dispel their superstitions and, when he was not on deck with Jess, he kept himself locked below in his tiny cabin, scouring through his journals and notes over and over again. He did not really expect to find anything new in those papers, but the act gave him something physical to focus upon. He had seen well enough of the sea already and wanted to be alone with his misery.
The city looked quite different from this vantage point but, as the Southern Bird made harbour, Samuel realised the docks of Cintar had changed little, if any, since he had last seen them. Great, tall ships lay anchored within the sanctuary of the cove. Tiny longboats ferried cargo back and forth from ship to shore, while the smaller craft, such as the Southern Bird, could pull alongside the long stone-and-wood jetties that stuck out from the shore, well beyond the city walls.
Samuel actually felt relief to see Cintar again. He had been at sea for far too long and his stomach had experienced quite enough of sea travel. It had taken about ten days for the tiny bobbing ship to skirt its way along the coast and Samuel had spent more than his fair share of that time leaning over the side.
Men moved all over on the docks, carrying bundles and containers of all forms, while the officials stood ready with handfuls of paperwork. A long, wide plank was pushed from the pier onto the Southern Bird and one such fellow stepped past Samuel to talk with the captain. Samuel urged Jess up onto the dock, pulling her by the reins. Her hooves clattered nervously on the wood, but Samuel finally had her safely up on the pier. He was not entirely sure why he had brought the animal all the way back with him. She had been his companion since he had first left Cintar, so it just seemed fitting that they should return together.
Seeing the crowded confines of the city laid before him, however, brought a worrying thought back to Samuel. It had been foretold by Celios the Seer that he would kill the Emperor and, despite Samuel’s best efforts to escape the place, destiny had found a way to draw him back. He had no intention of even approaching the Emperor, but Samuel had the nagging worry in the back of his mind that perhaps he had no say in whatever destiny had planned for him.
Samuel was still wearing the simple clothes he had grown accustomed to in Tindal, with his black magician’s clothes still folded tightly in his pack. As he led Jess up the steep roads from the docks, he seemed to be seeing the city with fresh eyes. The fashions seemed strange to him now and all the noise and pushing and shoving seemed quite overwhelming. He could imagine nothing more in contrast to his life in Tindal, where, looking down from the goat-spotted hills, he could go days on end barely seeing a soul.
He found his way promptly to the School of Magic, spying more dark clothing and magicians’ robes the closer he came, but many of the faces were unfamiliar. Without a pause, he led his animal through the entrance and was given only a few glances by passing students. He entered the stables, where the apprentices saw to Jess upon his commands, jumping at the tone of his voice. While the boys were tending to her, Samuel stepped into a vacant stall with his pack and quickly changed into his loose-flowing magician’s robes. They would hide his features somewhat and allow him to make his way around the school without attracting attention.
Samuel stuffed his other clothes into his satchel and fastened the buckles.
‘Mind my horse well,’ he told them firmly. ‘Keep my pack up in the cupboard up there.’ They nodded, as he eyed the topmost cabinet.
He left the stable boys to their work and strode out of the stables, feeling strangely awkward in his old mage clothes. The sun shone strongly for a moment as the clouds briefly parted. Returning to the School of Magic brought back many memories. At another time, Samuel would have smiled or laughed aloud, but instead he took a deep breath and started off to find Master Glim.
As he made his way across the grounds, he was astonished to catch sight of a magician he knew very well and he had to run to catch up with the man’s long strides.
‘Lomar!’ Samuel called as he caught up with his friend under the shade of the enormous oak tree that sprung up beside the Great Library. The grey paving stones were all cracked and pushed upwards around the base of the tree and its roots had done similar damage all around.
Lomar stopped and turned around. It took him a moment to recognise Samuel, but then a smile beamed across his face. ‘Samuel,’ he said. ‘You’re back! What a wonderful surprise!’ He then looked around the courtyard for any others. ‘Is it safe for you to be here?’
‘I had to return,’ Samuel said. ‘Let’s go inside so we can talk.’
Inside, the Great Library was dim and deserted. No one had yet drawn open the slatted window shutters to let in the morning light and it was a good sign that no one was there. Still, Samuel drew Lomar into a distant vacant niche at the very rear of the building.
‘I have bad news,’ Samuel spoke in hushed tones, ‘but first, I need to know what has been happening in my absence?’
‘Everything changes and everything stays the same,’ Lomar began. ‘The Magicians’ Council is ever arguing and bickering. There is ever talk of a war that never seems to begin. Lord Matar and some others left the city in disgust. No one has heard any word of them since.’
‘And Ash?’
Lomar raised an eyebrow. ‘Master Ash? I haven’t seen him, but I’ve heard he has returned after some period of absence.’
Samuel nodded. ‘I’ve followed him here from Tindal. He has discovered an ancient relic and returned it here to the city. It is called the Argum Stone.’
‘I have not heard of it. There was some talk of him making some discovery, but I did not pay it much mind. I honestly have been doing my best to ignore the goings-on of the Council.’
Samuel nodded. ‘I’m sure he was sent to find it by the Circle of Eyes. It seems to be another device from the time of the Ancients. I found a few notes mentioning it here in the library and I think Dividian has been researching it as well. I’m sure the two must be collaborating, but I don’t know what they plan to do with it.’
Lomar shook his head with worry. ‘Just what we need,’ he sighed. ‘As if we need even more to concern us.’
‘What of Master Glim? Is he here?’
‘Yes,’ Lomar replied softly, ‘but he is not quite the man he once was. The changes in the school have taken their toll on him. He is not quite his old self without Grand Master Anthem to spur him on.’
Samuel nodded. ‘What of Eric Goodfellow? Where is he?’
‘He’s still here,’ Lomar answered. ‘Together with Eric Pot.’
‘Eric?’ Samuel exclaimed with disbelief. ‘How can that be? I thought he was dead.’
‘He’s alive,’ Lomar corrected.
‘So the spell of travelling was successful? That’s incredible!’
‘It turned out his spell was entirely successful. Eric was transported all the way to his hometown in Reve. It took him a while get back here, but once he did, Dividian set him and Goodfellow straight to work researching the spell. Dividian still hopes to learn the secret of such magic, but so far, they’ve had no luck. It rattled poor Eric quite a bit, so I’m not surprised he has had such trouble repeating it. There was a great fuss made over him when he first returned, but it soon faded away as the months passed without result.’
‘Where are they now?’
‘I’m not sure,’ Lomar replied. ‘I was actually looking for them myself just before you found me. Master Glim is giving a class. Perhaps we should go wait in his cottage. From what Goodfellow told me, I think it is not such a good thing if you are seen here.’
‘I’m sure you’re right,’ Samuel noted.
They left the library, Samuel with his hood up, and made for Master Glim’s small residence. A few candles on the wall lit themselves as they entered, despite the room being already bright with sunlight.
‘I see Master Glim is still learning a few things,’ Samuel said and noted the spells involved.
‘He’s had himself buried in research, now that he has little contact with the students,’ explained Lomar. ‘I know he’s trying to make this candle-spell work only at night, but it’s understandably complicated. Wait here and I shall fetch us both something to eat.’
‘If you see either of the Erics, could you let them know that I’m here?’
‘I’ll send word for them to come, but you should know that they are Master Goodfellow and Master Pot now. Their graduation was said to be quite spectacular. They are both highly skilled and will become great magicians of our time, I’m sure.’
