looked at Wigg.
“I am not surprised that you have heard about it,” he answered. “However, despite the many legends, to my knowledge I am the only living person in the world who commands the gift. But I never discussed it with you, or other Directorate members. After all these years, why do you ask about it?”
“TheJin’Sai has been lured away by a Vagaries being named Xanthus,” Wigg answered, “who is also known as a Darkling, and serves the Heretics of the Guild. Until several days ago, I never knew about such a creature. It was evident that he commandedK’Shari. Should he return, I will need to know more about this special talent.”
Aeolus shook his head. “I doubt that this Xanthus truly commands the gift,” he said. “As I stated, I believe I am the only one to possess it.”
“Before arriving at the palace, Xanthus sent Tristan a blank scroll and a freshly cut tree branch,” Wigg said. “Witnesses saw Xanthus cut the branch in half in midair.”
It was clear that Aeolus was intrigued. “Go on,” he said softly.
“Later at the palace he used his gift,” Wigg said. “Tossing his axe into the air, he cut a flier of the fields in half while the butterfly was in flight. He never bothered looking at his target. I have never seen anything like it.”
His gaze intense, Aeolus leaned forward. “Tell me,” he said. “Just before he threw his axe did he say anything odd-an oath, perhaps?”
“Yes,” Wigg nodded. “He said: ‘My ears hear no begging. My eyes see no pain. My heart feels no remorse.’ It is also said that a long time ago, a sword master first showedK’Shari to an impudent young Royal Guard officer as a way to spare killing him in a duel. Have you ever heard the phrase or the story?”
Like he was being taken back in time, Aeolus closed his eyes. When he opened them, his expression softened.
“Yes,” he answered gently. “You see, I was that Royal Guard officer, and those words were my master’s. It was before I met you, and before I learned about my endowed blood. The martial master who saved my life by refusing my stupid challenge was the same man from whom I took over this school. As you know, in my early youth I was a penniless orphan. Joining the Royal Guard seemed the best way to raise myself up from the streets where I lived and begged. But for a long time after that I foolishly felt that I had much to prove-thus the unnecessary challenge to the master. By showing meK’Shari he not only saved my life, but forever changed my path, as well. Little did I know that I would one day rise to become a wizard of the Directorate. Even so, I never forgot him. I never told my fellow Directorate members about the story because I found it embarrassing.”
Aeolus gently cupped his tea in one hand. His eyes held a faraway look.
“Despite my earlier misgivings, it seems that you are right,” he added. “Someone-or something, as you describe this Darkling-has also mastered the gift. It takes a lifetime to do so. If what you say about him serving the Heretics is true, then they must have excellent teachers among them.”
“Not necessarily,” Wigg said. “Faegan has reason to believe that Xanthus was giftedK’Shari by Forestallment.”
Surprised again, Aeolus put down his teacup. “Do you mean to say that Forestallments exist?” he whispered. “The Directorate’s best minds always considered them myth! Even Faegan was unconvinced!”
“Oh, Forestallments exist,” Wigg answered. “We continue to unravel their secrets little by little. What can you tell us that might help? I fear we haven’t seen the last of Xanthus. Not only does he commandK’Shari, but the craft, as well.”
“I don’t understand,” Aeolus said. “If he was such a threat, then why didn’t you, Faegan, and Jessamay combine your gifts to kill him there and then?”
“Because by then he had already stolen the Paragon,” Wigg answered sadly. “We were attending a masquerade ball and didn’t have a ready cave water supply, so killing him meant also killing the stone. Normally I would have had some in a vial, hanging around my neck. But as I said, it was a masquerade-the vial was in my chambers. I’m not sure I will ever forgive myself for that blunder. It will never happen again.”
“I see,” Aeolus answered.
“Why do the plants die whenever Xanthus appears?” Abbey asked. “According to witnesses, the wind also calms, birds and insects stop singing, and rivers refuse to flow.”
“Because when he calls his gift he projects a stillness so overpowering that it literally affects the forces of nature,” Aeolus answered. “It is the same with me.”
“Did Satine commandK’Shari?” Wigg asked.
Aeolus shook his head. “She knew about the legend, but even she did not know that I commanded the gift. Had she stayed with me, I have little doubt that Satine would have been the first to whom I would have gladly imparted the needed training. She was that good.”
“Is there anything else you can tell us?” Wigg asked.
“Only thatK’Shari is an amazingly potent discipline,” Aeolus answered, “one that can be used to either save life or to destroy it. Clearly, Xanthus is a destroyer. If you face him again, my friend, use only the craft. Even you will not be able to defeat him physically.”
Abbey scowled. “What do mean by that?”
Aeolus looked at Wigg. “They do not know?” he asked.
“No,” Wigg answered. “I had planned on telling them before we left here-provided that you agreed to see me.”
“I understand,” Aeolus answered.
Standing, Aeolus walked to one wall. With unimaginable speed he grasped a short sword hanging there. His arm a blur, he threw it end over end, straight at Wigg’s head.
Shailiha gasped. Even Tristan couldn’t summon such quickness. If Wigg couldn’t bring the craft soon enough, he would die where he sat.
Raising his arms, Wigg held them wide. Then they all heard a sharp slap. Shailiha’s mouth fell open.
Wigg had caught the sword blade between his hands. As though nothing had happened, he calmly laid it beside him on the floor. Relieved but incensed, Shailiha immediately sprang to her feet and pointed an accusatory finger at Aeolus.
“How dare you!” she shouted. “That’s the First Wizard sitting there! Had he not been able to summon the craft in time he would have been killed! I could have you strung up from a lamp pole for less!”
Wigg winced at the princess’s rude behavior. “Please sit down,” he said.
Confused by Wigg’s calm acceptance of all this, Shailiha reluctantly did as he asked.
Aeolus smiled. “Excitable, isn’t she?” he asked Wigg.
The First Wizard sighed. “As is her brother,” he answered. “You have no idea.”
“I also demand that one of you tell us why that just happened!” Tyranny exclaimed. “We didn’t come here to be attacked!”
“Wigg was never in danger,” Aeolus said. “Nor did he use the craft to save himself. You see, it wasn’t needed.”
“It wasn’t needed?”Shailiha protested. “Of course it was! No one is that fast!”
Wigg looked over at her. “Aeolus is right,” he said quietly. Standing, Wigg pulled back each robe sleeve. As the craft’s familiar glow surrounded him, then faded away, the three women couldn’t believe their eyes.
A serpent lay tattooed on Wigg’s right upper arm; a sword tattoo had materialized on his other. As the azure glow faded, the tattoos vanished. After rolling down his sleeves, Wigg sat down.
Shaking her head in disbelief, Shailiha simply stared at him. “Satine’s arms carried those same symbols!” she breathed. “They can mean only one thing-you’re also a graduate of the Serpent and the Sword!” Turning leftward, Shailiha glared at Abbey. “Did you know about this?” she demanded.
Pursing her lips, Abbey crossed her arms. “No,” she answered, “I did not. It seems a certain First Wizard has some explaining to do when we return to the palace.”
Shailiha looked back at Wigg. Sometimes it seemed that the longer she knew him, the less she understood him. Wizards and their infernal secrets!
“I don’t know which question to ask first,” she said to him. “Where, when, or why?”
“The ‘when’ took place several hundred years ago,” Wigg answered. “The Sorceresses’ War had recently been won. I had just returned from banishing the Coven upon the Sea of Whispers. I’m not ashamed to admit that those were emotional times for me-for all us wizards, in fact. During the Directorate’s early days we members made more than our share of mistakes. The newly formed Directorate had just ordered me to cast the traitorous
