Is This Apocalypse Necessary? - Wizard of Yurt - 6 Read Online Free PDF

faculty, it had been clear that I would have to leave Yurt permanently if I accepted.
    "But he couldn't do that!"
    "Well, he persuaded us that he could. After all, his kingdom is located just south of the City. And then last year, when the king died and the young prince was still too young to inherit, Elerius also became regent."
    I had already had too many shocks this morning. "You mean he's acting as king? Of the West's most powerful kingdom? And now you're going to tell me he's planning to become head of the Church as well?"
    The Master shook his head, for one moment looking amused again. "I don't think even Elerius would try that—for one thing, the Church doesn't have a single head, any more than there's a single emperor over all the western kingdoms. But he is hoping to become mayor of the City."
    "I hadn't heard that the old mayor had so conveniently died," I said grimly.
    "He hasn't. But his six-year term is almost up, and Elerius has become a candidate, and is actively campaigning against the old mayor's reelection."
    My teeth were clenched; I made myself relax in the forlorn hope of coming up with better ideas. "Timing," I said after a minute. "Elerius has always held himself ready, incorporating whatever opportunities arise into his long-range plans. Last year he became a king, this year he'll become mayor of the West's largest city—are you sure your illness now isn't due at least in part to him?"
    "Quite sure. But he's always known I couldn't live forever—even if I sometimes forgot that myself. And he knew he could prolong his regency and keep on having himself reelected mayor until I did die, at which time his plans would be complete."
    "That is," I said, mostly under my breath, "now."
    "So you see, Daimbert," said the Master, pushing away the breakfast tray, "I have no choice. I need to name my successor immediately, to ensure it will not be Elerius."
    "Then," I said darkly, "he will just spend the time between now and when—when the issue of succession arises—in getting me out of the way: by telling the rest of the faculty, for example, about me and Theodora, or by reminding Zahlfast about the more hilarious aspects of that episode with the frogs, or even by ensuring that I have an unfortunate accident."
    The Master had started to lean back against the pillows, but at this he sat up again. I could see the strain on his face, which he was doing his best to keep out of his voice. "Then we will not give him any time to formulate such plans," he said decisively. "Instead of announcing my decision to the rest of the faculty now, as I had intended, I shall give you a letter to show them immediately upon my death." He reached for paper and a quill from the table by the bed and began to write. His handwriting was just a little shaky. "As soon as you hear of my death, come straight to the City with this letter." He finished and held it out for the ink to dry, waving it gently.
    "You'll be elected at once, and Elerius will be stymied."
    I took the paper as he handed it to me but did not look at it. I had almost expected him to write in letters of fire, or to put a spell on the words so that they would be invisible until another spell was spoken over them, but he had worked no magic on it. All he had done was write out what might as well be my own death-sentence.
    He fumbled on the table for a book. "I should also give this to you now."
    "What is it?" I asked without interest. The book was small but very thick, bound in crumbling leather; the cover looked as if it had once been stamped in gold.
    "It belonged to the man who taught me magic—and I'll leave it to you to work out how long ago that was. He had it from even further back, from his own master. It's an account of the Dragons' Scepter."
    "The Dragons' Scepter," I repeated dully. "I've never heard of it."

    "Few people have. But the wizard who taught my own teacher had become a friend of the dragons."
    I looked at the floor. A story that old was bound to