time.”
“You’ve been looking forward to meeting me?” Stuart asked.
“‘Indeed,” he replied as if I was silly to doubt the authenticity of his statement.
Stuart looked questioningly at Ogilvy.
“I haven’t been completely forthcoming with you James,” Ogilvy said. “I’m privy to information that you weren’t ready to hear.”
“While the general concept of the information is common knowledge among our kind,” Ogilvy continued, “realizing that you were the subject was quite difficult. The faithful had been searching for this information over many generations, trying to piece together clues of a prophecy made several thousand years ago by the greatest of seers. Just recently, Akil was able to discern the meaning of the final unsolved clue.”
“And this prophecy has led you to me?” Stuart asked.
“Most certainly, Akil replied.”
“What is it the prophecy said?” Stuart asked.
“It translated to ‘the son of a noble lord, born among unfaithful would rise and lead mankind through the Epoch Terminus. Without whom all shall perish,” said Ogilvy.
“Surely that I cannot be the only son of a noble lord born among unfaithful.
“This is where the clues are of particular relevance,” said Akil
“The first specifies the geographical area where he would be born. The second details the bloodline. The third unveils the surname. The final clue, which has until most recently remained un- or misdeciphered, details the abilities of the one whom The Seer spoke of.”
The three men sat in silence for a moment.
“And you believe I am the one to which the prophecy refers?” asked Stuart, his hands shaking.
“The prophet specified the fourth line of his father’s name,” said Akil.
“But I am only the third,” Stuart began then stopped abruptly.
“James. My son,” he said in almost a whisper.
“Yes, it is not you we seek but your son. Before the pyramids were hewn from the stones of the desert, it was written by our kind. He will lead us through the dark hours that draw closer with every breath I take,” Akil said.
Akil reached into his pocket, removed his ornate pocket watch, flipped it open, and again shook his head with a concerned expression before snapping it shut.
“James is barley three. What could he possibly do?”
“Much must be done to prepare, and I’m afraid we have precious little time,” said Akil, ignoring Stuart’s question.
“How are you certain that James is the one spoken of by the seer?”
“Understand, Mr. Stuart, Akil wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t.”
“What is he supposed to do? How is he supposed to lead? He is barely three years old.”
Stuart looked at Akil. The friendly expression remained on his face. He exuded confidence in a calm, reassuring manor. His humble posture appeared to relax Stuart.
“We merely have to show the council that he is in fact the one to which The Seer refers. That shall be left to me. You, Mr. Stuart, must prepare,” Akil said.
“Why must I prepare?” Stuart asked.
”You must begin you training.”
“But I am not the one…”
“You are correct,” Ogilvy interrupted, “However, you are his father. No man has greater influence over a child than his father. You must therefore be trained in the teachings most important for your son.”
“Magic?” asked Stuart.
“Faith, survival, negotiations, and combat. All are essential to James’s success.”
“I thought your kind was peaceful,” said Stuart.“
“Each facet of my training will be preceded by a lengthy explanation of its relevance.”
“To begin when?” Stuart asked.
“This very moment,” replied Akil.
Again the scene faded to white then reformed. The three men were standing on the grassy plateau where the council meeting took place. They were the only people in sight. Akil wandered off quietly, leaving Ogilvy and Stuart in each other’s company.”
“What do you know about magic, Mr. Stuart?” asked Ogilvy.
“Nothing really, only hearsay.”
“Why do you think I can perform magic and you cannot?”
Stuart appeared to ponder the question for a moment before replying.
“Perhaps you were born with the ability?” Stuart finally replied.
“What if I told you every human is capable of magic?” asked Ogilvy
“I’d ask you to prove it.”
“Magic is the combination of three things: knowledge, experience, and faith. This is why we refer to ourselves as the faithful and the nonmagical as the unfaithful. The only thing that separates our abilities from theirs is faith, or lack thereof. Knowledge can be learned. Every man has the capacity to learn. Experience obviously comes with practice and study. Faith is where someone who is born to an unfaithful family struggles. You have seen me perform magic. I’ve done things you’d consider inexplicable. If I asked you to perform that same type of magic this moment you couldn’t. Not because you are unable but because doubt exists. As long as there is doubt, there cannot be magic”
Some people say,” Oglivy continued, “faith is belief based on the abstract, but those who lack faith are only blind to the proof that surrounds them. One must believe they can perform magic. They must know the skill, but they must also know that they are able to perform the skill. They must have faith in both their abilities and in the incantation itself. I don’t think I can move this rock.” caressing a large boulder beside them. “I know I can.”
“Ogilvy whispered, ‘ Jasoketa,’ lifted his hand from the surface of the rock, and waited. A moment later the boulder freed itself from its earthen bed and hovered several inches above the ground. With a smile and a lowering of his hand, Ogilvy returned it to the earth.
“There are some who say faith cannot be taught,’ Ogilvy said. “I believe confidence in the knowledge translates into confidence in one’s abilities. You must know you can move that rock. Once you understand the incantation you will see the power was with you all along. The knowledge I have of the language combined with the experience of moving objects and the confidence that I am able to move the object allows me to move the object.”
“Just as I know dried heather, sap from the Baobab tree, mixed, crushed and stored for twenty rotations along with the correct incantation will allow me to transport anywhere on earth. Some say beyond.”
“You’re telling me all I have to do is believe that I can do something to be magical?” asked Stuart.
“Knowledge, experience, and faith,” Ogilvy replied.
Ogilvy went on to teach Stuart the incantation required to lift an object from the ground without touching it. He told him the history of the word, its origins, and the pronunciation.
“The way a word is spoken is as important as the word itself. It must come from deep in the lungs at barley a whisper,” Ogilvy said. “As the word is spoken and the air vacates your lungs, energy from your core will flow outward through your hands. Your hands are the gateway between the magic inside you and the world around you.”
Stuart tried repeatedly to lift a stone no larger than his palm and was unsuccessful.
As the sun set behind the distant western mountains the pair returned to the drawing room leaving Akil, who had not moved from his seated position in the center of a ruined building since shortly after their arrival. Ogilvy reached into his cloak for another pinch of transporting powder.
“Perhaps Akil was wrong,” said Stuart
“Do not be disheartened,” he replied, “we are several hours into a lesson some receive before they can walk. All things come in time.”
The scene faded leaving Margaret staring off into the distance-her expression one of complete shock. Stuart stood, stepped to the fireplace and added several logs while Akil refreshed his drink.
