Hand of Justice Boxed Set (Books 1 - 4): The Dark Mage, Chasing Magic, Magic Rising, Magic Unchained

by Jace Mitchell

  “Don’t matter what he teaches you. You’re too dumb to get it.” Lucie allowed herself to crack a smile.

  “Yeah, yeah. I hope Riley ain’t back yet. You two plus Kris is gonna make me end up hurtin’ one of you.” William stepped onto the tiny dirt patch in front of them. “Come on, let’s go.”

  “You’re not goin’.” Lucie’s head snapped up. “You’ll get us both caught, your big feet clogging around everywhere. You’re a wanted man, William, in case you forgot.”

  “Two things, old lady,” William explained. “The first is, if somethin’ happens, you ain’t gonna be able to protect yourself. Magic or no magic, a group falls on you and they have magic, you’re gonna need help. The second is, if Riley is lookin’ for someone, who do ya think she’s lookin’ for? Me, not some old hag in a hood.”

  Lucie raised her foot and stomped on William’s toe.

  “OW!”

  “Handle myself just fine, moron, but I’m tired of sittin’ out here arguin’ with you about this nonsense. If you’re comin’, try not to get us caught.”

  Lucie walked forward, not caring if William followed.

  She started down the usual streets, heading out of the slums toward the more populated parts of the kingdom. William caught up with her easily enough by taking long strides.

  “Where ya been lookin’?” he whispered.

  “I’ve been making my rounds at the smaller lodgings,” Lucie answered without looking at him. They were just about to cross from their neighborhood into the kingdom proper.

  “That might not be the best way, you know.” He smiled as he spoke, clearly thinking he was being more clever than Lucie.

  “What’s the best way, William?”

  “You’re lookin’ for the wrong one.”

  “What the hell ya talkin’ about?” Lucie asked, stopping at the corner of the road and whipping around to him.

  “You’re lookin’ for Riley, but it’s gonna be hard to find her if she ain’t lookin’ for you. Sure, you can use your magic, but Riley might not know how to show a beacon. You know who would?”

  Understanding came to Lucie then. “William, this may be the one and only smart thing you’ve ever said.”

  “Now that’s a damned lie, but I ain’t gonna hold it against you, because I know my intellect bests yours.” He was smiling broadly. “Worth is who we should be lookin’ for because he’ll be the one lookin’ for us. Or at least using a magic beacon or whatever the hell he’d call it.”

  “He’d be with Riley, though,” Lucie commented.

  William shook his head, pretending exasperation as if he couldn’t believe how dumb Lucie was.

  “I’m gonna burn you black as toast,” she told him. “Just get it out and let’s get movin’.”

  “It’s just tough, Lucie,” William complained, still faking exasperation. “Always having to educate you and such. Worth ain’t gonna be sittin’ in no lodge. He’s goin’ to be at a bar. That’s where we’ll find him, and if we do, he’ll take us to Riley sure enough.”

  Lucie wanted to say something sharp back, but she realized the Right Hand was right. Worth would be where they poured wine, not hiding.

  “Let’s go,” was all she managed as she took off.

  William barely managed to contain his laughter, not wanting the whole kingdom to hear him. He followed, pulling his hood over his head.

  The two walked the dark streets, and as they grew closer to the business districts, more people started filling the streets. Drunks mainly, but there were guards as well.

  “There’s more guards,” Lucie whispered as they passed an open shop on their right.

  “Since when?”

  “Since last night,” she answered. “There weren’t nearly this many before.”

  That was the truth. She saw one on almost every corner.

  “You weren’t in this part of town last night,” William commented. “Could be it’s always like this.”

  “Maybe,” Lucie answered. “Maybe not. Maybe something has changed. I need to find a place these guards aren’t. My eyes are gonna change when I start lookin’ for him.”

  “It’s Sidnie. Plenty of people use magic here. That shouldn’t be a problem.” William was walking on her right, his large shoulders not letting anyone else stay on the sidewalk.

  “Everything right now is a problem, lout. Even you bein’ so big. Goodness, I can’t believe I let you come with me. They’re gonna see us for sure.” Lucie shook her head. “Either way, I’m not using magic where they can see me. Neither of us needs any extra scrutiny. So just help me find a damned place to hide.”

  William grabbed her elbow and pulled her to a stop, and she turned. The big man was smiling.

  “I don’t think we’re gonna need magic to find Worth.” He nodded toward an alehouse across the street.

  The doors were open, and Lucie be damned, Worth was on the bar. His shirt was off, and sweat dripping down his face and chest.

  He was dancing.

  His lips were the most purple Lucie had ever seen them. The man was blitzed.

  William started laughing. “Oh, this is too good. We don’t need to go get him. Let’s just watch.”

  Lucie felt the same, although she knew it was the wrong move. The man was moving across the bar with people actually throwing money at him. He was twisting and turning, playing to the crowd.

  The music was loud enough to make its way across the street.

  “He’s actually got fuckin’ rhythm,” William said between guffaws.

  “We’ve got to retrieve him,” Lucie remarked, finally coming to her senses. “He’s going to get himself thrown in jail for indecent exposure. Rendal knows him too. If the guards are lookin’ for someone of his description, he’s doing an excellent job of helping ‘em.”

  Lucie glanced around quickly. The guards on the road weren’t looking at her, but at the drunk man in the bar across the street.

  Her eyes turned red briefly while she shot a message to Worth.

  Get outside, ya drunk! You’re gonna get yourself arrested!

  Worth didn’t stop dancing, although he did look at her. He winked, his grin as wide as a barn door.

  “Oh damn it,” Lucie cursed. “He ain’t comin’ out.”

  “The hell ya mean, he ain’t?” William looked at her.

  “I mean, I just sent him a message and he winked at me. The bastard winked.”

  “Tell him again,” William grumbled.

  Lucie sent one more message, her eyes flaring red. Get your ass out here, Worth! We don’t have time for this!

  If he was in Sidnie, Riley was here, too. They had to get to her before Rendal did.

  Worth didn’t even glance at them this time, only turned his ass to them and started shaking it.

  “Thank the Mother he’s got fuckin’ trousers on,” Lucie grated.

  “I’m gonna beat his fucking thing,” William interjected. “We’re out here riskin’ our damned lives and he’s in there livin’ it up.”

  Someone lifted a glass of wine up to Worth. He grabbed it and drained it in seconds.

  “We’re gonna have to go get him.” Lucie sighed.

  “Yeah. Definitely now. Look.”

  And sure enough, the guards had had enough. They were moving toward the bar, ready to arrest the drunk who was venturing into the territory of indecent exposure.

  “You don’t even have a damned sword,” Lucie said.

  “I can do more damage with my pinky than you can with all the weapons in the world, old lady. Watch and learn.”

  The guards were moving faster now, pulling out clubs from their belts. They were planning on beating Worth up pretty badly if he didn’t listen, and busting him out of jail would be nearly impossible. They had to get him now.

  “Sonofabitch!” Lucie whispered harshly.

  William started across the street, his hood up. Lucie followed him. Six guards were entering the bar, with more coming from farther down the road. The commotion brought them
like moths to a candle.

  The crowd paid no mind to any of them, too enraptured with the drunken purple-mouthed man dancing in front of them.

  The guards started shoving people out of the way.

  “Hey!”

  “Watch it!”

  People were shouting, realizing everything wasn’t fun and games now.

  One of the guards brought his club down hard on someone’s skull.

  The man fell like a sack of flour.

  The music—a few people in the back playing instruments—stopped.

  “You, get down. Get your fuckin’ clothes on. You’re under arrest.”

  William entered the bar first, his wide body causing people to stare.

  Worth didn’t look at Lucie or the Right Hand but kept his eyes on the guards.

  “Worth no go with you. Worth drink more!” he shouted, laughing as he did.

  He turned around and dropped his pants, his ass hanging out for everyone to see.

  A guard swung his club, catching Worth in the back of his leg.

  “OWW!” Worth cried, jumping forward as he pulled his pants up. He turned around and looked for the offending party.

  “Get the fuck down,” the guard who had hit him commanded. “Or there’s more where that came from.”

  Worth hopped down from the bar, his chest still bare.

  The crowd was spreading out now, some leaving, others just pushing back toward the walls—giving the bald man and the guards any and all space they needed.

  Worth didn’t even glance at Lucie and William. To Lucie, he looked flat-out drunk. Perhaps he’d already forgotten they were there.

  The guards circled him, but Worth didn’t take his eyes off the one who’d hit him. His eyes hadn’t turned red, at least.

  “Hands behind your back,” a guard commanded.

  “Worth want wine. And person hit me. Come.” He waved his hand in a taunting gesture toward the guard who had used the club, waving him forward.

  Someone came from behind, bringing another club down upon Worth’s back.

  Worth grunted loudly and collapsed to his knees. He kept his head up though, pain bright in his eyes.

  “Fuck it.” William removed the hood and cloak covering him. He stepped forward, people moving out of his way as if he were a massive wave ready to demolish them. “I believe y’all been lookin’ for me?”

  The guards all turned, forgetting the bald man on his knee, They looked at the huge warrior taking up much of the establishment.

  “Oh, shit!” one of them cried. “It’s him! It’s the damned spy!”

  “No!” Worth shouted, regaining his feet. “Whoever hit Worth, fight now!”

  The guards paid him no mind, moving toward William. Lucie moved to the left, blending in with the crowd except for her glowing red eyes.

  William’s eyes remained normal but he squared up, his fists in front of his face. “Who’s first?”

  Without a sword, Lucie knew he was going to need help. She also knew why he wasn’t using magic. If these guards could use it, he didn’t want to provoke them.

  She’d be responsible for magic, and hopefully Worth would be smart enough to keep his at bay.

  The first man moved on William, swinging the club with both hands. William didn’t even try to move, he simply grabbed the weapon, wrenching it free of the man’s hands.

  The guard stood there stunned for a moment. William didn’t waste any time, knocking him out cold with a single swing.

  He hit the floor.

  “One down, five left.” He looked at Worth behind the line of men. “You just gonna stand there, baldy?”

  Worth grinned.

  The two moved, one going left, one going right. They attacked the soldiers as if they’d planned it beforehand. Worth clapped his hands over one man’s ears, jarring him before breaking his knee with a brutal stomp.

  The man screamed as William bashed two guards’ heads together, sending them to the ground.

  Lucie looked at the open doors. More guards were just outside, running full speed and ready to take on William and Worth.

  Lucie used her magic to slam the alehouse’s doors shut.

  The first guard slammed straight into them, most likely breaking his nose—though Lucie couldn’t see from her vantage point. The others were banging on it, but Lucie bore down with her concentration.

  “Boys!” she shouted, “we’ve got to hurry!”

  “Take my time when I fight!” William yelled back. He grabbed a man by the throat and threw him across the room, smashing a chair to smithereens when the man crashed into it.

  One guard was now left holding his black club. It shook as he looked at William and Worth, both much larger than him.

  William grew very still and leaned forward.

  “Boo!”

  The guard jumped, then turned and fled, heading through the crowd toward the back entrance.

  Worth and William glanced at each other. Worth was slightly bent over from the blows he’d taken, but he was grinning wildly.

  “You’re a damned drunk, ya know that, tent man?”

  “Worth need wine.”

  William laughed. “Get the man some fuckin’ wine!”

  The whole place roared with laughter. Only Lucie remained silent, holding the door closed, her eyes a bright red. “You dumbasses aren’t listening! We’ve got to move! At least ten more men are on the other side of that door!”

  The bartender was pouring from a jug of wine, ready to give the fresh glass to Worth.

  The bald man grabbed the jug out of his hand as if he hadn’t been drinking for hours. The bartender had no time to stop him.

  “Lehh go!” Worth shouted, his voice finally slurring some.

  William went first, heading toward the back. Once again, the crowd moved aside for him, having no other choice besides being mowed down.

  The three pushed through the crowd and nearly fell out the back door, with Worth bringing up the rear. He stumbled into the alley laughing.

  “That fun! Again! Again!”

  “Damn it, I ain’t never seen him this drunk.” William turned around to find Lucie standing there. Her eyes were still red.

  “I’m holdin’ ‘em off, but I can’t keep doing it for long. They’ll be coming down this alley soon if they ain’t already headin’ for it.”

  William whipped around and looked at Worth. The tent man had the jug up to his lips, just about ready to take a swig. He smiled as he caught William’s eyes.

  “What you want, big man? You want Riley, aye?”

  “Aye, of course I do. Take us to her,” William commanded.

  Worth nodded, turned the jug up a bit more and took his drink. He brought it back down and offered it to William. “Go on. Worth know you thirsty.”

  William smiled, took the jug, and turned it up too.

  “You damned drunks are gonna get us killed!” Lucie shouted. “Let’s go! Now!”

  She shoved both of them in the back, using the strength she made in years of running a restaurant. Despite their size, they launched down the alley, laughing as they went.

  “Drink!” Worth reached for the jug. William gave it to him, and the three started running.

  “I wish you and Riley would have stayed away,” Lucie mumbled as she pulled her hood over her head. They fled down the alley, hanging a left, then taking another. Worth was leading the way, but Lucie didn’t know if he could even see straight.

  Finally, they ran out onto another packed street, this one busier than the last.

  The three drew to a stop, lungs heaving.

  “We get rid of ‘em?” William asked.

  Lucie nodded. “I think so.” She grabbed Worth by the shoulder and pulled him to her. “First, you ain’t got no damn shirt, and that’s gonna be noticed. Second, where the hell is Riley?”

  Worth looked at William. “Questions. Riley. Now her. Always questions.”

  “You’re telling me, bud.” William walked to the other side of Worth so t
hat the drunks and guards wouldn’t see a man standing shirtless on the street. “But, we need to get out of here and get to Riley.”

  “Worth know. Worth know.” He rolled his eyes as if nothing could be more obvious.

  “Well, where is she?” Lucie hissed.

  Worth’s eyes narrowed as he swayed on his feet. “Hmmmm...”

  “Oh you bastard,” Lucie said, really growing angry. If she’d had a pan from her restaurant, she would have clocked him upside the head with it right then and there.

  Worth smiled. “Kidding. Kidding. She hiding. Worth say he find you, and now he did. He bring you to her. Come.”

  The bald man turned without another word and started walking down the street. He didn’t have a care in the world, shirt or no shirt. Ten steps in he started singing.

  “I missed the bastard,” William said.

  “Yeah. I missed him like I miss a toothache. Come on before the drunk starts runnin’,” Lucie responded.

  The two followed the singing bald man down the street.

  “You tired?” Riley asked.

  Eric was bent over, his hands on his knees, panting.

  “If it hadn’t been for that ladder I wouldn’t have had a chance in hell,” he responded.

  Riley was realizing how much better she was with a sword than the young man. He’d done well on the ladder when they faced each other before, but that’s because he was used to such things. On the ground, where she held the experience, he was good, but she was better.

  She slapped the back of his leg with the flat of her sword. “Can’t get tired so soon. Have to work on your lungs. Up. Again.”

  Eric straightened and assumed a defensive posture.

  “Defense is rarely what you want,” she told him.

  “You’re a better opponent. I can’t attack you,” he responded.

  Riley smiled. “Defense is waiting to die. That’s all. Offense is a warrior’s way.”

  “Is that why you made us come here before you’re ready?” He wasn’t grinning.

  Riley’s smile died too. “Maybe. I go forward, I don’t wait. I’ve learned what I think I need to learn to face Rendal, and that’s the only reason I’m learning magic. Despite what the Chosen say, I’m not their savior. I’m Mason’s savior, and when that is finished, I’m going home. No more magic.”