“And there’s no time for that,” said Will. “But we can do something like they did in the old rituals. I just don’t know how to design it.”
“How?”
Will pointed at himself. “Me. If I’m the center, I can provide the control that a ritual like that needs, though I’ll need to have a lot of people to support it and provide the power required.”
The professor stared at him for several seconds. “Mister Cartwright, if it wasn’t for all the peculiarities I’ve learned about you over the past few years, I’d think you were mad, but this—this just doesn’t make sense.”
“I’ve kept some secrets, Professor,” began Will. “My differences aren’t from some accident of birth, they came from the way my master trained me. Eventually I could teach others, if they’re young enough.”
His teacher squinted at him. “What are you saying?”
“I wasn’t taught by some ordinary hedge wizard. I was trained by one of the old masters, the kind you’d find in the history books.”
“Who then?” challenged Dulaney.
“Arrogan.”
“The Betrayer? He died. If he were alive, he would have had to be—”
“He was a little over six hundred and ninety years old when he died,” finished Will.
“Not only is that impossible, but even if it were true, do you expect me to believe you were taught by the Betrayer and yet you came to this school not knowing how to do even the simplest magics?”
Will nodded. “Imagine how frustrating it was for me. He refused to teach me anything until he thought I had what he considered to be the ‘foundations’ ready. I was just beginning to learn the runes when the Prophet invaded and my teacher died.”
“And this deludes you into thinking you can control something like one of the old rituals?”
“Yes, sir.”
The professor sighed. “At least you’re an honest lunatic. Here’s the truth, though. Unless there’s already a ritual designed, there’s no way I could create one quickly enough. My field is Spell Theory, but I’ve never put much time and energy into ritual design. You’ll need more expertise than I can provide.” Reaching into a desk drawer, he drew out a ring of keys, then headed toward the door. Tiny and Janice stepped aside to let him through. “Come with me,” he told them.
“Where are we going?” asked Will.
“To see Master Courtney. If anyone can design such a thing in such short time, it will be him. He’s also better qualified to decide if you’re insane.”
***
Lord Alfred Courtney’s office was a study in dark colors—dark wood paneling, dark maroon rugs, deeply stained bookcases, and a floral wallpaper that might once have been a light tan but had been stained by time and pipe smoke.
The Head of Research at Wurthaven had a desk that was massive and heavy, constructed of black walnut, and at the moment its owner sat behind it, his favorite briarthorn pipe in hand. The smoke curled up past his face, highlighting the man’s bushy brows, which had unruly tufts that reminded Will of a horned owl. Courtney exhaled, then leaned forward with an unsettling smile, his eyes fixed on Will. “I knew you’d come to me eventually.”
There hadn’t been enough chairs or space in the room, so Tiny waited in the hall, while Janice and Dulaney occupied the other two chairs beside Will’s seat. Dulaney had finished describing Will’s request a moment before, and he responded first. “I know it sounds ridiculous, but I do have some reason to give credence to Mister Cartwright’s claims.”
Master Courtney’s attention never left Will. “You wouldn’t tell me his name before, are you ready to share now? I promise not to tell the king.”
Dulaney glanced at Will, but said nothing rather than betray the young man’s trust. Will’s response was unexpected, though. “You can’t make a promise like that when he could compel you to reveal what you know.”
The Head of Research laced his fingers together. “You’ve learned some unsettling things then, haven’t you, Mister Cartwright? I assume you’re referring to the graduation seal?” Dulaney’s expression turned to confusion when he heard the last question.
“You mean the heart-stone enchantment,” corrected Will.
“Even so. I assume this is the source of your long-standing conflict with the king then?” asked Courtney.
“I won’t abide slavery,” said Will. Meanwhile Dulaney’s eyes went back and forth as he began to piece together the meaning of their conversation.
Master Courtney chuckled. “And yet, it is sorcery that we require to survive our present crisis, is it not? If we can construct this ritual it will need the input of hundreds of sorcerers to power and control it. No simple wizard could maintain the energy required for any length of time.”
“True wizards could,” countered Will. “If there were any these days.”
“Apparently there is one,” said Lord Courtney. “Or is it two?”
“My teacher died, but there might be another in a few years.”
“The princess?”
Will’s lips formed a hard line, but he didn’t answer.
Master Courtney’s eyes turned to Dulaney. “Mister Cartwright trusts you. He told you the name of his teacher, did he not?”
Professor Dulaney lowered his head. “Yes, Master Courtney, but he told me in trust.”
“I won’t ask you to reveal it then,” said the old wizard. “Was it a name you recognized?”
“Yes, sir. I scarcely believe it, though I don’t doubt he believes himself.”
The Head of Research rose from his chair and went to the door. Looking out, he spotted Tiny. “Make sure no one eavesdrops.” Then he closed the door and began constructing a spell. A few seconds later the room was enclosed in a rectangular structure of force that closely conformed to the walls of the office. The sound in the space also became strangely muffled. “This is a spell I designed myself, for moments when I desire absolute privacy.” The old educator returned to his seat and leaned forward.
“The king cannot ask about a thing if he doesn’t suspect its existence.” He paused and let that sink in. “I have been aware of the nature of elementals and the cruel truth of the graduation seals for much of my career. In fact, I’m an accomplice of sorts, and have been for many years. When I first confronted His Majesty about my suppositions, he quickly took steps to ensure my loyalty, first by demonstrating the efficacy of the heart-stone enchantment on me and also by reminding me of my duties to my family.