Chapter 4: The Deal

Waver woke up to the sound of drums. He stared at the white adobe ceiling, still disoriented. He stretched, and a sudden back pain reminded him he lacked the comfort of the modern days' beds. Still half asleep, he looked through the window. Judging by the sun's position it must have been around noon. Soldiers were already sweating out there in the courtyard's training grounds.

"Damn, it! I missed breakfast!"

Waver dressed up in haste, certain he was not doing it properly, and ran to find Alexander. When he turned into a corner, he bumped into Menes. The boy carried a pile of freshly cleaned sheets, all which needed to be washed again now thanks to Waver.

"I'm so sorry", the young mage rushed to help him pick up the mess.

"It's ok, please, let me. It's my fault for being so clumsy"

"I shouldn't have been running. Don't worry, I used to be very clumsy too...I still am kinda clumsy sometimes, to be honest."

They both laughed and folded in the sheets

"Waver!" Alexander jumped in, "what are you doing over there? Stop playing around and let the boy do his work. Come with me"

"playing around...". Waver looked at him with dead fish eyes, then turned to the boy again

"Well then, Menes, see you later."

Waver gave him a warm smile. The boy nodded and smiled back, then opened his mouth to say something. Alexander interrupted them before he could speak, pulling Waver by an arm and dragging him away.

"I can walk by myself, you know?", pointed out the young mage, although he did not oppose any resistance.

"Can you, now?" Alexander asked, sarcastically, without letting go of him. "I wasn't sure since you were taking so long."

They stopped at a huge ancient gate, behind it hid an even bigger vault. By the look of the dusty planks it seemed like nobody had used it in a long time.

"What is this about?" Waver asked, curiously

"A job"

Alexander removed the rusty iron plank that served as a lock, placed both hands against the gates and pushed until it opened wide. Waver could tell by the cracking sound of the wood that whoever made those doors that heavy, meant to keep people away from whatever they guarded.

Alexander entered, followed by Waver, and the door quickly closed behind them.

He was astonished to find a room so big that he could have fit his foster grandparents' old house from Japan two times in there. He guessed it was probably the biggest room in the palace.

There were tables and shelfs all around, and on them rested infinite number of books, potions and different kinds of herbs and other ingredients.

Two old men were working on an experiment. One of them mixing and stirring, the other one supervising. Both men turned to them when they entered the room. Waver recognized the soldier in charge, General Attalus. "Great," he thought, "seems like I won't get rid of this guy easily".

"My lord," spoke the General, "may I ask what business does this foreign boy have with a delicate matter like this?"

"Show some respect old man, this "boy" is a mage. He is here to help"

"I...what?" Waver looked at him, surprised

"Mage?" both men yelled equally surprised, both for different reasons. Attalus gave the old physician a dirty look and his smile immediately faded, then he turned to the Prince.

"Pardon me, my lord, but surely you don't think this boy..."

"Are you defying my orders?" Alexander gave him a threatening look

"Certainly not, sir" the man looked down at his feet

"He meant no disrespect, he is just concerned about opening up this room to a complete stranger. So am I, my lord." Explained Attalus

The prince's severe tone and face slowly turned into to a much softer one. He took a deep breath before he spoke.

"You have always been a loyal servant, Attalus, and a wise friend. Both of you. I trust you will take good care of Waver. You can learn a lot from each other"

"I'm sure we will…" The old man agreed, although Waver sensed his words had other intentions.

"Hold on a second!" interrupted Waver. "No one has asked my opinion. You didn't say anything about working for you. You said you just wanted to talk. And now you are forcing me to work for you? Where I come from people would call it slavery." He crossed his arms against his chest.

"Silence!" Attalus had drawn his sword and pointed it at Waver. "I warned you, the next time you speak to our Prince like that…"

"Leave us" Alexander said before the old man could finish his threat

Both men's look went from Alexander to Waver, twice. After a moment of silence, the old men left the room.

Waver let out a sigh

"Listen, it's not that I don't want to help you, Alexander. I just can't. I… I shouldn't. Magic is not meant for war"

"Magic is already being used for war"

Waver closed his eyes for a second. As if he tried to pretend he didn't hear what he had heard

"No. Not here too…" He said, disappointed

"The Persian alchemists have acquired great weapons. If they continue like this, they will destroy entire cities, and they will win the war. We need to find something more powerful than anything they can possibly think of. Something…like the philosopher's stone…"

"No," Waver shook his head, "you don't understand…You shouldn't seek for a power of that sort. I could never help you. I've seen what magic does in war, I've seen enough people die. And I can tell you, nothing good can come out of it. Magic always comes with a price to pay…"

Alexander observed how Waver's expression turned slowly darker and sadder.

"I am sorry to hear that you have experienced such horrible things." He rested both hands on Waver's shoulders. The young mage looked up and listened to what he had to say.

"And I am sorry to ask you to go through this again, I truly am…" Alexander spoke in a sweet voice but with determination, "but that is exactly the reason why I have to do it. My people are dying. They are being murdered in the most horrible ways you could ever imagine." He frowned at the thought of it.

"I can't. I'm sorry." Waver looked away, too week to reject him looking into his eyes.

"Please! I am begging you."

To his surprise, Alexander had knelt before him

"Please, don't..."

"Waver. When you saved me, a stranger you had never met before, you used your powers to cure me without thinking. Without knowing who I was. Not caring if I was poor or rich, not expecting anything in return. That is when I knew you have the purest heart I've ever seen. I am not asking you to fight or kill for me. I only ask for you to stop the pain of my people."

Waver felt cornered. It broke his heart to see this young stubborn prince so desperately asking for help, but he also was determined not to use his magic to help him win a war. This could mean altering the whole history. His brain was working on a convincing argument.

"Magic does not take sides...it cannot take sides"

"Perhaps. But you can. Persian alchemists certainly can and have taken sides already. Even the gods have taken sides too."

Waver stared at him in silence

"Are you not my ally, Waver?"

"You know I am. But..."

He could not think of anything else to say

"Waver, please". Alexander took one of Waver's hands between his own and rested his forehead on them, as if he was praying.

The young mage sighed

"Alright"

Alexander looked up with a smile on his face

"But I have one condition". Waver raised one finger, and Alexander let go of his hand, listening carefully.

"I will not contribute to create any weapon or artifact intended to take people's life. No matter which side. I will only provide you with the essentials to extend people's life and relieve their pain"

"I understand"

"Not to mention the philosopher stone. Absolutely out of the question"

"Understood"

"And... tell that Attalus guy to stop being on my ass all the time"

"Noted"

"Also..."

"…I thought you said one thing…"

"I want access to all of the original manuscripts of the philosophers"

"Yes, yes. I had already offered you that in the first place"

Waver smiled at him and offered his hand to help him up. Alexander smiled back at him, his eyes full of excitement, and accepted his hand. He got and with one short movement he pulled Waver close, elbow against elbow.

"Deal"

"Deal"

"That means you work for me now, mage"

"I know what that means, prince"

"Are you sure? That means you will be taking orders from me, and you won't be able to refuse"

"I can take more than you think"

Someone knocked on the door, and entered without waiting for permission to come in

"My lord! Sorry to interrupt" A soldier stormed in. "We have been looking for you. Your father has returned"

"What? So early?" Alexander looked at him, alarmed. "Is he ok?"

"He has news for you"

Alexander exited the room without even turning back to Waver.

He was left in the room by himself, wondering what was that all about. "What am I supposed to do now?" He thought, looking around. "I guess I can start by making a few sedatives and serums"

On a second thought, he realized having a job in a place like that was not such a bad idea. There were plenty of books about magic, and he could freely research whatever he wanted until he figured out how to go back to the present.

"At least nobody will disturb me here." He thought out loud as he picked up a book

The door suddenly opened slowly. Attalus and the old physician behind it

"Well...almost nobody..."