Authors: S. G. Rogers
Secrets of Yden (2 page)
Predictably Unpredictable
Dorsit invited Jon to eat at one of the food booths set up in the Castle Ytherium courtyard. They ate skewers of mildly spiced grilled meat and vegetables, served over a firm, tasty grain flavored with something like saffron. Halfway through the meal, Dorsit pushed his food away and sat back to watch Jon finish every last scrap in his bowl.
"You look a little tired, young wizard. Quixoran tells me you've been having trouble sleeping since the battle with the Fox Clan."
"No, I'm fine," Jon lied. "I just stayed up too late with my friends last night." Dorsit's expression of concern remained despite his response, so Jon decided to change the subject. "So, do you like being back on the Executive Council?"
"It's a little better than before, I admit, but my influence still falls short. For example, the Council requested your testimony before making a ruling today, even though I'd already testified against the applicants myself."
"I'm not surprised, given the Council's talent for denying the obvious. I
was
impressed to see Lady Marla on board. Does that mean the members are also ready to accept females into the Certified Apprentice Program?"
"After much argument and debate, the Council reluctantly agreed to do so, should any suitable candidates come forward. They could hardly do otherwise since President Szul's daughter Kira is training with Quixoran."
"Guess not⦠although facts never seemed to bother the Council before."
"Convincing the wizardry-at-large to provide training, however, may prove to be the biggest challenge. Due to the traditional patriarchal society here on Yden, there is still a great deal of prejudice against teaching women magic."
"The Dragon Clan is doing it, so that's got to help. With a lot of success, I might add." Jon felt a surge of pride that his clan would be at the forefront of righting a longstanding wrong.
"Quixoran's female apprentices are truly formidable."
"You deserve a lot of the credit. With the exception of Kira and Brett, you recruited them all."
"Yden has no choice but to embrace change," Dorsit said. "The last Wizards' War killed many. The survivors thereafter became a target of Efysian of the Wolf Clan, who drained dozens more to prolong his life. Those conflicts are behind us, but we must tap the talent available or risk losing our magical heritage."
"You've made a big difference already. And did I see a transporter platform in front of Castle Ytherium?"
Dorsit brightened. "Ah, yes, it's my latest improvement! That particular platform transports citizens from the capital to my hometown of Ylan and back again. Address tokens are available at the visitor service desk."
"Casey will be happy to know his invention works for something other than battle. Are people really using it?"
Dorsit nodded. "Indeed they are. Trade with Ylan is up and the city is growing beautifully. Everyone is happy⦠except certain members of the Council."
"What's the problem?"
"Some wizards believe they should be the only humans with the ability to travel instantaneously." Dorsit tapped the silvery transporter cuff molded to his wrist like a second skin. His cuff was similar to the one on Jon's wrist.
Jon wasn't surprised. Historically, wizards weren't good at sharing power. "I'm for any invention that gives people more control of their lives," he said. "Sometimes I think you're the only wizard on the Council who understands the concept."
"The number of reasonable Executive Council wizards is the minority."
They shared a laugh.
"I understand you're returning to Yrth tonight?" Dorsit asked.
"Yes, my regular school is starting up soon, so I'll be a part-time apprentice again. Fortunately, everything on Yden is calm right now. I can relax and enjoy my senior year."
A few minutes later, Dorsit hastened back to the afternoon session of the Executive Council. Before Jon left the table, he scribbled a note to Quixoran about the meeting and tucked it into the Wizport pouch at his belt. The Wizport pouch â one of Casey's inventions â allowed Jon to send messages instantly to his grandfather's mailbox inside his tree house. As he stood afterward, the odor of grilling meat drifted in his direction, and he considered whether or not he should buy a second skewer of meat and vegetables. He stepped toward the vendor's cart, but then he heard Kira's voice calling him.
The sight of the tall, athletic brunette never failed to quicken his blood. Casey's wizard detector invention this past summer had revealed her magical ability. Although she'd resisted the idea at first, eventually she'd accepted a Dragon Clan ring and a transporter cuff, and she'd moved from Castle Ytherium to Dragon Isle to begin her training.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
Her full lips quirked up at the corners. "My father is still the President of the United Territories, so I check in on him from time to time. Why are
you
here?"
"I met with the Executive Council this morning to testify against the Fox Clan apprentices who beat me up. They've been banned from Yden for a turn."
"A turn doesn't seem long enough."
"I know, but it's all Dorsit could manage." Jon stuck his thumb toward the food cart. "Can I buy you lunch?"
"No, thank you. Actually, I'm on my way to the apartment to pack some things." She slid her arm through his. "Walk with me."
All thoughts of food fled as Jon escorted Kira from the courtyard into the castle and up the wide stone stairs. As a question formed in his mind, a ball of anxiety began to swirl at his core and his palms grew moist.
"Er⦠there's a back-to-school beach party for Pacific High seniors this Sunday. W-would you like to come with me?" He gulped. "I mean, Fred, Casey, and Brett will be there too, of course."
"Oh, I'm already going."
Jon's pace slowed. "What?"
"That's my news. Brett's parents are traveling almost all the time now on sort of an extended second honeymoon and they didn't want her to be alone anymore. So I'm going to be staying with her."
"Huh? I thought Lialia was living with Brett now."
"The two of them had some kind of argument and Lialia returned to Yden. Anyway, I'll be living at Brett's house during the week and attending high school."
"I don't understand."
"Brett's mother managed to get me enrolled at Pacific High."
Jon was so startled, his foot slipped on the top step and he stumbled. If he hadn't been holding onto the railing, he would have fallen flat. Kira grabbed his arm to steady him.
"Are you all right?"
"Yes, I'm just a little surprised." His face flamed hot as he tried to recover his dignity. "Your father agreed to all this?"
"He wasn't entirely comfortable with the idea at first. But when I told him going to school on Yrth was a dream of mine, he accepted my decision."
"I'm sure he and Ami want you to be happy, but what about the schoolwork?"
"My tutor and I have worked hard to get me prepared." She paused. "Are you trying to talk me out of it?"
"No!"
"So you don't mind?"
"Why would I mind?" His mind reeled at the possibilities. "It'll be great having you around."
"I'm glad you feel that way. Ever since you brought me to Pacific High last year, I've longed to be part of your world â even if it's just for a little while."
When they arrived at Kira's door, she slid Jon a sideways glance underneath her lashes. "I never did thank you properly for saving my life after the Fox Clan battle."
Should I kiss her?
Shockwaves of electricity danced along his skin and he leaned in slightly. Before he could make his move, she gave him a peck on the cheek. "See you at the party."
Kira let herself into the apartment and disappeared. Although Jon felt her affectionate gesture down to his toes, he would have given anything for her to kiss him on the lips. As it was, her behavior toward him was frustratingly ambiguous.
****
On the day of the back-to-school party, Jon and his best friend Casey teamed up to deliver bags of ice to their classmates who'd brought huge coolers full of bottled water, juice, and soda to the beach. The football team was in charge of the cookout, but Jon and Casey helped Fred and his friend Lee muscle a propane grill down to the sand. While Jon and Lee readied the grill, Fred and Casey doubled back to Fred's car to grab the hamburger patties.
"Have a good vacation, Lee?" Jon asked.
"Yeah, but it wasn't long enough," Lee said. "We toured Hawaii and saw the volcano at Kilauea. Maui was great."
"Never been to Hawaii. I visited my grandfather over the summer though, and went to a wedding." Inwardly, Jon chuckled.
Dragon Isle is a magical tropical paradise in another dimension, but I won't be writing about it on my "What I Did On My Summer Vacation" essay.
"Weddings are the worst," Lee replied. "Same old stuff happens."
"This one was a little more exciting than most." The understatement of the century. "I've got another wedding to go to at the end of the year. My uncle's getting hitched, and I'm his best man."
"That'd be okay, depending on what the maid of honor looks like."
"Good point." Jon said. "Guess I'll find out sooner or later."
When Fred and Casey returned with the cooler full of meat, Lee lit the propane and began to throw burgers on the grill. A gaggle of cheerleaders arrived with bags of paper plates and picnic stuff. Among the cheerleaders was Brett Tanner, who wore a loose-fitting terrycloth dress over her bathing suit.
"Hi. You look cute." Jon tweaked one of her blond braids. "Where's Kira?"
"You see that knot of football players over there?"
Jon followed her glance. Four linebackers surrounded an athletic brunette, helping her arrange colored cones for the relay races. Although Jon couldn't see the girl's face, he could tell it was Kira from her long legs.
Looks like I have my work cut out for me if I want her attention.
"It's good to see she's making friends already," he said.
Thanks to Casey's technical expertise, music blared from a sound system with enormous speakers. The party swung into gear, and the beach teemed with the newest senior class of Pacific High, complete with beach towels, chairs, and big appetites. Jon, Casey, and Fred exchanged happy grins.
"It's time to kick it," Jon said.
"Time to eat," Casey said.
"Hey, that's
my
line.
"
Fred pointed at Jon. "Three-legged race, dude. We'll wipe the field."
Despite Fred's confidence, Kira and the Wolverines' star quarterback, Davy Thyssen, won the three-legged race. To soothe their disappointment, Jon and Fred each got another burger and something to drink. Then they joined Casey's side in a game of tug-of-war. Jon was so sweaty afterward he ditched his shirt and dove into the ocean to cool off. When he returned to his beach chair, Kira was tossing a football on the sand nearby with Davy, Fred, and a few other Wolverines. She looked outstanding in her shorts and T-shirt.
Lee, sitting next to Jon, cocked his thumb at Kira. "Dude, isn't that your cousin?"
When Jon had brought her to school one day the previous year, he'd told everyone she was his cousin from Romania to explain her lack of familiarity with American customs.
"Er⦠we're not actually related by blood," he replied. "Kira and I are kind of honorary cousins."
A group of guys jogged past, hauling a slender kid toward the water. Jon recognized their captive as a trombone player in the marching band. As the guys picked the band member up by his arms and legs and threw him in, Jon frowned.
"What's
that
all about?" he asked.
"Ty and his pals have been tossing kids in the drink for the last hour," Lee replied. "Guess you've been too distracted by girls to notice."
"I know Ty from gym class. He's a royal pain."
The kid staggered out of the water, giving Ty a dark look. As Ty and his five friends zeroed in on a drama student with purple hair, Jon strode over to intervene. "Cut it out, Ty."
"Bug off," Ty replied. "Who elected you sheriff?"
"There are other ways to have fun. Give it a rest."
Ty focused on Jon's silver ankh. "Nice jewelry," he sneered.
"
Whatever."
Several football players, led by Fred, approached.
"Everything okay, Jon?" Fred called out.
Ty held up his hands in defeat and backed away. "It's cool."
The confrontation over, Jon waved Fred off. With a grin, Fred scooped up a football and threw a long spiral pass. "Heads up, Hansen!"
The football arced toward Jon's outstretched hands.
Then time
stopped
.
For a moment, Jon thought maybe he was having trouble with his depth perception, but it was more than that. Everything and everyone around him was frozen in place, as if he were a patron in a wax museum. The football hung in space. The ocean waves had stopped, mid-crest. A seagull was poised overhead, midflight. A sandfly hung in the air right in front of Jon's face. The absence of noise pressed in on his eardrums and jangled his nerves. It became so unbearable, he nearly screamed.
"Whoa," he said, staggering backward. His eyes grew wide with panic as he searched the faces around him.
I know only one wizard capable of stopping time this way, but Guinn Tanner isn't a wizard anymore, and his daughter Brett is halfway across the beach, frozen like everyone else.
Jon climbed on top of a flat rock and scanned the horizon for movement. He shivered with the realization there was none to be seen.
And then, as abruptly as time had stopped, it began again. The football flew past where Jon had been standing moments before and bonked Ty in the head. While his friends convulsed with guffaws, Ty spun around looking for the culprit. When he realized Fred had thrown the football, he pretended to laugh.
Beyond freaked out, Jon began to pack up his stuff. Casey hastened over and grabbed his arm. "Are you crazy?" he said, low. "Why'd you bring the vanyean seed here?"
The vanyean seed was a magical object originating from the oldest tree on Dragon Isle. Resembling a bronze walnut, the seed could cast a field of magic about six feet in diameter on Earth. Jon had used it regularly when he'd first become an apprentice in order to practice magic drills in his room at home.
"I didn't bring it here," Jon replied.
Casey shot Jon a level look. "C'mon, I saw the whole thing. One moment you're standing in the sand, and the next moment you're on top of a rock. The only way to do that is with magic."
"Quixoran has the seed," Jon muttered. "Time just stopped and I had nothing to do with it."