Phoenix Gift

Chapter Thirteen

Morning found Xavier in the garden with Alexis, Cadmus and her ladies-in-waiting. Last night’s meal still weighed heavily on his mind. Although expecting an objection to Cadmus, he had not counted on one toward the wizards, and certainly not M’zuzi. They would have to be more careful. He looked at the gray sky as if he would find answers there.

It would be so much easier if Akina was here, Xavier thought. She always knew exactly what needed to be done or said. I am glad she cannot see these dark days. She has seen more than enough darkness for one lifetime.

Alexis laughed as Cadmus chased her around a sagging black mulberry tree. The garden was not as carefully tended as the ones on Milagros and did not benefit from fairies. As magic ebbed away, the fertility of the soil also lapsed. The diminutive tree might be the last to grow in the garden before all went to root. Xavier watched his daughter play.

Why did one so young need to grow up in such dire times?

“There you are!” Harrod’s voice boomed.

Xavier turned and smiled at his old friend.

“What are you doing here?” Harrod asked.

“Alexis wanted to play in the garden,” Xavier answered. “There’s no harm in that, I hope.”

“No harm,” Harrod shook his head. “But children never want to play in the garden. They much rather play in their playroom with their toys, the ones they haven’t broken anyway.”

Xavier looked at Alexis, who could not be happier playing in the sun among the flowers and trees. Is it her gypsy blood that made it so, or Akina’s influence?

“Still, I guess it is natural, taking into account her mother,” Harrod sighed, as if speaking Xavier’s thoughts. “I don’t suppose you have ever thought of providing yourself with a proper heir.”

“How do you mean?” Xavier asked, though he already knew Harrod’s answer.

“I mean, by marrying a woman of royal blood. Akina was lovely, as maidens are. Even I would be tempted to keep her as a mistress, but marriage? She was a gypsy, a—”

“That is my wife you are speaking of, Harrod,” Xavier warned. “And her birth does not matter. On Milagros she was made royalty upon our wedding.”

“Yes, yes I know. On Milagros there are different laws,” Harrod nodded, closing the matter. It was an old conversation and not one they were ever likely to reach common ground. “Now, about these wizards of yours.”

“What of them?” Xavier asked.

“The last wizard I knew was blacker than a starless night.”

“Then you have forgotten M’zuzi, the wizard who faced the Dark One and destroyed him.”

“Why do you continue to associate with more wizards? I thought you would have learned your lesson. The Dark One was also one of yours, was he not?”

“If you mean to say that he was a member of the Council, yes, until he turned down the dark path. No one is born evil, Harrod, not even wizards. Wizards govern themselves, which is the purpose of the Council. It resides in Milagros but is separate from Royal control.”

“And what makes you think these wizards won’t put us all in jeopardy again?”

“They are my allies and will continue to be my allies until they prove themselves untrustworthy. Just like you.”

“I do not like to be mentioned in the same breath as a wizard. You know I cannot allow them to remain in my castle another night. My people already speak of rebellion and the loyalty of my knights hangs by a thread.”

“Rebellion?” Xavier cast a worried glance at his friend. This was unexpected news. Garvan had warned of unrest and mistrust of magic, but not outright hostility. “Why?”

“The usual reasons: disease, crop failure, animals cannot give birth to healthy offspring and produce inferior products. My people look for a reason.”

“So, they blame you rather than the true cause.”

“Such is the responsibility of the King. But what do you mean by true cause?” Harrod raised an eyebrow.

“Magic, Harrod, the reason for my presence here,” Xavier said.

“I don’t understand.”

“Magic is dying on Nuwa and without magic everything else will die with it. Crops, animals, people, everything.”

“Magic,” Harrod repeated as if it was an insult. “Magic is nothing but disaster. Do you know how long it has taken me to run every living thing that resembled something magical out of my kingdom? Twenty years.”

“And now you are paying the price for it,” Xavier nodded. “Your kingdom is suffering because it lacks the beings that attract magic, but your kingdom will not be the last. Soon, all will suffer.”

“Including Milagros?”

“It is difficult to say,” Xavier sighed. “Magic is still very strong on Milagros. It might be that we shall be the last to fall, but even we cannot avert disaster forever.”

“Is this why you have come? To warn me as you did twenty years ago?”

“No. I have come seeking a sorceress said to still reside on your lands.”

“A sorceress? In my kingdom?”

“Indeed. You may not realize it, but your kingdom also encompasses Centaur Valley.”

“Centaur Valley? That is only a myth, a legend. And what will you do when you find this sorceress?”

“We will take her back to Milagros if she will come with us.”

Harrod nodded while Alexis threw sticks into the pond for Cadmus to fetch. The dragon dove under the water, surfacing amid furious splashes and swam back to shore with his prize. After a moment, he said, “I want this sorceress off my lands and out of my kingdom, Xavier. When she is gone, I can go to my people and declare we are safe. Do you understand?”

“I understand it might save you from open rebellion for now, but it will not stop the devastation to come if magic continues to die.”

“I’ll deal with that when I must. You take your wizards and fetch this sorceress. Then I suggest you leave. Magic folk and those that are friendly with them are not welcome. I say you will find that to be true across the Southern Continent, if not all Nuwa. It’s dangerous for me to offer protection or even tolerance.”

“I will not tarry.”

“Good. Now then, we must discuss the price of your ship. I cannot allow a ship to dock for free, you understand.”

“I do.”

“A chest of gold should not be too much to ask for.”

“As you wish.”

“And another for your passage through my kingdom?” Harrod quickly added.

Xavier watched Alexis play, then said in a quiet voice, “Very well. Payable when we have completed our task.”

Harrod nodded and left. Xavier lingered a moment. He could not blame Harrod’s lack of support. A king must always do what is best for his kingdom and rule first. If the same was true of all Nuwa, then anything they tried to correct the magical imbalance might come too late.

“Natalia,” Xavier called.

“Yes, Your Majesty?” she curtsied.

“Find Park and tell him to prepare to leave. We will take only one of the wagons with us. The other I’m sending back to Keldon.”

“Of course, and when will we leave?”

“The sooner the better.”

Natalia nodded and hurried on her errand.

“Alexis, time to come in,” Xavier called.

“But abu, it is not even midday.”

“Yes, but you must get ready. We’re leaving.”

“Yeah!” Alexis jumped up and down. “Kwende Cadmus, we’re leaving! We’re leaving!”

Alexis and the dragon ran off with Whitney struggling to keep up. Whitney liked courtly airs, banquets and balls. It was the reason why Akina insisted she and her husband accompany them whenever they traveled to Nuwa. Yet, he knew the remainder of their journey would be difficult. In any case, there were few, if any inns, further east, and they would have to camp most nights. Rather than force her on the march, he would send her, two knights and the servants back to the ship.

Knights and servants hurriedly packed the wagons. They transferred most of the supplies and equipment to one wagon, while loading much of the trunks and clothes onto the other. Xavier was glad to see how well his people worked together. He glanced up at the castle pediments and wondered if the watching guards worked anywhere near as efficiently.

“Abu!” Alexis laughed.

He caught her and picked her up as their horses were led from the stables. Carrying her, he took control of his own horse and set her in the saddle. Cadmus leapt onto the stallion’s neck, sitting in front of the withers, impatient to be off. The golden stallion whinnied, looking toward the gate, eager to be off and away from the castle. Xavier patted him, thinking the same thing.

When all was ready, the wizards appeared and climbed into the saddles of their horses. Their familiars; however, were noticeably absent. Xavier swung up behind Alexis. Harrod made a customary appearance to witness their departure. Briceton stood at his side, learning by example. Xavier nodded to his old friend and, without a word, rode out of the castle.

At the castle gates, one of the wagons, with Whitney and the servants aboard, turned back to the sea. Sir Evan, Whitney’s husband, and another knight escorted them. Xavier paused to watch, hoping they would reach the ship safely. Then, he led the rest of the party further inland.

Castle Culan slowly disappeared behind a hill. With a squeal, Eja dove from the sky and circled them. Above, Aldous maintained a leisurely flight. Cadmus growled at the other dragon until Alexis gave him permission to explore. The dragon immediately took wing, chasing Eja. Aldous flew ahead, acting as scout and avoided the dragons’ game. Alexis giggled and clapped her hands as the reptilian pair dove and twisted in the air.

“Did you enjoy your visit?” Xavier asked.

“It was all right.”

“Only all right?”

“Prince Briceton said that if he had a sword, he would cut off Cadmus’s head because dragons were evil,” Alexis told him. “I said that if he tried, I’d hit him so hard his teeth would fall out.”

Xavier kissed the top of her head to keep himself from laughing. He defied any royal to have a son as spirited as his daughter. They followed the river toward the distant mountains. Gypsies called it the Yamuria. It was also known as the sacred river. Though it was quite likely few of the Continent’s sedentary residents were aware of the fact, many places still bore the names first given by roving gypsy bands.

The Yamuria’s waters were always pure and, in some cases, known to heal disease because of the unicorns said to purify it at its mountain source. The river was also believed to run across the mountains and empty into the sea on the eastern coast of the continent. Xavier knew that if he followed the river, it would lead him to the Koukalaka.