ignored my advice to leave entirely.’
‘Are you aware that the Emperor is preparing to invade Garteny?’ Samuel asked.
‘Of course I am. Why else do you think I’m here? My life was once relatively carefree and even occasionally enjoyable. Now I’m eternally locked up in meetings and discussions and doing things I vowed I’d never do again-all in a vain attempt to stop exactly that.’
‘We had all heard the rumours,’ Goodfellow spoke, ‘but we originally understood the Gartens were set to invade the Empire, not the other way around.’
‘That’s what the Emperor wanted you to think,’ Tulan explained. ‘The average Turian would have no problem whatsoever with the Emperor going to war, but the territories are another matter. He learned the hard way that the outlands must be carefully managed if they are not to fall back into disarray. A sudden return to war could bring disquiet and opportunity for rebellion to the territories, so better to make it seem like a defensive action. Once the invasion begins in full, he will proclaim that Garteny is a rogue state and must be conquered once and for all. Then, the Emperor can do as he wishes.’
‘That’s horrid,’ Goodfellow stated.
‘Of course it is,’ Tulan responded, ‘but it’s also very clever. That’s what politics is all about.’
‘So what are you going to do about it?’ Samuel asked.
‘There’s not much I can do,’ Tulan replied, ‘as it’s difficult. There are some on the Council who secretly do not favour the Emperor’s plans, but do not dare say so. The Emperor is all-powerful. No one can tell him what he can and cannot do. All we can do is make gentle suggestions.’
‘Could the Magicians’ Council just refuse to grant the Order’s assistance?’
Tulan laughed and shook his head. ‘Certainly not! That would be the end of us! We exist by the pure grace of the Emperor. One word from him and the Order vanishes. It’s only while we are useful to him that the Order can exist at all. That is why I have been progressing with the utmost care. Given enough time, I am hoping to turn this situation around, but all this sudden commotion is the last thing I need at the moment.’
‘What about the Archmage? Doesn’t he have any leverage?’ Goodfellow questioned.
‘He’s more intent on the war than anyone.’
‘So I have learned,’ Samuel noted.
‘But it doesn’t matter now,’ Tulan then stated. ‘Despite Master Dividian’s best efforts, it looks as though he has not been able to ready enough new magicians to support the Emperor’s armies. The Council has been debating the matter every day for long months, and it finally seems that the Emperor is rescinding his request for the Order’s assistance in battle. Today he told us we are no longer needed.’
‘Do you mean it?’ Goodfellow asked. ‘Does that mean it’s all over?’
‘Yes, of course. So there’s no need to be making so much trouble. If you give it some time, I’m sure you will see the Order returning to its old self soon enough.’
‘So the Emperor no longer wants magicians to go to battle?’ Samuel asked suspiciously.
‘That’s what I’ve heard,’ Tulan said.
‘And the invasion of Garteny is truly cancelled?’
‘The Emperor’s forces can’t hope to assail the fortified Garten cities. The Order’s assistance was the pivotal point of his invasion plan. I can’t see how any war could go ahead at this point. Turian losses would be extreme. No magic equals no invasion.’
‘What I’m asking is, are you
Tulan looked confounded. ‘Well…I don’t know. It just seemed obvious that the invasion can’t go ahead. Garten defences are just too strong. That’s what has been stopping it all these years. The Emperor will just have to come up with some other plan, or give up for good.’
‘Oh. Then we may still have a problem. While I was in Tindal, I met Master Ash,’ Samuel began to explain, ‘and he had unearthed an ancient artefact called the Argum Stone.’
‘Yes, I heard something about it,’ Tulan admitted. ‘They put it in the High Tower. I thought it was just some old relic.’
‘That’s right,’ Samuel continued. ‘I believe it is a source of magic from the time of the Ancients and the Archmage believes the same. I think you’ll find the Emperor now has the advantage he needs to break the Gartens. When I spoke to the Archmage, he seemed quite confident that the war was going ahead and I don’t think he cares if the Order lends their assistance or not.’
Tulan’s smile began to falter. ‘So what are you saying?’
‘I’m saying this relic, the Argum Stone, could potentially be powerful enough that the Emperor doesn’t
Tulan’s jaw literally dropped open. He stood and began pacing up and down the small room, rubbing at his eyes. ‘Hell’s bells, this is worse news than I could have feared,’ he stated. He stopped and looked to Samuel and Goodfellow, his eyes already red-rimmed from all the rubbing. He looked suddenly devastated. ‘I can’t believe it. I was foolish to think we had won so easily. What can I do now?’
‘There’s no need to panic,’ Samuel urged him. ‘Not yet. As far as we know, the Argum Stone is still locked up inside the High Tower. The Archmage has not figured out its workings, so we still may have time. From what I understand, the Argum Stone will need to be properly readied before it can be used at all. I suspect this has not happened yet. At the very least, I suspect that if such a powerful object was used in earnest, we magicians would feel it.’
‘Yes. Perhaps, you are right. Samuel, I need to find out more about this Argum Stone. What else do you know?’
‘That’s all,’ Samuel admitted. ‘The thing is immune to magical effect, but even that could be because the object is in a dormant state. Once awakened, it could potentially be another Staff of Elders. All this is only suspicion. I would need some time with the thing and we need more information. We should search the Great Library, or seek advice from the most learned of the Order.’
‘No. You two can’t risk going to the School of Magic. It’s being closely watched.’
‘So what, then?’ Goodfellow asked.
‘If they haven’t been able to awaken the Argum Stone by now, I’m sure they are hastily working on it,’ Samuel mused. ‘Ash seems to have some knowledge of the Ancient Lick, so I would guess he is the one doing most of the work. Somewhere he has found some information about the Ancients that no one else has come upon or he wouldn’t have found the thing in the first place. The only way to stop the war now is to stop them from unlocking the dormant power of that relic, or else to steal it away from them altogether.’
‘Lord Jarrod has just left the city this morning,’ Tulan stated. ‘Some say he has returned to Hammenton. There was once a small magic school there, but it was closed some time ago and converted into a retreat for research and transcription of the most ancient texts. Lord Jarrod runs the place. It’s possible he has returned there to unearth such information as you suggest.’
‘It’s possible,’ Samuel agreed. ‘If only the Grand Master were here. I’m sure he would be able to help us.’
‘Anthem?’ Tulan queried.
‘Yes. I’m sure he would know something.’
‘Very well. I will try to contact him.’
‘Contact him?’ Samuel asked with disbelief. ‘In Garteny?’
‘Oh, no. He’s not in Garteny,’ Tulan responded. ‘He never would have gone there and I doubt King Otgart would let him return in any account. He’s not far away at all, on the isle of Dunbar, where he can keep an eye on the city.’
‘He
‘You can’t spend as much time on the road as I have without getting to know some people, Samuel. Anthem is quite good at remaining hidden, but not perfect. Eventually, word of his hiding place made its way through my network of contacts to me.’
Samuel laughed. ‘Wonderful! Could he get here soon?’
‘Yes, he could be here in a few days-if he wanted to. It’s very dangerous for him now. He has made a great
