little perisher too smart for his own good he hardly ever smiled. Not with his face and not in his eyes.

So he took himself off to the Tower stables and let Meister Rumly find him hobn.o.bbing with his pony. Knowing full well hed been led on a wild goose-chase, his tutor wittered on and on as they returned to lessons in the Tower. And all the long afternoon, bored and restless, he wondered and he wondered what else Tollin told Da.

That night at supper, sitting at the table in the fat round solar where they ate their meals, his parents talked a bit about Meister Tollins expedition. They didnt mention any of the scary parts, because his stinky baby sister was there, banging her spoon on her plate and making stupid sounds instead of saying real words like Uncle Pellens little girl could. He wished Da and Mama would send Deenie away so they could all talk properly.

So thats that, said Da, whod called Meister Tollin a fool for going, and the others too, even though t.i.tch and Derik were his friends. Its over. And therell be no more expeditions, I reckon.

Really? said Mama, her eyebrows raised in that way she had. Because you know what people are like, Asher. Let enough time go by and Da slurped down some spicy fish soup. Fixed that, didnt I? he growled. Tollins writin down an account of what happened. Every last sinkin thing, nowt polite about it. Ill see it copied and put where it wont get lost, and any fool as says we ought to send more folk over Barls Mountains then Tollins tale will remind em why that aint a good idea.

Mama made the sound that said she wasnt sure about that, but Da paid no attention.

Any road, aint no reason for the General Council to give the nod for another expedition, he said. Tollin made it plainthere aint nowt to find over the mountains.

Not close to Lur perhaps, said Mama. But Tollin didnt get terribly far, Asher. He was only gone two months, and most of that time was spent dealing with one disaster after another.

He got far enough, Da said, shaking his head. Morg poisoned everything he touched, Dath. Aint nowt but foolishness to think otherwise, or to waste time frettin on whats so far away.

Oh, Asher, Mama said, smiling. Das grouching nearly always made her smile. After six hundred years locked up behind those mountains, you cant blame people for being curious.

Six hundred years. Rafel could hardly imagine it. That was about a hundred times as long as hed been alive. Mama was right. Of course people wanted to know. He wanted to know. He was as miserable as she was that Meister Tollin and the others hadnt found anything good on the other side of Barls Mountains.

But Da wasnt. He gave Mama a look, then soaked his last bit of bread in his soup. Reckon I can blame em, yknow, he grumbled around a full mouth. That wasnt good manners, but Da didnt care. He just laughed when Mama said so and was ruder than before. You tell me, Dath, whats curiosity ever done but black the eye of the fool who aint content to stay put?

Rafel saw his mother cast him a cautious glance, and made his face look all not caring, as though he really was a silly little boy who didnt understand. Tollin and the others were only trying to help, she murmured. And Im sorry things went wrong. I wanted to meet the people who live on the other side of the mountains. I wanted to hear their stories. And now we find there arent any? I think its a great pity.

With a grunt Da reached for the heel of fresh-baked bread on its board in the centre of the table. Tearing off another hunk of it, he glowered at Mama. Not angry at her, just angry at the world like he got sometimes. Da was never angry with Mama.

I tell you, Dathne, he said, waving the bread at her, heres the truth without scales on, proven by Tolinthere aint no good to come of sniffin over them mountains. What price have we paid already, eh? t.i.tch and Derik dead, it be a cryin shame. Pik Mobley too, that stubborn ole fish. And that hoity-toity Lord Bram. Reckon a Doranen mage shouldve b.l.o.o.d.y known better, but he were a giddy fool like the rest of em. They shouldve listened to me. Aint I the one who told em not to go? Aint I the one told em only a fool pokes a stick in a sharks eye? I am. But they wouldnt listen. Both b.l.o.o.d.y Councils, they wouldnt listen neither. And all weve got to show for it is folk weepin in the streets.

Sighing, Mama put her hand on Das arm. I know. But lets talk about it later. Supper will go cold if we go on about it now.

There aint nowt to talk on, Dath, said Da, tossing his bread in his empty bowl and shoving it away. Whats done is done. Cant snap mfingers and bring em all back in one piece, can I?

Da was so riled now he sounded like the cousins from down on the coast, instead of almost a regular City Olken. He sounded like the sky looked with a storm blowing up. Even though stinky Deenie was a baby, three years old and still piddling in her nappies, she knew about that. She threw her spoon onto the table and started wailing.

There now, Asher! said Mama in her scolding voice. Look what youve done.

Rafel rolled his eyes as his mother started fussing with his bratty sister. Scowling, Da pulled his bowl back and spooned up what was left of his soup and soggy bread, muttering under his breath. Rafel kept his head down and finished his soup too, because Da didnt like to see good food wasted. When his bowl was empty he looked at his father, feeling his bottom lip poke out. He had a question, and he knew itd tickle him and tickle him until he had an answer.

Da? Can I ask you something?

Da looked up from brooding into his soup bowl. Aye, sprat. Yknow you can.

He felt Mamas eyes on him, even though she was spooning mashed-up sweet pickles into the baby. Da, dont you want anyone going over the mountains? Not ever?

No, said Da, and shook his head hard. Aint no point, Rafe. Everythin we could ever want or need, we got right here in Lur. He looked at Mama, smiling a little bit, with his eyes all warm cause he loved her so much. Da riled fast, but he cooled down fast too. We got family and friends and food for the table. What else do we need, that we got to risk ourselves over them mountains to find?

Rafel put down his spoon. Da was a hero, everyone said so. Darran wasnt the only one who told him stories. Da hated to hear folk say it, his face went scowly enough to bust gla.s.s, but it was true. Da was a hero and he knew everything about everything But I dont believe him. Not about this.

Oh, it was an awful thing to think. But it was true. Da was wrong. There was something to find beyond the mountains, he knew itand one day, hed go. Hed find out what was there.

Then Ill be a hero too. Ill be Rafe the Bold, the great Olken explorer. Ill do something special for Lur, just like my da.

PART ONE.

CHAPTER ONE.

It was a trivial dispute but that wasnt the point. The point, as he grew tired of saying, was that dragging a Doranen into Justice Hall, forcing him to defend his use of magic, was demeaning. It was an insult. Placing any Olken hedge-meddler on level footing with a Doranen mage was an insult. And that included the vaunted Asher of Restharven. His mongrel abilities were the greatest insult of all.

Father Rodyn Garrick looked down at his son. What?

Kept out of the schoolroom for this, the most important education a young Doranen could receive, Arlin wriggled on the bench beside him. And that was another insult. In Bornes day a Doranen councilor was afforded a place of respect in one of Justice Halls gallery seatsbut not any more. These days the gallery seats remained empty and even the most important Doranen of Lur were forced to bruise their bones on hard wooden pews, thrown amongst the general population.

Arlin, what? he said. The hearings about to begin. And Ive told you Ill not tolerate disruption.

It doesnt matter, Arlin whispered. Ill ask later.

Rodyn stifled his temper. The boy was impossible. His mothers fault, that. One son and shed coddled him beyond all bearing. A good thing shed died, really. Undoing ten years of her damage was battle enough.

Justice Hall buzzed with the sound of muted conversations, its cool air heavy with a not-so-muted sense of antic.i.p.ation. Not on his part, though. He felt only fury and dread. Hed chosen to sit himself and his son at the rear of the Hall, where theyd be least likely noticed. Aside from Ain Freidin, against whom these insulting and spurious charges were laid, and her family, he and Arlin were the only Doranen present. Well, aside from his fellow councilor Sarnia Marnagh, of course. Justice Halls chief administrator and her Olken a.s.sistant conferred quietly over their parchments and papers, not once looking up.

Everyone was waiting for Asher.

When at last Lurs so-called saviour deigned to put in an appearance, he entered through one of the doors in the Halls rear wall instead of the way entrances had been made in Bornes day: slowly and with grave splendour descending from on high. So much for the majesty of law. Even Ashers attire lacked the appropriate richnessplain cotton and wool, with a dowdy bronze-brown brocade weskit. This was Justice Hall. Perhaps Council meetings did not require velvet and jewels, but surely this hallowed place did.

It was yet one more example of Olken contempt.

Even more irksome was Sarnia Marnaghs deferential nod to him, as though the Olken were somehow greater than she. How could the woman continue to work here? Continue undermining her own peoples standing? Greater? Asher and his Olken brethren werent even equal.

Arlins breath caught. Father?

With a conscious effort Rodyn relaxed his clenched fists. This remade Lur was a fishbone stuck in his gullet, pinching and chafing and ruining all appet.i.tebut he would serve no-one, save nothing, if he did not keep himself temperate. He was here today to bear witness, nothing more. There was nothing more he could do. The times were yet green. But when they were ripe oh, when they were ripe Ill see a harvest gathered thats long overdue.

At the far end of the Hall, seated at the judicial table upon its imposing dais, Asher struck the ancient summons bell three times with its small hammer. The airy chamber fell silent.

Right, then, he said, lounging negligent in his carved and padded chair. Whats all this about? Youre the one complaining, Meister Tarne, so best you flap your lips first.

So that was the Olkens name, was it? Hed never bothered to enquire. Who the man was didnt matter. All that mattered was his decision to interfere with Doranen magic. Even now he found it hard to believe this could be happening. It was an affront to nature, to the proper order of things, that any Olken was in a position to challenge the rights of a Doranen.

The Olken stood, then stepped out to the speakers square before the dais. Bloated with too much food and self-importance, he cast a triumphant look at Ain Freidin then thrust his thumbs beneath his straining braces and rocked on his heels.

Meister Tarne it is, sir. And Im here to see you settle this matter with my neighbour. Im not one to go looking for unpleasantness. Im a man who likes to live and let live. But I wont be bullied, sir, and I wont be told to keep my place. Those days are done with. I know my place. I know my rights.

Asher scratched his nose. Maybe you do, but that aint what I asked.

My apologies, said the Olken, stiff with outrage. I was only setting the scene, sir. Giving you an idea of What you be giving me, Meister Tarne, is piles, said Asher. Happens I aint in the mood to be sitting here all day on a sore a.r.s.e, so just you bide a moment while I see if you can write a complaint better than you speak one.

As the Olken oaf sucked air between his teeth, affronted, Asher took the paper Sarnia Marnaghs Olken a.s.sistant handed him. Started to read it, ignoring Tarne and the scattered whispering from the Olken whod come to point and stare and sneer at their betters. Ignoring Ain Freidin too. Sarnia Marnagh sat pa.s.sively, her only contribution to these proceedings the incant recording this travesty of justice. What a treacherous woman she was. What a sad disappointment.

Condemned to idleness, Rodyn folded his arms. It seemed Asher was in one of his moods. And what did that bode? Since Barls Wall was destroyed this was the twelfthno, the thirteenthtime hed been called to rule on matters magical in Justice Hall. Five decisions had gone the way of the Doranen. The rest had been settled in an Olkens favour. Did that argue bias? Perhaps. b.u.t.to his great shameRodyn couldnt say for certain. Hed not attended any of those previous rulings. Only in the last year had he finally, finally, woken from his torpor to face a truth hed been trying so hardand too longto deny.

Lur was no longer a satisfactory place to be Doranen.

So, said Asher, handing back the written complaint. Meister Tarne. You reckon your neighbourLady Freidin, therebe ruining your potato crop with her magework. Or did I read your complaint wrong?

No, said the Olken. Thats what shes doing. And Ive asked her to stop it but she wont. He glared at Ain Freidin. So Ive come here for you to tell her these arent the old days. Ive come for you to tell her to leave off with her muddling. Olken magics as good as hers, by law, and by law she cant interfere with me and mine.

Arlin, up till now obediently quiet, made a little scoffing sound in his throat. Not entirely displeased, Rodyn pinched the boys knee in warning.

How ezackly is Lady Freidin spoiling your spuds, Meister Tarne? said Asher, negligently slouching again. And have you got any proof of it?

Another hissing gasp. Is my word not enough? the potato farmer demanded. Im an Olken. Youre an Olken. Surely Sighing, Asher shook his head. Not in Justice Hall, I aint. In Justice Hall I be a pair of eyes and a pair of ears and I dont get to take sides, Meister Tarne.

There are sworn statements, the chastised Olken muttered. You have them before you.

Aye, I read em, said Asher. Your wife and your sons sing the same tune, Meister Tarne. But that aint proof.

Sir, why are you so quick to disbelieve me? said the Olken. Im no idle troublemaker! Its an expense, coming here. An expense I cant easily bear, but Im bearing it because Im on the right side of this dispute. Ive lost two crops to Lady Freidins selfishness and spite. And since she wont admit her fault and mend her ways, what choice do I have but to lay the matter before you?

Asher frowned at the mans tone. Never said you werent within your rights, Meister Tarne. Laws plain on that. You are.

I know full well Im not counted the strongest in earth magic, said the Olken, still defiant. Im the first to admit it. But I do well enough. Now Ive twice got good potatoes rotted to slime in the ground and the market price of them lost. Thats my proof. And how do I feed and clothe my family when my purse is half empty thanks to her?

The watching Olken stirred and muttered their support. Displeased, Asher raised a hand. You lot keep your traps shut or go home. I dont much care which. But if you dont keep your traps shut Ill take the choice away from you, got that?

Rodyn smiled. If hed been wearing a dagger he could have stabbed the offended silence through its heart.

Meister Tarne, said Asher, his gaze still sharp. I aint no farmer, but even Ive heard of spud rot.

Well, sir, I am a farmer and I tell you plain, Ive lost no crops to rot or any other natural pestilence, said the Olken. Its Doranen magic doing the mischief here.

So you keep sayin, said Asher. But it dont seem to me you got a shred of evidence.

Sir, theres no other explanation! My farm marches beside Lady Freidins estate. Shes got outbuildings near the fence dividing my potatoes from her fields. She spends a goodly time in those outbuildings, sir. What she does there I cant tell you, not from seeing it with my own eyes. But my ruined potato crops tell the story. Theres something unwholesome going on, and thats the plain truth of it.

Unwholesome? said Asher, eyebrows raised, as the Olken onlookers risked banishment to whisper. Now, theres a word.

Rodyn looked away from him, to Ain Freidin, but still all he could see was the back of her head. Silent and straight-spined, she sat without giving even a hint of what she thought about these accusations. Or if they carried any merit. For himself he wasnt sure. Ain Freidin was an acquaintance, nothing more. He wasnt privy to her thoughts on the changes thrust so hard upon their people, or what magic she got up to behind closed doors.