Lord
Elder…Me?
By:
Heidi L. Lane
January 1991
“But Merlin, you can’t retire!” Phillip protested as he followed the older mage through the hallways of the Crystal Palace. In the last century Phillip had gotten comfortable with the idea that he was a member of the Tribunal and he liked to think he’d done a lot of good in that capacity. But the idea of ever being Lord Elder himself scared him witless. If Merlin retired that would be just what would happen. “You – You’ve only been Lord Elder for one term.”
“I’ve been on the
Tribunal for 400 years Phillip, it’s time,” Merlin said calmly. He understood that Phillip was frightened by
the proposition of leading the whole Good Mages Council, but Merlin had faith
in the younger mage.
“I can’t be Lord
Elder, Merlin, I’m just a – ”
“Rubbish! Balderdash!
Phillip, you are an excellent mage and a good person. You are honest, kind-hearted, intelligent
and show fine leadership qualities.
Look at how everyone, even those who never really trusted warlocks
before, follows you. Besides which, the
only person who has any doubts is you.”
“First rule of magic
is don’t doubt,” Phillip reminded.
“That’s for spells and
you know it,” Merlin said. “Do you know
why Master Blaize picked you, out of all the mages, all the warlocks to succeed
him?” Phillip shook his head. “It’s because he saw something in you. He knew you’d make a fine Lord Elder. And I know it too.”
“But what if you’re
wrong?” Phillip asked, chafing his hands.
“Merlin, I can’t stand speaking in public. I won’t be able to conduct the meetings. Oh dear.”
“Now don’t start in
with that ‘oh dear, oh dear.’ Phillip
you’re a teacher, think of it as a lecture hall and you’ll be fine.” Turning, Merlin said, “I’ve got to go
prepare for the meeting. See you
later.”
“Oh dear,” Phillip
murmured. Looking up into the ceiling
beams he said, “What’m I goin’ to do ‘Medes?”
“Be Lord Elder,
Phillip,” the owl replied.
“Some help you are,”
the warlock groused at his familiar.
Sighing he said, “I suppose I’d best prepare for the meeting too. I’ll need that defense against salt spell
set up before I swear in the new member.”
“Finally finished it,
have you?” Archimedes asked as he swooped down from the rafters to land on
Phillip’s hat.
“Yes, and in good time
too. We don’t need a repeat performance
of my own swearing in. Took weeks for
those burns to heal.”
The Meeting
“Following in the
grand tradition of our beloved Lord Elder Blaize, I’ll be retiring at the end
of this term,” Merlin announced. “Are
there any who wish to seek the position of representative of mixed mages?”
“Oof,” came the reply
from an older mage standing among the sorcerers. “Really, Jim, what was that about?”
“Master Silvanus,”
Merlin said acknowledging the mage.
“Very good, are there any others who wish to seek the position?” Silvanus turned and glared at his apprentice
who shrugged and smiled sheepishly. His
eyes widened as he realized that no one had responded to Merlin’s
question. Merlin nodded and turned to
the small warlock who would most likely now be Lord Elder.
Clearing his throat,
Phillip stepped forward and said, “The mixed mages shall vote on their new
representative. Meanwhile, is there
anyone who wishes the post of representative from the spirit based mages? Anyone?” Phillip looked down, then over at
Merlin and sighed. “In that case, I – I
suppose that I’ll retain my current position, if there are no objections?” Phillip looked around the crowded room and
noticed that no one was prepared to speak up.
“As the, uh member of the - the um, Tribunal with the longest term in
office I… would act as the Lord Elder, any opposed?” Phillip looked down and
blushed when he heard no one speak up.
“Well, thank you. Now we’ll
continue with the um, forest mages.”
“I would retain my
post, Lord Elder Phillip,” Alaric said, rising.
Phillip nodded and
smiled over at the older mage, grateful that he’d be staying at least. “Are there any others who wish to run for
Master Alaric’s position?” he asked.
Again, no one spoke up. Smiling,
Phillip nodded, saying, “Very well then.
Have the ballots…? Yes?” Phillip
took the envelope and read it. “The new
representative for the mixed mages is Master Silvanus. Would you please come forward?” Phillip
asked. The older mage stepped forward, pausing a few times to glare balefully
back at his apprentice and knelt before Phillip. Phillip smiled, mumbled the words to the spell to defend him
against any salt that might be on the hands of the sorcerer and clasped his
hands over the larger one of the magician.
In a clear voice he said, ”Master Silvanus Carolinus, you have been duly
elected to a position on the Tribunal of the Good Mages Council. Do you swear that you will do all in your
power to protect those who cannot protect themselves, ensure the goodly use of
magic gifts and bring mages towards the light?”
“I do,” Silvanus
replied in a resigned tone.
“Do you swear to fight
against the darkness in whatever form it presents itself?” Phillip asked
looking deep into the older man’s eyes.
“I do,” he repeated,
somewhat more certain this time.
Phillip tried to raise
him to his feet but blushed and said, “Please, rise,” instead. The magician was easily a foot taller than
he was. There was no way he could pull
him up as Merlin had pulled him and Alaric up on the day they were sworn
in. Blushing still he took the pin that
Merlin handed him and started to pin it on, frowning when he realized that the
magician didn’t have a cape such as Merlin always wore. He paused for a moment, but then pinned the
broach onto the shoulder of the mage’s robe.
Turning towards the
mage who’d acted as a friend and mentor for the last century, Phillip said,
“Merlin, Sorry, Master Merlin, we thank you for your years of dedicated
service. Know that the doors of the
Crystal Palace are always open to you.” Fighting back tears, Phillip stood on
his toes and hugged the older mage and whispered, “I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll see you around,
Phillip,” Merlin assured him in equally soft tones as he stepped down from the
dais.
Rubbing his eyes
beneath his glasses, Phillip asked, “Is there any other business?”
“Master – Lord Elder
Phillip,” A sorcerer said rising.
“Yes, Master, um,”
Phillip scowled as he recognized the mage, “Master Darren, what is it?”
“I have recently
discovered that a member of the Tribunal is in fact not a fully appointed
Master Mage.”
Phillip’s eyes
narrowed, he thought he knew what was going on but he needed the sorcerer to
say it aloud. “In what way?”
“It appears he never
underwent his ordeal and got his formal name in magic.”
Phillip nodded, “In
the time when the Evil Ones ruled Cygma, the ordeals were outlawed. Many who came of age during that time never
underwent them or the ceremony in which a mage gets his formal name.” The crowd began to murmur and Phillip saw
Merlin look sharply at him from where he now sat. Everyone knew that of the two Cygman mages on the council Phillip
was the one who was young enough to have come of age in the time frame he’d
spoken of. Alaric was about two
centuries his senior and Silvanus wasn’t Cygman.
Looking down, Phillip
said, “I’d meant no deception. My given
name is Phillip, clearly not a formal name in magic. If an ordeal is required I will undertake it, however. We of the Tribunal will decide what the
ordeal is to be, if there are no objections.”
No one spoke and Phillip nodded and asked, “Is there any other business
that needs to be presented before the council at this time?” Again, no one spoke. “Very well, I shall entertain a motion to
adjourn with the stipulation that the nature of the ordeal I will undertake
will be announced as soon as it is decided.”
A few hands went up and Phillip nodded, “I have amotion and a second,
there being no other business, this meeting stands adjourned.” Not looking back Phillip led the way off the
dais and into the back room.
“What are you going to
do, Phillip?” Alaric asked.
“Undertake an ordeal,”
he replied with a calm he didn’t feel.
“You could be killed,”
Silvanus said quietly.
“I’ll be alright. I’ve been a Master Mage for one hundred
twenty years and a master teacher for a century. If anything an ordeal will only increase my level. Who know I might just achieve my full
potential as a warlock because of it.”
“What is your full
potential?” Alaric asked.
“Adept Teacher,”
Phillip said shrugging. “Now if you’ll excuse
me, I don’t think I should be a party to deciding what ordeal I should
undertake. I’ll go ask Master Blaize to
sit in for me. As my predecessor,
that’s traditional.” Phillip went
quickly out of the room.
Silvanus sighed and
looking up at Alaric, said, “Great, my first decision as a member of the
Tribunal and I have to decide something that might get the Lord Elder killed.”
Continued