Chapter 16

Family Descent

Book One �" Divergence

Part I �" Novices

Chapter 16

November 1657

 

            Korbin’s private study in the Imiriss residence at the SilverStar Academy filled one back corner of the stone manse and thus faced the sheer cliff that rose upward from the plateau on which the Academy sat. One of the walls was lined with dark oak bookshelves and these were filled with books and scrolls and ledgers and curious artifacts collected throughout the archmage’s years of travel. The two outer walls were lined with wide many-paned windows that extended nearly from the floor to the ceiling ten feet above. These windows were lined with heavy gold and burgundy velvet drapes to keep out the winter chill.

            In the center of the remaining wall was a large fireplace in which crackled and sputtered a comfortable fire. In addition to the faint smell of smoke from the fire, the room held the scent of old wood, dust and leather. Too the smell of dried herbs, powdered minerals and incense permeated the air. In front of the bookshelves was a massive desk carved from cherry wood and richly stained. Behind it was a chair and on top of it were several neat stacks of parchment, a metal stand, like a candle stick, supporting a softly glowing crystal sphere. Too there were several books and several quills and a silver and crystal ink well.

            A thick woven carpet crossed the room from the desk to a sitting area in front of the fireplace. A down filled settee was flanked by two leather covered arm chairs. In the center of the trio was a low table of granite and glass. Shalhanna’s small figure seemed nearly lost in one of the leather chairs. In her hand was a crystal goblet filled with rich dark wine.

            Korbin, dressed in his customary grey suede trousers and white linen shirt, sat on the settee. Beside him, in a velvet gown of midnight blue, was Marya whose golden eyes glittered in the flickering light of the fire. Each held a goblet that matched the one Shalhanna held and each was filled with differing amounts of the same dark wine. The soft sound of cello, viola and violin filled the room with the shifting pattern of Bolean chamber music.

            “Shalhanna, I am impressed,” said Marya, “I believe if I turned my head I would see a trio of musicians in the corner.” Shalhanna turned her head toward the couple.

            “I’ve been practicing,” she said with a warm smile. “Bolean chamber music is surprisingly complex; the illusion has taken much work to get the nuances just right.”

            “Not quite as complex as a Dwarven opera I would say,” Korbin interjected and Marya cast him a sidelong glance. “But regardless, an impressive illusion all the same,” he added hastily. He then leaned forward and took up the decanter of wine from the table. He held it out toward Marya who shook her head but when he held it out to Shalhanna she leaned forward and extended her glass which Korbin refilled before filling his own.

            “Excellent vintage,” Shalhanna commented as she leaned back in the chair. “Did you say it was from Vitner Island?” she asked. Korbin placed the crystal decanter back on the table and leaned back beside Marya and nodded.

            “Yes, from the Pajuk Family Vintners. They make a marvelous red but I prefer the white from the Skale Lake Winery in Mid-Lake.” He swirled the wine in his glass.

            “Mid-Lake?” Shalhanna’s dark brows rose up over her titled eyes. “The Halfling town?”

            “The very same,” Korbin answered. “The winery has been run by the same small family for two centuries. They give the southern vintners a good run.” They sat for some time longer enjoying the wine, the company, and Shalhanna’s fine illusionary music before, at last, Marya turned to the headmistress.

            “Well, Shala, did you come only to show off your new illusion or is there aught you wish to say?” she asked. Shalhanna frowned and the smooth flow of music stumbled for a brief moment. The she sighed.

            “I’ve had a letter from Elastin,” she said and both Korbin and Marya sat a little straighter.

            “Go on,” Korbin said.

            “Elastin says that Korrie seems to have recovered well from the incident earlier in the summer, when he collapsed after the casting.”

            “Well that is good news,” Marya replied, “but your expression does not speak of good news. Say on.”

            “After the incident, as you know, the elven healers suggested that Elastin restrict Korrie’s working with the aethêr and he chose to follow their suggestion.”

            “Yes, and we believe it a wise decision,” Korbin said.

            “It seems Korrie has chafed at the restriction set upon him and has been showing signs of erratic mood swings,” the headmistress explained. Korbin and Marya looked at one another and the faces they showed Shalhanna were full of concern.

            “Last month a band of ogres entered into the wood. A small force was sent to deal with them and Estarin was among them. Korrie asked to join them and Estarin relented and allowed Korrie to go with firm instructions to remain apart from any conflict that should arise.” Marya nodded.

            “During the encounter, they were surprised by much greater numbers than expected. Estarin was directly attacked. It was then that Korrie revealed himself and cast a potent spell.” Marya’s face fell and she caught her lower lip between her teeth.

            “Is he alright?” Korbin asked, “Did her suffer another episode?” Shalhanna raised her hand to forestall their concern.

            “He is fine, apart from a momentary dizziness; he showed no sign of ill-effect.” Marya breathed out a sigh of relief.

            “However, Estarin reports that his mood, his unpredictability, and his temper have all grown since the incident.” Shalhanna brought the glass to her lips and tasted the wine again.

            “Estarin and the healers are growing more concerned. They are not certain if this recent change in behavior and attitude are a result of the syndrome or not. They have virtually no experience with the illness for while it is rare in humans it is unknown among the Shaern.”

            “Ah, I see,” Korbin said. “I can personally attest to mood-swings being a symptom of the syndrome. I did suffer greatly from them as you recall, Shala.” The headmistress and long time friend of the mage nodded.

            “I believe there is something more going on than just the Rhadham Syndrome, but what, I cannot say,” Korbin went on.

            “What shall we do?” Marya asked. “Do we summon him home so we may watch over him ourselves?” She looked at Korbin then turned to Marya, “What does Estarin suggest?”

            “He offers no suggestion. It seems he is of a mind to let things continue as they do. With no evidence of any immediate potential harm, he does not see a need for pressing concern. He is certain that, with time, he and the healers will find the cause of the matter.”

            “Still, time we may not have,” Korbin said, “This concerns me greatly for we are unable to judge, from this distance, any real changes that may be occurring in his personality. Further, still, it worries me that Korrie has not communicated with us directly, nor, Iyara says, has she received any word from him in many months.”

            “Should we then go to Chevranta?” Marya inquired. To this suggestion Shalhanna shook her head.

            “I will go,” the elf said. “You know his pride and his sensitivity to his condition and how it makes others treat him.” Korbin and Marya both nodded somewhat contrite.

            “However,” Shalhanna continued, “Chevranta is my home and it is not out of the ordinary for me to visit several times a year and I have not been for nearly half a year now. Too, the Winternight Festival is a little over a month away and I would celebrate amongst my own.

            While there I will have time to spend with Korrie and see for myself how he fares without raising undue suspicion on his part.” Korrie’s parents thought over the suggestion.

            “That seems a sensible course of action,” Korbin said at last.

            “I would feel much better if someone who knew him did see him,” Marya said, “if, for no other reason, then to assuage our own fears.”

            “Well and good,” Shalhanna said. “I will set out in a few weeks. But now,” she gestured to the corner and made a sound word and the music changed. Where once a trio of strings sounded, now a booming cacophony of drums and bellowing wind instruments was accompanied by low, throaty, gravelly voices singing in unfamiliar harmonies in the Darvellen tongue.”

            “Oh no,” moaned Marya.

            “Shala, you are beyond wicked,” Korbin laughed. Shalhanna raised her glass in salute to her hosts.

            “It may be unbearably complex,” she said, “but there is nothing quite like dwarven opera.”

 

            Three weeks later, with the ground covered in shining white December snow, Shalhanna rode down the long switch-back road that led from the academy to Orlon. She stopped in the city briefly to see Iyara at the temple before setting out through the east gate bound for Chevranta.