The Magestone

9 Mereth—events at Lormt (7th Day, Month of the Ice Dragon, Moon of the Knife)

When Ouen bade us to retire, I struggled to my feet, my mind reeling. The thought that my betrothal jewel might be within the grasp of Escore’s Dark mages somehow chilled the very marrow of my bones. I felt almost as if Kasarian had slapped my face instead of the table when he exhorted us to prevent Gurborian from meeting with the Escorian mages. I knew within myself that we could spare no effort to thwart Gurborian and his henchman; the stone must not be lost to the Dark! I had remained standing, heedless of the quiet talk among the others at the table. Nolar took my arm and urged me to sit down.

Quite soon, Jonja returned, announcing that Kasarian was settled in his guest chamber.

Duratan shook his head ruefully. “I seldom feel that Lormt lacks proper accommodations for any guest,” he said, “but this night, I would prefer a strong lock on our visiting baron’s door, and its key in my hand.”

“If Kasarian attempts to skulk about in the dark,” Nolar commented with a smile, “he is more likely to fall down the stairs or become irretrievably lost.”

“I did warn him about the stairs,” said Jonja briskly. “And I made sure his candle was a short one. I do not think he will go far this night.”

“Nor shall we.” Ouen’s tone was grim. “Let us confer briefly before we part. What are we to make of Kasarian’s unsettling warnings?”

Duratan stared into his goblet. “How can we dare to believe anything we are told by a baron of Alizon?” he asked. “Their words are notoriously untrustworthy, and they frequently poison their own family members to advance their positions.”

I tapped my staff on the floor, and offered my slate. Morfew read aloud my words. “You are wise to be wary. We of the Dales have endured bitter experience of the Alizonders. They are a cruel, devious, and treacherous folk . . . yet we must scrutinize every word of Kasarian’s to determine which if any of them might be true. The threat he describes is too serious to be ignored.”

Morfew drummed his fingers on the table. “I have been casting my thoughts far back to my days in Alizon,” he said. “Some of the noble Lines have preserved more of what you Estcarpians would term a sense of honor than have others. As I recall, Krevonel was one such Line, although much reduced in numbers over the years by battle deaths and murders. I can speak only of the previous generations—this Kasarian is unknown to me, nor do I know his sire’s name as yet, but I shall ask him on the morrow when we speak together.”

Ouen nodded his approval. “We are indeed fortunate, old friend, that you reside among us. Kasarian may well tell you more privately than he is willing to disclose in our presence.”

“He may already have said too much to us,” Duratan suggested. “His great fear that Escore’s Dark mages, triumphant over Estcarp, might then turn to rend Alizon represents only one of the possible outcomes of a great clash of magics. We would do well to foresee and evaluate a different outcome: if Escore’s Dark mages and our Witches should battle to mutual ruin, would not Alizon then be left to capture and hold all three lands?”

“From my knowledge of Alizon,” said Morfew, “I perceive another related point. It is likely that Kasarian also belongs to a faction of barons. Just as Gurborian’s faction is said to be pressing for an alliance with Escore’s Dark mages, so too may Kasarian’s faction be waiting to take advantage of any mistakes or reverses. Their goal may be the very seizure of any lands left vulnerable should the primary opponents dispose of one another.”

I handed my slate to Morfew. “I do not believe,” he read my words, “that Estcarp can dismiss Kasarian’s warning, however suspect he may be as its bearer. I must convey to you my intense conviction that the stone of Power must not be acquired by any forces serving the Dark!”

Both Jonja and Nolar leaned forward. The Wise Woman spoke first, her voice strained. “I know what mighty deeds can be wrought with Witch Jewels,” she said. “An unknown crystal of the size you describe, should it be imbued with Power, might be capable of loosing ruin on a scale that would make the damage of the Turning seem insignificant.”

“It is true,” Nolar declared, “that some stones of Power can be misused for ill. The Stone of Konnard was meant to aid in healing, yet the Escorian Dark mage Tull twisted its force to produce hideous results.” She broke off for a moment, unable to continue. Duratan took her hand without a word. She smiled gratefully at him. “My memories of that awful time still revive past hurts. We learned then that a Dark mage could wrest vileness from an otherwise beneficial object. Had not our Witch stood forth with her jewel, great lasting evil would have been done. As it was, Tull was destroyed, and his effect upon the Stone of Konnard was totally expunged.” Nolar looked at me. “If your jewel had been wielded by forces of the Light,” she said earnestly, “then it would likely resist being subverted. Certainly, you were not tainted by your association with it, or the crystals and runeboard would have discerned it.”

“But a Dark mage with sufficient Power might also be able to corrupt such a stone,” Ouen warned. “I believe that we must endorse Kasarian’s proposal to thwart Gurborian’s alliance with Escore’s Dark mages.”

“How can we in Lormt possibly affect the maneuverings of a primary baron in Alizon?” demanded Duratan.

I passed my slate back to Morfew, who read for me, “Should there be sufficient lore in your archives concerning Escore’s Dark mages, perhaps we could use such in crafting a plan.”

As Morfew returned my slate, he observed, “Kasarian has to be our source for current knowledge about affairs in Alizon. My task is to search the archives anent Escore, and I intend to begin at first light . . . or possibly a few hours later.”

When Ouen again stood up to dismiss as, his tone was decisive. “We must be alert and probe for Kasarian’s true motives. Morfew, we rely upon you to draw him out as best you can. We shall meet here on the morrow and devise a joint plan. For the sake of Lormt—for the sake of Estcarp, we must determine how to meet this challenge. May we be guided by the Light!”