Note: Just like everyone to know, I'm chugging along just fine. The end is in sight. Starting now, the countdown to Chapter 20 is on! Oh boy, just wait until you see the conclusion for this story!
***
King Reynar Lobare stood silently by his desk, his attention directed solely on the long, thin box on his desk. He reached out with a finger and caressed the plain wooden box.
How can something so small hold so much power?
He picked up the box reverently. It didn't weigh much.
And yet it holds the hopes of the world. Sometimes, I think it weighs too much.
Reynar's thoughts were interrupted by a knock on his chamber door. He set the box down carefully before turning. "Enter."
Sereph, Reynar's manservant, closed the door behind him. "She fell fast asleep, my liege, as soon as her head hit the pillow. She didn't even take the time to undress," Sereph added, chuckling.
Reynar nodded. "She has had a trying day. We must go slowly with her, Sereph. I don't want any mistakes."
"My thoughts exactly," Sereph agreed. "To be honest, I was a bit surprised that she came along with you."
"I'm not as surprised. After all, Jon Laurent killed her husband," Reynar added, scowling. "Speaking of which, any news on his whereabouts?"
Reynar could tell from the disgruntled look on Sereph's face that they had no luck. "No, my liege. There seems to be some confusion on that matter. I've had reports that a Magi Victus stumbled back to Sanje, his mind addled by magic. The Magi Victus spoke of a golden man who sang to the body of Jon Laurent and brought him back to life. Really, I think it's nothing more than the ravings of a madman."
Reynar wasn't so sure. If Jon Laurent were truly dead, he would know it somehow. His gut told him that Jon Laurent might indeed have survived. "Nonetheless, have search parties continue to sweep the city. I will rest better when I know the fate of Jon Laurent."
Reynar sighed and ran his hands through his dark hair. There were too many things for him to take care of at this very moment.
I guess that's the burden of a king.
"My liege," Sereph said, breaking into Reynar's thoughts. "Raynolt was given specific orders to have Jon Laurent taken alive, wasn't he? From my reports, it seems like he tried very hard to kill him."
Reynar snorted. "Of course he tried to kill him. That man won't rest until he thwarts my plans. Still, I think a reminder is in order. Have him summoned to me in the morning."
"Yes, of course, my liege," Sereph replied, bowing. However, he made no move to the door.
Reynar eyed him wearily. "Is there something else?"
Sereph looked deeply uncomfortable. "My liege...people are talking...about what happened today with Ashford Caulston." He glanced nervously at Reynar's face before shifting his gaze away.
"Out with it already!" Reynar replied, exasperated.
Sereph bowed. "Sorry, my liege. It's just...a lot of things happened in the square today. A lot of Magi heard Ashford's accusation that Raynolt was trying to kill you. Then there was the issue with you...er...almost killing one of your childhood friends. And, to top it all off, that woman Sophina Crews shows up with that remarkable sword."
Reynar sighed, suddenly feeling his 200 years of life. He leaned back against the table and rubbed his eyes. "Ok, don't just summon Raynolt tomorrow morning; summon the entire council. I will smooth out the issue about Raynolt's assassination accusation."
"What are you going to tell them?"
Reynar tried to concentrate past the pounding in the back of his head. "I'm going to kill two birds with one stone. I'm going to issue an arrest warrant for Ashford to make it look like he was the one who went rogue. That should take care of his accusation about Raynolt as well as the reason I almost killed him. As for Sophina Crews...put out an arrest warrant for her as well."
"What's the charge?" Sereph asked as he walked past Reynar. He took out some parchment from the desk and dipped a quill in ink.
Reynar rubbed his eyes harder. His headache was really starting to pick up speed. "The charge is theft of a powerful Magi artifact. Ashford, her Magi accomplice, helped her steal it from the palace. It's a sword passed down from the line of Lobare. It should hold up reasonably well."
"Very my good, my liege," Sereph said, his quill scratching across the parchment with great speed.
"Make sure you schedule the council meeting for early in the morning, before sunrise," Reynar added. "Then arrange breakfast for two in my private dining room. Escort Evelyn there once she awakes."
"I will make all the arrangements," Sereph replied, making one last flick on the parchment. He put the quill back in the ink jar and rolled up the parchment. He bowed low to Reynar and made his way to the door. He pulled open the door and then stopped. "My liege, I had never seen you so angry," Sereph said quietly, without turning around.
The pain in Reynar's head was almost intolerable. He pinched his eyes shut with his fingers. "I know," he replied, his teeth gritted. "Ashford's accusation that our friends are dead because of me stung me harder than I thought."
"Would you really have killed him, your childhood friend?" Sereph's asked, his voice barely above a whisper. He still stood with his hand on the door.
"I don't know," Reynar replied honestly. A particularly nasty throb in his head made him wince in pain. He didn't want to think about that.
Damn you, Ashford, for making me do this!
"Don't let the burden you bear crush you, or you will become that which you are trying to prevent," Sereph said cryptically. He closed the door quietly behind him.
Reynar dropped to his knees as soon as the door closed, hunched over in pain. He used too much magic today. He never expected Jon Laurent to be capable of mathematical magic. He had to react as fast as he could to fling up that shield over Raynolt in time. That type of complex magic was too much for him in his current state. He wasn't Jon Laurent.
He raised his head shakily, staring with pain-filled eyes at his desk. At the plain wooden box that sat upon it.
Soon, I will be powerful enough to stop Jon Laurent. I will be powerful enough to save the world.
***
It seemed like Raynolt had barely closed his eyes when somebody started pounding on his door. "What?" he shouted in annoyance. He swung his feet over his bed and rubbed his eyes.
"Grand Master, King Reynar has summoned the council for a meeting," a voice shouted from behind the door.
"When?"
"In one hour, Grand Master." He heard loud footsteps as the man walked away, apparently in a hurry to summon the other council members.
"What is Reynar doing, summoning us so early?" Raynolt muttered. He went to bed only a couple of hours ago.
I have a bad feeling I'm not going to get much rest during this war.
He had just relieved himself in his chamber pot when there came another knock on his door. "What?"
"It's Lenard, Grand Master."
"Come in, come in," Raynolt sighed. He pulled off his sleeping gown and tossed it aside.
Lenard shut the door softly behind him. "Did you get the summons?"
Raynolt put on a clean set of undergarments before responding. "Yeah, I got the summons." He turned around and stared at Lenard in annoyance. "You're already dressed? Don't you ever sleep?"
"I've been tending to our dead," he replied quietly.
Raynolt opened the doors on his dresser and rummaged through his robes. He pulled out a black robe with silver lining and held it out at arms length. It was a good color for today's business. "That's a pity," he finally said, pulling the robe over his head. When his head popped out of the top of the robe, he saw a quick look of contempt cross Lenard's face. "Is there a problem?"
Lenard hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I follow you because of the help you gave me and for your plans for the future of the Magi. Still, I can't pretend to like your callousness and blatant disregard for the lives of others." He closed his mouth shut, apparently afraid of saying more.
Lenard's observation stung Raynolt more than he thought possible. "Tell that to my parents!" Raynolt snapped, before he even knew what he was saying. "It's the Grand Master's prerogative to disregard the lives of the Magi as much as he sees fit! Why else would you send Magi to a war who had no business being there! They were researchers, for God's sake!" Raynolt's voice broke at the end. He turned away and busied himself by slowly pulling up his boots.
The silence was agonizing. Raynolt waited for Lenard to say something to break the tension but the man was silent. Raynolt finished dressing without once looking directly at Lenard. "Let's go," Raynolt muttered, motioning to the door.
Lenard bowed slightly and opened the door for him. Raynolt took heart at the sign of respect. He walked down the hallway feeling slightly better.
"Forgive me," Lenard finally said, as they walked along the path out of the Emporium.
Raynolt felt strangely mollified by his apology. He was right, after all. Raynolt wouldn't deny that he was callous when it came to the well-being of other people. "I will...try to be more considerate from now." If he was in a good mood, that was. He was smart enough not to say that aloud.
They walked up to the magnificent front gates of the Emporium, which was lit up with Mage-light this early in the morning. Their carriage was already waiting for them. Raynolt nodded to the remaining council members, minus the sadly departed Safra Howe and Morgana, as they climbed up into their own carriages.
Lenard joined him in his carriage and was silent for a few moments as the carriage jerked forward. He leaned forward intently. "So, any word from Jachal?"
Raynolt grimaced. "No," he admitted grudgingly. "I suspect he, Krysia, and Gero are all dead." It had been a particularly frustrating night for Raynolt. The day had not gone at all as he hoped. Well, except for his murder of Morgana.
