The Colors of Magic Anthology (magic: the gathering) Read online

  The shadow sword halted inches shy of her head. For an instant she had no idea why. Then she felt the surge of magic in the air and realized that her last series of advances and retreats had landed her inside Sabul's ring of luminescence. Discerning her plight, the young wizard had commanded the enchantment to shield her.

  Her foe attacked again. As she desperately evaded his blows, heart pounding, sword arm half numb from the pummeling it had endured, the dark blade plunged closer and closer to her body. She was tiring, slowing, and that meant that soon, perhaps in scant seconds, the shadow sword would cleave her flesh. A shrill voice inside her, one she'd never heard when she was an angel, yammered that she must save herself by fleeing. She ignored it as best she could.

  At her back, magic glittered and seethed in the air as Sabul's conjuration built to a conclusion. But it wasn't accumulating rapidly enough. She was all but certain that the fiend would dispatch her and turn on the mage before he could finish.

  She had to buy Sabul some time, and she could think of only one tactic that might serve. The knight of darkness cut at her, and instead of seeking to avoid the shadow sword, she simply threw herself forward in an all-out counterattack.

  Her enemy's weapon ripped through her breastplate and into her shoulder. Though she didn't feel any pain just yet, she sensed that the blow had done hideous damage, nearly severing both her arm and her wing. But at the same instant, the point of her blade punched into the monster's throat and out the back of its neck. The fiend hadn't expected her to abandon all hope of defense, and her reckless ploy had caught it unaware.

  Kotara collapsed to the floor. It required a titanic effort merely to turn her head sufficiently to see how the knight of darkness was faring.

  The hulking creature had dropped to one knee. Making an ugly choking sound, its wings shaking spastically, it took hold of the weapon transfixing its neck and began to pull it free. It emerged in a series of little lurches, one agonizing inch at a time.

  But at last it was out, and the twin bubbling wounds started to close. The fiend gave Kotara a leer that told her, as plainly as words, that her sacrifice had been for nothing. Then it picked up the fallen shadow sword, sprang to its feet, and pivoted toward Sabul-who calmly spoke the final word of his incantation.

  Power sang through the air. The fiend staggered, the holy magic as damaging to it as the infernal energies released by its summoning had been to Kotara. Shaking off the effect, the foul creature sprang at Sabul. Perhaps it imagined it could dispose of him before the spell, whatever it was, took hold.

  If so, the fiend was mistaken. Stone and timber crashed down as some irresistible force wiped the ceiling out of its way. A white, scaly, translucent claw as large as the creature's entire body plunged through the ragged opening, gripped the dark spirit, and lifted it out into the night and up to a set of colossal jaws. Stray bits of the fiend showered back into the chamber as its nemesis chewed it up and gobbled it down.

  The dragon, assuming that its hind feet were planted on the ground, was taller than Sabul's tower. From its prodigious size and ghostly semitransparency, Kotara realized that it was no summoned creature like the fiend or herself but rather an artificial thing the Guildmage had fashioned from his wizardry. It swallowed a final time, then simply melted away.

  Sabul flung himself down at Kotara's side. For the first time she observed the charred hole in his vestments and the blistered, seeping skin beneath. The marble diamond had burned him when it burst. He had a scraped, bloody mark on his brow as well. Probably a piece of the roof had clipped him as it fell. Gripping her numb, useless hand, he said, "Kotara, I'm sorry! I'm a healer, but-

  "I know," she said, "no one could mend this wound. The fiend cut too deep."

  "I'm sorry," he repeated, "for everything." She could barely make out his face now. The chamber seemed to be growing darker, though she knew the gloom was actually in her eyes.

  "I forgive you," she said.

  "What"-his face twisted-"what will happen to you when you go?"

  "How can I guess," she whispered, straining to force the words out, "when I no longer even know what manner of creature I am? I'm not afraid. Perhaps I'll be reborn into my former state. I was still a bit like an angel, wasn't I, at the end?"

  He started to reply, but she never heard what he wanted to say. The darkness flowered into prismatic light, and she was elsewhere.

  Reprisal

  Tom Leupold

  It's late, but I'm too excited to sleep, A young man like myself with little experience rarely gets such an opportunity. But I'm determined to make them proud. I'm determined to serve my nation honorably. And there's no telling where it might lead.

  — from the journal of Finroy of Tyarel

  I grew up in the tiny village of Tyarel, some eighty miles outside Jornstad, the seat of power of Eastern Kjeldor. Although Tyarel was a small town, it was located along a major trade route. It was constantly busy, caravans and travelers arriving at all hours of the day, soldiers and diplomats faithfully executing the orders of the king, and merchants offering their wares to those who passed through.

  My uncle was one such merchant. He was a successful jeweler and a man of deep wisdom. When my parents succumbed to the plague, it was he who took me in and raised me as his son. He taught me to think critically, and he taught me his trade.

  We both knew I was not destined to be a jeweler. I wanted to be an historian, and my uncle graciously agreed to provide financial support. So the day after my eighteenth birthday, I left for Jornstad to pursue my studies at an institution of higher learning.

  Although I was anxious to leave home, I did not relish the journey. By law, we were required to travel under armed escort. Dangerous creatures of both the two-legged and four-legged variety roamed the wilderness.

  The Dominarian landscape had been changed forever by the Brothers' War. The fury unleashed by Urza and Mishra had caused massive climate shifts from which the land still had not recovered. The apocalyptic war ravaged the whole world, bringing with it colder weather and upsetting nature's balance. The lower temperatures caused terrible food shortages, and creatures that did not die outright became more aggressive hunters.

  Some of the larger ones were notorious for harassing travelers. Giant insects, dog-headed serpents, beasts of every ilk ruled the wildlands. Of these, the most feared were the wurms: massive creatures that slithered upon the ground, similar in every respect to their dragon cousins but without wings or legs. One in particular was said to plague the city of Jornstad. Indeed the locals had named it Rhindle. He was enormous-even for a scaled wurm-with sparkling, orange eyes and the scars of a thousand battles, or so I was told.

  Many a merchant's caravan was lost on the road between Tyarel and Jornstad. I don't know how many went down to Rhindle's wicked claws, but survivors told frightening tales. They told of a massive creature, as stealthy as a shadow that lurked just beyond torchlight and waited for the proper moment to strike. The beast was said to possess an unusual intelligence, and perhaps that was the most frightening thought of all. Few people ventured outside of town after dark.

  Thankfully, my little party did not encounter any such horrors. There were no fantastic two-headed creatures or winged predators. The true wonders awaited me in Jornstad.

  I was used to the hustle and bustle of a busy town, but Jornstad staggered my senses. During the day it was a swirl of color and sound like a perpetual carnival. Merchant and passenger caravans constantly came and went through the city's sturdy gates.

  The main avenue was adorned with towering poplar trees and colorful banners, and it ran through the well-kept public gardens known as Rothchild Park. An exquisite marble fountain adorned Rothchild Park, where two stone lions wrestled amid the splashing water.

  In the summer, short as it was, the park was alive with the buzzing of insects and flowers of a thousand hues. Musicians and theatrical performers sometimes offered free shows where crowds could enjoy a brief respite from the chill.

/>   When the colder months came, and the trees had lost their leaves, the gardens were no less enchanting. The stillness wove a different kind of magic. It was a world of mute snows, punctuated only by the laughter of children building snowmen and throwing snowballs at each other.

  Beyond the gardens was the huh of activity in Jornstad. Shops, pubs, and meeting houses lined both sides of the street. Tobacconists mingled with wizards, beggars, and sculptors. Preachers and blacksmiths walked alongside carpenters and scholars. Street performers with trained animals tried to impress passersby, as messengers rushed past delivering correspondence between businesses. The aroma of bread and fish cakes wafted through the air from the street vendors who were selling their wares to hungry travelers. It was a delightful mix of diversities.

  My first introduction to Jornstad was an intoxicating experience. After attending the college for almost two years, I was at last beginning to feel comfortable with the city, and it was a place I was proud to call home.

  The sun had just reached its zenith on a cold, cloudless day, and I was trying to work up the courage to ask Evara, the baker's daughter, to accompany me to the Snow Festival. I leaned on a tree some distance away, admiring her long blonde hair woven into a single braid. She'd enchanted me with her blue eyes and a teasing grin. I breathed deeply and prepared to make my move.

  "My young Finroy, may I have your assistance?" a familiar voice called from behind me. I turned to see the schoolmaster, Jerod, a warm and affectionate man in his late fifties with hair as white as his smile.

  He was kind to everyone, and I was his favorite. Rumor among the boys was that he was quite a warrior in his day, but I never really could believe it. His unassuming way made him an instant friend to one and all, and he seemed to know everyone in town.

  "What is it?" I asked.

  He breathed deeply, savoring the moment, I think.

  "Duke Devareaux approached me this morning about finding a young man from the school for a special job in the royal court. I thought you might know someone from among the boys ready for such a challenge. He would have to be a bright boy with a hardy sense of adventure, able to think quickly on his feet."

  I shrugged, deeply disappointed. Had I even been considered? "I'm not sure, sir," I answered. "Thaddeus, or Shaboo maybe? They're quite smart."

  A broad smile broke through his weathered features.

  "I recommended you," he said after a brief pause, shaking my hand. "Congratulations, Finroy. The job's yours if you want it."

  After a stunned silence I regained my composure. In my excitement I almost forgot to ask, "What job is this, exactly?"

  "Well, Duke Devareaux didn't say, but he's a very powerful man, and if he said it was an important job, you can bet it's the opportunity of a lifetime. He said you may even have a chance to work under Lord Rothchild himself!"

  Lord Rothchild. The region had had many good years under his reign. Farmers and merchants alike prospered under his rule. Men idolized him. Ladies swooned for him. Every child emulated him.

  Peace with Balduvia, uneasy as it was, had begun to take root. Food was plentiful. Everything was going well, and Lord Rothchild got all the credit.

  During the fifth year of his reign, a popular movement began to immortalize his likeness on the currency. Everything was paid for in Rothies, which bore the inscription Lord Rothchild: Will of iron, tongue of silver, heart of gold. Rich traders donated money to erect larger-than-life statues of him in town squares. Competition broke out, as each wanted to be the sponsor of the largest, most beautiful statue. His face was everywhere.

  Working for Lord Rothchild would be an amazing experience. Shoulder to shoulder with one of the greatest leaders alive, I could study his every move and see what made him shine. I was enormously flattered that Jerod would recommend me for such important work. Of course I would seize the opportunity.

  But taking the position would mean leaving the college, and my studies were not yet completed. All would be for the best I thought, because they did not teach what I wanted most to learn. I was no wizard, but I was seeking to understand the meaning of white magic and the significance it has for all Kjeldorans. I knew only that it was our history, our present, and our future.

  I got no sleep that night. The thought of meeting Lord Rothchild the next day had my mind racing in a million directions. The dormitory seemed too quiet.

  There were none of the usual shenanigans of boys sneaking about after dark, playing cards or dice by candlelight. I wished there was something to distract me, but it seemed to be just me and the night.

  The next day I woke early. Donning my finest raiment, I made my way to the palace. A gate guard ushered me inside to the sitting chamber, where I was to be interviewed. We made our way through the stone corridors to a lighted doorway.

  My nerves were rattled to the edge of fear. I was to meet the man whom many insisted would someday rule all Terisiare. I swallowed hard and continued down the corridor.

  As I approached the threshold, I heard two men talking. I could tell by the unmistakable smooth drawl that one of them was Lord Rothchild.

  He began with a chuckle, "I really don't need a valet, you know. That's what I have you for."

  "Milord," replied the other man, who could only have been Duke Devareaux. His voice was as crisp as a ringing bell, "As distracted as I am over affairs of state, I am unable to devote my time exclusively to you, as a man of your standing rightly deserves."

  "Ah, well," sighed Rothchild, "just see that he doesn't get in the way."

  "I'm sure Milord will find the boy most capable and trustworthy and in time grow to rely on him."

  The conversation stopped abruptly as I entered the room. Lord Rothchild was stretched on a low couch, loosely clasping a goblet of mead. He had an easy, friendly manner and sipped the mead often. His sandy hair and sparkling, blue eyes complemented a pristine blue tunic that had likely never known a crease. A sly, lopsided grin spread across his boyish face.

  To actually be in Lord Rothchild's presence was thrilling, and I felt a little dizzy at first. The man radiated charisma and seemed to be the embodiment of every noble trait.

  He bade me to sit on a high stool in the center of the room, and the interview abruptly began.

  The two quizzed me for almost two and a half hours. Lord Rothchild asked me simple task-related questions. Did I know how to read and write? Could I demonstrate my knowledge of courtly etiquette?

  Devareaux contrived strange scenarios for me to work through. If Lord Rothchild spilled a spot of soup on his shirt and was unaware of it, how would I handle the situation? What was the proper thing to tell a foreign dignitary if Lord Rothchild was unavailable?

  I answered all the questions as best I could and must have impressed them. They asked me to leave the room for a time so they could discuss my performance. When I returned, Lord Rothchild stood up and offered me his hand.

  "It's my pleasure to appoint you to the honored position of interim Regal Overseer, " he said, as if speaking at an official gathering, "and I wish to welcome you to the royal court with all the honors and privileges thus conferred. You shall perform all the tasks required of this noble position for a period of one month, after which your performance will be evaluated. If your performance pleases me, you shall stay on permanently." We shook hands, and the lord excused himself to attend to important affairs.

  Devareaux took me aside as Lord Rothchild left the room.

  "Son, I want to explain a few things to you," he said, getting right to the point. "The regent is a high-maintenance man. I expect you to fulfill his every need in a timely and respectful manner. But that's just the beginning. Lord Rothchild loves the people of Kjeldor, and he expects them to love him back. His untainted public image is very important to him, and it's up to you to see that it stays that way. Let me be perfectly clear about this," he said, pronouncing each word carefully, as dark clouds gathered across his face. "The price of failure is high, especially for a young man like yourself wi
th his whole life ahead of him."

  It began to dawn on me that maybe I was in over my head.

  The next day I arrived at the palace gate at the appointed time with my possessions in hand and waited for Duke Devareaux to lead me to my quarters.

  On either side of the gates stood a soldier of the Royal Guard, sworn to protect Lord Rothchild from harm. As merchants, servants, cooks, and carpenters passed through the gates, the guards made note of who came and went and inspected their wares. Other guards patrolled the outer wall high above, but in general, the atmosphere was relaxed. Lord Rothchild could afford this lax security, because there was not a soul in Jornstad who had not prospered under his reign.

  My quarters were located in an area adjoining the royal palace. It was an area that was restricted to most but to which I was to have free access because of my duties. The quarters were comfortable but by no means extravagant. With stone walls and only one window, it tended to be a bit dark most of the day.

  I stashed my belongings quickly and made my way to the meeting hall, where I was to convene with Duke Devareaux for a briefing.

  "The task before you will not be an easy one," he said sternly. "I hope you're up to it. You were selected because you are the brightest in your class and a quick thinker.

  "Things will not always be the way you expect them to be, but your job will be to always put Lord Rothchild first. If he stumbles, you are to make sure he does not fall. If he should make a mistake, you are to see that it is corrected."