Betrayal

[00:00:02] Artifacts of the Arcane, by Jake Kerr, Season 1, The Staff of Light, Episode 14, A Betrayal.

[00:00:20] Master Benham left us at the door, and when we got to the bottom of the steps, Mr. Ali

[00:00:24] stopped, leaned over, and took several deep breaths.

[00:00:28] These moments didn't happen often, but it was at times like this where I was reminded

[00:00:32] that Mr. Ali was quite old. I would never have described him as frail, but he sometimes

[00:00:39] looked it. I asked him if he was okay, and he nodded.

[00:00:43] I'm fine, Tommy. I just need some rest.

[00:00:46] He looked over to me and then patted me on the back.

[00:00:49] We have much to talk about.

[00:00:52] Cain doesn't seem like he wants to help us. We walked back the way we came.

[00:00:57] That's part of what we need to talk about.

[00:00:59] Mr. Ali didn't elaborate further. The courtyard, which appeared larger than it did when I was

[00:01:05] last outside, was full of soldiers moving in various formations. They carried normal weapons,

[00:01:11] and in the distance, I could hear machine gun and rifle fire. Who are these soldiers?

[00:01:16] They don't look like magicians.

[00:01:18] That's because they aren't magicians. They are part of the British Army.

[00:01:22] Tommy. This is the citadel of London, Tommy. Most of the people here are soldiers or officials who

[00:01:29] work with the armed forces, but there is magic here. Powerful magic.

[00:01:34] Mr. Ali didn't say anything else. We were about to pass another one of the generic and numerous

[00:01:40] entrances that led into the building when Mr. Ali stopped us.

[00:01:44] Let's stop here, Tommy. I fear our situation has changed, and I have some questions I want to ask

[00:01:50] Lord Gort. It would be good for you to listen in.

[00:01:54] The two of us hobbled up the short flight of stairs to the door, which was made of wood and

[00:01:59] looked identical to the outside door that opened to the long hall to Cain's office. Mr. Ali didn't

[00:02:05] knock, but rather just pulled the door open and walked in. I followed behind him. Inside looked like

[00:02:11] the reception area of a busy office. To the left were three wooden chairs, two of which were occupied

[00:02:18] by young men in British Army uniforms. To the right was a bare wall with a bulletin board on it. The

[00:02:24] items seemed bureaucratic, and the information was not very revealing. Across from us was a wooden desk,

[00:02:32] featureless and worn. Behind it sat a woman in a uniform. She was young and pretty, with auburn hair

[00:02:39] and black glasses. She was writing something on a piece of paper when she looked up and noticed us.

[00:02:46] Can I help you? She placed the pen down and folded her hands together, all her attention on us. She

[00:02:53] glanced at my cane, but its meaning didn't seem to register. I would like to speak with Lord Gort.

[00:02:59] She looked down again and picked up her pen. I'm afraid that's impossible. He is very busy.

[00:03:06] Perhaps he is not too busy to speak with the new archmage. Mr. Ali nodded toward me. I tapped the cane on

[00:03:13] the floor and then leaned on it. The woman looked at the staff, and then at me, and then sighed. She seemed

[00:03:20] unimpressed. Fine. She pushed her seat back and stood up. Have a seat. I'll have to go find him.

[00:03:27] Mr. Ali thanked her, and she left through a door behind her desk. We turned toward the chairs, where

[00:03:33] the two soldiers were staring at us. Mr. Ali nodded to the two men and sat down in the empty chair.

[00:03:40] He held his head, and I was alarmed. He looked terrible. Are you okay, Mr. Ali?

[00:03:45] I'm fine, Tommy. Fine. I just haven't had a constriction placed on me in a long time.

[00:03:53] I was going to ask what a constriction was when Lord Gort walked through the door with the

[00:03:57] receptionist. He stared at both of us with his intimidating gaze. You both look horrible.

[00:04:03] A meeting with Cain will do that to you. Lord Gort nodded.

[00:04:07] Well, I can't say I'm surprised. He turned to the receptionist.

[00:04:11] Corporal, I am not to be disturbed. He then turned back to us.

[00:04:15] Let's go to my office.

[00:04:17] And without waiting for a reply, he went through the door leading further into the building.

[00:04:21] We scrambled to catch up. Luckily, unlike the other parts of the building, the hallway was simple,

[00:04:26] direct, and seemed to make sense. Eventually, we stopped in front of a simple wooden door.

[00:04:32] Lord Gort turned the tarnished doorknob, and we found ourselves in a large office with bookshelves

[00:04:37] and a reading area to the right, and a small round conference table with four chairs around it to the

[00:04:43] left. Facing us was a beautiful carved mahogany desk. There was a large map of Europe on the wall

[00:04:50] behind the desk, and a thick Persian rug on the floor. The whole office looked decidedly more elegant

[00:04:57] than anything I had seen in the citadel, other than perhaps the reading room in the residence wing.

[00:05:02] The general sat down behind his desk and waved us into two large wingback chairs that faced it. To my

[00:05:09] shock, he stretched back, put his feet on his desk, and his arms behind his head.

[00:05:14] So how did Cain offend you this time, Ali? I was annoyed that everyone seemed to treat Mr. Ali with

[00:05:21] disdain, and although Lord Gort appeared to be sincere, the question sounded like a veiled insult.

[00:05:28] Mr. Ali, however, seemed relaxed and appeared not to mind.

[00:05:32] It was nothing like that, John.

[00:05:35] Mr. Ali also leaned back and crossed his legs. The two seemed comfortable and at ease with each other.

[00:05:41] Mr. Ali tapped his finger on his leg and then went on.

[00:05:45] I expected Cain to show off to the new archmage, but this was different.

[00:05:51] Mr. Ali thought for a moment and then continued.

[00:05:54] It appeared that he wanted to scare him.

[00:05:58] Interesting. What did he do exactly?

[00:06:00] He had Benham put a constriction on me, and then he used a fire illusion to set the

[00:06:05] archmage on fire to show how powerless he was against his illusions. I expected the show,

[00:06:12] but not the assault on both of us. Mr. Ali gestured to me. Lord Gort dropped his feet to

[00:06:18] the floor and leaned forward. He picked up a pipe from a tray on his desk and started to fill it.

[00:06:23] Well, I had hoped he would use tact, but I guess I should have expected that his first inclination

[00:06:28] would be to use intimidation.

[00:06:30] To what goal?

[00:06:31] He wants the staff, of course.

[00:06:33] What? Impossible?

[00:06:35] Mr. Ali shook his head.

[00:06:37] He can't even use it.

[00:06:38] He knows more of magic than anyone, and he clearly believes he can.

[00:06:42] Lord Gort used some instrument to pack down the tobacco in his pipe and continued talking

[00:06:46] without looking at either of us.

[00:06:48] I would tend to think that he's probably right. How much do you really know about the staff, Ali?

[00:06:54] As much as anyone.

[00:06:56] Mr. Ali dropped his leg to the floor and straightened in the chair.

[00:06:59] Lord Gort didn't say anything as he struck a match. He lit his pipe and finally looked up at us as he

[00:07:06] sucked in the air, the pipe's glow giving his face a tinge of red. He took a big puff and leaned back

[00:07:12] again. The smell of cherry and smoke filled my nose.

[00:07:16] Mr. Ali, regardless, he feels he knows more and that he can use the staff.

[00:07:20] Mr. Ali, he inhaled on his pipe again. Lord Gort answered and exhaled at the same time,

[00:07:25] his words filled with the scent of cherry.

[00:07:27] With what's happening in Germany, I can't say I blame him for wanting to try.

[00:07:31] So where do things stand? I like you, Ali, but I want to remind you that I find all this magic

[00:07:37] a distraction.

[00:07:38] Mr. Ali didn't say anything, and it struck me as odd. A distraction? Magic. My grandfather's magic

[00:07:46] saved everyone in the Great War, and now it was a distraction?

[00:07:49] I cleared my throat, and both Mr. Ali and Lord Gort looked at me.

[00:07:54] Excuse me, sir, but how can magic be a distraction? This entire citadel is a center of magic. Magic won the Great War.

[00:08:03] I was respectful, but I had a hard time hiding my enthusiasm. I had just learned about the importance of magic, and to hear anyone, even a member of the army council,

[00:08:14] disparage it, bothered me. Lord Gort laughed so hard, smoke came out of his nostrils and mouth.

[00:08:20] Did you say this citadel is a center of magic?

[00:08:23] He stared at me so intently that I shrunk in my chair. I nodded in response. He turned to Mr. Ali.

[00:08:30] I guess it's technically the truth, but tell me, Ali, how many magicians are there in the citadel right now who could be of any help in the case of war?

[00:08:38] Well, the masters and Cain, of course. Mr. Ali looked uncomfortable as he answered.

[00:08:44] There are a number of journeymen that I'm sure would be of benefit.

[00:08:48] Nonsense!

[00:08:49] Lord Gort held out his pipe and stabbed it in the air as he talked, tendrils of smoke underscoring his points.

[00:08:56] Any five of the boys in the practice fields with machine guns and a competent sergeant would be of more value to me than Cain's masters.

[00:09:02] His arm moved faster as my question appeared to have opened an old wound.

[00:09:06] And the journeymen? I'd rather give them a rifle and a canteen and be done with it. They won't amount to anything.

[00:09:13] He finally turned to me.

[00:09:14] Young man, the only magician worth anything on this island is Cain.

[00:09:19] He took a puff of his pipe.

[00:09:21] Hear my value.

[00:09:22] I was shocked. It was the citadel of magic. Mr. Ali told me so.

[00:09:28] I looked at Mr. Ali and was surprised not only that he didn't object, but that he looked chastened.

[00:09:34] Not only chastened, he appeared weary.

[00:09:36] As if he had been caught in a lie he had been carrying for a long time, but wasn't quite ready to let go.

[00:09:44] But what of the German magician, John?

[00:09:47] Mr. Ali leaned forward.

[00:09:49] This Hitler is dangerous.

[00:09:51] We don't even know if he is a magician, Ali.

[00:09:54] Even if he is, it is some kind of new magic.

[00:09:57] A magic of the voice that bends wills.

[00:09:59] At least that's what Cain is saying, but to be honest, I don't much buy that either.

[00:10:03] Cain is just trying to spread his influence.

[00:10:06] Mr. Ali didn't object to this line of thought, so I spoke up, hoping that he was just being polite and not disagreeing with Lord Gort.

[00:10:14] But what about the staff?

[00:10:16] What about magic in the Great War?

[00:10:18] I thought this was a center of magic.

[00:10:21] Certainly the staff can help now with magical defense.

[00:10:24] Even Cain seems to think so.

[00:10:26] Mr. Ali sighed.

[00:10:28] You are correct about the staff, Tommy.

[00:10:30] And you are right that this is the center of magic in England.

[00:10:35] He looked at me and had a sympathetic smile on his face.

[00:10:39] I told you that magic was dying, Tommy.

[00:10:41] I just didn't tell you how much.

[00:10:43] It is almost gone.

[00:10:45] And again, I must reinforce to both of you.

[00:10:49] Mr. Ali looked at Lord Gort.

[00:10:51] That the staff is indeed powerful.

[00:10:54] Tommy, your grandfather did do great things in the Great War.

[00:10:58] But I was perhaps exaggerating when I said he won it for us.

[00:11:03] Mr. Ali lowered his head and looked at the floor.

[00:11:06] He did a good job at Marn.

[00:11:08] I'll give him that.

[00:11:09] I was in shock.

[00:11:11] I slumped in my chair.

[00:11:13] Magic was nearly gone in the world.

[00:11:15] I couldn't quite grasp the enormity of that thought.

[00:11:18] I had seen magicians create shields, shoot detonations, and create illusions.

[00:11:23] I had seen a magic train.

[00:11:25] I had fought a magic river.

[00:11:26] I had seen so many amazing and wondrous and terrible things.

[00:11:30] Magic couldn't be dying.

[00:11:32] It just couldn't be.

[00:11:34] You mentioned the staff, Ali.

[00:11:35] Lord Gort was speaking.

[00:11:37] But I could barely pay attention to his words.

[00:11:39] John, now is not the time.

[00:11:41] I was considering the reality that the three masters I had met along with Kane were the only real magicians in England.

[00:11:49] How many more were there in the world?

[00:11:51] Dozens?

[00:11:52] Fewer?

[00:11:53] Nonsense.

[00:11:54] I need to know what happened in New York.

[00:11:56] I thought we had agreed that Declan would give the staff to Vingrosh and we could move ahead without that risk.

[00:12:02] What did this mean to me?

[00:12:04] Was I that much more important now that magic was so rare?

[00:12:08] Or was I less important?

[00:12:10] I'm disappointed that things went so wrong.

[00:12:13] There were deaths.

[00:12:15] Wait.

[00:12:15] What had I just heard?

[00:12:17] I looked over at Mr. Ali, but he was looking at Lord Gort and avoided my gaze.

[00:12:21] We can discuss that later, John.

[00:12:23] We need to do something about Kane.

[00:12:25] He is letting his power go to his head.

[00:12:28] Mr. Ali glanced at me, nervously.

[00:12:31] My hands started to shake and I felt the muscles of my stomach tighten.

[00:12:35] It was similar to the feeling I had when I found out that my parents had died.

[00:12:39] My life and everything I had held onto had abandoned me.

[00:12:43] Mr. Ali had planned the attack on my grandfather.

[00:12:46] We have plenty of time to discuss Kane.

[00:12:49] I want to know about New York.

[00:12:51] Why all the violence?

[00:12:52] We had Vingrosh calling in Jin.

[00:12:54] Did he really think he could force Declan to do anything he didn't want to do?

[00:12:58] And the deaths?

[00:13:00] He shook his head.

[00:13:01] This was handled very poorly, Ali.

[00:13:04] And now Kane is all ready to be the savior, which helps none of us, least of all me.

[00:13:09] I have a war to prepare for.

[00:13:11] Mr. Ali glanced at me, his face white.

[00:13:14] You betrayed grandfather!

[00:13:16] I was dazed and could barely think.

[00:13:19] I was standing and the heavy chair was on its side on the ground.

[00:13:23] Tommy, listen to me.

[00:13:24] It is not like that.

[00:13:25] He was to give up the staff voluntarily.

[00:13:27] He was your friend.

[00:13:29] You had him attacked.

[00:13:31] The end of the staff glowed slightly.

[00:13:34] Now, now, young man.

[00:13:35] Settle down.

[00:13:36] I had no idea Vingrosh was going to attack him, Tommy.

[00:13:39] They were just to talk and your grandfather was to hand him the staff.

[00:13:43] I didn't know that Vingrosh would try to take the staff by force, I swear.

[00:13:48] Why didn't you tell him that?

[00:13:50] You lied to him the whole time.

[00:13:52] And what about the attack?

[00:13:53] You casually cooked while grandfather was trying to save our lives.

[00:13:56] Did you expect him to die quietly since he wouldn't listen to reason?

[00:14:00] The tears flowed down my face.

[00:14:02] My protector.

[00:14:04] The man who was to teach me how to use the staff.

[00:14:07] The man my own grandfather had chosen to help me.

[00:14:10] He was the one who had betrayed us.

[00:14:12] It's not like that, Tommy.

[00:14:14] He reached out to me, but I shoved his arms aside with the cane and ran to the door.

[00:14:19] I needed to think, to mourn, to figure out what was going on.

[00:14:24] I was confused, betrayed, and more than anything, I needed to find out who my friends were.

[00:14:32] Ali, let him go.

[00:14:34] He'll understand in time.

[00:14:36] I slammed the door behind me.

[00:14:38] I slammed the door behind me.