Free The First Technomancer by Rodney C. Johnson

black hair flowing about her
face accurate enough. The painting was the first thing one
witnessed on entry to Merlin's chambers, even when he sat in total
darkness, the wizard kept the image lit by ingeniously placed
candles, which produced an effect of kindling the pigmentation in
the manner of her luminance.
    That is what Uther confronted when he entered
a lightless dwelling, though not unoccupied, as indicted by sparks
which flew from a generator that Merlin had rigged up. Not that
Uther Pendragon had a faint notion of what electricity might be, it
had not been officially discovered yet. “What are you building my
friend?”
    Merlin, spoke, but did not
move from his workbench. “My future.” He enigmatically responded,
hunched over an object, at first glance, what might have been a
half dollar sized broa ch. A runic aegishjalmur, or "helm of
awe" set within a metalwork ring, that housed multicolored fluid,
fed from tubes that led from bottles which bubbled and seethed with
magical concoctions. “I just need to figure out how to keep it
alive...” He pointed, but did not gaze up toward his sparking
generator. “That only temporarily does it. I must have a divine
source of power I think.”
    None of this meant a thing to Uther. “You've
not been to counsel in days.”
    “Things go smooth, nonetheless your
Majesty.”
    “Yes the kingdom prospers, but that's not my
point.
    As if he remembered an important fact, Merlin
finally glanced over at King Uther, a strange chaotic expression on
his face. Emerald eyes darted toward Caliburn, ever sheathed at
Uther's hip. Vril swords use a crystalline filament for a blade.
But what energizes such a weapon? Do I have such a furnace within
my own body? “Is there anything I can help with?”
    “Not as yet. I was just concerned for your
absence.
    “I'm touched by your worry.” Merlin said to
Uther, but his mind kept returning to the workings of his Vril
technology. He'd taken nanobots from himself to make the Vriljiin,
yet they would not live independent from him, at the moment he
doubted very much the device would become a genesis for another
technomancer. Won't work, unless the nanobots thrive in a new
host.
    Uther, waited expectantly. The King could
feel his wizard teetered on the cusp of an idea.
    Neither man got a chance to break the moment
of silence, as Lord Chamberlain Fendrel interrupted the meeting.
“Your Majesty!” Called out Tyrian Fendrel. “Majesty, Lady Igraine
is here!”
    All thought of Merlin's odd behavior pushed
aside for Uther.
    As for Merlin, Lord Chamberlain Fendrel's
news brought the wizard back from his delirium in a manner unlike
no amount of friendly cheer could have. Fear, fear of a land in
turmoil returned Merlin to the moment. How quickly he, and Uther's
roles had reversed.
     
     
    “Constantinople?” King Uther spat.
“Constantinople?”
    Merlin waited, arms folded, watched the
exchange between Uther, and Igraine, who made quite a lovely sight,
dressed as she was in a body hugging maroon sheath which left
little to the imagination as to what lay underneath.
    “Yes my King.” Igraine almost whispered.
“Gorlois has sent me to inform you that we... our family will be
relocating in a matter of days. He wants to explore the world.”
    “I won't allow it. Cornwall is a sworn
vassal!”
    It had of course been meant as a trap, Merlin
could see it. Cornwall was no explorer, journeying to far ends of
the Holy Roman Empire not in his ken. This whole moment but a test,
as well as a taunt for Uther, as if he were saying: I have what
you desire, and can easily take it away . But more so to see
what action Igraine might take. To her credit the Lady Igraine
passed her husband’s trap, as she let slip no sign of attraction
toward the High King, though, clearly a mutual interest existed.
Maybe not in the manner Uther would have desired.
    Either resentful that he did not become High
King, or more likely aware of Uther Pendragon's feelings toward