Page 16

PRIZE AND SURPRISE

K azik’s first reaction was open-mouthed shock.

What army would attack Castle Valga?

Helena!!

He panicked briefly, but there was no blood. No visible injuries.

A plague? No stench of death.

With night quickly falling, he slid the arrow back into his quiver and dismounted.

After several deep breaths, he conjured a little ball of light—a skill he really should have practiced more—and approached a fallen guard.

The man lay on his side, and when Kazik rolled him to his back, he mumbled.

Nearby, a huge white dog wearing a spiked collar woofed and thumped her tail on the paving stones.

Sound asleep. Everyone in the courtyard was asleep.

A curse? It didn’t feel evil, but it was a potent spell. A fay spell.

He sprang to his feet. Helena and her father had to be here somewhere.

Sensing a fay presence, he raised magical wards and whipped out his short sword. “Who are you?” His voice cracked. “What is your business here? Why are all these people asleep?”

A shadowy figure materialized near the wall, shaking its head. “You don’t need that sword.” A bright glowing ball appeared, putting Kazik’s effort to shame. The mage studied him by its magical light.

Kazik stared back. The fay man seemed blurry . Nevertheless, Kazik believed him and sheathed his sword. “You were in my father’s study yesterday.”

“Ah!” The stranger’s tone brightened. “You surprise me. Yes, I was there.”

“Who are you, and what are you doing here? For that matter, what were you doing there?”

Instead of answering, the stranger stated, “You are the prince of Ostrów and heir to the archduchy of Wroc?aw. You are also the only child of an unrated burvis and an unrated sahira . Quite the mismatch, in my opinion. In the notes I was given, I read that your mother had you trained, at least partially, as a caroven. However, your magic, like your parents’, is unregistered.

” He paused, then muttered, “Is every country on this continent unlawfully ruled by a mage?”

“How do you—” Kazik tried again, “Who told you all this?”

“Naturally, I was briefed at the emergency WMC meeting before accepting this assignment. Now, tell me: have you ever seen the Princess Helena of ?yrardów?”

“Yes.” Kazik’s mind was spinning. “What is the WMC?”

“The World Magic Council, of course. Will you recognize the princess if you see her sleeping?”

Since the mage hadn’t tried to compel him, Kazik again answered, “Yes,” while looking around. Helena had to be here somewhere. “What is this World Magic Council? I’ve never heard of it.”

“Excellent!” The stranger’s demeanor brightened. “Go on and find her; the castle’s doors are open.” He made a shooing motion.

Kazik narrowed his eyes. “Why do you need her?”

“Ah! You see, the Crown Princess of ?yrardów plays a crucial role in a sequence of spells—curses, if you will—that must be broken before this land can be healed. It’s all quite simple.

Each test reveals character. Each success releases a prize.

Only an honest, brave, and selfless soul will prevail.

Truly a brilliant scheme, if I do say so myself. ”

“What if?—?”

“As a special agent of the recently reconvened World Magic Council, I’ve been granted discretionary authority to restore justice and peace to Ostrów and its vassal states, using all legal magical means at my disposal. I hope to inspire these humans to better behavior.”

“How does this inspire better behavior?” Kazik indicated the sleepers. “And what do you mean by ‘these humans’? Aren’t you human?” He already knew the answer.

The mage’s mouth, the only bit of his face Kazik could see beneath that hood, formed a thin line. “I have some human blood. And if you cannot conceive of reformation for the fallen, I have little hope for you.”

This mage was off his nut. “Now, you say you’re placing curses all over Ostrów? What right do you—? What if no one comes to break these curses?”

The mage ignored the question. “The princess will wake for a period every evening and bathe in the marvelous hot tubs and crystalline pools hidden behind the castle. It’s a marvelous place.

” His voice briefly brightened, then flattened again.

“The spell breaker must approach her before she—um, modestly attired, of course—steps into the bath, and then give her a kiss.”

Anger rushed through Kazik. “I’m the only person who’s going to kiss Helena!”

The mage ignored him. “As soon as the hero’s kiss breaks this enchantment and he claims the final golden treasure, the entire land will be restored, and the princess, her rescuer, and his other prizes will return in triumph to the grand celebration at Mnisztwo Castle.”

“How many other rules are involved?”

“A good many. Why do you ask?”

“Will all contestants be briefed on these rules?”

“I have provided a mentor to guide each contestant through the puzzle.” A smug smile curled the mage’s lips.

“And this mentor will share the rules and show the way?”

“Yes, that is his purpose as a mentor, which he must fulfill.” The mage spoke with exaggerated patience.

“Did he volunteer for this position?”

The mage tilted his head, pondering the question. “Let us say, he is highly motivated to see the enchantments broken.”

“Right. If any contestant manages to remember and follow every random rule you’ve made up, I will eat my helmet. And, as I just said, I shall wake Princess Helena with a kiss. She is my betrothed.”

“That is unfortunate.” The mage shook his head. “But if you wish to be the spell-breaker, you’ll need to start at the beginning of the treasure hunt like everyone else. You’re rather short for a hero, but you seem motivated enough. Why not have fun with it?”

Kazik scowled. “You’ve mentioned treasure twice now. What treasure?”

The strange mage appeared to choose his words carefully. “I was ordered to probe claims of unlawful magic, including magical-wealth hoarding?—”

“Like, gold coins and jewels, that type of wealth?”

“—and possible use of dark magic centralized in the grand duchy of Ostrów. The entire land of Wroc?aw is subject to investigation, but my role . . .” He shoved a parchment under Kazik’s nose. “Here.”

He accepted it mostly in self-defense. It was written in an unfamiliar language, yet Kazik found that he could read it.

“World Magic Council.” The information in the manuscript’s body mostly matched what the mage had just rattled off, so he handed it back.

“I see your name is Bogumil. Does this council know that you are?—”

“Bogumil is one of my names, yes, and the Council selected me for my unique fay powers.”

Kazik took a quick step back, his thunder swiped from beneath his nose. “You admit to having fay magic?”

Was a World Council mage with fay magic legal ? Not that anyone should be held accountable for his ancestry, but . . .

The mage raised his light ball and shoved back his hood to reveal a pale boyish face with sharp features, silvery eyes, and a mop of white hair.

“Don’t judge my youthful appearance. I recently celebrated my fortieth birthday, and the Council trusts me with this situation, although they are all monitoring my work.

I have sworn a solemn oath to right wrongs and to restore justice and harmony to the kingdoms, duchies, principalities, baronies and so forth of Wroc?aw to the best of my ability and power. ”

“Great-sounding goals, but I still require a straight answer from you. Tell me why you placed everyone in this castle under a sleeping spell.”

Bogumil’s gaze shifted from side to side.

“Well, you see, I relocated the first two treasures and their pocket-world prisons without using a sleeping spell, and the residents of those castles seemed . . . agitated. So, I allowed the humans of this castle to rest while waiting for their spell to be broken. Any quester who comes this far will have already broken the spells on the first two castles.”

“I see,” Kazik lied; his mind was boggled. “But I didn’t even know about those spells, much less break them, and I came this far.”

Bogumil brushed it off. “You’re an anomaly.

Yes, this is the third and final test of any rescuer who wishes to break the Curses of Gold, as I’ve titled this epic adventure, although technically the spells aren’t curses.

Each of the tests challenges the quester’s character, but the rules are simple.

For this third and final curse I crafted a restful sleep that pauses the aging process.

Whenever the winner kisses the princess, these sleepers will also awaken and immediately resume aging.

The sleepers are perfectly content, comfortable, and happy.

Look closer if you doubt.” A wave of his hand produced a live lantern.

Accepting the light, Kazik glanced around the courtyard and saw Iga gently nosing a pony standing in his harness, still hitched to a cart while fast asleep.

The mare gave him “the look,” and Kazik took her hint.

She and Bogumil watched while he unhitched the shaggy little beast and removed his harness.

Before Kazik could back away, the pony buckled his knees and flopped over with a contented snorty sigh.

Iga gave her human’s shoulder a bunt of approval.

“You really needn’t have bothered; the pony was comfortable already. They all are.” Bogumil indicated the array of sleepers with an all-inclusive gesture. “Nevertheless, it was kindly meant.”

Kazik didn’t know whether to resent the mage’s superior air or find him amusing. He settled on both options.

Looking more confident, Bogumil said, “Now, you must search the castle for Princess . . . um, what is her name?”

“Helena.”

“Ah, yes. Helena. Your help is essential, since I do not know what she looks like. Make it quick.”

“You want me to bring Princess Helena to you?”