"Castle Riverhaven is a tremendous structure. The treasure vaults are located in the center of the bottom level, the very core of the building. Any thief would have to know the exact layout to find the room that contained the Black Shield," the royal servant explained. Larenth and Keena, who had never been there, listened carefully.
"Not necessarily," said Larenth. "If he was a wizard, he could have traced its position and transported himself there. That explains both problems."
"We've considered that, but any location-spell cast on the Black Shield would simply be absorbed. I am sure you already know that the power of the Shield is to absorb magic. Also, there are ward-spells and trap-spells throughout the castle, so no wizard could have gotten a transportation-spell through without a single whisper."
"That's not necessarily true either." Larenth countered. "If a transportation spell has a strong enough focus, it can slip by wards undetected. There are only two focuses strong enough, though. One is an enchanted item, such as the Black Shield, but no wizard could focus a spell on it, due to its draining properties. The other possibility makes me very nervous. The wizard must have focused his spell on a sentient mind."
"So? There were two guards just outside the room. What's the problem?" Keena demanded, crossing her arms.
"The problem is that only a wizard of the Order of the Mind could have done it. The power of the Mind is different than any other form of magic, and it is one of the most powerful. I'm not surprised the thief hasn't been found, since he can hide his identity and the nature of the shield from the minds of the searchers. But what confuses me," he continued, "is the report of how the guards were killed. I doubt that the wizard, however powerful, could have brought a skilled warrior with him undetected, ant yet for him to have done the professional murders himself is equally unlikely."
"I wonder if this is connected to the new Emperor of Prentwinng," Rhy'non said. "He is also a wizard, I was told."
"Yes, and an unusually popular one, too. I had thought him a mind wizard, because only that kind of influence could have gotten him the loyalty of all the Noble Families vying for the throne."
"I heard there was a massive search effort organized when he announced that the Captain of the Guard had turned traitor. Wasn't that right after he took the throne?" asked Keena.
"Yes, it was. An unusual show of support for a new usurper. Larenth, your theories are beginning to make more and more sense to me, and that is not a good thing. Quite the opposite." Rhy'non frowned and shifted his weight. "So? Could there be two mind wizards wreaking havoc, or is it the same one?
"I don't know, and I don't want to consider either possibility."
"So," said Keena, "How do you catch a mind wizard?"
"What do you mean?" asked Larenth slowly.
"Well, you seem to know everything. Would you like to explain to us mere mortals what to do?" Keena stared at him with a challenge in her eyes.
"Supposedly, I do know everything." Larenth smiled enigmatically. "I'm a loremaster."
"What?"
"What?"
"Well, why didn't you say so!" exclaimed the servant. "His Royal Majesty and the Chief Advisor will want to know immediately! You young people never do things right." He wandered off, muttering to himself.
"It's alright, I know the way." said Rhy'non. "So, you happen to be a loremaster? That would explain the random trivia."
"And the important, relevant information. We loremasters deserve more credit that we get, as your servant obviously knows. I'm sure your father does too."
"Yes, yes, so why didn't you tell us?" asked Keena.
Incomplete, unfortunately.
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