The Past Is Prologue

Chapter 13: The Return of Fiero

"Queen Shuriki, when she wished it, had the ability to make you think anything was possible, if you would only follow her lead. Of course, when your usefulness was at an end, she would not hesitate to throw you to the wolves." – Victor Delgado, apprentice to Royal Wizard Mateo de Alva, former Treasurer of Avalor under Queen Shuriki, former associate of Shuriki during the Nueva Vista coup attempt, pardoned for treason by Queen Elena Castillo Flores, A People's History of the Reign of Queen Shuriki, compiled by Professor Catalina Torres

Victor was outwardly calm as he gazed upon the waves, but he gripped the rail so tightly his knuckles turned white. He had not meant to lose his temper with Olivia like that. He was fond of the young apprentice. When Victor and his daughter had been conditionally pardoned for treason, they'd been treated with mistrust and anger wherever they turned. Olivia, up until that point Mateo's only apprentice, was an exception. She stood up for the Delgados whenever any in the palace gave them a hard time, and even got Mateo's formidable mother to back down when the latter had threatened to end both Victor and Carla if either harmed so much as a hair on the royal wizard's head. The girl had been, quite frankly, adorable. Then a few days later Victor had realized that this child who was a quarter his age had already mastered more magic than he was ever likely to learn.

And so jealousy, his strongest character flaw since childhood, had begun to take root again. This time, though, he fought it and thought he had mastered it. Still, it rankled that Olivia had complete access to Mateo's magical library, compiled by Mateo's grandfather Alacazar, while Victor had lost count of all the times Mateo had forbidden him from reading some tome or other with a dubious provenance. "I'm just looking out for you, Victor," the young master wizard had told him kindly when he had complained. The former malvago knew that his master (the same age as his daughter, no less) meant well, and wanted to keep him from returning to the dark path he'd once tread, but Victor was no longer that man.

In truth, Victor's anger today had relatively little to do with Olivia and far more to do with Carla. "Where are you, mija?" he muttered. She'd apparently come up with some harebrained scheme to challenge Duke Cristóbal and whatever allies he'd amassed. What was wrong with that girl? They were finally safe! They had a home, were no longer on the run, no longer hunted. They even had respectability! Why would she throw that all away?

Victor knew his daughter had been restless of late. To her, magic was a chore, not the joy Victor was only now discovering in his later years. He worried that Carla didn't know how to live a life without danger, as that was all she had known since she was seven and her mother had left them, ironically to learn enough magic to keep her family safe. It had not worked out that way.

Nor had Carla found anyone with whom to settle in Avalor City. Victor had never objected to her dalliances, not even that two-week whatever-that-was with Mateo. (Victor had of course pretended to be clueless, and it had been quite amusing to make "innocent" comments and watch both Carla and Mateo squirm as they futilely but desperately tried to keep their liaison secret.) None of Carla's trysts ever lasted long, and she didn't seem inclined to discuss them with her papá. And now she's thrown everything away to run off with the bastard son of Esteban Flores? That was not to be borne!

If Victor was being honest with himself, his anger wasn't really directed against Olivia. She was just collateral damage. The apprentice wizard's gut churned as he imagined what the kid thought of him now. He missed the days when his conscience would not have bothered him so. Being a villain did have its perks.

He heard footsteps behind him. Someone was coming to call him to task, no doubt. If it was that sanctimonious hypocrite Esteban Victor might just levaluq him overboard. Then he remembered that Esteban was the only one who could sail the bloody boat.

He turned and was surprised to see Ixlan. The Lightening Warrior said, "You win at defeating wizardlets. You lose at training." Her visage impassive, she continued, "As you can tell by the expression on my face I am very disappointed in you."

"Perhaps I went a little overboard…"

"You did not go overboard at all. You sent the wizardlet overboard. Do you not remember?"

Victor sighed. "I suppose everyone is disappointed in me right now."

"No," Ixlan answered. "Only I am disappointed in you. The others are all angry. Although I think the wizardlet is now afraid of you and will not trust you again."

That stung. "Thank you so much for telling me so gently."

"Of course," the Lightening Warrior said, completely missing his sarcasm. "I am your friend."

Despite himself, Victor felt the corners of his mouth turn up. "Oh, Ixlan. What would I do without you?"

"You would make many more mistakes, I have no doubt." Ruefully Victor had to concede that was probably true. Ixlan was one of his closest friends. Alone of Elena's courtiers, she had never known him as a criminal or traitor. They had met when Victor and Carla, in exchange for then Crown Princess Elena releasing them from the dungeon, had freed the Maruvian warrior from her thousand year enchanted imprisonment. They had been allies ever since. As Ixlan had no living relatives, she had asked the Delgados to stand in as her family for her handfasting with Antonia. Victor had been profoundly touched, and had been grateful for her friendship ever since. There were few enough who were in his corner.

"I don't know why I behaved so rashly," Victor began.

"You think they are all fools."

"Now why would you say that, Ixlan?" Victor asked easily, leaning against the railing.

"Because they are all fools. That is why we protect them." She wagged her finger at her friend. "You must never forget that." Ixlan had such a … unique … perspective on things.

The Maruvian continued. "You wish to teach the wizardlet to defend herself. Well and good. But first you must give her the tools to do so. Simply attacking will not teach her what you wish."

Victor nodded. But of course Ixlan had it all wrong. Victor wasn't actually teaching Olivia anything, except maybe that cheating is always an option and betrayal often comes from those closest to you. Lessons the kid needed to learn, sure, but Victor hadn't wanted to be the one to teach her. Ixlan assumed that because he was older he was wiser and more adept than Olivia, and nothing could be further from the truth. Olivia had actually studied magic for years longer than Victor had, and outside of battle magic, it was painfully obvious to anyone skilled in the Art.

"What is that?" Ixlan asked suddenly, pointing at the sea behind Victor. He turned quickly, drawing his tamborita as a precaution.

"It's a ship," he muttered.

"I know that. Should it be heading towards us like that, or moving that quickly?"

"No, it should not." Victor knew very little about sailing, but nothing of the other ship's direction or speed seemed natural. And the other boat was larger. The apprentice wizard strained to see what flag it flew. None. That was a bad sign.

"Perhaps it is pirates." The Lightening Warrior's tone was almost gleeful. "Do not look at me like that, wizard. It has been far too long since either one of us has had a proper fight. You will feel better after a good battle. You will see."

Victor just shook his head sourly. "We have company!" he called out to the other side of the boat.

"We can all see that!" Esteban's impatient voice came back. So at least they could start to prepare a defense.

Then the other ship just … stopped. Instantly. What sort of magic was this? Victor heard Esteban curse and bark out orders to do something or other to the sails because…reasons. Probably to keep the ships from colliding.

Then a familiar voice that turned the blood in Victor's veins to ice called out, "Hail the Avaloran vessel!"

"Fiero?!" How could this be? When last Victor had seen him, Mateo had turned the infamous malvago to stone. Both Victor and Fiero had been minions of Shuriki when the former Queen had tried to overthrow Crown Princess Elena. Even though Fiero was the one who had granted Victor the mystical powers of a malvago, there was no love lost between the two men who had each seen the other as a rival. Victor hid his tamborita behind his back.

"Victor Delgado?" Fiero seemed as surprised as the apprentice wizard. "My old not-friend. I know someone who will be very interested indeed in your presence here."

Who? Who could Fiero be talking about? Who did they both know? Duke Cristóbal! Fiero must be working with him. They had been allies of a sort once. But Duke Cristóbal had seen Victor as a joke. The ex-malvago didn't think the treacherous Duke would take an interest in his fate.

Keep him talking. Fiero's greates weakness was his arrogance. Perhaps Victor could exploit that. "You're the last person I expected to run into out here. Weren't you a stone statue?"

Fiero's eyes narrowed, but he continued affably enough. "Yes, I believe that was a fate you and I shared." How did Fiero know that?

"I got better."

"As did I." Fiero contemptuously looked Victor over. "I see you are no longer a malvago."

Victor made a show of grimacing. "I have the royal wizard to thank for that. He returned me to life only to strip me of my powers. I'm paying my debt to the throne as ship's cook. Can you believe it?"

Fiero chuckled. "If only Shuriki had placed you in that position we might have actually won. It seems better suited to your…talents." Victor's eyes narrowed at the insult. "Still, while you were far and away my most disappointing creation, you were, against my better judgment, my creation, and some measure of justice is due you. When I destroy De Alva once and for all, I'll send him your regards."

"No need to put yourself out," Victor muttered, but then, to keep up the pretence, "although I appreciate the sentiment." Silently Victor vowed to die before he'd let Fiero harm Mateo.

There were shouts from the other side of the boat. Ixlan, who had stayed quietly by his side during this exchange, turned her head in alarm. They were being boarded. The apprentice wizard nodded slightly, oh so slightly, to her, and she was off to fight. The Lightening Warrior would trust Victor to deal with this enemy wizard. Victor had no intention of letting her know just how badly outmatched he was. At the least he could keep the malvago occupied.

"Levaluq!" Fiero banged his tamborita, pointing at his feet and rose, floating to the other boat. Victor took a few steps back, still keeping his tamborita out of view.

"Uh, shouldn't you ask the captain for permission to come aboard?"

Fiero smiled thinly as he landed on deck. "All ships in these waters by rights belong to my sovereign, King Cristóbal Castillo of Avalor. We've commandeered quite a few of these vessels, and I've found the direct approach to be most efficacious."

Other vessels? Did he mean Carla? Was she all right? Did Fiero have her? Victor ground his teeth as he realized he dared not ask lest Fiero go looking for her. After the "King Cristóbal" remark, Victor's slim hopes of talking his way out of the situation vanished completely. Now all that remained was to try to catch Fiero off-guard.

"I believe Queen Elena might have something to say about that," Victor replied easily.

Fiero chuckled. "Oh, we have plans for her, you may rest assured. You say the Queen has made you ship's cook. King Cristóbal could use that talent in his navy. As I recall, you were always a man of – flexible – loyalty."

Victor pretended to mull the offer over. "I just have one question." He waited for Fiero to lean in. "What about – boqato!" Swiftly Victor whipped around his tamborita and banged it in Fiero's direction. The malvago easily dodged the spell and fired off one of his own. Victor barely managed to shield himself in time.

"Interesting utensils Avalor gives to its cooks these days," Fiero noted wryly. Victor realized the malvago had known all along that his former co-conspirator had magic. How?

Fiero cast another spell at the shield protecting Victor, and it went down. Victor rolled away from the next spell and ended in a crouch. He fired off a spell which Fiero easily repelled.

"You've chosen the wrong side, not-my-friend," the malvago sneered.

"I've chosen the side of the rightful queen of Avalor!"

Fiero laughed mockingly. "And how many times did you try to kill her before she became queen? I've lost count."

"I've changed since then," Victor growled. "Unlike you who still holds grudges from over half a century ago." He banged his tamborita for another spell.

Fiero easily countered. "I'd hardly say you've changed much," the malvago scoffed. "You twice offered your services to a powerful magical queen, and then when she was defeated offered your services to the powerful magical queen who defeated her."

Victor felt his cheeks burn at that. He often thought most of Avalor assumed that's exactly what he had done. The truth, as it often is, was more complicated. Nearly a year and a half had occurred between Shuriki's defeat and Elena's pardon. He had experienced his daughter nearly dying, his wife's return and subsequent betrayal, and learning how much Carla was willing to sacrifice for him and how much she had suffered on his behalf. Since pledging his loyalty to the then Crown Princess, he had experienced Elena's grace, Mateo's kindness, Ixlan's friendship, the joy of learning magic for its own sake and not for the power it could bring , Armando's protectiveness, Olivia's cheerful acceptance….When Victor swore fealty to Queen Elena, he was not the same man he had been when he was Shuriki's minion.

Victor barely shielded in time from Fiero's next attack. Dimly he was aware of another battle behind him, one of swords and not tamboritas, but he dared not let that distract him. His role was to keep Fiero occupied and away from the others. He knew he didn't have the power to defeat the old malvago, but he could distract him and buy the others some time. If they could repel the attack on the ship, then maybe Fiero could be taken down with the combined efforts of Victor and some of the others. Maybe. Even the famed royal wizard Alacazar in his prime was not able to defeat Fiero. His grandson Mateo had, but to hear him talk luck had played a large role.

As he dodged another attack, he made a quick mental inventory of the skills of his crewmates. Ixlan was inhumanly fast and strong, but Fiero was quite fast in his own right, and Ixlan would need to get close to attack while Fiero could cast spells at a distance. Antonia and Rico were serviceable with their tamboritas but far better with their swords. Then there was Esteban with his – stick thing – but Victor still could not fathom the idea of a magical Esteban.

Olivia?

She was the most highly trained in magic. If Mateo had ever taught her the sorts of spells that would be useful against someone like Fiero, and if she were willing to follow Victor's lead, they might have a chance…

The former traitor turned apprentice wizard dismissed the idea almost as soon as it occurred to him. The girl had no knowledge of magical combat, and barely even obeyed Mateo. She would never follow Victor's orders.

More than that, though, Victor wanted to keep Olivia as far away from Fiero as possible. The child, as always, was dressed in her apprentice robe. Victor sometimes wondered if she even owned anything else. The only time he'd seen her in a dress was at her quinceañera, and according to Carla that was only after a fight with her mother which Olivia had lost. She dressed like a mini-Mateo. If they lived in an earlier century Victor would have said she wore the royal wizard's livery. Fiero, with his unreasoning hatred of Mateo, would instantly mark out Olivia as a target, more so than anyone on the ship, including both Victor and the Queen's cousin.

A sudden thought struck Victor, one that made him glance away from his opponent for the briefest of moments. Where was his fellow apprentice? Victor fervently hoped that she was doing the sensible thing and hiding from the fight, but "sensible" was not a work he associated with Olivia. He didn't see or hear her, though, and thought it highly unlikely that she wouldn't try to join the fight. Maybe she'd fallen asleep in whatever hole she'd crawled into to lick her wounds after Victor's earlier temper tantrum?

"Meyázami!" Fiero's spell knocked Victor's tamborita from his hand. "You didn't really think you could best me, did you?" Fiero mocked. "You've chosen the wrong side, Delgado. Now let's see. You really are better as a statue so you don't keep getting underfoot." Victor glared impotently as the malvago to hide the dread in his heart. "Aka-"

"Ximocu!" Olivia's clear voice rang out. Victor could sense the change in the air that indicated the presence of a magical shield. More importantly, he could sense! He had not been turned to stone! Olivia had saved him in the nick of time.

He took a moment to take stock of the state of the battle. There were surprisingly few enemy sailors aboard, although from the sound of it several were swimming in the ocean. The ladder for boarding was in tatters – it seemed that Esteban's crew had acquitted themselves well.

Snarling in frustration, Fiero cast another spell at the shield – and the shield held.

It was only then that Victor realized the scope of Olivia's casting. Every single member of Team Avalor was protected – this was no simple dome or sphere. Olivia had managed to cast an asymmetrical shield that excluded their enemies.

Fiero cast another spell. Victor knew he was simply trying to bring the shield down, and it was only a matter of time before he did. "Toss me your tamborita," he called to Antonia. She did so, and Victor prepared to spell (HA!) Olivia once the shield went down.

And yet it didn't falter. Ixlan actually bounced off it while trying to attack a soldier on the other side. "Wizardlet," Ixlan said urgently, "lift the shield here." Victor was about to snarl don't ask her that, she can't, when Olivia…did. Victor saw her mutter a word and Ixlan slipped through the shield, which otherwise held. The Lightening Warrior made short work of the remaining three soldiers, all of whom soon found themselves swimming back to their ship.

Fiero watched this with narrowed eyes. "Who are you?" he asked the young spell-caster.

Victor hissed at Olivia, a signal that would have told Carla to be silent, but Olivia was not Carla, and wouldn't understand the need for discretion anyway. "I am Olivia Herrera, senior apprentice of the Royal Master Wizard Mateo de Alva, and I order you to leave this ship!" She then pushed the shield forward, forcing Fiero back a few steps.

Fiero raised an eyebrow, and then smiled. It was a chilling smile, and Victor felt a shiver go down his spine at the sight of it. The malvago spoke. "Encantado, senior apprentice Olivia Herrera. I am certain our paths shall cross again, very soon." He swept her a mocking bow, and then levitated himself back to his own ship just before Ixlan could grab him.

The guards cheered as the other boat sped away. (Again, how? Victor had never seen a boat move that fast.) Victor did not cheer. He stared in concern at the young woman who had fought Fiero to a standstill. She had no idea what a dangerous foe she had just made. The ex-malvago vowed to himself to stay close to his fellow apprentice, for he was certain Fiero was already making new plans.

AN: A story cannot contain a song, of course. But if you would like one, imagine this: An angsty Sofia the First style song sung by Olivia, who wonders if she'll ever be a master wizard in her own right. When she hears the fighting, though, she knows she has to help her friends, and the last word of her song is the spell she casts – "Ximocu."