The Queen of Air and Fire - Chapter Four
Author: Milady Dragon
Disclaimer: Not mine, sorry about that.
Author's note: Here we go...the next chapter! Hope you enjoy!
Chapter Four
Ianto extended his hand to the other Wizard. Lord Charles shook it enthusiastically. "It's a very great honour to meet you," the man said, his voice pleasantly accented. "I've heard about you, of course, although I hadn't thought we'd actually ever be speaking."
He found himself a bit bemused by Lord Charles' friendly demeanour. "You're researching Wizard history?" he enquired politely.
Lord Charles nodded, releasing Ianto's hand. "I'm from an island off to the southwest of here, and I was curious about the sudden growth of Wizardry in the world. So, when I landed here in Cardiff, I asked around and found out that this was one of the places to try for more information. That, and the Wizard's School, which I think is simply fantastic that you have one, by the way…"
It seemed that the man's default setting was 'enthusiastic'. It should have made Ianto uncomfortable, but for some reason it didn't. "The school is really the best place to get the information you want," he said, then turned to Brendan, who was standing there, watching them as if it was some sort of sporting event. "No offense, Brendan."
"Oh, none taken, Master Ianto," the Archivist assured him. "You're right, and I did tell Lord Charles that –"
"The school was to be my next stop," the other Wizard assured him. "Brendan here tells me that all the important personas are there, and I could get a first-hand account, but I thought I'd do a bit of research beforehand. Besides, I do enjoy trawling through a good Archive."
"Master Ianto is the one responsible for most of the organization of our Archives," Brendan pointed out. "That was before he was named Wizard-at-Large, of course."
Ianto found himself blushing slightly under the praise. "Please…"
"He was the youngest Master Archivist in the Castle ever," Brendan went on. "He really changed things when he was put in charge, and that was even before he realized he was a Wizard."
"All right," Ianto said, putting an end to what was going to turn into blatant hero-worship, "as much as I appreciate it, Brendan, I think we should get onto the job I've been asked to do here." He touched the younger Archivist's shoulder in an effort to soften his words. "I'm on a time constraint here."
That time constraint didn't bother Myfanwy, who immediately went up to the new Wizard and demanded attention. Ianto stifled a sigh; but at the same time he knew that Myfanwy was a very good judge of people, and would never approach someone who could be a source of danger to her Wizard.
Lord Charles glanced down at the red and gold dragon, grinning widely. "Now, aren't you a beautiful one," he crooned, running his fingers across Myfanwy's crest, the dragon practically purring at the touch.
"Please excuse Myfanwy," Ianto said dryly. "She requires worship from nearly every human she meets."
The other Wizard laughed. "It's no problem, I quite understand. My own Cerebro is a bit shy, but once he gets to know a person they need to watch out for spontaneous demands for affection." The silver dragon around Lord Charles' neck was looking at Ianto, and it was if he passed some sort of test, because Cerebro chirped then rested his small head against his Wizard's clavicle. "Yep, you may want to watch out for any sort of ambush," Lord Charles added. "But you were saying something about a time constraint?"
Ianto nodded, glad to get back on task. "I was given some parameters to search for among the oldest records in the Archive. Brendan suggested that I ask you if you wouldn't mind helping, to make things go faster."
"Not at all!" Lord Charles answered. "I'll be happy to. Just let me put this book away –"
"I can take care of that, My Lord," Brendan offered. "And Master Ianto…here's the key to the lowermost section." He passed over a ring, with several keys on it of varying ages.
Ianto knew immediately which key it was, and thanked the young man. The Archivist waved it off. "It's no problem, and I need to get back to what I was doing. I'm sure you remember your way?"
"It hasn't been that long," Ianto chuckled. "I'm sure I can cope."
That earned him a grin. "Just bring them back when you're done, please. Now, some of us have actual jobs to do." Brendan nodded to both of them, then headed back in the direction they'd come, the book that Lord Charles had been reading tucked under his arm.
"Shall we?" Ianto motioned toward the aisle.
"Let's."
The Torchwood Castle Archives had been cut from the bedrock under the immense structure over it, but the older sections had a much more rough finish to them than the main area, where most of the records were kept. Ianto led the way down toward those older sections, explaining the construction as he went.
The section they were heading into had once been the castle dungeons, until the castle's mandate had been changed a little over seven hundred years previously. After that, entire corridors had been either blocked off or converted for storage. Unfortunately, they retained the gloominess of the original dungeons, despite centuries of Archivists keeping the place clean.
"This doesn't seem the place to keep delicate documents," Lord Charles commented as they officially passed into the oldest areas.
"To be honest, this was the where the most dangerous of the magical Archives were kept." Ianto conjured a ball of cold fire to light the way through the darkened corridor. "The best place to keep a Secure Archive is where no one can get in or out, and so a majority of the old dungeons were re-tasked to that purpose. Other areas were bricked up, and others completely abandoned. There were rumours for a while that an ancient Cardinal Point was at the very bottom of the hub, but I'd have been able to sense it a long time ago if there were."
Of course, those rumours hadn't called it a Cardinal Point. It had been referenced as a place of power, and Ianto had made certain assumptions from the old records on hand.
Metal doors in surprisingly good condition appeared on either side of the corridor, marking the area where the cells began.
"You said 'was kept?' I'm assuming all the Artefacts were moved when the Wizard School opened?"
"You're right," Ianto said. "All of these cells are empty now." He'd helped relocate the Artefacts himself.
"If you moved the Artefacts, why not the documents as well?"
It was a valid question, and Ianto grimaced. "Politics." He sighed, knowing the other Wizard wouldn't know anything about the political climate of the Kingdom since he'd made his rather spectacular appearance three years previously. It had been a mess, with contracts and conflict and Exclusivity, and Ianto didn't really want to explain too much of it. Let Lord Charles find out about that later, after he'd spent a bit more time in the Kingdom. At least under King Rory's rule he would be safe from being snapped up by the first opportunistic Barony to see what he was and want their own personal Wizard in order to add to their prestige.
It could have been so much worse; Lord Charles could have landed on Albion.
Although, judging from the matching grimace on the other Wizard's face, Lord Charles just might have understood without getting any of the necessary facts.
The door they wanted was on the right. There was nothing to mark it, but Ianto knew it was the correct one from memory. He used the key Brendan had given him to unlock the heavy metal door, and he pulled it open, revealing darkness inside.
His little handheld ball of blue fire lighting the way, Ianto entered into the room. It smelled strongly of paper and leather, and of being closed up and sealed.
The tingle of ancient magic danced over his skin as he passed over the threshold.
He'd been surprised when he'd first discovered that there was magic surrounding this room. It had been his first trip down, when he'd been an apprentice and the former Master Archivist had been showing him the older sections, and he'd commented on it at once. His master had been shocked that there was a magic spell on the room, and Ianto had been a little too uncertain of his own Catalyst abilities at that point, but after he'd come back after that fateful journey that had brought him into his magic he'd realised the spell had actually been two: Protection and Preservation, perfect for what the room contained.
This was where the oldest documents were kept. Some of them had been dated to thousands of years old, delicate wisps of paper and binding and wood, barely holding together as the years pressed heavily upon them. Most of them would have been gone by now, if it weren't for the magic that kept them preserved; magic that Ianto had strengthened once he'd known how to do it. This room, above anything else in the Archives, was the one place he would never clean out, never move away from the power that prevented their destruction. They couldn't be risked in that way.
The moment Ianto entered the room, the light globes that he'd previously set up inside automatically brightened into luminescence. It was another thing he'd done, only he'd waited until he'd become Master Archivist. Using the strange, magical lights he'd found in the Archives he had replaced the candles and torches that would have been used to light the space, wanting to prevent any accidents. He'd seen the purpose for them the moment he'd sussed out their use, and had figured out how to make them turn on when anyone came into the former cell.
He also carried one around with him constantly. Ianto had lost track of how many times he'd used it in his travels.
The room had been outfitted with shelves on three of the four walls, and a desk took up the fourth wall, where one could work with the documents without needing to remove them from their magically protected home.
A soft, wordless exclamation came from Lord Charles as the man got his first good look into the room. "Just how old are these?" he asked, his voice hushed as if the very tone would do damage.
"Some have been dated at nearly three thousand years old," Ianto answered, equally quiet. "What I'm looking for is going to be in records at least two thousand years. If we have anything on it at all." He made his way over to the desk, making certain that Myfanwy was settled somewhere she wouldn't get in the way, and then pulled two pair of soft, cotton gloves from one of the desk drawers. He handed a pair to his new helper. "From what I was told, it was a legend when Master John was born, and that was over a thousand years ago." At Lord Charles' incredulously raised eyebrow, Ianto explained, "Master John travelled in time…yet another long story. You'll get to meet him when you get to the school, since he teaches there."
"I look forward to it. Time travel…I'd never have thought it."
"Well, it's more his dragon than him," Ianto corrected. Then he considered. "Why don't you come back with us when we return? I'm here in town for a week, for a wedding, but after that we'll be heading back to Gateway. You're more than welcome to travel with us." There was something about the other man that Ianto instinctively trusted, and that was before Myfanwy had given her seal of approval.
"I'd love that. But…'we'?"
"Jack will be here in a couple of days…Captain Jack Harkness. I don't know if you've heard of him yet –"
"The Deathless?" Ianto could swear Lord Charles was going to dance in place.
"That's him, yes." Ianto knew that Jack hated the fact that it was becoming more and more open knowledge that he was the Deathless of legend, but there really wasn't anything anyone could do about it. "There might also be Suzie…Mistress Suzie Costello. She's a friend and also a teacher at the school. We were working in Haven on a project before I had to come here, and I don't know if Suzie would wait to travel back with us, or leave when that's done."
"I think the idea of Deathless is fascinating," Lord Charles went on. "I've only heard of him though, not how he became that way…" Something in Ianto's expression turned his happy grin wry. "Another long story I take it?"
"Yep. Although I'm sure Jack would tell you if you asked. And we'll have plenty of time on the trip to Gateway." Ianto pulled on his gloves. "Now, as to what we're looking for here…I don't have much to go on, only what Baron Daffyd told me: we're looking for references to a Lost Kingdom, or a Kingdom of Magic. It's purported to be the legendary home of the dragons."
A shadow seemed to pass over Lord Charles' face, but then was gone, and Ianto couldn't swear to what that meant. "Sounds pretty vague. Did he say why?"
"There's a Seer in Gateway, and she saw some sort of danger that had to do with this Lost Kingdom. Daffyd's hoping we can find some sort of clue as to what that danger would be."
"That makes sense. The past can, many times, tell us about our present." Lord Charles also pulled on his gloves. "Shall we get started?"
Ianto had no idea how long they'd been working in the ancient records when he thought he found something.
It was on a scroll that was so brittle that he'd been afraid to touch it. The scroll was in a language that he'd needed his magical glasses to interpret. He'd had to ask Lord Charles if he needed any help translating, and the other Wizard had waved him off, saying he wasn't having any trouble at all, which Ianto thought was strange for a new Wizard, but he let it slide. Perhaps he had some sort of gift for languages?
The scroll that Ianto was translating told an interesting story, and he called Lord Charles over to share it with him. It was supposedly the story of a kingdom that had hidden itself away using magic, although the reason for it wasn't given. It mentioned this place being the home of the dragons, and of elementals and Elves and Wizards all living together in harmony. It was fascinating, but it didn't really give any more background than what Idris had given them.
Lord Charles, though, had the best luck of them all.
"Master Ianto," he called out, holding what looked like a map in his hands. He carefully spread it out on the desk, and Ianto glanced over it.
It was indeed a map, yellowed and faded with its great age. Ianto could make out the familiar lines of the borders of the United Kingdom, with the neighbouring kingdom of what was now Albion across the North Channel also obvious. The large mass of the Western Lands were there, as well as the Eastern Empire, and Esplanade and the Great Southern Desert, although none of them were called that.
But what was of more interest was the landmass that lay south and west of the Kingdom, in an area of ocean that Ianto was certain had nothing in it.
It was shaped like an inverted comma, with a mountain range and a tall peak near the southern curve of the land. It was somewhat larger than the United Kingdom, but narrower even at its widest point. Curlicues that designated forests had been drawn in the upper peninsula, as well as a star that had to denote the capitol of whatever kingdom this had been.
Faded letters spelled out a word within the curved area of the continent, and Ianto had to squint to make them out.
Genosha.
"This has to be it," Ianto whispered in awe. "When was this map made?"
"I was looking at the very edge of the dating of the documents on the far shelf," Lord Charles answered. "So, about three thousand years ago."
Ianto whistled. "Now we know what this place was called. We just need to know why it vanished –"
"Something's wrong."
Ianto turned to look at Lord Charles. The Wizard had two fingers up to his temple, and his eyes had gone vague. His dragon, Cerebro, had perked up from his place on his shoulder, the red-orange eyes closed and small body tensed as a bowstring.
"What is it?" Ianto could suddenly sense something beyond the magic that had been cast on this room; this was different, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood up.
"I…don't know," the Wizard answered. His attention snapped back. "But we need to go, now."
While Ianto didn't know just what had happened, he could recognize it as power, and followed Lord Charles from the room, stifling the questions he had as he called to Myfanwy. The red and gold dragon practically flew out into the corridor.
Ianto took the time to lock the former cell, and then was after the running Lord Charles, urgency eating at him even though he had no idea what was going on. Perhaps the Wizard was some sort of seer? It was possible. Or maybe some other type of magic that Ianto wasn't familiar with? That was also possible; they may be fond of saying that he was very powerful, but that didn't mean a thing if Ianto had no idea what was going on.
Together, the two Wizards burst out into the main Archives once more, nearly bumping into a young woman whom Ianto seemed to recall worked in the kitchens. Lord Charles didn't slow down; he dodged his way around her, and around two others before nearly colliding with Brendan. The young Archivist grabbed him, and Ianto practically skidded to a stop as he tried to avoid knocking either man down.
"The warning bells are sounding," Brendan reported breathlessly, as if he'd been the one running and not the pair of Wizards.
Ianto's heart constricted; that explained the presence of other people in the Archives. "Do we know why?"
"No, Master Ianto," Brendan answered. "Those in the lower levels of the castle are evacuating to here, as per protocol – "
It had been the long-standing order of the rulers of the Barony: when the alarm sounded, those closest would come to the Archives, which could be sealed. "As soon as everyone is here, seal the area," he said, even as Lord Charles was pulling his arm from Brendan's grasp and heading toward the Archives' exit.
"But Master Ianto –"
Ianto didn't answer. Instead, he followed on Lord Charles' heels, needing to find out what was going on that would cause the warning bells of Cardiff to sound. He could barely remember the last time; it had been when he'd been five, and it had warned of an incoming maelstrom, one of the powerful ocean storms that sometimes roared onshore with the strength of one of the hells letting loose. It was nearly that season; could this be what was wrong?
He caught up with Lord Charles at the steps leading up into the main castle area. He'd been blocked by a steady stream of people heading downward, and Ianto darted in the lead, Myfanwy with him, and together he and his dragon managed to clear the path long enough to leave the Archives. He could now hear the peal of the warning bells, even if they were dull and echoing from the surrounding stone.
"Come on," Ianto shouted, heading up and into the kitchens, once again dodging those who were evacuating. A couple of people tried to stop them, but Ianto pulled himself free and kept up his pace.
"Where are we going?" Lord Charles panted.
"The tower. We need to see what's going on."
"I can hear them," the other Wizard went on. "I can hear the people panicking in my mind."
Ianto was too worried to be impressed by that, but he did make a mental note to see if he could be taught that magic. That certainly explained how Lord Charles had known that there was something going on. "I hope you don't mind a lot of stairs!"
Lord Charles didn't answer, but the breathless snort was enough of a response.
The spiral staircase leading to the Wizard's Tower were just off the main hall, and Ianto was glad that they were going with the flow of people now, until he got to the doorway to the tower itself. He cut through the arch, and started up the stone stairs, the warning bell louder and more urgent the farther up he went. His lungs were beginning to burn, and his legs began to ache as he climbed higher, and he could hear Lord Charles' boots on the stone behind him, trying to keep up.
Ianto was familiar with the tower. It had been his home in the short time after he'd gotten back from that fated mission with Jack and the team, and his leaving Cardiff for good. The Baroness had thought she was rewarding him by gifting him the new quarters, but Ianto had loathed the climb with a passion. However, he'd gained a lot of strength in his legs over those few months, so he couldn't complain too much, but today the stairs seemed to go on forever when he wanted to be up at the top right then.
Myfanwy went ahead, flying up the central column of the stairs, and Ianto could feel her distress even as he was dealing with his own fear. Adrenaline was the only thing keeping him from stopping and taking a breath, and he could hear Lord Charles begin to flag behind him if the man's harsh exhalations were any indication.
They broke out onto the main landing, and Ianto threw the door to his old room open. Nothing was within anymore; he'd collected his things a long time ago. He was tempted to throw open one of the windows to look out, but wanted to get to the very apex of the tower, the better to see what was going on.
The door to the rooftop entry was just beyond the fireplace, and Ianto had it pulled open in the time it took him to magically manipulate the lock. Then they were taking another set of stairs, this one shorter than the marathon they'd just run, and the trapdoor to the top of the tower was just over Ianto's head.
Ianto slid the bolt that kept the trapdoor sealed, and was pushing the access up and out, clambering up the ladder and onto the very top of the tower. The view from there was amazing, and Ianto had often found himself up there during his forced presence within the castle, looking out over the town and wondering where Jack had been travelling.
Now, he found himself looking for a danger though he didn't know what that threat was.
And then he saw it.
"Bloody hells," Lord Charles panted roughly as he climbed up onto the tower. "I need to be in better shape!"
Ianto didn't respond. He couldn't. He was too busy letting the fear of what he was seeing settle over him.
The next thing Lord Charles said was a soft curse, and Ianto had to completely agree with him.