Trouble's Time, Time's Trouble
Chapter 1
By Mathus T. Quill
Mornings are just another time of day, like lunch time, or quitting time. So why is it that I had so much trouble with them? Nine times out of ten, my worst problems will ambush me in the morning... usually before breakfast. Like today.
My door cracked down the center, with a clap of thunder, and fell into my room. Before it even hit the ground, the boot that had kicked it, strode in, carrying the grey robed Warden with it. His face was stone hard, no nonsense, and his scowl was chiseled into it like Mount Rushmore. Striding forward, with the silver Wardens Blade in his left hand, and a glowing fingerless fine chain mesh glove on his right, he gloweres at me and shouted "HOLD" while pointing the glowing silver sword at my throat. As I was standing there in my Ghostbuster boxers, a Weird Al tour shirt, and a plaid felt bathrobe, I feel he had me at a bit of a disadvantage.
I stood looking at him, stock still, only blinking. After a full sixty seconds of motionless blinking and respiration, I decided to secede the bizarre staring contest, and asked, "What can I do for you, Warden..." not recognizing him, I left the formal address dragging out, hopeful for him to complete it.
"Silence, Warlock! I'll not give you my name. I am not such a fool! Do you relent? Or will you resist," at that word, the sparks arced across his gloved hand, with a sizzling zzzzap!
"Warden, sir, although I protest the label of 'Warlock' as I have followed the Seven Laws with great care. As a practitioner of wizard level power, I must relent when challenged by a Warden, or I invite an automatic guilty verdict. I know this, so please, hand me the hood." My voice cracked like a thirteen year old boy, but I was calm on the outside, where it counts.
The mailed hand reached under the cloak and brought out the canvas blackout hood, used to instill fear in young casters who have had a brush with the law. Handing it to me, I put it on, and stood, with what dignity I could summon, dressed as I was. I was past the first hurdle. I had been "apprehended" by the Warden, instead of receiving "summary judgement" and a haircut, from the neck up. Hooray for me.
"Please lead the way."
Feeling the tingle of a Veil settled over me, as he cloaked us in unnotice and led me down the hall to the stairs. Lucky it was only on the third floor. It is an eight story apartment building, and it is in deference to those who live on seven and eight that I avoid taking the elevator... ever. A short walk to his vehicle (a old panel truck by the sound, with enclosed back. I am shoved in the back. A loud "Clang" tells me he has a grate or cage to hold prisoners in his vehicle. This man came prepared! As I sat, in darkness, trying to brace for the turns as they came, I did the breathing exercises that the Master had taught me, seeking my calm center. I knew better than to try to cast while in Warden custody, but meditation could not be banned.
"He's a cool customer, sitting there doing chi breathing, when they are taking him to get his head cut off". Until that moment, I thought I was alone in my cage. Another voice piped in.
"Maybe he trusts that the system will be lenient, give him another chance." The laughter that followed was serious Evil Overlord level laughter. If they ever give up being Wardens, and get them selves some minions and a secret volcano lair, they are already set for their denumont. To block them out, I started using my Mantra, repeating it under my breath. A firm thump to the back of the head, and a shout of "No Casting, Warlock" reminded me that chanting at the moment, and that a mantra does not have to be audible. Fifteen minutes driving took us to the opening of the Way in the area. Another ten minutes walking thru the NeverNever, and we come out somewhere that the hood warmed immediately. The faint light leaking in showed the sun directly overhead. Noon, a couple of hours from San Diego, and home.
The metal screeching of a garage door, in need of oil, told me we had arrived at our destination. The place felt big, like a high-school gym or a warehouse. A kick to the back of my knee tumbled me kneeling on the floor, where I felt a circle go up around us. I guess it was time for... the judges? The Tribunal? A quick spot of tradition before beheading? Not sure what they call it, but it was starting.
"We are called to stand in Judgment," you could actually Hear the capital letter there, "of this practitioner, called Warlock by Warden Juentes. Does he stand here?"
Just the voice told me this one was pompous, with a superiority he thinks he deserves, and unlikely to listen to me when... if, I was given the opportunity to speak.
"I am here," spoke the voice of the Warden who had redecorated my front door this morning "and I accuse this... boy, and declare him Warlock. I sensed the energies of Cronomancy in his home, a stirring in the stream of time... breaking the Sixth Law of Magic."
I was grateful that the Master had me studying Latin, and would only provide my instructions in the language. Because of this, the fluency I had developed, allowed me to understand the accusations flying over my hooded head. It was time to use that knowledge.
"With respect, the accused would like to address the... Judges."
"Silence Warlock! You have no right to speak..."
"Wizard Juentes," a new voice this time, "if you will permit no defense, then why bring him to the council. Why not just end him in his home... in his pajamas. If he thinks he has a defense, if he can claim some mitigation... lets hear him out. Even Hitler spoke at Nuremberg."
"Thank you Warden...," I let it drag on again, trying to figure out who my champion was.
"Dresden, and that's all of my name you will get. Speak your peace kid... I've done my best to keep the wolves off, the stage is yours."
The name Dresden is known to most of the casters, great and small, in the US. He is the one who made that organization of lesser casters, helping them support each other, and protecting them when a predator came.
"I admit that I study Chronomancy, under a qualified White Council Wizard. I admit that I have begun to learn to use the magic of Chronomancy, although if the Warden detected it at my house, it was from my Masters visit, not from my very simple exercises. I refute the claim that I have broken the sixth law, which states 'Thou shall not swim against the currents of Time' and I have not. My Master is a long standing member, and uses Chronomancy to allow him to watch over his long term projects, and to study the progress of nature, man, and magic."
"LIAR!" shouted Warden Juentes, "No one on the council is known to use Chronomancy. Who is this Master you claim, Warlock?"
"My master is Merlin."
The shocked silence was broken by one snicker, from Warden Dresden's direction.
"I have never seen this young man before, and I do NOT practice Chronomancy."
"Who are you Sir," I asked, not recognizing the voice.
"I am Arthur Langtry, and I happen to BE Merlin of the White Council" the venom in his voice would have slain a small bull. Being the target of anger of a powerful wizard is terrifying.
"My apologies, Sir. When I said my Master was Merlin, I did not mean the Title, I ment the Man. Merlin, First of the order, the Man the Myth was founded upon. He is my teacher, my Master, my..."
"Again, LIAR!" Warden Juentes shouted. He is getting more shrill and tense, every time he speaks. If I though he would listen, I would suggest some of the breathing exercises I had done, "Merlin is long dead, a mater of record of this council. I name the Liar and ask for Summary judgment for this deceitful Warlock"
"He will be back." I said, with the most confident tone I could muster. "He checks in on me, once every month, giving instructions and leaving assignments. He will arrive in twenty seven days."
"A paltry attempt to ring a few more moments of life, perhaps a chance to escape. It wont work. This august council sees through your ploy and will..."
"Back from Where?" asked Langtry, "Where do you claim he goes, when he is 'away' from you"
"You misunderstand me, Sir. He did not go to a Where, he has gone to a When. When he left here, three days ago, his destination was our next meeting, twenty seven days from now. He is not breaking the sixth law either. His travel, when he leaves is WITH the flow of time. He skips like a stone, above the waters of the stream of time, touching down periodically to observe men, wizards, nature, progress. We are his grand experiment." The shocked silence from the listening Wizards told me they were considering the possibility of truth in my statement. A moment later, minor conversations broke out among all those present, until the Merlin called quietly for order.
"Be still..." every voice stopped, "We must consider the possibility. Either the accused is lying in which case he will feel the sting of Wardens Justice" I gulped, "Or, he tells what he believes to be true, having been lied to by this man that he calls "Master". Or...". That or hung in the air, until Warden Dresden finished it.
"Or the greatest of us, the most powerful wizard who ever lived, who has been living incognito for the past thousand years... has decided to return, to recruit and train this boy."