Plans Are Made

[00:00:02] Artifacts of the Arcane, by Jake Kerr, Season 1, The Staff of Light, Episode 15, Plans Are Made.

[00:00:18] I didn't remember leaving the building. Maybe I passed people. Maybe I didn't. Maybe people talked to me. Maybe they didn't.

[00:00:26] All I wanted was to find Naomi and tell her what happened. I didn't know what she would say, but I had no other options.

[00:00:33] The people in the Citadel didn't care about me. They wanted the staff. Mr. Ali didn't care about me either. He just wanted to destroy the staff.

[00:00:42] I didn't know why, and I didn't care. All I knew was that the only person I could count on was Naomi, and even she possibly still hated me.

[00:00:52] I stumbled around, cursing the illusions that were placed on everything. I finally found the door to my quarters, but the academy was further down.

[00:01:02] I ran to the next door, and it still took longer than I expected. I tried the handle, and it opened. I walked in and found myself in another antechamber,

[00:01:11] like the one that had the staircase to my quarters. This floor was dusty and worn, however, and the staircase was marked by chips in the balustrade and damaged steps.

[00:01:20] To the right was a large door that was closed. To the left were double doors that were held open by doorstops.

[00:01:27] Beyond them was a long hallway filled with wooden doors with frosted windows. Young men in the same uniform I was wearing wandered here and there. Some had a few metals or stripes, but most were unadorned.

[00:01:38] They paid me no mind. I remembered the corporal mentioning that they would find room for Naomi in the floor above the dormitories, so I climbed the stairway, which was mostly empty.

[00:01:49] The top was again similar to my quarters in the other part of the building. I started walking toward the hallway that led to what I hoped were the rooms over the dormitories when a young man exited the hallway.

[00:02:01] He looked at me and squinted.

[00:02:02] I said,

[00:02:36] You are not the archmage.

[00:02:38] I had enough. No one respected me. No one cared for me. I squeezed the staff in my fist and a dazzling light shone forth. The young soldier shaded his eyes. I didn't care if I blinded him.

[00:02:51] I am the archmage and if you don't help me, I will be forced to go to Lord Ainsley and drag him here to help me instead.

[00:02:58] The young man stepped back, still shielding his eyes. I can assure you that Lord Ainsley will not be happy.

[00:03:05] I am sorry, archmage.

[00:03:06] He looked down, avoiding the glare of the staff.

[00:03:10] She is down the hall, third door on the right.

[00:03:12] I snuffed out the light and the soldier looked back at me. His eyes were watering.

[00:03:17] Do you know if she is in her room?

[00:03:19] Yes, she is. I was just delivering her the schedule for her disciplinary duties.

[00:03:23] He inched toward the steps.

[00:03:26] Disciplinary duties?

[00:03:27] Yes, she left her class this morning without permission. She has kitchen duty as punishment.

[00:03:33] Punishment? He nodded. I pictured Naomi being told to clean dishes and laughed.

[00:03:38] I will discuss this with her, I added, trying to sound solemn, although I couldn't get the picture of Naomi hurling detonations at piles of dishes out of my mind.

[00:03:47] Can I leave, sir?

[00:03:48] The soldier had made his way to the top of the stairway and looked like all he wanted to do was sprint downstairs.

[00:03:55] I nodded, and he did so.

[00:03:57] I knocked on Naomi's door.

[00:03:59] I waited, and as I was just about to knock again, the door flew open and there was Naomi, wearing the same uniform as me, her golden hair disheveled and half covering her face, her eyes bloodshot.

[00:04:12] The snarl on her face fell as she recognized me.

[00:04:15] Tommy.

[00:04:15] I need your help, I replied, unable to think of anything charming or witty to say.

[00:04:21] She grabbed my arm, pulled me into the room, and slammed the door.

[00:04:25] The room was small, maybe ten foot square.

[00:04:28] There was a cot in the corner, a chest at its end, and a wooden chair next to a small desk.

[00:04:33] That was it.

[00:04:35] Naomi slid her hair behind her ears and sat on the cot.

[00:04:38] So what's the problem, Streetlight?

[00:04:40] She motioned to the chair, and I sat down.

[00:04:43] It's a long story.

[00:04:45] Well, I have nothing but time.

[00:04:47] I'm leaving this place as soon as I can.

[00:04:50] Do you know what my first class was this morning?

[00:04:53] Elementary illusion?

[00:04:54] It was the first thing that came to mind after my meeting with Kane.

[00:04:58] Introduction to domestic magic.

[00:05:00] She practically spat the words.

[00:05:02] Do you know how many other magicians were in the class with me?

[00:05:06] None.

[00:05:07] You got it.

[00:05:08] I couldn't quite believe what I was hearing.

[00:05:11] She was already practically at master level, and they had her working on magic to do chores?

[00:05:17] It made no sense.

[00:05:18] So, what's your story?

[00:05:20] They have plans for you to illuminate Big Ben for tourists?

[00:05:23] 11 years ago.

[00:05:25] My parents died in a subway crash in New York.

[00:05:29] Naomi sat up straight, stared at me for a moment, and then lowered her head.

[00:05:33] Tommy, I'm so sorry.

[00:05:35] My grandfather raised me.

[00:05:38] The Pelavon.

[00:05:39] Yes, but I didn't know that.

[00:05:40] I barely knew about magic at all until days ago.

[00:05:44] But you're the Archmage.

[00:05:46] How could you not know?

[00:05:47] Naomi stared at me, fully engaged in my story.

[00:05:50] I then outlined the events of the past week.

[00:05:53] I described the attack from the shadows, the attack on the restaurant, and how my grandfather

[00:05:58] had given me the staff, and how Mr. Ali was to protect me as we escaped.

[00:06:04] I described the river, the golems, and finding ourselves at the way station.

[00:06:08] Through it all, I outlined the underlying story of my grandfather wanting to keep the

[00:06:13] staff and Mr. Ali wanting to get rid of it.

[00:06:16] You mentioned that on the train.

[00:06:18] I nodded.

[00:06:19] I then outlined my meeting with Kane.

[00:06:21] Her jaw dropped as I described his illusions.

[00:06:25] Illusion is not my speciality, although I can perform a few of them.

[00:06:29] This did not surprise me at all.

[00:06:31] In fact, it wouldn't have surprised me if her few illusions were near master level.

[00:06:35] So let me assure you that what he did sounds impossible.

[00:06:39] No one could be that skilled with magic.

[00:06:41] Illusions are simply too complicated to do what you describe, the coordinated body control

[00:06:46] it would take.

[00:06:46] I thought back to Kane's spastic body movements and wondered if that was related to his abilities.

[00:06:52] Was his entire body prepping spells while I watched?

[00:06:55] I thought back to the pain of my arm on fire and replied,

[00:06:59] I assure you he is that skilled.

[00:07:02] I then discussed how Mr. Ali and I went to meet with Lord Gort.

[00:07:06] I then described the conversation, ending with Mr. Ali's betrayal.

[00:07:10] I clenched the staff in my hand.

[00:07:13] I don't know what to do.

[00:07:15] Naomi stared at me.

[00:07:17] How could he betray his friend like that?

[00:07:19] I don't know.

[00:07:21] I looked at Naomi and the sympathy and concern on her face removed any doubts I had.

[00:07:26] She cared about me.

[00:07:27] I didn't know what to say and the silence lingered.

[00:07:31] I considered what she had gone through as well and I realized that all we had was each

[00:07:37] other.

[00:07:37] I lowered my head and whispered, I'm sorry about your mother.

[00:07:42] She sounds like she was an amazing woman.

[00:07:45] It felt right to say it.

[00:07:47] Naomi didn't reply and I glanced up to see if she was perhaps mad at me.

[00:07:52] She was crying, so I looked away.

[00:07:54] She cleared her throat and then whispered,

[00:07:56] Thank you.

[00:07:58] I glanced at her and she was wiping her eyes.

[00:08:01] She looked at me, smiled and added,

[00:08:04] We're both alone now.

[00:08:05] I nodded.

[00:08:06] The domestic mage and the streetlight.

[00:08:10] Naomi grinned.

[00:08:11] So what do we do?

[00:08:12] We will save my grandfather.

[00:08:14] I said the words with an unexpected force.

[00:08:17] Absolutely.

[00:08:18] We'll save your grandfather and he'll be able to use the staff to make everything right.

[00:08:23] As soon as she said the words, I could tell she felt bad.

[00:08:26] She covered her mouth with her hand and added,

[00:08:29] I'm sorry, Tommy.

[00:08:30] I didn't mean it that way.

[00:08:31] I smiled.

[00:08:32] It's okay.

[00:08:33] I know he's more powerful than I am.

[00:08:36] I'm kind of useless, actually.

[00:08:37] I just don't want to be alone anymore.

[00:08:40] And as soon as I said it, I felt bad.

[00:08:42] She had just lost her mother.

[00:08:44] Could I be any more insensitive?

[00:08:46] I broke the awkward silence that followed by saying,

[00:08:49] But first, we have to get out of here.

[00:08:52] We can perhaps get beyond the walls.

[00:08:54] But then, where do we go?

[00:08:57] You can be sure that someone will be chasing us.

[00:09:00] Naomi smiled and stood up.

[00:09:02] You forget that I'm the granddaughter of a legendary waymaster.

[00:09:05] I know all the train stops in England.

[00:09:08] Once we get our bearings, I'll find a stop and we can flee on a train.

[00:09:11] Will that work?

[00:09:13] Trust me.

[00:09:14] I stood up and for some reason, Errol Flynn popped into my head.

[00:09:17] The grandchildren of legends.

[00:09:20] Alone without family.

[00:09:22] Unwanted despite our power.

[00:09:24] I meant to be inspirational and said the words as if I were narrating a motion picture.

[00:09:29] I smiled and held out my hand.

[00:09:32] We make a good team.

[00:09:34] Naomi looked at me and hesitantly took my hand.

[00:09:37] It was the hesitation that killed me.

[00:09:39] As soon as I shook her hand, I realized how stupid it was.

[00:09:43] She was beautiful and powerful and smart.

[00:09:46] And we were about to travel alone together.

[00:09:49] And I pretend we're in a movie.

[00:09:51] And even worse, I shook her hand.

[00:09:53] Who does that?

[00:09:54] I quickly pulled my hand away.

[00:09:56] My heart was racing from anger at myself.

[00:09:59] And I knew that if I didn't get away for at least a little bit, I would die of embarrassment.

[00:10:04] I need to get my old shoes.

[00:10:06] These boots don't fit.

[00:10:07] I lied.

[00:10:08] I'll meet you here after I go grab them from my room.

[00:10:11] Uh, okay.

[00:10:12] She tucked her hair behind her ears again.

[00:10:15] And I turned away.

[00:10:16] Did she have to be so pretty?

[00:10:18] I walked out the door and down the steps.

[00:10:20] I tried to forget the handshake, but I couldn't.

[00:10:23] All I could think about was that her hand was warm and soft.

[00:10:27] And that she had gripped my hand tight.