Luck in the Shadows

Shelves along the walls held neatly arranged collections of scrolls and books interspersed with more arcane objects.
    The room's most notable feature was a narrow band of mural running completely around the otherwise unadorned walls. It was scarcely two feet in width but Alec discovered upon closer inspection that it was comprised of a succession of fantastic beasts and birds rendered in superb detail. Here a tiny dragon hovered on scaly outstretched wings over a still smaller castle, blasting it with a glowing stream of fiery breath; there a centaur raiding party bore maidens away in sinewy arms. Farther along the same wall an horrific sea creature reared up from painted waves, spines bristling from its reptilian face as it crushed a ship in its jaws. Near the first corner a creature with the body of a lioness and the breasts and head of a woman held the limp form of a youth between her taloned paws.
    Interspersed among these scenes were symbols that gave back a silvery sheen in the light.
    Suddenly he heard an amused chuckle behind him.
    "My little paintings please you, I see," the wizard said.
    Alec realized with chagrin that he'd been following the mural around the room with complete disregard for his host. Turning, he found Nysander seated at the table. Wethis was nowhere to be found.
    "Forgive me. I didn't mean to be rude," he stammered as he hastily took a seat.
    "No need for apologies. It has that affect on most who see it for the first time. As a matter of fact, that is part of its function."
    "You mean it's magical?" In spite of his hunger, Alec found it difficult to draw his eyes from the paintings.
    Nysander raised one shaggy eyebrow in amusement.
    "Forgive me, but it is always refreshing to meet someone as ingenuous as yourself. So many who come here expect revelations of mythic proportions—dragons under the wine table, spirits summoned down the chimney! They have no awe left in them for the little marvels. All their wonder has turned to appetite.
    "In answer to your question, however, the mural is indeed magical. Its purpose, aside from dazzling my dinner guests, is to protect my rooms. The symbols you see there are each keyed to react to a different sort of intrusion. You will find them throughout the Orлska House. Perhaps you noticed the ones in the dome upstairs? The entire building is protected by an elaborate pattern of magicks—But I am keeping you from your meal! Let us talk of little things as we eat. After dinner we shall converse in a civilized fashion over the wine."
    Alec began cautiously, recalling the fiery spices of the day before, but each successive dish was more agreeable than the last.
    "Seregil told me that wizards come to Rhнminee to be trained," he ventured at last.
    "Wizards, scholars, madmen, they come seeking the knowledge amassed and preserved by the Third Orлska. There is more than magic here, you see. We gather information of all types. Our library is the finest in the Three Lands, and the vaults below contain artifacts which predate the coming of the Hierophants."
    Alec laid aside his knife. "Why is it called the Third Orлska?"
    "The first mages who came here from Aurлnen were the original Orлska," Nysander explained. "It was they who first taught that knowledge is as powerful, in its own way, as any magic, and that magic without knowledge is worse than useless; it is dangerous. Later, they established the Second Orлska at Ero when magical powers became apparent among the half-blood children of Aurлnfaie and humans.
    "Unfortunately, the fellowship of the Second Orлska was all but annihilated during the Great War. There have never been as many wizards since that time. Another blow befell it when Ero was destroyed.
    "A terrible tragedy, so many of the ancient writings lost! Queen Tamir bequeathed this site to the surviving wizards at the founding of Rhнminee, with the understanding that they would contribute to the defense of Skala. The new alliance established at that time was deemed the Third Orлska. The Cirna Canal was one of the first demonstrations of their good faith."
    "I've heard something of that. How many wizards are there now?"
    "Only a few hundred in all the Three Lands now, I fear. Fewer and fewer children are being born with the power; the blood of the Aurлnfaie masters has grown thin."
    "But don't the children of wizards inherit their powers?"
    Nysander shook his head. "There are no children of wizards. It is perhaps the greatest price we pay for