Chapter Fifteen

"The control we have over forces is directly linked to our belief system. If we study the great practitioners we find that those of a neutral aspect; such as the followers of the balance that seem so rife in our times, have much more subtle abilities. A typical example might be clairvoyance or premonition. But studying the exceptionally powerful cases we find that they lie at either end of the spectrum. The infamous Go-Ra wizards wielded tremendous distructive power and it can be traced directly to their belief in a cruel and selfish world. What little we know of the Elysium points to tremendous morality and inner enlightment, so we should not be suprised to find out that they hold unimaginable creative and defensive powers."
Speck nodded slowly as he digested this information, it seemed that the magic he had thought of as a simple power was in fact the fruits of the soul, more of a symptom of the wielders condition. What did his power say about him? Remys looked sympathetically at him, as if reading the troubling thoughts in his head.
"You may choose to believe that the power and yourself are one and the same, that nature has made you the way you are.", he peered at the boy to see if this thought had alleviated any of his angst. Remys secretly hoped that it would not.
"Down that path would lie too many troubling things.", Speck answered slowly, "I would be saying that I have no responsibility over my actions, I would be avoiding my powers of self-determination; if possible I would rather believe that my magic springs from what I choose my soul to be. If I chose otherwise I would create a self-fulfilling prophecy." "I am deeply gratified to hear you say that, for it is my own heart-felt opinion that gifted ones are either formed by their powers or forge it on the anvil of their own will. I too was troubled by the darker side of my abilities until I earnestly set myself to controlling it."
"Have you succeeded?"
"It seems that I will never lose my ability to destroy, but my effort has not been without reward. Creative abilities I had never dreamed of are now within my grasp and I choose to see that as an affirmation of my fundamental beliefs. I began imperfect and remain that way it seems. Not such a hard thing to accept."
The dawn light was creeping into the sky and from the tower balcony it back lit the majestic mountains to the east. Was it pure chance that such a conversation to place before this display of beauty and harmony? Or had it been predetermined so that the point would be punctuated with an unspeakable emphasis? Down below in the court yard Speck could see Arn idly walking about, examining the two horses that were stabled there. How below him his friend now seemed, was it still possible that they would understand each other now that his own horizons had been so broadened. Then he remembered how Remys had first met them, mucking out the stables, how he himself had tried to lord it over the assumed stable boy and how Remys offered no defense but humility. Shame swept through him like a hot flush and he felt close to tears, indeed he would have wept openly if the candle man was not still beside him, apparently lost in the revelry of dawn.
"Everyone takes part in the same struggle and decisions as us Lucent.", he spoke softly but still surprised Speck. "The magic merely underlines that need to us."

Speck made an effort that morning to check on his friends and find out what they were up to, he told them everything that had gone on inside the tower and tried to include them in his excitement. Even though they couldn't enter they all, with the exception of Febra seemed happy for him. Joseph seemed enthralled by the tale and asked him to expand on details that he had skipped over. Arn on the other hand haranged Speck to show him some of his new powers and the novice magician complied by hovering the hunters pouch in the air and spinning it around them for almost a minute before he lost control and the little bag flew off into a corner of the courtyard.
Febra broke the laughter with a scornful tone.
"This is all well and good but where are we going next. Unless you dunderheads have forgotten we are being hunted, how long can we stay here undetected? Does this Remys character offer us shelter from our enemies or will he turn us over to the hounds as soon as he finds out we're trouble?"
"He will not betray us!", growled Speck.
"Febra is right though, we must consider our immediate need. The sooner we are rid of this accursed book, the sooner we are safe. We've come a long way off the beaten track and taken any main route to Pluris will be sure to get us spotted." Arn paused and sighed. "If you say we can trust Remys, I think you should ask for his help and advice on this matter Speck. We all need it."
Speck hadn't even considered leaving, his recent discoveries had thrilled him to the core, to go without learning all he could would break his heart. He looked at his friends and for a few moments weighed them against the new magic he had acquired. Shame filled him again when he considered what he had learnt that morning, his friends needed him, he would go with them and return once they were safe.
"I am sure Remys will help.", he said in a voice with new maturity, "I shall tell him everything and ask him to consider it."
Febra argued vehemently that taking the candle man into their confidence was a terrible mistake, that they should at least leave out the book. Who would want such an item more than a magician in some lost tower? Speck was unshakeable on the matter, but surprisingly understanding of Febra's fears. As Speck calmed and persuaded the girl, the pouch which his magic had thrown across the courtyard ambled slowly back through the air towards it's owner. An astonished Arn plucked it out of the air and nervously pushed it back inside his leather jerkin. Remys appeared from a door in the building adjoint to the tower and smiled at them. He walked over and nodded a good morning to each in turn and then patted Speck on the shoulder. "I've made the work building their safe for your friends to enter so that they'll have some shelter other than the stables. There are a few beds in there now and a couple of other bits I fetched up to make it a little more homely. I saw that pouch trick from the tower window Lucent, you really are a quick learner if a little forgetful of people's property."
With that he picked up some of their back packs and set off for the building he had come out of, motioning them to follow him. It seemed that Remys must have been incredibly busy that morning for the rooms within the work building had all been recently cleaned and prepared with a bed for each of them, some wash bowls, a dining table and firewood for the newly cleaned hearth.
"Dash!", Remys slapped his own forehead, "What am I thinking not providing any food. It's a wonder we get so few guests here."
He entered a door that led from the work building into the tower and indicated he would be back in a moment, Speck unconciously followed him inside and turned to see his friends looking somewhat put out standing around the doorway which fizzed angrily at them when they stepped too close. Speck came back out again and noted lightly that he would wait with them. True to his word Remys returned with what appeared to be the left-overs from a magnificient feast on a large steel platter, Joseph wondered who the lonely candle man might have been entertaining. Remys apologised profusely about not having anything ready for them and hoped the scraps would do for the moment, promising to provide something a bit better later on. The platter of cold meats and prepared fruit dissappeared into the bellies of the adventurers in short order and they all agreed that as left-overs went these were the best they had ever tasted. Remys sat and watched in a gratified manner as they rubbed their stomachs and wiped the grease from their faces. "Now", he said agreeabley, "I believe you wanted to ask me something."
Febra's eyes widened in alarm. "How would you know that? You've been spying haven't you? By the balance we should never have touched that food till we were sure of you! What was in it? Answer me damn you!"
"No, no dear lady. There was nothing in the food I assure you. I just couldn't help seeing you disputing something rather hotly with young Lucent, I guessed it was something to do with taking me into your confidences and thought maybe making you a little more comfortable might make that easier for you all." Speck interrupted him, "So you put these rooms in order the time between our argument and when you walked out the door?"
"Studying magic does have it's side benefits Lucent, actually I had a bit of trouble removing the shielding the covers the tower from just this building. It's not something I've tried before. Anyway, perhaps you should start at the begining and give me the whole story."
Slowly the recounted the sum of their adventure and a great deal of the circumstances that had lead them upon it. Remys had an attentive ear and asked a great deal of penetrating questions, quite often the group talked a good deal amongst themselves trying to come up with satisfactory answers to his queries.