THE WIZARD'S PRICE

CHAPTER 1

ONCE UPON A TIME a great and wise Wizard came to live in the mountains of Peratha, south of the royal palace and the capital. He asked and obtained permission from King Aldric who ruled the country at the time.

The wizard was very much on the wrong side of middle-aged. He had been travelling all over the world since his youth and now he wanted to settle down in the mountains of the small kingdom to spend the latter end of his life in peace.. First thing he did was build a home, a tower made of ivory. Turning the tip of an elephant's tusk into a Wizard's home would be his greatest work, he thought. He put the bit of ivory in the place where he wanted his tower. He smiled as he remembered the big matriarch that had given him the broken tip for saving her herd, surprised that he hadn't wanted more. Perhaps it was because he was thinking about her that the tower became larger than expected, pushing deep into the steep rocky incline that backed it.

At that exact place inside the tower the Wizard found a well with clear water, an unexpected bonus. He soon learned how much of a bonus this was. Barely a month after he'd started living in his tower and drinking the water, he looked and felt like a man in his prime. That's when he realised the value of his well. This was a well with the Water of Eternal Youth. Using it meant he could remain young and, though it did not make him immortal, he could live for countless centuries.

His apparent youth caused a problem. The people of Peratha reasoned that a young man claiming to be a wizard must be a charlatan. To impress them he put on a glamour that made him appear a wise old man when people came to see him. He lived peacefully in his tower, year after year after year but because he seemed immortal people started to fear him and preferred not to come anywhere near him. Some people claimed that he had sold his soul to the devil in exchange for eternal life.

The kings of Peratha didn't believe such idle gossip. They knew that in times of trouble they would always be able to ask for his help; his great expertise could be counted on. The Wizard always helped the people and would always help the kingdom. All he ever asked in recompense was a token gift.

For years the wizard lived a quiet life. Ludovick I followed King Aldric and neither ever needed to ask for help. Ludovick II followed Ludovick I. He didn't need the Wizard until one day the small kingdom was attacked by its larger neighbour, Eburon. The peace-loving country was not prepared for the onslaught and soon threatened to be overwhelmed by the enemy. In despair King Ludovick turned to the Wizard for help.

"Master Wizard, we are in great need," said the King. "Without you our land is doomed, as is all we have done to make it a good place for our people. Please, help us. I'll give you anything you want, as long as you help us defeat the enemy."

"I'll help you in exchange for a gift, as is custom," said the Wizard.

"Anything you want, Master Wizard. As long as we have your help."

"I'll have the first creature that is born in your palace after the war."

"If that is your wish, you will have it Master Wizard," said the King.

And so the contract was made. The Wizard came down from his ivory tower in the mountain and made it clear to the enemy that is was in his best interest to quit while he was ahead (that is alive) and to sign a peace treaty. This done, the Wizard went back to his tower.

When the fighting had stopped, the peace treaty had been signed and the enemy had left the country, the King returned home victorious at the head of his army to find that his wife had just given birth to a son. She had kept her condition a secret so her husband wouldn't worry about her while trying to win a war. The King was elated with this news. Not only was this his first born child, but because of Queen Kalanta's age he had thought it highly unlikely they would ever have a child. Of course, he realised, his wife was a special woman so perhaps it wasn't unusual. Then he remembered his promise to the Wizard. He checked every creature in the palace – cats, dogs, birds, horses … even the mice behind the skirting board – but finally he had to accept that his son was the price for peace in his country. This was a terrible blow to King Ludovick. He didn't say anything to his wife and pretended to share in the joy about the end of the war and the birth of the Crown Prince. Then one moonless cloudy night he wrapped the baby warmly and took it to the Wizard.

He put the child in the Wizard's arms and said bitterly, "Here is the price you so cleverly won."

The Wizard looked at the child and said, "A baby? What use have I for a baby? Was there no foal from your best mare? Didn't your faithful bitch have puppies?"

"Didn't you ask for the first creature born after the war? Don't you think I looked high and low to find anything that was born before my son? And if you wanted a horse or a dog why didn't you just ask for it? I would have given you one of each." Then hopeful, "Does this mean I can keep my son?"

The Wizard sighed, "I'm afraid not. The contract is made and has to be paid. I cannot change it now. It will teach me to be more plain-speaking. However, I cannot look after a child so young, so take it back with you and let your wife enjoy her child. See him grow up to be a decent young man and send him to me then. Perhaps on his sixteenth birthday so he can become my apprentice. Just remember that your son must be here on his twenty-fifth birthday at the latest or a curse will be upon him. Payment cannot be delayed beyond twenty-five years. I'm afraid it's an obligatory condition of any Wizard Contract. Even I can't break it."

King Ludovick went back home, a much happier man, and put his child back in his cradle. For now his wife could rejoice in the unexpected pleasure of motherhood He wouldn't tell anyone about the transaction with the Wizard; there was time enough for that. Perhaps even time for a second child.

The King and Queen organised a great feast with fireworks, holidays and street parties for the boy's christening. His godmother was allowed to choose a name and named him Artus.

The young Prince was a happy child with a friendly nature and a quick mind. Looking after her son had made the Queen look younger. Meanwhile the King stuck his head in the sand and ignored the future. When he saw his wife and son playing, running and laughing, he always thought, "Later, I'll tell them later. Artus is still young and my wife doesn't need to know yet. There will be time enough for this sorrow when he is older."

Death rarely heeds the plans that mortals make. One day, during a hunt, the King's horse was startled by a wild boar, threw his rider and bolted. The hog looked round, saw its target and charged. Dazed by the fall King Ludovick could not defend himself. They found him late in the day, too late to help him, too late for him to tell them of the price the Wizard had asked. He was mourned by his family because he had been a good husband and father; he was mourned by his people because he had been a good King.

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