Bloodlines by Loren L. Coleman Artifact Cycle Book IV Preface The Legacy Barrin paused in the classroom's open doorway, his charitable mood fading. Barely an hour returned to the Tolarian Academy, the master mage had decided to walk a quick tour of the main building before retiring, a habit he formed over his many years as the academy's chief administrator. Tonight it possessed the added benefit of giving Rayne a chance to finish her own unpacking. Her private apartment was not far down Scholar's Row from his own, and when she finished, he thought, they might linger over a second exchange of goodnights Seeing light spilling down the tiled hallway, Barrin decided to offer assistance to what was certainly tutors up late preparing the next day's lessons. Students, of course, obeyed a strict curfew, and the academy's full scholars rarely, if ever, required such late-night preparations. Rayne was likely to be waiting for him-a slight twinge against his conscience-but he knew that in his place she also would be checking in to offer advice. Besides, adding his personal touch helped to keep Barrin in contact with the daily functions of the academy. This had been, after all, his first real leave of absence. The first thing Barrin noticed was that someone had punched a new door into the classroom. The rough hole in the previously complete wall stood open, not even framed, and at odds with the smooth plaster and elegant woodwork finishes put on academy facilities. A curiosity turned slightly alarming when he recognized the room beyond contained Urza's primary laboratory. That alarm lasted mere seconds, as Urza himself walked from the back room followed by the silver golem Karn. Both of them carried books and scrolls which they added to a growing pile surrounding the lectern. Barrin frowned over the activity. His scowl deepened as he realized that Urza was too distracted to have yet noticed the mage's presence-a fact which should have been instantly registered by the planeswalker's preternatural senses. A distracted Urza could be a most dangerous thing. The man standing in front of Barrin was known throughout history as the defiler of Argoth and the harbinger of the Ice Age, though Urza himself could not-or would not-admit with one hundred percent certainty that the global catastrophe resulted from his efforts. Barrin was inclined to give the planeswalker the benefit of the doubt, especially since his track record had improved since coming back to Tolaria after the last major disaster, but benefit of the doubt was one thing, careless blind faith was another. The master mage was feeling a bit unnerved by the sight of the deeply focused Urza. As he approached the lectern, Barrin recognized in the 'walker's intense stare and disconnected manner that same fanatical drive that motivated and created the last set of cataclysmic events. He knew that Urza was again obsessing on his personal crusade: Phyrexia. Those creatures had once been the ancient Dominarian race of the Thran- who at the height of their achievements had mastered a level of artifice unknown to anyone since-save perhaps Urza himself. Then some kind of war tore the Thran from their advanced ways and sent them hurtling down a darker path toward wicked corruption. They were forced to leave Dominaria for an artificially created plane-nine spheres nested inside one another turning blacker and more torturous the closer they get to the center-and after a time they emerged from their exile as the twisted, hideous abominations that have plagued Urza for millennia. For the loss of his brother, for the death of his one-time traveling companion Xantcha, for replacing that which was human with corrupted artifice the realm of Phyrexia had earned its place as Urza's enemy, one planeswalker against nine nested spheres of malignant, venomous force. His vendetta had nearly cost him his life-existence rather- several times over. So far, others had paid that price for him. Though obsession was doubly dangerous in a being so powerful, Barrin could understand Urza's pain and nearly forgive the planeswalker his costly mistakes. Barrin believed in Urza's war on Phyrexia, believed that they would return to Dominaria (had seen them with his own eyes), and that without Urza and the efforts of the Tolarian Academy there would be little in the way of stopping them. For that reason Barrin had helped create the Weatherlight, the skyship that would presumably be the ultimate weapon against the day of invasion. Barrin always doubted the veracity of such an assertion, but Urza had stood adamant-convinced. If this weapon was capable of defending Dominaria from invasion, why was Urza again demonstrating the distracted intensity which Barrin had learned to recognize and fear? Karn noticed the mage's approach first, his deep-set eyes widening with recognition. The silver golem certainly would have spoken a greeting if Barrin had not been prepared and spoke first. Seldom it was that Barrin could take Urza by surprise, and usually he learned something from it-never too old to be a student. "I had not heard of your return, Urza. Welcome back." Urza had disappeared six months ago, after helping to settle the refugees from Serra's Realm across Dominaria and returning only once with a handful of new students and three new scholars, including Rayne. Urza did not bother to turn around. He simply reformed the patterns of energy which made up his body so that suddenly he faced Barrin. He was obviously too preoccupied for the more subtle nuances which gave the illusion of his still being of normal mortal flesh. "Barrin," he greeted neutrally, "I expected you back three days ago." How are you? How was your leave? Such courtesies were left as far behind the planeswalker as normal life. "My chances for time away from the academy come seldom. We-I decided to take a few extra days at Angel-wood. It's not difficult to lose track of time on Tolaria." The planeswalker did not even bother to feign chagrin at the reference to the island's temporally-shattered areas where time flowed at different speeds, by-products of the catastrophic failure of Urza's earlier experiments with time travel. Angelwood was a moderate slow-time environment where the enhanced sunlight and frequent but gentle rains created a paradise of lakes and shaded glades. It was a favorite among academy staff for sabbaticals, though the time differential worked against those desiring an extended term away from work. Meeting Rayne during his vacation had seemed to shorten it even more, the time passing so quickly in conversation and shared meals. She was a rarity in many ways, not the least of which being that she was one of perhaps a few dozen adult scholars ever admitted to Tolaria. Phyrexians planted sleeper agents all over Dominaria but always as adults- never children. Security at the academy usually demanded that new students be admitted when they were in their young teens. Senior students were promoted to tutors, and then they could advance to scholars and eventually might serve as chancellor, one of the eight academy administrators. Rayne's natural talent for artifice had won her admission and instant status as a tutor. Four months later Barrin had signed papers promoting her to full scholar, but it wasn't until their chance meeting at Angelwood that the mage had truly learned to appreciate her. She had long black hair that accented her delicate features, and she possessed an impressive mind and commanded a strong yet subtle presence. Barrin couldn't explain such feelings to the planeswalker. Urza, Barrin doubted, would not understand. Caught up in his obsession, the 'walker barely recognized the civilities of friendship. Not so Karn. "It is good to see you again, Master Barrin," the silver golem rumbled out of his cavernous chest, putting an end to the awkward pause that followed Urza's lack of response. To Barrin, Karn still sounded a bit despondent. Ever since Jhoira's decision to leave Tolaria, the golem had been unable to hide his melancholy. Jhoira had been the golem's best friend for several decades, and even though the silver man claimed to understand why she left, time did not heal his wounds. "Did you enjoy Angelwood?" he asked. Barrin smiled, as much for Karn's courtesy as for the fond memories of the last few weeks. "Very much, Karn. Thank you." "Good," Urza said brusquely, "because we have some hard work ahead of us, important work." He waved Karn off. "I will need several new desks, Karn, and a large worktable." The silver golem nodded perfunctorily to Urza, offered Barrin a grim smile, and then trudged off to fulfill Urza's request. "So important that it could not wait for tomorrow?" asked Barrin, now resigning himself to a long evening. "We have delayed too long already." Urza glanced toward the classroom's main sketchboard, covered with a script Barrin recognized as a meld of ancient Thran and the modern Argivian used as the Academy standard. "I've proceeded as far as I am able alone. Completing the Legacy will require the facilities of the entire academy if we are to have our defenses readied against the Phyrexian invasion." Urza paused, nodded as if agreeing with himself, and then turned away from Barrin and the conversation. He picked up a large roll of plans and moved to the wall, unrolling and pinning them up against a fresh sponge- wood board.