Chapter 37

At the last moment, it registered with Uroddus that there had been a faint scarlet aura around the seal behind him. The realization came too late for him to avoid the bolt that shot from it and into his back. Q'ixanna neatly stepped out of the way as Uroddus flew towards the other seal, its red aura brightening towards discharge.

Uroddus conjured another reflective shield before him. It reflected the second bolt away from him and towards Q'ixanna. But as hurried as it was, the aim was not true, and the Guildmaster was able to duck. The bolt struck the wall, bits of stone and mortar showering the old Mage.

Uroddus fell to the floor as his momentum failed. His shield dissipated just as he struck, his fall only partially cushioned. It knocked the wind out of him, but he had managed to roll to one side as he fell. A bolt from Q'ixanna's hand erupted just handspans beside him. Chunks of marble erupted and fell, pummeling Uroddus with scrapes and bruises on his arms and face.

"You cannot keep playing that reflective trick forever!" Q'ixanna sneered. "Or is that all you know? Is that all the great Empiricist can calculate? What will you do now? Shout formulas at me? Challenge me to a math contest?"

The Guildmaster laughed. Uroddus stood. He's overconfident, spiteful, and mocking, the Journeyman thought. Use that against him.

He raised his hands and twirled them in a circle. Q'ixanna was immediately on his guard, but all Uroddus appeared to generate was a softly pulsing ball of wispy, pastel red energy. He sent it careening towards the Guildmaster.

Q'ixanna snorted and held up a hand. The ball of energy stopped an arm's length before him. He peered into its depths, where it glowed burnished gold.

The Guildmaster laughed. "Perhaps you transposed a digit somewhere? Or forgot to carry the two? Or read your formula backwards?"

Around him, the bits of stone and marble twitched and shuddered.

"Or perhaps you simply don't know quite as much as you... OUCH!"

A broken piece of stone had flown through the air and whacked him in the shoulder. He swept his arm and pulverized the stone in midair with a crimson bolt. Then a second belted him across the mouth. A third smashed into his knee.

Dozens of bits of stone, marble, and mortar were whirling in orbit about the orb, striking the Guildmaster repeatedly as he tried to smash them with magic. Finally he thought to strike at the glowing orb. The crimson energy around it dissipated, revealing not amber reflective energy within but green transport energy.

With a growl of anger and a thunderous boom, Q'ixanna dissipated the orb.

"Did not someone mention to you, Guildmaster, that red light and green light make yellow?" Uroddus said calmly. "Any Empiricist would know that."

Q'ixanna let out an enraged yell, his robes torn, several cuts oozing blood over exposed skin. With a sweep of his arm, emerald energy swept up all the bits of debris in the room and hurled them at Uroddus.

The Journeyman swung his arm as if throwing an object. A multitude of tiny red bolts like miniature missiles impacted with the larger objects, pulverizing them in flashes of light. Yet the remaining pieces were coming fast enough to scrape the skin raw on his cheeks and arms. At the last moment he saw the chunk headed towards his face, but it struck and smashed his spectacles before he could react.

It threw him off balance enough to allow the Guildmaster a follow-up attack. But this time Q'ixanna resorted again to a simple, brute force blow, which Uroddus countered, sending the bolt into the ceiling. A roof beam splintered and crashed to the floor between them.

He's impatient as well, Uroddus thought as he struggled to his feet. Every muscle fiber in his body screamed. Blood trickled from his scraped face and arms. One eye burned from a sliver of glass from his broken spectacles. Quick to anger, so he doesn't observe carefully.

"A shame about your spectacles, boy!" Q'ixanna gloated. "Perhaps we need to make things larger for you so you can see them!"

The fallen beam glowed acid green and hurtled itself at Uroddus.

He was already not there. Overconfidence again, announces his moves, the Journeyman thought as he came out of a tumble just as the beam struck the wall with a floor-shaking crash.

Uroddus could not keep this up forever. Q'ixanna was vastly older and thus had vastly more reserves of magical energy in his body. The Journeyman had to continue to use the Mage's own power against him. Uroddus glanced back at the beam and had an idea.

Q'ixanna swept more debris through the air towards Uroddus. He pushed it aside with green energy of his own as he dodged to the side. He pretended to catch his foot on something and fall to the floor. The Guildmaster pounced. He shot a bolt of red that would have surely crushed Uroddus' spine against the wall behind him. Uroddus already had his reflective shield before him and sent the bolt back.

But Q'ixanna had learned. By the time the bolt returned to him, he had conjured his signature power shield. The bolt burst harmlessly into fading radiance.

Q'ixanna snarled from behind his shield and sent one, two, and then a third bolt at Uroddus. He reflected each one back, but struggled to keep pace. By the time he had sent the third to dissipate harmlessly against the Guildmaster's shield, he was panting. His knees buckled, and he fell on them with a bone-jarring thud.

"Go ahead! Keep at it!" Q'ixanna shouted. "You will tire and run out of power long before my shield is penetrated!"

Uroddus feigned a desperate look to his face. He swept up some stones with weak green energy and hurtled them at the Guildmaster.

Q'ixanna laughed as he made each one explode in midair in bursts of scarlet. "That's the nice thing about this shield, boy," he cackled. "It may protect against only magic, but I barely have to concentrate to maintain it. That leaves me free to deal with your other pathetic attacks. Now, let's see how long you can hold out!"

The Guildmaster pumped another scarlet bolt at Uroddus. He again conjured a reflective shield, but this time he sent the bolt to the ceiling once more.

It struck another beam. The beam separated with a mighty crack and fell towards the Guildmaster. He thrust a hand up and rent the beam in two. One piece fell behind him and the other between him and Uroddus.

Perfect, Uroddus thought, and readied himself. He had to time this very well. He would only have on shot at it.

"Oh, nice try, very nice try!" Q'ixanna laughed. "I give you high marks for effort. Too bad you're about to flunk the final exam!"

Uroddus struck.

Q'ixanna struck.

Amber energy from Uroddus enveloped the beam between him and the Guildmaster.

Green energy from Q'ixanna flooded over the beam, then leapt back towards its caster. It burst through his shield and cocooned his body. Q'ixanna screamed as it tossed him like a rag doll across the chamber. He struck the wall with a sickening thud and fell to the floor in a heap.

Uroddus stood and let out a relieved sigh. He had not at all been sure if the reflected green transport energy would get through the shield. He had gambled that Q'ixanna would pump a vast amount of his energy into the shot in order to finish off his opponent.

Uroddus drew himself up and trudged forward. He was already approaching the end of his energy reserves. He had to strike now while the Guildmaster was weak. Yet the thought of landing that final blow, the death blow, sickened him.

"Guildmaster," Uroddus called out as he paused by the fallen beam. "You can still end this. We can stop this Duel. Just step down."

Q'ixanna crawled forward to the far section of beam. Wheezing against the pain of the broken rib, he grasped the beam with a shaking hand and pulled himself up. Blood trickled from his nose and from a gash in his forehead. He grimaced as he attempted to put his weight on his broken leg.

"Step down," said Uroddus. "Please. I do not want to kill you."

Q'ixanna struggled to his feet, his teeth clenched. His split and bleeding lips curled back like a feral animal. "Funny, that, Journeyman," he snarled in a raspy voice. "Because I want to KILL YOU!"

He drew himself up to his full height, pushing past the pain, and thrust both hands before him. Fiery red light erupted from his fingers and seared a path through the air towards Uroddus.

Uroddus did not have the power to reflect all that massive energy back towards the Guildmaster. He had only one thing he could do, and it was to duck behind the fragment of beam that the Guildmaster had tried to hurtle towards him as he channel all his remaining energy into one massive burst.

The searing red bolt curved as it sought its target. It struck the beam fragment, sending it exploding into shards. The residual amber energy was not enough to reflect the power of the attack, but attenuated it. It then struck the reflective shield that Uroddus had only just formed.

The shield glowed with blinding light as it absorbed the attack, then failed with spectacular results.

Crimson energy split and hurtled in both directions. Uroddus was blown backwards, sliding uncontrollably across the chamber floor. He whipped his hand above his head and haphazardly cast emerald energy behind him, sending the larger bits of debris, chairs, and tables flying out of his path. His energy failed him as his reserves gave out, and he stopped when his head smacked hard into the leg of a table. Dazed by the blow, he remained still, but alive.

Q'ixanna was not as fortunate. The reflected energy blasted his weakened body off his feet from the higher angle at which it struck. His back and head smashed into the wall behind him with the force of a sledgehammer. He drew his last breath before he hit the floor.

Uroddus was panting hard, every bone his body aching, every muscle and joint in pain. The top of his head throbbed. He winced as he touched the growing lump.

I never, ever want to do this again, Uroddus thought with dead certainty.

There was a sudden hissing noise and a rumble of thunder as the magical seals fell away from the doors. The next moment, Uroddus passed out.

Roquan uttered an exasperated sigh at the translucent form of Trennan's Farview image. "Forgive me if I sound short, Trennan, for it is nothing you did," Roquan said in clipped tones. "It has simply been a very trying time for me the past few days."

"And despite my feelings towards you, Roquan, I did not intend to add to them," Trennan said crisply. "But I thought you should know."

"Can you not prod them into action? Surely they see the importance of this matter."

Trennan tilted his head. "And you would hasten a Conclave knowing what it means for you as well?"

"I tire of repeating myself. I have already stated my intentions. What is important is that justice is served. I have no other agenda."

Trennan paused, as if assessing Roquan silently. Finally, he nodded. "Yes, I believe that now. I commend you on your integrity."

Roquan gave Trennan a cool look. "It is good to hear something good from another Overlord for a change."

"Do you wish to hear my opinion on why the other Overlords are dragging their feet on convening another Conclave?"

"I would be delighted to have some insight into their thinking, as I am out of ideas and patience."

"It is threefold, Roquan. First, because Freya has, in effect, already been deposed and no longer truly has any slaves to her name, she is a nonentity to them."

Roquan frowned. "But she has not been deposed by any officially recognized..."

Trennan held up a hand. "Please do not interrupt. Second, by leaving Freya with you, they consider the immediate problem solved for the time being."

"This is nothing more than a temporary arrangement. One Overlord should not have to incarcerate another Overlord. It is unnatural and surely without precedent. I do not have the authority to be her judge or jailer."

Trennan sighed. "I know all that! But they are very good at ignoring those things that are not immediate, pressing concerns, especially now that we need to be worried about the Emperor marching on Overlord Manors. But there is a third factor at work here, Roquan, one that no one wishes to admit."

"And that is?"

"Freya is a woman."

Roquan paused, as if waiting for Trennan to say something more. "And?" he finally said into the silence.

"Freya is one of only three women that have ever been Overlords in the past two centuries. There is a reason. Overlordship is seen as a man's domain."

Roquan raised an eyebrow. "I have never heard such a sentiment expressed."

"Of course you have not. Freya prevents such opinions from being expressed by simple force of will. And in times when there is no female Overlord, nothing needs to be said when all Overlords are satisfactorily male."

"This is insane. I would have thought we have progressed beyond such meaningless gender roles. Power is power, no matter what sex wields it."

Trennan shook his head. "If idealism were a crime, Roquan, you would have been deposed years ago. But you see the implications, do you not?"

Roquan sighed. "Yes, I most unfortunately do. They see Freya as having been put properly in her place, which is under the dominion of a man. But by that logic, would they not wish to be quick about confirming her disbarment from Overlord duties?"

"That would mean acknowledging her Overlord status in the first place, which they are loathe to do. She has made more enemies among the Overlords than she cared to admit. No, Roquan, I am afraid you are stuck with Freya for the foreseeable future. Until the Overlords are no longer distracted with other matters, they will not be swayed, not by you, not by silver-tongued Doran, and not by me."

"I never wanted this responsibility, Trennan," said Roquan in a tired voice. "I only wanted to stop her from committing her crimes."

"I understand, and I do not hold this situation against you. If anything, I sympathize. I would not want to be in this position, either."

"Can you offer me any advice? I would like to at least solicit the opinions of others so I do not feel I am acting inappropriately."

Trennan considered. "So long as you continue to treat her with at least a minimal amount of respect and keep her accommodations as comfortable as you can, there is little more I could tell you. Are you aware if she knows the new Draught formula that her Healer had created?"

"I do not know. We confiscated the scroll she had with her that contained the formula. Her Healer wishes no part of this scheme of hers and has vowed never to reproduce this Draught again."

Trennan frowned. "I am wary of that Healer, Roquan. I cannot be assured that she will not do it again if the right person -- and the right offer -- came around."

Roquan nodded. "I understand. I have misgivings as well, but there is nothing I can do short of using the new Draught on her, and then I would be no better than Freya."

"Agreed. We may need to leave it to the Healer Guild."

"She is currently under the supervision of my Healer Vanlo. I trust implicitly that he will do the right thing where she is concerned."

"In that case, I believe we are done." Trennan paused. "Roquan, as much as I believe that you must be held accountable for your actions, I've come to believe that you had good intentions. I cannot find fault with that, as far as it goes."

"Thank you for your kind words, Trennan, they mean much coming from one such as yourself."

"If it helps any, I will consider arguing for some leniency when it comes to deciding an appropriate punishment for you. I do not believe any longer that your actions warrant being deposed."

Roquan let out a small, relieved sigh. That prospect had worried him more than he had let on. "I thank you again, Trennan."

"Good day to you, Roquan."

"Good day, Trennan."

Trennan's image faded out.

The first thing Uroddus was aware of was a warmth over much of his body. It was odd, but it felt good. Much better than pain. He felt some of that still, but much less than before. Certainly less than what he felt right after...

His eyes flew open. "The Duel ... Q'ixanna ... what... ?"

He tried to sit up. A hand gently pressed into his shoulder and held him down. It did not have to push very much, as weak as he was.

"I am glad to see you are awake," said a female voice. "But you need to remain where you are and lie still."

Uroddus looked up, squinting to force his eyes to focus properly. He winced at a brief stab of pain in one eye.

"Careful now," said Tallia. "I got that shard out of your eye, but it will hurt for a bit. I don't like applying analgesics to the eyeball when I can avoid it."

Uroddus let out a sigh and nodded. "What about the rest of me?"

Tallia smiled. "You'll live. Your injuries were surprisingly minor. I've knit the major cuts closed and started new skin regenerating on those nasty raw spots on your cheeks. You had a hairline fracture of one ankle which I've already mended."

"I feel warm."

"Too much?"

Uroddus shook his head.

"Just the salves that I applied to you. You'll have to stay here tonight, but you should be able to return to your quarters tomorrow."

Uroddus paused. "What about the Guildmaster?"

Tallia tilted her head. "You mean Q'ixanna?"

"Yes, of course."

Her face took on a somber look. "He's dead. I thought you would have known that."

"I passed out right after the last attack."

Tallia grabbed a flask filled with a deep indigo potion and placed it on the table alongside the bed. "You should be strong enough to sit up in another candlemark. Once you are, take three sips of that potion. It will help your muscles to relax and get you to sleep faster."

Uroddus nodded absently.

Tallia raised an eyebrow. "Something the matter?"

"It's just ... very strange now. The Guildmaster is gone."

"Mage Q'ixanna is gone," Tallia said crisply. "You are the Guildmaster."

"I never wanted this position. Not really."

"Well, you've got it now. Personally, I do not approve of this means of transfer or power, but considering what we had before..." She paused and sighed. "I should not speak like that, but after what he did to Mage Q'land..."

Uroddus turned his head. "Is he all right?"

"He was extremely lucky! Fractured three vertebrae, but no damage to his spinal cord. Healer medicine still hasn't managed to find a way to mend really large nerves properly. Mending those bones is a little tricky as well, so he'll be here for a few days. But I got to him before any swelling could set in and damage the cord. I expect him to pull through."

"Were there any other injuries at all? Any deaths?"

"All minor. And no deaths."

Uroddus let out a relieved sigh.

Tallia smiled. "Well, you're one up on the old Guildmaster as it is. You seem to actually care about the welfare of the other Mages. Maybe there's hope for this Guild yet."

Tallia turned from the bed and collected her healing supplies, placing them on a small cart. Uroddus closed his eyes. "All I wanted was to focus the Guild on the threat of the foreign Portals, that's all."

"Well, I daresay you will be able to do that now. Just don't go expecting to throw around any fancy displays of magic! That Duel drained you down to near empty. So if some Mage Elder gets it in his head to challenge you for the Guildmastership..."

Uroddus' eyes flew open and he tried to sit up in his surprise. He got only halfway before he had to lie back down with a grunt.

"I said another candlemark, now, didn't I?" Tallia scolded.

"You don't seriously think one of the Mage Elders might..."

Tallia waved a hand of dismissal. "If they're smart, they won't! It would set a very bad precedent. Otherwise it would have happened every time someone had to take power this way, and then everyone would be dead." She shook her head. "Listen to me. I pledged not to be involved in politics at the Guild Hall. I'll just shut up now."

"Tallia, there's someone that will be worried about me..."

"Yes, I know, I know. I will be telling her that you are awake and recovering. But I will not let her visit you! You need your rest." She finished piling the last of the supplies on her cart. "Now, there's a bell on the table. Ring that if you need me. Otherwise, good night, and I will see you tomorrow."

"Good night," Uroddus said softly as Tallia swept out of the room.

Uroddus sighed into the dimness. He craned his neck until he could see out the tiny window above his bed. It was deep twilight outside, the sun having gone down already.

He admitted that he did not think this through. He had confronted Q'ixanna because, so he thought, he was the only one with enough power and cleverness to do it. The thought that he would be Guildmaster after it was over had barely entered his head.

That is, if the others actually allow it, he thought ruefully.

Vanlo emerged from the back room. His gaze swept the treatment room, an inspection he was so used to doing when it was only him running the office. He insisted on leaving the treatment room pristine, with not a single supply out of place, nor a single speck of dirt anywhere to be found.

He hardly had need to do it anymore, as Lanno was quite capable of handling such things. And Evella, whatever reservations Vanlo had about her, was undeniably nearly as fastidious about such things as himself.

To his surprise, he found the treatment room occupied. Evella still had an array of herb sacks and potion bottles before her. She picked up a bottle and carefully measured its level, then dutifully scratched it onto a parchment with her quill pen.

"You are working rather late, are you not?" Vanlo asked gently.

Evella looked up. "Um, yes, I wanted to get this inventory completed for you before I was done for the day."

Lanno emerged from the supply room. "She's been working hard at it all afternoon, Vanlo. I admire her dedication to the task." He looked meaningfully at Vanlo, though Evella seemed to shrink a bit.

Vanlo simply nodded. "In any case, it grows late, and we should be closing up. If you would be so kind as to put those away, Amanda can finish it in the morning."

Evella looked up again. "Oh, but ... but I have all these out now and only a little ways to go. Amanda would just have to pull them all out and put them all back again."

"Nevertheless, there is a time when one must learn to set aside work and..."

"Come on, Vanlo, she's almost done," Lanno said. "Just let her finish."

Vanlo sighed. In this case, it was not a matter of trust. He was set in his ways and preferred things to operate on his schedule. Yet he knew Lanno would interpret it as anything but if he pressed the point. "Very well. Please close up promptly when you are done. No new patients unless it is an emergency."