After breakfast, the pair readied their travelling packs and went out into the palace grounds to meet Grand Master Anthem as they had agreed. There was a great sense of urgency to their new plan and Samuel was only glad that they had been afforded the luxury of being allowed to sleep before leaving. He was sure that if General Ruardin had been allowed his way, they would have been set upon their horses and sent off to Ghantin the middle of the night,
Anthem was waiting there, with a set of stablehands nearby with horsesat the ready. The old man had visited their room late in the night and given them a brief outline of the situation. It had been decided that Goodfellow should also go along, and the spectacled young magician was happy to oblige. It seemed a note had been found during the night, exactly as Celios had predicted, so it seemed the old seer’s visions were,indeed,proving true. Still, it did not put Samuel any more at ease. He only hoped he lived up to the Desert Queen’s expectations.
‘Is everything set to go?’ Samuel asked.
‘There have been a few changes since we last spoke,’ the old man revealed. Almost as if on cue, Grand Master Tudor and Eric Pot appeared through the nearby hedge gate and began approaching, also carrying their light travel packs. ‘I know you and Eric have not been seeing eye to eye recently, but it’s time to put all that behind you. He is one of the most powerful magicians we have, and we are investing all our resources into this mission. The fate of the Empire depends on it-perhaps even more.’
Samuel took a deep breath. ‘Very well.I understand,’ he replied despondently.
‘Also, I will not be accompanying you. Grand Master Tudor will lead the party.’
‘Why is that?’ Goodfellow asked with concern.
‘Grand Master Gallivan and I will be heading north. We aim to pierce the Paatin force and make for Garteny. There we will endeavour to meet with King Otgart and forge an alliance against this new threat. Grand Master Tudor has some experience in the desert. Admittedly, it was some time ago, but he has the rudimentary knowledge of such lands that will be required.’
‘Do you think King Otgart will be responsive?’ Goodfellow asked.
‘In these days, Master Goodfellow, who knows? I just hope he still has some sense left in his head. We can only try. Together we have more chance of repelling the Paatin but,if the desert people have decided not to further harass his lands, then I see little benefit in him joining us. Better for him to wait until the Empire’s demise. The Paatin will be doing his work for him. My task will be to convince him that such a situation would not be to his favour; although I still haven’t worked out quite how I will manage that, but Gallivan and I will think of something along the way. We always do.’
Just then, Grand Master Tudor and Eric arrived at their sides. Eric walked straight past them and to the horses, chose one,and began strapping his pack to it.
‘Everyone ready?’ Tudor asked and then turned to Anthem. ‘Have you given them all the bad news?’
‘Not quite,’ Anthem responded.
‘There’s more?’ Samuel asked.
‘Just a little,’ Anthem admitted. ‘Master Celios had another minor revelation during the night. Although at first he was sure the arrival of the Koians was some blight upon us and spent all night screaming about our doom, he now believes their arrival has some deeper meaning.’
‘No,’ Samuel uttered with disbelief, guessing what his old teacher was about to suggest.
‘Unfortunately, yes,’ Anthem returned. ‘The Koian party will be accompanying you as far as Ghant. He feels they will be required there or at some point along the way. Whatforexactly, he cannot say.’
‘Are you sure that’s wise?’ the ever-practical Goodfellow asked. ‘We know nothing about them.’
‘No,it’snot at allwise,’ Anthem admitted, ‘but Master Celios spat the statement out in front of everyone, so there’s no retracting it now. He is the infallible Seer of Cintar and the old Emperor’s most trusted of magical advisers. If General Ruardin alone had heard him, that would have sealed the matter, but he leapt up in the middle of our meeting and announced it for all to hear. I’m afraid that is how it is going to be.’
‘And what do the Koians think about this?’ Samuel asked, full of ire.
‘They did not need much persuading. I spoke to Ambassador Canyon at length last night and he revealed many interesting things about his people. He, himself, is a man of many layers. They have recovered their strength rather quickly and seem eager to repay us for our hospitality. They are a pride-driven people and will go to great lengths to assist us in any way they can. And,as their ambassador says, with Cintar under threat they are in danger wherever they are. As long as we respect their traditions, they will keep to their side of the bargain and help us when asked. I have briefed Grand Master Tudor on the bare necessities of what is required.’
At this, the other frail magician nodded with consideration.
‘But, Grand Master,’ Goodfellow began. ‘They will slow us down immensely. I thought we were on a mission of utmost speed and importance?’
‘We’ve been through all that already with Master Celios,’ Grand Master Tudor stepped in to explain. He looked a little under the weather and was perhaps not too keen on some of the finer details of the mission himself. ‘He is adamant that this is the way things should be and that fate will play its hand accordingly. What can we do, Samuel? We have little choice but to agree.’
‘If worse comes to worst, perhaps we can find a way of losing them along the highway?’
‘Not likely,’ Tudor responded. ‘Celios will kick up a fuss.’
‘One moment,’ Samuel said, feeling another imminent disappointment about to manifest itself. ‘Why are there six horses here? Who else is coming?’
‘That is the part I was about to explain,’ Anthem said. ‘So you can be guided appropriately, Master Celiosand Sir Fersewill also be accompanying you.’ To which Samuel could only groan and Goodfellow started rubbing at his eyes nervously. ‘I know he has his quirks, and he has not been improving with age, but Sir Ferse will be there to take care of him. The two of them have been close since the Emperor’s death and Sir Ferse knows how to settle Master Celios when he gets agitated.’
‘This keeps getting worse and worse.’
‘I’m sure you will barely knowthey arethere,’ Anthem added with a smirk. ‘I wish I were going with you!’ he added sarcastically.
At that moment, Master Celios came hobbling out into view, with Sir Ferse in tow carrying their bags. The party waited in silence for the two of them to arrive.
‘What a brisk morning!’ the old Master Celios announced. ‘And a lovely day for a trip! I feel twenty years younger!’
Samuel could only shake his head as he set about choosing his mount from the group.
‘It is time for me to go andpreparewith Grand Master Gallivan,’ Anthem announced. ‘We will be travelling light and fast. We all have a great distance to travel, so I trust your journey will be successful and I hope to meet you back here upon your return. Once all these distractions are out of the way, perhaps we can start sorting out this infernal Empire once and for all.’
They bade him farewell and the old magician stalked back towards the palace, leaving them to finish their preparations and mount up.
‘Which way are we going?’ Master Celios said, turning his horse in circles beneath him.
‘To the East Gate,’ Sir Ferse replied, leaning over in his saddle and grasping the old master’s reins and setting the animal straight. The pair led the way across the grass towards the great gates of the palace grounds.
The two Erics set their horses to a trot and started out after them.
‘Well? Coming?’ Grand Master Tudor asked, slapping his boots into the sides of his mount and clicking his tongue to start it away. He was quite frail-looking and somewhat resembled a scarecrow strapped atop his horse.
Samuel could only shake his head on sight of the group.
‘Well?’ he said, patting the neck of the brown animal beneath him. ‘What shall we call you then?’ Of course,the animal did not reply. ‘I’ve already had one Jess. How about Brown Eric? But you’re a girl and we already have two Erics, so it makes no sense. Then again,neither does any of this, so it’s quite befitting. Let’s go, Brown Eric.’ And with that,he shook the reins with a sharp snap and set Brown Eric off after the others, shaking his head with concern at the whole affair.
