Caleb's Journey

Riding

After a wait of several hours Candellah finally began to stir. During that whole time Caleb never left her side and when she began to show signs of coherence he gave her draughts of water from his water skin. He administered them by cradling her neck in his arm and gently pouring the water into her mouth. Softly he laid her head upon the ground. Then he summoned everyone to join them. When she awoke a smile formed on her face when her gaze met that of her caregiver. Weak and weary, Candellah began to speak with a faint voice, “Follow the water. That’s what the Goddess told me when she came to me. Of the two rivers I believe the one that flows to the east holds the key. I saw the water flowing and then it vanished and so did She.”

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Let’s waste no more time,” remarked Lord Lestrade. “Time is of the essence. Milady are you strong enough to ride?” In spite of the delayed realization of his goals the knight had not lost his sense of duty to women. Chivalry first in all matters constituted one of the foremost internal edicts of his life.

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Yes,” she replied with a weak voice. “Follow the water to where it ends she told me.”

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A waterfall. It must be a waterfall,” Malachael said. “The east river ends in a waterfall and that is where we will find what we seek. Goddess be praised.”

“Let’s ride!” Seth shouted. “I’m eager to see a giant and to wet my weapon with blood.” Here he raised his fist in the air to emphasize his desire.

“

Knights, mount up!” Letstrade barked.

Everyone cleaned and mounted up as quickly as possible and rode off to find the water’s edge. Their mounts kicked up a cloud of dust as they sped off towards the Dica River. For several uneventful days they rode, following every twist and turn over the river as it wound through the gorge, always looking for where the river flowed over the edge of a cliff. As usual the knights clustered together as they rode, talking of

matters that transpired at court and all of the gossip which they had not previously exchanged. Candellah and Alari were placed at the back of the group for protection from whatever danger appeared before them. Finally, Caleb felt comfortable enough to engage Malachael in a deeper conversation. He wanted to know and understand the nature of the monk and what possessed him to pursue dark magic and then convert. Such is the nature of younger people in that they are eager to learn the ways of the world and Caleb was no different in that regard. “Might I have a word or two, if you please, friend.”

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Certainly,” the monk replied.

“

I saw that woman and the creatures she had charmed and the threats she made against Lord Lestrade and I have no doubt that she is a powerful sorceress.”

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Aye, she is that and more. She is both powerful and seductive. There was a time that I was very fond of her.”

Caleb chuckled, “I noticed. I think we all did.”

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It was obvious, but she lives a life to which I can never return. I joined the Order of the Tear to put that life behind me and to atone for my countless misdeeds,” Malachael replied. When he joined the order he took a vow of celibacy and had forsworn his use of magic. Such was the price of entering the world of the monastery.

“

My question is simple. What was it like to be a wizard, to know the secrets of nature like few do?” Caleb inquired.

Malachael paused for a moment and sighed as he carefully chose his words. At times he still hated himself for how he had let the power he obtained twist his nature until he had lost himself entirely. He knew that his comments reached the ears of others, just as the words had found their way into his ears. Clustered closely together, it could not be otherwise. Thus, he carefully crafted his reply, “It’s a path that corrupts the corruptible, a road that leads to greater knowledge, but at a terrible cost. All of the magic that I came to know serves only to aid in combat, extend one’s lifespan, to spy on one’s enemies, in short, to enable one to do harm to others or serve a person’s desires. The use of all dark magic harms the planet for it draws from Mithkre’s energies and by extension harms every other living creature. It is a selfish, secret, solitary lifestyle. I wish I could turn back the clock or speak to my younger self and dissuade him from the path he chose. Light magic on the other hand comes from an unknown source, appears rarely, and we generally attribute it to the benevolence of Uua” The pain in Malachael’s face was evident. “If any good magic still exists as it did when I was a child, and I can only surmise there is a little, for we see it in the priestess, but nothing on the scale of dark magic.”

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It’s not a complete answer, I know. To me, magic was a means to know no fear, be it a fear of death, fear of having to bow to another man, fear of the elements, and the like. I also had a mind to have the freedom to roam and understand this world on a great scale. I caution you though that no matter how loose the reins of the mind become it leads to either one of two destinations, madness or an all consuming lust for power. The latter one is what befell me, a mage never content with the extent of my might. The more I learned, the more I hungered to increase my stores of magic spells, potions, ingredients, anything and everything that made me mightier than before. I spent years tracking down other mages to kill them and steal their spell books. Who knows how many I slew. I never kept track. Along the way I kept losing any sense of self. Only the pursuit of power mattered to me. Even my time with Valdona was largely spent chasing magic, together.”

“

No easy answer exists for your complex question. Lad, like many of our fellow race, fear drives a range of our actions; fear of a loss of security, fear of losing our health, money, etc. For me, I hated the idea of subjugation to any man.” Here he paused to laugh. “Now, I prostrate myself before an unseen divinity multiple times a day. I’ve changed, that’s for sure. One upon a time I was deluded. An evening came when I felt so empty inside.” Here his countenance showed a reflective nature. “I recall it as vividly, like it transpired yesterday. As I sat staring into my fireplace the flames dancing before my eyes, I tried to remember the last time I had a friend, a loved one besides Valdona, and most importantly, what benefit had all of my work created? The answer was nothing but an insatiable hunger for things for me. All of a sudden I felt a huge void in my heart and I questioned the use of centuries spent enriching nobody but myself. I loathed it.”

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Centuries?” Caleb incredulously interposed. “No human being lives for centuries.”

Malachael slowly raised his hand as if to stop his young companion from continuing with that thought. “Nobody but mages live that long, trust me. I am far older than I look. Some of us, no all who study the arcane arts, learn how to steal the life force of other beings as a means of prolonging their own existence. Some find the way through vampirism, others have crafted weapons capable of achieving the feat, and I am sure countless other means exist. I found the way through magic and I am ashamed to say I couldn’t even tell you how many lives I have taken.”

“

I digress. On a clear evening I sat watching the flames in my fireplace flicker and dance. Even though I had the power to illuminate the room with but a snap of my fingers I found solace in carefully and strategically placing the logs and twigs I gathered during my walks for maximum conflagration, then work the sticks into a spark through vigorously rubbing two of them together and watching them work with their natural magic. Somehow, it made me feel more connected to nature and the world and reminded me of my childhood. When I felt the connection, even a small connection to my fellow man, something I hadn’t felt in years of being a recluse, it was as though that little external spark lit a small fire in my belly.”

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I had been thinking of crafting a new potion, what ingredients I would mix together, how to acquire them, and what the outcome would be. It was always the same I told myself, a loop of endless quests for more magic, like the way some men try to build their fortunes through conquest, mercantile endeavors, theft from others, wherever their talents best lie. I felt empty, hollow even. At that moment I vowed never to again use my magic. The next morning I told Valdona that I was leaving her and why. Despite her protestations, I left and had neither seen nor spoken to hear since our return to that place. Now then, let’s save the rest of this conversation for another time. I hope that you and those who have heard my words know enough of my shame and have profited in some fashion by my sharing myself.”

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You are a great man, Malachael,” uttered Caleb. “I don’t know many men who could walk away from such a life as yours, one filled with wealth and power. I’d like to think I could do it. That’s one problem I’ll never have,” he said with a laugh as he clapped Malachael on the shoulder.

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Let’s hope not,” Malachael coolly replied.

At this point in time several of the knights had gotten closer to Malacheal. “Please continue,” said Sir Bix. “I find your life story fascinating.”

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It’s better than the tale of many of the elves,” Alari interposed. “Besides, many of them are secretive. They go about their business saying little. I like a man who has lots to say.”

Not one to shy away from a chance to improve anyone’s opinion of divinity, he carried on, “The Goddess speaks to all of us in different ways. We have but to listen to hear her. Consider my case. I ignored her entreaties for centuries. All that I cared about was worldly power and prolonging my death. I stole life from others, from her child, the planet, by use of my dark magic, I’ve killed scores, if not more, people, conjured monsters, raised undead servants, and committed more atrocities than I care to mention or have the capacity to recollect. Look at me now, a humble monk leading a quiet life of meditative contemplation and service to others. Why? Because for the first time since I was a lad, I listened to Her. I walked away from my lover and partner, whom you met, and I have never looked back.”

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Well said,” remarked Alari. “Who knew you were such a worldly man. When I first saw you I figured you for some sheltered, uptight guy who had spent his whole adult life locked away in a monastery. It turns out you are the most interesting one in the group. I’m going to have to get you drunk one night and have you wow me with tales of your past.”

Malachael managed a warm smile as he remarked, “If only I drank.”