Bring him to the Palace

“You must bring him to the Palace,” decides Adella. “Can you do it with some degree of anonymity? I would much prefer that word not get around that I am entertaining a member of the magical community.”

“Oh yes, Your Highness,” says her friend. “I will make arrangements at once.”

As Courtney leaves the room, Adella tries to imagine this mysterious Rezkin, the wizard. Of course, he would be an old man, with a long, flowing grey beard. He certainly would be a shadowy, cloaked figure, simply oozing with mystery and tantalizing hints of profound, untold wisdom. Despite her misgivings, she had to admit that she looked forward to the meeting.

She had to wait about a week before she had her opportunity. Courtney breathlessly informed her one day that she managed to get ahold of Rezkin, and that he agreed to come to the Palace and meet the princess late that afternoon. Adella and Courtney talked through the plans for getting him safely inside, and the rest of the day was one distracted task after another, as Adella waited for the chance to meet this man.

“It’s all ridiculous,” Adella told herself for the tenth time. “Courtney has gotten my expectations up that this one man is going to be the answer to all of my frustrations and unhappiness. Truly, what can he do?” Nonetheless, it was a rare element of mystery, with just a hint of uncharacteristic rebelliousness, in an otherwise orderly and unexciting life.

At the appointed hour, Adella heard Courtney’s knock at her door. She opened it expectantly, fully anticipating to see the wizened old man she had envisioned. She couldn’t have been more surprised to actually meet Rezkin.

Instead of an ancient, beard-clad, cloak-covered, old man, Adella saw a young man not older than herself. Clean-shaven, his youthful face radiated youthful energy and excitement, much more than the mysterious and patience wisdom she had anticipated. His hair hung loosely past his shoulders, and its platinum color was uncannily like that of Adella and her brother Duncan. In fact, from behind or at a distance, one could easily mistake this man for Prince Duncan, himself. Rather than wearing the traditional black or dark grey robe and long, pointy hat Adella had always seen wizards wear, he was dressed in a fashionable suit of white, light grey, and blue, and he wore nothing on his head. While he is clearly trying his best to put on formality and good manners, Adella believes she may detect the hint of a gleam in his eyes — one that she has seen in Duncan’s eyes many a time: a signal of a mischievous spirit.

“Your Highness, may I present Rezkin?” Courtney said, with a courtesy.

Rezkin attempts a formal bow, but Adella can tell that he does not have a lot of experience in that area. She holds out her hand to him, allowing him to take and kiss it.

“A pleasure to meet you, Master Rezkin.

“The honor is mine, Your Highness,” says the young man. “And please, honor me by just calling me Rezkin.”

“As you wish,” responds the princess, motioning toward a chair and inviting her guest to sit. “I confess I am unfamiliar with the appropriate protocol in addressing a wizard. We do not have a lot of interaction with your kind, of course.”

Rezkin sits, as do the two ladies.

“I understand I owe you my gratitude for the kindness you have shown to my lady-in-waiting. Courtney tells me you not only saved her life, but you have been most —“ she hesitates briefly, searching for the appropriate word. “Cordial,” she decides, “since that time.” She gives a sideways glance toward her friend and sees from the rising color in her cheeks that Courtney knows why she chose that word.

“Not at all, Your Highness,” says the young man. “I just happened to be in the right place at the right time, and Miss Courtney does the royal court proud with her beauty, charm, and comportment.”

Adella cannot help but notice that Rezkin’s eyes were focused below Courtney’s neck as he spoke, leaving little doubt that he admires more than her courtly manners.

The conversation continues for several minutes as Adella attempts to size up this mysterious visitor.

“I must confess that you surprise me, Rezkin,” says Adella. “You do not fit the image I had for a wizard. Your appearance and your attire are not at all like other wizards I have seen.”

Rezkin blushes slightly, and the way his lips tighten up tells Adella that she has hit upon a sensitive subject for their guest.

“No doubt you have only seen the Mages,” he says. “They are the most common of the wizards, and you do me a great compliment when you say I do not remind you of them.”

Adella is intrigued. “I do not wish to pry or be rude, but I would very much appreciate learning from you. Before now I had no idea there were two kinds of wizard.”

“There are actually many kinds of wizards,” responds Rezkin. “The type of wizard depends on the manner in which he draws his power to use magic. Mages are the most common, and they are responsible for the bad reputation the entire wizarding community has. They draw their magic from association with evil spirits and vile magical creatures. They use potions and charmed objects that have been charged by the most wicked of means. Even the Mages who claim to pursue justice can only do so at the cost of pain or harm to someone.”

“I had no idea!” said Adella. “No wonder they have always made me feel so — uncomfortable.”

“As well they should,” agrees Rezkin. “I, on the other hand, am from the Order of Frontazia. We are actually the oldest of the wizarding orders, but there are few of us. Not as few, however, as the Alpux or the Yaquezow.”

“And are your powers as great as a Mage?” asks Adella.

“A Frontazian is easily the superior of a Mage,” says Rezkin confidently. “But it is harder and requires much more discipline to attune to magic through the Frontazian method. We do not draw upon evil and ****, but rather we gain our powers through joy, goodwill, and exuberance of others. Historically speaking, it has always been easier to reach for evil than it is to find happiness, however, and that is why you find so few of us.”

“How fascinating!” says Adella. “So is that why you were so quick to rescue Courtney from the rampaging horse? Is it because you were attempting to ‘charge up’ your powers?”

Rezkin stiffens slightly. “I rescued Courtney because she needed rescuing. Admittedly, her appreciation toward me and the goodwill she exuded were helpful to me, but that was merely a side effect. You will find, however, that we Frontazians do tend to be much more considerate of others; it becomes a way of life for us.”

“Of course,” says Adella. “Forgive me for suggesting that you had anything other than altruistic motives. This is all very new and fascinating to me. I have so many questions! Have you had any great adventures or have you stories to tell of your heroic deeds?”

Rezkin’s face flushes again, highlighting once again his youthful appearance. “Alas, my exploits thus far have been less than story-worthy. I am only recently released from my apprenticeship.”

“Apprenticeship?” asks the princess.

“I was apprenticed at the age of five to a Master Wizard, and I have spent the past 15 years under his tutelage. In fact, I had only been on my own for a short time before I met Miss Courtney.”

“But you are fully — what is the word? Trained? Certified? Credentialed — as a wizard?”

Rezkin’s cheeks grow even redder. “I have successfully completed my formal training. Of course, the way of the wizard takes a lifetime to master. There are always new things to learn... skills to refine....”

“Of course,” agrees Adella. “As it is in all life. Well, this is truly fascinating, Rezkin. I have so many more questions for you, but for now I believe you know the reason Courtney asked you to come here.”

“I confess I am unclear as to you wishes, M’lady,” answers the wizard. “Miss Courtney has indicated that you are less than happy in your current circumstances, but I am unsure what it is you want from me.”

Adella looks at Courtney, who has been following the conversation silently, but with interest.

“Indeed,” answers the princess. “Rezkin, if you will excuse us for a moment, I believe I must have a conversation with my lady-in-waiting. We will return presently.”

Rezkin rises as the ladies stand and step to the far side of the room, out of earshot of their guest.

“Did I not tell you, Your Highness?” asks Courtney. “Is he not wonderful?”

“He is not what I expected,” admits Adella. “I confess he has eased many of my misgivings. But he is a youth. You heard him say that he is inexperienced. How much can we really expect from one such as him?”

“Inexperienced, perhaps, but not unskilled,” responds Courtney. “I say we put him to the test first.”