Brennan couldn’t understand why he, a mere novice wizard, had been summoned by His Excellency, Sherwin, The High Wizard of The Royal Council.  The gangly youth bowed, and then stood nervously before The High Wizard.  Sherwin was a slightly built man, but his craggy features and neatly trimmed red beard gave him an intimidating appearance.
Sherwin indicated a chair.  “Please be seated, Brennan.”  Brennan did as he was told. 
“First, I must apologize to you for the manner in which you were summoned here, but as you will learn, there was a need for secrecy.  I have summoned you because I have an urgent and dangerous quest for you.”
Brennan’s jaw dropped, and he started to speak.
Sherwin held up his hand.  “Yes, I know that you are a novice wizard, still in training. And yes, there are a number of powerful, experienced wizards on the council that I would not hesitate to send on a dangerous quest.  But not this one.  Your task, Brennan, will be to retrieve Princess Aryna’s pet unicorn.”
Brennan’s face showed his disappointment.  Of course no council wizard would be sent on such a mundane quest.  It was widely known that the young princess treasured her unicorn above all her other possessions, and that Sherwin himself had captured the unicorn--one of very few in existence-- and given it to the princess.  The princess and the unicorn almost immediately bonded.  Still, looking for a lost unicorn did not seem like such an urgent and dangerous quest to Brennan.
“The princess lost her unicorn?” 
“Not that simple.  The young princess’s pet was taken in a raid by the rebels who seek to overthrow the queen.   I am not sure why the rebels risked such a raid to steal the unicorn, but my guess is that their aim was to humiliate the queen by showing that the rebels are capable of conducting a raid inside the Royal Palace itself.  Her Majesty does not want word of the raid to get out just yet; she wants us to make every effort to recapture the unicorn from them as swiftly as possible.”
Brennan was shocked.  “But how could they have  possibly managed to get inside the palace?  The Palace is...”
Sherwin interrupted him.  “The small party of raiders used a secret passage, known only to a few of Queen Lira’s closest advisors.”
“A traitor...among Her Majesty’s advisors?” 
“There is that possibility, and for that reason there are only three people who know of this quest: The Queen and I--and now you.  But I doubt that there is a traitor among us.  Remember that the rebel leader, Mandrel, was the most powerful wizard on the Royal Council of Wizards before he was banished from the council for practicing dark magic.  While he was here, he probably learned of the secret passage.  Not only that, but Mandrel knows all six of my  wizards on the council.  For that reason, I cannot send any of my wizards on this quest.
“He does not know you, because at the time he left you had not yet reported for training.  In spite of your tender age, you are the most powerful novice to train for the council since I have been High Wizard.  Your powers approach that of some who are now sitting on the council.  It should be clear to you now, Brennan, why I have chosen you--you are the only wizard in the Royal Palace that Mandrel would not recognize."
  "It is said that a unicorn is a danger to any wizard that dabbles in dark magic," said Brennan.  "Can we be sure that the raiders didn't release the unicorn in the wild, or perhaps even kill it?"
"It is true that any wizard who practices dark magic will die from the mere touch of a unicorn.  But they won't kill it, for to kill a unicorn is almost impossible.  And I don't think they'll release it, for fear that it might find its way back to the princess.  They'll take it to the rebel stronghold, but keep it away from Mandrel."
"But how do you expect me to find it, Your Excellency?  I have heard that Mandrel  hides in Northwood Forest, and that covers a vast area."
"I have a plan, and if it works out, then Mandrel will find you."
 
Brennan had been on the road for four days.  Two days ago he passed through the farmlands, and he was now in a barren, rocky area.  The terrain was hilly; the only vegetation an occasional patch of scrub brush.
The road was sparsely traveled; he’d seen at most a  score of travelers since starting on his journey, and there had been only two inns.  At both inns he had posed as a stage wizard.  Stage wizards were born with magic powers, but not strong enough to become council wizards; they usually ended up as performers in theaters or carnivals.
According to Sherwin,  Mandrel was looking for stage wizards.  To be successful, the rebels would need a team of wizards in their army.  The rebel leader would be unable to recruit top class wizards--they were too few, and those who were top class aspired to be on the Royal Council. 
But Mandrel was reported to have found a way to enhance the power of stage wizards by using dark magic.  Sherwin  suspected that at least one of the raiders in the palace raid was a wizard, and that a magic screen had been used to hide them during the raid.  If that was so, then the reports were probably true. 
The sun was low in the sky when Brennan came upon a stream.  It was a shallow stream, and he could see where the road picked up on the other side.  He surveyed the surrounding terrain and decided this would be an ideal spot to bed down for the night--it would be dark soon. 
He dismounted, let Rainbow drink from the stream, and filled his own canteen with the cold, clear water.  He had just laid out his bedroll when he heard voices.  The voices seemed to be excited, and were coming from somewhere on the other side of the stream.  The terrain was hilly and full of large boulders, thus denying him a good view of the area.
He mounted Rainbow and set out across the stream, and as he followed the road the voices grew louder.  As he came around a large boulder he spotted the source of the voices.  He was witnessing a robbery.
Five bandits had stopped the wagons of a pair of traveling merchants.  The beheaded body of one of the merchants lay on the ground, and the bandits were taunting the surviving merchant for sport.
One of the bandits spotted Brennan and shouted a warning, and the remaining bandits turned to face him.  Brennan did not present a formidable appearance: a gangly youth with only the beginning of a beard.  Dressed in attire that was neither plain nor flashy, he could have been the son of a prosperous shopkeeper or a minor official.  The sword hanging at his side seemed out of place.
A large, muscular man wearing an eye patch approached and grabbed Rainbow’s bridle.  “Good horse,” he said, “we can use him--and I’ll wager there’s a valuable or two in the saddlebags.”  His one eye leered at Brennan.  “Get down from the horse, sonny.”
Brennan stayed astride Rainbow, staring straight ahead.  The man, apparently the leader, faced his comrades.  “Langer, come here and pull this young whelp from his horse.  I think we’ll have some sport with this one--before he loses his head.”  There were snorts and chuckles as one of the bandits ran his finger across his throat, making a gurgling sound.  Another danced around holding his crotch.
As Langer approached, Brennan dismounted. 
“Well now, that’s a good lad.  We might be a little easy on you before we whack your head off.”  Langer reached out to grab Brennan.
Brennan jumped back and drew his sword.  He held the sword above his head, pointing it toward the heavens.  “Sword be swift, strike my enemies.”
At this, the bandits broke into laughter.  “We’ve got a simpleton here,” said one. “Should give us some laughs.”  Another bandit drew his sword.  “Give us some lessons in swordplay, master swordsman.”    Brennan became a blur of action.  He moved with lightning speed as his sword whistled through the air.  Within moments, the five bandits lay dead--the expressions of amusement still on their faces.
The merchant, a bald, middle aged man, was gaping at him.  “By The Three Demons of Darla,  you can’t be a wizard of the royal court--you are much too young--I’d say not yet twenty.  But the way you spelled your sword...  Of course!  You must be using your wizardry to appear young.”
Brennan was in a situation he had hoped to avoid.  He had hoped to pose as a stage wizard, but his spelling of the sword had shown that he was more than that. 
“I am twenty-two, and I am not a council wizard. I am Brennan, a  performing stage wizard.   A council wizard that I once befriended gave me this spelled sword as a gift.”   A wizard would know that a spelled sword could  be used only by the one who spelled it, but Brennan guessed that the merchant wouldn’t know that.
“Well, that explains it,” the merchant said.  “In my travels I have met a few stage wizards, but none could spell a sword.  But let me say that I am most grateful to you, young Brennan.  I am called Roland, and my partner and I were on our way home after delivering provisions to several inns when these brigands waylaid us to rob us of our profits.  And where might you be going?”
“North, to Danbury Province.  I hear there is a carnival in the city of Hanford that is seeking stage wizards.” 
“My village is near Hanford.  Since we are both going north, I would be honored if you would travel with me.”
“I, too, would be honored.  But I am in a hurry, and I can make better time by traveling alone.”
“Well, I would advise you to be wary while going through Northwood Forest.” said Roland.  “Mandrel and his rebels hide out there, and there is word that he captures young men such as you and forces them into his rebel army.  Even someone my age is at risk.”

Brennan returned to his campsite and settled down for the night.  The following morning he resumed his journey.  Four days later he reached the edge of Northwood Forest.  The vegetation was becoming more dense and the trees were growing taller.   
Northwood Forest was vast, and Brennan knew that he had little chance of finding Mandrel's hiding place.  He hoped that word had gotten to Mandrel that a lone stage wizard was traveling through the forest. 
But if they did find and capture him, he had no plan for retrieving the unicorn.  He would have to learn where they kept the creature and how well they guarded it.  
He did not try to hide or keep alert for an ambush, but kept on the open road going through the forest.  On the morning of the third day in the forest, Brennan found himself surrounded by a group of armed men.  The rebels had found him. 
One of them rode up to him.  “State your name, your business, and where you are going.”
“I am Brennan, a stage wizard, and I go to Hanford to seek employment in a carnival.”
“A stage wizard?  Our leader alerted us that one might be coming this way.  He may have something better to offer you than employment in a carnival.  Come with us.”
They left the main road and followed a hidden trail going deeper into the forest. As they moved along the  trail--so overgrown with brush as to be nearly invisible--Brennan laid down mental markers that could be detected only by himself.  He would be able to follow those markers in pitch black darkness.  After a time, they arrived in the rebel encampment.
A short time after their arrival, Brennan was taken before Mandrel.  Brennan bowed as he faced the man who was at least the equal of the powerful Sherwin--and perhaps even more powerful with the aid his dark magic.  The rebel leader was a tall, lean man with long black hair and a heavy beard.
“I have been told that you claim to be a stage wizard.”
“Yes, sire, that is correct.”
Mandrel pointed toward one of his men.  “Let me see you remove that man’s hat.”
Brennan held out his arm toward the man and mumbled something that sounded like a chant.  The man’s hat rose in the air and then fell to the ground.  The other men laughed as the man retrieved his hat.
Mandrel seemed unimpressed.  “Forget the theatrics.  Just do as I say.”  He held out his closed hand.  “Now, tell me what I have in my hand,”
Brennan concentrated but a moment.  “It is a red feather.” 
Mandrel opened his hand to reveal the feather.  He pointed to another of his men.  “Make this man rise in the air.”
Making a hat rise was one thing, but making a full grown man rise required much greater power. Brennan could have performed the feat easily, but decided it would not be wise.  He knew, from watching such acts, that even the best stage wizards could  raise no more than a three or four year old child.    Had he slipped up somewhere?  Was Mandrel trying to trick him?
“That, sire, is beyond my capability.”
Mandrel nodded.  “As I thought.  You stage wizards are a weak lot.  I had thought that I might one day find one with a little power.”
Brennan performed several more fairly simple magic feats, and Mandrel seemed satisfied.  “I can use you, Brennan.  And I have found a way to strengthen your puny powers into something fairly respectable, as I have done with the others.  I can’t match a carnival’s pay, but I can keep you fed and clothed. 
“But after we claim victory over the queen, I can promise special positions to those of your kind.  I hope that you will join my force voluntarily.”
The way that Mandrel stressed “voluntarily” was meant to imply that things could become unpleasant for Brennan if he did not agree.  But this is what he had hoped for.  “I would consider it an honor to join you, sire.”
“Good.  Tomorrow we will start working to enhance your powers.”
Brennan was assigned to a tent with the stage wizards.  He was surprised that there were ten of them.  He learned from them that Mandrel could, in less than a half day’s time, increase a stage wizard’s powers by at least fourfold.
A member of the group introduced himself.   “I am Julian," he said, "and I am leader of this group"  Julian was a short, stocky youth, about Brennan's age.  "We watched your performance today.  Just as you, none of us could levitate a grown man.  But before the end of tomorrow you’ll do it with ease.  And whatever other talents you now possess, they’ll all be enhanced.  After tomorrow, you’ll join us in training to use those talents.”  Julian added proudly,  “Our training methods are similar to those of The Royal Council.”
After listening to the talk among the group, and asking some questions, Brennan learned that the stage wizards, even with enhanced powers, were still considerably less powerful than one born with full power, such as himself--but three or four of them working together might be formidable.  Mandrel did not yet have a force to challenge Sherwin’s council, but a few more such as these, with proper training, and he would have a force to be reckoned with. 

The following morning, immediately after breakfast, Brennan reported to Mandrel. 
“Come with me,” said the rebel leader,  “and meet my little helper--without whose help I would be unable to boost your powers.”
Brennan followed Mandrel into a large tent.  Inside the tent was a cage, and inside the cage was the unicorn!
So that was it.  Somehow Mandrel had managed to harness the power of a unicorn--a feat that even the most powerful of wizards found difficult.  Even the powerful Sherwin had been only marginally successful in his efforts.
Brennan was seated in a chair near the cage.  He noted that Mandrel kept his distance from the cage.  Mandrel closed and sealed the tent flaps, then extinguished the lanterns.  The tent was now pitch dark.  Brennan adjusted his sight to night vision, while at the same time being careful not to let Mandrel know that he could see.
From the corner of his eye, he could see Mandrel drawing symbols on a board with chalk.  He worked very slowly, making sure that the symbols were exactly as he wanted them.  He used the same care in using a stick to draw symbols in the sand.  He then pulled three strange looking objects from his pockets and laid the objects on the ground.  He kneeled and began a slow chant.  As he chanted, three demonic shapes appeared, one above each object.  Mandrel continued his chanting.
After more rituals and chanting, Mandrel finally rose and lit the lanterns.  “Stand up and walk to the cage,” he commanded.  Brennan did as he was told.
“Now put your hand through the cage and grasp the unicorn’s horn.”
Brennan was now becoming uneasy.  Mandrel had used dark magic to harness the unicorn’s power.  Perhaps this ritual worked only for stage wizards.  On someone like Brennan, already at full power, the ritual might actually have the opposite effect--his power might be drained from him.  Or what if grasping the horn would somehow reveal that he was no mere stage wizard?  Again, he wondered if Mandrel suspected him.
“You must grasp the horn now, while the spell is working.  If you do not, the spell will fade.  Do not try my patience.”
Brennan reached through the cage and grasped the horn.  It was warm, almost hot to the touch.  He felt a vibration coming from the horn. 
“Do not relax your grasp until you no longer feel the vibration.”
Brennan finally pulled his hand from the cage, and Mandrel led him outside.  He called one of his men and commanded Brennan to levitate him.  Brennan complied, and pretended to be amazed when the man rose in the air. 
“Levitation is a talent common to all wizards,” said Mandrel.  “Name one of your special talents.”
“I can hide myself with a magic screen.”
Mandrel led him to a group of three men.  “Make yourself and these men invisible.”  Again, Brennan feigned surprise at being able to hide himself plus a trio of men.
“A useful talent--I have two others capable of that feat.  Now go back to your tent and rejoin your group.  Starting tomorrow, they will run you through some training procedures that I have prescribed.”
On his way back to the tent, Brennan still wondered whether his powers had been weakened.  Mandrel had given him two simple tests, but that proved nothing.  Using his normal power, he could levitate a half dozen men, and he could hide a half score with his screen.  But suppose Mandrel’s ritual had worked to bring him down to the same level as the stage wizards?  He wanted to test his powers; but he dared not try while here in the encampment.  He must wait for the right opportunity for such a test.

That night he formed a plan to recapture the unicorn and escape.  The plan was simple enough: wait until dead of night and sneak to the unicorn’s cage.  Opening the cage would be no challenge.  He would then find Rainbow and the three of them would leave the encampment, following the mental markers he had dropped on the trail.  But before  initiating his plan, he must first find a way to make sure that his powers were still intact.  If something went wrong during his escape, he would need to depend on his powers.
The next day he started training.  He chuckled to himself when told that his first lesson would be sword-spelling.  His training started with observing an exhibition of spelled swordplay by two members of the group.  He watched the exhibition and judged the swordplay of the participants to be superior.  They could easily outmatch any good, accomplished swordsmen, but were well below his own capabilities.
As he watched the exhibition, his eyes wandered to a group of rebel soldiers bringing in a captive.  Brennan’s eyes were drawn to the bald head of the captive--it was none other than the merchant Roland.  As the group passed, Roland looked his way--and Brennan saw recognition in his eyes.
There would be no waiting to set his plan in motion now.  Roland would be sure to tell Mandrel of his encounter with Brennan, and of Brennan’s spell-sword.  Brennan could not wait to test his powers--he could not even wait until nightfall; he must make his move now.  Well, he thought, now I’ll find out if my powers are still intact. 
He must leave this group without being noticed.  He could not simply make himself invisible--in a group such as this it would certainly be noticed if he suddenly disappeared, and an alarm would go out immediately.  If his powers were still intact, he would be able to construct an invisibility screen, while at the same time constructing a simulacrum of himself.  He encountered no difficulty in constructing both the screen and the simulacrum. 
He rose up, leaving the lifeless image of himself to occupy his seat,  and set out toward the unicorn’s tent.  No one paid attention;  he was now satisfied that he had retained his full power. 
Brennan made his way to the tent holding the unicorn.  He walked past the two men guarding the entrance and entered the tent.  He released the creature, leashed it with a rope, and covered it with his invisibility screen.  He led the unicorn out past the guards.
His only concern now was that he might encounter Mandrel.  The powerful ex-council wizard would be sure to see through any of Brennan’s spells, and a novice such as Brennan--even at full power--could not hope to prevail in a battle of powers with Mandrel.  Brennan must leave the encampment as soon as possible.  As he hurried toward the stable where Rainbow was kept, he heard an alarm.  Either his simulacrum was beginning to fade, or someone had tried to engage the lifeless thing in conversation. 
Brennan reached the stable.  He mounted Rainbow, and leading the unicorn on its leash, he set out.  The unicorn had not slowed him down as he feared it would; it was swift, even as swift as Rainbow.  Speed was of utmost importance now.  He had planned to be far away before Mandrel discovered his absence, but the capture of the merchant had ruined those plans.  Even now, the merchant might be telling his story to Mandrel.  
He wished that he could rise up and soar away, but even with his full power he would be unable to lift himself, Rainbow, and the unicorn.  Unconsciously, he made an effort, and to his surprise, the three began to rise.  There could be only one explanation: the spell of Mandrel had worked to enhance his power after all.   Mandrel's spell had increased the power of stage wizards  by fourfold--was his power increased by that much?  If so, his power should be in the same class as that of Sherwin and Mandrel.  As he began to rise, he heard a voice that made his blood freeze. 
“Brennan!  You can’t hide from me.  Come back with the unicorn or I will destroy you.”
Mandrel had the power to hurl thunderbolts, but Brennan hoped that the wizard would not take a chance on harming the unicorn--a powerful thunderbolt might be fatal even to a unicorn. 
“I warn you.  I need the unicorn, but I will destroy  you even if it means endangering the unicorn.  Bring back the unicorn and I promise to release you unharmed.”
Brennan looked back to see that Mandrel had risen and was following him.  Brennan tried to increase his speed, but  the added burden of the horse and the unicorn prevented him from gaining speed.  Mandrel was closing the distance. 
Even with his enhanced power, he wondered, would he be a match for Mandrel?  Sherwin, with all his power, had needed  help from some of the other council members to drive Mandrel from the council.
"I will give you  one more chance, Brennan.  Release the unicorn immediately."
Brennan had no intention of releasing the unicorn.  He knew that even if he did, Mandrel would not let him go free, for he knew Mandrel's hiding place.   He kept going.
"I warned you, Brennan!"
Brennan had already constructed a spell-shield, although he knew that his puny shield would be of no use against a thunderbolt.  He saw the flash, and expected oblivion, but to his great surprise, his shield held.  His enhanced power had worked to produce a stronger shield.  He looked back to see the look of astonishment on Mandrel’s face.
But Mandrel kept following, and Brennan guessed that the wizard was building up his power for a stronger strike.
With his enhanced power, Brennan wondered if perhaps he also had the power to send a bolt.  He could lose nothing by trying. He wheeled around in midair, let his power build up a moment, and struck.  The bolt was powerful, but could not destroy Mandrel's spell-shield.
Brennan saw another flash.  This time he felt a tremendous shock wave--his shield had held, but barely.  Before he could recover, he felt himself falling toward the ground.  His powers nearly exhausted, he managed to generate just enough levitation to cushion the fall of himself and Rainbow--the unicorn landed unhurt.
Mandrel landed a short distance away.  "You fool!  You thought to match powers with me?"  His tone was gloating.  "Now I'll have the unicorn, and I'll see that you die an unpleasant death."
Brennan, still shaken, fought to build up his powers.  He would need more time to regain his full power, but he feared that even with his full, enhanced power, he was no match for Mandrel.  He noted that the unicorn was standing about ten paces from Mandrel.  An idea came to him--an idea for a strike that would require but little power, but he would need to act immediately while Mandrel was still gloating over his victory.
Brennan levitated the unicorn and hurled it--directly at Mandrel.  Mandrel's eyes grew wide in horror.  The evil wizard was caught completely off-guard.  His spell-shield had been constructed to ward off thunderbolts and the like, but not solid objects.  Had he been expecting such an attack, he would have had time to devise an effective shield.  He tried to step aside, but the unicorn brushed against him as it passed.  The touch produced a profusion of blinding sparks, and the evil wizard was dead before he hit the ground.  The unicorn was unhurt.
 Brennan turned to see that the twelve stage wizards were approaching.  He was confident that with his enhanced power he could deal with the twelve, but his struggle with Mandrel had drained him.  As they approached, Brennan turned to face them.  
When the group was close enough to see the body of Mandrel, they stopped, staring in amazement at the body.   Julian stepped forward.  "You are from The Royal Council?"
"I am."
 Julian raised his hands, palms showing, and the others followed suit.  "We have no quarrel with you or with the council."   The twelve turned and walked away.
Brennan mounted Rainbow, and once again he levitated himself and the two animals.  The three soared away toward home.