A Change in Plan

Artifacts of the Arcane by Jake Kerr, Season two, The Coat of Invincibility, Episode four, A change in plan. When my grandfather first gave me his cane, I didn't know how to do anything but make light, but that was okay, as I didn't expect to be able to master it for many years. But as I sat in my cramped room in the naval base, I was near tears and frustration because I was in the exact same spot as that first moment with my grandfather. I could make light, I could remove light, but I couldn't do with stop light from flowing, which meant that my most powerful weapon, the one that had saved Naomi's life and had saved my own a number of times, the one that I had counted on to help me defeat the Germans, was no longer under my control. I squeezed my hands on the cane so hard that my nut turned white and the outline of the rooms pressed into my skin. It didn't help. I lay down and held the cane in my hands with my eyes closed. I relaxed and did my best to communicate with the staff to understand it, to beg it to give me some kind of guidance as to what was wrong. I still had a deep connection to the staff, and that was perhaps what made the current situation so frightening. That connection didn't seem to change. It was still there. The Staff remained a part of me. I could feel it. It was the ability to stop time by stopping light that was no more. I questioned whether I could defeat the Germans without that power. What use was blinding them with lighter filling the area with darkness. Bullets are not stopped by darkness. Blind soldiers can still shoot. The words of Vice Admiral Fraser became a nightmarish reality for me. I was no longer even as powerful as a single man with a rifle. I was nothing more than a street light. That thought made me think of Naomi. She was an extraordinary magician when I met her, nearly a master already at illusions, shields and offensive magic. How much more powerful would she be two years later? Maybe she would join me and use her powerful magic to help. And as humbling as it was to admit, it was clear I needed help. As I considered asking Naomi for help, I realized that I was tired of being alone. I had spent two years by myself running around evading magicians in the military as I freed the Mariats. My grandfather supported my mission, but he had moved back to his home in New York. I missed having Naomi beside me, blowing things up and teasing me while doing so. I missed her calling me names. I even missed mister Alite, the man who had betrayed my grandfather. Still more than friends, I needed more information about what was happening with the staff, and I could think of only one person who could help me, my great grandfather. He was retired and living at his cottage Balmarole. I had seen him every few months, and he was his same crotchety self, part inspirational and part insulting. I decided I should visit him and ask him about what may be happening with the staff. Of all the people in the world, he would know, I had last seen him four months earlier. He was frail then and probably not long for the world. That depressing thought made me want to see him even more. Even if he knew nothing, I could at least say goodbye. Vice Admiral Fraser was dismissive of my request, but within a few hours a soldier showed up at my quarters telling me to pack. Cain had overruled Fraser and stated that a visit to my great grandfather should be accommodated. I wasn't sure if it was because he felt he owed my great grandfather for being willing to help him, or because he felt it would help me in helping his cause in fighting the Germans. In the end, it didn't matter. I was in a military automobile being driven to Balmarole, where I hoped to find answers. On every visit to my great grandfather challenged myself to fund something that was different. The path up to the cotte was always perfectly manicured with the sane razor sharp lines, while the flowers and plants sat in the same beds and pots. Sometimes they were blooming, while other times they were awaiting spring. But they were always there in some form or another. The cottage itself didn't change at all. In a world of violence, being hunted, and never knowing where I would end up next, the stability and familiarity of visiting my great grandfather was comforting to me. This visit, however, was different, in two key ways. A male nurse opened the front door instead of my great grandfather, and his cottage smelled strongly of antiseptic and medicine. Normally, a great grandfather would open the door squint like he was pondering whether it let me in or not, and then I would walk into a room fragrant with fresh flowers. I followed the nurse through the living room, which was devoid of its usual vibrant plants, and into great grandfather's bedroom, where he lay in a bed under thick blankets. As I ended entered, his normal snarl was nowhere to be found. He smiled widely and lifted a skeletal hand. Tell me, I'm so pleased you came to visit before I become fertilizer for my garden. He laughed, which turned into a cough. The nurse tried to hand him a glass of water, but he just waved it off. Nonsense, arch Mage, you will outlive me. I liked calling him arch mage, as it was a title he had been stripped of as a teenager, and yet when he deserved even more than my mighty grandfather. My great grandfather could manipulate life itself with the staff. Bah. If I outlive you, it will be because you did something stupid, which is quite possible, mind you. Even ill great grandfather hadn't lost his bite. I walked over and sat at his side. I rested the cane on the edge of the bed next to him. He didn't reach for it, which was his normal response ever since I had proven my ability with the staff, he wouldn't touch it without my permission. How are you feeling, hire? Body hurts? I'm hungry but can't seem to eat anything. I'm thirsty, but they won't give me beer. And as perhaps the final insult, the nurse they provided me is mail. I'm sure he's quite capable. Capable, he's not going to stop me from dying, so they may as well have given me someone pleasant to look at. All I could do was shake my head. Great grandfather was blunt, if nothing else. Speaking of pleasant to look at, have you finally worked up the courage to go see your girlfriend? I don't know where she is, and besides, Naomi is not my girlfriend. With a wave of his hand, great Grandfather dismissed my objection. Sure she is. You two just haven't figured that out yet. He squinted his eyes and waved a finger at me. I'm old, but not blind. I saw how you two looked at each other after I healed her. He closed his eyes and lay back on his pillow. But I don't care. I'm going to die soon. If if you two want to be miserable, by all means, stay miserable. I didn't like talking about Naomi, so I changed the subject to the main reason for my visit. I have a problem, Great Grandfather. You're the greatest arch major I know, so I was hoping you could help me. Just go visit her problem solved. Great Grandfather laughed again, which again caused a coughing fit, a longer one this time. When he finished, the nurse handed him a glass of water, which he took, drinking a few gulps before handing it back. I am afraid it's quite a bit more serious than that. I reached over and picked up the cane. I've lost the power to stop light and affect time with the staff. Hey, what do you mean. I outlined the circumstances of seeing the Vice Admiral and how when I tried to stop time it didn't work. I've been able to do it many times, and it has never failed me, whether I was facing an opponent or just practicing in my room. The staff always answered when I needed time stopped. Great Grandfather's eyes peered at me with an intimidating intensity. I hadn't seen it over a year. And it is just this one ability. Yes, I can create light, remove light. I've tried everything. It all works except for the one thing that provides me the power over others. That's nonsense. Excuse me. I had no idea what his objection could mean. You have power over others. Still, your power is much greater than just stopping time. Please don't tell me you've been lazy in your study of the staff. If it were possible, Great grandfather's stare was even more intimidating as he spoke. Uh. I didn't know how to answer. Once I figured out how to stop time, I hadn't worked on any other powers. I've studied Einstein, so I do understand how light can affect space and time. Lazy, simple minded, uncreative light is fundamental to many things. Tommy, I am disappointed in your lack of commitment to understanding your power. Okay, I get it. I can do more with the staff than I thought. But can we please focus on what is happening with stopping light. Why can I no longer do that? I don't know. The staff is its own master. It is foolish to think you can control it. This is an excellent reminder of that. He looked down at the cane sitting on the bed next to him. May I hold it? Of course? He reached for the staff, but the moment he touched it, he pulled his hand back and cried out. His body started to spasm, and the nurse ran over. What is happening? I stood up and watched as the nurse pulled great Grandfather up into a sitting position. I'm I'm okay. Great Grandfather wheezed as he caught his breath. It knocked the wind out of me as all. He slapped at the nurse's hand. Leave me alone, you oaf I said, I was okay. It's time for you to rest, sir, I'm afraid your great grandson will need to leave. The nurse, who was about my size, gave me a pleading look. Nonsense, it's more important for us to talk. Go sit down and leave me alone. The nurse shook his head and walked over to his chair. Great Grandfather looked at me. He appeared frightened Tommy. The staff hurt me. It hurt me on purpose. It didn't want me touching it. What does that mean? I don't know. Something big is happening. I know of our family's history with the staff. It has never hurt one of us. Ever. It refused to work for some of us. It worked in odd ways with others in our family, but it never hurt one of us. Is it dying? I couldn't think of anything else. Maybe the Staff's power was in decline and it couldn't connect to anyone but me anymore. No, this is something bigger, more ominous. Great grandfather struggled to sit up. The nurse hurried over, but returned to his seat after my great grandfather shot him a glare. I helped him sit up and placed pillars behind him so he could rest against the headboard. What do you think it is? I don't know. Which is why you need to see mister Ali. He will have some ideas as to what this may be. The mention of Miss Arlie filled me with conflicting emotions. I still hated him for betraying my grandfather as well as his own son, but he was an important part of my introduction to the Staff. He helped me in ways that I probably still didn't even realize or appreciate. I refuse to see him. He betrayed our family. He betrayed your son, bah my son. He deserved it. Declan was never smart enough to understand the politics of the world. Before I could object, he laid his frail hand on mine, inches from the staff. But there is a time when you seek out help, even if it requires you going to someone who did you wrong, when his dad, when they are the only ones who can help you. Mister Arleigh knows less of the Staff than I do. His lessons were wrong and pointless. How can he help. He doesn't know of the history of the staff with our family, and you are right, he doesn't know how it works. But he knows the older stories from Persia. He knows the myths and the legends. He can provide you with tales that may provide insight into what you are experiencing. Tales and legends we call them. That, but doubtless many of them are based on truth. I don't even know where to find him. Sure you do. He works for kin. I didn't know if I was more disappointed or surprised My former mentor was now working for my enemy. I will not beg a servant of kin for help. Fine, then you'll never find out what's going on with the staff. He shrugged, and with that the topic was closed. He had given me guidance, and that was that. If I didn't follow it, that was my problem. This dismissiveness soon fell away as he took a raspy breath and closed his eyes. I am old, Tommy, I have earned my selfishness. Find your own, and perhaps you will earn yours. What I would like you to do now is tell me about your most recent adventures. Tell me how you did good with our family curse, which has done so much evil. He crossed his hands and rested them on his chest. My great grandfather was talking of the staff, of course, which he had taught me, was stolen from others and used often by our family for glory and selfish reasons. I outlined the story of the merit I had recently freed, the last enslaved merit of England. Great grandfather nodded and smiled at the point where I'd berated the waymaster for trying to stop me by explaining that magical creatures deserve to be enslaved for the good of the country. By the time I finished the story, great Grandfather was asleep, his breathing shallow. I looked over at the nurse. Is he okay? He's tired and in constant pain. I was surprised at how composed he was while talking to you. I was stunned. I didn't realize he was so ill. Is he dying? The nurse nodded his head. How much time does he have? It felt wrong to be talking about great grandfather's future with him right next to me, but I needed to know. Not long. I picked up the cane, wishing nothing more than that I could heal him with it, or that I could just hand it to him and he could heal himself. But that was now impossible. I didn't want to leave. Maybe I could just stay by his side during his last final days, but I knew he wouldn't want that. He'd mock me for wasting time when I should be fighting to restore our family's honor. Still, I couldn't leave. I sat on the bed as the sun went down. The nurse came and went tidying, adding ice to the water and basically keeping busy I had been absent, mindedly running my hands over the staff's ruins, wondering what secrets I had overlooked. When a gruff voice broke my reverie. It's dark. You should be looking for your girlfriend. I couldn't help it. I just wanted to keep you company. I enjoy it. Great Grandfather's voice was a whisper, but still had power. Look, Tommy, I don't need you to babysit me. I'm too old for that. I'm tired. I'm not good company. You need to go find Naomi. Talk to Ali. He knows you've created an honorable destiny. Don't sit here and waste it. All that can wait, sentimental fool. The effort in lecturing me drained Great Grandfather, and he started to cough again. When he finished, he added, in a barely audible whisper. I will miss you, Tommy, but you need to leave. This is not a room for a young man. I stood up, and Great Grandfather closed his eyes and smiled. I watched, and in moments I could tell he had fallen back to sleep. Thank you. My whisper didn't seem enough, so as he slept, a sh shared all the bottled up thoughts I had been too intimidated to share with him. I told him I loved him, that he was my greatest inspiration, that I didn't want him to go. I told him that I wanted him to join me, even if it was just to installt me when I made mistakes. I wanted him to see Naomi again, to perhaps see that we weren't a couple, or that we were. I thanked him for always giving me good advice. I told him that i'd visit mister Elle and find out about the staff. I told him I'd never forget him. The nurse was standing next to me and handed me a handkerchief. I wiped my eyes and turned back to my great grandfather. Goodbye, arch Mage. I walked out and told the driver we were heading to the Citadel of London, a podcast Alchemy production. Mm hmm