The Prime Trees

“Report,” Quynn said into the mouthpiece. He hated using this old radio technology.

“They tested him,” the voice on the other end said. The tinny sound made Quynn wince, so he turned it down a little.

“And?” Quynn asked. The man he was talking to was intolerably slow. Quynn willed himself to be patient.

“They found something…unusual.”

“Yes? Spit it out, man.”

“They’re calling him a Prime Mage.”

Quynn felt his blood run cold. Could it be? Had his suspicions been correct all along? He spoke into the communicator slowly and clearly.

“Which Talent did he Align with?” Quynn asked.

“All of them,” the voice said.

“You’re sure?”

“I’m sure. Although he can only use half the magic.”

“What does that mean?”

“I don’t know, I’m not a mage.” The man sounded flustered. “He can only do three of the magics, not all of them.”

What? Quynn had never heard of anything like that before. He paused for a moment, tapping two fingers together as he thought. “Thank you for your report,” he said. “Let me know if you hear anything else.”

“Wait,” the voice said, “there’s something else.”

“Yes?”

“He’s using an artifact—some kind of book. It enhances his power, makes him stronger. Without it he can’t do much of anything.”

So that’s where the Book went. If he could pair the Book with the Staff…the possibilities were endless.

“Get your hands on that Book,” Quynn ordered.

“Sir? You want me to have it stolen?”

“Yes. Is that a problem?”

“No, sir.”

“Good. Contact me if you learn anything else.”

Quynn clicked the communicator off and leaned back in his chair. Lights flickered and flashed along the rows of desks. The screens ahead were dark, the control room empty.

Quynn allowed himself a moment of glee. This was it. After all his work, all his planning, his project had finally succeeded. When everyone had said it was impossible, he’d done it. He’d found one. Or at least half of one. He wondered if that could be fixed. Regardless, it was time to bring the boy back into the fold. The elves on the ground had outlived their usefulness.

He tapped his communicator and waited for the call to connect.

“Yes?” Grathgor’s voice said.

“I found one,” Quynn said. He tried to keep his voice from revealing his excitement. “I just have one more thing to attend to, and we’ll have a Prime Mage in our midst again.”

“You really found one?” Grathgor asked. He sounded skeptical.

“My oldest project made it through in the end,” Quynn said. It was more than he’d dared to hope for. “He just needed some…inspiration.”

“That is excellent,” Grathgor said. There was a pause. “You’re sitting in my chair, aren’t you.”

Quynn smiled in the dark. “Sorry, old friend. You know how I like to come here to think.”

“It is of no concern. Will you inform Lorelei?”

“I will. She will be very pleased.” She would be less pleased if she knew his next move, but he saw no need to tell her.

“Indeed. Such interesting timing,” Grathgor said. “Our first test was a success, so we are on schedule for starting the Conjunction. You’ll have until we do to wrap up your business.”

It was all finally happening. “Very well,” Quynn said into the communicator.

“And Quynn?”

“Yes?”

“When all this is done, I owe you a drink.”

Quynn chuckled, the laugh sounding strange in his own ears. “You have a deal,” he said, and clicked off.

Quynn ran his hand over the polished surface of the deep black desk. Purple and blue lights played along the metal like dancing fireflies in the night. He smiled a wide smile, then stood and strode out of the room.

He had one more task left to accomplish.